Sunday, February 2, 2014

1 year blogiversary + a BIG giveaway from ModCloth, ASOS & Forever 21! [CLOSED]

Just a few of my favorite outfits from the past year...
1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6
7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12
I can scarcely believe it's been a whole year since I started this blog.  Like any other anniversary, it's sort of a strange dichotomy of feeling like I've been doing this forever, and yet feeling like hardly any time has passed.  This first year has seen its share of ups and downs, but I am ultimately so glad that I went through with starting my blog.  Not only has it served as a much-needed creative outlet for me, but I have met so many wonderful, kindred spirits because of this experience -- and that alone has made the whole thing worth it!  I feel very lucky that I've been able to gain a substantial number of followers (that's you!!) in my first year in the blogosphere, and I'm also overjoyed that I was asked to join the ranks of such lovely ladies over at the Flock Together blog.  If that weren't enough, during this past year, I became an affiliate for certain brands and finally started making some money from blogging, had a dress named after me, was featured a few of times on ModCloth's social media channels (1, 2, 3) and on the ModCloth site itself (which I somehow managed to miss?!), was interviewed for an article about the popularity of vintage clothing, and Betsey effing Johnson tweeted a photo of me!  So all in all, I'd say it's been a pretty great year on the blogging front -- and I have to express my utmost gratitude to each and every one of you who follows and reads my blog, even if it's only on a semi-regular basis.  I have experienced so much support and kindness from those of you who read and comment on my blog (especially during my very difficult breakup), and I feel incredibly fortunate to have found myself in the company of such fantastic individuals, all of whom I admire so greatly.  I'm still a novice in many ways, and I've always been the sort of person who learns by watching others.  I'm still figuring all of this out as I go, so it means the world to me that I have such staunch supporters of my little blog world.  While I always try to dress for myself and wear what makes me happy, it is always nice to hear that your style and point of view can also resonate with other people and can perhaps put some joy out into the world around you.  Thank you, thank you, thank you -- from the bottom of my kitschy heart.

...And a few more!
1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6
7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12
So because of you, dear readers and friends, I am hosting (what I feel to be) an awesome giveaway in honor of my 1 year blogiversary!!  It includes lots of things I love (in fact, I may or may not have bought an extra one of some of these for myself... oops!), and I hope you will love them too! :)

So without further ado...
  

One (1) winner will receive:
a $50 gift certificate to ModCloth 
PLUS all of the following:
Lilac scalloped satchel bag, pink kitty cat coin purse, pink heart headband, mint bow headband, pink hair bow, apple necklace, cupcake shower cap, "F" is for Friendship greeting card & pink polka dot makeup brush kit (valued at nearly $100)!

This is a big giveaway, and I don't do them very often, so there are lots of chances to win!  Read the rules below & then enter through the Rafflecopter!

RULES:
- Giveaway starts at midnight on Sunday, February 2nd and will close at 12:01 AM (EST) on Sunday, February 9th (which means you have an entire week to enter!).
- You MUST be a follower of my blog on either GFC or Bloglovin' in order to be eligible (this is one of the mandatory entries on the Rafflecopter, and please no immediate un-following after the giveaway ends, as that's not very nice and I will know if you do it).
- This giveaway is open internationally, which means anyone can enter and win!
-Please remember to leave a valid e-mail address in your comment (also mandatory) so I can contact you if you win!  Winner will be notified on Monday, February 10th via e-mail.  If I don't receive a response from you confirming this within 24 hours, I will pick a new winner.  This e-mail address will also be used to send the ModCloth gift certificate, so make sure it's one you check regularly!  :)  All other prizes will be snail mailed, so be sure to respond to my e-mail with a valid postal address!
- Winner will be announced here on the blog (as a formality) on by Wednesday, February 12th.


Best of luck, and thank you so much for making my first year of blogging such a sweet one!  <3 

xox Sammi

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Happy 4th!

