Fashion Faux Pas.

Bad news everyone. Man capris are showing up in Europe. And not just any kind of man capris: these are the stone washed, bad pocket nightmares. Lets hope this trend doesn't make it to the states.

Honey, I think you should wear your capris today.

Wow. Black socks too?

And finally, I keep seeing these pants in ALL of the stores. Welcome back to the 80's with a pair of pleated, drop-front pants with a bulky tie belt. Yes, they are narrow at the ankle too. Basically your 'ADD 10lbs LOOK'. 

You know that day when you just feel TOO SKINNY AND YOU WANT TO LOOK HEAVIER? These are the pants you reach for.  

I found these striped tights and sweater dress from H&M. I LOVED it at first, but then I started to think about a STREET MIME - too black and white. What do you think?????

Le Dorm Room

There is only so much you can do with a space when:

- you can't poke holes into the wall or ceiling
- you're not allowed to paint
- you're told to not rearrange the furniture
- the space is super teeny-tiny

You can find the BEFORE photos HERE

However....through the use card stock, fabric panels, wall stickers and overall clever ideas - I think the space looks much better than if I hadn't done anything at all. Take a gander:

Added card stock panels to the wall and I found a think cotton chair
cushion on  my France trip (blogging on a vinyl chair in warm weather blows) 

Flower box for my window. The pink hydrangeas are now blooming

The only nightstand in the room.
Jewelry in the pink boxes.

Added sheer panels (shipped from home) using a spring tension curtain rod.   I wanted to hang them from the ceiling like the French Boutique, but I can't put a  hook in the  ceiling. I'm contemplating another option. Card stock added for wall interest.

This is my entire closet. That's it - that's all I have.
Notice 1/2 of it is uniforms?

I  needed something by the door to keep my keys and pocket
contents in.  I had to get creative with this one.

Tall suitcase rack with Flat Rate mailing boxes added to flatten
 the surface. Covered with a new terry towel.

Photo/postcard door collage (when you send me your postcard -
it goes here!). Ironing board has been converted
 to robe/scarf hanger. The iron cord holds my sunnies.

I found this great organizer for my makeup in Saarbrucken Germany. 12e. The black toothbrush holder hold my makeup brushes and hair clips. Geez, time to wash my brushes.

Hey, what are you doing here?

Hair dryer converts to a towel holder. Ice cube tray from the thrift store on base ($.50)  holds  my hair products and pink Clairasonic face brush. French overly scented soap on the soap dish. 

The crap view from my room. See the AIRCRAFT TOWER in the back left? I'm paranoid people with BINOCULARS are staring into my room, so my curtains are closed the majority of the time. COUNTER PRODUCTIVE with trying to enjoy a flower box. The street below is very busy and loud. My room location is the worst thing. Did I mention I'm on the 3RD FLOOR and the laundry room is in the basement?

A poster I have hanging up. Poster? I know. It's like HIGH SCHOOL.

Close-up of the ice cube holder re-purposed. This is a great holder since  I can  easily find  anything I'm looking for. Very important with a 0430 WAKE-UP



Fabric panels soften the space, adds color and slightly disguises the closet. Isn't this wall sticker great?  Found it at the French stationary store for 8 euros. (so....... like $500 US dollars. Just kidding, it would be $12)

 What do you think? I think it's liveable.

Ooh La La - Parisian Cabaret

Yay- I finally have two days off! Lets do something completely opposite from my deep-thought provoking work week.

What could that be, you ask? CABARET! PARISIAN Cabaret, at that. The mothership of all things fabulous.

Do you remember the first time you saw a show girl or a cabaret dancer? I do. My parents had gone to Vegas and brought home a souvenir book (or maybe it was a brochure) of a show they had seen. Inside was a large layout photo of topless showgirls in their full regalia of feathers, headdresses, heels and stockings. I was captivated. 

