DISARMING DARLING

HAMMER TIME

2012-01-29T18:04:00.000-08:00

*vintage everything except bag from garment district and TUNNEL VISION ankh necklace

madeline was kind enough to snap a few photos before we spent the day at the melrose flea market. highlight of the day definitely involved two weird poodle/tina turner hybrid dogs with fluffy afros bigger than their bodies... i still don't think my stomach muscles have recovered from laughing so hard.

also picked up a fringed Peruvian bag with a llama on the front of it (yes, i now own two Peruvian llama bags, i guess it can be labeled an obsession at this point) and this AMAZING seashell bowl, which madeline convinced me to wear as a hat:

we also picked up some ridiculously cool stuff for TUNNEL VISION, which we've been updating all this week with new stock. i'll be doing another update starting right after this blog post, so be sure to check it out! here's a peek of new stock, featuring our rad/hilarious/beautiful bff model extraordinaire Taylor:

also, don't forget about the necklace giveaway on our facebook page! only two days left to enter.

shop tunnel vision

BAJA COVE

2012-01-24T19:32:00.000-08:00

*vintage coat, american apparel bikini, TUNNEL VISION necklaces, vintage t-shirt, TUNNEL VISION shorts, jeffrey campbell brit boots, vintage shell bracelet, vintage sunglasses

today was one of those days where i woke up and immediately knew i needed to drive to the beach, to get away for just a few hours. i've been doing pretty well with sticking to my new years resolution of making it to the beach at least once a week, and i'm kind of kicking ass at being vegan (i DO slip up here and there, but for the most part, i'm impressing myself with my self-control). halfway to Malibu, i decided that i wanted to keep driving to Ventura. i had my windows down, music all the way up, hair whipping around my face, staring at the crashing waves off of the PCH... and it was just too peaceful to stop. just past malibu, i spotted this insanely gorgeous beach called Syracuse Cove... i can't even believe it's real. it looked exactly like Maui, and there was literally NO ONE there. i had the entire beach to myself. there are no words to describe how perfect it was. some people go to church, i go to the beach.

a few songs from my playlist today while driving:

LOOP

OASIS

MANITOBA

TUNNEL VISION GIVEAWAY

2012-01-22T16:00:00.000-08:00

We decided to do a really rad giveaway to thank everyone for the seriously incredible support, kind words, and encouragement that we've been receiving on Facebook, our blogs, and via email. It means so much to us, you have no idea!

To enter, head on over to the TUNNEL VISION facebook page!

*PLEASE LEAVE YOUR ENTRIES ON THE TUNNEL VISION FACEBOOK PAGE!

thanks!

www.shoptunnelvision.com

DEAD MEADOW

2012-01-19T17:49:00.000-08:00

*anthropologie t-shirt, UO pleather pants, vintage boots, vintage necklaces, unearthen prism ring and vial necklace, vintage sunglasses, vintage bag, gifted konstantino bracelet

wore this to the desert this weekend to attend a Moon Block Party with a shit ton of hippies and a Dead Meadow performance. i won't go into detail (because it wouldn't make sense to anyone not on psychedelic drugs), but it was hands down one of the best weekends of my life. my fondest memory was leaning on adam's shoulder as Dead Meadow was about to go on, and very sincerely asking, "why are we not all frogs?" and "why are we all wearing clothes?"

if you've never listened to Dead Meadow, you are in for a serious treat. check out this video recorded 12 years ago, and then a more recent one below that. they have been one of my favorite bands for as long as i can remember... i'm actually seeing them again tonight, which is why i'm outta here.

TUNNEL VISION 50% OFF PRE-LAUNCH

2012-01-13T19:30:00.000-08:00

TUNNEL VISION launched for our facebook and twitter followers today, with a 50% discount code. the response has completely blown my expectations out of the water- we sold 80+ items in about 7 hours. there is still a TON of amazing stuff (especially jewelry) available, and the sale is still going on... so don't miss out!

above are some of my favorite images from our lookbook, KILL SURF CITY, which was inspired by this Jesus and Mary Chain video.

i'm actually a little bit in shock right now, so i don't think i can properly formulate a "thank you" big enough to elaborate exactly how thankful i actually am. having so much support in what i love to do is a pretty indescribable feeling, and i don't take it for granted for even one second.

THANK YOU.

shop tunnel vision

JEWEL TONES

2012-01-12T16:53:00.000-08:00

*american apparel crop top, jeffrey campbell boots from wasteland, vintage sunglasses, TUNNEL VISION shorts, jewelry, bag, jacket (coming soon)

i love rich jewel tones- my apartment decor looks a lot like this outfit. i thought i'd wear some of my favorite TUNNEL VISION items the day before we launch... i'm so sad to see this stuff go, as they are all things that i would keep and treasure forever. alas, i've become so much less dependent on keeping things ever since i started buying and selling vintage clothes two years ago. it's easy to let something go when you know that you'll be able to find something just as cool, if not cooler, again soon. for me, thrifting is feeding some strange addiction that i have- the thrill of the hunt is how i like to describe it. i get a serious adrenaline rush when i walk into a thrift store... almost like drugs. buying and selling clothes wasn't necessarily my dream job (i've always wanted to work with animals), but i know that i'm good at it, and hell, i enjoy the shit out of it.

i've made it my life goal to travel the world, search high and low for flea markets, hidden treasures, and handmade goods. i want to bring beauty and craftsmanship and one of a kind items to people who appreciate them as much as i do. the way the world is headed makes me more sad that i can express in a blog post- the mass-produced clothes, the atrocious working conditions of people producing said mass-produced clothes, and the depleting resources used to do so, are all huge reasons why i am passionate about this line of work. shopping vintage and second-hand is such an amazing, fun, and creative way to stop greed and consumerism. of course, i'm still selling clothes, which is in itself consumerism, but i feel like i'm doing it in a way that encourages change.

with all of that said, madeline and i are beyond thrilled to open TUNNEL VISION tomorrow. we have poured our hearts and souls into this store. we have so many ideas and projects that we can't wait to start on. the store will be constantly evolving and growing, and we hope that you stick with us through it. we will be introducing our own line of clothing, possibly our own jewelry collection, and much much more. it's our creative outlet and our lives.

we've experienced so much love from the online fashion community that we decided to give everyone who "likes" us on Facebook a chance to pre-shop the store before we go public, with a very significant discount code that we'll be announcing tomorrow.

so, head on over to the TUNNEL VISION Facebook page and keep an eye out for the code tomorrow morning. we can't wait to hear what you think!

MAKEUP

2012-01-11T09:43:00.000-08:00

Laura Mercier illuminating tinted moisturizer- $42, Anastasia Brow Pen- $21, Benetint in Posie- $29, Covergirl Line Exact liquid eyeliner- about $7 at Walgreens

i'm definitely not a makeup pro, but i have been wearing liquid eyeliner basically since i could walk (okay more like since i was 12- same difference). i HATE feeling like i have a ton of makeup on- it drives me absolutely crazy. my skin is super dry and drab, so i recently discovered the absolute perfect tinted moisturized by Laura Mercier. it has illuminating properties which leave my skin glowing without being sparkly or heavy, while evening out any splotchiness in my face.

i was cursed with light eyebrows (anyone who also has light eyebrows knows how horrible it is!) and JUST YESTERDAY finally found the perfect remedy. this brow pen acts as a stain, so it doesn't wear off like a pencil! it really is magic. i'm obsessed.

also picked up some Benetint because, once again, my face is just blah without any makeup on. lipstick always comes off, i hate the texture of lipgloss, so this stuff is heaven-sent. just a little dab on my lips and i'm good for hours.

lastly- my number one makeup item. i go through this stuff like water. i can't apply liquid eyeliner without it having a marker-like tip such as this one. it's so much easier to apply than most other eyeliners that i've tried... plus it's waterproof, which i absolutely need because i have really intense allergies causing my eyes to water way more than any normal person's should.

that's it! everything else i use isn't very interesting, but i recommend trying these things out!

LUNA

2012-01-06T18:02:00.000-08:00

*vintage vest, vintage tank top cut into crop top, vintage pants cut into shorts, vintage belt, vintage bag, unearthen sphere ring, vintage necklaces, annie costello brown triangle bracelet, jeffrey campbell nation ankle boots

this is my new pup, Luna! i never know how long i'll end up having the dogs that i foster, but i think i'll be okay with having her for longer than normal because she is a PERFECT dog. just look at that face!

madeline took these photos this morning when i was dropping off Luna at her house so i could go to work.

i left the two of them alone in my apartment for 20 minutes yesterday, and when i returned, Luna was sitting in madeline's lap with a pile of white fur surrounding them. she was cutting molded dreadlocks out of Luna's fur. madeline is literally an angel... i know this is probably made apparent from her insanely amazing and insightful blog, but i'm telling you- she's the real deal. i'm probably going to go ahead and get her face tattooed on my body. b + m = <3 4eva

can you tell that i got an hour of sleep last night and i'm slightly (really) delusional?

after the last tunnel vision product shoot tonight, i'll be going to see NO AGE! absolutely one of my favorite bands ever. dig it.

SISTER RUBY

2012-01-05T14:24:00.000-08:00

*vintage metallic tapestry pants, vintage platforms, UO velvet bustier (thanks madeline), vintage sunnies, vintage bracelet, necklace c/o telltale hearts

i guess my goal was to make these photos as obnoxious as possible... to match the outfit. there is no simple way to wear these pants, so i just gave in to the whole genie thing and went for it. i got these for 18 DOLLARS in portland. it's stupid. also, i called madeline this morning and asked her to bring me her velvet bustier so i could complete this ridiculous genie vision i had in my brain.

it's 90 degrees in LA right now. it's taking everything in me not to hack off these pants into shorts and go frolic around in the sunshine.

in 30 minutes, i'm going to go pick up the third dog that i'll be fostering in the past 2 months. if you follow me on twitter, i'm sure you get sick of all the animal photos i post. or if you're a psycho animal lover like me, you don't. i've recently become somewhat of a professional dog fosterer... it's extremely rewarding without the full commitment of adopting a dog, and it's really incredible when you find them the perfect home. there are so so so many animals left behind and unloved... so if you're capable, i highly recommend fostering. also, dog parks are SUPER fun.

lastly, TUNNEL VISION is almost up! our goal is to have it up by THIS WEEKEND! AHHHHH! it will absolutely for sure 100% be up by next week at the latest. i swear. i promise. i'll leave you with my favorite film shot i took at our lookbook shoot in Malibu.

