This has definitely been one of those weeks that just drags on and on.  Thank goodness Friday is here – not to mention payday and Labor Day weekend!  I’m not much of a holiday weekend camper – or a camper in general.  It’s not a priority for me to see everyone I know and pack as much social time into my weekends as possible.  But here are some of things I’m dreaming of filling my holiday weekend with:

Lots of reading – finally getting through my stacks of library books which I’m sure are all overdue.

A little shopping of course.

LOADS of coffee – it wouldn’t be a holiday weekend without it.  Or a weekend period.

Finally starting(and finishing) some DIY projects I have in mind.

Sleep.  Lots of it.

Trying my hand at pie pops – pie, on a stick?  Yes please.

Wearing out my camera taking photos of anything and everything.

Relaxing with some sweet jams.

While I’m sure I won’t get to all of these things over the weekend – it is only 3 days after all – I am dreaming of them and will try my hardest to do them, while relaxing at the same time.  Throw in a couple birthday soirees and we’ve got ourselves a delicious weekend.

MayDae is happy holly happy to announce that we finally have new items up for grabs!  Here are some peeks (all photos taken by the lovely and talented Stormie Dae), but please head over to our Etsy shop for a full view of the goods.

Amazing leather flats.  *Swoon*

Fantastic set of Ball mason jars.  They are so shiny and beautiful, I had a hard time giving them up.

We don’t usually love pink, but these vintage dishes are just too cute to pass up!

This vintage toy typewriter is romantic.  I love the look and chic style.

Teal blue elastic flats.  Such a fun *pop* of color.

I also had a hard time letting go of these pretties.  Isn’t the print brilliant?

We hope that you like all of our new finds as much as we do!  We also have several items on *SALE* in our shop, so head over and take a gander at those as well!  Stormie Dae and I will be getting together tomorrow for Project Friday (formerly Project Monday) to take photos of more merchandise (yay) and have coffee (double yay).  We’ve got a big Labor Day weekend planned, and hopefully lots of relaxation time thrown in as well.  What are your plans for the holiday weekend?

Bisou bisou,

Can I help it if I like feminine and cute, however NOT “girly” tattoos?

Can I help it if I adore bright colors?

Can I help it that I am over the moon about DIY inspired tattoos?

*Except not actually DIY because I’m sure that wouldn’t turn out as good.

Can I help it that I have said I won’t get anymore tattoos because I don’t want to be 40 and covered from head to toe with faded, outdated designs that don’t mean anything to me anymore - but that today I am thoroughly craving some ink?

(We Heart It, The Dainty Squid, The Lone Knitta, A Beautiful Mess)

Hi friends!  My post today is short and (hopefully) sweet.  I find each of these images to be incredibly inspiring, and I hope that you like them:

This wedding makes me want to do mine all over again.  Breathtaking.

This scarf is huge and glorious.  Vicky V.

I love redheaded men.  Katie Turner.

Calendar.

My yummy vanilla latte from Snooze.

Anticipating.

Beautiful Elsie.

What’s inspiring you lately?

Monday!  You have come upon us very quickly again, and man oh man do we love this post today!  I mean, we love our Etsy Picks every Monday, but this one is completely tasty!  I’m thinking the team of MayDae needs to host a “hair pretty” creating night, preceded, all the while, and followed by drinking lots of coffee.  FUN.

The thing that I love about these pretties is, how special they would make any mundane day.  What if you went grocery shopping, to the bank, or to the post office with a giant bow atop your head?  We think that it would make your day feel exciting!  We think we should do it!  We’ll vow that we will all make or buy a “hair pretty” and adorn our heads during an everyday, boring activity this week.  Are you in?  Which of these would you choose to wear, and what would you be doing while wearing it?

May’s Etsy Picks:

This hair color is yum yum.

Gorgeous photo and tattoo.  *Love*

How completely cute is this?

(Giant bow Aliceband by Chatham Girl, taupe headband by Heart Felt by Aviva, felt fascinator by J B Millinery, glass beaded applique headband from The Virgin Vintage, huge blue bow from Starry Eyed Bowtique, purple felt flower necklace from Crafts 2 Cherish, lace and tulle bow by Chastina, blue crochet flower fascinator by Love Charlie, leather flower fascinator from Schicki Mickis, tea cup pin by Le Chou Chou)

Dae’s Etsy Picks:

Fantastic

I wish this was me right now.

(Grey leafy halo from Dollface DeVille, Yellow beaded flower by Live In Style, Floral bouquet by Heart Felt by Aviva, Bead and feather headpiece from Liason, Bridal comb by Lily Lady Blue, Aqua pansy from Irisi, Golden afternoon bow from Love Penguins, Lori bird by Lil Birdie Blues, Bird on wire by Ginny and Jude, Knitted bow from Honey Pie Headbands)

Happy Friday lovelies!  This week has flown by for me and just like anyone, I couldn’t be more excited for the weekend!

I have never considered myself a shop-a-holic or someone to be obsessed with buying everything in sight, although I do have a healthy love for it – if you could call it healthy:)  One item that I LOVE to buy is shoes.  While I own quite a few pairs, I have only paid over $35 for a pair ONCE in my life and I have regretted it for years(I was 16 and decided to splurge for a $60 pair of shoes and then only wore them maybe 4 times…mistake).  The only time I have paid $35 was for a pair of boots, for the most part it’s never over $25.  I mostly stick to buying well loved(read: second-hand) shoes and those I find on sale at some of my favorite stores.  The idea that fashion has to cost you an arm and a leg is a concept that is completely lost on me.  I mean honestly, do you really think cutting off your appendages and handing them to the store clerk will make you more fashionable?  I think not.  So just for some Friday fun, let’s take a tour through my awesome – and cheap – shoe collection.

These are my shoes – and now that they are all sitting in a pile, I notice a lack of color.  I guess I make up for it with my wardrobe but maybe I should think about adding more hues to the lovely pieces that cover my feet.

Sandals.

While I do wear flip-flops pretty often, I prefer sandals that are a little less casual and can hook onto my feet – I’m not a fan of losing my shoes and who knows when you might be kicking up your heels in a fit of joy and lose a beloved shoe?

(Left: Forever 21 sandals, $7.50 each.  Right: Madden Girl white sandals from Ross, $12)

My current favorite pair of sandals(that don’t hook because I am actually obsessed with my white Madden Girl sandals right now) are my teal leather slip-ons.

(Left: Leather slip-ons from Maurices, $10.  Right: Dollhouse gladiators from Ross, $8)

Comfort.

Who doesn’t need a pair of comfy shoes or two?  And seriously…doesn’t everyone own a pair of Chuck T’s??

(Left: Low-top Convcrse from Target, gift.  Right: Adidas from Ross, $15)

Flats.

I resisted flats for a long time, but now I love them.  I am still picky about what kind though, I definitely am not a fan of ALL flats!

(Left: Teal plaid from Forever 21, $7.50.  Right: Soda ruffle pointy toe from Ross, $10)

I took a trip to Taiwan back in January and luckily made it out with two pairs of shoes.  One of them is the gorgeous pair of ballet flats on the left.  And Toms…what to say about Toms?  I love them…and sadly could only find one of my shoes but these are definitely some of my favorites.

(Left: Kawai flats from Taiwan, $8.  Right: Striped Toms from thrift store, $3)

My black flats on the right are some of my most worn shoes, as you can tell by how dirty they are.  They are so comfortable and cute with jeans or skirts(although I don’t wear as many as I would like).  I wish I could buy 10 more pairs of these flats so I would never run out.

(Left: Red jellies from thrift store, $1.50.  Right: Mossimo flats from Target, $10)

Boots.

My B.A. nod to Milla Jovovich in Resident Evil and my well worn Moccasins that May* always makes fun of me for…whatever, they are comfortable! :)

(Left: Bamboo buckle boots from Target, $35.  Right: Mossimo moccasins from Target, $15)

I am so excited to get back into the season for boot wearing!  I wore the ones on the right a few days ago and almost died of heat stroke to my poor feet!

(Left: Qupid grey boots from CutesyGirl, $20.  Right: Dollhouse ankle boots from Ross, $15)

My beloved Taiwan boots which I posted about here and my white(dyed grey) knit boots that I could wear almost everyday in the winter except that my feet get wet and cold and that makes me sad/angry.

(Left: Meiruoxian boots from Taiwan, $12.  Right: No Boundaries knit boots from Walmart, $6)

Heels.

I don’t wear alot of brown but I do own one pair of brown heels, just in case.  And the standard everyone-has-to-have-at-least-one-pair wedges.

(Left: Delicious brown heels from thrift store, $2.  Right: Xhilaration wedges from Target, $9)

Booties are the best, and lace-ups?  Even better.  Also, the heels on the right are the most comfortable pair I have ever owned, comfortable enough for running in.  If you like that sort of thing.

(Left: Mossimo lace-up booties from Target, $20.  Right: Xhilaration heels from Target, $10)

Forever 21 has GREAT heels and I can’t resist buying them.  Oh and I love yellow.

(Left: Buckle heels from Forever 21, $10.  Right: Yellow platforms from Forever 21, $12)

My tallest and shortest heels.  Together.  Forever.

(Left: Stinkin tall platforms from Forever 21, $12.  Right: Bernie Mev “Grandma” heels from Daffy’s in NYC, $12)

And these are just so darn cute, I had to post two pictures of them!

(Unlisted: A Kenneth Cole Company floral heels from Famous Footwear, $8)

(Forever 21, Ross, Target, Famous Footwear, Maurices, Toms, CutesyGirl, Walmart, Daffy’s)

Adding it all up is a different feeling than looking at the prices seperately…but for how many years and how many pairs I’ve collected…$298 never looked so good!

Have a wonderful weekend and let me know if you find any great shoes – I’m a size 8.5!  May* and I are headed to the Flea Market tomorrow, maybe I’ll find another pair destined to be my favorite!

Goodbye Summer!  It’s time pack it up, pack it in and make room for Fall!!

I know I am jumping the gun with my enthusiasm because it is still technically Summer but Fall is just around the corner – I can taste it and it is divine!  Fall is my favorite time of year, not only for the comfortable chill in the air and cool nights spent drinking coffee with a great book to read but because I am a layer dresser through and through and Fall is the perfect time for it.  Even in the Summer, you will never see me without at least 2-3 shirts on and often times a scarf, 90 degree heat ignored.

For the past month, my internal clock has been completely off and my sense of the date nonexistent – but even so, I can feel Fall coming and I was thoroughly surprised and ecstatic when I received my September Issue of Vogue a few days ago.  If this doesn’t scream “Fall”, I don’t know what does!

I look forward to this issue all year and the 726 pages of fantastic Fall fashions did not disappoint!

This skirt is fabulous.

Red.

These are only the tip of the iceberg but they’re great, aren’t they?  Well done, Vogue.  Well done.

It’s been a week since I posted my 4 Simple Goals (inspired by this blog), and I wanted to give you all an update on how it’s going.  I won’t be updating every week, but I will hopefully continue my goals well past August, and will check back in sooner or later.

Goal #1:

Not only have I kept my nails chip free and polished this week, but I haven’t been biting them either (miracle).  Most of the week I wore “Andrea’s Mint Green” nail lacquer that I got on clearance at Sally’s for $1.99.  The color goes really well with our vintage toy Petite Elite typewriter doesn’t it?

Goal #2:

I took several self-portraits this week, and these were among the few acceptable ones.  Honestly, it feels a little weird to be posting photos of myself…like I’m fishing for compliments.  Errrr, what do you think?

Goal #3:

source

For my new recipe this week I made Monkey Bread.  It turned out sooo good (my husband Tristan loved it), and it was super easy to make.  Can you believe I had never had this?  It’s way way way easier than cinnamon rolls, and I thought it was equally tasty.  Here’s the recipe I used, minus the walnuts and raisins of course.

Goal #4:

This was the hardest goal for me to keep up on.  Unless I have a specific reason to be outside for an hour in the heat, I don’t really think about it or want to think about it.  Kind of sad considering that I live in Colorado and we have gorgeous mountains, sunshine, and almost no humidity.  I will have to try harder on this one this week.  Try try try.

I had a lot of fun trying to reach these goals, and succeeding in 3 out of 4 ain’t bad!  Have you made any simple goals?  How are they going for you?

*Thanks to everyone who entered in our giveaway this week!  Be looking for more giveaways in the future – we l-o-v-e doing them!  And now, for the randomly selected winner of the cute Melmac cup and saucer and embroidered sign(that was a mouthful!):

Doniree “That tea party looks amazing : ) And so does that teacup.”

Congrats Doniree – we hope that you love these as much as we do!  Be looking for a package from MayDae very soon.

Until next time,

Is anyone else looking forward to Fall BIG time?  MayDae is uber excited to say goodbye to the 90 degree weather and start cozying up in colorful layers, boots, coats, and tights.  Our Etsy Picks for this week are featuring some awesome sellers that all have an obvious love for red…glorious, wonderful red.  And while you’re here, don’t forget to enter in our giveaway – today is the last day, so go enter, and come back tomorrow to see who wins!

May’s Etsy Picks:

(Knit hat and neck warmer by Abhaya Fibers, hand bound leather book by Strike Books, television embroidery by Moxie Doll, feather fascinator by Lily Lady Blue, coat rack by PM Custom, jacket by Margery Daw, boyfriend doll by Yermit, dress by Be Wakeful, school chair from Timberstoys, crochet necklace by Craftaria)

Dae’s Etsy Picks:

(Red scarf by CADO accessories, Vintage radio from Jadite Kate, Teapot from Roy Joy, Vintage messenger bag from Get Ready Set GO!, Vintage Kodak timer from Greater Retro Area, Organic coffee from Katherynmd, Belt from Corazon Vintage, Pencils from Earmark, London love print by Art Shark Designs, Grandpappy vest from gimmeNICOLE)

I was so inspired by “May’s 4 Simple Goals” post because I also have been trying to keep my nails painted for the last couple of weeks and last night I decided to try something a little different than just painting my nails one color and I wanted to share what it was because I LOVE how they turned out!  *Please excuse the quality of my photos, it was late and dark…give me a break! :)

*Our teacup and vintage embroidery giveaway is still going on!  Click here to enter and make sure you come back Tuesday when we announce the winner!

I started with two of my favorite colors of nail polish from Forever 21 – they have some of the cutest colors that cost next to nothing.

I painted my nails with the grey color in the morning and let them dry all day.

Cutting thin strips of masking tape, I covered half of my nail with it, making sure the edges were completely covering the part of my nail I didn’t want painted.  *Be careful what type of tape you use because if it is really sticky it will take your nail polish off.

I then painted the uncovered portion of my nails with my beloved teal color and let dry for about 10 minutes.

Carefully take the masking tape off and let dry completely.

And voila, fun nail polish for the start of a fun weekend!!

What is the most creative or fun technique you have used on your nails?