Casual Friday?

Today I was at the shop, it's been pretty good! We had the most intense storm of all time yesterday. Which is recipe for absolutely no customers but makes for a really fun work day. So much thunder and rain and pressure being released from our wild VA sky. I'm rocking on of my favorite pieces, a skirt by Nicole Lebreux which I have written about/worn HERE & Here. My top is from TJMAXX, shoes from Donna's Dress Shop in KC. thanks to Kelsie Bethune of Sitting in Our Tree for the lovely snaps.

on being wild, weird, and FREE

Im at the meatiest part of my day where I've gotten a ton done but the bulk of my projects are at a head and I have yet to begin. My desk is a mess, I ate an entire burrito (thanks MOE's Monday!) and I cant stop singing PHOX (look above/turn on your speakers). The weather is perfectly almost too hot, i got sweat all in my eyes while watering the shop garden today. Im wearing a dumpy tee shirt and weird shorts and Im totally okay with all of it. I haven't actually WRITTEN a blog post in a hott minute (yes, i say things like that) so here begin my ramblings and probable misspellings of JULY 7th 2014. If anyone reads this besides my future self I will be surprised but delighted non the less. Internet, you only know a smidgen of me. You only know the glossy cute girl who has cat eyes and a sassy lady bod always accompanied by a snug belt at my waistline. well, this girl is definitely a slice of my being.. essentially I create her from what I like and what I follow and what i swoon over. She is cool, I probably am a little cooler (guilty). If i could use emojis right now, I would use the one with the angel then a flower then like a volcano or something.

Now, I don't think about this TOO much because anything I think about TOO much becomes an obsession and turns me into a maniac but I do occasionally THINK about how odd it is that I brand myself as this person who is only 30% of who I am. I mean, I think it's understanding that reality and perception are separate warships that float in the same ocean but mine rarely meet up with each other, and everyone else has different oceans. Somewhere along this internet adventure, I met enough girls I was FANS of to see that they are only partially what they show. Everybody is just a body. Every girl has her issues of weird hair and never being able to find the right fitting bits of clothing. It just clicked one day that I didn't need to be comparing myself (if thats what I was doing, that or just lusting WAY too much) to these women who are, at their core selves, just like me. Weird and Wild and free to be (and show) what we want! I thinks its SO FUN and awesome to be able to build a brand around MYSELF and have it be whatever I want. Anyone can do it, so many wonderful women are! I'm doing it for any girl that feels like they never fit into any one genre or brand or idea. I'm doing it because it builds my shop up, it helps me connect to girls who want similar things, it invites collaborations and inspires new ways of thinking! (at least, that last bit will come with time)

Anyway, These are just recent thoughts about some reasons I'm doing what I am doing. I never discuss stuff like this with the world, just close friends.. but you all SHOULD be close friends. I want you to know more of me, this is my most recent goal.

Let's talk about this OUTFIT shall we? I've been leaning into this pin-upish style for a while, I'll never really take a full plunge, though, because I like to mess around in whatever feels most like me.. and some of this style just isnt! This circle skirt was thrifted along with the top and my scarf I pulled from the shop just for the photos. Flats are from super sale at Urban last summer, i need to invest in some new red shoes. THESE or THESE or THESE or THESE.

thanks for reading. (insert kissing emoji face) <3

early july heat outfit

Dress- Modcloth
Shoes- Donna's Dress Shop
Belt- Vintage
Flower Crown- With Lavender & Lace


L A T E L Y
AC blasting. Ice tea drinking. Fun summer music playing. Makeup running. Flower pressing. Daily dancing. Plant watering. Watermelon eating. Music creating. New york visiting. Photo taking. Virginia loving. Friend embracing. Sky kissing. Plan making. Adventure taking. <3

primary wildflower // blue belle

Blue. BLUE BLUE BLUE. I've unknowingly been wearing it super often and Im actually kind of excited that there has been a color theme subconsciously appearing in my everyday. It makes me feel like my own mind has and idea of what summer should be like and is projecting itself though my daily outfit choices. My swimsuit is even blue! who knew ?! I thought for sure I would be swooning red this year.

Now, I knew we were going to be surrounded in flowers on this day so I wanted something that would POP against them. This blue dress is really simple. It's the perfect cut for my bod and is really light fabric, perfect for sweaty weather. It looks like someone cut the sleeves off of it because now the shoulders are just weird fringe that I will never fix. Oh well. Somewhere inside me, I just understand that all thrifted items.. actually all items in general have a limited life. This little fact is actually a strength since I own a vintage shop. You have to be real with how much wear and tear and item has and how much it has left.

I went with primary colors! Check those yellow heels! I love them so much but they dont get nearly enough wear. This summer, that will seriously have to change. I got them in Kansas City at this AMAZING dress shop. Donna's Dress Shop. (the owner is 100% a hero of mine) If you have time, hunt them down on vine and watch their hilarious marketing tactics. I really really really love their shop.




Also, can we talk about this paleness. It has taken me my WHOLE life to embrace it. This year I've decided to really honestly own it. I actually have been SPFing myself since earlier this spring to keep the sun from my skin. It's a half health, half stylistic choice. My mother has had some issues with sun damage and skin cancer this year due to being a beach baby and growing up under the heated wild sun. Since I lightened my hair, I've decided pale skin looks and feels better against the almost platinum.











& Kudos to the wonderful Kelsey Bethune for braving the warm day and high humitidy to take these photos of me at Norfolk Botanical Gardens. As you can see, it is the most beautiful little place ever. If i only knew what all of those roses meant!


Dress+belt // thrifted, vintage
Shoes // Donna's Dress Shop

green queen in a...

well, it isn't really a helmet. It's an amazing hat! Flowers made of this wild plastic that is soft and amazing. I got it from a great lady who brought in all of her own clothes from the 70's. We talked about how she wore her favorite pieces and how she styled her hair. Its awesome getting to see and imagine how the clothes were worn before they found me. I was especially excited and freaked out by this hat until I put it on and felt like it was the most perfect little thing there ever was. Im debating keeping it for myself forever.. I mean why not. This dress is a simple little number from the shop, I tried it on last Spring and it was a wee bit too small but I am happy to say it fits now! I love these basic 50's numbers. They fit my lady shape really well and are super comfortable.

hat, dress, belt // vintage
clogs // swedish hasbeens

Vanilla Petals Outfit

dress, belt // vintage
flats // urban outfitters last summer
necklace & sunnies // with lavender and lace

Hello SPRINGTIME. This wall was just WAY too good to pass up. I mean, check out that greenage! Not to mention, a lady stopped by to tell us that this plant in particular was covered in POISON THORNS. So I basically risked my life for all of you. HAHA Wow, I am selfless! GUYS I LIGHTENED MY HAIRS! Can you tell? I didn't bleach it, we just lightened it with the lightest dye there is! It took a few days to get used to, Im still working on getting my brows right and picking out lip colors to brighten my face. I know I've always been a girly girl but this hair takes it to like a whole new level! I've actually had a great time wearing much lighter and darker colors with the hair... It's all of the sudden become way funkier and bolder with either nearly blending into my outfit or like completely being opposite in lightness.





wham, bam, i'm a blonder ma'am.