Sunday Songs

Hello everyone! Boy did I enjoy this past week off! I did miss blogging but I needed the real break to think, and sort, and get organized. So I am introducing a new segment here that i like to call Sunday Tunes.

I own so much music it's not even funny. I mean my CD collection is massive, but it is very closely rivaled by my vinyl collection. I even still own tapes because my car is ancient and only has a tape player which I use frequently (usually it is either Bjork's Post album or Meredith Brooks's single of Bitch). But the vinyl is my favourite by far. There's something really fun about flipping the record over and setting the needle down. I makes listening to music more of an event than just sticking a CD in and letting it go. Beyond that I enjoy the sound so much more! (I'm a sound geek so forgive me. Sound is so incredibly facinating! It's nothing more than invisible bouncing vibrations and yet it comes out as such a magical thing! I'll stop now before I go on and on and on and on and on...) The raw-ness in the quality is just so... Imperfect? And yet that somehow makes it perfect? If that makes any sense! But I really love listening to my vinyl collection and I have decided to share it with you all! Each Sunday I'll share one record from my collection and post a video or two of my favourite songs off the album. Sound cool? I hope so!

So to start us off I will be sharing an album by one of my all time favourite artisits (if not my favourite), Carly Simon. Make fun if you will (some people just don't get my love for her), but I love her! she is a brilliant songwriter and an incredibly unique vocalist. Her music is relateable, honest, and full of deep emotion that draws you in. She is an excellent storyteller and when it comes down to it, that's what great musicians are. I own a few of her albums on vinyl so I'll start off with the oldest that I own, No Secrets. I highly reccomened it and all her music. So here's a few of my favourite songs off the album:

This my favourite song off the Album. I think it's a really fun song!



The Album's name song is one of my favourites just from a musical point of view. I love the way the melody is laid out.



Of course no post about this album would be complete without including what is Ms. Simon's most famous song, You're So Vain. Such a brilliant song.

So what do ya think? Is this feature a keeper?

What's on your turntable/in your stereo/ipod?

Excuses, Excuses...

Five bucks. Be jealous. It came with the case too. Now to find film.

Regular posting shall resume on Sunday. I've got some exciting stuff (well I'm excited) coming next week! Have a wonderful weekend!

I will lift Your name on high:

Things that fill me with love and awe for my wonderful Heavenly Father:

- The Snow capped mountains I saw on my way home from Santa Ana.

-The flavor a Chipotle chip can contain.

-Things that work out even when my humanity tries to mess them up.

-How incredibly blessed in friends I am

-Laughter, and how it's the best medicine for pretty much anything

-Girl talk. What a blessing.

-Prayers answered in His time not mine

Today has been interesting and good. I hope your Monday has been wonderful.

Rain, Rain

Sweater & Skirt- Vintage,

Shirt- Thrifted,

Tights- Target,

Shoes- Payless,

Scarf- Gift from Nana

The sun came out for just long enough for me to run out and take a few quick photos. Trust me I am so not complaining about the rain. We're on day four or pretty much non-stop rain, and I couldn't be happier! I'm not tired of it at all, and have been having more fun than a barrel of monkies layering up and dancing in puddles. People here are funny when it rains. They act like it's the apocolypse, and we're all going to die. I mean yeah this has been a bad-ass storm, but it's just a little water guys. My favourite thing is the way people leave buldings to go into the rain. First they have a staredown and once they realize the rain is not going to stop for them, they bundle up like it's 20 degrees outside and charge the rain, war cry included. The war cry varies from person to person but usually involves a scream or squeal (I'm looking at you Jess), and then followed by either "OH MY GOD!" or "HOLY SH**!" It's been quite amusing.

In other news I'm feeling a bit better, however am currently suffering from the strangest sensation of being punched in the forehead from inside my head. I'm still stuffed up and coughing, though my throat is no longer raw, and my muscles no longer are falling apart. However this stuffiness is making me feel a bit loopy and I keep laughing at everything. I'm not kidding. Everything is hilarious. And I have this strange desire to totally re-organize my life. Plus last night I voluntarily cleaned my room. I'm blaming it on being sick.

How's your week so far? Is it raining where you are?

