{insert brief statement about modcloth coupon}

I'm not positive how many people pass through my blog on any given day, but I thought I'd throw this out there anyway! I buy a lot of clothes at Modcloth, and they have a pretty good referral program where if you use someone's link you can get $20 off your first order! Usually, it's only $15, but occasionally they bump it up to encourage new customers. If you've ever been on the fence about shopping there, I'd urge you to at least give it a try--they have some cute stuff! Plus, they're currently having a big 30% off sale, and the $20 stacks on top of it!

Personally, if I had all the Modcloth credit in the world, I'd probably be using it on novelty dresses and infinite shoes...I'll probably need to hold off on that for awhile, though! This space is a little too tiny for such voluminous skirts! ;)

Anyway--have at it, and let me know if you decided to use my link! :) I get $20 off too, so everyone wins!

date night and b.a.i.t shoes

After a really draining week that was less than enjoyable, Marcus and I got to have a date night! Clearly, he was very excited to be wearing the Game of Thrones shirt I surprised him with a couple weeks ago. He also convinced me to wear my new dress and shoes even though we weren't going anywhere fancy--all right, he didn't exactly have to twist my arm about it. I was really psyched to try out my new B.A.I.T Ida's, since I'd heard tons about how great they were but was curious about all the hype. (He just likes them because of the clicking sound they make when I walk.)

It might not sound like anything too crazy, but one of our favorite things to do is go to Port of Subs, order our sandwiches, sit at our designated "high table" and talk for awhile. I obviously see him every day, but it doesn't always feel like there's time to just discuss arbitrary things that are on our minds on weeknights. Partly, I think work sort of tires everyone out to the point where they aren't always up for long conversations. I can relate, but I'm also grateful that we make the time at least once a week.

When we finished, we left to go walk around the outdoor mall for a bit while the weather was still nice. This time of year is perfect at night, but towards May and June, even the evenings get a little too hot and sticky for most people. (That mall always has so much more business in the wintertime!) Marcus's favorite place to check out is the puppy store, because they always have little bulldogs hanging around. Personally, I like seeing the darker Shih Tzus and the Scotties. Both of us also like to stop at Barnes and Noble when we go to that mall--I think almost everyone does, though. The atmosphere in there is so calming and enjoyable, especially when there aren't a lot of people in at once. I got to look at some fun cookbooks (but, sadly, I had to resist the urge to take any with me). We were going to go for gelato, but the shop that opened at the mall awhile ago is so popular, the line is usually out the door and down the street a little bit. We decided to go try some frozen yogurt instead, which turned out to be an excellent decision because this particular place had creamy pineapple and a hot fudge dispenser. Suffice it to say we'll be returning soon.

We ended the evening with some Coffee Rush, then headed home to continue watching one of our latest TV shows. (We like to pick shows to marathon while we wait for our favorites, like Game of Thrones and Orange is the New Black. Right now, we're doing one called Sword Art Online. I'm not sure what I think of it yet.) Not necessarily the craziest night on the town, but I enjoyed it immensely!

Right, and before I forget--the verdict on the Ida shoes seems to be a good one. We did a lot of walking around, and I only felt any real rubbing after a few hours. Since the shoes are sort of stiff, I imagine they'll take a bit of breaking in to be completely comfortable, but I don't get the impression that they'll be chafing forever or anything. They make me very happy to wear, and I definitely feel like they aren't too fussy for a night out. They're still on sale on the B.A.I.T site here--I'm not sure what sizes will be left, since I imagine they sell out of these pretty quickly! I debated on these for quite awhile, since I was worried they'd look sort of frumpy in person, but I was very wrong. In person, they're some of the cutest shoes I've ever seen. I'm officially sold. I may or may not have a couple other colors on their way. (Marcus says he is excited because they make me happy and I will be clicking a lot when I walk.)

Great shoes and better company--not a bad way to have started the weekend! :)

milkshakes and cherry red

Spring and summer always seem to come along with a ton of cute new hairstyles! This time last year, I had recently gotten a pixie cut, so I wasn't really able to participate in too many (though I did acquire a wide array of hair accessories!)

This year, I've heard a lot about something called a "milkmaid braid". Now, I'm not even positive that what I put into my hair today could be called a milkmaid braid, but I was still very excited to try it out. It took seven thousand bobby pins, but it stayed put all day! I sometimes have to remember to experiment more with different hairstyles, because when I find one I enjoy, I tend to stick with it most days. Of course, there's certainly nothing wrong with that, but once in awhile it's fun to try something new! As my hair grows, I'm sure it will be easier to make this particular style happen without using my entire artillery of pins. Oh, who cares about that--I enjoyed myself!

