Records & Radios

There's no better way to start off the week than a good ol' novelty print... and a novelty bag, to boot! I've loved this print from afar for quite a while, but when Bernie Dexter made one of her Paris dresses with it, I had to take the plunge. (It IS a kitschy, retro, music-themed print, after all... it can't get much more perfect than that in my book.) And I couldn't resist pairing this Betsey Johnson radio bag (which actually plays music – you can hook your iPod up to it!) with this dress! By the way, Bernie Dexter is currently offering 25% off all orders when you use the code 25dress at check out, so if you've got your eye on something, there's no time like the present!

There's been a lot happening in my life lately. My mom and I looked at a bunch of apartments, and I found the perfect apartment of my dreams. Of course, it's more than I was looking to spend, but I think it's doable, and living there would make me really happy. Best of all, my application was accepted, so I just have to work out the final details (and sign the lease). Fingers crossed that it all works out!

Outfit Details

Paris Dress in For the Record: Bernie Dexter

Radio purse: Betsey Johnson (other styles here)

Petticoat: Pinup Girl Clothing

Name necklace: c/o Onecklace

Shoes: B.A.I.T. Footwear

Have a great Monday!

Snow angel

Outfit Details:

Hypatia Dress: ever+mi.crush (50% off with NEWYEAR at checkout!)

Faux fur cape: Target (old, similar here)

Tights: ModCloth (old, similar here)

Dance Instead of Walking Heel in Cream: ModCloth

Ring & bracelet: old

Well, New Year's Eve Day is here... and I still have no idea what I'm doing tonight.  At this point, I think I'm going to end up having dinner with my parents and vegging out on the couch!  Not that this is a horrible way to spend the night or anything... it's just that I feel like that's every night for me these days, since I'm not in rehearsals for anything and don't have much going on at the moment.  I guess it's just weird that this'll be the first time in a long time that I'm not going out to dinner with someone, and that I won't be kissed at midnight.  I know it's dumb, but those are the kinds of things that still affect me a lot.  It's something I'll just have to get used to in time, like anything else.  But I'm definitely trying to look on the bright side: that this roller coaster of a year is finally coming to an end, and that maybe tomorrow, I can just start fresh -- at least a little bit.

I decided that if I were going out for New Year's Eve, I might just wear this dress.  I actually wore this on my birthday this year, so apparently it's a holiday dress for me or something.  Kate of Scathingly Brilliant designed this dress, and it's just so sweet and delicate -- and looks perfect against the snow.  I decided to pair it with this faux fur capelet (which I got from Target last year but never wore!), and they look like they were made to go together!  I never seem to incorporate any pops of color when I wear this dress, and I'm not exactly sure why.  Maybe because the soft gray and ivory are a statement in themselves, and it would take away from that if I added a color.

I just have to say that two things that have made the last few days of 2013 great are:

1) I came home to find my mom had rearranged my bedroom and had put some of my new (and formerly stored) furniture into my room!  I'm so in love with the way it looks, and I can't wait to make more headway on the room (I'm especially excited to paint)!

A work in progress!  I can't decide on whether I want lavender or mint for the walls.

My new gorgeous dresser from DSARTE!  They are TRULY wonderful.  They shipped this dresser all the way from Reno and were so professional.  The price was fantastic, too!

New lilac bedding (my favorite flower)!

My fairy desk is back!  I used it in my old apartment and it's been sitting down in the basement ever since!  It's made from an old sewing machine table, and I'm so in love with the fairy decoupage.  It's from OrWa Designs.

Someone approves of the makeover!

2) Yesterday, I uploaded a photo to Instagram that pertained to yesterday's post, which included an outfit from November that featured my Betsey Johnson phone bag.  The lovely Ashley from Southern (California) Belle was kind enough to alert me that BETSEY JOHNSON HERSELF tweeted that photo of me (and called me a babe -- pinch me!) soon after!!  It was just a really cool little thing, especially since my mom is SUCH a huge Betsey Johnson fan!!  I've gotten her Betsey Johnson jewelry for the past two Christmases, she has vintage Betsey Johnson pieces, and she just loves her aesthetic.  It definitely brightened up my day and made me feel special, and those are both things that I selfishly cherish these days.  She also requested to follow me on Twitter, which was neat.  :)

Oh, and one more thing that has made not only the the last few days, weeks and months pretty great: all of you!  I feel so privileged and lucky to get to know such wonderful, kind, creative people.  As cynical as I can sometimes be about technology actually making us be less connected to real life situations... it's truly amazing that I've gotten to know so many lovely people and feel emotionally close to them, despite having never met any of my blogger friends IRL (yet!).  Though I am glad to see this year end, I am overjoyed that this year has brought so many new and fantastic people into my life.

