OOTD: Back-to-School

Vest:  Ladies Micro Fleece vest by Gone Greek   || Sweater:  Land's End from J.C. Penny || Jeans: Arizona jeans from J.C. Penny  || Scarf: Lilly Pulitzer's horoscope scarf   ||   Bracelets & Bangles:  left hand – gift, right hand –Lilly Pullitzer’s Alpha Xi Delta bangle  || Earrings: old

Special thanks to my ever-constant, ever-willing photographer… My mother. ❤

My spring semester started last week! As much as I dread the loss of freedom to homework schedules and assigned reading, I am very excited for this new semester. It is shaping up to be one of my busiest, fullest semesters yet, but also one of my most rewarding! The courses I am in are challenging, engaging, and peak my interest daily. Emerging from this semester will remind me that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to, while also having fun! An important college lesson: you can be successful and have a little fun now-and-then. Balance is key!

Most of my courses are online, which presents its own sets of challenges. My only in-person courses are chemistry and chemistry lab, whose challenges go without saying. With so many courses online, I spend most of my days in pajamas and yoga pants unless otherwise required to wear something else. I have a strict “if I don’t have to be out of the house, I am going to be comfy” personal motto – and nothing is more comfortable than comfy fleece pajamas.  If they made yoga-pant dress pants, I would probably never wear another pair of jeans or khakis. Spending most of my life in comfy-clothes means that every “outing day” becomes a special treat. Dress up time!

Sometimes I think the only reason
I keep doing fashion posts is
so that I can pose with my
munchkins.

For the second class of the semester, I wore this casual but classy combination.  As I said in my last, brief post I joined a sorority at my college this past semester, Alpha XiDelta. I couldn’t be happier about that decision! (There will be more on that later.) Since joining, I have bought many a few Alpha Xi Delta-themed items, including this Ladies Micro Fleece Vest by Gone Greek. I love it. The color is phenomenal. The fit is perfection.  The quality is 100%. Beyond that, the company was great and easy to work with, they answered any and all questions I had in a timely manner, and the vest exceeded every expectation – I highly recommend them!

Annaliese from Southern Belle In Training, who also happens to be an IRL friend of mine, has recently gotten me hooked on Lilly Pulitzer. She has loved Lilly Pulitzer for a long time, but I have been a resistant convert.  I have to be honest: I am not normally a patterns person. AT ALL. Color, I love, but patterns I avoid passionately in my wardrobe. I never understood the Lilly P love! However,  seeing Annaliese wearing Lilly P patterns or displaying them in accessories won me over.  I adore Lilly P’s Alpha Xi Delta pattern, as well as a few other select ones I have seen. Finally, I understand the obsession!

The first week of January Annaliese helped me in draining the rest of my Christmas money on Lilly P products by telling me about the major sale from Jan 5-6th. I snatched up an Alpha Xi Delta’s wristlet and tote bag, as well as the Alpha Xi Delta bangle and the Libra horoscope scarf, both of which are shown here. Not normally a spender, I cringed at the expense initially. And then I rejoiced! (A $300+ value for FAR less than that. I didn’t pay more than $86 for everything! You cannot beat a deal like that.) Having received them in the mail I can safely say – I regret nothing. They will get more than their fair share of use. And I will be happy to do it. I love everything thing I bought.

My little cuddlebug, Peaches, helping
me to fashion my Lilly Pulitzer
scarf and bangle.

This scarf might be my new favorite accessory! It is light weight, the color is bright but soft, it is as soft as a baby’s blanket, and the pattern is perfect for spring and summer – or warming up a cold winter day.

Basically the take away here is: massive love for Gone Greek and Lilly P. Go check them out if you haven't already! (Edit: Lilly P is coming to Target stores across the U.S., Canada, and online at Target.com on 4/19.)

So, what about you? What did you wear on your first day back to school?  What’s your favorite bargain buy? What’s your favorite accessory?

OOTD: Spring into Summer

It's back! Sky is back! He's so handsome, all shiny and new. I love and appreciate (and am grateful for) my desktop computer, but it does not make keeping in touch with friends or blogging easy at all. I was way too excited about Sky's return. There was massive amounts of hopping and jumping and dancing around my room. Even many some mad giggles.

