Style 18 / Red Kimono Dress

Here's a little costumey Halloweeny style post for ya.  I love this kimono dress, but feel it's a little too racy to wear out in the real world without maybe a pair of leggings or thick tights underneath.  I found it in a vintage shop years ago and it fit me perfectly.  Just now bringing it out into the light of a crisp Autumn day...

 

... and my trusty, very keen assistant Sir Matthew making me look a bit more put-together.  He's a keeper.

I rarely dress up for Halloween, but am feeling the itch this year.  How about you?

[ photography credit Myriah Bujak ]

Elizabeth Messina / Take Three

I'll share this excerpt from what I wrote earlier today on Instagram because it best describes how I feel about the image above, and really every photograph in this series:

"Another in a series with Elizabeth Messina. I showed her my favorite picture of my mother and she integrated it into the photoshoot. And I'm so glad she thought of this too because, even after the 1000th time I stare at this image, I still tear up. My family has shared how similar my mother and I are; and if only I could be a tiny bit like her I will have done something right in my life. She was so funny and so loving and I'll forever feel thankful for the few years I did have with her. Thank you, again and again, Elizabeth. This is quite a gift. And to all... I hope you really love the people you love, and really live the life you live..."

 

 

Those antique tea cups were from my mother's side of the family.  I think they're divine (I don't think I've ever used that word to describe anything; so there's a first.)

Happy weekend ahead... I'll be heading down to the Primer Nationals in Ventura on Saturday afternoon and will be keeping an eye out for a light blue '57 t bird... my mom's first car.

[more from the Elizabeth Messina photoshoot here, here, and here!] 

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Something Nice...

I'm a fan of the lifestyle blog A Beautiful Mess because of its vibrancy and upbeat approach to a creative life and design.  And their new site layout doesn't disappoint.  You can spend hours exploring and still need time for more.  And I got a rush of YAY! when I saw my name under their At Home With... feature, because for a second I forgot I was a tiny part of their blog in this way.  I feel honored to have a space among so many inspiring homes and so much creative energy.  Keep up the beauty, A Beautiful Mess.  It makes me feel very happy...

Into the Weekend

I've got the flu.  But I'm pretty sure three quarters of the world around me also has the flu, or some variation of it, so this is not exciting news by any stretch.  I've been camping out in bed.  I've been trying to fool myself into thinking I'm better.  I make my way out into the world.  I relapse.  I camp out in bed.  I wander around my tiny home, hot tea with honey in hand, standing in front of open windows letting the fresh breeze pull any yuck from my body and out into the air to dissipate.  I want to start fresh but my mind and body have felt immobilized (my big word lately) so I wait.

And then it came... a download of fresh ideas and clarity.  Do you know what this means?  It means I'm no longer feeling immobilized and, I can't express this enough, it's a good feeling.  Really really good.  It also means that the launch of my next lines will be pushed back but I'm fine with that and I hope when they're out in the world you'll love them as much as I do in this moment.

In the meantime, I'll be working out the kinks and living life the way it was intended... inside now with an openness to the unfolding of what's to come.  Trusting has historically not been my strongest virtue but now's as good a time as any to begin doing just that.  For now, for you...

Color thesaurus

25 of Neil DeGrasse Tyson's most mind blowing tweets (I can't help myself with brilliant men)

Broken mirrors.  Beautiful.

8 great rose wines

Made me laugh.

You won't often find me celebrity-obsessed.  But there are a few who I respect.  I think Robin Williams was a kind man with a gentle heart and the world is a better, more profound place for it.  His startling insights will always inspire me, and I hope you too... 

Enjoy a restful Sunday, friends.
Love,
Cath

[tea in bed]

Making My Way Back

 

Taking some time off has really helped me to assess what the heck I want in life.  It's also confused the bejeezus out of me, but I know now that if I give myself just a little bit more time things will be clear.  And so that's where I am now.  Do you sometimes forget you have a choice?  We're told we have to suffer through so much in life in order to achieve anything, including happiness and peace- but you know what?  Struggles and confusion give us the contrast to know what we ultimately truly want; and that is so powerful, don't you think?  But what maybe we're not all aware of is the fact that we won't align with that happiness and peace if we stay stuck, immobilized, unchanged.  So the choice comes down to this:  Stay where you don't want to be or take that itty bitty courageous step toward where you do want to be.  There's no blaming anyone else for where you are.  It's all you.  Step slowly or leap, but just mobilize yourself.  A year from now, you'll be glad you did.

