the dark passenger.

An fashion photo found/inpired by my newest guilty pleasure.  The television series DEXTER.  I dont watch much tv at all...heck i dont even pay for cable.  But i got sucked into this show via netflix and now i am absolutely hooked.  If you haven't seen it check it out.  Yes its dark. Yes its menacing.  But its also quite witty and very loveable.  Gotta love me a little showtime.  Their series tend to be pretty near flawless and catchy.

for the birds.

my boyfriend called me up the other day and asked me what my favorite animal was... i thought for a few moments and then was reminded of my childhood and how much i adored flamingos.  Mainly for their pink feathery feminine girlyness...and for there long lean legged sex appeal.  What an inspiration these beautiful birds are and can be on fashion and beauty.  After pairing these photos together i must point out my loves:

1.BIG FLOPPY BLACK HAT - never thought i'd wear one and yet now i think i must splurge...these girls wear theirs with such grace and edge.  (gotta borrow the little sisters hat and see how i ike it)

2. FEATHERS AND FUR - just can't get enough.  the textures.  the softness. the organic natural bohemian vibe. and each so very different each with a various purpose.

3. LEGS ELONGATED w/ BLACK TIGHTS AND BLACK SHOES -  an absolute must on a vary daily basis. especially fall.winter.spring in portland.  the longer and leaner and thinner the better.

4. BODY CHAIN OVER CHUNKY KNIT SWEATER - now why hadn't i thought of this one.  way to add some rock ito a very chic look.  black black black with pastels...i am loving.

5. LIGHTEST COTTON CANDY PINK HAIR - i am dying.  been absolutely craving...possibly obsessing over this hair.  The color is so soft and subtle and over my white blonde hair would blend over oh-so-well.  sexy. feminine. a bit out there but hot and IN. i may have to jump into this temporary dye job soon...before this becomes an overdone trend or before i chicken out completely. (besides how hot would this hair look wearing mostly blacks and whites and neutrals?)

kisses.

got my ciggy and my drugstore cowboy.

 happy birthday to my good good friends: Alysha Brooke  and of course Ian Ridgeway (of JUST PEOPLE).  And how we celebrated! With a glamorous trip out to the hood river hotel... which played part as the speakeasy in this 1920's murder mystery party.  Everyone came dressed to the nines... clad in vintage suits, fringe dresses, feathers, and caps. Look how dolled up everyone was.  I kinda wish i could embrace the 20's every day of my fashionable life.  It would be pretty swanky now wouldn't it.  My part for the night was that of the Flapper having an affair with the mayor... and threatening him to leave his wife or else.  My man suited up as Rocco Rabbit a detective at the scene.  Doesn't he look quite spiffy?  (with and without his moustache)

My look was put together the morning of the event in about 2 hours... whipped this baby up as a rip apart piece back together thrift store dress alteration.  Lets just say i was going for pure glamorous sex appeal.  The dress ended up slinky and short showing of those gams and my entire back.. with barely there straps and pretty much made of see through lace.  All i was wearing underneath was a pair of nude pantyhose with the seams up the back and nude lace pasties.  (boyfriend approved of course)  Oh and threw on my authentic vintage fox stole over top with my taupe suede platform pumps. Head piece was part of an old dance recital costume.

What can i say i go all out when it comes to embracing the role of the flapper... it fits me doesn't it?

photos - tylergould

hanna nissen.

found this photo (posted by a friend of mine on facebook) which i felt was such a perfect addition to yesterday's post: the "day of the dead" inspired makeup is so artistic and just plain beautifully done.  Hanna Nissen is a local portland freelance make up artist who also just happens to be absolutely striking...and models from time to time.  This girl has such an amazing talent for make up as an art which is obvious in the above shot.  Costumey without losing the soft feminine glamour of her features.

 It's only fair to show off the beautiful people and talent of the city i am from and today Hannah gets the privilege of gracing the pages of my blog.  I haven't actually met this chick but hope that in time over one of my many social events i cross paths with her and can thank her for her amazing beauty and fashion contributions to this city, and for these inspiring shots.

la calaca comelona.

Valentines Day date.  My boyfriend and i had no idea where to go this valentine's he wanted thai food... but i had just eaten it the night before.  As much as i love thai food i needed something new... so i offered up a restaurant that i had been itching to try out over the past few years.  I'd read about it in a happy hour book...and when i'd seen grasshopper tacos on the menu i knew one of these days I'd have to give it a try.  I'd seen Penelope Cruz eat sun dried crickets ala authentic mexico on the David Letterman Shw.  So off we went to La Calaca Comelona (the Hungry Skeleton) on SE Belmont.

I seriously can't even believe i ate grasshoppers!  But if Penelope can do it i can do it!!  After ordering drinks...Jordan was the first to be daring enough to just grab a grasshopper and pop it into his mouth.  I was a bit squeamish at the thought of eating legs, and head and stomachs and all... but after clearing my mind...popped one in.  Spicy...crunchy... meaty.  Actually quite good.  And in taco form hardly even detectable.

