After much mulling over, I have decided to discontinue this blog, Don't Be Losyang. It was fun while it lasted and ideas would come to me, but alas, a style chronicler, I am not.
I have decided to leave commentary on the world of fashion, design and style to those more capable and honestly, have better credentials than I do, like:
Manila Fashion Observer
The Sartorialist
Garance Dore
Desire to Inspire
Chez Larsson
Door Sixteen
This blog brought to the forefront my struggle to not fall into the trap of becoming just another working mother from the burbs. Don't Be Losyang will always be my motto, and it is now part of my psyche. I wish you all well. We can all live and love with style forever.
PS... I will still keep up my other blog, Of Knitted Tales and Sunday Dinners. Maybe a few DBL posts will be made there on occassion. Hope you keep reading!
Friday, March 6, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
My Oscar Show Round-Up
On the Oscar goes to...
Here are my top 5 favorite dresses of the evening.
No. 5 - Tina Fey
Image from: Cele|bitchy.com
This beautiful dress matched her age and demeanor perfectly. Completely elegant and a perfect showcase for her beautiful face and even more beautiful mind. I have been searching high and low for who made the dress but have been unsuccessful. Plus she was one of those presenters that did not walk the red carpet that evening, so there aren't any interviews of her giving the obligatory nod to the designer of her gown.
If any of you know, please comment so we can give the appropriate credit where it is due.
No. 4. - Penelope Cruz
In vintage Pierre Balmain. This dress is over 60 years old and is simply beautiful on her. During her interview with Tim Gunn, she told him that she had seen this dress several years ago, but did not feel it suited her then. But this time around, she knew that it was the perfect dress for her, and lo and behold, it was still available. It was simply meant to be.
I typically do not like ballgown-esque gowns, but this piece seemed to me to be way too important to ignore.
No. 3 - Angelina Jolie
As a black gown lover myself, I particularly loved this Ellie Saab gown on her. I am not particularly a fan of Ms. Jolie, but I always enjoy seeing what she wears to the great industry event. This very classic strapless gown and emerald jewelry were perfect against the background of black tuxedoes and the red carpet. I am all about quiet elegance and sophistication. Quite a few members fashion police (certainly with more creds that I do) did not like it, but I loved it.
No. 2 - Marisa Tomei
This Versace Atelier gown in silver grey was simply too beautifully constructed to ignore. It certainly was a discussion piece with the cascading pleats all around the skirt. This was certainly chosen for its impact and posing possibilities. You could not photograph this dress without spreading out its train. I can't imagine how Ms. Tomei must have felt with all the twisting she had to do to showcase this dress to its maximum potential.
No. 1 - Anne Hathaway
This was my favorite dress of the evening, hands down. Armani Prive. The mermaid shape and light color helped her outshine all the others in my view. Just as Shirley MacLaine said during her tribute during the Best Lead Actress presentation, Ms. Hathaway is certainly one that will be coming back to the Oscars many more times in the future.
Images of No.4 to 1 taken from: JustJared
Say what you will about last night's 81st Academy Awards show, I for one enjoyed it. I enjoyed the newer format for the show. I liked that the audience was so much closer to the stage. Hugh Jackman, to me, brought a very intimate and entertaining vibe to the show. I loved how he spoke to certain members in the audience. I also particularly liked the way they presented the major acting awards, with past winners honoring the nominees. I cannot imagine what it must feel like to be honored by a past winner for your work. That gesture makes winning, or not winning, all the more meaningful. Don't you think?
While I was happy to see my dear, Robert Pattinson, presenting during the show, I was not one hundred percent sure about whether he should have been there or not. I had the same feeling about the performance by Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, or the couple from Mama Mia, in the "The Musical Is Back" number. I am hoping that they were chosen to be there because of their future potential as actors, rather than exploited for their fan base. Over all though, I will not deny that Robert and Zac were sure nice to look at.
I enjoyed this year's award season and cannot wait to watch more movies this year. The movie world never ceases to amaze me and I thank them for creating such a beautiful world, albeit, relegated to a theater screen. Though sometimes purely commercial, film is still a true art form.
