All The Colors

Monday, June 27, 2016

Dress: Thrifted (Talbots)
Shoes: Marshalls (Steve Madden)
Sunnies: Five Below
Bag: Borrowed From a Friend
**Pictures By My Sister Taylor**

I think BOLD and crazy colors are my new favorite thing for summer! My wardrobe is such a random mix of styles, silhouettes, prints, and colors that its completely impossible to pinpoint what I like the most. Sometimes I am all for simple plain earthy tones, sometimes I am all for prints, and other times it is all about the colors! Oh.....and don't even get me started on eras of fashion.....that's a whole nother ballgame. However, to me, summer is truly about the POPS of color that we bring out of our wardrobe and add to the sunny (and hot) days. Therefore, when I think of summer and vibrant colors this candy colored dress is a "dream come true". 

I found this dress at Goodwill last week and fell in love with it when I saw it on the hanger! I immediately thought of the 1960's when I saw the silhouette, colors, and fabric and started dreaming up where I would wear it and with what. To say that this dress is perfect in every way is an understatement, but it truly is perfect! Not to mention that the dress is Talbots, which always happens to be a brand that I buy most often at thrift stores for their classic and timeless styles. While this is most definitely a style that came out in the last couple of years from Talbots, it seems as though it were pulled straight from the 60's and to be honest the 60's seem to be my style muse for the summer (we shall see where that takes me). 

It seems like every summer I make a plan of finding a cotton/spandex dress that is simple and easy to throw on for busy days or when I am in a hurry. Often times however, the dresses fall short as they are of a poor quality or appear way to modern and not classic enough for me. Needless to say, this dress is the complete opposite of all the downsides I have run into before and I am so in LOVE with it. Not only is it so dreamily comfortable, but it is also a sturdy quality which means I don't have to wear a tank top underneath so "hello no heat stroke in the summer humidity!"

While this ensemble would have been perfected by my oversized floral 1960's cat eye style sunnies (left at home) and a head scarf (because you have to keep your hair safe from the wind) I think this look is the first of many to come out of this dress!

I hope all of you lovely readers are having a wonderful summer so far! Let me know what you have been up to in the comments below:)

Do you have a perfect dress to throw on for busy days?
Are colors a main part of your summer wardrobe?
What do you think of the 1960's?

-Madison

Summer Must Haves

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Summer Must Haves

        As the warm summer weather starts for each of us, it becomes even more difficult to dress fashionably in the heat. In Texas the heat is almost unbearable at times and even when the heat isn't that bad the humidity is the worst! Due to the heat and challenge it brings for us who still want to look fashionable without dying of heat stroke, I thought I would share some of my Summer Must Haves:

  • Denim Jumper Dress: I don't actually have one of these yet, I am in the process of making one and know I will wear it all the time. I love how basic yet versatile denim jumpers can be and they are perfect for summer time. For those of you who focus on creating "capsule wardrobes" this would be a perfect addition!
  • Striped Quarter Sleeve Shirt: I have a black and white striped shirt that I wear all the time. Stripes are great because not only are they classic, but they go with solids and prints. For the most part my quarter sleeve top is fairly cool, but if the day is extra sweltering than I will go for a striped tank top. (perfect for a capsule wardrobe too)
  • Gingham Skirt: You all probably saw my gingham skirt in my last post. I am so IN LOVE with gingham skirts because they are just the BEST! I have been wearing my skirt all the time and its is great for the summer heat as it is flowy and also looks like a picnic blanket :)
  • White Blouse: I have a number of white blouses and often revert to choosing them when I need a blouse that goes with any skirt. Though I sometimes have to wear a tank top under my white blouses, white is great because it goes with everything and it is a very cool color. 
  • Fujifilm Instax Polaroid: I have a pink polaroid camera and love using it to snap artsy photos and hang them in my room. Summer is the perfect time to capture memories and using a polaroid is an extra creative and fun choice. 
  • Canvas Tote: I have become a huge fan of canvas totes because they are perfect for trips and are super cute, plus you can get them with whatever wording or graphic you want! Throw a book in your bag and you are good to go for the beach. 
  • A Good Book: Everyone needs a good book in the summer. I am the girl who goes to the beach simply to read a book......I just finished The Siren by Kiera Cass and it was so perfect for a summer read. 
  • Lemon Water: In the summer heat it is important to stay hydrated! I know for myself personally, drinking water is sometimes a battle. However, I am more apt to drink water if it is lemon water as it adds flavor. Plus, lemon water has its own set of benefits!
  • Cute Shades: I am a connoisseur of cute sunglasses! My favorite pair as of late are similar to those in the set, as they are a fun oversized cat eye with a springy floral print. 
  • Boater Hat: I am totally in love with boater hats and they are perfect for keeping the sun off of my face. Not only are they extremely classic and go with everything, but they sometimes make you feel like you stepped out of Italy when pairing it with specific ensembles. 
  • White Sandals: Anyone who reads my blog knows I LOVE Salt Water Sandals. Unfortunately, I don't have a white pair, but I did just find a pair of white Steve Madden sandals that kind of look like a pair of Salt Water sandals so I was happy. I love white sandals because they go with anything, but also look super summery because of their light color. 
Are any of these items on your Summer Must Have's list?
What are your summer go too's?
Have you read any good books this summer?

