the fashion maven

announcing my new blog

2009-04-27T15:15:00.004-05:00

well, i feel like my priorities need to change and seeing as how i've enjoyed blogging on this blog so much, i decided to start a new one to usher in a new phase of my life.

check out THE YEAR OF FRUGAL LIVING!

it's my new blog about the struggles of learning to save. I hope that it will serve as a measuring stick for my efforts to rethink my finances as i attempt to buy my first home. i have loved sharing my ideas about clothes and all of my thrift finds with you all here, but i think that now i have to look at my purchases, and my pocketbook, differently.
hopefully you will follow me on my new blog where i will continue to show off my thrifty shopping skills and mundane details of my daily life... but this time with the goal of financial security in mind :)

soon i'll be setting up a new twitter account to go along with the new blog and when i do you can follow me there as well - wish me luck!
xoxo -$$$$

how very un-buddha-like of me:

2009-04-22T16:31:00.005-05:00

a list of things i want:
- the amazing house we stumbled on over the weekend that is for sale and possibly in our budget AND in my bestfriend's hood
- the puppy to be house-trained already
- an honest night's sleep
- for diana to come visit me (PLEASE?!)
- my hair to grow and grow and grow and grow
- did i mention sleep?!

here are some pics from Argentina:

note that these are more to just show what i wore than anything else - it's a safe bet to say that 80% of these outfits are 100% thrifted too! i'm so proud of me.

Back in the saddle

2009-04-22T13:00:00.001-05:00

I didn't step foot into a thrift store for a whole month! True story! Here are some new shoes and an awesome 80's belt I got as a welcome back present to myself:

-posted with help from my robot

Huh?!

2009-04-22T12:56:00.001-05:00

-posted with help from my robot

Excuses, excuses

2009-04-22T12:01:00.002-05:00

Here's the #1 reason I haven't been posting:

Her name is isosceles (she only has three legs) and she is a MESS!!! she's cute as hell but currently turning our worlds upsidedown. I fear this blog will quickly become a "dog blog" if I don't watch out!

-posted with help from my robot

Trial & Error

2009-04-22T11:13:00.001-05:00

I got a new app on my iPhone to make blog posts on the go! This is a test to see how it works!

-posted with help from my robot

top to bottom

2009-03-10T22:49:00.003-05:00

andy and i know a good thing when we see it:

parkin'

2009-03-10T22:41:00.004-05:00

we spent the ENTIRE day in the park this past saturday and it was amazing! my friend S was in town and brought her pup to play with scouty and they, and we, had a great time enjoying the sunshine... and some champagne! it's so so good to be on the grass on the yellow rose blanket again :)

happiest doggie ever!

the people have spoken

2009-03-04T15:24:00.004-06:00

this is an older outfit (as evidenced by the still platinum hair do') and it was taken in the dressing room of F21 - what can i say, i liked what i had on better than anything i tried on there so i took a snap!

i call this my "street urchin" look and i didn't "poladroid" it so that you could see it's neutral-ish details and layering. (click to enlarge as usual) you're welcome!

knit hat - UO

black leather vest - etsy

long grey cardigan - liz lange maternity at target (!)

teal dress - TJ Maxx

charcoal leg warmers - TJ Maxx

boots - Shii

hair-raising issues:

2009-03-04T10:52:00.002-06:00

or not.
no reason to get up-in-arms, it's just a few photos of my non-platinum, slightly longer hairs.

the secret's out

2009-03-04T10:15:00.004-06:00

i've discovered poladroid and am now completely addicted. expect more of the same for a long time to come.

YOU CAN CLICK ON ALL POLADROID IMAGES TO ENLARGE

i recently bough this great skirt at the thrift and i don't know who the designer/maker is. it has this kind of watercolor southwestern/desert scene on it and i am completely in love with it! it seems really nice and has the above name stitched it to it. anyone know what it says or who it is?! (sorry it's turned sideways)

thrift scores

2009-03-04T10:12:00.002-06:00

i'm feelin' a really boho cowgirl vibe these days... here are some of my latest thrift finds in that vein:

the great white

2009-03-04T10:08:00.002-06:00

teaser

2009-03-03T15:20:00.003-06:00

hmm, what can i say? i've been in a giant funk and thus have not posted for quite some time... but now i'm coming up for air and feeling a bit more "in tune" so i'm going to try to blog a bit more. (no promises though... i'm way too feline in nature for that!)

so what's been goin' down around town?

*well, it was sunny and warm and things started to bloom... then it snowed!

*i resisted the powers of gossip girl for almost 2 seasons and now i am a slave - you watch more than 2 episodes and something happens to your brain! i swear, if scientists researched this i am sure they would liken the effects to that of very hard drugs - so addictive!

* shocker: i am no longer a platinum blonde! it's now a bit more strawberry blonde/light brown...

* bigger shocker: i am trying my BEST to grow it out. for real this time.

* biggest shocker: i have thrifted some pretty awesome stuff lately - i will share with you soon!

* and finally the cherry on top:

drumroll please........

I AM GOING TO ARGENTINA IN 11 DAYS!!! my beloved won a trip for being awesome at his job and so we get to go on an all expenses paid trip to mendoza for a week :) we are being put up in a five star hotel and the exchange rate means that i get to have a massage, manicure and pedicure all for under $50 USD... oh, and our itinerary consists of visiting wineries during the day and sipping champagne poolside all afternoon and then going out to fancy dinners and flamenco dancing at night- eeeeeek! about to pee my pants just thinking about it :) :) :) :)

photos soon... like as soon as poladroid stops with the spinning beachball of death thing....

** wow. i just posted this and then went back to look at it on the page and realized i said most of this in my last post - oh well. i'm still stoked! **

it's been a long time since i left you... without a dope beat to step to.

2009-02-18T16:03:00.004-06:00

ah, ciara! i love that damn song!

and speaking of things i love:

* i'm done working for the day and the weather is F.I.N.E.

* i have secured my ticket to argentina and will be in mendoza march 15-21!!! (omg! fo' realz!)

* we rented nick & norah's infinite playlist from the $1 a night kiosk at the grocery and it still had the free download code inside the box - so, yeah, we own it!

* i finally got the schedule right and got my favorite meal at the hippie store today (curry burrito) AND my bestie wrestled herself free from the clutches of work to join me and gossip......

* which leads me to the confession that i am now in the clutches of gossip girl. i resisted for so long.... damn you, lou! (and thanks, too!)

* it's 73 degrees outside and sunny

and for balance's sake, thing's i'm not stoked about:

* my hair. remember when i said i wanted to change it but it didn't actually look any different? well now it does and i'm sad. no more blondie-locks for me :(

* i got hit with not one, but two major heartbreaks today: 1) i found out mandy moore is engaged to ryan adams and 2) rachel bilson has stolen hayden christensen from my loving arms and they are engaged too! i cry.

positives = 6

not-as-positives = 2

guess i'm gonna live!

oh, and PS: doesn't drew look adorable?!

the opposite of groundbreaking

2009-01-27T15:35:00.005-06:00

i got my hair done today and it is supposed to be a bit darker and not so platinum but i can't really tell a difference at all. i tried to make it a bit messy but it ended up looking poofy and much shorter... why won't it GROW already?!

ah, such is life. the weather is gorgeous (you can make fun of my state being redneck all you like but you just can't beat 70 degrees with a breeze people) and i shouldn't complain.

here's a thrift store dress that i threw on over my yoga clothes to go down to the park. it's actually about calf-length and rather mumu-ish but i belted it up and made it poofy... like my hair!

i like to imagine that there is a magical day somewhere in my future when i will have long hippie locks and this dress, and me in it, will look like a gucci ad.... ah, dreams.

i realize that is impossible but i know that when i wear this dress out for "real" i am going to add lots more of everything: eyeliner, jangles, fur, boots, pout, and attitude. wait for it.

SHAKES FIST AT SKY

2009-01-26T20:05:00.003-06:00

uuuuuugh!

i really appreciate the fact that paypal wants to watch my back and make sure that some stranger isn't gettin' frisky on my dime but THEY JUST FROZE MY ACCOUNT AND NOW I HAVE 4 ETSY PAYMENTS ON HOLD!

i'm sure these sellers think i am a total fraud :(

apparently it's suspicious if you don't really use your paypal account for a year and then suddenly discover the mother-load of stuff you want on etsy and make lots of purchases over 2 days. come on paypal, it's not suspicious... it's FUN!

if this causes me to lose out on my stuff then i am gonna be crazy sad/mad.

free bread! what?

2009-01-23T21:10:00.005-06:00

p and i have an addiction to french food and thus have become "regulars" at the place around the way. tonight we reached "free baguette" status! FREE BREAD!

i wasn't loving my look (especially my hair) so i am kinda miffed in the first pic but p got me to lighten up and by the last pic i was back to true form!

how, exactly, does one acquire "drunk face" when sober?!

(this is the only way i have booty)

we both decided this is a pretty accurate depiction of my mood tonight.

ps - these are the other pair of PLV shoes i bought before christmas and they are, all joking aside, some of the most comfortable shoes i own. hearts!

just another day in paradise

2009-01-23T14:52:00.005-06:00

the weather here today is maaaahvelous.

you can really tell by these next 3 shots that i shoot with a timer in quick succession!

if you were to watch me taking these it would look like i were a "posing robot"!

thrifted bracelets

hope everybody has a great weekend - i'll be "kid-sitting" so god only knows what mine will bring!

in the words of dre:

2009-01-20T15:14:00.004-06:00

i'd have to say it was a good day!

HOTNESS IN THE WHITEHOUSE!!!

i love you.

i am SO not gonna miss you.

AND grandma j. is finally out of the hospital - yippie!

genius.

2009-01-20T14:34:00.002-06:00

to say i know some pretty funny people with time on their hands would be an understatement:

shiny shriner's tassles

2009-01-19T20:07:00.003-06:00

try saying it three times fast.

here's a very long, exhausting and emotional story short:

i'm ok by my doc but am seeking a second opinion anyway because i just feel like she's quicker to shoo me out the door than to really check into what might be causing the issue. i mean, that ninny didn't even bother to look at my chart and the personal info about me before suggesting that i get "REGULAR EXCERCISE!" .... um, beeyatch, i teach 4-5 yoga classes a day five days a week an extra one on sundays - don't start.

my poor, poor grandma is STILL in the hospital. i went down and stayed with her in the hospital last wednesday through friday and it was one of the more depleting and humbling experiences i have ever had to go through. i SO appreciate all of your kind thoughts. she's doing better but i think it may be a long road still.

okay - on to the clothes:

i don't know why, but i seem to only photograph when i am wearing an item i have photographed before and i have waaaaay too many clothes for me to have any excuse for this. at any rate, here's another take on my red dress and "clown collar" shirt. i have never tried this combo before but i like it mucho grande. i'm also lovin' my window pane stockings from UO.

thrifted these stuart weisman cut-out shoes and newsprint raybans over the weekend- score!

isn't ellie's red hair just the best? it's all natural too. hate her.

good news???

