Because I’ve been thinking… what if delays- yes schedule changing, time sucking, super inconvenient delays- are really just surprise parties the universe is throwing (because it has better plans for you than your own overbooked schedule- so overbooked you haven’t written a blog post in over a month ;))?

I seem to be getting delayed a lot lately… could have something to do with traveling nearly every weekend in and out of NYC since I moved here. On Thursday I headed home to Chicago for a family trip to Michigan, when first my 3pm flight was cancelled, then I was overjoyed to have it rescheduled at another airline in another terminal to reach by bus, to find out I didn’t have enough time to get a new boarding pass, but then that it was delayed so they let me through (hallelujah!) only to find out that the 20 minute delay would turn into an hour, then two, then five, then finally eight. That’s 9 hours in the airport. And to be perfectly honest? It was kinda fun. A chance to not work, to meet strangers (one of my most favorite things) and to chill like it’s 1995, I’m at the mall with my friends, and my parents can’t pick me up till later. It went by like not much. We watched the sunset. Part of Shutter Island.  People. And when we all closed out the only food establishment in the terminal- a brightly lit airport bar- it was high fives all around, and the guy working the food kiosk asked sweetly if we all wanted pillows.

The weekend before, I missed my bus to DC then met a super sweet girl off to the Peace Corps waiting for the second one in the standby line. Made the second bus which then broke down, but while other passengers said in their loudest sternest voices to no one & everyone in particular, “I will NEVER take this piece of crap bus again!” I was secretly happy because I had been rushing so much to make my first bus, that I never got a chance to grab something to eat before the trip. The unintentional pit stop landed us at a food oasis, where I grabbed an Odwalla Green Machine & pack of pistachios to tide me over. Yum. When you can’t change something, isn’t it more fun pretending you chose it this way, and do what you’d be doing if this had been your idea all along? I think undoubtedly yes. I have public transportation to thank for many awesome perfect stranger conversings… Travel isn’t just to get from here and there (heck, my parents- happy 33rd anniversary! met on an airplane, a flight my dad wasn’t originally booked on). And really- what is a delay anyway? Delayed from- what? From a plan? From a schedule? Not from life, anyway… because that’s what’s happening all along… at a food oasis, in a 90-94 traffic jam, in an airport terminal, on the bus to DC with no air conditioning… and sometimes life has better schedules for us than we can plan for ourselves (I just like to pretend I’m in on it, too.)

So next time you’re “stuck” somewhere, look around for all the little things planned just. for. you. (Thanks universe, got you next time!)

PS- When Einstein was asked what the most important question facing humanity was, he answered, ” ‘Is the universe a friendly place?’ This is the first and most basic question all people must answer for themselves.” Oh Einie! How you make my heart go thump.

warmest,

1. These I Heart Vegan Girls/Boys buttons. Okay so maybe when I went vegan nearly 10 years ago there wasn’t exactly a market for vegan girls as a PREFERENCE and heck, when I went vegetarian at 10 most kids thought I was just weird for it (though hmmm, perhaps that had more to do with my self-cut bangs, handmade slogan tees…?) But that was a lonnnng time ago, as exhibited by existence of said fantastic button, and corresponding “I heart Vegan Boys” button.  Awesomeness with a plastic shell and safety pin back.

2. Quoting fashion reality tv. Okay, I’m not into reality tv of any other sort and I really I hate admitting that I watch this stuff even, but check out these gems of wisdom and tell me you aren’t inspired too? A little? Eh?

Anthony (Project Runway Season 7, episode 10, when Anthony is “kicked off”): “I think what life has taught us is, you don’t have to have the crown to be the queen.” Okay judge if you will but I seriously teared up when I heard this one, maybe it gets you too?   (I’ve just always been so awful at impressing judges and winning competitions… no boo hoo hoo here but hey, this Anthony just really gets me, right, here.)

Then last week. Kelly Cutrone of People’s Revolution (the City) tells Whitney, “Average people love to be average because no one bothers them.” Amen to that! A post along the same lines from my favorite author Seth Godin here.

And I’m pretty sure a couple months back I found the urge to quote ANTM’s special guest Lauren Hutton more often than I’d like to admit… (par memory not ver batim)… when asked by the contestants the secret to a successful modeling career, she said, “I was never the prettiest or the tallest, but the secret to success- in anything really- is to work four times harder than anyone else.”

