Rebel, rebel

We took a trip home this weekend and lately I always feel like I'm sucked into another world. I'm from a small town and we went to a town function. Arriving and taking a look around I know and recognize just about everyone. And everyone recognized me and then I received that up and down scrutinizing look from just about every woman there. I did not fit in with my vintage, shin length checkered sorbet-colored dress among the jean-wearing, boot shod, sparkly topped women of my home town. It made me feel uncomfortable and a little out of place.


I forgot my camera so these are all quick shots taken with my husband's iphone.

This is an odd shot my husband took of my outfit earlier in the week. But for some reason I kinda like it. 

Purple solo cup...I fill you up...

Dress: Vintage

Sweater: Forever 21

Necklace: Vintage

Belt: Forever 21

Shoes: Dont remember...

Even if I don't quite fit in when I go home, I like that. I like my rebelliousness, I guess. I know I get odd looks up here in Mqt, but I don't know them, so I don't care as much. I did receive a great compliment from my sister's friend who said I could pull all this vintage stuff off. Thank you. You made my night. 

What do you all think? Does anyone out there ever encounter or live in the small town life?

How much do you put yourself out there in clothes that are out of the ordinary? Any weird looks? How do you handle that?

Next time I swear I will get better pictures of my outfits. Bye loves...

Turtlenecks, snow drifts, and a leave of absence

I just want to apologize for being absent these past two weeks. School started and its going to be a long, unfun semester. So I was trying to decide what I had to let slid, you know what I mean? What will be replaced by the never ending parade of homework? I was considering this blog. Put it on pause and post occasionally with updates mostly on facebook and twitter. But I don't want to. Yet the days are quickly passing filled with these tradeoffs. Do I catch a few more minutes of sleep or finish that assignment? Do I paint my nails or get the laundry done? It is very irritating. 

These pictures were actually taken the day before school started and it was only 20 degrees out, by the way...When I stepped over by this fence I sunk into a snow drift that drifted up above my boots. The joys of winter...

What's sad about the the past two weeks is that I had some amazing outfits, too. Last Wednesday was my birthday and I splurged on some vintage. I picked up a few necklaces, a couple dresses... and received a beautiful antique vanity from my husband. It needs a little work, but I'm excited to do it. And will hopefully get a post up about it.

Turtleneck: thrifted

Vest: Maurices

Skirt: thrifted Ann Taylor

Tights: Target

Boots: Born

Necklace: vintage clip on earring

This here is my first attempt at wearing a turtleneck in years. I mean years. Later in the day I ended up switching out the vest for a black tank, which I liked better. Those tights look red, but actually they are more of a rust color and currently my new favorite pair of tights.

Currently, I am going to try and keep posting a couple times a week. I really appreciate all you readers out there and don't give up on me.

Simplicity and Snowshoes on a Sunday

Today is the Sunday before school starts. And I have never been so nervous for the beginning of a new semester. I'm usually the nerd who eagerly picks up my books and sharpens my pencils, excited for that first day. Now dread weighs me down. But the more rational part of my brain knows that I have always been able to balance school and work well and, by looking at grades alone, I have always excelled at school. I just need to keep telling myself, I can get through this...So, the Sunday before school begins, I thought I would wear something nice and relaxed. And also to share a bit of a favorite pastime that comes with all the snow that hit us this past week.

Snowshoeing!

We were out at Harlow Lake. Back in the summer we were out here, that post here. In the picture below, you can see the ice fishing shanties, another favorite pastime of U.P.er's in the winter. I haven't gone ice fishing yet, but my husband promises to take me at some point. That will certainly be an interesting post...

I love the simplicity of this outfit paired with this brooch. Plus this sweater is so comfy. I love it.

Sweater: Husband's

Pants: Younkers

Boots: Don't remember

Brooch: vintage

Flowy Skirts and Stormy Weather

While at work, gazing out the wide drive through windows, the day is drawing to a close and yet...the light clings a little longer, lingering past the 5 o'clock mark. And I say yippee! Though its January, the weather is quite warm, almost spring-like and I yearn quite eagerly for warmer weather. But, and there is always a but, a huge storm has hit. Which is exciting in itself. Who doesn't love a fierce winter storm?


