Merry Christmas!

That's me sitting on my giant 14 year old brother's lap, and my little sis (who is also much taller). Merry Christmas, may it be filled with lots of vintage and shoes!

A Rogue Update

I hate to only post with shop updates, how boring- but it's all I've had time for lately and will get back on track once I stop running around like a mad person buying merchandise. I'm putting some new things in the shop this week that aren't typical Greedy Seagull wear, and I think I like what's happening. I've never been an 80's/ 90's junkie since the trend caught on, but I think I am finally starting to give a little. Maybe it's nostalgia that Doc Martens are actually considered vintage nowadays? Makes me feel old. Anyhow, I am going to give this new look a little try, but don't expect the glorious 40's and 50's gear to get kicked to the curb. I've already got a whole slew of feminine, pastel and lovely spring beauties waiting in the wings.

xoxox
Giana

Luxe Leather

Is what the shop is all about this week.

Femme Fatale Gear

A few excellent pieces, making their way into the shop this week

Winter driftings

Though I hail from a sunny place and often long for warm sand and waves, I don't know how I could forget about how lovely winter can be (with the right coat of course).

baby deer print via Sharon Montrose
white booties via 13bees
coat via Dear Golden
pine cone earrings via Blue Dove Studio
carousel print via The Black Apple
winter trees print by Sherri Conley

A Golden Coincidence

I was sorting through a fifteen pound box of jewelry that I recently purchased today, collecting initial pins and charms when it suddenly occurred to me that I had all the right things to express my innermost thoughts....




The End.

Hell on Wheels

When I am stressed and need to go to my "happy place" I picture myself driving my beat up old Volvo 850 down Pacific Coast Highway on a sunny day with the windows down, on my way up north to visit a friend or love or just driving for the hell of it. Some of my best memories are in that car, and now my sis drives it. I had to give it up when I moved here, and I have to say I was relieved at first; glad to be rid of the burden of traffic, filling up the tank, and expensive repairs.

Well.... I officially have a carnow! All I have to say is WATCH OUT New York! I just purchased a beige granny style Camry and I am reeling with all the new possibilities. It even has the same dings on the passenger side as my last car. Trips upstate, estate sales, I can even go to Trader Joe's now to get rice pudding which was worth the whole price tag. I found the photos above at estate sale, aren't these two so cute, posing so proudly with their Ford?

A Very Greedy Seagull

Is what I am this afternoon. I was measuring this dress when it dawned on me that it would fit perfectly, I tried not to put it on, but it just happened and now it's in my closet. Maybe someday it will go in the shop, but not for now!

Holiday Dresses Round 2

Here is the next batch of little beauties making their way into the shop in the next couple days:

Tagged!

Lauren at DearGolden just tagged me with the following questionnaire, and I thought I would share a little about myself here.

1. Your hair? Is really black and grows ridiculously fast

2. Your favorite food? Sushi, with lots of ginger

3. Your favorite drink? Coffee, milk and two sugars

4. Your dream/goal? outdo Martha Stewart in facets if life

5. Your hobbie? Making photography, taking loooong walks

6. Your fear? Failure, and violent schizophrenics on the subway

7. Where were you last night? In bed watching Dexter

8. Something you say all the time? NOOOOOOO (in a long whiny sing songy way)

9. Something that you're not? Mean

10. Wishlist item? Eight hundred dollar Miele vacuum

11. Last thing you did? Photoshoot of black cocktail dresses

12. What are you wearing? Plaid and leopard pajamas (hey, I'm sick ok?)

13. Your pets? One 5 pound, black and tan gremlin

14. Friends? A handful of good ones that I've had forever

15. Missing someone? My sister

16. Something you're not wearing? Pretty much anything lady GaGa puts on

17. Your favorite store? Goodwill Outlet stores!

18. Your favorite color? Cerulean

19. The last time you cried? Last week. Ovulating is just not fair.

20. Whens the last time you laughed? It happens too often to remember

21. One place that I go to over and over? The Post Office, Uncle Donuts (for coffee, I swear!)
22. Where do you eat? My kitchen, I love to cook!

Veggie and Parmesan Orzo

This post is a little off topic, but I had to share. I love messing around in the kitchen and sometimes, a dish will turn out so good that it becomes a staple in my recipe box. I am halfway writing this post so I don't forget! If you have a vegetarian guest in the house but also have to feed a six foot hungry dude, this will go over really well because you can cook the whole dish and add meat in later. Here are your ingredients:

(1) 16 ounce box orzo pasta
(1) medium sized zucchini
(1) medium sized yellow squash
(1) small red onion
(1) large head of fresh broccoli
(8) cloves of fresh garlic
(1/2) cup parmesan cheese
(1/2) stick butter
(2) tbsp olive oil
(1) pound hot Italian sausage (optional)
Salt and pepper

How you do it:

- Bring 5 quarts water to a boil with 2 tsp salt. Add orzo when it comes to a rolling boil, cook for ten minutes and drain as soon as it's done. Add pasta back to your boiling pot.

