Placeholder Post

I'd like to write something, really I would. But I barely have time to get dressed right now. So consider this a placeholder for when I'm back with more daily CorpGoth outfits and maybe an interesting post or two!

What I'm wearing: Black, white, & grey dress, made by Donna | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black perforated d'orsay flats, Target | Black bat necklace, Walgreens | Silver medallion earrings, random accessory store

Changes Are Afoot

Not saying anything yet, but I've got new stuff going on. Good stuff, just making me more busy than ever! We shall see where this leads to :)

What I'm wearing: Grey sheath dress, Target | Black & white floral cardigan, White House Black Market | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Silver-grey wedges, Anne Klein | Black bat necklace, Walgreens | Silver hoop earrings, random accessory store

A Meme About the Bod

1a. Do you generally feel good-looking? (or sexy or handsome or beautiful or something good?)
Generally, yes. Especially on weekdays because I put care and thought into my work wardrobe (even tho' few people see me at the office!). Presenting a polished, professional-yet-artsy image is important to me. Then again, at home and on the weekends, I'm a total slob. Basically, my looks are tied to my clothes more than anything else.

1b. When do you feel good? Do particular things trigger that feeling?
It's all about the clothes! If I have a great outfit, things that go well together and easily (nothing pulling or fussy, everything flattering my shape), hair done, makeup, accessories, cool shoes, then I feel good in the looks dept.

2a. Do you often feel unattractive? (or ugly or something bad?)
When I'm schlumpy -- wearing frumpy clothes, hair is not behaving, no lipstick. I have to really love you if I let you see me like that!

2b. When do you feel bad? Do particular things trigger that feeling?
Random physical aches and pains (hi, 40s, fuck you very much), added to my long-term migraines, get me really irritated with my body. What triggers bad feelings? Stress, having to be too much of an adult, lack of sleep, nothing special.

3. What do you like about your body? (Examples: strength, abilities, the look of a particular body part)
My brain, of course! My hands, both what they can do and they look pretty neat. I think I have a particularly attractive chest, not just boobs, but the neck and decollete area. I love dresses and tops that show this off.

4. What don't you like about your body? (appearance or other aspects)
That I have to wear glasses and that contacts are all-but useless on me. Migraine brain. Face still gets acne like crazy. Frizzy hair that's still short. Weight fluctuations.

5. Would you consider plastic surgery?
Never! I've only had my body cut into for repairs, not enhancements. Don't even like the idea of LASIK -- I've heard horror stories, and why take chances on something that is not absolutely crucial to health?

6a. What would you realistically change about your body?
Keep dying those greys! And if I could actually drop 10lbs, that might be nice -- but it's not something I'm particularly working on.

6b. What would you unrealistically change about your body?
Be able to see properly without glasses. No migraines ever again. For cancer to definitely, positively, absolutely not come back.

7. Do you think you treat your body well?
Not so much. I am not a "body" person -- I'm very cerebral. Focusing on my body is difficult.

8. Do you think your body treats you well?
Nope. We are often at odds.

9. What kind of relationship do you have with your looks? With your body?
I might over-inflate my looks. I often think I'm super hot stuff -- I was especially like that when I was single. I was of the opinion that I could get any guy or gal I wanted, so I always tried. Came in handy sometimes, caused disappointment other times. As an old married lady, I'm less over-confident in that way, but I've done similar things when shopping. I'll grab inappropriate clothing, get into the dressing room, and am  bitterly disappointed when the item looks horrible on me.

10. Do you think the world sees you the same way you see yourself?
I can't really tell. Sometimes I think people are impressed by me and other times I think I'm a complete wallflower. I don't think I photograph well -- I can feel great and look in the mirror and think I look great, and then I see photos from that day and I look awful. So I wonder if that's how people really see me. Weird.


