A Scarf Story {+ Kushyfoot review}

tee: ON
jeans: exact
Chucks: exact
scarf: gift (Thanks, Mom!) | option 1, 2
necklace: born pretty (use code KNT10 for 10% off)
purse: francesca's | similar
watch: exact

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There is an interesting story behind this scarf.  About seven years ago my mom came to visit and she wore this exact scarf.  It looked amazing on her, so naturally, I coveted it instantly.  After finding out where she bought it, I ran to the store only to find that it was no longer available.  Ever since, I've jokingly (aka not jokingly) always told her that if she ever gets tired of it to send it my way, and every so often I pester her to find out if that day has come.  Recently I went to visit her, and while there we sorted through all her clothing to determine what should stay and what should be donated.  As mothers and their fashion blogger daughters do.  As if to taunt me, we came across the scarf.  Again I asked if she was ready to relinquish it to me, and again, I was denied.  And then just about a week after returning home, I received a little birthday gift in the mail from my mom containing the most beautiful, most lengthily anticipated, most patiently awaited, and certainly the most special and appreciated scarf I have ever known.  The little sneak had been planning it all along and decided to surprise me by sending it rather than give it to me right then and there.  And I love her all the more for it!

...And now for an awkward change of subject, let's talk about feet, shall we?  Specifically, Kushyfoot socks.  I got a chance to try out all of the cute little foot coverings you see below.

^^ massaging anklet socks, low cut & ultra low cut with padding, & sport socks

                             ^^ sports socks                              ^^ low cut          

                             ^^ ultra low cut                            ^^ padding on the bottom

                    ^^ sheer anklet socks               ^^ massaging squiggles on the bottom

With warm weather approaching, I can no longer rely on long pants or tall boots to cover up my super comfy, so very flattering tube socks.  In the warmer months, I love to wear low top shoes like Toms, Chucks, Keds, & Sperrys (sounds like a group of golfers at a country club), but hate when my socks show.  What I hate even more is when my low cut socks slip off my feet.  I've tested these puppies out several times now, and can say with 100% certainty that these socks really stay put.  Even the ultra low cut ones.  In fact, they stay put so well that they tend to get a little tight and dig into my ankles & toes if I wear them for more than a few hours.  But that just may be due to the fact that I have larger than your average short girl's feet.  If you look closely in the photos above, you can see the pink athletic socks peeking out of my sneakers.  They stayed just like that all day, and I never once had to readjust.  I'd definitely recommend them to protect your feet while wearing low tops, flats, and even heels (where the padding will really come in handy).  Viva los summer shoes!

Disclosure: I received these samples in exchange for a review but no other compensation was provided.  All opinions are 100%  my own cos that's just how I roll.

Linking up here today.

Swirly Twirly + A Giveaway

{ON tee & hat (option) | chicwish skirt, c/o | qupid sandals (similar) | gifted necklace (cute option) | fossil watch}

I think I've made my feelings for maxis abundantly clear.  So when Chicwish was kind enough to send over this beautiful, lovely, swirly, twirly skirt, I was probably more excited than any normal person should be.  It's pretty much exactly what I've been looking for in a maxi skirt - it's lightweight, it's floaty, and it's so versatile.  

Jealous?  Well don't be because you can win this awesomely adorable dress generously provided by Chicwish!  (It's a size medium but runs a little on the small side.)  The giveaway is open internationally, so everyone can enter!  Good luck!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linking up here today. 

She Bangs

{ON tee | f21 shorts | target sneakers | vintage kerchief | gifted necklace (similar), earrings (similar), bracelets}

This right here is an example of my "Oh my god it's so hot outside I can't stand to wear clothing but I really want to get fast food so I need to leave the house and I'll probably be arrested if I wear nothing, so fine I'll just put something on" kind of outfit.  At first I found myself reaching for a maxi dress for this muggy, 90 degree weather, but quickly remembered that I've already made that mistake once before.  I'm no genius, but I know better than to do the same thing twice and expect a different result.  The only exception: me circa 1989. The repeat offender?  Huge, teased bangs.  The result?  Never very flattering. But boy, I wasn't going to let that stop me from trying.  (Thank goodness I wasn't a teenager then, or things really might have gotten out of control.)

