this weekend: first fridays at urban mining

first fridays in kansas city are some of our favorite ways to kick off a weekend.  we love to hit up the crossroads art district, grab some grub and get our art scene on.  but this time of year, it's hard to count on the weather to cooperate.  take this week for example:
monday: 72 & extremely sunny.  tuesday: 41 & extremely raining.  today:  17 and extremely annoying with a side of snow b/c mother nature loves you and knows you chose to live in the midwest.  thanks mom.

so when the weekend looks like it will be anything but predictable, there is another one of our favorite first friday features that we frequent:  urban mining - kansas city's original first friday weekend vintage market.

now, you know by now we love a good deal, especially a good vintage deal, and this is the perfect spot to find a whole lot of them.  whether you're looking for that perfect mid-century modern accent chair, a chic vintage dress or something just a little out of the ordinary to jazz up your home, you're going to find it at UM.

now i want to talk about this giant horse:

please do not think for a second that i will not be trying my hardest to convince the husband that there is a place for this cray-cray creature in our home.  sure, he'll likely take on a different color, but he is welcome here and i kinda love him already.

speaking of mid-century modern accent chairs:

i call her lady in red and she's about to be dancing with me.  cheek to cheek.

no matter what you're looking for, there is a good chance you'll find something here that you can't live without.  maybe you need a collection of dorthy thorpe mad men glassware, the new season is just around the corner afterall...

and since you're obsessed with the 1960s, maybe these two have a place in your home:

oh hello prestigious friend and accompanying fashion icon. in your current state, kind of scary.  but someone may love you and decide to bring you home and spruce you up...

maybe put you on a bookshelf or their bar cart...

maybe announce that you are just covered in paint primer and they are open to suggestions on final color options for you... 

i'm not saying who would bring them home and spray paint them, just that someone may... or possibly already did.

and if it's vintage jewelry you're after, you're sure to find that perfect piece for yourself or your vintage-jewelry-lovin'-bff on her 30th birthday...

so in review:  urban mining has some of the best vintage treasures in kansas city.  they are only open the first weekend of the month, so plan to check them out this weekend.  because if we've learned anything today it's that although you may want to hit the outdoor art scene on friday, it could very well be raining cats and dogs by then...or even large vintage horses.
(oooo fingers crossed!)

check 'em out:  urban mining. 3923 main street. kcmo.

* UM product photos courtesy of www.urbanmininghomewares.com

drink (& eat) with us: zocalo mexican cuisine & tequileria

this is a sangarita.  and today is friday.  and you are about to fall in love.

as my good friend donna summer would say:

She works hard for the money
So hard for it honey
She works hard for the money
So you better treat her right
Nine a.m. on the hour hand
And she's waiting for the bell
And she's looking real pretty
Just waiting for her clientele


we became her "clientele" over the summer and let me tell you, she might be the best little margarita around, trust.  chambord + sangria + margarita = love.

you can find her working hard at zocalo on the country club plaza in kansas city, and during happy hour, you can find her on sale.  plus another dollar off for the ladies.  holla!

of course, there is an extensive menu of mexican dishes and accompanying cocktails that you'll also find and really enjoy i am quite sure...

the salsa trio is a perfect partner to get things started.

 maybe you'll opt for the lobster tacos?

or the enchilada sampler, perhaps...

then you'll need the habanero polenta... 

and then a side of seasonal veggies... 

for my vegetarian friends, the portabello tacos with goat cheese are a win...

but don't forget about dessert... 

ps:  how much do you love these repurposed Patrón bottles as water pitchers?  

when dinner is done, you know you'll need another round of the tastiest margaritas you've ever had...

because it's friday, you worked hard this week and because you're worth it.  (and if you are reading this sat - thurs, the same applies.  no judgement here.)

check out zocalo in kc soon - we give it two very tipsy and tasty thumbs up.

