americana

 necklace: Nordstrom // top + shorts: thrifted // belt: ancient // shoes: Steve Madden

The Fourth of July makes me jump for joy.

A day off work?
Lots of FOOD and barbecue and summery drinks?
Saying happy birthday to pretty great country?

Sounds good to me.

Enjoy your Fourth. Be safe-- I don't want to see any of your failed firework attempts on YouTube. :)

xo, erika

diy: oil cloth table cover

I cannot claim any responsibility for this awesome diy from my mom. She found it somewhere and got in her head that my kitchen table needed this project asap.

And because she offered to pay for the oil cloth, I couldn't deny her.

Measure your table-- if it's round, measure the diameter and multply by two. Add a few inches to your measurement.

Tip for cutting out a circle: Find the center and measure out the length of half the diameter every few inches, making a mark at each point.

Cut the oil cloth out and place on the table.

Flip the table upside down and secure the oil cloth to the table using thumbtacks, or if your table is oak like mine, use upholstery tacks to secure the fabric to the table.

xo, erika

diy nail tape

You can buy nail tape but like most things, it can be diy-ed. I saw a tutorial for nail tape and decided to try it out myself. 

supplies: nail polish in two shades, top coat nail polish, clear tape, sharp scissors
step 1: paint your nails.
step 2: paint two coats of polish over a few tape strips, let dry
step 3: cut the tape into thin strips.
step 4: place the strips on your nails, press down and trim close to the nail
step 5: paint top coat over your  nails

 

xo, erika

linking to heather for mani monday!

friday finds + favorites #5

happy friday!
here are some things I've loved around the internet. I hope you'll join me in sharing what you love.

I really love all white rooms but I have a dog and a life... and I just don't think it would work.
via design sponge

can we talk about how pantsuits actually look good sometimes? like this one. I kinda want to bite the bullet to get one, but I think the husband would not approve. via roots, wings and things
(also do any of you watch the bachelorette? can we have a discussion about the white pantsuit emily wore? I really liked it.)

this looks like something i need to make and eat. via stay in the lines

 ok. a llama photobombing in peru. this makes me laugh out loud... a lot. via the 15 greatest animal photobombs on twistedsifter

also, I made this recipe (but with beef not tofu) and it was the best thing of my life. 

also... if you're interested, I'm offering $50 shop credit over on Bubby & Bean. you may or may not want to check it out. 

in real life:

I kinda love that the husband and I are having a friend live with us for a month (and I'm so raiding her closet.) // I saw a dear friend for Vietnamese food. // I skyped with another friend for two hours of amazingingness (why do so many of my friends live thousands of miles away?!) //  I used a gift card to take a TOWN CAR home from work for free. It was pretty much the best thing ever and I felt like Rihanna or the Queen of England. // it was my dad's birthday Thursday and I won't divulge his age, but I will say that he is one of the steadiest, most supportive and all-around intelligent and loving people I know. I feel pretty dang lucky to be his daughter. 

how was your week? how are all you guys doing where it's so hot? Do you want to come visit? It was only 75 today and it might rain tomorrow. I'll take you to Pike Place or something. :)

xo, erika

<a href="http://rougeandwhimsy.blogspot.com/search/label/friday%20finds%20and%20favorites" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpb5Pp81i8PFOkw9BVD6Cautjs6SddFofo8Veaf__E0NJD5wKVwLBSyMS3yKIveSvmK3VmUIhtZ09NcNholPq4nYFGRmGEuouzZ75L1LEdNdJCXZGQ6b8irVa9I3wz8-PhVF2Mm91uUuRO/s400/18383449009.jpg" border="0" alt="Rouge & Whimsy" /></a>  

link up! please link to your post, not your whole blog and link back to me because it's the nice thing to do. thanks much! :)

sometimes I just have to share

Thank goodness for Google.

What else could explain the email from a Huffington Post editor who asked if she could link to my post about rhubarb liqueur.  Undoubtedly, with the power of Google (or maybe Bing), she stumbled upon my post.

And now I'm featured in the Huffington Post:

Imagine me giving an Academy Award-type speech. "I'd like to thank my mom and dad. My mother-in-law for the copious amounts of rhubarb that I didn't know what to do with. My husband who puts up with me and my projects... and of course... Google."

Also thank you guys for reading and encouraging me to post here. This spot, more than any other place on the web, is the most important to me.

xo, erika