:: Kimono You Didn’t ::

While my sister warned me that a heat wave had hit Park City, their heat wave is our early spring. The days could get quite warm, but the nights were fantastic – especially when I could wear pants and a sleeveless top or skirt and long-sleeved shirt with no worries.

During one of our strolls up and down Main Street, I stumbled upon an adorable boutique and my eyes lit up. Right in the center on a mannequin, the fringe swayed back and forth as the air conditioner rumbled. Yep – it was time to add a kimono to my wardrobe. I clearly loved it and wore it that night to dinner, obnoxiously playing with the fringe over and over.

Perhaps it reminds me of another favorite outfit – before matching separates were cool, topped off by a dash of fringe. I left a little gem for my loyal followers at the bottom. Your only way to respond will be “kimono you didn’t!!!”

Top – Kate Spade Saturday // Kimono – Park City Boutique Find // Jeans – Joe’s // Necklace – Dillard’s // Bag – Kate Spade // Bracelets – Park City Southwestern Boutique, David Yurman // Rings – both David Yurman // Sandals – Coach

 

” I bought a kimono last weekend. “

Oh no you didn’t. Oh yes I did.

 

:: Oppa Gingham Style ::

I absolutely cannot hear the word “gingham” without reminiscing over this song. It made its debut in my second year of teaching, with a group of five-year-olds more hip than their twenty-something teacher. We began using this song as part of “graphics practice,” which teaches students pre-writing skills from correct grip to letter formation. Everything is a game in PreK (if you’re good at it – better actors tend to find the best success), so they would create the formation when the song was playing, and freeze when I trickily paused the music. (Hey-o, fine motor skills, literacy AND self-regulation!)

But once Gangnam Style was introduced as a graphics practice song, I realized that I wasn’t as smart as I thought I was. Students jumped up, markers flew across the room (markers without caps), dry erase boards were tossed, and they were doing dance moves which would make Michael Jackson turn over in his grave. It. Was. Unreal. So, Gangnam Style has a special place in my heart (and a lot of data of dancing kiddos acting a fool on my phone).

Last week we visited my sister in Park City, Utah where I was unprepared (but overpacked) for the weather and even more so for the allergies which persisted. It is a beautiful place, and this Main Street is seriously the cutest. It rivals Solvang – I know, hard to believe! The days were VERY warm (although not humid), and the evenings were a bit chilly. It was a wonderful escape from the air which is currently trying to strangle me here in Oklahoma. I found myself layering a lot, and loved dressing for spring-like weather, since we often go from snow to pool in our neck of the woods!

When asked where I was headed at Salt Lake City’s local Lush counter (my skin started flaking the minute I stepped off the plane), I told the salesgirl and she replied with “Oh, ritzy.” But only after getting in my bubble, slathering three scrubs on my hands, and tangling my arm hair with some crazy lotion bar. When she pulled out the purple shampoo, we headed for the hills mountains. Who needs “ritzy” Gangnam Style?

Oppa Gingham Style!

 

 

Top: J. Crew

Skirt: Old Navy (no longer available – great option here)

Bag: Kate Spade

Sandals: Dolce Vita

Oklahoma Necklace: Just like this one

Loved Necklace: Olive + Cocoa

Bracelet: Vintage

Ring: David Yurman

 

:: The Stripe Type ::

With a plethora a few striped tops in my closet, it should come as no surprise that this striped skirt had to come home with me. I suppose when it comes to a type, I’m of the striped variety!

Top: Forever 21 (old, love this)

Skirt: Dillard’s

Sandals: Tory Burch (similar)

Bag: Kate Spade

Necklace: Neiman Marcus

Rings: David Yurman, H&M

:: Don’t Quilt Your Daydream ::

If you were to ask me what one quality I possess which is both invigorating and devastating, it is my belief that absolutely nothing is impossible.

Whether it was in my PreK classroom, some lofty college aspirations, potential business endeavors, or the search for the perfect fitting boyfriend jeans – I just can’t accept “no.” Perhaps that is also because my generation of millennials are a group who feel entitled, didn’t hear “no” enough as a child, or earned a participation ribbon when they should have just straight up learned a lesson about losing.

