Hiding in Hedgerows

This hedge outside of our apartment gets me right in the feels every day. I brush my hands over the top and I am transported to rural England, a place I have never been but have longed for as far back as I can remember. There's something very "Secret Garden" about it. Something reminiscent of Watership Down. I met eyes with a cottontail and was tempted to ask him if Fiver was nearby, if Blackberry was doing well.

Instead, I'm trapped here in the Yoop, stealing moments of shade and yearning for the English Countryside, a better camera, and the ability to capture colors the way they really are. The sun is harsh on delicate things even in the shade.

If I can't share my reality, can it even be called real? I think I'd rather close my eyes and dream of England than contemplate philosophy at this hour. And wish that I could find a way to upload photos and edit them so that they aren't so washed out. Any advice? Anyone?

Outfit Details:

Yellow/Pastel Plaid Shirt: Vintage

Belt: Stolen from ASOS Dress

Shorts: Kohl's 

Earring: FrockStock

Sandals: (I give up. I just don't know.)

Heat Spell

It appears that 90 degrees is my breaking point. 90 degrees is where my brain melts and all I want to do is lie on the ground and admit defeat. The thermometer crept above that 90 degree mark before I even made it out of bed today. I knew before I even opening my eyes that the entire day was going to be a constant battle against the heat.

So Alex and I went swimming. We went out for dinner. And when the time came to take pictures, I headed straight for the shade. Though the stand of trees in only a small belt next to the pond, once you enter the inside of their borders, you've entered a different world. Even here, I couldn't hide from the sun.

Nor could I wear the shoes I attempted to wear the rest of the day. I just received these hand-painted beauties in the mail, and put them on immediately. However, my previous blisters weren't approving of the choice. I had to show you anyway. I just love the little birds!

What I could do, though, was catch a glimpse of the house Alex and I are soon going to live in across the water. Yes! We bought a house! I'll be sharing more pictures and details soon. Even if no one is reading these words but me, one day I'll be able to look back on these days as a huge turning point in my life.

Homeowners... I can't imagine.

Outfit Details:

Blue Top: thirifted

Blue Skirt: Thrifted

Belt: Thrifted

Handpainted Wedges: eBay

Adventures in Wonderland

 

"'I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think: was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is 'Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle!'" - Alice, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

After the storm today everything raced out for a bit of the sun before it left us for the day. I took pictures amongst a number of rabbits, painted turtles, and a curious deer. Perhaps it had something to do with the way the world is always new after the rain, but my pictures today all felt a bit out of Carroll's Wonderland. I don't mind. I've been there a time or two, myself.

I couldn't help but be drawn to the pines today. They're some of my favorite trees. The scent of them, with the added ghost of the rain we had drew me right to them. Maybe, too, the forest tones of my new dress and my new Seychelles sent me that way. Whatever the reason, it was a magical place to stop, if only for a few minutes.

Outfit Details:

Forest Green Dress: eBay

Two Birds Necklace: Frockstock

Seychelles Flats: eBay

Head Scarf: Vintage

Summer Comes in Golden Rays

Apparently, when life turns hectic, my blog is the first thing to go. School and roadtrips and general business, and then the lack of desire to do anything but lie in bed and read took over my life for awhile. Not to mention that Alex and I are buying a house, and the Memorial Day Weekend rafting trip I was in charge of. Anyway, I'll try not to let that happen again. I'm happiest when I'm blogging, it seems.

The weather here has been beautiful, but too warm for my tastes. I want to be creative, but how do you dress creatively when a mini-dress is too warm to wear? I'll have to figure out this summer thing if I don't want my posts to be stale.

In the meantime, I can show off my new ASOS dress that's really only appropriate for summertime wear. I've never worn anything so short. But part of being creative is being adventurous, right? So here's a call to adventure.

Outfit details: 

Dress: ASOS (similar)

Sunglasses: Claire's

Bird Necklace: Frockstock

Belt: Vintage

Sandals: No idea, actually.

The Darkening Sky

I had one more post about winter in me, and then-! Summer comes! Over a foot of snow on the ground, and the temperature hits almost 80 degrees.

...What?

We had some incredible record breaking days in Upper Michigan, and it's still far warmer than it has any right to be. The this is, where I live, spring doesn't come until May. At least.

Ever.

I don't know what this weather means (except probably that global warming is something no one should be arguing about) but I do know that rain has been on the air for over a week. And yet, it still won't rain. With buds coming up all over the place, we need it. People have been praying for it. And the sky keeps taking on the color that means rain is immanent, and yet, it doesn't come.

With water on the mind, I threw this outfit together. I might have been looking for an excuse to show you these shoes that I found hiding in a thrift store. I think they're awesome. Especially with this skirt that I found, the same day, at a different store! They might have been destined to come home with me. I'd like to think so. It's the little things.

 

Outfit Details:

Plaid Button Up: Thrifted

Belt: Ruche

Velvet Skirt: Vintage

Tights: Target

Shoes: Vintage

Equal Parts Day and Night

A lesser-known fact about me is that I follow a Pagan faith. It's not something I usually advertise, but there are a few times a year where I get to relish in my Pagandom. The equinoxes are some of those times.

Everything around me is waking up and coming back to life. The completely random 80 degree weather is helping with that, I have no doubt. It felt so good to drag Alex to the hardware store and buy all the things I needed to create a garden on our balcony. He may not be thrilled now, but just wait until I bring him a cup of tea that's home-grown!

The other wonderful thing about today was the fulfilling of a long standing tradition. As far back as I can remember, I have been making boats out of tree bark and odds and ends. I always get so excited, wondering what adventures they'll have without me when I set them free. Did you do anything like that as a child? I simply can never stop.

Outfit Details:

Pentagram Necklace: A treasure from a craft show

Spring Green Dress: Ruche

Belt: Thrifted

Shoes: Target

Working Girl

I meant to post these pictures months and months ago, but as the days after my employment ended continued, I found myself with increasing apathy about the whole thing. I have now put to rest any and all hard feelings I might have had about my former place of employment, and must admit that although there were some pretty terrible things about my job, there were some pretty decent things too. If nothing else, I was able to wear whatever I desired to work. Not the first time I'd encountered such freedom at a job site, but it's always appreciated. So, here it is: the laying to rest of my days as a working girl at a minimum wage, part time, soul killing job. Or at least, I hope.

I took pictures around various parts of the shop (read: closet) so that I might remember bits of what was my daily life. Without, I suppose, giving away anything I don't think I'm supposed to. There wasn't much to the place, but I won't forget the multitude of bright colors, needles, inks, and packaging, and the once upon a time when a dozen roses graced my sales counter.

 

We have to make the most of the situations we get ourselves in, you know?

Outfit details:

Necklace: Thrifted

Striped Orange Top: Thrifted

Belt: Thrifted

Denim Skirt: Vintage

Ivory Tights: Target?

Brown Oxfords: Target

Tights: Target