My Own Private Xanadu

Joyeux Mardi Gras!

2012-02-21T06:48:00.001-08:00

Down here in Louisiana is Mardi Gras. And I have to work. Chocka blocka people flock to New Orleans but almost everyone I know has been over it, I guess. it seems to me that Mardi Gras is basically for tourists.

I celebrate this day by wearing these festive Jean Paul Gaultier wedges!
They're fabulous. Party on my feet!

...and here's me realizing I've worn this outfit before ^_^
Happy Mardi Gras!

Kiss Kiss Fall in Love!

2012-02-14T06:50:00.000-08:00

Ralph Lauren Cardigan, embroidered dress, silver heart printed stockings and aptly named Qupid shoes

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I know there a good many people who would scoff at this day, spewing tirades about not giving into the whole commercialism of it, everyday should be Valentine's Day blah blah...But it's just one day in a year and as one gets into the grind of the everyday mundane, for some people Valentine's Day helps them remind of the Loves they have in their lives. Thankfully, my husband and I don't need a Valentine's Day to dote on each other but still we celebrate this day. He gave me a dozen roses ^_^ and I forgot to make his coffee. I didn't even get him anything but the day is young...

I hope everyone has a beautiful Valentines or well, a Tuesday.

Preppy in Pink

2012-02-05T17:46:00.000-08:00

The sweater I'm wearing is from Missoni for Target, yup the collection that broke Target's website. I opted not to get the ubiquitous Missoni chevron pattern and got the graphic rose instead. Pretty! The skirt I got from a boutique in Cebu called Artwork. I picked that dollhouse from the side of the road...a yard sale that was on the side of the highway, really.

I got these lovely chunky pink blocking shoes from People Are People in Cebu. It's a perfect match for this sweater. The cat ring looks preppy to me, like a preppy university badge. Finishing touch are my nerdy glasses :-) Frockin on further!

Somewhere Over The Rainbow Shoes

2012-02-05T16:56:00.000-08:00

So these babies came in last week! They're called Chica Chola by Irregular Choice

They came in this lovely box! This is one shoe box I am not parting with.

Now why did they have to print the soles?!? It's a standing dilemma for me. I haven't worn them yet because I don't want to mess up the soles. Eventually, the novelty will wear off and then I can finally wear them but for now, I'll just gaze lovingly at them.

The Haul

2012-02-05T14:37:00.000-08:00

Finally back to the blogging business :-) I've been in absentia for a good bit. Sometimes laziness gets the best of me. I went on a month long vacation to the Philippines with husband and it also took me awhile to get all the stuff I brought back organized. I have flooded my facebook with photos of our jaunts with my beloved family and friends so I'm not going to be doing any of that here. Instead I'll post something more relevant to predominant topics. So here it is...

Gotta love Cebu's thrift stores (ukay-ukay). It's nothing but trendy clothes from Japan and Korea. Most of them deadstock items that still have tags. Some here are brand new that I have bought from boutiques though. I'll just leave you guessing which is which ;-)

Yup, that's a Fendi pair of pants!

I found a lot of shoes I wanted to buy but the prices weren't as good as I thought they'd be. They were "no name" brand shoes that cost as much as a pair of Jeffrey Campbells so I strayed away from them. I did however, found these adorable shoes from a boutique called People Are People. Since I couldn't decide on what color to buy, I bought two of each. In that way, no regrets.

Heliotrope, My Friend Your Hair Is.

2011-12-14T11:45:00.000-08:00

Monday I got a text message from one of my bestfriends Sherri asking me if I'm still in town because her and hubs Max will be. Sherri along with sisters Chauntelle, Stacy, brother Weston and cousin Garron, all last named DuPree are in a fantabulous band called Eisley. Her husband Max fronts another stellar band Say Anything. (click on the fancy colored letters to take you to their websites.) Beautiful souls really do attract each other.

I have been having really bad crippling anxiety attacks about our trip (which started from the airline messing our itineraries up) so Sherri being in town means I can go see her and take my mind off of worrying. It really did a world of good, so much good. I woke up today feeling light and airy and ready to enjoy our trip.

Sherri played her set of a few Eisley songs, hearing her without the band was kind of surreal and lonely for me because I miss Chaunty and Stackers. Sherri wasn't feeling good but like a trooper, she went in and made a lot of Eisley fans' night. She's funny on stage too, very candid. She communicates well with the audience which is a novelty for me who was schooled in shoegazer bands.

Sherri was joined by hubs Max ^_^ They're truly an amazing couple. Truly is also the name of their beloved Boxer.

Max's set was very enthralling. Everyone in the audience sang, knew every lyrics to all the songs. I love how everyone is just gazing up at Max and trying to capture every single second. To most of them here, he's a personal god. He wrote the soundtrack of their lives.

The Husbands: Thad and Max for a pre-show tequila shot.

Thad looks like V here from Vendetta. I'm pretty sure he appreciates that.

It was a short visit, we still got to hang out, chit-chat, gossiped and what-not. It doesn't feel like I haven't seen Sherri in almost a year because we always keep in touch but then, you never know how much you miss someone till you see them again. ^_^

Blogs and kissesHere's me and heliotrope haired pixie friend, Sherri
Along with my gingerbread house making party at work, this has been a most wonderful send-off. I am very happy to be surrounded with people that well, make me happy :-)

Gingerbread House Afternoon

2011-12-12T07:31:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, the girls at work took me to lunch to celebrate my sort of last day at work before I go back to Philippines for our Christmas vacation.My official last day is actually tomorrow but everything tastes better on a Friday :-D

After we got back, I went to my desk, and tried to finish a Photoshop project when I got called to the Product Design Room (where we hold our design meetings) for a meeting. To my wonderful surprise the girls set up a Gingerbread Bread House making table!!!

all you can eat craft materials!

Here's Stephanie "Squeezy" making whipping the "glue" for our houses!

I've never made gingerbread houses before. This is the first time ever and I really had so much fun. I was giggling the entire time.

Here's my sweet creation!

My house kinda looks Asian. I wonder why...

Here's us with our houses. I didn't get a photo of the other ladies (Miss Annette, Miss Sue and Shari because they had left. :-(

The entire Gingerbread real estate development!

This was such a wonderful surprise. I loved it so much. I love my girls so much. :-D Thank you so much Teli, Squeezy, Erin, Ms. Annette, Ms. Sue, Shari and Wendy! What an amazing way to send me off for the holidays!

So bottom line is, I work in a kick ass place. ;-)

I Need Your Skin

2011-11-18T07:16:00.000-08:00

It's not laziness that I haven't been posting. I've been too busy preparing for our Christmas trip. This outfit seemed funny to me. Teli, my good friend (and actually boss) made a comment "What kind of shirt is that?" I said "People with no skin." and my coat is an animal skin. It's fake, PETA! Put your paint cans down. That is actually Thad's (the husband) shirt. I like stealing his clothes every once in a while. They're comfy and they always have unusual graphics on them.

Well, I hope everyone has a frockin Friday!

Autumn Breeze...Makes Me Feel Fine

2011-11-08T07:52:00.000-08:00

It was nice and breezy outisde the U.O. store. I went in there eventually and picked out some really cute stuff that I don't need. I'm glad I didn't end up buying them. I'm really trying to save up monies for our mega Christmas trip to the Philippines. Thad took this photo. Thank you, forever love! For a split second I look like I'm holding a ciggie. But that's actually a massive owl ring perched on my finger. Sorry, I have no close up of it.

Here I go... finally sashaying on the street making it my 25 second runway

I got my long cardi from Foreve...no wait, I actually got that from Target! The huge black rose brooch added a bit of genteel-ness to my ensemble. I got my hoochie mama shorts that I will never wear bare legged with from my mom-in-law. She always gets me daisy dukes shorts. I love the rip on the stockings but I'm also sad because I wanted them in pristine condition. The top is from Rue and my purse is my Prada Sacca which I can fit just about anything (kitchen sink) in it.

Okeedokee, frock on!

Late Bloomer

2011-11-07T09:49:00.000-08:00

Good Monday everyone. I think I'd start the week off with a pair of bloomers. Weather around here doesn't stay constantly freezing but my office is so I dress warm. I'm wearing an old XOXO blazer. I've had that for years. I think it's the best fitting blazer I have that's why it's still a tenant in my closet. The shirt I got my shirt Forever 21 which my husband thought I made myself because it looked like someone just drew on the shirt. The wedges were from ASOS. Very comfy and the simplest looking pair of shoes I have. It goes with just about anything.

I'm wearing falsies today (eyelashes) because I accidentally ordered 60 pairs. I don't know how to apply them. Practice makes perfect Getting the hang of it. Besides I have 60 pairs to practice on.

I bought the black leggings yesterday because one can't have too many black leggings since I go through them like a honey badger in a nest of cobras.

So anyway, I hope you guys strive to be fabulous. Frock on!

The Gingerbread Girl

2011-11-04T08:57:00.000-07:00

Today, I accidentally dressed up as a gingerbread house. My friend Squeezy pointed that out (◕‿◕). All and good since I am already feeling the Christmas spirit.

You can't tell but I am shivering from the cold here. I was actually standing waiting for the camera to click when I suddenly thought I could run to my car and get my coat. Then, click!

A Russian matryoshka doll to add a bit of whimsy

A shoe closet is not complete without red shoes. I don't know how I got by so long without them. They're comfy, that's why wedges are my favortie style and they're super cute!

I ought to get inside before I turn into a popsicle.

Wolf in Breast

2011-11-02T07:05:00.000-07:00

Title is a from a Cocteau Twins song and I think it's fitting...you'll see :-) I wanted to be warm and cold at the same time. In the early morning, it's nipply, good enough for a thick coat but I know that as the day goes on, it gets warmer...and then it gets cold again at night. Also my office is on arctic blast so I try...

I'm wearing thick brown tights and Steve Madden wedge boots. They're cozy warm. I'm wearing an airy cotton dress under a thin shirt and all together they will fight to save me from the erratic dictates of Louisiana clime!!!

I feel stupid for trying to curl my hair, then relaxing it to achieve loose waves and wishing I can get it digi-permed when my hair NATURALLY does that anyway when I don't do anything. No blow drying, no hair products, no ironing and no curling. I'm also liking my new hair color as it is getting lighter and lighter. I'm starting to look like an Asian trying to be white trying to be Asian. Heh.

I love woodland themed anything. This wolf necklace is my favorite right now. I got it from Forever 21, my forever treasure trove of delightful things. I think it goes well with my belt buckle. So there's the reason of the title. Well, I'm about done here. Frock on!

Suckerpunched Halloween

2011-10-30T19:10:00.000-07:00

So this was my costume for Halloween which was a stroll in a New Orleans with a bunch of friends (Tabitha, Aaron, Christy and Don) and my co-conspirator in love games, Thad :-P This costume was actually a brainchild of my friend at work Steph Peters who suggested that I go out as Babydoll from Suckerpunch for Halloween all because I already had the blonde wig that I got a freebie from an ebay seller.

Normally I would just ransack my closet to see what I can find. Since I don't own anything that skimpy in my closet I had to go ahead and buy the costume. The kit came with a top, skirt, the head band which I didn't use, a belt and stockings. It didn't come with the accoutrements that made that character so badass so I customized it.

I bought a 1911 airsoft colt pistol. Then I started making the charms on the gun

from polymer clay.

I bought the decals from an ebay seller and adhered on them to put sides of the gun.

The bunny side

The skull side

Then I bought the licensed Suckerpunch Babydoll katana (Japanese sword) which did not come with the saya (scabbard) so I had to construct one from two short costume saya. Then I spray painted it copper gold and hand painted the gold snowflakes. I made the braid from an old shirt cut into strips which I connected and braided.

I constructed a holster. It took me a whole day to make it. I didn't use real leather. I used man made leather. I've never made holsters before but luckily Thad's gun holster was perfect for a 1911 colt so I used that to make a pattern. The shoulder straps I had to kind of eye it. Thad helped me out with the construction. I think it came out really well ^_^ I didn't end up using the belt that came with the costume because it was so crappily made. I wore a leather belt that I already had.

Lastly, the shoes! They were the only thing I found in my closet that I could use. They actually look like Babydoll's shoes in the movie except mine are wedges and hers were separate heels. I got them from Target a long time ago.

Thad decided to play along with my costume theme and came out as his version of one of the Giant Golem Samurai in the movie. His costume was from a Samurai Warrior kit but he constructed the mini gun from scratch! He is amazing!

So together we were this!

Happy Halloween you guys! I hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween!

