Birthdays and Balloons

Occasion: 21st birthday dinner with my family
What I'm wearing: Dress free from internship, Gap espadrilles, NY & Co. outlet cuff

What a great, great weekend. I went home to Cincinnati to celebrate my 21st birthday and get ready for my move to NYC (I leave Saturday!). I spent the weekend shopping, seeing Bridesmaids (loved it...so funny!), having dinner and my first legal drink with my parents and brother, going to the bar with my family (yes, this really happened), getting a haircut, getting dinner with old friends, and ended the weekend with Mexican and margaritas with my OSU friends back in Columbus. I have so much love for all the people who made this an amazing weekend, which is making it that much harder to leave for the whole summer. But I'm also really excited for the opportunity that lies ahead. This week is about to be super busy crazy, since I am taking all of my finals early and leaving Columbus in two days. You'll hear from me after all of the madness is over, just in time for my 1 year blog birthday!

Twenty-One Years of Style

So today is the big day...I'm finally 21! To celebrate, I thought I would share with you some funny "fashionable" pics of me from over the years. My parents should have known from the beginning I would become a fashion major/personal style blogger because I sure did love posing in my crazy get-ups. Here are some of my favorites:

one word: HOT

The hat seems to be a reoccuring theme

Look at that future fashion blogger pose

And another...

And my all-time fave, just because of it's sheer ridiculousness

And here I am today, all grown up and flaunting my new horizontal ID

With my senior year of college quickly approaching and this big milestone birthday, I've been feeling all sentimental, which is what had me looking through these old photographs. I'm proud of how far I've come over the last 21 years, and I'm looking forward to what the future holds. Cheers to 21!

MVP

What I'm wearing: Target tank dress, Gap cardigan, J.Crew outlet belt, Nine West outlet sandals, Handmade earrings

Now that it has finally started to warm up, I'm ready to bring some of my old summer favorites back into the rotation. This dress was last summer's MVP; there is nothing more versatile than a black cotton dress. It can be dressed up or down, and it is light and breezy for those hot summer days. Here are some of the ways I've worn it previously:

Also just to add a little humor, I've got some extra pictures to share...

The roomie, making fun of my "blog poses". He's got it down...clearly he needs to start a fashion blog.

And a really attractive outtake. I was being directed to swing around the post and just wasn't quite doing it right, according to Alex. It resulted in quite a bit of laughter.

A Great Day

What I'm wearing: J.Crew top (2008), Gap Always Skinny jeans, Target sandals, Urban Outfitters sunglasses, NY & Co. necklace, Mondani bag via Steinmart

Today has been a really, really great day. I spent the afternoon enjoying cheap but delicious sushi (the best kind!) and then indulging in some ice cream while sitting at the park with my girlfriends. They even took my outfit pictures! (Thanks Karee and Natalie!) It was supposed to rain all day, but it's absolutely gorgeous out. I love when the weatherman is wrong! I also received my "21 shots" email from the university, which means the big 2-1 is right around the corner! I'm obviously smart enough to realize that taking 21 shots is a BAD idea, but this is the milestone email that every OSU student waits for, because it means the big birthday is finally here. In my case, Saturday! My last shift at my part-time job is Wednesday (yay!), and then I'll be spending the weekend in Cincinnati...I'm so excited to spend time celebrating, relaxing, and getting ready for my move to NYC! Two weeks from today, I start my internship! Eeeeek, so many exciting things are happening at once! I hope your Monday is going just as well as mine :)

A Scarf For All Seasons

What I'm wearing: Gap tee, Uniqlo sweater, Gap blazer, Forever 21 scarf, Old Navy skinny jeans, J.Crew boots, Vintage earrings, Forever 21 ring

Today was another rainy, cold day here in Columbus. I can't believe it's May...it feels like February! But on the bright side, it's given me an excuse to keep wearing some of my out-of-season favorites. I also wore my all-time favorite scarf. I've worn this scarf so many times, during all kinds of temperatures and weather. It is relatively lightweight, but still offered me a little bit of protection from the elements today. These pictures were taken after a long day of running around, so excuse the fact that I look like a bit of a wreck and that the refrigerator has managed to creep into the corner of both pictures. Here are some ways I've worn this scarf previously...

I've had this scarf for forever, and I still absolutely love it. I hope to start doing these little "previously worn" pictures more often to show how I remix my favorites!

Flowers and Curls

What I'm wearing: J.Crew outlet dress and belt, Nine West outlet sandals, H&M flower pin

I wore this last Thursday for a sushi dinner with friends. We went to a restaurant called Lemongrass in the Short North of Columbus, and they had THREE DOLLAR sushi rolls during happy hour. So cheap! The avocado and almond roll was my favorite...yum! In other news, my hair is finally long enough to braid! I've been growing my hair out for awhile now with the intention of donating it once it is long enough. I have a feeling it's going to be hard to part with, since the longer it gets, the more styling options I seem to have. The next style I want to try is long, loose curls. But first, I need to buy a curling iron. I've always been a straightener kind of girl, but I think it's time to try out some curls. Any particular brand of curling iron you would recommend?

Culture Shock

What I'm wearing: Anthropologie top, H&M blazer, H&M skinny pants, J.Crew outlet ballet flats, Forever 21 necklace, Coach outlet clutch

Last night I attended the 18th annual Fashion Production Association student design fashion show. FPA is an amazing organization at my university whose sole purpose is to plan an annual fashion show where student designers display their talent. This year's theme was "Culture Shock", using cities around the globe as inspiration. The last city showcased was New York, which made me excited about the summer ahead. The ladies of New York have such amazing style, and I can't wait to be inspired daily. Here are some of my favorite looks from the show... I'm still in awe of all the talent!

