One Year Blogiversary

I hope you got me something sparkly because today we are celebrating our one year blogiversary. It's been quite a ride, full of inspiration, learning curves and self reflection.

To anyone that's ever stopped by this blog, thank you for your support, kind words, and just, you know, being here...

I happen to think it's very special to be able to share not only pretty and inspiring things, but also thoughts and musings on the important stuff (and obviously the not-so-important).

Like a good friendship this blog and I have done some questionable things together: OD'ed on caffeine and seriously contemplated the fright of Santa Claus; shared exciting news; questioned the complexity of the female mind; gossiped about what happened to us over the weekend; shared our mutual obsessions.

This past year I've felt more inspired, sartorially excited (fashion boner?) and artistically interested than ever before. So thank you for inspiring me and being a part of that journey.

If, just for kicks, you are like me and like to abuse your emotions with strong doses of nostalgia almost daily, here's where we started a year ago today.

As I said that day, I'll say again on our one year blogiversary: and so, here it goes. Please enjoy.

xx,

J

Daily Quote Dose: Let Us

 

"Let us dance in the sun, wearing wild flowers in our hair.” -Susan Polis Shutz

Birthday Reflections

  

Today is my birthday.  I am turning 23.

I usually make a big song and dance out of this day (aside from Christmas, uh, what day could be more important?) but something in me feels unfamiliarly gloomy about the whole deal this year.

You might say, you’re 23, shut up and get drunk (which I probably will do anyways, thank you), but I can’t help feeling like this year has blown past me like the smoke from my birthday cake, opaque memories billowing around my face, there for a moment, but almost immediately dissolved into the stillness of the present where I stand here, once again the birthday girl, with a whole new year that needs tending to.

I supposed it’s natural to feel reflective on your birthday, and a lot of things have happened in the last three hundred and sixty five days: I’ve flown the nest (as they say), learned how to clean a toilet bowl (never again), watched some of my best friends scatter around the world, come to terms with the word “utilities,” gotten my first “big girl” job doing something I love and spent a lot of time hanging out here, on this blog, with you.

I’ve revived my love of platform shoes (an affair that began in second grade with my trendsetting Sketchers, platform sneakers); exercised patience; started taking vitamins (old age will do that to you); grown to understand my parents more; appreciated my Grandparents more; felt more grateful for the depth and authenticity of my friendships; become a connoisseur of cheap pinot noir.

And I’ve, for the first time, felt myself change. Not from what I was, to something new, but from myself to a further version of myself. I’ve seen interests that always existed blossom into full-blown hobbies, and jobs.

And it’s not that these things never happened in the past, it’s not that I’ve never evolved before… it’s that I’d never noticed it in myself.

Someone told me in college that you will change more from twenty to thirty than you previously had in your whole life. I was highly skeptical when I heard this (as I am whenever I hear a quote that begins with, “trust me”) but I’m beginning to accept this statement.

There’s a cold, overwhelming, invigorating feeling that comes with complete independence; separation from what everyone else in your sorority is doing; removal of the constant opinion of your family; an end to the comfortable and familiar cycle of measuring the years by your school calendar.

All the barometers of success, acceptance, expectation, and even fun are immediately unhinged and centered on you, as an individual. Of course important relationships will always influence your decisions and remain a thread in the sweater of your life, but the freedom to pursue your oddest passions, to wear whatever the hell you please, to eat as much of one food (macaroni and cheese…) as you damn well want… it’s all suddenly there.

A lot of heavy, gloomy things come with aging: deaths, mortgages, broken relationships, heartbreak.

But aging also brings about a unique sense of freedom. Freedom to develop and be your true self, confidence to be your true self, and the power to take on all of the heavy things with the grounding of experience and (sometimes) a little wisdom.

I don’t happen to think I’m particularly wise at 23, or that I’m so mature that I’ll start using cocktail napkins at the bar, but I do feel a changed sense of self and awareness this year.

So (aside from what I’m wearing tonight...obviously) there’s what I’m thinking about today on my birthday.

xoxo,

Daily Quote Dose: Be Something

"I’m gonna be something one of these days.” -Patsy Cline

I Can't Stop...

... pattern mixing.

These sort of inspirations are feeding the need.

Matching be damned. 

xx,

The reformed daughter of a mother who always told her to buy both pieces of the matching sweater set.



Images sources: 1, 2, 4

Daily Quote Dose: Bridget Jones

"Resolution number one : Obviously will lose twenty pounds. Number two: Always put last night’s panties in the laundry basket.” -Bridget Jones’ Diary

Do You Need Intellectual Validation?

Well, you're in luck my little cupcake. I get such a kick out of the comments that are left for my enjoyment here on this 'ol blog that I figured I'd go ahead and showcase my favorite every week.

That's right: leave your words of wisdom and your comment could win "Comment of the Week." Not enticing enough? I'll throw in a pretty picture and something about how sassy you look in those new jeans...

