sunday*swoons: fringed.part.two.

I couldn't resist. I'm addicted to this kind of fringe right now too....so much so that I've just convinced myself to pay an absurd amount (as in NOT two dollars from the thrift) for a suede fringe bag for fall. 

Gah. 

one. two.three.four.five.

sunday*swoons: fringed.

one. two.three.four

New decorating idea?! Me thinks yes.

Happy Sunday lovelies!!!!!
<3

sand.sun.summer.

Today we had the perfect beach day. Not too hot. Cool water. No waves. 

Which means I a) didn't get sunburned b) got in the water and c) didn't freak out the whole time I was in it. 

I have a small fear of waves chasing me down. I know. I'm a weirdo. 

ocean, sister, umbrella, book

It's pretty fun having your sista on vacation with you too. Just sayin. 

If anyone is interested in the book I'm reading, A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand, it is in my opinion, the typical beach read. 

A little naughty, not a lot of thought provoking thoughts, quite a bit of kissing and Ill probably be done with it by the end of today. I started it this morning. :) 

But that's what beach reading is for. And is why my carry on bag was so darn heavy....too many books!

Number one beach related activity for this girl, right here.  

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!!!!! 

loves, me. 

foodie things.

Ohhhhh one of my favorite things to do is eat. Especially in the summer with all of the fresh fruit and veggies that are available at farmer's markets and through CSA's. 

So here's a little visual food love just for you. And to remind myself what I want to make when I get home! 

one. two. three. four. five

drooooool. 

magical movie moment.

Today was little sister's first time on a plane. Ever. 

The best part of it all was while we were waiting for our carry on luggage outside next to the plane. 

And Mister Handsome Pilot stepped onto the top step and surveyed the crowd. While simultaneously sliding on his aviator glasses. All suave and handsome-like. 

And then preceded to walk down the steps and take a look around. 

It was straight out of a movie. I for sure didn't know real people actually did that. You know. That "top of the steps dramatic pause stare off into the distance" thing. 

And my sister....well she may take up traveling as a job. I think she's in love. 

:) 

reason #468 why I miss my hubby

In the last sixteen hours I have realized many a thing about going on vacation without this husband of mine. 

I miss him, being number one. 

Last year's beach vacation. On the ferry. 

Other realizations include: 

1. There was no one to help carry my bags at the airport. 

I didn't think of this when I was packing. 

2. There was no one to help stow my carry on in the overhead bin. 

Specifically my very heavy carry on. 

3. There was no one to lean my head on so I could nap during the flight. 

Well at least no one who would have wanted my head on them. 

4. There was no one to finish the remaining ice cream in my bowl so I didn't feel guilty about not eating it. 

So I ate it. 

5. There was no one to help carry my things back from the beach so I didn't get sand all over myself after I'd already dried off. 

My brothers, I think, are not interested in taking husband's place. 

Just a few random things that have occurred to me. Basically I just need to man up and carry my own crap so I can be a self sufficient person, am I right?! :) 

Husband I love you!!!!! 

And not just because you'll carry my stuff. Promises. :) 

oh how I love....

these hand painted TOMS, oh my. 

Oh my, oh my, oh my. 

You can read more from the original post here or visit the artist Mary Gregory here. 

So pretty, don't you agree? 

wear*it wednesday: wedged

Don't forget this week's wear*it....wedge sandals. Be sure to check out the other fabulous fashion bloggers who took part this week! Love it! 

I rocked my wedge sandals with my brown maxi dress. A dress I've had for three years. Which I've worn only once, to my SIL's graduation party. And then promptly forgot about in the back of my closet. 

Until yesterday.  

When I saw a girl in line at Starbucks with the same dress. And wedges. 

So here I am, blatantly copying her look. You do what you gotta do, right?! 

Thank you, stranger girl. You sure have style. 

:) 

the best laid plans of mice and men.

Or I should say "of me and the sister". 

Another appropriate title for this post could be "spice spills and sticky fingers". 

Or equally as fitting "what happens when you parents leave on vacation with the only container of Old Bay seasoning". 

Either or all would work. 

Basically the sister and I had big plans while she was staying with me this week to make a batch of her favorite dish...shrimp scampi and whole wheat pasta. With Old Bay seasoning. Main ingredient right there, that Old Bay. 

found here.
My dad very kindly picked up the frozen shrimp and pasta while making a last minute run to the grocery store before they took off for vacation. So nice of him, really. 

And then we stopped by the parents house this afternoon to check on things and pick up the main ingredient. The Old Bay seasoning. 

