…of what I was up to this weekend!
We shot new images for the website AND our Holiday 2012 lookbook yesterday (I know you’re laughing…but the holidays will be here before you know it!). You’ll get to see more come October 1st!
Renegade Chicago
September 11, 2011 by · 11 Comments
Saturday afternoon I met up with Merl and her sister for a stroll around the Renegade Craft Fair. It was unexpectedly hot, humid and extremely crowded. It had been a few years since I’d attended the twice a year fair, and am sad to say it was a total snoozefest. In the past, there were some great artisans with unique offerings; I remember wanting to shell out all of my earnings on the goods available!
This time around, there was so much repetition, simply put – it was seriously boring. The lack of variety in vendors was extremely disappointing. Lots of felt, crochet, letterpress greeting cards and screenprinted everything. If I never see another letterpress poster in my life, it will be WAY too soon.
However, there were a few booths with some very beautiful designs that really stood out:
Courtney makes some incredibly swoon-worthy patina jewelry. They were flying off the tables, and rightfully so! 
I fell head over heels for this amazing shop. I grew up with a birch tree in my front yard and have a not so secret deep love for this tree. Merl snagged one of their bracelets and I was intensely jealous! When I finally have spending money one day, you can bet I’ll make one of these handcrafted beauties my own. (And likely a birch tree tattoo somewhere on my bod as well.)
More birch! These tiny little forests are beyond cute. And very affordable as well!
Map art. Of course I love it!
Michigan: Vacation in a Nutshell
August 1, 2011 by · 14 Comments
I had every intention of posting throughout my vacation last week! However, I managed to misplace my glasses, which rendered me nearly blind! So now, I present a massive photo dump / summary of our week in the U.P.!
Little Atlas, very stressed out on the car ride.
The dishware in our cabin! I LOVED IT. Every mug, bowl and plate had this motif on it. WANT.
Mark built many a fire, which we relaxed and sipped wine by. On our list of must haves for our next place: fireplace. Non-negotiable.
For Amanda and Stephanie: we tried opening a wine bottle via the shoe method, which Amanda suggested when I tweeted our cabin had no wine bottle opener. Sad to say the results were poor.
Atlas enjoyed sniffing the fresh air and basking in the sun.
As previously mentioned, we went to the rodeo. It was kind of everything and nothing I expected at the same time. I’m not a preachy vegetarian, but due to the unfairly harsh treatment of animals (which I was not aware of before attending), it was definitely my first and last rodeo.
Even Mark got tossed around!
My dudes.
I recently upgraded my camera, and am trying to use the manual settings most of the time. Mark knows way more than me about photography, and was able to finagle the settings to get a decent shot of the stars! This is about .000000000001 of the stars visible up there!
Driving down the longest, scariest road late at night. We’re talking dense woods, no lights, towns or anything for at least 50 miles. Except deer. No lack of deer.
Atlas discovered he enjoys surfing the net on the ol’ iPad.
This is my boyfriend on vacation.
Crazy small town museums are seriously the best. Appendix or tonsils, anyone?
Uhhhh…..?
We spent a day driving around in search of vintage (mission accomplished, like woah). This antique store was closed by the time we arrived. Gone fishin’. No joke.
For relaxing times. Do you see it?
Waterfalls!
Duck and ducklings!
Can’t wait till next year.
A Little Bit Country
July 25, 2011 by · 16 Comments
Hello from the Upper Peninsula! The air is cool, crisp and fresh, unlike back home in steamy Chicago!
I grew up visiting the Northwoods once every summer, as did Mark. Little did we know we were vacationing about an hour from each other for most of our lives! My family stopped coming up here a few years ago, but Mark’s family continues the tradition, and I’m so happy to have been able to join them these last few summers. Pretty sure this is one of the most beautiful and relaxing places in the midwest.
We’ve been on long walks, enjoyed a glass of wine or three by the fire, seen some deer and even on one unfortunate occasion….a bat. And it’s only Monday! Oh, did I mention the rodeo?! Yesterday we caught the last day of the rodeo before it packed up and left town (more on that tomorrow!). Of course, I had to wear something appropriate for my first rodeo experience. A vintage square dancing skirt and my Texan cowgirl boots did just the trick.
Wearing: Top: H&M, Skirt: Vintage (thrifted), Scarf worn as a belt: Mo Vintage, Boots: New Bohemia in Austin, TX
Why: RODEO! Photos: By Mark
Seriously The Best Shoes Ever
July 11, 2011 by · 10 Comments
Last weekend Mark and I trekked out to the ‘burbs for a day of shopping. It was hot out and I wanted a no fuss outfit for walking around and trying things on. I threw on a summer dress and these heels. Dress = good idea. Heels = bad idea. By the end of the day I was hobbling around like a miserable jerk.
That night, after consulting with Amanda who has a pair, I ordered these Kork Ease. I’d been contemplating buying a pair for MONTHS, feeling the need for a no nonsense go-to pair of wedges I could wear for hours without being in total misery. They arrived on Friday and I haven’t worn another pair of shoes since – they are INCREDIBLY comfy and light!
Wearing: Top: H&M, Jeans: Gap, Shoes: Kork Ease, Necklace/Bracelets/Purse: Vintage Why: Saturday brunch in Bridgeport Photos: by Mark
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