Growin' on up!

Hi guys! Remember me? Sorry for the short absence. I needed to work on getting in to the swing of things. What thing(s) am I referring to? Welp, an hour and a half commute for starters. I found myself my first "big girl" design job in the city!! I have been a bit nervous to share it with the world...but it is about time. I work in a pretttty hip part of town with a really nice group of people. I love what I do each day and am so excited to be putting my skills to use :] Thank you all for the good vibes - they sure paid off.

Working full time has taken some getting used to. How do you all find time for staying on top of blogging after working 9-5? (technically 7-7 if you factor in the commute) I am thinking I need to start blogging ahead on Sundays. La,la, la....rambling. I am excited, overwhelmed, and happy as can be.

Aside from working I have been hanging out with friends and family enjoying the last bit of summer we have left. I have also been enjoying my garden...



Squash, tomatoes, cucumbers (etc.) - oh my! My lunch has been pretty tasty, haha. I am so glad to be back. I missed you all. Hope you all are having a beautiful day!!

Life Lately

Hi lovelies!! I hope you had a beautiful weekend. I feel so out of the blogging loop. I apologize. I miss all of you. Great things have been happening in my life but are taking up the majority of my time. I would love to share more with you all but can't just yet. Positive things are happening though! I am hoping to figure everything out this week and work on getting in to some sort of groove. Please bare with me if I post a smidge more sporadically the next few weeks. I am also dedicating tonight to catching up on all of your sweet comments and blogs finally. Wahoo!!



Anywho... I have been catching up with friends from school the past week. My friend Mike was back in town for the week from Japan. He leaves to Germany for 2 years this afternoon. Can't wait to visit him! I can also tell you all that I have been spending quite a bit of time in the city (Chicago) recently, which I love. My goal is to move there hopefully by the end of the year *crosses fingers. In my free time - surprise! - more thrifting, haha. Definitely purchased the smooching doxie pups on Saturday :]

Thank you all for taking my survey (check out results in the the right side-bar)!! I will be restructuring my posts. I am excited for a change.

MAJOR NEWS
I was featured on Of Cogris and Cocktails in a style icon post. I am so honored and excited to have participated. Thank you so much Katherine for the opportunity. I adore her blog and fashion sense so please go check out her page if you haven't yet :]

Have a beautiful day everyone!

The Farnsworth House

Hi all! Hope you had a wonderful weekend. I had a great time seeing my brothers show of Footloose and catching up with some friends from college. The rest of the weekend was spent relaxing and avoiding the awful 100+ degree heat. Anywho, last week I told you all that I visited the Farnsworth House - I think it is about time that I talked about the mini adventure.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Farnsworth House, "built by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1951 and located near Plano, Illinois, is one of the most famous examples of modernist domestic architecture and was considered unprecedented in its day." The house was first conceived by Dr. Edith Farnsworth in 1945. Edith Farnsworth was looking for an architect to build her a weekend home, having connections in high places she asked Mies van der Rohe at a dinner party if one of his architects could do the job for her. Intrigued by the project Mies van der Rohe took it on himself. "The architecture of the house represents the ultimate refinement of Mies van der Rohe’s minimalist expression of structure and space." To better understand the project and for more information about the house and Mies van der Rohe, please visit the Farnsworth House History page.

Now on to my adventure...

You start out the hour and a half tour by taking a 5 minute walk up to the house. On this walk you are surrounded by woods and english gardens. The gardens are not original to the house - they were added by Lord Peter Palumbo when he acquired the house from Edith Farnsworth in 1971. Although it was 90+ degrees on the day that we took the tour, you couldn't help but admire the beautiful and serene surroundings leading up to the house.



The house was built to give the illusion that it is floating. The house was raised 5 feet 3 inches - to try to save it from the rivers floods (which it didn't), and it is the average line of sight in which you can no longer see the floor in the house giving it and the furniture within the illusion of floating. Everything was meticulously thought out and planned when designing this home. Even the stairs were built to give the illusion that they are floating in space.



Originally we had planned on visiting the house Sunday, but due to strong storms we had to reschedule. During the microburst the wind broke the "witness" tree outside the front of the house. The tree will have to be taken down. It is such a shame too because the house was built specifically around it.



The house is one continuous space consisting of a dinning room, living room, bedroom, and kitchen. The interior consists of two full bathrooms and the central control room. The house seems huge once you step inside. The glass windows surrounding the entire house give the illusion of continuous space between the inside and outside world.

Basically, the Farnsworth house is my dream home. I may just have to get married there... My mom has never given much thought to architecture or Modernism and even she was moved by this space and its story. Visiting this home is something I highly recommend to any one who gets the chance :]

Have any of you been?

Footloose

Image source - Timberlake Playhouse's Facebook page.
(My brother "Ren" is on the left :] and Kyle "Willard" is on the right - his character was hilarious)

Last night my mother, Brian, and I drove up to Mt. Carroll, Illinois to see my brother star as Ren in Footloose. I know he is my brother and all...but was blown away by the show. Timberlake Playhouse consists of so many talented people and it shines through in each and every performance. I never got around to renting Footloose before the show opened but I am glad to have been able to see the show with fresh eyes. The singing, acting, and dancing were all perfect. I couldn't help but want to dance by the end of the show, haha. We all got teary-eyed watching it as well (even Brian), it was a pretty emotional piece. Anywho, bottom line - it was great!! I hope to be able to catch it at least one more time before it ends. They had to add an additional performance because all the others have already sold out! I can't wait to see Henry on Broadway some day soon :]

Image source - Timberlake Playhouse's Facebook page.

Obviously I couldn't tape their production - but here is a mix of the finales in the 1984 and 2011 movie productions - everybody, cut loose!! (Pretty sure I will be humming this tune for the next week or so)

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.