day two hundred forty-two.

Day Two Hundred Forty-two 4/27/10
Dress:  Black Halter Banana Republic Dress

Purchased From: Free- given to me by a client
Year or Era Purchased: 2007ish? 
Price: $Free
Accessories:  Grey tights, black boots folded into ankle boots, light blue blazer, bird cage necklace
Hair and Makeup:  Pulled back in a bun (read: dirty) with a flower hair clip, usual makeup
Comments/Compliments/Complaints: Michael liked my ensemble and called me a "good accessorizer"



It was way cold on Tuesday.  Way colder than I thought it was to be and it made me sad since I had way too many dog walks, requiring me to be outside in the cold wind.  I also wasn't totally thrilled with this outfit since I had to bulkify it by throwing a jacket on top of a jacket, a pet peeve of mine.  The little bit of happiness in the day came through when I put on this dress.  It was a free hand-me-down from a client years ago and it's Banana Republic, a store I don't so much shop in- too rich for my blood.  Sometimes the sale rack is a-ok but generally I steer clear.  I suppose I steer clear of malls in general, I get in too much trouble.  Sidetracked, sorry.  The happiness stemmed from the fact that the last time I attempted to wear this dress (sometime in January) I could barely zip it and I certainly could not sit down in it. Now it's a bit baggy in some areas.  Word! It's still not the most flattering, especially in the gut area and it's a halter and I was not about to wear a strapless bra to walk dogs all day, so I threw on this jacket with it and called it an outfit.  The jacket was an Urban Outfitters donation to Circle Thrift and I think I got it for $4.  Again my hair was pretty dirty and it was windy so little attention was paid to it and I pulled it back into a bun, not the best look for my round face but wind whipping my hair in my face makes me mental. 


After worked I trudged back to New Jersey for a new tire and then headed home excited to make dinner and watch Lost only to find that Lost was a rerun.  Stupid poop.  

day two hundred forty-one.

Day Two Hundred Forty-one 4/26/10
Dress:  Black Cotton Sun Dress

Purchased From: Circle Thrift 
Year or Era Purchased: Spring 2010
Price: $5
Accessories:  Grey tights, green Hunter Wellies, grey cardigan,  
Hair and Makeup:  Pulled back in a bun with  headband, usual makeup 
Comments/Compliments/Complaints: 


I chose to wear this dress today because I read this post: http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/style/2010/04/26/boobquake-2010/ upon waking up on Monday morning.  I had to oblige and wear something low cut.  I was in a rain coat all day anyway so it's not like it matters.  I think this dress might actually be a bathing suit cover up.  Oh well.   I think it's completely retarded (pardon my use of that word, I just like it so much) to blame cleavage for earthquakes.  


I spent my day working in the rain before heading to Just Tires to complete one of my get a cat tasks.  There was a nail in the tire and they needed rotated.  The element also needed an oil change.  Scratch that one off the list. Okay, actually I had to go back today since they had to order a new tire because the nail punctured in a non-savable spot.  I killed time at the Cherry Hill Mall waiting but was good and only purchased an Auntie Anne's pretzel.  I did try on two Forever 21 clearance dresses but neither floated my boat.  After my errands I continued on with a bit of grocery shopping and then met up with a friend so I can start walking her dog a few times a week.  I came home and made spaghetti and (veg) meatballs from scratch and watched television with Michael.  I spent several hours catching up on blogs and wasting time on the internets.  Typical Monday. 

day two hundred forty.

Day Two Hundred forty 4/25/2010
Dress:  Blue Crushed Velvet Vintage Dress w/ Pockets!