2009-01-12T11:36:00.002-06:00

well, the good news is that i called my doc with my "issues" and they said they would see me tomorrow morning at 10:30am!

the bad news?

i was trying really hard not to have to go back to this doc because nothing is more infuriating that paying someone A LOT of money - i'm uninsured - to treat you like a pesky problem they have to deal with for the next 15 mins before telling you that you worry too much and that you should take 3 ibuprofen 3 times a day and deal with the pain because it's just the way it is.

also, i'm not supposed to be in town tomorrow. i'm supposed to be going to visit my grandmother because she will be having heart surgery in a few hours. SEND HER LOVE!

what to do?! i know she'd want me to see the doc but i really want to see her!

time-out.

2009-01-11T14:55:00.004-06:00

well, my body had other plans for me than sewing this weekend. i'm suffering from a minor medical issue which has put me in a bad spot. i won't bore you with the details but instead i'll extend an apology of sorts. posting may be sparse for a bit.

it's just so darn hard to even think about dressing up when i've slept for over 24 hours so far this weekend and am about to go lay down again...

i did buy fabric for my "lily allen" dress(es) though:

it's a start.

on a mission...

2009-01-09T18:55:00.003-06:00

after thinking about it, i have decided that i am going to spend my sunday making my own version of the PPQ lily allen dress i raved about in the last post. i already own this vintage pattern (available on etsy):

and i think with some tweaking, i can create something that is not an exact replica, but in the same vein. i think i'll try rounding off the points on the collar and making the bow much bigger.

wish me luck! i'll report back :)

BON WEEKEND!

I WANT! I NEED!

2009-01-09T18:36:00.003-06:00

okay, so lily allen hasn't been my absolute favorite but i kind of feel for her as she seems to have had a rather tough time of navigating the trecherous waters of celebrity-dom. what can i say, i'm empathetic! i felt bad for kelly osbourne too- it must be hard to have your every fault and mis-step of youth put on display for the world.

it seems that lily is "getting it together" though and she is looking and behaving better than ever. if you haven't seen the video for the fear then you can click here to admire her ADORABLE dress and enviable hair.

i really want that dress. like now. no matter what it costs.

according to the uk site of pop sugar it's part of the 2009 Spring/Summer PPQ collection and is currently in production, and will be available for purchase from 1st January for £325.

i think i really like this new, more grown-up, tennis shoe-less lily.

photo courtesy of pop sugar

i think my brain went down the drain

2009-01-09T09:08:00.004-06:00

i just took a super hot bath and it not only melted my stress away but it apparently melted ALL of my thoughts away. here's an outfit for you to gander:

you can click all photos to enlarge

ps - i just looked up the word "gander" to insure i was using it properly and was re-reminded that it means "male goose". how do you think that happens? a word means "male goose" and then one day becomes slang for "gaze"? weird huh?

details:

knit hat - H&M

vintage blouse - thrifted

bow pin - thrifted

jumper - made by me

chevron tights - UO

shoes - steve madden

to costume or not to costume?

2009-01-08T20:41:00.003-06:00

i have a tendency to dress in a bit of a theme and i think sometimes i end up costume-y. this isn't particularly a problem for me, but i wonder to what degree i look like i'm trying too hard... which is funny because dressing in theme is exactly the opposite of trying because rocker goes with rocker, innocent goes with innocent, mod goes with mod, school girl goes with school girl, hippie goes with hippie and so on and so forth - there's really very little to think about!

i know the glamourai refers to her attire as "costumes" and i've heard other people do it too, but i am wondering if i take that term a little too far.

does it just look lazy or weird if i dress in a "look" from head to toe?

coffee talk - talk amongst yourselves.

as a side note: the saddle shoes i am sporting here are currently competing for the #1 spot of "most adored" in my closet... also up for the top spot is the cream crochet dress i bought from dutchess vintage on etsy which came in the mail today and i just opened as i walked in the door and am wearing over the clothes i had on as i type this! love it! photos soon :)

slow learner

2009-01-07T21:39:00.003-06:00

i feel like the more time i spend looking around at fashion blogs the more A-MAZING ones i find... this is exciting and daunting. i think i spend more time online these days than i do conversing with the other human in this apartment - he may not dress as well, or look as pretty, but he does rub my feet and they don't. maybe i need to prioritize.

lately i am obsessed with thecherryblossomgirl and betty. i can just look at them forever! i feel like i am learning more and more about how to put together interesting and varied looks just by watching what they do.

for instance, i think i'm too matchy-matchy. i still put black accessories with black accessories and brown with brown and grey with grey. but in looking at betty's blog, i see how much more interesting it is to mix it up... she'll wear black tights, with grey boots, with a brown bag and a navy scarf.... and it's so much more for the eye to take in - in the best way!

i heart etsy forever

2009-01-07T16:09:00.006-06:00

wow! i got one of my dresses on monday and it's beautiful but doesn't fit that great. tis my fault, i should have checked the measurements better but i was on some kind of new year's high and just randomly bought stuff. i still like it though and allen company inc. was an excellent seller whom i bet i'll buy from again - quickest delivery ever!

the two i got in the mail today are from maiden rapture vintage and while the jacket/skirt combo is a bit small for me (crazy short skirt!), i'm still gonna work it by probably wearing it with tights. on the other hand, the "ketchup and mustard" dress is a little roomy but me thinks it will be perfect for days when i feel like i need to conceal my belly or just want to pig out at dinner :)

(you can always click photos to enlarge)

scouty's such a camera hog!

the hippie hippie shake

2009-01-06T18:29:00.004-06:00

immediately when i found this dress in the thrift store i knew it would make me wanna join a commune and run around barefoot forever - i was SO right!

she's so unusual

2009-01-06T15:35:00.008-06:00

this skirt reminds me of early madonna and cyndi lauper. it has literally sat in my drawer for years and i think i've worn it once! i just couldn't figure out how i wanted to wear a poufy lace skater skirt without looking totally 80's. i think i like this unlikely combo of mauve tights (one of the pairs from UO) and frilly shirt - what do you think?

("pouty" and i are listening to the tornado sirens here and wondering if we should go inside!)

check please!

2009-01-06T15:04:00.004-06:00

despite today's abysmal weather, i managed to take 6 sets of photos that i plan on spreading out over the week! a post-a-day if you can believe it! since i don't have a personal photographer (or even another human around during the middle of the day to operate my camera) they are just timer shots with much to be desired.

i'll start you off with the dress i mentioned in the last post -the one i sewed over the weekend- it's from a vintage McCall's pattern #3877. it's super easy and fun to sew and can be found for sale on etsy (just click HERE).

LOVE the corset-back

i wore it here with 1 of the 4 new pair of tights i picked up at UO (can you believe in the entire drawer of tights i own i didn't have a single solid white pair?!) and my new PLV heels. i bought two pair of PLV shoes just before christmas and i love both of them so much - i really would love to have these for spring:

if you really like mine, and you wear a size 8 or above, you can purchase your very own on sale at the urban outfitter's site... for much less than i paid for mine too. i highly recommend them because they'll make you super tall but they way they cover the top of the foot and lace up the back make them really secure and easy to strut in!

alright, more posts to come so check back soon! xoxox!

shoulda, woulda, coulda

2009-01-04T16:37:00.003-06:00

well, i spent all day yesterday sewing a new babydoll dress and whata ya' think i did? wore it to dinner last night and didn't take a single photo and then wore a different dress today and DID take a photo! i'm a mystery, folks....

as part of my sew-a-thon yesterday i not only made a new dress but finally got around to hemming multiple dresses to dangerously short lengths - a project i've been meaning to do for months now. see, i've come across a new blog (new to me anyway) that has re-ignited my desire to make 2009 the year of super short 60's inspired dresses and daring cat eyes:

check out i'm not antisocial to see what i'm talking about - you won't be sorry! she's awesome.

so here is one of the thrift store dresses that was originally a mid-calf, very pentecostal look that i guess i completely made ungodly by shortening the hem line as i did....

(but after reading this i am confused because it would seem that now i am more womanly and less manly and therefore doing right by the word of god....??? i've always been fascinated by the way pentecostal women dress and i always catch myself staring at them in the fabric store as they carefully pick out their patterns and fabrics.)

hrmmm - i dunno. i just like showing of my hot legs and bright tights. i don't think that makes me such a bad person.

let's get this party started!

2009-01-01T11:04:00.004-06:00

can i just tell you how FREAKIN' EXCITED i am that it's 2009?!
new year, new beginnings, new opportunities, new president... NEW CLOTHES!
i may have gone to bed at 3:30am but my body woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed at 8am sharp; and well.... what else was i gonna do while the rest of the world is still sleeping off a hangover but go on what is sure to be the first of many an etsy binge to come. i'm ringing in 2009 with a new pledge to "dress like i mean it".

these two are both from Maiden Rapture Vintage

from Dutchess Vintage

from Allen Company Inc.

check their blog too!

while i love new year's day, i really don't like new year's eve AT ALL. in fact, i desperately want to boycott all festivites and have a nice quiet evening at home alone but p is just the opposite. and while i know that he is an earth angel and would probably stay home with me to celebrate in peace if i **really** asked him too, i try to be as sweet as he is (IMPOSSIBLE btw) and accomodate his need to socialize by going out. i actually wore a really great party dress i thrifted and shorted to a dangerous mini length but because i was pouty and grumpy i didn't take any photos to post. sorry.

I'm know that a lot of folks don't like resolutions but I think they are a pretty great way of setting goals and being optimistic. Envisioning great things in your future is never a bad idea if you ask me! So here are just a few of the thousands I have floating around in my head currently:

* make/sell a kick-ass yoga video

* be more expressive with my love and admiration of my amazing boyfriend

* write more letters to my grandma and nieces

* DO VOLUNTEER WORK IN MY COMMUNITY

* get back to sewing

* start an etsy store

* register, insure, and ride my gorgeous vespa!

i hope everyone's holidays were bright and that this year is THE BEST we've seen - HAPPY NEW YEAR!

um... yeah....

2008-12-16T23:26:00.004-06:00

so that red sofa lives with me now....

well, to be more precise - the red sofa belongs to me, but lives with ellie because i can't possibly fit another sofa in my tiny apartment.

it was still there... and ON SALE.. so i got it for next to nothing.....

i have a problem.
anyone know of a good "compulsive furniture buyers anonymous" meeting i can attend asap?

we'll see....

