Presh

It's lame how long it's been since I last posted.

In the past couple of weeks I have (mostly) moved into my new apartment that I'm sharing with my boyfriend. We had to get the AC fixed, as well as some of the sinks, and the floors are warped and there's a hole in the back door. I'm trying to figure out furniture and decorating and it's finally starting to look like my cute little home! It's been very stressful not only due to moving, but because Travis just started his job 2 days ago so I'm having to shoulder the first month's rent without his paycheck.

I'm trying to handle everything with only a reasonable amount of freak-outs. But work has been going well (I got a small raise!) and I love that I can shop ethically there, with an employee discount no less! I have a desk now so I can start painting again, and hopefully photograph some more of my cute outfits! My battery died on me halfway through shooting today, which was a shame because, as I thought when I looked in the mirror this morning: I look fucking presh.

It's also too damn hot; like a sauna everytime I step outside. File that under "my least favorite things about Columbia." Here's one for my "most favorite": the college radio station.

Dress: Asos

Shoes: Thrifted

Lace and Sunshine!

Check out these sick photos Travis took of me! He's been reading up on how to work the camera and he's def better than me! It didn't hurt that we went out during the golden hour and got this super cool dramatic lighting.

This is another outfit I went to work in. Since I work at a second-hand store, I've been spending some of my paycheck on the things that come in, haha! We mostly take current brands, so I don't get my vintage fix, but some sweet Anthropologie goodies come in at a big discount (and then I have my employee discount on top of that!) I haven't bought much yet, but I can't wait to get to wear them... we can't officially keep the items until the store opens in August!

Other than some ugly bruises from bumping into things at work and around the house, nothing much else is new. Just waiting to move into an apartment so I can get set up and settled in.

To be honest, this is practically a repeat-outfit! Except I lost that shirt :( I literally bought this one just to replace it.

ALSO! My friend is starting a shop where she makes customized car shades! Check her out!

Dress: Target

Shirt: Forever 21

Shoes: Thrifted, Originally from UO

Necklace: Handmade by Me

Socks: Uniqlo

Bag: Thrifted

Art Lately

Sailor Mars: My second favorite sailor scout.

Bored Mermaids: I sometimes wish I was a mermaid so my life would be beautiful, but then I try to remember that even mermaids have bad days.

 Alone Time: About being one with the universe and all that.

Springtime: About personal growth.

Room: I have a new-found love for painting in all black and white. This one is an experiment, I plan to change the colors in photoshop and compare it to a watercolor version!

As always, follow my tumblr for more frequent art updates, my instagram for works in progress, and check out my shop to commission your very own piece!

Waiting on Home

I wish these photos were super cool and well lit and in front of a waterfall or something, but it is what it is. This is what I worked in today!

The resale store I work in (and have for a total of three days so far) caters to a more mature audience, so the dress code is basically anything in my closet that isn't see through or torn up. And I don't know if they're gonna let me dye my hair something weird again... not that I was planning to anytime soon. So far I like working there! It's not like wooohooo work!!! but the girls are nice, I'm getting the hang of it, and most importantly, I'm not counting down the minutes til my shift is over like at my old job.

Right now things feel incomplete and anticipatory. Travis is waiting to hear back from a job and I have moved most of my clothes to his current apartment. The lease expires at the end of the month, so we are trying to get into a new apartment as soon as possible. I hope once I have a space this city will feel more comfortable. I don't like that I'm not going to be able to call the place I grew up in "home."

My birthday's in a couple of weeks! Plans as of now are to eat a cake, buy an eyeshadow palette, and go thrifting.

Shirt: Target

Skirt: Modcloth, My sister gave it to me

Shoes: Thrifted

Necklace: Forever 21

Sailor Black Hole

I tried my hardest to look like a goth alien today, but my parents just told me I looked like a prostitute. I was like, calm down, ya'll it is not that crazy. My sister said I looked like Sailor Black Hole, though, and that was much closer to what I was going for.

Because my parents disapproved of my outfit, and because my friend told me that taking more than three selfies a day is a disease, and because my sister told me that when she shows people my picture, they say "wow, she's so... interesting" (southern code for ew-that's-weird), I'm kind of in the mood to not be taking any bullshit. Why do other people care so damn much about how other people dress. Like is my weird-ass outfit affecting you?? In any way??? I will take as many selfies as I damn well please, and if you don't like the way I look, avert yo eyes. I am not doing this so that you'll give me a compliment.

