What a Maroon!

When I was a kid, I lived for the weekends. No school, no homework--two full days to just play!

To start it of right, I'd always watch Looney Tunes on Saturday mornings. Bugs Bunny was the star, and everything always seemed to work out in his favor. I remember him talking smack about his enemies, and he'd describe them by saying, "What a maroon!"

Of course, by "maroon," he meant "moron," and that was part of the joke.

Well, I felt kind of like a maroon after I first looked at these outfit photos. I loved all the maroon in the outfit, but something was a bit off.

While other outfit photos taken subsequently made it on the blog, these sat in a folder on my computer for weeks.

I took a look at them last night and realized what I didn't like about them: I had thrown on a greenish brown hat to cover my messy hair that just didn't quite work with the outfit the way I had hoped. So, I cropped it out, and--voila!--it's this outfit's turn to be posted.

Here it is in all of its maroon glory. And I no longer think I look like a maroon!

Outfit Details:
Urban Outfitters Dress (old)
Urban Outfitters Shoes
Target Tights
Anthropologie Purse (old)
Fossil Love Letter Charm
Thrifted Belt

Photos by my sweet fiance, Matt

This post contains Urban Outfitters affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you click on them and make a purchase.

French Bulldog, British Dress

If you've spent even a short amount of time on my blog, you know that my Pomeranian, Cleo, gets most of the doggie spotlight.

I mean, she has her own Instagram account and her own section on this blog where she cutens up my outfit photos. (For the record, "cutens" isn't a word, but it totally should be!)

But I have another cute pup in my life, whom I introduced you to in my Liebster Blog Award post. Gus is a French Bulldog that Matt adopted before he and I started seeing each other. Gus is super adorable and full of personality, and he's become my dog, too. 

So, when I saw this dress with tiny Gus's all over it from British retailer Simply Be, I knew I had to make it mine just like I've done with Gus. I've affectionately been calling it "The Gus Dress."

So move over, Cleo, at least for today. It's Gus's turn to shine!

Outfit Details:

Simply Be Dress

Target Leggings

Charlotte Russe Shoes (old)

Urban Outfitters Purse (old)

ModCloth Ring (old)

Druzy Necklace from MOSI, the local science museum

Photos by my sweet fiance, Matt

This post contains Urban Outfitters and ModCloth affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you click on them and make a purchase.

Pennyfarthing Print Dress

I'm a big fan of novelty prints, and there's something about a bike print in particular that I just can't resist. I bought ModCloth's Ride Here, Right Now Dress a few months ago, and now, I also have the Taking on Tulsa Dress in Pennyfarthings.

I wore it over the weekend to dinner for a friend's birthday. These photos were taken the day after, and I used Matt's bike as a prop.

I'm also digging a couple of these new accessories. The Just as Imagined Necklace in Mushrooms is also from ModCloth, and I ordered it with the dress. You might remember it from my February Wish List.

The wooden handle clutch is vintage, and I picked it up a couple weeks ago from iamsonotcool vintage at Whigfest, a local music festival. When shop owner Cheryl Howell saw my eyes widen as they locked onto the purse, she told me it had just been marked down from $12 to $10. Do you really think I was going to say no to that?! :)

Outfit Details:

Taking on Tulsa Dress in Pennyfarthings and Just as Imagined Necklace in Mushrooms from ModCloth
Vintage Purse from iamsonotcool vintage
Target Leggings and Shoes
Icing Headband (old)
The Alchemy Shop Fox Ring
Headcase Press Ring (read more about it here: What's the Perfect Gift for a Writer?)

Photos by my sweet fiance, Matt

This post contains ModCloth affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you click on them and make a purchase.

One Bird, Two Birds, Pink Birds, Blue Birds

Don't know where the Dr. Seuss inspiration is coming from today, but I'm going with it!

Oh, the places I'll go in this dress! (See what I did there?) But, no, really, I'm super happy with this purchase from Simply Be because it's perfect for spring, Florida's year-round warm weather, and just about any occasion.

Shopping with friends? Check.

An outdoor music festival? Check.

Date night? Check.

Work (if I dress it up a bit and ever get a full-time job)? Check.

I'm excited about the versatility of this dress as well as the cute watercolor bird print, the ever-so-slight high-low hem that dips in the back just enough, and the SLEEVES with a little bit of poof.