If only you could have seen the crazy-eyed, wide-grinned smile at the first few posts on my refurbished laptop. Smiling like a giddy kid, doing happy dances to blasting country music, meanwhile all of my cleaning and organization I was working on (pre-semester prep) surrounded me in shambles. My first course of action? Update a few needed blog items.

That's it. I'm addicted. Hashtag: blogger4life.

Now, I can finally catch up on posts! First up, an old fashion from this past spring. (Yikes!) Here you go:

Spring is one of my favorite seasons. (Who am I kidding? I love them all. Each for very different, special reasons.) Spring holds the promise of new life. Behind me, our beautiful rhododendron is readying for its first bloom. First bloom occurred only a few short weeks after this shoot and was breathtaking. (Photos of the sight to come!) Before the bloom, the leaves were a deep olive green and on an unseasonably warm spring day, I couldn't help but make it my backdrop. Another favorite about spring: goodbye cold and snow, hello warm and sun! Our winter was bitter freezing snow infested a commuter's nightmare long. The photographer inside swooned at all of the snow-filled photography opportunities. Everything else was praying for an early spring.

Foot pop!

So on this beautiful, breezy spring day I dressed in my newest sundress. I jumped for joy internally! For years I never owned any sundresses - jeans girl all the way! - so this year I made it my personal mission to by several. This one of them. In fact, this was my first sundress since childhood! With all of its bright yellows, white daises, and bright aqua green, I could not pass it up.

I adore this cut-out back!

While not the same color green, I paired emerald green
crystal dangles with this aqua sundress. Thinking back
to my art days, I decided this near analogous color scheme (yellow
in daisies, green earrings (which has yellow in it), and aqua green
(which has both)) would be flattering compared to anything matchy-matchy.

Nude pumps are a cute fashion must!

My nails are a homemade mani- and pedicure designed for another outfit. (Sadly, that outfit had the photograph files corrupted. I'm in the attempts to salvage them.) There will be a DIY on those soon, too! It is a really easy, elegant design. I cannot wait to share it with you!

I just had to highlight my manicure beside
the rhododendron's buds!

Sweater:Old Navy

Dress:SO bought at Khol's.

Belt: Part of a skirt I bought at Khol's years ago.

Earrings: Khol's on clearance.

Rings: gifts and yard sale and Goodwill finds.  

Sandal pumps: Solos by Softspots bought at Walmart on clearance for $6. (Yahoo, bargain buys!)

OOTD: Fluffy, Fuzzy Fireworks.

Hello, not-so-closet animal lover here.

If you follow me on facebook, twitter, or here then you know my love for my furbabies is no secret. I don’t even try to hide it. Not even close. Cute levels run high and I cannot contain myself. They tilt their head the right way and I’m awing. They whine just right and I’m running to find the nearest camera, praying they’ll do it again. 95% of my pictures are of them. I'm convinced their sleeping is the cutest thing on the planet. Oh, and those "please love me" eyes! They get me every time. Yes, yes - I'm one of those parents. Obsessive? Maybe. Addicted? Probably. Head-over-heels in love with my lovebugs? Most definitely.

Why should America's birthday be any different? ;)

So, between a cloudy, cold, rainy afternoon spent shopping, the most delicious mug of vanilla Chai ever (fair trade organic from Starbucks!), and watching Independence Day I found time to center my attention on my fuzzballs. Now, I don't just mean in bundles of cuddles. (Not that they'd have minded.) Goodness, I spoil them all the time like that. I mean in my attire. I kept a piece of them with me all day, even when we weren't home.

How?

I have one pup-tastic 4th of July t-shirt.

I go weak in the knees for anything cute.

I am indeed the girl who has a graphic tee specifically for a holiday. (It's kind of a wonder I don't have a Christmas sweater. I want to change this!) How it came to be mine is quite simple. Dad picked up the shirt, held it out to me and announced: "Look, it's Peaches!" (He knows me so well.) Staring up at me from the navy blue background was an adorable likeness of a white fluffball, much like my beloved soul-buddy. There was no questioning. I was sold.

