Taking on a New Name

Taking on a New Name

So there are such idiosyncratic things about getting married. Things you probably never fantasized about as a little girl when you saw yourself in a big white dress, things your mind probably couldn't even comprehend at such an age.

Take for example, the name change. Such a romantic idea right? I will be folded into the arms of my new family, my first name soon to be cozied up against the surname their family has carried for millenia, marking me as part of their clan.

Which is true. And I'm waiting with great anticipation for this name cozying to occur.

On the other hand, I'm facing a bit of an identity crisis. On paper, I will not be the person I have been for the last 25 years. No matter how you slice it, hyphenate it, middle-name-your-maiden-name it, I won't be Rachel ____ ________ anymore. And it feels a little strange.

Guys, they pop out a ring, they put it on your hand, and then they sit back to taste some wedding cake and catering samples when asked (ok I'm being a bit dramatic, the bf has been amazing in all the planning, heart you bf!).They're still comfortably propped up by the name that has known them since birth, and so they contentedly snack away. Us girls, we are expected to do something only otherwise associated with a life of crime. That is, to become an AKA.

An AKA. It sounds so mysterious and exciting. And I am mysteriously excited about my new last name and all the meaning it brings with it. I just want to point out to all the girls out there, doodling in your notebooks. Writing his name, your name, both names. Circling these names and writing his last name, forever joining you in pink ink.

When you actually reach the stage when its real, your feelings can be more complicated than any doodles in a notebook could explain. Unless that is, you are a reaallly talented doodler.

Dramatic points aside, I found something that might ease this transition a bit. A simple thing that started this whole thought process in my mind.

A cute little clay pocket totem from HandyMaiden on Etsy. An object to be an emblem of our family ancestry (apparently that's one definition of a totem is according to my good friend Webster).

What? A little pocket Ocelot all my own to carry around with me?

Peace out last name, it's been nice knowing ya'

O.M.G Love Art; Jane Mount's Ideal Bookshelf

O.M.G Love Art; Jane Mount's Ideal Bookshelf

She actually hand writes a note to you. LOVE!

So I know I've already mentioned I go every which way for a piece of art that speaks to me.
Imagine my excitement when I found the amazing art series by Jane Mount called The Ideal Bookshelf.(did I mention I was also a Comparative Literature major in college?)

The Ideal Bookshelf chronicles exactly that, your dream world of literary adventures.

From side by side fashion faves to rows and rows of Harry Potter, to classics like Lolita and Don Quixote, her work embraces and exudes the idiosyncrasies of each bibliophile, everywhere.  And if you don't see your bookshelf for sale, she'll make it!

I recently received my personal purchase of a wonderful list of cookbooks and culinary favorites that I am proud to display in my kitchen.

Please check her out. As an art lover and a supporter of the dying art of paper print, Jane Mount is a rockstar goddess to me.

Parisian Dreams

Parisian Dreams

I was drunkenly stumbling around the blogosphere the other day, when I discovered what I consider to be a buried treasure.

I was over at Oh, So Darling and I came across the Etsy shop Oxford is Heaven, described as custom Marie Antoinette shoes. I gasped. My own unique pair of Marie Antoinette inspired shoes? Well I need them to trek around Paris right?

Then I remembered that since this Paris trip was a last minute decision, and much savings was spent on just the plane & studio, I will be living on mere pennies a day until we leave. This is so I will save money to be able to spend, spend, spend there.

So downtrodden, I looked at the pricing. To my shock her designs range from $20-40!
But again, mere pennies here. So I will have to wait.
But you don't! Please go check her store out.
Or her Flickr, as since she does custom designs her store doesn't display all her beautiful work!
And if you love me, buy me something & ship it to Santa Barbara (mom, are you reading this?)

It's The Most Beautiful Time of the Year

It's The Most Beautiful Time of the Year

It's the holiday season, which can only mean two things:

1. I will struggle not to consume all the baked goods and carb filled treats put in my face both day and night.
2. I will be on a socially acceptable spending spree, spending hours purchasing *gifts* for *other people* (really on a search to find pretty things for myself to wear to Christmas parties!)

