18 Before 19

I turned 18 about a week and a half ago, and I've finally finished creating my 18 before 19 list!  This is a list of 18 things I want to do before I turn 19 in a year.  Some of them are easy, others require a lot of planning.  I love making lists like this because it helps me focus on my goals and get organized.  I'm super excited to start crossing things off already!

1.  Visit a new country.

2.  Do a 30x30 challenge.

3.  Read 12 books.

4.  Have a real Christmas tree.

5.  Sew myself something cute.

6.  Take a photo a day for a month.

7.  Bake Nick a cake.

8.  Buy matching silly socks for us.

9.  Have a garden.

10.  Go on picnics.

11.  Visit as many of Florida's State and National Parks as I can.

12.  Learn to play an instrument.

13.  Create 12 DIYs for the blog.

14.  Work on defining my personal style.

15.  Eat healthier.

16.  Finish my grandparent's blanket.

17.  Plan a party.

18.  Go on a mini road trip.

Have you made a goals list to finish before your next birthday?

xo, Megan

Friday Favorites

It's finals week here, so all I've been doing is studying and taking tests.  Here's a list of things that help lift those finals week blues.

DIY:  Wanna join Elycia and Chantilly's Crafternoon? They're making this super cute bike bag!

Etsy: Cutest necklace ever? Yep, cutest necklace ever.

          

Fashion: I'm loving an all white look for spring and summer! via here and here

Art: Moments mean more than material objects.

Shopping:  This umbrella is seriously the cutest ever!  Who wouldn't want a bright, floral bubble umbrella?

For The Home:  I wish I could like it this pretty orange room.

Stitch Fix: Take Two

I received my second Stitch Fix shipment today!  A quick reminder:  Stitch Fix is a subscription styling service.  For a small $20 fee, their stylists will pick 5 items they think you'll like and send they to you whenever you ask.  All you have to do is fill out a thorough Style Profile to give them an idea of what you're willing to try!  You can get these shipments as often as you like, and it you decide to purchase one of the items the $20 goes towards the payment too!  Whatever you don't want you send back in the envelope/bag they send, postage free.  As always, I was super excited to see what there was. Who doesn't love getting surprises in the mail?  Overall, this box was okay.  I like most of the pieces, but everything was just too big to fit me.  I did keep one thing though.  Now that I'm don rambling, onto the clothing!

First up was an abstract printed maxi dress from MM Couture.  It was the most expensive item in the box, but it was really lovely.  I have trouble finding maxi dresses that are long enough for me because of my height, but this one was the perfect length!  The only problem was, the bust area was just too big.  I couldn't bring myself to spend $95 on something that didn't fit me just right, no matter how pretty it was.

Want your own?  You can find it here for $42!

Next was a belted shirt dress from Jack by BB Dakota.  I wasn't sure about this dress, it just fit so weird.  I'm used to tent dresses, but this one just looked strange on me.  The hem was cool, and the material was very soft and comfortable, but it just wasn't me.

This dress is available here on sale for $34!

This top from RD International is the only thing I kept from this shipment.  It is so comfortable!  The light, sheerness will be perfect for layering this season, and the colors are bright and vibrant.  I don't usually wear this pattern, but the great thing about Stitch Fix is they get me to try things I wouldn't normally wear!

This knit tank top from Jack by BB Dakota would've been another awesome layering piece, but I couldn't get past the texture of it.  Plus the bust was just too big for me.  I guess BB Dakota just isn't for us girls with small chests. *sigh*

Want your own?  Find it here for $34!

Finally, they sent this wrap ring by Karine Sultan.  I have to say, I really did like this ring.  It was very pretty, and would've fancied up just about any outfit.  But alas, it was too big for my fingers.

Want to try out Stitch Fix for yourself?  You can sign up here!

Vlog: Elycia and Kim's Questions

Hi everyone!  So today I decided to do a vlog response to Elycia's and Kim's vlog questions as my very first vlog!  I was so nervous doing this, but I think it turned out well.  I lost count of how many times I said "um" though!  So here is awkward me at an awkward camera angle, enjoy!

