Atlanta Street Food Festival

This past weekend was an unusually busy one for me. I spent all day Saturday in the city at the Atlanta Street Food Festival and Atlantic Station. I must say that the food festival was the highlight of my summer and I am extremely grateful for my best friend finding it. For those of you who might not know what the Atlanta Street Food Festival is, it is a festival where over forty food trucks gathered in Piedmont Park to give the public a chance to experience various dishes and expand their pallets. This was my first food truck experience and none of them disappointed. Through out the course of the day I had Peach Bubble Tea, Asian Tacos, a Japanese soda called Ramune, Acai Berry Tea (courtesy of Keurig), and a Chocolate Sea Salt Pop. Aside from the AMAZING food, my favorite part about the fair was that a percentage of proceeds went to a charity and this year it was The Giving Kitchen. 

My best friend Caroline and I with our The Bubble Tea Truck Peach Bubble Tea Caroline is an incredibly talented artist and writer so please check out her stuff at Wattpad and Etsy!

Bento Bus Asian Tacos with Teryaki Chicken, seasoned lettuce, Asian pico de gallo, tempura bits, and special sauce. Also, the hardest soda bottle I have ever had to open in my 18 years.
 

King of Pops Chocolate Sea Salt Popsicle 

My free Keurig Acai Berry Vitamin Burst Tea

 Since this was the only festival I will be attending this summer, I tried to dress the part (without going full-blown Coachella) with an old H&M empire waist dress, H&M sunglasses, and Forever 21 boots. Later on in the evening I added a Forever 21 boyfriend blazer.

H&M dress similar here, Forever 21 blazer, Forever 21 boots

All in all, I had a great time experiencing new foods with old friends and would definitely recommend anyone to try a street food festival at least once in their lifetime.

Thanks for reading! xox

Sunday Best

H&M dress (similar here), Kohl's necklace, Tiffany & Co. bracelet

As sad as this may sound, one of my favorite things about the weekend is getting dressed up for Sunday. A lot of the time I would much rather stay at home and spend my Sundays surfing Tumblr and YouTube but when we do step out on Sundays I do use the day to put on some of my more dressier outfits and this has been one of my favorite outfits all year.

The dress was a H&M purchase from last spring but it did not begin to see life outside of my closet until August. It played a large role in my senior year of high school because I wore it for both senior pictures and graduation and if its one thing I love it's a classic piece steeped in nostalgia.  

The necklace does not hold as many memories but is still a very lovable and well worn piece from a Kohl's sale.

The bracelet is from Tiffany & Co. and was a Christmas gift from a few years ago and because it is such a classic piece I know I'll be wearing it for years.

Thanks for reading! xox

New Classics

Old Navy shirt, SheInside skort, French Connection sandals, ASOS watch

I believe that I made it quite clear in an earlier post that I am in love with this skort, and with that being said I am quite surprised at how little I have actually worn it. It embodies all of my favorite current trends but it is such a classic piece that I know I'll be wearing it for years. 

Another classic piece that I have in my wardrobe is my denim shirt. I believe I bought it last spring when denim shirts were a big trend but only wore it a few times because it I could not find too many ways to wear it. However, in the past year I have realized how diverse it can truly be and am looking forward to experimenting with new ways to wear it. Because my style incorporates classic colors and prints in tailored shapes I never thought I would really wear such a casual piece but I am particularly in love with how I paired the two pieces because of the overall juxtaposition of the crisp, clean skort and the loose, casual shirt.

I love its simple shape and classic wash because it makes it seem like such a neutral piece that will be perfect for layering. The soft material also doesn't hurt either!

Thanks for reading! xox

Also, if you have any suggestions for what you would like to see on the blog please feel free to tell me in the comments below or any of the social networking sites mentioned above! I would love to hear any feedback you guys have!

