Shades of Summer

I promised myself I’d buy everything I wanted for summer before summer began, and a long black skirt and minty accents were high on my list.
Skirt and Tank: Forever 21, Sandals: Target, Bangles and Necklace: Charlotte Russe, Nail Polish: Revlon Minted and Rimmel Dazzle

Found this cropped crochet top that I’m crazy in love with (but haven’t yet worn) from Forever 21, and I’m kicking myself for not buying it in every color.

All kinds of fun shorts, and these aren’t even half of them!
L to R: TJ Maxx, Sears, Forever 21, TJ Maxx, Hollister, A&F, A&F, Hollister, TJ Maxx (TJ Maxx is THE place for cheap, amazing shorts)

My little array of girly finds. Lace Dress: Francesca’s, Flower Dress: Forever 21, Skirt: American Apparel, Crochet Top: Forever 21

Spacey groovy shit.
Fringed Tank: Forever 21, Geometric Dress: Forever 21, Tie Dye Skirt: ASOS, Spacey Cropped Shirt: Warehouse

Quick Post! Leopard Shorts: Two Ways

Found these fantastic leopard print shorts at TJ Maxx for $12 the other day! While I wasn’t sure what I was going to wear them with, I couldn’t bear to leave them behind.  Today, I discovered that they’re pretty versatile, switching from girly/preppy to slightly edgy with ease.

Shirt: Abercrombie and Fitch, Belt: Target, Shorts: TJ Maxx

Kimono Jacket: Target, Tank: American Apparel, Shorts: TJ Maxx, Starfish Necklace: Vintage

 

You’d Better Not Mess With Major Tom.

Ello, lovelies! Just a short little post before I slip into my post-school nap.

This was before red solo cup night at the bar…where I gathered together all my athletic skills (ha) and won a bunch of t-shirts! Are bar games my true talent in life?

Top & Belt: Target, Sweater: American Eagle, Jeans: Hollister, Flats: Old Navy, Necklace: Aerie, Earrings: Gift

My absolute favorite necklaces in the world! Necklaces: Vintage, Aerie

Felt like wearing black on black today, but realized I couldn’t do without color.  Earrings: Charlotte Russe

Completely forgot I had this skirt until today, but I really, really am head over heels for the print.  Skirt: Charlotte Russe

So Breezy.

Damn squinty eye, haha. I’m absolutely in love with this dress.  It was one of those things where I saw it and went “Eh, it’s cute, but would I ever wear it?” but it ended up being perfect for both summer and winter! Dress: Angie

Paired it with some plum colored tights.  Tights: Charlotte Russe

Again, something I thought I wouldn’t really wear, but I wear all the time.  Boots: Minnetonka

Faaaavorite earrings of mine.  Scored these babies at a Claire’s 10 for $5 sale haha. I’m obsessed with octopi.

Recently turned 21 and here I am with my first drink of the day, none other than Hamms (don’t mind the Old Style mug) Tank and Kimono Jacket: Target

Took the time to do some groovy woods exploration last weekend. Jacket: The North Face, Sunnies: Betsey Johnson, Scarf: some random brand at TJ Maxx

<3333

Oh, messy room, as always.  Jeans and top: Target

The most fun print I’ve recently found…and it was only $8!

But the Sea Does Not Change.

Hi, beautiful people! Yes, I fell off the earth again…blame it on finals week, Christmas, New Year’s, and overall laziness/lack of inspiration.  So far, winter break has provided me with a grooooovy little new camera that I feel like I’ll forever be figuring out and a few neat opportunities to put it to use.

I always manage to spend a decent amount of time out in the woods with my friend, Joey, when I come home. I think he's much more awesome than this picture would suggest haha.

Hung out in the park for a bit. Found this giant stick in a garbage can...I've never understood why people throw sticks away, rather than just throw them back on the ground...

La di da. Jacket: JCPenney...it's old, but everyone asks.

Put the stick to use and drew a Pikachu...eh, if you can call it that.

Apparently this doesn't look like me. Ah, well, I like it. Earrings: Charlotte Russe

Strange little genie bottle o' booze, direct from Croatia-land. Happy New Year's to me.

One of the best old guys you'll ever meet. Dress: TJ Maxx, Belt: PacSun, Earrings: Charlotte Russe

Daytripping in Duluth 🙂 Jacket: TJ Maxx, Scarf: Jones New York, Sunnies: Betsey Johnson, Tights: American Apparel, Boots: Target

Playing the role of "awkward thinking tourist". Mittens: Wintergreen

Found a baby snowman on a bench.

...and broke his head off.

