30% off all decor at ModCloth!

I've been CRAZY busy working on my apartment this weekend, so I wasn't able to get an outfit post together for today... but there's a very timely sale happening at ModCloth right now, so I wanted to take a moment to highlight it! I'm a bit decor-obsessed these days, so I'm stoked that ModCloth is offering 30% off ALL decor thru Thursday – just use the code DECOR8 at check-out! I have about 50 things in my cart right now (but then again, when do I not?). Click the links below to shop my favorites, or click here to shop the entire sale!

Ranunculus tapestry  ||  You Need More Sleep: Advice From Cats  ||  Floral pillow

Telephone  ||  Mug  ||  Coasters  ||  Record clock  ||  Synth pillow  ||  Jewelry tray  

Happy shopping!

Green gingham

If there is a more summery pattern than gingham, I'd love to hear what it is. Or maybe I wouldn't... because let's face it: gingham is kind of the best. I fell in love with this peach-trimmed green gingham dress when I first saw it on ModCloth, but for some reason, I waited a while to style it here on the blog. July seems like the prime month for gingham-wearing, and since the last couple of days have been incredibly hot, I felt like it was high-time to wear this beauty. Even though I don't have a Southern bone in my body, I feel like an honorary Southern belle when I wear this dress! I need a backyard BBQ in my future so I have another excuse to wear it.

Outfit Details

Cookout on the Town Dress: ModCloth (on sale!)

Rotary dial telephone pin: Little Arrow

Shoes: B.A.I.T. Footwear (similar)

I start my new full-time job next week (and my lease begins next Friday), and you could say I'm a bit anxious about it. It's unchartered territory, and I'm very nervous about so much change happening at once. I'm also trying to get a lot of blogging done in advance, since the next few weeks are going to be super-busy and I'll be adjusting to a lot of new stuff. Eek! Wish me luck!

Have a great day!

Independence

Happy 4th of July! I guess it's sort of apt that today is Independence Day, since I've been thinking a lot about my own impending independence lately. I signed the lease on my brand new apartment last week(!!!), and I'll be both starting my new, full-time job AND moving in to my new place next week. Needless to say, I'm already pretty stressed out. Even though I'm taking positive steps to becoming a "real adult," it's still very overwhelming and I keep asking myself if I'm doing the right thing. Ultimately, I know that popping my own little safety bubble is imperative to my personal growth, and though I'm nervous about what the future holds, I think (read: hope) I'm doing something that will make me happy. It might not look like what I had pictured for myself a few years ago, but then again, I'm not the same person I was back then, either. I know I'll continue to make a lot of mistakes (which, as a Highly Sensitive Person, I hate doing), but that's also how we learn. I can't let fear of the unknown hold me back from forging my own path. So today, I'm going celebrate my own independence just as much as that of our country.

I always feel celebratory when I wear cute dresses (it's the little things!), especially for holidays. This Emily and Fin dress isn't traditionally patriotic, but I love that it features red, white, and blue. Their "Jenny" style dress is one of my favorites, and the synchronized swimmer print is one of the most adorable (yet subtle) ones I've seen! This dress is super comfortable, and I adore the button-down front and big pockets. Since it's made of lightweight, breathable cotton, it's an excellent summer dress. I know Emily and Fin can run long on some people; this dress might be a bit more flattering in a slightly shorter length, but since I really don't like worrying about whether my hemline is too short, it fits my needs in a dress! It'll be perfect for what I have planned for tonight: watching my dad's band  play and enjoying the post-show fireworks. What are you doing for the 4th?

Outfit Details

Brunch With Buds Dress in Swimmers: ModCloth

Boater hat: similar  ||  Flats: Aerosoles

Bracelet: similar  ||  Necklace: similar

Have a great holiday!