And it was gone. 

SOMEBODY took it with them on vacation. Even though they knew we were making this dinner. 

I'm not naming any names. Dad. :) 

It's okay though. Sister and I have been in tougher predicaments before. We put our heads together and looked up a recipe for a substitute. And then raided the parents spice cupboard. 

Easy easy easy. Minus a bit of an oversight on the cayenne pepper. Whoops. 

Then we got back to my house and Nat realized my dad had purchased the "shells still on" shrimp. 

Which led to quite a bit of exasperated sighing and ultimately a ten minute de-shelling process. 

In the end, Nat washed her hands and we ate our improvised dinner. It was quite delicious (even if it took twice as long to make). I love when she spends the night because we always end up having fabulous dinners and chocolatey desserts. She's a baker at heart but this shrimp dinner is pretty spectacular if I do say so myself. :) 

Nat and I finished off our evening with a little bit of Edward Cullen and Jacob Black along with Kate's Chocolate Coconut cupcakes........yum. I mean seriously. I've had almost a dozen just on my own. I know they are only mini's. But still. 

Did I mention I love sleepovers with this girl!? I dos. I really do. :) 

lookbook: patterned patterns

I got a little crazy last weekend for the clothing swap and mixed these two patterns together. 

Crazy?! Crazy. 

But I likey. :) 

Top: Target, Skirt: H&amp;M/Thrifted, Shoes: American Eagle

Do you pattern mix?! I feel like I see other fashion bloggers pull this off effortlessly and when I do it, it ends up like a mishmash of something that almost maybe could be cute. Or it's something I think is cute and other people do a double take when I walk by.
Or when I walk out of the bedroom, husband says something like: 

 "Oh. That's....cute. Only you could wear that and make it look good." 

And I think "Awe... (silent pause)....wait a minute. What does that mean?!" Haha.

I know what he means, but still....pairing patterns together....it can be tricky work. 

It's a love/hate relationship. :)




<a href="http://www.everybodyeverywear.com/challenges/view/pattern-mixing"><img src="http://www.everybodyeverywear.com/photos/iSgoAAA.png" width="200" height="50" alt="Pattern Mixing | Everybody, Everywear" /></a>

summer weekends.

I think what I love most about summer is the fact that we are never without something to do on the weekends. This weekend was definitely no exception! Putt putt golf Friday night, outdoor photo session and then coffee date, girls night/book club Saturday annnnnd then Cedar Point Sunday. 

I know. I'm exhausted. 

Have you guys heard of Cedar Point?! It's in Sandusky, which is about an hour or so away from us, but totally worth the drive. We drove up there bright and early Sunday morning with my brother Jeff and SIL Jessa for a day of roller coasters and funnel cakes. Funnel cakes being my priority. :) 

It ended up being the most perfect day, weather wise....we were so lucky! Hot in the morning and early afternoon which was quickly fixed with a few water rides and then cloudy and breezy for the rest of the day and evening! You can't beat that...especially when you are standing in line for 45 minutes!

I think my favorite part of the day is a toss up between dinner at Johnny Rockets (my fave) and getting to ride the Raptor (also my fave) twice in a row at the end of the night since there wasn't a line. 

And the second time involved front seats and no shoes.....so awesome. 

Do you guys like roller coasters?! They still pretty much freak me out and I get scared all the way until we've cleared the first hill....then I'm good. It was my brother's first time at an amusement park so he was a trooper with some of the rides we went on! My husband, on the other hand, is a daredevil, likes to ride the front seat of the tallest roller coaster and then brag about it after. I tell ya. So typical. 

It was just so great spending the day with Jeff and Jessie! And the hubby too of course! We all had so much fun together...the day just flew by.

And I was totally torn between who I wanted to sit with on the rides, although ultimately Tyler won out on the scary ones. 

Just so I could hold on to his arm lest I go flying out of my seat. 

I really do like roller coasters though, I promise. Once I'm off them, they are a lot of fun! :) 

Hope everyone had a great weekend too! 

love, renée

girl's night out and a few books.

Tonight I had another book club meeting with my girlfriends while our hubbies played poker. 

We do this once a month to ensure that we all get a chance to catch up and our menfolk get a little guy time in too. Because let's be honest, we all could use a little time with friends now and then am I right?! :) 

This month we squeezed in two book club meetings because I goofed in May and had to reschedule. Hopefully now we'll be caught up and good to go for August. 

This month we've read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See and The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. Both have been out for quite a while but that's just how we roll....every month we take turns picking the book club read...that way everyone has a chance to read something they've wanted to. It works so nicely since each of us have differing preferences in reading material. 

