Chocolate Chip Day!!

Shirt - Faded Glory // Skirt - Old Navy // Socks - Target // Shoes - Yessica (Thrifted) // Belt - Thrifted

Today was National Chocolate Chip Day! Yes, seriously! A day dedicated entirely to the celebration of chocolate chips? Yes. My sister planned a party and had a bunch of her friends over. We had a great time and had a ton of chocolate chips! Everyone brought something either with chocolate chips or at least made out of chocolate and we had bowls and bowls of different flavors of chips for everyone to eat. If you read my last post and saw my half-hearted effort to bake banana bread before realizing we had no bananas....I actually ended up making the chocolate chip banana bread.

We were, in fact, out of bananas. But, my mom and I had to make a late night trip to Walmart to get some more stuff for the party. Believe or not, this is not when we ended up getting the bananas. No. We went again to Walmart because when we got home she realized we didn't buy pineapple juice for the punch so we had to go back. Now, this was especially annoying because we live 30 minutes from everything...and any of the close (expensive) small stores were closed at this time. So, off to Walmart again! This time we got the bananas pineapple juice. By this time it was after 11. So yeah, that took a long time. And 3 trips to Walmart in one day is pretty awful!

Speaking of knee high socks. Which we weren't, but now we are (isn't that a great way to completely change the subject of a conversation :p). I originally bought these socks to wear under boots in the winter, but I kept seeing other bloggers wearing them so I decided to try them with flats. I've actually already worn these shoes several times, but just not for outfit pictures. I got them thrifting...but I know it was a great buy 'cause I've worn them so much. Anyways, back to my original point. I really like the way these socks look! This is another thing that I've always wanted to try, but I wouldn't have done before starting my blog.

Well, it's getting closer to my California trip! Read about my first trip here! And make sure you're around next Monday for California posts! Have a great day and thanks for reading!

Vintage Shoes and Classic Cars

Crochet Shirt - Ralph Lauren // Plaid Shirt - a.n.a // Shorts - Faded Glory // Tights - Payless // Shoes - Maurices

I knew this outfit was a winner when my mom just said wow when she saw me this morning. That wasn't a wow, you look great, that was a wow...that's an interesting outfit. I don't mean that I dress solely to scare my mom. I just mean that last year I would have thought it was weird to mix crochet and patterned tights and a plaid shirt. And before last semester I never even wore tights and shorts even though I really wanted to. For me, since I didn't think twice about wearing this outfit, it means that I'm much comfortable with what I'm wearing. And I definitely love this outfit!

So I finally got my hair cut today. I was long overdue for a trim and I wanted to get it cut before California and then the wedding. These pictures are actually before the haircut, but it looks basically the same. I just got it trimmed. I had a bit of a hair crisis about a month ago. I was considering dying it turquoise, teal, or blue (I still might do that...) and then maybe getting a pixie cut (short maybe, but pixie cut definitely not...it would look weird on my face). I definitely like the length and style of my hair. Especially since I went back to straightening it (well...slightly wavy I guess). I'm glad that it looks ok natural (seen in last week's posts), but I'm definitely more comfortable with it this way. And actually I think it's easier to deal with this way. Back to crazy hair....what do you think of me with blueish hair? That might be fun for a couple weeks in the summer!

Anyways we're getting ready to celebrate National Chocolate Chip day tomorrow. My sister is even having a little party complete with every imaginable flavor of chocolate chip to eat. Everyone is supposed bring something made with chocolate chips (besides cookies). I may make chocolate chip banana bread...but I'm not super motivated. And I just realized we have no bananas. Yay! Less work for me! I just get to eat the fruits of others' labors. 'Cause that's just how I roll...

On a totally unrelated note, I went thrifting again today for clothes for one of my brothers. I didn't end up getting anything ...for him or me. I did find these awesome shoes though. I would have bought them, but they were a wee bit snug :( There was a red pair too! So sad they didn't fit me! I have trouble finding vintage shoes because I have really wide feet! But I did think to take a picture of them so y'all can see how terribly sad it is that these shoes don't fit me!

