Kitten Collar

Saturday, June 30, 2018

Top: Shein | Pants: Thrifted | Shoes: Thrifted | Purse: c/o The Cat Lady Box 
 Earrings: Boutique (old) | Sunglasses: c/o The Sunglass Wearhouse


Not something you see me wearing very often on the blog.....jeans that is:) But honestly this whole look is a bit different for me because it is so neutral and simple, but I LOVE it! How could I not though, when the collar of this shirt is a cat draped around your neck!!!
There were so many different ways I was going to style this top (one included wearing it with a cat print skirt) but I decided to go a different route and wear jeans:) This look is definitely more modern for me, very classic, and quite urban (almost a bit hipster) and I really love that. When I reach for jeans I often find myself styling them in unique ways to keep with my own personal unique style.
I wanted something that was still classic and vintage for this look, but also modern so these flair jeans that I thrifted (crazy comfortable) were the perfect piece to pair with this kitten collar top! To keep with my vintage inspiration I paired these vintage white loafers with it that quite remind me of a 1940's dancing film. Since the collar on this top was a cat I couldn't help reach for my new cat purse that I got in my "Cat Lady Box" and it was such a fun statement accessory:) Finished off the look with cat earrings (big surprise) and these fun and simple shades from Sunglass Warehouse.
While I am often someone who loves color, sometimes I am very drawn to minimalist pieces and this look is definitely one of those minimalist looks that still captures who I am brilliantly!

-Madison

Madison's Power Granola

Monday, June 25, 2018


I've always been a huge Granola fan. I think it is because it is an easy breakfast or snack, its healthy, and there are a handful of different ways you can eat it. Recently I started making granola for my family, whipping up a batch about once a week. I love to eat it with greek yogurt, doused with almond milk, or even over ice cream (non daily ice cream of course). Since I have been making it so much I thought I would share my recipe with you in case you want to try it out for yourself. 
When I was creating this recipe I wanted something that had a lot of natural nutrients, fiber, and a bit of protein so this granola is full of options and variations when making it. 

INGREDIENTS:
  • 4 Cups rolled oats 
  • 2 Cups Fruit/Nut Trail Mix (I use one that has walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, raisins, and cranberries) 
  • 1/2 Cup Chia Seeds
  • 1 Tbsp Cinnamon
  • 2 Cups Almonds; salted or unsalted (I use whole almonds and crush them myself but you could used slice)
  • 1 Cup Honey (melted) 
  • 1 Cup oil (olive, coconut, canola, etc.)
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla 
EXTRA POWER INGREDIENTS (not pictured in this batch)
  • 1 Cup Quinoa (uncooked)
  • 1/2 Flax flakes 
  • Extra pumpkin seeds
STEPS:
  1. Preheat oven to 320 degrees
  2. Measure out your 2 cups of almonds and pour them into a large ziplock bag to crush until nearly every almond is broken down. You can also opt for using sliced almonds. 
  3. Measure your rolled oats and pour into a large mixing bowl. 
  4. Measure the rest of your dry ingredients (all that you choose to include) and pour them all into the large mixing bowl with the rolled oats. After all the dry ingredients are together briefly mix them together until they are no longer separated. 
  5. Measure your 1 Cup of honey out and put in a glass measuring cup or microwave safe bowl to melt until an liquid/oil like consistency. Microwave in short 5-10 second intervals. Once melted carefully remove from the microwave with hot pads, pour 1 Tbsp into the hot honey, mix, and pour into large mixing bowl. 
  6. Measure 1 Cup of desired oil and pour into large mixing bowl along with everything else. 
  7. Once all the ingredients are in the mixing bowl, grab a plastic or silicon spatula and thoroughly mix together. The mixture should start to stick and clump together. If it still seems dry and a bit crumbly you can add another 1/2 cup oil or honey. 
  8. After everything is mixed together pour onto two large lipped cookie sheets or pans and place in the oven. The granola will cook for about 40 minutes (or longer until golden brown), however check it every 10-20 minutes to make sure the sides are not getting stuck or burned. Do not stir. 
  9. After the 40 minutes are up, carefully remove the pans from the oven with a hot pad and set aside to cool. Once the pans are fully cool (15-20 minutes) you will use a plastic or metal spatula to scrape the granola off the pans and crumble it together. The granola should clump together in some sections and be crumbly in others. 
  10. Store in a large plastic container with a lid or a serial dispenser. Enjoy over Greek ice cream, with almond milk, or to top off your favorite ice cream. 
  11. Stays fresh in a sealed container for up to two weeks. 

Enjoy!

-Madison

Pretty in Peonies

Friday, June 22, 2018


          


            

Top: Shein | Skirt: The Skirtery | Shoes: Target | Earrings: Thrifted | Bag: Thrifted 


It's kind of odd.....Pink is my favorite color (light pink that is), yet I hardly ever wear pink. Looking in my closet I maybe only have a total of ten pieces that are actually all pink. You would think I would have my favorite color in pieces I can actually wear, but I guess when it comes to fashion I like to think outside of the box?
While I might not wear pink very often, it has been my favorite color ever since I can remember. Obviously many girls say pink is their favorite color, but I think besides being a color I gravitate towards it is one that perfectly captures my personality.
There is a fun question/exercise that a friend of mine shared with me years ago.....it went something along the lines of "What is your favorite color and why? How does it make you feel, etc." Then she went on to ask the same questions only about my favorite "animal" and my favorite "natural disaster." She learned about these questions in her psychology class and apparently the COLOR represents your personality and who you are. The ANIMAL represents the type of person you will marry and the NATURAL DISASTER represents your view of God. To this day those questions have always intrigued me, especially because they make since and are accurate to what they represent in my life and future!
I said that PINK (specifically pale pink) was my favorite color because it is simple, subtle, sweet, classic, and ladylike. When I look at my view of pink in regards to who I am and the color describing me, I do believe that pink encompasses who I am as a person and my personality. It reminds me of being a little girl, twirling around in princess dresses and I think it instills just a hint of childlike magic back into my "grown up" life, reminding me never to stop dreaming, to embrace who I am fully no matter what people think, and to never stop being someone who likes anything classic and ladylike:)
This pink polka dot skirt is one from my Etsy shop and I love the color and the classic polka dots! I like to name my creations like Modcloth names all of their pieces, so this particular skirt is called "You're Making Me Blush". I don't wear this skirt nearly as much as I should, but after getting this darling white ruffle blouse from SHEIN I knew they would be the perfect pairing!
The day I went to take these pictures I had a vision of a pink southern belle and I have to say these might be my FAVORITE pictures/photo shoot in awhile.....although that could just be due to this porch because I said the same thing last summer around this time in this post:) To keep with the whole "southern belle" theme I made sure to grab my giant straw bag + a scarf + peonies (the same from this post) as I ran out the door. All in all I am absolutely IN LOVE with this look and definitely think I should start wearing more pink:)

What is your favorite color?
Do you  wear it a lot?

 -Madison

Old Soul

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Dress: Thrifted | Shoes: Old Navy | Sunnies: Sam Moon | Earrings: Walmart 


I've always considered myself to be an "Old Soul", in fact my old Instagram handle used to be "Oldfashionedgirl". I think my association with being an old soul has often come from my love for vintage and old fashioned clothing styles. However, as time has gone by I have realized that I am an "old soul" for more reasons than just my clothes.
While my clothes and style are a huge part of my "old soul" spirit they also speak to who I am as a person (deep in my core). For me, my old fashioned and vintage styles illustrate how I see the world, life, etc. If you peeled way the layers you would see that my views and standards for life are quite old fashioned......sometimes I think my views would fit better in the 1950's than in our modern 21st century. I am known as the "mom" of my friends and you can often find me elaborating as the voice of reason and logic in many situations or raising eyebrows at peoples music choices, conversations, or clothes.
I often wonder if my style bloomed from my old fashioned views and standards of life? However, I think that my love for vintage clothes and my unique style comes from the fact that I truly am an "old soul." I resonate more with a 60 year old lady wearing muumuu's and picking flowers rather than a 22 year old college grad. Antique stores are comforting to me, swing music makes me feel as though I am living in the 40's and 50's and vintage clothes are the icing on the cake, transporting me back in time and backing up my "old soul" spirit.
Call it "old lady" syndrome, "crazy cat lady" side effects, but at the end of the day I am simply an "old soul" living in a modern world.

Do you consider yourself to be an old soul?

 -Madison
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