Of course I will also be recording every claymation Christmas special, perusing recipes to find the next big "tradition" in our house, and hopefully getting sloshed at a few fabulous soirees.
At the very least I will be sitting in front of the tube sipping some bubbly watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, oh and can't forget every girl's favorite White Christmas!

Back to my original point. The next few months I will be trying to A. stay skinny (or get skinny, whichever) and B. get pretty (or stay pretty). In this wonderful spirit I wanted to share a few preemptive purchases I've made to make my season just a little bit brighter (also, my face).

Lorac Baked Matte Satin Blush in Flaunt

I've been trying to build my make-up collection to cater to my skin tone & hair color, instead of just grabbing the newest color that doesn't really flatter me. I'm loving my new Lorac Blush in Flaunt. Nice cool pink for my super white skin! Its really bright, which at first scared me. But it goes on pretty sheer, allowing you to choose the intensity you want.

Nars Funny Face Lipstick

Best color ever. Bright pink with blue undertones you would think its shocking based on the intensity but its so flattering! I love it. Thanks to Diamonds & Tulle who turned me on to this stuff :)

 Lipstick Queen "Saint Wine"

I really like this brand for multiple reasons. For one, I love the art deco packaging! But more importantly I like her "saint/sinner" lines. "Saint" is a more sheer version of the color, while "Sinner" is more robust. I bought the Saint "Wine" color and it's so nice. Goes on like lipstick but the color is very soft, perfect for work. I think she describes it as 20% color. If you love the color but want more, just purchase the sinner counterpart!

Clinique Eye Duo #28 Seashell Pink & Fawn Satin

Ok this is an oldie but a goodie.  This is the first eye shadow I was ever allowed to wear, when I was 13 my mom took me to the Clinique counter and said "only something that looks natural" which of course I was so mad about because I wanted every color in the rainbow. Now I can appreciate (some) simpler things in life and this is definitely one of them! I also buy the Dark Chocolate liner from them to pair with this.

Screen Printed Make Up Bag from Etsy

All my new holiday make up really needs a pretty container. . .

Vintage Beauty Case from Etsy

So want to fill this with make up, or  just display it at my house!

Ok so now you know my beauty *secrets* for the holidays. What are yours?

O.M.G. Love: I Heart Cheese Prints

O.M.G. Love: I Heart Cheese Prints

Monjojo

Kilroyandma

LucilesKitchen

I am a firm believer

that cheese makes the world a better place

When you eat cheese you aren't thinking

wow, that person really hurt my feelings today.

You are thinking: ooh what is this symphony of flavor happening in my mouth?

and:

how can I make this wonderful thing happen again?

So it is that the cheese continues to find it's way past your lips

until you can't handle any more

and you ultimately collapse upon yourself

having been defeated

by the amazingness of cheese

Am I the only one this happens to?

Dreaming of Degas

Dreaming of Degas

 Image 1 & 3, Image 2

There is nothing better than a good Degas.

The muted colors.

The soft shades.

The moodiness.

The flow.

The movement.

Makes me wish my mom had sent me

to those ballet classes

so I could be one of them

 

A Dancer.

Check out BalletArt on Etsy for the last four images.

Gorgeous no?

The Vodka Drinker

The Vodka Drinker

They call her, the vodka drinker.

Which is funny because that's my nickname!

Hello Again, M'Ladies. . . .

Hello Again, M'Ladies. . . .

It is that time of week again, Wednesday. The day when I am still climbing that ridiculously steep mountain known as the work week, and I'm almost to the top. Not quite though, and my legs are burning. I really want to just give up & head back down. I comfort myself  in these times with the memory of the paychecks I get every two weeks, and that's alright by me!

Well big news. Our fundraising event went spectacularly! So lovely & we raised a lot of money. Woohoo!
Also, our street fair has come and gone. Whew what a relief.  It was quite an experience. Our booth looked great!

