Mod Monday- Moonrise Kingdom

B and I went on a dinner and movie date Friday and saw Moonrise Kingdom. I loved it. Wes Anderson is one of my favorites (my freshman college roomie and I used to fall asleep to The Royal Tennenbaums 60% of the time). The whole movie was muted in that fantastical 60's era coloration. Anderson's Mise-en-scène is pretty brilliant, you could pause the movie at any given point and you would have a hang-able work of art. We noticed many of the scenes were very symmetrical, but I think that is just Anderson's style.

Alternative Movie poster snagged from HERE

I like to think that Suzy and Sam were what Ben and I were when we were little. Suzy with her books and records, and Sam with his mad outdoor skillz. I could just see little Ben on his canoe navigating through the woods. I am seeing a very potential Halloween costume in the works and Lox Papers has put together the perfect board so I can shop for Suzy. Anyone know where to get a Khaki Scout uniform for Ben?


Its a perfect movie to get you in the summer mood. I highly recommend this film. I will definitely see it again.

Dance Party Friday- Yelle

I have been jammin to this song during my workouts this week. I have NO IDEA what they are saying but it's got a fun beat. Happy Friday Y'All, have a good weekend. And thanks to my brother Brandon for introducing me to this music group!!

Mod Monday- Tips for buying vintage clothing

I am pretty comfortable buying a antique/vintage piece of furniture. I got the mad skills/tips/insight handed down to me from generations of women in my family. My aunt is an antique dealer after all. But one thing I have never felt terribly comfortable buying is clothing. Don't get me wrong, I can pick out a gem, but sometimes I am a little rushed and can't try something on so I hold it up, and go "yea, I'm that size" then I get it home and WRONG, it is not the right size.
That is where my friend Angelica comes in (that's her up there in the vintage Pucci, jealous?). She is a master at buying vintage clothing and the last couple outings I have gone on with her, she has taught me some tremendous tips. So I asked Angelica to pass this knowledge on to you.

Without further ado... Angelica's tips:

Vintage shopping can be quite an ordeal for some of us. How many times have we vintage fashionistas uttered the phrase, "That would never fit me...women were just much smaller back then!" Well, women back then used cinchers, corsets, cone bras, and other undergarments meant to tuck and nip every little flaw. Now, let's be reasonable. Most of us simply don't find practicality in these things anymore. With fashion being more comfort-oriented these days, the vintage clothing can be constricting, matronly, gaudy, and really hard to shop for. So, I am offering a few tips to help make it easier!

1. A good seamstress is everything! Take the time to find yourself a trustworthy seamstress. Most vintage clothes can be altered to fit well, but it is essential that you find someone who has experience with vintage fabric and clothing, and can help you get the most out of your purchases. Often, a simple hem, shortening of sleeves, or widening of a neckline is all you need to modernize and freshen up a vintage frock. Which brings me to my next tip...

2. Use your imagination! Sometimes, vintage shopping requires you to think outside the box. Long, bulky dresses can be shortened, necklines can be altered, stains can be removed, buttons can be replaced, and rips in seams can be repaired. Re-styling is also an option for the more matronly, outdated vintage pieces. Again, a good seamstress can help in this department. If you love the fabric or pattern on a piece that is unwearable, it can be re-used to make something new, like a headband, a belt, jewelry...there are lots of possibilities!

3. Know your measurements! Vintage clothing sizes don't run the way modern sizes do. In fact, just ignore the sizes on the tags. Often, they don't reflect current sizing standards. It's essential to know your measurements (bust, waist, and hip), and to carry a tape measure with you when going shopping (this works great at estate sales, where there is no dressing room). This way, you can measure the garment, and know whether or not it will likely fit, saving you time in the dressing room. You can allow a little leeway for the more stretchy fabrics.

4. Bring a Good Friend! This is one of my favorite tips. Shopping with an extra set of eyes can be both useful and fun. You can give each other honest opinions on the fit and look of a garment, and advise each other on those super-hard decisions. Having a gal (or guy) pal with you that knows your style and dress habits can increase your chances of walking away with some great pieces, as well as walking away from a potentially unwise purchase!

So, what are your tips? Please share!

photo above taken by Rachael Laine 

I'm spinning for joy cause it's Friday!

It's been a long productive week, but I am ready for the weekend. Since it has been a bit of a nutty week, I am looking forward to the Big Folkin Fest tomorrow, spending some time outdoors and catching up on a few of my fave blogs, old and new.