Why is it so hard to find a fit-and-flare dress with short sleeves that's reasonably priced these days? Am I the only one having a difficult time?

Anyway, I feel really comfortable in this dress, which you might recognize from my Simply Be Wish List. I'm looking forward to wearing it a lot, so maybe you'll see it again in some sort of remix.

Outfit Details:

Simply Be Dress

JCPenney Hat (old, similar from Amazon)

Bamboo Sandals via ModCloth (old, similar from Bamboo, similar from ModCloth)

Perk Me Up Bag from ModCloth (sold out, similar)

Words of a Feather Necklace from ModCloth (sold out, similar in gold)

The Native Source Ring

Earrings from a local craft fair (similar from ModCloth)

Photos by my sweet fiance, Matt

This post contains ModCloth affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you click on them and make a purchase.

ModCloth Style Assignment: Share Your A-lines

Have you participated in ModCloth's weekly Style Assignment yet?

Each week, the online retailer picks a new fashion concept and asks the ModCloth Community to share photos in the Style Gallery. The Style Gallery is a place where you can share your own outfit photos with others in the community. Any outfit is accepted--the clothes don't have to be from ModCloth!

Last week, they wanted to see polka dots. This week, it's A-lines.

A couple of my photos got pulled into the A-line inspiration page of the Style Gallery. I'll be sharing more on my Style Gallery page this week. Will you?

Screenshots from the ModCloth Style Gallery

This post contains ModCloth affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you click on them and make a purchase.

Call Me Maybe

The other title I was considering for this post was "8675 Cleo 9."

Now that I've put both the Carly Rae Jepsen and Tommy Tutone hits in your head, let's get on with this outfit post, shall we?

I had this adorable telephone print top on my February Wish List, but it wasn't long before I put it on my February shopping list. Can you blame me, though? The print is just too cute, and so is the peter pan collar.

This was my first purchase from British retailer Boden, which randomly sent me a catalog in the mail. They have a bunch of cute clothes, but they're a bit expensive for my taste. The main reason I ended up pulling the trigger on this top is because I got 15 percent off my first purchase.

The shirt comes in three colors: Marina Blue, Bright Red, and Thyme, which is the color I bought. Even though the package traveled all the way from the U.K., it arrived quicker than items I've ordered from some U.S. retailers--certainly quicker than I expected!

There's a hint of mint in the print (couldn't resist this rhyme again), and that was the perfect excuse to wear it with all of my mint-colored accessories.

I think I was about 3 or 4 years old when I first learned to use the telephone--a rotary style device just like the ones in this print. The first number I ever dialed? My grandparents! I still remember their number even though it's been years since it belonged to them.

Ah, nostalgia! :)

Outfit Details:

Boden Top

Kohls Skirt (old)

Target Leggings

Urban Outfitters Shoes and Purse (old)

Ring (souvenir from a 2013 trip to Arizona)

Earrings (local craft fair)

Photos by my sweet fiance, Matt

This post contains Kohls and Urban Outfitters affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you click on them and make a purchase.

Color Combo: Navy and Mustard

Just a quick little outfit post today featuring another of my favorite color combinations: navy and mustard. Throw in some light brown, and you've got yourself a trifecta!

And you can't ever go wrong with lace, amiright?!

Outfit Details:
Torrid Dress (belt included but not pictured)
Target Tights (sold out, similar)
Urban Outfitters Shoes (old)
ModCloth Purse (sold out)
Embroidered Ring from Etsy shop ConeBomBom
Free People Necklace (old)
Anthropologie Hair Accessory (old)

Photos by my sweet fiance, Matt

This post contains Urban Outfitters, ModCloth and Free People affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you click on them and make a purchase.

And the Liebster Blog Award Goes to...

I'm so incredibly flattered that the always adorable Jana from small town, BIG SMILE! nominated my blog for the "Liebster Blog Award" last week. And I graciously accept!

The Liebster isn't a trophy or plaque that you can actually hold in your hand; there are no judges and no strict rules. A blogger gives the award to another blogger as a way for the recipient to share more information about herself and her blog. The idea is for bloggers and readers to become better acquainted with the recipient and her blog.

The recipient must answer a set of questions from the person who nominated her and then create the same number of questions to be answered by bloggers she nominates.

I've seen the award branching through many of the blogs I like to read. I love learning about other bloggers, and I absolutely adore Jana's blog and her cute, retro style. Thanks so much, Jana, for nominating me!

