The Fashion Blogger’s Lament

Please allow me to vent
And share a lament
RE: my new fashion blog
(All original content!)

So where can I get
A real photographer
To shoot me so dope
Like the other bloggers?

Like Fashion Distraction
Or like Fashion Toast
Or Fashionista Talk
With their fierce outfit posts!

I have some key shoes
Outfits simple and nice
Designer labels paired
With those lesser priced

No, I’m not a model
And I’m not twenty-six
I’m not cutting-edge
Just off to the office

I’m not after dough
I just want to know
The posts that I craft
Aren’t so incognito

Could you follow me please
And visit each day
And comment when you
Have something to say?

Love and humor with style
Is what I’m about
This is Zealous Blonde
And I’m over and out.

Rock the Croc

Lacoste polo shirt, embroidered skirt from Ann Taylor, leather knot flats by Belle by Sigerson Morrison

I never sported a Lacoste shirt when I was younger, it is only recently that I've become enamoured with the little crocodile, the fantastic colors, and the quality pique fabric. I'm not preppy enough to pop the collar like the cool kids did in high school, though! Worn here, a tad too small, as Nina Garcia recommends, to the office with a khaki-colored skirt. Sorry there's no detail of the skirt's embroidery, but there is green in it that matches the polo.

Opinion: My Wounds Cry for the Grave

Man's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months
and have set limits he cannot exceed.
Job 14:5

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Psalm 139:16

Have you ever had a near-death experience? Perhaps you have been in an accident, or had a medical problem, that you are amazed that you lived through. I know people with incredible stories; people who say they should have died, and are mystified at why they are still here.

Or how about this: have you ever known someone who was supposed to live, but did not make it? Some seemingly inconsequential illness, or random action, resulted in death, and those familiar with that person are left in shock.

I have a theory. I’ll try not to get all Final-Destination on you, my friends. But my theory is simply this: we each have a set number of days to live, and there is nothing we can do to change it.

This theory is based on scriptures like the ones above, and a belief that though he gives us free will, God is in control.

I cannot prove this theory. Perhaps it is a simplistic view of life that conveniently resolves questions as to why one person survives a plane crash, while another dies while sitting in the safety of their living room. But I like to think that no matter what I do, whether I wear my seatbelt or not, whether I exercise every day or not, whether I jump out of a window or not, if it’s not my time to go, it's just not my time to go.

I often hear about unsuccessful suicide attempts. I often hear of athletes who are in perfect health--dying. People often call it a stroke of luck, or a freak accident. But what if it is neither of those?

I am not advocating reckless living here, please understand this. However, instead of exercising and eating right and going to the doctor to prolong my life, I do these things to increase the quality of it.

This theory could release some people who carry a guilty burden with them, who wonder if they could have prevented the death of someone they love, perhaps someone they are responsible for, like a child or family member.

And it becomes more difficult to believe this theory when a large group of people die at the same time, due to genocide or epidemic. I don’t have an answer for that.

But as for me, it helps me not worry about how I am going to die someday. It helps me not worry about my loved ones when I die. It helps me to live life freely and focus on my relationship with God, because I will die some day and stand before him. I may not know the day, but he does, and my security will rest with him.

How I Wear It: The Crochet Trend

pale blue sweater by Calvin Klein, crochet skirt from Wet Seal (circa 1995), cream patent slingbacks by Stuart Weitzman, Death Star Debris necklace by Deka Ray

khaki crochet vest from Express (circa 1995), white t-shirt from Banana Republic, white ankle pants from LOFT, leather flats by Belle by Sigerson Morrison, handbag from Dooney & Bourke, Death Star Debris necklace by Deka Ray

I read that crochet is a current micro-trend. It must have also been a trend in the mid-1990s, because both crochet pieces I have, I have had for a long, long time. The crochet skirt is a favorite of mine, though it is a little loose, it has shades of blue, green, and gold in it, and I can wear it with many different tops. I happened to wear one of my favorite necklaces on both of these outfit days, I mostly bought it because it was inspired by Star Wars, but I like it for many other reasons too!

Click for larger photos!

Hey...Where's All The Chocolate?

I really, really love chocolate. Since my current surroundings are woefully devoid of it, I am daydreaming about my favorites. They are, in no particular order:

*best cake: flourless chocolate cake from…anywhere

*best ice cream (tie): chocolate cake batter ice cream from Coldstone or chocolate fudge brownie ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s

*best drink: Chantico drinking chocolate from Starbucks
(sadly, it was discontinued in 2005)

*best milkshake: Ghirardelli’s chocolate shake from the Ghirardelli Café in Chicago
As for cookies and chocolate bars, I like pretty much anything. These stand out as slightly better than the rest:

*best cookie: chocolate chocolate chip cookie from Cheryl & Co.

*best bar: solid dark chocolate bar from Godiva. Because my husband purchases them for me on special occasions.

Mmmmmm…that was fun! What are your favorites, my friends?

One Outfit, Two Jackets!

silk shell blouse by Nine West, brown pants from LOFT, shoes by Charles David.

Two different days, same exact outfit except. Wore a cream Ann Taylor jacket one day, a BCBG brown plaid jacket the other. Is this what is called a re-mix?

Browns and creams make up a significant part of my wardrobe. Love those colors when it comes to clothes!

The Five Year Lipstick…or, I Now Own Enough Makeup to Last the Rest of my Life

Some people have peer pressure. Some people feel pressure to perform or succeed. I often feel another kind of pressure, so odd that I can’t categorize it. Let me try to explain.

I feel pressure when I walk into a bookstore or library. I suddenly feel overwhelmed with the need to read everything there. If I don’t, I will be missing something important that could change my life!

I feel pressure when I look at my ever-growing collection of cookbooks. I received no less than five cookbooks for my wedding, after owning…zero. And people still keep giving me cookbooks, or if they don’t, they give me magazines with recipes in them. I feel pressure to make almost every single recipe I come across. As a result, I mark each recipe in my cookbook when I use it, so I don’t make the same one twice in my pursuit to cook everything between its covers. It’s a special kind of torture.

I also feel pressure to use every single lipstick, eyeshadow, and nail polish I own, on a regular basis, year after year, until they go bad, melt, or get smashed.

Now I think for the average makeup-wearing girl, this wouldn’t pose a problem. But for some reason, even though I wear a full face of makeup every single day of the year, the only makeup I ever use up is foundation, mascara, powder, and blush. The rest of my makeup lives on. And on. And on.

I’ve never purchased eyeshadow. Almost all the eyeshadows I own were given to me by people who received them in their department store brand’s Bonus Gift bags. They didn’t want them so now I have them. Imagine the pressure I feel to use up these free shimmering pearls of color!

Now here is a lipstick I am really excited about. It’s Lancome’s Rouge Magnetic in Smooch, my fave red lipstick. I think I’ve had it for more than five years. They don’t make it anymore, the line has been discontinued. Do you see how it’s almost used up? The day it’s gone will be a giant victory for me, in about about two years.

Do you see this concealer? I remember when I purchased it because it was the year my sister got married, 2002. I wore it in her wedding. I’m still trying to use it up.

I hope some day I will be able to break free of all these strange anxieties. Especially since I know all this makeup has (had?) expiration dates. Until then, my friends, please, please don’t give me any more lipstick.