Reasons why I haven't written...

I hope that you've all had a great holiday, and that you all spent time with family and friends.

For us, it's been a bit of a rough time, and I haven't really felt up to writing. If you've been following the blog for awhile, then you may be aware that I have some health issues, and lately I haven't been doing so well. And, this Christmas didn't really feel like Christmas at all - I spent a couple days in the hospital - and we never got around to buying a tree, or baking cookies - there was no hot cocoa or cheesy Christmas music - and right now, though I am feeling better - I am not at my best.

I don't want to write anything depressing in this space. I started this blog to share things that I enjoy, not to discuss anything upsetting. But, upsetting things do happen - and lately there has been a lot upsetting me. I feel as though every time I get sick I'm robbed of something - and I know that may sound selfish and self-centered, but I am just so fed up and angry. When I was younger and got sick- I could not study dance - which is what I wanted to do more than anything else. And, now that I am ill again- I may not be able to go to grad school. And - I'm scared that the next time I'm sick there is a real possibility that I may not pull through - and that I'll leave behind many things left undone.

I know that I am lucky for all the experiences I've had, all the places I've been able to travel to, and things I've been able to do, and above all I know I am extremely lucky to have married someone that I can laugh with, that I know is always there for me, and that I can share so many things with. It's just that times like these make it hard to be happy.

I will try to continue posting here - it's always great to read all of your comments - and share about the fun things out there. This is something that I enjoy and I don't intend to give it up. It just may be a bit before I can get back into it.

Jammies

It rained throughout the weekend, so rather than going out we were pretty much settled in and lazy this weekend. I didn't feel all that well either, but lounging around all day did help. It also helped me to realize that there is something I need, nice pajamas. It seems over the years I have amassed a collection of wear to bed only tees - and I've developed a habit of borrowing the hubby's boxers and sweats. Super cute, right? I'm kidding of course, there really is no way that I could possibly look frumpier than I do at bedtime - or lounging around the house. So I'm hoping to find a few cute pajama sets- hopefully soon. And, maybe some that are as cute as these pj's from Toast.






Am I just a weirdo for not really having a proper set of pajamas?

Aesthetics

I feel that more and more I am coming to like 'edgier' more structured/architectural clothing designs over girly buttoned up vintage things. I wonder what this means, is it a phase? A next stage in wardrobe choices?

I'm not about to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe, but I am going to try to work with what I've got to create new outfit shapes.

Here are some designs/ looks I'm using for inspiration from Acne and Anzevino and Florence...




Mostly, I've been pairing skinny jeans with tunic tops, but I may try to layer some tops and dresses and maybe do some creative pinning to a few items.

I'll try to come up with something fun, as I am going out shopping (to help someone find a holiday dress) this weekend, and the hubs and I have movie plans and a brunch date. So, I'll have a few things to dress up for.

What do you have planned this last weekend before Christmas?

Hot Tub Mac Machine, and an Outfit, Finally.

We continued to celebrate our anniversary on Friday night and we booked a 'hot-tub' at the Piedmont Springs, just down the street. It was amazing. It makes me wish we had a decent tub in our little place, but for now having hot tubs for rent down the street may be the next best thing.



I taught English in Japan for a time, and quite probably my favorite Japanese custom was the Ofuru. I'd honestly forgot how relaxing it can be to soak in a hot tub, in a quiet private space - just to have that time to decompress is such a luxury. If you have a hot tub, or nice home tub, or an ofuru, you are very lucky!



And, here is what I wore out and about for today...





From my closet: Sunglasses - Cheap Monday (the same one's I always wear), Jacket - Levis, Sweater - thrifted, Top - T by Alexander Wang that was a gift. Bag - Matt & Nat, Jeans and scarf are old UO, and by old I mean a couple of years ago. I really really love this scarf and I hate to think what will happen when it starts to fall apart.

Apparently I like wearing that top and jeans combo- here is a picture where I'm channeling Olivia Newton John.



I wore it out with a long cardigan though, as it's a little too slinky of a look for me otherwise.

I hope that you are all having a great weekend!


Oh! And, this post is my very first on the new laptop! Hurrah!

7 Things and Minus 1

This past summer Mario and I took a road trip up to Portland. The drive up the coast from the Bay Area to the city was just so beautiful ( I have some photos in Sights) really almost magical. I don't really know how many times you can stop and take pictures of ocean, rocks, and trees - but let me tell you we stopped a lot to take photos along the way.

I also really enjoyed Portland itself, and upon coming home started looking for (what else, Portland style blogs) That's when I came across Pretty in PDX. Jen, is sweet and funny, and always has these super cute comfy looking outfits. She recently tagged me in blog 'round- state 7 things about yourself and tag 7 others. So here goes.

1.I'm always cold. Seriously, when I am at home I am in layers from head to toe, and generally have a few blankets bout for movie watching. No, I don't have a snuggie or a slanket - I think that may be a little bit too grandma-ish for me.

2.I love tea. I'm very very picky about it too. My favorites are Gen Mai Cha and Earl Grey.

3.I'm actually a pretty decent singer. I sing in the shower, a lot. Maybe one day I'll join the ranks of cheesemeisters and make a you tube video of myself covering Patsy Cliene. But for now, if you're going to karaoke can I come too?

4.Wii Dance and now Wii Dance 2 are my favorite video games. Rockband comes at a close second. Yes, I do play video games.

5.I can read really fast. ( I learned to read when I was 3!) It helped out a lot in college - On average I can read a 350 page book in about an hour.

