Mini Life Update

Hi guys! For those of you in the U.S. I hope you had a lovely Fourth of July, for all of my other ShyScout readers - I hope you are having a great week! My week has been fun-filled and jam-packed with things going on. Tuesday my mother and I visited the Farnsworth House, all I have to say is - WOW.


Alright, that isn't true at all. I have a whole post about it coming up, haha, but that was my initial reaction. Later that night Brian and my family watched some fireworks on the golf course :] For the Fourth of July my mother and I made sure to take advantage of the half off sales at our favorite thrift stores.


Later in the evening I bbq'd with Brian's family. Today I am off to Chicago, please send me some good vibes!! I am leaving it at that for now. Tonight my brother's show of Footloose opens (he is the lead!!). I am really bummed that I am unable to see the opening show, but can't wait to see it Friday night. Break a leg Henry - love you!! Anywho, I am rambling. I just wanted to stop by and say hey. I will catch up on all of your lovely blogs tonight or Saturday. Have a beautiful day everyone!!

Also - If you haven't done so already, could you please take a moment to fill out my survey on the right sidebar of this page? Thank you!

Thrifted & Gifted

Hi guys!! Happy Tuesday to ya. Skipping Toy Army Tuesday this week because my cousins drove in last minute and I didn't have time for photos - wah, wahhh. My mom also has this week off for vacation so we have been trying to fill our days with fun things. Yesterday we took sweetpea to the city and walked around Millennium park aaaand later in the afternoon we saw Magic Mike - ahahaha. So many screaming ladies in one theatre and a lot of nearly naked men - eeep! Today we are going to see Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth house (for real this time!!) - it rained during our appointment on Sunday :-/



A little about this outfit - the beautiful top was gifted to me by one of my blogging besties. Thank you again so much! I have had so much fun wearing it and have gotten a bunch of compliments on it. I love anything lace so it was right up my alley. I am still on the look out for the perfect prezzie in return :] I am so thankful for all of the wonderful people I have met blogging. I am continually blown away by all of the sweet bloggers I have come across. I am so glad to have met you all!! Thank you so much for stopping by and saying hey - your comments and support mean so much. *end sappy (but true) mushy gushy stuffs* Haha. As for the pencil skirt, it was a fun thrift find from last summer.

Outfit Details: Top - Gifted, Robin-K | Bag - Urban Outfitters (old) | Skirt - Thrifted | Flats - Me Too.

Have you taken my survey? (see right sidebar)
I notice that some posts seem more popular than others, but I was wondering - which posts do you like reading most here on ShyScout? I have been looking to shake things up a bit and would love some input. Thank you!

Can't wait to celebrate the 4th-O-July tomorrow. Not entirely sure what my plans are just yet, but fireworks will be involved :]

My Kurt Halsey Frederiksen Collection

Hi all! Happy Monday. I wanted to shake things up a bit this week and break free from my typical blogging schedule. Today in particular I feel like chit-chatting about my Kurt Halsey collection while sharing some information about the artist. If you haven't heard of him it is about time you did!

Image source: Kurt Halsey Frederiksen Facebook page
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Kurt Halsey Frederiksen has been creating and showing his art professionally since 2000 when he graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. His artist statement - "Influenced by my hopeless romantic and super sensitive mindset, I pay far too much attention to the little things in life and in the relationship between two people. In constant need of reassurance, explanation, closure, and attention, my paintings are made." - best sums up his work. Frederiksen's paintings and drawings have been exhibited in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Monica, San Jose, Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Tampa Bay, Portland, Baltimore, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Houston, and Toronto. Check out more of his work on his website here - kurthalsey.com.

MY COLLECTION:

Kurt Halsey Frederiksen - Art Star Gallery, opening reception invitation, 2005.

I instantly fell in love with Kurt Halsey's work early on in high school. I can only guess that I was first introduced to his artwork via LiveJournal. His paintings and drawings are so relatable, quirky, and genuine. As soon as I saw his work I was hooked.


Kurt Halsey Frederiksen - Art Star Gallery, opening reception invitation, 2005.

Kurt Halsey, Urban Outfitters, Triptych, 2006.

In 2005 I am pretty sure I checked his site weekly. The pieces up in the Art Star Gallery at the time were on sale and I desperately wanted to own an original. I saw one of his pieces for the first time at a bowling alley - Lucky Strike - in Los Angeles (a fun gift thanks to Ellen Degeneres who flew a group of us from Chicago out to L.A. for a Chicago show...), I freaked out and had to get a photo with it. I wish I still had that photo. Anywho...


