Katy, Lou, and Limeade Too

Today is the first day of spring, which means that summer can't be far behind.  So, I'm fast-forwarding to flip flops and pool-worthy drinks (at least for this post.  I can't be held responsible if a parka rears its hood in April).  And this is what I think would happen if someone made a commercial about two of my favorite fun-in-the-sun brands.

Simply Limeade/Katy Perry Collection Collaboration brainstorming session:

Writer (reading draft): What could be better on a scorching hot day than sipping Simply Limeade in a brand-new pair of lime flip flops from the Katy Perry Collection?  Simply Limeade is tangy, sweet, and refreshing, like a surprise squirt from your crush at the carwash.  (A hose-wielding Lou Ferrigno emerges from behind a palm hedge.)  The flip flops smell like real limes, so with each broiling hot breeze, you'll get a whiff of fresh citrus, just the thing for masking those funky foot odors.  Talk about a silver -- excuse me -- lime lining!

Director: What happened to Katy Perry jumping out of the giant lime?

Assistant Director: We don't have the budget for Katy; we're spending too much on the cartoon dramatization of the funky foot odor and Ferrigno.  By the way, he said yes to the green body paint but no to the shorts.  He says they make him look like a pirate and wants to wear khakis instead.

Director: He'll wear the shorts and he'll like it!  And how do we not have the budget for Katy?  We're promoting her shoes!  

Assistant Director: Yes, but there's a clause in her contract . . .

Director:  Skip it.  Since we've already got Ferrigno, why don't we do a mock promo for an Avengers movie?  We'll call it Green Planet Peril.  The green planet can look like a lime and be inhabited by an army of miniature Hulks.  Thor and Iron Man have to return them to their original size.  Only it backfires when the Hulks get too big for their planet, causing it to explode, sending Simply Limeade all over the galaxy.  

Writer blinks and takes a swig of her limeade.

Assistant Director: I don't think Katy would like that.

Director: She would if we ask her to do the music.  You know, a fun, summer blockbuster version of "E.T." -- minus the Kanye.  (Notices Pizza Guy for the first time.)  Does this pizza have gluten-free crust?  Because I specifically specified gluten-free crust.  Gluten aggravates my acne.

Writer smirks, then catches herself and drinks more limeade.

Pizza Guy: Uh . . .  

Assistant Director: Dude, if we can't afford to star Katy Perry, then we can't afford her music.  Or the Avengers.

Director: First, do not call me dude.  Second, we wouldn't get Hemsworth and Downey Jr.  We'd get guys with dad bods and put them in Thor and Iron Man costumes from Target.  We'd run a disclaimer that says: "No Avengers participated in the making of this commercial.  Marvel maintains that Lou Feriggno is not and never was an Avenger."  It'd be true, but also ironic.  

Assistant Director: No, too messy.  We should chuck the Avengers idea but stick with Ferrigno.  Maybe we can even get Paul Rudd and Jason Segal to reenact that scene in I Love You Man where they beat him up.

Writer frowns.  The I Love You Man thing had been her idea, and Assistant Director told her to cut it.  But instead of saying so, she downs more limeade.

Pizza Guy: Epic!  I know those guys; I think they'd do it for free.

Director: Make it happen.  And get me an espresso.

Pizza Guy:  Sure thing, man.  But I don't work here . . .

Director: Make.  It.  Happen.  (Pizza Guy lopes off, gnawing on a slice and muttering, "Yummy yummy yummy, I've got wheat in my tummy."  Oblivious, Director turns to Assistant Director.)  If you're not careful, that kid's going to get your job.  Now, if we let Ferrigno wear the khakis, maybe he'll jump out of the lime . . .  

And  . . . scene.  Cheers to cooling off on a hot day with limeade, Katy kicks, and The Hulk.  And yes, my pic features the Marvel version of the not-so-jolly green giant instead of Ferrigno.  But that's because he's more photogenic.  

Khakis or not, Lou, it's true.

Valentine Vampire Weekend

Bag: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Shoes: Jessica Simpson, DSW

Dress: Betsey Johnson, Zulily

Striped bangle: Mixit, JCPenney; Yellow bangle: B Fabulous; Red bangle: XOXO, ROSS; Rose comb: Ella & Elly, Zulily; Yellow flower barrettes: Goody, Target; Choker: Ella & Elly, Zulily

Stockings: Zulily

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Ring: Cloud Nine, Ocean City; Red bangle: B Fabulous; Strawberry cuff: Don't Ask, Zulily; Bows: Carole, JCPenney

Dress: Candie's, Kohl's; Turtleneck: Kohl's

Bag: Fred Flare

Tights: HUE, Amazon

Bag: Princess Vera, Kohl's; Embellished by The Tote Trove

Dress: Modcloth, Zulily

Shoes: Katy Perry, Zulily

Blue and red bangles: B Fabulous; Fuchsia bangle: Mixit, JCPenney; Hair ties: Marshalls

Whenever I hear that Vampire Weekend song, I always think of Step Brothers.  Which is fitting on this Valentine's Day because it may just be the best bromance ever (I can never decide between it and I Love You, Man.)

Speaking of vampires, the choker I'm wearing in the first pic kind of reminds me of one.  Well, a fancy, fashiony type who'd rather have red beads trickling down its neck than blood.

