beach to boardwalk

beach to boardwalk

Monday, July 10, 2017

Remember me saying (in this post) that I was going to share more swimsuit styles this summer?!?! Well this post definitely captured my typical beach style in my new FAVORITE swimsuit! However, that's not all, because in this post I am sharing how I take my summer look from beach to boardwalk (or jetty, or shop, or cafe, etc.) because a swimsuit can be so much more than a swimsuit :) 

Suit: c/o Jessica Rey

BEACH

In the summer we all find ourselves at the beach! With that, comes the struggle of finding a suit we like, that fits our standards and that is over all "cute" in our own style terms. I even recently shared some of my favorite modest swimsuits on the blog, but out of them all this darling gingham number from Jessica Rey has to be my favorite of all time! This suit checks EVERY box on my swimsuit list, the print is to die for, the fit is perfection, and the retro details are spectacular! Definitely don't even want to take this suit off so on to exploring the sand dunes and snapping some pictures we went! 

And since I love it so much, just because the day at the beach ends, that doesn't mean its the end of you wearing my cute swimsuit, because beach to boardwalk style is TOTALLY a thing and I love to restyle my suit for a walk around ocean or seaside towns. 

Skirt: Thrifted

Sandals: Modcloth

Sunglasses: c/o Madewell

BOARDWALK/JETT

The great thing about one piece suits, or tankinis is that you can easily wear them as regular clothing (seriously, no one will even know its a swimsuit) so grab your favorite culottes, shorts, or in my case a denim button front skirt and take your suit from the beach to your next adventure! 

I think we often get caught up in wearing clothes for what they are originally made for that we loose our ability to recreate their purpose, but summer is the perfect time to play with this style! This particular suit works splendidly well as a summer shirt so there's no need to pack an extra change of clothes (which is another bonus if I do say so myself), just grab a skirt, your favorite pair of sandals, shades, and maybe a hat and your off to the next destination. 

Have you ever worn you swimsuit in a creative way?

What's your ultimate boardwalk look?

-Madison

Summers at the drive in

Summers at the drive in

Friday, July 7, 2017

Shorts: Made (Thrifted)

Shirt: Faded Glory

Sneakers: Converse

Purse: Thrifted (Coach)

**Photos taken by my bestie Libby and myself**

I don't know if you have ever been to a drive in movie, but we have a drive in movie theater 20 minutes from our house and it is one of the greatest outings, especially in the summer time. Over the course of our drive in's existence I have probably gone to see close to 10 or more movies there and each time has been such a fun adventure. On this particular night we went to see the new Pirates of the Caribbean and Guardians of the Galaxy II, which were both great movies! 

I think drive in's might hold a special place in my heart, because they remind me of the "good ole days" when going to the drive in on a summer night was "the thing to do" for teens as they sat in their station wagons sipping cocacola, eating hotdogs, and snacking on popcorn as they listened to the movie sounds playing over the car speakers. Every time I visit the drive in, I can't help wanting to go back in time to the 50's, especially when you turn on the radio to the movie station and hear swing music playing before the feature. 

I've watched movies at the drive in packed into the back of a suburban like sardines, dangling off the tailgate of a truck, and sitting on a hill in lawn chairs.....there's no right or wrong way to watch a movie there, but sitting in the back of a truck has to be my favorite.....the only thing that would make it better is if I had a pink Cadillac to sit in (maybe one day). 

Nevertheless, whatever the season, or the movie (or movies, because at ours you get two features for $8) I always have a list of Drive In necessities:

1. Plenty of snacks! My favorite's to bring are popcorn, sour patch kids, reeses, twizzlers, and candy Peaches. If I am feeling extra, I might even buy something at the drive in like chili cheese fries or a large popcorn:)
2. Don't forget water, or lemonade, or a good old fashioned retro soda. 
3. TONS of pillows and blankets! I always pile the pack seat of the car full of all the pillows, blankets, and sleeping bags in the house to make a super fluffy bed to sit on. 
4. Bring games. Since we usually get to the theater around 6 pm, and the first movie doesn't start till around 8 it's always fun to have a few games to play while waiting. 
5. A boombox! This is one of the lifesavers, because if you use your car radio you can run out of battery and have to be jumped off at the end of the movie, so bringing a boom box keeps you from running down your car battery. 

Have you ever been to the drive in?

What is your favorite thing about drive in movies?

-Madison

24 Hours in Fredericksburg Texas

24 Hours in Fredericksburg Texas

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

If you remember, earlier in May I went on a road trip with my college roommate. For our first two days we explored sights in the Austin area (read the post here), and after that we headed to the quaint town of Fredericksburg Texas. I have been wanting to visit Fredericksburg for years, so I was very excited that I would finally get to visit with my friend who had been there before. 

