Pastel princess: a summertime throwback

Outfit Details:

The Ethereal Thing Dress: ModCloth (no longer available)

Pink belt: Forever 21 (old)

Bracelet: American Eagle (old)

Mint spectators: BAIT Footwear

First things first: this is the dreamiest dress of all time.  This is a fact, pure and simple.  I was lucky enough to score this during one of ModCloth's crazy sales that happen only about twice a year, and I'm so glad I went for it.  Secondly, you may notice that the surroundings look a little less autumnal than what's been in my photos lately.  These were taken during the summer, and I hadn't posted them because Steven took them and it was just too much to even think about.  But then I thought about it... and realized that I can't let someone who broke my heart continue to take away my happiness.  I feel happy when I think about this dress, and when I'm wearing it.  I feel happy when I'm blogging (did I mention that he wanted me to give up -- or at least drastically cut back on -- that in order to make him the #1 priority?  And that this conversation took place after he had moved back home and cut off all contact with me?  I had said I wasn't going to get into all that, but I guess I changed my mind... since I think after all the mind-changing he's done, I'm allowed to).  I don't understand how someone can want another person to give up something that brings her so much joy, something that fulfills a creative drive, something that makes her feel good about herself.  And frankly, I refuse to do that.  I know I am nowhere near perfect, and it sometimes takes someone who cares about you to point out your shortcomings; I have always been willing to improve myself, and I know that a lot of compromise goes into any relationship. But there are limits to that.  And I can't fathom being with someone who essentially wants me to change who I am and give up things I adore, on the off-chance that he "might" be able to love me again.  So screw that.  I am going to love this dress, and I am going to post these photos, because no one should be able to take my happiness away from me.

I'm sure everyone is sick to death of hearing about that whole situation (I know I am!), so I'll focus on some other things.  Although this dress is very springy, I'm excited to see if I can remix it for the winter!  I think pastels are actually really beautiful in the wintertime, and I already have some ideas.  Let's see, what else... we are in full swing for our school tour, and we have just a couple weeks left before we go into tech. rehearsals for Rapunzel.  I'm finally starting to feel like I'm on the mend from this second cold, thank goodness.  I've started to receive swapped items from the ladies at Flock Together (my first post goes up tomorrow, by the way!!), which is super fun and exciting.  I'm putting together the accessories for my Halloween costume, though I still have no idea where I'm going to wear it.  And I made some plans for my birthday weekend (there's this bar I like that specializes in classic cocktails, it's kind of a prohibition era style place, so I hope people can come to that a couple of nights before my actual birthday... plus, I'd like to go out for tea with my mom and maybe go out to dinner with my parents, too).  So I'm continuing to move forward.  And I feel okay about it.  Still unsure about what my future holds in a lot of ways.  But I think I'll just have to be okay with that for now.

I just adore the back of this dress!

...Forgot to move my tripod.  Whoops.

I think that'll be the end of the ranting on here.  It's off my chest, and I'll eventually be okay again.  Onward and upward!

Have a great Thursday!

xox Sammi

Rad in plaid: a remix

Outfit Details:

Plaid vintage dress: Exile Vintage 

(See how I originally wore it here!)

Black pinafore: eBay

The Best of Times Heel in Noir: ModCloth

Knee socks: ModCloth (old, similar here)

Fox purse: Target (old, similar here)

Boater hat: River Island (old)

I'm actually not sure whether this is a fox or a raccoon.  A foxcoon?  A rox?

This plaid number might look a little familiar to you, if you read my blog regularly!  When I was invited to join Flock Together (which, if you don't know, is a marvelous style collective of bloggers who showcase how they remix other members' pieces, as well as ones that are already in their own closets), I knew I had to challenge myself to start remixing items in my own wardrobe!  I think this practice is an excellent one, for a multitude of reasons; not only will my bank account be happier, but it's a great way to express creativity AND give new life to clothes that, under normal circumstances, may only be appropriate for one season.  And since upstate New York experiences the extremes of all four seasons, thinking about my clothes in less limited ways can only be a good thing!  

I have such a penchant for knee socks lately!  Whoops!

I think one of the simplest ways to remix a piece that has its limits (like a dress or a romper) is to layer it under a skirt -- or in this case, a pinafore!  I've had other posts where I've worn rompers under skirts or pinafores (see here, here and here), but it may be the first time I've worn a dress under a jumper like this one.  Since this dress is so short already (some readers commented that they thought it might have been cut or taken up, and I think they must be right!), it was really easy to layer it under something.

On an unrelated note, I am very grateful for kind, supportive people around me (this is always true, but is especially true as of late).  I may not always be deserving of such kindness, but I am truly thankful to have it right now.  I won't go into details, since I know there are those who have read my blog and have reported back (and frankly, I don't want to rehash the bullshit situation in question anyway), but please know that your sweet comments never fail to put a smile on my face, and knowing that there are people I've never even met who care about me... well, that's just a really wonderful thing, and a great comfort.

