into the South

Oh hi. I'm home and I'm beat, but I wanted to share with you some of the scenery of the South, and I promise you stories when I'm feeling more alert.

overgrown pretty weeds and abandoned buildings are a staple of the South.

a kudzu goldmine

old knocked knee'd cypress trees found on the Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, SC

a statue in the Magnolia Garden

swampy green

Congaree River, SC

Congaree National Park. I'll show you more photos of this mystical place in a future post.

a real Southern dog, Daisy, with denim on denim dad, and sidekick, long distance driver and boyfriend extraordinaire, Pete.

Cherryville, SC

My dad has been going to Tony's Ice Cream since he was a kid, and I always go there when I come for a visit. It's been around since the 1920s and has the most delicious homemade ice cream.

Check out them Southern clouds.

Good night folks .... Crystal Lee has left the building.

Fall colors, summer dress.

talk to the armpit. haha. sorry for the in yo face arm pit action all the time.

there’s some bananas on my lapel, a recent purchase from Etsy.

a Long Beach sunset and it matches my dress.

More film photos (Portra 400) taken after work the other day. I am so happy about Spring and the longer daylight hours! Now, if I can just be more productive after work. This Spring, I need to do lots of Spring cleaning, get some of my finds up on Etsy, practice more yoga, dance a lot more, and start meditating on a regular basis. I also wanna go on a long bicycle ride. What are your Spring goals?

love to you,

Crystal Lee

Outfit: vintage swimsuit dress, tweed blazer, Bass oxfords (thrifted), banana brooch (Etsy)

Spring time is for laying in the grass

Outfit: vintage yellow high waisted skirt, tshirt, vintage scarf (thrifted), stormy blue Minnetonka moccasins.

Palos Verdes Botanical Gardens

Hiya friends,

Life is short, so I surround myself with beauty just as much as I can. The other day Stacey & I went to the Palos Verdes Botanical Gardens to walk amongst the flowers and succulents and snap some photos. I tried out Jesse's fancy Cannon DSLR camera (he let Stacey borrow it), but I still like film best. There's something magical about it. I am by no means a skilled photographer, yet with film I sometimes manage to produce an image that is pleasing to my relic soul.

film photos, Fuji Velvia 100:





some velvet roses







digital photos:

Wherever you go, go with all your heart. - Confucius

Old shit is the best shit. - Crystal Lee

Outfit: vintage 50s taffeta skirt, 80 corset top (thrifted), Michael Kors espadrilles

Anza Borrego Desert State Park

Dudes! Pete and I had the best time in Anza Borrego Desert State Park. It was a perfect mini trip. There were flame tipped ocotillos, wispy desert willows, and patches of wildflowers dotting the landscape. The air was filled with the fragrance of desert lavender. The palm trees were ungroomed, wild and free. My heart was content. I got to hike, soak in the jacuzzi, take film photos like crazy, cruise the desert with the top down, eat bbq and lots of pie! We stopped in the historical town of Julian, known for it's delicious apple pies, before and after our trip to the desert. Have I ever told you how much I love pie!? I had three pieces of pie during this short trip - apple boysenberry with ice cream, flaky cinnamon apple, and apple with a slice of cheddar on top. Pete suggested the latter for nostalgic reasons; it reminds him of New York where he grew up. Personally, I could do without the cheese. In Julian, I saw a kitty hanging out in a patch of daffodils, and the most colorful chickens I've ever seen made an appearance too. (Word just in, these chickens are called "Tolbunt Chickens"). I shot these photos with Fuji Velvia 100 slide film, and I really like the results. I have a lot more photos to show you in the days to come, but for now, I hope you enjoy these.

It's so great to get away from the grind if only for a weekend. I hope everyone is content in their hearts & happy to be alive!

Ciao for now,
Crystal Lee

Outfit: cactus print skirt, crochet one piece, monkey boots (everything thrifted).

teach your children well

“Hey, Anna, you wanna run up that hill with me?”
“Not really.”
“Come on. I just watched you play on 2 playgrounds. Auntie likes to play too.”
“Oh ok.”
“Wow, this is a really steep hill. Are you sure you can do this?”
“ I can just try my best.”
“Goodness, I’m getting tired.”
“You can do it Auntie because you’re big and strong.”
“ Geez, Anna, I can’t believe you’re doing this uphill hike with me, especially since your legs are so much smaller than mine.”
“That’s because I play and jump around and have lots of energy all day long.”
“Well, you should probably get some rest sometimes. We’re almost to the top. ... We made it”
“Yay, we made it! “ I have to go pee.”
“Why didn’t you go when I asked you at the bottom of the hill?”
“I didn’t have to go then.”
“Well, we’ll head back down. But if you really have to go, why don’t you just cop a squat.”
“What does that mean?”
“Squat down and pee. Don’t pee on your shoes or on your clothes. ”
“ Will people see me?”
“There’s noone here.”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re going to have to do it at some point in your life, believe me.”
“ Oh, ok. I can just try my best. ..... I can’t do it.”
“Alright, next time. Let’s race down the hill and get you to the bathroom.”

80s bus stop

I've been dying to take some outfit photos at the 80s bus stop. Today, Pete and I rode our bikes to fulfill this fantasy of mine. I think this may be my favorite photo shoot yet.

Outfit: 90s teal overalls, 80s sequin bustier, 90s clear sunglasses, 80s pastel kicks, 80s cross necklace (everything thrifted)

Photos taken by Pete with my Pentax Spotmatic.