PRIESTESS OF THE BONES

I woke up Halloween morning feeling not an ounce of my usual Halloween spirit.  It is my favorite holiday after all.  But this month has flown by so fast for me, that it was hard to believe it was already here.  As of that morning we had no solid plans on what we were going to do for the evening.  None of our friends were trick or treating in town like usual.  We thought we were just going to stay home and watch scary movies like last year.  Then while James was at work he ran into one of my parents friends who invited us over to their family party.  Which was so cool b/c that morning I was missing how we used to go over there every year with my parents.  So we ended up going to a party AND trick or treating after all!  I got to see old friends I hadn't seen in years, who now have kids who I had never met.  It was great!

So, last minute I threw together this costume.  I had this little black velvet jumper I got at F21 with the idea in the back of my mind I would wear it for Halloween, but never really got around to put any ideas together.  I was walking around my house and I spotted this branch sitting in the corner.  I have kept it for a few years now thinking I was going to make a hanging clothing rack out of it and just haven't done it yet.  So now, it has new life!  I have lots of bones on hand, so it just started flowing together and before I knew it, I was the Priestess of the Bones.  And not surprisingly, it felt very natural.  Although by the time we got done trick or treating I was completely over being the jumper riding up, and the heavyness of the hat, etc.  Luckily I brought along my boyfriend jeans and a hoodie in case I got to cold, so I spent the rest of the party enjoying being me.

I love how beautiful my jewels from Aurora Shadow & Star Native fit in with this outfit.  I almost never wear one of their work without the other.  I also tend to wear my Strong Medicine Studio cuff ring and Silk Bone Jewels ring when I wear them too.  I love all the silver together. They are just the PB&J of jewels.  And this is two years in a row I wore both this vest from Mamie Ruth and these boots from Lulu's.  Maybe I can keep it up in future years... And this bag I just got from Ladies of Paradise was so perfect.  (They just launched their site and have the most rad bags, you must check them out!)  If you have bought the Bohemian Collective Magazine, you might recognize the necklace and hat!  They were both featured in the Made For Pearl editorial. 

It ended up being a great night!  I'm so glad we didn't stay home and watch movies, although that would of been fun too... it was so much better spent connecting with people we love.

BIRTHDAYS + DANCING + THRIFTING

I love today's post b/c it is so full of LIFE.  I had a very fulfilling weekend.  The first few pics are from our friend Jonny's birthday.  My scorpio friend turned 26.  It had actually been a whole damn year since the last time we had been out to his house.  This past year has kept us both very busy and life had made some twists and turns, but it was so nice to be out there again in the hills of Tarpley, surrounded by good friends, and enjoying each other like old times.  It was such a good and needed night.  Oh, and I fell in love with a girl that night.  See that beautiful brown haired sweetheart in my lap?  Her name is Pancake.  And it was love at first sight...  Oh, and we had a dance party, which basically consisted of me, Jonny & his mom while everyone else watched, like always.  Except his cousin joined us for a few songs with some really rad moves, it was awesome. 

The next night I had a date with my bestie.  We went to one of our local honky tonk bars to listen to some friends of our play their beautiful music, drink a few beers and just be with each other.  Shortly after being there the cutest little old man (must of been in his 90's) asked us to dance.  At first we sadly turned him down out pure fear of dancing.  We both get super shy about it and have turned down plenty of men during our outings, usually never batting an eye at saying no.  But this 'no' crushed our hearts.  Well... 2 songs later he got the courage to ask again, and I couldn't say no this time.  I was terrified and had no idea what I was doing, but I'm so glad I did it.  We were the only ones on the dance floor and he showed me what to do.  I think we both gifted each other a little something that night.  I'll never forget the look in his eyes.

After sleeping in the next day, James and I went to our local antique shop.  Always one of my favorite things to do.  I found a beautiful vintage belt & a free people top for $12!  Score.

Then on sunday we went to the city to celebrate my nephew turning 7.  He was so cute the whole night and had a blast at his party.  It was just family, no other kids, and he didn't mind a bit.  He loves to be with his family and gets so excited for each person who shows up.  And he was my hero.  He was shooting nerf darts with James, and when James tried to shoot me he ran over and stood front of me with his arms wide open shouting 'Don't shoot aunt Laura!  I loooooveeeee her!!!!'  ha ha, it was so cute.  He is my little monkey.

