Yesteryear Revival

Unfortunately I'm a little under the weather as of late last night, so I'm taking the easy route today and blogging a mini tour of our living room.

I'd been planning to do a home tour for a while now, but it always seems the day after I clean, everything gets dirty and unorganized. Ugh, don't you hate that? (And I don't even have children yet!)
What can I say, we are messy folks.

Anyway I'll be posting mini room tours over the next couple of weeks as we try to create order out of chaos.


When we first started looking for places to live in Michigan my only stipulation was that we find a house as opposed to an apartment or townhome.
However, we didn't have any money saved up to buy, so renting was our only option.
Within three days of searching we were lucky enough to find the house where we currently reside.
It has everything we need/wanted in a place and more.
There is a fenced in backyard for Maggie to run, a wood burning fireplace for surviving the long winters, and some amazing built-ins including the bookshelves pictured above.
Not to mention the original 1920s blue and pink tiled bathrooms which I can't wait to share!
The details all throughout are so charming. I just love it.
It's the perfect place for our little family at this time, and I'm so thankful we have enough room that my brother is able to live here with us.
<3

Picture details:
1. Our thrifted record player & 1970s Marantz receiver and speakers handed down from A's parents.
2. built in "owl"cove :)
3. Glass head (brother's) and bird planter (thanks T & A!)- mantle decor
4. 1950s leaf clock originally gifted to my grandparents on their wedding day and then handed down.
5. Reading corner w/ thrifted flower chair
6. Moose's lookout
7. 1970s patterned couch bought for $5 at an auction by my dad
8. Old dentist cabinet/bar

Hope you enjoyed a little peek into my home!

P.S. Sorry for the poor picture quality. These were hurriedly taken with my phone before I lost all natural light.

I am finally getting around to an outfit post!
Nothing super exciting or anything, just something I wore to work on a lazy Sunday.
The skirt I picked up forever ago at a Buffalo Exchange while visiting Arizona (best store ever, by the way!)
The shirt, however, was a rare thrift find. For me at least.
I typically don't browse the blouse section while thrifting, but one day I found a bunch of awesome vintage shirts at Goodwill and couldn't pass them up.
This is one of my finds!
I love it. While it's super short, it's very versatile and goes with many of my high-waisted skirts and pants.
Anyway, enough gushing about my new favorite shirt...

On to the sweet bike...
It was my dad's until he gifted it to my brother. (I was not happy about this mind you!)
When my brother moved here, to MI, he was gifted a new bike (a used Trek).
So now I claim this brown Schwinn beauty as mine. See how that works?
(Luckily my brother doesn't read my blog, so ya know, for all intents and purposes it is now mine)
:)

Friday night the mister, my brother and I headed to Lake Lansing for the weekly Sounds of Summer concert.

This week featured Lindsay Lou and the Flatbellys, a local bluegrass group.

They were truly amazing playing a combination of covers and originals perfectly suited to their diverse audience.

Surprisingly, I planned a little ahead and packed some delicious snacks for us to nosh on throughout the evening.

Bean & corn salsa w/ multigrain chips, herb goat cheese & crackers, and garlic hummus w/ pita.

Ohh my mouth is watering just writing this post!

We also took some cards and books to keep us occupied.

It was the perfect evening, bugs and all, and one part of summer I will definitely miss come fall.

Here are a few recent thrift finds.

I've been trying really hard to cut back, but while I was home a few weeks ago I couldn't help myself.

I had to see what treasures I could find.

Let's just say I have got to open up shop sooner than later. Things are gettin' out of control.

Here's the breakdown:

coffee thermos- $1.99

another flower clock!- $2.99

vintage beaded purse- $2.00

retro starburst glasses- $0.99/each

box of '70s Playboys- free via brother

red Samsonite travel case- $2.99

enamelware flower pot- $3.99

mini felt owl- $0.59

So here's the story behind the box of vintage Playboys as I normally wouldn't be a collector of such items.

My brother and dad picked them up at an auction a while back. $5 for the whole box.

When my brother decided to move, he was going to trash them.

Obviously I could not let this happen once I saw the ahhmazing ads and stories within.

Much to my surprise, one of my favorite authors, Joyce Carol Oates, wrote many short stories for the '70s ed. Playboys!

I never thought I'd be so excited about a box of Playboys, but in fact, I am.

I hope to share some of the neater ads and stories I find.

<3

Better late than never, right? :)

These past couple weeks have been crazy busy.

My brother moved in, my parents (and their 105 lb. dog) visited, we traveled home for a wedding, I had a birthday and we finally got to meet our new nephew!

Phew, busy but fun.

Things are just beginning to wind back down.

Anyway, the reason for this post...

The mister and I celebrated our three year anniversary on August 2nd.

We spent our day road tripping, wine tasting and beach bumming on the shores of Lake Michigan.

It was perfect.

(Especially the part where we spontaneously stumbled upon a breathtaking deserted beach!)

Oh how I look forward to spending many more years together.

<3