Friday, December 30, 2016

2016 Outfit Round-up + New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year's Eve-Eve! I can scarcely believe that this year has come to a close. In many ways, this year has been incredibly difficult. But in other ways, it's been a really pivotal one that involved a lot of personal growth. I traditionally like to take a look back at the last 12 months with a little year-end outfit round-up. I enjoyed a lot of my outfit posts this year, but these were some of my all-time favorites. Which one did you like best?

outfit round up
January     ||     February     ||     March

Winter... brought a couple of fun shows and the ability to start trusting, letting go, and taking things as they come. For the first time, I felt okay with just allowing things to pan out. Although a lot of aspects of my life were in limbo, I think that's always been an important step in finding my way.

outfit round up 2016
April     ||     May     ||     June

Spring... brought a few adventures and a really fun role in a really fun show. But I also started to feel overwhelmed with anxiety around this time. The pressure to find a new job and move out was mounting, and the physical demands of the show I was in resulted in a couple of injuries. I knew I needed to make some major changes but all I wanted to do was hide under the covers. And yet, when everything seemed to be falling apart, I got off my butt and made some things happen. I feel proud of myself for that.

year end round up
July     ||     August     ||     September

Summer... was hard. I went through an unofficial breakup of sorts. My best friend was hours away in Boston awaiting a kidney transplant, and the person I spent most of my free time with wasn't talking to me anymore. I suddenly felt very lonely and tried to stay busy as a result. I started working at a job I hated, but it did allow me to find a lovely apartment. I lost ten pounds, but only because I was sad and depressed and needed to do something physical to relieve my anxiety. Basically, it was a season of growing pains. In retrospect, I know I am much better and stronger for having gone through them.

pinup outfit round up
October     ||     November     ||     December

Autumn... was when I finally found my footing. I was hired as a content writer (a dream job I never knew I wanted!) at the end of August, and I started feeling more confident about where my life was heading. That same month, I reconnected with the guy I'm dating now, and we made our relationship *~*official*~* by fall. Things are a lot different now, for the most part. My priorities may have changed a lot in the last few years, but for the first time, my perspective has changed, too. I don't look at those shifts with regret. I may be stressed and drained of energy, but I'm not wishing for other sources of fulfillment. I still love performing, but I'm not currently yearning for much more than I have. And although I always want to keep learning and evolving, I feel pretty content with the way my life is right now.

That being said, I still have a few resolutions for the new year. 
  • For the first time ever, I have a health insurance plan through my place of employment – which means I can afford a gym membership! This year, I want to make my health a priority and make regular exercise a part of my routine. It's a definitely necessity for me right now both physically and emotionally.

  • I'm planning on going back on Weight Watchers as well. This isn't because I have a certain weight loss goal in mind, but because I generally feel a lot better when I eat healthy foods. Plus, there are a lot of clothes I'm not wearing because they don't fit or I don't feel confident due to how I look in them. That's really the main thing I want to accomplish here: to feel great about the way I look.

  • I want to keep my place a lot cleaner and stay on top of household duties. When I get lazy, I end up feeling a lot more anxious due to the mess. I want to feel refreshed and relaxed when I walk into a room rather than overwhelmed.

  • Other things I'd like to do: learn how to sew, take a trip with Ashley, improve my photography, do some more writing on the side, be in a show I've been dying to do, go away for a weekend, read at least six books, and as always, remember to be grateful and to find the joy.

Did you make any resolutions this year? What about your NYE plans? I'm not sure how I'll be spending my New Year's Eve yet, but I'm hoping for something cozy. I may love getting dolled up, but I'd much rather snuggle up with my honey than guzzle champagne. Whatever you do tonight, I hope you have fun – and have a safe and happy 2017!

Thursday, March 20, 2014

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

December Favorite: Haul out the holly
Runner-up: White Christmas

January

Runner-up: Out on the lanai

February

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

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Springtime outfit round-up

Since tomorrow marks the first official day of summer, it's time for another seasonal outfit round-up! I enjoy looking back at my outfits from the past season and picking my favorites to highlight here. There were a bunch of outfits that I'd totally forgotten about (and I'd also managed to block out the fact that the wintery weather lasted into April this year)! Here are the ones that stood out this spring:

March
outfit round-up

In March, I ventured beyond my own (freezing cold and snowy) backyard for certain posts – and was joined by my sweet and stylish friend, Henry! I think my favorite post was my 50's diner post, wherein Henry and I visited the Strong National Museum of Play, and I wore one of my favorite Bernie Dexter dresses and brand new Erstwilder brooch.

April
retro fashion blogger

There was still snow on the ground throughout much of April, but not even that could dampen my spirits when I found out I'd be a part of the Unique Vintage Style Society! My term with the Style Society will be up at the end of June, and I've so enjoyed the time I've spent working with this company. My favorite post from April was probably my first Style Society post, featuring the dreamiest, mintiest dress in all of creation.

