Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Over the Last Week and a Half: An Outfit Post and a Recap

This is- essentially- what I wore the entire time we were away:
In this outfit:
Top: Avalon Ex. ($10)
Shorts: Swapped and chopped
Sandals: Marshall's ($24)
Earrings c/o Noble Town Vintage (2011)
Bella Tote c/o BaliELF

Where I wore it: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and back again with some substitutions...

The next time I go on vacation, will someone please remind me that I don't need to pack anything but cut offs, sandals, and a few tops? Despite being excellent at doling out packing advice, I'm terrible at taking it, I was delusional enough to think that I would wear dresses on a trip that involved a good bit of carousing, scrambling, hiking, and messing around. Unrealistic. Comfort is king. Remember that, self.

Rather than breaking this up into a bunch of little posts, I'm doing this all at once, like ripping off a band-aid. Because, I want to go back now please. Ten days spent in all of my favorite places, with all of my favorite people wasn't nearly enough time:
Because the cost of airfare is so high this summer, we decided to rent a car and drive. After all, when Chris and I moved to Pennsylvania it was so hurried, we didn't have the chance to enjoy driving through the state (let alone drive together as he was in charge of the truck and I the car). We left for Massachusetts last Wednesday morning, and arrived that evening. After 11 hours behind the wheel, reuniting with friends over beer at our favorite dive was exactly what we needed.  

In the weeks leading up to our trip, something that I had become acutely aware of was how much I missed walking into a cafe or bar- or even just walking down the street- and seeing familiar faces, whether it be the face of an old friend or simply a face I had seen in passing a million times. I know this unfamiliarity is to be expected when you move to a new place (it would be completely insane to not expect that, right?), but even so, being consistently surrounded by strangers can take its toll, bum you out. Back in Beverly, I was home again. In less than 24 hours, we ran into almost every single person we knew there: old landlords, coworkers, college friends, Northshore friends, friends of friends, random strangers that I had passed on the street 1,000 times before and considered friends. It was the perfect way to begin a vacation that centered around us reuniting with everyone we love, all over New England.

From Beverly, we moved on to New Hampshire and Maine to finally see our families after a very long seven months. Before doing so, however, we made a stop at the Friendly Toast in Portsmouth, NH. Because, along with missing our people, we missed our old haunts too. This trip was a food fest, let me tell you.

In the interest of avoiding a what I did on my summer vacation-style novel, I'll paraphrase the rest: breakfast in Belfast, a visit to the Maine State Prison Showroom in Thomaston, all my favorite thrift stores, four bonfires, too much wine, too many s'mores, swimming-holes, two barbeques, one hike around Black Point, one much needed ferry ride, not enough time with the ocean, never enough time with family.

It was incredibly painful to leave, and I'll admit, there were tears. But this trip also made me realize that, not only do I need to make more of an effort to call friends and family on a regular basis, but I also need to be making more of an effort to get to know our new home, to enjoy it.

In total we drove over 2,500 miles in ten days.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Friday Favorites...On a Saturday

I'm not sure if this image could really get much better. Pewee Herman, Cindy Lauper, mega mixed prints. Golf. Suffice to say, it makes me really happy. I'm posting this visual explosion in lieu of my usual Instagram or cat picture because I just got back into town after a glorious, technology free ten days in Maine and New Hampshire and my phone stayed off for almost the entire time. I was too busy for phone pictures, too wrapped up in reuniting with my amazing family to tweet. It was the perfect vacation. And I'm totally exhausted and incredibly sunburned. As much as it would have been great to stay up there through the weekend, I'm thankful to have two days to decompress before going back to work. I'll be sharing some pictures from our trip on Monday, in the meantime here's what else I've been up to:

Reading:
I'm switching between In One Person by John Irving and A Girl Walks Into a Bar by Rachel Dratch. I picked up both from the library before we left for New England, with the intention of reading them on various beaches...which turned out to be delusional. I've barely cracked the spines of both, but I'm excited about them! Yes I am!

Eating:
So many crustaceans.

Regreting:
Not wearing enough sunscreen.

Anticipating:
Getting all my film developed (and keeping my fingers crossed it comes out). Also looking forward to styling up my thrift finds from up north. Only came back with three, but so excited about them!

Coveting:
This pretty maxi dress from Ruche
This beautiful blue dress from Spotted Moth 

This awesome dual-tone tote from BaliELF
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 Miss Universe Print Mini Skirt  - Click Image to Close
 This pretty galaxy print skirt from Lulu's.
Pennant - Triangle Necklace with Copper Chain & Gemstone: Green Aventurine / Blue Turquoise / Orange Jade
These pretty penant necklaces from InfinEight
yellow pocket dress
This cute mod mini from Bluesville, USA
Receive 15% off with the code orchidgrey 

// These are the perfect transitional boot for fall, would look so cute with a flow-y dress now, and jeans and a bulky sweater later on.
// I love the 90's silhouette of this striped maxi dress.
// Perfect fancy earrings.
// Speaking of perfect earrings.
// I love this cat print.