2008-12-14T18:04:00.003-06:00

i really truly never bought stuff online until recently and now i'm addicted. getting packages is so amazingly fun!

i ordered these boots (in ivory) from victoria's secret and they will either add a totally mod note to some of my dresses which will look uber cool and daring or they will look utterly ridiculous and i will send them right back...

new stuff (parenthesis)

2008-12-14T16:39:00.007-06:00

here are some photos we took at the abandoned mansion across the street. i'm wearing my new sweater coat (thrifted for $10) over a dress i made (but you can't see here), electric blue tights (which makes me fond for THIS - i heart debbie gibson!), and F21 shoes and hairbows (look! my hair is kinda growing out!), and i'm carrying my new picnic purse (thrifted for $3- it is a bit more carry-able and not as large as my other one).

don't know if this place has some weird energy or if it's p's photo skills at work, but all of the pics are blurry and there's one that looks like i'm surrounded by a haze (or that we have an effect on the camera - and we DON'T) - weird!
we are about to curl up on the couch to watch amelie! hope your week and weekend were wonderful - i'm going to try to post again before next saturday so stay tuned!

this one was at the entrance to a weird basement entrance at the back of the house that's creepy - no filter on the camera.

the one that got away... maybe.

2008-12-07T23:21:00.004-06:00

i freaked yesterday when i found this sofa at the thrift for just $75. i was ready to load it up and take it home immediately except it wouldn't fit in my car and the store was closing soon.
i was determined and my mind was a fury of thoughts... and then i really sat on it and inspected it and it turns out the "guts" of the sofa were falling out from underneath like 10 fat kids had jumped on it and ruined it.
so i left it...
and now i want it.
despite the fact that i have a sofa... and another in storage...
i want it.
it's totally possible it's still there. i mean it was late on saturday and they were closed today so if i went early monday it could still be there....
i wonder how much getting the guts put back in would really cost. more or less than getting the one in my living room re-upholstered?
hmmmm... if you have advice feel free to comment.

electric granny land

2008-12-07T22:35:00.004-06:00

the title of this post is how p has taken to describing my me and my style... something to do with the allusion to electric lady land studios, the time i electrocuted myself with a thrift store lamp and lost feeling in my pointer finger, my general thriftiness, and love for handmade and vintage things....

so for your viewing pleasure, and to further prove he's right on the money with the above description, i now reveal the granny vest i purchased for $3.50 and am currently having a strange love affair with. (you either love it or hate it... i can see both sides.)

but let me tell you, i'm not the only one who loves this thing - i was paraded around hancock fabrics by an employee who wanted everyone who worked there to admire it as well! they all had such sad faces when i admitted i didn't make it myself that i'm tempted to lie from here on out and say i did!

i didn't get quite the same reception when i later wore it to saks... guess it's not posh enough... snobs, they don't know how much fun they're missing!

(oh, and last night i actually wore something almost "rocker-ish" and i didn't take a pic - S at modern guilt would've been so proud! i'll try to re-wear it and provide photographic proof that i can wear more than granny looks soon!)

aw geez! thanks!

2008-12-06T16:29:00.003-06:00

**blushing**

i just received this award from miss M over at thrift candy!

i feel so special!

blub.

2008-12-06T15:50:00.006-06:00

terrible how it's gotten to be a once-a-week (saturday) post kind of a thingy around these parts but i'm going on the idea that:

1) somethin's better than nothin'

2) "A" is for effort

3) it's better late than never

i returned the coat from jcrew - it just didn't WOW me and for that price i really needed it to in order to justify the purchase, you know? in return though, i stopped by anthro yesterday and found this beaut on sale for just $70:

and since i've been wearing it i've recieved about 30 compliments! it's not very warm at all but it's almost constructed like a dress and has the loveliest details...

the orange stitching goes great with my vintage orange gloves :)

this is a look a wore last weekend but neglected to photograph. we had a baby shower/brunch to attend at 11am and as i am tearing through my closet trying to put together something to wear at 10:45am p looked at me in complete desperation and confusion and said "can't you just wear an outfit that you've worn before and liked?!".... well, i guess i can.

i thrifted this top months and months ago and never wore it until last weekend - i love it's fluttery sleeves and bow tie.

after the shower we went to a craft bazaar which was a bit of a let-down for me personally seeing as how i was looking for a few gifts and most of the items were more expensive and not something i'd easily pick out for someone who isn't me.... thus i bought myself the following presents:

these chandeliers are super heavy but SO worth it!

meow.

now i'm in a funk because i really need to stop the spending (especially on myself) but all i want to do right now is go to the thrift! what to do? what to do?

details of outfit from above:

knit hat - H&M

vintage top - thrifted

mini - gap (had it for about 5 yrs and was 9 bucks!)

tights - thrifted (but new not used - ew.)

boots - gift from ellie (thrifted)

ring - F21

if i were to guesstimate the outfit total i would say = $25

can you tell i'm trying to justify going shopping again?!

surreal saturday

2008-12-01T17:00:00.004-06:00

it was oddly foggy and cold and wet... it was an awesome day for comfy menswear, lunch with ellie, a quick thrift run and a walk through the park... our usual saturday!

what i wore:

i cannot stop wearing these shoes - well worth the $30!

what i bought:

i love the old ones with the vanity mirror inside!

changed into these for the walk:

ah, nature:

trees like traffic lights!

when you're with me, you must pose with a giant leaf covering your face.

my turn!

my "penelope"-inspired shot.

(it was a pretty cute movie! it's worth it to drool over james mc avoy for 2 hrs. anyway!)

outfit details:

knit hat - H&M

plaid scarf - thrifted

ivory bouse - thrifted

sweater - jcrew

cropped trousers - thrifted

studded heels - newport news

oxfords - thrifted

too bad, so sad!

2008-11-28T17:29:00.004-06:00

i have a deep and unmovable love for natalia vodianova. i am really happy being me... but if i just had to pick someone else to be i would chose her.

that being said, i saw photos of her wearing this crazy be-jeweled headband and hanging with karl lagerfeld and i wanted to:
A) be her
B) wear crazy jewels all over my head too!

so i promptly went out and hot glued big rhinestones to my black headband!

too bad it didn't make me look like her though.... tis probably for the best considering i would never get anything done because i would be too busy staring in the mirror all the time if i had that face and those legs!

(ack! roots!)

i also glued a bunch of vintage buttons to a brown headband and i really like that one too.

she works hard for her money

2008-11-28T11:19:00.006-06:00

so hard for it honey...

i don't know what got into me but i thought i'd confess publicly that i bought

this coat

(it's cuter on the model than on the mannequin- so click the link)

and that i really, really hope it's worth what i spent on it! it was on sale but still more than i probably needed to spend....cross your fingers it is utterly fantastic in person and on my body! cause if it's not, it's going right back!

thanksgiving's awesomeness

2008-11-28T09:45:00.011-06:00

yesterday was wonderful and easy and memorable... the only thing i'd change was that i wish p and i'd had jet packs on to fly from one family celebration to another while getting to enjoy the most beautiful day you can imagine. seriously, it's 2008! where are the jet-packs?! the "future" looks nothing like it's supposed too!

but i guess that's ok cause if the future did look like they predicted on the jetsons and such then i'd have taken a pill for nourishment yesterday instead of stuffing my face with the best non-turkey foods ever! yum!

sorry for the inane details that are about to follow but i want to record my awesome childless, easy life for the record books cause lately i've been having obsessive thoughts about how i might be able to one day turn the "record room" into a nursery if need be. i dont' know what's happening in my own head anymore but i've even browsed through children's fabric over at purlsoho. don't you think that it would be an adorable nursery with either of these two fabrics to go with my orange walls?!

ok - i need to stop. p's probably going to read this and have some sort of freak out breakdown :)

we slept in yesterday and were complete and total bums for half the day - sitting on the sofa in our pj's, eating cereal, browsing the net, and watching tv - perfection for a day off of work. then we finally got dressed and went down to the park with our "baby" (the pup) and saw the bestest thing ever.... a HUGE pile of mulch in the middle of the park! i know it sounds crazy but it was like christmas day for our dog. she's a digger by nature and this thing was like her/our playground! she had SO much fun running up and down it and burying her face in it and digging and growling - i tried to capture it in some pics but you really just had to be there to see her go nuts! we laughed and smiled and took great joy in seeing her have the time of her life.

then we came back and got dressed to go to the family celebration at his mom's... where the power was mysteriously out! the whole city was without power! but luckily everything was cooked and they just had to warm things and make gravy and such... so they used the grill and the fireplace! how resourceful!

(i would post pics of the family but i try not to put photos of people up without their permission/knowledge - they are a good looking bunch though!) there were more people there this year and everyone got more than enough to eat and everything tasted just like it had come out of the oven - nice and toasty! we all got to eat by candlelight and since there wasn't a tv on after the meal to distract everyone we all actually sat around and talked and laughed and had a really good time! i wish the power would go out every year :)

we came back home to take care of the dog and then we headed right back out to meet his cousins at the movies... but as usual we were late... and they were inside waiting for us... and by the time we got all the way out there the movie was sold out - bummer!

instead, we rented miss pettigrew lives for a day and came home to curl up on the couch with hot tea. i thought the movie was super cute and was amazing to look at the pre-WWII fashions - i highly recommend it! there is a great scene with a lingerie fashion show and for the first 20 minutes of the movie amy adams' character runs around in the greatest peach silk robe with marabou feathered sleeves:
(after staring at amy adams for 2 hours i think i want to go back to red hair after i grow it out again - shhh, don't tell my hair guy!)

and in short, i immediately went on an internet search for vintage inspired, classy, non-whoreish lingerie like i saw in the movie... after much ick, i found these two things at victoria's secret and have put them on my christmas wish list:

plus, the set design is TO DIE FOR! i want to live in this film! (click this link to read more about the movie and to see pics of the "divine set".)
i also rented penelope to watch today while poor patrick is at work and i'm at home sewing.

i hope everyone had a lovely thanksgiving!

long time, no see

2008-11-23T21:40:00.004-06:00

yeah, sorry about the absence. our modem is acting all freaky and once we FINALLY get customer service on the phone and schedule someone to come out it mysteriously corrects itself and we cancel the appointment foolishly thinking it's gonna "stick" this time and then it happens again.... why don't we just keep the appointment you ask? well, cause they only give you a window of when they might stop by and if you aren't home then you're screwed and neither of us has exactly had FIVE HOURS of time to sit around the house waiting to see if the repair guy actually shows up. see?