Linking here today. 

Extraneous Additions

{ON vest (similar), tee, shorts | target shoes (similar) | fossil watch | gifted necklace, earrings (similar), bracelets}

Whenever it's summer, there usually comes a point when I'm thankful for the days cool enough to wear layers.  Don't get me wrong - summer is my favorite and I kind of love hot days, but I think we can all agree that being creative with a tank, shorts, and sandals can only go so far when it's 93 degrees outside.  So when it's a cool 70, I feel really grateful for the chance to gussy up my outfit with some extraneous item of clothing.  Over the weekend I took advantage of the 75 degree day to add a totally non-essential vest to my ensemble.  Cool-hot days and unnecessary accoutrements; it's the little things that make me happy.


Linking today.

One of My Brighter Moments

{sears dress (cute option) | whoop tee shirt | qupid sandals (similar) | gifted necklace (similar) | c/o oasap ring}

These 90 degree days we've been having over the past week are really making it feel like summer.  However, this is precisely what not to wear on those kinds of days.  The dress was way too long, blocking the nonexistent breezes I kept hoping for, and trapping the heat in.  The tee shirt, while wonderful at reflecting light, also had a blanket-like effect and turned my own body against me by preventing its heat from escaping. 

Before you go thinking I'm a complete dummy for wearing this on such a hot day, I had worn this outfit a week ago when it was cooler, and I only put it on again to get some photos.  However, choosing to photograph this outfit on a hot, humid, sunny day, walking in the heat to this location, and standing around sweating in places I didn't even know could sweat for 15 minutes, was apparently totally within my realm of good decisions.  So, scratch that first sentence.  It may not have been my brightest moment.

Linking here.

The Wall.

{ON vest (similar) & tee | target jeans | payless shoes (cute option) | asos necklace | gifted bracelets}

I think this wall may just be my favorite wall ever.  I love that it's made of brick, and that the paint covering it is so old and weathered that it's peeling away in huge, lovely chunks, giving way to small peeks of the original beauty hidden beneath.  The wall has taken on an aged patina, revealing colors that only the passing of time can create: the red-brown of the crumbling bricks flecked with moss and weeds as it's slowly reclaimed by nature, the faint seafoam green a hint of a paint job long forgotten, the peachy off-white that's been neglected so long it's barely still capable of maintaining contact with the structure; even the runny, ruddy rust stains add a modicum of beauty to this debilitated delight.

...and that's what being a blogger will do to you.  You think things are going pretty well and then one day you realize that you've written an entire post about a wall.

Let's party.

Mon Petit Chapeau

{gap tee | f21 shorts | ON hat (similar) | payless shoes (similar) | kohls, groopdealz bracelets | fossil watch | havok necklace (giveaway win)}

I just need to take a moment to rejoice over this hat.  Yes, this one, single, on-clearance, unwanted, little $10 hat.  And it's because it really, truly fits!  Being the owner of one of the smallest heads of just about anyone I've ever met, it's a pretty big deal to find a flattering hat that's not indigenous to the kids' section of Target or Gap (ditto for sunglasses, but that's a post for another day).  Right now I'm going to go put on my fancy new chapeau and do a little happy dance to celebrate my foray into adult-intended headwear.


Linking up here.

Tree Hugger

Click here for the OASAP giveaway!  Hurry, it ends soon!

^please pardon my uber-chic camera bag there^

{ON cardi (old) | whoop tee (giveaway win; designed by Tara) | target maxi (similar) | blowfish sandals | fossil watch | target, f21 bracelets (similar 1, 2, 3)}

Since today is Arbor Day (go hug a tree, seriously, it'll make you smile.  Or better yet, plant a few!), it only seems fitting that today's photos were taken during a walk through a local park's cherry blossom festival a few days ago.  The weather predicted a sunny 70 degree day, hence the skirt & sandals.  In actuality it was 55 degrees and cloudy with 13mph winds that made me want to walk around shrouded in a blanket.  But alas, cherry blossoms are fleeting and we were not about to let some wildly inaccurate weatherman stop us from enjoying them.

And just for the sake of Arbor Day:

Aren't they just gorgeous??

Linking here today.