Strawberry Freckleface

THE CITY IS A JUNGLE

2013-05-18T22:14:00.001-05:00

soundwave bracelet c/o the frequenci, tunnel vision shorts, thrifted top and boots, choker from etsy, vintage purse

Apparently I have a tiger obsession? According to this, this and this, I do, at least. Obviously I had to get these Bad Vibes shorts from Tunnel Vision, DUH. My friends make them and not only are they wonderful (the shorts) (oh, and the people) but they are so barely-there comfortable. BUY THEM.

Though I am inadvertently obsessed with tiger print/cat print, by now you all know how grossly obsessed with dogs I am. So enamored actually, that when The Frequenci contacted me about their soundwave bracelets, I had to get "I love my dogs" as my design. Basically, you record a short saying of your choice on a website like this, send it over to The Frequenci, and they create these bracelets made to replicate the visual soundwave of your voice. How. Freaking. Badass. And cryptic, so everyone thinks you're mysterious and cool and stuff.

Visit The Frequenci HERE.

PS. Those are two of my five dogs hanging out in a couple of these photos. They are probably sniffing baby diapers, because in my neighborhood it's totally acceptable to throw them out on the streets along with shopping carts, toilets, and mattresses.

instagram @caseystrawberry

♒ PANIC IN HOLLYWOOD ♒

2013-05-15T01:31:00.000-05:00

thrifted tank dress, choker from etsy, rosary earring c/o my salvation, bag from army surplus, shoes from santee alley

What a day! Time to get personal.

I woke up to get an oil change (boo) but met a nice homeless man on the way who must have been roasting outside because the LA heat is insane right now. I gave him money and he was bummed that I was married. (I am not married.) Anyway, how nice, whatever; I felt good about helping him out. Karma +1.

Oil is getting changed, and I decide to walk two of my dogs for the duration of the car fix-up. Nice again, right? Karma +2. Sticky was super excited to explore a different neighborhood and was doing her little dance-on-two-feet thing that she does. Five minutes into our exploration of Lincoln Heights, Sticky's happiness level went from a ten to a negative ten. Out of nowhere she began to slam her face against the pavement and cry while violently sneezing and clawing at her nose. I picked her up in a panic only to notice she had multiple foxtails stuck to her fur on her face, and one STICKING OUT OF HER LEFT NOSTRIL. You know what foxtails are, right? These. Dry, prickly, sharp pieces of horror. I tried to remove it in the midst of her demoniac sneezing but managed to barely touch it before it got pushed in further with her inhale until it was no longer visible. Mind you, Sticky's snout is MAYBE an inch and a half long. The foxtail was at least an inch long. I about had a panic attack and ran her back to the car place only to have to wait 20 more minutes because my car was literally hanging in the air. I couldn't get into the drivers seat even if I wanted to peel out of that place and rush to the vet. So, I wait, with the dogs, panicking, as I am being informed that I will need to buy two new tires because mine will blow at any time.

Blah blah, took her to the vet finally and they had to put her out with anesthesia so they could get into her tiny perfect nose. Apparently she sucked it in so hard that they think she swallowed it. Or that's what they hope.

Why am I telling you this story? Because I think I did a darn good job hiding my hysteria whilst taking these photos. I met up with boyfriend in Hollywood while Stick was at the vet and he snapped these pictures while blowing bubbles into the palm trees across the street to cheer me up until I could hear the thankful prognosis.

Here she is after she got home from the vet. Lethargic and distraught.

SCREW YOU, FOXTAILS, AND SCREW YOU, KARMA.

instagram @caseystrawberry

☼ IMIDIWAN MA TENAM ☼

2013-05-08T22:11:00.001-05:00

vintage dress, bag from some metaphysical store in long beach, necklace from venice, thrifted boots, snail attached to curb courtesy of nature

“Water, water, water....There is no shortage of water in the desert but exactly the right amount , a perfect ratio of water to rock, water to sand, insuring that wide free open, generous spacing among plants and animals, homes and towns and cities, which makes the arid West so different from any other part of the nation. There is no lack of water here unless you try to establish a city where no city should be.”