-Madison

Wedding Wear

Monday, June 20, 2016


Dress: Forever 21
Shoes: Cato's
Necklace: Wallmart
Purse: Vintage
Sunglasses: Five Below
**Pictures by my Mom**

This summer happens to be wedding season for our family! Not that anyone in my family is getting married (I am the oldest and that isn't in Gods plan yet) but more like the fact that we have seven weddings to attend this summer. This past Saturday was wedding #3 of 7. The strangest thing about a slew full of weddings is that while I absolutely ADORE wedding, taking in the layout, ceremony, dress, flowers, every little detail I am the absolute worst at mingling. While that might not be to surprising to hear coming from an introvert, I often find that I wish I was better at mingling and catching up with people, but alas I thoroughly lacking in that department. However, despite my shortcomings I still LOVE attending weddings, especially since my degree is partially in event planning and I always feel like I am doing research as well......apart from people watching of course! 

As can be imagined, with seven weddings this summer one must figure out what to wear for all of them. I find myself with a number of suitable dresses yet nothing I particularly want to wear. Thus, I had completely forgotten about this ladylike and flowy pastel dress from Forever 21. This dress was originally a Maxi dress I had picked up a couple of years ago and unfortunately have only worn it once since then. Therefore, I decided to turn it into a springy midi dress. I am quite in love with the simple transformation which created the perfect dress for a long list of summer weddings. Pair this flowy pastel dress with a pale pink necklace, vintage purse, and nude flats and you have the perfect wedding wear (not to mention it is comfortable enough to wear for a 3 hour car ride to a wedding). While I still have four more weddings to attend, this dress is bound to make a re-appearance at two of them.......after all, if the guest list isn't the same then why should my ensemble be different? 

Are you attending any wedding this summer?
Do you like attending weddings & having an excuse to dress up? 

-Madison

Recent Faves pt. 1

Wednesday, June 15, 2016


I thought I would take a quick post and share some of my recent Faves with you all which include blog posts, products, videos, and other random things so lets get started! 

  • I can't get over Jessica Robert's inspiring story and totally adorable family! Her most recent  Blog Post features the cutest pictures of her 5 adorable kids (plus a little girl on the way) and their fabulous "kids say".
  • The most recent post from Rebecca on her blog A Clothes Horse titled What To Pack For Ireland has me wanting to hop on a plane and travel to that beautiful country right now........Ireland is one of the places I want to travel to one day and her packing tips were so helpful:)
  • Charlotte's new dress on The Boyer Family Singer's Blog is absolutely to die for!!!
  • I found my new favorite luggage brand (though it's doubtful I will ever be able to afford it......a girl can dream right!) from Steam Line Luggage and this Pale Pink set has me dreaming.
  • Grace VanderWaal's original song audition on America's Got Talent is so inspiring and fantastic and basically brought me to tears!!
  • I am so in love with my new white Steve Madden Sandals from Marshall's! 
  • I just bought a DONUT float exactly like this one for $5 and can't wait to go to the pool! 
  • I have yet to see the new Love and Friendship movie (based off of Lady Susan) but it looks so hilarious and comical compared to Jane Austen's other works. 
  • If you want to watch a good football movie (our family loves sports movies) that will also make you cry (trust me), than you have to check out My All American which not only has a wonderful story line but is also set in the 1960's and Linda's Outfits were so great!
That's it for now on my recent Faves. Hope you all enjoyed checking all of these out:)

