What I Wore: A Night to Honor Israel

Marshall's leopard-striped dress, Salvation Army blazer, Target nude pumps

Josh and I had the honor of being a part of Rochester's seventh annual Night to Honor Israel this past weekend. The event was described as "formal" with "dresses and suits more than welcome." I was in a floor-length wine-colored gown an hour before leaving when my Mom called to inform me that my sister (ever mortified by my wardrobe) had texted all of her friends who had gone to this event in previous years to confirm that it was "not that kind of formal."

I'll be posting more about the event later, but for now I wanted to let you guys have a look at my toned-down version of formal.

What I Wore: This Is Snow Awkward

Okay, so the reason that I didn't list where I bought all of my outfit elements in the caption like we bloggers are supposed to do is not because its been months since I have posted a What I Wore and I forgot the protocol.

It's actually because I was pretty embarrassed about all of the awkwardness of this outfit.

• So everything on my body in this pic was purchased at either Target or Walmart. Budgetista at her finest up in here.
• Except my coat which is from Spain. I guess that's kind of cool.
• My husband and both of my parents all said independently of each other that this beanie makes me look like a homeless person.
• My friend Ben said, "Nice orphan hat," when he saw me at church. I guess orphan is better than homeless person . . .
• Those white things around mt ankles are huge insulated hunting socks. It's 13 degrees here.
• I'm actually wearing huge earrings that go perfectly with my dress, but they're kind of invisible in all of ma hurr.

If you live in my neck of the US, happy snow day! I hope it's an awkward and awesome one.

Awkward and Awesome Thursday: New Do and Doin' What's New

Christmas tradition of dressing up and heading to the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra

Awkward:

• Joshy was gone on a business trip from Sunday morning until last night. I was all alone without a car and pretty gosh darn miserable :-(
• We didn't make it to the Rochester Philharmonic Christmas concert last night until the intermission. Boo. 
• Finding an internship for next semester. None of the places where I really wanted to work have responded to my query letters.
• Josh bought me a whole crate of clementines because he knows I love them, and by today they were completely devoured by mold!
• He also bought me two Christmas presents today and literally could not keep them a secret. He told me within hours of buying them, hahaha!
• The Thurston's childhood kitty cat is very sick. Prayer's appreciated! Mom is really upset.

Awesome:

• New look! Or should I say, old look back again! This was my hair circa 12th grade. Mid-length, dark brown, and bouncy. Josh is a big fan.
• Having hubby back! I came in to work today, and Stryker said, "Is Josh home? I thought so. You look super extra happy today." Well, I am!
• My honey made a lot of big sales while he was gone. Save up that moolah!
• A ragtime version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" written for an orchestra and a xylophone soloist. That happened at the Christmas concert!
• Josh's parents are having their bathroom remodeled by a guy from Birmingham. The one in England.
• Making super-cool personalized Christmas presents for the family. It's a secret! But I'll tell later ;-)
• Off to spend Christmas with my side of the family in PA by enjoying a matinee of Les Miserables on Christmas Day.

What I Wore: The Great White Way

I realized recently that I haven't posted What I Wore since coming back form Spain two months ago. You all must have assumed I haven't been wearing any clothing! Haha ;-)

No worries. I haven't let myself go and become neither a nudist nor a sweatpants-and-Uggs style slacker. Not sure which would be worse . . .

Thrifted sundress, Payless shoes, Charming Charlie clutch, Amish shop watch, necklace gifted from Grandma

Photo Shoot: Awoken Beauty Part 2

Wow, does anybody even remember Awoken Beauty Part 1? Well, I assure you it was good. 'Cause I'm not biased or anything.

After weeks of negligence on my part, here is the second half of the photos that resulted from this fairy-tale-inspired shoot with Rachel. For some context on what the idea behind this interesting "bed in the woods" theme we have going on. You can always check out the first post.

I hope these feel even just a little bit magical to you :-)

More ethereal photos after the jump!

Awkward and Awesome Thursday: Red, White, and Blue

I got the above adorable package from ModCloth in the mail on Tuesday. Several weeks ago, I had made a $15 purchase on ModCloth called "A Stylish Surprise." I entered my size and my credit card information and his "Confirm Order."

I had no idea what I was ordering.

That's the whole point! ModCloth did this amazing "Stylish Surprise" promotion to get people more excited about their lesser-known products. Most people, including me, seemed to think they only sold (gorgeously unique) indie dresses. The clincher for me was, buyers were promised a surprise product valued anywhere between $30 and $700. Worst case scenario, I get $15 off a $30 item. Best case, I get a whole lot more bang for my buck!

And I did! This is the gorgeous plaid pea coat ModCloth sent me. The arms are actually the right length for me. That never happens!

So all that to say, definitely one of the more awesome things that happened this week.

