Cherry bomb

I think a good cherry print is imperative. Which makes it sort of insane that I never acquired a cherry print dress until very recently (and now I own two!). I love this Beverly style dress from Heart of Haute, and I got this dress as a lovely surprise in the mail! It's an awesome work-appropriate dress that works just as well for a night out. I opted not to wear it with a petticoat here for a more casual look, but this silhouette looks even better with one. I wore this dress to the Rochester Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony last month (my dad played in the house band for the fourth year in a row), and I thought it was a really fun choice. I wish I had a cherry brooch to go with it, but at least I have the awesome cherry pie ring that Kate made for me!

Today's post is on the short side, but for good reason: for the next three weeks, I actually get to feel like a "real" actor. I'm in a workshop of a musical I was involved with a couple of years ago, and this time it's a mix of local and Equity actors (meaning union actors) from New York – which in plain speak means that I feel like a professional who gets to earn an actual weekly salary during this process. It also means that I'm already really tired (and it's only day 2!); I haven't had an opportunity to earn a living wage solely from performing since before I started my blog, and I sort of forgot how much energy it takes. It's a great opportunity and a lot of fun, but I'm just glad I have a backlog of photos right now! 

Outfit Details

Beverly Cherry Dress: c/o Heart of Haute

Heels: ModCloth (similar)

Ring: gift from Kate

Have a great Wednesday!

xox Sammi

Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White

Ever since I purchased this Bernie Dexter dress from That Shop, I knew I wanted to take photos in it when the flowering trees were in bloom in Highland Park. Highland is a beautiful space in the city of Rochester, and it's home to the annual Lilac Festival, which is currently going on; the lilacs aren't in full bloom yet, but I'm planning on heading there once they are to take some photos in another Bernie Dexter favorite. But last weekend was the peak time to be amongst all of the beautiful pink trees, so I was really glad I was able to take advantage of the gorgeous weather!

A little bit about this dress: this Paris version of the Cherry Tree Lane print is available exclusively at That Shop. The only problem is, they're based in Australia and they don't actually have a website where you can place an order. I despaired that I would miss out on this dress because I don't live in Australia, but luckily, you can also place an order via e-mail or Facebook message. They reply very promptly and I received my dress quite quickly, so I was elated that it all worked out. If you'd rather use more conventional means for attaining this print, Bernie has an adorable skirt and crop top set available on her website, but since the Paris silhouette is one of my favorites, I decided to go for it.

In other news, I've been in constant rehearsals for the workshop I mentioned in one of my previous posts. It's been exhausting, but great. I'm not finding a lot of time or energy for much else, but it's been awesome to work with such professionals and have this type of experience (which is pretty unique for my current situation). I always love music rehearsals the most, but I'm excited to move on to the next part. I've been struggling a lot with trying to figure out if I want to move and try to pursue performing, or if I want to settle for something creative that will pay the bills and perform on the side. My heart still wants to try for the former, I think, and maybe this will push me a bit in the right direction. Also, on a related note, after this workshop is over, I'm going right into rehearsals for Beehive the Musical, which is going to be really fun (another 1960's show!). Lots of good stuff on the horizon!

Outfit Details

Bernie Dexter dress: exclusive to That Shop

Cardigan: available at ModCloth

Shoes: available at ModCloth

Brooch: Tatty Devine

Pettislip: similar

Have a wonderful Sunday, and Happy Mother's Day to all of you wonderful mamas out there (especially mine)!

xox Sammi

Cherry Tart

Okay, so this outfit isn't very fall-like. In fact, it's pure summertime. But even though I've fully embraced autumn, I took advantage of some warm weather we had a few weeks ago and decided to break out this former unicorn to showcase here on the blog. I missed out this Bernie Dexter beauty back when ModCloth carried it, and I'd regretted it for years. Nothing haunts us like the things we don't buy, amirite? Luckily, it popped up on eBay – a size smaller than I normally wear – for a good price when I was visiting Ashley in California last summer, and I pounced.

This cherry-adorned number is definitely is a tad smaller than my other Bernies (I wish it was roomier in the bust!), but I actually compared it to a size large someone was selling and this medium inexplicably has basically the same measurements. Although it zips, I think I'll need to be a little more resolute with my Weight Watchers in order to feel more comfortable in it. It's not like I think I need to shed the pounds in order to look good in clothes, but I do need to be a bit more diligent about eating well so that I feel better and fit more comfortably in the clothes I already have and love. It's always a struggle with me – sometimes I have a lot of will-power and other times I have absolutely none – but getting back into it is probably the hardest part. I haven't been as active since I moved into my own place and started working full-time. I thought I might want a gym membership (I still may consider asking for one for Christmas), but I think I might enjoy some workouts I can do at home. If you have any recommendations (especially ones that involve video or are good for people who just don't like working out), I'd love to hear them! I do love getting out into nature, but since winter is on its way, I'd love to find a way to get some decent exercise without going out into the cold!

