Translucence

Although my family has had a home with a backyard pool for some years now, I've yet to become a laying-out type of girl. It's a rare occasion when I slip into a swimsuit to lay in the sun without the summer heat sending me scampering back inside. Also, if I do stay out for any amount of time, it's with heavy SPF sunscreen coated all over. The truth is, I like my paleness. I like being dark-headed with white skin. Sure, not tanning will have it's long-term advantages, but actually, I just like it. The paleness. It's different. I like seeing my veins underneath my skin, tracing blue roads on my body, as converging and diverging vessels. I like seeing the spikes of broken veins in old bruised areas and even the birthmark in stark contrast on my calf. I like the glossy black nail polish vivid on my toes and fingers. I like the pools of darkness under my eyes and the redness of my cheeks and lips. Mostly I like the veins on my wrist...spindly branching up into my palm, glowing blue beneath pale skin, with a faint criss-cross of scars whispering on top.

A little place of home.

My bedroom is my hideaway, my safe spot, my creative domain.

I like it when it's neat and tidy. Takes effort. /whew

Nesting tendencies have limited direction until I have my own place.

For now, here's my home...

Some of the decorative elements are now a tad too jungle for my taste, but the antique

metal bed frame and folding tea table are keepers.

Framed print of Lady in the Meadow by Kinuko Y. Craft.

My area for drawing, sewing, scrap booking, art booking, crafting, make-up storage.

It's so very nice when the afternoon sun beams in the window .

The beautiful nature prints are Tyler's...they brighten up my day.

The bookcase is filled with literature, novels, poetry, how-to's, cook books, and Christian literature.

All, of which, I've read.

The chest of drawers and dresser (other photo) are my dad's furniture from his childhood.

So of course they're antiques. Tee hee. (Okay, seriously, they are.)

The frame on the left holds my name and my brothers' written in lovely Japanese calligraphy.

The golden stars are ornaments from Anthropologie.

I purchased the vintage avocado-colored couch at friend's yard sale for $15.

I was given the almost-avocado-matching vintage bench, which when covered in homework,

is nicely camouflaged to blend in.

The photographs are of my family. The print is The Annunciation Triptych by Robert Campin.

The desk is generally strewn with notecards, stamps, text books, and half-burned candles.

(I can never bring myself to finish off candles...I love the smells too much.)

Under the pile of coffee table books is an ivory elephant statue from Vietnam,

given to me by the gammy.

(Gloria gave me the large green coffee table book of Welsh poetry and art for my birthday. I adore it.)

On the chair is the softest, fluffiest, most wonderful source of warmth ever.

The CD tower with drawers is bursting at the seams...with yet another candle on top.

The two ivory elephants are miniatures of the large one...li'l jungle-love youngins, I suppose.

The chest holds seasonal clothes, and anything that I can't stuff in my walk-in closet.

(Oh my. There won't be any documenting of that travesty of a space.)

I have four collections of colored pencils, many drawing pencils, so many Crayola crayons....

And the ruler Anne gave me, listing the great Women of Literature. So inspiring.

The ceramic lamp was a hand-me-down from grandmamma that I painted black...

(Originally blue and white with gold splatters. Not so pretty.)

The unfinished-crafts basket. Never empty.

*zmmmmm* *zmmmmm* /pause. *snip* *rip* /pause. *zmmmmm*

Bible, manga, The Prophet, Radical Reformission

((And hearts))

Rehview, rehview! Reco'mends for you!

I'm a natural sucker for packaging just like the next girl, and have learned a few significant lessons in the pursuit of fashion and beauty. And well, it is too expensive to purchase items you end up not liking, we know this already! t's good to find the products you appreciate using, again and again, and suggest to others. Here's a few items I've enjoyed using over the past year. If you have any comments or suggestions in return, please respond. ^_^

Smashbox Sheer Focus tinted moisturizer...absorbs and covers well! No fuss, and it's my excuse for never wearing foundation. The SPF 15 is a plus, since I have decided to embrace my paleness. I've also tried Cover Girl Smoothers and Benefit You Rebel Lite. Cover Girl was creamier and coverage lasted only about 5 hours, where as Benefit held well but with sheerer coverage altogether.

Mascara must be one of the sketchiest of cosmetics. There's an overwhelming variety of brands claiming many benefits, and the price range runs $4.50-28.00. I've experimented with many, both high and low end, and always returned to Maybelline's Great Lash, the standby classic for many years (my mom's wore it since the 80s!). However, when Ulta gave me a free Stila Major Lash with a purchase, I was converted. Stila's claim of no flaking and softness is legitimate, it thickens nicely, wearability is great, and I enjoy the smoothness of the product. Maybelline will stay in my drawer, but Stila has its special spot now.

Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips...yes, we're going there. Instant gratification. Recommended for guys as well, since their beauty regime should just rely on keeping their skin clear. After two weeks of regular use, pores close up and skin remains much clearer. The Ultra Deep Cleansing ones do work significantly better than the basic.

I'm a jean snob cultivated from a young age. When I was little, I always desired the "cool" jeans, and Goody's Levi's just wouldn't do. I wore my L.E.I bell bottoms from J.C. Penny to shreds. This snobbery was unfortunately exacerbated by my awkward 11-year-old growth spurt to an indecisive 5'8" (neither "average" nor "tall") and being modest which limits cheaper options (higher rise and still stylish? Nearly impossible.). Consistent truths: American Eagle and Hollister jeans have never and will never fit my body, and that the cheaper the jean the quicker stretch is lost. Gap was my rescue, but I found the styling could be somewhat off and sizing a hit-or-miss (0, 2, 4, long, or average, always a guess). After being hired at Anthropologie this August, I took the plunge to purchase a designer pair. J Brand, curvy skinny cut, 27 - perfect. The cut was ideal for my body, the deep wash has stayed true through numerous cold washes, and the jean stretch stays marvelously well. I pair them with everything. I could see them lasting forever, there are no signs of wear so far. I highly recommend the investment.

Perhaps these suggestions help in a way. I would enjoy hearing your reviews as well!