MEET: Bonnie

Meet Detective Bonnie O'Hara. The year is 1977. Bonnie's brother is a cop. Her father was a cop. Her grandfather was a cop. Her great grandfather was a cop. Her Great grandfather became a cop not long after moving his family to New York from Cork, Ireland. it was only natural for Bonnie to follow in their footsteps. It was not an easy road though. She began as a desk clerk, while still in high school. After a few years of schlepping coffee and donuts around the precinct to pay her way through college Bonnie graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Criminal Justice. After enrolling in the Police Academy Bonnie had a short lived fling with one Rudy Hannigan. They split over a dispute between the Yankees and the Mets.





Bonnie graduated the Police Academy and was placed on a beat in Brooklyn. While she took her job very seriously, she did not find it challenging mentally, and so she applied to test for a Detective. It surprised no one when Bonnie passed with flying colours. It surprised everyone when she was partnered with Detective Rudy Hannigan. Bonnie soon became the victim of harsh sexism from the other detectives, and even some of the officers. Her "pet name" was Nancy Drew (rumor has it Rudy was the one who coined the name). This only made Bonnie more determined than ever to prove to them, and the world, that she could nab the bad guy, and look great doing it. Despite their taste in sports, Rudy and Bonnie worked well as a team. They solved case after case (mostly due to Bonnie's sharp wit, attention to detail, and ability to tell the difference between real and designer handbags), winning their team a highly respected name among police, and citizens across the five boroughs. At Bonnie's insistence they kept their relationship strictly professional, though Rudy somehow managed to always convince Bonnie out for a drink, or dinner. And even while Bonnie tried to keep the conversation to the weather and their job, somehow Rudy always rounded it off to families, and marriage, and Women's Liberation. The romantic tension between the two was the talk of the precinct (mostly among coffee girls and nosy wives), but Bonnie refused to let it get to her. She merely thought of Rudy as a colleague who had particularly bad taste in sports teams. That is until the day they busted a large Colombian drug cartel and Rudy was shot. After extensive surgery, Rudy was left in a coma as Bonnie stayed by his bed conflicted: did she love him? And if so was it enough to give up everything she had worked so hard for? Of could she really have it all a career and a family? Maybe there was something to this Women's Liberation stuff after all?

Baret- gift

Earrings- Vintage

Bag- Vintage Dooney & Bourke

Coat- Vintage London Fog

Gloves- Vintage

Blouse- H&M

Skirt- Vintage

Tights- Target

Shoes- Target

~~

I originally had no intention of making this a MEET feature. However then this story popped in my head and I knew it was destined for greatness. The skirt is new and I found it on a whim trip to Goodwill (it cost me four bucks so that technically doesn't count as being out of my non shopping money). I've been searching for a skirt like this for ages and randomly stumbled upon this one yesterday. One of the things I love most about thrifting is those stumble moments. This coat was another stumble find. I bought it this summer when it was far too hot to even think about coats, but I couldn't pass it up. A white princess cut LONDON FOG coat for seven bucks? Hullo! I am very excited for it's debut today!

You'll have to forgive my face in these photos, I have got a horrible cold. It's really annoying. I am never, ever, ever, sick. Usually I just don't get sick, but if someone I know does, I start bulking up on the vitamin c and d, and drink lots of hot teas. Chelsea got it this time and I nursed her back to health all the while making sure I took everything I was giving her. I even invented a tea concoction that led Chel back to health in no time. I think she had it for about four days. Then yesterday I started sniffling, and coughing a bit. I took all my vitamins and pills and felt fine, just a runny nose. Then last night it hit and I wanted to die. I ache everywhere, have used more tissue than I ever have in my life, and my head feels like a balloon. I'm so tired of blowing my nose! haha! Luckily I got to leave work early today, put on ugly old pajamas, crawl in bed with a book (I'm reading Breakfast at Tiffany's and so far I love it. Holly is such a charmingly odd character!), turn on some Bob Dylan, and am now on my way to getting better. I just wish I could stop sneezing! haha!

Edit: Hey everyone I forgot to add the links to the previous posts in thsi series so here they are!

Colette

Winnie

Outerwear-Underware

The rain came! And it's supposed to stick around for nearly a week! Yay!