Rose Dappled Life

2011-10-27T08:02:00.000-07:00

I had a hate-love relationship with that Johnny Martin dress. When I saw it in the store, I thought it was cute. I came home, tried it on and I thought I looked like was on a Seventeen magazine circa 1990. Meh. So I took it off and never bothered with it again. Today I experienced a new found love for it.

I paired it with a similarly hued long cardi gifted to me by my friend at work Andrea and some net stockings that coordinated with the leaves on the dress. I wanted something unexpected so saffron colored socks I got from Target were it _ I think it came out alright :-)

Frock on Thursday stylistas!

I give a hoot!

Tribal Chants

2011-10-24T08:16:00.000-07:00

Hello beautiful ones! I’m here again. Thank you for the warm welcome from my last post. I’m still busy making my Halloween costume but after all that’s done, I promised myself to be more active here.

My leggings look like it’s two toned. Thanks sunshine! ^_ I bought the gray top because it had an over exaggerated droopy neckline and I thought it looked interesting. I look like I'm wearing a scarf.

It’s not so chilly right now, just the right amount of coolness…but I can’t wish for it to stay like this everyday because I can’t layer ;-) Alrighty, frock on!

So where was I...

2011-10-19T07:29:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I posted anything. There were long long months of uninspiration and I also got into other stuff. Granted, I still do try to stay in style, I just don't feel like blogging. I have even temporarily left chictopia. I get like this though.

So here I am again. Yay welcome back me! Not much has changed except the hair and eating habits. I quit eating bad stuff. Mostly fruit and veggies now and some meat here and there. I didn't turn vegan or anything. I still love meat. But I'm really more of a seafood lover.

Halloween costume planning has been keeping me busy. I'll post photos WIP and the results soon. It is getting cold. Brrrr...that really inspires me to blog for some reason. I started chictopia late last fall. So here's my fashion style post. I'm wearing Backstage by Jeffrey Campbell.

Sweater by Love and Design and Hue stockings in mustard.

I was trying to show off this cute necklace I got from Forever 21 online but it was
swaying too much.

Here it is on closer view...

It's bunny with a xylophone body and she is holding the mallet.
Too adorable!

Alrighties, here I am again. I hope to be doing more this season. Frock on!

The Imp Wears Prada

2011-06-07T06:55:00.000-07:00

I haven't been style blogging lately. In the summer, my inspiration gravitates towards my toy hobby. I'm currently in the process of unpinking a massive Barbie dollhouse. This shall be another blog post. If it weren't for Thad saying I look "cute" today and him motioning at the cobwebbed camera, I wouldn't be posting ^__^

I've worn that vest before. I don't know why I'm dressed for fall. But as my friend Squeezy pointed out, it is cold in our office anyway.

This is my grown up purse, a Prada Sacca. You can get this here. I don't know why I'm plugging for Neiman Marcus, I'm not even paid to do that. That's my good deed for the day. This design is austere compared to my usual fun purses. I haven't really been dressing up to the nines lately. My summer wardrobe consists of jeans, sandals, a cardigan and babydoll tops. No fuss. So I have a no fuss purse to go with my ensemble. Also, it's a bag of holding. I can fit my kitchen sink in there if I have to. There you have it. Ephemeral style post. Frock on! But lately it's been toy vey! for me ;-) Heh.

Me and my trusty grasssteppers, Jeffrey Campbell Litas

My First Dream House Was A Miniature

2011-05-28T15:19:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted and longed for dollhouses since I was a little girl. The first dollhouse play set I spied was in the old department store Gazini Plaza, in Cebu (Philippines) when I was 7. The packaging was ingenius compared to boring unimaginative blister packs. The sets were packed in boxes and sectioned to look like rooms. It was called My Dreamhouse.

The whole set cost 50 pesos. I begged my mom for it but she said it was too pricey for a toy. Growing up, we didn't have a whole lot, food and clothing were more important than toys. Whatever toys we had, all four siblings shared. I pined for that set but I eventually settled for a P20 fake Fisher Price Little People set, no house just furniture and people in blister packaging. It was better than nothing. Fast forward 7 years later, I saw the same set at Rustan's, this time it was for P125. Again, I asked my mom for it. I was already 15 years old, old enough to be paying attention to boys but boys were still gross to me. :-P My dad was working overseas at that time and was bringing home a Fisher Price dollhouse for me... again I get foiled by Fisher Price :-P so I let go of that second chance. I did enjoy my Fisher Price dollhouse and got hours of fun with it. For a time, I forgot about My Dreamhouse.

I got by with it but I still couldn't forget my first love ;-)

Compared to the sets I lusted for, the Fisher Price play set looked very childish, with its rounded corners, bright colors and very simple lines compared to the My Dreamhouse sets that were more detailed and actually looked like exact replicas of real furniture.

I expressed my remorse about not getting those sets. So on my 25th birthday, my brother Rico tried to search and scour for these sets with no success. He got me a pink toilet seat instead for my bathroom. Haha.

The dollhouse gods finally smiled upon me and decided to end my plight for I found this set on ebay about 5 years ago. Although not the exact thing because the rooms have a different style but still, imagine my heart overflowing with joy and childlike fervor when I saw this listing! It was like seeing an old friend. That original set I saw had a music room but in lieu of it, the listing had a bathroom, a den and a study. Six sets instead of the original four!

Squeep!

I was mildly surprised that they were made by Bandai. I didn't know Bandai had been around that long since I only heard of Bandai when I started collecting Japanese vinyl toys. The subsequent releases were made by Blue Box.

Here's a closer view of each room set:

bedroom

bathroom

den

study

dining room

kitchen

So there you are, my first dollhouse saga. I have managed to collect and even build a more elaborate dollhouse (that shall be blogged in the future) but this is how it all started. If there's one thing I've been consistent about, it's dollhouses. They fascinate me to no end.

Friday Frockin

2011-05-20T07:33:00.000-07:00

I don't really know what look this is. It's comfy and not so blah looking unlike my other outfits the past few days. I've been in pain and not really feeling like strutting fashionably, hence the absence of posts. That's what exercising does to you if you have a body like mine that is fast becoming a lump of clay. I am so out of shape that climbing a flight of stairs to get to the next floor leaves me out of breath.

Enjoying a very very mild breeze this morning.

Serious necklace pile up :-)

The top was supposed to tie at the hips but it's most unflattering. Makes me look like I have a tubby gut so I loosened the tie and just let it fall. I'm taming the layers with a thick belt. Right now, the weather is still ok for a light cardigan so I'm wearing that teal cardigan I got from Target for the first time. I'm pretty sure it's been sitting in my closet for close to a year. My super comfy Seven jeans looked right for this look and my Jeffrey Campbell Snick Wedges to finish this perfectly and simply.

Hurray Friday! ^_^

Maxi Hues for Monday Blues

2011-05-16T07:25:00.000-07:00

I bought this maxi dress just yesterday. I don't immediately wear clothes I buy, normally they sit in my closet for weeks or months. More often, I forget about them and it's such a wonderful surprise to go through my closet and see clothes with tags still on!

This is my second maxi dress. I don't particular care for the other one because it has a weird cut. It doesn't look as flowy as this one. Barefooted, it's too long for my petite frame but thanks to my massive Dany platforms, they're a dream...

I bought that fish necklace a long time ago, only got to wear it now. I painted my nails royal blue not really thinking that it would perfectly match my denim jacket!

Wearing new clothes on a Monday is a surefire way to beat the Monday blues. Frock on!

Make Your Mauve

2011-05-14T14:24:00.000-07:00

Hello pretties! I haven’t been posting because sickness took away my inspiration. I guess it’s a lovely day to get inspired since it’s the weekend.

I got every piece of this outfit for a bargain, except for the purse. I got my vintage belt from this fabulous thrift store in town called Here Today Gone Tomorrow. I say fabulous because the building is painted lime green and fuschia. This belt actually reminds me of the lovely Harriet of This Charming Style. She always wears belts like this :-)

I bought this adorable necklace that people mistake for a bottlecap. My bestee Colette spied it first and I followed suit because well, it was cute. A good reason enough. I loved that for how Japanese pop art it looks, it also is in sepia tone. The owl ring is only my 6th or 7th...but who's counting ;-)

Colette convinced me to buy that purse. I don't use it often so it will be a while till I've worn its worth. This purse is not exactly a goes-with-anything purse. The embroidery and colors make it a bit of a challenge but when I come up with styling like this, the purse is well worth it.

The floral wedges were from Forever 21. They were cheap but a beauty! I don't wear them often for I know they will fall apart in mid-sashaying. I wore them because the blue flowers picks up the color of my cardigan. Anyhoo, I hope you guys have a lovely weekend! Frock on!

Sucre Bleu!

2011-05-06T08:02:00.000-07:00

Sucre means sugar and bleu means blue but my title is a play on the French expression sacrebleu. I'm just trying to be clever here. Heh. My friend Trammie gave me that electric blue dress. She bought itfrom Vietnam. Actually she bought me a bagful of clothes. My friends spoil me :-)

Yup, I'm wearing the rainbow platforms again! ^__^ I don't think I have a whole lot of pieces in my wardrobe that go with them, sadly. I should remedy that so that I can wear them often. I love them so! I'm wearing mustard stockings this time. It was still a bit cold this morning and well, it is always cold in my office and I was born with icicles toes anyway so stockings should be the order of the day. Or everyday...

speckled sunlight

I got the necklace from Purple Cow, a somewhat pricey thriftstore but you hardly see crap there. It's all carefully picked. I always find knick knacks from the 70s there. My ring was from Forever 21 and the beaded bangle from SM, Cebu

I try to dress especially pretty on Fridays because it's my way of welcoming the weekend and I also have lunch dates with Thad :-)

I hope you guys have an excellent weekend! Frock on!

Dark Black Light White

2011-05-05T07:54:00.000-07:00

I was at a loss on what to wear today so I took some old curtains and donned them on. I'm joshing but I admit my dress look like curtains. It was still a bit cold this morning but I wanted still to look a bit airy fairy dainty so I picked this lacy dress to wear over a black skirt and a black long sleeved turtle neck.

My Jeffrey Campbell Backstage wedges are perfect for this ensemble.

Playing the whole black and white scheme to the brim

I came across this lovely vintage pewter dollhouse pendant on a New Orleans based online jewelry store called Dejarnette. A few months later I found the same pendant for $2.00 and what's best, the seller sold them in a lot of 3. I then attached the tree, the watch and key charms on a silver chain that I got from Michael's for $8.00. I feel sorry for that person who bought it for $148 because my pendant cost me next to nothing and looks more fabulous :-D

Frockin on Thursday!

May the 4th Be With You

2011-05-04T07:09:00.000-07:00

Thad's little nook and the enshrined vintage Star Wars poster. Guy Fawkes grinning in approval.
I'm wearing Thad's Stormtrooper Crossbone shirt.

Today is Star Wars Day. I'm being a poseur for celebrating it when I've never seen Star Wars and the subsequent films that followed. I subliminally hear the collective gasp of nerd friends appalled at this statement. I'm still celebrating with and for the biggest Star Wars fan I know. This little boy below...

This was my husband Thad at 4 years old, dressed as Luke Skywalker. This wasn't Halloween. This was everyday and around Christmas time. Shirt and tunic all made by his late grandmawmaw Elsie. It's a cute family story of how he would refuse to take the clothes off and how his mom Marilyn had to fight with him in order for her to wash them. Thad was out one day when his dear Uncle Marvin mistakenly called him "Thad". The 4 year old grimaced and snarled, "I'm not Thad, I'm Luke!" Uncle Marvin jovially conceded and to this day, he still calls him Luke. ^__^

I can claim 3rd degree of separation from George Lucas. My bestie Cezoralene, whose uncle, Nilo Rudis-Jamero, was assistant art director for the all the Star Wars movies. Cool points! Here's a funny quote from him:

"I met George Lucas at his house in San Rafael where I failed three questions: 'Do you like science fiction books? Do you like science fiction movies? Do you like movies?' He hired me."

He is Filipino, where did you think some of the alien languages in SW came from? :-P The ewoks spoke bits and pieces of Tagalog.

Thad has had these Star Wars toys and knick knacks, remnants of a massive childhood collection that never made to the garage sale tables. I've gathered what is left along with newer toys I've serendipituously found and housed them in a bookcase where his geeky computer literature reside as well.

Also, special mention to my bestfriends' band Eisley who were orignally called Mos Eisley. Hehe. I didn't really wanna grab a photo of the internet so I'm posting the goofy one I took of them the last time we all hang out. I get to see them in June!

The only Star Wars memory I can recall from childhood was how grossed out I was to see Jabba the Hutt eat frogs. Or did he? I'm not so sure now. Anyway, to all Star Wars fans, especially the ones who've altered their homes to look like the interior of:
a) Death Star
b) The Cantina
c) Lars homestead
d) Cloud City
e)all of the above

May the 4th be with you.

