I have a few new and notable candle fragrances! I am super excited about these. Is it possible for a candle to smell “glamorous?” I think so. You can find them, along with the rest of my candles, here.
Breakfast at Tiffany's Soy Candle
Breakfast at Tiffany's Soy Tea Lights
Chanel No. 5 Inspired Soy Candle
Chanel No. 5 Inspired Soy Tea Lights
Jaben and his grandma
Trick or treat? I'll take treats, please.
my grandpa and aunt connie. i love my family.
sisters
a greco pumpkin
getting ready for his first ever trick-or-treat! cutest. monkey. nephew. ever.
trick-or-treating!
my love.
sleepy monkey....
Meet Butterfly Boucher (if you have not been formerly introduced) and check out her fabulous album Scary Fragile. It’s Amazon’s MP3 Daily Deal. May I recommend pouring yourself a cup of coffee, wrapping yourself up in your favorite cardigan, and listening to this song? Thanks. It’s good Fall music.
I have a love/hate relationship with the fashion industry. Some might call this a “guilty pleasure.” I believe I have mentioned this previously. Since I first heard about the documentary The September Issue (TSI) I wanted to see it. I enjoy Vogue more than any other fashion magazine. I was beside myself when I learned Tulsa actually has a really cool independent/nonprofit movie theater 5 minutes from my house that was showing the film this weekend.
TSI is brilliant in that the director, R.J. Cutler, so poignantly articulates in this film what I both love and hate about the fashion industry and its so-called “bible” (a.k.a Vogue’s September issue). Cutler accomplishes this by providing the obvious behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of the magazine, but also by providing viewers with much subtler behind-the-scenes look at the human beings whose personalities both mesh and clash along the way.
one of Coddington's beautiful photos from the Sept. 07 issue.
One of these personalities is that of Grace Coddington. Ever heard of Grace Coddington? Nope? Me neither – well, not until a few hours ago. I am glad I went to see this film if for no other reason than to be introduced to this woman. She is the Creative Director of Vogue and is simply remarkable. In a world of fake, retouched photos, $3,000 blouses, and fashion models, Grace stands out to me as the most beautiful vision of all in this film.
This is ironic considering she is the most unfashionable sight in the film – with her exceedingly frizzy red hair, makeup-less face, and dowdy black dresses, you would never guess she is a past fashion model turned creative director. What I love about Grace is that she embodies what it is I like about the fashion industry – romanticism, beauty, fantasy…creative fun. She is an unapologetic dreamer. She finds beauty everywhere she goes. She tears up while in Paris talking about how beautiful it is…how old it is. As she gazes off into the distance in reflection you can tell this woman is 100% genuine. That kind of passion cannot be edited onto a woman’s face.
Grace’s authenticity captured me as I watched this film. She won me over as she not only presented her breath-taking work, but
another one of Coddington's beautiful photos
also as she shares her disappointments with the direction the fashion industry has taken. For example, she humorously laments the trend of putting celebrities on the covers of magazines that has happened over the last decade. Grace says she would be happy if she never saw another celebrity ever again while at the same time acknowledging that that’s what sells magazines today, and if magazines didn’t sell, she would not have a place in which to put her work. It’s business.
And that’s where Wintour comes in. Grace’s idealism has obviously been reigned in by Anna’s realism which is just as note-worthy. Perhaps this is where the creative spark is created that results in Vogue. Both Grace and Anna started at Vogue at the same time. Grace is the behind-the-scenes artistic genius – even Anna admits this – and Anna is the front and center business genius. Comparing and contrasting their personalities throughout the film was incredibly entertaining – especially for a counselor-type person. These women have incredible skills and clearly work well together even when beyond frustrated with one another. One woman has a hard time compromising true beauty and artistic integrity for superficial beauty. The other knows that superficial beauty is what sells magazines.
Which brings me to what I hate about the fashion industry. TSI also exposes the absolutely appalling side of the making of the magazine. There were scenes that made me cringe. For example, Sienna Miller was Vogue’s cover girl for this particular September issue. In the film Anna complained about the following features of Sienna: her hair, her teeth, and her neck. Yes, her neck. In the final issue of the magazine that was sold all around the world (see below) Sienna’s head has been photo-shopped onto a different picture of her body. Moreover, Anna felt Sienna was showing too many teeth in the photograph (i.e. she was smiling – beautifully I might add). Not to mention, some teeth had visible fillings, (oh my) so Sienna’s mouth/teeth were retouched as well. The image on the cover was not really Sienna as captured in the moment of the photo shoot at all. It was “Anna’s Sienna.” This is what concerns me about the fashion industry.
