Little Bits of NikkNak

Pier 1 Favorites

2012-02-20T17:55:00.000-08:00

To truly be able to save for a house, I have had to curb my shopping habit a bit. It hasn't been easy- I've spent my fair share of late nights huddled under the covers pouring over dresses on various websites, slowing down in front of store windows and leaving my finger prints on the glass, and even asking friends to send me pictures from their latest shopping trip to curb my desire for spring loveliness. Well the other day I took an expedition to pier 1 with the family for a little bit of drooling and I stumbled upon a few new favorite items! Instead of pulling out my wallet, I pulled out my phone and snapped pictures. Things to buy in the future and who knows, a few diy projects!

The first item I spotted was this adorable apron. I have been longing to start making my own aprons, and this one has the cutest pattern! I love the lace details.


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Every time I picture a summer party, wedding, or event these drink dispensers are there. Bring on the lemonade!

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These adorable mint green storage containers are great to add some vintage flair to your kitchen.


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My favorite find of the day were these glasses with chalkboard paint- a great way to remember whose glass is whose when you're all drinkin :)

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Any favorite spring items you've been drooling over recently?

v-day and polkadot shorts

2012-02-19T09:46:00.000-08:00

In the blink of an eye, we are half way through February! Work has been insanely busy and stressful, but some good has come of it. My principal basically thinks I'm a rock star and wrote on my letter of recommendation that I am in the "top 10% of teachers I have observed in the last 20 years". I've started applying for jobs that come up around Sacramento so we can try and get back there next year. I miss my friends so much, and I would love to be able to buy a house and get roots going there.

Valentine's Day was great! My cousin Laura and I gathered up all the fun crafty goodies we could find, poured a few glasses of wine, and made cards for our friends

After Ryan and I decided not to get each other anything and focus on saving money for a house, we both failed and bought presents...
The only thing to get a guy on V day-

I also made Ryan a sweet little box (magazines/pictures + old tea box + modge podge)

sorry, phone camera :( It says "I heart you"

and filled it with some random date ideas. Sometimes we are feeling uninspired or we don't want to spend a butt load to go out and have a good time, so these are a lot of inexpensive, fun ideas we could try together :)
I forget what most were, but the few off the top of my head:
Picnic somewhere unexpected
Make and fly kites
nature hike
trip to the farmers market
wine tasting
Build something cool for our house together

If you have any suggestions on what to add to our box, let me know!!!

In other news, I have this WHOLE WEEK OFF!! I couldn't be more relieved. I have some projects for school to get caught up on and I'll be heading back to Sacramento for some much needed visits and errands. I will leave you with outfit pictures from the other day.. I think I was channeling Zooey with this outfit :)

Outfit details:
Handmade necklace- Printed Peaks
High waisted polka dot shorts- forever 21
Sweater- H&M
Boots- Crimson and Clover

Choosing a Wedding Dress

2012-01-23T14:29:00.000-08:00

Ryan and I are planning our wedding for the spring/summer of next year, so I thought I would get a jump on checking out some wedding dresses. In the past I have made some... risky style choices, and I want to make sure that I'm in something perfect for our big day.

What I'm looking for in a dress:
1.Timeless- just in case bubble skirts, mermaid dresses, or feathers become the puffy sleeve of the 80s, I just don't want to risk it!
2. Flattering- After watching thousands of hours of Say Yes to the Dress, I know that anyone can look beautiful if they find the right cut and shape
3. Comfortable- I want to breathe, eat, drink, and dance at my wedding. So sue me!
4. Inexpensive- As much as I would love a fabulous, expensive gown, I would rather buy a car, house, or vacation with my money.
I've also learned that fabric is really important to me. I don't care if a dress looks nice, if it feels (and sounds) like a tent, I know I won't feel special in it!

I think I've narrowed my search to 3 different styles:

Fun and short:
+ comfortable, shows off some leg, easy to dance in
- can seem more like a party/fun dress than a wedding dress. I don't want to be too casual! They are also hard to find in stores, and I definitely want to try a dress on before buying it.

Lace and Long
+ The most flattering on my shape and very romantic looking
- Can make me feel like an older bride

Dreamy Sweetheart

+ Comfy, not too fancy, pretty on

- Maybe a bit plain? Something about it feels too easy...

This was cute and they said they could make it a sweet heart neckline

I know the venue will be helping me to narrow down my choice. So far our top contender is a lovely winery up in Amador County where Ryan grew up.

The one thing I'm sure of is I will need some help picking! I like something about every dress I put on, so I will need some very opinionated loved ones to help me pick. You know who you are!! ;)

San Francisco Getaway

2012-01-22T16:51:00.000-08:00

Ryan and I headed off for a romantic weekend away last Saturday! Can I just say, best Christmas present EVER? My brother surprised us with a hotel stay wherever we wanted! We love our family and are so greatful to live with them, but a weekend for just the two of us was exactly what we needed after the stress of the holidays. We picked the 2nd weekend of January to help us ring in our 2 year anniversary.

on the train into the city

We stayed at Petite Auberge, a cute French country inn. The place was in the lower nob hill area, walking distance to everything we wanted to see and visit. My favorite detail was the antique elevator with the heavy metal door you have to slide open. There were lost of pretty details, tea and coffee 24/7... the perfect place for us :)

We decided our first stop would be to grab some grub. After a quick scan through yelp, we decided to try the Red Door Cafe a few blocks down from our inn. We had NO idea what we were in for! It is a tiny restaurant run by a flamboyant guy wearing short shorts and knee high socks. He was so fun and personable with everyone, it made the hour and a half wait outside more bearable. It was more a show than a meal.

Greatest cup ever.

We didn't do much on our trip to be honest, just lots and lots of walking!! We strolled to the Fisherman's wharf, union square, China town, through the nob hill area....

We stopped by the musee mechanique on the wharf and checked out some old antique games. Super cool, and free to see!

The Rickhouse was our favorite bar we visited on our trip. Great service, drinks, and most important... ambiance. Everything in the 2 story bar was made with raw wood, clean lines, and lit by candles. I would love to go back again!

We met up with Ryan's cousin at the bar since he was in town for the big SF game. He mentioned after drinks that he and his friend had lots of tasty grub in a cooler in their truck! Eating fajitas in the parking lot seemed like a perfect way to end our night out :)

Picnic in January

2012-01-08T23:14:00.000-08:00

I can't believe this weather! I blame it on buying a new pair of rain boots in the fall. The few times I've worn them when my weather app promised some fun puddles to jump in, I felt like a moron walking around in the afternoon with the sun beating down on my shoulders.
Well the rain boots are stashed away in my closet and we are enjoying warm, sunny weather here in California! Ryan asked me to join him on a picnic lunch he made Saturday, which I happily obliged to.

For our little outing, I wore:
Teal sweater- H&M
Dress- Cuffs
Wide belt (which is great for tucking extra fabric under to turn a dress into a shirt!)- Therapy
Jean shorts- express

Ryan made us supper yummy salads and snacks to share

oh, and I've been meaning to show you my lovely ring!!

Not the best picture, but it's a white gold antique ring from the 40s-50s. There is a round center diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds, creating a square shape. I'm madly in love with it!!!

If you are ever looking for an antique ring, a trip to Judi Wyant in Santa Cruz is well worth your time. They had a whole case of unique, beautiful antique rings from several decades.

So super cute...

Ryan is also wearing his ring now!!! I think it's adorable that he doesn't want to wait.
Why do just I get to wear my ring while we're engaged!?! I can't argue with him, it's just too darn cute.

2011 Recap

2012-01-02T20:45:00.000-08:00

It wasn't until I was sitting at breakfast on Christmas asking my brother "what were we doing last year for Christmas?!" that I realized I better write a little about this year before that has vanished from my memory as well ;)

Let's see, 2011...
Ryan and I were living in our first apartment together in midtown, Sacramento. I was teaching in Davis, a job I truly miss!
January started with a bang! Ryan and I went with my family to Hawaii. It was a great trip, a special thanks again to my grandparents for taking us all on such a great adventure!!!

March and April had a series of super fun blogger meet ups and fashion events in Sacramento. I also began to fall head over heels for these lovely ladies...

May Ryan and I celebrated our birthdays with family

and friends (I loved this birthday outfit!!)

Little Bit Vintage was born! I can't thank my models enough for all of their help...

June was my cousin Brandon's wedding. It was GORGEOUS and seriously everything I could ever want at my own wedding :)

July I had an art show at Cuffs! Most paintings are still for sale! :)

August it was clear my job at Davis wasn't going to continue and I found a new job... 2 and 1/2 hours away!!!! Our going away party came far too quickly

and we headed off to San Jose to move in with family who live near the school I teach at.

During this whirlwind move, my grandparents celebrated 60 years of marriage

My Dad finished this beauty for me (now all I need is a garage haha)

and my new job started. They gave me a nightmare classroom! Every corner was packed with stuff, most of which was garbage. The 4 months I spent in this room gave me serious anxiety. Ever cabinet, shelf, or drawer was stuffed with garbage.

Ry and I took much needed trips to Santa Cruz, San Francisco, and Half Moon Bay

November- Ryan proposed on this day....

and I told the whole family at Thanksgiving. What a scary day! Haha ;)

December- Had to move classrooms. Let the packing begin...

And we rounded out the year with my family on the Delta King in Sacramento.It's a really fun boat where people can stay, eat, and they even do murder mystery dinner theater!

Ryan got roped into the festivities...

Afterwards we goofed around in the casino they had set up for the evening

And enjoyed drinks before watching fireworks at midnight!

It was a beautiful night! They shot fireworks off right above the bridge and everyone had a grand champagne toast. It was a lovely way to ring in the new year!!

Nikki

2012. Let's do this.

2012-01-01T23:59:00.000-08:00

Happy 2012! We've made it to another year, and that is a lot to be thankful for. I was reading this article the other day, and it reminded me that people and events and everything, absolutely everything is temporary. I am so thankful for the love and people in my life and it's time to stop fretting over the little things. Life is just too short! This year I want to allow myself to be happy, focus on the good, and accept my problems for what they are- insignificant in the grand scheme of how I want to remember my life.

I feel like the rest of my resolutions list is pretty unoriginal, but it's mine all the same :)

Get healthier! It's almost time to pick out a wedding dress, which is a great motivation to keep hitting the gym regularly! The past week has been a lot of treats and drinks, but tomorrow is a new day :)

Blog more. I miss it, and I love what it brings to my life! Blogging not only connects me with friends, but it reminds me to take pictures, craft, dress my best, and focus on the good things in my life. How could I let this go on the back burner?

Reinvest my time in Little Bit Vintage. I pay every month for the shop, but I've been bad about adding to it! I haven't been finding stock as easy in a new city and my models live a few hours away now, but no more excuses! If I want this shop to be successful, I have to invest the time and energy it deserves.

Buy a house. That's right. A lofty goal, but Ryan and I really want to move back to Sacramento. Luckily houses are darn cheap right now in Sac, so hopefully we would be able to make it happen whether I can find a teaching job or not next year. Nothing is set in stone and leaving my job in San Jose would be foolish to most everyone, but sometimes you just need to follow your heart.

Happy new year friends. I will show you pictures from my fun New year's eve tomorrow!

Nikki

Working with a Trainer

2011-12-14T09:36:00.000-08:00

As you stare down the egg nog, peppermint mochas, holiday cookies and pot lucks at work, are you thinking about that new years resolution early? I started mine a month or so ago. It is time to get back in shape!! I had more clothes not fitting than fitting if you know what I mean...
I know my struggle with weight and health isn't unique. Several times I've "done" the gym. Constant running, circulating machines, and turning down invites to go out and eat while I pick at a lean cuisine in front of the tv.
Inevitably, I give up. My weight plateaus far from what I find acceptable and it just seems too hard. And, let's face it, food tastes too good. I knew if I was going to tackle the gym again, I would have to do something different.

I decided that I would cut back majorly on some shopping and splurge on a little help from a trainer at the gym. More than half way through the 8 sessions I bought, I think it was a really good decision. Mostly I have learned how to do resistance training properly. I found out that small adjustments make a big difference to make a workout much more rewarding and focused.

If you are considering a trainer:

Pros
There is someone waiting for you at the gym... someone counting on you to show up who you are paying! No chance you are going to skip the gym to watch the latest episode of New Girl.

You can learn how to maximize your time at the gym- we would all love to bounce on the elliptical for an hour reading a magazine, but you can get a lot more results for a better use of your time!

Someone is holding you accountable. I personally hate trying to put that pressure on the people closests to me. It can add tension on a relationship if you are counting on your boyfriend to remind you to go work out ever night and your mom has to hide chocolate when you go visit. Hiring someone to push you to be healthy and better yourself is a way to keep tensions down at home.

Cons
Cost. I got an ok deal with my sessions at $35 per half hour. If you want to meet with someone twice a week, it adds up! It sounds like a lot, but remember if you do it through a gym, they are taking a big cut from your trainer. You should keep in mind there is no better investment to make than in your health. Skip the new boots this winter and do something that will make you feel better (although new boots can feel really good too! ;)

You still have to do the work. It seems obvious, but right when I bought sessions with a trainer I thought to myself I was buying a smaller waistline. Remember in the end, a trainer can give you the tools but you still have to implement them and it is hard work!

