The Unraveling of Designer Ella * Shopping * Fashion * Blogging * Lifestyle

I could talk about how I understand best-friendship, how Gayle and Oprah’s is beautiful, but that’s a bit much to get into. That’s all true, but …

I just want to say that Gayle King could be another good candidate for a replacement co-host!

Wouldn’t that be neat? In the same business as Oprah. It would be interesting!

Did anyone see Kellie Pickler guest co-host on The View yesterday? She was fantastic! Full of personality, not a bit shy and so funny!

I know I said I wanted a black replacement for Star Jones, but now I really think Miss Pickler is perfect for the show.

Singing career? Eh!

Now how do we get her on?

Today’s guest host is Tanika Ray from the t.v. show Extra. She’s good, too; she speaks up with interesting points. But she’s just not quite the same as cute cute Kellie.

I really hope they go with the best choice. When’s the announcement? I can’t wait for the Fall season (wait, that means Autumn, oh well).

Photo credit: Pop Tower

I worked hard all day yesterday (through even worse heat once 2 p.m. struck) to get this blog ready. And I worked all Sunday night, after getting some Monday posts ready.

My weekend was full with bill paying, putting up an eBay auction, and then I was backed into a last-minute stylist-for-family session, as I mentioned yesterday. (And that didn’t even go well.)

I blew past all my deadlines for officially announcing this blog in a hardcore way. I prefer even (almost Monkish) times for posting big things. Mondays and last thing Fridays are best. And of course Carnivale publishing days are for anything big (that’s Friday this week, at Fashion-Incubator, but the topic’s so tough).

So … maybe Friday? But I worked my tushie off and we’re all ready, now! Hmm. Maybe I’ll see you soon.

I could not stop him. I could not stop him. I could not stop him.

The scary thing is the associate at Men’s Wearhouse argued me on the point. He was quite obnoxious. He knows fashion, yet somehow doesn’t know anything that goes against what his store sells (I think it’s all pleated-trousered suits!!!).

Everyone else agrees at the very least that stocky men look larger in pleats, including my Best Dude.

On the plus side he got really nifty shoes, a matching belt, pocket squares, and socks to match all those horrid trousers.

On the really, seriously, really negative side. He opened a credit card there and nearly spent $1,000.

The man does not even have an office job!!!

Man, I am not overpowered that much by Coach sales people, and bags are my thing! He hates fashion! (Or he used to, hmm.)

Well, sadly now I know where a good deal of my shopping weakness comes from.

Yesterday’s Handbag: Vintage Gucci: “G. Love”

I watched a repeat of House (M.D.) last night with an ending I loved.

There are always good bits, but this one dealt with the complexities of life as they relate to addiction.

“I’m an addict, [but] I’m not stopping. I said I was an addict, I didn’t say I had a problem. I pay my bills, I make my meals. I function.” (credit)

Well, I’m still learning to be completely functional, but I’m doing okay. I’m pretty much paying bills, too!

Still, is being addicted to a passion always a bad thing? Sure, my shopping’s somewhat out of control, but I never want to let go of “collecting” new handbags. I’ll be healthy when I learn to manage it but hold on to the love.

We don’t always have to quit “bad” things completely, we just need to maintain a reasonable level of our addictions. Like I’m probably also addicted to soda, but I cut down and usually drink only all natural drinks. Yes, I’m off of the fructose and corn syrup. That’s some Bad stuff, man.

Yesterday was gloomy and I swear I have “Seasonal Affective Disorder,” in which I get depressed during the Spring & Summer, when the sky is dark and grey when it should be bright. It should be a thing. But my Best Dude Forever (BDF) thinks I’m lazy and whiny. (At first he said I have no disorder, then said I have “lazy” disorder. Tuh!)

Today is unbearably hot in our barely–air-conditioned little house. Opposite, but causing a slightly similar effect. I’m tired and melty. I still exercised, which I need but it made me feel worse in the hot & melt department. Why am I too lazy to go to a proper, nice gym? (At least I have the official disorder as an excuse. ;-))

One thing this means is that I can’t muster the energy and creative forces to blog properly.

But why can’t I have a good excuse to not blog on occasional week days? What I’m doing is not rocket science, and I should get some benefit from my work being so casual.

It may be cash and for entertainment, but it’s still hard work. Product blogging is a specific type of tough. I have to be inspired.

So, it’s only Friday, but gosh, I need the break!

Disorder, no disorder, or even multiple disorders. It’s really my prerogative!

My mums and I went shopping at Crate and Barrel for my cousin Jackie’s wedding registry last night. She . has . the . plainest . taste.

White bakeware is one thing, but she wants plain, clear drinking glasses (and no cool barware, tut!).

I pretty much refuse to buy that. I wished to get her these lovely ones with nifty indents in the glass. They’re even practical, being comfortable to hold. But of course I can not.

What can I do with this plain J.?

Yesterday’s Handbag: Vintage Gucci: “G. Love”

So ever since my handbag collection grew into almost being a collection (actually, it only recently started to bloom as a real collection, but anyway) I’ve been careful about showing up toting certain bags with certain people.

Well, my therapist is whom I’m talking about today.

I saw her yesterday.

For a while, I’d make sure to carry my green mock-croc bag. That purse is being retired officially, though (off to eBay for change). I refuse to carry faux leather, now, and I also don’t like non names.

So what to carry when I see la therepiste? Often, I just bring a wristlet. If it’s that small, that’s enough to do for this occasion.

This day, it was the Coach wristlet I took out of my new vintage Gucci (which only has one pocket, so the wristlet was useful), which I then carried off to the mall. The wristlet was loaded with only the barest of essentials.

Am I lying at the times I’m supposed to be most open & bare? Sort of. But I’m so not ready to confront any issues with over-pursing. I’m happy this way.

It’s all about being happy.

Yesterday’s Handbag: Vintage Gucci: “G. Love”

Somehow, I liked Star Jones Reynolds. I felt she was a different personality of a host since she lost weight, and I don’t respect the manner in which she lost it (surgery), but I enjoyed her on The View.

I don’t know why, so I can’t quite understand why she was “sacked” and I just have to comment that this rotating array of “Token Black” replacements has not done it for me.

Keep searching, Barbara et. al. A suggestion: get another sassy sister of color and size.

Whether or not she gets along with Mrs. Rosie O’Donnell [sic, yes I sic’d myself] is fine, either way. The first option is great, because I’m a Rosie-loving-person kind of girl. The second option is still good, because I love a good cat argument on the show!

or… *Back to the Beginning* …

I read in Glamour Magazine’s July issue (Glam’s so my mag, girls) a quote from SNL’s Rachel Dratch;

I believe that your childhood interests reveal your true calling.

Let’s see… *diddly-oop*

1. I dressed my Barbie dolls and sewed extra wishes for them to don.
2. I drew … and coloured … and pasted …
3. I wrote cute stories that never ended because I wanted to keep going…

It really looks like I was meant to wind up in the fashion journalism, fashion design or styling industries.

And I thought I veered off some course of “propriety” and “morality” by shopping and caring about this “art” so much. Ha!

But I really am following my original dream? Perhaps this even means I will succeed along this path.

That makes me feel fuzzy to think about.