thelovelyhunter

DOWNTON ABBEY WITHDRAWLS

2012-10-28T17:14:00.000-07:00

downton abbey has slowly creeped its way into my heart and made a home there. next to parenthood, it's my most favorite show on tv right now. so. good. but we have to wait until january to watch season 3, what?! that is just too long folks. i have had tried my best to fill the DA void, and, in the process, found some really good shows that i think you will like too.

LAND GIRLS

before this show i never even knew what a land girl was. during ww1 the british government created the women's land army to temporarily replace the men in agriculture who had been called into the military. i really love the characters in this show, as well as seeing bits and pieces of the time in which it took place. there are already three seasons, but i have only managed to find a way to watch the first! sad. day. still worth a watch though.

CALL THE MIDWIFE

this show is in its first season on pbs, but so far i love it. i mean, basically i get to see a newborn baby in every episode so that's pretty much all i need. but aside from that, the storylines are great, and i am a sucker for a good period piece. oh, and i think i have cried in almost every episode, which automatically makes this a good show in my book, am i right?

happy watching!

CAN'T HELP MYSELF

2012-10-26T15:51:00.000-07:00

is there anything so good in this world as a really cute pair of boots? well okay, yes, but i just plain love them, and the coming winter months are a good excuse to add a couple more pairs to my collection. as usual with any purchase, i carefully perused many websites and carefully weighed my options over and over until i could bring myself to actually buy anything. i found so many suuuuuuuupercute boots but settled on #3 and #6. price played a big factor, as always, but i also wanted something versatile i would be able to wear with lots of different things. i've already worn boot #3 a couple of times and they are definitely a winner. i should be getting #6 in the mail soon. i can't wait! which are your favorites?

1/ sam edelman leopard petty boot
2/ modern vice jett boot
3/ dolce vita jamison boot
4/ ecote metal chelsea boot
5/ wanted dressage tan boot
6/ pisa 25 black kiltie lace up boot

THIS IS NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE

2012-08-28T14:46:00.001-07:00

i promise this is not a drunk picture of me and my husband. let me explain. the other night lucas went to have drinks with our friend darren at oak st. drafthouse. he got home around 11:30, which is normally bedtime, but for some reason i felt like being spontaneous. instead of turning in for the night i got the brilliant idea to go back to the drafthouse and make the best of what is left of my youth.

well, it turned out to be a lot of fun. we had a drink, hung out for a while, then headed back home after an hour or so. i was trying to look like i was having the best freaking night of my life in this picture, but instead it just looks like a really bad cry face. the night did turn out to be really fun though, and it made me feel like even though i am officially old, i don't have to act like it:)

ETSY LOVE

2012-08-06T13:42:00.000-07:00

BRASS CHEVRON CHAIN NECKLACE

CATNIP TOY PILLOW

SOUTHWEST MINI BUSTIER TOP

PORCELAIN DOLLHEAD PLANTER

GOLD TRIANGLE KNUCKLE RING

VINTAGE MOON PRINT

SUEDE FLOWER ANKLE BOOTS

MODERN CHILD'S DESK CHAIR

YELLOW STRIPED COIN PURSE

BOW TIE COLLAR NECKLACE

CUSTOM WEDDING SCULPTURES

IF YOU LIKE CATS THIS POST IS FOR YOU

2012-08-01T14:19:00.000-07:00

this artwork by stephen eichhorn is nothing short of amazing. i'm not the biggest fan of cats. (sorry all you catlovers out there), but regardless of your preference for cats or dogs, you will love these prints found on the plants and animals blog. who would ever think of combining and overlaying images of cats and plants. if it works it works!

what do you think? i'm ready to see some done with dogs, am i right?

MUSIC TO MY EARS: CONCERTS CONCERTS CONCERTS

2012-07-30T18:17:00.000-07:00

the concert gods have smiled down upon me. there are so many amazing artists who are on tour right now, (or will be this fall.) ch ch ch check 'em out.

