Back in the circus

I was feeling particularly whimsical when I took these.  I've been wanting to wear this lavender dress with something (despite its not-always-flattering shape), and I remembered I had this circus print top in my closet... so I decided to become a sort of kawaii-inspired tightrope walker (?) for the day.  The addition of the lavender satchel made me feel like I was going to run away and join the circus.

Outfit Details:

Lavender Shirred Waist Dress: Forever 21

Circus Print Top: Forever 21

Chiffon Bow Neck Tie: ASOS

Black knee socks: old (similar here)

Lavender hair bow: Clip a Bow Boutique

Kimchi Blue Suitcase Satchel: Urban Outfitters

Dance Instead of Walking Heel: ModCloth

Confession: I'd really love to learn how to do trapeze someday.  They have a trapeze school on top of a building in New York, right by the Hudson River/Chelsea Piers area.  If I ever get the courage, I'd love to give it a try.  After I go to puppet school.

Have a magical Monday!

xox Sammi

Mid-spring daydream

On this sunny (albeit chilly) day, I wanted to take the opportunity to take more pictures outside!  Despite the fact that it's still way too cold to be wearing a dress like this... I just didn't care.  It's been waiting in my closet for long enough!  And it's too beautiful to keep hidden.

Outfit Details:

Under the Open Sky Dress: ModCloth

Fleur Any Occasion Headband: ModCloth

Ballet slippers: Bailey's Slipper Shop (I think)

I will probably not be able to wear these ballet slippers for their intended purpose ever again, since they've been outside... but they were old anyway.

The combination of this dress, floral crown and ballet slippers make me think of A Midsummer Night's Dream (which makes sense I guess, since it's romantic and ethereal and there is a ballet of it).  But since it's nowhere near summer here, I thought this title would be slightly more appropriate (at least, seasonally).  Also, it rhymes.  This also seems the perfect way to wrap up my Shakespeare-filled weekend (which is funny, since I actually took these pictures last Sunday, before I even planned my posts for the coming week)!  I couldn't have planned it better if I had tried (and oddly, I didn't)!  

Have a dreamy day!

xox Sammi

"And I will make thee think thy swan a crow"

I figured it was only appropriate to continue with the Shakespeare references in anticipation of this weekend.  Like Thursday's title, this one is also from Romeo and Juliet... and it jives perfectly with the swan-adorned cardigan I wore earlier this week!

 Outfit Details:
Swan cardigan: Romwe (no longer available)
Black tank: Old Navy (old)
Karaoke Songstress Jeans: ModCloth
Black rain boots: DSW (can't find)
Mint raincoat: New York & Company (no longer available)

I wish this cardigan was still available on Romwe's website!  I can't seem to find it.  I did purchase it a few months back, though.  I also can't find these exact rain boots on DSW's website.  I got them in the store, and they were marked down, so maybe they're gone, too.

 It rained on and off all day, but I didn't mind much since it was very springy rain, and it gave me a chance to wear my mint raincoat!  I had searched everywhere for a raincoat I liked, and Steven and I were at the mall one day when we walked past the New York & Co. and saw this beautiful coat in the window.  It was originally $100, but I got it marked down to $75 with a coupon, AND I used a Visa gift card I won from Weight Watchers (I was a finalist in a contest for my weight loss story) to pay for it!  It was a little present to myself for my hard work.  And how perfect is the color?!

Wayne and I will be seeing The Merchant of Venice tonight to wrap up our Shakespearian weekend! Hope your weekend is sunny and bright!

xox Sammi 

"Ay, while you live, draw your neck out o' the collar."

