Lazy Sunday

Hello

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How has your Sunday been? I love Sundays. They're perfect for doing simple, quiet things you've been meaning to do all week but it's also a perfect day to bum around the apartment or visit family and friends. Today Isaac went out with his friends to a tattoo event they were holding. Thirty dollar tattoos you can choose from and all proceeds go to a no-kill animal shelter. It's a pretty great event. He's been over there all day covering it for his blog and was planning on getting a tattoo. So that left me alone and I decided to go out to breakfast and spend time with my family. Afterwards I came home and blogged and napped with all my babies. In the mornings I took some photos around the apartment. The light was brilliant.

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When I got my haircut I told my stylist to give me something that would like nice both straight and wavy because my hair is naturally wavy and most times I'm lazy and don't feel like doing anything to it. And when I was at Sephora I saw this spray for your hair by Charlotte Ronson. It's called a perfect mess and gives you beach hair. I bought it without thinking twice because it reminded me of that John Frieda one they sold at drugstores years ago that did the same thing and smelled beachy. I was hoping it would work and I totally was not let down. I sprayed it on while my hair was damp and let it air dry. It smelled wonderful and has a nice hold to it. It made my waves more pronounced and not frizzy at all. This thing is amazing, guys. I love it.




Lately I have been reading this book on Shintoism. I'm intrigued and feel like it speaks to me. I've never felt any spirituality and had always considered myself a non-believer. But I suppose now that I am getting older and my life is falling into place, I feel like I am missing something and I suspect it's my non-existent spirituality but I also know that Western organized religion is not for me. I came upon this book while working at my library and decided to have a look. I didn't expect to have such a connection with it but, for me, Shintoism makes sense. This is a bit personal for me, writing this out, but I wanted to share and hope that's all right. I would like to read more about it and maybe more about Eastern religions and see what I think and how I feel about it afterwards. I have a stack of library books by my side of the bed. Books on screenprinting, french literature, Surrealism and watercoloring. (On a less serious note, I was happy to have found a case for my iPad and it's gold!)





Some recent favorite outfits. Vintage silk crop top, vintage silk flower skirt, olive green knit from Forever 21, pleated black maxi skirt by Kensie, and another pale pink and cream vintage top. I love that black pleated skirt. Been wearing it all day. And finally, a mini crafting project I did the other night. My friend brought me back two large shells from the beach. I thought about what I could do with them and realized they were the perfect shape to hold jewelry so I bought some gold, pale pink and pale blue craft paint. I painted the insides gold and the other edges the other colors. They came out beautifully, I think, and now they sit atop my dresser.

A Dress + Some Puppies

Did anyone buy anything from the Jason Wu for Target collection? I kind of fell in love with a lot of the skirts, blouses and dresses so I bought quite a few things. This dress, however, is my absolute favorite. I wore it to the library for work and got the sweetest compliment from a little old man. Made me smile big, y'all. I wore it again the other day to go running around with Isaac. Before we left I took some photos of my outfit and hanging out with my boys.




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Also, I had my nails painted the way I mentioned the other day. The Chanel gold nail polish with the pale pink french tip. First I tried to do it on my own but it was hopeless so I decided to go have someone do them. I like them. It was chilly outside so I have goosebumps!

Coveting I

Hello I am writing to share with you some jewelry that has been on my mind. I've never been much of a jewelry girl but lately I've been coming across jewelry I really love. I guess I had just been used to seeing plain boring pieces that I never bothered searching for true gems! Today while I was thrifting with Maria, I found the prettiest brass flower cuff. I was pleased as punch! I'll take a picture of it tomorrow to show you.

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01: Agate Fragment Necklace from Terrain 02: Beach Break Fin Necklace by Lulu Frost 03. Collar Hammered Brass Choker by youngfrankk 04: Drop earrings from Terrain (No longer available) 05: Pear White Sapphire Twig Ring by Kristin Coffin

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Of Letter Writing & New Friendships

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Long ago, back when everyone still used Livejournal, I had many pen pals. I was thinking just how much I miss doing that. Writing letters. Sending trinkets or art. I was wondering if anyone was interested in becoming letter writing friends with Sora and I? We could talk about our days, the books we are reading, the music we are listening to, the people we love, and we could send each other nice things. Our letters would be written on pretty paper and handmade envelopes and our packages decorated like art work. I am particularly looking for new friends in Asia or Europe because I want to know the stories of your land and of your cultures. Please write to me to my email if you are interested. By the way, my new email is cottonhearted (at) gmail (dot) com. Sweet dreams.

A Sunny Day

Hello friends!

