Weekly Gratitude

For the record, yes I did wake up at 2am and yes I am watching the wedding. Oh and no, I don't have any idea why. Mostly I just wanted to see the dress. But since I had no idea when that was going to be, I had to get up to watch the whole thing, right?! Naturally. I mean it is once in a lifetime after all. Plus, look at all the beautiful clothes I get to look at now! :) It's actually kind of interesting too, so I'm ok with missing a little bit of sleep. I can go back to bed when it's over because I don't have class until 1:30 anyway. But that's neither here nor there, so moving on.

I had every intention of getting this done earlier in the week, but school//packing got in the way. But I'm not going to apologize because as I recently read (here) we shouldn't be apologizing for life. And you know what, it's true. So to start things off, I am grateful for...

- The life I have outside of the internet. While that often means school (but not for long! :), contrary to popular belief it is also more than that. It's friends. It's family. Right now, it's also getting ready to go back home. It's also finding time for myself to just relax. The past few months have definitely not been lending themselves to this, so I have to take advantage when I can.

- Finally being able to actually see the end of school. Yes I have about 4 more months, but hey, that's really not that bad, so I can't complain. I'm glad I had the opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and pretty much abandon everything I knew and loved to come up to Utah State and pursue my degree. Was it hard? Absolutely. I may have cried a lot over the past few years, but I also laughed, smiled, and learned so much about myself (err I mean about marketing...ha). Oh and also, it is b-e-a-utiful, albeit freezing. :) Case in point.

- Comic relief. It dries my tears, of which I have needed a lot recently. I have been very overwhelmed lately, still am actually, but I'm working on it. But that's when shows like Mad Love, Modern Family, and Better With You come in. At the very least it gives me 20 minutes to just not worry and enjoy myself.

- Harry Potter parties. Or parties in general. Or Harry Potter in general. My friend had an end of the year bash last weekend and we all had so much fun! Food, friends, movie (which I'll admit I hadn't seen until then...and guys, it was scary!) It was a lovely start to dead week.

Sidenote, I love Hermoine's dress here too. :)

- And of course, Easter. I am so so grateful for the chance to reflect on Christ and his resurrection. I should definitely do it more often, but unfortunately I'm a bad person and I get distracted. So I'm glad this day is set aside to really focus on that.



Anyway, that's it for this week, and just in time because Kate finally came out of the hotel! haha From what I could see in the 1/2 second top of her dress, it actually looks very pretty. Or *spoiler alert* maybe I just like lace. :) Her makeup looks...odd, but I'm hoping that's just the veil. haha Well, enough of that, I'm sure I'll have a full report later, not that any of you will need it of course!

The weather is making a statement.

And that statement continues to be "I hate you Micaela. And I will not give you springtime sunshine and warmth. Ever. MUAHAHA." Anyway, no more about that, so I'm going to keep going with my springtime kick and showcase a few bathing suits today. Being a true Southern California girl, born and raised, I have always spent my summers running between the beach, the lake, and the pool. And by summer I pretty much mean March through October. Although in all honesty I spent a great deal of the other months there as well, especially at night. Bonfires at the beach are a classic staple in my life, or at least they were before I moved to the igloo. But anyway I digress.

I prefer not to feel naked when I'm hanging out by (in) the water so I'm definitely more a fan of covering up. I'm very particular about my bathing suits too, so there's that. Vintage pieces have definitely been making a comeback which is not only incredibly fun and beautiful, but also extremely helpful in the whole modesty department. So let's start shall we?

 I can't even tell you how much I adore this one. In fact, I don't even think I can tell you why. 

I just love the vintage style, the color blocking, everything about it. 

Also, even though I do not shop at anthropologie simply because it is ridiculous expensive, this little beauty is from there and I'm finding it increasingly difficult not to purchase it. I can definitely say that if I had a job right now I would already have it in my collection.

 This one is also from Anthro, and I just love the print.

Billabong

DVF. I obviously have a problem with expensive taste. 

Ah well, I guess we all have our battles to fight. 

You guys, I have this EXACT suit, but it's a brighter turquoise. 

Oh and instead of being $80 from J.Crew, it was made for me as a gift. :)

This is from SouthMoonUnder, a little online retailer I encourage you all to check out.

Another SouthMoonUnder.

Rey Swimwear.

Another Rey. And love her hair. :)

 

This coverup I found online at Gap, and I think it's adorable. 