Awkward:

• Dangit, can't wear my new coat until winter!
• I still get nightmares and then can't get back to sleep when I'm staying down in my grandparents' basement.
• There are no books to process here at work today. Internet surfing for six hours? Meh. Not so much.
• Torrential rains on the highway. Four-ways on, everyone! I can't see a flippin' thing!
• I still can't believe I watch The Bachelorette . . .
• First world problems: Found out we were out of sugar in the break room after I poured my coffee, lol.

Awesome:

• Dude, I don't think you understand how awesome this coat is. It's red, white, and blue and everything! Just in time for the Fourth!
• Speaking of the Fourth, a blissful afternoon spent on my uncle's houseboat with beloved family.
• It feels so good having my cousin back from Japan. Having him here for Independence Day was really meaningful.  Hopefully we can hang out again soon before he heads back.
• Wegmans red, white, and blue bread. Try it! It makes breakfast taste like fireworks :-D
• Mom and Dad finalized their house purchase! They have a house to move into up here! Yaaaayy!
• Speaking of moving, got all of my crap in the basement sorted and into boxes for our move into our schmexy new apartment next Saturday. Like a boss!

Live Well, Dress Well: Fourth Festivities

How to dress for Independence Day is probably never a big question in the minds of today's fashionistas. Some charming but cliche combination of red, white, and blue is sure to do the trick.

But how can one really stand out fashion-wise in the same old shades of red, white, and blue? I mean, we all want to be patriotic, but we don't all want to look like little clones of Uncle Sam. We want to be unique as well, and hopefully (I know I do) we want to be classy.As much as I love Katy Perry and her sense of style, this is not especially classy. Definitely unique, though!

Here's an idea!

How about dressing for what you'll be doing on this day rather than dressing for the day itself?

Here are three sample outfits based on your Fourth of July Festivities.

1. BBQ Cutie

If your plans include a nice family event or any type of get-together where you want to feel a little more feminine and put-together (or want to catch the eye of a certain someone who looks juts great in his board shorts), pairing a high-waisted skirt with nautical stripes is a great way to give off a fun-loving, flirty, and slightly more formal vibe.

Add some girly and glamorous details like a sleek watch, a flower headband, and golden glads. Best to keep the shoes flat to avoid looking a little too dressy. It is a barbecue, after all ;-)

2. All Night Long

No matter how hot the day may be, you'll wish you were layered up if you're planning any type of late-night fireworks-watching escapade followed by partying into the early morning. For one thing, temperatures can plummet in the hours past midnight regardless of daytime highs. For another, bugs can't bite skin that they can't find! So cover up!

Starting with blue jeans and then adding red and white accents such as a quirky printed t-shirt and red heels (I would go with wedges since you'll be on your feet for awhile) is the key to looking party-ready without overdoing the Independence-Day pride. These star earrings are also a subtle and sexy rockstar nod to the American flag. Instead of a hoodie or sweater, bring along a jacket that looks fierce enough to amp up your night-out look.

Pro Tip: Embrace neutral accessories to keep from looking too costumey.

3. I'm On a Boat

My family members are lake people, and we are spending Wednesday afternoon and evening on my uncle's new houseboat!

If your Fourth looks anything like mine, there's bound to be a lot of swimming involved, so try working a retro bathing suit into your boating-day outfit. Layering a fun pattern like polka dots (I would probably avoid stars and stripes) under a drapey tank (or crop top) and distressed shorts is an easy recipe for a fun summer holiday look.

If you're craving a little star-spangled banner, why not just add a cool star bangle like this one? You might want to skip the earrings to avoid losing them in the water! As for shoes, they don't call 'em boat shoes for nothing! Shy away from heels and other non-sturdy numbers if you plan on being on a boat.

P.S. If you're more of a bikini girl, you can make that work, too. Just don't wear a white shirt over that soon-to-be-sopping-wet swimsuit!

 

What are your plans for the Independence Day? I hope I've given you some inspiration for ways to dress for your Fourth festivities.

Awkward and Awesome Thursday: For the Love of Film

Awkward:

• The incredibly creative and clever title I had picked out for the movie I'm shooting next summer apparently already belongs to a teeny-bopper B-movie starring the sister of one of the Backstreet Boys.
• Picmonkey. I don't miss Picnik quite so much :-) and it's free!
• Being at work from 8am to 11pm. Blech.
• The dessert I was promised at the Rochester Audio Visual Association dinner was a lie.
• It seems you have to be a business woman in order to be a successful filmmaker. Well, one down, one to go.

