Timeless

"Wool plain weave and silk velvet with silk and metallic-thread embroidery, glass beads, and ostrich-feather trim"

I would kill for a jacket like this. From the Fashioning Fashion exhibit at LACMA, circa 1891.

Currently Obsessed With...

...the Sony Alpha Nex 3.

I've been looking for a good compact camera for awhile now. Since buying my DSLR, I've used my old point and shoot maybe once or twice. For one thing, the photo quality isn't too great (especially after seeing the shots from my canon). I've also misplaced the battery charger, so it's been dead for about 7 months. I love my DSLR and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good starter camera, but obviously I can't carry it around with me at all times and because of that, I don't have any pictures of my friends from the past year (unless they've accompanied me on one of my photo excursions) -- all the photo files on my computer are of my niece, nephews, and random inanimate objects.

My DSLR is a canon. A Canon Rebel XSi 450D to be exact:

I love this camera and don't think I would ever stray from the Canon brand for big purchases. I've heard the setup on a Nikon is a little more confusing (especially after using a Canon), but aside from that I just love the style and body of my Canon.

As far as point and shoots go, I trust the Sony brand. My very first p & s was a Sony, purchased back in 2004. It took excellent pictures and lasted about 6 years until it went a little awry, but even still when it works, it takes decent pictures.

I purchased the Nikon Coolpix most recently in 2008 and wasn't very satisfied.

The camera takes decent outdoor pictures, especially once you play around with the settings, but the indoor and night photos are terrible quality...very grainy, and the flash is so strong it picks up pieces of dust in the air, creating specks in the photos. The one plus of this camera: it's compact and thin design.

The Sony alpha nex series debuted earlier in May and is basically a compact point and shoot with DSLR quality and manual capability. There are also a variety of lenses available for the alpha nex (shown below), so it has that DSLR quality to it too.

Basic features include 14.2 megapixels, a tiltable LCD screen, and video recording capability. I think the main difference between the alpha nex 3 and 5 is the specifics regarding video recording capability. I didn't entirely understand the technical terms about this but the alpha nex 3 is $100 cheaper than the 5. I also wouldn't need the interchangeable lenses (I have my canon for that) so I'm seriously considering purchasing the sony alpha nex 3 that comes with an included 16mm lens. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Hands. Yes, you read that correctly--a post about hands

I have a slight obsession with hands. Is that weird? I'm not bad with people's faces, but when it comes to hands, I have of a photographic memory. I can clearly picture the hands of 95% of the people I know at a moments notice and I'm fairly confident that if presented with a lineup of hands, I could match them to their owners in record time. I can remember the color, texture, and nails on a person's hands better than I can remember the details of their face. I'm not sure if this is something to brag about, but I just realized all of this and am experiencing a moment of clarity in regards to why I have so many random pictures of people's hands.

**Note: I did not crop any of these to turn them into "hand" shots, my lens just naturally gravitates to los manos.

Also, I threw in that last photo to show the gigantor bug bite I got the day before I left Pakistan. Do you see it on my pinky?

Who doesn't love a Beatles montage?

All You Need Is Love

JFK and Jackie's wedding photos were featured on google last week. Here are some of my favorites of the very stylish Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy:

I love the classic wedding shot of the bride and all the groomsmen, it's so sweet. More of their wedding pictures can be seen here.

And while we're on the subject, here are some other photos of JFK and Jackie O. that I love:

Currently Lusting Over...

Ray Ban!

Through the years, my adoration for Ray Ban has been growing. I'm not sure if it's the vintage styles or the fact that they compliment practically every face shape, but I never get sick of this brand. Between Best Friend and myself, we have a quite a collection. The Aviators I'm wearing below are his (or should I say were his, r.i.p. sunnies...there's a funny story behind this) -- I always thought they looked better on him though. I can't say the same for my Retro Cat Eyes (2nd picture) that I've been wearing from March 'til now. Not pictured are his Classic Wayfarers that I debate stealing every time they're in sight...

Anyway, I'm ready to add another pair to the collection. I've been eyeing (ha ha, ok enough with the eye/sight/glasses puns) these Club Master Wayfarers for a few months. I think they'd be a darling addition to our little Ray Ban family.

(image via Nordstrom)

I'm between black (not pictured...sorry, got lazy) and beige, but steering towards beige. What do you think?

Funny Story: Best Friend and I were arguing one day. Not so much arguing as we were irritated with one another. Neither of us could get over ourselves and listen to the other, for reasons you really don't need to know. So we're sitting there on some bench at some park (both wearing our awesome Ray Bans; barf for matching), and if I remember correctly, Best Friend was trying to change the subject and cheer me up but me being my awful, stubborn self, refused to grow up and move on. The poor guy is sitting there trying to so hard. He finally gives up and we're basically having the most depressing staring contest at this point, when pop, out comes one of the lens from his sunglasses. It took all of 2 seconds before both of us were laughing hysterically. It was the absolute best timing, exactly what both of us needed. The universe is funny like that sometimes. So thank you, Ray Ban, for breaking the tension on that awful day :)

This was taken shortly after it happened. A matter of minutes until I was back to my normal self and couldn't let this photo op pass. Too perfect.

Currently Lusting Over...

...a couple of things. I've never made a wish list but with my 23rd birthday exactly one month away, I'm thinking why not? Wish lists can sometimes present the notion of asking for gifts or come off as self centered. But you should know that those aren't my intentions here. This is just harmless fun. Also know that by sharing these things, it quells my desire to shop (regardless of whether or not I get any of these goodies), and that's always a good thing.

With that said, here is my wish list:

• A few things from Free People, like this and this
• A snuggie! I have wanted one of these since they came out. Apparently that makes me a weirdo, so I've never given in to the urge to buy one. It really is a genius idea, but not the fugly "designer" ones they've been advertising lately..I'm sorry, I didn't know leopard and zebra print classified as designer lol.
• A camera bag. Would you believe I've been lugging my precious around without anything to protect it? 
• Piano lessons
• Sprinkles Red Velvet Cupcakes, or a cheap Albertsons marble cake with buttercream icing
• These black BCBGeneration booties on page 41b of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Catalog
• A homemade card
• Anything well thought or sentimental...I'm really not very picky 
• World peace and a diamond ring. I am wishing for things, so no harm in tacking those on there, right? :)

What's on your wish list at the moment?

Currently Lusting Over...

these Elizabeth and James pumps. Aren't they pretty?

image via Nordstrom