Fancy Favorites #17

This wool/acrylic blend skirt has such a great pattern and design. I want it on my body, stat.

What, you mean it is needlepoint and granny-esque and I love it? YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH.

Oh Royal Tenenbaums, you always steal my heart.

Info print scarves...

Crewel Embroidery chairs. This makes me want a wood and Crewel headboard... Wouldn't that be ridiculous and wonderful?

I would never wear another coat.

I want to be there for everyone, always, all at once

I wasn't sure how to start this post, but I knew it had to be written, because it was a big 'AH-HA!' moment for me today. The basic plot point? Everyone ALWAYS has way more going on in their lives than you can EVER  imagine, so cut them a break.

Being grown up is hard. I have not had the greatest 2012. I have def. had some great highlights, but to counter those, I have also had some pretty low lows, as well. And let's not forget about the in-between blahs. Right now, I am looking forward to 2013 more than I ever had to a year changing. But for as many ups and downs as I have had this year, I know every person I care about in the world could counter with their own, and this is something we (I) forget a lot.

I recently was at a pretty low point, and reached out to a few of my closest friends from around the globe. A month later, I hadn't heard back from any of them. I was pretty darn hurt, to say the least. But then it happened, I heard back from one, who of course, was busy with her own life, but sweet as always. Then I wrote back to two others, and got the replies I expected, full of love, and full of truly reasonable reasons. Why? Because they had started new jobs of their own, moved across the country, gone through big break ups, settling still in foreign counties, etc. ALL HUGE THINGS. Now I am not downgrading how I felt, because it was not a bright moment, but I took a breathe, and remembered why all these girls were my friends, and how much it sucks to live to far away from those nearest and dearest...for everyone involved.

I also recently have gotten to the age where a lot of my older relatives are passing away, and my cohorts in family are getting married. I would love to make it to all these things, but having a family of 27 first cousins, it is just unrealistic. This doesn't mean that I don't get pissed at myself for not having the saving to fly across country on a whim to be with family. Or that I don't get frustrated that I don't have a 'real' job (which, still in my mind means 'adult' sadly) and can't do what I consider adult obligations of being with family and friends when we need each other the most.

This post has been a lot of blabber, but I guess what I am trying to get at is that we all lead such big complex lives. And remembering that fact is something we all need to remember, myself included. At least I think that was the point..

I LOVE FOOD

Alright y'all, I hope everyone has a zillion and one things to be thankful for today! But more importantly, I hope all of you, near and far, are eating some might might mighty delicious food today. 

My big thanksgiving will be taking place tomorrow in the form of a 'Hook' (the movie) themed dinner party, and yes there will be plenty of pictures to come!

Love, love to all!

Such a Grown-up!

Welcome to Mid-November! So exciting, right? Even more exciting is all the little changes I have been making to this blog and my Etsy shop! First off, I now am at campyattributes.com. Balla' right?! It makes me feel like a grown-up, basically. With this change came the fact that I consolidated all my online naming, and changed the name of my Etsy Shop to 'Campy Attributes' as well! I just felt that if I am going to have so much online presence, that I should make it a tad bit less confusing, and just try and keep things a little more ...together? cohesive?






Okay, so...even more exciting is the fact that I have am currently adding a bunch of new stuff to my Etsy Store (Campyattributes.etsy.com) and that includes DRESSES! I have decided to finally take that plunge into clothing on Etsy, so wish me luck all! I think it is all pretty darn fun, hopefully all those out in the world will agree!

LuLu's Alaskan Style

LuLu's Alaskan Style by campyattributes featuring sheer tights

So, I recently Entered a contest to win a $200 gift card to LuLu's online, but more importantly, my winning styles could be featured on the blog Orchid Grey. I checked out my competition, and as of now, there isn't another like mine, but there are about 4 other really strong outfits.

*fingers crossed*

Currently: Rants and Rambles

WORKING ON: Getting Dresses up at my etsy store! I am having dress form problems  but once that is set, IT IS ON. I have already measured and acquired some great pieces...soon they shall be up, soon. I am also working on gettin ga new job! oh yay! Man, the last thing I want is to dive into another job right now, but man mine has become shitty. Excuse the language  but I just don't know how many times I can get dicked around there. Lots of broken promises, raises that never happen, and now apparently where a necklace with an otherwise required black scope next t-shirt and black trousers is too gaudy...and I was required to take it off. As well as my earrings. Because both of those change how great a server I am...we live in Fairbanks, AK Silver Gulch Brewery. Know your population.