Walking On Rainbows

2011-05-03T07:27:00.000-07:00

I'm dressed like a box of crayons all because of this magnificent pair of heavenly shoes! I spied these Jeffrey Campbell Salvatore Ferragamo-inspired rainbow shoes last January, a day too late for they were sold out! Imagine my heart crashing to the ground in myriad pieces. I eventually swept the pieces up and emailed solestruck.com if they will ever restock. Fast forward 3 months later, I finally got email of news that they've restocked and I didn't dally. I immediately snagged a pair. The impetuousity paid off because they were out of stock again in a matter of hours! I've never been so excited over a pair of shoes. But look at them! You can't blame me! :D

Salvatore Ferragamo designed this shoe for Judy Garland in 1938, an homage to the song Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

I may have to reconcile myself with wearing bright primary colors in order to wear this pair of shoes often. It's too awesome to just sit in my closet. We'll see...

thrifted embroidered belt, paid for by bestie, Colette, editor-in-chief of the best Japanese collectible toy website there is tomopop.com ^__^ She rocks more as a bestfriend, though.

In my backyard, braving the cold breeze this morning that came from nowhere...

On my second favorite rocker. First one would have to be Thad :-). Hehe.

Can't end this series without a photo in the room called, Mr. Buttersniff.
Fun shoes. Fun room!

Litas and the Itch

2011-05-02T07:44:00.000-07:00

This dress feels like a vintage dress in the is-it-comfy gauge. It's not. It's kinda of stiff and itchy. The only thing lacking is the moth ball smell. I figured I'd wear it today, it's still pretty after all. Probably not wearing it again...wearing my black Jeffrey Campbell Litas for good measure. You can hardly see but my stockings has Jolly Rogers pattern on it :-)

I'm glad no one's here...just me by the tree.

I'm glad no one's here to mess it up for me but man I wish I had a hand to hold. I'm in the habit of being alone. I try hard to break it, I can't on my own... -Edie Brickell

I seldom take pix inside my house

Happy Monday! I was able to finish a project I kept putting off last weekend. The sense of accomplishment that I feel right now is so staggering that I want to do some more stuff! My sombre colored attire doesn't really express how lighthearted I feel right now.

Photo is above is (obviously) taken in the kitchen. In the background is my out dated but hardly used stove, since I rarely cook. The red microwave on the other hand, is the slave appliance. The dish towel hanging on the stove door is a Helen Dardik print. I am highly influenced by her, but then there are so many many many illustrators who influence me. I'm really trying hard to come up with my own style of illus.

I'm kind of baffled why these photos came out crappy, all I did was resize it. I'm too lazy to figure this out... ^___^

Once Upon A Guitaress

2011-04-28T07:17:00.000-07:00

rockin' in D-sus

A long long time ago, when the earth was young and before evil appeared in the Garden of Earthly Delights, I had a band called Robotballoons. In that band, I played guitar and sang. We recorded an album that never saw the light of day. I had a cheap but beautiful guitar which I painted a Mucha-esque inspired profile of a woman and christened her Desdemona. She was named after the tragic Shakespearean heroine who was smothered to death by her husband, Othello. Damn suspicious creep.

Recently, I've been musically inspired and excited in the prospect of playing music again when I go back to the Philippines for the holidays. I wrote a song last weekend and helped my boy bestee Ian Zafra with his. It was quite a productive weekend. I hope I can duplicate the surge of inspiration this coming weekend.

Flower child. Mildly wild.

I planted that purple clematis from bare root! I'm extremely proud of that little climbing beauty. She's taking off.

Bohemian and hippie clothing except for tie dye will forever be in my closet. I wish I had been teenager in the 70s.

Jill Of All Trades, Mistress Of None

2011-04-27T07:19:00.000-07:00

I haven't been posting lately. I've been on that slump where I feel a little burned out. Uninspired. I want to do something else. This is a curse that has plagued me forever. I can never stick to one thing. I am all over the place. I can't master a craft because I get bored as soon as I figure it out and move on to the next whatever thing that fancies me. I know a slew of skills that could almost pass off for McGyverism, albeit useless because I can't embroider my way out of a basement.

I'm still going to make myself do this semi or quasi daily blog but with less fervor and consistency till I get out of this slump. I picked up a guitar again after 48 years and wrote a song...two songs as a matter of fact with one of my boy bestee Ian Zafra, bitchiest guy I know. I love him though. He has some purpose. I think :-P Check out his band Sheila and the Insects. Vid below ^__^ It makes my heart radioactively glow with pride reading the comments left for them on this video. I've known them since before they made it. That also makes me feel proprietary :-P

...and onwards to this pretentious style blog post, I'm wearing a Rue 21 top under a strapless Charlotte Russe dress. Like I would wear that bare. That is Thad's orange cardigan that he never wears so I always end up wearing them. It's a little bit warmer to be wearing a cardi but it's cold in my office. The belt I won from a Rainbow Brite Look A Like Wrestling Match. I kid. It would've been cool though instead of saying I got it from Love Culture. I had to bring that belt home. It looked so out of place there, seeing that they seem to only sell the safest colors to sell. Black and White. Meh.

Green legs and ham

Gotta love ebay for scores like this pumpkin coach necklace that I got for a measly buck.

Pawn Shoppe Heart

2011-04-25T07:49:00.000-07:00

What the Glindmeyers wore on Easter Sunday.

For some reason this photo reminds me of a 1970s album cover. One of my besties, fashion designer extraordinaire Kate Torralba coined me and my husband, Thad collectively as the Glindies. Thad's original last name used to have a Von in it. An ancestor who had a baronetcy in Germany carried that till the clan migrated to the United States. It's also some sort of play on the band called The Von Bondies who released an album titled Pawn Shoppe Heart. So the Von Glindies it is. Belated Happy Easter to you all. I'm just not going to go into the semantics of how Easter is a totally non-Christian celebration. The name Easter itself is from a pagan Germanic goddess Eostre (Ostara). Alright, frock on and stuff!

United States of Kawaii

2011-04-21T07:20:00.000-07:00

My love affair with Japan started at the tender age of 6 probably with this lady, Eiko Hanamura. Everything about her evokes loveliness. Even her name has the Japanese word "hana" for flower in it. She was a Showa Era mangaka (Japanese comic artist) who created artwork that graced pencil boxes, stationaries, notebooks, memo sheets, paper fans etc. I truly love her work.

I'm wearing red for the Japan Earthquake Wear Red Wear Hope Relief Fund Campaign sponsored by chictopia.com. It took me a while to come up with a proper red garb. What better way to express my love for Japan than to wear a shirt printed with Japanese-inspired characters of Kawaiiland. Kawaii in Japanese means cute ^_^ I'm wearing a blazer for added corporate flair. Heh. I try sometimes.

I'm carrying the First Edition LeSportsac tokidoki Mamma purse designed by the Italian, Simone Legno, whose works are largely influenced by Japanese kawaii characters. Random people always compliment me on that purse. Can't blame them. It's super cute :-P

I love the simplicity of my outfit. Without the frou-frou and the massive heels, it's highly functional for my trend board project when I'm sitting on the floor with my sample layouts and cut outs. A beautiful mess really.

Please continue to pray and give what we can for Japan.
Well, that's that for now. Frock on!

In My Tribe

2011-04-20T06:42:00.000-07:00

The Boho-chic inspired trend board I'm currently making at work inspired me to wear Bohemian-Nomad today. Hmmm...I just noticed that in all these photos, I never looked at the camera.

The tribal printed dress is by Derek Heart which is too cleavagey for work so I wore a nude top underneath. Since they're spag straps, I have to wear a cardigan, too. It's cold in my office anyway. I'm wearing my bell bottoms because my bare legs are riddled with shaving scars.

My purse was the product of a clothing exchange with my good friend Josephine. She borrowed an embroidered top of mine and I in turn, borrowed the purse. Since I've had it far longer than she's ever had it, she gave it to me. Score! Also she doesn't know what happened to my top. Even Stevens.

My medallion necklace was a birthday gift from my friend Jade :-) whom I haven't seen in a long time. I need to reconnect with her. My coffee chat with Jodi was very interesting. We laughed, bounced ideas off each other and gossiped. Hehe. It brings a smile to my soul that we can always pick up where we left off even though we haven't seen each other in a long time. Frock on!

Mighty Watermelon Drops

2011-04-19T07:44:00.000-07:00

Nevermind the fact that I look like a picnic table. It really doesn't help that I'm wearing watermelon colors. It's getting warmer again and this outfit is light and breezy. Here I am with my pink dollhouse, pretending to be thinking. I really ought to do something with that dollhouse soon.

I don't remember where I got my top. I've had it for so long. The only thing new-ish are my hot pink shoes. I'm always posing by this tree. She's my photo buddy. She's not in bloom right now but had she been, we would've matched. Her flowers are bright pink.

Even in lieu of hair products, my hair seems to be channeling Lion-O. Awesome.

All smug in this mug

I forgot to bring my lunch today :-( I hate having to go drive and get it. Maybe I can eat some paper. I have a coffee date with my dearest friend Jodi. Clickty split on the link!

She's a singer-songwriter friend. I can sit and just listen to her enthralling voice all day. She helped me fix our house and we didn't even need a radio. She provided the soundtrack with her amazing catalog of songs. We used to hang out a lot but things happen or rather I let things happen. So anyway, coffee date with Jojo! Yay! OK and stuff...

Glad I'm Plaid

2011-04-18T08:24:00.000-07:00

Someday I'm going to build a labyrinth in my backyard.

I'm wearing red for Japan although my look is decidedly British. I'm even wearing a Union Jack ring. So after much thought, I didn't post this for the Wear Red Wear Hope campaign. I'll try next time with a more appropriate red garb.

I'm [still] wearing net leggings to hide my hideous shaving nicks. I had shaved off some skin not once but thrice.

This necklace pendant resembles a Mexican doll.

The Collector and Purveyor of Childhood Memories

2011-04-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

Xanadu was not supposed to be just a style and fashion blog. It was supposed to encompass everything I am fascinated with that I care to share with the rest of the blogosphere. The everyday style posts have become very convenient for me because they guarantee daily entries except on weekends.

My other loves include vintage toys, Blythe dolls, designer Junko Mizuno vinyl toys, dollhouses, Swedish pop music, Brit Pop, French cafe music, embroidery, 1800s romance novels, Jean Pierre Jeunet films (the auteur responsible for films such as City of Lost Children and Amelie), Neil Gaiman, anime, sappy manga love stories, koedachan toys, vintage Sesame Street cartoon segments and last but not least, vintage children's books and their illustrators. I may have failed to mention some more interests but no doubt, I shall be blogging about them in the future. Actually, just about anything that reminds me of my childhood, I'm drawn to.

Shelf Obsessed

For detailed photos of each cube, click here .Pardon the laziness from posting them all here. ^__^

Above is my ikea wannabe-expedit shelf but I think it's better than the original since it's made of solid wood. Heh. These are the denizens of my X-Pedit. I don't house my Blythe dolls there since they're on a shelf beside my bed. This shelf resides in an extra room in our house called Mr. Buttersniff. We couldn't decide what to call that room: office, studio,computer,toy, sewing,brown,music... So we quit and gave it a person's name.

The Blythes on a shelf beside my bed, keeping their eyes on me, watching me sleep.

Growing up, I didn't have a whole lot of toys, I entertained myself with my own illustrations of faraway lands and imaginary friends. I still think I 've had the best childhood. If it wasn't for my highly active imagination, I wouldn't be where I am today and working at a job that can afford me to kinda sorta buy back my own childhood...even if they're just in the shape of toys I never had as a child. It's never too late to get what you wanted :-)

My Girl Lolly-Pop

2011-04-15T07:41:00.000-07:00

This photo highly amuses me. I look like a deer in headlights even though my psyche is perfectly zen with everything right now. I always look too overdressed for work. But then people at work are used to me that if I ever wear basic comfortable tracksuits, they'd think I am under the weather.

The plushie I'm holding is a prototype Lolly :-) I designed her for a line of pillow buddy plushies that our company produced. She resides on my couch. The top ones are my designs. The pink one we named Snookie before the trainwreck that is Jersey Shore was even conceived by the trolls over at MTV. I'm wearing an XOXO blazer that I've had for years. I bought my Charlotte Russe dress for...are you ready? $5.00. Hmmm...I just realized my stockings and my shoes are from there, too. I feel like a live mannequin, a short, live Charlotte Russe mannequin.

and here we are outside on my rocker, hanging out looking poised and proper...

I bought my necklace and ring from Forever 21 ^_^ I really should live there.

