3.31.2015

March ing Forward

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Marin Headlands, March 2015

So it's the last day of the month, and totally, sweet, Springtime. I think I've said this a few times before; but since Spring has hit, things have felt much more bustle-y and hectic. I think I spent the first two months of the year working up to where I am now, where I've hardly had a completely free week-night evening for the past three weeks! I am always working to maintain an attitude that "Busy is not bad." Too quickly I default into busy --> stressful, when really, I am thankful for fun things happening, and good friends that keep me occupied nearly all the time.


It terms of goals (and, everything, really) it was a good month!
(You can read the full post about my resolutions [monthly goals] for the year here.)

- I took a trip home to California, and saw nearly my entire family (that's a two-for-one right there!)

- I saw a production of Jekyll & Hyde (three-for-one) and Jessica Lea Mayfield & Seth Avett Sing Elliott Smith (a friend invited me to this show, which I wouldn't have ordinarily thought to go to on my own. Fantastic! Three spectacularly talented artists, loads of new music to check out and they did a cover of "Just Like A Woman", one of my favorite songs of all time. That was a moment for life.)

- My one word motto was discipline. I would say I basically failed at keeping it though. I think the pitfall of this was that it was a little broad, and I can be very lazy. BUT I think I have my word of the month for April already. And I'm gonna DO IT, DANGIT!

- I hosted dinner for some friends to celebrate Hunter's birthday (I'm counting this for this goal), with all of his favorite things: poppyseed chicken casserole, roasted veggies (that I have been craving every day) and strawberry cake!

- I checked out and started Shirley Temple's autobiography, Child Star (don't ask me how I think of these books I want to read!) I haven't finished it. I didn't read a book this month. I haven't read a book so far this year, but I've slightly tweaked this resolution to be satisfied if I read 12 books this year. So, either way you look at it- I have WORK to do!

- I think I wrote three letters and two wedding cards this month. Check and check.

And this isn't one of ^ these goals, but still a goal: I purchased two bridesmaids dresses, and a few accessory items, but nothing else! I've avoided purchasing a new Spring wardrobe, so far! (More on this goal that's not really fun, here.)


April will bring: many out-of-town guests (four this weekend, alone!), lots of sunny time outside, some fun Spring outfits, and hopefully some peace of mind. Happy almost April, all! 
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3.26.2015

Thrifty Style: Velvet Skirt

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| necklace: Target | t-shirt: Madewell via Carina | belt: thrifted in Finland | skirt: thrifted | heels: H&M |

Hey there! Today I'm linking up with expert thrifters, Lauren, Danielle, Laura, Whitney, and Jen to showcase my favorite thrifted finds. 

Number one has to be this velvet skirt. I don't shop a lot, period, and though I like thrifting, I don't do it a whole lot. I went by my local Goodwill last year on the first Saturday of the month (pro-tip: that's when everything in the store is on sale) and I remember thinking, "Man, what I really want to find is a velvet skirt." But if you've ever been to a thrift store before, you know that's not how it works. You can go in looking for certain items, but you really just find what you find. 

Skirts might be my favorite thing to thrift, probably because I've gotten lucky a few times. I was looking through the giant rack, and just pulled this one out. I could not BELIEVE my good fortune. It's black velvet, fits me perfectly, in decent shape. Done and done. 

I'm kinda in love with velvet and I always have been, but I'm just glad it's in style again. I love that this skirt can be dressed up, for a night at the theater (here), or dressed down with a t-shirt, for a great high-low combo. I wore this to work on Monday, and threw in as many Springy accessories as I could, since SPRING has SPRUNG! Three cheers!

One more thrifted item to highlight- this cute belt. When I went to Finland a few years ago, and my sister and I were determined to stop in a thrift store (because what could be cooler than thrifted items from another country?! So many gems!) My best finds were three colored skinny belts, this green one, a blue one, and a red one. I leave this belt hanging outside my closet, and grab it whenever I need a pop of color to pull something together. 

Be sure and check out the Thrifty Style link-up, for more thrifted steals! The same girls also wrote an "Expert Thrifting Tips" post last week, I found it full of great reminders about what can be a very beneficial hobby. Great for someone just starting out in a thrift store, or even a seasoned vet!


I would love to hear about your favorite thrifted find ever! Let me know in the comments! 
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3.24.2015

weekend update: #AmandaGoesWilder Wedding Weekend!

