abby try again + unofficial summer

A gorgeous shot by Abby Powell Thompson of Abby Try Again. Her lifestyle photography is definitely high up there on my list of favorites! She is also one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet. Hop on over to her blog to read her prose and see more of her lovely, day-to-day shots.

And happy weekend everyone! I'm sure the states is all due for another 3-day break, yeah? We totally deserve it. Plus, Memorial Day weekend is also the unofficial start to summer, for those not familiar with American traditions. That means parks, picnics, and BBQs galore. (FYI, summer solstice officially starts on June 21.)

Luckily for me, I'm also taking an extra day off to make it a 4-day weekend. I'll be spending it with this darling gal to celebrate our close friend's upcoming wedding with a bridal shower and bachelorette party get-a-way! Yes, indeed. The first of six girls in our group (since middle school) to tie the knot. I'm looking forward to lots of tummy-aching and tear-inducing laughs, that's all I can say.

Oh, and I hope Mr. Sun will stop flirting/teasing us Pacific Northwest folks already, and stick around. It's about damn time he make a commitment!

there she goes

The Sartorialist undoubtedly captures some of the most genuine photographs of female fashion. A couple of my recent favs. They remind me of this song, by The La's.

And words to follow...

There she goes
There she goes again
Racing through my brain
And I just can't contain
This feeling that remains

There she blows
There she blows again
Pulsing through my veins
And I just can't contain
This feeling that remains

There she goes
(There she goes again)
There she goes again
(There she goes again)
Racing through my brain
(There she goes)
And I just can't contain
This feeling that remains

There she goes
There she goes again
She calls my name
she pulls my train
No one else could heal my pain
And I just can't contain
This feeling that remains

new do + locks of love

Last weekend, I went and chopped off my hair to donate to Locks of Love. Three pony tails worth of hair, with the longest one at a whopping 13 inches!

This is my second time donating, and let me tell you, it's definitely a huge sigh of relief every time. I'm incredibly happy to be able to donate, but it feels even more exciting (and satisfying) to finally be able to get a real haircut, instead of a measly trim. I haven't had hair this short since 2006 (the last time I donated)...so I was pretty anxious. I actually had planned to cut it at the end of May, but I became impatient and decided to do it two weeks earlier. Ha! It actually worked out perfectly because this past week the weather suddenly got a lot warmer, so I spent time outside playing beach volleyball and didn't have to worry about my long hair getting in the way. Meant to be? Maybe.

The one thing I do miss about my long hair is the ability to curl it. I can still curl my hair, but it takes a bit more time and patience because it's so much shorter, which forces me to change my technique up a bit.

And a few things I'm still getting used to with the new do:

1. When I reach for my hair to pull it out of my jacket after putting it on, I realize that it's already out.

2. I no longer need to tie my hair in a pony tail when sleeping or washing my face.

3. Lathering shampoo and rinsing my hair in the shower feels half as light and takes half as long.

Overall, I'm happy with the cut. Simple and low maintenance, my kind of style.

gemagenta

Inspired by the curves and cut-outs from lingerie garments, these individually hand-sawed pieces from Gemagenta are just lovely.

currently coveting...

...these pieces from Need Supply Co. (Dress by BB Dakota, oxford flats by Bloch, leather mini by Sabina, blouse by Mink Pink.)

. . . . .

So many things to do, yet so little time.

Hope everyone is having a spendid weekend.

mia, emma, and that hair

Photos from mptvimages.com and gettyimages.com, both via IMDb. Right image by David Hogan.

. . . . .

When Emma Watson decided to chop off her long, lush locks, she wanted something that was completely different from her onscreen alter ego, Hermione. After photos of her new do emerged, it instantly reminded me of Mia Farrow from Rosemary's Baby.

I think both ladies wear that boy-cut hair style very well, and it's seriously crazy how similar they look, too.

Speaking of hair, after several years of growing it out (with a few trims here and there), it's finally time for me to donate again. I had planned on cutting it at the end of May, but I'm impatient and couldn't wait that long, so I scheduled it for this Saturday. Eeks! I'm nervous and excited, and will probably miss my long hair once it's gone, but definitely looking forward to easier hair maintenance and less time shampooing. Before and after photos to come.

sparkly pony

These are hands down awesome! From Sparkly Pony (aka Gnome Sweeeet Gnome).

yellow

Circa February 2009.

. . . . .

Look at the stars / Look how they shine for you / And everything you do / yeah, they were all yellow

I came along / I wrote a song for you / And all the things you do / And it was called Yellow

So then I took my turn / Oh what a thing to've done / And it was all yellow

Your skin / Oh yeah your skin and bones / Turn into something beautiful / And you know / You know I love you so / You know I love you so

I swam across / I jumped across for you / Oh what a thing to do / Cuz you were all yellow

I drew a line / I drew a line for you / Oh what a thing to do / And it was all yellow

Your skin / Oh yeah your skin and bones / Turn into something beautiful / And you know / For you I'd bleed myself dry / For you I'd bleed myself dry

It's true / Look how they shine for you / Look how they shine for you / Look how they shine for... / Look how they shine for you / Look how they shine for you / Look how they shine

Look at the stars / Look how they shine for you / And all the things that you do

Yellow — Coldplay

(One of my all time favorite videos.)

saipua soaps + happy weekend

These soaps from Saipua smell and feel as wonderful as their packaging. I'm currently using basil and love it!

. . . . .

Sunny days are quite rare in Seattle right now. Last weekend was sunshine all around. Not so much this week. Either way, I'm looking forward to a lot of reruns on Netflix, paper making, napping, and a day with mom.

What are you guys up to this weekend?

small batch production

Mmm...canvas and linen...they always make me feel so comfy and right at home. From Small Batch Production.