Awesome:

• Annual RAVA dinner with old and new friends. You all made me feel like the life of the party and a true member of the filmmaking community. Thank you!
• Nick Dibella, director of King's Faith. He is officially one of my filmmaking heroes.
• Thirty incoming students applied for Muse Creative Arts ministries at the activities fair on Tuesday! Check out the website for more info.
• My coworker Brandon is a student nurse. He walked in on an unresponsive patient and notified the response team who saved the guy's life. Dude.
• I just printed the first physical copy of my modeling portfolio. Looks gooooood!
• Stryker and I get to team up for a photo shoot!
• The sunrise today that was pure pink and blue cotton candy :-)

Equally Awkward and Awesome:

• This powerful mock fashion photo shoot about consumerism. Got my attention! How oddly beautiful, but how very sad . . .

Photo Shoot: Awoken Beauty Part 1

The premise of this lovely, ethereal, fairy-tale shoot that Rachel was kind enough to help me out with is a question that I found myself asking while walking through the woods on my grandparents' property.

"What if there were no prince by her side when Sleeping Beauty woke up?"

What if, in the age-old fairy tale, hundreds of years passed without her Prince Charming riding in to rescue her kingdom from it's enchanted sleep? What if the curse wore off after years of hopelessness, and Beauty awoke alone to a castle and kingdom collapsed and overgrown beyond recognition? Would she feel fear and desperation? Or maybe just disappointment--even anger?

This is an example of the artsy-fartsy mishmash that goes through my head when I've gone too long without creating something.

Anyway, I'm now happy to present to you the first half of what I believe was a very successful photo shoot entitled Awoken Beauty.

More imaginative photos after the jump!

Live Well, Dress Well: Easy Trends to Try Right Now

Hi, all! 

It's been a while since I took a minute to pull together a fashion post. These Polyvore sets are real time-suckers.  

These are some outfits that I included in my application for the College Fashion writing internship. I needed to comment on my favorite current fashion trends. Well, they were more current back in March when I submitted the application . . . 

Anyway, I have been a fan of College Fashion for about four years, and I really wanted to land this internship with them since my blogging style is often very similar to theirs. While I didn't get the job I still wanted to share these trendy outfit ideas with you all!

I thought it would be fun if I based each outfit idea on an outfit that I've personally worn in a past fashion shoot. What do you think?

**NOTE** The focus was on both summer and fall fashions, so just ignore the chunky sweaters that I'm sure you won't be sporting in this heat!

1.  Athletic-Inspired

Bright colors and simple athletic silhouettes mixed with surprising feminine details such as velvet, a wedge heel, or some bangles are what bring the sporty side of any style to life. Check out this post for more tips for looking like a champ without looking like you're coming back from a pickup game at school.

2. Warm Hues

Even if this season's so-hot brights are a bit much much for you, you can still embrace the fiery palettes lighting up the runways by choosing romantic color mediums like lace and chiffon to create an ensemble that is very easy on the eyes. 

3. Classic Silhouettes

Simplicity and sophistication are super-hot wardrobe staples now as always. Start with a sheath dress and then accentuate your mature shape with a well-fitting jacket for a look worthy of breakfast at Tiffany's. You could pull off this timeless style at a job interview or dinner out.

4. Crop Tops

Anyone can show a little skin, but try to rock a crop that goes outside the box this summer. Look for unique cropped styles such as polo necklines or asymmetrical hems to bring a new level of trendiness to a relaxed outfit. Layering is also a great option for more conservative fashionistas like me.

5. Short Chic

From shorts to rompers, summer's bottoms have a classy vintage pin-up vibe about them. Embrace it with well-tailored styles and nautical-inspired details like Breton tops and Sperry-style loafers. Don't forget a beach-ready hat!

I hope you enjoyed these fashion trend ideas and can incorporate them into some of your looks this summer and fall.


What's your favorite look that's hot right now? Tell me in the comments!

Wishlist: I Adorn You

Tell me this is not the most adorably romantic dress you have ever seen. I dare you.

Once again, ModCloth takes the cake in the "Cutest Dresses in the History of Ever" cakewalk. They are the go-to place for the perfect LBD, LRD (little red dress), LWD (little white dress), and basically any and all LCD (little cute dresses) your little heart could possibly desire. Haha, that's kind of funny because LCD is an actual thing--has to do with one of those big screen TVs that Josh wants, I believe.

Better than Little Sexy Dresses, am I right? I feel like LSD is not a good thing to advertise. I'm sure ModCloth's selection will seem even more magical after some of that action . . .

Alright, enough drug jokes for the Christian girl's blog.

The point is, what are your thoughts on ModCloth? Do you like the romantic, indie feel of their pieces, or do you like something more polished? Their price range is a whole other story. Basically, my relationship with ModCloth consists of the following:

1. Drooling. 
2. Telling Josh that for our next milestone anniversary he can skip the jewelry and buy me a ModCloth frock instead. 
3. Resuming drooling.

And remember this one? Garden party dress? How romantic can you get?