that birthday life

What is it about my birthdays never ever going as planned? At least I found the humor in it this year and I'm actually not upset at all. It's super silly though, how literally ALLLL my birthday plans foiled. All! But regardless we made the best of the crazy and I still had fun. I even did a few unplanned things and they were so much fun. I suppose I had forgotten what it was like to be totally random.

One of those unplanned things was go to the Orange County Museum of Art with my twinsie, Marla. It even worked out for us because it just so happened to be the second Sunday of the month which was their free day! It was a really small museum but they had a good collection.

A few favorites:

(so bad i can't remember who did these except for bottom right: Llyn Foulkes)

one of my favorites was this rad room with projections and lights. it totally made our reflections look like we were in a cool 90s music video. (i believe this installation was by Diana Thater, but i could be wrong).

Outside of the building was a peeing dog. Yes. A peeing dog. Hilarious and ridiculously surprising for conservative Orange County. "Bad Dog" by Richard Jackson.

And because it was my bday celebration I had to wear a cute dress! Here's this Dear Creatures dress I got from Ruche during the major winter sale and I won't tell you how much it cost me because then you'll be suuuuuper jealous! ;)

Outfit Details: Dear Creatures dress via Ruche, Tulle sweater (old), betsey johnson shoes  (sold out, similar here), fjallraven kanken mini (now found at urban), wet n wild purty persimmon lip color

Also we had lunch at Lemonade. I def broke paleo for that and it was totally worth it. Yes, that is mac and cheese and pot roast in that sandwich topped off with a very refreshing mint cucumber lemonade! Ugggghhhh I want one now!
x

Hamburger Helper

first of all, i have to tell you guys...bare with me here with the grocery store outfit photos. i think it's pretty hilarious, but seriously, i have no other time to take photos and i feel like the blog has been quiet lately solely based on the fact that i just don't have any photos to post. D & i never have time off together during the day and we only ever go out to the grocery because we're boring old people, so here were are. also, we'll have to deal with crappy iphone photos for now my loves, because i just can't be bothered to carry a giant dslr everywhere with me. until i buy a nice dslr quality point and shoot type of camera, this will have to do!

on a more sartorial note here, can we talk about how i'm actually really into flares as of late? i loved them in jr. high and then after that i was just grossed out by them. i couldn't get past them. but nowwwww, i want all the flares! maybe it's all the 70s rock music i've been listening to lately that's really influencing my mood which in turn influences what i wear. that's just how it works and i'm totally not mad about it. 

remember how i mentioned that i mixed teal dye with black and ended up with a witchy green? well, here it is! you normally can't even tell but i think it really pops out with this chartreuse sweater. also, too bad we didn't get a closer shot of this rad zodiac necklace, but take my word for it about how it's both equally creepy and awesome. the water bearer's face is just hilarious.

coat: tulle, sweater: urbanog, top: ruche, bottoms: urban outfitters (scored on major sale! sold out, similar), boots: frye via macys, glasses: derek cardigan via coastal, necklace: anthropologie, rings: vintage & threadsence, lip color: wet n' wild megalast in purty persimmon no. 970

all in all, i had a freaking amazing weekend of pure relaxation. i had thurs and fri off work so technically i had a four day weekend! sadly, i didn't get to spend much time with D to go out and play, but it was nice to get some relaxation time after the crazy holiday work hours i had been working. i've spent my weekend cooking like crazy and i'm super stoked! i've been trying a lot of Diane Sanfilippo's recipes from her newest book Practical Paleo and i have not been disappointed. now that we have car access it's easier for us to drive out and get grass-fed meats and organic produce for our paleo meals. don't worry guys, when i'm out with friends i'll go ahead and eat that cupcake, i just cook paleo mostly for my guy. it's just easier if we both do it and i'm not being that jerk eating a sandwich in front of the poor boy. but i'm not going to lie, eating paleo has made me feel more energized and i no longer feel lethargic all the time--let's face it i was heading towards prediabetes there, and i'm not kidding, it runs in my family. but let's leave all that diet business for another time!

Witch Baby

annnnd i'm finally getting used to having black hair. for a while there i was having a hard time recognizing myself in the mirror! lol.

so this top is hilarious solely based on the fact that its shape is a square. it seriously looks like a tablecloth...but i like it. i like the flowy-ness of it all, especially when i extend out my arms and it looks like i've got bat wings. plus i feel like a total witch baby when i wear it--especially now with the witchy hair! 

top: threadsence, jeans: kohls, boots: vagabond via urban (on sale!), necklaces: erica weiner & threadsence, bracelets: vintage & vanessa mooney, rings: vintage & erica weiner, bag: fjallraven kanken mini (now found at urban!), lip color: make-up forever rouge artist intense no. 48

i need more days at the park with D. now that our schedules don't coincide with the same free days we hardly ever have time to spend together during the day, hence the lack of outfit photos around here. oh, adulthood!

Black.

