Haunted

My countdown to Halloween continues with today's spooky ensemble! This Vintage Inspired By Jackie x John Varvir skirt ticks several of my boxes: it's novelty border print with a niche pop culture reference that not everyone will get. At first glance, it just looks like a book print (which is cool enough in itself)... and then you realize that it's the Handbook For The Recently Deceased from Beetlejuice. I thought this haunted house brooch from Modern Girl Blitz was a match made in... wherever ghosts go. :) And I love how this Heart of Haute blouse makes the skirt look like it could actually be a dress!

I'm really excited for this weekend. I'm not sure whether I'll actually be doing any Halloween-y things, but it's my birthday tomorrow! My mom is making a nice dinner for us tonight, and then I'll be having high tea tomorrow afternoon to celebrate. If nothing else, I'll be eating lots of good food and spending time with people I love – and after all, isn't that what birthdays are really about (when you get older, at least)?

Outfit Details

Betsy Blouse: c/o Heart of Haute

Book For The Recently Deceased Skirt: c/o Vintage Inspired By Jackie

Haunted House Brooch: Modern Girl Blitz

Belt: similar  ||  Heels: similar

Speaking of birthdays, if you haven't entered my giveaway yet, now's the time! You could win a different skirt from Vintage Inspired By Jackie plus a whole slew of other *magical* goodies. Get the details and enter here before Sunday!

PLUS, Jackie has generously offered my readers a 20% off discount on this skirt from her shop through the weekend! Just enter the code BDAYSAVE20 at checkout!

Have a frighteningly ghoul-d weekend!

Fairgrounds & Flowers: Bloggers at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

I've finally gotten around to posting photos from my New York trip!  I met up with Kristina and Midge on two separate days; we went to McCarren Park in Brooklyn for a picnic on Saturday, and then we headed to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens on Sunday.  It was really nice to hang out with them and be in nature (especially in a city where green space is a precious commodity), and we had a lot of fun getting to know each other.  I didn't take any photos on Saturday, but have plenty from our botanical garden adventure!

Photo credit: Midge

I was cursing myself for not bringing along a floral print dress for this trip.  As a group, we had initially talked about heading to Coney Island later that day, which is why I brought this carnival print dress with me.  However, it was collectively decided that it was simply too long a schlep, so we instead had a delicious dinner at a Mexican restaurant Kristina recommended.  I'm still really undecided about what I want to do, as far as whether or not I want to move back to the New York area, but it's comforting to know that if I do decide to move, I'll have some friends waiting for me.  And I'm sure I'll make it to Coney Island someday.  :)

Photo credit: Midge

Even though nothing on my trip really went according to plan (i.e., we were a much smaller group than we'd anticipated, I got super-lost on my way to the park on Saturday, etc.), we still managed to have a great time together, and I'm glad that I decided to go.  Many thanks to Midge and Kristina for snapping pictures of me (and dealing with my ignorance when it comes to photography) -- and for being as lovely in real life as you are on the internet!  :)

Outfit Details

Hell Bunny dress: Amazon

Flats: DSW

Sunglasses: old

Have a sensational Saturday!

xox Sammi