Sweets for the sweet

Outfit Details:

My Sweet Art Dress: ModCloth

Betty Bolero in Red: Pinup Girl Clothing

Red belt: Pinup Girl Clothing

Achilles' Zeal Tights: ModCloth (no longer available, similar here)

Heart ring: Urban Outfitters (no longer available, similar here)

Spectators: BAIT Footwear

So, today is my 25th birthday!  It's weird to think that I'm now a quarter of a century old.  It feels even weirder that my life is in a far different place from where I thought it'd be.  I guess that tends to happen as you get a little older.  I'm trying not to dwell on that, though yesterday was kind of tough.  I have two very early shows about 45 mins away from home this morning (i.e., I'll already be performing when this post goes live at 9 AM) and we have our first Rapunzel tech. rehearsal tonight, so I'm hoping to get a nap, a shower and some "me" time (including opening presents, maybe?) in between.  There was talk of Indian take-out for dinner, but we shall see.  I fit in my celebrations on Saturday (check out that post here, if you missed it!), so I guess I'm okay with having today be a little low-key.

Oops, I realized that I wore these same tights in yesterday's post!  But I really do love them a lot and I wear them as much as possible.  I'm not actually wearing this dress at the moment, but this is kind of THE week for sweet treats (not only birthday cake and the like, but Halloween is on Thursday), so it seemed kind of apropos.  This will actually be the first of two cupcake dresses that gets posted on the blog this week, since I'm being a cupcake for Halloween!  Maybe I should have spread them out a little!  Anyway, the print on this dress is an absolute dream.  I love any novelty print that involves food, and the fact that the print looks like needlepoint is an added bonus!  This is from ModCloth's new Bea & Dot line, and pretty much everything from this new brand is right up my alley.  I wish the material were a little thicker, and I honestly don't love the fit of the top on its own (it looks great with a belt and cardigan, but it doesn't do much for me without them).  I could have probably ordered my regular size medium, but I get nervous when ModCloth specifies that items run small in the bust or waist and that they recommend sizing up.  The large isn't so roomy that it looks obvious, at least.  But the amazingness of this print completely makes up for any other shortcomings, in my opinion.

In other news, I'm altogether way too excited that I finally figured out how to do Heidi braids!  I thought I had too much hair (or that the layers in it would make it difficult), but I'm so glad that I tried it again -- and got it to work!  It's so easy and I love how it looks.  The only negative is that when my mom saw me, she immediately referred to me as Olga (which is weird, because I remember Lauren from Someone Like You saying the exact same thing about how her parents refer to her when she wears her hair like this... why Olga?  That is not the first Scandinavian name that comes to my mind!).

I hope you have a sweet day! :)

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

Birthday BBQ

On Thursday, a very special boy turned 27 years old... :)

Outfit Details:

Emily and Fin Dress: ASOS

(similar dresses available at ModCloth)

Sweater: The Limited (old)

White flats: yeswalker

Belt: eBay

... So we went to get some delicious barbecue! 

Enjoying a birthday beer

Pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw on top (om nom nom), with BBQ baked beans and the most bangin' macaroni salad I've ever had on the side (and housemade pickles)

THE BEST.

Ribs, mac & cheese, BBQ baked beans and cornbread (which I also ate)

...And then my mom made Steven's favorite cake (yellow cake with chocolate icing), with fresh strawberries and vanilla bean ice cream.  I think I probably gained 5 pounds this day.

Birthdays are sort of weird when you get a little older.  I am pretty insistent that I have some kind of celebration, if I can help it.  Because I'm kind of a princess.  I think I'm just always chasing the same kind of birthday parties my mom used to throw for me when I was little (she is the queen of party planning!).  I am definitely planning on having a costume party for my 25th!  My birthday is at the very end of October (just a few days before Halloween), so it lends itself to being a costumed event, don't you think?  Especially for a girl who basically dresses in quasi-costumes on a regular basis.  

I hope my Steven had a nice birthday, despite the fact that it wasn't too eventful.  He's still in the midst of settling in to his new place (he's waiting on the magical IKEA delivery truck).  Steven's dad made the 6 hour drive up here to bring some additional things (like a super cute old wood table that we're planning on painting!), so he'll be spending Father's Day with my family today, too.  :)

As a little reminder, the countdown to the elimination of Google Reader has begun (sob).  If you'd like to continue following me over at Bloglovin', I'd be ever-so-grateful!!  :)

Have a wonderful Sunday (and Father's Day)!

xox Sammi