Off Topic!: Kathryn and I drink booze for entertainment (and eat ice cream)

One of my favourite things online is "lets try" videos, where people (often internet personalities) record themselves trying food or drink and reviewing on the spot, resulting in comical despair, or a product endorsement should the stuff not suck -- AND I DON'T KNOW WHY I love these videos, they are just so fun for me to watch??). I particularly love Brad Jones from The Cinema Snob, and his whole Brad Tries series, specifically for his bizarre Japanese product tries and independent/online products.

For a while I've toyed with the idea of doing this same thing, and while I know it's not related to fashion at all, this is my only major social/entertainment platform -- where I essentially tell you readers what's good to buy, right? So either watch, or ignore!

What started as one video turned into three separate runs as Kathryn and I recalled more things to consume in front of our webcam, so enjoy.

90; CLOUDS

Bodysuit: c/o Lucky Vintage Seattle • Jeans: Eyeshadow • Heels: Jeffrey Campbell Lita • Necklace: Forever21

That awkard moment when you forget to photoshop your hikeys out of your blog photos. Uh. Oops.

So pretty boring, sorry. I liked generating a nice emphasis on this gorgeous vintage bodysuit from Lucky Vintage, and didn't want to distract from it too much! Apparently this is a bathing suit but screw that, I'm not gonna risk getting this wet and wearing down the material. I'm gonna take good care of this baby.

Also I have no boobs, oh my god. I should try dressing up like a guy and see how many people I confuse. "Is it a girl? Well...it...could be a guy too. I...I CAN'T TELL." I'll be just like Vince Noir from Mighty Boosh. These are my aspirations in life.

So I've been MIA! I apologise you guys. Life just sucks lately, hardly been going out or getting dressy, but I'm working on getting my ass in gear and putting more time into this blog. I haven't forgotten about you guys! I think I just needed a little break. When it stops feeling fun and begins to feel like homework, then a vacation is needed, I think.

And hey, my fiancée and I now have access to a car, so we can actually go places and do things! This will inspire me to dress up and take photos more often, because then I can wear heels and not worry about walking two to six miles in them, won't feel exhausted, et cetera. AWESOME RIGHT?

Also also also. Do you guys...wanna see my brand new tattoo? (Hey, that kind of rhymed!)

I know you're thinking, "oh, Soulmates!" Yeah, this symbol was originally designed two years ago when I decided I wanted my first tattoo be meaningful to me and reflect my relationship with Kathryn. When I decided I wanted a shop, and decided on the name SOULMATES, it just made sense for me to use the tattoo I wanted to get as the shop logo. It's the joining of Aquarius and Libra, for myself and Kathryn, respectively.

I've had a co-worker ask what will happen if we were to, heaven forbid, split up. I'm so gonna regret it, huh? Actually, no. I would be devastated if we were to part ways, but her impact on me and my life will be just as permanent as this tattoo. It will remind me of what a beautiful experience I had with her, how she changed me for the better, and that she is my soulmate, no matter what. Not all soulmates are romantic in my mind, and this tattoo will remind me of who I am spiritually linked to. I know that if we were to split, I would still always love her in some way. I'm not going to pretend we never happened, and I would never regret her presence in my life, so why would I regret this tattoo? It would be bittersweet, but that's life sometimes. Hell, I'm so pathetically attached that I would probably still want to have her in my life, as just friends. She means that much to me!

And that's only if we were to split. Sure, anything could happen, but the above still stands.

And...now that I've gotten all emotional and misty-eyed (ha, wish I were kidding) I'm gonna stop rambling like an idiot. Just wanted to offer that up to those of you thinking the same thing others have thought and brought up to me as a concern over this tattoo. Believe me, I sat on this tattoo idea for two years, and still wanted it! Two years of ups and downs, and I'm still confident it was the best decision I could have made.

I am such a freaking sap. So much so, that my next tattoo might be a jasmine flower for my cat, Jasmine. Yeah. I'm going there. I have a list: Vishnu's name in Sanskrit, Jasmine flower, and a bull skull to rep. my home of the southwest US (holla). Someday.

Man, I need to shut up!


Title reference:

88; You'd Better Run

Sweater: Decree via JC Penny • Maxi dress worn as a duster: thrifted • Denim cutoffs: thrifted Abercrombie & Fitch (I know right?) • Boots: ALDO shoes • Harley-Davidson beanie: convenience store • Belt: gift from my girl Isabel Spectre! • Evil eye harness: eBay

Damn, this was the first day in a while where I happened to have a day off from work during nice weather. All of my days have been falling on cold, rainy weather, which is part of my lack of outfit posts. Not having a car means having to walk around to get places, and I refuse to get all gussied up if I'm just going to be bundled up in my weatherproof winter coat all day, possibly getting rained on. Screw that, I'll just wear jeans and some ugly sweaters in that case.

I regretted not having flowers in my bootlaces, something I adore seeing, so after these were taken, I promptly hit the local Jo-Ann's and bought a three dollar bundle of fakes. I really wish I'd been able to get them before taking these photos, but whatever. It's not as if I'll never take outfit photos again!