Whew!  I almost ran out of sunlight, thanks to my afternoon lab test and a Walmart stop to buy that pretty mint nail polish on my nails in the video.  Because of that, I didn't have enough time to add my own questions to the video, so here they are and I'll answer them next time!

1. If you were a pair of shoes, what style would you be and why?

2. What is your favorite word to say?

Elycia's vlog can be found here.

Kim's vlog can be found here.

All of you are welcome to create your own vlogs too!  If you do, send me a link because I would love to see it!

xo, Megan

My Dream Closet: Nautical Inspired

links to clothing here

I love flats; they are my go-to shoes when I need to look cute in a hurry.  This seaworthy pair looks great with a flowy, collared dress and a navy backpack.  Add an under-the-sea friend in the form of an octopus bracelet and a boater hat to keep your hair under control in that sea breeze, and you're set for a fun day on the boardwalk!

xo, Megan

What I Wore: For My Birthday!

dress:  Deja Vu

belt:  Charlotte Russe

socks: Forever21

boots:  Kohls

Monday was my birthday!  With all my birthday happenings (and stressful school work) I got a bit behind on blogging.  But I have a ton of posts ready to share with you!

My birthday dress was love at first sight.  The seventies shape, the bright Indian elephants, and not to mention the killer price tag (25 bucks!); this dress is just too perfect.  It really reminded me of my trip this past summer to Nepal and India.  I could definitely see a tunic similar to this for sale in the Kathmandu markets, or an Indian tourist shop.

I wore this to school, thrifting, and to the new frozen yogurt place that opened on my birthday.  I have a serious weakness for frozen yogurt, and Milk and Honey Frozen Yogurt is definitely feeding that craving.  I have a feeling it will become a regular hang-out spot for me!

xo, Megan

Friday Faves

DIY:  Here's a great DIY that shows how to turn a pair of pants into skinnies, and it's so easy!

Etsy:  This fennec fox necklace is too cute!  Who wouldn't wanna wear this little desert creature around their neck?

Fashion:  This article is just lovely, like Mara.  Her style is spot on, plus she has the best job ever!

Art:  Stationary is miniature art that you can share with your friends, right?  These enthusiastic notecards would be a lot of fun to get in the mail.

Shopping:  I just bought this asymmetrical galaxy print skirt from Romwe, and I'm so excited to get it!

For The Home:  These paintings are pretty great, I would love to hang them over my desk like that.

Music:  Alexis Kent is another great folk artist from the Grand Rapids area.  A relaxing acoustic sound sets the stage while she spins hopeful and uplifting tales with the rises and falls of her unique voice.  Without a doubt, Alexis Kent is definitely becoming "a favorite in my crayon box"!

Palette Challenge: Spring/Summer

The wonderful women behind the blog Coletterie hold a biannual Palette Challenge to help inspire and motivate the community to sew their own clothing.  If you want to find out more about it, you can read their explanation here.  This is my first season participating, and I'm so excited!  I'm very inexperienced when it comes to sewing, but I figured this would be a great way to practice and expand my skill.  I spent all day yesterday working on my inspiration board, and here's what I came up with:

I decided to stick with floral and striped fabric, with bright, solid pieces mixed in.  Shape-wise, I'm going for loose, floaty pieces that will keep me cool in the hot Florida weather.  I want simple, easy-to-wear items to enhance my current wardrobe.

Needless to say, I'm quite excited about this!  Soon I'm going to go fabric shopping, then I'll start sewing!

xo, Megan

My Dream Closet: Something Orange

I actually love to wear the color orange.  I have two orange dresses, as well as an orange sweater (which is a favorite of mine).  Orange just has a stand-out quality to me, it's so vibrant and fun.  And because Pantone's 2012 Color of the Year is Tangerine Tango, I'm seeing fun shades of orange everywhere in the fashion scene.  Here are some orange-based outfits I would love to be wearing right now:

Going Out

links to clothing here

This orange dress is divine!  I love the orange and teal combination, so these patent flatforms really make this outfit to me.  The sweet pinwheel necklace, Jackie-O inspired sunglasses, and ivory ankle socks give this a polished look without taking away from the detail of the dress.  I added in a classic brown leather satchel to neutralize the brightness of the outfit a bit.