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all I have are iPhone snaps for now, but I'm hoping to share some of the official photographs later!


I think I'm still on a high from this past weekend, when my Roomie, Amanda, got married to Dustin! The whole weekend was just packed with l o v e, the most beautiful Tennessee backdrop, and actually quite a few of my close friends out here.

We were out in Pulaski, TN, at Milky Way Farms, named after Milky Way, the candy bar (seriously). Legend says that Frank Mars (of a little candy company called Mars) hopped off a train en route to Florida, fell in love with Middle Tennessee, and built an estate here. The ceremony and reception took place in what used to be stables; and we stayed, had the rehearsal dinner, and got ready in the amazing historical manor home. The highlight of the weekend was obviously the actual nuptials, but staying in that house was freaking cool.

But back to the wedding. I couldn't get over the specific feeling that was everywhere. I tried to soak that in, and every moment leading up to the actual "I Do's": making our bouquets at the giant dining table, walking down the aisle during rehearsal, running to see Amanda when I woke up on Saturday, watching her walk out to us bridesmaids after putting her dress on, and watching Dustin cry at the beginning of the ceremony. I just kept thinking- these are ("moments 4 life", as I like to say), and only things you get to experience by being IN a wedding. When else am I going to be staying in a giant house with some of my best friends, spending an entire day hanging around, dancing to Beyonce, and getting ready?

I cried through nearly everything, even right up until I gave my speech, which went well! To be fair, my speech came directly after a heartfelt Daddy-Daughter dance. I lamented about crying about everything to Amanda's sweet grandpa and he said, "That's ok, that just means you have a sincere heart." So THERE. I'll take this moment to give a huge shout-out to Amanda's family that I just adore, every single one of them. I loved getting to see them all and share the day with them!

And now Amanda is Mrs. Amanda Wilder, which, will take me a while to get used to. But I told her I'd be waiting at their newlywed pad when they got back from their honeymood :D

So, wedding #1 of 2015 is in the books! Now that I have one under my belt, I am so excited to be celebrating with my best friends all year long. Also, Andrea & Ethan got engaged over the weekend, so this officially concludes Wedding Watch 2015. No seriously. None of my other close friends can get married. I might lose my mind.
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3.21.2015

ipsy vs. Birchbox, February

My ipsy vs. Birchbox posts originally started as I was trying to choose between the two subscriptions. Now they've basically switched focus, to experimenting with and reviewing new beauty products, and ultimately, just maybe, turning me in a beauty junkie.

Until further notice, and as long as I continue to use up my products, I'm gonna stay subscribed to both (I say this, and already March was kinda disappointing!) But February was a good month. 
(October // November // December // January.)

Here's what they sent me last month!
Birchbox (products left to right)

*Juice Beauty Cleanser-* I've almost used this up, between my trips to Austin and CA. It smells great, has blemish clearing benefits, and takes my make-up off in one wash. I would buy this to give my face a break from my exfoliating scrub, but still get the cleansing benefit. 
Gilchrist & Soames Body Wash- I can't say much about this, though I do like getting a travel-sized body wash, which I didn't have any of. Subs always try to get you hooked on random, meh, brands. This is one of them. I wish they would "stop trying to make fetch happen."
theBalm Read My Lips Lipgloss in Rose Pink- Not bad, another BB sample that I can use approx. two times. Overall the color and consistency is not my favorite for gloss; darkish pink and really sticky/overly pigmented. Still, I like trying a "The Balm" product because I know it's a great brand. 
BeeKind Conditioner- I took this to Austin with me, and all I remember is that it didn't wash out of my hair very well, which is a huge problem for me. Otherwise I think it was pretty standard.
beautyblender + solid cleanser- My beauty friends in the office absolutely freaked when I got this, (and they all said "It even came with the cleanser!") Apparently a Beauty Blender is the Holy Grail of applying foundation and concealer. Both of which I don't use all that much...but, they all also said "Watch a YouTube video about it. It will change your life." I did a little research, and apparently you can use it to apply any sort of serum etc. on your face. I tried it out the other day, and it really DOES make liquid foundation go on flawlessly, and it keeps your fingers clean! 


*Favorite of the month, because at press time, I've used it all. I love that this takes my make-up right off. Close close runner-up is the beautyblender, can't wait to use that forever.