Here are my top 5 favorite dresses of the evening.
No. 5 - Tina Fey
Image from: Cele|bitchy.com
This beautiful dress matched her age and demeanor perfectly. Completely elegant and a perfect showcase for her beautiful face and even more beautiful mind. I have been searching high and low for who made the dress but have been unsuccessful. Plus she was one of those presenters that did not walk the red carpet that evening, so there aren't any interviews of her giving the obligatory nod to the designer of her gown.
If any of you know, please comment so we can give the appropriate credit where it is due.
No. 4. - Penelope Cruz
In vintage Pierre Balmain. This dress is over 60 years old and is simply beautiful on her. During her interview with Tim Gunn, she told him that she had seen this dress several years ago, but did not feel it suited her then. But this time around, she knew that it was the perfect dress for her, and lo and behold, it was still available. It was simply meant to be.
I typically do not like ballgown-esque gowns, but this piece seemed to me to be way too important to ignore.
No. 3 - Angelina Jolie
As a black gown lover myself, I particularly loved this Ellie Saab gown on her. I am not particularly a fan of Ms. Jolie, but I always enjoy seeing what she wears to the great industry event. This very classic strapless gown and emerald jewelry were perfect against the background of black tuxedoes and the red carpet. I am all about quiet elegance and sophistication. Quite a few members fashion police (certainly with more creds that I do) did not like it, but I loved it.
No. 2 - Marisa Tomei
This Versace Atelier gown in silver grey was simply too beautifully constructed to ignore. It certainly was a discussion piece with the cascading pleats all around the skirt. This was certainly chosen for its impact and posing possibilities. You could not photograph this dress without spreading out its train. I can't imagine how Ms. Tomei must have felt with all the twisting she had to do to showcase this dress to its maximum potential.
No. 1 - Anne Hathaway
This was my favorite dress of the evening, hands down. Armani Prive. The mermaid shape and light color helped her outshine all the others in my view. Just as Shirley MacLaine said during her tribute during the Best Lead Actress presentation, Ms. Hathaway is certainly one that will be coming back to the Oscars many more times in the future.
Images of No.4 to 1 taken from: JustJared
Say what you will about last night's 81st Academy Awards show, I for one enjoyed it. I enjoyed the newer format for the show. I liked that the audience was so much closer to the stage. Hugh Jackman, to me, brought a very intimate and entertaining vibe to the show. I loved how he spoke to certain members in the audience. I also particularly liked the way they presented the major acting awards, with past winners honoring the nominees. I cannot imagine what it must feel like to be honored by a past winner for your work. That gesture makes winning, or not winning, all the more meaningful. Don't you think?
While I was happy to see my dear, Robert Pattinson, presenting during the show, I was not one hundred percent sure about whether he should have been there or not. I had the same feeling about the performance by Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, or the couple from Mama Mia, in the "The Musical Is Back" number. I am hoping that they were chosen to be there because of their future potential as actors, rather than exploited for their fan base. Over all though, I will not deny that Robert and Zac were sure nice to look at.
I enjoyed this year's award season and cannot wait to watch more movies this year. The movie world never ceases to amaze me and I thank them for creating such a beautiful world, albeit, relegated to a theater screen. Though sometimes purely commercial, film is still a true art form.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Winter Basics - Outerwear
We recently just went through a warm spell here in the North East which brought to my mind the need to get a move on this series on Winter dressing. It reminded me that I soon have to conclude these articles lest they no longer be relevant to the season at hand.
This brings me to one of the most obvious parts of winter dressing, which is outerwear. When I was a young girl, I had the opportunity to visit Hong Kong several times in the Winter, and it was my first experience dressing in them. While the temperatures there never really compared to those we get here, it was enough to pique my interest in them. Seeing all these fashionable ladies walk up and down the streets in New York City is truly one of my favorite visions during this season.
In my personal opinion, a woman really needs at least three pieces of outerwear during the season. A nice wool overcoat, a sporty weather proof parka, and a good base vest.
