Zipper Bracelets

 These bracelets made from zippers are the easiest DIY I've seen in a while! I love the idea of the simple one strand ones below as friendship bracelets for you and your best girlfriends. Wouldn't they be cute stocking stuffers for your roommates? Finally I have a way to use my beloved, old, worn out jeans!

(via Brit + Co)

{Weekend Update}...A Day Late!

The Bag Girls...

Hello, all! So sorry about the post few and far between. Seeing as it is in the middle of midterm season, life is getting busy! But, amidst all the studying and copious notes, I was able to have a fantastic girls' weekend! Two of my best friends came to the cities, and did we have a blast. When you're feeling stressed, spending time with the girls is so therapeutic. Even if you're busy with mountains of to do lists, it's actually productive to be unproductive and silly for a bit. So we pampered ourselves with delicious food, shopping, and outdoor walks! 

I hope your weekend gave you ample time to unwind, be worry free, and girly!

Abby + Katie at Broder's 

Red Velvet Cupcakes...yum!

Photos via Instagram and by me. 

{Curious}...Roommate Duties

One of my roommates had a concert last night. Her parents even drove here to see her! How sweet? I didn't have a lot of work to do and I had been looking forward to a relaxing evening with no pressing chores all day. As McKenna was leaving, bassoon strapped to her back, Abby and I cheerfully waved her off, telling her how gorgeous she looked in her band dress and wool coat.

But once the door closed and the lock was turned, Abby and I glanced at each other asking, "Are we supposed to go to her concert?". Were we expected as roommates, as friends, to attend her concert?

When your roommate has a big test, do you act as their study moderator quizzing them?
If she has a game, do you go to cheer her on?
You're doing laundry while on a cleaning frenzy, do you throw in some of her things as well?

What do you think? What are some of your basic roomie guidelines? Do you have any suggestions for me? I'd love your feedback and thoughts on roommate duties! 

Photograph by Joe Scherschel via art.com

{Weekend Update}...Ye Olde Faire

 The Renaissance Fair reopened for this last weekend of September, before the cold autumn weather really sets in. Some friends and I drove to Shakopee for the day to enjoy the sights and sounds (and flavors) of the Renaissance and enjoyed the gorgeous weather! The Ren Fair is a unique place. As always, the dress code was varied, with amazing period appropriate pieces, modern interpretation; corsets, bralets. And then there were people like us, in everyday street clothes. The hot sun and dirt fairgrounds made for a tiring, dirty, but fun day! As the sun set, the sky turned pale and fuzzy, with a blurry full moon whispering through the dusty air. It was thick and warm as the kicked up dirt in the atmosphere started to settle while people left for the evening.

 The Puke and Snot show was fantastic. The longest running Ren Fair show, it's still hilarious, relevant, and a tad bit naught. While I didn't go for a turkey leg this year, the cream puffs were simply heaven.

 All in all, it was such a successfully fun weekend! I think most people would be hard pressed to find an experience like the Renaissance Fair. You arrive feeling skeptical, tour around feeling both out of place and included in something uniquely special, and leave feeling tired, sated, and childlike.

How was your weekend? I hope you enjoyed the gorgeous weather and did something out of the ordinary! That's what makes life interesting. xoxo

Top photos via Instagram

{Weekend Update}...Bridesmaids

Coffee run before the chaos of tulle, gems, and taffeta. 

 Have I told you guys this yet? I'm a bridesmaid for my dear Becca! We are all so thrilled about the wedding, and I couldn't be more honored to stand up for her wedding. She's such a great little thing! The wedding is in spring, so we've got to get those dresses ASAP. So I went on home for the weekend and experienced a marathon of sorts. I barely slept! But it was great. We had a viewing party for The Office (what are your reactions to this season?), went dress shopping, checked out a bridal fair, and celebrated birthdays. Needless to say, I'm worn out, y'all! But it's so great being a part of something so special. Crazy hectic. And lovely. 

Welcome to the weekend. 

Last minute catch up!

Photos via instagram 

{Weekend Update}...Goodbyes

The in between.