I'm so excited that it's Friday just for the fact that I can be home and clean and do some gardening. Thankfully I don't burn, I just tan...in two minutes... which is lamentable for someone like me who'd rather be geisha pale.

Well, frock on, mighty fine people!

Bubblegum Hues

2011-04-14T08:35:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty much a happy person. If I have to wear my feelings out, I'd wear these colors often...except I'm not too crazy about brights.

I really much prefer the muted but ironically yet, rich colors of fall. Brown, mustard yellow, rust, maroon, dark teal, bottle green, those are the colors that I gravitate too. If I wasn't hampered by the confines of seasonal colors, I'd wear them all year.

I'm wearing this color blocking because I wanted to finally wear those shoes! I've had them for so long and now is the first time I've ever worn them.

I don't smile too much in my photos, maybe a shadow of one. I feel stupid smiling without having nothing to be amused about. But I was genuinely amused here. Thad was walking towards me to join in the shoot. ^__^

Ahhh my gumball machine brooch. I love it so. It may not have pink on it but I think it still coordinated well with my bubblegum colors.

Dots Neither Here Nor There

2011-04-13T08:18:00.000-07:00

I'm playful this time. Dots always suggest that. I wanted to wear bright red stockings but I couldn't find my pair this morning so I grabbed the blue ones. My belt has some some blue on it.

I bought my belt from a church garage sale for 25 cents. I love the tapestry design on it. The lady who used to own it checked me out at the register. She said she wished she still had a tiny waist. My wooden kokeshi from F21, where else, really...Wearing my Chloe wedges again ^_^

...and dots all folks. Frock on!

Vintage Daydream Believer

2011-04-12T07:42:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling back to normal with this garb on. I still thank my stylish friends who thought my outfit yesterday deserved decent chic points even though I thought otherwise.

I bought my floral printed shoes from Forever 21 for a measly $25. Hurray for cheap finds! Their shoes only go down to a 6 and I wear a 5 or 5.5 so I was really thrilled to find that this particular size 6 fits me like a dream! I love shoes that are a challenge to mix and match. Keeps the imagination sharp and varied. I own staple ones but every once in a while, I'd like the shoes to be the defining factor of an outfit.

I thrifted that vintage top from The Purple Cow. Isn't it lovely? I love Edwardian tops. I think I own close to ten. I love how they remind me of the English countryside or tea at the manor. ^__^ Daydreaming...

I dragged that swivel chair for a photo op. It's a permanent fixture in my carport. I don't really know what to do with it. I can't throw it away. That thing is solid wood and heavy as a broken heart :-P

My accessories are all from Forever 21. They sell the cheapest and the most interesting pieces of costume and novelty accessories. That lovely cameo brought out the muted pinks in my outfit.

Specks of sunshine on a drab gray wall also describes the effect of some people on me. They're amazing to be around with.

Pocketfull of Wonderful

2011-04-11T07:18:00.000-07:00

Me on my vintage banana seat Tyler. I took that baby out for a Sunday bike ride. I promptly passed out when I got home. My body was like "What did you do to me? How dare you exercise!"

I'm dressed somewhat unimaginatively today compared to what I would've dressed up as. A Penguin. Surreally suggested by my friend, Clementine from Acid House Kings' vid Would You Say Stop? When I came out of the house, I felt the muggy air embracing me with the affection of a stalking ex-lover. It was too hot for such a garb!

Self-timers on cams can be tricky. Just as I was about to get comfy on that rocker, it clicks. Oh well.

My doe a deer pendant is showing you her butt.

Smile fool! I swear, I always think I am smiling till I see the photo. I look so damn mad all the time. I'm really a happy person. Ask my dog.

I love tops or dresses with pockets. That has been a childhood fascination that I still carry to this day. Pockets were like magic to me, like a bag of holding. I used to put all kinds of things in the pockets of my dresses: marbles, leaves, magic seeds, bottle caps, chalk, dragonfly wings inside matchboxes, coins, candies and band-aids. Now that I'm older. I don't put as much anymore. Growing up sucks.

Rise Xanthe Shine

2011-04-08T07:45:00.000-07:00

Parasite twin sister Xanthe wanted to take part (sigh* again) so here were are. I wonder who wore it best.

I finally get to wear my Gaultier wedges. It's a tricky pair because of its wild colors. I just can't wear them without having anything coordinating. I don't have a whole lot of yellow pieces.

That's not a dress that I'm wearing. It's a top and skirt :-) I saw that top on the F21 website maybe about two years ago and didn't buy it.

I didn't really obsess about getting it so I let it go. Then I saw the top again new with tags on ebay and I remembered how I fancied it back then.

I promptly bought it and when it came to me, I felt stupid that I wasn't too keen enough about it to buy it because that top is really pretty! I'm just happy about the second chance.

Sometimes we don't get second chances. Opportunity very rarely pays you another visit. So when you see something or even find someone you need to have in your life, you have to muster all your strength to combat apprehension and sometimes, reason :-) It could be the best thing you've ever done in your life...and if not, at least you won't go through life asking "What if?"

I Beg Your Pardon, I Never Planted This Rose Bush

2011-04-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

This is me and my parasite twin sister, Xanthe. She lives in my head most of the time but manifests at certain hours on Thursdays.

I got my lovely dress from my lovely friend Squeezy Peters. When I beheld it, I thought of prairies :-) and wearing it with black stockings and boots. Fast forward several weeks later, here we are. I'm not on a prairie but I do live in Prairieville, a very quaint name for a city. I'm wearing my black Jeffrey Campbell Litas to offset the delicateness of this styling.

Below is my weed rose bush. I'm saying weed because I didn't plant it. It just grew one day. I left it alone for 2 years and now it's a somewhat formidable bush. I don't even take care of it.

I don't exactly remember where I got my necklace but I figured I'd go all romantic and simple today.

I hope everyone has a beautiful Thursday.

The Bohemian Manifesto

2011-04-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

Warm weather always brings out the bohemian in me. I always wear denim pants more often in the warm months than in the cold months. Cold months for me spell dresses, cardigans and stockings while warmer months call for flared denims, soft linen embroidered blouses and open toe shoesies. I still can wear dresses of course, but I'm not too crazy about being bare-legged. Every once in a while I'll put on a summer dress.

I look like I am walking my invisible dog, Invisigotham...

I don't remember where I got this top. Sometimes, it just seems like things just appear in my closet. It was a bit chilly this morning but I'm sure it's going to go back up. I hope, since I have tennis tonight.

I'm wearing Thad's hat to keep the wind from messing up my hair. It was gifted by our friends Derek and Casey. They did good since it has been Thad's favorite hat.

Piled up a bunch of beaded necklaces even though they'll just drown in the patter of my top. Here's another cuckoo clock accessory that I own. It's non-working even though it looks like it does. Scooped that one from F21 website. The store didn't carry them.

Oooh and The Camerawalls' new vid was released yesterday. My super most favorite song ever. This song always leaves me breathless. Also check out Bread and Circuses vid :-)

Any Idea Why A Raven Is Like A Writing Desk?

2011-04-05T13:39:00.000-07:00

…is my favorite Mad Hatter quote.

I love top hats. I love finding excuses to wear them. So today I am dressed as the Mad Hatter…for obvious reasons of “heh, why not?” When I got my breakfast sandwich from Subway, the owner asked me if I was an artist. I told him, I am when I’m not busy being a mad hatter to which he quipped “Same difference.” with a wink. Hehe. Touche.

My equally mad friend Clementine got me into playing RPG online but I’ll get to that later. This is my real life role playing. Haha, the oxymoron. I even got my own Cheshire Cat! Come to think of it, I should’ve been the Queen of Hearts. I’ve always wanted to yell “off with her head” at somebody. I’m wearing my crazy pants. I’m saying crazy because those stripes mess up my vision.

I hope you're the kind of feline that won't give me allegies, just the heebie jeebies.

I love drinking tea out of little porcelain cups versus mugs. There’s so much genteel daintiness to it that mugs just take away.

Anyway, I’m about to make this Tuesday fun even if it’s all in my head!

All accessories shown above were snagged from good ol' Walmart last year

Frock on, people with mad style!

This post is dedicated to one of my besties, Chaxmarion (yes, that her real name). It’s her birthday today and she’s always been a Lewis Carroll fan since she was a zygote.

Veni, Vidi, Vici

2011-03-31T09:34:00.000-07:00

I am channeling Napoleon Bonaparte today. Since I’ve had 10 hours of glorious slumber, I feel like I can conquer anything! Maybe I’ll make some more progress on the series of tasks I’ve unwittingly assigned myself. I sometimes forget I only have two hands.

After all that rain and wind, spring is getting a bit chilly. Feels like fall. I got that cardigan for $9.00 from an F21 online sale. I was going to get another one in blue and white but their site keeps wacking out and by the time I successfully got to check out, the blue was gone. I guess it was God’s way of telling me I don’t need three. I had bought another one ages ago. I really love those jeans but they keep falling off my waist. I love the wash and colour. I want to do something about it but I don’t want to ruin it.

Okidoki, have a great Thor’s day everyone. Speaking of Thor, I’ve had the hots for him since I was 10. There's my own Thor about to go do his CSI stuff. I caught him before he could photobomb me. Nice try.

Mac and Me

2011-03-28T07:37:00.000-07:00

First time I went into an Apple store and brought home a macbook pro :-) I wasn't too excited about it when I got home since at work I have a mac so it wasn't much of a novelty. I was more excited about the prospect of being able to do my own graphic art stuff. When I was finally done installing the necessary progs I needed, and started playing around, only then I got excited :-) It's a huge leap from the very old past its prime HP lappy that I have at home that I really just use to play on the internet or watch movies. Hopefully, I can finally do the graphic art projects I've been putting off for years.

Oh yeah, this was my outfit when I went to get my lappy. I bought that lovely hat from Target. It was a nice day to go shopping. I did swing by for Forever 21 only to exchange a belt that came in the mail damaged and gasp! I didn't buy anything else. I was mindful of the huge purchase I was about to make.

Alrighty, it had been a really good weekend so I hope this is going to be great week.

I Never Get Bored

2011-03-25T08:21:00.001-07:00

...there are so many things to do like stupid shit like this. Haha. Photoshopping crappy photos to make them look decent. I found a couple of tutorials on line and found the steps to be redundant and sometmes useless so I made up my own steps. I've worked with photoshop for years and I have only explored a minute fraction of its sheer magnitude of capabilities.

I collect those vintage prints in the backgound. They're called Big Eye art. They remind me of my Blythes but I've had them way before those plastic fantastic babies.

So I tried to simplify doing a lomo effect and came up with this:

And since my Lumix digicam is not capable of doing depth of field, I photoshopped the effect on this photo:

I'm going to a Photoshop seminar soon sponsored by my company. I'm quite excited about the things I'm going to be learning :-) I hope you guys have a good weekend. Go learn something!

Dots All Folks

2011-03-25T07:38:00.000-07:00

It's a nipply spring morning. That's why I had to wear over the knee socks to ward off the morning bite. I'm doing a little bit better with the waking up. I didn't snooze my alarm clock as much. It wasn't really the alarm clock that woke me up today but the snoring of Gotham, the resident wickedly handsome hairy creature of Australian Kelpie descent.

I bought this red dress from my second trip to Tyler to be with my DuPree girls (and boys) of the Eisley fame. (Check them out by the way, new album is out called The Valley) It's my first time wearing it. I've forgotten I had this dress till I bought another red polka dot dress. Figures.

That bubblegum brooch is probably one of my prized possession. I love the details on this: the glass globe and how the gumballs move when you shake it. I actually have 5 of them. All the same gumball machine mold but the gumballs differ in color mix so as expected of a certifiable nut, I had to have every kind. I tracked them all down from ebay and etsy. I know, I'm hopeless.

I'm standing by my little clematis plant I planted two years ago. It's about to take off! I'm excited about it seeing that I kill every plant I try to plant. My hands are like Round-Up. Clematis plants are kind of a high maintenance, like me :-P So if I care for it like I take care of myself, maybe it'll make it. So far, it looks like it's paying off. In a few weeks, that plant will be covered with beautiful blooms!

Friday! I'm looking forward to tennis tonight and then a relaxing evening with myself watching some obscure Asian film :-) I hope you all have a great weekend!

Frock on!

It's All Geek To Me

2011-03-23T08:06:00.000-07:00

Geek Chic. It’s the glasses primarily. It’s also inspired by how a geek puts on a mish mash of clothes together, nonchalant about style but still end up looking chic…well some of them ;-)

I’m having fun with poses, maybe it’s the coffee I accidentally drank. I had given up regular coffee. I’ve been drinking decaf for the past 6 months.

