Snippets

Life lately, according to my iPhone pictures:
01 favorite soup, coconut curry lentil / 02 sleep-deprived recluse / 03 cheesy owl I was too tall for / 04 borrowed slippers (mine have lots of holes) / 05 night knitting and gift making / 06 blogging in bed / 07 pretty autumn berries / 08 fish reflection selfie / 09 red nails lately / 10 Pippin sitting at the counter / 11 the last surviving flowers (they're probably dead now) / 12 adorable Pippin snuggles

Puppy snuggles, late night crafting, comfort food, and autumn adventures have been what occupies the majority of my time lately. This month feels like it is slipping through my fingers and I wouldn't mind if it all slowed down a bit. I still have so much to do but I am also so excited for the quickly approaching holidays.

I hope you're having a cozy Monday.
xx Emorie

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For Philippines with Love

I know we all don't have the money to donate to help the survivors in the Philippines after the destruction of Typhoon Hayain. I, myself, don't. But I can take a moment here to grieve for the lives lost and to help spread awareness of ways to help to those who can. Sadly, in a situation like this, the need is massive, the need is immediate, and everyone who needs help can't always be reached (but fortunately aid is now getting through to some of the areas that were blocked off and hit worst by this storm). If you have the means, I would kindly ask you to consider donating to a reliable charity. There are so many families and individuals in such great need. Link above sends you here.

To read more about this fundraiser, For Philippines with Love, visit ever-ours and here.
Learn more about Shelterbox on their website.

Other ways to help:
+ Habitat for Humanity is raising funds to send cleaning kits, shelter building kits, and eventually build homes.
+ The International Rescue Committee has launched relief efforts in the Philippines. You can donate to their effort.
+ Donate to the Disasters Emergency Comitee.
+ Donate to relief aid through The American Red Cross.

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Confessions of a Blogger

Lix from A Classic Notion tagged me to do the Confessions of a Blogger post. I felt it a perfect way to collect some thoughts and for you to learn a bit more about me and why I blog here. It is also a great break from all the crafting I have going on today.

1. When did you first start blogging and why?

I started this blog in March of this year. I had tossed the idea of Oh Whimsical Me back it forth, for a year or two actually, while I was still in college. I struggle with depression and anxiety (you can read a bit more about that here and here) and hit a real low while I was living in Moscow. I started this blog after moving back to Boise, sort of in celebration of overcoming some things personally. Also because I had wanted to for so long and I was tired of not doing the things I wanted out of fear. It is a place for my to stay organized as well; to share my thoughts, inspiration, and creations.

2. Have you had any past online presence?

Yes, I've had a tumblr since September 2008. I had to go look at my archives and check, and wow that seems like forever ago. I have changed so much since then. That is what I love so much about tumblr, and why I still use it (although I must admit I mostly just reblog things I like a lot now).  It was my safe haven for so many years. I have met so many great people I call dear friends. It was even my support system at times, back when I felt like I had no one else. I love going back and reading through my old posts (I use to write there a lot) and seeing my own growth over the years.

3. When did you become serious about your blog?

The moment I started it, truthfully. Although it started out more as a place to record memories of my personal life (more for my own benefit). I still like to use this place to document those things and share them with my readers, but my vision for where I would like my blog to end up has changed drastically.

4. What was your first blog post?

The very first one is just a very brief intro into why I was starting this blog. The first full post (the second post here) was pictures from a hiking trip Will and I took with the pups.

5. What have been your biggest challenges blogging?

I have a lot of ideas constantly swarming around up in this head but I have a tendency to let the majority of them slip away unexecuted. I'm working on it and trying to keep all my ideas organized/written down for later use. At first, I also struggled with what to post because I wanted to keep my reader audience in mind. I also felt, for some reason, that there was an unspoken quota I had to reach each week or month. Now I mostly just post what I want and when I comfortably can, which seems to work out better for everyone. I also struggle with networking and reaching out to other bloggers, because I'm shy and have terrible social anxiety (yes even on the internet) but I need to more.

6. What is the most rewarding thing about blogging?

The community, no competition. I meet so many caring, inspirational people all the time. I don't know why, but before I started my blog I thought things were going to be a lot harder than they are. I didn't expect so many people to be interested in the content I post and to be so welcoming.

7. What is the most discouraging thing about blogging?

This may only apply to me, because I feel like I got myself into this situation. Sometimes I do feel a little limited. There are definitely things I keep myself from pursuing or posting about because I feel that there would be no interest. I have such a wide array of things I find interesting and enjoy, but I feel that within the context of this blog those topics would feel like outsiders (like the podcast appreciation post).  Perhaps I created the parameters here a little too thin. I love sharing snippets of my life and personal style and crafts and recipes I love. But I'd also love to discuss feminist issues, social constructs, racism, gender norms, my favorite sci-fi films, how great Netflix is, why I want to live in Canada, my struggle to build a portfolio, etc. I don't know how to balance all of that. I have created a great and supportive readership here and I don't want to burst that.