My favourite aspect of this outfit above all is the maxi skirt, used as a duster. The fabric is so damn light and flowy, that it flies up behind me while I walk, and it catches even the gentlest breeze. It looks freaking magical, especially with my hair colour. Aww yeah.


Hey hey, on another note, I'm up in another contest with PLNDR to assist-style for an upcoming photoshoot with them! Since, y'know, I'm a fashion blogger and all, I figure this is right up my alley, and since I'm a hop, skip, and a jump away from their headquarters, it's almost insultingly perfect for me!

Click here to vote (must like their Facebook page; sorry if it's a pain! I WILL RETURN THE FAVOUR?), you can vote once per day until the contest ends!


Off topic: anyone see the Avengers? OH MY GOD HAVEN'T BEEN SO EXCITED ABOUT A MOVIE SINCE...I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER. I am very and wholeheartedly seriously considering making a Loki inspired outfit. I have horns that I bought at King Richard's Faire last fall. I...I think I need to make this happen. Will you guys judge me? Yeah, that's okay.

GREEN CABLE KNIT SWEATER: GET.


Song reference, kinda obsessed at the moment:

63; The Inner Light (A George Harrison appreciation post)

 

Top and sweater: borrowed • Jeans: Eyeshadow • Scarf: Faneuil Hall market, Boston • Shades: Gypsy Warrior • Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell • Necklaces: DIY

When these were taken (yesterday), I had gotten up at four in the morning, walked downtown to get to work at five, worked until eight (am), went home, vegged, and walked back downtown to walk my fiancée home. (Who worked six to twelve.) So it's no wonder why I wanted to dress up in comfy clothes, especially since it was really mild. (Sixty-three degrees, baby! Yeah, this is something to celebrate during November in New England.) I am doing these insane things so that I can afford to get adequate Christmas gifts for everyone. Not a single penny is going to me, except probably to buy myself lunch at work, and to pay off the camera. I hope the gifts I give will be appreciated! Especially since this means I'll miss out on the Tunnel Vision opening and all of the awesome clothes and accessories.

I am so in love with the shorter-sleeved shirt. The way it hangs, the fabric, the colour...and it is freaking comfortable, especially with that sweater over it. Oh man, I am in love. ♥

Also, I feel weird wearing jeans. I only would wear them for work, as per their dress code. I don't know how I feel about this. (Mainly because most of my jeans really suck.)

Veering off course a bit (umm, a lot), today's a bit of a sad day for me. Ten years ago, my favourite musician and world-renowned Quiet Beatle, George Harrison, died. Yeah, I don't expect many people to keep reading beyond this point, and that's cool -- but anyway. My mom had exposed me to the Beatles as a kid, and I knew a couple of songs, but when he died I was pretty oblivious to anything outside of Pokémon and other kid things. I remember thinking it was really sad, though, and my mother was awfully broken up about it.

It effects me now after having revived my love for their music about five years ago, and getting into George's work specifically. While he wasn't nearly as famous as a solo artist as John or Paul, he's definitely one of the more influential people to have been around in the past century, as well as my life. His music and self are a few aspects to the mould that has shaped me as a person, and paved the path for me to find a religion that has finally given me some spiritual ease. (Honestly, I have a long way to go, but I'm getting there.)

I also must say that he's influenced my style a little. I don't know, I rather hated obnoxious paisley patterns up until I saw his rad sixties style. Look at that freaking shirt. And look at that face. That face says, "aww yeah, I know I'm one bad motherf*cker."

This dude is just one of my heroes, okay? This guy was awesome. He definitely helped bring Eastern culture to the Western world, and was responsible for things like The Radha Krsna Temple (as in the album, though he did so many things for the Radha Krsna Temple based in England in the seventies, like let them live in his house for  a short time, during which he and one of his guests took flamethrowers to the dead blackberry bushes in his backyard; true story) and Monty Python's Life of Brian. (Which he took a second mortgage out on his house to fund the movie.) This guy is so underrated and ridiculous and I love him.

I'll leave you guys -- if anyone's still around! -- with some picks from his Beatle days, and his solo years.

(A haunting version of the original White Album version)


Living in the Material World • P2 Vatican Blues • The Inner Light • It's What You Value • It's All Too Much


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Urgent, please read if you're in the US: American Censorship Day

When you click to read this post, or anything on my blog, you will be stopped by an alert saying my website is blocked. It's just a code I added to my blog to direct you to a petition I will address in a moment -- but it can be the future of most of the websites you visit if the US Congress passes a bill today giving them the power to block any and all websites for "infringing links posted by any users."

This means that any photos you have posted to your blog that don't explicitly belong to you will result in the U.S. Congress black listing your blog or site without your consent. Websites like Tumblr, WeHeartIt, Flickr, DeviantART, Youtube, 4chan.org, most likely Cracked.com, and many others will be torn down from the internet.

This is ridiculous, and we who utilise the internet for sharing media will be hurt the most. This is not a world that George Orwell depicted in "1984" and it should never come to that, but if Congress gets its way, then we will be on our way there.

I urge you to visit AmericanCensorship.org, sign the petition to Congress (you don't have to include your address) and share on Twitter tagged #USACensored.

