Camera bags exist to serve a very specific function: to safely and securely hold camera equipment. Most have padded compartments designed to fit a DSLR camera body, a lens or two, a flash, and maybe spot for cash and keys. Unfortunately, they’re usually UGLY. I’m talking black-and-gray-nylon-and-elasticized-mesh ugly.

When I’m carrying my camera around getting street style shots or working on a photography project, I prefer to carry a bag that will fit my equipment AND my lip gloss/phone/wallet thankyouverymuch. Thanks to other enterprising women who feel the same way, there are plenty of non-ugly options for those of us who prefer to carry our cameras in style:

1. Epiphanie Lola Bag, 164.99 I love the styling and slightly slouchy shape.  | 2. Emera Classic Canvas bag, $169 Refined, simple, classic.  |  3. Cheeky Lime Livy bag, $129 This style has the added feature of a space for your laptop, too! 4. Kelly Moore Libby bag, $249 All of the Kelly Moore bags look like legit stylish purses. Nice. |  5. JoTotes Millie bag, $87 Rachael had one of these at the Holiday Style Bash. I was all set to compliment her on her cute purse, and it turned out to be a camera bag!

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I recently finished a big photography and design project: An online gift guide for independent businesses in Over-the-Rhine. The area’s merchant groups wanted something to showcase the variety and depth of gift-appropriate items available on Main and Vine streets to encourage people to shop local this holiday season.

Environment and product photography

Page design and layout

So, after running from store to store taking pictures for two days and spending several more days (and very late nights!) working on the design and layout, it was ready!

You can click through the entire guide here, and if you happen to live in the area, I hope you’ll take advantage of all our city has to offer and do some shopping in OTR!

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Just because I’m not shopping doesn’t mean I can’t encourage other people to do so! When I find good stuff, I like to share (I’m generous like that), so let’s Shop Around:

Almost exactly a year ago during Style Tour, I visited Casablanca Vintage and it was a hot mess and a half. There was a mountain of clothes piled on the floor, there didn’t seem to be any order to the way things were organized, and the lights were out in half the store, making any sort of shopping nearly impossible. I swear, it looked like an episode of “Hoarders” had exploded in there.

However, several people have told me it’s been cleaned up in the past year and I’m open to giving second chances, so I stopped by after finishing up some returns in Northside. I discovered that yes, it’s been cleaned up. And yes, it’s goooood:

The first section I hit was women’s skirts, and I was pretty impressed.  There were skirts galore from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, and whole section dedicated to plaid kilts. If you’re looking for vintage skirts, GO HERE.

I also found a pair of perfectly stiff, stand-up-on-their-own high-waisted wide-legged (is that enough adjectives for you?) jeans and a gorgeous sequined shirt dress that I really wanted to take home with me.

Of course I had to check out the men’s section (tip: ALWAYS check the men’s and boy’s sections when thrifting and vintage shopping. Cozy oversized sweaters and tailored blazers abound.), which was full of Junior High Boyfriend sweaters, quirky button-downs, and sharply tailored pleated pants like my dad used to wear.

Over on the left side of the store, there were even more clothing racks and a decent selection of shoes, the most interesting of which were way too small for my modern-day size seven feet. Fun to look at, though.

The racks in that area were filled with beautiful, fragile, high end vintage dresses, from Jackie O.-esque day dresses to brightly colored costumery. The guy working there said that they often rent and sell clothing to theater companies, which would explain the more flamboyant (but still wearable, IMO) pieces.

I also happened upon a rack of fun military jackets, most of which were disappointingly large on me. Sigh. I love a good military jacket, probably thanks to MJ.

Casablanca is what a good old fashioned vintage store should be, with the requisite musty smells and lingering scent of old perfume. It’s full of Izod sweaters and polyester dresses and things your second grade teacher would have worn, a mish-mash of mod and prairie and disco and punk with plenty of sequins for good measure. If you have time this weekend, check it out!

Casablanca Vintage
3944 Spring Grove Avenue
(513) 541-6999

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YOU GUYS. You won’t believe this, but I finally got around to doing another video blog! It’s only been, what, a year since the last one?

So, recently I hit my new favorite thrift store intending to pick up one or two items. Riiiight. Being me, I managed to leave with TEN items–including two pairs of shoes, a dress, two blouses, and several pairs of pants–all for under 30 bucks. Watch and learn…

*Note: I recorded in portrait orientation because I’m not that bright sometimes, but have been too lazy busy to re-record. Lesson learned.

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Despite hot weather-laziness setting in (you know when it’s so hot it just makes you TIRED?), I managed to get the couch and enjoy the weekend!

T-Shirt Fest

Friday evening, I headed to Fountain Square to check out T-Shirt Fest. In my deluded mind, I always feel like I don’t have enough casual tees for trips to Kings Island and hanging out on weekends. This is not actually true–I have plenty of t-shirts– but that’s how I FEEL. I am an emotionally complex creature.

Washington Park

On Saturday, 3CDC offered area bloggers a tour of the almost-but-not-quite-completed City Homes, and still-under-construction Washington Park. Yes, my head fits into a hard hat. Barely.