On another totally unrelated note, There were two amazing antique trucks parked in the Y parking lot this morning. I couldn't help but take a picture of them. They're both really awesome, but the first one is definitely my favorite. What do you think?

Well, it's less than a week before my California trip! Read about my first trip here! Thanks for reading and Happy National Chocolate Chip Day!

Nautilus

Shirt - Norma Kamali (Thrifted) // Button Up Shirt - Eddie Bauer (Thrifted) // Jeans - a.n.a. // Shoes - Restricted // Argyle Socks - Marc's

Why, yes. I did take these photos myself. And the good camera is finally fixed!!!! So far, I think these are some of the best photos I've taken! Definitely not the best photos on my blog, but by far the best I've taken with a tripod. This is one thing that's really awesome about coming home for the summer--a beautiful backyard where I can take pictures! And there aren't people everywhere...

Anyways...like my nautilus shirt? I've amassed a large collection of shells over the years and I've always wanted a nautilus shell. ...this is as close as I ever got. When I was 12 I wanted to be a marine biologist specializing in conchology. Yes, when people asked that's what I told them. And yes, I was homeschooled. ...back to my original point. I guess nautilus shells aren't that expensive, but still. I've tried to get most of my shells via beach or flea market. And I just don't like spending a large amount of money on one thing. I will spend that much money at a thrift store sure, but on like a ton of things and not just one thing. (one thing...haha. I dare you to not sing that 1D song after reading that)

Speaking of thrift stores, I got this shirt at Unique Thrift...and that's where I went today. I always feel kind of awkward wearing clothes to the stores that sell them. Well I guess this is a thrift store and it's not like anyone would recognize it. So, I actually ended up getting some cute things even though I was supposed to be thrifting for my siblings. I got a bunch of clothes too...but, come on, like I'm gonna go to a thrift store and not buy something for me? And it was 50% off day too! So I got bags and bags of clothes for 10 people and I only spent $90 (think about it, that's like the price of one Modcloth dress. And that's why, as much as I stalk the website, I don't have a Modcloth dress...yet.). Yeah, gotta love thrift stores. And I'm sure you'll be seeing some of what I thrifted on my blog very soon!

So, as I'm still rambling (in a way, I'm making up for the really crappy posts all last week!), I feel like this outfit is really preppy. What with the argyle socks, oxfords, and button up shirt. But, it still feels very me because of the colors. Very different from yesterday's outfit with all the bright colors!

Well, I leave for California in one week! Read about my first trip here! Oh, and I've started exercising again! I was so afraid that skipping during finals week would make me want to never start exercising again. I was close...but for some reason I got a weird burst of energy (I'm still on that burst of energy apparently). Good thing! Or I might still be a couch  potato. Anyways thanks for reading and I hope you have a great day!!!

Daisies

Dress - American Living // Cardigan - New York and Company (Thifted) // Belt - Thrifted // Socks - Marc's // Shoes - Faded Glory // Headband - Claire's
Photos by Laura

It's like I blinked and there were leaves everywhere!! It's pretty amazing. Well, except for the cold? Umm...why is it 45 degrees in May? It's supposed to be back up in the 70s by Wednesday though. It's deceptively cold because in the pictures it looks really warm and it's really sunny! Anyways, I tend to like darker/softer colors better, but I really love this outfit and the color combination just made me think of daisies for some reason. I guess green would have looked more daisy-like than blue, but I guess the blue reminds me of the sky.

Well, I already wrote a little yesterday about how awesome my mom is. In short--she's a super mom. Anyways, we went to Eddie's Grill in Geneva-on-the-Lake like we do every year for Mother's Day...even though it was pretty cold! We would have gone mini golfing as well, but it was too windy and cold so we decided to just put it off 'til another day. We then went to Baskin Robbins for some ice cream :) Later we had to go to my brother's soccer game. Why someone scheduled a soccer game on Mother's Day I'll never know.... Anyways, they won the game!

