It all comes back

 photos via retro-space, target retrospective, and classic style of fashion

70's inspiration! Nothing ever really goes out of style forever, does it? It's amazing to see what pops back into the fashion world again. Bold prints, maxi skirts, high-waisted shorts, tights, platforms, knits! Love it. I just eat. it. up.

Internet and... Bikram Choudhury?!

Hiya :)

Sorry it's been so long! Today, I am thrilled to announce that my summer home now has internet! I am relieved, especially after occupying the local Starbucks three days in a row and successfully weirding out the same barista who worked all three days! My head has been swimming with ideas in the meantime and I'm excited to start reading more blogs and hunting for inspiration.

The past week has been pretty interesting. I have a story!

I don't know if I mentioned that I was offered a karma cleaning position for Wednesday nights not too long ago at my bikram yoga studio! About a month ago, one of the other cleaners asked if I could cover her midday shift one week, which was the next-day shift after mine. I accepted, not thinking too much about it. Literally, the week before, my cleaning partner and I got an email that BIKRAM CHOUDHURY himself (yeah, the man who trademarked his special practice and created a billion dollar enterprise out of it) was going to stop by the studio that Thursday and that we better make sure the place is immaculate. I was terrified for the whole 24 hour period before his arrival.

I also realized, I can be a bit of a drama queen.

This is Bikram:

 

Nothing says majestic like lotus pose on a tiger pelt.

I think I prefer this one:

Teehee :)

The cleaning wasn't too bad, thankfully there were a lot of helping hands to get the job done. When Bikram finally arrived, the entire lobby was packed full of people. He then gave us a lecture about his life, spirituality, success, and his ability to subsist on very little food and sleep daily. Whether or not the guy actually brought the world together for the ultimate mind, body, and spirit connection with his practice, I'm personally glad for its presence in my life, especially for the health benefits. One lady there mentioned that she lost 90 pounds from going to the yoga! Amazing.

Still waiting for the day I can do this...

One day... one day!

Bye-bye, blackbird

 

Oh, that cursed green bridge! Someone must have spray painted it just days ago because the dye was all over us by the time we finished.

I have had the same group of friends for YEARS (circa elementary school!) It is really striking me lately how beautiful they all are, and not just because I know and adore them on a personal level! This is my second photoshoot with another bridesmaid... I'm thinking I want to do the other two, if they are up for it! It'll be a whole set! Then maybe we can do a final one with all five of us before the wedding :) I'd love that. Hmm...

Blouse and skirt: ? a shop in France, if I remember correctly
Shoes: vintage gift from Christina
Purse: vintage gift from my mother-in-law

Hair dilemma

Hi!!! I am back from Hiatus! Have had internet on and off the past week as I've been driving back and forth from my mom's to Sparks (there's none at my Sparks residence until Saturday).

TODAY is a super special day because it is the birthday of my dearest maid-of-honor, Alysse! Gosh, I even have a style shoot of her that would be a perfect feature for today's post, but, alas! I am separated from Camille (m'lady camera) and, consequently, those pictures. Hopefully I can have them up by tonight or tomorrow, for sure!

I've been thinking a lot about hair. Hair, in general. Hair colors. Hair shapes. My own hair, that I am currently dissatisfied with. To be frank, I'm tired of my thick, curly mop. I'm tired of straightening it every other day. I'm tired of the mess! I know what you're thinking. The grass is always greener on the other side! And you're right. But what if whenever you're on the other side, people ask you what the hell you were ever doing on your own side? Well, not phrased like that exactly. I just mean that in general, when I ask people, they prefer when my hair is straight and sleek. Not that I hate my curly hair, but I agree with them! I feel prettier! I feel more kempt!

I'm looking into chemical straightening/relaxing. From what I understand, it is maintained until your natural hair grows out, so it's not totally permanent, which is nice. I know a couple people who have done it and they seem pretty darn happy with it.

Guh. It all makes me nauseous because I KNOW straight/wavy hair is more socially accepted as attractive than fluffy natural curls (the non-curling iron kind). Do I want to go through with this process, admitting that I am a slave to the views of society? I guess I do. Although, I guess I already made that pretty obvious with this blog, or else I would be wearing a cardboard box with duct tape straps. We all do it though, when it comes down to it.

The question is, to change or not to change? Do what makes me happy?

Now I feel even more confused than before. What are your thoughts?