DISPOSABLE

2012-01-04T12:08:00.001-08:00

pictured: me, madeline, christine, lamson

some super shitty photos of portland/LA from a disposable camera.

2012 BEGINS AT THE BEACH

2012-01-02T18:26:00.000-08:00

*vintage diy shorts, thrifted vintage boots, thrifted net top, thrifted vintage necklace, pendleton bag, vintage deadstock sunnies, american apparel bikini

happy new year!

my 2012 resolution is to stay true to myself as much as possible, which translates to me spending MUCH more time at the beach. i had a huge revelation a couple of weeks ago at 7am while watching djin aquarian from Ya Ho Wha 13 speak/lead us in breathing exercises, followed by an hour long projection of the ocean, surfers, and crashing waves. i am so deeply connected with the ocean, for reasons beyond my comprehension. my resolution is to try my hardest to make it to malibu at least once a week and surf at least twice a month, with as much yoga as possible mixed in between... also, i'm trying for the millionth time to go vegan. i've been vegetarian for 8 years, and becoming vegan is very important to me. i will make a very conscious effort to only purchase vintage leathers, and although i know i will slip up a lot, i'm going to try my hardest to stop consuming dairy products.

so, to start off the year right, i went to the beach yesterday and today. after being in rainy portland and dreary fresno for the past two weeks, i couldn't have appreciated this 70 degree LA weather more. i am SO HAPPY to be home.

what are you resolutions?

bloglovin' / twitter

ON THE ROAD

2011-12-29T18:30:00.001-08:00

*urban outfitters jacket, vintage diy shorts, vintage bag, thrifted boots, urban outfitters cropped tank

hello from portland! we snapped these photos in northern california about 8 hours into our drive, with 7 hours left to go. it's cold and rainy and grey here and i'm beyond excited to get back to blue skies and warm weather! however, the cheap food, no sales tax, and endless bar options are pretty sweet.

bloglovin' / twitter

PALM TREE DREAMS

2011-12-23T18:12:00.000-08:00

*versace x h&m pants, tank from wackos, vintage deadstock sunnies, vintage jacket, DIY tie dyed converse, vintage necklace (xmas present from madeline!), unearthen sphere ring, purse c/o STELA 9

all of my favorite things crammed into one post. madeline told me that these versace x h&m PALM TREE PANTS existed, and i immediately went on ebay and purchased them for 30 bones, as they are the most perfect things i've ever seen, ever. it's astonishing how many middle aged men and children tell me that they love these pants, in a non-creepy way... almost like, they want to own the pants for themselves. weird, right?

been wanting to tie dye converse for so long, finally just DID it. need to dye them again but they're pretty sweet thus far.

STELA 9 sent me this insanely gorgeous bag which was hand crafted in guatemala (available for purchase here). the 2012 line is soon to be up on shop bop and nasty gal, and trust me when i say you guys are going to love every single bag in this collection. the look book is so so perfect... it makes me yearn to be traveling in southern mexico or bali (as if i don't dream about this enough already)... sigh. here's my favorite image from the look book... i highly recommend checking out the whole thing here, and keeping an eye out for the line to launch!

bloglovin' / twitter

LAMB & FLAG

2011-12-17T15:34:00.000-08:00

*LAMB & FLAG t-shirt, TUNNEL VISION vintage DIY dip dye pants, TUNNEL VISION vintage pendleton bag, Vagabond boots, vintage coat, vintage jewelry, UNEARTHEN sphere ring

lamb & flag was kind enough to send me a box of goodies a couple weeks back. they have a ton of super affordable basics, including this top. i am obsessed with, but have a severe lack of, slouchy/sheer/oversized/worn-in white t-shirts. this one fits the bill nicely. madeline and i dip dyed these vintage jeans for the shop- what do you guys think? they aren't perfect as they were our first attempt, but i REALLY dig them. madeline gave me a shit ton of bindis, so that's what's on my forehead if you were trying to decide between that or a new mole.

as far as tunnel vision goes:

i'm SO sorry for the lack of updates! madeline has been keeping up with questions much better than i have. basically, we were rushing and pushing ourselves past our limits, therefore losing our excitement, creativity, and motivation. we've slowed down the pace to ensure that we don't launch it just to launch something... i'd rather take a little bit longer and do it right- not give you guys something half-assed. we can't thank you enough for all of the ongoing support, excitement, and questions... we are still extremely excited and are working constantly to get it going! at the absolute latest, we'll be up and running by the first week of January.

PALLADIUM

2011-12-09T12:43:00.000-08:00

*boots c/o palladium, vintage suede pants hemmed into shorts, vintage harley davidson tshirt w/ cut off sleeves from wasteland, vintage tie dye cardigan, beanie from jetrag, unearthen pendulum ring, abalone shell ring from mexico, vintage belt from seattle, vintage army bag

it's december 9th and i'm pretty sure it's 75 degrees outside. it's warm enough that i literally threw off this beanie and cardigan when i walked inside and violently unplugged my heater. i don't understand how people live in *actual* winter weather. i'd be curled up in front of a heater crying all day.

upon browsing the palladium site, i came across these radical things:

i think i need them. i've been in a very sneaker kind of mood the past few weeks... and i don't own a single pair. this needs to change.

speaking of radical things, please allow me to introduce you to MY DREAM PANTS.

jeremy scott pill leggings. trust me when i say that i would wear these every single day of my life. if only i had the funds to invest $350 in drug pants. first world problems.

THURSDAY

2011-12-08T18:01:00.000-08:00

*thrifted pants, OBEY tank, thrifted DKNY boots, vintage bag, vintage jewelry, unearthen opal sphere ring, vintage necklace, TUNNEL VISION triangle ring, vintage deadstock sunnies

wore this to lunch with madeline and taylor and flashed ample amounts of side boob (and maybe whole boob) throughout the day. had taylor tie up the back of my shirt so i could eat food without exposing myself in public. awkward fitting flared paisley pants are my new favorite thing. i actually wanted to design 3/4 length flared pants six months ago, so this temporarily fills that void. speaking of design, we had an amazing BAD VIBES fitting today... we're so close to finally having our own line!!!!!! fucking exciting. hope you guys like couch fabric and faux leather as much as we do.

gotta get back to uploading TUNNEL VISION product and blasting oasis while madeline gets cuddle-attacked by three dogs on my couch.

BELKA STRELKA

2011-11-29T15:30:00.000-08:00

*vintage leggings from wasteland, vintage tshirt from wasteland, vintage bag, jeffrey campbell boots from wasteland, army sweater, vintage sunglasses, unearthen pendulum ring

COULD LIFE BE ANY CRAZIER??? i feel like i've aged 10 years in the past 2 months. every time i look in the mirror i see a new wrinkle. it's scary and i hate it and i just want to be a stupid teenager again.

besides my quarter life crisis, i'm also working night and day with madeline to get TUNNEL VISION up and running. we've had to delay our launch from december 1st to december 9th because, as she recently wrote on her blog, we have both had a ton of mental collapses and we're just basically burnt out. to make up for launching late, we joined up with Chictopia to be part of their '12 days of chic' shopping experience. all prices have been discounted just for this program, so check it out here!

the thanksgiving break did help my mental state, although it wasn't necessarily relaxing... i picked up a dog on the side of the 5 freeway while on my way to my parent's house... thankfully found said dog a home, THEN while in my hometown, got a picture text from a friend of a dog who was in the shelter and was going to be put down 3 days later if someone didn't adopt it.... so i did.

meet my new child, Belka. she's named after the soviet space dogs. if you're an animal fanatic like i am, you will love this youtube video. dogs in spacesuits. it can't get more perfect.

she has a crooked ass smile, a snaggle tooth, and looks like a hybrid of a dingo/deer/coyote. she's awesome.

TUNNEL VISION PREVIEW

2011-11-17T21:20:00.001-08:00

Sneak peak of the Fall 2011/2012 TUNNEL VISION look book, "KILL SURF CITY"!

13 more days...

tunnel vision facebook

tunnel vision twitter

YOU TRIP ME UP

2011-11-15T19:58:00.000-08:00

*yaya nom de plume dress, TUNNEL VISION vintage harley davidson boots, TUNNEL VISION necklace, TUNNEL VISION vintage rings

the ONLY things i've been doing lately are:

1. working on TUNNEL VISION with madeline, which is launching in exactly 15 days!! (holy shit!) we just finished our look book shoot and i'm completely obsessed with it. so much to do... we're basically zombies.

"like" tunnel vision on facebook and follow us on twitter!! discount codes await you.

2. listening to the jesus and mary chain. seriously. those two things. that's it. oh, and sometimes watching breaking bad. gotta get my meth stories in there somewhere.

