1. How do y’all feel about the resurgence of the wooden wedge heel? I for one could not be more delighted. They make me taller and they’re comfortable – sort of like walking in a pair of flats that’s been nailed to an ergonomically designed 4-inch piece of wood. Sort of.
2. Do you ever occasionally feel like you’re addicted to a certain food? Right now I’m addicted to asparagus. Roasted asparagus. I could eat it three times a day, seven days a week, and then I would beg for an eighth day. Just to eat more roasted asparagus. Maybe I need to start taking an iron supplement? Or maybe I’m just crazy? Or maybe I’ve just substituted a vegetable to take the place of last year’s obsession with black beans?
3. What is up with girls putting their hands on their hips in pictures? I was looking through some pictures on Facebook the other night, and the hand-on-hip thing is all the rage. In fact, when I was at the Chi O anniversary thing-y last weekend, I took a picture of two precious girls who are in college, and as soon as my eye hit the viewfinder they struck a well-rehearsed pose: heads angled together, hands on hips, big smiles. They looked darlin’, of course, but I just find it odd that we all managed to take perfectly lovely pictures for many years without employing the hand-on-hip pose, and now it’s EVERYWHERE. What gives? Is this Paris Hilton’s lasting legacy in our culture? I am confused.
The hands-on-hips thing allegedly makes your arm look skinnier.
Went through that with (of all things) Brussels sprouts last year. Roasted. Daily.
Meanwhile, let me rock your asparagus world: when you are tossing with the olive oil, salt, and pepper–add a few well washed & trimmed scallions/spring onions/green onions/whatever you call them in your part of the world. I am totally converted.
And funny on the hand-on-hip…I think it goes through stages–virtually all my photos with my best friend, we look like we’re trying to headlock each other with arms around the neck. Now we do it as a joke but for forever, it was just What We Did. Will remember the skinnier arms idea though I may be way past that particular point.
Loving the wooden wedge heel! Currently trying to decide if I need them in tan or black.
Currenlty addicted to avocados. Define. Putting them in salads of all kinds, mashing them with pico and dipping chips in them. Eating them sprinkled with salt. Yum.
I had not noticed the hand on hip thing, but now that i know all the young people are doing it I am going to start immediately to preserve my youth.
Okay, don’t get me started on the hands on hips thing. Every girl I know under 21 does this in EVERY picture ever made of them. It is strange but I will have to say in their defense that I do think you look a little thinner with the hand on the hip so now you know how all my pictures from here on out will be.
I am currently addicted to broccoli.
1. Don’t know that I’ve ever tried one on. I shall have to.
2. Recipe? I love Asparagus – as long as it’s fresh (I’m spoiled) and not canned! I’m actually cooking some to go along with some ham tonight!
3. It’s rooted in insecurity – I’m sure. But…who wouldn’t want skinnier arms??
I like the wooden heel, but I’m not quite to the point that I can do a black shoe with a wooden heel. Black and brown? Um, no. I’m working up the courage, but I’m not there yet.
I have never eaten asparagus. Ever. It looks like it would be bitter. It’s not?
I haven’t noticed the hands on hips thing, but approximately 92% of the pictures of me with my college friends have us in a weird “knees-bent, hands-on-knees” position. Like the camera went up and we bent down awkwardly. As though the power of the camera released our legs of the needed energy to stand up straight. Oh, I’m sure we look cute, but why?
I have daughters in their early twenties..that hand on the hip is the pose de rigueur. Also if there are a group of girls together and you want them to organize for a group photo instruct them to do the ‘sorority squat’. The entire front row will immediately lean forward in a cute squat with their hands on their knees so everyrone is in the photo. It’s actually quite helpful : )
#3 – definitely noticed this is what I do all the time now. I don’t know why. Maybe reading too many People and US magazines and seeing the stars pose that way. I do know that after too many pictures of arms down and the unsightly hanging of skin, arm up on hip is one way to avoid that. However, I do look like a 31 year old trying to be an 18 year old cheerleader. Maybe not the most flattering look.
I’d break my ankle. My poor, sad old-woman feet scream in pain if I go without my orthotics for more than a few hours.
Currently, I’m merely sustaining myself with Tums and Emetrol and sweet tea. Occasionally, I get wild and choke down some cheese toast and milk. Otherwise, it’s anything that will fight the nausea.
