Time for another round-up of things I want on Craigslist! Yay! What a treasure trove you always are, Craigslist...

The Coolest vintage steamer trunk I've ever seen! $95

A beautiful house plant, Mother in Law's Tonuge, I think?? (Sorry for the TERRIBLE PIC)

Fake house plants, more realistic for my black thumb, $10

I'm in love with this awful vintage 70's sofa! $400

OMG these mid century pendant lights! $50

A great pair of tall white bookshelves, none of that Ikea Junk, $160

Mid Century Etagere/Room Divider! $750

Great walnut veneer credenza! $350

Cute lil grey dresser/nightstand (wayyyyy overpriced at $450)

I kind of love these rattan chairs (bebes!!), $15 each

Alex and I had maybe the best date night last night. Here we go: Alex helped me set up an updated budget and Mint account (since I'll be buying a HOUSE, and also therefore a NEW CAR very soon), until we realized that it was already 9pm and neither of us had eaten dinner yet. As a reward for all of our hard work, we then hopped over to Mt. Fuji and stuffed ourselves with piles of sushi (I'm not kidding, even our waitress said "I cant believe you ate all of that sushi!"). On the way home, Alex got a hankering to watch Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (with the best Sean Connery role ever made), so we stayed up to about 1:30am watching that.

It. Was. The. Best. Constructive AND fun! What have you guys been up to?


blouse: vintage, thrifted from Everyday People
shorts: from the swap!
belt: vintage, thrifted
flats: originally Urban, found on the free shelf, new clasps added by me!
headscarf: vintage silk scarf, gift from a friend of the family

I can't believe it! I'm so excited! More soon!!

I've been doing a bit of shopping lately... (I now have a shopping ban firmly in place) And most of it has been vintage, yay! I thought I'd share with you the vintage I've scored: the navy dress and sundress are from Mighty Swell, Yellow gingham dress is from Lula and everything else is thrifted! Stripes, colors, and patterns seem to be my themes lately! I love the summer!

On Monday night, Emma and Maggie and I attended the first-ever Mighty Swell Vintage customer appreciation event! Which was also, of course, a preview of their annual Summer Sale happening this weekend! So much fun! And way less crazy packed/sweaty as their usual sales have come to be known for (Bonus! Though honestly, I'd brave the crowds either way, they have the BEST selection of wearable vintage and the BEST prices around. I'm dead serious, you guys.)

I really wanted to wear my best Mighty Swell piece, but then I realized that most of the things I get from Mighty Swell are those things you LOOK and LOOK and SCROUNGE for and then finally find when you're not at all expecting to. Exhibits A, B and C: a 70's one-piece crochet swimsuit complete with low scoop-back (just what I wanted for the summer), a lovely 50's black velvet cocktail dress with little embroidered flowers all over it (that I wore to last year's Holiday Party), and a square leather tote bag that I use all the time. So, even though these are exactly what I wanted right when I wanted them, what I wanted for this event was to wear a bright and summery (Emma nailed it on the head with "kicky") dress. So I chose this vintage yellow gingham homemade dress I recently picked up from Lula Vintage, and paired it with with red lipstick and a red clutch I never get to use. ("real" outfit photo above, and some film photos I took of us ladies, below!)

It was a great event, as always, and my faves were the raspberry vodka cocktails and Nutella puppy chow! There was also a braid bar, providing already-adorable ladies super-adorable braids! Not me of course, people with HAIR. Here's Emma in her beautiful braid! I brought home a couple of dresses, of course. Both lovely summer dresses, I am sure they will be making their appearances on here real soon.

Thanks as always Mighty Swell ladies Meghan and Rae Alexis. And also for the friendship bracelets!!

dress: vintage, Lula Vintage
handbag: vintage, Spinario
heels: originally Target, thrifted from fake Target
bracelets: H&M and Mighty Swell!

I havent been spending much on things for myself lately, other than the occasional thrift store item or haircut. (I have too many real-life adult-type-things to pay for, BOOOOOOH-RING) But I have collected a few things that have instantly become favorites. Here, I will show you them!

