Hello-Goodbye

Just a quick not to say that the time of this blog has come to an end. Don't act so surprised. we all knew it was coming. It's been real quiet around here. Things have changed a lot for me/us since we first began HACD, I've come to a place in life where I can no longer keep it going. I arrived at that place a long time ago, but have only just now come to terms with the facts.

You are welcome to visit me here: 
kjrstenmadsenblog.com any time you wish to see our adventures in Europe (for example we just went to morocco- so that could be an interesting read!) 

For now I will share a piece of my heart with you as I say hello and goodbye one last time, a film about us.

thanks for reading all these years.

X

Kjrsten


The Madsens from Jonathan Frey on Vimeo.

keeping indie music indie

I am interrupting the regularly scheduled program to bring you a special message. My brother belongs to a band called Parlor Hawk. They released an album back in 2010 that was well received by music enthusiasts, and even given special recognition with awards. The album was produced and distributed by a label, so while the music was theirs, full creative license was not. Now the band is back together working on a second album, this time without a label. And doing everything they always wanted to. Trick is, recording is an expensive process, so they've started a KICKSTARTER PAGE (click it or ticket) where you can donate to their project and in return receive radical goods! So check it yo!

  (and in photography related news, photos I took of Parlor Hawk back in 2010)

sisters in Paris!

#londongrams

the truth is out.
I've been cheating on you.
with instagram.

will you take me back?

(or just follow me @kjrstenmadsen)

AND THE WINNER OF THE SHABBY APPLE GIVE-AWAY IS
  THIS CUTE GIRL!

(congrats melancholysmile, I will be emailing you!)

this one goes out to the one I love

Here I am feeling all Jackie O and stuff in my 60's shift dress. With a brooch party for added emphasis on my grandma flair! 

With today being Sunday and all, it's typically the day I am looking my very best in my SUNDAY BEST! My husband knowing this, and also being out of town requested a pic of me in my church duds. So with that I am back in the swing of things, and killing 2 birds with one stone. Pics for HACD and for my traveling man!

 

Also, yes, I am on INSTAGRAM. Gramming @ kjrstenmadsen yo!




PS shabby apple give-away announced tomorrow!
XO

Shabby Apple give-away... YOUR CHOICE!

oh my goodness, what on earth? 
To say we have been away for some time would be a modest statement. Let's just say it's been awhile and leave it at that. The important thing is that we are back! How does one come back after so long? With a GIVE-AWAY I say!

So as you know, Anna and I just so happen to think the world could use a few more skirts and dresses in it, which means we were thrilled with the opportunity to feature the lovely Shabby Apple, and share this give-away with our readers. You will be hard pressed to NOT find an amazing dress or skirt at the Shabby Apple. I dare you. 
There is so much pretty going on over there, they have something for EVERYONE! And for you our CUTE-DAY readers, this week you can win $50 to spend on whatever you like in their online shop. 
To be entered, all you need to do is:

first:
like them on Facebook
then:
leave a comment on this post telling us your Shabby Apple item of choice
and also:
you must have a US mailing address


here are my faves: 

the Bandersnatch skirt

also have a look see at the
golden afternoon
and
the Racepoint skirt 

What are your faves?

PS 
the winner will be chosen at random next Monday 12pm Pacific Standard Time.

party in the front ...

... business in the back


I am loving the drop hemlines that are all over london right now. I bought the dress on the left at Zara in Prague a few weeks ago, but the weather has been so wet I haven't wanted to waste it's maiden voyage on a day where it will mostly be hidden under my raincoat.
Looks like there is some sunshine on the horizon now (finally) and I can't wait to take it for a spin! (I'll be sure to post it when I do)

 

From left to Right


Zara, Pull&Bear, Topshop, Madewell, Zara

Are you guys seeing this look much in the states also?

Stipes vs. Dots

Nothing new or groundbreaking here, just some picks from around the internets featuring 2 of the most classic prints known to man... I never grow tired of them




THE STRIPE






dress, tank, skirt, sweater, dress, top, dress, blouse, sweater






and THE DOT

dress, romper, dress, top, dress, top, dress, top, swimsuit


(follow the links for sources: Madewell, Anthropologie, Gap, Urban Outfitters, Pull & Bear, Topshop, Miss Selfridge & Etsy)

wall art (photo collaging)

 Did I ever tell you about the time I lived in a dreamy place called Monterey California? (I thought you might need a visual) This is a magical land where sea otters dot the ocean, and salt mixed with sea lion barks fill the air. I was lucky enough to live there for 2 years, and even more fortunate to reside in a very expensive part of our nation as a poor starving student! It was a very glamorous lifestyle, filled with rotating ramen / macaroni and cheese dinners.

