retro is the new modern

retro is the new modern


truly, it is. how does the saying go? my grandma owned it, my mother got rid of it and now i'm buying it... and cutting it up and turning it into modern day vintage inspired accessories and selling it on etsy? yep. pretty sure thats close, if not 100% accurate.


last saturday we went to the antique marketplace and spent the better part of our weekend walking up and down the isles of this giant thirty seven thousand-million acre space. we honestly browsed through hundreds and hundreds, of what seemed like the exact same booth over and over, just slightly different from one to the next. however, each one accompanied by the same musty 70 year old pee kind of smell. if you haven't caught on, i'm not the hugest fan of antique markets. i wish someone would invent an All The Exact Things Melissa Needs In One Place market with only shelf of only the stuff i want and thats it. none of this wandering up and down isles nonsense. 


but you guys! i found some awesome bargains. none of which smell like pee though. be not afraid. 

this super retro gator skin bag was only $12. ya! jealous much? aaand i'm pretty sure the file folders aren't actually antique but i needed them in my life anyways.

so excited to use this for a few dresses this season!

the doilies may have actually had a mild hint of urine scent but i think that was just from being in among the other urine-scented merch. after a nice bath they became pretty brooches like these:

today i ♥ family

today i ♥ my fam.

i know everyone thinks this but i'm 100% sure of it. i've been given one of the best families in the world. like, at least in the top ten category. seriously. my family is full of super awesome people. and never once have i wished for a different family. ok, maybe once or twice but its never lasted long because i always come back to the realization that any other family just wouldn't cut it. my family gets me. my family encourages and pushes me. my family laughs with me, sometimes at me. but always, my family luffs me.

... as demonstrated in one of mom's latest layouts. my gramma teaching me the mad figure skating skillz i have now and my dad preparing me for the extremely hectic and fast-paced life of running your own business... this never-ending mess of meetings, appointments, conference calls and mini golf. also, fyi, pretty sure i have the sweetest pair of purple pants ev-har. 10 points for my wardrobe consultant. 

two birds on a wire

two birds on a wire


yes, i am still alive.


no, i haven't died from heat stroke nor have i been attacked by a ferocious army of cacti. and i haven't run off to dubai in search of a wealthy, kandura-clad husband... but great guesses and thank you for your concern!


i blame my recent AWOL-ness on the creative part of my brain that never stops going. (also why the other parts of my brain don't always function 100%... the creativity sucks all the juice out and then the rest of my brain is all, huh? carrot sticks don't go in the cupboard)?


so this is how it started: i woke up one morning and wanted to wear this pretty dress my mom brought back from hawaii. but when i put it on i realized it was made for a person of normal height and not the vertically challenged folk, such as i. so i had this brainwave that if i cut off a few inches from the hem it would fit better. and being one that doesn't like to waste or throw out ANYthing (although i'm not yet to the point of collecting each and every yogurt/sour cream/cottage cheese container that comes into my life)... (i have my gramma for that)  i came up with the idea of turning the scraps into beautiful wall decor and calling it art! 


ok, not really, but shoot me if i ever do that. 


no, actually i figured if i could make them into flowers or something that slightly resembled a flower, and then sew them onto the neckline, my too long dress would suddenly be a refurbished and even cuter anthro-looking creation. so i got out the glue gun and sewing machine and started making fabric flowers. then i found a PILE of fabric that my mom was hoarding for the day she plans to make a 40 acre quilt, which i doubt will be this week or next week, so i took it and made more flowers. then i was all, hey! this would make a cute headband. and this would be a cute belt... ooh and pins and brooches and hair accessories.... 


and then it occurred to me. omg, ETSY! so i was like, hey etsy, can i open up a shop? and etsy was like ummm, you're probably not good enough but everyone else in the world is doing it, so go for it i guess. 


so there you have it. its nothing spectacular by any means, but it's how i've been filling my days while patiently waiting to get out there and shoot again. feel free to stop by and take a gander. 

two birds on a wire by missyborys on Etsy

and of course i asked my gorgeous sister-in-law to do the modeling for me... thanks again leah. ur a superstar! (not the kind who smells their armpits)

be kind.

be kind.

Living Without Type 1 - Post 5

Living Without Type 1 - Post 5

Imagine, every time your son or daughter is invited to a birthday party or offered a piece of cake at dessert, having to deny them of that simple pleasure in life. Or think of all the times you have scarfed down a slice of cheesecake or a cupcake topped with deliciously icing... imagine not being able to do that. Srsly, my heartbeat is slightly accelerated right now and my skin is going damp with sweat caused by fear of just the thought. IMO eating cake is right up there with like, diamonds and pearls, luxurious trips to spain and sleeping in... probably even above sleeping in, which for those of you who know me, you now understand how much I value eating cake.

So I really feel for for people like Kylie who can't enjoy a plain old cupcake with everyone else in her class. And once again I am blown away by Kim's amazing dedication, creativity and talent. These cupcakes were as good as they look! And they put a smile on Kylie's face which in the end, is all that really matters. And making them look good. But more Kylie's smile.

Mint Ice Cream

3 large handfuls of organic spinach leaves

1 small handful of organic chocolate mint leaves (Singhs Farm, Scottsdale)

½ carton of coconut creamer (original)

Mix ingredients together in Blendtec and enjoy... it's that simple! And though some of you might scrunch your nose up and make gag noises at vegan ice cream, it's also actually really delicious! The Ice Dream Cookbook has a great collection of gluten free desserts and recipes using dairy alternatives.

Strawberry Pea Protein Smoothie

Instead of a dairy protein try plant.  Pea protein has paired well in many of our shakes!  Easy and quick to prepare on a busy morning. 

10 oz. of organic strawberries (about 2 cups).

1 scoop (35 grams) of Pea Protein

1 ¼ cup of almond milk

pinch of cinnamon

Blend and enjoy! 

Yields 2 cups

Jax enjoying a Gluten Free Creations cupcake and washing it down with some yummy strawberry smoothie. And being extremely cute while doing it.

Falafel 

15 oz. garbanzo beans, rinsed

1 small onion, chopped

3 cloves of garlic, chopped

3 T. fresh parsley, chopped

1 T. fresh cilantro, chopped

1 tsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. olive oil

1 tsp coriander

1 tsp. cumin

½ tsp. dried red pepper flakes

2 T. garbanzo bean flour

salt and pepper to taste

Smash garbanzo beans with a fork then add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.  Form the mixture into small balls, about 1 ½ inch in diameter, then roll them in the garbanzo bean flour. In a well oiled skillet, on medium high, fry the falafel balls until all sides are browned and crispy.  Drizzle with yogurt and garnish with parsley.  These are great appetizers.  

Curry Yogurt - In a processor add 1 tsp. of curry to ½ cup of yogurt. We used goat milk yogurt.

Another great, eco-friendly invention... the Love Bottle. They're re-usable glass bottles that you can personalize and write on. And they're wallet-friendly as well, ranging from $12 - $19.

crabby abby

crabby abby

abby is super sweet. usually. this day she decided to be crabby instead. she made it clear right away that she wasn't really interested in having her photo taken unless aunty leah was there, which she wasn't. so we did what everyone does in this situation and bribed her with sugar and candy and bright shiny objects. 

we did manage to capture a few sweet laughs and giggles tho, and janna- you did awesome :) i think we all deserved giant red lollipops.