Thursday, February 27, 2014

Spring Flowers

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I don't know about you, but my poor legs need some sunshine. Vitamin D. Like, now. Alas, it's 20 degrees out, so I'll just have to keep dreaming of those warm days where the air smells like dirt and rain, and the birds are chirping like maniacs amid bud-covered branches. Sob. This winter has been rough and I'm ready for a little relief. It's coming though, already the sun feels a bit warmer and the sky is still pink when I leave work in the evenings. Soon, there might even be a little daylight left after work!

This cute vintage dress sent over by Mothership is just begging to be worn with go-everywhere boots and my favorite denim jacket. And not begging to be worn with tights. Because tights can just bite it. And so can sweaters. It's been one of those weeks, man.

Pictured: Dress: vintage c/o Mothership // Jacket & Boots: Thrifted // Beanie: Pulled from the depths of our hat bin // Sunglasses: UO // Necklaces c/o Seahag & Walrus // Watch c/o Fossil

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Jumping the Gun

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Photos by Alyssa Catalano

Before you call me crazy, understand that is was 50 degrees on Saturday. After the winter we've had, that may as well be summer. Not only that, but the sidewalks were dry and the sun was out. The stars were aligned; it was the perfect day to break out my new sneakers without worrying if I'd ruin them, and throw on a tank (under a sweater and jacket) without worrying that I'd freeze to death. As much as I love a cozy sweater, I've been dreaming of sun on my shoulders and sand on my feet. I want summer, and I want it now.

I can't wait to wear this tank with cut-offs and Birkenstocks next season. Swell was kind enough to send over this top, and a very breezy maxi dress for me to style, and as I wait for the temperature to get above freezing (it's back to the 20s now), I've been figuring out ways to wear them in February. The sheer act of eschewing a heavy sweater in favor of a light tee and a couple of layers is enough to make me giddy. On this particular day, I was up and out of the house early for a thrifting date, so sneakers, jeans, and a few favorite accessories were what I threw on before I rushed out the door. 

Wearing: Tank c/o Swell // Jacket: Vintage // Jeans: H&M // Nike Air Max 1 x Liberty OG sneakers // Necklaces c/o Seahag & Walrus // Purple necklace: Swapped // Hat: Anti Hero

Monday, February 24, 2014

Over the Weekend

©Julie O'Boyle

As they tend to do, this weekend went by all too fast. This isn't one of those Over the Weekend recaps where I have a laundry list of new and exciting things to share, just a small collection of pictures taken over a typical Saturday and Sunday. Thrift shopping, errands, picking up around my place. I've been making an effort to document more of those small, everyday, quiet occurrences - I've been doing a lot of digging through old posts lately, and love finding small collections of images like these, a snapshot of such a brief moment in time.

A little about each picture...
1. It's becoming tradition for me to buy myself a really amazing pair of sneakers each January. I like to save up any gift cards I receive for Christmas and spend them on my birthday - this year I bought these. And I am in love. I also managed to spend the entire day in my yoga pants.
2. My houseplants are in desperate need of attention.
3. Despite the fact that Zephyr is making swift work of destroying the couch, I love the view into our living room. All those jades!
4. Zeph took over my makeshift stool to do a little bird watching.
5 & 6. Thrift shopping - Bess and I both walked away with some gems. I'm in that seasonal transition stage where most of what I'm buying is pretty basic. I grabbed a great flannel, a minimalist grey skirt, and a Baja hoodie that I'm thinking about bleaching.
7. While I was cooking dinner last night I noticed this glow out of the corner of my eye, and when I turned to look out the window, the sky was just on fire. This was the most intense sunset I've witnessed in Pittsburgh yet, it reminded me of the sunsets common by the coast.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Amethyst

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I love the color of amethyst, and carry a small piece with me at almost all times, sometimes on a necklace, sometimes just in my pocket. The stone is said to have healing properties and promote fearlessness in it's wearer - whether that's true or not is up for discussion, but hey, a little courage never hurt. La Mer recently sent me this watch from their latest collection, I really love the detachable chain and amethyst pendants that come with it. Like a bracelet, watch, and little dose of courage all rolled into one. I love jewelry that takes a more organic form, while I can admire all those bright, bold statement necklaces that line store shelves, they're just not for me (most of the time). I much prefer wrapped-up bracelets, stacks of long chain necklaces, and strange, oddly shapes rings. I need a better shot of these necklaces, because they're perfect.
 
Jewelry is the easy part these days, I'm officially at desperation status clothing-wise and have taken to wearing my summer dresses over jeans. Yes, just like it's 1995 all over again. This particular outfit was the third iteration of the style, and I admit to really liking it.

