Really, how ridiculous is that? But because I was putting all this pressure on myself to create something perfect the first time around (I do this often, and it is often the source of my frustration), I was so afraid to tackle the project that it never got done.

Do you know how good you get or how much you learn from doing nothing? Mmm-hmm, you guessed it. Zero equals zero. Even I know that, and I got C’s in math. Except in geometry, which is the biz. Anyway.

I had to give myself permission to mess up. Not only did I give myself permission to mess up (because why do things halfway?), I made it mandatory.

I said to myself,

Self. You must make a big honkin’ mess of this whole thing. When you’re finished, it should be blatantly obvious to anyone who watches that you are a goofball and a complete amateur. The results should be so horrifically bad that you never want to show anyone for fear of public shaming by a mob of angry villagers wielding torches.

And then you’ll post it for all to see.

When I changed my mindset, screwing up became my goal. And guess how much I learned? A lot more than I did waiting to magically achieve newscaster-esque perfection on the first go-round using a program I’ve only used a few times.

Swap haul video

Note to self: face powder is a must. Sigh.

So, I’m passing on the assignment. Stop putting so much pressure on yourself and find something to really f*ck up. Create a really ugly website using tables(!); take blurry, grainy pictures of the weeds in your garden; make an ice cream and fried chicken casserole; wear white patent leather sandals with fishnets. DO IT. Own it. F*ck-ups lead to freedom.

Look, everybody messes up. Sometimes you have to just do it. It’s not a mistake if you learn from it, and if you learn something, you’re already moving forward.

You have my permission, so…what will you f*ck up?

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Surprisingly (to me), I found ten items I was ready to part with–I have a hard time letting go of clothes–and managed to bring home a few new things in support of what I’ve decided to deem “sustainable shopping.” What? It’s a real movement.

Clothes kept coming in as people arrived, so there was plenty to choose from.

The place was packed with swapper-shoppers and filled with sweltering heat. No air conditioning + 90 degrees + lots of people = sweat dripping down my face. I tried not to sweat on the clothes up for grabs, but I’m not making any promises. Launder your stuff, ladies.

Rosie from The Brush Factory doing some on-the-spot alterations. Brilliant.

I have a habit of buying stuff that doesn’t fit from thrift stores and convincing myself that I’ll get it altered, or even less likely, promising to alter it myself using my handy DIY skills. Needless to say, none of this ambition leads to any actual productivity.

Whirly Girl + Kitchenette macaroons

However, I am productive when it comes to procuring anything even remotely dessert-y, so after I’d bagged my goodies from the swap, I marched straight over to the Whirly Girl truck and indulged in a macaroon. Which I insist on over-pronouncing in French as macarON. ‘Cause I’m pretentious like that.

Have you ever been to a clothing swap? Did you come home with anything good?

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Let’s see:

I spent last Sunday running up and down Main Street like a crazy person during Second Sunday in OTR. After taking hundreds of pictures, chatting up vendors and shop owners, and trying to eat as much as possible (a favorite pastime), I was sweaty and exhausted.

Then I had a meeting.

I’m working on another magazine project, and we met at a cafe to discuss the mock-up I’d created and a bunch of other logistical issues. I was pleased to discover that I know stuff! Have you ever been surprised/impressed at how much you know concerning a particular issue or skill? I’m really getting into this custom publishing thing…

After the meeting, I walked outside to hop on my bike and finally go home, and my bike was…gone. The cable lock was still there, dangling innocently from the meter. The combination was fully locked, yet no bike in sight.

I was pissed.

The bike wasn’t one of those cutesy riding-around-in-a-full-skirt-with-a-basket-of-flowers-while-the-Sartorialist-takes-your-picture deals, either. It was a full-on Schwinn man’s mountain bike, all rough and tough and perfect for riding around the ‘hood.

I walked my tired self home, abandoned bike lock in hand, ready to start swingin’ and take out whoever might’ve taken my bike.  Trust, I was ready to do serious damage to somebody’s cranium. Now I just feel silly for not locking it more securely, though that still doesn’t give anyone the right to steal. Lesson learned.