Since I consider you all some of my oldest & dearest friends (whom I've never met :) I'll tell you the truth of the matter; it could have gone better. Ugh I know right! I should have spinned it & told you all it was amazing. But I don't lie too much on here and I dont want to start now lol.
Like I said, our booth looked awesome. People were coming by asking all about our decor etc.
On the negative side, the fair was put together by the Chamber of Commerce & was much more business & informational geared than it was an arts & crafts event. Lots of local businesses handing out flyers, hospitals, firefighters, etc. Not the type of people who want to buy embellished hair goods
Basically there were a lot of little old ladies stopping by to waste away an afternoon.
But it was fun! Great to spend time with my good friend, & thanks to support of friends, family, & our lovely shoppers I would say it was a success!
Definitely a learning experience, and I honestly think if we were participating in a more appropriate venue, such as specifically an arts & crafts show, or even a farmers market-esque event, we would have just killed!
Ok, more exciting news, the etsy shop is open! However at this exact moment it is empty, haha or at least on my end.
So tonight my task is take pictures of every single hair thing & post it for your viewing/shopping pleasure!
Honestly some beautiful things, it was hard for my friend and I not to just sell out all our items to each other!
So, get excited. I will update you within the next couple of days when everything is up and running.
I'm thinking I'll even be doing a big **GIVEAWAY** this week to honor our opening.(ps if I owe you a mail exchange item, aka Taj Acosta & Laura Loo, I haven't forgotten!!!)

If you forgot that I blog, (because honestly, I know, it's been that long) come back and remember me! I haven't forgotten any of you, and I will be making the rounds to catch up on all your lovely lives.
Below are some images of our fundraising event, because it was just so gorgeous it's almost unbelievable.
Pictures of the fair to follow soon too!

Haha I swear the event was packed, I just didn't want to post pictures of people who attended, in case they would be uncomfortable about it. Also I didn't want to show all our silent auction items up close for the same type of reason! So this is just a taste. Isn't it great! Sometimes I love my job. :)

** The photos from this post were taken by photographer Scott Gibson. Not me!
You all know I'm no professional! :)
He came across this here blog & pointed out my error.
Many apologies! & kudos to his photography skills

I Feel the Earth Move Under My Feet

I Feel the Earth Move Under My Feet

I feel the sky tumbling down.

I have fallen in love with this gorgeous geode jewelry.

Something about geodes makes me feel like

I can sense the vastness of the universe.

I know. Weird. You're like Rachel, please spare us your strange hippie ramblings.
Don't worry, I will. :)

These are by Jacquie Aiche jewelry & Kimberly McDonald jewelry

Beautiful, but pricey.

Thank god for Etsy who has some paired down versions.

Retsina

Iris Jewelry Design

Not bad for a tenth of the price :)

Spring is in the Air

Spring is in the Air

and it could, someday soon, be in your hair! (I know I need to stop with this whole rhyming thing lol)

Working on some new brighter, springier, & more kid friendly hair-things.

Betsey Johnson-esque

Just about a month until the faire. Then it will be available on Etsy & you are more than welcome to shop! :)

O.M.G Love, JKL Designs

O.M.G Love, JKL Designs

L.O.V.E.

She also has cool photography

So me! Haha at least in my mind I'm this cool

Check out JKL Designs on Etsy

Thanks Simple Blueprint for introducing me!

Tea for Two

Tea for Two

Some as much as I deny it, I'm a crafty person.  I make hairclips, which surprisingly enough some people like.  In May my good friend and I will be in a street fair peddling our wares so I've been slaving away to get ready (not nearly as much as I should be).  I hope you enjoy the below, the outcome of my work so far.  Have a seat and sip some tea! And please, to save me from public shaming, let me know what you think.

On a side note, if you do enjoy what you see it will be available in an online Etsy shop very soon or you can contact me via email for some personalized items.

Hope you enjoyed the viewing; bows, feather clips, and hand-braided hippie headbands--oh my!

Ah the weekends almost over, boo.

Hope yours was good, mine was :)