Horse play with me

Sometimes I feel a little guilty that I pay almost no attention to menswear, in much the same way that I feel guilty when I'm reading more fiction than non-fiction. I feel I have to balance things out. Stumbling across this lookbook for CAMO's Spring 2010 line encouraged me to balance big time. Is it just me, or is this stuff hot?

I don't know if it's the photography, the clothes, the fact that the models are faceless but I'm digging it and I really hope that the guys of Vancouver will be catching on.

I guess there's a little Lawrence of Arabia, a little colonial India, a little preppy nautical, a little gangsta. Good combo, I think.

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Plans for money I don't have

Ever since I saw a huge, beautiful turquoise ring at the flea market last month, I'm kind of obsessed with the idea. I love turquoise and silver Navajo jewelry, but in a way I feel like who do I think I am wearing it? I don't know why... I guess I do have one kind of big turquoise ring, but it belonged to my Grandmommy and I'm a little nervous that something might happen to it. Maybe I'll just suck it up and see if it's still at the flea market next weekend. I should try to get it for less than the person is asking, right? I'm pretty bad at bargaining - does anyone have any tips?

Also, I guess I can admit that I really like the idea of a bolo tie. It's not a bad idea, if you try not to think of the 80's references, and just imagine the ones below, wore kind of like a necklace, say with a casual dress or a blouse with a high collar.

Creepy Peepers

I got these vintage Krizia glasses last weekend, and I think I love them. They are really good quality, and they fit, but holy crow, they are a strong perscription! I can barely make my eyes focus wearing them, and I had them on to take these pictures half an hour ago and I still feel woozy. I'm going to investigate how expensive it is to have the lenses changed to regular sunglasses lenses. I really like the way they look clear, but I can't just get them changed to no perscription and wear them that way can I? Too pretentious right??

Vienna

Karl and I had been pondering the idea of a European honeymoon for a couple of years, and what finally got my butt in gear to start planning it was a book on Wien Werkstatte, an arts and crafts movement in Vienna around the turn of the century. It was all so exciting I decided I just had to see it in person. The images above are some textile designs and some pieces by my favorite artist from that period, Kolomon Moser. I was totally giddy when we saw them up close and personal, and so thankful that Karl supports my need to do stuff like that.

The picture to the right is Karl on a big funny bench in the Museumsquartier. Can you see the graffiti of a beer can going "pschhhh" beside him? Some thing are so appropriately the same in every language.

These are just a few of my very favorite pictures we took in Vienna. We both LOVED it there!

Big (Hair) Love

TV's so bad this time of year, so I downloaded a couple of seasons of Big Love. I know, I'm slow to catch on to these things, but anyway, of course it's great. And of course Chloe's character is the best part, and I'm strangely attracted to the way she dresses. So Mormon, yet so... modern. I doubt my ability to wear a maxi-skirt, but maybe there are other elements. Maybe I'll work on the hair.

Which reminds me, when the FLDS compound was raided last year and it was all over the news, I was so fascinated by the way all the women dressed and the way they did their HAIR!!! That frontal puff deal is crazy town! And the one-size-fits-all ultra modest dress? But mark my words, the french braid is on it's way.

And all this modesty reminds me how bored I am with nudity. Aren't you? On the cover of a local paper yesterday there was a feature and a big picture of these bar servers doing some topless calendar for charity. Yawn. I'm so over boobs. And having to pay for a calendar to see mediocre boobs seems questionable at best. Then later in the day I saw pictures from some big charity party featuring "naked" body painted models. Isn't that so 2001? Get over it. I'm just not interested in looking twice at something so unsexy. I feel totally desensitized to seeing it all. What do you think? Am I over-reacting? Am I turning into a prude? Time to get on the bus to Bountiful?

Bountiful

I love these colours together - the skirt is dark purple and the top is like a burnt orange (with cute little pheasants in the print). Such a typical East Van back porch view, don't you think? I just had to get out of the sun.

Yessss, ripen ripen ripen! I can't wait to gorge myself on tomatoes!!!

Inside the zucchini-dome.

There's nothing better on a hot day than a fresh cucumber and tomato salad. So excited!

Ha ha, showing you my good arm, aka not the one with the huge ugly bug bites on it. I don't know what got me, but I look like I've got the pox. I wore long sleeves for a couple of days, but I couldn't do it today. But it's not nearly as bad as when I gave blood one August and got a hematoma (ew, if you don't know) and had to wear long sleeves for like, a week. Got the floral bustier and skirt this weekend at Value Village.

