Meet the Kittens! and First Outfit Friday

Hello, my friends! I know you've been waiting with bated breath - it's Kitten Time! 

And because this is my blog, not the kittens', we are still doing that outfit thing. Friday's armour. I was a bundle of nerves - like Christmas (as a 10-year-old) x 1000.

A big flappy swath of heavy 100% cotton denim, some pops of pink, and actual leather. Excellent for the first outfit of the season.

• Pink mesh top - Suzy Shier, thrifted; purchased here for $9.95
• Leather top - Danier Leather, thrifted; last worn here (2nd outfit) in February for brunch
• Denim skirt - Levi Strauss, thrifted; last seen here in July to hang out with Mom at home
• Shoes - Super Fine Eminence, Fluevog; last worn here way back in May 2024 with Dries pirate
• Rain jacket (below) - Avoca; last seen here in October 2023! 

That worked for me! My Fridays are usually very busy, but due to this week's holiday and next week's (Canadian) Thanksgiving, lots of folks are taking vacation. 

I chatted with my coworkers in between my usual stuff, showing them kitty pictures, sharing my excitement. I have a picture of Vizzini at my desk (the one of him in a unicorn hat, this one), so I'll have to put one up of the boys. 

I liked the back view of my outfit - back detail is one of those things I wish more designers thought about. 

This is the first outing of the pink dotted top - it was fine, although a little warm, as most nylon tops are. 

I pulled out an old favourite that I had frankly forgotten about, this cotton raincoat. The pattern is pansies, and it has a removable hood, which unbuttons. 

It's a sample from Dots many years ago. It requires specific weather because it's a soft flannel weave inside - Cotton Rage ensues - but is waterproof, so good on rainy days, but it's warm due to the finish on the 100% cotton exterior so it has to be a WARM rainy day (but not too warm). No wonder I haven't worn it in two years. 

The stuff: 

I like that the baby blue laces match the blue in the raincoat's pattern. It's been over a year since I wore these shoes - the pattern, texture and colours make them tricky to style. But now I have a match with the pink top, so perhaps I'll wear them more.

Black bling: 

Let the Goth-y season commence! Get ready for all the creepy-crawly, reptilian, and spooky jewelry and clothes. 

• Necklace - J. Crew, thrifted
• Fang bangle/earrings - Alexis Bittar, consignment
• Snake bracelet - vintage 90s, consignment
• Brutalist brass rings - vintage 70s, vintage mall
• Bronze ring (not shown) - P. Sarpaneva, vintage 70s, Finnish

Oops, I forgot to take my bronze ring off. 

Okay, back to the cats.

The names! Our first cat got a Shakespearean name, and the next two received names via The Princess Bride, but we felt we needed monikers that would reflect our current lives...and one of our favourite things to do is play the board game Arkham Horror together or with friends. L and I have been playing it for over 15 years (it's no longer in print) and as we enjoyed our session last weekend, we realized we had a great source for names.

The lovely fellow on the right (the black one) is Barnabas Marsh, named after a character from The Shadow Over Innsmouth, a novella by HP Lovecraft (yes, we know the author held some beliefs that don't jibe with modern sensibilities and attitudes, but we are separating the fictional characters from the writer). 

We'll call him Barnabas - never Barney, ugh (we do not shorten our cats' names) - or Barnabas Marsh. 

And the adorable boy on the left (the grey tabby) is Wizard Whateley, or Whateley for everyday. Whateley is a character in the short story "The Dunnwich Horror." 

In our game, both characters are "monsters" who give the players special bonuses for defeating them. They're also names that don't carry any kind of pop culture reference (as in "Oh, did you name him for X celebrity?"), aren't too hard to spell, and aren't embarrassing to tell others or make vet appointments for! So complicated, right? 

And now, off to enjoy our first weekend with our new family members! Just like with Vizzini and previous feline companions, they'll be featuring regularly on my blog. 

Closet Swap-Over

Please pop by after Sunday and join me for my Fall/Winter Closet Swap-Over. Lots of pictures (and video!). Funeroo!