Better Late Than Never

What I'm wearing: J.Crew outlet cardigan, Forever 21 floral top, Old Navy skinny jeans, Nine West outlet sandals, Banana Republic outlet headband, Vintage earrings

Unfortunately, that has become my blogging motto lately. May is literally the craziest month ever for my schedule. The school year is winding down (meaning teachers are trying to jam as much as possible into the last 3 weeks), I have extracurricular events almost every night, and I'm trying to get ready for NYC. Sadly, blogging seems to be falling lower and lower on the priorities list. I have all these cool things I want to do like have a friend help me with a new blog header and redesign my layout (any and all tips are welcome! I'm horrible with technology), but lately it's been hard just finding a spare moment to take outfit pictures. But I enjoy blogging, so I'm trying to make it work. Even though I rarely post before 9 or 10 in the evening these days, hey--it's better late than never.

Also, it's floral day over at Everybody, Everywear! I wasn't sure if I had any floral items besides this dress (which is a little too short and scandalous for class), but then I remembered this top. Not a bright-colored floral, but floral all the same!

Best Kept Secret

What I'm wearing: J.Crew jersey dress (2007), Gap cardigan (2008), Target wedges, NY & Co Outlet necklace

I'm a bargain shopper. The older I get, the more difficult it seems for me to spend a lot of money on one item. Which is why I'm in love with outlet malls. They are a stylish girl's best kept secret; they're a great way to update your wardrobe without spending a ton of money. On a recent trip, I struck gold at the NY & Co. Outlet. They were having a buy one, get one 75% off sale on jewelry, so I snagged three necklaces and a bracelet. All four are colorful and fun, and I think they will be in constant rotation in my summer wardrobe. I didn't get a close-up shot today, but I'm sure you'll be seeing a lot more of this necklace. Also, today I was able to do another outfit shoot in the Numbers Garden on campus. It was so fun; thanks for being such a good sport Alex :)

Gallery Hop

What I'm wearing: J.Crew cardigan, Target tank dress, Hue tights via Macy's, Steve Madden flats, Forever 21 jewelry

On Saturday, I went on my first gallery hop in the Short North (close to downtown Columbus). It was a lot of fun to check out some antique shops and art galleries. So much great vintage jewelry! Sometimes I forget how much great stuff awaits me right outside this college campus...I really need to make a vow to explore more often. I wanted to wear a sundress for the night on the town, but I had to resort to a dress with tights because of the cold, rainy weather.

When my friend Sarah and I saw this mural on a building, we had to get a picture next to it. Speaking of Sarah, doesn't she have fabulous style? Love her vintage umbrella!

And we of course had to end the gallery hop at the best ice cream place in Columbus (besides Graeters, of course!) Jeni's Ice Cream...delicious and such a cute store! Totally inspired to make some of those tissue paper flowers for my apartment next school year!

Weekly Gratitude

I'm long overdue for a weekly gratitude post. Here's what I'm thankful for this week:

-First and foremost, I'm thankful to have such an amazing mom. Although I can't be home for Mother's Day this year, she knows she means the world to me. She's always there for me, and I wouldn't be able to make it without her. Happy Mother's day Mom!
-The sun came out yesterday! A little bit of sunshine can do wonders for my mood...
-Finally seeing some encouraging results on the scale. As part of my back rehab (and honestly, for vanity reasons too), I've been working hard at the gym and eating healthy to shed a few pounds. I've been having some issues getting motivated the past few weeks, so I'm hoping the fact that I'm finally getting somewhere will help me refocus and keeping pushing.
-May is jam-packed with fun stuff. I know I complain about it sometimes, but I secretly love being busy. It can be exhausting, but I'd so much rather be busy than sitting at home bored.
-Frozen yogurt dates with old friends. Great company and the perfect fro-yo combination: cheesecake flavored yogurt with strawberries+ dark chocolate+ mini cheesecake bites. SO GOOD.
-Good books. I read the whole Hunger Games trilogy in five days. That is some kind of record for me. It's been a long time since I was so excited about a book...I definitely recommend them.

What are you thankful for this week?

Time Flies

What I'm wearing: J.Crew cardigan, J.Crew outlet v-neck, Old Navy skinny jeans, J.Crew flats, H&M scarf, Tiffany's bracelet (gifted)

Just popping in to say hello and post some outfit pictures from last Thursday. I'm keeping it brief today because I have a TON of studying to do before my two exams tomorrow. School can be such a drag sometimes, but I know I'm going to miss it when it's over. One more month until I'm a college senior...where has the time gone?!

Weekend Uniform

What I'm wearing: Forever 21 sweatshirt, Gap tee, Banana Republic outlet jeans, Target flat espadrilles, Mondani bag via Steinmart, Vintage pocketwatch necklace

I don't normally take outfit pictures on the weekend unless there is something special going on, but this weekend I decided to show you guys my typical weekend uniform. It's all about comfort: not too fitted on top, worn-in jeans, and comfortable shoes. I wore this for a walk and dinner with friends. I'm happy to be bringing these jeans back into the rotation; they had gotten a little too snug for awhile but I guess all the working out I've been doing is finally starting to pay off. Yay! My one complaint about this outfit is the shoes. I bought these flat espadrilles last week with the intention of using them for the commute to and from work this summer. I was looking for something comfortable that could easily be thrown in my bag when I get to work and want to put on nicer shoes. But after only wearing them twice, they're already falling apart! The bottom layer is completely destroyed, so they don't stand a chance on the NYC sidewalks. Maybe I need to just give in and buy these Toms?