fill in the blank Friday.

see Lauren to play.

this week's blank: summer. 

Thank goodness for a clear day with a break from a smoke filled city, because it was hot hot hot. And the forecast for the next 7 days? 98+ degrees. Summer is here - and I love it! Especially because it gives me chance to wear some of my favorite thrifted summer dresses. 

I call it my Edelweiss dress. The pattern flowers remind me of them. 

With the smoke filled air, it's been strictly glasses only. Contacts, yeah right. 

We're off to the mountains to camp with friends and get some (hopefully) fresh air! I can't wait to get to spend time with friends I haven't seen in quite some time. In other news, N let me try something new with his hair yesterday. 

I think it's pretty spiffy :) He's coming around, to my version of the moahawk. 

 Hope you all get to enjoy a great weekend. 

---

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

---

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

How did I end up back here? Snuggled into my bed turnedhugedeskslashcouch, with the chills and a stuffy nose?? I'm gonna try and not to mention the headache I've been trying to forget about, because nothing else, helps. The worst thing is, is that I don't really get stuffy noses. My ears clog! So it's as if my ears are congested and someone's holding them shut. It's awesome. Let me tell you. But lemme quit bitchin and get back to the vintage finds I owe you still.

Rewind to Friday afternoon, which seems like a week ago, and Que this girl treating herself to the best mani and pedi around with her bff J in tow. I always think we're rude, because from the second we sit down in those chairs next to each other we just start yapping with no end. But whatev..sometimes, everyone gets annoyed with small talk, and we don't see each other and we've got things to catch up on :)
And so J and I talk all throughout our pedis, manis, through our amaaaahhzing sushi dinner, and on to almost three hours of yapping while overloading our cart at the local thrift store. It's okay if you're thinking these girls are crazy. We understand each other :)

Well, one fabulous Friday night later, I'm these 8 beautiful pieces richer.

this first amazing dress, is floor length and this rich rich red with a beautiful paisley/floral design. At first I didn't think it'd be my style, and I have to have it altered (without the belt the waist swallows me) but once I put it on J and I just gave each other that "yup" look. 

J brought almost 6 different blazers in with us! :D But I can't deny, that girl sure knows how to find a beautiful oatmeal colored, light weight, cropped sleeve blazer to add to my collection :) I now have a blazer family of 12. 

A new unexpected of mine is this mustard yellow fitted grandpa cardigan. More pictures to come because I will be wearing this adorable knit this week, for sure :) Watch on my tumblr. for it. 

I already wore this slightly oversized vintage (serious grandma) blouse with delicate detail paired with skinny blue jeans and mary jane heels. 

Again, serious grandma pale pink blouse that I can't wait to wear with tailored shorts and a white tank :)

This might be a new addition to my top 3 favorite thrift finds, it's so cool. But for now this is all I'm showing you, because I think it needs some serious debuting. I'm thinking Easter outfit? :)

What else could a girl want besides a taupe colored skinny waist belt? ♥ 

Then, on our way out, trustworthy J finds this ..

a classic Dooney & Burke in basically perfect condition. 

We couldn't leave her there :)

We are seriously considering quitting our day jobs and becoming full time vintage clothing searchers, buyers and sellers :P Maybe an etsy shop to start?? :P 

I hope you all had an enjoyable weekend. 

Can't wait to read up on your adventures tomorrow. 

xo . jess

bunny colors.

I'm getting sick again and it's been a weird weekend. That's my statement for tonight and I'm sticking to it :) I knew after the craziness with work lately, that if I didn't get myself some vitaminn C..I'd for sure get sick. And voila! All it took was a couple sick people at work and lack of sleep and I have a sore throat and chills. Whoopii.

So that's why I'm getting sick. Legit I think.

Now on to why this weekend is weird. I've had most of it off, but in a weird way..because I had yesterday off and it was a perfect day off, much like any cool weekend day, but I plan on sharing with you more later, so we'll leave the rest of that for your imagination till then :) Let me just say, it included the best thrift store adventures I've had so far (same thing goes for the finds I scored!)

But unfortunately I am feeling like big time kacka tonight, and I'm spending tomorrow shooting my best friend's engagement photos (IIEEK!!) And so, I'm sharing a little snapshot of my brand spankin new beee-awesome nail color!! I got the color at the salon, I'll have to go back to look at the name, but it's the perfect easter yet spring shade! LOVE IT.

xo . jess

a perfect sunday.

It has been crazy weird the past couple of days. My day's direction is completely backwards and upside down and I feel like it has been the looongest weekend ever! Usually, you'd expect that to be a good thing. Which it is in this case too, it's just a weird feeling knowing, that you only had one day actual weekend day off and your weekend really wasn't that long. Don't worry, I think I just confused the heck out of myself too.