Why are sexy shoes the most uncomfortable shoes to wear? I am on knives on this pair but luckily I sit all day at work and draw stuff.

The music for today is the Boo Radleys. Wake Up Boo! Who really has the heart to stay in bed after listening to this?

I hope you guys have a fair Wednesday. Frock on, styledivas!

Spring In My Step

2011-03-22T08:18:00.000-07:00

Today is little bit better. Thank you to everyone who left me comments and words of comfort on my chictopia account.

I’m wearing a classic outfit. I should’ve probably placed this look under 80s category since it is inspired by J.Crew catalogue circa 1981. I remember my own mother wearing this kind of outfit. The popular fabric back in the day was georgette.

I don’t hear that nowadays. Chiffon has replaced it. Images of my mom and her friends in their flowy georgette dresses and shoulder bags come rushing back. Of course, I didn’t wish to be like them when I grow up, I wanted to be like my brothers. Teehee.

I bought my dress and stockings from Target on the same day knowing that one spring day I will wear them together and here we are. My Chloe shoes, high arched as they are, are one of the most comfortable shoes I have. They better be for their price :-P They’re going to be my staple spring wear, I think.

I bought my gramophone from Bijou de Lou. I love it so much. The turntable actually turns and the record even has tiny grooves on it.

I hope everyone has a great Tuesday. I just want to survive this week.

Just Like Purgatory

2011-03-21T07:50:00.000-07:00

It’s getting steadily warmer. I don’t think we’ll have fluke cold weather anymore. I’m wearing a very comfortable top. The only thing uncomfortable is my pants which keeps falling off my hips :-(

I hate exercising but I’m going to start doing some sort of exercise or at least movement. I’m going to start playing tennis. It’s not going to feel like exercise. It’s going to be fun and with tennis, one can wear cute outfits.

I felt like walking on sunshine this morning but I as soon as I got to work, I received some very sad news so I cannot just pretend all is good. I’ll be back to check out your fabulous looks.

Frock on…

A Gentle Persuasion

2011-03-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

Two days in absentia and I come back on the greenest day of the year. Happy St. Patty’s Day everyone!!! As you can see, I’m dressed like St. Patty’s Parade threw up all over me lest I get pinched. Even my bicycle is green :-) That’s my vintage banana seat Tyler bike bought and restored by the husb. Actually he didn’t do a whole lot of restoring. He only needed to pump the tires. He got it like that in pristine condition.

Remember the band I had mentioned here on my last post called The Camerawalls. I had struck a friendship with their singer, Clementine through email. He’s a fairly nice and decent chap. Very well-versed in a lot of things. I don’t meet a lot of people who can keep up with me and my brilliance :-P If you like their music, please drop them a line or better yet, buy their songs off of iTunes and support this magnanimously magnificent indie band! Shameless promotion, I know. Hehe. If I believe in something or someone I try my best to proliferate them into other people’s consciousness. I have already gotten a couple of friends to buy their albums and that’s only a gentle persuasion. ;-) Here's another sample.

Find more artists like The Camerawalls at Myspace Music

Here are my Chloe shoes. I love them to bits. And a few photos and poses of this outfit.

Wake Up To The Sight of Love

2011-03-14T09:24:00.000-07:00

I had a hard time dragging my butt off my bed this morning...stupid time change. It was already 7 o'clock but it was still dark outside! I'm all achy because I spent the entire weekend cleaning and clearing my backyard, with the amazing help of the husb, of course. So thankful I didn't pull a snake from my plant beds this time. My yard is now clean but bald since the perennials haven't grown back yet.

Yup, that's a pink dollhouse that I meant to redo and house all my Blythe dolls but never really got around to it. I'll get to it eventually.

I'm very much infatuated with this song and band right now. They're called The Camerawalls. This is the kind of music that mentally plays in my mind when I'm home laying on my hammock enjoying a breezy day.

Have a great start of the week everyone. Frock on!

Stepping Out with Jean Paul Gaultier

2011-03-11T15:52:00.000-08:00

My Jean Paul Gaultier wedges came in the mail today!!! I like the dust bag they came with, they're actually made of thicker fabric than my Chloe's. I love them so much. They're so quirky and the colors are funkalicious! Purple and Yellow! Thad was actually thrilled since they're LSU colors. I really much prefer colored shoes. I can't live without my staple blacks, taupes, tans and browns, greys etc. but wild colored shoes bring so much ummmpph to an outfit. I also love how it always poses a challenge on what to wear it with. In that way, you can really stretch your imagination and might come up with iconoclastic style!

Fringe With Benefits

2011-03-11T08:20:00.000-08:00

Recently, I feel like an archeologist every time I go into my closet. I’ve been unearthing clothes I had bought and forgotten about. Like this mini dress, for instance. I bought this mini dress a year ago and I never wore it till now. I now remember that I’ve been meaning to readjust the hem and just turn it into a top and wear bellbottom jeans with them. I really don’t know if I want to do that now seeing that as a mini dress, it’s not too bad.

I made the leather and beaded necklace from left over scraps from a project and I think it turned out way better than that other project. People have asked me where I got them and I just say from my “brains and hands” and they still look at me quizzically. “I made it!” and they go “Aaaaah, do you sell them?” “No sorry.” But then I mentally say " I make my own stuffs sometimes so that there’s no one else in the world wearing them." insert devious chortle

I’ve always wanted fringe boots ever since I saw Tiger Lilly in Peter Pan, even though she wasn’t wearing any. Several years later, I finally went and got them. It’s never too late to make your dreams come true ;-)

Frocking on Friday!

Nautical Nice

2011-03-10T08:37:00.000-08:00

My god, it’s cold again! I was freezing when I took that photo but was too lazy to go run back inside to get a coat. I got the sweater a year ago but it’s the first time I’ve worn it because I’ve forgotten about it :-) Teehee. It was really stupid of me to forget about it especially since now I remember how I wanted to find an anchor printed/patterned sweater. I bought the skirt very recently though. The girl at the checkout flipped out when she saw the skirt and wanted to know which specific rack I got it from. Unfortunately for her, that was the last skirt. I though it was a super sleek pencil skirt but it’s actually got that “bubble” look…and it’s perfect to wear my mustard Litas with.

Destined for Greyness

2011-03-09T07:45:00.000-08:00

Today is a grey day. It looks like a depressed day…the skies still pregnant with rain, wet empty streets. My mood isn’t, but my zest is zero on the scale only because I woke up at 4 AM to a big whining dog who was terribly scared of the thunderstorm that was happening several miles from us. Damn a dog’s sensitive hearing sometimes.

If I were home all day and not going to work, I’d be doing all sorts of creative stuff. Grey days don’t really dampen my spirits.

The outfit is of course, largely influenced on the weather and the overall blahness of it. I’m not wearing my usual bright colors, even my floral printed stockings are diffused with grey. My corset boots look like my black Jeffrey Campbell Litas after hanging out with the goth kids or with some Japanese visual kei band. Hehe. The lacing on them is pretty interesting, goes all the way to the front of the shoes. It’s got an applique of copper-colored leather cross in the back.

My necklaces are from Forever 21. I like piling necklaces on like Mr. T

Laissez le bon temps roulez!

2011-03-08T10:07:00.000-08:00

I know that’s grammatically incorrect in purist French but it has been Cajunified over the years. That’s how we say “let the good times roll” in Louisiana…and everybody, no matter what day it is, is always having a good time :-)

As much as I positively hate this color combination, I have to at least celebrate today which is Mardi Gras. It’s the only day in the year it’s acceptable to wear them all together. I hope I got away with this outfit. I tried hard to make it palatable to my own fashion taste.

No day off for me though, I have to be at work which is quite alright. It’s rainy and being in a crowd of chocka blocka people in the rain is not my idea of fun. Actually, crowds are not my idea of fun, rain or shine. Gone are the days of me enjoying a wild rock concert. Now, I much prefer being in a coffee shop reading a book.

Alright guys, Happy Mardi Gras!
Frock on!

Hare Raising Adventure

2011-01-11T07:56:00.000-08:00

Today is 1-11-11. ^_ I ought to buy a lottery ticket. I’m pretty sure this is an auspicious day.

It is fuhreezing!!! No magical snowy backgrounds for me. It’s just wet and windy. It’s one of those I-wish-I-was-in-bed-reading-Neil Gaiman-books kind of day… but work beckons.

It’s time to cut my bangs. You can’t see my eyes from these photos.

I bought my sweater from Forever 21. When I spied the adorable rabbit pattern on it, i knew I had to take it home. I don’t exactly remember where I got the skirt. I’d like to think I have a magic closet :-) You guys have seen my mustard Litas. I may just have to warn you that they will be a staple. I actually wanted to wear something normal-ish like what most people wear, sweatpants, sneakers and a sports hoodie (but then I don’t even own one) because I knew I was going to drop by the gas station. I didn’t want to walk in or stand outside pumping gas with a " look at me!!!" outfit. I told my husb about this concern and he said, “Why should that bother you? That’s how you dress. That’s who you are. Let them stare…” So there. I didn’t get to wear my outlandish garb because it was too cold anyway. I opted for this ensemble last minute. It’s not so bad.

Rural Cowgirl

2010-11-22T06:37:00.000-08:00

My first cowboy boots ever! Two reasons why I bought them, they're FRYE boots and they don't have the diamond shape toe. They're more rounded. That is a $5.00 top. Cheap! The leather belt is vintage and thrifted from Goodwill. I love that blazer. I've been meaning to have it copied by my seamstress, Thuy because it's such a perfect fit! I've had it for uhmmm...10 years. I still have clothes from a decade ago and thank god they still fit.

This shot is taken on our front porch, on nice days, that's where Thad and I have our coffee and pancakes.

How The Vest Was Won

2010-11-19T06:40:00.000-08:00

Friday finally. I've been waiting for this day since Monday. I really need to feel better already. I'm sorry if all I've ever talked about is my malady. I really can't wait to feel 100% better. There are so many things I want to do! Lately, when I get home all I do is watch documentaries till I pass out from Tylenol PM.

I look so sad in this photo, the moribund hues is helping me look so. But I'm not sad, just a bit sickly. I've had that vest since I was in college in Cebu, Philippines, where there really is no need for layering. I bought that from a thrift store where I used to buy my used books. The place was called Music House. I'm pretty sure people back home still remember that place.

Flower Finger

2010-11-18T06:23:00.000-08:00

The booties you can barely see because they are swallowed in the chiaroscuro display is a pair I got from ASOS last year. I love them because when I wear them with black leggings, they make my legs look longer. That's hobbit magic.

My yellow flower filled dress and lacy vest all scream "spring", my ring isn't saying otherwise either. I guess I have just been feeling so cruddy and sick that I need some sort of sunshininess. Yes, I made up that word. The blazer, the legwear and the booties are sombre colors anyway so I'm still dressed in season. Dressing according to seasons was never an issue back in the tropical islands of my home. The weather never changes and the people never age ;-)

2010-11-17T07:23:00.000-08:00

Pain, Pain Go Away

2010-11-15T06:29:00.000-08:00

Back to the salt mines...I'm really still not feeling good but I'm getting a little bit depressed staying at home. I'm not sure if it was change of routine for just those two days that threw my mental balance off or if it was the meds but my psyche sure took me to a nebulous place. That being said, I couldn't really be a full blown anti-social recluse because I still missed being around people especially my girls at work. I guess I'm just so used to them. Nine years will do that to ya. Hehe.

Anyway, *waves depression away* I did have a perfect little weekend with Thad. We watched silent era Hitchcock films that I didn't enjoy as much as Thad did. He took care of me in my convalescence and made sure I took my meds. My Prince Valium has impeccable bedside manners, too. Heh. Also, I got me a pair of new boots (See above). They're a pair of dark chocolate brown campus style boots from European Club. I wanted a pair of brown boots for a long time. This one is a bit too dark almost black but I love the style. I'll find that elusive pair soon. In the meantime, I'll be rockin' these.

I got this too cute pumpkin carriage from ebay.com for a steal.

