almost there

I'm on the mend but still not in 'getting dressed and putting on makeup' mode yet, so here's another pajama picture! I actually lost my balance when I was taking the photo, but somehow it ended up looking like I was standing that way on purpose, lol!

Also, this is my lazy braids hair. I do this a lot around the house -- it's pretty much milkmaid braids, except that once I get them criss-crossed on top of my head I just secure them with big pink claw clips instead of inconspicuous bobby pins. I usually do this right after I wash my hair, too... I'll just blow dry my bangs and clip the rest up in loose braids so it can air dry!

ps. Lilly suggested in the comments on my last post that I should do pajama outfit photos to go with my slumber party sunday posts (which I promise are going to be coming back really soon!) and I LOVE that idea! I'm definitely doing it! :D

sick day.

Wednesday night I got hit with some sort of bug and I've been feeling absolutely miserable ever since :( Hypatia has a head cold too, the poor thing, so we've both been laying in bed under the covers sniffling and sneezing. Her vet & my doctor basically prescribed the same medicine -- antibiotics, hot broth (low sodium for Hypatia) and lots of rest. I've also been breezing through Lost on netflix, but it's been creeping into my dreams a lot, which is freaking me out a bit. Recurring dreams about being stuck on an island where people are trying to kill you doesn't exactly help with a peaceful night's rest lol.

Anyway. I'm never sure what to post here when I'm sick... I'm obviously not dolled up for normal outfit photos and I'm usually way too exhausted to come up with anything else that requires the least bit of energy. But I still want to keep blogging... so I thought, why not take outfit photos in my pajamas? It's probably silly, but it's easy and I do have some pretty cool pjs, if I do say so myself!

Hopefully I'll feel better soon but if not expect to see some more of my amazing flannel pajama collection this week ;p

My top 5 storage solutions for small spaces

My entire living space is 11 feet by 11 feet. With careful planning, I've managed to include a queen size bed and an 8' long table! My room functions as a bedroom, office and studio and believe it or not I have plenty of floorspace to dance around or play with my cats ;)

I've lived in this snug little room for 19 years of my life, and along the way I've come up with a lot of storage solutions that make the most of my tiny abode! Here are my top 5 favorites!

1. Empty purses are perfect for storage! I keep all of my bags on a coat rack behind my door, but rather than leave them empty, I fill them up with craft supplies! My mini photo scanner is in the purple handbag, my wood burning kit is in the green shoulder bag and I keep sketchbooks in the gingham satchel! It seems like every bag is the absolute perfect size for holding something that didn't fit anywhere else in my room :)




2. Clothing as decor! I've mentioned this before, but using clothing as decoration is ideal if you're low on closet space like I am! I have my dresses hanging on my wall next to my bed, and I keep all of my lacy tops hanging from my curtain rod. They look gorgeous in the daytime when the sunbeams shine through them!



3. Bed risers!! One of the best things I ever purchased, EVER. Thanks to these little miracle workers, my entire record collection fits under my bed. I also keep my sewing machine under there, too, along with lots of under-the-bed boxes stacked up as high as they can possibly go. Push the things you hardly ever use all the way to the back, and keep the stuff you use on a regular basis at the front. It's easy to just throw things under the bed willy nilly, but with the bed risers you get so much extra space that it just makes sense to organize it and utilize every inch! I got mine at IKEA but I think they're sold at pretty much every home supply store.



4. Measure every nook and cranny in your room! Before you shop for furniture, measure every extra bit of space that you have. I have 9" of wall space between my bed and my closet -- that seems way too small to serve any purpose, right? Wrong! IKEA had an 8" wide bookcase that was perfect for storing my books and dvds! Measuring also came in handy when I purchased my laptop stand, Ludvig (I wrote more about this in my room tour here!)




5. Walls aren't just for hanging artwork! As much as you can get off the floor onto the walls, do it! I have my record player (it's a vertical turntable, available here) & my television mounted on the wall. I also have a big storage unit from Michaels that I use for displaying knick knacks and housing craft supplies. You'd be surprised how much table room and floorspace you have to spare once you start using your walls!

ps. Solanah has some fantastic organization tips on her blog today, too! :)

wishlist wednesday

I love this 1970's crewel embroidery from etsy... I almost bought something similar at a thrift store a couple months ago but when I got up to the register they only took cash, and I only had my debit card :(

1. this dress reminds me of a pretty ballet costume. I want to wear it with my old pointe shoes and twirl around the house. 2. I'm obsessed with finding the perfect plaid dress right now and if this beauty wasn't kind of pricey ($99) it would definitely fit the bill!

