In case you’ve been under a rock, here’s your under-three-minutes synopsis of why Abercrombie & Fitch has been getting a whole lot of shit lately.

Last weekend I got to watch the sun rise over Ontario and set over the Midwestern US (I was on a westbound plane so it lasted forever!), and to play under a midnight sky and the noontime heat with some of my favorite people. I took a few important notes on my trip to visit my northern neighbors:

1. Anyone can wear a crop top, even my 6′ friend who wishes she had abs, even 5′ me who worries about love handles.
2. Canada has better candy.  I admit it and mourn my lack of Coffee Crisp.
3. I’d rather stay up too late drinking local beer and dancing than be well-rested for a trip to Niagara Falls.  Don’t get me wrong: the falls were beautiful…but seeing them with a hangover was worth it for the blueberry ale, extra hoppy IPA and new friends I drunkenly made.  At the same time…
4. Getting up early can be just as fulfilling as staying up late.  That is, if you have a chipper morning person who knows you well enough to immediately take you to The Distillery District for some of the best coffee in the city.  (Thank you, Georgia.)
5. I am very good at falling in love with cities.  Toronto, let’s go on another date soon. I’ll buy the poutine.

But the sunrise and moonrise have stuck with me, along with some of the crazy mixed-message fashions of Toronto: I saw vintage-style dresses paired with sneaker boots, sequin unicorns over Doc Martens, fringe and dark skulls married to tight, bright leggings.

Like day paired with night, sunrise with moonrise, the summer heat and cool, wild nights.

Clothing Inspired by Sunrise

Clothing Inspired by Moonrise

Sunrise:

1. Janey Clothing Sunrise Silk Blouse (indie)
2. Mata Traders Shield Ring (fair trade)
3. Curator Magenta Dress (organic)
4. Lace&Liberty Tequila Sunrise Cutoff Distressed Shorts (indie, vintage)
5. Swedish Hasbeens Heart Sandal (organic)
6. Strathcona Stockings Paris Skies Socks (indie, hand-dyed)

Moonrise:

1. FluffyCo. Fases de la Luna Tee (organic)
2. Mata Traders Crescent Necklace (fair trade)
3. The People’s Movement Jade Sneaker (organic, recycled)
4. Skunkfunk Black and White Dress (organic)
5. Nancy Dee Rosie Origami Dress (organic)

I started school a couple of weeks ago but it feels like I’ve been back in an avoid-my-homework mindset for months. Speaking of which, I found this cute top by People Tree and, instead of studying HIV statistics and infection protocol, I made myself a little summer school outfit!

My eco-friendly outfit includes this peplum top by People Tree, which is fair trade
(it’s also available – in pink and blue – at ASOS), a pair of organic Nudie Jeans, the the Naya Hillary sandal…in mustard or olive, because I can’t decide and they both go so well with pink and plum…and a vintage, hand-painted Czech military bag for all of my school books. Oh, and some fair trade earrings and a fair trade bracelet, both by People Tree because I’m obsessed with them.

In fact, here, because seriously:

People Tree

WHY ARE YOU SO GOOD PEOPLE TREE. (And fair trade, and often made with organic materials, and I want to have their babies.)

Today only (28 March 2013) Mata Traders will be having a one-day dress sale!

I’m a big fan of Mata Traders, which this site first reviewed waaaaay back in 2010 and has talked about a few times since. This woman-owned fair trade brand rarely has big sales, so it’s pretty exciting to see them promoting one on their Facebook! Here are the details:

I’m going to guess they mean midnight CST, as they’re based out of Chicago, but if the code doesn’t work yet, just click on it over and over be patient. I am not very patient, so I might wait until morning.

…who am I kidding, it’s already past midnight in Chicago and I’m just finishing this post. And I’m not apologizing for being lazy, so there.

Here are my four favorite dresses, all of which are doubly on sale!

Frida Loves Diego Dress:
$78 $58 $43.50 with code FROCK

Sula Dress in green or orange:
$79 $58 $43.50 with code FROCK

Sweet Escape Dress in yellow (pineapples!):
$84 $68 $51 with code FROCK

Glam Noir Dress:
$88 $78 $58.50 with code FROCK

There are a whopping thirty-nine dresses in Mata Traders’ dress section, so if you don’t feel drawn to my choices, it just means we shouldn’t share closet space. If you pick something up, let me know – I’d love to see it!

You know what website-slash-tumblr I’ve been loving lately?  Cabin Porn. Click each photo to be sent to its original post.

“Cabin next to Senja Island, Norway in the Arctic Ocean.”

“La Baita, a stone barn in Val d’Ossola, in the central Alps of Italy. Originally built in the 1750s, it was renovated as a cabin by Federico Vagliani in the 1970s.”

“The Coopsicle is one of the 14 original chicken coops in the recently released book Reinventing the Chicken Coop.”

