Guest Post: Perfectly Priya

I have one more guest post for you today! I'm back from Connecticut, but I'm sick and jet lagged, so I figured I'd let a friend take care of my blog one more time before I get back in front of the camera. Today, I'm handing it over to Priya, one of my very first blogger friends. Priya and I clicked immediately and instantly bonded over a shared similar style, personalities, and sense of humor. She's one of those people who always makes me smile when I read her blog, and I am positive that whenever we finally meet in person, it will feel like we've known each other forever. I know you'll enjoy her as much I do. 

Hi there! Priya from perfectly Priya here. I am pumped to be guest-posting today for Elana, my first and forever blogging bud- who I still haven't hung out with IRL yet- not sure HOW that's possible! She appears to be on the coolest "business" trip of all time...must be nice ;) 

Though Elana & I both hail from the great, golden state of California, I am currently living in Nashville, which means: the weather is not perfect all the time, and Spring is truly a gem of a season! Spring in Nashville means sunshine without humidity, drinking on patios again, and the most gorgeous blooms wherever you look!

That was literally the entire inspiration behind these photos, these beautiful trees that were honest-to-goodness in full bloom just outside my office. Though the entire ensemb really aligned with the "Spring" theme nicely- booties, bare legs, a full skirt, and a jacket layer for the cooler morning.

Two recurring themes on my blog- this jean jacket and my love for hand-me downs. I've written about this jacket (that I've had for going on 11 years!) enough on my blog, so I'll stick to the latter today. This clutch was recently given to me by my work friend Emma, who received it herself as a gift, but figured she'd never use it. She first put it up in our ladies chatroom at the office, and I thought, that's kinda neat, but when no one claimed it, she stopped by my desk and force-gave it to me :)

I can't decide if it's too wild (definitely not something I would purchase myself!) but isn't that what they say about trends, try them in small doses on accessories first? Is calf hair a current trend? Is that even what this is called??

So many questions. Well, I hope Spring has sprung wherever you are, and thanks Elana for having me today!

Guest Post: Midwest Muse

Is weird to call someone you've never actually met in person your blogging "best friend?" If it is, then I don't want to be normal. Jessica of Midwest Muse is that person for me, and she's my favorite person I've gotten to know through blogging. Jessica is witty, stylish, pop culture savvy, and a total badass. I'm just now returning from trip, so Jessica is kindly taking over for me today. Enjoy her adorable spring outfits!

Hello, lovely readers of Elana's! Jessica from Midwest Muse here. Elana is one of those lucky girls who lives in a place with perpetual summer and I am so not one of those girls. I live in Ohio where Winter lasts for a million years, Fall a brief moment before becoming Winter, Spring kind of happens, but mostly turns back into Winter or right into Summer.

Which is a really long way of saying, I savor the sweet moments of Spring when I can. There's something so refreshing about crisp mornings, hot afternoons, and chilled evenings.

Here's a look at some of my favorite Spring outfits. The Ohio guide to dressing for Spring is light layers because you'll likely experience every season in one day.

one | two

three | four

five | six

Guest Post: The Drawing Mannequin

While I'm still living that east coast life on my business trip, I have another guest blogger here in my place. Ali of The Drawing Mannequin has one of my favorite blogs to read, hands down. In addition to being beautiful and statuesque, and having impeccable and creative style, Ali is of the funniest writers I know. I always get a kick out of reading her posts, and I feel like I'm living life beside her, which is what I secretly wish were happening. Enjoy her post, and give her blog a warm hug for me!

Hello, friends! My name is Ali. I'm from the long-lost land of The Drawing Mannequin and I'll be acting as a substitute for our dear Elana while she is away performing discreet secret agent tasks that will save the country of Poland from a mole infestation erm, I mean, er, uh business trip.

Hope I didn't blow your cover there, lady.

Guest Post: Mox and Socks

Hello from the east coast! While I do important work things (or rather, take advantage of a business trip to goof off in New York), I'm having a few of my very favorite and most stylish blogger friends fill in for me. Today, I'm incredibly excited to introduce you to Devinne of Mox and Socks. I first discovered Devinne through her Instagram, and ever since, I've been a major fan of her perfect collection of dresses, adorable dog, and witty writing. Enjoy getting to know her, and be sure to check out her blog!

