Splendid

mas moda; 123 monroe avenue

It's been awhile...

dress: vintage free people (designed by my friend)

shoes: modcloth

tank: thrifted

bracelets: forever 21

necklace: UO

earrings: made them

mas moda; cottage garden

skirt: forever 21

pullover: borrowed

tights: bought in Italy last year

boots: forever 21

bracelet: thrifted

necklace: ? can't remember?

mas moda; this old barn

 
 

skirt: thrifted

tank: target

jacket: thrifted

necklace: UO

belt: my mom's

boots: vintage steve madden

purse: forever 21

bracelets: free people and thrifted  

mas moda: while visions of sugar plums danced in her head...

 
 
 
jacket: modcloth

dress: UO

tights: target

boots: zappos

scarf: bought in London last year at random store

mas moda; redwood path

 

 
  

 
dress: modcloth

wedges: modcloth

socks: ???

necklace: UO

earrings: made them myself

ring: thrifted

mas moda; lupine eyes

 
 

Here's Mr. Lobo who was very shy to have his picture taken. He was my inspiration for buying this shirt.  The last picture is my lupine scream, my werewolf transformation...

shirt- modcloth

jeans- older, bought in Philadelphia

boots-zappos

necklace-UO

 

mas moda; over the knees

 
 
blazer- thrifted

t-shirt- modcloth

leggings- bought in a store in Venice last year

socks- target

boots-zappos

purse- thrifted

necklace- target

bracelets- target

earrings- forever 21

Mr. Lobo (or Senor Guapo as I call ), priceless..

mas moda; blue dress, red heart

 
 
 

 
dress: picked up in a consignment shop in London

tights: target

boots: zappos

purse: thrifted

sunglasses: thrifted

earrings: etsy

mas moda; island of the dolls

I saved these from a couple weeks ago when we went to the Xochimilco and visited the island of the dolls (Isla de las Muñecas). Fitting for Halloween, no?

 
 
sweater- nordstrom rac

shirt- pull and bear

pants- bought a year ago somewhere in Philadelphia??

shoes- way old dr. scholl's I got on sale at macy's---hands-down the most confotable shoes I have

hat- bought in california, where?

necklace- UO

mas moda; sunny window

 
  
  
dress- pull and bear

tights- target

moccasins- UO last year

necklace- modcloth

hat- bought in Europe

belt- thrifted

purse- forever 21

mas moda; down at the pier

 
 
  
   

  
 down at the Bodega Bay Yacht Club (California)
 sweater: forever 21

shirt: modcloth

skirt: forever 21

sandles: older, bought ?

necklace: UO

earrings: made them

mas moda; cup o' josef

 
 dress: forever 21

purse: zara

shoes: modcloth

necklace: bought in Philadelphia, old bakelite mold

earrings: etsy

belt: forever 21

shades: thrifted 
(picture taken at a Mexico City Starbucks)

mas moda; he called me a 1974 flight attendent in this shirt...

but I love it. 

 
  
 
shirt: modcloth

jeans: old, bought years ago

shoes: modcloth

bracelets: target

shades: thrifted

 

mas moda; where have all the roses gone?

 
  
 
jacket: forever 21

shirt: thrifted

skirt: forever 21

socks: target

moccasins: thrifted

bracelet: thrifted

ring: (bug) gift from my mom

mas moda: behind the wooden screen

 
 
 sweater: pull and bear

dress: thrifted

scarf: bought in Paris

socks: UO

boots: zappos

bracelet: modcloth

converse wedding

While looking over different Flickr groups that have to do with fashion or clothing+ photography, I stumbled upon this group and thought I'd share, Converse Wedding.  Apparently there is a large group of lovers that wear their Chuck Taylors' in their wedding photos.  All the more power to them, I love fun, funky, original ideas for what sometimes is the utterly proper, traditional day...

(Jen, I could totally see you like this.  Above, Jen, above, not directly below. No.)

I love the bride in the cherry red dress, too.

Do you have any fun or different wedding stories?

mas moda; modish fall furry friends frock

 


dress: bought in consignment shop in London 

denim jacket: bought in San Fransisco many years ago

boots: forever 21

socks:?

earrings: etsy

mas moda; view from the bridge

 
  
  
dress: ruche

shoes: vintage UO

belt: ruche

necklace: forever 21

bracelets: free people

flower/button ring: I made it

mas moda; apple county fair

  
  
dress: thrifted

tank: thrifted

moccasins: thrifted

bracelets: target

necklace: UO

earrings: made them myself

mas moda; bronzed flowers

   

 
  
Just found this in my posts, I forgot to put it up...