Breaking Tradition on the 4th

Vintage top similars can be found here and here, Old Navy shorts, ASOS watch, Old Navy sandals

I hope you all had a great 4^th of July! Mine was quite eventful and a little untraditional. For as long as I can remember I have spent Independence Day in Indiana with my family where we would cookout and launch massive amounts of fireworks. Because of work I was unable to go this summer and instead I spent the holiday with close friends making vegan food, watching “Jaws”, and launching some somewhat disappointing fireworks. Throughout the day I constantly thought of how fun it was to try some new things and began to think of other traditions that might change now that I’ll be on my own. Despite the anticlimactic ending I really enjoyed my nontraditional Independence Day and cannot wait to make new traditions and encourage you all to do the same.

My Independence Day outfit was a mix of vintage and old purchases from Old Navy. The top is a vintage find courtesy of my mom, the shorts and sandals are both from Old Navy. I will try to find similar items and link them.

Thanks for reading! xox

Close friends

My failed attempt of spelling with sparklers! : (

  

Summer Haul Pt. 1

Hi guys! I would just like to start off by saying thank you so much for reading my blog! It took me a long time to build up the courage and confidence to start it, let alone continue it. That being said I am so excited to share my first ever haul with you all! I recently went on an unplanned shopping excursion with my best friend that ultimately led to us both buying QUITE a lot. I have also been ordering things for school offline in an effort to slowly build up my college wardrobe, and because of this I will be doing a few separate hauls over the next few weeks and I cannot wait until I show you everything!!!

Crepe Woven Boyfriend Blzer can be purchased here

To start things off I have a white crepe blazer from Forever 21. This was a purchase from the very beginning of summer and although I have been daydreaming of various ways of wearing it, I have not had the chance yet. I am currently obsessed with white right now and have always been a fan of boyfriend blazers so this blazer was clearly needed in my closet.

Refined Asymmetrical Mini Skirt can be purchased here

Close up of asymmetrical hem with exposed zipper

When I bought the blazer mentioned above I envisioned wearing it with this miniskirt and a white tank. Along with me loving white right now I also love how popular asymmetrical bottoms and exposed zippers are right now. This skirt embodies both trends, but is still simple enough for me to wear it even after both are dead and gone. The skirt also has a cream-colored faux leather trim at the top. I am especially excited to wear the skirt because its material is cool enough for me to wear this season, but will also keep me warm if I want to wear it with tights in the fall.

Harem pants similars can be purchased here

Close up of the abstract print

To round up my Forever 21 purchases is this pair of printed harem pants. As I was searching for the link on the F21 website I noticed that jogger and harem pants look extremely similar in style. After some brief research I am here to tell you the difference between the two. Joggers tend to have a more relaxed look (to imitate sweatpants) and are made with a more casual, inexpensive materials such as cotton and rayon. Harem pants on the other hand are more like baggy trousers. These pants have a plethora of names with most of them deviating from two people who made them famous: MC Hammer and Princess Jasmine. Because these are such an unusual purchase I will be doing a post on the various ways I wear them.

Racerback draped tank similar can be found here

Moving on to H&M, I bought a simple racerback tank with a draped hem. If there is ever a time to wear a loose white tank top it is in the middle of a hot summer in the South. I have unfortunately worn my last loose tank to pieces but knowing the quality standard of H&M I should be having this one for a while.

Abstract printed scarf similar can be found here

A close up of the print (camera does not do it justice)

Next up is a beautifully printed scarf that is perfect for the cooler days of summer. The scarf has become my favorite piece at the moment and it most likely because of its flawless combination of colors such as coral, navy blue, sky blue, gray, ivory, and even maroon. 

Unfortunately, I was not blessed with fingers that easily fit rings. I have always struggled with finding rings that properly fit without cutting off my circulation and after the midi-ring trend became popular I found it quite sad to love the trend so much yet not be able to try it. With these rings however, I can finally join the trend and the mixed metal rings in the set allow me to switch up what type of jewelry I want to wear with them.

