that one dress that makes me feel like a princess {+ giveaway!}

                                                                 

//dress: c/o mint julep boutique / sandals: claire's (super old)//

So there are a few glorious times where I come across the rare dress that makes me feel like a princess, while still being casual enough for wear off the red carpet. This is one of them. I tried this dress on and immediately fell in love with it. The fabric is so light and floaty and the most perfect shade of blue, with the little feminine details at the waist and hem that help to really make it. I wasn't sure about the slit in the front, but after trying on the dress for myself, I decided I really liked it. And my favorite thing about it is that it can just be put on by itself and look great...it doesn't need a bunch of accessories.  

Needless to say...I highly recommend checking out Mint Julep Boutique. They have an adorable selection of clothes at reasonable prices. And they were great to work with, so patient with me as I took forever to get this review up--I'm still not used to being so busy! I will likely be shopping there in the future...for picking up more sweet dresses like this! 

AND, Mint Julep Boutique is also sponsoring a giveaway for a $25 gift card to their online shop, so you can have a chance to give them a try. :)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

the comfiest romper

//romper: forever 21 / striped crop top, shoes: charlotte russe//

This summer has truly flown by. I am amazed that it's already the end of August--where has the time gone? And overall, it's been a really good summer. Too hot, busy, and stressful, but still good. Wedding planning is in full swing--we are getting married on January 16th, and it seems so far away, but at the same time, it's coming up really quickly. So far I have found the perfect dress within my budget, thanks to my wonderful bridesmaid, who scoured the used dress sites to find the designer dress of my dreams. We found and reserved a beautiful, 100-year-old venue with hardwood floors and swoon-worthy vintage details. We had beautiful engagement photos taken by a friend (so here's the question--are you guys interested in seeing the day-of-engagement photos AND the official engagement photos?I don't want to overwhelm you with too many posts on our engagement!), which we used to make our Save the Dates. Other bits of planning for decorations and things are coming together as well. And finally, we booked our hotel in Disney World (ahhh!!). I am so unbelievably excited. :) I can't wait to share more about planning and things! I will probably do a series of posts after the wedding about the planning process, if you all are interested. 

Anyway, this little romper that I picked up at Forever 21 last year is still my favorite thing. It's made out of the comfiest jersey fabric, and looks almost like a dress, but it's actually shorts, which I absolutely love. And with a little crop top underneath, it's just perfect and effortless. Also, these shoes from Charlotte Russe are my go-to summer heels. They're comfy enough for walking around in, and they're great for dressing up an outfit. 

Talk to ya'll soon!

so i did a thing... {k couture review}

//dress: c/o k couture / shoes: charlotte russe//

So yes, I did a thing. I've wanted red hair ever since I first read Anne of Green Gables (well, either that or Diana Barry's hair), and I've been talking about dying it for about a year or so now. So at the end of last month, on an impulse, I bought a box of dye and dyed it the next morning. And I love it. And so does Josh...thank goodness--I was worried he'd hate it. I already asked him if he wants me to keep it for the wedding, and his answer was an unequivocal "YES." Hehe. 

Anyway.

This dress was sent to me by K Couture so I could review their "design a dress" tool. K Couture is a family-owned business in Arizona, which is also where all their dresses are made. They offer custom formal wear (perfect for weddings!) in a variety of shades and reasonable prices. They have a wide selection of styles to choose from, including more conservative choices. They also have the option to design your own dress, by choosing your desired fabric, neckline, sleeve, waistline, and length, in addition to color. The "design a dress" tool is super easy to use, and I liked all the options they offered. The only thing I wish is that there were a few more options for skirt shape and length--I'd love to see something like a circle skirt! Ooh, and if there were an option to add pockets. That would be perfection.

The quality of this dress is great, and oh my, that shade of emerald green is just gorgeous. The sash style lends a bit of retro quality, which I also love. The only thing with the sash was that it was too thick to tie into a bow, so I simply knotted it--which I actually really like the look of. I also should have sized up. The skirt is a bit too tight in the hips, which causes it to pull across my stomach to show off an awkward bulge--so I would definitely recommend paying close attention to the sizing when ordering. So I wish it fit better, but In every other way, I love this dress. It's simple, but so elegant and classy. 

K Couture is also offering ya'll a 10% off coupon. Just enter the code Dress10 at checkout. :) 

Anyway, talk to ya'll soon!

eshakti love

Ever since I first heard about them through the blogosphere, I have been obsessed with eShakti's clothing. I was initially drawn to their retro vibe, as well as the ability to customize their garments. The option to alter the style to fit your body and your preferences, to make it yours is just so cool. And of course, the fact that many of their dresses have pockets? Ah, perfection. I have two dresses from eShakti--one that I bought for a wedding, another that I was sent for review. I love both of them--they are great quality and so flattering. The red one I have is one of my fiance's favorite dresses on me, and I always get so many compliments when I wear them. These dresses are definitely worth the splurge, in my opinion.

