We Never Change

I've had a couple of people ask me what camera/programs I use to take and edit my photos. I own a Nikon D3100. Whenever Robert takes my photos, he's using a Nikon D300 (I think? I shall confirm with him later). Usually, I'm having not-photographers take my photos though, so I just give them the camera and set it to auto. Most of the coloring/tone/cropping is me in Adobe Photoshop CS4. I usually toggle with the curves, exposure and selective color settings. Sometimes more or less, depending on how the original pictures were.

Secret: the more photo manipulation you see in my pictures, the worst the originals were. There are some sets I'm perfectly happy with posting pretty much untouched. For example, the sun was really harsh and stupid in this set, so I did quite a bit in photoshop to soften them up.




I love these tights, by the way.

I wore this outfit on Tuesday, which was a brilliant sunny day. I worked on Robert's business cards, met up with some old friends from high school, ate food cart food + bubble tea, worked in the computer lab for some time and then drowned in the hot tub for a bit. It was quite nice. The pictures are from Tanner Springs Park in Portland, which I have written about before and posed in before :D




shirt: AE (high school)
skirt: H&M
tights: Urban Outfitters
shoes: H&M
headband: F21



And, I totally realize I bypassed the 100-followers mark without even mention of such things like a giveaway. I have thought about it, by the way. I'm planning on doing something for either 150 or 200, but don't even know where to begin. I have some smaller thrifted items I might want to include. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Maybe Lately

Hello world :D

Portland has actually been quite pretty lately. At least in between the clouds and rain. This has been a funny week. Two pants posts in a very short time span. Truth is, I generally don't wear pants. It just feels more comfortable to me. It was sort of silly because I wore jeans to class a few weeks ago, and some girl even went out of her way to tell me I looked (still cute) but casual and that it was odd to see me in pants.

I like these though. Rolled up, I think they are perfectly spring appropriate. Not to mention, they fit me pretty much perfectly. I can see myself wearing them a lot in the future.





Also a bit silly: I found this shirt for myself when I was Mothers Day shopping for both my mom and Robert's mom. I found them both cute things and felt a little silly for buying myself something--but how often do you find an adorable eight dollar shirt from Banana Republic? I couldn't resist considering the price.



shirt: Banana Republic
pants: thrifted
belt: Fossil, thrifted
flats: Old Navy
hair bow: F21
earrings: gifted from Robert's mom

Also, I've found the dress I'm going to wear to Robert's graduation--which is an outside, semi-casual sort of thing. I was so surprised. It's from Forever 21 and was only $17.80. But it's basically perfect. And everything I was looking for. Now I've just got to find a equally adorable sun hat to match.



Also, getting busier with school. Got to, got to stay on top of things and not let my blog capture my attention as much as it has been. Still new at this, still trying to find some sort of balance. Education comes first after all :)

We've Got Everything

I wore a very formulaic outfit yesterday. But I liked all of the pieces that made it up, so I don't particularly care. Oregon is still being indecisive about weather, so I would have liked to wear shorter ankle socks as I had originally planned with this outfit, but I would have been one sad cold girl if I had. So it was knee highs again. Because I'm so so sick of having tights sucking me in up to the ribs.

It's a tiny bit random, but I had a sudden realization that I'm really happy right now. I'm surrounded by people that I really like, who I trust and that I'm friends with, I'm studying something that makes me happy and I have a lot more free time than I ever used to (though that's still not a ton). Three more weeks of classes! And then Robert will be graduating in a month. Then no more long distance :D



I look really funny in this photo and thought you should be able to look at it. I am squatting down to look in the water, but it sort of looks like I am trying to communicate the concept of constipation--charades style. I think it is quite silly.







dress: H&M
cardigan: thrifted
socks: H&M
loafers: Cole Han, thrifted
necklace: gifted

And I talk about her enough so that most of you should know that Sarah of Just Take a Bow and I are good real life friends. We've been friends since freshman year of high school--so about seven years now. We were the colorguard/winterguard captains of our high school together (for those of you who know what that is) and are now thrifting/blog partners in crime. We've been planning on doing a clothing swap or something similar soon.

I think she has, but I've never posted photos of us together. So here you go:



This is what happens when she says we should try model poses. I just look like a dancer. Which is my background. So that's not really much fun.

Pioneer Courthouse Square

I'm sure that all of you non-Oregonians reading this blog think of Pioneers and covered wagons when you think of Oregon. Through this blog, I want to offer you real glimpses. This place is one of the main public spaces in Portland--it is in the heart of downtown, surrounded by the courthouse, public transportation and department stores. For anyone that has visited the city, they have probably taken a photo with this lovely umbrella man statue.



The square's design was chosen through a design competition and took the place of a block sized, multi story parking lot (thank goodness). Various annual events take place in the square now: projected public movies, concerts, farmers markets, and whatever else this crazy city can come up with (mass meditation, sandcastle building competition, etc).



I love my outfit today--especially the shorts. I found them yesterday on sale at H&M. They were only ten dollars and I've been looking for shorts anyway. I can definitely see myself wearing them into the summer and beyond. Plus, they fit me perfectly.



This is one of my favorite belts, because it is so versatile and has a lot of character. It was one of the first finds of mine that pushed me fashion wise into what I am now. Today is errands and homework. I'm getting my hair cut this afternoon! finally. I'm ready to have manageable hair again.





I did a project about this place in fourth grade. It's so funny looking back now, since I've weathered two years of Architecture school. I remember we had to make a little model back then. I shudder to think of how awful and pitiful an excuse mine was. In the square, the bricks are all engraved with the names of people who "bought" bricks in order to fund the project.



And then there's this awesome sign, marking Portland's relation to a few well known places. I love how it connects you to a wider physical context in such a simple way. As with everything for me, it's the details I care about and take notice of. You can see the Courthouse in the background.



And spring is coming! Though it's still gray and overcast.





Thanks, Sarah for taking my pictures. All location photos are my own

shorts: H&M
blouse: thrifted
cardigan: Tracy M. via Marshalls
tights: Cynthia Rowley via Marshalls
purse: Vintage Coach, hand-me down (bf's mom)
shoes: thrifted
headband: Forever 21

Happy Friday!

First day of school

Look at those lovely wood joints.

These pictures, along with yesterday's were taken at Lovejoy Fountain, in Portland. It was designed by Lawrence Halprin, a famous Landscape Architect as part of a series of Portland parks. If anything, my two years of dabbling in Architecture has taught me that (within that field) it's landscape architecture that actually interests me. I love playing with level changes and the collaboration with nature that occurs. Outdoor spaces change: with the season, with age, with use. I love how these outdoor spaces change as time passes; to me, there is something inherently beautiful about aged wood--the coloring, and how moss, as a part of nature tries to reclaim the material.

You might see me here often. This park is only about a block away from my apartment. And it'll be extra happy when the water is actually running again.



Today was my first day of Spring classes. Which, sadly, I had difficulty dressing for. It's so hard to toe that line dividing looking nice and put together versus looking like you tried way too hard. It's a bit sad that I still care quite a bit about what people think; I've come to terms with the fact that that is how I am: constantly stewing in self scrutiny.





The things I like about this outfit are hidden in the details: belt, scarf, studs on booties, tights and the subtle difference in the grays.



Sarah took my photos again :)

blazer (that I'm holding): Banana Republic
dress: thrifted
shirt: American Eagle
tights: Betsey Johnson
booties: Sam & Libby
belt: vintage, thrifted
scarf: thrifted