GLORIFIED PAJAMAS

2011-11-10T20:32:00.000-08:00

*TUNNEL VISION vintage sheer blouse, vintage chartreuse crushed velvet leggings, Dolce Vita gifted boots, vintage jewelry, TUNNEL VISION vintage triangle ring, UNEARTHEN pendulum ring, vial necklace, and pyramid watch, vintage deadstock sunnies.

i basically live in these chartreuse crushed velvet leggings... and yes, i DO wear them as pants and i DON'T care if it offends anyone. as long as leggings don't show every single crease in your body, i think they make perfectly suitable pants. or maybe i'm just in denial. either way, they're pants to me. i had on an equally bright Tunnel Vision tie-dyed thermal, but upon walking outside realized that it was actually weird and warm and muggy, so opted for this flouncy blouse thing instead.

dolce vita was kind enough to send me the pair of boots pictured above... coincidentally, i've been looking for a pair of flat lace up light brown boots... so i'm pretty stoked on these- not to mention they're incredibly comfortable. i'm a huge wuss and refuse to wear anything remotely uncomfortable when i know i have a lot of walking to do. so in conclusion, these are my new walkin' boots.

i think these would be pretty perfect for the job as well...

Dolce Vita Wilix Moto Ankle Boot

***

if you haven't done so already, be sure to follow me and madeline's upcoming store TUNNEL VISION on twitter, and "like" us on facebook. we officially have 20 days left until we launch, and we're equal parts terrified and excited. we have SO MUCH work ahead of us, but it's definitely coming together like we wanted it to...

anyway, twitter followers and facebook friends will receive a crazy discount code before we open... just putting that out there.

UNEARTHEN x OPENING CEREMONY

2011-11-09T17:34:00.000-08:00

as most of you know, my day job is at UNEARTHEN. we share a studio space with LD Tuttle... if you don't know of this shoe line, you absolutely must. anyway, a chick from opening ceremony stopped by to interview my boss gia and snapped some photos of our studio and half of my face above. check out the entire interview on the opening ceremony blog, here.

DEADSTOCK

2011-11-08T20:45:00.000-08:00

*vintage bustier, vintage pants, vintage deadstock sunglasses, TUNNEL VISION african beaded necklace, wasteland boots and glorified blanket jacket, unearthen pendulum ring, bracelets from mexico, trippy magical ring from madeline

i found a joint a minute ago so i'm way too into listening to revolver to write anything in depth about what i'm wearing... i suck at posting regularly... tunnel vision is coming in 3 weeks... i want to live in this leather bustier... it's cold in LA... my cat sleeps in a plastic ikea bag... i read about ayahuasca and floating temples today... vintage deadstock sunglasses rule. fin.

BIRTHDAY BEACH BASH

2011-10-31T17:02:00.000-07:00

yesterday was my 25th birthday party at my favorite (hard to get to) beach in malibu. i've got the most incredible friends in the whole world.

BILLABONG COLLAB

2011-10-24T12:25:00.000-07:00

*billabong obstacle sweater, military moss cardigan, TUNNEL VISION vintage customized shorts, TUNNEL VISION vintage belt, turquoise necklace from mexico, tshirt from buffalo exchange, vagabond boots.

i jumped at the chance to do a collaboration with Billabong... what kind of california girl would i be if i didn't? LOVE the fringe detail on the shoulders... check out the site for more cool threads, namely their collaboration with alexandra cassaniti! i was so stoked to see that- unearthen (jewelry company i work for) used to share a studio space with her last year, so i was always around all of her perfect surf gear, wanting everything in sight. if you've never heard of her, you should totally check her out too.

well, i guess while i'm plugging a bunch of cool things, i'll go ahead and plug my and madeline's shop, TUNNEL VISION! we have a facebook and twitter page now, both of which you should definitely follow because we'll be giving out a crazy discount code before the shop opens... not to mention a seriously insane giveaway from the one and only eric saeter. his jewelry is pure magic. i finally got to see him a few nights ago for the first time in a few years. he dumped out a bag of his rings on the table in front of me, and after suffering a near heart attack from trying to comprehend the beauty in front of me, i composed myself enough to try them all on and keep my drool in my mouth. if you think i'm exaggerating, just go see for yourself.

speaking of giveaways and rad jewelry, DON'T FORGET to enter my giveaway for a $215 unearthen pendulum ring!!!

RADICAL RICK

2011-10-21T20:31:00.000-07:00

*tunnel vision vintage customized t-shirt, DIY vintage hemmed suede shorts, tunnel vision customized vintage denim bleached vest, madeline's beanie, VAGABOND boots, tunnel vision vintage belt and belt buckle, tunnel vision vintage necklace, unearthen pendulum ring

first things first- i have the most incredible best friend/business partner in the entire world. madeline bought me these vagabond boots that i've been drooling over for months for my upcoming birthday! i literally don't ever want to take them off... they're the most comfortable shoes that i've ever worn- they're somehow more comfortable than flats!? she's the best gift-giver ever, totally better than a boyfriend. i love the hoop de doo out of you, madeline!

i'm wearing a shit ton of stuff from our upcoming shop TUNNEL VISION. we've been going non-stop, and it's all turning out a billion times better than expected. we now have our very own pattern maker/tailor, so our own designs will be coming into fruition very soon... it's a dream come true. can not wait to show you guys!!!

also, have you entered to win the unearthen pendulum ring that i'm giving away yet?!

ENTER HERE

***

in other (very important) news...

kerouac died 42 years ago today. he changed my life. i read his books during the most beautiful parts of my life- in airports, hostels, boats, hammocks, beaches, bedrooms, alone in restaurants, airplanes, parks, curbs outside of grocery stores, halfway across the world... jack kerouac lived life exactly how it should be lived.

“Happy. Just in my swim shorts, barefooted, wild-haired, in the red fire dark, singing, swigging wine, spitting, jumping, running -- that's the way to live. All alone and free in the soft sands of the beach....”

SUMMER RECAP

2011-10-18T18:46:00.000-07:00

summer 2011. it's been a good one.

PALLADIUM

2011-10-14T10:39:00.000-07:00

*pampa tactical boots c/o palladium, vintage shorts, vintage belt, vintage bag, american apparel tank, unearthen prism ring, necromance necklace

palladium sent me over this pair of crazy hiking wresting hybrid boots. truth be told, i had a VERY severe obsession with wresting boots from the age of 17 to about 21.

exhibit a:

exhibit b:

guys would question me at bars, wondering why on earth i had on wrestling boots... and it never failed to entertain me. when people don't like what i wear, i get true joy out of it. i think it's great to confuse, bewilder, or make people think, "why the hell would she ever wear that?" i get stuck on my own little self-invented trends... like currently: horrible animal print 90's boots. it's an ongoing phase that i see continuing for a very long time.

anyway, palladium has a shit ton of rad boots that you should check out. i think a girl looks totally sexy in a pair of lace-up beat-up boots.

UNEARTHEN PENDULUM RING GIVEAWAY

2011-10-12T16:54:00.000-07:00

*vintage jacket, vintage diy tied up/cut up shirt, vintage suede orange skirt, nine west boots from wasteland, lucky brand snake bracelet, unearthen vial necklace with holi powder, unearthen pendulum ring

*photos by madeline.

i finally purchased a pendulum ring for myself from work... and one of you can own one as well by entering below!!! you'll get your choice of sterling silver, rose gold, or 14k gold. these unearthen rings start at $215, so now's your chance to get one for FREE!

TO ENTER:

1. "like" unearthen on facebook here

2. follow me on bloglovin' here

3. leave a comment with your name and email address

*for an extra entry, "like" my and madeline's upcoming webstore TUNNEL VISION on facebook and leave a comment with your name and email address.

contest will end on november 1st. good luck!

BEACH DAY

2011-10-10T09:18:00.001-07:00

*SLOW shorts, vintage boots from wasteland, vintage tshirt from wasteland, vintage tunnel vision necklace, drug ring from flea market.

yesterday could not have been more perfect. we totally milked the warm weather by spending the entire day at our favorite place in LA, venice beach. venice feels like home to me- i lived here when i was 18 (or 19? god, i'm getting old) next to a palm reader right in front of the ocean. venice has always been an escape for me- somewhere to completely let go and lose myself and lay in the sand for hours or buy hand-made jewelry or giggle at hilariously dressed dogs. it's a total time-warp, it feels like you've went back to the 60's when everyone is experimenting and free and happy. it's such a magical place. we spent hours walking around, rented bikes and rode to marina del ray and picked out our future beach front homes, then did handstands and yoga in the park while the sun was beginning to set. i couldn't have asked for a better sunday.

MORNING AFTER GIRL

2011-10-09T10:49:00.000-07:00

*DIY cheap monday jeans, thrifted velvet platforms, asos gold shirt with cut off sleeves from wasteland, vintage jewelry, unearthen prism ring, vintage army bag. *outfit photos taken by madeline

i want to customize every article of clothing i have lately. as i was about to walk out of the house yesterday, i haphazardly rubbed hot pink paint all over these pants, which actually turned out really fucking cool. i sewed on the cat patch a few weeks back. i basically want all of my wardrobe to look batshit crazy. these are the knee high velvet platforms i thrifted for 10 bucks... they're pretty perfect.

so, i'm alive as you can see! more so than ever, actually. i've been so busy living that i've completely neglected this blog. madeline and i are trying to encourage each other to post more often, but then we order pizza or start talking about our animals and we lose track of time and before you know it it's midnight. to sum up my life in the past couple of weeks: i went to san francisco for the bluegrass festival last weekend, had a fucking blast, came home, bought and put together furniture/organized/rearranged my living room with madeline to convert it into our office, and dropped acid with adam and saw the morning after girls play two shows that day, which ended up being one of the best days of my life. everything is great and REALLY fun. well, i'm off to the beach now. going to take full advantage of the last days of warm weather! hope you're all doing wonderfully. x

follow me on tumblr!

