Scarlett in Tara

POTD: Cheetah coat preview

2012-01-15T16:09:00.000-08:00

Cheetah swing coat coming soon to SVFinerie! Yay for snow in Washington today!

Smoothie fast recap!

2011-12-19T14:58:00.000-08:00

I only made it 5.5 days, then I yarfed. I've never appreciated Saltine crackers more in my entire life.

I hadn't so much as put a piece of gum in my mouth ONCE those 5.5 days, so my strong will didn't want me to give up + end the fast by eating the Saltines. However, my stomach had the last word. Towards the end, I was so sick of smoothies that I just couldn't drink any more, so I wasn't getting enough nutrients. The smells of spinach + celery in particular became repulsive. Yesterday morning, I chugged some water, chugged as much smoothie as I could take, and took some vitamins (note: vitamins on a semi-empty stomach = bad). It didn't end well. After an hour or two of feeling like complete ass, I spewed. And it looked exactly the same coming up as it did going down. [Edit: Haha, re-reading this is making me laugh. It sounds so dramatic. Oh well!).

My tummy started to feel better after the hubs drove to the store + brought me Saltines to eat. I ended up missing my sister-in-law's boyfriend's birthday party + my in-laws' annual Christmas tree adventure, which sucked. But the smoothie fast wasn't all bad. Here's a recap:

1. I lost about 6 lbs total (It was 7 lbs by the morning of day 5, but I gained 1 lb back by the next morning). I fit in my skinny jeans + I can see more of my hip bone. Here's to hoping I can keep it off during the holidays.

2. I had good energy + felt like a normal person, not including the last day. Fasting didn't make me feel tired at all. Actually, most of the time I would wake up by 6 a.m. + force myself back to sleep.

3. I tried juicing via my mom's juicer + it's much easier to get down. I think it tastes a little better too. If I do this again, I'll do a juice fast instead.

4. I learned the strength of my will power. Although I didn't make it the full 7 days, 5.5 days of fasting for a compulsive eater is pretty impressive. I'll have to channel that will to help with other goals.

5. DO NOT put too much (more than a slice) of ginger in your smoothie/juice. It was straight up nasty!

6. Do not underestimate celery. Just a half a stalk will overpower every other taste in your drink. Ick.

7. Skin + other health results: the jury's still out on that one. Do I feel "cleaner?" Not sure yet. I don't drink soda or coffee at all, I don't do drugs (not against it, just not my thing), + I only drink about once a month on average. Besides fat, sugar, + a few preservatives here + there, maybe there wasn't much to clean out??

So that's all I can think of right now. I'm fully recovered from yesterday's unfortunate events + I'll update if anything of importance comes to my attention!

Much love,
Alexis Scarlett

Smoothie Adventure, Day 4

2011-12-16T23:43:00.000-08:00

I will probably regret posting this picture. But, I needed an image. Also, this drink looks like True Blood (thanks beets) + I've been overloading on that show lately. Aside from the occasional country biscuit, it's one of the only shows where food in the storyline isn't an issue. Most of the characters are blood-sucking vampires-- they don't need to eat! Basically what I'm trying to say is, I'm practically a vampire. Can't you tell by my vicious snarl?

So it's the end of day four of this smoothie adventure, and here's what's new in list form, because I like lists:

1. I'm down 5.5 lbs total. While I don't know how long lasting this is, I'm not complaining.

2. I started taking my multivitamins last night + I'm freakin' energetic! I couldn't help but jump up + down a bunch a few minutes after taking one tonight. I've never had my multivitamin affect me like this before! Maybe my body is cleaner, which makes the vitamins hit me faster/stronger.

3. Hunger doesn't bother me as much. Granted, I still have daydreams of cheese + potatoes, but the actual physical feeling of hunger ain't no thang.

3. No headaches today, + I'm feeling more hydrated. Woo!

4. I totally thought I'd be ~~shitting~~ pooing my brains out on this diet of fibrous veggies/fruits. Not the case at all. I've been eliminating once per day so far + it hasn't been a ton. Is that normal? I kind of thought I'd have a bunch of stored waste in my body that would want to jump ship right away. Knock on wood...

5. I tried juicing for lunch (courtesy of my mom's juicer) instead of my normal smoothie, and it tasted so much better. It was easier to get down too. It made me sad to watch all that vegetable waste fly out of the back of the machine, but that's a lot of chewing I don't have to do. So juicing sounds great for those interested in that. I'm gonna go now though. At midnight, I'm finally feeling tired.

Much love!
-Alexis Scarlett

Green Smoothie Fast, Days 1-3

2011-12-15T14:01:00.000-08:00

I'm mid way through day 3 of my green smoothie fast. Hallelujah! While I'm thinking about all the time I have left, 2.5 days is still a great accomplishment! I've had some road bumps, but I'm learning how to make this fast work for me! The taste isn't bad, but it's a little strange eating something that resembles diarrhea or True Blood (if I use beets).

CHALLENGES:

1. Taste and consistency of my smoothies. I have a sweet tooth, so it's hard to get down the vegetable-only smoothies. I also noticed, when I don't add ice or something frozen, they're really difficult to get down. My solution: I feel like it's kind of cheating, but I've been adding frozen strawberries for better consistency + taste. It's delicious! I also take shots of Bragg's apple cider vinegar because I like it. :]

2. Hunger. Drinking all day is hard work! Sometimes I'm just plain tired of drinking any more, so I stay a little hungry (mostly at night before bed). However, I don't wake up hungry. Weird?

3. Wanting to chew on things. Sometimes I just want to eat a carrot or apple instead of blend it. Is that so bad? I haven't yet, but I'll stick to the plan and blend for now.

4. Hydration. Holy crap, am I thirsty! I'm drinking AT LEAST 7 tall glasses of water in addition to the water already in my smoothies, and I'm still thirsty all the time! I've actually woken up feeling a little dehydrated. What is up with this? Solution: Track water + drink more!

CRAVINGS:

I would kill for some cottage cheese right now. And some hot buttered bread. I actually made my husband eat the rest of the cottage cheese in our fridge so I wouldn't have to look at it anymore! :] Hitting up the grocery store yesterday was almost torture too! I was stuck in line behind someone carrying roasted chickens for over 10 minutes! To make a long story short, the line was long, the checkout lady mis-rang the order, the customer lady couldn't find her credit card in her big purse, and it was brought to the checker's attention that her dog escaped. RANDOM, right?! Anyway, it's hard, but I'll get through this! I hear the first few days are the worst so hopefully it'll get better.

BENEFITS + SIDE EFFECTS:

1. Head aches. I'm gonna say this is due to detoxing. They come and go, but haven't been too terrible yet.

2. Weight loss. So far, I've dropped about 3.5 lbs. Probably all water weight.

3. Skin. I feel like my skin is getting better, but it's too early to tell. I've had acne over the past few months that won't heal + go away. Right now it doesn't look too terrible.

4. So much pee! Hot damn, it's a lot of work to pee this much...

GOT QUESTIONS??? I'd love to answer them! SIDE NOTE: If you try this and notice what looks like blood in your stool, it's the beets! Haha.

Love,
Alexis Scarlett

My 100% Raw Green Smoothie Fast

2011-12-15T13:13:00.000-08:00

Hey ya'll! This is totally not related to anything I normally post, but I'm doing a 7 day green smoothie fast! For those of you who know me as the bacon and cheese lover that I am, you may be asking, where did this craziness come from?! Here, my dears, is what got me started:

I recently watched the popular documentary "Fat, Sick, + Nearly Dead," which showed amazing health benefits from juice fasting including detoxification and weight loss. I've been experiencing some (undiagnosed) health issues lately (mysterious, I know!), and thought I'd give a fast a try! In theory, a fast allows the body to cleanse + heal itself by harnessing the energy normally spent on digestion.

In the documentary, they fast on juice. However, I do not have a juicer; I have a Vitamix (a high powered blender). So instead of a juicing plan, I'm doing a green smoothie fast. While I'm not a nutritionist, I actually think smoothies are better because I get the fiber from the fruits + veggies, which is a key ingredient in cleansing the body. Also, I need to buy less vegetables to fill up my big cup!

MY PLAN:

-At least 7 days of fasting
-100% raw vegetables and fruits only, NO sweeteners
-NO chewing gum, etc.
-Drink lots of water

GOALS:

-Weight loss (I recently gained about 5 lbs over Thanksgiving!)
-Better skin
-Any sort of effect on current health issues

Thanks for stopping by! I'll update soon! :D

Love,
Alexis Scarlett

Credits: Green smoothie photo from my-healthy-eating-secrets.com, "Fat, Sick, + Nearly Dead" poster from fatsickandnearlydead.com.

