Glow

 Top: 'Cream Sleevless Peter Pan Collar Lace Blouse' c/o Little Mistress

Pants: Bullhead Denim - from PacSun a few years ago

Shoes: Target (last year) - DV by Dolce Vita identical version HERE (and they are on sale!)

Bracelets: Target

Ring: Jewelmint 'Giza Ring' 

Nails: OPI 'Mod About You'

 Long time, no see! I'm sorry I've been MIA! Between working and trying to spend as much time as possible at the lake, my blogging has been pretty nonexistent lately! My sister (also my photographer:) ) has also been super busy with summer shoots, including weddings and senior portraits, so finding time to take photos that matches up perfectly with both of our schedules has been pretty difficult. Anyways, I'm back!

I love love love Summer. It is by far my favorite season, and I prefer to spend my days reading books, swimming in the lake and sunbathing. Something else I love? Being able to go makeup-less. I love that in the summer time, the sun gives me a natural glow that allows me to put on a little bit of mascara and go (although, I may have gotten a tad too much sun (notice my lobster nose?) last weekend).

After a long day on the lake, I got all dressed up to go out with the boy. I received this blouse from Little Mistress and automatically fell in love. This is truly the perfect piece to take from summer to fall. I love the sheer, flowy fabric and the pretty flower detailing that has hints of gold. It's the perfect lightweight top with a high low hem-line and a peter pan collar that I find absolutely adorable. I paired it with melon colored skinnys and nude wedges for a cooler evening, but can't wait to add a heavy cardi, leggings and boots for fall. I love finding new online stores, and Little Mistress might just be one of my new favorites.

Don't forget to enter the Sizzlin Summer Giveaway for a chance to win a $250 VISA Giftcard!! Enter NOW!!!!!

Sizzlin Summer Giveaway! {CLOSED}

Today, I have teamed up with 24 fabulous bloggers to bring you a Sizzlin Summer Giveaway where not one, but TWO lucky readers will have the chance to each win a $250 VISA GIFT CARD to purchase whatever their little heart desires! To enter, simply follow the steps in the Rafflecopter below. 

Good luck!

JIMMY CHOOS & TENNIS SHOES | STYLE ELIXIR| MY WARDROBE STAPLES | PERFECTLY COUTURED | SPOONFUL OF STYLE

 ALL THAT GLITTERS | ANNE FROM INDY | BOOK OF LEISURE | A BEAUTIFUL HEART | TWENTIES GIRL STYLE

CLASSY CUBICLE | EVERYDAY FASHION & FINANCE | THE FASHION CANVAS| A LIFETIME OF RAIN | LONESTAR STATE OF SOUTHERN

PIGTAILS & PEARLS | SIMPLY WHIT IN A SEQUINED LIFE | LOVE LUCY GIRL | SPARKLE & SHINE ON | STYLE OF ONE'S OWN 

LOVE LOVE LOVE | WHITE COAT WARDROBE | THE BRANDIED PAIR | STYLIN IN ST LOUIS | STYLE WITH A STORY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Yeah...I Really Own That: Marsa from The DayLee Journal

It's no surprise that I'm obsessed with Marsa who blogs at The DayLee Journal (you've seen her on my blog here). Not only is she adorable and possibly my best blogging friend (BBF!), but I want to steal her entire wardrobe. She has such an effortless way of putting things together, with a hint of quirky, cool thrown in the mix. Seriously guys, her style is amazing and once you check out her blog you will want to copy just about every outfit, I promise. Also, Marsa and her husband, Jerry, are quite possibly the cutest couple ever ever. She often shares antidotes from their every day life that always have me laughing out loud. Check her blog out here!

With that said, I am so happy to introduce the lovely and ALWAYS adorable Yeah...I Really Own That blogger for July...

Marsa from The DayLee Journal

Sooooo tie-dye shirts. Does anyone even wear them anymore? I don't know about you, but they make me think of summer, hippie, camping, or all three of them combined. They're definitely not the first thing I would pull out when I'm looking for something "trendy." But for some reason, when I found this a few summers ago for a whopping $7 I couldn't resist. And I wanted to find a way to wear it without the typical "beach" or "summer" vibe so this is what I came up with. I know tie-dyes will probably never be the coolest thing to wear, but it's pretty much one of the comfiest shirts I own and I love it. So yeah guys, I really own that.

Malibu Barbie

 Dress: Forever 21 

Similar:

Hawaiian print with a scuba fit HERE

Sleeveless floral shirt dress HERE

Tropical floral with cutouts HERE

Purse: DailyLook - Similar (splurge/steal) - I also think THIS one from Tobi is identical (Join tobi.com HERE for 50% off your first order) 

Shoes: White 'Lo-Pro' Vans - HERE

Ring: Jewelmint 'Gold Reef Ring'

Sunnies: Ray-Ban 'Erika' - HERE

 The second I put on this outfit, I automatically thought of Malibu Barbie. Is this not something she would totally wear to the beach?? Obviously she would change out the white tennies for pink pumps, but still.
This was the perfect date night outfit. I wore it to dinner with the boy, and I got multiple compliments from him throughout the night. He even liked my blindingly neon bag!