WONDER VALLEY

2011-09-25T00:17:00.000-07:00

*urban outfitters net top, vintage guess diy cut off shorts, thrifted velvet platforms for $3, vintage jewelry, unearthen crystal quartz pyramid watch, pendleton bag. photos taken by madeline of jean greige

madeline and i are in central california doing some work related things... such as paying a visit to my secret jewelry lady way up in the mountains- hence the scenery. i'm wearing a few pieces of what we found today- the necklace, silver camel bracelet, and gold moonstone (mania mania-esque!) ring on my index finger. those are just a FEW of the incredible things we scored for our shop.... did i mention we have a couple of these pendleton bags as well? i'm pretty sure we're going to go broke from just keeping all of our merchandise and never being able to part with any of it. we're hoping to have our site up and running by december 1st! we are so ridiculously excited.

so how stupid are these shoes? i walked into salvation army today and made a beeline right for them. i can spot leopard print anything from miles away, much like an owl can spot a mouse in a field in the middle of the night. one of my many useless talents.

i'm pooped. time for bed. don't forget to enter my giveaway for a girl on a motorcycle clutch here!!!

some truth:

"He who is humble is confident and wise. He who brags is insecure and lacking." - Lisa Edmondson

tumblr // twitter

GIRL ON A MOTORCYCLE GIVEAWAY

2011-09-22T18:40:00.000-07:00

*zara tshirt from crossroads, american apparel jeans cut into shorts from buffalo exchange, thrifted via spiga cow print ankle boots, necklace from necromance, vintage motorcycle vest, thrifted moroccan belt, girl on a motorcycle clutch.

*photo: me, marie from the maven post, and madeline from jean greige at telltale vintage

thrifted these boots yesterday along with knee high chocolate brown crushed velvet platforms. I KNOW. best finds EVER! these cow print ankle boots are my dream.

i had a crazy busy weekend! it started off with an 8 hour day modeling for the amaaazing girls of telltale vintage (as you can tell, i'm not a fan of showing my face, so the gig did not come natural to me, but it was super fun anyway). followed by a bunch of sewing and tweaking clothes for my and madeline's upcoming online store (and meeting marie from the maven post! she is crazy beautiful in person!), followed by usual work at unearthen, followed by a shitload of yoga... followed by accidentally dosing myself with ecstasy instead of my migraine medication. yep, that happened... and it was HILARIOUS. i was watching eat pray love (stop judging me) and by the end of the movie, i felt really sick... so i took a shower and wondered why on earth if felt so good to wash my hair... about five minutes of laying in the bathtub while playing with my hair and smiling for no reason, i opened my eyes and said out loud, "oh my god i took ecstasy." well, the good news is that it took my migraine away. funniest night of my life, hands down. still wondering why there was half a pill of ecstasy in my wallet. probably from fuck yeah fest a couple weeks ago. anyway, i'm not promoting ecstasy, kiddies. it fries your brain and all of that stuff. stick with mushrooms. au naturel.

on to the good stuff.

melissa and brandy of telltale vintage decided to give ONE OF YOU this incredible girl on a motorcycle leather mini clutch! it's totally rad and i love anything that goes along with a biker aesthetic.

GIVEAWAY!

to enter:

1. like girl on a motorcycle on facebook HERE

2. like telltale vintage on facebook HERE

2. follow me on bloglovin' HERE

3. leave a comment with your name and email address. extra entry if you link me to a picture of you on a motorcycle (photoshopped photos count!). i'm serious.

giveaway ends october 2nd. open to international readers.

alright dudes, i gotta finish packing my bags and hit the road north with madeline. oh, and... you should really check out what she did to her hair... i'm sure she'll be posting photos soon- she's like the best my little pony of all time.

twitter // tumblr

NECROMANCY

2011-09-15T17:22:00.000-07:00

*harley davidson boots, diy cut off vintage shorts, american apparel tshirt, urban outfitters army jacket, vintage leopard bag from australia, vintage coin necklace as bracelet, handmade necklace from necromance, rings from mexico, evil eye bracelet from cauldron kitty in silverlake.

life, man.

that's really all i can say to sum up the last week for me. it's been a doozy. i wanted to spend the day doing something that helped me center myself again, so adam and i started off with a gigantic brunch at Local, followed by hitting all of the best witchcraft/medieval/hippie stores in Silverlake... i came out of our excursion with the most incredible necklace (pictured above- includes coins, shells, teeth, and beads), an evil eye bracelet to protect against negativity, beetle shells (yes real ones... i'm going to use them to make a necklace) bath salt, a candle, a kale/coconut/banana/cinnamon smoothie, and a shit ton of incense. now i'm off to yoga and then coming home to clean the hell out of my apartment and use my new bath salt in a very long bath.

hope you all have an equally relaxing evening.

(side note: can you believe these boots are harley davidson? i totally did the roger-rabbit-eyes-popping-out-when-he-sees-jessica-rabbit thing when i saw them in a little shop while walking down venice beach... it took me all of 30 seconds to try them on and purchase them. there just isn't much that's more perfect than motorcycle platforms.)

i'll leave you with a little mazzy...

tumblr / twitter

edit: if my shorts are so obscenely short that they offend you- then get the hell off of my blog and check out my tumblr! :)

VENUS IN FURS

2011-09-08T16:17:00.000-07:00

tie dye bra from garment district, vintage pants, vintage belt, handmade wooden necklace from mexico, vintage sandals (only pair i own/falling apart/my favorites)

as most of you know, psychedelia is my favorite thing in the entire world. i know that's a broad statement, but it truly reigns supreme in all aspects of my life, from my musical tastes to the way i decorate my apartment, and of course to the fabrics and clothing that i'm most drawn to. these pants are a 70's psychedelic DREAM. they might be the most perfect things i've ever seen, and if you agree, you'll have a chance to purchase them once my and madeline's online store launches in a couple months! our store is going to look like the best acid trip of ALL TIME.

i try to include music in each post, so this time i'll include a video from one of my favorite bands that i'll be seeing this saturday- if you live in the greater los angeles area you MUST go. this line-up is SOOOO RAD and all of my favorite people in los angeles will be there. it's going to be an amazing time.

a couple more quick things!

#1: say hey to my awesome new sponsors telltale hearts vintage! you should most definitely go visit their store if you live in los angeles, it's lovely and the girls are the raddest... but even if you don't, you can shop for beautiful vintage pieces through their online shop! i never ever ever promote things or people that i don't actually dig, so you should support these two women running an amazing business and pick up some sweet stuff in the process.

#2: madeline is nominated for chictopia's influential blogger of the year award... and if she wins, she gets to go to new york! she's the best person on the planet and deserves to win, so vote vote vote!!

#3: i'm still tumbling away... quite addicted, actually. follow me here.

xxxxxx

ALONE IN KYOTO

2011-08-28T19:20:00.000-07:00

*vintage kimono, wasteland tank, DIY vintage shorts, vintage belt, vintage platform sandals, vintage bucket bag, konstantino bracelet

first of all- i finally caved and started using my TUMBLR. follow me! give me some suggestions! i'm so addicted, even though i swore i'd never be.

this weekend was pretty wonderful, despite this gnarly heat wave that has my face melting off 90% of the day. madeline and i spent friday sourcing for our upcoming online store... i had to snag a few of our items to wear while walking around los feliz today... i love it all SO MUCH. the vintage neon orange kimono, breathtaking vintage leather bucket bag, and vintage western belt are a few pieces from our MASSIVE amount of stock. i might put up a fight for this bag... it's insane. i spent part of the drive home hugging it while madeline looked at me like i needed a psychiatric evaluation. picked up these ridiculous platform sandals at a vintage shop today... anything that has a wooden platform heel is just going to be mine, simple as that.

yesterday adam and i suffered through nearly three hours of traffic to get to malibu for some much needed swimming and beach time. i really wish i had photo documentation of us body surfing in the crystal clear water as the sun was setting... it seriously looked and felt like a scene from a movie shot in hawaii. going to the beach never fails to center me and make me feel like myself again. can't wait to get back there as soon as possible.

i've been meaning to post about my recent discovery (thanks, sis!) of a project commissioned by the andy warhol foundation- dean from the rad 90's band LUNA and britta from jem and the holograms are a sickeningly beautiful and talented couple who were asked to score 13 of andy warhol's famous screen tests. the outcome is 13 screen tests set to the most painfully perfect music written specifically for the person in the video by dean and britta. they've been touring this creation for a few years now, and my sister was lucky enough to see it. i've been watching the videos on repeat for over a week now... if you're a velvet underground, andy warhol, or just general music fan... you will love them. they're all on youtube, but here's one of my favorites:

SPACEY

2011-08-17T17:53:00.000-07:00

*vintage tank, bb dakota silky pants cut into shorts, vintage belt, necklace and boots from wasteland, forever 21 cuff, target faux leather jacket

my interpretation of a 90's hooker in outer space... one who also rides a motorcycle?

i HAVE to mention that while i was taking these photos, my neighbors were having the craziest, loudest, screaming-like-they're-dying sex right next to me. it was awkward. i was standing up there by myself cracking up like a 10 year old... but i don't let you see me cracking up in the photos because i'm trying to be mysterious or something, i guess. (by the way, i just realized this jacket is worn in my last three posts. it's a current favorite?)

i want to wear this crazy space necklace with EVERYTHING. it's so cool. have you guys heard that wasteland is opening up an online store? i'm sure i've mentioned it before, but that's where i do at least 50% of my shopping. i don't even want to know what an online store is going to do my already limited self control. i'm scared. very scared.

oh and you know what is SUPER IMPORTANT to mention?

today is MADELINE'S birthday! she has quickly become one of my best friends, she's my business partner, and she's the coolest looking person in the world... so you should totally go visit her blog and wish her a radical birthday, because she so deserves it. i mean, just look at her! she makes me look like i got dressed in the dark while intoxicated.

go love her. now.

happy birthday, madeline!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SLO FUZZ

2011-08-15T18:31:00.000-07:00

*vintage tie dye wrap dress, vintage combat boots, 4+ year old target faux leather jacket, vintage jewelry

it's VERY hard for me to just put on a dress and be done. i put on a belt when i went out after these photos were taken... i have a hard time editing my outfits. i'm in the market for some more dresses... after wearing this one and discovering how easy it was to get dressed, i'm kind of sold. maybe i'm slowly morphing into a real girl? what's next... stilettos?

