Reanimated Rags

Hallowe-an Vacation

2011-11-07T21:56:00.001-08:00

Being in the undead business business year round, I decided to take the month of October off. Don't ask me why, but I did. I also took a year off from being some form of a zombie at Halloween, since to me zombie facepaint and fake blood are about as "business casual" as it gets. So I convinced my husband to dress up like Robert Smith and Simon Gallup (or fill in the blank other member of The Cure) but in my "usual way" (read: esoteric snob) I didn't just want to dress up like them in their normal style. Instead we did an homage to the Head on The Door poster I had up on my wall as a teenager, also known as the "In Between Days" album cover. I got some awesome day glo facepaint (almost like a powder) from my good friends at Performance Studios and a couple Kiss wigs (the best thing I could find for a Robert Smith look) and we were in! I even carried around a fake blow up guitar on my side for good measure.

My sister and her boyfriend let us tag along with them and we hit a show at Foobar with a sweet lineup of cover bands. Nikki Lane worked the door which seemed unnecessary seeing as how a little mason jar with a note would have worked considering it was a beyond reasonable $1 cover at the door. But its cool, she looked pretty smart in a Boardwalk Empire look complete with a wiggle dress and vintage fox stole. Super fun!! and I even saw another Robert Smith there at the party which rocked my WORLD! I went up to him and introduced myself by asking "Disintegration? I'm Head on the Door" drawing a blank stare from him momentarily before he realized this short girl in front of him was actually dressed as Robert Smith as well. He looked fantastic so I had to request a picture with him.

Nothing like seeing two Robert Smiths playing pool with each other in a smoky bar.
Only in Nashville.

A bunch of cover bands played but I think the Ramones took the cake for look-alike points. A baby "mosh pit" even formed, if you can really call it that (you can't, trust me, it was very "comfy") and I was on the outskirts just watching the show but did intervene when I saw that pacman had fallen down and his huge pacman head was making it hard for him to get resituated. Mosh pit etiquette definitely was in effect but not without some chuckles on my part that I felt led to rescue Pacman from a mosh pit. Goodness Gracious....

It was so worth having a neon green face for the following day to go with my mild hangover. Soooo worth it.

xoxo, rr

Tractor Show Bliss 2011: Man and Machine*

2011-11-01T20:19:00.000-07:00

Bells Bend Tractor Show 2011

Could possibly be the coolest thing ever in the History of the Land.
Completely Bad Azz.

Our day started off right away with some education, courtesy of the Professor of Tractor Studies himself, Mister George West. What a hero of mine. A man of true grit and substance but so much more! He's an activist and leader in the community on top of being just a real dyed in the wool country man. He plays the fiddle and also counts "songwriter" as one of his hobbies. Love this man and everything he stands for. Not only did he show us his corn processing tractor (I am sure there's another and more cool name for this but I didn't catch it) which he revved up for us, but he sang me part of a song he wrote, which touched me immensely both for the writing as well as the fact that he shared it with me on the spot.

So rad.

The corn comes out of this shoot when its done being separated from the stalks. So cool!

Never met a mason jar I didn't like.

More of the corn tractors guts. There was a really cool story about this but since I didn't take notes and can't remember the technical highlights I will just say its really cool, made in America and clearly a gem before Planned Obsolescence came into fruition.

A country man in training.

Happy on a Tractor. Just like his mom.

More pics of the tractor in a jar on a tractor. Be still my beating heart!

That is sand in there too.
Adds literal "Grit" and acts as simple metaphor of history.
Love it so much it can't be 'splained.

My "little man" looks cooler drinking out of his sippy cup
than your man looks drinking out of his coffee cup.

Can crushing contraption made from old farm machinery and completely mesmerizing.

Gorgeous Gears

Orion getting to "drive" a Farmall for the first time.

King on his first tractor ride, with dad, courtesy of the coolest pre-teen this side of the Mason Dixon line. I thought I was cool cause I learned to drive a car by myself at 12. This kid has studied tractors since he was 4 and drives them amazingly at the ripe old age of 10.

Sick.

Not so much "street style" as it is "dirt road style" and I can't get enough!!!
A lovely couple and so authentic.

Fierce.

I am a truck lover too, and adore anything vintage
as far as vehicles are concerned

so I had to capture a pic of this lovely creature.

My cup runneth over!

Happy Hambone.

*The subtitle of this blog post was taken from the brand Man and Machine (http://www.man-machine.com/). To give you a quick rundown, Man and Machine is a great little company that makes medical grade, hygienic and liquid resistant keyboards and mice. I had the good fortune to meet and schmooze with the CEO of this company back when I worked in the technology sector in a previous life. This guy is a really cool cat and their products meet the needs of an important niche and are of the highest quality. Also...their branding kills!! Check out the names of their keyboards here and see why this company is "really cool". Why do I jump from tractors to medical grade keyboards, you might ask? I just wanted to give credit where credit is due, since I didn't come up with the phrase "Man and Machine" but did want to use the term in this post since its about (country) men and their (farm tending) machines.

xoxo, rr

Undead Living, Country Style.

2011-09-19T19:41:00.001-07:00

I miss my tomato garden.

I reckon

the deer

and peafowl

and foxes

and groundhogs

and chickens

and all the other animals

who helped themselves

miss it too.

Oh well...at least I'm not the only one. (grrr)

(And yes, that is our "cowpool" in the background,

and yes, those are lawn chairs around it but usually we put them right in the pool.)

We keep it country.

Strawberry lemonade served in a honey jar.

Not trying to be cool here and no I don't remember the "recipe."

Okay, fine...it had lemon guts and strawberry blood in it

and of course diabetes generator sugar

and good old filtered cold-as-it-can-get-without-being-ice--water.

That's all I got.

And the jar is simply cause its all we drink out of (and not the cool ones like mason jars, oh no!! That's for when we have company over or special occasions) so this was the prettiest one I had clean at the moment and it was huge which I love drinking out of the hugest jars I can find just to be competitive with myself on how much green tea I can drink or whatever....

Lately we're big on the Party Dip (salsa from TX) jars with the labels still half attached that we really should have just taken straight to the recycling bin but tried to squeeze just a little more life out of them, if ya know what I mean.

Again, keepin' it COUNTRY.

Country moms like me can wear a muscle tee and yoga pants to the party. And we don't even really worry about things like store bought cakes or whatever. This happens to be a homemade "Yummy Good Cake" decorated with strawberries, blueberries and ....(wait for it)...blow pops.

Country.

In the country we like to spruce up our 1970s chandeliers

with cobwebs and vintage fishing lures and hooks.

Just cause.

Just cause we're country, that is.

Turbo Country.

That's how I'm livin'! ~ rr

Summer Reading for Woman and Child

2011-09-09T07:04:00.000-07:00

Always.

I miss entertaining.

Sedaris Forever!

Viva von Furstenburg! An original "modern woman."

A family favorite.

Bullies suck.

Richard Scarry is the BEST.

Damn straight we're the Busiest People Ever!

Another classic from Doris Burn.

Definitely in the Andrew Henry vein.

I want to live here.

Kids being kids.

Perfect.

Back on the Wag

2011-09-03T13:08:00.001-07:00

Not that anyone really cares but I am really trying hard to get myself to write more. I am pretty busy/distracted right now in my life, but also I can be quite lazy when I do get a free second (that's what its for, right*!?!) which makes for a bad mix with writing. Just taking a second to write helps me clear my head sometimes so I must try to do it more selfishly and not care what any of you might think. That is, any one of you 3-7 people in my family or friends circle that read this blog. Look at me---damn, I went there. I sound like Fantastic Mr. Fox talking about his column.

God I love that movie.

And dadgummit if it isn't a totally accurate depiction of foxes as it turns out. Well I mean in personality, looks and swagger. Sure, FMF is a bit more on the urbane side. I'm not gonna lie: Our foxes are country as hell, travel in packs, don't articulate quite as clearly and they are naked every time I see them. With fat squirrel tails.

We have a couple that sometimes hangs out in our backyard and when they make an appearance we are so fixated on them we stop what we're doing, usually me at the sink sandblasting the egg yolk off the breakfast plates, kids at the table or the other window trying to peer out and watch these guys sit there and lazily lick themselves and scratch their ears. We are hooked.

"Crazy like a me!"

Poor things look sort of mangy sometimes but still super cute and the coolest color red with some black white and gold highlights cause he's a Commodore or something, I dunno. I love anything with an Italian Greyhound looking body, a cat head and a squirrel bordering on ferret tail.It's such a cool hybrid! God totally rocked it out on this one! (air guitar)

These pics were taken through our kitchen window so not as clear

and he wasn't really doing anything but chillin.

Cause he's a foxxxx.

He's pretty dwarfed by our overgrown grape arbor as you can see in the above picture, for reference.

(yah yah, there is an old grape arbor on the property that needs mega maintenance and restoration. Dang. ...I'll get to it, I'll get to it...It's on the "to do" list right after "Get back into wine making" and right before "tap our maple trees for syrup"....sheessh.

You know...it sucks sometimes being in such a cool world with so many choices of rad and fun things you have to choose from cause you can't do it all. If you can't get my Louis bite, check this...

God I love that man.

Yummy.

Anyway, back to our WYLD FOXES!!

From this angle he looks perched on the wood but in reality that is our deck and he's clearly in the grass way behind it. Couldn't get any better than this cause his wily butt jetted off after spotting me. The puss.

I love watching them run away not knowing we are their biggest fans and would never hurt them. The picture I am posting is super bad but its the closest I could get and then one of them ran off and the other waited a second, saw me and jetted. It was such a kick in the groin cause I was trying to get a picture of them in the wild, not through my window, so I went out of my deck door to take the shot when he spotted me. Wily fella. I went and took a random snack of fruit and nuts to Reuben's memorial stone which was close to their hangout and set it there as a snack cause I found out they like that stuff. So I'm trying to provide for the little guys. I'm into it.

Check out our friendly fox.

xoxo, rr

Reality Checks Bite (Cross Stitch Wisdom)

2011-07-20T22:21:00.003-07:00

Let me help you read this rad cross-stitch by typing it out below,

because "Altho" I did my best to zoom in, its still hard as heck to read.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Altho You'll find our house a mess, come in-- sit down converse.

It doesn't always look like this, sometimes--its even worse.

Welcome To Our Country Home"

Not that I couldn't cross stitch the you-know-what out of this design (if I had the time), I can't actually take credit for this amazing albeit hard to read specimen. Well I can take credit a little bit, but not for making it. The person who made it or perhaps a traitorous relative or possibly lunatic but well meaning friend discarded it while helping the owner tidy up and I do use that word on purpose. Discarded. Because even thrift stores have dumpsters in the back lot (dadgummed rich ass country of ours) so you never know where your amazing and rootin' tootin' radical homemade artifact you so lovingly "donated" could end up. Someone spent some time and definitely some wit on this bad boy. Love it and love everything the two owls stand for. (whatever, birds, I ain't no naturalist!). Seriously though,dude...this could have ended up in the trash, dadgummit!!! And (speaking of biting), to nibble Raul Malo, "what a cryin' shame" cause its just so TUFF and so quaintly and unabashedly honest, isn't it?

Pure wisdom, too! Love and yet honesty. It says, "Welcome to my dump, don't say anything about the dishes piled in the sink." Not all of us in the south are belles. I mean, of course, I am, but I'm still an icy hot mess on a warm winter's day, as you have probably figured out by now.

And bless this mess.

Bless it hard. (everyone say Amen!)

luyu...rr

Fairy God Room Service-person (Let's see if this works.....)

2011-07-20T00:28:00.001-07:00

This is what I want to eat tomorrow*

But I don't want to have to cook it.

Just putting it out there in case the Universe wants to make it happen. (closing eyes violently wishfully and doing trademarked "Bewitched" nose twitch.)

God Bless Elizabeth Montgomery. She made it look so easy.

luyu,

*well later this morning seeing as how its around 2am right now. So I guess I answered my own question. Of course this won't work. I got the order in too late!

Icy Hot Mess: A series of self revealing photographic dry heaves. (cause you gotta start somewhere)

2011-07-13T07:43:00.000-07:00

Even a unicorn can't sit on her laurels anymore.

She's gotta have like 19 pieces of flair, some ornamental peacock feathers to infer swag,
a bowtie made of money, a tutu and a sheriff badge (or somethin'.)

The horn is just the bare minimum.

Even extinct and fantasy animals have to put their best hoof forward.
It's 2011 and things have changed. No more free rides.

Pinny

This is Pinny.
Pinny the Pinata.

Pinny is my most loyal fake mascot.

She never talks back, she's always smiling
and her hair only fades into a cuter and paler pink each year.

So she gets to stay.

What can I say?
It just needed that little somethin' extra.

And that somethin' was red paint made to look like blood.

Sorry, I just think these nursury animals looked creepy without it!!!

(Trust me on this one)

Got crafts needin' tendin'

Got clothes needin' mendin'

Got some vehicles needin' fixin'

And some stuff needin' listin'

Downstairs windows need some washin'

And some shoes need some *tossin'!

We've moved past this being a Traditional or even (dare I say) Contemporary "hot mess."
This one is ICY hot.

And it glides right on.

ttyl.
.rr

*not my shoes, yours. Specifically those old nasty flip flops you got!
Buy some of mine!!! (you know you're curious).

City Snakes

2011-07-11T07:55:00.001-07:00

Big City Snakes on the Scene

trying to distinguish themselves

from the wolf pack

Colorful mob of urban serpents

flies into an impromptu mosh pit

and balance is restored.

