A few of my favorites.....

July is over.  August is here.

That means school is right around the corner.  Next week actually.  Thursday, August 8th will be my first day back.

Summer flew by, like it always does.  Here are some favorites from the last month or so.....

We purchased all of the laundry room renovation materials.

Bob is scheduled to begin this renovation tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!

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I got to write and teach a flag routine for a local school.

I miss being the color guard instructor for my school district.  I did it for, gosh, like 12 years or so?  So getting the chance to twirl a flag every so often is nostalgic.

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I finished my second Gillian Flynn book.

source

She is the master of twists you don't expect!  Favorite author.

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I put one of my favorite thrifted finds in my booth last week.

I secretly hope it doesn't sell.  But the purpose of getting a second space was to purge.  Even if it hurts my heart.

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I have been looking for a vintage inspired bathing suit.  Most that I find are outrageous in price.  But while running into Old Navy last weekend, I found a bikini top that had a vintage vibe to it.  And it was cheap, so I snatched it up.....

bikini top

The matching bottoms were only online, so I snatched those up too.  I love cheap bathing suits.

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I'm not much for physical activity.  Exercise is not something I want to do.  It's a necessary evil, however.  

Anyway, I tried my hand at a five mile (HILLY) walk the other night.

And I DID IT! 

I think it could easily become a favorite.  

I also went to my second hot yoga class and liked it much better too.

Maybe there is some hope for this exercise-challenged girl.

Linking up with Rolled up Pretty,

Dancing With Ashley, annnnddd....

Sunkissed Voxbox

A few weeks ago, I received another free Voxbox from Influenster!  These boxes are always filled with fun products!  I have honestly discovered a few new-to-me items that are must-haves now, because Influenster provided the opportunity to try them out!

This recent box didn't disappoint..........

Dr. Scholl's High Heel Insoles ~ I am not a regular high heel wearer.  I have it on good authority though that these are the bomb........a blog buddy wears heels to work.......and raved about them when I posted this picture on Instagram!  She "LOVES" and "swears by them". 

Goody Ouchless Ribbon Elastics ~ I always am in need of a ponytail holder.  These arrived just in time!  I love them.  They hold my ponytail really well and do not pull at my hair.  They slide off easily too! 

Sinful Shine Nail Color ~ I love getting nail polish!  I think this will be a fun autumn/winter color as it's a dark purple.  I haven't tried it out yet but plan to soon.

Olay BB Cream ~ This is the perfect example of a product I was curious about but hadn't purchased.  This cream (with SPF) is a lightweight tinted moisturizer.  I traded this out with my regular foundation and haven't looked back. 

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So thanks again to Influenster for letting me try out some fun new-to-me products!  Go sign up today, and maybe your first free voxbox will be in the mail soon!

What I Wear (all summer long)

On any given summer day, you will find me in my School's Out Uniform.

Old marching band t-shirts, Soffe shorts, and flip flops.

#keepinitreal

On this particular day (yesterday) I wore my uniform to rent a new space at Relics!!!

EEEEEKKKK!

I now have TWO booths at Relics Antique Mall. 

This is an experiment in booth location, as well as size.  But of course, the real purpose is to sell, sell, sell.  My garage will thank me.

So.

If you run into me at the end of aisle D at Relics, I'll most likely be looking pretty scruffy until school starts. 

Two more weeks til reality hits me in the face.

Then I'll have to start fixing my hair again.

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy, Rolled up Pretty, and

Laundry Room Demo

This weekend, the laundry room was stripped of its 1967 features.

I peeled wallpaper........

Which ironically said this.......

Do you see what I see?

Asbestos.

So the mister wore a mask as he peeled linoleum.............

We also tore out all the baseboards and an old cupboard.

Bob isn't scheduled until August 1st, but with the mister's schedule we had to get it done. 

You can bet I'll be spending as little time as possible doing laundry in that creepy, musty room this week.

Is that really such a tragedy?

Linking up with:

Weekly Recap (Instagram Style)

Lately:

I got more lake time in.....

I'm now part of the Bridge Club.

I drove the Wave Runner to the Kimberling Bridge and back.  By myself.

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I noticed school supplies were hitting shelves.......

And while this sends me into a mini depression, it didn't stop me from buying a chevron notebook.

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Speaking of school, even teachers need new clothes at the beginning of the year......

I ended up finding some pretty cute things (skirt, flats, scarf, skinnies).

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Someone stole my spot one night..........

Sir Chester is the King of the Bed.

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I purchased my first item for the laundry room renovation.......

It cost way too much.

Shipping was ridiculous.

But I couldn't stop thinking about it after I found it on Etsy.  

And after hoofing it through multiple antique malls looking for anything that might fit the bill (and coming up empty handed), I decided it needed to be mine.

#worthit  #youllsee  #promise

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday, Furry Friends, and Insta-Friday.

What I Wore (to a summer wedding)

I know I asked for your help in styling a dress for a wedding awhile back.

I know that most everyone liked a particular dress.  A dress I specifically bought to wear to the wedding.

But then, I just didn't.

The whole having to shop for a necklace and shoes thing.  I didn't want to.

I decided to go cheap.  Free actually.  To wear an dress that I had, with accessories and shoes that I already had............

Old Gap dress, old Urban Outfitters belt, and old, old Aerosoles shoes.

Really, it worked out perfectly, as the mister and I sort of matched.....

Not that that's what we were going for.

But I think I like how it all turned out.

Now, to keep or return the other dress???  That is the question.

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy,

Two Thirty-Five Designs, Rolled up Pretty, and

Mom's Homemade Biscuits

As a child my favorite dinner was my mom's biscuits and gravy.