(over my dead body)

also:

one of the most beautiful songs you'll ever hear... wait 29 seconds into it:

LAY BACK IN THE SUN

2011-08-11T19:36:00.000-07:00

*vintage camo cut off shirt, target faux leather jacket (yep. target. i've worn this thing for 5+ years and it gets better every time), american apparel disco shorts (taking butt-grazing to a whole new limit), vintage velvet boots, handmade wooden necklace from mexico, vintage leopard belt, unearthen prism ring, gifted konstantino bracelet

MY CAMERA WAS FOUND!!!!!

i am the first person to assume the worst of humanity and agree that we're all evil... but when my friend walked up and handed me my beloved camera the other night, it was like the universe shook me and said, "see? we're not ALL bad." it definitely restored my faith in people- how easy would it have been for whoever had it to stick this on ebay and pay their rent for the month (or just buy a shitload of drugs and booze)?

oh, and yeah, i totally cried when she walked up with it. i don't dress like a girl, but i'm sappier than most of them.

i didn't set up that little pathetic excuse for a seance for these photos, by the way. apparently i forgot that travis, adam, and i had a pathetic excuse for a seance on my roof one night (when i say seance, i mean intoxicated and listening to spiritualized) and neglected to bring everything back inside, resulting in puddles of melted wax on my now faded and filthy blanket.

madeline and i are up to something huuuuuge... we now have a DBA, a seller's permit, a website in the works, and are on page 4 of writing our business plan. can't wait to share...

STONED TO DEATH AGAIN

2011-08-07T15:33:00.001-07:00

*gifted romewe.com denim shirt and space dress, american apparel sheer black tank, vintage leopard belt, vintage bag, jeffrey campbell brit boots, gifted konstantino bracelet

my camera was stolen... but i guess i'm to blame, since i took it with me on a party bus and left it unattended at the house afterwards with a bunch of random drunks. it was only 2 months old- too young to be taken from it's mother. i am devastated, of course. the silver lining, however, is that my dude friend casually mentioned that i could borrow his CANON 5D... you know, just a simple little $6,000 camera with enough settings to make my brain start oozing out of my ears. i figured out the BASICS and the photos are still magical... i can't even imagine the possibilities if you knew the total ins and outs of this thing. apparently i suck at focusing this camera- mental note taken for next time.

camera drama aside, romwe.com sent me a package of super rad clothes that i've been wearing all week. i'm not sure what provoked me to think that i needed a sheer asymmetrical space dress... but now i own one and i'm pretty into it. layered it with an american apparel tank and a leopard print belt because that's just what i do... visual vomit.

TELLTALE HEARTS VINTAGE PARTY

2011-07-31T15:42:00.000-07:00

*urban outfitters net top, vintage pants cut into shorts, jeffrey campbell boots. unearthen necklace. all other jewelry is vintage or purchased in mexico.

my outfit for the party... you know, in case i went fishing afterwards and needed a net to catch a marlin or something. or maybe i thought i was going to a rave... a rave on a boat.

here's some snaps from the party. being the bad blogger that i am, i totally forget to take photos until the very end. check out the bag of joints and rolled up papers nicki found in one of the vintage bags from the 70's!!

telltale hearts vintage: website // twitter

madeline of jean greig e and nicki of tropic of unicorn

all LA residents NEED to know about telltale hearts vintage in silverlake (or their website). they just opened up shop in february but are KILLING it with a perfect selection, gorgeous storefront, and seriously rad and easygoing personalities to top it off, unlike so many pretentious store owners who refuse to make eye contact with you upon entering their (most of the time mediocre) store. madeline and i showed up with a rack of vintage we sourced earlier this month, ate the best LA mexican street food (shout out to the thristy crow dudes- you'll always be my fave), drank wine, and met a ton of beyond rad people. thank you SO much to everyone i met that said kind words about me and my blog- sometimes i forget that people actually do read this thing, so it was a crazy reminder to know that you guys do, and that you dig it on top of that... so thank you, really. any encouragement to keep it up helps more than you know!

so, after the party i headed home and collapsed into bed using my new kitty Sal as a pillow... he showed up at my front door last week, jumped into my arms, and hasn't left my side ever since. so, i suppose he adopted me. i've fallen head over heels in love- he's the most awkward looking kitten because he hasn't grown into his ears and legs yet... but he's the most affectionate and loving animal i've ever encountered.

BATHTUB BLONDE

2011-07-29T22:13:00.000-07:00

via face hunter

i don't know who she is... but i'm convinced that she's my soulmate.

VOGUE GIRL KOREA

2011-07-29T18:51:00.001-07:00

opened up my mailbox to find this Vogue Girl Korea that i was interviewed for a few months ago... they're so rad and sweet and it was definitely worth spending a whole day of my mexico vacation putting it together for them. LOVE the cover... how fitting to be in the issue with a surfer chick on the front.

WHITE LIGHT

2011-07-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

*anthropologie shirt, diy vintage cut off shorts, american apparel socks, steve madden platforms, vintage necklace and belt, recycled rice bag purse, shots of my apartment

hey dudes, long time no update! real life gets in the way sometimes- in the best way possible. this is the night which started my absence from the world as i know it:

that's my best friend adam, and my other best friend michelle's finger up his nose. this pretty much sums up the last week and a half for me. it's been fun. a lot of fun.

well, this was like dipping my toe in the ocean to check out how it is- i'm not ready to jump in yet and write a whole novel about my knee high socks or anything. i'll get back there eventually, because i'm sure you're all DYING to hear how much i love these socks.

Sunday

2011-07-17T17:47:00.000-07:00

happy sunday.

LACE UP

2011-07-13T21:07:00.000-07:00

photos by dallas of dstoke photography

*vintage boots, american apparel bodysuit, DIY cut-off and tie-dyed vintage shorts, vintage denim jacket, vintage coin necklace, handmade wooden necklace from mexico, turquoise slave bracelet from mexico

this outfit is ALL about the boots. definitely one of my favorite and best vintage finds of all time... i've been wearing them non-stop since purchase.

i wore them all day yesterday when madeline and i drove north to hunt for vintage. i can't say too much yet, but we're up to something... and i'm beyond excited about it.

the night ended with madeline and i sitting in front of her television with piles of vintage clothes on our laps, watching david duchovny play sweaty basketball in the red shoe diaries... which is also known as THE BEST NIGHT EVER.

i've said it before, but if you don't know of her blog yet... YOU MUST. i mean, just look at her! (and her dog, moe... who actually gets 10x the amount of attention that we do)

also, if you were wondering: yes that is all of our indian food. it's not our fault! they kept bringing us free stuff for happy hour! i swear!

GIRL

2011-07-11T12:11:00.000-07:00

vintage skirt, vintage cut up tie dyed shirt, forever 21 boots from wasteland, thrifted belt

please excuse the below average photos- it was just one of those days where i did not feel like dragging my tripod anywhere further than my back deck. actually- i attempted to take some photos on my roof, but the lighting was far too bright, and then my cat huxley decided to try to get on the roof WITH ME... he somehow scaled the fence behind me (which is a good ten feet tall), and was walking precariously on the top of it (about 2 inches wide) and realized he couldn't make it all the way to the roof, leaving him stranded. so, i had to play firefighter and rescue my severely accident-prone cat from having yet another emergency (he's had about 10 in the 2 years i've had him).

well, somehow this turned into a blog post about my cat, but anyone who knows me knows that i somehow turn every conversation into one about my cat.

BEACH RATS

2011-07-10T17:03:00.000-07:00

somehow ended up on a mini-vacation in huntington beach for the weekend. my friend's brother has a house a few blocks from the ocean, so we spent the weekend riding bikes to and from the beach, drinking too much, skateboarding in the middle of the night, playing volleyball with an invisible net, obsessing over their italian greyhound named gypsy, and swimming in the really fucking cold ocean. jumping in the california ocean makes me REALLY miss hawaii and it's 86 degree water. now i'm back in reality and the only thing i want to do is skateboard down my street in a bikini... oh, and my friend took that last photo on his iphone while he was surfing at sunset. isn't it MAGIC?

DIY KNOT DRESS

2011-07-08T16:43:00.000-07:00

*diy dress, wasteland tie dyed blouse, garment district camo boots, unearthen titanium quartz necklace, rings from left to right: vintage coin ring, vintage silver ring, abalone ring from mexico, green coral ring from mexico, turquoise stone ring from venice beach.

i present my most half-assed diy EVER.

i've really been wanting one of the open torso dresses via nasty gal... such as this INSANE red one that i'm completely obsessed with. i almost ordered it, but then quickly realized that would be incredibly irresponsible as i have bills to pay and enough dresses in my closet that i already don't wear. which is how i ended up chopping up this $10 h&m maxi dress to be this odd knot dress. i literally did it in 30 seconds, so please excuse the below average craftsmenship- when i get an idea i have absolutely NO patience to see the outcome, meaning i do it as quickly as humanly possible to see if it will even work. i'd like to try it again on another dress and actually take my time and see what it turns out like. i added the two extra knots to make it ultra fitted around the torso... not sure if i'd do that next time, though.

i took photos of the diy and quickly realized it's not even worthy of having photos taken. i'll post these two anyway just because:

figure out where you want the slits, measure down and cut the entire front of the dress horizontally, and cut about 2" past the side seam on each side to the back. in the center of the bottom top portion of the dress, cut a very small slit and bunch up the fabric of the top of the bottom portion of the dress, stick it through, and tie it in a knot. tie the access fabric on each side into little knots, and that's really all there is to it.