3. Orange Fudge from Allison’s Gourmet. Fudge. Vegan Fudge. Vegan Fudge with real orange in it. Vegan fudge with real orange in it from the first vegan bakery on the face of this earth! (started 1989- believe it!) This stuff is deck-the-halls-a-dent. Perfect for sharing at parties, though they’ll probably ask you the recipe and you’ll have to admit you didn’t make it yourself. Oh well. At that point you should be on a chocolate endorphin kick so I think you can handle that.

4. Gorgeous famous vegans take over IN STYLE’s MAY ISSUE! Actresses Lea Michele (from GLEE!) and Ginnifer Goodwin (love her!) are two of three stories in IN STYLE Magazine’s article “Meals my mother taught me” (page 325) both with VEGAN MEALS! Yes! 2 out of 3 ain’t bad for a “normal” not vegan/health focused article, yeah? Ginnifer shares a vegan recipe of Gramma’s Bok Choy & Chickn (vegan) Salad and Lea sets it up for a regular & vegan version of her mom’s Vegetable Lasagna Rolls. On newsstands now, check it out!

5. Adorable animal loving postcards & art by my girl Laura at Le Canot Rouge! Not only does she illustrate the most adorable messengers of handwritten notes! but she also shows them the real love with hard core dedication to the environment, from her site: “Le Canot Rouge illustrations are printed on Mohawk Genesis ‘Forest Stewardship Certified’ premium papers, made from 100% post-consumer waste. The paper is also acid-free, lignin-free, process chlorine-free, and manufactured with ‘Green-e Certified’ windpower. And because it is also archival, your print will last and last and last and last.” Talk about walking the talk. Need a foot massage, Laura?

6. Peanut Butter Cups that are to DIE FOR! from Lagusta’s Luscious. Believe me, I’ve tried many a vegan chocolate (and non-vegan back in the day). like the song we used to sing in camp, These are the ones. These are the ones we’ve been waiting for… Classic peanut butter chocolate combo but with the most yummy luxurious ingredients and handcrafted gorgeousness. You’ve waited long enough, go try em!

7. (Anticipatory mention) The New “Green” Chicagoland Restaurant “Prasino” with amazing vegan brunch options! Okay so with there being only a couple of Veg/Vegan places in the suburbs (mainly the one- Borrowed Earth raw restaurant, which I adore! near Tivoli Theater in Downers Grove), I am sooo thrilled to have a new place to try with my rents & Nate out in La Grange called Prasino. Their vegan dinner and lunch options are nearly none, but their brunch menu makes me giddy with several including a Tofu Scram with (veg) Sausage, Garden Skillet (tofu scram instead of eggs), Vegan Eggs Benedict, Autumn Vegan Pecan Pancakes, and Vegan Orange Almond Stuffed French Toast. Phew! Now those are OPTIONS. Stay tuned for a review! And if you try it first-  let me know or I may just have to steal your leftovers!

8. Gorgeous LAUREN KROHN Photography.  Have you heard of this vegan bed and breakfast on the beach with native tiny deer? Well, it sounds like heaven to me, and I discovered it through the takes you there photography of Lauren Krohn. Check out her work here- she donates often to sanctuaries and her love for animals is visually inspiring! Facebook page here with her animals gallery!

9. Tees that tell it like it is. My super talented friends at Sparrow have been working on some adorable Love themed Vegan tees (as Vegan= Love, does it not?) with profits going to my favorite place on Earth, the Farm Sanctuary. Check them out here and others available for the respect/love of all.

10. Old friends in fun places! Took this pic last night of me + my former boss from 9 years ago when we both worked at Express for Men on Michigan Avenue- dancing our way through sweaters and tees and revamping wardrobes. He taught me so much and what’s more is we always had SO much fun!  I had heard his fashion line was poppin’ and last night at the StyleChicago 25 Best Chicago Designers Event I knew I’d run into him. What a treat! This man is and has always been pure joy and a half- heart you, Borris!

okay, I love a lot more things than 10 this month (like this lip gloss!), but this’ll have to do for now! Have a fantastic weekend.

warmest,

Gather around the magic rug, friends! It’s STORYTIME!!! (okay sorry the former education major in me gets a little excited about stories. sharing. and y’know. all that brighten my day business. ha.)

