Work of Art

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending Art In Bloom After Dark, a stunning event where art and florals make magic. Art In Bloom at The Cincinnati Art Museum allows the city to experience artwork in a fresh, vibrant way.

The concept was as lovely as it was creative, local florists selected pieces of art as their inspiration and then crafted floral arrangements to reflect their chosen works. Walking through the gallery, you could feel the dialogue between the paintings and their artists and the blooms and their artists.

One of my favorite moments was standing in front of Two Sisters, a painting by Kehinde Wiley, also known for her amazing portrait of President Barak Obama. The riot of color and textures of the tulips, snapdragons, and proteas bring the drama of the piece to life.

I couldn’t resist dressing up for the occasion. This skirt is one of the things I chose from my mom’s closet to remember her after her death in January 2020. I couldn’t think of a more perfect occasion to wear it. My love of flowers, fashion, and big, bold prints were inherited from her. I paired it with bright fuchsia heels that I know she would have loved!

Art In Bloom reminded me how powerfully art in all its forms — painting, sculpture, floristry, fashion — wakes you up and feeds your soul. It is one of my favorite spring events in the city. I’m already looking forward to it next year!

With Joy and Whimsy-

xo

Courtnee

The Joy Edit

Hey There, Ladybug!
It’s time for The Joy Edit—my monthly roundup of things I’ve loved, found fun, or just couldn’t stop smiling about. Think of it like a joy-filled highlight reel. Let’s dive in.

It’s a scientific fact that the perfect mug makes that first morning coffee more magical. And what makes the perfect mug? We’re a bit like Goldilocks in this house when it comes to finding it- it has to be just right. Heavy enough to feel substantial and tall enough to hold the perfect amount to wake you up plus room for cream and a nice foam to top it off. Bonus points for compliments like “Hello, Gorgeous”, words of encouragement like “World’s Okayest Mom”, or a call to action like, “It’s a good day to punch a Nazi”.

But sometimes you just want to live out your cottage witch fantasy before tackling your “to do” list.

Wearing bright colors, all the patterns, and generally dressing like your 10-year-old self has been rebranded as dopamine dressing and I couldn’t be happier…no pun intended. If we’re going to live under an oppressive regime, you might as well break all of those ridiculous fashion rules. Wear whatever tickles your fancy and sparks joy my friends!

My closet is colorful and chaotic. I’ve often described my personal style as 70s art teacher/librarian who got dressed in the dark but I’m happy to have an “official” name for it. This outfit, like one of Steffon’s nightclubs, has everything- colorful plaid, leopard print, and a graphic t-shirt (if you don’t know, now ya know…)

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I spent a weekend binge watching With Love, Meghan

BTW, this is a Meghan stan account we ride for both The Duchess and The Stallion! Anyway, it reminded me of all the things that I love doing that I stopped doing somewhere along the way because, if I’m being honest, it sometimes felt a little too much. I didn’t want to be that friend, wife, mother. I also realized I don’t really care if people don’t like it. I like it and that should be enough of a reason.

We may be having takeout for dinner but that doesn’t mean we can’t eat it by candlelight at a nicly set table in the dining room. And after years of tucking them away, I decided to break out my apron collection because I like them!

So wear the red lipstick, use the real china, ink up your fountain pen!

I’m not sure who said it but my new motto is “If I’m too much, go find less”. Cheers to being in our Too Much Era, my friends!

I love this appearance by Dove Cameron on The Jennifer Hudson Show because she absolutely nails it! I’m so happy that women are embracing this message younger and younger.

Revelation and Revolution

I’m writing this on a gray and rainy day. It's safe to say that fall is here. I was ready for cool, rainy days where I could make tea and settle in with a good book, but now that they’re here, I’m having second thoughts.

These days I’m seeking joy in the little things- favorite places in the city, listening to Purple Rain on vinyl, and fancy shoes on a weekday just because. With the shift from fall to winter and the familiar replaced by uncertainty, I think it's important for everyone to find little joys and bright spots.  

I’m not suggesting we ignore everything happening around us or walk around in a “good vibes only” state of toxic positivity. I’m suggesting that finding joy and celebrating little things is keeping some of your power when many of us feel helpless—a revolution of one to disrupt the status quo.

Vive la révolution

Living In the After

These photos were taken two weeks ago. And what a year these two weeks have been. It now feels ridiculous to post these photos on my silly little blog where I document outfits that I wear and why I wear them.

