Monthly Archives: August 2010

chicago trip picture dump

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Oh boy, Chicago was a total ball. I took a gillion photos of the things I loved. Including…

Our visit to Chess Records. This is the room where Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Etta James, Buddy Guy, Memphis Slim, Sonny Boy Williamson, The Rolling Stones and countless other blues and rock ‘n’ roll greats recorded.

And here’s a wall filled with casts of faces of blues legends.

Walking around Millennium Park & taking the obligatory photo of ourselves in the bean.

Enjoying the gorgeous views from our hotel room.

Seeing Iggy & the Stooges!!!!!!!

And after that, going to the Green Mill for jazz.

Taking late-night train rides.

And last but not  definitely not least, spending time with the handsomest man on the planet.

It was such a fun trip, and I can’t wait to have another little adventure with my sweetheart.

Be back soon…

xo.

Meghan

gone rockin’

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Oh my gosh you guys, it’s finally Friday!!!

I can barely contain myself today, because tomorrow, my honey & I are heading to Chicago to see Iggy & The Stooges.  It feels like we bought our tickets 150 years ago, and the fact that this weekend is THE weekend is making me supremely giddy.

I have a hunch that the weekend will go by in a literal blink, because we have loads of stuff we want to do. Like take a tour of Chess Records. Sight see from a boat. Eat tacos & play the jukebox at Big Star. Pig out on Lou Malnati’s deep-dish pizza. Dance ourselves silly at a soul dance party at The Empty Bottle. Stock up on Bears gear (for me, not him). Swim in Lake Michigan. Eat hot dogs at Hot Doug’s. Party at Al Capone’s old hangout after The Stooges. Oh, and did I mention we’re staying here? No really. I’m not joking.

I secretly hope to sneak in the teensiest bit of vintage shopping, too, but won’t be heartbroken if I that doesn’t happen. I’m bringing, like four cameras (including this new toy beauty I got specifically for the trip), so get prepped to see lots of photos from our big city adventure next week.

Happy weekends, everyone!!!

Hugs.

Meghan

P.S. Pretty photo of Chicago was found here.

how to: not be an idiot at the tailor

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Howdy do, dear readers!

Confession: I can’t sew for shit. My most recent accomplishment involving a needle and thread was sewing buttons onto a shirt of my sweetheart’s—a task that took me approximately an hour and an extra-large whiskey ginger.

It’s understandable then, when I need something hemmed, patched or repaired, I take it to the pros. Like Pahoua Hoffman and her mom, Chia, at Sew Simple. This cute-as-a-button operation, tucked into the back of the equally adorable Blacklist Vintage, in Minneapolis, specializes in speedy, affordable alterations and tailoring.

Since taking your thrifted vintage in to a tailor can be a bit intimidating, I thought, with the help of Sew Simple, we could cover some basics so your  next visit is a snap.

1. Learn some basic lingo.

Knowing what to ask for is half the battle, and getting some simple terms down will definitely help you not sound like a fool.

hem-A hem is made when the bottom edge of a garment is folded over once, folded over again and then sewed down. A simple hem is when the garment is unlined. If you want a maxi dress made into a mini, or pants made into shorts, hemming is what you want. This also applies to shortening shirt hems, sleeves, jackets…anything with an edge.

original hem-At Sew Simple, you can choose to have a simple hem (described above), or you can opt to keep the original hem (also known as a Euro hem) where the extra length is tucked under and sewn in such a way that the original hem is kept intact. This option is good for when you want to keep a detailed hem or maintain the same thread color used on other parts of the garment.

taking in-The process of taking in an item makes it smaller for a more fitted silhouette. If you love a skirt, for example, but the waist is slightly too big, this is what you ask for.

let out-The process of opening the seam allowance (see definition below) to let out the extra fabric to create a looser fit. This is what you want to ask for if you thrifted a blazer or dress and the fit is a little too snug.

seam allowance-A seam allowance is the area between the edge of fabric and the stitching line on two (or more) pieces of material being stitched together. Seam allowances can range from 1/4-inch wide  to as much as several inches. If you’re hoping to have something let out, check the seam allowance. If it’s small (like 1/2-inch or less), your tailor won’t be able to do much.

lining-Lining is an inner layer of fabric, fur or other fabric that provides a nice, neat finish.

seam-A seam is a line of fabric held together by thread.