Outfit Details

Bernie Dexter dress: eBay (similar)

Be My Cherry Pie brooch: c/o Erstwilder

Vintage boater hat: similar

Shoes: B.A.I.T. Footwear

Have a great day!

Cherry Bomb

As much as I love pastels, I'm powerless to resist a red-hot dress. And this one might honestly be the best one I've ever owned. I'd never had a chance to try out anything from Stop Staring! before, but I'm so glad I gave this dress a whirl. The quality is truly top-notch and it's one of those dresses that makes me feel like a million bucks. I absolutely love the silhouette and the millennium stretch fabric gives this dress the perfect fit while still being completely comfortable.

I tend to fall for dresses that give a good mix of sexy and demure, so it's no surprise that I can't wait to wear this again for a summer date night! I'm already thinking of all the ways I could style it. For this post, I opted for cherry accents (really, just an excuse to wear some of my favorite heels of all time), but I have so many pieces that would work well with this. Dresses like these that me excited to get creative with my wardrobe!

I was a bit concerned about sizing, since I'd never owned anything by Stop Staring before. I actually ended up sizing up on this dress and I think it fits well. Because of the stretch, I might have been able to fit in my regular size, but since I quite like breathing and being able to wear undergarments, I think sizing up was the way to go for now. It's very easy for me to get caught up on what size I wear, but I always try to remember that no one sees the tag but me! When a garment fits well, you'll feel more confident and comfortable, and people will be able to see you for you (and not for your too-small clothing). Of course, the goal is to feel confident no matter what... but I find that a killer dress can make you feel invincible!

Outfit Details

Summertime Swing Dress: c/o Stop Staring!

Cherry necklace: Riot Ruby (similar)

Shoes: Melissa x Vivenne Westwood (similar)



Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Cherry Pies Ought To Be You

All photos by Emma Rizzo

It may be September, but fruit-picking season isn't quite over yet! Emma and I picked some peaches and nectarines yesterday morning (and took photos, of course)... which reminded me that I had yet to post these adorable pictures from when we went cherry-picking. As usual, I picked way more fruit than I could ever eat and enjoyed every single second of it. I know we'll be picking apples before too long. Until then, I'll be savoring all the stone fruit I can get my hands on.

I probably won't be wearing much of this seersucker dress in the months to come, but it's definitely one of my favorite Trashy Diva dresses. I owned this in a smaller size but found it in one that's much more comfortable for my current frame. The bust needs a little bit of tailoring, since it feels a bit bare as is. But other than that, it's definitely one of my favorites for its simultaneous sexiness and sweetness.

Outfit Details

Apple Tart Dress in Seersucker: Trashy Diva (similar here and here)

Boater hat: similar  ||  Cherry necklace: similar

White wedges: DSW

Despite the weird occurrences from this past weekend (a trip to a hot air balloon festival with no balloons... a persistent migraine... and a short bout with food poisoning), this week is off to a pretty good start so far. The extra day off definitely did me good. Although I didn't actually do anything exciting on Labor Day, having the additional time to recharge was really needed. I'm always tempted to squeeze in as much as I possibly can on the weekends, but this made me realize that maybe I shouldn't do that all the time. Food for thought, I guess. I'll mull on that while I munch on one of the many peaches I now have in my kitchen...

Cherries and Lemons

It may be December (which means holiday outfits are coming SOON!), but I'm challenging myself in today's post to style some summery items in a more wintery way. I can't turn down a novelty bag, and this lemon purse from Always Fits is so adorable. However, I was having trouble figuring out how to utilize it in an outfit. I went the fruity route and decided to wear this halter dress from Heart of Haute as a skirt. It may not be my favorite outfit of all time, but it made me realize how some pieces aren't as limited as I'd initially thought.

The show I'm in opens tomorrow, and it's not a moment too soon. It's been great to get back into the swing of things and sing again, but I'm absolutely exhausted. I need to start taking better care of myself and obtain a true work/life balance that I'm comfortable with. That'll definitely be a goal of mine for 2018. I'm also really excited to have a bit more free time during the week so I can get started on festive holiday things! My tree is waiting to be decorated and there are lots of cookies that need to be baked!

Outfit Details

Sweetie Dress in Classic Cherry (worn as a skirt): c/o Heart of Haute

Black top: similar  ||  Black belt: similar

Glitter Lemon Purse: c/o Always Fits

Necklace: Poshmark (similar)

Shoes: similar

Have a great weekend!