I’ve always had a fascination with everything from the 1960’s. I’m not sure if it’s because of the return of Mad Men, or Zooey Deschanel making “cute, adorkable hipster” a popular look, but right now I’m particulary obsessed with anything Mod.

Dark eyeliner, big lashes, color blocking, mini dresses, bold graphic patterns, peter pan collars, oversized sunglasses – I love it all!

When I got an email from Piperlime highilghting their current Mod-ish looks, I seriously wanted to buy everything.

Now all I need are some fake eyelashes and thicker bangs, and I’ll be swingin’ baby!

Come on – how can you not love this look:

You can’t. You can’t not love it.

Images from here and here.

A little piece of heaven

Posted on March 29, 2012 by carlieblissirwin

A quiet table in the sun at Starbucks on a day that’s warm enough to get a cold drink instead of a hot one. Google Reader on my phone and excellent 4G service. Motown playing in the background. The smell of fresh coffee. Also, I was having a good hair day.

Ahhhhh…

Fun with white balance

Posted on March 27, 2012 by carlieblissirwin

If you read my blog with any frequency, you know that I’m a pro at taking really crappy photos with my Android phone. I do have a nice digital camera, but it’s too bulky to lug around with me all the time. Sorry ’bout it!

Last week, I read this post with information from Justine on how to take good photos. And I think it might help drastically reduce the degree of crappiness when it comes to photos on this blog!

One thing that really seems to make a big difference is adjusting the white balance and not using flash unless absolutely necessary. I experimented with it a little this weekend, as you can see below. But please keep the phrase “work in progress” in mind… hopefully my photos will only get better from here!

Foggy Friday

Posted on March 26, 2012 by carlieblissirwin

Last Friday, it felt like I was walking home from work through a cloud. Which makes sense, because that was pretty much the case.

The whole city was nestled in a thick layer of fog, and I thought it was pretty cool. Things feel different when it’s that foggy outside – softer and quieter, with sort of a spooky, scary vibe. Not unlike a werewolf bar mitzvah.

Don’t get me wrong, my Friday nights are often foggy. But it’s a different kind of fogginess… you know how much I love my wine!

The wait is over. Almost.

Posted on March 23, 2012 by carlieblissirwin

It’s a big weekend, folks. HUGE!

(source)

The Hunger Games movie. The Mad Men season premiere. You better believe my pleasure centers are short-circuiting as I type this.

Sadly, due to scheduling conflicts, I will not be viewing The Hunger Games until April 6 – but it’s on my calendar! However, you can bet that come Sunday night, I’ll be parked on my couch for the 2-hour Mad Men premiere, gin & tonic (or perhaps a martini?) in-hand.

I need to know: How’s that hot-young-secretary-turned-trophy-wife working out for Don? Is Peggy staying sassy? And more importantly, how “mod” will her wardrobe go??

This might be the only time in my life when I’m looking forward to the end of the weekend.

You mean a woman can open it??

Posted on March 22, 2012 by carlieblissirwin

Most of you probably saw this on Cup of Jo, but holy hell.

I have a hard time believing these vintage ads are real, but I think they are. There’s a lot wrong with our country right now, but at least we can confidently say that our culture no longer finds it acceptable to treat women like this.

Looking back, these ads are pretty funny just because of how blatant and ridiculous they are. But they’re also completely maddening. People back then were messed up!

See more vintage ad sexism here.

St. Patrick’s Day

Posted on March 21, 2012 by carlieblissirwin

Guys, I’m not in my twenties anymore.

So instead of doing shots at 9 am, bar hopping and contributing to the general debauchery on St. Patrick’s Day (I once saw a girl pee. In a garbage can. In the middle of a bar.), we decided to celebrate like the classy old people we have now become.

In the afternoon, we had some friends over to drink mimosas in our back courtyard, then went to a Second City show (hilarious!), and had a nice meal under the stars at Orso’s italian restaurant.

But even though we did not partake in Irish car bombs or keg stands or beer bongs, we definitely heard all of this going on around us. Since it was such a nice day, our neighborhood was basically host to a huge block party – there were slutty, green, drunk people running around everywhere!

And of course, we managed to get a pitcher of green beer at Second City. Because it’s just not St. Patrick’s Day if your teeth don’t turn green.

Jealous

Posted on March 20, 2012 by carlieblissirwin

As I pass the beach on my way back to work and look out on all of the happy people frolicking and enjoying the beautiful weather, I can’t help but think one thing.

Who are these people?? Don’t they have to work? Or go to school??

Seriously, what’s the deal here? It’s 1 pm on a Tuesday.

They suck.

Spring is here!

Posted on March 20, 2012 by carlieblissirwin

Happy first day of spring!! Winter is finally over!!

I mean, MY GOD. With the plethora of sunny days, miniscule amount of snow and consistently way above average temperatures we’ve had, it’s been rough, friends.

For one thing, drug stores have a pretty limited amount of sunscreen for sale in February. And the bird-chirping and flower-blooming is getting way out of hand. Is anyone else worried that we might be trapped in a Disney movie??

And here’s the worst part about this winter: the 80-degree days cruelly forced my sickly porcelain-hued legs to make an appearance in public – THE WORLD WAS NOT READY FOR THAT.

So good riddance, winter! And welcome spring, where this warm weather is a bit more seasonally appropriate. Sheesh.

P.S. I hope you can detect the sarcasm here – because I’m laying it on pretty thick. 🙂

Earth to me!

Posted on March 16, 2012 by carlieblissirwin

Don’t you love Madewell? Of course you do. Who doesn’t? Look how cute:

For the past year or so, I’ve been somewhat obsessed with Madewell. But as far as I knew, there were no stores in Chicago. I’ve bought a few things online, but I’m old-fashioned and prefer to do most of my shopping in actual stores where I can be obsessively indecisive in public.

So here I was, getting ready to post an open letter to Madewell asking them to pleeeeease open a store in Chicago. I decided to do some quick research because, although it’s extremely rare, I am occasionally clueless and uninformed about things.

And then I found it – *record scratch!!* – there IS a store in Chicago! At Old Orchard mall in Skokie! And it’s been there since October! Whaaa??

Let’s just say I’ll be making a pilgrimage out to Skokie sometime soon, and it won’t be to visit the Holocaust Museum. But it might include a side trip to Barnaby’s. Because pizza is a priority in my life. Always.