I suppose now would be a good time to mention that I got rid of the teal in my hair. I was pretty bummed about letting it go because I have never before felt so "me" until I went teal but, it's been a long time with it and I needed a change. A fresh start for 2014 if you will. But of course, knowing me, you know I had to do it my way--so i mixed leftover teal with the black and it created a freak color so indoors it's black and in the sun it's a witchy black with a greenish tint. Come on, you know me, I couldn't just let it go 100%, but honestly, i'm stoked for it. I like it and that's all that matters. Now moving on to try to tame my bangs to do the middle part thing and eventually get layers so I can try to rock a 70s rocker babe look. Onward!

dress: Ruche, shoes: Betsey Johnson via Macy's (sold out, similar) , necklace: Erica Weiner, glasses: Derek Cardigan, groceries: Sprouts ;)

OAK Life

I know. I know, you've seen this dress already! And it was almost styled the same way! So sue me! I like to wear similar outfits sometimes, okay? Okay. Now that we got that out of the way I really have to admit that i'm obsessed with tying button ups and sweaters around my waist--it just gives so much depth to an outfit.  But you already knew that. I'm full of repetitions today. whateverrrrrr.

Since you've already seen the details of this dress, let's just ignore it and move on to other things. Like this O.A.K. Apparel Co. snapback for example:

Homeboy Ernie O. started O.A.K. back in 2006 and he's going strong. I can't wait to see what new things he's thought up for fall. I love the O on this hat--i know it's silly but it makes me think of a quail bird? do you know what i mean? ahh, i'm crazy i know. I can't help but love snapbacks, they just remind me of my childhood. However, I will admit, they get me in a lot of trouble. I just don't understand why every time i wear a backwards baseball cap someone will be rude to be, or they will get crazy with me. Just because i look like a hoodlum doesn't mean i am one! I just don't get it. I'm never disrespectful to strangers and i try to never judge anyone off the bat, but in turn i always get discriminated against because of my clothes and my hair (and probably my permanent bitchface). When will it be enough to just be myself?

Seriousness aside, can you see my hamburger necklace? My twinsie gave it to me for my birthday this past year. A baby burger for a burger grrrl. I just. I LOVE HAMBURGERS. Burger time is my favorite time! Two of my favorite things in one: necklaces and burgers. Ah, my twinsie knows me well. I'm not exactly sure where she got it from--but i think it was an etsy shop. I'll ask her sometime and update this whenever i find out the deets.

And while we're on the subject of quirky things, check out this suuuuper cute baby tote i got at Daiso:

I know, i'm a third grader. But seriously, how could i NOT get it? It was only $1.50! And i use it alllll the time. Whenever i have to bring a lunch to work i bring it in this little tote. Or i drag around my books & nookHD since usually my camera is in my purse. I need to buy those camera dividers for Kanen backpacks so i can use my yellow backpack more often. Side note: Daiso is the best store ever. So many trinkets and what nots that are ridiculously cute and super cheap. Japanese stores foreverrrr. It's seriously like disneyland. For me anyway. Hahah.

Anyway, sorry for the semi-repeated outfit. I can't help it! This is my favorite dress ever!

hat: o.a.k. apparel co.

boots: thrifted (timberland)

denim jacket: thrifted (ann taylor)

glasses: derek cardigan via coastal

rings: erica weiner & thrifted

button-up shirt: liberty of london for target

dress: unknown, fashion gal boutique (lol)

'Murrica

Well, Happy Birthday America! I never usually dress patriotic on Independence Day, because well, i'm too lazy and I don't go anywhere on holidays anyway and it's just too much effort if i'm not going anywhere. ahhaha. I had to work today though, and we were told we could wear sneakers if we wore something patriotic so I jumped at the chance. Wearing sneakers at work is the best thing ever because i'm on my feet all day! I just don't know why it's just not allowed to wear em. But whateeeeveeerrrr. Please ignore that my socks don't match, it's become an issue ever since graduation. 

Also, I never realized just how pale my legs are right now. I need some sun apparently. Yikes. If you know me at all, you know i don't like the sun. I just. I can't. It's too hot. I don't like getting sunburnt. Sigh. But my legs...they're like vampire legs! I guess it's time to go to the beach. ayyy ay ay. 

I love the collar detail of this sheer waist tie shirt from ThreadSence. AND it's now on sale for muuuuch cheaper than what i got it for so you should probably jump at the chance while it's still there!

This is my please just take this picture so i can go face. Can we also note how it looks like i'm standing in front of a green screen or something? lolololol. 

Anyway, i hope all you fellow Americans are having a good and safe Fourth of July. Yay, freedom! I didn't get to go see my lil babies today so i'm a little bummed. But that's nothing bacon wrapped hotdogs won't fix! hahah. Okay i better get started on those! Adios!

striped boatneck long sleeve shirt // banana republic

blue sheer waist tie blouse // threadsence

chambray skirt // tulle

red sneakers // converse (duh)

3 stone cuff // gift...but i think it's from UO

glasses // coastal

Snapback Summer

I love stealing D's hats and wearing them all the time. Snapbacks were my favorite when I was kid. I loved pulling the snap and then hearing the click when you put it back in place. All of my dad's hats were snapbacks so I had plenty of fun doing that all throughout my childhood. haha. 

