Style Post - Back to School Edition

Yesterday was my first day back to school after an amazing summer break. My one and only Monday class wasn't until 5:30, so I had plenty of time to spend with my wonderful boyfriend, who was nice enough to take these photos for me right in front of his apartment.

He had some very interesting (and amusing) observations about my outfit:

Me: "Do you like my shorts?"

Lucas: "They're very cute on you...They look like boxers though. You could probably pull off wearing my underwear in public."

Me: "Yeah, except for the obvious slit that you're supposed to pee through."

He also pointed out that my tights made me look like I had Oompa Loompa legs. Boyfriends say the darndest things. :)

Do you like my ribbon and feather brooch? If so, you should definitely check out Darling Loves Dapper, an Etsy store run by Stephanie of love&lace. I am seriously in love with this brooch. It was the one part of my outfit that I got the most compliments on at school.

Black Cardigan: Donna Morgan. White Silk Top: Max Studio. High Waisted Shorts: H&M. Rust & Berry Brooch: Darling Loves Dapper. Tights: H&M. Flats: Sam Edelman.

FBFF: Finding Your Dream Job

This week's FBFF post is about dreams. More specifically, it's all about finding your dream job, which really is much harder than it sounds. After all, you have to find the delicate balance between what you're good at, what you love to do, and what you'd actually get paid for.

[image source]

1) Fess up - if you could do anything professionally, what would it be? If I could live forever, I want to have a variety of different careers: an event planner, an editor for a fashion magazine, a boutique owner, an actress performing on Broadway, a costume designer for the theatre or for period films, or a stylist/personal shopper. What I really want to do is teach high school English. Unlike a lot of the other ladies of FBFF, my top career choice has nothing to do with the fashion industry. (Although you may rest assured that I plan on being the most fashionably dressed English teacher ever!) That being said, there are a few other things that I would also love to do outside of teaching. I want to continue to grow my blog and hopefully someday be able to make money with it. I want to have a novel published someday. I've mentioned before too that I want to eventually open an Etsy store and sell handmade accessories and/or thrift store finds.

2) What draws you to this? Simply put, I'm passionate about a lot of things. I love reading, writing, doing arts and crafts, and helping people - whether it's by teaching a student how to write well or by sharing my opinions on fashion. What draws me toward making teaching my career is the the idea of fulfillment, knowing that I can make a difference in the lives of young people.

3) When did you first start dreaming of this ideal? I decided that I wanted to be a teacher when I was a freshman in college. My confidence in this decision was confirmed last semester when I observed a local high school teacher and how she seemed to make a positive impact on her students.

4) What's holding you back from going all in? As far as my teaching career is concerned, I am going all in. I'm a semester away from earning my Bachelor's Degree and then I plan on taking a semester off to try to gain some work experience before starting the credential program next fall. As for my other dreams, I figured I can pursue them as long as I have a stable career first. Since I consider teaching a calling and a true passion, I definitely won't say it's just a job to fall back on. 

5) Sometimes the first step is the hardest...What's one step you can take now on the way to realizing your dream? Since I'm close to graduating, I feel as though I am getting closer and closer every day. I plan on embracing my chosen path and striving to improve myself every day...and I really believe that's the best anyone can do, regardless of their chosen career path.

Transitioning from Summer to Fall

[image source: we♥it]

It is a conundrum that I always run into just before starting school again in late August: How do you dress for that tricky period of transition between summer and fall? What are you supposed to wear if it's a sweltering 90 degrees one day and then "freezing" the next day? If any of you have ever faced this dilemma, look no further because I have put together my list of key pieces to help you make a smooth wardrobe transition.

Top Row: Khaki Jacket, Buckled Ankle Boots

Bottom Row: Scarf, Striped Knit Top, Tights

1) Light Jackets. There's no reason why you can't wear your summer sundresses well into mid-September, especially if you throw on a lightweight jacket to keep you warm on cool mornings and evenings. My personal favorite summer to fall staple is my khaki jacket. It's a great basic neutral that goes with everything from white tank tops and shorts to floral print sundresses.

2) Ankle Boots. Save the tall boots for late fall and winter; right now, the best boots for summer to fall transition weather are ankle boots. Wear them with jeans, shorts, skirts, dresses - pretty much anything! Wearing ankle boots is a perfect way to look put together without looking too dressy.

