Monday evening...

It seems ages since I did a post like this so...here is a little glimpse at my rather uneventful Monday evening at home...enjoy.

not a bad face to come home too, eh?

me, being a blogger nerd...

and she cooks too, ladies and gents!

finished product: pasta with homemade vodka sauce, 3 cheeses & walnuts. mmm...

listening to the new Kate Bush album "50 Words for Snow" and wishing it were colder outside. Also, wishing that we had a fireplace.

a much needed cleaning out of my bag! Which, I figured, presented as good a time as any to do one of those "what's in your bag" photos/lists I've been meaning to do for ages!

1. Marc by MJ bag 2. blog cards 3. keys 4. Kate Spade wallet 5. proof that I drink too much coffee 6. mini notebook & pen 7. various hair accessories   8. mirror  9. L'Occitane hand cream 10. iPhone in a ridiculous case so I don't crack it. 11. vintage gloves 12. Sephora blot papers 13. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment  14.  MAC lip pencil & RubyWoo lipstick 15. ULTAMascara 16.  sunglasses 17.*normally there would be some sort of reading material but I am reading this book currently which does not fit!

taking the pups out for a little walk. (here's what our garden looks like at night for a change!)

back inside for some "BB" (which I've been doing for several months now and love...)

Then into a different kind of slipper

curl up with the pups... (charlie cannot fly - despite what her ears might tell you)

Lastly, since I am on a hot chocolate kick this month I thought it fitting to end here. I might also add that it has been in the high 70s here this week. It seems winter may never arrive. this saddens me...

see you soon!

djrd featured on pocket change!

Just a quick little note to say thanks to PocketChange for featuring me on their "best of the web" series!

back soon!

“We are all of us stars and we deserve to twinkle.”

I'd been seeing a few shots from this Elle UK Michelle Williams editorial in recent weeks but I was curious to see the rest so... I went digging.   Why did it not come as a surprise to discover the styling was the handiwork of none other than Miss Leith Clark (aka one of my favorite ladies ever)! Such beautiful clothing... all of which I would like to own!

The only problem with this editorial (and I hate to get repetitive but it's so true) is that I really want to run for the closest pair of trimming shears whenever I see Michelle with her Mia Farrow-esque pixie cut. Honestly, it's such a strong urge its a wonder I haven't acted on it!

photos via: http://bohemea.tumblr.com

Meanwhile, has anyone reading seen "My Week With Marilyn" yet? What did you think?!  I'm slightly scared to go because I am such a huge Marilyn fan and the preview honestly made me a little worried.   I'm sure I won't be able to hold out that long and by this time next week I'll probably have seen it!

I hope you all have a marvelous weekend!!! xdjrd


**quote used in the post title/editorial is by Marilyn Monroe**

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are currently watching the (85th annual?) Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, drinking delicious coffee and cooking some veggie-friendly Thanksgiving goodies.  I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving - where ever you are!!

xdjrd

(photos via:  here, here)

almost blue

Knit season is upon us and I am exceedingly happy with this. After all, a love of bundling up is an inherent quality of mine.  Most evenings, if I am at home, I'm likely to be found under a blanket or wrapped in a big sweater. Now it's actually cold enough to wear knits out of the confines of my home with out getting strange looks!

 

 mid-shoot I found Bagheera lounging in his new favorite spot under our house.

 

outfit details:
blouse: vintage
sweater: h&m
skirt: old urban outfitters
boots: madewell
flower crown: by me

musical notes: elvis costello - almost blue (just because this song has been in my head all day and it kills me!)

step right up! step right up!

I am a sucker for photos of vintage showgirls, ballerinas and the like... so... when I stumbled upon these incredible photos of circus performers from the 1940s and 50s, I basically shrieked with delight! Now I wanted to share them with you too...

 (the mini chihuahua caught my eye for obvious reasons! I suppose I take it for granted that they are a new invention - not so!)

Now if only I could get my paws on those unbelievable costumes!  I have a tiny collection of vintage stagewear (which someday I'll add to) but nothing this spectacular. I know some of these must exist out there in some old attic or crawlspace! 

Images are originally from this book  - photos found via how to be a retronaut

i put a spell on you...

