Short hair and society

Every once in awhile this is how I feel about my new haircut. I know it is going to grow out but it is so punk right now and it is a huge change since I cut off at least 18 inches. It's totally an "in your face" kind of haircut.
Lots of women say that they like my hair and treat me even nicer than usual because I am so brave to sport this 'do. However the other day I came across one lady at Walmart that just couldn't stop looking at me, giggling at her husband and then looking again. 
My first instinct was to go into another aisle and hide until she was gone but I decided to stand my ground. I just gave her a stare and remained confident behind my dark purple lipstick while I looked for what I needed. 
I hate that kind of attention. I don't really feel the need to blend in to the crowd but this felt like straight up snotty girl bullying. Tell it to my face, or at least wait until I am in the next aisle! What if I was sick or something? For reals. 
After that I came home and ordered a wig. I figured plenty people wear extensions so why not try a wig? It hasn't come in yet. Then I started playing around with hairspray and hair wax. I actually had pretty good results with that. It makes my style look more purposeful. Wearing heels, hoop earrings and a nice outfit really help me feel more confident too, so I can rock this look.

My husband still likes my hair. He does admit that I look like an anarchist but apparently that's okay in his book. We are still both punks at heart. I am so happy that he likes it because I go through a lot of hair phases and he gets nervous every time I cut or dye it, especially when he likes the current style. I just hate having boring hair. I am getting used to my new short haircut and it gets less "OMG" stares everyday as it is getting a tiny bit longer. It is definitely not boring :P. 
My oldest son says it looks too much like boy hair in the back but yeah, 6 year olds are like that. He helped me pick out my wig. I have no idea if I will actually wear it or not because everyone gotten used to my short hair already. Maybe I'll just save it for Halloween. My middle son wants to cut his hair like mine now lmao. He loves it. 
Can't make everybody happy! 
Later Lovelies,  <3KM

In Love with... Wallet Purses

I am a wuss when it comes to carrying around heavy handbags. I end up leaving them somewhere instead of carrying them around which is never good. So instead of carrying handbags I have gotten into the habit of leaving my big bag in my car, or somewhere that I know I won't forget it, and I just use a small purse/ wallet instead.

Wallet Purses by kmfern featuring a yves saint laurent wallet

Wallet purses aka crossbody wallets aka wallets on a chain are perfect for shopping. When I have a wallet purse I never put it down because it is light and I just keep it on my shoulder. I can keep my keys, phone, money and lipstick close by and that's all that I really feel that I need. 

This is really important to me because I am a bit of a ditz. I am booksmart but common sense stuff just seems to slip my mind sometimes. I have been known to put things down in random places, on store shelves, picnic tables... I even left my cell phone in the refrigerator once :P. I end up getting side tracked by my kids or a phone call or shiny packaging and then I just walk away. 

I have been so lucky in the past that I have either found my things right where I left them... or I have been able to retrieve them from lost and found... or another person but I haven't had that problem since I switched to wallet bags! Luckily I have come up with systems like this to prevent stuff from happening again lol. 

Reasons I love wallet bags:

• Much lighter than purses
• Cuter than a fanny pack
• Carry all the essentials
• Find cash without digging
• Phone is close so you can answer right away
• Zippered ones are the best
• You can shake them around and nothing will fall out. 

You'd think I was selling these things or something :P. More than anything I just hope that more designers make these. Clutch wallets with a strap are okay but these are even better. 

Right now I have one by Big Buddha that has a crossbody strap and a clutch strap. That was great because I could hold it close when I needed to worry about someone taking it and use the strap when I wasn't worried about that. It was my favorite until my boys broke it because they were obsessed with the tassle lol. Now I'm thinking about getting the Michael Kors one here because I think it will be more durable and it is zippered. 

What's your keys/ money/ phone system? I know I'd be lost without mine, or I should say my things would be lost :P. 

Later Lovelies! 

<3 KM

Shirts of Self-Deliverance

I know suicide shirts are in bad taste, but I can't help but love them. Perfect for a dreary Friday the 13th! I wish I worked in a sex shop or something so I could wear them all the time. I'd just sit there behind the counter looking surly. 

This shirt comes from foul mouth shirts

I love the hearts and the rainbow. This one is from Engrish.

Also from Engrish (hey - it's not easy to find funny suicide shirts)

I've always loved toasters. Remember that old flying toaster screen-saver ? Sorta brings a new meaning to that. 

From Zazzle

Red Bubble

Now there's one for everyday of the work week for you. Wear them under your uniform - it will make you feel better. 

So I chopped off all my hair

Or almost all of it I should say. Kind of like T-Boz and Tinkerbell all rolled into one crazy package. And I tried to do it all by myself, with a little help from my hubby. It didn't work.