THINKING ABOUT: TRAVEL. I am officially heading to Ajijic, Mexico and Austin, Texas for SXSW in Feb/March 2013 and am so excited! I will be gone for almost a total of 3 weeks. All around this is exciting b/c I have never been to either of these destinations, and I will be with people I love and adore at both! My grandmother lives in Ajijic, and has been down in Mexico living for 12-13 years. My whole (immediate) family is going as Christmas Presents to ourselves. VERY excited, getting to see family and explore new areas, SCORE. From there I will be heading to Austin for 8ish days for SXSW. At this point I do not plan on buying an actual pass as those are SUPER pricey, but friends who have gone in the past say that there are enough other and free shows that it doesn't really matter. I will be meeting up with friends their and (hopefully) crashing with them for the most part, which will allow me to save some $$.

ANTICIPATING: An AWESOME HOOK themed Thanksgiving with my friends! You heard right, HOOK THEMED. How rad, right? We are using the creepy basement of a friend and going all out with decorations, neon pies, fruits, roasted things, lanterns, lost boys costumes, you name it!

(I have always wanted to do this. I mean, DREAM OF DREAMS)

WATCHING:  A lot of the usual (New Girl, Walking Dead, Mindy Project, HIMYM) And a few reallllly guilty pleasures that can go un-named....

EATING: So, it is only day 5, but for the month of November I swore to not buy any food out! This is esp. hard WORKING at a restaurant  and I will admit to eating a pretzel for lunch yesterday since I worked the 12-8 shift... but I dint buy it! I feel not buying food out combats to things I need to curb: Spending ridiculous amounts on food at restaurants  and not cooking enough. And hey, it could be a handy diet too, b/c when I DO cook, I cook veggies (mostly). So, Let's see how this November goes! I AM allowing myself to have drinks out though....tea, beer, decaf coffee. I consider these all social aspects though, haha

PLANNING FOR: life?

Fancy Favorties #16

I want her job. Okay? thanks.

Two New Blogs that I am digging big time:

First The Forest Feast. Great recipes, simplicity, and beautiful food photography. I mean, those are Gorgonzola Grapes above, what the what?!

Second, bigBANG studio. I feel in love after stumbling upon this blog entry, and from there have been reading back pages and now follow all I can. Such a gorgeous writer, and wonderful honesty.

I always want to wear a bad ass leather jacket with a REALLY frilly dress. Played out? I DONT CARE.

Are there tiny cats all over this blouse? Do I want my body in this, even though I look ghastly in shades of pink? YES all around.

With this bag at my side, I could rule the world.

Fashion: Cameras add layers not pounds

About... 2 weeks? A Month ago? Sometime in the recent past my camera just decided to stop working. lens error. for. no. reason. Now, I take a lot of pictures and this... this made me pretttty sad/mad. Now, I have an awesome friend who just gave me his old digital camera, and that is what these pictures are taken with. Sadly though, I became spoiled with my last camera, and ...its just not the same. Cue me finding the funds to buy a new camera...a pretty and fancy one maybe even. Because, man, good pictures are just...so important.  right?

Headband: Forever21
Dress (as skirt): Transfer Site
Striped Button down: Old Navy
Brown Cardigan: Wal-mart
Yellow Belt: Transfer site
Navy Tights: Fred Meyers
Fuchsia Socks: Swap with friends
Boots: LL Bean Deerfields

(The list is only going to get longer as the layer become more ridiculous and extreme y'all)

Here's to me find a great deal on a bangin' new camera before I decide to photograph anything again. (So....hopefully SUPER soon)

Etsy Treasury: Where there's a wool there's a way

ohhhh wordplay. I cannot make any promises that I wont keep having wordplay on my blog. I can actually promise that I will most DEFINITELY have more wordplay.You have been warned.

...on to the treasury though! Gorgeous Gorgeous wool.  (click through to see the entire treasury fools!)