So last week, I asked my friends on the F to the B what the nicest thing a stranger has done for them… here are just a few of my favorites but they’re ALL SO good and inspiring! Read them all and keep in touch on our Vaute Couture Page for more random questions/contests every other Friday.

::::STRANGERS IN ACTION:::

“I once had a perfect stranger I contacted on Craigslist give me 2nd row tickets for my anniversary to a comedian for free! My husband and I were going thru a tough time, and I had offered her less than what she was asking in a desperate attempt to have a nice gift to give my hubby. She said she would love to help us, and that I could have a nice night out on her. Her only request? To pay it forward. Which I HAPPILY did later that year to another unsuspecting person! There really are some great people out there in the world!” (Sarah A)

“The one I really remember wasn’t about me at all. I was in London on the tube. A very unkempt man was yelling incoherently and shaking a book. I stayed still, because I felt a bit afraid, and there was quite a bit of empty space around him. A man walked over, sat down next to him, and listened. The unkempt man calmed down and spoke to him earnestly and pointed at the book, and as I listened in, I realized that he was trying to explain that he was a veteran, and that there was a photo of him in the book. The act of walking over and just sitting down to listen to someone I had previously perceived as scary, just being so kind as to listen, that was the kindest thing I ever saw.” (Jocelyn K)

“Two summers ago I frequented a local park and read there during beautiful, sunny days. I would often observe others around me after reading a chapter or two and take in the beauty all around - the people, the trees, the birds hoping along the concrete steps. One day, a very kind man began speaking with me about a book called The Four Agreements and various spiritual topics. After a little while, he gave me a slip of paper that read “I am thankful you are alive.” He would write messages like this and pass them on to people he had never met. I felt very touched knowing that we are all loved, no matter who we are - there is always someone out there who is grateful that we have come into this world and share our lives and stories with others. It’s a torch I try to pass on myself.” (Seana S)

“I was touring Ireland with my Dad when about a block in front of us a blind man was about to cross the street. A nearby construction worker, with the sweetest smile, stopped what he was doing and helped the man cross safely. Technically it was a kindness done to that man but it made mine and my fathers day so much brighter that I felt like he’d done an incredibly nice thing for us.” (Danielle B)

“One day I was at the grocery store and I had my arms loaded full of bags, as I struggled my way out to the car a nice elderly man offered to help me, I insisted on trying to carry them myself because I felt bad asking an old man to help me carry my heavy bags, as I declined one of the bags broke and my produce went everywhere, oranges and apples rolling all over the parking lot, he scrambled to help me collect them all and bring them to my car. Then I get to my car and realize that my keys & cell phone were locked in. Not only did he call a tow company for me he even paid for the lockout!! Pretty amazing…I felt truly fortunate to have crossed paths with this man! To this day I still bake him cookies and bring them to him once or twice a month.” (Morgan M)

Okay and my story, right? Nate and I missed our flight to Rochester NY (I was on my way to do a photoshoot at the Farm Sanctuary). And as the next flight was not until 10pm (!!) (original was 1pm- 1!!), we decided to make the most of it and spend the day as if we lived in the airport- shopping, eating, counting all the carts, haha- a jolly good time all around. Okay, that’s not the story though- I soon realized we had another issue, after getting there 9 hours late, we’d still have a 3 hour drive to Watkins Glen, where the Sanctuary is. But none of the rental car companies would be open when we arrived after midnight- meaning we’d have to sleep in the airport and eat up another 8 or so hours of our 2 day trip! And so, upon hearing this, without hesitation- a sigh- anything- the rental car rep gave me his cell phone #, and promised to be there with a car for us, 6 hours after his shift ended, and 1 hour after the whole place shut down for the night. When we arrived, we discovered that his parents had to drive him there because his wife had blocked his car in. So past midnight on a Saturday night, his son was asleep in the backseat in his Spiderman costume, and his parents in the front. He saved us a night of sleeping in the airport after already losing a day… but it was this without a blink of an eye effortless generosity he shared that really took me back… a total angel- and made me think, man, if I could be more like this guy?

So much kindness in this world. Has a total stranger done something for you? share, bear!

warmest,

Get laid-off, and make it into an opportunity.