8. What is your lasting inspiration or motivation?

I just love sharing things I discover/create. I am a very passionate person and when I really love something I want everyone else to know about it too. Every time I share a recipe I wish I could come over to your house and whip you up a taste. When I share pictures from a trip I took I wish you all could have been there to witness how breathtaking the mountains were and feel how refreshing the air was too. And I wish you all could have your own personal Pippin, because he is the greatest and keeps me happy with puppy snuggles everyday.

9. What is your blogging dirty little secret?

It's not dirty, nor is it probably a secret, but I blog from bed a lot. It is the comfiest place and warmest place in this cold house, so it is bound to happen.

I'm still currently 'unemployed,' so this blog is my main thing. And I still don't do it all that well

I also really hope to collaborate with more bloggers, brands, businesses in the future.

10. What is your current goal as a blogger?

I really love seeing my blog grow organically and never try to push anything too hard. I want to maintain that, while somehow networking more and growing my readership. I do feel that my blog is currently an extension of me and a great representation of my character. I don't want that to ever change. If anything, I need to improve on it.

11. Have you learned or become passionate about anything through blogging that caught you by surprise?

When I began I never had any interest in outfit posts or personal style posts. I thought they would get boring really quickly, as my wardrobe is quite small and very few of my pieces are new. In fact, the majority of my clothes have been with me for at least 5 years. I haven't posted many, but my personal style posts are quickly becoming my favorite. I never plan them too carefully (except my Lace Dress 4 Ways for Fall/Winter post, of course), and I usually shoot a few pictures when we are out doing something already on the weekend (thanks Will) with whatever I happen to be wearing that day.

I'm tagging:

Kara from As Always Kara
Dus from Cuddly Cacti
Gabrielle from Hippie Go Lucky
Carolynn from Kitty Adventures
Jessica from Life Laid Bear
Ella from Paper Umbrella
Danica from Good Heart
Cam from Sincerely Cam

Because I want to know more about all of you! Simply answer the questions above if you'd like to participate.

xx Emorie

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Wears: Hanging on to Autumn

This weekend was rather lovely, as per usual. I live for the weekends these days, for the long mornings snuggled in bed and a few adventures around town. It's getting dark so early around here that there is little else I want to do but make dinner and curl up in bed with a book by the time Will gets home from work during the week. It means I've become quite the homebody lately. Although I don't mind a bit, weekends have been rather refreshing. Yesterday was Veterans Day, which means Will didn't have to work (thanks state jobs) and we got to spend the day together in this fall weather that seems to be hanging around more than usual. We went for a walk around Municipal Park in the afternoon, ate an early dinner at Mazzah (their falafel is the best!), and ran some errands. A perfect date day, I think.

Outfit Details:
Coat: Old Navy, last year (similar)
Dress: Target, last year (similar)
Tights: Target
Socks: Tabbisocks
Boots: Modcloth
Necklace: vintage (gift from my grandmother)

Walking around Municipal Park was so lovely. There is a cool little nature center and walk there (the state fish and game headquarters is next to the park and they care for it) filled with birds and native plants and fish viewing areas. I realized it had been years since I had been down to that park and Will had never been. Sometimes I forget that he didn't grow up around here too. And then I feel guilty for not showing him Boise gems more often. I'm trying to be better about it. We decided, while out walking, that autumn has seemed extra long this year. In Boise, autumn always seems to be gone in the blink of an eye, with summer dragging out longer than wanted and then the cold hitting suddenly (and the leaves subsequently quickly dropping). But we're still getting fair weather and some leaves are still hanging on. I don't mind, but at the same time I'm really jonseing for a snowstorm.

xx Emorie

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November Wishlist: Cozy & Cute

outfit one: beanie / mittens / parka / scarf / hooded cardigan

outfit two: sweater / turban beanie / gloves / coat / scarf

outfit three: scarf / sweater / turban beanie / fox mittens / coat

With the cold now here and even colder days sure to come, I thought it'd be fun to put together a small collection of different outerwear pairings. Because keeping yourself from freezing can still be cute. There are several reasons why this is my favorite time of year and the fact that it involves the cutest season for clothes (in my opinion) is definitely one of them. The holidays, snow, and no allergies or sunburns also make that list for obvious reasons.