Since we are both major planners we planned out our stops at each location and what places we would visit, and there was definitely a lot to see and do in Fredericksburg. While walking along main street and exploring all of the shops is the perfect way to spend your day, there were a few places that I highly recommend you stop at if you ever happen to visit Fredericksburg:

1. Enchanted Rock: If you like the outdoors, hiking, climbing GIANT rocks, and seeing the world from high up above than you have to visit and climb Enchanted Rock. I have visited this state part many times throughout the years, and it really is such a great adventure. No joke....it really is a GIANT rock and the view from the top is stunning! 
2. Rathskeller: On Wednesday morning we stopped off at this darling German restaurant for breakfast. The restaurant is located in the basement of an old hospital and walking in I felt like I was in underground Germany....it truly was the most unique place and the food was fantastic! We both ordered Italian omelets with potatoes and it was the perfect meal to get us going for the day (plus, very reasonably prices) and if you like like beignets they have those too :)
3. Wild Seed Farms: This place was definitely high up on our list of stops and I am so glad we got to visit. Wild Seed Farms is a basically a wildflower farm, so just think of a large expanse of wildflower beds budding up from every direction! It was so lovely walking around and looking at all the flowers and seeing ALL the MANY Zinnias. 
4. Rustlin' Rob's Texas Gourmet Foods: This place was quite the adventure! If you like tasting different jams, jellies, crackers, salsas, and hot sauce this place has rooms, upon rooms of every flavor of everything you could imagine. There is even a cupboard of super spicy hot sauces that is locked up because they are soooooo extreme!
5. Fredericksburn Winery: If you are in Fredericksburg and over 21 you have to go wine tasting! Fredericksburg is known for their wine and vineyards, and we knew we wanted to go wine tasting while there. We ended up visiting Fredericksburg Winery to do a tasting and it was such a fun experience. 
6. West End Pizza Company: Pizza is good wherever you go, and this place was no joke! We stopped off for dinner here on Wednesday night and it was so good. Their pizza is brick oven made to order and they have so many delicious gourmet flavors! 
7. Java Ranch: No road trip is complete without coffee! In fact, we both made matching shirts for our trip that said "Road trips & Coffee", so there was not discussion on whether or not we should stop at Java Ranch, which is the coffee shop in town. We stopped by to grab latte's on our way out Thursday morning and I ended up getting a vanilla coconut latte which was to die for! 

Have you ever visited Fredericksburg Texas?

-Madison

Checked out in red, white, and blue

Checked out in red, white, and blue

Saturday, July 1, 2017

Dress: Me Made

Belt: Vintage

Basket: Thrifted (Vintage)

Hat: Forever 21

Necklace: Kendra Scott

 

4 days till Fourth of July and I can't wait! I don't know why Fourth of July is such a fun holiday? Maybe it's because of the American heritage, the festive dishes, the red white and blue, patriotic prints, fireworks, get together's or backyard BBQ's but I always look forward to July 4th! 

This year I will be going to the Freedom Over Texas concert event in Houston with my sister and some friends, and as is the case every July (see my past two years here, and here) , I have been brainstorming ideas for what I will wear and finally settled on making myself this navy gingham dress:) 

Since I knew it would be a bit much to persuade my sister to take pictures of my outfit on the 4th I decided to do a fun backyard picnic photo shoot:) I guess you can tell that I have a "small" gingham obsession, and this shoot definitely went overboard on the gingham in all the patriotic red, white, and blue glory! Nevertheless, it was a dream styling everything for this picnic and I wish I could do this every day. 

When I was taking these pictures I couldn't help thinking back to when I was younger....traipsing around in the backyard barefoot, playing make believe, and grabbing treats for a picnic.....those really were the glory days! To be honest, looking back at these pictures I can't help thinking that they encompass everything I dream of summer being....youthful, adventurous, full of sunshine, fresh fruit, bubbly french lemonade, and soaking up the beauty of the outdoors. Maybe it's because these pictures capture my personality so well, enjoying the the little things with a flair of style, kicking off my shoes, and taking it slow while reflecting on life....whatever the case my be, this is the perfect setting for this Introvert and I need to start making picnics a frequent thing in my life! 

Also, future reference to my future husband (whomever he might be), but this is probably my #1 idea for the perfect date (insert a winking fave emoji).....

What are your plans for the 4th?

Are you a fan of picnics?

-Madison