Outfit Details:
Dress: YeYe Vintage
Flats: Urban Outfitters (similar here)
Hair bow: Forever 21 (similar here)
Ahh, these Floridian photos are giving me a nice break from the snow! I'm so glad I was able to wear this dress from YeYe Vintage before spring came. It is absolutely darling (don't you love the embroidered collar?) and I adore it so much. I think I got more compliments from strangers while I was in Florida than I've ever gotten where I live, and this dress certainly got a lot of them! I can't wait to remix this dress in different ways. It's kind of screaming for a boater hat, but I opted for a hair bow this time. I went kind of simple with my accessories while I was in Florida. I think it was the first time ever that my suitcase was almost 20 lbs. under the limit! Then again, I pretty much packed only dresses and was freezing at Disney, so maybe that wasn't such a good thing!
I took these photos on our last day visiting my grandma, and the most special thing happened: I saw otters!!! For those of you who don't know, otters are my absolute favorite animal in the world. I had always heard tell of people seeing them where my grandma lived, but had never found any myself (and I had always looked every time we visited). I love them so much, but they've been wrapped up in sadness for the past few months; my ex took me specifically to see otters at a zoo on our first date, and we always identified with them as a couple. For a long time, I couldn't see a photo of one without being emotionally distraught. Even now, I feel like I have lost "my otter," and I hate that I've felt like I can't even love my favorite creature without being reminded of my heartbreak. I had also been feeling kind of weepy on this trip, as my grandma is not doing well -- which is emotional enough -- and I found myself wishing that things were different and that I'd been able to take this trip under other circumstances, with the person I had loved for three years. When I was going to take photos on this day, I finally saw otters swimming in the water! They were making the cutest little noises while they were playing and diving. I cried when I saw them, not because I was sad, but because I was so happy to see them. I continued to see them throughout the time I took photos, and they brought me so much joy. Although I am still sad when I think about losing the person who made them so special to me, they also make me feel hopeful. I will not always feel sad (and in truth, I am mostly quite happy these days), and I don't have to stop loving what makes me happy, just because of a sad association.
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| This one came so close to me! He swam right over! |
I feel very fortunate to have had this little experience. It's yet another reminder to try and look for the joy in situations. Philip Seymour Hoffman passed away on Sunday under really tragic circumstances. Not only was he an actor I greatly admire, but he was an alumnus of my high school. He even came back to visit when I went there, gave a really wonderful, candid talk, and I met him afterwards. He was always a very genuine, articulate and down to earth man. I certainly can't get behind those who use Facebook as their personal soapbox to condemn his choices. I hate drugs and I hate what they do to people, but I find it so insensitive to taint the memory of such a talented, kind-hearted person in this way. My all-time favorite teacher (who also taught PSH) gave a really beautiful interview to a local news station about him, and essentially said that we should focus on the life he lived, rather than on what surrounded his death. I couldn't agree more. I'm so so sad that this happened. It's an incredible loss to the acting community and my hometown. But I hope that there is joy to be found in remembering the towering talent he possessed, and the inspiration he gave to so many.
Have a beautiful day.
xox Sammi
PS: Don't forget to enter my 1 year blogiversary giveaway! One winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to ModCloth, plus a huge haul of goodies from ASOS and Forever 21! Details and enter to win here.