Last night I went to the Chicago showing of the Lemonade Movie, trailer above (See where it’s playing next!) “Don’t be that person looking for a job, be that person doing something interesting,” is the best quote of all, and the director (laid off lemonade maker himself) shared with us after the show some of the more extra special stories about people who did just that and found opportunities that they didn’t asked for- kind of Julie & Julia-esque like anecdotes- one of a photographer who photographed up and down an interstate and ended up being greeted by press at each stop, ending in a book deal, or another who couldn’t find a job in advertising so he decided to build his childhood dream treehouse for fun, and from that the #1 agency on his list heard and offered him a job… (though he made a point to say that it’s in doing what you love that the opportunities follow, not the other way around.) I found familiar so much of what he shared from his own life- that he’s got a lot of blind faith, but how the universe has always laid something out to catch him each time he was running out of ground… it reminds me of my favorite Audrey Hepburn quote:

“How shall I sum up my life? I think I’ve been particularly lucky. Does that have something to do with faith also? I know my mother always used to say, ‘Good things aren’t supposed to just fall in your lap. God is very generous, but he expects you to do your part first.’ So you have to make that effort. But at the end of a bad time or a huge effort, I’ve always had - how shall I say it? - the prize at the end. My whole life shows that.” (Audrey Hepburn)

Ahhh Audrey. Love her. But back to the film… what I found most interesting was that many of the Q&A audience questions sounded strangely like… excuses?  “I’m not like those people” “I don’t have the same opportunities” “But what about this hurdle- how do I get over this? (already with the answer-) I can’t” was what I heard over and over… Sure it’s easier to say, “I’m not like them, they’re special with special circumstances, but this can’t happen to me, I’m sure of it,” but who does that help? Isn’t it more magical to say, “How am I like them? How can I make my opportunity? What’s my in? I’m lucky too…” because in the end, whether you see life as an opportunity or a trap, you’re the one who lives that life, no one else.  If it means starting small, start small, do it on the side, at night, on the weekends… or go big! take a leap of faith! and have fun. It certainly isn’t easy…there is no step by step process or how to guide… but it’s the adventure of your life, YOUR life. You deserve to see what could happen (and you owe it to us, the world! we want to see too!!) “Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, and power, and magic in it.” (Goethe).

warmest,

We adopted Whitman 1 year ago today. Lucky us.

It’s so simple.

If you’ve been thinking of bringing a new friend into your life- ADOPT!

VOILA! You are now part of the solution to this national epidemic that is 100% preventable. Here’s the fact- 3-5 million healthy beautiful dogs and cats are put to sleep EVERY SINGLE YEAR in the US alone just because we A. don’t spay and neuter our pets and B. still buy from breeders & pet stores, when there are SO MANY dogs and cats who are literally dying for a new home! It seems like such a small thing- but if choosing a friend you’ll have for 10+ years, it’s not much to spend a little time finding one to rescue who really needs you, instead of supporting someone making money off of breeding more into an overpopulation.

Plus, with sites like Petfinder.org listing thousands of dogs and cats who need homes right NOW, there’s no excuse not to adopt if you know. NONE. Yes, I’m putting that on you-  now here are my tips.

TWO WAYS to find your new best friend:

1. Scour shelters in person! Most shelters are unfortunately underfunded & understaffed, this means that there are often dozens more at their shelter that need a home than they are able to put pictures and bios up of on their website. SO stop in during visiting hours and say hey there in person… visit a few shelters and take some time with the lovebugs that you think might have a future place in your casa. Keep in mind that they are probably scared, stressed, and upset at what’s going on and living in a shelter not sure what will happen next… & even if you’re just spending a few minutes with them, give them a good loving visit to tide them over until their next.

2. So you think you know exactly what size/breed/age/gender friend you want? Well, first I’m going to give you my adoption two cents from working at a shelter 3x a week helping dozens of families find their new friends… this list you have? It’s like the “perfect husband” list. Every girl thinks they want “tall dark and handsome”, but what if you fall for a “short- blonde- and hilarious” instead? Sounds like a better deal to me. In the end, it’s about your connection with that specific pup/kitty/, and there are also tons of other breeds/mixes that will meet your real list- which is probably more about your lifestyle (jock? couch potato? social butterfly?) than about a specific breed or size.

