Pinspiration-Volume 1

Pinterest is by far one of my favorite social media platforms. I'm constantly utilizing it to not only draw inspiration for posts, but also for drawing inspiration in different aspects of my life as well. It's helped me discover new blogs that I've absolutely fallen in love with and sitting down to get some good "pin-ing" in has become a favorite part of my day.

Today in particular, I'm lacking motivation and inspiration of any sort. I hate it, and as much as I'd love to pull myself out of it, I think it's just going to be one of those days. Clearly I need more sleep.

Get "Pinspired"

All photos found on Pinterest.

Follow me! I'm always looking for new people to follow :)

xoxo

She Loved Three Things...

Do you ever ask yourself what three things you love most in this world? They don't have to be people, they don't have to be tangible objects, they can be moments, songs, memories, feelings, and so on. But really, how often do you ask yourself what you love most about this world or about your life and role in it?

My guess is not very often.

I know we all try to count our blessings before we fall asleep, but to be honest once I hit middle school my nighttime ritual of reading the daily thought in my little kid's "Be Thankful" book that my Nana got me completely went out the window. I mean, I know we outgrow things, but I kind of really liked ending my days that way. It always made me feel hopeful for the next day, even if the past 24 hours had been a 10-year old's version of a living hell (and trust me, that doesn't take much.)

My Year, Your Year

I've been really trying to make 2014 a "me" year. The focus since January has been on bettering myself as a person, and it's kind of not the easiest process in the world. Recognizing where you fall short of spectacular can be discouraging (i.e. many of my friends are known to be far more compassionate than I'll ever be), but I've also learned a lot about my strengths (i.e. strong writing skills, unbelievably passionate about things I believe in, willing to speak my mind when appropriate). 

It's really hard to recognize the things we need to work on in order to make ourselves more well-rounded human beings. I want to believe I'm perfect as much as the next girl, but hey, nobody's perfect. In January I started a Pinterest board and ever so creatively titled it "My Year"; whenever I'm not feeling super inspired either by myself or my surroundings, I go and take a peek at it. Pinterest has been throwing out a lot of inspiration lately, and I highly encourage you to create your own "My Year" board! It doesn't have to be a board of just quotes, or even a Pinterest board, make it a dream board-- of anything you want and put it up in your room! Put all your goals on there and reflect upon them once a week. I can't tell you how tremendously helpful my board has been in keeping me on track!

Pint-Sized Style

I'm not about to pop a kid out anytime soon, and to my knowledge none of my friends are either. Totally fine by me, and I don't have baby fever anyways so the whole thing is whatever. But there are those times when I'm walking down the street and I see the cutest little child, I find myself just wanting to like borrow it for a few hours to play and then return it upon crying and/or potty time. Their chubby cheeks get me every time! I also kind of have a thing for little kid style. I've always liked looking through the kiddie sections of clothes at different stores (particularly at Gap and J. Crew... #guilty), mostly because I'm fully convinced my kid is going to be one well-dressed, adorable little nugget.

The Cutest Kids I Ever Did See

So much adorableness is such tiny little things!

I can't even. I want little Sperry-wearing children. Just not right now!

Also, let's just talk about this child dressed as Anna Wintour. You rule.

xoxo

Actions Speak Louder than Words

When I'm getting ready to write these posts, I often turn to the quotes page on Pinterest. If I'm being honest, as of late I've been lacking some serious inspiration when it comes to writing. I'm not sure why but I just haven't been feeling like myself lately. I think I'm longing so much for spring that it's become this constant gray cloud hanging over my head.

I've also been questioning my actions more lately, more so than I usually do. And I've kind of been finding, less is more. Say what you need to say, if it really needs to be said, and if it's going to help you to feel better. But if it's not going to help you to feel better or resolve a problem, then must you really say it?

In high school, and even in the past few years, I've been really good at speaking my mind. I've made a huge effort to be honest with myself, my family, and my friends.

Lately though, I've been thinking. What if there's a point where honesty is no longer beneficial? I know it all depends on the situation. Not every case is the same. The older I've gotten though, the more I've found that actions really do speak louder than words.

