Magnolias

All photos by Emma Rizzo

I guess I have to face facts: summer's starting to wind down. I'm not totally ready to say goodbye to this season yet... especially because I still have photos from the spring that I haven't had a chance to share yet! I guess I'd better hurry up, huh? But I think these ones were worth waiting for.

I love going on photo adventures with Emma. We actually had a very thematic evening when we took these. We had dinner at Magnolia's (one of my favorite places – and not just because Obama ate there!) and then sought out all the magnolia trees we could find.

I finally had a chance to wear this darling dress from the Barbie x Unique Vintage line. When I was little, all I wanted was for my Barbies' outfits to come in my size. I used to wish for it all the time (like so many other kids, I'm sure!). That desire really never went away, so you can imagine how excited I was when this collection came out. My mom actually owned the doll version of this dress and recognized it instantly! I think it's such a beautiful, fun dress. It does run a bit tight in the bust, but I actually found it to be quite comfortable and supportive. Although it's been a while since this collection came out, this dress is still available at UV – so if you've been sleeping on it, don't wait until it's gone!

Outfit Details

Suburban Shopper Sundress: Unique Vintage

Bag: Bettie Page by Lola Ramona

Boater hat: ASOS (similar)

Flats: Aerosoles

I had a really wonderful weekend (and took a ton of photos!). Things have been difficult over the last couple of months in terms of my mental health. My physical health has been suffering too, as I haven't been taking good care of myself. But I feel refreshed and my heart is full. I feel good about what this week has in store. I hope you all have a wonderful week, too.

Mint Scooters

The summer season may sort of be winding down, but I'm definitely not ready to give up my pastel sundresses quite yet! This adorable dress from Voodoo Vixen ticks a lot of my boxes: it's mint green, it has pockets and cute buttons, and it has a fun novelty print. It's actually little scooters in pink, yellow, and mint. While it's a great dress for spring and summer, it's something I'll be able to wear with a cute cardigan throughout the early fall. The fabric has some stretch to it and it's (thankfully) got a back zip – two features I tend to like in my dresses. Overall, it's a comfy dress that fits in perfectly with my aesthetic. What could be better?

These pictures are pretty cheery. But the fact is that things have been kind of tough lately. If you follow me on Instagram, you might have noticed that I've been a bit quieter and more contemplative lately. I've been feeling depressed and unconfident and generally overwhelmed. While I'm prone to mood swings, this was kind of a jarring development and made me realize that I haven't been making myself a priority for a long time. I've become so accustomed to being agreeable or trying to please people that I've sort of forgotten to do what makes me happy. That said, I had a pretty great weekend and things are starting to look up. I'm going to try to put myself first, as weird as that feels. I can't keep running on empty and ignore my own needs for the sake of the comfort of other people.

Also, I just want to say thank you to everyone who reached out to me with kind thoughts and advice! It means more to me than you know. I feel much more positive and motivated than before, and I hope that trend will continue.

Outfit Details

Eva Retro Scooter Print Dress: c/o Voodoo Vixen

Shoes: similar  ||  Headband: similar  ||  Necklace: similar

Have a great rest of your week!

Strawberry Season

Holy cow, I can't believe it's been exactly a month since I last posted. It's amazing how quickly time seems to pass. I've been a little busier than normal (I did a staged reading, spent some time at the lake, and have been trying to put together my show for the Fringe Festival in September), but mostly... I haven't felt much like blogging. I still love blogging and don't plan on giving it up any time soon. But the work that's involved feels like a lot when you're running on empty. I've been taking photos, which means I have a big backlog. It's actually the photo editing that's keeping me from posting more frequently. It's so much easier to edit a single image for Instagram than it is a slew of large photos for this blog. I love doing it when I have the time and energy; those two things are just harder to come by these days.

That said, I have no shortage of time or energy when it comes to fruit picking! I know how quickly these seasons fly, so I've been making it a priority. I kicked things off with strawberry picking at Chase Farms. My mom and I went early one morning last month and we weren't disappointed. Of course, I had to wear this adorable jam jar dress (which is currently on sale!) from Joanie Clothing. It happens to match my jam jar brooch from Erstwilder perfectly, which isn't all that surprising when you consider how much I love a good food-themed outfit.

I never actually make anything from the strawberries we pick (other than strawberry shortcake!), but that's fine with me. These were so delicious. There's nothing quite like a ripe, local strawberry. I'm trying to savor all this fruit as much as I can because once it's gone, it's gone. I think a lot of my favorite things are like that (e.g., lilacs, peonies, peaches) – and that's probably not an accident. Everything feels so much more special when they're around.

Outfit Details

Betty Jam Jar Dress: c/o Joanie Clothing

Popular Preserve Brooch: c/o Erstwilder (similar)

Flats: Crocs (similar) - they're good shoes for walking around in dirt!

