Free Reads

I've had the week off, but my roomie hasn't...which has resulted in a lot of late nights, falling into the internet black hole. Here are a few interesting reads I've found, which are mostly related to feminism and race issues. 

Before you write off the feminist blogs (please, don't!) remember that good, healthy feminism means women are free to shave their legs, wear pink dresses, and love men just as they are free to do refuse to any of those things.* I wouldn't dare direct you somewhere promoting anything but good, healthy feminism!

• Deeply Embarrassed White People Talk Awkwardly About Race
• Why I Am a Black Male Feminist
• Feminist Ryan Gosling (a hilarious and intelligent counter-tumblr to Fuck Yeah! Ryan Gosling)
• Tumblr and blog of Danielle H, who created Feminist Ryan Gosling, full of interesting posts about feminism, race, positivity, and other heavy topics. Plenty of humor to make you giggle between thinking.
• Hairy Pits Club (thanks, Carissa!)
• Lipstick Feminism
• The Definition of Feminism, written by a young man. What is sexier than a male feminist? Nothing, in my book.

I'll round it out with a little eye and music candy from Leslie Hall, one of modern times' most glamorous musicians. Enjoy this smokin' jam, and feast your eyes on body positivity in live, dancing action. You might recognize some of the dancers, too...

*Good, healthy feminism also means all of these things are true for men as well. So go ahead and shave your legs and wear your dresses, gentlemen! Or don't!

Look Ma! No Hands! (A BIG OLE UPDATE)

I'm glad to be back to normal life for a couple of weeks before the BIG MOVE kicks into gear. This time is so, so precious.

 

Today, May 4th

Top: Vintage big girl's top, extra large for extra comfort, purchased with a Goodwill gift certificate, priced for $2.38

Belt: Thrifted vintage, $.25

Necklace: Vintage gold fringe pendant--looks like an octopus! Bought from Thrift Mart spring '11, $2.00

Jeans: Not pictured. Teen jeans bought new but old enough to have holes in the crotch now. $10ish?

Boots: Not pictured, vintage tan calf-high currently being held together with velcro, $4.38

Approximate Total: $19.00

An afternoon off with the beau always means THRIFTING. The vintage head scarf keeps me looking fresh (and crazy) while pulling things over my head again and again.

This handsome fella did my dishes. Hubba hubba!

 Tuesday, May 3rd: Sunglasses Inside Edition

Top: Vintage and extra large for extra comfort, $.75

Necklace: Tiger's Eye from Thrift Mart Spring '11, $1.75

Sunglasses: Taken home after a long stay at the work lost and found. If these are yours, you can claim 'em (and feel proud--these puppies are featured in a soon-to-be-released music video!)--FREE

Pants: End of season clearance rack, $5.00

Approximate Total: $7.50

Top and necklace detail.

Roommates.

Hilarious sewing failure of the week. A camera pouch with serious construction issues. Made from fleece and vintage fabric scraps, with plastic canvas inserts. NICE TRY, me.

XOXO, B

Reusing & Reducing Pt. 1: The Electric Razor

 This is the Remington electric razor for ladies. It's rechargable (no batteries to waste!), shower safe, easy to clean, and pretty reliable. I've been using electric razors since I began to shave, and have only had to invest twice in those 10+ years. For about $30--including eliminating the need for shaving gel-- it pays for itself in just a couple months. No more tossing out disposable blades and handles!

The shave may not be as silky-smooth as those triple-bladed lady razors, but the embarrassing look of stubble is definitely gone. The razor comes with different attachments for various uses--bikini line, just a trim, eyebrows, and close-shaves. The close-shave attachment certainly gets down far enough that you'll still feel like a "real lady." It's safer (no more cuts) and much faster, too!

Feminist bonus: the white and purple colors are mildly lady-like, but not obnoxious pink or floral like most "for her" products. One of my pet peeves--like this.

Disclaimer: This post is about my electric razor for my legs and underarms. Let's be frank here. I am indeed one of "those girls" that doesn't really shave either of those things but once a month. Yes, I firmly believe in a woman's right to choose whether or not she wants to shave (and whatever choice you make, I am totally happy for you, your arms and your legs). My furry legs are not in protest to any sort of forced femininity or an issue of principle. It's laziness. And clumsiness. And a sensitivity so great that you could tell my skin an off-color joke and it'd get irritated.

Shark Attack!

Half of my week is spent working at the coffee shop in the hospital. It's about as glamorous as it seems, but the coffee we make is still high quality, and I love the people I am surrounded by there. My co-workers are wonderful enough to be tolerated and enjoyed side-by-side in a glorified closet, and most of the customers are a real hoot. Still, it can't be a surprise that I don't have a lot fundamentally in common with the middle-aged nurses that overwhelm our clientele.

Here's an exchange I had with a very sweet customer as I pulled her some espresso, wearing my shark shirt:

Customer: I like your shirt! Did you get it on vacation?

Broke: Thank you! It's actually thrifted.

Customer: What?

Broke: Thrifted.

Customer: Where is that?

Broke: I got it from a thrift store.

Customer: Oh.

Broke: I sew, I bought it to cut the sharks out and applique them to other things, but I just can't stand to part the sharks from each other qiute yet.

Customer: They'd look great on a pillow or bed spread. For a little boy.

Broke: I'll probably put them on a dress.

Customer: ..............Oh.

Let's get it out of the way: I know this picture is ridiculous.

I want so badly to write a personal essay on the hidden meaning behind this exchange, how strange it must seem to some people that a GIRL! in a PRETTY FLORAL SKIRT! would wear a shirt covered in SHARKS! and dare to sew them onto something so feminine as a dress. But I won't, because it seems so cliche and obvious. Chances are if you read this, we share similar views on gender roles. So write your own damn essay!

Instead I'll tell you that this is an excellent example of how to remake your wardrobe for literally zero dollars. This t-shirt will stay in my rotation for as long as the magic lives, and then it will be transformed into something new and magical. For free! And there are so many sharks to use, I could probably create an entirely new, shark-based closet. Mmm hmm! (This also is a great way to extend the life of something dear but worn-out...simply cut out your favorite part(s) and reassign them to a newer t-shirt or skirt or bag or whatever you wish!)

Shirt: Thrifted, $.50

Skirt: Thrifted, $1.50

Leggings and Socks: Target, $6.00 and $2.00 respectively

Shoes: My beloved Justins, $4.38

Hair: Streaks of blue visible in the photo for once! Done by the very talented Kelsey Smart at the Fix Salon

Name tag: Required for work.

Approximate Outfit Cost: $16.50

So gender stereotypes, blah blah blah....After work I had a cafeteria dinner date with Jake (so romantic!), then went home to change out of my stinky attire for an evening of karaoke at Gatherings in the New Bo district. I'll close out with a few photo highlights:

Handsomest EKG tech you ever did see.

wa-POW! All I see is them legs and booty. Jessica sang Tina Turner at my request, Josh was her hype man.

Carissa proves that brown and black can look good when it's on a foxy lady. Not pictured: her yellow "safety flannel"

We spent a lot of time and energy taking glamour shots in these space dividers at Gatherings. Jake was a little uneasy and unbalanced, so we took a safety pose together. Black jeans, you are unflattering!

The back of the hoodie pictured above. Gifted to me for my birthday by my boo. This is made of 55% organic cotton and 45% recycled polyester, which makes it so soft and responsible! You can get one for yourself at Leslie Hall's site.