Now dazzle me with your wit and enlightening commentary (as you already do!).

xo

Daily Quote Dose: Live Well, Dress Well

"You have to get dressed every day so you might as well get dressed well; it’s like eating.” -Tziporah Salamon

image source

A Colorful Life

Not to get too fluffy on you, but I fall into the category of people that thinks inspiration is everywhere.

The homeless man's poncho? Why not. The old lady's prescription sunnies? Don't mind if I do. The bathroom's tile mosaic? Yes, thank you very much.

Lately, my creative juices have been all sorts of inspired by Mothaaa Nature herself. Yes she's a bit moody sometimes (June gloom for my birthday party) but all in all I happen to love all the color's she's rocking.

This is what I mean:

Which do you fancy baby cakes?


Image sources: 1, 2, 4

Daily Quote Dose: Abe Lincoln

"Whatever you are, be a good one." -Abraham Lincoln

Daily Quote Dose: Bookworm

"My life is a reading list."- John Irving 

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Summer Mood Board

What's a (blogging) girl to do when she's too tired for elegant musings and too spent to remember her middle name?

Make a mood board, of course.

Lately I'm consumed by an obsession with all shades of orange and pink (especially when paired together). 

I tried to implement the color scheme into my upcoming birthday party decorations but unfortunately instead of pink and orange I left the store with a brand new bestie from the balloon department and turquoise everything... your guess is as good as mine. 

Sigh. 

Happy hump day. 

Daily Quote Dose: Dr. Seuss

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple." -Dr. Seuss

photo source

Friday's Favorite Things

 1. Favorite Setting:

2. Favorite Piece of Art:

 3. Favorite Shoes:

4. Favorite office:

5. Favorite Accessories:

And, my little buttercup, here's what you'll find me doing this weekend. 

A little bit of this: 

And a little bit of that:

Happy weekend to you. I wish you two days of fireworks and sparkles. 

xx

image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Psychedelic Night Out

Oh, hey there.

I'm currently exercising the strength of Poseidon to keep myself from opening a glistening, beckoning, seductive, bottle of wine.

At first I thought, "It's Wednesday. I'm young. I chatted politely with a crackhead on Lankershim blvd like a true lady. I. deserve. that. glass. of. wine."

But, then, with the steely determination that only comes from the looming disaster of bikini season, I thought, "Crack open a bottle of water and call it a party sugar buns."

So, here I am... doing that.

It's wild... and also completely irrelevant to this post... but hey- remember this bad boy?

Well, psychedelic flower dress had quite the night on the town.

Together we went to my friends' birthday party at Casa Escobar. If you haven't been there I would like to tell you that it occasionally smells like a sewer and there are sticky booths and Mexican blankets hanging on the walls.... and I love it.

I love it so much (especially after a couple patron + pineapples) that I decided to take you on a tour of Casa Escobar's highlights.

First, I modeled the lovely vinyl booths. These puppies stick to your thighs faster than carbohydrates:

Next I wanted to share the beauty of the plastic flowers:

Last up, the Taco Bell bell:

I have to tell you, this dress was just a happy dress and it had some standout qualities, the most important being the crotch accenting flower. 

You don't believe me? 

Who wouldn't want a flower accenting their lady bits? It's a real man-getter. 

Evidence of man-getting:

Okay I paid him. But you know... in theory. 

xo

dress- vintage (from Cuffs); purse-vintage Chanel

Daily Quote Dose: The Woman Who Walks Alone

 "The woman who follows the crowd usually goes no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before." -Albert Einstein

NavaHO

I am such a ho for anything Navajo print or Native American inspired.

Judging? You're probably kind of boring... and pilgrim-ish.

 

Thinking the above headdress is the perfect thing for me to wear on my birthday. Are you majorly opposed? No? Oh fabulous! 

Mara Hoffman. Buy it here

OR buy the knock off here 

Image sources: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7,  

Daily Quote Dose: I'm An Idealist

"I'm an idealist. I don't know where I'm going but I'm on my way." - Carl Sandburg 

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Daily Quote Dose: Be Who You Are

"Be who you are; otherwise you will miss your life." -Buddha

Friday's Favorite Things

1. Art I Want:

(available here on Etsy) 

2. Couple I Like:

3. Current (all consuming obsession): vintage wallpaper

4. Thing I'd Like to Wear: 

(buy it here) 

5. Thing I'd Like to Eat:

And, five things I'm doing this weekend:

1. Concocting a theme for my 23rd (and obviously all important) birthday party
2. Building a wardrobe that matches the mid century fun and frivolity of the Parker Palm Springs (in anticipation of an upcoming trip)
3. Trying to be this glamorous when I grow up:

4. Working on my fake British accent
5. Hunting for vintage wallpaper to line my bookshelf (see obsession above)

Toodles.

Good luck out there this weekend. I hope you do one little, insignificant but magical thing. Or get good and saucy. Either way.

xo


photos: 3, 6