Big sweater.

The sun is shining and I had an awesome weekend with my fiance and my step-daughter, dancing, pretending, and playing outside. We even had a wonderful visit from my mom -- while we were all still in pajamas (moms visit so early!), and I got some important Etsy photography done, since I have the two best photo assistants in the world. ;)

How was your weekend?!

Oversized sweater: Thrifted

Oversized blouse underneath: Thrifted

Jeggings: Random TJ Maxx

Booties: Juicy Couture

A5 Portfolio: Vintage

Domestic comedy.

Dance leotard: Capezio

Circle skirt: vintage via ArtelleGallery

Shoes: Poetic License

Cardigan: Thrifted

Faux pearls" Thrifted  

A dance leotard and a full skirt are a tried and true combo -- nobody looks bad in that pretty, New Look, fit-and-flare silhouette. So when the company I work for was informed that the Japanese TV station NHK was sending a crew into our office to film a segment about my department (!?), I figured this ensemble was my best bet for hopefully not looking overtly horrible while potentially appearing in the background of an interview in which my boss explains the exciting world of movie data content licensing. I'll let you know if/when the segment airs or streams or whatever.

People are always asking "Aren't you cold while you take those pictures?!" The answer is of course I'm cold, it's like 30 degrees out! That's why after posing for about 30 seconds, I put my coat back on!. ;)

Anyway, normally the post would end there, but then MC captured this candid of me at home, looking like I'm about to KILL SOMEONE with this iron:

I swear, I was just spaced out, thinking about how much laundry I had to do, but apparently that thought process gave the outward impression of smoldering rage. I subsequently tried to make up for it with a few dainty poses.

Then we discovered a tiny, handmade felt dress on the floor that goes with my step-daughter's Blythe dolls, and as I'm sure you already predicted, I proceeded to pantomime ironing the tiny little garment like the overcooked ham I am.

Nails: 

Essie: Playa Del Platinum 

Essie: A Cut Above

Kardashian Kolors from Nicole by OPI: Rainbow in the S-Kylie (sigh)

  

 This concludes today's lesson in loopy, domestic humor. Have a great weekend, guys. :)

Ocean Girl!

Does anybody else remember this show?!

I watched the Australian aquatic science fiction adventure series Ocean Girl when I was about 13 on the Disney Channel, and I'd be lying if I said it was for any reason other than a MASSIVE girl crush on star Marzena Godecki, who played the leading role of Neri, an effervescent but mysterious girl who lived alone on an island, communicating with whales and letting her reams of golden hair whip around in the ocean breeze.

She had super powers that enabled her to swim for curiously long distances, and had an altogether preternatural connection to the sea. Additionally, the actress who played her was my absolute DEFINITION of beauty! Half the time I spent watching the show was probably devoted to wistful sighing, and the abstract fantasy of one day being so captivating and pretty.

How can you argue with that earnest, determined expression?

Oh, and one last thing -- which you MUST have seen coming. MC won't let it go unless I include a photo of what I actually looked like at 13 (something I've already done, but what's another stab at embarrassing truthfulness). 

Of course, you can imagine what MC says: that I was just as effervescent and beautiful as Neri then, and that I still am now. I'm a lucky duck to have a guy who thinks that, and while I don't want to get a big head, what with all this adoring, unconditional goddess worship and all,  I will say this: Neri's beauty felt unattainable and impossible when I was 13, but not so much anymore. I was no teen model, but in a photo caught on 110 film, holding a white canopy bedpost in my 1994 bedroom, wearing my brother's sweatshirt and surrounded by acid-trip 70's wallpaper, nerdy cutouts from magazines, and stuffed animals I won at the fair, Ocean Girl's beauty doesn't seem like quite as much of an impossible dream. So score one for hindsight, I guess.

Blue Streak.

I wore this comfy sweater dress a couple days ago -- right before I got my hair cut. I didn't do anything drastic, but I was BADLY in need of some shaping and I feel a hundred times better now that I've had a trim.