This is one of my favorite dresses in the entire world. I bought it a little over a year ago with a gift card to Modcloth that my brother got me for my birthday. I've had a love affair going on with the color mint for awhile now, and when I saw a garment that combined it with milkshakes, I was sold. (Never mind how that eventually led me to discover--and begin collecting--all the other cute patterns Sugarhill Boutique is famous for putting on their clothing...) It was one of the first times I'd ever seen mint paired with bright red before, and I loved the combination! Prior to that, I actually used to think pastels could only ever go with other pastels. That's part of what I enjoy about clothes--they can definitely challenge you to step outside your comfort zone and experiment.

Following that topic to this one last thought, something occurred to me today while I was taking pictures of my outfit. Personally, when I'm browsing pictures on blogs, Pinterest or style galleries, I can definitely appreciate complicated looks. By that, I mean that even if I see something that looks sort of impractical for daily life, I still very much enjoy seeing how it looks modeled in a photo. However, when I'm looking for things that I would wear myself, I tend to favor more relatable styles. I have insane respect for anyone who can work a five-inch heel, but I do admit that I lack the necessary grace to wear them with any sort of frequency. For that reason, I have very much come to love low heels! Chelsea Crew is one brand that comes to mind that makes a ton of styles, and I actually own quite a few pairs because of their versatility and comfort. I also recently ordered my first pair of B.A.I.T heels, which should be getting here soon--I'm excited to share those, too!

Anyway, the point of all that was to put in my two cents: I think lower heels are a perfect way to add a little something extra to your outfit while not sacrificing comfort. They're also convenient because they can be dressed up or down: I've worn my little heels to fancy events, like dances and conferences, but I don't feel overdressed if I wear them out with friends or on a date. For the most part, I don't go out of my way to take pictures of something I wouldn't actually keep on all day long. I've taken this particular set of heels to the mall and the grocery store, and they do a fine job of keeping me comfortable while enabling me to feel a little dressed up.

Dress: Milkshake, Rattle and Roll (sold out, can still be found on eBay!)

Shoes: Chelsea Crew Malibu Pump in Red (they have other colors here)
Belt: Forever 21

Try the complicated hairstyle. Try those colors you don't think will go together, and definitely try those shoes with that outfit. Fashion is such a wonderful way to play around and see what you like. It's been said over and over by so many people, but there's merit to it: your style is one of the greatest forms of expression! I've become a lot more confident since embracing the mentality that I should quit worrying or feeling self-conscious and just try it. Worst case scenario, it doesn't work and you get to do something different. 

My only advice is that you keep extra bobby pins at the ready! ;)

to infinity and beyond

Do you know that feeling where you're looking for something specific--in your mind, you know exactly what it's supposed to look like--but nobody else knows what you're talking about when you describe it? If you're lucky, you also know the feeling that comes with walking into a store and unexpectedly seeing the item in question hanging on the rack in front of you. Bonus points if the one you find is your size. (If it's also on sale, you should probably consider purchasing a lottery ticket, because the stars are most assuredly lined up for you today.)

I recently experienced this when I found my special black top! 

I originally saw this one on Pinup Girl Clothing, but it was out of stock in my size and has been ever since. Some of the reviews mentioned sizing down for a better fit, but I wasn't really up for chancing it. I tried describing the general style and fit of the top to associates at other stores ("It's kind of...like, a bustier? Except with thick straps and it's not really lingerie. And it's got a sweetheart neckline. Kind of like all those crop tops over there except it's...you know...the whole shirt. Do you have anything like that?") but the search was largely fruitless.

A couple of weeks ago, I went into a Hot Topic with my mom on a whim while we were scoping out an outlet mall we'd never been to (unfortunately, the one by my house closed a while ago) and this top was hanging out right on the shelf near some dresses! I was floored, because I'd actually sort of given up on finding it anytime soon. I was even more excited when there turned out to be one left in my size--and thrilled with how comfortable it turned out to be! I was a little bit apprehensive, because I wasn't sure if I should just wait for the restock on Pinup Girl, but then I found out this one was on sale. I only wish it came in more solid colors! I'd definitely buy this top in red or mint. They currently sell a few polka dot styles on the Hot Topic website (I didn't see any at the store I was at, but they might be available in person at other ones!), but I have a lot of loud patterned skirts that needed a solid top. :) 

Also--can we talk about the print on this skirt for just a minute? It makes me really happy. I got the last one in my size from Modcloth on sale last week, but they also sell this and a red version on the Steady Clothing site. There's also a dress, which I may or may not own in red as well.