This was my last weekend in Eau Claire for a while. All moved in to my new digs for the new school year, I can't believe how much I did in the weekend! Although I will most definitely be in my hometown a lot visiting, I still have a hard time saying goodbyes. It's difficult always coming and going, leaving friends behind in both places. I made sure to have some quality lunch dates with my parents, breakfasts with friends, creative time with Abby, and family dinners as a send off! Home is great, new places are exciting and family is the constant.

The Godbrother.

Concrete leaves! Best handmade gift for fall!

Ahh...my bed, my home. 

{Fall Threads}...Dinner Partay

Nothing says welcome fall and friends like a fabulously fun dinner party. I'm imagining a roasted chicken or pumpkin soup with asparagus mixed in with some sweet potato and eggplant. Yum! We just had a huge family dinner the other night! It doesn't have to be anything super fancy, but it's a blast having a feast when the weather cools down!

Use a fairly neutral dining set so that your food can really pop. White dishes and dark silverware make a bold statement on the table without taking the spotlight away from the beautiful colors in your food. A fun way to incorporate hues in dish ware is the serving vessel. Imagine some butternut squash and asparagus in that turquoise serving dish! Love!

Of course you want look great, but you also want to look comfortable. Make your guests feel at ease with the modern kaftan...a simple shift dress and flats. You'll be looking the part in a versatile outfit. 

Don't forget the music! You'll want it just in case conversation drags...OR you feel like dancing!

P.S...How cool is this carbonator? No need to buy tonic water, make your own as needed!

Napkins / Plate / Serving Dish / Pitcher / Silverware / Dress / Carbonator / iPod / Shoes

The Guest List

You know how girls' night can become girl's weekend? Yeah, that happens a lot. And when out of town friends surprise you for a few days? Well you'd best be prepared for those bunking buddings! Let's keep them all happy with a fab guest room and treats! Make it comfy with quirky pillows, bright toiletries, and unisex fragrances. Oh, and let's keep them amused and hydrated! I also like to keep small packages of sweets set aside as goodies for my lovely guests!

Comb / Barsoap / Khiel's Lavender / L'Occitane Verbena / Whale Vase / Tooth Brushes / Towels / Finish This Book / Candle / Pillow / Water Carafe 

{Weekend Update}...Movers and Shakers

Real life Tetris.

After many boxes, suitcases and totes, most (okay-half) of my belongings have been moved to my new apartment! Before the first move in trip yesterday, we did some end of summer cleaning. Refreshing! The weather was gorgeous and cool, so welcome, Fall! Oh, I can't forget...girls' night! In my book, there's no better way to inaugurate the weekend than a good old fashioned sleep over with your best gal pals. The end of summer has been a whirlwind of emotions, to do lists, obligations and more. When things get pretty crazy in life, my best remedy is friendship.

Looking a lil' bare. But not too shabby.

Fantastic friends. 

Photos via Instagram // Abby Carlson - @classickitsch Instagram

{Fall Threads}...Crisp Picnic

The past few days have been a little blustery, with cool mornings and brisk nights! But wait, it's still summer! There are still weeks of iced tea sipping, outside barbecues, and picnicking! So to start off our Fall Threads column, we've got a picnic packed for you! The perfect way to transition from leisurely summer days, to crisp fall afternoons!

Having a picnic has always been special for me. I live in a city that is filled with fantastic parks and luscious greens, but still quite urban. Packing a lunch with freshly picked fruit, iced tea, hummus & pita chips is delightful, because spreading out a colorful blanket and nibbling with your friends in the breezy sunshine is happiness. My friends and I love going to the park on nights there is live music to enjoy a great local band, snacks and laughs.

This weekend, grab some buddies and have a picnic to inaugurate the cool breezes and begin bidding farewell to hazy lazy days.

Jeans / Scarf / Tee / Bangle / Pouches / Baggu Bag / Shades / Oxfords / Blanket

Dorm Life

Remember the dorms in college? 

The summer leading up to your Freshman year is crazy. You're checking your inbox everyday anxiously awaiting your roommate match. (I was lucky a roomed with my twin sister, Abby.) You gush to everyone which dormitory you're assigned and you're (secretly) thrilled that you're in the coed building! Extra long twin sheets, matching towels, a coordinating shower caddy, and several air fresheners later, you're more than ready for the ultimate collegiate experience.

