Happiness
Story Story Night‘s HAPPINESS: Stories of the Pursuit was this Monday, the day after Christmas.
I am still recovering. Our biggest show of the year, and thus ever, HAPPINESS exemplified all the pitfalls and peaks of pursuing one’s bliss. It exhausted the limits of our new Rose Room venue, and exhausted me. But I get by with a little help from my friends. Because they know how to make me happy. Namely, silk. And other frivolities.
For my hosting outfit for HAPPINESS, I had an epically unrealistic/expensive vision, and no time/resources to find it. Somewhere vague but deep in my head I saw this big sort-of wedding robe from some Eastern culture. Embroidered. White or bright. Voluminous. Exquisite. A fantasy.
Then, in my most desperate hours, only days to go before the show and no back up plan, like a magi bearing gifts from the East (or at least, Eastern Idaho), Bethany (Ms. Friday) gave me happiness at our Frivolous Universe holiday gift exchange. It was kismet for Christmas.
Tones gold silk robe, hand made in Hong Kong – gift from Bethany’s mom’s closet. (I’m sure your karmic returns are in the mail, Bethany’s mom).
Happiness incarnate. However, my unwrapped squeal was followed by, “Now what do I wear under it?” Kelly Lynae (Ms. co-Monday) immediately suggested this BCBG Maxazria silk dress – gift from Kelly, still bearing the original tag for $360. (She got it on sale a few years ago, before finding her thrift store bliss, then promptly never wore it.) She passed it on to me a few months ago, but by then I had tucked it away in my summer storage, still unworn. Banana Republic bling-bling cocktail ring – another “this fits you better than it now fits me” gift from Kelly.
Damn, she was right. The dress and the robe were made for each other. It’s a winter wonderland happening up in here. And I don’t have to wear a bra. Happiness.
Especially when paired with this copper/gold wrapped corded turquoise leather necklace – gift from Anna (Ms. Wednesday) and forged metal earrings – $3, thrift store.
For more layers of silky happiness, I bottom out with a Jones New York silk copper skirt – $4, thrift store and the Frye “Dorado Short” boots in sand – $400, but $200 was a Christmas gift from mom and dad!
Always in a mad blur, I never seem to get outfit shots on actual Story Story Nights, but the below was taken by a fan.
And this from-behind view was by our photographer Will Jones.
And here’s a stage shot, also by Will Jones, over the heads of our standing-room-only crowd.
Thanks to the ladies of Frivolous Universe and my parents for the gifts. And a very special thanks to my bestest friend Amanda Peacher for taking these beautiful photos. Happy 30th birthday. I am so happy to have you in Boise, if only briefly. I wish you all the happiness in the world.
And you too.