Advice:
Take notes. My trainer works me hard during our 1/2 hour, so when I get home I jot down a few of my favorite new exercises so I will have resources after our sessions are over.

Ask for what you want. Reminders, certain muscle groups you want to focus on, nutrition information, whatever. Your paying for the time, get what you need!

Wait for a deal! Gyms are constantly running deals and packages to drum up business. If you aren't in a hurry, wait until you can really get more bang for your buck.

Ask for a free session before signing up so you can see if you like the trainer you are working with and get a feel for what its like.

Good luck getting through this holiday season!!! I will be avoiding the staff room all day... free donuts. Sheesh.

Ryan's Proposal

2011-11-28T21:40:00.000-08:00

We had talked lightly about how an ideal proposal would go. We joked about sporting events, elaborate banners dangling from planes, and an accidental ring choking with an ill fated dessert. The only thing I knew I wanted was one of those perfect, beautiful, so in love days. One of those days that you spend together and you can't stop smiling, but it doesn't matter if you are at the grocery store or sitting on a beach in Hawaii- you are just enjoying being together.

Our day was spent traveling down the coast on November 5th. First stop was Half Moon bay where we walked around, checked out the downtown and headed to the harbor for lunch at a delicious brewery. We spent hours soaking up the sights and sounds, dreaming about what it would be like to live along the coast.

We decided to drive farther down the coast and come back home through Santa Cruz when Ryan said he wanted to stop at Pigeon Point light house. I was surprised but excited to continue our perfect day.

We walked around the light house, enjoying the sound of the wind across the ocean and explored the hostel and cliff side. Ryan took my camera to help me with a few blog pictures. Already knowing some of my favorite camera angles (gosh I love this boy) he got down on one knee and snapped a few pictures of me with the beautiful sea behind me. I looked around, soaking in the day and when I turned back, he had already pulled out a ring!! Apparently he had it locked in his glove box for a month, waiting for the perfect moment.

Just before the big question :)

I would have loved to have teared up and said something romantic like "a thousand times yes". Instead, the only thing that spilled out of my mouth was a giggle and "you sneaky bastard!" He made a joke about being able to punch people properly with my ring, and I said I was glad he asked me on a good hair day. It was perfectly us <3

What can I say? Don't underestimate the power of catching the bouquet. :)

I knew I didn't want to tell my family on the phone, so Ryan and I decided to keep it a secret until Thanksgiving. It didn't seem so far away, but let me tell you. It was a LONG couple of weeks. Now everyone officially knows and I'm so relaxed now!!! I will be keeping you posted as we plan the big day :)

Thanks for reading!!
Nikki

Missed You

2011-11-20T17:02:00.000-08:00

Hey there again! I know its been a long time.
It was never a conscious choice to stop blogging, I just became overwhelmed by everything. Things have been really crazy lately, and coming on here pretending everything was ok just didn't seem like an option. So I disappeared for awhile.
Work is... hard. Not living in my own place is... hard. My grandma is having a difficult time recovering from surgery and it has been... hard. Not seeing my friends all the time and trying to make choices about the future has been more than I can handle with grace and optimism, so I retreated from everything and everyone for awhile.
I can't promise my commitment in the future, but I miss blogging. I've been reevaluating what a blog is and what purpose it serves for me in my life.
Some fun things you missed:
We took a little trip to San Francisco we walked all around the city and enjoyed the sights and sounds.. and a few beers!

who knew the historic corner had a ben and jerrys...

Fall fell

Halloween haunted

Ryan's cute pumpkin!

And I was sick for a week and felt like a zombie. The only productive thing I did all week was hem a dress:

Now, I am totally gearing up for Thanksgiving and trying to get some of my mojo back. Ryan has been nothing short of amazing, I've made a new friend at work, and I started going to the gym regularly. I'm starting to feel a bit better, and I guess you could say I'm setting some early resolutions this year.
Very excited to share more with you. Soon. :)
Nikki

Apple Hill

2011-10-19T17:38:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was a special trip home. Although I had lots of fun things planned for weeks, the real purpose of going home was to see how my grandma was doing- they found a brain tumor recently and she had to have it removed on Friday. We all waited anxiously to see the outcome, and luckily her surgery was successful! She is on a long road to feeling good again, but I am just so relived that she is alive and starting to feel better. :)

Since the surgery went well, we decided to stick to our original plan and head up to apple hill.
Apple hill always has been and will always be one of my favorite places. I look forward to it all year- not only does it mean the colder weather is on its way, but it's finally time for layers and fun accessories!
Last year was the first time Ryan and I went together. I love starting new traditions with my man :)

2010

2011

Per tradition, we had lots of fresh apple juice

Apple beers

Nummy apple pie

And enjoyed all the great people watching

I picked up an unbaked apple pie for my grandma too, so she can eat it when she feels better :)

Happy fall!
Nikki

Bluegrass Fashion

2011-10-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

One of the most exciting things about living in San Jose is the access to the wonderful cities in California! We are only a short drive to places like Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Monterey, etc.

We finally made a trip to the city for a free concert in Golden Gate Park. Ryan and I drove a short ways to Daly City and took a bus to the park. There were 5 stages set up with a myriad of bluegrass bands. I have to admit by the end, I was a lot more excited about people watching than I was about listening to music.

The group in Golden gate park was exactly what you would expect at a free concert in San Francisco. A little dirty, a little smelly, and a lot spirited. Amongst the tie dye and bad sandals, I was really inspired by some of the fashion I saw-

Hoola Hoops: best. accessory. ever.

Pretty maxi dresses

and fun gorgeous cuts... although I don't envy her tan lines!

This little guy was too cute to pass up!

Still entertaining...

fun fall hats

and personal touches to make any outfit original.

I think people watching is one of my favorite activities :)
Nikki

Perfect Fall Shoes

2011-10-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

Working in a messy art classroom has really taken its tole on my fashion. I'm planning on amping up my style for my favorite season and spending this fall in shorts, skirts, and a whole lot of tights, even if it is just for the weekends! I want to be cute and comfy, warm and fashionable.One must for me are some great new shoes!

These Jeffrey Campbell wedges are the perfect color for fall. I would love to pair them with my new knee length emerald pleated skirt- they even look comfortable enough to traipse around a pumpkin patch for the afternoon :)

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The perfect boots for all those jegging sweater days- the small thicker heel gives you a boost but looks comfortable enough to wear all day!

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As a girl that topples over in most heels, these are at the top of my list. The gradual platform looks comfy, and the closed toe would look great with tights.

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These Chelsea Crew oxford wedges look so pretty! I would love to wear them with maroon shorts and my new tights with little hearts on them <3


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What are your favorite footwear for the cold weather?

Falling for Fall

2011-10-10T14:14:00.000-07:00

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. I was never meant for heat- I don't think summer clothes are cute on me, and my feet get so sweaty I can't wear anything but flip flops. I am all about layers and accessories, and I love the colors of fall!

To get ready for my favorite time of year, I decided to darken my hair. I've also been practicing curling it with my hair straightener, a technique that is taking some major practice for me to perfect. So many girly things just don't come natural to me, but I'm trying to learn :)

I might have gone on a wee bit of a shopping spree with my aunt last weekend... we are both professional shoppers and have major stamina. It was really fun, but I did a little damage on my credit card :)

Top- Weave Thrift $3
Shorts- Forever 21 $14
Tights- getting returned to NY&C... they ripped at the seam the first time I wore them!
Shoes- Charlotte Russe

What are your favorite things to wear this fall?

They Know How to Eat

2011-10-03T22:05:00.000-07:00

And by they I mean Persians!!! Not only is their food tasty as could be, there is so much of it! Last weekend Ryan and I made our way to Fairfield to see my friend Alma get married. Her family is so happy and warm, I love being around them. They really went all out, we ate like kings :)

The bride was gorgeous and there were big smiles everywhere

I took this as the perfect excuse to go buy a new dress of course, which I picked up at Therapy, my new favorite local boutique.

AND GUESS who caught the bouquet? Now as much as I want to say fate brought it to me, I may have jumped up for it. Just a little. HEY. I'm only 5 feet tall!!!

I looked straight over to find Ryan. Oh the teasing that ensued...

Its not that I'm in any rush to get married. Having found the right guy is all the confirmation I need, and I just want things to happen in their own time :)

A Place to Call Home

2011-09-27T17:14:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's from crashing at my aunt's house, or seeing what it's like living away from my friends. Maybe it's looking down the barrel at my 25th birthday, but I have really been thinking about what a home means to me. I know nothing is ever permanent, but I want to start thinking about where I would like to buy a house in the near future.


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I just don't know how to decide where I want to live without getting to see all the options available! Forget the different cities I've lived or visited around California. What about all the other states?! Heck, the world? I could definitely see myself living amongst a culture that has nap time in the afternoon and stays up late at night singing and drinking. How do you know that the place you live is where you are meant to be?

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I know in the end, a lot of this is out of our control. We tend to gravitate toward families for support, a job offer, etc. but I want to feel like I'm making the best decision possible. What if I could be happier somewhere else and not even know it? How do I know where that somewhere is?

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I know there are a lot of things that have to be weighed- family, job, friends, cost, etc. but I just feel like so much about life is in flux it's hard to know what factors are the most important in making a good decision. How do you decide what is more important? Good weather or living down the street from your friend? Living near the beach or moving inland for a job?

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~~Maybe~~ I know I'm over thinking this, but what are the most important factors for you when considering where you want to settle down? Do you use charts, pro con lists, or use your gut?

Nikki

A Much Needed Trip Home

2011-09-21T20:11:00.000-07:00

It had been a month since I ventured home to Sacramento last weekend. You don't realize how much you can lose of yourself until something makes it all come flooding back. I'm not saying my life is hard or that I'm miserable in San Jose- in fact, I haven't really given it much of a chance. All I know is that I desperately miss my friends, family, and the sweet little town I know so well.
We spent our weekend staying at our friends place- Breanne and Charlie are living in an adorable little home in Oak Park. I snuck a picture of her dreamy living room (Sorry Bre!) because there was something so magical and pretty about it in the morning. It is one of those spaces where I can't put my finger on what makes it so great, but it just gives me the best vibes...

I never, ever wanted to leave- she makes tea AND coffee in the morning!!!!! :)

Remember Wario? I shared this picture of Breanne's cat when he had his cute cast in July-

Well his leg didn't heal properly and....

They had to amputate his poow wittle weg! I felt terrible when I heard the news, but rest assured- Wario is one happy little kitty and he is getting around great! The FUNNIEST part of the weekend was when Wario stuck out his ear and tried to scratch it- his little leg muscle started twitching, but there was nothing there for him to scratch with!!! Poor guy :(

The rest of our time was spent hanging out in the driveway, sipping beers and hoola hooping.Totally perfect.

We also played pool with friends

And I even scored these perfect turquoise Seychelles at a thrift store for $5!

Sunday was simply magical- brunch out with my blogger beauties Kari, Skylar, and Melody!

We had some very tasty dessert pizza and french toast from Pizza Rock. Did I mention the bottomless sangria AND mimosas?

I hadn't realized what a frumpy art teacher I was turning into until I saw THESE friends again. I have literally worn jeans and flip flops to school every day. The one time I wore a skirt was because all of my pants were dirty :/ It's so hard to look nice when I'm working in a hot classroom without ac, clay, and chemicals in photo! But no excuses- I need to be creative in keeping my wardrobe fresh while still dressing sensibly for my job.

Coming back to San Jose was hard. I firmly believe everything happens for a reason and I'm meant to be here this year, but right now I just wish I was back home. I miss walking around town and having all the people I love at my fingertips. I don't want to sell this place short and I know I need to put myself out there, but I'm still counting down the days to my next Sacramento visit :/

Thanks to all my friends for the fantastic trip home!!!
Nikki

Vintage Halloween Costumes!

2011-09-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

I spend a lot of time shopping around for Little Bit Vintage. Usually I'm really pleased with the items I pick up, but occasionally I think maybe something I picked out is a little TOO much...
until I realized Halloween is right around the corner! I have a few dresses that are perfect, check it out:

Princess Leia!

And Alice in Wonderland!

Both of these are available in the shop if you are interested!

Have a fantastic weekend- I'm headed back to Sacramento for a much needed visit!!! I can't wait to see all my friends again and do some serious shopping.