When in doubt, buy the printed skirt, guys!

passports and printed blouses

My passport arrived a day after my birthday--talk about some serious lucky timing. I wasn't expecting it for at least a couple more weeks!

Marcus and I went to Phoenix together to get them done awhile back. We have plans to travel in the near future, and I was long overdue for an updated passport (this was his first one!) so we decided to get it over with. I was excited that they let us smile for the pictures, since I'd heard that wasn't necessarily allowed. The contrast in the photos they ended up using was really high, so we both came out looking sunburned. Oh, well! I'm beyond excited to finally have my current passport.

Semi-related: how cute is this blouse? I saw it on Modcloth awhile ago, but somehow I missed it and it ended up selling out. I actually originally bought the dress in the same pattern, but unfortunately it didn't work for me and I sent it back. When I saw the top on eBay a few months later, I was really excited--more so when I won the auction for twelve dollars. I have a penchant for printed clothing, so I take all the deals I can find!

In other news, my hair is finally getting longer, which excites me in many ways but is also becoming inconvenient. Arizona weather is not really conducive to long hair past the month of March. Most days, I wear it up, especially because we spend a lot of time outside at work while the kids play. It's sort of nice, though--once in awhile, I wear it down and am pleasantly surprised by the growth. I can finally do a sock bun without having to put a thousand bobby pins in the back for support! Summer also seems to be a time when all sorts of cute hair tutorials come out, so I'm looking forward to being able to participate in some. I have not yet found a flower crown to wear (evidently those are all the rage), so for now I will settle for working on pin curls and twisted updos. I'll let you know how those work out! 

Top: Wanders of the World Top (sold out!)

High-waisted shorts: Forever 21

Flats: Gap 

mystery boxes that technically count as gambling

If you know me (which I imagine you must at least a little bit to even be here), you know of my attraction to fun retro dresses that come in wild prints and usually involve crinolines. I should buy stock in Modcloth, because I'm pretty sure I spend way too much time on that website.

With that in mind, here's a little-known fact about me: I most definitely have the potential to become addicted to gambling. I specifically avoid situations that involve games of chance unless I know the stakes aren't actually that high, but even then...well, let's just say it still sort of shows. Marcus took me on a double date to Amazing Jake's once, and I spent all of my tokens on that machine where the wheel is spinning and you try to knock the other coins off. I was glued to that thing for the better part of an hour trying to figure out the right angles to maximize my winnings--and I kept saying (out loud) "okay, one more, then I'm done with this ridiculous game." (I ended up hitting the jackpot on my last token and won literally eight hundred tickets, which is not really setting a good example, but I digress.)

There's something about taking a small risk that just appeals to me. In fact, I think most of us can attest to that, because this Stylish Surprise event that Modcloth put out was so huge it broke the website for a little bit. For anyone who hasn't tried it before, you can order (depending on whether you get there in time) a mystery box full of apparel, shoes, accessories or "apartment" items. They changed the prices, so this particular round only cost $10 for clothes or shoes--it used to be $15, so that's really not too bad. The deal is, they send you a completely random item. Some people get exceedingly lucky and receive boxes of dresses that originally sold for hundreds of dollars. The rest of us...well, we get stories like this one. 

I've never actually gotten a Stylish Surprise that I liked. You'd think after the first (maybe second) time trying it, I'd learn to just keep my money. Unfortunately, $10 is just cheap enough that you think "well, not a whole lot's not worth at least ten bucks! Why not give it another try? I've already gotten some really ugly stuff, so logically, that means I'm due for a good haul any day now!"

Now we're going to talk about what happens when you give in to that urge to purchase a mystery box.  

This thing happens. By the way, the front was entirely ripped. I thought it was just part of the dress until my mom was like, "Katie, that's torn."

Now, I'm not sure exactly who's reading this. Depending on your personality, I guess you could be sitting there thinking, "come on, Katie, it's not that bad. That shade of mint is actually sort of refreshing when paired with those drunken stripes."

I thought you might be skeptical, so for research purposes, I actually donned the garment in question.

In my defense, the moccasins kind of make the outfit.