I am in the market for some chunkier, super warm sweaters and other cold weather gear. While browsing sweaters, I remembered the sad state of the one pair of mittens I own. So I began browsing for a pair of gloves too. Needless to say, I ended up browsing a lot and came up with quite a wishlist. You can also read that as I have a birthday coming up in a month (and Christmas shortly after, of course) and I'm trying to come up with things to ask for. I love putting together outfits, instead the common wishlist of random things, so you get this. You're welcome. Also, I'm pretty sure everyone needs a pair of fox mittens in their lives, right? 

xx Emorie

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Inspired by: Pretty Things

It is such a lovely cloudy, rainy, chilly day here in Boise. I am enjoying it indoors with a warm sweater, slippers, a cup of tea, and the heating turned up. I'm feeling rather cozy and will likely spend the day crafting under a pile of blankets. I'm sure there will be plenty of puppy snuggles thrown in there as well. Before I bunker down with my stack of things to do I wanted to pop in here quickly and share with you something a little different. Here are some pretty things I am just loving this week and felt like sharing for no real particular reason. Enjoy.



1. This picture of a pair gazing over a pretty lake. Ugh. Gimme.
2. This pretty collar from the etsy shop Fila Arcana. It is no longer available, but there are others.
3. Breathtaking autumn color and crystal river.
4, 5, 6. Yes, I included three separate images of the Knowles-Carter family. I may have spent way too much time yesterday digging through the archives of Beyonce's tumblr. I spend my days doing really important things. B and Blue Ivy and bubbles / Jay-Z and Blue / our Queen reigning over the seas.
7. James Wolpert's version of Joni Mitchell's A Case of You. OH MY GOD. I have listened to this song on repeat all day today. I am slightly obessed with The Voice and I am unashamed. It makes the deprived choir girl in me very happy. And James, I'm rooting for you, but if you don't win you best still make an album because I am so ready to buy that so hard ugh.
8. A simple reference tool that will come in handy now that I'm sketching more regularly.
9. I"m also a fan of Caroline Pennel on The Voice this season. Her voice is so sweet and unique and her arrangments are pretty impressive. She kept it simple this week and sang The White Stripes We're Going to Be Friends. How adorable is she?
10. This photo series that photographer Kai Fagerström put together in an old cottage in rural Suomusjärvi, Finland, abandoned decades ago, is so cool! He documents its new animal residents in a unique and whimsical way, with an edge of mystery. I love it.
11. This sketch I found on tumblr is just perfect is all.
12. I also love this little photo series by photographer Danique van Kesteren. So cozy.
13. I'm a fan of mixed textures and patterns, always.
14. I've been really in the need for some mountain air. Crossing my fingers that I can get some soon.
15. This Julien David knife print cardigan is amazing, unfortunately it doesn't seem to be available anymore.

And with that, I'm off to craft. I hope you're all staying warm and having lovely days.
xx Emorie

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Goals for November

October flew by so quickly, I almost couldn't believe it was over. But now, a few days into the new month, things are starting to settle a little for me. I think daylight savings made this month's transition even more drastic. If dogs could automatically update to the new time, like my phone did, things would be so much easier. Regardless, welcome November. You've been lovely and cold and I like you. Plus this just puts us that much closer to holiday season and to my favorite month (December, obvi.).

Goals for November                                    

+ Craft, craft, craft, craft, craft. All the crafts. I'm sticking with tradition and making all my Christmas gifts again this year. I really do enjoy putting in a little extra thought and time to make everyone a unique gift. And it's a great option for someone like me, who doesn't have the means to splurge on gifts for everyone, but still enjoys gift giving. I have some really good ideas this time around, if I do say so myself. I have everything planned out (except for gifts for one or two people, ugh) so now it's all about spending many cold days bundled up inside with my sewing machine, knitting needles, sketch book, glue gun, etc.

+ I'm going to make a conscious effort to show the important people in my life how much I love and appreciate them. I hope I do this often, anyway, but with Thanksgiving approaching I am always a bit more aware of outwardly acknowledging how much I adore them.

+ Go on more walks. I realized this morning that I hadn't taken the pups for a walk around the neighborhood for quite awhile. I am a bad pup mama. I'm going to try my hardest not to use the cold weather as an excuse. Because I have coats and boots and Pippin has a few sweaters (and I do actually like the cold). Just stop being a lazy butt. Walks make us all happy, the pups and me both.

+ I'm taking inspiration from Jessica's November Goals and also adding an attempt to keep my nails painted. I like having pretty nails, but aside from keeping them cut short I am usually too lazy to care about doing them. I feel more inspired with a pop of color on the tips of my fingers, though, so I'll really make an effort. I need all the inspiration I can get this month. I think I'll go put on a bright red polish when I'm done here.

+ Read and drink a mug of hot tea in bed and snuggle Pippin (and my love) and just enjoy all those little things everyday.

Do you have goals for this month?
How are you preparing for the quickly approaching holidays?

xx Emorie

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