Before hairstylist
super choppy and uneven but way short in the back.
I don't know what you would call this style.

After stylist
All blended out, I feel like I have a "real" haircut now! 

Pros:

• It is so quick and easy to wash.
• My hair feels super soft.
• I get to regrow my hair to be super healthy.
• No dyes, no Sun In and I will try to use an SPF hair product in the sun.
• I get to see my natural hair color which matches my brows so well.
• My hair grows fairly quickly.
• Just thinking about my hair cut makes me laugh. 
• It was quite an experience.
• My husband says I look like I could kick some a** like JLo in Enough.
• I also feel like I could if I needed to :P.
• I know that he must love me a lot.
• He thinks I'm pretty even with a "breakup" haircut lol. 
• Strangely, I feel more confident even without makeup most of the time. 
• Like in the right picture.
• I've been meaning to take a better one but haven't gotten to it so these will have to do for now. 

Neutral:

• Some stereo-typically thinking people seem to think I'm a lesbian now.
• I'm okay with that but sometimes prejudice hurts.

Cons:

• I feel naked and exposed! 
• The back is way too short. 
• Totally my fault.
• I'm a bit scared of what certain people are gonna say.
• I've been hiding from them as long as possible. 
• I may look like a thug.
• Just a lil bit.
• I have no idea how to gel the back.
• Wax works okay.
• I know my hair is going to grow out weird at certain intervals. 
• I may invest in some head scarfs or a wig :P. 

Have you ever tried to cut your own hair? This is the 3rd time I've cut mine this short and I always start out at home. I'm silly like that. It is rather liberating. Still I highly recommend that you find a hairstylist that you trust to cut it for you. Or if you cannot resist the scissors leave it a little longer than you want so that you can go have the stylist fix it how you like later. It is much harder to cut your hair short especially if you like layers. Even if you've managed to cut your own hair while it is longer it can be a ridiculous task. I am pretty sure this is common sense though lol.

It's been like this for over a week but only now I am brave enough to share :P. My stylist said that it will look how I wanted in about 6-8 weeks. I just have to be patient. I was planning to grow it out anyways so I am okay with that. It just feels nice to have a fresh start. Although I am now realizing how long most women's hairstyles are compared to mine.

Later lovelies!

<3 KM

But the Weeds are Still Green

My ears get cold really easily in the winter. Any wind at all when the temperature is under 55°F will feel like someone is jamming a sharpened icicle into my ear. And hats are always too thin, ride up, or look super goofy. I usually circumvent this with hoods, but sometimes they just make me look like too much like a juvenile delinquent. Got to maintain a low profile, ya know?

The answer is headbands. I made this one out of a turtleneck from an old sweater. I just cut it off and voilà: a thick, warm headband that pretty much stays in place and doesn't make me look shady. 

I'm also wearing Keen boots, X2 jeans, Woolrich fleece, and a Wilson's leather jacket, to which I have added many pins and some pyramid studs.

Liebster Award for 11:42 Style!

Hi lovelies! 11:42 Style got nominated for a liebster award thanks to m.akua from Boomtownavenue. Thanks m.akua, we really appreciate the award!

Liebster awards are given from one blogger to another. It's kind of like saying, "I like your blog and I hope that you keep doing what you're doing." They are a great opportunity for gaining readership and fellowship. To read more about liebster awards check out this thorough post from Lorraine Reguly's Life.

Here are the rules:

• Shout out to the blog that nomiated you in a blog post and link back to their blog. 
• Tell your audience 11 random facts about yourself. 
• Answer 11 questions asked by your nominator. 
• Nominate 5-11 other blogs for a liebster award. They should have less than 200 followers. It's okay if they've already gotten an award.
• Come up with 11 new questions for your nominees. 
• Let your nominees know about their award so that they can participate if they chose to.

We like all of the 11s. 

11 random facts about KM:

1. I spent my first paycheck from my minimum wage high school job on a pair of 5 inch tall Steve Madden heels, black satin with ruffles. 
2. When I was four I cut off all my hair because I was pretending to be Rapunzel. 
3. I've wanted to be a singer ever since I bought "Pieces of You" by Jewel when I was small. 
4. I also wanted to be a fashion designer.
5. I'm a dreamer.
6. I once played Marty from Grease in a community production.
7. Some of my saddest childhood memories involve accidentally ruining my favorite clothes. 
8. I love just about anything in houndstooth print.
9. I've written about 200 songs in my life but only now I am learning to play an instrument while I sing.
10. My husband and I met in a bookstore parking lot. He was listening to Mars Volta which drew me in. 
11. My favorite brand of makeup is Urban Decay.