Anyway, I love dressing up for Valentine's Day.  Many of you already know this, but it's my favorite style holiday.  With red and pink and hearts and lace, it has just the right gleefully girly décor to make for the Barbie best in over-the-top outfits.  Even the desserts are dressed up!  To that point, here's my collection of heart-shaped candy boxes:

Here's me again.  Did I mention that I like to dress up?!

Sweater: So, Kohl's; Choker: Amrita Singh, Zulily; Barrettes: Carole, JCPenney

And here are the gift bags for my nephew, niece, and sister.  I'll be passing them on to the parents at a socially safe distance to deliver to them.

And that's it!  Whatever you're doing, wherever you are, I hope you're having the happiest of Valentine's Days!

Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time to dip into this year's beautifully bedecked chocolate boxes. :)

Getup and Go: Comic Book Costume Look

Rita Rainbow Necklace

Tee: JCPenney

Skirt: Ellen Tracy, JCPenney

Shoes: Payless

Bag: Nordstrom

Jacket: Gap outlet

Sunglasses: Brigantine beach shop

 Ribbon Rose Rainbow Necklace

Tunic: Bongo, Sears

Tee: Merona, Target

Skirt: Bongo, Sears

Shoes: a.n.a., JCPenney

Bag: Nahui Ollin

Sunglasses: Relic, Kohl's

Wonder Bread Woman Bow Barrette

Tee: JCPenney

Skirt: Decree, JCPenney

Shoes: Not Rated, Journeys

Bag: Nine West, Marshalls

Sunglasses: So, Kohl's

Marvel looks marvy for fifty.  Yep, that's half a century, or, time being money, one Ulysses S. Grant.  For, it was back in 1966 that the comic book giant launched "The Marvel Super Heroes" cartoon, a fun fact that I learned while checking out Kohl's limited edition line of Captain America-themed  clothing, even if I wasn't intrigued enough to take anything home.  No, no demure shield prints, sedate insignia, or Peter Pan collars for me, such style (under)statements being better left to the likes of DC's much-martyred Aquaman.  It was good old graphic novel-ty tees from J. C. Penney's or nothing.  Well, those and the banana-print tunic in outfit number two.  Because even superheroes need their potassium.  

Now, I'm no comic book queen.  But I've always been drawn to Marvel movies because they're about characters facing, not only external antagonists, but the challenge of their own inner demons, making them vulnerable and universally human.  I guess it's this appeal that keeps the remakes coming . . . and the Avengers avenging.  Since 2003, there have been three Bruce Banners: Eric Bana, Ed Norton, Mark Ruffalo . . . and, just because it's so dang funny, Lou Ferrigno as his un-Hulk (but equally angry) self in I Love You, Man.  That said, my Spidey senses suggested that Spider-Man was not an Avenger  -- misinformation exposed by a Google search confirming that he became one in May's Captain America: Civil War.  So much for depending on the intuitive powers of an arachnid.  His spirit animal's shortcomings aside, Spider-Man remains my favorite (un)caped crusader -- something that Debbie (Leslie Mann) of Knocked Up and I have in common.  (Sort of.)  Remember when she picks a fight with Pete (Paul Rudd) about spending too much time away from home, and he says that he went to the movies to see Spider-Man and that she wouldn't have liked it, and she wails, "I like Spider-Man!"?  In that vein, Rudd, in addition to being in I Love You, Man, is also -- oh, the connections -- the title character in Marvel's Ant-Man.  Although not exactly tee shirt-worthy, his Scott Lang is, as an ice cream scooping-work-release-program-minimum-wager, on the receiving end of one of comic book films' funniest one liners, namely: "Baskin Robbins always finds out."

So, it was with a hulkin' dose of Norse force that I set out, in my small way, to pay tribute, fighting my own design demons (and not a few rolls of wire gone wild) to make some stuff worthy of the superhuman (i.e. forever young) aesthetic.  Which is to say as bright and plastic and timeless as a mint-in-box action figure.  The Marvel look is striking yet simple, with its crayon box colors and clean cartoon graphics and flair for making everything from denim to dresses seem modern.  No tee (or DVD) collection is complete without it.      

On an unrelated note, I finally finished wearing all of my spring and summer clothes.  It took me six months, but I wore that wardrobe like never before in a Lollapalooza of layers and pattern-mixing abandon.  Which means that I'm now down to the tedious business of washing it all and somehow stuffing it, clown-car-style, back into my closet.

I guess that's my super power.

Something New and Sparkly: Living in the Limelight

Living in the Limelight Pin

Dress: XOXO

Tee: So, Kohl's

Shoes: MetroStyle

Bag: City Streets, JCPenney

Scarf: JCPenney

A few nights ago I was wrapping Christmas gifts into the wee hours while watching I Love You, Man for the umpteenth time.  I never get tired of that movie, mostly because Paul Rudd is at his hilarious nice guy best.  I still want to hide under the table every time he overhears his fiancé and her friends talking about his sad friendless state, only to emerge from the kitchen bearing a tray of root beer floats for them complete with Pepperidge Farm Pirouette straws.  But I digress.  He (Paul Rudd, that is) and Jason Segal were rocking out to Rush's "Limelight" when I thought, hey, that would be a good name for that lime slice pin I made awhile back.  So here it is in all its limey, look-at-me goodness, albeit a little bit glarey.