The actual boxes have been killing it lately. I feel silly keeping them, because I'm not sure what to do with them, but this one was so so cute for Valentine month. 
ipsy (products clockwise)

Cargo Cosmetics lip gloss in Anguilla- I wanted to like this lipgloss. I really did. Lip color is the item I consistently receive AND use in every sub. But this lipgloss makes me look ill. The very light pink just does not work for my skin-tone. Anyone want this? For real. I hate wasting anything! To be fair- this is not really the fault of the lipgloss, maybe just my genes.
Rob Scheppy for Tini Beauty eyeshadow in Pearl Fizz- This was also a little bit too light for my taste, and definitely shouldn't be used as an all-over shadow. Upon further research, I think I should be using it as a highlighter for my cheek/browbone. 
Joya Parfums Composition No. 1 Roll-On- I actually love perfume samples, because I've been out of perfume forever. This mini roll-on is a perfect fit for anywhere! I don't know that I love the smell necessarily, and you definitely don't need much to make it work! 
*ModelCo Blush in Peach Bellini-* I desperately needed new blush! This is a peachy shade, where I normally stick to pinks, but I actually love how it looks! And that right there is why I subscribe to ipsy in the first place. 
Luxie Beauty Large Angled Face Brush- My old blush brush was also (cheap) and not that great. This certainly feels luxe, works well, and bonus that the handle/bristles are pink. 

*Favorite of the month, I've been using this blush and the accompanying brush since I got them! 

This bag is cute for sure, but they could have gone so many cuter ways with a "February" themed bag. So it's a little meh for me. I tucked it inside another purse to hold gloss, etc. 


Victor for February: very close, but I'll have to say Birchbox this time! Getting a (game-changer!) $20 beautyblender to try out really couldn't be topped.

Anybody else receive a Birchbox or ipsy this month with the same stuff? Or maybe you got something awesome that I missed out on? Spill!

If you are interested in signing up for ipsy OR Birchbox (or both ;) for $10/month, you can find my referral links here: ipsy // Birchbox.


Oh by the way- I am totally not really here today. I'm off in Pulaski, Tennessee, because Amanda is getting hitched! Fingers crossed that I don't cry off all my make-up, trip over my dress, or bomb my bridesmaid speech! Talk to ya soon!!
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3.19.2015

Thankful Thursday #4

I have a bad habit of letting myself feel overwhelmed and frazzled when a week gets busy, rather than grateful for everything fun that's going on. In the spirit of that attitude check, here's what I'm thankful for these days.
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                                                                                    via                                                            #tbt, look at those tans!


21. Amanda. My first friend in Nashville, my best friend for a while; who becomes Mrs. Wilder on Saturday. I just love her and I want to celebrate her and Dustin to the maxxxx this weekend. Still working on that speech.

22. Being on time to work all week. (Except today because I was sleeping so well, okay?!) I should note that my one word motto for the month was discipline. And I haven't shared it because I've been failing miserably. But, as I tell myself, they are goals because I need to work on them. If I were just perfect already, I would have nothing to work on. Well, I'm just working on it; waking up on time, going to bed on time, working out, portion control, blahblahblah.

23. A laundry room! It's not mine, but I'm house-sitting so it basically is. Oh divine luxury to have a room dedicated to washing my INSANE PILE of dirty clothing. Did you know that sometimes otherwise I use a community laundry room and it's the worst part of my life? Now you know.

24. Receiving and sending cards. Hold up, has this never been on a Thankful Thursday list? *checking old posts* Uh, snail mail is one of my favorite things on earth. Yes, I text all day, but I really feel like I'm talking when I'm writing a letter. And finding a letter in my mailbox is such a bright spot in any day! Thankful for friends who are penpals!

The coming of Spring has really picked up the pace of life around here, but that is something I should always be thankful for, instead of begrudgingly getting out of bed to start the day.

But you know what I just realized? I haven't worked a full week this month. And it's nearly over! That's gotta count for something, especially when you realize everyone who isn't working right now is on Spring Break. Ahhhh those were the days. Okay, now about that attitude of gratitude!

What are you thankful for today? Let's share those positive vibes!


More positive vibes: Thankful Thursday 3 // 2 // 1
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3.18.2015

Florals for Spring? Groundbreaking.