By the book

I hope you all had a nice holiday weekend! We had a pretty low-key Thanksgiving and decorated our (unfortunately fake) Christmas tree, and I saw the movie Suffragette with my friend Rusty. I'm dying to see Brooklyn as well, but maybe that'll happen another weekend. Though I've got film on the brain, today's outfit is all about books!

Although I actually own another book print dress, I like that this one is a little more colorful – and since my other one is currently too small on me, this one's way more comfortable too. My sense of style has definitely evolved over the past couple of years; although I'm usually drawn to fuller, longer skirts these days, this outfit reminds me of my early blogging days. It's both fun and practical, which can't always be said of my more retro-inspired looks. I don't consider my style to fit into any one category... I just like what I like. I guess my style isn't really "by the book." I don't really overanalyze it. If only that could transfer to other areas of my life.

Outfit Details

Archive Got the Power Dress: ModCloth

Book necklace: Treasured Charms

Cardigan: thrifted (similar)

Tights: similar

Boots: similar

Have a great start to your week, and don't forget about my favorite Cyber Monday deals:

Unique Vintage: 30% off site-wide (including sale) with code OMG30
ModCloth: 25% off site-wide with code FUNDAY

Cutie π

I think I've worn this dress more than any other on my blog, and it's not really difficult to understand why.  I waited forever for it to come back in stock, and I don't know if there's a more perfect novelty print than this one.  Since today is Pi Day, I couldn't resist wearing this scrumptious dress for the occasion.  Kate even sent me the sweetest Pi Day package ever, which included this little button (plus 5 others) and another Pi Day brooch (which I didn't wear with these photos but am wearing today)!

You'll notice that it is still incredibly snowy in my backyard... much to my frustration.  There is simply so much snow on the ground that it's taking forever to melt.  The weather is decidedly more springy, which I'm thrilled about, but I'm very impatient and tired of wearing boots for photos.  I can't wait until I can go bare-legged in my ballet flats again!

Outfit Details

Dress: ModCloth

Cardigan: Trashy Diva

Pin: c/o Kate Gabrielle

Pettislip: Amazon

Belt: Forever 21

Boots: eBay

Have a great Pi Day!

xox Sammi

Do fries go with that shake?

Happy Wednesday! Between planning out my meals with Weight Watchers and celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow, I have food on the brain as of late... so I thought it'd be a good time to wear this dress! This print is really fun, but to be honest, this dress wasn't even on my wish list. I love a good novelty print, but this one always seemed a little too loud and busy for me. It's cute in person, and it's a great layering piece, but I'm definitely not as attached to it as some of my other kookier dresses. It's definitely grown on me, though. Plus, I felt like I had to get it after I got this purse! Out of my entire collection of novelty purses (which is ever-expanding), this one is probably the least practical. Although my other novelty purses are a little too silly for certain occasions, they are at least large enough to hold the necessities. My iPhone won't even fit in this bag! But it's a really cool piece to have, and it's by Kling (a brand I really like), so it'll stay in my collection for now.

The big news from last week is that I finally got my driver's license! I was incredibly nervous for this road test, and frankly, I thought I did worse on this test than the first one... but I passed, thank goodness! I haven't been driving myself a ton (I have to coordinate car usage with my mom for now, and because I've been working a lot of half-days and we have to pay for our own parking, it's been a hassle), but I drove by myself for the first time on Sunday -- and for the first time at night! I know it seems silly to be excited over something like this (especially when people 10 years younger than I am manage to do the same thing), but I feel a huge sense of accomplishment in conquering my anxieties about driving. I'm really happy about it, and feel very confident in my abilities -- not just with driving, but also with the idea of taking on other things that seem scary. I think doing something that scares us is the best way to grow as people, and I feel really good about about what I'm capable of doing.  :)

Outfit Details

Good Enough to Eat Dress: ModCloth

Eyes on the Fries pouch: ModCloth

Boots: ModCloth (similar)

Brooch: sweet and lovely

Ring: Claytime Designs

Blouse: old (similar)

iPhone case: eBay

Tights: similar

Have a great Wednesday!

xox Sammi

Big Birthday Giveaway! [CLOSED]

It's finally time for my Big Birthday Giveaway!  I know I don't hold giveaways on my blog very often (which is something I'm going to work on in the future), but I always do one in February for my "blogiversary," and this year, I wanted to hold one for my birthday as well.  Since it's been a long time since I've hosted a giveaway, I wanted to make sure this one was HUGE -- and boy, is it ever!  I've been compiling a bunch of wonderful stuff for this, and I hope you're all as excited as I am for...

