Fin.

I've been meaning to write this for months, but the more time that went by, the less motivated I was to actually do it. It just seemed like an insurmountable obstacle to say...


I think I'm done blogging. 

I had a great time here for years. And I needed it. When I started this blog, I was working with juvenile delinquents and I hated it. I had a boyfriend of three years and I hated it. I dumped him and he turned violent and I had to stop seeing a lot of my "friends" in order to get away from the situation permanently. Blogging was a fun escape that helped me when I felt unmoored. During my 5+ years of writing here and photographing myself, I found a job I look forward to doing every day and the love of my life, Nate. We're trying to start a family and have been painstakingly restoring our 1941 home.

I started focusing on other things (like our neverending battle with 1960s wallpaper) and suddenly months had gone by without blogging. There are times I miss it, but mostly I don't. Blogging has become this other... thing. A thing about affiliate links and sponsorships and all I wanted was someone to appreciate my wacky vintage dress. I can't say for 100% certain that I'm gone forever. I loved having a record of my life here since I previously never had the discipline to write in a journal or keep track of much. But for now, I'm happy away from this space. 

I still wear clothes (and believe me some of them are as weird as ever) but it's been nice not to focus on it as much. I've been wearing more flats. And more things that I can get paint on. And it's been great. 

If you want to check up on me and see too many photos of our dog and our home projects, you can follow me on instagram here (I finally had to get a smart phone when my golden oldie stopped working.) Thank you all for your kind comments over the years, they really did get me through a rough period in my life and for that I will always love the blogging community.

Psst, I can't post without some photos so here's a few shots of our renovations:

The dining room before we bought the house... my dad said "looks like all you're missing is the casket"... it did give off a funeral home vibe.

What we found under that terrible carpet (well, after a lot of scraping, washing, and waxing)! Look at the inlayed wood border! 

The living room had the same blue carpet (as did the stairs and hallways upstairs)... here's what we found under that carpet:

And how it looks now: 

We juuuuuuust finished ripping down the wallpaper out of our 23x13 foot living room and painted it "Toy Tank Green" - I'm so thrilled but don't have any other shots of the living room put together yet.

Our retro kitchen (the stove, cupboards, countertops, and tiled wall were original to the home so we're leaving them!) We painted the walls black and still need to replace the vinyl floors, but so far I love it!

Also, Marla Hooch Olson would like to say hello:

And I'm about six months late on this:

Otherwise, here's a few highlights:

Seeing THE REPLACEMENTS, Wayne's World Halloween (Garth & Stacy aka Psycho Hose Beast)

A very cold Vikings game, the MN Twins home opener:

Fin. Probably?

Whuuuut?

Well, there I go again. Disappearing for a whole summer. I stopped the blog a bit before the school year ended because my grandfather died and I went home to WI for a few days and to Chicago for the wake and funeral. I've been waitressing, bartending, and driving the bev cart at the golf club all summer, so I've been living in golf polos. You're not missing much fashion there, believe me.

The news:

Nate and I bought a house and close on it in less than a week. Fare thee well condo! I lived here alone for 8+ years and for almost a year with Nate. It's time to move it on up from 850 square feet to about 1950 feet. Whoop, whoop! TTFN condo! 

We're just renting out the condo to a tenant, so at least I don't have to say an official goodbye. I get oddly attached to places. Especially this one. When I bought it, it was the first time in my whole life I lived alone. It was a big step at 23 years old and I have so many memories here. So I'm glad it's not gone forever - yet. Besides, I'll be back to visit our neighbor friends and make them let me use the pool next summer.

Otherwise, Nate and I are finishing up a summer of weddings. We had four to attend this summer (two of which - we were in the wedding party) and we still have two more in the fall. Six weddings in 5 months. And none of them are in Minneapolis. I'm basically working 12 hour days all summer to afford wedding gifts and hotel rooms. 

The weddings:

Dancing with another one of my grandpas at my cousin Bryan's wedding:

Henrik cheers-ing Nate at that wedding:

I was a bridesmaid in Breckenridge, CO for my friend Megan:

Where we rode bikes from Vail to Frisco and stayed in a mansion in the mountains for 5 days:

Nate was the best man in a wedding in Mankato, MN:

Unfortunately we had to go to another funeral this summer too. Our groomsman, Sunder, who was very ill but fortunately made it to our wedding, passed away on July 4. His favorite holiday was the Fourth of July, so it's very fitting he held out until that day. His family got special permission from the sheriff to shoot off tons of illegal fireworks in his honor after the memorial. He loved candy and sweets more than anyone I've ever known, so his family had a candy, cake, brownie, and root-beer float buffet - which was so fitting. He was only 29 and a sarcastic, charismatic bastard whose hilarity, love, and passion for our fantasy football and baseball leagues will never be forgotten. Nate's already planning a candy-themed tribute tattoo for him.

Well, that was our summer. 4 weddings, 2 funerals. And 60 hour work weeks. I'm ready for school, I'm ready to move, I'm ready to blog again. And hopefully it's all happening in the next few weeks. Later, skaters. Wish me luck ripping up carpet and praying our original 1941 hardwood floors in the house are in good shape. Skol!

F for Effort

Whoa dudes, I fell way behind with the six year wrap-up and randomly playing hooky from work - so here we go. A classic photo dump.

This day was super rainy, which meant I didn't bike to work so I wore a maxi skirt - generally a biking no-no. It rained for like 24 hours straight. It made me want to stay home and nap but I didn't.

Cardigan - Old Navy

Polo - from the golf club

Skirt - thrifted vintage Aileen

Wedges - thrifted Nine West (they're under there somewhere!)

I am hoping this was the last cold day. It was only in the 40's and it was super annoying! It's mid May! Nate picked me up from work and we looked at three houses. Two of which were not good and one which had accepted an offer an hour before we got there. House hunting is so frustrating!

Sweater - Gap

Pins - thrifed, flea markets, etc

Polo - from the golf club

Jeans - Gap

Shoes - Minnetonka Moccasins

Woo! Tuesday - a very warm and bikeable day! It was like 78 degrees and it was glorious! Then I had to go waitress until 11pm. Boo.

Vest - thrifted (no tags)

Dress - Target

Wedges - Ralph Lauren

This was yesterday, also an awesome bike day (though it was windy as hell!)

Necklace - thrifted

Oxford - thrifted little boys Cherokee

Skirt - thrifted Express

Ballet flats - Target

This necklace kinda looks like it's made out of rock candy...

Ok, now that that is out of the way, we'll go back to regularly scheduled blog programming. Whatever that is.