I remember the first few days after my mom died. I felt like there had been a seismic shift in my reality. With one phone call, everything I thought I knew to be true vanished. My life went from 4k technicolor to black and white.

And then, it happened again last week when ‌it was clear he would win another term. The sun, the lightness that I felt a few weeks ago when my daughter took these photos, was gone. Everything I thought about the world we live in- good triumphing over evil, that more people want to discover and delight in our similarities than fear monger about the ways in which we are different, and that most of us want to turn the page and get back to normalcy- vanished.

I woke up the day after the 2016 election hurt.

I woke up on Nov 6, 2024, angry. We are now entering their version of this country with eyes fully open. People looked at everything that happened under his term, the civil case that found him liable for rape, the 30 plus felony convictions, the impeachments, the racism, the outright disgust for immigrants, the transphobia and said “yep! more of that!”

I worry for my sons and daughters. I worry for my trans and LBGTQIA friends and family. I worry about the world my grandchildren will inherit. I worry that history is repeating itself.

There are no more dog whistles. They are using blow horns. They are not saying the quiet part out loud, they are shouting it in the streets through bull horns.

It feels like the loss of a parent all over again.

And, no one is coming to save us. There is no one to slay the monsters hiding in the closet. No one is rushing into our rooms in the middle of the night to tell us this is all a bad dream.

I haven’t even started to process things. I’m living in a self-imposed bubble without news, social media, and doom-scrolling. Perhaps I’m attempting to hold on to a little of “before” because I’m unprepared for life in the after.

There is very little I’m sure of these days. The other day in a state of despair and uselessness, I pulled an oracle card. It said “Your existence is the resistance”. So, I’m going to hold onto that truth while I figure out what comes next.

Worn|| She's Overboard and Self-Assured

Confession time.

I was never the grungy, edgy teen with heavy eyeliner and a fuck the establishment attitude. I was much more United Colors of Benetton, Polo popped collar kind of girl who attempted to charm authority. 

Now that I’ve hit 50, aka the land my ‘give a fucks’ went to die, the brooding, angsty in me has been dying to express herself.

That’s the beauty of middle age…the power to reinvent yourself and not a single worry given to what anyone has to say about it. Quoting the wise Sheree Whitfield, "Who gon' check me, boo?"

Because I never had a pair of Doc Martins as a teen, I decided I needed a pair or something similar. I stumbled on this pair in near-perfect condition and in my size for $10 during a recent trip to the thrift store. The rest of the outfit seemed obvious. Nothing says “smells like teen spirit” like fishnets and combat boots.  

boots: similar shorts: similar shirt: similar tights: here

Chapter 51...

Half a century plus 1. I’m not sure I like how it sounds when written out that way. Last year was a milestone birthday. I had a party. I got to celebrate with the people I adore most in this world. The dress I wore was amazing, it made me feel like a cupcake and look like a million bucks.

I set the bar pretty high for this year’s birthday and if I’m being honest, it’s just not hittin the same way. But it’s nothing a dress, a pair of heels, and a slice of birthday cake can’t fix.

Here’s to another rotation around the sun, to embracing the person you’ve worked so hard to be, to loving yourself as much as you love everyone else in your life, to growing old with the person who gets you, to impractical shoes, cupcake dresses, funfetti birthday cake, and prosecco!

Cheers!

Worn|| This Ain't Texas

Imagine being gifted a musical tour de force like Cowboy Carter and being so caught up in your expectations of who and what country music is supposed to be that you deny yourself a sublime listening experience. Couldn’t be me …

I’m not saying that Cowboy Carter has become my entire personality but when you see me out in cutoffs and cowboy boots don’t say I didn’t warn you!

And, We're Back...

Oh, hey! Long time no blog. I wondered if I'd ever fire this thing up again and despite the push towards short-form video content nothing grabs me like words on a page (or screen) and photos. I'm old-fashioned that way. 

Not much has changed in my life since my last post. I haven't been busy. Life isn't too challenging right now. There haven't been any unexpected plot twists. I've just been trying to stay present. Enjoying the moments as they happen. That small shift has been great for my mental health.

Anyway, here I am. A girl. Standing in front of a brick wall. Asking you to read this blog post and follow along as I attempt to navigate this new season of life.