Nikki

Date in Santa Cruz

2011-09-11T20:18:00.000-07:00

I have to tell you guys... my new job is exhausting!!! I feel like I'm doing 3 times the work as normal trying to get ready for 3 completely different classes. I know by the end of the year I will be happy- I will have learned so much more about art and have another year teaching under my belt. In the meantime, I'm exhausted mind and body. My only saving grace is that my students are AWESOME! I really couldn't have asked for a better group of kids. Even the parents at back to school night left me excited and motivated for this school year.
As soon as the weekend rolls around, however, all I want to do is relax!
Now that Ryan and I aren't living just the 2 of us, we are planning some dates into our busy schedules. One of our first since the move was a fun trip to Santa Cruz for the day. I wore>>>

Fringe Bag- Legacy Boutique Sacramento

Top- Freestyle Clothing Sacramento

Necklace- Printed Peaks

I am MADLY in love with this new necklace from Printed Peaks. I won it in a giveaway, and I was so thrilled when I received it in the mail. It adds a touch of awesome to all of my favorite outfits.

Our first stop was the Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing. I haven't had a beer in awhile, so I decided to indulge in a little bit of them all :)

This would be on every table in heaven :)

The afternoon was spent wandering downtown, eating Jack's burgers, and stretching our legs on the beach. It was a great getaway and the perfect way to recharge for another week of work.

How was your weekend friends?
Nikki

Outfit post and a blogaversary!

2011-09-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

Hello all! It has been too long. I have been far too busy at work this past week, and I know it's going to stay like that for awhile :( Between that and going to the gym, I'm exhausted! Thank goodness for 3 day weekends...
In other news, I just found a new store to drool over called Therapy in Campbell. They are a perfect mix between your favorite local boutique and Urban Outfitters. After picking up a few goodies there, I felt inspired to do another outfit post:

Goofy Girl!

Lace top $34 Therapy
Navy belt $15 Therapy
Bracelets Cuffs
Vintage sandals $12 Cuffs
Jeans- Levi store in San Francisco

In all the hubbub of moving and starting a new job, I missed my blog's 1 year anniversary! Oh well. I guess I just want to say thanks for reading and being supportive. I would say the #1 thing I am grateful for since starting my blog a year ago are the friends I have made because of it. Not only the community of girls I have in Sacramento, but the ones all around the world who I have come to know and love.
Happy birthday blog! Can't wait to see where we are next year :)

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Nikki

Summer Chub

2011-08-24T20:26:00.000-07:00

This summer was downright amazing. Not only did I maximize my fun quota each day because I knew I was moving, but I'm at that happy little point of my 20s where my friends and I hang out and do what we want, no one is obligated to kids or other scary grown up stuff.
Summer afternoons were spent around the pool drinking Lagunitas, chasing down happy hours to share a pitcher and some fried pickles with friends, or walking to yogurt in the evening with Ryan. Especially after we started packing up our lives into storage, we went from eating out several times a week to almost every day.

Sorry yogurt... it's not your fault!

Long story short, I went to put on my "work" clothes for teaching this week. To my complete horror, NOTHING fit. Not a pair of dress paints in the batch. I'm already wearing jeans to work and it's only the first week. To be totally honest with you, I can't say I regret any of it. My chub is built on fun times out with friends and a very memorable, magical summer.
That doesn't, however, mean I have any desire to run out and buy fat pants when I have perfectly good skinny ones sitting in the closet! So I'm back the the gym, and I even got a membership where Ryan can go with me as a guest anytime he wants! I'm excited to get back into a new routine, and for my clothes to fit again :)

Nikki

Summer is out for school

2011-08-22T16:45:00.000-07:00

I could not believe the mess I walked into when I first saw my classroom last week. There was years worth of.. stuff. So much stuff. Some of it was great tools and materials, but there was just as much in garbage to sort out. There were even old order forms from the early nineties! I haven't looked through most of it (boxes stack up to the ceiling) but I don't think I'm going to bother- they are switching my room in November to remodel the art classrooms. I got something together resembling a classroom and just let the rest be. (It's the other half of the room you don't want to see.)

During orientation last week, I had my picture taken for an ID badge:

LOL. Are you kidding me? This is the worst picture ever! My hair is psycho, and my nose is the wrong color. I thought it was hilarious, but was sure to get a nice hair cut so I didn't look so frazzled on my first day :)

The first day back teaching went well. Although I do still feel like a "new" teacher, having even a year and a half experience does make a world of difference. I remember throwing up before the first time I subbed and being completely freaked getting up in front of a class, but it does become second nature after awhile. It's sort of like riding a bike... but a complicated one that's loaded to the ceiling with teenagers. Ok, bad metaphor.
Hope you are having a lovely Monday!

Nikki
PS: This was the sweetest hand made card I received in the mail. THANKS TRACEY, YOU ARE THE BEST BEST FRIEND EVER!

Naps and a winner

2011-08-18T22:58:00.000-07:00

When some people get stressed, they eat. Others exercise. Some may cry, pull out their hair, or bite their nails. I figured out the only comfort for me is sleep. When I become overwhelmed, I completely pass out. I've been napping like crazy when I get home instead of getting ready for teaching. I can't even imagine how next week is going to go yet. Thanks a million for your supportive comments this week, they really helped to keep my spirits up!!

In other news...
It is time to conclude our uprinting giveaway!!! Remember this site for all of your printing needs- postcards, brochures, you name it. The winner today will get 100 postcards with whatever design they choose! The back will be blank, so they would be great to write a note or letter on- they would also be great flyers to advertise a business, event, you name it!
And the winner is....

#9!!!!!

lazy explorers said...: I think I would make little cards to send with my etsy store merch...as soon as I get that up and running. Or maybe I would use it for flyers for my boyfriend's band. Xo Chloe Thanks everyone for playing, and congrats Chloe!!!! Nikki

My Baby is here!

2011-08-16T21:04:00.000-07:00

HAHA I love getting you guys... every time.
Moving wasn't the only big triumph last week!
My Nova is FINISHED. You might remember this older post when my Dad and I were working on it. Well my beautiful 64 Chevy Nova is done.

Isn't she gorgeous? Her name is Adele :)

The interior was tricky to choose- It wasn't just color, there were a million choices to make!

I wanted my car to have a little character, a signature of me- hence the pretty birds on the doors :)

I'm really happy with how it turned out! I can't believe we've been working on this car since 2006 and it's totally done. For now it will be at my parents house until I have a house (and garage) of my own one day. In the mean time, it will be used when I'm home for the occasional evening cruise, car show, or just a little me time. I can't believe I get to have this the rest of my life!

Thanks for all your hard work and love, Daddy :)
Nikki

Moved

2011-08-15T20:16:00.000-07:00

We MOVED!
Saturday was a great last night in Sacramento. Although I felt disgusting from a full day of scrubbing and packing, I threw myself together and headed out for the Second Saturday art tour. I only actually made it to one gallery- the Elliot Fouts was having a 40 & under art show. I love seeing other young artist doing what they love and making some killer work. These were a few of my favorite pieces:

source

source- this is done in ceramics! SO cool!

source

My best friend Tracey and I headed out for pizza and beer with friends after- did you know Round Table has $4 pitchers?!?! Definitely the best deal I've ever heard of!
On my walk home I was feeling a little buzzed and sentimental, so I popped into Legacy Boutique and bought a few fun "moving presents" for myself, a beautiful top and bag :)

The last night at our apartment was a little silly without a bed...

don't you love my makeshift pillow cases?

And Sunday morning Ryan and I packed our cars, bought a few soy lattes, and hit the road! My car was packed floor to ceiling :)

The same day I arrived, my dad called- my teaching schedule had come in the mail:
1 section of photo
1 section of art 1
3 sections of 3d design.

GOOF.
For starters, in my last jobs I only had to prepare for one class and I taught the same thing all day. Usually it got better as I went and I edited my mistakes (poor first period...) Now I'm teaching 3 different subjects, and in multiple classrooms!!! People assume that because I have an art credential, I'm prepared to teach anything considered "art". Wrong!!! 3d is the most intimidating- I met with another art teacher at the school, and apparently it's a combination of ceramics, jewelry, working with stained glass, copper, etc. I wasn't exposed to any of those mediums in college! I literally took painting 7 times. Gulp.
I guess I will be learning as much as my students this year. I'm just trying to keep myself calm and optimistic, but let me tell you- it's not that easy!
Wish me luck next week, I'm going to need it :)

Nikki
PS: Don't forget to enter this great, personalized giveaway here!

Giveaway- 100 Postcards featuring your own design!

2011-08-11T12:07:00.000-07:00

As bloggers, we understand the importance of communication. We love posts, email, chats... but the one thing, above all others- REAL MAIL!! There is something so exhilarating when you are sifting through bills and junk mail when you spot that one sweet letter or postcard from a friend.
So send a little love to your friends and enter to win....

100 Postcards from UPrinting.com!

Use these as sweet notes to friends, an invite/flyer to your next event, thank you cards, invitations, or anything else you can dream up! Have a shop to promote? In a band with an upcoming show you want to advertise? Maybe you need to get the word out about your next art show! These would be a great way for you to help promote practically anything-

This is a really helpful link from their website about postcard design, which gives you a lot of great tips and things to consider when you are designing your postcards!

Some other links to help you design your own postcards:

Cheap Postcard Printing

Postcard Templates

To Enter:
Just leave me a comment telling me your email address and what sort of design you would like on your postcard! Here are a few awesome examples I found on their website:

For additional entries:
Tweet this giveaway
Mention this giveaway on facebook
Blog about this giveaway
(leave a separate comment for each entry)

Giveaway ends Thursday the 18th!
Limited to US residents 18 years old and above only.
Cards will be 5" x 7", 14pt Cardstock Gloss, No Folding, Front Only Printing

Advice after 60 years of marriage

2011-08-08T12:33:00.000-07:00

This weekend was full of celebrations, birthdays, and firsts. My grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary, however, took the cake!
Pat and Frank Duyanovich met in college, raised 3 children, 7 grandchildren, and have been the driving force behind my most cherished memories. From teaching us how to swim, play cribbage, or cook- they are the glue that molds my freakishly close family together, and I couldn't be more thankful to have them in my life :)

One thing that makes my family so close are the family trips we take together. After the youngest of the grandchildren got to be about 10 or so, my grandparents started planning yearly trips all over the world to take our 15 person family on. Yes, 15. Starting at the age of 12, they have taken me to places such as Alaska, Hawaii, the Bahamas, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Tahiti. Growing up it was my norm, but I remember friends wondering why our family spent so much time together and were jealous of the magical places we visited.

Our latest trip back to Hawaii

During the party, I asked my grandparents "so what is the trick to making 60 years work?"
My grandpa gave me one of his classic smiles and said "I have no idea" with a soft chuckle and headed off to find himself some champagne.
My grandma, on the other hand, divulged a few of her secrets. "First, find a man that's a really good cook" (thanks grandma, good point. check!). "Always say thank you and sorry... treat them as good as you would anyone else".
That one may sound obvious, but I believe it is wonderful advice. In my past relationship, it was all about winning-thank you and sorry were more rare than a lunar eclipse, and we stopped respecting one another.
The biggest difference I've noticed in my relationship with Ryan now is our willingness to acknowledge our faults. I believe all of the thank you and sorrys help to keep us strong. No couple will ever be perfect, but when you show respect to the person you love, it helps to keep your bond strong.

Happy anniversary grandma and gampy! Thanks for all of the lessons and experiences!!

To those of you out there making it work, what are your words of advice to young couples?

Thanks!
Nikki

Going Away Party

2011-08-05T18:08:00.000-07:00

I had the greatest time at our going away party, which also means I got the fewest pictures :(

We did stop to pose one picture... me with ALL of my shop models! It was so exciting to introduce them to one another :)

Melody and Skylar to my left, Laura and Tracey on the right. 4 girls I'm incredibly lucky to call my friends :)
Would you believe I had 4 inch heels on? Sigh.

Bows and Arrows, as expected, was the perfect location. We dominated the outdoor patio, pushed 4 tables together, and ordered wine and beer all night and sipped them out of mason jars while we munched on tasty appetizers. It was a lovely meld of family and friends, all in all the perfect evening.

Oh Breanne... your faces are my favorite.

Ryan looks like he just did something naughty!

I also tried this easy nail design I found on the dainty squid! Sorry for the terrible picture. I would definitely do the triangles bigger next time, mine look like little hershey kisses ;)

Have a beautiful weekend friends!

Nikki

Instead of blogging

2011-08-04T11:44:00.000-07:00

I promised myself I wouldn't be a blogger who blogged about not blogging enough. So I won't.
Instead, I will tell you what's going on over here:
We are moving. In a week.
I'm dedicating most of my time to just hanging out with Sacramento friends and enjoying the last days of summer, and let me tell you... it has been awesome!

Swimming with my buddies @ my mom's house :)

I've also been working on the shop and sending out lots of orders! This is one of my new favorites:

Fun party/sexy grandma couch dress ;)

And I've even taken some time to work on projects I put off for months! I've been meaning to stretch these shoes that are too tight since I saw this video, hoping they turn out well!

In other news:
It's time to give up my 2005 dell computer (that drives me crazy when I'm working on... well anything because it's so slow), so I've been using Ryan's computer. I'm going to need a new one soon!

