Daily Drawing: 242 | Party Time

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

August, you've been good to me.  Lot's of fun new opportunities, wonderful new friends and closing out the month with my cousin's baby's 1st birthday, surrounded by family and good times.  August 2013 might be one of my favorite months so far!

Fun Stuff • 8.31.13

Stuff to Read

• Gala linked this article and it's something I sorely need to read.
• 17 Pieces of Business Advice You Should Have Gotten Years Ago...Ash is one of my absolute favorites on the internet.
• This is a video that SwissMiss shared and I'm so stoked about they're project!  I've got my own crazy idea right now...I'm dreaming big and I can get behind folks that support home-grown crazy ideas!

Stuff to Make

• These DIY erasures are for kids...but I need more neon pink in my life.
• I love this modern pyramid necklace DIY.
• How to make a POM POM RUG! YES!  This is everything good.

Stuff to Wear

• Cat Heels!
• Classic t-strap wedges.  I'm learning to embrace my height...these wedges would make me 6'1" ^_^
• How did I just find out about Asian iCandy?! I need this dress right meow.
• I've been looking for the perfect leather jacket and I might have found it.
• Love these platforms!

Stuff to Eat

• Kristen's getting ready for Fall with Tortellini Soup.
• I LOVE deviled eggs and these Bacon Jalepeno Deviled Eggs look amazing.
• These could possibly be the cutest marshmallows ever.
• S'mores Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars.  Because, S'mores.

Stuff from TPS this Week

• An outfit post with my favorite iron vintage t-shirt :P
• I shared my favorite vintage profiles on Instagram.
• How to stop biting your nails.  Advice for breaking the habit.
• Thrifty Thursday at Room Service Vintage.  I'm in love with this place!
• What's in my Bag: Real People Edition.  No contrived product placement here...just literally what was in my bag.  Gum wrappers and all haha!

Daily Drawing: 242 | 80's Teen Coming of Age Movie Weekend Begins!

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

Andy and I decided that this weekend was 80's Teen Coming of Age Movie weekend.  We just watch Ferris Bueller's Day Off and we've got The Karate Kid (Ralph Macchio and I share a birthday!), The Goonies and The Breakfast Club.  Andy says Commando fits in there, too, but I think he just wants another excuse to watch Commando.

What's in my Bag: Real People Edition

 Everyone's seen blog posts about "what's in my bag".  They're nothing new, though I always love seeing them.  Except, most of them are bs.  I'm guilty of it, too. Carefully omitting the embarrassing stuff that you find in the deep in the bowels of your handbag, and only showing that cute lipstick and moleskin.  But this is not that kind of post.  I didn't sugar coat anything.  These were the exact contents of Kitty when I took the photo.  I'd just come back from the gym (there's one in our apartment complex), so my phone and keys weren't there.  But this is everything.  I'm showing you my soul...bandaid wrappers and all...

1. Vintage Around Town Guide 2013.  This had been crumpled in my purse since our first weekend in town.  I've had to scribble a lot of my own notes for other shops and details about them, though.  So this little piece of paper is invaluable to me!
2. Cards from TxSC, Blogcademy and from thrift shops I've visited.
3. All the makeup! Neutrogena lip balm, Sugar (I need this with me at all times), They're Real mascara, hand sanitizer from this weird ER we went to once, Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Lollipop, Essie nail polish in Mint Candy Apple, my inhaler cuz asthma sucks, the nail file I told you about here, my Hello Kitty compact from Sephora, hair ties/bobbi pins, empty prescription bottle and my favorite sunglasses.
4. My Square!  All makers should have one with them at all times.  I'll sell you the scarf off my neck!
5. Pens and pencils.  The pink pencil is from our wedding and I always keep a sharpie with me.  You never know when you'll need it.
6. My business cards.  I always have these with me, too.  It helps when I'm visiting thrift shops to give the folks a way to contact me and it kind of legitimizes what I'm doing haha.  I'm not just some creep in their shop :P  Oh...and my Hello Kitty tin with Tylenol.
7. A sticker from Room Service that I picked up when I visited a few weeks ago.
8. A pile of gum wrappers, lozenge wrappers and...band aid wrappers.  Gross!  I always keep band aids with me incase my shoes decide to eat my feet.  But sometimes there's not a trashcan and I Don't Mess with Texas.
9. Receipts!  Some of them I need for accounting purposes...but most are just trash.
10. My Hello Kitty coin purse...that's empty.  But I found two pennies at the bottom of my bag, so now they have a home.  I got it from the Sanrio store at Lakeline Mall.  I lost my mind when we found out it was there!  The employees might know me be name...
11. A drawing for plans we've got to build a shelving unit.  So excited to get started on this!
12. My Hello Kitty wallet from Sanrio.

