Music Monday: Rocky Top

We all know that music influences fashion, and fashion influences music (er...the Thong Song anyone?)

So I figure I'll start up a new section called Music Monday.  From time to time, on a Monday of course, I'll let you in on what I'm currently listening to, what's burning up my speakers, and basically the song or band I'm obsessing about at that given moment.

For me, there's one song I've loved since a child, its never worn out its welcome on my ipod, and it sure as heck my favorite part of all weddings where I hail from.

(Until you partake in the partnered up bridge type dance thingy we do, you'll just have to hope you get an invite to my wedding so you can see it for yourself--its complete redneck fun!)

that very song is:

ROCKY TOP

and the inspiration behind this here blog's namesake.

"Wild as a mink, but sweet as sodapop" is a line, 

and it describes me ever so spot-on, if you haven't crossed me that is.

I listen to this song almost daily, and everytime I can't help but feel that really throwing in the towel and calling it quits in NYC would be lovely if I could just move to Tennessee already--we all know I've got major love for Nashville, but sometimes I think even a quiet simple life in the Smoky Mountains would be quite delightful.
I could take a cue from the original Backwoods Barbie herself!
She grew up there afterall, she's amazing, and well she's got the same types of morals and ethics I live with...so why not try to pull my own Dolly-esque look outta my closet and head for the hills?

I would DIE to wear gingham and cut-off shorts all summer long.

I'd fit right in, not that I'd see anyone because I wouldn't have neighbors for miles!

But how beautiful right?  And gingham...all the time!

You noticed I mentioned cut-off shorts...you may also notice that it was a bit of my uniform this past summer.  So if not to channel Dolly, maybe some Daisy Duke would suffice.  She's always had that awesome redneck style workin' in her favor.  

Pretty sure her style would be a great fit for this fantasy cabin living world I'm conjuring up in my head.

I think I'm half way there-I've got the denim shorts and I'm down with the "good ol' boys".  

Look at me...just one big piece of white trash.  Heels, cut-offs, PBR, and a tan that looks like I've rolled around in dirt...I'll fit right in.

Maybe even a fine gent like this guy will take me for his wife.  

Then it will all just be a question of how exactly do I live.  What style of country living am I going to reside amongst?  I really can't decide just yet...I love both looks, both conjure up such different moods and images...its a toughie

Do I hope Mountain Man husband builds me a rustic cabin, 

complete with this most coveted antler chandelier?

Or do I pray for the whimsical shabby chic cabin of every country girl's dream?

Stunning isn't it?  

So Rocky Top...listening to that song for years now, its made me, on frequent occasions, wish that I could trade my city life in for fresh outdoor air, a simpler fashion sense, and to plant roots of my own, in the hills where Dolly hails from.

But would this pavement cruncher, city-fied girl last in the wilderness in a cabin with no one around but herself and the dense population of black bears?

And what about wearing heels?  It's hard to walk thru the woods in heels-believe me, I know!

(and I'm sure you're all not surprised by that one bit)

So, do any of you out there like bluegrass?  

Or is it just a freakish characteristic I possess?

Ha-or better yet, should I ask if any of you know this dance to Rocky Top that I mentioned?  If so we should be BFFs.  Just sayin'

Daily Wear: Snow days pt. 2

It's like a slushy, sloppy, wet mess outside...while the city managed to clean up nicely after the blizzard (gotta give it to NYC, they're on it when it comes to this stuff) they left behind lots of slush, sludge, and S@*%#!

It's still a necessity to dress in one's best snow gear,

or what's scraped together to act as "snow gear"

Today I went for comfort and a reliable shoe.

I took a cue, or shall I say, "inspiration", from Second Skin. The other day she busted out a gorgeous pair of Docs and I thought if I'm not going to get good wear from mine on a regular basis I might as well make them my trusty snow shoe, no?

Well being as how she had hers on the other day, I remembered just how neglected mine are (after all I bought them back in October and have worn them only 3-4 times including today). And since her post, they're all I can think about. What better time to bust them out than a slippery slush-filled day like today?

With the Docs as my main focus, I kinda built my outfit around them.

(If you've followed along, you might recall the few times I've worn them I usually talk about my struggles to find something suitable to go with them. And the struggles I have with feeling like maybe I'm just too old for these. I mean after all it is NOT the mid 90s, and I am NOT in high school anymore.)

I put together a simple outfit of layers upon layers, enough to keep me warm and to not go overboard when I'm sporting some loud-kinda grometted boots. And actually I was comfy all day, both physically (because the outfit is just that) and mentally (because my shoes seemed to garner lots of compliments from coworkers). So a very messy day, but everything turned out A-OK!

Wearing:

*Black sweater dress-Rachel by Rachel Roy

*Magenta turtleneck-Old Navy

*Black leggings-Target

*Gray wool socks-H&M

*Black boots w/grommet detail-Dr. Martens

*Bronze octopus necklace-boutique in Cleveland

(oopsie, nevermine the really really dusty ledge in the corner of this photo--I'm not one for cleaning, yuck!)

