fitforafemme.com

Is it seriously May already? I’ve been busy getting an exciting event off the ground with Miss Rep, buried under real estate – we fought and won our first bidding war ever just yesterday - and of course dealing with the things that come with wrapping up a school year for the petite and trying to get started packing for a move that’s bearing down on us like a freight train.

These photos are actually from March 31st, plus my hair’s been cut for two weeks and it’s kind of funny to post these – there’s just one more in the queue before we get to the new style – I barely recognize myself! When my hairstylist stepped back to check out her work, she put her hands on her hips and exclaimed, “I can’t even IMAGINE you with long hair anymore! It’s crazy!” and it is, a little bit. All the light and painted bits have been hacked away for the most part.

These printed jeans were one of those “I’m not sure about this, but I’m doing it anyway” Target purchases (I know you know what I’m talking about). Since then I’ve gotten two black Everlane belt (hush) and no longer have to steal the tomboy’s belt for my tomboy femme outfits. I certainly have seen snazzier, still affordable pairs of animal print skinnies at Zara, but oh my god are these soft. Like pajama soft. Basically, these pants = my sweats. Just thinking about them makes me feel snuggly and cozy. That’s the real reason I’ve held onto them!

I cannot for the life of me remember what brand this camp shirt is, but I got it Sports Basement I think. I have a similar gauzy white one as well and they’re fantastic because they’re loose and slouchy but unfussy, breathable cotton. Sometimes it’s nice not to fuss over silks! Pairing it all with the tough suede ankle boots (Trouvé) and my Cynthia Rowley bag were easy choices, and so were the Asos earrings and my leathery Mariele Ivy necklace. I added chunky rings and a silly leather cuff with a bullet on it that I got in Portland two years ago, and that’s about it. Hope you liked it!

Now please tell me all of your outstanding weekend plans – Cinco de Mayo, Derby Day – because I’ve got nil. The tomboy is in Boston (it’s her turn – apparently, we’re taking them now) and has a derby party to go to with friends and I’m green with jealousy (though I won’t envy her marching off to a parade of open houses come Sunday). They’ve been infusing bourbon with mint! So fancy! Another friend of mine has pledged to reveal a DIY derby hat so fantastical that we’re all going to fall over in awe, and I can’t wait to see what she and her crafty little hands have done this time.

I’m just hoping I can take a break from the 300 pages I have to read for a Sunday book club brunch to see that big old super moon rise over the Oakland hills!

XOXO,

FFAF

After the last post’s riveting saga of the perfect leather jacket, I figured we could all use some cute kittens, don’t you think? I have to once again give credit where credit is due, for the magical jade sunroom and eggplant purple loveseat belong to our fabulous friends and generous hosts in Jamaica Plain. Well, technically the loveseat is the domain of Sir Teddy James – hence the cat fur all over my cords – you’ll meet him a bit later on.

The house hunt continues mercilessly, by the way, and M is headed back out there in a week or so to start from square one all over again. We’ve tried to buy two separate houses and both times our inspector has rescued us from walking into an utter money pit. He doesn’t come cheap, but his work is so thorough and remarkable that it more than pays for itself. He’s saved us from throwing away tens of thousands of dollars (that’s just in repairs and fix-it work; in reality it’s potentially so much more) and we love him to death.

I am not ready to talk about the rest of it. It’s too much! I had to bow out of Camp Autostraddle because everything has gone awry with regards to timing! But eventually you can bet your ass that there will be a FFAF Guide to Buying a Home, and you’ll be the first to know. Until then, read on for a short list of my most entertaining tweets on the subject (and, of course, KITTENS)…

WEEK ONE: PROPERTY VIRGINS

• Our agenda for the day involves seeing a dozen houses. We’re halfway done. Brookline is leading the pack – a total dark horse!
• Last day of house-hunting.*
• Something special we saw out house-hunting. Aren’t they the most amazing pillows you’ve ever seen?