You learn throughout the film that everyone surrounding Anna in her personal life including her daughter, brothers, sisters, etc. simply consider what she does “amusing.” Her daughter wants to be a lawyer, her brother helps people who are low-income find housing, and her sister does international work. I found this information as refreshing as Grace. To many in the world Anna is a god, to her family her work is simply amusing…like a game at Chuck. E. Cheese or something.
I left the theater with the same love/hate duality that I entered it. An older woman commented on her way out, “see, it’s fantasy not reality…that’s why I love it.” Therein lies the secret that the film very subtly tells. Fashion is amusing but should not be taken too seriously by those of us who enjoy it. High fashion belongs in the genre of fantasy…of artistic fantasy and story. At its best it’s the art of Grace – the mythical, angelic, dream-like images she creates that help you escape reality for a bit. At its worst it’s “Anna’s Sienna” with a photo-shopped body (and teeth) parading around the world as reality.
I have been waiting to see this documentary since I first heard about it. I am so thankful to finally live in a city that has an independent movie theater so I can actually go see it instead of waiting for it on Netflix. Thank you for your existence Circle Cinema. I will see you and Anna Wintour on Sunday afternoon.
Okay. So you know that cute AT&T commercial where the couple is sending picture messages back and forth and then at the end the guy sends a picture of the girl sitting on the park bench which reveals he is right behind her? Yeah, that one. Okay, so you know there is that sweet little song playing? Well, I (with apparently the rest of the world) have always enjoyed that song but never went so far as to figure out who was singing it.
Today, I was downloading free songs from Amazon when I came across a free song called “Made for Glory” by a guy named Landon Pigg. I loved it. I went to his website. I discovered he was the voice behind the cute commercial. I think everyone else in the known universe already knew this, but it was news to me. I discovered the name of said cute commercial song was “Falling In Love at a Coffee Shop.” Stop it. That’s where Luke and I fell in love, well at least met/flirted/exchanged phone numbers eventually.
I paid attention to the lyrics for the first time really. I got all giddy inside again remembering how I use to sit at Common Grounds, studying Theology or reading Wuthering Heights, wishing that the cute barista behind the counter who made my mocha latte would come talk to me. We will soon be married 2 years. It’s fun to think back to when we first met and were getting to know one another. So, thank you for that Landon Pigg, thank you. The video is as adorable as the song, so if you haven’t already seen in, I hope you enjoy it.
“I never knew what it was about this old coffee shop I love so much. All of the while I never knew. All of the while. All of the while. All of the while it was you….”
I love a bank that serves free popcorn in the lobby. There is nothing like being able to go in, deposit your paycheck, and serve yourself up a bag of buttery popcorn on your way out the door. Not only do I love popcorn anytime, anywhere, but I also love the randomness that is meshing bank lobby sophistication with movie-theater kitsch . It’s like grown-up world meets little-kid world. Only in a bank lobby with a popcorn machine can you see a grown man in a Ralph Lauren business suit pause, shift his briefcase, and fill up a narrow bag of golden-yellow goodness as if it’s totally normal.
When I first sniffed popcorn as we walked into the bank lobby yesterday I knew I was in the right place. After researching a few banks online Luke and I had officially decided that Bank of Oklahoma was the bank for us. We were there to open a new account. I failed to remember to take popcorn machines into account when we were making our decision – they don’t include this bit of information on the websites – so I was ever so relieved to walk in and discover that the bank we chose did indeed include popcorn with their free checking. Whew. It was a reassuring sign, no doubt.
Like the adults that we are we met with a teller and successfully opened our new checking account (with plans on opening a savings account as soon as we have something to save…). The teller asked us difficult questions such as “whose name do you want to be the primary one on the account?” Err..we didn’t care. I instantly imagined us going back and forth (ala a new couple on the phone, ‘you hang up…no you hang up’) about who it should be. Luke insisted my name be the primary one. I accepted. Score. Thank you husband.