Academia Nuts

2010-11-11T05:39:00.000-08:00

Well, since I am convalescent today, I might as well post Thad's academe style unless you guys want to see me in my chamois pyjamas. It's Veterans Day, so he opted to wear a little bit of red, white and blue. He explained something about the tiger tie since it's a Thursday but the medicine is slowly taking over my senses and I didn't understand anything. One thing I love about Thad is that he is not afraid to dress somewhat out of the ordinary like say a kelly green jacket over pepto pink shirt. We both get that "only Thad/Xio can get away with that!" comments when it comes to fashion. Of course, he tones it down for work since he teaches at a college. He is quite unlike anybody I've met. He's super cool, social, intelligent (pending MENSA member :D) , talented, introspective and he's so positive about everything in life that you can charge a dead car battery off of him. He is by far, the nicest person I have ever met in my lifetime. It also doesn't hurt that he is an attractive guy. He works a noble job, teaching Computer Forensics by day and occasionally playing music at night. I always tell people he's my little Hannah Montana. :-P

I hope everyone has a better Thursday than me. Food normally cures the achies but my throat feels like I drank Drano cocktail...and my lucidity is ebbing.

school of cool

Foggy Windows Are Excellent Canvases

2010-11-10T06:48:00.000-08:00

Foggy mornings always remind me of English countrysides that I've seen in Catherine Cookson TV novels. Any minute now, some gentleman with a top hat on a magnificent steed would come galloping by asking for the nearest inn where he can get some cold collation and tea. Of course, I would just stare incredulously at him, wondering how on earth he ended up in our backyard.

I'm wearing two stockings :-) a lacy one over a red one. It kinda has some brothel flair to it. When I got ready this morning, I asked Thad for $250 for making me stay the night to which he guffawed and said, "you owe me more than that for putting up with you" or something like that. That was my interpretation to his morning mouthwash mumbling.

Here's my beloved kelpie giving me sweet kisses. Looking at this photo, I just realized that Gotham is a huge dog. He always seems like a puppy to me. And yes, I have a dollhouse in the carport. It's a future project but as of the moment, fairies can squat in it.

This is one of my obsessions...Blythe Dolls! Here's one of them from my horde. She is a Cinema Princess Blythe whom I named Cerise Pixielane. This is not her stock outfit. She got my star quality style treatment :-) Teehee. I sometimes make my dolls dresses when I am inspired but the pieces on her ensemble are bits from my other Blythe dolls: plaid skirt from Bow Wow Trad and the striped socks from Gentle River. That fabulous military jacket was actually from a short lived series of dolls called Ali and AJ. I made the red lace overlay on her skirt and attached chains for toughness and then a bear button for kawaii purposes (kawaii is "cute" in Japanese). The red army boots I got from etsy.com

I made that tophat from scratch. I thrifted an ash tray shaped like a tophat and made my pattern from it. I think it came out awesome. I'm extremely proud of my handiwork. I didn't personally pluck the peacock feather though because, well, I value my eyesight. Peacocks are vicious fowls.

Alright, that's it from Xanadu for now. Stay tuned for some other stufferoos...

The Novemberist

2010-11-09T06:52:00.000-08:00

Snick Wedge by Jeffrey Campbell, the most comfortable footwear I have second only to my Frye Boots.

Thad and I have only have two identical articles of clothing. One is a Threadless shirt of a Balinese God shooting an arrow and the arrow ending up on the back of the shirt and the second is our The Decemberist shirt. We really don't listen to the same type of music but we both agree on The Decemberists. I guess it appeals to our predilection to rarely used words. Colin Meloy, lead songwriter of the band weaves his musical storytelling so beautifully as if you're reading excerpts from a Booker Prize winner novel. The Decemberists is also reminiscent of a UK band called XTC who were around in 80s and whose song Then She Appeared was our 2004 wedding song. Had to put a year since we got married twice ^_^

XTC's sample lyrics from Then She Appeared:

...Then she appeared, as the giggling crew of Marie Celeste
Then she appeared, pale Atlantis rising out of the west
I was a little dazzled
Catherine wheeled and senses frazzled
Know it sounds weird
Then she appeared...

I perceive Mr. Andy Partridge (XTC lead songwriter) to be well versed on the arcane knowledge of mysterious tales and conjecture. He includes things in his lyrics that I have read about in supernatural-themed books. In Then She Appeared, he mentioned the crew of Marie Celeste, the ship whose crew vanished while at sea and left no clues in December 1872. It is still one of the most baffling maritime unsolved mysteries. But in the song, he made the crew look as if they were just playing a joke, hence "giggling". Nobody writes lyrics like Mr. Partridge well, except Colin Meloy who I realized after briefly talking to his bandmate that they were huge fans of XTC and he considered it an honor to be compared to them.

I love this song. Mr. Partridge is singing about how dumb he is when in fact, the lyrics here are so freakin' brilliant...see below.

If depth of feeling is a currency,
(please be upstanding for the Mayor of Simpleton),
Then I'm the man who grew the money tree,
(no Chain of Office and no hope of getting one).
Some of your friends are too brainy to see,
That they're paupers and that's how they'll stay.

Well I don't know how many pounds make up a ton,
Of all the Nobel prizes that I've never won,
And I may be the Mayor of Simpleton,
But I know one thing,
And that's I love you.

The Decemberists sample lyrics from Legionnaire's Lament

Medicating in the sun
pinched doses of laudanum
longing for the old fecundity of my homeland
Curses to this mirage!
A bottle of ancient Shiraz
a smattering of distant applause
is ringing in my poor ears

On the old left bank
my baby in a charabanc
riding up the width and length
of the Champs de Elysee...

Cover art on The Decemberists Castaway and Cutouts (shown below on video link) even reminds me of the Crew of Marie Celeste...

You should check both of them out. You will learn new words. Here's a funny saying that was going around for a while in London that XTC brought literacy to Britain :-)

2010-11-08T07:27:00.000-08:00

This is not what I am wearing today. I wore this outfit one day last week. That lovely russian doll (matryoshka) printed dress is Anna Sui ^_^ That dress is the cherry on top of my-anything-matryoshka themed collection. Vintage mink fur hat is actually my mom's that we bought when we were living in New York circa 2000. She's back in the Philippines now, a very tropical country so there's no need for fur hats. Thus, I inherited it.

Wonderfully Nestled: vintage Orphan matryoshka doll thrifted for $0.25! ornaments from K-mart circa 2008 from Martha Stewart Collection, metal and enamel necklaces, Fred's nesting doll glasses from Urban Outfitters, purse from Forever 21 $7 or something like that. Flat coinpurse from Claire's. Re-ment miniature pot holder and spoon and fork caddy and LeSportsac satchel that holds my Japanese books :-) I'm a struggling multi-culturalist

Chocolate Disco

2010-11-04T06:37:00.000-07:00

I am totally charmed by this Japanese techno-pop girl group called Perfume and inspired myself to dress like them on this video. I don't really listen to techno but hey, they're Japanese and I have a predilection to all things Japanese. I love how their choreography is so easy, it's like dancing for a PE class. Inspiration comes in all forms so why not? Chocole-ito Disuko! Let's dance!

Rainy Days and Tuesdays

2010-11-02T07:07:00.000-07:00

Responsibility dictates that I should crawl out of my bed to go to work instead of curling up with a book and letting this dismal weather mentally take me to somewhere in Ireland. Why can't this weather be on a Saturday morning...

I'm living in my own private Xanadu

2010-10-30T14:54:00.000-07:00

My pet manticore circa September 2010

Welcome once again :-) It would've been a year since I started blogging but I stopped after less than half a year of entries. I started FrugalFrox on this day last year but I am resurrecting it as My Own Private Xanadu.

The blog title is of course, a play on the movie My Own Private Idaho. Xanadu is the place Samuel Coleridge wrote about in his poem of the same title and was believed to be written under his opium stupor. The first significance is that it starts with an X, like my name and the second is that Olivia Newton-John's movie Xanadu was I think, the greatest movie ever. You can't go wrong with live action, a cartoonified Olivia and roller skates. Aside from that, I really have no clue what that movie was all about.

Xanadu is a place inside me. It's mostly where my fantasies and dreams reside along with my childhood. This blog is a visual and textual capture of anything, everything that fascinate and inspire me.

I really want to thank my readers who have been waiting for this new installment. I started FrugalFrox for my own selfish needs. Hehe. I wanted to chronicle my outfits just to keep track of what I had worn but I never thought that it will be missed. So thank you. Mad props to my ever loving husband Prince Valium, I mean Thad for helping me out with the CSS, taking the new banner photo and for just being an all around awesome husband.

This blog will be less limiting than frugal frox. As frugal frox was just all about outfits, I am going to be blogging more than just clothes. I want to share other things as well because there is so much more to life...well my life, than clothes. Expect to see toys, vintage thrift store finds,crafts, music, cool people, strange books and films, fun photography and maybe even magic tricks ;-)

So here I am again in blogosphere...and here goes everything! Take a seat on that wingback chair. Let it take you for a ride. Stay for a while. Make sure you come back. I will always leave a key for you that you can fish out from the stomach of my manticore...

Glad To Be Plaid

2010-07-30T07:08:00.001-07:00

I haven't been in these slums lately. Summer doesn't inspire me to dress nice. I'm normally just wearing embroidered peasant tops and jeans. Something I'd wear at home to lounge in. But, I am dressed nice today. According to me, of course so I decided to post this ensemble. I am thinking of moving all my entries here to a new all-encompassing blog about everything that I love. Fashion. Japanese Toys and Boys. Blythes. Vintage Thrift Store and Flea Market Finds. Craft Ideas. Music. Books, Artists. Thad and Xiomara Comics. Just anything and everything that fascinate me. A fashion blog is so limiting when there are so many things that set my creative mind reeling.

The new blog is called My Own Private Xanadu. See you guys there soon! And thank so much for following me here but please come with me to another sphere of X! Love you all!!!

detail on Coro Cuckoo Clock vintage 1940 fur clip which I got for a steal, of course

It's A Tsumori Chisato Kind of Day

2010-07-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

On this auspicious day, I am paying an homage to a Japanese designer Tsumori Chisato. This is an unfrugal post. I've never really been into high end designer clothing but Tsumori Chisato's sublime surreal designs are marvelous pieces of artwork. Her clothes are just not clothes hanging off your body, they're statements, they're stories, there's so much love and whimsy put into them. When I first discovered her, it felt to me like she cracked open my head, looked what's inside, and spun them into fabric. I believed she was designing just for me. No designer ever made that impact on me. Silk painted with mermaids swimming above an underwater metropolis, fairies feasting in a banquet, dancing bears in sky circuses but she also brings you down to terra with quaint country scenes of houses and rural shops. She definitely doesn't skimp on details. Most of her clothes when they are not painted, are appliqued with laces, tulle, tweed, whatever have you and more often than not, have painstakingly stitched embroidery and beadwork.

So today, on my happy birthday, I am celebrating it by wearing one of my Tsumori Chisato tops that I have made a replica of for my Blythe doll.

On Me: Tsumori Chisato top $XXX.xx Paris Blues Jeans $25. Frye Boots $XXX.xx On Blythe Xiomara made Chisato inspired top. X-made jeans. PuddingHouse Blythe Ugg Boots

The design concept on the blouse is of two girls ( little black girl and little white girl) holding hands while in a hot air balloon ride. I also have a fascination with hot air balloons, by the way so this top was just screaming for me to get my hands on them. The hot air balloon is floating on top of the city but there also happens to be a rabbit in a green dress with a basket leisurely walking on air. I tried the best as I possibly could replicating the embroidery on the Blythe version but it was too tiny even for my elfin hands. I hope my futile effort would still be worthy of my own praise.

It would be safe for me to say but not for my wallet that I will still be getting some more Tsumori Chisato pieces in the future. They're art I can flaunt, wear out and not just hanging up on my wall. Oh and yeah, a very Happy Birthday to myself! ^_^

Me and my Tweedly Do (almost twin) Blythe. Her name is Taura Deal (after Kim Deal)

Mini Girl Mini Skirt

2010-05-20T07:16:00.000-07:00

Wet Paint Cardi $17. Vintage Secretary Blouse.Rue 21 Floral Skirt bargain bin $8.99
Dollhouse Jeans $25 Soda Shoes

There's no way I'd get away with wearing that short a skirt at work. They'll lynch me, so I'm wearing it with a pair of denims. I am going to feel really crappy in the next few months of sweltering heat because it won't be healthy to wear cardigans. I hate summer.

Click on photo to enlarge. Ostrich Brooch from Forever 21 and Rue 21 Necklace, it's just one necklace but made to look like they're several layered necklaces.

Gypsilly Rose

2010-05-14T07:08:00.000-07:00

Embroidered Peasant Mini Dress (some boutique in Shenzen, China) probably about $14. Vintage Boot Cut Jeans. Fringe "Pocahontas" Wedges (mom-bought), Bracelets by Shekina

I don't think I will ever outgrow flowery embroidered clothes. There's a folkloric charm about it and since I live in my own folklore, I gotta dress for it. This particular top makes me long for that gypsy caravan I've been begging for Thad to make me but he's always so busy trying to rebuild C.H.O.M.P.S. his robotic dog from childhood. Oh, and that photo is a relic from the future.