I guess things have been a bit hectic lately. Aside from all of the other stuff I mentioned, my best friend was in a really serious car accident last week. Miraculously, he's going to be alright and I am so, so relieved. I've been reminded once again not to take people you love for granted or put off the important stuff. That means I'm enjoying as much as I can and that I'm wanting to take better care of myself, too. I hold myself accountable for so many things, but that last one's tough. I guess I'll start with savoring every moment – especially the moments that involve eating fresh fruit. 

Carousel Roses

I don't mean to keep taking such long breaks between posts. Even though the days are a bit longer now, it seems like I somehow have less time in which to get everything done. And to be honest, I'm trying to actually savor what free time I have doing things other than editing photos. Maybe one day I'll actually achieve some balance in my life...

But at least I got the chance to enjoy the flowering trees this year. And while spring may have already come and gone, I'll be wearing this dress all summer. It is, without a doubt, my favorite piece I've ever gotten from Sourpuss Clothing. It's really nicely made (and doesn't wrinkle!), with adjustable straps and a longer length skirt. It's a little too revealing to wear to work, but it's comfortable, flattering, and has pockets – so you won't hear any complaining from me! It looks like it's no longer available at Sourpuss, but they still have the skirt version and a swimsuit. You could actually pair the two together to create the perfect beach day outfit! If you're interested in getting one of these pieces for yourself, you should be able to score 25% off your Sourpuss Clothing order through today with the code SUMMERTIME.

Outfit Details

Carousel Roses dress: c/o Sourpuss (other styles here)

Heart necklace: similar  ||  Flats: Aerosoles

Parasol: similar

A little life update: I'm doing a reading of an original musical next week. It's nothing too major, but it's with a small, all-female cast of some really talented women whom I also like a lot. And it's all about puppy dogs. I'm also excited to spend a long weekend (more or less) at the lake for the 4th of July. I'm planning to take a day trip or two with my mom this summer. And I also really need to get active again after the holiday, though I'm struggling to figure out how (again... balance...).

I don't always get super-personal on this blog, especially not these days. But for those of you who engage here or on social media, please know that I really appreciate your presence and support when I'm feeling down or overwhelmed. I'm learning that we're all just figuring things out as we go and that no one has the answers – and I'm trying to be okay with that and listen to myself very closely to find out what I truly need. That's all you can really do, right?

Butterflies and Blossoms

As someone who owns a lot of fancy dresses, I sometimes feel like I have nowhere to wear my formal frocks. But I'm always reminding myself that I don't really need a special occasion to wear something pretty. Yes, I always fear the "what are you so dressed up for?" comments... but they actually don't come up as often as I'd think. And honestly, what could be better than taking in the short-lived spring blossoms in a dress that feels every bit as lovely?

This dress from Voodoo Vixen features an absolutely enchanting print (featuring monarch butterflies and carnations) and a to-die-for back drape. I love dresses with interesting back details like this! The only problem with this, however, is that there's a side zipper (aka the bane of my existence). Because of this – and the fact that this fabric doesn't contain much stretch at all – I actually had to size up to the largest size Voodoo Vixen carries. Admittedly, it's not a perfect fit; it's a bit roomy in the shoulders and even in the waist, since I had to size up to accommodate my bust. But I always award bonus points for big pockets, so this dress definitely has its share of pros.

Since this dress truly encapsulates springtime to me, I had to take advantage of all the gorgeous cherry and apple blossoms that seemed to pop up just about everywhere this year. Flowers are fleeting, which makes me sad sometimes... but it also means we have to appreciate the sight (and smell!) while it lasts.

Outfit Details

Laura Butterfly Swing Dress: c/o Voodoo Vixen

Butterfly brooch: similar  ||  Heels: similar

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Clowning Around

Does anyone else feel like there simply aren't enough hours in the day... EVER? Even though the sunlight is lasting longer, I'm still feeling like I don't have nearly enough time to get everything done in a given day – hence why I've once again fallen behind with blogging. I've actually been taking a ton of photos lately, since the weather's been pretty great. It's the photo editing that I'm struggling to keep up with. I have a lot of fun things on the horizon, so thanks to you all for sticking with me!

This dress from Sourpuss Clothing definitely falls under the "fun" category! I'm obsessed with anything off-the-shoulder lately, and this print appeals to my love of all things circus. I don't have a fear of clowns in the slightest (though I might think differently if I ever watched or read It), so this dress is purely an adorable novelty print in my eyes. I love the pom-pom ball trim, too! This dress style (called the Fiesta) is a bit tough for me in terms of sizing; the waist in this XL is fairly generous – to the point where I could have sized down – but I don't think my bust would have fit in the size large. I will say that this dress is extremely comfy and easy to wear, which means it'll be getting a lot of use this summer.

Outfit Details

Clowning Around Fiesta Dress: c/o Sourpuss Clothing

Belt: similar  ||  Necklace: similar

Jelly flats: similar

I'm going to try to prioritize posting on a more regular basis from now on (especially because I have such a substantial backlog of photos to get through!). I have so many summer adventures I'm planning to go on – and outfits I'm planning to wear – and I can't wait to share them all with you!

Have a great start to your week!