Dark Tuesday

Dark Tuesday by nojcrewinjapan featuring Theory shorts

So today is dark and a little cloudy and dreary over here in usually lovely Okinawa, Japan. I am on Day 2 of searching the back of my closet for things to wear that don't *totally* suck to conserve outfits for my upcoming trip this week to Hawaii for work. I made my last drycleaning run yesterday so this is really it.
After some cursing this morning because I wasn't able to wear the goodies I picked up from the drycleaner yesterday, like my black cotton poplin dress, I ended up picking out this ensemble.
The pants are a 60's inspired skinny-leg wool pair from Theory that I haven't worn in a really.long.time. The top is similar to the Marc Jacob's shown, but is from Banana Republic a few seasons ago and has flutter sleeves, as well as a dark forest green and white houndstooth check.
I just got my pearl necklace from J.Crew yesterday in the mail and have decided to pair that with my Chanel J12.
In keeping with the 60's theme of the pants, I opted to put my hair in a stretch headband, which creates that teased, beehive-ish effect at the crown of my head. I stuck with pale lids and lips, and went for tons of black mascara and black eyeliner.
Somebody pass me a hula-hoop! I'm ready to do the twist.

The Little Beach Cottage, Realized

Thought I would post some pics of what has kept me busy the last few weeks (besides episodes of Lipstick Jungle on hulu.com). Our little beach cottage of a house is finally done! If you remember from this post, I desperately wanted to add color to an otherwise boring beige house. Well I think I did it, though not with the beloved turquoise and cerulean colors I had been so obsessed with at the time.

Instead I opted for oranges, reds and greens. On the surface it sounds too colorful. Even for me. But against the beiges, ecrus and flax backgrounds, the colors seemed to pop. & the house is truly a little beach cottage. So a playful mix of color seemed appropriate.

Monday Monday...

monday monday by nojcrewinjapan featuring J Crew sweaters

I am finally back! I've been distracted the last couple of weeks by our move to the new house, making sure all the boxes were unpacked and getting things ready for our housewarming party. Now that we're finally settled i can turn my attentions back to my beloved little space here.

Today's kind of a *blah* outfit day, but for good reason. I leave for Hawaii for work next Saturday, and I've got to conserve the good outfits for the trip. I'll be there for 5 weeks. Trying to rustle all the things I hardly wear out of my closet this week and keep the goodies for next week.

I told you before I have thismany tartine cardigans. I don't know, but when they came out they were addicting. So here's my rhubarb tartine in action. I paired it today with the tissue pleated top in white, and it is tucked into my denim pencil skirt. The outfit is soooo blah it was almost not worth mentioning, but I thought I'd throw it all on the blog to get rolling again.

To Do. 3.15.2009

To Do 3.15.2009 - by nojcrewinjapan on Polyvore.com

Attacked By Fur, or a Word of Advice: Think Twice Before You Get a Shiba

Many of you may not be familiar with the Shiba Inu.  I didn't know what they were until I got one.   Then I got another.  Obviously I am a glutton for punishment.  But my puppy was the cutest puppy you ever did see.  Back before the real baby, and back before we were Mr. & Mrs., we made the decision to get a fur baby together.  We were serious about it.  We took online quizzes (Highly scientific process, I know) to determine what was the best match for us.  We took these exams independently of each other (I told you, it was scientific) so that we wouldn't be influenced by the other person's answers.  & then when we compared notes, we found we liked the same Mystery Dog.  I say that because we both had never heard of the breed before.  So.  Being the logical people we are, we locate said Shiba Inu puppy.  Since we were in Hawaii and Hawaii is a rabies-free state, our puppy came in from New Zealand... This is pretty common in Hawaii to have breeders bring in dogs from New Zealand or Australia, which are also rabies-free areas.  

Anyway, I digress.  Life was good for a year with Kaya.  Our first baby.  We loved him so much, we got Rocky.  Here they are.

We totally love our fur babies.  But there is a line.  A fine line.  & it's drawn in fur, I swear.  Because shiba inus blow their coats, a la this:
& it is miserable for their owners.  Because I'm vacumming.  & swiffering.  & swiffer-vacuuming (oh, BTW, the Swiffer-Vac is the most amazing invention since, I don't know, the straight-iron.  It is literally my ultimate favorite thing in the house.  Especially now).  We are surrounded in fur!  There are fur-balls.  Like tumble weeds.  & I can't get them into the groomers because of "booking issues."  