Anyway, eShakti recently contacted me to let me know about, and ask me to review, their updated site and their two new clothing lines, contemporary and bohemian. 

First, the new site is clean, simple, and easy to navigate. In comparison to their old site, I think it runs a lot faster and much more smoothly. And though I don't usually care for the mobile versions of websites, I think theirs is just as nice on my phone as on my computer. 

Second, the most exciting part...their new lines are so, so lovely. I am particularly obsessed with the contemporary line. It features simple, minimalistic silhouettes with pretty little details. And they also have pants, which is super exciting. The styles and patterns are oh so cute and classy. These are some of my favorite dresses, ones that I'd love to have for casual days, though they can very easily be dressed up with the right accessories (1, 2, 3, 4):

The bohemian line features bold patterns and bright colors that remind me so much of the 1970s. They have some pretty adorable maxi dresses that would just be perfect for summer. I don't typically go in for bold patterns, but I love the more subdued designs from this line. These are my personal favorites (1, 2, 3, 4):

Last, but certainly not least, eShakti is offering you all a $35 coupon for use on the site, which is super exciting! Definitely check that out. :)

GC CODE: DECVKES35Valid till 07/10/2015

Enter this code in the 'Gift Coupon / Referral Code' box at checkout

Only one gift coupon can be used in an order

Not valid on previous purchases / purchase of gift cards.

This gift coupon cannot be transferred, re-issued or exchanged for cash.
Minimum order value $30.

I'll talk to ya'll soon!

This is a sponsored post, but all opinions contained herein are my own. 

hidden among the rock roses

//blouse: target / skirt: thrifted / tights: topshop / shoes: charlotte russe / necklace: gift from josh//

Yay for new outfit posts! It's been so long since I've taken outfit photos...I went through almost a month-long period after finishing my classes where I just felt completely unmotivated to do more than read, play video games, and binge watch Parks and Recreations. Then last week, three things happened. First, I noticed the multitude of gorgeous pink rock roses on the bush outside my window and thought, "I have to take pictures with those." Second, I got strep throat and was forced to continue my habits of nothingness, which quickly made me irritable. Third, I finished Parks and Rec and ran out of TV shows to laze around and binge. I finally felt motivated to do things. 

So I took blog photos of the outfit I was wearing that day and then proceeded to deep-clean my room. Now I'm excited to get to work on bunches of projects, like those sundresses I've been designing in my head for the past few months, and diving head-first into wedding planning (Goodness, this is really happening!).

Anyways...on to the outfit. This is probably the last time you'll see me in tights for the next few months, as it is definitely warming up here in the pacific northwest. Even when I wore these on Wednesday, it was slightly too warm. These quirky tights are so perfect for spring, though! And I am loving them with this denim skirt that I rediscovered recently. :) 

Talk to ya'll soon! 

josh + vicki {an announcement}

I feel like a lot has happened since my last post. For one thing, I'm engaged! Josh and I have been talking about it for a while now, a little more seriously back in November. After praying, talking to family and our pastor, and doing a bit of shopping around for rings, we felt the time was right. And so, on May 16th, Josh and I drove out to Franklin Falls, where we had one of our first dates (and I almost died...), and walked the mile or so to the falls. We clambered down to the foot of the waterfall, where we could feel the icy spray on our faces, and he knelt down on one knee. I said "Yes," of course, and the few people that were there by the waterfall cheered, and Josh turned me around to see his sister-in-law snapping pictures of the whole thing. 

I'm so happy. And excited. Above all, I feel so blessed to have found a godly man to be my husband. 

If you'd asked me two years ago where I thought my life would be at this point, I never would have imagined this. God is so good.

Anyway. In lieu of engagement photos (I still have to get the ones from his sister-in-law, and we will be taking more official ones in the coming weeks), I thought I'd share these with you. My Auntie took them of us a couple months ago, when we went to spend some time with her at a nearby park. She's a dabbling photographer, and wanted to practice by getting a few shots of us together. She captured so many sweet moments between us, and even if she's not necessarily happy with the shots, I will always treasure them. They really encapsulate us and our dynamic as a couple. Always walking arm-in-arm, always chatting away about silly things (in the bulk of these, we are discussing our mutual love of pretzel rolls and our business plans for a fast food joint called Food Babies). These pictures warm my heart and make me smile every time I see them. 

Anyway, I'll talk to ya'll soon. :)

jamberry nail wraps review

A while back, my good friend Sarabeth asked me if I'd be interested in reviewing a sample of Jamberry nail wraps. I was excited, because I had heard a lot of good things about Jamberry, and I've been wanting to give them a try for quite a long time.