Individuals in a Kaleidoscope of Standouts

all experiencing the Irony of

Blowin Up in the Big City

Names (and other labels) become illegible

and the Individual colors compliment the Group

spotlighting No One and yet Everyone.

Let it be seen and known as of this day.

Snakeskin flesh is on the way.

xoxo, rr

Country Snakes

2011-07-06T22:10:00.000-07:00

Orion meets one of the neighborhood serpents. No biggie.

Just what country boys do in the summertime.

Could I be any paler?

(But with nice muscles)

The transition is the most important part here.

Not smiling for the camera obviously.

Check it out! And I'm not even flexing in this picture!!

(or wearing makeup, obviously)

By the way, love the one work glove and one dish glove in these pictures.

I was in the middle of scrubbing out our recycling bins (ew) so I had to take a quick break to check out the snake my dad found on our property. Just a typical day in the country.

Rolls at Roo--- Part Two

2011-06-27T21:54:00.001-07:00

Loretta Lynn's sign (cause that was it from my vantage point)

but man did the top of her hair look gooooood.

No pictures of Elson's show but I did break away from "work" to see Karen Elson play and also the great Loretta Lynn. In both instances I was so far away since I just rolled up (no pun intended) and so the best I got was this one picture at Loretta's show and I am sad to say I couldn't even get a picture with her in it. With my height being what it is, I was barely able to see the top of her coiffure but what I did see was mighty fine. Karen rocked it too, big surprise. Local girl makes good. (music)

But if you do want to see some stunning pictures of Ms.Elson please check out these rad pictures here by Heidi Jewell of Under The Guise, another local girl making good. (pics)

"What the f**k is a Fat Roll?!" -Lewis Black

Highlight of the whole week unquestionably was meeting Lewis Black and Kathleen Madigan. They were across the way and my sister motioned them over and I guess curiosity got the best of them with our signage so they strolled over with video camera person in tow. They were gracious enough to let us get our picture taken with them, which I will cherish forever even though I look caked with dirt because I was. I'm also wearing my favorite vintage shirt which is the t-shirt from the Cyndi Lauper concert I went to in 4th grade in 1987. ish. Kathleen commented on it and I told them the story of how Cyndi ended the show by climbing into a metal garbage can which was then lifted up into the air and over the crowd while she sang.

And that the Bangles opened for her.

What can I say?

They needed to know.

We met them on Thursday evening and it was our slowest sales day but that pretty much made me feel like a total player so I didn't give a crap that my pockets were full of lint. You can't pay for stuff like that. It was so incredible. Must add that quote to my requested engravings for my tombstone. Right next to the one Mike Judge gave me in the form of a pretty significant compliment when he told me I was "funnier than average." That was about a year or more ago and it still makes me want to die* just so my family can commence with the chiseling and I can face all my friends out. Yeah, I'll be laughing all the way to the bank. The big bank in the sky.

ttyl

xoxo, c

*Painlessly and with a lot of glory, please.

* Just kidding, please disregard this. I was trying to be shocking and funny and it doesn't reflect my true state of mind regarding my EOL plans. In other words, I don't want to die just so I can face out my friends by having a tricked out tombstone.

Rolls at Roo- Part One

2011-06-22T08:03:00.000-07:00

The Booth by Day.....

We didn't come here to work!

Check out my 70s lawn chairs and my $4 stool I repainted to fit in with our branding colors. That's all the work I was trying to do here. Just set up these chairs so I could sit my butt down in this heat.

Seriously.

The vintage accordion style paper flower streamers were a huge hit. One chick was so in awe of them and asked had I made them and her amazement made me really want to lie and say "yes."

This fella wanted a picture of him holding the bird and I wanted to take one as well.

So it all worked out.

Total Chick Magnet

Nice to see a pet that has a chance of outliving its owner. I learned these lovely creatures can live to be 120+ years old. Can that be right? According to this guy, Teddy Roosevelt's parrot is still alive saying "F*** Hitler!" You tell em!

Jordan getting his Fat Rolls customized for the mosh pit lifestyle. This earned him a really sick discount on this windowpane blue pair cause his other shoes broke during a show. He didn't want to lose these so his friend tied them on with hemp and it was definitely a first.

Try and lose these shoes!

I love a guy that can rock some Fat Rolls.

Jordan owned it.Literally. He owned them.
He bought the demos baby!! and it was as good for him as it was for me.

The booth at night....

Being the "beach bum" wanna-be that I am (that sounded weirder than it needed to, sorry) I wanted people to stagger up accidentally (due to the drugs mostly, lets be honest) thinking it was a beachfront hangout. Some actually fell for it and plenty of people came by and took pics of the booth and some wanted to pose for pictures in the booth. So, in summary it helped us make some sweet sales, a ton of new friends and it kept me from getting that anxious feeling when I am having to "work." Auuugh...getting butterflies now just thinking about it. (gag reflex)

Oh yeah and Pappy made me some signage of my brand in Lite Brights that you can see behind him in this shot, again while we bum around getting caught on camera shirking responsibility. It was incredible. I had four Lite Bright kits with me but we ended up scrapping working on the rest of them cause it was too much "work." I know someone feels me.... Speak out for the lazy and defenseless.

More pics coming up...perhaps even some celebrity shots if you're being good girls and boys. Stay tuned...

xo, c

Singer

2011-06-03T10:26:00.001-07:00

My husband picked the spot and its about as perfect as Reuben was perfect.

I sit on the stone my brother recovered from our dry creek and
I just rest there, fiddling with the wheel & pedal.
Just getting my head right.

I miss him so much. But I'm healing.

Shit happens.
Even on grave markers while the mourners are still fresh with grief.

Good thing my God has a sense of humor cause I need it right now.
Bad.

I still cleaned it off though and replaced it with a curly branch.

Reuben's eternal resting place and my new spot to find some peace.

Wild Green Life
and Fragmented Light

Godspeed.

Footwear for (Fashion) Patriots

2011-05-31T05:09:00.000-07:00

I'm usually a stickler about not wanting my flag in the form of anything but a flag...no stars and bars bikini tops for me in other words. But these two pairs just got me and held me by my heart strings. So they get a pass this year.

Happy Memorial Day Everybody. If you've served, I want to say thank you for your service.

xoxo, C

R.I.P. Most Loyal Friend Reuben Drummond

2011-05-30T05:26:00.000-07:00

The best damn friend a girl could ever have. Through thick and thin, literally.

This dog loved me at my heaviest and at my lightest and

was loyal to the very end.

Capo and his/my best friend

While searching for some appropriate words to say at his burial yesterday I found this and was really blessed and yet utterly leveled by this speech so I am cutting and pasting the whole thing from this site so you can check out more here.

Eulogy for a Dog

This one is a special favorite of mine and I’ve shared it before but am sharing it again by special request. A dear friend asked that I post it because we all need to be reminded that the love of our dear companion animals, the beloved canine, is not something new. Dogs have been loved, cherished and revered for centuries. This is a speech from a trial in the latter 1800s and it says so much. Take a moment to read and you will be touched, you will understand….

George Graham Vest (1830–1904) was a lawyer and a politician who served as a Missouri Congressman, a Confederate Congressman during the Civil War, and finally a US Senator.

He is best known for his closing arguments from the trial of a dog named Old Drum in 1870. The speech was delivered in the Johnson County Circuit Court in Warrensburg, Missouri.

George Vest (1830-1904) Gentlemen of the jury: The best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it the most. A man’s reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him and the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog.

Gentleman of the jury: A man’s dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master’s side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounters with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.

If fortune drives the master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies, and when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death.

We miss you so much Reuben.

Attention!

2011-05-27T09:26:00.001-07:00

Just one of those fun things to see when you walk into your garage. Two super long snakeskins just dangling from the rafters. Attention!

So we've left them up there a while cause its just creepy cool but finally I couldn't wait any longer and I had to have at least one of them. So I got one of them down to use as a photo prop. Also completely coincidentally I found a kite in the garage I forgot I'd even bought called a Sky Serpent. Weeeiiirrd.

Talk about daily distractions. Now I want to "go fly a kite"! Sheesh. And how about those sweet white leather pumps by Bass. Must list. But had to try them on just for this trip outside since they are too big for me and I won't be able to enjoy them ever again, except in pictures. Make it worth it, mommie!

All your sexy white leather Bass vintage pumps are belong to mommie.

This snakeskin is bad to the bone. I gotta get some more pics up of it in various situations but for now this will be it. Currently its in my room hanging from the ceiling over a vintage Robert Redford poster in my office area. I think I'll call it "Robert."

~rr

Shedding your old skin

2011-05-24T22:34:00.000-07:00

I can't get anything done. If its not the deafening cicadas in the day its getting caught up into my 12th accidental/on purpose viewing of Lady Gaga's Monster's Ball at Madison Square Garden on HBO late at night. At least that distraction is enjoyable. The laundry is still just sitting there. And these shoes won't list themselves! Distraction: Its my middle name.

Just a shell of a man. Oh wait, that is a cicada.

Ghosts

These guys are loitering like a mug!

And now for some non life forms shedding their skin. I love it when undead things imitate us. "Us" meaning humans and animals...living things, duh. "Undead things" meaning just that, not alive, but also not dead. "Non-living things", I guess you could say if you wanted to just be a bitch about it. But I think they do have some kind of life in them so they can be undead, which just sounds bad assier.

This is a playground shedding its skin but I won't let it! I love this so much it hurts me physically. All the rawness, the colors underneath. It betrays all the years it endured new colors and horrible paintjobs. Its like the rings in a tree showing you its age.

Damn, I'm deep.

Okay, I won't talk over the playground....

These broken fragments of someone's dear precious history.
This playground equipment means something to this world.
It promoted Play! What a gift to all of us.

It means something to me.

It gives me inspiration and perspective. A frame, in fact.
And now I offer you that frame as well.
I hope you like...

Stay undead my dear ones....keep growing and changing for the better...And for goodness' sake stay strong even if you lose some skin in the process.

xoxo, rr

P.S. Speaking of shedding skin....snake pictures coming up next time! ( I do live in the country). And of course some images of serpent flesh so stay tuned.

Jesus Power

2011-05-20T19:30:00.000-07:00

I couldn't get a good shot of it because the flash on my sister's otherwise amazingly rad camera was broken and also my kid couldn't stay still for 2 seconds. So here are some pics of what appear to be ghosts running around a toy train track. The yellow shirt says Jesus Power on the big heart in 1970s letters and I just love it so I got it (& not the first time I've thrifted another church's shirt and why not advertise a place of worship? We wear everything else under the sun blazed across our chests.)

Messy house...don't judge me.

Not to be too name-droppy but that rad painting in the back is one my mom did when we were kids ourselves and I was obsessed with it cause she used actual gold leaf in it.
She's local famous. With me at least.

The nun lockers on the left used to be in St. Bernard Academy. Also on loan from Granny.

They grow up so fast.

And if there was any question those are indeed Thomas the Train moon boots my sister thrifted him.

They are too small but he found them hidden in the closet while he was in time-out. So I guess in a weird way while he was "on punishment" he rewarded himself by wearing his favorite albeit too-small boots. ???

If someone can extrapolate this into a life lesson please offer it now.

Jesus Power.

Jankied Deviled Eggs

2011-05-14T21:30:00.000-07:00

These are some really janky boiled eggs I made to prepare some deviled eggs for my granddaddy a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately I'm not the best egg boiler in the west so the peeling part got really and truly wicked.

We lost a lot of good men in that stainless steel sink. Let's just say a fair amount of protein vanished forever, not to be recovered.

It was not cute.

But....I still used them, (naturally, you know this...) and yeah, they tasted the same as eggs that look cute after they are peeled. (Again, Shocker!)

It's sort of sad when you stop caring, but its also understandably liberating. So I reckon this means I am maturing....changing even.

I am growing.

So that being the case, I think I can actually verbalize it now, with a peace that surpasses all else---

"I will never be a food network superstar."

Death Star Waffle

2011-05-10T20:41:00.000-07:00

Sure...//..This waffle looks like a Culinary Clustercuss
but that doesn't mean roll your eyes at it, sulk or (gasp) throw it out.
It just means put a little more confectioner's and cinnamon up top.

Not everything is meant to be perfect.
& that's what's cool about life.

xoxo,rr

Bob Cat Mama

2011-04-14T18:54:00.001-07:00

I got to ride a pretty sweet Bob Cat zero turn mower this past weekend. Super fast and excellent for doing donuts in the dried leaves and grass. Go Carts are fun and all, but they aren't really thrilling unless you're out on the real earth and grass. But mowers like these...its like a go-cart with a purpose! Shoot, a destiny!! Don't get me started....I do love me some lawn equipment.

This is me chilling on some playground equipment while I waited my turn.
Sister is hogging the ride.
I thought the juxtaposition of the wooden "make-believe" car
next to that grass-devouring stunner might make for a humorous image.
Hope it was as good for you as it was for me.

I'd never used the walkie talkie style noise cancelling headphones during mowing before* and I did that today too, talking shit with my dad and using up all his gas mowing the yard for fun.

I need help.

I got a mean farmer's tan on my neck but it was so worth it.....

happy mowing...rr

*This is my subtle attempt at being snobbish because I have used the walkie talkie phones plenty of times but not actually during mowing as I did this day. I usually listen to just the AM/FM plus noise-cancelling headphones during mowing. In case anyone was losing sleep over this.

Zombie Mommie (Please imagine with hearts over the "i's"

2011-04-08T21:53:00.000-07:00

Just a good Christian zombie housewife.

From the South.

