photo via

This image is speaking to my ever-increasing steps toward asceticism (and want for fewer felines).   It’s also making me want to spruce up the places where I spend most of my time – this blog included.

Is there someone who knows CSS in the house?  I have ideas, maaaaaaaaaaan…

Obesity + Speed beanie, Instant Vintage necklace, DKNY sweater, vintage shirt (similar one here), Rachel Comey boots

It’s been raining.   Time to break out the layers, beanies and well-worn boots…

…at least until two days from now when I’ll probably need shorts. Gotta love SoCal weather.

Oh, and  I restocked the etsy store.  HOO-RAAAAY.

I shouldn’t have left you… without a [blog post to read in the meantime].

Go ahead and pretend that rhymed for me.

I know I don’t post much about the kid on this blog (that’s what tumblr is for), but if you’d like to read on how I deal with people asking me THE QUESTION, head on over to the Ms. Mary Mack blog.

After a closet clean out and a yard sale (or two), I can’t help but get back on the prowl for new shoes.  These three pairs had me all verklempt this week:

KORS by Michael Kors pump
Sam Edelman wedge
Rag & Bone boot

These electric blue calf hair beauties remind me of something Wonder Woman would wear.  That color is just…just gorgeous.

I’ve been looking for a sleek, comfortable black shoe…I think this might be it.

I think it’s been well established that Rag & bone can do no wrong in my eyes when it comes to boots.

*SWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON*

My birthday is in a week.  If I had my way, Sallie Mae off my back, and the mysterious thing they call “disposable income,”  I’d get two of each of the following:

Clockwise from left:  the perfect diaper bag that isn’t really a diaper bag | the quintessential Breton striped shirt | a necklace the kid can’t break | a really nice-looking watch | my favorite shoes in a beautiful shade of blue

Shouts out to Lamb Chop

This is the yard sale that never ends.  It just goes on and on my friends.  Some bloggers started selling stuff and then came down the rain.  So those bloggers set another date to have the sale again.  This is the yard sale that never ends.  It just goes on and on my friends.  Some bloggers started selling stuff and then came down the rain.  So those bloggers set another date to havethe sale again.  This is the yard sale that never ends…

H&M leather shirt (wishing I had this one instead), ASOS pants (similar ones on sale here and here), Prada sandals

Some things just never leave you.

I posted about this color combo a while back and am only now trying it out for myself.  Dudeguy wasn’t digging it, but he doesn’t dig a lot of things I do – like making the boy dance to Big Sean.  Whatevs.  I maintain that if you’re “hip” enough to appreciate the “Dance” song in all of its ingenious ign’ance, you can appreciate the coral and camel color combination.  There.  I said it.

Besides, it was high time I integrate something obnoxiously bright and far to the left of my usual black and blue denim.  Mission accomplished.

——–

In other news, my mom thought my hair was a weave.  I’ve never been more motivated to keep from cutting it.  Holler at your twist-out.

I’m not one for resolutions (who is these days?), but I like to issue myself little challenges throughout the new year.  I figure I’d share them with the group every so often in the classic Diana Vreeland style.  Think of it as a “note-to-self”…or something like that…

It’s been a long time since I’ve connected with a lot of people in my life.  I’m not much on the phone, and I rarely get past 10 miles from my house for non-work purposes.  This is nothing new.  My homebody-ness has only increased in the past few years (this is the part where I blame 93% of this on the kid and the other 7% on getting settled in my…increasing… age).

In an effort to change this, I issued myself a challenge – not only just to make an effort to reach out to someone through a means not completely electronic, but to go further and do something slightly uncomfortable.

“Why don’t you let someone know how you really feel about them?”

vintage rotary phone from the Melrose Trading Post.  You can get similar ones here or on ebay!

It seems as if we are so disconnected from our emotions and each other these days.  And why not?  Most of us are completely sucked in by a screen of some sort for hours upon hours each day.  Wake up, work, check email/twitter/blog reader, go home, check email/twitter/blog reader, sleep, rinse, repeat.  It’s easy to forget real life when you live most of it online – and I’m very aware of the irony of this coming from a blogger.

I am a part of the problem.  I know…I know…

In the wake of the deaths of loved ones, those of friends, celebrations for the promise of new life, of new life itself (did you hear Jay-Z’s song for his daughter?  I MEAN!!), and just plain ol’ appreciation for people, I’m going to get on the phone, go on a play-date, or make some time to let folks know what they mean to me…because it’s nice to hear.

How about you?  Anyone you need to reach out to?  Tell me.  Let’s live in our feelings for a moment.

Similar ring found here

I recall reading that one of the Olsen twins had a ring from years and years ago that no longer fit properly.  Instead of throwing it out, she wore it above her knuckle.

I can dig it. Except for the not throwing it out part…iPurge…regularly.

I picked this up at the Portland Saturday Market (which, by the way, is fantastic – word to the Polish lady and her cart of hot sausages, pierogi and borscht).  Love. There’s something to be said for a perfectly understated piece of jewelry; I’m not sure what that something is, but there is definitely something.

I had a baby:

I really can’t remember anything else.  Funny how that happens.

Here’s to a prosperous and eventful 2012…and to hopes that the world doesn’t end…amiright?!