Of the three, expect to make a real investment in the coat and the parka. Spend as much as you can afford on these as a really good choice will last you several years.
For the coat, try to go with a single breasted cut rather than a double breast or peacoat style which tend to add weight to the wearer. As for color, since it is an investment to be made, chose a color that you know will go with everything you have. In my case, it would be black. I would love a camel one as well, but that may have to wait another year for me. I practically wear mine everyday for work.
For the parka, I too would go with black, but a dark blue one will do just as well. I wear my parka every weekend and whenever a more casual look is appropriate.
As for the vest, feel free to buy one in either fleece or in the more rugged puffer styles. I usually get to wear this over my sweaters with a scarf and a hat during the warmer winter days. Plus on the extra cold days, my vest is the perfect extra layer I need between my sweater and coat to keep me toasty.
When you go any buy these, always keep in mind that there needs to be enough room for a thicker layer underneath. A too tight coat or parka will simply make you look heavier and unkempt rather than sleek and comfortable.
Also keep in mind their washability. For the coats, expect to have them dry cleaned occassionally, while the parka and vest, you can find good ones that are actually machine washable. Remember to keep them clean as much as possible as smells tend to stick to clothing more during the cold season. A quick spray of Febreeze should suffice to refresh them in between washings.
Do not forget to accessorize as well. A nice hat, scarf and gloves will always complete the ensemble. I'll talk about them more in my next post.
Images taken from: Net a Porter, Neiman Marcus, LL Bean and REI
This brings me to one of the most obvious parts of winter dressing, which is outerwear. When I was a young girl, I had the opportunity to visit Hong Kong several times in the Winter, and it was my first experience dressing in them. While the temperatures there never really compared to those we get here, it was enough to pique my interest in them. Seeing all these fashionable ladies walk up and down the streets in New York City is truly one of my favorite visions during this season.
In my personal opinion, a woman really needs at least three pieces of outerwear during the season. A nice wool overcoat, a sporty weather proof parka, and a good base vest.
Of the three, expect to make a real investment in the coat and the parka. Spend as much as you can afford on these as a really good choice will last you several years.
For the coat, try to go with a single breasted cut rather than a double breast or peacoat style which tend to add weight to the wearer. As for color, since it is an investment to be made, chose a color that you know will go with everything you have. In my case, it would be black. I would love a camel one as well, but that may have to wait another year for me. I practically wear mine everyday for work.
For the parka, I too would go with black, but a dark blue one will do just as well. I wear my parka every weekend and whenever a more casual look is appropriate.
As for the vest, feel free to buy one in either fleece or in the more rugged puffer styles. I usually get to wear this over my sweaters with a scarf and a hat during the warmer winter days. Plus on the extra cold days, my vest is the perfect extra layer I need between my sweater and coat to keep me toasty.
When you go any buy these, always keep in mind that there needs to be enough room for a thicker layer underneath. A too tight coat or parka will simply make you look heavier and unkempt rather than sleek and comfortable.
Also keep in mind their washability. For the coats, expect to have them dry cleaned occassionally, while the parka and vest, you can find good ones that are actually machine washable. Remember to keep them clean as much as possible as smells tend to stick to clothing more during the cold season. A quick spray of Febreeze should suffice to refresh them in between washings.
Do not forget to accessorize as well. A nice hat, scarf and gloves will always complete the ensemble. I'll talk about them more in my next post.
Images taken from: Net a Porter, Neiman Marcus, LL Bean and REI
Monday, January 26, 2009
Winter Dressing Basics - Sweaters
Up next, the staple of all winter dressing basics, sweaters.
Sweaters now come in a multitude of fabrics; cotton, cashmere, wool, silk, and other blends. Luckily now, they also come in a wide price range so you can pretty much find a good sweater, no matter what your price range is.
If you live in a region that gets very cold, I suggest you invest in some wool sweaters. If you live in a more moderate climate, cottons and silks will certainly keep you warm.