Oh, that not good enough for ya?

In a Laura Ashley dress.

(Ding!)

The freshly cut grass just made my forehead vein pop out with joy.

Work with me, here.

I don't know why I felt led to show off one of my amazing calf muscles in this picture.

(I have two of them)

But go on ahead and enjoy it while ya got it.

I'm not usually this much of an exhibitionist.

But in all seriousness, the vintage military boots make it.

This total tea party dress, that is.

Then I saw them...my offspring. My young.

Yea, time for a quick game of chase. The paparazzi can wait.

(Er, I mean my husband holding a camera out of obligation.)

Yeah, I used "Er"...so what?!! I'm bringing it back, ya'll!!

They're gonna get the hug of their life!!

From "zombie mommie"! ("Ew....Scerrrwwwyyyy!!!")

Hubby said not to "scare the kids". Isn't that sad?

It's not like I'm a banker or Wall Street douchebag or something.

This is honest work.

I mean it's only corn syrup.

Generic corn syrup.

Want to try it?

This is actually worse parenting for him to be allowed to taste this concoction. Which is in most candy he would be allowed to eat at any given birthday party. So no, I won't be feeling bad that the kids saw "zombie mommie."

Always with the branding, huh mom? Guess I'll just have to lick it off, really?

Poor me.

Zombies are trendy cause even babies like them.

Starting to get dark out.

ruffles mean I'm girly!

xoxo,rr

Horror of a Desk

2011-04-05T21:01:00.000-07:00

I gotta clean this messy desk!! Its just awful and this is only the tiny portion of it that I was willing to show you. The "cute" angle. The sucking-in-the-gut shot.

But the pencils really distract in a delightful way I think.

Horror+ Adorable = "Horror-able" . Better search that and see if its been done. If not, I'm a millionaire!

You ain't even ready.....but if you want to try you can see more of my "Love You 2" Pencils here or here. I'm really into the Killer Clown homage right now so you'll probably see some frightening buffoons in your parcel if you order somethin' from my shop right now cause I've been trying to include one in every order for the past couple months since I got a new supply of eyeballs and hair, etc. Well you won't get one of the really snazzy ones you're seeing here, but at least you might score one of my rejects with paint blobs in their hair, googly eyes that have dried slightly askew or ones with messed up hairdos. Sorry, just being real with you that it won't be the sexy one with a sequin bow that took me hours to doll up, cause you're mainly getting it for free cause I'm a whore for branding. Its like a biz card, alright?! Only hairy and with eyes that appear to watch you from all angles cause they are in fact googly with evil. Anyways, back to the wicked little knaves. I have a ton of colored pom poms so I've been snatching out all the red ones for their little red foam noses. Total creepazoids. Check them out...

The white sequin bowtie on this one paired with the neon orange hair just keeps me awake at night knowing it hasn't sold and any minute it could just rip my throat out.
Or something gross like that. Lead poisoning, maybe?? Even worse!

It looks like its just asleep....but wait. Don't get too close!

Oh now look what you've done. You're a goner.

Puttin on the Ritz! And the white face paint, the red nose and the blood.
Don't forget the blood.

He might look like Beaker from the Muppets but don't let it fool ya...he totally would make your skin into a leotard or a pencil case or whatever using his top of the line Brother sewing machine. Seriously, he would if he had the chance, so keep sharp! Oh wait, don't sharpen him. That would be way worse.

Just pure, silly evil. That foam nose is sniffing out all your fear and lets just say he's got your number. You know he does. It's cool, I'm scared of them too. That's why I do this, silly billy.

Luyu, rr

To see more undead pencils you can peep this post from a while back. Or this one from more recently.
Like I said, you ain't even ready...

I've been...poisoned!?

2011-04-01T21:55:00.001-07:00

So yeah, it was poison ivy after all. I don't want to post Up-Close &Nasty pictures of my sores or my flaking-like-a-Grands-biscuit-(but without the grease)-scratched-up skin where I've just annihilated it in my sleep to have the pain overshadow the itch which is so much way worse. More way worse. Whatever. Worse.
So I am trying to catch up on a lot of posts I'd planned out and took pics for before I was so rudely interrupted (coughing in Mother Earth's direction then realizing stupidly that its all her direction.)

I'm trying not to hold it against Springtime that this happened to me, but it sucks!! I am so bad anyway about scratching when I have chiggers or mosquito bites or anything like that so this is just a million times worse for me.

One thing I did before this crap happened was make a yummy "pie-apple" out of some granny smiths and a pre-made dough. Cause I'm not trying to prove nothing here. It was so good. We kinda had already started picking at it when I took this picture. It got much worse.

A granny smith "pie-apple," made and later devoured by yours truly.
I'm an animal!

The Ove Glove in the pic keeps up my zombie housewife schtick.

Some cool and most definitely homemade skateboards I've scooped recently while thrifting.
Two boards, Two boys.
Looks like mommy's putting that "future skateboard fund" money
back into the "parent's date night" piggybank.
One of them says "Hunter" but we can knock the letters off easily enough.
Nobody will ever notice the difference between this and the "store bought" boards...right?

Some construction project my kids started then abandoned.
Like they say... like mommy like son.
(Sheesh, I gotta move these bricks now?)

oldies but goodies, but brown and too big.
(wonk wonk...)

So I found these green beauts the other day and first off, they are my size (maybe a hair big but thats better than my current pair like them which are a bit small and thats always worse than too big). So yeah, they fit me and they are GREEN! Which is so rad cause its like the ultimate full circle moment. I guess I should explain further. First off, the green color is part of our branding for Fat Rolls(TM) so its always fun to get into green like this. Second, I personally have a theory that the style on the right pushed out the one on the left because they were on the scene around the same time and I guess one just became more popular than the other. But why give up on the bamboo soled one? Why let that awesome geta style dreamboat just go by the wayside? Not acceptable. So after searching for years and years for another pair like them I decided to make them my dang self and it was then another couple years or so before we really even took the first step to do that. They've waited so long, guys. So its finally their chance to get back on the scene and allow the world to rediscover this awesome version of a beloved fave. The geta style bamboo soled flip flop.
Is there any more perfect shoe? I think not.

Since the green pair was vintage and a bit dirty/used/worn,
I decided when I did this I'd use one of my used Fat Rolls (TM) to represent FRs so its a Fair Fight!!
Who cares really?? This is simply a cleverly styled photograph, no real fighting took place.

But if it had...

"Don't let the Saucer Magnolia fool ya.
My ass is from the projects!..."

Speaking of shoes...

My first real signage.
Ballin'!

I got the rest of my shoes in from Thailand, only took an extra 10 days in Miami to get them brokered through but they're here! Here are some of the new styles I am going to be listing more of in the coming days on my Etsy shops here and here.

This one is more purple toned in person and you can't see it
but its a paisley textured velveteen.
Love this shoe or else.

Some kinda textured black velveteen.
Goth on Holiday.

Silver Lady with Pink Roots. Bad to the Bone.

You can barely see it here but this velveteen is a silvery gray but has deep pink undertones in the velveteen so that you can see them up close and with normal movement. Pretty sweet effect. Let the pink peek through my silver? That's just flat out tough.
Now I wish I had silver hair with pink roots!!

Purple Haze and Gold Maze.
The extreme and almost cliche luxury of satin against a
natural and exfoliatingly rough baby bamboo sole.

Something for the Aspiring Slacker-Reluctant Artist Hybrids or pretty much anyone else who has good taste and appreciates supreme comfort.
You checkin' this satin out? Against a rough bamboo weave?
Its downright aberrant. But amazing. Aberrant but Amazing. You heard it here first.

So I gotta run. Tried to cram too much in one.
Post, that is.

smell ya later...
rr

Death By Nail Polish

2011-03-24T22:35:00.000-07:00

No pics yet or maybe ever for this one because its honestly worse than corn flakes or fake blood or anything else I'd normally pimp out while modeling for you as my zombie housewife slash capitalist pig wanna be hipster clown or what have you- alter ego.

But had to say I am truly plotting death tonight. I actually am hours and hours deep into an attempt at this point. I tried to do the work life balance thing, whoops, excuse my french, work life "effectiveness" and so I toiled* in the yard a lot this week while hanging with the kids and doing battle with some seriously aggressive weeds in our yard**. So I think I got a bad case of West Nile Chiggers or some poison ivy but I don't know what that really looks like so I think these are chiggers that are sucking my lifeforce which is really pissing me off at this point. (Blood sucking? Really, emmer effer? That's my bit!) Regardless I am just scratching the eff out of myself and in utter misery. If I had a sharp knife I might actually scrape my skin right off and please don't take this as some "cutter chic" or lusty masochism, this is real deal itching happening right now at this moment in time and totally unsexily, not to mention I'm barely able to stop the itching for even a couple seconds to write this post. I haven't itched this bad since I was in corporate America just trying to Shawshank my way out of the manager cube. (the most constricting one if you'll notice. 4 walls for the cube, not just one partial.)

I used almost all of my Nail Life but it was an old bottle that had thickened a ton and because I'm a penny pincher I saved it to just use only on my toenails cause its so friggin thick but now I have an even better use although I'm hoping to crap that I don't need to use it much longer or ever again for this reason. This is misery!!! These bastards must be put down, and I'm just the one to do it. (Sorry for the rip off but I'm catching up on Dexter while running)

Anyhoo, not a cutter but wanting to just go nuts right now. Couldn't really hurt myself on purpose because although I am seriously flawed in so many ways and so hard on myself I have to admit I love the shit out of myself. So this just sucks to want to cut my skin off, ya know? What a weird feeling. Okay, must sleep so I can pick up hubby from the airport way too early with kids in tow. I have a feeling we'll have to stop by the Waffle House on the way back home cause I have a pecan waffle with my name on it and some "scattered, smothered, possibly covered but haven't decided yet for sure, okay, diced, peppered and hell lets also do capped but not topped and for damn sure not country cause I only eat animals that swim exclusively as their mode of transportation" hashbrowns. Yummy. Waffle House....

In the meantime keep checking me out here. And here. And I moonlight here too. (Pun not intended but now appreciated and accepted for what it is. True because I'm totally a late night lister)

luyu,rr

*Hilarious to say I was trying for WLE by "toiling" but it was sunny and beautiful so it counts as non-work, right? I'm a freak, I know. I need a vaca and BAD.

** Okay fine, one picture. But just cause the beauty makes up for the misery I'm feeling right now. Well maybe "making up for" is a bit lofty. Its making it suck a tad less, alright?

Blast from the Past

2011-03-19T09:17:00.000-07:00

The raw materials

I was inspired by these genetic freaks to create a 4 finger ring like the ones I used to see sold in the old "Joe and Lee Market" (later just "Choe's") at the end of my street when I was a teenager. That same market that used to sell 64 oz jugs of Private Stock to my friends even while sporting their high school wrestling cheerleader uniforms and purchasing these Methuselahs of Malt Liquor with blow pops to help get the booze down quicker.

Seriously? Come on, "Joe".

Now the place is leveled and a huge complex sits there with lots of shops and gourmet popsicles and fancy burgers. Much better for the ole' hood but maybe a little less gritty and definitely more gentrified.

So back to the point! Check out these specimens. Updated to reflect these less illicit and sadly a little more "cutesy" times.

Here's a little 2 finger number cause it was a bit smaller so I worked with what I had.

And the mother lode.

(pun not intended)

Seriously don't these cut outs look like hearts? I am such a softie.

Even when I'm trying to be hard I come off as soft.

Trying to kill the cutesie.

Told him to raise his clenched fist but this turned out much less hard than I'd hoped for.

Love his little underbite thing he's starting to do now sometimes.

The other offspring wanted one too so I ended up making 2 of them.

"It's cold, mommy!! It's cold!"

Thats right, son... ice cold.

Me wearing the 4 finger masterpiece.

So creepy with the dripping juices all over my veiny* hands.

Ew.

View from the inside of the ring.

Total zombie housewifery and kiddy crafts at its very finest.

No?

That's what I thought!

Glad we see eye to eye now. (punching fist into palm of other hand looking intimidating as bleep but spraying strawberry juice everywhere).

So in the meantime check me out here.

I'll be waiting...

xo,c

*(that's right, I'm comfortable with myself enough to use my aging hands as material)

Genetically Modified Deliciousness

2011-03-14T21:13:00.000-07:00

Let me hollar at ya'll. See this? No, not the pickled jalepenos or the smart balance tub, although those items do tell you a lot about me as a consumer and as an eater (a hothead, really into nachos, watches cholesterol, blah blah blah). No but seriously...Check this thing that's hiding out in my cheese drawer for shit's sake!!

Scary, right?!

This freak of nature is going to be made into something yummy and dare I say downright nostalgic. That said, as much as I may be an aspiring fruititarian, I kind of hesitate before chowing down on one of these guys...cause I just feel they are the freakish manifestation of that sprawly, greedy, food-factory-rather-than-home-farmy type of culture that is ever with us, gnawing away at us and bringing out the worst in us...Don't get me started! (too late). The domestic arts are forcing me into the face of this "berry on roids" and I must be the victor. Rahrrrrrr. wish me luck ya'll!! I am barely as big as this monstrosity. Send mucho twinkle power pretty please. Sugar on top.

I will keep you posted but this is the "before" in what will be a pretty rad final product and hopefully will give me a rather "juicy" redemption of the appetites. (sorry, been watching a bit of "Dead like me" while doing my running in place thing I do when I must multitask my entertainment with my fitness.) Augh...talk about genetic freaks. Lazing while working out. Makes perfect sense.

luyu,rr

The neon of the tiger

2011-03-04T13:40:00.000-08:00

I hope its not a faux pas to wear rabbit fur and also animal print in the same outfit. Maybe the fur doesn't count cause its hidden as the lining. No?
Seriously, one of you fashion rules nutjobs shout at me... Is that too much meat on one plate?

