polka dots & hearts of ivy

I'll just start with this: I had a really lovely weekend. From a hip hop show to dancing with my friends until 3am to a gorgeous hike to celebratory potato burritos to church and coffee and cribbage games and karaoke; I can't possibly complain. Then, to put a cherry on top, on Sunday afternoon my wonderful friend Danielle took some photos of me for graduation announcements. This is the first of three sets.  

I'm not sure who made/prunes this ivy heart, but it is a perfect example of the kind of town I live in. It's right downtown and is of course a favorite spot for engagement photos & the like. I'd love to meet it's maker. 

I hope you are all getting the sunshine that Washington has been blessed with! I'm beyond ready for hikes, picnics, beach sunsets, evening strolls, reggae night, lake days, and everything else that tastes like summer. 

Also: you fantastic readers have to help me choose which photo to use for my announcements! There will be two more sets of photos this week, but if you think one of these is it, let me know. You're the best. 

skirt: Buffalo Exchange, tank: H&M, necklace: PacSun, boots: Charlotte Russe

Sunday breakfast: Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

I found this recipe from the Smitten Kitchen blog via Pinterest about a month ago and seriously could not stop thinking about how much I wanted to make it. Breakfast foods are my ultimate weakness--basically, anything that can be paired well with coffee is fabulous in my book. I wanted to wait and make it this summer with raspberries from my mom's garden, but I just couldn't. I bought an eight dollar package of raspberries and got to work. 

This cake is perfectly sweet & tart, simple enough to let the berries do the talking. If you wanted to make it sweeter, you could throw in some white chocolate chips, but I loved the tartness so I left it as is. 

This was so easy to whip up & would be perfection as part of a summer brunch with friends and family. You could even add some blueberries or lemon zest--go crazy! My final advice: serve warm, with hot coffee. And go back for seconds. Find the recipe here! 

bare legs & frog legs

 This week it was FINALLY warm enough to go without tights! Which is slightly bittersweet because it made me realize just how pale my poor Washington legs are, but I was so overjoyed to see the sun that I couldn't waste time caring about such things. I literally skipped around town: Spring is here! 

You've seen this dress before, all wrapped up in tights and boots, and it is still one of my favorites. The star print on it makes me want to read a book about astronomy, or at least a Kurt Vonnegut book about space travel...it also makes me want to twirl about, but that's another story. 

A few other photos from my week: 

Last weekend some friends & I participated in the Bellingham Art Walk, where different venues all over downtown display various mediums of art. We grabbed drinks & frog legs first then saw a few of the exhibits including a toaster art gallery, art done by prison inmates, and art made from recycled books. Events like this are of the reasons I love living here. Also, frogs legs aren't bad. Just try 'em.

What do y'all have planned for the weekend? Here's hoping for more sunshine!

dress: H&M, coat: Sugarlips, belt & purse: thrifted, boots: Charlotte Russe

insta Saturday

 my blog office / typical dish day in a house of 4 coffee-drinking girls

 dying Easter eggs for the first time in years

 double chocolate banana mini muffins / comfy outfit

 cleaning my room & getting ready for Spring fashion / recent thrifted finds

summer sneaks / drinks & frog legs with friends

I think Spring is officially here in the Pacific Northwest, because the sunshine is showing itself, I am in a fuschia maxi dress, & the Farmer's Market started again today. I am very pleased about all of this. 

Follow me @charityvictoria or follow along here!

Casual Friday

Finally, back with an outfit post! I was so eager to get one up that I'm doing Casual Friday a day early. Bear with me. 

This sweater feels just like my favorite blanket does, which probably means I won't be taking it off anytime soon. I thrifted it for $4 yesterday, and found these jeans at the same place, for $4 as well. Seriously, my thrifting karma has been off the charts lately--I'm not sure what I did to deserve it, but I've been hitting the jackpot every time! This bodes well for a certain project that I may be announcing sometime soon (probably sooner than later; for I am AWFUL at keeping secrets). 

In other thoughts, being graduated is weird. But also fun. I'm in the process of looking for a second job, but in the mean time am enjoying things like thrifting, baking, cleaning, reading, coffee dates, lunch dates, dinner dates, and movies with friends. My friends have been extra amazing lately, & I love them so much for it. 

You know what else is amazing? Instagram for Droid! find me here & follow me, my username is charityvictoria. I'm already addicted, so be prepared. ;)

How's your thrifting karma been lately? Any amazing finds?

sweater, pants, belt & purse: thrifted, shirt: American Apparel, boots: Charlotte Russe

love in a coffee shop

Last Saturday I had the absolute pleasure of taking some quick engagement shots of my friends Megan and Tony. They were doing a full shoot the next day, but wanted some photos in their favorite Bellingham coffee shop, Avellino, and I was so happy to do so! I got to know these two on my trip to the AZ Navajo reservation just a little over a year ago, and unfortunately they had to graduate and move on to real life in another city, so really I was just happy to be in their presence once again. 

I've never done engagement shots before, but I'm pretty sure Megan & Tony were the perfect couple to start off with! Their love for each other is blatant: they are affectionate, they laugh and tease, and bring out the best smiles in each other. Getting candid photos of them smiling at each other or kissing each other was not a difficult task whatsoever.

I am overjoyed for the future these two have together, and am counting down the days until I get to watch them get hitched! A morning full of coffee, seeing old friends, and playing with my camera came together to be a pretty damn good morning. Congrats, lovebirds! 

ps: I will be back with outfits posts ASAP! life is crazy + the rain never stops, but it will happen this week. 

Pacific Northwest Blogger Meet Up!

Just bought tickets for Angela & I! Anybody else going? You know what Portland means, right? Tax-free shopping. Hallelujah. Find more info here, tickets are going fast!