Olympus

I am so excited, I can finally share pictures of our Greek costumes that my mom and I made. I had been going through costume making withdraw and didn't even realize. My much loved and amazing vintage sewing machine has been down for repairs for 3 years now and since it is a pretty penny to fix it I haven't been able to afford the repairs. Sure, I could buy a new machine for the cost of the repairs but my machine is so much better quality than anything I could afford I think it is just better to sit back and wait.

*BIG OL' EDIT 7.15.14*
I have a wonderful new to me sewing machine that works! My wonderful hubby got me one on eBay. It is just like the one my mom taught me to sew on and I sewed many of my clothes on over the years. I still am keeping my other machine with hopes of repair but now I can sew when I want/need.

Anyway, enough babbling. On to some pictures of my Demeter costume.

We took the photos on the FSU campus. How perfect is the amphitheater? 

• I used a sheet from Goodwill for the dress. 
• I had just enough gold braid in a stash of trims for both mine and my hubby's costumes. 
• I made the crown with a combo of crochet, beading, and silk leaves. 
• The sandals were a lucky thrifted find for $5. 
• The fun retro coin belt I found at The Other Side. 
• The beautiful leaf earrings were from an art swap many years ago.

I like the way I did my make-up for the toga party a little bit better than the photo shoot, a dark green smoky eye and a pink lip.

Here is a shot from the party. I found a great vintage medallion to wear in an old box of jewelry right before the party. Can we all agree my Hubby looks amazing? I think he makes a great Hephaestus. His costume was made from a sheet as well but the fabric for the sash I got at the craft store (but I found it on a great sale).

Fireworks and Friends

Every 4th of July our friends all get together and celebrate the holiday at a lovely lake house. This year we had an amazing fish fry, I swear I've never had such wonderful fish (sorry, Dad). After dark we sit around the lake and watch the fire works from all over the area.

We arrived on the early side so we could walk down to the lake, I love being on the water and it was nice to finally get some photos.

We heard plenty of gators but we didn't see any. We did see a beautiful osprey hunting though.

I'm really pleased with my outfit, all the clothing was thrifted. I don't normally go for patterned pants (especially periwinkle ones with polka dots)  but these were just too cute and fit really well.

I wore the silver dollar necklace my parents gave me a couple of Christmas's ago as well as some American flag earrings.

We had to lighten these quite a bit because the glare off the water.

With the high temps it has been hard getting outfit posts but I will keep trying.

Mini Get Away

I've been itching to get back out camping (even with the hot temps). I had been stalking the reservation site for Torreya State Park when a booking miracle happened, I found an open date for the yurt. I quickly talked it over with Hubby and we booked it for the one night that it was available, it also happened to be the perfect day for us since Hubby had taken a few days off. 

Torreya State Park is a beautiful naturey (yes I just made that up) park in North Florida. It is just over an hour outside of Tallahassee. Torreya is popular for camping, primitive camping, hiking, and picnicking. 

Torreya is named for a rare species of tree.

The Gregory House

Sitting on the back porch

Long sleeves was a very good idea. I didn't get a single tick while we were hiking, my husband got two.

I am glad I grabbed this blue and white checked Gap shirt from the dollar bin at The Other Side, I have worn it so much.

Over looking the cliff to the Apalachicola River.

One of the many hiking trails takes you walking history tour. It marks the sites of the confederate gun troops. Each gun location has a sign and is interspersed with large plaques with information and images of all aspects of the battery.

Just a few more feet to the river 

 After our hike we checked into the yurt. It was so much fun and it even had AC, which was very pleasant to come into after hiking in 98 degree weather.

 Weeping Ridge, a little waterfall that appears in rainy seasons

It is feed by a little stream

 The overlook from the campground

I like to lead when hiking. We found out most spiders build webs crossing the trails just over my head, I would walk right under them but they would hit my hubby right in the face. Poor thing, we spent lots of time pulling spider webs and a few spiders out of his hair.

 After a full day full of hiking we drove back up to the Gregory House to see the sunset. We didn't see many colors but it was nice being all alone up on the hill and watching it slowly getting dark. At dusk the owls all talking to each other.

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We had a lovely time camping, we can't wait to go back once it gets cooler.