So, What do you think?

The way I see it, I have three options for Thanksgiving tomorrow.  I could go really fun and dressed up in option number one, a little untraditional in abstract, dot dyed leopard, or traditional in fall floral vintage with a sweet little vintage slip under, or casual/trendy in gray tights booties, boy blazer and scarf.   How dressed up are you all going?  I don't have many opportunities to really go all out (even though this isn't REALLY all out) so when I have an excuse I like to take it.  Are you the same or do you like to just do jeans on bird day?

AAA: All About Accessories

We all know that accessories have magic powers to transform very plain separates into complete outfits.   I tend to collect accessories because I KNOW about this ancient magic, but sometimes feel intimidated by their transformative properties and ability, if not applied carefully, to act as a flashing light on an otherwise perfectly good outfit.  What is that great rule of thumb (someone school me right now) about taking one thing off before leaving the house?  The thing is, sometimes you JUST NEED a little something magical to make ordinary things work.  For instance, a fitted gray sweater and a plain Dickies skirt (both second hand).  Obviously the combo begs for a belt, check, and this season's booties, check, and, OH I have been seeing scarves tied neatly at the neck and I really love the colors in this one, so a neckerchief, AND, my felt fedora. . . ? Too much?  I guess if I had to take one thing off it would be the hat, But I really don't want to.  I have also really wanted to wear my glasses out.  I just feel like you sort of have to dress around glasses since they make such a statement on their own.  There are loads of really chic girls who are able to do this effortlessly, and I am always struck with awe at how WELL they do it.  even here I feel like I am TRYING to look like a librarian or a secretary. Both really cool things to look like, but I don't want to TRY to look like anything but me.  Lastly, the penny loafers.  I am actually REALLY into them.  Maybe I am a little late catching this bus, but when I found them at my local Goodwill last week they finally seemed like a REALLY good idea.

On a completely different note, thank you all for giving me some insider info on the whole blogging, analytics, metering thing.  Phew!  I was worried I had stepped over a line for a second! Much more informed now and happy I brought it up!

Pay Tribute

This is my tribute outfit to Orchid Grey and her outfit last Thursday.  It is not uncommon for me to be inspired by my fellow bloggers, but this post was a special matter.  Here is the thing:  I purchased this dress from American Apparel like two months ago and have felt the proportions were a little strange on me since I washed it.  Granted it does need to be ironed, but my disappointment at having paid like 50 times what I would ordinarily pay for something and the fact that its not just ready to go at my beckon call made me not even want to iron the little bitch.  BUT THEN I saw that she bought it (at an outlet none the less!) and I was hopeful that this stylish girl would show me the way.  Well she did.  And with PRACTICALLY the EXACT same Items I have readily available to me in my closet.  The first few pics were actually taken today, while the outside photos were taken by my PHOTOGRAPHER (pictured bottom!) yesterday.  Different scarves, different day, different people I would see, no problem wearing the same thing twice in a row in my book!  Especially since the darn thing has been sitting idle for so long!  SO THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Simple Saturday

Finally the weekend!  I have done a little listing on the Etsy shop this morning.  Thinking of grabbing some eggs and hash-browns with my family at a local greasy spoon.  REALLY considering a drive to the Bay Area for a blogger meet up tomorrow!!   A & A, Do you think you would be able to go?  I still need to email This Time Tomorrow to see if she is still thinking of going.  Don't you think that would be fun?  Carpool with a fellow blogger (or two Dominique!) for a blogger meet up in San Francisco!

I think It would be really interesting to meet more bloggers for lots of reasons like getting to know people with common interests, seeing amazing style, but also because I have just some general blogger questions, like, Well,  does everyone use google analytics? Why are you doing this anyway? At what rate did your readership grow?  Boring things like that.  I am relatively new to this whole community and  interested in these sorts of mundane details.  Does anyone else wonder about this?  Are these like Blogger Taboos?  No one really seems to talk about it so if I do not receive responses or get blacklisted I guess I will have my answer!  Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

One person's trash?

So these are the treasures I decided to keep (for a time at least) from my excursion yesterday.  This coat I found at a thrift shop I had never been to before and happened to get for 1/2 off ($12.50!!!!) I am not really sure what my fascination is right now (well always) with these long printed skirts, but I keep finding them and wondering why they are even cast off!!??  They are gorgeous, adjustable, amazing. . . I don't know, I mean maybe its just me, but I am all about them right now.  The sweet little cotton dress near the top, is just right.  I love everything about it.

And I wore pretty much the top outfit last night (with the addition of some dark gray leggings) to a lecture by WENDY TREMAYNE.  Have you heard of this woman?  She is the performance / public works artist responsible for developing the very first Swap-o-rama-rama.  Talk about making another person's trash a treasure.  Everyone with an interest in community, being a maker rather than a consumer, and finding the key to freedom, really should know about this project and the underlying theme of what it is being accomplished by it.

