Into the Wardrobe

Dear Ruffles & Ramblings readers,
We have not forgotten you!

We have bee slacking off a lot this summer. But we have legitimate excuses...I was gone for 2 weeks, our blog was messed up for a while, Alison is crazy busy, I am taking two online classes, and we are both kind of lazy...see? Totally legit, but I promise we will be better from now on.

I know you have really missed seeing weekly pictures of us, but sadly you won't be seeing any pitures of us today either. Alison is at camp and I am working in the factory this week at my work. Its a rare occurance, but of course it would happen the week I decide to be more comitted to the blog again.

So, I decided to post about what I would be wearing if I was working my normal job (actually, what I wish I would be wearing).

Remember when I said I didn't have a definate style? Well, I think I have developed kind of a bohemian stlyle as of late. I know that is kind of the big thing right now, so it would be normal to develop that stlye, but I think that bohemian is almost always an acceptable stlye, so I think I will stick with it. What do you think?


-Ana Kristina

All photos are from Pintrest, its past my bed time, so please let it slide that I didn't credit each picture.

Fresh Finds- Vintage Varsity

So far, the no shopping experience has been going pretty well.  I had one near miss involving an art fair and a necklace a few weeks ago, but other than that almost-hiccup, things have been running smoothly.  I think this is because my m/o has mainly consisted of avoiding malls and Loft stores at all costs.  If I simply refuse to set foot in a store at all, it's much easier to resist the temptation to shop.

The only problem with this plan of attack however, is that there are some stores one simply cannot avoid...like Target.  Let's face it kids, it is unrealistic to not set foot in Target for six months.  It's just not possible.  So when I was there last night picking up cleaning supplies while the husband was at Menards, I happened to find myself in the clothing section ogling their newest collection- the Vintage Varsity line.

Before I knew it, I had three or four items in my hands, and in my head, I was running through all the reasons why it would be perfectly ok to buy at least one of them.  I mean seriously, how awesome is this stuff?!?!?!?





Shockingly though (and I still have no idea how this happened), I seem to have acquired some iota of self control during this experience. I was able (albeit with a tinge of a pity party happening in my head) to put the items back, recognizing that, although they are out of this world cute, I didn't exactly need any of them.

However, that doesn't stop any of you from going out and indulging! These pieces are great, and if they are anything like the items in any of Target's other limited edition collections, they will be gone before you know it.  So, snap one of these beauties up while you can! Just don't wear them in front of me- I might get jealous:)

-alison

She Cooks...Or Not



So this is normally the part where I impress you (or not) with my culinary prowess and present some sort of cooking/baking masterpiece, but you can just forget about that happening this week.  Why? Well, because it's unbelievably blazing hot here, has been for days, and is going to be so for the next week or so. When the heat index hits 112, I choose to pretend that my oven doesn't exist. 

Hopefully by next week, this hateful, hateful hot weather will have passed, and I can once again heat up the oven without fear of causing the interior of my house to have a total meltdown, but until then, I'll be sitting on my couch, cranking the A/C, and eating ice cream for dinner.

-alison

Inspiration Friday

It's Friday.  Inspiration Friday.

'Nuff said.

-alison

Something Crafty- Cupcake Decor

Have you ever seen the Food Network show, "Throwdown With Bobby Flay?"  If you haven't you probably need to remedy that situation, stat.  It's one of my favorite shows, and it features Bobby Flay going around and challenging people at their specialties- key lime pie, barbecue, coconut cake, fried chicken, you name it. Both Bobby and the challenger whip up their best version of whatever food happens to be featured that week, and then they have judges pick their favorite version.

Well, next month I am putting on my own little version of a throwdown for the ladies at my church- a Cupcake Throwdown. Everybody is going to bring a batch of their most beautiful, most delicious, and most creative cupcakes to be judged by some "celebrity judges." I can't WAIT for this event.  I'm having so much fun planning it, and I can't wait to decorate for it.  I have been finding tons of cupake inspired decor on Pinterest, and I am so excited to try some of these ideas!

-alison

Vintage Croquet Party

About a month or so ago, a friend and I were talking about yard games- croquet, bocce ball and the like, and discussing how great they were.  We tossed around the idea of getting together to play a round of croquet.  A few days later, I happened upon pictures of a wedding that offered croquet for guests to play at the reception.  I thought that adding some sort of party element to our game would be fun, and thus the idea for the vintage themed croquet party was born.
We considered hosting the fete at our house, but considering the fact that our backyard is about the size of a potato chip, we rang up the parents instead, and asked them if they wouldn't be opposed to us comandeering their yard for an afternoon.  They agreed, and so we showed up on Sunday in all our croquet finery and participated in a wicket smashing, mallet swinging tournament of epic proportions.

Sorry for the overload of pictures, but I just couldn't narrow it down!

-alison