I have cousins that just finished at Auburn and all her facebook pictures are posed that way. She wasn’t in a sorority (that word never LOOKS correctly spelled), so I can attest to the fact that it is not exclusive to the Greeks. I suspect it has to do with slimming and posture (wink wink ahem) I wonder, though, if there is some sort of initiation that all the freshmen girls go through to get this brainwashed into them.
1. Wedge shoes KILL my feet. I’m all about the flats.
2. I’m kind of in a cheese thing right now. Can’t get enough of the stuff. All kinds!
3. I haven’t noticed that. I’ll have to look at facebook closer.
I cannot BELIEVE that I made myself your roasted asparagus mere hours before you posted this. And I haven’t had it in ages. And it was SO DELICIOUS I almost licked the plate. I even hopped over to your blog and typed “asparagus oil lemon” in the search bar to make sure I didn’t forget anything. Almost left out the kosher salt! The horror!
I discovered I was allergic to peanuts when I was in college. I discovered sunflower butter last month, and have been eating sunflower butter sandwiches almost every day. Sometimes I just dip a cracker in the sunflower butter for a quick snack, too.
I’ve noticed the whole hand-on-the-hips thing, too! What’s up w/ that? All these darling young girls don’t need that affectation! Just smile, for goodness sake! I know about food obsessions…YES to roasted asparagus!
I think I would have to try the asparagus before making any judgements about your sanity. ;) I went on a red cabbage kick a while back but my family was NOT on board. I did it with slaw, cooked, in salads… and couldn’t win them all over. ;) Every now and then they still call me ‘cabbage’ instead of mommy.
I forgot: squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the asparagus, and you will DIE! (sorry for the all caps…)
I love wedges. My rollover prone, wobbly ankles do not.
I got obsessed with guacemole recently. It was my true love. I blame/credit the Pioneer Woman’s cookbook. But I overdid it and now we’re taking a little break.
I don’t have FB (pauses to listen to startled gasps…continues), but I think the hands on hips thing may be a convenient solution to the “What do I do with my hands???” problem of picture taking.
I think the wooden wedge is adorable. However, I am so clumsy that I fear I’d break both ankles at the same time while trying to walk in them.
And I agree. Roasted asparagus warrants en eighth day.
College girl that is part of this hand-on-the-hip trend, here…. In my opinion, and the opinion of those around me, the hand on the hip looks more flattering than the limp arm at the side in pictures. Some girls take it a bit to far, though, and pop the hip out too far and bend their necks and backs at an unnatural angle. Weird. But you are right, the trend seemed to pop up out of nowhere and kinda confused me too at first.. ha!
Love the wedges!
I have an answer (I think) about the hands on hips! All fashion blogs and tv personalities say this is the most flattering pose. One hand on hip, leg popped, slightly turned sideways. Basically, the theory is it slims and highlights natural curves. The triangle that is formed when you put one hand on a hip gives your natural curve even more “pop.” That’s all I got!
And asparagus is always my favorite. Drizzled in olive oil, sea salt, and parmesan. Roasted on my favorite pampered chef stone.
Now you have me wanting asparagus!!
When we pose for a group shot someone invariably yells “skinny arms” and the hands hit the hips!! We learned it from from the youngest of our posse- a sorority girl and Mississippi State grad no less!!
1) LOVE all those shoes, but I am wayyyyyyy too uncoordinated to wear them. So if you get some cute ones, you should definitely post pics so I can live wooden-wedge-shoe-wearing vicariously through you.
2) I have eaten like 7 whole cantaloupes in the past 5 days.
3) I have totally noticed that, too. Hands on hips is absolutely de rigueur. But I think only for early twenties on down…..
I hadn’t really thought about it, but all my daughter’s friends are doing that too! She was in a pageant recently and the girls were even putting their hands on their hips while doing their walk. We sure didn’t do that when I was younger. (I shouldn’t brag, but I have to because I am so proud that she is sweet as well as beautiful, but my daughter won the pageant she was in!)
I’m already the same height as my husband so wedges just don’t appeal to me. Maybe if they made them just a teensy bit lower I’m 5’11” so being 6’3″ doesn’t really appeal to me, ya know?
Roasted asparagus? My family is the same way. Even the boys who don’t love vegetables much.