Two tone cat eye sunglasses similars here 

I wear my glasses quite often so I never wear sunglasses that much, but since blush pink is one of my favorite colors I will definitely have to start wearing my contacts more! I love the frame of these as well as contrasting tone on the arms.

ASOS Boyfriend Watch can be purchased here 

Last and certainly not least is my ASOS Boyfriend Watch in Rose Gold. I had a similar one by XOXO a few years ago but had to give it up after it was destroyed from day to day wear and tear. I have literally been eyeing it for a little over a year and was ECSTATIC when it finally arrived (although how it arrived is a story for another day). This piece has already been a staple in my daily wardrobe and I must say it has made me feel like an actual adult (which is both terrifying and exciting)!

Thank you for reading! xox

Summer Semi-Formal

F21 dress (sold out), BCBG heels,  vintage clutch 

Although I wear black religiously in both the colder and warmer months I do like to switch things up with pastels, and this dress is one of my favorites. I originally bought this dress in a massive Forever 21 shopping spree a few years ago and just recently started wearing it. The peachy tone and exposed zipper make the dress surprisingly current, but I absolutely love how I can wear the dress as both a party dress and somewhat formal dress.

Although it is hard to see in the picture, the front flap of the zipper can be pulled down to show a more abstract silhouette that would be perfect for going out. 

With the zipper completely pulled up the dress can easily be worn to a semi-formal event such as an interview, formal outing, honors chapel (which is wear I first wore it), and maybe even a cocktail party.

Thank you for reading! xox

P.S. I am SO sorry for the infrequent posting, things have been quite busy with work and getting ready for school! I will definitely be getting a schedule together so that I can stick to it. Also, feel free to follow me on any of the social networking sites mentioned above!

June Beauty Favorites

When I first thought of starting a blog I never thought of including a beauty aspect because of lack of experience and overall expertise. However, I think blogging my beauty journey will be a fun learning experience for me and maybe even a little entertaining for my readers. So I will be starting my first beauty blog post with “June Favorites”.

First up is Maybelline’s Dream Liquid Mousse in “Caramel ‘Dark 2’”. This was actually the second foundation I ever bought and lately I have been blending this and my other foundation together for an overall even, glowing look. I was introduced to this product by my best friend (who also takes all of my pictures for the blog) after I forgot my makeup bag at my house and was in desperate need for cover-up. I instantly feel in love with how easily it went on how glowing it made my skin without it feeling heavy and oily. Because of the scorching Southern summer heat I easily sweat off makeup, but thankfully this product is surprisingly persistent.

Next up is my favorite fragrance of the month, Our Moment by One Direction (insert any cliché boy band joke here, I’ve heard them all). All jokes aside, I actually love the grapefruit and berry notes, especially for warmer months. I was pleasantly surprised by how often I’ve started wearing the subtly fruity scent because for as long as I can remember I have been a strictly vanilla scented fragrance wearer, but around the time of my graduation I decided that fragrances needed a mature upgrade. I was not completely ready to give up my vanilla fragrances, so I started wearing both and I must say that I am quite happy with the results.

This Maybelline One by One Volum’ Express is also a product that I mooched off of my best friend.  I was actually looking to switch mascaras and I must say that this particular one has caused my recent obsession with mascara. It not only lengthens and separates, but it also stays put even when I begin pouring sweat and when my eyes begin to water.

I am quite positive that every makeup-wearing girl in the world has an EOS Lip Balm in her makeup bag and it is not hard to see why. Not only does it actually moisturize my lips, but I have also realized that it does make my lips plumper. My favorite thing about EOS is that I don’t have to constantly reapply it throughout the day. This particular flavor is Summer Fruit.

