Strawberry Festival

Today Ben, my mother, and I headed down to southern Virginia Beach to visit the Strawberry Festival in Pungo. Though somewhat lacking in actual strawberries as far as I could see, the Strawberry Festival had plenty of country fair charm.




There is my mother and me, going!





Dusty days.



Ben had fun, even though it looks as though he didn't.



My outfit was fairly basic. I tried to keep it summery and country fair appropriate. I'm addicted to side braids right now, so although the hair in my most recent outfits seems rather monotonous, it's actually quite a change from the bangs I've been sporting for the past 6 years.




This bag is perhaps my favorite piece of this outfit. It's my father's old US Army rucksack from the 1980s. I guess that means it's technically vintage, but it certainly doesn't feel that way because I remember this bag being used in its day! It's rugged and authentic, but actually translates quite well into a number of looks I think. The best part is knowing that look-a-likes sell for much much more at stores like Urban Outfitters.



On J:

shirt:: second hand via Rumors Boutique
shorts:: thrifted, for sale at my Etsy shop
rucksack:: military second hand
shoes:: thrifted
hat:: second hand via Double Take Consignment

cropped

This bag is an Italian-made ostrich leather bag. Though this bag was given to me second hand, I still feel a little bit of a moral qualm, as I do whenever I adorn any real leather. Regardless, I love the unique texture of this bag!

Any thoughts on crop tops or leather morality?

On J:

top:: thrifted
skirt:: BDG (UO)
bag:: second hand

crochet

I've been MIA for a little while, soaking up the sun in Florida (and my face has reached lobster status). Anyway, last week I had my lovely best friend Shelby model some lovely recent finds- a fabulous pair of nauticaly shorts and a FANTASTIC crochet vest.



Vests have never been particularly flattering on me personally, but Shelbs really pulls this off beautifully!





Ain't she purdy?

The shorts are available on my Etsy store, the crochet vest will be soon!

down to the river to pray

Last week we went down to the river.





 The James River, that is.

The James River can be a really dirty, littery, unpleasant place. But in other spots, if you look hard enough, it can be quite magical. The James river is the type of river that has islands galore and huge rocks that sometimes stretch across the entire width of the river.

The spot that we found this day was on the small side of a huge fork in the river caused by an off-center island. It created this wonderous little lagoon, which was only accessibly by giant log.



There is Ben crossing the perilous log to our rock.

My outfit wasn't crazy or anything, so I'll just tell you about the James.


The James River is Virginia's largest River! This is "America's Founding River," that is, its the river that Jamestown settlers traveled up to set up camp.



The James River is also Pocahontas' river, and the subject of the popular Disney song from said movie, "Just Around the River Bend!" Now you understand why Native Americans called this river the Powhatan River. But I mean they used their own word for river, obviously.



Unnecessary close up.