That's it!  All forreals...nothing faked or added or taken away.  Not gonna lie, I'm little embarrassed at the amount of trash in there haha!  But it is what it is.  I cleaned it out after this shot anyway.  No more wrappers or receipts.  The rest went right back in, though.  Is there anything in your bag that's embarrassing?  

///A few of the product links are amazon affiliates.  I also recommend checking Sephora for any of the beauty products listed.  And you can pick up a couple of them at your local drugstore, or Target, too.  Let me know if you have any questions!

Daily Drawing: 241 | Strike Fast, Strike Hard, No Mercy

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

I've killed 3 mosquitos in our house in the last 24 hours.  They might get in...but they're not getting out.  This is war.  Also, my arm itches.  (Dead mosquito by Andy Helms!)

Thrifty Thursday: Room Service Vintage

---

Room Service Vintage
website | facebook | twitter
address : 107 E. North Loop Blvd., Austin, TX 78705
hours :  Sunday - Saturday: 11pm - 7pm

---

Today is another stop on North Loop.  Across the street from Ermine Vintage and Hog Wild Vintage, is Room Service Vintage.  It's been around for over 30 years and is chock full of vintage goodness.  This shop is larger than the other two as it houses multiple vendors as opposed to having one owner.  The exterior alone told me this was a place I would love.  I mean, look at that signage!  It's another one of those places that might overwhelm you with happiness at all the stuff, when you first walk in.  After the initial "omg moment" I was greeted with a friendly welcome and decided to dive in. 

They've got bunches of furniture outside, so be sure to take a peek before you go in.  That dining set would look so perfect in a bright little breakfast nook, don't you think?

When I walked in, I figured I'd just go to the right and see what I could see.  I was immediately greeted by mid-century desks and chairs.  All the furniture was great quality and I didn't see many pieces that would need TLC.  It was surprising because they're prices weren't out of control.  I think we'll definitely have a piece from here in our home soon!

There's so much here, it's easy to over look the smaller stuff, but take the time to look through displays...I think you'll be glad.  I'm so happy I didn't miss these vintage photographs.  I adore old photos, I love thinking about who the people were and why they took them.  Mysteries!

I mean, really?!  I don't think all of it could fit in our apartment and that's just a shame.

SCIENCE!

Be sure to check out all the light fixtures and artwork on the walls.  The lights were some of the most unique I'd seen while thrifting.

Look at that creep on the left!  The rest are super cute...but that guy's a total creep.

I always thumb through the records.  How wonderful would this be at Halloween?

The displays and vignettes throughout the store really show it's personality along with showcasing the products.  Every little nook and cranny was thoughtfully designed.

Clothes!  There's lots of clothes, all organized by color.  I didn't have much time to peek through the selection because the vendor was there adding new inventory!  It was so great to talk with her.  It's also fun to put a face to a display.  The folks who vend at vintage shops like this really care about what they do and are just as excited about that stellar find as we are.  I'm so glad they're out hunting so we can buy their wares.

Let's talk about how gorgeous these compacts are.  Ugh!  All their jewelry is organized by color and clearly labeled with "pierced" and "clip-ons" for the earrings.  Definitely helpful.  I got the earrings worn in this post from here!

You know I love pins.  Especially, out-of-context pins :P

I just loved this display.  The colors and patterns are so fun!

