sun shakedown

My apologies for the long absence, I've been itching to get out and take some pichas for you but I have literally been going nonstop since June 1st! Being a real adult kind of blows I have to say. Well not that I didn't already know this, but 9 to 5 trying to battle DC area traffic with an hour and a half commute, well you can imagine. I was talking to one of my fav girls about this and she said, "Well it will make you stronger... or angry." hahah we've yet to see which one of the two it will be, but it's definitely going to be one or the other.

The work itself is extremely rewarding though, I'm really enjoying it. I'm interning with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and my momma died of lymphoma so it's empowering to do something about it. Cancer really is the least discriminating disease. It doesn't matter whether you are 2 years old or 90, male or female, black, white, brown, affluent or struggling. Cancer doesn't care. But in a way I think that is what makes it strangely beautiful, it is able to reach across the divisions we create among ourselves and set people ablaze with a common passion. Have you or someone you know been affected by cancer? I think at one point or another it touches us all.





I'm also taking a GRE prep course, taking the exam in July. It's an exhausting combo-work & school- and a really long day when I have class. I wake up at 5:30 am and don't get home until 10:30 at the earliest. But hey, these two things are both really great opportunities. I have nothing to complain about, plus I think my body is getting more accustomed to the new schedule. How is your summer going? I would love to hear about that too! I can live vicariously through you and pretend that the highlight of my day is not getting to go to bed early hehe :)





So I've been dying to wear this dress for a long time and finally got the chance today. It's from an adorable etsy shop, Qs Daydreams. Aren't the buttons darling?



xo,
A.

Dress: Q's Daydream Vintage
Striped socks: Gap
Heels: ModCloth
Chambray Shirt: Madewell

PS. Do you like this new layout or do you prefer the old one? Feedback welcome!

falling water

Over the weekend we visited family in PA and visited Falling Water, one of Frank Lloyd Wright's designs, on our drive up. The picture above is of me, my dad and his fiancee, Colleen. I had to wear this shirt there because it feels very aqueous to me. The place is absolutely breathtaking. Everything is so green and the house is a wonder. Unfortunately they have a super strict photography policy- no photos indoors and no photos during the tour even outside? Who knows why. I personally think it's so they can have a monopoly on selling photos. Not cool, Western PA Conservancy, not cool.

But anyway if you get a chance, definitely worth seeing!



They said that the waterfall freezes in the winter, I would love to see that and autumn is their peak visiting season because all the leaves are so beautiful. Picturesque at any time really.



You can walk right out and sit on the bottom step or wade in the water if the current's not too strong. Not a bad way to start the day, eh?



First day on the job tomorrow! Wish me luck :) Be back soon with an outfit post I hope.

xo,
A.

born in a barn

It's Friday! Which actually should have no significance to me since I'm not working, but today it does. I've started my GRE prep course this week which is twice a week and for some reason, it just ended up being a really busy week, tying up loose ends with school, pre-work things, trying to see everyone and figuring out the summer. All great things, but yesterday I started to wig a little, it was like ok everything, just stop! So today I have dubed "my day, my way Friday". I'm not planning on hanging out with anyone, so it'll just be me for company.





I'm going to lay around and read Never Let me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. It's really, really good so far, I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for a summer read. I'm eating lunch with my dad at one of his favorite places for his diet reward meal! He's reached 30 lbs lost so this is like getting a gold star on your chart, but way better haha.



And then this weekend I'm off to see family in PA and we're visiting Falling Water tomorrow which I'm super, super psyched about. I don't know all that much about architecture but as a type of art, I can definitely appreciate it. I did learn alot more than I'd known before in Barcelona studying Gaudi (Sagrada Familia, Casa Battló, Casa Mila, Casa Pedrera, Parc Guell, etc). You can learn a little bit about Casa Battló and/or la Sagrada Familia at The Clothes Horse, Rebecca's Euro-triping right now, I'm so jealous. Maybe soon I'll post a Barcelona nostalgic entry, what do you guys think?





What are you all doing for Memorial Day weekend? Something relaxing and/or fun I hope! Until Monday :)





xo,
A.

PS. These photos were taken at the Agricultural Farm Park . Isn't it beautiful? Be on the look out for more photos from this place.

Outfit details
Top: F21
Shorts & straw hat: Urban Outfitters
Socks: J. Crew
Booties: Steve Madden
Lips: Constantly Coral Color Stay Overtime, Revlon

double trouble

Disclaimer: Double outfit post! Picture heavy.



Just got this delightful dress from ModCloth, it's such a fun print and a versatile cut. Had a little bit of fun today styling it up in a more retro, vintage way and then again, in a more modernized, casual way.







I bought this one tube of red lipstick last summer to be Snow White for a costume party, and I never would have foreseen how many times it's come in handy! See two posts below, wore it for the 20s themed party also.





Hope you've having a relaxing week.

xo,
A.

Outfit Details

ONE
Dress: Life's a Carousel Dress, ModCloth
Jacket: Saffron Sophisticate Coat, BB Dakota via ModCloth
Hat: Grammy's
Shoes: Vintage

TWO
Dress: ditto
Button-up: Mom's, personalized with patch by her
Shoes: Keds
Sunnies: UO

water baby

a day at the beach by sweet_disposition featuring floral bathing suits

evening at the beach by sweet_disposition featuring a crinkle skirt

another day at the beach by sweet_disposition featuring kate spade bags

Since I am no longer beach bound thought I'd share a few dreamed up outfits with you! Fun fact: I'm a Scorpio which is a water sign. I think pretty much everything with astrology is a bunch of poo, but they got it right with this one. This is what about.com says about water signs: "Water signs are attuned to waves of emotion, and often seem to have a built-in sonar for reading a mood. This gives them a special sensitivity in relationships, knowing when to show warmth and when to hold back. At their best, they are a healing force that brings people together -- at their worst, they are psychic vampires, able to manipulate and drain the life force of those closest to them." That's pretty dead-on except for hopefully the vampire part? Um, scary? I like to think that I do not suck the life out of people turning them into lifeless humans. Here's to hoping! haha

xo,
A.