Monday, August 31, 2009

Daily Style/Over the Weekend...

Necklace: F21 (12.00)
Shirt: Stolen from Boyfriend
Jeans: BGD gift from Boyfriend
Flats: Nine West via Marshalls (20.00)
I'm very proud of my braid today.
Today felt very much like a Monday. I'm running on very little sleep right now due to a very ill behaved kitty who got into a lot of trouble last night. Zephyr seems to go through these bouts of restlessness that can only be cured by snooping in my closet and literally climbing the walls. Ugh. Due to my sleepless night, I really wanted something comfy to wear today and this borrowed oxford shirt from Chris is just the thing. The shirt's pretty beat and actually stained up quite a bit, but it's been washed a million times and has that super softness that's the best. It makes the perfect impromptu wrap shirt. So, how was your weekend?
Mine was....
...Unbelievably wet and rainy! On Friday I travelled to the Cape to visit family and celebrate my cousin's induction into Mass Maritime Academy as a Cadet. Friday night we drove to the school to watch the marching competitions- can you see the intense rain?- where each company competed against each other. The next day we all got up early and went back to MMA to watch their graduation from Orientation. It's pretty amazing- and also a little eerie- to watch 350 people march in unison. MMA's Orientation is much different than your typical college's orientation, it's run more similarly to a boot camp, so it's pretty exciting to be inducted as a cadet and officially be part of the school. After the ceremony we all travelled back to my grandparents house to dry off and eat tons of food. I wish the weather had been nicer but it was still really nice to spend time with family! Now I'm off to watch some Season 2 Gossip Girl (!!!) and clean my dirty messy house!
How was your weekend?
XOXO

Friday, August 28, 2009

Daily Style...

I took this photo at 7am...
Headband: J.Crew (4.99)
Trench: J.Crew (19.00)
Cardigan: H&M (16.00)
Tee: Gap (4.99)
Skirt: ModCloth (64.99)
Tights: TjMaxx (5.00)
Flats: UO (24.00)
...Which was faaaaar too early!
Just now, I realized how much stuff I'm wearing. I guess that's the downside of cooler weather, as soon as the temperature drops it's "good bye shorts and tee-shirt!" and "Hello, jackets, sweaters, and tights!" This skirt was the last thing I bought from ModCloth, I'd been looking for a layered skirt or dress like this for so long, so when I saw the "Ariel Skirt" I knew I had to have it! I'm feeling quite "prep school" today, I think it's because we're experiencing beautiful early fall weather again today, I love it! The house was even a little cold this morning! This afternoon I'm off to Cape Cod to see family, I hope we don't run into the hurricane!
What are your weekend plans?
XOXO

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Daily Style...

Today's a two-fer! Before and after work outfits, because I'm feeling pretty snazzy!
Pre-work:
Cardigan: H&M (16.00)
Necklace: H&M (19.00)
Blouse: H&M (24.00)
Jeans: BDG (gift)
Shoes: Sam Edelman Thrifted (10.00)
Post-Work:
Plaid Shirt: Vintage (free)
Belt: Vintage (gift)
Jeans: BDG (gift:)
Shoes: UO (19.00)
Necklace: Adored Austin Giveaway from Leviticus Jewelry
I won this fern necklace from the Adored Austin giveaway last week, it finally came in the mail on Monday, I love it! Thank you again, Indiana!
When I came home this afternoon, I was greeted with the coziest of sights:
Doesn't Zebediah make being a cat look like the best thing in the world?

Art Notes (or: How to Curate)...