Without further ado, here are Jana's questions and my answers.

1. Why did you start blogging?
For more than two years, I worked as an editor for Patch.com, a company with hyper-local news websites throughout the country. I was in charge of maintaining and writing stories for one of the local sites, and in addition to the journalism aspect, there was also an element of audience building and engagement thrown in. I loved corresponding with my readers and boosting my site's traffic by figuring out what my audience wanted to read. When I was laid off in October, I missed writing, photographing and posting online every day and wanted to get back into it in some form. I've always loved fashion and had my own style, and if you compliment me on my outfit I'm sure to tell you where I got the pieces so you can find them, too! My friend Lauren, of The Life of a Modern Day Wife, had been blogging for a while and encouraged me to give it a try. My resolution for 2014 was to create a personal style blog and watch it grow. I shared my first post Jan. 1!

2. What is your favourite non-fashion related hobby?

This one's easy. I love nail art, and I've been doing my own for about two years now. I started out by following tutorials from cutepolish on YouTube, and it grew from there. Now I've added nail decals and my own designs into the mix. I think I like nail art because, in a way, it's kind of like street art. It's created fairly quickly and is usually gone soon after it's complete. Mostly, it just gives me the opportunity to explore my creative side.

3. What is your favourite place that you have ever visited?

When I was a junior in college, I had the opportunity to spend the spring semester studying in Heidelberg, Germany. It was the first time I had been out of the U.S., and I made the most of it! I traveled all over Germany and to England, France, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. The most beautiful place I visited was Cinque Terre, a group of five small villages on the Italian coast. I took about a million pictures while I was there even though it rained most of the time. I'd love to go back, and I'm hoping Matt and I can spend some time there on our honeymoon.

4. What is your favourite thing about yourself?
I like my positivity. I always try to make the best of any situation, appreciate every opportunity I'm given and generally live life with an open mind. I'm not saying I don't have off days, but, for the most part, I try to be aware of how fortunate/blessed I am.

5. Do you have any pets? If yes, what are they?

YES! I have the cutest dog ever, a 4-pound Pomeranian named Cleo. Check out her special section in this blog and follow her on Instagram @cute_pom_cleo. I got her in July 2010 when she was 9 months old from a nearby breeder. They intended to keep her and breed her because she was so adorable, but as she grew, they realized she would be too small to safely have puppies and sought to find her a new home. Not only is she super cute, but she's also super sweet. She loves nothing more than snuggling up on the couch at the end of the day and tunneling under the blankets when we go to sleep. <3

I also have a French Bulldozer, ahem, French Bulldog named Gus. Matt got Gus before he and I started dating, but Gus has become my furbaby, too. He's all white and loves to play. He goes full force for about five minutes before he conks out on his bed. His best trick: He can jump a solid 5 feet straight up, and he does it over and over until he gets a treat!

6. What is your favourite makeup product?
If I could only use one makeup product, I'd always choose mascara. My eyelashes are long, but they're super light-colored, and black mascara really helps them stand out. There's no particular brand I like, but I do usually end up with CoverGirl products because they seem to be the best value.

7. Would you rather live back in your favourite era or would you prefer to stay in present day? Why?
Hmm... I've always thought it would be interesting to travel back to the 1960s. Even though I wasn't alive at that time, I think I'd fit into that era well based on things I've seen and read, as well as music and fashion styles that were popular. It was a tumultuous time for civil and women's rights, but also an exciting time for the arts and experimentation. I'd always want the option to come back to my own time though. I love my life!

8. What is your favourite piece of clothing?

It's a tie, and both pieces are from ModCloth. You really can't go wrong with ModCloth, can you? I love the Lady Brunch Dress in Houses and the Ride Here, Right Now Dress (pictured at the top of this post). I've written blog posts featuring each of them. Both dresses have cute, quirky prints and are flattering and comfortable. Love!

9. What is the one hobby/activity you would like to learn to do but haven't yet?
I love hand embroidery, and I think it would be so cool to be able to do it myself. It's so pretty and really adds something special to a piece of clothing or accessory. I bought a how-to book on embroidery from a craft store once and learned how to do a French knot. But then I lost the book in a move and haven't tried again since. Maybe now's the time?

