Truthfully, I had hoped to accomplish more before year ended, but it has made me all the more inspired to be very productive in 2013! I bought a planner and have been busy brainstorming, drawing, and scheduling more outfits, more DIY products, and more drawings for 2013 - be excited!
Above all I am so thankful for meeting so many wonderful people in 2012 - and I am hoping each and every one of you have a truly incredible new year! See you in 2013!
♡,
Kailey
Here's hoping you all have a happy, healthy and bright holiday season filled with beautiful people, things, and sweets! When I see you next, I'll have turned 19 - my birthday is on the 25th eep!
♡,
Kailey
I'm super pleased to present an interview with the wonderful Lydia from Style is Style! Smart, gorgeous, and a thrifting pro - Lydia is truly a constant source of inspiration! Her style incorporates everything I love - from leopard print to polka-dots to stripes and floral, and I love reading her posts about exploring Vancouver! I was lucky enough to ask her about her style, taste in music, and her highlights of 2012 ♡
Describe your style using only three words.
Whimsical, femme, vintage.
Christmas is fast approaching - what's on your wish list?
I don't have much on my list this year, I am mostly looking forward to hanging out with my family. I have been eying many a cat themed accessory on Etsy, and I would love to own the Advanced Style book. I've always got pretty vintage dresses on my mental wishlist too!
I loved reading your post about seeing Santigold live from a while back - who are some of your other favorite musical artists?
There are many! Lately I have been listening to Frank Ocean, Florence and the Machine, Fleet Foxes, Brandi Carlile, First Aid Kit, Lana Del Rey, Kimbra and a sprinkling of miscellaneous Top 40. Some standbys for me are Kanye West, The Beatles, Feist and Lykke Li.
Around this time I always reflect on the year that was and make plans for the next one! What were some highlights from 2012 for you?
I think my biggest highlights of 2012 were being featured in Glamour magazine and finally leaving Starbucks to work at a consignment shop here in Vancouver. I am really enjoying my job, and it was kind of surreal to see myself in a magazine that I've been reading for years.
What is your dream job?
I'm not quite sure what my dream job is exactly, but I think that I'd like to own (or at least run) a shop one day. I'm enjoying doing visual merchandising at my current job, and I think that my love of vintage clothing would lend itself nicely to a clothing and ephemera boutique.
I really love how you always incorporate pieces you have thrifted in your outfit posts! Do you have a favorite find?
Thrifting a large portion of my wardrobe means I have a quite an attachment to each find! One of my favorites is a 1980s floral dress that is fit and flared, which I bought back in Grade 11. I always feel great when I wear it, and I even brought it with me on my first trip to NYC.
Describe the average day in your life.
I usually wake up around 8am, get ready and head to work at Front & Company, an independent consignment and new retail shop. I take outfit photos before I start my shift, so my tripod and I are well acquainted with the area close to where I work. At Front and Company, I work on the shop floor as well as in the consignment department, and I also recently assisted with styling the windows. Once I've finished up for the day, I'm probably hopping on a bus homeward. Some nights I head out to see one of my friends bands, or to a shop opening or event. I typically write my blog posts in the evening, so I mow down on dinner while editing and writing. Then I go to sleep at about midnight, catching some zzzs before another busy day!
Want more Lydia? Visit these links!
Style is Style
Tumblr
Twitter
Thank you so much again Lydia!
♡,
Kailey
A little over a week ago Laura Manfre, a U.K. based artist I have long admired for her brilliant skill with watercolors and love for kitsch, surprised me with this! Laura painted this portrait of little old me, and I can't help but feel like the luckiest girl in the world! Such an unbelievably sweet gesture and something I would have never excepted to come about because of starting this blog! ♡
Meanwhile, I really am sorry for how quiet things have been over here lately - I have lots of fun things scheduled but I keep running into road blocks! Tomorrow I have an interview with one of my favorite ladies scheduled, so look out for that!
I hope everybody is enjoying their holiday season (and aren't feeling *too* stressed out by it all)!