May
vintage fashion blogger

Thankfully, the weather finally started to warm up in May! May also features some of my favorite outfits in this whole post, which made it very hard to choose my favorite, but I think I'd have to pick my cherry blossom post in Highland Park. My best friend and I visited at precisely the right time, so all of the flowering trees were beautifully in bloom, and I thought my outfit was the epitome of spring.

Spring never lasts nearly as long as I'd like, so I enjoyed looking back through my outfit posts! Which outfit was your favorite? Let me know in the comments!

Friday, December 28, 2018

2018 Outfit Round-Up

At the end of every year, it's customary for me (and many other bloggers I know) to put together an outfit round-up post. It's a fun way to look back at my fashion choices from the past 12 months and reflect on how things have changed during that time.

Normally, I have a lot of outfits to choose from. But this year, it's dawned on me just how little I blogged during 2018. I published blogs only about once a month until more recently. At the time, I chalked it up to being too busy and too tired. Those things were certainly true, but I also think I was spending a lot of time being worried and worn out emotionally and giving too much of myself in situations that were probably unhealthy. When I looked back on some of these photos, I remembered quite vividly how sad or anxious or stressed or mad I was about situations I really didn't have much control over. There were some very bad days happening behind the scenes. It's amazing how we can rationalize a really messed up version of what "normal" is when we're in the midst of it. I didn't even get a chance to publish a lot of the photos that I took – and when I did, they were often delayed so long that they were out of season once I put together the posts. Sometimes I didn't post anything because I just wanted to enjoy the experiences that were truly good because they had been so rare. It wasn't until late summer and early fall that I felt like I was finding my stride again, and I know that timing isn't coincidental. It was when I finally started to feel like myself again and like I had some semblance of control over my life.

The truth is that this year has been really hard. I don't think I realized (or admitted) just how hard until now. I know that a lot of people are finding themselves in much more trying situations that mine. But I also don't want to minimize what I'm going through, either. It makes me sad to know I didn't have the energy to put into my blog last year. It's disappointing I felt so drained that my creative outlet felt like too much work. That happens, I suppose. But I'm hoping that in 2019, my spirit will be a bit renewed. Isn't that we all hope for?

Without any further ado, let's take a little look back at some of my posts from the past year. Which one was your favorite? What do you hope to see more of here in the coming year? 

the soubrette brunette
January   ||   February   ||   March

soubrette brunette blog
April   ||   May   ||   June

retro vintage blogger
July   ||   August   ||   September

vintage fashion blogger
October   ||   November   ||   December

Sending love and light to you for the rest of this year and into the next.

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Winter round-up

Now that it's officially spring(!), it's time for a seasonal outfit round-up to say goodbye to winter!  I'm definitely eager to bid adieu to the cold and snow, but I did manage to post some fun ensembles during the past few months.  Here are a few of my favorite wintertime posts:

December
holiday outfits

January
january outfits

February
valentine outfits

I think February was probably my favorite month of outfits overall, but my favorite outfit of the season was definitely my Christmas Eve outfit.  The winter holidays are always fun to dress up for, but I'm looking forward to what I'll wear during the warmer months!  Did you have a favorite post from this season?

Have a wonderful Sunday!
xox Sammi

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Summertime Round-Up

I guess it's finally time to face facts: summer has come to an end.  Although I've always loved autumn, I'm still not quite ready to bid farewell to bare legs in favor of bundling up.  But I don't have much choice in the matter (unless I want to freeze!), so I'll have to make do with revisiting some of my favorite ensembles from summertime.

June
dresses

Favorite outfit: Cherry picked
Runner-up: Playing house

July
modcloth dresses

Favorite outfit: You don't bring me flowers
Runner-up: Beehive
Highlight: Being featured on the ModCloth blog

August
retro dresses

and being featured in the Sunglass Warehouse Lookbook

Despite the fact that I felt like the summer flew by without getting to do many summery things, at least I wore some good, summery ensembles!  Which one was your favorite?

Have a happy first day of fall!
xox Sammi

Saturday, December 30, 2017

2017 Outfit Round-Up!

I can scarcely believe 2017 is coming to a close. I know this year was difficult for many of us, and I wish I could say with certainty that this next year will be better. The truth is that I don't know that it will be. But I'm going to do everything I can to try to make the best of things and bring joy to those I love in the new year.

It was a challenge to keep up with my blogging over the last 12 months, but it's also been a wonderful respite and creative outlet (as always). To that end, I'm looking back on 2017 and sharing some of my favorite highlights in outfit form.

blogging outfit round-up
January   ||   February   ||   March

retro style blog
April   ||   May   ||   June

vintage blogger
July   ||   August   ||   September

trashy diva pinup girl
October   ||   November   ||   December

Did you have a favorite post from this past year? A definite highlight was my trip to NOLA with Ashley, but I also loved going on weekend outings with my mom, spending time with my work besties, and getting to experience lake house life with my boyfriend's family. Despite how difficult this year was, there were some great moments too. I'm still making my resolutions, but I'd love to hear about yours. And if you're interested in seeing my outfit roundups from previous years, click here!