- Edward Abbey

Take me back to the real desert.

☽☽ NEW STOCK ADDED TO THE SHOP ☾☾

2013-04-30T14:54:00.003-05:00

I've added about 30 vintage pieces to the store this weekend. Above are just a few of the newly listed items. There are some RAD goodies up for grabs. Like, rad. So rad that I almost kept them myself, but, I have too much. Hoarder steeze.

Click on the images to go directly to the item or click HERE to shop the entire store to see everything else that isn't pictured!

instagram @caseystrawberry

☮ DIRTY HAIR/DIRTY LIFE ☮

2013-04-24T23:21:00.000-05:00

jeans, crochet top, and belt all thrifted - bag from euphoria, my salvation antler necklace, amethyst bracelet from madi, vintage shoes

I've got a buttload of new (vintage) pieces to add to the shop this weekend - this hoodie being one of them. It's the perfect 90's reminiscent roam-around-the-beach-and-play-hacky-sack hooded sweatshirt, don't you agree? I don't really understand that "game" or "sport", but whatever, this hoodie makes me want to understand.

I'm still recovering from this last fantastic weekend in the desert, and I feel like this outfit heightens my yearning to be back. MORE DESERT, PLEASE. MORE MUSIC, PLEASE. If you don't follow my instagram then you have missed out on this weekend's festivities, man. Maaaaaan.

instagram @caseystrawberry

♒ SEAWEED ♒

2013-04-06T21:43:00.000-05:00

super awesome fun time dress, vintage top, jeffrey campbell shoes, thrifted purse

I will not lie; often I become overwhelmed by the amount of clothing shifting about in my room which results in one outfit getting worn for days at a time. This neon aquatic beauty and boo-drugs top is one of those multi-day outfits only because of:

being in a rush,

having terrible roots,

and the shirt not reaking of sweat.

Do you like that nice deodorant stain? It's symbolic, you know?

Real talk: I do shower.

This dress (now clean...cross my fingers) is up for grabs in my shop, along with quite a few other new vintage goodies. Find the fishy dress HERE, or browse the shop HERE.

[like this dress? like seashells? you can find me at the beach almost always right here on instagram @caseystrawberry]

NEW VINTAGE CLOTHING IN SHOP; HELLA GOOD

2013-04-03T20:48:00.002-05:00

Here are just a few of my favorites from the newest vintage items listed last night for Super Awesome Fun Time. Shop HERE.

instagram @caseystrawberry

DEATH IN THE CANYON

2013-03-22T02:25:00.003-05:00

leggings from santee alley, boots from uo, bag and top thrifted, hat from roommate

I went hiking and no thanks to a crumbly rock, I fell onto a giant Spanish Dagger. I now have 5 stab wounds on my hand and I think I'm slowly dying.

No, I didn't wear this ENTIRE outfit running amuck through the canyons, I substituted shorts and cross training shoes.

Anyway, back to dying.
Peace out, world.

♒ ELECTRIC BEACH ♒

2013-03-04T23:29:00.000-06:00

boots from somewhere in westwood, american apparel bra, my salvation quartz necklace, thrifted everything else

The plan was to sell this shirtdress. But then logic kicked in and overrode emotion by whispering, "Casey, that shirtdressthing is supposed to be on you. Always. Fact." So, I went with it. Totally snapped myself out of the emotional spell and hopped on the common sense train. NO DOI, THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE ON ME. Sell it? Psh. Who did I think I was? Some sort of foggy fickle sap?

SHIRTDRESS, YOU'RE MINE FOREVER.

