The Queen Bee

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Isn't this the most perfect dress? I picked it up yesterday at the Heritage Square Antique Mall. I considered saving it for this week, but I really couldn't. I just love it too much. I'd say that it is probably my favorite piece in my wardrobe right now.


The dress was only $8 and as soon as I saw it on the dress form, I wanted it. The tag reads Frederick's of Hollywood, which surprised me considering that I thought they only made lingerie. While the dress is beeee-autiful (pun intended), I wasn't feeling the sleeves. I cut them off and refinished the arm holes with the appropriate thread. Now it's excellent!


Today we went to the movies to check out Cowboys and Aliens. We weren't expecting it to be anything with a great storyline, so I wouldn't say that we were disappointed. We really wanted to get out of the heat and into some awesome A/C, so we hit the matinee hours for a cheap Sunday date. I got my share of Junior Mints and Daniel Craig to hold me over for the day. Meow!

Regardless, the story line was ~meh~ but the colors and tones of the film were rather solemn and very western. It's fun as long as you're not looking to take it too seriously. As far as recent alien movies go, a few months back we saw Battle Los Angeles, and I'd definitely say that Cowboys and Aliens is better. Oh, and Super 8 was better than both of them. Hah!


After yesterday's pin curls, I slept on my hair as normal last night and woke up with some really strange texture. Instead of trying to flat iron it out or re-curl it, I decided to do a simple up do and clip it with this cute metal flower that I bought at work a while back. I would have preferred a fabric flower of some sort, but didn't have the time to make one this morning.

Don't forget that today is the last day to enter the recycled leather clutch giveaway! Any entries posted after midnight tonight (EST) will not be counted in the final drawing. I will be announcing the winner this week!

Vintage Frederick’s of Hollywood dress, Heritage Square Antique Mall
Black stretch belt, thrift store
Black stilettos, Forever 21
Flower hair clip, UO

Pretty in Pink

We got a pretty late start on today. I "slept in" — 10am is late for me — while Geoffrey went out skateboarding. After he came home and we straightened up the apartment a bit, we decided to head to Heritage Square Antique Mall.


While Geoff was out, though, I washed my hair and decided to try the pin curl technique. I didn't have any clips, so I used bobby pins. Either way, I left 'em in for a few hours and let my hair dry. I think they turned out pretty cute! The only thing I had to do was use the curling iron a little bit on the back. And yes, the back of my iPhone is still shattered...


So on our way, we stopped at the Grandview Carryout just to grab some tea, and I met some little kitties! There are a few convenient stores around here that have "shop cats" and I got up to this little black and white buddy named Harp. He has a Charlie Chaplin mustache!

Okay, enough cat-lady talk for now. There were lots of awesome things at the antique mall (included ceramic cats! Sorry, I had to...). I bought a few things, but certainly admired this silly vintage men's undergarment box and anchor glassware set. The illustration on the underwear box is so funny. Who is taking notes and smoking pipes whilst in their underpants? And why do they both vaguely look like Norm MacDonald?

So I ended up with an amazing dress, a bolo tie, a clip-on bow tie (as pictured), and a needlepoint purse. I will be sharing all of these wonderful finds in a post on Monday!


I want to share this little DIY tip with you. My top is not actually a top! I have a cotton oblong cotton scarf (from I don't know where!) that I wrapped around and knotted in the back. Then I brought the two sides around an tucked them into my shorts. I wanted to leave a little triangle of skin just for fun. It was comfy and cool enough for the hot heat. These shorts were from last weekend's thrift haul. All I had to do to them was bring them in a little and shorten the legs.

What are you getting into this weekend?

Scarf worn as a wrapped top, unknown
Pink polka dot shorts, Mini Penny (buy them here)
Stretch black belt, thrifted
Black clip on bow tie, Heritage Square Antique Mall
Kimchi Blue black flats, UO

Beloved Weekly #3

What a week! With all of the hot weather, storms, and adventures, here's my pick for favorites of the past seven days!