With the move sneaking up awfully fast, I just want to spend my time soaking up all the fun and good times I can get with my friends. I am, however, excited to get back online and catch up on my favorite blogs soon! I've also been brainstorming some useful photography features for you all, stay tuned :)
Nikki

Nikki

Launch

2011-08-02T11:54:00.000-07:00

Hello again! It's been awhile, but I have so much to share with you!
First off, LAUNCH. What is launch you ask? Imagine combining all of your favorite stores in one location, adding some amazing fashion shows, drinks, and live bands that rock your socks off. Only in your dreams, right?

Launch was a fantastic event held at the Green Hotel in Sacramento. Artists and boutiques rented out 2 buildings of hotel rooms to display/sell their goods, which surrounded a lovely outdoor area for the runway and bands to perform. Guests were able to walk around, shop, and check out all things beautiful. It felt like everyone up and coming in Sacramento who is apart of fashion, art, and music was there! I had the best time mingling, seeing my blogger buddies, making new friends, seeing old ones, and of course shopping!

Isn't Skylar adorable? She is wearing a vintage slip from Crimson, while I am rocking my PacMan earrings and new dress from Cuffs :)

Kari (left) helped organize the event, and also let each boutique dress her up during the night to promote their shops. She wore a lot of outfits :) PS: Am I eating air?

It was one of those times where I decided I could have the night off from lugging my camera around. Besides it not fitting in the perfect gold vintage clutch I wanted to bring, I knew there would be so many wonderful photographers around I could count on! Finding the pictures, however, has proved a little challenging. Luckily, I was able to get these from ronmusserphotography.com!!! Check out the website for all of his shots from the event!

Source Early in the evening

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Two of the many lovely shop owners in Sacramento! Debbie from Legacy, and Kara from Crimson :)

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Friends/bloggers Bella and Kari. I love them so much!! <3

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A night of adorable clothes! I just loved her outfit...

If you really want to get a feel for the event and seem some great runway, check out this video!

This is an annual event, I can't wait to go next year. You should come too if you are in the area!!
Nikki

And the winner is...

2011-07-28T10:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks to those of you that entered to win $15 for Smarty Cats jewelry!! I love all of the beautiful treasures she creates. If you are local, be sure to stop over and say hi on second Saturday! She is easily found behind the depot with the other craft tables, and also at the craft and flea market the 4th Sunday of the month!

And the winner is...
(BTW, Ryan was on the couch and I asked him pick a random # between 1-10. When I told him he was picking the winner, he got really serious and was afraid of picking!! He is SO cute! HAHA)

#7!!! Porcelina @ killing birds is not art! This was her favorite item:

I will be sending you an email with more information, congrats!!! :)

With a little extra boost of readers because of my giveaway over at the Dainty Squid, I'm almost to 200!! I'm thinking we must celebrate with something awesome... I will be brainstorming for you all ;)
Thanks so much!
Nikki

Why Beards are Fun

2011-07-25T11:18:00.000-07:00

I know it has been awhile, I have lots to share with you all! Just a teaser for today :)
Ryan grew a beard out for a month or so and when he decided it was time to say goodbye, we snapped a few fun pictures along the way:

Mountain Man.. grr baby.

Your Dad in the 90s

That one guy at the bar who won't leave you alone.

All for 1 and 1 for all!!

The burned out hipster

I'm sort of missing the mountain man beard, but he is adorable to me either way... except for maybe the hipster look ;)

In other news, I am having a shop giveaway over @ The Dainty Squid! Be sure to enter for $25 shop credit to Little Bit Vintage!

I'll catch up with you all soon! Have a wonderful day!
Nikki

Hodge Podge

2011-07-20T10:56:00.000-07:00

First off, we had a blast last night @ Bows and Arrows Grand opening party! Let me just say- if I ever stopped teaching, I would want to start something equally as fabulous. It's my dream place to be - it has a vintage shop, art gallery, bar, cafe, and beautiful outdoor patio. What more would you want in one location? That is exactly why we picked it for our going away party! Any locals are welcome to come, it's going to be Thursday August 4th from 7-11!

My Mom and I are driving to San Jose today- she wants to visit with my aunt, and I have to go in to work in the morning to turn in paperwork, transcripts, and get fingerprinted. I will also be making a special trip into Santa Cruz to drop off one of my latest shop sales. I think it is so cool I get to meet one of my customers. It really is the only downside to having an online shop, I wish I could meet everyone that shops my store!

Before we head out of town, I desperately need to run over to Cuffs and pick up this dress:

It's perfect, short, and has a great little swoosh to it. Maybe i will hang on to it for the going away party :)

Have you seen the last Harry Potter yet? I never considered myself a big fan, but I have to admit I'm sad they are all over! It was one of those series I knew was worth seeing in theaters and I wouldn't be disappointed. I even saw one of the movies while I was in France a few years ago, and it felt like being back home.

Hope you are all having a lovely week!
Nikki

BTW: I'm extending the giveaway another week! Now is your chance, don't forget to enter!!! Click the button on the right top of my sidebar to enter for $15 shop credit to Smarty Cats Jewelry!

Friday Faves

2011-07-15T11:48:00.000-07:00

Ryan and I stayed in last night, watched 3 Harry Potter movies, and drank a bottle of Red Velvet wine from Cupcake Vineyards. I hope the rest of the weekend is equally as blissful :)
Don't forget to enter the Smarty Cats jewelry giveaway here!!!

Friday Faves:
A leather 6 pack beer carrier for your bike. Just another reason why I need to ride my bike more!


only $22 here!

Why growing up isn't fair...

Get it here

Backyard xylophone, with instructions. Perfect to add a new level of fun at your next party :)

Here

Because I love beautiful ways of displaying jewelry:

Here

These beauties @ Cuffs. Come to Mama....

here

Have a lovely weekend friends!
Nikki

Art Show

2011-07-13T09:12:00.000-07:00

Before I show you pictures from my show, check out this picture I discovered!
I love seeing clothes from my shop on beautiful girls :) Meet Danielle of Danielleorama

Danielle is a super colorful (literally!) girl from Santa Cruz, CA. I was so excited when she started ordering dresses from me, I used to live there and I remember how terrible the shopping was. The thrift stores are majorly picked over and the vintage shops are pricey. We were the perfect match for each other!

Danielle also has a fantastic etsy shop of adorable, hand made characters I just had to share with you. Each one is so unique and has a little story. Such a fantastic imagination!

If you love these little buddies as much as I do, be sure to enter her giveaway before tomorrow!!

My art show was on a beautiful, breezy night in Sacramento during the monthly art walk. It was held at Cuffs boutique where I have bought some of my favorite clothes and jewelry. Naturally I was too busy/excited to take pictures of all my friends and family that came, but I do have a few pics of the show!

"It Doesn't Matter How High You Go" & "He Never Saw it Coming"

"Baggage" Acrylic and mixed media on canvas

Before the show even started, someone left a note saying they wanted to buy the red balloon painting against the blue sky. I was excited and called the buyer the next day, but the girl working wrote the phone # down wrong. BUMMER.

"Well Laid Plans" Acrylic on Canvas

"The Butterfly Series" Acrylic on Canvas

Art shows are a fun way of celebrating the work you've done, and it's always one of those nights that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside when all your friends and family show up to pat you on the back. I think we could all use that little boost of encouragement once and awhile :)

Nikki

Upcycled Jewelry Giveaway

2011-07-11T09:37:00.000-07:00

Remember my sponsor, Smarty Cats? She has some more great pieces and wants to have another giveaway for you! Smarty Cats specializes in taking vintage jewelry and upcycling it into something new and beautiful! Check out some of her one of a kind pieces:

Altered art steampunk necklace statement jewelry-recycled mixed media

Vintage 50s filigree green cameo ring upcycled

Romantic upcycled cherub necklace with flowers glass beads angels with recycled ooak

For $15 store credit, here's how to enter:
"like" Smarty Cats on facebook here and leave me a comment on this post letting me know you did!

If you already "like" Smarty Cats facebook page, just visit the shop here and leave a comment with your favorite item.

That's it. We are accepting entries until July 27th! Thanks for entering and supporting one of my locals who is helping reuse and recycle beautiful jewelry!

Do you know the way to San Jose?

2011-07-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

Before a word can be said, I have to thank you all for your lovely comments, experiences, and advice. It really helped me in my decision, and I realized that I'm a lucky girl to have friends that stretch across the world!
In one month, Ryan and I are packing up and moving to San Jose! I use that ! lightly, to say I'm excited would be a stretch.
I remember as a kid in 3rd grade, moving away was traumatic. No internet, no cell phone, no car. If I had any hope of seeing my friends again, I would have to beg my parents to drive me back for a play date. No chance.
Now, things are completely different. I am a "grown up" and all I have to do is jump in my car and come back when I want to see my friends. Connecting with people is as easy as turning on your computer, so it's not like I'm going to lose any of them. I keep reminding myself that 9 months of teaching is not that long, and most my friends are going to be busy with school and work anyways. Ryan and I are already talking about coming back at least a weekend a month, with reservations on friends couches already in the works. If the year ends and we really do miss Sacramento, we can move back, but who knows... maybe we will end up loving it and want to stay!

I've been trying to look at the positives so far, and this is what I've got:

Spending time with one of my best friends/cousin Laura and her family.
RASHEL!
Visiting Laura's boyfriend's Italian parents (stay with me) who have a handmade brick pizza oven in their backyard. Score.
Short drive to Santa Cruz (Emily!), San Francisco, and who knows where else!
Weather. Cooler summers, warmer winters. Thank goodness.
A whole new world of shopping. :)

I can only hope that the Sacramento bloggers will keep me as a sort of traveling reporter, and I will come back for any and all of their events that are on the weekend ;)

In other news..
My art reception is tomorrow! Having an art show is way better than a birthday. All your friends and family come, there's good food and fun, and everyone spends the whole night talking about your work and asking you questions. LOVE!

The shop is doing great! Just sent off another 3 orders today! Wahoo!

I promise to be back to regular posts shortly. I hate posting without pictures, so I will leave you with this funny picture of my friends cat Wario who managed to break his leg the other day:

I guess everyone has a bad day sometimes ;)

Have a good weekend friends! If you are in the Sacramento area, try and stop by my art show!

Cuffs Boutique

2523 J street

I will be hanging around from 4:30-8ish!

Nikki

And then it all changed...

2011-07-07T12:40:00.000-07:00

I guess no one plans to turn their life upside down, sometimes it just happens.

I was a temporary hire at my last teaching job, so I've been applying for new work over the last few months. I hadn't received a job offer and I started accepting the fact that I would be subbing. I was excited about it actually, it meant I could focus more on my online shop and art while I enjoy living downtown. I kept going to any interview possible for the experience and practice, knowing that half of them I wouldn't even consider taking because they were in terrible areas.

Yesterday, I was in San Jose (2 and 1/2 hours from Sacramento) for a follow up interview at a job and they offered it to me on the spot. I have to respond to the offer by tomorrow.

I'm so incredibly lucky. The job itself is great. Full time, probationary (not a temp job!) and it's teaching photography and art at a very affluent, highly ranked school. Teaching jobs are hard to come by, especially in art. I saw a man leaving who interviewed just before me, and he was... a grown up! Mid forties, wearing a suit and tie who probably has a family and a house that require a paycheck. Little ol' me, just turned 24 and wearing underpants with whales under my dress clothes, got the job instead.

I am more than greatful, but I left the interview... pissed. I don't want to move!?!!?!?! I love my life. I live in an adorable victorian 4 plex, walking distance to literally anything. I'm at a point in my life where most all of my friends live within walking distance, none of us are married or have kids. I know that this won't last forever, so to move and lose that seems crazy to me!

Uhm and did I even mention I would have to move away from my Sacramento fashion blogger friends?

I love these girls. They inspire and support me. They are strong, beautiful, and honestly make me a better person and a blogger.

I know 2 1/2 hours is not a big deal- I could visit on weekends, plus of course teachers have nice long breaks around the holidays. Still, it would change my entire life.

I will have to fret over this later- I have less that 5 hours to finish my art work and hang it over @ Cuffs. :/

Thanks for sitting through this rant, any encouraging words or thought are much appreciated!
Nikki

Red+White+Blue-Trashy

2011-07-04T14:52:00.000-07:00

I might get run out of the country for hating on anything dealing with 4th of July, but hear me out! There are other possibilities besides cut off shorts and shirts with eagles on them.

I wore this vintage inspired Ruby Rox dress that I picked up a few years ago to celebrate independence day with a new pair of red heels from Payless.

Cute, classy, and festive!
Be safe and have fun tonight!

Nikki

Friday Faves

2011-07-01T11:15:00.000-07:00

What an insane week.
First off, I had 3 interviews. I got a call back for one already, I have to go back next week for a follow up interview! If only it wasn't 2 1/2 hours away....

After Kaylah wore a dress from Little Bit Vintage, I was a BUSY girl :)

Seeing orders come in literally brought me to tears! I was so excited boxing them up, writing notes, and decorating the boxes, I totally panicked before heading to the post office that I was mixing up orders! I might have cut open a few to check, but I figured it was just nerves getting the best of me.
I've got a lot more clothes to take pictures of and add the shop, I'm lining up my models for next week!!! :)

I volunteered to be a color placement model for my friend Jessica yesterday at the Spanish Fly hair garage. It was such a fun experience and my hair is highlighted, tipped, and pretty! It looks like I have been playing out in the sun. If only I wasn't so pale, someone might actually believe that ;)

My art show is creeping up WAY too fast and I have a lot to get ready before next week. I hope all my paintings get finished in time!