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| necklace: Tiffany's | t-shirt: J.Crew from Carina | dress: F21 from Jamie | flats: ancient AE | 


This outfit was born out of a combination of not buying clothes + trying to wear everything hanging in my closet. This dress is a hand-me-down from one of my co-workers, and I love the floral print! Since I wouldn't get away with this at work as-is, I decided to wear it "jumper style", layered over a t-shirt, which is one of my favorite ways to wear dresses, actually! I forgot that this t-shirt is drapey, which is normally awesome, but under a dress ended up looking pretty saggy by days end. In conclusion, I would say this outfit is just ok. Any ideas on how I could style this better? I hate to let a print so pretty go to waste!

Also- shoutout to these flats that I've had since high school. They are finally comfy! I honestly think I did the "they were in style, they went out of style, now they're BACK in style" thing.

And yes, I DID get to wear this on Monday, which was SUCH a beautiful day! After work, Hunter and I ran at the park, then grilled and ate dinner outside. It was really lovely. I hope Spring is finding you wherever you are, too! 
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3.16.2015

Weekend Update: in three

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left to right

1. Thursday night, I baked this cake for Hunter's birthday festivities over the weekend. I realize this looks like a five year old girl's birthday cake, but strawberry is his favorite. By the time we actually lit it up and shared it with friends, the icing did NOT look like this. But, I was pretty pleased with my initial Ziploc icing job, and the cake was well-received. Hunter's birthday party(s) were somewhat of a fiasco, but he was happy and we celebrated with a good group of friends, so, success!

2. I spent a few hours on Saturday AND Sunday with these little guys, James and Lewis. Friday afternoon I got to hold a co-worker's baby as well, and I have this theory that ANY day I get to hold a baby is a good day. These boys are the sweetest and certainly kept me on my toes. Uh, being a mom is exhausting #respect.

3. Saturday night I met a few co-workers at Chauhan Ale & Masala House, the coolest new restaurant in town! Maneet Chauhan, of Chopped, selected Nashville as the location of her British Pub food meets Southern meat and three meets classic Indian cuisine eatery.  I loved everything about it. I was mesmerized by the Bollywood movies playing on the wall, and the impeccable make-up of our gorgeous Desi waitress! My food was great too. Masala House just jumped to the top of my list of favorite restaurants in town, and places to take my out-of-town guests.

Sunday we got the most glorious glimpse of Spring weather! You know, terrible as the icepocalypse was, I think it makes this sunshine even better. Everyone just seems more cheerful with the sun out. Otherwise Sunday was pretty laid back, but I'm pleased to report that I checked off nearly everything on my to-do list (filed my taxes! yay!), and ended the day with dinner outside, and Parks & Rec in bed.


Other things going on: Hunter leaves for Colorado tomorrow, I'm house-sitting this week (why did I agree to do this), and Amanda's wedding is on SATURDAY. So this week is going to be bizzay. I am excited and also in disbelief that it's time for her wedding. And as of Saturday I'm giving a speech at the reception. Good thing improv is my specialty ;)

Hope you are having an awesome start to the week!! 
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3.13.2015

Black Velvet and [Those] Little Boy's Smile[s]

So last Friday afternoon, I found myself in my favorite city in the world, killing a couple hours with two guys I just adore. Naturally, I said something like "So, if we happen to find ourselves in a nice little park, and I have my camera on me, and I'm wearing an outfit I like..." Amir and Huntee are used to my old schemes, and happily obliged. But only after they showed off their best "blogger poses" while I took some test shots. 
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cuties.
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| blouse: secondhand H&M | leggings: Target | flats: Report from Carina | purse: Marc Jacobs from Carina | 

As I mentioned in my packing post for this trip, I really lived in these leggings over the weekend. They are supremely comfy, and the luxe velvet feels fancier than normal knit leggings. I also lived in these gold flats, which my heels seriously regretted, but I knew they would. Not sure if this purse has ever made it on the blog before, but it is a faaabuloussss hand-me-down from my sister Carina. Speaking of, wait until you see the shoes she gave me when I went home! The sister life is the life for me!! 

A couple more shots from our afternoon on the streets of San Francisco:
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We walked all around, got Starbucks, stumbled into a street fair, where Huntee found new sunglasses, and walked some more to meet Carina at her office, where we hung out for Happy Hour and after met Mal at Southern Pacific! How awesome is the City Hall building? Here's the full post on my recent trip home to CA!


