Friday's Five Facts: What makes me a Feminist

 Y'all know that I love fashion. This is a fashion blog isn't it? But today I want to talk about the other major F word in my life- feminism.

I am a feminist. Unlike girl genius extraordinaire Tavi Gevinson, it took me about 20 years of my life to be able to comfortably state that. This was partly due to the social stigma around the word, but mostly due to the lack of a label for feelings of frustration I can trace back to when I was labeled a slut by other girls just for having lots of guy friends and a boyfriend in 9th grade.

What makes me a feminist?

1.Equality. I hold a deep seeded belief that all people are equal regardless of gender identity, sex, race, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, socioeconomic status, weight, health, ability etc.

2. Opportunity. Going in line with the belief that all people are equal, I believe that all people deserve equal opportunities. I support equal pay, Title IX, and goddammit I want to see more women, LGBT people, and people of color in positions of power!

3. I hate double standards. I spent three semesters studying the sexual double standard as part of my undergraduate thesis. Double standards go beyond sexual activity. Women are held to different standards than men, and it's not fair.

4. Choice. I believe that all people have the right to make the decisions that affect their health, happiness, and well being. For me choice goes beyond reproductive rights. Choice is about options and freedom. It is the choice to marry, or not marry, whomever you want and to have children, or to not have children. It's the choice to stay home with those children or the choice to be a working parent. It's the choice to live where you want, wear what you want, eat what you want, and practice whatever religion you want.

5. Empowerment. Everyone deserves to find their own voice. Being a part of the VDay movement, working with Boston GLOW, and even starting this blog have helped me find mine.

Want to hear more? Next Wednesday, October 3rd, I'm partnering with Boston GLOW for "These Clothes Were Made for Talking". It will be a discussion and networking event for women, exploring fashion and feminism- what our clothes say about us and whether they should shut the hell up!

If you're in New England please come by! If you don't identify as a feminist, please don't be intimidated. We're just looking to have a good discussion, maybe a few drinks, and a lot of fun!  If you use the discount code "Spitfire" you'll get admission for $2! Purchase tickets HERE.

Friday's Five Facts: Why I blog

I am so happy to be blogging on the regular again. I only posted 12 times in August, and it was sad. I actually shocked myself with how much I miss blogging when life gets hectic. So I figured, what better to focus on for my first Friday facts in September than the reasons I blog in the first place?

1. I needed a hobby.
I used to work in a campaign environment. My job as a recruiter required that I consistently work around 55 hours a week, sometimes as many as 70 hours. When I transitioned to a transitional 40 hour work week I found that I got really lazy. I felt like I needed something productive to do with the extra time. Starting a fashion blog was a great choice because I didn't need buy any equipment or learn any new skills (besides awkwardly posing in front of a tripod). I was already reading fashion blogs, shopping and having fun with clothes, so why not document it?

2. To challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone and to build confidence in myself.

I have loved clothes for as long as I can remember, but after I gained weight in college I definitely started falling into the "dress for your body" trap. (I think that's total bullshit, but that's a story for another day) In other words, I avoided selecting pieces that would draw attention to the parts of my body that I was insecure about. I didn't always select items that I liked as much as items that were "flattering". Documenting what I wear challenges me to try new fabrics, colors, cuts, and combinations. An example? Red corduroy pants. Blogging is also challenging me to go to events and feel comfortable talking about myself to strangers. 

3. To present my point of view/ something a little different.
My point of view is something that is evolving everyday. I guess I market myself as the everywoman? I love to shop, but like most people I have limited means. As a result most of my pieces are thrifted or from affordable major retailers.I have a day job, a personal life, and responsibilities outside of blogging, so that comes through in my blog as well.  I'm approximately the "average size" for American women. I'm not glamorous at all! I take my pictures with a point and click, and I blog from my living room on a beat up Dell laptop that is literally on it's last leg, and I don't know HTML or have fancy editing software. I'm hoping to start infusing a little more of the feminist/ activist side of myself into the blog, but I haven't yet found a way to bring those things up organically.