Of course I would never ever in a million years wear it any other way than with a bathing suit, 

but since I live in them almost 3/4 of the year, I'm ok with it. :) If only it was in my size.

EverythingButWater. I absolutely love the freshness of white. It's just so nice and crisp.

And I love the fun flowiness of a maxi. This particular one is VS.

So where do you guys shop for bathing suits? Are any of you also loving the return of classy vintage? And how do you spend your summers? You know I always love to hear!

“For today and its blessings, I owe the world an attitude of gratitude.”

Hello dolls! I am starting a new segment on this little blog. I stumbled upon this wonderful idea from Tatiana over at Love, Life, Lace. She's just darling so you should definitely head over to her blog and check it out too. Anyway, she started a "Weekly Gratitude" event*, and I am so excited to start participating! Sometimes life gets so stressful and difficult, it's easy for us to get overwhelmed. So I'm going to take one past a week and write a little bit about the wonderful things in my own life that I am so grateful for. I think a lot of us have come to expect things, especially from people who are close to us, and it's really sad. We take advantage and forget the little things in life. I am certainly not accusing anyone, because I am definitely sometimes guilty of this too. But no more. I am really going to make a conscious effort to increase my gratitude and express that. So without further ado, today I am thankful for:

New outfits. Ok ok I know, I sound totally superficial but hear me out. I'm not talking about buying new clothes, I'm talking about getting my creative mind flowing and putting together different pieces that I normally wouldn't wear together. I like being creative and I love fashion so it's always nice.

Food Network. Seriously, I am addicted. And it is not getting any better. Maybe it's because I just love being in the kitchen...cooking, baking, you know. I find the things that people can do with some simple ingredients just so incredible. Even if the food is not anything that I would ever even consider, it's crazy and I love it. That's right future husband, someday you are going to seriously appreciate all the research I'm doing now. :) In fact, I'm watching it as I write this.

My roommate. I've been living with her since my freshman year, so yes it's been awhile. 4 years to be exact. Pretty much complete opposite of me in every way, but for the most part we get along splendidly. (I've been lucky enough to never have a fight with any of my roommates come to think of it.) We have fun doing random things and we loove to laugh.

My Patriarchal blessing. Nothing further on this one.

Health. 2 of my nieces got sick with the stomach flu this weekend. Kelsey was the only one safe from the bug but the two littler ones were miserable. Little Addison was throwing up for the first time and I just felt awful for her. They are both better now! Yay! And my sister sent me this picture because it was the first time they'd seen her smile in a couple days. 

You guys, do you understand how adorable she is! Ah, can't get enough of them.

I think that's a good start for today because I had a horribly long day at school and I am just so tired and need a little relaxation time before bed. 

So what are you all grateful for? I'd love to hear from you!

*You can read more about the event here.

let's make a deal!

Well for those of you who don't know, Old Navy had their big sale last week, and of course I had to at least go check it out. Oh and check it out I did. I have a serious shopping problem in case you haven't figured that out yet...but I am working on it...kinda. :) In my defense, I rarely if ever shop while I'm at school because 1- I don't have any money and 2- I'm in Logan. Enough said.

So to help me through those withdrawals, I often resort to looking at online shopping. I generally add items to my "shopping cart" and then never actually click checkout. Then I feel like I have all these cute clothes coming, but I didn't actually spend any money. I know I know, there is definitely something wrong with me, but hey, whatever helps me sleep at night.

But on this rare occasion that I did actually venture out into the great white blizzard outside my door, I quite enjoyed. A little alone shopping time, just me and my thoughts was exactly what I needed. While my plan was to actually show you the fruits of my labor, my internet seems to be having some issues right now and won't load the pictures, so my apologies. I'll have to just tell you what I got.

I started with a few sweaters. I know it's spring, but umm, actually no. Where I live, it is not spring. Not even close, in fact. And me being the genius that I am, I already packed away most of my winter clothes in the sincerest hopes that my preparation might usher in the sunshine and warm weather. But sigh, it was to no avail. So naturally I had to find something to wear that wouldn't result in hypothermia. 2 big knit turtleneck sweaters (yellow and army green) and 1 dark gray tunic-length, dolman sleeve sweater later, I am once again comfortable walking outside. I also bought a gray button-up shirt which is a little different for me, but I definitely love it. For some reason, I've been buying different articles of clothing lately, changing up my wardrobe a bit. It's pretty refreshing too. Last but not least, I bought some white pants. Yes, white. Scary I know, but I tried them on and fell in love. It's like they were made for me and I can already imagine the gorgeous outfits they're gonna help me put together. 

