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Weekend Playlist: Moody Blues

By |May 15th, 2011|Weekend Playlist|

Sundays for me are meant for relaxing and doing some work to get a head start on the week.  On Sunday evenings, I often sit and write and just let my brain wander.  Sometimes when I write I need to get in the mood.  Usually that requires me to get a little big moody and emotional.  When I look around at our cute little house, pretty garden, and furry animals, it’s hard to feel dark and brooding.  So, I put on some music that stirs up emotion and at times takes me back to painful memories or makes me think about what they’re singing and how that would feel.  Depressing, right?  Well, I’ve found it to be incredibly helpful in the creative process. (And, no, I don’t typically write in full hair and makeup).

  1. Fiona Apple – Criminal
  2. Mary J. Blige – I’m Going Down
  3. Brian McKnight – Anytime
  4. Christina Aguilera – You Lost Me
  5. The Pretty Reckless – Nothing Left to Lose
  6. Lenny Kravitz – Can’t Get You Off Of My Mind
  7. NIN – Hurt
  8. Adele – Someone Like You
  9. Eddie Vedder – Longing to Belong
  10. Portishead – Sour Times

xx,

WhyDid

Friday Frocks: Anchors Away

By |May 13th, 2011|Friday Frocks, Why Did You Wear That?|

After asking my dad to send me the baby photo from yesterday, he got a little carried away and sent a barrage of other fair haired childhood pictures.  That’s when I saw the little gem above.  Disregarding that sassy face I’m making, check out that outfit!  Thanks, mom!  You got me started on this whole “nautical” trend early.  One might even say I was ahead of my time.

After seeing this picture, it should be no surprise that one of my alltime favorite outfits I named “the pirate” and some day I will post it on here.  I know a pirate isn’t a sailor, per se, but they both set sail on the high seas.  I like seamen… er, wait.  Anyway, nautical inspired dresses are a great way to dive right into summer.  You can never go wrong with classic navy or red and white.

1. Forever 21 Anchors & Stripes Dress, $19.80, 2.Michael Kors Striped Cashmere Knit Dress, $1,695, 3. Marc by Marc Jacobs Delfine Sailor Dress, $187.60, 4. Motel Emilia Nautical Stripe Gold Button Dress, $96.02,  5. Diane von Furstenberg Cyrani Short Sleeve Dress, $345, 6. Milly Chevron Stripe Dress, $295, 7. Rugby Abberbury Striped Rugby Dress, $128, 8. Sonia by Sonia Rykiel Sailor Dress, $552.10, 9. American Apparel Stripe Pocket Frock, $41, 10. Milly Colorblock Dena Dress, $195

Style your sailor inspired frock with gold jewelry, a bouncy ponytail and neutral shoes… or you can take a cue from two year old WhyDid and slip on a pair of oxfords.

Ahoy matey!

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did You Date Him: Too Much. Too Soon.

By |May 12th, 2011|Why Did You Date Him?|

Have you ever met someone who came on so strong that it was off putting?  Kind of like walking into an elevator that wreaks of cheap cologne?  Makes you gag and want to exit immediately.  But it’s too late. The doors have already closed.  You’re stuck on the ride… at least for a little bit.

At our core, we all want to feel accepted, so when someone embraces us immediately, it can have a very ego boosting effect.  But be careful my beautiful beans…

Whether it’s a new friend or a new beau, opening up or offering up too much can be a big fat red flag.  When people give you so much of themselves and their lives so early on, it can be interpreted in a few different ways (none of which are good):

  • Desperate
  • Insincere
  • Obsessive


I have dated guys who gave me the keys to their apartments in the first two weeks of courting.  While in the moment it feels flattering and exciting, you’ve got to pump the brakes and ask yourself, is this too much too soon?  Well, let’s just put it this way, I’m not dating any of said key slangin’ gentlemen.  It’s fun to play house and it’s nice to feel wanted, but what on earth is the rush?  One of the fellows who so kindly bestowed upon me the keys to his domicile turned out to be incredibly possessive and controlling.  He wanted me to have his keys so he knew I would always be at his home.  It was like a serrated metal GPS.  Needless to say, those keys were deposited ever so kindly in a white envelope and returned to sender.

Guys aren’t the only ones who make unwanted advances in relationships.  Girls can also come on all hot and heavy giving you the feeling of “kindred spirits.”  These are the girls you need to watch out for.  Most likely, they don’t have a ton of “real” friends.  They have about 4 billion acquaintances though.  While they are fun to share laughs over a cocktail with, be careful of the information you share.  If your new gal pal wants to give a detailed outline of her befuddled past, let her.  Just don’t get caught up in the fun and lose your head.  All great relationships (platonic or romantic) take time and building of trust.  Who knows? A month from now you may realize you don’t even like the person.