For sweaters, I typically invest in four basic styles: a v-neck pullover, a cardigan, crew neck pullover, and my personal favorite, the turtleneck. When I was a little girl, I always associated a turtleneck with a scratchy, suffocating experience. But as I grew older, I couldnt help but, associate it with the sleek image of Audrey Hepburn in black capri pants and ballet flats.
I typically buy these pieces in a variety of textures, from a thin rib knit, to a chunkier knit. For the latter, I, personally buy it in a cardigan style, and if I absolutely feel I need to get one. Since I wear thermal undergarments everyday, I can usually get away with the thinner sweaters, so I can avoid adding on the extra bulk normally associated with winter layering.
Sweaters come in a variety of colors, but if you intend to spend some money on them, it would be advisable to buy the basic neutrals like black, white, grey, cream or beige. Also, keep laundering instructions in mind. Wool sweaters typically call for hand washing or dry cleaning. They also tend to pill, or get fuzzy in spots were there tends to be a lot of friction, like under your arms and elbow. When my sweaters tend to do this, I usually keep them to wear around the house and eventually to the goodwill box. If you can't afford to have a sweater last for only one season (like me) I would try to buy something that has more cotton or other blend in it.
Here are a few sweaters that should be enough to give you a good enough variety throughout those cold winter months:
I know they are quite conservative, but if you do have the body and the budget, feel free to express yourself with a chunkier piece, or maybe even a brighter colored one. It's also a good idea to get at least one sweater in the color of the season. This season it was eggplant... Although, I honestly couldn't get myself to buy one. I really wanted to though.
With any of these sweaters, you can certainly get away with two looks at least, for work, weekends, night time, and go from sleek to sexy, depending on what you paired them with. Nice slacks, jeans or even a skirt with tights and knee high flat heeled boots. A few scarves and some nice layered jewelry can set the tone of the look pretty well too. I'll, of course, leave all that fabulous creativity up to you. Show me what you come up with! I'd love to see.
Images from: Net a Porter and Old Navy
Sweaters now come in a multitude of fabrics; cotton, cashmere, wool, silk, and other blends. Luckily now, they also come in a wide price range so you can pretty much find a good sweater, no matter what your price range is.
If you live in a region that gets very cold, I suggest you invest in some wool sweaters. If you live in a more moderate climate, cottons and silks will certainly keep you warm.
For sweaters, I typically invest in four basic styles: a v-neck pullover, a cardigan, crew neck pullover, and my personal favorite, the turtleneck. When I was a little girl, I always associated a turtleneck with a scratchy, suffocating experience. But as I grew older, I couldnt help but, associate it with the sleek image of Audrey Hepburn in black capri pants and ballet flats.
I typically buy these pieces in a variety of textures, from a thin rib knit, to a chunkier knit. For the latter, I, personally buy it in a cardigan style, and if I absolutely feel I need to get one. Since I wear thermal undergarments everyday, I can usually get away with the thinner sweaters, so I can avoid adding on the extra bulk normally associated with winter layering.
Sweaters come in a variety of colors, but if you intend to spend some money on them, it would be advisable to buy the basic neutrals like black, white, grey, cream or beige. Also, keep laundering instructions in mind. Wool sweaters typically call for hand washing or dry cleaning. They also tend to pill, or get fuzzy in spots were there tends to be a lot of friction, like under your arms and elbow. When my sweaters tend to do this, I usually keep them to wear around the house and eventually to the goodwill box. If you can't afford to have a sweater last for only one season (like me) I would try to buy something that has more cotton or other blend in it.
Here are a few sweaters that should be enough to give you a good enough variety throughout those cold winter months:
I know they are quite conservative, but if you do have the body and the budget, feel free to express yourself with a chunkier piece, or maybe even a brighter colored one. It's also a good idea to get at least one sweater in the color of the season. This season it was eggplant... Although, I honestly couldn't get myself to buy one. I really wanted to though.
