Friday Favorites #39

I always worry that I won't find enough items to highlight for a Friday Favorites post (which is one of the reasons I'd been doing them alternating weeks for a little while), and this week started off the same way.  However, I found an abundance of items this week... and many of them are so springy I can scarcely stand it!  I'm so ready for sunshine and no more snow!  But for now, these very vernal picks will have to do, until the weather catches up with my spring fever:

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

I am of the opinion that one can never have too many cardigans, and this adorable little yellow sweater would be lovely for the spring!

Adorable springy printed dresses alert!

cats // ducks

I can be pretty particular when it comes to florals, but these pieces are divine:

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5

And although I am often drawn to kooky prints, I think these two plainer dresses are simply gorgeous!

                      aquamarine                                            periwinkle                                     

This petal pink coat would be perfect for any amount of spring chill!

I adore this pair of pastel, fantastical purses!

a // b

And I want this mythical portable unicorn speaker!

More silly novelty bags ahead!

c // d

e // f // g

A whimsical, pastel, retro-inspired swimsuit??  TAKE MY MONEY.

Speaking of retro, I love the idea of these three pieces together (especially since this dress looks so much like the one the girl is wearing on the earrings!):

a // b // c

Behold: the loveliest dress (which I'm determined to own) by my favorite brand ever...

Plus, here are a few other things I found this week that I loooove:

(source)

If someone would like to test out either of these delectable waffle recipes on me, I would gladly volunteer to be the guinea pig:

Churro Waffles:

via

Spiced Orange Chocolate Chip Waffles w/Orange Spice Maple Syrup:

via

Finally, I'd coincidentally done a little bit of research on this recently, but this article made me pretty convinced that I fall into the category of being a Highly Sensitive Person (which kind of just sounds like I haven't developed a tough enough skin or something, but it's a real thing).  It seems like many people in more creative arenas seem to fall into this category (including many bloggers, which makes sense to me), and it's nice to know that I'm a) not alone and b) that these traits can be revered.  There've been some instances in my life lately that have made me feel abnormal for feeling things more deeply or being prone to crying more than other people -- which I had never really questioned before.  But I read through this list and could check off almost every one in terms of whether or not they applied to me.  I want to read and learn more about this, and I've already gotten some really nice recommendations of where to start.  This is a much less fluffy note to end on this week, but maybe it'll interest you, too!

Thanks for joining me this week!  Have a wonderful Friday!

xox Sammi

Honey Pie

Outfit Details:

My Kind of Pie Dress: ModCloth

Teal top: Forever 21 (old)

Boots: ModCloth (similar here)

Pie ring: Citrus Couture

White belt: eBay

I think it's an unwritten rule that every twee, kitschy or retro blogger has to have this dress (or at least must have it on her wish list).  It had been out of stock for the longest time, and I ordered it the day it came back in stock.  It really is one of my most treasured dresses (though I do wish it were slightly more forgiving on top -- this fabric has ZERO stretch to it!).  I always end up wearing it the same way, though (see how else I've worn it here), and I wanted to figure out a way to remix it and give it some longevity.  Because it's sleeveless, it's too tricky for a pinafore (though if I had a long enough skirt, it'd be great underneath as a button-down top -- next time!), so I went scrounging for a sweater or top to layer over it.  I remembered I had this cheap 3/4-sleeved tee from Forever 21 lying around, and it happens to match the darker teal of the pie tins perfectly.  I just rolled it up a little and put a belt over it, and presto -- a whole new way to wear this kooky dress!

 I wish I could have worn different shoes with this, though.  We were having a spring-like thaw when I took these, but the snow wasn't melted nearly enough to wear something other than boots!  I already have spring fever, which is unfortunate, seeing as we have at least another month of cold, snowy weather ahead of us here.  Patience is not my strong suit.

I'm off to see the tour of American Idiot tonight!  Two of my friends from college are in it, and I'm super excited to see them.  I hope you have a great Thursday!

xox Sammi

Quirk & Kitsch: an accessory guest post for Junebugs and Georgia Peaches!

Hi, all!  I'm doing something fun and different this morning: I'm today's guest blogger over at Junebugs and Georgia Peaches!  For those of you who are unfamiliar with this new-ish addition to the blogosphere, Junebugs and Georgia Peaches is run by the cutest, retro-loving, auburn-locked pair of besties you'll ever see: Modern June Cleaver and Amelia Jetson!  I've had the privilege of getting to know these two lovely ladies over the past few months via Instagram, and they are such sweet girls with wardrobes to die for!  I was absolutely thrilled when I found out they were starting a blog, since they both have such great style and somehow manage to look adorable 24/7.  I was tickled pink when June reached out to me about doing an ad swap, and when she mentioned the possibility of doing a guest post for them, I leapt at the chance!  

Seriously, no one should be allowed to be this adorable.

Since these two already have great posts on vintage-inspired fashion, June suggested that I do a post about my beloved collection of quirky and kitschy accessories.  I initially was going to do a post just about handbags, but then I decided to broaden it to include hats and hair accessories, jewelry and my novelty purses!  I've showcased a lot of "out there" accessories on my blog over this past year, but I've never really shown my whole collection in this way before... so if you're curious to see it in its (almost) entirety, head on over to Junebugs and Georgia Peaches to have a little look-see!  Here's a little taste, but be sure to click here to see all the rest!  :)

Have a great Wednesday!

xox Sammi

Little red

Outfit Details:

Gretel Gingham Swing Dress: Collectif Clothing

Red bolero: Pinup Girl Clothing (get it here)

White belt & petticoat: eBay

Red boots: DSW (old)

Lips ring: Forever 21

This outfit was another possibility for a Valentine's Day ensemble, but even with the addition of a petticoat, this dress makes so much more sense for summer, and I ended up going with the beautiful dress I borrowed from Dus for the holiday.  I love the detailing on this dress, though; the heart-shaped buttons and the lace along the hem and top are such nice touches.  The only annoying thing about this dress is that I don't think the shape is entirely flattering on me.  Although I really love Collectif's designs, I've found that their sizing can be incredibly strange and inconsistent.  I've made the mistake of ordering clothing directly from their site before, and since they're based in the UK, returns are kind of a hassle.  Since ModCloth carries Collectif, it's much better to be able to read reviews and ask questions about sizing through them.  I think retro repro brands sometimes run a little big, in general -- am I the only one who feels this way?  Luckily, whatever sizing issues this dress has are easily fixed with the bolero & belt combination.  I just wish I had better boots to wear with this -- preferably ones that don't make my legs look impossibly stubby (which is not usually a problem for someone who is 5'7")!

I'd scheduled these last few posts in advance, since I've been away for the weekend.  By the time this is published, I'll be on a bus heading back home.  I don't schedule posts this far in advance very much (I find it kind of weird to not be giving current updates on my life), but it is sort of freeing to not have to worry about putting it together the night before.  I often wonder what other bloggers do in terms of scheduling posts... I always feel like people will know if I'm being inauthentic in terms of a timeline, but then I think about the fact that I really don't know what other bloggers are actually doing on a day-to-day basis, so everyone could be scheduling posts a week ahead of time, while I'm the schmuck who's staying up late to finish hers the night before it's published.  Truth be told, I always work best under pressure anyway.  

Have a beautiful Monday!

xox Sammi