If you are into clickin' around on the web this weekend, may I suggest a few of my new TXSC friends?
Cardigan Junkie
Triple Max Tons/ (and be totally jealous of her weekend)
Cactus Collective
Those Tricks
Dress with Courage
Greetings from Texas
The Bolder The Better
Uncharted Style

 Happy Weekend!
xx

It's in the details- Texas Style Council Recap #1

This being my first blogger conference, I assumed there would be some well dressed ladies, but good God, I was like a kid in a candy shop of inspiration!! I really appreciate the girls that matched their outfits to their cards... Molly's nails matched perfect! It helped me remember.

All weekend long, it seemed like I was zoning in on the details of peoples outfits. And man there was a PLETHORA of goodness. Hilary and I were good partners in crime all weekend. We figured out she was good at taking in how a person would put something together overall and I would zoom in on a  fabulous jewel or detail of a garment.

Joanne rocks a very monochromatic scheme with a pop of blue; and Metsy had a blingin' fun red necklace.

I also realized that once I got home and was going through my photos that I really need to be a better journalist and A- write down who is wearing what (its hard to remember who someone is by their hands). B- note where they got it from so I can share with you guys. DUH, seems like blogger 101 right? Clearly I get all distracted by pretty and sparkly things--insert blonde joke here--

Rocquelle had some serious hairdos and that pearl necklace rocks; Jesse's feather plume fascinator is right up my alley; OMG who's rock ring is that?!oh, it is Haley's ring!; Joanna's lace top and fun belt totally pulled her LBD together; Merl, you have some mad necklace skillz. I want that.

So here are a few of my faves that I could actually identify... well except for that bad ass ring. who does that belong to?! I LOVE it. It is Haley's ring! Thanks for identifying that Metsy.

Sarah had the most amazing Twiggy lashes

Anne was sketching away, I am so in awe. She posted a few of her sketches so you should check those out!

Modern day Polaroid... Instaprint

If you are as addicted to Instagram as I am... YOU WILL LOVE THIS. Kickstarter just put up a new product called the Instaprint, you can go check it out on their page for all the info. But in a nutshell, it is a modern day polaroid in which you snap a photo with your Instagram app, set a # for your Instaprint machine and anytime anyone on Instagram uses that hashtag... IT PRINTS TO YOUR MACHINE. What the what?! so flipping cool.

On their site right now, you can tag an existing Instagram photo with #instaprint and you can watch your photo print live. That's my photo!
Of course I thought this would be the perfect thing for Ben and I's wedding, so I went ahead and backed the project. You should too. Let's make it happen.

1 month Blog hiatus... OVER! & my #febphotoaday challenge

It started by me being busy, then manifested into days and days going by with no posts. So about halfway through the month, I decided to keep going with my non-posting. It was kinda refreshing and I feel like I am a little more inspired. You could however, have found me over on Instagram everyday because I was doing the #febphotoaday challenge (via FatMumSlim). So, here you go. Here is my month of February in 29 photos.

Above going clockwise from top left: 1: Your view today-Oak Cliff; 2: words- White Rock Lake; 3: Hands- HID; 4: A "fabulous" stranger

clockwise from top left:: 5: 10 am; 6: dinner; 7: button; 8: sun- downtown Dallas

clockwise from top left:: 9: front door; 10: self portrait; 11: something that makes you happy-Buddy; 12: inside your closet

 clockwise from top left:: 13: blue; 14: heart; 15: phone; 16: something new

 clockwise from top left:: 17: time- party "time"!; 18: drink; 19: something I hate to do- dishes; 20: something I ate

 clockwise from top left:: 21: a fave photo of me- and Callie; 22: where I work; 23: my shoes; 24:inside my bathroom closet

top left:: 25: green; bottom left 26: night;  top middle: 27: something I ate; top right 28: money; bottom left 29:  something I am listening to- fans at the Stars game

There you go! I promise March will be better. AND I am so looking forward to The Texas Style Council in Austin next weekend!! woot!

Vegas via Instagram

I have been entirely reliant on my Instagram app to document this trip to Vegas (especially after my Rebel battery died during the Chinese New Year celebration). I feel like it gives the perfect vintage funk to this city... don't you agree? Here are some of my faves. If you have seen these already, my apologies.

