Casual. Comfortable. Cute.

Hoodie: c/o MungoCrafts

Jeans and shoes: Target

The weather has cooled down in the last few days, and we even got some pretty intense rain a couple nights ago. It was a gnarly storm but I was excited, we haven't been allowed to water our garden or lawn for the last week or so and our already-pitiful little garden got even worse. The extra humidity has forced me into updos and comfy clothes, but I'm not complaining! 

A few months back, April from MungoCrafts sent me this rad hoodie that she custom made for me. I've taken two different sets of photos in it to post on the blog but both times produced less than stellar photos. They didn't do her work justice! The problem is, this hoodie is literally the most comfortable thing I own. I wear it a few times a week, usually when I get home from work paired with yoga pants slippers :) So it did take a little extra effort on my part to not slip into a comfort-coma the second I put it on, and I luckily kept composed long enough to take these photos! I really can't wait for it to cool down around here so I can wear my hoodie all the time. And, of course, I want to add another one (or two!) to my closet! I love this one, and this shirt is amazing too! 

Today I have plans to finally hang stuff up on the walls of our (not so new) place. I've been stressing out about hanging all our art and decorations because I want to get it *just right*, but having bare walls makes it feel really un-homey, so I'm gonna suck it up and get it done! And hopefully the fact that I wrote it down here means I actually follow through :)

Tumbleweeds.

Sunglasses: Tumbleweeds

Tee and shoes: Target

Skirt: Forever 21

Belt: Thrifted

Are you guys tired of my mirrored pics yet? Hope not, 'cause I like them :) A few weeks ago I pre-ordered my very first pair of my dear friend Beca's amazing sunglasses, and they arrived a few days ago! If you've been living under a rock, you may not know that Beca and Doug of Tumbleweeds Handcraft make the coolest sunglasses in town, and on top of that they're my partners for Renegade this fall! I had to snatch a pair of these pretty ombre glasses, but I'm already eyeing some Lolitas since Chris has basically stolen these from me :) Head over to Beca's blog and shop to check out how awesome she is! 

The other night (or early morning, it was like 2 am) I decided I need more skirts in my life, so I impulse-online-shopped for some at Forever21. I got the one in this outfit and the same thing in brown, plus a yellow chiffon one to add to my closet. I love love love this skirt, but both this one and the brown one have a weird imperfection on my left hip that makes me look deformed. Eh, I don't mind though. The other thing is that it's super prone to wrinkles, but I'm cool with that too. Just adds character, yeah?

I'm gonna spend my night crocheting (what else is new), cleaning, and drinking coffee (we just got Starbucks Via instant coffee and I'm a little obsessed already). Hope your day is rad to the max! xo.

Me and my lady tie.

 

Shirt: thrifted

Pants: Lauren Conrad for Kohl's

Shoes: Target (last year)

Lady Tie: c/o Flappergirl 

When I was in high school I went through a lot of fashion phases. My dad gave me free reign at the mall and I used that ability to go through every horrible fashion trend out there. Some of my more horrendous outfits happened in middle school, but in high school I still had my fair share of fails. Like when I dated that vegan guy and listened to a lot of Grateful Dead, and I wore a floor length patchwork dress with star patches on it... yeah. But by senior year I calmed down some and went through a preppy phase. I wore button up shirts and v-neck sweaters, and lots of corduroys. I still love the look of a button up shirt but I rarely wear them. But now that the lovely and ever-so-talented Christine of Flappergirl sent me my very own lady tie, I'm falling back on the button up bandwagon and I'm excited. I'm currently trying to decide what color I should get next :) 

I've been battling the cold from hell for the last week, but I'm feelin' pretty alright today besides a lingering cough. I have plans to start packing up all our junk (we're moving! More on that later.) and then Chris and I are meeting our friend Jen for dinner. We just reunited with Jen, who we knew in high school and I thought (back then) she was my enemy... Turns out we were dumb and immature back then and now we get along fabulously! We had coffee the other day just the two of us, and we're trying to make it a weekly thing. Lord knows I could use a local gal pal! 

Ok. I'm off to pack. I've been stalling under the guise of writing this blog post (meaning I write a sentence and then look at something else for ten minutes...oops!). First up, all the knick knacks and cute things I love. Wish me luck and let's hope I don't break anything!

Giveaway - $30 to Adventurer Vintage

Hello there! I've got an awesome giveaway to share with you from one of this month's sponsors Alison-Claire of Adventurer Vintage! Here she is to tell us a little bit about herself...