I haven’t noticed the hands on the hips. I have noticed the exaggerated tilt of the head, though. If it makes your arms look slimmer I’m all for it.
Side note: I’m watching the elimination and am SHOCKED at the results tonight.
What?
I must check out these shoes! I live away from true fashion and don’t wear anything taller than running shoes, but I like to dream.
I’m obsessed with roasted carrots. My three boys (who are 6 and under) eat them up and that makes me very excited. Maybe I should try some asparagus.
The hand on the hip DOES in fact give your arm a thinner appearance in pictures. Instead of your arm being flat against your side, with a smushed look, it is slightly extended from your body and all smushiness is gone. Try it in the mirror, you may just find your self with a new ‘picture pose’. Although admittedly I forget this nugget of information most of the time.
Wait a second. CHI O? Did I know this? Helloooooooooo, Sister! (You’re talking to a former Model Pledge AND GM, yes ma’am, you are.)
My friend Ashley just explained it a few weeks ago. It makes your arm look skinny..so before every picture you say…”Flat arm…fat arm” and then you POP your arm out. It’s life changing really..not to mention its fun to say. Oh, and we are not twenty somethings either..LOL!
I’m gonna have to try the hand on hip to get a skinny arm. Never mind that the rest of me will still look like a barn. :)
And the “young lady” pose that I’m sick of? The pursed-lips, Daisy Duck pose. Stop it already!
1. Wedges, love them! The only way I can wear a heal for longer that 30 minutes.
2. I always go through an asparagus craze at the beginning of summer. I love it tossed in olive oil, Parmesan, salt & pepper & then oven roasted until the tips get crispy.
3. Picture posing phases are so funny. I’m just glad it’s starting to move on from the “puckered looking up towards the camera” phase. I’m sure the “hands on the hips” pose will totally get under my skin soon, but for now it’s oddly refreshing.
My food addiction? Fresh pineapple. mmmmm. I’m not lying when I say I could eat the enitre pineapple in one sitting.
Love the wooden wedge. It’s just cool to me. I infrequently wear heels, but I do think they are cool. I get food obsessions, eat the heck out of that food for weeks, then I never, never, want to touch it again. It is not good for me, and unfortunately, I think I have passed that tendency on to my son. Not sure about hand on hip, although I know of a pose that includes the hand on hip that ALWAYS makes you look slimmer. I always forget to do it though, and that doesn’t help my body much in pictures. It makes me sad to think that Paris Hilton could have had ANY lasting effect on our society.
The hand on hip just flat wears me out. Could there just be one picture without it?
I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE (did I say I loved) roasted asparagus – tossed with some olive oil, sea or kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. Mmmmmm!
1. I love the look of the wedges but I don’t like wearing them, I’m a heels kinda girl.
2. Yes, currently rice.
3. I do it and I think it’s because I believe it makes me look thinner (not that it actually does)! And as I glanced back at all the pics of my Chi O days we do in fact have our hands on our hips or we are doing the hands on knees squish together pose innalmost EVERY picture.
Are you talking to ME? Guilty as charged on the hip pose. After years and years of hating the way my pictures looked, and with the onset of all this social media that allows people to put just any picture up and tag you in it- I did some research on how to have your picture made (as we say in the south). Lets face it- you’re either born with it or you have to work at it. I am in the latter group. So, there are lots of tricks- lean forward, hand on hip, “engage” the camera, and NEVER get photographed from some one who is shooting at an “up angle”. I didn’t know all these things but they seem to be true, for me anyway. I guess I will try some other “arm poses” but I agree, we all need to avoid the smashed flab of a flat arm. (trust me)
hmmmm…maybe I should try the hands on hip thing. I had not noticed.
I am so with you on the wedge heels…LOVE THEM! I am only 5’2″ so have always been the short little chick but once I tried an experiment. I wore wedge heels for like 6-7 days in a row and you know what? I felt like a better person (jk) but seriously…I felt more a part of little talking circles with my friends. My daughter, at 14, is about 5’6″ and she doesn’t like being that tall so I tell her, “Being tall means you’re better!” So far she’s not buying it.