What I'm wearing: Grey knit dress, bought in London | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Silver-grey wedges, Anne Klein | Black & purple scissor medallion necklace, gift from Lisa | Silver & purple crystal earrings, gift from Lisa

Wednesday Wondering: Teach Your Children Well

Prompt: What's the most important thing your parents or guardians taught you as a child?
Self-reliance. Independence. My mother was a single mom, and both directly and through example, she taught me to be independent and to take care of myself. Whether it was something as simple as doing the laundry or as complicated as finding a paying job, if I asked her "how do I do this?" her first reaction would be "have you tried? did you take a look for yourself?" She'd give me help and instructions, but she would not do it for me. She taught me to figure things out for myself and not rely on someone else. This is the single most valuable ability I gained growing up. I may not be able to do everything for myself, but I can try.

She also taught me to sew, which is pretty cool :) Not as important on a day-to-day basis, but it got me into costuming, through which I've made many great friends. My mom is awesome, and I learned a lot from her!


Questions culled from the discontinued Writer's Block feature on LiveJournal.

What I'm wearing: Black ruffled blouse, thrift store | Grey striped skirt, Nordstrom | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Purple suede pumps, Aerosoles | Silver & purple crystal earrings, gift from lisa

Friday Five: Laundry Day

1. Washing machine: Front-loader or top-loader?
We have a top loader, and even if it were to break down, I'm loath to get a front loader simply because I like the option of being able to dye fabric in my washing machine, & that's infinitely easier in a top loader!

2. Detergent: Liquid or powder?
Liquid because it doesn't clump up, which is especially noticeable on dark fabrics.

3. Rinse cycle: Fabric softener or another additive?
No fabric softener. I use a half cup of vinegar tho, because this helps rinse anything extra out of fabrics and prevents static cling in the dryer.

4. And then: Clothesline or dryer?
A very short dryer cycle on low to prolong the life of the clothes. I take them out a teeny bit damp and hang them or fold immediately.

5. Do you fold things straight off the line or out of the dryer? What do you iron (or have someone iron for you)?
Always fold or hang as soon as possible to prevent wrinkles. But there's always a few things that will wrinkle no matter what -- or things that get wrinkly as they're stored. So I iron those. And my husband doesn't believe in ironing, so if I want to go out with him in pressed clothes, I have to iron them *sigh*.

Speaking of laundry, this article on the "myth of dry cleaning" is fascinating & incredibly educational! You may never look at a clothing care tag the same way again.

Questions culled from The Friday Five on LiveJournal.

What I'm wearing: Black & white stripe knit jacket, Nordstrom | Grey sheath dress, Target | Grey tights, Calvin Klein | Black & white T-strap flats, Zappos | Bat necklace, Walgreens | Silver skull earrings, gift from Sarah

Friday Five: Around the World

1. How many foreign countries have you visited?
Had to count them up & it's 22 -- Andorra, Antarctica (not a sovereign state according to the U.N., but it's not owned by anyone else either, so I'm counting it as a foreign country!), Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom, and Vatican City. Just counting proper visits, not layovers or stopping in airports or train stations.

2. What do you always take with you on vacation?
A sense of humor, I hope! Otherwise, what I bring on each trip is a little different.

3. Name something you've lost recently:
Well, the kittens keep stealing stuff off my dressing table, so I've at least temporarily lost my nail clippers & my favorite eyeliner via them.

4. Do you prefer action-packed vacations or relaxing ones?
Both! The majority of the trips associated with the places listed above were action-packed, but I do like an occasional relaxing trip (& I have one coming up, yay!).

5. Other people's vacation photographs: Do you really want to see them? 
Yes, I do. I just love travel so much, & if a friend has been somewhere I'm interested in (especially if I haven't been there yet), I want to see the photos.


What I'm wearing: Black knit military jacket, Macy's | Black & white damask shirt, Ralph Lauren | Grey corduroy skirt, Newport News | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Spool-heel boots, Target | Silver hoop earrings, random accessory store

50% Less Makeup, 70% More Tweets

I've gotten really lazy about wearing makeup recently. Not that I ever wore a ton of makeup to work. My standard office-face routine used to be just eyes and lips. I'd wear black eyeliner, a touch of eyeshadow, and dark lipstick. Maybe once every couple of weeks I'd wear a light bit of foundation and powder, usually to cover up especially dark under-eye circles or an annoying blemish.

