My birthday is a couple days away and instead of presents (Bear wanted to get me an espresso machine to support my recent Starbucks addiction…thanks to my recent Gilmore Girls obsession. Thanks Andrea!) I asked for a morning of garage sales and thrifting. We found some amazing things including great clothes, a desk for Bear and children’s books. But my favorite was this beaded tunic (only $8 or so):

Then my parents gave me something in this pretty bag….

It was this pretty bag!

I am so incredibly spoiled. Speaking of beautiful things and being spoiled, here’s my engagement ring:

The sides aren’t diamonds – the four leaves are my birthstone (Aquamarine) and the ends are Bear’s birthstone (Alexandrite). The Alexandrite changes from light to dark green/red depending on the light…just like Bear’s personality. Damn Gemini.

My ring is gorgeous but I wouldn’t ever recommend Brilliant Earth to anyone. Stay tuned for my bitchfest on their horrible customer service and the awful experience we had.

But that’s for another entry. For now, let’s all just enjoy my birthday week.

Whee!

Oops. Looks like in all the craziness, I have missed the one-year anniversary of my blog. Just like me…I’m terrible at remembering birthdays and anniversaries.

Just as well because I don’t have anything special to commemorate the day (which was way back at the beginning of January) but I am glad to have been around for that long. I”m grateful for the creative outlet and all the things this last year has brought me through my blog.

The Style Co-Op and so many like-minded ladies to thrift and love fashion alongside especially Elia, Andrea and Amy. All my great connections - I now know about a million photographers, stylists and make-up artists. All the sweet friends I’ve met from afar (Natira!) and being able to keep up with my friends (even if you don’t leave comments).

Thanks for letting me share my life with you all!

P.S. A new addition to my shoe collection (where else would this be appreciated), that I got at a thrift store yesterday for $7.50!:

Have a wonderful weekend! Hopefully next week will be less crazy and I can get some regular updates and pictures from the trip/of my ring up!

Now I know it’s presumptuous to believe that you all are waiting at the edge of your seats for updates but I have had two dear friends call me out on being absent from the blogging world (Hi, BFF + Natira!) and I feel the need to apologize for my lack of activity. Even my sweet Street Style Blog has been suffering.

I will be back as soon as I can with pictures and more pictures. I’ve just been incredibly swamped since the proposal and the trip and with the new business plus all of life’s little hiccups.

Thanks for sticking around.