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?

Backyard Swagger

{skirt//Francesca's :: blouse//Francesca's :: denim button down//Plato's Closet :: socks//DIY}

 "You can't ride in my little red wagon
The front seat's broken and the axel's dragin'
You can't step to this backyard swagger
You know it ain't my fault when I'm walkin' jaws droppin' like
Ooh, ah, ooh, ah"

~ Little Red Wagon by Miranda Lambert

Sorry for the long absence. My computer went kaput and I've yet to remember to bring it over to my dad to fix it.

This week Molly and I are staying with our aunt and uncle in the sticks of Missouri for some much needed R&R. It snowed here shortly before we came which is pretty unusual, so naturally the only logical course of action was to do a photo shoot in a mini skirt out in the 20 degree weather.

It was a really fun set to shoot because we just had fun. I had my phone out playing some Miranda Lambert songs and just danced around. Usually I'd be too self conscious to be this goofy or wear such a tight skirt, but I've come a long way in self acceptance over the past few months and I actually had a blast shooting these photos - even if I did almost freeze to get them. 

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.

Begin Again // What I Wore

{skirt//Francesca's :: denim button-down//Plato's Closet :: scarf//Francesca's :: tights//Francesca's :: boots//Bussola :: sunglasses//Francesca's :: watch//Francesca's :: bracelet//vintage :: ring//gift}

I have nothing to say tonight. 

I wore this on Sunday. 

I went to church and then to my boyfriend's grandma's house for lunch with him and his family. 

The leaves are changing color. 

Apples are getting ripe. 

I'm learning to open up. 

I live in a house with my two best friends. 

I don't have a cat. 

I'm ok with that. 

I love my job, and I even kind of love the long commute. 

I love my family and my church family. 

I love autumn. 

I love my life. 

The End.

I Feel Alive // What I Wore

  {dress//Francesca's :: scarf//Francesca's :: necklace//Francesca's :: belt//Target :: boots//Ariat // watch//Francesca's :: lipstick//Sephora brand}

So I've officially reached that point in life where every outfit includes at least one item from Francesca's - but most of the time it's more than that. I just love everything we carry so much! I mean, how perfect is this dress? The colors are bright enough for summer, and it's nice and loose so it won't cling too much; but the dark, jewel tones transition perfectly into autumn. I'm seriously in love with it. I originally wore this outfit for date night, but I loved it so much I wore it again for my family's mini-reunion yesterday - which was a blast. It was so much fun to see my favorite grand-aunt and uncle again.  I love them both like grandparents/second parents, and I haven't seen them since February. I've missed them - and their hugs. My Uncle Duane is over six feet tall and a big, burly guy, so he gives the best bear hugs. ^.^

We were supposed to cook out with them but since the weather decided to be wet and rainy all day we had to order in. I'm not complaining, though, because the rain brought the most amazing autumn weather with it. It's supposed to be in the sixties the rest of the week, so I'm wearing tights and and jackets all week. I love autumn/sweater/scarf/tights weather so much. ♥

Let's Run, Not Walk, Through This Beautiful Life // What I Wore

{shirt//Target :: jeans//American Eagle Outfitters :: vest//Old Navy :: necklace//Francesca's :: ballet flats//Me Too :: purse//Francesca's :: sunglasses//H&M}

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥  

This is a short race, this is a short life
Let's run, not walk, through this beautiful lifeThis is a good day, this is a good signYou've got green eyes and I've got sunrise
~ Talking Dreams by Echosmith
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥  

Lately I just feel like I want to hang on to every single moment of life. Lol. How cheesy does that sound? When I was in high school I had this idea of what my life would be like when I graduated... and then it wasn't anything like that at all. It's taken a lot of pain, heartache and hard to work to get where I am now, but I'm finally starting to enjoy my life. I have good friends, a good church, a good job and I actually do more than sit in my room on the internet all day on my days off. I'm just really enjoying my life lately. ♥

This outfit is actually quite old. It's from last month when me and some of my BFF's went (or at least, attempted) to see Maleficent at the outdoor. Some car troubles and one week later we finally saw it in a regular theater. Lol. Oh well, it all worked out in the end. xo

Just Love's Illusion // What I Wore

{skirt//made by me :: top//Talbots via T.J. Max :: wedges//Steve Madden :: purse//Francesca's :: necklace, bracelet and rings//borrowed from work :: sunglasses//H&M :: denim jacket//Francesca's lipstick//Revlon Colorburst Crayon Matte Balm in Unapologetic}

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

There was a time when I would have believed them 

If they told me that you could not come true 

Just love's illusion 

But then you found me 

And everything changed 

And I believe in something again

- I Choose You by Sarah Bareilles

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

This song plays at work from time to time and I'm totally smitten with it - it's such a catchy song!

This is what I wore to work on Saturday. We've had so many cute crop top/skirt combos come into the store lately that I decided to brave an attempt at one. I didn't hate it so that's great! I probably would have liked it more if it had been warmer out, but it was only 60-65 degrees despite the weather man's reports of a high of 80 degrees. Boo!

I was going to try to write a more editorial style post tonight, but I'm just not in the mood. One of the reasons I decided to start blogging again was that I missed having a record of my daily life. This place is the closest thing I have to a journal (just with more friends), and I really want that documentation of this year. From the very beginning I've felt like this would be a really big year for me, and so far it's living up to that expectation. I just feel so full and so happy and so alive. I'm seriously happier than I've ever been in my life.

There's a song we sing from time to time at my church. It's called Beautiful Things, and the chorus is:

You make beautiful things,

You make beautiful things out of dust.

You make beautiful things,

You make beautiful things out of us.

It's become one of my favorite songs, and not a little because I so see that in my life. Six months ago I was a wreck, and now I just feel so complete and happy... It's incredible, and I thank God every day for all He's done for me. ♥

Always One Foot on the Ground // What I Wore

{top//Francesca's :: jeans//American Eagle Outfitters :: sandals//Steve Madden :: purse//Francesca's :: watch & bracelet//Francesca's :: scarf//Francesca's :: lipstick//Kat Von D's Painted Love in Underage Red}

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I never loved nobody fully

Always one foot on the ground

And by protecting my heart truly

I got lost in the sounds

I hear in my mind

All these voices

I hear in my mind all these words

I hear in my mind all this music

- Fidelity by Regina Spektor

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I've been hurt a lot in life. I don't want to get into the details of it because to be honest with you I'm trying to forgive everyone and not play it over in my head, but that is a reality of my life. A lot of times I haven't felt like I could depend on anyone but myself. I've had the ground fall out from below me about a hundred times too many. But even though it totally sucks to have that in my life, I don't regret it. All that pain made me who I am today - but that doesn't mean I don't still bear the scars from that hurt.

The mind is such an interesting thing. It controls so much of our lives and often times we don't even realize what it's doing. Over the years I've developed hundred of little trips to keep people at an emotional arms length, and all because it's just so hard to admit when I really care about someone. I'm always waiting for the other shoe to drop, and if I let other people know how much I care, that means that I can't pretend that I didn't later on when it does "inevitably" happen. 

Does that make sense? I hope so because it's 2am and I don't feel like trying to make this make more sense...