Happy Monday, friends...

p.s. here's what I was up to over the past week, if you'd like to have a peek...

[chris brogan quote]

Into the Weekend

See this photo?  It's one of my favorites from my photoshoot with Elizabeth Messina  ( here + here, too!).  It felt luxurious and I felt drenched in peace; plus that kimono!  And anyhow, it's a nice reminder for me to rest; because freak knows I need these reminders, and often.  And another thing, too... I need to let myself really experience these moments of creativity and joy without hiding how good it makes me feel (am I alone with this?  I hope not!).  I think they lead to nice things in life.
Which brings me to the next thing... I'll be taking a break from all social media until at least next Wednesday, maybe Friday; I really don't know.  But I'm giving myself time away after tonight.  So please enjoy these neat links gathered from around the web and know I am very very thankful for all of you readers.  You're awesome.

Funfetti biscotti (is this sacrilege? But it's got rainbow sprinkles!)

Oh this is very funny. (I love the quintessential flower headband)

Pretty sure this was me as a kid... er... and now.

Yeah, that about covers it.

What a lovely guest bedroom.

And this... because it's true.

Have a really wonderful weekend and start to your next week, too, friends.
Love,
Cath

Elizabeth Messina / Take Two

She stepped into my home and her eyes scanned for the light... here, in my living room, the late morning sun beamed through the window... we cleared out all furniture and left the curtain to play around with.  I got to delve back into my years of dance with purposeful and held positions, inside my own quiet and peaceful world behind the lacey fabric; light pouring over me... stillness, strength, surrender.  It was another transcending moment with Elizabeth Messina orchestrating the magic... (these are just a few from this series; the others reveal more than I think I should share on social media, so they stay tucked away, for certain eyes, only in my home:)

Otherworldly, ghostly, luminous.  And all captured with film photography.  I'll say it again... isn't she a gifted photographer?  I think so.

Also... Take One in the series.

Elizabeth Messina / Take One

Alrighty friends, here's the first in a series from my photoshoot with Elizabeth Messina.  If you'd like to follow along, I'll be sharing each storied set of images once a week over the next month...

 

What I love about this particular grouping of photographs is that they were unplanned.  I wasn't even expecting to use this outfit for any part of the actual shoot; we were getting acquainted in my kitchen... Elizabeth scoped out my home for good lighting and backdrops while I hung around and drank my coffee; nervous, excited, calm, anxious, surrendering, offering help that I'm sure wasn't very helpful (i.e. learning to let go of control and trust the intensely gifted photographer that she is...)  All of this led to these images, fueled by the artistic insight and deeply rooted knowing of Elizabeth's eye for all things lovely and authentic.

 

I do love my aprons.  And these gold slippers... I really do wear them around the house.  They especially add a boost of sunshine on cloudier days.

Thanks for looking!  Until next time...

[ Elizabeth Messina's website + instagram ]

Pop-Up Shop + Garden Party

This happened today.  A sweet gathering of some of my very favorite people for a vintage pop-up shop and garden party.  All the beautiful pieces you see are from Poppyfrock Vintage.  Man, does she have an eye for the good stuff.

 

 

Don't get me going on how much I love baby Leo.  What a darling... (his mom, Nancy, is a keeper too.)

 

This picture came out blurry, but it stays because I adore every single one of the people in it.

I caught a lucky break when Erin started modeling my collections... I think her family is my long lost tribe from a past life.  I could laugh with them incessantly.

And then Deja of Poppyfrock, me, and the ominous Matt who worked his butt off for us and charmed the ladies all afternoon.

And, yes, a bubble gum machine...

A good day.
 

Style 17 / Carousel

I like carousels.  It's oddly comforting to go around in circles, predictably, many many times.  I also like the slow movement.  It relaxes me, especially if I close my eyes, and pay no attention to the outside world.  Peaceful.

The nekkid truth behind this shoot is that poor Myriah got nauseous from taking pictures on the moving carousel; and then I got nauseous watching her get nauseous.  It was a hysterical mess... I couldn't stop laughing.  But these shots came before we got queezy, so ...

But the colors and my shoes!  My friend told me it's like I'm walking on rainbows; I'd like to think he's right.

[All photos by Myriah Bujak]

Elizabeth Messina Sneak Peek

I can't wait to share the photographs from my boudoir photoshoot with the incredible Elizabeth Messina; each grouping a new story... swoon...

The image above is a clustering of what was contained in a package I received from her this week.  I'm seriously in love.  More to come soon!

[via instagram]