4.  To connect with other awesome women!
This wasn't one of my goals when I started, but making online "friends" has been my favorite part of blogging. Reading your comments and your blogs makes my day. I am still discovering new blogs and bloggers that amaze me, and of course I have mad love for my non blogging readers too. (I used to be you!)

5. Did I mention that I love clothes?

Why do you blog/ don't you blog?

Have a great weekend!

Friday's Five Facts: Cities I love to visit.

In keeping with the vacation theme I've got going on this week. I thought I'd share with you five places I have never lived, but love to visit.

1. New Orleans, Louisiana
The first time I went to New Orleans was in April 2008. I  rode down from Maryland in a very small car with four other women from my college to attend V to the Tenth, a 10th anniversary celebration of the Vagina Monologues and the VDay movement. Since time was limited during that trip, and since I was still a few weeks shy of my 21st birthday I didn't get to truly enjoy the city. From what I did see during that weekend, I fell in love and knew I had to go back.

Outside the Super Dome in 2008

I made two more trips two New Orleans. One during my road trip/ move from Maryland to Austin, TX in June 2009, and another to visit my bff Katy in September 2010 when she lived there. I love the food, the music,the history, the lack of open container laws, and how friendly the people are. I was seriously bummed when Katy moved to the LA area, because it means I no longer have an excuse to visit New Orleans.

One of my favorite pictures from my 2009 trip- tombs in an above ground cemetery.

2. Seabrooke Island/ Charleston, South Carolina
Summers in highschool my mom, sister and I would meet up with my Aunt, Uncle, and Cousins  at a condo on Seabrooke Island, South Carolina. You may recognize Seabrooke as the location for the movie the Notebook. It's jut as beautiful as you'd imagine! We'd spend the week going to the beautiful beaches, and making the occasional trip into Charleston for some barbecue and to see the sites. I haven't been since I was about 16, but I'm dying to go back some day.

3. San Antonio, Texas
We didn't really take family vacations when I was a kid, but we did do a long weekend trip to San Antonio almost every summer. We'd go to the Alamo, the Riverwalk, Seaworld, and then do some back to school shopping at the outlet malls. I've made a few day trips there as an adult and have fallen back in love with the city. I love San Antonio because there is shopping, history, and delicious food all in one place!

In front of the Alamo in 2009

3. Washington, D.C.
Other than Boston, DC is the only major East Coast city I can see myself living in. I lived in Takoma Park, MD (about 5 blocks from the District) for about two months in summer 2008 and I've spent a lot of time in the DC area visiting friends, attending events, and sight seeing. DC has a ton of history, some really amazing restaurants, a great transit system, and lots of green space. I love the cherry blossoms in the spring, the Folk Life festival in the summer, and the National Christmas Tree in the winter. I also love going to the National Zoo and the Smithsonians because they're all free!

My favorite DC memory is definitely attending President Obama's inauguration in January 2009. It was so cold!

 4. New York City, New York
As a theater buff and fashion lover, I guess it's impossible not to love New York. I have only been into the city a few times, but I always enjoy myself. Mike is from just outside of the city, so I hope many more visits are in my future. As fun as it is to visit, I have no desire to ever live in NYC. It's just too big for me!

In front of the Empire State Building, 2007

Rockefeller Plaza, 2007

5. Baltimore, Maryland
One of my biggest regrets is that I lived in Maryland for 8 years but only made it up to Baltimore a handful of times. It really is a fun, quirky city (think of how it's portrayed in John Waters movies, but take it down a few notches). Mike and I have talked about moving to the Baltimore area in a few years, so maybe I'll be seeing lots of it in the future.

Friday's Five Facts: Where I'm from 8/3

Today I thought I'd answer what I find to be one of life's most complicated questions- "Where are you from?"

1. I was born in Columbus, Ohio. I lived in and around Columbus until just after my 7th birthday, but I haven't lived in Ohio since then. My mom and my sister moved back to Ohio in 2009 when my mom and step dad got divorced,  so I spend all of my holidays there. Although it is where my family lives, Ohio just isn't home to me. To me Ohio is Christmas!