For my fellow ride or die biznitches, here’s how you should lock your bike:

The more you know *sweeps arm in rainbow motion*

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Jewelry sponsor Serket Jewelry had tons of gorgeous pieces, including a substantial collection of statement necklaces. I’m dreaming of wearing 6-7 at a time, like ancient Egyptian pectorals.

DJ Storm Bennett kept everyone entertained (he’s obvs. a ham for the camera–he struck a pose as soon as he saw my lens pointed at him), and I finally met Kasmira of What I Wore Today, who was wearing a really cute vintage-y looking dress and belt.

We had the chance to go “backstage” (back-bridge?) before the show to see the clothes, meet the models, and chat with the hair and makeup artists. I ran into two friends from Cincinnati Fashion Week–Nathan was coordinating and styling the show, and Nicole gathered the survivor models and hair team for photos and introductions.

Breast cancer, diabetes, and heart health warriors and their physicians.

Around 9, the sky turned dusky, the music pumped up, and the show started!

The models had to walk a looong way in some pretty precarious footwear, but everyone looked lovely in their ALK Fashion dresses.

Thanks to Amy at Cincy Chic for a great event for, not one, but three great causes!

Images: Tamia, Brandy K.

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This is what I’ve been doing:

• Trying to get up early and run/walk (ralk?) for at least 20 minutes in the morning. I managed to make it happen four of the last six days, so…we’ll see.

• Working on the next issue of Style Sample magazine. For some reason, putting it together doesn’t get easier.

• Catching up on “The Young and the Restless.” Jack and Victor are secretly in love, I swear.

• Derailing my transition to vegetarianism by eating at the meat-a-palooza known as Boi Na Braza. Two steps forward…

• Unearthing clothes and shoes I forgot I even owned–just in time for summer!

• Trying to find the nerve/time/patience to do a video blog.  Can anyone explain why my voice sounds so different outside of the confines of my (admittedly oversize) head?

• A number of other things too goofy/stressful/boring to mention.

So…what did I miss?

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What are your plans?

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Ming Makes Cupcakes

I don’t know who this Ming person is, or why she feels the need to torture me so (she knows I’m not gonna bake), but her cupcakes have been messing with my sugar-addled mind.

Feminine, floaty blouses

The drapier and pastel-ier the better.

From Queen’s Wardrobe

Home decor blogs

Maybe I’m in the mood to decorate, maybe I’m in the mood to move…But I probably won’t do either anytime soon. So, I fantasize:

Images: The Paris Apartment (imagine what you could do with those chairs!), Visual Vamp, Alkemie, Coco+Kelley, Sketch 42

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To celebrate, on Saturday I headed to a…well, a celebration in Over-the-Rhine’s Gateway Quarter. There were crafts and clothing and jewelry (oh, my):

The combination of the cross-and-black lace earrings and wooden rings  with biblical figures (from St. Theresa’s– they’re back in Pendleton!) totally put me in a Madonna-circa-Like A Prayer mood.

This shirt made me snicker.

There was art for sale:

As well as art on the street:

How sweet is that?

Anyone who knows me, knows that 90% of the reason I leave the house revolves around the possibility of eating good food. I pretty much devoured the tacos from Senor Roy’s Taco Truck in 30 seconds, and indulged in a cool lemon-y/pomegranate-y treat from Dojo Gelato in the name of supporting local businesses. ‘Cause I’m thoughtful like that.

It only took about 12 seconds before this was nothing but a plastic cup with a little gelato juice in the corners.

Good times.

How was your weekend?

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My new Nikkor 55-200 lens was waiting for me when I got home on Friday (woohoo!), so I hit Final Friday with Friendboy and tested it out a bit.

Of course, my first subject was Beau the cat, who cooperated for approximately 12 seconds before going back to sleep. I also took a shot of the fragrant (lavender?) bush that makes the entire block smell lovely.

