Friday Favorites #42

It's officially spring now (finally!), so I guess it's okay for me to launch full force into my pastel-loving tendencies.  I ordered new pastel periwinkle glasses this week online (I've never ordered real glasses online, only fake readers, so I'm a little nervous!), and I can't get enough of the hues my mom feels are associated with Easter.  Here are some of my favorite frocks and finds from this week:

      A    //    B    //    C

I love all three pairs of these springy heels!  BAIT Footwear and Miss L-Fire are two of the best retro-inspired shoe brands out there, in my opinion.  I'm especially crushing on those mint ones!  These cherry wedges are also by Miss L-Fire, and they are a thing of beauty:

While we're on the subject of fruit-wear, I have to mention this gingham dress with the watermelon collar (which is showing up on everyone's wish lists this week -- for good reason!):

In fact, there were a ton of food-related novelty print dresses to be found this week!  This particular dress has a breakfast print on it (complete with pancakes, donuts and bacon!):

I absolutely love this candy print dress from eShakti:

My favorite has to be this popsicle print dress from Emily and Fin.  I love that it comes in two versions!  I'm hoping that this dress will be carried at ModCloth or ASOS, since both retailers often have Emily and Fin dresses (and these are only available for pre-order on another website).

one // two

Donut socks!  And I really love those sheer blush socks, too.

       a // b

This dress isn't strictly concerned with edibles, but I'm lusting after this fairground print dress by Hell Bunny!  It's also available in a different version (which I might like slightly better) here.  I'm fairly certain one of them needs to find its way into my wardrobe, somehow.

Some other great novelty print dresses from this week include this pool party print dress (also from Emily and Fin, and available only for pre-order)...

a // b

... And these two lovely dresses from Poppy (the one on the left is boats in a dock, and then second has different types of helium balloons):

1 // 2

Speaking of balloons, I'm completely obsessed with these balloon tights!

I love these fanciful sweatshirts!

a // b

Anything with scallops will usually have my vote... and this bowl from Target definitely does:

Although I adore both of these light blue dresses, the one with the scalloped collar has my heart:

one // two

Mint scalloped shorts?!  Want!

I love all three of these pastel beauties from Lindy Bop!

1 // 2 // 3

And this swimsuit would make me feel like a pastel bathing beauty!

I love these quirky, pink home accessories!  Especially the bunny stapler!

a // b // c

I yo-yo back and forth between choosing mint or lavender as my favorite color... and these items are edging lavender into the lead this week:

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 

Thanks to Kristina of Twee Valley High, I desperately want this gorgeous book!

Finally, I love this little story about a man in the UK who was scammed out of his money for a PS3... and in retaliation, he's texted the seller 22 of Shakespeare's complete plays.  Amazing.

That's all for now!  I hope you have a fantastic Friday!

xox Sammi

Wintertime Round-Up

It's the first day of Spring!  Back in December, I started did a round-up post with all of my autumnal outfits.  Now that the vernal equinox is upon us, I decided to bid adieu to winter with a round-up that features my favorite outfits from the past few months.  Here's hoping that warmer weather is on its way!

December

Giverny || Hibernation || I just called to say I love you

Under the pink || Haul out the holly || No bake cookies

White Christmas || I'll be home for Christmas || Snow angel

December Favorite: Haul out the holly

Runner-up: White Christmas

January

Sock hop || Auld Lang Syne || Lilacs and daisies

Lemon pies || Mint marshmallows || Coffee and tea and the java and me

Faith, trust and pixie dust || Mountain laurel || Out on the lanai

January Favorite: Coffee and tea and the java and me

Runner-up: Out on the lanai

February

Cabarnet sauvignon || Pop goes my heart || Bonbons and cupcakes

Little Red || Valentine || Baby Be Mine

Peach tea || Honey Pie || Hooray for Hollywood

February Favorite: Valentine

Runner-up: Baby Be Mine

This winter was the first time I braved the icy temperatures and snow drifts and took photos outside, and one thing's for certain: I'll be overjoyed to not have to incorporate boots into my outfits anymore!  I think I managed to do pretty well in terms of posting actively, despite the less-than-perfect Upstate weather.  I was also ecstatic to be able to escape to Florida for a week on vacation, which allowed for both flats and a welcome change in scenery (and temperature).  This winter welcomed new followers, new friends, and a new boy in my life.  Despite having a rough autumn, I'm finding my stride and my strength again, and although there are things that scare me about the not-to-distant future, I'm excited to see where things are headed.  I always remind myself to find the joy in life, and there's nothing more representative of that to me than spring being on its way! 

I hope you have a wonderful first day of spring!

xox Sammi

Cupcake cutie

Outfit Details:

Fifi Lapin cupcake phone case: c/o iconemesis 

Nishe cupcake skirt & top set: ASOS (old)

Cardigan: dELiA*s (similar here)

Pink coat: ASOS (similar here)

Tights: ModCloth (similar here)

Cupcake ring: Claytime Designs

White boots: eBay

As you may know, Nishe is one of my favorite labels of all time.  I probably own more Nishe pieces in my wardrobe than those of any other single designer.  I have two dresses from this same cupcake line (see how I wore them here and here), and when I saw this peplum bustier and skirt set last year, I couldn't stop myself.  Although I really love both pieces, I'd never worn either one before this, namely because I've gained some weight back since then and the skirt is not at all forgiving.  I'd wear the top on its own if I could figure out what else to wear it with, but the pink scalloped skirt is so darling, and I feel weirdly guilty at the thought of splitting them up, or loving one half of the ensemble more than the other.  Which sounds super-psychotic now that I read it back.  But suffice it to say that both pieces have been waiting on the hanger for an opportune time.  I knew this outfit would be ideal for this post, in particular, since it encompasses all things sweet, kawaii and pink!

