Friday Favorites

Got a bit of a short one this week, on account of the fact that I wasn't on a whole lot. Hope you enjoy it anyway!

These lovely note cards.

This adorable gif image from Rebecca of The Clothes Horse

This image from Christina of The Runaway Muse

This gorgeous copy of Emma by Jane Austen!

♥ This article on personal branding

♥ The fact that ModCloth is selling a dress very similar to the dress Molly is making me for my grad gift.

♥ My new bedding and the fact that I finally found my old iPod!

Fighting Dragons // Daily Outfit

{skirt/made by me :: sweater/courtesy of Conversation Pieces :: shoes/ModCloth :: purse/ModCloth belt/courtesy of Conversation Pieces :: makeup/this tutorial} 

I finally got my So Choice Wedges in the mail today! I originally got them last week, but the size nines were too small (so weird - I'm always a nine!) so I had to return them, and then I snatched up the last size 10 after someone returned them! I'm sooo happy with them! My summer wardrobe has been seriously needing a pair of black wedges, and I love the alternating bows. Tomorrow I might wear them with the bright green ones. So fun. ♥

So how's everyone doing? I'm dealing with some dramma lately, but I know I'm going to get through it, and other than that I'm generally in a really good mood. I've had to make some difficult decisions lately, but I'm confident I've done the right thing; I feel so much more independent now that I can drive; and I'm so excited to graduate this year! Basically, life is pretty good right now.

Hope you all are having a lovely day. ♥

Across the Universe of Time // Daily Outfit

{dress/thrifted :: cardigan/Lace Affair :: tights/Target :: boots/Blowfish Shoes :: belt/courtesy of Conversation Pieces :: flower clip/gift}

Isn't this little scotty belt just the cutest?? Audrey from Conversation Pieces was sweet enough to send it my way and I smitten with it! I love getting packages from Audrey so much. Not only does her shop carry some of the most adorable/lovely clothes, but everything always comes wrapped so pretty with tissue paper and a lolly-pop tied up in some ribbon. One of these days I'm going to not be impatient and take a picture before I unwrap the package. ♥

This is what I wore on Monday. I can't even begin to express to you what that day was like - I was so mood swingy all day, and then finally lost it later that night. I learned a lot, though. One of those things is that I had no idea just how much I still need my mother. Luckily I'm feeling better now, and even though my hopes, dreams, and plans for the next couple years of my growing up has changed drastically, I'm more excited than ever!

Last night I took the time to tweek my Twitter and FaceBook pages after reading this very helpful article on personal branding. I'll admit that I still have a lot to learn about personal branding and what exactly I want to do in that area, but I feel like every day I'm getting closer to it, and what I want my "brand" to be for myself - even in real life - and it excites me so much!

Until next time, lovelies... ♥

P.S. Get free shipping from Conversation Pieces now until April 1st!

The Sands of Time // Daily Outfit

{blouse/ModCloth :: skirt/made by me :: belt/thrifted :: boots/Blowfish Shoes :: bracelet/made by me :: jacket/TopShop}

This blouse is seriously one of my favorite purchases ever. It's just so me! I love the color (I've loved pink almost as long as I've been alive) and the sheer top, and sweet-heart neckline reminds me of the dresses from White Christmas - a movie that I've loved since I was a little girl. ♥

Do you have any pieces of clothing that speak to you for whatever reason? I'd love to hear about it!

Weekend Update

This weekend consisted mostly of:

driving

lots of food

lovely views

thick fog

What was your weekend like?

Rose // Daily Outfit

{jeans/Old Navy :: tank/my moms :: cardi/Lace Affair :: jacket/Ebay :: necklace/ModCloth :: flats/courtesy of Blowfish Shoes}

If you follow me on Twitter you've probably noticed that I got my drivers license on Thursday! Yipee! I've wanted to drive for as long as I can remember, and I have to say that I am loving my new found freedom just as much as I thought I would!

Sooo... without further ado, let me introduce you to Rose! *fanfare* Rose is a 2000 Volkswagon Jetta formerly owned by my elderly aunt, who had to give her up due to her inability to drive. (My aunt that is, not Rose. Rose runs like a dream!) My aunt gave her to my parents to say "thank you" for all the help they gave her when she moved into an assisted living apartment this summer. And, since both my parents already each have a car, I get to use her practically whenever I want! My little sis and I have already fitted her up with an air freshener from Bath and Body works (my lil' sis is addicted to that store as bad as I am to ModCloth!), and my dad even replaced the old, tape-playing radio for a spiffy new one with MP3 hook up. Woohoo!