This skirt reminds me of a tablecloth my Granny had when I was younger, I love this material!

sweater: thrifted

skirt: modcloth

tank: ?

necklace: target (layered chains)

necklace: UO (bird)

shoes: modcloth

mas moda; a quiet afternoon

 

  
   
 sweater: modcloth

tank: thifted

skirt: modcloth

sandals: zappos

necklace: forever 21 

earrings: made them myself

mas moda; saltwater taffy

 
 
  
dress: modcloth

pants: borrowed from my mom

shoes: modcloth

bracelets: target

necklace: UO

Ohio girls rock!

I'm FINALLY with internet here in Bodega Bay, California...my wireless was on the fritz. I was in Ohio last weekend for our annual all-girls weekend with some of my favorite people as previously mentioned in my last post.  Mandi was the hostess with the most-est, we all had a great time hanging out in her so fab apartment and crafting, laughing, drinking way too much, noshing, thrifting and antiquing....I miss them already and can't wait for next year.

Mandi**  and     Vee**

 

  

Pattycakes**     and     Steph**
 

Jen**   and Vanessa***

  
 


   
 
  

watching one of my fave's create...so rad!

 

as always, Patty got scared and hid in the bushes...geesh!

 
  
In Cleveland, at Luckie's Cafe...
 
  
(The rest are taken by the other girls)

I bought so much milkglass from the multiple thrift store stops I had to mail it all back...

 
Jen and me in front of an awesome antique store ( I miss this girl so much!)

 
This was so exciting-this is when Mandi found out she got a job blogging for Apartment Therapy!  We were not surprised, of course, she's uber talented!

And equally exciting was Vanessa found out her plans of opening her own coffee shop/cafe in York was going to happen!!  

 

 
What an awesome weekend!  I miss them all already, each has such a wonderful, lovely spirit, each full of special qualities that make me so proud to be their friend. Next year it's at my place, I can't wait, it's gonna be so fun!(thank you, thank you very much...in Elvis voice.)

mas moda; bow-tuful evening...

sweater: thrifted

dress: modcloth

shoes: UO

bracelet: thrifted

necklace: thrifted

earrings: made them

mas moda: vintage banker

I found this beauty a couple weeks ago in one of my favorite thrift stores.  I'm quite sure my mom wore this in the 70's when she was a sweet, little typist in her bank. This is back when all the women had to wear a uniform, closed toed pumps, nylons and always modestly dressed!

Here I am, happy to welcome new account holders at the bank....welcome, we're members FDIC...

Here I am so eager to take shorthand dictation for Mr. Bank President...

and here, oh, my!  Mr. Bank President purposely spilled his cup of pencils out onto the floor to try to fondle me as I bent over to pick them up!  Well, maybe that makes me one step closer to bank head teller?!?! 

dress-thrifted

shoes-thrifted

belt-thrifted

name tag-borrowed from my mom, it's her old name tag from way back when when she was a typist and accounts manager at a bank.

Do you have any great outfits from the past?

mas moda; little brown squirrel

 
  

dress: modcloth

shoes: modcloth

purse: thrifted

belt: thrifted

squirrel necklace: bought in a boutique in Philadelphia, made from an old Bakelite mold

earrings: made them myself

dog: on loan from my dad, Mr. Bodhisattva

mas moda; country road

country road, take me home...
   
 
  


 
dress: modcloth

wedges: zappos

jacket: older, bought it years ago in a boutique

hat: thrifted

ring:forever 21

mas moda; antique window shopping

 
  

dress: UO(London)

tights: Modcloth

shoes: Modcloth

ring: Forever 21

necklace: thrifted

bracelet: borrowed from my mom (super vintage!)

purse: Forever 21

mas moda; whispering grasses

 

dress:free people (old)

shoes: UO

bracelets: thrifted

ring: modcloth

red mexican necklace: given by a friend in Mexico

bird necklace: older, UO I think  

mas moda; red white and blue

 

dress: Modcloth

shoes: ?

bandana bow: Modcloth

milkglass beads necklace: thrifted

bracelet: Target

earrings: made by me
 

Happy July 4th ya all!

mas moda

dress: Modcloth

shoes: Urban Outfitters

sentimental summer

 
(modcloth pic)
 When I see these, I feel like summer vacation is almost here...less than a month until we go back to the States for 2 glorious months!!

