rag curl tutorial!

Finally! I got around to video taping myself doing my rag curls! So this is my second hair tutorial video, I'm not really used to videotaping myself and just talking straight to a camera, so I'm a little weird haha. I noticed I start off kind of bright and energetic, then I get kind of boring sounding lol. And taping myself right after I wake up! Jeeze, I should keep that to a minimum (straight out of bed with no makeup, might I add!) Also, I make a lot of weird faces! wiggling my nose and stuff.. ignore that! hehe

So a few things before you watch, please excuse the weird sound in the backgound, just a few days our toliet started making this weird noise and I think you can here it, at the beginning at least. Also I was interupted a few times so there are weird breaks in the video, dont mind that, I'm not too great at editing. Also, I originally had The Doors playing in this video, but I guess they have some licensing and Youtube kept removing my audio when I uploaded it! So I had to pick something I knew I wasn't infringing on any copyrights with, so instead you can hear the great music of Twin Sister, Long Island band that I'm lucky enough to know the singer of, an awesome chick named Andrea! You should check them out, things this good don't usually come out of LI!

Also, let me just say, It took me a little while before I picked up my own technique, it can be a bit hard and come out messy the first few times. But remember, practice makes perfect and the more you try these out the easier it will become and your curls will come out just wonderful! So, let me know what you think, and let me know what else you want to see! I have a few hair styles I do kind of often and I would love to show you how!

Oh yea, and you can hear a firework go off outside right in the first few seconds haha. People celebrating early around here.

a girl and her cat

My hair was lookin' good monday, and I didn't get a photo! So here is me and George at night before I took it out, he likes my hair too :) The same night (and morning after) I filmed a rag curl hair tutorial! I just got done editing it, now I just need to upload to youtube then I will post it! I'm a little weird in the video (not used to filming myself, or just talking to a camera) and I had a few interruptions so there are random cuts here and there. But hey! I finally did it!

Other hair styles you want me to show ya how to do? Let me know here!

blue at sunset

A little sunset viewing with the boy on our day off together. It actually wasn't as nice as it looks, as there were these little beach flies attacking us the whole time! It was totally lame, cause I wanted to go see the sunset so bad, I was really looking forward to it. And we made these really good vegan enchiladas before we left to catch the sunset so we were in good spirits. But the sunset was very pretty, and afterwards we went to go see Super 8, which was good, in the way that it was very Steven Spielberg and it really reminded me of E.T. (which is also my initials, and always bothered me) and also Elle Fanning is so cute and great.. but otherwise it was okay. I love the way he uses light reflection off like street lights and stuff, and the kids bedrooms all messy with kid stuff all over the place. And I love the 70s so, yea I guess I liked it :)

So this dress I got at an estate sale, I talked about it a while ago, and I have worn this dress like a billion times since I got it, but just never got a photo of. But I really really love it! And it's a shame because the fabric is kind of thin, on the back especially and there are two rips behind my left shoulder that I fixed already, but is ripping again. You all know I don't mind a rip here or there, but this one makes it feel very fragile when it is on.. I need to get to fixing that. The booties I just got the other day at the thrift store.. it is all Jeremy's fault, I am trying my best not to buy anything or spend money but he sent me there when he was at work to get him a black belt for the wedding.. and I just had to look! and I couldn't leave without these. I think they were $6.. I never remember the prices of things. I have a bunch of pairs like this already, but these feel the most comfortable.

I was also having a good hair day. Just twirl it up and stick a bunch of bobby pins in. You never know what you are going to get really, but I like what today brought out. I also just want to say thanks to all the commenters, and readers alike! I really appreciate all the kind words, and I'm glad you all dig what I'm putting out there!

sponsor It Girl Rag Doll in July!