Furr- rye-day!!! I'm so glad you're here!

Unbeached Wail

2010-05-13T06:41:00.000-07:00

Derek Heart Batik Dress $30. F21 Cardi. F21 necklaces

I wear jeans with dresses because I am not so crazy about my legs. I bruise easily, you know being an exquisite China doll can be a drag :-P and mosquito bites take a while to fade. My legs are riddled with dots that if you connect them, you can probably form a portrait of La Gioconda. You know who she is right? She is world famous! No? Wiki that shit, people.

This dress needs a beach scenery. Where's an unearthly spectacular paradise of a beach when you need one? Oh right, I left it to move here... this dress isn't really bayou-friendly :-)

On The Wings of A Mustard Chair

2010-05-12T07:52:00.000-07:00

Rue 21 cardi. Rue 21 dress bargain $7.99 Vintage denims. Mom-bought heeled slippers.

This post is not about the outfit, it's about that wingback chair I snagged from the Salvation Army yesterday. I'm not sure where the chair was made but to me, it has that English drawing room flair to it albeit some drawing room of an eccentric recluse which is what I am fast becoming of so we're well matched.

I stragetically placed that chair right next to our bookcase, by the window and close to the fireplace (that you can't see on this photo). It's the perfect chair for curling up with a book. Thad can't curl in it though but he can smoke his pipe and relive his days as a sailor on the high seas of my mood swings. Heh.

And So Did Tuesday...

2010-05-12T07:25:00.000-07:00

Rue 21 cardi. F21 Smock. Paris Jeans. Mom-bought wedges.

Same excuse I had for Monday's post absentia, too damn busy. The smock looks like a romper from here. I've probably worn this smock 5 times since I bought it last year. It's my to go for shirt when I feel bloated. It disguises the gut. Haha. I think. I know it's getting warmer but I still have my trusty cardis on because it is cold in my office. Alrighty, late Tuesday post, frock on!

Monday Came In Too Late

2010-05-12T07:14:00.000-07:00

F21 $25. Express Jeans.

This was supposed to be Monday's post but I was too busy with work, you know, that thing that supports my spending habits. I have worn this wannabe- Oaxacan top before on a cold December day, over a thermal. But this is very much so a spring/summer top because the fabric is gauzy-like. I love the embroidery on it! But the thing I don't love about it is it gets wrinkles really easy. Oh well. Frock on!

Smile!...and the Whole World Will Think I'm Creepy

2010-05-07T08:40:00.000-07:00

Charlotte Russe embroidered top $25. Cardigan by Absolutely. Vintage Boot Cut Denims.
Sweet Seventeen Mules. Necklaces Rue 21

For people who don't know me in person but have chanced on this blog, they must think I'm the ornery sort. I just can't smile properly in photos. I believed I was smiling when I set the timer till I saw the outcome. Meh. I tried. I didn't have time to take another shot since I was in a hurry to get to work.

The star of this post is my clematis plant. I planted that flowering vine from bare root and now look at it! It's taking off. I'm quite proud of this achievement.

I'm still in neck-deep buried in a quagmire of deadlines but I am all happy because I snagged this 2.5 inches tall and full of awesome Gumball Brooch last night from ebay at the last 3 seconds. No one can rain on my parade today! Frock on, folkies!!!

Love's a gumball ^_^

Twice The Vice

2010-05-06T07:17:00.000-07:00

Rue 21 Pink & Gray cardi bargain $7.99 Lacey top $Rue 21 bargain bin $7.99 over brown Old Navy tanktop $8.00 Refuge Jeans (not frugal) Necklaces all Rue 21

This is my messy office. It's a sign of "I actually work." It just might not seem otherwise to people but as you can see here, I have someone else to share the burden. This photo can also be interpreted as Thad's Dream or Nightmare. Haha. Click on the photo to enlarge. I have populated my area with toys, work samples, work inspiration and trash.

Alright, I don't really don't have time to goof. So I gotta toddle pip! Frock on!!!

Hip, Hip, Hippie Chic

2010-05-05T07:52:00.000-07:00

Jennifer and Grace embroidered peasant top. Rue 21 Fringe Vest $12. Express Jeans. Vintage Mules.

Feliz Cinco de Mayo! I actually forgot it was today when I decided to dress all hippie, (well basically my uniform in college) or I would've worn my Mexican Oaxacan top. Squeezy, my friend at work thought I was dressed as a Mexican cowgirl. Haha! So I do have some sort of Mexican flair going on then.

I included the photo of how my backyard looks in bright morning light. It's so pretty. I never realized how massive that silver maple tree is but then when I'm standing in close proximity to anything, they look more gargantuan than they normally are. Woe is wee.

Trees are friends.

It's Not My Default

2010-05-04T07:24:00.000-07:00

Striped cardi $7 on sale and grey mini dress $17 Rue 21. Vintage jeans.

Reef Flip Flops in Olive

I won't take credit for this combination because I bought the whole outfit (sans pants) the way it looked on the default display. I gravitated to the whole mismatched patterns and colors and how they still look good together. Rue 21 is about a 5 minute drive from my office so when I feel l need a little upper like when my highly creative job begins to saturate my mood in acid, I go to Rue 21. The clothes are very trendy and the prices are very wallet friendly. I have gotten to know the peeps who work there, too and they're awesome people. One of them is Rebecca. She is one uber-cool lady and it seems like we agree on style, too because we buy the same things!

By the way, Rue 21 didn't pay me to endorse their store. This is just a semi homage for the store that helps this slightly impecunious clotheshorse feel like $20 is a shopping spree budget. ^_^

Handmade necklace. Zombie Bear was originally a phone charm. I got the ivory color coated chain from Michael's...et voila!

Dolled Up

2010-05-03T06:50:00.000-07:00

Baby Doll dress from Aseras sa Colon 50 php. Very Blue Paris Jeans. Same shoesies from Friday's post. Bib necklace F21 $8.99 Union Jack ring $3.99 Rue 21

Every Cebuana reading this will know where I got my shirt. Most people are unaware of the hidden treasures in aseras stalls(side street boutiques) and the most wonderful thing about them is that you can haggle the prices down. The same top or dress you get from there are sold in high end boutiques at the mall with 300% mark ups. I bought the top when I was in Cebu about two years ago. It was originally priced at 150 php (Philippine peso) which is roughly almost 3 dollars. That is still cheap and I could've bought it for that price but it's the thrill of haggling that gives this frugal chick the ultimate high. I ended up paying 50 php which would be roughly a dollar and some cents. I did leave the salesgirl a tip which kind of defeats the purpose of haggling because I still parted with money but she was nice and funny. One thing I learned about living in the US is that good service should be rewarded.

Alright, let's see what Monday has in store for me...

Anime Mine

2010-04-30T13:02:00.000-07:00

Rue 21 Cardigan $15 Anime Shirt circa 1999 over an Old Navy tank. Very Blue Paris Jeans.

Here we have a panoramic view of the half of our living room. Yes, that old TV has been gutted and now houses our DVD players, CD player deck, and our Creatures (some sort of speakers that look like alien spaceships.) That birdcage used to be a refuge for my origami birds.

An otaku like me should own an anime shirt. lt would be sacrilege otherwise. My besftfriend Bevelove owns the same shirt ^_^ I've had that shirt for 11 years. If it was a child, it'd already be in its tweens and starting to display (my idea of) rebellious tendencies by listening to the Jonas Bros and that Justin cub. Thank god it's just a piece of clothing!

Thanks to my wonderful ex-boyfriend now husband of 7 years who helped his idiot, non-kitchen wench take the photo out of the camera.

Have a great Friday everyone...it's going to be downpouring all weekend but at least the surrounding vegetation will be having a blast!

Camera Non-Obscura

2010-04-29T06:42:00.000-07:00

Lacey shirt ebay.com Military Vest $8 F21 Score! Rue 21 jeans. Steve Madden boots

So the Lumix/Leica camera came in. Right now, Thad is treating it like he's married to it. Put a wig on it and they're in business :-P Photo was taken by Thad and his new inanimate wife. This is a part of our backyard and there's my struggling flower bed in the back. My shirt is made of some lacey fabric which if it hadn't been for the knitted military vest, I'd be showcasing my underwear. I've worn the striped pants before. It's got that circus look to it. I really wanted to wear my band jacket and go out as a Ringmaster but my menagerie is not allowed at my workplace anymore.

Really excited about this camera, once I figure out how to work it, I won't get looks from Tabitha anymore. She'll be regarding me like I'm a goddess of photography. Just wait and see, Tab...

This camera makes me look really short here...wait this IS the actual height setting. :-P One thing's for sure, I look 10 lbs. lighter here. I love this camera. It's such a liar.

P.S. I'm still on my Camera Obscura (the band from Glasgow) kick...

Blooms Are Brown

2010-04-28T06:57:00.000-07:00

Dress ebay.com $30. F21 Cardi $11. Steve Madden Wedges $16!

I was going to take my pictures by my little flower bed but I had forgotten my camera's memory card at work. So that lovely plan got shot to hell. I ended up taking a photo in my office...with crappy lighting.

This whole ensemble was what I wore to my friends' Chauntelle Dupree and Jessie Dupree's double wedding rehearsal dinner. I'm wearing it again because I love this combination. There is no plum color in that whole outfit to match/coordinate with the plum shoes but hey, I wanted something to jump out, what better way than to finish this look with irrelevant hued shoesies. One should try it. Mitchy-matchy is too safe...

Frock on! Oh and...

Band obsession of the week is
Camera Obscura!!! Click on the image to play video
Their songs just take me back to a time when I wasn't even a zygote yet. I heart them!

There, They're, Their...

2010-04-27T07:05:00.000-07:00

Threadless shirt $15. Paris Very Blue Jeans $24. Charlotte Russe Wedges. Charlotte Russe Cardi $8. Red belt ebay.com

I still have this blog. Aside from atrophy and uninspiration claiming my time recently, my excuse is that I find my spring/summer outfits blah. They're not interesting to me because I'm not doing any layering. I should consider this as a challenge though and be more creative. My other excuse is that my camera seems to be deteriorating. I begged Thad to buy me a camera, a point and shoot for the dummies camera. He opted for a Leica one. Even though I gave him the idea, he still thinks the camera he bought with his own money is his. Soon this belief will dissipate. I got the shirt from threadless.com That shirt speaks in precise sentence structure to the grammarist in me. I just made that word up.

Design detail

In My Tribe

2010-04-06T06:38:00.001-07:00

Wet Paint Cardi. Angie Tribal Top. LEI Bootcut Jeans. Soda Shoes

Wearing tribal prints remind me of home, the Philippines...I don't own a whole lot of tribal printed outfits because I could never find one that wouldn't make me look like I'm part of a cultural dance troupe.

I love this cute tribal top. It's got those cool brass rivets sewn on the bodice.This top has spaghetti straps but since it's cold in my office, most of my outfits will always be finished with a cardigan. I think cardigans are my staple. They're warm enough for cold rooms and cool enough for the outdoor heat.

Necklaces were from my Nanay (mom)

My Bloody Valentine Isn't Anything

2010-04-05T07:01:00.000-07:00

F21 Cardi $15. Limited Too Raglan Shirt with MBV print. Paris Blues Jeans $25
Heart Belt Ross $8. Kayla Chucks.

I haven't worn that orange shirt in a long time. I decided to wear it today in dedication to one of my BFFs Chaxmarion since it is her birthday. As you can see on the bottom photo, it is a My Bloody Valentine shirt. We both adored this band. Also, the chat hande I was using when I met Thad was Xuisefine which was taken from an MBV song Sueisfine. There weren't really any MBV merch available for us so I decided to print a shirt myself. I'm mighty proud of it. Anyway... Happy Birthday, Chaxmarion!!! Here's the male up tutorial I promised you a long time ago.

This is a deviant part of the post which will be about make-up. I decided to not to do any make up eye effects and went with the barely there natural look.

