Rebellion

These photograph terribly. They're actually really sparkly in person.

Dress: Lucky Brand

Boots: Vintage/Vintage Angel

Tights: Hue/Macy's

Earrings: Buckle

I apologize for the fact that I haven't done any outfit posts lately. I've been feeling a bit under the weather since just after Christmas. My stomach has decided that it apparently doesn't like anything but salad and saltines. While I do love a good salad, I also love a good cheeseburger, and good mashed potatoes (you know what I'm talking about, Inna!)... neither of which I have been able to eat. I went to the doctor earlier this month and he gave me some medicine that apparently isn't working (LAME!). SO, I'm going back tomorrow. The doctor -- and my father, also a doctor -- seem to think it may be gallstones, which would be super duper lame. If it is, and I have to have surgery... well, poor Mr. CP is all I have to say. Anyway, enough with my excuses. Moving on to the outfit!

For most of my life, I categorically refused to wear anything even remotely cowboyish. In part, it was a rebellion against the Aggies I grew up around. We all have our forms of rebellion. Some sneak out of the house in the dead of night to canoodle (that's right, I said canoodle!) with a girlfriend or boyfriend, while others get a bit carried away their first year of college with the house parties and readily available alcohol. My form of rebellion took a rather unusual form: I swore never to wear anything even vaguely cowboy-ish. Sure, I went to a couple rowdy cowboy bars (my poor dance partners), and occasionally entertained the notion of going cow tipping (if such a thing were possible... is it? I've heard different stories). And I may or may not have lost a bet and gone to a country music festival. As for wearing anything cowboyish, though... nope. Nuh-uh. Not me. I know, I know. My hardcore form of rebellion has blown your mind. 

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. When I saw this dress, it seemed to cry out for a cute pair of cowboy boots. So, off I went to a local store here in Seattle that sells refurbished vintage cowboy boots. They were cheap, they were already broken in, and did I mention they were cheap?

As he was taking photos, Mr. CP told me a disgusting -- and I do mean DISGUSTING -- joke. I thought I would share with you all my reaction. For the record, I have about 15 other photos that depict my horror/disgust/mild amusement.

And, finally, just because I can: a funny hair picture. Because we should never take ourselves too seriously. For serious.

New Year's Eve!

Dress: Anthropologie

Top: Anthropologie

Belt: Came with another dress

Tights: Hue/Nordstrom Rack

Shoes: Naya/Nordstrom Rack

Bracelet: Vintage

Earrings: Gift/Betsey Johnson

When I put this outfit on, I loved it. BUT seeing it in photographs, I'm left with that "meh" feeling I sometimes get over my outfits. I don't know. I mean, it's fine. It's just not, "WOWSA!" 

Anyway, our New Year's Eve celebration was marvelous! One of our very favorite seafood restaurants sits directly opposite the Space Needle (where they fire off the fireworks), so Mr. CP and I decided to take part in their NYE celebration. Seated next to us was the most adorable French couple I have ever clapped eyes on. They had to be in their 60s, but they were snuggling like teenagers, and boogying like champs. The French man was wearing a cravat. A CRAVAT! If I spoke any French at all, I would have teetered up to him in my heels and announced to him that he was my hero. Unfortunately, the only thing I know how to say in French is, "Je suis un poisson," and somehow I think he would have found it creepy if a strange woman had waltzed up to him and informed him in no uncertain terms that she was a fish. My favorite moment:  watching the French couple dance to the Beegees... right next to us... because I dragged Mr. CP out on the dance floor and made him disco with me. DON'T JUDGE ME, OKAY?! My father used to do an amazing Beegees impression... it was a thing of beauty. But I digress.

p.s. I apologize for my cosmetic-less face and un-curled hair. Light was fading fast in the lead-up to our New Year's Eve celebration, so I (very politely) demanded that Mr. CP follow me outside to take photos. 

What did YOU do for NYE? Happy 2012 (a few days late)!!!!!!! =D

Readers, Meet My Repurposed Vintage Jewelry!

It's no secret that I love vintage accessories, particularly brooches. I also have a soft spot for repurposed vintage jewelry, though, and I thought I share a few pieces from my collection with you. There's something enchanting -- poetic, even -- about giving an old, unused vintage element new life by reworking it into something new.

Mama CP makes jewelry, and has her own business selling bits and bobs at various craft shows. This bracelet is made out of vintage buttons, antique watch faces, and old typewriter keys.

DIY! These stones were on an old, old necklace I found at an antique store in Nebraska. They were dusty and dirty, but a quick turn in my rock polisher (yes, I'm awesome, I have a rock polisher) cleaned them right up. The bangle itself isn't vintage; I picked it up at Michael's on sale for a couple bucks.

DIY! My mom had this broken clip on earring in a box at home. I just clipped off the back, filed down the pointy edges, and strung it on a chain with wire-wrapped vintage pearls.

DIY! Antique keys, a sparkly crystal ball taken from a broken vintage clip on earring, and some gunmetal and silver chain are all it took to put this little guy together.

DIY! I was inspired to make this necklace when I saw this beautiful necklace on Anthropologie's website. They were selling it for around $468. Psh. The focal piece is an antique pencil that my grandmother used in grade school. I wire-wrapped smoky quartz, labradorite, and hematite onto several different kinds of chain (some vintage, some not). I couldn't get a terribly good shot of this necklace (it's reeeeally long), but I will be wearing it in Wednesday's OOTD post. 

My wonderful friend Krissy, owner and designer of Orange Box Jewelry, refashions vintage items into beautiful one-of-a-kind necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. I originally saw this piece at a local market a couple months ago, and somehow managed to walk away from it. I was still thinking about it two weeks ago, though, and thankfully no one had bought it. SO, it came home with me!

There is a really exciting giveaway coming up, so be sure to check back tomorrow morning!