Even though I was a church mouse, (that means a poor married student with a baby on the way-according to my mom) I liked to have style and aesthetically pleasing things in my life. As we all know, things are hard to come by when money is tight, and stylish things, forget about it. To achieve a certain level of style we used the usual garage sales, thrift stores, and the flea markets as great (affordable) resources. 

One afternoon shortly after we moved in, I went to the library to check out books on decorating, DIYing furniture, and the like. (The library is a place where people would go before the internet)(well there was internet, but it was dial-up, and AOL was king, AND there wasn't even a gap.com yet- let alone apartment therapy, catch my drift? It was pretty sucky- but we didn't know that yet)(oh the modern age- it is marvel and a wonder) So, at the library I came across a book, I do believe it was a Martha book, that gave me the secret to my deepest burning questions from since before the birth of man... "how in the heck do I hang my framed photos in the perfect wall collage, without going insane/nailing too many holes in my rental apartment wall that I will have to putty and paint before I move out?"

The answer from the almighty Martha was simple... Make a mock-up version first with paper. this will allow you to change things around and try out every possible combination before using one single nail!

We have since lived in 4 different places and in each one I have used this technique. It might seem terribly laborious, but it's not, it really only takes about *15 minutes to get it all mapped out, and then you are ready to mix and match different combinations. 

the first step is taking photos

the second step is framing them

(*those two steps should be done in advance and will likely take longer than 15 minutes)

the third step is to cut paper the *exact same size of your framed photos (*or there abouts)

next, start taping paper-faux-photos to the wall

mix and match as much as you like

have fun!

once you have settled on something, replace paper with real life framed photos!

PS, you can do this with other art, not just photos. see below.

Spring Sale Going on now...

Kjrsten and Anna's closet is up for grabs again!!  Visit our sale here!  

DID YOU HEAR THE NEWS?

THERE IS A SALE GOING ON TODAY starting at 9am PST!!! 
RIGHT HERE

IN OTHER NEWS: RUCHE has a 
Wedding Collection
!!!


I love this one

British Mods

The sun is warm and shining brightly over London again, and spring break is within arms reach (starts monday.)  Which means I can't help but think of beach getaways, boardwalks and the smell of salt in the air.


I recently came across some 60's mod styles of the past reinvented for our generation found in Vogue and photographed in and around Brighton Beach:

more about Brighton Beach
no doubt inspired by this movie:
Quadrophenia
Photography by Mert & Marcus

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BLOG SALE COMING TUESDAY!!!!

city of shoes

 ANNOUNCING a CUTE DAY SALE on TUESDAY MARCH 27th

Tell your friends, you facebooks, and your mum! (like my british accent?)

The girls and I like to play a little game on the tube/train/bus. We pass the time by pointing out all the shoes we like on our fellow commuters. Now before you scoff at me and say, "What a silly-surface-materialistic mother you are!" You must first know this: THEY started it!   A few pictures to document the winners for cutest shoes during our commute:

Girl on the tube: AHOY STRIPES!

 Girl at the bus stop: hello velvet studded slippers

 My favorite shoes lately- now that the sun is out!

Gap gold anklet flats:

 Top shop peach heart cut outs:

YOUR MOM WEARS BELLBOTTOMS

 Today is a special day. We are celebrating my baby #1's 12th Birthday.

 T E E W E L L V V E ! I can not believe it. Since when am I old enough to have a twelve year old? Since when am I not twelve myself? 

With each passing day I feel more of a connection to my mom. Being a mom will do that to you. I remember the day Sonja was born. My mom showed up just in time for the birth. As soon as I laid eyes on Sonja, for the first time in my life I knew how much my mother really loved me. I didn't understand the magnitude of love a mother was capable of having. Not until that moment at least. Then it all came rushing in, and suddenly I understood it, and felt it so strong and so tangible that I could have touched it. One of the first things out of my mouth in the delivery room was said in awe to my mother, "I can't believe you did that 6 times!" I have been in awe of her ever since. 

Sonja was such a fat delicious baby who slept 10 hours at night almost from the start. I know, dream baby! I remember thinking, "what's the big deal, this baby stuff is easy!" (don't you worry, my #2 daughter showed me the other side of the baby coin- I've had my fill.) But back to Sonja. 

She made me a mother, the best thing I have done with my life to date, and for that I am thankful! What fun these last 12 years have been.

(me ⬇ and my groovy mom, you better bet your bottom dollar she wore bell bottoms!)

in other news, see the resemblance?

XO

~Kjrsten

P.S. You can find a lot of similar styles at JC Penney with these discounts!