The Smell of Old Books

The Smell of Old Books

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Blouse: Thrifted (Express)

Sweater: Thrifted (Merona)

Skirt: c/o StyleWe

Shoes: Target (old) 

Broach: Vintage

(Photos by Kenny @blindvisualsmedia)

Have you ever walked into an old library or book store and been greeted by the aroma of books? I remember a friend once telling me that she loved the smell of books and would open them up to inhale their aroma before buying one. I don't think I am that obsessed with the smell of books, but I will admit that they have an aura about them that is all their own......one that smells of history and aged wisdom.  

Books are such precious things because they bind stories together, teach us of the past, take us on adventure, introduce us to new people, and teach us lessons we might never learn in real life. I might not be as much of a book worm as I would like to be, but I do appreciate books a GREAT deal and always make it a mission of mine to find the oldest book wherever I am (I even own a few hundred year old books). It just so happens that our library at college houses a number of old books, and they always seem like such treasures when I run my fingers over their spines and open their covers to find their publish date. I've never once gone to the library to study, but I have gone there to wander through the vast array of isles and read the many titles that sit amongst the shelves. 

A couple of weeks ago I was finally able to make my dreams of taking pictures in a library come true when I met up with a fellow RA & photographer to snap a few pictures amongst the books. I thought that a library was the perfect setting to wear this Scottish plaid skirt from StyleWe that I absolutely LOVE! I actually call this ensemble my teacher look (I wore it the first day of Methods this semester) because it combines a scholarly plaid with a classic button up and navy cardigan.....tell me that's not a teacher look! But a teacher also fits perfectly into a library:) 

This skirt is literally the most AMAZING skirt I have ever owned because it's quality is incredible and its cut is impeccable. If there were a skirt that fit me like a gem and that was so perfectly made for me, this would be it! While I usually wear this skirt in the winter and fall I decided it needed one last hurrah before the warmer months, and so it took a visit to the library. 

Do you like the smell of old books?

Are you a library person?

-Madison

Country Life

Country Life

Monday, March 20, 2017

Skirt: Thrifted
Shirt: Thrifted (H&M)
Shoes: Thrifted
Socks: Forever 21
Neck Scarf: DIY
Belt: Thrifted

There's something great about taking a break. Taking time away from your normal life to unplug and focus on something you typically don't. That is what I got to do with my family this past weekend. Thankfully we all had spring break at the same time but we didn't get to spend it all together until Friday when we took a quick weekend trip to our family farm to camp for 3 days. 

Here's the thing, I come from a family of farmers and ranchers. While part of my life has been spent in a decently large town that, I have also grown up experiencing small town life. The kind of life in a town that only has one stoplight, whose small town spirit revolves around the high school sports teams, and the kind of town where if someone does something everyone will know about it. 

You see, both of my parents come from small towns (15 minutes away from each other), the kind of towns where you know almost everyone you come across and if you mention your last name people automatically know who you are and who you are related to. Small town life means everyone shows up for graduation and probably nearly every wedding and every wedding reception is held at the Fireman's Hall (you wouldn't believe how that place can be transformed!), but that's the beauty of it. 

Often times we are stuck in the midst of experiencing only one type of life (unless maybe your family moved a lot), but for me, I have grown up in between being a city and country girl and I think that is something I will always cherish. 

I have fond memories as a kid, visiting the farm and seeing all of my grandfathers cattle, goats, horses, and for awhile ostriches. The greatest memories my siblings and I have about our trips to the farm are wading in the creek and then drying our socks by a fire, chasing the goats and trying to chatch them, picking peaches from the old orchard, hiking through the woods and across the many pastures, fishing in one of the 4 tanks, and our favorite, jumping in the tank for a swim when it gets a bit hot out. 

I might like being put together on a daily basis, but that doesn't erase the fact that country life will always hold a special place in my heart. There is no other place on earth that is filled with the sounds of nothing and yet everything, and I will always love the smell of hay and the view of rolling hills and tree lines as far as the eye can see. Country life is my heritage and will always be in my blood so any time I get to relive my fondest childhood memories I cherish those moments. 

What did you do over spring break?

Anyone else have a family of farmers or ranchers?

- Madison 

Growth

Growth

Monday, September 5, 2016

Jumper: Made

Shirt: Thrifted

Shoes: Thrifted

Necklace: Vintage

Well, it sure has taken long enough for me to get these pictures up on the blog, but considering that Fall is right around the corner this shoot seems like the perfect way to say farewell to summer. Today is Labor Day after all, which in itself seems to close the doors on summer fashion (goodbye whites) and usher in a new season of styles and colors. While I can't wait for the crisp fall weather to get here (yay for fall colors and sweaters), I can't help but think back to all of the lovely memories from this summer! This shoot particularly was a great memory because I had been dreaming of shooting at our local plant nursery for the longest time. Thankfully I persuaded two of my friends to come with me for a photo shoot day (just so happened to be right before I headed back to college) and boy did we get some lovely shots! Definitely a day to remember. 

