last week

Last week was so busy!  We celebrated Andy's birthday, had two major vintage buys (one a surprise that fell smack in the middle of his birthday celebrations), and my friend Stephani visited us.  There was a lot of cocktail making and coffee drinking, some good eating, a ridiculously hot and humid visit to Saugatuck's beach, and beautiful Michigan moons.  (More photos on my Instagram.)

We also reserved our apartment for our week in Vienna, which I'm very excited about.  Now we just have to find a place to stay for our week in Munich...any thoughts on neighborhoods/places to stay from those who are from there or have visited would be greatly appreciated!

xo

K

cruel summer

Ah, summer!  So beautiful, and yet, so...hot.  And sticky.  And slow.  Summers are always slow for us.  Not the good slow as in, take a breath, enjoy life, go on vacation.  Slow as in, retail sales seem to grind to a halt.  Usually, Andy takes on other extra work in the summer to help make up for this.  But this summer, he has been working his tail off to launch his new career in real estate.

This has meant we've stuck pretty close to home.  Our long overdue visit to friends in NYC?  On hold.  Trips up north, and a visit to my parents in Colorado?  No can do.

But it hasn't been all bad.  Though most of this summer has been hotter than usual, August has given us a bit of a break.  We've been able to turn off the air conditioning and even use the oven once in awhile.  So I made this tower of smitten kitchen salted chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.

Backyard badminton has been excellent.

Hydrating with pink gin and tonics.

Enjoying beautiful late afternoon sunlight.

Naps with a snuggly old terrier.

And reading and drinking beer in a bubble bath.

I mean, seriously.  I really can't complain.  It's a very good life.  I hope your summer--whether jet-setting or staycationing (ugh)--has been delightful!

xo

k

lazy hazy crazy

Well, not really crazy, and thankfully, not too hazy, just hot.  But lazy, yes.  Nearly all of these photos were taken by me while reclining--either on the floating dock or in a rubber tube, on the lake.  Can't get any lazier than that!

I am not a big sun-seeker (if that's not obvious enough from my skintone).  Give me fog, rain, gray skies--heck, even snow!--any day.  But I have to admit that lying on a floating dock and reading a book on a sunny day can be one of life's more pleasant pursuits.

And floating on an inner tube staring up at the clouds in an otherwise clear blue sky is pretty nice, too.

xo

K

good old summertime

PawPaw (my grandfather) and my dad fishing, 1950s.

Happy Independence Day to all the Americans celebrating!  My grandfather (above) would have been 111 years old today.    

Here's a little vintage summer fashion parade, courtesy my old family photos.

(And don't forget, the summer sale continues through midnight tonight with 20% off everything in the Etsy shop!)

My grandmother Edna, 1950s.

My grandmother Marian and my mom, late 1940s.

My mom (holding puppy) and lots of cousins, early 1950s.

Grandma Edna with my Dad, practicing sun protection, early 1940s.

My Tante (great aunt) Bernice and great uncle Charlie (rocking the Hawaiian shirt), holding babies Chuck and Ann, early 1950s.

Summer dudes.  My grandfather (with pipe and boater) and a couple uncles, 1940s.

Summer gals.  Grandma Edna holding my dad.  1940s.

Edna in the water, circa 1930s.  I sincerely hope that dress wasn't rayon crepe!

Double exposure photo with my dad (striped t-shirt) and my grandfather in it twice--in his swim trunks and his street clothes!

xo

K

never can say goodbye

For someone who is not big on summer, I'm sure having a hard time letting autumn into the Etsy shop! I'm really hoping that you folks in Arizona, southern California, and Australia are going to keep buying sundresses for awhile, because we seem to have a surplus of wonderful, bright summer dresses, and I'm having trouble putting them aside until next year!

Having said that, I have not forgotten about those of you who--like me--cannot wait for tights, sweaters, boots, and wool! We have a bunch of really cute wool skirts, plaid jumpers and dresses, and adorable sweaters coming your way. There's a little taste of some amazing cardigans up above. My favorite is that very mid century mod-looking orange and black leaf print cardigan in the background; isn't it fabulous? I also love the mod daisy print cardigan. It fits me, and so I might keep it. The white cardigan has satin flower appliques on it--so elegant!

And now more summery (and autumn-y!) dresses and things, in the rest of this week's shop preview.

1960s floral print linen shift.




1950s oversize gingham/check print party dress.



White lace and eyelet cotton blouse with peplum.



Brown mosaic print day dress by Jo White.



Amazing print! Wheat print shift.



Olive plaid wool skirt. (See! I told you I was looking out for you fall people!)



BeeYOOtiful 1950s blue and black rose print party dress by Vago California.



Olive and blue horn of plenty print dress.



Khaki folkloric print blouse.




Bobbie Brooks gingham, pintucks and rickrack wiggle dress.



Stripey 1950s day dress by Betty Barclay.

Good night and sweet dreams, all you summer wind lovers and autumn leaf chasers!

xo
k

surviving summer

Yes, it's mid-August, but it just so happens, summer--in all its icky-sticky humid glory--only just now arrived in Michigan. (Okay, well, right now it's actually pleasantly dry and lovely, but I'm sure it will soon be icky-sticky again.)

I adore autumn. I am the only person in the state of Michigan who does not complain about the long gray winter--I love it! Spring is delightful, but always makes me a bit edgy because I know my nemesis, Summer, is right around the corner. And in my case, it truly isn't the heat. It's the humidity. And the mosquitoes.

How do I survive summer? Sometimes it's so sticky and hot that even getting out onto the lake for a dip is too strenuous. These are the times for a tepid soak in the bathtub with a LUSH Big Blue bath bomb. Its gentle lavender and lemon scent somehow evokes the ocean--or maybe it's the blue water and bits of seaweed.



On the most humid days I require L'Occitane Verbena Soothing Body Ice Gel. Smells lovely--citrusy with just a slight touch of spiciness--sinks right in, and actually does have a slightly cooling sensation. I also wear the matching perfume all summer long; it's the best citrus scent I've ever smelled (and I've smelled a lot of perfume).



My other go-to summer fragrance is Hermes Hermessence Rose Ikebana. It's rhubarb and rose, with a touch of grapefruit (which, come to think of it, sounds like a lovely cocktail). Only available at Hermes boutiques or via decanters like the fine folks at The Perfumed Court.




I'm not a shorts girl--at least, not in public. I think skirts are much prettier, and also, cooler (temperature and fashion-wise). I love the kitschy cool fairy tale/alpine-inspired skirts in madewithlovebyhannah's Etsy shop, like this Red Riding Hood skirt! (I am pretty sure I need one of her velveteen Winter Woods skirts for fall.)



Skirts and pretty, full-skirted dresses, like this one from VintageRoseClothing on Etsy, are my summer wardrobe staples. This pretty pink dress is perfect for a hot summer day, and VintageRose has a great selection of other dresses in her shop.



Of course, an icy cocktail, like a gin and tonic with frozen blueberries, a drink my friend Roberta introduced me to, always helps. Booze and antioxidants, all in one delicious dose!



And sometimes, only a viewing of a snowy film like Doctor Zhivago will do.



I hope you're all keeping cool this summer! Got any heat-beating tips for this summer-hating grouch?

xo
k