Scott and I are big fan of antiquing and searching for treasures. So when Scott told me about an email he received inviting us to a party at a local antique store, we knew exactly how we were going to be spending our Friday night.
Going to a party at an antique store sounds a bit geeky I think, but geeky in the best way! There was cake, party punch, and a raffle to win a gift certificate to the antique store!
Scott and I spent an hour and a half or so wondering around the antique store, eating cake, sipping the yummiest punch, and checking out every little booth. When I go antiquing I always keep my eye out for the same things: old cameras, pyrex dishes, a plaid set of dishes that my great grandmother had, pretty clothes, and old jewelry.
Scott’s list is sort of the same (except for the girly things), but he also keeps an eye out for furniture, and odds and ends that could be used to make something new.
These glass heads were so neat! Definitely one of my favorite things that I spotted that night.
I really adore this lace vest I wore to the party. Scott picked it out for me over the summer while I was away. He really has such good taste! I can’t wait to style it up again!
We really had a great time exploring all the little nooks and crannies in the antique store for the evening, and although we didn’t walk away with anything that evening, we still had a great time checking out all of the treasures in the store.
Did I mention that Scott really likes vintage, metal staplers? Well, he does, and when we found this little stash of them hidden on a shelf, Scott sure was thrilled.
The day after the party Scott got a phone call saying that he had won a $25 gift card to the store, and could come pick it up whenever he had time. We were so excited for him and could only wait until the next day to come and pick out a few treasures to take home!
Last week Scott and I went checked out the newly opened, second location of Paletas Betty in downtown Tempe. This little shop serves handmade mexican style cream and ice pops made from fresh ingredients. Over the summer I had heard a lot about this popsicle joint (I think I heard that on a movie once and just had to use it), so I thought it would be best to try it out on one of the hottest days of the year (well it was 116, and it surely felt like it at least).
Scott got the Nuez, which is made with roasted pecans and a cream base. He really liked all of the nuts in it, and thought it was delicious.
Although they have a handful of flavors at any given time, my choices were pretty limited (two that is) because dairy and I don’t mix well together. I ended up getting the Arando, a fresh blueberry and lemonade mix.
My popsicle sort of had a weird, icicle texture to it (like it had been re-frozen after being melted once). The flavor though was very good, and I thought the signature Betty bite out of the top side of the popsicle was darling.
The shop is pretty tiny, but simple and clean. I’m not sure when Scott and I will be going there again, but I’m opened to trying it twice.
Have any locals tried out Paletas Betty? Any non-locals have any sweet popsicle shops in your hometown?
It’s Friday and I’m so happy. This week has been busy, busy with grad school work, blogging, lots of emails, and trying to stay cool in these almost unbearable August temperatures. Although this weekend will still holds lots of homework (from here on out I might be drowning in pages, and pages of text to read), I’m very much looking forward to seeing a movie with my love and hopefully attending a yoga class with my friend Courtney.
Earlier Scott and I dropped off my car for a nice deep clean, and shortly I have to pick him up from class. It’s so wonderful being with him every day and seeing us both go forth with our schooling and making plans for our future. I just know we’re going to have a great life. Happiness and love all around!
What are you up to this weekend? How has your week been? Any big plans?
As mentioned before, last week Scott and I visited the “new” Lux Central. For years Scott and I have been stopping in at Lux, a cute coffee shop off of Central in midtown Phoenix. Recently the shop made the big transition into a larger space (literally right next to their old shop) where they now are not only a coffee shop, but a bar/semi-restuarant as well. Scott and I’s friend Chanelle works at Lux Central and she told us that we had to come visit the new space, so on a warm morning we decided to do just that.
The new space is quite a bit larger than the old one, and is full of lots of quirks and charm. When we got there we ordered our drinks, and also a lemon bar per Chanelle’s suggestion (I love eating treats made by friends!). I got my usual iced coffee (they put espresso shots on top just like Lola, YUM!), and Scott got a cappuccino.
We were both so into this latte art. I always feel special when someone spends a little extra time making my drink (or Scott’s) pretty.
Our delicious set-up was so pretty. We sat on a beautiful, long bench that allowed us to have a good view of most of the space. I seriously love people watching, so we really had a great spot to do that in!
I may or may not have been Instagramming away while we were there! I’m still fairly new to it, but I’m sort of obsessed with the app. You can find me at: Chelseabirdd
Right across from us was the most beautiful, rounded couch. In front of it sat the prettiest wooden log tables. To be quite honest, everything in this space is so inspiring and I could have sat there all day. I’m thinking a trip back is in order this week!
Directly behind us were the most awesome plastic chairs. I would love to have one of these in my home one day!
Cute typewriter to leave notes on. That day there was a beautiful little poem typed at the top of the page.
The bar set-up is pretty swanky. There was a row of glasses on the counter that I wish I could have taken home with me. They almost looked like icicles, or maybe tree branches. Either way, they were gorgeous!
Scott and I really enjoyed our time at Lux Central and will definitely be back again. Next time I’m hoping to snag one of Chanelle’s amazing scones!