Ohio Santa ornament from Designs by Angie on Etsy

2. In the summer of 1994 my mom, her new husband and I road tripped from Columbus to Kingsville, Texas where we lived for the next 3 1/2 years and where my little sister was born. At the beginning of 5th grade we moved to another small town just outside of Corpus Christi-  Portland, Texas.  We lived there until the start of 9th grade. Portland feels like a home town to me every time I go back there, and I still keep in touch with friends from Jr. High. I feel lucky that I got the chance to grow up on the Texas Gulf Coast because it meant lots of hot, sticky summers at some really beautiful beaches.

Sand Dunes at Padre Island National Sea Shore Source

 3. In 9th grade my Step Dad got stationed at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Southern Maryland. I lived in St. Mary's County Maryland from 9th grade through the end of college. (I went to St. Mary's College of Maryland, MD's public honors college.)  Although my family hasn't lived there since 2005 (they moved right after I graduated highschool), Southern Maryland feels like home to me more than anywhere else in the country. I lived there for 8 years, which is longer than I've lived any where else. I try to make a visit to Maryland at least once a year to see friends and familiar places. Mike and I have even talked a little about moving to the DC/ Baltimore area after he's done with grad school.

At Somolons Island in Southern Maryland in May 2011

Watching the sun set over the St. Mary's River in 2009

4. After college (and a terrible break up) I felt like I needed to go on an adventure. I got a job as a campaign organizer and fulfilled a long standing dream of moving to Austin, TX. Austin is an amazing city. I instantly felt at home there, and it was nice to get back to my Texas roots. I loved the pace of Austin, the food, the music, the people. I really thought I'd found my new hometown. Unfortunately, the dream was short lived, but the journey was awesome and I met my best friend!

Mini Golf in Austin. Summer 2009 with my bff Katy

5. My job asked me to move to Boston in December 2009. Given the economy at that point in time,  I felt like I had to take them up on it or risk loosing my job. I begrudgingly moved from my Central Texas paradise to cold, snowy Boston in the middle of the winter. To be honest, I hated Boston the first 15 or so months I lived here. It wasn't until the Spring of 2011 that I really started to fall in love with the city and it's conveniences. I still hate the winters, but I'm happy here.

Boston City Map Letter Press from Gooseberry Designs on Etsy

Friday's Five Facts: Family 7/27

Now that I'm a little over six months into this fashion blogger journey I've been thinking a lot about what I'd still like to achieve with this blog . One of the things that I think I need to work on is injecting a few more personal touches/ pieces of my personality into the blog. So I'm starting a new (hopefully weekly) feature called "Friday's Five Facts". Each Friday I'll include some photos and five things you might not know about me. I'll focus each week around a theme. This week I'm going to focus on my family.

 1. I have a sister, Sierra, who is 8 1/2 years younger than me. Since I used to change her diapers and rock her to sleep at night I am in complete denial about the fact that she turns17 in September. I seriously can't believe that she's a full fledged teenager now and will be graduating high-school in less than two years!

At the beach in summer 2008

Christmas morning 2011

2. My mom is awesome. She had me when she was really young and was a single mom for the earlier part of my childhood. She is a single mom again now and I admire how hard she works to make a great life for her and my sister.

Mom and I, Christmas 1992. Check out our awesome early 90s style.

At my college graduation in 2009.

3. I am incredibly close with my grandmother. She is an amazing hardworking and nurturing person, and the first person I call if I'm having a really bad or really good day. 

4. My biggest regret of my 20s (thus far) is not spending enough time with my family. They live in the Columbus Ohio area and it's just so hard/ expensive to get out there more than once a year.

L to R Mom, Aunt, Grandmother, Sister and Me at my College in 2009

5. My bff, Katy, is awesome. Sometimes I can't believe we've only known eachother for a little over three years, because she seriously feels like family.  She lives all the way on the other side of the country, near L.A., and I miss her like crazy. Her birthday is tomorrow. Happy birthday boo!

Katy and I on Halloween 2009 I'm wearing a peacock burlesque outfit and she's dressed as "Don't ask, Don't tell"

 Let me know what you think of the new feature, or if there are any topics you'd like me to cover. Have a great weekend!