Delightfully Tacky

The Eye of the Storm

2012-05-17T22:22:00.007-07:00

Whenever I'm in Alaska, I want to take outfit pictures out at Beluga Point, but I always forget that the wind whips right down Turnagain Arm and makes Beluga Point feel like it's about to get blown over by a hurricane. So most of my photos looked just about as wind-blown as the ones from last time I attempted it. Thankfully my mom is a good sport and helped me take photos as I'm positive the wind would've just blown over my tripod and broken my camera and lens.

Being at home was so refreshing. I think it was just what I needed. It's so great to be able to reconnect with my roots, take a breather, be with my family, and get a new perspective. I even read a book! I can't remember the last time I read a novel. The transition to this new job has been pretty rocky. I kind of feel like I'm in a boat that's taken on too much weight and I'm constantly bailing it out with a bucket just to stay afloat. But I think a good balance is on the horizon, hopefully. I'm trying to learn to just say no and to recognize what I can and can't take on.

always cheerful dress + cardigan / courtesy of ModCloth :: shoes/Minnetonka

tights/Target :: crocheted flower crown/courtesy of Manzanita :: photos by my mom

Lately I've been thinking a lot about, well, a lot. But one of the things that stood out in the last week was how we have this tendency to describe ourselves based on our accomplishments, or how we base people's value on their accomplishments (or lack thereof). It was very obvious during my brother's graduation ceremony, which makes sense because graduation is really a celebration of an accomplishment. But it still made me hope that those kids don't base their value on their accolades and accomplishments. The high school my brothers and I graduated from prides itself on having a high academic standard, so I understand that they'd want to highlight that during a graduation ceremony, and to congratulate the graduates on making it through the rigor. It's easy to get caught up in placing your value on things like that though, and I think it's a shame. People have inherent value, not because of things they've accomplished, but because they're human beings. I shouldn't place a higher value on someone with a bachelor's degree and a lesser value on someone who only graduated high school. Someone who is a CEO isn't more worthy of love than someone who works the night janitorial shift in that CEO's office building.

A Heart Made of Tundra

2012-05-15T00:39:00.005-07:00

As we were driving back to Anchorage along Turnagain Arm yesterday afternoon I was looking at the tentatively budding greenery and flowers along the edge of the road. Plants in Alaska are so hardy. When I think of thriving greenery in other places, I think of big colorful flowers and leaves, but in Alaska, the flowers are relatively small and stay close to the ground and everything is a bit more unruly. Even though Washington doesn't seem at first glance that much different from Alaska, there's something about the landscape and plant growth which is hardwired to get through the long, frigid Alaskan winters. I thought to myself that I felt very much like those tiny, hardy flowers. I don't imagine I'm anything akin to a bunch of roses or a sprawling field of tulips. I figure I'm more of a tundra.

I've always liked the way my photos looked in Alaska, more than in any other place I've taken them, and I just realized that maybe it's because I'm in my natural habitat. I feel my soul resonate at the same pitch as my surroundings. The little tundra transplanted in Washington is momentarily reintroduced to her Alaskan soil and digs her tiny roots into the ground to absorb just a bit of home before heading back to Tacoma.

dress/courtesy of modcloth :: top/forever 21 :: shoes/courtesy of blowfish

Blowfish Shoes Giveaway!

2012-05-14T16:18:00.003-07:00

Today I have a giveaway from Blowfish Shoes. The winner of this giveaway gets to pick whatever shoe they want! Yup, winner's choice! AND you have four chances to win! Check it:

To Enter:

Like Blowfish Shoes on Facebook and then come back here and leave a comment on this post letting me know you've done so, as well as with a way for me to get a hold of you in case you're the winner. If you already follow Blowfish shoes, you don't have to unlike and then re-like.

For additional entries, you can comment with your favorite shoe from Blowfish, or follow Blowfish on Twitter and/or pinterest. If you do any of these, make sure to come back here and leave an additional comment for each letting me know you've done so.

One entrant will win their choice of shoe from Blowfish. Open to US entries only. The giveaway will be open until Sunday, May 20th at 9pm PST.

The winner of the Chantilly Songs giveaway is ...

Time Flies

2012-05-13T22:18:00.003-07:00

I've worn quite a few variations of this outfit recently, just because it's so comfortable and easy. I figured since it was so comfy it was a good outfit for a plane trip, and thankfully I chose it because my flight ended up being quite a little fiasco! We got on the plane on time and pulled out to the end of the runway when the co-pilot got on the intercom and said we would have to go back to the terminal because there was a discrepancy in some sort of checklist or mechanical thing. So we sat at the terminal for a while before it was determined we had to get on another plane. Everyone got off the plane, walked to a new gate and got on a new plane. We ended up leaving SeaTac about 15 minutes before we were supposed to arrive in Anchorage. Whoops! I didn't mind at all because I didn't have a connection to make. It actually worked out perfectly because no one was able to pick me up from the airport at my original arrival time, but by the time I got there, my mom was off work and could come get me!

dress/modcloth :: top/courtesy of free people :: jacket/lulu*s

tights/target :: boots + scarf/thrifted :: bag/courtesy of handbag heaven

It's been very wonderful being home. Sometimes a change of scenery is just what is needed, especially when it's home. Unfortunately Dan couldn't come along for this trip because of school and work, but it's nice to be here with the fam just like old times. My Grandma and Grampa flew up today, and it's so nice to see them again because my wedding was such a whirlwind that I barely got to spend five minutes with them! I understand now why some cultures celebrate weddings for a week. Tomorrow we're having a party for my little brother's graduation, and then Tuesday he walks! I can't believe it's been seven years since my high school graduation. I remember thinking about how my little brother's high school graduation was so far off in the future, and here we are! Time is just crazy. I swear to God I'm going to blink and will find myself watching my own children throwing their graduation caps in the air.