I'm living a sheer, sheer life lately. Flowy feelings with almost all of my clothes. Shirt: TJ Maxx, Kimono Jacket: Target

A selfie...Lame, I know. I'm always obsessed with oversized clothing, and I'm especially obsessed with mint green lately, so I basically died when I found this mint green men's XL sweater at Ragstock for only $6. Clothing gods, you have shone down on me once again.

It’s a Supernatural Delight.

Ah, what a slap in the face of my blogging hobby I received today.  After finally becoming inspired to post again, I logged onto WordPress only to find that the entire website had been revamped…well, kind of.  After much searching and confusion, I finally figured out where to post, so here I am, ready to update all of you lovely (and loyal) blog readers on what I’ve been up to since I flung myself off the face of the blogging world.

Winter is my enemy, and while I know I’ll never be able to defeat it, I’ve been trying to keep myself on a sunny track of life.  Music, music, music.  Happy music keeps me going most of the time.  Some of my more recent favorite videos:

The Zombies – Summertime.  I’ve always been in love with Janis Joplin’s voice singing this song, but eh, she may have some competition.

The Dutchess and the Duke – Mary.  No need for description of amazingness.  Just watch.

Blitzen Trapper – Furr.  Gah, I’ve thought this song was groovy for a while now, and I only recently looked to see if there was a video.  Indeed, there is, and it’s groovy as well.

Aside from listening to tunes, I’ve been trying to embrace the cold weather by busting out my coat collection, being especially happy about my newest addition: the bright yellow coat :]

As well as coats, I’ve been gung-ho about my scarves.

And, as much as I love color, my wardrobe has started to make a shift toward warm colored, cozy goodness.

L to R: BDG, Forever 21, Target, O'Neill, Forever 21, Abercrombie and Fitch, Kimchi Blue, O'Neill (yes, I bought this sweater in multiples...surprise, surprise), Old Navy, TJ Maxx, Target.

What has been saving my hair from dry wintery disgustingness:

Let's just not wash our hair and say we did.

In other news, sleep has fallen to the wayside, resulting in too much listening to *Nsync and Backstreet Boys Pandora, and coming up with brilliant thoughts, especially after Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” came into the mix one night.

“I have to wonder if Jack’s statement of “Winning that ticket, Rose, was the best thing that ever happened to me…it brought me to you.” in Titanic still held true as he was listening to her creepily sing that little song while his leg blood was freezing into pure ice because that damn bitch Rose wouldn’t share that door with him.”

Other than silly Titanic thoughts, I’ve been sipping many pumpkin spice lattes (and wishing they were around all year), enjoying wearing boots,  daydreaming of sipping Red Stripe on a Jamaican beach again, and trying to reap as much money from this creep as possible.

More intriguing entries to come. Love, love.

Put on Your Red Shoes and Dance the Blues.

There’s only fifty-two weekends in a year, but they seem like they’re happening all the time!  Needless to say, ah, it’s Monday again, and I’m desperately wishing it was Friday, even though Friday marks the last weekend of the summer. (Boo.)

Came home for the weekend and felt like I had fallen down the rabbit hole and landed in a completely different era of time.  Classic cars make me swoon, especially my ’66 Chrysler Newport, but sadly, dad didn’t spiff her up and enter her in the show, so here I am with his ’48 Pontiac Silver Streak.  So sparkly, so snazzy.  Dress:  TJ Maxx, Belt: American Eagle, Bag: Forever 21, Shoes: Minnetonka.

Red is my absolute favorite color for shoes, and any shoe that pushes me over six feet tall (I swear the weather really is different once you reach the six foot mark), is a shoe worth having.  Fell deeply in love with these things a while ago, and finally made them mine on Friday.

Shoes: Target.

My parents have a small yard, but it’s filled with treasures.  It’s so hard to resist not plucking these beauties from their pots and sticking them in my hair!

 Realizing I was a goon for ever being indecisive about this dress.  

I really wish the beads/braids combo I got in Jamaica would last forever…I have a feeling I’m going to attempt to brush my hair (which is not something I often do) and rip an entire braid out.  Ah, well.  Necklace:  American Eagle, Belt: Target.

While this dress slightly reminds me of a witch costume, the fact that it has sheer wizard sleeves makes it so much more awesome.  Not to put words in his mouth, but I’d say that even Merlin would covet this.  Dress: TJ Maxx (where else?!)

I’m not sure how McDonald’s can call their late night menu a late night menu without offering the one thing anybody could ever want at 1 a.m.: The Big Mac.  Satisfied my early morning needs with some McChickens with cheese and a few cherry pies, instead.  Shirt:  Target, Necklace: Borrowed from mom, Sweater:  Nabbed from my great aunt’s closet.

Of all the junk that has been in the family junk drawer over the years, these glasses are my favorite find…If only I knew where they came from!