Sunny days are photoshopped to stay

Featuring the sweetest little wiener dog in the whole world! Schnitzel <3

I would like to take this moment to talk about how cool photoshop is. Well, photo processing in general! I love the freedom that it brings, giving us the ability to transform an image. I know there's a lot of flak against it for its affiliation with dishonesty in the media world. After all, it really does accomplish what it sets out to achieve: an alternate reality of sorts. Maybe it's the intention that matters. I appreciate altered photographs that are intended for artistic purposes, rather than for deception. Like today, gloomiest day in a while. I did this shoot and I thought, well geez, it could use some brightening up!

And, VOILA! Happy sunny happy tricking myself into believing its a lovely day for a style shoot and not really freezing my buns off!

Shirt: gift from Christina
Jeans: ?
Belt, shades, shoes and bag (there they are again!): thrifted

Rings, glorious rings

I completely forgot! Thanks to my amazing mother-in-law, Liz, I now have some new fancypants finger bling! So excited. I just love rings. Except... I already lost one that somehow slipped off my finger and now I'm terrified to wear them again. Oh, the irony.

I personally adore that big turquoise one on my pointer. I've succumbed to a bit of an addiction to turquoise these days!

ALSO: Wow do my eyebrows need a waxing, hahaha.

Ankle socks and blockheads

I need to start writing down my post ideas! Ever feel like you think of the best ones when you're in the most inconvenient of places? The shower, the car, the dentist chair, etc... Maybe some day technology will be so advanced that we could digitally export our thoughts to access later. Yeah? Crazy? I know, hush up woman and get to the clothes. Haha.

Super goof gust o' wind moment.

Dress, belt: vintage thrifted gift from Christina
Shoes: Aerosoles
Socks: maman's!
Bag: thrifted Coach

By the way, it started snowing while I was outside! I don't know why I'm still surprised at this point how moody the weather is here. Ahh well. It'll straighten out eventually!

Ob-la-di, ob-la-da

Happy Saturday! I hope the last few days have been as wonderful for you as they have been for me! Decided to go home for the week and got to spend some time with Christina as well as some old friends. It's just... been good.

I chose a really awful time to do today's style shoot and the sun kept giving me Hitler/Chaplin undernose mustache shadows. So, here's the only one we got.

It's a bit hard to tell, but check out my feet. FINALLY GOT ME SOME WEDGES! Woooohooo celebration! You'll probably be seeing these fun little two-inchers (I know, not very high, I'm a wiener) in quite a few posts from now on. AND! Christina gave me her signature haircut (can't really tell in the picture), which I would also consider to be the bee's knees. She's been gifting me with a lot these days as she's kind of liquidating her thrifted stock, a big cleansing of sorts. There really aren't words to describe her generosity! I am grateful. I hope I offer her much in return, too!

Top, belt, clutch, hat: thrifted vintage gifts from Christina
Skirt: thrifted vintage
Shoes: Aerosoles

Cindarellee, Cindarellee

^ Who I feel like today! All this moving, packing, and cleaning. Oh, the Great College Purge. It's a lot of work to do alone, but I really don't mind it so much! Repetitive labor makes for a nice little break from all the thinking I've had to do this past week. I feel like if my brain had legs it would have been jogging nonstop on a mini treadmill in my head. And now it can rest. Dear summer, you've come not a day too soon.

But anyway, I'm taking a break RIGHT NOW to post my photoshoot with the beautiful ILSE! I'm going to miss her so much when she goes home to Vegas.

Couldn't help but go back to the sweet train tracks again. And get a load of those dresses. Seriously. The red poofy one is from the 50s and the floral sequined one is from the 60s. I think I choked a little when I first saw them, in a good way! This girl can work vintage, just look at her! Wow oh wow wow. I am really looking forward to doing more shoots with her in the future <3

Love grown tall

So, I thought my mixing a maroon skirt with a pale pink top in my last post was color blocking, until I looked up color blocking and realized I was still a n00b. Cheers to learning, right? I hear it's going to be a darn spicy trend this season, and I'm really excited to try it! Must find me some colorful basics. American Apparel is about to make a killing these next few months. Not from me though, I still need to feed myself this summer.

Wahoooo, damn. Taste that rainbow.

In other news, I had the BEST afternoon with my darling love and bridesmaid, Ilse. She had recently purchased some incredible dresses circa 50s and 60s from the antique store downtown and we finally took the opportunity to take them out for a photo romp (I plan on dedicating my whole next post to that). She also helped me with today's style shoot--turns out that lying dormant within her among a multitude of other talents is the ability to direct and take wonderful photos. I really think she ought to pick up the hobby. Yes, Ilse, I know you're reading this, DO IT!

Top: gift from my mother-in-law
Shades: Laura Biagiotta gift from my mother-in-law <3
Pants: vintage thrifted
Clutch: vintage thrifted
Watch: vintage thrifted
Shoes: thrifted
Scarf: thrifted