This is my favorite dress EVER. I bought it on a whim several years back when I was going to the grocery store and found that next door there was a little boutique called "Fashion Gal". Super generic but there were plenty of gems there. Anyway, not until after college (since two years ago) have I been brave enough to wear it as is. I used to always wear a tee shirt under the dress just because I was so self conscious of bare arms. I just don't have the energy to care that much anymore quite frankly. And honestly, it feels so much better not to care. I mean, in this heat, it's the best thing, did you get a look at that back cutout? So good for real hot days. 

 

Serving up some grunge girl realness.

Sunglasses // Ray-Ban "Meteor"
Heeled Boots // Doc Marten's "Clemency" Boots
Men's Chambray Button Up // H&M
Sleeveless Dress // ? Fashion Gal
Lakers Adidas Snapback // from D (but I think he got it on amazon)
Mimi the Cat Necklace // Ruche

Beauty Talk: Birchbox, Jem & The Holograms, and Me

I don't generally review anything that arrives in my Birchbox because there are just soooo many blogs out there that are specifically focused solely on subscription boxes and I feel like they have probably better ways to describe their products and such. I personally don't know much about beauty products anyway. For any of that info I consult my bestgay, Marc, who is my make-up & skincare guru. But with Birchbox's rebranding and super rad new box I figured, why not? right? right.

 Their logo has changed and it looks much more sophisticated. Now that they have expanded internationally, they needed something that looked very professional and something that really represented that they mean business. I didn't take a photo of that but i'm sure if you really feel the need you can look at their site.

The new boxes themselves have changed also. The box lids now have a much more simplistic look and i'm not sure if this new printing is anything related to this but the box itself actually doesn't smell awful. It doesn't smell like roses either but at least it no longer smells like that weird damp humidity smell that cardboard often ends up smelling like.

As with all subscription boxes, some boxes are a hit and others are simply a miss. Or oftentimes, I find myself hating most of the box except for one particular item. This time around, everything was lovely. But what mostly impressed me was the inside of the box! I know, i'm like those kids during christmas who get more excited about the wrapping paper than the actual gift. lol. But seriously. LOOK AT THE INSIDE. it's like zig zaggy awesomeness. The boxes never looked so sophisticated before! I'm totally in love. I like to keep my boxes and store sewing stuff in them usually but now they can even double up as a gift box. All you have to do is put a sticker on the top of the lid or something so it doesn't say birchbox anymore. Recycling is fun!

Anyway, the products were pretty good. They sent these adorable postcards with ridiculously cute illustrations that i'm not sending out because i'm a hoarder and i just so happen to collect postcards. Yes. I admit it. The color club nail polish is a really cute pastel green and the Davines Love Smoothing shampoo and conditioner smell amazing! D took over the shampoo & conditioner since I'm on a strict shampoo regime and can't steer off it (the downsides to color dyed hair), and he won't stop talking about how great they are. I'm assuming he's hinting at me to get them for him. lol. I just might though because I love how good his hair smells and they do a good job of keeping his locks tamed.

But the standout product for me was definitely the Laqa & Co. "Lil' Lip Duo". They are these mini lip pencils that have this super creamy texture with a satin finish. They also have this sort of minty feel to them (reminiscent of the tarte lip pencils). I got the bright pink one and it is SO RAD. It's ridiculously  bright. It's LOUD if a color can even be loud. Mixed with my hair it makes me feel like i'm living some 80s barbie dream. I think more accurately, some Jem & The Holograms dream. Haha.

I mean...LOOK at how bright that lip color is! I'm just so obsessed with it. The best part about it, aside from it being ridiculously bright, is that it lasts all day. Like FOREVER. EVER EVERRRRR. I'm serious. I only applied once, early in the day, and the brightness didn't fade away. It's like magic. Definitely something i'm going to need to order in bulk before it's sold out and i'm left lusting over it. For $16 for the mini pack, it's really not bad, considering the tarte lip pencils I normally use are $24 a pop. If you want their full size ones though, they're on the Laqa & Co. site for $18. Not bad!

See. Super bright still. I promise I will try to not look so unenthused in future photos. I sure wish D had told me my bangs were doing that awful claw thing. If you look really closely i'm wearing my glasses underneath my sunglasses. Because i'm ghetto. Actually, because i'm poor and haven't gotten around to getting prescription lenses on my sunglasses. Lenscrafters tried to charge me $300 for that and I was like, Yeah, NO THANKS. 

I'll leave you with a not so bitch-faced photo:

I'm laughing because D decided it would be a good idea to take photos and skate at the same time. Silly boy. 

Rx Glasses // Derek Cardigan via Coastal.com

Pyrite Square Necklace // Erica Weiner

Meteor Sunglasses // Ray-Ban

Denim Jacket // Thrifted

Tee Shirt // Target

Skirt // Tulle