Who am I kidding... I don't care what you think. Or wait...uh...
Do you like that it has neon in it?

Me too.

xo,rr

They sold!!

2011-03-02T20:45:00.000-08:00

Devastating....

Well, for me it is utterly devastating. For the customer, a happy day. I just loved looking at these boots and inspecting all the cool details. They leave for Toronto tomorrow.

Godspeed and happy life, sweet things.

xo,rr

Its all about your point of view

2011-02-26T20:41:00.001-08:00

Sorry for the graphic image, but death is indeed "all around us."

Even on my back porch, it would appear.

I guess like anything else its all about your point of view.

Somehow this perspective looked more noble,

like he was trying to fly through the ceiling in search of higher heights.

~rr

Exposed!

2011-02-24T21:25:00.000-08:00

Here's a pic of me taken by the raddest street style photographer in Nashville, Heidi Jewell of Under the Guise. I feel like a boy in a dress in this picture but lets get serious for a minute here--a damn cute boy.

Also I love the dress. Me and two other chicks I went to high school with all fell in love with it at the old and now defunct White Way Antique Mall and seeing as how we were public high school students (read: poor) we all put in $5 on it and owned it collectively*. That is until I waited them out and kept it all to myself! (I owe ya girls...but I reckon the buyout may cost me more than the initial investment was, seeing as how its been 20 years....yikes! bill me, I guess...)

Check out the slideshow and article here:

http://www.refinery29.com/we-head-to-nashville-for-some-down-south-street-style

and here:

http://undertheguise.com/

oops, and at this one..

http://www.facebook.com/NashvilleFashionWeek#!/NashvilleFashionWeek

I feel so exposed.... :)

xo, rr

*Socialism is cool if its in the name of Fashion.

It's high time...

2011-02-14T13:22:00.000-08:00

for some stereophonic sound!!

..or at least some rad album cover kitsch.

Happy Valentimes day!

luyu,

Me and Shay Shay- The body snatcher years...

2011-01-20T22:56:00.001-08:00

I just re-watched the old 1978 "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" a couple nights ago so it tripped me out to see this out-of-focus picture my little sis took of me on Tuesday while Shay Shay was cutting my hair off.

Nice creepy alien tendrilly finger-threads you got there, Chap.

Ew.

A Screw Is Loose

2011-01-13T11:16:00.001-08:00

Something about these shoes just makes my blood start pumping, like I just got a jolt of lightning in me. Wouldn't these be great for a Bride of Frankenstein homage outfit for a Halloween party or horror movie marathon with the girls? No?

Never met a pilgrim buckle heel I didn't like. Check out more here. Or here. Or here. Oh goodness this is starting to appear a bit excessive/obsessive. Okay, one more, here. So maybe these shoes aren't the only ones with a screw loose.

I dunno...maybe I just dig the hardware. How about you?

xo,rr

Tuesdays Trios: J. Renee Christmas Triple Play!

2010-12-14T07:12:00.000-08:00

Holly Embroidered Hell Raisers

Bejeweled Bad Ass

Studded Santa (with Stars!)

These are some really sweet treats for your next ugly Christmas party or just your next Holiday party in general. Who can resist?! These are in the "so bad they're good" category. At least in my view.

Happy Holidays Errybody! And keep checking out my Tuesday Trios!

xoxo,rr

Pre Defunct Business Venture

2010-11-29T21:29:00.003-08:00

They're baaaaaaack!!

I know this may not mean a whit to anyone else but it does to me so here goes!!

Check out this season's new slew of rabidly cute zombie pencils promoting a defunct wanna be business that died before it even got off the ground. Or at least that's how the legend has it.

Family Portrait 2010 including some new freaks for your erasable writing adventures!

Love this homage to the handlebar mustache.
The handlebar bloodstache.
Dig it.

These guys are the seed that will soon become a whole revamping and reinvention of the
insane/evil/killer clown movement.
Oh, you didn't get the memo? That was the next phase of this ongoing fiasco.

This one is going to actually allow you to jot down a grocery list, mommies!

...rather than just make you pee your pants in utter fear. I left the blood off these for the pics cause I didn't want to give anyone nightmares...just yet.

okay...I lied...maybe just one! Just to get your adrenaline pumping!
(Pennywise, you can go ahead and start putting your resume out on monster.com...
I think you've been replaced)

At this angle you can almost smell the lost dreams of a totally imaginary and non-viable industry...the country and western undead styling and photography industry.
Oh what? That's not an industry yet? Well, you just wait!

Luyu...and luuuuu those #2 pencils, baby! Check em out at my shop and who knows...maybe some of these will come crawling out of the next pair of oxfords or boots you may be buying from me...so watch out.

~c

Tuesday Trios

2010-11-29T21:29:00.001-08:00

Feminine Dandy wear sold here today!

Faux wingtip oxfords with neutral flava perforating the whole shoe!

And the best black oxfords by J.Crew with hella detailing
for the sz 5 gender bender who means business.

Thanks for checking out this week's Tuesday Trios....Keep checking me out!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReanimatedRags

xo, rr

Tuesday Trios! Late Entry, sorry...

2010-11-23T13:56:00.000-08:00

Check me out, better late than never!!

My Tuesday Trio this past week was an homage to Tofurky Day.

Hope you enjoyed the day as much as I did!

Mustardy Goodness in a Pilgrim Pump

A little wobbly but shiny with style

And one pair from when I first opened the shop. I've had these gems a while.
Super fat buckles with beading all around the edges. Wow!

Thanks for checking me out, pilgrim!

~RR

Tuesday Trios!!

2010-11-16T21:58:00.001-08:00

I am starting a new shoe listing feature called "Tuesday Trios" and so I will try to list a trio of a certain genre of shoe every Tuesday. Today it is T-Straps!

Enjoy....

Black Woven leather t straps with side cut out details

The Bandolino Strikes again....an avant gard style mule slash T strap sandal.

Fishermans sandals slash glads slash T straps.

Oh yeah, these last two were also "Dear Shoe Fairy" listings which means they're hybrids! Yeah, confusing, right? Maybe.... but I do reserve the right to do that since I'm the shop keep.

Learn it, love it.

Seeya next week for "Tuesday Trios!"

luyu, c

The Launch of a Flop

2010-11-14T15:40:00.001-08:00

Best Sales Day Ever in Fat Rolls History!

Thanks to everyone who came out to check out my Fat Rolls at the 2nd Annual "Making Merry in Berry Hill". I think I heard someone say last year was their first year but if I'm wrong please send up a flair or something and let me know. It was a blast!

I gotcha Fat Rolls for sale!! Fat Rolls for sale right here!!

How appropriate to have "the earth's" coolest shoe being launched in the most low budget grassroots, literally on-the-grass its so grassroots way possible in the history of the land. Ya gotta start somewhere! Here, its right here at what I call "the foot's eye level", so that potential customers could walk right into them as they glide down the sidewalk.

Sneaky sneaky shoe salesperson. tsk tsk tsk....

Fat Rolls Grass Launch

Special pricing for local early adopters, plus the promise of free shipping if they ordered online.

It was our best sales day every and then we ended up beating it the next day with a large order from some friends who got some Christmas shopping knocked out in one fell swoop by shopping straight out of my husband's car when he visited to watch some football and it was still filled to the brim with shoes leftover from Saturday. Thanks E and J.

You made my day/week/month/year....

Stay tuned cause we're totally launching a flop and its definitely gonna grow on you.

Thanks to Heidi from Under The Guise for capturing the day for me. All of these pictures are by Heidi which was awesome since I totally forgot my camera in all the excitement! And a table so thanks to my bro for bringing that at the last minute earlier on Saturday!

(scatterbrained much?)

Thanks errrybody for a rad grass launch! See ya next year in Berry Hill.

Til then, check them out here

11/11/10

2010-11-11T20:57:00.001-08:00

My sis is a freakazoid for 11/11 or 11:11, so we are on cloud nine today. well actually, cloud 11.
So this one's for her!
Luyu....c

More Tractor Pics

2010-11-07T20:53:00.000-08:00

Again, more pics from the Bells Bend Tractor Show a couple weeks back.

Ain't dat the truth?! (There should be a sign like this posted in heaven or wherever we live before we're made into human beings and start down this sometimes shitty and rocky road of life. Dayum..Deep.)

Sweet Rides

Tractor Babe

"Tractor Mama"
I stand corrected.

I loved this old rusty specimen. So primitive! So.. pointy!

One little part that wasn't metal and it was glass with a bit of oil in it.
So perfect. And beautiful!

And of course even with all the eye candy around in the way of tractors,
I still couldn't keep my camera off the shoes.
And yes, these were thrifted too.

Call it the scuffy toe discount. Nice.

Trying to look bigger by sitting on the smallest tractor there. I'm so transparent.

Please forgive this caption Mr W if you ever read this, but it has to be said.
" I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you leave"

Happy (Late) Halloween! (Pictures) 2010

2010-11-04T20:57:00.001-07:00

Halloween 2010 was happily spent luring my parents to the house, then running out the door and escaping our children and heading with my little sis to a friends party. This year's costume concept was simply brilliant, once again... (sorry, but it was brilliant. I can't lie, its impossible.)

We did Ari and Uzi Tennenbaum back in 2002, and then Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston in '08 (yeah, I know, lame... but I was hugely pregnant with no other serious options) and so we wanted to do another couples costume. I especially wanted to do an homage to Beetlejuice this year but instead of just rocking some pinstripes and calling it a day, I decided to do the Beetlejuice costume from the 2 minutes in the movie where he's dressed like Alec Baldwin's character. Super hilarious scene in a timeless classic and so it just had to be memorialized by moi and my old man. I think we did it justice. Especially seeing as how it was pulled together like the day before "ween".

I had a blast and yes, ladies, its super fun to be ugly for Halloween because you look in the mirror, frown at the ugliness, then remember that's what you were shooting for, then you smille and can say with conviction-- "Success!". And you are. You are a success in that moment.

Check out the lovely XTina rockin' a dress that was previously for sale in my shop but when I saw what she did with it with her radical Day of the Dead costume, it was impossible for me to imagine parting with it, so I deactivated the listing. I know, I know...I'm such a B, right? Well, you had your chance, suckas!!! She's back in the stockpile!! You can't go home again, my ass.

(Added later after original post: Here, I'm feeling generous.

You can see the listing picture from when it was listed. Yeah, you can look at it. But no touching.

I liked her facepaint WAYYYY better for this dress. How did I miss that?! Día de los Muertos? Hellooooo???? It's bordering on criminal in a shop themed like mine. No wonder it never sold.

So, we didn't get many pics but I think you get the gist, and I've kept it real by keeping one of these in even when I look pregnant with a pillow in my shirt. I'm a purist and Beetlejuice does have a beer belly in this scene so I had to do it, but it pained me...I'm not really one for the sexy costume thing that a lot of chicks like to do, although I gladly welcome it and think we need to take it even further (think sexy anti-gubment woodsman, sexy chimney sweep, sexy garbage woman, and the list goes on and on). Shoot, I'm a fan! I like to look at the skirts as much as the next guy. So as to compare, of course. Only to compare.

So anyway, keep planning those great costumes people! Its the only thing that separates us from the animals.

happyween,
c

Oh and P.S. Speaking of the Day of the Dead, tomorrow is the 10 year anniversary of the death of the master Etienne Aigner. Check out his Obit here. So celebrate his life by buying some Aigs from me....or not. But yeah, R.I.P. Etienne. You were oxbloody awesome and you made rad things.

PPS Oh and mom, if you are reading this...That whole 'celebrate his life and buy a pair of shoes' thing just now...that was a joke. So don't start yappin' at me about being disrespectful or a capitalist bastard. It was only a joke. I hope they DON'T buy them, in fact! That's how much 'spect I got for E!

Bells Bend Tractor Show (2010)

2010-10-16T22:04:00.000-07:00

Just some pictures of the amazing and completely sexy (to me) tractors that we got to see at this years tractor show held at Bells Bend Park. I was like a zombie on Christmas morning. So super excited about this little neighborhood gathering even with a thousand other and much larger events going on this weekend in Nashville and surrounding counties. Oh yeah, and I just loved the sign for the show, seemingly pointing away from the park, but actually just at an entrance down the road. (there was head scratching involved for a moment here).

I was squinting to read the fine print font saying "now get the hell out of here!"
or something in that vein.
(We southerners can be some hospitable but blunt bastards.)

Farmall of me. Just farmall of me.
Don't leave even a little teeny tiny bit.

I am already a bit of a fetishist (for lack of a better term, obviously, because clearly I would have used it if I had a better one) for tractors. No, not an enthusiast. That implies some understanding of the machinery or mechanics in a tractor, which I have none past the simple instructions my better half has to shout at me (because I'm already rocking to the local top 40 stations in my noise cancelling but with AM/FM headphones) before I grunt a semi truthful positive affirmation of understanding and I chug along in 2nd speed down the yard into a good 2 hours of sweet and solitary mowing of our property. I love tractors.

I know, I am sooo non-photogenic*, hence the affection for something so
blatant as zombie facepaint in most of my blog pics, but just look at the tractors willya?
They are the eye candy here.
Get focused!

The front of Mr. Wests 1940-sumthin' beaut.