Sometimes, in the coldest, most bitter depths of winter, I think back on my ancestors and wonder why they had to settle in Chicago.  Why didn't they head a little further south, to a part of the country where the wind and ice don't conspire to make you too miserable and defeated to leave your apartment?  Sure, I could always move, but I have so many friends and family here that it would be heartbreaking, so I stick it out every December, January, February, March, and April.  

Earth Day with Schoola

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Schoola. Once I discovered the website (while browsing through Reddit), I became an instant fan. As a lover of thrifting and education, Schoola - an online thrift store that donates 40% of its proceeds to schools and the Malala Foundation - is a dream come true in terms of shopping and being a good person. So of course, when I get the opportunity to work with Schoola (a website I've praised many times with no prompting) in celebration of Earth Day, I was ecstatic. 

I can't say that I'm the most, ahem, environmentally conscious person. However, when it comes to shopping, I make the effort. Americans send 10.5 million tons of clothing to landfills each year. The easiest way to avoid that? Buying used and donating clothing, of course. That's what makes thrifting so wonderful. In addition to saving money and presenting creative challenges, thrifting is recycling. 

Since I am guilty of buying too many clothes, I'm proud to be donating many of pieces to Schoola. It's free and easy to do so; just request a donation bag on the website, and one is sent free of charge, with return postage paid for as well. All of the items on Schoola are donated, some of which are even new with tags, including stylish donations from Modcloth. Schoola was kind enough to send me two beautiful dresses donated from Modcloth, and I took it upon myself to style them both with items purchased from second-hand stores. Click through to see more.

Gingham Headband + Apricity January Dress

There's one problem with perfect weekends: they end. This past weekend was one much-needed, relaxing, and, you guessed it, perfect. Jon and I spent the weekend in San Diego, where we stayed at his aunt and uncle's condo near Little Italy. They live in the Midwest and only spend a few months of the year there, so they were kind enough to let us use it free of charge. Jon and I both have been stressed out with various "adulthood" problems, and our schedules are a little conflicting, so we don't get to spend much time together during the week. We had been trying to plan a little getaway for months, and it turned out to be exactly as wonderful as we were hoping. We went to a farmer's market, got sun burnt walking to the harbor, ate as much brunch as we could, and lounged for hours. And by lounged, I mean we accidentally got more hooked on a teen Chopped marathon than any person should, but still. Worth it.

While we were at the farmer's market, Jon indulged me by getting some $2 flowers to make my pictures cuter. I finally got to break out this Apricity dress, which so unbelievably comfortable. I've also been using every chance possible to wear this coffee pin from Hello Holiday. The woman working at the gelato shop could not get over how much she loved it, which I think means it's a winner. Plus, I've discovered that I like headbands. I borrowed one from my best friend last week just to see how it looked, and it turns out, I think I can pull them off. This is at least what I'm telling myself, but let me have this. I immediately ran to Target to get one for myself, and it was love at first sight when I spotted this gingham one. I guess I'm a headband person now. I barely recognize myself.

Yellow Tank Top + Fleet Collection Plaid Skirt

I'm sorry to say that I have no interview with a cute Etsy store today. Nope, just me and my Sunday brunch outfit. This weekend was a good one as it included both Saturday and Sunday brunch. And I only got a little drunk from mimosas at one of them. My work friends and I went to one of our favorite restaurants for Mexican brunch and bottomless mimosas, and let me tell you, it is very difficult to keep track of how many mimosas have been in your glass when the restaurant truly means "bottomless." It was worth it. I kept better track the next day when a group of friends and I celebrated my best friend Adam's birthday. I'm a big believer that breakfast plans are the best because nothing bad ever happens before breakfast. Think about it because I'm right.

This was my Sunday outfit, which I also wore to visit my brother's family in the afternoon. I always forget that I have this lovely blue necklace from Share & Do Good, and it made for a fun detail against a yellow tank. These shoes have barely left my feet since I got them, by the way. It took a long time as I returned one pair of Modcloth shoes for store credit, bought these with the refund, and ended up exchanging them for a larger size, but I would wait another month or more for these beauties. I finally have my perfect oxfords, and they're never coming off.

