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

Bubbles and Brunch

Last weekend my lovely cousin, Molly came up for a visit. She and my sister - Maddie - spent Friday night through Sunday at my apartment, and we spent most of Saturday exploring downtown Kenosha. There's still a lot we didn't get to, but I was glad we got to check a few things off my list of places to explore.

We got breakfast at Common Grounds coffee, and then took a nice long walk around the harbor. It's so pretty! Growing up on of my favorite books was Anne of Green Gables. For those of you that don't know, Anne lives on Prince Edwards Island. So when I lived with my parents, I loved that I could say I lived in a harbor town - even if it was an industrial harbor - but now my new town actually has a cute harbor area with coffee shops and restaurants and piers to walk on! There's even a vintage trolley where I took some of my graduation photos three years ago. I'm so excited to have this all so close to my home, and I'm going to try to stay really busy with it all this summer. I want to go to the beach, try some of the new restaurants near me, and take lots of pictures!

I know that every year I say "I think this is going to be a good summer!" but this time I know it will be, because I'm going to make it one.

Speaking of Anne of Green Gables, though - who else out there was sent into "the depths of despair" to hear about Jonathan Crombie's passing?? He brought such life to the character of Gilbert Blythe; and was such a talented actor, I know he will be so missed. RIP Gil.

Outfit Details:

shirt - Francesca's :: jeans - American Eagle Outfitters :: cardigan - Forever 21 :: shoes - Me Too :: purse - Francesca's :: necklace - gift from Maddie

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

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}

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

I'm coming after you

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

- I'm Coming After You by Owl City

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Wait for the Home Run You'll Find the Right One // What I Wore

{dress//Old Navy :: shoes//Me Too :: necklace//Francesca's :: watch//Francesca's ::  purse//Francesca's :: bracelet//thrifted :: sunglasses//Francesca's :: denim jacket//Old Navy via Ebay}

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

Such a hot crush

Makes your face blush

But try to take your time

'Cause every goose chase

Makes your heart race

And you wonder why'

So wait for the home run

You'll find the right one

And you'll figure this all out

~ Hey Anna by Owl City

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Hello, all! Hope your weekend is going well so far! I had to work at both of my jobs on Saturday - which is always exhausting. I'm looking forward to sleeping in a little before church/work tomorrow.

On a fashion-related note, this is my new favorite dress and that totally shocks me! This is so not something I'd have picked out for myself last year, but I absolutely love it! It's like wearing a giant tee shirt but way more stylish. So glad Rachel twisted my arm about it (I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Like I'd need a reason to buy a cute, new dress!)

Not much else to say right now. Lately I'm just really loving life - well, that and being completely exhausted from working two jobs and trying to keep up with friends/family/church stuff. Speaking of which I better head off to bed - it is 1:30am, after all...

Hope the rest of everyone's weekend is amazing! ♥

Waking Up Sad Isn’t So Bad If You Look Outside // What I Wore

{shirt//F21 :: skirt//Plato's Closet :: necklace//Francesca's :: shoes//Me Too :: watch//Francesca's :: bracelet//borrowed from work :: purse//Francesca's :: jacket//Top Shop}

This morning I woke up in a terrible funk for no good reason. Don't you just hate when that happens? So I hopped on the treadmill for a while and got a quick run in before getting all dolled up for work. That actually helped a lot.

I can't believe how much my style has changed in the past couple years. It used to be very girl/retro, but lately it's starting to pick up a more J Crew-esque feel. In fact, this morning I was trying to figure out a new way to do my makeup so I tried Googling "J Crew Makeup" for ideas and the first tutorial that popped up was basically what I've been doing the past couple weeks. Lol! So I decided to just stick with it anyway.

Happy start of the weekend! I don't have a day off till Wednesday, but at least I start late enough on Sunday for me to go to church. It's the little things in life. ♥

Unspeakably Awesome // What I Wore

{shirt//my moms :: jeans//Target :: jacket//Top Shop :: scarf//Franchesca's :: ballet flats//Me Too :: purse//Franchescas :: necklace//vintage}

In the words of Lizzie Bennet: 

"You know, some days are bad. Like when you trip in the hall after science class and your skirt flips over your head just as the senior you have a crush on is rounding the corner. Then there are days that are just 'ok.' Maybe you find a twenty on the sidewalk, but you also get a parking ticket. Then there are days are just so unspeakably awesome and everything is perfect and wonderful."

That was this past weekend for me. After working eleven days in a row I got a three day weekend - which was ah-mazing! Friday I got to hang out with three of my favorite people in the world, Saturday I had a good ol' lazy day, and Sunday I actually got to go to church!

Friends make the world go 'round. Sometimes you just need a weekend of shopping, laughing, deep talks, chocolate and smiles to make the world seem brighter, and the load lighter.

I can be insecure sometimes. I hide it well, but it's there. I'm loud - very loud - klutzy, a dork and I definitely don't weight what I'd like to. Sometimes I have trouble remembering that other people see more than just that. I like myself the way I am, but sometimes I think I just annoy other people or that all they see is the loud, crazy side of me. I don't know why, but it definitely helps to hear that someone thinks I'm cute, enjoys spending time with me, etc - even if I do kind of think "me!? I'm just the dork with three inch long un-dyed roots!"

And speaking of crazy-long roots: one of my coworkers honestly told me today that she loves how my hair is going out and how it's like a reverse ombre. Glad to know I don't look like a total looser - even if I didn't plan this at all and it is just from total laziness. Who knows, maybe I'll keep it a while. Maybe...

Florals + Polka-dots // What I Wore

{dress//F21 :: sweatshirt//Plato's Closet :: jacket//TopShop :: flats//Me Too :: beaded necklace//local botique :: gold necklace//vintage :: purse//Emma Fox via TJ Maxx :: lipstick//tinted lip balm by Cailyn in "Big Apple"}

You guys/gals, I have a confession to make: when I first got this sweatshirt I may or may not have worn it 2-3 times a week for the first month. *sheepish grin* But seriously - it goes with everything! I think pairing it with this polka-dot dress was one of my favorite outfits, though. And I love the double necklace detail. <3

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like my style has changed so much over the summer. Then again, I think I've changed a ton this summer, so I suppose it only makes sense...

For the first time, I actually feel like I've grown up - like I'm not the same fourteen year old girl I was five years ago. When I think about turning twenty in seventeen days it feel right. Like, I don't feel like "I can't believe I'm going to be twenty!" I feel twenty. How weird is that??