sunday yoga class was super small but i think i taught one of my better classes (structure and flow-wise) and afterwards p and i shamefully managed to stuff our faces with roughly 40 times the calories we burned in class... **shakes fist in air and cries "damn you, delicious indian food**. this is getting to be a dangerously waist-expanding habit and if it weren't so freakin' good i'd make some vain attempt to at least pretend that i plan on quitting it. pretty soon my blog will be titled "plus-sized pretty"...
and i will also shamefully admit that i went to the mall... and even more shamefully, i went into F21... and most shamefully of all i purchased extremely cheap goods. i am very disappointed in myself but very excited about said "cheap goods"... black sequined hoodie, hair bows, mustard tights... i will debut them once the shame shower is over. can't we just say i'm helping to stimulate the economy or something? no?.... okay (frowns).

here's what i wore today:

yes, these last few are actually taken in the parking deck of the mall - look, pretty trees!

i felt really good about the look and four random mall-strangers made it a point to tell me to my face that they liked it too! wow! that never happens!

here's what i'm wearing:

knit cap - urban outfitters

plaid scarf - thrifted

brooks bros. button up - thrifted

herve benard blazer - thrifted

express skirt - thrifted

"betsy johnson inspired" layered necklace - made by me

stockings - DKNY

studded heels - newport news

black knit bag- thrifted

simple suggestions

2008-11-13T14:52:00.001-06:00

if you'll kindly refer back to this post i will give my report, which is pretty much as expected:
i got my shoes from newport news TODAY and i only ordered them on monday - WOW! that's like, zappo's fast!
i really like the studded bootie/peep-toe heels but i still wish i had them in brown. they don't look like they are really expensive but in my humble opinion, i don't think they look as cheap as they are either. i say get them.
and the satin booties are everything i'd hoped for... love them and am so glad i got them! you should get them too! (now i just have to pull together something to wear them with - that may be tough for me...)
lastly, the maryjane pumps are headed right back. the color is too "camel" for me and i don't even think they look worthy of the $30 or whatever i paid for them. oh well - 2 outta 3 ain't bad :) i'd suggest skipping them and buy these instead:

and then head over to fred flare to get this dress to go with them:

and in one last suggestion, i will advise you to rent mona lisa smile and to sit on your sofa in your jammies (preferably in the middle of the day) with a cup of tea and to soak up the awesome 50's college girl style

i don't wanna work - i just wanna play in the park all day

2008-11-12T17:05:00.005-06:00

here are photos to make you jealous of the amazing fall day ellie and i enjoyed in the park with the puppy - so gorgeous!

ps - my sweater is new from the thrift and i lurve it - tis SO warm!

{{{{ jumping up and down}}}}

2008-11-11T15:51:00.005-06:00

i am running SO LATE but i just *had* to make an uber-quick post to show you guys my new coat i found at the thrift today:

i am on cloud nine! i mean, i totally just have on my yoga clothes but then i throw on this awesome swing coat i am suddenly more "dressed". love it!

plus, it's vintage from parisian - which was a birmingham staple and love to many until they were bought by belk a few years ago and a tradition died :( - so it's like owning a little vintage piece of this place i call home.

vive la parisian!

addendum: another plus is that it resembles these two coats from anthropologie but for a FRACTION of the price - i only paid $20 :)

newport news shoes

2008-11-10T15:15:00.004-06:00

i noticed that the gal over at fashionfillers always seems to get cool shoes at newport-news.com and i thought that was odd. i have vague memories of my mom getting this catalogue in the early 90's and all of the clothes being pretty sad... but i guess times are changing (or possibly their buyers and/or my style is changing) cause now they have some pretty awesome stuff... mainly shoes though, the clothes are still "if-y" if you ask me. anyway, i just got these three pair of shoes for under $100

wanted these in brown but they were out in my size so got these in black

REALLY hoping these look more victorian and "anthropologie-esque" in person and not cheap....

feeling regret about these already - bought them out of impulse when i was denied the first pair in brown - probably return them....

i wanted these too but they didn't have them in my size. if you are anything BUT a 6 or 6.5 you can order the brown pumps or if you have a large foot and wear a 9,10, or 11 you can still get the studded black ones

here's the whole truth about how i scored 3 pair of shoes for under $100:
1) they are having a big sale and
2) i guessed a promo code and saved $25.50!!!!
i saw that she had posted a promo code on her blog a few weeks ago and i tried it but it didn't work... so i just kept going up a number (her code was 533 and i tried each # until 539) and TA-DAH! it worked!
i feel elated and also a bit like a theif... hmmm.
oh well, SHOES!!!!

HOT MAMA!

2008-11-09T20:09:00.008-06:00

i'm not saying i'm "all that"... but i AM saying that my mama IS!

this one (below) is my favorite - enlarge to see the coat of my dreams

i DARE you to disagree.

i'm so bad.

2008-11-09T20:09:00.006-06:00

i wore two pretty awesome outfits this weekend and didn't photograph either of them :(

oh well, at least next time i have to get ready in a pinch i'll have two looks to pull out of my closet quickly and i'll have "new" looks to post!

this is what i wore today:

it was an awesome day. slept in. taught yoga class. came home and changed clothes. mini photo shoot on the porch of the abandoned mansion across the street. ate YUMMY, leisurely lunch at favorite french cafe:

did some more apartment re-vamps. ran some errands. felt productive. then we met up with miss ellie for drinks next door to the laundromat while LOADS of clothes washed and dried. came home and put up clothes. felt accomplished. now about to eat dinner and watch a movie.

yay.

dazed and confused

2008-11-04T11:15:00.011-06:00

check out my sweet 70's inspired denim:

these are the awesome beauties i got on sale for $30 at madewell in atlanta this weekend - marked down from the original price of $130 - can i get a "what what"?!

if you ever want a confidence boost then try on some madewell jeans. i know, these puppies are tight but that was my intention - remember that awesome scene in dazed and confused where they have to lay down that one girl and use pliers to help grab the zipper and pull up her super tight flares... then give her a hand standing up cause she can't bend at the waist?! love it! however, i do realize now that i've photographed my own butt in these jeans in the middle of the day that i might should consider different undies cause you can clearly see mine - oopse! talk about VPL. anyway, back to the confidence boost: i went down TWO sizes in these jeans... and on a "fat day" no less!

i think i'm in love!

i also think i'm going to take care of that VPL situation before i meet p at the restaurant for lunch....

I VOTED! DID YOU?!

oh and one more!

2008-11-04T11:15:00.005-06:00

a client of mine (they all know how much i adore dressing up for halloween and keep tabs on what i make every year for the occasion) said i should definitely post a photo of the first halloween p and i spent together and went as zombie prom king & queen - so here you go!

i promise this is the last halloween post :)

the ghost of costumes past

2008-11-03T16:50:00.003-06:00

just for fun - here's a look back at my past two halloween costumes before the "one eyed, one horned flying purple people eater" that i did this year. i always take great pride in the fact that i hand make my own and never go the store-bought route.

last year i was a magical unicorn:

my goal was sexy but not slutty - thus i sewed the skin tight leggings and dress

this is just a really good pic of my makeup and a super cute pic of my bff

and the year before i was an indian girl (and p was the "rhinestone cowboy" - we were cute together!):

this was before i owned a sewing machine so the whole thing is made out of felt and STAPLED together - including all of the feathers i added!

no more moving

2008-11-03T15:54:00.003-06:00

despite the fact that p and i are OFFICALLY DONE MOVING i had a moving nightmare last night in which i went back to the old house to give my landlord back the keys and he said "what do you mean you've moved? all your stuff is still here?" and i went inside and the place was in shambles with all of our stuff strewn everywhere... i cried and cried.

saturday went to atlanta for a quick celebration of the fact that our hectic october is behind us. we slept in after a night out of halloween festivities and lounged around the house with the dog, talking and brunching in bed for about an hour and a half, and then i got online and booked us a hotel room for the night and we got on the road. the drive over was gorgeous because all the leaves are really starting to turn down here.

the photo doesn't do it justice AT ALL but trust me.

after checking into our hotel and jumping on the bed:

we went to dinner and to see minus the bear play at the variety playhouse and it was truly one of the easiest and best nights ever. we've seen them alot and every time the crowd gets larger and younger and (i hate to say it) dumber and less fun to be around. so this time we did it "old folk style" and it was perfect. we stopped in el myr (bar/restaurant next door) for a drink while the line for the door dwindled down to nothing. then went in and got awesome seats in the balcony where we could see great (unlike when we used to go down in front of the stage on floor level and my short little self couldn't see anything) and we just sat and held hands and enjoyed the show together. we could even hold a semi-normal conversation without shouting all night over the noise! then, we even decided to cut out before the encore so we wouldn't have to fight traffic! brilliant :)
i'm telling you, "old folks style" is the only way to go.

the next day we had awesome brunch and did something we almost never do - we went to the mall! we drove out to lenox mall and spent the day browsing around. p was SUCH good sport - he never once complained about my dragging him in store after store in search of the perfect ankle boots - a search which i abandoned when i realized i have a pair already that get the job done and i didn't find any that just blew my mind away at a reasonable price.

i DID however find 2 pair of amazing 70's style high-waisted bell bottoms in madewell ON SALE FOR $30 each - one dark denim with little pockets up high on the front and one light denim! SCORE! i can't wait to do a post in full 70's glory! they remind me of these that katie holmes rocked back in the summer - YAY!!!

halloween fun!

2008-11-03T15:45:00.003-06:00

here's a quick post to show off our halloween costumes. i went as the "one eyed, one horned, flying purple people eater" and p was a sad clown. i made my costume myself and was very pleased with it despite the fact that i nearly went mad with all of that purple faux fur flying about my house and getting into my eyes as i cut it - ick and ow!

i know it's totally crazy, but i really want to wear just the a-line bell sleeved dress part of the costume out in real life. maybe belt it with a crazy studded belt and wear some arresting heels... hmmm.

hope your halloween was SUPER!

diwali

2008-10-27T20:47:00.003-05:00

tonight p and i joined some of my favorite folks (deepa, my yoga client, and her sweet family) for the diwali celebration at the indian restaurant near our house - DELICIOUSNESS!

Deepavali, or Diwali, is a major Indian holiday, and a significant festival in Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Many legends are associated with Diwali. Today it is celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs across the globe as the "Festival of Lights," where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within every human being.

i certainly hope that the good in me is victorious over the evil.
but i know the eyes won out over the stomach.

here's what i looked like headed out to the restaurant:

here's what i look like now:

(thanks to the person on flickr whom i borrowed this photo from!)

oh well, i had a nice run as a slim and attractive human. now excuse me as i go put on pants with an elastic waist.

stop! story time!

