Simple things Sunday

Ahh, a simple sunny Sunday filled with catch up TV, delicious food, Halloween decorating, and the sweet sound of crushing defeat as my fantasy football team continues into its 5th week of undefeated glory. Recently, I've made the goal to recognize, appreciate and celebrate all the 'little' things in my life. I am so incredibly excited for the simple fact that I will, mostly, have Sundays off. I haven't had Sundays off in for.ev.ver. Over 8 years! Ok, obviously not since I've been traveling and moving and generally 'not working'...but now that I'm officially relocated, I'm back to the daily grind. It may seem like a small thing, but right now I'm really just excited to be having a consistent free day and fully intend to celebrate each one!

I'm welcoming the slow acclimation to my new settings...I got new job that I'm really enjoying, but still on the lookout for a place! In the interim I'm fortunate to have some amazing friends who are stellar housemates! One of the best things has been a wealth of knowledge and inspiration sharing, mostly on my part since I'm learning about some awesome (new to me) things, like spaghetti squash! Yes spaghetti squash, I'm telling you my roommate's ahh-mazing!

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Another amazing thing my housemates have introduced me to - Dr.Who! Sundays we've been watching the new, recorded episodes (Currently watching The Angels Take Manhatten) from this season and I've been catching up from the beginning. I'm obsessed, this show is awesome! I was sold once I saw that Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss were contributing writers since they are the co-creators of my other favorite BBC shows, Sherlock, which our housemates hadn't seen so we had a good trade off!

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I absolutely adore Benedict Cumberbatchs' Sherlock and became obsessed after being introduced to the second season at my parents' house this Spring. The BBC's version has just the right blend of modern technology, traditional Holmes and clever updates like 'The Woman' and the Richard Brooks persona (Richard Brooks = reichenbach, a nod to the episodes inspiration). It's just soo good! Needless to say...

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We, the boy and I, are huge fans of all things Sherlock Holmes. I love the character/mysteries for so many reasons and I enjoy seeing different adaptations on the works, from literature to tv and movies. We have all of Arthur Conan Doyle's works and when we first started dating, we'd watch his collection of Jeremy Bretts' version. Aaaand I have to admit, I love Robert Downey Jr/Guy Richie's version as well. I haven't seen the American adaptation yet, Elementary, but perhaps I'll check it out. It may be too soon for me to tell but the update on Watson seems a little forced...US: we have to show you up, we'll make Watson a woman! I love Martin Freeman as Watson so I must just be biased. Either way, I can't wait for the third season of Sherlock next Spring and in the meantime I can see Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins in the Hobbit, which I can't wait to see!

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So remember to celebrate the little things today. Simple things that you are grateful for or looking forward to, the things that make you smile, even if they seem insignificant or frivolous, if they make you happy then that's all that matters!

This Beautiful Place - Wallace Falls

I grew up in a year round playground, so this was a really important aspect for me when picking a place to move. I love how much this area of the Pacific Northwest has to offer in ways of adventuring an exploring - two of my favorite things. Last weekend I finally had a chance to go beyond the city and get into nature for a little hiking expedition. I wanted to hike the famed Snoqualamie Falls but apparently the trails are closed until 2013, a bummer but no problem (that's why I'm a geek that checks beforehand!), and a quick google search recommended Wallace Falls instead, done! The trail was divided into three main sections and a fourth that I didn't get to. As pictured above, the lower falls with the upper falls in the distance.

Once at the upper falls there is the option to continue via ridge but I really wanted to explore the top for a bit; two mini falls pouring into emerald pools before the final descent. I know the 3 pictures above look similar but they are taken at different heights as I ascended the pool levels. In the picture above I'm standing at the second 'mini' fall looking at the pool and the 265' falls drop off. The picture below is looking from the third pool back up at the other two. Isn't it interesting that each level has a caught log? When water levels are higher I'm sure they don't stick around for too long.

 

 

I love sitting and watching the water flow...where it enters and falls, where it breaks around rocks or creates holes in them. Then I love jumping from bank to bank, following it all around, exploring each cavity and pool because each one is always different, a thousands combinations to create a fairly general phenomena - an epic waterfall for all to see. I could have spent hours here, just playin around, checkin it out. I love experiencing time in nature because in every minute is a subtle change that will release a series of cause and effect, each and every thing plays a part. Want to try the easiest experiment ever? Drop a leaf or twig into the top of the water flow and follow it down, never gets old.

Flowers & Stripes

I dug out these pieces from the bottom of my trunk (hence wrinkleage) and was super excited about this outfit -  a flowery summer skort, tank top, my favorite cardigan for the chillier parts of the day, pop of ruby...but sadly I snagged the skort, ripping a fat hole, boo! But before I changed, I decided to get some photos anyways.

The tank top and skort are thrifted, the cardigan was part of my graduation ensemble and I looove (from CottonOn), gold glitter shoes from Payless and ruby jewel necklace from Forever21.

 

I'm so happy that the weather has been so wonderful, I definitely wasn't ready to give up the sun especially with the reputation of the Pacific Northwest. I'm still excited for fall (Halloween anyone?!?!) but I certainly don't mind a slow change. 

DIY Glitter Oxfords

As a person who is disgustingly obsessed with glitter (seriously, I will glitter anything) let me just say that Mod Podge is heaven sent. In all my glitter trials nothing has ever come close to the happiness I get from Mod Podge. And no, they didn't pay me to say that.