Happy Friday one and all! I really feel like we hit the ground running this week, after skipping Monday and going straight into the middle of the week Tuesday. It's been a pretty busy one. 

What I want to do this weekend:
sleep for 24 hours straight.

What I'm actually doing this weekend:
a little soiree for Huntee's birthday, some babysitting, trying out a new restaurant with friends, then laundry/cleaning/unpacking/generally getting my life back together. 

Can't complain, I suppose. Have a lovely one, friends! 

**Oh, btw. The title of this post is creepy, but I couldn't resist. 1000 bonus points if you can tell me where it comes from! 
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3.12.2015

packing list: for another long weekend

It has been a whiiiile since I did a packing post. I think it's because honestly, when I've traveled lately, it feels like last-minute panic mode. I throw as many things as I can fit into a bag, instead of taking the time to pack smart. And it does take time. But, ultimately, it saves time, and makes a trip a lot more relaxing. Vain as it may sound, I feel more confident, and generally more prepared when I open my bag and like what I find. Instead of thinking "Who packed this bag?" It happens.

I flirted back and forth between packing the minimum and going hog-wild and packing everything on my trip home last weekend. I don't know where the numbers came from, but I thought to myself, I bet I could pack ONLY three tops and three bottoms. Then naturally I made myself stick to that for every item. Choosing a number and sticking with it make packing simply a lot less complicated in my brain, I totally recommend that method.

Here's what I took:
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not pictured: undies, toiletries, purse, a pair of running shorts, bridesmaid dress to be altered

This is literally everything! I have to confess that typically I pack a whole separate wardrobe of clothes to exercise in, but this packing list includes those (minus running shorts which I didn't even wear!) Umm, this is a huge accomplishment, that actually worked out pretty well. 

Let's take a closer look at the items (disclaimer: nothing special. But I love seeing packing lists, and so I hope you will enjoy it/find it helpful also!)
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Madewell purple tee, H&M blouse (worn here), H&M gray tee. 

Both the t-shirts were rand-me-downs from Carina that I've grown to love. T-shirts were an easy choice because they are comfy for travel and hiking, but could also be dressed up for the bridal shower. I'm realizing that I also packed a gray t-shirt for the same trip last year. It truly is a great basic to always have on hand. 
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Vintage gingham skirt (from Mallory), Asics running tights, Target velvet leggings (worn here.) 

I wanted to live in my velvet leggings this weekend, and I basically did. They're super comfy for travel, but also perfect for dressing up for a night out. I recently inherited this great pencil skirt from Mallory, and figured it would be perfect for a bridal shower. I could live in running tights (sometimes do) and knew they would be handy for hiking, playing ping-pong, etc. 
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Teal scarf (worn here), 31 Bits necklace (worn here), Target floral necklace (worn here

Accessories are always tricky for me, but especially when packing. It really helped to just choose three items, that I knew would go with a couple outfits each.

Have I really only blogged this scarf once? I randomly stole it from my sister a while ago, and it's my absolute favorite. I like having a scarf when I travel, mostly because it doubles as a blanket. This one is slightly oversized and so soft. Purple and red has become my new favorite color combo, and I thought my 31 Bits necklace would be great with my dress for the show! This floral necklace is one of my favorites, and was just perfect for the shower. 

I'll add that I also had some jewel stud earrings, and my default crown necklace, for everyday wear.
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Report gold flats (worn here), Mizuno trainers, Target wedges (worn here)

It was the hardest to stick to three pairs of shoes. I packed these gold flats because I hadn't worn them a whole lot, and they went perfectly with my outfit for the show. NOT perfect for walking around in SF. And ultimately NOT perfect for going out after the show. But they sure are cute, and, fashion is pain. 

I don't leave home without trainers, and bonus that these are super cute. I'm actually trying out the "street wear running shoes" trend (I spent a while trying to explain this one to my little brother, #bloggerprobz), which goes against everything I used to believe. This is because I spent 90% of high school and college in running shoes, before, during, and after practice. Like I said, these are actually cute, and wow, wearing trainers at the airport was so relaxing.  Will I ever wear running shoes with jeans, which used to be the bane of my existence? Time will tell.

