What We're Into

As much as we wish we could say our blog is based purely on original ideas and content, there's no way we would have created our site without lots of inspiration from others. As you know we are extremely inspired by music, by each other, and by nature, but you may not know of our other sources of inspiration. So here's our little guide to what makes us tick, the people and the sites that we check compulsively...our modern day muses.

The Man Repeller 

http://www.manrepeller.com

Instagram: @manrepeller

In 2010, Leandra Medine started the blog man repeller as a hobby when the idea struck her during a shopping trip at Topshop. ManRepeller, a humorous site for serious fashion, not only showcases wild and outrages garments, but presents a wide variety of articles on popular culture, the fashion world, dating, food trends, and anything imaginable. There is something for everyone, yet the original idea stays constant, with feminism trailing throughout. What is a man repeller you might ask? "She who outfits herself in a sartorially offensive mode that may result in repelling members of the opposite sex. Such garments include but are not limited to harem pants, boyfriend jeans, overalls, shoulder pads, full length jumpsuits, jewelry that resembles violent weaponry and clogs." And we doofykooks are all for it. 

Check out the blog, updated daily, for a refreshing take on life, and also take a look at Medine's book 'Seeking Love, Finding Overalls' !! It's fantastic. 

Petra & Anna Collins 

http://www.petracollins.com

Instagram: @annaballins @petrafcollins  

Petra and Anna Collins are a sister duo from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Petra gained her following and success through photography, which is sometimes controversial, often having to do with feminism, the female form, and sexual references. Her younger sister, Anna is studying to be a dance teacher, but has created a youtube channel called 'Ask Anna' where she takes questions from teenagers and answers them based on her experiences... (she even answered one of ours!!) Between the two of them, they have been beyond inspirational to us. Just their overall aesthetic, a dreamy, pink world focused on feminism is oh-so pleasing, but their art, whether dance, photography, or film, always makes us think and is completely beautiful. Check out their social media sites, websites, and Petra's intriguing new book 'Babe'!!! 

The Free People Blog 

http://blog.freepeople.com

Instagram: +Free People 

I've been reading the Free People Blog every single day for about 7 years now, and I don't think that will ever change. We have always loved the Free People brand and their overall aesthetic, and their blog makes us love them even more. They showcase their clothes, editorial shoots, and behind the scenes action all the time which is great. But on top of that, they also include lots of recipes, especially for restricted diets (which is amazingggg), as well as book club posts, horoscopes, travel ideas and tips, music recommendations, workout regimens, DIY projects and soooo much more. It has everything, and it's the perfect daily read for a bit of inspiration.  

 The Suarez Sisters 

http://ds.dylanasuarez.net & http://www.natalieoffduty.com

Instagram: @natalieoffduty & @dylanasuarez 

These two are the girls we want to be!! We discovered them a few years ago through their blogs and now follow them in everything that they do. Natalie is a model and Dylana is a photographer, but they are also both creative consultants, musicians, bloggers, designers, and stylists. They are sisters and the BEST of friends which we can really relate to! They work together on every project, and always have something new to show the world. Their creativity and fabulous style are an inspiration to us, and we hope to make our blog as beautiful and unique as that of theirs. 

Bridgette Muller 

http://hummusbird.blogspot.com

Instagram: @hummusbirrrrrrrd 

We have featured Bridgette on the blog before as one of our doof of the weeks, but we had to include her, because she is another huge inspiration to us! She is actually friends with the Suarez sisters because of their collaborative work with Free People. All of our muses are kind of connected! She is just so real, so humorous, and so creative. She is truly free and definitely one of a kind. Her blog showcases a lot of her photography and photoshop edits, and she includes even more of her work on Instagram. Plus, following her on Snapchat makes every day a bit funnier. From her incredible photography, to her blogging with Free People, to the DIY home goods she is constantly making, Bridgette is one to watch, a true muse through and through. 

Beth Hoeckel 

http://bethhoeckel.com

Instagram: @bethhoeckel 

Beth Hoeckel is an incredible multidisciplinary artist that we discovered just this year and fell in love with. She mostly creates collage and mixed media work, which you can buy at Society6! Each piece is so unique, out there, and mystifying. This is the kind of oddly amazing stuff we want all over our rooms. She has also done a lot of work in the design for Rookie, which is another one of our muses, which we'll talk about soon. She is the kind of artist we aspire to be like, one who creates simple but thought-provoking and beautiful pieces of art. We just can't get enough.  