When I came into the kitchen with this on, everyone literally stopped eating because they had to focus their full attention on laughing. Marcus commented that my new dress looked quite a lot like maternity wear. Again, for research purposes, I had to see what this was all about. 

As it happened, he was correct. Using the melon from the previous picture, I was able to conclude that this would absolutely serve as a suitable maternity dress for someone who didn't mind looking like one of those Icee's they sell at the movies. I don't think I've ever heard my mom laugh so hard. My dog, as seen in the bottom corner of the photograph, was horrendously offended by my outfit and actually did bark at me until I took it off.

In closing, Modcloth has figured out a very effective gambling system. Should I probably give up on it? Yes, absolutely. Will I participate again? I mean, probably. It's like they can sense when you're having a long day at work or a bad week or something. The timing on these events is impeccable. When I bought this one, I was literally sitting on my break thinking, "Jesus, this day is endless--oh, no way, they marked Stylish Surprises down to $10?!" 

All that aside, it's sort of a fun little thing to do if you have an extra $10 laying around (assuming you only choose to buy one, I guess--some friends of mine really stock up, and I have to admire their fortitude). I was happy to share my own personal results from this round because, well, if you're ever feeling down about something, just remember you don't ever have to wear this dress.

I will say, I have officially been surprised.

{ the vitamin store }

Does anyone else identify with being on a never-ending quest to try out new products? My situation is slightly different--I'm just always on the hunt for the ingredients. 

Product-hopping has never been hugely successful for me. As it happens, I have very fussy hair and skin. (I could see how that'd be sort of a good thing; in theory I'd never buy anything I knew I couldn't use. In reality, however, my cabinet is full of things that have been used exactly twice. I feel weird about returning used conditioner, so I just sort of let it be down there for a thousand years or I regift it to my mom.) 

Over time, my focus shifted to trying to make my own skin and hair products. That's been much more successful. If you can believe it, it's cheaper, too--which means I get to try out way more ideas before running out of money. (Seriously, I've seen conditioner for $40 before. Will it turn my hair into spun gold? If so, perhaps I should actually stop writing this and go purchase a bottle.) I was actually thinking about writing a post about the "recipes" I've tried so far later this week, mostly on the off chance that anyone with similar issues happens to be reading this! A lot of the ones I use right now seem to be quite gentle while still effective, which can be entirely helpful for someone who struggles with being easily irritated.

On the day I took these pictures, I happened to end up at the vitamin store with my mom. Apparently, that's her new favorite place to hang out because she's gravitating toward homeopathic remedies for some of her health issues. I got to come along while she scoped out some Calm tea (proceed on that stuff with caution, by the way) and it turned out to be a gold mine of things to try out! I picked up some organic shampoo and conditioner along with a small bottle of emu oil. I was a little skeptical at first, but I've been experimenting with quite a few oils over the last few months and was curious about this one.

It was probably one of the best decisions I've ever made. I'm excited to see what else I can do with it!

It also didn't hurt that this vitamin store was located in the cutest plaza ever. It's part of a bunch of little local shops, and they're all set up in this pastel yellow Victorian-looking house. The whole area used to be full of places like that, but they've all shut down in recent years. Across the street, there used to be a similar, smaller house that sold fantastic ice cream. Mom and I were hoping to find some, but it had evidently been out of business for some time. We walked around to see what else there was; unfortunately, all we found was an olive oil shop and an expensive-looking photography studio. My mom was nice enough to take some pictures of my new dress for me, though!

Dress: Seashell We Dance? (swap, sold on Modcloth for awhile!)

Belt: It's actually just a long strip of lace.
Shoes: Chelsea Crew

I'm excited to try coming up with more posts--some days, it seems like it's difficult to think of anything to talk about that would be remotely interesting to anyone. Still, I'm eager to share the results of the emu oil and hair products with everyone, along with some of my favorite recipes. What products have you found that worked best for you? I love hearing from people who aren't hindered by sensitivity--some of the available options out there look like they can do great things for your hair and skin!

long time, no sea!

(Sorry, I had to. It's been a long week, and I enjoy puns far too much to ever let something like that go.)

Today was my first go using the new tripod. Marcus was nice enough to sit at the park reading his book while I twirled around on the bridge and tried not to fall into the lake. I was so excited to finally wear my new dress! Lately, I've noticed myself gravitating more and more toward longer skirts. For awhile, I wouldn't wear anything longer than your standard Forever 21-length dresses, so it's sort of interesting how much that's changing. As someone with a stature of only about 5'3, this is slightly alarming because anything below the knee tends to be hit or miss for me. If a skirt falls past my calves, there's a good chance it wasn't meant for me (or it was, and just I need to find myself a tailor!)

