We're Moving!

Thanks for you patience while we undertake the daunting task of moving our family of six YET AGAIN. :) No news on where we'll be moving or any details until we get settled but I promise to fill you all in soon.

xoxo!

Ashley

Top Ten Celebrity Mustaches

As we move into 'Movember', the emphasis on growing facial hair has become unavoidable. Top ten mustache (or moustache, if you prefer) lists have popped up everywhere, so I decided to jump on board as well. Here is my list of the top ten celebrity mustaches of all time. Enjoy and feel free to voice your own opinion in the comment section.

10. The Mellow Mushroom:

Face it, if you drew a line drawing of Frank Zappa's facial hair and nothing else, he'd still be recognizable. That makes a successful mustache, in my opinion. And no, I guess the square on his chin is not technically part of the lip coiffure, but there is no doubt it's a strong supporter.


9.The Square Deal:

Hard to overlook the Queenly mustache of Freddie Mercury. Before the mustache, he was just a square chinned fella with an incredible voice. After the mustache, he had a new lease on masculinity and just the right mustache shape to accentuate that famous jawline. When we think of Freddie, we seldom think of the pre-mustache days.

8.The Surrealist:

Salvador Dali grew a mustache that perfectly suited his artistic prowess and creative sensibilities. It should have died with him. Anyone who grows this style of mustache now must accept the fact that it will inevitably pale in comparison.

7.The Star Maker:

Clark Gable was a big star without his mustache. But when he meticulously grew that ever so thin and distinguished line above his lip, he became a legend.

6.The Crooner:

Someone else originally had this spot. But then I remembered Jim Croce's legendary siesta of a mustache that waltzed up and down when he sang. Enough said.

5.The Hirsute:

I think Tom Selleck appears on every one of these lists, and with good reason. Not only is Magnum a picture of manly excellence with his legendary mustache, but he made hairy men everywhere feel sexy again.

4.The Perfect Disguise:

I once saw a photo of John Oates without his mustache and had no idea who he was. I think if you can do something as simple as shave a 4 inch segment of hair off of your face and gain instant 'incognito', that must mean it was a great mustache indeed.


3.The Great Dictator:

Don't worry...not Hitler. Chaplin. Just turn a rectangle into a slight trapezoid and you have the Little Tramp that did not attempt to take over the world.

2.The Silver Fox:

Sam Elliot doesn't appear so high on most lists of this type, but the man grows hair art on his upper lip. An amazing blend of personality and facial hair excellence. I'm usually a bit depressed when he shaves it for a role, but then it comes back in all its luxuriant silver glory and I forgive him. I think it's the eyes. They demand forgiveness.

1.The King:

There are actors with mustaches and musicians with mustaches. And then there is the man who is a celebrity for just having one. Burke Kenney. I know, at first glance this seems more an exhibit of beard growing than of mustachery. But look again. The man has no mouth. This requires extraordinary commitment, no? The mustache flows freely over his lips to harmonize completely with his long hair and beard...that is, unless he chooses to style it. Then it does this:

Yeah, Burke has pretty eyes, shiny hair,and a big ol' beard. But the mustache is his true claim to fame if you ask me.

And that's my list.

xoxo

Ashley

Sometimes I Yearn...

Webster's defines 'yearn' as:

Verb: 1. To have intense feeling of loss or lack and longing for something.

I would describe myself as a pretty contented person and a happy one. But like Kramer, sometimes I 'sit and yearn'. I don't think I have an intense feeling of loss, as the definition demands, but there are definitely things that continually haunt me and give me a sense of longing. I thought I'd share some of those with you today. Note that none of them are necessary to my happiness, my well being, or my sanity. Some may be unobtainable. But having them there to think about when things are quiet just gives me whistful motivation, if you will. And I don't think that's a bad thing...

1. The Desert:

Okay maybe its not the most practical thing in the world, but I totally think I could do the desert. I think I could live smack dab in the middle of it, miles from civilization. I've driven through it a few times, once to Death Valley in Ca, and never did it make me feel depressed or compare it to the lush green environment I'm used to. I find the variations of color equally as inspiring as the changing leaves in Tennessee and I think the sheer enormity of the sky makes up for any lack of green. I love the open space and the clear breathable air that makes my nose bleed. I love the fact that it takes so long to actually get to a settlement or city that seems close enough to touch. I love the random ice cream stands and such that surreally speckle the scenery like a still life. Route 66 is calling my name, I guess you could say. Of course, if I lived out there I'd also need one of those little Broncos that Salma Hayek drives in Fools Rush In...so that would open up another whole yearning matter.