Then, I had to go back this morning. I know what you're thinking, but it was another big sale. Cardi's for  $8! I live in cardi's! Plus bathing suits were 60% off. I got gray and coral cardi's and a bright pink suit. You'd think that pink being my absolute favorite color I would have had one already, but no. I could never find any, especially that I liked. So of course I couldn't pass it up! But now I'm done, I promise. But I am very excited about my newest closet items. And summer will be ever so wonderful! So who else is ready for it?! Because I am finding it very hard to wait any longer. So please weather, try to be nice for the last few weeks of my semester. I can't handle the snow and cold and wind anymore. I would greatly appreciate any and all of your cooperation. :)

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.

At least that's what they tell me...personally I am not convinced. Finally had one (read: only one) day with a little sunshine yesterday--a very little, as in a couple hours max. And today, it is back to a blizzard. Yes, blizzard, not an exaggeration. Even worse, it doesn't show any signs of stopping. My wonderful sister texted me today after the snow started telling me there was probably a storm coming because it was very windy there and possible rain. I can't even tell you how excited I am to know that if this storm ever ends, there will be no break time before the next one comes. I am however, glad that she looks out for me. :)

So in some kind of attempt at ignoring the huge fluffy white flakes falling from the sky outside my window, I decided to focus instead on some beautiful flowers. Because of something screams fresh and springtime and warmth better than flowers, well I don't know what it is. While I really do try not to make everything pink, I sometimes seriously fail. It is my favorite color, after all. Also, turquoise flowers are few and far between. (But that doesn't mean I didn't discover some! I'm nothing if not persistent. :) You can see them below.)

Ranunculus. I have to admit, I am fairly new to this flower but I love it. 

It's so delicate, it almost looks like just tissue paper.

Now I'll let you in on a little secret. When I was a little girl, err...littlER girl, my room was decorated with these little daffodils. From my bedding to the walls, I loved it. And I love them.

Hydrangeas. I just find the bunches so fun.

Tulips. Traditional. I love that most LDS temples have these delightful flowers on their grounds, which if you can not tell or are unfamiliar, is exactly where this picture was taken. In my defense, it is not my fault that these are pink, that just happens to be what temple square had at the time. San Diego often has red and yellow tulips...just fyi. 

Yellow hibiscus, so tropical.

Ok, these last few I really need some help with! I think they are absolutely lovely but I have no idea what they are. So if anyone knows anything about flowers, I would greatly appreciate if you could let me in on these little beauties. 

I love how the deep yellow starts in the middle and then 

gradually lightens into the redish tips.

I feel like I've definitely seen this kind of flower before, 

but for the life of me I can not remember what they are!
*UPDATED*: both Molly Rex and Rebecca Brown told me that these are peonies. Thanks again ladies!

And without further ado, these little turquoise gems. It would be truly fantastic to know what these are...just saying.

*UPDATED*: Rebecca Brown also let me know that these are poppies. 

I didn't even know there was such thing as blue poppies! 

How fun, and thank you for all your help!

Well, that's all I have for today folks. And the storm rages on.

Here's to the man.

or...men, as the case may be. A few days ago a friend of mine asked me something along the lines of "how to improve the way he dresses." Random, I thought, but a fair enough question. While I can't say that I love men's clothing (unlike say, my own :) I don't entirely hate shopping for it. Although I am definitely getting better, so progress is progress I suppose.


So, first things first. The big Don'ts. Numero uno: do NOT wear manpri's. EVER. The simple fact is that there is neither a time nor place for fashion this bad. You know what I'm talking about, the pants that are just not quite short enough to be shorts and yet way too short to be pants. Here, let me help you with a little visual aid.

Ok, now let me apologize for that. I know, it burns my eyes too.

 So just remember that. For life. Moving on.

Sandals. This can be a tricky one, because yes some men can get away with it. Many, however, can absolutely not. At the beach, ok you're excused, but out on the town, be careful. This is a little hard to show because everybody is different, but if you fear this may be a problem, just ask a girl. We are quite adept at helping you out in any (and all) areas of fashion. Obviously, there are some sandals that need always be avoided. For example:

Just no. Don't do it.

No jewelry, no popped collars, no skinny jeans, no tank tops, and no white socks with a black suit.