Autumn Dearest

2012-05-12T08:00:00.001-07:00

As much as I hate to type the words "Fall/Winter", this F/W '12 collection from Dear Creatures is just too good. So far Dear Creatures has yet to disappoint and is always the one collection I'm eagerly awaiting each season. This collection is full of my favorite cuts, shapes and colors. Even though I'm excited for the months to come where layering is no longer a necessity, I really do love being able to layer different textures, patterns, and pieces. Plus, fall has my favorite color palette. The one annoying thing about seeing these photos in May is the fact that I know I won't be able to get my hands on any of these pretty pieces until fall! But that's all well and good, I suppose. I'll enjoy the hot days of simplicity this summer and by the time fall rolls around, I'm sure I'll be excited to layer, wear tights and sweaters, and all the sartorial trappings of autumn.

photos found via lowefactor

Climb Every Mountain

2012-05-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

Something on my 25 before 26 list was to join a climbing gym and have a consistent exercise routine. I'm pretty bad at exercising, as I have no motivation to do stuff like run for 30 minutes, or sit in a machine and work out for however long. I'm pretty good if I'm in a class as I'm so competitive that I like to try to be the best in the class, but I haven't done exercise classes since I did Pilates in college. And in college I had the motivation to get an A in the class, which also worked pretty well for me. Since then I haven't been able to find something active I enjoyed doing which didn't feel like working out for no reason, until I started climbing! I need goals in order to work out. Goals which are tangible, not like, "oh man, I could only do 20 reps of that before, now I can do 30 reps!" I guess that might be tangible for some people, but for me it's not. What I love about climbing is that there's a literal goal every time you get on the wall. Get to the top. Finish the route. It's awesome. Finishing a route you've been working on is the best feeling ever.

Another thing which is super helpful for me is seeing change in a really concrete way. In climbing, routes are graded at different difficulties. So a V4 is harder than a V2, for instance (those are bouldering grades... there are lots of different systems for grading routes, but I won't get into that). I remember when I first started climbing back in January I could barely do V0's. Both Dan and I vividly remember struggling on a particular pair of V0+ routes, and now I can do V2's and V3's pretty consistently and have almost finished some V4's! I love being able to see myself getting better in a way that, for me, is super tangible.

Another awesome thing about climbing is that, while you can definitely just climb indoors at a gym, there's the opportunity to climb outdoors on real rock! These photos are from a couple weeks ago when we took a little trip down to Spire Rock, which is a man-made climbing area at a park in Spanaway. We don't have a rope yet, but once we do we'll be able to go out and climb at real rocks! I love a sport which involves nature. Riding horses was awesome, being able to be out in nature, and riding a living creature with whom you had a relationship. I've had a hard time finding something to fill the void of riding, and while I don't think anything will completely match the feeling I had when riding, I'm really looking forward to climbing outdoors and being in nature.

Now I wish everyone would start climbing, haha! Of course, I hate when people say stuff like, "Oh I could never _____," so whenever I hear people say that about climbing I want to encourage them even more! I even got my mom to try it out when she was down here in Tacoma back in January. It's so low-impact (especially if you're top-rope climbing), and with the different grades, you can start on super easy routes and go from there! Dan & I do mostly bouldering, which is climbing on routes which don't go very high, so you don't have to wear a harness. I didn't have a harness for about two months, so we started off just bouldering and I've really enjoyed it. Now that I have a harness we've started to do more top-rope climbing, but we still primarily work on bouldering routes. Bouldering is nice because there's very little equipment involved, so it's good if you want to go and just try out climbing. Plus, pretty much every gym will make you pass a "belay test" for you to top-rope climb, so if you want to go to a climbing gym and just try it out, you'll probably have to boulder. I think bouldering is super fun though, so go try it out!

photos of me by Dan

Clearing my Head

2012-05-09T08:00:00.005-07:00

Lately I've been feeling very stressed out and unsure about things. My blogging has reached a turning point and it's taken me a while to figure out what's going on. Back in September when camp was done and I moved back into Tacoma, I was blogging full-time for the first time ever (not counting my Winne-trip, as I had saved up money and wasn't completely relying on blogging as my main income). I felt this pressure to make my blog really awesome. Put out super awesome content, blog every day or even multiple times a day, diversify my content and do more stuff like DIY's and recipes, etc. I felt like I could become a way "better" blogger, now that I had all the time in the world to blog since I was blogging full-time. I remember looking at blogs like A Beautiful Mess, From Me to You, Design*Sponge, and Calivintage for inspiration, and being really pumped up about blogging. I was having a lot of fun making little DIY projects and cooking new recipes. I was enjoying talking about the new season in my life involving wedding planning and newlywed life. But I couldn't maintain it. I'm not super-blogger. I'm just me. I'm just a girl who wishes she could afford to drive her Winne around the country more, who likes to ride her bike, who has Alaska flowing through her veins and loves adventure.