EDIT:

after posting this, i figured out a MUCH better way to do it. instead of tying the front in a knot, pull it all the way through so the excess hangs on the inside of the dress (opposite of the photo above) then tie the knot on the INSIDE of the dress so it doesn't show. since so much excess fabric will be hanging down on the sides where you want the slits to be open, gather the fabric of the back of the dress with anything of your choosing- i used an anklet and wrapped it around twice and secured it. much better!

front:

back:

MORNING HEAT

2011-07-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

*button down silk dress from downtown LA (DIY asymmetrical hem), asymmetrical v-neck tank from downtown LA, black mesh bra from american apparel, forever 21 boots from wasteland, vintage triangle eye necklace, unearthen titanium quartz necklace

well, after all of my complaining about june gloom and the late start of summer... it's finally here, and it's not messing around. it's only 10am and i'm pretty sure if i stayed on my roof merely seconds longer that i would have suffered from heat stroke. okay i'm exaggerating, but it's really fucking hot. i'm totally okay with wearing the equivalent of a sheet all summer long. the nude colored tank i layered on top is the most wrinkle-prone thing in my wardrobe- it's virtually impossible to keep it looking ironed.

i haven't taken these boots off since i found them at the SF wasteland. they're the absolute perfect shape, size, and heel height... and they're from forever 21? so weird.

time to go run around los angeles in my wrinkled sheets... i mean, dress.

some new crystallized listings are up now! check 'em out here.

NEW LOOK

2011-07-06T20:21:00.001-07:00

photos found here

i got this video sent to my email at 2am, so the first time i watched it was on my phone while half-asleep in bed... and i haven't been able to stop watching it since then. she's unreal, and the video is so eerily perfect... not to mention the song is fucking gorgeous.

had to share.

SF WEEKEND

2011-07-05T00:23:00.000-07:00

i've been trying to get up to san francisco for SO LONG to see my long lost friends and spend some quality time with the beautiful city. when my friend michelle suggested that we drive up for the weekend, i couldn't have been more excited. i haven't been in about a year, so this was a long overdue trip. my friend/soulmate jamie lives in an amazing house in oakland, so we spent our time divided between her back patio, lounging in the sun in dolores park, and doing cartwheels, jumping in a bounce house, and losing a bouncy ball in a garden of blackberries at her friend's 4th of july bbq. i still can't believe how hard i fell for the city- i've always loved it and loved visiting, but this time really sold me on it... probably because the weather was PERFECT for once!

one of the best and most relaxing and enjoyable weekends i've ever had... already planning my next trip up- definitely not waiting another year.

also: driving for 7 hours is pretty exhausting... although getting to watch about 100 different firework shows while doing so was pretty damn great.

LENNI VINTAGE

2011-06-28T19:45:00.000-07:00

*lenni vintage hand-made shorts, vintage dress cut into top, forever 21 bracelet, SLOW vintage sunglasses, vintage army bag, nine west boots from buffalo exchange

anyone who's even slightly paid attention to my blog knows that i have an obvious attachment to three things:

1. jewelry

2. ankle boots

3. shorts

so... we can all imagine how giddy i was to receive an email from the lovely lenni of Lenni Vintage telling me that she'd like to send me some of her one of a kind hand-made shorts. who in their right mind would turn down that offer?! i practically haven't taken them off since i opened up the package- i wore them the entire weekend while i was moving. anything that is this simultaneously comfortable and cool is perfect in my book. i've gotten endless compliments on them- they're the kind of statement piece that you can throw on with a basic white t-shirt and still stand out in a crowd. my favorite.

she sells a ton of really gorgeous shorts and ships as fast as lightning. be sure to check her out, i promise you'll love it all!

shop Lenni Vintage

oh! and i found this amazing vintage criss-cross dress that i cut into the top seen above. it's stylestalker-ish, no? love love it, and it definitely fit right into my budget at $8.

STILL ALIVE

2011-06-28T12:16:00.000-07:00

*vintage boots, vintage cardigan, american apparel top, vintage jewelry, vintage shorts

i'm still alive. my mom came down for the weekend to help me finish moving out of my old apartment... it was a crazy couple of days. i like living up high, so all of my apartments have crazy staircases... so moving isn't exactly the easiest thing in the world. we actually got two guys off of craigslist to help us move the heavy stuff... and they ended up being a magician and an artist from venice beach. yep. leave it to me to hire a magician and an artist to help me move.

trying to fall back into normalcy- my place is a war zone of boxes and misplaced furniture... cannot wait to have everything in it's right place (unintentional radiohead song title quote). i found this ridiculous zebra print chair for 20 bucks today at the thrift store. i'm taking mixing patterns to a whole new level, apparently...

DIRECT SUNLIGHT

2011-06-23T14:20:00.000-07:00

*wasteland shredded tank, thrifted diy cut off slip, vintage boots $13, vintage belt, vintage army bag, flea market aviators, vintage wood slab

somehow going to get breakfast turned into going to vintage shops which turned into going to thrift stores which turned into going to vintage furniture stores. grabbed these aaaaaamazing boots for $13 at the thrift store, then walked across the street to a very hidden hole-in-the-wall furniture store that sells absolutely stunning vintage home furnishings for insanely cheap- think the most gorgeous refinished dresser from the 60's for 150 bucks. i fell in love with this vintage wood slab with a beach scene painted on it for $10.

these aviators are practically glued to my face. i'm obsessed. i want them in every shade of the rainbow.

no more photos in direct sunlight. eeek.

BRUNCH

2011-06-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

*american apparel bodysuit, american apparel shorts, thrifted denim jacket, vintage belt, vintage jewelry, UO boots and purse, flea market aviators

hungover brunch = eating my weight in hashbrowns at fred 62.

CAMEL RUG AND LIZARD LITHOGRAPHS

2011-06-19T17:26:00.000-07:00

i've found such out of control things for my apartment all weekend! i've been searching for a dresser, but somehow ended up with all of these things instead.

yesterday, i found the tropical madonna and child and the african fabric covered mirror at a thrift store... and today i found the lizard lithographs (i could have spent a thousand dollars on lithographs today... no joke), the large vintage rug, and the small camel rug at the flea market.

the tropical madonna and child started off the inspiration for my bedroom- it's going to look like a tropical jungle by the time i'm done. i really want to paint a cat face over the baby's face... because i hate babies.

also picked up these snazzy blue and green mirrored aviators at the flea market for 5 bucks- they are my new favorite things ever. most definitely inspired by the theysken's theory resort collection. it's absolute PERFECTION.

speaking of perfection... how about this townhouse in manhattan? swoon. read about it here.

time to start decorating!

ROOF SUNSETS

2011-06-17T15:06:00.000-07:00

*vintage shirt, vintage boots, vintage long knit bloomers, urban outfitters sunglasses and purse

really obsessed with this pair of odd vintage boots i found at a vintage shop yesterday... i hate sandals (except for the single pair that i own- but they've finally fallen apart) so i've decided that these are my "summer boots", since they're kind of open...?

ahhh... i will NEVER get tired of watching the sun set over the lake from my roof... i can't wait to get some chairs up here. if i ever go missing, i'm actually probably just asleep with a book in my lap in a lounge chair on my roof. always check there before calling the cops.

AT HOME

2011-06-16T18:21:00.000-07:00

*vintage harley davidson tshirt, vintage pants, vintage belt, vintage platforms, unearthen pyramid watch, mexico eagle bracelet, mexico and vintage rings, urban outfitters hat

just hanging out at home, unpacking and listening to perfectly peaceful psychedelic tunes... i always have themes for my apartments... "space beach", "frida on acid", and "surfer goth" have been a few... and i think this apartment will be deemed "the swinger's acid lodge". obviously i like decorating around the themes of the beach and an acid trip...

i live across the street from the echo park lake, so the vibe in here could not be better- it literally feels like i'm on vacation every time i look out my window and see the sun reflecting on the water. mix that with the aesthetics of a mountain cabin and that is my apartment. i am way too happy to be here.

COSMOPOLITAN SHOPPING RUSSIA

2011-06-15T09:58:00.000-07:00

cosmopolitan shopping russia was kind enough to feature me in their magazine this month- the spread came out so great! now where can i buy a copy, other than in russia...?

ADIOS

2011-06-14T18:53:00.001-07:00

*free people cut off tank, harley davidson denim vest, cut off shorts, vintage belt, forever 21 boots, world market necklace, mexico turquoise slave bracelet

got back from mexico a few days ago and immediately started moving into my new apartment. it's been a crazy few days: work, moving out of my work studio, and moving out of my apartment... definitely back in reality, but happy to be here. these were taken on my second or third day in mexico, before i got a wicked tan. ha.

hopefully the next post will include some apartment photos- currently it's an unorganized catastrophe of cardboard boxes, but my goal is to have everything organized as soon as possible. it definitely feels like home already.

MEXICO DETAILS

2011-06-11T06:38:00.000-07:00

*urban outfitters green printed bikini top, vintage sheer printed shirt, vintage orange velvet shorts, vintage boots, vintage/mexico jewelry

MEXICO DIARY PART 4

2011-06-10T07:24:00.000-07:00

*thrifted mesh slip dress, vintage belt, thrifted bag, handmade mexican necklace, urban outfitters hat w/ vintage scarf, nine west boots from wasteland

it's my last full day in mexico! i leave tomorrow afternoon, and although i'm sad to leave, i'm so anxious to get back to LA! i'm moving into my new apartment as soon as i return, and i have enough work to keep me occupied for a very, very long time.

before thinking about reality though, i have one more amazing day filled with shopping and swimming with dolphins! if you haven't gathered what a crazy animal lover i am by now, then let me just tell you that this is a lifelong dream and i might just pick up the dolphin under my arm and take it back to california with me to live in my bathtub.

MEXICO DIARY PART 3

2011-06-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

today we took a boat to the famous arch (el arco) in cabo- we were so lucky to have come when you're able to walk through the arch- it only happens every 4-5 years! this spot is pretty magnificent because one side is the pacific ocean, and the other side is the sea of cortez. the waves are HUGE and the beach is pristine.

i freaked out when i saw a guy walking down the beach carrying 5 iguanas... i held one and before i knew it had one in my hands, two on my shoulders, and one on my head. i can't get enough. i never want to come home- i want to live on the beach in piles of silver jewelry covered in iguanas for the rest of my life.

