Dare to Dream: Playing Dress Up, Playing House

When I beg my family to nominate me for What Not to Wear, they roll their eyes- and I guess they have a point. I'm not exactly schlumping around in men's clothing or teva sandals with wool socks...

But I'm not making the best-dressed page either.  In the winter I adhere to a uniform of black turtleneck sweater + jeans, and in the summer I transition to a black ribbed tank.  Totally dressed to depress.  My fashion sense died the day I moved away from my female friends- and I've been in mourning attire ever since!  

So, I may be dreaming of a Stacey & Clinton-esque $5,000 rescue... but I'd be thrilled just to have a shopping buddy to help me spend my $150 allowance!  Readers, in my desperation, I turn to you!

Here's what I propose.  Comment with some links to clothing that will liven up my wardrobe (for under $150 total). In return, I'll do some personal shopping for YOU.  That's right!  Add a design dilemma to your comment: one lucky reader will get a whole post of solutions.  (See how I'm slyly encouraging some reader participation here?  See what I did there?)

Let's get those creative juices flowing, shall we?  

I have...

 

A lovely jewelry collection, sweet & sassy shoes, a couple great bags...

and a few key pieces, like this lilac-colored ruffled tank (also bought this and this), my vintage brocade skirt, and a sheer floral blouse.

I need pieces that are intricate & feminine, like so...

Totally romantic- definitely a change from stark black.

(Images from Anthropologie, Lucky Magazine)

Lend me a hand, friends- outfit me for summer, and I'll help you outfit your home.

It's All in the Details

Hello friends!  

I'm about half-way through burning the edges of my piratey picnic invitations, but I had to take a little break. What am I learning from this project?  First, that cardstock doesn't burn easily.  Second, that my thumbs don't take well to an hour of clicking a lighter.  And last, that I could be in danger of becoming some sort of crazy PTA party-planning mom when I grow up.  It may be unavoidable.

Anyway.  When I haven't been crafting corsair cards, I've been finding treasure in my own neighborhood.

The weather was just nice enough yesterday for Adam and I to enjoy our Sunday pastries at a favorite haunt... 

Wallingford's Meridian Park.

The entrance to the park- an arch, a winding path, an intricate shell & stone collage.

 

The park is lush and green in the summertime, with lots of knotty old trees for shade.

 

Wallingford is decked out in some of my favorite colors.  

LOVE that combination of pink and velvety black.

And then, on a whim, we decided to walk past one of my favorite houses in the neighborhood. You might not guess it- but it's actually an apartment building!  Dedicated landlord, eh?

I took this picture on an evening stroll last week.  

(I was just glad to see that someone else put twinkle lights up for the summer!)

I was excited to show you the sky blue porch ceilings.  

What a charming idea for Seattle, where our gray skies can be a deterrent for enjoying the outdoors!

As I was snapping pictures something caught my eye.  What an interesting stair rail...

Snake!  Snake!  Oooh, it's a snake!

So fantastic it just makes me shiver.  *whew!*  I wonder where one buys a serpentine handrail?

Let's Party, Me Hearties

Well, not so much partying for me this weekend- or blogging.  Whoops.

In fact, I've been working all weekend!  Our company picnic is just around the corner, and it's time to get invites in the mail.  Since the party planning committee (okay, me) decided to go with a piratical theme, it's also time to turn the boss...

(Who is also my DAD, incidentally)

Into Captain Burt

Ahoy!  It be time to cut loose!

Ah yes, nothing encourages coworker camaraderie like a Jack Sparrow-esque wig and a flintlock water pistol. Thank you, Archie McPhee!

So, mateys, that's the only before & after I've got for you this weekend.  Lots in the queue for this week- tomorrow I'll be sharing an amazing find from my own neighborhood... see you then!

Blogger's Block

If you're reading this at 2:00 in the afternoon on Tuesday, I'm already 22 hours into my work week.  And I'm fading fast.