Umbrella- Target years ago,

Scarf- Gift from Nana last Christmas,

Gloves- Target, Sweater-Target,

Cami- H&M,

Vintage Pink crinoline- The Wasteland Los Angeles CA,

Tights- Target (there are actually two pairs, one green and an overlay of black that has cuts outs though you can't tell),

Shoes- Target years ago.

I'm not a pink girl. I like pink, but I don't love it. I never played Princesses when I was little, or was ever too frilly. I desperately wanted to be a tomboy even though I really wasn't. Even now, I only own about five pink things. Period. It's just not me. But this skirt makes me so darn happy I could squeal! I feel like a fairy. It sounds so stupid, but it's so true. In the summer I fully intend to wear this sans cardigan and with a pair of sandals. I will be a nymph.


Two funny stories in regards to this skirt. I revised my shopping ban to let me shop on a budget and once that amount is gone so is my shopping abilities. Well it's gone. So when we were in LA yesterday my mom found this skirt and my dad said he'd buy it for me. He really liked it so he theorized that if he bought it I wouldn't be shopping right. So As we were leaving I thanked my dad for buying me my "new skirt." "You mean your new crinoline?" he said with a raised eyebrow. "we'll see." I said. And see we did.

When I was taking these pictures (which are from under the awning at work so as to protect my camera from rain (my usual spot is an ally with no covering)), there were these creepy guys in an Astro Van watching me from the Carl's Jr. parking lot behind us. They honked at me, I ignored. when I was putting my tripod away and gathering my stuff they drove into out parking lot and began to turn towards me. I tried to hurry so as not to be human trafficed, but failed in getting cleaned up soon enough. So creepy guy rolls down his window and says "Hey can I ask you a question?" to which I turned and said in a rather annoyed tone "what?" "Do you know where an Arco station is? Or any gas station." "yeah coner of Market and 14th. There's a thrifty gas. It's right around the corner." (and anyone wanting to stalk me may now figure out where my office is). The guy smiled and nodded. "Oh thanks. Can I ask you another question?" I knew where this was going and sighed closing my eyes as I nodded. "so um what was... that?" he asked mimicing a camera. I smiled. "I have a fashion blog. I take pictures of my clothes. I blog about them." He got an incredibly creepy grin. "Oh are there a lot of people who do that?" "yes. Goodbye." and I fled into the building. And this is why I normally take pictures in an alley that no one uses.

Pretty (and odd) Little Things

An owl cutting board

Heart shapped saucers and matching mugs

Supplemental cook books to the series of vintage cook books I collect

A set of four dessert plates with matching mugs

Vintage Dishware

The most fabulous and tacky unicorn statuette ever created!

I have no idea what this is? Current guesses: cigarette holder, ink pen holder?

Pretty Mexican bird candle holder

More coffee mugs

Even more coffee mugs

The strangest little blue be-glittered bear ornament ever. I left him behind for the sake of my sister.

Weekend activites so far include: Reading (I have finished Jane Bites Back (excellent!) and am now reading Beakfast at Tiffany's), cleaning my room, writing music, reading Marth Stewart Living, planning this week's menu, taking pictures, and being drug to Los Angeles. I'm clearly thrilled about the last one (for those of you who don't know, that is sarcasm. I loathe LA.).

Overall a mostly incredibly wonderful weekend! How's yours?

Oh!

And leave a comment here if you would like to be added to my blogroll list!

Happy Sunday!

Victoriana

I want to start incorporating more Victorian and Edwardian items into my wardrobe (though today I am dressed like a girl from the Babysitter's Club. My sister even posted a "Babysitter's Club Award" on my facebook this morning! haha!). I've always loved Victorian and Edwardian fashions (I was greatly influenced by my American Girl Doll, Samantha and I wanted so badly to wear her pretty little frocks as a girl. I also had a dream of owning nine pairs of jeans at one time so...), but something about them really appeals to me right now. The simplicity, the elegance, the romantic touches, they all just sound so incredibly lovely! When I saw this image today I immediately wanted to run to a mirror and play with my hair. Now that it's long enough to do something to it I've been playing with twisting it and curling it, and pinning it and whatnot. I can't wait until my hair is longer!

I think I do incorporate a bit of that Vicorian romance into my wardrobe already, but I'd like to do more. My sister and I were talking last night and she told my that my Brother-in-law described me the other day as being a Victorian Porceline Doll and an Acoustic Guitarist. It made me laugh!

