Might I Suggest...

This Halloween weekend, you should...

Marialia

Let's play fashion.

I think one of the best things about Fashion Week in NYC is that I get to pretend like I could actually like some of the things I see on the runway, in catalogs, on models. I can't afford to even like most of the things I see. And that's lame. HOWEVER, I can afford to pretend like I'm Marilyn Monroe.  I can dress up Marilyn Monroe.  Remember dress up paper dolls?  I love childhood.

Though please free free to buy me that Michael Kors watch. :)

Back to School Means Back to Chic

As today is the first day of public school again, I decided that this was going to be the first day of yours truly again.  And with my entrance comes a special notification:

It's not too late for sunglasses.  Milk the last few days of summer with shades like these.  Thanks Vee for this photo!
<3

HIATUS

LePolkaDotChic on Hiatus. UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

Irena is a Hot Tamale

This is my only friend from Bosnia.  And she's gorgeous.  Wherever she bought this dress from, it doesn't even matter.  It's perfect.  I stole these photos from her.  Shhhh, don't tell her I did.

andy warhol is the man

This past Saturday, July 3rd, Target First Saturdays hosted the fiesta of all fiestas at the Brooklyn Museum.  It was a special tribute to Andy Warhol with a showing of his works, a party in his remembrance, and an Interview reminiscences of the man's multi-talented abilities through video.

Now the man was awesome. He put some awe into the art of pop and make pop-able art.  He did Campbell's, he did Marilyn Monroe, and I didn't know that he did his own magazine but Interview - that was his baby. And he should have my baby. He needs to have did me. ;) jk jk.

I also happened to spot this dress in the museum in a side fashion exhibit. It's red and black polka dots on creme satin by Arnold Scaasi; an evening ensemble of 1961.

red wallets help you save money

*Photo Credit: LePolkaDotChic

According to Montenegrin culture, if you hold your money in a red wallet, you're more likely to save money because of who knows what.  I am a fan of this idea because I'm a fan of red first of all.  It's a passionate, happy color.  And perhaps if I carry a red wallet, I'd be passionate and happy just with the wallet, that I wouldn't have to spend those green pieces of paper that plague the universe.

Speaking of the universe, imagine there are dollar bills on other planets.  Imagine Neil Armstrong left a dollar bill on the moon.  Imagine us paying for trips to the moon and pulling out our wallets for a frozen cappuccino that we could ingest through a mighty cool tube attached to our oxygen mask or helmet or beret?

Anyhow, I saw this adorable wallet at Urban Outfitters last week during a tremendous thundershower when I should have been shopping for umbrellas.  Notice the polka dots on the front.  And then lo and behold, inside is red everything!

So do I want it because of the polka dots or do I like it because it's red inside?  Double-whammy!

The Moving Checklist

I feel like all my friends are moving out of their old homes into new apartments at the rate that the BP reputation has spiraled down. Only, moving into a new apartment is a...great...thing.

Maybe its because the rental index is up (because rent pricing is down) but moving is all we seem to talk about these days. Moving. Boys. Moving. Food. Moving. Clothes. Moving. Stocks. Moving. Fireworks at Coney Island. Moving. It's frightening and fearful. Sometimes it's a good move, sometimes it's a messy move, and other times it's incredibly troublesome. And most of my friends are in a...panic...time.

It isn't easy to move for many reasons especially if you are moving into your first apartment after your birthhome. But you should be fine if you have the following checklist below checked off.

