Canton Shopping

(Dress, scarf & Jacket: Fossil (old))

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned Canton before, but I love it so much I'm going to talk about it again!

First Monday Trade Days, if you haven't heard of it, is basically a giant three-day flea market.  It takes over the whole city of Canton, Texas the weekend before the first Monday of every month.  While there are tons of antique vendors there is a variety of other things for sell out there such as trendy clothes, homemade items, homegrown food, furniture, estate jewelry, etc.  You can basically find anything and everything.  

Personally, Canton has turned into a second home for me.  My parents and I will take the RV up there and camp for the whole weekend, I mean, three WHOLE days of shopping y'all...what more could a girl ask for?? 

But, it's not just the amazing shopping for me.  It's the people.  You'll come across all kinds but mostly it's a bunch of really decent, friendly people with interesting stories to tell and advice to give.  My favorite part is when we get into a good conversation with a vendor, I always seem to leave it having grown as a person.  The people I come across are so inspiring to me.  They had an idea and they went for it and here they are selling their goods in Canton.  I always come home filled with ideas and passion.  And everyone is just SO nice, they believe in me and they don't even know me.  Those are the kind of people I like to surround myself with, they can be hard to come by, but not in Canton. 

This is what I wore shopping for the last Trade Days, it was crazy windy and a little chilly so layers were necessary.  And I wear nothing but cowboy boots when I'm there (I don't do dusty feet).  I did a little photo shoot of my purchases from that day they include a vintage luggage rack, some goat pelts, vintage lace trim, some old leather pieces from a saddle, a vintage lace chemise, and an old book box.  

The Wild Feathers

This weekend you should be sitting outside (weather permitted) with some friends & some drinks while jamming to this band.  Or maybe setting off on a road trip with the windows down & some classics like corn nuts, or jerky to chomp on while listening to this band.  Basically all summer, whatever you're doing you're going to want to be listening the THIS BAND.  I don't even really know how to describe them, a little bit country, a lot rock & roll, and a smidge folksie maybe?  (I'm by no means a music professional, so don't make fun of my terminology!)

The Wild Feathers are a great mix of all the things I love about music (great lyrics, acoustic guitars, & cute, long haired, bearded, tattoo-ed guys) & their songs just make me feel good!  They're the band we've been looking for for quite sometime without really knowing it (as my friend said, and I realized I felt the same).  I discovered them by accident.  I actually went to see the band opening for them one night at the Prophet Bar, and we decided to stick around for these guys who drew quite a crowd.  It was such an exhilarating performance that I told myself to look them up when I got home.  Fast forward many moons (months, maybe a year?) later, and I finally remembered to check them out.  I only wish I would've remembered sooner because they're amazing.  See for yourself below, or listen on Spotify.

It's impossible for me to pick a favorite because I like "The Ceiling" on bright, calm, sunshiney mornings when I'm on my way to work and I like "Backwoods Country" when I'm on my way to meet some friends for drinks  (clearly, I only listen to music in my car.....).  I'm just ready for their album to come out so I have a song for every part of my day.  

Also, can I tell you the really sad story of how I went to their show and then had to leave before they ever even went on?  It was tragic.  It was a Tuesday, I must of been out of my mind, because I (& my coworkers) decided to start a juice cleanse that day.......  

1) Don't try to have any sort of plans beyond lounging at home when you do a juice cleanse.

 2) Don't eat french fries in an attempt to get rid of the nausea & migraine after only consuming juice for 10 hours.

 3) Just don't ever do a juice cleanse.  Not worth it. At all. In any capacity.

On the bright side, I tweeted about how depressed I was and the band tweeted me a sweet little "Feel better!"  And now I like them even more.  Well played guys, well played.  Hopefully, I'll be able to catch them this summer!

Hey, Hey Mama

(Top: Prabal Garung for Target;  Pants & Shoes: Alice + Olivia)

These pants are kind of amazing.  I haven't worn them much and I'm not sure why because they're so easy to wear.  May have to do with the fact that even though I had them altered, I still have to wear crazy tall shoes to keep them from dragging, maybe?

This outfit made me feel a bit like some badass 70's rocker (Nancy Wilson or Stevie Nicks?) and I liked it.  Does what your wearing ever influence what music you listen to?  Happens to me all the time.

Chill

(Skirt, tee, & Watch: Fossil; Socks: ASOS; Boots: Vintage)

This was actually awhile back when it was still pretty chilly, not that it wasn't in the 50's last week though.  Thanks, Texas!  I was inspired a little by the whole "Mori Girl" thing in Japan.  Tumblr it, you'll be engrossed in no time.  I think I literally spent a week finding new blogs, and Mori inspired photos.  Clearly, a very productive week, right?

Dusty Rose

(Sweater: Fossil; Jeans: Current/Elliot; Belt: Leighelena; Shoes:Franco Sarto via DSW)

I've had a penchant for denim lately.  Could be attributed to the fact that we're allowed to wear jeans at work for the next couple of months, or the fact that I'm sick of cold legs.  Both, probably.

This pair is so great because they work well for any season.  Loved winterizing them a bit with a sweater. 

Good Thoughts

 (Sweater: Canton;  Dress: Express (old); Boots: Ash)

I don't have much to say today except that part of my new mantra, "be fearless," has led me to not be afraid to be content.  Have good thoughts, don't search for the flaws and faults in life, just be happy with where you are and what's happening in the present.  

I'll leave you with this, a little reminder.

"If a person has ugly thoughts, it begins to show on the face. And when that person has ugly thoughts every day, every week, every year, the face gets uglier and uglier until it gets so ugly you can hardly bear to look at it. A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely."

 -Roald Dahl 

Warm Blooded

(Scarf: Knitted myself; Both tops & coat: Canton; Jeans: Target *old; Boots: Fossil *last year)

 Isn't this top the neatest?  It was handmade out of old lace & doilies by a woman who also sells jewelry at Canton.  She's a doll, the sweetest!  And obviously, talented!  If you're ever there check her out in the Pavilion, her name is Jane Trent.  I've made a few similar pieces but I really like hers better.  Sometimes you just have to admit when other people do something better!  Or rather, we produce items with a little bit different style.  I'll show you mine some other time.  

I'm not usually skilled at layering (probably because it's always too warm to consider) but when you layer up some odds & ends like this outfit & it turns out just right, it feels so good.  And by "feels so good" I mean it's warm....really warm, and it was bitterly cold on this day so it felt so good.

So to go along with my mantra of being fearless, I went to go give blood.  Giving blood is something I've ALWAYS wanted to do but I've been afraid of the pain, and of sitting around for 15 minutes while someone drains me.  Seems as though it'd be an uncomfortable experience, but damnit, I am conquering my fears and we just so happened to have a blood drive at work so I went for it!  It would be a really great and moving story if I came back and told you how accomplished I felt and how I really felt like I was helping out.  BUT unfortunately, they wouldn't take my blood because I've traveled to places in the past 12 months that have "tainted" my blood, I guess.  So it was very anticlimactic.  But I did technically get over my fear, I mean, I was seconds from doing it!  The guy checking my pulse even asked if I was nervous...that was fear pulsing through my veins, so that counts, right?