How to Stay Alive in the Woods by Bradford Angier. This is not only a part of Cabin Porn’s library, but mine, too. My partner brought it into the relationship and reading it makes me want to hike into the middle of wherever and forage for a while.

“Cabin near Mt. Baldy, California.”

“A-frame shelter in Lapland, Sweden.”

“Sod-roofed hut in Geiranger, Norway.”

(Most of the cabins I fall for are in Sweden and Norway. I am on to your tricks, Scandinavia.)

One of my favorite things about cold weather running is seeing all of the neighborhood roses that bloom over winter. Our weather is sometimes just warm enough for the hardiest roses to push out a few extra blossoms; seeing them always cheers me up (even when I’m on the last leg of an uphill jog and I can’t feel my toes).

The smell of roses is said to have a calming effect, and act as an antidepressant. They’re good for the skin, and remind us of love…it’s said that Cleopatra wore rose oil when she first met Mark Anthony.

I’ve loved roses since I was little, and especially winter roses. Those little fighters, the rebels! What are they doing trying to bloom through the frost, anyway? They just don’t listen. The stubborn was born right into them.

I keep a vial of rose oil in my medicine cabinet and wear it with essence of jasmine; I also have various rose candles, incense and soaps. I thought I’d share a few rose-related items I’ve found since reaffirming my love for roses in the past week. Maybe they’ll bring you calm, happy feelings…or a rebellious winter love.

Rose Products for Men & Women

• Men’s J.Crew Lac Natural-Dye Organic Pocket Tee in Rose: made using organic cotton and “lac” dye; $62.50
• Women’s Gypsy 05 Organic Long Maxi Dress in Rose Pink: made of 100% organic cotton and natural dyes; $110
• Women’s A Question Of Skull & Roses T-Shirt: made in Africa from fair trade, organic bamboo; on sale for $31.66

Rose Products for Home

• West Elm Organic Seersucker Duvet Cover in Coral Rose: 100% organic cotton; king size on sale for $99
• DayNa Decker Bardou Chandel Candle (with essence of rose): made with ecologically-friendly materials; from $24
• Murchison-Hume Cleaning Kit with Bamboo Caddy: 99% natural and cruelty-free; includes glass polish, counter-safe surface spray, “spit & polish” cleaner, furniture spritzer, bathroom cleaner and floor cleaner; $69.95

Rose Products for Beauty

• Eminence Rose Collection Tube: organically-based; contains Rosehip and Maize Exfoliating Masque, Couperose-C Serum, Rosehip Whip Moisturizer, Sweet Red Rose Whip Moisturizer and Sweet Red Rose Treatment; $69
• RMS BEAUTY Lip Shine in Bloom: mineral color; organic ingredients; $25
• Alteya Organics Bulgarian Rose Hair Butter Treatment: made with organic butters and oils; $24
• Brown Rice Family Rose Soap: handmade; available on Etsy; $7

If you’re looking for hardy winter roses, check out Heirloom Roses in Oregon. I found them while researching this post and they (a) seem to know their stuff, and (b) are local to the Pacific Northwest, a great area for rose cultivation. They can ship directly to you.

Do you love all flowers, and want to wear them like talismans? Me too. Check out this post about Katee Marie, who presses dried flowers in resin to make beautiful jewelry.

It has become important to me that I figure out which things make home feel like home, and then stock them. It’s especially important that I do this before I come down with the flu and am stuck at home, too feverish to make soup, let alone go out for cough syrup and tea lights.

…again.

I have found that, at minimum, I need three things at my disposal when I am home sick (and also not sick): a bunch of candles, the perfect tea, and plants. Lots of plants.

Home Necessity: The Perfect Soy-Based Candles

About a month ago I gutted my second bedroom (which had previous lives as a storage space, my dog’s room and a guest room) and turned it into…my space. A safe space. I imagined tens of candles…but I don’t have tens of candles, or candle holders. When did that happen?

It’s time to stock up. Three of my favorite candle companies are Paddywax, Chilanthropy and Skeem.

• Eco-friendly Paddywax candles were the subject of one of my very first posts, actually, and over the last three and a half years their commitment to ethical collections has continued. The ECO Green Collection uses upcycled wine bottles and feels very old-world to me. You can buy the collection at their website or by searching for the Paddywax ECO Green Collection on Amazon.com.
• I have a crush on Chilanthropy. Five percent of their sales go to environmental charities and their crafted scents are imaginative (think moss, or mexican chocolate). You can purchase Chilanthropy’s candles at their online store, or try your luck waiting for a sale on Sneakpeeq (which is where I originally found them).
• Skeen’s silkscreened pillar candles stunned me when I saw them lit, but I didn’t realize until today that their tapers are silkscreened, too. The entire Skeem collection is available at their website, as well as at an online boutique called Careful Peach.