Tonight Bri, Michael and I are thinking about seeing Young Victoria so I'm sure that will only further my new obsession. I have it on great authority that the movie (and costumes!) is fabulous! Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Image from the lovely Ginny Branch Stelling. Her blog is one of the most beautiful places you'll find on the internet!

Windy Havoc

Good Lord! Today has been absolutely insane! By 9:30 I had diverted several crisies, and answered about 30 phone calls. About 20 mins ago the phone rang six times consucutively. Everytime I finished a call, the next line would light up, and so on, and so on for about ten mins. It was insane! Of course this is not helped by the fact that my brain is in about twenty seven (to be exact) different places (one currently being a large desire for lunch. I want chicken strips and fries like you cannot believe). I have a stack of about fifteen files to go through and check and people to call, and paystubs to figure out (grrr...), and.... And my dad is in with someone right now for an emergency filing (which we may or may not be able to do). Here's a helpful hint that I'm giving out of pure kindness: if you cannot afford your mortgage payment DO NOT go to some loan modifier person. They will screw you within an inch of your life. I'm not joking, the poor guy in right now has stressed himself sick. Debt Negotiators are the same story. It's horrible how many people out there are just trying to screw people over. The whole story is so incredibly sad and just breaks my heart. As much as I dislike my job most days the lessons learned here are so invaluble. I really hope it all works out for this guy.

Edit:Oh yeah, details: Dress- Vintage Sanctuary Oceanside, CA

Bag- Vintage, Salvation Army

Bracelet- Gift from sister

Earrings- made by me

Shoes- Target

But heady and somewhat sad (this is why I try not to talk too much about my job around here, it's too depressing, and this is my happy place) talk over, let's talk about clothes.

This is possibly my favourite dress that I own. I bought it this summer in Oceanside at my favourite little vintage shop down there. Oddly enough every dress I've bought from them has been blue with white polka dots (the other one is this dress). If you are ever in Oceanside you should first go get fish and chips at Harbour Fish and Chips, then go to Vintage Sanctuary on the 101. Best place ever. However it is not the dress to wear on a windy day. Most of the city of Riverside has had a peek at my panties today. They are pink by the way. Everyone else knows what they look like, I figure you might as well too.

I made these earrings from buttons I found at JoAnn's. I bought flat earring backs and super glued them onto the buttons. Super easy, super cute. And the bracelet was a gift from Bri a few years ago. We found out after she bought it that it is Betsey Johnson! I liked the little pop of colour against the navy blue.

Well I hope everyone is having a really wonderful week so far. Be smart with your money. And remember that losing your house is not call for threatening suicide. Now I've lost my appitite....

Ho Hum

Dress, and jacket- Vintage (don't kid yourself. I wore a jacket for wishful thinking.)

Bag- F21

Shoes- Payless

Glasses- Liz Claiborne via Marshall's

Today has been one of those days where if one more thing goes wrong I'm just going to pack a bag and go away for the rest of the week. I feel like doing something irresponsible, something rash, and spontaneous. I need an adventure. Something a little foolhardy sounds quite nice. And somewhere with snow, or rain. Or anywhere it is below 70 (so Florida apparently). Alas, I have to venture into deciphering someones pay stubs....

I found this little 70's dress last March and it has become my go-to dress for instant happiness. I think it's the softness of the colours. I find this light blue very soothing. And the ruffle around the neck just makes me smile. I can't believe I almost didn't buy it.

Anyone else needing to get away for a couple of days? Where would you go?

Monday Inspiration #28: Little Red

This morning I woke up feeling Red. I just really wanted to wear something red. I'm not sure why, or what that means, but I really wanted to wear red. Red happens to be my favourite colour. I'm partial to all shades of it, though the darker the better. Red is usually my go-to colour for adding an extra pop to an outfit. And frankly it's just darn pretty. Here's some red to inspire you this week:

The Science of Clothes

Sweater- Vintage Goodwill,

Dress- Vintage Riverside Hospice Thrift,

Brooch- Vintage Pilgrim Place,

Necklace- Modcloth

Belt- Vintage Goodwill,

Bag- Vintage Buffalo Exchange in Portland Or.,

Shoes- Thrifted Goodwill

(I really do have eyes, it was just bright.)