I feel like adventure can take many forms in our different seasons of life. For instance, right now I'm here in Tacoma living in a little house. I used to live at home with my family in Alaska, and then in a Winne on the road, and then in Tacoma, and then at camp. But right now I'm living in a little house, and I'm figuring out what this new season means for me. And there are growing pains along the way, as there has been in other seasons. I remember back in 2009 I had graduated college and moved back home to Alaska, and was wondering what to do with my life. I decided that going to grad school to pursue a fashion journalism degree made sense (I wrote a fashion blog and enjoyed writing... makes sense, right?), so I applied, got in, and started taking classes. And then I realized that I hate fashion journalism. I didn't want to pursue a career where I write catchy lines about the newest spring trends, or predicting what's going to be "in" next season. I realized I didn't actually like fashion all that much, at least not enough to make a career writing and reporting about it.. So I course corrected and started searching Craigslist for a 70's Winnebago Brave instead.

I feel like I'm at one of those course-correcting moments. I'm not Erin Hagstrom, I'm not Elsie Larson, I'm not Kaelah Beauregard, I'm not Rebecca Stice, I'm not Tieka Dierolf, I'm not Katie Shelton. And while I love all those ladies' blogs, my blog shouldn't look like theirs' because I don't look like them. I'm different, and making my blog the best it can be won't make it look more like theirs, it'll probably make it look less like theirs. I once read a quote by C.S. Lewis that said, "Good, as it ripens, becomes continually different, not only from evil, but from other good." Of course, I'm not saying that the blogs I love are evil, they are good! But my version of good will look totally different than their version of good.

I think I need to go into the wilderness and rediscover myself. Not the literal wilderness (well... maybe, actually), but I want to stop checking my bloglovin' reader for a while. I want to "fast" from reading blogs for a while. I've felt like I have to keep up with what everyone else is doing and, for me at least, it's an unsustainable standard. I'm going to stop reading blogs for a while and blog sans outward influence. I didn't realize how much I missed that kind of blogging. As hard as my new job has been, I feel like quitting the full-time blogger gig is way healthier than trying to do the rat race of blogging full time. For others it may not feel that way, but for me it did. It's funny because it seems like being able to blog full time is the goal for a lot of bloggers. Like, you know you've "made it" when you can quit your day job and blog full time. I'll admit it felt great that I could support myself and my husband through blogging, but as an important fellow once said... what good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

Chantilly Giveaway

2012-05-08T08:00:00.003-07:00

Hi everyone! Today I get to bring you a giveaway from the lovely Chantilly! She's just released her new album and one lucky reader will win a little package including her new EP, Up to the Moon, her other album, Caught Light, and a cute 55 page kraft paper journal stamped with the lyrics from the song "Escape"! The album is really great, you guys. It has a sort of bluesy, folk, vintage feel to it. If I had to compare Chantilly's music, I'd describe it as maybe a mix between Amy Winehouse and She & Him. But don't take my word for it, go listen!

To Enter:

Head to Chantilly's bandcamp page, listen to her songs and then come back here to leave a comment on this post letting me know which one of her songs is your favorite!

For bonus entries, follow Chantilly's blog and/or follow her on twitter! If you do either or both of the bonus entries, make sure to come back here and leave a comment on this post for each of your bonus entries. If you don't do this, your bonus entries won't count!

The giveaway will be open for entries until Sunday, May 13th at 9pm PST.

p.s. I love that Chantilly has the same dress as me!

Summer's Tentative Arrival

2012-05-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

Has summer arrived in Tacoma??? This week the forecast is for all sun and warmth! I've been fooled by the forecast before, though, so I'm skeptical, but I did get a little baby sunburn yesterday. I love that first sunburn of the year. The one you get on accident because you're so not even used to seeing the sun, much less a sun with the power to give you a sunburn. My sunburn is so dorky too. I was wearing a v-neck and a cardigan, so the tops of my hands and a V on my chest are sunburned, hah! Oh well. I'm glad the sun has showed up because it's bike month and I'm trying to ride my bike to work as much as possible. Unfortunately last week it was super rainy, but I think maybe I'll be able to ride every day this week, assuming I'm not totally lazy.

top/courtesy of free people :: crop top/american eagle :: shades/vintage

flower crown/handmade :: belt/souvenir from calico, ca

skirt/bcbg dress folded down :: shoes/courtesy of modcloth :: photos by Dan

I saw Jen wear this crop top at TxSC and as soon as I got home I got online and bought it. I can't even think of the last time I bought something from American Eagle, maybe high school? I've kind of boycotted those Abercrombie/Hollister/AE type stores ever since I was a teenager. Mostly because I can't stand the trashy things they print on their graphic tees (also I'm confused about how putting half naked people in your catalogues is a way to sell clothes...), but also, I'm pretty certain Abercrombie is trying to suffocate me with disgusting cologne every time I walk by their store. But anyway. Jen was just so adorable in the outfit she wore at TxSC I knew I had to have that crop top. I really want to find a full, longer skirt like hers to go with my crop top. I only have shorter skirts, and I've realized that I rarely even wear separates any more, interestingly enough. I really wanted to wear a longer skirt with this top though, so I jerry-rigged a skirt out of an old dress by folding the bodice down and belting it. I keep meaning to check the skirts at thrift shops, but I always forget!

