Amalgamation Nation

This look gives me a lady boner. Mostly because I feel like it honors the thing that has somehow evolved to become "my style". Sometimes when I'm putting something together, or even after I've left the house I don't feel like me. I might feel dainty, cute, rock n' roll, boyish or the like....but not like me. It might be a good idea to take a break from pinterest, or even from looking at other style blogs. It inevitably influences you. It's like you get this image stuck in your head of fucking Erin Wasson standing on the street in NY being all skinny, edgy and annoyingly perfect and bad ass, and you try to achieve a similar look, but it doesn't quite pan out. Whhhyyyyyyy???

When you have such a focused goal in dressing, it's easy to get distracted from what's important about it: expressing yourself. Instead of having fun you're trying to achieve some kind of "look" that's not you....that's why you end up in an irritable mood with a floor full of clothing. Usually you're left feeling awkward. Not to say that you shouldn't look around you to be inspired..you should! Be inspired by someone's bravery or boldness with color or the way they look totally sleek and put together...and leave it there. Avoid judging yourself or trying to place upon yourself some sort of expectation

.....of yourself. (By "you" I mean the "royal you", and by the "royal you" I mean "me" mostly).

If someone asked me to describe my style, one word that would come to mind is "amalgamation" .... When ever I go for anything too specific I feel like a fraud. So I suppose at my best, I go for everything. This outfit, for example, is what would happen if Betty Draper, Mama Cass, Ralph Lauren and a street punk had a baby. 

Please note the Beehive. This newly discovered hairdo (for me) took less than 5 minutes, and is my most recent favorite thing. How-to coming soon!

Catalina Initiation

The significance of our trip to Catalina Island this past weekend is something that took me a minute to figure out. I was so absorbingly happy from the moment I set foot on the island. For obvious reasons of course (clear water, friends, sunshine, booze, more importantly: breakfast sandwiches, etc...), but there was something felt in me that was more significant than "happy" or "relaxed". Maybe it was that I would never do anything like decide to hop on a ferry and take a weekend trip to an island and sleep on a sail boat under the stars in Texas. And not just because there's not an ocean in Texas, but because I never really did anything spontaneous back home. 

Or maybe it was because I've struggled with anxiety (the levels of which have ebb and flowed) since I was 17, and went into this situation knowing I would not be in control. I would be on an island. I would be on someone else's sail boat rocking in the ocean.  (What if the I get sea sick..how embarrassing?! What if I feel trapped in the middle of the night and can't get away?!? What if I have to poop?!?!?) Perhaps this seems stupid, but sometimes I even have issues riding in other people's vehicles because some fucked up part of my brain is so terrified at the fact that I am not in anyway in control. 

Me on therapists couch: Regardless of all this, doc, I did great, thanks... pass me the tissues. 

Not to mention how reassuring it was to be with several people who have open-heartedly accepted me and Jonathan as family. To have positive, working, giving, hilarious, creative adults we can call friends out here is such an incredible blessing. And to be with this group in one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited just reminded me of how thankful we should be.

In the blink of an eye our lives changed, and all we did was work hard and pray.

You know what? Maybe I just had too much time to lay on the beach and think about it all, but either way this was a special trip.

An initiation into our new life.

I know:

BOOOOOR-IIIIIIING

The exciting stuff is listed below in no particular order

-Ferry rides are fuuuuun, and there's 2 bars on the one that goes from San Pedro to 2 Harbors. 

-Natalie Wood drowned at 2 harbors, so there's your spooky Hollywood history 

-We saw seals and Jonny saw an octopus while snorkeling

-I snorkeled. (huh?)

-There was a counter you could walk up to and order delicious breakfast sandwiches.

-We slept underneath more stars than I have ever seen. 

-We ate Frito Pie. 

-We paddle borded.

-We napped on the beach.

-We woke up early in the sun and drank coffee on the boat. 

(This was my favorite part of the trip. The light was so beautiful.)

Black Wings

Homies, when all else fails wear all black and funk that shit out with a bright lip and winged eyeliner. It's a no fail way to make yourself feel chic-as-fuuuuu.....

LF has been having a HUGE sale for the past 2 weeks. Shamefully I have shuffled my ass in there to pluck up different pieces here and there again and again. I can't HELP myself. 60% off everything and shoes that are normally $200 for $48. On top of that, all the shop girls are so sweet and stylish, it's such a pleasure to browse and chat and what-not. 

Anyhoo, I got this bustier. I had a great one I picked up at Laced with Romance in Austin, and I lost it in the move so I've been in the market for one. This is such a versatile piece in any wardrobe. Easy to dress up or down. Throw a blazer over it to tailor it out, or rock it with a short skirt if you're feeling 

sass-ayyy. Plus, it's always good to give the girls a lift every now and then. 

I love these pleated PTA mom pants I found at a thrift store too. They have a tendency to FUPA out (if ya know what I mean), but I don't mind it. Particularly when you pair them with a slim top. It adds a nice curve on the sides, yes? 

Bustier: LF Stores, Pants and Bracelets: Thrifted, Shoes and Belt: JCP (similar), Necklace: Gift from mama, Earrings: F21