-Madison

Confessions of the Social Kind

Monday, June 13, 2016

Top: Thrifted
Skirt: I Made
Shoes: Modcloth (Salt Water Sandals)
Purse: Sam Moon "Melie Bianco" (same here) 
Earrings: stole from my sister (Forever 21)
**Pictures by Taylor (my sister)**

I have a confession.......when  I was in high school I was the girls who always did her persuasive speeches and papers on the same topic. What was the topic? I did every persuasive speech and paper on "Why Social Media is Bad" and I had a number of pro/con articles to back up my beliefs and ideas. Now that I look back on that I have to laugh because as a blogger social media is a HUGE part of my life now.....without it my blog would never have grown to reach the audiences and readers that it does (y'all are awesome by the way) and I have also come to meet and know a number of other talented and amazing bloggers and people through those outlets!

Maybe I was sooooooo against it all those years ago because it wasn't really that "big" of a thing as back then not a lot of teenagers had smart phones and wifi was still coming into play (wow.....writing all of that makes me feel sooooo old). However, while I wasn't allowed to have a social media account, which would have only been Facebook, (that was the "thing" back then) my parents wouldn't let me and honestly I was fine with that. I remember people asking me all the time if I had a Facebook and I would just be like "Um, no. I am not allowed to have one" and quite frankly I didn't ever want to be like "everyone else" in giving into the trend. However, as much as I was against social media a few years ago I often failed to realize the positive aspects of it! 

To be honest, if it wasn't for my blog I wouldn't have all the different social media accounts that I have HERE, but social media is such a key tool for the blogger world and I have truly grown to appreciate its positive aspects. Not only does it present us with different types of social media setups that each does a different thing, but it also allows us to connect and find others who share our same interests and even strike up a conversation with them. Therefore if I was only allowed to choose one social media I would hands down have to go with Instagram (hence the FAB bag!)! Not only does Instagram allow you to write long posts (which I like to do at times) but it also focuses on capturing life and telling a story strictly in pictures! Not only that, but nearly every blogger has an Instagram and it is a way for each of us to connect on a platform other than blogger and share our blogging lives through behind the scenes pictures, pictures from recent posts, and even a few goofy snap shots here and there. Through this platform I have gotten to know a number of different people/bloggers apart from their blogs and I love to see what is going on in other peoples lives and sometimes give a quick shout out in the comments :)

I always find it interesting to see how each person treats Instagram and how they use their creativity in taking pictures, styling, editing them, or creating a fun and cohesive feed. Instagram shows each persons uniqueness and captures that in the pictures they take and how they share their lives on their account, and for that my old viewpoint no longer exists. 

__________________________________________________________

Okay, now lets talk about this FAB bag!!!! I might have been squealing and jumping up and down in Sam Moon when I found this Instagram purse though I was just slightly torn when I also discovered an avacado purse, mermaid sea shell purse, and icecream cone purse.......but I think the Instagram purse won! It is truly the "perfect" summer accessory especially as a blogger and as someone who LOVES to use Instagram and might just take 10 minutes to set up the perfect picture (only sometimes.....) 

I can't get over how "summery" these pictures are with the checkered skirt, white picket fence, green grass, sandals, sunglasses and of course you can't forget your iced tea (it's a must for us Texans & Panera is a fave for me, my sister, and my best friend)! I will definitely be frequenting this spot for pictures in the summer though I know the heat and humidity will be a battle as it has already reached the high 90's here but the humidity makes it feel like the high 190's!!! 