I am also shocked these wedges have only been on the blog once? These are my favorite pair, seriously falling apart, and now reserved for special occasions. They worked expertly for the bridal shower and church on Sunday. Though I hardly remembered what it was like to wear open-toed shoes.
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Old Navy leather jacket (worn here), secondhand UO sweater (worn here), secondhand UO dress

So I didn't wear this leather jacket, but I meant to. It would have worked over the dress OR over the blouse. This sweater is basically my life. Though I'm not buying new clothes right now, I am absolutely taking notes of what I would like to buy. A couple more long, cozy, knit cardigans from Urban Outfitters are atop the list. This sweater pairs perfectly with leggings for traveling, or hanging around the house. This cute dress was inherited from my sister (I think she messed up the pleats in a washing machine accident?) it's darling, but a little small for me :/ still, it worked great for the show.


So- I'm pretty pleased with how this packing list turned out! I had enough to wear, and what I packed worked well for the temperature and activities. This might be my best packing list ever, which just means I'm getting better (not getting any worse, anyway!)

Funny story about all of this though: I bragged a few times, especially to my mom, who always tells me I over-pack, that I only had "three tops and three bottoms!" with me. Saturday at dinner before the show, I broke a plastic fork mid-bite and flipped my plate all over my dress. I had nothing to change into because "three tops three bottoms!" Oh the irony. As they say though, on with the show! 

If you're interested in any other series around here, check out that handy list I finally added at the bottom of the page! Be back soon with an outfit I put together from this limited packing list. Hope you're having a great week, and thanks for reading along!


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3.10.2015

Weekend Update: Spring Fake the Second

Hello again! The past week has been totally wacky; since Thursday ended up being a snow day, and Sunday ended up being a bonus day in California after our flight got delayed (we got over it pretty fast :) anyway, Thursday afternoon Hunter and I flew home to California for pretty much an identical trip to one we made a year ago (I called that our "adult Spring Break" or "Spring Fake.") I have to note that I did run into Amir at the Phoenix airport.

What a tremendous weekend. I am still feeling overwhelmed! When we got to the airport to come back that first time on Sunday, I actually thought "Wow I am so exhausted I feel sick." A combination of the time change and Daylight Savings and hanging with everyone had us staying up super late and waking up decently early, feeling alright. Well, four days of that catches up to you and smacks you in the face, especially when you're a sleeping baby like me! Totally no regrets though. While it's so not my style to go and go for days on end (got it from my mama), I've learned that you have to make the most of time spent with family and friends, especially when they're across the country.

So, here's what we got into on our jam-packed long weekend!

Starting with some  iPhone pics, since it is nearly impossible for me to post without including them these days. I always have my phone on me, don't always have my clunky camera on me, you know how it is!
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| Pappuma sister royalty crown necklaces with my lil Peanut | 
| I spent a while looking at old pictures, realized the twins were the cutest babies of all time. This photo is now my phone background |
           | Insisted on stepping in the ocean on Friday because: California (and TN is landlocked) | 
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Friday we hiked in the Marin Headlands, just above/across from the city. It was THE most beautiful day, couldn't get over it. The path above takes you straight to the Point Bonita lighthouse.
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Check out that Golden Gate in the background!
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Our adventure crew! Not bad for a self-timer pic. 
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I did a little research, this is called Rodeo Cove, with Tennessee point to the right. How funny right? 

Amir, Hunter, and I stayed on in the city, killed some time (I wouldn't rather do that anywhere else!) met up with Carina in her office, later met with Mallory, and headed back on the train that night.
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Saturday Jenae had strategically planned to have her bridal shower. More like, her wonderful sister Jesse planned it, and it was lovely!          ^ These banners were photo backdrops that Jesse made, the quote is from Seven Brides For Seven Brothers and is (as told by Jesse) "THE reason Jenae is getting married in June." Ain't nothin wrong with a little musical theater affecting you irl. 
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These girls! So Jenae is getting married at the end of June (wut.) I could've spent ten hours talking to them, and Jenae's mom and sister. But there just wasn't the time; because that night we hosted an early dinner at the house and went straight to Tarif's show! This night ended veeerrryyy late with my mom yelling out of her window for us to stop playing ping-pong and go to bed. 
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| Friday night in the city with Mal! |
| Tup as Dr. Henry Jekyll. He is so talented, he made me cry twice. I can't think of many things I love like watching him perform | 
| The twins big first 21 year old night out with the sibs, minus Peanut |

Two important girls missing from these pictures- Marisol, who I know will be reading this ;) and Katie, who I got to see twice, surprise, on Sunday. I love you both and was so happy to see you! 