I have been drooling over these and think I may get a couple...so, what do you vote for?

This swim suit

These wedges and outfit

 
this shirt

 
This fun necklace

 
this camera

 
this hat

 
are you dreaming of summer yet?

New Euro threads

I'm planning what we're taking to Europe next week. And, I shouldn't have, but I did...I mean, I remember my friend Chandra was in London last year and saw a newspaper that said, "Want to feel more fashionable?  Stand next to an American."  Well, I'm here to represent...

 

I feel it is my duty....

and I'm off...

well, I'm on my way south of the border (swine flu seems over there) and I'm excited to embark on a new life adventure.  It's been a month almost since we've seen Dave so we're all pretty happy about that! My sweet hubby went last week to pick out furniture so when we arrived we'd have a place to park ourselves other than the SWEEEET blow-up bed we've previously used as a couch for 3 months.....long story...

Before I go, I think I'm even a day or two early, but I wanted to tell you about Category Stories newest challenge.  Titled, "If I could have any job..." which sounds really easy, right??  Well, I had so much trouble with this one. I honestly couldn't think of anything.  So dorky...after I did my layout I thought of a few, but it was after the fact and I was packing and going to a beekeeper field trip and having a 3 day house-guest, etc. So big sis is always talking about her dream to be a fashion designer.  She takes private sewing lessons weekly and loves browsing through magazines and cutting up outfits, making inspiration boards, etc.

  

The journaling reads "When McKaylah took the tour at Free People's design offices, it pretty much clinched it for her that her dream job would be a famous fashion designer."  My sweet gal pal Ana is a head fashion designer there and was so kind to give us a tour a few months back and told McKaylah what she needs to do to prepare for the life as fashion designer (pouting, lots of eye rolling and critical tisks-tisks of unknowingly unhip citizens was not part of her advice, but surely it must be so-JUST KIDDING A!!!  love ya!!) No, good, hearty advice about getting good at sewing and having an eye for fashion, not being scared to take a chance, making inspo boards to practice, but also stuff like getting good grades, which mommy appreciated. Ana actually works her freakin' butt off, it's for sure a cut-throat biz-ness, and she's stayed on top with hard work and of course, a fab-u-lous eye-rolling eye for fashion. To see that post click here, it has lots of good pics! Of course, Amy's custom made shirts are an inspiration to big sis as well! Awwww, surrounded by talent!

Here's some pics of Ana's b-day party this weekend...pool party with a "Sacred Heart" theme.  Dang, I'm gonna miss these people...

the birthday girl, loving her new mirrored bowl ( Kristal and me in the background)

and her Sacred Heart cake, so yummy, from the Night Kitchen Bakery

   

man, Erin and I need tans!

Kristal and me

me and Sarah

my favorite couple!

Sarah and I (bartender extraordinaires!)

night swim

(happy birthday A!)

And I wanted to tell you about a sw-eeeet atc swap coming up, click here to see what Alli Serrato has planned if you want to get in on this. I just recently became blog pals with her and my girl Euphoria who are making me wish I was back in California.  This swap is going to be pretty rad, so come play along!!

Okay, go play at Category Stories and have a great week!

hi

hi,

rain, rain, go away

 

this is a layout I did a week or two ago, with my rainboots on, inspired by kk's pic.  I'm diggin' all the spring layouts and pictures I've been seeing people do.

This one was from our Annual Easter Talent Show, my dad LOOOOOVES it! (ha!)

Like this one <3 I am in love with cherry blossom trees<3.  One day I'll get the guts and continue my sailor jerry bluebird tat I have on on my back into cherry blossoms and such.  Peek...

 

and this was just for fun...where the fairies live

and I was so stoked to find out that I won the last Creative Type challenge!!!

Thanks ladies-you made my day!  I was so excited to be able to order $20 worth of goodies from the Living Room Floor!  It was hard to make up my mind!

And just so you know, Scrap Mojo is taking off the month of June, returning to one challenge a month in July.  I think a lot of us, especially Marie, are feeling overloaded at the moment.  But don't worry, the fun challenges will be back in July! 

Big sis started learning how to needle felt in her sewing class. Here's the bluebird she's made this week. I can't wait until she starts making the adorable figures like we have on our nature table. 