♡,
Kailey
It seems my life dream of becoming a cartoon character has come true! I began following the incredibly talented Kathryn Wilkins after seeing her illustrate some of my favorite blogging ladies, so imagine my utter shock and delight to see that she had chosen me to be part of her Lookbook Illustrated project!
I am positively over the moon and somewhat speechless - I can't get over the attention to detail (my hair looks exactly like that!) and how she drew me holding my new ice cream lamp; squee! I feel like this is what I would look like in Candyland! Thank you so much again Kathryn! Be sure to check out the rest of her illustrations, and if you'd like one for yourself, she is open for commissions!
Happy Monday everybody! Mine has had an incredible start! *_* Any interesting plans for this week?
♡,
Kailey
Happy December 1st! I kind of forgot to mention that I moved about a month or so ago, and stacks of boxes are littering the floor and it has been rather chaotic over here! I haven't really had time to sit down and schedule posts, thus my absence! Currently I am working on some interesting posts (like a DIY, a giveaway, outfit post, and an interview with a favorite blogger) - but until those are ready, please bare with me and take a look at this ice cream lamp I bought on sale at Fred Flare! ♡
Kailey
Since I've been having a really good thrifting streak lately, I thought it might be fun to compile a post of little tips and tricks I have learned throughout my thrifting adventures! There is something so gratifying when, after digging for hidden treasures, you discover something perfect - and that you had no idea existed in the first place!
Find & Frequent
ALL of the thrift stores in your town! It is imperative that you explore as many as you can and frequent them... well, frequently! Thrift stores are getting new things almost everyday, and so the stock is in a constant state of changing - one day you might go and find absolutely nothing, and the next, you hit a jackpot! The Thrift Shopper was an incredible directory - just put in your zip code and it will show you a list of nearby stores!
Leave No Stone Unturned
Look through everything! Go through sheets, toys, records, books, clothing (including the mens and children sections!) - you never know what you might find! It is very time consuming, (and I am still guilty of skimming through things too quickly sometimes!) but chances are you will be rewarded for your hard work! One of my absolute favorite finds was a Disney's Cinderella soundtrack that I found in the very last stack of records there I looked through!
Be Open Minded
Found a shirt with an awful shape but brilliant fabric? Instead of wearing it as an actual shirt, why not use it for backdrops or repurpose it into something that you will love? That said, don't go overboard and overwhelm yourself! Try not to buy anything that is truly beyond repair.
Bring Hand Sanitizer
This one is pretty important for me! Bring hand sanitizer when doing your searching (you never know where some of those things have been!) and be sure to wash the clothing throughly before use!
And now I have to ask: what are your thrifting tips? I want to hear them!
♡,
Kailey
How cute do my nails look right now?! I saw these on Pinterest (thank you Glitter and Nails - you're a genius!) and just had to try to recreate them. I freehanded the stripes, so they are far from perfect - but I still love how they turned out!
NAIL POLISH I USED: Wet n Wild Shine in Tickled Pink (402), N.Y.C. Taxi Yellow Creme 114, Wet n Wild Megalast I Need a Refresh-Mint (218A), Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Lacey Lilac (270), & Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear White On (300)
The links in this post are provided so you can see more clearly which polishes I used - I bought mine at drugstores where they are significantly cheaper!
Lately it has been raining nonstop (or absolutely freezing) so it's nice to glance down and see these bright nails! Before I moved earlier this year, I lived in California, so this weather is going to take some getting used to!
Currently I'm trying to figure out how to dress warmly and still show my aesthetic - can anybody recommend a pretty, candy-colored coat?!
What do your nails look like right now? :3
♡,
Kailey
(p.s. don't forget to enter my giveaway with I Love Crafty!)
I have a super exciting giveaway to share with you all today! Laura, the wonder behind I Love Crafty, a jewelry line stocked with gorgeous pieces, is offering one lucky Mermaidens' reader a $30 gift certificate to her shop!