Running Errands

links to clothing here

When I go out to run errands I like to dress as comfortably as possible, but I try to dress up with my accessories.  And what's the most important accessory when running errands?  For me, it's a cute, oversized bag, and this bright orange and hot pink bag from Modcloth fits the bill (plus it's the exact colors of my room right now!).  Wide leg jeans and a belted tunic provide the perfect backdrop for this bold bag, just throw in a patterned scarf, a fierce ring, and some comfy sandals, and you're ready to go!


For School

links to clothing here

I like to dress up for school, more than most.  Maybe it's because cute skirts and frilly blouses wouldn't be the best choice for the veterinary clinic I work at, who knows.  This sheer orange blouse would be an easy pick for me in any school outfit.  Pairing it with a high-waisted black skirt, cut-out flats, white tights, a bright backpack, and the cutest bunny cardigan ever really gives this blouse a schoolgirl-esque vibe.  The airplane statement ring and black bowler hat add  an edge to this incredibly cutesy outfit.

So what's taking up space in your dream closet right now?  Oh, and Happy Easter!

xo, Megan

Friday Faves

DIY:  These DIY turbans by Cotton & Curls are super simple, and really cute too!  They're a great accessory for the coming seasons.

Etsy: I wish I had an iPhone just so I could buy this adorable airstream trailer case by Red Tile Studio!

Fashion: Rachel Antonoff's stunning spring 2012 lookbook, via calivintage

Art:  This print by The Wheatfield is lovely, and so so true.

Shopping:  I love love love the sorbet colors of this sweet top from Modcloth.  And who could say no to a peter pan collar and that cute shape?

For the Home:  This children's room by Mark Tuckey has such a great vintage feel!

Music:  I found Dominik Baer through his wife's blog.  His music has such a relaxed yet energetic feeling, each song has something new and unique hidden within.  I would love to listen to this while on a road trip, it's perfect to sing along to!

What I Wore: A Silver Spoon

skirt, shoes :: Modcloth

dress (as shirt) :: Bloom

vest :: Kohls

cardigan :: Forever21

socks :: shopRuche

necklace :: vintage

Today was crazy stormy.  Of course, the weather decided to wait until I had to drive 40 miles home to turn bad.  But no worries!  I am obviously okay (or my ghost is typing this, who knows?).

Anyways, onto my outfit.  This is one of my favorite skirts.  It's bright, it has pockets, and it is long enough to be worn without tights.  Yeah, it's also extremely wrinkly.  That's because I'm lazy.  Lately I've been really attracted to anything yellow; it's just so happy and bright, it's so much fun to wear.

This brooch, worn as a necklace, was a find in a grab bag from my local favorite vintage store.  It's so precious, I love it.  You'll be seeing lots more of necklaces like this, those grab bags were full of awesome vintage brooches!

And yes, I'm pretty sure my left sock was on inside out.

What's your favorite color to wear right now?  Explain why!:)

xo, Megan

What I Wore: Teal and Floral

dress, shoes :: Modcloth

tights :: gifted

Today was my first day back at school after spring break, and I just wanted to wear something comfortable.  My newest dress from Modcloth fit the bill!  I absolutely love this dress; the color is bright and fun, the buttons and peter pan collar are adorable, and it is so easy to wear.  

I bought these flats to be my pair of "go to" spring shoes, and they are quickly becoming just that!  The navy floral fabric makes the cute, but neutral enough to wear with practically everything; plus the bow and strap detail are just adorable!  I've worn them almost everyday lately.

What are your "go to" pair of shoes this season?

xo, Megan