Giddy Up

Last week we had ourselves a nice lakeside cabin getaway. We haven't left the city at all since our Mexico City trip back in February, so this felt like a much needed break from being constantly surrounded by people. Most of the time was spent in loungewear, aside from a few small treks to take Opal to an empty park or on a wooded trail (of which she was not a fan!).

Happy Halloween!

Even though we didn't make any costumes this year, you couldn't shake the Halloween spirit from me! Halloween is my favorite, so it has been a bummer to not get in costume. But today we got some pumpkin milkshakes and ate some candy and just had Halloween in our own way.

Happy Place

Earlier this month, we got a car! It's been pretty exciting to get out of the apartment and out of the city a little. Since our apartment doesn't have a yard or outdoor space, we've felt pretty confined to home for most of 2020. We still aren't restauranting or any semblance of being back to "normal," so getting away from the crowded city life has been a big perk this month.

Working on my Quads

The past 24 hours have just been... something. Hope all of my midwestern followers are doing okay! On Monday afternoon Chicago and other nearby states were hit with a major storm. I was without power for 28 hours (it just came back late last night! We had the windows open and could hear the block cheering!), and as anyone who has been to Chicago in the summertime knows that means you're in for a sticky, hot, and uncomfortable time. We were able to step out and walk to my tattoo studio to charge up and enjoy a little AC (Opal is an air conditioning dog), and thankfully our only loss was a fridge full of just-purchased-that-morning food. Frustrating and wasteful, but it could have been much worse.

 

Pastel Stripes

 

Back again with more color! I feel like I've been very deliberate with my purchases during quarantine. I can't tell you how much I miss thrift stores and boutiques. I haven't ordered much clothing, but when I have it's been for coveted items like this bag from Big Bud Press (and yes I got a jumpsuit! More on that later), my dream leopard romper, and this pastel striped dress from an old favorite hometown store, Tigertree.

Coming Up Roses

 

At some point during quarantine, I guess my closet became colorful. This is strange considering I rarely ever wear more than pajamas these days, but I suppose it's just my wishful thinking for future days when we can get back to traveling to all the bright spots in the world. Keep looking up, y'all.

Wear a Mask

 

Gosh, I miss taking outfit photos. I miss outfits. I've now been isolating for over four months, and started thinking about how much I miss thrift stores, coffee shops, work, and even generally unpleasant things like the airport. I have managed to do very little shopping during the pandemic but have made a few small business buys that I feel very excited about! I always thought that in a pseudo apocalyptic situation, I'd go all black. But somehow, my closet has become... more colorful. I've been waiting for this boilersuit for months and it's as perfect as I had hoped!

You've Got Nail 95 // Introducing Mini Penny Nail Stickers

Hey everyone! Wow, I really thought I was going to be on top of Mini Penny during quarantine. But I'm 72 days into this and I've given you only two posts. How did I manage that? Where did the last couple of months go? I hope you are all able to stay home and healthy. This period has certainly taken its toll on me (emotionally, mentally, financially), but things are finally feeling like they are getting easier. I've been filling my days with Animal Crossing, 90 Day Fiance, and projects. I went the first month and a half with no nails — which, yes, is odd for me. I just figured why do my nails if no one is going to see them? But then after a while, I remembered that I love nails and I missed doing them. In a bid to find some new ways to do them, I busted out my Cricut machine and got to work. I have created a few different styles of nail art stickers, all of which are now available in my Etsy Shop! Click through to see the three new styles and how to use them.

FabFitFun Spring Box

It's here! The Spring FabFitFun box I've been looking forward to! I loved my partnership with them last quarter so much that I decided to sign up for myself. Check out all of the great items I got in my box and click through for a code for how you can get $10 off your first box.

DOWNLOADS // ISOLATION AGENDA

I'm not even sure how to start a blog post about this. Right now is an uncertain, scary, and anxious time for me and many people all over the world. This past weekend I made the very hard decision to temporarily close my tattoo shop and practice Social Distancing. I know more people out of work right now than those who are working. Many of us are at home and not sure for how long. I worked from home for most of 2014 and I gotta say -- I half liked it and half hated it. Now that we're in a scenario where staying home is the best way to combat the spread of COVID-19, I'm trying to remind myself of ways to stay organized and on-track. I've created this free printable sheet to help you too! Click through for the Dropbox download link and some tips for how you can use it.

Arriving in Mexico City

It's been months since I've posted here. Part of me isn't sure what happened with Mini Penny in 2020, but another part of me knows that I needed a little bit of a break. Between world news, a completely full work schedule, and Chicago winters, I took a little breather. Last month over Valentine's Day, Yoshi and I took a week trip to Mexico City. We've had it planned since August and it really came at the perfect time for us both. Click through for our first day adventures in Ciudad de Mexico.