forever in blue jeans

wildwood flower

i know you got a little life in you left

redhead senorita

These photos were taken at a shack off of Shiloh. I was very pleased with the outcome. I dedicate these photos to the White Stripes.

Earlier this month the band announced their breakup. I was initially saddened with the news (mostly because I didn't get to see them live), but upon reading their final words my frown turned upside down:

"The White Stripes do not belong to Meg and Jack anymore. The White Stripes belong to you now and you can do with it whatever you want. The beauty of art and music is that it can last forever if people want it to. Thank you for sharing our experience. Your involvement will never be lost on us and we are truly grateful."

If only all breakups were that easy and/or put so well. They will play on in my mental jukebox forever.

everything i've learned i've forgotten

This was my work outfit the day before yesterday. I recently purchased the cardigan and was eager to wear it. It's already a closet favorite. Something else that's a favorite: M.Ward. I was listening to him and stumbled upon Eyes on the Prize. The song goes well with some of the photographs. The last one especially is very fitting and a favorite, I'm channeling a toy soldier. A toy soldier that really enjoys listening to M.Ward. His voice is very soothing and the music always paves the way to a deep world where my thoughts roam free. I hope it does the same for you:

Cardigan: Anthropologie
Top: Aeropostale
Pants, Belt: Zara
Flats: Nine West

she's like the big orchestra, playing my tiny tune

One of the many advantages of having siblings is that the odds of discovering a good tune increase greatly. Four ears are better than one. My little brother was listening to Roll the Credits by Peter Bjorn and John the other day, and he pointed out this one verse: Just tapping on my shoes and/ I couldn't want it more/ The way I know she's close. Sometimes all it takes is a good verse to fall in love with a song. I'm not sure how this one song bypassed my ears for so long, but I sure am glad I finally heard it. In case you haven't, here it is:

Sweater: Silence + Noise
Socks: Urban Outfitters
Top: Aeropostale
Shorts: Zara

like mexican dogs nobody gave us names

Where to begin. Okay, I think I've got it. I first heard Cold War Kids through a boy I once dated. Now, I typically try to avoid and reject all music that correlates or reminds me of someone I rather not be reminded of but that still did not keep me from seeing CWK in Austin. On a side note, that awful habit I have of avoiding particular bands or songs, it doesn't make much sense considering my overall jukebox selection changes drastically after a breakup; you know, less of Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and more of You Bloody Motherfucking Asshole by Martha Wainwright or Remember by Devendra Banhart - one of my favorites by the way. So obviously he's in my head, what's the point in avoiding particular bands or songs? There is no point, but I have a niche for bad habits (see picture above of blogger holding cigarettes in one hand and a cough drop in the other).

Anyhow, I was extremely pleased that I made an exception to said awful habit. Now, I've been to my fair share of shows so I know a killer performance when I have the pleasure of seeing it. Wait...pause...I'm not saying what you think I'm saying. They DIDN'T put on a killer show but...BUT...their performance was, for lack of a better word, touching. There was something about the way the members moved to the music, how the guitarist shut his eyes and mouthed every single lyric down to the ones sometimes only the singer knows, how the bassist couldn't stay in one spot because he let the music sort of be the compass of his direction, and especially...it was especially how they were all just so focused on what they were playing. You could just tell that they genuinely enjoyed what it was they were doing and the music they were playing. I went from a girl with a crush to a girl in love that night - in love with CWK.

Young the Giant (the opening act) on the other hand had an abundance of chemistry, and they were a set of good looking musicians with good style (see picture of cool shoes above) and hip shaking tunes that everyone loves to love or sometimes hates to admit they love. They didn't by any means steal the show but they prepped me well enough for what was to come. And so, I hope I've done the same for you. Here are two of my favorites CWK performed and a song I wish they would have. If you're going to pick one, pick the last one. Enjoy:

Dress: Betsey Johnson

Boots: Vince Camuto

bite full of happiness

Christmas parties are always fun...well so long as the people you work with are interesting. I work with a lot of young kids whose spirits are free, silly, and uninhibited; they keep me quite entertained when need be. Our line of work sometimes (more than often) brings our Christmas spirit down, very down, near the South Pole with the penguins. The Christmas party is one of the few things we collectively have to look forward to because the next morning it's back to the long lines, antsy customers, and several deep breaths in.

When you work in retail, it doesn't take very long before you start to seriously believe that Christmas was a holiday invented by the Retail Gods to punish all their employees for biting from some figurative apple. I suppose it's because we deal with so many people who are more concerned with crossing names off of some ridiculously long list then being merry, jolly, nice or any other adjective used to describe the Christmas spirit. For the record, just because you give 30 people gifts you shopped for at the last minute (off the clearance section no less) does not make you a good person - not when you push other people out of the way to get said items and argue with the cashier for a price adjustment. Oh well, that's life.

In the end, people will attend their Christmas parties, have a good time, and hopefully...hopefully they will have a moment of gratitude for the things they truly cherish in life. Here's hoping. For now, I'll stay warm inside because baby it's cold outside. Merry Christmas.

Sweater: Zara
Shoes: Aldo
Skirt: Forever 21
Watch: Urban Outfitters
Glasses: Burberry