1. Long days and nights on craiglist
2. Gmail all day to read and check potential apartment sellers and potential apartment seekers in the case that you're giving up your place as well
3. Calculator to see how poor you are
4. Picking up empty boxes from the street to pack up your crap
5. Asking useless friends to help you pack or move
6. Getting a rental truck that is 1,000x the size you needed
7. Getting a rental truck that breaks down midway into the move
8. Having the moving guys come 4 hours late so not only do you miss a half a day of work, but you miss a whole day of work
9. Forgetting to eat lunch because you're on gchat with a potential seller
10. Missing mom and dad before you even leave home
11. Fighting with your new roommates before you move in
12. Finding a place then having to give it up because the realtor lied about rent
13. Realizing that the place you moved into doesn't accept your dog and you have to move out immediately 
14. Realizing you can't even visit the place you want to move into because you're at work all day
15. Moving into the room with no windows
16. Moving into the smallest room
17. Moving into the room with the tiniest closet 
18. Moving into any of the above three and paying an equal portion of rent as the roommates with windows, large rooms, and/or big closets
19. Borrowing money from mom to eat lunch
20. Borrowing money from dad when you have a full-time job

*Photo Credit: LePolkaDotChic

I am looking into co-operatives myself right now. And this process started today with a letter to the holders of the co-ops I am looking into. I like this process. Letters are fun. I suppose because I haven't gotten to the moving checklist yet.

I want to stay in brooklyn. I'd like to rent a place either in williamsburg, or greenpoint. Maybe fort greene. Maybe ridgewood. Those are my spots. Speaking of spots, do you notice the spots of papered graffiti on the sign above? I took this photograph on my blackberry by kent ave and west street. My favorite spot by the east river. :)

in my polka dot dress

i dine with polka dots tonight

one's a charm
white on blue

and two - 

betta than any da'ling

betta than any da'ling, i dine with polka dots tonight

make the meal and open the terrace door to let the heat out

cause the oven's on

and he's here and

i can't wait 

for us to eat

for us to eat, i dine with polka dots tonight

mom just got home 

and is on farmville
clicking away

again

again, i dine with polka dots tonight

under the stars and under the rain

the freaken stars don't shine because of our lame over-excess of electric energy

though i love the view from my room
and that
even though the stars don't shine, i do
and i'm the only one that counts
fifteen flights up

fifteen flights up, i dine with polka dots tonight
me and you
in brooklyn

and i do it again and again

cause i love him

and them

- LePolkaDotChic

Sometimes I Wonder If I'm Too Cheap

I am a Disney fan.  Every since I was unborn, my mother would buy me a comfy new set of pajamas for Christmas (and I mean, every Christmas without fail) and it would always be a pair from the Disney store.  I was never one of the girls who recycled pajamas from old clothes though sometimes I do anyway.  I always have high-class, designer pajamas with all the characters that made our childhood magical.

Polka dots was something that I might have been obsessed with since the days of Minnie Mouse.  It might be a good curse.  But what's not a good curse is that I am cheap like a chicken.

*Photo Credit: Jairo Ortega

So I'm walking by Herald Square, the intersection of 34th Street and Broadway one Saturday two months ago, and then I heard it!  Minnie Mouse in her cute dress asked a European couple, new to the scene and excited to be shopping in one of the world's best, walking by: "Want a photo taken with Minnie?" And I froze.

I wanted one but then Minnie said, "Four dollars."

I know this is America and $4 is the least I could do for a fellow employee of this great country in time of economic need, but I couldn't.  I COULD NOT pay the $4.  Why?  Cause I'm cheap.

So I walked away.

Another Saturday came by, and I'm walking with my friend Jairo to see the Macy's Annual Flower Show on the last day, and I am posing for photos nearby before we go to the show since he's a photographer and low and behold, I check the camera at the end of the day, and look who's in one of my photographs!

I love free things; I totally didn't plan this one but I got it anyway.

Don't ask me why I posed by a phone; long story.  Anyway, I owe Minnie Mouse $4; it's the least I can do for my cute photo.

ModCloth.com

I am a fan of various online indie and vintage clothes shopping sites and ModCloth is one of them.  How can anyone not like this Powder Puff Polka Dot Dress?

I <3 this dress.

Polka Dot Garden in Hoboken

Where's the river? - Jessica's brother

On River St. - Jessica

True story.

