Friday, August 22, 2014

Friday Favorites #60: Pack it up!

My Friday Favorites post is a little bit different this week!  Since I'm currently in NYC for a long weekend, I thought it might be fun to do a little post about my travel must-haves.  I always think it's interesting to see a different take on a "what's in my bag?" post, so here are my necessities for my metropolitan getaway!
a  //  b

First of all, I'm totally obsessed with Lulu Guinness purses, and the Lulu by Lulu Guinness line at JC Penney is absolutely wonderful.  Her regular bags cost a fortune, but the JCP line is incredibly reasonable and unbelievably adorable.  I ended up getting a few different purses (including the one above) from the store.  Not only were they on sale, but I can be very picky about neutral bags, and they happened to have three different ones (a white one, one in a taupe color and a black one) that will be great staple purses for me.  I tend to use one purse until it wears out, and though I have a huge collection of novelty bags, I actually have very few practical purses.  The Lulu purses are the perfect size, too -- the ones I got aren't bulky at all, but all three are big enough to fit my DSLR, which is definitely mandatory for this trip!

Secondly, I needed a new carry-on bag, and I just happened to find this one on Amazon.  It comes in a bunch of different colors (as well as other styles), and it's cutesy without being distracting.  It was really inexpensive, and while it might not be the most durable travel bag in the world, it's a great option for a weekender bag or some light schlepping.  The bows are removable, too (though they're really much of the reason I bought it in the first place!), and it's definitely bigger than it looks!

a  //  b  //  c  //  d

Headphones are an absolute must for virtually any type of travel, and though I'm sure they're not as good for your hearing as other types of headphones, these earbuds sure are cute!  I love the hedgehogs and cats, and the Happy Plugs come in tons of other colors!

My flight was too short to really watch anything on DVD, but I've done a lot of traveling on trains and buses, and entertainment is vital on long trips!  I usually opt to bring a DVD set of a beloved TV series for a train ride, but sometimes I'll also bring nostalgic movies.  It's also nice to have something to watch if you don't have internet access!
a  //  b
1  //  2  //  3

If I get bored on the plane or in the airport, I'll definitely be reading more of this book.  If you suspect you're an HSP, you need to pick this one up.  I'm only about a third of the way through, but it's cemented the fact that I am, without a doubt, a Highly Sensitive Person, and it's really nice to know that I'm not alone in that!
If you're a blogger who isn't lucky enough to have someone willing to take your outfit photos for you, you might need to invest in a tripod at some point.  I have a couple of tripods that I use, but I really love this one, and it's excellent for traveling!  It can be packed away easily and conveniently in a suitcase (and even comes with a little bag), but expands to full size.  It's also surprisingly durable, and I use it way more than my other tripod, even when I'm at home.  In addition, it's well worth the money, especially when you consider how reasonable the price is!

Because I don't have the newest iPhone (mine's an iPhone 4S), it's really hard to find backup batteries that fit my model of phone and that are aesthetically-pleasing (and not a total piece of junk).  I'd seen these types of plug-in batteries before and had been looking for this same kind for my phone.  After a lot of searching, I finally found this one.  It wasn't very expensive, so I decided to give it a try.  The design isn't *quite* my style, but it's still pretty cute, and since I know I'll be using my phone a lot when I'm on the go, I think it'll be a good investment.
I don't know about you, but when I'm on vacation in a place with lots of people around (like here in New York or in Disney World), I make an effort to pack dresses that sport a longer hemline.  I'm a relatively tall girl, so some dresses tend to look shorter on me anyway, and it's annoying to have to be constantly pulling down your dress and making sure you're not giving everyone a show!  New York City can be like a wind tunnel sometimes, so I definitely didn't want to worry about that.  These cute-as-can-be dresses are a little more modest, but they don't sacrifice on style.  They're also good for the New York heat and could be worn for pretty much any activity I might do while I'm here, including picnicking in the park, seeing a show, or meeting friends for dinner!
a  //  b  //  c  //  d  //  e

You know me - I love a dress with a full skirt, and of course, I love crinolines.  However, petticoats are not exactly conducive to traveling.  This pettislip is a great solution.  It provides just a touch of fullness (and it's so soft!), and it barely takes up any room at all in my luggage!
If you're staying at a hotel, you can use an iron to fix wrinkly clothes, but even when an iron is available, I sometimes like to bring my portable steamer instead!  It's so fast, works with regular tap water and is a great size to pack.  I also make sure to bring a robe, both for showering and lounging purposes.  This fuzzy pink one is so fun!
Since it's still summery, cute (and inexpensive) sunglasses are necessary!  I don't trust myself to carry around pricy frames, since they always end up at the bottom of my cluttered purse.  I need something cheap and durable.  I love all three of these sweet and retro pairs (though I'd definitely need a case for the last pair):