WEEK THREE: HOME SWEET HOME (FOR NOW)

• Terrifying thought of the day: 10 weeks until our lease is up.
• This is what it looks like when you take notes at a home inspection when the house was built in 1869.
• My new favorite group of people to hate furiously are cheap, neglectful, corner-cutting homeowners.
• The first inspection report was 65 pages long. The second is 73 pages long. I’m not complaining, I’m just noting.
• Quote of the day (courtesy of our agent): “It’s really a crapshoot as to which week will ultimately offer The Perfect Home. Roll them dice!”

So there you have it. I’m wearing a pair of Gap cords with a white DKNY blouse (and its sweet little Peter Pan collar). The black terry sweatshirt is from my beloved Everlane, and the shoes are vintage. The ring is from I have no idea where and the chain is Madewell. On my wrist are a variety of random gold bangles and my b/w Betsey Johnson cuff, as well as an IndieMart friendship bracelet and a vintage ring from Pretty Penny in Oakland.

The gorgeous purebred ragdoll’s name is Rani Robinson-Mawhinney and you can follow her on Facebook, if you are so inclined, but I don’t recommend it – she’s kind of a snob.

This cuddly little guy’s name is Teddy James (he’s not little) and he’s kind of my favorite. Obviously, if I’m posting a photo of the two of us and I don’t have a lick of makeup on, it must be love. Just look at how happy we are together! YAY! Until next time, my friends! XOXO!

Despite today’s coast-to-coast temps that felt a lot more Summer than Spring, one-and-a-half weeks ago I woke up to a rather chilly day in Boston – hence the cozy black sweater dress (H&M), snuggly moss green tights (H&M), and tough girl leather jacket (Zara). Isn’t this room lovely?

Our friends recently painted up their warm, roomy rowhouse, and the accent wall you see is a super versatile rosy brown that changes hue with the day’s light, looking plummy at dusk, or like melted chocolate in the morning. It was so inspiring for thinking of how to fill up the blank walls at our soon-to-be new home in New England. So many ways to play with color, and we want to experiment with them all: paint, wallpaper, re-staining the wood floors, whitewashing cabinets, etc.

I AM SO IN LOVE WITH THIS NEW LEATHER JACKET FROM ZARA.

I cannot tell you how many months I’ve been searching for it. At least a year, probably longer. I picked a vintage motorcycle jacket up at Afterlife in the Mission last April, but the shoulders were too broad and overpowered my frame, so I let it go in a clothing swap (after wasting months telling myself I’d take it to be altered somewhere – ha!).

I wanted something and true to the motorcycle jacket look – the heavy, wide lapels, a narrow collar, all the zippers and snaps and especially the built-in belts that could be left hanging loosely or snapped tight – but at the same time I wanted it to be fitted, as if it had been tailored just for me, and of course I wanted it to be gloriously soft, supple leather.

I kept bemoaning the insanely expensive jackets I loved at Reiss and AllSaints, pouting at the so-so offerings from Topshop and Asos, telling myself it wouldn’t  be that bad if I settled.

But then! Wandering around Newbury Street on my birthday, we couldn’t ignore the siren call of their lovely Zara store and walked in to have a peek. It’s the last place I’d expect to find exactly the leather motorcycle I desired, but there I spotted it, tried it on, and it was a match made in heaven. I was totally in love, but then came that decisive moment – I checked the leather: lambskin (phew) and then the price tag – not exactly a steal, but not highway robbery, either. Oh dear.

There was a bit of handwringing on my part, but because it was my birthday the tomboy very sweetly and lovingly and happily insisted on treating me, and who was I to resist? I couldn’t possibly. It was perfect! (Did I say it was perfect?)

Anyway, if I had to pick an article of clothing as my spirit animal, this would be it, and if any unauthorized persons come anywhere near it, PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT I CARRY A BLADE. It’s very sharp.

Let’s chat about some of the other accessories happening with this outfit – serious riding boots (Etienne Aigner), an earthy necklace (Mariele Ivy), a friendship bracelet from IndieMart and vintage ring complement a simple but thoughtful cold-weather look. Hope you enjoyed it! I’ve actually got quite a few posts in the queue, so they should be coming along a bit more regularly now that I’m back home. I have a new haircut to debut as well!