I tried out white nails for the first time this summer and loved the fresh feel they gave the outfit. Adding my white vans to the mix was the perfect way to keep it casual for our dinner date. Next time I wear this, I think I might just have to add some pink shoes....

Don't forget to enter to win the 'Chrysalis Petal' Skater Dress from Lashes of London! 

ENTER HERE

60's Girl Style & a Giveaway!

 Dress: 'Chrysalis Petal Skater Dress' c/o Lashes of London

Shoes: JustFab

Earrings: Jewelmint 'Daisy Earrings'

Sunglasses: 'Ava Tortie Shades' - Anthropologie

 When I received this dress from Lashes of London, it was love at first sight. You see, when I picked it out online, it was cute and I was excited, but in person, this dress is magic. Pure magic. This gorgeous, satiny white little number has a few details that make it the perfect LWD (little white dress). From the flower detailing at the neck and the skater fit to the gorgeous open back, this dress is everything a LWD should be in the summertime.

 Here are a few places this dress would be perfect for:

1. Engagement/Rehearsal Dinner: If you are getting married, this dress would be the perfect LWD to wear to your engagement party or rehearsal. It's white, chic and pretty darn adorable and I promise all eyes would be on you:) Hey, if you even wanted a low key wedding, this little number would totally do the trick for a wedding dress. Imagine yourself saying your vows on the beach in this.
2. Prom: Does this not remind you of one of those dresses you see in prom magazines? With a pair of colored heels, it would be the perfect prom showstopper. If only I owned this dress when I went to prom...le sigh.
3. Cocktail Party: Picture this: You, in this dress, on a warm summer night, at a cocktail party surrounded by fairy lights. Yes, please.
4. The 60's: Can I please transport back in time and wear this out to dinner with the boyfriend? We can then sit on a porch swing, under the stars.

Okay, obviously I've conjured up quite a few ways/places to wear this dress. As I've said before, it really is the perfect LWD, and as you can tell by these photos, I was definitely feeling the last option (the 60's) when I took these photos. I love that they have a vintage-y feel that makes them look like you just discovered them in your grandma's old box of photos (thanks to my lovely sister....she's pretty talented!).

After this dress, I am pretty much obsessed with Lashes of London. Check out their site and be inspired. They have beautiful, UNIQUE pieces that are fun and trendy and their lookbook is completely drool worthy. Even better? Use the code "Blog25" when checking out to receive 25% off of your purchase!

As I am now ridiculously in love with this dress, I am SO excited to announce that Lashes of London sent me another one of these dresses to give away to one lucky reader! Entry is easy! Just follow the Rafflecopter below to enter for a chance to win! A winner will be randomly selected through the Rafflecopter widget on July 22nd, 2013. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! 

**Note: The size of the dress being given away is a size 6 (small). It is the same size that I am wearing above, but fits me a little big (mostly in the top). For reference, I am 5'3 and 105 pounds. I am sorry for the sizing inconvenience:(

Reppin' Merica

 Sweater: "Shooting Star Destroyed Sweater" - Forever 21 (out of coral, but white and black options available)

Shorts: "Hi-Rise Festival Shortie" - American Eagle 

Sunnies: "Ava Tortie Shades" - Anthropologie

Boots: "Kalayla Studded Cowboy Ankle Boot" - Target 

Ring: Jewelmint - different color option HERE

 I wore this outfit a week ago, but you better believe it will be making a re-appearance today in honor of the 4th. I'm reppin' MERICA!

This sweater sat in my Forever 21 cart FOREVER. It looked like a pretty good alternative to the Wildfox Seeing Stars Lennon sweater, but I wasn't sold. When I read rave reviews on Katie's blog (one of my favorite bloggers...check her out HERE!), I knew I had to buy it. I ended up getting a medium on Katie's suggestions, and could not be happier with the fit. I won't lie, since I've had this little gem, I've worn it more than once a week. It's just too cute, guys!!

Anyways, I paired the sweater with my other latest favorites:
Shorties: These American Eagle shorties are the perfect hi-rise, destroyed shorts.  Yes, they do show a little booty, but they are comfortable and I love the distressing. Hey, I might as well wear short shorts while I'm still young and can get away with it, right?
Booties: Target has been killing it in the shoe department lately. I got these on super sale (I paid $10 for them!), but didn't even know they were marked down and was about to pay the regular price for them. It was a nice little surprise.
Sunnies: You've probably seen these sunnies everywhere. These Anthropologie "Ava Tortie Shades" are the perfect Karen Walker sunnies knock-off's without the hefty price tag. Every blogger and their mother has them, but I can totally see why. LOVE them.

Well, I'm off to celebrate the 4th of July in typical 4th fashion: lazy day on the lake, floating and paddle boarding, eating hot dogs and potato salad, and watching the fireworks overhead from a boat in the water.

Have a wonderful 4th!

