HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA.

Happy birthday, USA!

Red, white and blue everywhere you turn. The one day excessive patriotism is okay in my book.

CLOUD LAKE

The heavy cloud cover over the lake made for an unusual first day of July. The air was crisp and was whispering threats of rain, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the waterfront.

I can't get enough of these American Apparel High-Waist Trousers. They come in a ton of deep, vibrant colors like aluminum, burgundy, sage and golden poppy. I've made it my personal mission to take all of the colors into my possession by the end of summer. Three colors down, 15 more to go.  

LIKE THE ORANGE BLOSSOM

Orange blossoms will bloom, even if there is no one to enjoy them.

THE TUNNEL LIGHT

It has certainly been a while. 

This past year has been incredibly difficult for me. I've dealt with the decline of my health, physical pain and borderline depression. I was forced to quit blogging, photography, dancing - even running. Practically everything I loved about life was taken away from me.

It's taken eight months, but I'm finally remembering who I am. I am not an injured person. I am not a stressed out 9-5er. I am ME.

You can't always wait until "things get better" to do what you love. And sometimes, despite all of the issues you're facing, you've just got to smile.

GOLDEN GATE PARK DANCE PARTY

Last weekend I went to a dance party in the Golden Gate Park in SF.

(trusty cowboots)

It was an impromptu, picnic sort of setting, and everyone who happened to find out about it came armed with blankets, lawn chairs, beer and...  ahemm... other recreational fun stuff, 100% prepared to relax and enjoy the sun clouds and the beats. A music promotion group called As You Like It was the host, and their DJs were playing some preetty spectacular house. 

In case you aren't familiar, house music isn't that sort of techno-y, rave-ish stuff that goes, "thud, thud, thud, thud." It does have some sort of electronic elements to it, but it's a hell of a lot more soulful. While sitting on the ground, you could feel the bass in your body. Loved it!

A steady flow a people trickled in, and the crowd of about 30 slowly grew to about 100 people. A nice intimate little gathering.

(picnic-couture heh)

(can you spot me?)

The pet doggies were having a great time, too! So many different breeds were there. Labs, pugs, cutiepie muts - all having a ridiculously good time sniffing each other's behinds and trolloping on whose ever blankets they pleased! They were all friendly and just wanted to play, so I don't think anyone minded.

 In fact, they were probably one of the more entertaining aspects of the day. Someone brought a remote controlled toy car and the dogs were dashing between legs and through the grass, chasing it aroounnd and arrouund. Seriously though, that toy car was giving even the largest dogs a run for their money! It must have had some sort of suped-up engine.. if toy cars even have such. After about a thirty minutes of non stop racing, most of the dogs retired for a mid afternoon nap. This black lab took a liking to Ryan and fell asleep right next to his foot. Aww! :)

About 5 hours into the dance party, people really started getting down and fuunnkyy!

By the end of it I was pooped. What more could you ask for of park party?

SIGHTED AND SEEN

I seriously need to get on with it and just move to SF already.

Ryan and I usually spend the majority of our weekends there. People always ask me, "What do you even do in SF all the time?" As much as I'd love to seem like an uber cool jet setter, the truth of the matter is that more often than not we really don't do anything particularly interesting... just walk around and hang with friends (at least during daylight hours).

I adore this grey sweater. It and the floral purse belong to my mom. I'm always sort of surprised when I she has pieces that I'd actually like to borrow. Don't get me wrong, my mom is definitely fashionable in her own way, but for a long time our two senses of fashion never seemed have a common ground. 

Either her sense of style is getting younger, or mine is getting older. Either way, all that means is that I now have even more clothing and accessories to choose from. I like!

And now for a series of sights and scenes.

(this robin's egg Vespa always seems to be parked outside of Ryan's favorite store, Union Made)

Jeffrey Campbell Mary Roks

Whos got love for Balenciaga?

As of very recently, I certainly do. Ryan and I took a trip to the De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park to see an exhibit completely devoted to him. They were showcasing about 100 of his gowns, summer dresses and suits from the 1950s. It was my first time at the exhibit and Ryan's second.

(ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Ryan to the blog! Isn't he snazzy? <3)

The gowns and dresses made such a huge fan out of me. There were about 15 pieces that would be riiight at home in my wardrobe. Ehemm.. my dream wardrobe, that is. Words really cannot do that exhibit justice. Instead, I ask that you drop everything and take a special trip to San Francisco to see for yourself :)

There were no pictures allowed in the in Balenciaga exhibit - and rightfully so - but I could photograph a lot of the other artifacts and such. Here are some of my favorites. (and by favorites, I mean photos that turned out well despite the no flash restriction)

(african casket. floats along the river like in greek mythology)

(ornate seat)

(constructed from what, do you think?)

(beauty)

(la femme classical)

By the way, above are the Jeffrey Campbell Mary Roks in oatmeal (from Solestruck, of course). I can barely feel the four inches of height, even though they put me at 6'1''. Good thing Ryan is 6'4''!

He called me a Jeffrey Campbell fan boy the other day. The nerve of him! :)

Jeffrey Campbell Erikson

Enough already. I'm ready for summer.

My new short hairdo and summer clothes are itching to be set free!!

So, fortunately for me (but oh so unfortunately for my bank account), I have recently discovered an intense love for Jeffrey Campbell shoes.  You better believe there will be more posts in the future showcasing some of my new purchases. Here I am wearing the Erikson, from Solestruck.com. They've got the largest selection of JC's I have ever seen. Please, check them out! 

No tax and no shipping. That's right.

LOVE! Don't let the wooden heel fool you, these lovelies are amazingly comfortable.

Walking on air!