Summer Nostalgia with RetroViewer

Credit for all photos: Emma Rizzo 

I know it's already October, but I'm still playing catch-up from the summertime... and I couldn't leave out this set of photos that Emma captured. We've made a lot of memories together, but this is definitely one photoshoot I won't soon forget. We were both good sports on this day, seeing as it was insanely humid and the mosquitoes were out for blood. I got SO many bites in the short amount of time we were out taking these (and was miserable for several days afterwards!). But it was definitely worth it to finally get some pictures with my mint green bicycle, a bouquet of dahlias from Flowerwell, and a fantastic keepsake that I'll talk about below!

Do you remember playing with ViewFinders when you were a kid? I definitely do. I had a bunch of them (they might still be somewhere in my parents' basement!) and used them all the time. So when Image3D reached out to me to make my own RetroViewer – their reel-viewer that you can customize yourself – I was struck by what an incredible idea it was. I was able to upload my own photos, customize with filters and text, and even choose the color of my RetroViewer.

Here's what the reel looks like when you're satisfied with your selections!

The process is SUPER easy and the shipping was surprisingly fast. The final product was even cuter than I anticipated! I included photos of my closest friends, but you could easily customize with photos of family members, coworkers, pets, your travels, and so much more. It's one of the coolest gift ideas I've seen in a while. If you're stumped on what to get someone for the holidays or an upcoming birthday, I think this is a truly unique way to show someone you care. Full disclosure: I did receive this product for free, but I seriously cannot say enough good things about it.

Outfit Details

Dress: Pastello Dresses

Necklace: similar  ||  Flats: Aerosoles

Handkerchief: similar  ||  Bicycle: Huffy

Bouquet: Flowerwell

RetroViewer: c/o Image3D

Really, one of the things I love about blogging in general is that it grants me the ability to capture a lot of memories. Sometimes, I feel a lot of pressure to do that, which is hard when time seems to be moving so quickly. I finally went apple picking over the weekend and did a little bit of fall decorating, but I still need to get some mums and some pumpkins! Fall is a busy time of year anyway, but I'm also trying to get ready to go on my birthday vacation(!) at the end of the month. I forget if I mentioned this, but I'll be in Disney World for my 30th birthday! It's finally starting to sink in... and I have lots to do before we leave – like get all my Halloween posts ready and put together my outfits for the trip. It's fun stuff to take care of though, rather than stuff I'd dread, so that always helps. :)

Have a great start to your week!

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...

Friday Favorites #154: Labor Day Faves

It's been a WHILE since I was able to put together a Friday Favorites post. But with all the awesome Labor Day sales, I had to make time to share a few of my favorites with you! You can snag all of these items at a discount this weekend with the discount codes I've provided below – and there are lots of other brands included in that list, too! Which item is your favorite?

a.  ASOS lilac rain boots

b.  Mickey and Minnie suitcase (also available here)

c.  Lauren Conrad dachshund necklace

d.  ban.do pink planner

e.  Abercrombie & Fitch romper

f.  Valfré cherry purse

g.  Keds x Kate Spade rose gold glitter sneakers

Labor Day Weekend Discount Codes

Abercrombie & Fitch: 40% off everything (50% off denim)
ASOS: 20% new season items
Ban.do: 15% off sale items and 25% off planners + free shipping
Bernie Dexter: 55% "last chance" section with code SUMMER55
Betsey Johnson: 35% off sidewide + free shipping with code WEEKEND
Box Lunch: 20% off almost everything
Doll Me Up: up to 60% off select items
Forever 21: extra 50% off sale items with code EXTRA50
Hearts and Found: 25% off dresses and skirts with code SUMMER25
J.Crew: 40% off with code BIGSALE
J.Crew Factory: 50% off everything
Keds: 20% off all purchases $50+
Kohl's: $10 off purchases $25+ with code LABORDAY
Loco Lindo: 20% off everything with code LABORDAY
Macy's: take an extra 20% off + free shipping with code WKND
Old Navy: 50% off jeans, dresses, tees, and sweatshirts
Retro Glam: 20% off (excluding new arrivals) with code PUMPKIN20
Shop Disney: extra 40% off sale items with code EXTRA40
Sourpuss Clothing: 20% off with code UNIONS
Steady Clothing: 25% off sitewide with code LABOR25
Tatyana: 50% off everything (excluding preorders/coming soon/makers row) with code SHOP
The Oblong Box Shop: 20% off orders $75+ with code YOUDESERVEIT20
Torrid: 50% off clearance items
Unique Vintage: 20% off sidewide with code SUNSET
Urban Outfitters: 30% off sale items
Valfre: 30% off apparel and accessories with code FOREVERSUMMER
Vixen by Micheline Pitt: 15% off with code LABOROFLOVE

