Happy Camper

Happy camper in layers and comfy shoes

White wine sangria  

Grilling dinner

Frying up bacon for breakfast 

Morning mimosas with red solo cups :)

Chateau St. Croix Winery & Vineyard 

Barrels of wine

Hiking time!

Timed camera picture perfectly capturing the moment :)

I'm not what you would call "outdoorsy"... I hate bugs, being dirty, and for the most part I'm good with appreciating nature from a distance.  My boyfriend loves camping.  In an effort to prove to him I'm not completely high maintenance, and prove to myself that I'm a tough chick who can handle a few nights sleeping outside... camping we went! Camping that included showers, electricity, bathrooms, and a wine tour  :)  It was a really fun weekend of slowing down, abandoning cell phones and computers, and feeling completely stress free.  So yes, I'd go camping again - as long as I can shower and blow dry my hair :)

Faux Flower

Dress (Dockers find, Marshalls); Shoes (Jessica Simpson find, Marshalls); 
Belt (Target); Faux Flower (H&M); Earrings (Limited)
Ryan Seidel Photography

Do you ever wake up in the morning with a strong urge to put a fake flower in your hair?  That is how this day started :)  I thought the flower was the perfect accent to my 50's silhouette school teacher inspired look.  This dress always makes me feel like I should be addressing a classroom of young kids...  I think everyone at some point thinks about becoming a school teacher. The selling points for me included summers off and getting to write on the chalkboard all the time.  But then I got older, and now I see kids running around like wild animals and think... God bless teachers - I could never do it!

On another note, a few of you have asked how I get my bun so full (the secret is a comb and hairspray).  Just put your hair in a ponytail... then tease the heck of out it, next smooth the top layer and wrap it into a bun securing it with bobby pins.  No sock necessary :)

Friday Find

Postagram

Postagram is an app you can download for your iPhone or Android device, 0r use via the web.  Simply upload a picture, type a message, and for $0.99 you can send a personalized postagram to anyone in the world (plus the first five are free!).  What's even better is that the picture can be popped out of the postagram for the recipient to keep.  This is such a fun way to share special moments, vacation, and family pictures with those that can't be there (it's also a great idea for invites)!  I sent this picture of Rex to my Grandma last week (she calls Rex "Sassy")... and she loved it!  She even brought it to church so she could show it to the lady she sits next to :)  

Killer Combo

Tank, Jeans & Shoes (Target); Scarf (Old Navy); Bag (Bueno find at Marshalls);
Bracelet (Bought at festival); Earrings (Limited)

Have you been to Old Navy lately?  They have been killing it lately with super cute sweaters, fun patterned shirts,  and adorable dresses. Not to mention one fabulous bird print scarf! Who knew leopard and birds would compliment each other so well?  I wore this on a dinner & movie date night over the weekend... Other killer combos included beer and pizza... and Christian Bale and Batman :)

Plus One

Top (Loft); Skirt (Limited); Shoes (Nine West); Earrings (Nordstrom)

With so many weddings crammed into the summer months, I quickly got sick of my go to "wedding" dresses and thought I'd try a skirt and top combo.  Even though the skirt is black, the length and tiered details make it work for a special occasion, and there is an unwritten rule that states you can never go wrong with sequins, right?   It was nice to break the dress mold for wedding attire and mix it up. And how cute is my little "plus one" with his freshly cut doggy hair?  He's now acceptable for public appearances... 
weddings included ;)

Reviving a Classic

Dress (Loft); Shirt (Target); Shoes (Tahari find at Marshalls) ; Watch (Fossil);
Earrings (Nordstrom)
Ryan Seidel Photography

I love this dress. It's flowy, romantic, and satin... the perfect little red dress.  However it's also sleeveless with a deep V-neck, which instantly eliminates it's office appropriateness.  Typically this dress gets worn maybe once a year.  Adding a button down and tying it was the perfect solution to getting this dress some much needed fresh air.  After tying it - the look was still a bit undone, so I tucked the loose ends.  And now my little red dress has a new lease on life, and we're taking full advantage :)

Friday Find: DIY

Bride to be glasses (backside view)