10. If you could erase one fashion faux-pas from your teenage years, what would it be?
So, my real answer is that I wouldn't erase anything because all of my choices have made me who I am today. But in keeping with the theme of the question, my most dismal fashion moment happened in the last couple months of seventh grade in 1996 when, for some reason, anything made by Nike was cool. If it had a swoosh on it, it was "in" at my school. Of course, I had to be part of the trend, but my parents refused to buy me any Nike products because they knew it was just a fad. Since I was only 13, I had little of my own money and could only afford a couple Nike items. The worst part was I rotated through these pieces and wore them multiple times a week. Ew.

I never figured out why this was popular at my school in rural Virginia or why I went along with it so wholeheartedly, but luckily by eighth grade, it was over! Was this a trend anywhere else?

11. Favourite movie?
I can't choose just one. I would say my favorite movie of all time is "It's A Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. It comes on TV every year around Christmas, but I have it on DVD so I can watch it anytime. It's a great reminder that all you can take with you is that which you've given away. Wise words to live by!

The other movie I love that I could watch over and over is "Lars and the Real Girl" about a socially awkward man who develops a relationship with a life-like adult doll. It isn't as creepy as it sounds, and, in fact, it's quite sweet as the people in the town become accepting of the doll for Lars's sake, and Lars is able to overcome his social ineptness.

***

OK! Now it's my turn to nominate blogs! Here they are in no particular order:
Bristol of Colour Me Bristol
Alyssa of Butterflies on Mars
Amber of The Lacuna Stitch
Lisa of Lala Faux Bois
Mariah of Rya Pie
Rhiannon of Happy Leaps
Lauren of The Life of a Modern Day Wife
Meagan of Sleeping With Skeletons

Delores of Wandering Past
Alexandra Marie of Into the Woods
Sammi of The Soubrette Brunette
(I know Jana nominated you ladies, too, but I wanted you to know that I also think you're awesome and deserve a Liebster!)

And here are your questions:
1. Why did you start blogging?
2. How did you come up with the name of your blog?
3. What's the best place you've ever visited?
4. Do you have any hidden talents? If yes, what are they?
5. What's your favorite thing about yourself?
6. What's a hobby/activity you would like to learn but haven't tried yet?
7. Do you have any pets? If yes, what are they?
8. What's your favorite piece of clothing?
9. Read the book or watch the movie? Explain your choice!
10. What's your favorite type of music and why?
11. When was the last time you had a day that was "The Best Day Ever?" What did you do?

Basic Instructions:
Make a post that answers these questions, link back to the page that nominated you, and then nominate 11 more bloggers and supply them with a list of 11 questions. When nominating, try to give preference to bloggers with fewer than 1,000 followers. Finally, let the bloggers know you nominated them.

There's no obligation to participate, and if you don't feel like answering the questions, no worries. Just know that I nominated you because I think you're rad, and I want to know more about you and your blog.

Flirty Floral from Forever 21

Once I reached a certain age, the idea of shopping at Forever 21 seemed a bit juvenile.

Walking into the store to look through racks of cute clothing among high school girls lost its appeal, and I began to find that fitting into the clothes themselves was becoming more and more difficult.

About a year ago, I swore off Forever 21 completely. I had simply gotten too old and (ahem) too womanly for the store. It was time to move on.

So when I was killing time at the mall recently while Matt was participating in a nearby Outback Steak House taste test (he seriously falls into the most random opportunities!), I passed Forever 21 without giving it a second look.

That is until I walked by it again in the opposite direction after having browsed two levels of the entire mall. "OK," I thought as I went in, "let's see if I've been missing out."

The answer? Yep, I had.

At least at this particular Forever 21, which offered an abundance of styles for women, men and plus sizes. I found black leggings for $7 each (can't have too many, especially at that price!) and this adorable floral print dress.

Now, I'm shopping the website for even more flattering finds.

So, I apologize, Forever 21. I was wrong about you, but please don't be mad. There's a polka dot dress in my online shopping bag just begging to come home to me. And it isn't at all "juvenile."

Outfit Details:
Garden Party Fit & Flare Dress from Forever 21
Target Tights
Target Shoes (old, similar)
Icing Purse
Necklace (gift from Matt from Etsy shop CeciliaJewelry)
Urban Outfitters Ring (old)
Nectar Clothing Earrings (old)

Photos by my sweet fiance, Matt

This post contains Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, and Nectar Clothing affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you click on them and make a purchase.