Let's Chat With: Sarah Duyer

It takes a lot to get me to want to wear a T-shirt. Rather, it takes Sarah Duyer to get me to want to wear a T-shirt. It's never been my clothing item of choice, but I couldn't help but excited over Sarah's animal/feminism line of shirts. Cute and empowering, I jumped at the chance to style one and chat with Sarah, who as you'll read, is incredibly inspiring. Enjoy our chat, and be sure to check out Sarah's shop when you're done.

Q: How and when did you start your shop?
A: I started my Etsy shop when I was in college, I think around 2008. When I first started I was selling hand-sewn bags and some prints. I took up ceramics while I was in school and started selling some of my work online too. It’s interesting to look back through some of my older orders, my store has gone through a lot of changes over the years but it’s nice to see how my work has evolved. 

Did you always intend for your clothing items to have a feminism focus?
The idea for the design came before I really decided to turn it into a clothing item. Street harassment is something all women have to deal with, especially living in a city, and the angry feminist animals were born out of my own frustration with it. I wanted the designs to comment on real issues that women face, but in a funny way. Printing my designs on shirts also allows the wearer to respond to street harassment without engaging the harasser and kind of pushes back against the myth that a woman’s clothing choices mean she was “asking of it.”

Your ceramics are so unique. Do you create in any other mediums of art as well?
Thanks! Ceramics was really my primary medium in school but I also took a lot of classes in painting, printmaking, sculpture, and photo. After I graduated I was working for a shoe store and making money on the side painting custom shoes for people for a little while. I have been working on a series of paintings of animals wearing sweaters since I was in school, too. I don’t have nearly as much time to paint as I used to but I still like to experiment with other media when I can. Also, since I have been more focused on building a small business with my ceramic work, having projects in other media make for a nice change of creative outlet.

How would you describe the Sarah Duyer customer?
I think my customers are people who are as frustrated as I am with the inequalities in our patriarchal society, but that is a pretty broad and diverse set of people. I love showing at craft shows because I really enjoy meeting the people who buy my shirts. Lots of people come up to me to tell me how excited they were to see something that addressed their same frustrations, and I really like that these simple designs resonate with so many different types of people. Different customers are drawn to my work by different things, be it my ceramics or my shirts, but I like having variety in what I make. Also, I think that a lot of people who are drawn in by my shirts aren’t necessarily looking for ceramics but are excited to see the different faces of my work, and vice versa.

T-Shirt: c/o Sarah Duyer, Skirt: Kling, Shoes: UO, headband: borrowed from Whitney

How does living in San Francisco inspire what you create?
I moved to San Francisco because I wanted to live in a place with a strong and supportive arts community. SF is a really beautiful city that has a lot of great public art and murals and neat stores that support local artists. I’m thankful to have found a great community of artists here who inspire me and push me to continue making art. A lot of what drew me to San Francisco unfortunately doesn’t exist here anymore because of high rents and the growth of the tech industry, but there are still a lot of things I love about it. I even designed my “In Fog We Trust” patches as a tribute to SF and its infamous fog, Karl. 

Do you have any favorite pieces in particular in your shop?
It’s a tough choice but I think if I had to choose it would probably be the cactus mugs. Each one is hand decorated and unique and I love the way the texture of the clay works looks against the glossy glaze. 

Be sure to keep up with Sarah's shirts, ceramics, art, and more by visiting her shop, website, and blog!

Sarah Duyer Facebook / Instagram / Tumblr / Shop / Website / Blog

Apricity Sunday Dress + Red Cardigan

Will I ever get over this Apricity dress? No. No, I won't. It's one of the most perfect things I own, and I just may have bought another Apricity dress. I may have also sworn that I wasn't going to buy anymore clothes in an effort to save to save up for a new apartment. But hey, when one of your favorite brands offers a 50% off flash sale for one day, you don't pass that up. I would be doing a disservice to dress-loving girls everywhere if I passed up that deal. I don't want that responsibility, no sir. So I did it. And I stand by decision.