Ok, enough about me. On to Friday Faves! I'm keeping it short, I'm helping my friend Tracey move today!

This beautiful gold tassel necklace from MySoCalledVintage

Maybe it's because I haven't slept much the past few days, but I think this bed could fix all that...

This gets the dorky artist inside me all hot and bothered. A yummy idea for a summer block party treat!

And this personal message I need to start remembering before I run myself into the ground, trying to take on too much-

Ah men buddy.
Enjoy your weekend, and thanks to all of you for the support!
Nikki

Tips- Helping to Dress up Your Man

2011-06-30T08:04:00.000-07:00

I remember as a kid watching my brother get dressed up for a special event. An over sized jacket from my dad, dress pants too small from the year before, and he ALWAYS wore sneakers. I'm sure my parents just didn't want to buy a new pair of dress shoes every year as he grew since they only got worn once anyways.

When Ryan and I were choosing outfits for the wedding we went to a few weeks ago, I had tons of options (as you saw) but Ryan was a different story. Because he works construction while going to school, he doesn't have a lot of wedding worthy attire. I know most guys would be wearing the same suit and tie look, but I really wanted Ryan to bring a little extra style to the mix. I just don't understand why when a guy dresses up, it could be for a wedding, while collar job, or on a date. For girls, those outfits are always completely different! I decided I wanted to try and figure out a look that would be stylish without looking like he might work in a cubicle.

After getting the go ahead from Ryan, I was off shopping.

Try using fun, appropriate accessories that fit the venue. Consider things like suspenders, vintage handkerchiefs, pocket square, hats, bow ties, etc to make the outfit move beyond business into stylish and personalized :)
Since we were at an outdoor wedding in wine country, I thought working around a cute hat Ry has would be a good start
Hat: Target $15
Tie: Thrifted $4

Be comfortable and dress for the weather. I know better than to ask a boy to wear something uncomfortable, there's a reason guys don't rock heels. The day was fairly warm, so wearing a suit coat all day could turn sweaty. We put Ryan in a vest as an easy way to dress him up without cooking him alive. A light colored shirt also helped to keep him cool out in the sun.
Vest: Thrifted $2
Shirt: Freestyle Clothing $10

The pants were actually the hardest for me to find. Thrift stores have a lot of big pants, and Ryan is a trim fellow. I finally bought the only pair that fit him. I think sticking with a neutral grey or brown is the most practical, too dark or too light can be a bit harsh.
Pants: Thrifted $5

Total Look- $36

This seems like the appropriate time to introduce Little Bit Vintage for Him! Upon request, I have been stocking up as I find clothing for men. It has been slow going because every time I bring something home, Ryan wants to keep it! I've finally hidden away a few goodies and will be adding them to the shop soon :)

Nikki

Beautiful Things

2011-06-29T09:01:00.000-07:00

I love Little Bit Vintage. I love shopping for it, I love sewing for it, and now? I LOVE SENDING ORDERS!

Since I didn't use etsy, I knew I was going to have to work double time getting traffic to my shop. My first order of business was choosing the right places to advertise.

The first lovely lady I contacted was Kaylah from the Dainty Squid. She has a great blog, wonderful sense of style, and seems like an all around cool chick to know. And now, she is wearing one of my dresses!!

I've already had more traffic today before 9 in the morning that I have.... ever. I'm so excited!

I will have a button up on her blog for the month of July, and there will also be a shop credit giveaway at the end of that month! I'll let you know the details in a few weeks :)

Did I mention I'm EXCITED?!

Nikki

Forever 21... Maternity?

2011-06-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

I grew up wandering down the halls of Mervyns and JC Penny with my mom, believing everything else was too expensive and thrift stores were gross. One of the many benefits of blogging for me has been learning about where my clothes come from, quality, and also the importance of recycling clothing to make less of a negative impact on the environment. All of these have somehow kept me away from malls (go figure) and I went from a mall rat to going on the rarest of occasions with friends or family. I still find going to chains for basics (tank tops, underwear, etc) as being reasonable, mostly because I don't know where else to get them clean and cheap.
On one such trip to the mall this past week, my friend and I walked into a Forever 21. Normally I would drop $100 easy and come home with bags stuffed, but my conscience won and I left with only a pair of tights.
What really intrigued me, however, was the section in front.
Forever 21 has a maternity section?

Yes, all ages shop at forever 21 and they can sell whatever they want. However, you can't argue that this store isn't geared towards young girls. Even in my early 20s I find sifting through the "heart breaker" and "my boyfriend is cuter than yours" ts makes me feel a little out of place, even at 24. They don't have much in the way of dress clothes (unless you count prom dresses), so most business women will be found at stores more geared to working women, such as NY and Co or J Crew. Forever 21 also sizes their clothes in juniors, so if you aren't small enough you'll have to shop their plus sizes. I think the real point is if you look at who their clientele is when you're shopping, the majority of their shoppers are high school girls.
So why a maternity section? Is it just a coincidence that they only add this section in states that have a higher rate of teen pregnancy? I think Forever 21 has created enough controversy with itself over stealing designs and unfair labor that adding a maternity section just adds fuel to the fire. I guess forever 21 will pick up on any trend out there, even if promotes teenage pregnancy.
I know I'm a little behind the times on this issue, but educating myself and actually questioning what's going on out there has been a frustrating and eye opening experience. What are your thoughts?
Nikki

Save 15% Little Bit Vintage

2011-06-24T17:35:00.000-07:00

Use code "staycool" when you check out to save 15% now until Sunday!
A few goodies I just added today:

Blueberry Pie Dress with peter pan collar

Roses are Pink, Too! Summer Dress


Bangle it up this summer!

Berry Bliss 6 1/2

Have a great weekend friends!
Nikki

Friday Faves

2011-06-24T11:21:00.000-07:00

It's the weekend, but I can't tell the difference anymore! It's amazing how much faster each day goes when you aren't "working". I think I'll have hours to work on my art/sewing projects, but time seems to be slipping by so quickly! I want to just take a day and stare at a clock, just to know I'm not crazy sometimes :)

Here are some adorable animal portraits from citybirds! Donal Roller Wilson meets Fantastic Mr. Fox. I love each and every one of them! A few new ones are on her blog here.

Cutest, easiest stamp ever! Just wrap yarn around a wood block and paint it. So cool!

The new Goodwill Boutique in downtown Sacramento. All of the best second hand gathered together in a beautiful, exposed brick building. Can't wait to show you what I bought yesterday at the opening!!

I'm melting over this dress at Crimson. Wish it fit me!

Wood veneer sunglasses from Beca @ Tales of a Tumbleweed . I was so intrigued by a post she did explaining all the different woods they use. All of them are gorgeous, check it out!

Events:
If you are in Davis tomorrow, check out the music festival happening all over town!! http://davismusicfest.com

Midtown Bazaar- I haven't been in so long, I miss checking out all the great crafts and goodies! I am going to try and go tomorrow for sure.
1616 I st 12-5

Have a fabulous weekend! I will be drinking wine and eating fudge with friends tonight. :) Can't wait!
Nikki

Because It's TOO Hot to Go Shopping..

2011-06-22T13:18:00.000-07:00

Stay in and shop online! As a little welcome to my new readers and a thank you to the old ones, I'm offering blog readers 15% off to Little Bit Vintage, but it's only good through Sunday evening. Just use promo code "staycool" when you check out. :)
A few great pieces to help fight the heat:


Short bold print skirt

Back button down floral tank top

Floral print jean shorts

Tribal Crop Top

Tropical Summer Dress

New items added every week! I will have handmade tops up next week, I'm so excited :)

What a Wedding

2011-06-20T11:51:00.000-07:00

Now I haven't been to many weddings, but I must say this was magical. I loved absolutely everything, I have so many ideas for my own wedding one day! Even the weather cooled off, a breeze came in, and it was like we were in our own little beautiful world, full of music, laughs, and love <3

My 3 cousins Brandon, Brian, and Zack. I love them all so much!

They hung a picture of every guest and wrote their table # on it, so cute!

Gorgeous barn for the reception. I loved the little lights hung everywhere, it made it so magical!

I loved the back of this dress... so pretty!

I can't believe my cousin Brandon is married!! I couldn't be happier for him :)

The mother of the bride right after the ceremony. Favorite picture of the day :)

Chairs for the bride and groom

My brother and his girlfriend of 8 years. Maybe they're next to get married?

Dancing with my love. Isn't he handsome?

Cutest kids ever!

I guess I should be glad my brother and boyfriend get along, but what if they get along TOO well?! haha

It's been fun making bets which of the cousins will get married next. :) I can't wait to see who it is, it's so much fun celebrating love and mingling families!!!

Nikki

Goin' to the Chapel and We're....

2011-06-15T12:49:00.000-07:00

Going to my cousins wedding!

I'm really excited for the happy couple, and this is the first wedding I've been to since I was a kid! A lot of people aren't that close with their cousins and extended family, but mine is an exception. I didn't realize our family was unique until friends pointed it out over the years. We travel together, plus spend every holiday and birthday together... I guess the real difference is that we all LIKE each other! It's good knowing that no matter what happens in my personal life, my cousins will take me out for a drink, my aunts will lend me an ear and give helpful advice, plus my grandparents will whip together a mean dinner whenever you show up :)
Ryan and I will be spending a long weekend in Healdsburg, CA for the wedding. As excited as I am for the wedding, I'm also thrilled to have a weekend away with my sweetheart <3
Although all eyes will be on the beautiful bride, I need to pick out a cute dress to wear to the wedding!

I narrowed it down to 4, and I thought my friends out there (yes you!) might help me pick one!! I didn't do my hair or style any of these dresses, so just use your imagination :)

I love this dress from the Citizen Rosebud, but it's a little tight unless I lose 5 pounds between now and Saturday!

Super comfy forever 21 dress with a bubble floral bottom

My new chevron dress from Sugar Shack

Or this colorful dress from JC Penny

So what do you think?

Next, I have to go find something for Ryan to wear! I was thinking a fitted button down with the sleeves rolled up, a vest, and slacks. He teases that I pretend he's my ken doll, and I'm thinking he might be right!

Nikki

Lace

2011-06-14T10:32:00.000-07:00

So I was planning on posting an outfit with this lace dress to everybody ever wear

but I can't figure out what to wear with it!! I ended up posting an older picture with my lace top.

I realized I have this perfect resource of fashionistas right at my finger tips, so why not ask you!!!

This dress is short, just above the knee. It has a dark blue base with lace over it. Any suggestions?

Nikki

Getty Owl Craft Fair

2011-06-13T09:53:00.000-07:00

Besides the second Saturday art walk, a pinata festival, and a myriad of other events happening Saturday, Sacramento celebrated the Getty Owl Craft Fair! Sometimes I'm amazed at how many great things happen in this city...

The craft fair filled the Fremont Part across the street from Crimson and Clover. Amongst the lines of wonderful vendors, a few really special ones stood out:
The first was jewelry by Topiary Designs.

Everything was so flat out gorgeous! A little look at the shop:

I just love her use of lace and the delicate shapes they create. Many of her pieces utilize vintage brass that's fantastic!
A few of my favorite items in the shop:

I'm seriously drooling. Hands down, my absolute favorite. This is beautiful!

If you are as in love with this style as much as I am, check out the shop here and be sure to use the coupon code "Getty" for free shipping!!!

Another vendor I loved (and bought two bracelets from) was Space Cadet! Handmade suede flowers on leather? Yes please.

Her work really had an edge to it I haven't seen around the fairs much. Check out her etsy shop!

I also ran into a friend Debbie who is currently doing feather extensions in Sacramento! If you are interested, shoot her an email @ ledebbie13@gmail.com

some of her earrings I loved:

I love spending my weekend surrounded by everything beautiful :)

How was your weekend?

Nikki

Things to Come

2011-06-12T10:32:00.000-07:00

I finished my last week of teaching! Right after work Friday I took an excessively long nap and completely recharged my batteries. I'm ready to change gears and start working on all the projects I have been starting and getting too busy to finish. It was all very bittersweet leaving work and turning in my keys, but I have a lot to keep my busy right now to take my mind off it!

My art show at Cuffs is in less than a month. Gulp.

I have lots of handmade tops from vintage fabric I'm working on for the shop I can't wait to share. My first completed top is here @ City Bird's Nest! My guest post is up, and I'm hoping it brings a little traffic to my vintage shop!

I also want to plan some fun diy projects for you guys. I used to be really good about sharing, and I always received a lot of great feedback on them! More to come :)

Thanks for being patient with me this week, it's been a bit busy! I will leave you with a cute outfit I wore out last night for the second Saturday art walk :)

Favorite heels- target
sheer dress- Cuffs
Belt- Garage sale
Earrings- Crimson and Clover
Crazy hair- WIND.