Have a great holiday weekend!

Please note that this post contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of those links, I may earn a small commission that helps run my blog. Thank you for supporting The Soubrette Brunette!

Magnolias

All photos by Emma Rizzo

I guess I have to face facts: summer's starting to wind down. I'm not totally ready to say goodbye to this season yet... especially because I still have photos from the spring that I haven't had a chance to share yet! I guess I'd better hurry up, huh? But I think these ones were worth waiting for.

I love going on photo adventures with Emma. We actually had a very thematic evening when we took these. We had dinner at Magnolia's (one of my favorite places – and not just because Obama ate there!) and then sought out all the magnolia trees we could find.

I finally had a chance to wear this darling dress from the Barbie x Unique Vintage line. When I was little, all I wanted was for my Barbies' outfits to come in my size. I used to wish for it all the time (like so many other kids, I'm sure!). That desire really never went away, so you can imagine how excited I was when this collection came out. My mom actually owned the doll version of this dress and recognized it instantly! I think it's such a beautiful, fun dress. It does run a bit tight in the bust, but I actually found it to be quite comfortable and supportive. Although it's been a while since this collection came out, this dress is still available at UV – so if you've been sleeping on it, don't wait until it's gone!

Outfit Details

Suburban Shopper Sundress: Unique Vintage

Bag: Bettie Page by Lola Ramona

Boater hat: ASOS (similar)

Flats: Aerosoles

I had a really wonderful weekend (and took a ton of photos!). Things have been difficult over the last couple of months in terms of my mental health. My physical health has been suffering too, as I haven't been taking good care of myself. But I feel refreshed and my heart is full. I feel good about what this week has in store. I hope you all have a wonderful week, too.

Mint Scooters

The summer season may sort of be winding down, but I'm definitely not ready to give up my pastel sundresses quite yet! This adorable dress from Voodoo Vixen ticks a lot of my boxes: it's mint green, it has pockets and cute buttons, and it has a fun novelty print. It's actually little scooters in pink, yellow, and mint. While it's a great dress for spring and summer, it's something I'll be able to wear with a cute cardigan throughout the early fall. The fabric has some stretch to it and it's (thankfully) got a back zip – two features I tend to like in my dresses. Overall, it's a comfy dress that fits in perfectly with my aesthetic. What could be better?

These pictures are pretty cheery. But the fact is that things have been kind of tough lately. If you follow me on Instagram, you might have noticed that I've been a bit quieter and more contemplative lately. I've been feeling depressed and unconfident and generally overwhelmed. While I'm prone to mood swings, this was kind of a jarring development and made me realize that I haven't been making myself a priority for a long time. I've become so accustomed to being agreeable or trying to please people that I've sort of forgotten to do what makes me happy. That said, I had a pretty great weekend and things are starting to look up. I'm going to try to put myself first, as weird as that feels. I can't keep running on empty and ignore my own needs for the sake of the comfort of other people.

Also, I just want to say thank you to everyone who reached out to me with kind thoughts and advice! It means more to me than you know. I feel much more positive and motivated than before, and I hope that trend will continue.

Outfit Details

Eva Retro Scooter Print Dress: c/o Voodoo Vixen

Shoes: similar  ||  Headband: similar  ||  Necklace: similar

Have a great rest of your week!