2. Have realistic expectations.

-Don’t get your hopes up; not everything is reparable. “We’ll tell you when we can’t fix something,” says Hoffman. Bringing your item in to a tailor is a good first step (don’t call and try to explain what you want fixed over the phone!). Consultations are often free, as is the case at Sew Simple.

-Don’t expect that your garment will look “perfect” or brand-new, especially if you’re getting holes repaired, Hoffman cautions. “Most people who understand what vintage is are just happy that their garment is wearable again,” she says.

-Don’t plan on being in and out in a flash. You will need to allot time to explain to your tailor what you want done, and if you want the fit altered, you’ll need time to try the garment on and have your tailor work with you to hatch a plan.

-Some fixes need more of a designer’s touch, for example, if you want to reconstruct a piece or alter is drastically. An experienced tailor will know when something is beyond their skill level, and can refer you to a designer who can help. Sew Simple has relationships with local designers who can help you with a more creative project and can refer you to them.

3. Don’t go empty-handed.

-Bring the underthings you’ll be wearing with the piece of clothing you want altered or fixed. It’s amazing the difference that foundation garments (a strapless bra or pair of Spanx, for example) can make in terms of fit. Also be sure to bring the shoes you’ll be wearing with the item—heels, flats, etc.—this goes for guys, too!

-Bring money. Most tailors require full or partial payment in advance. Pricing varies per tailor, per repair. Most tailors will give you a quote for every piece. Sew Simple has a handy list of prices for common alterations, which you can check out here.

-Get ready to wait. Your tailor should be able to give you a ballpark range of when your garment will be ready—usually in a few days to a week, with more complex alterations taking longer. If you need it in a jiffy, let them know, and they might be able to rush it through. At Sew Simple, there’s no fee to put a rush on an item, but be ready to shell out a bit more for faster service at other tailors.

A big thank you goes to Pahoua and her mom, who were ultra-helpful with putting this post together. Keep your eyes out for more tailoring-related posts featuring wisdom from the friendly folks at Sew Simple!

Sew Simple
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 1-7 p.m.
Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

Inside Blacklist Vintage
25 East 26th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55404

Contact: Phone, 612.872.4430
Twitter, @sew_simple

xo!

Meghan

guest blogging at beauty bets

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Hiya!

This Wednesday is going to be beautiful. Wanna know why?

For one, it’s the middle of the work-week. Just a couple more days, and then another blissful weekend will be here. And as you all know, I love my weekends.

For two, it’s the day my weekly beauty column runs over at Beauty Bets. This week, I shared an off-the-menu salon technique that extends the life of summery highlights, and keeps dollars in your pocket. I even show off my greasy roots in the before photo. The things I do for you dear readers, I tell ya! Check out the post here.

For three, I’m finally getting a new garage door! This might not sound like a huge deal, but believe me, it IS. I’ve been without a working garage door for ages, and finally have enough saved to replace it. Yessss!

And last, but not least, Wednesdays = nacho night. Icing on the cake.


Hope your days are fantastic!

xo,

Meghan

every girl needs: a treasure chest

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I love being a woman. I like wearing high heels and having armpits that smell nice. I appreciate having doors held open for me, and am grateful when burps (and farts) are kept to a minimum when I’m around. I don’t consider myself high-maintenance per se, just a lady’s lady. And being one of those can sometimes requires a little upkeep.

Last week, I had a stretch of “gross days.” You know, the ones when you feel greasy, zitty, flabby, how-could-anyone-think-I’m-attractive-? and blah. And you know what? As bad as that (fleeting) feeling was, I was happy to have an arsenal of girlie stuff that I knew was guaranteed to help me feel better.  A nice long bath, an at-home mani, a heels-on night out with my man (who always makes me feel like a million bucks), a big night of beauty rest—every girl needs a handful of simple, inexpensive methods for getting their pretty back, and those are some of mine.

