how to stay in your happy place when summer gets chilly

Sweater: Nordstrom B.P. / Jeans: Madewell / Shoes: Sperry / Watch: Windsor / Bracelet: AE

As I mentioned previously, the beginning of last week was quite chilly.  I mean, I know it's Washington, but it's July for crying out loud!  Refusing to give up summer altogether, the weather and I came to a little agreement, and I settled on celebrating summer with some bright color, while staying warm in a sweater and jeans.

Lesson to be learned from this fable, folks: don't give up - just compromise!  The neon is plenty summery, and I didn't freeze my bum off {for which I'm grateful, because that would be tragic}.

fourth of july week: part 3 {festivities}

The week was a blur of boats, flags, delicious fresh crab, doughnut eating contests {which my six year old cousin won!}, potato sack races, egg tosses, marina sunsets, music, sun, crazy hats, wandering around the harbor, delicious coffee finds, fireworks, and red, white, and blue.

It was insane, and wonderfully so.

I hope everyone else had a fantabulous 4th!

It's become one of my favorite holidays in recent years, and I already can't wait for next year.

fourth of july week: part 2 {firework edition}

So let me tell you that I really meant to put up this post with all our Fourth of July activities included {trust me, there are a lot worth seeing}, but sadly, my Nikon died and I have to wait until I'm home to charge the battery and upload the photos.

SO.

This is just some of the awesome firework photos I took from my iPhone.

Yep, iPhone.

I know, right?

Snazzy.

Also, let me address that second picture as being my sister doing her best Uncle Sam impersonation.  Uncanny resemblance, don'tcha think?

fourth of july week: part 1 {because this is a 3-parter}

Shirt: J.Crew / Jeans: Delias / Shoes: Sperry / Belt: my grandpa's / Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs

They always say that it isn't truly summer {at least weather-wise} until the Fourth of July, especially in the rainy state of Washington.  The first couple days of the week have proven the obscure and unspecified "they" correct.

As a result, this is my "why is it raining?" slash "how dare it rain on my vaction!" face.

My best look, I know.

Fortunately, as I wrote this, it got progressively sunnier, and almost warm, except for the blasted wind.

I tell you, if the rain and clouds hadn't gone by Wednesday... insert empty threat here, as I can't actually do anything about the weather {if only!}.

One could only hope that the inconspicuous "they" would be right again and that the 4th onward would be the summer we want and deserve.

{Hint and sneak peak of parts 2 and three: it has been!}

P.S.  I meant to post this earlier this week... like Tuesday.... but the dang internet connection was a fail of epic proportions.  LAME.

fair wind and a following sea

I'm heading up to Roche Harbor on San Juan Island for the week to celebrate the 4th of July with my family on my grandparents' boat.

Here's hoping for sun, a light sailing wind, clear skies, and a happy fourth!

I'll post intermittently from up there.

Until we meet again,

have a wonderful, fabulous, and all around splendid Fourth of July!

and then I saw Les Mis... again

We went to Duke's on Alki Beach for a delicious seafood dinner, and the weather was kind enough {thank you, thank you, Seattle sun, you elusive thing, you!} to be bright and sunny and warm for my birthday.  After dinner, we drove straight downtown to see the 7:30 performance of Les Mis at the 5th Avenue Theater.

If I haven't already emphasized my love of Les Misérables enough already, I'm here to declare it yet again.

I grew up listening to and watching the recording of the 10th Anniversary Concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London, and have read the book a couple times, once in the original French.  It always has been and remains to be my all time favorite musical, and theatrical performance in general.  I love the music, the story, the characters... everything.  It's the one show I never tire of seeing or hearing.

After the show, we went to stage door, and I was able to get signatures from some of the actors in my brick {my copy of the novel - termed "brick" because it is about that size a.k.a. huge} as well as photos with my two favorites - Andrew Varela as Javert and Joe Spieldenner as Grantaire.

I've always loved Javert ever since I heard the magnificent Philip Quast portraying the character, and as a result am extremely picky about my Javerts.  Andrew Varela is one of only two Javerts I've seen/heard that I truly love in the role, the other being Philip Quast.

As for Joe Spieldenner as Grantaire, I can honestly say that before seeing his portrayal of the role, I didn't pay too much attention to the character.  Not that I didn't like the character, I just didn't reflect on him as I now wish I had.  I can say now that I owe my love of the character to his performance.  I especially love his relationship to the character of Gavroche, and my heart wrenched and went out to Grantaire when Gavroche died.

I din't originally intend this post to be such a recap and explanation, but I never tire of talking about Les Mis, and could literally go on and on about it.

What I wouldn't give to just ghost the stage manager of this company for one performance while they're here in Seattle!!  I can send a resume!

I can only hope that one day I will be stage managing this amazing show in one capacity or another.

happy birthday to meee!

The big 22!

22?!

Oh, lord, that's a little frightening...

But I'm focusing on the good stuff.

Like getting my hair done,

lots of chocolate and treats,

going to dinner with my family and best friend,

lots of chocolate and treats,

seeing Les Mis {yep, again} with said people,

and lots of chocolate and treats!

I suppose gifts are a perk, too.  ;)

Did I mention lots of chocolate?

tee with a twist

Top: Gap / Jeans: Delias / Bracelet: Vintage / Watch: Gift / Necklace: Nordstrom {I think?}

I was inspired by all this plain white tee stuff to take a fairly basic white t-shirt and stylize it a bit.

Honestly, I didn't want to do too much since I was wearing it out to a bar with a friend, and wanted to stay fairly casual.  Also, if you can't already tell from that extremely awkward back photo, the top is kinda color blocked with grey.  I decided to play up that twist on an otherwise plain white tee and just add my lace-detail flats, some arm candy, and a drop necklace {actually, it's not really a drop necklace - I just added another chain to make it longer... sneaky, no?}.

Whew, that's a lot of fashion-y stuff.

In other news, I'm going to Roche Harbor in the San Juan Islands up near Canada for a week for the 4th of July, where my grandparents' boat is and I cannot wait!!  Six days and counting!

How about y'all?  How do you all stylize a plain white tee?

Post links in the comments if you have one - I wanna see your fabulousness!