11 random facts about MR:

1. I like to sit down on the floor when a take showers.

2. I collect rusty metal objects I find on the ground.

3. I want to decorate my bathroom with octopuses, but it is almost impossible to find octopus themed bathroom items.

4. When I was in 8th grade I wanted to be a quantum physicist when I grew up.

5. I had only been going with my man for a month when we decided to drop out of college and move to the city together. We took the overnight train and we're still together 8 years later.

6. Whenever I can't think of a word, the word "blueberries" pops into my head.

7. I love reading about conspiracy theories. And people's crazy paranoias.

8. I love the smell of molten metal.

9. I dyed my hair crazy colors for about 10 years.

10. Lightning storms fill me with happy energy.

11. I love any textile that is amazingly soft: silk, minky, bamboo modal, cashmere etc.

Our answers to m.akua's questions:

What item do you use everyday?

KM: Liptstick.

MR: A smartphone with a pop-out keyboard.

What is your favorite online-shop?

KM: It's so hard to choose one! My favorites are H&M, Etsy and Nasty Gal.

MR: I guess Amazon because I don't really order from anywhere else repeatedly.

Who is your favorite designer?

KM: I love Meadham Kirchhoff but I settle for Free People which I also love. I am a sucker for Jeffrey Campbell shoes.

MR: Ernte. I love the color palate and all the excessive seams.

Where are you getting inspiration for your blog?

KM: It's usually inspired by something that I want but don't need. I like blogging because it turns my shopping habit into something productive.

MR: I have a bunch of pictures I saved on my computer over the years of items I thought were cool. Other than that, I just document things I end up doing normally, like getting dressed and cooking.

Why did you start blogging?

KM: I started blogging to encourage me to make my ambitions a reality. Plus I thought it would be fun to collab with M.

MR: Because KM asked me to and I thought it sounded like fun. I also thought it would help me be more open rather than just being the lurker that I tend to be.

What is your favorite quote?

KM: "Growth in wisdom may be exactly measured by decrease in bitterness." Friedrich Nietzsche

MR:  "The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Who would be born must first destroy a world." --Hesse

If you could live anywhere in the world, were would it be and why?

KM: I live in Hawai'i and it is beautiful here but way country. In my dreams I would like to live here for half of the year and in a city for the other half of the year, maybe Portland, London, New York or Chicago.

MR: I would be happy anywhere with a yard, good places to walk, lots of thunder storms, and an Asian grocery. I don't think that I've been enough places to answer this with confidence, but Cambodia and Morocco seem cool if I ever leave the US. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has more thunder storms than anywhere else... it seems more likely that I wouldn't get killed in Singapore, though.

Who is your favorite blogger and why?

KM: MR is my favorite blogger because she is ridiculously awesome. I also really like Kandee Johnson, Man Repeller and Adora BatBrat because I like their styles and they have interesting posts.

MR: I like when people tell their crazy stories in a blog. I like a window into experiences I would never have. My favorites are urbanparamedic.blogspot.com and eelkat.wordpress.com

How would you describe your style?

KM: Eclectic and full of contradictions. Tailored/grunge, bubblegum/goth, girly/tomboy, natural/barbie...

MR: Kickass comfort with a little dark-fairy thrown in.

What is your favorite beauty tip?

KM: As hard as it may be avoid overtweazing your brows. Full brows look better in pictures and you don't have to fill them in as much. I learned this the hard way.

MR: Coconut oil. It's good for skin, hair, and cooking!

Who do you look up to and why?

KM: Grace Lee Boggs. She is a social astivist that has done so much to create peace and equality within America. I think that her pursuits are some of the most important.

MR: Aeryn Sun because I want to be a space mercenary when I grow up  :P.    

KM's nominees:

Oddly Lovely
Styla Petite
Unicorn K
More Than Turquoise

MR's nominess:

lovin-fitness.blogspot.co.nz

photographedye.blogspot.co.uk

chaoticmermaid.blogspot.com

11 questions for our nominees:

1. What is your favorite pattern?
2. What is your favorite color?
3. What are you most proud of?
4. Are you a night owl or an early bird?
5. What is your favorite music genre or favorite bands?
6. What is your biggest passion?
7. What is your favorite brand of cosmetics? 
8. What is your favorite clothing item that you own? 
9. What would you consider your spirit animal and why?
10. What is your favorite thing to cook?
11. If you met a genie, what would your three wishes be?

Money Making Music

M.I.A. Bad Girls TRENDLAND (clipped to polyvore.com)

Now that most of us lost some cash during Black Friday, it is time to make some more! Here are some of my favorite songs about money to motivate you to earn back what you spent starting off with the gorgeous M.I.A. Love her headdress!

 

Hope that you are having a great Cyber Monday! 

<3KM