Have you checked out the new Lux Central yet? What is your favorite coffee shop like?
This past weekend Scott and I spent a fun evening in downtown and midtown Phoenix. Our first stop was in downtown around my old stomping grounds (well, I only graduate a few months ago, so I guess they’re not that old). I wore one of my favorite new dresses from my lovely sponsor Bohemian Backbone because I thought it wold be perfect for the warm evening we were about to have (veggie dogs in one of my favorite parking lots for the win!).
Growing up I always felt this this closeness and love for boho style. For awhile I thought I was a surfer and loved anything boho/beachy related, and even though I grew out of that phase, I still love the boho style. To me, this peasant like dress really screams boho, and I just love that it’s light and airy, and was perfect for our evening outdoors. I already can’t wait to dress it up for fall, though! I’m thinking my favorite pair of maroon tights from We Love Colors, my Bicker Booties from Blowfish Shoes, and an oversized cardigan would love SO cute with this dress! I can’t for the weather to cool down so I can try this style out!
Since I got home Scott has been such a good sport about letting me take his photos and being involved everything blogging (he attended an event with me recently and was the only guy there, all of the girls gave him major props for coming and taking our photos). I just love him so much!
This week has been overall pretty good. I’m finally getting settled into my new grad school classes, and still trying to figure out exactly how Scott and I’s new schedules work. I’ve been hopping around coffee shop, to coffee shop trying to figure out the perfect one that will allow me to focus on my studies best. I always get really distracted at home, so going out and having a coffee or tea and working on my school work is really great.
I’m also really excited this week because my bestie Courtney and I are going to start attending a yoga class together! I’ve been talking about starting yoga for ages now, and although I’ve taken a few classes, those studios/instructors never really worked out for me. This time around I’m hoping for a great experience that will allow me to calm my mind, body, and soul, and to also spend some quality time with Courtney. We’re actually still trying to decide on which studio to try out, so if you know of any good ones in the Phoenix Metropolitan area, send them our way! Thank you in advance! XO
Is it bad that these haven’t left my feet in about two weeks? I pretty much wear the all time! I love the color, and since the temperatures here in Phoenix have been around the 110’s to 115’s, sandals seem almost mandatory! I kind of want another color! Maybe red?
After we took photos Scott might have caught me taking photos and Instagramming them! What can i say, I’m obsessed! Username: Chelseabirdd
See the little birdies on the wire in the window? I would sure love this piece for my future home! It’s SO darling! I just love Phoenix artists!
Today we have a lovely interview with Ashley of I Believe in Unicorns. Ashley runs the sweetest blog about her life in the Phoenix Metropolitan area (her foodie posts always hit home for me), and her daily outfits (which are always darling). I met Ashley at the Arizona Blogger Meet-Up back in March, and I have to say, she is the sweetest lady!
My name’s Ashley and I’m a proud Arizona native. I used to hate this desert state, but after moving away to Idaho for a year, I am happy to be back and surrounded by diversity, familiarity, good shopping and great food! I’m married to the sweetest man I’ve ever known and I run a fashionable lifestyle blog over at i believe in unicorns.
2. What got you interested in blogging, and how long have you been blogging for?
It was really just a fluke. I started a creative writing blog for a class I was taking at ASU and then after I got married I thought I’d turn it into a lifestyle blog to keep a history of our new life together. I’ve always had a big passion for fashion, so it seemed natural to have part of my blog dedicated to that. Now it’s been about a year since I started and I can’t imagine life without the blogging community. I’ve meet so many inspiring woman and got the insight of people around the world. I really love it.
3. Can you tell us about your style?
I have such a hard time describing my style, as it is always changing–depending upon my mood and the occasion. I guess you could say I’m not afraid of change and I’m not afraid of standing out.
4. You’re a Phoenix Metropolitan area girl like myself! How do you handle dressing for the hot, hot heat that we have many months out of the year?
Well, its definitely a challenge and to be honest, when I’m at home not really doing anything I don’t wear much…ha! But when I’m out and about I wear a lot of dresses and skirts. It’s the closest society lets us get to nudity and I like to take full advantage of that opportunity!
5. What are your favorite trends for fall?
I’m super stoked about the modern 1970s trend–wool skirts, high-waist jeans, wide-leg trousers, tie-neck blouses and warm tones. I recently discovered a bunch of old film footage of my parents in their early years and I was enamored by their 70s fashion, so I’m ecstatic to recreate it this fall. Now if I could just get my hands on a super8 camera…
6. When you’re not busy blogging, what can you be found doing?
I love to explore the state and country, so my husband Marcus and I do as much traveling as we can. We’re also big time foodies, and thankfully the greater phoenix metropolitan area provides us with a plethora of fantastic local restaurants to nosh on!
7. With regards to fashion, what do you draw inspiration from?
I draw most of my inspiration from decades. I’m the youngest child of 8 and so I have old family photos of my parents started in the 1940s so I love to get inspiration from my cute mother and my older siblings who lived through each generation. I also love to look at pinterest, j.crew catalogues, and other blogs.
8. If you had to pick one outfit to wear the rest of your life, what would it look like?
This is way to hard! I guess it might pick a beautiful silk button up with a great pair of dark wash jeans, a gold necklace and color contrasting pair of heals, but please don’t ever make me actually do this. I live for variety!
9. You seem to have a great love for mixing bright, bold colors and prints. How do you do so with such ease? You always look amazing!
Well thank you very much! Gosh, this is a hard question. It just sort of comes naturally to me. I’ve always had a pretty good eye for what looks good. I definitely play with pattern sizes. If I’m wearing a bold large floral skirt, then I might wear a solid top and a small striped cardigan. But really it’s a big game of trial and error. Don’t be afraid to try things and see what works. Taking pictures in your outfits also helps.
10. Do you have any advice for aspiring fashion bloggers? What about for someone searching for a little wardrobe inspiration when it comes to bold colors and prints?
For both of these, and for all of life in general, you have to be confident in yourself. You need to be okay with the fact that some people are not going to like everything you wear–what’s important is that you feel good in it and that it shows respect for yourself. The trick in it all is that when your confident more people trust that you know what you’re doing–they then look at an outfit that they might think is crazy and all of the sudden they see the beauty in it.
Thank you SO much Ashley for doing this interview! Don’t forget to check out Ashley’s blog, as well as her sweet, handmade accessory shop, June July!
Today we have a lovely giveaway from April of Mungo Crafts! Here is how she describes her shop and design aesthetic:
“I’ve been crafting for as long a I can remember…. I do a lot of sewing, by hand and on my machine. I love shopping at thrift stores and garage sales, giving old materials new life. I have always used recycled/vintage materials for my creations, making each piece unique from one another. I’m obsessed with colour! Bright colours, pale colours, neons, and pastels! Colour inspires me, puts a smile on my face.”
Being back home means I get to visit all of my favorite downtown shops (and shop owners). So last week Scott and I headed to downtown Phoenix to check out the “new” Lux Central (more to come on that), and to also go to Frances and the semi-new Frances Studio.
We had a really great time chatting with the always so sweet Georganne Bryant, who owns my now favorite trio in Phoenix, Frances / Frances Studio / Smeeks. Afterward Scott and I did a little looking around in both Frances and Frances Studio. They’re having a huge sale right now in Frances and it was so hard not to walk away with something pretty. I spotted an initial necklace that I’m still dreaming about!
Speaking of jewelry, my lovely sponsor Taylor Kenney Jewelry sent me this beautiful Gia bangle from their shop. It has a gorgeous labradorite drop edge, and a pretty vermeil leaf dangling from it. Lately it has been my go-to piece when I want something a little extra to add to my outfit. It’s really a sweet piece, and the folks at Taylor Kenney truly are sweet people. If you haven’t checked out their shop yet you should definitely do so! They have so many pretty necklaces, earrings, and bracelets that would be great for fall!
This past weekend was really great! Scott and I went and saw “One Day,” and I may or may not have cried my eyes out the entire movie. The whole story was very moving, and I just loved the semi-dark, semi-screwed up personalities of the characters. I’ve never been one for “fluff” literature, so when I read a part of this book (yes, I never finished it, sadly), I was immediately drawn to the every aspect one of the characters. I like my literature a little dark, a little on the satirical side. Just ask my college English Lit professor (who I had for four semesters). She knows of my great love for the characters and stories that are very raw and real (Sylvia Plath will forever be my favorite).
Every day with this guy has been a blessing. I just love spending every second, of every day with him. He makes my heart just swell with happiness.
Today I have grad school duties to attend to, and then I’m attending a fun event for DownEast Basics. It’s going to be a great day!
Tonight I wanted to do a little post of my lovely sponsors Chelsea Diane Photography. Chelsea takes the most beautiful wedding/engagement/everything photos, and I believe she has a true talent. Here are just a few of her lovely photos that I plucked from her ever so inspiring blog:
So if you’re in need of a photographer for a special occasion, or are just wanting photos taken of yourself, you and your significant other, or of your darling family, Chelsea Diane Photography should be your go-to photographer! I am sure you won’t be disappointed!
Last week Scott and I headed to Liberty Market to meet-up with the very sweet Chanelle, and her now husband Gabe (They got married on Friday and I am SO extremely happy for them! They are the sweetest couple and deserve the best life together!). Before they got to Liberty, Scott and I decided to share a yummy cappuccino and a pecan bar.
Even though I am a HUGE iced coffee fan, I absolutely LOVE a good cappuccino. I could drink those every day, and this one was super delicious.
For quite some time now I’ve been wanting to try this scrumptious looking pecan bar, so we splurged and got it. It was definitely worth it, and the next time we go to Liberty I might have to get one again. It was SO good!
After Chanelle, Gabe, and one of their roommates got to Liberty, Scott and I got another cappuccino, and also a granola bar (that was SO good as well!). We had a lovely time chatting and I can’t wait to see the happy couple again sometime soon!