Outfit Details:

Pick of the Licorice Dress: ModCloth (no longer available, but similar here and here)

Teal cardigan: old (similar here)

White belt: ASOS

Dotted tights: ASOS

Black flats: jcpenney

Petal detachable collar: Romwe

This oversized, detachable white collar has been sitting on my desk since I purchased it months ago.  I first saw it on Kaylah of The Dainty Squid (who is one of my favorite bloggers) months ago (see one of the ways she's worn it here!), and since peter pan collars are such a cute and trendy detail, I bought it just because.  It is on the large side though, and it sits lower than a lot of my dresses, so I had to figure out that it looks great with cardigans... which is fortunate, since I have so many.  :)

This is sort of a drab outfit for spring, but it was pretty drab outside when I took these (hence why I am inside).

I had yesterday off from work (and today too, for some reason), so I'm trying to get ahead on blogging and other work (like cleaning... we'll see how that goes).  My best friend Wayne and I are seeing a show tonight -- two of our friends are in a musical adaptation of Measure for Measure (one of my favorite Shakespeare plays).  In fact, this whole weekend is Shakespeare-themed (which is pretty appropriate, since his birthday was on Tuesday); I have to work on Friday for a concert that features the music of Sondheim and Bernstein (who collectively wrote the music and lyrics for West Side Story... which is based on Romeo and Juliet... which is where this blog post title comes from... see what I did there?), and Wayne and I are also seeing a production of The Merchant of Venice on Saturday night.  So it will be a Bard-filled weekend, and that's quite alright with me.

  

Have a great Thursday!

xox Sammi

Daisies and forget-me-nots

The sunshine and promise of warmth inspired me to put on this springy yellow dress the other day.  I started to take these photos inside (even though it was sunny out, it was pretty cold)... but the lighting was awful, no matter what I did, so I quickly ventured into my backyard for more!

Outfit Details:

A-Line Daisy Dress: Forever 21

White cardigan: dELiA*s (it's on sale for $10!)

Flower garland: Urban Outfitters

Daisy earrings: ASOS (sold out)

Jelly shoes: Topshop

The lighting was just as tricky outside!

Hope your Tuesday is springy!

xox Sammi

A sunny Sunday

Yesterday was cold, but at least the sky was blue and the sun was out.  I'm thankful that it just looks like spring, at this point.  I did take some other outfit photos during the day, but afterwards, I settled into this cozy outfit for the rest of the afternoon and evening.  I was chilled to the bone after taking photos outside, so this fuzzy sweatshirt and fleece-lined moccasins were the perfect choice.

Outfit Details:

Montauk sweatshirt: gift from Steven

Gray tank: Old Navy (similar)

Jeans: thrifted

Moccasins: Target

I'm trying to get back into really committing to Weight Watchers again.  For those who don't know, I've lost a significant amount of weight on this program (from October of 2011 to the summer of 2012, I lost about 45 pounds).  I've managed to keep the grand majority of this weight off, but I definitely have slipped a lot in the last few months.  Even though I still fit in my clothes, I feel myself feeling not as confident in them, and feel generally less energized and less optimistic.  I haven't done my weekly weigh-ins in a long time, and I haven't been tracking my food.  Everyone slips up once and a while, and I think some personal things were making me turn to food (like I have always done in those situations).  So I finally came to the conclusion that I really need to get back to where I was... and get beyond it!  When I started to plateau, I still wanted to lose 10 pounds, ideally, and now I'm probably needing to lose about 15 total.  Since my Weight Watchers weeks have always started on Sundays (it's always been the day of my weigh ins, which also means it marks the starting over of Points for the week), I figured that yesterday was a really good time to get back on it.  I also felt that maybe by mentioning it in a public forum, I'd be extra-motivated to stick to my guns!  

FYI, for those interested: these are my before and after photos (before starting Weight Watchers, and then in August of 2012)!  I've definitely gained a little weight back since the second photo was taken, but I really want to get to that point again - and then get a little beyond that hurdle!

I tracked all of my food yesterday, and even exercised on our elliptical for half an hour (which I haven't been able to do in forever!), so I felt great about that.  Once I find motivation, I'm usually good about maintaining that, so I feel very positively about getting back into my good habits.  :)

Have a wonderful Monday!