People pick up on hints. People pick up on when you're ready to move on. I think we've all had friendships, relationships, and even jobs that have run their course. But when you're done, when you've reached your limit? You don't just scream out loud, "I'm done! I quit! I'm moving on!" Or at least you should try your hardest not to. (Granted, it's completely acceptable to go home and jam out to this song #noshame) 

There's no point in having a huge argument over nothing and ending a friendship that could have ended gracefully in such a sour manner. There's no point in hurting someone who you once loved simply because that would make ending a broken relationship much easier. There's actually no point in dramatically quitting the job you absolutely hate (recommendations, hello?!).

Make your exit with grace. Carry yourself with grace. If you do this, they'll never have anything bad to say about you. Or if they do, it will only reflect poorly on them-- not you.

I've also found as I've grown older that a lot of people will doubt you. Not as much as you doubt yourself of course, but they'll doubt you nonetheless. When you're younger, you feel like you have to make it known to everyone who questions you just what you think of them and just how wrong they are about you. Don't waste your breath. They're doubting you for a very specific reason--and that's because they doubt themselves ten times more than they doubt you.

The best way to show these people up is to act. Do not raise your voice, do not say things you will regret. Smile and laugh, act as if your life is amazing (even if it isn't). Self-curation is completely 100% appropriate. Fake it until you make it, right? Even if you do find yourself in doubt, show yourself and prove to yourself that whatever it is you wish to do, you can do. Don't make promises, because sometimes you will fail. But everything will come full circle. Fool your doubters into thinking they were wrong. And in doing so, you might just fool yourself in the process.

xoxo

Monday Inspiration: Forget the Safety Net

Have you ever done anything that has scared the living daylights out of you? I mean it literally scared you to no end? I know I've written about fear before. I'm no stranger to it. But I wanted to write about it again because writing is how I cope with things. I'm afraid of a lot. And when I say a lot, I mean a lot.

I'm not just talking about scary movies and Halloween haunted forest rides (can't do either...), I'm talking about life in general. I think so far being 20 has been the scariest age. I'm already young for where I am in school, and now it's starting to become more and more of a reality that I'll be graduating college in a little over a year. I still remember my first day of middle school, and thinking I had all this time left to grow up. Yeah right.

We all have our fears, mostly of what can break us. But have you ever been scared of your potential?

You're probably thinking I'm crazy right now. Who's scared of who they could be? Most people just want to go out there and be the best person they can be. And don't get me wrong, I want that too. I want to build a life I'm proud of; I have a list of things I'd like to accomplish, dreams I'd like to fulfill, goals to aspire to.

But I think what's really getting to me right now is that I'm starting to fully grasp the range of my potential. And it's not a bad thing, as a matter of fact, it's kind of a good thing. I'm not trying to say, "Oh my gosh I have so many amazing things lined up for me and life is going to be awesome and go me." I'm not that optimistic.

Truth be told though, junior year has opened up some pretty amazing opportunities. I'm learning more than I ever thought I would (in a professional sphere and in a personal sphere), and even though I've still got a lot of growing up to do, I finally feel like I have a relatively mature handle on things.

This weird thing happened on my 20th birthday. All of a sudden it was like, holy cow, my life is actually starting. There is no safety net after college. I've lived my life relying on safety nets.

So why can't I let go of the safety net?

I suppose it's not a matter of whether or not I can let go of the safety net, but more so a matter of whether or not I want to let go of the safety net. I'm aware that graduating college creates opportunity to be all that you can be, to dream big and start working your way up. And I'm so thankful for the opportunity to get the education I'm getting. But letting go of the safety net? Being stuck with only yourself and your... potential? It's such a scary thought it nearly makes me sick.

Potential isn't a guarantee of success. Potential isn't a promise for a healthy paycheck. Potential isn't a 100% chance of happiness post-college.

I promise I have a point. Relying on just your potential is a downright terrifying thought. It's even more terrifying when you're a twenty-something with a resume full of "potential." The thing that's the scariest of all though, is realizing just how much potential you have, just how successful you can be-- if only you work for it.

 Changing the cycle that's been your life for the past twenty or so years is hard, I mean, change is hard. And the thing that's so confusing to me right now is that I'm scared of failing, but I'm scared of being successful too. With so much riding on your shoulders, how are you supposed to know what to do? But I guess when life is hard like this, and you don't know which direction to go, the best thing to do is follow your heart, right? 