Shoes this platformey and awesome are almost always made out of leather (I'm looking at you, Jeffrey Campbell) so I was pretty excited to see these are vegan! I love the graphic woodgrain on the heel, too!

I desperately want this pillowcase set! It's called the "lunar than expected" set, how cute is that?!

Sunshine & Carousels is having a 30% off sale (coupon here!) I already snatched up a hot pink velvet bow headband but this one is catching my eye too!

1. Doesn't this dress look like something out of a movie?! I picture Sophia Loren wearing it with a giant black feather boa in Arabesque. 2. I check the Dorothy Perkins website religiously, and every so often there's a dress that just totally hits it out of the ballpark -- this is such a dress. I think it's going to look amazing with my hair (yup, I ordered it already!) ps. I got 15% off with the coupon INTDP15.

My dad had to go to old navy today to return some shirts he got for Christmas, and BOY am I glad that I tagged along! I think I have cat print radar or something, because I wasn't even really looking for myself, this shirt just attracted me like a moth to a flame. Oddly it was $28 in the store (not on sale) but it's $35 online?

This is another case of "intended for my wishlist but ended up in my closet" ... I bookmark things all week to put in my wishlist wednesday posts, and if I'm having a particularly retail therapy kind of week, at least some of the items are bound to end up in my shopping cart! This pretty dress was on sale for $35, so can you blame me? (When I placed my order I also picked up something for another giveaway that I'm *really* excited about!)

I'm in love with this sweatshirt but I'm pretty sure I can DIY it with a plain old sweatshirt and fabric paint. In high school I saw a photo in a magazine of Kate Moss wearing a sweatshirt with a mini skirt, and I thought it was so incredibly chic. I've been smitten with that style ever since, but I don't think I ever replicate it myself. Perhaps I finally will after I make this? :)

something or other

dress - asos

sweater - old navy

shoes - c/o blowfish

hairbow - honeybean

I may or may not have spent 20 minutes trying to think of a title for this post and just gave up... Anyway, I've had this dress for almost six months but it has a weird open back flap that made me a little confused on how to actually wear it. Then I saw this outfit on pinterest (which I think includes the exact same dress) and I realized I could just wear a normal sweater overtop! duh! I don't know why I never thought to do this myself to winter-ize summer dresses, but it's brilliant!

ps. I have a guest post on Bubby + Bean today if you want to check it out :)

Style Idol - Elizabeth Taylor

//image links back to the source

black and grey

dress - h&m

cardigan & belt - old navy

tights - target

shoes - c/o blowfish

I'm not quite sure why, but I think this is one of my favorite outfits ever. I just felt so great wearing it! I completely forgot that I even had this dress until I cleaned out my closet -- I hadn't even worn it before! But it fits so perfectly, and it has a neat little zipper detail on the bodice that makes it more than just a plain LBD.

Speaking of cleaning out my closet, I've picked some dresses that I just never wear or don't really like anymore, and I'll probably put them in my shop-my-closet page sometime either at the end of this week or early next week if anyone is interested :) They're all freshly washed and ready for new homes, I just have to find the time and muster the energy to photograph & measure all of them.

it's giveaway time again! [closed]

I was at H&M again last week and I guess it's just second nature now for me to pick up some giveaway goodies each time I go! I bought myself everything in the picture, and then another set to giveaway! It includes a blue faux leather shoulder bag and matching wallet/phone case, super cute tan 30's style sunglasses, a pack of colorful nail polish, colorful heavy duty bobby pins and a set of earrings that includes (oh my gosh!) unicorn studs! eep! One winner will receive everything in the photo.

To enter: simply leave a comment letting me know that you're entering, and some way to contact you (email, twitter, blog, whatever floats your boat!) You must be a follower to enter (and, please, none of this follow-and-leave as soon as the giveaway is over jazz.. that's super rude!) This giveaway is open to US & Canada only (sorry!)

