Vintage Mint

I don’t watch a whole lot of TV, but when I do, I am absolutely glued to the screen every Sunday MM is on. {Geek sidenote: I also love to read about and analyze each episode. My Husband definitely gets an ear-full of my theories and wtf? questions. I am probably the worst person to watch anything with because of my Mystery Science Theater 3000 like tendencies to  provide running commentary}.

Can’t wait until Season 4! Just two more months {July 25th} of sub-standard television…

{Photos by Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair, Sept 2009}

I remember seeing these stunning images of abandoned amusement parks in Japan, on the interwebs a couple years ago and I wish I had remembered them before my trip to J-pan last year; it would have been surreal to visit this in person. There’s something so hauntingly beautiful and sad about these photos.

My mom said a lot of these abandoned parks/buildings were created for mining boomtowns that are now defunct. It’s amazing that some artifacts — beds, computers, shoes, hospital equipment, comic books, posters, backpacks, and even food, etc — still remain, all while slowly being enveloped by the surrounding foliage.

{Be sure to visit this site for more photos + locations — you can google-translate it, but the translation isn’t accurate} :

{While on the shinkansen - Japanese bullet train - to Kyoto, I could have sworn I saw this little amusement park outside my window, minus strapped-down Gulliver; I had no idea it was abandoned. Eerie yet sad.}

Abandoned Hospital Clinic


{Straw from what used to be a mattress}

{pharmacy}

Abandoned Business Building {modeled to resemble a Tea House}


{can you believe these beautiful linens were just left there?}

{apparently the building was a call center}

{pachinko machines from a hotel lobby}

{the plants in Japan grow like mad-crazy if left unattended}

{Photos via here}

Due to my misshapen right foot {thank you auto accident, circa last year}, I think I’m going to take the plunge into hippie territory, via the Birkenstock. Too bad they are such a departure from my edgy, fashion-forward shoe collection of yesteryear.

Kidding.

I hear Birks’ are mad-comfortable, with great arch support — all things my right foot now demands in a sandal. And at least Birkos’ don’t look like medicinal, orthopedic correction shoes.  I’ve narrowed it down to these beauties:

{my black-socks-with-sandals European tourist transformation is almost complete…}

{Images via here}

Endless hours at a soul-crushing office job, wasted! I could have been making these amazing paper-clip + color-tape {MANU by Lauren Manoogian} necklaces  instead. Now that I have some free time {so long Spring semester!}, I need to get my craft on-on…just need me some paper clips…

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This is too cute — what a great idea! I wish I had thought of this {Pixar’s} Up! engagement photo theme. {By the way, I l-o-v-e that movie! I ball every time. It’s such an endearing little story. I highly recommend it}.

{First seen on The Wedding Chicks}
{Lovely photos via Wildflowers Photography}