The Standard

Yesterday morning I got up earlier than usual and, since I was in a sleepy haze, decided to throw on the outfit I wore the day before so I didn't have to use my non-existent brain power to come up with something else.  I figured since I was meeting up with someone that morning who hadn't seen me the day before, it wouldn't matter.  Of course, I forgot that after the meeting I was going to work where I had worn the outfit the day before.  I didn't realize this until I was on my way to work and had a good laugh at how walk-of-shame the situation appeared.  Luckily I work with pretty much all dudes, so I don't think they noticed.  

plaid top/courtesy of free people :: tee/scrapbook :: skirt/forever 21 :: shoes/minnetonka

I feel like this outfit is classic "me."  I've had most of these pieces for many years and have worn all of them to death.  I'm pretty positive I've worn some sort of iteration of this outfit previously.  It's perfectly casual and feels so comfortable.  I got this skirt so many years ago in a, "gotta have it!" moment at Forever 21 in Portland, and I'm really glad I did, because it's become a staple in my wardrobe.  I did a little round-up of the multiple ways I've worn this skirt over at the Delightful Dozen a while ago.  It's a fun skirt and pretty versatile!  I just got it back after having it out running around the Delightful Dozen, but I'm glad it's back in my closet because it's such a great summer piece.

A Sunday Date

On Sunday Dan & I spent the day making the rounds thrifting, and made a pit stop at Tacoma Boys to browse the wine and beer selection.  We ended up getting some Sake and then decided to make an evening of it and have hot sake and sushi for dinner!  We lucked out and found a little sake set at the next thrift store and then stopped off at Met Market for some sushi before heading home.  We got some candles at the thrift store and set them out, it's amazing what candles do for creating a beautiful aura.  I want to have candles burning all the time now, all over my house.  They seem to make everything so much more beautiful and romantic.

While we were eating dinner, we got a call from a friend inviting us to go to the drive-in movies!  Going to the drive-in has been on my bucket list for so long.  Alaska doesn't really have the right conditions for drive-in movies, since during the summer months it's light outside at all hours!  So I'd never been to a drive-in before, and since The Dark Knight Rises was playing, it was pretty much a no-brainer.  We finished up dinner and headed out to the Auburn Valley 6.  It was a great end to a most wonderful day!  Dan and I have been super busy lately, running around on different schedules, and trying not to let the stress get to us, so having a day like Sunday was so refreshing and much needed.

Lulu's + DT // Sonoma Vineyard

On my trip down the west coast, I had a reader suggest a winery to visit as I drove through Sonoma.  So, I made my way to Benziger Family Winery and ended up going on an amazing winery tour!  They took us through the vineyard, down into the cellars, and showed us the huge vats of wine as the grapes were being pressed and such.  It was really fascinating learning all the history behind wine and all the intricacies that go into crafting a wine.  At the end of the tour we all got to have a little taste of some of their wines, which was a great marketing strategy, because I bought two bottles of their Oonapais Sonoma Mountain Red after the tour.  I've been saving them for special occasions and Dan & I drank the first bottle after getting married.  I'm not sure what the special occasion will be to drink the second bottle!  Benziger says that the wine will improve until 2015, so maybe I'll keep it until then!

We actually just went wine tasting on a whim with my parents in Sequim a couple weeks ago when they were in town.  It's quite fun and interesting to taste different kinds of wine one after another.  Usually I'll just drink one bottle at a time so I never have the opportunity to compare the wine with anything else except my poor memory of other wines I've had.  I'd love to go on more wine tasting excursions and get a better taste for it!

volcom social animals brown felt hat + angel food cake ivory dress + mona mia trinidad red, black & tan woven platform + fortunate son gold cuff bracelet / courtesy of Lulus.com :: necklace/courtesy of peerless charm

I don't have a favorite wine spot in Tacoma (yet), but the gardens at Point Defiance reminded me of the rows of grapes and the beautiful landscaping at Benziger.  I've been to Point Defiance many times, but never actually went into the flower gardens.  I've always just looked on from afar as people did their bride & groom photo shoots among the flowers.  During the summer I bet there's a bride & groom photo session in these gardens almost every day!  I actually thought about having our wedding at the Point Defiance Lodge, but it was a bit too small and more expensive than the venue we ended up going with.  Point Defiance is a nice place for a picnic or a little outdoor party, though.  One of our friends had their son's first birthday at Point Defiance, and we had a little cookout for memorial day last year down at Owen Beach.  It's so nice to have a beautiful, natural tract of land right near the city.  It's easy to forget that Tacoma is so close when you're deep in the woods of Point Defiance!

Sponsor in August!

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Make a Wish

I haven't taken outfit photos in this field since last year when my best friend was visiting Tacoma.  She wanted to frolic, so frolic we did.  The field is right next door to her favorite Tacoma spot, which we went to at least two times during her short visit.  I keep trying to convince her to move here, but I'm not sure Tacoma would stop raining long enough to trick her into it.  I'm trying to lure her with cute bearded northwest men, superb espresso, and delicious cocktails.  I feel like that's kind of an offer she can't refuse, right?  Plus, she's training to be a yoga instructor and there are tons of great yoga studios in town.  C'mon, Kris, you know you want to move to Tacoma.

dress/courtesy of modcloth :: top/forever 21 :: shoes/courtesy of le bunny bleu

Well, not-so-subliminal messaging aside, it sure would be great to have my BFF around.  I was talking with someone the other day about how all through school you don't realize how hard it is to make friends, until you're out of school and that ripe pool of people to draw friends from has instantly vanished.  For some reason it seems much more difficult to make friends in the job-world.  Maybe it's harder to be friends & coworkers, rather than friends & schoolmates.  I'm sure it's much easier in some workplaces than others as well.