Over at Design*Sponge, there's a downright mind-blowing Before+After article about a couple who converted this old trolly depot to one of the coolest homes I've seen in a while. Seriously, I would love to find spot like this and renovate it.


Elycia's pink hair makes me miss my colorful 'do. A lot.


These two cheetah brothers grooming each other by Jose Cortes III. I love kitties — big and small!


While this Wright Desk is $800 over on High Fashion Home, it gives me some good ideas for DIY projects — that is, when Geoff and I finally decided to get a larger space! I'm pretty much a sucker for reclaimed and aged wood.


This neon nail color from American Apparel caught my eye over on 5 Inches and Up. I have a few bottles of the other colors and as much as I don't really like AmAppy, I must say that they're not bad. I personally love the neon yellow, neon coral, and neon red.


Mike Guppy's series of animated GIFs show classic works of art where the main subject has been deleted. I love the selection lines and how they provide the perfect silhouette and give some of my favorite paintings a modern twist.


This Vintage 60s Flower Power dress that's on sale (for only $18!) Over at Tea and Tulips Boutique! You may recognize the model as Stefanie from Steffy's Pros and Cons — I mentioned her the other day when I discovered her blog after we were both included in the same post on MTV Style.


This pup has the right idea.

What are you favorites for this week?

The State Fair

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Geoffrey and I were both off of work early, so we decided to face the heat and head over to the Ohio State Fair. I hadn't been to the far since 1997 — I was in the fourth grade and was in the Ohio State Fair spelling bee (nerd alert!). The thing I remember most about that day, though, was that I lost my Giga Pet (remember those?) from my pocket whilst on a ride. I was so upset that day that I think it may have given me a bad outlook on the fair since.


We thought that since it is Friday that it would be rather crowded — we were wrong. We got there about 3pm, and our iPhones told us that the "feels like" temperature was 99°F. Ouch. Either way, we had a good time looking at some animals (insert a teary face from us here), some artwork, and enjoyed some excellent people watching.





Needless to say, I consider myself a fan of fair food. I know that it's kind of gross, but hand me a frozen banana and a candied apple and I'm pretty much content for the day. I didn't end up getting either of those things, but I did nab a pretty tasty chocolate-dipped frozen cheesecake slice. Geoff had his fair share (no pun intended) of lemonade.



Look at this guy! We saw tons of animals, but most of them were either in really tiny cages (the chickens and turkeys) or tied to a really short rope (the cows). I love animals and just wanted to cuddle with all of the horses and bunnies. I know, it isn't safe to do that. Oh! And they had clydesdale horses! I know that I saw a few once during a family vacation as a kid, but I didn't remember how huge they are! I was pretty much in awe.



While we love food and animals, we're not too keen on fair rides. We love amusement parks and roller coasters, but there's something about pop-up rides that makes us a little nervous. Either way, we enjoyed a few rounds on the ferris wheel. We even took a ride on the sky tram that goes across the park. The carts are all really cute colors.


I picked up this romper in last weekend's thrift haul. It is (or was) a size large, so I took it in quite a bit. I'm pretty glad that I wore this, though, because it was loose and breathable enough to keep me cooler for the day. I also had to take the belt in to fit me correctly. I'd say that I'm a sucker for a red+white combo!

Have you been to any fairs or carnivals this summer?

White romper, Refashioned thrift
Red Stretch belt, refashioned thrift
T-rex necklace, Cincinnati Museum Center
Kimchi Blue Skimmers, UO

Link Love: Lost Type Co-Op

As as artist, photographer, designer, and all-around lover of details, I must say that I lust after great typography. I don't consider myself a great typist, but I know what I like. Many of the fonts that I adore are quite expensive, so I usually turn to DAFont for free downloads of other typefaces.


In comes Lost Type Co-Op. I found out about them via this post at I Still Love You. It's love at first site! The best part is that these typefaces — aside front he fact that they're gorgeous — is that it's a pay-what-you-want site. Heck, you can even download them for free if you really desire to do so. I think it goes without saying, though, that these artists definitely deserve to be paid for their great work.