2. Curls:

I'm utterly fascinated by curls. All types of curls but mainly natural frizzy ones that are hard to control. Alas, I will never have curls. I have to create them from scratch. But when I was a kid, my dream head-o-hair was somewhere between that chick from Brave and Rita Hayworth. I wanted scads of dark red curls. I got the dark red, albeit by most 'un-natural' means, but the curls elude me. You ladies with curls, EMBRACE THEM. They can be straightened more easily than we can straight haired girls can achieve the greatness with which you were born. And ladies like Myrna Loy (pictured above) and Greer Garson are living proof that you can achieve all kinds of gorgeous smooth looks with them.

3.1950's fashion:
It goes without saying that I am inspired by the past, on a daily basis. But sometimes, the longing for a dress I see in a film or magazine ad grows so great that I am inspired to start searching around for a pattern and a seamstress so that I can replicate it. This usually happens when I'm watching a movie that boasts the pristine costumes of Edith Head. But sometimes it just happens when I'm glancing at fashion photos online or in a magazine. I love the structure of 1950's gowns and their complete and utter consciousness of the female form. I have a 'dresses I want to copy' folder on my computer. I know the chances of my replicating these dresses are slim to none, but it somehow makes me feel better to know they are there taunting me. :)

P.S. If I ever have ocassion to wear a wedding dress again, the above dress will be mine. :)

I also am in awe of ladies like this one, who have such a great handle on their personal style and how it reflects their love of vintage fashion. Red Carpet celebrities and their bevy of paid consultants and stylists simply can't touch her:

*PHOTO COURTESY: THE GOLDEN GIRL OF THE WEST

4. Brilliant Photography:
More than anything else lately, I yearn when I see amazing photographs. I've always been inspired by art, illustration, etc. But photography is a recent passion of mine and one I intend to pursue. When I view some of my favorite blogs and see the quality of photos they offer, I sometimes get a little sick feeling. I guess it's slightly a jealous feeling but more than that, I think it's a sense of regret that I have not paid the same level of attention to my own blog posts. I have an entire album of photo inspirations, most of which I've drawn from my favorite fashion and lifestyle blogs, and I hope all of you are aware of how much you accomplish with your amazing pictures.

Below are a few photos from that album as well as a credit to the 'pitcher-taker' and a brief description of why I so love the shot:

The above photo by musician/photographer Joshua Black Wilkins is an example of why he's one of my favorite portrait photographers. Unposed, unfocused, candid moments that are just breathtaking. He has a gift for recognizing beautiful things in his subjects that come from their own natural basic-ness. I know that is not a word and doubt it makes sense to anyone but me. :)

Aya and her husband Thomas continue to turn out beautiful naturalistic portraits on their website. This photo went to my saved photos immediately because well, I have a thing about necks. I love the nape of the neck (unshaved ones on men are my PET PEEVE) and I love the simple way this photo is cropped and constructed. It moves me.

I also love the photos of food that Aya uploads to her Instragram and blog. What is it about proper photography that makes me so inspired by food? And why am I so inlove with the fact of the wrinkle in the cloth?

photo from Strawberry Koi

NO ONE on the internet inspires me to try their makeup looks like Jody of Monroe Misfit Makeup. And I blame her photography. Her beautiful face notwithstanding, the lighting and color she captures in these photos is what really creates the magic.

Esme and the Laneway, doing fashion posts right! This is the way that I want to see you blogging gals show off your clothes. In soft pastel settings with glowy lighting. Yes, I know...the milky skin and beautiful hair is an added perk that not all of us can easily come by. But I can dream...and with photos like this to inspire me, the dreaming is easy.

And last, but certainly not least:

Ulrika slays me every time she posts. Her fashion sense is impeccable, her hair styling talent remarkable, and photos like this are just the icing on the cake. I regret not doing something like this w/ my babies. Add to this the incredible shots she shares of her home, outfit ideas, country vistas, and hair creations; The Freelancer's Fashion Blog a veritable smorgasboard of photographic vittles.

Let the yearning commence...

xoxo
Ashley