Photo of the day: ready to rock

2011-08-24T18:11:00.000-07:00

Preview of the shoot I did yesterday for the shop. This was one of my favorite looks, even though we went pretty hipster with it. Will be posting the shorts soon! Happy hump day, ya'll.

Photo by me. :]

Photo of the day: Sunny Disposition

2011-08-10T20:40:00.000-07:00

I chose to post this outtake from a previous shoot because I miss the sun. Terribly. It should peak out soon, but in the meantime, this photo warms me up a little. :]

Cassidy is wearing a yellow dress of her own, SVFinerie maxi skirt and handmade friendship bracelets.

Photo by muah.

Wear to Where?: Maxi-mum comfort

2011-07-21T14:57:00.000-07:00

Today's Wear to Where? was my outfit choice for Tuesday's Etsy shoot. Since I was going to be snapping photos for a few hours I wanted to be as comfy as possible, but still cute. Most of the time on shoots I find myself croutching, kneeling, and sprawling in all kinds of awkward positions to get the perfect angle for my shot. This often leads to booty crack exposure or some other form of innapropriate wardrobe malfunctions if I'm not dressed properly.

My solution for maxiumum comfort and minumum exposure was this 1970s maxi wrap skirt I picked up from Orange on Sixth in Tacoma. I've been dying to wear it since I snagged it a week or two ago and I have a feeling this will be my go-to spring and summer skirt for a while!

Other comfy considerations: I figured I couldn't go wrong with a classy white tee and comfortable flats. Also, I keep jewelry on shoot days minimal to none because necklaces and other loose pieces tend to jiggle and bang around, which really get in my way. Lastly, I wore my hair bunned up- you guessed it- to keep my hair outta my face.

Maxi skirt (Orange, Tacoma), circle earrings (unknown, c/o Gene Juarez), white tee (Marshall's), glitter flats (Steve Madden).

Photos by Cassidy Stone.

New listings: coral bouse + midi skirt

2011-07-20T15:23:00.000-07:00

When I think of 80s fashion, the first word that comes to mind is "heavy." So when I combined two 80s items for this look, my number one goal was to make it as light and fresh as possible. My solution? First step: cut out those shoulder pads! Secondly, I added a fun turquoise skinny belt for a little extra pop of color, a flirty golden wedge, and minimal accessories. I didn't want big jewelry to weigh down or date the look, so Cassidy is wearing tiny, reflective pearl earrings.

Happy pairings!

Coral pink blouse (SVFinerie), Turquoise belt (Nordstrom), floral + paisley midi skirt (SVFinerie), Gold wedges (c/o Gene Juarez Salons, shop unknown).

Photos by me, Alexis Scarlett.

Wear to Where?: Catsup + Mustard

2011-07-18T22:28:00.000-07:00

Today's Wear to Where? (what I wore today)is the first of it's kind, so bare with me as I work out the kinks! Pardon my odd facial expression-- The lighting stunk, and we had camera blurry-ness issues, but I wanted to post this outfit anyway! It totally makes me think of catsup and mustard... at a baseball game. Batter up!

The wear: thrifted red denim high waisted Bongo skirt, tied Target shirt, mustard bag from UrbanXchange (Tacoma), and black sparkle Tom's. Oh, and the dog's mine. His name is Buddy and he's pretty awesome. The where: running errands during a chilly Washington summer (it's the middle of July and it barely hit 70 degrees at 5 p.m.!). Also, we totally grilled hot dogs after this.

Photos by MJ Sargent

Editorial shoot: First Day of School

2011-07-16T13:39:00.000-07:00

The first day of school: it's all about anticipation. Between first impressions, taking the perfect class photo, and achieving the A grade in style, there's no better way to turn heads than with the secret weapon of vintage.

Photos and styling by Alexis Scarlett.

PICTURE PERFECT

HITCHING A RIDE

HOW DO I LOOK?

SWEET ANTICIPATION

Back to school shopping is almost upon us (well, it's already here for the over-achievers!) and it's more important than ever to shop smart. Buying vintage is one great way to do that. One myth that drives people from buying vintage is that they won't be able to rock the newest trends if they go the retro route. The more I thrift for my store, the more I find this completely untrue! Nothing is every completely new- it's just a new twist on something done before. It's how you put the outfit together that makes it fresh.

This summer I'm prepping my store for items that will be hot for fall. One big upcoming trend is leather skirts. As we all know, leather can be quite pricey- but NOT if you buy vintage. I've already been able to locate a couple hot leather skirts that look like they were made for this season. It's all the more proof that buying vintage is kind of a no brainer. Shop smart this summer and stay tuned for future fall fashion posts!

xoxo,
Alexis Scarlett

Styling tip: when wearing vintage, never be afraid to mix decades. In fact, make it a habit! Mixing eras is the best way to achieve a unique and stylish look without looking like a trick-or-treater. In this look, Cassidy is wearing items from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 2010s. The trick? All these pieces have clean lines that blend well together.

Model, hair + M/U: Cassidy Stone. Featuring: 60s Zyloware glasses, vintage Head scarf (SVFinerie), thrifted 80s dress, Samsonite train case (SVFinerie), and Frye boots.

New listing: 70s "boho blooms" dress

2011-07-13T11:37:00.000-07:00

Before I talk about anything else, I just gotta say, I am so lucky to have such a beautiful sister to model for me! Am I right? ;]

My inner hippie loves this dress. It's got all of the requirements: pretty, comfy, 70s. I hope whoever buys this beauty enjoys it half as much as I enjoyed shooting it. Check it out here at my Etsy shop, SVFinerie.

Photos by me, Alexis Scarlett.

Photo of the Day

2011-07-12T15:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I did a little Etsy shoot with my little sister and her friend. This is one of my favorite photos from the shoot. My sister flipped her hair back real fast and I was lucky to snap this image. Afterwards we tried to recreate the shot but this first one turned out the best. I love moments like that. In this shot: Vintage Wrangler button-up + American Eagle denim shorts.

Photo by me, Alexis Scarlett.

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Something Vintage profile #1: Robin

2011-07-08T17:48:00.000-07:00

Yes, this girl actually wears leopard 100% of the time. And that's what I love about her. In my opinion, the best ingredient for interesting and appealing personal style is a little bit of a rule-breaker attitude. You can't always see the leopard when she wears it. Sometimes you even have to hunt for it (rawr!). Little surpises like that mixed with her casual take on style always have me wondering what she's going to wear next- a true sign of any fashionista.

The something vintage: 70s pink floral print midi skirt and vintage belt.

What’s the story behind the skirt? It used to be my grandmother’s in the 70s. She was really excited that someone in the family fit in it, so she gave it to me.

How would you describe your personal style? I’m pretty casual but I love dressing up. I love finding unique pieces that make me feel pretty without overwhelming my tini-ness. Also, I always have leopard on even if you can’t see it (Visible leopard print: her custom pedicure and makeup bag. Non-visible leopard print: you just have to guess).

How does vintage play into your style? I really love dresses and skirts from the 70s. My grandmother and mom saved a lot of stuff from then… I feel like that era matches my personal style better because I’m not super feminine. Stuff from the 50s and 60s tends to be overwhelming on me.

Other items? Shirt: Express. Aviators: Forever 21. Braided bag: Nine West. Belt: Vintage, from my mom. Sandals: Urban Outfitters.

Birth of something vintage: Last weekend, Robin and I decided to go for a little stroll to help me scout shoot locations. I really loved her skirt and asked her where she got it- to my immediate liking, it was vintage. I had my camera with me, so I started snapping shots of her outfit. Mid-snap of like, the third shot, a light bulb went on in my former journalist head- this would be a cute profile! And "Something Vintage," the profile series, was born.

Photos by me, Alexis Scarlett.

New listing: 60s anchor print pants

2011-07-08T10:48:00.000-07:00

When I saw these pants, I almost died. And then I put them on- and died again. Since I have a long torso, high waisted pants don't really look good on me because it makes my butt look too low. These are by far the most flattering high waisted pants I've ever encountered. I even gained a few pounds before this shoot and I have to admit these pants did my booty right. Hehe.

So WHY am I selling them again? I had to remind myself that SVFinerie (my vintage Etsy store!) needs them and I can't hog all the cute stuff to myself. Le sigh. To see the listing, click here.

Styled with vintage gold choker, navy blue tee (Marshall's), red strappy wedges (Franco Sarto), white Ray Ban's, and a vintage gold clutch (SVFinerie).

Photos by Abby Williamson.

"Something Vintage" preview

2011-07-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

Look out for my new profile series titled "Something Vintage." It'll be street style-esque photos and mini profiles of people (namely my friends to start!) showing off how they mix in vintage with the rest of their closets. Here's a little preview.

