We're All In This Together

I had great intentions today to write some amazingly inspiring thing about fashion and individual style and self defined branding all inspired by meeting Kenneth Cole last week and it was going to be fabulous. But I just can't. I guess you could say I have writers block. But it is more like an emotional block. Without getting too much into my personal life, because this is not in fact my diary, let me just explain to you this emotional block I am facing. I miss home, I want it to be cold outside, I just want to eat a sweet potato, I don't like spending 80 dollars at Office Depot on ink and supplies for projects, I am tired of being hit on by homeless men, I don't like the smell of urine and weed that permeates this city, I am scared by emotions and don't understand them, and quite frankly I wish I was a cat. Essentially I have a bad case of the mean reds, with a touch of the blues.

Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's 

While lying on the floor complaining to my roommate (who is fabulous BTW) about how I don't know how to face emotions and how I am the only person in the world facing these mighty struggles, she said something very wise and made me realize that probably every body else gets into these ruts. Everyone thinks that their mountain is the highest and that their pack is the heaviest. At the risk of sounding cliché, we really are all in the same boat. No matter what metaphor you are using, everyone has their struggles and to each and every one of us it seems like the most terribly awful hardship in the entire world. Yes, some people do actually have real problems (other than not being able to fit in your favorite pair of jeans or not being able to afford yet another Pumpkin Spice Latte). There are some serious issues in the world. But it will be impossible to fight others' battles, or even just feel genuinely sorry for another, until our own is won. Winning doesn't always mean coming out in triumph. Sometimes it just means carrying on. It's not easy and it is certainly not enjoyable, but we have to do it. Because no one wants to have the mean reds forever. That would be truly horrible–no matter how cute we find Eeyore to be, no body really enjoys being around a depressing donkey all the time.

So what can we do to blow these emotional blocks out of the way so that we can get on with our lives and do amazing things?

1. Read. Read anything, my blog for instance, or poetry, your favorite book, a new book, a magazine (something classy though), plays, song lyrics, ANYTHING. Reading allows you to escape from the world, even if momentarily, and can give clarity to life. When I read I am reminded of how vast the world is and how many great things are out there and how really insignificant, and quite approachable, my little problems are
2. Talk to someone. Or something. Talking about what is bothering you can do two things. One, if you choose to speak to a person, they can give you advice. While my particular opinion on advice is the same as Oscar Wilde's,
   “The only good thing to do with good advice is pass it on; it is never of any use to oneself.”
   it may come in handy to you. And two, explaining your feelings to another, be that human, plant, or stuffed animal, can help you understand better yourself. In your mind you create all sorts of awful scenarios, you make everything seem worse than it is really is. Your problem may seem SO HUGE AND AWFUL and then you try telling someone about it and you realize that you are fretting about the fact that you don't know how to text a boy in the same manner as Poland fretting about being invaded by the Germans. All of a sudden life seems great.
3. Listen to music. I personally prefer classical, but I guess some people like music that has words which I guess is cool too. Again this is a way to escape for a while and gain clarity.
4. Enjoy nature. Did you ever see SpyKids 3 in 3D? Well I did and sometimes I feel like our world has become that movie. Not the part with the guy with the black rectangle over his eyes, but the part where they are in the video game and it is extremely stressful. We are always around technology, commercialism, bright lights, other people, craziness, you name it. A lot of times these things are what are dragging us down into the pit of despair. So it is important to make some sort of connection to nature and remember that there is so much more out there than our self centered lives. Like roses. There are roses. Life becomes so beautiful when you smell a rose.
5. Hug a cat. or watch youtube videos of kittens. Why? because cats are great. 

   

   Fatty is demonstrating his knowledge of geometry and ability to fit exactly into any place. He would be excellent at tetris.

If these fail I then resort to eating chocolate and watching movies (usually Breakfast at Tiffany's or Lord of the Rings) while snuggling with a giant pillow and wearing too large of sweatpants. That is not necessarily the best option though. 

Next time you feel that you are in a gutter of emotional turmoil, take a moment to realize that probably the majority of the people around you are right there with you–all sitting there getting trench foot together while waiting for the hardships to pass. When you know you are not alone it seems easier to tackle the problem. ALL FOR ONE and ONE FOR ALL and all that jazz.

Now let's all go out there and work on turning those mean reds into rosy pink joy! 

xoxo

Justice

PS None of the images in this post actually belong to me. I found them on the internet. hehe...except for that last one. Yeah that fat cat is mine

PSS I would be ever so appreciative if you would follow me on instagram and pinterest and tumblr and all those things that are right over there -->

Would you like a cuppa?