I don’t always agree with 3CDC, but it sounds like Washington Park is going to be pretty dope when finished. There was talk of a playground slide I really feel like I NEED to test out at least once. It’s technically for the bebehs, but believe me, I will push a kid. I can take ‘em.

Cincinnati Boutique Sale

Later, I stopped by the Cincinnati Boutique Sale with plans to find a black top and/or silver earrings. Failing that, I immediately switched to Plan B (in which “B” stands for “Buy Something I Clearly Don’t Need”) and got these cute little espadrille mini-wedges from Morrison & Me. Mission accomplished.

The Best Commercially Sanctioned And Therefore Not Really a Holiday Day Ever

Sunday was National Ice Cream Day, so as a proud Amurrican, I headed to Graeter’s for a specially priced scoop. Hey, I’m nothing if not patriotic.

How was your weekend?

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My obsession with rocks and crystals likely started during the dinosaurs-are-awesome phase everyone seems to go through around 4th grade. I dreamed of expanding my rock collection–proudly displayed amongst my collection of My Little Ponies and Sweet Valley Twins books–to include crystals and geodes and jagged stalactites (or was it stalagmites?).

To this day, anything that looks like a treasure coveted by small creatures with pointy ears from Middle Earth, I WANT–remember how excited I was about my druzy pendant?

Luckily, there’s no shortage of geological jewelry–the more raw and organic looking, the better. Clickety-click on the images to see some of my favorites:

1. Draugsvold Pink Agate necklace, $132 Dear Fieldbinder | 2. Blaze ring, $145 at Ken+Dana  | 3. Orange agate necklace, $49 Leamarie Designs | 4. Black druzy earrings, $19.99 alejandracc | 5. Mia necklace, $64 Kande | 6. Limontitla ring, $158 Anthropologie  | 7. Rock On geode necklace, $52 Little Gems by Jax |  8. Brass and agate gladiator choker $34 LarkinAndLarkin |  9. Cosmos agate necklace, $83 ingramcecil | 10. SCILIA rainbow crystal ring, $105 brianarose | 11. Gold plated amethyst chunk ring, $30 nu bambu

If you like geodes and agate and druzy (oh my!), definitely check out nu bambu, Sparkle Couture, and Little Gems by Jax on etsy. I’ve been favoriting their designs like a crazy person!

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A few of my favorite patriotic picks from indie crafters and designers ’round the world:

1. Vintage anchors sailor dress, $36 | 2. Striped messenger bag, $50 | 3. Patriotic friendship bracelet, $6 | 4. Vintage sweater, $56 | 5. Meli Melo Bon Bon bag, approx. $402 | 6. Low cut sweater dress, $83 | 7. Steampunk medal, $18 | 8. Jennifer Merchant ring, $76 | 9. Crochet chunky chain necklace,$18 | 10. Jena.Theo waistcoat, approx. $169

Have a happy 4th of July!

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We’ve been preparing for tonight’s Final Friday PopShop by getting all Martha Stewart-y and having a champagne-filled craft night making floofy flower puff decorations. They were surprisingly easy to make!

Beautiful space , great location!

In a sort of last minute change, we had to move the venue to 1317 Main Street (the old OTR Foundation space) because the other spot we were able to find was pretty raw and didn’t have permanent lighting! It would’ve been too difficult (and expensive) to install lights seeing as none of us are electricians, and shopping in the dark is NOT an option.

This month we have 13 wonderful vendors, a dope DJ, food (and candy!), and yummy ice pops for sale benefiting Mural on Main, all in a neat space smack dab in the middle of the action on Main Street. I’m so excited–hope to see you there!

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So, I have a “problem.” I’m suffering from shoe withdrawal. I haven’t bought a pair of shoes–any shoes–in over 6 months, and I’m starting to feel it. My left eye is twitching.

Add to that the fact that in the last two weeks, not one but TWO pairs of my favorite walking flats have developed holes in the soles. I know shoes can often be re-soled, but, really, where’s the fun in that? Shopping is much more satisfying! I was thinking about…

Cafe noir wedges; Topshop animal print sandals; Marci crisscross sandal

I prefer shoes with an ankle strap (support & adds visual weight to chicken legs) and a slight wedge (helps me walk), but I really just need something cute, walk-able, and under $100. What do you think?

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I know early summer is the time for bright colors and airy textures, but I’m in the mood for all things dark and mysterious right now. From abstract prints and muted tones, to gold accents and sleek surfaces, this is what’s currently on my wish list:

1. Fornasetti Sun chair, $3336 2. Morgaine Alexandra cuff, $75  3. Michelle Armas Ochi print, $20 4. Aminaka Wilmont dress $414, 5. Mi Piaci Gina bootie, $250 6. Nikkor 18-200VR lens, $850 7. Skull-encrusted triangle bag, approx. $52 8. Philippe Jean bronze sculptural lamp, price upon request  9. GMG Harness-knitted jumper approx. $470 10. All Saints Zoraida trouser, $250

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