Natalie

This weekend really felt like fall (and yes, I know it's October), but it's supposed to warm up again this week! Since the weather can't seem to make up its mind, I'll keep on wearing cute florals for as long as possible. This adorable little dress from Dolly and Dotty has been a great summer staple but it'd be easy to layer for cooler weather. For this post, I decided to go full-out garden party and opt for a hair flower and parasol.

Dolly and Dotty has definitely become one of my go-tos for affordable, cute dresses. Although their gingham halter dresses are my all-time favorite, their other patterned dresses are really nice, too. This fabric has a bit of stretch, which makes it super comfortable. The only downside is that there's probably slightly too much room up top as a result, which is a rare occurrence for me. I've become accustomed to longer skirts, but this dress is actually a really nice length. Plus, it has pockets! It'll be a great option for occasions that require a bit of dressiness without dressing to the nines.

I spent most of this past weekend cleaning. It was MUCH-needed. I'm a horrible housekeeper, to be perfectly honest. I'm incredibly messy and it stresses me out a LOT. I always vow to be better... but then I get lazy and then pretty soon it looks like a bomb went off in my apartment. The best thing I've found is to take care of little things right away instead of procrastinating, but it's hard to get up the motivation sometimes. Any tips you've found for staying organized?

Outfit Details

Natalie Retro Floral Dress: c/o Dolly and Dotty

Hair flower: similar  ||  Parasol: similar

Necklace: similar  ||  Heels: Amazon

Have a wonderful start to your week (and month!)

Pretty As A Postcard

Happy Tuesday, friends! It's been a minute since I had a chance to put together a post. I had a great time enjoying the Rochester Fringe Festival last week, but seeing so many shows left me no time to blog. I'm trying to create a better work/life balance for myself though, so I'm hoping I can get back on schedule soon. That said, I'll be starting rehearsals for a show in a week or two... so I'm trying to figure things out quickly without putting too much pressure on myself.  :)

It may be the end of September, but it's been hot as all get-out for the last couple of weeks. I actually don't mind that much, since this summer was pretty temperate and I didn't get much of a chance to wear seasonal clothes. It's going to cool down later this week, but before it does, I'll be wearing this J.Crew postcard print dress as much as humanly possible.

Ashley was the ideal enabler and convinced me to buy this dress when it was on sale. I'm really glad I did, because it's the kind of dress that works in nearly any situation. I love the off-the-shoulder neckline (so much that I actually like wearing my hair up with it – and that never happens!) and it's so easy to wear. Whether you're running errands or on vacation, this is a great go-to. Unfortunately, it's completely sold out, but I found a few good dupes! Scroll down to the outfit details for my picks.

Outfit Details

Postcard print dress: J.Crew (similar at ASOS, Macy's, and Nasty Gal)

Necklace: similar  ||  Toni Pons wedges: available here

As much as I'm enjoying wearing my summer wardrobe, I'm finally feeling ready to do fall things! I hope there'll be some apple and pumpkin picking in my future. What are you hoping to do this fall?

The Language Of Flowers

It's feeling more and more like fall every day here, but I'm still stuck on springy florals... so you're going to have to look at them on my blog for a bit longer before I start styling autumnal pieces! I took these photos at The Ellwanger Estate's gardens months ago(?!) and I can't believe I'm just getting around to posting them. The gardens there are absolutely gorgeous and made the perfect backdrop for this Retrospec'd dress.

I really lucked out because these gardens wasn't technically open to the public when we went (they're open only during specific hours). But the owners were so kind and let me snap some photos anyway. Not only are the gardens beautiful, but the rooms in their B&B look incredible, too. I wish I had a reason to stay there! Someday, if I ever manage to develop a green thumb, I'd love to have a little secret garden like this. To find out more about Ellwanger Estate, give their Facebook page a little love!

