OOTD: Efflorescent

I gave you a little sneaky-peek at this dress in Monday's post, but I'm super excited to share the real deal. Florals are really growing on me. Not that I didn't love them before, I just couldn't see myself wearing them. Ridiculous, I know. I bought this one without trying it on, figuring if it didn't fit I could resell it. I know it's a bit frumpy, but I love the dress so much I don't even care. It could just be that the dress itself is a tad too small for me, like the last floral find, but, like that one, I have plans to modify this dress because it looks fine with the back open as well. I will be a walking curtain once again, and I'll feel like a hippy fairy princess while doing it. Especially with my first floral crown of adulthood to wear it with. But more on that another day.

Honestly though, if you had told me I'd be this into floral anything three years ago I would have laughed in your face. But here we are, another dress, another print full of flowers. It's becoming an addiction. Perhaps I need an intervention (Please don't intervene, I'm having too much fun with this!)

I feel as though my personal style has evolved with my personality. I'm much less afraid of new things than I used to be, much more open to people and experiences nowadays. And while I still feel most comfortable, and most "me" in a floor length skirt and corset, I'm pushing myself to stop staying within the limits of my comfort zone and start wearing the things I've only ever coveted, like pink princess party dresses and, yes, floral prints. I keep forgetting you guys have yet to see the darker side of my wardrobe. Part of the reason I started this blog was to figure myself out, to push my comfort zone, to try new things and document the process. Essentially, to help me become the person I want to be. So it's been all about the new things here, not the old. One day, when I get my own clothing back, that part of me may trickle in here, but for now it's all about the new. And the new includes this dress. Even though these photos were taken a month ago when my hair was still pretty. And these glasses were still in one piece. A lot can happen in a month.

Derpin' as usual

*Details:
Dress - Thrifted - Tag reads "This is Yours San Francisco"
Shoes - Thrifted
Makeup bag/Clutch - Thrifted - Ysatis de Givenchy
Glasses - Firmoo (affiliate link)
Flower - Dollar store (I'm super fancy)

I'm counting down the hours until 7pm today. Paramore and Fall Out Boy await! 

currently listening to: "Sugar We're Goin' Down" by Fall Out Boy

OOTD: Flower Power

 

Holy dandelions batman! You would not believe what the yard looks like. We don't have a lawn, we have a giant dandelion patch. I think it's wonderful since dandelions are my favourite flower after tiger lilies. And yes, I said flower. I think they're pretty, and poorly pegged as a nuisance, and I feel bad for them. Dandelions need love too. Much like a lot of the clothing I found myself sifting through at Value Village last month.

I went out looking for a dress to wear to my best friend's birthday, and boy oh boy were there slim pickings. When I went looking for formal dresses three months earlier there were racks upon racks of clubwear. When I went looking for clubwear there was nothing but formals! C'est la vie.

I didn't end up finding anything to wear for Girly's shindig, but I did come across this little number. I almost didn't snag this baby. Someone must have put it back after I'd been through the aisle. I was feeling defeated, but decided to go back and give the dresses one more rifle-through hoping I might have missed something, and I'm oh so glad I did. I am in love with this dress.

Yes, I do feel like a walking curtain, but I feel like a pretty walking curtain, and that's what counts! Never have I been more glad that someone put a piece of clothing back. It is pretty obvious that it's too small, I've actually got to wear the zipper down a bit. The good news is I have a simple plan to modify it. Since the shape looks okay when it's undone in the back I'm going to sew eye-hooks down the zipper seam on the inside so I can lace a ribbon through them, corset style. That way, if I ever do get rid of it (doubtful!) they can be easily removed without doing damage to the fabric.

Speaking of being in love with things, how cute is this cross-stitch wallet? I find myself being less and less of a purse girl every day. I used to be one of those people with the giant-ass bag that would knock you over as I passed by (Confession: I still use one for work and I hate it with a passion) but lately I've been really into clutches and cute wallets. And I think this one takes the cake. Thank you for having awesome taste Grandma!

Details:

Dress: Thrifted (Handmade)

Shoes: Thrifted (Originally Tommy Hilfiger. My guess is 90's)

Wallet: Vintage (From Grandma)

Glasses: Firmoo (Affiliate Link)

Derpy pose is derpy. What is that posture!?

currently listening to: This Silence Kills by Dillon

Insects Galore

Welcome to one of my stranger hobbies. I collect bugs. Yeah, yeah, I know "gross" right? Or maybe you're asking yourself if this blog is actually run by a nine year old boy (I assure you it's not!). I can't help myself, I think insects of all kinds are kind of fascinating, and totally beautiful. Except earwigs. I draw the line at earwigs. I like seeing those from a distance. Behind shatterproof glass. While wearing a bio-hazard suit. Ahem.