This was the last place I peeked before leaving and I think it's my favorite spot in the shop.  The floor creaked a little when I stepped in the room and with the decorated ceiling, it felt like I was in a different place and time.

Room Service Vintage is an Austin institution.  If you don't go by at least once, you're doing yourself a disservice.  I need to go back and see if they have that ever elusive perfect mid-century coffee table I've been looking for for months!

/// If you've got any shops you love, or own, that you'd like me to feature, just shoot a note over to becky@thepinksamurai with the name, website/facebook, address, hours a few things that make it awesome, I'd love to take a look!!!

Daily Drawing: 240 | One of Those Days

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

Today was neither here nor there.  I did get some work done on new scarves and went jogging for the first time in...years.  It was a quiet day at home full of crochet and House of Cards.  I hope everyone else had a good hump day, too.

How to Stop Biting Your Nails

Now, I'm not a doctor, or a therapist, or an expert on habitual behavior.  But I used to bite and pick at my fingernails like whoa and figured out how to stop.  My nails were a hot mess.  Not gonna lie, I would even pick them down to the quick sometimes and they'd hurt like hell for days.  I know...it's gross! So I figured I would share what worked for me, incase you're ruining you're cute mani right now.


Noticing your Triggers 
I knew that my picking and occasional biting was a stress reaction.  A nervous habit.  My first step to stopping was to take note of when I was doing it.  Breaking out of that nail-trance could be difficult, but I found that I was really going for it during work.  I had a stressful job in a fast-paced environment, and it was starting to get to me. Specifically during meetings.  Once I knew this was when I exhibiting that habitual behavior, I could consciously stop myself from doing it.  It didn't always work, but just being aware helped me change the conditions and the behaviors.

Deep breaths and occupying my hands with other things helped when I noticed I was going to town.  Doodles in my note pad, holding my hands in my lap, and interlocking my fingers together and putting my hands on the desk infront of me (especially during meetings) would help focus my attention away from the habit and force myself to stop.

Nail Files are your BFFs 
So besides the stressful triggers, if there was a snag in my nail, I'd immediately go to pick at it.  This would ruin the nail with the snag, and if one nail was ruined, then the rest were fair game.  Carrying a nail file with me all the time really helped.  Instead of going to pick, I would go for the file instead.  This would stop the snag from getting any worse and remove the temptation to pick.  I just get those cheap-y little packs and they do the trick for me!  I've got a few in my bag, on my desk and in my car just in case.

Super Cute Mani 
Another way I avoided ruining my nails was to paint my nails.  For a while it was a weekly "me time" kind of thing.  Spending a little time each weekend choosing fun color palettes to use and just chillin' out while they dried.  Having my nails done acted as a deterrent, because I didn't want to ruin the cute polish.  It looked cute and I spent the time on them, so I didn't want to mess it up.  Just be careful you don't pick the polish off!


I hope these tips can help you out if you find yourself with lil nubbin nails!  I haven't picked or bitten my nails in over 3 months and I know you can cut it out, too.  Bad habits are hard to break, but not impossible!

Daily Drawing: 239 | The Bigger the Hair, the Closer to God

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

So it rained for about 10 minutes today and when I walked outside my hair exploded.  This is the most humidity I've felt down here since we moved!

My Favorite Vintage Profiles on Instagram

My instagram feed pretty much comprised of three things: cats, tattoos and vintage.  I mean really, it's mostly cats, but I wanted to talk about some of my favorite vintage profiles today.  Some profiles are people, some are online or brick and mortar shops, and some are instagram shops.  Most of them gravitate toward mid-century because I love the aesthetic and I want everything I own to come from the 60s.  So!  Here's my favorite's right now!

photo via piastorm

Pia Storm
I heard about Pia Storm from The Parader's blog and instantly knew I needed her photos in my daily life.  She posts outfits regularly and her wardrobe is out of control!  It's like she stepped right out of the 50's.  Pia also frequents vintage shops in her native Copenhagen and post pictures of her finds.  If you ever need a little daily vintage wardrobe inspiration, she's the one to follow.

