Thursday, May 24, 2012

Apologies

I know I promised you all three outfits featuring the Webster for Target skirt from the last post. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to keep that particular promise.

Our landlord decided to stop by yesterday morning, and inform us that in addition to showing the house to prospective renters while we're out of town from June 1 to June 8, he's also having contractors come in to do some large-scale renovations on the house. While we expected the former, we did not expect the latter. We also didn't expect him to inform us in no uncertain terms that pretty much everything in the house needs to be packed up by next Friday, and that all the furniture needs to be moved into the basement. I could throw a giant hissy fit over the fact that he only gave us a week's notice, but there's really no point. I'm sure he's just as stressed out as we are. Anyway, unfortunately, this means that the blog is going to be quiet for at least the next week while Mr. CP and I frantically try to get everything packed up.

I'll still be around reading blogs, tweeting, and probably posting on here occasionally, too. I'm not completely disappearing. Charming Pumpkin is just going to be a bit quiet for a while. <3!


Monday, May 21, 2012

Webster Skirt #1: Yikes!

It took me a lot longer than it should have to decide what to style for all of you this week. I ultimately settled on this eyeleted skirt, an adorable little number from The Webster for Target collection.

Skirt
The weather has turned cold and rainy again here, but I categorically refused to wear tights and/or boots. So, I just pretended that it was sunny, and wore the skirt bare-legged with flats.


Skirt: Webster/Target (here)
Cardigan: Halogen/Nordstrom (here)
Cami: Herberger's
Shoes: Aldo (here)
Head band: Nordstrom (here)
Necklace: La Vie Parisienne/Blue Ruby (jewelry boutique in Vancouver, B.C.)

Mr. CP and I will be moving half way across the country in exactly one month. Eek! In the throes of a massive panic attack, I packed up a large chunk of my closet a couple days ago, including all but a few of my sweaters, which makes this cold snap more unpleasant than it might otherwise be. Oh, well! If perception really does shape reality as some philosophers would have us believe, I'll just continue thinking warm thoughts. I mean, thinking it's warm is the same as it actually being warm, right? Right?!

The move really snuck up on us, and now we're faced with what seems to be an insurmountable heap of crap to pack up. I've been using this as an opportunity to get rid of a lot of things we don't use anymore, but it doesn't seem to be making much difference. Mr. CP and I have been taking turns reassuring each other that everything will get done. Thankfully, we've managed to avoid joint freak outs, and I'm hoping that pattern will continue until after we're moved. Fingers crossed!

We will be flying the remaining two cats to stay with Mama and Papa CP in about a week and a half. Once we get back, we'll have a whopping 9 days to get everything packed up before we get on the road. We're currently trying to think of ways to turn packing into a game, so if you have any suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments! 

Friday, May 18, 2012

Blue Dress #3: A Bit of Whimsy


Dress: Dorothy Perkins (here)
Cardigan: Anthropologie/Ribboned Rocket Cardigan
Shoes: GAP
Earrings: Forever 21

When I got home from Anthropologie the other day -- with this cardigan in tow! Sale score FTW! -- I recounted for Mr. CP my uber-bizarre conversation with Boob Job Lady that I talked about in my last post (here). It ended up turning into a fairly lengthy conversation about Mr. CP's and my respective stances on plastic surgery. 

My position is quite simple: your body, your life. I think everyone has a right to feel beautiful, and if that means a nip, a tuck, a lift, a pull, and a few injections, then so be it. For my part, I don't like the idea of elective cosmetic surgery. It gives me the willies. Aside from my father, I avoid physicians like the plague. It's best for all parties involved, you see.

In general, I have a fairly laissez-faire attitude towards life (there are a few areas where this doesn't apply... toilet paper, for example, should always roll down on the roll, not up. Yeesh!). So, my philosophy about plastic surgery is pretty much identical to my philosophy about life (excepting toilet paper, apparently): you do your thing, I'll do mine.


On a completely unrelated note, if ever the Fates conspired to thrust me into a position of power as a benevolent dictator, I would commission a statue to be built immortalizing this expression. I think it says, "Peons, bow before me!" and "But I still love and respect you and your peasant ways!" all at the same time. Behold: Benevolent Dictatoress Kelsey. Ahem. Yes, that's a real word and a real title. Why do you ask? Are you challenging my authority!? Are you?!?!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Blue Dress #2: Spring Has Sprung





Dress: Dorothy Perkins (here)
Cardigan: Anthropologie/Hibai Cardigan
Cami: Herberger's (winner of the Department Store With the Most Hilarious Moniker Award)
Head band: Nordstrom
Shoes: Aldo (here)
Necklace and earrings: DIY

I naively assumed that the Swirling Vortex of Weirdness that has surrounded me for most of my adult life had finally, at long last, dissipated. In my idealism, I assumed that whatever deity I had managed to royally piss off had deigned, in his or her infinite wisdom, to forgive any and all transgressions I had committed. It turns out that The Vortex (yes, capital 'T,' capital 'V') didn't go away. Nope. It was just building up a back log of weirdness to gleefully hurl at me at a moment of its choosing. Apparently, it chose yesterday.

Where to begin... I suppose the best place is with the least bizarre incident. It is very rarely windy here in Seattle. It wasn't unusual, then, that it wasn't windy in the slightest when I stepped outside yesterday morning. It wasn't windy while I walked to the car, or when I got out to walk to the ATM. But, conveniently, there was a single very large burst of wind as I was walking down the sidewalk along a very busy street. And that particular burst of wind was strong enough that it lifted my skirt up around my head. Naturally, I shrieked, "The fuck!?" very shrilly. Which wouldn't have been a problem if I hadn't pulled my skirt back down to the wide-eyed stares of an entire preschool troop walking to who knows where with their teachers. 