On that note - some new goodies listed in the shop including *drum roll*:

and

OMG ball chain dress (ignore my in-the-way boobs)

as well as

And other stuff, too. Click on the link to visit the item, or click HERE to access the entire shop.

instagram @caseystrawberry

♒ SPIKE PLANT ♒

2013-02-26T20:18:00.001-06:00

thrifted dress/bag/boots, jewelry c/o my salvation and random

Is tie dye getting old yet?

LOL.

instagram @caseystrawberry

SUN BLASTED PALE SKIN

2013-02-22T12:51:00.003-06:00

shorts c/o lenni vintage, thrifted army jacket, top, and shoes, bag from melrose trading post, necklace from maya

You know when you're like, "I'm gonna do a blog post right now!", but then you're like, "Wait, I have to go to work!" That's me, right now.

I will leave you with a couple of my favorite ELO songs.

instagram @caseystrawberry

THE DAY THE DOG ROLLED IN PEE AND THEN JUMPED ON ME

2013-02-20T01:28:00.000-06:00

tunnel vision dress, vintage coat and shoes, jewelry from my salvation and sister

I got this coat for mega cheap, and, like, I was really stoked on it, right? It felt like something my grandma would have worn and looked like something Penny Lane would approve of. I thought, "Gee, I like my new coat so much that I am willing to sweat my butt off and wear it outside all day at Hollenbeck, no matter what that crazy sun says!" In fact, I was so excited that I decided to include a couple of my [many] dogs on my adventure.

Whistling (in my head. happy root-toot-this-day-rules kind of whistling) along the path, I smiled at all the other lively people dressed in tank tops and shorts while waving and saying howdy to all of their dogs as I passed.

Absent from my surroundings from only paying attention to my own blissful thoughts, I failed to notice that my dog had found a puddle of urine on the sidewalk.

A big puddle of pee.
A big, smelly, muddy puddle of pee.

"Oh, hey, pee! Normally I would lift my leg and wizz, but this time I would rather collapse into you and saturate my inch long fur with your pungent odor!", said my dog to the stink puddle.

So, he did. And before I knew it, back on his feet he went and onto my new awesome coat he leaped, rubbing his soaked body on me. Yaaaaayyyyy!!!!!

Needless to say, I spent the rest of my otherwise buoyant day extremely furious and smelling like piss.

The end.

instagram @caseystrawberry

☼ COATS? IN LOS ANGELES? ☼

2013-02-13T14:42:00.001-06:00

These are just a few of my new favorite vintage items added to the shop! Click the link to go directly to the listing.

If you're not in sunny southern California, the coats might interest you as they are RAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDDDD.

START SHOPPING~

☮ ☯ BUCKLES AND MESH ☯ ☮

2013-02-12T21:23:00.001-06:00

vintage top, diy shorts, jeffrey campbell shoes, army surplus bag, random jewelry

I forgot about these shoes. I was so stoked to have gotten them, oh, 3 years ago? I don't wear them often enough, but I had to dust them off when I found this top that I would have rocked in junior high during the 90s...and now. What good is trippy mesh on top when there is no overabundance of buckles on bottom? Buckles and mesh and army bags. Nostalgia to the max.

Dorner is dead. Looks like the end of helicopter craziness over our house.

instagram @caseystrawberry

☽☽ NOTHING ☾☾

2013-02-04T23:38:00.001-06:00

jewelry c/o my salvation and from venice beach, bag from army surplus, everything else thrifted

It's hot in LA.

I love succulents.

I want to live in a seashell.

I LOVE MY SALVATION.

instagram @caseystrawberry

⚡⚡ ABBA 4EVR ⚡⚡

2013-01-25T01:42:00.002-06:00

jacket from wasteland, bag from black market, top from etsy, jeffrey campbell boots, random jewelry, thrifted/diy shorts

Suddenly my house has been blasted with the amazingness that is ABBA. Seriously, you probably know one, two, maybe even three good ABBA songs, but have you heard the rest? Really, have you? ABBA IS THE JAM. Who knew how hard those ladies killed it? I certainly never gave them much thought past SOS.

