Saturday, August 30, 2014

Here & There 8.30 (+ Shop My Closet)

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It's about that time again. We're living in a smaller place which means less room for clothes, so I've been cleaning out my closet -- BIG TIME. I'll be listing stuff on my closet sale Instagram from now through, well, infinity, so if you're interested, check out @orchidgreyscloset. Lots of vintage, shoes, and things from my last job that I bought and never wore.

Chris and I have basically been hiking all weekend, the weather is gorgeous, and I've been enjoying the chance to get outside and reconnect. We've got an exciting project on the horizon, lots of fun things ahead.

Here's what else caught my eye this week...
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// Porta earrings from Moorea Seal

// Vintage jacket & handmade bracelet from Jess Amity

// So cool - you can create your own crop top with Melissa Hojnacki.

// The coolest triangle necklace from Black Crystals - save 15% w/code "ORCHIDGREY"

// Love this vintage southwest skirt from Wold Mama Vintage - save 15% w/code "ORCHIDGREY"

// The power of being polite

// Moorea Seal is having a huge labor day sale -- 20% off site wide! Love this crescent moon ring and these boots.

// Rebecca's pink hair is so amazing.

// Up to 60% off at Nasty Gal -- really loving these sneakers, this sunflower dress, and this romper.

// A cozy sweater for fall and the perfect moto jacket.

// Autumn outfit inspiration.

// I made homemade marshmallows for work and they were amazing.

// Yum - this zucchini bread looks incredible.

// Homemade cleaning products.

// Playboy's guide to catcalling is actually kind of amazing.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Franklin Flea & Me

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This summer has most definitely been a strange one, there's plenty of new but at the same time, it's been largely devoid of our usual activities. Most of my summer clothes are untouched, passed over for what's easy and what's not still in boxes -- tee shirts, cut-offs, Birkenstocks -- and every now and then I catch myself thinking of an activity (thrift shopping!) only to realize I haven't had a chance to do it in months! It's a strange time. But, life is finally starting to feel at least somewhat back to normal, or we're at least feeling a little more settled.

Flea markets are usually high on our summer to-do list, I love waking up super early, grabbing a coffee for the road, and roaming around misty, muddy fields looking for treasure. I'm sure we'll have plenty of that this fall, but it was nice to take in the Franklin Flea a couple of weeks back in the city. Definitely a more curated flea market than what you'd typically expect, but that's not such a bad thing sometimes. Even better, we could walk there. A novelty that still hasn't worn off. Chris and I roamed around and chatted with vendors, I found an amazing skirt for fall, and we both took full advantage of the food trucks. I love sifting through the ephemera and detritus of decades-past, the weird cast-offs that are considered antiques or collectables now, but at the time were looked upon with disdain (Sexology, anyone?). What's considered kitsch now was once just someones secret past-time, or bad art, or truck stop tee shirt.What strikes me is that these items have lasted decades, sometimes centuries. So much of what we bring into our homes and closets today is made with a shelf life -- I write this as yet another iPhone is in the process of biting the proverbial dust. I can't help but wonder: In the world of fast fashion and accessible everything, what will the ephemera from our generation be? Who knows, this could be total bullshit and exactly what someone in the '50s thought about those pulp paperbacks. I guess we'll see.

This has been my go-to dress this summer for when I want to look like I tried, but still want comfort. It's just so easy to wear. I could say the same for these shoes. The heel is the perfect height to look a little more fancy than flip flops, but still be just as easy to walk in. I'm all about lower heels and flats right now, and I can't wait to start incorporating boots back into my wardrobe as soon as the weather cools off slightly.

Get the look: Dress: ModCloth (on sale!) // Sandals: Seychelles (also on sale!) c/o // Bag: Vintage Coach (similar) // Sunglasses: TjMaxx (similar) // Chain bracelet: Thrifted // Metal cuff: Studebaker Metals

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Worn: Stripes & Floral, In Maxi Dress Form

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I bought this dress on our initial visit to Philadelphia. Justifying it as a sort of "Yeah! You got the job!" gift-to-self. I then proceeded to not wear it. For whatever reason. Despite all those facts, it makes me feel kind of amazing, and I wore it on Wednesday for our anniversary dinner at Twenty Manning. Three years, crazy and wonderful.

To be honest, I've been struggling a bit with self-confidence lately and I really needed an excuse to dress up and feel my best, and this dress was perfect for that. Adjusting to a new schedule, new city, new job, new everything, it's taken a small toll on my perception of myself. I started this year in a really positive headspace, so it's felt sort of defeating to take a step back mentally, in terms of how I view myself, and physically, as I haven't been able to get back into a gym routine yet. I'm working on it though. I just want to feel settled. I love our new place, really loving our new city, I love so much about our lives lately, but our place is still a disaster and I'm definitely still in the getting-to-know-you phase of meeting people. No matter how positively you go into a major change, especially a big move, it's going to be daunting in some respect. Always a few speed bumps.

