cheap thrill

I’m really excited about this recent find!

As I’ve mentioned, I’m a little less than rich, which has turned me into the world’s best bargain shopper and thrift store scout.

The thrift store by my house is ridiculous and I probably stop by about once a week to make sure I haven’t missed anything.

And apparently I’m not the only one. When I was there this weekend, I was chatting with one of the employees who told me a woman recently bought a pair of jeans found $50 in the pocket. Naturally, my next thought was: I’m going to shove my hand in all of the jeans’ pockets before I leave! But the gal at the store informed me that there’s already a local crazy woman who does that every week (blerg!).

So, my get-rich-quick-at-the-goodwill scheme is off the table, but I did find this fun camera.

It’s not any brand I’ve heard of, but after some quick googling, I’ve determined that it’s worthless and a cheap camera made in China.

However, that won’t curb my excitement. All I care about is that is only cost $6, came with a detachable flash and takes film pictures — in particular 35mm film, which is what I wanted since my Holga only takes medium format.

I’ve been snapping away and tomorrow my nephew and I have a photography date around the city (he got a sweet film SLR).

What do you think? Should we become Pittsburgh’s next (first?) street style photographers?

P.S. I found these photos on flikr that were apparently taken with this same camera.

i’m telling you, i’m telling you

Did you guys see this?

I’m obsessed with this song, so I don’t know how I missed the music video until now.

Doesn’t it make you want cable knit walls and friends dressed in furry costumes?

Her performance at the VMAs last night got a lot of good reviews from what I read. Unfortunately I forgot about the VMAs, but did watch T Swizzle’s performance here, which was so cute and entertaining.

Here comes my Taylor Swift obsession … she’s just so adorable and talented and I think she is such a good role model for girls, especially compared to other young, female celebs.

go blue!

I have been feeling blue lately.

I’m not usually drawn to blue clothing or accessories, but as usual, the world’s marketing has worn me down. If you have been alive for the past six months, you’ll know that blue has been all over the place and it’s not stopping or apologizing.

So, to feed the color blue’s marketing machine, here are some blue beauties I can’t stop lusting over, especially the bag, oh the bag!

(Technically the shoes are eggplant, but who cares?!)

(photos via 1. 2. 3. 4.)

shop shock

Over Labor Day weekend, we went to Columbus to celebrate my brother’s 40th birthday with a surprise party.

I had so much fun and, as usual, it was a weekend filled with my little nephews (I see the big ones all the time since they live about two miles from me), WWE and overindulgence! I even did the draft board for my bro and sis’ NFL fantasy league, I was shocked by how much fun I had!

At one point, my sister-in-law, who is a preschool teacher, asked if I wanted to participate in her school’s craft fair at the end of October. I’ve been thinking about it and I’m going to do it.

I already spend a lot of time making jewelry and crafts for fun (see picture above – that’s only a fraction of what I’ve made, these are just some of my faves), so why not make some dinero off of it?!

We’ll see, if it does well then maybe I’ll seriously consider opening that Etsy shop I’m always thinking about in the back of my mind.

have a grilling weekend

Have a good Labor Day weekend!

I will be off for some secretive fun … can’t really talk about it. Although the people involved I’m sure have no idea I even write a blog and therefore would never see it, but who doesn’t like a little sneaking around?!

I can’t believe the end of summer is here. Time has flown by this year.

What are you up to this weekend?

beauti-fall

I am SO ready for fall.

Writing for a living doesn’t really afford me the opportunity to go buy a whole new wardrobe each season (as much as I’d love this coat and this bag). However, I can definitely afford to go get a new lipstick and nail polish and feel amazing.

Since fall is right around the corner, and I mean right around the corner, I’m thinking about all of the beauty trends that make me think of fall, like a super chic hairdo, dark and sultry makeup (especially a dark lip) and deep shades of nail polish.

If only I could perennially wear tweed and tights and boots too!

To get you thinking about fall, here’s a mix of inspiring Pinterest finds and lust-worthy nail polishes.

(Photos via Pinterest here, here, here and here. Sephora here, here and here)

silver and (three years) old

One of my favorite bloggers, Rachel of Elephantine, is giving away this beautiful necklace to celebrate her adorable Etsy shop‘s third anniversary.

You have until tomorrow to throw your name in the hat for this necklace — wouldn’t it look so adorable with these earrings?

Her blog is filled with her spectacular photography, but I always find myself marveling at how ridiculously similar her kitty Rufus looks to mine.

(photo via Elephantine)

mindy, mindy, mindy!

Did you guys see? You can watch Mindy Kaling’s new show The Mindy Project early on Hulu! Obviously I’ve already watched it.

I can’t wait for the rest of the season.

Have you read her book? I read it this spring and it was hilarious, I couldn’t put it down. Oh Mindy! You get me.

P.S. I also can’t wait for Bob’s Burgers to start up again at the end of September. I read in a completely deplorable, juicy, delicious celebrity gossip magazine that Jon Hamm was going to guest star as a talking toilet. I’m juvenile, I know, but I can barely stand to wait.

(photo via Hulu)

let’s go to the park

One morning during my recent San Diego trip, I had a little bit of time all by myself. I decided to revisit one of my old favorite hang out spots: Balboa Park.

I used to love bumming around Balboa. It’s beautiful, filled with buildings designed by the same architect that designed Hearst Castle (which I know thanks to Amber!), museums and lovely gardens.

This time I took some pictures, walked through the Museum of Photographic Arts — which was featuring photos from the ’60s of jazz musicians like Thelonious Monk by W. Eugene Smith — and ran into the feathered guy named Jojo.

I did make sure to snap a few photos of the botanical gardens too.

This trip, like most of my trips, was amazing because I got to spend so much time with my friends. But sometimes it’s kind of nice to explore by yourself a little bit too, a little alone time can be restorative.

meet me at high noon

When I was in San Diego, I didn’t do much shopping. I knew I wouldn’t have a lot of time for it and I wanted to spend my money on food (lots of food) and doing fun things with my friends (like a day at the hot springs or staying at a hotel).

But, I did make time for one of my favorite stores: Noon. I discovered it a few years ago and it’s pretty much my dream store. It’s filled with pretty jewelry, stationary, housewares and now they even have a perfume! Everything is handmade and so beautiful, and considering how nice the stuff is, it’s not expensive at all.

My friend Sarah and I were really excited to head down to Ocean Beach to the store and get new earrings on my last day — and I have to say the girl working there was so sweet and patient as we literally tried on every single pair in the store.

I’m so glad I got to stop by, but now I’m seriously regretting not buying more stuff, especially this necklace!

Until next time Noon!

(photos via Noon 1. 2. 3. 4.)