From this day forth, I christen this shiny metallic disco jacket to be called "ABBA 4EVR".

Bohemian psychedelic desert Casey aside, I love you, ABBA 4EVR. Keep shining away with your reflective disco self.

☪ TRIPPY VIZUALZ ☪

2013-01-23T17:14:00.002-06:00

Just a snidbit of some newly listed items in the shop! Click the image to visit.

CALIF☼RNIA TR☼PICS

2013-01-19T20:05:00.000-06:00

thrifted everything but the boots from random store in westwood and etsy choker

Summer weather in January! To confuse everyone I'll sport hawaiian shirts with pencil skirts and beanies.

Huh?

△△ STICKY COAT △△

2013-01-15T23:44:00.002-06:00

vintage coat, super awesome fun time dress, random jewelry, jeffrey campbell boots, thrifted purse

This is the Sticky Coat.
Stick got a haircut and now I own this coat that looks like a clean version of her old hair.

Casey: 1 Sticky: 0

instagram @caseystrawberry

◢◢ 50 SHADES OF RED ◣◣

2013-01-12T20:30:00.001-06:00

thrifted boots, super awesome fun time vintage dress, jacket - gift from madi, llama backpack - gift from boyfriend

I keep getting questions about my hair. Yes, the pink really is the result of spotting a Sharpie on a table, looking in the mirror, glancing back at the Sharpie, and then without thought - coloring my hair using it. It surprisingly hasn't faded much. Like, at all.
Back in junior high I remember tediously coloring my entire head with a green crayola marker only to have gym class that day where beads of emerald sweat soaked my white shirt and dyed my face. Great decision, right? I will say, this whole Sharpie business does NOT stain anything (but the obvious).

I've clearly had a few epiphanies since middle school and more intelligently am now coloring my hair using the smarter, more grown-up choice,

permanent marker.

instagram: caseystrawberry

△ 94590; BOYFRIEND'S TERRITORY ▽

2013-01-11T02:56:00.001-06:00

vintage dress from madi, vintage thrifted jacket and shell bag, bootstraps via ebay

This jacket is what happens when your clothing-neutral boyfriend understands your taste and has decided to help source for your vintage store.

"Look what I found! I'm gonna buy it for you!"

"Now, keep in mind that I really am not into -", as I whirl around the rack expecting to turn down his find.

...

"Wait. What? You found that? And you thought I would like it?"

His smile fades.

"OF COURSE I LIKE THAT! YOU'VE PASSED YOUR FIRST MILESTONE, BABE!"

Hugs all around. Two smiles rather than just one.

I think I'll keep him around.

♒ EASTLOS NARNIA DESERT PONY ♒

2012-12-26T03:08:00.000-06:00

vintage crochet poncho, thrifted boots and shell purse, random jewelry from melrose trading post, venice, euphoria and worlds tiniest cactus necklace from lacey

I like ponchos again. Well, this one. My bi-polar manic for crochet capes is at an all time high. Until I sink, this thing isn't going anywhere.

Grandma's rocking chair called. It wants it's afghan back.

Too bad, chair.

Thank you, Lacey, for the world's tiniest cactus bottled and strung from my neck. I will spoil him. I have named him Zzzz.

instagram: caseystrawberry

*These photos were taken a couple of days ago, when I was home. I am currently battling 0 degree weather with snow. Feel pity for me.*

✝✝ SEDONA HIGH ✝✝

2012-12-22T21:16:00.000-06:00

suspender dress c/o american deadstock, thrifted tee, crystal necklace c/o my salvation, vintage harley davidson boots, vintage thrifted bag

This is what I imagine Sedona junior high students would wear if Shinichiro Watanbe and Kazuya Tsurumaki had co-directed a live action American-girl series taking place in the 90s. I'd hope to be the weirdo goth girl who unleashes her mystic powers from her purse while giggling, who stands pigeon-toed, and secretly carries paper currency in her bra for emergency battle weapon purchases.

