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

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

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}

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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

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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. ♥

Right This Second // What I Wore

{dress//local boutique :: cardigan//thrifted :: necklace//vintage :: boots//local boutique :: bag//Emma Fox via TJ Maxx :: lipstick//Rimmel London Kate Moss in 104} 

Sometimes I feel like I have nothing to say whenever I sit down at the computer to write a post. This time, however, that is far from being a problem.

My family spent this weekend in Springfield IL for my dad's family's annual Christmas party. We had a fun weekend and ate way too much food and left early this afternoon to head home. It was starting to snow a little, but it was blowing off the roads like no big deal. I came down before my parents, so I was driving my little Volkswagen Jeta with my 17 year old sister Maddie while the rest of my family drove in my mom's mini-van. Maddie and I accidentally took the wrong exit and had to turn around so we ended up about 10-15 miles behind my parents.

Now, if you've never been to Illinois let me explain something before I go further in the story: there is a reason Illinois is called "the Prairie State." It. Is. Flat. The edges tend to be more hilly/have more trees, but central Illinois is one giant, flat corn field, and you can see for miles. Maddie and I were driving across such a stretch when a big gust of wind blew my little car off course. I turned the steering wheel to put the car back squarely in the lane, and the car slipped on an invisible patch of ice on the road, spun way into the right lane, and I lost all control. I have a vague memory of trying to point the wheels toward the ditch, (but to be honest my memory of the whole event is really hazy and I couldn't even remember what caused us to spin out of control for several minutes after everything was done) and stepping hard on the brake, but mostly I just remember praying "oh God help us!" and "omgsh I am living Jesus Take the Wheel." Yes, that is where my mind goes. LOL. My little sister was in the car and I was honestly more scared for her sake than I was for myself.

We spun completely around at least twice but I think it was three times before stopping in the middle of the ditch between the two directions of traffic. I looked at Maddie and honestly couldn't believe we were both completely unharmed. The airbags didn't even go off.

Maddie called my parents who came back, checked out the car and walked be through getting it back on the road. We pulled off at the next exit where my dad took a better look at the car, and decided that roads were too bad to even attempt going back to my grandmother's house, so we drove five miles north to a hotel in Bloomington, IL, where I'm currently sitting, writing this.

All-in-all the most terrifying day of my life.

On a happier note this dress is what I wore to the Christmas party but on a different day. It didn't look like much on the hanger, but I love how it looks on, and the color is so pretty. A very fitting Christmas dress, I think. ♥

♫ Post title // Right This Second by Deadmou5 ♫

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??

Bit of a Nerd // What I Wore

{sweatshirt//Target :: skirt//Etsy :: boots//Sorel :: pink necklace//local boutique :: clock necklace//vintage :: belt//thrifted :: jacket// TopShop :: bag//Emma Fox via TJ Maxx :: lipstick//Revolution by Urban Decay in "Anarchy"}
 

Is there really anything better than a good graphic tee? I didn't think so until I discovered my love for sweatshirts, and thereby my love of graphic sweatshirts. So freakin' comfy! I wore a very similar outfit to nearly a full year ago. I guess some things just never get old.

Jurassic Park is definitely one of the more cheesy movies of our life time, but my childhood love of dinosaurs refuses to let me dislike it. And since heather grey is quickly becoming one of my favorite colors, I just couldn't pass this sweatshirt up when I found it at Target last week.

And last - but not least - I'm really loving my purple hair lately. It makes me feel edgy, sassy and little (or a lot!) like a pop star. Maybe I should start spelling my name with a "y"? That's how most people spell it anyway... *winks*

Wearing Lady Clothes // What I Wore

{skirt//local boutique :: sweatshirt//Plato's Closet :: scarf//gift :: boots//Sorel :: bracelet//thrifted :: watch//Francesca's Collections :: necklace//Old Navy :: jacket//TopShop :: purse//Emma Fox via TJ Maxx :: lipstick//Revolution by Urban Decay in "Anarchy"}

 

Lately I've been trying to get back into the groove of life. For a while I've felt sort of depressed and just plain off. I've slept a lot, watched a lot of TV, and the dressiest I've been is jeans and a nice sweater. Getting involved in my church has helped a lot, though. I've made some really super-awesome friends, who are a blast to hang out with, and that makes everything seem a little bit better. I've even been wearing lady clothes again...

In other news this "skirt" is actually an awesome jersey sleeveless dress that is so much fun to wear around my waist with a sweatshirt over it. As a tall girl I never get to have dresses that come down to my heels (especially not with wedges!) so I loved walking around with this "skirt" trailing on the ground around my feet.

I like to think that my purple ombre topknot is pretty rad, too. *winks*

P.S. Anyone catch the Thor 2 reference in this post?