I actually could have gone without the gravy and just had biscuit after biscuit (with honey or molasses).  But mom wouldn't let me.  I "needed some protein". 

Whatever.

Anyway.

I'm not sure why it took me so long to ask mom for the recipe, but I finally did.  And since it was stored in her head, I thought it would be best for her to walk me through it while she wrote it down.

So I got some quality mom time in while learning to make her biscuits.  And I have her handwritten recipe to keep forever.

Mom's Homemade Biscuits

2 cups flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 stick of cold butter
1 cup of milk

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Using a butter knife, cut the stick of butter into pat-sized slices (the butter should not be softened) into a medium sized bowl.  Add the dry ingredients to the bowl.  Using a pastry blender, cut the butter into the flour mixture.  Slowly add the milk and mix.  If it ends up being too wet or very sticky, add a bit more flour.  Next, spread flour onto your counter.  Knead the dough very lightly (to keep biscuits fluffy).  Using a rolling pin, roll the dough til it's about 3/4" thick.  Cut out the biscuits using a round cookie cutter, and put them on a lightly greased cookie sheet.  They can touch but it is not necessary.  (I use every last bit of dough.)  Bake until the tops are golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes.  Makes about one dozen ~ depending on the size of cutter you use.  Also, the larger the cutter, the flatter the biscuits.

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Now you might be asking, "WHY?"  When canned biscuits are cheap and quick.

They are heavenly.  Soft on the inside and crisp on the outside.  And really, they don't take long at all to whip up!

The mister even approved! 

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Linking up with:   This Gal Cooks, Six Sisters' Stuff, Pin It Monday,

Addicted to Recipes, A Pinteresting Party, Anything & Everything

 

Lately (on Instagram)

As usual, in the land of Instagram, I captured some randomness from this week.

Like....airplanes on a dock......

And he didn't toss me into the lake afterward (as I had expected).

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Another item got checked off my summer list........

Mom taught me how to make her homemade biscuits.

Next up, her perfect pie crust!

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I did try cleaning the special room a bit.  And discovered that I have way too many vintage dresses.......

Should "way too many" ever be associated with vintage dresses?  

Only when you don't have closet space for them.

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I got flowers from my mama and a frapp from the mister on the same day!

 

For no reason, they said!  

(I was skeptical too!)

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In an attempt to drink more water, I fancied it up.......

I heard cucumbers made water more tasty.  Crisp.  I thought using a vintage pitcher might help too.

And guess what?  I drank the whole thing.  Then I bought more cucumbers.

Am I turning into a water drinker?

My New Year's Resolution will be happy!

Now if there was a magical trick to get me into running......

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday and Insta-Friday.

What I Wore (on the 4th)

When is there a better time to break out the red, white, and blue than the Fourth of July?

I mean, it's a free pass to be full-on patriotic.  Might as well take advantage of this once-a-year occasion, right?

And did I get lucky.  Because not only did we have a shindig to attend on the 4th, we had one to go to that weekend also!  That meant two opportunities to proudly wear our nation's colors........

striped shirt  //  red shorts  //  white top  //  polka dot shorts  //  red belt  //  Sperry Angelfish

It also meant two opportunities to eat good food.

To shoot off fireworks (including my first lantern).

And to beat people who tell you the winner of the Bachelorette......

I take my Bachelorette seriously.

This is a no spoiler zone.

I think he learned his lesson.

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy,

Two Thirty-Five Designs, Rolled up Pretty, and

The Laundry Room

The laundry room renovation has been scheduled. 

This room will be the last major overhaul needed in our 1967 time capsule.  With the exception of some paint and trim, all the big projects have been tackled!

We are gonna go from this......

To hopefully some of this.........

Links found on Pinterest

That's the plan anyway. 

I want light, bright, and airy......with a vintage cottage vibe.

I want a more functional laundry space.

I want a working commode.

Is that too much to ask?

Linking up with:

Weekly Recap (in Instagram)

Happy Independence Day!

I love everything about this holiday.  Food, family, fireworks, and my favorite gals.......

The Hoodenpyle's always host a fun shindig.

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I had a little fun in the sun.........

My friend Pullan invited me to White Water!

The wave pool was a big hit with Pullan's little lady (the grown-ups might have liked it too).

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My friend Schlager surprised me with something I've been longing to try........

It is every bit as good as the hype claims!

(So good that I hid it from the mister.)

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It's not every day that a celebrity comes to town.

And your friend convinces you to spend your entire afternoon watching him make elephants disappear.........

We spent most of the day on the right side of the caution tape.

It wasn't until the end that we were feeling a little wild.  Brave.

Then we got caught.

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And finally.

The laundry room renovation took its first step.

Bob came to give me a bid..........

I am so excited.

I am so obsessed.

I'm sorry if you follow me on Pinterest.  My new pins dedicated to this project might be littering your feed.

But who doesn't love a pedestal sink?

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday and Insta-Friday.

What Should I Wear

So a dress has been found for a wedding next week.

I think.

It's an outdoor ceremony with an indoor reception.  This is what I found.....

Thanks Gap Outlet!!!

If the dress passes the test, my problem then becomes accessories.

I.need.help.

Do I go with a pop of color?  Gold?  Silver?  Ivory?

turquoise  //  collar  //  chain  //  pearls

I just don't know.

Are these all wrong?

Steer me in the right direction.

And don't even get me started on the shoes.  Black?  Ivory?  Nude? 

But wait.  What about the dress?

Do I just play it safe with this one? 

Gap (last year)

I'm so confused.

HELP ME!!!!

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy,

Two Thirty-Five Designs, Rolled up Pretty, and