Okay, now that I’ve given you my two cents… I want you, Miss or Mister Particular, to know 2 things.

1. YES SHELTERS HAVE PUREBREDS. 25% of shelter dogs & cats are purebred, and there are breed rescues for specific breeds in every state. (Though mutts are my favorite! So unique and often with less genetic issues.)

2. YES SHELTERS HAVE PUPPIES & KITTENS. Yes, people who don’t plan for it and never spay/neuter have animals who, surprise! Have babies. These babies need homes. You can adopt one. (though I prefer adult dogs, which is what your pup will be in 6 months or so, and then you’ll know their personality, size, & temperament.)

HOW TO SEARCH for a Specific Breed/etc:

1. Find your nearest breed rescue and ask them who’s looking for a home right now. Google the breed, state, and the word “rescue”, for example: “greyhound rescue IL” check out their site & say what’s up.

2. Search on Petfinder by age, size, breed, sex, and type of animal. For example if you’re searching for something very specific and in demand like- Golden Retriever puppies & you live in Orland Park, IL, you’d see this.

3. Keep an open mind. Again- you probably don’t need a specific breed/age/size but more of a good match for your lifestyle. Let yourself fall in love with a homeless dog or cat who really needs you, and realize that you probably need him/her too… ah, symbiosis. I love it.

POST-ADOPTION TIP.

Sign up for training & HIT THAT LIBRARY UP!!  Please don’t get me wrong & think of rescued animals as necessarily in need of training any more than new puppies  would be (reasons for give-ups I’ve heard range from “didn’t match the furniture” to “grew up to be larger than we expected.” these have nothing to do with behavior, and puppies ALWAYS need training too.) Of course, there are some whose people didn’t train them as babies properly, or were abused, and therefore need special care, attention, and treatment… something you might be especially or especially not suited for (know your limits.)  Bottom line- bringing a new companion into your family means establishing a strong relationship with discipline & communication. (And psst! The Dog Whisperer episodes make great cliffs notes.)

Too easy to save a life, right? Now that you know, don’t go breaking my heart… please! For the love of dog, ADOPT.

warmest,

“I was the snow, and everywhere it landed, everything it covered, you scooped me up..." Sigh, love that.

Just watched the Family Stone for the umpteenth time, really hit the spot!

“I want to see that thing that felt like a hole in the center of that guy, the thing he needed to make just so he could sleep.”

“Do you feel like you chose– chose your life? Said- “this is the thing I want to do, these are the things I want.”? …not necessarily because you were good at this one thing or because everyone told you that it’s what you should want, (or) because everybody said that’s who you were… “

And my all time favorite: “You have a freak flag, you just don’t fly it.” 

Oh Luke Wilson! How your words go straight to my heart! Reminds me of what Anne Jackson says in the fantastic free e-book by Seth Godin (you can download it here):

“Until Fear is gone, (and realize he may never completely leave) make the decision to be courageous. the world needs your story in order to be complete.” In other words- fly it high!!

To your flag + mine,

 Yesterday was a crap day. A terrible, horrible, no-good, very crap day. And I, being a fairly optimistic and happy so lucky type of girl, typically think the worst on days like this. I’m dramatic, I’m silly, I let thoughts lead to more thoughts until I’m questioning everything I do & considering moving to Australia. Today started out with the residue of a total crap yesterday. But then, as I ran Whit this morning, I heard a little voice…

 ~Audrey Hepburn (in “How to be Lovely”)

 This isn’t a post about God, it isn’t even a post about Audrey Hepburn. It’s about these words, how they hold me in their palm and keep me safe. Risk, apparent risk… that’s what my life has become, because I will do what I must to be a voice for the animals in this industry. Is it terrifying? Sometimes. Is it worth it? No question. But when I’m 24/7 putting all of myself into something that has no guarantee, no safety net, no spotter, no emergency button, just me, everyday, doing my best and believing in something that I’m building with every ounce of what I’ve got… sometimes it’s just too much. (TOO MUCH!) for a girl to handle. But I know that’s when I most have to remember the full story- my full story- I’m happy to give it my all, and if I read through the pages, I quickly see that each chapter, after a particularly awful scary challenge or super lonely hard time, I’ve stumbled upon the sunrise, all warm and bright and new. It’s so easy to just dwell. But in the end, it’s the work I do when nothing is guaranteed that I find myself most connected to the universe, because I know it’s the work I have to do.

