Monday, August 20, 2012

Inspiration Monday - I'm baaaack!

Hello everyone!  I'm back!  It's good to be back.  I have to give a round of applause/standing ovation to all my guest posters for last week - thanks so much Megan, Callie, Ally, Jess and Maca!  I hope you all enjoyed their posts and will check out their blogs too.  It was a nice break, even though I was home part of the week, I wasn't wearing much anything more exciting than jeans and a t-shirt!  But it really is good to be back, I've missed this and I've missed all of you! More on my vacation in a bit, but first, let's start off right here with this week's pick for Inspiration Monday - Elizabeth Olsen (god I feel old, I remember when her famous sisters were babies on Full House....)


This was pretty easy for me!  I was more than happy to pull out this dress that I love, I thrifted it last year and have worn it quite a bit on the blog, but it's been awhile.  I think of these colors as fall/winter colors.  And we're getting late into August here and getting close to fall, so it felt right.  I loved adding this denim vest to give this a whole new look!  I don't have booties yet - I had some light colored cowboy boots that I tried but they just didn't look right, so I stuck to sandals today.



So back to my vacation - it was lovely.  We spent four days in Itasca State Park with the Pants Monkey's family and the weather was perfect.  We were able to build a fire every night.  We went on a fun boat ride, we golfed a bit and on the last night we went down by the lake and watched the stars.  I even saw a few shooting stars.  I swear, Northern Minnesota is heaven.  If any of you ever come to visit MN I will insist on getting you out of the city for just a day or two, Minneapolis is great, don't get me wrong, but the Northwoods is what makes me heart Minnesota so much.  I love that I can escape there so easily!

After our return on Wednesday we still had a couple of days to enjoy.  Thursday we were pretty lazy, but we did go buy Mr. Monkey some new clothes.  He has lost some weight (on purpose, so proud of him!) and needed some things that would fit instead of hanging off his body!  Friday we brewed some beer.  Saturday we had bought a Living Social deal that allowed us to go on a bus ride to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin to tour the Leinenkugel brewery and go tubing down the Chippewa River.  It was a blast, we had no idea what to expect going in but we had a good time.  And then Sunday we totally vegged.  Now we're back to the grind!


It's tough to be back but it's another short week actually - we took this coming Friday off to go to the Minnesota State Fair!  I can't believe it's Fair time already.  Where did this summer go again?  I wish it would never end!

As always, please head over to two birds to check out the other Inspiration Monday looks!  And big congrats to Nora Bird on the birth of baby Ben!  Megan's rocking it solo over there for a bit, so make sure to show her some love!

Outfit rundown:
Dress - Axcess by Claiborne (thrifted)
Vest - Vintage, Mighty Swell
Sandals - Italian Shoe Company (DSW)
Necklace and two bracelets - S&D
Other bracelet - Bead for Life

25 comments :

  1. Cute outfit today ~ I love that dress! Glad that you had fun on your vacation. Saturday sounds like it was a blast!

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  2. i love northern minnesota, too...it feels like a whole other world, yet it's just a short getaway! it sounds like you have been having some fun lately!! jealous! and you look so fun and summery...i say this as i am sitting, freezing in a big coat in my office!

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  3. You did a great job with that inspiration. I love your take on it.

    http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
    Twitter: @GlamKitten88

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  4. Your vacation sounds lovely, especially the shooting stars. Well done on this outfit and inspiration! Your thrifted dress is great!

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  5. Welcome back, Beth! Sounds like you had a wonderful vacation and how great that Friday is the fair! You did an awesome job interpreting Elizabeth's look :)

    -Sharon
    The Tiny Heart
    Enter my group giveaway!

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  6. I missed you last week! Yay, this IM Monday look looks great on you! Well done! I'd like to go to Minnesota, it sounds great!

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  7. Gorgeous outfit! I am delighted you enjoyed your holiday:)
    ~Anne

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  8. So glad that you had a good time on vacation! It's always nice to get a great, even if that is just spending some down time at home. You deserve it! Had a great time guest posting - thanks for the shout-out!

    And now onto the outfit! Love that you took the inspiration and kept it summer appropriate with those adorable sandals. Gotta love how a denim vest over the top of any dress polishes it off. Super adorable!

    Callie
    www.coffeeandcardigans.com

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  9. Oh my goodness Beth I so need to move to MN. I swear if I don't visit their next year for Megan's wedding I will be so mad. Your vacation sounds so darn delightful and like something I would love, especially making a fire and watching the stars. Love your dress and print. Thrifted items are the way to go. Welcome back, I have to catch up on your guest posts. dawn suitcase vignettes. Enter my giveaway.

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  10. Correction: There not their. I hate when that happens. dawn

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  11. oo love the dress! and its a great take on the original too! well done you!xx

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  12. It sounds like you had a relaxing and fun vacation! Tubing down the river is so fun. We used to do that when I was little and everyone would tie their innertubes together and just float and jump off to swim.

    I love your dress. It is such a fun pattern and a great dress to take into fall with you :) Heather

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  13. Welcome back! Who doesn't love a denim vest??

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  14. Hooray I missed you terribly much!!! Glad you had a good trip though, North MN is really gorgeous...and what perfect weather :)

    <3 Cambria
    jupefashion.blogspot.com

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  15. Welcome Beth! You were really missed. So glad that you had a wonderful vacation. Love this outfit. The denim vest over a cute dress is a great look for you :)

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  16. Sounds so relaxing and rejuvenating! I wish I would have had time to visit Northwoods but I was moving houses the day after I returned home from Minneapolis- next time! :) I love the tribal esque pattern of your dress, that will look fab with boots and a sweater for fall! My man has lost weight as well, it's so wonderful to see the accomplishment!

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  17. really cute denim vest! Glad you're back too and thanks again for letting me guest post!

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  18. great version of the inspiration! denim vest looks familiar. I think I donated it about 10 years ago. lol

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  19. So glad you enjoyed your vacation. It sounds relaxing and fun filled. Can't believe you camped for 4 days and then came back and tubed down the river. I'm exhausted. haha
    Your outfit looks great.

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  20. Woo! Welcome back. Glad to hear you guys had a good time. It's always great to be able to get away close to home. Vacations are fun, but can be tiring. It's always nice to take some time to relax and chill.

    Perfect interpretation of the inspiration. The vest works great over that dress.

    Summer is flying by so fast! I've only got a week left before I have to switch my sewing needle for a pen and textbook @_@

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  21. I'm glad you had a nice trip! Love your take on the inspiration photo - that dress is cute :)

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  22. you and i both went with a more fallish color palette and print
    brett

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  23. Love your dress! Fun print and colors.

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  24. So far behind on my blog reading with no WiFi in the hospital room, but I'm taking a quick peek at a few on a break, and had to tell you how much I love the print on this dress!

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