New Things to Come

We closed on our new home last month and we've been renovating and moving in all this month. It's an exciting, busy time. Beyond that, I'm also focusing a lot lately on shifting my writing career up a notch: writing more, submitting more, and hopefully publishing more.

All of this means new and exciting things for this blog. Very soon, I plan to launch a website where I can collect all my projects together: writing, blogging, photography, comedy, podcasting. At the same time, this blog is going to get a facelift and a new brand identity.

In the four years that I've been writing it, Fashion is Evolution has evolved far beyond its humble fashion-focussed beginning. From recipes to DIY projects to travelogues, I've enjoyed posting about a variety of lifestyle topics, and I expect the evolution to continue, especially with a new home to decorate.

So, in the very near future, Fashion is Evolution will become Bookish & Belle, a larger, greater project full of everything you've come to expect and even more.

Your support and continued readership during this exciting transition means so much to me. I can't wait for you to see what I've got in store.

The Liebster Award

Paulette of Rorschach, Coffee, and 1963 has nominated me for a Liebster award. Thanks, Paulette! The Liebster Award is given to up-and-coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers.

Apparentely, "liebster" is German and can translate to "dearest" or "beloved."

The rules of the award:
1. Link back to those who nominate you.
2. Answer the 10 questions the nominator has for you.
3. Nominate 5-11 bloggers with less than 200 followers.
4. Create 10 questions for your nominees.
5. Be sure to notify your nominees.

* * *

THE QUESTIONS PAULETTE ASKED ME:

1. What, or who, inspires you to blog?

My blog is 100% the product of my life, so life is my biggest inspiration. That said, my life and blog are definitely inspired and influenced by other bloggers and artists. Listing all my inspiration sources would be impossible, though, because I'm inspired by about 100 different things every day.

2. Which three songs are at the top of your playlist?

My top three most-played songs are all ones that comfort me when I've had a bad day or am really stressed out: "The Dress Looks Nice On You" by Sufjan Stevens, "Baobabs" by Regina Spektor, and "Gotta Have You" by The Weepies. I think all three of them achieved their most-played status during one particularly stressful quarter of my sophomore year of college. It's been six years since then, but nothing else can touch them in terms of play counts, possibly because nowadays I change up what I'm listening to more often and don't get so stuck on a few songs. 

3. If you could go back in time and be someone else, who would it be, and why?

I'd only do it as a temporary experiment; I definitely wouldn't want to leave my life. But the first thing that comes to mind is that I'd like to live for a week as Marie Antoinette to experience what life at Versailles was really like. Of course, that life would get really tiresome after more than a week, and I'd definitely want to skip out on the whole guillotine thing.

4. Which era of fashion do you feel most inspired by?

Definitely the 1920s, followed closely by the 1960s. They were both periods of breakout feminism and sexual revolution, which was very influential to the fashions of the time. I've written more extensively about it here.

5. What was your most awkward moment?

I honestly can't think of a great moment for this. It's not that I don't get embarrassed, but I usually don't dwell on embarrassing moments, so I end up forgetting them. 

6. What is your favorite movie, and why?

My all-time favorite movie is Amélie, because it is inspiring in every way that a movie can be inspiring. It's visually incredible, and it makes you want to be more open to serendipity and connections with the people all around you. Also, Amélie is a total fictional fashion icon. I wrote about her style here.

7. If you could have the vacation of your dreams, where would you go, and who would you take with you?

Ryan and I would vacation to Paris and it would be like a five-year long vacation. And we'd stay in an apartment, not a hotel. So, basically, we would just live in Paris for five years. 

8. What are the three beauty products you can't live without?

Moisturizer, perfume, and lip balm 

9. What is your favorite day of the week, and why? 

Saturday. I like to wake up a little later than I do on weekdays (but still pretty early) and walk down to the coffee shop. I love my neighborhood on Saturday mornings. Then, I usually either have a lazy afternoon or a productive afternoon (depending on what I'm more in need of that week) and I spend the evening socializing with family or friends over a delicious meal and a few drinks.

10. What was your favorite subject in school?

I loved school, and I had a lot of favorite subjects including fiction writing, biological anthropologie, U.S. womens history, and Shakespeare. 

MY NOMINEES:

THE QUESTIONS FOR MY NOMINEES:

1. Which super power would you choose between flying and invisibility? Why?

2. What's the most memorable outfit you've ever worn?

3. Who are your favorite fictional characters?

4. What's one food that's always best homemade and one food that's always best from the store?

5. If you could only wear one pair of shoes for the rest of your life, which would they be?

6. What is your favorite holiday and how do you celebrate?

7. What's the best theme party you've ever been to, and what theme party would you like to throw?

8. If you opened a food truck, what kind of food would you serve and what would your menu look like?

9. What's the best vacation you've even gone on?

10. What magazines would you subscribe to if money was no object?

My Weekend in Austin for the Texas Style Council 2013 Conference (In "Grams" and SLRs)

I must say that it's hard to put this past weekend into words. Luckily I took lots of photos, and they tell the story better than I could hope to with words alone. 

I had a wonderful time at the Texas Style Council 2013 conference. I was nervous going into it because I'm not very comfortable with mingling and meeting new people. I pushed myself to do it (because I knew it would be good for me), and I'm extremely glad I did. 

I ended up connecting with lots of bloggers who inspire me, as well as making friends with bloggers and brands I hadn't heard of before. I even met a few people who are newer to the game than I am, and I was able to share some of my experience and advice with them. 

Although the events were tons of fun, the craft cocktails were ever flowing, the classes were informative, and there was a shocking amount of swag, it was really the people that made this weekend such an incredible experience.

P.S. If you're wondering why my prom date looks like a younger, tanner, curlier version of me, it's because she's my cousin. Getting to stay with my family in Austin was just the cherry on top of the Peanut Buster Parfait that was this weekend, and I'm glad I could take Zoe to a crazy, swag-filled, photo-booth-ridden blogger prom before she goes to her own senior prom next year.