Random Sunday (Mother's Day)

LONDON—1971.

To Be a Fashion Blogger

Been reading a bunch of fashion blogs (and blogging up a storm!) today in preparation for my new gig as an online fashion writer for Tangent Mag (yay!). I will be blogging on trends, new lines etc — but I am specifically talking about the bloggers that take pics of their daily outfits. You know them, there are millions. Although I find them entertaining and have posted a few outfit photos of myself here on Another Zoe Day (before swearing them off), I can't help but question the high criteria that comes with becoming a fashion blogger.

I am the first to admit that I am a little vain (maybe even more than a little), but does this take vanity to whole new level? I have heard both arguments. Maybe it does, but I love the fact that real people have become the new model. These blogs are so much more inspiring then a fashion spread, and these ladies are really real not just "real girls" made up for a special section in a mag.

Also, is it a fashion blogger requirement to have a boyfriend? I mean who else is taking all these pics?  Who else would be willing to deal with taking photos of you posing day after day without getting to see you without those clothes at night? And of course you have to be pretty, or pretty confident, which in turn makes it easier to find a boyfriend/photographer. Okay that is my rant. What do you think?

Got this pic of a fashion blogger meet-up off WishWishWish.

If I Was Getting Married...

...this might just be the perfect dress. Vintage, simple, and look at that belt. So purdy. But a dress is not a reason to get married, right?

Thanks for the idea HomeRunBallerina.

Memories...

This songs takes me back to those first months in NYC five years ago with Megan and Rebecca like no other.

I have to tell myself this everyday....

Bratty in Berlin

I was a bit disappointed that I was going to miss the She & Him show at Lido in Berlin while I was in Scotland. But after having coffee with my friend Nani who attended, I am happy that I didn't fork out the money to see the Hollywood starlet who is not supposed to act like a Hollywood starlet, well, act like  a Hollywood starlet. I will admit a part of me would have been entertained by it, but not for the asking price. And I really expected Zooey's vintage dresses and quirky cute persona to carry the show.

Yes the attire was there, but no sweet as sugar Zooey Deschanel. The relatable indie darling who makes music that sounds as honey-like as she appears, was maybe in a foul mood or maybe is just a bit of a diva. Granted this is all hearsay as I was not in attendance and I was also told that her voice is amazing live, but it sounds like her onstage behavior from berating the audience about the flash on their cameras to shouting out "Hello Denmark" is what one would expect from one of her celebrity peers. Is Zooey really just like the rest of them? Kind of disappointing if so. Has anyone else seen her live and had this experience? I am dying to know.

Scotland Week Roundup

In the last year of my life I have ended up some places that I really never thought I would go. First off the biggie: Berlin. Although I always knew it was a certain kind of cool, it was never really on my radar until my bro decided to spend the summer here. Now look at me, living in Deutschland with my Deutsche man. Then there was Umbria, Italy. I knew I would go to Rome one day (and I did) but I never expected to end up in the Italian country side with three generations of Cahns.

Then last week was Scotland, another place I never gave much thought to. But my brother just moved to Glasgow from London so my Mom and I spent a few days there (there are an over abundance of thrift shops in that city FYI) eating my bro's amazing cooking (he still is the best chef I know). Then he and his wife took us on a weekend getaway to the Isle of Mull. This place is pretty much a wildlife preserve on the edge of the earth, where you sightsee (in a non-touristy way) all day and eat fabulous meals until you fall asleep soundly breathing the crisp air at night. I seriously have never tasted such fresh air in my life or eaten so much food (definitely gained some pounds) or seen so many cute little animals. In one day we actually saw what we coined "the trifecta of cute," a lamb, an otter and a puffin. OMG. Okay let's cut to the chase with a roundup of my amazing vacation and some pics. If you need more check out the flickr.

It all went something like this: Andrew-made thai food, futbol, Glasgow sightseeing, Andrew-made made monk fish deliciousness, Glasgow shopping, the best Indian food I have ever had, scenic drive, clam chowder, toffee, ferry trip, baby lambs (no that is not redundant), cows, sheep, gin and tonic cocktail hour, three-course meal, ferry ride number two, UK birthplace of Christianity, fields of green next to white sand beaches, holy sun, choppy boat ride, seals, rock formation island, cliff hike, puffins, otter spotting, three-course meal again yes, sound sleep, hike, sea eagle, picnic at a castle, road trip, shrimps and crab claw. Yeah that is right. What? Uh huh. Vacation. Now I am on a diet.

