a bit bow struck

Sometimes, clothes just speak to you. Other times, they yell at you. They yell, "you, woman, I am everything you've ever wanted from a garment. I am you, if you were a dress! You simply must buy me!" This was that dress for me. I saw it first when my boutique got it in stock. I'd never seen anything like it before. I was immediately star-struck. Or bow-struck.

I am devout bow person. The very day I turned 18, I got a tattoo. That tattoo? It was a petite pink bow on the nape of my neck. I have no regrets. Anything with a bow catches my attention, only now that I'm older, I'm a bit more selective of the kinds of bows I get attached to. I want to avoid lookling like an overgrown toddler, obviously.

The classic fit-and-flare cut, soft colors and whimsical design of bows made this the perfect Easter dress for me. My only worry when buying it was that it would be a one-time dress -- only for a special occasion. My life isn't filled with many cocktail parties these days, so I had to figure out a way to re-wear it. So, I threw a basic black tee over it and knotted that bad boy to dress this dress down. Even dressed down, I still felt like a 50's glamour queen, through and through. And I love anything that makes me feel that good wearing it.

I'll probably try it with a chambray shirt next (chambray goes with everything), but as long as this is sitting in my closet, I will find ways to wear it. Oh, it also comes in a skirt too! See the skirt here and fall in love with the dress here.

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fresh produce

Farmer's markets are little neighborhood gems. All of the fresh, organic, hand-made, home-grown, artisan and gourmet options make a trip to one make you feel like a better person instantly. I think my love for farmer's markets started when I was a little girl, years ago, at a Brooklyn market with my mom.

I was eyeing a spread of the smallest apples (crabapples, I would later learn) I had ever seen when my child's curiosity got the best of me. I grabbed one. My mom scolded me, but the farmer didn't mind. He went so far as to give me one for free! Every market since then has been just as wonderful an experience. The farmers are always nice and really get my need for free food and samples. So basically I guess what I'm saying is if I can get something for free, I'm game.  

As soon as spring hits, I make an effort to go to my closest market. Since it's outdoors, dressing comfortably is a primary goal.Thank goodness sweatpants in public has become socially (and sartorially) okay. Kudos to those on high for this trend. And kudos to you, kind farmer from my childhood, for igniting my love for fresh produce and free samples.

*If you can't stomach just wearing sweats in public, add a few unexpected dashes of fancy. I wore my favorite Tory Burch earrings. 

Find a market near you, here. Support your local farmers (by eating their food for free)!

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luxury withdrawls

 

It's taken me a while, but I've finally adjusted back into my real world schedule after all of my birthday celebrations and spoiling. The final hurrah of of my birthday week was a Bed & Breakfast stay at the Chateau Elan with my gentleman caller.

It's left me feeling very elite, and since then I haven't looked at anything the same. Once you've had warmed robes, courtesy breakfasts and a personal heated pool, how can you go back to living your regular life? Oh, it's just devastating!

Sitting poolside, time slowed down, the Mai Tais kicked in and all was well with the world. This being a somewhat spontaneous trip, I had to get my swimsuit last minute. I'd heard great things about Forever 21's line, and for the price and convenience, they didn't disappoint.

I'm a life-long lover of the glamorous 50's, so this retro silhouette becoming popular has made me a very happy sunbather. It's also the most comfortable way I've found to be half naked in public. 

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a year's time

 

Around this time, just a year ago, I was finally settling into my new position as boutique #girlboss, taking a semester off classes, turning 22 and freaking out in the process. There were a lot of oh god, what is my life moments going on then. Being the super nostalgic person that I am, it's nice to be able to look back and see the times that life ruffled your feathers, now knowing, "hey, I made it out alive. I'm even better for it." There are still oh god, what is life moments going on now, but at least I know that in year's time, I can look back and go "really girl? That's what you called a problem. Bye."

Another thing I like to get nostalgic about is my closet. A year ago, I bought the Anthropologie Linkbloom bracelet as a birthday gift to myself. It was my first "not Forever 21," semi-grown up jewelry purchase. And, in "not Forever 21" fashion, it's stood the test of time. Or at least a year.