Sweater dress: Victoria's Secret

Tights: Sockdreams

Shoes: Steve Madden

Scarf: Thrifted

Purse: Coach, mom's

Incidentally, folks keep asking what I'm doing with my hair, and the answer is that I'm not really sure. I just know that I was getting sick of bleaching it platinum blonde. It was always so damaged that it would frequently break off into my hands, and sometimes it reflects so much light in photos that the whole top of my head looks washed out. So the short answer is that I'm keeping the pink, but otherwise doing little more than letting the platinum lazily grow out while my natural, honey color awkwardly creeps in. 

P.S: Thanks, Mom for letting me long-term-borrow this purse. What's old is always new again! ;)

Snow Bunny.

MC took these pictures of me on Valentine's Day. He says I look like a "snow bunny." I should have worn rabbit ears, I've totally got 'em.

We love the gigantic pine tree in our back yard, and not just because it provides a backdrop for what MC called these "Kickass, yearbook-looking photos." It's also beautiful and, dare I say, possibly magical. The first time we pulled into our driveway with my step-daughter, she looked at it and said "It's a camphor tree, like Totoro's!" (click the link to see Totoro's tree), and just the other night we met a pretty little screech owl sitting in it, who was warbling beautiful intonations that sounded nothing like her unflattering name would suggest.  ;)

Coverage.

Sun is blinding. Air is freezing. Yeah, this is the winter I'm familiar with.

Chiffon maxi skirt: ASOS

Sweater: Thirfted

Bag: Cynthia Rowley

Striped top (underneath, pictured below): H&M

Have a good weekend, you guys. :)

New (Old) Couch!

I promised to photograph our new antique couch, so now I must deliver. Here she is! This soft, firm, oh so comfy 1940's sofa was apparently resprung and reupholstered like, yesterday, because aside from the woodwork and markings on the bottom, it's brand effing new. And we LOVE it!

Incidentally, so does Chi. Though Chi pretty much loves every new object brought into the house -- doubly so if he can lay on it.

Uh oh. Look out.

Heh, I guess in addition to Chi's wild side, these pictures also showcase less flattering elements of our home like unpainted walls, shop-vac box sitting in the dining room, and  wallpaper lingering in a semi-removed state. I guess I can save some of these shots for the "Before" folder for my home renovation posts. ;)

Be Mine.

Well, MC and I sure had an interesting Valentine's Day. 

On our way to work in the morning, a guy either blew or slid through a stop sign, and we would have hit him square in the middle of his driver's side door if MC hadn't employed his fighter pilot skills and avoided him deftly. Sadly, the maneuver that probably kept us from injuring that guy badly also slid us into a tree. Our car is in the shop, but we're fine -- and that, oddly, ended up making our Valentine celebration feel all the more sacred and special. After all was said and done, it was hard to think about anything besides how dear we are to each other. 

It also got my ass in gear to list some vintage clothes on Etsy, since we could use a few extra funds to throw at this situation. ;)

Faux leather moto jacket: BB Dakota

Scarf: Thrifted

Wool tartan skirt: Christmas gift from my future mother in-law

Scrunch cowboy boots: Zodiac, vintage

Bag: Coach, mom's

Anyway, for those paying way too much attention, this is the plaid wool skirt I posted for last year's Valentines Day as well. It was a very loving Christmas gift from MC's mom, who not only blew my mind by knowing my taste so well, but also kind of exploded my heart by taking it apart and resewing it to fit me perfectly. :)

House love.

Happy Valentine's Day! MC have little more in mind for the evening than eating vegan treats, watching a choice movie, and spending a little quality time in our new digs -- so I thought I'd honor the holiday with yet another anecdote of house love. 

Remember how I said that back when we were viewing our new house as prospective buyers, I had an undeniable feeling in the deepest seat of my soul that this was destined to be OUR house? Well in the interest of fairness, it's hard not to fall in love with a house that comes with an original playhouse, built and painted in the style of the home!

 Needless to say, my heart exploded with the thought of my darling, beloved step daughter having a kickass playhouse to stage her antics in. Clearly, the thing needs a fresh coat of paint and some TLC, so that's on the agenda for Spring. But in the meantime, my little lady informs me that this is apparently the new headquarters for our Girls-Only Top Secret Club (to which she says she'll grant exceptions for her daddy and Chi -- so diplomatic), so I think she's excited about it too. :)