Wearing: Coat: Vintage/Thrifted // Jacket: F21 (so old) // Dress: Swapped // Jeans: H&M // hat: Target // Boots: Jeffrey Campbell // Necklaces c/o Seahag & Walrus // Watch c/o La Mer Collections

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Matinee

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We woke up to more snow this past Sunday, and while it was lovely to look at, we weren't up for spending the day in it. To save ourselves from becoming complete recluses, off we went to the movies, for an afternoon showing of The Monument Men. It's been years since I've seen a matinee, possibly not since college, and I had forgotten how great a Sunday matinee can be. We don't go to the movies often, but I love the idea of eschewing a poor-weather day in favor of movie theater popcorn and gummi bears. Afterwards we browsed Target, got in a fight about who's idea it was to even go to Target, and then I made Elvis cookies and we were both appeased. A great Sunday, except for the dumb Target fight.

So, I have nothing to say about this actual outfit. I was comfortable. These jeans are seriously amazing and I highly recommend them - they don't stretch out! Or ride down! A solid pair of pants. I thrifted this sweater a couple of years ago, and it has a hole in the armpit. And these boots, also comfortable and go-with-everything. They remind me of the 90s in a good way.

Wearing: Coat: J.Crew (2010) // Sweater: Vintage Pendleton/Thrifted // Denim jacket: Estate Sale // Jeans: H&M // Beanie: Target // MTNG Boots c/o Lulu's (also in black)

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Golden Girl

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Breaking news: it's really cold out. I'm over it, along with the rest of the world. I haven't been too into the idea of getting dressed lately, could be the situation happening on my floor right now. That situation would be an impenetrable tangle of new and old thrifted treasures, dresses discarded from the night of my work holiday party (two weeks ago, mind you) when I didn't know what to wear and nothing fit, and sweaters that just don't have a home. This pile is imposing and intimidating, it's tall, and things disappear into it. It needs to be dealt with, but this cold, it makes for incredibly lazy evenings, after work when I just don't want to do anything.

In an attempt to break this flannel-jeans-boots-beanie cycle, I grabbed a couple of things that had managed to stay on their hangers: this plaid Pendleton skirt and a black sweater. Because things weren't quite 90s swingin' octogenarian enough, I added a hat and gold belt, which I picked up at an estate sale last month (the estate sale of what was surely a deceased 90s swingin' octogenarian).

It's fine but I still want warm weather, at the very least so I can deal with the clothes hanging out on my floor.


Wearing: Coat, sweater, skirt, belt, bracelet, ring, hat: vintage & thrifted // Tights: AA super opaque // Boots c/o ShoeMint

Monday, February 10, 2014

Non-Cheesy Valentine's Date Ideas

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Whether you like it or not, Friday is Valentine's Day. Personally, I'm a fan, I'll pretty much take anything to brighten up February, which for me is a bummer month. An excuse to eat chocolate and make goofy cards for the people I love? Perfect. What to actually do on the day itself, well, that's slightly more challenging. I'm not a huge fan of the expected roses, dinner-and-a-movie, cookie-cutter V-day date. This year, I wanted to surprise Chris with something super awesome, and because that surprise has been blown (he brought up maybe seeing HR from Bad Brains, a decision had to be made), I thought I'd share what I have planned, along with a few more ideas that break the Valentine's mold. Whether you're planning a date, heading out with a group of friends, or rocking it solo, why not do something awesome?

So, what's our big, hot, Valentine's Day date? We're going to Monster Jam! If you've been reading for awhile, you may already be aware of my secret love for monster trucks, so when a coworker suggested a bunch of us go, I jumped on board. I'm really excited to be doing something a little different. Plus, I mean, monster trucks. After the show, we'll grab some late night drinks (and hopefully food) at Harvard & Highland, and enjoy the view of East Liberty.

Know what else you could do?

See a drag or burlesque show. This was my second choice, though I'm not sure if the Blue Moon Bar in Pittsburgh has anything planned for the 14th. If you're in a city, the chances are high that these options are available to you, and they're great options if you want to see beautiful/fabulous people lip-synching and dancing in their underwear (who doesn't?). psst...PGH'ers, there's a burlesque show at Cattiva on the 24th!

Go make something. I think dates where you actually do something are the most interesting. Have a local artist collective or artisan gallery nearby? Check out their event's pages for upcoming workshops and demos. PGH Glass Center has a couple of cool programs planned.

Get sweaty. It's winter and it's cold, but that doesn't mean you can't get sweaty doing something fun outdoors. Go skiing or snowboarding. Or snowshoeing. If you really want to punish yourself, go cross-country skiing. As a bonus, ski resorts usually have hotels on the mountain. Hotels usually have pools. Pools are easy to sneak into (at least they used to be when I was in high school). Just saying.

Go explore. Last Valentine's Day Chris and I jumped in the car and headed over to Akron, OH. Mandi was kind enough to send over some recommendations for things to do in the area, and while some could see Akron as not exactly a destination, it was an awesome day. We checked out some antique stores, went thrift shopping, and gorged ourselves on grilled cheese and tater tots. Going somewhere new, especially somewhere you might not normally think to go, guarantees an interesting afternoon.

Everyone's definition "cheesy" is different, Valentine's doesn't have to be the same old thing. I'd love to know what you have planned!