I will say that I'm a sentimental person. But oh man. The nostalgia of being home is a weird melancholy thing indeed. I love taking Hunter home to everything and everyone that made me the girl he met in Nashville. And California is just so beautiful.

This weekend I felt: SO proud, cozy, content, heartbroken, surprised, loved, amused, included, tired, exhilarated, spooked, awed, and longing. I would say overall, really filled to the brim with that large part of my heart that is in California. 

Sorry to dump so much sentiment on you, I know you're here for [mostly] fashion! My trips home just get sweeter and more melancholy the longer I've been away. Also consider that I haven't really journaled in the past week so, perfectly Priya is helping out. 


Thank you friends, near and far, online and irl. xo

Keeping it real: I'll be back soon with how I packed how my trip and what I wore while I was there! 
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3.05.2015

Post-Bach Brunch

So what do you wear to a post-Bachelorette party brunch when you've slept 10 hours in two nights combined and spent three weeks planning the party? Your new favorite t-shirt and velvet leggings. 
| glasses: H&M | t-shirt: gift | sweater: Urban Outfitters | leggings: Target | flats: Target |
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This is literally what I did as soon as I got home from brunch, after taking photos, because you know, a blogger's work is never done! 

Just a couple notable things about this outfit: this t-shirt was part of my Christmas present from my sister, Carina. I've worn it as many times as socially acceptable since I got it. And you know, I wasn't always a snuggle monster, but now I totally am. If we ever meet, expect a really big cozy hug. 

And the leggings- so I'm trying not to buy clothing this year, since a huge new budget called "all my friends are getting married" has popped up in my life. But I decided it was ok to buy some new accessories so I don't go crazy. And my definition of "accessories" has gotten very liberal indeed. I make my own rules, OK?! 

But these leggings, seriously. I was on my 1000th (each increasingly dangerous) trip to Target for party supplies, and found an entire section of clearance hosiery/socks/leggings. Already obsessed with them, and I'll be wearing them all weekend on my trip. So...justified. I would seriously recommend them if you can find 'em at your neighborhood Target. 
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Ooh that post-party brunch (went to Mack & Kate's by the way, so good!) One of us is looking especially haggard. But I had the most lovely griddle cakes and deviled eggs.


So, I'm in the middle of another surprise snow day, crossing my fingers that we make it out of Nashville this evening, and to California tonight. A snow day today is dope, as far as I'm concerned (we actually got a few inches!), just as long as it doesn't interfere with my plans. Catch you on the flipside, and in the meantime, follow along via Twitter or Instagram, if you like! 
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3.03.2015

#AmandaGoesWilder Weekend

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Whaaat a weekend. I love celebrating my best friends. Bonus when it's with THEIR best friends, and dear family that comes to town. There's gonna be a LOT of that this year. 

My baby was the bachelorette party on Friday night (top three photos.) I realized I absolutely go into "blackout party planning mode" when I'm hosting anything. But things really couldn't have gone better; from dinner without reservations in downtown Franklin, our hotel, the decor, games, and brunch the next morning. We just had a blast, and showered the bride-to-be with lingerie and lots of sweets. Oh- and the theme I went with was #AmandaGoesWilder, since she'll be Mrs. Wilder in about 2.5 weeks. Insane!

The second three photos are from the bridal shower on Sunday. Missy, Katie, and Julie planned it and did an amazing job! I didn't do a great job of taking photos of the decor, but it was fabulous. And holy appetizers. Those Shrewsbury women can host ;) 

To be honest, I am learning as I go through this first "close friend getting married" experience, all of these things are new for me! I'm also saving bits along the way for the next bachelorette/bridal shower/wedding [JENAE.] 

I am truly thrilled for Amanda, who's been my girl since day one, second one, of moving to Nashville (and who I lived with for most of college --> "Roomie.") But you know what's a little strange? I feel like I'm giving all my best friends away to have a new best friend. Sunday night I felt the slightest bit melancholy like, why didn't I enjoy those random times in college when the dorm was completely empty and we would just hang? You know, I think there's a lesson in there for every phase of life. Good thing I like Dustin alright ;) love you Roomie, and on to the next batch of festivities!
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