1) I'm sure you've noticed, but I got this market bag in LA recently at the Melrose Flea, and I immediately made it my regular bag. It's awesome because of the real leather handles, sturdy woven bucket shape, and it's big enough to take a cardigan and lunch with me to work everyday or even to throw a few groceries in on my way home from work!

2) Also in the picture above, is a simple tan jersey skirt that I just love! It has a weird thing at the top near the waistband, but I roll it up whenever I wear it and that does three things: gives it a cute paper-bag waist AND hides the weird thing AND makes it exactly the right length, just below the knee. It is also so so so comfortable and ladylike at the same time! Love everything about this skirt!

3) You've probably seen these black espadrilles in my outfit pictures for awhile too, because I wear them all the time! I found them at the thrift store and immediately recognized them as the exact same pair I have from Target, but in a different color (and a half size smaller, which is actually perfect). So I nabbed 'em and made sure to donate my other pair (they were this color). Black just goes with everything!

4) The perfect white tee shirt. This one is Mossimo for Target's Boyfriend Tee. I thrifted it of course, but it is the absolute perfect vee neck tee, complete with tiny pocket, that is long enough (it is way long) to tuck into jeans and skirts AND its super soft. I even sleep in it sometimes. I am in love with it.

5) ALSO PERFECT (I think I use this word too much) black skinny jeans. They're not the ideal (read: PERFECT J. Crew High Waisted Skinny Jean in Black),  but until I can afford to shell out $168 on a pair of jeans, these will have to do. And I do think they're just about there! This is my most recent thrifted find, so I havent worn them yet BUT I can see wearing these all the time. See my inspiration pins here, here and here, among others.

What are your wardrobe staples? I've always wondered if they're the same for everyone (or should be, the way that all of the magazines tell you you need at least one of each of these... ugh.) or if they're simply what you end up loving and wearing most? Thoughts?

FYI, Expect several fashion-related posts coming up. SO MUCH.

Several weeks ago now (whoops), a good college friend of Alex's, Cassi and her new husband Nick came to visit (our first "house" guests, yay!) and is was appropriately documented with the faithful Canon Demi S. They just got back from 4 years teaching in Korea, and are now currently on a whirlwind road trip tour of the United States, as they visit all of their family and friends before they leave the States again to teach in Kuwait. They even got (surprise) married, which I think is just so romantic! Congratulations again you guys. I hope you are having the time of your lives!

Anywho, we visited Minnehaha Falls, went on a long hike, to a Twins baseball game, stopped by a rockabilly concert/festival, ate delicious breakfasts with local Minnesota honey on them, and played LOTS of Settlers of Catan. (If you've not played Catan, you NEED TO GET ON THAT) It's a board game, but not a bored game... if you catch my drift.

We wish you all the best and safe travels again Cassi & Nick! Hopefully we will meet again soon.

YOU GUYS. IT IS SO HOTT OUTT. RIGHT?

For those of you not from the Twin Cities, let's just say that it's reaching up to 100 degrees today, and there has been no end to the heat madness in sight, as of yet. So today, I donned a bright orange headscarf. It was only appropriate. Alex and I are going to head out for date night in a bit (air-conditioned restaurant, then air conditioned movie YESSSSS), and then if we can just make it through the night, we'll be home free! Yes, that's right. We are heading up north to the cabin tomorrow straight-away after work, for a long 4th of July Holiday weekend! I Just. Can't. Wait. It's going to be the perfect weekend for not only beating the heat in the city, but for lying around in the water and grilling on the deck at the cabin!

Ohmigosh, I'm so flushed in these pictures! Can you tell it's hot??

dress: AA

belt: vintage, thrifted

headscarf: vintage silk scarf, a gift from Emma!

sandals: vintage, thrifted

See you guys when we return! Whether you're planning on watching fireworks, heading to the cabin, to the pool or staying home for some quintessential grilling and chilling, have a great Holiday everyone!!