photo via era_atomica

Era Atomica
Era Atomica is a shop based in Philadelphia and they specialize in Mid-Century furniture, home decor and kitchen stuffs.  I actually bought this giant kokeshi doll from them off of instagram!  They post new inventory they get in the shop and it's all enviable.  If you're in the Philly area, please stop by!

photo via uncommonobjects

Uncommon Objects
This shop is an Austin instution and one my "must sees" for any visitor to town.  It's located on South Congress and the interior will blow your mind.  Filled floor to ceiling with knicks, odds and ends, and every curiosity you could imagine, their instagram is just as fun as their shop.  Especially if you like taxidermy.

photo via deargolden

Dear Golden
Dear Golden has an Etsy shop that is out of this world.  I don't know where the owner finds all the gorgeous clothes...but I'm glad she does.  Her instagram profile is full of shop updates, behind the scenes clothing restoration, and outfit ideas made up of Dear Golden's current inventory.  The outfit inspiration is definitely my favorite part.

photo via mikasasucasa

Mikasa Su Casa
This profile is an instagram shop owned by Jenny Mitchell, who's the queen of vintage in my little internet world.  When we lived in Virginia, we drove 2 hours to one of the antique malls she frequents because her finds were so good!  She sells her treasures on this profile and started making "boxes of happy" with a variety of small finds.  She's got a great eye.



Feel free to follow along with my instagram @thepinksamurai.  I've got a touch of vintage, a few DIYs and lots of kittens!

Daily Drawing: 238 | Down to Bidness

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

See?  I told you this was my uniform.  Today was one of those Monday's where I really hit the ground the running and got a lot of stuff done around the house and worked on some projects.  It's so satisfying to check things off of my to-do list.  I'm hoping to keep this energy for the rest of the week!

Do you usually start the week off with a case of the Monday's or tons of energy?  How do you keep that energy (if you've got it!) up all week long?

Minnesota - The Land of 10,000 Mosquitos

Shirt • Ermine Vintage (cut down with Skunkboy's DIY) | Shorts • Abercrombie (skinny is similar) I cut off | Shoes • Seychelles | Bag • Loungefly | Sunglasses • Fred Flare | Earrings • Room Service Vintage

When I was poking around Ermine Vintage last week, I saw this shirt and had to have it.  I've never been to Minnesota, but I can't resist an ironic tourist t-shirt.  Instead of Land of 10,000 Lakes, it says Land of 1000's Mosquitos!  Get it?!  :P  It was too cheesy not to scoop up.  The earrings are also from my jaunt in North Loop and I'll write about Room Service Vintage for this week's post...so keep a look out for it on Thursday...this place was so cool!  

I thought it would be fun to do a post showing my regular summer uniform.  No doubt you've seen these cutoffs in a few daily drawings.  I like to mix it up with dresses every now and then, but if you see me at the grocery store, I'm probably in a tank and cutoffs and flip flops.  Not bad, considering Texas summers make you want to go out in your birthday suit haha!

Daily Drawing: 237 | Windy City

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

We went out for Amy's Ice Cream today and played at the Arboretum, taking outfit photos and climbing all over giant cement cows.  Just a typical weekend for the Helms's ^_^

Last Week, on Instagram...

It was another full week in Austin ^_^

• Sunday was the last day of Blogcademy, and I took this photo during one of our breaks.  Turns out it won Best Venue Photo and I got tickets to Austin City Limits!
• Our seats at Austin City Limits!  Ed, one of the other Blogcademy attendees works for ACL and we stopped down to say hey after the show and it was so great talking to him and finding out more about his time there and chatting about last weekend's workshop.
• Andy took me on a S'mores Pancake Date to Kerby Lane Cafe.  They're are my most favorite!
• I started making up a quick DIY book binding post to share.
• While grocery shopping early in the week, I found the smallest, cutest Haribos ever!
• Both kittens curled up and fell asleep on me!  It's really rare that they cuddle together and I was kind of freaking out and taking tons of pictures haha.  #crazycatlady
• I spend two of the 7 days last week watching all of Orange is the New Black on Netflix.  I loved every minute and the last episode made my face do this.  I need the second season right meow!
• Torchy's Tacos forever.  They're queso is my absolute favorite.
• Saturday we went to the Texas Memorial Museum on a Dino Date!  We love dinosaurs and going to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum was one of our favorite things to do together in DC.  The Texas Memorial Museum has so much more than I thought they would!  I think I'll have to do a post on it...it's so great.

