Tuesday, January 15, 2013



I did a couple illustrated outfit posts when I started blogging back in 2010, and thought it might be a fun thing to pick up again! I'm a lot happier with my illustrative style now and [ulterior motive alert] it's a great way to post outfits when the lack of sunshine prevents me from taking real photos. Seriously, Sun, where are you? I miss you! Come back!

Also another perk to drawing your outfit instead of actually wearing it -- you can include things that you don't actually own! Like... pretty much everything I drew in this particular outfit. Like I've said a bazillion times so far in the last two weeks, I'm trying really hard to save money this year (Since November I've already saved 1% of what I need for a down payment on a house. It seems tiny but I'm still proud!) so virtually wearing something I can't physically buy keeps my inner shopaholic happy ;)


dress- ruche | belt - asos | bag - asos | shoes - modcloth

Monday, January 14, 2013



I'm trying really hard to save money this year, but when I saw this pop up on asos there was just no way I wasn't buying it. Mint green AND scallops? I don't think even two seconds passed between the moment I laid my eyes on this beauty and the moment it was in my shopping cart. And because I thought it was just the prettiest thing ever, I got one for me and one for you! :)



What you'll win: A mint green faux leather scalloped purse

How to enter: simply leave a comment letting me know that you're entering, and some way to contact you (email, twitter, blog, whatever floats your boat!) You must be a follower to enter (and, please, none of this follow-and-leave as soon as the giveaway is over jazz.. that's super rude!) This giveaway is open to everyone on planet earth.

For additional entries: (
leave a separate comment for each entry)

1. Tweet this "I just entered to win a pretty mint green scalloped bag on @kategabrielle's blog! http://www.scathingly-brilliant.blogspot.com" (Only counts if you use this exact tweet. Entries from twitter accounts used solely to enter giveaways will not be counted.)
2. Follow me on facebook
3. Follow me on bloglovin

Giveaway ends on January 28th at 12:01AM EST. Giveaway has ended.

ps. If you don't want to wait for the giveaway to end, you can buy the purse here! 

Winner:


Friday, January 11, 2013



I thought it would be fun to share some of my collections here once in a while. Partially because, like I said in this post, I want to post more about my various interests, and partially because I just really, really like collections. I like having them, photographing them, lining them up, looking at them.. thinking about them.

I can remember in third grade we did some sort of project where we had to tell the class about something we collect, and I couldn't decide between my Disney VHS tapes, my pillows (I've always had a lot of pillows and apparently I used to consider them worthy of show-and-tell. Actually I still do. My pillows will probably be featured in a future installment of this series) or my Barbie dolls.

Now that I'm all grown up with no parental veto power over my desire to excessively collect a bunch of stupid things, I've acquired quite a few collections. One of my favorites is my brooch collection.



I started collecting brooches a year or two ago. I love being able to accessorize but I've never been a huge fan of necklaces or bracelets since I always feel the need to fuss with them. A brooch is a nice little non-invasive way of adding something special to an outfit. I used to have them tossed in a few containers on my dresser, but last week I found this dessert tray at Target (only $10! yay!) and knew it would be perfect to display my pins! I love that I can see them all at a glance and the chances of pricking my finger on one that mysteriously popped open is much slimmer now.

Here are some of my favorites!



The unicorn stick-pin was a gift from Solanah. The carousel is from modcloth. For Christmas I got one for me and one for my grandmom since we always used to ride the merry-go-round together when I was a kid :) I like to get her one carousel themed gift each year if I can.  The "Math is as Easy as Pi" pin is from amazon. That's my Pi Day pin! The Carl Sagan brooch is from The Science Boutique. I also have a glow-in-the-dark Marie Curie and a Nikola Tesla from them as well. The rainbow sweater clips and the dinosaur are both from my Sweet and Lovely shop. I'm so tempted to keep one of everything for myself ;) The constellation brooch is from Under the Shade of a Bonsai Tree (I'm a scorpio!) and lastly the cute little heart is a vintage find. I'm planning on wearing that one on Valentines Day (obviously.)



The I love Cats pin is from modcloth (although I think the amount of cat hair I have on all of my clothing advertises this fact without me having to spell it out lol) The kitty cats were a birthday present from Casey. The corn brooch was something I picked up when I had a pesky ear infection that wouldn't go away last summer. I was visiting the doctor so often I thought it would be a funny joke but nobody noticed. Oh well, I still thought it was funny :) The enamel flowers were lucky flea market finds (I love these so much but can't justify spending the $20+ people ask on etsy. I got mine for $1 each. woo!) The mod girl is one that I made from these wood cut-outs. I love this shop so much! I bought a couple other sets that I've turned into brooches too! And lastly the hot air balloon eraser brooch was a DIY on the blog last year! :)



Thursday, January 10, 2013



1. bubblegum cropped cardigan from seven devils vintage
2. mint scallop bag from asos
3. bookworm kitty brooch from stoic and pariah
4. heart print scarf from forever 21
5. pink unicorn ring from modernaked
6. bow stud earrings from forever 21
7. muchacha cat tote from amazon
8. resplendent rime dress from modcloth
9. gumball necklace from modcloth
10. mint skinny belt from asos

Wednesday, January 9, 2013



If I look sort of different but you can't quite place your finger on why... it's because I'm wearing my hair down! I never wear my hair down, except when I'm going to sleep or if I have a headache (obviously since I'm wide awake and dressed and it's daylight, the reason for my lazy hairstyle in these photos was the latter.) I'm not even sure why, but even when I was a little girl I always liked my hair in some kind of updo. I keep thinking that once it gets longer (right now it's just barely past my shoulders but I'm trying to grow it out) I'll start wearing it down more often but I still don't think it suits me and I almost feel naked without at least ten bobby pins poking my head.




dress & cardigan - forever 21 | shoes - c/o bait footwear | lady tie - c/o flapper girl
belt - from another dress | tights - old navy | brooch - c/o under the shade of a bonsai tree

Monday, January 7, 2013



My other last-purchase-for-2012 was a grab bag from Emerging Thoughts that includes two pieces selected at random. Mine wasn't *quite* random... Lauren knows I'm a little (okay, a lot) obsessed with cats so she included this adorable Dear Creatures kitty top as one of my two surprises! eep! Isn't it the cutest?! My collection of feline-themed apparel is getting quite impressive, so it's nearly impossible for me to wear just one cat item without accenting it with at least two others. In this case, a wooden cat brooch from my sweet and lovely shop and kitty shoes that I got for my birthday!

Also, yesterday me and my dad went to Yougurtland for the first time and it's absolutely amazing. Has anyone else been there? It reminded me of a modern dessert-only automat. I got the grapefruit guava sorbet and mixed in fresh kiwi, strawberries and shredded coconut. It was SO delicious! And I love that you get to control your portions... I can never eat the heaping servings of frozen treats that most ice cream places give you (although plop a pound of potatoes in front of me and I can tackle that with no problem lol) so it was nice to only pay for what I'd actually eat!




cardigan - old navy | tights - h&m | cat shoes - birthday present

Sunday, January 6, 2013



New in the shop! Pretty little pocket mirrors with my vintage bedding-inspired floral designs! They look so incredibly sweet (and lovely) in person! If these go over okay I'll make some with the other designs, too, but these are my personal favorites :) They're available here.



Also the carousel and hot air balloon necklaces are back in stock, and they're available here.

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