2008-10-26T09:46:00.005-05:00

My-my-my-my stories hit me so hard makes me say Oh my Lord
Thank you for blessing me with a mind to tell two stupid stories
It feels good when you know you're down
A superdope homegirl from the 'Hamtown
And I'm known as such
And this is a blog uh u can't touch

as I took my pup out for a bathroom break at 5:15am my still-asleep mind wandered to both mc hammer's "can't touch this" and two things I wanted to blog about but hadn't gotten around to yet... thus, the above maddness was born. isn't the mind (or maybe just mine) so weird in that in-between state...

it's not my forte but I'll try to make this short:

the first thing was a very odd encounter p and i had at dinner the other night. he had a wine tasting at a very nice restaurant and as a thank you they always give him a free meal afterwards - he's always a little sad that he's left sitting at the bar eating a wonderful meal all by himself and i'm always jealous that i am home alone eating something far less gourmet by myself. so when my evening client cancelled i decided i'd run home and get all dressed up and go meet him for dinner at the restaurant :) yay! well, i was going to be pressed for time and didn't want him to order without me or somehow miss him altogether so i ran home and threw on something i knew i would like to wear and something i know he has said he likes too. this (from this post):

but i added some dark, patterned tights and a cute coat.
i had to park about a block and a half away because i forgot they share a valet with the restaurant next door and i could use it. i tried to call p to come and walk me from my car to the restaurant because i didn't want to walk alone but he was wrapping up his talk with the owner/chef/manager and was unreachable... so i walked alone and tried to appear confident and tough. well apparently my strategy of looking non-muggable (by keeping my head up and staring people in the eye as they drove and walked by) paired with my short skirt and heels, gave the wrong impression to a certain fellow who slowed down as he drove past me to stare. i noted it but was in sight and ear-shot of the valet dudes (duh, valet!) by then so i felt secure.
i surprised p and we sat down at the bar and ordered drinks and apps and a few minutes later THE STARING DUDE breezes in and sits down on the stool next to me so i'm sandwiched between him & p! he was right there so i couldn't tell p about him staring and at that point i didn't want to be presumptuous. he ordered a drink and i just kept turning my back to him and talking to p (all the while giving physical clues we were together - touching and talking super close and looking lovey, etc) but the dude just kept staring!
finally he engages my very congenial boyfriend in conversation about the restaurant and they begin talking over me which (he thinks) gives him a good reason to lean over me and get closer - uncool. so i start scooting close to p and giving crazy eyes - he doesn't get it at all and keeps on chatting away! THEN, the conversataion goes something like this:

dude (d): so are you guys on a first date?
us: no.
d: oh so you're together, together.
us: yes!
d: like for how long?
p: headed towards 4 years now.
d: you aren't married yet?
p: not yet.
d: but you get along? you gonna stay together? you aren't thinking about splitting up at all?
us: no!
d: oh..... (to p's face) you know she's too hot for you right?
*here's where my bf's unbelievable niceness shines through and he doesn't get mad at all he just answers "oh, yeah, i know!"*
d: alright, as long as you know. you better hold onto her cause if you don't someone else will.

and he pays his tab and leaves.
whoa.
i explained that i thought he was the guy staring at me as he drove by and we talked about how freaky that whole encounter was and i made p go get my car for me while i waited for him inside until he pulled up right to the front door.

oh, and the dude had on a WEDDING RING! ugh.

now the second thing is just an aside, not a story and not at all freaky.
in fact, it's more of an FYI. this is my new fall uniform and i will be wearing it every stinkin' day from here on out. it is totally comfortable and i get told i'm cute a lot when i wear it so that's it.
outfit posts will be a bit repetitive from here on out ;)

ps - you like my halloween decorations? what are you gonna be?!

hodgepodge!

2008-10-23T21:34:00.005-05:00

the title of this post is one of my favorite words and one of my favorite things!

i also like the word "smattering".

this post is to make up for all of the posts i've missed. i would space them out, but what's the fun in that?! working from most ancient to most recent:

the weekend before my bestie's wedding we all got up early on Saturday morning to join her and her mom (who is a breast cancer survivor) for race for the cure. it was alot of fun and very inspiring. our group included a seven year old (the flower girl), her mom (flower girl's not the bride's) who had just given birth a very few weeks ago, and a pregnant bridesmaid! needless to say we were not moving at a lightning quick pace. in fact, for a while we were technically behind the race trailing the ambulance. this was our view from the back of the race:

click to enlarge and see the mad sea of people in front of us

check out this AWESOME guy

he was a trooper! he seemed to be there walking by himself and as far as we know, he finished the race last... but by god he finished! this man is a hero in my books. fo' sure!

when i said i didn't take any photos of the wedding day, i guess i lied cause here are two i came across on my camera! the first is when "lou" arrived at the venue in all her glory and the second is just a shot of the setting before folks arrived.

if she looks stressed it's because she was - we were running late and her wedding coordinator (in black) started giving her the run-down the second she walked in the door.

and for some unbelievable reason today was a super busy but magical day. i woke up to P saying "do you know it's 7:40"... i'm supposed to teach my first class of the day at 8am... and it takes me 15 mins to get there if traffic is good. normally that would've been the start to a hectic and non-awesome day, but for some reason i got ready REALLY quick and was only 5 mins late and felt all energized (not stressed) by the mad rush. i got to teach some of my favorite clients today - it was like a "best of" compilation of folks - and then THE MOST MAGICAL THING HAPPENED!!! i saw AND SPOKE TO my animal spirit guide - a deer! every time i see one i get all giddy and squeal really really high inside my mind.

as i was driving to my client's house i saw this beauty standing on the side of the road:

it stood there long enough for me to tell it *multiple* times how pretty it was and to dig my camera out of my purse to take a few photos! i love deer!

other things (insignificant) that added to my happiness today were the weather feeling all crisp and autumn-like so that i got to wear my faux fur vest and drinking a delicious and soul warming tall sugar-free vanilla soy latte!

do not ask me what i'm doing here - i don't even know!

and finally, one seemingly insignificant thing that has been making my world SIGNIFICANTLY better every day since we moved into the new place:

P'S BEEN MAKING THE BED

(like, every day! i kid you not!)

it's such an enormous thing to walk and to listen.

2008-10-20T12:36:00.004-05:00

ah, the wedding (my bestie's) was amazing! gorgeous and touching and every bit as lovely as she is. and as an added bonus, being around all that love has grown mine for my precious P even more. we've been like school-kids lately... all googly eyed and sweet! i know it's a bit personal but i wanted to share a great moment we had where we were talking about the music for the ceremony and he shared with me what he would like for our "first dance" song to be:

My Favorite Chords - The Weakerthans

They're tearing up streets again.
They're building a new hotel.
The Mayor's out killing kids to keep taxes down,
and me and my anger sit folding a paper bird,
letting the curtains turn to beating wings.
Wish I had a socket-set to dismantle this morning.
And just one pair of clean socks.
And a photo of you.
When you get off work tonight,
meet me at the construction site,
and we'll write some notes to tape to the heavy machines,
like "We hope they treat you well. Hope you don't work too hard.
We hope you get to be happy sometimes."
Bring your swiss-army knife, and a bottle of something,
and I'll bring some spraypaint and a new deck of cards.
Hey I found the safest place to keep all our tenderness.
Keep all our bad ideas. Keep all our hope.
It's here in the smallest bones, the feet and the inner-ear.
It's such an enormous thing to walk and to listen.
I'd like to fall asleep to the beat of you breathing
in a room near a truckstop on a highway somewhere.
You are a radio. You are an open door.
I am a faulty string of blue christmas lights.
You swim through frequencies.
You let that stranger in, as I'm blinking off and on and off again.
We've got a lot of time.
Or maybe we don't, but I'd like to think so, so let me pretend.
These are my favourite chords.
I know you like them too.
When I get a new guitar, you can have this one and sing me a lullaby.
Sing me the alphabet.
Sing me a story I haven't heard yet.

if you don't know it you should download it PRONTO because to hear it sung is like wrapping yourself in pure emotion.

i know i should be posting some photos for you all but here's a shocker - i didn't take a SINGLE ONE! me, with the BFA in photography! p and i have had many discussions about this topic and here's the conclusion we both seem to have come to time and again recently: if you are taking photos of the moment, you aren't IN the moment. and for my "lou", i wanted to be present for each and every second of that day and it was worth it.
here's a compromise - i'll either re-create the look for you guys (sans amazing make-up done by a professional) and or i'll get a hold of someone else's photos asap and post some of them :)

more posts later - i'm back on track (i think!) for a while :)

record room

2008-10-09T13:06:00.005-05:00

ta-da!

here is the room previously mentioned (supposed to be a dining room) that was a brick color and now is BRILLIANT (no-name) ORANGE - my favorite color in the known spectrum!
i decided to make it a record room for my love whose record collection was given NO respect in our old place and who really needs a spot in our home that feels like it's "his" since everything else happens to be mine - i mean, of course i get the huge closet while he gets the dinky one... have you seen my shoe collection?! eventually it will have all stark white furniture with a white shag rug and throw pillows to laze about and listen to music.

anyhoo, i'm not ready to do the full room reveal but here's a snippet - and my awesome thrift store headphones that make me feel like miss penny lane in almost famous :)

also featured are the boots my ellie surprised me with from the thrift! yay - free boots!

back in the good ole days

2008-10-07T14:02:00.004-05:00

this is back when i wasn't feeling like the death flu had taken up residence in my lungs; only like i had a cold (aka - this past weekend at the beach for my BF's weekend o' fun before getting hitched)

i am wearing my esther williams inspired swimsuit that i made myself but i am waiting to see if "lou" has a non-embarassing pic of me in it... doubtful but stay tuned.

while searching for a photo of the "million dollar mermaid" i came across this and need it pronto!

more blogging when un-sick - i pinky promise!

the never ending move

2008-10-02T19:51:00.003-05:00

i've worked myself to sickness with this move and we are not even CLOSE to done! here's the deal: we are only moving like two blocks down from where we used to live and therefore we didn't rent a truck and attempt to do the whole sha-bang in just a day... bad idea - it takes forever and wears you out and i would strongly suggest just biting the bullet for one very long and tiring day or weekend instead of creating moving misery for yourself for weeks on end - just a suggestion. instead, we decided to pay double rent for the month of october and do it leisurely.... um, yeah, you guys probably don't really know the extent to which i am unable to restrain myself from doing things leisurely!
yes, i am a yoga instructor and i practice peace and try to live by it but by god i am also a human - and a taurus (bull) at that! i am stubborn and impatient and want things done right and right now. i'm terrible!
anyhoo, we've been taking loads of stuff in our cars over the past week and a half and are finally sleeping at the new place - hooray! i can already tell we are going to LOVE IT! it just feels better. i promise that soon i will do a big reveal but for now we'll start from the beginning and see how it goes from here:

totally unflattering photo of me squinting into the sun sans makeup on one of my many trips to home depot for paint

carlos, the paint guy, knows me by name and surely hates the sight of me by now

the brick color covering the living room & dining room that simply had to GO

this is a more accurate depiction of the color - i need excitement, not blandness in my home

here is the bathroom before i began painting it "mai thai" red by ralph lauren

lois made the trip too!