And then you move in.

There it is in all it's tragic mess. After dreaming of a room like Rory's from Gilmore Girls, you're horrified by the pee yellow walls and dusty carpeting. Even though you've opted for lofted beds, you have just enough room for one of the two of you to pace in a narrow line the night before a term paper. Gross!

I'll admit it. I wanted to barf, cry, furiously clean, unpack, but also leave all at once. It was the strangest tumult of emotions. Thrilled, and yet terrified to be there, I was moving in no matter what.

And guess what. I survived. A whole year! I helped that I roomed with Abby, because if I was feeling miserable, at least we could miserable together. Despite what you might think, dorm life was not a great catalyst in the friends department.

I was expecting to become best friends with everyone on my floor. The highly romanticized theory that you are thrown together and suddenly mesh is just that. It's just a theory. I was one a cliquy floor inhabited by people that were extremely different from me.

So in all honesty, dorm life was awful. At least for me. Instead of feeling surrounded by good friends and good times, I felt completely isolated. If it weren't for Abby, I would have been desperately sad and home sick.

I hate to make it sound so terrible, but my experience was eye opening. I am grateful for the friends I did make. It forced me to actually leave such a cloistered setting and branch out.

Don't forget, living in the dorms made me truly appreciate little things like baking and cooking, cleaning my own bathroom, doing my laundry without taking eleven flights of stairs. I never thought I would be thrilled about such simple things!

I'd love to know how you felt about the dorms! Did you love it or hate it? Did you make some of your best friends there? Did you ever feel isolated or completely claustrophobic? Or was it exhilarating to be surrounded my so many different people you didn't really know? Let me know about your experience!

Good Rivers Make Good Neighbors

I'm headed over to Minnesota on this fine day for a productive and fun excursion. I've got a meeting right away once I get to The Cities and then we're off shopping! I've got Mom, Dad, and Abby in tow. It's so wonderful living in Western Wisconsin, because I sometimes get that small town feel, but we're really very close to some fantastic metropolitan areas, like the Cities and Chicago. I think this shirt is just adorable. It made me laugh out loud a bit. The only two states I've ever inhabited and they're both so wonderful. Friend rivals, which is fun!

Even though we get along like butter and toast, MN & WI love to get after each other. Do you have a friendly rivalry with a neighboring state, or is it a Midwestern thing? We love to tease each other, but we wouldn't know what to do without 'em!

Transition

It's something so simple and beautiful to remember. We've talked about how change can be hard. This is to make it easier. Send this card from Etsy to your best girlfriend when she's feeling overwhelmed by the transitions in life. It's the perfect reminder that she is resilient and wonderful.

Happy Monday!

Via pinwheeldesigns

Pack Your Bags, Hit the Road

Recently I've been yearning to travel. I don't mean vacation, though. What I'm taking about is a spur of the moment adventure. A trip. I'm not looking for an ultimate destination, because sometimes that's not even the best part. In high school my choir drove from Wisconsin to Disney World in Florida. Most memorable are the hours we spent on the bus. The journey there and back changed people. We were not fascinated by fluorescent colors and princesses, but rather we were in awe of how wonderful and free simply going could be.

I'm typically a planner. I look ahead, and ahead, and ahead until there is nothing left to look at! I soon realize, I didn't see anything in the present. So I'm challenging myself to be spontaneous. If I feel like hitting the road, well I'll do it gosh darn it! Here's to experiencing the real deal; taking the journey without knowing where it ends, and hopefully experiencing some road trip tunes, greasy spoons and evening stars.

photo via weheartit

Celebrate

Yesterday kicked off birthday month for me! I know, it seems strange that I have birthday month. I don't demand present everyday or special treatment. But I definitely make sure that for the entire month I have "me time" to relax and rejuvenate. I hang with friends, eat good food, smile & laugh a lot. I take time off. So if blog posts are few and far between, it's because I'm celebrating life. 

