I had the great honor of being asked to walk (as a last-minute replacement) in the MIA's Third Thursday Fashion show, featuring several vintage and thrift store's looks during one of the last MN Fashion week events on Thursday night! I was representing Blacklist Vintage, with one other model, and I have to say that the two looks Vanessa picked were superb, my absolute favorites. They were the perfect representation of Blacklist Vintage and what they are all about. All of the other shops did a great job of showing off their individual styles too, they were all so different and so great!

I have to give a shout out to my buddy John from Scout Vintage on having the best men's looks of the night, showing off his more 90's grunge facet of vintage rugged menswear (you can check out his beautiful shop - designed by my other fabulously talented buddy Bill - over here!) and for keeping me company while we all did all of the run throughs and hair/makeup/sitting around.

Kimi and the other staff at the MIA did an amazing job of hosting a high-caliber, high-energy, and quality runway show (among a slew of other events happening that night that I did not get the chance to partake in). One of the best and most fun shows I've gotten to walk in to date. And congrats to Megan and Nora of Two Birds, for hosting what seemed like an amazing photobooth, there were always lines around the corner! Sorry I didnt get a chance to say hi and chat you two!

 

Anywho, you can check out the City Pages' recap of the event here (they managed to take the best photo of my look BY FAR). And more photos of the event on the MIA's flickr, here and Facebook, here. EDIT: Also, here's a time-lapse video!

Thanks again Vanessa and everyone involved in the event, it was super fun!

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

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.

Does your partner annoy you? Joanna from Cup of Jo always asks her readers to weigh in on questions she poses. And this one really made me think. Because while I am totally head-over-heels in love with my partner, yes, there are still things that bug me about him. But she makes a good point (or rather, her husband Alex does) that annoyances are "part of the fabric of the relationship. They try to act like they're driving each other crazy but they really can't live with out each other. Annoyances aren't a deal killer. They're a natural part of a long, happy marriage."

Things that Alex does that annoy me:
-He is such a smarty-pants. He always has to explain things to me in a very calculated, scientific, smarty-pants way. When I dont understand the language he's speaking, I end up getting even more frustrated.
-His reluctance to try new things (which he has been getting better and better about in the last few years, but very slowly). He always wants to go back to his favorite restaurants, and go on the same vacations over again, and do things the way he's always done them. I hate doing things the same way twice, even watching movies for a second time! There are just too many things/places I havent gone yet to think about going back again!

Things that I do that annoy Alex:
-In general, I am very good at spelling and grammar. But the one that I never say right is "borrow, and lend." Somehow I manage to always say "Emma borrowed me this book," instead of "Emma lent me this book." (Did I say that right?)
-I watch bad tv. He cant stand being in the same room with me when Im watching Gossip Girl, Charmed, Law and Order or any crime show. He can be half-listening and still find fault with the plot or the legitimacy of the show. He hates them.

Also, I totally stumbled upon one of THE BEST twin cities guides! All thanks to Design*Sponge! It is written from the point of view of an actual local, instead of sounding like every other city guide out there (aside from The City Scout, of course!!!), regurgitated over and over again from soul-less internet articles and best-of lists. It is seriously amazing and comprehensive, you should check it out.

Design*Sponge ALSO did a little home tour yesterday of Sarah & Greg's Los Angeles apartment, whom I had a chance to meet up with while visiting Miss Katie back in March. It was so great to see your amazing apartment Sarah & Greg, Katie & Scott talk about it all the time! (Go check it out, I especially love that vintage couch and chair set!)

TRAVELING... I have that itch again! I know, I just went to CA, but it was such a short visit! I was browsing Airbnb yesterday, and I found this adorable little flat in Istanbul for only $14/night (THOSE VIEWS OMG)! I think I might have to make that happen. UGHGhGhGHHHHHhhhh.

PESTO. It is taking over my life! We've had a few weeks of our CSA delivered now, and all we seem to be getting these first few weeks is spinach, arugula, swiss chard, salad greens and more salad greens! When we cant quite finish them at the end of the week, I've been throwing them all into the food processor with some walnuts, garlic, olive oil and S+P to make a quick pesto. But NOW I have too much pesto... a few small jars of it in my fridge. But I found out last night that I can just scoop it with some crunchy french bread and some spreadable goat cheese and it is to die for. BEST THING EVER.

What's up with you guys? I feel like we havent caught up in awhile.

You may have heard about this amazing design project Nicole Meyer has taken upon herself, the Branding 10,000 Lakes Project. She makes beautiful, simple logos for one Minnesota Lake a day. And since I can't get the cabin on the lake out of my head now that summer has rolled around, I thought I would share some of my favorites! (although, she hasnt gotten to Birch Lake yet. I'm keeping my eyes peeled for it!)











They are honestly all so beautiful Nicole! Keep up the great work!

Sorry I've been pretty MIA from the blog lately. I have nothing very exciting to report. I have however, been eating some great food, hanging with great friends, and other boring stuff like that. So here's a little instagram round-up of what my life has looked like these past few weeks. A Handsome Husband, some rollerskating (or lack-there-of), manicures, a little thrifting here and there, and beers from India, oh my!

PS: I've also started doing Ballet Beautiful (that's another thing off of my new year's checklist, woo-hoo!). Has anyone else tried it? (except you, Miss Carla) It is really kicking my ass. Seriously, the first two days I could barely walk, my butt hurt so much. I hate that I knew I was out of shape, but I didnt realize I was that out of shape. The exercises have been getting gradually easier though, which is so cool!