CROSSROADS INTERVIEW

2011-06-09T07:43:00.000-07:00

i did an interview for crossroads trading co. a little while ago, and it's up on their site now! thank you so much guys, you rule.

i don't think i have the same hair color in any of the photos that they chose. i have a problem.

read the whole interview here

MEXICO DIARY PART 2

2011-06-08T11:08:00.000-07:00

*vintage tshirt, american apparel neon pink shorts, vintage conch belt, a pound of necklaces, mexican silver bracelets, urban outfitters sunglasses & purse.

i woke up this morning to an exciting email requesting photos from 6 different "vacation" outfits. how convenient that i'm currently on vacation! this is one of the looks that i put together for the spread- it's my perfect beach outfit: white shirt, neon shorts, pounds of jewelry, ankle boots, and sunglasses.

don't forgot that crystallized auctions end tomorrow evening!

shop

MEXICO DIARY PART 1

2011-06-07T14:37:00.000-07:00

*open knit tank from garment district, DIY tie dye cut-off shorts (used to be purple wrangler jeans), abalone and silver ring purchased in mexico (thanks momma!), vintage belt, vintage sandals (the only pair i own, i've worn them all over the world and they're one of my favorite things that i own), bag from urban outfitters (i'm obsessed with all of the pockets- organization while traveling is key), unearthen vial necklace, handmade wooden necklace purchased in mexico.

uploading a blog post here is pretty excruciating- the internet is painfully slow and nearly impossible to use.

we (me, my mom, and my mom's best friend christie, who generously lets us use her timeshare) explored downtown cabo san lucas today... the highlight DEFINITELY being having an iguana on my head. i used to have a pet iguana, so holding one again was so amazing- i might be getting one of my own again because i love them so much!

i keep forgetting that i'm in mexico because it is so similar to southern california. the open air market we went to was nearly identical to the garment district in downtown los angeles- i even have some of the same brand of mexican bags that they sell here. my boyfriend and i have been talking about taking a mexico trip for awhile now, down to guatemala... being in a tourist town is definitely making me want to visit more desolate areas.

ok, so most importantly: does anyone want me to bring them back some superviagra?

the pool is calling my name. adios!

---

head on over to my beautiful friend nicki's blog to check out UNEARTHEN'S resort lookbook! it'll take way too long for me to upload all the photos on my blog, so click here to view it via nicki.

the lookbook was so fun to shoot- we arrived at an aquarium store at 8am and spent the first hour running around trying to see all of the fish... it was such a brilliant idea, and it couldn't have turned out more beautiful.

SNOW LEOPARD

2011-06-02T17:29:00.000-07:00

*vintage boots from thrift store $3.50, vintage pants cut into shorts from vintage shop: $12, tank top from buffalo exchange: $5 (inspired by madeline to tie it in the center), silver cardigan from vintage shop in australia: $20, unearthen pyramid watch and vial necklace

last post until mexico!

i wore a version of this outfit the other night to see the icarus line play at the echo. if you like true rock n' roll... this IS the band for you. my friend adam and i literally could not stop dancing like crazy people in front of the stage- their music is electrifying and mesmerizing and brain-melting. guitar solos to make you weak in the knees and a front man who i'm CONVINCED is iggy pop and nick cave's love child... okay, i think i've gushed enough. you should check them out, and i promise you that their live show is about a zillion times better than anything you've ever seen. adam and i went as far as saying it was the best show we've ever seen.

still not going back on that statement.

now a little fashion ramble:

lately i've been feeling like i can't "keep up" with most bloggers and their closets of overflowing beautiful new clothing. 99% of the time, i am strapped for cash and would rather eat good food instead of dropping a hundred bucks on shoes. don't get me wrong, i WANT plenty of shit.

the outfit i'm wearing above is less than $50.

i guess i just want to make sure that people who read my blog know that this is totally doable fashion. a little trick i use to not be tempted by expensive clothing: DON'T GO INTO EXPENSIVE STORES. EVER!

obviously.

okay, i've yapped enough- time to go sign my new lease (!!!), attempt to finish packing, edit photos for new stock to list in the store before i leave, and finish my to-do list for work tomorrow.

UPDATE:

i just discovered ARK, a non-profit organization which helps animals in need after the devastating japan earthquake and tsunami.

a small percentage of crystallized sales goes to animal charities, and i am so thrilled to be donating to the ARK organization this month. i hope you guys can find it in your heart to donate anything at all- the thought of the animals affected in the disasters has broken my heart ever since seeing the very first footage months ago...

donate here

(if you're unsure how much to donate, use this US dollar to japanese yen converter: here)

PACKING MY SUITCASE...

2011-06-01T21:23:00.001-07:00

starting to pack my suitcase... i leave for mexico in 2 days!!!

i'll be gone for 6 days, and as soon as i return i'll start moving into my new apartment and helping one of my best friends move into my old apartment. it's going to be a crazy few weeks! i'm ready!

i'll try to squeeze in one more post before i blast off into paradise...

be ready for a billion beach photos.

***

also: a ton of new listings are up in the shop!

shop crystallized vintage

WASHED OUT

2011-05-28T17:20:00.001-07:00

*vintage jumpsuit cut into shorts, vintage snakeskin maternity pants (yeah, really) cut into shorts, unearthen vial necklace with pink holi powder, vintage ankle boots, vintage belt, vintage jean jacket, vintage peruvian bag

i found this amazing vintage jumpsuit last weekend for a few bucks... and even though it was perfect as pants, i had to cut it into shorts so i'd be able to wear it all summer. i somehow manage to cut ALL shorts too short- literally, every pair of jeans i've chopped into shorts are a little too butt-grazing for comfort... so it was no surprise that i did the same thing with this jumpsuit... hence layering my trusty spandex snakeskin print shorts underneath. who would have thought that 15 years later i'd be regressing back to my elementary school fashion- we weren't allowed to wear shorts that were shorter than where our fingertips hits our thighs while our arms were against our sides... so, i started a "trend" in which i'd wear bike shorts underneath crazy short shorts in order to pass the rule. long story short, my shitty vice principal made a new rule that we couldn't wear bike shorts underneath real shorts, and my ingenuity was crushed.

well, i suppose i should get back to editing photos and keep listening to my seriously awesome neighbor playing classic rock on his guitar.

NEW VINTAGE

2011-05-27T19:19:00.000-07:00

a kick-ass store update is coming in the next few days! i spent an entire weekend sourcing the BEST vintage i could possibly find.

shop crystallized / like crystallized on facebook / crystallized twitter

I FEEL A CHANGE COMIN' ON

2011-05-25T20:30:00.000-07:00

*vintage diy cut out shoulder blouse, urban outfitters baggy knit shorts, turquoise slave bracelet from mexico, unearthen vial necklace with pacific ocean inside, anthropologie beaded necklace, vintage coin necklace, vintage velvet boots.

too many amazing things happening right now to include in a single blog post! it's been a truly incredible week.

1. i took my boyfriend surprise skydiving for his birthday yesterday. we've both wanted to do it since we were little, so it was an absolutely magical day. jumping out of an airplane is the best thing i've ever done. i cannot WAIT to do it again. it's the most natural, amazing, relaxing, beautiful experience that i've ever had... i wasn't nervous at ALL- it was pure excitement and euphoria. i am officially addicted to skydiving.

2. i am putting in my 30 day notice at my studio AND my apartment tomorrow... because i just signed a new lease for my DREAM apartment in echo park, which i will be working from home in. i can't wait to post photos- it's truly the most magical place i've ever seen, with a view of the lake and a rooftop overlooking the lake for me to spend every summer day on top of. this decision has been a hard one for me to make, but i KNOW that it's the right choice- i am too in love with nature to be spending so much time in downtown los angeles. i will be running crystallized from home again, but i could not be happier about it.

well, that was a whole lot of personal-non-fashion-related news... but sometimes (always) i use my blog to vent.

oh, check out my amazing friend nicki's blog to see her post about being a hand model for unearthen yesterday! she does have ridiculously pretty hands. wish i'd been there yesterday to see you in action, nicki!

GOLDILOCKS

2011-05-23T09:26:00.001-07:00

*vintage tank, vintage cut-off shorts, jeffrey campbell boots, vintage belt

i'm blonde again!! YES! it's been a long and painful road, but my hair savior, bailey, came to my rescue and turned my wack bleach job into strands of gold! i can't ever afford to drop a couple hundred bucks on my hair, so i always end up in my bathroom attempting to bleach my own hair... i'm not very responsible.

these were taken yesterday- we always take a drive up to the mountains while i'm in fresno because it's SO gorgeous... and there's a little old lady who sells the most badass mexican jewelry on the side of the road in a tiny mountain town, so it's become a new tradition to drive up there and raid her jewels as much as possible.

off to work... right after i chug this coffee.

CAT LADY

2011-05-20T19:14:00.000-07:00

*wearing vintage cut off sleeves lion shirt, cut up free people lace tank, american apparel shorts, vintage boots, vintage belt, unearthen prism ring and vial necklace.

another quickie from this week. i worked from 7am-7pm today, and now i'm going to drive 3.5 hours to see my fam after throwing some very random things in a suitcase. hopefully i make it through today alive.

have a great weekend!

LOVIN

2011-05-19T17:38:00.000-07:00

printed pants courtesy of someday's lovin, wasteland silk tie dye blouse, vintage vest, garment district shoes, vintage bag, annie costello brown triangle bracelet, unearthen prism ring, unearthen vial necklace with pacific ocean, braided stainless steel band handmade by my grandfather whom passed away before i was born

as i was drinking my coffee in bed this morning, a delivery man smiled at me through my window and held up a package with my name on it. completely confused and in nothing but a butt-grazing sweater, i groggily opened the door and signed for a package that i was not expecting. inside was a neatly wrapped package consisting of these super rad printed pants, and a really gorgeous blouse that i can't wait to wear. someday's lovin' totally surprised me with these items, and they definitely hit the nail on the head- i'll be wearing both of them all the time.

i love their perfect 60's/70s/western vibe... it's totally my jam.

oh, and did i mention they have seriously cool carpet bags? shop here!