I mean... WHATS NOT TO LOVE? Makeup, heels, feathers, elaborately bedazzled costumes, strands of pearls, fishnets, headpieces, wigs, opera gloves...........the fabulous list goes on and on.

Being a showgirl or a cabaret dancer was not in the career cards for me, but its still fun to daydream and use the photos as inspiration to add a bit of glamour in your own world. 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that cabaret and showgirl are intertwined terms - with burlesque being its own separate entity. Right?

I saw the Moulin Rouge about 10 years ago during the day, and the exterior looked tattered and was in a shady looking neighborhood. From what I hear the space has been revamped and it is GORGEOUS. Red walls, gold art frames and glamour everywhere.

Personal Goal: I WILL SEE THE MOULIN ROUGE SHOW OR  AN EQUALLY GLAMOROUS FRENCH CABARET SHOW BEFORE I LEAVE. It's a bucket list thing.

Have any readers see the show? Advice on the best days? Dinner and show? or just the show? Is there another show that you would recommend instead?In the meantime, lets look at gorgeous vintage posters and cabaret images .

Photos courtesy of: worldceldontiesjournal11, lifeofgaungzhoe, nectartastingroom, 20th century

Reality Check.

I love being in Germany, but this deluxe opportunity comes at a price. A TRAUMATIC price. As much as I want life to be about clothes, travel and shopping - it's clearly NOT, and today was a reminder of the severity of my duties.

I didn't want to post about my job for a multitude of reasons, but TODAY was such an experience that I felt I was filtering myself if I didn't share it.  It's a downer, so if you're not in the mood to read this, now is your chance to click away.

Today I was assigned to carry CRITICALLY WOUNDED soldiers from the aircraft onto a bus (essentially a school bus modified to hold canvas stretchers). Once the patients are secured, I ride along with them to the Army hospital which is a BUMPY and HORRIBLE 20-30 minute drive. 

When I say they are critically injured, I mean these are the patients that are BARELY HANGING ON. Yes, these are our young soldiers that were in the WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME. Limbs missing, bones snapped, mental trauma - they are a DAILY sight from a vicious and cruel war zone. Its tragic, and no - it's not in the news.

During today's transport I noticed one of the patients had woken up and he looked SCARED TO DEATH. I watched him look at the tubes connected to his arms and try to mentally process the numerous pumps and equipment pieces mounted above his knees. He was ALONE as none of the other staff members seemed to be interested (or maybe they didn't notice, in their defense).

Instinctively I removed my work gloves, and placed my BARE HANDS on his forehead , shoulders and arms to comfort him. He looked relieved and asked if he was in Germany. I talked to him while he SHIFTED IN AND OUT OF CONSCIOUSNESS to distract him from the horrible pain of the bumpy German roads.

Even though his was in a level of pain that I cannot even fathom, he shook my hand and thanked me. He repeated my name several times and said he would never forget me.

I usually don't connect with a patient like this, so this evening has been full of reflection as I look at all of the luxuries I have and take for granted. Health, eyesight, all of my limbs and good friends. Be grateful for what you have because it can quickly slip away.

Disclaimer for the HIPPA freaks: no patient information was disclosed, and the photos included in the posting were from past missions - and not today.

Want a Postcard from GERMANY?

In this busy world of emails, tweets and blogging – who doesn’t appreciate a handwritten note?

For all of my followers, I would love to send you a postcard from Germany, and in turn I would love to receive one back from you.

Interested? Fantastic!

1.   Send me an email @ hot.pink.combat.boots@gmail.com with your mailing address. I will mail a DELUXE full-sized German postcard within 3 days.

2.    When you recieve mine, please return the love and send me a postcard from your city (or favorite vacation spot). I'll feature it on my blog AND put it on my dorm room wall-collage.

KUDOS: The Postcard program was shamelessly copied from inspired by Ms. Jello from Jello's Kitchen and Ms. Luan from Green Tea and Cupcakes



Wow - my first piece of mail.
Thanks Luan (Green Tea and Cupcakes)!!! You made my day :)

I received an AWARD! See who I tagged next!

