A Mess

I’m a really messy eater. I remember swearing to myself to never eat spaghetti on a date because I’d be sure to get it all over myself. I can’t eat chocolate without dropping bits in my lap (to be discovered after they’ve melted onto my clothes). Beefy has banned me from eating in his new car. (I got ice cream all over the floor mat of his old car.)

Busy prints are the best bet for someone as sloppy as myself. This sweater hides a multitude of food stains.


Sweater, Joseph A (thrifted). Skirt, Talbot’s (thrifted). Shoes, J Crew. Bag, Mossimo. Necklace, Zad. Sunglasses, Xhilaration. Earrings, vintage.




Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Tell Me On a Friday

I sometimes feel like I’m the only one working on Friday afternoon. My office is deserted and email slows to a trickle. This week, perhaps it was for the best that I saw almost no one at work on Friday. I’m not sure that what I was wearing was entirely appropriate.


Japanese “cardigan,” thrifted. Blouse, LS2 (thrifted). Skirt, No Boundaries (thrifted). Tights, We Love Colors. Shoes, BCBGeneration. Bag, D&G knockoff (thrifted). Earrings, vintage. Belt, thrifted. Coat (below), Lilli Ann.




Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Dressy Grunge

I participated in the ‘90s grunge trend. Although, living in western Washington, it wasn’t so much a trend as just the way people dressed. This outfit is sort of a dressy version of what I might have worn to college classes my freshman year.


Checked tunic (worn as a shirt), Wet Seal. Long-sleeved tee, Forever 21. Skirt, No Boundaries (thrifted). Belt, thrifted. Leggings, Danskin. Shoes, American Eagle for Payless.Earrings, Pangaea. Bag, Coldwater Creek.



Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Because

I wasn’t going to get dressed today, but I had call-backs for Enchanted April (I was not cast) and Joy called me to ask if I was ready to return her Purdy bags.


Dress, thrifted. Belt, H&M. Bag, Purdy. Boots, Dan Post. Earrings, self-made.

My friend Joy makes upcycled bags and wallets. This version, made from camouflage utilities, is my favorite. She takes custom requests, so if you have old cammies of your own, she can repurpose them as a satchel. This bag is not made from one of my uniforms. I was a Marine, not a Soldier.


Now, I am just Silly.

Sometimes I Look Like Ass

I thought I’d spend Sunday sweating at home, but I was asked to help clean up The Drama Workshop’s flooded warehouse, instead. It turns out the work was mostly done by the time I got there, but at least I was dressed appropriately. (And the warehouse basement was much cooler than my house.)


Tank, No Boundaries. Pants, part of my USMC uniform (I cropped them that morning). Shoes, Champion (thrifted).

A Piece of My Heart

As longtime readers know, I was once in the United States Marine Corps and wore a camouflage uniform every single day. My active duty ended in spring 2004, but my uniforms live on in New Gate Celtic Theatre’s costume shop.

Here, actress Tara Williams wears one of my old blouses to yell at me in a promotional shot for A Piece of My Heart.


I think she’s berating at me for not telling you about my new show, yet.
And wasn’t that a slick segue from style to shameless show promotion?

New Gate Celtic Theatre Company announces their latest production, A Piece of My Heart by Shirley Lauro, which runs May 21 through May 23 at the Madisonville Arts Center, 5021 Whetsel Ave. in Madisonville. Evening shows on May 21 & 22 start at 8:00 pm. Matinee’s on May 22 & 23 start at 3 pm. All tickets are $15*. For more information, checkout www.newgateceltictheatre.org or call the Madisonville Art Center box office at 513-247-8100. Group rates are available by calling 513-617-0784.
*additional fees may apply

Based on a book of the same title by Keith Walker, A Piece of My Heart takes up a subject largely missing from the reams of material written about the Vietnam War, namely the women who served there. Ms. Lauro has taken six disparate characters and created a complex yet complete narrative from their stories. The women (three nurses, one USA entertainer, a Red Cross volunteer and a military intelligence officer) are depicted before, during and after their service. Dealing with the chaos of life in a war zone, they each adapt and survive. Upon returning to the States, they must cope with issues of Agent Orange poisoning, alcoholism, and what is now known as post-traumatic stress disorder. A visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial brings a measure of peace and hope.

A Piece of My Heart has become an enduring voice for those women warriors who stepped outside the accepted roles of the times to take a different path. The hundreds of productions of this drama include a Command Performance at the dedication of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial statue and a production at the Gates of Arlington Cemetery at the 10th anniversary of the statue’s dedication.

Director Daniel Cohen has assembled a remarkable cast of young acting talent: Kasmira Kit of College Hill as Whitney; Ellen Guffey, NKU theatre major, as Sissy; Chauntel MacKenzie as Steele; Megan Hudson, another NKU theatre major and Louisville native, as Mary Jo; Tara Williams of Colrain as Martha; Jolen Carlos from Cleveland, now living in Covington, as Leeann, and Simon Powell taking on the daunting role of Everyman, soldier, sailor or marine who touches the lives of these six extraordinary women.


The cast – being extraordinary. (But we’re missing Chauntel.)
Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Treehouse of Terror

Yes, Beefy told me that it is actually “The Treehouse of Horror,” but my version has alliteration.


Jacket, Dex (swap). Owl brooch, swap. Vest, Julie’s Closet. Dress, Mossimo (swap). Boots, Dan Post. Necklace, Forever 21. Belt, thrifted.





Photos by Beefy Muchacho

To Match the Kittehs

Today the kittens visited the vet for their final round of baby shots. In honor of a break from needles and bills, I dressed to match the kittens in gray and green.

Sweater, Tricot Jolie. Tee, Target. Camo shirt, thrifted. Jeans, Dollhouse (overdyed with black). Loafers, AE for Payless.





Sammy thinks he is a kitten, too. He can’t wait for me to open the door to the kitten room (aka my closet) each morning so he can spend the day chasing and snuggling the wee ones.

While waiting for the vet, we played “doctor.” I think the kittens preferred my treatment to the shots the real vet had in store. (Click to enlarge and see Walt’s mighty fangs.)

We’re all thrilled that we don’t have to go to the vet again until March, when the boys will get their balls cut off. Hooray!