so i have this really bad habit of choosing paint colors because of their name... always gets me into trouble. well, the dining room is now our lounge/record room/office and the paint color has no name because the original one i chose was called "kumquat" (ha! cracks me up!) but it was too yellow-y so i took it back to carlos at home depot and tried to deepen it to my new color choice of "aurora orange" (in memory of our friend aurora) but the formulas weren't compatible so now i have a totally excellent but no-name orange in there. i think i'll call it "miranda orange" though... it's a long story and has to do with SATC and my best friend.
then i chose a lovely lavender for the living room but i can't remember the name now... only that i changed my mind and ended up with "dutchess satin" by ralph lauren largely because i can't wait to see the dutchess when it comes out oct.10th! it's going to be so visually decadent and grand!
finally, as mentioned above, i chose an awesome true red called "mai thai" for the bath because man, mai thais are good! and really, i want to have one in the bath with me tonight :)
ok enough boring stories... i'm beginning to sound like the bit on the soup called "cool story jeopardy contestant... that's bad.

in-progess shots coming soon! i'm off to the beach for the weekend for my bestie's bachellorette party - whooo-hoo!

glad to be back though - i've missed you guys SO MUCH! xoxox!

sorry guys!

2008-09-25T20:06:00.003-05:00

we are trying to move and everything is in upheaval- no Internet in the inbetween :(
Wish us luck that come Monday we'll be a bit more settled and I'll be back on blogging track :)

awesomeness

2008-09-22T21:58:00.005-05:00

so i used one of those name generator thingys to find out my posh hollywood name and it's

garnet delilah wolfe-jones

ha! ha! ha!

you can address me as such from now on :)

good day / bad day / same day

2008-09-22T12:28:00.003-05:00

yesterday was the most perfect day i could hope for right up til about 9:30pm...

we slept in and then i taught my yoga class (p was in attendance) and it was a super one if i do say so myself - good music, good people, good vibe.

then we came home and chilled before meeting a friend at whole foods for an excellent sushi lunch. we ate so well and had such a good time that we were on a "food-high" and after we stopped by home for the puppy and a bottle of champagne we all traveled down to the park to enjoy what was a truly gorgeous day... some frisbee, some relaxation, and lots of cool breezes and sunshine! oh, and i found a pair of shoes in my closet i forgot i owned!

after that we decided to cook some FABULOUS fake roast (vegan-syle) to eat with baked potatoes, corn salad, and asparagus - YUM!

but then things got a little bummer for me.... downhill we go. i've had a terrible headache and crick in my neck since i spent 9 nights in an unfamiliar bed while housesitting (and one of those nights camping out in the backyard!) and then going back to my bed just threw me all out of whack... and i guess it was a combo of the bummer of watching sicko by michael moore (which made me want to move to france asap) and the way i sat for 2 hours with my head turned funny to see the screen, but i got the WORST neck ache ever. so bad it made me have another headache and on top of it i got all freaked out about being denied healthcare for the rest of my life - ack! can you say anxiety?!

so i'm posting these pics to bring back the memories of the good parts of yesterday - my neck is feeling better and i'm trying to turn my frown upside down!

i actually managed to throw the frisbee right to him AND take the pic at the same time!

jumper - first thing i ever sewed!

tee- jcrew

shoes - F21

marc-esque purse

2008-09-20T18:21:00.003-05:00

i found this purse at the thrift for three bucks - it has a vanity mirror inside like my other purse mentioned in this post and, tell me if i'm wrong, but doesn't it look like it could possibly be marc jacobs?

it would go so perfectly with these shoes

(which are, BTW, navy even though they don't appear so here):

the stylish wanderer has them and i am insanely jealous! maybe a miracle will happen next time i thrift and i will miraculously find some... daydreams are nice.

in the first photo, ALL ITEMS ARE THRIFTED AND COST LESS THAN $3 each!

finally, 100% thrifted :)

(including the gold belt and bow necklace you can't see)

wants/needs

2008-09-18T21:52:00.006-05:00

wallpapers by cole & son for my new apartment:

stuff from anthropologie for my legs/feet:

sorry these are so small - click to enlarge

and i know it's INSANELY CREEPY, but i am bizarrely infatuated with georgian hair jewelry and would love to own these two pieces from my favorite jewelry site georgianjewelry.com

yes, the drops are woven of actual human hair! crazy talk!

one foot in front of the other

2008-09-17T15:36:00.004-05:00

here's the debut of my new favorite skirt:

it's an almost flannel type of material which makes it super soft and cuddly and i think it has the most adorable print ever! roses and plaid bows - it's like christmas-y but not!

i took the above photos in what will be our new (TEENSY TINY) apartment beginning next week. i snuck into it today to take a few measurements and to once more slap my hand on my forehead and declare "we have lost our minds!" - no joke. it's less than half the size of our current space but also about half the rent... alas, we are trying to save for the future and that means that right now we have to make a few sacrifices... sacrifices named "meg's sewing room" and "meg's private bathroom slash make-up haven"....boo.

p is very anxious for me to go ahead and paint over the brick-like color you see behind me in the pic taken in the mirror but i think i am going to have to live in there a while and arrange furniture and stuff about 8 billion different ways before i can even see a clear design route... tis going to be a long road to travel but i'm happy to have my friends over at apartmenttherapy.com to guide me with their inspirational pics!

so, to clear my head of the overwhelming feelings of anxiety i got looking at the size of my new living room, i took puppy on down to the park for enjoy the most beautiful day your heart could ever desire:

i had good intentions to start what must surely be the most awesome book in existence

(thanks suz!)

but i got too slap happy taking pics of it and watching my dog run to actually read a word... other than the teaser below, which i'm hoping if you click to enlarge you can actually read:

it's going to be so juicy i'll have to wear a bib!

red polka dot shirt, green sweater, and headband - F21

new skirt - thrift

socks - sockdreamz.com

red heels - payless

i almost forgot:

2008-09-16T15:12:00.002-05:00

i'm officially BACK!!!

hooray - my life is mine again :)

can't wait to catch up on all of my blog reading and comment writing!

they call me the lunch lady

2008-09-16T14:02:00.006-05:00

i began taking photos outside today (as usual) but was disappointed with the results. while the ray of light that i found myself standing in did make me look a bit like an "earth angel", it also didn't show off my shirt:

behold my ethereal glow!

so, hearing the oven timer (tis quite literally a "lunchtime look" today!) i moved my party inside.... and by party i mean me, my camera, tripod and good mood.

here are the results:

i LOVE this oversized change purse!

i rather like dressing in themes. i've always appreciated a look with a follow-through. this one reminds me of how awesome it was to have a mom who let me wear what i wanted to school even though sometimes the school officials didn't agree with how i looked.

i once wore a black babydoll dress with a little white peterpan collar that was practically short enough to see my butt with white thigh highs and black mary janes to mimick courtney love - my best friend kevin was my kurt cobain and the apple of my eye. well, little did i know exactly what an "impression" my little outfit was making on the teenage boys because i got called to the principal's office to change and the thigh highs got banned and in years since i've had more than one of those boys mention that very outfit to me.

oh well, causing a bit of a scene is what fashion is all about, no?

that and having fun!

ruffle collared shirt - off fifth (saks 5th ave clearance store)

suspendered skirt & knee highs - thrift

heels - BCBG girls

headband - target

i'm a good looking stupid girl

2008-09-14T15:33:00.003-05:00

this is what i wore to my BF's "stock the bar" wedding shower friday night:

vintage dress, gold skinny belt, and red purse - thrifted

red heels - payless

drunk face - me

um, yeah - it's painfully obvious that i helped both stock and drain the bar that night.

everything i do, i do it for you

2008-09-11T14:12:00.004-05:00

okay my lovelies -

i came home in the middle of the day today *just* so i could make a post for you all :) okay - not entirely true - but close!
i bought this cool a-lined patterned dress for 2 bucks at the thrift and decided i would play around with a few different ideas of how to style it. it's pretty long and i think it makes me look stumpy when not belted so i may hem it quite a bit - opinions?! these looks aren't exactly edited but more of a sharing of "the process" - enjoy!

my new owl necklace (.75 cents at thrift) is getting me MAD complements!

i thrifted this FAUX fur vest the other day and can't wait for it to actually get cold out!

running out of time to say where stuff is from but most of it's thrifted - comment with questions if you need specifics!

oh, and i'll try to get another post in this weekend of what i wear friday night to a "stock the bar" party for my bestie who's about to be A BRIDE!

explicable absences

2008-09-09T23:09:00.003-05:00

Just an FYI because I truely love you guys:
For the past 4 days and for the next 6, I have been and will be house/kid sitting & subsequently not posting as much. I know it may sound odd but they don't have wireless for me to use my own laptop & for the sake of my own privacy in this little corner of the world I consider "mine" I don't want to use theirs and have the teenaged folk I'm staying with getting wind of it & checking in on me here.
So, while they are gone to school during the rest of the week & I am able to go home & have a little free time to myself I'll try to post (got a super dress and necklace today I'd really like to show off) but I can't promise anything. Right now I'm posting this from my iPhone (thank god for Steve Jobs!) before I have to crawl into bed in order to wake up early to drive carpool- how novel!!!
Be back soon!
Xoxo,
Me

fashion scavenger hunt

2008-09-08T15:08:00.004-05:00

today i found a long plaid (flannel but still cool - LL Bean) button up dress at the thrift and i want to hem it and wear it with plaid tights and rock out to the D&G plaid on plaid on plaid on plaid look!

can you help me do it?

do you awesome and resourceful folks know where i can find plaid tights?!

i want to look like this for a day without spending a month's salary on tights:

walking the line

2008-09-06T18:59:00.004-05:00

the first half of today was simply wonderful. slept in a little late - 9:30am is an indulgence these days- and had a leisure time putting around the house. then p and i went for food at "hipster heaven" - it's always fun to go on saturday cause we sit at the bar and get to catch up with a friend who works there so it's like loving two birds with one stone!

then i talked p into going down to this awesome junk/catch-all store downtown and it turns out this was the weekend for "art walk"! while busied himself getting some coffee (he's not very patient with me digging through junk for forever) i got to snake my way through the unusually prevalent crowd in search of goodies... and goodies did i find!