Another thing every lady should have? A treasure chest. Because ladies, of course, have a lot of jewelry. I’m lucky enough to have a treasure table. This pretty piece was made by my great-grandpa as a gift for my grandma Mary when she was a little girl (sometime in the early ’20s).

From the outside, it looks like a plain table. (And yes, those are my bedroom walls. And yes, they are pink. Le duh.)

But open it up, and behold pretties galore.

Most of the little compartments have the original lids, too. Cool right?  My dad had felt liners made, one with my initials, MJM.
So sweet.

So, where do you keep your girlie treasures? A vintage bowl maybe? A jewelry box, necklace tree, train case or  serving dish?

If you’re looking for ideas, here are some of my favorites from around the Internets.

This hidden jewelry box diy from design*sponge has been on my to-do list for months. So cool!

This little bunny ring dish from Anthropologie is too cute! I get excited when I see anything less than a gazillion dollars there, too (this lil plate is $10).

I stole this idea from this stand I saw at Urban Outfitters. I like displaying everyday objects, like a collection of pretty rings, in a special way. A little cloche like this over a patterned saucer would be adorable!

This multi-layered mod plastic jewelry box is sweet.

And in the end, can’t go wrong with a classic, velvet-on-the-inside, pink-on-the-outside,  jewelry box. This 1950s pretty is on sale, too, for $24. Sweet.

I hope you all have had fantastic Mondays! I’m off for my nightly dose of four of my favorite ladies…. “Golden Girls.”

Nighty night…xo.

Meghan

blog roll love: simply breakfast

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Rise & shine!

I love breakfast. I’m one of those people who can happily belly up to a table full of breakfast food any time of the morning or night. The word alone makes me smile. It’s no wonder that this is one blog that never gets skipped in my reader.

Simply Breakfast

No captions. No recipes. Just really perfect photos of really perfect breakfasts.

All photos from Simply Breakfast.

xo!

Meghan


thrifting trip: family pathways thrift stores off highway 35

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Hey lovelies!

Scattered in a row along Highway 35, heading north out of the Twin Cities, are a handful of magical little thrift stores, benefiting the Cambridge, Minn.-based nonprofit, Family Pathways. The shops are mere minutes off the highway, which makes hopping off and checking them out practically effortless. Below you’ll find a quick overview of each Family Pathways store along 35. To make your treasure-hunting even easier, I made a handy little map, complete with each shop’s address, phone number and store hours. (Click on the pinpoint to view details!)


View Larger Map

Common Denominators

♥ Every Family Pathways I’ve visited has been clean and staffed with very friendly folks. Every shop has fitting rooms and all of them accept credit cards.

♥ Some (Rush City, Wyoming and Pine City) are open on Sundays. This is a definite plus for someone who can’t get out of town to thrift Monday through Friday.

♥ The chain offers a Frequent Buyer Bucks punch card. Once your card is full (or, after you’ve spent $120), you get $10 off your next purchase. You can rack up punches at all the shops, so if you’re a regular thrifter, it’s smart to get a punch card going.

♥ Unlike many thrift stores, at most Family Pathways, the staff separates the vintage and “retro” items from the regular merchandise. Keep you eyes open for a stand-alone rack (sometimes labeled “Retro Rack” or “Vintage”) or display, usually found towards the front of the store. Usually they lump older clothes, housewares and gadgets all together.

♥ One of my big pet peeves with some thrifts, like Unique, is inconsistent pricing. At Family Pathways, everything’s pretty standard. All vintage dresses, for example, are going to be around $4. This, I like.

Heading north on 35, you’ll come to, in this order…

Forest Lake

This is one of the biggest Family Pathways, and also one of the most far-flung off the highway (about five minutes). I was impressed with the furniture selection and the huge amount of housewares. The clothes were kind of meh and I didn’t spot a vintage section. I also felt the pricing was a bit higher here than the other stores. Perhaps because it’s the closest to the Cities?