Pac Man Earrings and a Few Tears

2011-06-07T20:18:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies! I can't believe it's my last week of teaching. This year flew by, and I'm really going to miss my job! I was saying bye to a few of my classes today, and I freakin' cried!! A few of the girls ran over and hugged me, but the damage was done... I am officially THAT teacher, haha! Oh well. Guess it could be worse ;)
So the other day we went and met a bunch of friends for pizza in Placerville, so I used it as an excuse to wear some of my new purchases :)

These AMAZING pacman earrings are from Cuffs! I mean seriously, what's hotter than sexy, dangly earrings that also happen to represent pacman and a string of his ghostly nemeses?

And this zippered front dress from Heart Boutique!

The rings, of course, are from my sponsor Smarty Cats!

In other news, I've been workin hard on the shop! I added:
This tunic/mini dress

A red button front vintage dress

And I think my favorite item of the week are these white Gloria Vanderbilt boots! Wish they fit me!

I also finished making my first top! It's more of a prototype for a series of tops I want to make, but it turned out pretty good! There will be pictures of it soon on a guest post I will link you Friday :)
Nikki

Shop Stamp and Giveaway Winner

2011-06-04T13:50:00.000-07:00

This week has been a bit turbulent for me. First, I found out I didn't get the art teaching job I interviewed for. I asked what improvements I could make, such as developing a greater breadth with my own art or building stronger assessments, but the principal told me they simply decided to go with someone who had more experience. That is a really frustrating thing to hear when you need to actually get hired to have more experience...

I was a bit disappointed, but that same day my shop stamp arrived in the mail! It totally lifted my spirits. I had a bunch of doilies left over from Valentine's cards, so I stamped some to work into packaging for my shop:

The stamp is more of a hard plastic instead of rubber, so it was a bit more difficult to work with, but I'm so grateful to have won it! I think its going to make my packaging for the shop look much more professional.

In other news, I had ANOTHER interview yesterday!!! It was at a new high school and it's a lot closer than the last job I applied for, but I know better than to get my hopes up. Hopefully I will know sometime next week!
(Before I even finished writing this post, I got called for a 3rd interview!! It's a phone interview because the job is in southern California, but it's still really exciting that I'm getting so many calls back! Yay!)

And to get to the good stuff....
We have a giveaway winner!!! I decided to go the old fashioned way because some contestants have multiple entries (plus I hate random.org a little...)

And the winner is...

Ann from Annimal House!

Congrats Ann, and thanks to everyone for entering!
For those of you who didn't win....Smarty Cats will be having another giveaway soon!!! No need to be sad :)

Have a great weekend!!
Nikki

Friday Faves

2011-06-03T15:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday everyone! Have anything magical planned for the weekend?
I will be sewing my butt off. In fact, I just made my very first shirt! I used a vintage giraffe print skirt and turned it into a flowy tank top. It will be up in the shop soon!!

Since you all seemed to like my measuring tape ring so much, I thought I would share with you some of the other amazing jewelry you can purchase from ShopCuffs online!


layover

unhinged

Erica's hand made gray lace shawl is another fav this week. I can't even imagine the hours that go into making something this fantastic!

Mandipity's hand pressed flower tutorial. This is moving right to the top of my fun project list for the summer!!!

A dream for any art teacher from the Craft Crow...

And this necklace. I would be the coolest photo teacher EVER.

I know a few girls in my class that would really like it too!!!!

Last but not least, I want to invite everyone to the Little Bit Vintage Facebook page!! I will post new items on facebook before they hit the shop, so you will always have fist dibs!! Invite your friends who like vintage to the page as well!

Thanks again for all the support, I will keep you posted when I start having giveaways from the shop on other blogs :)

Nikki

What I Shouldn't be Wearing

2011-06-01T20:33:00.000-07:00

At some point, without really planning it, I started boutique shopping. Oops.
It all started with some coupons. 15%off at Cuffs, Heart Boutique, and Legacy. I received them in the mail and couldn't get my shoes on fast enough. The fact that I am officially unemployed in 1 week means I need to be saving every penny and being smart about planning for the future.
I started at heart and picked up this beautiful lace top. I love layering it with tanks underneath.

The beautiful bracelets are from Cuffs

In celebration of my new online shop, I bought this beautiful tape measure ring home from Cuffs as well. I am madly in love with it!!

There's more. I can't show you all at once, but trust me.
I promise, this point on, nothing but thrift stores for me! Unless, of course, there are more coupons...

Nikki

Shop Little Bit Vintage

2011-05-30T16:48:00.000-07:00

My online shop has opened!!! I am having small waves of panic at the idea of telling anyone the url and having it... OUT THERE. But here goes!

littlebitvintage.com

I had no idea the time, effort and steps it takes between buying clothes and having them online, ready to sell. I feel like I have already learned so much about business, sewing, etc. that I'm happy with whatever happens. Most importantly, I realized along the way that I wouldn't have gotten anywhere without the support of friends, family, and even strangers.

Vintage floral top $14

Ryan has been insanely helpful. While I was busy spending all my free time working on the shop, he was picking up my slack at home. I just look forward to returning the favor when Ryan needs my support one day :)
My friends and family took time out of their day to come over and try clothes on for me. I realized quickly that not everyone is comfortable in front of the camera, and modeling is a lot harder than it looks. I knew I could just take pictures of the clothes on hangers, but it just wasn't the vision I had for my shop.

Marchon Marcolin 80s Deadstock Sunglasses $50 made in Italy

The fashion teacher at the school I teach at is also going out of her way to lend me a hand. For tricky fixes and changes, she is letting me come by her classroom during her already very busy day. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful resource!

Hemmed Vintage Skirt $16

The shop has a lot of potential, and I'm really excited to expand- I want to start including a lot of my own handmade clothing, accessories, and art. Right now, I just need to take one thing at a time and remember to breathe :)

Vintage Dress $18

My instincts pulled me away from using etsy, so shop traffic is really going to happen from referrals. I hope you can take a few minutes to check it out, tell a friend, or maybe even add my shop button to your blog! I will be eternally grateful :)

Vintage Dress $32

Thanks for all of the encouraging words and support the past few months! You have been a major motivating factor for me to move forward.

Any words of advice for me on making my business successful?

Birthday Lesson

2011-05-29T18:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was our birthday celebration with friends! It turned out perfect, besides the rain :)
I wore this fabulous dress from Cuffs in Sacramento

We ate delicious home made veggie burgers, cupcakes, and Mojitos

Don't be mislead by Ryan's face, it really was delicious!

And there was even a little yoga....

Originally I had invited 30+ people through a facebook event about a month in advance. Right away, a few kind people replied yes or no. Most, however, never bothered to reply. To be honest, I was a little annoyed. This wasn't a concert spam invite, this was my birthday party. I even tried messaging everyone who hadn't replied, but had no response.
What did I learn from this experience? The people that truly love you and care you get a year older will show up. Even if they can't make it, at least they will send a little love your way.

I also learned facebook events in general can be problematic. People have that "maybe" option, and there isn't a "rsvp by" date. I went to the grocery store the day of, not knowing if I was shopping for 10 or 40. The problem is that everyone knows you are waiting to see if something more appealing comes around, and it can come across as mean.

Have you ever had a similar experience? Are you ready to start mailing out hand made invitations with a yes/no response option like I am?

Like I said, it really was a perfect birthday party. My best friends did come and we had a blast sitting around munching drinking, and visiting.
Thanks to my friends that came, you mean the world to me!

Nikki

Friday Faves

2011-05-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

These shoes at Cuffs in Sacramento. Wish they had another pair of 6 1/2 hidden in a secret corner!

These delicious summer treats. Mix capri sun (or real juice) and fresh fruit. Freeze. Can this please count as cooking?!?!

This beautiful clutch. WITH a diy? Fantastic. Can't wait to try one!!!

This made me smile on etsy. I want an adult one for Ryan!!!

Yay for Fridays! Ryan and I are having our quad birthday party with friends tomorrow night (well all have birthdays between the end of April and May) which I'm very excited for! I'll show you pictures next week :)
I also (hopefully) will have my shop online by next week! This turned out to be a lot more work than I thought, so I'm really excited to see it finally online.

Have a lovely long weekend!
Nikki

Beautiful Upcycled Vintage Jewelry Giveaway!

2011-05-25T14:06:00.000-07:00

Meet my first ever sponsor: Jessica Loomis of Smarty Cats Jewelry!

I met Jessica Loomis at the craft fair that I blogged about here. Her vibrant personality and fabulous table of goods was so inspring, Jessica and I started talking about how we could team up online!

Her work is made largely from years of collecting buttons and jewelry. Not only does she recycle forgotten materials, but uses them in a way that makes beautiful and original pieces of art for you to wear!

The button rings are super cute and each one is unique

The bobby pin hair decorations are adorable

And these rings were made from vintage magnets (amazing, right?!?). Unfortunately, the "Say Sorry" ring was already purchased by me for my friend Tracey!!!

If you are a local Sacramento friend, check out Jessica @

The craft tables during second Saturday art walk behind the Depot

Craft Fair 4th Sunday of every month on 21st between W & X

Online, you can access her treasures at her etsy shop here.

Jessica gifted me these two gorgeous rings which I posted the other day:

Some of my favorites in her shop include this beautiful brass ring:

Or this adorable 1950s acorn ring!!

And what would a true sponsor be without a lovely giveaway for my readers?!?!

Smarty Cats is going to give $15 store credit to one lucky reader!

To enter:
"Like" Smarty Cats on facebook HERE
(Just leave me a comment below saying you did)

For an additional entry:
Visit Smarty Cats shop and tell me your favorite item!

That's all there is to it!! Giveaway ends June 3rd. Good luck friends!!!

PS:
Are you interested in sponsoring my blog? Right now, IT'S FREE! All I ask is that:
If you have a blog, you swap buttons with me and/or
If you have an online shop, you have a giveaway for my readers!
Leave a comment or send me a message if you are interested :)

Nikki

Wish Me Luck!

2011-05-24T15:39:00.000-07:00

The numbers are finally in, and my school has ONE class available for me to teach. It wouldn't even be enough to cover the gas it takes me to get there....

But, on the bright side, I have an interview tomorrow morning!!! It's for Art 1 at a different high school, which would be a fun change of pace. I came to work early this morning to update my portfolio, and I'm almost ready to go! I'm trying really hard to maintain my nerves. Do you get stressed out about interviews? I always try and remind myself that the WORST that can happen is I don't get the job. It's not like your interviewing to save your life or anything. I guess the only thing I'm concerned about is going from educating our youth to serving them burgers.... lord help me.

Outfit Post and Birthday Fun

2011-05-22T18:41:00.000-07:00

Ryan's birthday is this coming week! I love that we're both May babies. The only difference is that Ryan is OLDER than me. It's great because I will always get to be younger, and I can call him my ol' man :)

I wore this magical dress on Saturday that I picked up at Sugar Shack. They were so sweet to send me a 25% off coupon for my birthday! I went in minutes later to pick something out :)

New Sewing Machine ring Courtesy of SmartyCats

I can't wait to tell you about my new rings! Details to come :)

First we headed to Ry's parents house for lunch and cake!

Your cake really glows when you need this many candles... (shudder)

And then we had sushi with our friends Eric and Ashley :)

Perfect Day! Hope you had a nice weekend. Summer is almost here!

The Little Worker Bee + DIY Fixing a Baggy Dress and Hemming Shorts

2011-05-18T14:48:00.000-07:00

I have never had so many projects going on at once! I just hope all my work pays off in the end. The hardest part so far has been making decisions- what color to paint here, how short to make this dress, etc. I feel like all of my creative juices are getting mixed, and it's getting hard to tell if the decisions I'm making are what's best. I ask Ryan's opinion about a million times every night about my projects, and he has been so sweet about it all. I just know that in the end, if something is wrong, it's all on me. I just keep trying to take one task at a time and giving it my full attention, but it's proving to be a lot harder than I thought.

Here is a peek into my messy world yesterday:

Painting Projects:
After making one really, really horrible picture and questioning ever fiber of who I am, I started this painting that I'm pleased with so far. I'm not usually comfortable showing a work in progress, but I'm to a point where I'm feeling a little more comfortable with it. This is only the background for the piece, and even that's not even finished. I need to keep reworking the sky, and the mountains are just a base layer.

Less than 2 months until my art show! AAHHH!

Sewing:
I'm a total beast.
I bought this dress on sale at Cuffs because the lace was separating at 2 points along the waist. I simply turned it inside out and sewed along the center waist band an extra quarter inch so when I turned it right side out, the lace was perfect!

I loved the pattern on this dress I picked up months ago, but it was baggy on me in the middle so I took it in...

Before

you can't even tell I have a belt ON haha

After

I could probably bring it in a bit more, but it's easier to do a little bit at a time than do too much. It was a really simple process- I just folded the excess fabric under the waist band and pinned it from the inside so I could get an idea of how much I wanted to get rid of. After that, I just pinned it all the way around and sewed! Because there is elastic in the middle, I just pulled it taught so it didn't bunch where I was sewing.