UNLEASH:
"Rattle tooth tremor!"

"Sweet fighter target blaster!'

"Fang Blow!"

" Beauty Shatter Detonator!"

" Crazed Beast Berserking Claw"

"Omni charming lizard!"

Yeah.

(PS. A few new things up in the store including 90s platform club kid boots! Liberate your inner Michael Alig! Actually, no...don't.)

instagram: caseystrawberry

⚡⚡ HOW TO THRIFT, CASEY STYLE ⚡⚡

2012-12-18T14:24:00.000-06:00

entire outfit from goodwill minus the jewelry

As you may have noticed, I score a good number, okay...the majority of my clothing at thrift stores. People often tell me that they have trouble at second hand shops and they don't know how to properly thrift for things they like. They end up going to malls and department stores only to spend more money than they'd like, as I continue to spend frugally resulting in a load of clothing I am in love with.

For all of you pessimistic thrift dreamers I have compiled a short list of my top 10 tips for thrifting. If you have more to add to my tabulation, feel free to spill some insight!

Casey's top 10 tips for successful thrifting!

1. Dedicate an afternoon/evening to thrifting. I tend to get bizarrly hungry and my bladder refuses to work the moment I enter a thrift store - SO, after you eat and pee, map out 2 or 3 locations within 15 miles of each other. If you don't have much luck at one store, one of the next two will conceivably be more promising.

2. Try searching in less trendy areas of town. Trendy cool-kid folks go thrifting often, so likely they've already picked through all the good stuff...but on that note,

3. Go often! People bring donations daily; though you may not find something today, tomorrow that store may be a goldmine. I generally make weekly trips to thrift stores.

4. Expect to sift. I don't find anything by not looking. Go through every rack, starting with the things that weigh the least. T-shirts first, then long sleeves, skirts and dresses, jackets, and finally shoes and bags. Unless you have a cart, the less weight you have to carry, the better.

5. If you love a find, but it doesn't quite fit right - alter it! Rip that shiz up. Spice up a boring jacket with some iron-on patches. The sleeves are too long? Cut them off! Love the skirt but hate that it's a maxi? Tie the front in a knot or reconstruct it to have a fishtail brink.

6. If you find a very expensive brand for less than $10, buy it. Sell it to a buy or trade clothing store like Crossroads Trading Co, Buffalo Exchange, Wasteland, or Black Market. Spend some dough to make some dough.

7. Try things on. If you're not planning on reselling or reconstructing, make sure you love it. You don't want to clutter your closet with things you'll never wear. Some things fit weird. Some things have stains that you would only notice in the dressing room. Some belts are just one hole too small.

8. Know when sale days are. $3 is better than $6, even if $6 is good. Goodwill often has monthly calenders that you can take showing their discount days. And if you don't know when you walk in, ask! Usually some area of the store is on sale.

9. Look at the fabric section; this goes along with #5. Liked the jeans but hate the boring pockets? Walk to the fabric area and pick out something you can cut and sew onto those pockets. Win win.

10. Looking for vintage? Before you head out, read THIS to learn how to determine if your thrift store finds are actually vintage or not.

BONUS*11. Listen to this song on the way and get pumped up to find some kick-ass psychedelic patterned gems:

instagram: caseystrawberry

〷 CRUX AND CROW AGAIN, SO SUE ME 〷

2012-12-13T23:46:00.000-06:00

I've raved about my undying love for Crux and Crow in the past, and have returned to freak out again. I'm not sure a vintage renewed store could leave me desiring more in it's entirety. Not a fraction of this shop goes unwanted by me, as I sit here drooling over each and every perfectly composed ensemble.

Can someone please take this laptop away from me? My brain is going to explode staring at all of this excellence.

Shop Crux and Crow HERE.

instagram: caseystrawberry