Sorry, you can see I'm not such of a scholar here but that don't matter none.
Mommy knows what mommy likes.

Shoot....the thing's got a huge saw at the front.

Gracious me!.. back that thang up indeed. This is too much. And it was yellow!
Love. No, scratch that.
Pure lust.

This is how we do tailgate parties in Scottsboro, TN.
We find it more....how do you say??...oh yeah,..
Bad Ass.

I will save some for the next installment, cause this is definitely not the last you will see of tractors from moi.

Til then you can find me at the usual gathering of vintage goodies...
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReanimatedRags

ttyl,
~RR

*This is not to imply that I think of myself as unattractive. I know I'm fine. I just don't do well on film. Its like the 3 extra chins and one closed eye come out the split second before a frame is taken. Augh. The humanity.

Inspired By You...Dr. Sarah Passino and youth of tomorrow Jim Surface

2010-10-13T20:08:00.000-07:00

Oh goodness, did I have the weekend of my life last weekend!!! Lord A-Mercy! But I can't go all into it now. I can only handle it one morsel at a time or else I will just die of over saturation of amazing events and it might just send me into shock! (Imagine that, to die, and then to go into shock! I am such a total airhead, but I am not changing it now cause it has made me smile and so it has rightly earned its 2 lines of real estate in this entry.) I am in love with this morsel right here:
Specifically, a sweet and chewy morsel of bulgar wheat which has been transformed into the most delicious tabbouleh I have probably ever tasted in my short but sexy life. We snagged some at my sister's friend Jim's crib, who's known her since high school at least and they both went to Texas for college, so here I was preparing for a weekend of a BBQ onslaught, which is a tough thing for me a recovering pork fanatic and currently a fairly pious pescatarian. But no, he was dead cool even after she gave him only a couple hours notice that we'd need to crash at his place after driving 12 hours or more straight and arriving in Austin at 4am last Friday morning. Who knew we'd arrive to find the most bad azz tabbouleh sitting in the fridge just waiting for us and we were too tired to eat when we got in, so we just passed out and then woke up around eleven and ate some of it for breakfast cause we are just those kinds of people with no food limits. I would have eaten it at 7am if I had woken then. You know that kind. That's us!
Anyway, I hope this isn't something his mom was planning on publishing cause I am sharing it now for all the world to see. I can't hold it in. Like I used to learn in Sunday School as a kid, you can't hide your light under a bushel. And neither can Jim and his amazing cook of a mom hide this fantastic secret to deliciousness and great health. It must shine for all people to see and enjoy. Or something like that.

So here it is. Eat and Enjoy. Thanks again Jim!!! And all respects go out to Jim's mom.

Jim Surface's mom's Tabbouleh recipe (as interpreted by Jim, the youth of tomorrow)
1 cup dry bulgar wheat
1/2 Cup boiling water
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 good olive oil (as a mom of 2 boys I foresee myself using "good"before a number of products when trying to drive it home, but olive oil is definitely a given. Go mom~)
1/4 lemon juice (Jim lets it flow over the cup a bit....the rebel.)
2 teaspoons crushed minced garlic (or in Jim's translation, 1 tablespoon.) Hope this isn't a date night, ladies! But if it was, cancel on him/her cause this recipe is gonna be so worth it. Or just serve it up so both of you can have garlic breath and each cancels the other out.
3 Tablespoons mint, chopped
1/2 Cup chopped green onions or scallions.
1 cucumber, seeded and chopped
2 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1 Cup chopped, packed parsley (Flat leaf), chopped

Put Bulgar wheat and salt in a bowl and add the boiling water and cover and let it sit for 15 minutes. Add olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and mint to the bulgar. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Add green onions, cucumbers, tomatoes and parsley just before serving. Prepare to have your gaskets blown.

The pic doesn't do it justice, but this is going to end up being the most amazing taboulleh ever.
I know because I ate it. All of it. (a double recipe, at that.)

No regrets....

The next one is not so easy, but its even more astounding in its accomplishment. My childhood friend Dr. Sarah Passino (whoa, wait, she wasn't a doctor when we were children. She's my age, but clearly got further in school) was kind enough to let me tag along with her and her foodie friends (and I say that with ultimate respect and affection) on their Friday night (a couple weeks ago) get together to make chevre. Yeah, thats Sarah for ya. This is a feat I had previously thought could only be accomplished by huge machines in some romantic part of southern France or northern Italy or wherever goat cheese is made, but no, apparently it can be made, and made quite well in fact, in East Friggin' Nashville. Wow. I was absolutely inspired by the set up and all the hard work she had gone to in order to gather the materials and have the product ready at multiple stages for us to see and enjoy. Amazing. I got to take a huge portion with me and even though it was a bit strange to have to harvest it straight out of the cheesecloth, I went to town on that chevre. Dayum. It was amazing and I am sure I'll pay for it later cause it had to have some caloric consequences owning to the delicious taste and texture. I can't even think of it without getting a little eager again. It was soooo good and no, I will not bother to try and get the recipe cause I am sure at that level it's not even called a simple "recipe" anymore. Its like a lifestyle. I can't wait to adopt it and Lord knows both Sarah and I (along with countless chicks and dudes) have fantasized about tending goats and all that. ...But yeah, it was rad cheese and I def want to learn how to make some of that again. I was literally squeezing and straining the goat cheese whey and fragments out of the cheese cloth onto my cracker when I had sadly gotten to the last remnants of that curd of the gods. It did not end well. But hey, Bravo Dr. Passino!

Please check her out this Tuesday at her dinner she is organizing downtown called "Soup Up! Another Dinner is Possible" to help show solidarity with the Immokalee workers that will be visiting Nashville next week.
Check it out!! http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=141115759268436

Sarah was the one who opened my mind to the concept of cleaning out your fridge before you put a bunch of new groceries in there. Think about it. I guess its just biz as usual at your house but it was mind blowing to a slob and time-pressed mom like myself, so I finally went to town on my 2 fridges and that was the most liberating thing I could have done! Exhausting but Liberating. Thanks Sarah! More on that later....for now just check out the massive quantities of flat leaf parsley I had hunted down and of course who can't love a good Napa cabbage or two just sitting there waiting to become something delectable. I'm baaaack!!

My fridge after being inspired again to cook!
Or really, to just do anything in the kitchen save making black bean and cheese nachos in the microwave.

More zombie housewifery to come so keep checking me out!
And definitely more homages to those that inspire me like these rad human beings have.

luyu,
~rr

We are live!

2010-10-12T13:22:00.001-07:00

Presenting...

My shoes are in and they are just fantastic, if I do say so myself. I love the iconically fat tops and the cool and smooth baby bamboo soles. I relish the soft foam that forms to your feet. I simply adore the fabrics picked out by the anonymous but beloved Saint of Los Angeles. And lastly, I just can't get enough of the soft feel of the velveteen just sitting on the tops of my feet. I could go on for days. Well, not really cause I have real responsibilities.. and mouths to feed and all that mess but you get me, right? Days.

Instead I will just show you a couple pictures of the work done so far and you can see for yourself how this lil' brand is comin' along.

Here's one of my last pseudo-protos I made on my own before we found a factory to take a chance on us.This is not the original shoe that Fat Rolls was designed after. (another post for another day, a post you may not get to actually see because its just. too. personal.)

This one's made out a stuffed cotton blend top and the bottom was made from a woven natural fiber or straw platemat, which clearly did not hold up and wasn't intended to. The choice of print is my humble homage to the classic and iconic checkerboard Vans slip on, cause you guys must know I am all about parody. (If you didn't know, well, now ya know). After lusting after (guys in) them as a pre-"tween" in the mid to late 80s, (the term "tween" was not used back then so we were a bit cooler I guess) I scrambled to buy the re-issue of it when I even thought it was over-saturated back in '95, too dumb to predict the virtual institution it has become as of today. God bless Vans and their branding mojo. Sheesh. But yeah, erryone loves a checkerboard print, so it was fine for a proto that didn't even make it past the testing phase.

It was just to give the flavor of the shoe, the shape, the feeling.

Cheesy, I know. But this is the only story I got so there you have it.

(My son clearly didn' t like wearing it, but what does he know?

He was like 1 year old at the time. He's totally changed his mind about them now that he's hit the ripe age of 3.)

What an adorable print. This little kitschy and colorful floral looks super cute when its fresh and new like this pair.

And strangely it also looks endearingly "vintage" and by the way, LEGIT as bleep(!) when they are dirty and worn, like my first sample pair of Fat Rolls is starting to look like since I've deliberately trashed them all year all in the name of product testing, doing wee fit runs in them for short intervals, completely submerging them in creeks and just generally running them into the ground. Yes, I am part of that secret cult of people known only as "Quality Control" and I do now consider "flip flop tester" as part of my skill set currently. Actually its been elevated to the level of a core competency at this point and nothing less.

I know, I know...I have such a bitchin' job, don't I? I do get it. I am to be hated, truly, deeply, and madly.

And this is my first attempt at a display case for my yummy treats (for feets, but still, work with me here, okay...) . I figured since the factory wrapped them all anyway, why not play off the clear plastic wrap and the silly brand name to give the illusion that its your tummy that is about to get the treat, but instead its your feet! (well, only if your feet are between a size 3/4 and a size 11. Everyone else has to wait til Gen 2 when maybe we can get more size offerings arranged. We're not thousandaires yet! Hold your horses already.)

Special thanks to my mom, Julia, my favorite artist and my coolest (and only) outside investor. (my previous version of myself is my primary investor, seeing as how I cashed in all of her retirement and savings from over a decade of non bad-a$$ work in order to pay for this seemingly odd venture. Stupid, right? We will see. But yeah, probably...) Anyhoo, also she scooped up the display case for me and it turned out to work perfect for my shoes, so thanks mom!! (I'll list some boots for you this weekend I promise.)

Check out her shop... http://www.etsy.com/shop/GrannysBootery

It is boot season after all! And Granny's got some good ones!

And of course my new shop for my newest babies... http://www.etsy.com/shop/FatRolls

I will be updating lots of the listings to show pictures of human beings actually wearing these rad flip flops. (Besides me and my immediate family and some friends). I consider them year round flip flops so please refrain from trying to call me out for launching a sandal at the end of summer and start of fall. I meant to do that. Really, I totally would never do something so unimaginative as to try to sell a flip flop in the spring and summer. I mean, for crap's sake, really?! How passe. Do other companies even do that anymore? This is too easy...

The birth of a flip flop mogul. There, I said it.

And of course I'm still here too http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReanimatedRags , so keep checking me out! And check out my Fat Rolls!

Talk about needing to come back to life!

2010-09-14T12:12:00.000-07:00

I gotta get back to my blog. The poor thing has dust bunnies pretty much eating it alive. I mean, yeah, so what, I know there are only about 5 people who check it out regularly and they mostly share my last name, but this is bordering on ridiculous. I do want to get better. Like Bart says, I can't promise I'll try, but I'll try to try.

ttyl,
rr

Wisdom reveals itself in many forms

2010-08-18T21:09:00.000-07:00

Again I know this is old news but lets just say I don't get out much. This is a wild one cause unlike every other viral phenomenon I had actually seen the newscast on this one weeks ago but didn't see all the new homages until the past couple days. Oh be still my beating heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJVwfJs8Eqo&feature=player_embedded #!

and then when my sister's friend sent her the song it just about made my little heart burst with joy.

My oldest son has just replaced his obsession with Lady Gaga with a much less produced but similarly splendiforous overnight supastar Antoine Dodson. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMtZfW2z9dw

But mom's new favorite remix is here.

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/b14ee0ef46/bed-intruder-marching-band-remix

God bless those Dodson kids. Talk about takin' back the night and then takin' over YouTube.

Overnight phenoms. Dayum.

Gladiator Graveyard

2010-07-19T19:57:00.000-07:00

I know this is old news by now but I don't care, cause the minute I'd heard about it I knew I wanted to do a post about it, and I'm just getting to it now. I'm really a procrastinator, my bad.

Here's what I heard...well since you can't get the audio, read what I heard.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127762389

If you actually want to read about the real gladiator graveyard that was discovered recently then you can get more info below.

http://news.discovery.com/archaeology/roman-gladiator-graveyard-found-in-york.html

http://rogueclassicism.com/2010/06/06/gladiator-graveyard/

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/06/07/england.roman.cemetery/index.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37566904/

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2010/06/08/decapitated-lion-chewed-remains-ancient-gladiator-graveyard/

http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/Gladiator+graveyard+unearthed+northern+England/3126902/story.html

Happy 4th!

2010-07-04T20:22:00.000-07:00

First annual July 4th photo shoot to celebrate liberation from an uncut lawn.

Sorry for the late post.
You should know by now...

A hoarder's dress collection gets outside for the first time in months....
and these are the photos.

So....Does this dress cut me at some weird angles or what? Its like it was specially made for an awkward short chick or a boringly perfect "tallie" (my new derogatory word for tall people). So I guess that gives me my answer. Definitely putting in the "For Sale" pile after years and years of proper hoarding. Look at me, speaking with such confidence as if I will actually pull that 20 cent trigger and let her go, oh you silly silly people. We'll see how strong I can really be when none of these show up in the shop. I'm such a wimp I sicken myself. Okay I'll shut up now and leave you with some parting shots. Don't be freaked out mom. Everyone knows I am prettier without facepaint. Some day this will be funny too, like all the other stuff I did to you. Luuuyyuuuu, c/rr

Anyone up for some croquet?

I promise I won't eat your brains.