Purchased From: Sazz Vintage 
Year or Era Purchased: Spring 2010
Price: $5
Accessories:  Black tights, black high high top sneaker boots
Hair and Makeup:  not even brushed, usual makeup
Comments/Compliments/Complaints: 


There's not much to say about this waste of day and dress.  Woke up on the floor around noon, moved to couch leaving Michael on the floor.  My pounding head would not let me get back to sleep so I stayed awake anticipating the rise of Steve and Michael.  Jared moving about his apartment woke them, leaving me free of guilt.  I dressed, writhed in pain a bit and then we finally headed to Capriotti's for veggie turkey hoagies.  I also stopped into the Great Pumpkin for coconut water and a vegetarian slim jim.  Yup.  We got home and Michael and I set up shop on the couch.  Veggie turkey hoagies comas led to naps, which led to it being night time, which lead to us watching more television and then that led into me making mashed potatoes and tofu with a horseradish vinaigrette, which led into watching The Pacific, which led to bed.   Exciting hangover day!!! 

day two hundred thirty-nine.

Day Two Hundred Thirty-nine 4/24/10
Dress:  Black Sheath Dress w/ Pockets!

Purchased From: Circle Thrift (but it's a Target/Merona dress)
Year or Era Purchased: Spring 2010
Price: $5
Accessories:  Black tights, black and cream maryjane heels, 
Hair and Makeup:  Curled with hot rollers, rolled bangs, usual makeup with extra fun blue eyeshadow 
Comments/Compliments/Complaints: Several dress and shoe and hair compliments from my lovely friends


I woke up late on Saturday as I did indeed have a little bit too much to drink on Friday night.  Around 11 I rolled out of bed but didn't get going much until almost three when I left the house for a cat job.  I came home and got ready for dinner at Horizon's with a group of friends.  I got this dress at Circle Thrift but I was first privy to it at Target a few months ago.   Someone must have donated recently.  I believe it sold for either $29.99 or $34.99.  I got it for $5.  I paired it with black tights and one of my most expensive pairs of shoes, a pair of Steven Madden maryjanes that I purchased for $40 at DSW.  I was enamored with them and I still sort of am, despite the fact that they hurt like a motherfucker.  I think it's plausible that I actually broke them in on Saturday though.  That, or I drank enough to keep to them on for twelve hours straight.  I used to call them my two hour shoes since my feet for screaming for surrender almost immediately after donning them.  Sorry feet.  


We enjoyed a lovely dinner at Horizon's. I got a new menu addition, the mushroom crepe, and Michael and I split the Vietnamese Tacos.  The crepe was meh but the tacos were divine!  After dinner we headed to the suburbs for a night of poker, dice and general gambling at our friends Jared and Orsy's house.  It was tons of fun with two massive hands on my part.  First Orsborn went all in before the flop and I had an A, J hearts and diamonds respectively.  I had more money than him so I called it and won with two pair, taking Orsborn's $16.75.  I then lost an epic hand of near $20 to one Mister Mike Cummings.  Ugh. I am seriously still stewing over it.  He put me all in when I had a full house, Jacks high.  He had one too, tens high.  I was winning until the last card, the river card, was flipped to reveal his win of FOUR TENS!  Blargh.  I was left chipless but still even since I had cashed out my initial investment so I wasn't too pissed, just my pride was wounded.  I know I did the right thing based on odds but man, oh man it hurt.  Later I won a few hands of dice, putting me up $5 for the night, better than losing.  We kept drinking Black Label on the rocks and I slugged at a bottle of white wine until we all gave up around 6am and Michael and I curled up in our sleeping bags.  It was a nice change of pace and super fun even though Cameron kept referring to me as pterodactyl voice.  Such a nice boy. 

day two hundred thirty-eight.

Day Two Hundred Thirty-eight 4/23/10
Dress:  Green Plaid Vintage Dress

Purchased From: Sazz Vintage
Year or Era Purchased: Spring 2010
Price: $10
Accessories:   day: black flats night: fishnets, black sneaker boots
Hair and Makeup:  day: washed and dried naturally, only face makeup night: curled with hot rollers, bangs pinned back, usual makeup plus red lips
Comments/Compliments/Complaints: A client/woman who used to sell vintage said I looked nice.  She's wicked gorgeous and stylish so that meant a lot, another person said I looked "quaint". 




