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Thursday, June 28, 2012

Paper Airplanes // Daily Outfit




I found this cardigan at the thrift store a few months ago. I had just finished checking out when I spied it and I actually got back in line so I could get it, too. It was just too lovely to leave there.

Today is looking to be a busy day. I work in the morning and then I have a shopping date with a friend of mine in the afternoon. It should be fun, though. Then tomorrow my mom and my sister and I have a bunch of errands to run, which includes buying balloons and plates and napkins and such for my party. I can't believe it's a week from Saturday!

Do any of you have any fun plans for the start of the weekend?

  ♥ ♥ ♥       
skirt: made by me
cardigan: thrifted
boots: Blowfish Shoes
sunglasses: my mom's
belt: Francesca's Collections
  bracelets: gift + vintage
bag: ModCloth
ring: Charming Charlie via my little sister

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Wish List Wednesday


1. Too Much Fun Dress in Cookout Crimson
2. Mr. Mustache Necklace
3. Double Beard Mustache Finger Ring
4. Rain Bows Jacket
5. The Sooki Retro Dress
6. Chicwish Hollywood Style Sunglasses
7. Chicwish Round Color Black sunglasses

An Airplane Carried Me to Bed // Daily Outfit






"She was still wearing white and Robin's egg blue, 
her grandmother's dress"

"We are lost in the sound
Close your eyes
And I will twirl you around.
"

"And I'll be your escort in a sad waltz around the room
I'll twirl you all around without a sound
"

It took me forever to finally decide on a name for this post. I was listening to Brielle by Sky Sailing when I began putting this post together, and I had a moment where I was just like "that's it. That's what this post is." But none of the dozens of lines I tried worked. Then I realized that this post isn't Brielle, or Tennis Elbow, or A Little Opera Goes a Long Way - it's all of them. It reminds me of the entire An Airplane Carried Me to Bed album.

For those of you who don't know, An Airplane Carried Me to Bed is the only album by the band, Sky Sailing. A project of Adam Young before he started Owl City, and one of my favorite collections of songs ever. It's not very well known, even though I think it's some of his best work. Every song is simple in musical composition, despite the fact that the lyrics are riddled with hidden meanings. Acoustic guitars and simple piano melodies will sing you to sleep while you find yourself realizing that Tennis Elbow isn't about tennis at all. You'll find yourself being carried off to fields of tall grass bathed in gorgeous sunlight while the few sparse trees cast long shadows. At least, if you're anything like me, you will.

Or maybe I'm just "lost in the sound."

P.S. This is my first proper outfit shoot with Thornton! I had a bit of trouble since it was hard to know where to focus with all the grass getting in the way, and me not being, you know, in front of the camera, but I'm still really pleased with the result! What do you all think?

  ♥ ♥ ♥       
dress: Francesca's Collections
oxfords: thrifted
sunglasses: a gift from Miss Jack
jacket: Ebay
belt: Francesca's Collections
  necklace: Target
bag: ModCloth
hair clips: My Handmade Crafts via Miss Jack

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Summer Book List


When I was little my absolute favorite summer past-time was reading. I would devour book after book after book - starting all the way back when I was reading Mouse Soup and Frog and Toad. Lately, however, I've found myself reading less and less. I want to get back into it again, so I sat down and wrote a list of 10 books I want to read this summer. How funny that they were all written before 1920! Hehe. What can I say? I love 19th and early, early 20th century literature! Blame the home shcooler in me. ;)

A Rainbow Above You // Daily Outfit



This is what I wore yesterday. I spent the morning running errands with my mom, and the afternoon baking. I baked two batches of cupcakes for my grad party (I'm freezing them and then frosting them the day before the party), and man am I exhausted now!

Seriously, all the party planning/running around/crafting/baking is really getting to me. I feel like I still have so much left to do, but I know that I really just need to take a break. I'm hoping to get together with a friend of mine later this week for some shopping/window shopping and I'm really hoping it works out. I need to spend more time with non-family members above the age of six. lol!

  ♥ ♥ ♥       
shirt: my lil' sister's
jeans: Old Navy
sunglasses: my mom's
jacket: Ebay
bag: ModCloth

Monday, June 25, 2012

Lately...




1. The guest book for my grad party and decorative clothes pins.
2. Cupcake wrappers for my grad party
3. Lovely new notebook I couldn't help but buy
4. Redecorated my room
5. Decorated clothes pins in two Ball jars in my room. The sunlight was so pretty on them!
6. I was tagged with the #iloveblue tag. So much fun!
7. Finally got some fro yo after two weeks of longing!
8. Downloading new fonts for this post. *winks*
9. Bought these at a garage sale for $1. Going to spray paint them and hang them on my wall with two prints clipped to them.

