Feels Like Home

The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned. 

-Maya Angelou

Life is too short to skip out on the scenic routes. I rolled down the windows, I turned my music off, and I just cleared my head. The sticky heat seeped in to my skin and the sweet scent of summer honeysuckles filled my lungs. I was home. 

And Venus Was Her Name

"She's got it. Yeah, baby. she's got it. Well, I'm your Venus, I'm your fire and your desire."

Let's face it: musicians are sexy. The blood, sweat, and tears mixed with the fringe, denim, and leather makes an orgasmic mixture for an audience. There is a certain spark that really gets me when the worlds of fashion and music collide.

I knew when I started this blog that I wanted it to revolve around music, but thanks to some eventful turns, I can now mix both fashion, music, and all the other things I love in this world. Now that I have a few styling jobs under my belt, I do face some inspirational blocks from time to time. To jump those hurdles, I find the best way to be inspired is to put on tunes and drool over musician babes and their smashing wardrobe. Opening my patio doors and sipping on a glass of wine also helps those hurdles too.

Cheers,

Madeline

CrazySexyCool

Working 9 to 5...and then some. I have been living a 65 hour work week for the past 2 weeks- and I have been loving every moment. I've said my goodbyes to my sleeping hours and my social life, but hey you can do that in your twenties. Ever since I started shamelessly watching America's Next Top Model, I have always wanted to have Jay Manuel's job. Well ladies and gents, it happened. Working a full time retail manager job and stylist for photoshoots is exactly where I want to be. I feel so blessed to be meeting new people and working with some of the most fabulous people I have ever met. Not only are we all working with fashion, but also charity. Faith McGary and her husband have infused fashion with charity (Lone Star Bulldog Rescue), and it feels amazing to do something you love and make a difference for animals in need. I will keep posting all of the Behind the Scenes photos on the blog, and if and when they get published I will have a separate site for a portfolio.

Lovin life y'all

Deep In The Heart of Texas

 Wanderlust. It means to have a strong desire to travel. This is my favorite word in the English dictionary. It is a beautiful noun that can send endorphins from my fingertips, to my toes, and to the ends of my hair. When I sense any travel plans, I get this feeling. With the past three and a half months, a trip to ANYWHERE was much needed. I took my gal pals from Free People to escape our hustle and bustle lives to the beautiful city of Austin, TX. We planned a mini photo shoot, stayed at Peaceful Haven (the raddest place to stay in Austin), and trecked the city for great venues and food trucks. The result of this trip was spectacular for all of us. Leaving Austin always gives us the blues, but it also gives us the strive to pack up our things and get our asses to Austin, permanently. Check out Hayley's page to see other pics we took for our Free People photo shoot too!

Cheers, y'all <3

Five Hundred Miles

 500 miles. That is the distance between my homes in Texas and Louisiana. Since the age of two, I have been traveling between my broken homes. To be honest, I feel like an automobile has been more of a home to me than anything else. This past Saturday at 8am, I took the well known journey back to New Iberia, LA. I have had a lot to think about for the upcoming months, and the drive was a much needed therapeutic session. I made a pretty solid playlist, ordered a giant iced soy chai tea latte, and sang at the top of my lungs for four hours straight. I felt some hefty weight lifted just by the sight of the Louisiana sign and the smell of bayou water. I'm feeling pretty good about some life decisions I am making, AND to top it off, I had the pleasure to record a cover song with my sister-in-law! The song is pretty spot on for my life at the moment, and I felt so blessed she decided to help me. Click here to treat your ears <3

We Get Together Every Time We Can

I had the pleasure of spending 12 days with my glorious friend, Little Miss Ashley . Normally, I only get to spend 3-4 days with long distance friends, so this was quite a treat. Us Southern gals discovered new places, movies, and music while prowling through the state of Texas. We are both park/nature fanatics, so finding a place to bask in the outdoors was a must. Even though I have lived in Texas for a good three and a half years, I have yet to really explore. 

Our first discovery was Hermann Park. There was a new sculpture installation that was literally a time machine back to Labyrinth. Check out Ash's blog to see the pics! Once this awful wind, rain, and coldness disappears, I will be back to play some tunes and soak in the sunshine. After our park fix, we headed on over to Cactus Music for vinyl hunting and Stag's Head for Abita's and pub hummus.

Next Tejas discovery was Old Katy. This town is the perfect example of a southern small town. Stores and restaurants are not very updated, and the architecture has stayed the same. I had heard of this place before, but I tried to avoid it like the plague. I came from a very very small town, and I moved away as soon as I could, but as I get older I have come to appreciate and adore my roots. Even though it was 29 degrees on this day, my heart was warmed and I felt at home. Seriously, put me on a front porch and a guitar in hand, and I am the happiest of happy. Guess I am a southerner for life, no matter how many places I have lived. PS if you are looking for amazing and fairly priced vintage jewelry, Old Katy is the place to go! There is a whole strip of Antique shops near 2nd Street, and both Ash and I found amazing furniture, posters, and other knick knacks. 

After our long days of Tejas discoveries, we needed a little "wine-ing" down. For the menu we chose to make a vegetarian and gluten free pasta dish with a salad made out of basically everything that sounded good that was available in my pantry. And of course when I am doing any activity (even sleeping), I need a soundtrack. I have really been digging Maggie Koerner since my friend Curtis discovered her. If Bonnie Raitt and Norah Jones had a baby, it would be Maggie. This little Southern Belle is amazing and everyone should check her out. After dinner and a few white wine spritzers. we had a Phillip Seymour Hoffman movie marathon and our very own karaoke show on my outdoor balcony. Does it really count as a karaoke show if the only song you choose to sing is Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man? (We also apologize for all of the videos we sent to our friends, but face it, you guys LOVED it. Kodak moment for sure.)

Now that our little bestie trip is coming to end and our next Nola reunion isn't until Jazz Fest in April, I will go back to regular Ash-less life.

Have a good Sunday Funday, y'all!!