620 West 48th Street

Kansas City, Missouri 64112

T 816. 756. 5555

E info@zocalokc.com

shout-out to some of the hardest working girls i know...

okay, now hook us up:  where do you go in kc for the best happy hour or margaritas?

2012: the year in review

a little late is still better than never, right?  we're going to go with that thought.
2012 was a pretty cool year at 26 east and we like taking a look back at everything that happened....maybe you do too?  no?  well, for those of you who do, here is a little rundown of our year.

(click on the green text for additional info on any of these highlights...) 

JANUARY
we kicked off the year with alex's 7th birthday and a party fit for a bird-lovin' seven-year-old...

and then we threw a surprise birthday party for my mom...

FEBRUARY
was definitely one of the slower months of 2012.  we made some valentines...

re-engineered some duct work around the house...

and had no idea just how busy the rest of the year was about to get...

MARCH
i celebrated my 31st birthday  - or as we like to call it, the first anniversary of my 30th birthday, complete with DIY party hats, a new DIY light fixture and a small celebration with some of our closest friends.

we also hit the brookside st. patrick's day warm up parade as it has become a tradition for us:

APRIL 

in april we marveled at how quickly these little ones got big with some of my favorite photos taken of alex and my nephews after my godson's first communion. 

we also joined forces with neighbors to help plant 100 trees in our neighborhood:

and we headed to st. louis for a little spring break adventure: 

finally in april, we attended one of our favorite events while getting our 1920s on: the annual evening in paris at alex's school...

more on this here & here.  

MAY

in may we celebrated mother's day at the nelson: 

the cats' birthdays at home...

and my baby brother's college graduation in nebraska...

JUNE
in june, we kicked it into overdrive with several DIY projects around the house including these succulent plants...

a secret room renovation... 

a newly painted black ceiling... 

some new DIY shelving (we still need to post this)... 

a commercial shoot...

and our most incredible furniture makeover to date... 

JULY
this was quite possibly the busiest and most exciting month of the year as we celebrated our first wedding anniversary by renewing our vows (something we plan to do every year), having an amazing dinner and staying in our same hotel room from our wedding night...

and then....our home was featured in ink magazine...

and the kansas city star! 

we hit the road for a weekend trip in wichita, ks to see evan's family... 

then i finally convinced my sister to take a break and let my nephews come visit for 4 days... 

and finally, we hosted our first ever private chef's dinner to celebrate my father-in-law turning the big 6-0. 

AUGUST
in august i left my job of the past 6 years to pursue a career as a freelance copywriter and branding strategist and we hit the road again for our first ever multi-family vacation at lake of the ozarks...

see how thrilled they all looked on the last day?  

and shortly thereafter, alex started second grade...  

SEPTEMBER
this was another busy month as alex became a soccer player...

i began writing for middle of the map weddings...  

then we began doing monthly features of our favorite local spots around town...

i got to fulfill a dream i didn't even know i had:  being a stylist at halls...

and my amazingly talented husband (with the biggest heart of gold) received a special and well-deserved award for putting in countless hours over the summer, leading a group of volunteers, in renovating alex's new school building... 

and we were on the road again to celebrate evan's 30th birthday in boston...surprise-style...

OCTOBER
as always,  this was our favorite time of year as we ate some nachos...

visited a couple of pumpkin patches...

attended the weddings of four very good friends...

made a snowy owl costume ....

 and held our 6th annual ice scream spooktacular...

NOVEMBER
this month we gave horseback riding a try...

and gave a whole lotta thanks...

DECEMBER

rounded out the year with a lot of friends and family to celebrate the holidays and look ahead to 2013.

and that pretty much covers our 2012.  i know -  longest post ever - but we had a lot of goodness to reflect on.  and as 2013 is already in full swing, we are hopeful that we'll have just as much fun in the new year.  we didn't officially make any resolutions this year other than the norms - to eat healthier, exercise more, spend more quality time together and overall, just to be thankful for each day we have on earth. 

how did your 2012 shape up and what are you looking forward to most in 13?  

see more:  our 2011 recap.