Getting Swept Away // What I Wore

"I can't decide if it's a choice
Getting swept away...

Your name has echoed through my mind

And I just think you should, think you should know
That nothing safe is worth the drive..."

~ Treacherous by Taylor Swift

Lately I'm obsessed with Taylor Swift's album, Red. I know, I know, I'm, like, three years late but better late than never, right? Between 22 (growing up, figuring out who we are and trying to find our place in the "adult" world); and songs like Begin Again or Treacherous (letting go of the past and being vulnerable again) I just relate to it so much lately! Maybe I just needed to grow up to appreciate it?

I spent so much of my life wishing I'd have someone special in it. I can't help it. I'm a hopeless romantic and I love love. I love the feeling of crushing on someone. The butterflies and blushing and feeling a bit little like a shy school girl. I love how vulnerable and raw and transparent it makes me feel

But whenever I find myself crushing on someone I almost instantly find myself wishing I didn't. As much as I love the drama and romance of it all I hate the feeling of helplessness. The waiting and worrying. Waiting for them to call me, to ask me out, etc. The worrying that I'm overreacting and I'm the only one that feels that "spark," that it's not going anywhere further. The vulnerability, rawness and transparency.

It's such conflicting feelings. I guess I just want a safe place to fall. I want a country song love. The kind where I'm just as much the only thing he can think about as he's the only thing I can think about. The kind where he shows up in a pickup truck to drive around with the windows down - and it doesn't matter where to as long as we're together.

But nothing worth having comes without risk, and so the circle starts again.

Outfit details:

shorts - Francesca's :: boots - Francesca's :: sweater - Francesca's :: necklace - Francesca's :: purse - Emma Fox via TJ Maxx :: headband - gift :: lipstick - Wet 'n Wild Mega Last lip color in Cherry Picking

Where the Corn Grows Ten Feet Tall // What I Wore + Meetup with Hannah

Holy posts, Batman! I'm so behind! These pics are from the beginning of July when I drove further into my beloved Wisconsin to meet up with Hannah of The Outfit Repeater! We spent the day thrifting, eating ah-mazing BBQ and taking outfit photos - of course!

Getting to meet online friends for the first time really is one of my favorite things to do - especially if it takes me to towns I've never been to before! Hannah was a total doll to show me around her hometown, and boy oh boy is it adorable! Nestled among farms and ranches, it's seriously one of the best towns I've been to (and did I mention the unbelievable BBQ restaurant she took me to?)

I was trying to be frugal with my money so I didn't buy a whole lot while thrifting, but I did get a frame for my art wall as well as a cute vase for on my dinning room table. After that we went to take some outfit pictures (and Hannah further proved what a doll she is by letting me borrow an SD card since I left mine at home), and then we stopped at Culver's from some much-needed frozen custard before I had to hit the road back home.

I couldn't help but stop at Big Hill Park on my way home though (what can I say? The name intrigued me) which is where the last photo was taken. The park was simply breathtaking and I can't wait to go back sometime and further explore it!

All in all it was a great day. Thanks so much for being my hostess, Hannah! We have to do it again sometime soon!

Outfit details:

jeans - Target :: shoes - target :: top - Francesca's :: sunnies - Francesca's :: purse - Francesca's

Kaleidoscope of Heartbeats // What I Wore + Meetup w/ Bramblewood Fashion

So a couple weeks ago I got a chance to meet up with Ashley and Gabby of Bramblewood Fashion in the beautiful city of Chicago, IL! After work I drove into Chicago and we grabbed Chipotle for dinner before walking to the bean and Navy Pier, which was really fun because I don't get to go into Chicago that often, and I haven't been to the bean or Navy Pier in years.

I was going back and forth for days about what to wear, and I finally ended up with one of my favorite dresses from Francesca's - which isn't actually mine. Haha! My mom bought this dress and I love borrowing it. Come to think of it, though, this outfit is actually made of most of my favorite pieces. Favorite dress; favorite sandals; and my favorite necklace. It's a locket with a heart and Mickey Mouse silhouette. My sister brought it back for me from Disney Disneyland, and I love that it adds a little something without being overwhelming.

Also this is my first post showing off my new tattoo!! It says "be Thou my vision" in it's original Gaelic, and the "t" in "Thou" is a cross! (There's a close up on my Instagram if you're interested.) It turned out better than I could have imagined, and I'm beyond thrilled with it! I'm already planning my next one!

Outfit details:

dress - Francesca's :: shoes - target :: jacket - Francesca's :: necklace - Disneyland :: purse - Emma Fox via T.J. Maxx

Whiskey in a Teacup // What I Wore

How lovely is this bridge?? It's right behind my house and I'm so excited to be able to use it for outfit photos more often.

These photos are from a while ago - last month, actually. I wore this outfit to an important interview, and I was trying to look more adult. Lately I've been feeling like I don't look as mature as I am. I mean, I'm a grown woman with a career and apartment of her own - I ought to look it! But most of the time I feel like I look more like a mature   - not really a bad look, just not what I'm going for. So pointy toed shoes, natural makeup looks, and more minimalist fashion are all quickly becoming staples in my wardrobe.

It's funny though, because this skirt is one of the oldest pieces in my wardrobe. Sometime soon I'm going to do a post of all the different ways I've worn it - there's a lot of them!

