Sponsor Spotlight: A to Z Vintage

image copyright Michael-Bryan Byers-Dent

Ladies (and Gentlemen if you are out there)  I would like to present to you Alaina Zieman and her new online boutique A to Z Vitnage.

If you love vintage as much as Ellie and I do, then you will love our friend's shop.  Right now it is still in it's beginning stages, but once it is up and running at full speed, we will have another spotlight letting you all know.  PLEASE Check out her first blog posts on her website, and be sure to keep in touch to get updates.

be sure to "like" A to Z Vintage on Facebook

Thank you my lovely readers

xx Aly

24

"I'm 24 today...it's like 23 but different."
- Ellie

if you guys can believe it, the first birthday of Danielle's that I was there for was her 12th birthday.

 I'll share photos of the celebration soon.

I love you, Best Friend.  You are an amazing woman.

Away.

I have been away from home for alittle over a week now. The first week was a touch stressful. It was hard to find a balance between being a leader vs. stepping on peoples toes. I guess sometimes you just can't please everyone. But cupcakes do go along way...

I've never felt like an outsider in my store (even when I first transferred from a different store). I love my co-workers. My little island of misfit toys! At my store most of the people I work with I hired. So they've known me since day one. They know my expectations, my strengths and even my weaknesses.

Being in a new store where I am a stranger creates some resistance. I'm hoping my ability to build relationships and trust will help me lead this store until their Manager returns in June. Like I said the first week was some what stressful. There were a few eye rolls thrown my way. Nothing I couldn't handle. I am certainly no ones mother, so having a teenager roll their eyes at me was definitely foreign territory. I handle stress in a very physical way. My body absorbs it and over the weekend it manifested it's self as a migraine. Which made me drive home very uncomfortable.

I was lucky enough to have some time off over the weekend to go home from Easter. I was home from less then 24 hours. It was nice to see my husband, sleep in my own bed and of course catching up on all my shows from my dvr. Sidebar: Can I just tell you how excited I am that Mad Men is back! Saturday Aly and I hangout at the Vintage Brewing Company, where the Hubs works. We had a few cocktail and listened to some live music by Corey Hart. Sunday morning Adam worked, so I sat home watching more tv. In the afternoon we went to lunch at Adam's nanny's house. Nothing to much happened over the weekend. It was wonderful but probably alittle boring to read about (I'm sorry, I'll working on being cooler).

As the weekend came to an end and I packed up to head back to Appleton. It was horrible...it feels so weird being away and with our schedules we don't even get to talk that much. So I guess we are one week down seven weeks to go. Aly and Adam are coming up this weekend for my birthday. I'm excited to be able to see them and not feel so rushed. And hey did I mentions it's my birthday Friday!

It's been a while

Sunglasses: Target

Jacket: Siren Shop on Ebay

T-shirt: American Apparel

Jeggings: Target
Bag: Theit

Both Shoes: Target

I would like to introduce to you my new (and new favorite) Jacket.  Jacket, meet the readers... Readers, meet Jacket.  You know, I don't always like dressing super girly.  I mean, yeah, I like the occasional skirt every now and then.  Depending on the color.  And by no means am I a child of spring or summer fashion.  Give me boots and sweaters any day over flip flops and mini skirts.

 I, however, love this jacket.  I love mixing masculine pieces with feminine pieces.  I also like being androgynous sometimes.  Which is why I decided to showcase two different kind of shoes with this jacket.  Now, if I was feeling super motivated (which I am not) I would have paired this jacket with my favorite spring dress and flats or boots.  To kind of girly it up a smidge.  This would also look great layered with a denim button down, and black leggings.  Or with a girly ivory colored top, denim cut off shorts, and a pair of booties.  Basically, it's very versatile.  I love it.

I think that's all I got folks.  I'm sleepy.  It's nap time.

22

Happy Birthday, Husband!

I loves you

Dog Days

Last week while talking to my cousin Alex about his new puppy, I decided I too wanted a puppy. Tuesday night I started checking craigslist for puppies. When in minutes I found one! I called Adam at work for approval...he said no, are you kidding, absolutely not...

So that night I continued to plead my case. I decided my mom would have my back. Not only did she not, but she had my four year old sister moak me. "You need to clean your room! I clean my room so mom got me a puppy. His names Chongo...I have two puppies because I'm good...You have no puppies." Seriously kids a dick.

Regardless, the next morning it was decided I was going to be a puppy owner. Because I'm an adult lady and I can have a puppy if I want one damnit!! We needed him Maynard. And I'm happy to report that Adam claims to love him more than I do. -Ellie

5 Things

Hat: UO (similar), Scarf: Taranto, Italy (From the Husband) (similar) , Sweater: H&M (similar), Jeans: NY&CO (similar)

1.)  Like my scarf?  It's my new favorite.  It was one of the gifts husband got me over deployment.

2.)  Lady's night with an old friend from High School is awesome (Hi Kari!  Can't wait for our next date!)

3.)  I will be attending a Bloggers' Lecture at the UW with Ellie this week.  And Ellie has an event where her talents will be showcased!  Stay tuned for more...

4.)  I'm super excited that Husband's last day in the USMC is April 25th.  Giant celebration to ensue.  Along with Hugs, Kisses, Drinking and Tears of Joy.

5.)  What has two thumbs, speaks limited french, and is excited about not having to wear a coat all week (due to gorgeous weather)?  This Moi!

Have a good week everyone!