When the kind people at iconemesis reached out to me to ask if I'd be interested in a phone case from their collection to feature on my blog, my eye was immediately drawn to the phone cases featuring the adorable Fifi Lapin, and one sweet case in particular jumped out at me:

My current phone case is actually a rather cheap silicone one, and though I tend to like soft cases rather than the hard shell kind, this one is so charming that I am rethinking my preferences.  I like having the option of being able to switch out my phone's "outfit" to match my own, and although this case probably wouldn't provide quite as much protection as my other phone case, I really love the fact that it snaps on easily and securely, and is all one piece (rather than two that snap together, as has been my experience with previous hard cases).  It's also very helpful that iconemesis provides much of the same case selection for iPhone 4, 4s and 5/5s models; I have the 4s, and it's incredibly frustrating when I see a phone case I love and then discover it's only available for the newest iPhone!  I've already found several other cases I adore on their site (1, 2, 3)!  I've found a new accessory site to love. 

Disclosure: I was not financially compensated for this post, but did receive a product for review purposes.  All opinions are completely my own, based on my experience.  Any company or product endorsed on this blog is one I fully believe in and support, and would continue to do so, regardless of whether they are gifted items or paid for by me.  

Have a sweet day!

xox Sammi

Shamrock shake

Outfit Details:

Dress (by Hell Bunny): ModCloth (similar here)

Spectators: BAIT Footwear (other colors here)

Cropped white cardigan: dELiA*s (similar here)

Vintage milkshake brooch: Good Goody Girls Jewels
Petticoat: eBay

I am not, so far as I know, even a teensy bit Irish.  I am a bit of a mutt, ethnically-speaking (my genetic makeup is primarily Polish Jew, with some German, Swedish, Welsh, French and Scottish thrown in, if you've ever wondered!), but Ireland is one country from which my ancestors did not descend.  I can't really identify with this holiday for that reason, but in addition, I also don't really drink, which sort of negates most aspects of this particular day.  I'd feel like an impostor were I to try to celebrate this holiday in fashion most people do, so my St. Paddy's Day carousing usually consists of consuming a certain seasonal minty fast food treat and leaving it at that.

This Hell Bunny dress is the perfect minty green color.  I kind of dislike the typical four-leaf-clover-green hue that is so representative of this day, and since this color is much closer to that of a Shamrock Shake, I thought it would be a better choice.  I almost decided to wear this minty milkshake dress, since the print is all too fitting for the title of this post, but it's not a great choice for the current weather we're experiencing, and all of the shoes that look good with it would stand a good chance of being ruined between the remaining snow and muddy ground.  Besides, I had much more fun twirling in this!

It is an incredibly strange phenomenon to be perfectly comfortable outdoors sans coat and yet have to wade through 6+ inches of snow!!  I took these pictures two days after a huge blizzard hit our area (we got over a foot of snow -- the most we've had all winter), and it was so odd to have newly-balmy temperatures juxtaposed with the remaining cold snow at my feet.  I can't complain, though!  It was so wonderful to not have perpetual goosebumps and have to rush through taking photos!  Spring, I feel your impending arrival... please make haste!

I can't wait to see new nests popping up!

Whoopsies!

Despite (or maybe because of?) the fact my weekend contained no rabble-rousing, I had a really great past few days.  On Friday evening, I went out for Indian food with my mom and then we went out to Homegoods and Kohl's for a little bit of shopping!  It's been a while since we've done something like that (I've been such a couch potato lately), and we had such a nice time.  I got a few goodies from both stores (a lavender teapot, a purple wastebasket and a retro-inspired kitchen sign from Homegoods, and a lilac-colored zip-up hoodie and adoooorable black and white polka dot Lauren Conrad dress from Kohl's), and I was so thankful to get out of the house and enjoy the non-freezing temperatures with my mom!  I actually had the day off on Saturday, so I made breakfast, worked out on the elliptical and did a little cleaning, and then saw a play that a few friends of mine were in.  The Normal Heart is certainly an incredibly important, emotionally-involved piece, and I'll be interested to see the film version, too.  I had a rehearsal Sunday afternoon (during which the costumer informed me that my Blue Fairy costume is most likely going to consist of a vintage, crinolined dress, a fish-shaped purse, a bouffant hairdo with a hair bow, and cat eye glasses... I almost flipped my lid, because HOW PERFECT IS THAT FOR ME?!), and relaxed for the rest of the evening.  This week is going to be long, as I don't really get a full day off from work at all, so I guess I squeezed in as much fun as I could!

Have a great St. Patrick's Day (if you celebrate), and a very lucky Monday!

xox Sammi