Hoboken, New Jersey is a great spot for the quaint.  It's yuppie, young, and fun.  There's GreenRock, McSwiggans, and other cheap bars to watch the sports game and laugh the night off with friends.  I work in Hoboken, and I love everyday stepping off the Path train into beauty.

There was an article recently on www.nj.com that spoke about Hoboken ferry owners who want to cultivate a polka dot garden on the waterfront pier.  

Now, I don't know how tires look like polka dots but I guess if you're flying over the Hudson River, somehow, in some way, these tires would look like polka dots.

At Uniqlo...

Cute coat! I always love when the phone matches the outfit. For the record, I spotted this before Jairo took the picture. P.S. You must watch Sex & The City 2.  It's fun as hell and fashion friendly. :)

*Photo Credit: Jairo Ortega

Brother & Sister, Vintage Photos

I love photography.  I want an SLR this summer.  I want a LOMO this summer too.  And I want to model.

I love photography.  I love sifting through pictures new and old.  I love black and white and skylines and close-ups of flowers.

I love photography.  I love graffiti.  I love myself in front of graffiti. And I love The Satoralist.  Especially when his blog includes polka dots.

I love photography.  I want to marry a photographer.  That's all.

*Photo Credit: The Satorialist

L.A. EDITION: Vintage Bettie Page

If you know me, you know how much I love vintage clothing and items.  I love the 1950's era especially: the dresses, the sunglasses, and Bettie Page.

I'm not the promiscuous type but I do like the evolution from teenager to young adulthood; from cute to meow; from Bettie Boop to Bettie Page, as Katy Perry describes her own personal artistic revolution. (Interesting Fact:  Bettie Page converted to Christianity later on in her years and worked under Billy Graham).

In Hollywood, you can find Bettie Page clothing; the one stop for everything retro and vintage, inspired by the 1950's.  You can find anything polka dot from that time period at the store.  I took a photograph of the store window when I passed by it.

*Photo Credit: LePolkaDotChic

And on Etsy, you can find this sexy lamp of the pin-up girl.

L.A. EDITION: Becoming Intimate

I am getting naked.  As I eat my pasta with broccoli and chicken, I'm taking off my pants.  And then sipping my soda, and my shirt comes off.  

And then, I was told: "I need you to write a blog about your life.  I can't keep up with you by just hearing about your life during lunch."

Since I have a blog about how polka dots follow me in life and I wouldn't want my interesting life out there in the open like that, I figure it might be interesting to incorporate a little more of my life in my already existing blog. I'm intrigued by this getting down and dirty idea a.k.a. getting naked and personal.

So while in California, I took this picture.  It's of a store window for Frederick's of Hollywood.  (The mannequin in the background has a black set with white polka dots). If you want intimate, you want underwear.  If you want fancy intimate, you want Frederick's.  It's that simple.

This is Step 1 for becoming more intimate in my blog.  And this hopefully would be one of a FEW of entries actually dealing with underwear, "underwear".  (Is lingerie underwear like grandma panties are underwear?)

Unless I work with you. You hear it all.  During lunch. Especially if it deals with Dylan, the pool boy from California. ;)

*Photo Credit: LePolkaDotChic

Random Fact

"Polka dots are a print most often associated with the 1950's, especially when they're oversized and in kitschy colours.  

In the eighties, designers and high street shops alike loved to re-do that fifties look, giving a distinct new slant to many style points."

L.A. EDITION: watermelon-lime-popsicles

O the heat in California - let me tell you!

So I'm sitting by the pool at the Langham in Pasadena last week catching sun without sunscreen. I'm waiting for my co-workers to be relieved from a conference for work, those sl*ts. (I kid).

"I'm not going to get sun-burned.  It's impossible.  I'm Hispanic," I think, all too pridefully.

