Favorite Outfits of 2012

1. Geek Chic - 1/4/12
2. Cranberry 1/3/12
3. If I Walk Away 2/14/12
4. Behind the Clouds 2/20/12
5. Across the Universe of Time 3/28/12
6. Fighting Dragons 3/29/12
7. Mad Girl With a Dress 4/11/12
8. Lake Forest + Daily Outfit 4/12/12
9. Shine No Matter Where You Are 5/17/12
10. A Sock Hop Beneath My Bed 6/18/12
11. Sister Gypsy 7/17/12
12. Dreamy Things 7/16/12
13. We Don't Even Have to Try 7/23/12
14. My Rock Candy Passion 7/25/12
15. I Threw a Wish in the Well 8/8/12
16. I Left My Heart in Metropolis 8/16/12
17. Work of Art 9/20/12
18. Got My Heart Where My Head Should Be 9/28/12
19. La La Land 10/4/12
20. The Dowager Countess 10/12/12
21. Firework 10/19/12
22. All Hollows Eve 11/2/12
23. Like a Girl 11/16/12
24. When Can I See You Again 11/13/12
25. Little Red Riding Hood 12/10/12
26. Sew Lovely Dress 12/13/12

And Now I See // Daily Outfit

After feeling pretty "blah" about life for a while, I think I'm finally getting back to feeling like myself again. I'm letting go of things I can't control, and ceasing to feel guilty about things that aren't my fault. I'm also super pumped about Christmas because I know my family will love everything I got them! And on top of it Molly is making me a dress out of the most gorgeous fabric for my birthday/Christmas present, and I'm really looking forward to taking it on my upcoming trip to Missouri! I'm finally going back to visit my aunt and uncle - I haven't been there in nearly three years! I can't wait to get back to the great outdoors and see my aunt and uncle - I miss them so much! And on top of it all I'm really hoping to get some good shots and practice my photography. *winks*

In other news, this outfit is what I wore to church several weeks ago. Then I switched out the pumps for my favorite pair of chevron flats to go to work in. I loved this outfit, and this t-shirt so much, but later that night I got a spot of red nail polish on. At least it's at the bottom so I can still wear it tucked into something, but it shall never again be worn with a cute, comfy pair of jeans. So sad. :'(

 ♥ ♥ ♥       

t-shirt: thrifted
blazer: H&M
jeans: Forever 21

Betsy Johnson necklace: Little Black Bag
Betsy Johnson bracelet: Little Black Bag

Dolce Vita pumps: Lori's Shoes
Betsy Johnson sunglasses: Little Black Bag

lipstick: MAC in Lickable
Title: I Knew You Were Trouble by Taylor Swift

Floral Jeans // Daily Outfit

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, everyone! This is what I wore to work the day before my birthday - I won't be sharing what I wore on my birthday because it mostly consisted of a t-shirt, jeans and Ugg slippers. Lol! What better day to chill out than on my birthday, though, right?

I had a really good birthday despite the lack of snow. I got to go out to dinner with my family (and wore one of the Doctor Who t-shirts my little sisters got me), and my parents surprised me by ordering this amazing lens cap for me! I can't wait till it comes so I can try it out! If it works as well as they claim it does, it should save me a lot of editing time!

How is the weather by all of you? I've been eagerly anticipating the first snow fall since November, but we've yet to have snot that even showed a little on the ground. It's really kind of bumming me out, to be honest. I've lived in Chicago land for all my memorable Christmases, so it's really hard for me to get into the Christmas spirit without any snow at all. :-/ Still hoping we get some before Christmas day...

P.S. I announced the winner of the Deux Lux wristlet + ring! Sorry it's a bit late, but congrats to Tiffany + THANK YOU to everyone who entered!

♥ ♥ ♥       

cardigan: my mom's
jeans: Charlotte Russe
flats: Forever 21

bracelet: vintage

lipstick: Kat Von D Foiled Love in Valentine

18 Before 19 Revisited

It's my birthday! - as Repunzel would say - and, in honor of turning 19 I decided to take a moment to revisit my 18 before 19 list...