Every where I go, when I get complimented on how cute my shirt is, I cannot help but smile ear-to-ear. Happily I admit to them, "it reminds me of my dog." Occasionally it takes them by surprise that this 20-something is daring to wear a graphic tee because it reminds them of their pup. Other times, my favorite times, it makes them smile ear-to-ear as they tell me how much they love their own special pet. Arguably not the most fashionable attire, this comfortable tee brings me such joy. I wear it only once a year. Twice, occasionally. (The 4th of July and Memorial Day.) It is reserved only for special occasions. Very fitting for something that depicts a likeness of one of my most special friends. My pets are my special friends, my babies - literally my pride and joy. I completely understand how parents adore their real babies, just because of how much love bursts from my heart for my furbabies.

Sometimes I think: if I take this many pictures of my dogs, if I am this in love with them, I cannot begin to fathom how much more it'll be when I have children of my own some day.

(A side note on the sweater I'm wearing: this sweater has easily become my new favorite piece. I have owned it for years but rarely worn it. This year I have paired it with 5 different outfits so far. It has enhanced them all! Proof that a good piece, no matter how old, can always be in style when paired right!)

• Shirt: Walmart (bought years ago during one of their post-holiday sales)
• Shorts: Khols (bought five years ago during a sale - two pairs for the price of one! I just love the weathered look, it fits my inner-country soul)
• Sweater: Khols (bought years ago, again, on sale.)
• Sandals:  Vionic by Orthaheel, purchased at Lamey Wellehan earlier this year. (Side note: these shoes are normally a bit pricey, especially for my bargain shopping soul. However, I am flat footed and suffer a lot from back pain. So I have recently decided that quality is more important than bargain buys...however, this doesn't mean I cannot have both! These sandals were normally upwards of $100, depending on style. Lamey was having a sale when I bought them, though, which means I paid $60. I also recently discovered that Lamey Wellehan has an outlet store about an hour from my house - which  means even better discounts.)
• Earrings: yard-sale find.

Up-close shots of my earrings and shoes.

When in Maine, wear lobsters!

Literally the most comfortable things I have ever, ever worn
on my feet. I don't now how I spent so many years
buying cheap shoes and suffering through them.

Lastly, because I mentioned my pups, here are some webcam photographs I took with them while watching Independence Day.  They - uh - didn't quite go as planned. Oh, the life of a Wackadoodle.

This wasn't quite the snuggle shot I intended.
The goofball first decided to contort her body and lay her head on my shoulder
for a few minutes. (It looks so uncomfortable, but she was so happy! Her
tail was going a mile-a-minute.)

... Then she dive-bombed my cheek with kisses.
  I couldn't help myself but cuddle with her and (attempt to) get a
picture (er- more like a "lick-ture").
Peaches is so enthusiastic about life!

They see face. They can reach face. They must lick face.
You cannot tell they're sisters at all.
No.

If I haven’t said it already: happy July, everyone!  (Also, did anyone else do a double take the first time they had to write 7.4.2014? Yikes! We're in the 7s already? The end of summer is approaching too quickly!)

OOTD: Dressed Up Casual

Today's life hack: dressing up yoga pants.

Hi, welcome to my house.

So, I know, it's a big no-no. Wearing yoga pants outside of yoga class or a gym is not the most fashion forward trend. But, listen, I'm a college gal. Some days I have to wake up in the wee hours of the morning and it takes everything in me not to wear pajamas to class. No one wants me wearing penguin pants to Biology.  Some days jeggings are not enough. Yoga pants are the most fashionably acceptable alternative that is closest to my pajamas.

It's the Finals Yard Dash. We're approaching finals week. This time of the semester always brings an energy slump. Every morning I wake up, stretch, and desire to cuddle in my nest of blankets. I loathe my alarm clock. The snooze button and I are great friends. The other morning I hit my snooze button 6 times! After each one I dove back beneath my blankets, pulled my comforter close, and imagined I was nested on a floating cloud. Ah, heaven.  Let me snuggle. It's not even the act of sleeping I long for; I just want to be lazy and lie around with mindless purpose. Impromptu nap times are frequent.  I've randomly flung my textbook onto one side of my bed and myself onto the other for a twenty minute nap more times than I can count.

