Jane takes a hike

My "Discover Virginia" project got off to a bit of a rocky start.

Immediately after my last post I eagerly scoured the Outdoor School website for classes to help me check off my list. I signed up for an Outdoor Rock Climbing for Beginners course. Then fall happened and my class was cancelled due to rain.

I was sad for like a second. Then, someone said "Billy Goat Trail" and I was all "sign me up!" After all, if you can't rock climb you may as well scramble.

Turns out, I had exactly the right attitude. See, I assumed "rock scramble" translated to "move quickly so as to not fall down an incline covered in scree." I thought I would have to literally scramble up certain parts of the trail. Makes complete sense, right?

Yeah, well, I was wrong. A scramble is sort of like the bunny slope of rock climbing. You have to pick your way up, over, and around some pretty sizable rocks.

Following in the footsteps of Brandon and Zac.

My fellow hikers were super kind about helping me navigate the best path, and they were always quick to offer a steadying hand or a boost. However, like a petulant toddler I insisted I wanted "to do it myself." But, because I can find ways to fall down on perfectly flat ground there was always one experienced hiker in front of me and one behind. Just in case

How could you not trust those faces?

No special climbing shoes or ropes were required, but there was a bit of hand-over-hand hoisting.

See Zac climb

Okay, fine, Some members of our party climbed and hoisted and scrambled. I opted for something resembling more of a crawl.

See Jane crawl

Athena did a little bit of climbing and a little bit of crawling, but I think the crawling was just to keep me from feeling lame.

It's nice knowing your friends have your back

I was absolutely fascinated with what I have dubbed "the Venus rocks."

It looks like two different rocks got smushed together, but I have no idea if that's really what was going on here or if different parts of one rock reacted differently to elements of erosion. Surely somebody reading this can give me an explanation.

The Commodore - oh yes, The Commodore absolutely had to come along - was so over the stupid two-toned rocks. He preferred the scenery from the flat rocks closer to the water.

Actually, internet, there are no bad views at Great Falls*.

*Okay, Athena might have been stuck with a less than stellar view a few times throughout the day.

See Jane's butt

Putting aside Athena's possible trauma, it was an excellent hike with excellent people, and an excellent way to cross off number 2 on my Opt Out list.

Savage

This past weekend I became a savage.

And you?

Also, see that blue ramp around the 52 second mark?  Yeah, I NAILED IT. On my first try.

Awesome sauce.

Pinned it and Did it

If you've been following along lately you may have noticed words such as "blah" and "funk" sprinkled liberally throughout my rather sparse blog posts. So pathetic.

via FunnyCakes

I think one of the major funk contributors is my growing list of possible projects and my stagnant repertoire of completed crafts. That sort of thing leaves a person feeling unaccomplished and bad at time management.

Sewing PhD poster via Cafe Press

Luckily, my sweet Sarah girl came for a visit, and do you know what Sarah loves to do? Crafts! So instead of dragging my happy butt to the zoo trying to entertain a guest by looking at hot animals in the hot sun, I got to knock some stuff off my to do list with my best friend and my best daughter. Awesome sauce!

While it might look like terror on her face, she's actually screaming in excitement.

In honor of fall (and my enormous collection of fabric scraps) we started with some scrap-busting homemade pumpkins. I had seen something similar a while back, but I forget where. Luckily, the internet is equipped with Pinterest so I can find a similar source of inspiration to share.

via Small Fry and Co.

Cute, right?  We had so much fun going through all my autumn-toned fabrics. And by the time Sarah had to leave we had...

Can you guess which one belongs to who? I'll give you a hint: the littlest lady did not make the littlest pumpkin.

Just before we started our puffy gourds we went shirt shopping. Why? So we could make these!

Pinned here but originally seen here.

Until I saw those sweet tank tops I had no idea how much I needed to have tie dye in my wardrobe. Luckily, Sarah and Emily were totally game. Word to the wise, though: this is not a project for over-thinkers. The perfection lies in the imperfections. Unfortunately some members of our group have a hard time with that concept (I'm looking at you, Sarah). Personally, I love how they came out.

Alas, we never got a group shot of us in our matching tees. I did manage to snap Sarah and Em while they were busy getting their toes done (although, sadly, not tie-dyed) at D Retro.

If I were you, I'd be totally jealous.

And even though we had to send Sarah back to her home far too soon her visit did banish a good bit of my funk. Thanks, girl!

And you my darlings? What to-do have you done to lift your mood lately?

Make me a match!

One of the perks of Housewifery is that a larger percentage of my work is away from the computer. Promoting a small business is very media/tech-centric. Now that I have to be on the computer less I want be on the computer more. In other words, less screen fatigue means I can better enjoy things such as Matchbook Magazine.

In the past I've avoided e-zines and e-books and even some of my favorite blogs because I feel it is important to take time away from a screen. I know, I know - all you Kindle, iPAD, Nook owners just hit"unfollow" thanks to my blasphemy.

Anyway...

Matchbook is amazeballs. If Anthropologie, Shabby apple, and Real Simple got together to make a magazine, I probably read it, but only after I'd finished my issue of Matchbook.

Dust off your riding boots, ladies - Autumn is here!

Well, I don't mind if I do...

The mag plays with fashion, art, history, design, literature, shopping, social scenes, entertainment... And they didn't even pay me to tell you all this!

Lucian Freud Portraits [Hardcover] available at Amazon.com

Basically, it makes a great primer for any lady looking to impress at a cocktail party. Speaking of making an impression check out this J. Crew top on guest editor, Erin Hemstra's wish list.

