Tuesday, March 31, 2015

March Purchases

I’m patting myself on the back for having no purchases to report in February. Now, even after some March shopping, I’m back on track for the year.

Old Navy

I haven’t shopped at Old Navy since January 2012. I was prompted to visit the online store after reading raves about the striped jersey shift dress. I ended up returning the shift dress in store (and walking out with Sweetheart skinny jeans), but kept the sweater and other dress I ordered.

1. Terry fleece dress in gray heather, $17.50.
2. Mesh knit sweater in navy stripe, $27.00.
3. Sweetheart skinny jeans, $17.70.


Madewell

Beefy hated Madewell, but I loved it. I really loved finding this skirt on the sale rack.

4. Countdown skirt in tweed, $34.99


Outnet

This picture does this dress no justice . . . so I can’t wait to wear it again and really show it off! (It’s at the dry cleaner after I got it filthy at CAMP.)

5. Equipment Oliver washed silk mini dress, $103.25


March total: $200.44.

Total spending for the year: $553.20

Remaining 2015 budget: $1246.80.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to buy some shoes!

Falling for Spring

Today I was informed that my color palette is unseasonable. The orange and browns are more fall than spring. I promised to do better next time.


Shirt, FY2 (thrifted). Skirt, vintage, thrifted, shortened, and embellished. Shoes, thrifted. Sunglasses, Tom’s (gift). Necklace, heirloom. Bag, Clark’s. Rings, vintage, thrifted, and/or heirloom.


Here’s a spring thistle to make up for the fall colors:

Monday, March 30, 2015

Troll

I spend a creepy amount of time under bridges. They are great photo locations. The roads overhead offer protection from rain and sun. As long as I stick to the shade, the light is even, without harsh shadows. I just have to put up with my fellow bridge trolls.


Jacket, Mossimo. Dress, Jovovich Hawk for Target. Flats, Kelly and Katie. Earrings, Francesa’s Collections. Bag, Clark’s.



Speaking of creepy, Jackson was neutered last week and his latest cone-of-shame (he ate/broke the first two) gives the illusion of a headless puppy:

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Sporty Sunday: Best Dog Discs


Jasper is a frisbee* dog. My limit is one hour but I’ve never found his. He will chase the disc forever.

Jasper is generally easy on the discs; he doesn’t use them as chew toys. However, I’ve learned that the standard, plastic frisbee is too flimsy for dog play. Even a soft-mouthed dog punctures the hard plastic, creating a serrated-knife-like surface that’s hard on the hands and tongue. (The dog’s tongue, not mine. I have a well-calloused tongue.) With rough play, the rigid disc warps beyond even an experienced throwers ability to throw in a straight line. Eventually, the lip disintegrates and the thrower is left attempting to fling something that more closely resembles a weapon than a toy. A doggy disc is required.

We’ve tried Kong frisbees and they are durable, but heavy, and fly like shit. The softer fabric frisbees are also difficult to control. Jasper’s and our favorites are the Aerobie Dogobie and the Ruffwear Hydro Plane.

Aerobie Dogobie


The Aerobie Dogobie is the perfect balance between durability and performance. We have two of these discs, one for each car, and the only damage to either disc is the result of frisbee stealers at the dog park. (We occasionally encounter dogs that take Jasper’s frisbee to chew or play tug-of-war while their owners either laugh, shrug or never look up from their cell phones.) They’ve each been thrown and retrieved hundreds of times with minimal wear. The discs remain soft and easy on the mouth.

The disc isn’t entirely rigid, so proper throwing technique is important. If the disc is released levelly, with plenty of spin, it flies far and true. This is the perfect, all-around, dog disc.

Ruffwear Hydro Plane


My nickname for the Ruffwear Hydro Plane is “the floaty frisbee.” The canvas-covered foam floats and the ring shape is easy to retrieve from the water. But the fun doesn’t end there. Jasper makes “sweet sweet love” to all frisbees. His moves consist of licking, face-rubbing, and tossing the disc. The Hydroplane is slightly elastic, and has that handy hole in the middle, so he is able to slingshot it into the air, in addition to the other activities. We take the Hydroplane to the river and spend 60% of the time tossing and retrieving and 40% of the time making sweet, sweet frisbee love.

The Hydro Plane flies true, but not exceptionally far. The foam has dented from enthusiastic play, but that hasn’t impaired it’s floatability or throwability. The fabric covering is dirty, but not worn or torn. I anticipate many months, if not years, of wet fun with this toy.

All discs are stored out of our dogs’ reach, so they aren’t chewed or tugged on without supervision.

Any other doggy disc favorites out there?

*Yes, “frisbee” is a trademarked brand, like xerox or kleenex, but I’ve used it here interchangeably with “flying disc.”

Sporty Sunday is a recurring feature in which I share my fitness routine and offer and solicit advice. While this content might seem a little out of place in an outfit diary, a healthy, strong body is the foundation of my wardrobe. I hope to inspire my readers to be fit as well as stylish!

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Survival Gear

I hate the mall. I hate the mall. I hate the mall.

I need to buy my eyeliner in bulk online so I don’t have to visit Ulta at the Arden Fair Mall when my current pen suddenly runs dry. I thought it would also be a good idea to upgrade my iPhone and shop for a bra and wallet while I was there on a Saturday. I was sadly mistaken.


Dress, Express. Vest, AC-3998 (cut from a thrifted jacket.). Bag, Happy Cow. Moccasins, Minnetonka. Earrings, Francesca’s Collection. Sunglasses, Meow Meow.

Thankfully, I dressed for retail combat. I suffered from neither sore feet nor a misplaced purse.


The day was redeemed with a visit to Incredible Pets for dog food, litter, and a gander at Sergio’s ball python.


(365 photo taken with that upgraded iPhone.)

Friday, March 27, 2015

Zephyr

One of my fondest memories is of taking the train from my house to my grandmother’s all by myself. I wore a wrist full of jangly bracelets, ate crunchy Cheetos, wrote a silly letter to my friend back home, and felt thoroughly cosmopolitan.

Beefy and I are making plans for a ride on the Zephyr between Sacramento and Denver. I can’t wait! (Note to self: pack noisy jewelry, junk food, and stationary.)


Perforated bomber, Faubourg du Temple (via Supply at Deeda Salon). Dress, Cut 25 (consignment). Oxfords, Chelsea Crew. Bag, Merona. Jewelry, vintage.


The Zephyr travels the same line as the cargo train that zoomed overhead during my photo session:

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Vote for Monkey Tail Ranch

My company awards cash to charitable causes nominated by its customers each year. For 2015, one of my Sacramento salons, Byuti, has submitted Monkey Tail Ranch for the $10,000 prize (or one of the lesser prizes). Monkey Tail Ranch trains service dogs to help autistic adults and children. Byuti’s owner has seen the results with her own autistic son and is paying it forward by hosting a service puppy, Pearl, in the salon.


Shirt, Old Navy. Skirt, Mossimo. Boots, Ariat. Sunglasses, Tom’s (gift). Jewelry, heirloom and/or vintage. Bag, Clark’s.



You can vote for Monkey Tail Ranch’s #WellaCares Challenge entry on facebook. (If the link doesn’t work, search for the Hairdressers At Heart page on facebook.) Look for the picture of Pearl!


(As much as I wish Pearl's photo were today’s 365 photo, I actually took it at the beginning of the month. Today, I took my daily photo at Shine, a new-to-me coffee joint near Byuti.)