"We're not gonna pay RENT!"

"Cuz everything is REEEEENNNT!"

I just found out that the musical, RENT, is coming back to Chicago in the Spring. But this time, with a little something special: The original cast members to play Roger and Mark are back! Yes, the two from the movie version :) Those two are some of my favorites;Adam Pascal (roger) is beautifulllll. And, I don't think anyone can play Mark like Anthony Rapp... So to say I'm excited for this is a complete understatement! RENT is a story that should be told over and over again. The theme of the play is definatley love, and you feel it the second the curtain rises. I saw a production of it a few years ago, probably when I was about 15 years old. I loved it then! But now, at 18...going to college in Chicago has altered my perception of the message; things are different. There's a bond that unites friends in college that doesn't unite friend's in high school.(Especially when you're trying to make it in a big city that can be scary at times) You know, At this age (entering adulthood and trying to figure stuff out)we're all united in a common struggle. But the struggle isn't bad or hurtful. It's exciting because it's a part of growing up and you never know where it will take you. That's what RENT symbolizes for me I guess: Honest friendship, a celebration of love and the hard times that make us who we are. The battles we fight in the name of what we love and for the person we want to become make us stronger.

Take me away...

A Sweet Escape...

I'm sitting in my living room, freezing. My house has too many large windows, and they feel like sheets of ice. It's cold.My insides even feel cold. Everything has been zapped of color...it's all gone grey and diseased. The snow is somewhat glittery, but that's the only semblance of "pretty" within my sight.

I'm remembering a few days in June spent in Playa Del Carmen Mexico (just outside of Cancun) for my sister's wedding. I don't think I've ever felt warmer! I had never seen a shooting star before this trip! There are alot of lights in the city you know... My hair was always luscious and curly, borderline frizz but I didn't care! My skin was kissed, actually kind of bitten by the sun. I swam in The Carribean Sea for the first time, almost died but whatever. I miss Mexico on days like this. I appreciate this ice, snow, sleet, bitter harsh wind because it's a part of Winter. I love Winter, and I miss it in the summer! See, that's how it is with me: The grass is always greener on the other side. I'm only satisfied for a little while. For the moment, I'm living inside of a memory: stretched out on a blue and white striped beach chair, sprawled out, tanned, my skin hot and my eyes unable to stay open for too long. The sun eclipses everything, and I can breathe the fresh air drenched in tropical aromas. No where to go, no one to see...just me and the Carribean. Where are the pirates?

Let's go back to Cancun my darlings...

The Dumpster Chic Subculture Part 2: Mary-Kate Olsen

Mary-Kate Olsen

So, here's the deal. I started notcing MK's style changing when the big apple hit her. All of a sudden, she was this little twig in platforms and moo moo dresses. I loved it! In the beginning of her transition to DUMPSTER, there really wasn't any CHIC yet. She was sloppy, and college-ish with her "I don't care...lemme hold a starbucks in this hand and my copy of vogue in the other." (a.k.a my day to day gear) But the girl was definatley on to something. I would probably say that she was the one to reintroduce hobo, sexy slop. Magazines started calling her look "Dumpster Chic." That's originally where I heard the term. I completely fell in love with the idea. This thought of not caring, but obviously being pretty calculated in deciding what rip goes where on your citizen of humanity jeans, completely rocked my world. Now, her style has transitioned. Again, no doubt the influence of moving to Soho New York. She's a little sleeker, but not too "I'm an artist from New York, so I'm gonna wear all black from now on" (ewww) No, on the red carpet she's a class act in long , retro dresses...eye popping accesories and that trusty pout that is all MK. When papped by the paparazzi, she's "Oh my god, don't look at me..." in her huge sunglasses, signature anklet boots that extend probably 5 inches off of the ground (kudos to a fellow short girl who understands the importance of heels). And she's more GRUNGE now. That's the thing, 2008 was the year of the return of GRUNGE. People still havn't completley fallen back in love with the music (though its one of the best genres EVER) but everyone understands how hot a flannel shirt looks with some skinny jeans or tied around your waist. Simply irresistable. On guys, forget it! On girls, it's like a high and proud middle finger to Hollister or some other overpriced t-shirt shop. Obviously I'm a fan of this resergance of grunge. Like I said, the early nineties were pretty fierce for fashion. But you know, this generation's doing something very interesting with it. They're making grunge, sleek and classic by actually fitting their bodies! My God, who'd a thought what a difference darting would make in a flannel shirt! Anyway, back to MK. She's brilliant. I love what she's done for her image. She takes fashion seriously. She sees it as an art. Whereas other celebrities have stylists and people to help them look good because THEY LIKE LOOKING GOOD. Those people are not in love with fashion, they're in love with themselves.

The Dumpster Chic Subculture Part 1: Zoë Kravitz

What is Dumpster Chic?

It is the perfect semblance of effortless grunge and flowery bohemian. It doesn't mean you're dirty. It means you splatter yourself with the theme of the day, whatever that may be. You are a walking collage of things you threw together to reflect what you feel, who you are and what you dream of.

Zoë Kravitz

Her DNA leaks hippy chic, rock star cool. Right now, she's my style inspiration. The collages of jewelry, fabrics, prints and colors is always undeniably fierce on her. With parents like Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz, she could have easily drifted to two places: hippy, trippy, crunchy granola cool or inked, metallic, sequined glam rocker. Zoë is somewhere in between, at a happy medium. Rock it, girl.