Why photographing an OOTD post with your dog
is dangerous. Isn't that a schmexy shot.

I'm in a "I'm hot and I know it, but I'm too darn lazy to show it" kind of mood. I'm about ready to break out my Nerdfighter t-shirts pre-summer and wave my arms around like I just don't care. But I'm restraining myself the best I can. I'm compromising.

True to form, I'm keeping up with my Bargain Queen fashion status.

• Pants: Target (bought last year on sale!)
• Shirt: Old Navy (bought for nearly nothing last year when combining coupons and a buy one/get one sale)
• Cardigan: Old Navy (purchased several years ago on sale)
• Necklace: Khols (bought this newbie super cheap last week - clearance item!)
• Earrings: Walmart  (Bought several years ago - the only part of this outfit I purchased full price. Totally worth it! I love having big "diamonds" to wear.)
• Bracelet: Walmart (Purchased a set of these sparkly accessory items several years ago on clearance)
• Clogs: Croft & Barrow at Khols (Bought for only a couple of dollars - no more than $7 - several years ago when they were on clearance.)

Up-close shots of the necklace, the bracelet, and, inadvertently, a few of my rings:
 

I've worn this necklace twice this week. It is easily my favorite new accessory!
I've got such a weak spot for sparkle.

Awkward hand selfie

Photo-credit: most photographs are courtesy of my awesome mama, who never judges when I run to her saying "I need to photograph my clothing!" Which is a blessing, since I'm technologically impaired when it comes to taking photos of myself.

OOTD: Cowgirl at Heart

 I never really grew up in the "country." At least, not as much in the country as my soul feels like I did. In my head I grew up on a horse farm 30 minutes out of town, surrounded by more breathtaking landscape than city roads, telephone lines and neighbors. In reality I have never lived more than 15 minutes from a town with a grocery store and shopping complex, nor ever had the experience of being without a dense cluster of neighbors. Being just beyond town has always been my home. (I've only ever moved twice in my life that I remember - but that's for another post.)

There's always been a country girl living inside my soul. Horses, country music (I grew up on it!), farms with large fields, gardens, wooded trails, bonfires, nights spent watching the stars on a black sky, cut-off shorts, plaid shirts - they've all called my name. Growing up a few friends of mine did live in the country; whenever I visited, I felt at home on the land. I love the peace of the country - the stillness that comes with being physically set apart from busy society. I'm a social creature. I love people. But I love coming home to nature, to quiet, to beauty. The country has always symbolized all three for me.

While I cannot have them right now, my vision board is full of pictures of a future home with fields for my future horses, green houses and gardens, and wooden trails through the forest. I even have managed to save $400 over the past several years towards my dream horse. It's no where near enough right now, but it keeps me holding on to that dream. It makes it more tangible. (I've got at least eight years of graduate school before I settle down, anyway! I've lots of time to build savings up.)

My striped shirt featured here isn't exactly "country." But my boots and belt are! I have been wanting cowgirl boots for years, the real kind that can be used for barn work, but I've been unable to afford them. One day mom came home from shopping and handed me these beauties. They aren't exactly "official" cowgirl boots, but I love them none-the-less! They're my new favorite fashion accessory. (Edit: The plaid shirt might not be entirely country, but the design and the mellowed purposefully worn colors sure do fit my earthy-artsy-nerdy side!)

• Shirt: J.C. Penney (bought last year with a coupon!)
• Jeans: dELiA*s (bought during a huge sale - so I got four pair for the price of two!)
• Belt: Old Navy (bought during one of their specials and with a coupon - it was practically free!)
• Cowgirl boots: Khol's (Clearance item! I cannot remember the discount price exactly, but it was somewhere around $20 marked down from $79.)
• Earrings and necklace: gifts from over the years
• Rings: gifts and random finds

True to form, I'm keeping up with my Bargain Queen fashion status.

Up-close shots of the necklace, the boots (I couldn't resist showing off their detailing), the belt's detailing and, inadvertently, the shirt:

I never used to be a belt-lover, but within the past few years I've fallen in love with belts.
I wear them all the time. I must have about ten different ones, all for different kinds of outfits.
This particular belt is one of my favorite "every day" belts.

