Another Year Bites The Dust

Top // Blazer // Jeans // Shoes // Necklace (Rocksbox) // Sunglasses

I debated what to do with this post for a couple weeks. Was I going to share all the fabulous knowledge I had acquired through the course of my twenty fifth year, or just make a list of all the outrageous gifts I wished I would receive. After much thought, and a couple PicMonkey collages of Tory Burch purses & an all black Michael Kors watch (not to drop hints on my wishlist), I decided to give y'all a little bit of who I am. 

I have had this blog for a little over a year, and while y'all see an awful lot of my face, my awkward laughing and sometimes outrageous outfit choices, there hasn't been a post really dedicated to getting to know me. And, obvi y'all are like totes interested. Insert wink face emoji. So without further adieu, here are 10 things you may or may not know about me. 

1. I absolutely hate coffee. Starting off on a negative one, but it really is gross. I love the way it smells, but I just can't imagine jolting my mornings with a cup of joe. So, if you ever see my Instagram with what looks like a Starbucks coffee, it is actually hot chocolate. My faux coffee. Since every blogger needs to have the classic, and perfectly IG-filtered foam latte shot. 

2. I collect fashion coffee table books. Ones by designers, style gurus, or filled with gorgeous and stylish images of women I aspire to be. I dream of one day having a bookshelf (or shelves) filled with fresh peonies, cute bookends I have made from figurines and spray painted metallic gold, via a Pinterest DIY and these books. My mom and I decided years ago, while she was in a panic to find Christmas presents for me, that I should start collecting something. I believe that was the year the double faced Mary-Kate & Ashley book came out, so the answer was obvious. 

3. I am terrible at communication with friends. I pride myself on being a great friend, always there to listen and try to help with any situation they might find themselves in. However, I can go weeks without talking to my best friends. Not out of care about them or their lives or that it doesn't pick up right where we left off, but just because I am just not that person. I can't stand constantly texting, probably because my life isn't all that exciting. But if they are reading, I hope they know that I am there, although I might not reach out as much as I should. Everyone has their flaws right?! 

4. I used to wear a full face of makeup, with no eyeliner. Let me preface this by saying that my full face of makeup was never like caked on and orange-tinted. In high school, on the weekends of course because what girl wears makeup to an all girls school, I used to do everything but eyeliner. I'm talking even for proms, dances or special events. ICK! I look back on and just cringe, why did no one tell me I looked absolutely ridiculous. In a fun twist of events, it is now my favorite product. And I only wear Shimmer Ivy Ink by Bobbi Brown. Not even a neutral. 

5. I get headaches if I go too long without sweet tea. I blame it on growing up in a house that always had two gallons of sweet tea in the fridge, as well as a pot on the stove ready to go. Chickfila is my favorite. 

6.  I was terrified to get in front of the camera for the blog.  I still am. I get very nervous in the beginning, hints the laughing. I didn't want to make it seem like I was trying to be a model, or have people think I was narcissistic. I just really enjoy fashion, and although I still think I am incredibly awkward in most of my photos, I have started to enjoy it. 

7. I hate cake. I still have no idea what I will do at my wedding. Thank goodness I love icing. 

8. I met my first love on a cruise I won in a raffle with my best friend from high school. I'll explain. My best friend and I split a raffle ticket for a 4 day cruise and WON! The guy who talked us into spending the $5 a piece for the ticket, did so by telling us this sob story about his illnesses and how our money would help his hospital bills. So we obvi had to enter, after we made sure it was actually legit. I found out via a phone call from my dad while at Gadzooks (throwback) a couple weeks after we entered. Fast forward to the second night of the cruise, while watching some really terrible karaoke, my friend and I saw this huge group of super cute guys making fun of this poor girl singing,  I called dibs on one. We met them later that night at the club on the ship. He grabbed me as I was leaving and asked me a bunch of questions like my name, where I was from and why I was leaving so soon. I can't remember what all I said and I completely forgot his name right after he told me, but figured I would never see him again. The next morning I hear my name while boarding the boat to the private island, coming from an adorable Alabama accent, and freaked. He ended up basically stalking me on the beach, in the most adorable way possible. And I mean, it ended up being pretty ok.... we did date on and off for about 4 years.  CRAZY. I haven't really been in love since. (not to get all downer on y'all)

9. My denim jacket is from sophomore year of high school. There are some items in your closet that you have an emotional attachment to, and that would be one of them. 

10. I am incredibly grateful for my loyal and fabulous readers! Whether you read every post, or just occasionally stop by. I really appreciate every comment, sweet word and friend I have made via the blog, and social media. I can't believe the connections that exist in the blogging world, and as I take year 26 straight on, I hope to continue to grow this world into something y'all continue to enjoy! 

Photos by Marianne Lucille Photography

THE One And Only Oscar.

Images via Marianne Lucille Photography

For y'all that don't know, I have now shared the same air as Anna Wintour. I mean, not the exact same air, since she was at the Oscar de la Renta exhibit at the SCAD Museum of Art a couple weeks before I was, but you indeed get the point. We walked the same floors, stood in the same room, placed our eyeballs on the same gorgeous gowns, therefore we are basically best friends. 