As much as it causes a little mental distress, I do believe a little (or a lot) of upheaval is healthy every now and then. It gets you out of your comfort zone. With this move to Philadelphia, I've been making an effort to be more open. To try not to be so goddamn awkward and socially inept. Make note of the word effort in there. Man, are you ever just so aware of yourself? Ugh.

I've been getting rid of a lot of stuff lately, too. The extraneous stuff I've been holding on to, the clothes that don't make me feel amazing. It's got to go. Sometimes you just gotta clear up and clear out.

Get the look: Dress: Free People (on sale!) // Wedges: Flogg // Clutch: Vintage Coach //

Monday, August 18, 2014

Weekend Diary: Cape Cod

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The first weekend in August was our first weekend in our new place, while we would have been happy to be homebodies for two days, instead we loaded up the car and drove north to my grandparent’s house on Cape Cod. Bigger and better things. We had a party to get to. The drive itself was such a welcome change from what we'd become accustomed to. No real planning ahead, no worries about the havoc a 14 hour drive would wreak on our bank account, because now “home” (in its many, many senses) is only a few short hours away. No longer the all-day drive it once was. THIS, this is what I missed!

So we very happily woke up at 5am, packed up the car, and drove to Cape Cod to celebrate my grandparent’s 60th wedding anniversary. They renew their vows every 10 years, and it’s hard to believe 2004 – when we celebrated in Ireland - was that long ago. But it was. Time flies. It felt so good to be back on the Cape and good to be back around family, some of whom I haven’t seen since our wedding. We spent Saturday at the party they threw, and spent the majority of Sunday on the beach. It was a sleepy and sunburned drive home. But a drive that didn't take 14 hours. And for that I am thankful.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Lived In

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Essentially what I've been living in these days and I'm getting a little sick of it. Shorts, tee shirts, sneakers. I miss my clothes. Mostly everything is still packed up stacked in an impenetrable wall of bins in our new place and I'm looking forward to sorting through it all once again and purging more stuff.

These were taken on a particularly sweaty afternoon while we were still apartment hunting, I think at this point we had walked about five miles and I wanted a beer and I'm not sure why I asked Chris for pictures. But I'm glad I did because: accessories. I dig it.

Get the look: Destroyed Tee & Necklace: Free People // Shorts: Vintage Thrifted Levi's // Converse Chuck Taylors // Rings: Vintage & Thrifted // Bag: Thrifted

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Currently

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Not going to ... apologize for not blogging. Why is it so tempting to say you're sorry after an absence? For being human and not being on the internet? Eh. Whatever. Hi! How are you what's up? I'm great. I've been taking some much needed time lately to just adjust and just ... be. I've needed time to get aquainted to my new surroundings, get comfortable at my new job, and get moved into my new apartment. I love it all, but I can't believe it's already August. This summer has flown by, and I'm not ready for it to end. It feels like I've spent this entire season in transition. Either I was anticipating moving, in the process of moving, or just finally moving -- constantly in motion and always looking ahead, which is exactly how you make something go by too quickly.

Watching ... Pitch Perfect, and feeling real happy about it. Also, every single season of Girls. And Big Love. And Game of Thrones. I'm still living in a hotel and hotel TV is awesome. At the same time though, I'm looking forward to not having the distraction around once we're in our new place. I watch enough Netflix as it is, I do not need cable.

Eating ... my way through Philly and trying really hard not to beat myself up about not being as disciplined as I normally try to be (try being the operative word here). I'm a creature of habit, so when my schedule gets disrupted it kind of screws me up and my sweet tooth takes over, and man, do i have a wicked sweet tooth. Whatever. Philly has some amazing food. So far, my favorite meal has been at Twenty Manning on 20th street. So good. But, I'm really looking forward to getting into our place and cooking again.

Working on ... and on that note, I've been working on being kinder to myself, listening to my body more, and just accepting the fact that I'm human.

Creeping on ... everyone's dogs at work. Oh man, there are SO many cute dogs at the office, I can't handle it. There's a pet supply store near where we're staying that partner's with Operation Ava, and they always have the sweetest adoptable dogs there. I'm a little dog-crazy lately.

Excited about ... moving! Chris is finally back in Philadelphia after spending a week in Pittsburgh packing the rest of our stuff, and we'll be spending this weekend trying to sort out our new space. So far, my conclusion is that we have too much shit and we need to get rid of most of it.

Anticipating ... seeing my family soon. We'll be heading up to Cape Cod this month for a family party and I'm looking forward to seeing a side of my family that I don't see as often as I'd like. I also haven't been to my grandparent's house for a few years, and I can't wait to walk down to the beach.

Laughing at ... my incredibly funny husband. The man can bust a move and I love him for it.

Wearing ... cut-offs and tees on most days. I've been busy and most of my clothes are packed, hence the lack of outfit posts. I've pretty much been wearing the same thing every day.

Craving ... coffee. It's early and we've run out.

Planning ... to spend my Sunday unpacking out apartment.

Loving ... work. And happy to be able to say so.

xo