Well, since starting this job with the longer commute, I've been skipping the eye makeup more and more often. I probably wear eyeliner once a week, and eye shadow is just a shadow of a memory. That said, I'm loving the heck out of the Benefit They're Real Push-Up Eyeliner I bought a few months ago. It's cat-eye liner for dummies. It's all about the tip. The 'push-up' thing is actually a bit annoying because it doesn't always push up enough or a consistent amount of liner, but once you get it going (usually on a finger or a tissue), wow, it's great. That shaped tip draws perfect cat-eyes every time, as long, thick, and catty as you want. The stuff also has major lasting power. So much so that I had to buy Benefit's accompanying They're Real Remover to get the stuff off (my usual makeup remover required too much elbow grease, and rubbing one's eyes ain't nice).

Of course, I'm mostly wearing this on the weekends because I can't be arsed to tart up my eyes at the crack of dawn before going to work. Ah well.

What I apparently can be arsed to do is jump on Twitter. I'm slow to the bandwagon by a half-decade, I know. But it's not like I wasn't busy with every other thing online already. Are any of you on Twitter? Please follow me at ThisIsCorpGoth and chat me up! I'll still be blogging, but since December is super-freaky-busy for me, I may tweet more than blog because 140 characters is easier to fit in between stuff.

Also, due to my crazy month, there won't be another Mid-Month Status Report until January. Hey, you've all got holidays or maybe just weather to slog through too, right?

What I'm wearing: Grey sheath dress, Target | Black ruffled bolero sweater, Kohl's | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Silver grey wedge heels, Anne Klein | Black bat necklace, Walgreens | Silver & onyx earrings, bought in India

CorpGoth Status Report: My Commute

This month's status report is about your commute, whether to work or school, whether it's across town or across the room. I hope you share a little something about how you start or end your day, what you see or what you wear! Post between now and Wednesday the 19th.

As I've mentioned before, I don't drive, which is pretty freakish for a Californian. I consider it analogous to someone who's a vegan (note: I'm a happy meat-eater). I don't drive, it's just a part of who I am, it's a preference, it's a philosophical stance, it's a lot of things, but it's not changing. Much as a vegan doesn't just grow out of it or something, I'm not going to suddenly start driving one day.

Thus, my commute to work is always a little bit complicated. I have to plan in advance. Then again, like vegetarians in a meat-eating world, this non-driver in a car-centric world is used to it. My current job is about 15 miles away, which can be a 20- or 30-minute drive. But thanks to Silicon Valley's weak public transit system, it takes at least 45 minutes on the most-efficient light rail route for me to get to work -- IF my husband drives me to the train station, PLUS a three-block walk to my office. Oh well.

I make the most of my time by bringing both my iPod and my iPad so I can either listen to podcasts or surf the web, checking in on email and social media before I get to work. I read through my favorite blogs and often compose a few blog posts for CorpGoth and Frock Flicks on the train to or from work. It's not the most ergonomic setup for computer use, but at least I can get stuff done. I have a feeling I may be doing some sewing on the train soon, due to upcoming projects. Any way to use the time!

At least the light rail is relatively uncrowded most days, and it runs on time. And it's not far from my office. Oddly enough, there's this life-size bronze statue, pictured here, near the waiting area at the station near my office. It's of two children riding an crocodile, one kid holding a parasol. Why? No idea! There's no marker, no indication of the artist or the piece's name or date. I presume it was added when the station was built. I walk past this almost every day and can't help but smile.

What I'm wearing: Dark grey pinstripe dress, made by Donna | Black cardigan, Macy's | Black cat-print scarf, Etsy | Black kitten-heel shoes, Aldo | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Silver & pearl earrings, vintage from my grandmother

Boots & Sweater Weather

If you're in the northern hemisphere, it's probably cold outside. You may have been experiencing autumn for some time now. Halloween is past, Thanksgiving is on its way in the U.S., and Christmas / Hanukkah / Solstice / New Years are practically right around the corner.

But here in northern California, fall is a tricksy thing. It comes in fits and starts. A foggy morning here, a crisp evening there, punctuated by bright sunny days where half the people you see are wearing shorts and flip-flops. It's only gotten more like this in the past decade, as the effects of global warming become more and more apparent. We've experienced the hottest summers on record every year, and the warm temperatures last from April to October. November is just the start of the "slightly cool" season.

