Little Red Boots

Monday, August 13, 2018

Dress: c/o ThredUp | Scarf: Vintage | Boots: Joules | Purse: Vintage Coach



I've always loved the idea of red boots (also worn here, here, and here) and right before I went to New York in January I finally got a pair. Granted, I don't wear them all that often (NY was the one time I wore them a LOT) but I do love how they add such a fun pop of color to a look...plus they always remind me of all of my favorite classy/preppy East Coast & Southern bloggers and I can't help not loving them.
I received this dress from ThredUp recently, as I shared about my collaboration with them in a recent post and I have to say that I am absolutely OBSESSED with this dress! It is a Banana Republic dress and it is the classiest thing I have ever had...from the timeless shirtwaist design, to the light blue cotton fabric, all the way to the dainty scallped sleeves and hem what isn't to love! As soon as I saw the dress I knew that it was one of the items I wanted to get from ThredUp, and I love that I got it for such a great price (because on a regular day I don't shop at Banana Republic). This dress reminds me of so many things...it reminds me of The Astronaut Wives Club, Julia Hengel from Gal Meets Glam (just add pink and your set), and Sarah Vickers from Classy Girls Wear Pearls.

Because this dress reminded me of so many style inspirations I decided to go for classy prep as it was a rainy day and I decided my red boots would pair perfectly. With that I wanted to add another pop of color so I pulled out this vintage paisley scarf and I quite like how the whole look turned out.
I have decided that since this dress is such a classic staple I am going to bring it back a few other times throughout the coming months, styling it different ways:)

- Madison

Staying Cool & Cute in Summer Humidity

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Top: Made | Shorts: Thrifted DIY | Sandals: Marshalls | Purse: Thrifted 
Earrings: Five Below | Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters
Here in Texas we are in full swing of the 100 degree days....though with the humidity here it often feels ten degrees hotter than it really is. Thankfully I am not all to affected by heat as some people, sure I will feel hot and sweat, but I will never feel unbearable (thankfully). Nevertheless, with the sweltering heat that us Texans struggle with I have learned over the years what works and what doesn't work to wear outside and be the most comfortable and cool!
With that here is a list of my tips and tricks for staying cool and cute in the summer:

  1. Less Layers - I am one of those people who always wears and tank top under most shirts and a slip or shorts (or both) under many dresses and skirts. However, in the summer this isn't possible. I have started grabbing pieces from my closet that don't require me to wear a tanktop underneath or a slip under a skirt. The less layers laying against your body makes you so much cooler!
  2. Pay Attention To Your Fabrics - As a slight "textile nerd" (thanks to that textile class I took in college) I have always paid attention to my fabrics in the summer. Many synthetic fabrics that our clothes can be made of are not breathable and make us quite hot. Thus, choosing more natural fibers is your best bet. I often reach for cotton pieces or cotton blends because they are very breathable in the heat. I especially LOVE wearing Rayon (which is actually synthetic) in the summer because it absorbs more liquid than cotton and tends to stay cool in humid weather. I actually wore a cotton skirt and rayon top when we were in Alabama (in this post here) and was outside for 3 straight hours and felt perfectly comfortable.  
  3. Loose Fit - Loose fabrics and styles of clothes are so much cooler than fitted pieces! I have a ton of dresses that I love to wear in the summer but many of them have fitted bodices and often can be quite hot. However, when I wear loose dresses or tops, like the top above in this post (which is also cotton) I am always very comfortable and cool. 
  4. Sleeveless - I am not one to wear spaghetti strap tops, but I don't mind straps that are two inches or more and often make many of my summer dresses without sleeves. Sleeves are restrictive in the heat, thus removing them not only makes your feel more comfortable and mobile, but also lets your arms breath. 
  5. Light Colors - Don't wear black or dark colors! I like to wear neutral colors in the summer sometimes, but I have found that when I wear darker colors they absorb more heat and thus make me feel hot. I often times wear white shirts and blouses frequently in the summer because white reflects more light and keeps me cool. After all, summer in the perfect time to wear your bright and light colors so why not take advantage of it. 
  6. It's Okay To Wear Shorts - I am the person who would avoid shorts at most costs because I don't always think they fit my style very well, unlike skirts that encompass who I am. However, when I know that the day will be hot and I will be outside for a good amount of time I give in and pull out my shorts (that I always DIY from thrifted jeans). Now mind you, I don't pull out "short shorts"..... the length won't affect your coolness much so no need sacrificing modestly for comfort. 
  7. Hair Up - I hate wearing my hair up....like I really hate it (I don't like how it looks). At home I wear my hair up only because I am always in "comfy clothes" but when I go out I always like to wear my hair down or half up. However, with my hair now growing out it can be quite hot wearing it down in the summer time. Thus, I sometimes give in and put my hair up in a pony tail, braids, or my new favorite bubble braid. Having your hair off your neck truly makes all the difference. 
  8. Open Toed Shoes - You know in the summer when you have to sleep with your feet peaking out of your comforter so that you can be cooler to sleep? The same idea/theory goes into play when going out in the heat, letting your feet breath in sandals or open toes shoes keeps you cool. When we cover our feet it warms our body (like putting on socks in the winter), thus keeping them open to the air is our bodies air conditioning in the summer (kind of).
Do you utilize any of these cool strategies in the summer?
What summer dressing strategies work to keep you cool?