The last pic is just a pic of my sexy husband, just b/c he is sexy.  ;)

HIS + HERS // BEDSIDE CORNERS

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I have been feeling very cluttered in our home lately.  Over the weekend I took some time to work on our bedroom, a room that has been feeling stagnant for quite some time.  My closets were overflowing, so I weeded out a ton of clothes, and will probably do this a few more times this season.  The spaces next to our bed were just covered in dust and cluttered with stuff, especially my side.  James pretty much only comes in the bedroom to sleep, but I like to read & write in bed alot, so my side had stacks of books & papers piled up on the floor.  My little bedside table was always cluttered, etc.  I put my brain to work and rearranged some of the furniture.  I drug out an old shelf we had in our back closet that had some photo albums and miscellaneous stuff on, and replaced my bedside table with it.  It made the biggest difference.  I now have room for my bedtime reading books, my journals, a basket full of lotions & other night time accessories, and even a whole shelf for pretties including candles, incense, a plant & decor, with room left for my nightly water and essential oils.  I keep lavender & peppermint oil my bed at all times.  I put lavender on  my pillow every night to help me sleep better, and peppermint oil in case I wake up in the middle of the night with a migraine.  Anyway... on with the photos!

HER SIDE

HIS SIDE

James's side of the bed was really fun to decorate.  He wasn't home when I was redoing this space and I wanted it to feel special and very 'him'.  Luckily when he got home he loved it!  The bigger desk was against the window serving as his bedside table.  It also felt dark and got cluttered, and the only thing he uses a beside table for is his phone which he uses as his alarm in the morning.  It just felt like a dark, stale spot in the room.  I moved the desk over to the side wall and all of a sudden it came to life with light!  I instantly got excited to decorate from there.  I gave James the little side table I was using on my side, so now he has a small space to put his phone at night & a few other things.  Almost all of the furniture in our house is hand-me-downs or thrifted, and these are no exception.  The bigger desk was my dad's, something he had since his first apartment I was told.  The little side tables came from Jame's family from decades ago. 

The beautiful wood scroll mirror is something my dad made with his own two hands.  One of the first pieces he made as a carpenter.  It is such a special piece.  Ive had it hung in a few different places in this house and it never felt right.  I'm so glad it finally found it's perfect spot. 

Our record player finally has a nice spot to sit as well!  It was on this shelf before, but again was always backlit by the window, and usually ended up just collecting dust there.  Now it feels showcased.  James collects vintage tins, so I had to add a few from his collection.  It was also fun to add his "Dylan" print from his Skyline Fever clothing line b/c it has been such a huge part of his success + it just plain looks cool with his stuff.  The ceramic chihuahua is an art piece my dad got in honor of his little chihuahua pup Noogs.  He was our family dog for years.  The art piece is called an 'Enchihuahua', ha ha! 

This space is also our pup Violet's chow time spot, so luckily that still worked in with this arrangement.  We have such limited space in our house that it is hard to find replacement spots even for two bowls on the ground!  So this was super important to think about when I rearranged. 

And yes, we both sleep with teddy bears & eye patches.  I can positively say I will until the day I die.

THREADS // PAINT IT BLACK

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outfit details:  dress - swell // hat - thatch vintage // boots - chicwish // bag - gypsy warrior // necklace - love + leather // turquoise thunderbird cuff - chaosinretrospect // large thunderbird cuff - bohemian dreams // coin bracelet - shop sparrow // onyx cuff ring - strong medicine studio

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This outfit was inspired by this little black number from Swell.  There a million and one ways to style up a simple black dress, which is what makes them a great staple for your closet.  I'm excited to have a long sleeve one for this winter.  It will be so cute with thick leggings, knee high socks, boots and a jacket.  (already planning...)

I feel like Ive been processing a whole lot during this Mercury Retrograde.  Alot of going within.  Seeing what Ive been shedding over the past few months.  Thinking and dreaming about the future.  Feeling lots of wonderful highs, and lows.  Ive been shifting and changing things on the homefront alot to make our space feel more content and at ease.  De-cluttering, which feels like it might take a lifetime.  But one little corner of life at a time, its happening.  And it feels so good each step of the way. 

I had a major crash the day or so after my magazine was released.  I think from the build up for months before the release, and then the excitement of the release, it finally all came crashing down.  But I spent the night in the tub, completely feeling all that was coming forward within, and I felt so much better by the next morning.  I didn't fight the feeling, or get angry at myself for feeling blah when I should of been feeling ecstatic.  I just allowed.  This can sometimes be such a hard thing to do. 

This eclipse season has brought alot of changes.  Some really good ones too.  Some new perspectives.  New surges in relationship (good and bad).  Some getting to the core of things.  And soon, we get yet another partial eclipse.  These times remind me of the A.A. saying 'It works if you work and it won't if you don't.  It truly is a true statement, and a wonderful mantra.