It's crazy how busy we make ourselves! It seems like there's so much to do, and then forever in a day we're not getting enough done. I realized I was busy when I scheduled breaks & relaxation time. Doesn't that seem backwards. So happy June, happy Summer, happy Birthday! However you celebrate, whether you eat your weight in cake or have a glass of champagne or go on a shopping spree, enjoy it! There is so much great stuff in life - we should be jazzed! Go out and have a good time! 

p.s... How great is this model's hair and makeup. She is styled so perfectly!

photo via

{Weekend Update}...Long One

And we're back! After a wonderfully long and relaxing Memorial Day weekend, it's time to start posting again. I snapped some pictures on instagram. Now that it's warmer and warmer, I can't wait to post and chat about some everyday adventures! (They are so many more in summer, than in winter. Don't you agree?) This weekend was filled with family and friends, parades and music, food and laughter. We had a little party on Monday and got lucky with fantastic weather. (Did you hear about our big storm over the weekend?  Yikes!) All in all, it was a smash. Nick came home and will be here all summer! Although he works a ton, I'm just happy we'll be in the same city for three months! Bliss! I started (again) The Duchess, but still can't find the ambition to finish it. We'll see. Any good book suggestions? Now. Back to work! After all, it's only a four day week. Cheers!

{Weekend Update}...Surprise!

A fun surprise for us (and the police) when the meter died mid coin feeding.

This weekend Abby went home for the Viennese Ball! I was planning on staying in the cities to catch up on lots of work. But, surprise! At the spur of the moment I decided to go home as well. I didn't tell my mom so when we drove back with Dad, would couldn't let her know. (Keeping secrets like this are fun, aren't they?) When she came home from work, her surprised excitement was well worth the neglected work on my desk back in Minneapolis. I ended having tons of fun surprising friends and family who weren't expecting me. Not to mention, Abby and Alex looked gorgeous! I ate wonderful food that can only be found in my hometown and enjoyed Jacob's surprise when he ate an entire medium pizza. Woah!

Before...

After!

{Weekend Update}...Camdi

   This weekend proved to be busy and exhausting. I had massive amounts of work to do, a dress rehearsal Saturday afternoon and a concert the following day at the St. Paul Cathedral. Luckily, I had just enough time to enjoy some moments with family and friends. Nick came to visit Saturday evening and my parents attended the concert and took us to lunch on Sunday! The weather was beautifully sunny and warm, so I got to wear my new favorite shirt!

     With Nick in town Saturday night, we took the opportunity to try out a new (to us) restaurant in Dinkytown. Camdi is a small locally, family owned Chinese and Vietnamese restaurant. Camdi herself cooks in the kitchen everyday. While I was talking to her husband who mans the tables and register, he told me all the beautiful paintings that adorn the walls are done by by Camdi! Now that's what I call a talented woman; an amazing cook and a spectacular artist!

    I wasn't feeling overly adventurous that evening, so I stuck with some staples: boiled dumplings, spring rolls, sesame chicken and the sweet and sour combination. Everything we ate was delicious! I still have some left overs! My taste buds tend to be a little sensitive, so I found the sesame chicken to be on the spicy side, but it was still delectable. I can't wait to go back and thy the mongolian style chicken! Camdi is definitely one of my new favorite dining experiences! Great service and food!

{Weekend Update}...Friends

    I got to spend my weekend with my fabulous friends! Some came into the city so we could have a weekend full of shopping, dinning, talking and laughing. Shockingly, I went to a hockey game! Normally not an avid sports enthusiast, I had a blast watching the players speed across the ice and slam into each other. It's actually quite entertaining! 

    Abby & I got up early on Saturday and went to a book store, had coffee, scones and caught up on some fashion mags. After a light brunch, we met up with the other girls and headed to the mall for shopping, shopping, shopping! After a great day of spending money, we grabbed dinner at Granite City. Overall, a successful weekend. 

This amazing bag jumped out of nowhere at me. Stripes, magenta, blue & a totally rad clasp. I also picked up this amazing blouse from Express. I love it. Neon green, sleeveless and it ties at the bottom. It's so lovely. The perfect summer top!

And of course, I had to stop at Sephora to pick up the roller ball stick of my favorite perfume, Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh. 

 After a great day of spending money, we grabbed dinner at Granite City. Overall, a successful weekend.