The blog is back! Under construction.

2011-07-07T11:27:00.000-07:00

I don't know how long it will take me, but I'm bringin' my blog back. I've got to revamp it a bit- suggestions welcome! Expect to see profiles of vintage wearers, vintage fashion posts, photography dabblings, fashion inspiration, listings from my Etsy store and basically whatever else that inspires me creatively!

Music video time!

2010-06-25T20:48:00.000-07:00

What's up with these blast-from-the-past-futurstic-super-graphic-full-of-bells-and-whistles-music-videos lately? I'm noticing a major trend and it's not au naturel (except for a few). Here are a couple of my fav music videos of teh now:

GENERALLY GOOD

BEYONCE KNOWLES "WHY DON'T YOU LOVE ME"

Unlike most music videos I'm a fan of, this one is legit good. Although it's pretty indulgent with the vintage homemaker imagery, it's sexy and fun! It's everything a music video is supposed to be. This a good, underrated song.

LADY GAGA "ALEJANDRO"

No surprise here if you know me just a little bit. I love Lady Gaga. Love the choreography. Kind of confused about imagery/plot though--unless it really is about a gay army wrestling team gangbanging a woman who happens to be a queen, nun, and rock star all at the same time, and then someone dies (probably that someone is named Alejandro) all set in the city of Metropolis. Although this is not my fav Gaga music video and it kinda smells like Madonna, I still dig it.

OK GO "END LOVE"

These guys are always cute. I love the goose. That's a goose right? Seagull? Duck? One of those is right.

KID CUDI "PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS"

I'm thinking Kid Cudi's goal for this music video was to visually describe what it's like to be really, really high. Job well done!

B.O.B. "AIRPLANES" FT. HALEY WILLIAMS

This video has pretty lights. And I like moving pictures.

FOR CHOREOGRAPHY MOSTLY:

CIARA "RIDE" FT. LUDACRIS

Not saying this video is the best or that Ciara is easy on the eyes, but I love the dancing. Can't. Help. It. I love this type of music.

JUSTIN BIEBER "SOMEBODY TO LOVE" FT. USHER

Breakdancers are fun to watch. And hip hop choreography is extremely entertaining. Aside from the ninja fire dancers (whaaa??), good video.

HONORABLE MENTIONS FOR NUMBER OF COSTUME CHANGES AND EYE CANDY

KATY PERRY "CALIFORNIA GURLS" FT. SNOOP DOGG

Looove this song, but was sligtly dissapointed with the video. It was kinda slow, and girls trapped in objects with no breathable air inside (see plastic wrap, jello cube and a bubble) seemed slightly disturbing. Despite my complaints, the imagery is still satisfactory (glittery daisy dukes, candy, makeup, wardrobe, wigs, etc.).

CHRISTINA AGUILERA "NOT MYSELF TONIGHT"

Okay, this video was disturbing too, but it was still fun to look at. First prerequisite for a music video fulfilled right there. Although I should really like this video (considering my taste), I can't bring myself to really LOVE it. I like spotting all of the costume changes though.

HONORABLE MENTIONS FOR BEING AWESOMELY BAD

MILEY CYRUS "CAN'T BE TAMED"

She's a bird, trapped in a cage...she can't be tamed. Get it!?

MASTER SHORTIE "BRINGING IT BACK"

Any music video or song based on the 1980s can never be fully taken seriously. Whatev, it was fun!

Whipping up a party.

2010-06-25T17:47:00.000-07:00

There's nothing my friends and I enjoy more than throwing a party and snapping photos of said party. The guest list may be small and the event may be last minute and low-budget (most of the time!), but we wouldn't do it any other way. So what excuse did we come up with for a party this time? ;] Our friend is leaving for Europe this week so we threw her a cute "bon voyage" party. This post is dedicated just to the food. Can you tell she likes strawberries and whipped cream?

Food by Sarah. Photos by me.

A shortcake-esque style cake stuffed with strawberries and topped with homemade whipped cream. Mmm.

Sarah making her own whipped cream.

Fruit and veggie skewers inspired by a recent Martha Stewart article.

More of the food! I'm so sad that it's all gone... Good thing I took a picture!

I love the texture of this cake. I also love that whipped cream is a much lighter alternative than frosting. You can eat a bunch and it doesn't weigh you down!

Gotta have strawberry daquiris! Well, smoothie is more like it.

So delicious!

Adios! Ciao! Stay tuned for more of my favorite photos from the day.

Transition.

2010-06-16T21:38:00.001-07:00

So what have I been up to? This shitty cell phone photo pretty much sums it up:

Rhinestones courtesy of my mom, fabulous detailing courtesy of moi. Peace out UWT!

More to come.

Queen of Hearts bachelorette: A taste

2010-05-16T20:32:00.000-07:00

Recently a friend and I hosted a Queen of Hearts themed bachelorette for a good friend. Here's a little taste of how the table decor turned out.

For us, the party was all about loose interpretations. Instead of throwing hearts everywhere, we used splashes of red and regal gold to signify our queen theme. The red roses and the crown on the red quilted cake give a small but recognizable Alice in Wonderland nod.

Notice how we used only heart cards for the decor--a subtle way of carrying out our theme. Cake: Celebrity Cake Studios (LOVE the pearls in the quilting), Ring Pops: Target, Plastic (I was on a budget!) wine glasses: Target, Charger plates, napkins, table cloth, antique dish and vase all from my fabulous mother. If you every need anything in the color gold, my mom will most likely have it.

Dining room table/mirror/room: Alexis hotel, bachelorette sash: Michael's. Flowers and Balloons: Pike Place Market (I forget the names of the individual vendors).

Earlier in the day we all enjoyed tea at the Secret Garden in Sumner, Washington. All I have to say is that they serve the best scones I have ever had in my life. Period. Also, they are the cutest tea place I have ever been to--they're located in an old but renovated victorian home in Sumner.

After dinner we dressed up in our own loose interpretations of Alice in Wonderland characters. If I'm feeling it I'll add more photos from our day.

Bedroom/office decor inspiration

2010-04-04T12:16:00.001-07:00

I really want to finally FINISH or, rather, get started on designing my office/guest bedroom. I'm having challenges fitting both my workspace and a small bed, but I WILL make it work. I'm thinking turquoise and coral and maybe some golds and reds. Here are some inspiration photos!

This may be a little too pinky and not enough turquoise-y, but I love how girly it is. I definitely want this room to be girly--it's the one place in the house that is MINE. :]

Love the coral walls here. I would substitute the greens for turquoise.

Here the turquoise is a little overpowering, but I LOVE the pom poms!

The bedroom is small, so I was considering putting my desk in the closet and put curtains around it like in this picture.

Just adorable and relaxing. Too bad this bedding is being discontinued.

This is a photo my photographer friend took. I want to hang it up in this room...I think it would be fun to have a carnival theme in the room. I also think this picture would look good against coral walls--if I had the balls to paint a wall coral that is.

Funny picture I found on flickr. Who doesn't love dwarves?

Found the rest of these on flickr actually. I like the colors of them.

Cute.

I LOVE BERRIES!

These macaroons are so beautiful! I don't know if I'll embrace pink for the bedroom, but this photo is tempting me!

Love the colors here too.

This picture goes with the carnival theme...and has beautiful colors.

Notes

2009-12-01T00:15:00.000-08:00

I need to focus more on writing. I normally reserve my blog posts for photos and lists, and any writing of substance is scarce. I will admit that is the easy route, and that's why I do it. It takes a lot more time to think deeply about a subject and compose intelligent and perhaps witty commentary. Not to say that all commentary need be intelligent and/or witty ... Sometimes unintelligent and unfunny commentary is worth noting. The important thing though, is that the commentary is worth noting.

Just a thought.

And while I'm in a verbal mood, I'll continue with a list (sans pictures) of things I want to accomplish during Christmas break:

-make bridesmaid dress appointment and make final decision on dresses
-officially order my wedding dress
-have a tea party
-play board games
-accomplish more on the internship front
-bake a new dish
-create my Target registry
-have at least one photo shoot
-survive all of the family get-togethers (I have six scheduled so far)
-go dancing once
-book a tent for my wedding
-and as always, etc.

Back on the planning wagon.

2009-11-18T00:54:00.000-08:00

So I'm back on the wedding planning wagon! An engagement photo session and some registering at Macy's seemed to do the trick to revive my enthusiasm. Also, with the help of a friend, I finally made a couple of wedding dress appointments. I need to find my dress!