Cheers,

FFAF

Photo credit: Fancy Pants

HOWDY. I am going on week two of what was supposed to only be Spring Break in Boston, MA. After a week in a hotel, our dear friends kindly opened up their home to me in Jamaica Plain when it was evident that I needed to extend my stay. I somewhat dramatically sent the tomboy and petite back home on their scheduled Saturday flight over a week ago! (Don’t ask. Real estate is a strange and messy, often rather annoying world.)

WELCOME TO UNIFORM, a men’s boutique in Boston’s South End. 

Time has warped and bended and it still takes me a good moment to know which way is up when figuring out what time it is where depending upon whomever I am speaking with, or emailing, etc. and I don’t think I’ve ever been away from the tomboy for this long! I’m pulling my hair out, I can’t stand being away from my girls (and those wonky pups), but I’ve gotten so much done that I can’t honestly complain. Jamaica Plain is a lovely distraction, though, with its sweet little boutiques, incredible food, thrifting and vintage, and the super friendly, small town feel.

Alas, these photos are from an outstanding shop for men (and tomboys) in the South End. My friend Fancy (above) got an invite to a special event they were having yesterday – a tasting of expertly mixed St.-Germain cocktails and a storewide sale! Apparently, shops like Uniform are few and far between, and this one is really special.

It feels very Bay Area (read: Castro) to me, and M would love it – once we’re settled here this summer, I’ll have to bring her back to check it out! So many handsome goodies, and those cocktails were very refreshing on such a warm day. Once we were all shopped out, we snagged a table outside next door at Picco, where I had the best peanut butter chip ice cream ever. (Craving some right now, actually, but I’m pretty sure the cake batter ice cream at trusty old JP Licks will do for tonight.)

The forecast for the first week we were here called for cooler weather, and we packed accordingly. Of course, this weekend’s weather report predicted high temps, which gave me a perfectly legitimate excuse to take a day off from house-hunting to peruse JP’s thrift stores, vintage shops, and boutiques. This was the first day of warm weather (before I had the chance to shop), and the best I could do was a crisp, white, short-sleeved blouse by DKNY paired with James Jeans rolled up at the ankle. My vintage brogues, Asos bag and pony belt brought it all together, and I love the dainty touch of my citrine yellow cocktail ring dangling from a Madewell chain.

Photo credit: Fancy Pants

Photo credit: Fancy Pants

Last but certainly not least, how cool is this pirate kitty below? SO COOL. Such a cuddly and ferocious one-eyed beast. We didn’t know this one, but I’m having a blast snuggling up with the three gorgeous ragdoll cats my friends own. That’s all for now, folks. XOXO!

Did you guys know about this super fun, super silly contest sponsored by Dyke Duds and Unbound Apparel? Well, now you do, so enter – you have until April 8th! It’ll be a riot and yours truly is judging, so gird thy loins, etc.

We’ve been in Boston all week and it’s been complete real estate madness! Thankfully, we took yesterday off – my birthday! – to take our first real breaths and r e s t since we arrived last Sunday. Here’s a little photo of us gallivanting around the Charles with all the trees in bloom, and one of the view from our room last night – the view was absolutely breathtaking.

Now we’re spending our last days here with our dear friends in Jamaica Plain, and earlier tonight we walked around the whole pond at sundown and it was lovely. Those are photos 4 & 5. They gave us Easter baskets and are treating us to homemade mac + cheese for dinner tonight, and we’re happy as little clams.

Photo #3 is just to illustrate that out here, even the radiators are beautiful!

More news when we return to SF!

XOXO,

FFAF

Greetings from San Francisco Bay! While it is borderline insane / reckless / madwomanish to want to be out on the bay right now with all of this terrifying wind, I kind of want to be anyway. I mean, how exciting would it be!? All jostled and wild and free in the night! Not on a ferry, though, on something sexier and more, uh, seaworthy. I could be wrong, but ferries seem to be meant for quick, repeated jaunts back and forth short distances on mostly calm waters.