Fancy Favorites #:15

I want a Motorcycle Jacket. 

DAVIDsTEA. New obsession.  These two flavors really are on the top of my 'to try' list: Amaretto and Strawberry Rhubarb

That. Sequins. Collar.

These Tops. This would in no way flatter me, but I still imagine.

I Think I may try my hand at making these cheesy crackers from over at A Beautiful Mess.

I love Nautical.

Adventures!: Juneau, Alaska

Over my 'adult' life (aka from 18 on for the sake of this blog) I have gotten many a chance to stumble out on adventures. From Small weekend jaunts to the Arctic Circle, Oklahoma  Chicago, and Asheville, to a month in Hawaii, Music Festivals (Bonnaroo and VooDoo Music Fest in New Orleans), moving up to Alaska, down to Minneapolis, and Back to Alaska again! (Psst. I swear I am not braggin', I am truly a lucky lucky gal, who has made some not-so-financially smart moves. Regret though? Nah, not my style.

So what adventure am I going to share this go around? One of the Glorious weekend adventures that I have planned spur of the moment, and am lucky enough to have friends who are just as spur of the moment as me: A 3-day trip in September 2011 to Juneau, Alaska.



Before my departure from Alaska in October 2011, I knew I needed one last minute trip in Alaska, being that I had never been anywhere in the Southeast. Lucky me, I had one of my best friends living on a boat in Juneau with her then boyfriend/now husband, and a boyfriend who was willing to figure out a way for us to use air miles and money to get down there. As Nick (the boyfriend) and I were figuring out logistics, I mentioned our planned trip to two other friends (Don and Glenna) who quickly hopped on board. After a very drunken EARLY morning plane ride (and no sleep the night leading up to it) for Nick, Glenna and I (how we got through security... *shrugs* ) we were in for a very hung over next day, in the rain. But, Man I was with all the people I loved for a weekend, and I could not have asked for better company.

The best part of all of us going together? There would be 6 people and 2 animals crammed for a weekend on a small (Yeah, I have no idea what size actually...) but, lets just say SMALL boat.

Top:  Our home for the weekend is on the right. Left: Nick and I in our 'sleeping nook' for the weekend....right next to the trash and above the cat litter. No one can say Trista isn't the hostess with the most-ess. Right: Don, Glenna and I..Hanging out?

You may ask, what did we do in Juneau? Well... we wondered around. And we got kicked out of the childrens' section of the library. And then went to the Museum and took over the kids section. And ended with going to the pizza/arcade restaurant Bullwinkles...where we scared all the families away. I swear families, we are not heathens, we hold respectable jobs, and have homes. Our outer appearances usually do not reflect this fact though.



Top: Silly hats in the Museum. Bottom: Glenna sleeps on benches at Bullwinkles. Can you spot her?

Oh yeah, we also went to bars, beaches, and abandoned areas. Man, friends are cool.


Top R: We're all models at The Alaskan; Top L: I LOVE Abandoned buildings. A lot. Bottom: Nick and I on the Sandy Beach in Juneau. Exactly what you think about when you think 'Beaches' right?!

Outfit-A-Day: Giraffes and Orange Tabby Cats

I started out the day picking out a very standard Katie outfit before realizing I needed, if just a tiny bit, to try and remix it up. So, here is what you get world, a somewhat mixed up Katie standard. Instead brown tights, I went with hunter green. Instead of the ivory silk shirt I usually wear under this giraffe print jumper, I decided to do a chunky kit on top. and finally, though the though of getting rid of the belt crossed my mind for a hair of a second, instead I went with a skinny bronze belt rather than a thick brown one to top it all off. Man, am I versatile.(*ahem*)


Nigel also decided to photo bomb quite a few pictures. He can't help himself, he is an attention whore through and through. Plus he gets excited when he thinks we might be going on a walk. Yes, he goes on walks with me-short walks-but walks non the less.


Also, I thought I would share the progression of me not having balance, ever. This happens every photo shoot. and everyday, just in life.
Boots: LL Bean Deerfield (brown)
Tights: Fred Meyers
Jumper: Old Navy via the Transfer site
Sweater: Value Village
Belt: Old Navy (old)
Hat: Stolen from my sister