And the do's? Well again, everyone is different. I've noticed, however, that there are a few general pieces that get me everytime. Blame it on the (majority of) guys I've dated. In general I've been pretty spoiled in finding guys who know how to dress. Just lucky I guess. :)


Anyway, I love casual button up shirts with jeans.

So easy, and yet I can't resist it. 

Loose ties and a jacket. If executed purposely and properly, it can be perfection. See Chace Crawford.

I mean his looks don't hurt either but hey...just saying.

Other simple looks, just a blazer and jeans. (and maybe, just maybe a little scruff. :)

 

Other than those specifics, it's really rather easy. Nice jeans and casual tshirts are good for everyday, but it's always nice to get a little something different, especially in the case of a date. Trust me when I say I can almost assure you'll get a second one.

Well, that's the best I can do without a specific person in mind. So that being said, just think about what you wear when you're putting it on, and it never fails to check a mirror...and a girl. :)

On a sidenote, while men have made some mistakes, I can't finish this post without thanking them for some fabulous trends women have since adopted. 

 

divavillage.com

Boyfriend Jeans, a la Reese Witherspoon and Rachel Bilson (both of whom I kind of adore.)

So what do you guys think? Any suggestions for my friend who wants to improve his wardrobe? Or what he definitely shouldn't do? And how do you feel about menswear?

well it is ABOUT TIME!

The return of the "proper dress." (According to Rue de Chic) Not that I haven't been wearing this style for years anyway, but now I'm hoping it will as least be a little bit easier for me to find!

So what exactly is the proper dress anyway? Well, according to them it is the alluring 50s style dress, and to me, it is the epitome of elegance. Seriously, these dresses are stunning. They are fun, flirty, stylish, new (well, re-new. and yes I am well aware that is not a word but you catch my drift), so lady-like, not to mention MODEST! Incredibly unusual lately, I know.

Do I even need to tell you how excited I am for this? I have always loved full skirts from the time I was just a little girl. I could twirl all day long. Plus, it's all about defining your waist, which is pretty much perfect because it looks good on anyone. Day or night, this style can be made pretty much any way you want it. Colors, neutrals, florals, polka dots...I could go on and on. But I will not bore you with that now. Instead I will just give you a few examples. Beginning with some familiar faces:

Miss Michelle Williams in Oscar de la Renta

Miss Carey Mulligan in Prada

Now for those of us (me) who can not even come close to justifying a purchase of that magnitude for one dress, there are still plenty of options!

This adorable polka dot dress from ModCloth. 

I would pair it with a soft white cardigan and some simple wedges. 

 Pinupgirl clothing

Another ModCloth find.

Black pumps and either a black sweater or maybe even my black leather jacket to change up the look.

Another option is a simple skirt and tshirt. I adore those shoes and wooden bangles are easy to pair with just about anything, but add a little earthier tone to the whole outfit. :)

I guess that's it for tonight, I have loads of work to keep doing. Wish me luck!

"Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; but the tree is the real thing."

Abraham Lincoln said that. Smart man, he was. 

So. For my Buyer Behavior class we had to take a survey online to determine the different (and strongest) aspects of our personality. It ranked the traits 1 through 24 after answer (many) questions. First let me tell you I was actually pretty intriguing in this class at the beginning of the semester, and in general, the subject really is fascinating. The only problem I have is that all we do in class is watch the professor go through slide after slide after slide...after slide. And let me tell you, that is so dull I have to waste my time counting down the minutes left. Anywho, just thinking about it is boring me so moving on. 

I actually found the quiz (and subsequent results) quite interesting (and for the most part, quite accurate as well.) But without further ado, the top 10 results:

Your Top Character Strength

Kindness and generosity

You are kind and generous to others, and you are never too busy to do a favor. You enjoy doing good deeds for others, even if you do not know them well.

Your Second Character Strength

Spirituality, sense of purpose, and faith

You have strong and coherent beliefs about the higher purpose and meaning of the universe. You know where you fit in the larger scheme. Your beliefs shape your actions and are a source of comfort to you.

Your Third Character Strength

Citizenship, teamwork, and loyalty

You excel as a member of a group. You are a loyal and dedicated teammate, you always do your share, and you work hard for the success of your group.

Your Fourth Character Strength

Honesty, authenticity, and genuineness

You are an honest person, not only by speaking the truth but by living your life in a genuine and authentic way. You are down to earth and without pretense; you are a "real" person.