The little things that make me happy:

Engagement photos! Thanks to our AWESOME photographer Lucas at Elldub Photography, our photos turned out so beautifully! I have so many favorites but here are a few I like: <3

We picked our china pattern! [MJ actually picked it out. I'm actually quite pleased/impressed. It was his favorite in the store and it happened to be my fav too! I love that he has a somewhat of a vintage-y taste.]

I registered for the ice blue Kitchenaid mixer! Let's hope I don't change my mind (I'm turning out to be Miss Indecisive lately), but I really love it.

Baking. Even if it's just the simple things. Here's a blurry picture of the epic brownie/rice krispie tower I made + a plate of cookies. So delicious, you don't even know. Each cookie/brownie/krispie stayed chewy for DAYS. Major skill. Kay I'll stop bragging now.

Decor inspiration

2009-11-08T01:24:00.001-08:00

I'm currently in the process of dreaming up designs for my kitchen/dining/living room. I always go back to romantic vintage designs with muted tones it seems. Here are a few inspiration photos I'm diggin' right now:

The classic KitchenAid mixer. Pistachio or ice blue?

Flowers, flowers, flowers:

I have been pining over this cookie jar for over a year. It's on Etsy. Why haven't I purchased it yet? Maybe because it's $50...

More vintage-style inspiration:

Halloween as a Stepford Wife

2009-11-02T22:58:00.000-08:00

Earlier I guess I said I was going to dress up as Amy Winehouse. I was, but the day of Halloween came and I didn't have anyone to help poof-up my hair and draw on tattoos...and I really didn't want to deal with the leftover Sharpie-party on my skin the next morning, especially because I had to wake up early for a baby shower.

Photos of me as a Stepford wife are below (you can't see, but I made an "Emergency Off" button to go on the front of my apron). MJ (not pictured), went as a Stepford husband in slacks, a sweater and side-slicked hair and held a remote. Haha.

I'm not a fake bangs expert, but here's what I came up with: I made the bangs by sectioning off hair in the front, flipping it upwards and bobby-pinning it to my head (oh, and I used hairspray to make the hair stick together better). I then put a headband on to cover up the bobby pins. Next, I hairsprayed the crap out of my hair some more and used the straightener to curl my bangs under a little more and make the hair stick together. Lastly, more hairspray.

My new kitchen! It's not "decorated" yet, but hey, I moved in last week!

I knew those pink walls in the extra bedroom were gonna be good for something! Haha, but seriously, once I settle on a paint color, bye-bye pinky.

Party planning: a pink birthday

2009-10-29T00:41:00.000-07:00

Last week I put together a party [with the help of friends of course] for my wonderful friend Sarah's birthday! The theme was "The life of a domestic diva: eat, pamper and play" and everything was pink. I made special stationary-type items for the party too that had to do with the hours of the day and clocks.

Some photos:

The table after present-opening. Too bad you can't see the pink jelly beans!

The card I made.

Flower arrangement: pink daisies and white dahlias. Notice the pink and white circus animal cookies as well! The vases I bought were really wine decanters...but they were adorable!

A birthday party isn't complete without friends, balloons and streamers!

I can't say how much I enjoyed putting this party together. I'm really wondering if this is something I should get into...of course planning parties on the small scale for people you know is quite easy...the bigger parties are the challenge. Would I be up to that challenge? If I don't have the proper inspiration I get lost [ahemmm...wedding!].

Can't wait until my next party!

Costume Preview

2009-10-17T14:39:00.000-07:00

If all goes to plan, I'm dressing up as Amy Winehouse this Halloween. Here is a preview of the costume--it's a photo I took for the Ledger (taken by Sarah). For the big day I'm gonna amp it up a bit with more tattoos and some minor costume additions. Can't wait!

The idea came from my friend Lana, who was working on a unique but budget-friendly costume story for the Ledger. I was the only one with long enough hair to model for the story, so I agreed--hesitantly. The costume turned out to be so much fun that I decided to rock it for Halloween!

Now I just need some solid October 31st plans...if I can finally get the keys and close on my condo then I want to have my own party!

The Unknown

2009-10-17T12:45:00.000-07:00

I'm floating down a river
Oars freed from their holds long ago
Lying face up on the floor of my vessel
I marvel at the stars
And feel my heart overflow
Further down the river
Further down the river
Further down the river
Further down the river
Two weeks without my lover
I'm in this boat alone
Floating down a river named emotion
Will I make it back to shore
Or drift into the unknown

Further down the river
Further down the river
Further down the river
Further down the river

I'm building an antenna
Transmissions will be sent when I am through
Maybe we could meet again further down the river
And share what we both discovered...
Then revel in the view

Further down the river
Further down the river
Further down the river
Further down the river

I'm floating down a river
I'm floating down a river
I'm floating down a river
I'm floating down a river

[Incubus, Aqueous Transmission]

Honeymoon!

2009-10-15T23:19:00.000-07:00

So I don't actually have much booked/planned for my upcoming wedding, but I just booked the honeymoon! Haha, it seems a bit backwards to book the honeymoon first, but oh well...I'm still pumped to go to Whistler!!

As I generally try to avoid the sun, and taking into account that my honeymoon will be in August, Whistler was the perfect choice! Haha, I'm not sure if I'd be able to survive anywhere else. ;]

So what is there to do in Whistler during summer?? Lots! There's hiking, quad-ing, SPA TIME, bear sighting, bike riding, horesback riding, river rafting and shopping! Also, you can actually still ski during summer! Although I'm excited for some fun outdoor activities, I'm mostly just excited for relaxation, shopping, the spa and some alone time with my man. MJ, however, is the sporty one.

New Britney Spears track

2009-09-29T20:42:00.000-07:00

Britney's new track "3" premiered this morning and I'm already obsessed with it! It makes me want to stop what I'm doing and dance my ass off [which I wouldn't really have a problem with...]. Anyway, I loved it so much I had to post it. Enjoy!

New inspiration

2009-09-28T14:32:00.000-07:00

New wedding inspiration. I want to be a mermaid/cowgirl/fairy princess from the 50s. Is that okay? I think as long as everything has a vintage feel, it will be okay.

I don't feel like words today (but when do I ever?), so I'll show you in pictures. 'Made these collages earlier this morning and I'm happy about the new direction.

Dresses:

Everything:

[Click on photos to see the larger versions.]

More free stuff!

2009-09-11T10:39:00.000-07:00

I really do love twitter. I won another thing from In Style's twitter giveaway! This time I won a $25 gift card from The Fairest [thefairest.com--a discount cosmetic site].

With my gift card I decided to buy this Tarte ready-to-wear palette:

Woohoo! Wish me luck on winning more free stuff! I'm trying to win some Lucky magazine giveaways...

I love free stuff!

2009-09-10T09:50:00.001-07:00

I won something today! Yay!

Thanks to In Style magazine's twitter contest, I won this "3 Little Wonders" box set worth $70 from Ole Henriksen! It comes with the "Invigorating Night Gel Firming Treatment" to firm up skin, the "Sheer Transformation Renewing Creme" to reduce hyperpigmentation and the "Truth Serum Collagen Booster" to help with anti-aging [might save that one for later...haha].

I'm excited to try these products! Maybe I'll update on how they work once I get them...

My YouTube Picks

2009-09-08T23:08:00.000-07:00

Check out the [music] videos I've been watching on YouTube. Warning: 100% junk ahead!

"Paranoid" by Kanye West [video starring Rihanna]. Love this song...and the video. It's a take on old horror movies--very dramatic and visually striking. Hey, it's Kanye and Rihanna, how could it not be? You'll love it. The HQ version wouldn't embed, so go here for the good version [this one isn't sync'd up right. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUfSR0JuZ8I

"You Oughta Know" cover by Britney Spears...live. I'm posting this mainly for the fact that it's a rare occurence to see Brit Brit sing anything live. Being a Britney fan, I loved it [now that's not biased at all...].

"True Blood" season finale promo. This little promo features the song "Corrupt" by Depeche Mode. Very fitting. The song is good, but if you don't watch it for the song...please watch it for the sexiness that is Alexander Skarsgard [he's the hot blond vampire]. I guess the rest of the cast ain't too bad either...

"Sweet Dreams" by Beyonce. I generally love all music with that electronic-y vibe. Luckily for me, that's what's hot right now. I love this song and this video is pretty cool too.

Better quality version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbGV2_8Yqg4

My Labor Day Weekend

2009-09-06T22:28:00.000-07:00

I didn't really have any plans for this usually pre-meditated weekend, but I ended up keeping myself moderately busy and entertained. It was the perfect mix of laid back and eventful.

