Layer Up - Short over Long

It's another week of mixing things up in a new way from Keely and Megan. This time it's all about LAYERING. Today is "short sleeve over long" Usually I don't do this -- reminds me too much of 90s grunge. Gave it a try, was OK with it until I spilled yogurt all over the tee. Oops.

To see other interpretations on this, go over to Megan's page here. There, you will also find directions on how to join in. Come on, it's FUN!

Oh, and it's Visible Monday already

Where In the World: San Diego

click on images to see bigger 

here I am backstage:
pink poncho from Williamsburg
Sev's stripe tee IT IS NOW MINE
Von Dutch flaming board shorts from 90s
cobalt tights
black knee socks + clogs

Nada Surf: Matthew, Daniel, Doug, Ira
the nicest guys!

Ah, the benefits of having a rock star boyfriend -- his musician friends and their gigs! This was at 4th & B in San Diego, a cavernous space that used to be a bank.
I am a huge fan of Nada Surf. They've got a new album out - The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy. It's GREAT. Go get it!

The plot thickens...

Because I'm busy procrastinating on my Fashion Icon series, I found a really fun project that I'm going to embark upon. It's a weekly postcard challenge, based on Nick Bantock's Griffin & Sabine books. 

Step one ...create 2 characters, and 2 addresses. 
now they can be 2 guys, 2 women, a man and a woman, 2 kids, 2 old people...whatever you want. the address can be anywhere in the world as long as they are fictitious. All you need to start with is a name for each person and an address for each person

SpyGirl, as an international fashion correspondent for... have to decide on a magazine
Thrilla, awesome bassist for The Smithereens (true) on a world tour (fiction)

Step two... cut out 52 postcards. You can use whatever you want, plain card, textured card, patterned card, watercolour paper...whatever you want, as long as they are 6inches x 4 inches.
If you wish to join in every week you will need 52, you may only want to join in fortnightly, or even monthly in which case you need less cards.

Guess what I have...

a box of international postcards!
AND
a huge pile of antique cards, mostly of British scenes
(maybe Thrilla is recording in England vs world tour...
I'm figuring this out AS I TYPE)

This seems to tie in nicely with the fake wedding that I posted about yesterday. Maybe this is the communication that leads up to it? Have more of the story to figure out, obviously. Stay tuned! I've got three weeks to work on already... more procrastination!
(Not that finding distraction is ANY sort of problem for me)

If you want to read more about the Postcard Challenge, click on over to Darcy's site

I heart Him

In working on a Modcloth Pinterest challenge, I have determined the theme for my journal during April's Int'l Fake Journal Month!
Shhhh, don't tell Thrilla - he'll get all twitchy. 

You can see my secret mission on my Pinterest 

BTW, doing a fake journal is a hoot. Less pressure than a "real" journal. It's how I became SpyGirl, so I'm all for it. See all the details on fake journaling here on Roz's site.

Crazy for Cobalt

all my cobalt and sapphire garments
plus the blue tape
and the tangerine tango sketchbook

 Katy, of ModlyChic, asks about the new spring trends:
1. What are you coveting?
Anything COBALT. I was ready to love "Tangerine Tango" but I'm all into the cobalt.

2. How do you incorporate new trends into your wardrobe?
I make the old new

3. What trend are you seeing and not loving?
Nothing comes to mind... yet

4. Do you feel the pressure to constantly update your closet with the latest trends?
Nope. I dig around in my piles and usually find something that works.

5. Where do you find inspiration that takes the trend and makes it accessible to you and your personal taste?
From my fellow bloggers!

I saw a lot of cobalt on my recent trip to NY.
Perhaps it was Giants fever.

orange and blue dots in Williamsburg

the stairs in Uniqlo, 34th St

a boutique in Soho

even the Empire State got COBALT

Find links for other responses here

Good Morning Starshine

yesterday's outfit:

Where In the World: NYC

click on images to see bigger 

maybe not the "best... cakes"
but the best hot chocolate that I've ever had

underneath the fun fur
it's a Kum & Go tee (Colorado)
new Desigual skirt
new ribbed tights
new Uniqlo knee socks

the K&G carry bag was Sev's
(holding a tupperware for exporting treats)
we laughed at the coincidence

All I can say is thank goodness for the knee-length fun fur coat. I admit I bought the skirt too small -- but I HAD to have it and HAD to wear it. It drifted up to my ribcage over the course of the day. If it hadn't been for the coat, my butt would have been hanging out as I rode the 1 train to meet my pal Kim on the upper west side. The coat generously hid this fact. I made wardrobe adjustments once I got up to the restaurant.