You may recall that I promised to post some video documentation of Dime Store Dollies  (the pop–Cabaret group I started with my pal Beth Jean) so… without further ado, here is a little peek at the DimeStore Dollies Halloween show THE BLACK CAT'S MEOW!  *This is only my second ever time singing on stage (first time singing on stage whilst in a tutu), so do be kind. Also, apologies for the shabby audio, my little camera didn't do the best job recording - in fact, I don't think it managed to get even one song the whole way through - but this should suffice for those interested!

I hope you all have a marvelous Monday! x

two months of me... plus the Shabby Apple winner!

 

I keep forgetting to share this silly video which came from an app I downloaded on my iphone called "Everyday" after seeing it on a few blog's including Sandra's.  The concept behind it is that you take one photo a day in more or less the same position and eventually you can them make them into little digital flip-books. Anyhow, the above video show me in basically all of September & some of October!

In more important news... I have selected the winner of the Shabby Apple Mulholland dress giveaway (using random.org) and the winner is #6... Maud!! which makes me especially happy because she had such a brilliant idea of where she's going to wear it..

"i'd wear it to celebrate seeing my boyfriend again after four months apart (he is still living in the UK, sigh!). i'd wear it for hours and hours while i was traveling, looking incongruously glamorous among all the glum, weary people making their way here and there for the holidays, but i'd feel pretty as a poppy when i'd finally get to see him and we'd go out to have dinner somewhere nice and then maybe dancing and it would be just like old times, when we'd dress up for no real reason, just to celebrate each other"   

^ I adore that :D  Thanks to all of you who entered and please don't despair! I'm going to try to make this giveaway business a more regular happening here!  Have a lovely weekend x djrd

djrd + Shabby Apple = dress giveaway *ENDED*

I had been contemplating another giveaway for several months but just couldn't find the right brand to link up with. When Shabby Apple approached me to do a women's dress giveaway I thought it would be the perfect collaboration – mainly because I am a sucker for a pretty dress!  Anyhow...after carefully scouring the site for hours on end I decided the Mulholland party dress (pictured below) would be great for the holidays, which are quickly approaching! It's vintage inspired which always wins me over AND it's part of the Tinsel Town collection...I live in "tinsel town" so, personally, I thought it quite appropriate that I pick this one to giveaway.

 the Mulholland

Now I'll stop boring you and get on to what you need to do to make this beauty all yours!

Step One…  Click HERE to "Like" Shabby Apple on Facebook 

Step Two…   Leave a comment here on DJRD saying where you might wear the dress if you got your paws on it! Don't forget an email address so I can get in touch if you are chosen!

A winner will be selected at random this Saturday and the giveaway is open to international readers too! Meanwhile, if you see something else that tickles your fancy simply enter the code  "dondaughter10off" and you will magically get 10% off your purchase at checkout through the rest of November! Not bad, eh!?

I'm so excited to pick winner. Good luck to you all! xdjrd

velvet underground

Happy Sunday, lovelies! This is a dress I am finally getting around to posting even though I've been wearing it non-stop since I bought it in September.  It is so dreamy and perfect for Fall - which, I think I am safe in saying, has finally reached Los Angeles...hurrah! This weekend we (at last) got to pull out the duvet again and coats have reemerged from the front closet! Though, I know it's nothing like the weather the East Coast has already begun to feel the wrath of!  But, come on, it's all relative! We are babies over here and we know it.

Anyhow, this little Edwardian style mini-dress (I'm pretty certain it was once much longer) came into my world just as I had begun to drool over the first few episodes of Downton Abbey Series 2 and it really made my day! Doesn't it look like something Cora would have worn?  (wow, I'm a nerd...)

Downton aside, I have a total velvet obsession -- it's one of the best things about cooler weather if you ask me. 

 outfit details:
dress - vintage from TLO
nude tights - american apparel
shoes -  wasteland

 Oh, I very quickly wanted to give you a heads up that there will be, at long last, another giveaway this week so be sure to check back! It's a good one.

musical notes: Sunday Morning - Velvet Underground

reckless daughter as lulu

This year for Halloween I went as one of my favorite 1920s starlets, Louise Brooks.  I've had this photo of Louise in her Ziegfeld Girl costume framed and hanging up in my house for years so I thought I'd brave the Tutu and give it a go! here is the result...

I think there is some video of the Dime Store Dollies Halloween set but until I get a hold of that this photo will have to suffice! (me as lulu & beth as an unknown chap with a blond mustache)