I hadn’t noticed the hands-on-hips photo poses, but I was following the links to Melanie’s fashion Friday post and saw this page. Hilarious!
http://www.tracyporter.com/dresses/c/2023/
THANK YOU FOR THE HANDS ON HIPS THING! ! ! ! I noticed this was all the rage looking at Prom pictures last year! ! ! I couldn’t figure it out and asked my daughter about it, who is a non-hand on hipster, and she really hadn’t noticed it and thought I was being too picky, sort of like I am with people who need to tweeze their eyebrows! EVERYONE is doing it and last night at Prom I noticed it is still the rage to do this. I understand it would be an arm-thinning thing but these 18 year olds don’t have the arm baggage that we older girls have! Thank you for this! ! ! I thought I was crazy.
I am making roasted asparagus this weekend. I am also shopping with friends, and will let you know on the wooden wedge heel. This weekend I will also stand with my hands on my hips. A Lot. So that I look hip and happening.
1- I love, love LOVE the wedge heel! They also make your ankles look tiny and give everyone an instant calf muscle.
2- I am not friends with that vegetable.
3 – As a former ADPi I am quite familiar with the “sorority pose” and its quite convenient when you have 20 or more girls that you need to have a group photo of – everyone knows what to do instantly. Sort of takes away part of the photographer’s job to pose the picture. As for the hand on hip – its been around for years; at least 4 or so. I have been doing it forever. It slims your arm in a great way! Also helps to get rid of the armpit fat that folds over if you are wearing a tank top or something. Another trick – if you are facing a camera directly – keep your shoulders straight and poke your neck forward like an ostrich and it will slim your neck. You can’t see that you are doing the ostrich in the photo :)
two ways of asparagus – baked with butter, kosher salt, and pine nuts. grilled – yummo
but for the uninitiated – it makes your pee smell funny
The wooden wedge heal – could take it or leave it. Depends on the shoe – most are pretty cute though.
I am addicted to all food – maybe that’s why the hand on the hip isn’t helping me.
Yes the hand on the hip thing is supposed to help make your arms look skinnier – however I haven’t found that to work for me yet.
I saw some white “gourmet” asparagus yesterday, but it didn’t have a price under it. So I didn’t buy it. Have you tried it?
Also, the hand-on-hip thing has to be a 100% improvement for their desire to stick their tounges toward each other, or make their lips look all warped and their eyes bugged out. Maybe they’re maturing? One can only hope.
I love the wedge!!! LOVE! Including the wooden heel!! Delighted! Asparagus is nice. Don’t eat much. Need your recipe. Hand on hip in poses, LOVE it, too. I don’t know why. In fact I haven’t thought about until this post. Now I’m wondering why I love it. Or when it all started. Or why it all started. I have never, however, been a fan of the sticking the tongue out as I noticed referenced above. Odd. Just odd.
I too am a fan of the roasted asparagus. I have been pan-roasting it in a skillet on the stove, then adding sea salt. Delish. And your comment about the hands on hips photos made me think of all the models in magazines lately with their mouths half open. What’s up with that?
1. Have always loved wedge heels — glad they’re back, too.
2. Love love asparagus. Sometimes I make what I call Tilapagus: fresh tilapia filet, asparagus, a tiny bit of water – microwave for 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle with lemon juice, salt/pepper. Yum! (and fat-free!)
3. About the arm thing — supposedly your arm looks skinnier b/c you’re tensing your muscle a bit? I’m all for it. I’ve also heard put your chin a tiny bit forward to keep a double chin from being so… well, double! (triple?)
1. I would be so self-concious in these, in my “Advanced Maternal Age” (as I’ve been repeatedly called today.. lol!)… so I’ll probably just admire them from distance in my Yellow Boxes.
2. YES! I’m *always* on a food kick. Always.
3. Even worse is the whole puckering of the lips. That drives me nuts because… well, it just does. ;) Or should I put :*
hahaha!
Meant to say that roasted asparagus with hollandaise sauce is incredible (much less healthy than with olive oil and salt, but in-cred-i-ble, nevertheless!).
the ones around here are sticking their tongues out. Yuck. they will be so proud in 20 years. At least, with the arms they’ll just look awkard.