Last night I stood in my closet door and sighed. I am so bored with my clothes. The last couple of weeks have been a bit of a dry spell as far as dressing combos go. There were moments (most of which I forgot to photograph) of greatness, but then it would piffle out and I felt like I was wearing the same skirt and shoes for weeks. Granted I have been dreaming in mod and hippie visions ala yesterday, but like I said it was one of the "moments" as opposed to just getting dressed.

Last night I think I finally hit upon what it is that I'm bored with. I feel like when I get dressed I'm dressing for a character, and not for me. Maybe I've done too many musicals, but when I get dressed I kinda feel like I'm thinking "okay who shall I play today?" and work around that. Which is great every once in a while. I mean sometimes we all need a bit of an escape from the monotany of filling out bankruptcy information (oh wait that's just me), and it's fun to wonder "hmm what would _____ wear?" I've done that before and even blogged about it. It's the inspiration for the Meet series that I really need to get kicking on, and it's great. But not for everyday, and that's what I see myself doing.

I tend to dress either "vintage" or "quirky." One day it's red lips, cat eyes, a crinoline, and full skirt, and the next it's beat up sneakers, a ponytail, a plaid shirt, and some random accessories. I've realized that "my" style is more of a blend of those things. I like mixing vintage with modern, or quirky things. I think this is why I've always had a hard time commiting to one decade. I like alot of things about alot of decades and I like to blend those things together. The problem is that right now they are so seperated in my head that I am finding it hard to figure out how to blend them. I think that when I do blend them I tend to do it in a heavily vintage inspired way and ends up looking (at least to me) a little too costume-y. I know I'll get there eventually, but right now I'm still kind of reasearching inspiration. (I come from a family of reasearchers, what can I do?)

The key to achieving the look I want is balance, I think. So if I wear a modern dress and shoes, my accessories should be vintage and vice versa. If I do my hair in a more retro style, my make-up should be more modern and simple, and vice versa. And then if I do end up every once in a while, piecing together something that is blantantly 60's, or 40's, I don't think it will look so out of place and like I'm playing a character as opposed to going to work. So that's what I tried to do with this look. The outfit is heavy on vintage, so my hair and make-up are both more modern and simple, and I added the belt over the cardigan for a contemporary feel and I like the way it came out. This is how I want to dress everyday, a mixture of decades, styles, quirky-ness. That's when I feel like "me," like I just woke up and grabbed a few things from my closet and voila! I feel comfortable in my own skin and confident, not like I'm trying too hard, or desperatly seeking approval (which I don't, I just feel like I come off that way sometimes). Today I wasn't playing anyone else. I was just Ashley, and it was kind of nice.

What personal stamp do you try to work into your outfits?

Time Warp

Headband, Bracelet, Skirt- Made by me

Earrings, Bag- Vintage

Sweater- Thrifted

Shoes- Pinupgirlclothing.com

So an outfit post, waddaya know! And it's a good one too! I had a little too much fun with this one. First off I finally used my tripod (or figured out how to properly use my tripod to get the right angle) and let me tell you it is so nice to be able to take pictures without propping up my camera on some random ledge. Thanks tripod for being a good pal!

The last week or so I've been in a real 60's kick. I blame it on watching Taking Woodstock and 500 Days of Summer (I loved the 60's vibe they had to everything. The cinematography reminded me of of French Films in the 1960's). I've been wearing everything from little 60's dresses to flowy hippie peasant tops. I really love the 60's. When I "re-discovered" vintage back in 2008, I was trying to stick with just the 60's (which as I've talked about before does not work for me), and stocked up on blue eye shadows and giant volume curlers. Last night I set my hair in some big hair curlers to make it a little bit more voluminous. I'm really digging the effect. Also I had waaay too much fun taking these pictures! Oddly enough, I've had my iTunes on shuffle all day and all it's been playing is The Beatles, the Across The Universe Soundtrack, The Monkees, Francoise Hardy, Mary Hopkins and all these different mix cd's I have of other 50's and 60's music. I guess it's just a 60's kind of day!

