Journeys Through Bookland

For Thanksgiving, my husband and I road-tripped our way to Phoenix to visit my family and stuff our faces.  My family is scattered all over the world, so it was really great to see some of them even if it was just for a few days.  My grandfather made the Thanksgiving dinner, and then we had a 2nd Thanksgiving of sorts on Friday, with a massive Filipino meal at my parents' house.

My grandpa let me take home some of the old books I used to read as a child, and I was so excited to sift through them all and relive those memories.  My grandparents used to live in a large, cozy house on a lake in Minnesota.  Whenever we visited, my brother and I would head for the basement and the "library" of treasured tomes in a tiny room under the stairs.  We would read, read, and read some more, and when we left for home, we were always encouraged to take some books with us.  Over the years I've slowly collected my favorite books...which were once favorites of my ancestors:

The Wizard of Oz books (I would guess that many people aren't aware this was a series!).

My great-grandmother's copies of Anne of Green Gables, & Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (first editions!!).  Also, this is Napoleon, the miniature falcon who has been known to kidnap small children!

The Patty Fairfield series, clearly a favorite of my great-aunt Barbara.

A book inscribed to my great-great-great Aunt Julia.

 When I compare these to my own modern day books, I wonder what of mine will survive 100 years from now.  What books from today will be considered classics?  And so many of my own books are paperback (because, well, they're cheaper), and will most likely crumble away before any great-great-grandchild gets her hands on them.  Which books will go the distance?

I think my project in the upcoming year will be to buy hardcover editions of the books that I really love...

Christmas Magic

I just had to share this video, which follows Bergdorf Goodman as they create their stunningly beautiful holiday windows.



Found on Coffee & Trace (a really great retail design blog!).

It's easy to become jaded about the holidays, but the magic can still be found if you look for it.  Christmas windows are probably my favorite thing, now that I'm too old for Santa Claus ;)

Coming soon--giant post about my Thanksgiving trip.  Stay tuned!

Blogger Off Duty & Kitchen Mishaps

I'm not really a t-shirt/jeans/flip-flops kind of girl.  I love getting dressed, and there's very little pleasure to be had by throwing on whatever's close at hand.  With that said, I am definitely not the girl wearing lipstick & pumps to buy groceries on a Sunday morning!  So, when I'm buying milk and eggs at 10am...t-shirts it is.

Today I started out throwing on my "weekend errands" attire, and it evolved into something more interesting...when I put on my favorite nude/mocha tee & was horrified by a GIANT cheese stain on the front!

Yes...  A couple weeks earlier I had put cheese on a tortilla, put it in the toaster oven, and promptly forgot about it until I walked by again and saw the tortilla puffed up like a balloon and cheese running down the sides.  Like a genius, I pulled it out with my bare hands(?!) and then threw it up into the air (?!?!) screaming.  And then, it landed cheese first on my t-shirt.  So now, I'm screaming and running down the hallway pulling my burning cheese t-shirt off with my burned fingers--my husband is so disappointed that he wasn't home to witness this--annnnd I threw it in the laundry, and forgot all about it.  Until now!

Swapped the t-shirt out for a plain navy tank.  Too chilly for a tank top...add beaded, embroidered cardigan.  Can't wear sneakers with sequins?  Cuffed my AG Boyfriend jeans (best weekend jeans ever!!!  You must get a pair) and traded my dirty Pumas for Corso Como cork platform wedges.

Results?  Not as casual as I intended, but I feel so much better!

Crazy Times

Many stress-inducing situations in the last week or two...some work-related, but mostly things happening right in my neighborhood.  Trying to think happy thoughts...fantasizing about moving to Bohol and running a bed & breakfast...or moving to Tasmania to raise goats and make goat cheese...ahh.

I am trying to decide on my next project.  I've been daydreaming about leather skirts, tweed skirts (have you noticed?  I love skirts!), houndstooth capes, beaded cardigans, tie-dye, and possibly something involving applying gold leaf to wooly fabric.

Swatches by lwcstyling on Polyvore.com

I ordered a handful of lovely fabric swatches from both Mood Fabrics and Fabric.com.  I'll let you know what I decide to do first!

I haven't used Polyvore in so long...but it's addictive!  It's a great way to pull together a visual wish list:

Leather, Beads, & Books by lwcstyling featuring peep toe heels

Look at that great bag...and it's a steal!!!  Think of how amazing it would be with some kind of pattern painted on the canvas...

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Old Friends & New

This is a relatively new addition to my family of weird jewelry.  Sometimes I space out and stare at it mindlessly when I'm at my desk.  Yesterday I introduced the necklace to some old friends of mine:

Necklace, Anthropologie
Sweater,vintage (label "Katherine H")
Basic tank, Sola
Denim pencil skirt, Level 99/Anthropologie
Heels, H&M



























The cardigan and shoes have been in my closet for years, and they won't be retiring anytime soon. The sweater was a gift from a friend on a chilly day.  I had forgotten a jacket, and I remember putting it on immediately and going "Ahhhh...."!  Despite the open knit sleeves, it's super warm and cozy, and the nude/rust color goes with everything.

The shoes were an accidental discovery at H&M, while in Chicago to visit my brother 5 years ago.  They were on a shelf, all alone and a size too small according to the tag.  I searched high and low for more pairs, thinking that perhaps a customer had picked them up from somewhere else and changed her mind.  None were found.  Oh well, I thought.  Maybe the pair I found wouldn't be noticeably tight--maybe I could get away with it.

Well?  Turns out H&M's size 7 is Lisa's size 8.  The End!

Instant Gratification

I snagged this skirt at Buffalo Exchange a while ago.  I love the fluffiness and the neutral ombre-ish silk, but I broke one of my own shopping rules: Never buy something that doesn't fit perfectly.  Oops.

Umm...?  Time for a quick & dirty alteration!

Before: Ginormous--this would barely sit around my hips if I didn't take in the waist!  I think I'll be taking in about 7 inches.  With a pinch here, & a pinch there...

Sew the waistband closed at each pinch...

And voila...

Button-up, Target via Buffalo Exchange
Belt, H&M via clothes swap
Skirt, Buffalo Exchange
Flats, Urban Outfitters

And Lola, our giant Lab!

Would a professional take in the waistband this way?  Absolutely not.  But this took me less than 15 minutes to get from "What was I thinking??" to Totally Wearable.  Works for me!

La la LA la la...

Just for fun...my Halloween costume this past weekend (and at the office!).  I had a little too much fun trying to make the photo look cartoony :-P