3) Summer Scarves. The way I see it, a scarf is an accessory that is great year round. Of course, now isn't the time to wear a chunky knit scarf - it's still way too hot! Instead, try draping a thin woven scarf around your neck; it's the perfect accent for a summer sundress (no jewelry required!) Summer scarves look amazing with khaki jackets and shorts too. Instead of the bright, colorful prints that you'd normally associate with spring and summer, look for scarves with smaller, simpler patterns and more muted colors.

4) Loose Fit 3/4 Sleeve Tops. During the peak of summer, these tops are perfect to use as cover ups on the beach. Why not take the same tops and pair them with shorts and oxfords for a look that's perfect for September? Even better, these tops can work for a night out with your girlfriends too. Just swap the shorts for a sleek black pencil skirt, add black pumps and sparkly jewelry, and you're ready to go! Creating the perfect summer to fall transition outfit doesn't get much easier than this.

5) Tights. Where I live, it's not going to be cold enough to wear tights for a while. For those of you who are lucky enough to experience crisp autumn weather sooner, here's another way to extend the life of your favorite summer dress all the way up until Thanksgiving. I believe tights really are the most versatile piece you need for transitioning your wardrobe from summer to fall. Opaque black tights look great with pretty much everything: dresses, skirts, shorts, even high heeled sandals. But why stop at basic black? As soon as the temperature starts to hover in the 60s, I'll definitely be wearing tights in all sorts of pretty colors.

Style Post 8.12.11

I wish I had an amazing story to tell you about this outfit...but I don't. Today was pretty much just a run-a-couple-of-errands-and-then-just-hang-out kind of day. You know what though? I am perfectly okay with that. I honestly have no problem with dressing up for no reason. :)

What I loved most about today's outfit was how perfectly my nails coordinated with my dress and scarf. My mint colored nail polish was an almost exact match to my dress. (I did my nails two days ago so it was totally unintentional!) Another part of my I outfit I really loved were my shoes. Actually, it's more of a love/hate relationship. At 4", these heels were definitely higher than what I'm used to. I hope I'm not making it look too obvious in these photos, but I was getting blisters just standing! They're so cute though so I may just have to forgive them for peeling skin off my feet.

Dress: Max Studio. Patent Heels: Sam Edelman. Scarf: vintage. Rose Ring: Forever 21. Pinky Ring: vintage.

The One Lovely Blog Award

After a nearly week long break from blogging, I was pleasantly surprised this afternoon when I found out I was nominated by Black&White Heaven for the One Lovely Blog Award. It's always nice to be recognized by one of your readers and fellow fashion bloggers. ♥

To accept the ‘ One Lovely Blog’ award, you need to follow these rules:

1) Thank the person that gave you the award and link back to them.

2) Write 7 random facts about yourself.

3) Nominate 15 other fabulous bloggers that you think deserve the award.

4) And, of course, let them know that they have been awarded this lovely award!

So, here are the 7 random facts about me:

1) I sleep with a 53" teddy bear named Bubba. And no, that is not a typo. Bubba is 53 inches of warm and cuddly love!

2) My dream is to one day live in a historical home or a log cabin by a lake and forest.

3) I love foggy, overcast, and rainy days.

4) I'm afraid of spiders.

5) I want to open an Etsy store someday.

6) I have a huge crush on Angels starting pitcher Dan Haren. (See my other celebrity crushes here.)

7) I love pretty much anything that sparkles.

...and my choices for the One Lovely Blog Award are:

Castle Fashion

daydream frenzy

Dear Girl

Elegantly Academic

girl & closet

Koi Story

vintage pretty

feathers & things

Strawberry Moth

The Hearabouts

Stolen from Grandma

picturemelove

Night Lights

Mellow Mayoness

Hummingbird Girls

Mary Janes Love

I'm not sure if this is obvious or not, so I'll just come right out and say it: I LOVE SHOES. (Really, is there any girl who doesn't?) I've mentioned a couple of times too that I'm looking forward to wearing Mary Janes this coming fall. If any of you are worried that this style of shoe might be too "little girlish", I hope these amazing finds from UrbanOg will change your mind.