 I don't have very many bugs in my collection right now, but I'm always adding to it. So far only two of them have found their way into display jars, but I'm hoping to get them all set up as soon as I can. I never kill them, only collect insects I find already dead so it's slow going. I've had my eye out for a dragonfly for a long while, figuring it was only a matter of time before I found one considering the fact that we have hundreds buzzing around on any given day in the spring, and sure enough I came across a beautiful one a couple weeks ago. I have yet to display him (her? I don't know how to identify them) properly. I can't decide If I'd like to pin or preserve in a jar yet... Oh well, enough rambling on about this, see for yourself:

Okay, okay, it's another obsession...

 I've gotten into the bad habit of bringing nature indoors. I have (what is beginning to become "far too many") pressed plants laying about that I haven't gotten around to storing or displaying yet. My mum, who does not appreciate my bug obsession, has even gotten into it a bit, bringing in butterflies and wings when she finds them while walking the dog. Sometimes I think she has better luck than I do in her finds! I have a feeling this is one hobby The Boyfriend isn't going to be too impressed with, haha

The tinier the better!

I think mushrooms are pretty interesting too. I've been experimenting with different ways to save them.

Petals from my mum's Easter Tulips and a trillium I found slightly squished into the ground

Don't be fooled by the flower petals masking the nature of the contents, that container houses a couple lady bugs, a beetle, and a bunch of wasps all waiting to be jarred.

Paint on my hands? What paint on my hands? Shh, focus on the pretty stuff

Edgar and Ethan with a shell. Yes I name my bugs. This just got a whole lot weirder didn't it?

One good thing that has come of this, other than having pretty bugs on display of course, is that the more I research different insects and attempt to learn about ones I find, the less afraid of creepy-crawlies I am in general. Once they pass a certain size though, all bets are still off. I'll be hightailing it out of there (in my imaginary biohazard suit and shatterproof human-size hamster ball) as fast as I can go.

 I don't have my sand collection set up, but I like to take a tiny bit of sand from beaches that I visit. I'm trying to think of a good way to display it along with shells and rocks I've hung on to. I'm thinking of shadow boxing things based on where I picked them up...but that's a post for another day. For now, if you are willing to, please save me dead bugs! Wow that sounds odd, even to me haha. 

Stay Scary,
Berlyn

Grandpa's Backyard

I rarely hang out in the backyard when we're over at Grandpa's for family gatherings, but I love it back there so much. It's peaceful, and there are little treasures to be found everywhere, and they tend to leap out at you when you've got a camera in your hands. Take the shell for example, which happens to be my favourite shot of the day, tied with the mushrooms. If I remember correctly it was about the size of the nail on my pinky finger, tucked away in a log being used as a planter. It's amazing the stuff you come across when you train your eyes to look at things from different perspectives (thank you Mr D!). I think my favourite parts also include the texture of the soil around the shell, the "curls" of the petals on the dandelion, and the "hair" on the leaves in the second large photo.

Floral Frenzy

Sweater: Thrifted - originally from Ricki's
Shirt: Old tanktop from Walmart
Skirt: Vintage My mum has had this skirt since the mid 80's and I'm so glad I inherited it!
Belt: Thrifted
Tights: Vintage Another piece of my mum's old wardrobe
Shoes: Thrifted G21 brand (I know Walmart carries it here in Canada)
Jewelry: Etsy/handmade Sweater clips from a pair of earrings

I can't wait to brag about JulieXu! I've ordered from her shop on two occasions now and couldn't be happier with both the products and the delivery time. Both the necklace and stag stud earrings (which I turned into sweater clips) are from her shop.

Saturday was the party held for my grandfather's 92nd birthday. As with our other family gatherings, it was hot, loud, and crowded... and I wouldn't have it any other way. We're sort of a crazy bunch ;) I had another outfit planned for the occasion, but the beautiful summer weather we've been graced with suddenly vanished Friday evening, so I went with this instead. I really dig this skirt, and tend to wear it pretty often. I was pretty happy with the whole day, especially since I got to share it with The Boyfriend the day before our anniversary. The cake being delicious didn't hurt either!

I figured since I go through styles as often as I go through hair colors I may as well keep track of my favourite outfits on this new online niche of mine. Happy Tuesday!

Stay Scary,
Berlyn

I'm still tweaking away at Myopic Squid, I'll have my about me page up soon. Yay progress!