She also was generous enough to send along a necklace for me to review! I have long admired her jewelry - which includes necklaces and rings with themes like mermaids, bakery and cats (all of these things happen to fall under "my favorite things" category…)! I chose her I'm Really a Mermaid necklace to try out after seeing pictures of it all over the internet, and was not disappointed! I adore how the blue chain and pink shell look together, and the workmanship on this piece is truly incredible *_*
What to win a piece for yourself? Just enter below using the Rafflecopter widget!
This giveaway is open internationally and ends December 4th, 2012. Good luck!
♡,
Kailey
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Surprisingly, my introduction to Kimbra wasn't the smash-hit she duetted on with Goyte in "Somebody I Used To Know", but my dear friend Simoa saying that she reminded her of me! After seeing her on Tumblr a few more times I finally decided to watch a video of hers (Cameo Lover) and it was love at first listen.
Not only is Kimbra incredibly talented (for Settle Down - written when she was only 17 - she loops her own voice to create the beat and sings lyrics about the pressure to grow up and get married), but her aesthetic is INCREDIBLE.
When she isn't wearing dresses made specifically for her by designers (like this banana dress that I ADORE), she wears pieces found at the thrift store and alters them personally with her own "bad" sewing and safety pins.
"I love a lot of vintage styles and 50′s dresses, I’m also drawn towards artists like Bjork & Prince etc who embrace theatrics in not only their music but they way they present themselves visually. It just helps create a ‘world’ for the music, and add other dimensions on stage."
Another element of Kimbra I love is how her style is usually read as super sweet, but she still loves to veer on the darker side when she dons almost black lipstick, a see through top, or leggings Beetlejuice would be jealous of.
I highly recommend watching her truly infectious live performances - she smiles in between serious lyrics and dances around the stage effortlessly whilst wearing towering heels!
Now please excuse me while I go put on a petticoat and bright lipstick ;D
REQUIRED LISTENING
Cameo Lover
Settle Down (Live)
Come Into My Head
Warrior (Live)
The weather lately has hardly permitted for me to prance around in dresses, bare legs, and heels - but the sun peaked through the cold and I had to share my dress with you! I found this at the thrift store for $3 (in the Halloween section?!), and paired it with my new favoritate shoes from B.A.I.T. Footwear!
Usually I have the worst luck with shoes that have the slightest bit of a heel, but these are so comfortable and absolutely a d o r a b l e. Thank you so much B.A.I.T.!
Currently I have some a couple of projects in the works that I am very excited about (more on this soon, I promise!) - but for now I want to know, what are you looking forward to?
♥
Kailey
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I took inspiration from bloggers like Kate Gabrielle and hung up some things I bought recently on the wall - the pinks look beautiful together and reminds me of flamingos! The floral dress and slip robe I picked up whilst thrifting - there are a grand total of 8 thrift stores within driving distance here, which is incredible compared to only having Goodwill where I last lived!
Other recent thrift store finds: a My Little Pony "softie" plush - complete with it's tag and brush still attached (only $3!), these adorable Disney books circa the 70s, barrettes, a Polly Pocket, and one of those Barbie McDonalds figurines that I *still* love!
What was the your most impressive thrift store find?
♡,
Kailey
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Recently I found this dress on etsy and absolutely fell in love with how kitschy and fluffy it is! The trimmings on this dress especially reminds me of frosting *_*
It inspired me to make this moodboard of all things cake!
1. Eline from a Fluffy Blog 2. Birthday Cake by Sweetapolita 3. Kimbra 4. Peachy Pink Lace Dress 5. Eline again ^.~ 6. Birthday Cake by Sweetapolita 7. Birthday Cake 8. Berenice Peach Skirt 9. McDonalds Barbie 10. Kimbra 11. Mini Crochet Cake Ring 12. Birthday Cake 13. Kimbra 14. Polly Pocket Birthday Surprise 15. Pink Heart Cake Ring 16. ?
What was the best birthday cake you have ever tasted? (p.s. I have a lot of fun future posts planned! Stick around ;3)
I'm so sorry for the unintentional hiatus! I've caught up on blog header orders, gone out of town, and lost my camera charger, but I'm back now!