Below is my "natural" look arsenal
Smashbox Photo Finish Oil Free Serum
L'Oreal Whipped Concealer
Bare Minerals Golden Fair Loose Foundation
Finishing Veil Powder
Clinique Double Lash Mascara
MAC Highly Pigmented Eyeshadow in Espresso
Coastal Scents Blush Palette
Sephora Blush in Meringue Jalouse
MAC Brushes 109 (Small Contour Brush) 187 Duo Fibre Blush Brush
2nd and 3rd Brush MAC no longer sells but I'm sure you can find a substitute.
Sephora Bronzer Brush
Clinique Superbalm Lip Gloss
L'oreal Fairest Nude Lipstick 800

HOW TO:
1. Moisturize face. Always, before putting on make-up. Wait for 2 minutes for moisturizer to seep in.
2. Apply Smashbox Photo Finish Oil Free serum to even out pores. This thing also gives foundation a longer staying power.
3. Apply whipped concealer on under eyes, I prefer the consistency of it because it's so easy to apply with a brush.
4. Apply Bare Minerals foundation. Make sure you pick the right color for your skin tone. I am yellow toned so I opted for Bare Minerals Golden Fair. I used Sephora's Bronzer Brush.
5. Smile and apply blush on the apples of your cheeks. The apples become prominent when you smile so you'll know where you're applying your blush. I used MAC 187 Duo Fibre Blush Brush.
6. Brush on Finishing Mineral Veil to absorb oil and seal your foundation.
7. Next, is eyes...I use the eyeshadow closest to the natural color of my eyelids. I didn't do any fancy blending, or shaping at all. I just lightly applied the eyeshadow on eyelids gently ceasing when it got closer to my brows.
8. I have little to no eyelashes at all so I generously applied mascara to them. Clinique has awesome non clumping mascara. Invest in a $14 tube because they're waaaay better than any of those cheaper brands you find at WalMart.
9. Lastly is your kisser. I use a nude opaque lipstick and finish it off with Clinique Superbalm which to me is the best! It's not sticky, it doesn't have any taste/flavor and it lasts for a while giving you that "just-kissed" look. Rawr!

I know most of the make up I'm using is not frugal BUT it really pays to spend a little bit more on good quality make up. They last longer than cheaper brands, they're richly pigmented so in the long run, you actually save. I've had my eyeshadow pot of 6 months now and I haven't even used half of its contents and I use it everyday. Everyday. The hi-quality brushes are gentler on your skin and distributes make up evenly and quickly. It normally just takes me a minute to do a full cover up.

Alright, that's it. Let me know if you have questions, recommendations, suggestion or you just simply want to say HI!

Embroidered Stories

2010-04-02T07:26:00.000-07:00

Overdrive Peasant Top $25. LEI freebie belt and boot cut jeans $25.Splash Clogs

This whole ensemble feels like I went back in time to my last days of college. The Coven and I used to wear peasant tops to uni. I have dubbed ourselves, Tenants of the Embroidered Palace. These were the tops classmates used to ask me either for ridicule or just plain stupidity if they were made from pillow cases. Bastards. The only group of people who cheered me/us on were the gay friends who are now famous fashion designers in the Philippines. See...I knew what I was doing.

I am rather thrilled that these jeans still fit me, too aside from the one from yesterday. I've had this jeans for 5 years. Yeah, I seldom throw clothes away knowing that fashion is cyclical. That's the miser in me. Plus, it's hard for me to find jeans that fit heavenly so if I find them, I keep them. I'm that way with husbands. Well, singular.

Oh, I guess some of you bright ones have figured it out way before...April Fool's for yesterday's post. I'm unpregnant and this blog is sticking around. Frock on y'all.

Sort of close up look on embroidery. Belt is canvas with gros grain trim and rivets. Ring is from Charlotte Russe. The other awesome ring is my engagement/wedding ring from Thadwick. Pink and Lime Green bead bracelets from Claire's and the rest were from Somewhere, Cebu.

Swan Song

2010-04-01T07:00:00.001-07:00

Peasant top gifted from my Nanay circa 2003. Dollhouse Pants. Thrifted leather brown belt.

I apologize to my faithful readers, all two of you plus myself about my two day absentia. Hah. This blog really gets content when I am inspired because I don't want to write anything half-assed. For the past two days, I wasn't inspired by my wardrobe. I don't normally like to dress up when the weather is warmer because I can't layer clothing. I'll try to do what I can with what I've got like below...

Today I look like the way my aunts did in the 70s. They were cool hippie chick.s..not in the real sense though. They didn't do protests and they bathe regularly. I am super happy those pants still fit me! I haven't worn them in 2 years. I was scared to try them on this morning because I had visions of me muffintopping it.

Anyway, I'm quitting this blog today. This is my swansong. Thank you for the readership! I love you all. Frock on forever!

F21 Long Beaded Necklace. Target Cameo Necklace. Thrifted Blue Stone Locket necklace.

5 Inches And Wanting

2010-03-29T08:39:00.000-07:00

Cococobana Top bought in the Phils. circa 2008. Love Culture Belt $9. Union Baby Cropped Denim. Soda Shoes. Thrifted Necklaces

This day is one of those unusual Mondays because I was actually looking forward to it. Tonight I will finally meet one of my best girl, Tabitha's object of affection and countless skype hours. Aaron. He's from Atlanta. Ahhh I remember being in one of those things...long distance relationships. I hated it so much that I had to sail the seven seas to be near Thad. Come to think of it, it was almost like stalking but in an endearing way. I'm just saying endearing because we ended up getting married ^_^ otherwise, it would've been disturbing.

I look 5 inches taller today thank to those shoesies.!!!They're super comfortable too. I can probably run a marathon in them and the first that will give up will be my lungs. If only I can surgically attach them to my feet...

Gray of Sunshine

2010-03-26T07:25:00.000-07:00

I have an unhealthy love affair with Forever 21 and Ross. It's unhealthy for my wallet. I comfort myself with the thought that I am buying cheap stuff but then I buy so much cheap stuff, it doesn't seem like I'm really miserly.

Looking forward to this weekend as it will be dedicated to make up experiments. I want to learn how to put make up on other people so I am going Ulta-Sephora-Mac shopping to get my brushes and pigments... so there goes my hard earned funds. Friend Chantel had agreed to be my guinea pig. So yay!

Picture on the right was taken right by our foyer...the part of our house that is seldom a cynosure on any photo.

Blazing Speed Dressing

2010-03-24T07:15:00.000-07:00

F21 Twist Blazer. Z Jeans. Thrifted Necklace. Julie's Closet Top

Gaaah! I'm still having a hard time getting used to earlier mornings. My body just refuses to wake up and my mind is still busy dreaming. Speed dressing! that was what was going on this morning. It took me literally 20 seconds to dress myself up which is quite a feat considering I didn't pick out my outfit prior.

So, I quit wearing boots. It's cold in the mornings but the temp goes high in the middle of the day. I'm pretty sure I'm going to sweat like hell when I leave work because this blazer is thick polyester and rayon and crap! I just realized it's only dry clean! Oh well, let's just hope I don't get this too dirty soon so that I can wear it a couple of times before I have to have it dry cleaned.

P.S. I'd like to thank my loving husband Thad for leaving me a comment for yesterday's post. My outfit was blah but Thad made sure my comment page wasn't empty. I could wear a potato sack and he'll still tell me I look good...and thus the faucet of self-esteem is always gushing. ^_^

Back To Work in Patchwork

2010-03-23T07:50:00.000-07:00

Limited Cardi $25. Voice Top $16. Patchwork Corduroy Denim Skirt. Fryes

Feels like a Monday to me because I had a longish vacation. Friends from Tyler ,Texas Matt and Nat were here to show up and surprise Thad for his birthday. Hanging out at the Station Friday wasn't so bad since I was with friends. Normally, I'd think of killing myself rather than hanging out there. One bartender was such a effin' bitch. I hope her fake titties fall off and crawl back to the Silicon Valley. The Station is totally not my scene but Thad was playing music there...so there!

We spent Saturday in New Orleans and that was fun...just walking about and mildly drinking in different bars. I am glad that city is only 40 something minutes away. Dinner at Galatoir's was wonderyummyful! I haven't eaten so much in a long time. But now, it's back to my diet chart...I don't want my wardrobe to go to waste because they don't fit me anymore...*shudders*

I've worn these necklaces before.

I'm Just An In Betweener

2010-03-18T06:47:00.000-07:00

Charlotte Russe top $25. Union Bay Denim Pedal Pushers $15. Hue Gray Leggings $10. Perry Ellis socks. Franco Sarto ankle boots in rust $45.

Cold mornings and balmy afternoons kind of mess up my daily wardrobe decisions. Instinctively, I dress up warm in the mornings and then later on feel stupid because the weather has gone up. Ahhh Louisiana and your tourette-y clime. I am hoping today's outfit will reconcile with the climactic mood swings.

I noticed that I look younger in pictures. Damn deceitful pixels. I think that's why most people don't recognize me when I'm out because I look 20 years older in real life. I've been gleefully calling myself a hermit and it's probably because I'm a wizened old hag. Haha! I mean wisened...Meh.

Nothing...I just like the chiaroscuro here.

It's Easy Being Green

2010-03-17T06:57:00.000-07:00

Eisley Shirt gifted by Boyd DuPree (Eisley's dad and Garron's uncle) Rue 21 Skirt $8. Belt $65 (gasp!) Target Cardi $17. Borrowed Thad's socks. Frye Booties.

I'm predominantly GREEN!!! because it's St. Patty's day! Thad was supposed to be born on this day but he came two days later. He has always been late since then. My friend Sherri designed that print for her band Eisley's shirt merch. I was so enamored of whole color combination of the kelly green base and mustard-hued girl-headed doe. That print is totally Sherri's brain denizen but since I am schooled in fairy tales as well as my friend Myke "the Bard" Obenieta would attest, this shirt is something I would wear proudly. And well, I love Eisley. Duhrrr.

I just realized this is the same skirt I wore on mine and Erin's 2nd frugal frox post photo together. Here's the resident Irish mutt with me, Erin McNulty, sorta Irish girl with a Scottish last name...I should've posed with her cousin Kerry Flanagan but she's in New Orleans. I mean, how Irish can that name get! ^_^ You're a wonderful substitute though, Erin. Now gimme some brownies...

Erin's field o'flowers frock is from Target. Cardi is from Old Navy.

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!!! I wish I had my own St. Patrick who will drive away the snakes from our yard.

Cillian Murphy, one beautiful Irish being.
I could leave Thad for him...maybe.

Handsome and Gretel

2010-03-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

Gretel Over All Dress by Soundgirl $44. Old Navy Shirt $15. Refuge Olive Boots

There are clothes that I want to wear everyday. This corduroy jumper is one of them. I love it so much I made a replica of it for my Blythe doll.

Creepy yes?

I think I am going to buy some rust, red and olive green corduroy fabric and see if my Nanay's seamtress can triplicate this jumper. I really can't have too much of a good thing. Oh...and my title is stolen from a riot grrrl band song from the mid 90s, Babes in Toyland.

An Art Deco Kind of Day

2010-03-15T07:37:00.000-07:00

Max Studio Dress $39. Mossimo Cardi $14. Frye Boots

Thad bought me that dress. The pattern is woven on the fabric and has some sort of art deco feel to it. Note the stylized dandelion. It was Thad who pointed that out. I was so proud of him for noticing that since art and art periods are not really his field. Imagine how proud he would be of me if I start saying things like: "Ma'am, a KDEmod already includes split packages so you don't have to do a full blown KDE installation..." and some more penguin talk...

Finally got to do yard work yesterday...and hoped to God I wouldn't pull out a snake like my gurl friend, Gaynell did that last time she came over to help me out. Her scream pierced the entire neighborhood's eardrums. Sorry M.E.G...

Still don't know which of my poor dear plants survived that darn freeze. I hope they all come back...Warm weather get here already!!!

detail on woven print

Duchess of Yolk

2010-03-12T08:10:00.000-08:00

Charlotte Russe Top bargain bin $8. DizzyLizzy skirt $7 Ross. Hue Leggings Anthropologie.Knitted Mustard Hat.Boho bag from Erin.Steve Madden Boots.Thrifted Locket. Bracelets Gaisano Metro Ayala Mall Cebu.

When I waltzed in to work (I only waltz on Fridays) today, Erin said "You look cute today. You look like a duchess." I don't know if it's the locket or the flowy pleated gathered hip dress like those that Edwardian era children wore. That made me smile because I like being likened to a nobility and everything vintagey. Thad already calls me Queen of Effin' Everything. I am also fond of that word duchess. I have a penchant for anything least liked by everyone. Every little girl wants to be a princess but never a duchess. In old Russia, the little royal princess was called Archduchess. The Princess title is actually a lower title bestowed to daughters of minor Russian princes who precide over principalities that are equivalent to a baronetcy in England. Ahhh the things I pick up from reading too many Barbara Cartland novels.

So anydaydreamyway...I love putting together outfits that seem hopeless to me at first glance, why I buy them regardless, I will never know. I've had the gray top for months and it was only when I bought that skirt last weekend that I realized that top doesn't seem hopeless anymore. The flowery skirt is peaking under the gray drabness of the top, it's my take on spring wanting to happen already!!! That embroidered boho bag is lovely. Erin got it for me for a dollar at the thrift store.

Happy Friday everyone! May the weekend not go by so fast...