2012-05-06T12:00:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was our six month "anniversary" and we spent the day walking down to the Parkway to grab a beer, play some pool, and sit on the patio in the sort-of sun. Lately I've just felt so thankful for Dan. I love hanging out and talking about our dreams, sharing struggles and deep thoughts, or just sitting on the couch watching an episode of a show. Seeing his grandma and grampa on Friday was so interesting and a little heartbreaking. His grandma seemed so strong beside her husband of 61 years struggling to even get out a small word as he lay in the hospital bed with wires hooked up all over his body. It's strange to think that someday we could be in a similar situation, assuming we live that long. I can't even comprehend the bond between two people who have spent 61 years of their life dedicated to supporting one another through trials and joys. I can't imagine someone I'd rather spend those years growing, supporting, laughing, crying, and adventuring alongside.

photo by Arrow & Apple

Homemade Olive Tapenade

2012-05-05T19:44:00.004-07:00

At Dan's new job they have these amazing hors d'oeuvres with housemade olive tapenade and Cambozola cheese toasted on slices of baguette, and I was craving it, so I decided to try and wing it. I found a few recipes online for tapenade, so I kind of got the general idea and threw a bunch of stuff in. The quantities listed are a sort of guesstimate as I was just throwing stuff in, but I'm pretty sure those quantities are pretty close to what I did. Just put everything in a food processor and chop it all up. I love eating it with wheat thins or on toasted baguette slices with brie. Yum! We're baking some homemade bread today, so maybe we'll have some delicious homemade bread to slather with olive tapenade!

What You'll Need:

4.5 oz sliced black olives (drained)

6 green olives

2 tbs capers

2 tsp mustard (I only had regular, but I'd do dijon)

1 tbs olive oil

1 tbs balsamic vinegar

2 cloves garlic, minced

Daytrippin'

2012-05-04T21:05:00.005-07:00

Today Dan & I spent most of the day in a car driving up to Mount Vernon to see his grampa who is in the hospital not doing too well. It was a nice little trip, and I'm glad Dan got to see his grampa. I think he's doing better, but we're not sure. Apparently he was doing better today than he was last night, so that's good! By the time we got back to Tacoma we were in need of a good leg stretching, so we took a walk to the Co-op as the sun was setting. Felt so good to move around after being stuck in Seattle traffic for hours. The drive was nice, though. We had a good solid chunk of time together, talking about things we want to do and places we want to go. We're both feeling like we're in a weird place in life right now, and also quite stressed out with various things going on. It was good to have time to talk and process and think out loud.

dress/modcloth :: top/forever 21 :: bag/courtesy of handbag heaven :: tights/target

jacket/empyre :: boots/thrifted :: cardigan/courtesy of modcloth :: photos by Dan

Can you believe these boots!? I thrifted them the other day from the little kids' section! I love checking the kids' section for shoes because they're cheaper than adult shoes and fit me better. I think these were from the Dolce Vita for Target Collection from a couple years ago? One of my favorite pairs of boots is from that collection, so I wouldn't doubt it! I also thrifted a really pretty dress to wear to my brother's graduation. It's strapless, which I usually don't go for, as I don't really have the decolletage to hold up such a dress, but it fit pretty well, so hopefully it'll work. If not, I'm sure I can scrounge up another option or two from my closet. I think my Eva Franco glasses dress would be pretty cute for a high school graduation, eh?

Four Eyes

2012-05-02T12:00:00.003-07:00

Lately I've been really loving the look of glasses. It was amplified by getting to try on a ton of BonLook glasses at the TxSC Posh party when I was in Austin, and after scrolling through the entirety of Advanced Style, I'm convinced that awesome glasses are an essential element missing from my personal style. Lately I've gotten my hands on a few pairs of glasses and here's the rundown.

I just got this pair of amber frames from Target in their sunglasses section. Target is kind of my go-to when I want to try a trend or something. I always check there first. I found this pair and it was exactly what I've been looking for.

I've had this pair of glasses for a long time. I originally bought them at Wet Seal a few years ago and then I think I lost them or they got broken. I believe this replacement pair is from Hot Topic. They're a bit big for my face, but I think they're pretty fun!

These are actually my real glasses. As in, prescription. My prescription is so minute, however, that when people put them on they don't believe me that they are in fact prescription lenses. I can notice the difference but only slightly. I got these back in high school, but I've only worn them a handful of times. They aren't my favorite style, but they fit my face the best.

I got these at Target at the same time as that first pair of amber frames. The're pretty big on me, but I don't care, I love them! They kind of remind me of grandpa glasses. Win!

I was contacted by GlassesUSA.com who asked if they could send me a pair of eyeglasses to review. Since I was on a glasses hunt, I agreed, as they have a few styles which I thought were cute. They do prescription glasses but as I don't know my prescription anymore I opted for just clear glass. They have a try-on thing,which I used beforehand. Unfortunately when I got the glasses themselves, the frames were basically black, unlike the tortoise color I was hoping to receive. There's nothing tortoise colored about the frames I got. They're much larger than they appeared to be when I "tried them on" and they sit completely crooked on my face. I've been wearing them, trying to like them more, but really they're almost identical to my pair from Hot Topic, only I like them a lot less. I've been trying to navigate glassesUSA's return policy because I would like to try a different pair of frames, but this is proving annoyingly difficult, so I suspect I'll have to contact customer service. Over all, I think I would've prefered a service like Warby Parker has where they send you up to 5 frames you're considering purchasing to try on, and then you can actually try them on before buying them. The online virtual-try-on thing that GlassesUSA has proved to be unreliable in my experience. Even though I did receive this pair free of charge (I'd be more miffed if I'd had to buy glasses that weren't what I wanted), I'd prefer having a pair which I'd actually wear. Hopefully I can figure out how to return them or maybe exchange for a better style. I'd personally recommend going with a more try-on friendly online glasses shop, to ensure you're getting a pair of glasses you'll actually like.