Outfit Details:
Gingham dress: Forever 21 (and Forever 21+ version here)
Necklace: Forever 21 (old)
Wicker purse: Chicwish
White flats: yeswalker
Charm bracelet: Mom's


Okay, I will admit it: this is not what I'm actually wearing today.  I took these photos last week when I had some downtime.  My truly patriotic outfit is reserved for our party on Saturday, so I will be taking photos of that and sharing them later.  This was the most patriotic outfit I had in the set of photos I took in advance.  So you will just have to wait for more Americana attire.


Also, these were a weird set of photos.  I really didn't like many of them at all.  Usually I have a problem with not being able to narrow down photos, but I had the opposite problem with these.  Which kind of makes me think I don't love this dress.  It's cute, but it's one of those dresses that I'm just not in love with.  Fine for casual, everyday wear.  But not for special things, I don't think.



I do love this charm bracelet, though!  It was my mom's, and before that I think (?) it may have originally belonged to my grandma.  The charms are hard to see, but they're so adorable.  One of them is a water well with a little handle! 






I think we're going downtown to see fireworks tonight and hear the RPO play, if the weather holds up! Not the most exciting 4th of July, but at least I'll be with my family.  :)

Have a wonderful holiday!
xox Sammi

Monday, June 24, 2013

Swimming with the fishes

Outfit Details:
What A Catch Bra Top and Skirt: Bettie Page
Necklace: Forever 21
Octopus ring: ModCloth (free with purchase)


This outfit has been waiting in my closet since the winter to be worn.  It still isn't really warm enough to wear it yet, but I want real summer so badly that I couldn't wait any longer!  



I'd never have purchased this ring myself, but for a free gift, I'll take it!  It goes well with nautical things, so I can't really complain (except octopi kind of freak me out just a little bit, honestly).









I daringly tried to set the timer and get pictures in my creek, but it was a huge failure.  I hurt my ankle a little and almost lost my flip flop, and I got zero usable pictures, so that was a bust.  I need to recruit a photographer for something like that, and find a better spot that isn't so rocky and that doesn't have a strong current (the spot was further down the creek than this picture shows).


Hope your Monday goes swimmingly!
xox Sammi

Monday, June 17, 2013

She's a wildflower

Outfit Details:
Floral dress: Forever 21
Floral crown: ASOS
Flats: yeswalker
Daisy ring: Mom's



After seeing how the beautiful Jessi from Haircut and General Attitude wore her lovely floral crown for her birthday, I was inspired to finally try out one of my larger ones.  I usually gravitate toward my more subtle ones, but I have a couple of statement garlands that I've been itching to wear -- but I couldn't manage to muster up the courage to 'til now!




I'm not sure whether I'm quite ready to wear it out in public yet, though.  I feel like it has to be for a specific kind of place or event.  Something special.  I think my smaller crowns are more for the everyday use.  Or maybe I'm just chicken!





I need to really figure out how to make my own (Jenny Highsmith has a great DIY flower crown tutorial that I want to try!).  Some of the ones on Etsy are so gorgeous, and even though I'd love to be able to support small businesses, I can't really afford to shell out $40 for something I could easily figure out how to make (and customize!) myself.




Have a beautiful Monday!
xox Sammi

PS: Don't forget about switching over to a new blog reader, if you currently follow on GFC!  It's super easy to switch to Bloglovin'!  Click the button below to follow me there, and you can import all of your other blogs in a snap!

Follow on Bloglovin
Also, I just made a Facebook fan page (finally!) for my blog!  I'd appreciate it so very much if you'd check it out and give it a "like!"  I've put it on my sidebar as well to make it even easier!  Thank you!!!

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Fruit salad



Outfit Details:
Dress: Forever 21
Knife and Fork Necklaces: ASOS
Fruit wedges: Shellys of London





So, this dress seems way shorter with these high wedges... and it's also looks much poofier from the side than I'd realized.  Definitely not my favorite photos, but I want to remix this dress with a button-down shirt underneath and flat shoes for a more casual look.

I do love the little bows, though.







Today is my boyfriend Steven's 27th birthday!!  We both have to work during the day, but we're going out for dinner to Dinosaur BBQ (which started in this area but has sense branched out to the NYC area, as well as part of New Jersey and Connecticut.  Deeeeelicious.  I'll be sure to take pictures!  :)  

Have a wonderful Thursday!
xox Sammi