& BTW, don't take online quizzes to determine your dog breed of choice.  My quiz said that my shiba would like water (they both HATE it), didn't shed too much (LIARS, flat out LIARS), and was not high maintenance (Talk to my VET BILLS, GROOMING BILLS and everything in between).  

Though I talk about them that way, my life would be so strange without them.  As in, I would have a clean house.  More money.  Room to move in my bed at night.  An open seat on the couch.  But no love!!  & they are sweeties.  But I am thisclose to shaving them. 

Horn Tooting: Lemonade Nominee in the House

A big THANK YOU to Beth who just nominated my blog for a Lemonade Award! 

The award is for sites that demonstrate great attitude and/or gratitude in general.

"When life hands you lemons, make lemonade."

Upon receiving the Lemonade Award, you also pass it on to other bloggers who you think show great attitude and or gratitude.

I really appreciate the nomination.  It means perhaps my blog doesn't totally stink.  LOL.  Congratulations to all the other nominees!  I've really come to love the blogosphere and finding ladies and gents with the same obsessions and loves as me.  Have a good one, everyone!

Current Obsession: Anthropologie's Bedding and Curtains in Celadon & Turquoise

Sigh... In a break from opening boxes, I had the brilliant idea of perusing the Anthropolgie website... never a good idea.  I can never break myself away from it.  Everything is gorgeous in that I-Could-Live-So-Simply-Yet-In-An-Understatedly-Elegant sort of way. ... mmm.. That way seems to always involve grandmother-closet-chic at exorbitant, inflated price points.  Simple-Yet-Elegant is always expensive...why is that?? Well, here are my favorites this morning... that I am holding myself back from busting out the plastic for:

Behold the fabulousness that is the Spiral Vine Curtain.  A paltry (**dripping sarcasm**) $98.00-$118.00 per curtain.  I want these.  I need these.  But are my choices to shell out $500 for 4 panels??  Insanity.  I would need the 96" versions, for sure.  & I would need 4.  But I looooooove them.  I really do.  I love the colors.  I love that white runneth through the design - the easier to match it with other things in the living room.  & oh yes, I want these for the living room.  Think it a bit much?  My entire downstairs is in a color I like to call oatmeal.  Oatmeal is code for boring beige.  If you recall from prior posts, my downstairs living area looks like this:

Beige walls and what I would consider to be cherry-colored floors and open stairs.  They are crying for some color.  My couch.. is rocking the Quaker Oats scheme.  A chair... yup, same thing.  Other furniture?  Some Chinese antique stuff I was able to pick up...um, all darker woods.  So I guess you could say I've got oatmeal, white, and browns going on.  & the green coming from outside and the blues from the ocean across the street.  

So you see?  Do you see??  I'm thinking how perfect would these curtains be!  A little bit of whimsy amongst a serious yet casual backdrop.  
Switching gears, er, rooms, let us turn the discussion to the Quintana Roo Bedding.  $228.00 for a King quilt.  $58.00 for each Euro sham.  As much as I love Anthropologie, I think they're on crack if they think I'm able in this shiteous of economic times to purchase said bedding at said price point.  Seriously!  This calls for a "WTF."  Now, I have to say I loooooove the quilt.  The celadon and the turquoise thing continuing upstairs would be peaceful yet vibrant, adding that bon vivant thing I would want in a bedroom (you know, energetic and perky, yet casual and tranquil at the same time).  However the prices leave me only to dream about it.  How fitting.  
And alas, the Celadon Trellis Bedding.  $248.00 for the King duvet and $58.00 for each Euro sham.  You get it.  The color thing continues.  Even in the name.  Now absolutely dreamy would it be to have the duvet here AND the Quintana Roo quilt from above??  Now if you lived across the street from the beach, and you had hermit crabs roaming your back yard (Big suckers, too), would this not be the most tempting thing you ever did see?  Would you not want to just pull the trigger on this??  

I do, but I am a realist.  & I know spending a thousand dollars at Anthropologie seems...like, well... I'd have to be on crack.  But a girl can dream.  

What do you think?  Anybody like the color scheme?  Anybody out there would actually purchase said items with my home in mind?