Your Fifth Character Strength

Humor and playfulness

You like to laugh and tease. Bringing smiles to other people is important to you. You try to see the light side of all situations.

Character Strength #6

Judgment, critical thinking, and open-mindedness

Thinking things through and examining them from all sides are important aspects of who you are. You do not jump to conclusions, and you rely only on solid evidence to make your decisions. You are able to change your mind.

Character Strength #7

Curiosity and interest in the world

You are curious about everything. You are always asking questions, and you find all subjects and topics fascinating. You like exploration and discovery.

Character Strength #8

Fairness, equity, and justice

Treating all people fairly is one of your abiding principles. You do not let your personal feelings bias your decisions about other people. You give everyone a chance.

Character Strength #9

Forgiveness and mercy

You forgive those who have done you wrong. You always give people a second chance. Your guiding principle is mercy and not revenge.

Character Strength #10

Industry, diligence, and perseverance

You work hard to finish what you start. No matter the project, you "get it out the door" in timely fashion. You do not get distracted when you work, and you take satisfaction in completing tasks.

So what do you think? Now I know not all of you know me super well, but for those who do. Anyone else interested in taking the survey? I know it is rather long, but you don't actually have to answer all the questions at once (although I did.) You can always save it and go back and finish later. And hey, you might learn something new about yourself. I know I certainly did. :)

To take the quiz go here: http://uat.viacharacter.org/VIACHARACTERPROFILE/GetYourProfile/tabid/62/language/en-US/Default.aspx 

and click to take the "VIA Survey of Character."

Blugirl

I probably began my official love with Blugirl a little over a year ago. It was then that I discovered a pair of shoes that would forever change me. And you can view said shoes off to the top right of this page. After discovering them, I instantly knew I needed to own them. I mean, I had been searching and searching for the perfect pink wedding shoes (no, I'm not getting married anytime soon, but that is besides the point) for ages now. AGES. And these were them. Unfortunately, since that time, I have still been scouring the vast world wide web for a chance to purchase these babies. So that being said, if anyone has any hints on where I may be able to actually own more than just a picture, I would be greatly appreciative.

Of course, even though Blugirl has essentially made my life and subsequently crushed it all at one time, I still have a certain admiration for the line. Fun, colorful styles fill their runway shows, and while I can't exactly afford their clothing at the moment (see: starving college student), I certainly don't mind stalking their site occasionally. :)

This maxi just looks so soft and flowy. Hello easy summer days!

I absolutely ADORE those shoes, and the site has loads of different perfectly adorable ones too. Win. Oh and I don't mind the cute pastel jacket either. :)

And that is all for today because unfortunately I am SWAMPED with homework from now until approximately...the end of the semester. Lovely, isn't it.

change of plans.

I know I said I found that list of daily topics and I wasn't planning on doing them. I even had good intentions, I did start after all! However, as I was looking for today's topic, I started looking down the whole list when I realized, I really didn't like them. I mean, I'm sure they would have been fine, and probably even exciting for some people, but it just wasn't me. Letter to a crush (which I currently don't have), who you hate or whoever has hurt you the most (of which I find not only incredibly depressing, but unnecessary), pictures from over ten years ago, pictures now, self-portraits...Anyway, you get the point. I have no desire to be that vain.

I will still be posting more often, although my school schedule right now is completely ridiculous. So while they may not be long or crazy, or even as often as I'd like, I'm going to do my best. Starting with this.

Whilst searching for a little pick-me-up between classes today, I stumbled upon this little gem from Furla. Now normally this would not really be my style, especially with the $200 price tag. However, this hit me as a little bit adorable simply because it's so fun and simple, which is quite rare in handbags as of late. Anyway, even after all that, I still needed to get a little something more. And get it, I did!

Yes, it came in the form of this little treasure. It's a matching mini purse which opens up to reveal-get this-a FLASH DRIVE! Maybe it's just my technology loving, school going, MacBook toting self, but this sold me. Seriously, it is very adorable if I do say so myself. And with the variety of colors-blue, black, green, red, yellow, orange, pink...how could you resist? :)

So naturally I had to browse the site a little further and came across this gorgeous bracelet.

I don't know what it is but I find pearls fascinating, especially different colored ones. While I do wish there were a few more darker colored ones in this particular accessory, I still can't help but admire the ethereal beauty of it. Ah, if only that expendable income would kick in.