 

The last few days have been super busy. Getting ready to spend so much time in Mex, and even though it's taken forever to finalize everything and you'd think I'd be more used to the idea, but many changes have happened, I definitely feel overwhelmed with the upcoming move. I'm having some anxiety over the thought of leaving my home and neighborhood, our friends and the convenience of life here.  But the beginning of June we'll sojourn down to Mexico for a the beginning of a 2 year experience.  We'll return to the States throughout the year, but the bulk of the next couple years will be lived in a high rise apartment in a super crowded city. I'm trying to see the positive in this experience, my daughters and I learning a new language, living another culture, having some amenities that we otherwise don't have here.  But I'm also pretty nervous about things like safety and the inability to just run to the store and grab some yogurt.  Everything takes FOREVER there.  Or not being able to stop by the organic farm to pick-your-own flowers, or running into Trader Joe's for milk (organic here, finding organic there is difficult), or running into the craft store for glue dots, the craft stores I've seen there are not really geared towards what I've got in mind...It's the silly little things like that that make me feel a bit claustrophobic. So life while we're there will be simplified somewhat. Hard for me, I'm always ready to go, have trouble settling down and am definitely at times a little high strung.

But these pictures are making me smile.  Little sis joined a gardening class through Pennypack Farms not far from our home. "Little Sprouts" is a class for ages 3-5 and each week they do some sort of gardening activity and read a book. This week she planted eggplant and peppers, weeded some and picked lots of fresh chives and mint.  She is beyond happy with her hands in the soil and digging around.  She loves to uncover worms and delicately cover them up again. Big sis liked seeing her friend from gym and swim and they explored the greenhouses and took pictures of the chickens over in the coop while the class was happening.

this place was beautiful, too! Sarah took us here earlier in the week.  All the kids had a great time splashing in the water, looking for rocks, minnows and exploring.

lastly, so drooling...

 

Unexpected

Hey ya all, I was supposed to be on a plane bound for Mexico yesterday, but with the swine flu in full force we have postponed our trip. Scary what's going on...it even sounds awful, "swine."

Speaking of the unexpected,Category Stories newest prompt is "Unexpected" and I hope you'll come play along with us! What is the Unexpected for you?  A flu pandemic?  A cancelled trip? A new found love of dark chocolate? Sounds like me...hmmmmm... Here is my layout about matroyshkas since the girls and I collect them. We're always on the hunt for them at yard sales and thrift stores, excited to see how many are inside. It's the unexpecting part of guessing that makes it so fun! (For the record, our matryoshka with the mostest is 16, the smallest is the size of a seed bead....)

 

 

and I asked the totally tubular Amy Tangerine to be our Guest Designer over at Category Stories.  She's not only one of my most fave scrapbooker's, but she's well known for her awesome designer t-shirts that sells in high-end boutiques like Kitson and Olive and Bette's in NYC. I actually had a couple of her shirts from a couple years ago before I ever knew she and I shared the same love of scrapbooking. Now we've become chums and I'm so excited to meet her face to face at Sisiniversary the end of June! She's even shipped me custom shirts for my girls, big sis is especially thrilled! I'll take a pic soon and post it. She's adorable, huh?  Go give her some love!!!

now, I know this doesn't have much to do about scrapbooking, but I just had to give a shout out to this new jewelry company I found. I was shopping in Old City Philadelphia (a neighborhood downtown) and went in this cool store to find a display case of the raddest jewelry I've seen in awhile.  Hot Cakes, oh, how I adore thee...

 

I picked up 2 necklaces and 2 rings, awwwww..so fab...they are hand cast resin that are reminiscent of vintage Bakelite jewelry they say, I agree...

I'll be back in a few days to post my scrap mojo layout, you'll love what the prompt is.  As always, the mojo girls aim to please!! Marie is always coming up with awesome ideas to spark our creative fires!  And hopefully get my hand-writing Creative Type layout done for their challenge...go check them out-really fun!

and finally, scoot over a little will you because I need a little bragging room if you please....look what my super talented, fabulous, amazing little 8 year old made!!! Can you believe it? She's been taking private sewing lessons for about a year now with a wonderful teacher. Big sis made this for her Grandma Rose (my mommy) for Mother's Day.  She wrapped it up all pretty tonight in lime green paper and fancy chenille ribbon so we can mail it off tomorrow.  

now ciao ya all!

tree huggers

I'm beginning to see a pattern here...we have a pair of tree huggers here...okay, young naturalists, if you will...

and a bee, Mother Nature's postal workers, coming to deliver more pollen, or pick some up...

but not everyone can appreciate local, uncooked honey (good for allergies)

I want a cherry blossom tattoo...

wow, you're really smelling the flowers, little sis!

my new front porch seating-our old seating was taken to the west coast and is in storage, these fun red babies are from Ikea, as well as the bench and floor cushions. All my cool lanterns were taken away (Boo Hoo!!), but I reordered the blue one from Anthropolgie again. Here's last year's lanterns:

anyhoo, I enjoy sitting on our front porch so much and relish the nights when the girls and I can read out there, or when we have friends over and the kids run wildly through the yard, adults listening to music and sipping on the "cocktail of the summer" (last summer it was bay breezes, this summer it's yet to be decided, any ideas???)

and finally, my new shoes I picked up. Mary Janes falls in love with Crocs, makes happy bouncing baby rubber wedges, so fun...