For additional entries: (leave a separate comment for each entry)

1. Tweet this "Just entered to win some H&M goodies on @kategabrielle's blog! http://www.scathingly-brilliant.blogspot.com" (Only counts if you use that exact tweet.)
2. Follow me on facebook
3. Follow me on bloglovin
4. Follow me on tumblr

Giveaway ends on February 6th at 12:01AM EST Giveaway is closed

Winner: Comment #27

song as old as rhyme

dress/cardigan - h&m

shoes - c/o blowfish

This is what I ended up wearing to see Beauty and the Beast last week -- much warmer than the outfit I originally picked out, but still a little yellow tribute to Belle's gown ;)

I'm switching up my blog schedule a little next week. Not too many huge changes, but I felt like I needed to shift things around since I've had this same schedule for about a year now and it was getting a bit stale. Most of my current features are sticking around, just changing format or moving to a different day, and I have some new ones as well! I'm really excited about it! :)

ps. I posted some cute valentine's day freebies yesterday if you missed it.

Style Idol - Brigitte Bardot

//image links back to source

tale as old as time

dress - modcloth

cardigan - forever 21

shoes - modcloth

belt - h&m

I wore this on Saturday morning to go see Beauty and The Beast 3D, but as soon as I stepped outside I realized I had to wear something a lot warmer! So I went back in and changed into a longsleeve dress, sweater and tights* (darn you, January weather!) But I'm glad I took the photos of this outfit first because I had it planned for weeks before the movie -- it's my version of Belle's ball gown! :)

Saturday was one of my favorite days ever! Me, my mom and my grandmom had a girls day out. First we went to the movie (my first time at a movie theater in like 2 years -- whoa popcorn is expensive!!) which was absolutely amazing!! I was afraid the 3D would be too in-your-face and hokey, but it was so subtle and pretty! It was like there were a bunch of layers to the animation. The scenery was especially beautiful, sometimes it looked like there were vines and flowers inside the theater around the screen.

After the movie we wandered around the mall window-shopping for a couple hours (we played "guess the price" in Anthropologie ... it was so fun!) and then we went to Macaroni Grill for dinner and dessert (yum!!) It's rare that the three of us get to spend time together alone, so this was such a fun treat! Seeing one of my favorite movies on the big screen with two of my favorite people -- it doesn't get much better than that! :)

*I'll post the other outfit Thursday :)

uh-oh spaghetti-o!

Modcloth is having a huge sale again... Is it possible to be a dress junkie? Because I just took some money I had put aside towards paying off my student debt and spent it on new dresses. eeek! But I'm seriously not feeling the least bit guilty because these babies were all ridiculously marked down, and they had all been sitting patiently in my wishlist for months just waiting for the day that modcloth would reduce their price so they could come home to me.

I'm so helpless when it comes to these sales (can you tell?!) but I don't think I've ever regretted indulging myself when they come around. Some of my all-time favorite dresses were snagged during huge modcloth blowout sales, and I know that some of the dresses arriving on my doorstep this week will be future favorites that I'll love for years to come :)

Here are some of the ones I snatched up today (from left to right)

1. Vibrant variety dress - $47.99 $13.99

2. Wish in the wind dress - $109.99 $32.99

3. For the right moment dress - $149.99 $44.99

4. Out to sea foam dress - $64.99 $18.99

5. Seeing bubble dress - $107.99 $31.99

6. Fondue of you dress - $119.99 $35.99

giveaway time! [closed]

JoJo's vintage & retro is offering these three gorgeous vintage handkerchiefs to one lucky winner!

To enter simply leave a comment with a link to your favorite item from Jojo's Retro and Vintage shop, and some way to contact you (email, twitter, blog, whatever floats your boat!) Also, you must be a follower to enter! This is mandatory! (And, please, none of this follow-and-leave as soon as the giveaway is over jazz.. that's super rude!)

For additional entries: (leave a separate comment for each entry)

1. Tweet this "Just entered to win a @jojosretro giveaway on @kategabrielle's blog! http://www.scathingly-brilliant.blogspot.com" (Only counts if you use that exact tweet.)
2. Follow JoJo's on Twitter

3. Like Jojo's on Facebook

4. Follow Jojo's blog

5. Join the Jojo's mailing list by e-mailing Josette [at] jojosretroandvintage.com

Giveaway ends on January 23rd at 12:01AM EST Giveaway is closed.

omg this coat.

Remember in my wishlist wednesday post I mentioned that I bought two coats from the asos sale? This is one of them, and I'm head over heels in love with it. Like, so in love I want to hug it when I go to sleep tonight and never let go. There are so many reasons...