The Last Frontier

2012-05-01T17:32:00.006-07:00

Last week I bought a ticket to go home to Alaska for my little brother's high school graduation and I simply can't wait to look out the window of that plane down on my home town, with it's dirty brown snow still lingering after a record setting winter of snowfall. I was scrolling through my old photos and came across some from a boating trip in Prince William Sound from 2010 and they made me so nostalgic that I had to share them. Growing up in such a beautiful place as Alaska, I think sometimes the majesty was lost on me, as it was just always there, every day. While Washington state is certainly beautiful, and I'm so thankful to still live somewhere so naturally beautiful, there's just nothing comparable to the beauty of the Alaskan landscape.

Lately I've found myself pining for Alaska quite often, I'm not sure why. Even the city of Anchorage, I find myself missing. I haven't considered moving back to Alaska in some time, but recently that though has found itself in my mind more and more frequently. I don't know if it's at all a feasible thought, or if I'm just dreaming of it because Alaska will always run through my veins, or if I just miss my family. Most of Dan's family lives in Washington, so it would certainly be sad for him to have to be so far from them. There's a part of me which secretly wishes we could live in the mother-in-law apartment above my parents' garage, though I believe it's still being rented by someone. It would certainly be a great way to pay off student loans and save up money though! (assuming my parents would let us stay there rent-free... or for cheap at least).

I think I will become more adamant as I age that everyone should visit Alaska at least once. Visit Denali, take a trip in a small plane, go on a cruise around Prince William Sound. Do one of those fancy cruises that comes up the panhandle! I've never been on one, but I've heard from a lot of people that it's absolutely gorgeous. On my Winne trip I rode on the ferry down the coast, which isn't really anywhere near as nice as a cruise, but it was still beautiful. The Southeast is a very nostalgic place for me, as my grandparents live there. I remember running along the rocky beaches in front of their house trying to find shale rocks that resembled arrowheads. I stashed them in a secret hole in the wall, thinking I would remember where they were. By now I really have no clue where that little hole is, but maybe someday another kid will find them...

Oh! And on an unrelated note, there's a sweet giveaway of Minnetonka Moccasins going on right now! If you've been around this blog for any amount of time, you probably know how much I swear by my Minnetonka moccs. Anyway, Minnetonka & Wren teamed up to make some custom moccasins and you can enter to win them! Pretty sweet. They're custom and there'll only be 10 made, so it's a cool opportunity to get some super special moccs from one of my favorite brands. To enter, head over to their facebook and give them a "like" and then leave a comment on their post. The giveaway is open until May 15th, so you still have two weeks to enter!

Thank You

2012-04-30T18:10:00.004-07:00

I wanted to thank everyone who emailed me the past couple days regarding my last post. For those confused as to why they couldn't find a way to comment, I did remove my commenting for the time being, just to clear my head. I like reading your guys' comments, though so I will be reinstalling my commenting soon. Sometimes you just have to silence all the voices and learn to distinguish your own voice again.

I got so many emails from the kindest and most supportive readers that it would be nearly impossible to reply to each one. It was so wonderful to get emails from people who truly appreciated my blog but were totally supportive of any decision I made, whether it was bidding adieu to the blogosphere, or continuing, or posting less frequently, etc. It was so meaningful to me that so many of you cared enough to send an email and truly wanted what is best for me. I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling this way, and I've always felt like the blogosphere was a place where we could go and be like, "Oh, I'm not the only one!" Many of you thanked me for sharing my own frustrations, but I want to thank you guys for sharing your frustrations and thoughts. It's easy to get caught up in your own life and think that no one relates to what you're going through, but that's so false. There is so much to be gained from sharing our mutual experiences as human beings, and I think that's one of the big things that drew me to blogging in the first place.

The Existential Crisis

2012-04-29T11:09:00.006-07:00

You've probably noticed I haven't been posting very much lately. I'm not entirely sure what's going on, but blogging just hasn't been something I've wanted to do recently. My relationship with the internet has been rocky, and I'm not it's biggest fan. Every time I go to write a post, it ends up being a huge rant about how shitty the internet is and how mad I am at it. The godawful pinterest comments I see on people's pins, body hate, internet bullying, hateful commenters hiding behind the veil of anonymity. Lately my bullshit tolerance has been too low to be able to enjoy the internet without the prevailing toxicity of these things tainting my ability to contribute in a way that isn't just a huge rant. Coming to the blogosphere used to be something that felt positive in my life and recently it hasn't been. Maybe this is just blogger burnout on my part, or maybe the climate online really is shifting, I'm not sure.

