Zebra Snap

A thrifted zebra knit skirt

A thrifted scarf

Boots by Sorel

Leg warmers by my dear friend Winnie

Down jacket from ThreadUp

(Wedding preparation is well underway, and blogging seems to be coming back on the radar!  This is joyous news indeed.)

One day last month I threw on my fluffy down jacket and went for a walk, camera and tripod in tow.  It was the first time I'd done outfit pictures in a very long while, and it was marvelous.  The simple act of creating something new, like images of an assembled outfit with a beautiful mill in the background, can be so very therapeutic.  

It was a cold snap that afternoon - around 10 degrees with a whipping wind.  My hands froze up and I wasn't too concerned with the camera's focus up to a point.  Stumbling back to my little loft to edit pictures and thaw was quite therapeutic, too.

Also zebra print, combined with furred hoods, maximizes any outfit's warmth factor by a magnitude of at least fifty.  Try it.

March Photo-a-Day | Week One

ONE // Homemade peanut butter nutella cookie, warm.  New phone, Emily Winfield Martin art.  Sweet grey spring rain.  So nice.

TWO // morning

THREE // Intense Jenga

FOUR // At last, INSTAGRAM!  Follow me?                   FIVE // Pulling an all-nighter.

SIX // a very special surprise package arrived.

SEVEN // Practicing an aerial with my swing-dancin' bro.

Pocketful of Poetry

fisherman's sweater // Tulle    chambray skirt // eShakti     tee & bag // thrifted    dot scarf & fox necklace // gifts     boots // Sorel

February Photo-a-Day | Week Four

ONE // sunset.

TWO // Out on a walk.

THREE // indulging<3

FOUR // Checkmate - my masterfully crafted checkmate, to be exact.  Oh yes.

FIVE // Tiger hanging around the studio.

SIX // Having more fun than a cartful of Carthaginians - also about to get another parking ticket.  'Cause who sits down at a swing dance?

 SEVEN // One word: ThreadUp.  Actually four:  Delighted post coming soon!

And lastly, two verses that have been so meaningful to me this week.  I hope they hold encouragement for you, as well.

"I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." --Psalm 34:4

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." --ll Tim. 1:7

Choosing to embrace the beauty, the happiness, the light and laughter of life can't hide the fears and struggles that are never far away.  In fact, it shouldn't.  Those trials are there for a reason.

But what a beautiful life it is, with the power to find deliverance from all our fears.  

Power, and love, and a sound mind.

Let her dance

Outfit Details:

radio diagram tee //  Crawlspace Studios

cardi - linen skirt -  Dooney and Bourke bag // thrifted

ruffle scarf // Wool and Whatnot

belt // forever 21     jacket // ModCloth

shoes // Privo (ebay)

nails // Essie: Good as Gold

Just right for a night of rad swing dancing with friends.

I am very much in love with this amazing tee from Crawlspace Studios, birthday gift from the girl who knows me better than I know myself - this girl.  I mean, I've been saying I loved the graphic tee trend going around, but wanted something different and... me.  So she gets this.  It's so cool, my bro said it was cooler than his shirt and he thinks he wears the best out there.  It's so cool that it has a vintage diagram of an old high-end radio adapted to receive at three wavelengths screen printed on it.

I happen to be a licensed HAMM radio technician - call sign KE7PXT - so... perfection in a graphic tee.
(Don't be too impressed with the HAMM technician bit - if I did it, anyone can, guaranteed.)

The dancing was so good.  Words fail.  The music was the weirdest blend of the cream of classic swing - In the Mood, Bobby Darin's La Mer cover) and electro swing-pop-country tunes, that, though kind of insane, was ridiculously fun.  Today's soundtrack (click play at the top of the post!), which happens to be the closing song for my new favorite movie, would've fit right in.

I'll be posting about Fantastic Mr. Fox, the best movie ever, soon.  Have you seen it?
  Ever swung to The Lion Sleeps Tonight?
Check.

February Photo-a-Day | Week Three

ONE // a birthday breakfast of unparalleled sweetness. 

TWO // the Wall Tent Tote is ready to go again

THREE // Adorable, sugary, ridiculous conversation hearts... my favorite!  Except that I don't like to eat them - they're entirely disgusting.  What would be perfect is a carved wooden set, painted to look like the real thing.

FOUR // Excellent reading.

FIVE // Sautéed brussels sprouts in coconut oil and a dash of redmond salt are the finest.

SIX // Favorite people, birthday party, game night, ensuing hilarity and brilliance = the best.

SEVEN // Precious morning spent joking, praying, and sharing scripture over Google Chat with my bestie, answering convos, and sorting fabric.  Also tea with cookies and a big helping of springlike sunshine.

February Photo-a-Day | Week Two

Feb 9 // the Amaryllis blooms at last

Feb 10 // An evening of Chinese Checkers

Feb 11 // getting in a Valentine's mood

Feb 12 // Work.  Such happiness.

Feb 13 // In which my sisters and I design dresses and have a tea party

Feb 14 // Little sister and our friend Seth happened to match perfectly at the Contra dance.  Happy thought indeed!

Feb 15 // Spent the night at my bro's house and went to the Winter Fest Skijoring event on Saturday.  Skiing over jumps propelled by galloping horses - such a cool and crazy sport!

Went down to the beach afterwards...

...and at last, on arriving home that night, what did we all find but the front door and walls completely plastered with mysterious paper hearts!  I'm dying to know who perpetrated this ingenious and wonderful deed... it's fess-up time:)

The Literary Heroine Blog Party is going fabulously!  I can't wait to visit all of you who have linked up already.  Party on!

For Real Comfort

sweater // Tulle

maxi skirt // made by me

scarf // fabric.com

socks // made by Winnie

A sparkly gold knit maxi skirt.  Freshly fallen snow.  This beautiful song from Emma. (click play above!) The thickest, softest warmest rainbow socks knit by my friend Winnie that I've been living in lately.

And just three more days till the Literary Heroine Blog Party... three more days to be twenty one.  I've been shamelessly listening to period drama soundtracks for weeks, posting literary quotes on Google+ and twitter, listening to As You Like It while I sew, reading Georgette Heyer and Dickens in every spare moment, nibbling chocolate, and playing the piano constantly... in short,  doing everything that the most wonderful time of the year calls for.
Join me?

I declare, there's nothing like staying at home for real comfort.