 
1. Good Time // Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen 
2. Per Te // Josh Groban 
3. Dreams Don't Turn to Dust // Owl City
4. You are Loved // Josh Groban

1. New song from Adam Young. Does this really need any more of explanation as to why it's on my playlist this week??
2. This is the only song in Italian I like. I don't know what it is, but I'm usually just not a huge fan of songs sung in Italian. This song, however, I love. The words are so romantic (once translated) and omgsh his voice! This proves that Josh Groban could sing the Sponge Bob Square Pants theme and I would listen to it.
3. This is one of my favorite Owl City songs. Maybe because I like glitter and that's what this song reminds me of; maybe because I like the way Adam Young looks at the world. I just re-discovered this song this week and have been loving it ever since.

It's Always a Good Time // Daily Outfit






I took these pictures with my mom's camera the day before I got mine. Then, in the excitement of getting my camera, I forgot to upload these onto my computer. Poor little pictures. Anyway, here they are now.

I got this dress from Francesca's Collections a couple months ago, and I've already worn it several times. It's just such a perfect dress! The colors are two of my favorites and the shape is perfect on me. It's just one of those dresses that makes me feel so good. ♥

My grad party is a week from Saturday and I still have so much to do! This weekend I made peanut butter cups and today my mom and I are going to Party City to get the balloons, plates, napkins and streamers. Then sometime later this week I need to bake three batches of cupcakes to freeze till the party day, and finish up some last-minute decorations. Eep! So much! Wish me luck!

  ♥ ♥ ♥       
dress: Francesca's Collections
sandals: LuLu*s
sunglasses: Target
jacket: Ebay
belt: thrifted
  necklace: Target
bag: ModCloth

Friday, June 22, 2012

Dreams Don't Turn to Dust // Why I Love Owl City

  "I made for the countryside,
And my eyes never grew so wide,
Apple, raspberry, river blue,
I don't wanna leave without you
" 
~ Dreams Don't Turn to Dust by Owl City

I've always loved fireflies. I remember sitting outside at dusk and watching ours and our neighbors yard fill up with them. I used to imagine a nymph with long curly hair dancing among them in a full skirt of some gorgeous color  - and I'm pretty sure I tried to do a scene like this at least twice in the many books I wrote - but then, I just generally love nature.

The trees, the sun, the moon, the stars, the birds, the grass, the wind, the rivers and lakes - it's all so inspiring and thrilling to me.

At the Tender age of eighteen I've seen enough people get so caught up in work and all the little details and stresses of life to realize that I don't ever want to do that. I make a conscious effort not to. No matter how many hardships I go through I want to be able to marvel at the wonder and beauty of the world. I see life as a great adventure - full of wonders to marvel at if only one pays attention - but it seems the older people get the more they forget this.

When the burdens of life come people fall. They forget the little beauties and joys of life and become slaves to the work of it. I've seen it happen more than once before, and it's one of the saddest things I've ever seen. The worst of it, though, is that the older I get the more I see it. Friends who used to be ready to set out to do whatever they dream come crashing down and settle for the dull "reality" of "life."

It's rare, now, for me to find people that see the world as I do. Most of my friends have seen too much of the pain, or been knocked down too much to see the beauty and adventure in the world that I do. I long to find someone who looks at the simple beauties of this world with the same awed expression that I do. And I don't mean beauties like the Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains, or Great Lakes - but everyday beauties like a ray of sun peeking through the leaves of a tree, the tall grass bowing to the wind, or the feel of a hot summer day.

The only person I've ever heard of that I feel might just see the world the say I do is Adam Young of Owl City (come on, you knew that was coming, didn't you?). While most mainstream musicians are writing about passionate love and horrible breakups, he draws inspiration from nature (Fireflies, Dreams Don't Turn to Dust), playing pretend as a child (Hot Air Balloon), and visits to the dentist (Dental Care). When he does write about love it's a sweet tune of "I love you and enjoy spending time with you" (Sunburn, Bird and the Worm, If My Heart was a House).

"Like a kite in the bright midday, / Wonder stole my breath away, / Shy sonata for Mercury, / The stars always sing so pretty. / This picnic will soon depart, / Real life, I'm sad to see you go, / I'll miss you with all my heart, / But I'd rather be alone. / 'Cause I couldn't live without, / The sunsets that dazzle in the dusk, / So I'll drag the anchor up, / And rest assured, 'cause dreams don't turn to dust! / Dreams don't turn to dust"

No one's ever said as much to me before, but I know that there's a great many people that think I'm too optimistic - that I don't really understand how hard and terrible the world is. It's rather discouraging at time, to be honest. But when I listen to songs like this, I feel that I'm not alone in my beliefs. That there is at least one other person out there that sees the world in the same light that I do. And that is very encouraging. It's also why I love Owl City so, so much. ♥

"If by chance you ever feel as though you've come to know these songs or empathize with the emotions therein, please consider yourself a friend of mine because in a manner of speaking, you know me. As the saying goes, one can truly glimpse the artist through his/her art, and that expression certainly proves faithful in my case. This music is my heart and soul. This is who I am."
~ Adam Young about Sky Sailing's album, An Airplane Carried Me to Bed 

