What comes after June?

The month that makes you forget what day of the week it is, because the days are long, hot, and juicy with summer. I am having a hard time making myself believe that August is only days away. Especially after having said hello to this evening, with a delicious pot of Jambalaya rice cooked with Italian sausage fresh from Sunflower market, a perfect after-dinner walk in the 70 degree weather (thank you rain gods!) watching the sun go down, gushing about how much we just freaking love this city and absolutely everything about it. This has been one of the greatest summers I have had in a long time. And it was spent doing nothing much else but enjoying Fort Collins with bike rides, patio lunches, concerts, camping, fishing, and the occasional afternoon by the pool. I guess I shouldn't jump the gun just yet - August is just as much of a summer month as July, but it brings back to school and better yet - back to school festivals in this beautiful city. Such as New West Fest and Tour de Fat which I am soo looking forward to. Nevertheless, all of a sudden it will be September and as much as I will be sad to see this summer go, it is always followed by my favorite season :) So I can never stay sad for long. 


And since it is almost a month to the day since my last post, I am more mad with myself for the fact that while I neglected my blog for a good 4 weeks I was quite the busy bee with things to share that I was just to lazy or unmotivated to post. While July was busy flying by I was cooking new things, experimenting with delicious summer salads (oh yes - the kitchen is quickly becoming my new favorite place), wearing my still growing hippie locks in either a braid or el natural (not doing anything with your hair can be quite the penny saver - who knew!?), reading (!!) rocking out at the Foster the People concert (greatest night of the summer!!) and keeping it consistent with the camping. But I could shut up about it and just show you. Here's my July round up people. Next time I take half the summer off from blogging I'll leave an "out of the office" love note. Happy Hump day! 


xo . jess

summer to go.

The weekend felt long and enjoyable. And being off Friday and Sunday made The Saturday from Hell at work much more manageable. And forgettable. Especially after today's hot summer Sunday afternoon.

If you caught my Friday post, you know that I promised picture sharing time before the end of the weekend of my finds at the thrift store. (Yeah so you've probably started the new week already but you know the weekend is still fresh in your mind. So let me kill some of your Monday morning blues by picture sliding you through my weekend + share with you my thrift finds!

fabulous saturday.

+ this cute little pants of sass stayed the night at the house and was complete with french braid pigtails, sun tan lotion, and sunglasses fabulous before 9:40am.

+ After lounging the morning away I found myself in a work chaos disaster most of the evening. Which I then danced away for a spontaneous night out with Jenna and the girls*

summerfun Sunday. 

it was a french toast kind of morning. 

got sweet and sweaty cheerin' on at Ty's soccer game. 

(chowed down almost an entire bag of the best grapes I've had all year)

Oh my talented brother. 7 - 0 you show off kids. 

Had a little (one legged) visitor take some shade in my half tent. He was kinda cute until he tried to crawl into my tote and I had to kick him out. Gently of course. The poor guy already only had one leg. 

And now :) my thrift finds from Friday! It wasn't much, but I count myself very successful. I got 5 items which is in itself a good find. And all pieces are fairly unique and quite the staple items. A perfect start into the fall thrifting season I'd say :) 

thrifting treasures:

I have been dieing to have a denim vest in my wardrobe. I've recently discovered that I have a love affair with vests. I have the most random pieces. And I decided to keep my eye out for great finds to widen my collection. 

Brand: Levi's

Size: small

Price: $4.99

 This poncho is an item that I'm loving more and more just knowing it's in my closet waiting for the warm weather to bring those cooler Colorado falls days. At first I saw it and thought it was at least worth trying on. Then as soon as I put it on in the fitting room - even paired with the magical Banana Republic boyfriend jeans I found - I knew I would regret passing it up. 

Brand: anu

Size: small - medium

Price: $3.99

Yes..unfortunately for you I was so in love with the above mentioned lightwash boyfriend denim jeans I found for $9.99 that I not only wore them to work the next day but straight out to the bar afterward with the girls. So they are already on their second cleaning. But trust me when I say they fit like magic pants. 

Lastly I found these fantastic totes. The basket tote on the left reminds me of the one my mom carried around when I was a kid. Also something I've already used several times over the weekend. The second has a fun printed plastic inner lining which will be perfect for toting around hair and make up products. 

left:

Brand: unknown

Size: medium bag

Price: $3.99

right:

Brand: Jane Maryl

Size: large bag

Price: $2.99

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I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful weekend. Summer is fading fast and although it seemed sort of a stressful season this year, we had some great weeks, trips, and days. We have the fortune of getting to look forward to one more camping trip back at Red Feather's mid September. A little family vacation mixed in with celebrating our one year wedding anniversary. 

