Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween! We've been celebrating for a month and tonight has at last arrived. The moon is full (?), zombies and a whole lot of Risky Business variations, interpretations are out to play! I happen to be enjoying this leather couch, silky Balboa robe and glass of red...Boo.

On a lighter note, literally, my plant based diet is going great! I am almost a week in and I am already noticing a for the better change in my body and energy level. I no longer fall off my chair during my afternoon classes or hit my head on my desk after my elbow slips from underneath me. I am exceeding my expectations. To celebrate week 1 my girlfriends and I headed up to Scottsdale this past weekend to "study" and take full advantage of a well-equipped kitchen at my parents house. Hungry?



Quinoa with butternut squash and a soon to be named, close to perfected soup with kale pesto.

It was a good weekend, good people and damn good food!



Stay hungry my friends!

xoxo

Spooky

I love dressing up. Last year for Halloween I was Shakira, a race car driver and Tom Cruise from Risky Business. How fun? This year I am going home for my dad's birthday so I am short a few costumes nonetheless I managed to pull off the highly unheard of, original, jaw-dropping aura of.... Tom Cruise from Risky Business....



I'm sorry. I like to be comfy, wear sunglasses and dance- more so- slide around in socks. I'm sure the 3 pack whitey tighties will come in handy someday. Is that Natalie Portman on the far left? Spooky.





Risky Business 2011

Risky Business circa 2010

The List

November is sneaking up and October is fading into a fog as Halloween approaches.  I can't wait to sport my silk American Flag robe [with hood] and faux shiner on Monday. Although October had me at pumpkin I am even more excited for November, Thanksgiving, more pumpkins, cashmere and THE LIST. Brought to you by someone who knows you want to see, eat, do, make and wear. This is my favorites list for Fall 2011.

The List

Pilates: Fletcher Pilates

Mano y Metate: Mano y Metate Moles

Alex and Ani Jewelry: Crystal Chanel Expandable Bangle

Super Natural Every Day Cookbook by Heidi Swanson: 101 Cookbooks

Sukí Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser: Sukí

Sibella Court: The Society Inc.

Voluspa Candles at Anthropologie: Candles

Green,Green,Green

Happy Food Day! The city of Tucson celebrated Food Day yesterday with the Santa Cruz Harvest Festival. Chef Lilly Steirer along with UA and local volunteers helped in successfully promoting the six Food Day principles through the native and real taste of food produced in the Santa Cruz Valley.

Food Day Principles:

1. Reduce diet-related disease by promoting safe, healthy foods


2. Support sustainable farms and limit subsidies to big agribusiness


3. Expand access to food and alleviate hunger


4. Protect the environment and animals by reforming factory farms


5. Promote health by curbing junk-food marketing to kids


6. Support fair conditions for food and farm workers

http://foodday.org/

I am so proud to have been a part of this event and look forward to working with a team again next year. We are that much closer to eating real! Last week we showed the film Forks Over Knives on campus for free. The theater was packed and the film has changed someone's stubborn view: mine.



After sitting through the film with emotions ranging from upset to joyous I have decided on something major. I am motivated and promising. Arden, you are going to eat a plant-based diet. No dairy, no meat. No dairy?! No dairy.

I will start with a 28 day plan and see where a plant based diet takes me in regards to health, emotion, academics and overall happiness. I'll keep you updated!

Here are some photographs from the weekend:

My Old School

After years of crazed hemp necklaces, jean skirts and trending lime green, highlighter pink Kangaroo sneakers I am in the midst of uncovering authentic style and frictional design. At nineteen, I have found myself more and more drawn to the moving, good-humored direction design offers. My personal look at interior styling and design roots from my mother’s classic eye and elegant style.  Illustrated within my childhood home and room here at the University of Arizona you can find a key resemblance. Other than the tactically trodden, firmed, fluffed pillows on my mothers living room couch and my daybed, our design ages in a timeless manner.

Thirty-two years apart and her style, like mine will continue to evolve but will never fall out of date. My three-ring design binder compiled with silverware and wallpaper to boots and Bardot is stuff that I like. Style is independence, spirit to be bold and embrace the red binding of the book on the coffee table. What follows is timeless.