 What makes this black Mary Jane pump so delightfully un-little girlish? I'd say the platform and sky high heel!

 I discovered this nude patent pump when Marina of Fashion.Makeup.Lifestyle posted it on her blog, comparing it to Christian Louboutin's "Lady Daf" pumps. ~$1000 vs. $22.80? I'd take this lovely lookalike any day!

Here's another neutral platform Mary Jane pump that I love. What makes this one unique is the contrasting platform and studded detail. I would wear this with everything from maxi dresses to knee length skirts...assuming of course, that I could walk in 5 inch heels...

 ...but since I'm the clumsiest person in the world, I don't think I should even attempt to walk in heels higher than 3 inches. That's where this tri-tone Mary Jane pump would come in. Not only is this shoe super cute, but I'm sure I wouldn't break an ankle wearing it. :)

This vintage style Mary Jane pump is my favorite. Not only is the color gorgeous, but the 3 inch thick stacked heel looks perfectly wearable (and walkable!) And this one has the nicest buckle out of all the other shoes!

FBFF: Location Influences Fashion

Today's FBFF post is all about how where we come from and where we live now influences how we dress. Katy of Modly Chic asks a very interesting question: When it comes to personal style, "are we informed by the trends as much as those around us and the atmosphere we live in?"

My friends and I with California Casual style, circa 2007

1) What part of the world do you blog from? I'm blogging from a small-ish city (approximate population: 75,000) in the middle of Orange County, California.

2) If you had to describe the overall mode of dress for where you live, what would you say? It really goes without saying that most people around here dress in the "California Casual" style. Despite what the stereotypes may say, we're not all surfers. Still, there is a definite beachy vibe in the way people dress. Think tank tops and shorts when it's warm and sweatshirts and jeans when it's cold. "Dressing  up" usually means a sundress and flip flops. And yes, we do wear flip flops year round.

3) Do you fit in with the status quo around you or do you break the mold? It depends on the circumstances. If it's hot, - like it has been lately - I am perfectly content wearing tank tops and flip flops. I wouldn't call those my super stylish outfits though. Once the weather cools down enough to where layering isn't a death trap, I like to dress up a little (okay, a lot) more. I'm sure I get strange looks sometimes, especially when I'm wearing something super feminine/ruffly/dressy at school. And I know for a fact that people stare when I'm out on a date with my boyfriend, who practically lives in basketball shirts and t-shirts.

4) If you have lived or traveled to another part of the country/world, did your clothing choices evolve? When I was 17, I went on a cruise to Alaska with my family...in June. Not only did I have a great time dressing up for fancy dinners on the ship, but I also really loved dressing for the cold Alaskan weather. Seriously, how many girls from Southern California get to wear chic wool coats in the summertime? :)

5) If  you had to describe your style by naming a specific city, what would you be? Wow, this question is really hard! As a self-described vintage-inspired personal style blogger, I'd say my style is more influenced by period films than specific places. But still, cities that come to mind are old New York (The Age of Innocence and The Great Gatsby) and Charleston (the lovely city where The Notebook was filmed). Deep down though, I think I'll always be a Southern California girl at heart. ♥

Lovely Things 8.4.11

I realized that I haven't done a Lovely Things post in forever. Well, TA DA! Here'a brand new post. :) Today's theme is shades of pink and brown. Enjoy!

 

 

[all images from we♥it]

The Giant Cow

A couple of days ago, Lucas and I managed to cross off one item on my summer list: go to the Orange County Fair. It was the first time either of us have gone in years and we had lots of fun.

These were the highlights of our evening:

• visiting the petting zoo/livestock pens (We saw a lot of baby animals - cuteness overload!)
• the California rare fruits exhibit - I never knew our state grew so many different varieties of avocados!
• the marketplace and outdoor vendors selling everything from animals carved out of stone to fancy hats
• eating ridiculously unhealthy but delicious fair food (He had a deep fried Twinkie and I had a deep fried Snickers bar.)
• winning prizes by playing carnival games
• people watching
• seeing other animals, including bulls that towered over me and a huge alligator!

My absolute favorite part of the evening was petting all the goats. I'm not sure if keeping goats as pets is legal in my city, but now I really want one. :)

I hope you're all having an amazing summer too. Can you believe that today is the first day of August? Wow!