I swear- attempted a real post... but I gave up after my iMac and I stared blankly at each other for over an hour last night.  I got nothin.

So, let's peruse iPhoto and see what we can come up with.  Aha!  A theme!  Weekend activities that I never told you about!

Adam and I love to visit our favorite candy stores at U Village.

 

   

His is actually a candy store... mine is Anthropologie.  Yum!

We did the Ballard Art Walk and enjoyed several glasses of free wine the work of local artists with our friends Scott and Megan.

 

  I particularly loved this creative window display at Souvenir: the text is curled paper tape!

I'm still wish I'd bought the scalloped metal bowl- would've been a great catch-all.

I'd like to plan a whole nursery around this felted wool lamb + birdie mobile.  I am irrationally tempted to buy it and put it away.

My absolute favourite shop: Ballard's Lucca Great Finds

  

Possibly the most incredible atmosphere I've ever encountered: Lucca is exactly how I imagined Diagon Alley.  

It's all things mysterious and tantalizing.  I swear they bewitch me into buying...

Another necessary stop in Ballard- Tableau.

 

Adore this store.  They maintain an incredibly consistent aesthetic- the owner has a great eye and impeccable taste.  

Weathered wood, linen, a touch of whimsy... and a lovable shop dog!

The true story of how Liz met a literary hero and behaved fairly stupidly.

 

That's right, I met Jon Scieszka, author of fiendishly appealing tales and official Ambassador of Children's Literature (with a shiny medal to prove it).  Oh man, we're like best friends!

Pike Place Market & Pioneer Square

 

 

Piroshky Piroshky!  Flowers at the market!  Sur la Table!  Elliot Bay Book Company!

Oh, I love this city!

Last weekend- A picnic at Greenlake

 

We saw baby ducks, a row of turtles on a log, and hundreds of insufficiently clothed human specimens.  This day also marked the official beginning of summer: when Adam magically turned an attractive shade of bronze, and I became a shockingly pink nightmare.

I love Seattle!  I am foreseeing a summer full of activity... and I promise to be a faithful blogger (so all you Spokane folk can live vicariously through me *wink wink*).

Suffering from a Touch of Recession Depression

I'm thrifty. I live for the thrill of bargain hunting. I cackle gleefully as my pennies accumulate. And when I do splurge on something, I generally make up for it by trimming back on other expenses (usually the unimportant stuff, like, say... "food").  

However, as much as I pride myself on maintaining a strict budget and planning for the future, responsibility can be a pain in the ass. For example: gritting my teeth and using my tax return to supplement student loan payments instead of "stimulating the economy." Let me tell you- if I had this kind of willpower at the gym, I would be a much thinner Lizzie. *grumble*

So, in today's "doomed to wishful thinking" spirit, here's a Room Design that's also a Dare to Dream. If I decided not to pay the bills and redecorated my living room instead, it would look something like this:

Educated Decisions

Put a Vintage Twist on Storage

 

Antique Library Card File ($850.00, Craig's List) + Well-Traveled Steamer Trunk ($50.00, Craig's List)

Sink into Something Soft

 

Lovely Tufted Velvet Sofa ($400.00, Craig's List) + Sophisticated Black Velvet Pillow ($32.95, Crate & Barrel)

Help Yourself to Some Refreshments

 

Black Balloon Wine Glasses (6 for $29.99, Target) +  Pedestal Serving Bowl ($23.99, Target) 

Keep Things Polished with Chrome

 

MCM Eames "Laurel" Floor Lamp ($175.00, Craig's List) + Shining Serving Tray ($39.99, Target)

Take Notes

 

Salvaged "Hardware" Frame with chalkboard paint ($15.00, Craig's List) + Industrial Chic Wrought Iron Easel ($17.95, Crate & Barrel)

Achieve Studied Style

Pom Pom Chestnut Branches ($16.95 each, Crate & Barrel) + Test Tube Vase ($29.99, Target) + Black Globe ($39.95, Crate & Barrel)

Anyone want to give my living room a $2,000 bail-out?