I went ahead and bought a few of them. My favorites are Nelma, Pompadour and Duke. Expect to see some of these used in upcoming posts and graphics! Meanwhile, go pick some up for yourself.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Okay. Step back and breathe. I'm trying (and trying, and trying!) so hard to contain my excitement right now.


Alright, let's get down to it, I can't contain myself. I'm really excited (and nerdy) about the news that MTV Style has featured me in their Top Bloggers of the Week! It's safe to say that I was rather blindsided by this and found out via Twitter (haha, right?). I'm so flattered MTV Style would select me and say such awesome things! I mean, shucks, I'm blushing! You can read the article here.

Make sure you also check out the other two bloggers. Thirsty Thought has a lot of awesome VIP posts and access to cool events and people. Envious! Steffy's Pros and Cons is perfectly dreamy and I'm so smitten with her freckles. I've always wished that I had freckles, but alas, I'm not so lucky.

Either way, I can't say enough thank yous to my readers and everyone who has been helping me along with this project. I've only been doing this since March and the reaction has been nothing short of awesome. So, you (yes you!)... thank you!


Alright, onto today's outfit. Should I even share this 'before' photo? It's probably the worst photo you'll see on this blog, but for whatever reason it's the only thing I snapped of this refashion before I started chopping away. I'm not sure what's wrong with me, haha.

It was a pretty basic alteration — I just hemmed 'em to the perfect length and took them in a tiny bit at the waist and hips. I wasn't too keen on the pockets, so I actually stitched them shut. The end result is pretty great, if I do say so myself! What do you think?


Shoot! I almost forgot to point this out (and if you're following my Instagram, you already know), but I now have bangs!


I was sitting at home this morning deciding whether or not I should bleach my hair white-blonde, but decided to just grab the sheers instead. I haven't had bangs since elementary school and must say that I'm happy I finally took the plunge. A simple and nice change to keep me un-bored with my locks.

Bug eyed sunnies, Claire's
Wooden necklace, Contest winning
BDG Basic racerback tank, UO
Black stretch belt, thrifted
Shorts, refashioned thrift
Steve Madden sandals, thrifted

New Sally Hansen Salon Effects Patterns!

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I can't contain my excitement over this news! Geoffrey and I were just at the grocery store when I noticed a new display in the cosmetics section. At first I just thought they were showcasing the Sally Hansen Salon Effects nail decals that I had come to love, but as I approached it I was happy to see that there are new styles available! HOORAY!

Feel free to click the photo above to enlarge. The new patterns are as follows: Wicked Bamboo (vertical neutral stripes), Show Me Your Stripes (a bluish zig-zag pattern), Ay Ay Captain (blue and white nautical stripes), Don't Get Catty (hot pink leopard print) and Check, Please (black and white Vans-esque checkerboard pattern). I'm totally in love with all of them, but I'd say that my favorites are probably the Ay Ay Captain and the Don't Get Catty. The Wicked Bamboo is pretty amazing as well.


I'm no stranger to these nail decals. This photo shows my nails just a few weeks ago with the houndstooth pattern that has been available for quite some time. I actually am still sporting these on my toes! I've been meaning to to an in-depth review on this product for a while but simply haven't gotten around to writing or videoing it.

Another awesome part is that since I have short nails, I can actually double the usage and cover my toes as well! I love cutesy toes, don't you?

For those of you who aren't familiar, these are basically nail "stickers." They're not like normal stickers, though, because they last so long. Mine usually stay on my fingers for about 2-3 weeks and my toes for even longer. Keep in mind that I work in shipping/receiving for retail and constantly work with my hands. Normal nail polish really takes a beating and usually only lasts me a day or two. The Sally Hansen nail decals usually cost anywhere between $8-$10 and I have even seen them in stores like Walgreens and Ulta for buy-one-get-one-half-price! I strongly recommend that you give these a try.


The first set I tried were the golden-bronzeish leopard print. I was shocked at how long they lasted. I've also sported the multi-colored glitter and houndstooth as mentioned. My next choice was going to be the faux-denim, but now that I have these five new designs on my mind, I'll probably be scooping them up this week (maybe even tomorrow)!