This is the only thing I ended up making at the little hair accessories party I threw before Christmas. I'd seen a picture of Zooey Deschanel (which I could have sworn I saved, but can't find) in a headband with a cluster of pearls on it. Her's was silver ric-rac and plain white pearls. I searched JoAnn's for silver ric-rac to non-avail, so I went with the red. The pearls are also from JoAnn's. They were sold in a big bag for about 5$. They had a couple different colour combos, but I liked this one best. All I did was string the pearls on with thread (if I do it again, I''' use fishing line), and then attach the ric-rac to some thick elastic. Easy peas-y!


Another recent project is this bracelet. I found these charms at Michael's or JoAnn's and loved them. They show the difference of what will happen to a girl if she chooses a "fast" life over a virtuous one. The Good Girl set says that if at 20 you are virtuous and devoted then by 26 you will be a loving mother, and at 60 an honoured grandmother. However if at 20 you are flirty and coquettish then at 26 you will live a fast life full of dissipation, and then be an outcast (who looks like a leper) at 40. I'll take photos of each of them later on.

This skirt was part of the great sewing venture of yesterday. I made this last May or June. It was horrid. It was supposed to be a suspender-ed skirt, but well, apparently in May or June I couldn't sew a straight line and the straps were rendered useless. When I took it apart I found a backwards pocket, and an extra panel of fabric. I seriously just sat there trying to figure out how I let this happen. It was horrible! in it's former life it was a couple inches longer, and also was gathered. I hate gathering, so this time I made pleats, which despite being annoying, I'd still rather do than gather. I need a gathering foot for my sewing machine. And due to my apparent former inability to cut straight, I had to take off an inch or so from both the bottom and the top of the skirt. Seriously I think I was drunk when I made this. It was so bad! You can't tell in these photos but the zipper in the side is white (the former zipper was navy blue?). At first this was a dammit-I-want-to-wear-this-tomorrow-and-am-out-of-short-black-zippers fix, but then I decided I actually really liked it. I hate nylon zippers so I always buy up old metal zips when I see them so this one is a white metal zipper. I left is a bit exposed and it actually looks pretty cool. So in the end it all worked out. I have to say this is the first garment of clothing that I've made for myself and loved. Sure there is a hang-up or two (not all the pleats ended up even), but I made it well, and that is the important thing. I've realized that when I'm sewing I have to get myself out of this instant gratification mindset. Sewing's not about whipping out a dress or skirt. it's about making a piece of cloth into something new, and that takes time. And in the end if you do take your time it's really worth it. Also you avoid wondering about your sobriety when looking back over what you've made.

What's the worst thing you've ever made? Do you ever gasp at your past sewing skills?

Sunrise, Sunset

Today, instead of getting ready the Exciting News I said I had yesterday, I spent my time listening to The Beatles on vinyl (Abbey Road is an incredibly beautiful and sexy album don't you think?), and sewing. I managed to finish refashioning this dress, and mending a few more. I absolutely love the feel of this dress. It's vintage from Mexico (I found it as Goodwill before the shopping ban and in it's former life it was a tent and I had to take the straps up four inches) and it's woven like a Mexican poncho (which while not particularly beautiful, they are damn cozy), and while I'm not crazy about the colour purple (I actually absolutely hate it. long story about my grandma and how every gift I've recieved since I was seven has been purple), I really love this shade for some reason. All I did to cinche it in was take some bias tape and sew it around the waist to make a casing. Then I strung some cord elastic through that and tied it off.

When I told my mom how much I really love this dress now, and how great it's going to be for summer and for going to the beach she looked at me like I'd spoken in Swahili. "Because you're really going to be going to the beach so much this summer?" It took me a good few moments to realize that oh yeah, I'm not going to have to endure a Californian summer this year, nor endure a Californian over-crowded, over-tanned, over-botox-ed beach this summer. Then I smiled.

But then, just a few moments ago, I walked to the window of my room and saw this:

I may hate California, but I do love the sunsets. It's one of the few un-exaggerated Californian folklore tales. There are few things more beautiful than the pink, blue, purple, and orange sunsets of the West Coast.

Good Lord I sound sappy. I promise to stop talking about moving now!

Oh and FYI I am going to be doing some blog matinence this week, updating my links and side bars and stuffs, so if you'd like to exchange links leave a comment with the link you'd like to add, and I'll be happy to include you!

Happy Wednesday!