Have a terrific Tuesday!

xox Sammi

Apples to apples

Outfit Details:

Apple dress: Forever 21 (old, but similar dresses here, here and here)

Basically Amazing Socks in Ivory: ModCloth (no longer available, but similar here)

Baby Biscuit purse: Geek Heaven

White belt: from another dress

Clock Strikes 12 watch: ASOS (old)

Emma Flats in Black: BAIT Footwear

I took these photos a couple of weeks ago -- right before our last show for the Fringe Festival (I hardly ever wear my hair straight like this anymore, but I seem to wear it straight a lot for any contemporary shows I do).  I had been planning to wear this dress for something like apple picking (a popular blogger activity, it seems), but since that doesn't look like it'll pan out, I figured I should make use of this dress in one way or another.  I've had it for a couple of years, and it's one that I tend to forget about, despite the fact that it's so cute.  I got makeup on the collar at one point, and it wouldn't come out, so that kept me from wearing it for a while.  Luckily, it seems to be gone now, so I can enjoy it again!

This weekend was filled with theatre.  On Friday, we had three(!!!) school shows for our touring production (and, not surprisingly, since I'm not at all over this cold and had to vocally strain to get through all three shows, my voice is pretty shot), and then my best friend Wayne and I went to see the national tour of Ghost while it was in town.  A friend of mine from college is playing one of the leads, and I was so glad that I got to see him!  I had never seen the movie, so I had no expectations whatsoever, other than the fact that musicals adapted from films don't have the best reputation.  However, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it (and at how much I CRIED).  The show has some absolutely incredible technological aspects, and they utilize some amazing projections to create an almost film-theatre hybrid.  There are these scenes that take place in subway cars that are truly astounding, and the technology perfectly captures the supernatural elements required for a story like this.  It truly had an effect on me, as is evidenced by the fact that I'm still thinking about how stunning a show it was, a couple of days after seeing it.  

And last night, we went to see a local production of The Last Five Years, starring two very talented local actors I have the privilege of knowing.  Jason Robert Brown's music is incredibly intricate and vocally-challenging, and I thought both actors did a beautiful job.  I had never seen the show before (I'm just very familiar with the cast recording), and I think the structure of the show is great (essentially, the show chronicles a couple's five year relationship, only the man's story is told from beginning to end, while the woman's story is told end to beginning), but because I've spent so long coming up with my own images for the story in my mind, it was almost strange to actually see it staged in person.  Which is not at all a reflection on the quality of this production, but rather just an interesting realization.

I have a rehearsal for the Rapunzel show this afternoon, and then I need to clean and do laundry, and be on vocal rest for as long as possible.  I'm frustrated that I'm still sick, but it's obviously because I haven't been able to carve out a chunk of time to truly recover from it.  I also haven't been sleeping well lately (for some reason, I've developed a lot of anxiety this week, pertaining to things that should have given me anxiety much sooner), and I know that's been a big factor.  My goal tonight is to go to bed early!  There just aren't enough hours in the day, that's the problem.  And another problem is that I watch scary crime shows before bed.  I scare myself so badly that I'm up for hours, but I can't stop watching them!  Very silly of me.  No more!

I hope you had a lovely weekend, and have a restful Sunday!

xox Sammi

Pale Blue Dot

Outfit Details:

Vintage dress: Passing Whimsies (aka Lauren from Someone Like You!)

Jukebox Tights: ModCloth (similar here and here)

Necklace: Forever 21

White heels: jcpenney

White belt: eBay

Daisy ring: Mom's

I purchased this dress from the lovely Lauren of Someone Like You a while back, but I'd never worn it until today!  I had thought the zipper needed to be replaced before wearing it, but much to my delight, it's fully functional (it just needs to get past a certain point, or else it unzips by itself).  I love the shape of this dress, and the collar is darling.  Plus, I have so few dresses with long sleeves (though one of them needs mending, whoops)!  Lauren runs an awesome shop with thrifted and vintage items when she's home, but since she's back at college, I think she's temporarily closed it.  But when it's open, you should definitely check out her pieces.  This girl is a master at finding thrift store gems!

I'm still pretty sick with whatever this nasty head cold is, but yesterday was so gorgeous that I couldn't not take some photos.  It truly felt like fall yesterday (the weather was strangely warm during the few days prior), and for that, I am grateful.  I think early spring and early fall are my two favorite times of the year.  Despite our ridiculously long winters, I do feel lucky to live in a place where I get to fully appreciate all four seasons.

I also feel lucky to be getting a few evenings off this week.  They're desperately needed, that's for sure.  We start touring in schools tomorrow(!) for the Hansel and Gretel show I'm in, which is sort of a crazy turn-around time, especially since every single one of us in the cast came down with the same illness at the same time.  Let's just hope we make it out in one piece.

I'm debating whether or not to start up again with my Friday Favorites feature.  I have a draft of one from a month ago, but I'm just wondering whether or not people like it enough for me to keep going with it.  Maybe if I do start it again, I'll just make it shorter?  Any thoughts?

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

xox Sammi