More about the Choco Bolo experience over on the Glutton, when I get to it.
[Yelp link says it's closed. WHAT??? We were just there!]

Where In the World: DFW

click on image to see bigger 

more on this on The Glutton

Not your typical Winter Wear

It rained today, which is "Winter" on the West Side of LA
I unearthed my water "resistant" J Crew barn coat
and ski-boot style Fornarinos

Totally forgot about the "Visible Monday" thing --
wearing brights just comes naturally!
Today, a pink/red/black story.

Go check out how other IFBers spiced up their winter looks!

In the Pink

Greetings from New York!

Here is my new pink poncho (Tibetan store in Williamsburg), new argyle tights (Sockman, St Mark's Pl) pink zebra mini purse (Hot Topic, Santa Monica) styled with... my nightgown!
I'm staying at a European-style hotel, which means a shared bathroom. (2 bathrooms for 15 rooms per floor). It's also NYC radiator hot in the room, cool in the hall. My new poncho is the perfect thing to throw on when I need to run to the bathroom. The tights and shoes I've left on since going out to breakfast this morning. To much effort to remove and redon.

Now I'm about to go back out, so I'll get back into my knit dress that I'm wearing all weekend, pull up my over-the-knee socks, winterize with new pink scarf (same Tibetan store)

black fun fur coat, and hat, stripe bag + fingerless gloves which don't co-ordinate but "whatever" -- it's 30 degrees out there.

Fashion Icon - Erin

erin. phase one on portrait

Cobalt and Lime

Meet my new color obsession: COBALT! 
Today, I paired it with lime and neon yellow. 

I saw this sweater last Thursday on sale at Nordstrom's. 
Thought about it all weekend. 
Snagged it Monday after work. 
Happy. 

Yes, green socks!

Visible Monday - Standing Out from the Crowd

inspired by my Betsey Johnson tights... 

I got colorful! 

I'm wearing a roll of blue tape for the photos because
I love blue tape. Blue tape is the new duct tape.

Visible Monday is the brainchild of Not Dead Yet Style.
Go on over there and take a gander at more boldness.

Threads and Surfaces: Anne the Spygirl

pp2-3 of Threads and Surfaces sketchbook for ArtHouse 
can't use glitter in this book but 
found metallic Prang markers (not stinky!) 
at Staples in the art supply section 
click on image to see bigger 

Fridays are now officially Mydays

I changed my work schedule to be able to take a free
Qi Gong class offered by the Benjamin Center Cancer Support Community in west L.A.

sporting Jacks for agility

the class is held outdoors in Clover Park

I then went over to the Center for a special workshop
called "Paper and String" it involved drawing and live harp

the harpist, Andrea Puente
SHE IS AMAZING!
I also sketched her

Later in the afternoon,
I made tracks to my favorite beach in Playa del Rey
(the beach where I chased the moon for the eclipse)

love looking out at the ocean,
seeing the horizon,
inhaling fresh air,
hearing the waves and random birds

toes in the Pacific
COLD!
video here

If you or a loved one is dealing with cancer (either as the victim or as a caregiver) I HIGHLY recommend checking out the Cancer Support Community. It is a nation-wide organization. They provide free support in many different ways and styles. Health issues, group therapy, exercise programs, drum circles, financial advice... the list goes on and on.

"SpyGirl:In 10 Minutes" sketchbook completed

after significant searching for the fancy italian red tape... 
(purchased in providence in the 80s)

the final touch was added to the spine of the sketchbook 

ready to go postal 
it's like saying goodbye to Severo when he leaves for a gig

See the entire book here at my ArtHouse page
or here on SpyGirl with extra notes on the outfits
Will "SpyGirl: In 10 Minutes" come to your city?
Check the tour schedule

Look like fun?
A new ArtHouse Sketchbook project has started.
You have until 4/30 (completion/postmark date) to join me
my new theme is "Threads and Surfaces"

Sequins! Lurex! Shine!

my bling scarf, which FINALLY arrived from ideeli
lurex AND sequins

Elizabeth Gillett

click here for more blogging bling

The Guava Thief

under the cover of darkness,
I walked up the street,
basket in hand

poor guavas,
lying in the street, getting squished

the booty,
nestled in my old basket from oaxaca

soon they will ripen, like these lovelies