Vintage Mint

Time to get your patriotism on — with sparklers + good barbecue + iced lemonade! Happy 233rd, America.

{Photos via Zeke .}

Here are some books I might actually read purely based on the cover. Yes {I am this pathetic}, after being burnt-out from rigorous “advanced” English classes from middle school through high school {curse you Camus!} and all 5 English Lit classes in college {curse you Joyce!}, this is now what piques my interest in reading books. {Brain don’t fail me now!}

Classic with a Twist:
Pride & Prejudice + Zombies

{And I’m not even a Twilight/Evil Dead fanatic either.}

Eco-friendly stunner:
Worldchanging: A User’s Guide to the 21st Century

{Pretty bird, pretty bird…}

Quirky memoirs:
When You Are Engulfed in Flames

{Um, starting to notice a theme here…}

And if these books end up being mindblowingly dull, then at least they’ll look good on my bookcase shelves.

True, one of my better nicknames comes from the one and only, MJ.

RIP rhinestone glove, RIP.

{Boy’s got fierce dance moves.}

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Thought I’d share one of my favorite blogs: Hollister Hovey. Hollister and her sister, Porter, share an affinity for all things 19th century British/Indian imperialism (think pith helmets, taxidermy, rich cognac leathers, dark and decadent furnishings…). Very Ernest Hemingway meets Wes Anderson — historical + quirky. Loves. It.

They have an eye for old world vintage wonders and bygone luxuries.

{Their apartment. I know! Jaw-droppingly cool.}

Spectacular themed soirees…

{Great idea!}

And chic-dressed vacations.

{My vacay outfits always scream “lazy tourist”. A far cry from these sisters.}

{ 2 Comments }Fashion + Beauty, Home + Garden, Inspiration

MMmm! Wouldn’t these be great to make for the Memorial Day Weekend? {Like I need an excuse to eat cupcakes…}

Basic Vanilla Cake recipe, here.
Fluffy Buttercream Frosting, here.

{Image via Country Living}

Ohh…I wish I were in Paris! Don’t you love Sofia’s ad campaign for Miss Dior Cherie? Classically girly, and very French, n’est-ce pas? {Can you tell I don’t remember any of my French from high school? Sad.} I’m sure the spring time over there is just peaches. Until my fantasy Parisian vacation comes true, I might have to settle for this cute bottle of perfume.

{Image via fashionologie}

{ 4 Comments }Fashion + Beauty, Inspiration

Sure, you’re not getting the exquisite “painted resin beads” or “Czech glass crystals,” but this $20 version from here is definitely more affordable {and almost passable} than the $150 J.Crew baubles.

{Less: $20}

{More: $150}

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MMMmm!! To celebrate Cinco de Mayo in my own gluttonous way, I will be making some really good homemade guacamole. {And what’s guacamole without homemade salsa? And some nice warm tortillas, and barbecued chicken with fresh-squeezed lime…!!} Here’s a great, delish guaco recipe.

{Oh, I could eat my screen right now, this spread looks so good…}

{Photo by Marcus Nillson from here}

Broken foot + endless hours of staying at home = classic Japanese movie-watching.

Husband and I didn’t start watching samurai/Kurosawa movies until we were married {and I’m half Japanese! why did it take us so long?}, and now we cannot get enough of them. Although not hipster aficionados {yet}, we have seen at least 15 Kurosawa movies, and at least 10 of them feature Toshiro Mifune — by far the coolest tough-guy actor in all Japanese filmdom. He’s like the Steve McQueen of the East; he’s just that awesome. {Some faves: Yojimbo — A Fist Full of Dollars was based of this; Rashomon; Seven Samurai…}

{Mifune in Drunken Angel}

{Very dapper Mifune! Love this look, especially his grimace}

{Images via toshiromifune.org}

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Although summer is my least favorite season {if you lived in hot upper 90/low 100 degree weather for a good 5+ months out of the year, you would too…unless you’re a snowbird},  I love how whimsical and fresh Saltwater’s summer line looks.

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