After mexican jordan talked us in to grabbing take out thai food at our favorite late night spot... Thai Peacock. (isnt this the cutest corner shop? i will have to photograph the inside next time)  yellow curry... our favorite.  mmm.

So apparently... the night was abrubtly halted by my poor boyfriend breaking out in hives and itching all over.  Who knew his shellfish allergy spans to include: cockroaches, grasshoppers, and fruit flies.  4 benedryl and one zombie movie later... jordan was knocked out and i got to finish the night cuddling next to him... awake... making sure "he was still breathing" through the night.  Mission accomplished.

All in all a valentine's day that won't soon be forgotten.

waxed.

I may have just experienced the very worst wax job ever!!... well the very worst i will ever experience in my lifetime none the less.  Oh my Oh my Oh my.  My hope is that none of you will have to go through what i just did ... save your self the pain and anguish.  I only wanted a nice cleanup job... spruce my brazil up. Needs to happen via waxing as i have a fear of razors and have discovered that frustration of ingrowns.  Another no no a classy girl wants to avoid...unless you dont mind the look of "i may have picked something up along the tacky road of loose sex and questionable shagging partners"  Both of which i can proudly say i have avoided.  None the less ready for smooth bare skin.

Knowing that my regular girl had moved and my new waxing boutique was closed for the night i was destined to try something new.  Its always weird to welcome a new face but it had to be done.  Now i have been lucky enough to snatch up a pretty good deal with all my waxing jos thus far.  Somewhere in the range of $45 or $50 which is perfect since this happens to be an every 4 week investment.  After calling around and searching yelp i found one  priced at $50 dollars and burting with good reviews.  Looked like i had found the place.  I called the The Wax Shack and got a machine and assuming the place must be closed hung up...and begrudgingly opted to call URBANWAXX.  Close to my house...good reviews... but $70.  A bummer but i made the appointmernt.  About 20 minutes later i was thrilled when the Shack called me back with an opening!  I switched appointments, grabbed a coffee and headed on my way!

When i got to the place... there was a plastic chair outside the door with a single magazine sitting there waiting for me...in a random hallway of an active space building (small entreprenuers / artists / designers / hairdressers all rent studios there)... yes i may have thought to leave right then and there as i sat in this odd bare hall but my sister rents one of these spots out and i know the deal.  While sitting waiting the gal pops outside hands me the bathroom key on a dingy plastic rubber ducky key fob "in case you need to ues the bathroom before" she says.  Um eww no not really... she doest even introduce herself just pops back inside to finish with her current client.  When she finally returns she is sending her client out the door to an atm to get cash and on the phone with the credit card comapany trying to get her machine back working.  Apparently it came unplugged and as she would later tell me over and over again throughout the appoinment she had hundreds of dollars tied up in that machine that she needed to pay the bills tomorrow.  I tried to get a vibe from her previous customer as to whether i should just walk away right then and there...but in all honesty, other then giving me a heads up about the machine being down and making sure i had cash or check she seemed satisfied and unwavered.  So i entered.

"Ok well lets just get started"she blurted still on her cell phone with the credit card company... laying down sanitary sheets.  I thought it odd that she expected me to just strip down right in front of her.. no curtain...just wham!...Good thing this wasnt my first time... or i think i'd have been scared solid from ever returning just from the mere awkwardness of this solitary moment.  I removed my clotheshaphazardly and I got on the table as she let the credit card company have it over the phone... the "fuck thats" and "oh shits" being blurted out all over the place.  Highly unprofessional for a gal of this job set to be throwing out there while dealing with a brand new client.  I know i know... shoulda gotten up right then and there but i didnt.  I dont know why.  Lord help me.

The waxing proceeded as she slathered on wax and strips all while balancing her cell phone between her chin and cheek and paying absolutely no attention to me whatsoever.  She was missing spots and having to go over places time and time again as she never gave the wax time to set... fully distracted by her phonecall.  "Fuck fuck fuck" she explains to the phone operator about how things are screwed with her machine and then as an afterthought toward me "oh don't worry if i miss any spots i will be tweezing at the end"

Oh really i didn't know i was paying for a tweeze job... i specifically remeber asking for a brazilian WAX!!  (and i have an odd suspision that tweezing is gonna lead to...oh yes... more infrowns.  ugh)

All the sudden midphonecall ( or should say midwax?.. but at this point i really just felt like i was the one inconveniencing her call) the other phone started ringing in.  "oh thats just my last client hold on" she answers the phone and gets of in seconds.  "Don't worry i'll get you a towel" she says to me.  Back to her credit card call / F-bomb session.  (Now why the heck would i need a towl?)  She throws a mini washcloth in the direction of my coochie.  Just barely big enough to cover well nothing.  Opens the door to the hallway still bitching out the lady on the phone.  Geeze...i feel i little exposed here... anyone passing by in the hallways can pretty much see in and see ME!!!... half naked ...what the hell?!  A little privacy please!  The client comes to the door, hands her some cash, she closes the door, puts it down and comes back to wax me with no bother to even rewash her hands.  Sick!  Why the heck did i not get up and leave.?.. I am still asking myself this question.

