Cho: My Hero

If you hang out with me for a semi-extended period of time, it's likely that I've made you watch some of Margaret Cho's stand up. The best DVD, in my opinion, is undoubtedly

Notorious C.H.O.

via moviepostershop.com

She speaks the truth and the truth is hella funny. 

I also read up on her biography a while back, and most of what she jokes about actually comes from experiences she's had in her life. Basically I worship everything she's ever done and aspire to be like her in every way (including by turning myself Asian somehow). 

She often jokes about her struggles with weight and body image, and after many years of self-depreciation, she has turned her message into one of self-acceptance. 

I happen to follow her on Twitter, and the other day she posted a strange message:

Weird, right? So I replied to her with a Tweet expressing my love and admiration. Alas, she has yet to Tweet back, but I'm sure she was mighty busy.

Turns out the reasoning behind this stemmed from a photo that she has posted on her Twitter of a new tattoo which happened to be placed on her butt cheek.

What a gorgeous piece of work! And I'm not just talking about the ink. *wink*

Turns out some a-hole guys left some negative comments about her body and she lost it. She wrote a beautiful piece of writing that was posted to Jezebel earlier today in response. 

You can check it out Here, it's worth the read.

Sites like Twitter and Facebook have removed about 1000 steps that separate us "normals" from our celebrity heroes. Unfortunately, it has also removed the separation between "normals" and the people who hate for the sake of hating. 

Back in the Sack Attack

As it appears, Christmas break has invariably come to an end, and with it comes a refreshed outlook on the prospect of another semester of college. OR DOES IT!?!

... yes, it does.

While the year 2012 is shaping up to bring on the ultimate demise of our civilization as we know it, I'd like to look at the impending apocalypse as a motivational tool to accomplish things I've yet to accomplish.

Some things I'd like to do before the Mayan Calender blah blah blah:

• Learn how to airbrush/spray paint
• Score a sweet summer job at a place that does not involve taxes for once
• Learn how to knit something other than a scarf
• Try and be more self-sustaining
• Email/harass famous people that I admire to see if they're e-mail/harass back
•  Partake in some local theater
• Make my own wine to save on my wine budget
• Learn other mediums and develop my own visual style
• Eat More Bikes

What are your New Year's resolutions internet?!?

Para Mix-in It Up

*UPDATE*

So I decided to switch up the focus of my blog and make it more of a General Purpose kind of thing. I don't know much about fashion, as you can probably decipher from my previous posts, and I heard somewhere that blogs are the new journals. This is going to be a self-serving kind of thing, and if you don't like it.. well... you can make a blog yourself, lazybones!

That being said, here's a post about a local Winnipeg clothing store...

I sat down with local clothing shop owner, Candy Lam, to see why her pet project “Para Mix” is such a success story in the relatively sparse Winnipeg market.

Q) What made you decide to go into the garment industry?

A) Well, it started when I first moved to Winnipeg and I needed something to do to kill time. My husband was busy studying for his masters and I decided that I wanted to sell stuff outside, like a garage sale kind of thing. But my husband thought that I would be kidnapped so he got me a kiosk at City Place. Then eventually I made enough money to move to our spot on Osborne and we’ve been there ever since.

Q) Were you ever wary to open up a store in Winnipeg?

A) I was too young to worry when I started, and it was all supposed to be pretty short term. Everyone in my family runs a store and so I thought “why not me too?” It’s been ten years now since Para Mix opened.

Q) What influences your personal style and the kind of clothes you buy for the store?

A) I like to try and find beauty in everything. I like weird stuff, no brands. Hong Kong style really influences me.

Q) What kind of clothing style do you think is unique to Winnipeg?

A) There are lots of artsy people here. Winnipeg is a breeding ground for creativity and I think a lot of people like to express themselves by the clothing that they wear.

Q) What do you think is the biggest fashion don’t of all? Crocs? Socks and Sandals?

A) In my opinion, there’s not really anything that would always be considered a fashion don’t. I think if people wear their clothes with confidence you can pull anything off. I guess the only thing I can think of is when there are too many pieces in an outfit. Often a look is better with a little editing, and it’s always good to see the person wearing the clothes, and not the clothes wearing the person.

Q) What’s a good fashion tip for the readers at home to follow?

A) Hmm... Let’s see. Everyone has a different kind of style, so I guess my advice would be to make sure that your clothes are making you happy, otherwise, what’s the point? You shouldn’t have to “suck it in” the whole day, and you can always find clothes that are comfortable and also fashionable, especially the way trends seem to be going now.

Para Mix is located in the heart of Osborne Village. According to their Facebook page, they “specialize in finding the perfect outfit for any occasion, whether it be your 18th birthday, your grad, wedding social or a special night out on the town! All clothing we carry is a one -of-a- kind, imported from overseas, and we also carry a variety of different purses, accessories and shoes. Our inventory changes daily so come check it out soon and come back often!”

The store also regularly catalogs their available inventory here.

Brr, It's Cold in Here

Alec Ruest – Shoe Sales

Jacket – The Bay

Cutoffs – Target

Now that it’s getting colder and winter is settling in, it's time to tuck away the summer clothes and bust out the dumpy, shapeless sweaters. I personally have the hardest time picking out a good sweater from the thrift store, but can't afford a real sweater from a real store. What am I to do?

Does anyone know a legit place where I can get some quality winter duds fo' cheap? I’m in a permanent state of freezing over here!

Jegging Pride

Chelsea King - Student

Dress - H&M

Jacket - Zara

Necklace - Forever 21

Oxfords - Salvation Army

Today's topic: Jeggings!

What do you think of them? I personally think they're great. I don't know why they didn't come into fruition long ago. It's as if, very recently, someone finally figured out that a lot of people have a lot of different body shapes. WOWZERS! What a breakthrough!

Celebrities wear them

source

Conan O'Brien wears them:

source

And I'm not ashamed to admit that I wear them.

Jegging pride!

Out-Fit for a King

Brett Harapiak - Red River College Student

Vest - Salvation Army

Shirt - Salvation Army

Shoes - Value Village

Hat - Value Village

Pants - Kings

Belt - MCC

I've said it before and I'll say it again, thrifting is the s@#$.

One man's junk is another man's treasure, and this manbearpig/bloggette has found a Scrooge McDuck's haul of treasure from Thrift Stores over the years. 

Ch-ch-check it out today, what are you waiting for?!?!?!

Comic Con-Artist

On Halloweekend I ventured over to my first ever Central Canada Comic Con.

I was super nervous because I feel like a poser, having recently began my foray into all things comic/graphic novel/etc. I read Alan Moore's "Watchmen" last summer and it changed my life.

So I worked on an Altair (from Assassins Creed) costume for a month, popped it on and went to the Convention Centre on Saturday the 29th and was blown away.

Here's a collection of photos from my day.

Some Mayflower dancers entertaining between L.A.R.P matches

The sickest Ghostbuster outfit I've ever seen. It had blinky lights!

Male and female counterparts with special guest Master Chief

My friend Dave with his hero

Art by the bowlful

Iron Man with Iron Baby in the stroller

He could actually transform and had working lights. Fun, if you're down to lie face down on the floor.

Master Chief vs. Master Chief



Dad and Baby Master Chief

The shield business is lucrative

Me and Finn from Adventure Time

Minecraft Guy

Assassin assassinating an assassin.

All in all it was a super dooper fun time, I totally nerded out but it was great and inspiring. I recommend anyone going next year if not only for the visual feast.