On Friday I stopped by the Log Cabin Tavern down is Sumner with some family (I'm not posting a picture because the building isn't...attractive.) I don't really think I "fit in" there, but it was all good. You could tell it was definitely a "local" bar catering to a visibly defined demographic--beer-drinking good ol' boys (trucker looking people). If you can imagine it, we saw what Jack Black would have looked like on steroids in the 80s. This guy not only sported a mullet, he wore a sleeveless cut-off shirt, CAMO PANTS and 'roid rage. It was amazing. That alone was probably worth the trip, although the chicken strips were good too.

Later that night we went down to the Yella Beak in Enumclaw for a friend's 21st birthday celebration. Dancing and good times were had. Surprisingly I didn't really take any pictures, but it was fun nonetheless. Not being a drinker, I was impressed with myself for downing a margarita in about 20 seconds.

The next morning we woke up early to drive down to a friend's cabin overlooking Alder Lake. It was absolutely beautiful. We stayed for the day and ate yummy food, relaxed by the fire pit, rode quads and played with our dogs. The above photo was taken from the comfort of my chair by the fire.

This morning, (Sunday) I drove down to my grandparent's house and hung out with them for a bit. We stopped by the Auburn Farmer's Market despite the pouring rain and purchased some local veggies before we took refuge in the nearby Sun Break Cafe. This restaurant probably serves one of the best breakfasts in all of Washington. Why? Part of the reason is their thick, delicious bacon, to-die-for homemade bread and generous serving sizes. I'm sure there are other reasons, but I didn't really have the time or stomach capacity to try the entire menu.

Afterwards I hung out with my grandparents' for a bit longer and then headed over to my parents' house to stop by real quick. Thanks to one of my dad's random ideas, I ended up baking a chocolate cake. I didn't stick around to try it, (mostly because I don't like chocolatey things) but it looked tasty...and pretty!

The rest of the weekend will be devoted to relaxing. And I'm pretty okay with that.

Wedding invitations

2009-09-03T16:44:00.000-07:00

I'm back on the wedding planning train (for now), and you're invited! What's the subject this time? Wedding invitations. I keep going back and forth the decision to get professional wedding invites or make them myself. Right now I'm swaying towards the pros.

These invites struck my fancy:

My fall shopping list

2009-09-03T13:38:00.000-07:00

Not everyone knows this, but I keep a continuous clothing "shopping list" on my iPhone. I update it year-round, especially with the new season. As the leaves change colors and bring us into fall, my wardrobe definitely needs its own change.

I don't ever get everything on the list, because, well, I can't afford everyting. But I must always keep these things in mind, because you never know when (or where) you'll find them.

My fall "basics" shopping list:

Tights.

Skinny & other belts.

Neutral camis.

As always, a leather jacket.

Over the knee boots!

Basic tote.

Basic cardigans.

Warm outerwear.

My first round cake!

2009-08-31T11:01:00.000-07:00

To make use of my brand new Martha Stewart cake plate, I made my first round cake! Please excuse the crappy cell phone pics, but here it is:

I'm not yet up to making my own cake better, so I just used boxed confetti cake mix. I didn't have extra frosting to stick the two layers of cake together, so I used marshmallow creme and dyed it the color of my cake plate to match! Yum!

Hobbies.

2009-08-27T14:57:00.000-07:00

It seems like many girls do this in young age, but now more than ever I've made a hobby out of ameteur photo shoots. (Almost) nothing pleases me more to slip on a "statement" outfit, make myself up, scout unique locations, borrow or rent someone's really nice camera and just mess around.

The photos might not mean anything to anyone else, but they mean something to me, and I think that's all that matters. I'm not trying to be a pro or anything. This is something that makes me happy--everything from collaborating with and bouncing ideas off friends to producing photos to being the model--it's all fun.

Here are a couple of favorites from my last photo project with my friend Sarah @ www.sarahgolightly.blogspot.com and her sister Lana. Sarah took most of the pics this time and Lana took a few as well. The photos were taken on a closed-off bridge in Tacoma.

Maui photo installment 6

2009-08-20T10:35:00.001-07:00

I'm still not done posting photos from Maui. Here is the latest installment, folks.

"The Sea"

"Picture of MJ 374"

"Hike"

"The Cliff"

"Maui Jim"

"Goob"

"Hide and Go Drink"

"Statue"

"White Feet, Black Rocks"

Maui photo installment 5

2009-08-17T05:36:00.000-07:00

...and 5 posts later, I'm still not done adding Maui photos. But I am done editing, posting and looking through photos for the night/morning [it's 5:41 a.m.]. Don't forget to keep scrolling down to catch all the posts! Until next time, Mahalo!

"Mongoose"

"Rest Stop"

"Rest Stop 2"

"Daddy's Girl 2"

"KL"

"Maui Jim and Brando"

"Maui Jim and Brando 2"

Maui photo installment 4

2009-08-17T05:23:00.000-07:00

"Red Plant"

"Maui Babe"

"Hana Speed Limit"

"Love"

"You Found Me"

"Us"

"The Blue Hawaiians 2"

Maui photo installment 3

2009-08-17T05:11:00.001-07:00

"Rubbish"

"Fresh Catch"

"Candid Posing 3"

"Danger, Danger"

"Red"

"Kihei Sunset 1"

"Kihei Sunset 2"

"Kihei Sunset 3"

"Kihei Sunset 4"

Maui photo installment 2

2009-08-17T04:52:00.000-07:00

And of course, more photos...still more to come! I am still too lazy to categorize these photos in any sort of fashion that would make sense. So, deal with the randomness.

"Scenic"

"Scenic 2"

"Breezy"

"The Velcro Slipper"

"Sugar Rush"

"Into the Mist"

"Modest Sunset"

"I'm Here, in Maui"

"First Look"

"Black Sand Beach"

My photo adventure in Maui

2009-08-17T04:29:00.001-07:00

I am finally home from Maui and I have a bunch of photos to share! I'm not really posting any of them in a particular order, so bare with me. This bunch just happens to be horizontal. Most of the photos were taken by me, a few by MJ. Enjoy! [Below are my on-the-spot attempts to name my photos.]

"Run to the Hills"

"Candid Posing 1"

"Candid Posing 2"

"The Point"

"Daddy's Girl"

"Spirit"

"Spirit 2"

"Contemplate"

"The Blow Hole"

"The Blue Hawaiians"

In Maui

2009-08-12T01:25:00.000-07:00

Everything in Maui seems to move a little slower than at home. Speed limits, time (probably because we're three hours behind) and even the internet are just a bit more sluggish. It's not a bad thing by any means--it's nice to relax and roll with what your day brings you (I just get a little impatient when Facebook and other sites take a bit to load).

Despite my slight impatience, I really do believe Hawaiians have found the right way to live. Family, or ohana, are very important to them. Their lives are not driven by work schedules and deadlines. Rather, good people and good times are a higher priority. I drove by a sign for a food stand earlier today and saw a sign that read "I try to open daily, 11 ish to 4 ish." Some may think that's lazy, but I don't think so. Some people have different priorities. Making money doesn't always have to be #1.

I know I sound retarded saying this, but I really like it here. Maui is a special place and I feel comforted and almost at home living so close to the water. I feel a spiritual fulfillment being on this warm paradise surrounded by the sea.

I can't upload pics to my blog from my phone so I will once I get home. Next week? It's a date. Aloha.

Puppy power!

2009-08-03T13:36:00.001-07:00

A week or so my mom and I had a little photo shoot with her 5 shih tsu/maltese puppies! Check the little cuties out.

Say hello to Dottie. She's the only girl and the runt of the litter.

Say howdy to the one and only Cowboy. A true gentleman.

Say "how" to little Chief. He's got the most spunk of the bunch and is very photogenic. :]

Say good day to Bruno. He's sweet as can be and loves to snuggle!

And last but not least, say hi to Beethoven! He's the biggest of the litter, but loves to pretend he's a baby anyway! He's super sweet and loves to snuggle.

Growth.

2009-07-27T22:24:00.000-07:00

This is growth. And this is beauty. And this is life.

X-rated cupcakes

2009-07-25T00:18:00.000-07:00

This last Thursday I co-hosted a bachelorette party for a dear friend. In light of the occasion, and to show our dedication and love for that friend, we baked and frosted (sorry about the word choice) penis cupcakes! [Cupcocks if you will.]

Photo inspiration: floral edition

2009-07-23T00:59:00.001-07:00

As you can see by the photo stamps, I've been spending some time at theknot.com looking for photo inspirations for my wedding. This time it was the flowers that inspired me (even of the tissue variety).

I am repeatedly drawn to red and pink flowers for some reason. The warm colors make me happy inside. I'm also drawn to dahlias and other full, fluffy blooms.

As for the presentation of the flowers, I'm throwing around potted plants, full blooms in mason jars, garden buckets, grass plots and even tissue flowers (who knew they could look so pretty?). I'm going for happy, whimsical and laid-back. Nothing to contrived.