Honestly, sometimes I just want to quit blogging. I'm tired of the stress. I'm tired of rude, random people who feel like it's their God-given right to infuse negative commentary into my life. I'm tired of the rat race of trying to keep up with everyone else, putting together the best outfits or the most clever DIY's, or the tastiest looking recipes. I'm tired of spending most of my time behind a computer screen. I'm tired of the drama. I'm tired of seeing godawful comments on people's pins on pinterest. I'm tired of checking stats. And I'm wondering, what would it be like to just... stop. To just delete Delightfully Tacky and move on. What would I do with all that time?

always cheerful dress/courtesy of modcloth :: shoes/courtesy of blowfish :: glasses/target

belt/souvenir from calico, ca :: bag/courtesy of handbag heaven :: top/courtesy of free people

I want to move to the woods and have a garden where I grow all my own food, a wood stove to heat our house, and a studio where I can create art. I want to open a clothing boutique in Tacoma. I want to move back to Alaska and be near my family. I want to become a better photographer and go around the country capturing beautiful and amazing things and people. I want to revamp the Winne into a mobile vintage shop or coffee shop. I want to move to Greece and live on the Mediterranean. I want to buy a house and build a huge garden full of delicious fruits and veggies and herbs.

I don't really know where I "belong" as far as blogging goes. Yeah yeah, I know, forge your own path, create your own niche, etc. After 4 years of blogging and too many blogging conferences I've heard it all. But I guess I don't know what I want to blog about to even begin trying to forge a path or niche or whatever. I think I sort of accidentally became a fashion/style blogger. And then I was all, "well, I love making stuff and being crafty and DIYing stuff, maybe I should post more of that stuff?" So I did. But I'm so inconsistent with it, and inspiration for making things comes in spurts. And I like making food and drinks, but similarly=inconsistent. I'm not a food blogger, I'm not a travel blogger, I'm not a crafty blogger, I'm not a fashion blogger, I'm not a mommy blogger, I'm not an outdoorsy blogger. I've always just babbled on about this or that, or whatever I'm feeling passionate about in that moment. I guess maybe I want to fit into a niche. I want to know what the hell I'm supposed to be doing here on my blog. I know, It's my blog so I can do whatever I want to do, but I don't know what that is. What do I want to do? What do I want to write about? What do I want to do with this one wild and precious life of mine?

Life Lately

2012-04-26T18:16:00.004-07:00

Man, this week is kicking my butt, hence the dearth of posts. In addition to work, blog designing, and my e-course, it's also been super nasty outside. Today I tried to go out for outfit pictures and almost immediately the sun was eliminated by a huge dark cloud followed by crazy wind and rain! Foiled. Oh well. This weekend looks like it could be nice, so that'll be refreshing.

My new job seems to be going okay. I don't feel super confident about it, but I've been doing alright. It's probably just that new-job feeling paired with my neurotic, perfectionist personality. I have been adjusting pretty well, though, to my new schedule, oddly enough. I'm a natural night owl, so waking up before 10 am has always been rough, but I think something about living with Dan makes it easier to get up in the morning. He gets up before me and I think feeling him get up and hearing him moving around the house kind of stirs me from my heavy slumber. Plus, he makes breakfast, which is awesome. I've pretty much always skipped breakfast because I'd rather sleep than eat breakfast. Today he made french toast, yum! What a guy. Of course, maybe he's just trying to win our competition to be the first to get 6-pack abs by feeding me delicious things. Yeah, we're having a silly competition to see who can get a 6-pack first. What?

Bluebeard coffee before work from my pal Amy // Some crazy pants at target. No, I didn't end up getting them, but I am considering going back because they're awesome // Super fun lipsticks from Lime Crime! // Finagled my hair into an updo. Also, bright lipstick! // A date with Dan at 1022. Drinking the PDX & Gravity's Rainbow, yum // A new dress & shoes from Modcloth & Blowfish (taken as I was about to take outfit pix... and then the storm rolled in) // rock climbing on a sunny day // New glasses from glassesusa. Not really that happy with them... meh. Oh well!

Are you on Instagram? My username is DelightTacky!

Red Light, Green Light

2012-04-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite blogs to read is Tom & Lorenzo (originally Project Rungay). I started reading their blog back when my Mom & I would watch Project Runway together and their commentary was just too hilarious. They now blog about a ton of shows, including Mad Men and The Walking Dead, fashion, and celeb style and it's still one of my favorite blogs. They often criticize celebs for wearing matchy-matchy accessories on the red carpet, wishing those ladies would opt for more exciting shoe/clutch choices and as I was putting on this outfit, finding myself drawn towards a matchy shoe, Tom & Lorenzo popped up on my shoulders like two little fashion angels and told me to add a pop of a contrasting color instead. Who knows if this would actually be a TLo endorsed outfit, but I thought it was funny how they've made their way into my morning routine.

I just realized that I'm wearing the outfit version of a stoplight. Red, Yellow, and Green. For some reason this outfit feels more like color-blocking than print-mixing. I just love the way these three colors look together in this outfit.

cardigan + dress/courtesy of modcloth :: hat/thrifted :: bag/courtesy of handbag heaven

shoes/courtesy of blowfish :: shades/vintage :: lipstick/centrifucshia by Lime Crime

My new job has been going pretty well. I'm sorta getting in the groove. Yesterday I biked to work, which felt pretty great. It's a 15 minute ride, which isn't bad. It's so odd how as soon as summer hits, people in cars start being more and more rude to cyclists (or at least that's what I've experienced). Perhaps motorists just feel bad for us in the winter all bundled up, getting soaking wet and muddy. Or maybe they are yelling at us, but since their windows are rolled up we can't hear them. Tacoma's mostly a pretty bike friendly town, in that motorists usually give you room on the road and generally aren't mean, at least in the area I ride. May is Bike to Work month here in Tacoma, so hopefully that will see more cyclists on the road, getting cars used to seeing us.