I bought this Men’s rugby shirt a couple weeks ago at Brooks Brother’s. I have been looking for a rugby shirt for almost a year now. It’s old school purple, yellow and green bring me back…

Support

Something I am supporting: The Feed Bag by Lauren Bush

http://www.feedprojects.com/

Splish Splash

Growing up in Wisconsin, I wear my cheese head with pride. As a student at the University of Arizona, I wear an extra 5-inches with a sour face.  Bandage skirt, blouse or this shirt as a dress? I am allowed to poke fun at the wardrobe of nearly one hundred percent of the female Greek life population on a typical Fraterday. I am a reluctant contributor. I go to school here. It is comical and fun to wear minimal clothing and blend in with every other girl; no one will know if it was you or her who fell down that flight of stairs  in those 5-inch pumps or if if was your or her stiletto stuck in the drywall. College: it's all fun in games...until someone gets thrown in the pool.

I know you want to hear every, single drooling detail...

4 p.m I am eating more than enough cookies 'n cream ice cream for dinner

4:30 p.m "All I want to do is read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo outside"

4:33 p.m I pass out on the lounge chairs outside

6:00 p.m I wake up

6:07 p.m I am straightening my hair with enthusiasm

7:00 p.m I have a lot of hair

7:14 p.m I don't remember, probably on Facebook

7:30 p.m I am getting dressed

7:32 p.m Toothpaste is all over my dress

7:35 p.m I am shaking my head and rinsing my dress under hot water

8:00 p.m I am awkwardly waiting for a ride to the party

8:23 p.m I am mad

9:00 p.m I strap on my heels and don't look back

1:16 a.m My girlfriends and I are soaking wet with our clothing sudsy from Garnier Fructis

So we went for a little swim, fully clothed? We've all done it and if you haven't, you should.

Never underestimate a good time

Smash Mouth

It is still October and I am still drinking my coffee black with a dash of cinnamon. I spent the weekend childishly with a cold front and a bulky crayola red sweater. Even better: Pumpkins for .99 at Safeway.

I'm not sure who carving pumpkins is meant for or what category the act of carving pumpkins falls into but it doesn't start with me. I've had a somersaulting outlook on October from day one until I faced the ill-balanced plumpkin and the not far from plastic "knife" in the everything you will ever need to make your pumpkin look nothing like anything while nearly cutting the tip of your finger off carving kit. Nonetheless, I enjoyed my Saturday afternoon watching my friends carve the other two pumpkins after I broke the only carving knife. Saturday night was fun too when my pumpkin was used as a doorstop. Happy Halloween!

#fullsarcasm

Ms. Keogh

In dedication to a best friend:

I came to school not knowing many. As I endured in small talk with him and her I met plenty. I truly knew only a few, one of which ended being special, a best friend if I only knew. She is beautiful, smart, elegant and bold with a wise smile and a soul glistening with gold.

Laugh all you want, keogh but it's true and the poem took me 30 sec; it came from the heart and I'm running late to Spanish class

Cheers to October and Happy Birthday, Hannah!!

xoxo

October

Three days in and I just realized where I was: October fest. October is the epitome of Fall, a 31 day fest with a burning heritage pumpkin soy scented candle as a reminder (due to the lack of everything Fall here in Tucson). Nothing is set in stone but October may be my favorite month so I've decided to wear it, eat it, do it, see it, be it and say it like I mean it.

October is Honky Tonk. Find me on a callous wood floor, Frye boots on and the band singing "blue eyed girl" to the young ladies in front.

October is grateful. Dinner parties, dance parties, rowdy nights and laughing out loud; I love my friends and I love you dad (Happy Birthday!)

October is bold. I will continue to wear my Birkenstocks to class, they are comfortable and make up for 5-inch patent leather on the weekends. Stare all you want.

October is no trick just treat: Wine and dine with my ultimate, favorite, best, to.die.for cookie...the molasses cookie. Pinot?

October is: Happy Hour