Check out what I've been diggin' lately:

Life's simple pleasures.

2009-07-22T20:49:00.000-07:00

This:

I've watered and patiently waited what seems like weeks for my rose buds to bloom. Each day my level of excitement has grown to match my blossoming flowers. Today was a good day, because I got to appreciate the beauty of a full red rose. Tomorrow will be even better. More are on the way!

My wedding: evolving ideas

2009-07-19T02:32:00.000-07:00

I've got ideas, ideas, ideas and I'm free to dream until the deposit is paid. :] Yes, I refuse to make up my mind until I've booked or paid for an item. Here are some more ideas floating around in my brain:

To me, the inspiration for my wedding is ever-evolving. It's not necessarily that I can't make up my mind, it's that my ideas are constantly building on each other and evolving as I change perspectives. For example, I tried on wedding dresses for the first time Friday at I Do Bridal in Seattle. I came in with one specific type of design in mind, but after trying a few dresses on, I found that maybe simpler designs suit me better.

I don't want to gush too much about the experience, but I might have found the dress [of course it was the first one I tried on too!] I won't make up my mind just yet, because I still have a whole year, but the dress I found is definitely a top contender AND it's in my price range too!

Side note/mini-review of I Do Bridal: very helpful/nice people, no rush even though my appointment was running late, no pressure, nice conversation, awesome prices, tasteful selection, cozy but tiny shop, overall great first experience.

After my dress appointment Friday I also had an appointment with Abbey Party Rents [out of Seattle] to get a feel for a tenting and other rentals for my backyard wedding. I'm expecting a price quote soon...and I'm kind of holding my breath! I know it will be a little too large, but we can always cut some things out of the picture [goodbye champagne fountain? cloth napkins?].

Long-ass photo post about things I can't have.

2009-07-08T13:41:00.000-07:00

I'm broke right now. Really, really broke. But just because I'm lacking in the dinero department doesn't mean I can't dream, right? That makes sense: I'll sit in my room and waste time day dreaming about various material items I can't afford instead of venturing out and attempting to make some amount of money. So join me, and and be a fly-on-the-wall in someone else's day dream. Here are some things I covet:

LOVELY LEATHER

Before I die (or rather, before I have kids) I will have a leather jacket. Not having one in my wardrobe just wouldn't make sense. I love setting feminine pieces with edgy details, and without the edge of a leather jacket, I feel like I run the risk of being too frilly. Life's all about balance, people.

SHOES AS MUSE

My interest in shoes seems to be a bit all over the place, but let me explain. I love boots. Like I said before, they make an outfit a little more edgy, a little more interesting. I find boots to be very flattering and they make me feel in charge of the world. As for the platforms, the studded ones are just weird enough to catch my eye and as for the metallic gray ones...well, I I'm kind of obsessed with that color right now.

WORKING GIRL
Here comes the funny part. These clothes represent what I would wear if I had a real job. I don't really know if that is in my future, or if I would actually enjoy going out into the workforce, but I think it would be really fun to dress like a sophisticated young professional...for a week. ;]

SAVORY SKIRTS

Skirts: one thing my fiance and I can agree on! I'm diggin' the high-waisted right now because it accentuates a small waist. Also, the girly-girl in me is loving fuller skirts because they are undoubtedly feminine...not to mention they mask the also feminine pair of wide hips.

Friends and photos

2009-07-07T17:51:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday my friends and I joined "Krazy Katie" herself at her firework stand in Firecracker Alley for our weekly "UWThursday" celebration. We rented a Nikon D90 to document the event and these photos are the unedited outcome (if it ever comes to that). Photographer: me.

My favorite:

After experimenting with the D90, all I can say is that I really, really, really want one. I've been deprived enough with my shitty iPhone camera. It's time for a revolution! A photo revolution! I must get my hands on this camera!

THE END

Things I've Done This Year.

2009-06-28T22:26:00.001-07:00

I was inspired by my friend Steph @ Countdown to Dobson to do a photo post about what I've been up to in the last few months.

In January I got engaged to the wonderous MJ!

In March I celebrated my 21st birthday.

My sister and I saw THE Britney Spears in April!

We also walked in Seattle Fashion Week that month...

MJ and I went hiking in May.

In June I did a shoot for Gene Juarez [hopefully you will see me in campaign materials in September.]

And Jan-June I've been enjoying the company of all my wonderful friends!

EDIT: And I almost forgot...I ran a 5k in June!! [My first one!]

Love this dress

2009-06-28T22:11:00.001-07:00

I love this dress:

I also love this dress:

And this one:

And this one:

Ahh, bridesmaid dresses. It amazes me how six measly garments can cause me so much trouble. One day I want short ones, the next day I want long ones. I see one I love, and then I see one equally amazing the next day. And don't mention the colors...I can't say how many times I've changed my mind on the colors! Pink, orange, yellow, light blue, green, dark green, teal, lilac, eggplant, grey...sheesh!

As much as I complain, I do really think the bridesmaid dresses sort of set the tone for the wedding. They help determine formality, color scheme and the overall "feel" or "theme" of the wedding. For example, stiff, floor length taffeta dresses give off a more formal vibe while flowy chiffon is more laid back, but elegant.

Outside the flower box

2009-06-17T11:57:00.000-07:00

I have always loved roses. They're simple, big, fluffy and they come in almost every color. Before hopping on this bridal bandwagon, I've never really so much as glanced at any other flower. Not because other flowers aren't beautiful [quite the contrary!] but because I had absolutely no clue about where to start.

In the search for the perfect bridal bloom [more alliteration, I apologize] I've noticed that I also love peonies. I love how big and fluffy they are! So whimsical...very me.

And recently, I've discovered dahlias. I love their bright colors and multitude of wild of petals.

What to choose? I guess it really depends on price and what is in season in August. But I won't think about that now!

Decisions.

2009-06-14T13:13:00.000-07:00

Planning a wedding calls for thousands of tiny decisions. What flowers shall we use? What will the bridesmaids wear? What type of food will be on the menu? The wedding is over a year out, so I still have lots of time to think over these things, but I'm happy to announce I have made a few decisions in the last few days.

1. I'm going to treat my wedding as if it is just a really nice party. Sometimes people get really overboard when the word "wedding" is attached to everything. For instance, I wouldn't hire a caterer at any other party, so why should I hire one this time?

2. I'm going to make my own invitations. I'm fairly skilled at design, so why pay someone else to design something that I can make myself? I already have a mock-up and I'm pretty satisfied with it (save-the-dates too). All I need to do is buy envelopes and get them printed (possibly at kinkos) on good paper. And if I feel like spicing things up, I'll buy some ribbon or something from the craft store.

3. I stopped by a Ben Bridge at Bellevue Square the other day...and I'm pretty sure I found the wedding band I want! Who would have thought I'd go for yellow gold? Haha, I love it though and it matches my engagement ring really well.

4. I'm also pretty sure I found my wedding shoes! I was going to go for the gold pair, but I tried the pink ones on and they look better on my skin. The pink ones are kind of ugly in the picture, but they aren't so dark in person.

Take me sky high! [OOTD]

2009-05-26T21:37:00.000-07:00

[Obsession of the Day]

Today I was introduced to the concept of buying shoes a bit smaller so they'll fit nicely once they stretch out (especially the case with leather shoes). I've never done this before, and consequently, I have a few pairs of shoes that are too big for me now after a few wears. To remedy the loss, I bought these:

I chose to get them in black after nearly getting them in electric blue. They didn't have the blue in my size in the store, so I tried on black instead. After I saw them on it was like a light was shining down on my feet. I quickly realized that black was the only option. After all, black is the appropriate color to wear for mourning--and I am mourning the loss of a few pairs...

I did something!

2009-05-26T08:41:00.000-07:00

On Sunday MJ and I embarked on an extended nature walk (pretty much a hike in my eyes) to Ipsut and Chenuis Falls along the Carbon River. Our little adventure was an effort to get me to engage in physical activity. I'd say it worked. I'm actually a little excited to go on more hikes (ahem, extended nature walks). We bought a 12-month pass for parks in/around Mt. Rainier, so I'd better use it!

So this was two days ago, but hey, the content must still be fresh because my back still hurts. Here's a few pictures from our 11 mile (round trip) extended nature walk:

[A big tree trunk!]

[Water!]

[More water!]

[A scary forest moss-monster!]

[The river used to go under this bridge. Not so much anymore.]

[If you look behind him you can see where the bridge pictured above just drops off. The river pretty much got fed up with where it used to flow. It has relocated a few feet this way.]

[Tree tunnel!]