The hardest thing for me to find was the shoes. I'd been looking and looking, but sometimes it's very difficult to find anything in my size (I have dinosaur feet) so when I saw these at some random DSW-esque store I was stoked! I also found true love. Yes, true love in a shoe. Shoes I will probably never wear but shoes I love all the same. Could there be a sweeter deal...two for one? Don't mind if I do! Hopefully one day I'll share the other pair. 

Glittering is so easy, just a little bit of MP and a lot of glitter! I mix mine in a shallow container, picture here is the bottom of a plastic cup, and you want the glitter to glue ratio like 5:1 - more glitter means less coats. These shoes took at least 5 coats and there are some spots that literally refuse to have even one tiny sparkle on them. Whatevs. For loose glitter, I gotta hand it to my girl Martha, she knows what she's doing. I toyed with the idea of painting the lacing area, but couldn't decide, so when I was done I just dipped my shoelaces in the leftovers. I'd like to replace the laces with either, real glitter laces or maybe some fine gold ribbon. Either way, voila!

Ode to Fall

My oxfords were feeling a little bland, here and here. So, in my true essence I decided to sparkle them up! I'm super pleased with how they turned out aaaand they are getting me super excited for Fall! I need more pumpkin in my wardrobe. 

Trying out the hi-low hem above. This skirt falls a few inches below my knees, so I've been testing it at different lengths in the hopes of hemming it (sadly my sewing machine is far away in storage!). The same with my shirt....why are these sleeves so long!? I'll never know. I always buy concert T's, even though they never seem to fit anybody right, and plan to do neat stuff with them which I never end up doing. Add it to the long list of alterations! So the skirt, to go shorter or not to go shorter?

As I was shooting this outfit I happened to notice my roommates most excellent top hat sitting well within reach, so why not?! I added a top hat! 

Said most excellent top hat is a creation of Bubbles & Frown, who makes amazing custom designs as well as a whole slew of incredible feather headdresses. I love fall, October and Halloween...in fact I think this house is going to be spookified in the very near future!

Onto The Next Great Adventure

It's official, I live in Seattle now. Crazy, for me anyway. I still can't believe it. When I moved to San Francisco I thought that was strange, at first, but so was college and that's why I was there. There was a reason for being there. Then I graduated, with no real plan, and the 'WHAT IFS' started. Ever since I can remember I've day dreamed different lives. What would happen if I lived in Paris? What would happen if I backpacked through Italy? What would happen if I spent a year RV'ing across the country? I admire and envy those people who follow these dreams easily, I really do. But a sad truth? As much as I talked about wanting to do these things, I knew I never would. Whether stuck by fear or realism, I don't know. But what if I started small, and what if I did something I didn't think I could do? So, I tried it. And now I'm about to find out 'What would happen if I lived in Seattle.' 

Have you ever tried something you never thought you would do?

Porcupine Spirit

10 lovely things I'm going to miss from this summer.1.Warm rays of sun in the morning.2.Afternoon thunderstorms.3.Long, warm evenings.4.Going barefoot.5.Time with family.6.Road tripping.7.Sandals.8.Swimming.9.Camping and of course 10.Backyard running, jumping and dancing!

Crooked steps? Yes, those steps are sunken and crooked - imperfect but adorned with love all the same. That's how I feel about my style most of the time, a mixture of parts. Something I would really like to work on is actually going for a look and sticking to it, editing. Today I think my style woke up on a gypsy vardo -layered skirts, sandals, jeweled necklaces, but listening to metal - concert tee, and still daydreaming of being on the road - earrings. These earrings were my road trip splurge, not in the sense that they were expensive, but as something I saw and knew was meant for me, a talismanic object that when I wear transports me back to the incredible memories and places of the trip. They were made with porcupine quills and beads which seems fitting for me - porcupine often symbolizes a wonder of discovery, humility, fun, trust and although usually non-agressive has a powerful weapon if needed. 

Whatever my crazy style may or may not be for the day, I unapologeticly love it. And it makes ME happy, BOO yaaaa! Also, following this post I'm going to have some pretty exciting news!! Eeeyee!

This Beautiful Place - Lake Tahoe

I cannot be more thankful that I was born and raised in such a beautiful place. Growing up in the mountains rooted nature within me; from appreciation and awe grew the desire to be free in nature and learn through it and from it. (Insert inspirational John Muir quote here.) But I really do love Muir, among others. What I really want to share is a day spent swimming in this beautiful lake. Yes, the colors are really that stunning.

 

The sun is shining and the breeze is light, a perfect day for swimming. This last shot is the initial descent upon the "cove" we picked to swim and the rest various shots throughout the day. The East shore of Lake Tahoe is famous for it's sandy beaches studded with smooth granite boulders that collect together forming islands; perfect for exploring, sunning and jumping off of. The East shore gradually deepens and because the water is so pure (although clarity levels are decreasing..very sad) we are treated to an amazing spectrum of vivid blues and greens. The best part of it all? It's completely free! I couldn't ask for a better day! After swimming all day in the lake, we headed over to a downtown festival for some food, music and vendoring...by vendoring I mean woefully wandering from booth to booth admiring but not buying. I love my beach shirt and I've been thinking up some ways to unbeach it - maybe just not wear my plastic 5$ sandals I bought to ruin.

Finding this couch made me want to mini dance, hence the moves is this next picture. I love this necklace and I really love it with this shirt, but what makes it perfect for the beach is the meshing and not just your usual 'mesh,' the back of this shirt is patterned too! Yay!

 Summertime must mean sandal obsession cause I just can't get sandals out of my head! I've always gone for flip flops in the summer cause I can be pretty rough on 'em but I just can't help sandal dreaming after some of these! (1)(2)(3)(4)