Follow along with @thepinksamurai if you want to see more fun stuff...and kittens.  Lots of kittens.

Daily Drawing: 236 | Miss Jessie's

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

So, I totally have straight hair, even though that teeny bit of wave I get when I step out of the shower has me convinced that's curly.  I got some Miss Jessie's at Target on the recommendation of my sister-in-law who actually has curly hair (and it's gorgeous!), in the hopes that it would help me hold on to that teeny bit of wave.  It's a line of hair care products just for curly haired ladies and I was convinced it would help me.  It didn't.  But when I use it after blowing drying and straighting, it gives this great shine and smells great!  I love it and use their Curly Meringue every time I style.  Hooray for finding products that work for un-intended purposes!


Outfit details: Top • Gossip, Shorts • Abercrombie I cut off and cuffed, Flip Flops • Old Navy a few years ago (not bad for $1 on sale!)

Fun Stuff • 8.24.13

Stuff to Read

• Kiriko has some really simple ways to relax.
• Stasia Burrington's blog.  I've been a fan of her work for a long time and I think she's just great.
• This is more of something to listen too...but if you love Jeff Goldblum like I do...you'll keep this open in a tab for at least a week.

Stuff to Make

• Shauna pinned this simple potato stamping DIY the other day and I'd love to try!
• These colorful candles are really simple and it would be so fun mixing color palettes. I'd love to try on a really tall skinny one.
• Creature Comforts' DIY round up is really great this week.  The polka dot shoes she's found look so easy!

Stuff to Wear

• How ridiculously fun is this kitten shirt from JapanLA?!
• Speaking of cats...Abby wore the most incredible H&M dress in her latest outfit post.
• PANTONE HEELS! Stylish designers rejoice!

Stuff to Eat

• My family has always been big on cheese with popcorn, and this snack mix looks like the perfect movie companion.
• Maybe someday I won't post something s'mores related in this section...but probably not.  S'mores fudge bars!
• And s'mores pudding.

Stuff that's Super Cute

• My friend Barbara and I have a love of donuts and cats...so these are basically the best thing on the planet.
• This cuckoo clock is perfection!  I kind of want to make one that's varying shades of neon pink.
• Gemma Correll is a crazy cat lady.

Stuff from TPS this Week

• I shared a few shots of kittens and things around the house for a short update on how we're settling in to our new home.
• I updated the Etsy shop and shared a few of my favorite scarves and cowls.  A new shipment of yarn came in this week and I can't wait to start working on the new color palette!
• Thrifty Thursday was over at Hog Wild Vintage in Austin.
• And I wrote a big beefy post recapping my experience at The Blogcademy last weekend.  It was such and incredible weekend!

Daily Drawing: 235 | Petal Winner

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

Have you ever had one of those days where you really dug your outfit?  I had a meeting in the morning and wanted to look a little nicer than my standard summer uniform of cut-offs and a white tee.  It was also a good reason to wear my wonderfully ridiculous new necklace.  If there was ever a day for outfit photos, today would've been it.  It's simple and comfy while still looking dressy...it's like a wonderful trick haha!

Details: top • Gap (similar), skirt • Target (similar), necklace • Modcloth

Daily Drawing: 234 | Happy Birthday, Daddy!

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

Today is my Daddy's birthday!  I wish we could be there to celebrate with him this year.  But we talk almost every day and even if we're just recounting our everyday routine, it's precious time to me.

I love you, Daddy!

The Blogcademy - Blogging Essentials, Personal Empowerment and Lots of Glitter

Blogcademy was more than I could've ever hoped it would be. Going into this two day workshop lead by Gala Darling, Kat Williams and Shauna Haider, I was excited to meet them and to get to know my other blogcadettes.  I had a pretty good idea about what materials would be covered and was ready to take that deep dive into the business and my own goals.  I had no idea that I would gain so much more.

