Sparkle On the Strip

In two days, I will visit Las Vegas for the first time. At the invitation of my boyfriend's mother and step-father, we will be spending the Thanksgiving holiday eating family-style Italian food, watching The Beatles' Love show, sipping inventive cocktails, and exploring the magical and evocative Strip. We'll be staying in a [super-duper nice] suite at Mandalay Bay, soaking in the tub and enjoying expansive views of the Las Vegas lights.

I'm stoked.

And truth be told, I have absolutely nothing amazing to wear. This isn't surprising considering what I wear when I'm at home: yoga pants, a sweatshirt, and Uggs. (Yep, I'm even wearing that right now. Don't judge me, I'm comfy.)

Over the last couple months, I've been doing my best to collect bits and pieces of what could perhaps become an outfit worthy of Vegas. But with a growing waistline (thanks, Seattle food) and non-existent budget, I decided to worry less about what I'll actually be wearing and instead waste time fantasizing about what my ideal Vegas outfits might look like...

You know... but still look like me.

Daytime Jaunt

Butterfly shirt, $116 / True religion jeans, €229 / TOMS black flat shoes, $54 / Miss Selfridge doctor bag, £17 / Plastic stud earrings, $5.93 / Metal ring, $15 / Isabel Marant scarve, €195 / Retro super future sunglasses
Jon tells me that the thing we'll do most while in Vegas is walk. He says it's 2.5 miles from one end of the Strip to the other (that is, from Mandalay Bay to The Wynn) and you can easily cover 6-7 miles over the course of one day if you choose not to drive. I trust him, because this is probably his 200th trip in 25 years. It made sense to put together an outfit that was comfortable and casual. Plus, although it's November, temperatures in Vegas are supposed to be around 65º F, which means big jackets won't be necessary during the day. So I planned this outfit accordingly. 

I fell in love with that house ring via Pinterest and I thought those little, pink dice earrings were a playful touch. (In real life, I'm happy to report, I do own those sparkly, black TOMS so I'll have cute shoes and arch support simultaneously. Oh, and my hair could probably do that - if I actually tried.)

Martini Date

Stripe shirt, $80 / Blazer, £65 / TEXTILE Elizabeth and James cuffed skinny jeans, $195 / Carvela pointed toe pumps, £110 / RADLEY LONDON metal tote, $143 / Kendra Scott black jewelry, $58 / Cuff jewelry, £104 / Dita sunglasses, $375 / Sarah Jessica Parker 'Covet' Perfume
On Thursday night, we'll be going to Red Square to drink martinis. I wanted something a little dark and a little sparkly. Those adorable gold pumps have a tiny heel, but not too significant that I couldn't walk around. (That SJP perfume is a go-to nighttime favorite of mine, and I actually remembered to pack it for my trip!) Purple is my comfort color. This combo is yummy, warm, and subtle. Let's just leave it at that.
Night on the Tao-n

Structured dress, £46 / Fendi cotton coat, £899 / Fogal black hosiery, $69 / Wet Seal high heel pumps, $30 / Giuseppe Zanotti mini leather handbag, $1,740 / Cluster jewelry, $5
Heh... see what I did there?

Even though we have no plans to spend the night clubbing, in my Las Vegas fantasy I am drinking $1000 bottles of champagne and throwing money at hot waitresses behind a VIP curtain at Tao. But Jon's mom insists that we go to The Foundation Room, which is in (or near?) where we're staying at Mandalay. (Apparently, this is where Britney Spears likes to hang out.)

In-keeping with my natural taste in clothes, I wanted to keep this in the realm of possibility. Sure, dresses like this are sensational, but when it comes down to it, I like to keep things simple, classy, and with just a bit of sparkle.

So are there any other Vegas virgins out there? Does anyone know Vegas like it's their 2nd home - the way Jon does? What are your favorite kinds of outfits to wear when you're there? Comfy and good for walking, or extravagant and perfect for a night out? Any favorite spots to go?

* Images created using Polyvore

Food Friday: Skillet Street Food | Burger and Fries

This week, the Skillet Street Food truck parked right next to my building. I'd already ordered a Reuben sandwich from my regular deli spot, but then immediately upon seeing the truck, I went off to buy their signature burger and fries. Oh, excuse me: $14 burger and fries.

Beef, arugula, creamy bleu cheese, and bacon jam. Yes, that's right: jam made from bacon.