What are your plans for the day?

June Favorites

I'm back! I've been MIA for awhile as the past few weeks have been a littttle crazy. I'm starting a new/old summer job soon (I will fill you in later, but don't get too excited, it's really not that great), and I traveled this weekend to see one of my besties get married! The wedding was fantastic and Nichole looked GORGEOUS. Sighhh. I love weddings. Overall, it was just a great weekend spending time with my boyfriend (we've been together for 6 YEARS on the 3rd!) and celebrating our friends!
But without further ado, my....

{June Favorites}

The Things I've Been Loving All Month Long

Persun: I have been all over online boutiques lately. I love that the internet has made buying unique clothing SO easy! Persun is one of my latest discoveries. They sell everything from a variety of different style clothing, jewelry, handbags, accessories, shoes and even a special site (http://www.persunmall.com.au) especially for special occasion wear.  Ladies, you can even get your wedding dresses there, and they are really reasonably priced (so you could totally have a 3 dress wedding...wedding,cocktails and rehearsal...Real housewife style without the gigantic price tag:) ). They also carry a wide variety of formal dresses, which would have made my life SO easy in high school as there so many colors and styles to choose from. I'm really feeling blue this year (actually, my prom dress was minty blue!), so check out some of the gorgeous blue formal dresses they have in stock.They add new things to the sites daily, making the options of cute items endless. Here are some items on my summer http://www.persunmall.com wish list:

0. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10

0. Slim Fit Chiffon Shirt: This little beauty comes in 3 colors (pink, white and navy) and is so pretty for summer. I love that it's light and sheer and has gorgeous ruffle detailing on the front to add the perfect girly touch.

1. British Straps Pocket Long Sleeves Shirt: I love stripes. This shirt is trendy perfection and would look SO cute paired with florals. Plus, it's the perfect piece to transition all year long.

2. Vintage Style Paillete Skirt: I'm obsessed with this skirt. Sequins and flowers makes for the prettiest summer item. Dress it up or down.

3. Opera Types Of Facial Skull Ring: Persun has a wide variety of fun cocktail rings, and this Dia de Muretos-esque version would be the perfect colorful ring bling for the summertime. 

4. Vintage Style Embroidery Short Jeans: SO cute. The embroidery detailing is so boho chic, and paired with a sweet denim wash, these shorts are something I would be wearing every day. 

5. High Waist Printed Chiffon Dress: A carousel pony printed dress. There are no words. Need this now. 

6. Rivet Golden Alloy Bracelet: Sparkles AND spikes?! Girly meets edgy at it's finest. 

7. Retro Buckled Flap Satchel: A bright bag for summer is a must. This sunshiny yellow option is gorgeous and the style of this bag is perfect. Whats better? It comes in a variety of different color options.

8. Fashion Strawberry Polka Bag: I love the fun polka dot print of this tote bag. It would be the perfect bag to take out shopping or make a nice beach bag to stash your beach necessities. 

9. Cute Lace Half See Through Dress: I am in love with this dress! The color, the see through floral lace, and the cute tea party feel, make for a dress perfect for summer weddings or date night with the boy:) 

10. V-Shape Triangles Pendant Necklace: A pretty necklace that has an edgy feel. I also love the goldy-bronze color and etched detailing.

A Game of Thrones: I finished the first book! It only took a little over a month....but, I finished! I feel like watching the series first helped me to better understand what was happening and helped keep me interested. It definitely had some slow parts, but overall it was an enjoyable read! I gave it a 4/5 on my Goodreads, and while I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, I think I might take a little break to read a light, fluffy summer read.

Girls: My newest obsession. I blew through both seasons in a matter of days. It's SO good, guys! Girls follows the lives of a group of close knit girls (obvi!) in their early twenties, navigating adulthood in New York City. As I am in that age group, it's ridiculously relatable and entertaining. Once again, as it is HBO, it's pretty adult (mature content). My favorite girl is definitely Shoshanna, for her crazy hair and naive, girly, cray-cray personality. Watch it. You won't regret it:)

Monster's University: Monster's INC is my all time favorite Pixar movie. Therefore when I heard they were making a prequel, I was beyond excited. Monster's University was everything I hoped it would be a more. I got my Mike and Sully fix (seriously, they are the cutest animated characters!) and left with that warm fuzzy feeling a good Disney movie always leaves you with. Plus, the college stereotypes were pretty hilarious. I definitely give it a 9/10...it was that good. Go see it!

I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles): My boyfriend and I love How I Met Your Mother. One of our favorite episodes involves Marshall and Ted and I'm Gonna Be on repeat (watch the clip before to get the gist). After watching this episode this song has popped up randomly multiple times when we are together. It's ridiculously bizarre. For example, we were listening to it in my car and when we got to his apartment, his roommate was playing it. Weird right?! It's not like it's a new song, and that is only one incident of it popping up when we were together. A sign maybe?! Anyways, while watching Grey's Anatomy, I heard a cover by the band Sleeping At Last. It's utterly perfect.

What were some of your June favorites?