I otter be sailing

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.

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.

Cabernet sauvignon (Flock Together)

I'm posting over on the Flock Together blog today and I'm wearing this beauuuuutiful red velvet dress from Jenna of Smitten!  I'm super-infatuated with this slightly more grungy-bohemian look.  See more and check out how the other Flock Together girls styled this dress here!  

And don't forget to enter my 1-year blogiversary giveaway!  One (1) winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to ModCloth PLUS a huge haul of adorable goodies from ASOS and Forever 21!  Get all the details and enter to win here!  :)  

Have a terrific Tuesday!

xox Sammi

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.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

xox Sammi

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

Orange you glad

Outfit Details:

Emily and Fin citrus print dress: ASOS (no longer available)

Green cardigan: thrifted (similar here)

Yellow belt: Forever 21 (similar here)

Black flats: jcpenney (similar here)

Here is my first set of Floridian photos!  I firstly have to apologize for the less-than-stellar quality of these.  I was determined to bring my new DSLR on this trip, and in all the craziness of getting ready for said trip, I didn't exactly have a lot of time to practice using my camera.  I also get really impatient and overwhelmed while attempting to read instructional manuals.  This means that I did a lot of putzing around with my camera during the first couple of days, and that I didn't get very many good shots the first day (a.k.a. these photos).  I also took these at a way too bright time of day and at my grandma's retirement facility, with lots of surprisingly busy older folks running (well, zooming in their golf carts) around.  I'm so used to the solitude of my backyard that I get kind of self-conscious with so many people around.  All in all, I'm not totally thrilled with these, but I guess they're not so horrible for a first attempt.  I'm such a perfectionist that it actually bothers me I couldn't have it down pat on the first try!

Also, my bangs look definitively janky in all of these.  They get better, I promise.

Anyway, I felt this dress was all too appropriate for Florida to leave it at home!  We ended up seeing tons and tons of orange trees on our way from Naples to Orlando, and I wished we could have stopped to take pictures there (and that I had been wearing this dress at the time)!  Lots of people asked me about this dress when they saw it on my Instagram, and it's regretfully no longer available.  It's by Emily and Fin, which is a great UK brand that often has vintage-inspired silhouettes and quirky prints.  ModCloth and ASOS carry a lot of their stuff, if you're not familiar with this brand!  You can see how I wore this dress over the summer here, and I love that it can work well as a jumper over a blouse, too!

Have a terrific Tuesday!

xox Sammi