Raffaldini and Skipping Stones

I have lived in Charlotte (this time around) for about four or five years now, and I absolutely hate it. Every morning, no matter how good things are going, the fact that I live in this state gnaws at me.

Yesterday, my opinion was changed. One of my very best friends took me to Raffaldini Vinyards in Elkin, NC. Embarrassing as it is, I actually cried over how devastatingly beautiful it was. Instead of polluted city air, all I could smell was soil, grape leaves, and sweet air.



The drive up was gorgeous.







And...vinyards! Raffaldini Vinyards is near the Yadkin River and the Blue Ridge Mountains.



Isn't that the most beautiful building ever?





This is the veranda. After a wine tasting, we got a bottle of Sangiovese and hung out here.















So...all hatred for this state has disappeared.

After the vinyard, we went to Stone Mountain and I learned how to skip stones! I can now cross that off my bucket list. It was a great day.



I hope everyone has days like this during their summer! Stay tuned for shop updates very soon!

 

Summer

Whew! I finally finished all my finals. Now I just need to present them and I am off for summer vacation! Woot!

I decided to make a Polyvore set for the things I'm really interested in getting into this summer. Mainly I'm into jean shorts and white/cream flowy tops.



Yup. That pretty much sums it up.

I went to Goodwill today after I printed my thesis and found some pretty things.

I wish I had more to say but my life has been finals, finals, and more finals. I hope to update soon with much more!

Update Day, Wherein I Realize I am still 12 Years Old

So today was fun and beautiful! After some much needed photos of my new shop pieces, I got to regress back into childhood for a bit! I didn't think I could still do monkey bars, but apparently I can!

I do apologize for the lack of updates lately. I'm going through finals week at school, and it is crazy! Also, my work schedule changed. I now have weekend off but I work both my days off :( Oh well, I do have more hours so hopefully I wont be devastatingly poor anymore.

Anyways, onward to the shop updates!





I have for you here a beautiful 1980s Jane Singer black evening dress. Delicately handwritten on the tag is the name Celia.



For all your hippie needs, I present a 1960s groovy dashiki!





A 1980s does 1940s beautiful, form-fitting dress from ABSOLUTELY!. Unfortunately one of the buttons popped off while I was doing up my shoes (awesome shoes) but it was just the bottom button. I can mend it.





A very pretty 1980s red dress from S.L. Fashions. Its comfortable and makes me feel cute. The trim is really pretty.





This is an incredibly amazing handmade 1980s button up top. I had way too much fun while wearing it today. Hence...



Absolute determination.



HOLY MOLY ME OH MY!



I'M REALLY DOING IT YOU GUYS!

I MADE IT TO THE END!

So, yeah. I can still do monkey bars.

Anyways, I will be updating the shop today. Stay tuned!

Eli Parker

Everything from relaxing alone whilst engaging in a creative hobby to an evening with friends, I have your music fix right here. Yes, I am straying from clothing again! You will not regret it.

I met Eli Parker in a crazy little turn of events involving a jeep flying over a curb in front of a local bar/market here in Charlotte. The person I was meeting was standing there with Mr. Parker, and soon after they saw me in passenger seat, bouncing around as the jeep was maneuvered over the curb to find parking, I found myself in the backseat of his car, on my way with them to a house show. Later that night, I knew we would become friends when he was the only one who realized I was incredible pain after a random sty blossomed in my right eye. Not only is he talented, but also incredibly kind.

After engaging in the typical social drinking and mingling with each other, Eli Parker sat alone behind a microphone with his guitar and began playing.

Immediately I was reminded of Elliott Smith. With light vocals that seem to float around the air mixed with simple yet emotional acoustic melodies, there was a pensive and thought-provoking atmosphere and made me want to close my eyes and drift off into a different place where nothing matters but being able to listen. There is nothing better than expressing something so simply and yet still having a mysterious complexity. A lot of music these days miss that, focusing only on how much noise can equal a catchy song. I present to you here an artist that has it all figured out.

Parker’s album In Her Room is full of honest and clever lyrics and heartfelt sounds that circumference beauty and strength.  You can listen to it by clicking his album cover:



Currently he is working on another album that I absolutely cannot wait to hear.

I will leave you with this video, and don’t forget to visit his Facebook page.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hRSO9lMxWQ&w=560&h=315]

 

If you are in Charlotte, make sure to go see him play sometime!

I hope everyone has a safe and awesome Memorial Day weekend!

Summer Stuff

Since summer seems to have officially hit Charlotte (heat and thunderstorms), I have started looking for summery pieces!

Though I only have two for now, I assure you there shall be more!






Vintage Dawn Joy light, summery tank top. It zips up the side and is super comfortable. It does bunch around the zipper a little at times but that's forgivable. Also, do not wear with high waist pants. Trust me.





And this is the prettiest vintage DBY dress ever. I'm sad to let it go but my closet is bursting with summer dresses, I'd be a glutton. Those shoes are from ModCloth, by the way.

I had another dress for summer but I need to find a tall thin girl to model it, because my frame (short and a little too curvy) doesn't really cut it haha.

So, anyway, these are going into the shop later tonight (I'm at my "real" job right now). Hopefully I'll be able to get everything before summer officially starts. Does anyone have summer plans yet? I honestly don't know what I'll be doing. I wanted to go on a road trip but I absolutely do not have the funds for it. It's my last summer vacation ever. That is a little weird to think about. I need to do something amazing, right? I really should.

 

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Every time of my favorite bands plays in Charlotte, I always have an 8 AM class the next day. It hasn't stopped me yet! (This isn't a post about clothing, by the way).

Last night my friend Justin and I saw Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros at the Fillmore. It was, in a word, magical! They put on the most wonderful and energetic show I have ever been to.

As I'm sure the majority of my readers probably know who they are, I wont launch into a full blown music review. But, if they ever come into your town, I urge you to go. You will never regret it, even if you have to get up at 6 AM the next day!

They also were selling tambourines, hand painted by the band! A kind person we met on the patio bought some for us:

Justin broke his :(

Anyways, it was super fun and Id go again in a heartbeat. I took some videos on my phone but I'm not going to be THAT PERSON who posts static ridden phone videos.

It was also the first time I danced at a concert.

I got an exciting offer today regarding my shop, but I'm not going to post about it until I know for sure!

Shop Update For A Rainy Day

I'm happy to announce new additions to my shop! These pieces will be up tonight. Even though the weather is dreary, I managed to get some photos.



Early 90s Late 80s KZK floral crop shirt!



1960s Miss Kalico purple boat neck sweater!

This crazy white shirt from the 60s! I felt like a genie wearing it. I suspect it is handmade because there is no tag and the sewing seems a bit...not manufactured.



My first men's product! An Andhurst plaid shirt from the 70s.



And this lovely late 80s floral dress from Sarin New York.

These will all be posted tonight. I was going to post this pair of shoes I have, but I'm having some trouble letting them go :(

Anyways, I need to get some homework done (who works before play anymore? Seriously) so I'm going to do that before listing these pretties.

Much love!