-Madison 



Why I Love To Thrift

Friday, July 27, 2018

Skirt: c/o ThredUp | Top: Thrifted | Shoes: Thrifted | Bag: Thrifted (Vintage) 
Earrings: Five Below | Sunglasses: c/o Sunglasswarehouse  

If I were to do the math I would say that at this point 95% of my closet is thrifted.......and its a good sized closet (like 1/3 of my room). Thrifting has always been something that I loved to do and I think it started when I was in middle school. When I was younger I was really into fashion, I liked following the trends, seeing what was in the stores, sketching outfits on any paper I could find, and trying to copy the trends for myself. However, I never could swing buying the latest trends so I started thrifting. I loved that I could buy a whole outfit for $20 at the thrift store when $20 would barely get me a dress at the store....$20 used to seem like $50 to my younger self and my love for thrifting has carried over into the present and influenced my style today. 
Everyone who knows me knows that I either make my own clothes or thrift them! 75% of the conversations I have with people are about what I am wearing and them asking me where I got it or if I made it. It's always seemed crazy to me that people don't consider thrifting to get good deals and find unique pieces and I think sometimes people don't thrift because they don't think the clothes would look good on them (yes, people have already worn them but that's half the fun of it). Part of the art in thrifting is knowing what you like, understanding your style, and using your imagination. 
When you thrift you don't have models showing you how to style a trend, you have to use your imagination to come up with how to style a piece and that is why I love it! The pieces I find at the thrift store don't become a pieces from a brand but become a piece that is 100% ME, they become part of my brand and style and not the name they carry on their tag....I make them my own. 
When it comes to thrifting there are sooooo many options today! A lot of the time you can easily narrow your thrifting options by your style preferences. For myself personally, I LOVE Goodwill, Family Thrift Center, and other small thrift stores because I know they will always have unique pieces and often times find vintage pieces or brands. However, when I want pieces that are a well known brand or a brand with amazing quality that I could never afford to buy at full price, I always love checking out Thred Up!
I love perusing Thred Up because I don't have to sort through racks of clothes but can easily narrow my search by brand, style, size, color, you name it and it makes thrifting so much easiar on me (plus you can do it in your pajamas...WIN)! Thred Up was lovely enough to reach out and let me choose some pieces from their vast collection and this fun and summery leaf skirt was one of the pieces that I chose. I have been wanting a leaf print skirt and knew this one would be perfect as soon as I saw it and I loved styling it with all of my other latest thrift finds including this lovely eyelet top, strappy eyelet cork kitten heels, and vintage straw bag. 
I've never been one to live by the "status quo" or how the world "says" I should be, dress, act, or shop which is probably why I LOVE thrifting all the more! Plus, it's also fun to tell someone "Oh, I got it at the thrift store!" and them to just look at you shocked:) 

Are you a fan or thrifting?
Have you ever shopped at ThredUp?

-Madison

Movie Night: My Favorite Sports Films

Saturday, July 21, 2018


Fun fact about me I love sports movies! Okay, so I don't love them more than "chick flicks" and period dramas, but I still love watching them and have seen so many in the course of my life:) I think my love for sports movies started when I was young and we would always watch movies as a family, most often than not the movies we would watch would have something to do with sports. However, that's not all that much of a surprise considering my dad is a coach, and my brother and sister were and still are involved in sports, so I basically grew up in a sports family as a "coaches kid" (which honestly was awesome). 
With all of that I have quite the list of my favorite sports movies! I love the storyline of sports movies because they generally make you feel something, often intensely whether it is overcoming the odds, healing after an injury, staying positive, being the pride of town, or inspiring a community to come together they teach us lessons, make us cry, and give us a reason to love sports (at least that has been my experience):