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It is late here, where I am, but I seem to prefer to update this when it is night time & things are quiet and calm. Right now I am laying on my stomach and Sora is curled up on the backs of my knees. She's been doing that a lot lately and it comforts me. Today was a nice day even though it was a bit too hot. I wanted to take some photos though because the other day I took a big step and had my hair professionally colored and cut. I've always dreamed of having a lighter brown hair and not hair as black as the night but I never thought it would look nice with my skin tone. I don't know if it is nice looking or not, but I like it and that's all that matters, no? I also bought some new shoes. Amazing pretty shoes. And so, it seems this post has turned into one of those style posts I hardly do. It's funny that I don't post about style more often since I am always adding thrifted + vintage clothes to my wardrobe. Here are some photos, okay?

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I have been liking that golden Chanel nail polish. Perhaps because I have been coveting all things gold lately. I thought my golden nails would look nice with a mute pale pink french tip so I'm going to try and do that tomorrow. Pale pink and gold everything, y'all. If you are wondering, my skirt is from Painted Bird Vintage in San Francisco, the yellow striped knit is from Old Navy, the jean jacket was thrifted for three dollars, my tote bag came as a gift with a Japanese magazine, and the shoes are Madden Girl.

Lately: trips to the ocean, cozy nights inside, homemade organic chicken soup, entertaining friends every night, spending every day with Isaac, being amazed with my life every morning when I wake up and Yukio is by my side, Ender on my other side, between Isaac + I and Sora at the foot of our bed, Valentine's Day tea party, Isaac's delicious food he makes specially for me, books on Shinto, books on screenprinting, writing down crafting + art ideas on scraps of paper, finding them while cleaning and being inspired all over again, more books on Japanese literature, Marcel Proust, having grandma down to visit, vivid dreaming, watercoloring, etcetera, etcetera.

Hello 2012

Hello friends, I am back! It seems like every time I update Cotton-Hearted, that is what I say. I really wish I could update more often. At the beginning it was because I was so sad and my life was filled with problems and worry. Now, my life has improved so much and I am truly happy. I'm always busy now spending time with my family and with Isaac. Since we've gotten our apartment we've been entertaining friends almost every night. Someone is always over and we are always doing something. Our home is now known for our dinners, get togethers and crafting parties. During the holidays, I had a holiday crafting party and all our friends came over to make garlands and ornaments. The other night my whole family came over. My parents, my brother and sister-in-law, and my two tiny nieces and my mom made her homemade chilli and the whole apartment smelled of it and it was very cozy. Last night, we had friends over for homemade pizza. We bought whole wheat dough and made pizzas with olive oil, fresh basil, roma tomatoes and mozzerella! We've only been living here for four months and I already have so many lovely memories of this place filled with my family and friends.

I think I have finally found the people I want to surround myself with! No more sulking at home being lonely without a thing to do. Mickey and Crissy are beautiful people who have six rescued pets and who are food conscious and animal activists and so sweet. They inspire me. And Maria and Chris have been with me these past few months when my life was at it's absolute worst and I'll always love them and appreciate what they've done for me just by being around. And Isaac's friends, Gabe and Jesse, are so funny and always making us laugh. It's such a pleasure having them over all the time. And all the people we've met through them who are genuine and nice! And, of course, Isaac who is my strength and makes me want to be a better person always. I never thought I would ever be able to say this but I love my life. I really do and it's such a change to how I used to feel and it's all because of him and all my friends.

Crissy is my crafting soul sister. We have so many ideas of things we'd like to do. Recently, I modeled some of her vintage clothes that will be going up on her Etsy store soon. That was a fun day! We're also working on zines and making things for a Plastic Rosary + Cotton-Hearted pop-up shop for our city's art + craft fairs they have every month. She's inspired me to start making things and set up an Etsy shop so maybe that is something you can look forward to. I have ideas, lots of ideas, of things I'd like to make. Bookmark her Etsy shop because she's going to be putting up some great pieces soon!

One day, I took my good friend Andres out to my favorite vintage shops to find a holiday gift for a girl. The first place we went to I found this amazing silk cat scarf hiding secretly in a basket underneath other silk scarves. I'm pretty sure I squealed and jumped up and down when I saw it. This is the greatest thing I've found in awhile and yes, I do wear it. In this photo, I wore it with a blouse with tiny flowers and this vintage looking jacket I got at the Goodwill in Japantown in San Francisco when I was there in October. I love the shape of that jacket so much. I'll have to take a better photo of it later. It looks so pretty with dresses.

+ I bought that vintage dresser at another one of my favorite shops here
I bought this dress in San Francisco, as well. And that particular color of mauve is one of my favorites and when I saw those boots I thought how amazing they were and so I bought them to wear with skirts and dresses.