Luckily, I don't think this particular dress is going to need any kind of alterations. I'm very fond of how long it is even though it originally took some getting used to. It's very pretty in person (runs a full size small, though!), and as anyone who knows me is well aware, I'll take any nautical garments I can get my hands on. This was a welcome addition to my collection. I'd been after it since I first discovered Modcloth, but it recently went on a flash sale and I finally decided to quit fawning over it online and just get the thing already. Now I just need to find a way to help transition it into colder weather...I'm thinking white tights and some ankle boots, but given that the dress is long and full, I'm not sure how well that's going to translate. We'll see!

Experimenting with the tripod will hopefully be a fruitful endeavor. Now that I don't have to balance my giant camera on tabletops anymore, a lot of doors have been opened in terms of where and when I can take pictures. I love browsing other people's photography for ideas--it's one of those hobbies I think a lot of people have common ground on. Pictures are just fun to take! Personally, I'm a fan of playing with colors. I can't wait to take this thing out for a spin downtown or to the mountains when I go visit my brother. It'll probably come with me to Seattle, too, although I'm not sure how effective it will be to set up shop in the middle of Pike's Place. I got enough odd looks as it is from the occasional jogger this afternoon--I don't think my confidence is quite ready for anything more just yet!

Dress: Modcloth - Sea Shanty Singing Dress
Red flats: Old Navy
Bow: Made by me! 

Oh, yes, and Marcus joined me for a picture after I finished. Fun story: he originally wanted to try recreating the World War II sailor picture, only he wanted to be the one getting dipped. We tried twice, and the resulting photos looked like I was trying to assault him. Also, I kept dropping him. For future reference, I'm not a reliable foundation if you want to be dipped or dunked or otherwise tilted towards the ground.

We still had fun, though, even though we mutually agreed to never try to get into team Olympic figure skating.

:)

on autumn and teaching

This morning, Marcus came along with me to my school's Fall Festival. My kids were going to be performing, and I'd told my teacher I would help them get on stage and stay in line. Also--let's be real, who doesn't want to watch a bunch of three-year-olds wave colorful scarves around and sing This Little Light of Mine? 

First of all, my kids looked adorable. They were all wearing jeans and white shirts, but most of the boys had been put into button-downs and had their hair all combed. So handsome! One of my little girls was even complete with a giant white bow and stylish little boots like her mom's. 

By the way, that's my other favorite part of going to events. It's priceless seeing kids with their parents and watching them interact. I get a kick out of seeing who looks like who and what their individual dynamics are. I told Marcus today that I felt way better about my job after going to the Fall Festival because, hey, guess what? A lot of these kids don't even want to listen to their own parents 100% of the time! That means I have no reason to feel incompetent if I can't always get them to focus or stop screaming or cooperate with the activities we're doing--of course, I'm always trying, but it was something of a relief to realize that I wasn't just awful at my job. The other thing I felt better about was being frustrated--I love my kids. I do. They've only been with me for just shy of a month, and I treat them like they're my own a lot of the time. Sometimes, though, when I'm trying to manage all sixteen of them and they all want to run around and climb on top of everything and break their toys, I find myself getting a little impatient--and I always feel too hard on them when I put them in time-out or scold them. Watching them with their parents made me realize that that's a normal part of raising kids--and there's not really anything wrong with feeling frustrated or upset as long as you don't take it out on them or do anything too extreme. (I always feel bad and let them leave the chair after two minutes anyway--they're three, nobody's committing credit card fraud or arson here!) 

Anyway, my kids did great. A lot of them sort of lost focus halfway through the song, and one of my boys yelled, "I SEE A PLANE!" mid-performance. Still, it was really clear how proud all of their parents and teachers were. They were able to stay in their line, and nobody ran off! (Going off how the rehearsal went the other day, that's a huge accomplishment!) 

After they all dispersed with their families, Marcus and I walked around to look at the booths. Some of the vendors were really impressive--we had these huge horses walking around the fairground and everything. Most of the games and prizes were geared towards the kids, but we still had fun watching. We also bought a a shaved ice to share--we tried half blue raspberry, half tiger's blood. My favorite part of that was ordering, because Marcus said, "Can we do part of it with tiger's blood--and can the other half just be Hawaiian?" I nudged him and whispered, "It's not a flavor, it's just called Hawaiian shaved ice." He thought about it for a second and said, "oh, they're all Hawaiian! I guess just blue raspberry then!" 