In that top top top photo, you can see the Golden Gate Bridge braced against the Pacific Ocean, on a very gloomy afternoon. Just above, behind me, you can see San Francisco. The hilly bit is Pacific Heights, I think. This is the commuter ferry, it hops from Pier 39 to Tiburon and Sausalito for a mere $21, round-trip. ($9 if you have a Clipper, such a steal. I also recommend a bag of hot baby donuts to keep you warm and happy, all smothered in cinnamon and sugar. So good.)

A very long time ago on a beautifully sunny, cool day, M & I took this very ferry to Tiburon, a teeny tiny Marin peninsula that sticks out into the bay. We wined and dined on freshly made beds on a huge, gorgeous wooden balcony overlooking the water with a most spectacular view of the city, while a DJ played Thievery Corporation-esque music in the background. On the ferry ride back, as the sun was setting and the big, heavy Fall moon rose like a sparkling jewel in the bosom of the sky over the Oakland Hills, we noticed a very sweet old couple nuzzling and holding hands on the ferry. It was so terribly romantic and tender, I thought, and M later confessed that she noticed them, too, and had secretly hoped that we’d live long enough to be like that one day together.

The obvious takeaway here is this: Ferry Dates, FTW!

The boats in Sausalito, where we went to this particular day, were kind of scattered at the far end of the island, and we stuck to the main drag for lunch and to wander around. There were so many tiny, fast little crabs hiding in these rocks I stood on. M & I tried real hard to catch one, but I chickened out and M just wasn’t quick enough!

So, outfit stuff:

Corduroys & Striped Sweater: Gap
Plaid Shirt: Full Tilt
Boots: Adrienne Vittadini
Coat: H&M
Fur Collar: Vintage
Leather Gloves: Cole Haan
Earrings: Banana Republic

And hey, like you need the reminder, but…

Greetings from Mexico!

Kidding. Sort of. While the idea of floating in the perfect, crystalline waters off Isla Mujeres on a private chartered boat, sipping ice cold Mexican beer under a blistering hot sun, getting ready to leap overboard for some choice snorkeling sounds quite divine, these photos were unearthed from our trip there last year, for my 30th birthday. We’d never even been snorkeling before, but it was beckoning to us and we quickly realized we really, really, really loved snorkeling. So much so that we went back out a day or two later! It’s really cool.

Look, they totally let me drive unsupervised! I LOVE MEXICO!

Currently we’re home, it’s still raining, and the fireplace is ablaze with almond firewood (our favorite). We’re test-driving sparkling spiced pear cocktails – St. George’s Aqua Perfecta Poire Liqueur, co-starring a little brut and allspice dram, and bits of actual pear – for next week, since we’re off to my mother’s for Thanksgiving and (as usual) we’re in charge of cocktails and dessert. It was a perfectly lazy day. We were in bed until nearly 1pm, had brunch around 2pm, and set out for errands after M treated me to a pampering pedicure.

Obviously, it wasn’t the most glamorous boat we were on, but we had it all to ourselves and they let us do whatever we pleased. We shared our beer with them and they showed us around to all the best snorkeling spots, far away from the splashing herds of tourist snorkelers.

Sometimes I’d get so mesmerized by the fish and plant life that I’d hardly notice the waves and currents pushing me yards and yards from the boat – M & I lost each other a handful of times, and once I quieted the brief flash of panic, falling into the feeling of being totally alone and surrounded by an otherworldly underwater beauty was spectacular.

Look at this big guy! I’ll tell you what, though, we were out there for hours and it hardly felt like it. We could have stayed until the sun came down and they yanked us out of the water by our hair, but eventually snorkeling makes you absolutely ravenous, and we needed fresh fish tacos ASAP! We ended up eating at a place over the water, not too far from the above. Oh, just thinking about it makes me want to go back n o w. Sob!

Maybe next year we’ll be those New England types who jet off to the Caribbean during the holidays! What are your plans for Thanksgiving and (if you can stomach discussing it so early) and Christmas?