Baby Sadie

Spent the week in Scotland with this little munchkin. My brother Andrew and his awesome wife Catherine's ten month baby girl is a little bundle of laughs and smiles (although these pics might not really show it). She is one happy social baby, who at the same time knows what she wants and won't take no crap from no one (as these pics do show). Until recently, I never really had any babies or little people in my life being the youngest in my family and all. But Sadie is now my third niece (the oldest just turned three) and it is such a joy to be able to hang with all of them and see their similarities and differences as they grow.

Mellow Yellow

After coming back from a scenic and relaxing week in Scotland (pics on their way), my Internet greeted me with all the photos from the Met's Costume Institute Gala "American Woman" on Monday night. Per usual of red carpet events these days there was nothing that I really fell in love with — certainly things I liked (Erin Fetherston, SJP, Diane Kruger), ones that made my jaw drop in horror (January Jones, Kristen Stewart, Carrie Mulligan), and a whole lot in between. And where were the Olsens? I can always count on MK and usually Ashley to impress at this event. MK's dress in 2007 may just be one of my favorite red carpet gowns of all time.

But the point of this entry is the dress worn by Mellisa George. It was simply lovely, not necessarily may fave but it reminded me or maybe just made me realize my affinity for the yellow dress on the red carpet. There is a daring and vintage feel to a yellow gown, two qualities that I always fall for. A definite all time fave of mine is Michelle William's 2006 Oscar gown with the red lips and all. And these worn by Renee and Angelina both are fabulous in cut and color. All three have a knotted draping fabric thing that I like going on. I think that if I was to walk the red carpet I may have just had an epiphany the yellow is the way to go.

Yes Please!

One of my fave bands of the naughts The Walkmen all dolled up for GQ. You can't help but love a man in a well-tailored suit, let alone five of them making sweet music. I wonder if their new album coming out in June will be as good as they look.

Tschüs!

The planes started just in time! I'm off to Glasgow for a week for some r & r and family time. Maybe I'll be online here and there so you don't feel too lost without me :)

Bird Obsession

I think my obsession with balloons has been replaced with an affinity for a whole different kind of flying object. I have always loved bird images (not necessarily birds themselves) — I had a canvas stretched print of three cranes on my wall in Brooklyn, have contemplated a bird tattoo time and time again and last season I bought a vintage sweater with stripes and swallows on it that I just could not get enough of. I really am dying for a bird print summer dress or skirt or even better shorts and a certain designer brand spring line is not helping. I guess now these pics (all from Flickr) will have to do.

Olfactory Weirdness

Yesterday I had two separate moments where my nose was filled with an aroma that took me back to a certain yet unspecific time in my childhood and warmed my heart just a little bit. To me there is nothing better than the smell of a just picked tomato still on the vine (I refrained from posting a photo of this due to the over-abundance of fruit and veggie pics on my blog as of late), I am sure it comes from always having tomatoes growing in the garden as a kid. And there is something about the smell of pavement after a spring afternoon rain that gets me too. Not too sure where that one came from though. It's strange how people are attracted to certain smells that not everyone would necessarily find pleasing — some people love the smell of gasoline or matches. Do you fancy any random smell?

Photo from Flickr.

Happy Birthday Maisie!

This little chica, who also happens to be my niece, turns three today. Wish I could be in NYC with her and the fam eating cake and dancing to the Black Eyed Peas (great kid music BTW). Love and miss you Miss Moo.

Berlin Weekend Roundup

I could have felt a bit loser-ish this weekend, as I did not go out either night. Friday we stayed home, read and went to bed early. Saturday I actually stayed in alone and K went off to some party at a squat house. But the thing about Berlin that I really love, despite the dance-all-night-parties at said squat houses, clubs, and beach bars, are the days. And FriDAY, SaturDAY and SunDAY were totally worthy. The sun was out and I did a little walking, bike riding, shopping (found a straw [sorta boater] hat that actually fits my big head and took Megan's advice and went for it) and bbqing. Not bad, not bad at all.

It all went something like this: the never ending Savage Detectives, ubahn wild goose chase, vintage clothes by the kilo, Brazilian snacks in the sun, walk in Schöneberg, berlin flower painting purchase # 2, homemade salsa, Mexican feast, trip to Wedding,Görlitzer once again, first shorts without tights day, first bbq of the season, Spanish Bavarian hipsters, frisbee, evening tree house beers.

Random Sunday (Better Late than Never)

NEW YORK—A young family naps in Central Park, 1969.


This family knows how to do it right.

Oh yeah and...

...we can't forget white asparagus. The Europeans sure love it.