I hope you'll be reading next week 'cause I will be taking a trip to California! I went a few years ago and actually kept a blog about it. Funny thing is though that's what made me never want to blog again--and I never ever thought I would start another blog. Anyways if you want to read about my first trip, you can here starting at the end of the page. Both trips were due to my dad attending a conference. And this time he's actually speaking at the conference!! He's supposed to send me the link so I can show y'all exactly what conference he's speaking at...oh well he'll get it to me eventually. Anyways, it's so awesome that my dad gets to speak at this conference!!! The last trip he just took me with him, but this time Laura gets to come as well. I'm leaving next Monday (I think? At least that's what I heard last...) so make sure to stop by then to get some updates of the trip!

Anyways...thanks for reading and I hope y'all have a wonderful day!

Cool Map Stuff

Soooo... I normally do outfit posts, but I had these pictures so I thought I'd show them to y'all. After reading this post over at Clear the Way I wanted to show Kate the cool map decorations in my house :)  Eh, bad pictures....again. (when will the good camera be fixed!!!) The map thing in a frame I saw at Goodwill for only a couple dollars! So of course I grabbed it! The other map decoration is currently my mom's...sort of. She promised it to me once she's found something to replace it. Anyways...here are the pictures.

Since it's Mother's Day, I just want to write a short thank you to my mom. Thanks, mom. That's it. Just kidding :p My mom's pretty awesome though. Even if I don't always agree with her, she's always there for me! She's a homeschooling, stay-at-home mom to 8 kids. I know in homeschool communities 10 people is not really a big deal, but in other communities my family's pretty big. Either way my mom's great and works really hard. Honestly, I don't know how she deals with that many people. Although I do want to be a mom someday, I assure you it will not be to 8 kids. I could not do what my mom does every day! On top of homeschooling, she somehow manages to keep the house clean, go on field trips, take the kids the gymnastics and soccer, and lead awesome bible studies for the kids. Anyways, my mom's great and I love her.

Thanks for reading and happy Mother's Day to those who are moms!

Last Day!

Dress - London Times (Thrifted) // Cardigan - New  York & Company (Thrifted) // Belt - JCPenney // Shoes - Faded Glory

Last day of classes...and I'm done! YEAH!!! I'm so ready for summer! Anyways, I had a great day that started out (way too early) with a breakfast with the Nav girls and ended with Iron Man 3! So all us Nav girls got together and brought different things for a huge breakfast with chocolate chip pancakes, potatoes, biscuits, bacon and sausage! Oh yeah... it was pretty awesome. I did my last final and well...that was boring but I did pretty well in the class. And I never have to go back to that class!!!! Ever!!! Let's just say that it was neither helpful nor enjoyable in any way....

I was just planning to head home and chill for the evening, but then one of my guy friends from Navs called and wanted to hang out. So we ended up watching some Cougar Town and a bunch of YouTube videos. Later we went with some of his house mates to see Iron Man 3! No spoilers here...but it was a pretty awesome movie! It was a last minute decision to go... so I didn't get to wear my Iron Man shirt :( Oh well...I guess I'll just have to go see it again just so I can wear the shirt! PS don't mind my Merida hair! I had it braided earlier and then I was in my pjs when I realized I still needed to take outfit pictures :p

Well, hope y'all have a great day! Thanks for reading!

I think I'm gonna make it...

Dress - Breaking Loose (Thrifted) // Shoes - Maurices // Jewelry - Thrifted // Belt - Cotton On // Sunglasses - Charlotte Russe

Oh yeah, I finished my last project and as soon as I turn it in tomorrow I'll be officially done for the summer! I really need to focus on getting a summer job now, but as soon as I'm done with classes I'm gonna rest for a few days. I only pulled one allnighter, but I'm exhausted. I didn't have anywhere near as much hw as I did last semester, but for some reason I'm just as tired.

Next week I'll get back into the swing of things with longer posts, but for now that's all you get.  Which isn't really that much--just me complaining about my lack of sleep! Haha. So, yeah, I've been really bad about exercising this week, but I have been doing my Bible reading everyday. Exercise is another thing that I'll have to start doing again once finals are over. Well, thanks for reading! Hope y'all have a wonderful day :)