Or we could just 'set' a while and talk....

luyu, rr

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReanimatedRags

Sorry, another Aig entry. I'm certifiable at this point.

2010-05-28T04:09:00.001-07:00

Okay, so I think this may solve my Aigner and my "Daily" issue. I am going to break all the rules (rebel) that don't even exist, because nothing really exists in my store... its an Existential thing (airhead philosopher turned capitalist entrepreneur slash glorified lemonstand owner).

So, to put an end to this mess, I am going to just get all of my Aigs out of my little brother's storage unit (read "mommy's shoe hoarding cave") and I am going to just start with the next date owed to you gorgeous people, which I swear is like the 18th or something and just go from there and freaking list these babies as fast as my little legs can take me. (slow)

I don't care if I end up way into the future on this stuff, it would make more sense than being late. In fact it may even create chronological symmetry seeing as how this is vintage we're talking about and our friend Etienne is already in the spirit world drinking a negra modelo with a lime and not giving a shit. (That is what they drink in heaven, right?) Who is there to offend?

I mean, why not do entries early if I want to? No one's really going to complain are they? (threatening fist).

So...to summarize: Etienne already supplied the "late" and the "great" for this matter, so I just gotta come correct on the Aigners.

I'll catch ya'll later on in the week. I have a storage unit I need to tend to.....

The Not So Daily Aigner

2010-05-20T19:50:00.000-07:00

I know some of you may be wondering why I started a featured listing called "The Daily Aigner" only to end up listing it weekly or late by a couple days, etc. I mean, all you have to do is look at the date on the listing and the date it was actually listed to see that I am waayyyyy beyond what could politely be described as "chronically late." I'm uh....morbidly late.

Now, to do some sort of fashion penance, I just out myself right then and there by confessing my lateness right there in the title:
The Late Daily Aigner, The Fashionably Late Daily Aigner, The Extremely Tardy, The Lately Listed, etc etc... But now I'm running out of names!! What's a girl to do?

Maybe you've even suspected that after almost 3 months straight of doing this daily that I am running out of Aigs even. But you're wrong. I am not out of Aigners. I'm out of "The Daily". Who ever has enough Day to get them through their Daily? Deep thoughts by your favorite undead shoe slingin' Garbage Pail Mommy. (are there any others? cool, then I win)

So after this weekend I promise I'll try to do better...But I'm still testing some of 'em first...
Just some quality control, that's all. I think I'll call this one "The Company Ink" cause I am definitely dipping into it like its an ice cream sundae.

mmmm.....
~RR

Thanks for supporting the master Mister Etienne...and keep checkin' out my Aigs!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReanimatedRags

A quick Thank You

2010-05-09T20:59:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to do a quick and very belated thanks to Under the Guise for the love!

http://undertheguise.com/2010/04/26/reanimated-rags/

I feel so exposed.

~rr

My own Sleepy Hollow complete with Mother Nature's mean ass slip and slide (patent pending)

2010-05-07T20:04:00.000-07:00

just a gratuitous rushing of water

Driveway V. Creek

A dead tree stuck on the border between two properties.

Looks like a lot of bugs and birds have a new home,

cause this is way out of our pay grade.

(Its hard to believe the water level was so high it picked this up like a toothpick

and needled it in between this grate and a barbed wire fence a foot above it.

Insane. )

Mother Nature
combined with 3 years of a broken down 1949 Ford 9N tractor
makes for a mean ass slip and slide

Our thoughts go out to all the families, individuals and organizations who've experienced loss during this massive weather event we just experienced in our great state. I know new life hides just below the surface, so I approach summer with thanksgiving and hope.

Side note: I'm so happy I could barf cause we finally got a new mower so this will all be gone tomorrow. So enjoy the lush wildness because its all croquet courses and badminton courts from here on out.

Love,
~RR

Shit My Mom Says

2010-04-17T14:09:00.000-07:00

"Dear Rags*,
So you can remember--- Cappagallo is not a brand.
Were you trying to be funny?. It is Pappa Gallo as in Italian grandaddy wine maker, or pizza restaurant proprietor ( Pappa John). Catch you later, Mom"

Now you tell me what you think this says? The P totally looks like a C. Don't front.

The sad thing is I totally know the brand Pappagallo. I grew up in those shoes. But this label looked different to me and I actually had seen tons of them and thought there was another whole different brand called Cappagallo, which strangely I never questioned as strangely similar sounding as the brand Pappagallo. So now I'm totally exposed. The shit already sold! But whatev. You guys don't know me from jack. Except maybe half of you who are fam or friends or just have the nads to follow this blog "officially" rather than just blog stalkers although I welcome ya'll too cause hell, I understand this game! A listener's a listener! Anyhoo...Its out. The cat is out of the bag.

I am a full blown airhead. Add it to the list.

And I don't care what she says...I still love me some Cappagallos! Now pass me the wine and pizza, I'm starved already!

Yours,
~R.Rags

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReanimatedRags check me out!

*Names have been changed to protect the airheaded and the innocent.

I literally said this. To my dog.

2010-04-12T07:25:00.000-07:00

"Bite me. No really, bite me! Then maybe I can go to the hospital and get a day off for once!"

Blog Fast Broken and just like breaking any fast, you have to start with a small cracker

2010-03-20T21:02:00.000-07:00

I guess I'd qualify as a small cracker, as I am not on the tall side and I am definitely a cracker.

So there you have it. I'm your cracker. Nourish yourself with my white flourey goodness.

Now, to business.

Featuring the Daily Aigner for the ...Day!!..(duh)

Featuring this week's

Saturday Night Bootie

Ahhh....been gone a month and look at all the dad gummed new crap, right?! I know, I know....I hate it too, but look, I gotta try and keep it lively or rather, undeadly, or even I will get bored of this racket.

And I'm the obsessed one staring down these gorgeous foot coverings every night, not you!

I'm the one haunted and mocked by finding the perfect ever shoe in the history of the universe, in someone else's size!.... not you!!!

I'm the one rubbing oils and protective salves on these unappreciative and sometimes downright dirty ruffians!

I'm the one running up and down 3 flights of stairs every day trying to answer each and every question that might come my way....

What is the insole length?

Are they true to size?

Do they talk back? Seriously though, lets keep it undead sexy but moreso, lets try and make it fun and somewhat inane, again, for fun. Fun and Stupidly Fun, my kind of combination.

In that vein I offer to you "The Daily Aigner," and I give you "Saturday Night Bootie" my new category of shoe listings!!!

And you sit there unpeturbed and not even slightly surprised that I am actually trying to put every one of my store items into some sort of sale category. I'm such a capitalist ho. Anyways...

Check me out!!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReanimatedRags

(oh yeah, you can leave now...this is it. I told you It'd be a cracker. Thats a morsel, remember?)

Love ya, mean it....

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReanimatedRags

Happy Valentimes Day! It's couples weekend!!!! ...er...couples week!

2010-02-13T23:23:00.001-08:00

No one wants to feel alone on Valentimes Day weekend! Not even a pair of old shoes. So to celebrate this weekend and to commemorate love, friendship and companionship I am listing couples of pairs of shoes all weekend and cause I'm a softie and a capitalist, lets just say all week. So not one pair but two in a row that have something in common, share a brand name or style, somehow complement or contrast with the other pair or just seem like they belong together in some wacky way.

As with many things in my life, I am already a little late on this one as one couple of pairs already sold before I could even blog about it. Classic.

Don't get me started on the zombie pictures of new clothes I need to list that I've just been sitting on for 3 weeks and some of the boots I modeled the clothes with have sold. I gotta get control of my calendar, right? (picking up dirty laundry littering the hallway)

I mean, business is business!!! (kicking a wrapped up diaper out of the way)

I hope you enjoy. You know I just did this for you.

Valentime.
~rr
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReanimatedRags

MEOWWW.....The cat's out the bag.

2010-02-09T14:41:00.001-08:00

heyyyy.... so....

Wow and was I ever not ready for prime time. Everyone's (all 8 of you! And I luv ya!!) favorite garbage pail kid, shoe slingin' mommy just got some shouts I want to note here. Not so much for my own need to brag childishly (lie) but to give these ladies a nod for their awesome blogs and willingness to feature lil ole me and in a positive light if you can belie dat!! Seriously though, I was not and am not ready for prime time, so this is going to hurt a little. (oh, yeah, me more than you. Of course. You will not hurt AT ALL. This might even feel a little good cause it always feels good when you can laugh until your sides hurt. And yes, I think they will be laughing at me, not with me...)

Okay, so enough chitter chatter...what I am trying to say is that I really haven't uh....really announced to anyone that I am doing this whole ...(clearing throat)..uh vintage shopkeep slash exposed online diary thing. Except for a couple friends who either are complicit (you know who you are and you better keep your mouths shut if ya know whats good for ya) or stumbled upon it by happenstance (bless your little heart, it was like walking in on your grandparents wasn't it? Soooo sorry....). So I guess since its sort of out there (out past you 8 followers who I luvvvvvvv!! your early infectee status is eternally secured. Your reward will be great...) I might as well own it right? So what if I hear from some douche I never cared about anyway in college "wow, so you have a blog now? Nice face painting skills...." or who cares if my old boss who used to berate me while still somehow soliciting me calls and says on my voicemail "so...whats with the banner on your shop, oh...thats right, you don't have one...(snigger snigger)" So who cares if this B.S. comes my way. I must face it with courage and steadfastness. Bring it on, emmer effers. Right? Hey, its the old thrift store creed (or adult bookstore,,whatevers your cup of tea..), if you see someone there digging around for some new duds, its no worry, cause if anyone is actually embarrassed by this, then who cares cause the other person is also there. So whatever, it cancels the other out. Or something like that.

Okay, so enough of me trying to do this gracefully. I have a blog. I have an online shop.

Okay, its out there.

These awesome people shouted me out on their awesome blogs.

http://fasterpussycats.blogspot.com/

http://undertheguise.com/

http://vintageshoelove.tumblr.com/

Check out their awesome blogs but like my dad used to tell me...never forget where you came from. You came from here, darlin'. So we're all GPKs and thats why we've found each other..and its a beautiful thing.

So no matter how great their blogs are, you get your ass back here when the street lights come on.

Ya hear me?

~RR

1. Check out Mother Firefly please. The lady knows her horror so I felt honored that she allowed me into the very coveted 7 ladies honored for being female horror bloggers. I'm not sure I should qualify cause really the only real horror on my site is my crappy facepaint skills, but I ain't givin it up now!! My award, all mine!!!
So, I guess this isn't the best time to tell you the last scary movie I saw was Clue.
On VHS.
Very scary.
http://fasterpussycats.blogspot.com/2010/01/its-award-time.html

2. If you're looking for pictoral evidence of the existence of Nashville hipsters and our local fashion nomads you should check out UnderTheGuise. Heidi is working to methodically capture all the gorgeous tidbits and expressions of style in our beloved town and thank goodness for it, cause its a big job, I assure you. Bravo and HeeHaw, Heidi!
http://undertheguise.com/2010/02/06/vintage-galore/

3. LisaZain, vintage dealin' mogul and lets face it...unapologetic shoe fiend shouted out some of my newly listed babies under my new style category "Dear Shoe Fairy" so scroll down and check out some of her favorite shoes on Etsy and in the universe. Shoes are all around us. All you have to do is take the time to stop and appreciate them. Thanks for the shout, and congrats to Lisa as she approaches her 1000th Etsy sale.

Yeah, that was three zeros....INSANE!!!!

http://vintageshoelove.tumblr.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/lisazain

Thanks ladies!!!!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReanimatedRags (this is where I live, in case you need to get directions home)

Uncontested Grunge staples for Southern hipsters

2010-02-03T07:56:00.001-08:00

a firm handshake

a quiet eye

courage in the face of the cowpatties of life

a southern wink goodbye

Sold here today!

Ya'll come here >>>>>> http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReanimatedRags ...ya hear!!?

Dear Shoe Fairy and more Grannies and Ropers on the way!

2010-01-23T16:04:00.000-08:00

Introducing an all new listing category "Dear Shoe Fairy,..." for those of you with imagination as well as great style!! Here's a little preview...

What can this be?

Are you a Country & Western beatle boot or is it just me?

What are you?

Gladiator sandals, lace up booties or oxford heels? Who do you think you are?

No really, I can wait...

These and more fashion iconoclasts and design delinquents in my etsy shop this week!

Plus a wagon full of ropers, granny boots, snow and rain boots, ankle boots, slouch boots, cowboy boots, fringe boots, pirates, pixies and hiking boots.

And that's not all....New listings coming under our ongoing Bows At The Toes (BATT) sales, more 7 Dollar Shoe Sales and our own version of the 127 Corridor Sale launching in Spring '10 called "Hoarder's Delight" which I think you can figure out on your own, right? Okay, if not... It will essentially be vintage items I have hoarded away for whatever reason for anywhere from 20 days to 20 years. Yeah, pretty sick, eh? Keep in mind some of these gems have been nicely tucked and hidden away, ready for you to present to the world, since I dropped the ball!

Gotta clear out the winter goodies to make way for a whole slew of technicolor flats, heels and moccasins to get you primed and ready for spring!

Stay tuned....

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReanimatedRags

Outlaw shoe roundups!

2010-01-03T22:57:00.000-08:00

These outlaws were brought in today for questioning and trial.

Their crime?

Being so cool they shouldn't be allowed to go out free anymore without supervision.

The Dexter Three

The Bandolino Three

and Three Ladies' (shoes) with snakelike characteristics

(A Side View in case you are able to apprehend them without assistance from law enforcement)

Going on right now and all this week.....outlaw shoe roundups happening in my Etsy shop!!

