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 

The Unflattering Outtakes

Wednesday, March 15, 2017


Who ever said that it only takes a few shots to get a good picture was completely WRONG! If you have ever look at my blog, or Instagram and think "Man, she sure knows how to take great pictures," I am here to tell you that even though my feed might seem perfect and curated and my posts have "seemingly" flawless pictures that's NOT THE REALITY OF MY LIFE!! 

Amidst the perfectly posed pictures, smiles, and walking shots there are just as many (if not more) unflattering outtakes in which I am to slow for the self timer, have my face captured mid blink, for some reason just stare at the camera as if I want to murder it, people walk into the frame and I make a "do you not understand I am taking a picture" face, the wind blows hair in my mouth, face, and eyes, and well.......you get the "picture," that while my blog might seem perfect there are a host of unflattering pictures and imperfections that go along with it. 

I have noticed a trend on Instagram recently where bloggers share outtakes and bloopers on their stories to prove that they really aren't perfect as bloggers and I LOVE IT! I think for us a lot of the time people always assume that we know what we are doing and that we have it down to an art, but the truth of the matter is that ALL OF US are still figuring it out as we go, just like life! Life is a learning process with mistakes, outtakes, and bloopers and blogging is the exact same way! So next time you look at my posts or Instagram and think I have it all together just remember I have tripped running to get into the frame before the camera went off, the wind is not my best friend, and most of the pictures I take get deleted! 

-Madison

Links a la Mode, March 9

Sunday, March 12, 2017
I've been featured on the Independent Fashion Bloggers' Links a la Mode for this week! My post about being visible as a blogger from a couple of weeks ago was included with a number of other unique posts by a variety of fashion bloggers. If you want to discover some different topics in the Blogsphere than definitely check out some of the links below. 

Also, if you ever want to have this opportunity for your own blog, you can always visit their Facebook page to submit your links every Friday. Being a part of this roundup is a great way to reach a more varied audience as well as to discover other fashion bloggers. 

Links à la Mode, March 9, 2017

- Madison 

Annual Question Roundup 2017


It's that time of the year again to send in your questions! 
Over the past couple of years I have done a Q&A during my week of spring break and I am hoping to film another Q&A this next week to answer any questions you all have. Therefore, if you have every wondered something about me leave a comment and I will try to answer your question in the video. These can be about blogging, social media, fashion, etc. 

Can't wait to see all of your questions! 

-Madison

Here's To The Ones Who Dream

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Sweater: Old
Skirt: Thrifted 
Jacket: c/o Madewell
Socks: Forever 21
Shoes: Old
Purse: Vintage Coach 

I have always considered myself to be a dreamer, whether that was having different small businesses throughout the years, ideas for creative projects, everyday daydreams, or visions for my future. With that being said it is no surprise that the song Mia sings for her audition quickly became one of my favorites from the LaLa Land Soundtrack! I love what she says when singing: 

Here's to the ones who dream. As foolish as it may seem. Here's to the hearts that ache. Here's to the mess we made. 

 I think this is a message we can all learn a lot from, because it tells the story of a woman who had dreams and took risks. The things she wanted out of life might have seemed foolish to many people, but she did them anyway because that was what she loved. Our dreams sometimes might cause us heartache, or stress, and sometimes (most of the time) we make messes and even fail.....but that's all part of living your dreams. 

So what are your dreams? What do you love to do? What are your hobbies? 

A day or two ago I had someone tell me "you are just so active in everything!" and when I asked them what they meant by that they said "well...literally you're a blogger, photographer and future author, so basically super human." and if you know me and my struggle with compliments you know I was trying hard to figure out how to respond to that, so I just said "It's just the things God has given me a passion for." However, that got me to thinking about what I love and I realized that if someone were to ask me what I like to do or what my hobbies are it would probably take me a good five minutes to list and explain them all because I truly do LOVE so many things and have so MANY dreams because of that......but with that being said I don't consider myself a "super human" because of my interests, I just consider myself to be an ordinary human whom God gave a mind and heart to dream.  

Thus, even if you don't have a list of hobbies or interests, the things you do love are there because you are passionate about them, and the things we are passionate about very easily become our dreams. For some of us those passions manifest themselves in many dreams and others manifest themselves in one incredible dream to marvel at. 

So wherever you are and whatever you love, DREAM, let people think you are foolish and make messes because that is what it means to live fully alive! I think N.D. Wilson say's it so perfectly when he wrote 
Do your best. Live. Create. Fail

P.S. Also just realized how New Darlings this look seems to be which makes me so happy, because Christina's fabulous braids always inspire me! 

-Madison 

Cigarette Pants & Head Scarves

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Pants: Thrifted
Sweater: Vintage Thrifted
Purse: Thrifted (H&M)
Shoes: Payless (very old)
Scarf: Vintage
Ear Rings: Palais Roayal
Watch: Sam Moon
**Pictures by me**

I have come to realize MOST of the looks I share with you all on the blog are centered around skirts or dresses, and granted, while I wear skirts and dressed 90% of the time, there are many times that I do wear pants (and it's usually on those days that people do a double take of me). Therefore, I thought I would share this fun 1960's Cigarette pants inspired look with you all. 

I tend to be someone who creates an outfit based off one particular piece of clothing or an accessory (anyone else do this). I will typically find a new piece at the thrift store or pull a piece out of my closet and from there I start pulling other clothes, accessories, and jewelry that I feel tell the story the original piece of clothing is telling.  Therefore, this look was created after I found this sweater at Goodwill and picked up this scarf at a local antique store. 

I have always thought that pale baby blue is one of the prettiest colors (also its the Cinderella color so...) and when I found this 60's style sweater at Goodwill I knew that it would be a perfect additon to my closet. After settling on this sweater I continued the 60's theme by pulling in this fabulous striped scarf to use in my hair (which happens to be a super easy and fun vintage hairstyle). I completed the look by grabbing my brown cigarette pants, which seemed like the perfect piece to pull the entire look together. I finished this off by slipping on a pair of ballet flats and grabbing my new favorite thrifted H&M purse. 

The finished look turned out to be one of my new favorite combos. Somehow I always forget how simple and classic capri pants are and I need to start wearing them more! I also forgot how much I LOVE the 60's......well, the pants and sweaters, and pearls, and scarves, because let's be honest....with my legs all of the dresses are shirts (#tallgirlproblems)....

Are you a fan of 60's fashion?
What do you think about the Cigarette Pants style?

-Madison
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