Now when I meet people who are overly clingy, I’m a bit wary.  Not to say that I don’t like nice people.  There’s a huge difference between being friendly and being “emotionally slutty.”  I do not need to know your sexual past and we certainly don’t need to start naming our children within the first thirty minutes of meeting.  My friendships and relationships are very sacred.  I don’t let just anybody in and neither should you.

xx,

WhyDid

Beauty Buzz: Hay Girl!

By |May 12th, 2011|Beauty Buzz|

While we’re on the topic of hair… Remember a month or so ago when I went to get mah hurr did by the illustrious Whitney Thomas?  Well, I was so impressed with the way she “trimmed” my hair (it almost appeared longer when she was done) that I headed back a week later to let her play with my color.

Now, I’ve mentioned on more than one occasion that I do not let just anyone touch these strands of glory.  I take great pride in my mane and swallow a lot of vitamins to keep my follicles a-flowin’.  It had been so long that I’d had my hair highlighted (a solid 10 months) that I’d transitioned myself into accidental ombre and also become quite friendly with my God given color- which I would call a dirty honey slightly tainted with dishwater blonde.  I teetered between going super dark and returning to my sunny past… Kind of like a fight between good and evil.  Finally, I remembered what my mother always tells me, “You were born a blonde… you will always be a blonde.”

So, Whitney spent time tediously painting on highlights that would blend in and make me look like I had just spent a few sunny months south of the equator.  Few things to note here:  I hate stripey streaky stripper blonde.  I hate orange yellow bottle blonde.  I hate roots that grow straight out in a straight line from your scalp.  Whitney had her work cut out.  I’m a psycho when it comes to my hair and I’m not afraid of a good tantrum and a few tears if things don’t come out right. But alas, everyone can take a deep sigh of relief.  I couldn’t have been more pleased with the masterpiece she created out of my hair.  Phew.

There is a point to this story, I promise.  Whitney handed me a bottle of conditioner after we were through and told me to use it twice weekly for a month and then once a week following.  She swore it would mend any split ends and keep my tresses stress and tangle free.  Now, this isn’t my first time at the rodeo.  If there’s a “miracle” conditioner, I’ve tried it.  So, to say I was skeptical is an understatement.

Any good girl with colored hair knows the rules, you must, must, must condition your hair.  Dyeing and frying can take a serious toll on your hair and you don’t want to walk around looking like a haystack.  Girls who have long hair need to be even more careful because if you think about it (and I’m sure you’ve spent countless hours doing so) your ends are old.  If your hair grows about half an inch a month and your hair is down to your boobs and that’s like, what? A foot?  That means your sad little ends are two years old!  You must baby your fine follicles.

Loreal Serie Expert Absolut Repair Conditioner, $50.99

Moral of the story? (And I know… it was a long story).  Whitney is my hero.  She cuts, she colors, she recommends great products.  My hair has really come around since using this conditioner.  From the moment I rinse it out, my hair feels like silk and I have way less frizz than I normally do.  It’s like my hair went to rehab.

xx,

WhyDid

P dot S- if you need Whitney and you’re in the LA area, here’s how to find her: 212-623-4383.  It’s worth the trip downtown.  Besides, it gives you a reason to stop by Cole’s for some delicious chocolate pie.

Would You Wednesday: Well Red

By |May 11th, 2011|Why Did or Why Don't?|

For years, redheads weren’t always treated like the bombshells they are.  Coppertops, gingers, firecrotches… the list goes on and on.  It seems funny that redheads get such a bad rap when some of our very favorite leading ladies were blessed with rusty roots.  Who doesn’t love Molly Ringwald in Breakfast Club?  What little girl didn’t want to grow up and look like Julia Roberts?  And who can forget about cartoon bombshell Jessica Rabbit?

Recently, crimson coifs are stepping up and taking center stage. Young, hot Hollywood is trading in the standard sunny blonde and sultry brunette for fiery red.

Rihanna has been sporting a very cherry ‘do for quite some time and Scarlett Johansson was the most recent buxom blonde to start seeing red.  These ladies look lovely, but are you ready for red?

Some things you should know before getting all fired up:

  • Approximately 1-2% of the population have naturally occurring red hair and it is a recessive gene.
  • Red is the hardest color to fake due to the many shades available.  Most dye jobs will end up looking very unnatural.
  • Red hair is very difficult to maintain.  It fades faster than all other hair colors.  This can lead to some very strange hues between touch ups.
  • Skin color plays a huge role in red hair.  If you are fair, you can get away with almost any shade of red, but a light red will look most natural.  If you are darker skinned, go with a deep auburn or darker red.
  • Don’t forget: When you dye your hair, the eyebrows must also follow suit.

So, would you dare trade in your shade for red?

xx,

WhyDid