Woefully, two hours later, I'm burned to the marrow and asking the pool boy Dylan for sunscreen lotion along with some iced water. As always, I'm applying the sunscreen after the sun-burn.

The sun is extreme and the only way you'd survive California sun is with the good ol' H20, fruits, and other refreshing treats.

Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere made a fantastic Watermelon-Lime Popsicle recently.  It's super easy and super cute.  Find the recipe here.

Also, notice the cute bag she made for Coach.  I'm so jealous!

The New York Photo Festival May 12-16

I'm going to add more posts on my trip to California this past week and the dots that followed me there, but I would like to bring to your attention before then The New York Photo Festival, which takes place in DUMBO starting today and through this weekend.

One of the exhibits for the festival is called Use Me, Abuse Me curated by Erik Kessels and containing contributing photographs surrounding the idea of the future of photography as images and image-making technology continue to increase in our culture and therefore, influence photography as an art.

One of the most interesting contributed photographs BY FAR is from Chantal Rens here.

For more on Chantal, visit her blog here.

L.A. EDITION: dots cupcakes in Pasadena, CA

Pasadena (this includes Old Town Pasadena) is a fun LA city and excellent for sun, stroll, shopping, a Jack's burger, the best Urban Outfitters sale you'd ever find, frozen yogurt from 21 Choices, spanish tapas and nightlife dancing at Bar Celona, surfing stores, and the Langham Hotel (order your drink with the cute pool server Dylan while taking sun by the pool).  Pasadena is also your location for dots cupcakes.

I must say that it was the white wall paper and pink polka dots that got my attention.  But it was the cupcakes themselves that made me take a card.

Having coverage from bride & bloom and Instyle magazines, this place is the place for the sweetest desserts!

See menu of cupcakes here and an adorable and personalized packaged product below.

L.A. EDITION: Before I Go to L.A.

I am off to L.A. tomorrow for a wonderful and much needed vacation.  I can't wait to hit Cali soil.  Until then, I'd like everyone to know what will be on my IPOD for the airplane ride...

The Vanguard

I'll be like a 15-year-old here and write...

<3 The Vanguard <3

If you look at the cover of their CD, and on their website, you'll see that they created dolls to represent themselves.  One of the band members is exemplified with a blue shirt (with a star in the front) and white sleeves that have red polka dots.  

True story - I was walking from Williamsburg through Greenpoint one Saturday with my lovely mother when I saw The Vanguard shooting a video.  I walked over because I saw one of their members with a polka dot cape (one of the dolls has a polka dot cape too to represent this one) and then I saw the one with the polka dot sleeves and from that moment, I knew I was in love with them.  Even they know dots!  I want a cape! Thanks guys!

Check one of their videos below.

Whole Foods

I was waiting on line today at the Whole Foods in Columbus Circle with my two bestest friends in the whole entire world (while we were shopping for a picnic in Central Park) when I saw the cutest bag on a hipster girl.  This particular bag totally works for dress up days, casual days, picnics, and well....food shopping...

*Photo Credit: LePolkaDotChic

Through Williamsburg to Greenpoint....

...I found a surprise.  This week's "It" girl for me was a fashionista by career. :)

*Photo Credit: LePolkaDotChic

Weekly Etsy

This week's Etsy comes from The Garter Girl by Julianne Smith, designer of hand-crafted and stylish wedding garters.  If you're looking for a garter made purposefully for your special day, look no further.  Below are some of her garters on Etsy.  See her website link above or her blog for more information.

Jasmine's Cake & Jairo's Head

I heard through the grapevine that a lovely hispanic chic made a cute and yummy polka dot cake and if she's nice enough, I hope she'll let me taste it or at least give me a recipe.

*Photo Credit: Jasmine Rosario

For similar-colored make-up/cosmetic bags, look no farther than Duane Reade. (A special thanks to Jairo's big head.)