BTW--tomorrow is my last day of work before my Christmas vacation! I'm "going back to Indiana" (as the Jackson 5 would sing) Wednesday morning thru Sunday evening....cannot promise that I will be blogging as its promising to be a very very busy visit full of old friends (my BFF from gradeschool/junior high and I have reconnected, my BFF from highschool-the only person I've cared to stay in contact w/for the past 10yrs, and my family will all require my time and attention; plus I get to see my little nieces!)

Oh, but leaving for X-mas means I've gotten to open all my x-mas presents from "Santa BF". (I got him a Playstation 3, he got to open that last Friday). So last Saturday he got me an iphone! And I'm addicted to that little thing now...

and tonight he surprised me w/more!

I got a new travel coffee mug (because he's lost all my other ones at work somewhere) and Dolly the new 4-disc, ultimate collection of Dolly Parton (ummmm don't even get me started on that little firecracker, she's by far the best thing that happened to country music EVER!....do I see a FAVE RAVE segment coming on????)

Sooooo, if I am not back before next Monday....a Happy Holiday to EVERYONE!

Halloween--"A Little Bit Country, a Little Bit Rock n Roll"

I've got a soft spot for musicians; I think we all know I love my rock n roll boys.

And sometimes, I like to dress the part of a music-maker myself.

Halloween meant COUNTRY music one year:

Looking back on it now, I'm not convinced we pulled off this country duo very well at all.  

Since it's a pretty bad attempt, let me just sing a few lines for you so you can guess our duo:

ahem

"Islands in the Stream...

that is what we are.

And we rely on eachother, uh huh"

And BF once made me promise not to tell anyone that he spent nearly $80 on faux facial hair.

I have since failed on this secret-I mean how can you keep that a secret-it's freakin hilarious, especially considering he then went all cheapo and glued cotton-balls to his chest to continue the "hairy" theme.

So okay, unless you're living under a rock for the past 25 years (or maybe you weren't even born yet), I'll just come right out and tell you....we were Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton!

Who doesn't love Dolly?  She's my favorite lil' country firecracker.  

Good times, try going to Dollywood in Tennessee--AWESOME!

And one year, Halloween meant Rock n Roll:

Looking back on it now, I did a damn fine job replicating the outfit.

I slaved away for a few days up until the party...

and if I do say so myself, it came out great!

That particular year, I was not yet living with my BF so I had a party at my old apartment.  

And as in most areas of my life, if I'm going to do something, I am definitly not going to do it half-ass (this goes for halloween costumes and parties of any sort).

I whipped up a witches cauldron of spiked punch, complete with floating eyeballs, a bloody severed hand, and a glowing fizz (ok so it was a glowstick I threw in there).

There was also a photo area where every guest had to stop and pose in the frame, along with eerie noises and spider webs.  ooooooohhhh!

The funny part of the whole Halloween was I passed out before midnite with my bedroom door wide open and I missed the HUGE quarrel that went down inside my apt. 

Yet I was capable of waking up around 9:00am the next morning still fully decked out in Pat Benatar attire.  I quickly went into "let's get cleaning mode", and immediately threw my clothes outside into the garbage cans.  

WTF?  

Didn't I just mention that I had slaved over this costume for a few days?  Yeah I did.  And then I just walked outside and threw it away without a thought in the world--I think I was still feeling the effect of that spiked witch's brew.

Happy Halloween friends!

It's almost here!!!!

A little bit of a lot of things

I wore the plaid shirt to work on Thursday (was too tired to post then, and even yesterday).

I didn't pair it with the jacket and skirt as I show here; that idea came to me only after I got home from work.  I remembered I had this awesome Luella Bartley for Target jacket from a few years ago....and just as I hoped, the colors are all the same as those in the plaid button-up.

Oh, and the plaid shirt is actually the Bf's, but he can't fit into it anymore.  Lucky me; I get the shirt!

I will probably wear this to work sometime this summer....I like how it all goes together.  It's slightly Dolly due to the tied front plaid shirt-reminds me of her in the 80s; all country and stuff.

It's also slightly 70s looking with the square toe pumps (Calvin Klein), jacket and shirt combo, colors, etc.  The sunglasses kinda add to that 70s look too.

Well actually that's what it reminds me of....maybe I'm dillusional.

I'm down with Dolly

I could go for this style:

http://www.missbehavemag.com/gimme-working-girl/

Those shoes (item #3) are A-MAZE-ING!  Topshop...and I live in the best city in America-we have the first U.S. Topshop.

I may have to go check them out this weekend.

Anyhow, I plan to make my way to Soho to begin with (need a new pair of Uniqlo skinny jeans).

Oh, and just check it.....beautiful at whatever heck age she is; love LUV love DOLLY!