At this point she is spilling wax on my legs and pretty much things are just messy.  She jokes "oh dont worry the leg wax is free".  (Oh really thats a joke... not so funny! That was the stupidest thing i have heard... You really think i am gonna laugh? you are an idiot.  You are so dumb...seriously.  Just finish the stupid wax Ok... and get me outta here... oh and when its time to pay i am giving you NOTHING)

Pretty much the tatooed, disheveled chick never gets off the call and when she finally does she starts scrolling through her cell phone trying to find wells fargo's number... all while forgetting about ME.. the client at hand once again.  She than stops what she's doing goes to her computer to start looking up the number online.  What am i invisible?  Do you not see me sitting her stark naked on the table...at you freaking mercy?  I am furiated... at some point during the apointment thus far she has offered to give me 5 dollars off the service, i have fully learned the blatant insanity of swearing inceccently on the job, this girl is clearly incapable and inconsiderate.  I have put up with enough.  I am disgusted.  "Why don't i just go" i state... " I'm just gonna go... and you can just deal with whtever it is you are dealing with but i just can't be here anymore.  This can't be happening.  I am done"  (How the hell am i gonna squeeze back into my black tights with my half bare, wax covered brazil?  I am questioning.. I dont know but i really dont care... just gonna make it work.  Get the heck outta here)  FINALLY... this gets her attention.  She stops everything she's doing tells me she'll do my wax for free "just please let me finish.  Cuz i have a feeling if you just let me finish you will be my client for life.  You will just keep coming back cuz you will be so impressed with the job i do" (is she serious? you have got to be joking me..there is no way after this appointment i would EVER set foot back in her space. and i have every intention of going onto yelp and writing up a horrid review)  She continues the wax...and somehow thinks it justified to tell me a story about another lady who demanded her money back as a way to calm my nerves??

She finishes... removes a few ingrowns with a needle (that of course now i am uber worried about the sanitation conditions of) I look at her wax pots there looks to be no cross contamination but there is wax and dust everywhere and i am hoping that there is not hair mixed with all the dust.  I dont even want to think about it and i certainly dont want to slather on the cooling creme and oil she gives me at the end and she is sadly mistaken in the thought that if she can just relate with me over twin sister stories and horoscopes she might be able to win me over. "oh by the way i am a twin too" and "oh a pisces i knew there was a reason why i liked you and we get along so well"  (really... cuz i actually dont like you at all and if you call this getting along you are crazy or at eh least on drugs)  And then in a last ditch effort throws out a sob story about her boyfriend in the hospital and how she was there the entire night before.  Oh poor you lady... sorry i dont have your sympathy... You just visited my brazil and lemme say i didnt like it.  infact i feel quite uncomfortable about it.

the only plus of the entire experience?   i guess was the free wax... but really at this point i'd rather have just paid up the $70 at urbanwaxx to leave with piece of mind.  Well i suppose you get what you pay for.




Last words:  "AVOID THEWAXSHACK.COM !"

and i know some say this day is arbitrary.

i say it's a special day.  couples... loved ones... family... friends.  show love and appreciation for one another.  no sense why so many singles have such an issue with this day.  we can all have this day.  show a little love. a perfect excuse to just be happy.  be in one anothers company...cozy... sweet... complete.  Love is encouraged.  Be it secret admirer or boyfriend or couple of 50 years.  Celebrate Valentines Day.  It's a good excuse to put our love to use and simply love.

I  for one couldn't be more thrilled with the day and the absolute sweetness of the boy in my life.  A very simple valentine's day... but a good one nonetheless.  My boyfriends gift to me this year was a box of red velvet cupcakes dipped in chocolate berry ganoche frosting.  and Oh my.   He did good... one bit into the first cupcake and i practically melted.  Hooked.  I think these are actually better than any mainstream cupcake i have ever eaten.  There's a perfect balance of real food taste mixed with the richness of chocolate and natural sweetness of berries.  Uh oh i see a probablem arising.

He ordered these personally for me from Dessert Labs.  (a new small bakery up on NW 24th Ave // right in my neighborhood)  They are open Saturdays noon - 4:00 and i can just see myself stopping in to fill up on there latest concoction. The best part? Dessert Labs specializes in gluten free baking and these little yummies where made dairy free too...  yes my boyfriend knows me so well he made sure to order them made with hemp milk.  I so love his support in my gluten free dairy free lifestyle.  Makes life a little easier when you have someone who is not only daring enough to try out new recipes and restaurants with you... but also someone who cares enough to find me a perfect chocolate valentines treat so i could share in this holiday with everyone else.  Thank you babe.

When you get a chance... if you happen to live in the area, i fully expect that you take a trip over to Dessert Labs.  If you don't live in the area... well you are in luck because as it turns out they ship.  Just place an order.  You have my word you will not be disappointed.  I mean look how scrumptious these look above.  I know you wanna take a bite.

better late.

 sequin butterfly top - vintage // leggings - ammerican apparel // leather thigh high boots - diba