Bows!

I mentioned in the last post that I've been making little knitted bows like crazy, and here they are! They take no time at all and are a great way to use up scrap yarn. The pattern is just a rectangle (however big or small you want) in seed stitch with a 3" band wrapped around the middle. I used the Moss Stitch Bow Headband pattern and just left out the headband. Then all you have to do is hot glue a bit of felt and a barrette onto the back and voilà! Insta-bow. I love them.

You could also glue alligator clips to the back and use them as bow ties, if you were so inclined.

Luftballoons

This weekend we went to the Forest Park Balloon Glow & the Gateway Arch. The arch was (obviously) huge, and it was fun to ride to the top because you have to get into these tiny little pod-like elevators. The whole thing felt very 2001: A Space Odyssey to me and if you've ever been I think you understand what I mean. Construction for the arch ended in 1965, so the whole thing has a very mod, futuristic feel to it-- glossy steel and tiny space-like elevators with white interior and worn enameled seating. I thought the cramped little space would make me nervous, but it was funny how we rocked back and forth and slowly climbed up the staircases. We could see bits of the staircases through the little door, and kept talking about how creepy it would be if we saw someone just sitting out there, or passed someone staring right at us. Or saw a guy sprawled out on the stairs with a long beard and a "HELP ME" sign.

I love these tights. I've wanted heart tights for so long!

Grimmelda enjoyed visiting the arch, but was slightly disappointed to once again not be in her native Germany. (Don't judge me for having a tiny grumpy cat doll!)

Being very giddy in the elevator pods!

The balloon glow was really neat-- tons of hot air balloons were sprawled around the park and at dusk they all lit up. I'd never seen one that close before, and you could feel the heat from them all around. I can't believe there were people just hanging out in the baskets right underneath the fire (how scary) but I suppose that's their thing!

UO Mustard cardigan
Target tank
H&M skirt and tights
Delias oxford heels
Thrifted vintage bag
Red hair bow knit by me (I'm obsessed with making these right now-- craft post coming soon!)

Veggie love in St. Louis

Lemon Sunshine, Come Hither Carrot, vegan brownie & Mudslide. The Mudslide & brownie were amazing (very chocolately and not at all weird-tasting).

Yesterday, Jeremy and I went to to this fantastic vegan/veggie bakery called Sweet Art. It has tons of good reviews online and everyone says that the veggie burger and brownies are phenomenal, so we headed over to the Shaw neighborhood to check it out. Loved it! I'm not a vegan/veggie (yet), but I don't eat very much meat and always try to eat as vegetarian as possible, and I love little places like this that make it super easy.

The bakery is also a combo art studio for the owners, so the walls are covered in art and the tables and chairs are quirky and comfortable. On the way out, we grabbed cupcakes (it was cupcake happy hour-- how great is that?) and took them over to Tower Grove Park for a little picnic and photo-taking session.



Jeremy got a (delicious) vegan burger, and I devoured an enormous veggie BLT.




Evaluating his feelings about vegan cupcakes. (He liked them!)












F21 Cardigan
Audrey tee, New Orleans
Thrifted/shortened skirt, bag, and sunglasses
Sock Dreams tights
Delias oxfords

That skirt is one of my favorite thrifting finds-- I think I wear it a billion times each fall.

The rest of the evening was spent getting lost in the suburbs as we tried to find a Michaels! I've been very crafty lately so I'm looking forward to sharing pictures very soon.

Don't touch me I'm a real live wire

I've cut my hair into this funny little bowl cut/mop top situation because I was so tired of it the other way. It's not quite my old haircut, but it's getting there! I have to remember that I was so sick of the bob when I chopped it off, but of course now I miss it terribly.

This green bag is my new favorite thing-- I got it at Timeless Authentic Garments here in St. Louis for $8!

Thrifted dress & boots
Hue tights
F21 cardigan
vintage bag, T.A.G

My song of the moment is Psycho Killer by the Talking Heads. One of my Pandora stations kept playing it constantly and now I can't stop listening to them. Not that I'm complaining!

Hodgepodge

Zac Posen for Target dress
F21 cardigan & sequin flats
Target tights
Gnome necklace from Etsy

First of all, apologies for the radio silence on my end! Apparently it takes me about a week after moving to return to some kind of normal routine.

So far I love this city. It is by far the biggest place I've ever lived, so I can't get over the convenience of everything. And there's always something to do! This weekend we stopped by our closest farmers market, Tower Grove, and had breakfast while listening to a guy with a guitar sing Beatles songs. Then we bought vegetables from an Amish family and I flailed a little inside, because I'd never actually seen Amish people in real life before. (Which I know I shouldn't make a big deal about, but he had a hat and sideburns and everything!) Later, we went to the Japanese festival and ate yummy noodles and mushrooms. Sunday was quiet and spent at home, and then yesterday we dropped by the Greek festival for spanakopita (my favorite!) and random desserts. So many festivals. And yes, most of our exploration so far has been food related.

Our apartment is great-- fully furnished and adorable, in an awesome neighborhood. I'm very excited to stay here for the next two or three months!





Japanese soda in questionable bottles:




George is hilarious.

We haven't been to the arch yet, but that's coming later this week!