pretty pressies & metal

First off, let me say that I'm not insulting your intelligence by stating the obvious, but I've made a few changes to le blog. I wanted my pictures to be a bit wider, and that meant editing my html and finally making a new banner. I'm still not sure if I'm sold, so if you'd care to share your thoughts, I'd happy to hear/read them!

I'm not sure how many of you participated in the love vintage exchange that Kellie over at rice babies hosted, but let me just say that the idea was genius, and I seriously got the best packages (I had two partners)! I couldn't photograph everything I received since there's a storm brewin' and the sun has disappeared, but here are my favorites...

These two items were sent to my by Lucy. When I started to open the necklace I didn't actually know what in the world it was, but I could see rocks, which I thought was awesome since I love rocks so much. Then I saw a bit of the rope and i was completely confused. Finally I saw that it was a necklace and I was in love. I've already tried it on with several solid color tops and dresses, and it definitely gives a boring outfit the right amount of awesome!

My second favorite from that package is this pretty bird dish. I know it will be hung somewhere in my kitchen, but I haven't decided on the perfect spot yet; somewhere that will bring it the attention it deserves! In addition to the necklace and dish, I got a pretty mini picture in a gold frame, 1940's black and white photos (many from Germany, my homeland), a brooch and a pair of earrings!

The other package I got was from the sweet as candy Carlen. I have to admit, I wasn't able to pick a favorite, so I photographed the items that were closest. I'm not sure if she saw the "two things I love around my home" post where I shared a vintage hand mirror, but I really love them, so imagine my surprise when i opened up that golden beauty!

Candy. Enough said, right? I may or may not have eaten an entire box of the candy cigarettes in one sitting. Yeah. Yum. She also sent me pretty embroidered hankies and dresser scarves, handmade tissue cozies, and cute little notes explaining each item she picked for me! Aren't packages fun?!?!? Yes, they are!

I had originally planned on walking up to the garage (in the country there are fields between any and all structures) to test out an idea I had for pendants on the metal lathe, but considering the rain is coming down hard enough to possibly drown me as I step out of the door, I guess I'll wait. have you done anything fun or crafty this weekend? Oh, and in case you're wondering what in the heck a metal lathe is, here's a deep and informative voice to explain it for you...

fill in the blanks: fashion

Today's fill in the blanks are about fashion. Yeah, that's about as foreign to me as Swahili, but I still love clothes like 99.9% of the women out there! if you want to play along in fill in your answers, you can link up on Lauren's blog. If you have a chance, check out an interview I did on Jessica's pretty blog!

1. One fashion trend I really regret is Sun In. I'm proud to be a brunette, so i can't for the life of me understand why I wanted to intentionally turn my hair yellowish orange. I deserve to be jailed!

2. The one thing that always completes any outfit is a nice long necklace.

3. I would describe my personal style as um, eclectic? I like so many different styles, and I usually have a few different things going on at once.

4. My fashion muse is anyone who is unique. I love looking at fashion blogs and indie magazines to get ideas on how to wear some of my clothes differently.

5. If I could own one designer piece of clothing it would be something from Nadinoo. I'm loving their spring/summer collection (see pics above)!

6. I would love to raid the wardrobe of Sarah Jessica Parker since she got to keep all of her outfits from Sex and the City!

7. Today I am wearing a dark denim skirt, a loose-fitting grey t-shirt, black braided gladiator sandals, a stone claw necklace, a bullet necklace, these sunglasses and a black forever 21 messenger bag.

wishlist wednesday!

That's right, folks, it's time for another wish list! I'm trying my darnedest not to talk about it to everyone all the time, but I just can't hide my excitement for the June California trip when I get to meet up with Haley, Kassi, Lauren and Brandi! So, this wish list is loosely based on travel "necessities" (and I use that term loosely as well).

Let's face it, plane rides are boring, and if they last longer than the in-flight movie, you'll need something else to occupy your time. Or, if you're unlucky enough to have one of the Harry Potter movies (sorry fans) as the selection, you'll need even more to occupy your time! Might I suggest mini books for journaling or sketching?

More than likely, with all the maps, road signs and GPS gadgets in cars, you won't get lost (too bad). However, should you find yourself deep in the forest with out your car (and its fancy GPS thing) and cell phone, you'd probably be pretty thankful you packed that compass!