Anyway, I had some errands to do Saturday morning so this is what I wore. Cardi + skinny jeans + ballet flats is my go-to comfy-chic outfit. I just got this cardi in the mail on Friday. I got it from Lace Affair after it sold out on ModCloth. I desperately needed a new black cardigan, and I thought this was a fun alternative to a boring solid black one. And of course I just had to wear my favorite car necklace! ♥

P.S Sorry for the bad quality of pictures. It was super foggy down at the beach! (So awesome.)

Friday Favorites

These lovely jeans Bonnie from Flashes of Style scored.

This chess set by EldalinSkywalker. *whovian*

This lovely photo shoot Rebecca shared.

Maggie's lovely pattern-mixing outfit.

These lovely towels

♥ This hilarious blog post from Jack. I lol-ed the whole time.

♥ Elycia's new hair color.

♥ This tutorial for sewing a gathered skirt

♥ This lovely red dress of Amber Rose's.

♥ This post on staying inspired from Amanda of Here Comes the Sun

♥ This post from my cousin, Anna.

♥ Driving myself to work now that I have my drivers license (not that I need to seeing as it's two blocks away...)

♥ This redneck vs hipster flowchart 

Easy Homemade Brownies // Recipe

Need: 2 cups flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 cup butter (2 sticks), 2 cups brown sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 3 eggs, 3 oz unsweetened bakers chocolate melted with 3 tablespoons oil

1. Preheat oven to 350*  2. Mix the flour, baking powder and salt together and set aside.  3. In a separate bowl mix the butter and brown suger together till creamy.  4. Add the vanilla, eggs, and melted chocolate and mix until well blended.  5. Slowly add dry ingredients, mixing between each addition.  6. Once it's all mixed in together pour it into 9x13 greased and floured baking pan. 7. Bake 30-35 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.

A Little Opera Goes a Long Way // Daily Outfit

{floral skirt/made by me :: white skirt/thirfted :: tank/my mom's :: belt/thrifted :: necklace/ModCloth :: shoes/Merona :: jacket/Ebay :: purse/thrifted}

So, if you follow my Twitter you may remember a few months ago when I decided to attempt a new dress. Long story short - I hated the bodice. So I cut it up and used the skirt I'd already sewed up to make a stand alone skirt following this tutorial. It's not perfect - due to my impatience - but i love it anyway. ♥

And what do you think of my new-to-me denim jacket? The one I had last year disappeared off the face of the earth, so I tracked down the same one on Ebay and won my first auction ever! I also voted yesterday for the first time - you know, grown up stuff. *winks* So far being eighteen is treating me well, and I'm looking forward to really starting my adult life. ♥

It may be a bit premature, but since I'm not going to attend college this year... or next year... or any time in the foreseeable feature, Jack and I are looking into getting an apartment together in Ft. Collins, CO next spring or summer. I'm so excited to see what happens! Every time I've thought of living on my own before I was just petrified. This time, however, the thought excites me more than it scares me, and I really hope it works out! I feel like it would be just an amazing opportunity for me! ♥

I'd really appreciate your prayers/thoughts this year. A lot is changing for me, but I'm so excited for it all - I just want to be sure I'm heading in the right direction and doing what God wants me to be doing. ♥

Wish List Wednesday

1. The Teal City Top

2. Myth Perfect Jewelry Holder

3. Braided Teal Belt

4. New Flame Top
5. Perch and Foremost Ring
6. Very Volatile Boulder Brown Embroidered Leather Cowboy Boots
7. Buckle Me Up Satchel in Brown
8. Lace the Rain Boot

Sunday Morning // Daily Outfit

{skirt/thrifted :: shoes/Merona :: blouse/ModCloth :: necklace/Target :: jacket/TopShop :: flower clip/H&M}

I have a love/hate relationship with mornings. I love the opportunity to get more done in the days, and I love how lovely mornings are, but I hate, hate, hate getting out of bed in the morning - especially on the weekends, when I stay up late online with Jack. So when I had to get up "early" for church on Sunday, I decided to try out a simple outfit I had considered wearing several times before - that way I got to sleep in longer and just threw on my outfit as quickly as possible.

I've been feeling a bit gloomy as of late - well, off and on gloomy that is. I really am very happy and love my life right now, but I can't help but miss some things that I wish were a bigger part of my life. It's a funny feeling, and one that I can't really explain, so I'll just stop trying.

Hope you all are having a lovely week so far! In case you missed it I posted my first makeup tutorial vlog yesterday and I'm really happy with the outcome! It was a very exciting thing to try and I'm hoping to another one in the near future. ♥