"BRIDE" margarita glass

Champagne Glass 

"ASHLI" wine glass

Two weeks in a row of DIY.... I know, who do I think I am?  This project is for the same bachelorette weekend as last week's tissue paper flower bouquets.  I wanted the bride (Ashli)  to have special glasses to drink out of during her weekend. And let me warn you... DIY's are a slippery slope. Once you conquer one, you think you are Martha Stewart. And now I have a "DIY" board on Pinterest filled with glass jar lights and picture frame projects (odds are I'll end up settling for a wine cork board, and then only collect the corks). Okay, back to the glasses!  PS, the term "blingy" below is the official term for the shiny diamond looking buttons you can buy at the craft store :)

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Step 1: Choose your glasses (I got all three from Home Goods).
Step 2: Create veil:  Cut a 6 inch piece of tulle (Michaels), gather one side to look like a veil and staple at the gathering. Next, super glue a blingy (Michaels) to hide the staple.
Step 3: Attach veil: Super glue a smaller blingy to the glass where you want to attach the veil, and then super glue your veil to the smaller blingy.
Step 4: For the "BRIDE" and "ASHLI" letters I used sparkly alphabet letters (Michaels).

Fur Monster

Jumpsuit (Limited); Necklace (Consignment Shop); Shoes (Nine West)

This little guy has been absent from the blog since he's been with his Grandparents' the past month.  Well Rex is back and as you can see he needs a haircut.  I can't decide if he looks more Gremlin (the Gizmo version) or Muppet. Either way he's going to the puppy salon this weekend, where he will come back less fur monster and more dog.  That last picture says it all... Tongue out, unruly hair, and crazy eyes - it's not a good look on anyone :) 

I'm Lovin' It

Shirt (Old Navy); Dress (Gap); Shoes (Tahari find at Marshalls);
Earrings (Nordstrom); Bracelet (bought at festival)

This is what I wore on a recent McDonald's run... which is sorta pathetic.  What's worse is that it was a drive-through run :)  And wouldn't ya know that McDonald's now sells dipped cones!!!  Does anyone else find this to be information to be worthy of the front page of the news?  First they blew my mind with the McCafe iced coffees and lattes... next they started placing RedBox kiosks in certain locations (dinner AND a movie!)....and now dipped cones!?  McDonald's is slowly becoming the Target of fast food... they are a one stop shop for all of my needs, and I usually leave with more than I intended :)

Birdie

Shirt (Urban Outfitters); Skirt (Limited); Shoes (Naturalizer);
Bracelet (bought at festival); Earrings (Macy's); Love ring (Etsy);
Ryan Seidel Photography

Before there was Rex, there was Birdie... (yeah my family is super creative... a bird named Birdie).   Birdie was our pet cockatiel for most of my adolescence... and he was the best.  He walked on the ground like a dog (which resulted in him being stepped on often), he had a strange obsession with shoes (maybe that's why we bonded so well), and he loved eating spaghetti.  He is the reason I am in love with all things birds :)  So a shirt filled with a bird pattern?  I'll take two!

Friday Find: DIY

Tissue Paper & Mason Jar/Vase (Michaels);
Kabob Skewers (any Grocery Store)

Let me preface this post by saying I am not a DIY'er... I can barely make my own dinner.  So if I've found a DIY I can master - then literally anyone can do it.  This weekend I'm celebrating the upcoming wedding of one of my best friend's at her cabin up north, and on Saturday we are doing a Mexican Fiesta dinner. I wanted to bring some decor that was bright, fun, and personal - and through the power of Pinterest I came across tissue paper flowers.  After giving myself the "you can do it" pep talk... I started churning out flowers.  Then I found a bunch of jars and vases around my place, and used kabob skewers for the stems. It's not quite a meal, but I managed to create something from scratch! There really is a first time for everything :)

Click here for an easy tutorial on making tissue paper flowers.

Team USA

Dress worn as shirt (Jason Wu for Target); Skirt (gifted by eShakti);
Shoes (Nine West); Earrings (Nordstrom); Necklace (Gift);
Ryan Seidel Photography

My all-time favorite Summer Olympic memory is from the 1996 games in Atlanta with Kerri Strug's infamous gold medal clinching vault.  After a fall on her first attempt and a taped up ankle, Kerri nailed her second vault and landed on one foot... It was the type of magic that can only happen at the Olympics. To me, the image of coach Bella Karolyi carrying Kerri with her gold medal is the ultimate demonstration of the Olympic spirit.  This moment still gives me chills... Do you have a favorite Olympic memory?