Feminine, but powerful

Some street style photos capturing modern women who exemplify femininity, but also strength and power.  These girls can walk the streets in a silk gown or fur stole, and still be the editor of a high-profile magazine... get down to business in ballerina skirts or floral day dresses... or wear gorgeous heels and still ride a bike! 

Photos from Sartorialist and Candice Lake

Mr. Darcy

This weekend I came down with a terrible flu, and it happens to be, not only very cold due to the impending winter, but also a long weekend here in New Zealand.  So everyone is off adventuring around, and I am stuck in bed, completely useless to the world.  So, what better to do that have a little alone time with Mr. Darcy?  I can't think of a better bedridden activity than watching 5 hours of BBC magic, Pride and Prejudice, staring Colin Firth in the English countryside.  I love everything about Pride and Prejudice: its stunning scenery of Elizabeth skipping around the English woods picking wildflowers, the glamorous balls thrown by Mr. Bingley, and did I mention Mr. Darcy?

...sigh.  But, I haven't mentioned what I like most about Pride and Prejudice!  I love stubborn headstrong Lizzie, I love how she breaks social norms of the time by refusing both Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy's proposals (although, the latter of those is a little puzzling upon inspection of the fourth photo from the bottom), while remaining tasteful and respectable.  I think the message shines through, even for women in the 21st century, that we can be strong and demand that our needs be met, while still retaining our femininity.  Don't get me wrong, women can be feminists in any way they see fit, but it is comforting to know personally, as a  lady who likes all things lady-like, that I can be lady-like and powerful.

New year, new favorite TV show: New Girl

I'm sure everyone is aware of how awesome New Girl is.  In fact, I'm positive I'm behind the times on the discovery of the show... but just in case there's others of you out there who lived on an island in the middle of the ocean for 2 months, here's a sneak peak. 

The show stars Zooey Deschanel as a kooky highschool teacher who moves in with 3 guys in downtown LA after breaking up with her long term boyfriend.  Although she is exasperatingly kooky, turns out her 3 guys roomies are equally as capricious, and they all end up friends in the end.  I'm sure many girls can relate to Jess (Zooey Deschanel) who sings normal sentences, wears crazy vintage outfits in inapproprate situations, and watches Dirty Dancing on repeat after a painful breakup.  No? Well, even if none of the above are your thing, I'm sure you will enjoy the show...Plus Jess's "nerdy/quirky teacher" style, designed by Debra McGuire, is amazing:

3 months absence... shameful!

Can't believe I haven't had time to sit down and write anything for 3 whole months!  It's been a jam packed new year!   I was up in northern New Zealand counting seabirds on some isolated islands, then I spent christmas with some good friends in Australia, then I spent the past month frantically preparing for a conference in Hawaii... which I am headed to as we speak (literally, I am at the airport with a ridiculous 12 hour layover in Sydney).  Thought I would write a quick update, brought to you from right next to the Sumo Salad and a magazine stand.  Nothing but excitement here!

So I give you 'a frantically busy 3 months in the life of a seabird biologist' - a photo diary. Enjoy.

1) Surprise beach camp-out 30th birthday party for the bf featuring: rock climbing, frisbee, camping in caves, bonfires, smores, lots of music, fire dancing, and a crap-load of fun!

2) Mapping seabird colonies on remote islands a few hours offshore of northern New Zealand (read: no showers, tents, 12 hours of hiking a day, rain, wind, mosquitos.... but a whole lot of seabirds and beautiful scenery!)

 

3) Trip to Australia to visit friends for Christmas.  Koalas, kangaroos, mango daiquiries, beaches, shopping, and of course: birds!

Sydney:

Beastman

Amazing vintage shopping in Newtown

The Blue Mountains

Gullah

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

 Brisbane:

 Best 16 dollars I have EVER spent!

NYE walk in the grass

Kookaburra

Marijuana museum in Nimbin

The kangaroos were completely uninterested in my kind snack offering

Aboriginal rock carvings

Rock Wallaby

Etsy sale

So, I was delighted to find out that there's a sale on at one of my favorite etsy shops Gadzina's Hamper.  Because my pocket book is feeling a bit sad lately, instead of buying everything (which is what I REALLY feel like doing), I made some collages of sweet outfits I would make with a collection of the items.

Awesome see-through dress (would be so cute with high-wasted granny panties and a bralette), perfect headscarf, adorable tweed purse, red oxfords, and rhinestone bracelet... all for under 130 bucks! 

This would be great with a pair of woolly grey tights or knee high socks for you northern hemisphere folks at the end of fall! 

Cowboy meets Asian silk? Too far?

Here's a spring outfit for us southern hemisphere folk.  Love love love those slouch boots!

70s bell bottoms with seafoam green bowling shoes?  Yes please!

Happy shopping!