Dexters, Bandolinos, snakeskin pumps, leather Huarache sandals, woven leather oxfords, granny boots, roper boots, ropin' granny boots, sweater lined boots, rain boots, sexy hikers and a couple of pixies and pirates to boot! (last pun not intended). Check out the shop before any more of this stuff is hauled off for questioning and assimilation into someone else's gang of tough clothes.

Oh yeah, and more vintage belt lots and other accessories are being apprehended daily!

(Seriously though... these would make quite a lovely mug shot, eh?)

ReanimatedRags.etsy.com

Vintage belt lots. Made fresh daily!

2009-12-30T20:12:00.001-08:00

Something new for all ya'll who may have actually lost some weight this holiday season.

Belt Lots!!! Vintage Belt Lots that is (not just any old soulless and modern pants retention device).

Wait!! Before you start rolling your eyes at me....weight is not worth losing if it takes a 24 hour stomach bug that sticks around for 3+ days and insists that food exiting body must be allowed to use nasal cavities which typically are not desirable lanes for food trafficking.

So yeah, I lost some weight. But that taco soup recipe? The delicious vegetarian one my relatives made me over Christmas? Yeah, I won't be needing that. But thanks anyway, it was great the first time around.

Check me out!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReanimatedRags

White leather fetishism at its darkest

2009-12-16T20:20:00.001-08:00

White Hot Leather

White combat boots for babies who crush skulls (and melt faces)

White leather to wear to the ballet!

Summertime expressions of leather love

White Leather Hurache sandals for the baby

that is cooler than you are

(Sorry, but they do exist)

All these and more in the shop this week!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/reanimatedrags

7 Dollar Shoe Sale! Going on All....Century!

2009-12-06T01:33:00.000-08:00

So, would you think I was crazy if I told you I wanted to do a 7 Dollar Shoe sale and I wanted to keep it ongoing until we had 777 listings of $7 shoes for sale, and that I would stop at nothing to make sure this is accomplished?! (scratch that last part, I just wanted to sound like a bad ass who might do something really dangerous....all in the name of capitalism. And in the name of fueling my passion for shoe rescue missions and treasure hunting for others besides myself.)

I just wanted to see if you'd think I was crazy if I did that.

I'm not deep.

2009-11-29T15:10:00.001-08:00

Honestly I have learned more about Mr Karloff this past week (a fair amount) than I'd ever learned in all my life (not alot). Its been fun stalking all ya'lls blogs and joining some too. What does that mean anyway, join a blog? I ain't plannin' on doing nuthin. Sho ain't planning on working!! Anyways, I really feel like a cheese saying this, but I've become even more of an admirer of old Willie Pratt's since this week started. I obviously am not a professional, an expert, a long time nutjob of a fan (I say this with utmost respect) or a scholar as some of ya'll are who are part of this blogothon. Its been wild man. Don't look at me! I just came here to run. And run I did. I ran while watching Boris. I ran many times thinking about Boris. And I ran in honor of Boris (and homeless people) by sneaking into the Boulevard Bolt with my little sis this year which is her yearly tradition. (So what! Some families run together for charity on the morning of Thanksgiving every year, and other families sneak into charity runs the morning of Thanksgiving every year. To each his own, I say.)

Like I said...a cool drink of water this one.

Seriously ladies! Its like he was Sean Connery before Sean Connery was even Sean Connery.

This kind of sex appeal just isn't even fair.

The thing I hadn't previously known about him was something any airhead such as myself could find by just traipsing through his wikipedia entry, about how he took the name Boris Karloff to avoid bringing shame or embarrassment upon his family. I guess thats one way to look at it, but what if he just wanted a fresh start? Maybe the name Pratt just wasn't doing it for him. Its not like he just picked some other generically white name. Boris Karloff? Really, William? So sure, its noble to say that you want to protect or buffer your family from any public disgrace or shame you might bring upon them by being connected to an...actor (shiver in disgust), but I think its just that he wanted to be Boris Karloff. So he just did. He really, really did. And it was definitely not shameful and it was 100% undead sexy.

Go Bo!

The guy was born in 1887.

Again, just plain

hot.

More to come on blog stalking, changing your identity, and bringing shame and disgrace upon your family. Thanks for "joining"!

Karloff's urbane mummy and undead style on the "silent" screen

2009-11-25T00:14:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to post somethin' about Boris Karloff's incredibly stylish manner in the Mummy. I'm awful, I wanted to finish it earlier but I got tied up.

Oh gosh, I couldn't help that. Super sorry, all. For the cheesy pun and the tardy blog entry. I'm diggin myself a hole here....Back to Boris!!! What a dreamboat....

I believe this is called a tall drink of water.

So....I loved Boris Karloff's transformation after he makes his break from the crypt. What a babe!! So what if his skin looked like he had 12 mud masks just one on top of the other. Black kohl lined eyes, AND brows? Oh hell naw! And the harem pants & tunic getup? Insane.
I wanted to post some things to my Etsy shop and feature them here in honor of Boris Karloff's gender-bending, undead glam-mummy fashion metamorphosis. I will have to get it posted to the shop later, but for now you can just enjoy the pics below. I know these are totally from different times and countries, but they all reminded me of his simple yet debonair undead style. He lifted us up a bit with that performance. Any of us would be proud to call him our zombie breathren.

Enjoy and I'll try and get my crap together and post more frequently. I sleep 2-3 hours a night already, so I'll be needing a time machine or time stopper if anyone has one handy.

Turkish slippers? Can't read the writing on the label, sorry.

But it made me think of him in this movie.

That same style. Slippers for the undead sexy.

Oh Boris....your undead style was so fashion forward!

So sophisticated, straight from the crypt!!!

Indian Man's outfit, harem style pants and tunic top.

First Post & First Run of Boris' Blogathon

2009-11-23T20:14:00.000-08:00

Man I didn't realize how much Boris could get the blood flowin'. Hoooweeee!!! I decided to start off my first day of the Boris blogathon with an hour long run during a Netflix showing of The Mummy. Have I ever told you how addicted I am to the Wii Fit long run?(specifically the 30 minute one, I do it twice for an hour of mindless pounding on the carpeted pavement of my little room.)

Usually I just zone out and wait for other Mii's to wipe out in my path or sometimes I'll watch a movie if I don't have a kid napping in the room. I did today, so I had to watch it on mute but it was still deliciously creepy. When his crackled and ring-laden hand slowly caresses the scroll I definitely picked up my pace. I felt totally affirmed by my choice in movies when the camera cuts from the horrified gaze of the douche in highwaisted pants who broke into the mini (forbidden) box with the scroll in it, slowly moving down to the ground and catches the last afterworld-stained inches of his funereal coverings cruisin' across the threshold to the disbelief of the now mad douchebag with wavy blond locks.

What an awesome movie! And I knocked out 10 miles. My goal is to complete at least 26 this week as a (broken up) marathon during a blogathon. This should be no problem cause I run 3 times a week about 10 miles each time and the other days I let Jillian Micheals abuse the bleep out of me using a workout video, some hand weights, and pure sadistic buoyancy. I love that lady. That evil evil lady.
Tomorrow I'll talk more about undead style in this feature as well as the rugged urbanity of Karloff's mummy. Smell you later.

Kids Clothes that will make you wish for a time machine

2009-11-20T22:44:00.000-08:00

Just letting go of the past....making room for my future. I hope you enjoy.

The most iconic vintage terrycloth romper in blue and white

Channelling Skeeter from Mama's Family.....with a mexican twist.

For the Young Edwardian in your life

Can a baby girl clog get any better than this?

Vintage, Size 29 and ready to rumble!!!

Amazing brown little girl clogs for the discriminating bohemian second grader

For the fashion forward toddler with a nautical clothing fetish

This and more in the shop tonight.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReanimatedRags

Good things in store!

2009-11-12T12:34:00.000-08:00

Good news!
For those of you with a lil walking around money....here's a preview of some of the families of vagabond clothing and accessories that will be available for your purchasing pleasure *today.

Its like a game of Vintage Clothes Twister got just a lit-tle out of hand.

After these kids tap out, I will be working my little tail off posting a bunch of items to the store tonight because I have procrastinated too long and have got to let these little birds fly. If you love something you have to set it free, you know? So I'm doing it....I'm letting go....releasing them back into the wild.

And then if they fly out of your closet and back to my house and into my closet then it means they were really mine after all. I think that's how the old saying goes.

What I affectionately like to call boat shoes and also some moccosins

and then their wonderful baby offspring which are boat shoes with beaded moccosin tops.

My eyes are watering.

These boots were made for walkin'......in this instance...walkin' after midnight.

Snakeskin collection circa 1982-1987 (ish)

And yes...more metallics. Shine on.

There are good things in store for you. Glorious Day!

(*Note: We hold to the "COB" rule which allows for the close of my "business day" being the close of the actual day which means 12 midnight. So basically what I am trying to say is...this stuff won't really all get loaded until midnight at the soonest....but just know its on its way.)

~RR

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReanimatedRags

November Promo for Early Infectees

2009-11-03T08:16:00.000-08:00

This guy looks hungry...

As a grand opening promo,

Reanimated Rags will be offering a special freebie to all new customers.

Be an early infectee.

For the month of November,

no matter the total,

all orders will come with a

handcrafted and undead-styled

Nashville Zombie pencil.

Will fill in scantron sheets for food

These pencils are truly one of a kind, and specially made for early infectees. These won't be available to the general public until December at the earliest, so order now and be the first in your bridge club to have an authentic, one of a kind, specially made Nashville Zombie Pencil!

Come and get it!
~RR

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReanimatedRags

Only 364 Days til next Halloween!

2009-11-01T09:32:00.000-08:00

Here's what I wore as my Halloween '09 Costume. Country and Western Interpretation of Alice in Wonderland, undead version. Pretty easy and last minute. The wig was lent from a friend who had a bagful of blond wigs (another blog for another day!) and maggot hair barrettes from The Filigree. Everything else was just mine from my collection. Vintage homemade square dancing dress, boots, 2 pairs of tights (hot!) and a vintage mosaic mandolin brooch/pin that I acquired off of Ebay years ago.

Yeah, so what if I am lazy and recycled the same costume 2 nights in a row. Friday night was short lived because my childcare window (sexy stuff here, huh?) was pretty slim, so I had to warp over to the Venus and Mars party, check out all the cool costumed partygoers, nod my head to some Daft Punk and down my 2 complimentary beverages. I got a couple cool pics and hopefully didn't melt too many eyeballs with my interpretation of Lewis Carroll's muse.

On a totally side note, CBS Sunday Morning did a spot on zombies in case you didn't catch it. We're totally mainstream man..... Hope everyone had a safe and Happy Halloween!

Some Hair Inspiration for Undead Halloween looks

2009-10-31T14:26:00.001-07:00

Happy Eve of" All Saints' Day!!

Hey errybody! This is the wig I will be wearing out tonight. I just wanted to share some hair inspiration for those of you with access to maggot jewelry custom made by the Filigree. (nyah nyah)

I have a square dancing dress that has blue shoulders and a blue and white body and for some reason makes me think of Alice's getup. I already had some black and white striped tights (as any red blooded american woman should)so to "zombify" them I just put them on underneath and then put a pair of well ripped up black pantyhose over it. So it has the duel effect of darkening the white in the tights but also making it look slightly more "toe up" for lack of a better term. I'll show some pics of the tights later...too lazy right now and rushing off to start the festivities for the night.

Maggot Barrettes (mother and child) on loan from the Filigree
http://www.etsy.com/shop/thefiligree

Happy Halloween!
~RR

Fast Times at Venus and Mars Showroom High

2009-10-30T21:48:00.001-07:00

Talk about a smash and grab.....I probably spent longer throwing the makeup on and getting the wig not to look like something an old woman at a slot machine in a dumpy casino off the beaten path would wear. I unfortunately don't have the pictures ready yet but to whet your appetite I will just use this as a placeholder so you can get a feel for my costume. If you care, that is.

I thought surely that a party christened "Through the Looking Glass" would be filled to the gills with Alices, and I guess it was, but I was actually pretty surprised to find myself the only undead Alice. (unless she was in the ladies room and I missed her, in which case please accept my sincerest apologies, fellow Zombie Alice). I had worried that my regular run of the mill undead Alice would be too common that I went whole hog as Country & Western undead Alice in Wonderland, which I thought would make me safe. It did. Maybe too safe because not too many people wanted to approach me except for those with cameras. (is that bad?)

Delectable Adult Beverages served by handsome barkeeps, Spectacular decor both in the normal shop but also for the party, Super great costumes and high spirited dancing and fun by a cavalcade of people born from unapologetic sexual selection. Everything a good Halloween party should include, right? I have to admit it was fun mingling with the beautiful people. More pictures tomorrow! Have a good night and rest up....Halloween is here!!

How to do a Zombie Manicure for the enjoyment of your dear trick or treaters

2009-10-29T21:18:00.000-07:00

Okay, so you're wanting to do something fun for Halloween but just can't bear to buy the nail decals or pay to have someone paint your nails some silly design in orange and black, eh? Well I think I have just the thing for you~~~

First you should make sure your nails are clean, dry and preferably short so as not to look too creepy or Elvira-y. Mine are currently short due to figgety behaviors like nail biting this week. How serendipidous!

Next you can paint all your other nails except leave one to be the "zombie." This is how I like to do it to really keep it as minimalist as possible. I usually do all red or all black except like I said...leave one nail. Preferably the meanest and baddest one you got.