With any of these sweaters, you can certainly get away with two looks at least, for work, weekends, night time, and go from sleek to sexy, depending on what you paired them with. Nice slacks, jeans or even a skirt with tights and knee high flat heeled boots. A few scarves and some nice layered jewelry can set the tone of the look pretty well too. I'll, of course, leave all that fabulous creativity up to you. Show me what you come up with! I'd love to see.
Images from: Net a Porter and Old Navy
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Winter Dressing Basics
One of the biggest things I have had to adjust to here in the United States is the change of seasons. Especially here in the East Coast, we're lucky enough to experience all four seasons. One season I particularly like, is winter. Occassionally, the winter can get tough as the temperature can be brutal at times. We've recently experienced a particularly cold two to three weeks with the temperature dropping to the teens. Factor in a wind chill and there were days when it felt like 0 degrees.
Having grown up in the Philippines, I never really experienced cold the way I do now. So I really thought that I didn't like the cold. I didn't during our first few years here, but now, I do. Maybe because I've learned to dress for the weather.
In the beginning, I didn't like winter because, I always felt that I had to look like the Pillsbury dough boy to keep warm. Thick, bulky sweaters. Big puffy jackets. But recently, I've learned a few tricks and stocked up on a few "basics" that have helped me get through the winter without being "losyang."
I am dedicating a series of posts on some of the basics that I think every woman should have to not be "losyang" in the winter.
First up, winter undergarments.
To me, these are long johns and long sleeved undershirts. I always wear a set everyday of winter. Since I do, I always make sure to make an investment in these. In the beginning, I used to have a whole bunch of cheap, cotton sets that in a familiar waffle pattern. These never really did the trick, plus they were hideous. Truly something to be kept under wraps, if you know what I mean.
In choosing a good pair of winter undergarments, always choose sets that have silk content. Now there are some that are made with special technology that keeps the heat but does not overheat the body. Cuddl Duds, Cuddl Silks or Jockey make pretty good ones and can be found in most major department stores beginning in the fall.
One of the keys to successfully beating the chill is proper layering. Choosing a good base layer will set you off for the day. Also, a good quality set, while not cheap, won't be over-stifling and will be soft and comforatable on the body. Plus, they will last you a long time. Good quality ones will also not result in adding extra bulk to your body.
If you work in a city and do a lot of walking or need to commute, I would recommend you buy yourself a set enough for a week. Even if I don't work in a city, nor have to walk or commute, I have about 7 sets, one for each day of the week, since I wear a set everyday. But, that's just me.
Buy them in white, flesh, black or grey to cover all the colors you may use during the winter season.
Images taken from: jcpenny.com
Having grown up in the Philippines, I never really experienced cold the way I do now. So I really thought that I didn't like the cold. I didn't during our first few years here, but now, I do. Maybe because I've learned to dress for the weather.
In the beginning, I didn't like winter because, I always felt that I had to look like the Pillsbury dough boy to keep warm. Thick, bulky sweaters. Big puffy jackets. But recently, I've learned a few tricks and stocked up on a few "basics" that have helped me get through the winter without being "losyang."
I am dedicating a series of posts on some of the basics that I think every woman should have to not be "losyang" in the winter.
First up, winter undergarments.
To me, these are long johns and long sleeved undershirts. I always wear a set everyday of winter. Since I do, I always make sure to make an investment in these. In the beginning, I used to have a whole bunch of cheap, cotton sets that in a familiar waffle pattern. These never really did the trick, plus they were hideous. Truly something to be kept under wraps, if you know what I mean.
In choosing a good pair of winter undergarments, always choose sets that have silk content. Now there are some that are made with special technology that keeps the heat but does not overheat the body. Cuddl Duds, Cuddl Silks or Jockey make pretty good ones and can be found in most major department stores beginning in the fall.
One of the keys to successfully beating the chill is proper layering. Choosing a good base layer will set you off for the day. Also, a good quality set, while not cheap, won't be over-stifling and will be soft and comforatable on the body. Plus, they will last you a long time. Good quality ones will also not result in adding extra bulk to your body.