*Photo Credit: LePolkaDotChic

Last Sunday

There was once a nice Sunday when it didn't rain like today in New York City.  It was just 7 days ago to be precise.  I was walking down Broadway Avenue in the Soho area, when I peeped the sweetest scarf on a Canadian woman visiting and shopping for jewelry on a street stand. I hope Macy's has one. Me want it, me want it!

*Photo Credit: Jairo Ortega

Nel's Everyday Painting: Polka Dot Bowl

I love this homemade oil on canvas painting for $50.00 plus shipping.

*Photo Credit: Nel Jansen

More info here.

"Street Art New York"

Random House/Prestel recently published a book called "Street Art New York" by Steven P. Harrington and Jaime Rojo on the best street artists in New York City up to date including Banksy, C215 and INVADER.

For more information on the book or to purchase, click here.

There's a silent auction tomorrow from 7-9:30pm in Bushwick at Factory Fresh Gallery and a FREE book release party for anyone interested.  Ya'll don't wanna miss it.  I will not miss Rene Gagnon and her dots.  It's hot.

For info on the event here.

Weekly Etsy

I think that every so often (in my head right now, it will be every Wednesday), I'd like to showcase some cool hand-crafted creations made by you - humankind - yourself.  I think that personally crafted items are worth so much more than items crafted oversees by under-age boys that earn a day what I spend on coffee every morning.

Here are three of this week's finds for me.

A lunch bag for the upcoming warm weather.  ($29)

Instead of being fat and staying in during the day to eat lunch at the work cafeteria, it's time to work the big butt off in style and walk to the closest park/bench/open area for fresh air, a nice walk, and just because...you have this bag.

Click Here to Buy

A girly pillow. ($45)

A pillow makes the bed ladies.

Click Here to Buy

A Mother's Day card.  ($4.25)

Fastly approaching (Sunday, May 9th), give mom something that she won't throw into the jewelry box.

Click Here to Buy

Polka Dot Squared

Strolling through Macy's last week or the week before for the wonderful annual Flower Show, my friend and I spied the coolest chic ever.  She did polka dot right: the bag and the tights.

*Photo Credit: Jairo Ortega

Anne Sage

Anne Sage's blog is one of my favs.  Check it out if you haven't already!

She's currently obsessed with polka dots.  I wouldn't blame her.  See here: The City Sage: Trend Lust: Polka Dots

Zac Posen for Target

If you're a normal fashionable female human being, you had to know that this past Thursday night at 11pm began a 24-hour sale of Zac Posen for Target.

It was a big party with DJ and all for the upcoming line, which officially opens on April 25th - not this upcoming Sunday but the following.  I wasn't a HUGE fan of Zac Posen before but I must admit that his Target line is pretty neat.

And now I'm in <3.

Zac Posen Purple/Pink Dot Dress Here --- > To View & Buy

Print Mixology

Matching patterns is a gift from God.  I swear it's like night and day; sometimes things can be complete opposites but so complimentary, and when you do it right, damn, it's good.  There were two New York Times articles today that talked about mixing matchable patterns.  It's about time we learn how to do it right.  Throw in dots!

"Toss in some polka dots, stripes or even leopard prints, 

which are easier to mix with other patterns because they're simple and graphic.  

And they're familiar to the eye."

- Anita Leclerc, "Print Mixology," The New York Times, April 14, 2010

Swedish Beauty

I picked up a picture when I went to B&H in search for cameras (this past weekend)!  I asked this sweet young lady if my boyfriend could take her lovely picture on his cool camera because she not only had polka dots on her shirt but she had white polka dots on a blue shirt, which totally matches the earrings in the previous blog.  Sweden met Manhattan which then met Brooklyn.  It's like a universal thing - these dots. What can I say?

P.S. A special thanks to you wonderful pretty lady!  Enjoy the rest of your stay in New York! :)

*Photo Credit: Jairo Ortega

Realform Girdle Building (Williamsburg Mini Mall)

I love you hipster mall you.

