Japan, part two: tokyo

Round two of my Japan photos includes bits of my one-week stay in Tokyo. The city was a strange mix of overwhelming and quaint, with 7-story mall complexes right next to tiny Shinto shrines. My favorite parts of Tokyo were small and unexpected--a failed search for a flea market that led us to a street festival, a tea house nestled in the back of a florist, a pop-up shop run by Japanese women who make lace...

An incense burner (joukoro) in front of a shrine in Ueno Park.

Japanese macaques in Ueno Zoo.

A 17th century pagoda that stands in the grounds of Ueno Zoo.

Random cuteness in the Ikebukuro District.

Mint tea at the Aoyama Flower Market Tea House.

The Best French Toast Ever Made.

Inside a hot springs resort in Odaiba.

Foot spa that turned out to be less than relaxing thanks to the surprisingly sharp stones we had to walk on. Also a peek at the beautiful fan-printed yukata I got to wear.

One of many public parks on the grounds of the Imperial Palace.

The epicenter of Tokyo teen fashion and culture. Japanese street style is pretty wonderful. The shop girls in particular had amazing stuff going on, but I was too shy to ask for any of their photos.

Dream vintage shop in the Harajuku District filled with antique petticoats, blouses, and dresses like this one in the front window.

Dancers at a street festival my brother and I stumbled upon.

Japan, part one: blooms

Hello, readers! I'm back from my long blogging break with photos of my recent trip to Japan. My big brother works for a medical software company that gives its employees a free international trip every five years. A longtime anime fan, he decided to go to Japan, and he brought me along with him! We spent two weeks in Tokyo, Hakone, and Kyoto, and it was just spectacular. I want to share the experience with all of you, so I thought I'd break up my photos into a few separate posts. First up: flowers. We visited Japan right in the middle of cherry blossom season, and the trees were literally dripping with blooms. Between the cherry blossoms, floral shops, and numerous public gardens, I was in flower heaven.

In which I stress about grad school

I'm sorry for my long absence, but I promise you haven't missed much! I've spent the past month or so applying for grad school, compulsively checking and re-checking the status of my online applications, and worrying, endlessly worrying. It probably didn't help that I turned 25 at the end of January, sending me into a spiral of "OMG I'm old and a failure and I'll never do anything with my liiife." (I'm never melodramatic, guys, never.) It's a good thing that seashell-printed 1940's dresses and Victorian mourning jewelry distract me as spectacularly as they do. And once I learn whether or not I've been accepted, you'll definitely know, because I'll be screaming about it in caps lock over on twitter.

Outfit details:
1940's dress via Salvage Life
J.Crew cardigan and tights
Coach belt
Golden Ponies heels
Fieldguided tote
Victorian mourning necklace via The Deeps

Frog on my toe

See that little frog? I was at Phipps Conservatory yesterday when my mom spotted him on a door frame. My sister and I came over to look, and like any blogger worth her salt, I pulled out my camera and started taking photos. I'm guessing the frog didn't like having a camera lens inches away from his face, because after a few minutes, he jumped right in my direction. A normal person probably would have remained relatively calm... But I shrieked. Shrieked. And started flapping my arms like a bird trying to fly. In hindsight, it actually would've been pretty cool if the frog had landed on my dress. (Think of the photos! exclaims blogger-Christy.) But he passed me by, clearly realizing that he was dealing with a lunatic.

Moral of the story: I am incredibly awkward in real life. And easily startled, apparently.

Outfit details:
Vintage dress via ebay
1930's bracelet via Red Boot Antiques in Monongahela, PA
Coach belt
Thrifted heels
Forestbound tote (It was made using canvas from a WWII era Swiss Army Mountain Tent!)

And "Frog on my Toe" is a Tori Amos song that's worth a listen. Silly, sad, and nostalgic all at once.

Agnes Thor for The Loved One

Have you seen The Loved One's gorgeous new photo album shot by Agnes Thor? The photos perfectly capture the magic of winter. Plus, they remind me of my go-to winter song, "River" by Joni Mitchell. Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on.

P.S. I apologize for the lack of outfit posts around here lately! My work schedule makes catching the light tricky, and to be honest, I just haven't felt like stepping in front of the camera. I think the phase is passing, though, so it shouldn't be long before you see me on the ol' blog again.