1. Tell us a little about yourself!  

Hello! My name is Alison-Claire and I am currently living in Washington state. I've bounced around a lot in the last year due to finishing up graduate school--I am now a certified Middle & High school English teacher! :) In the past year I went from sharing an apartment with a boy, to living with my parents, to moving to Oregon with said boy, and now back to my parents again-whew! All this moving around means I've lived out of boxes a lot and haven't had a chance to set down roots and get a REAL job. When I have spare time I love going to see live music, reading, cooking, blogging, watching my "stories" (anyone else super stoked Game of Thrones and Mad Men have just returned?!), playing with friends and most importantly, shopping!

2. What got you into vintage clothing? What do you love most about it? 

I have been an avid thrifter all of my life. My sister and I used to spend hours with my mom at Value Village. In high school, I was the girl wearing little boys shirts with my studded belts. I went to college in San Francisco and branched out into more unique and interesting vintage, rather than just thrifted finds. I grew up on a budget and know no other way to shop. Shopping for and finding deals is my passion. This past Fall, while student teaching, I had to quit my part time job--then I moved and wasn't able to find Substitute work right away. I didn't lose my love for shopping or finding deals, unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it!). So, I decided to take my shopping addiction and love of thrifting plus my need for an income and combine them. Adventurer Vintage allows me to shop and discover amazing pieces while making a little bit of money at the same time :) And the part I love most? Finding super awesome shoes or skirts or what have you that would never fit my womanly frame but that would like great on you, the customer!

3. Where do you see yourself in a year? What about your shop, any big dreams and goals for the near future? 

In a year I really hope to have my own class, preferably a Freshman English class. I've also considered going back to school AGAIN and getting my Masters in English and teaching at the Junior/Community college level. The problem with teaching as a profession is that it hardly pays the bills, but I do it because I love to read and write. Selling vintage on the side gives me some expendable income and cures my addiction to shopping ;) I've often had dreams of being a stylist or owning a brick and mortar vintage shop but in this economy I've pushed those ideas to pipe dream status.

4. What's your favorite trend right now?

I'd like to say that my least favorite trend currently are crop tops : / Unless you have a very specific body type they are not flattering and crop tops seem to be all the stores are stocking. I do love midi skirts however, and I try to stock the shop with them as well. I love sandals and woven flats too. Being that I live in Washington, which is rainy and snowy, I'm basically in love with Summer wear: flowy skirts, loose blouses, cut off shorts and flats.

5. What's one crazy thing you'd like to do in your lifetime?

So many, but at the top of my list: hot air balloon ride, swim with sharks, hang out with An Idiot Abroad, meet Jeff Mangum, publish a book of poems, aaaaaand do a NASCAR race haha :) 

So here's the fun part!! Alison-Claire is giving away $30 credit to her shop!

You must be a follower of susannahbean.com to enter. Please leave a separate comment for each entry with your name and a way to contact you! Here's how to enter: 

[1] Visit Adventurer Vintage. Come back and tell me what item is your favorite!

[2] Follow Alison-Claire's blog, Wee Adventurer

[3] Tweet about the giveaway using this tweet: 

I wanna win $30 to shop my heart out at Adventurer Vintage on @susannahbean's blog! http://bit.ly/IjoYlC

[4] Add Adventurer Vintage to your favorite shops on Etsy

That's four ways to win! I'll be choosing a winner on Friday, April 13th. This giveaway is open to US and Canada only. Good luck, I just know you'll get something fabulous if you win!!

Jewel Tones and Baby Love.

Yesterday I went into the city to visit my sister and nephew. It's been a couple weeks since I visited, and since then Emerson turned one month old! It's funny, I'm not normally afraid or nervous with babies, but when they're brand new it can be a little nerve-wracking. Now that he's officially one month old, though, it was a lot less pressure interacting with him. I was snatchin' him up and snuggling on him as much as I could!

Skirt, Cardigan, Belt: Thrifted

Tee: Target clearance

Scarf: Gift from my momma

Lauren and I took Emerson out by ourselves (my sister's first time out sans hubby!) and had a nice little lunch at Caffe DeLuca in Bucktown. Emerson was a teeny bit fussy, so while Lauren dealt with him I ate, and then we switched! It was a great little venture out, and I loved being out with my sister again :)

We came home and addressed a hundred or so birth announcements to send out, I held the baby as much as I could before he went down, and then I headed home, tired but so so happy. I feel so lucky to live close enough to my sister and brother-in-law that I can pop by on my free days to hang out. I don't want to miss anything in this little bug's life!! 

Pretty plugs

These pretties should be coming in the mail very soon! If only my ears would cooperate! Slowly but surely...

[source: BMA- click here to buy!]

Current Obsession: Pale Aqua

I never settle on a favorite color for very long. Ever since I was a little kid I have had trouble deciding what my favorite color is. I usually have different favorite colors for different things, like a favorite color to wear, and one to decorate with, and one for accessories... But the last two years or so I've maintained a fairly constant favorite color: pale aqua. In fact, it's kind of become an obsession, a hunt for all things pale aqua. It's kind of a hard color to come by, so my love for this particular color has sort of morphed into a love for colors ranging from pale aqua to turquiose to mint green. I'm coveting all of these pale aqua/mint green things...

Amazonite plugs from Jimmy Buddha Designs (I actually purchased these with my Christmas money!)

Cups and Saucers from Midwest Finds

French Macaron Soaps from KCsoapsnmore

Vintage Box Fan from Fishbone Deco

Hello recycled wood sign from WilliamDohman

Sea Glass Necklace from Gardenleafdesign (I DIEEEE!)

Polar Bear print from Berkley Illustration (not only is the background the perfect shade of pale aqua, but polar bears are my favorite animal!!!

I honestly wish that everything I owned was this color. I want my whole life to be pale aqua!!

(did you notice my blog signature just so happens to be aqua?? :P)

Milestone!

I've been completely absent from the blog world for the last few weeks, but it's been for a very good reason. I've been knee-deep in Etsy orders! Things really took off the last week of November, and I have been happily busy since then.

Things started to get a little nutty by the second week of December. I had sold all of my backstock, and had to start knitting and crocheting to order, and I've been doing that feverishly since then. I never thought I would get this busy with my little shop! I listed my very first thing back in February, and from February to the third week of November I'd made about 30 sales. Since then , I've reached a HUGELY important milestone! Dun da da DUNNNNN!

[original image via weheartit]

I've seriously been pinching myself because I can't believe I got to 100 sales to close out 2010! I had loosely set a goal to have 50 sales by the end of the year when I opened up, but I had no clue I'd more than surpass that! I guess it had to do with the ads I've had out recently on some well-known blogs, and the fact that I sell winter accessories (mostly) and DUH! People buy winter stuff IN THE WINTER! And I had lots of Christmas orders, too, which makes me feel so warm and fuzzy thinking about people opening up packages with my little things in them on Christmas morning!

It's been an intense few weeks, but I am beyond grateful to everyone who's purchased something from me. And any of you reading right now, thanks for being here and please know that I love you all, and I'll be caught up soon and can get back to my regular old blogging schedule (even though that's not all that much different, I'm pretty sporadic!!).

Check back soon for ANOTHER big milestone post, but this one will be a *leeeeetle* bit different!

MissVioletLace Wig Giveaway (and a WIWT)

**Disclaimer** There has been a lot of evidence against Miss Violet Lace that proves she does not, in fact, hand make her wigs. I have chosen to keep this post up, but I would like you to know that I do not recommend buying from her under any circumstances.

Some of you may have seen that I won the MissVioletLace wig giveaway on Kaelah's blog. Well, I got my box of goodies a few days ago, and I thought I'd share a few photos of my pretty blonde wig! I had the option of picking either a red wig or a honey blonde one, and I picked blonde. I've always always always dreamed of being a blonde, but I've been dyeing my hair black for so long that it would be verrrrry damaging and verrrrry expensive to do it. So, this wig solves that problem! I can just throw it on whenever I feel like changing it up, but I can still keep my dark hair!


Now, I don't know much about wigs, but from what I can tell this one is pretty damn nice! It's super soft, and it feels substantial (meaning it has some weight to it and the hair is thick and full). The color, which MissVioletLace calls 'honey blonde' is so pretty. Chris and I think it has a really subtle pink tint to it. I like that it isn't white blonde, because I think that would look really obviously fake on me. It isn't itchy or anything, which I was kinda nervous about, and the hair is super soft!


I did have some trouble getting the wig on and covering all of my hair, but only because I've never done this before. I finally figured out a way to get my hair covered and the wig cap down far enough to cover my hair line. You can see a tiny bit of my hair where I've parted the bangs, but it sort of just looks like a shadow. I'm not too worried about it!


I feel like a sceenie-weenie with the huge bow, but it's held the bangs to the side better than a bobby pin. The bangs are pretty long, but I'm going to leave them that way and just use a hair pin. I'd love to get one with the short straight-across bangs, another hairstyle I'm loving but too nervous to try!



I think I'd like to buy another wig from MissVioletLace (maybe once the holidays are over), but the next one might have to be a super fun color (I'm thinking teal or turquoise, we shall see!), and maybe a curly one!

Dress: Forever21 ($20ish)
Cardigan: Target ($15 on sale)
Tights: 2 pairs, Target ($5 each)

Socks: Target ($2)
Boots: Target ($40)
Hair Bow: Hot Topic ($5)

I also got a few other goodies in the giveaway package that I haven't photographed. MissVioletLace included a bright blue dreadlock clip, two purple streak clips, a bottle of hair perfume in Cherry Blossom (my choice, it smells so good!), and some surprises like a body mist sample, a pretty hairpin, and a cute purple comb! What a sweetie. I hope you guys check out MissVioletLace's shop, she's got lots of wonderful things there!