6.I can't stand artificial banana flavor.

7.One day I want to write a romance novel. I've never even read one, but I really want someone to design one of those awesomely fantastic cornball book covers for a story I write.

And, the MINUS ONE fact - we are actually not moving after all. There was a snafu in regards to the move in date, and we can't swing it - which is okay since we were having qualms about the neighborhood. So the search for a new place continues.

I'm passing this along to: What I Wore, Northwest is Best, 5678, Teeny and yet not Teeny at all, Swallow Light Bulbs, Beauty Simplistic, and Aerograms from Jan.

Just for fun, here are some forest photos from Oregon...

Friends - Bloggers - Shoppers - Be Informed.

I recently read this post on the brilliant Huzzah Vintage blog, about the 'free labor' performed by Mod Cloth's customers. It's touchy subject, but as someone who is an advocate for human and worker's rights. I see so much truth in what the post argues. Here is an excerpt, but please read the post and watch the clip...

"Perhaps not surprisingly, this complimentary customer labor is cloaked in a rhetoric of 'fashion democratization.' Customers are flattered into believing that they are a contributing member of an exclusive sartorial collective, and that the free work they do for the site is somehow different, somehow less exploitative than that which paid focus group participants do for major retailers like Gap Inc. and Zara parent company Inditex. The reality, of course, is that the only thing different about Modcloth's strategy is that it is cheaper and has the value-added benefit of promoting much deeper engagement with the brand and website (something the company perhaps learned from its young, start-up savvy investors). Like so many Americans today, Modcloth customer-laborers are working harder and harder for less and less. As far as we can tell, this is not a model of democracy, but a capitalist's filthy wet dream."

This issue has been the topic of many other blog posts as well. I think it's just easier to see when the company is as large and ever present as MC.

As a blogger I've( and perhaps you too, if you have a blog) been contacted to advertise/promote things in this space without any sort of compensation. Which okay, I may do if I am contacted by a product/service that I truly support. To date I've only done that for one service - SMASHION. But, I do write about clothing and products that I like all the time - and no, I'm not sponsored, I just like those things and wish to share about them. That being said I have been contacted by companies wanting me to review their products and services without any sort of compensation for my time. I also feel that were I to review something I wouldn't normally use or buy - I'd be compromising my principles. Also, people should be compensated for their work. Just because something is fun, doesn't mean it doesn't require a certain set of skills and time.

(I've seen this a lot on job-postings as of late as well - where they are looking for social media/blogger interns requiring a whole slew of skills and set hours - and they don't pay. But, don't get me started on that - there are a bunch of laws related to this that really anger me.)

But, anyway- I want to know how you, blog amigos, feel about this.

New.

Last night was our wedding anniversary. I feel really lucky to have such an amazing person in my life. I don't want to get too hokey or mushy here. But I do have to say that I am really happy.

I took the photo of the glass above at the restaurant where we went to celebrate - Spettro. They have really great food and they make soy cheese and veggie substitutions - hurrah. It's a really homey little space with great brick walls and mood lighting.

I know I haven't been posting many outfit photos as of late. But I do have some planned. There has just been a lot happening as of late. One, I am going back to school - so it's been a lot of work dealing with getting the funds in place. It's tough!

And two, we just got word that we got an apartment that we recently looked at. So, we will be moving in January. And, I have such mixed feelings about it. I mean, I LOVE the space it's amazing - it feels like home - plus I'll have the wood floors I've been wishing for, for a long time. But, we'll be giving up our awesome Piedmont neighborhood - the bookstores, cafes, and the little grocery. That is sad. But this new place will be much more comfortable - and I could actually have dinner parties and a real closet. Plus it's cheaper. So, that's good- right?

So many new things. It's a bit overwhelming.

Lashes

A fallen eyelash means someone is missing you - blow on an eyelash and make a wish. Long full lashes are the stuff of dreams. We curl them, we extend them, we ply them with coast of mascara.







Why do we have such a fascination with eyelashes?



"Ancient Egyptians play a large part of the rich history of mascara. Dating as far as 3400-30 B.C., Egyptians used bone and ivory as mascara applicators, and blended kohl with crocodile dung, water and honey to create the first mascara. "

Edwardian ladies used "burnt matchsticks were used to darken eyelashes" and sometimes women made their own form of mascara by adding hot beads of wax to the tips of their eyelashes.

And in the 20's and 30's women used spit block - cake mascaras. And, yes they did spit on them to moisten and apply the 'cake' to their lashes.

And now...



or there are lash extensions and lash growth prescriptions for Latisse.

Honestly, I wish I had longer lashes too - like Anna Karina - big 60's lashes, but I don't think that my false eyelash application skills would cut it - and I'd just feel too costume-y.

Have you ever tried false lashes, or extensions?

Sale-ing

While many people wait until the new year to bring up talk of new things and changes - I'm starting now. I have a list of new things that will be happening on this blog. First off, I finally posted something to the EATS page. I will try to be better about that, because there lots of good food recipes and restaurant recommendations to share.

The big thing is that I am starting an Etsy Shop. I have a lot of vintage, and not enough closet space -so, have decided it's time to share these pieces with all of you vintage loving ladies out there.

The shop, Shine Like Gold - should be up just in time for New Year's.

I am also going to post a few non-vintage items on Smashion.

I am also very excited as to new blog and photo design possibilities. The new laptop (a nifty mac book pro) is on it's way - I should get it any day now. And, the first order of business is getting some good photo programs.



Yes, this dress will soon be for sale.