- Slice zucchini, squash and broccoli into small pieces. Steam them in a pot until tender and set aside.

- While water is heating and veggies are cooking, chop up onion and garlic into small pieces. Sautee them in olive oil on medium heat until onions are translucent. Add in steamed veggies, and toss with onions are garlic. Sautee for another 5 mins. Add back into pot with drained pasta.

- If you are using sausage, cook sausage until it's well done and set aside.

- Cube butter into small pieces, and add to big pot of veggies are pasta. Add in parmesan cheese, plus salt and pepper to taste. Heat on low for a couple minutes to melt the cheese.

- Serve as is, or add sausage in and toss.

Enjoy!

* This dish goes really well with homemade garlic bread! Let me know if anyone tries this out =)

Bling Time

I have been a busy, busy bee this week. Don't know if I ever mentioned my massive, out of control, obscenely large collection of vintage jewelry? That's actually how I kinda got my name, I have a penchant for all shiny objects! I can't flood The Greedy Seagull with tons of baubles, and I just keep having good luck finding them all over so I decided to launch a separate store focused on vintage jewelry.

Eventually, I plan on adding in cool sewing notions like beaded appliques, lace, etc and maybe some depression glass and retro tablecloths. My new shop is pure sugar, and allows me to indulge the frou frou Martha Stewart homemaker in me. All the little lovely things I find that can't go in the other shop can now be found in Ava Firenze. I have tons to list, and am working on it non stop until it all goes in! Some goodies:

Holiday Dresses Round 1

Today, I woke up feeling very ambitious, ready to photograph all 30 evening dresses that I have saved up for the holidays (even though I woke up at 11am!). I wound up with a headache and only two hours of light and I have become officially OCD with my steamer after hearing from a couple people that I should iron my items better, so I only got a third done. Still, I guess better than nothing. There are some great ones in this batch, but I haven't pulled out the big guns yet. Check it out:

Enchanted New York

Sorry for the lack of posting lately, I have been very busy running around having fun and shopping for The Greedy Seagull. I took a trip to the New York Botanical Gardens on Friday and had to share some of the beautiful pictures I took. I have to say, this week was absolutely magical and I can't believe I had never been before. The pictures speak for themselves, and remind me of why I moved to the East Coast. For those of you who don't get to see this, please enjoy and know that there is an open couch in NYC if you ever want to visit!

Meet my new model

You guys are probably wondering who the stunning redhead is that's been popping up in my shop. I am proud to say that she is my best friend, and her name is Caylin. She just moved from California to New York, and she is my new official hat, purse, and great stuff model. I am not always excited to jump in front of a camera when I am frazzled and tired from shooting all day, so luckily for me she always looks amazing and will be here in NYC permanently! Look how pretty she is!!!!!

Sea Monsters

"O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small. See the ships sailing along, and Leviathan, which you made to play in the sea."
Psalms 104:24-26

A few weeks ago, I had a curious dream. I was ambushed by a giant sea monster; he lived among a bunch of withered blackened trees on some strange deserted ocean shore. He ate my friend, then began to chase me up a sandy embankment. I stepped on one of his fiery orange tentacles and screamed, and the dream was over. Apparently I yelled in my sleep! The funny thing is, I have always thought they were pretty fascinating and kind of cute. It amuses me to see them swimming around in the oceans on antique maps, and I was always intrigued by Leviathan, a dreadful sea monster mentioned in the Bible on many occasions.




When I found the vintage ring above, I had to laugh. I had gone into my local jewelry shop to browse for an investment piece; I'm turning 25 soon and feel like it's time to start a grown up jewelry collection. I knew the instant I put it on that it had to go home. I have just never seen anything like it; 18k white and yellow gold, rubies, and diamonds; most likely 40's or 50's according to the jeweler. My favorite part are his sharp little teeth!

The Ramos House Cafe

Sadly, there are not many restaurants in Orange County, California worth bragging about. I guess New York has spoiled me a bit, or a lot... but the Ramos House Cafe is still probably one of my top five favorite places in the world. It's located on the oldest residential street in California, and the building itself is from 1881. John Q, the owner lives next in the little attached house to the side of the restaurant and can always be seen buzzing around the place. Dining takes place under the shady canopy of a huge old tree, with rustic little tables. All the herbs used in the Contemporary American cuisine are grown right in the garden, and ingredients are so fresh and they have a seasonal menu.

Of all the things on the menu though, the twelve dollar Bloody Mary is the most decadent, complete with crab claw and string beans. It is a meal and a masterpiece unto itself. My other favorites are the Mac and Cheese, and the pulled chicken sandwich. If you ever make it down that way, by all means go and eat there!

John Q's House

The restaurant

The best Bloody Mary of all times

Pulled BBQ chicken sandwich

Lox and toast points