[A hill. And more river.]

[That breeze coming off the water was so cold!]

[Ipsut Falls.]

[You can almost see the mountain just over that hill.]

[You can barely see the tip if I zoom in...]

[Chenuis Falls.]

[More Chenuis Falls.]

iPhone iNspiration.

2009-05-25T21:44:00.000-07:00

Today I visited my parent's house to eat some delicious fresh halibut my dad caught two days ago. Seriously, it was 40 miles out in the ocean--deadliest catch style. :] After dinner I took a few pictures of their yard that inspired me on my iPhone ... too bad I don't carry around a legitimate camera with me on a daily basis.

This last one is blurry, but that's what you get when you take pictures with your iPhone (only vampires can successfully take good photos with them because you have to stand extremely still). But anyway, everyday Spring brings things more beautiful than the day before. I love this season. I love the flowers and the colors and the ruffles! Spring is truly the season to be a lady! [Especially since Nordstrom's half yearly sale is going on now...time to get a new pair of shoes? Quite possibly.]

Reaching for Roses

2009-05-21T12:14:00.000-07:00

This is my second draft for a poem I wrote for class. It's written in a fixed form called a villanelle.

Reaching for Roses

Is it hope or is it greed?
I desire a house on a flourishing lot.
I have faith I’ll get what I need.

In the velvet dirt I’ll plant a seed
Where Mona Lisa roses will inspire thought
Is it hope or is it greed?

But what if that seed bears me a weed?
My dreams of roses will not be forgot
I have faith I’ll get what I need.

For now, I’ll keep searching until I succeed
But this boundless suspense has me distraught
Is it hope or is it greed?

From visions of petals I’ll never be freed
And I’ll always be reaching for roses, but
I have faith I’ll get what I need

Maybe it is gardenias I’m meant to breed
And not those roses I have sought
Is it hope or is it greed?
I have faith I’ll get what I need.

Summer

2009-05-17T23:22:00.000-07:00

I posted a while ago that I was going to have a winter wedding. Well, it turns out I changed my mind. It will now be in Summer 2010. Here are some inspiration photos:

Limos are overrated.

One word: adorable.

I'm in love with pink flowers. This pink reminds me of blushing, which is appropriate.

My mom took this from her backyard. This is where the wedding will be.

This cake makes me giddy. I love classic white with subtle details. Plus, I'm loving flowers as a topper.

I'm back.

2009-05-17T23:08:00.000-07:00

In one of my last posts I mentioned joining Twitter. That was months ago...and I haven't really updated my blog since. Oops. It's probably a combination of events that has pulled my attention away from updating,(like constantly having a cold, participating in Seattle Fashion Week, the Ledger, my 21st birthday, spring break, spring quarter, HOUSE HUNTING, etc.) but I'll just blame it on Twitter.

It does look like a have a lot of catching up to do. More posts to come.

I'm a slave 4 Britney

2009-03-05T20:27:00.000-08:00

[Obsession of the Day]

Britney Spears. So sexy. I'm so excited to see her Circus tour April 9th!

Plug me in.

2009-03-04T23:48:00.000-08:00

I recently made a Twitter. With a Facebook, Twitter, blog, Myspace and LiveJournal, I feel as though I'm living my life more and more in the online realm. Does this have a limit? Will house parties and other physical social gatherings be eventually replaced with tweeting and sharing videos through Facebook? Am I going to wake up one morning and realize that I haven't left my house for over a week let alone had physical contact with a friend in months? It seems possible--and it has me wondering whether socializing through the online realm is a replacement of physical interaction or a supplement to it.

Nonetheless, I feel that with each social networking site I join, that I increasingly become more "plugged in." It is an interesting thought, especially after watching the films Existenz and The Matrix this past week or so. In these films, the characters are physically plugged into an alternate or virtual reality, (i.e. the matrix) and as a result, lose their sense of what is real. What is the difference between us now and the characters in these films? It seems for me, that our connection is wireless.

Side note: One plus for Twitter? The 140 character limit is making me more concise. Getting there...

The Best Oscar Looks

2009-02-23T12:07:00.000-08:00

I saved this post for last because I knew it would take the longest. I loved so many looks last night! Overall, I saw a lot of pale, whimsical dresses and they all were fabulous, I just couldn't help but miss a little bit of color.

These are in no particular order.

Tajari Henson in Roberto Cavalli. The shape was stunning as were the layers. I enjoyed how the color was understated, making the layers delicate instead of overpowering. And did you check our her necklace? Best Oscar jewelry of the night.

Tina Fey in Zac Posen. I applaud Tina Fey for bringin' out the sexy tonight. She normally goes for a simple, boring black type of dress, but this Zac Posen number allowed the star that she is to shine through.

Rachel Weisz. I didn't really take the time to check to see who she's wearing, but I loved it. It may not have been super Oscar appropriate, but she looked hot. Super current.

Penelope Cruz in vintage Balmain. On the red carpet she told Tim Gunn that she found this dress eight years ago and came back for it this year! I'm glad she did, because it was princess-level magical. I don't even know where to begin, but I think Belle might be a little jealous!

Natalie Portman in Rodarte. Natalie was so cute last night I just had to make a separate post about it. This dress was simple but it did it's job. I can't stop looking at her. Also, the color was refreshing after a night of pale gowns.

Meryl Streep in Alberta Ferreti. I almost didn't include her on this list because I personally would not wear this dress. The stone color may not be the most flattering in the world for most, but I was surprised to see how Streep kept her glow despite the dress. It fit was very flattering on her and she was utterly radiant.

Melissa George in Dolce & Gabbana. Although a little bridal, this was probably my favorite shape of the night. Beautiful! Maybe Mr. Dolce and Mr. Gabbana will loan it to me for my wedding?? Haha. That's super likely.

Marisa Tomei in Versace. If there weren't so many pale dresses, this probably would have stood out a lot more. I loved the construction and angular layers. It was beautiful and unexpected from Tomei.

Alicia Keys in Armani. While the dress was a little familiar and not particularly anything new, Alicia Keys looked amazing.

Freida Pinto in John Galliano. I've said this before about Portman's dress, but the blue color of Freida Pinto's dress was extremely refreshing. I loved the sleeve and asymmetrical top. It's not a typical Oscars dress, and that's why I love it.

Reese Witherspoon. I didn't take the time to figure out what she was wearing either, probably because I spent the time staring at the dress instead. Reese was on a couple of worst dressed list for this black and blue number, but I thought it was completely eye-catching. Embrace the difference people!

Evan Rachel Wood in Elie Saab. The frilly chiffon layers at the bottom give the impression that Wood is floating--and the simple alabaster color of the dress makes it seem must as effortless. She looks like a goddess in this dress.

Anne Hathaway in Armani Prive. Anne too was a little colorless in this dress, but I loved it anyway. It sparkles in such a glamorous, non-tacky way that is purely divine. Love it.

Angelina Jolie in Elie Saab. It is very much Angelina's style to go a little plain on the red carpet, but this dress suits her well. The real stars though, are her eye-catching emerald earrings. Don't they make you green with envy?

And lastly, the men:

Daniel Craig. He looked classic and his suit fit him amazingly. I'm not generally into men's fashion, but he did look very "dapper." :]

Brett Ratner. While he did look a little scruffy, I'm a big fan of black on black when it comes to menswear. Very nice.

Red Carpet Controversy

2009-02-23T11:49:00.001-08:00

This post is dedicated to the controversial dresses/outfits of the 2009 Academy Awards red carpet. Some I love, some not so much, but these get-ups definitely got some buzz.

Tilda Swinton in Lanvin. Everyone seemed to hate it. You know, I actually like it in a weird way. I'm convinced it was Swinton's hair color that threw the whole look off. When your hair, skin and blouse are all colorless, something's got to give.

Mickey Rourke. Leave it to Mickey Rourke to show up to the Oscars dressed like this. He's the rule-breaker. Did you expect anything else?

Heidi Klum in Robert Mouret. It's a little 80s and it's a little shocking. I'm still trying to decide if I'm drawn to it in a good or bad way. The dress is just so different it's hard to look away. Or maybe it's because I love Heidi Klum? Either way, I enjoyed her daring hair style and show-stopping earrings.

Amanda Seyfried in Valentino. Most say the red was off [too orangey] and the fit was all wrong. She may have been drowning a little, but Amanda Seyfried will be always be adorable to me no matter what she wears.

Miley Cyrus in Zuhair Murad. I don't know why I'm ending up defending all of these looks, but I really loved this dress. Maybe it was wrong for Miley, but worn on a more sophisticated woman, it would have been spectacular.

