Jazz it up.

So after work yesterday, James and I went to the Summer Solstice Festival here in East Lansing. We heard some great live jazz music, and we sat out on the patio of one of our favorite restaurants in East Lansing, Harper's Brew Pub. I had a delish cheeseburger and chips and a margarita, and Jam had a chicken sandwich with chips and a pint of their Spartan Wheat beer, ooo yum. Our bill only totaled only $16, it was great!

Afterward we went back to the house to do a quick shoot before we went over to my moms house, and when we got home the sky was starting to cloud over so we snapped some shots off real quick...

 (Please try to ignore my terrible bow tying skills. I'm really trying to work on it.)

Then within a matter of two minutes the storm had rolled in, and the wind was howling! It was ca-razy! I have never seen a storm come in that fast.... So James shot these next photos as I was running and frolicking up the street back to our house before we could be swept up into a tornado... I'm pretty sure that with this cute little outfit I would have been all sorts of prepared to get swept up in a tornado, in Kansas, and ride around on a bike. Singing dun da dun dun duun duuun, dun da dun dun duun duuun, "I'm going to get you my pretty!"

 This is me thinking "holy crap, I am about to get blown away!" But as you can tell, I survived to blog another day...

Photo Credits: James Turner

Shirt: Gap
Skirt: UO clearance
Necklace: A gift from my dad, oh about 11 years ago...
Bracelet: Jcrew, mens section
Sandals: Walmart
Purse: Vintage

Currently listening to: "These Days" by The Black Keys off their Brothers album.

Jump Jive and Wail.

Oh the quintessential jumping photo, you are near and dear to my heart...
Yesterday I went thrifting once again, and found fantastic stuff!! All at really great prices too... I went to both of the Lamb's Gate Antiques stores, and of course found quite a few things that I couldn't not take home with me... I will have a post of all my new treasures later this evening :)

So after I got home from thrifting, James and I were both pooped, but I really wanted to do a photo shoot, and on top of that we were about ready to gnaw our arms off from starvation. So we popped a margharita pizza into the oven, and then had ohhh 13 min to go shoot photos... Thankfully our location is like 1 min away, and I'm starting to get quite comfortable in front of the camera, so we got some great shots real quick... And we made it back in time before the timer went off! Score!

I just love that one... It's so... me!!

For the past two months or so I have rarely been wearing jeans, but yesterday I just felt the need for the good ol classic, jeans and a white tee... It was perfect for playing around with the preschoolers at work, and then for heading straight to the thrift stores.

 Photo Credits: James Turner


T Shirt: Gap
Jeans: PacSun
Clutch: F21
Necklace: Vintage (those longs bead looking things are actually porcupine quills, I LOVE it! So much so that I wore it again today...) 
Bracelet: UO clearance
Sandals: Walmart


Now it's time to relax and wait for 3:30 to roll around... I'm heading to Espresso Royale to meet up with a friend to discuss the cupcakes that she wants for her wedding in August! Hoorah! It's going to be a biggie :) Good thing I'm no rookie to extra large wedding cupcake orders...


Currently Listening To: Juliette and The Licks - "You're Speaking My Language" off of their album of the same name.

Le Morte.

James and I decided yesterday to go on a little trip after work to the cemetery by our house. I don't know what it is about cemeteries, but it is just so peaceful there. I love to just go and walk around there for a bit, especially when the weather is being kind of moody. Yesterday the sky was threatening to rain on us all day, but never did. So it was a perfect day for a stroll through the gravestones...

This is one of my favorites. I just love this gravestone... Its so weathered, and it's this beautiful white color on top, but down at the bottom it has this dark base. Such a perfect contrast. I think it's from sometime in the 1800's. One of my favorite things to do at any cemetery is try to find the oldest headstone that I possibly can...

