Do you Believe in Magic?

Greetings from Harry Potter World! In anticipation of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, I’ve incorporated a bit of a 1920’s flare. The costumes in the trailer are perfection, don’t you think?

This picture isn’t mine.

After a few roller coasters, I took the Hogwarts Express from Hogsmeade over to Diagon Alley for lunch. Shortly following was a delicious steak pie and too much butterbeer! For those cream soda lovers out there- butterbeer is heaven.

Pro-tip: If you know you are going to spend a certain amount of money in the park, you can go to the Gringott’s Money Exchange for real Gringott’s bank notes (or a money voucher you can use anytime in the park). If you use the note for less than it’s value, you get muggle change. But you have to watch out for this guy:

Outfit Details:
Shirt: Marni
Skirt: New Look
Kimono: Boutique Find
Shoes: Primark
Bag: Kate Spade
Glasses: Isaac Mizrahi

 

California Here I Come: Napa

I’m excited to show you some of the pictures from my California adventure! Some of you may have noticed my three week hiatus, a period over which I was decidedly not learning how to photoshop (so sorry for that attempt yesterday, but it got the point across with a little overzealous sponging). While I had the best intentions of keeping up the blog over Spring Break, I found myself wandering around San Francisco and working on short stories instead, and I couldn’t help but let the mood take me. However, amidst my aesthetic stupor I managed to squeeze in a few field trips about which I couldn’t be more excited. Enter Napa. 

One of my best friends from high school just moved out to the area to do “science” at a winery. It seems only natural if one travels 500 miles across the country to dial up everyone in the immediate vicinity, so entirely because of the pressing weight of the social duties falling upon me, I called him to set up a wine tasting together. We had a wonderful day, punctuating tastings with a cute little French patisserie where I had a delicious sea salt caramel macaroon (and could really call myself bourgeoisie). It also let me embrace some Edgar Allen Poe American Romanticism, so here’s my Mysterious Macabre Villainess, naturally standing in a wine cellar (soon to be the home of a someone buried alive?).

I wanted to look classy, modern, yet understated (don’t want to look like you’re trying at a wine tasting), so I paired  a couple of subdued pinks with ostrich feathers to bring just enough glam. I tried these high tops for a bit of modern nonchalance. We mixed in my first In-and-Out experience for some real casual elegance at the end of the day. I think Taylor deserves a few well-deserved snaps.

Outfit Details: Necklace: Down the Rabbit Hole (my favorite boutique in St. Augustine that sadly closed. You can find them on Fb here) | Top: Marni |  Skirt: Zara | Shoes/Socks: Primark

Wineries Visited: Robert Mondavi and Artesa

 

 

Chronicles from Haiti, Part 1: Blazin’ Travels (and E2E)

Most of the time we were in Haiti was spent racing from one NGO to the next. Given our program, most of the NGOs we spoke with were partners or close to Notre Dame. These ranged from bigger outfits like NPH and CRS (more to come!) to smaller much more localized efforts. One of the most intriguing people that we talked to, in my opinion, was Dustin from E2E (Engineering to Empower). With the goal of providing affordable long-term housing opportunities for Haitians, E2E has designed a structurally sound, cost-effective home which can whether both hurricanes and earthquakes.

As you can see, right now they are hard at work building the first model, testing their prints. We got to go on-site and see some of the differences and additions to infrastructure. Unfortunately, none of us had the remotest background in engineering, so a lot went over our heads. To check out the sight (and walk through the Leogane city center) I wore this (in attempts to keep cool). The linen didn’t breath quite as well as I’d hoped, so I might save it for somewhere a bit cooler. The top of the head bun, however, converted me. It’s the perfect way to look fashion conscious, while realistically sweating up a storm.

 

Details:
Blazer: Zara (S/S: 2013)
V-Neck: Marni
Khakis: Zara
Shoes: Clarks (British line)
Necklace: Primark (1 pound!)
Glasses: Disney

Work Site Color Palette

I paired the blazer with a few other things to show how it can be dressed up or down with accessories:

 

Paris in the Spring and Designer Sweatshirts

 

Paris in the Spring by rarnall1 featuring victorian home decor

 

I’ve. just. discovered. Heaven Polyvore. I feel like Nicola Tesla is lurking in a corner somewhere, hand outstretched, saying “Welcome to the Future, Rebecca.” Things are about to get a whole lot more sophisticated here y’all! On the downside, it may also be the most constructive procrastination I’ve encountered: fashion, scrapbooking, and unlimited supplies all in one! Just when I was getting over ebay…

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Above is my second ever collage (you might see the first one later… or I might banish it to the abyss of the internets). Now, generally I am SO cynical when it comes to buying designer sweatshirts. People argue the fabrics are so much better and they last so much longer, but I have yet to see one of the $8 Michaels craft sweatshirts eat it. In fact, sweatshirts seem to always be cropping up like ice on Indiana pavements…. I do not need to pay anything over $50 to get a sturdy sweatshirt (and that figure is allowing generously for the overpriced sports team paraphernalia).

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That is until I saw the adorable Marni Penguin Sweatshirt/ Blouse this compilation revolves around. I have long enjoyed the penguin sweater, but I thought it was a flippant kind of fancy almost like relish on a hotdog or a summer toe ring. I don’t own one of these gems, but suddenly, something very deep inside me seems to be crying out (in a still small voice) “Rebecca! What have you been working as a coat check girl for?” It’s like The Little Prince and East o’ the Sun, West o’ the Moon, and Mr. Popper’s Penguins’  artistic lovechild. I can feel le renard begging once again Apprivoisé moi! but through the ransacked voice of a surprised penguin(as long as it’s not the Happy Feet penguin it will be okay). Am I a sentimental fool? What sweatshirt (if any) would you splurge on?

 

We like the penguin sweater, and Jess does too.

It’s been a while since I’ve used this rating system, but I’m bringing it back:

 

Fashion: 5
Funky: 7
Fancy: 3

Function: 10 (who’s biased? who cares!)