I hope all of you are staying cool and enjoying your summer so far! 


Do you have a favorite bag/purse?
Have you ever viewed social media like I used to? 

-Madison


//Review// Brijee Pattern's Linden Lady Palazzo Pants

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Top: Thrifted
Pants: Brijee Pattern's Linden Lady Palazzo Pants
Shoes: Payless
Necklace: Vintage
Sunglasses: Found them on the beach (awesome right!)
Hat: Hand me down
Purse: Goodwill 
**Pictures by Me**

When Brigid of Boyer Family Singers emailed me and asked if I would review her new and improved standard size 0-18 Linden Lady Palazzo Pants pattern I of course responded "OH MY GOSH.....YES!" Needless to say I was over the moon to get my hands on a Brijee Pattern as Brigid is one of the most talented seamstresses I know and her pattern skills have inspired me ever since she first announced the creation of the Linden Lady Palazzo Pants pattern. 

Brijee Patterns are a download which you pull up straight from a PDF file on your computer, print out, and assemble yourself! I must say the whole process of printing and assembling the pattern was such fun for me as this was my first computer download pattern and I was so looking forward to the experience......it's soooooo easy and even more fun!

I think one of my favorite things about the Linden Lady Palazzo Pants pattern, besides their fabulous 1930's style, is that there are only 4 pattern pieces! While I don't mind patterns with multiple detail pieces the fact that there are only 4 simple pieces makes the pattern making and cutting out process a breeze. I assembled and cut out the whole pattern in less than an hour and ended up finishing the pants in about a day (which only added up to be about 2-3 hours or less). 

The Linden Lady Palazzo Pants pattern is designed with three different styles/waistbands in which to choose from. The different views include a faced waistband with a lapped zipper, a high waist with a lapped zipper all the way to to top of the waistband, and a modified version of the high waste with bound button holes. 

I chose to make view #2 which had the high waistband. I decided to go with a light weight denim because I knew that a denim fabric would be a versatile style that would match a number of items in my closet. While I chose a light weight denim the pattern in designed for a variety of fabrics and prints so you can easily customize the pants to fit your style and needs. I also chose to make my pants in a size 6 which according to the size chart was the closest to my measurements, but I should have known that sizing up would have been a better idea because for some reason every time I use a pattern, the exact size I choose ends up being a little snug and I am forced to make adjustments. Therefore, I would say if you are going to stick to the 5/8ths seam allowance and your measurements are close to those on the size chart you might consider sizing up as it is easier to take in than out (however, I have this problem no matter the pattern I use). Also, since I am taller I decided to use the full length of the pants pattern and even added an extra inch to the bottom which turned out to be the perfect length for me. 

Furthermore, when it came to the pattern itself I loved how detailed the instructions were and I even loved the little exerpts of advice you can find from Brigid throughout the pattern that kind of act as encouragement and inspiration. The instructions are very detailed and if you ever get lost on what it is trying to say there are lovely and helpful hand sketched pictures throughout the instructions. I know for me I am very much a visual learner so I tend to skip the written instructions at times and rely on the illustrations. However, no matter if you are a visual or auditory learner the instructions and steps are very well written, thought out, and easy to follow! 

The fit of the pants is absolutely perfection as they are fitted at the waist and stay slightly fitted till they reach your natural hips and then they become free and loose fitting which adds a lovely since of dimension to the style. 

All in all I was thrilled with the finished product! Because of Brigid's attention to detail in her patterns the finished product is skillfully crafted to hide waste seams and unfinished ends which gives you a very professional looking pair of 1930's inspired Palazzo pants at the end. 

I know I will definitely be using this Brijee Pattern again with a different type of fabric and print and I can't wait to see that finished project. 

Have you  heard about or checked out Brijee Patterns before?
Have you made the Linden Lady Palazzo pants?
What do you think of this Palazzo Pants style?

-Madison
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