It’s funny… just now when I looked up this quote (that I noted after reading “How to be Lovely” borrowed from the Hong Kong library last summer), I realize I read it just as I was starting Vaute Couture. Books, what great friends, right? They know what you need, when you need it. Thank you, world, for books! And just now, I’ve found this one:

“…Not to live for the day, that would be materialistic — but to treasure the day. I realize that most of us live on the skin — on the surface — without appreciating just how wonderful it is simply to be alive at all.”

Now go have a super, fantastic, not bad, and very wonderful weekend! thanks for listening to me moan. hopefully I won’t be doing too much more of that on here.

warmest,

5'6" Supermodel Kate Moss for W Magazine via TeamSugar.com

Everyone’s secret addiction America’s Next Top Model starts their newest season March 4th. What I’ve never understood over is a certain casting rule– the one that says that real supermodels like Kate Moss and Twiggy wouldn’t have even been allowed to try out for ANTM. 

What? America’s ALREADY MADE IT supermodels wouldn’t have made ANTM’s most basic cut?

Twiggy, FASHION ICON at 5′6″, asked to judge ANTM but not tall enough to enter?

And isn’t Devon just SO. gorgeous!? (pics later in the post… okay, that has nothing to do with ANTM, but hey.)

5'6" Fashion Icon Twiggy & former ANTM judge

 SOooo timing and luck aside (for another discussion)– how did it happen?

An agent made an exception. Rules schmules. They’re everywhere, and they’re great for shortcuts– but when you’re talking about a super- anything, (cliche incoming:) rules were meant to be broken. Open-mindedness is a requirement. Yes, the modeling world is full of 5′8″+ size 2-4 rules (due to sample sized clothes used for runway/stocked for shoots, etc.), but the best agents know that there are always exceptions to be made for unique looks. It’s just funny to me that ANTM does not know this- that before even seeing a girl they nix her based on this chopping block cut. Hello people- this is reality TV! They can make up their own rules! And besides- they’ve already gone against the sample size rule by being pro-plus size nearly every season, as shown with STUNNER Whitney, last season’s winner (Love her!) How about being Pro-normal-height? It seems to me that if they’re trying to find talent that’s gone overlooked until now, they should realize that Oklahoma isn’t the only place to look. 

5'5" Super Lovely Devon Aoki

My favorite author, Seth Godin, has something to say about this.  Well, not exactly. But it’s applicable.

“ I think if you’re remarkable, amazing or just plain spectacular, you probably shouldn’t have a resume at all… Great people shouldn’t have a resume. Here’s why: A resume is an excuse to reject you. Once you send me your resume, I can say, “oh, they’re missing this or they’re missing that,” and boom, you’re out.

Having a resume begs for you to go into that big machine that looks for relevant keywords, and begs for you to get a job as a cog in a giant machine. Just more fodder for the corporate behemoth. That might be fine for average folks looking for an average job, but is that what you deserve?”

So he’s talking about a piece of paper, but what he means is industry rules, standards, quick ways for others to cut you out because they have this huge stack of applicants and don’t know how else to make it smaller.  And the right person hiring will know this- just as the right agent gets that the right face trumps a height or size standard. As does the right talent/life experience trumps the right degree/formal studies… Okay, I could on and on. Let’s just leave it at this. (And this is directly for ANTM producers with the utmost respect from yes, a weekly watcher! I’m out!) When trying to find real undiscovered talent, an openness to non-standard applicants is a MUST, or else the same rules will keep you calf-deep in the same pool.  I’d much rather see a gorgeous face who can work the camera (perfect for ads/commercials/beauty campaign/etc.) than another tall girl who doesn’t have an idea of what’s going on.

PS. Random Fact: Did anyone else miss the fact that Elina (the gorgeous mixed girl from last season who went from brunette to curly red head) is VEGAN? How did I miss this? She was ALREADY my favorite. :) 

UPDATE!! Thanks, Tracie, for the heads up! ANTM announced this week that they were indeed missing out to nix shorties in the past, and are doing an ALL UNDER 5′7″ casting for Cycle 13, to make up for it! CRAZINESS. Read all about it, plus locations/dates for castings HERE  or Apply HERE.

warmest,