Floral Gingham

Look who has been getting the motivation to blog lately! It was a busy weekend celebrating Father's Day, but the most exciting thing to happen was that I got my wedding dress! I went shopping with my bridesmaids and family last weekend, and I went back to one of the stores with just my mom and Jon's mom and Saturday. I ended up going with something completely different than what I expected, but I could not be more excited. I keep staring at pictures of myself in it like some sort of self-absorbed creep. I can't help it. It's just that good. 

In terms of clothes that aren't wedding dresses, I'm also so excited to share this new Steady dress. I've talked before about how Steady is one of my favorite brands for versatile vintage reproduction (not to mention local to me!), and they really stepped it up with their new spring line. I have a couple of other pieces that I can't wait to share soon as well, but this dress was an instant favorite. I've already worn it twice since getting it, and I actually wore it to try on wedding dresses since it was such an easy no-fuss piece to wear while still feeling cute.  

I sized up one size in this dress since the last swing dress I got felt a little tight, and the XL fits perfectly. Side note: can we take a moment to appreciate dresses that have adjustable straps? I always struggle with sleeveless items since straps are usually way too long on me, so I was relieved to find that this dress is adjustable for short people like me. 

Fall Dapper Day Recap

Hello from a Dapper Day Weekend survivor! It's been some time since I've really had the motivation to blog, but I had such a great weekend and loved how my outfits turned that I decided I put together a little recap. If you're unfamiliar, Dapper Day is an event that happens at Disneyland (in my case. It also happens at Disney World) where people visit the parks in their best vintage and vintage-inspired looks. It's a great excuse to dress to the nines with no questions asked and be surrounded by people doing the same. This was only my third Dapper Day, and it was my first time doing both days of the weekend. 

While I went to the Expo last year and just want to the parks one day this spring, I decided to do both this weekend. I went to the Expo at the Disneyland Hotel with my friend Whitney on Saturday, and while it was a struggle to get there after she got a flat tire (she and her car are fine luckily!), we managed to have an amazing time visiting the vendors and running into Internet friends. My favorite part of the Disney community is getting to meet likeminded people, and Dapper Day is the perfect storm of getting to see a bunch of people I love all in one place. As someone very introverted, I get pretty nervous showing up to these things (What if I go up to someone and they don't recognize me? What if I don't know someone's name? How can I not act as awkward as humanly possible?), I love these events because I feel really in my element. The nerves go away once I remember how truly kind the people I've met are, and it's great to bond over a shared love of Disney, vintage styles, and brands.

Keep reading for the rundown of my looks!

Wish-Fall Thinking

Hello and welcome back to those of you still reading whenever I decide to resurrect this little ol' blog! Yes, it's been some time, but I'm happy to say that I have officially survived Black Friday/Cyber Monday and am still alive and blogging occasionally. Working in e-commerce, the past couple of weeks have been pretty crazy, but it's finally (almost) over. Now, I have more time to focus on my own Christmas shopping and trying to not buy myself everything in sight. Actually, I don't really have a choice. I had to get my brakes fixed right before Thanksgiving, and it was not cheap, which means my shopping habits right now are more about trying to squeeze in as many Christmas presents as possible and less about buying those cute dresses I'm eyeing on sale. 

Regardless of car issues, I'm still enjoying with little fall weather we get and getting excited for the holidays. It's been getting slightly cooler here for the most part, and I am loving being able to wear tights and boots again whenever the weather allows. My favorite part though? Decorating for Christmas. Jon and I spent the other night blasting Christmas music while hanging up our Christmas lights and decorating our TINY tree. Believe it or not, Jon has a weird obsession with candles, so our place has been smelling extra comforting as well lately. My favorite scent by far is vanilla, which is why I was so excited to try The Body Shop's new vanilla pumpkin line as well. I'm not usually a big lotion person, but I can't get enough of this hand cream. It smells so good and like fall in a bottle. Even if we don't quite get fall weather, I can least pretend when everything smells so much like the season at home! 

Back At It

Hiya there. Should we talk about the fact that I haven't posted in a month? Nah, you get it. Work, exhaustion, being an adult...the blogging thing has just kind of fallen by the wayside for me, and I've still been questioning if I feel fulfilled by it. So, I took another short break, and I'm glad I did. I'm feeling re-energized lately, though, so I want to get back into it. Before I really do, I thought it made sense to share these outfits that have been sitting on my computer for a while. While I haven't been posting, I've still been taking photos regularly and posting them on Instagram. It's still part of my regular routine, I just haven't been taking the time to edit them and write about them. So please enjoy these Instagram outfits (they're some of my favorites), and look out for some actual outfit posts soon. Hopefully. I think. We'll see. 

