Jessica | Frivolous Universe

The Day My Parents Got Married

By: Jessica Holmes

12-07-2012

Tuesday was my parents’ first anniversary.

But not their first, first anniversary. That was in 1979, one year after my mom (in her simple white gingham dress, big bellied with my older sister Melody) and my dad (in his 70s pastel blue bell-bottomed suit), got hitched the first time.

I will not attempt to recount the full story, as my mom tells it so much better, as heard at Story Story Night‘s Feb 2011 theme, STAR-CROSSED LOVE: Stories of Fated Attraction.

To few-sentence summarize: their star-crossed story appeared to be ill-fated for quite some time. A 10 year divorce. All hope lost. But the phoenix of love rose from the ashes. And, one magical Christmas, they fell deeply in love again. Three years of long distance dating later, this wedding.

And boy are they in love.

They still look at each other this way on a daily basis.

Cry, cry. I can’t adequately express how special it was to witness, as an adult, my parents marry surrounded by my sisters and family.

I rewore this vintage Patty O’Neil dress ($5, LUX) this July 10, as I’ll try to do every year to commemorate.

Perfect colors for the wedding, this dress saved me from hastily buying one at the last minute from Kohl’s, where my sisters found theirs.

Though I did impulse accessory buy this gold headband and three-tiered gold necklace, so didn’t save myself entirely from the discount department store draw. My shoes (seen above) are Steve Madden purple suede wedges (birthday gift from mom).

I leave you with the Beatles…

There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done.
Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung.
There’s nothing you can make that can’t be made.
No one you can save that can’t be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you
in time – It’s easy.
There’s nothing you can know that isn’t known.
Nothing you can see that isn’t shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.
It’s easy.

All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
All you need is love (all together now)

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Of Goats and Gratitude

By: Jessica Holmes

28-06-2012

Jessica

This was the weekend of GRATITUDE. My BFF Amanda and I worked for the Forest Service in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area in college. There, we met Ed Cannady, a soft-voiced and bold-minded and strong-legged mountain goat of a man, who took us into the backcountry (even to the top of Castle Peak), and taught us how to channel an elevated goat spirit (and suction cup hooves) in treacherous terrain.

Ed had a close call with cancer over the past year, so to celebrate life, a group of folks gathered in the Boulder Mountains for GRATITUDE. We saw it, and felt it, all around us.

Especially on a hike the next day, when carpe diem went wild on a backcountry fashion shoot.

In an abandoned miner’s cabin, Amanda shows how to look good in outdoor-friendly layers. Pink plaid and pink shoes and a pink-racing striped poly skirt with built-in shorts underneath? Yes please.

Thoughtful layering is a survival essential. I wear Columbia lycra coolots (Riverwear, $50, Stanley, ID), a quick-dry tank with a built-in bra (Ross Dress for Less, $10), fleece-lined Merrell boots (REI garage sale, $11), and black-and-white wool gloves that Kelly made for me.

In the high elevations, the ancient, centuries-old white bark pines are dying. But they are still a sight to behold. Specially with this lady in them, layers down.

A Turkish pashmina does a lot of heavy lifting in the backcountry, acting as variably a pillow, blanket, sling, poultice, sun shade and fashion statement/prop.

North Face blue quick-dry tank. Smith sunglasses. Go anywhere jewelry.

Striped scarf. Mossimo faux animal print pullover. Rose-colored glasses.

In the Boulders, the background bests the models. Gratitude.

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5 wheels, 4 hours, 3 gigs. Phew Dan, FU man.

By: Jessica Holmes

21-06-2012

Jessica

Or, a typically over-booked Saturday night for the one and only Dan Costello.
I decided to be Dan’s groupie this Saturday night, and follow him from gig to gig. On ‘cycles, ’cause that’s how we roll baby.

After charting the nuances of each gig plus wind resistance minus peer pressure, I decided on this unlabeled white vintage dress (LUX? $?), WCM New York python belt ($2, thrift store) and Frye dorado short boots ($200, after $200 Xmas gift donation from ‘rents).

For the variables of biking, I wore a New York & Co. Intimates mint green silk underskirt ($1, thrift store), and brought my Turkish pashmina (gift, Istanbul). I ride my Schwinn Suburban ($100) bought and fixed repeatedly at Boise Bicycle Project.

Excuse the below photos, they are from my beat up iPhone.

My ensemble in poorly framed action.

Dan wears a Pyke Ltd. striped acrylic button up (quick-dry) shirt ($3.75, thrift store), Levis action slacks ($6, thrift store) and Born shoes (Buffalo Exchange in Seattle, $20… MSRP $95). He rides a Schwinn tricycle he won in a poker game, and checks the time regularly with cellular technology and such.

GIG 1: The GAMEKEEPER

Jazz trio

start time: 8 pm

End time: 10:15

GIG 2: PATCASSO’S WHITE PARTY @ The DISCOVERY CENTER

Dan played 3 gorgeous original guitar songs gorgeously danced originally by Chanel Da Silva of Trey McIntyre Project, at a fabulous event held at the dreamy science-fun Discovery Center. This Patcasso fusion art showcase, in which everyone (except maybe Dan, wink!) must wear white or whatever color comes up on the invites, is the vision of the remarkable artist Patrick Hunter (see his live painting in the background).

Start time: 10:30ish

End time: 11:30ish

GIG 3: PRIVATE PROPOSAL @ The TRAIN DEPOT

Start time: 11:45

We then rode up the hill where I helped Dan light candles around the rock that leans over the lily pad pond at the Train Depot. He had them stored the whole night in his trike basket from a potential groom-to-be, who requested just the candle lighting and two songs before the guy bended down on knee to pop the question. Ahhh…

Candle lighting time: seconds