See you Monday!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Kick Around

 
In this outfit:
Vest: Thrifted ($3)
Top c/o Spotted Moth
Skirt: Thrifted ($5)
Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell "Rumi" bought from work
"Bella" Bag c/o BaliELF
Necklace c/o InfinEight

Where I wore it: To the office!

I'm writing to you today from the wilds of Maine! Where the internet doesn't exist! Just kidding...kind of. I'm writing from an internet cafe, because the internet doesn't exist at my mom's house. This has been a welcome- albeit a little inconvenient- reprieve from any and all social media and technology. I'm not complaining, it's rare these days to have a legit excuse to not answer your phone, email, etc. Wonderful to not feel compelled to check my Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc. every five minutes.

I wore this outfit last week to work, an unprecedented day where I actually felt compelled to do something with my hair, which has either been hanging limp or twisted into a cop-out bun almost all summer. It's hard to feel motivated in 95 degree heat, and this style was a nice vacation from the everyday. Do you find yourself getting caught in a hair-routine? The same old ponytail or messy bun? Yep, you're not alone!

This is the second iteration of this particular outfit. I feel as though sometimes I have to wear an outfit twice to really figure it out- if that makes sense. The first time I left out the vest and necklace and wore flat sandals- I far prefer this dressed up version. This bag has been my constant companion for the past week and a half, it's large and sturdy enough to stash two cameras and has enough pockets to keep everything else separate, which is ideal.

Hope you're having a wonderful week, stay tuned for another giveaway tomorrow!

Monday, July 23, 2012

Over (Zephyr's) Weekend

Please bear with me while I miss my cat.

How was your weekend?

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Vibrant Gloom

In this outfit:
Dress: Asos ($36 sale)
Belt: Thrifted ($2)
Hat: Vintage/thrifted ($3)
Loafers: Thrifted ($5)
Umbrella: Vintage ($25)
Bracelet c/o Lulu's

Where I wore it: To the office!

Why is it that when I actually think to bring an umbrella to the office, it doesn't rain? Today was one of those days. I suppose it's better to be prepared, but I often find myself in poor weather terribly unprepared. Despite the dry skies, I still wanted to show off this vibrant umbrella I found at the Miller Antique Mall in Verona a couple of months back. I love accessories when they can be both fun and functional, and a bright and bold pattern is the perfect way to brighten up an incredibly grey day.

As far as the rest of my outfit goes, this dress is much more...dear than what I typically gravitate towards. Peter-Pan collars usually aren't my jam, but I made an acception because this dress is crochet, and let's face it: it was on sale. I do love it though, and am happy I fell for it. I can see it working for cooler summer days (like this) or with tights for early fall. I am thinking of replacing those pearl buttons with something a little less...pearl though. We'll see. The heart belt and arrow bracelet just seemed to want to be paired together.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Over the Weekend: The National Aviary

Ok, so I'm stretching the truth a little, this post would be more appropriately titled "Over a Thursday", the bird photos are from the inspiration trip I took with work to the National Aviary at the end of last week. Generally, I like to admire birds from a distance, and am not so keen on zoo-like environments, but it turned out to be an interesting trip. I couldn't get enough of the burrowing owl pair, they seemed to have so much personality.

And I couldn't help but add in a couple of photos from the snooze-fest I discovered yesterday afternoon. Usually when I come home the cats are at the door ready to greet us, but yesterday we didn't make the bed, which- apparently- is the best thing ever.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Friday Favorites and Life Lately...

The world's most skeptical owl from yesterday's trip to the National Aviary.
Happy Friday the 13th! How can it possibly be the 13th of July already? This month is flying by at an alarming rate. What a weird week this was, we're having some car trouble, so not being as mobile has definitely put a damper on our activity level, plus we're laying low in anticipation of going north. Trying to save our pennies in preparation of eating our way through New England (Friendly Toast, prepare yourself).

This week I am:

Listening to:
Really loving the whole Pizza Tapes album, it's a little more...bluesy, than what you would first expect from a member of the Grateful Dead, and that's why I love it. It's the perfect soundtrack for working from home and doing things around the house.

Reading:
I honestly didn't read much this week, but I'm really looking forward to checking out some of the recommendations left in the comments section of last week's post. And I want to check out all of these recommendations from the ModCloth blog. Not that it really counts as reading, but I picked up a copy of Women's Health last week, and that's honestly where my attention has been going. I like reading it every now and then for workout inspiration. It's a great way to add something new to a tired routine. Kettlebells are where it's at this week.

Anticipating:
A couple days off to clear my head and clean out my house (last weekend was completely unproductive).

Coveting:
 Right Pack At You Floral Print Backpack  - Click Image to Close
This floral backpack from Lulu's would be perfect for hikes.
This sweet spotty top from Spotted Moth.

These handmade leather flats from BaliELF.
Receive 15% off with the code ORCHID
Galaxy - Long Geometric Necklace in Solid Copper
Loving the geometric beads of this necklace by InfinEight.

super 90's sunflower romper
 Can't get enough of this 90's floral romper from Bluesville, USA!
Receive 15% off with the code orchidgrey
A few more...
//I am completely obsessed with this Leah Reena Goren dress.
//This red maxi is too, too pretty.

Have a fun weekend!