what i've been up to.

A break from blogging has become a trend for me this Summer. And I'm not here for long! 

Over the last couple weeks I've been busy buying this house with my honey (closing tomorrow):

Working on projects for the new house:

Hosting a bachelorette party for this girl:

Standing by her on her big day:

And tomorrow we leave for Africa.

Back again in a few weeks! 

everywhere but here.

Scarf: Israel, Top: f21, Leggings: Target, Shoes: Madden Girl

I swear it's Summer everywhere but Oregon. 

I can't believe I've been wearing scarves and using my windshield wipers in JULY.

Every day I look out the window and wonder...

When will it ever be Summer?

twins.

I just saw the above video on Young House Love's blog and as I was swaying and snapping along with the song I realized that Marsha Brady's outfit looked oddly familiar...

It's my outfit from yesterday's post.

I knew styles from the seventies were back, but I guess I didn't realize quite how much! 

I think I've found a new style icon.

no eating.

Top: Nordstrom, Shorts: f21, Shoes: Old Navy, Watch: Target

I'm about to get crazy, peoples.

I had lunch exactly two hours ago. You know how I know? 

Because I'm taking Typhoid Fever pills for Africa and I have to take them on an empty stomach.

With me, there is no such thing as an "empty stomach", as I am always snacking on something.

I just took my first dose which means I can eat again in one hour.

[tummy growling]

I've literally smacked my own wrist twice in the last twenty minutes. 

Once when I was reaching for a juicy (the kind that drips down your wrist when you bite into it) peach.

And once when I was pulling out the drawer to get a (less juicy) balance bar.

I even put on the sticky orange rubber bracelet that came with the pills to remind myself not to eat anything.

I'm going to prepare a platter of all the snacks I've been craving, so the moment the clock strikes 4:31 I can eat eat eat.

A stick of gum has never tasted so good.

three things about thrifting.

 Necklace: f21, Top: Urban Outfitters, Pants: Thrifted, Shoes: Target

There's something intimidating about thrift stores.

It's not the same intimidation that you experience when you shop in an expensive store with snooty sales people and high price tags, but it's really just the opposite.

Obv.

You know that musty smell masked by a cheap, nauseating air freshener you're hit with the moment you walk through the doors? 

It's that.

It's the fact that you use a shopping cart as if you're at the grocery store.

It's the massive rectangular warehouse lined with piles, racks, and shelves crammed with other people's junk--and the crazy hoarders sifting through said junk looking for a "deal".

Well, I have become one of those crazy people (minus the hoarding, of course). I was incredibly intimidated by the idea of "thrifting" at one time, but I've figured out a couple things since I started that help me have a successful shopping trip every time.

1. Skip the Cotton. If you are grossed out by the idea of wearing someone else's old t-shirts, then just skip the "Knit Tops" section. You can definitely find some quality items in that section, but the majority of it is stretched, stained, or stinky. Instead, head towards the sweaters or blouses.

2. Choose a Nice Location. Only go to a thrift store in a nicer part of town. The nicer the community is, the better their second-hand items usually are, which makes your thrifting experience a lot easier. 

3. Go with Specifics. Since thrift stores are filled with a mish-mash of items, it's best if you know what you're looking for. I usually go with some sort of color-specific agenda since I know that most of the racks are organized first by size, and then by color. This helps me block out all of the chaos that I know I'm not interested in. 

I hope that helps everybody! Don't be afraid to check out your local thrift store. 

When I first started, I would only look at the "home" section for things like baskets, vases, and lamps. So, there is definitely something for you--no matter what your comfort level is with second-hand shopping!  

i didn't think i would, but i did.

  

Necklace: Burlington Coat Factory, Tank: Boutique, Shorts: f21, Shoes: Kohl's, Purse: f21

I just bought four pairs of shorts. 

That might seem like a lot, and it kind of is, but I lit haven't purchased a pair of shorts in years.

I was so pleasantly surprised when I went shopping the other day.

I can't remember the last time I've seen a pair of shorts that were properly proportioned.

They're either bootilicious with pockets that hang longer than the shorts themselves.

Or they're really long and baggy and make me look like a river rafting guide. 

There is nothing wrong with river rafting, but let's be honest and say the guides are certainly not known for having fashionable uniforms.

But that was not the purpose of this post. 

The purpose was to tell you all that I have joined Pinterest. 

I never saw the point, and pretty much still don't. 

But there is something inspirational about it. 

Kind of like the blog world.

I don't like Pinterest so much as a place to store my ideas, but I love seeing what others have found. 

Especially now that we are close to owning a home and the decor possibilities are endless.

Also, I want to start a pin board called "read me". 

I've been wanting to read more lately but can never remember the names of books after people recommend one to me! 

Pinterest can help me with that. 

and so can you. 

Read anything good lately?

i'm feeling better.

Shirt: Old Navy, Everything else: f21

It's been a while my Little Pretties!

And no, I have not been on vacation this whole time. I've actually been home for the last two weeks.

The day after we got home I came down with some sort of nasty.

Left me bed-ridden for four days!!!

When my symptoms narrowed down to a snotty nose and phlegm-y throat I had to go to the travel clinic to get FIVE shots for our trip to Africa.

Which resulted in two days of further issues. 

I began feeling a tad better the moment the sun came out and pollen starting floating into my nostrils. 

[Enter endless amounts of sneezing and scratchy eyes.]

All this to say, it's been a rough couple o' weeks.

But my regular signs of healing have finally taken place.

-I did my hair. 

-I changed the sheets. 

-I got a new toothbrush.

These are all things that I realize I do every time I start to feel better. 

Hoo-Rah.