She then pulled out this laminated 10×10 card that had check card designs. What? We can choose a design for our free check card? Stop it. Unashamed, I picked the pink one. I knew I wanted it the second I spotted it; however, I acted like I was thinking about which one to pick for longer so as not to appear completely ridiculous. Luke, the secondary account holder, picked the standard red one. Boring. He really should have gone with the prairie landscape one.
All in all, I am feeling pretty stellar about our new bank. Thank you Bank of Oklahoma for free popcorn and pink check cards. This is all a girl really needs to feel secure about where she is placing her money.
My family came up yesterday for a visit. We took them to Woodward Park, and to downtown to see the Center for Creativity where Luke starts work this Thursday. It was a good Saturday in the city. Here are some snapshots. For more photos click here.
Picnic at Woodward Park just down from our house.
Tulsa Rose Garden at Woodward Park
beautiful.
the greenhouse at Woodward Park
entrance to greenhouse
perusing the greenhouse
orchids
elegant.
cheerful.
graceful.
tree aboretum at Woodward Park
downtown Tulsa
Tulsa Community College's new downtown Center for Creativity where Luke will be Professor of Art.
back at home. dinner with my parents, aunt, and grandpa.
Yesterday Luke had his first afternoon o’ training for his new job. This meant it was time for me to get out and explore the city all by myself. Being that this is the largest (population: one million) city that I have ever lived in, I find myself feeling a bit timid and insecure about finding my way around – city traffic scares me.
Prior to heading off on my adventures yesterday, I reminded myself that I had driven very competently in Dallas when I lived in Texas. I compare all traffic situations to Dallas. For example, when nervous about a traffic situation, I repeat over and over: “You have driven in Dallas, you can do this. You have driven in Dallas, you can do this.” There is that one spot when you are coming upon the Dallas skyline where all the highways intersect - I was convinced this would be the death of me every time I drove it. It obviously wasn’t, but I swear my blood pressure was high enough to warrant hospitalization in those moments. My heart rate is increasing just thinking about it.
Anyways, Tulsa = not Dallas. I can do this, I told myself, I’ve driven in Dallas, I can drive in Tulsa. My goals were to 1.) Retrieve a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks 2.) Get a library card & check out books 3.) Get groceries and 4.) Not get lost in so doing. It was easy enough to find the Starbucks as it is a mere 2-3 minutes from my house. I completed this task with great success.
Pumpkin Spice Latte in hand (er, cup holder) I left Starbucks and made my way to one of the 25 branches of the Tulsa Public Library. I promised myself before I moved here that getting a library card would be of utmost priority. I waited too long to accomplish this in Murphysboro. In fact, I waited too long to do a lot of things in Murphysboro for whatever reason. I was too passive about making myself at home there. I want to be more active about doing so here; and my attempt at that includes getting a library card. And get a library card I did. I seamlessly found the branch in my wing of the city, got my card, and checked out 4 books. Oh, and I also picked up a library volunteer application because, why not? I love the library. Score 2 for me: latte, library: check.
Finally, it was on to the grocery store to gather ingredients for dinner: Puffy Cheesy Green Bean Bake Getting to the grocery store was a success as well – even in 3:30ish after-school traffic. I collected 1 onion, 1 lb. green beans, and a few other miscellaneous items the Greco household needed. I then made my way back home. I was so proud. I had completed all my “goals” including not getting lost.
I recognize I am a huge nerd as evidenced by the fact that I was beaming as I carried my latte, library books, and groceries into the house. It’s the small things like that, I guess, that make me feel remarkably independent and capable when I move to a new place. Running seemingly benign errands in the city can feel utterly exhilarating when you are doing it for the first time and all by yourself.
Did anyone else see Ellen today? Yes? No? Well, I did, and I lucked into catching a performance by The Noisettes . I’ll get straight to the point – I loved it. I absolutely loved it. The lead singer is fabulous. Their sound is a little bit Amy Winehouse and a little bit Diana Ross & The Supremes. Their new album is only $5.00 on Amazon right now!
 | tiffgreco on a family halloween. |
 | Jessica Roye on a family halloween. |
| Jessica Roye on a family halloween. |
 | Meagan on falling in love at a coffee… |
| Jessica on the september issue – my… |