If you work in a city and do a lot of walking or need to commute, I would recommend you buy yourself a set enough for a week. Even if I don't work in a city, nor have to walk or commute, I have about 7 sets, one for each day of the week, since I wear a set everyday. But, that's just me.
Buy them in white, flesh, black or grey to cover all the colors you may use during the winter season.
Images taken from: jcpenny.com
Hello... My Name is... I am a Robert Pattinson Addict...
They say, one of the first steps to defeating an addiction, is acceptance that you do have one. After much denial, and if I am to, in any way, successfully defeat this, I am admitting that I am addicted to Robert Pattinson.
While I know, I am not alone in my addiction, just google his name and you'll find pages and pages of fan sites dedicated to him. I know. I've been scouring each and every single one of them.
For my sake, and that of my family's I must fight it off. And I will... I know I will...
Ay Diyos ko! Tulungan nyo ako! (Oh my God, please help me!)
This is my favorite picture of him.
I know these are old pictures of him, but these to me are some of the best looking ones. At least to me.
Images taken from: Robert Pattinson Online
While I know, I am not alone in my addiction, just google his name and you'll find pages and pages of fan sites dedicated to him. I know. I've been scouring each and every single one of them.
For my sake, and that of my family's I must fight it off. And I will... I know I will...
Ay Diyos ko! Tulungan nyo ako! (Oh my God, please help me!)
This is my favorite picture of him.
I know these are old pictures of him, but these to me are some of the best looking ones. At least to me.
Images taken from: Robert Pattinson Online
Friday, January 9, 2009
I Don't Want to Go Back To This
Happy New Year to all! I have woken up from my stupor and have recently been jolted back into the real world. At least, my real world.
The month of December brought me to a very unusual and disconcerting place in my life. I still am not sure what happened to me. I have never experienced such a phenomenon in my life, and truly don't want to experience it again. I hope you don't mind if I share this with you. But I am hoping, by sharing it, I will be able to keep myself from slipping back into it.
You see, I got sucked into the world of Twilight. Yes. The books. It all started with the movie and all the hype it kept getting. Not to mention the actor who took my breath away. Since the movie was getting all this hype, and not having had a good book to read for a while, I decided to buy the first book to read. I cared so little about it, that I bought the copy that had photos of the movie actors on it. (If you really, really know me, I have a thing about my books - more on that another time.) Little did I know that it was the beginning of what I thought was a downfall on my part.
I read the book in about a day. Opened it one evening and then realized that daylight had come just at the last chapter. I was hooked. I bought the second book, and the third, and the fourth. I finished the series in less than a week. And during that week, I could not function. I did not cook, I barely concentrated on work, I took care of my children in a haze, I barely functioned at all. No knitting, no blogging, nothing. My DH was not pleased. How I managed to get through this holiday season is still a wonder to me.
Once the series was over, I thought I would be able to move on. But no. I became, embarrassingly enamored, with the actor playing Edward, Robert Pattinson. I convinced a friend to watch the movie with me... I had to... I almost brought my 7 year old daughter to watch the movie with me... This was not good. To tell you the truth, I barely remember the movie. All I remembered was him. I hadn't had a crush on someone in a long time (I am married, with kids you know!) so I had forgotten what it was like to have one.
I watched and read anything I could get my hands on him. Youtube, tmz, perez hilton, just jared. You name it, I checked it out. Pictures, old movies, interview videos. Everthing. Anything.
It was embarassing. I was discussing him with my 16 year old niece and I could see she was beginning to think I was getting creepy. And I was embarassed to say I was crushing on this 22 year old. Can you see the word "cougar" on my forehead? I could see it in my niece's eyes though.
I struggled with this. I desperately fought myself to come out of it. I wanted to understand what was happening to me. How had I come to this? Was I bored? What? Why?
Well, the epiphany came to me today. I had allowed my imagination to run free.
Something I have neglected to allow, or maybe refused to allow, for a very long time. In my quest to be the great wife, fun mom, creative woman I wish to be, I had shut down the one thing that can allow me to be all I wish to be. I was constantly looking for sources of inspiration from the outside. I forgot that I had an imagination that I could have drawn from as well.