I just read this article at Momentum Magazine about a woman's perspective on riding, which I thought was pretty good. I always enjoy seeing articles which encourage women to ride more, and which advocate riding in "normal clothes." While I definitely wear more bike-friendly outfits on days when I ride, those outfits are never out of my normal style– typically dresses and wedges or something of that ilk. There are few adjustments to be made here & there for an outfit to be bike-friendly, but overall I think it's totally do-able to wear your normal clothes when riding. It's a bit more difficult for women than men, as I know women are probably less enchanted with the prospect of being sweaty and winded at their destination. Thankfully my commute doesn't involve too much sweat (except for the killer hill right before I arrive at work, ugh).

A Rescued Ride

2012-04-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

Like my green floral dress, this is another dress I got in the middle of winter, but couldn't resist the beautiful springy print. I'd actually had my eye on this dress for many many months and ended up grabbing right before it sold out completely. The print is just irresistibly vintage and it'll be the perfect sundress once summer decides to show its bright shining face. On this particular day, however, it was too chilly to shed the ubiquitous denim jacket.

dress + shoes/courtesy of modcloth :: jacket/lulu*s :: flower crown/DIY

As you can see, this is the bike that has been rusting away on the side of our house for who knows how long. Under all the rust, though it's really cute, and I'd love to add a couple baskets to it and turn it into my farmer's market bike. It's the perfect height and the step through frame will be great for wearing dresses and dismounting less awkwardly than I do now with my fixie. It needs a lot of work. There's a ton of rust and the brake lines are totally nasty, so I think I'm going to try to take advantage of 2nd Cycle, which is this great volunteer-run community bike shop with lots of used parts and bike-smart people hanging around to ask for help.

Sponsor in May!

2012-04-21T10:49:00.002-07:00

Interested in becoming a sponsor of Delightfully Tacky? It's super easy! If you have a blog, shop, or website targeted at young, stylish, adventurous, and creative women, sponsoring Delightfully Tacky could be a great way to expose my readers to your awesome site! I really enjoy being able to support small independent businesses and blogs, so I've tried to create ads spaces at different price points to meet the needs of sponsors with different budgets. If you're not sure if sponsoring will be successful, you can always try a mini ad to see if you get a boost in traffic/sales! Or you can go with a small/large ad which includes the option of offering a giveaway on Delightfully Tacky, which is a surefire way to get people to go check out the awesome stuff you have to offer.

I updated my sponsorship process last month, so if you want to sponsor, there's no hassle. Just head over to the sponsorship page, pick the size of ad you'd like and the duration you want it to run and you can pay, upload your ad image and once I approve it, it'll automatically go live! Or, if you're not sure about sponsorship and want a bit more info, the sponsorship page has info on stats, rates, options and more... or just email me at delighfully-tacky@hotmail.com. I'd be happy to answer any questions you have about sponsorship, options, and more. Don't be shy!

Dressing for the Occasion

2012-04-20T11:26:00.002-07:00

I've been trying to branch out and get some pieces that are out of my norm, and when I saw this maxi I just fell in love. I feel like maxi dresses instantly make me feel more elegant. Maybe it's because special occasion dresses are usually floor length, but I felt pretty fancy wearing this outfit... in a bohemian sort of way. It actually felt like an outfit that would fit in well at Coachella, so maybe I'm feeding off all the Coachella vibes on the web right now.

It cracks me up how people who have their own personal style get all bohemian and music festival-y for Coachella, though I can't say I blame them. I'm a sucker for dressing a certain way for events. If I was going to a vintage expo I'd for sure wear my favorite vintage outfit and work the vintage vibe, and if I was going to Coachella, I'd definitely work that music festival bohemian look. I think it has to do with really liking to wear costumes. Halloween is definitely one of my favorite holidays. Sometimes it's just fun to wear something a little (or a lot) out of your norm because there's the excuse of an event.

age of aquarium dress/courtesy of modcloth :: bag/courtesy of handbag heaven :: jacket/lulu*s

shades/vintage :: shoes/courtesy of blowfish :: necklaces/courtesy of jewelmint

With the season change, I've actually felt a draw towards wearing things that are a bit more bohemian or eclectic. During the fall and winter I was very much drawn towards more structured looks with pleats and collars and a little bit more sophistication (maybe). But as the summer approaches I feel a pull towards being less straight-laced and more flowy and boho. I think this is probably always the tendency for summer style (as "florals for spring" is). The warmer weather just invites you to wear less fitted, structured clothing and to embrace a breezy, slouchy style.

Seasons change and so do we

2012-04-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

It's funny seeing how our lives change as the season changes. Maybe it's just easier to equate life changes with nature when things are so obviously transitioning outdoors. Flowers are blooming, trees are loaded with nascent leaves and blossoms, the sun is slowly warming the atmosphere. And similarly, life is going through changes as well. I just got a job, and while it's only part time, it's quite different to have a set schedule after 9 months of working whenever and wherever. Dan just got a job as well, so it will be different being out and about at our respective workplaces. It's almost like we had an extended honeymoon with the lazy and carefree lifestyle we've had since getting married. I suspect it will still be carefree, albeit a little more structured. It's been rainy this week, so I haven't ridden my bike to work yet. I'm such a night owl that waking up early is a dreaded prospect, much less hopping on a bike and being super active right off the bat, but it'll probably be good for me to get a kick start in the morning... right?

dress/handmade :: shoes/thrifted :: top/forever 21 :: belt/hand-me-down

I also love seeing how my wardrobe makes a gradual shift as spring comes around. The tights start to appear less and less frequently, some of my favorite shoes come out of the woodwork, heavy coats become light cardigans and jackets, and sometimes I even rediscover some dresses which never got worn during winter. It's fun to be able to actually wear those spring outfits I've had filed away in my mind the past few months.