Tavi Gevinson & Rookie

http://www.rookiemag.com

Instagram: @rookiemag & @tavitulle 

Okay. Rookie. Tavi Gevinson. These might be our biggest muses yet. We've been obsessed with Tavi for years now, following her through her progressive career as a blogger, fashionista, online magazine creator, book maker and editor, actress, and broadway star. What hasn't she done? Tavi is an incredible human being, who has inspired us so much, especially in the realm of feminism and self-love. Her writing and fashion choices defy social norms in the best way possible, and her voice is one of the most compelling and resonating out there, especially because she is a young woman herself, one who is going through the same kind of life changes and choices that a lot of us are. A few years ago, she started Rookie Mag, and online magazine for teenage girls. It is written by a wide range of ages, some teens, some older adults, but all about the kinds of thoughts, problems, changes, questions, and lifestyles that teenagers are going through. Each month pertains to a different theme, and the content is updated three times daily to fit the average teen's life: one post before school, one post after school, and one after dinner. The topics vary, from playlists, sexual and gender related posts, 'Ask a Grown Man' segments, photography, fashion DIYs, etc. There is nothing more inspiring or comforting than Rookie. Even better, for the past four years, Tavi has turned the magazine into a real-life publication, making it into a four year yearbook, taking the best pieces from each year, and turning them into large books in yearbook form. It is just too perfect... We have the whole collection, and each is simply a work of art. Whether you're a teen or a senior, a boy or girl, you MUST check out Rookie, because the concepts can pertain to anyone, and the inspiration is endless. 

So there are some of our biggest muses today. The list goes on, and it will always vary, but there are some outrageously amazing people out there who we want to celebrate, who we can thank for some of our own creative pursuits. We hope you enjoyed, and found some inspiration yourself. Love, the Doofykooks :) 

Q Liu 2

       Sydney and I had the wonderful experience of modeling for designer Q Liu! We did a photoshoot a couple of weeks ago with photographer Richard Nichols. Since Sydney and I are so close it made the shoot fun and easy to do! We are excited to see where this will take us!!

January Tunes

New year, new music. 

Here's our January playlist... a compilation of a lot of randomness that we've been listening to as the new year begins. No real direction as far as taste goes, just a bunch of completely different artists and sounds to enjoy. Of course, we have to include one of our favorite Beatles tunes, Honey Pie, because they recently got added to Spotify and we could not be more Beatles-crazy right now. Woodland, by Paper Kites has been an absolute obsession after playing it as the clock stroke 12 on new years. It feels fresh, full of life, and positive for what's to come. My House by Florida really gets ya pumped, and The Crystal Cat by Dan Deacon is the PERFECT tune for driving late at night on the highway or having an epic dance party. Gold by Kiiara is such a unique, vibin song in all of its eclecticism. And we have included many chill songs by those like Whilk and Misky, Priscilla Ahn, Bon Iver, City of the Sun, and Soko, plus a few more. And lastly, we included two Blue Foundation songs, another new obsession, a band that we cannot get over. So enjoy this months list of tunes, and give us any suggestions as we look for more to vibe to in this new year! 

Overview Of A One Day Trip

Dear Reader,

"Spur of the moment" is a term meaning (according to Urban Dictionary) to do something off the cuff.  I am not a spur of the moment type of gal, but I am.  You see, I was told that if you are scared to do something, you have to do it to overcome that fear.  So hence my not-so-spontaneous self turns into a rather spontaneous person. This weekend was very spontaneous, resulting in a very last minute trip to Connecticut with my mother.

On planes I can't help but think.  I think about everything.  I never go a minute without some question or scenario popping in my head.

As I look out the window I see so many things, and the biggest thing I see is how small everything is. You may be thinking well yeah, you're 30,000 feet up in the air things are sure to be small! But i am thinking in a much different way.  Most people think wow I can see so much from up here, or wow everything is so tiny, everyone is little ants. When I look at the earth in this way I realize how insignificant everything is.  There are so many cars filled with so many people doing so many things.  People might be listening to music or cursing at the cars in front of them.  And even the people in the buildings, what are they doing? They could be getting fired, making up, breaking up, making a pie, taking an art class. Who knows? And in a sense no one really knows.  There are only a certain amount of people that you know now and a "bigger" certain amount of people that you are going to know in your lifetime.  The point I'm trying to get at and the question I am trying to answer is, is there a point to life or are we all just insignificant?