On the Friday before class, I'd met a few of the other attendees for dinner, so we could get to know each other and have a few friendly faces when we got to class.  We decided on South Congress Cafe, and Nova made all the arrangements.  On my way to the cafe, I ran into Gala, Kat and Shauna!  It was so fun to meet them and say hey before the event ^_^ Dinner was great, the conversation was fun and it was so nice to see everyone at Vuka the next day.

One of the things I really liked about the group we had was the diversity in everyone's blogs.  We had music reviewers, spiritual mediums, make up artists, self-publishing gurus and bakers.  I loved talking to everyone and getting to know about their passions and goals.  Even though we all come from different places and have such varied interests, we're all such kindred spirits it was like walking into a room of instant friends.

photo by Jessica Monnich

The headmistresses were so welcoming and easy to talk to.  They were there to help and really listen to our questions and build us up.  They're also really pink and that makes me sooooo happy!  I'm not usually around chicks that dig pink and glitter as much as me...so this weekend I really was with my people.

photo by Jessica Monnich

Also, the goody bag rumors are true.  Having been a sponsor myself, I know how exciting it is to see people loving (and linking!) your stuff, but now I know how awesome it is getting stuff haha!  The actual bag was designed by Shauna, with a giant Texas with a heart on Austin silk screened on the front.  I absolutely adore it and will use it forever and ever! Inside the bag...

• The Aviary sent some of their original designed pocket mirrors.
• The Strawberry Hedgehog provided the yummiest handmade soaps.  The Blueberry Lavender is my favorite!
• Big Jon tossed in greeting cards.
• Zevia Soda was fun and different addition to the bag.  I don't drink soda, but Andy will definitely try it out.
• GG's Pinup Couture sent along some crazy sparkly hair clips.
• Reeta Krishna's book, Wordpress for Beginners, is going to keep be busy for a while.  I'm nervous to take the leap, but I'm all about making educated decisions and this book looks thorough! 
• And of course...the phenomenal glitter ears from Crown and Glory.  Seriously.  These are just super cute perfection and everyone should own a pair.  You put them on and instantly feel fabulous!  Kat's actually just come out with a line of incredible accessories with them and you should probably get one of each.

And this wasn't really a goody bag item, but they had prizes for best social media stuffs (best selfie, swag shot, venue shot, etc) and I totally won tickets to Austin City Limits for this instagram!  What?!

photo by Jessica Monnich

photo by Jessica Monnich

Look how studious I am!  My pen actually ran out of ink on the second day.  He fell in the line of duty, but his contributions to this blog will never be forgotten!  Gala and I giggled about the ridiculous drawing about it I posted on instagram haha.  Also...check out how awesome my Kitty purse is.  I take her everywhere and I lub her.  The pins on her ear are from my amazingly talented friend Lila...from the first time we met IRL!

photo by Miranda

Hooray for new friends!  Miranda and I bonded over love of Hanson (don't judge...there's nothing I can do about it) and she's just a short drive away, checking out the local music scene in Texas.  Kiriko and I actually met through my friend Emily just before the event.  They're both out in San Francisco and I'm so glad Kiriko made the trip and we were able to get to know each other. That chick is seriously cool.  Christine had the coolest accessory of the whole weekend.  And the best card...she's got a staff on them and wrote a custom tune for everyone...how cool is that?! She's one of the locals like me and I hope we can meet up soon.  Oh...and I wore the most fabulous shoes I own.  I'm kicking myself for not getting a picture with the 2Tarts...love those chicks!

iphone photo by Jessica Monnich

Gala, Kat and Shauna started this workshop to teach people about the business of blogging.  But they did so much more than that.  Through their support, they connect people and help them grow their business and their lives.  Not only do I feel inspired by all the wonderful people I connected with, I feel empowered by the babes that got us all together.  I've got a lot I want to do with my little space on the internet and I know I can absolutely accomplish all of my goals...with room to add a few more as I go. 

photo by Jessica Monnich