Chevre, Pear, Balsamic & Smoked Salmon Pizza

2012-04-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Dan & I went over to a friend's house last sunday night for dinner, and they made a bunch of little homemade pizzas which were so delicious. I was inspired to concoct my own fancy pizza with a few of my favorite ingredients. Now I'm on a total pizza kick and I want to try tons of combos!

What you'll need:

Pizza crust

Olive Oil

Goat Cheese

Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Smoked Salmon

Pear slices

Balsamic Reduction

First, prepare your crust. You can either buy a pre-made crust, or make your own at home. Preheat the oven to 350º F (or whatever temp your pre-made crust says). Pour a little bit of olive oil around on the dough and spread it. Crumble the chevre and parmesan on the dough, add little chunks of smoked salmon, and then add a bit more parmesan. Bake the pizza for about 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is browned a bit and your cheese is melted. While your pizza is cooking, slice thin pieces of pear. I used about 12, which is only about 1/3 of a large pear (though you should slice the rest and slather chevre on it with a drop or two of balsamic reduction as a delicious snack/appetizer. It's soooo good!).

Once your pizza comes out of the oven, place the pear slices on it and drizzle balsamic reduction over the whole pizza. Slice & devour!

Summer Outfit Inspiration

2012-04-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I made up some imaginary outfits, but the other day I was inspired to create some cute polyvore style boards based on certain summer activities! Everything on these boards is from Modcloth, though some items are out of stock, or just too expensive, so I think I'll DIY or thrift a lot of elements for these outfits.

As I've mentioned before, I'm really excited for the farmer's market to start. I want to get fresh fruit and veggies to cook with, plus it's just so fun to have the street bustling with people and live music and such. I have a blank tote that I want to DIY with paint and leather straps to make like the Beet It tote. I bet it'd be really easy! I think Target probably has a cute yellow cardigan, and I have the dress (as you saw in my last post), so this board will be pretty easy to replicate. I may even try to find a hat to DIY like the one on this board!

dress / hat / ring / cardigan / shades / scarf / tote / heels / wedges

I don't spend too much time at the beach, but I would like to at least go down a couple times this summer. The sunglasses in this board (and the last one) are super spendy, but I think they're super cute so I'm going to try and thrift something similar. I'm actually not sure how round sunglasses look on me. Does anyone else have a hard time finding a size/shape of sunglasses that looks good on them? I have one pair of sunglasses I love and I can't find another pair that measures up! The tote in this board would be really easy to DIY as well. You could always paint sea creatures or a beach scene (ooh, or a rainbow beach umbrella!) to make it more beachy. A decent sized tote is such a beach essential, as you have to bring all your beach accoutrements like towels, sunscreen, water, snacks, etc.

sandals / bikini / hat / tote / shades / bracelet / dress / wedges

We don't live near any picnic-y parks, but I envision an outfit like this for an imaginary picnic in central park or something. A couple years ago I was in NYC for NYFW and a bunch of us bloggers met up in central park for a fun little picnic get together. It was so fun (and stylish!). I really want to thrift an old ratty quilt to use as my picnic blanket. I love my Urban Outfitters quilt, but I'd hate to ruin it by spilling or ripping it. When I was a kid I remember we always had an old blanket for sitting on at picnics or outdoor events. It's such a good idea to have a dedicated "utility quilt."

dress / hat / necklace / ring / basket / shoes

Little White Flowers

2012-04-14T10:55:00.001-07:00

I found this gorgeous corridor of white blooms yesterday while I was on a walk, so I had to go back and take my outfit photos there. It's such a shame this prettiness only lasts a little while until leaves unfurl and all the trees look normal. It's so fun to see all the flowers and plants making their foray out of hibernation. Daffodils are one of my favorite flowers and they seem to be the first ones out once spring hits. Such a pleasant sight after months of grey, bare trees, and mud. I think yellow is the happiest of colors, so to be greeted by bright yellow Daffodils after so many months of winter is so refreshing.

dress + shoes/courtesy of modcloth :: jacket/lulu*s :: bag/fossil :: shades/vintage

I got this dress back in October, even though it was no where near sundress weather and wouldn't be for a good six months, but I couldn't resist the fabric and the cute keyhole detail. It's been hiding in my closet since I wore it for my bridesmaid luncheon the day before my wedding. It's so funny writing out outfit details for summery outfits. There are so few things! Where are all the layers? I'm fine with it though.

It's been really beautiful here in Tacoma lately and contrary to what I expected to happen, my desire for warm weather isn't satiated, it's been heightened even more! Maybe it's just this morning, but just moments ago I was on craigslist looking for apartments in Maui. It wouldn't make any sense for us to move to Maui, but it's just so damn perfect there. Paradise, indeed. I think it's because I'm still longing for warm air. While it is sunny out, there's something about walking outside and not flinching due to the nip in the air. In Hawaii, it's the opposite! When you go into a building you have to put on a cardigan because they air condition with a vengeance!

P.S. Today is the last day to register for LOVELY*BRAVE, so if you want to get in, do it today! The e-course starts tomorrow!