{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

{Make It}...Fresh Start

I had this ragged aqua blue frame from my early high school years (yikes!) that was buried deep in memorabilia and dust under the bed. In it's first life, it house a lovely collage of the band U2. Yeah. I was that obsessed. Recently, I've found it liberating throw old junk from my haunting past, or refurbish it. Let's face it. You can't hide from everything. Why not take something that you'd rather ignore and turn it into something pretty rad that you don't mind if other people notice? Attention is good. Glam is good. Change is good! From barf blue to feisty fuchsia, this change for the frame is pretty damn fab. Our lives should be too.

You will need:

a wooden frame

rubbing alcohol

cotton balls/rounds

craft paint

detail paint brushes

clear lacquer/glaze

No matter what kind of surface you're working with, use rubbing alcohol to clean the frame. Since mine had old paint, I use the alcohol to not only clean the wood or any residue/dust, but also to remove excess, uneven coats of paint.

 With your craft paint and medium flat brush, add thin layers of paint. Allow each coat to dry so it is smooth to the touch. Don't worry about getting in the grooves. As you can see above, the first and even second coat may not get into those tiny details.

With your detail brush, after the last coat has dried (I painted probably three or four coats for maximum coverage and impact), fill in any touch ups. Let your frame cure completely over night.

The next day, with a medium/large flat brush add a generous coat of lacquer. Let it dry to the touch and add a second coat for high gloss shine! Again, be patient. You should let the frame dry with the glaze for another day before putting in your photo/art and glass! 

And doesn't it look fab?

{Look Book Love}...Vero Moda

I really fell in love with Vero Moda when I was shopping in Europe. Their look book for autumn is stunning. (It probably helps that the gorgeous Alexa Chung is modeling the clothes.)With lacey details, drop waists and collars galore - it's the perfect mix of vintage with modern twists. 

Isn't the styling of the shoot fantastic? Rustic, earthy and even bare, it allows the fantastically feminine nature of the line to really show through! 

Photos via

{Splurge or Save}...Computer Commuter

School is starting up soon and fall shall descend upon us. Something I always need is a great satchel to carry all my things. Because I often have classes back to back, I need to have my computer, cords, wallet, notebooks and more all in one place. And sure, I like my backpack, but sometimes don't you want something that transitions from the classroom to your internship? It needs to be timeless. It needs to be functional. That's why I love both these black satchels. They have a great vintage charm with fantastic detailing, but are cool enough in black to fit anyone's style and personality. 

{Splurge} Leather Mock Croc Satchel

{Save} Double Buckle Retro Satchel

{Weekend Update}...Farmer's Market Finds

The weather was so incredibly gorgeous this weekend it would have been a crime to not go out and enjoy it. My family went down to the local farmer's market held at Phoenix Park, which is breathtaking.  We had to take one or two strolls around the place before actually deciding on what we wanted. Fresh bread, crisp greens, hearty tubers and flowers make the entire market explode with color. Oh, and did I mention there are local artists and musicians, too? Yeah, it's pretty much ridiculously perfect. I definitely felt and acted like a tourist in my own town this weekend, which can be fun. 

We decided upon fresh peaches (yum!), finger potatoes, freshly baked focaccia bread and caramel apple bread, both from Bohemian Ovens. We know the family who owns it and they seriously make the best breads and pastries. In Bloomer, WI, they use a brick oven and old techniques. It's the bomb. 

So happy Monday! I hope you got out there to enjoy nature's beauty! When you really look around, there is some pretty amazing stuff. For example, some of my favorite things in life are looking at fresh produce. Weird, I know. But it's gorgeous. And did you see the meteor shower? Sadly, it was a bit too cloudy for me. I'd love to know what you saw!