Music Muse

Hi All, 

So I haven't done a Music Muse feature in a while, it's probably a good time to do one! This pick may be a little odd from a style point of view, as it's not based on fashionably trendy mainstream items (nor is it my personal taste). This video is shot beautifully and I can tell it was a ton of fun to make. I especially love the projection shots. The styling for this video is very vintage 80's/ UK/ 'Hipster' (not in bad way). However, I like this video a lot because I feel like it's really relatable to discovering and experiencing life. You live, you love, you learn. Right?

Rihanna - We Found Love by universalmusicdeutschland

Styled via Etsy:

Links to image: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

The bottom image is my own.

Are there other songs or videos that make you feel this way?

For Lack of a Better Cell Phone

Hello lovelies. First off I'm just going to say that I don't have an iPhone, I am aware that this is basically a sin for a designer and blogger. However, I cannot afford the bill or the phone so... here we are. Haha, it's totally embarrassing, but, it is what it is for now. Rest assured I am plotting for an iPhone and an iPad, once my fiscal relations improve.

For IFB's project #19 'How do you personalize your cell phone?', I'd like to share my quirky little phone. It's just a basic family plan Verizon phone but I think it's plucky. It's even got one of those fancy slide out keyboards. Oh yea, sexy.

The stones on it were once an awesome sticker that covered the whole back, but a couple summers in NYC have fiercely depleted it's rhinestone count. They just slide right off once the temperature gets high enough (so I have random rhinestones stuck to my arms at times. Haha!). I got the sticker while I was in Beijing a couple winters ago, and it was so cheap I had to get it. I think I payed about one or two dollars. Much better than the cell phone stickers here in the states, which are around 20 dollars. Crazy.
My little bull cell charm is from a cheap little jewelry shop on 5th ave. I payed one dollar for it. I love it because it reminds me of growing up on our old dairy farm. For some reason it seems to remind me to chill out.

I love anything that reverts back to more natural situations. When I finally get my hands on an iPhone, I want to get an amazing case from Grove, they make bamboo tech accessories and cases. Amazingly gorgeous. And if bamboo doesn't remind you to zen out, I don't know what will.

The one I want is this little beauty:

Sooo pretty! They come with a matching wallpaper that you can download free. I think they probably should since each case is 100+ dollars. However, it's worth the money. These are amazingly well crafted, quality bamboo cases to protect your phone and bring some extra inspiration into your daily routine. What do you think?

Office Chair DIY

Hi all, so I'm almost done with my office makeover. Promise! I know it's been a while but I have a lot of items to go through and purge, as well as cleaning my space up a little to photograph (which is hard because I'm always actually using my office!). Pics by the end of November. Deal?

I do want to share my office chair DIY redo. I'm proud of it, it's totally silly and fun. Couldn't be happier with how it turned out!

How I did it:

Whiskey was really curious. :) 

What do you think? I realize the back part is upside down but I haven't fixed it yet. Haha.
It only took a couple hours and about 30 dollars.

Exit Strategy

Hello all, today is a gray day and definitely has me feeling a little in a funk. Do you guys get really sensitive to the weather? Anyway, I was thinking of things to write about when I remembered this project I had started last year called Exit Strategy. I think I'm gonna start it up again as I love the answers I got last time. The basis is simple, answer the question: 

"What is your exit strategy?"

The answer can be anything you want, the first thing that comes to mind! I've had kooky answers and very serious personal answers. They're all wonderful and I'd love to get more! I will be taking all answers and using them in a collective project that I'm working on, the responses are anonymous but I will use them all. The more participation the better!

Please email your answers to: exit.strategy.2010@gmail.com

Drifting Textures

I'm someone that's big into textures. It has a very large influence in my life from skin and hair to food and clothing. Everyone has a predisposition toward certain textures. Perhaps I just pay more attention to it, but is driftwood not one of the coolest naturally occurring things ever? I've always thought of a great piece of driftwood as a special find. Much like these items. What great projects these would make!

All images and their Etsy.com websites are located on my Pinterest site. 

Snapshots

Some snaps from this weekend and some thrifted goodies. 

Best donuts ever. Bedstuy, Brooklyn.

Lemon poppy donut and a coffee. Pure happy.

I love this tote.

Beat to crap vintage Harley Davidson boots.

I wanna go to the park! Are we there yet?!?! (Really, she was just yawning. Haha.)

All tuckered out after the park, laying on a pillow I thrifted for her. :)

I love this shirt and necklace.

Yep. I wore long underwear as pants. In public.

Now, it's time for my recent(ish) thrift finds!!!

An AMAZING deep teal blazer/jacket.

A great fuchsia mesh cover up by Quicksilver.

A badass vintage maxi skirt. This is my favorite find out of the whole bunch!

I found a beautiful vintage cobalt blue velvet shirt and skirt duo.

Couldn't resist this adorable little mosaic plate.

A super pretty and simple vintage kimono I found at Buffalo Exchange for like $15. I'm going to hem it into a spring jacket.

A crazy embellished top. It looks stellar on. Perfect with super simple everything else!

A fun 90's maxi t shirt dress.

This beauty was priced waaay low and even the cashier was amazed at the price, still had the new tags and everything!

I love this skirt. It's so fun.

And that's about it for my thrifting (slash) adventures as of this past month. As per usual now I must go through my closet and rotate out some clothes I haven't worn in a while. So I will probably be stopping by Buffalo Exchange or Beacon's Closet soon with a couple trash bags. Lately I've been trying to donate/sell clothing if I buy or want to buy anything new. That way I don't just hoard things. Which is really hard being a lover of clothing and having an online vintage shop! Unfortunately, my plight does not tug at my boyfriends heart strings, so I have to keep the collection to one closet. For now ;)

<3
-Aly