Take My Picture

Ok, Jenna!

This is my brother's lovely lady currently hailing from Portland, OR and boy, is she a talented beauty. While we were on family vacation, she let me practice my new love for photography and snap a few pics of her.

She's not only a gifted musician and singer, but she's a great cook and makes use of leftovers like nobody's business. Her music, Avians Alight, is raw and emotional and honest, like listening to your own heart's confessions that you're too bashful to say yourself.

Jenna is so easy to talk to, it's no wonder the music she writes is so graceful, soothing and relatable. Take a listen!

XO

Anthro Wins

 

 

I got a job at, drum roll please ... Anthropologie! (Cheers) I'm so excited. I'm hoping that as I'm in school studying graphic design, this job will help open up some career doors for me. If not, it will certainly be a fun environment to work in - not to mention the perks. 

 

I've been scoping out the goods online and have got my eye on a few items. I plan on representing Anthropologie well, by picking up a few new items to mix in with my mostly thrifted wardrobe. Wardrobe ... what a funny word. Wardrobe. 

 

Everything above is from anthropologie.com (just in case you didn't pick up on that) and here are the links :

 

Floral Skinnies

Sleeveless Racerback Shirt 

Lipstick

Prehistoric Posts

XO

A Place in the Sun

I never win anything. So, I'm crossing my fingers in the hopes that I win a $500 Nordstrom gift card through this Polyvore contest. Regardless of the outcome, it was really fun to put this together.

Your turn!

XO

kelci 

OLO? oh yes.

V-day has never been a huge deal to me, BUT ...


"OLO is a tiny fragrance line based in Portland, OR. Each scent is hand blended in limited edition batches." 

Bam. Instant huge deal. 

What makes a gift special to me is that it's unique and reflects my personality and quirky (picky?) tastes. I actually asked for, and got OLO perfume sample kit #1 for Christmas after a trip to Portland where I discovered it (P.S. next time you're in Portland, do yourself a favor and visit Palace, a store that curates the most beautiful clothing). 

OLO perfume is made with essential oils that smell of cedar and violets and leather without the cloying factor that bothers me about most perfume. It's fresh and beautiful, intriguing and  

lovely.

Girls, treat yourself. Guys, this is your cue. Happy Love Month. 

xo

kelci

Heirlooms

I loved my Grandma ... still do. She was so practical and frugal and cute in every way. I've inherited a few things of hers that remind me of the way she was when she was healthy and aware. When she passed away, she had a severe case of dementia that completely clouded her view of everything and everyone. It was so hard to see her like that and at the same time, try to remember who she really was. When I look back on her life and how it inspires mine, I see her simple beauty and strength.

I don't remember her wearing this hat, but she probably made it (she was an expert crocheter and knitter) and it's now one of my favorite things.

I think that sometimes it's easy to look back on earlier decades and get inappropriately nostalgic for certain eras. Sometimes I like to think that our parents and grandparents lived in this amazingly retro time period where everything was picture perfect. But, it wasn't perfect, not even close (and it wasn't retro to them ... duh). They made mistakes and would want us to learn from them and continue to advance in the ways that we are and will in the future.

This watch that belonged to my Great Aunt Elizabeth serves as a good reminder to me to enjoy the things of the past while looking forward to everything that I'm meant to accomplish in this life. 

I'm so grateful for the legacy that's been left by the amazing women in my family that I can now carry on and improve and someday pass down the line. 

xo

kelci

Dusen Dusen

I came across this lovely little line while browsing Pinterest and immediately fell in love with it's use of simple cuts and geometric patterns. These are a few of my favorite pieces, but you can view (and buy!) them all here.

In other news, winter decided to actually be itself today, I got a lovely postcard in the mail from my bestie and I ate a doughnut.

Happy Thursday.

xo
kelci

2 is better than 1

Happy December 2.

This post was supposed to happen yesterday, but it didn't. So, here I am writing to you on the 2nd day of this crazy month. Then I decided that I like that. 2 is totally better than 1. For example...

2 scoops of ice cream.
A double feature drive-in (i've actually never gone to one, but i sooo will).
2 lovers.
2 bedside tables.
A pair of socks.

You get my point.

This past month or so, has been a little tough. Very exciting, but also very stressful and disappointing at times. But, in the midst of all the craziness that has gone on, and is going on right now, I know that I don't have to go through it alone. I've got my best friend and most favorite person in whole world by my side. 2 is totally better than 1.

You know what other amazing item comes in twos? SHOES. It's a very good thing that I have the gift of thrift (HA) or I'd be in big trouble. I have a thing for boots, more specifically, stompy lace up boots. There is such satisfaction in lacing up your boots and stomping around. Trust me. Galen (the hubster) just got his brand new pair in the mail this morning, and I foresee a stomping good time in the near future.

Roughout Pampa Boot

These are the the Palladium Urban Outfitters Exclusive Roughout Pampa Boots. According to UO "Palladium was founded in 1920 and shortly became the leading manufacturer of vulcanized rubber tires in Europe. After World War II, with the tire market on the decline, they turned their expertise to footwear, creating the Pampa Boot, a rugged classic designed for exploration". Pretty cool, huh? 


My boots aren't quite as fancy, BUT they were $7.98 at Goodwill and have plenty of stomp. 

Goodwill Grannie/Horse Rider boots

I'm so glad that I was given 2 feet. While I love finding one of a kind thrift store boots, there are a few boot brands that I love. Here's a list of links just in time for the holidays:

Clarks Desert Boot - Men's
Minnetonka Suede Ankle Boot - Women's
Eastland Seneca Boot - Men's
Frye Billy Short Boot - Women's
Tretorn Strala Vinter Klar Boot - Men's
Madewell Suede Sandstorm Boot - Women's

Happy December, people.

xo (times 2)
kelci