BACK TO BASICS // jeans five

Straight hair, whuuuuut?  It only happens two to three times a year, mostly because it's a huge pain in the ass, but it's always fun to look different and see how long my hair "really" is.  I've been growing my bangs out for what feels like forever and I can't believe they're below my chin now!  They still haven't gotten quite past that stage where they keep falling in my face, but I'm almost there!  Someday I'll go back to the fringe, but for now I'm enjoying being able to throw my hair in a bun and have all my hair out of my face, which is nice for summer. I straightened my hair while Dan was at work and when he came home he was surprised to see me sans my usual mane.  For some reason he said it made me look like I did back in college, which is odd because I didn't straighten my hair any more frequently back then.  I do remember one day when I straightened my hair, though, freshman year.  I remember because he told me he liked my hair and I had all those feels because I liked him.  It is pretty odd to see me with straight hair, so I'm sure he just noted it because it was rather different from my typical 'do.  It's almost not even worth the time and effort to straighten my hair this time of year, though, because I can't go outside when it's raining unless I want it to turn curly again, and the weather goes from blazing sun to dreary downpour at the drop of a hat these days.  Curly girls, I know you feel me.  It's obnoxious, right?
Luckily it was super sunny yesterday and we got so much done outside.  We cut down the tree in our backyard in order to give the Winne her very own special spot with full hook ups and all!  It feels pretty spacious back there at the moment, but soon it will be full of Winne.  I can't believe how productive and refreshed I feel when it's sunny and warm outside.  I feel like the sun just infuses me with a shot of pure life.  I haven't felt that productive in weeks.

 
top/forever 21 :: cardigan/gap :: jeans/courtesy of modcloth :: scarf/rungolee glasses/courtesy of bonlook :: shoes/courtesy of baliELF This is the last of the Back to Basics jeans outfits!  I have one more set left and I'll be styling a denim/chambray button down top five ways next week.  I used to have one but I think it made it's way to goodwill, so I went thrifting this week to find a suitable top to remix and found the perfect one.  It's been a long time since I had a top like that, so I'm excited to style it up a few ways!

 

BACK TO BASICS // jeans four

It's funny how one day I can do something crazy like get on stage in front of nearly 1000 people, and then the next day I go to do something new and still get anxious.  On Wednesday I decided to go to a ballet class after being encouraged by my choreographer to do it.  I'd done ballet in college, but hadn't been to a class in probably seven years, and I'm certainly not a "dancer."  I didn't grow up dancing and don't have that base of knowledge and muscle memory.  Being a perfectionist and competitive, being bad at things, especially in a group setting, is one of my least favorite things.  But there I was in a group of adults, some of whom have clearly danced since they could walk,  some much older and decidedly uncoordinated, and then there I was.  Standing at the barre slightly freaking out about what I had decided to put myself through.  I had a sprained big toe and couldn't even get up on relevé , and I probably shouldn't have gone, to let my toe heal, but I didn't want to use it as an excuse.  I sat out on half of it because I physically couldn't do it with my hurt foot, but I went.  I dragged my ass out of bed on a wednesday morning, put on some tights and ballet flats and put myself in a situation that was well out of my comfort zone.  I'm not sure when I'll go next, but I bought a 10 class punch card (in some sort of overconfident, enthusiastic haze), so I have to go back.  

 

top/courtesy of marshalls :: jeans + cardigan/courtesy of modcloth necklace/handmade :: hat/courtesy of tittle millinery
Ok so this is a sort of cheating outfit.  It's pretty much identical to an outfit I wore before, but I wanted to try it out with wide leg jeans instead of skinnies.  A while back I saw Kendi wear a gorgeous outfit with a flowing white top and wide legged jeans and I wanted to replicate it but the only flowing top I have is this cardigan, so for now it'll have to do.  Someday I'll find the perfect flowy white top to go with it.  Time to start scouring thrift stores!

a delightful giveaway from original moxie!

Hi guys!  This week I'm giving away a customized selection of a full size shampoo, conditioner, and styler or treatment from Original Moxie to one lucky winner!  The winner will give Original Moxie the low down on what kind of hair they have and Original Moxie will pick out the products that will best suit her hair!  I think this is so cool because it kind of saves you the trouble of having to try products that may or may not work for you.  Since Original Moxie specifically designed each product with a certain hair type and solution in mind, it makes sense that they'd have a good idea which products would work best for your hair!  You can also go on to their site and use their 3D hair diagnostic to get an idea of which products would work best for your hair.  Or if you'd like to ask the pros at Original Moxie a hair question or find out what they think would be best for your hair, you can also do that!

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BACK TO BASICS // jeans three

It's definitely starting to feel like spring when I get the urge to put on my flower crown.   Or maybe I'm just going through withdrawals from not having Poppy Girl rehearsals for Adventures in Oz anymore.  It's so strange getting back to real life after the whirlwind of last week.  Things are so much less... glittery.  It's funny how one late night conversation with one of Dan's coworkers culminated in performing in the biggest stage production of my life.  I think my favorite thing about the show has been the new friends, though.  Making friends as an adult who works from home is challenging to say the least.  I was introduced to a whole new group of people and got to spend hours with them every week, laughing and having fun while putting together a fantastic production.  Not only do I walk away from Oz proud of everyone for putting on an amazing show, I also walk away with new friends.