Have you ever wanted to host a gallery show, only to be frustrated in not having a venue? Look no further than your own apartment! This past weekend, Chris and I co-curated with our friend Bea the second This Collective Pull art exhibition. On Monday I showed you the party side of the event, and today I show you all the preparation it took to pull this thing off! The three of us took about two months planning the event. We sent out a call to artists on Facebook (always handy for so many things) and set the date for August 22.
First thing's first, we clearly had to paint. Our unfortunate eggy-yellow walls just weren't gonna cut it:
We set out to Home Depot in search of the perfect "Gallery Gray". This is much better:
Next, we installed our borrowed track lighting. We quickly discovered that this project is not fun to do in 90 degree heat:
After collecting the artwork from our participating artists, we laid down some paper and started to think about what should go where:
Then it was time to install! :
Chris was able to get some die-cut stickers made at work of all the artists names. This added nicely to our desired air of professionalism:
We also had a die-cut made of the title to put in the hallway, it took some wrangling:
But we got it eventually:
After hanging all of the work, we still weren't done. We still had to vacuum, dust, and windex everything:
We were finally able to step back and admire our work:
Saturday afternoon, Bea and I headed to the grocery store to pick up wine and cheese. Then, all of a sudden it was 5pm and time for the opening! We had a fantastic showing of about 40 people:
I'm pretty confident that everyone enjoyed themselves:
Cheese, Wine, etc:
It was really great to talk with all of the artists:
In case you are wondering where all of our stuff went, everything we owned went into our bedroom while we prepared for the show. It was terrible. Chris and I camped out in our living room for two days on an air mattress because this is what our bedroom looked like:
Our house is still not back to normal!

Our statement, if you're interested:
Beverly artists and curators Bea Modisett, Julie O’Boyle and Chris Sharp are happy to announce the launch of the second “This Collective Pull,” a one night only art exhibition, opening on August 22nd at 5:00 pm. Modisett, a 2007 graduate of Montserrat College of Art, conceptualized and initiated the first “This Collective Pull” last June, in an effort to unite local area artists. This initial exhibition spurred O’Boyle and Sharp to jump on board for the second incarnation which will feature the painting, photography, drawing and sculpture of Justin Bothwell, Peter Brefini, Steven Carvalho, David McCoy, Mary Bucci McCoy, Bea Modisett, Julie O’Boyle, Shawn Salinger, Chris Sharp, Sarah Smith, and Adria Sutter. These exhibitions are hung in alternative venues throughout the area in an effort to raise awareness of, and create a stronger collaborative community within, the artists of the North Shore. The momentum of this second show has proven to be successful with the offer of two venues for the future installations of “This Collective Pull.”

I should also mention that the installation alone took about a week, the pictures make it seem faster. It wasn't.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Daily Style...

Perfect, perfect weather today...
Top: Gift from friend
Belt: Thrifted (.50)
Jeans: Gift from C
Shoes: Mia (30.00)
The weather today had a hint of Fall to it, just a slight breeze that let me know that there is in fact an end to this muggy miserableness we've been experiencing on the North Shore. Tonight, Chris and I are headed to Boston to celebrate a friend's birthday. This outfit is perfect to take me from work to party seamlessly! Can you tell I'm getting a little sick of the hot summer weather? I can't wait for the cozy layers of Fall! New England in October is beautiful!
My Art Notes post will actually be coming tomorrow as I am literally running out the door now...

XOXO

Monday, August 24, 2009

Over the Weekend (aka. Where I've Been)...

Rooftop! Bangarang!
Top: Thrift (1.99)
Necklace: F21 (12.99)
Jeans: BDG (gift)
Shoes: F21 (13.99 sale)
I know, I know, my shirt is mega-wrinkly. Don't judge me too harshly.
I've basically been living out of my hamper for the past six days. Gross, I know.