As a balm for my humiliation, I decided to head to Anthropologie to check out the semi-annual tag sale that started today. There I was, browsing the racks of items, when a woman came up to me and asked me who did my boob job. Um, 'scuse me? I don't even... What?! I toyed around with the idea of shrieking, "They came this way! Lay off!" But instead, I did what I do best: laughed awkwardly, and made an inappropriate joke. My exact response: "Mother Nature is my plastic surgeon. Who's yours?" She rolled her eyes, and looked at me disbelievingly. I'm choosing to take her question as a compliment. If I interpret it the way my brain is fighting to -- as a creepy, inappropriate query -- I run the risk of becoming even more disillusioned with my fellow human beings than I already am. So... compliment it is!

I finally made my way home to two very hyper cats (kitty number three is currently vacationing with her grandparents until we get moved next month). Anyway, Gabe (aka Boy Cat) and Luna (aka Fish) were chasing each other around the house like cats are wont to do. Fish was very naughty, and hopped up on the toilet seat, and before I could make my way to the bathroom to shoo her off, Boy Cat pushed her in. The toilet, that is. Fish fell in the toilet. Thankfully, I had just cleaned it this morning... but still. It's a toilet. Blech. So, I got to give Fish a bath today. Without the full body armor that such a chore typically demands. It was... interesting.

Anyhoodle, I'm hoping I'm all paid up on weirdness for a while. Fingers crossed.




Monday, May 14, 2012

Blue Dress #1: Crayon-y Goodness


Things that have been making me feel like this:

* Cold, rainy days
* Thoughts of packing up our house for the big move next month
* Flying the kittens to Mama and Papa CP's place until we get to Colorado
* Grumpy gills people
* The fact that the ice cream truck has been avoiding me

Things that have been making me feel like this:

* Anything Kelly Green, or Cobalt Blue
* Thoughts of moving closer to all my beautiful BFFs in Colorado
* Red lipstick
* Sunshine!
* This dress. I don't care if I get stinky. I'm never taking this thing off.
* My superfantasticalawesomeful fiance (Whew! That was a close one. I almost forgot to include him on this list... JK! JK! He was at the top with a bullet, a star, AND an exclamation point until I moved him down a few notches on the list for comedic effect. That's how I roll.)

Outfit details
Dress: Dorothy Perkins (here)
Cardigan: Nordstrom/Halogen (here)
Shoes: Aldo (similar here)
Belt: Nordstrom Rack
Head band: J. Crew

I have absolutely no idea why I'm hunched over in both of these photos. Actually, in all the photos Mr. CP took, I was in various states of hunching. Apparently I felt like getting hunchy with it... nanananananana. Ahem... I apologize for the terrible Will Smith reference. I just couldn't help myself.

Okay, as promised, I'm going to do something a bit different for the rest of May... you know, all two weeks of it. heh I'm going to pick one item from my closet, and style it for you in 3 different ways. That means you'll be getting an OOTD post three days this week, AND three days next week. I've been slacking on posting outfits, so I'm hoping this will help me get back into the swing of things. First up: this dress. Because I love it. It makes my heart soar. And it feels like jammies. And it's blue. And it lends itself to primary-color-crayon hued outfits like this one.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

My Adventure


Dress: A to Z Tees/Alhambra Outlet 
Denim Jacket: Gap Outlet
Scarf: Antique Mall
Flats: Aldo
Head band: Target


So, I wore this outfit to run errands downtown yesterday, which turned out to be quite an adventure. You see, it was May 1, so naturally there was a very large group of people protesting Capitalism (because, frankly, that's what just about every protest boils down to, but don't even get me started). The police were out in full force -- some mounted on horseback, a large number in full riot gear, some on bicycles. Anyway, there I was minding my own business when all of the sudden I heard glass windows shattering across the street. Apparently some of the protestors got reeeeally angry about The Man, and decided that the best way to get back at him was to break stuff. Naturally. 

For anyone who ever doubted that my survival instincts have been bred out of me: I present to you exhibit A. Most people around me started scattering, running into stores to avoid the rioters. I, stupidly, stood there ruminating on the psychology and sociology of rioting like a complete dumbass (and also like a giant nerd, dur). When common sense eventually set in, I had two thoughts. My first thought centered around this outfit. Everyone around me was wearing varying shades of black, so in a moment of absolute paranoia, I envisioned the rioters picking a victim from the crowd to defenestrate (great word, btw). Naturally, I concluded that they would pick me because of my vibrant green dress. My second thought was to stop being a jackass, and duck into a store like everyone else around me. Which I did. For anyone who ever doubted that my survival instincts have been bred out of me: I present to you exhibit A. At any rate, my foray into Nordstrom turned out to be a fruitful trip. I found a cardigan in the same shade as this dress. Thankfully, the police calmed the rioters -- or rather herded them in a different direction -- so I was able to scoot back to the house without too much trouble.

I fully intended to do the 30 for 30 challenge this month. But THEN I thought it might be better left for next month, when Mr. CP and I will be moving to Colorado. It will make more sense to just keep a few items out to wear while everything else gets packed up. Because I want to do something fun this month, though, I'll be doing something a little different starting next week. So, tune in to find out what I've got planned.

p.s. This dress has a hole in it. Waaaaaah! I dropped it off at the tailor and they're going to stitch it right back up, thank goodness!