I haven't received an award in awhile, and yay for me - Ms. Claudia from THE STORY tagged me with the VERSATILE BLOGGER Award! This is the perfect award for me since I tend to cover a ton of different things on my blog. Who else goes from weapons to mannequins and beer?

The rules of this one is I need to disclose/reveal 10 things about me (geez, don't you guys already know everything about me?) Ok, here goes nothing:

1. I don't watch the American news. I think its filtered propaganda.

2. I have a huge soft spot for the elderly and think their stories are amazing

3. When I was 22 I got 'married' via the fax machine ( I was in Texas, he was in Washington). No vows or anything - just a signature. Yeah.....that marriage didn't work out. I can laugh at it now. What was I thinking?

4. After watching Pulp Fiction, I cut my hair like Uma Thurman and dyed it purple/red. I loved it, but there were NO DATES to be had with that gaudy hair color.

5. I like Star Trek and Sci-Fi movies, No, I'm not a nerd - promise.  Well, maybe a little.

6. When I lived in South Korea, I ate at this restaurant every Saturday night after drinking with my friends. I thought it was BBQ beef or pork (it had a sauce on it and was minced). Nope - it was fricking CAT!!Ugh. 

7. I love cats (don't confuse yourself with the above item), and would love to have one as a pet but I'm horribly allergic to all animals and birds. If you know of a good cat photo blog - let me know.

8. I can't swim and do this weird dog-paddle thing in the water

9. I can not handle the sound of someone 'whistling'. Not the cheering type of whistling.  I'm talking about the guy who whistles a tune at the grocery store. Its like hearing nails on a chalkboard.

10. I saw the Ann Frank house in Amsterdam. That is the only thing I remember of that trip.

The other rules are to pick 15 bloggers to pass the award on to. Wow -15?  For sleep  purposes (I'm EXHAUSTED. Fifi and the dumb wind made for a long day), I'm going to adjust this number to 8. I tag the following FABULOUS BLOGGERS with the Versatile Blogger Award!  

1. Jello's Kitchen
2. Green Tea and Cupcakes
3. Francy
4. Victory Vintage
5. Midnight Pie
6. The Beara Necessities
7. Behind the Leopard Glasses
8. Radical Rambling and Thoughts of a Southern Girl

Thank you Claudia - you're the best!

Note: If any of my tagged bloggers want a revised button to reflect how many times you have received this award - just leave a comment with the details.

Can I get this in HOT PINK?

There are times I am forced to do things I really don't want to do. Such as:

1. Sit in a gas chamber while tear gas is being released (seriously)

2. Eat MRE's - Meals Ready to Eat (barfy rations)

3. Fire a semi-automatic rifle (M16)




Todays delightful task was nothing less than PAINFUL. Thanks to the recent shootings at Frankurt International Airport, I have to learn how to use a M-9 hand weapon (aka Beretta) and fire it in a variety of tactical positions. Those that don't qualify with the minimum hits will be considered a loser have to take the entire class over again.   



TG for SF Redbull. Combined with black coffee, is it
my  saving grace with the 0430 wakeup.

I know some readers would think that learning how to master a powerful hand gun is a cool thing to do, and for them I would happily step aside.

 

Nail polish ruiner.

The whole gun firing process BLOWS. It jacks up your nails, gives your caluses/blisters on your hands and then at the end of the process you're rewarded with a facial misting of gun powder and lubricating cleaning oil. It's DIRTY, LOUD and NOT MY THING whatsoever.

So how'd did I do? Uh -huh people - I shot 41 out of 45. Those arrogant boys can go on home - the petite blonde just smoked em. 

It could only be better if my gun was HOT PINK...........and maybe bedazzled.

I swore Hello Kitty would never be on my blog,
 but I'll make a huge exception for this photo.

Pink gun photo courtesy of frederation.files