We also happened upon a beautiful mausoleum, and just had to take a look around...

sassy little girl. I'm pretty sure I have seen many a 3 year old make this face :)

My beloved Shakespearian Poison Ring...(sigh) Just recently purchased at the Highland Festival in Alma MI. It's a wonderful festival that celebrates all things Scottish and Celtic. They have men compete in traditional Highland games, girls competing in traditional Highland dancing, and lots of real Scottish food. Mmm haggis, meat pies, and shortbread.

Now I will leave you with a parting photo...

Photo Credits: James Turner


Dress: UO clearance
Sweater: Sourpuss (Purchased at the Detroit Tattoo Convention)
Stockings: UO clearance
Shoes: Steve Madden from DSW 
Pearl Necklace: From my Grandma and Grandpa


Currently Listening To: Karen Elson - "Mouths to Feed"  from The Ghost Who Walks

Shades of Green.

 

Yesterday was James grandparents 60th Wedding Anniversary! Amazing...So we drove all the way to Coopersville MI after work, and got see the family for a while. It was really great, and we had some wonderful conversations! But of course before we left we had to do a little photo shoot :) I was really feeling the 50's pin up/housewife vibe yesterday... It's definitely one of my favorite era's to try and emulate. Here are a few more photos that we took... Enjoy!

Photo Credits:James Turner

James was cracking me up! I'm pretty sure he had me saying things like "stinky pickles" and "Abominable Yeti"... He's a riot, I guess that's what happens when you work with children everyday trying to make them laugh and smile lol

Dress: F21

Belt: Vintage

Clutch/ Wallet: Coach (factory outlet store)

Shoes: Moda Spana from DSW                   

Tomorrow i'm going to my favorite vintage store around the area.. Well it's technically in Grand Ledge, so about 20 min or so from my house, but so so worth it... I'll let ya'll know what wonderful treasures I find, and just had to bring home with me :) Cause Lord knows, all vintage things need a sweet little home to live at, and someone to fawn over them everyday like the precious jems they are...

What's your top three favorite vintage or thrifted items you own??

Currently Listening To:
Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground - Oh Lord, I hate you California

The Brave Little Moped.

 He has been with us through thick traffic and thin, through rain and shine, in 55mph traffic and 25mph traffic. This is the Brave Little Moped.

Yesterday was a lovely day filled with lots and lots of relaxation, fun, good music ( I bought the The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Soundtrack. It is Fan freakin tastic!, so eclectic with tons of indie bands), and..... me getting locked out of my house... For the second time this week!! Boo, Paige. I really REALLY need to go get another key, but honestly isn't it just more fun shimmying up the trellis, climbing onto the garage roof, then up to the porch roof where my bathroom window is, and trying to pry it open with my bare hands? I think so.

Oh, and our moped's name is Roy.

After I was let back into my house by my very sweet landlord, 2 hours after I locked myself out, I decided to go and get new jewelry for my septum. So I ventured down to Splash of Color and got myself some new bling, and then I went to Hot Topic to get some new tapered earrings for my lobes. So I stretched them from a 10 to a 6. Ouch. Probably shouldn't have skipped a size, but oh well where's the fun in that. No pain No gain.

Then Jam and I watched Ghost World which starred Thora Birch, Steve Buschemi, and Scarlett Johanssen. It was kinda ehhh, not my favorite. 

We also decided to romp around the neighborhood and scare up some good locations for photo shoots. We found a sweet little alley with greenhouses on one side, and a gravestone engraving place on the other side. So we ventured out back and snapped some shots, and here's what we got...

P.s What is your favorite thing to do on a Sunday morning in the Summer?

I love this green wall! I'm so excited to figure out what outfits will really pop against it...

This last photo is probably my favorite from the shoot, I just couldn't bear to leave it out... I think I heard a bird scratching on the tin roof when he took this one. Or maybe it was a demon raven from Birds.... I may never know....

