Princess Bubblegum

VARSITY JACKET: A gift from Lauren ♡♡♡ DRESS: Forever 21 SOCKS: DIY SHOES: Kohls (similar) BOW: c/o Crown & Glory HEART BOBBY PIN: c/o Handmade Raspberry PINS: Donut Pin by Wishcandy, Princess Bubblegum Pin by Mikomi Accessories, Mermaids Have My Back pin c/o The Albino Hare

Hello!! Oh my goodness I have missed you! I haven't been able to do a new post in ages, but I'm back! With one of my new favorite outfits ever!

The past two weeks haven't been the greatest, but being surrounded by incredible friends has helped me stay positive. One of whom, Miss Lauren, left me absolutely speechless when she bought this pink varsity jacket I had been eyeing on etsy, added a handmade card, and sent it to me as a chin up gift!!!

I have been really in love with varsity jackets, and so when I saw this pink one embroidered with Disney princesses my heart skipped a beat! Apparently Disney World used to sell them in the 90s ( ♡ ᴥ ♡ ) Lauren - thank you again and you are beautiful inside and out!

Meanwhile, this adorable candy heart bobby pin was a wonderful gift from Handmade Raspberry; Stacey, who runs the shop, is an absolute angel who stocks some of the most adorable pieces I've seen on etsy! ♥

And the stunning bow I'm wearing? From none other than Sophie, the genius behind Crown and Glory! I have long admired her pieces and so was stunned when I received this (and two other of her incredible bows which you will see soon!) - not only are they gorgeous but so professionally made! I'm aways paranoid bows are going to fall out of my hair and I will lose it forever, but I wore this one for hours and it stayed put! Thank you again Sophie! ♡

And here we have some of my ever increasing pin collection! I've been trying to help support some of my favorite etsy artists whenever I am able to afford it, and have not been disappointed! The donut pin is handpainted by Wishcandy - who never fails to leave me speechless by her work! (fyi, some of her art has adult content)

Princess Bubblegum from Adventure Time is one of my favorite animated characters, so when I saw this PB pin in artist Laura Goodings' etsy shop, Mikomi Accessories, I just had to have it! I also ordered her Marshall Lee pin for my friend and we were both over the moon to receive our pin! They are so beautifully made - I am definitely eyeing the new Sailor Moon pins in her shop!

And last, but certainly not least, is my "Mermaids Have My Back" pin! I received this in the mail from The Albino Hare along with a few other treasures (which you will be seeing in my next post..!!!!) - Lee Anna is one of the sweetest ladies I've met blogging, and this pin was such an incredible surprise ♡♡

These pictures were taken yesterday, and it was such a gorgeous day! The sun was shining (a little too brightly perhaps - I actually got hot prancing around, for the first time in ages!); birds were chirping; and flowers were blooming! Afterwards, I surprised my friend at the horse stables and whisked her away to laze around in the grass and drink iced tea. By the end of the day, I might have become a foster parent for kittens...! I'll be sure to give you updates on this matter soon!

Sorry for such a long post, I've just missed you so much and have so much to catch up on! I'll be back soon with another post, until then, please tell me about your favorite etsy shops (they can be your own ;*)!

♡,
Kailey

Interview: Ashley from Fancy Fine

I have quite the Easter treat for you! I am pleased as punch to introduce you to Miss Ashley Ording of Fancy Fine, who was kind enough to agree to be Mermaidens' latest interviewee! Her vintage style, skillful writing and photography, and infectious personality make her blog, Fancy Fine, a dream come true!

I was lucky enough to ask Ashley about her style, her thrifting adventures, and perhaps the most important question of all, her favorite desserts - enjoy! ♡

When and why did you start Fancy Fine?
Fancy Fine almost never existed. I nearly talked myself out of blogging about four years ago because I worried that I was only adding more pointless noise to the already overwhelming world of blogging, but fortunately I decided to go for it anyways! What changed my mind was seeing all of these amazing blogs, created by girls my own age who had covetable personal style, and thinking that if I could be so inspired by them then maybe sharing my own collection with the world was something worthwhile. And I can't even tell you how many wonderful friends I've made and how many lovely opportunities I've been given, all because of Fancy Fine.

With ice cream and Gene Wilder prints and dreamy dresses decorating your walls - your apartment looks like a dream! What would you say are the best ways to spiffy up a drab living space?
Why thank you! I think bringing in lots of color is the best way to turn drab into beauty. I lived in a room with mint green walls for many years and just being surrounded by that bright shade made everything look happier and lovelier.

