Spirited Away

I saw Spirited Away for the first time today, at the 15th anniversary screening. I wanted to love it because I have dear friends that do, but I just found it really weird. I was living in Japan when the movie was released and the scenes mostly reminded me of how odd I found living there to be. I was always an outsider, always a foreigner, and the movie brought back those memories.

I still dream, sometimes, that I’m back in Okinawa. I’m forever lost on the narrow, winding streets that seem to have no names and unable to ask for directions. There’s a sense of wrongness that goes beyond driving on the “wrong” side of the street. I’m trying to find places I remember, but can’t seem to get there. When I wake, I am left with a longing to return just to orient myself and sort out the dreamland from the real land.

Maybe Spirited Away was too similar to a nightmare to be enjoyable. (I was certainly horrified when the parents turned into pigs. That is just the sort of thing that happens in a messed up dream.) One of my anime-loving friends has Kiki’s Delivery service for us to watch together and she thinks I’ll like that better.


Sweater, Gibson (thrifted). Leggings, Express. Boots, Blondo. Earrings, Cuffs. Scarf, Canvas boutique. Bag, Steve Madden.


I was a little sleep deprived today after getting home at 2 am and being awoken before 7 am by Jackson. I’m not even sure if I was awake through the entire movie.

Womp Womp

I feel I must apologize for the sad, droopy boobs in today’s photos. My trusty nude bra is in the wash, so I had to wear an old one and it was not up to the task. Sometimes, being a woman is such a pain.


Blouse, INC (thrifted). Belt, Hyde Collection. Skirt, Carole Little (thrifted). Shoes, Isaac Mizrahi. Earrings, Claire’s. Bag, Croft & Barrow.


It’s a pain to be a super fluffy dog, too. Jackson got a giant mat in his tail (I think from a burr) and by the time we had it cut out, he had worried it enough to create a hot spot. Now he’s on antibiotics and steroids and wearing the cone of shame. Womp womp.

Owlish

I was so excited to find the owl pellets underneath a neighbor’s tree in January, but, despite multiple trips to stare into the magnolia's branches, we never saw the owl. It appears to be gone now. (Maybe the homeowners chased it off so we’d stop creeping around their front yard with binoculars.) So far, the only good look I’ve gotten of an owl in the wild was hiking Blue Ridge Trail over a year ago.


Vest, Forever 21 (cut from a consignment jacket). Dress, Express. Boots, American Eagle (consignment). Sunglasses, Toms. Earrings, Cuffs. Scarf (worn as a belt), TJ Maxx. Bag, Nordstrom Rack.


On this day, the only owl I saw was on my beer. But I was ok with that. Oh, the elusive owl!

Haute Hippie

I’m still trying to make “business boho” happen. My formula is to take a regular (for me) office outfit and add at least one bohemian element. Today I added two: a fringed scarf and an ethnic bag.


Shirt, Forever 21. Dress, Diane von Furstenberg (consignment). Boots, Lauren Ralph Lauren. Earrings, Cuffs. Scarf, TJ Maxx. Bag, SheBoBo.

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I think it worked, because when I walked into The Hippie Hole (ok, it’s really called Garden of Enchantment), one of the staff members complimented my outfit.


Lest you think I’m dismissive of hippies, I’m secretly becoming one by layering patchouli oil under my office-appropriate perfumes.

Occupied

On Tuesday evening, I checked into the Marriott and entered room 711, to find it was already occupied! I opened the door, saw someone else’s bag parked at the end of the bed, and beat a hasty retreat to the front desk. After an apology, I was upgraded to a balcony room. Of course, I was thrilled, because balconies are great for outfit photos!

My Wednesday pics were taken at noon (during our lunch break) on my private patio, overlooking the pool. Thursday morning, I was looking forward to a repeat photo session, but the balcony next to mine was occupied and I was too shy to brazenly pose six feet from my rumpled, coffee-sipping, cigarette-smoking, male neighbor.


Sweater, thrifted. Dress, Parker (consignment). Tights, gift. Boots, Sofft (consignment). Earrings, Cuffs. Scarf, Canvas Boutique. Bag, Mondani.


After a long day of meetings and waiting for an 8:50 pm flight home, I had an entirely different level of “give a fuck” going on:

Stripes and Zigzags

I’ve heard that circle scarves are “out.” I’ll keep wearing this apparently outdated scarf because I love the Missoni-like pattern and colors. Especially paired with black and white stripes!


Blazer, Diane von Furstenberg (consignment). Turtleneck, Gap (swap). Skirt, Bass (thrifted). Shoes, Chelsea Crew. Earrings, street vendor. Scarf, Canvas Boutique.



When I travel, I try to always bring a scarf (especially for meetings in cold ballrooms) and a swimsuit. I LOVE hot tubs!

Delta Delta Delta

I don’t do the dress over jeans look often, but it was perfect for a stormy day in Sacramento and then a flight to LA.


Blazer, Diane von Furstenberg (consignment). Dress, Parker (consignment). Jeans, Old Navy. Boots, Sofft (consignment). Earrings, Rose Bowl flea market. Sunglasses, Toms. Scarf, Canvas Boutique. Bag, Mondani.



Old dress over jeans looks (feel free to LOL):


. . . and 365 catchup:


I operated a motorcycle for the first time this weekend! By Sunday afternoon, I had progressed enough to pass the California Motorcycle Safety Program. Then, I retreated to bed and books. But had to hit the road (air) again on Tuesday (with the help of a little wine).