As for the rest of this get up, I'm a big fan of mixing hard and soft pieces and, I mean, what could be harder than a super bad ass biker jacket? This maxi could've easily been one of my lazy-day-throw-on dresses (it probably will be eventually), but with this jacket it felt more complete. An outfit worthy of the 23-year-old me.

 

 

 

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love list #2

Last week started a little blah for me, but with a new favorite song, new episodes of one of my favorite shows and new make-up to play with, I'd give the first week of April a pretty solid 4.5 out of 5 stars. 

1. I found this recipe on Pinterest (of course) and with the warmer weather sneaking its way on in, these will be perfect to make when I have extra time on my hands. I'm a sucker for peaches n' cream anything (cue awful 112 song). You can't tell me that  these don't look yummy.

2. I have finally, finally gotten a Naked palette! Naked 2 to be exact. I know, I'm late to the party. I would've gotten it sooner, but I have so many neutral eyeshadows in my collection already. In the end I caved because I like the quality of these, the convenience of having them all together and the fact that I had a 15% off coupon at Sephora. 

3. I first heard The Black Keys' new single on the radio while I was driving to class, which was lucky for me. It's the ideal song to crank up when you're speeding, 80 down a 70, ready to break some hearts. Needless to say, "Fever" made me feel really cool that morning. They have a really sexy new-old rock sound that I'm in the mood for every so often (see also Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know). If you're in that mood, press play.

4. The Mindy Project is back on after a friggin' 2 month hiatus. Who does that?! Why Mindy, why? Especially after the cliffhanger of an episode they left on. I'm reading her book right now, so I feel like her and I are sort of friends at this point. As your internet friend, I suggest you watch (if you aren't watching already) for some instant happy. 

5. I saw this text post on Tumblr and read through it in a few seconds. It's short and poignant and it makes all the sense in the world. It's a great reminder that letting things go can make so much difference when it comes to living a happy life. Read below: 

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half empty or half full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face she inquired, “How heavy is this glass of water?” The answers called out ranged from 8oz to 20 oz. She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If i hold it for a minute, its not a problem. If i hold it for an hour, i’ll have an ache in my arm. If i hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer i hold it, the heavier it becomes.” She continued, “The stress and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them for a big longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed - incapable of doing anything.” Always remember to put the glass down.

more than usual

Let's just address this right now: my abdomen is out and my hair is curly. I know, it's like I'm a whole different person. But that's sort of what happens when Spring has kicked in, full force, with blossoms blossoming and temperatures up to 80° F. You're just gonna get more skin than usual.

Avoiding the trendy teen cliche of crop tops and high waist shorts (although I have no qualms with that look for lazy summer days), I opted to play with some of my more classic items to make this crop-top-high-waist silhouette feel...grown up. Stripes? Check. Leopard? Check? J.Crew pastel jewels? Check. Everything I need to really class up this joint. Wouldn't you say so? I mean, I realize this isn't a Chanel two-piece tweed ensemble, but it's certainly not tween trend material, either.  Let me know if I'm being delusional here.  

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get it together

Being outside is good for you, (or so I've heard) especially on a day that's in the mid-70's and sunny. On one such day, I decided it was the perfect time to pick back up my dropped "workout regimen." I found my way to picturesque town square and was able to kill 3 birds with one stone. I bought a pair of shoes that I'd been drooling over from one of their shops, got a hold of the best frozen treat in the world,  and finally did what I went there for: burned some calories in the great outdoors.
 

While I was fast walking (I don't run) laps on the trail of the square, I took the time to do some people watching. There were families on the green picnicking, a couple making out in a hammock, giggling children running through the fountain and groups of friends lunching. This was their life.

And there I was. Walking around a track, watching on, headphones in, smiling like a creep at the children who would jump out in front of me. My immediate thoughts were: I want this to be my life. I want to feel like this all the time. I need to get it together. 


I wondered, what do I have to do to make it to this point in life?  Do I just need more money? How do I get that? Do I just graduate college and get a job? Is that getting it together? Is that how I make my life feel like this sunny day in the park?  I was really wracking my brain for answers. I still sort of am.

The one thing I concluded though, is that everyone's path to getting it together is different, but the outcome is the same: happiness.  Now I just have to figure how to get it together, for myself. More to-do lists maybe? Maybe doing my research project before the day that its due is start? Or how about not skipping out on my daily walks, perhaps? Help me out here.