Wyoming

No photo of this one, sorry folks! This is an average-size store, with so-so merchandise. I’ve found some nice ’70s and ’80s dresses here along with my favorite “I ♥ Dancing” key chain. It’s also one of the easiest stores to get to—you can see the shop from the highway.

Rush City

The Rush City store is tucked into the same building as a grocery (Rush City Foods), liquor store and bakery. It’s pretty small, but they have a healthy selection of vintage stuff. Last weekend, I found some really precious 1950s duds for a baby boy, an incredibly cute red and white polka-dotted country square-dancing dress and a handful of other nice dresses.

Pine City

The Pine City shop is also just a hop-skip-and-a-jump off the highway. This store went through a thorough remodel this year leaving it very clean and spacious. I bought a collection of vintage pop bottles there for 25-50 cents each, and have also found some pretty retro dresses, including a sleek silk cocktail dress from the 1960s. The furniture selection is pretty slim.

Hinckley

At the risk of feeling like I’m picking my favorite kid here, I have to say that this is my top pick of all the Family Pathways. First of all, I’m a sucker for tiny, old downtowns, and this shop is right on Main Street in Hinckley. It’s a good size, and right up front, there’s a huge display of all kinds of antique-y, vintage-y goodness. I filled up a basket this weekend with tons of pretty things, including a sweet silk Diane von Furstenberg blouse, a Grand Old Opry souvenir and some new (old) thigh-high stockings. I also found some sweet postcards from the 1970s. Expect to see a more detailed store review of this shop coming up in the next couple weeks.

Family Pathways also has shops in Cambridge, Isanti, Princeton and North Branch, but since they’re not on 35, I left them out of this little round-up. (You can find info about all the stores here.) The money spent at these shops goes to supporting senior services, food pantries and youth services programs. The nonprofit has been serving Isanti, Chisago, Pine, Kannabec and Mille Lacs counties for nearly 33 years and meets the Charities Review Council Smart Givers standards.

I hope that this post and the map is helpful. I’m thinking of making more maps of some my favorite thrifting routes. Is that something y’all would be into? Let me know!

xo,

Meghan

P.S. Many thanks to my sweetheart, who told me about Family Pathways back when we first started dating, long before this blog was born. You’re the best, honey!

how to: make pineapple upside-down cake

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Hello, hello!

So, for last week’s nacho night, I decided to earn extra hostess-y credit and make dessert. Since I was already turning the oven and stove on for the nachos, I figured, what the hell? Let’s get sweaty and then we’ll get full.

I’ve been wanting to try a recipe out of this little, circa 1963 cookbook, found at a thrift up in Cambridge, Minnesota.

It’s hard to swing a spatula in a thrift-store book section without whacking a Better Homes & Gardens cookbook. They’re everywhere, and usually pretty cheap!

Anyway, back to the dessert. Pineapple Upside-Down Cake is sooooo yummy and as I found, easy to make. (It’s filed in the kids-can-make-it section of the cookbook, that’s how simple it is!) I love how this beauty basically frosts itself! Here’s how to do it…

You’ll Need

3 T. butter

1/2 c. brown sugar

4 canned pineapple slices (save pineapple juice from can, too!)

7 maraschino cherries

1 box of yellow cake mix

How To

Step 1: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Melt butter and pour into round, oven-safe cake dish. Blend in sugar with melted butter, pat out evenly.

Step 2: Place one canned pineapple slice in the center, and arrange three halved slices and the cherries around the whole slice. This is the “frosting.”

Step 3: Prepare batter according to package directions, but instead of using water, use pineapple juice (add water if there’s not enough). Pour batter over fruit.

Step 4: Bake 45 minutes. Cool in pan on rack for 10 minutes. Turn upside down on big serving plate. Cut and serve warm, ideally with vanilla ice cream.

Recipe found in “So-Good Meals,” part of the Better Homes & Gardens Creative Cooking Library.

If you give this recipe a try, let me know how it goes!

xo,

Meghan