Of course, I wish I were happily wearing this dress and hanging out in my brother's neighbor's rose bushes while they're not looking, but I have to face the real world instead. I recently started applying for new jobs, and it's a hell hole out there. I've made my current job aware that I'm looking, which I was able to do so because my bosses are wonderful and understanding about me wanting to get out of customer service and into a more creative position. I only wish I could bring them with me to a different industry. The job market, as I'm sure you all well know, is the worst. I'm struggling to find something in my experience-level that pays more than $0, and even more so, I'm struggling to get anyone to respond to emails. So if any of you would like to hire me to write bad jokes and talk about pretty dresses, please get in touch with me. I will also accept payment in sandwiches and iced coffee.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway to win a feminism-inspired pin or piece of jewelry from Ectogasm. You have until 04/11!

Let's Chat With: Ectogasm + A Giveaway

It's been far too long since I've put up a "Let's Chat With" post, my Q&A series with some of my favorite Etsy shops. I'm pleased to say that I'm bringing it back with a vengeance and will be sharing a few interviews in the upcoming weeks. I'm kicking it off with one of my absolute favorite makers that I've recently become acquainted with, Raeha of Ectogasm. Raeha makes this amazing"Brains are the New Tits" pin that I featured in a post recently and am wearing in these photos. She's also being kind enough to give one of her pieces away to one of you! Read about what a badass Raeha is below and enter the giveaway at the bottom the post:

Q: How and when did Ectogasm start?
Raeha: Nine months ago, I was working a dead end retail job I hated. I knew I needed to stop wasting time and get out so I could do the thing I really wanted to do. And that was to make a living as an artist. So, I decided I'd risk a pay cut (and even failure) to pursue my own business. It felt a bit like a kamikaze move -- some days it still does -- but I needed to do it.In August I opened my Etsy shop. Soon after that, I expanded to Amazon, then my own website. It's been great!

Did you always intend for for your items to have a feminism focus?
When I started Ectogasm, I wanted to do more than just add to the massive, often mindless market of goods out there. I am an artist first, so having a message was important to me. The feminist angle started right from the beginning. It's a cause that effects us every day. And, since it lets me get a bit sassy with my products, it's a fun one to pursue!

What is it about creating pins that you love?
I love that I get a to draw for people everyday. The fact that I can make my living like this way still blows my mind. I'm very grateful to my fans.

How would you describe the Ectogasm customer?
The Ectogasm customer is socially conscious and not afraid to stand out from the crowd. In fact, they love standing out! They're people who want to make a difference and will do just that with a sense of humor. In my experience, they're kind, wonderful customers. 

What are some of your favorite items in your store?
This is a hard question! 
I recently made a Scully and Mulder (from X Files) pin set, which I'm in love with. Scully's a total badass. Love her.  Lately I've been wearing a "Future Ghost" Banner pin because it cracks me up. I'm kind of morbid. The "Little But Fierce" pin will probably always be my favourite, though.  It describes who I strive to be! 

Dress, oxfords: Modcloth, Jacket: Thrifted, Pin: c/o Ectogasm

Why do you think it's important for people to support businesses that promote female empowerment such as yours?
There's so many awful businesses out there that use women as objects to market products that are too shitty to sell on their own (sorry for the language, I'm getting passionate!) It hurts all of us. I like to think that, with Ectogasm, I'm fighting back in a small way. And we all can fight back. There's the phrase "every dollar is a vote". When you buy from businesses that promote female empowerment, you're casting your vote. 

Do you have any exciting plans or items in the works that people can look forward to?
Yes! I'm always trying to grow Ectogasm. Right now, I'm learning to 3D model. The plan is to make metal products. Rings, necklaces, earrings, etc. Punk fashion will be a big inspiration for that, so you can expect some seriously badass jewelry. Our slogan will be something like "be more than beautiful. Be dangerous." Haha!

Ectogasm Website // Facebook // Instagram // Pinterest // Twitter // Tumblr

Raeha is giving away one jewelry item (necklace, pair of earrings, or pin) of your choice! Just enter through the Rafflecopter widget below. This giveaway is open until midnight on 04/11 and is open to U.S. readers only. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway