Not Settling

dress: bb dakota (available here) // shoes: 10 crosby derek lam (similar here) // sunnies: prada (available here)// watch: michael kors (available here)
photos by common dove photography

Yesterday I got a package in the mail from a very dear friend with a coffee mug that said "keep not settling" and a note that had me ugly crying (I have the most incredible friends by the way). It was nice to be reminded that I'm finally on the right path…. A couple of months ago I packed up and left a life I had settled for and have been busting my ass to create a new one that I'm happy with and proud of. Its not easy and somedays its hard not to wonder if I made the right decision….but in the words of Sugarland…...

                                                                   "I ain't settling for just getting by

I've had enough so so for the rest of my life
Tired of shooting too low, so raise the bar high
Just enough ain't enough this time
I ain't settling for anything less than EVERYTHING"

The Long and Short of It

sweater: similar here // leather skirt: vintage (loving this one) // boots: shoemint (similar here) // sunnies: prada (similar here)
photos by common dove photography

OK, I'll admit it, I have a bit of a complex about being "petite." In fact, I loath the term "petite" itself; it sounds like you are weak and unable to fend for yourself. Yes…..I'm short…..and blonde……and bubbly…..and with all of that comes a certain stigma. For instance,  people like to call you "cute" because you are small…..cute….really? If I were my size and about 6 inches taller I can guarantee you people would not call me "cute." However, with all of my ramblings about my height I'm starting to learn that there are certain benefits to being Polly Pocket size….. like being able to wear super short vintage leather skirts with moto boots and not looking as scantily clad as a tall person would. But the best part is realizing you can fit under a cannon…..suck on that my vertically gifted friends.

Good Days and Bad Days

sweater: the limited (available here) // jeans: madewell (available here) // jacket: h&m (available here) // shoes: valentino (available here) // sunnies: prada (available here)
photos by common dove photography

About a month ago I went up to Virginia Beach to visit my parents in their new house. Quite an interesting weekend that ended with me crying my eyes out for about 6 hours listening to John Legend's "All of Me" and waking up to a 30 degree temperature drop. If you have been following the blog then you know I am currently going through a separation in my marriage…..I'll admit…..there are good days and bad days. Sometimes you think you are totally fine and then the smallest thing sets you off into a dark place that you don't know if you will ever get out of. The next morning after my last emo fest I walked out on my parents dock (because the smell of salt water always helps relax me) only to discover it was FREEZING…luckily I picked up this parka from H&M the day before and threw it over the first items laying on the top of my suitcase and slid on my Valentino rockstuds….and wouldn't you know it actually turned into a pretty great outfit. Like I said in my last post, I may be a mess right now but at least I will never let you know that from the outside. The good news is things are on the upswing for several reasons and I'm incredibly thankful for all of the people in my life right now.

Funny Thing About Dreams…..

dress: vintage via bolo (loving this one) // moto jacket: vintage (similar here) // shoes: vince (available here) // sunnies: prada (similar here)
photos by common dove photography

The funny thing about dreams is that they are like styling a favorite vintage piece. As incredible as a vintage piece can be chances are it probably won't fit correctly…. so you adapt it by adding a belt to shorten it, throwing some leather shorts under….and adding a leather moto jacket which pretty much takes every outfit to the next level. In the same way, sometimes you have to adapt your dreams….the original dream is still there but it has to be tweaked as your life twists and turns. I'm chasing my dream till I hit the moon….no matter how many times it has to be tweaked :)