I have a really nice entryway when you walk into the apartment that I still haven't done much with but these two things are hanging there waiting to be joined with others. The welcome sign is from the Japanese dollar store, Daiso. It was too cute to not buy. And the iron and ceramic hanger is from a vintage shop around here. I thought it was really pretty.

I found this flower printed stuffed cat at another vintage shop and had to have it. It's so weird, I thought, I need it. Everyone loves it when they first come over and see it. Someone is always holding it, posing for photos with it or placing it on their lap, like a real cat!


My bookshelves are my pride and joy. I like putting little mementos and photos there, too. I framed some of my photographs of clouds and Isaac and I and that one was taken in Sausalito. The glass kitty I bought in Mexico long ago when it was still okay and safe to go. The wooden camel my very good friend Bianca gave me back in high school. I'll always keep that! The whale print was bought in San Francisco at an art + music + vintage street fair by an artist who draws animals and their skeletons on old thin paper torn out from Chinese and Hebrew books. And the little elephants are vintage Japanese salt and pepper shakers I found at the same place I bought the cat!

I saved the best photo for last. For the holidays, Isaac adopted a kitten for me! I haven't had a cat since I was a child and had been wanting one because this place is lonely without pets! She's a feisty thing and I named her Sora (空), Japanese for the sky. She loves to play so I have scratches all over my hands, wrists, and legs but she's sweet and loving when she wants to be! Isaac finally brought his boy, Ender, to live with us too! That little dog is so loyal to Isaac, it's unbelievable! I love when he and Sora play together and run around the apartment. In a couple of days, I'm going to finally bring Yukio home. I hope all three will get along. Right now they are a secret because the pet deposit here is $300 for each pet and we cannot afford that at all! I love having them here and if they are found out we'll pay the deposits somehow. Having money < falling asleep at night with Isaac, Sora, Ender and Yukio by my side.

Softness

Stay tuned. I've got lots to share. San Francisco Instagram and film photos, photos of my new apartment, nice things lately, an update on my life and a very exciting dress giveaway sponsored by a pretty lovely website!

International Fashion Art Biennale in Seoul

I think this is the prettiest thing I've seen in a long time.

展示名：2010 International Fashion Art Biennale in Seoul 主催：The Korea Fashion & Culture Association 日時：2010年11月

Mina Perhonen AW 2011

Friends! It's been a month since I last updated Cotton-Hearted. I am a terrible blogger! But, in my defense, I have been busy with school and doing fun things like going to watch Bon Iver's concert in Austin which sold out in eight minutes, eight! It was the loveliest experience of my life and I cried and cried. I'm so happy I had the chance to see him live. He performed all of his newest record and half of For Emma, Forever Ago! I have some more exciting things happening soon. I'll be in San Francisco for a week in early October, in about a week and half! I'm so happy. I can't wait to walk around my old city and buy my Japanese books and stationary. And then in early November I have tickets to go watch The Radio Dept., another one of my absolute favorite bands. Anyway, I hope everyone is well and I promise to make updating Cotton-Hearted more of a priority. Until next time here are some photos and a video of Mina Perhonen's, one of my favorite Japanese designers, newest collection. I love the patterned tights and whimsical dresses and coats. Enjoy!

New Favorite Things

My grandmother gave me some rings that belonged to my great grandmother. The middle one was the ring my great grandfather gave her for their engagement. I feel very blessed that I was able to know her and grow up with her and have her in my life. She and I were very close.

This is the book I've been reading lately. Oh it is so brilliant! I've been enchanted by Japanese culture, lifestyle and literature for many years but the only authors I had read were contemporary ones such as Kawabata, Tanazaki, Mishima, Abe and much more recent, Murakami and Yoshimoto. I had never read anything from ancient Japan or from it's earliest eras. I was especially captivated by the poetry selections from the Man'yōshū and the Kokinshū. I have never in my life read anything as beautiful as the words included in this anthology. I really really recommend it if you are interested in Japanese literature. Reading this just reaffirmed my convictions that I simply must study Japanese literature. There is nothing I love more.

I always always get so excited when the new Apartamento issue finally arrives at my local bookstore.

This is a vintage dress I found during my weekend trip to San Antonio. I really fell in love with the collar. I have a thing for big white collars. I think they are so pretty. The dress is very long, down to my ankles but I'm going to hem it up to above my knees.

Also found these shoes during my weekend trip. The oxfords are from Forever 21 and hurt so much! I hope eventually they will loosen up. And then those ankle boots! I had been looking for some for a long time because I was very particular about what I wanted them to be and I finally found them at Buffalo Exchange. They're all scuffed up but I rather like that and don't think I'll give them a polish or anything.