Whatever it is, it’s gotten me through some incredible rough patches of life and given me hope that my insane visions could be a reality. It has also created false hope when God decided another path or opportunity was better, but wasn’t quite ready to ready to reveal what that might be. He definitely has a sense of humor, right?!

So the lesson of today’s post is – you can wear a fabulous quilted dress, but most certainly – never “quilt” your daydream.

 

P.S. I was told this dress couldn’t be altered. LIES!

Dress > Anthropologie // Shoes > DVF // Necklace > Gifted // Bracelets > J. Crew, C. Wonder, Seasonal Whispers // Rings > H&M

:: Sherbert + Stripes ::

WHEW! It’s hot out. Meaning I’m getting a little crazy creative with my sartorial selections.

I bought this romper at J.Crew a zillion years ago, and honestly never wore it until just recently. However, now it has become a summer time staple. It’s so easy to throw on a statement necklace or swap out a different belt. Of course, you could always throw on every shade of sherbet with it as well…

With this heat wave, my trip to Utah could not be timed more perfectly. My sister has been interning in Park City since May, and has promised me the world’s greatest pizza and lots of downtown shopping. I’ve never been so thrilled to visit a place in the summer which will require a jacket. JACKPOT!

 

Romper / J. Crew (very old – but I definitely need this one!) | Shoes / Kohl’s | Bag / Kate Spade (sold out – can’t go wrong here!) | Sunglasses / Elizabeth + James (old, these are great!) | Jewelry / David Yurman, C. Wonder

 

Beauty B // Hair It Is

When it comes to beauty, there is one aspect I really, truly, obsessively care about – hair. Today I am bringing you some of my favorite hair care products, because I love you and I want you to have incredible hair.

That’s friendship. Unless you touch my hair – then, we can’t be friends.

 

1 // No. 4 Clarifying Shampoo | 2 // Kerastase Masque Chroma Riche | 3 // Dry Bar Sake Bomb Conditioner | 4 // Dry Bar Southern Belle Volumizing Mousse | 5 // Sebastian Shaper Plus Hair Spray | 6 // Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Dry Shampoo | 7 // Moroccan Oil

 

1 // No. 4 Clarifying Shampoo – I received a sample in my Birchbox, and went totally gaga over this product. Do you ever struggle to rinse ALL of the shampoo and conditioner out of your hair? Then, while drying it, find some crazy spot you missed and shoot at it with your dry shampoo until it’s 10% less oily? Me either… This shampoo does not let that happen. It leaves your hair feeling fresh, clean, and maybe I’m nuts – but my color seemed richer too. Oh, and are you a smell person? Because I smell so good that I skip the perfume with this product. It’s pricey, but with all the BB reviews I’ve done, I think I can buy it with Birchbox points and use sparingly! #firstworldproblems

 

2 // Kerastase Masque Chroma Riche – Also a Birchbox find. Definitely expensive, but making its way to my “want” list. The sample  made my hair feel repaired (which I don’t believe a one-time-use can normally do), moisturized, but not weighted down. Kerastase makes the best products to repair color-treated, teased to the Heavens, heat-abused hair.

 

3 // Dry Bar Sake Bomb Conditioner – Have you been to a Dry Bar? They greet you with a mimosa, have the best movies playing, and will wash and style your hair for $40! It used to be a more reasonable $35, but – life. Their products are also incredible, and I swear by the shampoo/conditioner set. Just a helpful hint for when you make it to a DB – tell them to go easy on the product if you want the style to last. I don’t do flat or soft hair – I want to keep it all locked into place like Judy Jetson.

 

4 // Dry Bar Southern Belle Volumizing Mousse – Holy hair. This changed my life! Shake well, spray just a bit into various parts on top of your head, and a touch into your ends. While drying, use a brush to pull up the areas you sprayed and VOILA! Hair that will hold. Another product that smells fresh, modern, and girly – but not fruity or floral-y.

