8.19.10 // BACK OF MY NECK GETTING GOOD AND GRITTY

I haven't posted an outfit in a long time. I've been busy trying to find work in California and painting my car (work in progress photo below..), and as a result my blog as suffered. Everyone out here seems to have their own personal style. It's so fun to go out and see so many people wearing styles similar to the ones that I've seen on some of my favorite fashion blogs and have it be normal. There are definitely trendy people back in my home state of Connecticut, but the West Coast style is just different. I love that I can wear prescription-less glasses in California without feeling like a little kid playing psychiatrist and that beanies are in season here year-round.

SHIRT // mom's! found it in the attic

PANTS // thrifted

HAT // handmade

SHOES // thrifted

GLASSES // gifted!


Here's a shot of my new(ish) painted car. I still have a lot more work to do, but I hope to have the entire car painted by the end of August! I decided to buy a Volvo station wagon before I left for my cross-country road trip. This one's an old Vovlo 940 wagon.. she's a beauty and got me all the way to California without too much trouble (minus an oil-shooting-from-the-engine incident that both she and I have decided to forget about..)

6.14.10 // MELLOW YELLOW

DRESS // thrifted

BELT // thrifted

TIGHTS // thrifted (but they were new!)

SHOES // thrifted

JACKET // thrifted

My apologies for not writing in a very long time. I have been settling into life in California over the past month or so and haven't made much of an effort to chronicle my outfits or my life here. One thing that I have been doing constantly is visiting Trader Joe's. There's one like a block away from my apartment complex.. and I . CAN'T . HELP . MYSELF! It's crazy to finally be out here and so far away from my family. I love the beach, but even more than that, I love the people. I met some really amazing people when I worked out here last year for a while and I wanted to come back for more of their positivity and creative energy. California just seems like the perfect place to be right now. It's equal parts liberating and awkward being so far away from home. I feel a lot like Bambi when he first tries to stand on ice (side note - did anyone else think that Bambi was a girl?!) I know that being on my own is something that I can do, but I'm not as sure-footed and confident as I would like to be. Maybe once I get some antlers things will be different.

5.13.10 // IT'S ALL HAPPENING AT THE ZOO..

My friend Hayley and I recently visited The San Diego Zoo. We, of course, listened to "At the Zoo" by Simon & Garfunkel on our drive down. The visit reminded me of two things: how amazing life is (there are so many varieties of it!) and how happy cotton candy can make me.

I found this shirt at a Goodwill while on the road and fell in love with it. I love the one little rogue fashionista bird. What a fetching hat!

SHIRT // thrifted

SKIRT // thrifted

TIGHTS // target

SHOES // thrifted

HAT // thrifted

CARDIGAN // thrifted

Oh, and one more thing.. I have no idea who this guy is, but I found him on YouTube. I'm pretty sure I'm in love.

3.17.10 // CONNECTICUT COUTURE

So, I'm officially on the road on my way to California with my friend. Pardon my lack of blogging.. I've been busying packing my life in my new Volvo station wagon (circa 1994) and saying my "see you laters" to my family and friends. Here are some photos from my last visit to the local beach in my town before leaving. The beach is one of my favorite places in town and something that I will miss a lot. Yes, yes.. I know.. I'm going to the beautiful beaches of California, but there's something special about my hometown beach. I walked on it's sand as a baby and it's small enough that I know all the best spots to sit and think.

SHIRT // thrifted

JEANS // forever 21

SWEATER // thrifted

BOOTS // payless

NECKLACE // forever 21

HAT // forever 21

3.6.10 // THE POWER OF YOUTH

"We have a powerful potential in our youth, and we must have the courage to change old ideas and practices so that we may direct their power toward good ends." --Mary McLeod Bethune

It's so hard to blow bubbles with sugar free gum. Too bad we aren't born with unlimited baby teeth to chew sugary treats with.

SHIRT // it was my mom's.. she's a big bruce fan

CARDIGAN // thrifted

SKIRT // thrifted

TIGHTS // target

SHOES // target

HAT // gifted

SUNGLASSES // thrifted

CAT // meow

I thought that a Bruce Springsteen shirt would be appropriate for post about youth because so many of The Boss' songs are about the struggles and dreams of a young man. This shirt actually belonged to my mom back in the 80s. She got it at a concert that she went to with my dad in a life before my existence.

I've been thinking about the power of youth for a while now.. maybe a year or so. It's a funny thing. Young people have so much energy and are so eager to produce meaningful lives, but they don't always know how. We're sort of like dodo birds in that way - we have these wings, but don't know how to fly.

I often ask myself what types of stories I'll have to tell my grandchildren someday. Will they be mildly interesting and full of what-ifs or will they be extraordinary and challenging.. the stuff that adventures are made of. I'm aiming for the latter. I think that all young people hope to live lives that stand out from the crowd, but still not everyone does. For those young people who do use their power for good, there is a secret that I've heard of. It's been passed down from people who were once young. They couldn't have possibly learned it as young people.. it's wisdom that can only be gathered in hindsight. It's seen in history books in the form of sit-ins and protests and rallies and it is this:

--Pearl Sydenstricker Buck

So, here's the question I keep asking myself.. What will you do with your power? I think I'll see if this dodo bird can fly.

3.4.10 // I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO TALK TO STRANGERS, NOT EVEN NUNS.

I've loved mood rings ever since seeing My Girl. Gosh, that movie's sad.. I much prefer Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister. What I can say is that the sequel to My Girl, My Girl 2, played a big role in developing my love for California. Maybe that's sad and weird, but it's the truth. If you've seen the movie, you know that the main character (Vada Sultenfuss) travels to California to learn about her mother, whom she's never met, for a school project. She's from "pencil-vainy-ah" (that's how she says it the movie) and has never been to the West Coast before. She learns so much about her mother on the trip and meets a cute guy... which never hurts. I have dreams of living out a Vada Sultenfuss-esque adventure once I'm in The Golden State. Until then, I'll wear my mood ring.

I made this barrette by following similar DIY instructions to the ones found on A Patchwork World. Instead of attaching a pin backing, I bought a blank barrette clip from Michaels. All you need for this DIY is an old eyeglass lens (it's easy to get old eye glasses at thrift stores like Goodwill and Salvation Army for a few bucks), a magazine or fabric cut-out (comic strips are fun to use), decoupage glue, a paintbrush, a blank barrette backing, and strong glue. This barrette took about ten minutes to make. I don't like glue in my hair (I'm sure I'm not alone here..) so I let my barrette dry overnight before wearing it. If you make an eyeglass barrette or pin, send me a picture and I'll post it!

DRESS // old navy

SCARF // thrifted

TIGHTS // target

SHOES // payless

BARRETTE // made it myself