After you've gotten your other nails painted as you like them, you just need to paint the zombie nail a base of white. While its drying you can read my blog or check out my etsy shop.

When the white nail enamel is dry, just dot it with 2 dots of black laquered nail polish for the eyes and a tiny little slit for a nose. I then try to do the smallest and thinnest mouth possible (see pic) This particular night I just couldn't get it right with the eyes and the nose, and my cuticles are atrocious, but you get the idea so I won't be losing any sleep over this "spread", I assure you.

She looks innocent enough, huh? Just you wait!!

The last step is the funnest part. Depending on my mood that day, the zombie will either have a moderate or an enormous amount of "blood" (red nail polish) coming down each side of her mouth, which for effect MUST drip down onto the skin of your fingers so as to not only remind someone of bleeding cuticles (nassssttyyyy....creeeppppyyyy) but also to add to that that classic and almost simple zombie Day of the Dead slash Beetlejuice style look which I prefer over the overly latexed and corn flaked zombie looks.

(sorry, no offense to my corn-flaked undead breathren...you know its just cause I'm lazy and can't compete with your technique....I don't have 20 million hours to put on zombie facepaint although sometimes I wish I did)

Lastly, cover your nails in a speed dry coat or top coat which should seal it all in and help it last a couple more days. The fun part is the "blood" that is on your finger skin will eventually start to rub off which lessens the effect and then in a day or so (if you don't wash your hands it may last longer but that is not advised in flu season) it will only have the blood coming down the nail and stopping at the finger. HOW FUN!

This one's a bit janky, but so are all my pics....you are starting to understand me and I like that.

I made this up one day this past summer when I was unusually obsessed with the classic zombie look.

Who knows....maybe this type of mani could get viral! (pun not intended)

Thanks for checking me out!!! 1 day til Halloween!!

Fellow Vintage Horror Film enthusiasts and bloggers: Boris Karloff Blogathon Nov.23-29

2009-10-28T13:20:00.000-07:00

I am proud to announce that I will be running in my first ever blogathon on November 23-29!!! Yes, you can too run in a blogathon. You can do almost anything you want while blogging, I am sure of it. Also if you will allow a cheesy pun it is my mouth that I'll be running, not these sexy gams!
~~~Trois Snaps~~~

Hope to see you all participatin'!

If you need more info or want to sign up, visit http://frankensteinia.blogspot.com/2009/10/announcing-boris-karloff-blogathon.html

I just stumbled upon this blog today by happenstance. Sweet!

Metallic Clothing Installment #5,702

2009-10-27T22:27:00.000-07:00

Just when you thought it was safe (to be bland) I hit you with even more metal!!

Check out some of the new items hitting the store today....

This slew of metallic duds will pull you in like a friggin' magnet!

All of it is vintage,
soft at times,
tough when it needs to be,
and always memorable.

What Cleopatra might wear if she was born in the 60's
...and liked keyhole necks

Shoulder Pads and Wide Gold Buckle Belt!
Watch out Blanche Devereaux!

A silver shirt to end all other silver shirts (lives)

Metallic and Sheer (danger!! danger!!)

Who doesn't need a vintage gold metallic dolmas sleeved shirt?

Silver zip up turtleneck with puffy wrists

**Forehead vein not included

All this and mo' metal at ReanimatedRags.etsy.com

Thanks for checkin' me out, and hopefully these radical clothes didn't melt too many faces!

Signs of tough times in a southern undead pantry

2009-10-21T18:50:00.000-07:00

The current mission: To just eat out of the fridge, freezer and pantry without replenishing certain items that I decided we could do without temporarily to save money and eliminate excessive driving about town shopping for crap and more crap. (broke AND lazy). So in that spirit and while craving waffles, I learned I could just make my own pancake mix from scratch...Yeah, whatever...I know you guys are probably way cooler than me and have been milling your own flours for years, but yeah, me? uh, not so much. That being said, I felt like a chump immediately, thinking of all the hard earned money the Bisquick family had made off us before I had stumbled upon this realization of my own inherent power over my pancake destiny. (rubbing calloused hands and creasing forehead wrinkled from a life of toil)
Those opulent Bisquicks, just slathering about in all their bounty. Yeah, I said "slathering." It just felt like something they'd do. Those damn Bisquicks.

Yeah..on the neverending To Do List is to make fake blood from corn syrup and red food coloring if I can ever find it (apparently red food coloring has been outlawed, can't find it anywhere.) So thats why you see a generic Kroger brand bottle here, scribbled with a sharpie-"For Fake Blood" on the bottle of corn syrup, (the root of all evil, yeah, that same one). So we win the prize for brokiest of the broke. (pause for rock star leaps into the air in slow motion, ending with pounding bellies on the way down) You saw it here first. Fake- Fake Blood. Made from generic ingredients for that extra dash of poorness that really brings out the poverty-strickenness in your brokeness.

For those of us too tight for the Real-Fake Blood. Damn.

This one's for all my homies drinking wine out of boxes if you're lucky enough to get it!! (raising clenched fist) Here's to all my powdered-milk-makin' compatriots! Powder to the People! (Yeah, I went there, so what) Get that 39 cent box of Jiffy cornbread out and - people get ready...to eat some cornbread and beans. (swaying side to side)

But in all seriousness, if you need help reconstituting powdered milk, check out this useful resource
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/reconstituting.htm

All Your Bass are Belong to Us

2009-10-16T17:09:00.000-07:00

I wish I was skilled enough to have made my own video version and overdubbed "Bass" over "Base" each time it was said, because you guys deserve nothing less than the best. You also deserve nothing less than the Bass. In that spirit, behold my Bass Sunjuns stockpile...if you desire what could possibly be the most comfortable sandal in the history of the land. Also there is one pair of Bass heels that are unworn and even come wrapped in the original box with tissue.

Like I said, you guys deserve the best. Check them out and more at ReanimatedRags.etsy.com

Okay fine, the Original version is here.

Mine would have melted faces though!!!

Heavy "Metal," collars, and other types of clothes for your (deviant or domesticated) consideration

2009-10-14T05:42:00.000-07:00

I went on a smash and grab into my piles and piles of clothes to add to the store (overwhelming, I must say). I decided to model a few for you personally rather than just throwing them on a headless mannequin, which can be a little creepy and not necessarily in a good way. So without further ado....

We have first and foremost one dress that is both "metal" (color) and slightly clownish (collar). Can you imagine a more provocative combination? We all want to feel like bad ass rock stars sometimes and I know I feel like a clown at least 7-8 times a day, so I hate to lose this baby. But its for the greater good, ladies. Just give her a good home, will ya?

Next up, in true Reanimated Rags fashion we are going guardrail to guardrail to take you from 1970’s/80’s gold threaded ruffly collared temptress to 1960's floral neon housewife. (She is inside each of us, just waiting to break out...) My favorite part of this housedress are the oversized pockets which would be handy for carrying a Harlequin romance and a carton of cigarettes in one side and a full sized bottle of pine sol in the other.

These next two items are like a scary trip into the past…. Nightgowns.
But not your fresh out of the Victoria’s Secret catalog “sexy nightgowns.” I’m talking your old school, country, made of flannel or some other highly insulating fiber, which basically says to the world, not only am I not here for your pleasure, but I’m not even here for mine! I mean, who needs an electric blanket when you got one of these?

I see a zombie country Christmas in someone’s future. Emerald green with cream lace ruffled collar that goes all around the back of the gown (funny to say “gown” and really mean GOWN) and then for easy access, a zip that says “maybe I’ll squeeze you in between Lawrence Welk and my cross-stitching, dear.”And let’s never never never forget the deep, primal and timeless sensuality of the color Red. This red gown with plaid and lace ruffled collar and sleeves will have your old man begging for more. Really, don’t you just wish you’d had this for your wedding night? Talk about instantaneous annulment. Glory me!
Without missing a step, we have what could be the most beautiful (on paper) muumuu that I have ever come across. I hear you…scoffing, sniggering, and full of smug doubt. Really the only thing that should really put this in the muumuu category would be the open and completely huge shape of this “dress.” It is a beautiful true blue with a pastel floral appliqué design on the front of the dress and on one of the sleeves, which should be noted are huge puffy sleeves with nice little shoulder pads and pleating. This is not your mother’s muumuu! Get it while you can!

Next, a tribute to one of my all time favorite shows, The Golden Girls. This outfit screams 1970’s loungewear with its subtly puffy sleeves, light blue velour, and asian style collar. (It’s all about the collar today, now isn’t it?)

Vintage Pierre Cardin blue 1970’s tracksuit. Thank you for being a friend.

Last but certainly not least is a tribute to the classic 80’s pseudo-streetwear, made-to—look-like-you’ve-got-a-long-sleeved-shirt-under-your-cutoff-muscle-sweatshirt…. sweatshirt. The painter’s cap is mine all mine (not for sale) but I wanted to rock it to show you I can electric boogaloo when I need to.

These and many more vintage treasures hitting the store today. Thanks for visiting!

www.ReanimatedRags.etsy.com

Pretty, Shiny, Sparkly things for your feets.

2009-10-12T15:11:00.000-07:00

Here's something for your shiny/metallic/beaded shoe fix.

More great vintage "metal" clothing is in the process of being added to the store, so keep checking back!

ReanimatedRags.etsy.com

Muscle Shirts and the women who love them

2009-10-06T21:29:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel like you hit a point in your life where you are standing in your closet and you realize not only are there a lot of outfits there that would follow the "if you haven't worn it in a year then you won't so get rid of it" rule but that there is a very strong chance that ALL OF YOUR CLOTHES fit into this category! That's actually a "What Not To Wear" moment. Not that my clothes or fashion sense are bad...don't get me wrong, my sense of personal style is immaculate and not to be questioned. What I mean is, that part of the show where they literally throw away all of their clothes, which let's get real, are very bad in most instances and should be thrown out. (Do not pass go, do not even thrift it please..less for me to dig through when treasure hunting). I love this part because they of course get a nice wad of dirty ones to go buy a whole new wardrobe with their bad sense of style PLUS 2 days of "re-training" from Stacey and Clinton.

My "WNTW" moment has come about, like I said not due to any shred of poor fashion taste, but due to circumstances. Like many of you out there, I have procreated. So I have pretty much zero social life currently. I wipe butts and when I can, I exercise incessantly. Other than that, when I run into some of my gorgeous girlfriends out on the town (while I am sweating up a storm hauling one child in a carrier with a loud toddler in tow), I can't even pretend to be mad at them for not inviting me along. This isn't junior high school where the friendship threesome is always being exploited by someone to get closer to someone else while even another someone else feels like a total dork because their parents don't let them spend the night out twice in one weekend for all of middle school. This is real life. Real feces needing removal and cleaning up. Real moufs to feed. You feel me?

So back to fashion. I have for the first time in my life acquired some real treasures for the proverbial gun show, so I am 100% obsessed with nothing but muscle shirts and since I can't walk around bottomless without giving my kids serious issues, either yoga pants, my old umbros, or some jean shorts that I would actually consider cute in a past life. But muscle shirts!! Muscle shirts are so fantastic, can I tell you? Please make one tonight. Follow these simple rules. Either make a muscle out of a shirt you could care less about (to practice your technique, because there is definitely a technique to this) then mow the lawn or wash your car in it if it sucks or is lopsided beyond repair. Or make one out of a shirt that is so ironically destined to become a muscle shirt that it just begs for the scissors. My old man is about to put me out, complaining I must stop right away. But let's get real, when a shirt says "Metropolitan Museum of Art" on the front of the shirt (with some bourgie artwork of course) and boasts "The Costume Institute" on the back of the shirt (with more artwork of course) AND the shirt is super soft and old and perfectly worn in AND the shirt has terrible sweat stains from years of honest to goodness wear from the previous owner, then that shirt absolutely was born, suckled and raised to become a muscle shirt.

Period.

Make one tonight. I promise it will make you feel super sexy. Or if it doesn't then get some weights because muscles are hot. Like I've said before ladies...get Sinewy. (Not so much Tom Hanks in Cast Away but more the beautiful and talented Linda Hamilton in Terminator.) Sinewy. Not Skinny. Skinny is so last year/decade/century.

Longtime listener, first-time caller

2009-09-16T21:10:00.000-07:00

So I used to host a radio show in a previous lifetime, and I remember the first show I did like it was just yesterday. I couldn't fathom getting on the mic and just talking (!!?) to the world, even though basically it was student-operated and only transmitted around 100 miles in every direction at that time. I act like I was going on Oprah or something. There has always been a little of that shyness there, so I guess it remains now as I type this, knowing one day at least my family members might read it, much less my friends or better yet....all you beautiful strangers out there who might be up, sleepless, trying to bore yourself into a nod and somehow landed here due to some weird search terms you typed in, and then for whatever reason you stuck around to crawl into my brain for a minute.
I am going to try and not over-think this too much. In hindsight, I think the part that got me when we were trainees was hearing some statistic that every caller you got during your show represented something crazy like 100 people who were listening to you but not calling in. So you do the math. With the time slot I had...lets just say lots of lonely people and sometimes the occasional incarcerated soul would call me to make a request. So you can only imagine the nerves I had when you think of that type of statistical number multiplying. Lets just say I tried to fill every request I possibly could...without floating one of the seven deadly words out there into the airwaves. Not cool violatin' FCC and gettin' your station poopcanned, especially as a rookie with a crappy timeslot.
So here's to all the lonely people.
Try and get some rest tonight. And I'll try not to float too many turds out there into the 'sphere' while you're gone.