This week I’m in the tiny town of Avon, CO. Avon is about ten minutes outside of the famous ski resort town Vail, CO. Avon has lots of nice trees, and the prettiest river going through it. I’ve been spending my days here venturing around in the beautiful scenery, sipping iced coffee and taking photos along the way.
Just a quick side note: from now on I will be posting my outfit details at the bottom of the post on the left-hand side. So check there for all the details on today’s outfit!
The last time I was in Avon it was December and a blizzard was just about to hit. My family stopped in to pick up portabello mushroom burgers, parmesan and truffle oil fries, and hand squeezed lemonade at Lark Burger on our way back home to Phoenix after my dad’s surgery, and week long stay in Vail, CO.
Well nowadays the sun is shining, the trees are grass are oh so green, and the scenery just keeps taking my breathe away. Since the town is tiny, I know most of the area pretty well. My family has been coming here for at least five years now and every year I enjoy taking in the forrest like atmosphere, something I don’t really get to experience in Phoenix.
I felt like this outfit was perfect for going on an afternoon adventure in Avon. This pretty Mixie dress is made out of the loveliest fabric, and the cut is just right for my body type (and personal style). The whole look felt so put together once I slipped on my new Casita Blowfish Shoes sandals, and draped my European, souvenir scarf on my shoulders, in a laid back, bohemian summer kind of way, of course.
This outfit is definitely my favorite of my so-far summer looks. I see some repetition in my near future.
Today I’m going to listen, and take in the new Death Cab album, which I bought on CD and vinyl (can’t wait to listen to it on Scott and I’s record player when I get back to Phoenix), take myself on an iced coffee date, and maybe go on a walk down by the river. Oh, and mostly definitely rejoice in the fact that last night Scott and I bought his plane ticket for him to come see me in Colorado! We will be reunited on the 4th of July! My heart can hardly wait!
Have you heard the new Death Cab yet? What’s your ultimate summer outfit?
I wanted to do a little post today on this awesome video that Kembrel.com, a private shopping site for college students, made featuring clothing from my lovely sponsor, 81 Poppies. The video is fun, spunky and makes me want to get all dolled up for summer outings.
81 Poppies is going to be offering a coupon that can be purchased through Kembrel.com that gives you 25% off of 81 Poppies merchandise. Remember this pretty cardigan I wore from 81 Poppies? It’s one of my new favorites and definitely a summer staple.
To me, a summer is not complete without a good picnic or two. Growing up I didn’t really go on a lot of picnics, but in the almost five years Scott and I have been together we have gone on enough to make up for my loss.
Gingham picnic dress: Target; Totem purse: c/o Made by Hank; Sandals: Sofft
Before I left Arizona Scott and I went on a few picnics. One of them was at the base of South Mountain, a mountain rage in Phoenix that is like a little slice of nature heaven in the middle of the city. Scott and I used to spend a lot of time there hiking, going on walks, but with our busy schedules we haven’t really made it out there in awhile. So going on a picnic at the base was the perfect way to enjoy the scenery that we love.
Still loving my Made by Hank Totem purse. I love, love that it’s handmade, and it’s the perfect size for summer.
Today I’m in Avon, Colorado, a tiny mountain town not too far from Vail, a popular ski resort town in Colorado. The town itself isn’t that interesting, but it is still very beautiful here. They have one local coffee shop, Loaded Joe’s, and a few stores. Being the coffee obsessed person I am, you would suspect that I would be high-tailing it over to Loaded Joe’s right about now. Well, this is sadly not the case. Over the years I’ve visited Loaded Joe’s quite a few times, and every time I’ve gone there I’ve been disappointed. The coffee shop is also a bar, and because of that the atmosphere really throws me off. The seating is dingy and dirty, and reminds me of a bad night club (I’ve never been to one, but I’m assuming that is what one would look like). So instead of supporting local, this time around I will be spending my coffee cash at the local Starbucks. Sorry Loaded Joe’s!
Is there a coffee shop that you’ve never been satisfied with? Are you fond of picnics?
Scott and I have made it a tradition to go peach picking every May at Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek, AZ. Last year we went and had a blast roaming around the farm, picking peaches, and taking photographs. This year we did just the same, except we did get to look around the Peach Festival as well, as this time we went on a day that the festival was going on. We saw peach flavored treats, craft booths, and farm animals. Our real interest was in the peach trees though, which we accidentally took the long walk to (but I didn’t mind it a bit).
After our long walk around the farm we finally reached the peach trees. Worrying that the front trees would be all picked, we headed to the back for some prime peach picking.
This year the peaches were still pretty ripe (last year they were the same), so Scott and I tried to choose our peaches wisely. We must have squeezed 100 peaches before we found a good one. I’m still amazing though that peaches can grow in Arizona. I can only imagine all hard work that goes into growing peach trees in the hot AZ heat.
Unripe peaches, but still so pretty.
We may have “sampled” a peach, ya know, just to make sure they were good.
We took lots of photos while we were there. Digital, film, polaroids. For Scott and I, taking photos is half the fun. The orchard was the perfect place to take photos on such a beautiful afternoon. In Phoenix we do have orange/grapefruit orchards, but the peach orchards seemed like a special treat. I felt kind of mesmerized while I was in there. I didn’t feel like I was anywhere near Phoenix.
Scott and I decided not to pick too many peaches. Last year we spent close to twenty dollars on peaches, and although they were good, we didn’t think we needed that many this year. Roaming around the orchard for the perfect ones was so fun though. They were a ton of other people there, and watching them pick the right ones was a lot of fun too. Scott and I even saw a little boy sitting under a tree on his picking box, sneaking a peach for an afternoon snack. Too cute!
In the end we only picked a total of five peaches. We walked back up to the front of the orchard with our box in hand, and after weighing our peaches the girl at the counter told us to just take them for free (since they were under so many pounds). We walked away proud with our free peaches and an afternoon of fun.
If you’ve never gone peach picking, or any fruit picking for that matter, I highly suggest you do. Scott and I had so much fun in the peach orchards! In July when Scott comes to visit me in Colorado I’m going to try and take him cherry picking. They have the most amazing cherry orchard in Paonia, Colorado (did I mention it’s in someone’s backyard?) and I want to show Scott how fun it is to pick cherries (one of my favorite fruit!).
These sunflowers were just the icing on the cake. So beautiful!
Today we have a lovely interview with Amanda of The Upside of Wonder. Amanda runs a sweet blog that features her daily outfit photos, and thoughts that are on her mind. She also runs a sweet feature called “Hello, Blogosphere!” where she features lovely fashion bloggers that people should know about.
Meet Amanda:
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
–My name is Amanda and I’m a 21 year old from the great state of Texas! I’m extremely goofy and terribly impatient. I lovelovelove to cook (and eat) and I can’t go a week without eating sushi. I like to think I’m well-rounded; I grew up doing swimming, violin, soccer, theatre and tennis. I’m currently a bio major and I think I want to focus on marine and freshwater biology, but that’ll probably change tomorrow. I’m very indecisive.
2. What got you interested in blogging, and how long have you been blogging for?
–I’ve been blogging for about a year and a half now. I got interested in blogging around the same time I started getting interested in vintage dresses. I found some amazing vintage-inspired blogs and I thought the girls’ styles were amazing! From there, I couldn’t help wanting to start my own blog and begin a little style transformation of my own. I really wanted to utilize the clothes I had in my closet instead of just sticking with t-shirts and jeans everyday!
3. Can you tell us about your style?
-I like to think my style is pretty simple, very colorful, and fun. I don’t like to feel restricted in my clothing, I much prefer to wear something that just flows and sort of has a life of its own! Since I’ve lived in Texas most of my life, I’ve become accustomed to the blazing heat and I tend to keep my outfits on the simpler side as opposed to lots of layers.
4. Your outfits and photos always have this great, natural look to them. How important do you think it is to have this type of consistency in your blog?
–You know, I wasn’t even aware of this…I guess it’s just my aesthetic! I think it’s important to an extent to have this consistency, but not completely necessary. As long as someone can read your blog and say “Hey that’s totally [your name here]’s style!” then that’s the important thing.
5. What are your favorite trends for summer?
-Haha, I just had to Google “summer fashion trends” because I have no idea what’s trending this summer and still don’t really know. I’m just looking forward to wearing lots of pretty white sundresses, lots of quirky prints, and hats. I’ve been a hat fiend lately.
6. When you’re not busy blogging, what can you be found doing?
-Well, right now I just started a new job and am also transferring to a new university this fall, so I have lots of stuff to do regarding those two things. Other than that, I’m usually hanging out with my family or friends or boyfriend, Gavin. Or I might be reading, or riding my bike, or playing tennis or guitar. But if I’m not doing any of the above, I’m probably eating. I’m a constant eater.
7. With regards to fashion, what do you draw inspiration from?
-Blogs, blogs, blogs. That’s basically the sole source of my fashion inspiration. I find that real girls dress so much more appealing than girls in magazines.
8. If you had to pick one outfit to wear the rest of your life, what would it look like?
-It would be a cute little lightweight jumper dress with a fun print and definitely no sleeves. There would be some cute flats thrown in, a long necklace and possibly a hat. And there would definitely be no belts involved. I hate having to belt my dresses. It’s like being forced to eat peas at dinner when you are seven.
9. Looking back at some of your previous posts, I’ve noticed that you seem very drawn to softer, lighter tones. What is your favorite color/color palette to wear, and why?
-Based off of my eye color and skin color, I should be wearing lots of greens and purples, but for some reason I am just drawn to blue like nothing else. I think about half of my wardrobe contains some shade of blue. It’s like I’m a blue hoarder. Aside from that though, pretty much anything with color I will wear. I’m totally not into neutrals or pastels, it’s just not for me!
10. Do you have any advice for aspiring fashion bloggers? What about for someone who searching for their true style, but is having a hard time pinning it down?
-I say just have fun with it! Don’t do it to gain followers or sponsors, do it because you are really interested in developing/showcasing your own style. And really just be genuine. There are blogs out there that you can tell the girl is just being herself and there are also blogs where you can tell that everything is contrived, so just be you. And if you feel like you can’t pin down your “true” style, then don’t! To me, style is like playing dress-up. It should be fun and you can be anything you want to be. Don’t feel like you have to stick to the same things every day. I mean, who likes to place limits on themselves? :]
Thank you so much Amanda for doing this interview! Don’t forget to check out Amanda’s blog for some sweet outfit inspiration and a heads-up on some great fashion bloggers out there!
Hello from Craig, Colorado. I’ve been here since Wednesday afternoon and since then I haven’t done a whole lot. The weather has been cold, rainy and windy, but I have found some time in between storms to grab some outfit photos.
Hat: Forever 21; Jean jacket: Levi’s; Pull-over cardigan: Banana Republic; Shirt: Levi’s; Bracelets: Kate Spade & J Crew; Jeans: Levi’s; Boots: Steve Madden
This was my first attempt at outfit shots on my own while in Colorado for the summer. I’ll admit, it wasn’t easy. At home I have the world’s best photographer (my wonderful boyfriend Scott), so taking my own photos (that I felt good about) was a bit of a task. I know over time though I should get the hang of it.
Throughout the town of Craig they have a ton of these wood carvings (I would say close to 100). A few years ago almost all the trees in the town were infected with a bug/virus of some sort that killed most of them.
Not wanting to get rid of all the beautiful trees in town (although they looked pretty awful) the town decided to have a party, a wood carving party where they had professional wood carvers come in and make beautiful, elaborate designs out of the dead wood. The one pictured in the background of these photos is one of my favorites. It reminds me of a spooky house during Halloween (my favorite time of year).
Most of the other wood carvings have a nature theme and included bears, and what I can only assume to be spirits of the forrest. Many of them actually remind me of totem poles.
Funny story- So while I was out taking these photos (in a public park nonetheless) I man in a forklift came driving behind me, right behind wood carving I was standing in front of. He stopped on the other side of the park for awhile, and then proceeded to pick up a nearby picnic table with his forklift and put it in the road that separates one side of the park from the other. I continued with taking my photos while he did this, as he had moved to the other side picking up a table there. I didn’t feel too awkward taking photos in front of him, not until he stopped his forklift in the road, near the tables he had just sat down, turned off his ride and sat back in his bucket seat and folded his arms and stared at me. Oh man! This continued for almost five minutes while I finished, packed up, and got in my car. I could have possibly been in his way, but he could have certainly gone around me. I didn’t mind having him there, but the staring was too much. Creepy man!
Hope everyone has a happy Memorial Day. It is windy and cold here again today, but I’m hoping the weather turns around soon. I want to go downtown and check out their mini celebration later!
What are you up to today? Have you been to Craig, or seen similar pretty wood carvings?
Scott and I’s trip to Taliesin West was awesome, and way overdue. I am so happy that we were finally able to go once our busy school schedules calmed down. The homes and landscape that we saw were beautiful, and unique. Here is a few peeks at what we saw:
These were everywhere! Our tour guide said Frank Lloyd Wright purchased these guys, along with hundreds of others, while on a trip to San Francisco. He put them throughout all of Taliesin West.
Our view of the Valley.
Pretty pool (not of the swimming type).
A huge Asian influence could be seen throughout Taliesin West.
These windows were so unique!
Scott and I both really enjoyed our tour of Taliesin West. We loved learning about the history behind the buildings, and the school, and enjoyed admiring all the neat design work that surrounded us.
This post is quite overdue, but its’ still fun nonetheless. Anyways, right after school got over Scott and I thought it was finally time to drive up to Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s design school in Scottsdale. For Valentine’s Day I promised Scott that I would take him there, but unfortunately our busy schedules got the best of us and we never made it out. However, when we finally did our afternoon was lovely, and full of interesting facts and beautiful design.
Dress: TJ Maxx; Bangle: Kate Spade; Flats: Ruby and Bloom; Bag: Coach
Sunglasses: Ray Bans: Shirt: Penguin; Shorts: Volcom; Shoes: Sperry’s
Scott has been a long time Frank Lloyd Wright admirer, so it made total sense to go visit his design school since it’s so close to home. Wright spent quite a bit of time here in his day, and has quite a few of his designs (buildings and homes) built in the state.
“Frank Lloyd Wright began building this desert masterpiece in 1937 as his personal winter home, studio, and architectural campus. Located on the beautiful Sonoran desert in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains in northeast Scottsdale, the site offers a broad range of guided public tours. Visitors experience firsthand Wright’s brilliant ability to integrate indoor and outdoor spaces.” –franklloydwright.org
The day we went the weather was beautiful. We got there about 15 minutes before our tour was supposed to begin, but the people at the gift shop were kind enough to offer us tickets to go on the more extensive (and expensive) tour for the same price (it was just about to start).
The tour we went on took us around the home of Frank Lloyd Wright, and on the outer part of his design school. We stopped in Wright’s office, living room, bedroom (teeny, tiny bathroom included), and in the auditorium of the school (which is still in use today). When we told the man at the gift shop that we were from Phoenix he seemed surprised. He told us that usually people don’t explore what’s in their own backyards (one of my favorite things to do!).
The living room, the outside featured in the below photo, was filled with uniquely designed furniture and art. Our tour guide said he would hold parties there often and that many celebrities, including Marilyn Monroe and Joe Dimaggo, would be in attendance. Today the room is still used for monthly Saturday parties with the design school students.
Overall, our visit to Taliesin West was very enjoyable. We learned a lot of things we previously didn’t know about Wright (like how a man once tried killing him by burning down his house because he was with a mistress), and also more about the school itself (students have to live in tents out in the desert during their time there).
I loved this building, which just happened to be right where our tour began.