Outfit details:

skirt - handmade by me :: denim shirt - Plato's Closet :: shoes - Old Navy :: necklace - Francesca's :: lipstick - Kate Moss for Rimmel London :: bag - Francesca's

I Choke on the Sun // What I Wore

Sleep don't visit, so I choke on sun
And the days blur into one
And the backs of my eyes hum with things I've never done

Sheets are swaying from an old clothesline
Like a row of captured ghosts over old dead grass
Was never much but we made the most
Welcome home

~ Welcome Home by Radical Face

I felt like Elizabeth from Delightfully Tacky taking these photos. (Anybody else remember when she used to take a lot of her outfit photos in that really cool alley?) I was super excited when I realized that this alley was right behind my house - for this very reason. I'm always looking for close outfit photo locations, and this place will be  a huge life saver. I already know it. I'm only disappointed that these photos turned out grainy. I have no idea what caused that, but it's very vexing. Oh well! I'll get it next time, I guess.

Kenosha is such a cute town, though - full restaurants, things to do and the of the sweetest spots for photos I can't wait to get out and explore more now that the weather is actually warming up. And while we're on that subject, I can't believe it's already May 21st! Where has this year gone?? I feel like it was just New Years Eve, and now it's already almost summer! I mean,  there are just 50 short days until Bristol Renaissance Faire opens for the season. Eep! I'm so excited. I keep looking at photos from years past and watching Miss Molly's lovely video montage in anticipation. 

What are you most excited for this summer?

Outfit Details:

jeans - Target :: lace tank -Marurice 's :: sweater wrap - Francesca's :: necklace - Francesca's :: boots  - Francesca's :: bag - Francesca's

Our Dear Ocean Town // What I Wore

Goodbye Brielle

Only whispers can tell

Of the sweet dreams that we knew so well

I'll see you around our dear ocean town

~ Brielle by Sky Sailing

Every time I'm down by the harbor I feel as if I've stepped into Anne of Green Gables or a Sky Sailing song. There's something just so romantic and old fashioned about a quaint harbor complete with pathways, lighthouses and piers. 

Needless to say, I'm loving my move. Living on my own has always been a dream of mine, but I never saw how it could be a possibility. The area I grew up in is an interesting one, and there are general two options for housing: cheap housing in less, than ideal neighborhoods (read: "not the safest of places"); or expensive housing in well-to-do towns. Neither are viable choices for a 20-something woman living on her own. Luckily some friends of mine introduced me to how amazing Wisconsin is! For some reason I used to hate the town I currently live in, but after spending a year hanging out in this area with said friends, I realized how totally cool this place is! I honestly don't even remember why I used to dislike it.

On another subject, I apologize for the (terrible) quality of these photos. I'm completely in love with this outfit (this teeshirt quite accurately describes my life!), but I had so many problems getting pictures! First of all, even though it was a very nice day, the lakefront was freezing and windy. In fact, it was so windy it blew my tripod over and sent my poor little baby crashing to the ground. My heart jumped into my throat as I heard the very distinct sound of breaking glass. God was totally with me and my camera, though, because the only thing that broke was the UV protector on the lens! Literally all these photos were taken after there fall with the same camera and lens! I will never, ever use another lens without a UV protector again!

Outfit Details:

skirt - made by me :: graphic tee - Francesca's :: denim jacket - Old Navy :: necklace - gift from Maddie :: shoes - Me Too :: sunnies - Francesca's

Castles and Dreams // What I Wore in Elgin IL

Well, these photos are slightly oldies. They're from last month when I spent the weekend with the lovely, Laura of Thrifting Through Life. We've been friends for over a year (ever since the Blog Days of Summer meetup in Pittsburgh), but have actually only spent one weekend together IRL. The saddest part is that she's been just an hour from my house for seven months and this was the first time we got together since her move to Illinois! We've both been so busy with work, boys and moving that we hadn't carved out anytime to see each other. She also doesn't have a car right now, so meeting half way or her visiting me is hard to manage. As such we decided the best, and easiest way to get some girl time was for me to just spend a weekend at her house.

Obviously such a weekend included thrifting, donuts and lots of photography (also one of us may have convinced the other one to sign up for Tinder - which lasted all of, like, an hour - but that's a story for another time). However, the highlight of the trip was definitely finding and photographing this castle. Who knew Elgin, IL had a castle!? Certainly not either of us! Obviously this discovery demanded a photo shoot complete with dresses and bright lipstick.

My outfit was largely influenced by Meghan Trainor's new music video, Dear Future Husband. The styles in it are so swoon-worthy, and I just so happened to find this dress at Walmart for $15! It took me a while to get the cat-eyes, just right, though - I haven't done a bold cat-eye in so long! I think it all turned out well, though. I was pleased, at least. 

This castle is by far one of the coolest things I've ever seen! It even had a moat and bridge and I'm pretty sure I went into geek mode and started randomly quoting the Lord of the Rings. I wanted to yell out "I cannot jump such a distance you'll have to toss me!" or "You said this keep would never fall as long as your men defend it. They still defend it - they have died defending it!" Haha! I was worrying Laura, though, by walking back and forth across the bridge though. It wasn't so much of a "bridge" as it was a bunch of (semi) sturdy boards. It bent a little in the middle and the boards were not flush and she was convinced I was going to fall in the moat (that would have been a Grey's Anatomy worthy hospital trip!).

Head on over to Laura's blog to see her photos and hear her side of the the story!

Outfit details:

dress - Walmart :: faux leather jacket - Top Shop :: shoes - Francesca's :: necklace - Francesca's :: lipstick - Rebel by Mac