The Story of Feeling Sixteen Again: 


I'm not wearing any shoes in these photos because Michael tung oiled our floor and you're not supposed to walk on it in shoes until it cures, at least seven days later.  Also this dress photographs like shit.  It's super cute and flattering in real life, or at least the way I see myself in the mirror, but when I photograph it I think it makes me look large but not really in charge.  Oh bother.  When I bought this at one of the Sazz Vintage Warehouse sales I told Jody it made me feel like I could kick ass in it.  It's the only polyester and  stretchy dress I've ever owned, good combo.  It also has pockets so that's rad.  I specifically chose to throw on some fishnets and high/high top black sneakers to go the show as it cooled off a bit and I learned my lesson when I forgot the vital show wardrobe rules and almost lost my cute little sneaker flat at Bouncing Souls last August.  There are three rules I like to go by when dressing for shows if I intend to be anywhere near the center of the floor and I wish more people would follow them: 


1. Always wear shoes that tie, zip, buckle, velcro, etc.  No slip-ons, flip-flops, etc.  People step all over your feet and it's way less pleasant if you are missing part or all of your protection on your precious toes.  Plus once at an 80's night dance party I was hit in the head with a shoe when  a girl was doing high kicks.  I can deal with fancier shoes at dance events and just chalk that one up to it happens.  I feel like we all have a story of  a friend who lost either their glasses or a shoe at a show.   


2.  If you have long hair please either wear it up or bring something to pin it up with.  Seriously, your hair all up in my face is gross and hot and annoying and I'm sure mine is too. 


3. No spikes.  Screw you and your fashion statement.  It's too damn hot for a leather jacket anyway asshole.  I once bit a guy at a show for poking me too many times with his stupid jacket spikes.  True story. 


Ok, let's make it four...
4. No giant messenger bags or book bags.  Seriously?  Stop being a hoarder and leave it at home, or at least coat check that shit.  


Friday was a good day, despite the fact that only one of my clients paid me.  I won't spend time bitching about that as I think the annoyance of the situation is pretty self-explanatory.  It was a usual day in that I worked and then came home but then it became an awesome day when Michael and walked to the train to go the Troc for Screeching Weasel.   The only reason we got to go was because Michael spent way too much money buying tickets on stubhub since the show sold out in something like nine minutes and they were only playing one show on the East coast.  I think it was a big bunch of crap and I hate the way tickets are sold these days and then resold for way more money.  Dumb.  Still, I was super psyched and only felt slightly guilty to go to the show.  Okay, I didn't really feel guilty at all, except that Michael spent too much money and if you read this blog you know I like a good deal.   So we arrived in time to see some of the opening and all of the second band, both were meh.  Not good, not bad.  We stood next to a large group of Italian speaking rockabilly types, something that confused me a bit but was all sorted out later when they were mentioned as a band (The Manges) playing with the Riverdales the next day.   They turned out to be the nicest people to stand next to at a show.  For about an hour while Screeching Weasel played I felt totally one hundred percent sixteen again. It was super fun.   The sound was amazing, the energy even better.  The one thing I had a huge problem with was when Ben Weasel stated they were about halfway through the show when not enough time had passed.   


I ended up not worrying about my wardrobe rules as Michael and I had a perfect spot downstairs (half was 21+ with a bar) next to a pillar for maximum leaning and viewing and the nice Italians in front of us were short enough/leaning on a table in the perfect way not to block any views.  My back didn't hurt, my knees felt just fine despite standing for two and half bands.  I mean I really felt sixteen when going to a show was nothing and I promised myself I'd never become old and stop going to shows.  Nowadays halfway through a band I'm secretly praying for release as my knees and back fill with pain and little trickles of sweat form at the base of my back.  But not this time.  This time I was just fully involved in being happy and the music flooded the memories into my brain and onto my lips, forcing me to bare teeth.  So you can imagine just how sharp the tack was that burst my bubble when Ben Weasel promised there would be no encore, played another half an hour and left the stage.  After seventeen years and one show on the East coast an hour was all we got.   I was thrilled that my ears bore witness to the songs "My Right", "99" and "Hey Suburbia."  I was less than thrilled that I didn't experience more, a sentiment I seemed to share with everyone else there as people milled around, got more beers and chanted for an encore that would never come.  So sad.   After the show I saw my friend Molly and her friend Kell(y,ie,ey?) and we all bitched about the short set.  I suppose it takes a bit out of you to play an hour of punk rock songs with full energy and not just phone it in but the songs are rarely longer than two minutes and a few more would not have killed these fine gentleman.  I was happy with what I got but wanted more.  I guess you can't win with shows, but I can bitch about it anyway and that's the beauty of a blog.   I bought a t-shirt that I plan to turn into a dress. I'm pretty excited for that one. 


