Ok. So, I didn’t exactly provide you with moment-by-moment Phish fashion coverage, as promised. Frankly, I was distracted. Not just by the surprising amount of edgy looks, fringy boots, and hair strand-thin metallic headbands worn high on the forehead (they were a revelation), but by the experience itself. I felt like Alice in Wonderland, but was in a meticulously cared for polo field, surrounded by vegetarian food vendors as far as the eye could see, rather than a rabbit hole. Did you know that when thousands of glow sticks sail above your head simultaneously, it looks like fireworks? Amazing.

Now, about the fashion. Although I neglected to snap photos of all the goodness I was seeing, I was fortunate enough to be traveling with some of the most inspired, fun dressers I know: my friends.

Natalie’s shimmery bronze Nike high tops were a highly coveted item by all, and looked even better next to Leanne’s shiny blues:

Halloween was amazing, and the costumes were terribly clever. Taryn and Leanne went as My Little Ponies, and pieced together their costumes from wig shops, random stores, and the shiny leotard mothership: American Apparel. They even carried along matching combs, so people could comb their hair and tails. Genius, and adorable:

Yours truly went as a peacock, and used a shimmery vintage blue dress as my base, then added on a homemade tail made with a ribbon, glue gun, and peacock feathers. I found a perfectly jaunty hair comb with feathers galore, and added little fingerless lace gloves:

There are just some nights when “cooking” is out of the question, and I draw the line just shy of heating things. That, I can do. But, the heating of food must not require much effort or participation on my part; there will be no simmering, then boiling, then bringing back down to a simmer. Not even my beloved grill pan makes the cut, and on these nights I rely on one appliance and one appliance only: the oven.

I also rely on my frozen, pre-made standbys: Trader Joe’s Eggplant Parmesan, and an Alexia Garlic Baguette. The Trader Joe’s eggplant parm is made without breading, and is delicious. This garlic baguette? I have no words. I have been obsessed with these puppies for years. And, they’re not all that bad for you fat/calories wise, unless you eat an entire baguette in one sitting, like I’ve been known to do. It’s culinary crack, I tell you.

So, with a pop in the oven, and a simple salad of butter lettuce, kalmata olives, and shaved carrots, you can turn this:

Into this:

I’m sorry to do this to you. What I’m about to show you may forever weaken your ability to shun sweets in favor of healthier fare. That, and cause you to frighten the bejesus out of your innocent friends, like I did the other day:

It’s a mix so perfect, so genius, that I’m shocked it took me 27 years to stumble upon it. Ice cream and potato chips! Now, stay with me…these aren’t just any potato chips. We’re talking about krinkle cut, salt & fresh ground pepper Kettle chips. With Purely Decadent’s peanut butter swirl coconut milk ice cream.

Since words can’t possibly describe the bliss, I’ll try to convey the outrageous yumminess via a photo: