Lovely in the Country {My Mailbox}
Today it’s my turn to bring you all along on a little visit to my mailbox. Come with me on a short walk down the hill to the end of our gravel driveway, where we’ll find my large black mailbox!
(1) My sturdy and functional mailbox is just down the hill from the cottage, mounted to a large post. Each day I walk down the driveway to check the mail, always eager to see if a personal note or glossy catalog is waiting.
(2) When it’s time to send a letter, I pull out a small red flag that stays tucked into the side of the mailbox to alert our friendly mailman.
(3) Just under our mailbox is a small slot for newspapers, which gets used once a week when the local paper is delivered (free of charge!) right to our home. It’s always fun to catch up on the local news and stay on top of everything that’s happening in our small community.
(4) Even though we live in a more rural area, we still have a lock on our mailbox to make sure our mail doesn’t get stolen, and that we’re not victims of identity theft.
(5) Inside the mailbox is a small clip for attaching outgoing mail, as well as a large and roomy box for holding letters, magazines, and small packages. Today I received a stack of bills, junk mail, and a couple catalogs. Nothing too exciting, but the catalogs will be fun to browse before bedtime!
In My Closet {Simple Summer Style}
Today promises to be another hot one for Minnesota. I’m already at sitting at my desk with the AC cranked and the fan on. All I can say is, “Thank God my job allows casual dress!” (one of the many perks of working in the creative industry). On any given day, you’ll find me wearing flip-flops, some comfy bermuda shorts, and a light t-shirt of tank top. I wanted to show you my basic summer style… the outline for my perfect hot-weather, no-fuss, easy-as-pie outfit! Granted, it’s not very flashy or exciting, but it’s cool, comfortable and cute.
Start with my very favorite black Teva flip-flops–I buy a pair a year, and always wear them out. They are the MOST comfortable, and go with just about anything! Next throw on one of Gap’s favorite ribbed tanks. The color options are nearly limitless, they hold up great wash after wash, and you really can’t beat the ten dollar price tag! An essential in my wardrobe is a great pair of slightly worn blue jean shorts. These are from American Eagle, but I found my favorite pair at Aeropostale for only twenty bucks (not available online, apparently). Top off this easy ensemble with a roomy tote that can hold everything from keys and a wallet, to a beach towel or last minute grocery purchases. My new obsession is the wonderful bags by Envirosax. Roomy, durable, lightweight, available in a million awesome graphic styles and able to be folded up to about the size of a cell phone, they are the perfect reusable shopping bag/tote. Happy Summer-Stylin’!
Mush Flip-Flops by Teva ($24) | Favorite Ribbed Tank by Gap ($10) | Denim Bermuda by AE ($39.50) | Candy Bag 5 by Envirosax ($8.50)
Casual Traveler {Up North}
As I mentioned yesterday, my trip to the North Shore was just what I needed it to be… relaxing and refreshing. The scenery was, as always, stunning. Even a day of dense fog and cool temps was visually breathtaking and so serene. Below are a few of my snaps from the weekend. Enjoy!
Little Delights {Vintage Fan}
My trip up north was relaxing, refreshing and perfect. I was able to spend plenty of time with my parents, and as is tradition, went fishing with my dad for Father’s Day. We enjoyed a breathtaking morning on the lake, and caught enough bass and bluegills for a tasty fish fry. I also went garage-saling with my mom, something we love to do together. My favorite find was this fantastic “Tru-Cold” vintage fan. Not only is it in perfect condition, it works great! I can’t decide if it will live in my bedroom or the living room. That wonderful cool gray/brown works just about anywhere in the cottage. Oh, and the best part? I snagged it for only a buck!
How was your weekend? Did you do anything special to celebrate the dads/grandpas/husband, in your life?
Thrifty Thursday {Eat In!}
I know this seems fairly obvious, but everyone needs a reminder now and then, so here goes. Eating in a great save to save pennies (or actually, dollars). Now, I love to eat out. My husband and I love to find new places to try, and we are, to some small extent, “foodies”. So eating in is a bit of a discipline for us. But, it really helps us to keep more moolah in the bank account, so we have happily accepted a “one dinner and one lunch out per week” policy. Eating in has become a wonderful habit for us… we love cooking together, sitting around the dining room table and taking our time over a yummy meal that we made with our own hands. Bonus–it’s healthier and better for us!
(Pictured above.. whole wheat pancakes for dinner! Tasty and oh so easy.)
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