I got a Q+A question asking for advice on how to make friends in a new town (speaking of Q+A, I'm going to try to get back on that wagon soon!).  Truth is, I'm no expert.  I've lived in Tacoma for like three years now and I still don't feel like I have all that many friends.  One of my good friends was a coworker at the coffee shop I worked at when I first moved here.  I convinced my best friend from high school to move here, so I feel like that doesn't count.  I met Dan in college, so he doesn't count.  Dan went to high school in Tacoma and grew up in Washington, so quite a few of the people I know in town are people he was friends with before I moved here.  When I moved here I was basically just transplanted into his group of friends, so I at least had that as a new girl in town.  I tagged along with him to parties and met all his friends who became my friends/acquaintances.

 

lace top (similar)/courtesy of asianicandy :: floral top/courtesy of ruche  short necklace + flower crown/handmade :: jeans/courtesy of modcloth long necklace/courtesy of adorn by sarah lewis :: photos by Dan
Even though I'm no pro when it comes to the friend-making game I do have a few tips.  If you're an introvert I think the first tip would be putting yourself outside of your comfort zone.  You're just not going to make friends laying in bed watching Netflix (no matter how ideal a night with wine and netflix sounds).  So, once you get yourself out of the house here are a few things you can do to facilitate meeting new friends:

• If you have the opportunity, work somewhere that facilitates meeting people.  I met lots of people working as a barista and made friends with my coworkers.  Obviously this isn't something that everyone can do, but I do miss being a barista sometimes simply because I was able to meet new people who were customers or coworkers.

• Take up a hobby.  When Dan and I started rock climbing I don't think we anticipated becoming part of the rock climbing community.  It's fun for us now to go to the gym and climb with people who we consider friends.  We don't see them much outside of the gym, but with summer approaching we now have friends who we can climb outdoors with!  Think about what kind of people you want to meet and find hobbies that might coincide with that.  

• Hang out at coffee shops.  I don't know if this is just a Northwest thing, but people hang out at coffee shops here for hours.  Most of Dan's friends in Tacoma he met while hanging out at a local coffee shop.  Weird but true!  If you're in school, maybe go to a coffee shop to do homework instead of hiding at home.  Take a book to a coffee shop and read it there, grab your laptop and do work there instead of at home.  

• Meet other people's friends.  I already mentioned this, but since Dan grew up in the area, he already had a much wider base of friends.  Try to meet people who have been in the area for longer than you, they probably have lots of local friends they can introduce you to.  Go with them to an event or a party or bar and meet the people they know.  If you like them, you might like their friends too!

• Volunteer for a cause you care about.  The other volunteers will likely care about the same cause as you and might have similar interests as you, since you're supporting the same cause.  Plus, since you're volunteering and working on something, breaking the ice is much easier.

• Take a class or join a sports team.  Again, you're putting yourself in a situation where people with similar interests already are.  Take a class at the local community college or craft store.  Everyone is learning a new skill and it's easy to start conversation around what you're learning.  Dan joined an adult dodgeball team here in Tacoma a few years ago and it was a really fun way to hang out with people.  Plus, after games you all can go out and grab a drink or bite and continue meeting one another.

• If you have a specific faith community, a church can be a great way to meet other people.  Churches also typically have events and groups that already exist which you can join to find people in similar situations as you (parent groups, college groups, singles groups, etc).

Or, you know, audition for a burlesque production.  You'll get real intimate with new people pretty fast.

 

BACK TO BASICS // jeans two

On Friday I drove down to Portland with my Mom and Dan to visit my brothers for their birthdays.  Their birthdays are only two weeks apart so we took them out to The Spaghetti Factory to load up on carbs and threaten to invite the balloon guy over to make them balloon birthday hats.  Since we were spending most of the day in the car I wore a pretty comfortable outfit.  I usually wear this top to yoga and the climbing gym, but I love the design and never style it in a non-fitness setting, so I pulled it out and gave it a go.  
I didn't anticipate how busy I would be running around doing things for Saturday's show, my mom visiting, driving to Portland!  I feel like I was on a crazy vacation and now am getting back and trying to catch up on everything!  For today, though, I'm resting.  We're having Easter dinner with Dan's family later, and I'm currently laying in bed while writing this post, recovering from yesterday's craziness.  I can't even tell you guys how awesome the show was.  I saw a couple blog readers after the show, I was so happy that some of you guys got to come!  It was such a magnificent evening.  There were a few photographers capturing the evening, so if I ever get ahold of some of those images I'll definitely be sharing them.  I still have red hair color spray in my hair and glitter all over my hair and body.  My shower is going to look like I murdered a fairy...

 

top/the wishing stone :: cardigan/thrifted :: jeans/courtesy of modcloth boots/vogue footwear :: bag/courtesy of handbag heaven :: hat/the north face necklaces/courtesy of adorn by sarah lewis :: photos by Dan