CHERRY BOMB

2011-05-17T19:34:00.000-07:00

*wasteland silk blouse, cheap monday slouchy sweater, vintage cut up shorts, vintage boots, vintage red necklace, anthropologie gold necklace, vintage army bag with vintage scarf

sold a few things at wasteland today so i picked up this AMAZING sleeveless tie dyed silk top... i have a feeling this is going to be a definite summer staple. i love layering button up blouses with slouchy sweaters or off the shoulder shirts... the proportions are so fun to mess with.

shop / facebook / twitter / bloglovin

BOHO IN SPACE

2011-05-14T18:46:00.000-07:00

*tank from popkiller, vintage skirt, vintage belt, vintage boots, vintage army bag, unearthen vial necklace with drops of the pacific ocean inside.

gotta make this quick- getting ready to hit the road to pomona to see the black angels, the kills and cold cave. helllllllll yesssssssss. it's gonna be too good of a night.

FAVORITE.

90s GOTH HOOKER BIKER

2011-05-12T08:35:00.000-07:00

vintage everything except cut-off urban outfitters white t-shirt

i couldn't decide on a title for this post, so i thought i'd play it safe and cover all the necessary bases.

as crazy as i want to dress with these boots, i felt the urge to let them shine on their own the first time i wear them- so i kept it simple. i couldn't be too simple, though... so my crazy vintage biker jacket had to make an appearance. i think the jacket and the boots were worn together in another life, as i felt some spiritual approval from the heavens when i put them on. okay not really, i just REALLY like them together.

if you dig vintage as much as i do, i sell a ton of it here.

last but not least, had to post this adorable video featuring kelly ash.

KALIFORNIA:

via fashion gone rogue

DIY RODARTE COUCH BOOTS

2011-05-10T19:35:00.000-07:00

*diy boots, vintage sheer leopard blouse, vintage crushed velvet shorts, vintage belt, forever 21 necklace, vintage rings, vintage bag

remember when i half-heartedly mentioned doing a super ghetto DIY of the rodarte upholstery boots?

well, i've been meaning to do it for some time now, but kept procrastinating in true brit fashion. i've wanted a pair of boots in "couch" fabric FOREVER, long before nearly crying with lust over the rodarte stunners.

this is a DIY from hell, i'm not going to pretend like it was fun. i think i have blisters on all of my fingers from my inability to use a hot glue gun and turn down the hem of the fabric simultaneously. up close, these boots are not pretty. but... i'm just banking on the fact that most people will see them from a distance and not get to cringe at my handy-work.

- - -

so this is how i did it...

1. a pair of boots (i REALLY wish i would have used another pair of boots that actually fit me properly- these are about half a size too small on me! but they were only $9)

2. fabric (i bought half a yard from my favorite upholstery store, which cost me $25 bucks because i went for the super rad/expensive one, of course.)

3. hot glue gun (it took like... 6 full glue sticks... about $7)

4. spray adhesive (around $6)

i totally could not do this and take photos at the same time, so these are all i've got. basically, i started at the back seam and worked my way around. turn the fabric under so there's no fraying, and spray the adhesive onto the boot as you go so you can continually smooth it out to reduce wrinkles. it's a bitch to get it right. i called my hot glue gun so many names while consistently burning myself- most popular being "you fucker."

wrapping it around the toe was the hardest part, so i decided to do half at a time. so as you can see, the front of the boot looks pretty wack, but as i said, i don't mind. the majority of my shoes are beat up vintage kicks that look worse than this anyway.

ta-da!

$47 dollars and about 30-40 minutes later.

and, huxley-approved!

HEY GIRL, HOW MUCH?

2011-05-09T20:38:00.000-07:00

i've wanted the alexander wang platform boots ever since i laid eyes on them- the horribly perfect 90's silhouette/cheap hooker appeal totally stole my heart.

alas, i don't think i'll ever have $700+ to drop on a pair of shoes... which is why some holy entity made me take a walk to my local vintage shop this evening to find these perfect steve madden boots for $26. of course they don't compare to the a. wangs, but this blog has absolutely nothing to do with designer clothing, as it's totally unrealistic in my life. this is as close as i'm gonna get- and i'm so ridiculously excited to wear these all summer, with so many outfits that they should never, ever be worn with. you know you've made an inappropriate choice when you start considering how many men will proposition you for sex. oh well, i'll just kick them in the face. isn't that what platforms are for?

AROUND THE HOUSE

2011-05-08T20:30:00.000-07:00

my life summed up in snaps from my apartment.

i spent 10 hours yesterday painting my walls back to white from dark purple, and i can't express how much i love it. it feels so fresh and invigorating. i'm all about my work and living spaces being clean and simple anymore (except for my jewelry collection, that will never be clean and simple)- my life is too all over the place for it to be any other way. oh, and that note taped on my mirror isn't jibberish, it's a school of seven bells set list that my friend adam got for me after we went to one of their shows. and... can you guess who my favorite author is?

BAG LADY

2011-05-08T18:14:00.001-07:00

*vintage dress, vintage green shirt, vintage belt, zara leopard tights, garment district boots

i assume that this is still how'd i'd dress if i one day became homeless. this is actually one of the more ridiculous things that i've ever worn (actually, i doubt that...) my love of mixing patterns took a very drastic turn down senile road today. THIS is what happens when i don't get dressed to go "out" in public for long periods of time- i get excited about putting on real clothes instead of comfortable work clothes and i get entirely carried away and literally put the contents of my closet onto my body.

so, i actually did wear this in public... to the rose bowl swap meet with madeline and nicki. the three of us walking around together is definitely a sight to be seen, actually, madeline's friend colleen can be quoted as saying,

"you guys look crazy walking together."

anyway, they're both amazing and you should visit their blogs if you haven't already!

madeline:

nicki:

now i am going to RELAX and let my poor body rest after repainting my entire apartment for 10 hours straight yesterday, headstands and backbends in yoga this morning, and walking for what seemed like miles at the rose bowl.

thank you for all the wonderful comments you guys left on the last post about my mom! :)

MOM

2011-05-08T00:06:00.000-07:00

deni, my mother.

how do i even begin to describe what a phenomenal woman my mother is?

she is, undoubtedly, the most beautiful, giving, open-minded, supportive, optimistic person that i have ever met.

i have so many memories of her driving me to school each morning, since we lived out of the school district. on some mornings, she'd wake me up by singing a little song to me. on special mornings she'd make my favorite (incredibly unhealthy) breakfast- chocolate toast. i have the most vivid memory of a Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band cassette in our car, and listening to it on the way to school- i'll never forget hearing Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds for the first time on one of those mornings. i loved it instantly.

my mom is strong.

she survived losing both of her parents before she was 21 years old. she survived breast cancer. she survived a divorce. and through all of it, she has somehow managed to still be the most optimistic person that i've ever met. i wish i'd gotten that trait from her, as it's something that i greatly lack. her strength is unparalleled. she could truly handle anything.

i went with my mom to get her first tattoo about 2 years ago of a seahorse, which reminds her of her father. since then, she's had more tattoo appointments than 99% of my friends. she has beautiful and extremely significant tattoos dedicated to her father, her mother, covering her cancer scars, her love for the beach... she does nothing recklessly- everything has meaning. my mom turned 60 last year, and no one EVER believes it because she looks so incredible. the mere fact that my mother decided to start covering her body in tattoos when she was nearly 60 years old shows so much about her character: she is confident and and she stays true to herself.

some of my mom's tattoos / our vacation last year to the caribbean- me, my mom, and my sister erin

i can only hope that i will evolve to be HALF of the woman that my mother is. she has been there for me every second of every day, and i will never be able to thank her enough for that. i think she knows how much i respect her and love her... but in case she doesn't, she'll be reading this at some point tomorrow, so:

happy mother's day, mom. you are amazing. i love you.

KALEIDOSCOPE

2011-05-04T18:29:00.000-07:00

crystallized vintage

SANTA BARBARA

2011-05-03T19:55:00.000-07:00

vintage hat, target bikini top, american apparel bikini bottoms, thrifted snakeskin coverup, unearthen amethyst and 14k gold prism ring, gifted konstantino sterling silver and 18k gold bracelet, handmade necklace from venice beach, pink sunnies from urban outfitters, american apparel neon nail polish

instead of spending the entire trip in ojai, we woke up on sunday morning and drove up the coast to santa barbara. sb is one of my favorite california cities- it seems to get prettier each time i visit. this time, we magically happened to end up at a dog beach... which for us, is the equivalent of heaven. we spent 2 hours sitting on the sand, being the creeps without a dog who kept trying to play with everyone else's dogs. it worked out pretty well- we made friends with the cute little dude in the photos above, as well as some other randoms who would come over and shake off their ocean soaked coats on us and lick our face before running to catch a ball. operation hang out with dogs at the beach was a major success.

so...

i brought my camera in to be fixed, and was told that it would cost $300 to fix, although the camera is now only worth $200, and would take a month.

instead, i got a brand spankin' new camera (a canon rebel t2i, to be exact), and i have never been so in love with an inanimate object before, sans my macbook. i have been practically hugging it all day. product shots were a BREEZE this afternoon, and i cannot wait to put my 50mm lens on it and take it out for a spin. oh, and it has VIDEO!!! i'm going to be posting so many stupid little nonsensical videos, you just watch. thanks so much for all the kind words about my camera problem, but it all worked out for the best! now i must try to sell everything i own to pay for this thing.