Nifty fifties

Outfit Details:

Daily Special Dress: ModCloth (on sale!)

Customized name necklace: c/o Onecklace

Betsey Johnson purse: ModCloth

Saddle shoes: Payless

As anyone who reads my blog probably knows, I am a sucker for a kitschy novelty print.  And when that print has an overload of 1950s nostalgia?  Forget it!  I knew I had to have this dress when it arrived, and it's fortunate that I love the print so much, because I'm not totally sold on the fit.  In my opinion, this dress runs a tad tight.  I have to size up for the bust in these types of dresses, and the large just fit; although there is no gaping, I wish there was a little more breathing room.  The silhouette is actually a little different than how it appeared on the website, too.  There's some pleating on the skirt, but it starts where a drop waist would, so I was concerned that it would be unflattering.  Luckily, I think the dress looks fine the way it is, but I have to admit that the Bea & Dot in-house brand from ModCloth sometimes leaves a little something to be desired in the fit department (even though their designs are usually beautiful).  I'm sure it's something with which they're still tinkering, so hopefully they'll continue to make improvements to their sizing.

Speaking of making improvements to sizing... I've started back on Weight Watchers (after more than a year-long hiatus), and I'm really determined and excited about it.  I first went on Weight Watchers back in 2011, a little while after I graduated college, and I had a lot of success on the program -- I lost about 45 pounds in about 8 months.  I had actually been called in to audition for a Weight Watchers commercial, and then subsequently called back, but I didn't end up booking it, which was really discouraging and actually led me to stop doing the program the way I should have been.  Ironically, I had gone on Weight Watchers because I knew I wouldn't be able to play the roles I wanted to in my career if I didn't lose weight... so it was an even more devastating blow when I couldn't book a Weight Watchers commercial once I'd lost it.  (In retrospect, the fact that I was a performer might have worked against me, but I digress.)  I've been dealing with a lot of emotional stuff over the past year, and like many people, I always turn to food for comfort.  It's definitely a vice for me, and weight gain is incredibly sneaky!  Not only are some of my clothes fitting more tightly than they used to, but there are some dresses I simply can't wear right now because of my weight -- which was exactly the wake-up call I needed!  My dresses are some of my favorite possessions (is that sad?  Don't answer that!), so it's hurtful to think of not being able to wear them!  I decided then and there to go back on Weight Watchers and make a real effort to implement consistent exercise into my routine.  I've been back on it since last week, and already feel happier and more energetic because of it.  It's so easy to slip into the habit of making unhealthy choices, and it just feels good to make healthy ones!  It's going to be an adjustment, for sure, but I'm going to take it one day at a time.  :)

Have a great Tuesday!

xox Sammi

Popcorn and ice cream

Outfit Details:

Rose Dress in Delicious Sundae Print: Bernie Dexter

Dream of the Crop Cardigan in Red: ModCloth

Vintage milkshake brooch: Good Goody Girls Jewels

Red Mary Janes: Urban Outfitters (old)

Popcorn purse: Sweetbox Store

Red coat: eBay

I may have been a *little* overly zealous for the end of winter when I took these photos.  I am just so, so sick of wearing boots and bundling up that I decided to don a summery dress and Mary Janes and cold be damned, I was going to take photos without ruining the effect via clunky boots!  Of course, I immediately regretted my decision when I got snow in my shoes.  I can't wait to wear this outfit when it's actually weather-appropriate and I don't risk getting frostbite.

I wore this dress for our first day in Disney World, when we went to the 1950s-themed restaurant at the Beach Club resort and dinner at the Boardwalk.  I am nothing if not thematic.  I received more compliments on this dress than I could ever imagine.  I'd planned on packing a petticoat (I think this dress looks better with a little fluff underneath), but that wasn't in the cards, and for some reason, the one I use most makes this dress look WAY too voluminous.  I need one that has less layers!  I'd been crushing on different versions of this amazing printed dress from Bernie Dexter for forever, and I finally took the plunge when it was on sale a while ago.  I'm so glad I did, because every dress I've ever purchased from her has been incredibly flattering and dreamy.  I always have about 3 different dresses of hers at a time on my wish list!  They're definitely more summery frocks, but that just makes me all the more excited for warm weather.  Spring, please hurry up!

Have a beautiful Saturday!

xox Sammi

Coffee and tea and the java and me

Outfit Details:

Ice Coffee Circle Dress: Bettie Page Clothing (on sale!)

Telephone brooch: Kitty Cat Shop

Ampersand ring: ModCloth (part of a set)

Lady in Rad Boots in Ink: ModCloth

Coat: Bettie Page Clothing (gift)

Belt: from another dress

Tights: ModCloth

Crinoline: eBay

These photos were taken a few weeks ago, so no, we do not have this much snow on the ground right now!  I must have been crazy to go traipsing around in this!  Although I don't exactly love these boots with this outfit, there was kind of no way around it (that is, if I didn't want to wear the ugliest snow boots in all of creation).  Plus, you can barely see them, since it looks like I'm being eaten alive by these snow drifts.  I'm already kind of sick of snow, truth be told.

