Posted byIt's another round of reader questions! Not wedding advice, just … QUESTIONS!!
i don't understand the deal of moustaches. i've seen it done many ways in the offbeat world, i just don't the hows or whys of this fad. -Amy
Offbeat trends often echo subcultural trends, and the mustache thing is definitely the dominion of American Hipsterism. Think skinny jeaned tousel-haired 20somethings in Brooklyn, NY or the Mission district in San Francisco. Hipsters love their irony, and ironic ‘staches have been all over the place for a few years. There's a whole silly website dedicated to Hipster Girls In Mustaches. I think the trend has gone from the ironic to whimsical as the trend has evolved from '80s throwback mustaches to dastardly vintage-style mustaches-on-a-stick. I'm not sure if I can get into WHY. I suppose I could make something up about young adults searching for meaning and authentic expressions of self in a post-9/11 media-saturated culture, but I'd just be talking out of my ass.
That said, who cares about the hows or whys. Is it silly? Totally. It it rational? Absolutely not. Does it make me laugh? THEN, SCORE!
What show are you a closet fan of? -Alisha
My current taste in TV leans toward the very gay: Glee, So You Think You Can Dance, Ugly Betty, and Modern Family. I was also a die hard Battlestar Galactica fan (ooh, Caprica is starting this week!) and my favorite show of all time was Six Feet Under.
Killer shoe fashion and some puppy love
All ya'll readers submitted some awesome photos into the Offbeat Flickr Pool this week. I found an abundance of shoe porn plus a couple of... Read more
Did your mother name you after Ariel in Shakespeare's Tempest? -Glenys
My folks named me after both The Tempest and a moon of Uranus. That said, when the Little Mermaid came out I was super stoked and collected Ariel memorabilia for a while until I got totally sick of people saying “Oh Ariel … like the little mermaid?” some time around 1992.
Did you name your son after the first emperor of Rome or did you just like the name? Augustus or it's variations but I never thought about Octavian before, and I like it.
I was inspired by MT Anderson's Octavian Nothing books, although I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say I named Tavi after Octavian Nothing. After I announced Tavi's birth on Offbeat Bride, lots of readers asked me about the Codex Alera books, which feature an Octavian/Tavi. I haven't read them yet, but probably should. 🙂
I know you've talked about your taste for awesome, loud shoes, but I noticed you also have great, colourful clothing and was wondering where your favourite places are to get clothes.
I'm a sucker for stretchy layers, and wear a lot of clothes from Lululemon Athletica, Designs by Karina, Xylem, Sweet Skins, Econica, and weird accessories I buy at music festivals.
Oh and about shoes? While I live for Fluevogs and Campers on special occasions, 9 days out of 10 you'll find me in Dansko Marcelles. Does that shatter y'all's image of me as wearing bright red sequined peep-toe platforms every day? …I can't help it! I spent most of my childhood barefoot, sold Birkenstocks in college, and can barely walk in high heels. I love my loud heels for special nights where I'm not walking much. But day to day? Go comfort clogs!
"(ooh, Caprica is starting this week!)"
I am excited about that show, too!
I hear ya about the shoes. I own probably over a hundred pairs of shoes (I'm in the process of photo-documenting them all on a blog so I remember what they all are), but I wear the same pair of sneakers almost every day. When I dress up, though, look out! The shoes are the best part of putting the outfit together. Sometimes I envy the ladies who can run around in heels all day…
I totally second the mustache thing. It seems to have popped out of nowhere but I love random fun things like that. Besides how hilarious are handle bar mustaches? 🙂
I am wearing Marcelles right now!
Frackin eh!
Read Codex and Dresden Files, Jim Butcher is amazing! I'm a super geek and am awaiting the arrival of the Dresden Files RPG. (Our wedding falls on gaming night so I'm trying to work in a quick session during pictures since most of our group is in the wedding)
Yes, Jim Butcher is amazing! I love the Dresden Files, and I must hunt down the Codex Alera. Difficult, since I'm not in the U.S. right now, but I shall not be daunted!
Not sure where you are based, but I have had great luck with Jim Butcher books in second hand bookstores in Sydney Australia, while i don't find them in actual book stores someone out there must be buying them and selling them on when they are done
my cordovan marcelles are my go-to pair too (as in, 19 out of 20 work days, and most weekends too 🙂
Six Feet Under = BEST. SHOW. EVER!!!
BSG for life.
Cracking stuff! SYTYCD is great!
Is it really bad that your posting about your son helped me figure out Tavi's full name in the Codex Alera? I sat here staring at the screen for a minute while the realization hit. Biiiig nerd.
I did the EXACT same thing. Don't feel bad 🙂
I LOVE Octavian nothing. I did wonder if that was where you got the name!
BSG?! That is my JAM – here's hoping Caprica is half as good.
Six Feet Under was definitely one of the best series out there.
*swoon*.
Your son is going to love “Tikki Tikki Tavi”, just for the name association. 🙂
I also am stoked for Caprica! I also love this website — even though I'm not getting married (have to find the right offbeat fella) I just fell in love with the entire concept. *grin*
BTW my kids names are Zoe & Griffin. I quickly discovered that everyone in the world knows someone who has a teacup poodle named "Zoe" so I know your irritation with the whole "mermaid" thing.
Thanks for the FAQ…
for those of you looking for books try paperbackswap.com its free besides the postage. . . hope it helps!
I love your name origin stories! I'm pretty sure the moon of Uranus is also named after The Tempest–all of Uranus's moons are Shakespeare characters.
Where can i buy mustaches on a stick like the first picture above????