Colorful Life

I owe this entire post (and probably the next few to come) to Jessica from Midwest Muse. She's in town visiting, and not only has she been my excellent photographer this weekend, but she's been the best sounding board for outfit advice. Jessica and I met through blogging four or five years ago (we started Flock Together with each other!), and she's been the person I've gotten to know the best through the Internet. We've been emailing back and forth for years, but we've never gotten the chance to meet in person, despite always talking about it. Finally, Jessica was able to score cheap tickets out here, and like a totally normal person, I invited her to stay with me and picked up a complete stranger from the airport on Friday. 

As expected, it hasn't felt like a weird thing at all. Jessica is exactly like how I expected her to be, which is what you always hope for Internet friends. It feels like we've known each other forever, and it was evident from the moment we met in person that if we lived closer, we'd hang out all of the time. We've spent the past couple of days doing everything I love - walking around Balboa Island, eating a lot of breakfast, trying a ton of coffee shops, and taking cute pictures. We also met up with Erica and Ashley in Burbank for breakfast and vintage shopping, which of course, was the best time. Those girls are seriously so wonderful and fun to hang out with.

I wasn't sure if I'd like these pieces together, but Jessica confirmed my belief that these colors would make for a killer outfit. It was the best opportunity to bust out this incredible colorful clutch from Teluna. I was so excited to find this brand because not only are all of the pieces seriously adorable, but Teluna donates proceeds from every piece to worthy organizations. This Colorful Life clutch is SO fun and supports Reef Check, which focuses on preserving oceans and reefs. I am a huge fan of cute items that also do some good, and this one is no exception. I may need to get all of the Teluna clutches soon.

Artsy Gingham with TopCashback

I'll admit that before I had visited, I was definitely one of those Californians who thought Iowa sounded boring. Living on the west coast, we have a tendency to generalize all Midwest states, which is something I'm not proud of. After visiting my best friend Jenn in Iowa City for the second time last week, I can safely say that I am fully convinced that Iowa City is a seriously cool place to live. It was hard to choose just a few places for backdrops for these photos, and we honestly could have stopped at any number of spots while shopping downtown for these photos. 

It turned out to be the perfect day to bust out this gingham Asos dress. As if finding a cute summer gingham dress wasn't enough to be excited about, I purchased this one through TopCashback and almost immediately received 5% of what I spent back. Considering I have such a shopping addiction, it's a wonder I didn't start doing this sooner. TopCashback works directly over 4,000 brands and retailers to offer 100% of commission back on purchases made through the website. Most of my favorite sites are already on there, including Asos, Modcloth, J. Crew, and more, meaning that any time I shop, I can go through TopCashback and get money back. I'm always looking for ways to shop on a budget, but making money while shopping is even better. From now on, I'm just going to say that I'm earning a living by buying new things. It's technically true. 

As you all know, I do my best to only work with companies that I truly believe in, and I fully recommend using TopCashback. The process could not have been easier, as all I had to do was decide which website I wanted to shop with, go through the link on TopCashback, and shop as normal. Within a day, I had money back in my account from my purchase, and transferring it into my Paypal account is just as easy, especially since there is no minimum needed for a payout (one of the most annoying parts of working with similar websites). If you're planning on shopping (and let's be honest, you are), you can sign up for a free account through this link and start earning money too. 

Queso Queen

In case you weren't aware yet, Luella seriously gets me. I've made it no secret that I'm a huge fan of Caroline's work (and I'm lucky enough to have worked with her for two giveaways), but her newest collection really sealed the deal, in case there were any doubts. It's filled with girl power and cheese themed items, and it kind of feels like she read my mind. As I've mentioned, I'm starting to become a T-shirt person, but only because my favorite makers keep creating such cute ones. Case in point, I had to snag this Queso Queen tee the moment I saw it. I put cheese on pretty much everything, and I strongly believe that there is no such thing as too much. It is definitely the item Jon and spend the most money on while grocery shopping, but mostly because we run out of it so quickly and need to buy more every week. Basically what I'm saying is that if your shirt makes me think of cheese, I will buy it. I think it's a good use of my money. 

I hope all of you moms out there had a lovely day yesterday. Jon and I had his mom over for breakfast, and then we went to my family's for dinner. We invited Jon's parents as well, and I think we managed to show them a good time despite the screaming kids and crazy dogs. Those kids are pretty damn adorable, so I can't imagine anyone having a bad time around them. 