Wow!! I can not believe June went by so fast! Time really flies when you are apartment hunting and job hunting at the same time! But back to what I was saying, the time has come to accept July sponsorship here at It Girl Rag Doll! Click here to find out all you need to know about what sponsorship provides as well as rate and blog stats! Or just send me an email emilyrtheobald@gmail.com

wedded bliss

Yesterday I was the +1 to Jeremy's friend Liz's wedding. It has been a while since I have been to a wedding, and I was eagerly awaiting this one for a few reasons. I love any excuse to get dressed up, I couldn't wait to get some photos of Jeremy and I cause we hardly have any together, and he was looking real dapper in his suit. Also free booze, food and dancing all night sounds like my kind of way to party! I had planed on wearing a dress I got at the TLO nyc pop up shop, but then I went to Brimfield and came across this amazing dress that fit like a dream and it looked like such a perfect wedding dress, I just had to wear it! I wish you could get a better look at the shoes I was wearing, they were pretty simple black pumps, but with a pretty little flat bow on the front. I was on the search for something just like these to wear with this dress. I went thrifting and came home with these beauties, Anne Klein for only $10! The little beaded clutch I think I thrifted a long long time ago.

It was a really fun wedding, a classic ceremony at a church (not really my cup of tea, but the bride and groom both came from big Italian families, so I could tell that bit was to please the family) and the reception afterwards was nearby at a relatives house under a big tent.. so pretty! I had no idea it was going to be such a low key kind of thing, but I really dug it. The lighting in the tent was really cool, the food was good and there was dancing all night. Italians really know how to party haha. Succulents were being given away as parting gifts, and I forgot to take one! I guess it's better off cause my cats would just end up killing it anyways hah. And the centerpiece was really nice, I had to snap some photos. We got to take it home too!

friday

Here is what I wore yesterday, I had the day off, but didn't do too much with my time. I went to get my nails done for the first time in a while, we are going to a wedding later today and I wanted to get a color to match part of my dress. I also never matched my nails to my lipstick before, I'm really diggin' it! In an episode of Mad Men, all the secretaries are doing a testing of Belle Jolle lipstick, and in explaining why she chose the color she's wearing, one girl said sometimes she matches her lipstick to her nail color. It sounded a bit silly and limited as far as what color you can wear on your nails (I like to get crazy with colors sometimes.. and lipstick dosen't really come in sea foam green.. and I don't know how I would look in that anyways) but I quite like the idea. Especially since I tend to wear coral lipstick, I never tried coral nail polish before! But I like it!

The remainder of the day I spent cleaning and wanting for Jeremy to get home from work at 6, then we had some dinner and got ready to have some boys over for a game of poker. Before Jeremy got promoted we were doing these games every friday night, just low stakes stuff with some boys from work. He had been working all later shifts until this week so he wasn't around to play, and he's good! I'm okay, I hold my own, but I don't think I have a very good poker face and I'm always too scared to bluff!

Any who, I changed for the game (I like to show a bit more leg, distract the boys a bit hehe) But I wore this all day when I ran some errands and got my nails done and all that. This striped button up is probably my favorite one in my closet, love the pattern and it is oh so super soft. I got it at an estate sale, a really old house with tons and tons of boys clothes! I miss going to estate sales.. it sucks having to save all your money!! The pants were little boys communion pants probably, that I got at the thrift store. Best kept thrifting secret, shop the little boys section! For some reason the pants fit like a dream, you can also find cute sweaters that are often shrunken and cropped on us full size ladies. Cute little tee shirts, as well as button ups! I love these ones, the perfect shade of Pete Campbell blue (more Mad Men talk, Jeremy and I have been re watching because we are going through some sort of deficiency.. Mad Men come back!!!!!) which is probably my favorite suit color. I'm gonna get my boyfriend in a blue suit one day, I think it looks so classic, and looks really great if I wear yellow! My shoes are from etsy and my belt is thrifted, and thats all folks!

June sponsor: Meg Knits

It is time for another giveaway! The second I have done, and the second involving knits from Meg Knits! Last time, I gave away a lovely knit cropped top, designed by Meg Navoy, the cute FIT student behind the shop. This time this white crochet collar can be yours! It ties in the back and will look great with most outfits, giving it a little something extra.