Kurt Halsey canvas bag - gifted to me, christmas, 2005.

I was shocked a few months later when my mom purchased an original piece from his show for my 16th birthday. I am so blessed and fortunate to own this piece. I love it. I relate to the piece far too much for my own good. I look forward to passing this piece on to my future children :]


Kurt Halsey, Breathe Deep and Breath Easy, 2005.

This Christmas I was blown away again when I found a special little present under the tree. My mother managed to have a Hushabye book signed for me.


Kurt Halsey, "Hushabye Book", 2011.

Needless to say this is one of my most cherished collections. Are any of you fans of his work? I have seen some of my blogging buds with tattoos of his work. I would love to hear more :]

WHERE TO BUY HIS ARTWORK:
For original pieces - Kurt Halsey Storenvy.
Prints and merchandise - Art Star.
www.kurthalsey.com

Have a fantastic day!!

Week in instagram

Hi all! Hope you are enjoying the rest of your weekends. Mine was a lot of fun. Friday was girls night out - we hit up the town and I ran in to my junior prom date (I didn't actually know him when we went to the dance - my friend set us up because I really wanted to go - pretty sure we only said five words to each other at the dance) haha. Yesterday I spent the afternoon thrifting. Today my mom and I are going on a tour of Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House, needles to say I am prettttty excited.



My week:
1. Celebrated my dad's birthday with an angel food cake and mocha frosting.
2. Found an old polaroid from when I met Johnny Depp.
3. Played with the miniature farm animals at Hobby Lobby while Brian looked at frames.
4. My stylish surprise from Modcloth came. I will show it off with better photos later in the week :]
5. My cucumbers are growing!!
6. Awesome thrift find. Stitched Native American portrait.

Feel free to follow me on Instagram if your don't already.

Have a beautiful Sunday everyone.

Thrifted Thursday - Worldly

Hi all, Another Thrifted Thursday here. I have been working on cutting down on my thrifting excursions. I just donated 4 trash bags worth of clothing and other items - eeep! It sure feels good though to clear up some space around here. I also am in the process of setting up an ebay account to sell some items that need new homes :] With that being said let's move on to the goods, shall we?



This little Buddha makes me so happy. How could you not smile while looking at his sweet grin and round belly? He is a sign of joy and wealth - two very wonderful things. I picked him up about a year ago for under $2 :]



Oh, you know...just an original Vincent van Gogh...reprint. Haha. So nothing too special other than the fact that I love his sunflowers. I like that it was printed on canvas instead of poster paper and that it brightens up just about any room. I thrifted this piece before starting college. An oldie but a goodie.



I thrifted this guy Sunday afternoon seeing as he was half off. It depicts - Yeibichai, the Night Chant - which is a ceremony held once the snakes are asleep in order to cure patients of nervousness and insanity. If performed improperly the singer or patient may lose their hearing, sight, cause facial paralysis, or crippling of the legs or arms - bummer. I only know this because the of the story attached to the back, haha. I personally thought it added to its charm.

My friends and I are headed out on the town tonight. Pretty darn excited. Anywho, have you thrifted anything spectacular lately? I would love to hear about it.

Wardrobe Wednesday - Houndstooth

Hi all! How is your week goin? I can't believe it is already Wednesday - phew. I have been applying to jobs like a mad woman. Please hire me people! Applying for jobs online is so difficult, with an endless sea of applicants, how do you stand out? Wah, wah. I am hopeful though. It will happen. I am just hoping sooner than later.



Oh yeah, I cut myself some bangs yesterday. I think they are a fun change. I need to get an actual hair cut - sorry to all my hair stylist friends. I know, it's bad. Anywho... I am just in the mood to ramble today it seems. I just feel like I have so many little things to chit-chat about. I also started working on my health and fitness. I downloaded the MyFitnessPal app (alliemc123) and bike an hour each day. Anyone else using this app? It is awesome because it allows you to be mindful of what you are eating and chart your progress for exercise :]



Outfit Details: Dress - Dorothy Perkins | Cameo & bag - thrifted | Wedges - Target | aaaand sweetpea.

This dress is a lot of fun to wear - a tad short for me but I am dealing with it. I look forward to styling this dress for the fall with fun tights and cardigans. Four years ago I would have never pictured myself twirling around in dresses, and yet here I am! I have done a complete 360 when it comes to my style and I couldn't be happier. Tehehe.

What are you all up to for the rest of the week?