Outfit Details

Gigi Dress in Enchanted Fleur: Retrospec'd

Wide-brimmed hat: similar  ||  Vintage basket purse: similar

Flower book brooch: George Eastman Museum  ||  Flats: Aerosoles

Last week had some ups and downs. On the upside: I was cast in a really fun show (for fellow musical theatre nerds, it's called First Date  – it had a brief run on Broadway not too long ago), which goes up in December. I took a substantial break from doing theatre for a while to focus on my job and take some time for myself, but I'm finally ready to get back into the swing of things. However, it might be tough to find time for blogging. I'll really have to get creative with my time management!

For the downs: I got in a very very very minor little fender bender and it threw me for a loop. I'm totally fine and so is my car, but I was really shaken up and my entire work schedule was kind of derailed. In the grand scheme of things, it wasn't a big deal. But it was the first time I'd been in a situation like that and as a Highly Sensitive Person, I think my reaction to it was more pronounced than what other people might experience. Fortunately, I was able to take some time for myself and I'm feeling much better now.

That's all for now. I hope you have a great week!

Polka Dots + Promotions

I hope you all had a nice holiday weekend! I actually didn't end up doing much yesterday (we went to the mall – very exciting!), but it was definitely nice to have some extra time off from work. However, work has been kind of great lately because... I just got a promotion! It feels really nice to be recognized for my efforts and how far I've come in the last year. Best of all, my day-to-day job isn't going to change all that much (just which clients I write for and how much time I'm able to spend on them). So really, it's the best of both worlds. I'm eager to get started on these new challenges!

Promotions call for celebrations, and this Joanie Clothing dress is the perfect piece for date nights, special dinners, or literally any summertime event. It's actually on sale for a STEAL right now (and there's a cute long sleeved version, too!) It's 100% cotton and quite lightweight, but it could easily be dressed up with cute heels and some jewelry. I kind of toed the line between casual and formal here, adding one of my favorite belts and using an adorable vintage hat box as a purse. It was wayyy too humid to wear this white jean jacket in the photos, but I had to decorate the lapel with my new Betty & Veronica pin!

Outfits

Alison Swing Dress: c/o Joanie Clothing (on sale!)

Heart belt: eBay  || Veronica Lodge pin: Betty and Veronica

White denim jacket: similar  ||  Hat box: vintage (similar)

Flats: Jessica Simpson

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Country Cutie

As an introvert who spends most of her working hours (and some of her non-working hours) in front of a screen, it can be easy to forget how important it is for me to get outside and spend some time in nature. Actually, one of the reasons I still really enjoy blogging is that it almost forces me to spend time outdoors and allows me to reset mentally and emotionally. Studies have found that spending time in nature is incredibly restorative and reduces stress and depression, so even though I wouldn't consider myself an "outdoorsy" person, I've been trying to soak up these nice days and spend as much time as I can outside. 

This past weekend was really great, and I think that has a lot to do with the fact that I spent a significant amount of time outdoors with people I love. As I mentioned on Instagram, I went peach-picking with my mom, went to a local nature park with my boyfriend, and went to a huge sunflower field extravaganza (photos coming soon!) all in the span of a couple of days. We might not be able to get down to the lake again this summer, which has now become a favorite summertime activity, so I'm glad I was able to take a few photos in this cornfield near the lake house.

I actually already own this Dolly and Dotty dress in the black and white colorway, and I wear it ALL THE TIME. (I styled this version here.) Chances are that if you've seen me in real life this summer, I've been wearing it. It's super comfy and appropriate for virtually any summertime activity. Another great thing is that the fabric is sturdy enough to go braless, which means it's an awesome grab-and-go option (and makes a good swimsuit coverup!). I was eager to style the red version because 1) I can always use another casual, lightweight dress and 2) it reminds me of picnic tablecloths and there's literally nothing better than that to end the summer. 

Outfit Details

Sophie Check Dress in Red: c/o Dolly and Dotty

Boater hat: similar  ||  Necklace: similar

Flats: Aerosoles

Do you have any Labor Day plans? I'm not sure what we're doing (if anything), but during this week/weekend, I'd really like to go to a baseball game, go swimming, go on walks, and eat lots of food. With everything that's going on right now, I feel very fortunate to be able to even look forward to these kinds of things and enjoy the rest of summer.

Have a great rest of your week and have a safe holiday!