Once upon a time there lived a young girl who, while living in 21st century America, always felt as though she was truly a princess of a far away kingdom. If not a princess, then surly a member of the French court under Louis XIV, or maybe best friends with Jane Austen, or maybe even a turn of the century New York socialite. As this girl was not really any of these things, she had to settle with living those lives in her heart. And so, while living in 21st centric America, she often play acted her other lives to the best of her abilities.

"Sometimes I do pretend I am a princess. I pretend so that I am a princess so that I may try to behave like one"

--A Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett

Well today was one such day when this young girl's play acting became real. For what could better portray the life of a young romantic better than a tea party? 

The young girl invited all of her best friends and the enjoyed authentic teas, delicious sandwiches, scrumptious scones with heavenly Devonshire cream, and many delectable treats, all served on antique glassware. 

The table was set to its full glory with plates and food and, of course, peonies 

The guests arrived in their most appropriate afternoon tea attire 

And the food was enjoyed to the greatest extent possible

After enjoying a day of much festivities and play acting the life she likes to pretend she has, this young girl is much worn out, but is extremely happy. While she may live in 21st century America, she can play act at the life she dreams (while having the luxury of 21st technology to clean up the mess of such a classy and enjoyable party). She would like to encourage all of the dreamers, the romantics, the princess wanna bes out there, that it is perfectly possible to create a life tailored to your dreams, even  if it is only to a small extent, like throwing a tea party when you wish to be having tea with the queen of England (and that probably your best friends are better company than the queen of England).

And so, with that she leaves you to skip off to the gym to work off the luxuries of the day.

The end. 

Can you smell that? Oh yeah, it's all that Love wafting about

Happy Valentines all my lovelies! I hope your days has been full of cheesy, nice, or slightly inappropriate cards, hugging, kissing, chocolate, food, and general loveliness. If you are like me, and frankly it seems like most people around me, and prefer to regard this day as "singles awareness day", I have some quick anecdotes that are sure to cheer you up. First of all, look at these kittens

Aren't you excited for your future as a cat lady? I sure know I am.

Now to business. I am sure that most of us strong independent women who don't need no men to complete us (aka single ladies) may be feeling a teensy weeny bit down today. But have no fear! Even if you feel as if you are doomed to be alone forever, you must have hope!

Remember: 

• Jane Austen was never married
• Mary Cassatt was never married
• Elizabeth I was never married (and was she awesome or what?!)
• Emily and Anne Bronte were never married
• Oprah Winfrey has never been married

See? you do not need a man to complete you. You are perfectly free to create a life for yourself as an authoress, poet, painter, inspiring TV host, etc. all on your own!

 

(Although of course, I think men are great and it would probably have helped most of the authoresses and poets of the past to relieve some of their inner angst if they had been married…probably wouldn't have whined as much…except of course that didn't work out so great for Madame Bovary…but really she couldn't be helped)

In my opinion one fantastic replacement for men in life is, of course, clothing! Like these beautiful dresses

Who needs a man by your side when nothing could quite show you off as well as a beautiful red dress? 

And of course there is always chocolate

I want you all to remember that there is nothing wrong with buying your self a box of chocolates and enjoying the best that Belgium can offer (except of course waffles, those are pretty great too). I have heard that chocolate is good for the soul, and I believe that wholeheartedly. Just don't over eat. Tummy aches are not a good companion for Valentine's Day.

Remember when we used to hand out valentine's cards in Elementary school? and everyone got on? and everyone got candy? yeah, that was great

These are some of my favorite

Aren't those just fantastic?  I think so. 

Now of course, a staple for Valentine's day is watching a movie! Whether you are alone or snuggling up with somebody (friend, sister, boyfriend, husband, cat, etc.) these movies would be perfect for tonight:

• Breakfast at Tiffany's
• Pride and Prejudice (either the Keira Knightly one, or in you have 5 hours of free time, the Colin Firth one)
• Chocolat (also fitting for the Lenten season)
• Leapyear
• An Affair to Remember
• Dirty Dancing
• The Notebook (or any Nicholas Sparks movie for that matter)
• The Sound of Music
• My Fair Lady
• Say Anything
• A Room With a View
• Tangled (or any Disney Movie for that matter)

Whether you are alone or happily taken, I say that we all embrace the day and go sit down with a nice box of chocolate, watch a movie, think loving thoughts, and be happy for the future. I myself plan on picking out my future breeds of cats.

Now, if you are thoroughly upset by the day, I am truly sorry for you. But you and grumpy cat can go have your own little party

 xoxo

Mae

(don't forget to check out my past posts, especially as this one had little to do with fashion, and to follow me on pinterest!)