Even when I was a kid, Halloween trick-or-treating was a crapshoot as to whether or not you'd wear a coat with your costume (moms would always beg us to, and nobody wanted to, of course). Christmas morning is more and more likely to be sunny and bright.

It's terrible for the crops and plants, and it means I don't get to wear sweaters and boots as often as I'd like either.

What I'm wearing: Dark grey sweater dress, Macy's | Grey tights, Calvin Klein | Tall black boots, Clark's | Silver-grey beaded necklace, gift from Lisa | Silver hoop earring, random accessory store

Wednesday Wondering: The Line Starts Here

Prompt: What is the longest you've ever waited in line?

I'm not one who does a lot of standing-in-line-on-purpose. While I love Apple products, I've never waited out in front of the Apple Store for the latest version. And I usually despise seeing movies on opening night. The lines I usually stand in are for public transit, and if it's taking a long time, that's not as planned.

But back when The Lord of the Rings movies came out, I did go to the final one, "The Return of the King," on opening night with a bunch of fiends in costume. We lined up around noon for the evening show, must have been 6 or 7pm. So I was in line for 6 or 7 hours. It was great fun, we brought snacks and played in character and were generally big geeks. Loved it!

Questions culled from the discontinued Writer's Block feature on LiveJournal.

What I'm wearing: Dark grey denim belled-sleeve jacket, Newport News | Black & grey knit dress, Macy's | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Silver-grey wedge pumps, Anne Klein | Black & silver chunky bead necklace, random accessory store | Silver cameo earrings, vintage

Wednesday Wondering: Retro Style

Prompt: If you could bring back certain fashions or hairstyles that are no longer in style, what would they be? Why do you want to revive them?

I'd bring back more elaborate hairstyles in general -- long and styled hair for men, styled updos for women including curls, braids, and false hair. Whether beehives or poufs or towering edifices, even if just for special occasions like weddings and award shows, I'd love to see these things as more than high-fashion art pieces in the realm of Lady Gaga. 

Maybe it's because I feel so hemmed in by my lack of hair right now. I do know that I always feel more fabulous wearing a tall wig. There needs to be more casual acceptance of that in modern life!

Questions culled from the discontinued Writer's Block feature on LiveJournal.

What I'm wearing: Grey & white stripe cardigan, Forever 21 | Black ruffle-front sleeveless top, Macy's | Grey corduroy skirt, Newport News | Black leather belt, Macy's | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black heeled lace-up boots, Aerosoles | Silver sugar-skull earrings, random accessory store

Monday Meme-Day: 100 Things

Bold the ones you've done
* the ones you'd like to

1. Started your own blog -- Duh, you're soaking in it :-)
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii -- a bunch of times!
5. Watched a meteor shower -- often combined with #2
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland -- & DisneyWorld (first)
8. Climbed a mountain -- many mountains, not esp. high ones, but they count as mountains
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped -- was tempted!
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch -- what haven't I taught myself from scratch? I did learn to sew from my mom & grandmom, but that was just the basics, anything more specific (or historical), I had to figure out myself.
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty*
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France -- & was not impressed
20. Slept on an overnight train -- altho' "slept" is an overstatement
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb -- I've held a baby goat tho'
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon -- I've run two 10ks, but I guess that doesn't add up :-(
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice -- so worth it!
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors*
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language*
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied*
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person*
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David -- he *is* all that & a bag of chips!
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt*
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance -- & it took years to pay off that damn bill
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China*
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia*
60. Served at a soup kitchen*
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies -- no, but I've eaten a ton of 'em :-)
62. Gone whale watching* -- but I've seen whales breach from the shore
63. Got/gave flowers for no reason -- done both
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter -- no, but I've been in a super-tiny prop plane a few times, which feels awfully close
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square -- well, breezed thru
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone -- my leg once, my ribs twice
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person*
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem*
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating -- fishing, heck yeah
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

What I'm wearing: Dark grey dot-patterned jacket, H&M | Black knit dress, Target | Black lace tights, unknown brand | Silver-grey wedge pumps, Anne Klein | Black & white branch-patterned scarf, bought on business trip | Silver medallion earrings, random accessory store

Wednesday Wondering: Elevator of Interest

Prompt: If you had to be stuck in an elevator for 24 hours with one TV character, who would it be and why?