The other day, while eating pizza with my gal Marianne, a ritual we have for each blog shoot, we got the brilliant idea to shoot at this prestigious exhibit. As it is the first to showcase the art that Oscar was known for, since he left us to fend for our fashionable selves. To say that these gowns are breathtaking is an understatement. Curated by Andre Leon Talley, only the greatest are on display. Some loaned to the SCADMOA from the likes of several First Ladies, Oscar's wife and my girl Taylor Swift. 

If you are in the Savannah area, I definitely recommend you take some time to see this exhibit, it will be at the museum until May 3rd. 

What I decided to wear in the presence of Oscar's gowns, and believe me it was very thought out, will be on the blog MONDAY!! It features the most gorgeous coat!! 

The Big Fake Wedding

Hi ladies!! Today's post is all about weddings. Now, I will be the first to admit to y'all that I am no where near wedding bells. I am starting to believe I literally repel romantic relationships, almost as if "eternally single" is tattooed on my forehead with ink that only men can read.

However, I am in fact still a girl who gets excited about the idea of weddings, the union of two people who are so in love that they want to spend crazy amounts of money making sure everyone understands that. I love everything about them, from the flowers, to the dress, to the men in tailored suits, to the craziness that is just bound to happen. There is something gorgeously beautiful about the whole affair.

As I have been a bridesmaid in quite a few weddings, three just last year to be exact (photos above), I know there is a ton of planning that goes into making sure everything goes off without a hitch. Which is why the idea of the bridal show came into play, a way to make the choices easier, or perhaps harder with all the choices for the brides-to-be.

I am SUPER pumped to be invited to go to an alternative to the traditional bridal show in a couple weeks, The Big Fake Wedding. A show that lets the brides, and non-brides like myself, get immersed in a real life (but ultimately fake) wedding. That way they can see the vendors in action, not just at a booth with images of their work. Making the whole experience that much more real!

Mark your calendars ladies!! Use the code "HalfOffTheBFW" for 50% off your ticket and come be a guest to the most fabulous wedding of 2015! 

What are y'all's favorite part of a wedding?! 

Inside My Chaotic Life.

So, I've been in the same house since I was two, so this height chart in my closet is super cool. Clearly I haven't changed much since 2003/ 2005. Sad day. 

Much like my eclectic wardrobe, I like for my room to feel like it has taken years to create. It is of course, an extension of myself. A little all over the place, with pops of color and things everywhere. As crazy as it might seem, it actually does make sense. Organized chaos I like to think of it as. Although my mother would have a very different opinion. 

As I said before, my family has lived in the same house since I was about two, and since I decided to move back to my hometown from the ATL almost two years ago (EEEK!), I have moved back into my childhood room. Which, on the one hand is really cool and is home to some fabulous memories like Mary-Kate & Ashley movies with my sister, having literally every family Christmas at my house and rollerblading in the living room, around the kitchen and in the hallway. All great things. However, since I've been back there are some drawbacks as well. Like the closet. When they were building closets back in the 20's, they clearly did not think about the 21st century blogger gal who has to have options. 

Which is why I have had to get creative in my "organization" methods. Wicker baskets hold my denim, a thrifted cupcake stand houses my bracelets and trays from Home Goods pull the whole look together. 

I love colorful accessories, and really do enjoy showcasing them as part of my bedroom decor. I may, however, after taking these shots, invest in some lucite gear from GlamBoxes. 

Feelin' Hot Hot Pink.

Sweater (c/o Pink Blush) // Jeans // Shoes // Earrings // Necklace (c/o Diana Warner) //
Bracelets (Accessory Jane & Lundy's Boutique) // Watch // Sunnies

Happy Valentine's Eve! Is that a thing?! Well today decided to be absolutely freezing just about everywhere, yes #NYFW gals I'm talking about you. While there is a HUGE part of me having a major FOMO moment about not galavanting to the Kate Spade presentation, sipping champs with my pal Brad, I am not jealous at all about y'all's temps! EEPP! 

For this southern girl, the weather down here is cold enough. Like for reals, I was going to wear this adorbs cut-out sweater for my date with Mr. Grey tonight, but I think my shoulders might freeze off. Looks like my brand new blanket scarf from Aerie will make its debut. Thats right ladies, after what seems like an eternity, I have finally jumped on the bandwagon. Toot, toot. At least mine was on sale, for less than $15! Boop.

Eye Heart You.

Jacket (similar) // Tank // Leggings (c/o Lundy's Boutique) // Boots (c/o Diana Warner) // Bracelets // Watch // Earrings // Sunnies // Lip

As the most romantic day of the year fast approaches, it is easy to get caught up in the hoopla of it all. It doesn't matter if you're taken, single or have absolutely no clue what the heck you are because he is being scared or sketch or a boy, we can all get the FOMO syndrome. Where you think the grass might just be greener on the other side. 

I won't lie, as an eternally single gal (going on like six years y'all), I definitely see those lovey-dovey couples and part of me is like aw man, when's that gonna happen to me? Or why doesn't anyone want to hold my hand??! I use good smelling lotion!? I like to think I'm a pretty confident chick with the "I Don't Need A Man" mentality, but I'm only human y'all. 

But the thing we must remember, regardless of our relationship status this Valentine's Day is to "be you", much like my tank says in today's post! Coincidence?! Which is super cheesy, but whatevs. It's true! 

And to make sure to have a blast, whether its with your main squeeze, or a gaggle of best friends. I can promise I will be having all kinds of fun with my date. Pizza, girlfriends & Mr. Grey. 

YES PLEASE. 

Photos by Marianne Lucille Photography