AX KICKER

Woodchuck jaws, ax swinging, and old farm implements.  

HAT EXPANSION

A while back I saw a street-style image in which a guy was wearing a brimmed hat that looked to have been made bigger by slicing and then loosely safety pinning the seam.  So when I found this black Bates Hatter hat at a thrift store I wasn't too upset when it didn't fit on my dome. 

 I should have taken DIY process images for you guys because it was really simple to do. I used a sharp razor blade to slice up the back of the hat and then used my leather punch to make even holes for the cord to lace through.

Voila! A quick hat expansion.

FROM HERE TO THERE

Ever since getting this vintage tasseled leather jacket a few years ago i've slowly been trying to make it more user-friendly. I am not a biker. I wish i were, but alas, i'm just not that badass. Therefore, a full on tasseled leather biker jacket comes off as Halloween-y when i wear it. The first step towards wearability was to turn it into a vest. The arms were fully tasseled, á la A.Wang's fringed leather sweatshirt from a few seasons back, so removing them was an easy decision. . . Alas, even with the jacket in vest form it still wasn't quite "me."

So when I was in Maine earlier this month and I found an ill-fitting (and stain ridden) patterned jacket on the $1 rack at a thrift store, I saw potential. I decided to sew a panel of the B&W patterned material onto the back of the vest to give it a more casual look. I also added some of the fabric to this jacket as well. . .

vintage leather jacket : bdg tee : vintage Levis : diy leather sandals : faux pashmina

Chimeras

My boyfriend came home from the farm yesterday with a heaping bag full of basil. He plopped it onto the counter and said, "Let's make pesto while listening to this crazy Radiolab episode i started while tractoring." Seriously, have sexier words ever been spoken?

Anyway, the story was about this woman who, after having DNA testing done on herself and her children to see if they were a match for an organ transplant, discovered that her children's DNA didn't match her own. Their DNA matched her husbands, but somehow, even though she had literally given birth to them, it did not match hers. . . and we all know from basic biology that this doesn't add up. After her doctor did extensive testing and research (but not before she was accused of a baby swap/theft), it was discovered that she was a chimara: someone with two sets of DNA due to a fusing of two embryos. How crazy is that? Some of her organs have one set of DNA and the others have another! She is basically her own twin. Listen to the story HERE

When i saw the collage below, by Maria Aparicio Puentes, it reminded me of the Radiolab story i'd heard.

Below is an illustration of a mythological Chimera (what the medical condition is named after). It's composed of the parts of multiple animals: Lion, snake, and goat.

. . . and this is the lunch I made us yesterday.

THE OTHER SISTER

. . . and nope, not talking about that terrible Juliet Lewis movie. I'm speaking of my other sister, Josie (see last image for furry visual). She's my parents' dog and we like to hang out now and then.

knit: vintage // jeans: Ralph Lauren//sandals: vintage .50 cent yard sale find // bracelet: Rackk and Ruin // bra: Gap

I hope you guys don't mind all the "detail shots," cause that's about all i'm able to manage by holding my iPhone held at arm's length while trying to make it look like someone else took the photos. . . (don't be fooled though, twas moi!)

This woven LEATHER shirt is one of my very favorite pieces. I got it about a year ago on Etsy and couldn't be more happy with it. I my pile of clothes were ever to be photographed by one of the many "peep in yo closet" blogs i'd definitely make sure this little number got captured. It reminds me of something Mad Max would wear when he was feeling feminine.

I'm also pretty psyched that i'm able to fit into these RL jeans again. I got them years ago after seeing/loving them on my friend Julia. Sadly, they stopped fitting once i stopped exercising. Well thank God for the YMCA (and "Butts and Guts" Weds mornings).

YARD-SALE SATURDAY

Eric and I had a huge yard-sale this past Saturday. . . we've lived in the same house for almost five years now and things just have a way of accumulating. It felt amazing to get rid of so much extraneous stuff . . . and have a wad of cash to show for it. Eric's sister is studying abroad in Switzerland this fall (and then finishing her studies in Morocco) so i'd love to use the $$ to go visit. Ideally we'd start in Switzerland and make our way down/over to Morocco. . . hitting up northern Italy, southern France, the east coast of Spain and then into Africa. Hoop dreams.

I took a couple photos of our friends who stopped by and the loot they left with. An old army helmet, vintage Micky Mouse ears, and an old hat and RayBans. Everything looked so much better on them that it wasn't too hard to say good-riddence.

COMFORT IS KEY

My very favorite ring. I got it at an antique store in Waterbury, VT . . .bargaining it down from $10.

Gap sunglasses // everything else vintage

When I saw these pants for sale at the Lower East Side Flea market a few months ago I snatched them up. I think they were originally meant to be worn as pajamas so I've been trying to find different non-pajama ways to wear them. Basically thinking WWDD (what would Daria do). . . I might end up taking in the legs a little below the knee so they aren't quite as baggy. I also pulled these leather flats out of the back of my closet. The left shoe speaks a little bit but they were my grandmother's and i refuse to let them collect too much dust.

SUNDAY SAILING

Voila! The Isabel Marant lookalike shirt i thrifted. Tighter neck, but will give you the exact same tanned body circles as the $600 one.

My Momma!! So stoic up front . . . looking out for icebergs and such.

From personal

Totally jealous of this passing boat's sail.

watermelon + wind = multitasking

Gap bathing suit & sunglasses // vintage mesh shirt // Old Navy skirt // vintage hat

I got to spend a couple hours on Sunday sailing around Lake Champlain with my parents in their sailboat before i had to go in to work. I hadn't been sailing in years and i'd totally forgotten just how fun it is. So much more quiet than being on a motor boat. My mom packed watermelon, cherries, San Pellegrino Orange, and sandwiches. I think i might have to start crashing their sailing dates more often. . .