Have you tried Sally Hansen Salon Effects or any other nail decals? Which are your favorites?

Silver Lining

I bought this sequin vest way back in January when Geoff and I took a trip to Chicago. I had admired this piece in Urban's holiday catalog, but we didn't receive it in our store, so I just forgot about it. We visited multiple UOs while we were in town (we're nerds) and the Clark Street store had this beauty on their sale rack! The inside has a purple and blue peacock-feather print and I was in love. It was still rather expensive, but I wanted it anyway. Long story short, it is now a happy little part of my wardrobe.

Since then, I have only worn it once. It's very flashy and rather difficult to match with things. When I picked up these railroad shorts in this weekend's thrift haul, I certainly didn't imagine that they would be paired with this vest. To be honest, for the past few days, I've been trying to use it in a post but have totally failed at doing so. But here we are and I'm shining like a little disco ball.


You may be wondering where the brand Mirror/Dash comes from. It's a line that is exclusive to Urban Outfitters by Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth.

I think a big part of me is worried that if I wear it too often, it won't last long. I mean, they are large sequins and I'm quite a clumsy person. Either way, I love this look and it has renewed my faith in the sequin vest!

Mirror/Dash sequin vest, UO
Sheer white tank, thrifted
Salmon snakeskin belt, thrifted
Railroad denim shorts, thrifted
Mossimo leopard peep toe heels, Target

Wishlist Wednesday #1

1. Instant Camera iPhone Decal $6 — This decal from Photojojo would be there perfect (and cheap) way to cover up my shattered iPhone back!
2. Flora by Gucci Perfume $70 — This is probably the most wonderful and sweetest smelling perfume I've ever come across. She will be mine!
3. Too Much Fun Dress in Marine $78 — I love polka dots! This dress from Modclotch would be prefect for every season and could be layered with a cardigan or blazer to transition into fall and winter.
4. Linen Mix Crop Jacket $115 — As a person who isn't necessarily into pink, I do have a soft spot for blush and nude beiges. This Oasis blazer has a great cut and would perfectly dress up denim or look awesome over a skirt or dress.

What items are on your wish list?

Refashioned Green Dress

I think what I like the most about having days off from work are the projects that I can get finished. It's early and I was able to whip up this awesome refashion!

I bought this mint green starburst dress in this weekend's thrift haul and somehow managed to miss it in my Thrifty Monday post. I had it folded up by my sewing machine and it had slipped my mind! Well, it started out granny-esque and turned out oh-so-sweet.

This is such an easy refashion. Getting one of my mom's old sewing machine (she's a quilter, so there have been sewing machines around me the whole time I've grown up!) was probably one of the best things ever. All I had to do was remove the shoulder pads (eek! haha), shorten it, and remove the sleeves. My finishing touch was to remove the lace in the middle panel and pull it down just a little for a low neckline.

My eye color always "changes" depending on what I'm wearing, and I love how this mint color compliments my skin tone and eye color. I was so in love with the little white starbursts on the dress that I was happy to pay $2 for it!

Cute, right?

Pardon the messy background! We always have our bicycles and Kitty's tunnels around the apartment somewhere :)

Primary Concerns

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Okay, okay, laugh it up, guys. I'm majorly squinting! What can I say, it was bright out there! Ah, how about we move on?

This dress was part of yesterday's thrift haul. It's far more beautiful on a person than on a hanger or laid out, wouldn't you agree? I'm pretty convinced that this was hand made. The floral pattern reminds me of The Brady Bunch or something of the like. I'm not really sure why, considering that I've never actually watch the show.

I bought these shoes ages ago at a thrift store. I've only worn them a few times — the last being my Fourth of July outfit.


Do you love the red lipstick? This is the simple $1 lipstick from ELF in Posh. I didn't blot it and it lasted quite a long time — even in the heat!

Vintage denim dress, Mini Penny (buy it here)
Vintage East Fifth heels, thrifted
Found objects necklace, DIY