Indecisive

AJ recently learned about this friends and family "meet and greet" the players event that he'll be having for basketball, and I was expected to attend. A wave of excitement rushed over me, followed by a pit of panic. What in the world was I suppose to wear?

Before I knew it every option I had began prancing through my head. But I'm sure you can guess where this is going... NOTHING was perfect for the occasion. As for those of you who know me you can probably agree that I can get impatient easily. Granted it was now 10 at night, and I wanted a solution. The only mall that was open was the world wide web. I love shopping online, the ideas are endless and you can get something designed half a world away in a week. The downfall is that I will search for days upon days. I always feel that if I check "just one more place" then I will find something I love even more.

Knowing that I had to get up at 4:30 for work I probably never should have started looking at dresses. Instead I told myself that I would check out one website and then go to bed. HUGE MISTAKE. Three hours later I glanced at the clock and it was almost 1 am. So much for getting sleep. I stumbled into bed and got three lovely hours of sleep before I had to get up. On the bright side, I found almost fifty dresses I love.

Once I get more details on the event I can narrow it down to what type of dress I want but until then I'll share a few ideas that I have.

For a fun/dressy casual event I love this cutout sheer top dress.

This red sweetheart dress is perfect for a party environment.

I love this heart cutout dress for a casual event, play it up with some fun sandals and accessories.

This one shoulder ruffle dress is perfect for a cocktail event. Make it shine by adding a pop of color in your stilettos and jewelry.

And lastly, we have this strapless ivory dress with beaded detailing on the bust. This would be amazing for an outdoor venue. Think of how stunning this dress with look when placed upon the newest landscaping.

Which style is your favorite?

Take a Dip

Like everything else in the fashion industry, bathing suits go through trends as well. Some years (like last year) can be more towards the boring side. Of course the colors were bright and prints were huge, mixing and matching was on the "daring" side.

However, this year we can see a lot more fun with our bathing suit options. The slideshow above showcases some of my favorite looks for this year. Cut out one pieces are selling off the racks. They are amazing no matter what size you are and the options are endless this year. But take caution in the not-so-flattering tan lines you'll receive. 

 Bandeau tops are (from my experience) the most popular piece this year. They can be found in every color and multiple styles. My favorite thing about them is the fun detailing that they're being designed with. I adore the white top in the slideshow with the sea-inspired flower detail. However if that is a little too much for you look for zippers, rouching, twists, charms and ruffles... 

Which brings me to my next point: ruffles. I LOVE ruffles all the time so to add them to bathing suits is just perfect. Look for a ruffled bottom to help camouflage a problem area, or on a v-neck to emphasize the tatas. The ruffles can be blended in a little by using the same fabric as the rest of the suit, or emphasized as a complementary color or pattern. 

And finally, the third big trend I've noticed is vintage inspired. I'm finding high waisted bottoms at most stores, and suits are being offered in "hippie" inspired prints that are fun and rather loud. 

Keep in mind that no matter what the trend may be, your top focus in shopping for a bathing suit is your body style. Just like general clothing, not all bathing suit trends will work for everyone. You want to feel confident while you're soaking up the sun. Plus, you never know who you'll meet at the beach. ;)

A Surprise Called Life

I was setting a table at work today and a sales associate had told me a story about recent events in her life and shortly after she was done she made a comment on how she never would have imagined a year ago that she would be where she is today. You know when a simple statement can stick with you throughout an entire day and just plays over and over again in your head? Well that was me today.

I thought back to a year ago today and couldn’t agree with her more. I would NEVER have imagined that I would be where I am one short year later. This time last year I was only out of college for about half a year, I had my own store. I absolutely adored my job. I had amazing associates on my staff and a great support system behind me. I loved the company I was working for and appreciated their belief in me. That part of my life was perfect.

Now the not-so-perfect part of my life… I barely knew anyone (besides coworkers) in this new town (which was near Amish country), the Mennonites which consumed my town were against my college party lifestyle, my best Pennsylvania friends were over three hours away at our college town and I was dating a boy who was completely wrong for me.

Forward a year and look at me now. I have a new job, that I love even more than my last one, I work for a fabulous company that offers many options to my career, I live in a city and I have yet to see a Mennonite while here, there isn’t any “horse and buggy” reserved parking at the doctor’s office, my best friend lives two short hours away in my favorite city, three of my best friends from PA are moving down in a month, I’m dating a man who treats me  better than Kate Middleton and things are only looking up.

It’s crazy to think that nothing in my life is the same as it was a year ago, but everything has only improved. I believe that everything happens for a reason. Sometimes things might go in a different direction than we imagine them, but in the end it all plays out how it should.

So when you get thrown a curve ball, all you can do is slap on a smile, enjoy the ride and be surprised with the outcome.

What has happened in your life that turned into an unexpected surprise?

True [[Happy]]ness

It's amazing how much one person can affect you.

A couple days ago AJ came home after being in Chicago // Des Moines // Atlanta for over a month. As the day got closer for him to come I got more and more excited. Literally I was more excited than a 5 year old on Christmas. 

After work on Tuesday I jumped in my car and excitedly was on my way to Charlotte. The two and a half hour drive felt like it was going to last FOREVER, and the anticipation kept building up each mile I encountered. When I was nearing Concord, just outside of Charlotte, I had the pleasure of hitting the evening traffic. Normally this wouldn't be a big deal but that day - it was.

Finally after what felt like a lifetime, I was turning into a driveway that I haven't seen in forever.

And there he was:

The most handsome man I have ever laid eyes on. Tall (6'8"), dark, handsome and now super toned from basketball workouts. I was definitely okay with his slight change of appearance. Then it hid me. Butterflies. Like I was 12 or something. And that is exactly how I felt. From the look on his face, I could tell that he was just as excited as I was.

 

Now is the part that won't be a surprise to my friends. We had a nice evening planned out, dinner at an exclusive restaurant that I could never afford, maybe a movie or drinks in the city. HOWEVER... what really happened was a lot of Grey Goose and Red Bull, followed by AJ convincing me that there was a ghost in the house. A drunken heart-to-heart about religion was placed somewhere in between.

Nevertheless, somehow it turned out to be a perfect evening, with my perfect man.