FIONA APPLE

fiona's been a favorite of mine for a long time. me and probably every other teenage girl growing up in the nineties. who has every word of the album tidal memorized? this girl. i actually found out she was on tour when i drove by a billboard advertising her concert at the winstar casino in oklahoma--weird. i have yet to listen to all of her new album. any thoughts?

BEACH HOUSE

i missed beach house last year and have been kicking myself in the pants ever since. i made it a point to purchase my tickets as soon as they went on sale this time, so come september, i will be ready and waiting.

INDEX FESTIVAL

dallas music has done me proud. you cannot beat such an amazing lineup for such a great price. grimes, portugal the man, heartless bastards. i haven't gotten tickets to this show simply because i have had to make the horrible decision of choosing between all these amazing shows. sad face.

ST. VINCENT WITH DAVID BYRNE

when i grow up i want to be like st. vincent. how cool is she? her latest album is amazeballs, and the fact that david byrne from the talking heads thinks she's legit enough to tour with is probably the biggest compliment there is. these two together equals gauranteed awesomeness. cannot wait until this album drops this fall.

JUSTICE

anytime you feel like dancing your eyes out, put on some justice. i cannot imagine how krunk this show is gonna be, and yes i said krunk. and to top it all off, the show is on halloween. lucas and i went to go see ghostland observatory one halloween dressed up as a grilled cheese sandwich and a taco. i guess justice has replaced them? but it was sooooo much fun. we'll see. i've been dying to dress up as a rainbow and i think this concert could be my chance:)

what shows are you going to?!

1976

2012-07-27T14:26:00.000-07:00

it has been an embarrassingly long time since we have taken these pictures. i think it was valentine's day? yikes! we ventured into downtown dallas to check out a schlew of my favorite shops. 1976 is a collection of one of a kind prints, books, and odds and ends that are a design/art lover's dream. everything is so unique and well made. it is amazing what people are capable of making. i just learned that they also hold gallery nights and workshops where you can learn things like screenprinting or how to make a rubber stamp. if you are ever in dallas this shop is a definite must see!

I AM LOVING...

2012-07-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

here's a collection of lovely things i am loving this week.

1//kenzo platform sandal

2//amazing colorful embroidered rug

3//beautiful DIY lace dress

4//black and white graphic umbrella

5//quote to live life by

6//side table made of recycled wood

7//rose gold monogram necklace

8//roselina hung self portrait

9//19th century japanese design magazine

10//wildfox kids couture line

THIS WEEK...

2012-07-23T10:26:00.000-07:00

these past couple of weeks in our new house have been so fun. when you move in with another married couple (and their child) you have your reservations no matter how awesome they are. luckily, we couldn't have picked better people. it really has been fun sharing our lives with tommy and lydia. we've had house dinners, movie nights, and spent the night in our living room just hanging out and talking. i feel blessed in that there wasn't much of a transition from living with just lucas to living with three other people. i was a bit surprised at how easily we all gelled together.

i've been taking advantage of living in denton as much as possible since we moved. i rode my bike to music on the square. we watched fireworks from the roof of one of the residence halls at unt. i've eaten at all my favorite places. but since moving in a few weeks ago, i've started housesitting, which has kinda of been a bummer. i was so excited to spend time in our new place, in our new city, but for the past week i've hardly been home. it's like getting a new toy and then not being able to play with it. one more week to go!

1//picnic dinner on the square. it was the last twilight tunes of the summer so we made the most of it.
2//lucas has been going through all his old boxes as we have been unpacking. he found this drawing of a city he made when he was ten years old. so cute.
3//one of the first movies we enjoyed together as a house--major payne. i know, we're cool.
4//his and hers yogurts. i think lucas pretty much put every topping they had in his:)

1//birthday lunch consisting of breakfast nachos, hashbrowns, biscuit, and eggs--whoa.
2//banjo's new favorite spot. why do dogs like windows so much?
3//bike ride!
4//when you babysit boys, nerf guns are a must.

ADULT BIRTHDAY

2012-07-20T13:45:00.000-07:00

i consider this year to be my first adult birthday. 21? ha! 26? maybe. 30? seems pretty adult. but no, it was this year, 31. why this year? first of all, i was so absorbed with adult things like moving and insurance and trips to target that i didn't even think of what i was going to do for my big day until a couple of days before. secondly, my bday partiers consisted of three married couples, a former bridesmaid, my husband, and two babies--woohoo! but you know what? my birthday was a freakin' blast.

i made no real plans for the day with the exception of those that revolved around food. i slept in and had a yummy brunch with lucas at loco cafe. phe-nomenal. the loco moco will change your life. then i piddled around the house organizing and decorating until it was time to get ready for dinner. on the occassion where i actually do full makeup and dress up, i love to revel in the getting ready process--taking a nice long shower, dancing around my bedroom to choice jams while i do my makeup and try on different outfits. this time i chose the 'this is how we do it' station on pandora. excellent choice for a pre-birthday celebration.

we had dinner at the greenhouse in denton, which i love, and i got the ahi tuna. very good, although the horseradish in the sauce made my nostrils burn every so slightly. then we headed back to the house, hung out for a bit, and watched almost famous on the projector. such a good movie! all in all it was a wonderful birthday, and although i cannot cannot believe i am as old as i am, i still love birthdays, and plan on taking advantage of them for as long as possible:)

SO MANY WRECKS SO LITTLE TIME

2012-07-18T12:02:00.000-07:00

it has been so busy lately. when is life not busy though. do you feel that way? the past three weeks have been consumed with packing, moving, and unpacking. but i neglected to tell you guys about the two wrecks i had-- yes, two wrecks in one week. the first wreck was pretty cut and dry. we were driving down the highway when another car tried to get in our lane and sideswiped us.

the second wreck was a doozie. i was driving down the street when a car coming the other direction pulled out in front of me to turn, and i hit them head on. no one was hurt, but my car sure was. i am currently in a rental, waiting to hear back from the insurance company on who was at fault. my little honda is totaled, and soon we will begin the process of looking for another car. (is that the next thing that will soon consume all my time?) our first wreck ended up being a blessing in disguise. instead of getting our car repaired through the insurance company, the other party cut us a check. we don't expect to get nearly what our car is worth, so that check is really going to come in handy.

there have been little things throughout the moving process where God has shown me how he uses things that appear to be dissapointments and uses them for good. these wrecks were no different. i know He is showing me that i can trust in Him, that i don't have to worry, that He is in control. there are some big decisions on the horizon, and i am faced with a choice-- to forget what God has just shown me, or choose to trust that He will be faithful yet again.

I LOVE COLOR: YELLOW FEVER

2012-07-16T17:20:00.000-07:00

i'm not usually a huge yellow person, but i love the bright neons and yellows in these photos.

1//classic silhouette with a twist.

2//i would love to add a pop of color to my kitchen with some sunny flowers, or rock a flower crown a la keiko lynn.

3//summer is the perfect time to experiment with colorful makeup.

4//it doesn't get any better than these neon gladiators.

5//yellow is the perfect color in this otherwise simple room.

6//proof that you can look superchic in any color.

7//beautiful.

8//this is what my future kid will wear.

9//lemon with a hint of lime.

10//i wish i could get away with wearing these yellow tights. the black and white oxfords are the perfect touch.

11//summer outfit done.

12//i need to wear more scarves.

MUSIC TO MY EARS: GRIMES

2012-07-13T16:42:00.000-07:00

grimes, born claire boucher, is a canadian born artist whose style is as eclectic as her music. what struck me most as i was researching info on grimes, was a trip she took with her then-boyfriend from tennessee. they took on the alias's varuschka and zelda xox and constructed a 20 foot houseboat filled with 20 pounds of potatoes, a typewriter, a copy of huckleberry finn, and a flock of chickens. their trip across the mississippi didn't last long, but how awesome all the same?

Oblivion by Grimes on Grooveshark

THIS WEEK...

2012-07-11T14:00:00.000-07:00

we are officially moved! Praise the Lord! these past couple of weeks have been kinda tough. sure moving is always stressful--packing, and then the actual action itself kinda sucks. who likes carrying huge boxes to and fro repeatedly? but banjo's horrendous case of the fleas doubly added to the stress. it doesn't sound like a big deal, but when fleas are biting you in your own bed and nothing you try seems to work, it can drive you a little crazy. thankfully we finally got the flea problem under control and are on to happier days.

i didn't expect it, but moving was quite an emotional experience. i knew it was going to take a long time to move our stuff, but 12 hours into moving day i hit a breaking point. then our u-haul broke down. we ended up having to take an extra day to move. i don't know how we ever would have been able to move without that extra day. when all was said and done, and lucas and i stood in our empty apartment, our first home, we got a little sentimental, okay, a lot sentimental. we took a minute to thank God for giving us such a wonderful place to start our life together and asked him to bless us in our new house as well. i'm looking forward to posting pics of the new house!

1. chocolate chunk cookie at chic-fil-a. bought a desert and got an 8 piece chicken nugget free!
2. brunette and blonde--best of both worlds.
3. jake and banjo, bff:)
4. dinner with a local soda straight out of little d. it really was the bee's knees!

1. my first time at bahama bucks. ofcourse i went for the whipped cream, caramel, and chocolate.
2. this is what we did with our clothes after we washed them.
3. my future tattoo. being a nanny does have its perks.
4. i think we have enough bikes, what about you?

NEW IN THE STORE

2012-06-30T22:05:00.000-07:00

we've been so busy moving lately that i haven't been good about keeping up with the store. here are the latest goodies!

1/2

3/4

5/6

7/8

9/10

11/12

13/14

15/16

MARC JACOBS RESORT 2013

2012-06-27T19:38:00.000-07:00

marc jacobs you have done it again. aren't these clothes absolutely stunning? i die. i am in love with the bright bold colors and amazing design. i think the long sleeved keyhole floral dress is my fave. so incredible.

images as seen in vogue

WHAT I WORE: MEMORIAL DAY

2012-06-25T22:32:00.000-07:00

it always takes me a good few weeks to edit and post anything. these pics are from memorial day, which was almost a month ago, but better late than never right? lucas and i went over to tommy and lydia's and grilled out with our friends steven and monika. we all had the day off, so there were no worries about getting home early for work the next day. tomydia provided quite the spread of turkey burgers and fixins, and monika, as always, supplied our yummy dessert. i guess we covered drinks? tommy just purchased a motorcycle, so the guys spent a good part of the day trying to get it in working order. man, that thing is loud! us ladies stayed inside out of the heat and watched whip it:) perfect summer day.

top: thrifted

shorts: thrifted

sandals: UO

I AM LOVING: COMMON PROJECTS

2012-06-22T04:35:00.000-07:00

these shoes by common projects are all equally amazing--simple and classic yet totally on trend. these are the type of shoes you can keep in your wardrobe for years. i think my faves are the nude platform peeptoes and the brown ankle flats. so cute! what are your faves?

DIY: TERRARIUM TIME!

2012-06-20T12:04:00.000-07:00

i decided to make my pinterest love of terrariums a reality one day and had the time of my life putting these little guys together. it was a lot easier than i thought, and i'm really happy with how they turned out. i am pretty much the opposite of a plant whisperer/green thumb and anything my little hands touch seems to wilt. but i am happy to report that my sweet succulents still seem to be thriving after a whole month! if you were wanting to make your own terrariums, here's a super easy DIY for you.

1. pick out your terrarium home. pretty much any clear glass container will work. i've seen really cute terrariums made from mason jars, fish bowls, vases, etc. just make sure that you find a container with a wide enough mouth to insert your plants. the smaller the hole, the more difficult it is. and if you are planning on making more than one terrarium and grouping them together, i would go with an odd number and find containers in a variety of sizes and shapes to add more interest to your grouping:)

2. this is the fun part--picking out your plants! you can choose to use a variety of plants, but i picked succulents, not only b/c i like them, but because they are super easy to care for. when picking your plants, look for a variety of shapes, sizes, and textures. i chose a few cactuses with some blossoms to add a little color as well.

3. before actually putting your terrarium together, you need to gather you supplies. besides plants and containers you will need some potting soil, small rocks (some people also opt to use beach glass and different colored rocks. sand is also optional), and some type of utensil to dig plants out. i just used a fork:)

4. before you start it's also a good idea to plan where you want your plants to go. i just set the plants apart in groups so i would know where to put them. in each terrarium i chose a taller plant and shorter plant, a plant with a little color, and never put the same plant in the same container.

5.the first step in actually making the terrarium is to put a thin layer of rocks in your container, as seen in picture. some people opt to put in sand beforehand, but i just opted for the rocks. you can buy rocks at lowe's i think, but i just hunted outside my apartment for them:)

6. use your fork/other utensil to dig out your plants. i started with the tallest plant, and planted the smallest last. use your potting soil to fill in the gaps around each plant. i used my fork to move around the soil inside the terrarium since it was too hard to stick my hands inside.

7. voila! you've got your very own terrariums. it was hard to take pictures of all the inbetween parts because my hands were so dirty, but hopefully it all made sense. here are my finished terrariums. i chose to put mine as the centerpiece on our dining room table, but the good thing about terrariums is that they make great decoration almost anywhere.

i had some leftover plants, so i decided to make another pinterest favorite a reality and plant the leftovers in some DIY neon painted pots. i would love to see pics of terrariums you guys have made!

THIS WEEK...

2012-06-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

a couple of weeks ago lucas and i got to go with the kids from church to church camp. it was so much fun! we went last year too, but this year my ten year-old niece mia also went, which turned out to be so good. our thirteen year old cousin hayleigh also went for the first time, so mia and her had fun getting to know eachother and bonding. lucas taught the 13/14 year old class, (i sat in) and he did an awesome job. it was so cool to see the gifts that God has given him being used right in front of me.

while mia was with us at church camp my parents took the opportunity to go on vacation. who wouldn't? they are so cute:) it was cool because we got to spend extra time with just mia. i don't get to see her nearly as much as i would like to, so i am really thankful for that time. she is still young enough that she will still give me big hugs and actually likes hanging out with me, so i am going to take advantage of that as long as i can.

this week i...
*got to shoot a rifle for the first time, and at church camp of all places. turns out i am a pretty good shot.
*made some some pretty sweet purchases from our local recycled craft store, SCRAP denton. neon parrot necklaces anyone?
*took my first bike ride around the square. looking forward to many more of those when we move:)
*tried the loco cafe for the first time. the breakfast pizza and blueberry soda with whipped cream were delicious!
*watched more kid's television than i ever thought possible. hop, madagascar 3, and happy feet 2 all in one week.
*dyed my hair! after about 4 times bleaching and toning, i think i like this whole ombre thing.

how was your week? what did you do?!

WANTED

2012-06-15T10:24:00.001-07:00

today i start housesitting. i am really looking forward to a little change of scenery...and the pool doesn't hurt either:) my only dilemna is going to be packing our apartment while living in a different city. we'll see how it goes. in other news, i am sick! i don't know where it came from, but i have a stopped up, runny nose and itchy throat. i don't feel superbad, just a little tired. looking at these lovelies puts me in a better mood. i love the sunny, happy colors--perfect for summer.

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8

WHAT I WORE: TWILIGHT TUNES

2012-06-13T09:33:00.004-07:00

going to twilight tunes in denton in the summer has become a longstanding tradition. i don't know why but i absolutely love it. i guess i will take any opportunity to hang out with friends and sit and listen to music outside. this time we grabbed some weinburger's deli and sat down with two of our couple friends, both of whom have two month old babies! i have known lindsey and darren (pictured below) for nearly ten years, and it is so awesome to see the little man that they have made together. this little guy's name is tovin, and he is such a cutie! i call him toves, and he will call me tia sofia:)

as always, banjo joined me in the photoshoot. somehow having him there with me makes taking pictures less awkward. i thrifted this top last summer. it is a little big, but i couldn't turn down a sleeveless denim cutout top, so i wear it anyway. i am thinking about dip dyeing it. anyone ever done that before? tips? the pants are F21, ring is from anthro, and sandals are UO. and you will see me wearing those shades just about every day this summer. i had been looking for a pair like this everywhere and scored these babies (on where else, etsy) for only ten buckaroos. what are your favorite summer pastimes?

MUSIC TO MY EARS: COCO ROSIE

2012-06-11T09:01:00.000-07:00

i love it when people aren't afraid to be themselves, which is certainly the case with the sisters of coco rosie. i mean it's not every day you see a lady sporting a mustache and hairnet, yet somehow manage to look cool all the same. their eccentricity seems partly due to a unique upbringing. bianca and sierra's mother was an artist and singer who preferred real world education for her daughters opposed to public school. their estranged father was a a follower of american indian religion, often taking the girls on reservations and vision quests.

their music is the unique mix of folk and who knows what that you would expect from such an individual pair. it's a breath of fresh air when i everything i hear seems like a different version of the same thing. i really love their cover of the beach boy's surfer girl. take a listen!

GONE CAMPIN'

2012-06-09T10:03:00.000-07:00

this spring i was set on making the most of the season and determined to go camping as much as possible. well, mission accomplished. it's not even june and we have already been camping twice. even though it was already pretty hot, (it tends to heat up to the 90's as early as april in texas) we decided to spend the weekend at a scenic little park only 10 miles away from our apartment.

it was so nice being able to drive 15 minutes and be at our campsite. not to mention that we were able to drop off banjo at our apartment during the day when we were out canoeing. we didn't exactly rough it while we were there. we had chili turkey dogs, pizza, cinnamon rolls, and breakfast burritos--mmmm. oh, and did i mention that it was cinco de mayo weekend? so ofcourse we celebrated with games, strawberry margaritas, and some tecate. here's the pics!

THIS WEEK...

2012-06-04T08:16:00.000-07:00

so, the packing has begun! it's official--we have a house! it's not perfect, but i am so thankful to have a roof over my head, to be living in denton, and to be sharing a house with such awesome people. (it doesn't hurt that our rent is going to be a lot cheaper either:) i already have tons of ideas in my head of how i wanna decorate. all of my pinterest dreams are going to come true!

i am soooo excited to move--we only have four more weeks! it is really hard to know what to pack right now. i have already gone into my carefully and neatly packed boxes to retrieve items that i thought i wouldn't need. and our apartment is a total mess. i have given up all effort in picking up after myself since i know i will have to move everything anyway. can't say i miss the cleaning:)

we also have begun to go through each part of the apartment and get rid of the things we don't need. i love it! i am the type of person who goes through their stuff and gets rid of things regularly--it's so freeing not to be tied down to too much stuff. lucas on the other hand, loves hanging on to every little thing he has collected over the years. i have been so proud of all the stuff he has parted ways with. less stuff means less to pack!

this week i...
*took part in my second etsy bazaar--success!
*went to the first twilight tunes of the summer. here's to many more.
*listened to a wonderful sermon on the dangers of comparison.
*spent memorial day eating burgers with friends.
*started watching dawson's creek. i cannot be held accountable for the things i watch while working on my shop.
*rode go-karts for the first time in years. still fun.