In total, this prize package is worth over $300!  I've included two gift certificate prizes, a bunch of awesome Etsy art and jewelry, a delectable novelty purse, a fantastic book, beauty supplies, and a ton of great retro nostalgia and cute gifties.  Basically, it's a big birthday care package of all the things I'd personally love to get.  :)   Here's what's up for grabs!

I'm so happy with all of the fun & cute things I managed to gather up for this giveaway!  This prize package is absolutely gigantic, so if you're overwhelmed (like I am!), here are all the details you need to know:

One (1) winner will receive:

- a $50 Unique Vintage gift card

- a $25 ModCloth gift certificate 

- a novelty donut clutch from New Look

- a copy of Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham

- a collar clip set from Flapperdoodle

- a lipstick brooch from Modern Girl Blitz

- an ice cream ring from She Loves Cute Stuff

- a print of your choice from Wanderlust Print Co.

- a non-customized print of your choice from Rachel Sullivan Illustration

- DVDs of Disney's The Aristocats and Oliver & Company

- a My Little Pony dress-up mug 

- a pair of pink cat eye sunglasses

- an eyeshadow palette from e.l.f.

- a pair of cherry earrings by Hey Viv!

- a pretty unicorn necklace

- a fast food lip balm set

- a cute pair of kitty socks 

- a pot of peach panda hand cream

- a fall assortment of salt water taffy

Entering the giveaway is easy - just use the Rafflecopter form below!  There are some mandatory entries, as well as optional ones that will increase your chances of winning.  The giveaway will run for one week (it starts at midnight on Sunday, Oct. 26th and will close at midnight on Sunday, November 2nd). This giveaway is open worldwide, and you must be a follower of my blog to enter (no un-following after the giveaway closes!).  The winner will be contacted via e-mail, so be sure to leave a valid e-mail address in your comment.  The giveaway winner will be announced on my blog by Wednesday, November 5th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best of luck! <3

xox Sammi

Doodlebug

 

I have decided that I really need to invest in some more button-down blouses for the fall and winter.  It's normally pretty difficult for me to find these types of blouses that I like; if you're well-endowed, finding a top that is both flattering and devoid of button-gaping is like the quest for the Holy Grail of Tops.  But I've realized that there's a loophole in this struggle: when you layer blouses underneath dresses, neither of those factors is imperative!  For instance, this top by Lazy Oaf has an amazing print, but it also has an unfortunate (on me) high-low hem that makes the top really billowy and unflattering, worn on its own.  But you'd never know by looking at it here!  As long as the dress is flattering -- and any imperfections in the shirt aren't obvious through the dress -- then you're good to go!  

I have a few of these Luck Be a Lady dresses from ModCloth (they're made by Closet, a UK-based brand), and I really love the silhouette of them.  Plus, they're the perfect layering dress.  I usually wear them with a cropped cardigan (they've become my go-to audition dress!), but I'm smitten with how they look with a blouse underneath.  Plus, it's the sort of look that can easily be styled in a casual way with slouchy boots or dressed up with heels.  Do you own any of these dresses?  What's your favorite way to style them?

 Outfit Details

Luck Be a Lady Dress in Red: ModCloth (similar styles)

Lazy Oaf blouse: ModCloth (similar styles)

Belt: ASOS (similar)

Flats: YesStyle

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

xox Sammi