Anyway, today was great. Even though I felt like a truck hit me when N woke me at 7:30, but it was really 8:30 and I felt like I was late for something not realizing that it was for my day off (!!) until suave mr.ray kisses me on the forehead and heads to work. Luckily, I had the coolest 2 year old toddler at my house that kept me company drawing in her coloring book next to me on the couch, snuggling with me, playing again, braiding my hair and snuggling again, and so on and so on, while my lazy ass laid around and watched almost 2.5 hours of the Toy Story marathon on the Disney Channel - hollaa!-

At 1:30 I had finally woken up for the day and felt motivated enough to throw on my skinny pants, a white tank and oversized sweater (complete with my white and grey heart patterned keds!) hopped in my car and drove 15 miles to the next town to a consignment store called The Buffalo Exchange. Almost an hour later I earned $110, spent $105, and earned $5 ( minus the $1 for the chocolate frosty on the way home). Not to mention

these fucking fabulous pieces   richer!!!

sorry for the vulgarity. but i love these pieces!

very Zoey Deschanel. ♥ 

To the Max by Max Azria mauve colored dress

backview hard to see but has a framing pink seam. I'm in love. 

simple yet sexy royal blue dress H&M

very flattering sinched shoulders. 

I just hear my sister's "youlookgoodbutyourstyleissoweird" voice

I'm sorry. I just can't help but LOVE it!! (farmer's market, dinner on pearl street, or a day trip to foco..hello??? I'd be crazy not to own this. Of course, with cowboy boots. This is Colorado people)

i'm girly. have ya noticed?

ugh. you're gonna think I'm totally nuts. 

i just could nooot get myself to pass up these aaamazing high waisted shorts. 

I couldn't. (they have black wedges + black tank on a hot Rio margaritas kinda night, written aaall over them)

_____________________________________

I know this is a little random, but I came to one very important and crucial realization tonight: 

I don't like raisins. 

I don't like cookies. 

But give me

Raisins 

+

Cookies

and make

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

and I can devour almost an entire box. 

Like this evening. 

(I told you this was a perfect Sunday)

xo . jess 

Vintage Decal.

So..if any of you have peaked on over to my little tumblr. lately you know I love to take pictures of my outfits but don't like to make my blog too "fashion amateur" heavy :P because sometimes I can wear some really weird things and I'm no where near as good as other great vintage inspired, unique styles, and accessorizing blogs out there!

But..just because I couldn't get over how adorable this outfit was, I have to share it with you! No..it's not me. :) that sounded pretty selfish :P But this weekend at my cousin's wedding, his sister - also my cousin :) - showed up in the cutest vintage inspired outfit, I didn't have a choice but to corner her, snap a couple quick shots, and share it with you!

So my beautiful red headed cousin tells me that she had nothing to wear to her brother's wedding and called up her dear friend, who turned around found her this adorable, chic and vintage dress from a garage sale. A little TLC and she pulls off this adorable number. 

I was literally drooooooling over these shoes. I was staring at them, aaall night! 

It had the cutest little gold broche in the front, and the ruffle is so flattering and feminine. 

My favorite was without a doubt, the black flower detail delicately placed all over the dress. 

xo . jess

New favorites..literally.

Sharing my finds from the weekend with you. The following three items you can find at a wonderful little jewelry store called Hot Mama's... 

fabulous ueberoval golden hoops. 

my new favorite short golden chunky necklace

the always classic golden hoops :) 

These next two jackets I scored at the best Gap I've ever been to! Not usually a Gap girl but couldn't pass these up!

I'm a blazer girl with a solid collection of 9 blazers, I couldn't pass up this open career jacket :) 

I paired it the next day with my cropped, high waisted tweed trousers and a simple white boyfriend T. 

Brass silver waist belt with an adorable sized perfect bow. 

My new FAVORITE thing in my closet :D I've been thinking about a new jean jacket for a couple years but could never find the right one. I've had the same jean jacket since I was 12 years old! It's a dark denim wash from United Colors of Benetton which still fits, except that the arms are just a bit too short that I always have to wear the arms rolled up. 

Let's just say..this is my new favorite outfits! The belt is actually also a score from Aspen, but it was odd to take a picture of..the strap that's after the holes..the part that usually just goes through your belt loops is suuuper long. Then I realized that right after the buckle is a sort of flap..I then figured out that it's meant to wrap around and give that cool belt knot everybody's rocking lately! Paired with my 2nd favorite piece of clothing in my closet, my $2 vintage sky blue dress from the thrift store with a tiny white dot pattern (you can tell it is polka dot, but not...) with 4 sea shell buttons across the front, and favorite Mary Jane's, this is without a doubt

my absolute favorite outfit!!!

(I just realized the freakin dress even has pockets!!!! :D *sigh* I love clothes)

xo . jess