Photo Credits:  
1: Unknown   
2. Unknown  
3. Lissy Elle

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Summer Plans

Lately I've been obsessed with lists. I have a little pink notebook that I carry around with me to jot down everything I need/want to get done - and since I have such high hopes for this summer, I just couldn't help making a goal list for this summer. It's so rewarding to check each thing off! Hopefully I'll be able to share at least some of these here on the blog as I work through them. ♥

You Say "Nerd" Like it's a Bad Thing // Daily Outfit



 "That man is playing Galaga! He thought we wouldn't notice... but we did..."
~ Tony Stark; The Avengers

These photos were taken with my new Camera, but they're not much to look at, since Maddie and Anna and I were sorta rushed. We stopped at Lush on the way to Chicago so Maddie could spend the gift card she got for birthday, and we didn't want to take a lot of time since we needed to get Anna to the train station on time. Hehe. Next time I'll do more of a proper photo shoot.

Driving to Chicago was super fun! I love driving and I love going to Chicago. Even though I missed my exit I did fine, we didn't get lost, and we got Anna on her train on time. Score!

   ♥ ♥ ♥       
T-shirt: Hot Topic
shorts: thrifted and DIYed
sunglasses: Target
shoes: garage sale via Miss Jack (thank you!)
belt: thrifted
  bracelet: thrifted

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Wish List Wednesday


1. Pamplona Bangle: Rose Gold
2. Prada Patent Leather Tail Light Wedge Sandals
3. Work with Me Dress
4. Have You Ever Wandered Sandal in Tan
5. Sea the Light Skirt
6. The Definition of Darling Wallet
7. At Every Pattern Dress in Zigzag

Break Down the Open Road // Daily Outfit




Last week my sister and I popped out for for a coffee/tea on a gorgeous summer's day. We stopped to get some outfit photos and I couldn't resist getting some pics of Maddie's adorable outfit. Isn't she cute?

This is my last outfit post with my Nikon L110. Eep! So excited to start using my Canon for outfit posts!

♥ ♥ ♥       
blouse: Kohl's (from years ago)
shorts: thrifted
sandals: Lulu*s (last year)
bag: ModCloth
sunglasses: Target

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

True Love

True love is something wonderful and magical. It's that moment when you realize that you don't ever want to be without that person in your life. I have to admit that I've never experienced it before - until now, that is.

And who is this person you're wondering? His name is "Thornton" and this is what he looks like:

Isn't he handsome??

And no, I'm not even joking. I love this guy. ♥

My Senior Portraits


As you all probably know, last month I got my senior portraits done with Marnie of Studio 17 Portraits. It was a ton of fun, and all of the photos turned out beautifully. I thought I'd share a few of my favorites here.

I decided to wear my TARDIS dress since I got so many lovely comments on it the last time I wore it, and I'm so glad I did because it really "popped" against the stone backdrop! ♥

My favorite photos are the one in the field with the red dress, pennant flag banner and chalkboards. Looking at those photos makes me sooo excited for my party, since that's what I made all those decorations for.

And I doubt any of you remember, but the red dress has actually been featured on my blog before, in a Wish List Wednesday post. My parents ended up buying it for me for my graduation party. It's probably a little formal for a grad party, but I never got to have a homecoming or prom gown, so this is probably the best excuse I'll have to wear one till I get married. Plus, I figure I can dress it down (I mean, how cute is it with the denim jacket!?).

I hope you all are having a great day so far!

   ♥ ♥ ♥       
red dress: Spotted Moth
jacket: Ebay
sunglasses: Target
blue dress: Francesca's Collections
chalkboard: made by me
pennant banner: made by me

Monday, June 18, 2012

A Sock Hop Beneath my Bed // Daily Outfit






This outfit is several weeks old, but I didn't want to post it immediately after my last outfit in this dress - which I would have if I posted it when I actually wore it. It's actually one of my favorite outfits of all time. It's so casual/breezy, but the dress has so much personality that it more than makes up for the simplicity of the other pieces!

If you follow me on Twitter you'll know that Friday was my last day of school. I am beyond excited just to be done with the frivolity of it all, but getting a Canon 60D as a graduation gift only increased my joy! I'm so excited to break it out - the quality of photos is so much better than any of the cameras I've used before.

I'm also really looking forward to this summer. I've always had very lazy summer breaks, but now that I have a drivers license and a car to use I'm hoping to go on lots of adventures. I actually sat down yesterday and wrote of list of 19 (I'm hoping to get one more) things I want to do this summer. I've become obsessed with goal lists and I can't wait to start checking things off! I'll definitely share this list with you all later this week. ;)

   ♥ ♥ ♥              
dress: a handmade gift from Molly of The Dahl House
jacket: Ebay
sunglasses: Target