I love the design on these--they're simple and kinda understated, but still so fun. And I definitely think Jamberry is worth a try. I wish that I'd had someone help me with applying the wraps initially, since I did a somewhat sloppy job, but I think they turned out looking pretty good. The one thing that I had been worried about is whether or not they would stay adhered to my "dragon claw"--when I injured my finger as a child, it became slightly deformed, and the nail is a weird shape. And I did have some trouble getting the nail wrap to stay on that particular finger, though I'm not sure if that had anything to do with my method of application or not. Regardless, that is a unique problem. I didn't have any trouble with the wraps on my other fingers, and I loved how they turned out. :)

In any case, Jamberry wraps are cute, inexpensive, and long-lasting. I would definitely recommend checking out Sarabeth's website (and her lovely blog!), to see if there's any you love. These are some of my favorites!  

almost there.

//dress: forever21 (altered)  / black blouse: thrifted / shoes: charlotte russe / purse: thrifted (originally from h&m)//

You guys, I am so close to being done with college. It's exciting and nervewracking all at the same time...a week ago, I turned in my thesis and finished up my English class, and now I only have one class left. That means that the month and a half break I'm on is going to be spent working on my resume, getting my driver's license, and beginning my job hunt. While I am so ready to be done with school, I'm anxious about what's coming next, mostly the "getting out into the world and getting a job" part. Praying helps. A lot. So does Josh--I'm so glad I've got him here to hold my hand. 

Anyway...on to the outfit. This one is from our mini-vacation to Port Townsend last August...I'm not sure how I never got around to posting it. I love this little dress I picked up at Forever21. It's so flattering, even after altering it to extend the length, and easy for layering into the fall and cooler weather. Also, these $10 flats from Charlotte Russe are one of the best wardrobe investments I've made yet. I ordered them mainly because I thought they were cute and I needed a pair of black flats, but they fit so well and they're just so comfortable. I can walk in these all day without my feet getting sore, which is something I can't often say about any shoes, including my sneakers. 

Also, how gorgeous is this fountain? I love the ancient Greek kinda vibe. :)

I'll talk to ya'll soon!

black + white

//dress: marshalls / necklaces, shoes: charlotte russe / crochet cardigan, belt: thrifted//

There's just something beautiful about black and white photos. I'm not sure if it's nostalgia for the romance of a long gone time, or whether it's their ethereal, almost haunting quality, or just that sense of drama it gives even the most mundane scenes...there's just something, and I like it.

I've been wanting to do an exclusively black and white post for a while now, but never was able to commit to it...then I happened on these old photos of an outfit I'd never shared because I didn't care for the lighting, and thought I might experiment. 

And I kinda like how they turned out.

This is one of my favorite outfits from last summer. This dress is a dream for hot days--it's so floaty and light (a potential problem if it's windy...), and I love it layered under this crochet cardigan. It adds a fun, almost bohemian vibe. 

And then paired with my favorite heels? Perfection. 

Never mind the fact that I trip every time I wear these heels. It gives me the perfect excuse to walk arm in arm with my love. Of course, he's gotten to the point where he doesn't even trust my balance in flats...his anxiety may be rubbing off on me, because I'm pretty sure I didn't use to trip this much before we dated, and now, heels are worn almost exclusively for Church and that's bad enough. 

I may need to invest in some more sensible heels for normal wear...Swedish Hasbeens are my dream, it's just a matter of being able to justify the purchase, you know?

Anyway. I'll talk to ya'll soon.

what i made: the little mint sundress

//dress: handmade / necklaces: charlotte russe / shoes: vintage/thrifted//

Hey everyone! Although I wasn't planning on it, I ended up taking a bit of a hiatus from blogging. I may or may not have mentioned it before, but I'm in my last half-semester of college, and that meant researching and writing my undergraduate thesis. I thought I was so prepared for everything, then my schedule filled up with other life things, and well, it ended up being a frantic rush to finalize research and pump out thirty pages of writing in addition to keeping up with my other class. Well, I don't remember the last time I was this stressed, but the worst is over now that I've submitted my initial draft for comments. Now, I'm overwhelmed with relief to have that off my back for the moment.

Anyway...that's why blogging was pushed to the back burner, since I needed to focus on school and preserving my sanity. I haven't taken outfit photos in a while, but I still wanted to share something with ya'll...these photos have been sitting on my computer since summer time, and I figured I should probably wait to share them until the warmer weather rolled around again...and well, it's finally spring, soooo...

I made this sundress last summer, when I was only taking one class at school, had just finished my nannying job, and was bored out of my mind. I decided I needed something to occupy my time and get the creative juices flowing, so I pulled out this mint-green vintage fabric I'd found at Goodwill, sketched a quick design, and got to work. I used a pattern for the top and improvised it so I could have the scalloped, button-down back with the little cut-out. The skirt I kept simple by just sewing together a couple of rectangles. 

It's a bit tight at the top (which tends to be the mistake I make most in sewing), and I probably should've lined the top as well, but other than that, I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. The back turned out just as cute as I'd envisioned, and it was far less frustrating than it could've been. I'm interested to see what variations I could make on the design. :)

I'll talk to ya'll soon! I've at least got a few more hiking posts lined up that I'm looking forward to sharing.