I am not much of a party-go-toer, and if I happen to stumble on one of these occasions (usually family parties) I tend to sit back and watch and let the other people do the talking.  Whether this is selfish of me, I don't know. So when this family party started I was over near the snack table.  Guacamole and crackers do not sound like they go well together, but when you do not have any tortilla chips to dunk in, crackers are your next best choice.

Now, even though I have a family full of nurses and writers, I knew I was not going to find what the meaning of life was through the conversations we had.  But I did find some of the meanings to life that people cherish and hold forever.  Many of the things that people cherish tend to be the things that they live for.  A line someone said to me this night was (not word for word) "I think you are supposed to love the people you know and make them feel happy and be happy yourself.  I think that is a key point in life." This stuck out to me and I totally agree.  There are so many people in this world that are unhappy.  And this makes me sad, because I know that one of the things that I can knock out for being the reason for living on Earth, is unhappiness. It does not even cross my mind as a possibility.  It amazes me at how unbelievably different everyone is, but so similar at the same time.  I still do not know how this is possible, but it is beautiful. I see kids running for hours and aunts playing back gammon like they are playing for their lives! And it makes me so happy.  So happy that everyone is finding their happiness.    

Over the course of this trip, I had more Dunkin Doughnuts than I've had in my life time.  I did not have my sisters there with me, so it was weird and i felt awkward and anxious at first, but I felt more of a connection with the people I talked to rather than a conversation with people and my sisters.  Although it would have been nice to have them come along for the quick but pleasing adventure, maybe it was good to take a break and enjoy the scenery with just my mom which has never happened before.  Take a break from the laughter and endless jokes, and take in Todd's Point and take in the exciting moments that you have to deal with yourself, without the safety of the ones you know better to rely on.  Step outside your comfort zone.  People in the world are never going to find who they truly are without exploring and wandering outside the almost empty box of a world that we are called to live in.  The world is not a box, it is a sphere whose crevices leak beyond the straight and enclosing walls that people see it to be.  The definition of life according to Urban Dictionary "is now. quit wasting it. I mean come on! your looking up the definition for life. so lame. go do something!"   

Maggie 

 

Doof Of The Week: Kelly Nash

                            

What are you listening to/watching/reading right now?

Lately, I've been SO into Doja Cat and Jhene Aiko...they're way different than my normal kind of music but I'm obsessed. I also LOVE LOVE LOVE the Morning by the Weeknd. I could go on forever about the music I'm listening to because it's always changing and and I'm always looking for something new. Blue Foundation has recently come back into my recent listens, as well as St. South, Moguai, Flight Facilities, 'Gold' by Kiiara, and Whilk and Misky. I don't watch a lot of T.V. but when I have time I binge watch Sex and the City. I also have an obsession with watching Vegan What I ate In A Day Youtube videos, as well as Karlie Kloss' youtube channel Klossy. I also just watched Song One, and it was an incredible movie!! I read Manrepeller, The Free People Blog, and my favorite fashion blogs daily. I also constantly re-read The Alchemist, my favorite book, going through my favorite parts and learning more and more from it each time I pick it up.

Sartorial signature?

I always wear the same 3 rings, which each have individual stories about how I got them, and mean a lot to me. I'm also a HUGE fan of the black leather jacket.

Secret skill?

I can raise one eyebrow really well ;)

Idols/inspirations?

ugh, where do I begin...?! Tavi Gevinson, the Suarez Sisters, Bridgette Muller, my friend Kelly Komotos, and Petra and Anna Collins are my biggest inspirations, especially in a creative/fashion sense. But most of all, I'm inspired by my SISTERS! Obsessed with them, really. They never cease to amaze me and I can never get over that. Whenever I need inspiration, advice, someone to laugh with, or someone to go on an adventure with, they are my go-tos no matter what. Lastly, my late Grandfather is one of my biggest inspirations. I have looked up to him as an artist and person for my entire life, and every day I use his creative energy all around me to fuel my own.

What does being a DOOF mean to you?

I've spent a lot of time trying to really categorize my thoughts on being a doof, because it's really everything to me. Being a doofykook is what my life is about! But to me, being a doof is to find confidence in all your flaws and in all your weirdness. It's OWNING who you are and being unapologetic about that. At the same time, it's being open and curious to all the other doofs out there. It's about unity, acceptance, equality, and confidence.

Latest discovery?