I know I'm ranting to the choir, because you guys (I hope) wouldn't be following my blog if you didn't want to see my clothes, but can I get a hear, hear?

Anyway, the real reason I decided to dress slightly "sluttier" than usual was because I got a job! Haay! It's part time at a consignment store, and I'm hoping it'll be a good environment to make some money in while I work on freelance during the rest of my time. I do know that I won't be getting to wear my weirder clothes at work, though, so I'mma get my kicks out on my own time.

I was really excited to take these pictures, because it's under 90 today and I felt like a superstar. I don't think they turned out that great, though. I'm starting to give up on ever being a good photographer. Besides I literally had sweat dripping through all my cracks and crevices by the end of this 15 minute shoot, and I'm in the upstate right now! In Columbia you walk outside and melt into a puddle.

Crop Top: UO Clearance

Skirt: American Eagle Clearance

Shoes: Target Clearance

Necklace: Handmade by Me

Earrings: Etsy

PS. I'm trying out this whole dots-under-the-eyes makeup and I don't think it's cultural reappropriation, but if it is someone let me know and I'll stop.

Pink and Hiding My Face

Today I got dressed up and took a bunch of pictures, mostly covering my face. Which is kind of a shame because I was wearing this pretty pink eyeshadow, but. 

I've been painting and running errands and searching for apartments and applying for jobs. I have two interviews coming up, wish me luck! I've said it before and I'll say it again: growing up is damn scary. All I really want is a part time job that I like, and to make money with my art on the side. And with a $20,000 debt cloud hanging over my head, is that really too much to ask? I'm going to be very sad to leave my beautiful room in the house I grew up in, as well as my family, but I'm excited to start a new life too. Idk guys things are just complicated and confusing for me right now and I'm just trying to... do whatever I'm supposed to do.

We're planning on taking my cat with us to whatever apartment we move into, because he loves me and I love him, and no one else really likes him much here. Plus he and the other cat are constantly fighting and I think it's going to give him an anxiety attack. But he's a very old, nervous kitty and I'm worried about the stress moving would put on him. Are any of you pet experts? What do you think?

The number of bug bites I got today remains to be seen.

Dress: Urban (on clearance)

Shoes: Some asian wholesale site

Necklace and Floral Crown: Handmade by Me

Etsy Shop Update: Also Shop My Closet!

I just added a bunch of beauties to the Floral Prince, and they're modeled by my drop-dead gorgeous sister, Emma. Go check em out! I've also decided to make a coupon for my blog readers only, so use BLOGBUDS at checkout on my etsy for free shipping! (US only, I'm super sorry but it's really expensive to send overseas!) In the next few weeks I'm going to phase the art stuff out of my shop and into a new one. The Floral Prince will be solely for vintage! 

If vintage isn't your game, or rather, if really cheap gently used clothes is your game, check out my Shop My Closet because I put a ton in there, too!

Oversized Floral Dress - M

Black Linen Bow Dress - M

Butterfly Dress - M

Blue Gingham Dress - M

Garden Print Pinafore - L

Floral Party Dress - M

Hot Pants

And now we're back to our regularly scheduled programming.

I've still got a couple Italian things to blog about, namely the plane ride home (which was a spiritual experience) and a video that I'm gonna try to compile. I am really happy to be home, though, where I can speak the language, even if I am hyper-aware of how damn southern everyone sounds. Back with my family, my cat, and my closet. It's all good.

I bought some short shorts from American Apparel after trying them on in-store in Milan. I was not gonna buy them in Italy, though, because they do this stupid thing overseas where if something costs $50, it also costs 50 euros. Which, with the exchange rate, means it costs somewhere around $65. So, like, no thank you. But they look super hot on, so even though they were expensive in American dollars, I went ahead and splurged online!

Summer in SC is all thunderstorms all the time. Well, when it's not hella hot and humid. Don't worry, I'm still glad to be back :)

Shirt: Walmart, DIY cropping

Shorts: American Apparel

Shoes: BAIT

Knive Badge: LeMaddy, She's so cool.