1. Get my drivers license
2. Set up a pretty blogging space
3. Have a good head start on my dream wardrobe
4. Get a pickup truck
5. Get a DSLR camera of my own
6. Post regularly
7. Do more DIYs
8. Don't save nice outfits just for special days
9. Get my 120 film developed
10. Have an amazing grad party
11. Sponsor at least one blog every month
12. Write a book
13. Go on a road trip without my family
14. Get more organized
15. Try at least three new things that scare me
16. Have a clear work time and a clear break time
17. Find my signature fragrance and purchase it
18. Make new friends See Owl City live again

Even though I only got half the stuff done (and I'm counting my original goal of making new friends instead of the one I ended up replacing it with since my uncle's wedding made it impossible to see Owl City live again. :-P), I'm still really excited about everything I did this year. There is so much that's not on that list!
I graduated high school.
I got my first job.
Drove to Chicago all by myself - several times!
Bought my first pair of designer shoes with the money I made from said job.
I got to attend three weddings as a photographer.
I got over my fear of driving on the highway.
I got to see the movie I've been waiting to see since I was 6 years old (or at least, the first part of it)
And I was the best version of me I've ever been before. I can't wait to see how God changes me this year, and He has in store for me!

Have any of you done a xx before xx list before? I'd love to hear how many you were able to cross off + what they were! I'm hoping to share my 19 before 20 list later this week. *wink*

Sew Lovely Dress // Daily Outfit

Remember this summer when Molly let me borrow this gorgeous handmade dress? Well - being the dear that she is - she let me take it home and borrow it again after our Christmas party last weekend. It's one of my favorite dresses. The colors are all of my favorites, and it just seems to go with everything in my closet - even (maybe especially?) my Lita spikes. *wink*

On another subject, happy Hobbit day, y'all! Today after work I'm heading to the theater with my mom and Maddie, and my dad is meeting up with us after his plane lands (he's been on a business trip since Tuesday) then we're all going to wait in line for hours so we can try to get good seats for the Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. It's gonna be epic! I've wanted a movie of the Hobbit since LOTR came out - over 10 years ago! And after over four years of hearing that so-and-so is going to direct and such-and-such actor is rumored to be playing Bilbo- wait! No, that guy is not going to direct and they have another actor in mind for Bilbo, etc. it's finally filmed and finished with the perfect director and some of my favorite actors! I'm just so excited, y'all!

Are any of you going to the midnight showing? If so I'd love to hear all about it tomorrow! (Or today if you're in the southern hemisphere. *wink*)

♥ ♥ ♥       

dress: Dahl Clothes
cardigan: my moms from Target
belt: Francesca's Collections

tights: Target

Jeffrey Campbell Litas: Lori's Shoes

Betsy Johnson bracelet: Little Black Bag

lipstick: Kat Von D Foiled Love in Valentine

Whovian Gift Guide

1. Doctor Who Poster: The Angels Take Manhattan - 11"x17" Science Fiction Art Print
2. Doctor Who Poster: Forest of the Dead - 11x17 Science Fiction Art Print
3. Doctor Who Poster: Doomsday - 11x17 Science Fiction Art Print
4. Red apple Necklace, Sparkle Bitten Apple
5. Doctor Who Dalek ring
6. Keep Calm and Don't Blink Babydoll
7. Polymer Clay 3D Glasses Necklace
8. 10th Doctor Costume Tee
9. Doctor Who inspired plush pillow, Matt Smith, 11th Dr decorative pillow
10. Doctor Who plush pillow, David Tennent, 10th Dr decorative pillow
11. Red High Top Shoe Stud Earrings

Just a Holiday Every Night

 "But when I close these heavy lids after dark
Each sweet dream is a target
And all my shots are so consistently wide of the mark

"‘Cause the angriest bark is always worse than the bite
Like the ache in my chest that my heart didn’t invite
But if the prettiest romance isn’t perfectly right
That makes every love lost just a holiday every night."

~ Paper Tigers by Owl City

Little Red Riding Hood // Daily Outfit

Sometimes I get so, so caught up in everything that's past. I think it's just in my nature. I can't stop thinking of everything that was. I've done it for as long as I can remember, and it always hits worst in December. It's the month of my birthday and the last month of the year - both are times I think people naturally get reflective, but for me it borders on depression. This year I can't stop thinking of some of my old friends. I trusted them, and even though I know that it's time to let go I just can't seem to...

The good news, though, is that all this friend drama has made me see the need to patch up some hurt feelings with some of my favorite family members. Family may be crazy and imperfect but they'll love you and I've been blessed to have some really amazing family that accept me - Lita Spikes and gear-head-wannabe in all! I'm really hoping to visit them again this spring - it's been far too long. ♥

For those of you wondering, this is what I wore to my dad's family's Christmas party earlier this month. When I got this dress I vowed to wear it more than just for my graduation party, and I've certainly done that! (I'm not even going to lie: Katy Perry is a constant source of courage! If she can wear candy themed outfits I can rock that hot-rod-red tulle dress!)

