Invisible Friends, have I got a treat for you today!

Legally Blond Mel of I Pick Pretty, a blog full of dry humor, snark, gorgeous clothes, hilarious letters to bad fashion trends and social observations, is not what a lot of my Invisible Friends would define as creative as right off.  But you see, it’s her writing that is so creative.

Like a modern day Jane Austen, Legally Blond Mel (or Pretty, as I call her), observes social situations and culture from her safe hiding spot in Austin with her husband, who she refers to as the Anonymous Husband.  A California native bemused by all us Texans, her writing is full of wit.  So don’t eat when you read her blog unless you want to snort something up your nose.

Not that I’ve ever done that.

Plus, Pretty is the mother of Wallace, the pug that stole Bitty’s heart at the Puppy Ball until she met Diesal and the current beau of Natasha’s Bella.

Let’s meet her, shall we?

How did you get started blogging?  How did you come up with your title?
When I moved to Austin just over one year ago, it was my second move to a new city in as many years, and my first with no built-in social structure. Frankly, I felt a bit lost and needed an outlet that didn’t involve calling my husband (oh-so-cleverly known as the Anonymous Husband on my blog) ten times a day to complain.  He and a few friends had mentioned in the past that I might be decent at writing, so I poked around the web until I figured out how to start a blog.

The blog title comes from something so typical of me – I was eavesdropping at a cocktail party a few years ago.  Two very chic, attractive, professional women were having a spirited debate over their beers, when one posed the question to the other, “If you had your choice between being the most intelligent, the most kind or the most pretty woman in the world, which one would you pick?” The other turned to her friend without a second thought, a smirk flashing across her features, and proclaimed with only a hint of sarcasm, “I pick pretty.” When I was grasping for a blog name, that conversation just struck me as the exact mix I wanted to convey – witty, sarcastic with a smile, not a little frivolous, but also reflective of my experience as a young professional.

What does being creative mean to you?

Creativity is something that crept up on me.  I never considered myself to be a creative person until law school, when it slowly dawned on me that my soul would not survive this challenging, occasionally mind-numbing (read:  crashingly boring) profession without letting the other, creative side of my mind out to play as well. At first, this manifested itself in a heightened interest in reading – always a love of mine, but more so then – and in fashion.  Blogging feels like the natural outgrowth of all of those things I love – the reading, the writing, the style . . .

My nom de blog, “Legallyblondemel”, reflects this duality to me.  Of course I adore the “Legallly Blonde” movie in all of its pink, fluffy, superficial glory, but I’ll also argue for its underlying message of empowerment.  The protagonist, and all of us, are more than the sum of our resume or our profession.  We can be intelligent, ambitious women (and men!) and also take time to appreciate beauty.

Editor’s Note:  I LOVE Elle!  Continue, please.

My Grace Kelly iconography stemmed out of two impulses – first, due to said challenging, occasionally mind-numbing, and very conservative profession, I wasn’t ready to put my name or actual photos out there – not yet, at least, although I see that day coming.  Second, HRH Grace personifies that cool elegance and royal voice that I strive for in my blogging style.  I’m an avid fan of her movies and Hitchcock films generally, so it seemed fitting to take a ice princess, Hitchcock blond as my bloggy alter ego.

Why do you think it’s important for women to balance creativity in their daily lives?

Without the creativity, we – or I – risk going along life as a rote endeavor.  Without something pushing our mental, emotional, and spiritual boundaries, what’s the point?  And yes, my blogging, even the ones in which I’m doing something terribly high-minded like writing cease & desist letters to a pair of shoes, does that for me.

What kind of creative things do you do every day?

Aside from heartfelt chats with Wallace, HRH Pug?  I’ll say this – I can’t remember a day when I didn’t sit down to read even one page.  Literally.  On a perfect day, I’d have the time to page through a few newspapers, my favorite blogs (including the Duck, of course!), a book or two, and also write some myself.

Tell me about your family.

I’ve been married to the Anonymous Husband for 2.5 years.   Hero the Perfect, the family matriarch and resident cat, lives with us, as does that attention hog/Pug, HRH Wallace.
Favorite food?

What isn’t?  Does champagne (Veuve rose, please) count?

Favorite song?
“Georgia on My Mind” by Ray Charles.  Both the Pretty wedding song and just. . . yes.

Do you like to dance?

I like to watch people dance from my perch by the bar.
I’m sure if you attended a Pond Puppy Ball, you’d dance. If you could take a trip with anyone and go anywhere, where would you go and who would you take?

At the moment, I’m itching to whisk the Anonymous Husband away to Barcelona.  And Dublin.  Not to mention Edinburgh.  Can I leave it at “western Europe”?

Sure! What’s the best gift you’ve ever been given?

I’m pleading the pageant answer here – my grandparents.  They raised me during a time when they should have been empty nesters traveling the world.  Instead, they gave me mine. God, am I plagiarizing an Army ad there?  Sigh. *cue schlocky Hallmark moment*

What’s your ideal pet?

I already have two of them.  Well,except for the next answer…

There’s an enormous present waiting on the kitchen table for you.  What’s in it?

A pony!  No, really.

If the pony isn’t available, I’ll take these beauties.

Which do you like better: California or Texas?  Why?
I truly like different parts of each.  I miss the jaw-dropping beauty of California and summer days at the beach, not to mention my good friends and memories there.  There is a certain joy to Californians, which may be related to living in practically perfect surroundings.  And there simply is no burger like an In n’ Out cheeseburger, Animal style.

