A Rediscovered Top

On my way out the door with Dan to take these shots, my mom make a joke about how this outfit was my third of the day, which was true.  The only consistent piece throughout my three outfits today was my top, but I hadn't worn it since high school, so I figure I was just making up for lost time.  That top had been one of my favorites in high school, and I hadn't been able to make myself part with it since then.  One of the reasons I hadn't worn it in so long is because I gained weight in college and knew it wouldn't fit, and ever since then I've been afraid it would be too small, and I haven't been daring enough to try it again.  Well, today I did, and boy am I glad! I still love it just as much!

I decided to add this picture of Dan because he just looks so handsome and I rarely include photos of him on the blog.  I'm trying to convince him to let me include his photos in all of my blog posts, but...baby steps.  What do you think of the idea?

 Photos by Dan.

Tank top: old Banana Republic 
Skirt: Salvage Life Vintage (Etsy)
Wristlet: Dooney & Burke (birthday gift from Dan)
Shoes: Born (SO comfy!)

Down the Rabbit Hole

I had quite a bit of luck the last time I went thrifting.  Lately I've been coming home empty handed, but this time I came home with a couple really cute things, including this little button-up, sleeveless blouse.  It was the perfect light, airy top for the 90 degree day we had yesterday! We've just been having the most beautiful, sunny, hot weather here, and I'm loving it!!

I just started reading Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon Summer 1956, and it makes me wish I had a time machine so that I could travel back to the days of Elvis, saddle shoes, and diners with black and white tiled floors, bright red furniture, and bottled Cokes.  When I'm reading about these things, it feels a bit like traveling back in time, and I guess I'll have to settle for that.

Photos by Dan.

Top: Thrifted
Shorts: Ruche
Belt: Gap
Shoes: Thrifted
Sunglasses: Ray Ban Wayfarers

The Greek Festival

Yesterday Dan and I went to the Greek festival in Erie to see the sights.  It was my second time going, and I think I appreciated it more this time around.  It's held at the Greek orthodox church, and there are clothing, jewelry, art, and food vendors set up in the parking lot.  My favorite part of the festival is going into their exquisitely decorated church.  It is absolutely beautiful, and honestly, the picture below does not do it justice.  The entire place seems to be made of gold and marble, and their are detailed paintings adorning every surface.  

My second favorite part of the festival would have to be the snow cones.  I couldn't decide which color to get, so I got all of the colors in one! Dan is getting over a stomach bug, so we didn't think it'd be very wise to fill up on Greek food at the festival, but this icy cold snow cone really hit the spot on this beautiful, hot, sunny day!

Photos by Dan.

Tank top: Eddie Bauer

Shorts and hair pin: J Crew Outlet

Shoes: Clarks

Belt: Thrifted

Sunglasses: Ray Ban Wayfarers

My Seafaring Family

Today was a very relaxing day, and I was fortunate enough to spend the whole afternoon vintage and thrift shopping.  I picked up the bracelet pictured above in a little jewelry shop on the main road in my town, and I found a couple of tops at the Salvation Army.  When I got home, my mom taught me how to hem.  I purchased a lovely little red and white gingham dress that really need shortening at a thrift shop awhile back, and she showed me how to do it.  I'm going to try hemming a skirt soon and see just how much I learned today.  Hemming seems to take quite a bit of patience, which I do not have all of the time.

Tonight my family (my mom, dad, brother, and I) had a family dinner and went for a boat ride.  My brother practiced driving the boat, and it was really nice to see him.  He's twenty-two and has an apartment in town, but I hardly ever see him.  He'll be a senior in college next year studying English, and it'll be interesting to see what he ends up doing when he graduates.

Dress: Gap

Belt: borrowed from Mom

Shoes: Liz Claiborne

Owl pin: vintage

Bracelet: vintage

Happy (belated) 4th of July!

 Photos by Mom and Dan.

Dress: Ruby Rox via Bon Ton's
Shoes: Liz Claiborne via DSW
Patriotic accessories: Bon Ton's clearance rack


Happy fourth (and fifth) of July! I realize I'm a day late, but I didn't want to let that stop me from sharing my patriotism and good citizenship with the blogosphere.  Yesterday my best friend from high school, Gail, was booked to sing for an hour at the Riverside Inn, a local historic landmark at which there were many festivities happening.  When she asked me to sing a couple of duets with her a few weeks ago, I was very excited/nervous/terrified, but I was happy to oblige.  She and I used to sing together a lot in high school, and it was great to have a chance to perform again.  I'll let you in on a little secret: the reason I'm holding the mic with both hands in the third picture is because they were shaking too badly to only use one, but by the end of show I had loosened up a bit.  Overall, I had a great fourth, and it was definitely more exciting than most.  Dan and I didn't end up watching fireworks because we were both too darn sleepy by the end of the day, but I did see seven go off on my way home from his house, so I count that as a success.

Wedding Season

Photos by Dan.

Dress: Nine West (Macy's)

Shoes: Banana Republic Outlet

Earrings: Borrowed from Mom

Vintage Dooney & Burke Purse: Ebay (gift from Dan)

Yesterday two of my good friends from college got married.  It is so wonderful to be able to share in the joy of your friends' bliss! They were married in the small church she and her family attend near their house, and they had a lovely outdoor reception at a tree farm and nursery.  They had a big, white tent with tiny, twinkling white lights strung up along the outside, and there were gorgeous gardens all around.  Plus, check out that flamingo.  Pretty cool, right?

This dress is my college graduation dress, but this is the third wedding I've worn it to since I got it last summer.  It is by far my favorite dress that I own.  I was first drawn to its unique, eye-catching floral pattern, and then I was smitten with its vintage-inspired cut.  It's my go-to summer dress.  The red-orange shoes I had already when I got the dress, and they just happened to match perfectly.  I'm definitely glad I wore this breezy dress on that muggy summer day.

Biting the bullet

Well, I did it! I bit the bullet and got myself a new camera...and I LOVE it! I ended up purchasing the Nikon D3000 after much deliberation and talking to a few different people.  Last evening I walked around my yard snapping some photos in an attempt to familiarize myself with some of the settings.  These are a few of the photos I took, unedited.  

I have more exciting news as well! I'm taking a photography class during this month! It starts Tuesday, and it's taught by the photography teacher in the school district where I work.  I took two in-service trainings with her before, one on beginner digital photography and one on intro to photoshop, and I really enjoyed both of those even though they only lasted a few hours, so I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to work with her again and learn even more.  Soon Dan won't be the only one taking photos on this blog!