Also, if you wish to have your blog take part in this petition, the code and directions to include your URL are on the front page of the website that I linked above.

I know this is not fashion related, and involved a lot of weird mumbo jumbo, but this could be the beginning of the end for the internet. Please sign the petition and keep our internet free.

♥

39; Gypsy Witch of the East Coast

Bandeau: Forever21 • Shorts: Crystallized Vintage (Ebay) • Boots: Etsy • Kimono: Shock Botique courtesy of Jean Greige • Hat: Ebay • Jewelery: everywhere (crow ring by Moon Raven Designs)

First off, I was interviewed by Larasati here on Blogspot recently! Check out the feature here. (In which I had a complete idiot moment and mis-said something in the motto bit of the interview. Just pretend I said that I 'remind myself not to judge myself too much'. Funny how forgetting a little word like that completely turns your meaning around!)


Yeah, I really did walk around Cape Cod dressed like this! Except I didn't sport the hat for the first few hours of the day while in Hyannis, with how cloudy it was. This outfit had been on my mind ever since my little crow from Moon Raven Designs arrived in the mail (whom I named Kaiser. I never name things, but he seems like so much more than just a ring to me). It seemed that Cape Cod was the only logical place for me to wear short shorts and a bandeau if I didn't to look inappropriately out of place. I think the inclusion of the kimono (and the hat) ended up making me look pretty out of place anyway, but at least it did in a good way.

I love feeling like such a witch. I found myself itching for any sort of new age store while in Hyannis (Kathryn's father said there should be one there, but we never found it) to further accentuate my outfit with crystals and charms. I'm longing for a Black Belles-esque black mini dress and want to do insane things like fill the room with sage and incense, tarot cards, feathers, and candles. Is there anyone else in the blogosphere that practices 'witch chic'? I need to know ASAP.


Onto the trip: we left at 4.30 in the morning, got coffee about an hour and a half later as we had just crossed the bridge connecting the Cape to the mainland, got to Dennis (where Kathryn's family's cottage is) and grabbed breakfast at Wolfie's, and finally arrived at the cottage to unload, rest, and eat. Having coffee on an empty stomach killed my appetite, so I didn't eat much until a few hours later in Hyannis, where I caved and ate some ice cream at Ben & Jerry's. Yeah, I'm not really nice to my body.

While in Hyannis, I found some suede and feathers to make some necklaces out of the crystals I bought at the 4th of July fest, a conch shell (for the symbolism involving Vishnu), a little voodoo doll charm, some shells for my mother, and at Spinnakers -- the single most amazing music store I've set foot in -- I was just so lucky to aquire a copy of the vinyl 45 single by Stephen Colbert and the Black Belles, "Charlene II (I'm Over You)"! I seriously couldn't believe that they had it, and the told me that the shipment of them had arrived to his store just the day before. It was as if we were fated to meet. ('Fated to be mated', you might say.) I'm preserving it for whenever I can find the opportunity to attend a taping of his show and see if he'll be available for signing it. It would make my life one step closer to nirvana.

We went antique shopping for a bit afterward, though I didn't find anything that 1. was within my price range, or 2. that caught my eye. We passed by a thrift store called Wicked on the way to Hyannis that we made a point to go to at some point during the day, but went back to the cottage to rest, and Kathryn and I took a relaxing walk full of taking pictures of each other. (Example, see above.)

Ate pasta, then went to Wicked, which is the cutest little thrift store! There's two small buildings, the one on front displaying vintage clothes and men's clothes, and the other off to the side and further back, with women's clothes. I bought a denim jacket, an open crocheted top, a black lace top, and a pink cami. I'm way too excited to wear them once they've been washed. (Not together, of course. It kind of would be overkill.)

We left shortly afterward, and arrived home at around seven-ish. I'm still feeling tired from it all. Four hours in a car ride + super humid weather takes a toll on me. I kind of wish we'd hit the beach, but I didn't feel like getting sand and salt water all over me. I was already sticky from the humidity and sweaty from the heat.

Luckily, we might be able to do it again next week! I'm hoping we can. Kathryn and I don't have very flexible schedules though we have been given less days to work. We had been hoping to go down to the Cape next week with just us, her sister Sarah, and some of her friends, but we kept hitting bumps in the road with that plan. We had asked to not work those days, so we might be able to do another day trip, or even stay a night. Fingers crossed!

I'll leave you with photos from my trip. I spent more time taking it all in than anything else, so I didn't end up with a ton of photos...sorry. (Click to enlarge the photos; I'd rather show your internet connection some mercy by using smaller thumbnails than usual!)

Hyannis:

 I'm really not sure what this is supposed to mean.

 I told you Spinnaker's was awesome.

 I'd give just about anything to be able to bring this doll home with me. It was at least three feet tall.

 An antique clarinet -- Kathryn's instrument of choice. She thinks it was used for highschool marching band and likely sat unused afterward. (She's so smart. I love it.)

Dennis:

Isn't Kathryn gorgeous? (It's okay, you can admit it.)

We seriously need to make 'witch chic' the lastest thing.