We got to be the first customers at the booth, which seemed to make the people working there happy because they mentioned that nobody had come by yet and they were getting pretty bored. We promised that we'd walk around with our shaved ice and make a huge deal out of it so more people would come by, and they both laughed--but it ended up actually happening! We were enjoying our treat and a family walked by and said, "oh, wow! Look at that, let's go get one!" 

I also got to wear my new pie dress that I've been fawning over all year. One more in my size finally came in on Modcloth, and you better believe I snatched that up the minute I saw it. I'm wearing it now. I actually don't want to take it off anytime in the near future. A lot of people I work with commented on how festive it looked. I love working at a school--everyone appreciates fun prints! 

Dress: My Kind of Pie Dress - Modcloth

Cardigan: Charter School Cardigan - Modcloth

Shoes: Old Navy

Bow: Made by me! 

Purse: Fossil 

Next time we're going to try something a little more traditional, like caramel apples!

Also, for some reason, this picture really thrilled him.

So, needless to say, this is becoming more of a viable career option for me. My teacher's been talking to me about some international opportunities I might look into, and I guess we'll see what happens! Who knew that I'd end up falling into teaching? When I met her husband today, he said, "my wife loves you. She's always talking about how capable you are--she says for this kind of job you need to have the heart for it, and everyone thinks you really do." 

I wouldn't have believed you if you'd told me a year ago that that was one of the nicest things I'd ever hear. I don't think I stopped smiling after that!

I'm going to try to get better about posting, because all of a sudden there's a ton to say! Be warned, I think a lot of it is going to end up revolving around teaching and my preschoolers--oh, and probably dresses? I'm just going out on a limb here.

:) 

wishlist wednesday!

Hello, everyone! It's been a little bit--I'm trying to decide how best to spend my time. So far, most of it's still devoted to being master of the house: chores, shopping for groceries, cooking, you know. I love it, but it's also left me kind of tired! I haven't gone out shopping a whole lot lately, which I used to really enjoy. Yesterday, though, my mom and I spent a day out--I thought it'd be fun to talk about, and share some fun wishlist items at the same time! 

We started off by going to the post office, where I mailed a dress out for swap. I was really bummed to let it go.

Wouldn't you be? I actually got it from another swap awhile back, all the way from Canada! I waited on it for weeks because I was so excited about it, but it was totally wrong for my body. :( I'm not quite tall enough to pull it off! Hopefully the new owner gets more use out of it. As for me, I can't wait for my new prize! Pictures to come...it has bows on it. 

Anyway, then we went off to the mall together! That's one of our favorite things to do when we have time. Trying on clothes is my favorite, and if it's a good day, I can get my mom to try some things on too. Looking back now, I wish I'd taken more pictures of the things I put on. Some were pretty bad (to be fair, I was hoping the lobster dress I found was going to look nicer) and others were so good, I was sad to leave them behind! 

At a store called The Limited, I tried on these beauties: 

Is it pretty obvious I have a chambray thing going on?! Sadly, I had to leave most of those behind, though my mom did score a 50% off everything coupon and was nice enough to get me the light blue shirt! :) I'd been looking for one like it forever, and with that sweet deal it was even cheaper than some of the lesser-quality ones I'd seen at stores like Forever 21. I learned that I enjoy stores like The Limited because I'm not huge on embellishment--they specialize in classic, simple pieces (like colored pants and basic sweaters!), which I tend to gravitate towards. I totally get that for some people, the more bedazzled the better, but I'm just not as into it. For me, there's nothing worse than spying a cute dress from across the room, only to get closer and realize that someone added studs or zippers or cutouts where there didn't really need to be any. (If you're ever at the mall and hear someone lamenting that perfectly good pair of mint pants that was ruined by a thick zipper up the sides, it's probably me.) 

My mom ended up picking up a nice pair of black pants for work, but we both secretly wanted to take it all! 

Later, at Express, I tried on a red dress that looked pretty cute: sadly, the back was cut extra low and it was so stretchy you could see everything through it. Ever tried one of those on? I'll keep looking, though, I love red dresses. If this one was still in stock on Modcloth, I'd get it! 