Shop:
These high waisted vintage shorts are going to be for the shop, but they were not an acceptable length (at least not a cute one!) so I hemmed them up...

I just cut off the original cuff

and pinned it about a half inch up with the shorts inside out. I chose to do a zigzag stitch because it helps the shorts from fraying.

Now they are a much better length

And they aren't so short you can't cuff them!

In other shop news:
My friend Eric is going to try and help walk me through joomla for my website, but if it's too complicated I will just need to bite the bullet and find a hosting site that isn't too expensive. So far I'm looking at:

Etsy- charges per item to list, plus a percentage.
Big Cartel- $20 for 100 products
Goodsie- $15 a month flat fee

Do you know of any other hosting sites that host inexpensively? I hate the idea of raising prices on items just to pay a monthly fee, so I want to keep it as cheap as possible.

Thanks for the ideas and support, I love you all!
Nikki

New Look!

2011-05-13T17:40:00.000-07:00

Luckily, with the foundation Liz created for my blog and the mad photoshop skills I have developed from teaching photo, I now have a sweet spring look! Hope you like it. I think the only thing missing are a few blog sponsors! Luckily I am meeting with a wonderful jewelry maker tomorrow during the second saturday art walk who wants to be my first blog sponsor! I'm so excited...

Yesterday was another successful blogger meet up at Golden Bear. We had a perfect turn out, and I always have a blast meeting with my fellow Sacramento fashion bloggers. They are an amazing bunch of girls! I didn't take pictures because I was too busy gabbing and munching down tacos, but I did take pictures of my outfit before I left!

Apparently I was trying to look broody AND cool...

Handmade leather butterfly headband- $10 @ Crimson and Clover
Knit top- Birthday present from Tracey via Anthro
Shorts- LITERALLY from 5th grade. I was a very "wide" child, built like a tank.
Wedges-Target
Tights- Giveaway prize over at I-zilla the terrible!

Have a great weekend!
Nikki

PS: I can't believe I almost forgot to add some of these pictures!!! Ryan came home scrubby from work while I was taking outfit pictures...

Ry's signature T-rex arm

Art Show

2011-05-12T09:59:00.000-07:00

In my meager 23 24 years, I've learned becoming a successful person happens through your relationships with others. It's sad to say it all comes down to "who you know" but every advantage, job, or valuable connection I have ever made was a result of some sort of connection. I know being able to sell your personality and what you have to offer are crucial, but the connections can really help get your foot in the door.
My upcoming art show in July is no exception! My friend Tracey is working at a fantastic boutique/vintage shop a few blocks from my apartment and is in charge of the art display. I am so thrilled she wants me to have a show, and Tracey and I have been doing art together since we sat across from each other in basic art class when we were 15.

Especially with art, I find that having a deadline is the only way to get any real work done. I know July is going to be here before I know it, so I better get my paint on! There will be a reception on second Saturday during the art walk, and I can't wait!! I will post the details under my new "events" tab :)

In terms of the art I want to display, it will definitely be paintings. I have it narrowed down to 2 broad ideas, and I'm just going to see where my hand and heart want to take me. One idea might tie into this balloon series I started awhile back...

This art show is coming just as I'm trying to open my online shop (and did I mention I'm also a teacher, AND have a life?!) but I honestly couldn't be more excited. When I get home from work now, I balance my time between the computer, canvases, and clothes. I literally bounce around from one room/mess to another. I love being this busy working from 8-10 most days, but it's only because I LOVE WHAT I'M DOING!! How many 24 year olds can say that?

Tonight I am going to meet up with my Sacramento bloggers at Golden Bear around 6. Can't wait to catch up with my friends, hope you can make it!Nikki

One Step Forward

2011-05-09T14:25:00.000-07:00

Opening an online shop has been much more challenging than I expected! With all the little road bumps I've run into along the way, it was so exciting to have something work out splendidly in my favor...

I won a fantastic giveaway, and it couldn't have come at a better time! The Pepper & Her Pups sponsored a modern art stamp giveaway, and I get to choose any 2x2 stamp to personalize! I can use it to stamp business cards or tags to attach to my clothing. I will add my website as the text which will read: "LittleBitVintage.com" (I am so happy with my domain choice!) but I need to pick a visual, and I was hoping you could help! These are my top contenders....

I'm leaning towards the scissors, but they are all amazing. Which do you think I should choose?!
One of the many things that really makes a shop stand out is the quality of their presentation, and I am going to feel so much more professional with this addition. Can't wait!

Nikki

Friday Faves

2011-05-06T11:54:00.000-07:00

1. Sacramento. I have seen a lot of comments from my friends across the states about how much we have going on in Sacramento and truthfully.. we do. We are so spoiled with fun happenings, I feel really lucky to live here! Just this weekend, I will be :
Friday- dinner at Zinfandelle grill with my parents
Saturday- massive shopping trip to Cuffs
BBQ at my aunt's house for birthdays/mothers day
Velo and Vintage fashion show
Sunday- Antique fair with Skylar and Kari to pick up goodies for my shop!

2. These rings at Crimson and Clover this week From Kara at Prockchop Rules

3. Skylar from Let it Reign. Not only is she sweet, adorable, AND helped model clothes for my upcoming shop, but she has a great blog you should check out! I especially love when she shares a picture of the day. Here was the one that was up Wednesday that I really love...

4. These beautiful blowfish shoes worn stylishly over at Eclectic Flair

5. Velo and Vintage tomorrow! I can't wait to see all my friends and check out the looks Kari and Lorena put together. I know how hard they have been working gettig this all together, and I can't wait to see all their hardwork! Should be amazing!

Most importantly this Friday, I am excited about growth. I don't mean height, I gave up on that when I was 12. I mean personal growth and trying to become a better person for my 24th year. I see this quality and compassion in my friends and family that makes me want to be a better person, and I am so inspired and humbled. I am always blown away by the strength of my friends, the selflessness Ryan shows me, and the love that flows out of every member of my family. I am such a lucky girl to be surrounded by amazing people!

Have a great weekend, and don't forget to send your mom a little love!
Nikki

Cute Kids and a Tiny Van

2011-05-03T21:09:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies! I can't believe it's almost Wednesday!
I spent the weekend with Ryan and we hit up the Sacramento Food Festival... for about 10 minutes. The lines wrapped around the park, and we quickly decided to dine at a restaurant instead. It was still a great excuse to see friends and bloggers scattered around the park and take a walk on a gorgeous day!

I tried to take a few pics of cute outfits I saw, and these 2 zooming by were my favorite!

I also saw some adorable kids

And Ryan lusting after a tiny electric van!

Last weekend was great, but I'm especially excited for this coming one because... I will be turning 24 on Sunday! I'm spending Saturday with family, and heading over to the Velo and Vintage Fashion Show at Hot Italian hosted by my friends Kari and Lorena after. Check it out!

I'm still not sure what I want to do on my birthday (also mother's day) but I was thinking about going to the Whole Earth Festival in Davis. Anyone ever been? Think it's worth checking out?

Have a great week!!

xoxo

Nikki

Friday Faves

2011-04-29T10:16:00.000-07:00

1. Sitting home all day watching Love Actually and reading blogs. This, however, was only made possible by being sick and having to take the day off work. Not as fun.

2. TWO photo shoots I have planned this weekend with Shawni and Bibiana who are going to help model my shop clothes. I have such amazing friends!

3. Coco,a gorgeous blogger/model/person in Sacramento.

4.Nicole's amazing work on her unique leather jewelry!

5. This cute bike riding bag from Heart Boutique. Now all I need is to ride a bike!

In other news:
So the site goodsie I was going to use to host my shop just switched out of Beta (aka free) and now costs 15 a month. All the images, measurements, and information I had been saving also appears to be gone. At first I was really frustrated by the set back, but things always have a way of working themselves out! For starters, a techy kid in one of my photo classes apparently has created his own server and wants to host my website for free. He is figuring out all the logistics for me, and I can't wait to see if/how it works out! Should be interesting!

Have a wonderful weekend! If you live around Sacramento, be sure to stop by the Sacramento Food Festival on Saturday at Freemont park across the street from Crimson and Clover! Should be a good time!

xoxo
Nikki

Sacramento's Craft and Flea Market

2011-04-27T15:34:00.000-07:00

Every 2nd Sunday of the month, Sacramento has a fabulous antique fair near X and 21st. Now on the 4th Sunday of the month, we have a flea and craft fair in the same location. Easter morning, I headed over there with some friends to check out what they had...
For starters, the craft fair is only about half the size of the antique fair. Maybe it was because of the holiday, but I was a touch disappointed to not see more going on.
There was a lot of jewelry, crafts, handmade goods, and even some furniture. We meandered around for awhile without spotting much that we wanted to buy. When I did find a really cute handmade birdbath and went to take a picture with my phone, the lady running the booth got pissy with me. I know I should have asked first, but I was just trying to give her free publicity! Oh well.

There was a lot of other goodies (that no one minded me taking pictures of), like these handmade little girl dresses! Precious as could be ;)

My favorite booth, the shining light of the entire day, was handmade jewelry run by the sweetest girls! You could tell the owner Jessica LOVED what she did, and it was evident in every piece of jewelry she made. I bought 3 gorgeous rings!

A lot of them are made from old buttons and beads. I got really excited because I had been trying to make these at home the past few weeks with old earrings and things. These ones are fabulous! I absolutely loved the variety!!
Check out Jessica's goods at the craft fair or online here and here.

Besides the rings I bought, my friend Breanne bought a sewing craft table and a few other fun decorations for her new house. All in all, a perfect start to my Sunday before heading over for Easter dinner with family.

Have you checked out the Sacramento Craft and Flea Market? What did you think?

xoxo
Nikki

A Night with Bill

2011-04-25T18:29:00.000-07:00

Friday night is far too often my forget-all-plans-and-drink-beer-in-pajamas night, but this past Friday I was really looking forward to a wonderful event at the Crest theater in downtown Sacramento. After seeing a magical trunk show from several of our local vintage/second hand/hand made shops, we watched a documentary about Bill Cunningham, a street style fashion photographer in New York.
The trunk show was amazing, just as I expected. There were wonderful goodies from
Crimson and Clover

Thunderhorse

If you are a size 6, go swoop up these AMAZING boots!

Bows and Arrows

amongst other lovely local vendors. I can't rave enough about the quality of merchandise and the PEOPLE that run them here in Sacramento. It is almost worth the Sacramento allergies to be apart of this wonderful community!!!

Everyone was expected to "dress for Bill". After deciding everything from my closet was wrong for the event, I turned to my future shop rack for a little inspiration...

My favorite part about this outfit? I didn't know it was pants until after I bought it, washed it, hung it, and THEN went to try it on :)

If you think I had the most outrageous outfit there, think again. This event was riddled with so many lovely bloggers, it started to feel like a family reunion! Kari and Skylar from Juniper James, Bella from the Citizen Rosebud, Melody of It's All Happening, Lorena of Sac Cycle Chic, and Kerry of Street Style Sacrameto, just to name a few!

The documentary on Bill Cunningham was wonderful! I would highly suggest it to anyone interested in fashion or photography. For someone interested in both like me, it was a real treat!! My favorite part was that Bill still uses old film cameras, just like my students. Guess it's not such an ancient method after all kids!! HA!

All jokes aside, whenever I start to feels silly for shopping too much or for starting an online shop, I am going to think about a quote I heard from Bill.... "fashion helps us survive the reality of our every day lives". I know fashion doesn't really mean anything in the grand scheme of our lives, but it can be a happy little escape from the stuff that does. I just think clothes can help us carry ourselves in a way that adds to the spirit of who we are!

After the movie, there was a Q&A discussion panel with 4 Sacramento fashion bloggers.

Hearing the perspectives of women and friends I admire was a really great experience. I loved when Bella said that blogging was like "scrap booking for the information highway" and when Kari said she "believes in what [local shops] are bringing to Sacramento". These ladies know exactly how to explain what I have been thinking and feeling!

Not every Friday night is this informative and inspiring... thanks to all my lovely blogger friends for making it such a memorable night!

xoxo
Nikki

Opening a Shop: What I Didn't Know

2011-04-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

I have been a busy bee this week after work! Besides having a few drinks, it's hard to get me to do anything after a long day of teenagers, but I have been tapping energy from sheer excitement to open my shop! I've been collecting items for awhile now, and I really had no idea:
1) How many places you have to go to that have crap before you find one that has great stuff!
2) How much of it you will want to keep after you accidentally try it on
3) How much work goes into cleaning, hemming, mending, tagging, and taking pictures before you can even put them online!

I have been trying to work on one garment a day, and so far so good! Yesterday I even broke my first needle on my sewing machine and instead of being angry, I felt a sense of accomplishment. It's like when a cook shows off their burns or a musician their callouses!

I took a few snapshots after getting organized...

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo
Nikki

Opening an Online Shop!