A week or so ago I tried to dye my hair blonde, and the result wasn't *quite* what I was expecting!
With blonde on top, pale pink in the middle, and brown at the bottom, it reminds me of neapolitan ice cream and I kind of love it, as silly as it is!? Now, all I need is the NeaPAWlitan bow from Locketship! ;D
Fall is on the horizon, and I'm trying to make the most of what's left of summer weather. This dress, with it's sheer elements and Peter Pan collar, is absolutely adorable, and I found these shoes for only $3 at a thrift store!
What have you been up too - are you excited for Fall?!
♡,
Kailey
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Hello darlings, I just wanted to pop by and tell you I did a guest post for the incredible Kate Gabrielle at Scathingly Brilliant, where I show you how to make an ice cream headband!
Don't forget to enter my giveaway, and I'll be back with a new post soon!
♡,
Kailey
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This month marks the year anniversary since I made my first post on Mermaidens! Well actually, I registered the name in 2009 - but unsure of what kind of blog I wanted to have, I made a few throw away posts and promptly forgot about it. In August of last year I was going through a rough patch and needed an outlet for my creative endeavors - and decided to try blogging again! Still unsure of what my blog's concept was and my own voice, the first few months were a mish-mash of my collages and screencaps from movies I love. But as you can see, this blog has evolved into much more than that!
Mermaidens has grown into such a supportive and passionate community, and I feel so so lucky to have formed the relationships I have as a direct result of blogging! I struggle with issues of self-confidence, and I am absolutely blown away by the sheer amount of positive and supportive feedback I have received. Thank you thank you thank you to each and every one of you for being a part of Mermaidens, and here's to another year of creating, (hopefully) inspiring, and be inspired by you!
In honor of our birthday, I thought it would be fun to take a trip down memory lane and share with you my own top 5 favorite posts at Mermaidens!
David Lynch Inspired Nails Wanting to do something special with my nails, I came up with the concept using iconic elements from David Lynch's films! They were posted on Rookie Mag's tumblr and won Modcloth's Marvelous Manicure contest (STILL CAN'T BELIEVE IT TBH)!
Candy
I was very pleased with how this look came together - with the beautiful full skirt and nipped waist I couldn't help but feel like I was in a technicolor musical ♥
Pistachio Zine
Pistachio began as a simple project that quickly ballooned into one of the most ambitious projects I have ever attempted - and also one that I am the most proud of!
I'm a Mermaid ^_~
Inspired by sewing blogs, I repurposed an old Disney dress into a mermaid shirt and skirt! This is still one of my very favorite things to wear and opened my eyes to all sorts of diy possibilities!
Interview: Marlena from Self-Constructed Freak
I was utterly over the moon when after just a few months of blogging, my favorite blogger (MARLENA ♡♡♡) agreed to be interviewed for Mermaidens! I would also recommend going through my community tag for more interviews and guest posts!
Now, which Mermaidens post do you love the most? And more importantly, which post of your own are you the most proud of? I wanna see! ♥
♡,
Kailey
It's been almost three months since I debuted Pistachio, and I'm still over the moon with what an incredible experience it was! I have been asked several times to help out with other people's zines and how I made my own, and since I've begun the beginning processes of creating the second issue, I thought now would be the perfect time to share with you How I Made Pistachio:
Pretty self-explanatory! By the time I completely Pistachio, it was completely different from what I imagined and nowhere near perfect - but that didn't matter! I had created something I felt truly proud of and couldn't wait to share it with you all. As I said to my friend who expressed doubt over her artistic skills and thus felt like she couldn't make one herself, one of the best aspects of zines is that you are in control and can do anything you want with the zine - it doesn't matter if you aren't the world's greatest writer or artist, just write or illustrate what you feel and that will be good enough.
Feel free to email or comment asking questions, and I will try to answer them to the best of my ability! Also please let me know about any zines you have created or are planning to make! I wanna hear about them ^^
Floral background is courtesy of Pugly Pixel
♡,
Kailey