Hey guys,

I've landed a few more modeling gigs coming up this spring, and I thought I would share a little bit about them! First, the annual Semple Mansion vintage bridal fashion show + fair, which was a blast to walk in last year, is on Sunday April 15. I will again be walking in the vintage portion YES (there is also a Couture portion), and if you have any interest in attending there is free admission!

Secondly, I will be walking in the Juut Salonspa Daymaker's benefit for the Angel Foundation. This one is for a very good cause, you can read more about the event and purchase tickets here. However, I doubt many of you bloggers will attend, since tickets start at $75 and go up to $250 for VIP admission! This will be super fun though, since I get my hair cut, colored and styled for free, and will be styled by a professional stylist from Styled Life. The theme is "street style." Yeahhhhhhh!

I've added some banners to the (dot)luv sidebar for these events, FYI! I am in no way advertising for them, I am just participating in them. I have a ton to look forward to this spring alone, NOT TO MENTION the lovely spring weather we have been experiencing! 80 Degrees on Monday?!?! ILL TAKE IT. Thanks everyone, what exciting spring things are coming up on your calendars?

A good friend of mine had party to celebrate her golden birthday, and the theme was of course, GOLDEN. I wore gold tights, and I made Alex a golden bowtie a la my glitter shoes and iphone case! It turned out, as you can see, friggen adorable. Here are some instax photos, also demonstrating my new lipstick. Paired with the jean jacket and velvet mini-dress, I felt very 90's grunge. In a good way? I dont know, you tell me.

Those are gold coins Ben is nibbling on, btw. IF YOU DIDNT GET THE JOKE OK.

Though it's not equally represented on this blog, in addition to loving fashion, thrifting, homewares, photography and design, I am a total (though I hate the word) foodie. There's a part of me that cannot (and most times, will not) go to the same bar or restaurant twice because I just know that there are so many great places I left left on my list to try! There are new places opening up all the time, and getting great reviews too. The Minneapolis/St Paul restaurant scene really is booming, if you can believe such a thing in this dreadful economy.

I have been dreaming (no really, in my actual dreams too) of the day when the empty building on 26th and Nicollet was going to finally replace Thom Pham's AZIA with some new places to wine and dine. Every day I drive by there on my way home from work, and I cant even tell you the amount of gossip I've shared about the topic with Heavy Table, my coworkers and the owners of nearby restaurants Jasmine Deli and The Bad Waitress.

Calamari with spicy Harissa dressing!

Finally, Eat Street Social (owned by the same peeps as Northeast Social) announced their opening night, and my good friend Ben (also a foodie) and I decided we had to check it out! I dont have very good pictures of the experience (I rarely do when it comes to food!), but suffice it to say, it was wonderful. And it was so heart-warming to see the place packed, on opening night, with photographers taking peoples pictures, and everyone seeming so jazzed that this place is finally here. Every hour, the bartenders rang a large bell and cheersed everyone! It was so festive, and it goes perfectly with the "social house" aspect. It is definitely going to be the new meeting place in the Whittier area after a show at CTC, an opening at the MIA or after class at MCAD.

They give you the extra drink from the shaker in a little caraffe! This was an egg creme of some sort.

There is a really great in-depth description and review by DeRusha here (glowing, in fact). Go there and read all about it. It also talks about Pat's Tap and the virtues of great neighborhood pubs, newly opened in South Minneapolis, which I also really loved (they have skee-ball!).

In addition to Eat Street Social, a Dunn Brothers + Provisions opened this summer in the anemone sushi space, and just the other day, I saw them installing a mysterious new bright orange AZIA Market Restaurant + Bar sign in the old AZIA space on the corner. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?! AND WHEN WILL IT BE HERE??

Stay Tuned.

Now, I wont deny the fact that I have a craigslist problem. I do... always have, really. There's just nothing like finding such incredible deals on beautiful, unique furniture in your area, just waiting for someone to take it home and appreciate it! But recently I've been bitten by the home-buyers bug (that's a whole 'nother story, my dears. One for another day...), and my problem has only gotten worse. I cant help patrolling craigslist (and lets be honest, the whole internets) for things "that would look great in our new house!" And things that "we're gonna have to buy if we get a new house." There are so many great things out there, folks. I wish I could get them all. For instance, all of these things:

These awesome gold-flecked fiberglass lampshades

This amazing Eames Lounge Chair (repro)

This mid-century sofa with amazing button detail

OMG THIS Homecrest patio furniture set!

This yellow/gold velvet tufted sofa

AN AMAZING dark grey wool/chrome sofa set (okay, so I'm especially a little sofa-crazy)

Adorable turquoise wooden stools (for an adorable kitchen bar area, amiright?!?)

The perfect solid wood Drafting Table for a home studio area!

This Herman Miller style chrome wire rocking chair

Antique industrial metal trolly cart (would make a great bar cart!)

Beautiful Bassett 6-drawer dresser and bed(droooooool)

I could probably keep going forever, but at this point I'm just babbling. Anywho, you get the idea. Snatch 'em up for me, will ya peeps?! PS: Speaking of the internets and all of its glory, in case you hadn't heard yet, the internet is going on strike on January 18th! I've signed up, so should you! STRIKE AGAINST SOPA. We can stop censorship now, if we band together and show the world what it would mean if the internet were censored by the government.

EDIT: OMGGGG somebody stop me from buying these!!!!