a  //  b  //  c

In most cases, traveling = lots of walking!  I anticipated that much better for this trip than for our Disney World vacation (I was in agony almost the entire time!).  I decided to get this pair of white eyelet flats by Aerosoles.  The brand came highly recommended by my friend Kristina, and then when I saw this white pair at DSW, I knew I had to check them out.  I was glad I ended up trying them on in the store, because it seems that, while I wear a size 9 in heels, I end up needing an 8.5 in flats.  They seem very comfortable so far (and I think they'll stretch a little bit, which is good), and it's so nice to actually have arch support!  I tend to buy really cheap flats that I wear constantly, but I needed something of better quality for all the walking I'll be doing.  They were even on sale in the store!
I do tend to wear a lot of makeup.  For one thing, I have skin problems, which are obviously not made better by wearing a lot of makeup, but sometimes it's unavoidable if I want to look halfway decent.  But in addition, I just really *like* makeup, and it's fun to play around with.  My two favorite products as of late are below.  One is brand new to me -- the Anastasia Beverly Hills brow powder duo.  I fill in my eyebrows on a regular basis because, although they have a nice natural shape to them, they are very sparse in some areas and I feel so much more confident when they are filled in.  For a long time, I'd just been trying to find a good color match in eyeshadows, which was somewhat limiting and could lead to a harsh look.  I did some research and found this line of brow products at Sephora, and I am in LOVE.  I needed something travel-sized, and this eyebrow powder duo palette is perfect for that -- not to mention that it's much more natural-looking than what I had been using prior.  The other product is Revlon Colorburst lip balm stain, which I adore because I don't like wearing conventional lipstick, but I do need some color on my lips.  I have kind of a small mouth, and a little lip stain makes a big difference on me.  This balm stays on for a long time and feels much lighter than regular lipstick (and it's also easier to fix if you mess up)!

1  //  2

And finally: this might not apply if you are staying in a hotel, but if you're staying with friends (like I am) or family, I think it's a very nice gesture to bring a gift as a thank you to your host.  Gift cards for restaurants are always nice, or something for their home.  I opted to get my friend Caitlin a really beautiful candle from Crabtree & Evelyn, but this one is lovely, too.  It's the thought that counts, and a sweet little gift really makes you feel appreciated.

I had a lot of fun putting together this little guide, so I hope you didn't miss my regular Friday Favorites too much!  
Enjoy your weekend!

xox Sammi

Monday, March 3, 2014

It's a jungle out there

Outfit Details:
Dress: eBay (originally from ModCloth)
Chinese take-out purse: Animal Kingdom
Red belt: from another dress
Heart necklace: ASOS (old)
White flats: Yeswalker (old)




The last of the Florida photos (sob)!  I wore this outfit on our last night in Disney World, when we went to Epcot for hibachi and fireworks.  This dress actually blends in pretty well with the surroundings of our hotel (we stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, though we actually didn't spend very much time there at all).  I treasure this dress because it's an older ModCloth design that I completely missed out on, and I had tried to win it via an eBay option once before and lost out at the last second.  I was really bummed about it, and intermittently checked eBay for a while afterwards to see if another would show up.  Luckily, one did, and I didn't have to win an auction to buy it!  It's a super-flattering dress, and I love that it has a layer of turquoise tulle underneath to give it some extra fluff.  Plus, I love the off-the-shoulder detailing, and I think the print is such a unique floral!  I nearly froze, even with my winter coat(!), but sacrifices must be made in the name of fashion!  ;)



I saw this adorable take-out container purse when we were at Animal Kingdom, and I simply couldn't pass it up!  It was $20 and not something I could find just anywhere, so I knew it needed to come home with me (though finding a spot in my suitcase did prove to be a bit of a challenge).  We also lucked out and saw tons of animals on the safari ride while we were there:


I'm just glad that I was able to "reclaim" Disney World for myself, and that it's no longer colored by my previous relationship -- or at least, not so much so that it would keep me from going or enjoying myself.  My trip with my mom was a whirlwind, and we both felt like we weren't able to just relax while there... but there's always next time!  I'd also love to stay at the Boardwalk resort, since that was definitely my favorite of the ones we visited; it's so retro and has great restaurants, and it's within walking distance to Epcot, which would be great.  I also feel like there wouldn't be as much pressure to see everything next time I go, but that's also because I hope there won't be as much time between visits!  It's just soo expensive... I don't know how people can afford to go there so often!




Have a magical Monday!
xox Sammi

Monday, February 10, 2014

Peach tea (+ giveaway winner!)