After the mall, we went to Target really quickly to pick up new kitchen supplies. At the mall, we looked at some of the more upscale shops for fun (who doesn't love to do that?!) but the prices made us want to cry! Some really nice-looking kitchen things were ON SALE for $800! Until one of us wins the lottery, we figured we'd better head someplace that gave us more realistic options. We'd been talking about replacing our ancient cookware forever--it was all scratched up and breaking, and since I cook every day, I needed better things to work with. We debated on several different sets before we settled on a nice-looking one that was pretty affordable!

That one.

I don't know what it says about me that I'm this excited to have a brand new set of cookware, but I'm over the moon. I can't wait to use it. We also got a new egg pan, since my family's all about the eggs. Maybe now I can start sharing some more recipes! 

I'm really excited about my new shirt and my cookware! I love finding one thing (or ten!) that you've been searching for forever, and then bam! There's the perfect one! I have a huge list of retro-classic items I'm hoping to slowly acquire by fall, but I think I'll share that one next Wednesday...I'm still having that issue where I know what I'm looking for, but I haven't seen any pictures of it on store sites or magazines yet!

Am I the only one who gets that feeling? Like there's the perfect item I would just draw up for myself if I could? Does anyone else have those things they've been looking all over for but can't quite find? A couple more of mine include some classic a-line skirts, sturdy oxfords, cute button-downs in soft colors (long and short sleeve, preferably with lace!) and simple cardigans! What's on your wishlist that you haven't been able to track down yet?

- Katie

{ opinions: on department stores }

Does anyone mind if I talk about this for a minute?

Because my views on clothing have completely shifted over the last year or two, and I think it's really interesting to examine the fashion world and their products as a result.

It's no secret that if I had it my way, my whole closet would be made up of one-of-a-kind, vintage-inspired, printed garments that were predominantly skirts and dresses. I find great joy in accumulating clothes that are versatile enough to suit the workplace or a day out--while I can certainly respect the fact that a lot of places require formal business-wear, I see nothing wrong with wearing colors and exciting patterns, especially if they're made suitable for a workplace! Really, how can you complain about a knee-length printed dress with a solid cardigan and cute heels? Maybe some pretty curls on the side or a nice updo? Even if you can complain about that, you shouldn't. That's adorable and it shouldn't pose any threats to someone getting their job done.

I digress.

I love getting outfit inspiration from places like Modcloth or Anthropologie. I frequently troll sites including wwzdw.com (they have exact matches and similar alternatives for all those cute New Girl outfits!) and frantically await new episodes of Once Upon a Time so I can try to scope out more Mary-Margaret styles. I can't be the only one! The thing is, those people are highly paid actors, and they can afford those gorgeous brand-name clothes with no problem. It's certainly possible to find similar looks for less money, but not probable, and you have to get pretty lucky.

With that in mind, yesterday I visited the mall for the first time in awhile with my mom. I had a list of silhouettes and styles in mind, and I hoped I might find clothes along the lines of the ones I have bookmarked in a list longer than I care to admit!

I hadn't been to a department store in years; for awhile, stores like Forever 21 and American Eagle were my go-to shops. In my teens, places like Macy's or Dillard's had seemed too "old" or "high-end" for me. Maybe it was time to give them a try! After all, the commercials made them look so classy and glamorous!

Sadly, I have to report that my personal experience was quite disappointing. I quickly found the junior's dress section, but the selection was limited. (It's harder than you'd think to find simple a-line dresses, with or without sleeves!) My mother picked out a few for me in mint, royal blue, and red. I was excited to try them on after selecting what should have been my size--however, I struggled to get each dress up over my hips! (Generally, if a dress is my size, this isn't an issue). Following that, it was an effort to zip up the garments--I could hardly breathe! Even in two or three sizes up, the fits were less than favorable.

I couldn't understand why this was the case--thanks to a newfound interest in modern-vintage shopping, I have a really good grasp on my measurements and how they should translate into clothing sizes. Obviously, depending on whether specific brands run large or small, you want to size up or down, but it's typically going to be pretty consistent. I can say with pretty good certainty that, on average, I'm a small, but I found myself floundering in department stores, unsure what would work at all. In some styles, a 00 drowned me--in others, even an 8 was quite tight. Also, my biggest issue at my height is always having to hem things. I've slowly become more accustomed to longer lengths (think knee-skimming or a few inches above) as casual wear, with some exceptions. I'm not against shorter styles at all--my shorts are all high-waisted, and about half my skirts are too--but even I felt a little limited in movement with these dresses. That was certainly a first!