Beau-bear/Beau-bunny/Buns/etc., the bush that brightens my day

We were walking past the Over the Rhine Chamber of Commerce when chamber president Brian Tiffany invited us in for drinks and a tour. Who could say no to that?

Nice digs and good food at the new OTR Chamber

Colorful abstract art (my favorite kind) on display at the OTR Chamber

We continued on to Main Street to see what was happening there:

There was a neat art demo at Venue 222, where this gentleman showed how he acts as a sort of “medium” for artists with disabilities.

There was an exhibit featuring illustrations by DAAP students at Atomic Number 10.

I really wanted to buy something, but I was, um…strongly discouraged.

I could spend hours searching through the records and movies at the new spot that just opened up next to “my office” aka Iris Bookcafe.

Amazing glass work by artist Jamie Payne at one of the galleries. I have absolutely no use for a glass grenade, but I WANT ONE.

On Sunday, I managed to drag myself away from my computer to make a yummy barbecue chicken “pizza” (no pizza crust on hand, so I used flour tortillas) with fresh mozzarella, smoked gouda, and fresh basil.

It looked a little weird, but it was goooood.

How was your weekend?

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I attended an AIGA event about the future of design on Thursday evening (possibly more on that later), but I arrived at the fashion show just in time to see the Lisa Malanij and Lindsey Lusignolo collections strut down the runway. There was a certain dichotomy on display: Lisa’s collection would surely look at home on the likes of punk-pop divas like Rihanna and Ciara, while Lindsey’s vintage-inspired flapper dresses and satin gowns practically cried out for Dita von Teese. Divergent styles, indeed.

I tried to keep going, but was so tired from a full day at work + the design event that I didn’t even bother to change out of my flats (me! in a club!)—I drank my Shirley Temple, took a few not-so-great photos, grabbed some Chipotle, and headed home.

Friday was the “big dog” event, complete with VIP section, an appearance by Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory, and runway finale by Cincinnati-bred designer David Meister.

I volunteered to work the VIP section, but things got a little wacky with the guest lists not being printed properly (was anyone else reminded of that “Kell on Earth” episode with the Chado dramz?), so I was recruited to man the VIP area in the main ballroom. I tried to focus on taking pictures and convincing myself that my shoes felt as good as they looked as I checked people’s wristbands, but it was all for naught.

Vendors were set up in the main lobby, and the line to get in was loooong.

The crowd waited (im)patiently for the show to begin, while the event hosts ham it up on stage.

I nabbed a seat early, but wound up spending most of the show on the floor at the foot of the runway with a few other photographers. People kept asking me if I was a photographer. I almost lied and said yes, but I figure I should at least get a real flash before I start telling that fib.

The show started with St. Louis-based TrashBiscuit and included 12 designers, including Cincinnati collective The Brush Factory (remember the article about Rosie in issue #5 of Style Sample?), Grace Mae, Arbitrage, Mila Pershyna, Daequan, Anne Pachan, Lisa Malanij, Amy Kirchen, Laura Dawson, Amy Longo, and David Meister.

This vest and dress were my favorite pieces from The Brush Factory’s collection–which received enthusiastic applause, though their music was apparently changed sans notification–and I’ve already checked into having a custom version of the dress made. Hey, they had the flats right there!

Trash Biscuit was fun, colorful, and raunchy–like Richie Rich’s wet dream.

Are you telling me that Lisa Malanij look isn’t perfect for a Ciara video? Emily, call her stylist stat!

David Meister’s collection was elegant and refined, as expected. My personal taste is much less so, but the dresses were lovely nonetheless.

I was too pooped to hit the after party (getting old…), so I finished** my wine, hopped on my bike (probably not the best idea since I was operating on an empty stomach), and wobbled my way home.

Any other Cincinnati Fashion Week attendees out there? What did you think?

*Or should it be Franish?
**By “finished,” I mean I drank half of the glass and left the rest behind. I’m kind of a lightweight.

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