Tights

See how much fun she's having in tights!?

I lived in tights and dresses when I was a little girl--and it was awesome! When everyone else at school was wearing their matching neon nylon tracksuits my mom had me in fabulously feminine hand-smocked dresses. And tights of course. But then I hit puberty and started wearing jeans and inside-out sweatshirts (it was the thing, okay). Puberty eventually made way for a dress/skirt revival in high school but by then I was awkward and (I’ll just come out and say it) huge. My experience with tights, or rather nylons, at this point was pretty negative. When there was some fancy church thing to go to I would steal a pair from my mom and hers were, frankly, awful. They were those basic Hanes control top nylons that would run at the drop of a hat (if you dropped that hat on them). And between then and about September 2010, I thought I would forever hate all hosiery. But guys, here’s the thing--I discovered that tights can actually rock IF you buy a larger size (screw the size chart on the back of the packages), nix the control top nonsense, and go with microfiber over nylon.  Like these. For the last seven months or so I have worn tights almost every day. They’re so comfy! And opaque colors make my pasty legs look slimmer and longer. And I feel super feminine again—especially now that I’m confident enough to wear mini dresses (the high school dress/skirt revival consisted of ankle length monstrosities). I can thank Lena and her Eurovision “Satellite” video for that. She reminded me of those teenage girls in the mid-nineties that I envied so much. And I’d also like to thank Sienna Miller, because (if memory serves) she was the one who brought opaque tights back in style after playing Edie Sedgwick in “Factory Girl”.

Trader Joe's

I think Trader Joe's also made the list on Stuff White People Like. Trader Joe's is simply awesome. They basically have tons of cool stuff at prices lower than regular grocery stores. I could gripe about how they could have more selection, more local & organic options, and better produce but I know what it's like to live without a Trader Joe's so I'll just thank the Lord that I'm moving to a city with two. Here are some of my favorite items:

• Honey Sesame Almonds (so good!)
• Organic Beef Jerky (finally, organic jerky that I don't have to drive to a ranch for)
• Veggie & Flaxseed Tortilla Chips (these beat any other kind of bagged tortilla chip)
• Corn and Chile Tomato-less Salsa (love corn salsa! Sweet & spicy)
• Frozen Thai Vegetable Gyoza (my go-to midnight (savory) snack)
• 2% Greek Style Yogurt (I eat half a container of this stuff everyday)
• Goat Cheese (lasts longer than most TJ cheese and it's so much cheaper)
• Gluten Free Cranberry Maple Nut Granola (I eat this like cereal)
• Frozen Organic Raspberries (mix with Greek yogurt!)
• Frozen Mango Chunks (smoothies, mix with yogurt, blend in pies, etc.)
• Raisin Rosemary Crisps (Serve with brie, lavender honey, and fig jam)
• Macaroni & Cheese: Wisconsin Cheddar (Wisconsin. Need I say more?)
• Harvest Grains Blend (lentils, couscous, orzo, beans, quinoa)
• Everything Pretzel Thins (great snack!)
• Dark Chocolate Tahitian Vanilla Caramels (I give in to buying these far too often)
• Green Tea Mints (don’t work all that well but taste great!)
• Organic Sprouted Tofo (love the two pack)
• Mini Peanut Butter Cups (they’re tiny so you can pretend you’re eating less)
• Oatmeal & Cranberry Cookie (nom nom nom)
• Mini Heirloom Tomatoes (a lunch staple)
• Goat Milk (tastes the same as Cow milk but easier on your system)
• 2 Buck Chuck! (Charles Shaw wine)
• Chunky Valencia Peanut Butter with Roasted Flaxseeds (so many good things for you!)

Spanish Girl of Segovia, 1918

This is my favorite painting. Spanish Girl of Segovia is by Robert Henri (25 June 1865 – 12 July 1929), an American painter and teacher. He was a leading figure of the Ashcan School, a realist artistic movement that came into prominence in the United States during the early twentieth century, best known for works portraying scenes of daily life in New York's poorer neighborhoods. Henri specialized in portraits (my favorite!). The movement grew out of a group known as The Eight, whose only show together in 1908 created a sensation. Aside from Henri, its members included William Glackens (1870-1938), George Luks (1867-1933), Everett Shinn (1876-1953), John French Sloan (1871-1951), Arthur B. Davies (1862-1928), Ernest Lawson (1873-1939), and Maurice Prendergast (1859-1924).

It might seem a bit odd that my favorite painter was a realist considering my favorite illustrator specialized in whimsical works based on fairy stories. But when I first saw Spanish Girl of Segovia at the Milwaukee Art Museum years ago I was captivated. Henri may have painted the anonymous working class but he gave them dignity. They are real, but romantic. And I love that unlike other techniques used by realist painters, Henri didn't try to paint photographs. What I mean by this is that his brushstrokes are broad and he uses dark tones--like Manet (but I prefer Henri)--and isn't hung up on creating an exact replica of her face. I like when you can see the actual brushstrokes! How up close they look like smudges but when you back up you see that they are intuitive smudges that come together to form a portrait. It should be noted that I do not consider impressionism or pointillism intuitive. They are too calculated for my taste.

And on top of everything Henri was a meticulous record keeper! He kept books in which he numbered all of his paintings and listed the exhibitions at which they were shown. This painting is number 87H. As an archivist I could just kiss him!

Arthur Rackham

I was about to say that Arthur Rackham (19 September 1867 – 6 September 1939) is my favorite artist but it would be more accurate to say he is my favorite illustrator, and has been for a very long time. I don't know how to speak about art as well as I would like, but I love how delicate his work is--the tiny strokes, the muted colors. I love how his backgrounds are often equally as important as the figures. And of course I love the subject matter. He doesn't make fairy tale characters and creatures cute, he gives them drama and legitimacy. And yet they can still be funny! When I used to pour over volumes of myths and legends there was nothing more irritating than illustrations that didn't match the mood of the stories. These stories are epic! They deserve for an artist to take them seriously.

The image is of his painting, "Undancey." And while it's not my favorite it was the first Rackham I ever saw and the one that made me search for more.