we have a friend who recently started selling jewelry in that store and she has an A-MAZING eye for cute vintage pieces... and she sells them for reasonable prices! i think that even though we don't hang out or anything she might be my other half. anyway, i got the owl ring and the flower basket necklace you'll see below from her and some other goodies i hope to ship off in some thrift swap packages soon :)

eventually we ended up down by the train tracks for a photo op (which "shoe-cases" my new favorite thrift shoes) and we had the most fun! we also happened upon a place that restores vintage cars - who knew?!

overall, a happy happy day!

he loves me!

details:

brooks brothers shirt, oxfords, picnic basket, & round locket - thrifted

banana republic jeans

owl ring and flower basket necklace - vintage (purchased today)

self in song

2008-09-06T09:59:00.006-05:00

i was tagged by S over at modern-guilt.com to do a post featuring a song that you feel accurately represents your personality and style. it was really hard for me honestly, because i think at the very heart of it i'm not so sure the two always jive for me.

alot of times my personality is like a bear who really just longs for hibernation and my style is like a little girl waiting for the first day of school.

well, the first song i chose is the first one that came to my head when i saw i'd been tagged and the one i'd say is closest to my heart - i sing it to soothe myself almost daily:

"undo" by bjork

it's not meant to be a strife

it's not meant to be a struggle uphill

you're trying too hard

surrender

give yourself in

you're trying too hard

it's not meant to be a strife

it's not meant to be a struggle uphill

sweetly

to enjoy

it's not meant to be a strife

it's not meant to be a struggle uphill

it's warmer now : lean into it

unfold in a generous way

surrender

undo

it's not meant to be a strife

it's not meant to be a struggle uphill

i'm praying

to be

in a generous mode

the kindness kind

to share me

quietly ecstatic

it's not meant to be a strife

it's not meant to be a struggle uphill

undo

undo: if you're bleeding

undo: if you're sweating

undo: if you're crying

undo

(u n r a v e l)

and then the second song i chose because not only does it feature my name, but it's fabulous song writing - poetic and graceful. and it might just tell a little secret about why i need the first song too - the duality of the sleeping bear and teeming child.

"margaret vs. pauline" by neko case

everything's so easy for pauline

everthing's so easy for pauline

ancient strings set feet a light to speed to her such mild grace

no monument of tacky gold

they smoothed her hair with cinnamon waves

and they placed an ingot in her breast to burn cool and collected

fate holds her firm in its cradle and then rolls her for tender pause to savor

everything's so easy for pauline

girl with the parking lot eyes

margaret is the fragments of a name

her bravery mistaken for the thrashing in the lake

of the make-believe monster whose picture was faked

margaret is the fragments of a name

her love pours like a fountain

her love steams like rage

her jaw aches from wanting and she's sick from cholrine

but she'll never be as clean

as the cool side of satin, pauline

two girls ride the blue line

two girls walk down the same street

one left her sweater sittin' on the train

the other lost three fingers at the cannery

everything's so easy for pauline

now i "tag" buoy and theclotheshorse and thriftcandy - but only if you feel like it! no pressure.

this is for my homies

2008-09-05T14:16:00.005-05:00

i am blessed with unbelievable friends. period.

the thrift swaps thus far with buoy and thriftcandy have been SO much fun! i am sincere when i say that they have brightened my days, not just because i have received *amazing* surprise packages in the mail but because i've made friends with some ladies who are so nice and kind and stylish to boot... and who wouldn't love having more of that in their life?!

i would look ridiculous if i put on all of the things that i've received from those two ladies (who more than outdid themselves, btw) so today i just chose a few things to show off the fruits of their labor so to speak. my bestie was nice enough (as she always is) to snap a few pics of me donning a few items from the swaps outside whole foods after our lunch date! she didn't even mind the searing heat or the stares of strangers - she rules! yay "bestie lou"!

*you gals should look forward to seeing her make her debut on this blog in the near future - she's a living doll!*

thirftcandy sent me the gold brocade jacket, the adorable little woven box purse, and the ever cool three (movable) fishies necklace!

buoy sent me the hot-ass shoes!

tank is old navy, skirt is thrifted, best friend is mine and you can't have her!

a few notes on the last post:

2008-09-03T18:57:00.004-05:00

here's the low-down on the items worn in my last post - just FYI!

(items listed as they appear in pics from top to bottom... pretty much)

the standout coat (navy with traffic-cone orange piping inside) is from armani exchange
the lace feminine blouse is from banana republic and i attached a butterfly broach from some department store to the neck closure
the shoes are BCBG
the orange pencil skirt, wide leather belt ("vintage" ralph lauren) and gold clutch are all thrifted
the black dress (which is all sparkle-y like the fabric has glitter in it - tres 80's) is thrifted
the statement necklace (unraveling braided chain) is from tj maxx
the booties are from payless
the green statement necklace is from banana republic
the grey sweater, grey & gold belt, and pop of plaid pencil skirt are all thrifted
the oxford-ish lace-up heels are from tj maxx
the sheath and black clutch are thrifted
the black tights are target
the black heels are from tj maxx
the short jacket and brown shoes are thrifted
the striped tee is jcrew
the leopard soft satchel is michael kors
the tuxedo feminine blouse is forever21
the gold studded belt is thrifted
the pop of plaid pencil skirt (second one) is also thrifted
fishnets are from nordstrom
blue and black patent heels are payless
the knit hat and menswear vest are forever21
the cream blouse, cream clutch and flower broach are all thrifted
the grey trousers are gap (worn with red shoes from payless i've posted before)

ten things

2008-09-03T16:02:00.005-05:00

i used to work at nordstrom and i LOVE LOVE LOVE that store - i won't go into it all here, but if you want to work in retail and you want a company that treats its employees right (awesome benefits) then go there.

anyway, i always love their ads and i think they have a really sharp team of buyers who do an excellent job of getting the shopping trends right on the mark. right now their website has a feature called "ten things to evolve your style right now" (check it out). i decided to do an impromptu photo shoot (like, very quickly - no ironing or attention to detail) to show off just some of the things i found that fit into these categories while shopping my own closet. i really need to cut down on the spending so i'm trying to focus on what i ALREADY own that i can use!

the "ten things to evolve you style right now" were:

1- the standout coat

2-the feminine blouse

3-the pencil skirt

4-the trouser

5-the statement necklace

6-the sheath

7-the short jacket

8-the soft satchel

9-a pop of plaid

10-the bootie

so here are some examples - some of the items appear more than once in different variations!

the standout coat

the standout coat, the feminine blouse, the pencil skirt

the feminine blouse, the pencil skirt

the statement necklace, the bootie

the statement necklace, a pop of plaid, pencil skirt

detail of the statement necklace

the sheath

the short jacket, the soft satchel

the feminine blouse, the pencil skirt, a pop of plaid

the trouser

appreciation

2008-09-02T13:20:00.005-05:00

i am continually surprised by how many wonderful people visit this little blog o' mine. i really, truly appreciate each comment that you all take the time to write. i really enjoy getting your feedback and every time i receive a comment from you guys it's like a friend has stopped by :)

i wish that my life was arranged so that i could do an outfit post daily but it's just not possible... in fact, maybe you all should know that i teach yoga for a living and that almost all day everyday i wear workout clothes... not very adventurous or stylish. but each of the blogs i visit keeps the fashionista in me alive and because i know that someone out there is checking in via this blog i try! i love visiting my favorite fashion blogs and especially seeing how "real" people put together their looks... so i try to reciprocate even if it means i change out of my work clothes and into an outfit just to post it during lunch before i put the workout clothes back on!

that's exactly what i did today:

man, i don't want a desk job... but i DO kinda wish i could know what it's like to put together a fashionable outfit and actually get to wear it and show it off all day!

details of today's "lunch break look":

heart-shaped glasses: F21

floral dress and tights: target

red heels: payless

ring: tj maxx

bag: thrifted

dancing shoes

2008-08-29T23:05:00.003-05:00

i got these shoes at the thrift and they made me feel like dancing - what can i say?!

details:

tank - "vintage" gap (meaning i've had it forever)

locket, skirt, slip and shoes - thrifted

coincidence? i think not.

2008-08-29T22:21:00.007-05:00

so, i made that post earlier in the week saying that i've had more than one run-in with my clothes appearing on the big screen - and it makes me unreasonably excited! i'm a dork. well, lately i've had two more serendipitous experiences - this time in print rather than film- that made me geek out:

one:
(i was saving this story for a time when i could tell it more dramatically and with more detail but for the sake of this post i'll give it away... so, long story short - and with significantly less "wow" power).
i found a tuleh dress (yes, that tuleh) at the thrift for $5 and it's gorgeous and in absolutely perfect condition... and if you've looked oh-so-closely at your september 2008 issue of marie claire you've probably seen it! that's right - it's worn by a woman in the crocs ad campaign, "letters to my younger self". ok, it's not that exciting or cool but can you at least agree it's kinda neat-o?

my tuleh dress (did i mention it was FIVE DOLLARS?!):

a cruddy photo of the ad taken straight from my issue:

two:

if you've looked oh-so-closely at your september issue of teen vogue then maybe you've seen my new hat! okay, well it's NOT my new hat but it looks just like it! the "style blogger" article on page 118 shows a student at SCAD named rebekah wages who has her models wear her signature knit hats that look eerily similar to the knit hat i purchased at the thrift for .50 cents just before reading this article! compare for yourselves:

rebekah wages' knit hats (and awesome designs) and the teen vogue article:

these three won't enlarge so look at her stuff here

my knit hat (made by someone named charlotte:

so, maybe those two things aren't all that exciting to anyone else but me - but they are pretty cool coincidences at least. i mean, two?! in one month?!

now here's the real question: how many stares and snide looks will i get if i actually wear that hat out!?! :)

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND EVERYBODY!

and for those of you who get a holiday on monday - enjoy!

she's here!

2008-08-27T15:11:00.011-05:00

the forklift guys at the warehouse thought i was a looney for taking pics and jumping up and down!

p's brother is the salt of the earth and was kind enough to put in alot of hard work and sweat (on his day off no less!) AND use of his truck, "the bruise" *THANKS DUDE* for enabling the following moment where i dramatically teared up and announced

"this is the day i've dreamed of my whole LIFE!"

OMG!

it's love at first sight!

did i mention how excited i am?!

i would've posted a pic of her out of the crate and me sitting on top but you have to trust me that getting her out of that crate and onto the ground (she's HEAVY) and up my steep yard and into the carriage house was so difficult that we all looked and felt like we'd been beaten. see, they ship them "dry" which means no fluids and therefore, undriveable - so lots of pushing and LIFTING was involved - i'm so exhausted! but happy!

more pics soon, i promise!

just a silly note

2008-08-25T22:55:00.005-05:00

seeing as how the rain is supposed to continue all day tomorrow as well and i probably won't get an outfit post in i thought i'd share with you all that in last night's episode (season 2, #6) of mad men i got a thrill when i looked up and saw that peggy was wearing a skirt i recently purchased at the thrift store! the same exact skirt!