I don't know about you, but when I travel, I like bringing back little knick knacks and souvenirs (not spoons, good stuff) that I can't get at home. Not only that, but I like to have some snacks, my camera, phone, etc. on the plane with me, and it takes a large bag to haul everything!

One of the best souvenirs to bring back from a trip is a whole collection of pictures! Don't get me wrong, I'll always love the convenience of digital photography, but nothing beats good old fashioned film & vintage cameras!

Last but not least, if you check your luggage and have to wait at the baggage carousel, the worst thing that could happen would be for someone else to take off with your goods. Fun & customized luggage tags would insure your bags only go with you!

Do you have fun plans for trips this summer? Have you met blogger friends in person? If you want to share your wish list, and I hope you do, link back to me from your list, and leave a link to it in the comments section so I can see!

the bathing suit post

So, this one is going to require a bit of wordage (or maybe that's just because I'm so painfully shy); I'd suggest getting comfortable with a nice cup of tea, or a stiff drink, your choice. You know how I told you yesterday about my new favorite bathing suit that I got from J. Crew on Sunday? Well, I wanted to show you, but I couldn't get a decent picture of it hanging up, and I don't know anyone my size or have any neighbors, so I had to use myself. Ugh. Don't laugh, and please don't judge! I'm definitely not the showy type, so the fact that I'm using pictures of myself doesn't mean I'm in love with myself!

This top is super cute, and I REALLY love bandeau tops (the halter strap can be removed). I got a different color bottom to go with it because I really love the look of mix & match suits, but unfortunately it isn't the right fit. I'm SOOOO self conscious about it, but there are these scars from a surgery I had when I was younger, and the older I get, the more I hate them. When I was younger, I just assumed that everyones lower stomach looked like mine, but when I finally realized mine was different, it sort of started to bother me. I used to cry about the scars, and sometimes if I'm feeling blue, I still do! Anyway, so many bikini bottoms these days are made super duper low cut, and I can't wear them because I REFUSE to show the top scar (it's the deepest). So, the bottom I got for this top was cut too low, but at least I have another bottom that will work!

And this one is my favorite! It just barely covers the top scar, but just barely is better than bare! I don't even know where to begin. I love the color (most any shade of green is my favorite), I love the ultra soft, smooth fabric, I love the sort of vintage inspired style, I love everything about it, and most of all, I love that it cost me less than $10! That's right, J. Crew for less than $10!

So thanks for reading through my blah and icky feelings, and I hope you don't think I'm weird for posting bathing suit pictures of myself. Maybe I'm just weird because I get so crazy about it. I don't know.

This bit actually has nothing to do with my bathing suit (or, I guess it could loosely relate since I was in a swimming pool), but I'm watching an episode of Made on MTV with cheerleaders, and it made me think of this one Saturday at the pool when my sister and cousin decided they wanted to use me as a stunt girl since I'm the smallest. They made me stand on their shoulders, and the dumb part is, we were in the shallow end. All I know is, someones foot slipped and I fell all that way and landed flat on my back on the bottom of the pool. I seriously thought I'd drown. Then I got up, but I still couldn't breathe. Dad came and pulled me out of the pool, and when I finally started breathing and could move again, I told Lauren and Emily that I would not play cheerleader with them again. Definitely not worth the pain and lack of oxygen!

i survived...

...the cage of death. I have no idea what the ride was called, but boy am I glad it's over! Chris suggested that we ride to the carnival that was passing through town, and anytime I get a chance to ride "the scrambler," I do! He was also the one to propose a ride on the spinning, twisting, upset-my-lo-mein-noodles-stomach ferris wheel on crack! Okay, so the big wheel went round and round, but each of those cars also spun around with a steering wheel that was inside. I like spinning just as much as any 7-year-old, but I think even that was a little much!

In addition to the carnival, I got the heads up from a friend on a J. Crew sample sale (and I scored jeans, shirts, and two bikinis). I probably could have stayed all day, but I'd venture to say that Chris wouldn't have been so happy. I'll see if I can get some pictures of my favorite new bathing suit, but I will NOT be modeling it!

Saturday was spent at my little sister's graduation, then at my pop's house for the after party. My family is crazy, and while it may be wise to down a vallium ahead of time, they sure are fun to be around!

What's your favorite carnival ride or game? And did you do anything special this weekend!