This made me giggle because am old roommate was obsessed with this pose, except she also arranged her feet in a ballet looking position. It’s one thing when everyone in the group is doing it, but it kinda looks silly if you are the only one. I’ll confess I tried it once when she explained it to me, but I just felt too silly.
here’s your weekend assignment. take one self portrait with your hands straight at your side, and one with your hands on your hips. tell me which you like best. (also do like they do in true makeover style: in the first one do a ponytail and no make up with a sad face and in the second do your hair and make up and cheese it.) then post them. i dare you.
Okay, I just mentioned the hand on the hip thing to my researcher husband (you know the one who wants Casey & Haley to sing a duet together but is now excited that when he heard that they might actually be dating) and he looked it up. He found that it came from the show “The Hills” and then he directed me to this page on facebook…
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Girls-that-always-put-their-hand-on-their-hip-when-taking-a-picture/324592779868
Sorry for all the info. I have to be careful what I mention to him because then I have more info that I know what to do with once he gets on the case. :-)
I love asparagus sooooo much! Am I the only one who has a particular side-effect from asparagus? Could happen 10 minutes after eating two pieces but much more impressive if I wait a couple hours cause it’s slipped my mind and it’s a big surprise!
I still love asparagus enough to forgive any oddness resulting.
Laurie D. in Oregon
Your comments about the hands on the hip made me crack up!! So true…it is all the rage. Right before pictures my 14 year pops that hand on that hip like a reflex! It’s quite funny and I think it’s just an answer to what to do with the arm/hand…she certainly doesn’t need to make her arm look skinny!! :) She also kinda pokes that little hip out too. It was funny because her boyfriend even said something about it once…he laughed and said, “Man, it’s like automatic!” haha
Thank you thank you thank you for bringing the hand on the hips thing out into the discussion realm. I mean, what in the world are they doing? Sure it may make your arms look skinnier, but it makes you look awkward and symmetrical with your little buddy and you take up more space….it’s a 2011 phenomenon!
I was in New Orleans yesterday, just off Jackson Square, and two super-cute college girls stopped me and asked me to take their photo. I pegged them as sorority girls instantly, because they were both sporting maxi dresses, sandals, and gigantic sunglasses. They stood next to each other, angled their heads toward each other, and popped those opposite arms on their hips simultaneously. I had to force myself not to giggle. They looked like programmed robots! As soon as they were out of our line of sight, I demonstrated the look to my husband and we just laughed and laughed. And then we talked about how old we are and that we’ve become the fuddy-duddies who take photos for cute college girls.
1. I am tall, but I still just bought myself a pair of wedge heels. I wore them to church today and was almost 6 feet tall, but I rocked it!
2. Um, no.
3. This drives me CRAZY!! My daughter is in college and all the college girls do it. So cliche, if you ask me.
The hands on the hips beats that annoying pout. It’s not attractive and sure isn’t appealing.
Not keen on wooden shoe anything – feet hurt anyhow and I recall clopping around in those Dr. Scholls sandals a hundred years ago when I was young. The hands on hip thing – too much – you are right – ‘
there are much worse things you could obsess – asparagus is good, healthy and does that odd thing when it goes through your system – and if I said any more about it would be def TMI
I am dying over this post. I am a girls ministry director and the hand-on-hip thing drives me nutty. The other night I was at one of their 16th birthday parties, and I tried pulling their hands down and just laughed. I asked them if they could take a picture without doing that. I submit that they cannot. The best is that they pop their hip and knee as well. EVERY PICTURE LOOKS THE SAME! However, I’ve known a few older peeps to do it as well. I have yet to give into that trend.
I’ll take the hand-on-the-hip look over the duck face any day!
Late to the party, but I’ve gotta say the hands-on-knees pose starts waaaaay before college if you’ve been in dance or sports. Convenient and common sense way to get a bunch of people in a picture.
As far as the hand on hip goes, I wasn’t in a sorority but yes I do it and have done it for several years (I’m 25) because:
1. It gives me something to do with my arm
2. I stand with my hands on my hips anyway, so it’s natural
3. It helps with posture (back straight, shoulders back)
4. If my right hand is on my hip, it shows off my Aggie ring, and most importantly
5. If my left hand is on my hip, it shows my lack of ring, meaning I’m available (kidding)
I don’t kick my hip out though, and I’m not worried if it makes me look thinner or not. Good posture will do that anyway.
Wooden heels. Love the look, but every time my husband and I see someone in them they walk in such a jarring manner that looks painful. They look good if a woman stands still.