The rest of my weekend was spent binging (and finishing) season two of Master of None, grabbing breakfast and going to the Oh Hello Friend warehouse sale with my friend Nataly, and watching more Master of None while eating Italian food with my friend Jeremy. The food in the second season is insane, and I do not recommend watching on an empty stomach. The rest of the show is great too, but the food is really the best part.

Vote Local

If you've been following along with me during my journey to becoming more politically active, you know that I was very apathetic about voting until last year. I used the flawed electoral college as my excuse, and I will forever be ashamed of it. Fortunately, I've since learned what a mistake it was to feel that way, and I'm proud to now be an advocate for social change. I've been using the past few months to finally become more politically aware and stay involved in the national conversation (though, let's be honest, I had to take another break from Twitter), but my priority now is to start to think and get involved on a local level.

This shirt from Culture Flock could not have come at a better time. I have been loving using blogging as a platform to connect with small businesses, women entrepreneurs, and makers using their talents to make a difference. Culture Flock is an independently owned female-run business out of Springfield, MO and the women behind the brand create the best selection of tees, tanks, sweatshirts, stickers, and more. In addition to being cute, they also donate proceed from a few of their items to organizations like the ACLU and The Conservation Fund. You can also find Culture Flock in my Guide to Makers Who Donate Money. I'm particularly partial to the I Believe in Science Shirt, the Gentle & Kind Shirt, and the Introvert Pin. I also have one more piece from them that I can't wait to show you.

The Culture Flock team is using this shirt to encourage using websites like Vote 411 to find out when the next election in your area is. There unfortunately is no information about my district at this time as there aren't any upcoming elections, however, if you find the same, you can also use the following resources:

US Vote Foundation

Upcoming elections in California

My Time to Vote 

Pink Gingham Skirt + Collared Top

This is the only pink thing I own so I am officially dubbing this my Valentine's Day outfit. I actually really like pink these days, but it doesn't work well with my hair so I don't often buy clothes in the color. This skirt though? I can definitely get behind this skirt. ...I've written these exact things before, haven't I? I'm sure I have. Regardless, I couldn't help but do a little bit of themed dressing for the holiday, even if I don't do much to celebrate. I definitely enjoy it more ever since being in a happy relationship, but Jon and I don't really make it into a thing. 

The biggest reason we don't do much for Valentine's Day is because our anniversary if February 8th, so we do our celebrating early. Last week marks two years together, but seeing as we've known each other for nine years, it always feels like much longer. We went to Balboa Island yesterday (as we did last year and do for most special occasions) and had a lovely time looking at our dream houses and eating at Ruby's on the pier. That and spending too long trying to work up the nerve to ask a stranger to take our picture. We're both terrible at that. I always feel weird getting too cheesy here, but I'm can't explain enough how happy I have been the last two years. I'm even happier now considering we live together and don't have to say goodbye at the end of the night. Things are good now, guys. Like disgusting good that makes me want to throw up, but so good that I'm talking about it anyway. Please forgive me.

Gray Sweater + Gingham Collar

Happy New Year! My first post of 2017 is a short one, of course. Lately, I've been taking outfit photos more for Instagram than for blogging, but I can't quite bring myself to completely let go of this medium. I end up taking more photos than necessary on most occasions anyway, so it's nice to be able to dump them all in one spot so I don't feel like a total narcissist for taking so many.

I hope you all enjoyed your holidays! The past couple of weeks have been crazy busy, what with Christmas and my brother and his family coming into town from Illinois. It's been crazy in a good way, though, as it's been, well, joyous getting to spend so much time with loved ones. Jon and I had a bit of struggle trying to make time for both of our families, but it ended up working out great.

I also got loads of baking/cooking stuff, which I mean, definitely isn't the most important part of Christmas, but doesn't hurt. I'm still getting to used to the whole getting excited about bowls and pans rather than shoes and purses thing. It's strange growing up.

I did get excited about this sweater I just got though. I've been searching high and low for the right weight crew neck sweater that wasn't cheap looking or too expensive and I finally found this one on Amazon. It's so comfy and perfect for layering, and I never want to take it off.

Sweater: Meters/Bonwe via Amazon

Skirt: Buffalo Exchange

Gingham top: Thrifted

Boots: American Eagle

Remix Friday: Purple Gingham Dress

Ah, this dress. What a beautiful, perfect dress. eShakti sent it to me a few years ago, and it has served me well. Unfortunately, I haven't taken the best care of it. After many, many wears, it's slightly ripped and a little short from shrinking in the wash. Oops. Even so, we shared enough good times for me to not be too heartbroken.  