The loot for Etsy

My shopping trip this morning went very well!  Above are the things I have decided will go to the Etsy Shop.  You will see the items I decided to keep tomorrow!  I just wanted to get these on here as soon as I could to give you all a sneak peak before I start listing them tonight.  Most Items are pretty self explanatory. That wiggle dress on top is the hardest thing for me to let go of and honestly might not make it to the store.  The boots on the bottom are vintage Justin boots (size 7. . . sniff) and look so much cooler in real life.  I have no idea of what the OVERALLS are all about.  They are super old, maybe from the 50's, really amazing to look at, but. . .  you know. . . sometimes I just buy on instinct.  Who knows, maybe someone will understand them.

THE HUNT

Today I am going thrifting and I am so freaking excited!  I haven't hit a few of my favorite shops for a few weeks, one of them for more than a month (!!!!) but it is absolutely imperative that I let them rest for a period of time, let the golden goose restore her minerals and whatnot.  Yesterday though, I had a premonition.  My instincts told me it was time.  SOMETHING FANTASTIC that I have created in my mind (the perfect riding boots? a hooded cape? OH!!  IT COULD BE ANYTHING!) has materialized in someone's closet, become intolerable to them and has been delivered to the Salvation Army where it waits for my arrival.  I will probably drive a little fast today.  Not like crazy fast, just like 6 miles over the speed limit.  My heart will race when I pull into the parking lot.  I will walk in and quickly case the joint (don't pretend you don't know what I am talking about).  My palms will sweat as I smile at the cashier who always greets me so sweetly as I grab my shopping cart.  As I struggle to keep my breath from being embarrassingly audible, I will carefully scan the shoes and boots.  Somewhere,  my treasure will make its presence known then . . . LAAAAAAAAAAA (sparkling lights, angels, music, that crazy wiggle feeling I get in my soul when I find it, The exquisite texture!)   This is why I have an etsy shop.  For me its the HUNT.  I may not even keep a single thing I find tomorrow (unless its, you know what) but it doesn't matter.  I will FIND amazing things.

Oh, and regarding my outfit, This is my attempt at grunge.  I didn't fully grasp it the first time around (then I was just a grungy teenager, not chicly grunge).  The bottom photo is an example of where my comfort zone WAS before I began challenging myself to branch out.  I FIND so many beautiful things!  I may as well start wearing them!  Like these boots!  Gosh darnit right!!

In the light of day

Thank you all so much for your comments on yesterday's post.  Its is still super exciting and REALLY fun to get comments!  I get notifications of comments on my cell phone so Even when I am away from the house I can still get them!  I took a few outdoor photos of my favorite things from my trip last Sunday.  A little redundant.  Sorry.  A couple of the things just photographed better outside and actually, I forgot a couple of them in the first shoot.  Am I Crazy to Just love that HUGE 80's rayon gray thingy?  Or this beaded jacket?  I don't think so.  Maybe not on trend but does that really matter?  Naw.  surely not.

As you can see, there is not much to the east of me.  WAYYYYY back in the background you can see some sad, naked cottonwoods, and a skeleton of a little tree in my yard.  The open space is still nice though.  Uncluttered and quiet.  Clean clear sky.

NEW Goodwill

A new Goodwill opened near me and I made it over there on Sunday.  I have to say, I am a little more than thrilled.  I just CAN"T believe people get rid of the things they do!  Most of this stuff is VERY summer, but I know I can winterize most of it.  I think a few things will go to the Etsy store but I am not sure yet.  I am pretty excited about most of these things.  EVEN MORE exciting is that while I was shopping I spotted a very chic, well put together, gorgeous girl wearing a pair of  FANTASY BOOTS (Another example at Idee Geniale).  It turns out she is a fellow blogger!  So exciting!

Its is ironically so surreal to meet someone in real life that has such a wide spread, well established web presence. It made me realize (though I was sure I KNEW, I'm sure) that you are all really REAL people.  For Real.  Like Me.  So weird.  I guess the weirdest part was that I thought the opposite.  Not that you are not real but . . . well, in many ways abstract.  Does anyone else feel this way?  Its like meeting a celebrity or something maybe.  For some reason you know all these things about these people, how they dress, their jobs, their boyfriend's or husbands names, that they love oxfords or wear berets, or dressed as Katy Perry for Halloween, that to do that special thing they do with their hair they don't wash it for 7 days or so, and a number of other details, but you don't KNOW them.    The thing that is really neat though, is that they look just as gorgeous (if not more) in real life!  AND THEY ARE STILL HUMAN.  Does anyone else trip about this?

and that summer feeling is gonna haunt you one day in your life

All images from "Sisters" a book of photography by David Hamilton.

I don't normally do this.  Post photographs from books or magazines.  Not because I don't appreciate it when others do it, but because its just not my niche.  Others often do it much more eloquently than I do.  But the last leaves have fallen from my trees and winters bite is nearly here and I always get this terribly nostalgic, romantic mood this time of year.  It feels especially strong right now.  When I look at these images they actually make me feel sadder but in a cathartic sort of way.  I have a whole bunch of new photos of things I purchased from thrift stores yesterday, but today, I just feel this.