Friday, February 7, 2014

5 Tips for Breaking Out of a Blogging Rut

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Something happened after the holidays this year, once the new year hit, the blogging world seemed to utter a collective sigh of relief. Vice grips were released from laptops and DSLRs, bloggers who had once been six-post-a-week-ers cut down to three or four, and there was an overall air of relaxation. Maybe it was all in my head, or I was projecting my own feeling of relief once the holiday madness was finally over, but whatever it was, the sudden air of relaxation felt refreshing. Blogging felt exciting again, and it was clear that many others had been feeling the same way I had.

Whether you've been blogging for merely a month, or for five years, there comes a time when you might feel as if you're in a rut. I've felt it before, but never so acutely as I did from October through the end of December of 2013. I waffled weekly, toying with the idea of throwing in the towel. I was tired, feeling creatively uninspired, and feeling old. And then I took an unintentional break -- A completely tech-free home over the holidays will have that effect -- which gave me time to reassess and let go of some of the sky-high expectations I had set for myself years ago, when my plate was not nearly as full as it is now. While I'm still very much in the process of figuring out what works for me, I thought I would share a few tips for working through your own blogging rut:
 
Take a break - The obvious place to start. But taking a break from blogging sounds so easy, when in reality, the mere thought of stepping away can kind of screw with your head a little bit. I've been writing Orchid Grey for five years, and, aside from taking a few days off around my wedding and to move to Pennsylvania, I had never taken any real time off before. Stepping away allowed me to clear the fog from my head, and really think about what it was that I wanted from my blog. When I did feel ready to blog again, I felt as if I had a brand new sense of focus, and part of that was the decision to devote more time to fewer posts. Not worrying about getting a post up every single day not only allowed me to put some of that energy back in to actually writing something, but I could also funnel some of that energy into other areas of my life I felt I had been neglecting.

Tune out - It can be super difficult to step away from the computer, phone, internet, what-have-you on the weekends. But I truly feel it's necessary and will do you so much good. During the week, I'm online from 10am to 6pm at work, and then usually for a couple of hours at night. That's actually sort of sickening to me. On the weekends I've made it my intention to only log on if I need to in the mornings when I'm the only one awake. Unless I'm working on a project, I try to keep my distance from technology for those two days a week. It at least makes me feel slightly better about how the remainder of the week is spent, and that time away is usually some of the most inspiring. Getting out from behind the screen allows you to experience things that will in turn inspire your writing. When I feel like I have nothing to say, it's usually because I've been too sedentary. Working out is also a great way to get your mind moving, it's sometimes the only way I'm able to clear my head and sort through problems.

Try something new - So, you've taken a break and thought long and hard about where you want to take your blog. You're tuning out on the weekends too, to allow time for inspiration. Now maybe it's time to try out a style of post, or perhaps you finally tackle that one project you've been putting off. Danielle of Sometimes Sweet recently wrote up a huge list of blog post ideas for the stumped blogger, take one and run with it! It may end up being a one-off, or it could lead to an entire series.

Get back to basics - I used to take all of my own outfit shots, with the occasional pic from a friend or maybe Chris. Once we moved to Pennsylvania, however, I lost my camera remote and started to rely more on Chris for my photos. Without a remote and a secluded parking lot (where I used to take most of my shots in Mass), it was suddenly awkward to take my pictures out in the open. Well, I recently cleaned out my car and guess what I found? My remote. I took it as a sign, and started taking some of my own shots again, and it felt great to be in complete creative control again! Moral of the story, maybe there's something you used to do on your blog that fell by the wayside. Try picking it up again and see what happens.

Keep an editorial calendar - Before starting my job, I had never had any exposure to an editorial calendar before, but they're awesome. Basically, it's just a calendar where you keep track of your blogging schedule. It can be as simple or elaborate as you'd like, but keeping one will allow you to stay on track and keep you accountable for big publish dates. It can also be a way to experiment with your own schedule to see what works best.

If you're feeling bummed on blogging, sometimes it's just a matter of changing your perspective. The most effective way to do that - in my opinion - is to step back and assess, even if that stepping back is purely circumstantial (like a house in Maine that only has a land line and two T.V. channels).

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Laundry Day

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On a rainy Super Bowl Sunday, we made the mistake of going to the laundrette at one o'clock in the afternoon, along with the rest of the neighborhood. As much as I wish I could be perfectly put together at all times, unless we're doing something special, I usually can't be bothered to wear much more than a sweatshirt and jeans on the weekend. I took a different approach on this particular Sunday, however, opting instead to just pile it all on.

This breezy top makes me so excited for warm weather. It was absolutely too flimsy for this 30 degree Sunday, but layered up with two sweaters and a scarf, it worked for a quick stroll for coffee and chai between loads of darks and lights.

Did you watch the Super Bowl? I absolutely did not. After Chris went off to a friends house to watch the game, I headed to yoga before settling in for the night with Zephyr to watch a shameful amount of old CSI New York. It's an exciting life I lead.

Wearing: Sweater & scarf: thrifted // Top c/o Aeropostale - on sale! // Jeans: Madewell/Avalon exc. // Loafers c/o Loly in the Sky // Necklaces: MooreaSeal, thrifted, gift // Bag c/o BaliELF