I was excited to see my friend Morgan picked Molokai for August because I've wanted to read it ever since she mentioned it two years ago and Ill have an entire week at the beach to read! Double bonus:) These photos are from two weeks ago, taken at our local winery. They had outdoor music that night and we all brought yummy snacks. It was the perfect girl's night out! Tonight we met at the local bookstore, which was just as fun since it's about a hundred degrees out and the AC was much appreciated. 

Hope your weekend is fabulous! 

love, renée 

a thought.

Found here. 

love to my peeps:)

You guys are the best. Seriously. 

THANK YOU for the super sweet comments about my hairs. It's totally crazy and I was totally afraid I would hate it but I don't and even better all of you lovely friends of mine like it too!!! 

For some reason that just completely made my day. 

So thanks a bunches. My bloggy friends always know just the right thing to say.

Ahhh if only the real life peoples could pick up on that too, life would be grand.

Yes my hair is green. And indigo. And pink. 

deal with it. 

And whoas. Definitely had to look up who Lauren Conrad was. 

And definitely have to say that her photo was one of the shots I sent to my hairstylist!

Didn't. Even. Know. 

I guess you learn something new everyday. 

This is what happens when you don't have television friends. I'm so out of the loop. 

happy friday. happy weekend. 

:) 

a lovely week

This week was lovely because: 

I got pretty colors in my hair. 

I took a spontaneous stop at the thrift store. 

And created collages made of pretty patterned paper with the girls I watch. Girls who also gave me this little ice cream eraser because they know how much I love ice cream. Love them! 

Got a new mattress. Hecks to the yeah. :) 

Made homemade root beer floats. 

And did two photo sessions with the cutest of cute kids. 

Lovely links from the week. 

*Elsie's Instagram post. We all know how much I love Instagram so I just about died when I saw this. Don't worry. My instagram album is already in the works....excited!! 

*My blogger of the week Lo and her awesome week of "what inspires you" blog posts! Such a great idea for guest posting. 

*Rachel's idea for a virtual clothing swap....ingenious right?! Read the post and email her if you are interested! 

*This gorgeous clutch from Kate Spade. It's on my "birthday list" but ya know. Only if we won the lottery and $325 for a purse seemed like totally not a big deal. 

*Dresses for Dinner's perfect post on how to dress for summer. And by that I mean summer in Ohio. Which is totally different than summer anywhere else....you just have to live here to know this is true!

*These drop dead fabulous velvet deep blue heels from Ruche. I want. For fall. How perfectly perfect would they be, right?!  

summer colors

whatchu guys think? 

I kind of went a little cahrazey but I also kind of am in love with it. 

And so is the husband. And my mom and sister and a few other favorite peoples in my life....

The folks at the grocery store who do a double take can think what they like. I don't really care. 

Because for the summer, this hair is pretty much perfect. :) 

I owe a huge thank you to my hairstylist, Jenn, who rocks. There's no other way to describe her. 

I mean, seriously. 

thrifty thriftiness

If I had a super hero name, I think it would have to be "thriftygal"-

 Or something equally as corny. 

When I saw that Everybody Everywear was doing "thrifted" as their post topic I was like....whaaaaaat. How could I ever pick one outfit? I have way too many things to choose from. And that doesn't even include the shoe collection!!! 

I've been a lover of thrifted things, thrift store outings and thriftyness in general for too many years to count. You can imagine what my bedroom looks like. 

So I figured, instead of stressing myself out about something that's really pretty low on the scale of things to stress about, I'd simply post the last thrifted outfit I wore.

Honestly though, this polka dot top is one of my favorites. I've worn it numerous times (which is a big deal as far as my clothing goes) and it is really comfortable to wear. And it's from H&M. Which on a side note, it's funny how many H&M items I have and I've never actually bought anything from their store. 

This is what I'm saying. I'm Thrfitygal!!! To the rescue!!! 

Ok. Ill stop. 

The shorts were an awesome find....vintage AND thrifted. Annnd a pretty peach color. I'm excited to wear them on vacation, where I won't care if they are a bit see through since I'll have my bathing suit on at all times anyhow. Apparently showing your undies in the seventies wasn't so much a bad thing. 

Not too shabby if I do say so myself. But that's probably just because I have a soft spot for thrifted and vintage together. It just makes my day all sorts of happy:) 

Oh. And if you're wondering "What the what is going on with her hair?!!" welllll Ill have more on that later. :)

love, renée