"What the mind can conceive and believe, and the heart can desire, you can achieve." ~ Norman Vincent Peale

If you're feeling as unsure of the future as I am right now, make this your mantra for this week. Because really, do any of us really know our true potential? I think if we did, we'd all do things a lot differently.

Happy Monday!

xoxo

Looks I'm Loving

I've SO been looking forward to this post because what with all the awards shows (it's finally the season!), and NYFW coming up (eep!) there are just an abundance of looks that I, well, love.

There's been a lot happening, so I rounded my picks off to three favorites from given bloggers, award shows, random Pinterest finds... There's so much to see, so much to love, and so many gorgeous celebrities to envy! They have to be normal looking with undone hair and a bare face, right? Not going to lie, sometimes the "Stars without Makeup!" segments of magazines really make me feel better about myself on a down day. Pathetic, I know.

Have a look, and happy Thursday!

The 2014 Screen Actor's Guild Awards

Lupita Nyong'o

Gucci

Kerry Washington

Prada

(People really loved this one or they hated it... I loved it because, I mean, it's Kerry Washington and she's pulling off a crop top while PREGNANT. Kudos.)

Anna Gunn

Monique Lhuiller

The 2014 Critics' Choice Movie Awards

Margot Robbie

Elie Saab

Lupita Nyong'o

You win again Lupita... in Calvin Klein

Kristen Bell

Pamella Roland

The 2014 Golden Globes Awards

Amy Adams

Valentino

Kate Beckinsale

Zuhair Murad

Emma Roberts

Lanvin

Classy Girls Do Wear Pearls

I love everything Sarah from Classy Girls Wear Pearls wears, so I couldn't not include her. Especially now that she's uploading all the looks from her engagement trip to Keil!

And Tumblr Never Disappoints Either...

Stripes and Sarcasm

Modern Girls & Old Fashioned Men

A little out of season... but I love it nonetheless.

MyahDear16

Pink Peonies for Days

I just recently discovered Rachel's blog and I'm also so in love with her style.

A Love Affair with Pinterest Finds

Prepaganda

Vanessa Jackman

For Those Who Crave Fashion

If you missed yesterday's post (I posted it late...), don't forget to check it out!

xoxo

Revamp your Closet: The Essentials

A few years ago I color coded my closet, and ever since I've been in love with it. One of the best things about it is that I have a mental image of how my closet looks, so when I'm shopping I know just what colors to buy and invest in. (Not that I've done much shopping lately... I'm quite sad about it.)

When my friends are looking for tips to organize their closet (or their life...), color-coding is my go to. Call me anal or obsessive, but it works so well. I have friends who do things differently though. One of my best friends organizes her closet by all the different styles of shirts, skirts, dresses, etc. that she owns. Both of our methods are extremely helpful in determining what we really need in terms of what's in our closets.

That being said, in the midst of my unbelievable inability to purchase anything nowadays (shopaholics anonymous here I come...), I've started taking what I need more seriously than what I want. And as much as it hurts to say it, I could probably do without buying any red or navy for a while.

The more I look at my closet, the more I realize how few of the necessary staples I own. Dressing myself in the morning is getting more and more complicated since I'm starting to realize I've spent money on a lot of clothes that I get bored with very quickly. The greatest thing about the "essentials" is that you can switch it up every day with how you wear them. So, I suppose it's time to start taking my style resolutions a little more seriously.

Wish me luck!

The Classics

Plain White Tee

(via Obaz)

Black Leggings

(via Sosie)

Ballet Flats

(via Smitten Studio)

(via Elizabeth's Wardrobe)

A Black Cardigan

(via Sparktrend)

Simple Pumps

(via Pinterest)

(via Atlantic-Pacific)

Dark Denim

(via Pinterest)

(via Seabelle)

A White Blouse

(via Fashion District)

(via Pinterest)

The LBD

(via Pinterest)

Classic Black Pants

(via Pinterest)

(via caroline-kim)

All of these things can be played up with the right accessories! My style tends to be pretty simple so I'm actually pretty surprised I don't own the majority of these things... I suppose that means I have some work to do.

xoxo