Winterize Your Nails

I own a lot of nail polish. Like more than I actually need. So recently I decided that I was going to start paying attention to them and keep them looking nice. I'm a grownup damnit, so I'm not about to have my nails looking like an angsty 14-year-old. 

Adventures In Your Own Backyard

And outfit post? What? WHAT IS HAPPENING?!

I know, I know. I haven't done one of these in months. Months I tell you! But I have returned. My friend Laurel and I went for a walk earlier and took some photos for this here blog, and a little video for my YouTube channel.

DREAM Gift Wish List

I've put together an unrealistic Christmas list for you today, because I felt like online window shopping, and a girl can dream right?

I literally found the most extravagant items to put on this list, in case you needed some ideas for your sister, daughter, mother (those Frye boots are classic for any age), girlfriend, "girl" friend, and I wanted to include a wide variety. That way, you've got fashion, beauty, and techie ideas.*

1. Frye Riding Boots - These things look damn indestructible, and for the price they better be. I love me some ankle boots, but my knee high boots I found at the Goodwill three years ago for $11 have finally run their course.  Pair these with jeans or a dress and they make the outfit. 

2. Topshop Velvet Kimono - Why I'm suddenly obsessed with velvet, I don't even know. Maybe it's my inner 90s kid coming out, but I saw this shawl kimono thing at Nordstrom the other day and it spoke to me. A white lace top and leather shorts with tights - hello sexy New Years outfit!

3. Oversized Suede Clutch - I like the purses that I have, but they're purses that I carry around every day, not as interesting pieces I include in my wardrobe. I have a couple of bags I "accessorize" with, but this one is just too fabulous to pass up. The juxtaposition of the bright teal with the soft suede is so modern and pretty that it would spice up any LBD (or that sexy NYE outfit I just made up).

4. Sikkim Girls Perfume - This scent is so exotic and classic and haunting that it's perfect for any classy lady. Think of Shanghai Express in black and white, and you've got Sikkim Girls. Lush also has this scent in a lotion for their holiday collection, so you can snatch up both.

5. Beats Solo by Dr. Dre - I use up headphones like other people use up bobby pins. I sleep with earphones in every night, and I can't tell you how many times my dog has decided to chew up my buds or my cord. I've been wanting a nice pair of headphones for years, and these might just be the ones. They're small enough to carry about in a bag, but big enough to still look damn cool. I'm a bit of an audiophile, and sometimes ear buds just don't do it for me.

6. Stag Pendant - Another piece from Moorea Seal (as well as the clutch), this necklace is super simple but super cool. I like necklaces, but not a lot of loud flashy ones. This stag pendant is understated, but still has interest. Plus, it's only $24. Not bad for a boutique price.

7. Fig + Yarrow Bath and Body Oil - I've heard wonderful things about Fig + Yarrow in the past from Estee, and I've been wanting to try out bath oils for awhile now. I love me some bath bombs, but sometimes I just want the oil benefits without the fizz (and sometimes I don't want to have a $6 bath). I've seen a couple other bath and body oils from other brands like L'Occitane and Aesop, but Fig + Yarrow is handmade, and I'm all about supporting "small businesses."

What's on your Christmas list? Did this give you any ideas? Let me know in the comments!

*Honorable mention goes to a record player because I'm collecting records now.

Meet Virginia

 

Today's post title is brought to you by Train. Yes, Train.

Why? Mainly because this hairstyle makes me feel very Virginia Woolf as well as simultaneously very Downton Abbey. Also someone told me recently that I looked like Virginia Woolf. I don't know how much of a compliment that was. And the only book of hers I've read is Mrs. Dalloway, which I absolutely hated. But thankfully, I didn't hate this outfit.

Now that was a segue if I've ever seen one.

Sunset Soon Forgotten

 

This weekend we'll be setting our clocks back as it's the end of Daylight Savings, so needless to say, I'm glad we'll have some more sun later in the day. Nothing messes with my body clock like starting work in the dark at 5 p.m.

But along with this weird lack of daylight, comes some of the lovely weather of the year. September and October in the Pacific Northwest are definitely my favorites.

Another Story

It's taken me way too long to write this post, but this week has been hectic, to say the least. Today was the first day I haven't had to work in a week, so it was a lazy one. I literally fell asleep on the couch last night at 11 in my jeans and woke up this morning at 10 and didn't change my clothes until like 2 in the afternoon. I haven't slept much this week and I needed some r&r.

Frankenstein Shoes

When I first bought these shoes on Black Friday, I'd been wanting a pair of stand out shoes for awhile, and like I said in my last post - I can't really do the whole Lita thing, because I would even more giant than I already am. But after a friend of mine from YouTube bought her Creepers, I fell in love with them. They reminded me of like 80s punk rock and sca bands. I don't know why. And now that I look at them in photos, they don't look as "mondo" as the title suggests. 

When I first put them on, my mom said they looked like "Frankenstein shoes." I can't say I disagree, but a really fashion forward Frankenstein.

 

It was raining that day when Sarah and I were shooting, so we were in and out of her little dollhouse, but thankfully I was wearing a damn rain coat anyway.

 

The coat is John Rocha from Debenhams, but funnily enough I found it at the Goodwill in Bellingham. Someone had put a seam through the sleeves to make the wrist opening smaller, but I took a seam ripper to them to loosen them up.

The vest is Cabela's, but I can assure you that it hasn't seen any elk or pheasant deaths. At least I don't think so. I "borrowed" it from my sister's closet, but we do that a lot.

January Birchbox goodies

I got my second Birchbox in the mail yesterday, and I thought I would show you here what I got.

First I'll explain. If you don't know what Birchbox is, it's a monthly subscription system where it's $10 for a box full of either full-size products or sample sizes, 4-5 products per month. My boyfriend Andy is incredibly adorable and bought me a yearly subscription for Christmas. I <3 him. Last month's box wasn't all that exciting, but this one made me happy.

I'll start with the least exciting - woohoo a Larabar. We can get those at Target. I feel like this - and the energy drink mix that came in last month's box - are kind of a cop out, seeing that they are pretty readily available in grocery stores. Whatever, I'll eat it.

This next one is a revitalizing night cream from Befine with cocoa and other wonderful ingredients in it. I'll probably give it a shot tomorrow night.

This nail polish is GORGEOUS. It is Zoya Megan, which is a lavender gray color, even though in this picture it isn't showing true to color. I'll paint my nails with this next, and to a NOTD, because it's SO PRETTY. I don't own any other Zoya nail polishes, so this is exciting. I probably would own Zoya nail polishes if you could buy them from more places. I've only ever seen them at Ulta, 45 minutes away. :(

This next one is a hypoallergenic brightening eye serum, which I'm excited to try, but will probably end up giving to my mom because it has anti-aging effects and we all have bags under our eyes. The packaging is pretty swanky, in a brown glass bottle and everything!

The last thing is another great fragrance sample. I love fragrance samples, because I only own two fragrances that I purchased. I like changing it up a bit, and usually the ones I get are fantastic. And heck, once I run out of my other fragrances and I like one of my samples a lot, I can just go get a full size!

They also included this sweet little card with explanations of the theme of the month, which was "clarity." On another sheet they included a list of "soul detoxes" having to do with sleep and the like, a good way to start out 2012. It's cute. I'll have to fill out the feedback on the website to cater my selections more to my needs, since I'm spending less this year as a whole!

Cheers!
A