With all that being said, and considering that I am completely surrounded by the loveliest plants in all of these pictures, it makes me think about "GROWTH." While growth definitely makes me think about all of the beauty in nature that I am surrounded by every day, it also makes me think about growth in my own life. Whenever I think about growth, so many thing pop into my mind such as beauty, new beginnings, lessons, and letting go. Specifically for me, I think about the amount of growth that I have done over the course of this current semester (even though we are only a week and a half into school). 

College itself has been all about growth for me, as I have had to trust God with areas of my life that were hard to trust him with and have faith that his plans were better than my own! I truly believe that the only way you will grow in life is when you learn to let go. However, letting go is one of the hardest things to do. Nevertheless, when we learn to let go we learn that it can be one of the most rewarding things because when we let go of our own desires we open ourselves up for God's greater plan in our life, and when we do that we grow in ways we would never have imagined! When I reflect back on the growth in my life I can't help but think back to a quote from Elisabeth Elliott which reads:

“There is no ongoing spiritual life without this process of letting go. At the precise point where we refuse, growth stops. If we hold tightly to anything given to us, unwilling to let it go when the time comes to let it go or unwilling to allow it to be used as the Giver means it to be used, we stunt the growth of the soul." 

We have to learn to let go in life in order to grow! After all, trees let go and loose their leaves so that they can grow new ones when spring comes.......sometimes we have to be willing to let go of our leaves too, so that new ones can grow. Growth is soooooo important in our lives, because without it we would never learn what we are capable of and even more so, what God is capable of in our life!

Have you experienced any growth in your life recently?

What do you think about letting go and growth?

-Madison

All The Wild Flowers

All The Wild Flowers

Friday, May 13, 2016

Dress: Thrifted (vintage)

Shoes: Old Navy (Last fall)

These pictures were from a photo shoot my sister and I did a month or so ago. Ever since I was a little girl I have always been one to pick every wild flower in site and arrange them into a bouquet. There is something so special, magical, and simple about wildflowers which pop up in unknown places for our own enjoyment and marveling. 

I especially LOVE the little daisy like flowers called "Asters"! They might not smell that great and might have the daintiest and most delicate feather like petals but they look like baby daisies and as many of you know daisies are my favorite!

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To be honesty, I am sitting at my computer right now still wearing my pajamas without having touched my hair since brushing it this morning and putting it in a pony tail, and truly I am not really feeling motivated to take the effort to look cute today (not that I am even going anywhere)......there's some transparency for you! Honestly though, you would think that after arriving home from college on Sunday I would have been productive this week and gotten a jump start on all of the many blog posts I have mulling around in my head.....however, my life has been quiet uneventful! 

I spent nearly three days assembling, sanding, and painting a bookshelf for my room which was dreadfully needed for my MANY books that were overtaking my small room! Apart from that, I then had to completely reorganize my room/closet after putting in the bookshelf and today am tackling the GREAT task of finally unpacking and hanging up all of the clothes I had with me at college......I am in serious need of downsizing my wardrobe (but there are sooooo many unique pieces I can't seem to part with...ugh). 

I am hoping that next week I will actually be able to tackle the important tasks on my "To Do" list that desperately need to get done and hoping that I will work in a summer blogging schedule (I have a FABULOUS photo shoot idea in my head!). Nonetheless, all those many "To Do" things will have to wait until Monday as I am going out of town this weekend and am over the moon about the day trip I am making with one of my best friends on Saturday (tomorrow)!!! Where are we going that I am sooooooooooo EXCITED about????? We are going to the Modcloth IRL in Austin Texas and I couldn't be more excited about it. Thus, since visiting/shopping at Modcloth IRL is just around the corner that means I need an ensemble to wear tomorrow....ahhhhh....so many options!!! 

Apparently you can tell I am pretty excited! Modcloth is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE brands and when I heard they were coming to Austin this summer (till May 30th) I knew I had to take a trip and visit considering Austin is only 2.5 hours from where I live and less than an hour from my parents home town (which is our main destination this weekend). 

I will definitely be sure to document the day with pictures and share them on the blog next week so keep a lookout for them! 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Friday and has fabulously fun plans for the weekend!!

Did you know about Modcloth IRL? 

Do you like picking wild flowers? 

-Madison