It must have been kismet, because I was thinking earlier this week that a Skillet burger was one of the few food items I still needed to get before leaving Seattle. I had no idea when I'd have time to make it up to their normally jam-packed diner, and the truck is always somewhere different.

Turns out, their new "Wednesday lunchtime" spot is right next to my company's headquarters in Belltown. Something to look forward to next time I'm in town.

A Shell of It's Former Glory

I realize I have never posted pictures of my apartment. Normally I'd be quick to admit that I'm rather lazy and a chronic procrastinator... but truthfully, it's because I am a perfectionist and I've had trouble getting into the habit of showing my home as a "work in progress." The problem is, it's always a work in progress.

Last week, Jon and his dad packed up all of our belongings and moved them down to California. I knew I'd be living in virtually an empty shell for a week and a half, so before everything disappeared forever, it felt right to document it.

Well, the living room, at least. (Bedroom and kitchen were far too cramped to ever decorate. They were functional rooms only. Sad, I know.)

Do you remember those bee prints, from this art-filled post earlier in the summer? Yep, they finally found a home.

Not bad, right? They're definitely a little on the whimsical/kid's room side for a living room focal point, but we had no other place for them this time around. But they're super versatile and could easily move from a family room to bedroom to bathroom to nursery, if need bee. (Yep.)

Fry disapproves of puns.

"More wine!"

So that was our living room, full of our very non-minimalist belongings. We've certainly accumulated a lot of stuff, but almost everything was saved for and picked together. Small and cramped, with an endless supply of animal fur, but it was home. It made us happy.

Color and comfort, rules to live by.

Speaking of living, it's been exactly the opposite of colorful and comfortable this week.

Yeah. I know. Ew.

This view is a bit better, though.

Heh, it's better 'cause there are boobers right there. Let's get closer.

So for the last week and a half, I have lived alone with two dogs in an apartment with no furniture. We've been sleeping on pillows and blankets.

Admittedly, I'm going a bit crazy.

Two days from now, Jon and I will be arriving in sunny California. I will get to sleep in an actual bed and cook food on an actual stovetop. I'll get to see my best friends and family on a regular basis. I'll be around people who know how to drive and restaurants that serve real Mexican food. I'll get to see my dogs enjoy space that doesn't max out at 650 sq. ft.

I'll finally be Home.

My Inked Lady

I got my second tattoo this week. After months and months of consideration, going back and forth between designs, watching way too much "LA Ink" and feeling certain that, yes, now is a good a time as any, I took the plunge.

I am coming up on my last week in Seattle, after all.

What better way to celebrate three exciting/arduous/life-changing/educational years than with something, well, beautiful?

This is my new, inked Lady. She is now a permanent fixture on the inside of my left forearm. The original drawing is by the divine Garance Doré -- a French fashion illustrator, photographer, and blogger -- whose work I have loved and followed for about a year now; her drawings have always stood out to me as the definition of simple-yet-glamorous feminine beauty. (I even featured one of her drawings on this ol' blog post of yore!)

The original artwork for this piece can be found here on Garance's blog.

Unlike all of the other tattoo ideas that came to mind over the last several months, getting one of Garance's drawings as a tattoo was not a decision I labored over; on the contrary, the moment this particular one struck me as a possibility, I knew it was the one. I didn't second guess myself -- a rare thing, and something I took as a sign.

She's lovely, isn't she?

So why this design? Why not the totally rad ampersand I was seriously, this close to getting?

Simply put: I love having a reminder of why I think women are so beautiful (the softness, the delicacy, the hair), and to remind myself that, yep, I am too! Even on my worst day, which is admittedly hard to believe much of the time. Plus, of all Garance's stunning illustrations of lovely women, this one was the most demure, candid, and "it could be any girl!" of all the drawings.

I'm thrilled with the results.

I got the tattoo at a spot down the street on Broadway in Capitol Hill called Laughing Buddha Tattoo, from an artist named Nina Collier. Girl is one of the best tattoo artists at the shop, and she seems to always be booked up. I was lucky to get an appointment with her before I move, and I'm so glad I chose her; her lines are amazing, and she put up with me cringing and hyperventilating whenever the needle touched the tender spots (i.e. the entire inner arm).

It was worth the pain.

(Psst... Just for shits and giggles, here's a look back at my first tattoo!)