I tend to fill any space I inhabit pretty quickly with my favorite objects because I need to feel inspired wherever I am. And here in my new Philadelphia apartment I am the most happy surrounded by giant photos of Gene Wilder, ice cream prints, hundreds of books, and so many vintage dresses it would make your head spin!

Describe your personal style.
Quirky feminine is the easiest way to sum it up. I love to dress like a girl, which means that I rarely wear pants or anything that could be interpreted as being masculine, but I don't like to rule anything out because that leaves no room for surprise. I'm drawn to super kooky things sometimes, and I like to imagine that the older I get the more eccentric my style will become. Because I will give less and less of a damn about what others think!

As an avid thriftier myself, I have to ask - what were some of your more remarkable and favorite thrifting finds?
Oh man, this could fill a novel. Or three! I started regularly thrifting when I was 15 and I've been addicted ever since, which means I've unearthed my fair share of treasures from the dingiest and dustiest of shops. One of my favorite earliest finds was a 1960's swing coat made of a heavy bright green textured wool with giant fake wood buttons. I spotted it in the window of my favorite thrift store in Santa Rosa (where I grew up) and I couldn't believe my eyes. It fit perfectly and cost me only $8 because the owners of the shop thought it was completely ridiculous. And it was, but I loved it so much and I wore it to my high school (this was my sophomore year) on several occasions, which prompted a lot of judgmental staring and pointing. My teachers were totally digging it, though.

Another favorite would be a 1960's cardigan I found in San Francisco six years ago and have been wearing constantly ever since. It's nothing crazy, just a simple little number in the perfect shade of olive-beige that magically goes with everything in my wardrobe. It was probably the best $5 I've ever spent.

What is your favorite dessert?
My grandma's peach pie is a top contender, but I'm also partial to cheesecake and Cadbury cream eggs.

Whether it's a picture of your outfit or bits and bobs around your apartment - the photography on Fancy Fine is awe inducing! What would your advice for strengthening ones photography skills be?
You're a doll, thank you! I went to school for photography (the San Francisco Art Institute) and I've always had a camera or two attached to my hip. I think the best way to become a better photographer is to look at amazing photographs and find what inspires you, and then to just start snapping away constantly.

I was always experimenting and creating funny little photo shoots in high school that involved conning my girlfriends into posing underneath creepy lamp posts in desolate parks or wearing clothing in a swimming pool. The photos weren't anything to brag about but the experience was everything, especially in those days before blogging, Instagram, and all of that. It also doesn't hurt to take a course on the more technical bits of photography, since that will be the foundation of anything you may create!

Describe your definition of a perfect day!
My perfect day would be a leisurely morning involving a delicious brunch with my friends and lots of coffee, followed by hours of flea market scavenging with my boyfriend, a late lunch outside in the sunshine, a trip to a museum in the afternoon, and finally an evening filled with wine, cheese, and karaoke!

And finally, as a former ballroom dancer for 4 years, if you had to choose, what would your favorite dance move be?
Ooh, an excellent question! There was an amazing move I used to do at the very end of a two-step called the "Death Drop," which involved being lowered slowly to the floor by the man, with only one hand holding on for dear life, until I was practically parallel with the floor. It was quite fun after a particularly mellow dance to suddenly bust out this move! I wonder if I could still pull it off...

Visit Ashley on...
Fancy Fine
Twitter
Tumblr
Intagram
Fancy Fine Vintage

Makeup Essentials

With just a swipe of lipstick and a flick of eyeliner, I feel so much more self-confident, and because of this, I have accidentally accumulated quite the collection of makeup u__u

Until recently, my makeup had been scattered haphazardly throughout my room, desk, & bathroom (I'm quite messy heh!) - so when I saw this cat makeup bag on Forever 21 I might have freaked out a bit!

