Snuff

I firmly believe that being in your home should be an experience for all the senses. Call me picky, but I just like things in a certain way: lighting and ambiance can be the difference feeling soothed or amped (I prefer lighting strictly by lamp); music is key, and is also a porthole into your taste; but above all, I value scent. I am a candle fanatic, and am particularly obsessed with anything and everything sold at the store Aedes De Venustus -- check them out here: http://www.aedes.com/

As I love candles so much, I think they deserve their own accessories. Behold! The Candle-Snuffing Skull! I know you're all wondering what the point is of a candle snuffer, when it's easier and cheaper to use your breath... My friends, as you soon will learn, it is all about the details.

A Charmed Life

If there is any piece of jewelry that captures the many different aspects of your personality, it's charms. No exception for my minimalist charm necklace; I bought it off of one of those street vendors in Soho 3 years ago under the encouragement of my bestie, Rachel. Originally it had just the skull and a Swiss Army knife-like baby-shank that was actually sharp enough to cut things... very small things. Over the years I added and subtracted from it based off of what I felt suited me at the time: the peace sign represents the music-festival-going hippie in me (post Bonnaroo). The long tablet is my grandmother's name in hieroglyphics -- she got it in Egypt (duh), and got to experience the world through travel, a life I desperately envy. The hamsa snapped off another bracelet I had and fit all too perfectly on my necklace. It also brings me protection, happiness and good fortune, so that's a plus. And the Skull... well, you will soon learn about my obsession with them. And it's not because I love death.

In Like a Lion...

Field trips, as a college student are rare and usually not as fun as visiting a science museum when you're 8. And my trip to the hospice home my senior year for my psych class was no exception. I highly doubt that one of the last things Mimi Canning wanted before she died was a visit from 30 freaked out college kids, but none the less she got it.

We did perform one exercise though, that I still refer back to occasionally. My professor asked us to write a list of 5 items only - people or things - that we would want to take with us when we die. The usual suspects were on everyone's list: Mom, Dad, boyfriend/girlfriend, stuffed animal, BFF (there were a few variations). High up on my list was the ring you see above. It was formerly my great grandfather's, who's last name in German translated to "lion", who I assume wore it as a pinky ring to smooth out his creepy mustache. The next step of the exercise asked to cross off the items one at a time to see what we were left with.... I don't know what this means, but I was quick to (hypothetically) sacrifice people just to hang on to this ring. (Sorry Mom).

As it's one of the few heirlooms left on my grandmother's side of the family, it's the history I feel bound to. That, and the fact that it is the sickest ring I have ever seen. My little brother has been arguing since it was gifted to me 4 years ago that each sibling should have an equal amount of time with it. I have four siblings. No fucking way.

The Big Picture

In my opinion, life is one big, jumbled accumulation of tiny, invaluable details. It's composed of little memories and moments that join forces to create definitive life experiences. If you're anything like me, you like to hold onto these experiences in some small way: not everyday, not all the time, but somehow, you always make your way back to the keepsakes that unlock the door to your past.

My keepsakes are accessories.

Be it golden heirlooms, housewarming gifts, or some shitty piece of costume jewelry I bought at a street fair, accessorizing is - I believe - one of few forms of keepsakes that accurately indicate something about who you were, who you are, or who you want to be.

So welcome to Unofficial Use Only, the blog-haven of accessories for your body and home. You'll find dozens of sparkly things here: some of which I own, some I wish I owned, but all I love for their beauty and back story. Each featured piece has been curated by yours truly for a particularly fabulous characteristic, for a certain experience I associate it with, or as an allegory for a place I aspire to be. (And if you're wondering about the meaning of the title: who uses accessories officially? No one. Accessories are strictly used in an unofficial capacity. There you have it.)

There's not much of a purpose to this blog besides ogling pretty things, so enjoy! Perhaps as an unintended side effect of reading you'll start looking at your accessories a little differently. But I'm not making any promises.