No wonder so many people hate shopping for clothes! Once you start gravitating away from the "younger" stores, as I've heard them called, there's a whole new sizing standard, and it can make finding things you like much more difficult. Being 21, I find myself in an awkward spot where Forever 21-esque establishments (I understand the irony fully) are too young for me, but shops like White House/Black Market, Talbot's, or even Anthropologie are still a bit overwhelming and don't exactly carry the modern-vintage styles I'm after.

Obviously, your personal taste and individual body type will determine where is best to get your clothes. I have issues finding things because I'm hourglass-shaped and short, which contradicts a lot of today's styles. Along with that, I have very simple preferences, and am often frustrated to see what could have been a perfectly cute red dress ruined by rhinestones, studs, unnecessary zippers, glitter, or strange cuts in the fabric. I haven't bought a plain blouse or cardigan in months because I just can't find any! (If you know of some good, affordable shops, let me know! ;) ) I'm not against department stores. Not even a little bit. However, this vintage-loving girl was personally a tad disappointed with the experience. I wasn't actually able to find anything on my list, and the things that came close would have been cheaper to buy on sale online anyway.

(That's actually one more thing that's changing about me--I used to pride myself on being THE bargain-hunter, and refused to spend over $10 on any one item. Now, upon going through my closet over the years and realizing how many things I bought solely because they were cheap, I've decided I'd rather spend a little more on fewer pieces I love. I was shocked to see that the cost of these items I used to purchase without really loving added up to far more than I spend now. I'm still getting used to that--a lot of my friends will raise an eyebrow when they inquire how much I bought my new dress/skirt/shoes for. However, I'm pretty proud of how I manage my money, and I still utilize plenty of discounts--and, at the end of the day, it's your business when it comes to how you spend your resources!)

That said, do any of you encounter similar issues when shopping in stores? I enjoy going out and browsing around, but more and more lately, I find myself happier to save up for choice pieces online and read at home instead. Where is your go-to place to get clothes that suit you perfectly? Do you prefer to shell out more money for less things, or do you find that method flawed? I'd love to hear about your experiences!

Modcloth is having a spectacular sale! Click here for some great deals!

Today, I thought I'd post a link to one of my favorite sites--Modcloth! I recently became an affiliate, and hopefully I'm doing this correctly--if you click through this link, you'll be taken to their site to shop their wonderful sale items! Most of them are about 50% off, which is a great deal!

Let me know if you see anything you like!

wishlist I

It's the world's least heavily guarded secret that I can't control myself when it comes to Modcloth. My brother got me a gift card for my last birthday, and within about a nanosecond I was deluded into thinking I had the purchasing power of Queen Victoria before her Diamond Jubilee. For someone like myself who generally describes themselves as "the sort of person who likes to shop around"...(translation: really cheap)...the outcome was shameful. I bought five dresses and a Great Gatsby sweater all at once. To my credit, I wear all of those things all the time. 

Okay, not so much the sweater, since it's been known to reach 120 degrees where I live around this time of year, but it's sitting in my closet eagerly anticipating autumn. 

I digress.

I spend a fair amount of time daily on this website, and my wishlist is so extensive, I'm almost embarrassed to share even part of it with you. Honestly, this is just the first eight that came to mind. This doesn't even include the skirt section, let alone the shoes or tops. I may have a very real problem. 

Oh, well!

Here's a list of my current lovelies that are hopping in and out of my shopping cart. If I cover up the prices, it isn't that bad.

If anyone is interested, in order from left to right, here are the aforementioned articles of clothing:

1. Jetting Ready Dress
2. Doll in All Dress (this one is mostly sold out, as a warning)
3. Too Much Fun Dress in Airplanes
4. Bernie Dexter Year Abroad Dress
5. Too Much Fun Dress in Cherry
6. Sea Shanty Singing Dress in Navy
7. High Socie-tea Dress
8. Too Much Fun Dress in Boats

I'm really not kidding when I say I could do this forever. I knew every single one of those dresses' names by heart (because seriously, how cute are some of those?)...and my browser even knows that 9 times out of 10 something I type is going to be related to Modcloth.

Someday, I'll be able to afford half of one of these...

To be fair, I do have a decent amount of this shop's clothes in my closet. All my pieces get a lot of love. It's kind of surprising...lately, my tastes have been shifting more towards "buy less things that I love for a little bit more money" as opposed to "buy more things that I'm okay with for cheaper".

It must be part of growing up, I guess?

Any fellow Modcloth lovers out there? How do you deal with your addiction to these adorable prints?