May 2014 archive
Add Charm to Your Summer
I love jewelry with a quirky touch-something that makes you smile and want to look at it closer. Two of my favorite necklaces (the bejeweled camera I got at Forever21 in Chicago that’s pictured above and a lemons and limes necklace I got from a Lilly Pulitzer sale) fall into this category. If you want to add some charm to your summer, I rounded up some options! Most of jewelry of this style is enamel costume jewelry, so you’ll find them refreshingly affordable. Cue the compliments and get used to hearing “where did you get that?!”
For my photographer friends, I found some Betsy Johnson earrings that reminded me of my camera necklace. Then I found other adorable jewelry that are basically little toys that you wear! All the pics are links if you want to find out more. Which one is your favorite?
Make the Cut Scarf Design Contest
Note: This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
I found a fun, crafty contest opportunity that I wanted to share! ModCloth is launching a Make the Cut Contest fashion design contest, and in this edition, they’re giving contestants a template on which to create a print pattern for a scarf. The winner’s design will be produced by and sold on ModCloth, plus they’ll receive a $500 prize. Sounds amazing! But first, the top 10 submissions will be hosted on the Be the Buyer page, where the community will vote for their faves. Hurry and design your submission, because they will be accepted now until Friday, 5/30, and the voting begins on Monday, 6/9. Official contest rules can be found here. Good luck, readers!
Summer Florals at Boom Island
The weather is finally consistently warm here, so I’ve started taking lunch breaks at one of favorite places in the city. It’s a park on the Mississippi that’s absolutely gorgeous. The views of the skyline are stunning, the flowers are blooming and the people and their dogs are happy.
This park is one of the hidden gems of Minneapolis! It’s up there with Minnehaha falls and the Stone Arch bridge for must see destinations if you’re visiting the Twin Cities. It’s not really an island, but you can get up close to the water, see a lighthouse, and watch the boats on the river.
When I’m not taking impromptu outfit post pics (and this really was impromptu-when am I ever going to learn to not leave the house without a decent camera?!), I’ve been reading a book over lunch at the park. This novel I got for free from a coffee shop nearby that gets uncorrected copies from a publisher. I decided while doing this outfit post that a book is the perfect summer accessory!
Where to Donate Stuff
Any fashionista has way too many clothes and is always acquiring more. I absolutely envy anyone with the natural skill to purge unwanted belongings and live with only what they need and use. I’ve written posts about different ways to downsize your stuff, and mentioned how I love getting second hand clothes from others. Since I’ve been committed to May it Be of Use Month in May, I’ve been thinking a lot about avenues for how to easily give stuff away. The obvious choices-Goodwill, Vietnam Veterans of America, local thrift stores-are great and sometimes they wilI even pick up stuff for you, but there are other lesser known organizations that deserve attention too. I compiled this list of specialty organizations as a resource for myself and others for where to donate stuff. I’d love to add to it, so if you see something missing let me know in the comments section or on my Facebook post.
Where to Donate Stuff: Books
Little Free Library Uptown Minneapolis
Little Free Libraries are these amazing little hutches in neighborhood locations where residents can take and leave books. I found this one outside of Caffetto in Uptown Minneapolis. Find your nearest Little Free Library and make another reader’s day by stocking the shelf with your old volumes.
The creator of May it Be of Use suggested on the Facebook page another worthy organization for book donations: the Women’s Prison Book project. You can drop off donations at their downtown Minneapolis location or mail them via USPS Media Mail.
Where to Donate Stuff: Your Old Piano
A colorful piano to be donated to a family, school or organization who needs it.
When I was at an art fair I found a great organization, Keys 4/4 Kids, that turns pianos into works of art and donates them to schools and organizations for children to learn to play. They’ll come pick up the piano for you, which is extra convenient. They do ask for a donation for this service-it’s an optional donation but well worth it in my opinion.
My parents actually donated an old piano to this organization and everything went smoothly for them. Plus, your old piano will look way cooler after than it ever did while it was sitting in your house getting dusty.
Donate Formal Dresses and Accessories
Local organizations like this one will turn formal attire into someone’s prom dress. You can find one nearest you at http://www.donatemydress.org.
Where to Donate Stuff: Baby Clothes and Supplies
Local organizations that serve families who need an extra helping hand often take donations. The one I know of, Way to Grow! in North Minneapolis, I found by driving past their brightly-muraled exterior every day on my way to work. They happily accept donations of children’s clothes and supplies and household items to distribute to the families that they serve.
How to Donate Clothes
Alight Fashion Blog has provided an amazing infographic checklist for donating old clothes. Check out the environmental benefits of donating clothes!
Where do you donate your stuff? I’d love suggestions and will add them to this list!
May it Be of Use Week 2
Not that I’m panicking or anything, but the Month of May is halfway over and so is May it Be of Use Month. I’ve so enjoyed spending this time getting inspired to let go of the things that are overcrowding my life. It’s been daunting at times because there is SO MUCH OF IT and I’m behind my goal. I’m quite overwhelmed.
Inspiration comes in unusual ways, though. I looked out the window yesterday morning to see two families gathered in the neighbor’s yard in front of their huge play structure. Their kids have apparently outgrown it, so they were disassembling the huge yellow slide, tire swing, and tree house to give to the three-year-old several houses down. I watched as they put it on a truck and both families walked it down the street to its new home. Wow, I’m inspired-these people didn’t even know about May it be of Use, and they just gave a huge gift to the littlest neighbor.
Speaking of May it Be of Use and little ones, I found several erasers to give to my coworker’s son who loves cute erasers.
It’s the little things that keep you moving when you’re working on a daunting task like this! By the way, I’m working on compiling all the resources for giving items away-where to donate books, where to donate clothes, etc. If you give to a favorite charity or have a suggestion, let me know and I’ll include it in an upcoming post!