My very favorite TV character is Hawkeye Pierce from "M*A*S*H*" and I bet he would be pretty darn entertaining to be stuck in an elevator with. Of course, he'd prefer to have a bottle of booze, and he'd spend a lot of that time hitting on me, since he was a notorious womanizer. But he was so smart and funny, a dedicated surgeon and an avowed pacifist, I'm sure we could figure out something to talk about too.

Questions culled from the discontinued Writer's Block feature on LiveJournal.

What I'm wearing: Brown paisley coat, custom-made | Grey plaid vest, vintage | Black ruffled knit top, Newport News | Black trumpet skirt, MetroStyle | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black ribbon-tie pumps, Clarks | Silver filigree earrings, Target

Hawkeye as played by Alan Alda

Subtle Geekery

I've never been shy about flying my freak flag, even at work. I've talked about historical costuming during interviews, and I wear my studded leather cockring every single day. After all, if you google for images of me, you're going to see everything from me in 18th-century male drag to my boobs inscribed with "CorpGoth" calligraphy. Not subtle!

But this outfit is a more tasteful version of geeky CorpGoth. I got the T-shirt at the new Diagon Alley in Universal Studios, where my husband and I indulged our love of all things Harry Potter. Of course, I went for the spooky side with the Dark Mark. Which coordinates nicely with my everyday wardrobe.

Do you try or have to sneak your geeky or fandom faves into your work wardrobe?

What I'm wearing: Black velvet jacket, White House Black Market | Grey "Dark Mark" T-shirt, Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter at Universal Studios | Grey striped skirt, Nordstroms | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black T-strap flats, Aldo | Silver filigree earrings, Target

Wednesday Wondering: Major Impact

Prompt: What was your college major? Do you use it for your career?

I majored in English Literature at the University of California, Berkeley, and I nearly got a Master's degree in the same subject. All during my undergrad years, people would say, "English major, so you're going to be a teacher, right?" And I said, hell no.

But I struggled to find a decent-paying job fresh out of college and quickly went back to school for an M.A., somewhat resigned to that teaching career. I loved the academics but did not relish the idea of grammar or high-school level teaching, which was where the vast number of jobs were, especially in California.

Then, a little thing called the Internet came along. A local newspaper was trying to get itself online, right when I was playing around with teaching myself to build webpages in my spare time. That was the beginning of something ... I combined a knack for learning software with writing and researching skills honed in academia into a online journalism career and never looked back.

I've been writing for the web since 1995, about everything from digital music to the environment to hard drives to Medicare. So yeah, my college major has been pretty useful in my career after all.

Questions culled from the discontinued Writer's Block feature on LiveJournal.

What I'm wearing: Red sheath dress, Target | Grey color-blocked cardigan, Macys | Grey tights, Target | Silver grey wedges, Anne Klein | Black & red glass bead necklace, made by me | Silver hoop earrings, random accessory store

CorpGoth Mid-Month Status Report: A Suitable Jacket

This month's status report is about suits, including blazers and suit jackets. Since I work in perpetually casual Silicon Valley, I don't actually own a suit -- check out The Oatmeal's hilariously accurate depiction of the differences between wearing a suit to work on the East Coast of the U.S. and the West Coast.

However, being a fancy-pants goth gal, I tend to dress a little more formally than my coworkers, and I have lots of suit jackets. Today, I wanted to feature one with a few twists on the ordinary.

First, this blazer is made of stretch denim, so it has a more casual vibe. Second, it has romantic belled sleeves. While I'm sure this was intended as a casual, weekend-wear piece, I love pairing this jacket with work-wear, dressing it up for a "suit" that fits in with both the Valley's mellow attitude and my own aesthetic.

Do you wear suits or suit jackets to work? Share your status report in the comments!