Outfit Details:
Nishe handbag & shoe dress: ASOS
Cardigan: ModCloth (similar here)
Tea ring: find it at SheInside
Bow headband: Forever 21
White t-strap flats: Urban Outfitters (similar here)




Oh, how I love this dress.  Nishe is one of my all-time favorite labels anyway, but this particular frock had been calling my name for quite some time before I finally snatched it up.  It was one of two Black Friday purchases, and I think it was money well-spent.  Peach is such a perfect color for Florida (and I always associate one with the other because peach is my grandma's favorite color, and she has lived in Florida my entire life), and I knew I had to pack this dress for our Disney trip.  When we decided to have tea at the Grand Floridian, I thought this outfit would be an excellent choice (I kind of ended up matching the hotel decor, actually).  Nishe always has the most charming embroidery on their clothes, but there is something about the darling shoes and handbags on this one that just tickle me!  It's the kind of dress that my Barbie dolls would have had, and I would have given anything to have one in my size -- so now I can, albeit a few years late! 





This day was the warmest day we were there (though I still had to wear tights and a jacket), and after we had our tea, we took the boat over to the Magic Kingdom to see the Electrical Light Parade (which was magical and I got to see my friend Brett -- who performs in many of the parades -- go right by me!) and Wishes (the fireworks show with Tinkerbell).  We had a very late dinner at the California Grill in the Contemporary Hotel, which was sadly sort of disappointing.  We've gone there in the past, and their menu was always on the upscale side, but now it's a little too high brow for my taste.  Kind of pretentious.  But we had so many great meals on our trip that it didn't dampen our spirits much.

Mom's banana trifle from our tea
Beautiful boat ride scenery


I'm kicking myself for not getting this purse!

Since coming back from Disney World, I feel like I've been in a very strange tug-of-war; on the one hand, I feel really sluggish and not very motivated to do things I should (though that is not an especially new development), but on the other, I feel renewed and happy about certain things.  Hopeful, I guess.  I feel very fortunate that my blogiversary giveaway has resulted in some new followers (thank you and welcome to those who fall into this category!!), and I hope very much that these newcomers will stick around after this giveaway is announced!  I haven't done giveaways very often in the past, but I am quickly realizing that they can play an important part in terms of increasing readership and drumming up interest of current followers.  I'd never want to be solely driven by these things, mind you, but as blogging has steadily become even more meaningful in my life in recent months, it's something to consider.  Since this giveaway was funded out of my own pocket, I think bigger giveaways like this are going to be reserved for once or twice a year, but I'm really happy when things I decide to do resonate with people (to which most people can relate, I'm sure), and I have been thinking a lot about new ideas for content and posts for my second year of blogging.  It's difficult to start new things in the winter, I think, but the wheels in my head are definitely turning!  One more reason I can't wait for spring.  :)





So, without further delay, I am pleased to announce the winner of my 1-year blogiversary giveaway (who will receive a $50 gift certificate to ModCloth and a whole bunch of goodies from ASOS and Forever 21) is Rebecca T. of The Cinnamon Slipper!!!  Congratulations, my kindred spirit in style, and I hope you enjoy your prizes!  <3
Have a beautiful Monday, and a huge thank you to all who entered my giveaway!!  :)
xox Sammi

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Out on the lanai

Outfit Details:
Tilly Dress: Voodoo Vixen
White belt: eBay (similar here)
White flats: Yeswalker (on sale!)




Ahh, I like these photos so much better than the ones in my last post!  It helped that I waited 'til later in the afternoon to take these (that whole golden hour thing is very true).  I still don't fully have the hang of things, but I'm trying to make myself read a lot of tutorials (most of which I pinned a long time ago and subsequently forgot about).  I kind of have to do it in small increments though, haha.





It also helps that this dress just makes me smile.  It always makes me think of Blanche Deveraux from The Golden Girls for some reason (or maybe just Florida in general?), which is where I got the blog title from (if you're a diehard fan, you'll get the reference).  I'd been eyeing this dress for a long time a while back, and then it seemed to be sold out before I could purchase it!  I'd assumed it was gone forever, but then I happened to check the Voodoo Vixen website on a whim, and saw that it was back!  I had to order it immediately (after consulting with my friend Jana of Small Town, Big Smile on sizing -- thanks, Jana!), and I'm so glad I did.  Granted, the sizing is a *little* wonky on this dress, but it kind of has to do with my proportions more than anything else; the top gapes a LOT (I kept having to make sure all the buttons were buttoned), but the waist is quite roomy.  The latter was solved with the addition of a belt, but I think I'll need to find a matching camisole to wear under this before I wear it again, as I did experience a bit of a wardrobe malfunction a couple of times!  Oops.




It's strange to be posting these photos when the temperature here is in the single digits (and with the windchill, it's around -10 degrees -- which is like, -23 for those not in the USA).  I tried to take photos outside yesterday, forgetting how blasted cold it is, and I immediately regretted it.  I only took about 3 photos before I had to call it quits.  Sad, too, because I really liked what I was wearing.  I'll have to try again and hope that it warms up a little.  I really hate taking photos inside.  There's never enough light in my bedroom, and I'm still not satisfied with it as a backdrop.  I'm already anxious for spring to arrive.



I love my bangs so much more in these photos, too!


Have a wonderful Thursday!
xox Sammi