I'd been eyeing this dress forever (as well as the pencil dress version, which is adorable but would not be flattering on me), and I finally took the plunge during Bettie Page's sale on Black Friday (with some encouragement from the ever-lovely Amanda).  Bettie Page's sizing chart seems to slant on the big size to me (which is often true of a lot of pin-up-esque lines, I've found -- anyone else?), and I probably could have stood to order down in this dress, at least in the waist.  Luckily, I was able to swap out the belt this dress came with for another from my closet, and that pretty much solved the issue.  I was actually really afraid this color wouldn't work on me; neutrals are often tricky on me, especially ones that have yellow or brown undertones.  But I was so pleased that this wasn't the case!!  I also love that it's a long-sleeved dress made out of fabric that's quite heavy -- that certainly comes in handy for this polar vortex we're currently experiencing.  Can you tell I'm tired of the cold?  My mom and I are leaving in 6 days(!!!!!) for our Florida vacation, and even if it's not going to be super hot, I'm so excited to be getting away from the cold and dreariness. 

I don't think I ever went into detail here on our vacation plans, come to think of it!  My mom and I are heading down to Naples to visit my grandma for a few days, and then we're driving up to Orlando and going to Disney World!!!  This is precisely the kind of thing that we both need right now, and I'm really looking forward to spending time with my mom and doing stuff we both love (i.e., experiencing Disney magic and eating everything in sight).  I'm not sure if I ever mentioned this, but my ex and I had talked about marriage on a pretty regular basis, and we had always planned on going to Disney World for our honeymoon.  Like, this was a topic of conversation VERY often.  And I decided that I really did not want my idea of Disney World -- a place I truly love -- to always be intertwined with this painful breakup and a relationship that went down in flames.  I've given him too much power over my emotions as it is, and I decided that I'd be damned if I was going to let him take away the Happiest Place on Earth from me, too.  So I'm not!  We are going to have an amazing time and I really can't wait.  I'll be posting a lot more about Disney, and I'm sure you'll probably get sick of it, so suffice it to say that I'm ecstatic and I have so much to do before we leave!!

Have a happy Saturday!

xox Sammi

White Christmas

Outfit Details:
Bernie Dexter Amour and More Dress in Plaid: ModCloth
(no longer available, but similar styles here and here)
Heart necklace: ASOS (no longer available)
White heels: jcpenney (similar here)
Red boots: DSW (old)
Red coat: eBay

We ended up having a white Christmas!  All the snow had melted by Monday, so I was afraid we'd have green grass showing... but miraculously, we got a dusting of snow that night, and then all through the first half of Christmas Eve day, so it was the perfect amount for the holidays!  Our Christmas Eves are pretty low-key these days.  We used to have huge celebrations with my mom's family (she had three other siblings, all with lots of kids), but it's kind of strange and sad when families drift apart as you get older.  I think there is oftentimes a lot of pressure on families to make the holidays special when the kids are young, and the cracks start to show as you get older.  Or at least, that's how it is in my family.  Now, it's just my parents and me for Christmas.  Which is really nice, don't get me wrong.  But I do miss those big, festive Christmases of my childhood.  

Isn't this dress all kinds of amazing??

We still open nearly all our presents on Christmas Eve (we save the little and silly things for Christmas morning), and we have lots of yummy snack-y foods.  I got some really wonderful things from my parents last night, including my new DSLR(!!!), a few books, a couple of dresses (a black velvet one from Urban Outfitters and a pastel vintage dress from Etsy), aaaaand... MY DAD GOT MY MOM AND ME TICKETS TO SEE HEART!!!  They are coming to Rochester in April, and he got us fifth row seats!!!  I knew about almost all of my presents, but this one was a complete and utter surprise.  I am so so excited!  My mom and I both really love Heart, and I haven't been to an actual concert in forever.  It was really sweet of him to do that (especially since he's not even going!).  I am a really lucky (and spoiled) girl, to have such generous parents.  Since I love giving gifts just as much as receiving them, I tried to make sure I got both of my parents really nice, thoughtful things they would enjoy; I got my dad a bunch of books, a couple of CDs, and a wine stopper that has a drum design on it (since he is a drummer who definitely enjoys his fair share of wine...), and I got my mom all the Friends seasons on DVD, some Betsey Johnson jewelry, and a little art print about gardening.

Today, we're starting off the day with a breakfast of orange rolls & cinnamon rolls, sausages and fruit... and then we'll be headed out to see Saving Mr. Banks (could there be a more perfect Christmas movie for me?!), and then out for Chinese food (like the typical Jews we are).  It's always interesting to see how traditions evolve.  You'd think that traditions would just stay traditions forever, ya know?  We started doing the movie-and-Chinese-food thing when I was in college; prior to that, we'd always done more of a sit-down dinner or leftovers or something, or gone to relatives' houses.  The holidays are always nostalgic, but I like to remind myself that making new traditions can be really special, too.  I have a lot of friends who are on cruise ships or national tours who may not get to come home for Christmas, which would be really difficult, but it's also a chance to make new memories and traditions.  I wonder what my holidays will be like in a few years, or when I have a family of my own (assuming that will happen at some point).  It's been weird not having a boyfriend this year to shop for or to kiss under the mistletoe -- and it's especially weird (and, if I'm being honest here, pretty upsetting) knowing that he does already have someone new to do those things with (..... I'll just let that sink in).  That's a whole other topic for a whole other time, but getting confirmation about that piece of information did put a bit of a damper on my Christmas, as much as it pains me to say it.  Even though I know that I am probably much better off without him, it still stings.  I guess I'd rather know than be in the dark about it.  But when all is said and done... I still choose happiness.  I choose to enjoy my holiday and spend time with people who do love and care about me.  And I choose to not let people who don't take anything else away from me.  I will be merry and bright, and dammit, my Christmas will be white.  :)   

I opted out those red moon boots (as I call them) for white heels during our festivities -- much better!  :)

Have a very merry Christmas!  Sending love to you all.

xox Sammi (+ Bing)