I don't know why, when or how I shut my imagination down. I guess it all comes with being a so-called "adult." So when I succumbed to the Twilight and Robert haze, it felt like the ground had been pulled out from under me. My imagination began to run wild, and since I was no longer used to recognizing it, I could not get myself back to the real world. I had to claw my way back. I don't think I am back completely just yet. I am still finding myself peeking at the showbiz websites for news about him, but I am much better now. But I am getting there (I do it only every 6 hours now)
I don't ever want to go back to this. I will allow my imagination to run free once in a while so as to never fall back into that stupor again. The more I let it run, the easier it should be for me to step back into the real world. The imagination is a very powerful thing. Let yours roam free. Join me in seeing what it brings back!
The month of December brought me to a very unusual and disconcerting place in my life. I still am not sure what happened to me. I have never experienced such a phenomenon in my life, and truly don't want to experience it again. I hope you don't mind if I share this with you. But I am hoping, by sharing it, I will be able to keep myself from slipping back into it.
You see, I got sucked into the world of Twilight. Yes. The books. It all started with the movie and all the hype it kept getting. Not to mention the actor who took my breath away. Since the movie was getting all this hype, and not having had a good book to read for a while, I decided to buy the first book to read. I cared so little about it, that I bought the copy that had photos of the movie actors on it. (If you really, really know me, I have a thing about my books - more on that another time.) Little did I know that it was the beginning of what I thought was a downfall on my part.
I read the book in about a day. Opened it one evening and then realized that daylight had come just at the last chapter. I was hooked. I bought the second book, and the third, and the fourth. I finished the series in less than a week. And during that week, I could not function. I did not cook, I barely concentrated on work, I took care of my children in a haze, I barely functioned at all. No knitting, no blogging, nothing. My DH was not pleased. How I managed to get through this holiday season is still a wonder to me.
Once the series was over, I thought I would be able to move on. But no. I became, embarrassingly enamored, with the actor playing Edward, Robert Pattinson. I convinced a friend to watch the movie with me... I had to... I almost brought my 7 year old daughter to watch the movie with me... This was not good. To tell you the truth, I barely remember the movie. All I remembered was him. I hadn't had a crush on someone in a long time (I am married, with kids you know!) so I had forgotten what it was like to have one.
I watched and read anything I could get my hands on him. Youtube, tmz, perez hilton, just jared. You name it, I checked it out. Pictures, old movies, interview videos. Everthing. Anything.
It was embarassing. I was discussing him with my 16 year old niece and I could see she was beginning to think I was getting creepy. And I was embarassed to say I was crushing on this 22 year old. Can you see the word "cougar" on my forehead? I could see it in my niece's eyes though.
I struggled with this. I desperately fought myself to come out of it. I wanted to understand what was happening to me. How had I come to this? Was I bored? What? Why?
Well, the epiphany came to me today. I had allowed my imagination to run free.
Something I have neglected to allow, or maybe refused to allow, for a very long time. In my quest to be the great wife, fun mom, creative woman I wish to be, I had shut down the one thing that can allow me to be all I wish to be. I was constantly looking for sources of inspiration from the outside. I forgot that I had an imagination that I could have drawn from as well.
I don't know why, when or how I shut my imagination down. I guess it all comes with being a so-called "adult." So when I succumbed to the Twilight and Robert haze, it felt like the ground had been pulled out from under me. My imagination began to run wild, and since I was no longer used to recognizing it, I could not get myself back to the real world. I had to claw my way back. I don't think I am back completely just yet. I am still finding myself peeking at the showbiz websites for news about him, but I am much better now. But I am getting there (I do it only every 6 hours now)
I don't ever want to go back to this. I will allow my imagination to run free once in a while so as to never fall back into that stupor again. The more I let it run, the easier it should be for me to step back into the real world. The imagination is a very powerful thing. Let yours roam free. Join me in seeing what it brings back!
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