1. I've been looking for "the one" ever since my beloved black h&m swing coat bit the dust two years ago. It had a really thick woven texture and ended up getting pills beyond repair. This one is a flat quilted material that looks like it'll last forever.

2. The fit and flare shape!! It's my favorite silhouette of all time, and I never ever see coats like this. It's going to be perfect with my dresses that used to get all bunched up under normal straight coats.

3. I can wear belts with it! Thanks to the fitted shape, I can accessorize with belts that match my bright tights. Or just spice up an all-black ensemble with a pretty bright belt! I'm so excited about this it's ridiculous.

4. It has nice deep pockets! My favorite coat from last season didn't have pockets and it used to drive me nuts since I don't like wearing gloves.

5. The neckline. I folded it down into a button-up shirt sort of look, but it actually buttons up into a funnel neck so you don't even have to wear a scarf if it's super chilly outside! If it's a little nippy and I just have to run out real quick I can go sans gloves, sans scarf and still be a-okay in my new super fantastic coat! hooray!

6. The price. It was originally $143 --- it was (and still is) on sale for only $44! :-O

Okay, I'm done gushing now. And I know it's silly to get so excited about a coat. But I just love it so so so so much I had so share! I almost want to make some excuse to go out tonight just so I can wear it. Or maybe I'll turn the heat off and just wear it around the house. I need to wear it.

ps. In this picture you can kind of tell that my bangs are much more pink than the rest of my hair (or you couldn't tell and I just brought your attention to it myself) anyway, I'm going to let it go and fix it next time I have to touch up my roots. I sort of like the grapefruity pinkish redish orangey tone going on in the back right now lol

posh frock friday

dress - modcloth

lace cardigan - forever 21

shoes - modcloth

hair bow - honeybean

Yup, it's pink again... I'm seriously the queen of indecisiveness ;p I feel so much more comfortable and confident with pink hair, though... it's odd but somehow I feel more like "me" again.

Anyway, how amazing is this cardigan thingy?! I picked it up while I was shopping for Christmas presents last month, and I've had it hanging in front of my window ever since (I'm obsessed with how pretty lace looks when it's backlit by sunlight!) so I can just gawk at it all the time. Recently I've really grown fond of delicate clothing, and I find myself gravitating towards it more and more.

perfect for the occasion

I don't know about you, but probably half of the clothing I own was purchased because it would be perfect for [insert event here.] I'm not talking about one time events like an art show opening or going on vacation, just casual occasions when wearing a certain article of clothing would be pitch perfect. For instance, when I bought this dress I knew I'd be wearing it pretty much every time my family and I went out for ice cream. It just screams "wear me when eating ice cream!!"

Here are some examples of dresses I adore and places I'd love to wear them!

1. star print midi dress ($17) would be absolutely perfect for going to the planetarium! Or add a sweater, tights and boots and it would even be great for laying on the hood of the car doing some star-gazing at home.

2. multi color block dress ($57) just screams "roller skating!" doesn't it?! I'm a pretty crappy roller skater, but I always think it looks like fun :)

1. zest is more dress ($49) reminds me so much of Belle's gown! I already started making a dress to wear to see Beauty & The Beast 3D this weekend but if I wasn't, I'd totally buy this and wear it to the movie!

2. good enough to eat dress ($69) would be ideal for a county or street fair! I have this one and let me tell you, it makes drinking a milkshake or eating a funnel cake 100x more fun!

1. paws and play dress ($59) I love wearing cat themed clothing when I do volunteer work for my local animal shelter. I wore this one to the book-wrapping fundraiser in december :)

2. painted lovely dress ($59) You could go to the art museum and stand in front of a Jackson Pollock painting in this dress and nobody would even know you were there.

1. graceful greenery dress ($129) I would love to wear this to a garden estate like Winterthur! I haven't been there in a few years, but last time I went with my family it was just so pretty and for some reason I remember it smelled heavenly! Not like flowers, just really sweet.

2. seasons to believe dress ($129) This green frock would be so pretty for St. Patrick's Day! When I was little I used to celebrate by dying *everything* with green food coloring. Eggs, milk, rice... I think this dress is much more appetizing ;D

1. blue striped dress ($99) If I went sailing I'd say this would be a fantastic sailing dress.. but since I'm a land lover, I'm going with a trip to the seashore instead ;)

2. pink floral print dress ($55) I have so much fun choosing an easter dress every year, and I definitely have my sights set on this one already, even though it's only January! The colors are just so springy and easter-egg like!