2011-04-19T15:27:00.000-07:00

I'm really doing it! If you don't believe me, you should see our place. My collection of items I want to sell is taking over our little apartment! I am so excited, and lucily Ryan is being a sweetheart and tolerating my madness. This weekend, I was hand washing clothes for hours and I had wet clothes dangling from every doorway. :)

So... I need your help!
The shop will start with vintage and second hand. Eventually I want it to include handmade, jewelry, and art. I need a name... just something cute that is memorable and original!!

Some ideas I have so far:
A Little Bit Vintage (to tie into my blog)
Sew in Love (because it is adorable)
The Red Pin Cushion
Green Gingham (one of the first items I will be selling)

What do you think?! Any suggestions? I'm feeling exhausted lately, but I am very motivated to get this shop going by summer. Thanks for the input!!!
xoxo
Nikki

Friday Faves!

2011-04-15T14:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday all! I will be spending my evening at an art show for my students. I'm excited to meet their friends and family! You can always understand a lot more about a kid once you meet their parents ;)

Some of my favorites this week!
1. This bag on etsy. I love simple bags that look good with any outfit, and this one has wonderful colors!

2. This dress on etsy looks like something you would wear running through a field of wildflowers barefoot ;)

3. Sigh. This beautiful dress from Ruche. The gorgeous detail of the lines would be SO FLATTERING. Maybe one day when I make it big they will sponsor me and mail me one of their perfect dresses :)

4. Photographer Max Wanger. Not only am I inspired by him as a photographer, but I would love to have my own wedding pictures styled like his one day!

5. If I get a tattoo one day, this would be on my maybe list. Think Ryan would get one too?!?!?

Have a magical weekend <3
xoxo
Nikki

Fashion Advice From a Newb- Skirts

2011-04-13T23:23:00.000-07:00

It's spring time! Let's bust out those pale, hairy legs and throw on some adorable, slimming skirts!!!!!

Strawberry Shapes- Skirts with a higher waistline will disguise a larger stomach (and hopefully show a little more leg!). It will also give the illusion of an hour glass figure if it cinches in at the smallest part of your waist and flares out.
When you have a tight skirt cutting right across your stomach, it creates a bulge on top and bottom. Instead, look for thick waist bands to smooth you out.
The absolute worst for strawberries are pencil skirts... it will make you look even more top heavy!!!

Pear Shapes- Fabric is really important when choosing the right skirt. Try looking for skirts that drape, not cling. Fabrics with weight will smooth out any bumps or bulges instead of accentuating them. (Remember when your elementary school teacher would wear clingy dress pants and you always saw their underwear!?!?!)

If you are trying to flatter, it's all about A-line!! Strawberries look great in these skirts because they flare away from your body balancing out your top half, and pears rock them because they help smooth and camouflage their bottom half!
Don't forget what you learned about color and patterns- strawberries that want to draw attention down should keep color and pattern down, whereas pears should balance out their larger bottom with color, detail, and pattern on top :)

This skirt from Anthropologie has a thick waist band that will help smooth out a stomach. Having a skirt that hugs at the waist, not the hips, will be flattering on both strawberry and pear shapes.

My favorite part of this skirt is the design- the black sides give the illusion of a smaller waist

A flat front skirt or light pleating is also slimming- avoid thick pleats that add bulk to your midsection. I like how the pleats are tight on top and drape down wider.

And if you aren't a millionarie, try these finds on etsy!

Buy it Here

But it Here

Personal shopping trick- when I'm shopping, sometimes it can feel like nothing was made for my size. Sometimes I will try on a skirt (that is meant to fit around the hips) in a few sizes smaller and wear it much higher on my waist. Not only does the shorter length work better for my height, but it is putting the waist band at the smallest part of my waist! Try it out sometime :)

xoxo
Nikki

Everybody, Everywear- MAXI!!

2011-04-12T09:33:00.000-07:00

Everybody Everywear is hosting a maxi skirt day! I don't wear a lot of long skirts, but I saw this floarl number at Bows and Arrows on sale and had to have it. I must admit that I feel very magical in a long skirt... the way they move makes me feel so fun and playful!! Being a shorty, I paired it with vintage '70s wedges from Crimson and Clover.

Have you been able to work maxi skirts into your wordrobe this spring?

xoxo
Nikki

Big Weekend, Big Decision

2011-04-11T17:55:00.000-07:00

I can't believe spring break is already over! I was sour and grumpy all morning. The only thing that brightened my mood was seeing my students again- they came in rejuvenated after their week off and their good spirits were contagious.
Some really exciting things happened with my time off!
I visited a cousin....

Laura Loo <3

Bought a cute vintage scarf for a $1...

Checked out some fun vintage shops in San Jose...

Was visited by a cousin....

Jerry :)

Wandered around second Saturday art walk in Sacramento with Ryan...


Skirt-Crimson and Clover Top and Belt-Forever 21 Shoes-Macys

This little angle kept starring at me in line for coffee ;)

Not just painting, sculpture, and photo... the Sac Art Complex is also incorporating fashion!

And I also went to the antique fair on Sunday! Sorry, no pictures :( My phone decided to not turn on while we were there. Ryan, the sweetest boyfriend in the world, even came with me. He held my pile of clothes while I sifted through BINS of vintage.
I kept spotting cute clothes at fair prices and I finally made a big decision... I want to start my own online shop. I've been thinking about it for awhile and wasn't sure if I wanted to focus on my art, crafts, or vintage. I've decided I would like to do all 3!!!! I know it can't happen over night, but I think it's good to start accumulating some quality stuff, make alterations, etc. You'll be the first to know when I'm ready to launch :)

xoxo
Nikki

Piddies and a Blue Beauty

2011-04-06T13:24:00.000-07:00

First off, here are some cute piddies from Tom's One Day without Shoes event (Ryan calls toes piddies, and I think it is one of the most adorable things EVER. He will probably kill me for telling you...)

Later that night, I TOTALLY got caught wearing shoes! I felt guilty putting on my shoes to go grab dinner, but I had already washed my feet and I didn't think anyone would see me. On the way back, I ran into Kari from Juniper James who had been at the event with me, and she was still running around barefoot! I felt so guilty... oh well.

This dress is a lovely find from Bows and Arrows, discounted down for their moving sale! I feel like an old fashioned stewardess. I was complimented by an old Asian man on it, so I must be smokin'!

Blue Dress- $10-15? @ Bows and Arrows

T-strap heels- $5 @ Thrift Town

Tomorrow I will be using part of my fabulous vacation to visit some family. I have already started a list of shops I want to visit while I'm there, but I thought maybe I could ask you lovelies for advice...

Know of any great shopping spots near San Jose, CA? I'm trying to stick with thrift and vintage-

Thanks for the help!

xoxo

Nikki

Outfit Post and a Day without Shoes

2011-04-05T14:06:00.000-07:00

I wore this out to Sushi Cafe with Ryan yesterday! I bought this beautiful skirt back in the middle of winter and all but forgot about it! When I found it yesterday, I was so excited to wear it out in this perfect weather :)

Wrap Skirt- Crimson and Clover

Wedges- Macy's

Grey top- Forever 21

Feather purse- Freestyle

The best part about this entire outfit is how comfortable it is! The long wrap skirt moves so nicely, and the wedges are unbelievably comfortable.

Today I will be heading out to Sugar Shack boutique barefoot for the Tom's Day Without Shoes Event. Check it out if you get a chance! You can also show your support by traipsing through your day without shoes! :)

xoxo
Nikki

Legacy Boutique+ 2 Outfits!

2011-04-04T10:48:00.000-07:00

For those of you that like to bash Sacramento, you have to admit: our shopping is awesome! I love the boutiques and second hand stores cropping up every few blocks!! The places I visit may vary in cost and style, but the one constant I experience is the love and dedication from the people that run them.
I was lucky to hear about Legacy boutique opening this past Friday from Juniper James and headed over after work. It was a warm evening and I was excited for my spring break to start, so I threw on this floral number I picked up from a vintage shop in Santa Cruz:

HAHA my leg looks so buff!

As soon as I entered Legacy boutique, I was genuinely excited for the owner, Debbie. I didn't know her personally, but Debbie's excitement permeated the room. It reminded me of having my very first art show... you feel customers' eyes trailing over the work you have put your heart and soul into over several months, and you're praying they will be warm and accepting of your efforts. Let's just say as a happy customer, I am full of warm and fuzzy!
Here is your own personal glimpse into her boutique:

I love that she is also offering mens clothing. Maybe I will entice Ryan into going with me one day ;)
Her combination of new and vintage clothing was intriguing, and I left with this adorable black sparkly skirt, originally $34 but I received 20% off at the opening!!

Her prices are fairly standard for a boutique, but for people that are cheap like me and shop a lot of thrift, it might be better suited for shopping that one special piece to add to your wardrobe, for a gift, etc.
Be sure to check out Legacy Boutique next time you are wondering downtown Sacramento!

xoxo
Nikki

Pillow Fights and Burgers

2011-04-03T10:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had a prearranged pillow fight in a park across the street from Crimson and Clover- all of Sacramento was invited! I had a huge decision to make... whether or not I wanted to bring a pillow or my camera. I ended up choosing to bring my camera, and although I was disappointed not to participate, I was super happy with the shots I got! I even ran into some old friends, bloggers, and snapped a few pics of them...

Phil and Trent, local boys! They mentioned they've seen my blog but they teased that there wasn't anything for them. Here is my first look at some MENS FASHION!!! Thanks guys!

All ages were invited

I love that Sean and Aine tried to hold their coffees while swinging!!

Favorite picture of the day. The colorful girl just said "This is what meth is supposed to feel like!"

Apparently these pillow fights happen in cities all over the US! I will absolutely be back next year!

After stopping at Crimson and buying up some adorable vintage clothes (including a sweet coat for $1!!!) we walked over to Burgers and Brew. I had been meaning to try it after hearing rave reviews, and I wasn't disappointed! The food was excellent. I had a turkey burger with avocado and onion rings. There was SO MUCH FOOD!

Nothing is better on a warm Saturday afternoon than a beer...

On the walk home, I popped into Bows and Arrows who have 75% off all clothes before their big move. I got another adorable top for $1.50! It was my lucky day ;)

Did I mention I am officially on spring break!?! This is going to be a wonderful week...
xoxo
Nikki

Snow in Spring

2011-03-31T18:24:00.000-07:00

As much as I enjoy the onset of warm weather, we spent an evening in the Foothills tucked away in the snow with friends to make sushi. It was lovely! We arrived at dusk and I snapped a few pics outside before the light disappeared..

I'm so lucky to have such talented friends... cooking for me usually starts and ends with putting a chicken in the oven, so it was awesome to learn how fun and doable making something like sushi is! I wanted to roll mine the best, but I squeezed so hard my avocado popped out the side. Oops!

Luckily, I'm not the only person hovering around taking pictures anymore! My friend Ashley (on the right) not only has a great camera she loves using, she also just started a blog! I stole some of her (and her boyfriend Eric's) pictures here...

See more of our mad sushi skills and check out her blog here! Ashley has lots of beautiful pictures from her place around Placerville and stories about her crazy cat Jules :)

xoxo
Nikki

Sweets and Treats

2011-03-30T14:53:00.000-07:00

I won a lovely giveaway from my friend Iris over at i-zilla the terrible! Since she also lives in Sacramento, we decided to meet for dinner and margaritas so I could claim my prize. Let me tell you, these Hansel from Bansel tights put all of my boring black ones to shame. How adorable are these!?!?

I haven't found the perfect outfit to wear with them, but I threw this on just to show off my new gift!

I definitely would wear different shoes, probably closed toed heels. Any ideas for me on how to wear fancy shmancy tights?!?

To hand off MY giveaway prize, I ate lunch with Liz from Srslyliz and afterward, these little gems from Icing on the Cupcake...


The one in the back was MAPLE BACON <3

Wine+Cupcakes=Magic

I'm having too much fun lately! How will Spring Break next week every top it?!?!

Little Bit of Pride

2011-03-29T19:40:00.000-07:00

As you know, I'm a high school photography teacher. I'm fortunate to be at a school where the kids are supported- their parents have a general concern for their success and value education. It provides for an environment that supports the arts and luckily for me, photography!

All of the secondary art teachers in our district got together and hung a show in the local art center. As I was putting up print after print, I realized not only how wonderful my job is, but how PROUD I am of these kids! They have tackled every project I've thrown at them, visited galleries in their community, and hopefully are going to take the skills they learned from me out into the world. I know teaching doesn't pay a lot, but with the internal satisfaction (and summers off!) I think it is definitely worth it. I snapped a few pics after everything was hung:

Hand painted black and white print

"Capturing the Weather"

Experiment with back lighting

Double exposure- 2 negatives on 1 piece of paper

Night Shots- 1+minute exposure while swirling light source

I wish I could show more.... there are some breath taking portraits!!! Can you believe how fabulous these kids are? It makes me BEYOND SAD I might not have my job next year. As of right now, I will be unemployed after the summer. It would basically be a budget miracle if I was hired back again next year. Keep your fingers crossed for me!!!

xoxo
Nikki