I Just Might Explode

i'll be back again to stay.

Last night my friend Darian and I went to see Iron & Wine at the Knitting Factory in Boise. It was most excellent. Sam Beam and the band put on a fantastic show and I loved the rockier edge to some of their new stuff. Live music makes me so happy. 

The Head and the Heart opened for them and, man, I'm in love! I downloaded their album and have been listening to it a bunch today. (You can download two songs if you follow that link). 

Kip is back in town from being in Montana for job training. He was offered in a job there and though I'm sad my partner in crime won't be in Idaho for the summer, I'm super excited for him! We had to push back the opening date of our business things because of it, but things are shaping together and I'm thrilled to spend the next week here running around getting things done. We've always planned on working long distance, just didn't realize it was going to be so soon. We're looking at a June 27th opening date. Yay!

I'm also starting to work on "re-branding" and designing a new a blog at a new url for July and starting working on my next class, which will probably sell the second or third week of July. Send coffee and a slave driver to keep me in line, much to do!

Enjoy the last day of May! How did that happen? Crazy. 

stanley.

Because of the long weekend and both of my older siblings still being in town, my family and I headed to Stanley, ID for a weekend trip. It was a lovely time, despite the cold, oh, and the SNOW. Waking up to snow when it's practically June is not the most awesome thing ever. 

We stayed at one of those "cabin motels" in Stanley, ID and played Bananagrams and sang Sound of Music songs while paddle boating on Redfish Lake and fought over what TV channel to watch on all 10 choices on the old TV. 

I took quite a few film pictures, but need to finish up the rolls and get them developed. 

What did you Americans do for the Memorial Day weekend?

clickey, clack.

I'm trying to make outfits posts more of a regular thing on le blog, so bear with me until I feel out how best I want to do them. Must bow in the presence of greatness that are Mandi's outfit posts. So much goodness there!

Trying to get these photos was a little ridiculous. I drove to my sister's apartment to bring her boxes for moving and then we headed to the river to take some outfit photos. My sister had only 20 minutes before she had to head to work, I set up the settings for her, but struggled trying to teach her how to auto focus correctly with my camera. There are a lot of ridiculous out takes of me trying to explain things to her... Apparently I need to hone my in person photography teaching skillz. Oh my! 

Outfits Details: 

Dress/Top: Forever 21

Jeans: Thrifted/Old Navy

Belt: Vintage/My Grandma's Dress-up Trunk

Shoes: Thrifted

Necklace: Dailee Dose

Check out that model pose!

I won this necklace in a blog giveaway from Dailee Dose last summer and it's one of my favorites!

I'm trying to wear high heels more because I own lots of cute high heels, and well, I just feel much more powerful and awesome when I wear high heels. 

These aren't the easiest to walk in because of their stilletto heel, but I love the fan design and the red of course! You also see a peek of the toering I've worn every summer for the last three years. 

Now, let's all congratulate Kerstyn on the awesome job she did snapping these picture! Because, I'll need to talk her into doing this again sometime. Oh, and I love her. 

10 Blogs I Think You Should Read Two

I did this last October and thought I'd do another! 

Ten Blogs I Think You Should Read:

Flowerchild Dwelling: Kelly Ann is a new blog friend and and totally amazing. She shares the best music and makes me want to make flower chains in my hair and spend a day giggling in the sunshine. When I move to Portland, I'm going to force her to drive up and hang out with me!

Recent Favorite Posts: Music Monday: Daughter & Some Favourite Things. 

Minestrone Soup for the Teenage Soul: I actually discovered Jada's darling blog via Kelly Ann and I've been hooked since. Jada is a vegetarian, politically conscoius, and just finishing up her freshman year of college. You could definitely say I found a kindred spirit. She's just delightful. 

Recent Favorite Posts: Little White Dress & Summer Reading List.  

Cave in the Clouds: Being a young blogger, I get a lot of "you remind me so much of myself when I was younger!", which is cool, but gets redudant after awhile. So, it's hard for me to constantly write "oh my gosh! this is EXACTLY how I felt a year or two ago" on Hannah's blog. I've blogged about her before, but I think she's writing one of the most understated blogs out there. I love it!

Recent Favorite Posts: Alex Gets a Makeover & On Paint and Voices.

That Is All: I first followed Ashley on Twitter, because I loved her hair! I soon found out that she runs a fantastic blog with gorgeous photos, a true eye into her heart, and great tutorials. 

Favorite Posts: The One With Cheap Sunglasses & The One with April Favorites.

August Empress: With my grandmother being a watercolor painter, I've been enchanted with the delicacies of it.  Jo's blog is a fantastic mixture of watercolor, design, and just plain prettiness. Her freebies are always amazing too!

Recent Favorite Posts: May Link Love & Kate Wilson Illustrations.

Allister Ann: Allister's photography consistently inspires me to get out and take more photos(and film photos!). She's living my dream right now, photographing the Civil Wars tour and I think you'll love her work. 

Recent Favorite posts: Paul McDonald & Roll of Film Friday. 

Boho Girl: I've been reading Denise's blog for years now and whenever I go through a phase of not wanting children/being a wife, I like to take a glimpse at Denise's  words  and remember the splendor, magic, and rarity that are both those roles. Her attitude on life and transparency are truly inspiring to me. 

Recent Favorite Posts: The Language of My Heart & Home. 

Bargainista on A Hunt: I've been following Meg's blog back when she blogged about crafting and am totally obsessed with her fashion blog! She has a great eye for design and I love the look into Czech Republic coutnryside too! 

Recent Favorite Posts: Embroidered Flowers (LOVE the nails!) & The Rain in Spain. 