Have a happy Monday lovelies! 

xo . jess

tante katie comes to visit.

 Back in -whatfeelslikeforeverago- July, one of my favorite people in the world came to visit. The visit was last minute, poorly planned, with the sole agenda of closing the biggest childhood chapter together vs alone, and of course the greatest 8 days of the year!!

Hanging out with nothing to do but bbq, catch up on movies, talk and drink wine and yes - go see Harry Potter together onelasttime!!!!!!!! - was the greatest little staycation I could have planned for this year!

(who doesn't love picture stories)

friday.

out of all her visits to beautiful Colorado K had yet to see downtown Denver in the daylight! We quickly changed that. 

Took this crazy kid along for a night on the town (patio dinner + hp7)

saturday. 

a very important ritual: Illegal Pete's before a Rockies' game!

greatest baseball game company, everr. 

we silly faced. 

we stuffed our faces with tornado thingies. 

flaunted our super ueber sexy hat hair. 

and of course, kissy faced. 

then came the misfortune of the umbrella. 

that yes of course I broke. 

Rest in peace Eddie Bauer umbrella. You shall be replaced. 

birry. sena. and my dinosaur husband. I mean N. 

sena & K. cheers to a fantastic, hilarious, unforgettable evening! 

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Today, Wednesday August 17th, 2011, I am lounging around my house because 1) N and I are still sharing a car so I'm more or less trapped here with nothing more than my bike and a grocery store (which believe it or not I have already visited today!) and 2) today is basically my Sunday and tomorrow is fully my Monday and I will be working until next Tuesday. Cheers to 6 days. 

I am not really dreading the work days. I have actually been enjoying the longer of stretches of work because I am in total save and move mode and I am getting so excited to be moving out into our own place in the upcoming months. And since it is still a chunk away --> longer work weeks I welcome you!!

So far my Wednesday Sunday has included: 

+ awaking at 7:31 all on my own. lovely. 

+ strapping up for a bike ride and a trip through the grocery  store and back. all before my cup of coffee

+ snoozing the morning away to the Jetsons, Popeye, and the Flintstones (thank you Boomerang)

+ lunching with my brother over "Hoodwinked, too!"

+ and now hanging out with you lovelies 

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Happy Hump Day. 

xo . jess

Would You Like Some “Catch up” With That?

Alright, so I am only a week into my relaunch and I lose my internet half way through! It’s okay. I can manage. This week wasn’t too exciting anyway. Although, I’m always quite amazed at the picture story that comes out of my phone’s “camera shots” album every other week or so.

I was preparing some things for this week’s Hair Too(s)day and knew I needed some pictures off my phone from a good month ago. So I connect my computer, pull up my Picasa and watch the slideshow of pictures appear on my screen only to find a treasure of postable pictures. HOLLAAAA!!! J

Tuesday:

We felt bad for skipping the gym so we went for a walk before dinner and (ROGUE SHARKS!) àwe were obsessed with Shark Week this week for those of you who don’t follow my rambling twitter feed. Birry showed up early enough and so he came too.

Since I prefer the snail pace I might as well keep myself entertained with Colorado’s crazy clouds, rainbows, and sunshine.

Backyard jungle over here.

Lonerr.

Who can resist a bundle of wild Sunflowers??

Wednesday:

I looked like a hippy.

Thursday:

This sassy ass girl, also known as my very blonde sister in law (I’m pretty sure she’s not blonde anymore though :P), turned 18 years old. Little legal girl. So what do Italians do when it’s someone’s birthday? They go and eat pizza.

Why the random drive way pictures you ask? Well, it just so happened that it was also N’s mom’s birthday who gets a call 30mins before we were headed off for dinner, asking to be interviewed by Fox31 on the stock market crash from earlier that day. Sooo dinner got delayed, we got antsy, and screwed around in the driveway. Just look at the picture of Julie. Silly girlJ The italiano’s are one entertaining family!

Friday:

I worked late and we both came home pooped. 

Saturday:

I learned that it is possible to get a sunburn working retail. Just work an outside jobfair with no tent in the direct sunshine from 10-5pm. That was a fun day. Just look at this super sexy picture of me.

I think I was asleep standing up.

We attempted our walk but only made it to the park to throw Oli some balls.

And made it home before this guy faked us out and pulled completely north of us. Ooh Colorado weather.

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Since I’m posting to you from guest internet (I know I’m that committed right now) I will try my best to report on all the funness from my day off today (booyah!) which we will be spending again at the italianos’ house (my inlaw’s) to recelebrate the birthday of ms. Mikayla and Terri with of course, more family! J Oh yes, it will be a wine filled Sunday everyone!

Happy Weekend!

xo . jess