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

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

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. 

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.

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}

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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

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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...