Delightfully Tacky: Like Ashley's blog, I began following Elizabeth's blog because of her hair! I love her almost daily writing and outfit posts. They always make me want to write more about everyday life and outfits etc.. 

Recent Favorite Posts: Summer Camp & Getting My Maxi On.  

Urban Weeds: I don't follow a ton of street style blogs, but Urban Weeds is definitely my favorite. And not just because I'm moving to Portland soon. Lisa's black and white portraits and eye for laidback style is awesome. 

Recent Favorite Posts: Mychal & Elaini. 

So, those are mine! What blogs are you loving lately?

 

sponsor, sponsor!

June is one week away! Ah! If you're a business owner, blogger, musician and wanting more traffic toward your site for the summer months, I Just Might Explode may be a great option for affordable sponsorship! Send me an email at karahaupt(@)gmail.com for statistics and rates. 

While I'm sponsor-chatting, I think it is about time I picked the winners from the Pattycakes Vintage and 52 Weeks April giveaways!

The random winner of the Pattycakes giveaway is Danielle and the winner of the 52 weeks giveaway is Mia Helen! Send me email, ladies, and your winnings will be on their way. 

Thanks again to Indie & Chic, Moxie Mandie, Flowerchild Dwelling, Such Sweet Tierney, and Be One of a Kind for being my awesome May sponsors!

<3

central park on the cheap.

I bought two disposable cameras when I was in New York and just got one developed. I love the simplicity, grain, and grittiness that disposable cameras have. These were shot on this day. Home is wonderful, but I do miss NYC and my silly friends...

fairy summer.

Sunday evening, some of our friends came over for silly times, coffee, and a bonfire in our backyard. It's a collection of my some of mine(and my sister's) oldest church friends and other new friends and oh my. Happy. 

This is what summer dreams are made of. 

a little diy for you...

I did a DIY guest post on A Beautiful Mess today while pretty Elsie is away on her honeymoon. Do stop by and say hi?

this week.

I've been cleaning my bedroom at my parent's house for the last... week or so. Girlfriend has a lot of stuff. And when I say a lot, I mean like way more stuff than Girlfriend is evah gonna need. (Apparently, I'm referring to myself as Girlfriend today, just FYI). I discovered the above postcards from a thrifstore binge Kip and I went to last Winter Break and thought I'd share them with all you pretties. So cute, right?

Anyhow. This next week is officially labeled as "Get Down to Business" week. I'm starting my running schedule, finishing up my bedroom, and maybe peeking into my ridiculous to-do lists for the next month. But, I'm super excited! Kip and I are making headway with our little business venture(got our business filed with the state and opened our bank accounts last week!) and I'm excited to start making real plans for all my other brewing ideas. 

What are your plans this week?

A Word From Our Sponsors: May

Every month I have the pleasure of having wonderful and independent artists, shops, and blogs sponsor this little place. Every month I ask my lovely sponsors random question for you to know their souls a little bit more. 

This month's question:

What are you most looking forward to doing this summer?

Kelly Ann from Flowerchild Dwelling:

One of the things I'm most looking forward to are lazy days spent in the shade, drinking iced coffee and reading books galore! 

Kelly Ann blogs at Flowerchid Dwelling and is a designer for Freckled Nest Design. Kelly has an eye for gorgeous, delicate design and is an all around lovely lady. You can follow Kelly at Twitter and Tumblr. 

Mandi from Moxie Mandie:

I'm looking forward to a summer of  L O V E. My husband & I are busy and work different schedules, plus he's in school & I'm running a side business, but I want to make sure that we're still able to have fun when we can. I want to plan some surprise dates & mini photo-shoots & fill up our 'together time' with wonderful memories. :)

Mandie just opened her etsy shop, Moxie Mandie, full of the cutest stitched wares. She blogs regularly and is one of the sweetest online friends I know. Enter BRINGSPRING in the coupon code box for free shipping on every order in her shop. 

Victoria from Be One of a Kind:

This summer I can't wait to read something that isn't a textbook, paint because I now have free time, and travel to NYC for fashion seminars.

 Victoria is the whimsical shop owner and blogger of Garden of Eden Designs. You can follow Victoria for more loveliness on Twitter and Facebook. 

London from Such, Sweet Tierney:

This summer I'm looking forward to moving to (technically closer into) Seattle and exploring the lovely city!  All the live music, beaches, and farmers markets full of handmade treasure are some of my favorite parts of summer here!  On the rainy days I enjoy trips to the library or Elliot Bay books!  Seattle has amazing thrift stores, and a growing artisan community that I can't wait to be a part of.  I'm hoping that living in the city and being a constant explorer will help me build my blogging and photography skills so I can share the amazing adventure with all of you!

 London recently opened a full website with her darling paper crafting supplies. London also blogs and can be found on Twitter and Facebook. 

Samantha from Indie & Chic:

Starting my first real job. I graduate from college May 28th and I begin work June 22nd. I'm interested to see how I adjust to a work week of 70 hours, as well as being able to make a difference with the Gulf oil spill disaster. Most of all I'm looking forward to being home again and spending time in my mom's garden with the animals and watching the fireflies at night. I've missed home :) 

Samantha is a 22 year old college student from Alabama who spends her free time cooking up pretty accessories for her Indie & Chic Etsy shop. Samantha can also be found at her blog and Twitter. 

If you're interested in promoting your business, indie band, or Etsy shop or just wanting some new faces to check out your blog, send me an email to karahaupt(@)gmail.com for stats and rates.  Read more and hear some past sponsor testimonials on my Sponsorship page. Sponsors spots are open for The City and Cup of Joe feature  for June. Contact me for special pricing. Thanks so much!