Bear hug

Sugarhill Boutique consistently has some of my favorite prints.  Their prints are typically both whimsical and delicate, and they lend themselves well to lots of different types of styling.  This dress was on my ModCloth wish list for a while before I found a coupon code, and since I had some store credit, I actually ended up paying less than $20 for it.  I ended up really liking the square neckline, and the print is even more charming in person.

This print reminded me of the movie Brave, which I recently watched with my mom for the first time and absolutely loved.  My mom and I have an incredibly close relationship, so the mother-daughter storyline had me bawling at the end.  In addition, dialects are one of my areas of expertise (I feel like a tool putting it that way, but I'm not sure how else to phrase it), and Scottish is one of my favorites to do.  I will also be forever wishing I could be a redhead.  I can't really pull it off with my coloring, I don't think, so I'll just have to live vicariously through those who can.

Outfit Details:

Cottage Bound Dress: ModCloth
Necklace: ModCloth (similar)
Boots: ModCloth (similar)
Tights: old (similar)

Have a wonderful Wednesday!
xox Sammi

Milkshakes and Amaretto Sours

Outfit Details:

Sugarhill Boutique Milkshake Dress: ASOS (sold out)

*Select sizes still available at ModCloth and on eBay*

Doo Bee Doo Bee Shoe Heel: ModCloth 

*No longer available, but similar styles here, here and here*

Achilles' Zeal Tights: ModCloth (similar here and here)
Belt: ASOS (on sale!)
Red coat: eBay

Watch ring: Mom's

I tend to make my birthdays into celebrations that last at least a weekend.  Since my actual birthday is on Monday (and I have two early school shows during the day and our first long tech. rehearsal at night), I decided to spread the festivities out over a couple of days.  Last night, my mom made a scrumptious birthday dinner (for just my parents and me, which could either be seen as super lame or really nice... I'll go with the latter), which consisted of filet mignon, scalloped potatoes, green beans, croissants, a wedge salad with bleu cheese, turkey bacon and tomatoes, and vanilla bean cheesecake (from The Cheesecake Factory, of course) for dessert -- except I was too full for dessert!

After I stuffed myself silly, I headed a bar downtown with some friends.  I normally don't like the whole "bar scene," and I drink very rarely (and even then, I'll be totally buzzed before I finish one!).  But this bar, called Cheshire, is really intimate and charming (albeit slightly hipster).  It specializes in classic cocktails (i.e., hard-to-find ones that you don't see in every bar), and you can tell that they really care about the quality of the experience.  I honestly don't like any drink where I can taste the alcohol, so I always get Amaretto Sours when I go there (they make theirs with egg white, which skeeved me out the first time I ordered it, but it just adds a yummy frothiness to it).  Some of the Rapunzel cast came out to celebrate, and a few other theatre friends came as well, and it was just a really nice time with a bunch of people I truly like.  I've had people flake out on me for birthdays in the past, and since I'd been especially worried that I'd spend my birthday alone this year, it really warmed my heart to be reassured that there are people who care about me.  :)

On to less mushy stuff... I'd been waiting forever to wear this gorgeous mint green dress from Sugarhill Boutique.  The moment I saw it on ASOS, I knew I had to have it.  The print is so darling and retro, and the color is perfect.  The back has this really pretty lace-up detail, too.  I wanted to save it for a special occasion, so it just sat in my closet for quite some time.  I knew that my birthday would be a great time to make use of it -- I just wish it were warmer!  It was incredibly windy last night, and though I wore this red coat for these pictures, I ended up having to wear a slightly thicker coat to combat the bitter cold.  Sadly, fall gives way to winter pretty quickly here, but I hope fall stays for a little while longer... although it's been a difficult autumn, it's still my favorite.

My grandma's birthday was on Thursday, so we usually do some kind of joint birthday celebration for the two of us.  We decided to do something a little different than our usual dinner at home, so this afternoon, we're headed to a teahouse that I adore!  Having something akin to high tea is sort of a novel thing in the US, so I'm getting all gussied up in tea-themed apparel and will once again gorge myself -- this time, on Earl Grey tea, scones, clotted cream and jam, finger sandwiches, and whatever other little treats come my way.  Calories don't count on birthdays, right?

Have a wonderful Sunday!!
xox Sammi

Up, up and away

Outfit Details:

Summer Skies Dress: eBay (on sale thru Sugarhill Boutique's site!)

My Fair Lacy Flats: ModCloth (no longer available)

Large wicker purse: from Cara's moving sale

Hot air balloon necklace: gift from Abby and David (similar here)

Carousel ring: Miss Selfridge (sold out)

Half-slip: Mom's

I'd forgotten that I hadn't worn this dress on my blog yet.  Clearly, I have a thing for hot air balloons (this makes two dresses, two tops, and two necklaces with hot air balloons on them!).  And this beautiful necklace (a sweet and generous gift from my cousins, Abby and David) is absolutely perfect with it!  Even the colors match!

I also have a thing for carousels.

I found a bunch of wild raspberries growing in my yard!!!  We used to have a bunch on a hill by our driveway, but my mom got rid of them so she could garden there.  I was really upset about it at the time, since I used to pick berries and eat them a lot.  Imagine my surprise upon finding these in a bunch of spots in the back!  I want to pick them.

I grabbed this new wicker purse on a whim as I was heading outside.  I love that it's bigger than my other one (the inside is green and white gingham checks!).  In retrospect, I realized that it could represent the basket of the hot air balloon.  That definitely wasn't my thought at the time, but it's funny how you subconsciously decide what goes well with an outfit.

Obsessed.

I really love this print, too.  I wish it were a little longer, though.  My slip was unintentionally showing in a lot of these pictures!

Like this one, for example.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!  My Sunday was pretty busy (we had to pick up our dog from our boarder's house - and omg I saw the cutest lab puppies ever - and we had lunch with my aunt, and then went to see my dad's band play), so I didn't get a chance to post yesterday.  Our family party on Saturday was pretty crazy, but it was wonderful to see my extended family.  I'll post pictures from what I wore during the week - and I'll have a special surprise along with them!

Have a great Monday!

xox Sammi