  • The Rookie - This movie was one of the first sports movies I remember watching and still to this day remains one of my favorites and definitely one of my favorite movies in general (plus Dennis Quaid always reminds me of my dad). Fun Fact: Parts of this movie were actually filmed in both of my parents home towns (which are 15 minutes apart) so I have literally been to the places scenes from this movie happened...sooo cool! Okay, but seriously I LOVE the story line of this movie in following your dreams, never letting others tell you that you cannot do something, inspiring others, and all around bringing people together for the love of baseball. 
  • My All American - Ugh.....LOVE this movie! This movie will make you cry like a baby but it is soooooo good! There are so many reasons to love this movie, it is set in the 60's, it is a true story, the actors are amazing, and the story is inspiring! 
  • We Are Marshall - This movie starts out with a dreadful tragedy when the entire football team is killed in a plane crash....thus the movie focuses on the School, athlete's, and town's ability to rebuild the football program along with the new coach (played by Matthew Mconehe)
  • Remember the Titans - This is a classic! I have probably seen this movie close to five times and it's still so good! The movie starts out with the two high schools integrating their students and the players of both football teams have to deal with the changes as well as learn to accept each other and play as a team. This movie deals with prejudice, race, learning to accept and love others, and form bonds of not only teammates but brothers. 
  • League of Our Own - I love this movie because it is not your typical sports movie. This story focuses on an all women professional baseball team that was started during WWII as all the men leave for war. Tom Hanks plays their coach and it is quite entertaining to watch him try and rally a group of women to win games while inspiring everyone at home. 
  • Angels In The Outfield - Definitely the perfect family night sports movie! When a boy in foster care prays for a chance to have a family if the California Angels win the pennant, angels are assigned to make that possible.
  • Field of Dreams - The classic quote "If you build, he they will come" originated in this movie as a farmer hears voices talking in the cornfield one night. Even though everyone thinks he is crazy he builds a baseball field in his backyard, after which the ghosts of some of the greatest baseball players start emerging from the cornfield and start to play ball.
  • Rudy - Love this movie because it reminds me that our dreams are never to big and that they can always come true! Rudy doesn't want the life of everyone else, stuck in his town, working in the steal mill. He eventually gets into his dream college and works harder than any football player to reach his dreams as everyone around him takes notice and is inspired. 
  • Facing The Giants - This movie is an inspiring story of faith and overcoming giants both on and off the football field. Every scene leaves you inspired as a sports enthusiast and as a Christian as you watch the characters in the movie question God and rededicate their Faith. 
  • Blind Side - A truly great football movie, inspired by a true story, about the power of love and family to help you recognize your potential and passion for something bigger than yourself. 
  • Miracle - If you are a hockey fan than this movie is for you! Okay, so you don't actually have to like hockey to LOVE this movie as it is inspired by a true story of the 1980's men's hockey team. As America is at odds with the Soviet Union during the Cold War, the men's hockey team is set to face the Soviet men's hockey team for the Olympic Gold. What they accomplish is nothing short of a miracle and inspires patriotism throughout America. 
Do you like sports movies?
Have you ever seen any of these?

-Madison

Up In The Lighthouse

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Top: Thrifted (vintage) | Skirt: Thrifted (vintage) | Shoes: Modcloth (Saltwater sandals) 
Sunglasses: Five Below | Bag: Thrifted | Belt: Vintage 


I have this thing about visiting historic places, museums, and unique sights/stops when traveling! It probably started when I was younger and we would stop at places on our trips that we had been learning about in our history classes at home:) However, that tradition has carried over into my adult life and I love all the places I have visited over the years so full of history, stories, and double as perfect picture spots (obviously).
When we were in Alabama recently we took a trip to Pensacola to visit the Naval aviation museum (such a cool place) and on the way out I asked if we could stop at this old lighthouse which is also a museum. I really wanted to take pictures there, but you couldn't go in unless you paid to go up in the lighthouse so my brother decided to go in with me to take pictures and climb the 177 stairs to the top of the lighthouse. The view was AMAZING and climbing the many steps and seeing the view gave me all kinds of "prince edward island" and "Road to Avonlea" vibes:)
Funny thing....I wasn't allowed to take my bag in with me (safety reasons or something of that sort) so I had my sister hand it to me over the fence so that I could have it as a prop for some of the pictures (sometimes you break the rules to get the shot...lol).
As for this outfit, I found this skirt at Goodwill a few weeks ago and it reminded me sooooo much of this look that Julia wore on Gal Meets Glam and I just HAD to get it because I knew that I could style it in a way inspired by her:) I think it's so funny that a lot of my favorite pieces this spring/summer have been orange/salmon (I am still working on sharing all of them) because I honestly don't like the color orange at all, but apparently when it comes to clothes I am drawn to it for some reason and love wearing it (like this post from last summer) :)

- Madison
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