I hope you all have a spectacular and safe New Year's Eve!
xox Sammi

I just called to say I love you

Outfit Details:

Heart dress (worn as a top): dELiA*s (similar here and here)

White skirt: Stutterin' Mama's Simply Vintage Boutique (similar here)

Betsey Johnson Ring Me Crossbody Bag: ModCloth (sold out everywhere!)

Black bow belt: GoJane (similar here)

Telephone brooch: Kitty Cat Shop

Lady in Rad Boots in Ink: ModCloth

Black tights: similar here

Sometimes, an outfit I have planned out in my head looks just as good as I had hoped it would.  And then other times, pieces just don't work out like I'd thought.  I had every intention of wearing a petticoat underneath this skirt, but when I tried it, it looked really ridiculous.  Something about the length of this particular skirt, I guess.  I don't own a lot of skirts, and I don't have many this length, so I was a little skeptical of how it'd look with this dress layered underneath as a top.  This knit dress is way more of a body-con style than I normally wear, and it's definitely not working for me these days... but I love the print and the fact that it's warm, so I wanted to find a way to remix it.

I've been under the weather the past few days, and I'm really hoping it's not strep.  I have today off, so I'm going to try to get to the doctor.  At least it's coming at a time where I don't have to be stressed about being sick (i.e., right before an audition or opening a show).  I'm so envious of people who don't get sick very often!  My immune system has always kinda sucked, but I know there are a bunch of things I could do to stay healthy for a longer period of time.  I just always forget to do them!

We ended up getting a bunch of snow last night (I woke up from a nap to a blanket of snow on the ground!), and it's supposed to be really cold throughout the rest of the week, so I can't imagine it'll all thaw again for a while.  My problem is that so many of my shoes are too cute (and too un-sturdy) to wear out in the snow, but the boots I have only look good with certain things -- and they kind of ruin the look of some of my outfits!  I ordered a pair of high white snow boots from eBay (though I'm assuming they're probably going to be pretty low quality, even if they fit) to try and combat this problem, because my room isn't nearly nice enough yet to take photos in there and I still prefer going outside, even if it is cold.  There is something very serene in it, and I love my alone time.

Have a great Wednesday!

xox Sammi

Switchboard operator

Outfit Details:

Worn With Aplomb Dress: ModCloth

Upper West Stride Hat: ModCloth

Betsey Johnson Collect Calls Bag: ModCloth*

(Available in two colors directly from Betsey Johnson) 

Doo Bee Doo Bee Shoe Heels: ModCloth (similar here)

Seamed stockings: American Apparel (similar here)

Quote Me Ring: ModCloth

Red necklace: Target (old)

Red coat: eBay

*a birthday gift from my mama!

I guess red has become my go-to color for this season.  I didn't think I owned a whole lot of it (I always gravitate towards cooler colors), but apparently I do now!  I love this little red hat (which I first wore on my blog here), and it goes perfectly with this dress, which I've had for quite a while.  And can we take a minute to talk about this bag??  I practically begged for it for my birthday, and my mom can evidently take a not-so-subtle hint.  :)  It's truly fantastic.  I featured it on my Friday Favorites a few weeks ago, but that didn't do it justice.  I love the rotary dial interface on the front, and the most fun part is that the phone earpiece can plug into your mobile phone as a headset!  So you can keep your real phone tucked away and answer your calls with the purse phone set!  I haven't tried it out yet, but even if it wasn't functional, I would have wanted it.  My mom is a huge Betsey Johnson fan, so I knew she would understand my obsession with this bag!  It's smaller than I'd thought, but even cuter in person.

These photos were taken before our first snowfall... I can't believe winter's on its way already.  Just like I can't believe November is half over already!  Time seems to be moving so fast lately (which is strange, because with everything that's happened in my personal life, you'd think time would feel like it was creeping by).  It's interesting how your perspective of time changes as you grow older.  Summertime used to last forever when I was a kid, and now it absolutely flies by.  I think this is because you have more time to compare it to, but it's still a strange phenomenon.  Although fall is my favorite season, in a way, I'm glad it's going by quickly.  It's been an emotional time for me, and I think next time it comes around, I'll be able to appreciate it more.  At least I've made it through in one piece (thus far, anyway)!  And I do hope it lasts a little while longer, because up here, winter seems to go on forever, and it'd be nice to delay its start for even just a bit.

Have a terrific Thursday!

xox Sammi