As I mentioned earlier today, I'm sorry for basically falling off the map for a few days. I assure you, I am not guilty of being lazy, the past few days have been some of the busiest I've had in quite some time! So busy in fact that I've decided to break my post up in two sections. Today I'm showing you the human aspect of my weekend...
This weekend brought with it the second This Collective Pull gallery show, I made short mention a while ago of the first show in which I was a participating artist, and for the second installment I was able to collaborate with Bea as Co-Curator! This was really my first experience curating a gallery show, but it turned out so well! I'll go into the specifics tomorrow in my Art Post, but basically we turned our living room into a gallery space for a one night only exhibition of local artists work! We had about 30 to 40 people show up and everyone was so wonderful! The weather was absymally hot so after viewing the work, most everybody snuck out to the roof to enjoy some wine and each other's company. Saturday was also move-in day for the new freshman, so I think the wine and conversation was also a welcome end to an otherwise stressful day for those of us who helped everyone move in!
Sunday was much more relaxing, we spent some time at the ocean, where we were apparently lucky to even get onto the beach! I guess with the hurricanes and everything, the beaches have been too intense. Even our little cove- which is normally dead calm- had turned into something out of Moby Dick! Later on we went out with Bea and Dan for seafood at the Lobster Shanty on Salem. I felt I deserved a lobster roll after all I had done over the past several days! Chris and I have been camping in the living room because our bedroom is so full of stuff, last night we watched the first disk of Season 2 Gossip Girl!
Tomorrow, I'll show you the process behind hosting an apartment-based gallery exhibition!
I hope you all had lovely weekends!
xoxo

Still Breathing...

Contrary to what you might believe, I haven't fallen of the face of the earth. I'm sorry for the complete lack of posts over the past few days, I assure you that there is a mega post in the works for tonight. Stay tuned.....
I should really get a pedicure.
xoxo

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Daily Style & Art Notes...

Indian Summer Here We Come!
Necklace: Candace Ang for UO (9.99)
Dress: F21 (19.00)
Belt: Thrifted: (.50)
Shoes: Target (20.00)
I think it's official: Linen is one of my favorite fabrics, especially for summer. Today was upwards of 95 degrees, a perfect day for the lightness and breathability of linen. This dress definitely pushes it length-wise for work though- what's with F21's hemlines? Are they designing these skirts and dresses for nine year-olds with 27 inch waists? I ordered a super cute skirt last week, only to find it barely covered my bum, so disappointing! Now I'm on the search for a similar color fabric so I can add five inches to the length. Oh well, enough ranting! This afternoon brought more painting, but the good thing is, our living-room is really starting to look like a gallery space! I can't wait to post pictures of the process and the show next week!

In Art (All Things Bowie) Notes...
How completely awesome does this Labyrinth sing-along look?
Those of you that live in western Massachusetts (ahem, JenLovesKev) I implore you: Go to this, go sing along with Bowie, go watch David Bowie saunter around wearing an enormous cod-piece, and think of me. The Labyrinth sing-along takes place at Mass MOCA on Thursday, August 27 @ 8:30 pm, I wish I could go but 4 hours is a long time to drive on a Thursday night. If you've never been to Mass MOCA before, I highly suggest visiting! The museum is located in North Adams, MA which is beautiful and worth visiting as well!
Before I go, I'll leave you with this Bowie tribute video by the amazing Flight of the Conchords...
Cheers!

Monday, August 17, 2009

Daily Style and an Apology...

Big ol' cheater...
Love Letter Necklace: UO (Anniversary Gift)
Tank: Banana Republic (10.00)
Skirt: Thrifted (2.00)
Belt: UO (9.99)
Shoes: Aldo (20.00? 30?)
Sunnies: F21 (5.90)
Shoulder Bag: Coach via Salvation Army! (15.00)
OK, I'm going to be completely honest here about something: I did not actually wear this outfit today, I wore it yesterday. Today it was 90 degrees, and honestly, my prerogative was to beat the heat and be comfortable- rather than look super stylish. It's OK, right? You'll forgive me for one frumpy day? Saturday and Sunday were actually pretty uneventful, which is why I'm not doing my usual "Over the Weekend" post. The weather was unbelievably hot, so most of the weekend was spent at the beach down the street. We did make a quick run to Home Depot (whoohoocrazy!), and went out for breakfast at our usual place. This week is bound to be hectic, as we're preparing for our second curated gallery show for Saturday which will take place in our apartment. Right now we are actually re-painting the living room (I am covered in white paint) in preparation and will hang the work on Thursday. So, bottom line is this: I apologize if my posts are a little "off" this week.

On another note, thank you to all who read my interview over at ThisTimeTomorrow, I hope you enjoyed it!

Cheers!

PS- I hear it's supposed to be 95 degrees tomorrow...blech!