The April issue of METRO magazine arrived at our office today and a vintage dress from my inventory is featured on the cover!
You could throw any old thing on that cover girl though and she’d look cute-as-a-freakin’-button. This summer-ready frock, along with a zillion* others needing good homes, will be up for grabs at Mighty Swell’s upcoming Spring Has Sprung event. You know. In case you you were wondering.
Well, I’m off to catch up on some housework and then get going on making this divine-looking dessert. (Thanks for the Bon Appetit subscription, Marmee!) Wish me luck!
Hot pink shantung sheath. Rhinestone details. Diamond engagement ring. Gold mesh watch. Perfectly coiffed hair. A tiny glimpse of old-school Spanx. (Quelle horreur!) And a cocktail glass in need of refreshing. This, my dears, is my grandma Mary, circa 1969. She will always be one of the most beautiful, poised and elegant women in the world to me.
{Our 1st sale at umber studios, photo by Kate Sommers.}
Hey lovelies!
Boy oh boy, do I have some news to share.
In the midst of hunting for a venue for our next pop-up shop, Rae and I were approached with an amazing opportunity for Mighty Swell. I’m so excited to announce publicly that we’re now the proud lessees of our very own storefront space! And not just any space, but a venue that I’ve known and loved for years…my dear friend Jessica’s gallery, Umber Studios (also the site of Mighty Swell’s fall pop-up shop) in South Minneapolis. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to pinch myself these past couple months…it’s magical the way things can sometimes work out.
We most certainly could not have taken this step without the tremendous support we’ve recieved and we’re beyond excited about the possibilities having a venue all our own presents. We look forward to bringing you more frequent shopping events (no more waiting months and months) and introduce you to our favorite top-notch, quality vintage vendors (and all-around delightful ladies). We have so many other fun ideas and plans up our sleeves, but sharing them will have to wait…for now!
If you’re in the area, I hope you can drop by and check out our new home during our upcoming Spring Has Sprung! sale, happening from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1st. Our lovely vintage vendors will be on hand to hook you up with affordable, quality vintage for your closet and home, in addition to fresh coffee and baked goodies from A Baker’s Wife and tunes courtesy of Girl Germs Radio. And probably a bottle or 12 of celebratory champagne.
Just a few photos from Sunday I’m a little late in posting…My man and I went to Treasure Island to see Ray Price perform. For being 85-years-old, he sounded great, and although his set was fairly short, he sang a lot of the hits we were hoping to hear. He even stuck around the lobby afterwards, signing people’s records (or, in our case, our tickets) and posing for photos. All in all, it was a really fun day*.
*Up until about 10 p.m., when I came down with an horrible bout of food poisoning. Kind of a bummer way to end such a good day, but what can you do? Avoid casino buffets, that’s what!
Oh, just a banana box full of thrifted goodies I got for $5 yesterday.
No big deal.
As if that wasn’t a nice enough score, the man working the thrift threw in two cute-as-a-button Easter bunnies. Awwww.
To learn about some of my other favorite spots to thrift in St. Cloud, check this post out. Also, my apologies re: the rollers…I’m a bit pressed for time this morning.
Here’s a closer look at some favorite finds from last week…a trio of really pretty skirts, a handful of dresses, a pretty floral nightie, a ’40s-era silk blouse, a buttery yellow eyelet top and a handmade quilted vest. In related news: I have too many clothes.
I remember the morning I first hit “Publish.” I had spent the night before at Jimmy’s, and was feeling tired and groggy. I recall shuffling into my dining room, publishing that first post, and then going straight back to bed. Ha. I had no idea that one (whirlwind) year and 283 posts later, I’d sit here overwhelmed by the opportunities that have come my way because of this little baby blog. (Exhibit A. Exhibit B.) From the bottom of my thrifty little heart, thank you for reading, thank you for commenting. I love this blog, and can’t wait to see what year no. 2 will bring!
When I was little, I was obsessed with the movie National Velvet. I would watch it, rewind it and then watch it over again, mesmerized by a 12-year-old Liz Taylor and the strikingly beautiful Angela Lansbury. I loved it so much, I even wrote my own tribute-like short story to the movie, with an identical plot line and setting. I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread, until my mom was like, “Honey, let me explain to you what plagiarism is.” Anyway, when I heard of her passing this morning, I was reminded of all those hours I spent watching that movie, mouthing along to her lines, rooting for her to win the big race.
I hope you’re resting easy, Liz. The world already misses you.
I’ve had some great luck thrifting jewelry lately, so I thought I’d do a little how to post on cleaning it up so it’s sparkly and ready to wear. (Thank you to the lovely Hannah Kuhary, for sharing this DIY recipe with me!!)
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
♥ Liquid dish soap ♥ White vinegar ♥ A toothbrush (softer is better, but any kind will do) ♥ A lint-free rag or cloth ♥ A smallish bowl ♥ ♥ ♥ This method is safe for cleaning gold, silver, platinum, diamonds and hard stones. It is NOT SAFE for pearls, opals or jewelry with adhesives or loose stones. ♥ ♥ ♥
HOW TO
1. Place jewelry in a heat-proof bowl.
2. Heat 2 cups of water almost to the point of boiling.
3. Add a couple drops of dish soap, one tablespoon of white vinegar and mix to combine.
4. Pour the solution over jewelry, swirl it around a bit and let it soak until the water is cool.
5. Brush jewelry with a toothbrush under running water and leave to air dry on lint-free rag or cloth. And…voila! Your thrifted accessories are sparkly and clean!
Hannah wanted me to mention that this method is perfect for people with skin allergies or sensitive skin—many drugstore jewelry cleaners have ammonia in them which can be irritating and harsh.
I hope you all are having wonderful Wednesdays so far! It’s snowing like crazy here and I’ve got a long day of editing and interviews ahead. But tonight, I’m trekking to Dinkytown to see this band play, so I can’t complain too much not going to see Warpaint because they are snowed in. So excited sad!
♥ I watched this movie yesterday morning and loved, loved, loved it. If you like ’60s girl groups, it’s a definite must-watch. The fashion is super rad, too.
♥ In what’s definitely my first and probably only reference to Maxim magazine on this blog, I have to admit I loved this article in the March issue about two dudes on a quest for the perfect plate of nachos (aka my favorite food in the universe).
♥ Reading this motivated me to clean out my desk drawers at the office today. Tip numero six also struck a chord.
♥ I made a really big girl decision recently—one that’s going to require me to suck it up and spend less. So, this article on shopping pitfalls and how to avoid them, couldn’t be more timely.
♥ I need to host a brunch soon, just so I have an excuse to make this Rainbow French Toast. Isn’t it purty?