Okay, so these pictures aren't the best and I've basically given up taking pictures inside, and so that's why I'm eagerly awaiting spring when the light lasts longer after work.

However you do get to see one of the little projects I've been working on. The suitcases! I'll do a post on those later...

I like this outfit because it's simple and pretty. Plus the skirt is flowy, which is a quality I love in skirts.

Here I let the slip I was wearing under my skirt to peek through...

Skirt: thrifted, was a dress, but I chopped the top off

Shirt: Target, ages ago

Tank: borrowed from sister and never given back

Belt: Forever 21

Tights: Kohls

Shoes: Payless

The Lost Castle

My sisters and parents came to visit me the other day and they got to my apartment before I got off work. They were nice enough to take my dog out for a walk. Later as they were replaying to me the story of my silly puppy, Dad mentioned my dog dragging him up some old castle. Castle? I couldn't for the life of me figure out what they were talking about. Did some magical drawbridge spring out at them from the side of the bike path guiding them into another world? Did fairies obscure their vision into believing campus was long lost Camelot? Down the bike path from your apartment, they kept saying. So the next day my dog and I struck out on a quest to discover this cement structure. Well, it turned out to be something I knew about just had never taken much notice of before. It's an old structure, does not look like a castle, but I guess in the dark, a tall cement structure partially hidden by trees and bushes could throw off the appearance of a crumbling tower. Not sure if it was some old building for campus or had something to do with the iron industry, but I decided to take pictures around it. And that is the story of the castle.

Skirt: Forever 21

Shirt: Aeropostale

Socks: Younkers

Tights: Dont remember...

Boots: Born

Watch: Husband's Fossil

By the way, obsessed with wearing a men's watch. I spent hours knocking a few links out so it would fit better. The watch doesn't even work right now, it needs a new battery, but I love how big and chunky it feels. 

Garage Green

And so the last week of school vacation has begun. A light dusting of snow covers all, revealing a new palette for something to be created. But what? Well, mason jars hanging on the wall by hose clamps, and old suitcases being covered in pretty cotton. That's what. Oh, piqued your interest, have I? Those I will post about later this week...

How to get the look: a pair of colored tights under a pair of patterned tights.

My pirate shirt that I discovered at good ole Goodwill has proved to be quite versatile. 

Sweater: Maurices

Scarf: gifted

Skirt: Maurices

Patterned tights: gifted

Green tights: Target

Socks: gifted

Boots: Born

Peek of Lace

I've worn this almost exact same outfit in this post, but I added one or two details that I liked immensely.  

Brooch worn as a hair accessory. Not sure how I did it, but it stayed there all day. Pretty proud of myself just for getting it to stay.

Dress: thrifted

Cardigan:Target

Tights: Target

Skirt: Forever 21

Currently, I am excited to report, I am working on an area in my house where I can get pictures taken! My apartment is so small and winter has harshly arrived, it's hard to find a nice background area where I'm not shivering or is just plain ugly. Cue the sheet, but obviously that didn't work either. I just have to work on the wall. Right now it's covered in Detroit Tiger's memorabilia, but sorry, husband, it's going to get moved. I just hope my little corner turns out. I have so many projects going on, which hopefully I can get done soon and share with you all.

Mason Jars and Thigh-High Socks

My New Year's Eve involved a bonfire, drinking out of mason jars, visiting a bar in the middle of nowhere with patrons polluting the bar air with cigarette smoke (did the law not arrive out there yet? Or is it beyond the law?) and ending the night in Central time (the U.P. is lucky enough to have two time zones to mess with our cell phones). If our night was better planned we could have celebrated the New Year twice.

See the glass? It was a gift for my aunt. It's a Yooper wine glass, a mason jar glued to a pretty stem.

My mother-in-law gave me these over the knee socks which are very warm, but I also feel they come off very sexy. So I thought party on the bottom and business on top and I added the buttoned up top.

That was the beginning of the bonfire in the background.

Sweater: Gap

Shirt: Vintage

Dress worn as a Skirt: BB Dakota

Tights: Kohls

Socks: Hue

Shoes: Maurices

A winter storm is a brewing outside as I write this and I wonder what the New Year will bring. 

I hope your New Year's Eve was great and the New Year even better.