(click to enlarge)

AND she was also wearing a pair of gloves that look to be almost identical to some i got recently at an antique store!

now, if only i could find this dress at the thrift too i'd be set!

the other clothing items i have owned before i saw them on the big screen were a t-shirt i got at old navy that calista flockhart wore on episode of alley mcbeal and the free people sweater that thora birch (jane) wears at the dining room table scene in american beauty. i still actually own that sweater for some odd reason...

it's an odd feeling to see someone in the movies or on tv wearing your clothes.

has it ever happened to you? did you get stupidly excited too?

tropical depression fay

2008-08-25T16:42:00.005-05:00

replace the name fay in the above title with "thefashionmaven" and you've got it about right. it's been raining cats and dogs all day long - for proof:

um, yeah, i am what's underneath that humongous green cluster.... and i would post a pic of me in my rain attire (which is really quite cute) but it's all dark and damp in my house and nobody is here to photograph me and setting up the tripod is just not an option. so instead i'll give you an inspired visual of what i'd like to be wearing if i must endure this snotty rain:

burberry umbrella available at nordstrom.com

roxy rain coat available at dogfunk.com (i kid you not) - and it's on sale so i might just order it!

tretorn rain boots available through zappos.com which look similar to the michael kors ones that are getting me through this mess.

but let's be honest here: i really do like the rain... and being able to wear fashionable and functional wedge rain boots by one of my favorite designers and project runway judges... but what's really got me down is the rain means NO VESPA! i still haven't seen her in person yet and it's torturous! so everybody cross your fingers that tropical depression thefashionmaven comes to a close soon with the end of tropical depression fay!

patience, grasshopper

2008-08-24T12:52:00.007-05:00

so, i found out the vespa arrived in my city on friday but i wasn't prepared to have someone to go with me and pick her up (they closed at 5pm and everyone was at work) and they aren't open on saturdays so i haven't actually gotten her yet! it's like sitting in front of a present you can't open! but come monday, she'll be coming home with me (fingers crossed) and i'll take some pics for you all to see!

thanks for getting excited with me :)

in the meantime, i've been busying myself with one of my favorite hobbies: jewelry making. i don't do anything too fancy but i always enjoy picking out materials at michael's and coming home to sit in front of the tv for hours tinkering around and ending up with bracelets and earrings i can share with my friends - they're always kind enough to say they love them!
here's a sampling (i hope you can enlarge them and tell something about them - sorry, they're not the best photos):

this one says "we will not know unless we begin - peter nivio zarlenga"

this one has three little charms that together say "be here now"

this one says "where there is love, there is life - mahatma gandhi"

i made more yesterday (including my take on a betsy johnson necklace with multiple chains and charms) but i haven't taken photos yet. last night's project was making something to hold my earrings. i've collected gold frames from the thrift and decided i'd staple some embroidery mesh (plastic kind) to the back. easiest and most effective solution yet - probably cost me $1.50 for the frame and .79 cents for the mesh! you should try it - just be careful with the staple gun!

ta-dah!

cloud nine was never so high

2008-08-22T11:16:00.004-05:00

my feet aren't even touching the ground right now because i'm riding SO HIGH on the news that my new baby arrived fresh off the boat from vietnam and is ready to be picked up!

BEHOLD THE AWESOMENESS THAT IS MY NEW RIDE!!!

i have always wanted a vespa and back at the end of june i found this beauty on ebay and just went for it! what can i say, it was a full moon! she made her way all the way from hochiminh city, vietnam on board a cargo ship named the olympian racer to come and live with me in alabama - how cool! and now i just have to find a way to get her the two miles from the pick-up site to my house... considering i don't know how to ride it yet! ha!

i am so silly but i keep thinking of awesome outfits i should wear while cruising around on it to envoke this image:

my name is thefashionmaven, and i'm a thriftaholic.

2008-08-21T15:25:00.008-05:00

no doubt, i have a serious problem. i think someone is going to have to step in and help me. and i think it's going to be P. he's getting a "look" everytime i come home from the thrift (which is becoming a daily habit) and i know that soon he is going to sit me down for a talk. like talk...with an implied capital T. i both dread and need this talk. i am addicted to the high of finding awesome stuff for cheap. there are worse things, i know, but i also know i can't keep this level of shopping up - even if it IS at ridiculous prices and the stuff i'm finding is super - because soon i'm going to run us out of our home with all my "stuff"....

today it was shoes. glorious shoes.

these wedges are the most comfy shoes ever! and they fit me like they've always been mine.

these are like grey and burgundy spats - SPATS!

these are wedges though you can't tell. how cute will these be all prepped out for fall?

i've been dreaming of these sweet linen and leather booties and today they are MINE!

they say nude heels elongate the legs... and lord knows mine could use some length. thanks genes.

so here they are (not to mention the other stuff i got too)

but really, look at the above photo and tell me i could've passed any of those shoes up!

an attempt to justify my thrifting addiction: i got the table for $25 and spray painted it, the gold photo frame was only .25 cents (i printed the phrase "please take off your shoes and stay awhile" in fancy font off the now-defunct blueprint magazine website - it's important to welcome guests into your home!), and the lamp (with spectacularly large black shade that's gold inside which you can't see in pic) was only $10, and finally millie the french poodle was .75 cents! so ALL of what you see above - including all of my awesome new shoes -probably rings in under $60. so sue me!

it's easy being green

2008-08-20T15:57:00.007-05:00

THANKS to all of you for your sweet comments - i am feeling much better today!

i have the sweetest boyfriend EVER (he's my hero - i wish i were as nice as he is), a mom who is always there to listen to me be weepy, and a super best friend who is always there to chat it up over lunch and make me feel good again - i'm such a lucky girl!

maybe that's what drew me to celebrating GREEN today:

the two necklaces (bow & locket), heart charm bracelet, green dress, and clutch are all thrifted - shoes are steve madden

i need a happy

2008-08-19T21:33:00.005-05:00

sorry this isn't a fashionable post as the title of my blog might suggest but today was kinda crappy for me. i was emotionally unstable and in order to get over myself and not drag this all out any longer i'm going chalk it all up to the fact that i just realized i've worn my undies inside out all day (unintentionally, of course) and go to bed.

but first, here's something to make us all smile:

(do you spy the tiny deer?! click to enlarge!)

feeling better already! thank you cuteoverload.com! i can always count on you!

FYI - i'm a total freak

2008-08-18T19:13:00.004-05:00

yep, and i'm not ashamed either. in fact, i'll share just one of the bizarre-o thoughts that passed through my head today as evidence. i was wearing the bow necklace from my last post (cause when i find something great i tend to binge on wearing it until it's out of my system or i find something else to obsess over) and trying to decide what to wear to go to the post office to mail off my first official package of the thrift swap - i started to debate the idea of wearing a shirt that ties with a bow at the back of the neck: "too many bows? redundant? silly?" and then, i thought "well it's okay cause one's in the front and one's in the back... I'VE GOT BOWS IN DIFFERENT AREA CODES!" yep. i've equated bows to ho's and begun a whole new rap in my head weird-al jankovic style....

THANKS luda! *insert eye roll here*

(mom i made that a link just for you in case you don't know what i'm referring to - and if you do... well, props?! i guess.)

some amazing things about my monday:

1- i only had to work for 2 hours today

2- i went to the library and discovered they were having a book sale and it was the last day so everything was 1/2 off! got lots of good stuff for only 50cents each (great - now i'm gonna have "fiddy cent" in my head too....)

3- checked out several movies while i was there and came home and watched emma - which was cute. and there are lots of pretty things to look at in the movie too - including super pink walls filled with gold-framed paintings which i think was the inspiration for the pink room from the royal tenenbaums which everybody obviously loves. anyway, i think P is down for letting me have a pepto pink room in the next apartment now!

4- as mentioned above, i sent off the first of what i hope will be many bundles of joy! i'm referring to the the thrift swap i've embarked on with diana. boy, i hope she likes what i've sent her. if you are interested in thrifting and getting presents in the mail from new friends then you should join us! leave me a comment and i'll tell you more!

5- while there, i got the LAST book of frank sinatra stamps at my post office - she took them out of the locked display case for me and everything - i felt like i'd won the stamp lottery!

6- the boy and puppy and i went to the park and it was a little breezy and nice. the dog rolled in the grass, i found a fall leaf (even though i think it's a leftover from last fall), and even convinced him to take some silly pics of me:

i'll never dunk.

but i can try!

a fall leaf!

puppy LURVES to roll in the grass

these are the oxfords i got in the haul the other day - love them!

dress was thrifted and shirt is from tj maxx

i like it cause it's mod and it feels like it goes with my new 'do

p's guns

these little guys are popping up all over the park!

the fashion maven

announcing my new blog

how very un-buddha-like of me:

Back in the saddle

Huh?!

Excuses, excuses

Trial & Error

top to bottom

parkin'

the people have spoken

hair-raising issues:

the secret's out

thrift scores

the great white

teaser

it's been a long time since i left you... without a dope beat to step to.

the opposite of groundbreaking

**SHAKES FIST AT SKY**

free bread! what?

just another day in paradise

in the words of dre:

genius.

shiny shriner's tassles

good news???

time-out.

on a mission...

I WANT! I NEED!

i think my brain went down the drain

to costume or not to costume?

slow learner

i heart etsy forever

the hippie hippie shake

she's so unusual

check please!

shoulda, woulda, coulda

let's get this party started!

um... yeah....

we'll see....

new stuff (parenthesis)

the one that got away... maybe.

electric granny land

aw geez! thanks!

blub.

surreal saturday

too bad, so sad!

she works hard for her money

thanksgiving's awesomeness

long time, no see

simple suggestions

i don't wanna work - i just wanna play in the park all day

{{{{ jumping up and down}}}}

newport news shoes

HOT MAMA!

i'm so bad.

dazed and confused

oh and one more!

the ghost of costumes past

no more moving

halloween fun!

diwali

stop! story time!

hodgepodge!

it's such an enormous thing to walk and to listen.

record room

back in the good ole days

the never ending move

sorry guys!

awesomeness

good day / bad day / same day

marc-esque purse

wants/needs

one foot in front of the other

i almost forgot:

they call me the lunch lady

i'm a good looking stupid girl

everything i do, i do it for you

explicable absences

fashion scavenger hunt

walking the line

self in song

SHAKES FIST AT SKY