1. The absolute amazingness of extra chunky peanut butter and medjool dates :)))) !!!!

2. The power of energy in our lives. I've recently gotten very intrigued by astrology and Reiki, and alternative ways of thinking, and energy manipulation is one of the most interesting to me. I have come to really believe that the way you present yourself, and the energy you put out into the world is the energy you will get back. It's very cool.

What's your take on feminism?

I'm a big believer in equality between the sexes as well as races, sexual orientations, and all other forms. I think that humans are amazing creatures with capabilities to do great things and I don't see the point in holding each other back. Equality needs to be present so we can reach our full potential, and I'll stand by that no matter what.

Quote or phrase to live by?

"you are not just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean in a single drop" (I say this to myself EVERY morning before I get up and it's a life-changer)

Talk about something you think is important?

I've been a vegan for over a year now and a vegetarian for almost two and a half, and animal rights as well as personal health is something I think is EXTREMELY important. I have always dealt with body-image issues, so narrowing down my options for food was always a kind of vice for me to deal with those issues, but the more I learned about the vegan lifestyle and how to really do it the right way, the more I became a firm believer that it is a lifestyle we should all be following. There are a lot of misconceptions about veganism and the people who chose to follow it, and I think what might be even more important than the diet itself, is the knowledge of it and of where your food is coming from in general. Our bodies are our temples, and for the most part, no one takes the time or effort to understand what they're putting in that temple. I'm all about educating ourselves on this topic and searching for the best possible lifestyle that pleases my body, mind, and the animals too :)

Silent Film

https://vimeo.com/148523859

Hello, this weekend my friends and I (Me/Molly, Kendra, Danielle, and Chloe) created a silent film. Like most silent films, an instrumental piece played in the background. Our song was "The Winner is..." From Little Miss Sunshine. The plot was a little rough in the beginning with no major ideas, but the cold wind pressed our ideas to the surface. We started with the idea of a couple (genders not specified although we're all girls) who was going to be separated by Danielle. However, as we continued and found a role for myself we came to a thought of a futuristic plot of no genders at all. While viewing our film it is up to you to decide the relationships between characters. Whether it is an example of friendships or something more is up to the viewer. Our goal was to show relationships and how ever-changing they are. You can watch the video above, or follow the link above for a larger, more clear version of the video. Also, check out some of my favorite stills bellow. Enjoy! 

Q Liu

Here, we feature the amazingly eccentric Q Liu, a fashion designer from Saint Louis, Missouri who crafts her clothes from felt and other materials, each made meticulously by hand. Her designs are true works of art, art that both Molly and Sydney were privileged to model a few weeks back. They are smizing better than ever here... we hope you enjoy this fun collaboration.

Doof Of The Week: Jamie Kopacka

Meet our 8th Doof of the Week, my best friend Jamie Kopacka. She is a truly free thinker, with a wild soul, and she couldn't be more of a doof! Get to know her a bit more here...

What have you been listening to/reading/watching lately? 

Lately I have been vibin to music that I can just chill too, like the kind of songs you can just put on in your room and just think till it eventually it just becomes the background noise, but it invokes thoughts and feelings. Here are a few I have been listening to lately, Hurt me by Lapsley ,  Green Mountain State by Trevor Hall,  and Slip by Elliot Moss. Im also really into reggae and my favorite song this week is Roses, by The Chainsmokers. I really enjoy reading philosophy books, non-fiction, or biographies. I also really enjoy watching documentaries, I really enjoy learning about people, disorders, concepts, and ect. Documentaries are one of my favorite things to watch because I find it very intriguing to learn about real life things and I like having  some kind of connection to what I am watching.  Although, lately I have been watching Gilmore Girls a lot. This show reminds me a lot of my childhood, every time I watch it I think back to when me and my sister used to watch it together every morning and how we wanted to live in the quaint and perfect town of Stars Hallow. To this day, every time I watch that show, I picture myself living that simplistic yet whimsical life, in that small town running the Dragon Fly Inn and eating at Luke’s Diner everyday. 

Sartorial signature? 

I sartorial signature would probably have to be my accessories. All of my friends, teammates, and coaches know me for wearing the same bracelets, necklaces everyday. I used to be known for wearing a lot of rings, however, since coming to college I do not wear as many because I tend to loose them.  I  always wear my choker with the celtic knot on it. This is something I wear everyday and I have not taken it off since the day one of my best friends bought it for me.  In addition, I always wear my rope bracelet that I got on a family vacation and it always reminds me of the beach and the great trips there with my family. I also never take off my ankle bracelets. The accessories that I wear  are not only part of my style they represent piece of me, they are sentimental and they all hold a lot of meaning. 