For as many times as I've worn it in real life, I've actually worn it very few times on the blog. I wish I had taken a few more sets of outfit photos before it died on me, but I'm happy with how I've worn it the few times I did. I think my favorite, though, is paired with the extra long cardigan. Which way is your favorite?

White Sweater + Gingham Skirt

These photos were just taken over the weekend, but it already feels way too warm to wear sweaters again. See? The world is truly ending.

I kid.

It's not ending, but there still is work to do. Things still feel difficult to process and it still feels like the right time to stand up and do something. That said, I've taken a couple of days to be distracted, and I'm ready to get back to focusing on the things I love. Some of those things include blogging and cute clothes, which are nice distractions from the real world. It feels frivolous and arbitrary to be posting outfit photos, but it's also fun and a little bit silly. It means nothing other than the fact that I enjoy it, and that's enough. I feel good about myself when I put on something pretty, and I feel even better about myself when that something pretty is this skirt. If there is ever a time to do things that make us happy, as silly as they may be, it's now. So here's a comfy sweater, my favorite skirt, a kick ass pair of oxfords, and a necklace made by a dear friend. That's enough for me to feel good in this moment. 

Pink Gingham Skirt + Eyelet Top

Okay, so I'm still figuring out this whole bangs thing. At the very least, maybe I shouldn't take photos at the very end of the day when they get all greasy and unruly. Or maybe I'm just being too hard on myself and nitpicking at things that don't matter. Yeah, it's probably that one.

As the possibility of falls looms over me in Orange County, I'm just embracing the seemingly endless summer we get and am breaking out all of my summer staples. This pink gingham skirt is perfect in every way, and it's a shame to think that I avoided the color for so long. I'm itching for cardigans and tights, but I'm also not ready to put this one away. It's really just too beautiful.

Head to Toe Remix: Accessories

Today, I am very excited to introduce a brand new series to you: the Head to Toe Remix! Each week, my darling friend Priya of Perfectly Priya and I will be remixing a different article from our closets that hasn't seen much love lately, starting from the head down. As two bargain shoppers, we decided that challenging ourselves to wear items that we had previously ignored or forgotten about would be the perfect way to make the most of items we already own. Today, we're starting off easy by remixing accessories. If you've been following my blog for a while, you've seen this necklace before. I got it from J. Crew factory while I was in Arizona for my brother's graduation in 2014 and I barely took it off that summer. After a few months of wearing it excessively, though, it went back on my necklace rack and has barely been touched since.

This challenge was a great way for me to remember what a gorgeous piece it is. Even though it's a little much for every day wear, I was able to make it feel like a natural addition to a simple black tank and a gingham skirt. My friend Lory and I found this beautiful doughnut shop in downtown Santa Ana, and it happened to be closed that morning. While I was bummed that I couldn't run in for a doughnut (or two or three or four), it was almost kismet seeing as we were able to stand in front of it taking pictures for as long as we pleased.

I'm over the moon excited to finally be collaborating with Priya, who will always be one of my favorite blogging friends. She's been killing it even more than usual lately (which is saying something as she always kills it), and her remixing of her summer scarf is beyond gorgeous. Be sure to head over to her blog for more!

Old Navy Gingham Dess + Denim Jacket

Can you tell how sweaty I am in these photos? Changing three times in a park for multiple sets of outfit photos and wearing a denim jacket in the middle of summer were not two of my finest ideas, but I stand by them. I love the classic look of a denim jacket and gingham sundress, and I especially love having a place to put some of my favorite pins. Sure, the heat was unbearable, but sometimes clothes are worth it.

I'm still on a high from my wonderful weekend, but I'm lucky to actually enjoy my job. My work has taken on some new clients that are exciting, so I've been keeping busy. I'm also starting to do a bit of work on the side for my old company. I'm mostly doing it for the little bit of extra money to put toward a new apartment, but I also really missed my old coworkers so I'm excited to have an excuse to chat with them online again. 

Gingham Shirt Dress + BAIT Blue Wedges

Oh hello, dress of my dreams. Though I'm currently not allowing myself to buy any clothes in an attempt to save for a new apartment, I did have a small moment of weakness about a month ago when I wandered into Nordstrom Rack and picked up this dress out of a crowded rack of clothes like I was in some sort of trance. I usually struggle with finding button down shirts and dresses that fit well or don't gape, but somehow this one fits perfectly. I had to get it. I had no choice. 

As usual, this weekend was wonderful. A long brunch with old coworkers, lots of TV watching, visiting my parents at the lake...all usual weekend shenanigans. I can't say that I really have too much to write about today. So let's just all stare at the glory that is this dress and forget that I said anything at all.