TGIF, huh?  I'll be back tomorrow or the next day to post for Category Stories and Scrap Mojo, so stay tuned...the challenges are super fun! This weekend I'm going to be outside as much as possible, I love  spring in the NE! What are your weekend plans? 

super duper!

Hey there, sorry it's been awhile, just have had a couple super busy weeks...

first, I'm so stoked to say that I've been picked to be a new Scrap Mojo designer!  I think it's a super duper big honor since all the ladies on the design team are so talented!  Wow! Thanks guys for picking me!  I can't wait to get crafty with ya all!  Here's my glitter moustache shot that goes on the Scrap Mojo Blog...and for those out there that know me, know I have a "thing" for moustaches (look at past posts or on Flickr, me as Frida Kahlo, me as a pirate, me as a french waiter...).  While I am known to occasionally paint one on my face for goofy pictures (or my girls faces), I am HORRIFIED at the idea of actually having a real moustache, so the request for a glitter moustache for the scrap mojo blog is bitter sweet, I'll admit...

Thanks to Shawn over at Eclectic Whimsy for helping me with my blog again.  She's the one who designed my header above and helps me with adding blinkies, etc. because I am SO NOT computer savvy.  If you're thinking having your blog redesigned, give her a shout! 

 and last weekend at the release of Twilight on DVD my friend Ana had a little Twilight party.  All the girls wore matching Edward shirts, here's a Polaroid group shot...

 

from left to right; Kristal, moi, Sarah, Erin and Ana 

and the little panties I made for Ana as a hostess gift, I accidentally deleted the pic of the final product-so bummed...I cut out "bite me" and hand stitched them on the bum, along with two white fangs on the first "e" in bite.  I can't believe I deleted them, but you get the idea here. She loved them! Now I'm half-way through Eclipse, gotta power threw!!!

 

and in the rva class, my fabric mobile..

 

 

vintage plastic toothpick for my needle and different fabrics for sewing machine parts and letters on Hand Made

and finally pics from a last weekend, rollerskating down along the Schuylkill River...

 

dad and girls playing crack the whip on rollerskates

 

yeah, mom on skates, check-it-ouuuut!

 

little sis

we're thinking of starting a skate (Dave) and rollerskate club, complete with vests and emblems on the back,

what do you think? What name of the skate club do you recommend???

splurge

Look at 'em! Aren't they beautimus??  I was drooling over these on etsy this week so I got them.  Aren't they fab? All so Valentine-y...

   

the designer said "Frida is cold....so she bought a warm and fury - no animal fur, of course! - coat in Moscow. " It sold me, well, that and it's super cute!

The milkglass shop has so much mouth watering milkglass, and she's so sweet! 

  too help complete my set, these lace plates...

   this lovely jar with lid

and while I don't know if in Mexico I'll need this heavy of a poncho, but I loved it, it's pinkness and fringe, marvelous!

and finally, this beautiful art piece, we couldn't resist!

Jealous?  I know, it's okay...

Dave finally got back into town after being gone 2 weeks.  We were so happy to see him. After we picked him up at the airport we went to a new restaurant we'd never been to. It's owned by the same chap that owns El Vez, and a slew of other resturants here and in NYC. Pod is in downtown P-town and while honestly, I didn't think the food was worth the bill, the atmosphere was pretty cool.  They have a few actual "Pod" booths that are similar to the Mork and Mindy pod style egg-chairs, only bigger and with a table and booth inside.  There are buttons on the wall to change the colors in the pod, like orange, pink, blue, etc., the girls loved it.

Polaroids, so fun!

Pixie changing the colors in the pod

eel sushi (yuck! I tried it and felt like a Fear Factor episode...too powdery and slimy at the same time, belch...I'll stick with good ol' Cali rolls...)

when ya gotta dance, dance...

our pod

outside...my wheels, just kidding, mine are my new skates, see the past post...