Zigzag sequin tee available at jcrew.com

Oh yeah.

I could go on, but all this raving has made me eager to immerse myself in the Matchbook September issue. Which, by the way, is also available on the iPAD.

Do you have any online "must reads?" Do tell!

I meant to write my own post

But I am having waaaay to much fun designing the perfect wedding guest outfit over at East Side Bride.

Come play! You know you want to!

Sources:
Elk-like hair sticks
cozy coat dress
For under the coat dress
Mountain sunset tights for, you know, color
Must have shoes

Treasury Tuesday

Remember in the way back time when all the taboo stuff in romantic movies was hidden by a slow pan to the roaring fire? That is exactly what a glowing hearth makes me think of.

Snap, Crackle, and Pop

a winter treasury by Never a Plain Jane Designs

What's your favorite thing to do when the embers are glowing?

Stuff and Things: Friday

I'm not here right now and there is no beep after which you can leave a message. Instead, I'm using this week off to share some things I found Pinteresting.

My Emily has her own sense of style and, well, it isn't quite my sense of style. I wouldn't have it any other way, but if my kid dressed like Suri Cruise instead of Punky Brewster, I'd definitely be making this upcylced number.

Kalleen, who lives at Second Street, made this autumn eyelet number out of a ladies skirt. Because she's awesome.

For more photos of Kalleen's sweet girl is this sweet little dress go here.

When you were a kid were you a Punky Brewster or a Suri Cruise or something else entirely? As I said, there is no beep prompting you to leave a message, but I'd love to read your comments below.

Stuff and Things: Tuesday

I'm not here right now and there is no beep after which you can leave a message. Instead, I'm using this week off to share some things I found Pinteresting.

Inside-out Carrot Cake Muffins

The person who posted this recipe for King Arthur Flour talks about spring and bunnies, but, to me, carrot cake is a fall thing.  Root vegetable + homey spicy smell = fall.

Cool days beg for a hot oven to make the house all toasty warm.

The recipe and more yummy photos are here. I have no idea when I'll get to try this recipe so if you get to it first please please please tell me how it goes, k?

As I said, there is no beep prompting you to leave a message, but I'd love to read your comments below.

Inspiration Found: Reversible Things

Doesn't it seem as though the comfiest, coziest things are best when they're two-sided? I talked about this a little in October, but now that autumn is sort of making her appearance in Florida I'm even more in love with objects featuring duality.

It means twice the number of hand-protecting coffee cuffs.

via Love 2 Create

It means snuggling twofold as often.

via COCOCOZY

That's two times the amount of chic outerwear accersorries.

via UnderReconstruction

And now, thanks to yours truly, you can coordinate your garters with double the amount of outfits, moods, socks, and stockings!

Reversible Garter Pair at Never a Plain Jane Designs

One side is 100% wool upcycled from a vintage Ralph Lauren skirt. Delicious fall shades of russet and forest green make up the cozy plaid pattern. On the flip side, a rich, gold dupioni silk.

I really love these. Really, really love them.

Treasury Tuesday: Long Live Sweater Girls

Yup, I really know how cling to a topic. Speaking of clinging, I put together a little treasury of (mostly) curve-hugging sweaters. If you click on the image you can see the treasury at its Etsy home and get more information on any of the comfy cozies that may strike your fancy.

Another Never a Plain Jane treasury

Sweater Girls

Over the weekend, my sweet neighbors invited Em and I over for dinner. There has actually been something of a snap in the Florida air, and my neighbor had all her windows open and a homey, roaring fire. Finally! Autumn! Well, the Tampa brand of autumn.

still, it was enough to get me thinking about my sizable collection of sweaters and that mid-century Hollywood Icon:

The Sweater Girl

Carole Landis* via Film Noir Photos

A much much, more modern Milla Jovovich, shot by Carter Smith

Lana Wood in "A Place Called Today (1972)"

Christina Hendricks rocking late 1960's fashion on the contemporary series Mad Men

Anne Francis in "Girl of the Night (1960)"

Sophia Loren in "La donna del fiume (1954)"

Dying to be-sweater your own inner silver screen siren? I thought you might so I found some modern-day sources.

Pair your preppy with pattern

Soft knit + heavy metal

Argyle. Perfect.

Belted and bedazzled!

 What sort of sweater style will you be sporting?

* I found this photo posted in several places but could not find the photographer or movie credits.  It must have been taken between 1937 and 1948. Any additional info would be much appreciated

Treasury Tuesday: A Rare October Snowfall

I've never lived in a place that gets snow in October, rare or otherwise. I hear the Northeast is having an unexpectedly chilly Halloween. Here's to bonfires, trick-or-treating, and arming my hands on my coffee mug.

Please click on the image to visit my treasury on Etsy

Find Inspiration In: Reversible Things

Let's be honest here, darlings.  There are few things in life that top a two-for-one deal. And this fall I am coming across all sorts of dual-sided and reversible goodies.

Just this past weekend I dipped into my project files to make a couple of these headbands from Jessica at Happy Together. (I'll put my photos on Facebook   if you are interested, but click on the image below for Jessica's tutorial).

And now I'm dying over the adorableness that is this cape from Les Petites Indecises.

Personally, I'd totally wear that cape, but for those of you who like to dress like a grown-up, Idea2Lifestyle offers the Vol de Nuit reversible Jacquard skirt in their Etsy shop.

Reversible is even chic outside of fashion.

Okay, this jacket is not reversible, but it is chic and that lining truly makes it. Corinnea is a genius.

Are you also feelin' all this tasty duality? It definitely has my creative juices flowing!