Latest discovery?

My latest discovery would have to be that recently I have discovered that I am a TRUE Scorpio. Obviously I always knew that my zodiac sign was Scorpio, however, I never really took interest in it until this year. It began early in the summer and ever since I have been researching it almost on a daily basis. So far mostly everything that is true for Scorpios is true for me. Throughout this I have learned so much about myself. For one, I have learned that I am a crazy control freak. Not in the way of controlling others, but trying to control every aspect of my life. However, I am beginning to realize that there is so much in life that is out of our control and we will drive ourselves absolutely crazy trying to control these things. I think that this is true for most humans. We have this desire to achieve perfection and control our destiny, however, in reality there are going to be things in our lives that are beyond our control. I am starting to realize that you just have to take life day by day and not try to control every aspect of it. It feels good to let go a little, life becomes a lot simpler and you can start to enjoy even the smallest of things... like dessert :) So the point of this whole spiel is to enjoy life and don’t try to control every aspect of it! STOP BEING SUCH A SCORPIO... 

What does being a doofykook mean to you? 

Being a doofykook means that you are a crazy wild sick nasty being with a lot of funk. You are like a really thick funny, whimsical, mystery book, that only worthy people want to pick up and read. A doofykook is one of a kind, they have unique and quirky personalities and they listen to really cool music OBVIOUSLY nothing basic. A doofykook always keeps it interesting ;)

How would you describe yourself? 

My astrological sign is a Scorpio. I know I just discussed this above, but it basically says I am a control freak who is deep, intuitive, passionate, self- driven, secretive, mysterious, and so on. This is all very relevant to me. I am the kinda person who thinks and feels so deeply about everything, however, I very rarely let others in on that. I am introverted, competitive, loyal, determined, spontaneous, indecisive, and borderline crazy and spazzy:)

What's your take on feminism? 

I believe that women should empower every part of themselves and even their flaws! I think a lot of the time society belittles women and tries to tell them what they are supposed to be. However, a women should never feel like she has to fit their image, what does society know anyway? A women should also never feel like she has to live up to a man’s standards and they have every right that a man has. We women are strong and powerful and we must embrace it!

Quotes/phrases you live by? 

“Love the life you live, live the life you love”- Bob Marley

“None but ourselves can free our minds”- Bob Marley 

“You are confined only by the walls you build yourself”

“Live as if you were gonna die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever”- Mahatma Gandhi” 

“We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are”

“Forget all the reasons why it wont work and believe the one reason why it will”

“ The harder the struggle, the more glorious the triumph” ~never give up 

I live by soooo many quotes, theres WAY to many to name. 

Talk about something you think is important? 

I think it is important to know that the energy you put out is the energy that you are going to receive. I also truly believe that it is important to not only make the people you love happy, but also yourself. Life is so short and unpredictable so do not waste time on things that don't make you happy. Do what you love, find your passions, and embrace your talents. Seek knowledge and use your abilities for the greater good. Have the courage to feel so deeply that it scares you and do not get caught up in the superficial things. I think that it is important to know that life is more then who we are, we should make every moment count, but we shouldn’t get caught up in them because life is so much bigger. Live every moment to the fullest and never loose who you truly are. 

December Tunes

Here it is, the December playlist! This month's array of songs came together and was very obviously more chill than any other playlist of ours. Maybe it's the time of year and the weather, maybe it's just us, but here's what we've been listening to lately. Chill to the max. We start it off with the absolute obsession of this month: So High by Doja Cat. It's so smooth, so intriguing, so GOOD! We have a lot of relaxing, slower tunes, from artists like Elliot Moss, Lykke Li, The Chapin Sisters, Banks, Ryan Adams, Whilk and Misky, and Sofi de la Torre. Obviously, a majority of our songs are slower. Another new favorite is the sexy sounds of Niykee Heaton in Bad Intentions. Definitely playing on repeat. We're also in love with Melanie Martinez's Mr. Potato Head. The lyrics are very thought provoking, and so relevant to the standards women are held to in today's society. It makes you think, and sounds beautiful at the same time. Perfection. There's some throwbacks from The Lovin' Spoonful, The Cranberries, Bob Dylan, The Doors, and Baby Bash too, among others we are loving right now. So chill out, turn this playlist on, and let it carry you away. Winter break will be here soon enough!