What I'm wearing: Dark grey jacket, Newport News | Black sheath dress, Target | Black stripe lace stockings, unknown brand | Purple suede pumps, Aerosoles | Black bat necklace, Walgreens | Black & purple crystal dangly earrings, random accessory store

Gothic Martha Stewart decoupages a table

A fun way to liven up your home decor is to decoupage wood furniture. Second-hand and thrift-store items can be great candidates for redecorating as long as they have some flat surfaces, which are easier to add designs too (if you're ambitious & have more time, go wild with more elaborately curved furniture).

In my Gothic Martha Stewart tutorial, I take a small table, paint it burgundy & black, then decoupage tarot cards on the top & shelf of the table. This makes for a quirky little end table in my living room. Read the step-by-step instructions, & get inspired to take on your own project. What will you transform? Share your ideas in the comments.

What I'm wearing: Grey sheath dress, Target | Purple & black striped cardigan, Old Navy | Grey tights, Calvin Klein | Purple suede pumps, Aerosoles | Purple crystal necklace, random accessory store | Purple crystal earrings, random accessory store

Friday Five: Internettin'

1. What was the first Internet site you remember bookmarking?
The T.W.I.N.K.I.E.S. Project. (Hey, it's still around!)

2. What was the last Internet site you bookmarked?
Clickhole. (Clearly my tastes haven't changed much.)

3. Are you Mac, Windows, or something else?
Macintosh forever!

4. What is the one thing you wish you could easily do with your computer?
Type & mouse without wrist pain. *sigh*

5. Are you happier with the all the advances that have been made in the last 10 years or do you wish for an earlier, less technology-based time?
Totally happier. My career is based on the Internet, and all my friends are inside this network of tubes!

Questions culled from The Friday Five on LiveJournal.

What I'm wearing: Black & grey knit dress, Macy's | White & black scarf printed with tree branches & ravens, bought on a business trip | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Silver-grey wedges, Anne Klein | Silver skull earrings, random accessory store

The Visiting Cats

While my house is currently cat-less, we do have feline visitors. For most of the time we've lived here, our backyard has been adopted by the neighborhood cats. Probably because our cats have always been indoor-only. Well, there are two cats who  particularly enjoy hanging out in our backyard -- this black tomcat who actually lives across the street and is called Negrito, and his girlfriend, a Siamese.

The girlcat is a bit skittish and runs away when I bring out the tripod to take my blog photos, but recently Negrito has tried to photo-bomb me. So this morning, I let him get into the picture. You can't tell, but he's pretty scruffy from his wild outdoor life, especially since he gets into a lot of fights. He's sweet to people but not other cats.

We're waiting until after a few short trips away before we get our "real" cats for indoors. We want kittens again, so we'll have a good long time with the cats. So hopefully this fall. A house without cats or any pets isn't really a home.

What I'm wearing: Grey & white striped hooded sweater, Forever 21 | Black T-shirt, Target | Black & white stripe maxi skirt, Nordstrom | Silver-grey wedges, Anne Klein | Silver fishes necklace, Ann d'Aboise | Pewter key earrings, made by me

New Shoes, New Glasses

After a long delay on my part, I finally got new glasses. I love the frames, they're more of the cat-eye shape that had for years (before my last frames broke *sniff*). The optometrist I see is in the mall, where I had a little time to kill...

And I found these shoes. Oh my, it was love at first sight! I had to buy them. The shoes are by one of my favorite brands -- Aerosoles makes "comfort shoes," so some of their designs are boring & conservative, but don't throw out the baby with the bathwater, as the saying goes. If you look closely, you'll find some classic styles, some shoes with a retro vibe, & then gorgeous designs like these. Plus, they're all made in long-lasting materials with comfort as a high priority. Clark's is a similar brand that I love for the same reasons.

What I'm wearing: Black three-quarter sleeve jacket with piped seams, Speigel | Purple T-shirt, Limited | Grey striped skirt, Nordstrom | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Purple suede pumps, Aerosoles | Purple chunky crystal necklace, gift from a friend | Purple & pearl bat earrings, Jewels by Olivia