Michael and I hopped on the El and headed to Johnny Brenda's for a bathroom stop and a nightcap before heading home to listen to records and eat eggs and toast in bed while continuing our night's theme by watching SLC Punk.  That movie was so close the borderline of cornballs covered in cheese sauce but it really walked the line right into my heart.  


The End. 


Oh and I forgot.  On the way home Michael finally gave in and I'm allowed to get a third cat.  I have to complete a list of goals/tasks first.  I'm super excited!!!

day two hundred thirty-seven.

Day Two Hundred Thirty-seven 4/22/10
Dress: Blue Smock Dress 

Purchased From: Sazz Vintage
Year or Era Purchased: Spring 2010
Price: $5
Accessories:  Black boots, black tights, several belts throughout the day, blue flower hair clip
Hair and Makeup:  Hair was gross and varied throughout the day, usual makeup with "Alice" blue eyeshadow
Comments/Compliments/Complaints: Lots of people, including me tried to figure out what was on the pocket of this dress.  One of my clients figured out it's a quill/ink and a book.  



Thursday.  Hmm. Let's see.  So I liked this dress when I bought it but eventually when I decided to wear it I realized that belting it was a pain in the ass since it had a huge weird pocket.  I belted it three different times that day with three different belts and eventually left the belt off entirely.  I thought I was being clever at one point by putting safety pins on either side of back waist area and then looping a fabric belt through the pins and pulling it tight, pulling the dress together in the back, then tying it off.  It actually was pretty clever if I don't say so myself but the safety pins ended up ripping the fabric a bit and eventually the "belting" lost its purpose.  Oh well.  I guess I have a cool night shirt now. 


I spent the day working and then Michael and I ate an early dinner.   Later that evening we joined our friend Rica for drinks at 700.  They have a blackberry chili margarita there that is just way too yummy.  After drinks we got pizza and headed home.   

day two hundred thirty-six.

Day Two Hundred Thirty-six 4/21/10
Dress:  Lime GreenVintage Dress

Purchased From: Sazz Vintage
Year or Era Purchased: Spring 2010
Price: $5
Accessories:   Black argyle pattern tights, green hunter wellies, purple hair bow by Off the Chains
Hair and Makeup:  Ponytail with bangs and headband/hair bow, usual makeup sans eyes
Comments/Compliments/Complaints: A few dress/color of dress compliments



It was supposed to rain on Wednesday so I was prepared.  It barely rained so I spent most of my day looking a little crazy in rain boots.  This dress was from the warehouse everything on plastic in heaps Sazz Vintage sale.  I think it's a find.  It has a few holes in it but it has pockets and it was $5!  


Michael and I woke early on Wednesday and I took him to Will's Eye for several of his eyeball check ups.  First we spent a few hours at Retina and then headed to the diagnostics center for a field of vision test.  I had to leave and go work while he waited for that one.  Will's Eye might be the best but that causes you to wait forever and you never know who your doctor will be, it also means a different copay for each procedure/floor.  Dumb.  After Michael was done I picked him up and we went home.  He's always a little cranky or sad after his eyeball gets poked and prodded so I made smart dogs and tater tots and let him watch Star Trek episodes while I napped on the couch.  I napped a little too long. Ooops.  Later that night I made quesadillas and we started watching Away We Go.  Boring day.  Whatevs. 

day two hundred thirty-five.

Day Two Hundred Thirty-five 4/20/10
Dress:  Navy blue Vintage Dress

Purchased From: Sazz Vintage
Year or Era Purchased: Winter 2010
Price: $5
Accessories:   yellow tights, navy blue vintage hat, crazy pattern boots
Hair and Makeup:  Down and with a hat, usual makeup
Comments/Compliments/Complaints: So many people commented on my outfit today,  lots of strangers commented including: "you must have a closet full of funky outfits."  Lots of people thought I looked like a stewardess, Orsborn compared me to Zooey Deschanel in Almost Famous, etc. etc.  Fun. 