Once again, my best friend has proved to be my beauty godmother because she also turned me onto this Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curling Gel Soufflé. For any of you who have seen my Instagram you might have noticed that when my hair is not straight, it is quite wavy and VERY volumous. In an effort to grow my hair out I am going completely natural this summer, which means that I will not be straightening my hair at all, or using any heat on it. Despite the fact that I am natural for most of the year, I am experimenting with new styles and this soufflé makes it so much easier to try new styles. I apply it at night and when I wake up in the morning my hair is extremely soft, shiny, and it seems as though my split ends have disappeared overnight. My hair has not looked or felt this healthy in a long time and because of this I intend on buying the entire Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus collection.

Finally, my favorite nail polishes of June (and all time) are Mint Candy Apple, Bikini So Teeny, Urban Jungle, and Turquoise and Caicos by Essie. I could never justify the thought of buying nail polish that almost cost ten dollars, but Essie polishes are definitely worth the price. I am currently wearing Mint Candy Apple on fingers and Bikini So Teeny on my toes and I have gotten a great deal of compliments on both. Traditionally, I only wear coral and light pink on toes and jewel tones on fingers, but I figured that if I was finally going to step outside of my comfort zone why not do so with such gorgeous colors as these? Unlike other polishes that I have used, Essie polishes have been able to survive chores, hair washings, sports, and everything else that causes chipped nails. Although I still think of them as splurges, I will definitely be buying more!

Thank you for reading my first beauty post! Please feel free to comment or message me about what you think! xox

Vintage Black

The amount of vintage tops I have because of my mother is uncanny. Growing up, things would mysteriously end up in my closet and upon further inspection I realized they were some of my mother's clothes from her teenage years or even her "pre-Taylor" days as she likes to call them. As I said in my first post my mother had quite the taste for IZOD back her day and thankfully she never threw them away. This top however is not one of her IZOD items but from another label called GroupLimited (sounds quite retro to me). Considering the wide range of black items I have in my closet there are numerous ways I can wear this top and I am quite excited! I can already see myself going to some after-hours college outing in this top... 

Thanks for reading and feel free to comment or follow me on any of the sites mentioned on the header! xox

Similar can be found here!

Bold in Uniform

Ralph Lauren top (similar here), black skirt, silver oxfords (similar here)

I must admit that living in the South has been an interesting experience. I am incredibly thankful for living here because it made me the person I am today and I am quite happy with that person, unfortunately, because of its conservative nature I was often scared to try new styles. As I mentioned in a previous post I never liked to experiment with fashion too much and would normally just stick to my typical uniform of circle skirts and cardigans. Although I still wear both items today (and quite religiously I might add) I have learned to pair them with some of my more bold pieces. 

As you can see I still wear my simple full skirts but paired it with one of my favorite items in my closet, my silver oxfords, or brogues if you prefer to call them that. Much like my asymmetrical skort, these were insanely hard to find for  under $100. I am proud to say that I bought these for only $8 at thrift shop. Of course, I was a bit panicked at the thought of wearing secondhand shoes, but after realizing that I would never find such an amazing deal I decided I would just drench them in alcohol and Lysol and take the risk. Needless to say, I have no regrets and will be returning to the thrift shop to see what other treasures I might be able to find. 

Thanks for reading! xox

Going Out & Switching It Up

I will always admit that I would much rather stay home with some hot chocolate and Tumblr, but as time gets closer to my college move-in date I am absolutely in love with the idea of going out on the weekends. The few times I did spend my Saturday night at a party in high school I went all out with hair, nails, make-up, and a great outfit of course! This dress happens to be one of my favorites and I cannot wait to wear it next year, although I will most likely be wearing more party appropriate shoes next time. 

This dress was made by Material Girl and despite the mesh paneled cutouts it was actually bought for a family reunion banquet (and by my grandmother no less!) . The first time I put it on I felt incredibly confident and slightly edgy. The form fitting dress was quite the departure from my normal A-line skirt and jeweled cardigan that I would typically wear for formal functions. It's been two years since I first stepped outside my comfort zone and wore the dress and I must admit I have loved experimenting with new items ever since! 

Thanks for reading! xox