Casting On

I’ve had a copy of Knitting for Dummies on my bookshelf for at least three years now. I planned to learn to knit to keep myself occupied backstage. (One has a LOT of downtime when cast in a musical’s chorus.) I play the lead in my next (non-musical) production, so I doubt I’ll be knitting backstage, but I chose the present to finally learn. After spending yesterday afternoon “casting on” over and over again, I decided to give the next step (actual knitting!) a try. I was dismayed to find that my second knitting needle is missing. I can only blame the kitties for hiding it overnight.

Cardigan, J Crew (via swap). Shirt and leggings and probably the socks, too, Target. Skirt, Dex (via swap). Scarf, TJ Maxx or Marshall’s. Boots, Playhouse. Bag, World Market.


I went out to get new knitting needles this morning. I bought size 9 this time, hoping that my other 10 will eventually be recovered. I undid yesterday’s knots (no great loss, as you can see below) and cast on again. Now I’m stumped on the knitting portion. I’ve tried both the English and Continental style and just don’t understand what it means to “bring the new loop through the old.” Thankfully, I’ll be visiting a knitter next Sunday.

Triple Threat

Surprise: more owls! I used my Bedazzler and one of its accompanying patterns to stud an owl onto this newly shortened skirt. Then, of course, I had to pair it with my owl bag and an owl ring. Triple the owls and triple the fun!

Cardigan and tights, Forever 21. Green sweater, Merona. Skirt, gifted, shortened, and embellished. Boots, Diba. Bag, World Market. Scarf, gift from Londyn. Ring, Girl Props.


I tried to find Bedazzler patterns online and came up empty handed. For all my fellow crafters, I’ve scanned and posted the patterns that came with my Bedazzler, including this owl pattern. My preferred technique is to print the pattern, punch out the holes with a hole punch, pin the paper to the garment, and then apply the studs through the holes. When finished, unpin and pull off the paper to reveal a picture perfect design. (Some paper may be trapped by the studs. You can use tweezers to nab the remnants.)

I Don't Do Black Friday

I like a good deal, but I hate crowds. I don’t need anything for myself and I plan to make most of my holiday gifts this year, so I stayed far far away from the shopping mall.

Checkered dress and belt, Wet Seal. Orange dress, The Limited. Tights, Danskin. Boots, Diba. Cuff, Epcot Canada. Glove, Mossimo. Jacket (pictured below), Via Spiga.


Rest assured, I did not wear only one glove all day. I chose to do so in the lead photo so that you could, once again, see my awesome convertible mittens and also my almost-as-awesome leather cuff from Epcot Canada.


I needed the gloves (and down coat) out of doors. It’s suddenly cold! I even saw a snowflake or two this morning.


Don't be sad that I didn't post a picture of my outfit yesterday (Thanksgiving). I wore the same thing as today.

Gregg's House

I got to stay at the most amazing house for my Michigan visit. It’s on a wooded lot, overlooking an enormous pond (and two smaller ponds). The view can be enjoyed from inside the house through large windows or from the hot tub on a screened in porch. It was too cold to fish and too wet for the trampoline, but I did walk the labyrinth.


Cardigan and gloves, Mossimo. Turtleneck, Cherokee. Jeans, M. Boots, Playhouse. Hat, Stray Dog.

A Day in the Park

Day two in Michigan and I’m not having such a good hair day. I put a hat on after the first photo. I’ve got almost six weeks growth since my last bleach job and it shows.

Jacket, Forever 21. Cardigan, Silence + Noise. Turtleneck, Merona. Skirt, London Jean. Tights, We Love Colors. Socks, Target. Gloves, Mossimo. Boots, Playhouse. Neckalce, Zad. Bag, thrifted.

Isn’t this a creepy sculpture? There’s something about children rendered in less than 1:1 scale that gives me the willies.

I fled the children and stole my photographer’s hat to continue the photo shoot at the shore.



After freezing my ass of at St. Joseph’s beach, we headed to the Stray Dog for dinner and then the Acorn Theater for open mic night. Three Oaks has a lot of talent and the performance space is incredible.

Michigan

I had no idea Michigan was so cool. I’m on a mini-vacation before Thanksgiving, exploring a few small towns along Lake Michigan’s southeastern shore.


Cardigan, I Heart Ronson. Dress, vintage, thrifted, and shortened. Leggings, Danskin. Boots, Diba. Belt, Macy’s. Hat, Nine West. Turtleneck and gloves, Mossimo.

It was a beautiful day at the lake – crisp and cool with a mix of clouds and sun. I got away without wearing a jacket at all.


Last time I was at Lake Michigan was during a cross country drive with my sister in 2000. We asked a nice young man to take our photo in front of the lake. Unbeknownst to us, his friend wanted to be in the picture too:


Let’s take a closer look:


Ah, Michigan.

Epic

I recently received a vintage, houndstooth dress through a swap. I’m not sure if I am going to keep it.

Dress, vintage (via swap). Jeans, Express (overdyed with black). Shirt, Bitten. Shoes, Isaac Mizrahi for Target.

I wouldn’t exactly call this a dress. I’m not tall, but, without pants underneath, raising my arms overhead would land me on Don’t Show-cha Your Chocha.


Besides being rather short, I’m afraid that it just isn’t flattering. It has an A-line silhouette that is unforgiving in the thick, woolen fabric.

What should I do with the "dress?"
	Keep it
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	Give it away on your blog
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P.S. I wore this to see Nate Netzley’s directorial debut: Epic Proportions. It was definitely “epic.”

Regretful Consumer

I just got back in contact with a college friend I haven’t seen since 1998. We were 90’s hippies. We wore Birkenstocks, shopped at the food co-op, and spent all of our meager funds on backpacking gear. He was mildly surprised by the (decidedly non-hippie) turn my life has taken and I was ashamed of my consumerism.

What’s done is done. All I can do to atone for my sins is wear the heck out of the things I already own and thrift and swap the rest. I left the hair back in college, but not my principles

Shrug, INC. Tank, Mossimo. Skirt, Express (thrifted). Belt, swap. Tights, who knows? Booties, Sigerson Morrison for Target. Necklace, Forever 21. Cuff, Hot Topic.


I must make allowances for special things – like incredible designer collaborations with Target.


I’ve had the tank and shrug since the early days of my blog, Fall 2006, and I’ve remixed them often.

INC shrug (pictured 17 times):


Mossimo sheer tank (pictured 8 times plus one photo I don't care to repost) :


Together (pictured twice, before today):