Captains of the Sky // What I Wore

{dress//Francesca's :: denim button down//Plato's Closet :: boots//Target} 

I'm so in love with this dress! I didn't get a good shot of it, but the neckline is beaded and has a very classic, preppy, J Crew-ish look about it. I can't wait to wear it in the summer with some strappy wedges!

I bought it right before my district manager's visit to my store. Well, sort of my store. I was promoted to assistant store manager in November, and I've been acting store manager ever since my manager left in the beginning of January. It's been a really good (if exhausting) experience, and I love all of the girls I work with. I always try to bring my a-game fashion wise whenever the district manager is in my store though - and that makes for a good excuse to buy new, pretty dresses. Haha! 

I'm hoping to take a trip up to Mackinac Island in the summer and if so this dress will definitely be included in my suitcase. It's such a perfect, nautical look for an island getaway! Summer can't come fast enough for me. What are you all looking forward to this summer?

Dropped Out of the Sky // What I Wore

{dress//Francesca's :: boots//Bussola :: socks//local boutique :: cardigan//Maurice's :: scarf//Francesca's :: necklace//Francesca's :: purse//Emma Fox via T.J. Maxx :: belt//Target}

 "My life was so boring before you just dropped out of the sky."

I'm not sure how I got to this place in my life, to be honest. Molly and I were just talking the other day about how crazy it is that we're both more-or-less where we thought we'd be after graduation. She's at home writing and photographing while learning about Charlotte Mason's approach to teaching; while I'm moved out of my parents house, going to work surrounded by pretty things everyday, and in a relationship with the best guy I've ever known. Seriously how did we get here??

I feel like everything happened in a whirlwind - most of which I wasn't even looking for... Basically life kicks butt right now and I'm happier than I've ever been in my life. Here's hoping the last two months of 2014 are just as fantastic as the last ten have been.

Loving Him was Red // What I Wore

{jeans//American Eagle Outfitters :: sweater//Francesca's :: army jacket//borrowed from my roommate :: scarf//Francesca's :: boots//Sorel :: purse//Francesca's :: necklace//Francesca's}

This purse and scarf have quickly become two of my favorite autumn accessories. The (teeny tiny!) size of this purse is a nice change of pace from my usual, bulky Mary-Poppin's bag; and this sweater seriously feels like wearing a blanket around my neck. It's so warm and cozy!

This outfit is super simple and casual - so different from what I was wearing last year! Like I said in my farewell post on Beautifully Pure, I was trying so hard to be one of the "cool kids"/hipsters last year. I know I talked a lot last year about how my confidence had grown, but that was nothing compared to how I feel now!  God has really worked in my life the last year, though, and I've let go of all that and am happy just being myself - as a result I'm drawn to more minimalist, comfy-casual but chic outfits.

Honestly, how I've dressed in the past has really been a bit of a mask. I felt that I needed those a-line skirts to hide my tummy and big thighs and all those colors and makeup and lipstick to hide my under-eye circles and tired-looking eyes. Like I said, God has worked in me a lot this year. One of the most important things I've realized is that the people who love me will think I'm beautiful no matter what I wear, and the people that will criticize me don't matter.

And since we're talking about accepting my flaws - can we take a moment to appreciate how often I've been posting photos of me smiling with teeth!? That used to be something I was super self conscious about, but lately it doesn't bother me. Maybe it's the fact that I've recently realized that several of my friends hate their smiles, too, despite the fact that I think they look adorable smiling with teeth. Or maybe it's the fact that closed-mouth smile just can't express how unbelievably happy I am with my life right now. Who knows? Either way I'm happy to see myself making progress in this whole "self-love" thing. ♥

Love is a High Speed Chase Racing Down the Street // What I Wore

{dress//Forever 21 :: belt//Target :: jacket//Old Navy via Ebay :: shoes//Me Too :: jewelry//borrowed from work :: purse//Francesca's}

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I'm coming after you

(Love is a high speed chase racing down the street)

- I'm Coming After You by Owl City

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I can't even tell you all how excited I am that it's finally June! I don't know about the rest of you, but I have big plans for this summer. State Fairs, the renaissance faire, classic car shows, the outdoor movie theater, miniature golf - you name it and I'm going to do it this summer!

I feel like I didn't really take full advantage of having a car and spending money last summer (probably because I didn't have many friends in the area) so this summer I want to do everything I've missed out on the last couple years. I think I'm off to a pretty good start, too, considering that I've already been the drive-in (even though it was freezing!) and I have the Saturday the 21st off of work, which is part of one of the neighboring towns around here's "Nostalgia Days," complete with classic car show! 

Summer, I'm coming after you!

Days are Good & That's the Way it Should Be // What I Wore

P

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I think the universe is on my side

Heaven and Earth have finally aligned

Days are good and thats they way it should be

~ Bright by Echosmith

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Am I the only one who feels like everyone is getting into relationships lately?? Miss Lauren of Someone Like You just recently a wrote a post about marriage/weddings and it - on top of all my friends newly changed FaceBook relationship statuses - has really got me thinking about the whole thing. One of these days I want to write a post about the whole "courtship vs dating" debate, but I don't want to get into that yet. 

I just always find it so interesting to hear people my age say they don't want to get married young - for as long as I can remember I wanted to be married young. My mom was married when she was 25 and had me immediately - and while I definitely don't always hold my parents' relationship as the ideal relationship, I know that I do want to have kids while I'm still young enough to run and play with them. 

After high-school all I wanted was a boyfriend. I was tired of being single and - quite honestly - just unhappy with my life and wanted a change. And then God changed my life. I can't explain it any better than just "God opened my eyes." I realized how miserable I was in my life and set about to change it. I started running, lost weight, got a better job, and just got happy with my life! All of a sudden I found that I didn't "need" a guy in my life as much as I thought I did. I found myself thinking that if it happened, great! But if not I'll be ok. I'm happy with who I am and where my life is going.

Having said that, I do still want to be married someday. I want that companionship and love and I still believe it exists (despite all the terrible examples I've seen and continue to see in my life). I also want to have kids, and I'm not about wasting my time in the mean time. I don't need a boy friend, but if I'm going to put time and effort into dating, it's going to be with someone who shares the same goals/values as me, and wants the same things I want in life. I don't need a boy friend, but if I'm going to have one it's not going to be just a fling. You know what I mean?

Anyway, those were just my late-night thoughts last night. I'd love to hear other thoughts on topic, so if you have any please comment and share them!