Lofty Aspirations

Who hasn't fantasized about living in a tree house? I know I did as a kid, and I still do. Just something about being hidden up there in the canopy, swaying in the breeze, feeling a little like a castaway in your own little world. I guess if you're afraid of heights, this isn't the fantasy for you, but I quite like the idea of climbing up a ladder and being up above the world. We had a tree fort when we were little, but not an elaborate tree house. It got the green shag carpeting that got torn out of my brother's room, and that did not age well in the damp climate of Quadra Island. Also, my dad is very handy, but not a master carpenter, and we had lots of fun bouncing up and down on the unsupported floor boards. Eventually, the abandoned chicken coop became a safer and more complete "house" for our childhood games.

Hot Lips

I've never been a lipstick girl, always more of a glosser at best. But right now I seriously like the look of pink lipstick. I bet it looks better on dark haired, cool complected types, but I'm relying on Mary's help to find a good one for me. Then the challenge will be keeping it on my lip for more than five minutes.

Chloe from thinkingtank, thanks Lydia.

Zooey from Elle Canada.

In which I get what I deserve?

Doodley-doo.
Doodley-dee.
What a squirmy cat.
What's that blur at the bottom of the picture, racing towards me?
Hey, what just happened?
Ouch! I guess that's why I buy my tights at Value Village. But nothing explains why my cat is evil.

This is just a little garden update. It's kind of exploding. We had our first tomato and cucumber this weekend! My favorites!

Decor Envy

I try not to think too much about my dream house. I tell myself this is my dream house: we own it (well, the bank...), it has a yard, it's my dream come true. But if I allow myself to go browsing, well, there are some nice ideas out there. Check out Design*Sponge for awesome home-related inspiration and DIY projects. It's an amazing site, and I found these pictures of work by Melanie Coddington there. Everything about them appeals to me...

Love the turquoise shade, love the framed dress on the wall.

What a beautiful airy open space that still looks comfortable and cozy.

The white tile on the floor and the simplicity of the table makes me feel like even I wouldn't clutter up this room. (ha!)

This one is my favorite! I adore all the shades of green - it looks so modern yet so classic. Anyway, back to reality: Ikea and yard sale finds!

Gee's Bend

Craft often doesn't get the recognition that art does. You know, it's just stuff women do to keep their hands busy. So I love the story of the Gee's Bend quilters.
They are a group of women from Gee's Bend, Alabama, an isolated and impoverished community near Selma. They developed a totally unique and distinctive style of quilting, using old clothes and household scraps in bold, bright geometric motifs. They were "discovered" in 2002, after almost a century of making these quilts, and the quilts were exhibited in a museum in Houston to great acclaim, then eventually exhibited all over the US and featured in several books and on The Martha Stewart Show etc. You can read more about their story here.
So the background of the quilts is obviously awesome, but they are just so visually stunning too. The colour combinations and the patterns are so inspiring.

The quilt below on the right was made by my mom as a wedding gift for Karl and I. It's based on some of the elements of the Gee's Bend quilts, and I think it's so beautiful. It hangs on our bedroom wall and makes me happy every time I look at it. It's definitely one of my most prized possessions!

Stop to smell the roses

This was yesterday. I didn't think I was going to have a chance to wear my newly thrifted fifteen dollar boots until the fall, but then it went and rained for three days, and yes indeed I could wear the boots. But the sun came out today, so I'll happily put the boots away for a couple of months at least.

I'm very psyched for this weekend, especially after working six days this week. I think I need Pictionary, cocktails, a nice meal out, a thrift store or two in Surrey, gardening, and the final episode of The Secret Life of Elephants. You should really see it; it's a beautiful BBC documentary about elephants and I love it. I wish it went on forever. Karl and I are considering quitting our jobs and moving to Kenya to follow elephants around. Sigh...

I Want One!!!

When I have a particularly frustrating day at work, sometimes I just have to come home and have a glass of wine and look at puppies and kittens on Youtube. I want a puppy so badly. Look at these angels...

Royal Blue Tuesday

I can't resist sequins right now. And royal blue? Love. This was an ugly dress when I bought it, but I like it as a top. Paired with jeans it's good for day, right?

And a P.S. pet peeve: I hate it when people write "sequence" instead of "sequins". I see that way too often in descriptions of garments. Like, are you new?