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Just so you know, this is pretty much how I spend EVERY weekend. Wearing big earrings. Putting on a lot of eyeshadow. Making cute faces.

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This week’s Humpday Blog Love goes to my friend Cara at Little Pretties.

I met Cara a couple months back at Market Day. I didn’t realize until later that I’d been following her on Pinterest and that we have very similar taste in things. I bought an ultrasuede hair comb from her — which I’ve been in love with forever — and have yet to find just the perfect outfit to wear it with.

Cara makes a LOT of different things. She mostly makes jewelry and accessories.

Oooh and also, it’s CAR-a. Not CARE-a. Just like I’m CAL-ee not CALE-ee.  I thought that was kind of funny.

Go check her out — she’s also featured locally at Vitae, The Art Store and Instinct Gallery.

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I’ve been looking for a necklace or a pair of earrings that match my lovely jade ring that Mark brought me from Antigua when he visited for his sister’s wedding in February.

Finally … I found something!

… and it was from a Cedar Rapids vendor, to boot! (HeatherBerry) So that’s pretty cool. I love it. And I’ve put in an inquiry about matching earrings and another necklace  in these styles …

I’m pretty excited. And I’m anxiously awaiting a response from her.

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This past weekend, Mark and I trekked up north to his family’s place in the Twin Cities to hit up his brother’s 30th Birthday and Housewarming party.  Our friend Ben met us at Mark’s parents’ house on the way back from a camping trip in Canada. Ben’s car had been broken into a few different times and dismantled, so he didn’t have any way to get back to Iowa. His parents were going to Madison, and since Minneapolis was kind of on the way, they dropped him off with us since we were heading back to Iowa.

Anyway, that was kind of a mouthful.

So Nick, Mark’s brother, turned 30 (which, guys, I realize I’m getting closer and closer to that. No more birthdays. Seriously.), and he christened his house that he bought back in March or February with a nice little get-together. Mark, Ben, Mark’s dad and I showed up with some Moosehead Lager (my new favorite beer) and a bottle of Jim Beam. We were ready to roll.

Ben and me (also, check out the epic cleavage! what up?)

Beautiful scenery … one of my favorite parts of heading to MN.

I love the lilypads in all the little ponds and lakes.  I actually ran 6 miles on Saturday on the Gateway Trail and went past a few of these. It was so refreshing — not to mention, it was about 5 degrees cooler and a lot less humid. So much easier and more enjoyable to run!

… not beautiful scenery. I giggled when I saw this guy driving by. But then I quickly realized this is probably going to be Mark someday.

Related: this truck pulled into the gas station we stopped at on the way back. The guy left the truck running, took up two spaces, and pretty much gave off an all-around aura of douchebag. Seriously. Who drives this?

And I must mention, that nothing makes me more happy than a new pair of big, cheap earrings. I love going to visit Minnesota for so many reasons, and sadly, one of them is to hit H&M for some adorable cheap couture. I picked up a skirt, a dress, a scarf and 2 pairs of earrings for an unbelievably low price. Why we don’t have one of those stores here is beyond me. Regardless, I am happy to have some new earrings!

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