New favorite shoes! I love the decorative pattern.

I am a huge lover of peace, so a few years ago mom thought it a great idea to give me a necklace
that has three prominent symbols of it: the peace sign, the word "peace," and a dove.

I hope you're giving into your soul's loves and desires. Happy weekend, everyone!

OOTD: Pretty in Pink

It's no secret to anyone who knows me: I have a lot of clothes. Probably too many! But what is probably even less of a secret is how I afford it. My income is fairly minimal - and I'm a bit of a cheapskate. I have expensive taste, but an inexpensive eyesight. I want the best product for a sale's price. Show me the discount price tag!(This is what happens when your parents carried you around in their arms while they visited yard sales and farmer's markets and cut out coupons. You get a discount shopping junkie.)

Recently I was out shopping and picked up ten new items for my wardrobe - clothing and jewelry - for a tremendous deal. I'm really aiming to add more sophisticated and feminine clothing to my closet. Bit-by-bit it's working! (I love t-shirts and pajamas as much as I love blouses, but until recently I've avoided buying the latter for no real reason. No longer! I choose to indulge all sides of my personality.) If anything, now I need to up my intake of casual recreation outfits. For me, a girl who spent a good portion of her childhood wearing t-shirts and shorts/jeans, this is super exciting. Having a balance in my wardrobe feels so good!

Over at Southern Belle in Training, my friend, Miss ALK, posts frequent fashion posts. They're always so much fun - I just love her sense of style. She's always so put-together and oh-so feminine, even on her casual days! (And she's pretty talented at snagging great deals on good products herself!) I'd be lying if I said her love of fashion hadn't worn off on me. She may have had a(n) huge influence. But that's what friends are for, right? Corruption for your highest good.

Anyway, you can blame her for the fashion posts to come, including this one. (No complaints here!) Today you get to partake in my love of pink with a beautiful, hot-salmon pink sweater dress.

• Sweater dress: Khol's (pretty much free with Khol's cash).
• 3/4 Leggings: Walmart, a buy a long time ago.
• Boots: $5 on clearance at Walmart!(Bargain shoppers delight!)
• Earrings: Christmas gift.
• Rings: gifts and random finds.
  
  Up-close shots of the jewelery (my earrings), the boots (apparently my bathroom mirror needs dusting...), and some super cute detailing of the sweater dress:

So sparkly <3

If you haven't sensed it yet: I love me some sparkle.

Moments when I fall in love with cute belts like this makes me wonder
how I ever hated belts when I was a kid!

Another not so silent secret: I love lace. Seriously, completely, swoon-worthily
love lace.

These are my new favorite boots! They're super comfortable.
Because they're so low to the ground, I feel like I could wear them all day.
It feels like wearing flats!

I never used to be a leggings-lover, but these No Boundaries leggings that have been sitting in my closet untouched for years are so comfortable! More surprising for me: they're warm! It has been bitter cold here. The idea of wearing a dress to classes was almost completely shoved aside because of it. Not even tights or jeans keep my legs warm lately. Pulling my leggings from the back of my closet was an act of desperation - one I couldn't be more pleased with. One quick jump out onto my back porch gave me all the information I needed: these babies are warmer than my jeans or jeggings! (Jeggings were my other option if the leggings didn't work out. I'm not much of a skinny jean person, I don't find them very comfortable. Jeggings are all the comfort of stretch pants with all the super-cute fashion of skinny jeans! But, I digress.)

I'm now pro-leggings. I want to pair them with everything (even though I have no sweaters long enough to go with them or other sweat dresses). Finally! I understand the obsession with them. They're so comfortable, versatile, and stylish. (And, apparently, warm!)

Now is probably also a good time to say that I'm also officially pro-pink. I have been for awhile, but it's taken time for it to work it's way into my wardrobe. When I was little-little, I hated pink. I wouldn't wear it. I wouldn't let it in my room. I wouldn't look at it. Today I wore a dress that was solid pink. I loved every second of it. It's amazing how things change, isn't it?

What are some things - clothes, movies, shows, books, food...anything! - that you used to hate but now love?