To make things fun, here is a little bit about Meg and what inspires her:

What is your favorite fashion era?
My favorite fashion era is the 70s, because it was such an amazing time for music and culture and you can really see that through the clothing of the time. Being crafty, I love everything diy and the 70s were really big into granny squares, open crochet tops and swim suits and sewing your own clothes. The seventies fashion has a big influence on my personal style as well as my designs.

What inspired you and influences you when designing things for your shop?
I'm really inspired by the 1970s, the wonderful slouchy and chunky knits at Free People, my classmates at FIT, vintage inspired fashion bloggers such as Hannah and Landon, It Girl Rag Doll, Fancy Fine, as well as fashion designers such as Alexander Wang, Alexandra Grecco, and Sylvia Toth.

Favorite piece from your shop, and how you would wear it?
My favorite piece from my shop is probably the grunge sweater. I love the one I have for myself, it's so easy to layer and instantly adds texture to any outfit. I usually layer it over a dress or a lace bodysuit. There's so many different ways to wear it and I always get a ton of compliments when I wear it.

To enter, all you have to do is check out her shop and tell me in a comment which other piece is your favorite. Meg is offering some really cute summer knits, cropped tops, striped sweaters, and my personal favorite, crochet shorts! Make sure to leave your Email in your comment so I can reach the winner! The contest ends a week fron today, July 1st (wow, july already?!) and the winner will be chosen at random and contacted through email, and posted here. Thanks and good luck!

my college dorm room ca. 2007

So, this post is going to be a little funny (well, I think so at least) you may have noticed photos from this 2007 Nylon editorial making the rounds on tumblr. I think it's possibly my favorite Nylon editorial ever. I remember being so in love with that girls hair color (which caused me to dye my hair from VERY blonde to "chocolate cherry" and then get a bad haircut and then hate my liiiffeeee...) and how casual, yet totally well dressed she was. Lounging around drinking coffee, hugging plants and reading books.

Back to the point of this entry, seeing these images reminded me of how back then I was a big magazine subscriber, also a big fan of saving all my magazines. I still have a huge stash at my parents house, mostly of Nylons. And when I moved into the FIT co-ed dorm in the spring of 2007 I brought all those with me. I liked having the inspiration around. Then I cut up a whole bunch and decorated my dorm room like a mad woman!! These photos here were taken by my first room mate, a gothic chick from Connecticut who was a total drag. But we only lived together for one semester, and she took these photos which I can now look back on in remembrance, so thanks girl! (please excuse my name across some of them and the poor quality, had to take screen shots of these off facebook, ha)

I just wanted to share with you all, cause I think it's cool and funny that these photos are still around.. and I'm surprised the place wasent more of a mess! I'm pretty sloppy when it comes to putting clothes away, and making the bed as you can see :) After this semester, I dormed with three of my friends in a quad, and although the company was better, I don't think I ever decorated my room as well as this time. Ahh, memories!

new at golden fur vintage!

New things in the shop! Some already up, some to come, some already sold! dont miss out! And dont forget, I still have a 15% off coupon code for all you lovely gals out there! Just enter "WILLOW" at check out to receive your discount!

Thanks Hannah for helping me with the shop photos! She's one busy lady these days!

bits of brimfield: last instalment

I forgot I had one more installment of my Brimfield antique fair photos. I didn't realize just how many I took! Next month I will be heading back up to western MA, but this time it will be shortly before the fair (this fair happens three times a year, in may, july and september.. so you still have time to catch this amazing sight if your in the area!) to help set up Donnaland (if you check out my first post on being their last month, Donnaland is the shop I helped pack up at the end of the week) for the second fair. I will be paid in trade once more, so I will have wonderful things for my shop once I return! I will not be staying for the actual fair, but I'v seen it all.. and getting paid in vintage for three days of hard work. I'm sure I will be coming home with a boatload of stuff!