Outfit Details:
Cardigan: Jcrew
T-Shirt: Jcrew
Shorts: Gap
Belt: Jcrew
Shoes: Steve Madden (from about 6 years ago)
Necklace: From Lee and Birch in Muskegon

All photos by James Turner     Currently listening to: Mewithoutyou A--> B Life

Harry, I feel like I'm running at an incredible rate!

Life seems to just be flying by. This weekend was chocked full of fun, and fantastic stuff! On Friday the hubby and I spent some quality time with my parents. Then off I went to enjoy a wonderful dinner with my best lady. We had a spectacular spot on the patio at El Azteco here in East Lansing, mmm delish Mexican food. I had chicken enchiladas with beans and rice. In the words of Rachel Ray "Yummo!"

The side of our house is covered in ivy, oh how I love it! So quaint, it kind of feels like a little cottage.

 Photos by James Turner


Hat: h&m
Dress: Old Navy
Belt: Urban Outfitters
Shoes: Target

On Friday, James and I also decided we are moving in with my parents for a few months before we head off to Austin TX in October. Look out Texas! The Wonder Twins are headed your way! So that's super exciting, we'll be able to save up some money for the move, plus spend lots of time with the family before we go. Oh how I'll miss them all... Thank goodness for email, cell phones, and Skype... I'm not sure I could do it without all of this great technology.

Anywho... Yesterday I spent the day relaxing at home and thoroughly enjoying myself, and I also went to my mothers and made some homemade strawberry freezer jam! I cannot wait to try it out tomorrow morning for breakfast, oh man it's going to be scrumptious! Then later on in the evening I went with some lovely people to a little venue called Mac's Bar, and watched a few totally rad bands play. We saw my friends Mike Mains & The Branches play, oh my goodness, totally blew me away. I also saw a band for the first time called Kay Kay and his Weathered Undergound, so amazing! They are so eclectic, and full of life! I was very pleasently surprised.... This was what I wore to the show...

Photos by James Turner

Shirt: Urban Outfitters
Pants: BDG
Shoes: Charlotte Russe
Purse: Urban Outfitters (Forever ago) 

 P.S As you can probably tell this is a bit different from my other outfit posts, I shall state the fact right now that I am a chameleon in a big way. My outfit style/theme changes daily from 50's sweetheart, to hipster, to rocker chic, to all vintage, and then grunge. That's the captivating part of fashion for me, I love that I never change on the inside, but I shed my exterior everyday and can have something completely new and different everyday after that.
Currently listening to: Hang You From the Heavens By The Dead Weather

All the pretty little things.

Photo credit: James

The above outfit is what I wore to work, nice and comfy. 
Shirt: Gap
Skirt: Local $15 or less  fair trade store
Belt: AE Outfitters
Cardigan: F21
Purse: Vintage Coach from my Grandma
Shoes: Rocketdog from DSW


So yesterday was a wonderful day filled with lots and lots of pretty little things. After work I decided to make a trip to a local vintage store that usually has some pretty great finds, and boy did I find a couple! I found a darling light blue 50's casual dress, a couple little pairs of socks, and a preppy little plaid cotton skirt, all in perfect condition (I love when that happens...).
After that store I made may way to another section of town here in Lansing called Old Town, pretty artsy and fun. There I hit up a great new vintage and antiques store called Lambs Gate, and I found a few great treasures there for really great prices! My new treasures found are an adorable little tapestry purse, a little black and white polka dotted belt, and a pretty little ballerina pink camisole. Beautiful, pretty little treasures indeed.

Photos by James

Dress: Vintage, as told about above
Cardigan: Old Navy (forever ago)
Socks: Vintage
Purse: Vintage, as told about above
Shoes: Steve Madden from DSW
 
This what I wore to a great little event at Schulers Bookstore, it was all about a new book called The Tattooed Lady: A History by Amelia Klem Osterud. The author came and and talked all about the book, and how she came to write it. Also quite a few tattoo artists showed up as well and displayed some of their artwork. It was a really great event, and of course I had to buy the book, which I am currently reading. Very very fascinating.