New Spring Dresses in the Etsy Shop!

Starting the Morning Off Right

I love smoothies, they are such a delightful, tasty, and refreshing beverage to drink in the morning and super hydrating after the gym. I used to make them with orange juice, organic yogurt, and frozen fruit but after adopting a few tips from my mom I know how to pack in the good-for-you punch. This is how I make them and obviously you can substitute whatever you don't like for whatever you do. Mix it up so you don't get tired of the same thing over and over.

Fruit: a handful or two of frozen mixed berries and if there's a banana lying around I'll throw that in too. Fresh is good as well, just be sure to add some ice cubes to make the smoothie cold enough. Trader Joe's has frozen mixed tropical fruit, like papaya, mango, and pineapple, that can add some great flavor.

Liquid: fill the blender to the top of the fruit with whatever juice you'd like. I usually use orange juice and pomegranate/blueberry. When your fridge is scarce on beverages, just use what you've got. In the past I've used iced tea, apple juice, V-8, and yes, wine. Red is actually good for some added antioxidants. Just don't tell your boss that you're drinking wine smoothies (as I've dubbed them, I've had more than one.)

Good for you Supplements: a squirt of lemon flax seed oil, some powdered chia seed, and some psyllium fiber for good measure.

The Kicker: fresh kale! This potent leafy green has a ton of nutritional value; antioxidants, beta carotene, vitamin C, and even calcium. Just rip up a few handfuls of leaves and let the blender do the rest. You won't taste it at all and all you'll see are green specks dotting your smoothie. It's cheap too, a big bunch costs less than a dollar.

Blend all the ingredients together adding more liquid if necessary and you've got yourself an outstandingly healthy and delicious treat.

Schmatta: Rags to Riches to Rags

For those of you who have not yet watched HBO's "Schmatta: Rags to Riches to Rags", now is the time. I stumbled upon this documentary about the garment industry in New York City and was both amazed by the district's vitality and heartbroken by its steep decline. In 1965, 95% of American garments were made in the USA but by 2009 that number has dropped to 5%. Five percent!! This is a very important film not only about fashion and the garment industry but also how outsourcing everything to other countries has a huge effect on jobs, and life, in the US. Definitely worth watching and thinking about. Watch it now on HBO On Demand.

Sunday

Sunnies: previously mentioned vintage Ray Ban's
Necklace: vintage
Top: knit wrap top from Marshall's
Tank: Target
Skirt: altered vintage
Shoes: Aldo
Location: Colt State Park, Bristol, Rhode Island

I Think It Might Be Spring!

Sunnies: Vintage Ray Ban's that I bought at a yard sale for 50 cents! (I kid you not)
Necklace: Vintage
Tee: H&M from many years ago
Skirt: Vintage dress that I altered into a skirt
Shoes: Vintage from thrift store
Furry Friend: my brother's rescued pit bull, Zeus
Location: my parents' backyard, Tiverton, RI

Tournees Film Festival

Every year Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island holds a really great French Film Festival. I've been the past few years and have seen some superb films in the art house theaters of Newport or in lecture halls on Salve's campus. The best part about it: it's FREE!! and it looks like there are some wonderful films playing this year. Tomorrow evening I am going to see "I’ve Loved You So Long" or "Il y a longtemps que je t’aime". This film is starring Kristen Scott Thomas as a woman who has just been released from prison after 15 years as she struggles to reconnect to her family and adjust back to normal life. Hope you'll join me tomorrow or venture out to see one of the other films in the festival. Click here for more info.

Studios and Summer Frocks

Things have been going extremely well in the Fidget Finds department. I have a few potential studio/office/retail locations to look at that are big, close, and cheap and I scored a major jackpot at the thrift yesterday. I'm talking plaid and romper jackpot, with some bright stripes and floral prints mixed in. These pieces are currently hanging to dry so you can expect some wonderful bright new things in the etsy shop next week. Go Spring!

Back from Asia and Happy to be in Rhode Island

I think I forgot how to get dressed. There I was standing in front of the makeshift closet that I have at my parent's house (where currently about 2/5 of my belongings reside) and I had no idea what to wear. How is one supposed to look good while keeping warm and feeling comfortable? I had put out of my mind this everyday cold weather dressing dilemma during my time away. I ended up deciding on a pair of vintage maroon Levi's cords (not nearly as baggy as I had expected after two months of eating rice and noodles), my super comfy vintage Brettton Woods tee with a chocolate brown thermal underneath (of course), and because I couldn't find my charcoal gray cardigan, my teal one that is basically a huge rectangle with sleeves had to suffice. Oh, and my hand knit floppy winter hat and Sorel snow boots, even though it was almost 50 degrees out. There, I thought, that's a good first day back in the cold outifit. I wasn't quite ready for tight jeans after months of wearing loose fisherman pants and Lao sarongs. Only after the look on Brian's face and Dj's kind words did the truth emerge. "You're dressed like a bag lady and that sweater looks like you're wearing a cape backwards." Perfect, I thought. I knew this outfit was a good one.

Thailand and Laos were an amazing adventure. Thailand in a normal, functional, temple ridden, white sand, turquoise water kind of way and Laos in a where-the-fuck-am-I? kind of way. (A set from a scifi movie filmed in 1971? or maybe the middle of a novel about the apocalypse where people live in huts with no plumbing but they all have motorbikes, cell phones, and hipster haircuts?) By far the weirdest place I have ever been in my life. I thought I had my share of "Is this really happening?" moments during the 5 years I lived in NYC, but it turned out I had about twice as many during my three weeks in Laos. Become my friend on facebook to see lots and lots of photos (full name Nicole Lebreux and make sure you mention the blog!) I've been adding a new batch every day or so.

Now the all important question, what will become of Fidget Finds? Currently I am the brainstorming, research, redirection phase. I've been looking for a studio space, saving money for lots of new inventory, and working on graphics for the relaunch. Don't worry, I will keep you updated but for now you will just have to be patient. Got any good ideas? Know of a killer studio space? Email me and lets get this next adventure started!!