Home Necessity: The Perfect Tea

The perfect tea is subjective, and for me, it’s dependent on time, place, how I’m feeling…but here are a few of my current favorites (subject to change):

• Mighty Leaf Tea is the only not-loose-leaf tea I admit to drinking (though they offer loose leaf, too). Loose leaf is generally of a higher quality, but bagged is great if you’re in a pinch, only having one cup or just sick with the flu and so not interested in whether your water is the perfect temperature for finicky whole white tea leaves. Mighty Leaf uses all organic teas and packages their individual tea pouches in biodegradable bags. They support sustainable farming and long-term prosperity for their growers. You can find pages and pages of Mighty Leaf items on Amazon.com (on sale, even!) or on Mighty Leaf’s website; my favorites are Orange Dulce and Chamomile Citrus.
• If you’re in Seattle, get thee to Remedy Teas. They have over 150 organic teas you can smell and taste and taste again before buying exactly what you need. In fact, I’m going to reach out to a friend to suggest a tea date right now…maybe we’ll have a cup of white peony or jasmine blue (berry)…or my very first favorite, Genmaicha.
• The Loose Leaf is one of the best-rated tea shops on Etsy, and it’s smart to trust those on Etsy. For my first order, I’d choose a classic oolong or, in the spirit of the new year, a weight loss tea.

Home Necessity: Greenery (A Whole Lotta Plants)

For this part, I’m going to direct you to find your local nursery. (Shout out to the West Seattle Nursery!) Ask which plants are native to your area and, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, those that are easiest to care for. (I’m horrible with flowering plants.) If the above link doesn’t have a location for a nursery near you, use Yelp.com or find a farmer’s market – they’ll be able to direct you to one.

All of my plants are hand-me-downs and strays: my bamboo stalks survived a floral arrangement I received eight years ago; a few leafy greens were housewarming gift; others came from a family friend’s house after she passed away – she loved plants and it really bothered me that I could only take a few.

Plants aren’t that difficult if you know what they need. Mine all get watered once a week and have their soil changed when it starts to look…off (it’s only happened once so far). I can’t tell you how much having them has added to my home, so if you can get to a nursery and find the social courage to chat with someone who really knows plants, I guarantee you won’t regret it.

Happy New Year from Jen, Haley and our new writer, James!

We’re buzzing over the idea of a new year. The last year was difficult, and strange, and life-changing…Two-Thousand-Twleve was hard, for us and for many people we know.

All this change, though, means we learn. We grow. We…wake up, just a little faster. So we’ll shake off the dust and frustration, slip on our party clothes, celebrate the new year…

…and all the stuff that got us here, too.

While Haley was here (spoiler alert! she moved back to Mississippi), we spent a lot of time at the whale trail along Alki Beach.

This photo is from Alki too, late a night, during a low, low tide. These barnacles were huge, and this photo was shot with only a cell phone light and a whole lot of rain to obscure things.

My favorite coffee shop – and that says something when one lives in Seattle – is Vivace…and it’s not because of the latte art (though I do want to photograph it every. single. time.). Their lattes taste like little espresso clouds.

Haley and I went to Goodwill. There were a lot of CRTs there.

I got this crochet hat at Goodwill. It is slouchy, which means it’s perfect for ponytails. (I’m growing my hair out.)

This is my cat, Simon, sitting in my brand new “zen room” (aka Haley’s room after she left). I’m kind of loving this little place made of healthy plants, the quiet and whatever else I want. Nothing I’m not interested in gets in.

Mushrooms! There are a bunch of these in my yard. They are not food because my dog poops in that yard, but they are pretty and…like to cuddle?

A couple of days ago, I went to Pike Place Market looking for a little solace: this year has been incredibly difficult for me and my family, and this month harder than most. Thanks, Market, for providing what I needed.

These photos were taken using Instagram. Follow me @errantly.

I really love useful things, and things that used to be useful, but then were made into pretty things. Hence my love of recycling, and my obsession with Etsy. (It is what started this blog!)

So what do you get when you cross recycled materials with design-inspired usefulness? You get really good gifts, that’s what.

What started this whole post? A pair of pups made of recycled newspaper. Each dog is made of shredded and rolled newspapers, and costs $159. If you think they’re cute, scroll down: you can buy your pooch a pair of reindeer antlers or $39!

Next to the pups are a pair of vintage scissors shaped like a crane ($36). This necklace is made in a 100% wind-powered home studio – totally independent.

Below that is a silver spoon ring ($23.50) – and yes, it’s made of an actual silver spoon. This one was cast in 1949, but there are many others, and you can even get one monogrammed.

Then there’s my favorite, favorite, hint hint family and friends: a set of stacking recycled bottles. The large set is $19 and the small set is only $14. So. Cheap. (I’m surprised!)

Last but not least is a decorative demi-john glass jar made of recycled glass. It’s definitely a display piece, and costs a whopping $139.

And now, for those antlers…