 ♥ ♥ ♥       

dress: Spotted Moth
cardigan: Lace Affair
belt: Windsor

tights: Target

Jeffrey Campbell Litas: Lori's Shoes

necklace: Kane County Flea Market

blazer: H&M

lipstick: Kat Von D Painted Love in Underage Red
Title: Once Upon a Time

Reader Apreciation Giveaway! {Closed}

I really don't say it enough, but I am so, so thankful for each and every one of my readers, and I really want to make it a point to show my gratitude more. I tried to get this wristlet in my November Little Black Bag because I knew it would be a perfect giveaway item, and this ring from the shoppe I work at goes great with it! (The ring has elastic in it so it can adjust to fit anyone's finger. *winks*)

How to enter:

Follow on GFC and comment to tell me that did (be sure to leave your email so I can contact you for your address if you win).

Bonus Entries (be sure to leave a separate comment for each):

1.) Follow on Bloglovin'

2.) Tweet about the giveaway using this: "Entered to win an adorable wristlet + ring @katieburry's blog! bitly.com/TqkVoQ"

3.) Post about this contest on FaceBook

4.) Like Beautifully Pure on FaceBook

5.) Pin the above image to Pintrest with a link to this post

6.) Take the Beautifully Pure Reader Survey

Contest is open until December 17th at midnight. Winner will be announced December 18th. Good luck to you all!

UPDATE:

Congratulations, Tiffany! I'll be emailing you to get your address so I can send the package along!

And thanks to everyone who entered! You're all super-megga-foxy-awesome-hot! (As Lydia Bennet would say, that is. *wink*)

Flowers of the Field // Daily Outfit

Sometimes life is weird, and sometimes - right when you think it's starting to make sense - it sends you a curve ball and leaves you wondering what on New Earth you're doing. But sometimes - just sometimes - you feel free.

I have no idea where my life is going right now, and to be honest %99 of everything that's happened to me in the past four months makes absolutely no sense to me, but I know who I am, and that's a comfort. And when I'm driving into work listening to Owl City and Sky Sailing I feel free - like I could fly anywhere and do anything. And that's a great comfort. ♥

"We were 17, longing to live in between
The earth and the stars
So I suggested we’d grow up fast and not be the last"

 ~ I Live Alone by Sky Sailing

 ♥ ♥ ♥       

dress: thrifted
jacket: Top Shop
belt: Windsor

tights: Target

boots: DSW

sunglasses: ModCloth

Betsy Johnson bracelet: Little Black Bag

bag: Francesca's Collections

lipstick: MAC in Lickable
Title: Flowers of the Field by Sky Sailing

Lately {It's Begining to Look a Lot Like Christmas}

1. Enjoying my new Betsy Johnson sunglasses from Little Black Bag.

2. Making perogis for Thanksgiving with my little sisters

3. The farmers market in the town where I work has been replaced with a Christmas tree farm.

4. Maddie's cranberry cobbler

5. Maddie got me this ah-mazing necklace from Claire's!

6. I really want this Christmas tree ornament!

7. I love this little red cacti!

8. My family finally put our tree up.

9. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - a Christmas tradition with my family.

 

1. River // Haley Westenra

2. Let it Snow // Celtic Woman

3. The First Noel // Josh Groban

4. Peppermint Winter // Owl City

5. White is in the Winter Night // Enya

1. Maddie got me the Haley Westenra Christmas album for my sixteenth birthday and I still love it! It's definitely become a Christmas tradition for me.

2. Celtic Woman used to be one of my favorite bands and this is still one of my favorite renditions of Let it Snow.

3. Over the weekend I finally bought Josh Groban's Christmas album. He's def one of my favorite artists - I mean, his voice is so amazing and I really love this song sung by him.

4. Peppermint Winter is Owl City's one and only Christmas song so of course I'm listening to it! It's a really fun/funny song for Christmas. I really wish Owl City would do a whole Christmas album.

5. And Winter Came was one of the first whole albums I bought on iTunes and it's still a favorite of mine! I remember listening to it the whole time I worked on NaNoWriMo in 2008, and it's another album that's become a Christmas tradition with me.

1. Once Upon a Time

2. Doc Martin

1. This show was on again last night after a week break, and it was really good to get back to it! I can't wait to see what happens with Cora (and am I the only one who is really liking Mr. Gold and Regina this season?)