Being there I felt very inspired by the past, so this vintage style dress I wore felt just right for the occasion. Check back tomorrow for some photos from our tour!
Have you ever been to/heard of Taliesin before? What about to any of Wright’s other designed homes and buildings?
Today we have a lovely interview with Katy of Kansas Couture. Katy has an eye for color, and loves creating vintage inspired outfits that incorporate both masculine, and feminine looks. She truly has a unique, and lovely style and is someone I always go to for outfit inspiration.
Meet Katy:
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
-I live in the Kansas City area and work as a copywriter at an ad agency. I love clothes and the creativity that goes into putting outfits together.
2. What got you interested in blogging, and how long have you been blogging for?
-My sister-in-law introduced me to personal style blogs after I graduated from college. She said, “You could totally do this!” I was looking for a creative outlet at the time, and it seemed like a perfect fit, so I started one of my own. I have been blogging since September 2008.
3. Can you tell us about your style?
-My style is pretty eclectic and can range from super girly and dressy to minimal and casual. Common threads that run through most of my ensembles are vintage items or inspiration, bold colors, high-waisted silhouettes and heels.
4. You seem to have a great love for color. What do you think color adds to an outfit, and what is your favorite color(s) to style?
-Color is definitely one of my favorite fashion tools. I rarely wear an outfit without at least one pop of color. I think it adds interest in a simple way. It makes your style stand out and gives your look a bold, cheery feel. Goldenrod yellow has always been one of my favorite colors, but this season I can get enough coral, orange and bright pink.
5. What are your favorite trends for summer?
-Wide-leg jeans, shades of coral, color-blocking, bold stripes, hints of neon, platform wedges, longer skirts… the list goes on.
6. When you’re not busy blogging, what can you be found doing?
-Working, watching movies (especially at indie theaters), thrifting as much as I can, entertaining at my house, spending time outdoors with friends, family and my pug when the weather is nice and taking walks while listening to music.
7. With regards to fashion, what do you draw inspiration from?
-Other fashion blogs are my main source of inspiration. Other than that, I look to movies, old photographs, people I see on the street and the occasional magazine.
8. If you had to pick one outfit to wear the rest of your life, what would it look like?
-Definitely an outfit that incorporates separates — probably a pair of skinny jeans, a bright-colored blouse with some interesting details, a pair of comfortable but fabulous wedges, a blazer and some statement jewelry.
9. You seem to have an eye for mixing feminine and masculine looks. How do you keep your outfits so balanced? Which style do you prefer more?
-I think I’m truly drawn to both styles, which is why I mix them. I suppose my affinity for pink, bows and heels makes me a girly girl at heart, but you’ll definitely see me in jeans more often than dresses. I’ll reach for the ruffly blouse with glee, but I’m probably not going to pair it with an equally frilly skirt. I like to maintain a versatile wardrobe, so I have plenty of opportunities to mix things up according to my mood.
10. Do you have any advice for aspiring fashion bloggers? What about someone interested in wearing and mixing color, but doesn’t really know where to start?
-For aspiring fashion bloggers, my advice would be to make your blog something you truly love, something that gives you fulfillment. It’s unavoidable at times, but try not to compare yourself to others too much or place too much emphasis on what others will think. As for experimenting with color, find a shade you love. Pair it with neutrals at first. Once you’re comfortable, add in a color from the same family. Then get more daring as you go. Don’t worry about what colors go together. If you like the combination, then flaunt it!
Thank you so much for doing this interview, Katy! Don’t forget to check out her blog for some daily outfit inspiration.
On a side note, I am no officially in Colorado and it’s darn cold here. Today I’m hoping to take my first outfit photo up here and I already know that I’m going to have to be bundled up! Oh my! Have a great Friday everyone!
Today I’m leaving on a jet plane to Colorado. I already know it’s going to be a long, and emotional day. Leaving home is one thing, but leaving Scott is a million times harder. I already can’t wait to reunited in July.
Promise to check in once I’m situated in Colorado.
