spice up your life

My two very favorite, non human/feline things about going home for holidays:  the prettiest spice rack I've ever seen and my mom's ever expanding garden.  Cooking in this house is a dream!

Still, I'm anxious to get back to Austin and eat Sara's magical curry...we may, collectively, be a cheap bunch, but one thing we will not skimp on is spicy food.  True love can't be substituted. 

bears repeating

For as long as I can remember, I've fucking loved bears. I don't know the origin of my fondness for the creatures, but I can (and do) go on for ages about their majesty. My loved ones are totally enablers, too - they've been known to part with their hard earned cash whenever they see bear related things up for grabs rather foolishly knowing it will send me into a fit of glee. Thanks, guys!

Here's a roundup of (kinda) recent bear related happiness!

My Leah Goren bear dress. I've thought about buying one of Leah's super rad cat dresses countless times, but when I saw that she had introduced a bear print to her Etsy shop, there was no thinking involved - I messaged her asking if a bear dress was possible, and she made sure I ended up with the frock of my dreams. She also just listed a new zine that looks amazing, so everyone should snatch one up!

Lizzy Stewart bear gocco & mug painted by best friend/future roommate, Sara. Caroline, Sara, and I move into the house on Sunday, and I cannot contain my excitement. Year-long arts and crafts sleepover, here I come!

Bear mail! Michelle and I have been bonding over our mutual, obsessive affection for bears for a while now, and a few months ago, we became pen pals. Yesterday, she hinted at the contents of the next envelope I'll be receiving and I cannot wait.

just the same, but brand new

I snapped this shot almost a month ago when I was packing for a 4th of July weekend camping trip. It just goes to show you that I am a creature of habit, because I could have taken the exact same picture today as I get ready to leave town for a few days. I like what I like and I like it a lot, okay?

Here's a picture of my trusty companion for this long weekend, Pam, that is very similar to one I previously posted here, but nicer, I think! I bought a Holga on a whim a few years ago and only got around to using it this month. I've decided that it's nice to have around to throw in a beach bag or take camping, but getting my roll of film back definitely had me itching for a real medium format camera. I can't spend the money right now, but a girl can dream, right?

See you in a few days, internet!

my favorite things this june

I might start doing roundups of the things I keep coming back to every month - albums, outfits, meals, etc., so here are my favorite things from the month of June!

These four pairs of shoes have been in heavy rotation. All second hand except the Converse, which have miraculously survived since high school thanks to a few trips through the washing machine.

My go-to outfit this month - Madewell jeans, APC long sleeved tee, and H&M cardigan, which was all in my budget thanks to super sales! The concept of cardigans in the summer is so weird to me, having grown up in Texas, but it's just been so cold and rainy here in Boston.

Newport Folk Festival outfit planning, because yes, I am that excited even though it's a month away! Emmylou Harris and Elvis Costello, guys! Thrifted silk shirt, Urban Outfitters floral high waisted shorts, Rodarte for Opening Ceremony sunglasses that would not have been possible if I had not won a gift card from Ripped Knees (thanks, Ana!), and a flea market hat.

Non fashiony things:

I've been trying to stop drinking so much coffee, so instead I'm drinking tons of iced green tea with a little bit of agave to sweeten it. So good and way cheaper!

I got a Fujifilm Instax in May, and I've been using it tons - it's a really fun camera to grab shots of you and your friends hanging out without the guilt of a Polaroid film price tag.

Taking my sketchbook and iPod to the river is always a good way to cheer myself up after class (I'm taking Psychology of War & Peace right now...super interesting, but a major bummer), and I can't get enough of these albums right now: Panda Bear - Person Pitch, Carla Thomas - Gee Whiz, Beat Happening - Black Candy, and Jonathan Richman - I, Jonathan.

twenty two

My friend Pam went to Goodwill on my birthday determined to buy me some records (and walked away with a Supremes album that I'm really excited to listen to!), but obviously, sometimes a trip to a thrift store yields unexpected treasures. That's how I ended up with what is probably the weirdest present I have ever received:

Yeah, It's a Playboy centerfold jigsaw puzzle from 1967. Miss October! So obviously our only option was to put that babe back together.

...except it was really hard because they didn't provide a picture of what it was supposed to look like and everything was flesh colored, so we kinda gave up.

But at least I got to spend the evening with some of my favorite people!

I also got some pretty rad cards, both digitally and on paper, which I will share with you because I simply cannot keep them to myself:

I can't remember the last time I turned a year older without a card that mentioned a "birthday bear", I just know I have an impressive archive! Sara's card this year will make a fantastic addition.

My delightful pal Maddy made this to let me know that I was being celebrated in Scotland.

This card came from my friend Alanna, who basically just cut out a bunch of kitty heads and glued them to printer paper (there are more on the other side). Good work, buddy! "All Friends Together" is a sentiment I can get behind. Especially if those friends in question are cats.

save me from what i want

Alternate post titles: Jesus Saves I Spend, Laughing With a Mouth of Blood, What Me Worry?, etc. Most St. Vincent songs apply!

Hello, my name is Tricia and instead of getting rid of things for a cross country move like I'm supposed to, I acquire them. In my defense, I love each and every recent purchase and kinda need some of them (like my new glasses.)

I had been wanting a red, white, and blue skirt for a while (more sixties school girl than USA #1), and when I saw this one Morgan made, I knew I couldn't do better. Floral stripes? Yes, please. Fortunately, Morgan was up for a swap, and now it's mine! I love the way it goes with this blouse I picked up for a dollar a couple weeks a go. Pattern mixing is my favorite.

She attached some business cards to the package with a tiny clothespin! Too cute.

$3 seventies sandals! Wooden heels are perfect for summer, horrible for sneaking up behind someone.

If, by any chance, you want to help material goods trickle out of my apartment...consider the Ventricular Projects Etsy!

We have a couple new listings in the shop! Check it out & get 20% until this Friday with the coupon code WUTTER.

fine for now

I've been playing around making pictures all night. Here's what I've come up with so far!

I will probably decide how I feel about them tomorrow, but for the time being, I like them.

texas never whispers

I'll be spending limited time on the internet over the next week as I'll be traveling to my home state and I have quite a packed schedule! I'll be house hunting, catching some of SXSW, heading to Barton Springs for some much needed time with nature, and generally enjoying 70 degree weather with friends and family - nothing better in the world!

I'll have tons of new photos to share with you when I get back, but until then, here's a taste of the delights I'll be soaking in:

My Crown's Clothing

If Morgan from Crown's Clothing weren't so damn talented, I'd feel sorry for her. See, she shipped off a very lovely dress across the ocean only for it to end up on the dorkiest, awkwardest girl possible. One day, I'll learn to be in front of a camera, until then...

Here I am seemingly convinced that my ukulele is an electric guitar.

My attempt at being serious.

Gorgeous detailing!

black and white photos of folk singers

one of tricia's side curatorial projects is a tumblr highlighting black and white photography of folk singers, both contemporary and classic ranging from pete seeger to joanna newsom. as a bit of a 1960s nerd myself, her tumblr is always a go to for a mini visual history lesson of my favorite musicians on and off stage and of course, major style inspiration. 

here's a few selected photos: 

Judy Collins and Joni Mitchell by Rowland Scherman

Bob Dylan, Donovan, and Mary Travers

karen dalton

Sandy Denny of Fairport Convention in 1972 by Keith Morris

Joni Mitchell, 1976 by Joel Bernstein

Bob Dylan by Barry Feinstein, Birmingham, England (1966)