While mom and dad are on vacation, I’m taking every opportunity to raid mom’s closet for goodies, and I really must say that the woman has some pretty cool stuff amidst some stragglers that have been clinging inside her dresser drawers since the early 90s hehehe. ❤

Red Stripe, Rasta, and Rum.

Hello, beautiful people!  After spending a long weekend in gorgeous Negril, Jamaica, I’m back in Minnesota, loving my tan and missing the fact that there is no longer a beachfront bar next door that I can walk to barefoot and legally have a drink.

Starting off the trip the right way with a big Caramel High Rise and an apple fritter from Caribou, where else?  Keeping things comfortable in my favorite sweater: BDG, Urban Outfitters, tee shirt: Volcom, leggings (in a color Peg Bundy would dieeee for): American Apparel, and moccasins: Minnetonka.

First purchase in Jamaica, I’m proud to say.  Bought these babies in a supermarket that was playing a dashing mix of mostly Backstreet Boys…needless to say, it was a lovely way to get acquainted with the country.

Ah, such a lovely sunset for our first evening!  While surrounded by this beauty, I celebrated by cracking open a Red Stripe or two, then wandering next door to see what 2-for-1 rum punch night had in store for me.  Follow the rum punch with a delicious Caribbean Sky (rum, pineapple juice, and blue curacao), and well, it led to a night of worshipping the porcelain gods and an early bedtime haha.

Feeling much groovier the next morning, I took advantage of the fact that we had a bottle opener attached right to our front door and strolled along the beach sipping the breakfast of champions.  Swimsuit: Abercrombie and Fitch.

The lovely lady who made it all happen!  My cousin, Margie, took me on vacation…gahh…isn’t that fantastic?  Loving her orange swimsuit 🙂

Going snorkeling…ah, such amazing little critters in the coral reef, let me tell you.  Felt like I was an extra in Finding Nemo when I was swimming through a cluster of tiger fish and creeping on sting rays.  What could’ve made the experience more out of this world?  A spacey swimsuit, of course.  If I could have every surface of my life covered in this array of galaxies, planets, and brilliant colors (oh my!), I probably would.  Swimsuit: Volcom.

Going clubbing, hey!  Had a blast and a half at The Jungle…it was absolutely magnificent.  You know, one of those nights you wish you could save somewhere and pull back out every now and then.  I brought some terribly cute shoes along with me, but when there’s sand everywhere, flip flops kind of win.  This shirt makes me absolutely starry eyed.  Top: TJ Maxx, Skirt: Target, Bag: PacSun, Flip Flops: Abercrombie and Fitch.

Everyday was pure sunshine and magic on Negril’s beautiful Seven Mile Beach! At this point in time, I was well into getting my tan on, and loving every minute of it.  Top: Target, Bottoms: Hollister, Hat: American Eagle, Sunnies: TJ Maxx.

Even shadows keep it fabulous.

On our way to dinner!  I could get used to transporting myself from place to place strictly by beachfront travel.  Dress: Billabong (Thanks, guys at PacSun for selling this baby to me for $7!)

Oh, probably one of the best dinners I’ve had for a verrrry long time.  I basically lived off jerk chicken the entire time I was on vacation, and this was by far the best way jerk chicken was utilized.  Norma’s Restaurant, you are spot on with your jerk chicken penne with basil and sun-dried tomatoes.  Absolute genius.

I wish my hair looked like this every day, for some reason.  Strapless swimsuits = a must if you don’t want obnoxious tan lines.  Top: Target.

Rasta swimsuit, yah.  Got this puppy for $9 at TJ Maxx (is that legal?!) and couldn’t resist considering I was heading to Jamaica soon.  Swimsuit: Volcom.

Having a splendid night, no doubt.  Some lovely lady braided/beaded my hair on the beach…ah, I hope these last for “months and months” like she boasted. Top: American Eagle.

The last night presented us with another mesmerizing sunset…ahhh…swoon, swoon.  Discovered a note I wrote to myself on my phone from our last day (which I really don’t recall writing) that said “Today was the day Ice Cube was rapping about.”…yup, if that doesn’t sum up a day in Jamaica, I’m not sure what will.  😉

Romance is Where You Find It.

Are there any original guys out there anymore?  Or is the problem more like, the original guys are out there, but they don’t know how their originality will come off, so they play the common card?

To me, common is okay, but uncommon is much more intriguing.  I guess I’ve never understood the appeal in red roses (too perfect looking), chocolate (I hate chocolate…), and those flashy wedding ring commercials from Kay or Zales or whatever (thousands of other women are wearing the exact same wedding ring…how is that special?!).  But it’s an easy fix, I suppose.  A majority of girls wouldn’t complain about such things, but hm, if a romance of mine went awry, I’d probably be hauling that rock from Kay down to Pawn America in a flash and trading it up for something like this:

An octopus tentacle ring...making me swoon more than a diamond ever could.