Have a safe and healthy New Year's Eve! Hope to see you here in 2018!

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Bubbly

bernie dexter new year's eve dress

New Year's Eve is nearly upon us, and once again, I'm not exactly sure what I'll be doing this year... but I do know what I'll be wearing! Initially, I wasn't crazy about this Bernie Dexter dress, but when I saw it on Ashley, I completely changed my mind. (Ashley seems to have that effect – I swear, she can sell anything!) Ironically enough, I don't drink at all these days, but I seem to gravitate towards NYE outfits that have an alcohol theme; last year's post featured a martini glass print dress, and the other options I considered for this year both had prints of tipsy elephants! I opted for champagne all around this year, and completed the theme with an amazing Kate Spade wristlet and vintage brooch.

new year's dress
kate spade cheers darling wristlet
champagne dress
vintage NYE look
new year's eve outfit

I'll be posting my annual outfit round-up on Friday, but I'm taking some time to reflect back on what I've achieved this year. I've said before that I sometimes beat myself up for not being where I want to be (or at least, where I thought I'd be by now), but I have to remember not to discount how far I've come in the last 365 days. I looked back at my 2015 resolutions, and I was surprised to see how many I was able to check off my list. Among them:
  • I made significant strides in my personal life and took a lot of time for myself (to the point where I can say that I've really gotten past most of the pain from my last relationship)
  • I left my old box office job and started working for my mom; while this may end up being a temporary change of pace, it was definitely a necessary change
  • I kept better track of my spending and have managed to put money away to save
  • I finally got my website up and running (check it out here – it's a work in progress)
  • I met Ashley and Kate in person this year (and had an awesome time), and by doing so, I went to NY and LA
  • I exceeded my blog follower goal and ventured outside my yard for photos
  • I went on Accutane and feel a million times better about my skin
  • Although I have a lot still to learn, my photography has improved quite a bit
I still have lots of goals that will transfer over to my 2016 resolution list (i.e., losing weight and exercising regularly, learning how to sew, buying a car), but I'd rather view that as making progress than "failure" in a conventional sense. I'm actually pretty happy with where I am right now, especially because I've started to enjoy things in the moment. Finding the joy is always one of my resolutions, and I think I've been really trying to do that lately.

champagne print dress
champagne brooch
bernie dexter dress
Outfit Details
New Year's Eve Dress: Pinup Girl Clothing 
(Also available here for 25% off with code 25Holiday)
Kate Spade wristlet: eBay (available here)
Heels: Zulily (also available here)
Hair flower: NicCoCo Creations
Cardigan: ModCloth (similar)
Brooch: eBay (exact here)

chelsea new year's eve dress in turquoise

Have a happy and safe New Year's Eve! I'll see you in 2016!

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Autumnal Round-Up (+ giveaway winner!)

Happy Sunday!  It's become a bit of a tradition for me to do a round-up post of all my outfits from the past season.  We're officially heading into winter today, but here are some of my favorite ensembles from this past fall:

September
outfits

October
outfit posts

November
ootd
Autumn  //  Woodland  //  Edelweiss

Which of these outfits was your favorite?

Oh, and thank you so much to everyone who entered my giveaway!  The lucky winner is...
Congratulations, Angel!  I'll be sending your prizes out to you tomorrow!

Have a wonderful Sunday!
xox Sammi

Monday, July 29, 2013

The Circle Game

Outfit Details:
Topshop Carousel Playsuit: eBay
Black pinafore: eBay
Perfectly Casual Socks in Black: ModCloth
Carousel ring: Miss Selfridge
Tortoise shell readers: Target
Flats: Nine West (old)


I've been feeling very nostalgic as of late.  Maybe it's the time of year (summertime makes me think of my childhood, and the end of summer always reminds me of going back to school), or maybe it's because I've been home for a significant length of time now.  But I can't help thinking that even though growing up can be great at times, maybe it's overrated.  I keep wishing things were simpler.  But then I realize that maybe everything is simpler in retrospect.






The weather has been playing tricks on me lately.  I feel like we've had only a few solid weeks of real summer weather.  June was kind of a rainy wash, and the past few days here have felt like fall.  I almost wore tights instead of knee socks with this outfit!  And this top is actually a romper, but it was way too cool outside to not layer something on top of it.  I'm sincerely hoping for a hot August.








And the seasons, they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on a carousel of time
We can't return, we can only look behind from where we came
And go round and round and round in the circle game

Have a great Monday!
xox Sammi