Oscars Worst Dressed

2009-02-23T11:27:00.000-08:00

I promised before that I'd post with my Oscar's best dressed list. That will come later. Now it's time to enjoy the worst of the night! I will say that not many hit my worst dressed list, so it was difficult to compile. While I don't think anyone completely blew me out of the water, many dressed well last night. Also to come: the controversially dressed list.

Beyonce in her own House of Dereon. I have to say that this print bothers me. And yes, Beyonce looks good in a mermaid dress...but will we ever see her in anything else?

Jessica Biel in Prada. The fold/bow could have been magnificent, but it fell a little flat.

Amy Adams in Carolina Herrera. I love the red, but the piping just didn't "go' with this dress. It made it seem sloppy instead of sleek and elegant.

Sophia Loren in ?. The gold color was oh-so-wrong for her skin tone. And the shoulder poofs? It's all wrong...but I won't judge too much, because hey, she's 75.

Lisa Rinna. Her fashion faux pas was more about her face than her dress. Aside from the franken-lips, it probably wasn't a good idea to match her eyeshadow to her dress in this case.

You look like you work at a hasidic meth lab

2009-02-23T10:24:00.000-08:00

Best moment of the Oscars:

I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of entertaining moments during last night's Oscars. Although there were many, Ben Stiller's impression of Jauquin Pheonix was priceless. And...of course Portman was irresistibly adorable.

Finally!

2009-02-22T19:45:00.000-08:00

[Obsession of the Day]

I know it's been more like the obsession of the week lately, and I'm sorry. :] My new obsession is....

PINK!

I've stayed away from it for a while...but the coming Spring and fabulous new pink fashion items have brought me back. Plus, when you act like a 16-year-old and make silly music videos to Britney Spears music with your younger sister and cousin--it just seems fitting.

In honor of the color, I give you a middle school favorite:

Sexy.

2009-02-22T19:00:00.000-08:00

I'm actually watching the entire Oscar show tonight. For once I didn't just watch the red carpet pre-show. As a matter of fact, I missed the red carpet...BUT that doesn't mean I missed all the fabulous dresses! I'll post a complete list of my favs later, but I just had to point out how cute Natalie Portman looked tonight. The photos out so far don't really do her justice...so here's a video:

I first saw Natalie when she was presenting the award for Best Cinematography with Ben Stiller. Gorgeous! I loved the makeup too! But speaking of Ben Stiller, his Jauquin Pheonix impression was the best example of comedy I've seen this year! The video isn't up but I'll post later if I remember.

Don't trip!

2009-02-16T14:28:00.001-08:00

I haven't posted in a while due to being sick/dog sitting/layout weekend/etc., but I'm back now. Here is a PSA I made for my video production class. Enjoy.

And remember, take a STAND against falling. Tie your shoes!

Love,
A. Scarlett

Daily obsession

2009-02-11T15:03:00.000-08:00

[Obsession of the day]

The two true joys of being sick are:

A nice afternoon nap

[Lazy, lazy, lazy]

and Ricola...

[These taste so good and they actually make you feel a little better...]

But everything else? Not so joyful...

I guess this breaks my goal of going a whole year without getting sick [I was sick last April]. I was really hoping I could do it...but I just had to kiss MJ, didn't I? ;]

I don't really have the energy to post more, so peace!

Love,

Sicky

Shop it to me, baby.

2009-02-10T12:44:00.000-08:00

[Obsession of the Day]

This will be a fast one because I need to head to school. However, it doesn't mean that today's obsession will be lame!

Check out www.shopittome.com. You sign up to get e-mail telling you when clothing items from all the brands you love [in your sizes!] go on sale!

You can set a price limit so it doesn't show you something out of your price range too! You can control how often you get e-mails, but I signed up to get them everyday.

If you want to sign up, send me your e-mail and I'll send you an invite [that way I can get a $10 gift card]. Otherwise you can sign up directly at the site.

Wow that sounded like an advertisement. Sorry!

Love,
Me

I'm obsessed with Jareth

2009-02-09T10:09:00.000-08:00

[Obsession of the Day]

The Labyrinth! As I applied my foundation, blush and mascara this morning a wonderous song came on shuffle: "Magic Dance" from the Labyrinth! Oh how I love that movie. This love is largely a result of the sexiness of David Bowie...but the rest of it is good too. Two words: stretch pants. Haha.

Now watch these clips before I throw you into the bog of eternal stench!

Magic Dance

As The World Fall Down dream sequence
Fast forward through the first part of the scene to get to the song. My fav!

I just realized David Bowie wears more makeup than I do. Hot. ;]

Love,
Me.

Reach Out and Touch Me

2009-02-08T01:23:00.000-08:00

As a product of the height of the TRL era, I am a big fan of the music video. Back then, the music was the video, and vice versa. Now TRL has come and gone. So since MTV won't play music videos anymore I've decided to play them myself! Here is a list of my top ten music videos of right now [my own little Total Request Live if you will]. Embedding was disabled on some of them so I provided the link.

10. "White Horse" by Taylor Swift
Silly me got teary-eyed when I first saw this. I am so 13.

9. "The Fear" by Lily Allen
I just love it because it's ridiculous. You'll see.

8. "Fly on the Wall" by Miley Cyrus
Feel free to skip this one if you'd like. I'll understand. ;]

7. "Single Ladies" by Beyonce
This video was a gimme. While I think the Sasha Fierce thing is a little cheesy, it's true. Bitch is fierce.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9WgNRaSej8

6. "In This City" by Iglu & Hartly
These guys are so cute. And who doesn't like sweaty, half naked white guys rapping? Errr...okay maybe not. Next video!

5. "Rehab" by Rihanna
I love this song. Love JT. Love the video.

Rihanna - Rehab (Official Music Video) (Feat. Justin Timberlake)

4. "Circus" by Britney Spears
Duh it' s on my list. It's Britney, bitch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpyhr3gEFnI

3. "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga is ridiculous in her own way. Ridiculously fierce as hale. Can I please have a disco ball mask too? Please?

2. "The Promise" by Girls Aloud
Adorable. How can you get so many sexy bitches in one girl band?

The Promise

1. "Reach Out" by Hilary Duff
Hilary Duff is grown up. And sexy as hell I might add. I love sexy things, therefore I love this video. You'll see.

I hope you enjoyed my horrible taste in music and video. :]
Love,
Alexis Scarlett

Obsession of the Day

2009-02-07T21:09:00.001-08:00

[Obsession of the Day]
Stuart Weitzman "Dorothy" Pump

I love this shoe because it achieves both sexiness, girliness and classiness at the same time. "Dorothy" is both dainty with her loosely-tied bow and sleek with her simple architecture and all-black coloring. This shoe embodies just the right combination of femininity and edginess that I love when it comes to fashion. Anyone want to give me $375? Kthx.

Love,
Alexis Scarlett

Things for ladies.

2009-02-06T22:49:00.000-08:00

I wanted to dedicate this post to give props to my fashion designer aunt Tory [Victoria Simons]. She makes the cutest little bags! I look forward to every Christmas because of her little creations. Her web site is www.victoriasimons.com but here are a few of my favorite things/things I have pictures of: [As you can tell, the last two photos are from my shitty camera.]

Colors!

2009-02-06T09:45:00.000-08:00

Here is the site where I found my inspiration photos: http://labs.ideeinc.com/multicolr/

It's called Multicolr Search Lab. You can search for quality photos containing any color of your choice! It's pretty sweet. For example, this is what I got for purple and yellow:

Enjoy!

Scarlett.

2009-02-05T19:50:00.000-08:00

A brief explanation of my blog name: Scarlett, the sequel to Gone With the Wind, is my favorite book of all time and I'm in love with Scarlett O'Hara. I've even decided that Scarlett will be my new middle name. So, in my blog title "Scarlett" means me and "Tara" means home. If you break it down, it means I am home.

I feel very much "at home" at this point of my life. I've found the love of my life--my best friend MJ--and my dog Murphy makes me happy every moment I'm with him [great therapy].

So with that segue, I wanted to share some inspiration photos for my upcoming wedding [yup, I'm engaged!].

Creation.

2009-02-04T22:18:00.000-08:00

I'm supposed to be finishing a paper right now [on the effectiveness of PSAs], but I decided to start a blog instead.

I'm still waiting to see how the blog will take its shape--or if I'll even keep it at all. It really was an impulse decision.

Possible themes/futures: randomness in my life, family updates, photos, pop culture b.s., adventures of being a girl, political economy of the media, relationship theories, candy eaters anonymous, school related blerg, steak fry appreciation, not good grammar appreciation, wedding planning, etc.

But hold that thought. Now I must write for credit.

PS: I like this font, so haters line up on the left. [Serif fonts can be underappreciated sometimes.]