Chinese New Year Celebration at the Bellagio

You can follow me on Instagram @little_ekd

A lovely Sunday in NYC

Sunday we had a day off in NY since the building is closed so Seth and I decided to go play in the city.  Started the day with this lovely view from our hotel window... you can see the Freedom Tower being built in the middle at the very back of the photo. Then we met my friend Jen and went to the Guggenheim to see the Maurizio Cattelan exhibit. Pretty dark and humorous stuff, totally interesting and I highly recommend it.

Then we went for a run/walk through Central Park where we got to make these GIANT bubbles...(the photo below is our demonstrator... the guy runnin the bubble show).

 

The morning of athletics was quickly ruined when we stopped for Pop Burger then headed to Brooklyn to wander around... including SmorgasBrewery at the Brooklyn Brewery in Williamsburg. 

 

 We rounded out the day with a pop into one of my faves Artists and Fleas (where we had an unexpected participation in the filming of the web documentary Failure Club). Then onto a lovely dinner at the Two Door Tavern with Jess.

2012... Day 3

It is Day 3 of 2012 and I am just starting to regroup a little bit. December was Crazytown busy, with a trip to the UK, home a couple days then to NC for Christmas and although I am now in Atlanta for work, I have had some time to flip through photos and relive and breath a little bit.

Here are just a few resolutions/goals I have for the year:

• Unplug, especially to be with the people you are in the moment with. I am normally pretty good at this, but we always have room to grow, right?
• To supplement the previous statement, meditate more... or be less of a Go-er every once in a while
• Get our Wedding planned and set a date!! (Ben.... this one will be a joint effort. love you!)
• Exercise more... even if it is just to get out to take a walk. 
• make more things... for fun. 

So what are your resolutions? Any similar to mine?
oh, and... HAPPY NEW YEAR! Here's to hoping it is fabulous for all of us.

Happy Holidays!!

Happy Holidays to you and yours!! video by Ben

A couple more shots of Hong Kong

Still recovering a little from jetlag, but lucky for me Thanksgiving is this week! So I will have some time to rest. I just wanted to briefly share a few of my favorite shots from Hong Kong. The one above was right outside our hotel and you could watch the colorful containers being brought in while you ate breakfast every morning.

This graveyard was an incredible vertical feast for the eyes.

The iconic Lion on the HK $$. On the backside are the bullet holes left by the Japanese.

Dried octopus... so weird yet typical.

Because I love graffitti... and since it's HK, it's in English.

A daytime skyline shot from the Star Ferry

Splash docking on the Star Ferry... the coolest way to get to work in Wanchai.

Hong Kong: Night Squiggles & a Local Food Outing

Remember THIS post about B and I making Night Squggles? Well, I tried it out on the Hong Kong Skyline, and man there were waaaaay more colors. Sooo cool. Plus the HK tourism board puts on a light show with music and narration every night at 8 PM. Go to Harbor City for the best view. 

For lunch today, our showroom manager Cliff took us to this authentic local HK eatery. She described it as a chinese food court... we thought it was more of a cafeteria. Let's put it this way, we were the only white people in there and HK is a pretty international melting pot. It was pretty good. I have no idea what i ate except that it was some kinda noodle dish.

A few shots of Shenzhen

In and around the city of Shenzhen... Yes that is a wig shop... With real hair.

Different blooms at the flower market.

A little rough around the edges makes the most beautiful photos.

These were all taken at the seaside nature reserve. I live the Seussical trees!!

Chinese Textures

We landed in Shenzhen today, 3rd city on our China tour. And I was so excited that I had blogger, FB and twitter back!! Yay. Must be cause we are so close to Hong Kong. Either way I thought I would share some cool textures that I have shot while here. I am especially loving all the golden Gingko trees.

Mod Monday- Mod Men Party

Happy Halloween!! I thought that it was only appropriate to post a themed party today, in case you are struggling for last minute ideas.
A few months ago, with the help from a few friends (thank you Gregg Lovell and Eric Bivins for your house and styling help and The Dallas Smoke group for your spot-on character cast) we put together a really fun Mod Men themed party for soon to debut online magazine DeerDallas. The lovely and very talented Rachael Laine (founder of DeerDallas) photographed the entire thing.

 

There was decade appropriate food, drinks, and music:: Cuba Libre, French 75 and Classic Martini for drinks. Meatballs, Cheese plate and crudites for food. Music, set your Pandora station to your favorite 60's or 50's group and let it play!

You can Check out more photos over on the DeerDallas Facebook page. Be sure to "like" them while you are at it!!

This party is totally usable not during Halloween... Perhaps an upcoming Mad Men premiere?!