You can find a lot of sleek nicknacks and clothing for cheap and for cool at this mall on Bedford Ave (between North 4th Street and North 5th Street). I played music on a synthesizer for the first time and messed with some polaroid and lomo cameras.  My friend bought a cool mousepad, which I might also go back for.  I was also surprised with a beautiful, little, exclusive note card that said "I Love You."  :) And not to mention, there's Verb Cafe.

For cute little cards, for vintage and skater sweetness, browse around and you'll find the cutest surprises.

Peek-a-boo!

*Photo Credit: LePolkaDotChic

I Don't Know Who's Bowl This Is...

But I like it...

A couple of weeks ago, my co-workers and I were invited for mojitos at one of the girls' homes...

And in between sips of this delicious concoction, I noticed...

You can get a similar one hereeeeee...in a Fondue set for $24.95...
http://www.wrapables.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=C60003&prodlist=search

Shopping @ MOMA Store

Polka dots dancing and red roses blooming

Shining cars driving and balloons that are flying

Sugar in coffee and friends that smoke lassis

These are a few of my favorite things

When I'm smiling and I'm drinking

Eating some tacos and cheese

I simply remember my favorite people,

And then I don't feel so bad.

-LePolkaDotChic


Shop with your favorite people here for a cool polka dot baking mitten and laptop case:
http://www.momastore.org/museum/moma/StoreCatalogDisplay_-1_10001_10451_

*Photo Credits: LePolkaDotChic

The Photography of Jairo Ortega

Those traveling back home from the weekend, please feel the need to have the dots protect your  belongings.

My friend JO took this photograph on his blackberry on his way to work today and I just want to shout him out here real quick.  He's an up and coming grand photographer.  You can contact him here: http://www.wix.com/desttro/twothousandandnow

*Photo Credit: Jairo Ortega

Street Blogging Begins in LES

I was sitting on a bench in LES this past Wednesday night with my homie g JO and I saw the best shoes I'd seen after a whole hour of looking at the shoes passing down the street. I stalked the shoes with my eyes until the dots on the dress caught the sparkle in my pupil and remained consistent as I was mesmerized by the Chanel earrings and lipstick.

Here's to this lovely New Yorker:

*Photo Credit: LePolkaDotChic

Polka Dot Cheesecake

From http://bakersdaughter.typepad.com/

¼ cup cocoa

2 tbsp sugar
1 cup Graham crumbs

¼ cup melted butter....
Filling

16 oz softened cream cheese

½ cup sugar

2 eggs

2 oz dark chocolate, melted 

1 tsp vanilla

2/3 cup sour cream

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
• Grease a 7 X 7 inch square pan and line it with parchment paper.
• In a small bowl, mix together the graham crumbs, sugar, cocoa, and melted butter and press into the pan.
• Beat cream cheese until smooth.  Gradually add the sugar.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl.  Add the eggs one at a time on low speed.  Add vanilla and sour cream.  Scrape the sides of the bowl one more time and beat until smooth.  Reserve 1/2 cup of the cheesecake filling and set aside.
• Melt the 2 oz of dark chocolate in a bain marie (a bowl placed over a pot of barely simmering water), or in a microwave on low temperature.  Stir the melted chocolate into the reserved 1/2 cup of cream cheese filling.  
• Pour the plain batter into the pan, smoothing out to the edges.  To make the dots you will need a pastry bag fitted with a round tip.  Fill the pastry bag with the chocolate cheesecake mixture.  Gently press the tip of the bag into the smoothed out plain cheesecake and squeeze the bag forming a dot.  Place dots all over the cheesecake until the chocolate mixture is used up.  
• Place in the oven and bake for 1 hour.  Turn off the oven and leave the cheesecake in the oven for an additional 1 hr.  Refrigerate for at least 24 hours.   Freeze if you wish for about 1/2 hour before cutting.  Use a knife dipped in hot water to help when cutting.