E X P L O R E

I don't think I would ever get tired of taking pictures out here.  For a small stretch of beach, only about a half mile at the most, there are so many different places to take photos.  On the sand, on big craggy rocks, in a mossy forest, next to tide pools.  I never feel like nature photos get monotonous.  They differ based on time of day (especially with how high/low the tide gets here), how the sun hits throughout the day, throughout seasons and weather.
This is actually a pretty standard outfit for me.  Mostly on lazy days, which is why this outfit rarely makes it to the blog.  Lazy days = no outfit photos.  Or food photos in lieu of outfits.  But this outfit feels very "Southeast Alaska" to me, so it was only natural to photograph it in Juneau.  If I wanted to get truly Southeast, I'd be wearing Xtra Tuffs, but I figured moccasins were the next best thing. plaid top (similar)/thrifted :: tee/the great pnw :: jeans/courtesy of modcloth shoes/minnetonka :: jacket/courtesy of asianicandy Dan has this exact same shirt.  He thrifted his about 5 months before I found this one (both in the little boys' section) and despite his protests, I couldn't not get it.  It was a smaller size and fit me just right, so I had to.  Now at least if we come up with nothing else for Halloween we can at least be twins, right?  I probably won't wear this one too often, simply because Dan looks so great in his, and I don't want to give him reason to avoid wearing it.  The plaid and flannel tops in the little boys' section of thrift stores is where I find the best flannels.  Sometimes the arms are a bit short, but I almost always roll my sleeves anyway, so it doesn't matter.  

the untamed

Whenever I'm back in Alaska, I feel like I return to my outfit-photo-roots.  Lately I've been enjoying exploring more urban settings in my photos, but I think I will always feel most natural in a more wild setting.  Perhaps its because my own style tends towards being more wild than neat and orderly, and even my hair refuses to be anything but untamed.  Besides, taking outfit photos in the wilderness does afford a nice sense of solitude and a guarantee that no one will come poking around wondering what the heck you're up to.  
Despite the snowy beach, it is starting to feel a bit like spring here, even if the temperatures are still in the 30's.  Compared to Anchorage, though these photos are incredibly springy, as they've been getting pounded with snow recently!  In Tacoma we barely got a dusting of snow this whole winter.  Kind of strange for a girl used to at least 3 feet of snow all winter!

dress/courtesy of lace affair :: cardigan (similar)/gap :: scarf + belt/thrifted tights (similar)/target :: boots (similar)/courtesy of blowfish shoes
I recently finished reading Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma, and since I knew I would be on a plane, which is when I get most of my reading done, I grabbed his other book, In Defense of Food.  I really enjoy his writing and the past couple years I've been on an informative book kick, reading all kinds of different books on faith, food, psychology, etc.  For some reason I feel like I find those kinds of books more enjoyable than stories, but perhaps that's just because I haven't actually read a real novel in ages.  I think reading books where you learn things becomes a substitute for school after you've graduated to the real world.  I love learning, about almost anything, so reading books like Pollan's is a way to keep learning even though I'm no longer in class.  It's nice that we have Netflix nowadays too, with tons of documentaries at our fingertips.  I guess the library has those kinds of things, but the library isn't open at 11pm when I'm wanting to watch something on a whim.   I think I've watched like five documentaries this month.  It feels less lazy to binge on documentaries than on hours of tv episodes. 

the rosemary club

Since I made my rosemary simple syrup, I've been brainstorming drinks which would be good with that rosemary flavor.  We still had some gin left, and I remembered my favorite summer drink from last year, the Clover Club, and I wondered to myself what it would taste like if I replaced the grenadine with rosemary simple.  Well, it tasted lovely.  I like grenadine a lot, but the rosemary in this drink gives it a much more subtle and sophisticated disposition.  The botanical flavors of the gin really mesh well with the rosemary.  I love the texture that egg white gives a drink, but you could always omit it if it weirds you out.  If you're looking for the rosemary simple recipe you can find it here!  I promise no more rosemary drinks, but watch out because Dan and I just made a new infused simple syrup and it. is. awesome.  I already have a drink recipe for it and it is the bomb.


You'll Need:
2 measures Gin
1 measure Rosemary Simple
Juice of half a large lemon
1 egg white
Ice
Cocktail shaker

Pour all the ingredients in the cocktail shaker and shake with ice for about 30 seconds to make sure the egg white is thoroughly incorporated with all other ingredients. Strain into a glass and garnish with a slice of lemon. You could also garnish with a sprig of rosemary, which I think would look pretty.  I didn't have any more fresh rosemary on hand, though, so I settled with a slice of lemon.  This drink is kind of plain looking without a garnish, so I definitely recommend adding something to give it a little curb appeal.  

space... the final frontier

People.  This skirt is awesome.  I want it on my body all of the times.  Not only is it a space skirt, it's also super comfortable.  How did I not know I was so lacking before this space skirt entered my life?  Okay, well, I'm hyperbolizing but really, this is one of my new favorite things.  I remember seeing a few galaxy print dresses and such floating around the fashion-sphere in the past couple years, but they were usually way out of my price range to even consider.  I love when high fashion trends start trickling down to the more affordable shops.

top + skirt + tights(similar)/courtesy of modcloth :: jacket/courtesy of asianicandy necklace/courtesy of adorn by sarah lewis shoes/courtesy of lulu's :: shades/vintage :: photos by Dan
I always want fresh flowers in my house when spring rolls around.  I'm too cheap to go out and buy bouquets though, even though I linger by the floral section every time I go to the store.  Maybe I will get some flowers to grow in our garden this year so I'll have them around.  I've got some basil, onion, and lavender seeds starting to sprout, and I still need to plant a ton more starters before we make our raised beds outside.  Seems like we've still got some time before it gets warm enough outdoors to actually transfer them, though.  
It's supposed to be sunny here in Tacoma this week, but I won't be here!  I swear that happens every time.  I leave Tacoma and it decides to be nice.  Last spring I went up to Anchorage for my little brother's high school graduation... like 80 degree weather in Tacoma the whole time.  I get back? Freezing and raining.  We didn't see 80 degrees again until July.  So typical, I'll be up in Alaska this week while Tacoma gets its sun on.  Hopefully Dan will be able to get some work done on the house.  We still have only half the house painted because we've been waiting for a dry spell to get the last couple coats on.  It looks real nice from one side, and then kinda weird from the front, and then totally unfinished from the other side.  So it goes!  
Thankfully this winter has been much more mild than last and I think I probably will make it through without losing my mind like I nearly did last year.  Having a larger house is helping.  Our tiny, dark house drove me stir crazy last spring and I was desperately looking around the country for places to move, even if to just imagine it in my mind.  This year I'm so excited about sprucing up our home that rainy days are barely bothersome, except when I want to go take outfit photos and it's a downpour.

rachel the hat giveaway!

Hi everyone! I hope you're having a nice Sunday afternoon before you have to go back to the daily grind tomorrow morn. Today I'm partnering with the lovely Rachel from Rachel the Hat to give away a $30 ModCloth gift card!  Rachel blogs over at Rachel the Hat, where she shares her fun, eclectic sense of style, her love for vintage, knitting endeavors, and life adventures.  In her own words...

I am a vintage loving,dress wearing, colour mixing, sentimental old fool who loves talking about "the good old days."  I have a new found love for all things crafty, and with my new sewing machine in tow i am learning how to make my own pieces and dream of dressmaking and other whimsical things.

 
In order to enter the giveaway you'll need to follow Rachel the Hat on Bloglovin' or GFC, and you can enter two more times for following on twitter and instagram! To enter, follow the directions below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway