I MADE SOMETHING I CAN WEAR!

Inspiration:

Big floral prints on skirts like this one from Banana Republic

Found:

Fabric at Savers for two dollars.

Made: with a pattern and about 5 hours of time (I'm slow & get nervous around patterns)

After:

(excuse the poor lighting)

It's a skirt! And it fits! And it didn't rip while I was at work!

  I even put in a zipper! And it's mostly hidden!

I even made a pleat in the back on accident. I didn't even know that was part of the pattern!

So many exclamation points. But you guys, I'm pumped. I might not be the worst seamstress of all time after all! I can't wait to make more.

BEFORE & AFTER : not the good kind

FRIDAY

Before: Being totally adorable with my vintage scarf, vintage bike & high-waisted pants. 

Went on a bike ride date to the local pizzeria & then to Top-It for dessert. 

Still being totally adorable at this point. 

AFTER: 

Scraped hands &ankle

Bruised calf, knee, hip, crotch (not a joke), & let's not forget pride.

Basically I tipped over while trying to get back on the side walk from the road & catching on a little lip of a driveway. I caught myself with my hands & hip mostly (I guess I don't know how to fall). Tyler helped get the bike off me & I hobbled over to some grass where I proceeded to lay for about 10 minutes. I feel a little bit ridiculous now, but Tyler was really sweet & didn't laugh until the next day.
My grace knows no bounds.

LAST NIGHT

// Volunteer chic. Seriously envious of Ashley's impeccable style all the time. //

// The whole group //

// pretending like I know what I'm doing //

Last night I volunteered at Fashion Remix, a fundraiser that benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, with Ashley. Our job was to walk around selling raffle tickets. My attribute of being non-confrontational was blaring me in the face and I had an anxiety stomachache. Ashley was feeling the same way. It ended up being pretty comical. Gathering up the courage, picking out a person to approach, getting cut off mid sentence & wandering around trying to look purposeful. We did sell a good amount of tickets to old men though, so.. success! And it's for a good cause so I forgave Ashley for roping me into being a salesman. 

On my way home I stopped at JoAnn's randomly & picked up a pattern for a pencil skirt. I started cutting fabric around 10 PM. I seriously have a problem, I don't feel tired at all, I just want to sew & hang out until 1 AM. Then I go to sleep, am out within seconds & can barely wake up the next day. It is a vicious cycle, I am telling you! Anyway, I'm excited about the skirt, I love the fabric. I picked it up at Savers for two bucks. Holler at your girl. 

Have a great weekend everyone!

PS. I'm pretty sure I already talked about the weather this week. But I cannot wait for some more good weather! Bike rides, hikes, yard-sale-ing(?)... I have a lot of plans. 

HERE WE GO

I ordered this swimsuit last night as the first piece for my vacation to the Cayman Islands this summer. So cute, & I got a sweet deal since j.crew is offering an extra 30% off all their sale! 

You need to check it out. Now! 

PS. My mom is crying happy tears because this is a one-piece.

WEEKEND TIMES

// delicious fries at tonyburgers //

// bijou-ing //

// lunch at the sensuous sandwich. good job provo! (?) //

//my scores from bijou //

// i bought five succulent plants over the weekend. They are so pretty and it's nice to have some living plants. Now the key is to keep them alive in my low-lit basement apartment.. hmmm.  //

// for my coffee table //

// midnight sewing project that resulted in no swearing & a cute pillow. success! //

// catherine added a rug to our living room & a hole in my heart was filled. //

I had a really good weekend. Shopping, time with friends, and just some free time, which translated into watching movies & sewing. 

Sad to see it go, but I'm definitely looking forward to the 80 degree weather we'll be having this weekend!

1. Beautiful shade of blonde, & the easygoing hairstyle too.

2. How fun are these chevron towels? I need to find some ASAP

3. Cheery color combinations for summer

4. New favorite room inspiration, namely the cowhide rug & mismatched furniture. I am still dying over this space!

5. Mint + basically everything. 

6. Sailor knot bracelet 

7. Table styling

all images via my pinterest

INSTA LOVE

// a walk with Roxy //

// one of my favorite thrifted mugs //

// new fabric //

// hanging out by my new self-made art //

// giving my roots one last photo before I went to the salon //

Isn't it weird to look at random pictures and sometimes it doesn't even really depict what's been going on in normal life? 

Thats why there are no pictures of me crying to the IRS agent saying "It isn't fair!" In regards to an audit of my 2008 taxes (in which the audit wasn't even on my income(I was married at the time), but somehow I'm paying?! $#!* Luckily I'm getting it figured out). 

Or any pictures of me oversleeping almost every day last week and then applying my make up in the car. Don't worry I reserve it for red lights! 

Or any pictures of my kitchen sink full of dishes from yesterday - After a full day of work and class the last thing I want to do is clean! 

Then again, we take pictures to remember the happy moments and to document the little things that make us happy.

And it helps!

Instagram is available on Android (in case you didn't know)!

 Hooray for everyone, Instagram changes your life. 

Find me! @andreakj

EASTER

Easter was different this year because my family was out of town. I learned that it's not as much fun to fill your own easter basket (besides the fact that I didn't have to share any of my candy) & I missed the loud comfort of a slew of family members around. But I bought a tri tip steak (my favorite cut) & baked some french bread to step up dinner a notch. 

 I am always grateful for Easter because it turns my focus on the resurrection of our Savior, and His atonement for all of us. I feel loved and watched over despite all of my shortcomings & faults.

RANDOMS

The salon I went to on Saturday was in the coolest old building in downtown SLC.

Puppy sitting at work. 

Kenny being way handsome while watching conference.

Random shades at the Jardine house.

Jolly Rancher Jelly Beans. My favorite!

A day when I wore a lot of color.

Found treasures at Savers. That floral print is becoming a pencil skirt!

Well that was fun. 

I WANT TO RIDE MY BICYCLE

// baby's first photo//

// actually waiting for Tyler to pick me up (instead of him waiting for me) to go to Brigham!

Saturday I got an early wake-up text. Tyler found me the perfect bike on KSL, & we had to get, like NOW!

 It's a circa 1974 Schwinn, and in practically mint condition! The seller's parents had it in their motor home for 30 years, hardly ever ridden. 

And it was a steal for only $60! 

We were heading up to Brigham to spend the weekend with my family. I was not about to leave my new baby behind. Besides, can you even think of a better place for an inaugural ride?

We rode our bikes all over & I wanted to be annoying like the country song " This is my town!" But you will get your eyes poked out if you ever sing it, it's bad. I loved to be a tour guide though and point out everything like banks, and the one bar.

We had to make a stop at Idle Isle of course... I love that place!

// the bikes just being cute //

Saturday had the most beautiful weather, I was actually warm! We took a lot of photos, and I strongly suggested that Tyler take some of me riding around all natural-like. When we got back to my parents house he said "I feel like a blogger".  

Who cares because I have a buttload of pictures of me on my new ride.

I am going to take Tyler on field trips to the Brigham. We usually go up on Sundays so he hasn't seen much. We still need to eat at Call's, Maddox, hike to the waterfall (and sneak a peek @ my old house), go to the movie theatre... he needs to have all of the experiences!