2. My family forgot about this show for a while, but we've started watching it again and the season we're on right now (three, maybe?) is really good! I'm glad to see that it looks like Doc Martin and Louisa are sort of getting together. *winks*

November Subscription Boxes!

 

 

I've really been enjoying filming vlogs lately, so I decided to film a video of what I got in each of my subscription boxes this month. Since I don't know how many of you are aware of my YouTube account, I figured I'd share them all here. Let me know if this is something you'd like me to start doing every month!

Like a Girl // Daily Outfit

This outfit is actually several weeks old. Eep! Luckily I'm finally getting caught up on my outfit posts. Woohoo!

I think I must have caught the "crazy-shoe bug" from reading Kaelah's blog because this is seriously one of my favorite pairs - right up there with my faux teal JC Litas and my real Lita spikes! I mean, what doesn't a pair of pink and camel platform heels go with!? I really loved how they added a little pizazz to this simple, girl-next-door look (also, "pizazz" is one of my new faovrite words).

In other news I'm hoping to start some new changes next year and I set up a reader survey so I could hear your thoughts on what you'd like to see more/less of! I'd really appreciate it if you'd take the time to fill it out. (I promise it won't take long! Only 5 required questions.) It will also give you an extra entry in a giveaway coming up next month - I'm just sayin'! *winks*

 ♥ ♥ ♥       

dress: Forever 21
cardigan: Old Navy
belt: Windsor

tights: Target

Dolce Vita Heels: Lori's Shoes

ring: borrowed from Maddie

lipstick: MAC in Lickable
Title: Hot N Cold by Katy Perry

DIY Jewelery Holder Dos and Don'ts

I'm not going to have this be an actual DIY post, because - let's face it - this DIY is all over the internet/interest. What I am going to do is give you a little run down on how I attempted this project, and what I learned from it:

DO check your local thrift store for pretty dishes + candle holders: I found both of these plates and the candle holder at one of my favorite thrift stores. The plates were six dollars for around two dozen, and the candle holder was a buck. On my next thrifting trip I ended up coming back with so many dishes for future projects!

DON'T invest in any fancy supplies: When I looked up what kind of glue most people used for this project I found a lot of different opinions. Since we had Krazy Glue in the house and I was lazy, I decided to try that and it worked just fine! No need to invest in anything fancy.

DO let your project sit with a heavy-ish weight on it for a couple hours: I let it dry just a few minutes the first time, and the top plate came off a a couple hours later (*le gasp!*). So I re-glued it and put a couple heavy-ish bowls (I didn't want it too be too heavy and risk breaking the dishes) on it for several hours, and I haven't had a single problem with it since!

DON'T let the idea of doing a DIY freak you out: I know some of you out there don't think you're patient/creative enough to do DIYs, but don't let that psych you out! This is probably the easiest, and most fool-proof DIY I've ever done. I didn't even measure to find the center of the dishes. Seriously, you can't mess this up!

DO use this to organize all your gorgeous jewelery: I love having somewhere to stash all my rings so they stay all in once place instead of spread out all over my room!

DO get creative and have fun! On my last thrifting trip I got two larger dishes and made a cupcake stand - so cute! I should Instagram a picture later so you all can see.

Have any of you tried this project before? Comment and tell me your tips/tricks! (Bonus points if you have pictures to show me what lovely things you came up with! xo)

When Can I See You Again // Daily Outfit

Last Friday my family went to see Wreck It Ralph - on opening day (score!). For those of you that don't understand my interest in this movie it stems from two things: number one, I have strong love for Disney kids movies (Tangled? Yes please!) and number two, Owl City had a song featured in the soundtrack - and we all know how big of an Owl City fan I am.  

On another very important note, can I just point out that I am wearing authentic Jeffrey Campbell Lita spikes!? I can't believe that I when I started reading Little Chief Honeybee, I didn't really like Lita's! Of course her gorgeous style won me over, though, and pretty soon I found myself wanting a pair. So I bought not one, but two faux pairs, and vowed to get a pair after I got a job, and I finally did it! And let me tell you, Kaelah was so right when she said that they'd make me feel like a new woman! *winks* (Also, they are much more comfortable than the knock offs!)

 ♥ ♥ ♥       

Owl City tee shirt: District Lines

plaid shirt: Maddie's

skirt: Kelly King
belt: Francesca's Collections

Jeffrey Campbell Lita Spikes: Lori's Shoes

bracelet: Betsy Johnson

tights: Target

bag: Francesca's Collections

lipstick: MAC in Lickable
Title: When Can I See You Again by Owl City