And dinner…well, dinner is not always romantic either.  Being a lover of bargains and deals and cheap things (0h my!), I guess I rarely justify dropping a good amount of money on anything as “worth it”.  We can eat at some shmoozy place, or we can eat at Burger King.  You can spend thirty bucks on my food and make me feel awful because in my mind I will feel like it wasn’t worth it, or you can throw a fiver down and equally satisfy my stomach.  Plus, cheap and dumpy places are always so much more interesting.  First off, you don’t have to worry about strange things like which fork is which, because chances are, there is only one fork, or a spork, or no utensils whatsoever.  Second, there are always much more captivating folks to people watch in divey places than fancy ones, and who doesn’t like gazing at fascinating scenery while they dine?

To me, romance is finding someone who actually likes things I like, and doesn’t just pretend to like them because I do.  Romance is Dean Martin at two in the morning, and romance is not worrying about sleep, because coffee will always exist.  Romance is getting all dressed up just to put on Rod Stewart’s “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” and dancing like fools in a kitchen while burning toast, drinking wine, and sharing a cigar.  Romance is throwing rocks, and pulling over to pick wildflowers, and finding caterpillars, and frosty eyelashes.  Romance is random crap found at garage sales, and a bite on the nose, and holding hands with only one finger.

Romance isn’t a hundred dollar bill, and romance isn’t truffles, and romance isn’t all the gems in the world.  Romance is finding someone who is equally as unique as you, and applying an appreciation of each other’s uniqueness to your relationship to keep it from being a total bore.  At least, I feel this is what it should be.  Set your quirkiness free, folks.

Brahther.

There comes a time when every bro has a little growing up to do.  It’s time for him to make the next leap, leave some douchebaggery behind (or not), and become a man, man.  So, one night, after many a watery, light beer, he may get down on one knee (or not…he is a douchebag, after all), pop the question to his girlfriend (an obvious “ten”, duh.), and make things official.  After a year or two, and of course, multiple watery, light beers, this power couple of awesomeness might decide to pass on all of their excellent genes, cause it’d be a huge waste not to, and bam…the bro father, aka, Brahther, is born.

Brahther soon realizes that this whole pregnancy thing was kind of a bust, and immediately curses Keystone for his actions.  Wifey, who was a total “ten” at the beginning of this mishap has gradually drifted her way into sevens-ville as the second trimester has plodded on.  Knowing this baby will soon be born, Brahther strategically plans a golf weekend with “the guys” around the due date.  Disgusting birth images successfully avoided, as well as sand traps.  Plaid shorts clad and wiping his brow, he waltzes into the hospital to see the child that has been the subject of a dozen screened calls from his immediate family.  No baby chit-chat can be had when there’s still 3 holes left…err, make that 4.  That beer cart girl had been eyeing him up for hours.

Strolling over to one of those plastic baby boxes, his eyes light up.  Amidst all these lame female babies lies the true gem, complete with penis.  Baby Bro.  “Do they make jerseys this small?”, ponders Brahther.  Scooping up the eight pound bundle, he snaps a quick self-photo with his newfound friend, then realizes his hair lost some of its’ gelled splendor during golf and deletes it.  “Sorry, little bro”, he says, “I’m not fresh enough to stick this on Facebook”.  Baby Bro gets shoved back into his little box, and Brahther wanders over to take a peek at Wifey.

After walking in the room, walking back out, checking the room number again, and walking back in, he realizes that, yes, this sweaty, disheveled mess with rage in her eyes is the “ten” he once knew.  Eventually, Baby Bro and Wifey, who Brahther now refers to as “Six-and-a-Half”, return home.  After a few more years, two more Baby Bros have been popped out, and there are more little fingerprints and applesauce smears on his big screen than Brahther can handle.  “Only one of these kids can catch a football”, Brahther complains, “And how long does it take their skulls to develop before they can crush cans on them?”  This kid thing had essentially turned out for the worst.

One messy divorce and what seemed to be a lifetime of child support payments later, Brahther was free once again.  Overjoyed, yet a wee bit saddened by the fact that he only had to see his spawn twice a month and every other holiday, Brahther decided to make his place the ultimate chill pad for the little Bros, complete with a backyard fort constructed entirely out of Keystone cases.  Eventually, the little Bros grew into full blown bros themselves, beer ponging their way through bullshit degrees, gelling each strand of hair to perfection, and loving ’em and leaving ’em.  Legend has it that because of Brahther and all the other Bro-Dads like him, the age-old saying has since been changed from “Son of a bitch” to “Son of a bro”, and to that, Brahther raises his beer bong.