I’m basically positive that the only time I have ever stepped onto a skateboard was when I was about 5 years old. And I didn’t even step onto it, I sat my ass down and rolled to the end of the driveway of my neighbors’ front yard. I did this probably about six times before I became extremely bored and went back home to play with my treasure trolls, vowing to never set foot (or ass) on another skateboard as long as I lived. Nineteen years later, I purchased a Nor Cal sweatshirt. Does this make me a poser?

I don’t really care. I needed something with a huge “Nor Cal” logo emblazoned on it for the few unfortunate times I visited Southern California (why can’t Disneyland be up here?). Plus, the clothes and accessories are cute. I say, if you’re proud to be a Northern Californian, it’s okay to rock Nor Cal gear. I especially love the orange and black SF Giants Dugout Nor Cal tee and the cotton/polyester Stateline Handbag! Hot.

Last night, I paid a whopping $12.75 to see Henry Selick’s stop motion movie, Coraline. (He also directed The Nightmare Before Christmas, another Tim Burton production). The animation was crazy and very visually stimulating (a.k.a. trippy and colorful to the max). And it was in 3-D, which made everything that much cooler. Once I got over the facts that I paid over $10 for a movie and that Dakota Fanning was the voice of Coraline, I was actually able to enjoy my experience at the theater.

Coraline’s adorable outfits were all handmade and looked like real clothes that a real kid would wear. I couldn’t help thinking that she and her pal, Wybie would be really fun characters to dress up as for next Halloween. I also began pondering how Coraline’s fashion could be translated to real-life womens’ outfits. With the movie still fresh in my mind, I created a Dress Like Coraline buyer’s guide, which includes clothes and accessories similiar to those Coraline sports in the movie. Don’t forget the blue hair and dragonfly barrette! P.S. I recommend seeing Coraline while it’s still in 3-D at the theater. I don’t think it will be the same to watch at home.

As I said in my Valentine’s Day Outfits shopping guide on Kazowie, though I’m not one to discourage it, there is no need to wear pink hearts from head-to-toe in order to celebrate love on Valentine’s Day. I, however, am actually considering going all out this year — pink top, red pants, bows, hearts, the whole nine — to celebrate NOT being in love. (Getting dumped in Februrary makes you bitter like that). I’ve picked out three outfits that incorporate pieces which, for the most part, can be mixed-and-matched, and that can be worn any day of the year, not just on Cupid Day. Each ‘fit incorporates only one or two “Valentine” pieces. Check ‘em out and tell me what you think!!

I think I’d wear option #1 out to dinner (with my Valentine or, more realistically, a group of my closest my girl friends), option #2 is fit for a night of dancing at the club (aka finding a cute boy to be my Valentine for a few hours), and option #3 works for day or night, with anyone, anywhere, to a casual dinner or the movies. Whatever you’re doing this Februrary 14th, I hope you have a Happy Valentine’s Day!!

I must admit, I am a fan of Betsey’s. Or, perhaps I should rather say I’m a fan of the effortless way she combines rocker style (guns and skulls, neon colors and extreme patterns, leopard, studs, and chains) with all things feminine (flowers, pearls, hearts, lace, diamonds, ruffles, bows). You have to hand it to her, Betsey definitely marches to the beat of her own drum and, in doing so, has created a fashion empire with herself at its center, a leading icon in the fashion industry. Her style is so recognizable, I constantly find myself gravitating towards her outrageous shoes, bags, and jewelry in the department store, picking up the items, and saying to myself, “oh, Betsey!” It’s hard to stay away!

Although I consider myself someone whose style is distinctive in that it’s not classifiable at all, and someone willing to try and incorporate almost any fashion fad into her own style at least once, regardless of how ridiculous it may seem, I sometimes find myself doubting whether I could rock some of Betsey’s, sweet but eccentric designs. When it comes down to it, I think the only person able to pull off head-to-toe Betsey is Betsey herself. And even if I could afford every B.J. product I would want to own, I think I and the rest of us should probably stick to one Betsey bauble at a time.