I had such a blast in this outfit.  It was super fun and I sort of felt like I was walking around the city in a costume.  It was a beautiful day so that also helped.  I bought both the hat and dress at separate Sazz Vintage warehouse events.  I got lucky and found this dress among piles of vintage clothing and paid $5 for it.  I love it.  


I spent my day working and then went home and rode my bike over to Rica's and we rode our bikes to the Piazza to meet up with a bunch of friends at Creep Records. It was a lovely bike ride, really just the perfect spring day.  We hung out for a while and then Michael and I came home and I made a lovely dinner of leftovers and we watched Lost. 

day two hundred thirty-four.

Day Two Hundred Thirty-four 4/19/10
Dress:  Black and White Strapless Embroidered Dress

Purchased From: Circle Thrift
Year or Era Purchased: Fall 2009
Price: $5
Accessories:   black tights, black flats, orange cardigan, black and white striped headband/belt, kurt halsey bird necklace
Hair and Makeup:  Side ponytail, usual makeup
Comments/Compliments/Complaints: Michael liked my dress, Sue liked my necklace




I really need to start blogging on the day of or immediate day after again as I'm falling behind and in my old age I can't really remember a few days ago.  Blargh.  So let's see...it was Monday so immediately I'm sure it was boring.  I've had this dress for a while but never wore it because the boning was hurty and annoying.  Now it's a little bigger and the boning doesn't stick into me anymore.  It's still slightly annoying because it has a cotton lining so it gets stuck to my tights when I walk.  I threw on a slip underneath to fight the good fight.  


I worked, made a quick trip to Trader Joe's and came home and made an awesome dinner of veggie beef tips in a red wine/mushroom reduction, a baked potato and green beans with almonds.  It ruled.   

day two hundred thirty-three.

Day Two Hundred Thirty-three 4/18/10
Dress:  Long Green Vintage Dress 

Purchased From: ? A thrift store, can't remember which one
Year or Era Purchased: At least Fall 2008 or maybe even before
Price: ?
Accessories:   black on black chucks, pirate ship brooch, pink knit hat
Hair and Makeup:  Two low pigtails, usual makeup
Comments/Compliments/Complaints:  A woman on the street complimented my coat, not shown



I've been waiting to wear this dress because a. I couldn't find it for like six months and b. it was quite warm outside once I found it and I couldn't bring myself to wear it.  I love it, don't get me wrong. It's just a bit much for everyday wear.   I wish I could remember more about it.  I want to guess that it came from Circle Thrift, maybe before they moved.  I don't know.  I wore it once before the the 700 Awards.  Even though I only left the house once to go to the grocery store I wore it all day.   Sometimes it's fun to be dressed up at home. 


I spent my day a little hungover from Saturday night's fun.  I got up pretty late and decided sandwiches were in order.  I put on this dress and walked to the corner store only to find them closed so I hopped in the car and headed to the Thriftway, our crazy people grocery store.  It's such a place to be seen.  As usual I encountered someone awesome, an old man, I'd say in his eighties who flirted with me and told me tales of World War II and discovering he had a child in Germany.  It was all a bit of a blur of conversation in front of the jelly section.  He was quick and cute and to the point and didn't seem crazy at all, maybe a little lonely.  He didn't overstay his welcome, just got in and got out so he left me with a smile.  I came home and immediately told Michael the whole story.  


I made us sandwiches and I must say they were perfection.  I savored every bite and then savored every moment of couch suck.   We cleared out a large of chunk of our dvr and in between Michael worked on our bedroom floor using tung oil and citurs solvent.  Our whole house smells like orange oil.  I baked cupcakes and the chocolate scents mixed with the orange, much better than polyurethane any day. 


I made us a late dinner of veggie chicken in a white wine lemon butter sauce,  a saute of mushrooms, walnuts and kale, mashed potatoes and corn on the cob.  Swoon.