However, I find Texans to be a friendlier bunch.  I’ll never tire of the Texas gentlemen opening doors for me, and I’m mostly used to being called “ma’am” now.  I enjoy the sense of tradition here as well – the football, the college loyalties, the way people actually know Texas state history and what happened at the Alamo.  Show me a Californian who has replicas of the state flag all over their house, and . . . uh, well, I’d be surprised.

What’s your favorite things to cook?

I’m a baker at heart, actually.  Not to brag, but my oatmeal chocolate chip cookies aren’t to be trifled with. At the repeated request of the AH, I’m working on my pies, particularly apple.
I’ll help you taste test pies.  What’s your favorite type of Mexican food?

You have to try the fish tacos at my favorite spot in San Diego.  How soon can you get there?  I’ll meet you by the pier.

What style tip would you give me?  I’m not the most stylish duck, unless you count pink tiaras and an abundance of leopard print.
Your style is your own, darling!  It isn’t what the glossies, or even I, tell you to buy.

Look at your closet.  Identify the commonalities amongst the clothes to which you’re drawn, take an honest assessment in the mirror of the parts of your physique that you like & the areas you don’t want to emphasize, and work in the style you like in both a cut and color that suits you.

I’d sooner ask Queen Bitty for a style tip.

What do you want to achieve with your blog?

I eagerly look forward to a time when I have more time to devote to blogging and start on some freelance writing as well.  Right now, it is a welcome mental playground for me.  I’m completely flummoxed that anyone reads my nonsense, but I’m beside myself that you do.

I’d also like to do a blog tour of New York, LA, Atlanta, Dallas, San Antonio, etc. to meet all of you Invisible Internet Friends who have become so dear to me over the past year.
What a brilliant idea!  I never thought of a blog tour.  What do you hope people get from your blog?

If I’ve entertained someone, hopefully made him or her laugh – even a fake, “That’s sort of funny, kind of” chuckle – my work is done.  Anything else – a story to relate to, or a useful style tip – is so much icing on the Pretty cake.

Who’s your favorite designer?

I’m a classicist.  Give me Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera, Narciso Rodriguez, Oscar de la Renta, Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Diane von Furstenburg . . . or just, you know, one of those.  Any of them.  Please!

Alternatively, if the costume designer from “Mad Men” is available to dress me in those incredible early sixties styles, I can make myself available.  Like, now.

In my actual, non-runway life, I’m an internet bargain shopper who likes a little from a variety of stores.  You can find me wearing Banana Republic most of the time, with the odd Tory Burch splurge thrown in on a fancy day, and plenty of Target or Old Navy finds mixed in on the rest.  I’m also trying to learn more about vintage & would like to start incorporating some 50s and 60s pieces.

What made you become a lawyer rather than someone in fashion?
If only you had known me a few years ago, you wouldn’t be asking this!  It has taken me all of 31 years to become this superficial.

But seriously, my interest in style – which I distinguish from fashion, a more fleeting thing – began in law school and has developed as a fun diversion since then.  I don’t really know anything about fashion, but I sure do have plenty of opinions about it!

What’s your go-to Texas look?

Something with color.  You wouldn’t have caught me in bright teals and hot pinks back home, but something about the hot temperatures here have literally brightened my wardrobe.

I’m still working on the big hair and cowboy boots – although I had plenty of the latter in my horseback riding days . . .

Do you really like riding horses?  What type of riding did you do?

It is my heart. I grew up riding and showing Arabian horses, in various western and saddleseat events.  I’d like nothing more than do it again one day when time & circumstances permit.

Does Wallace the pug still pine for Queen Bitty, or are he and Bella still involved?
I’m sorry to report that HRH Wallace, a mere teenager, was recently given a stern talking to by Bella.  Apparently he’s been emotionally distant; he claims a squirrel invasion that required his total attention, but Bella accused him of just not being that into her.

This is all to say that Wallace is still trying to sort things out with Bella, while admittedly feeling smitten towards the Queen.  Perhaps another Pond Ball is necessary, in the name of puppy love?
Inspired Announcement:  We shall have a Mid-Summer’s Night Dream Puppy Ball.  Blame it On Pretty.  Details to follow.

Have you ever gone dancing at the Broken Spoke in Austin?  Would you want to go with me?

Absolutely!  Love the Spoke.  I’ll buy you a drink if you don’t make me dance.  Deal?

As a current Texan, you’ve got to like George.  Tell me you like George Strait or I’ll die right here.

I’ve adored George since long before my Texas days. On long drives to horse shows, over those long stretches of highway with no radio reception, my grandfather & I would play “All My Exes Live in Texas” and “Amarillo by Morning” (foreshadowing?) ad nauseam as we sang along.

Any last snark for the Pond?

Go Pretty or go home, lovelies!  I kid.  Sort of.

For anyone clicking over to my site, welcome.  Please pull up a chair and a champagne flute – I’m so happy to meet you!

Visit Pretty at her blog, I Pick Pretty, and enjoy all the fashion, snark and puppies you can handle!

Stay tuned, Invisible Friends!  Next week we have more whimsical fun, including a new Critter Confessions and tasty recipes.

And yes, I was serious about a Midsummer’s Night Dream Puppy Ball!  Stay tuned for details!