 

5 // Sebastian Shaper Plus Hair Spray – I will just go ahead and say it – I am the Uncle Jesse of hairspray. If it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert, then I am most definitely an expert of hairspray. Two dear friends arrived at my Miss Oklahoma send-off, gift in hand – in a wine sack. My first thought was that it was a bit unconventional to give a titleholder, but – wine! As I opened it, I found not wine, but another of my favorite things – HAIRSPRAY! Being from Mississippi, they noted that ALL the Mississippi ladies have incredible hair thanks to this amazing product. They were right. It is a gift from God! P.S. – Ulta often sells it as a Buy 2 get 1 Free deal!

 

6 // Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Dry Shampoo – Just as I adore hairspray, I love dry shampoo. It can take second day hair from drab to fab, and this is another secret of mine to make it bigger and better. Not only does this dry shampoo smell fresh and clean, but it is under $6. Stock up before everyone finds out how fantastic it is and they raise the price!

 

7 // Moroccan Oil – I think by now, we know that I like things that smell good, and sometimes I catch my mom adding a bit to her wrist. Maybe I do that too… I pour just a dime-size amount and run it through my hair while it is still sightly damp, and it adds just the right amount of moisture to protect and mend the split ends I spent hours creating with a curling iron.

:: Chambray Dreams and Barn Scenes ::

Last week was the most beautiful week in Oklahoma. The evenings were clear, a subtle seventy degrees, and if you had shed your winter layer, you might have needed a jacket. Then, summer hit us like a ton of bricks.

 

I’ve almost reached the point of wearing Lulu Lemon 24/7. but until then – I give you chambray dreams and barn scenes!

 

Top // J.Crew (practically the same), Skirt // Peter Pilotto for Target (old, similar) Shoes // Vera Wang for Kohls, Necklace // J.Crew (old, similar), Bag // Kate Spade (Love this style!!)

Hope you are keeping cool!

 

:: Amer-I-Can ::

If there is one specific thing I adored about growing up in a small town, it would have to be the Fourth of July. In our last neighborhood, there were dozens of kids and everyone would run around, waving sparklers, and occasionally accidentally burning their forehead with a punk. (It’s a miracle that there isn’t a scar…)

After we accumulated too many things for one home outgrew that house, we moved to what some refer to as “the country.” The house sits on five acres and when my family first moved in, was just outside of city limits. This means we got to have the biggest fireworks show in Pottawatomie County. My parent’s anniversary is July 4th, so they would  invite over a ton of friends and we would sit in chairs, gazing at the field, scoring each flare as though it were in a pageant.

And when it comes to pageants, nothing is more American than honoring our great country with the grandest of films, Drop Dead Gorgeous. Kirstie Alley has the best scene outside of the shopping mall in Minn-uh-soda, and she has quite the gift. Whether you are Proud to be an American or think the USA is A-Okay, you absolutely must celebrate with this clip (beginning at the 2:30 mark).

Here’s hoping your holiday is just as fantastic as living outside of city limits on the Fourth of July!

 

 

Top > J.Crew (similar), Skirt > J.Crew Factory, Sandals > Sam Edelman (very old, but obsessing over these), Necklace > Bauble Bar, Clutch > Anthropologie (this is beautiful), Bracelet > C. Wonder (close here), Rings > H&M, Monogram Ring – Gift (similar here)

 

 

:: Watch Yo’self ::

We can talk floral all day long, but let’s get to what I’m most excited about here – the three-faced watch I picked up at Anthropologie. While sprinting through Anthro during the one hour I was given to shop in Kansas City last March, I fell in love with this watch. Of course, not for the on-sale price of $50 (sometimes it hurts to be thrifty). So I let it go, and decided to chance fate.

I then ran into this beauty again for $30 at the end of the month. We all know what that means… so we parted ways again.

On a recent Anthropologie venture, I scoured my go-to area: sale. There was my vintage-vibe friend, staring at me for LESS THAN $20! I did that thing that is kind of embarrassing – I grabbed it like someone was going to Black Friday me and snatch it out of my hand, and headed straight to the register.

As Elvis crooned – some things are meant to be.

 

Dress // H&M, Bag // Kate Spade (love this one!), Wedges // DVF (very close!) , Jewelry // Anthropologie Watch, H&M Midi Rings, David Yurman Ring