Thrifting and Nails

My husband and I save our change.  We keep vintage tins on our dresser for pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters.  We'll save our change all year, or for two years until the penny jar fills up, because it's always the first to fill up.  Then when that day comes we roll up all our saved coinage, and exchange it for paper bills.  We usually end up with a nice little stash of cash.  Yesterday we decided that day had come, and set to work.  We came up with $113!!! With our new windfall we agreed it was high time we bought ourselves an actual coffee table.  We are currently using a trunk, and it would be nice to have something we could put our feet under.  Or even better yet a drawer we could hide our remotes in.  So today we went on a hunt for that perfect coffee table we've been dreaming of.  

I was hoping to be sharing our great find with ya'll today, but no such luck.  Darn!  We did check out some awesome antique/second-hand type stores, and though we didn't find a coffee table we did find a nightstand for Aaron.  We were really pleased with this find.  Now we can return the folding chair we were borrowing from my parents.  Though now I feel like we have to find Aaron a table lamp, and that wasn't previously on my Desired Furniture list for the house.  

The furniture hunting took up most of our day.  By the time we got home it was almost time for dinner, and Aaron and I have plans to go out tonight.  We are going to see The Spinto Band play at a bar in Philadelphia.  I went to college with a couple of the guys in the band, and I've seen them play a few times.  Their shows were always a blast, so when I heard they were having a record release show in Philly I knew I wanted to be there.  

So when I got home today I decided it was a good idea to fix the nail polish paint job I did on Valentine's Day.  I didn't think it was completely awful.  I liked the color combo a lot, but the hearts were mega messy.  Actually when I pinned a photo from that post, I immediately got a wretched comment saying "there are some things we shouldn't try doing ourselves"!    I try not to let that sort of thing get to me, and I know that paint job wasn't my best work, but that comment hurt.  A lot.  Some people can be horrible, especially on the internet.  I know I'm no pro at painting my nails, but I'm trying, and practice makes perfect (or at least better).  So I'm thankful for those of you who stick by during my nail fails.  I hope to get better one day, but like they say you have to fail at something to get good at it.  

I used the same colors as the previous nail job.  Though I skipped using the markers, I think they bleed too easily.  I also used a little dry glitter and clear polish on the heart on my ring finger.  I need to buy a new nail art pen, I think the old one rain out of ink.  I want to try a different brand.  Do you use nail art pens, and have a brands you'd recommend?  I'd love to hear all about your favorite polishes!    

Have a great weekend, and happy DIYing, chris!

Cute Hot Summer Outfit

Since I haven't been getting dressed up lately I haven't been making an outfit posts.  When I got dressed up yesterday (for my brother's engagement dinner) I knew I had to have Aaron snap some photos.  I wore this outfit in the spring on a rainy day, but I restyled it for the hot summer days we've been having. 

dress -- H & M

slip -- thrifted vintage

belt -- Target

necklace -- my cousin made the pendant, and the chain was a gift

bracelet -- inherited from my step-grandmother

sandals -- DSW Mix No. 9

My cousin made the glass pendant for this necklace, and I always get at least one compliment when I wear it.  The gold chain is an antique from my mother-in-law.  She gave me the diamond for my engagement ring on it, and when I got the ring the jeweler was really impressed with the chain.  Apparently they don't make this type of chain anymore, because it's super delicate.  He cleaned it for me, and gave me a large silk lined padded box to keep it in.  

I almost feel off the rock when I was stepping onto it, and Aaron was sure to snap an action shot.  :)  

This is the only pair of sandals I own, and they are perfectly summery.  

I'm not really sure what I'm looking at or doing in this photo, but it makes me think of Alice in Wonderland.  Maybe I'm about to fall down a rabbit hole.  

I love all the colors in this dress' intricate pattern.  The blue lace and silk slip is the perfect addition to lengthen this short dress, and make it family appropriate, while still keeping it dainty and feminine.  Oh, and don't worry that weird stuff on my knuckles is just paint.  No, I don't have some gross skin disease, but I do have super veiny hands and wrists.  

And before I go here's an outtake.  Goodnight, and Happy DIYing, chris!

Lazy Hot Days

Happy Sunday!  It's been super hot here.  I think it reached ninety today, and the humidity was high.  I felt like we were swimming though the neighborhood during our evening walk around six-thirty/seven.  Even Moose was okay with only going for a half walk, instead of making it around the whole outer circle of the neighborhood.  I was going to venture to a different picture place other than my backyard again, but it was just to darn stinkin' hot.    This is what I wore today ...

Dress -- vintage thrifted

Belt -- hand-me-down from my Grandparent's basement

Shoes -- Dirty Laundry DIY lace-ups

I recently took in an inch on each side of the top half of this dress.  It fits just like a glove now.  Before I had way too much room in the chest area, and my already small boobs looked ti-ny!  I also fixed the bottom of the zipper in the back.  It had come loose, and left a gapping hole at the top of my bottom, so I'm glad that's all closed up now.  :)  I love this dress a ton.  I bought it at a great vintage/thrift store in Shoreditch, London. The print, and cut of the dress are perfect for me.   Great for throwing on, and getting things done.  I usually don't wear red, but I love the little red pipping on the pockets, and across the top.  The pockets are super useful.  I end up with loads of random things in them.  At one point today, I had my 75mm lens in one of my pockets!  I love how the blue and white pattern on my belt work with the pattern on the dress, they complement each other well.  I've been wearing either this pair, or my black pair of Dirty Laundry shoes everywhere these days.  I'm not one for flip flops, and these are the most comfortable pair of shoes I have for all these hot humid walks I keep taking Moose on.  

I mostly finished an awesome bracelet I crafted together, but I need to buy a toggle clasp to finish it off.  That's what I spent most of my day working on, and hanging out in the sunshine, trying not to spend the entire day hiding indoors.  Now that the sun is setting, I'm hiding out dreaming of eating popsicles, and watching Lie To Me.  I hope ya'll are keeping cool where ever you're reading this from, and happy DIYing, chris!  

Happy Spring!

With all these sunny beautiful days I had to try another outfit post.  I also got my Wacom tablet working!  Turns out it was just the pen that wasn't working.  Well I'm still not able to use photoshop, but Gimp isn't so bad.  

I love this dress.  I bought it when I was studying abroad in London back in 2005.  I found it in this amazing vintage shop in Shoreditch.  I'm pretty sure it's handmade.  

The blue jacket is from Heritage 1981, and I love how soft and comfortable it is.  The little red sweater is from H&M.  The yellow bracelet I inherited from my step-grandmother.  

This is definitely my favorite yoga pose, and my outfit looks pretty cute in this shot!  My stockings I got for Christmas, so I'm not positive where they're from.  The shoes are a pair of Dirty Laundry shoes I DIYed.  My hair bow was a free gift (with purchase) from ModCloth, they give the best gifts.  Their lil' presents just encourage me to buy more things, to see what I'll get for free!  

Happy Spring Everyone!!!  Hope ya'll are enjoying some sunny weather too!  Happy DIYing, chris.