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.