When I received it the other day, I was inspired to photograph and share some of my makeup essentials with you! ♡

1. Nouvelle Vague Nail Polish, Chanel (*) 2. Lacey Lilac Nail Polish, Sally Hansen; $2.50 3. Eye Liner, Wet n Wild; $3 4. Toxic Tale Lipstick, MAC (*) 5. My Dark Magic Eyeshadow, MAC (*) 6. Lash Stiletto Mascara, Maybelline; $8 7. Cherry Picking Lipstick, Wet n Wild; $2 8. Strawberry Malt Lipgloss, MAC; $16.50 9. Divine Lipstick, Covergirl; $6 10. Yelo White Eyeshadow, Urban Decay (*) 11. Eyelash Curler, e.l.f.; $1.50 12. Retro Red Lipstick, N.Y.C.; $1.50
* indicates item is no longer available

Though I usually stick to drugstore makeup, I have been known to splurge occasionally on lip products from MAC - (I can't resist when they do special collaborations animated characters) their Disney Villains Toxic Tale lipstick is the shade I reach for the most!

Meanwhile, I usually stick to doing a bit of a cateye and mascara on both my upper and lower lashes, and this Wet n Wild eyeliner (recommended to me by Marlena ♡♡♡) and Maybelline mascara does the trick perfectly! I'm not very good at eyeshadow (it confuses me I'm sad to admit u__u) but the now discontinued white shadow I got years ago from Urban Decay is my favorite - I'm sad because I've almost used it all up and I can't find anymore! ;_;

What are your makeup essentials? Do you have any recommendations or favorite tutorials? I'd love to hear/see them! ( ♡ ᴥ ♡ )

DIY Daisy Sunglasses

Recently I had the joy of contributing to MissRobin, a wonderful magazine which aims to "modernize 40’s women fashion magazines"! Created by fashion student Lucas Asin and with contributions from photographer Helena Exquis and blogger Laia Doll, when I saw the first issue I just knew I wanted to be part of the second!

The second issue's theme of 60s, daisies, and youth immediately inspired me to try a DIY idea I have been meaning to figure out for months! Based on these Moschino Cheap & Chic sunglasses that I'm still obsessed with years later, all you need is cheap sunglasses, foam, and glue!

Check out the full DIY in MissRobin's second issue here! And please let me know if you have any questions or make a pair for yourself!

♡,
Kailey

Candy Floss

After a winter that has seemed to last forever, it seems the sun has finally begun to peek through the clouds and I'm ecstatic! There is something about the way the sun streams into my room that is just so gorgeous; which I tried to capture in the above picture - I had to share even with my silly, ~*~serious face and messy background!

In the beginning of March I had the pleasure to explore a big mall for the first time in years (the last place I lived for 3+ years had no malls!) with my friend Kayla and had the most wonderful time! There was an ice cream shop, MAC Cosmetics (I'm going back for some new lipstick soon *_*), Sephora, Forever 21, a theater, bookstore, and most importantly, a photobooth! I've never been in one before, and had such fun (as evidenced by my face in the middle picture hehe)! My friend is covered up for now - not sure if she would approve of me posting her on here just yet :)

I went a bit overboard in Forever 21 - there was so much cute stuff *_* I ended up getting this skirt, black dress (which you will see in my next post!), blouse, and pink dress! In my defense, I hadn't been there in ages! ;P

Also got some candy, but of course! ^^

Meanwhile, ModCloth is having a contest! If you have a moment, please spare me (or Anna or October!) - a vote! It would be much appreciated ♡

Kisses!
Kailey

February Highlights

Saying goodbye to a month is always sad for me (cue "where has the time gone!!!" moments of PANIC), so in order to cheer myself up, I decided to compile some of my favorite things that happened this February into a "month in review" type post! Hope this isn't boring to you guys and let me know your own highlights for the month in the comments! ♡

Valentine's Day - conversation hearts, surprise valentine from Marlena, pen pal letter, heart garland, & valentine from Sarah, & me holding a huge heart wreath - as one does

Being drawn by the unbelievably talented Michelle, interviewed by the impeccably dressed October from October Rebel, and featured on Micaela Hoo's blog!

Getting back into illustrating and completing commissions for Powder Doom and City Girl Slim

Receiving the most incredible parcel ever from Marlena ♡

Exploring my new town and eating some truly wonderful food - bacon cheeseburger and fries, raspberry sorbet, shamrock shake, & taco pizza

And I was particularly happy with this month's batch of outfit posts! To review: Rose Garden, Liquorice, and Bubblegum

Other Highlights:
- Going to the movies with my friend Kayla and having an Adventure Time marathon at her house
- Receiving such thoughtful/encouraging emails and comments from you guys - seriously the best! ♡

What are you looking forward to in March?

♡,
Kailey