Black Collared Top + Gingham Skirt

This week is...not my week. You might remember that I recently had to pay to get my car's rear window replaced when I found it shattered. That was only two weeks ago, but I now find myself having to pay even more for my car. It had been making some weird noises and when two different lights went on indicating that something was wrong with my brakes, I took it in to get checked out yesterday. Turned out some wire had broken (possibly "chewed by a small animal" they tell me) and two tires need to be changed, which means that I'm out another $500. So that's fun. That also means that all of the money I've been saving for an apartment is gone and all the money I made from selling clothes is, well, not going toward new clothes.

This all a very long way of saying that I'll be seriously remixing my wardrobe going forward as buying new is definitely not an option. Luckily, I could wear this skirt every day until I die and I'd be happy. The same goes for this top. Maybe I've actually done a better job at buying versatile pieces than I've been giving myself credit for? We're about to find out. Stay tuned. Also, if you'd like to send me money and/or clothes, I'm just saying that I wouldn't be opposed to it. Not that I'm desperate or whining. Me? Never.

On a much brighter note, have you seen my latest giveaway? Luella is an absolutely adorable store that's giving away a pin and T-shirt of your choice. Don't forget to enter!

Thrifted Gingham Button Down + Zara Skirt

Here is a very typical, un-creative outfit from me. We could technically call these pieces my wardrobe basics. This gingham top was thrifted a few years ago at a thrift store near my college, and even though there's a button missing, it's been a loyal piece in my closet. I found this Zara skirt at Buffalo Exchange recently, and it's perfect. Perfect, I tell you.

I actually wore this to the beach for an afternoon of reading by the ocean with Jon yesterday, but my plan for taking photos there didn't exactly pan out. We always go to Corona Del Mar because it's usually pretty quiet, but I naively forgot about Memorial Day weekend. It was packed and far too crowded to find a spot to take pictures. So no adorable beach photos for me in my knotted sleeveless button down and cat eyes. What a tragedy. It was still a nice day at the beach though, so it was still worth the trip.

Modcloth Collared Dress + Gingham Skirt

I'm going to be honest with you; I'm really, really excited about this skirt. When I hear that Ruche was closing, I was devastated. I was less devastated when I realized that meant a closing sale. Okay, the sale could never really make up for the loss of my favorite store, but it sure helped. I had been eyeing this skirt for some time, and the sale finally gave me the push I needed to justify it. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen that I took it out for its first spin while I was in New York, but I finally got to take some proper outfit photos in it over the weekend. It's the most perfect addition to my wardrobe, and I loved how it paired with this red dress worn as a top. Dresses worn as tops are always a good idea.

This weekend was nice and relaxing, filled with plenty of food and family. I went to an adorable donut shop with my friend Nicolette on Saturday before hanging out with Jon and our friend Adam and having dinner with Jon's family later. My family met up for Mexican food for dinner on Mother's Day, which is really just the best way to celebrate any holiday. Now, if only the weekend could last forever. 

That Time I Wore a Swimsuit

This post is terrifying for me. The thought of even just wearing a swimsuit for the first time in years was difficult for me to handle, so willingly putting photos of myself in one on the Internet is a near impossible task. I don't do swimsuits, and I'm not a huge beach person, but when Surania contacted me about reviewing a swimsuit, how could I resist? It was a good excuse to finally own a swimsuit, go to the beach with some of my favorite people, and be an advocate for positive body image. I could not have asked for a better company to work with, as Surania offers custom swimsuits and allows its customers to choose the style, cut, fabric, and color that works for them. The feature made me feel much more comfortable about receiving a swimsuit in the mail, and I pretty much knew exactly what I wanted the moment I opened the website. Gingham retro bathing suits aren't exactly original at the moment, but I love the flattering cut and classic pattern. I was amazed at how perfectly the suit fit and how good of quality it is. Not too shabby for my first swimsuit in years.

My friends and I used taking these photos as a good reason to go to the beach together, which is a thing we never do. I was pretty self-conscious about being so exposed and knowing that I would be putting these pictures on the Internet, but they all did a great job at putting me at ease and helping me feel confident. I do feel comfortable in my body and my curves, but I can't say I feel comfortable flaunting them and shoving them in everyone's faces via revealing articles of clothing. I much prefer Peter Pan collars and knee-length skirts. That said, I'm glad I got the chance to feel better about being not so covered up, and I'm especially glad that I own a swimsuit again. I forgot how much I actually do like the beach.