Feeling Fine in Graphic Tees

Who doesn’t love an awesome, comfortable, graphic T-shirt?

Lately, I have scored some great ones at Ross Dress for Less!🙌🏻 I am extremely picky about the T-shirt’s I buy because I don’t want to end up looking like a billboard.😂 A T-shirt has to speak to me on a personal level and I have to agree with it in order to wear it! This “Feeling Fine” shirt was also in my favorite color, so that was a no brainer!

I also got one that says “Original” and a few others that had references to Tokyo on them. If you don’t know this about me, Tokyo has been and is incredibly high on my bucket list! But then again, most of the world is!🤷🏻‍♀️

I paired this shirt with some shorts I made myself, fishnet tights and boots for a cool fall look. I love layering shorts and skirts with tights this time of year!

What are your favorite ways to layer? And what are some of the coolest T-shirt’s you own?

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5 Ways to Make Your Dreams a Reality

If only life were as easy as a Disney movie.🎥🍿

Well, I take that back. A lot of Disney movies have one or both parents missing or dead and some pretty bad stuff can happen in them, but what I mean is…Disney movies are typically full of characters that are dreamers.

You all should know the plot and formula by now, if you’ve watched any amount of them. The main character has a dream to do something or be something and…they usually end up doing it. Sometimes, they might need a push or something or someone else in the plot pushes them forward, but the point is, they usually achieve whatever their “dream” is.

Now, it isn’t always easy, but I think in our culture today, we associate dreams as being easy. It’s easy to dream and fantasize…but not so easy to take action steps to get us to our dreams.

I’m not saying I’ve lived out every single one of my dreams, but I have gone to Italy, something I’d only dreamed about doing before. The other day, I was watching an Indiana Jones movie that was set in Venice for part of it and I couldn’t believe that I had actually been there! 😍🇮🇹

So, here are 5 practical tips for how you can take action steps and get closer to making your dreams a reality!

1. Don’t set so lofty a goal.

Dreams are big for a reason, but sometimes–we can dream too big. You should always aspire to something, but start small. For example, I would love to travel the entire world, but I instead made a more realistic goal: to go to Italy for 17 days. And you know what? I did it! Start with smaller goals and work up to your big ones! 💯

2. Always be working to better yourself and learn things.

No Instagram success was built overnight. No CEO of a Fortune 500 company sat down at that desk after just turning one measly application in. The truth is, it takes hard work.

If you aren’t getting better, you’re usually getting worse or just…staying average.

For example, I’ve wanted to get better at social media lately. This has resulted in me reading up on everything to do with the subject. I’ve also wanted to invest more in my Instagram photography, so I’ve been looking at cameras. Read all the books you can, research and study because nothing happens by accident or overnight.

3. Make a list of things you can do each day or each week.

I don’t know if you’re like me, but if I don’t make lists, I’m prone to forget things! It’s not natural to constantly be working on the same thing or to remember everything you’ve been mentally digesting, so make yourself lists. 5 Action Steps To Start My Own Blog. 5 Things to Do To Improve My Photography. 5 Ways to Save up for My Next Out of Country Trip.

When you write things down, you not only sort of will them into existence, but you make them more concrete. You hold yourself accountable. You make lists for the grocery store and that stuff is all gone by the end of the month! Why not invest in yourself and your personal skills and dreams by making a list to help you achieve those dreams?!

4. Stop looking sideways.

I REPEAT—with a bullhorn and with emphatic tone—–STOP LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING!

Okay, you can. To an extent. But do not get sucked into the trap of comparison. Instead of saying, “I wish I had what she has.” or “She makes doing what I want to do look so easy!” say, “What can I learn from this person?”

I’m going to use Instagram as an example because it has been on my mind lately, but I used to look at other travel bloggers and hate myself. It wasn’t until I realized that these stylized images are just that—stylized. They are literally only a fraction of a second of those people’s days and lives!

Instead of comparing myself to that fraction of a second, I attacked my own battle plan. I looked at what I could do to change my own feed. How could it be better? How could I get better at taking pictures and telling a story? Think of positive things and positive things will come!

5. Never give up.

It’s easy to give up, but dreams aren’t achieved easily. Think how much better your dream will taste and be when you actually GET IT.

So, get out there.

Stop making excuses.

Stop looking at everyone else.

And focus on YOU.

The going will be tough and you will have naysayers. Put in your earplugs and blinders and get to it.

🖤Plaid is Rad🖤

Plaid has been making a big comeback lately in fall fashion and I am all for it!🙌🏻 I have always loved plaid and preppy touches mixed with an edge.

This skirt is one I found on eBay for less than $9.99!

I love pairing it with combat boots, turtlenecks, rocker tees and all kinds of stuff! It’s a very versatile piece.

You didn’t hear this from me, but you can find some amazing gems in thrift stores when it comes to plaid! A lot of times, you can find the skirts and matching blazers, which seems to be a big trend lately!

So, if you want to give plaid a try, look at thrift stores first or try eBay, Shein or Zaful, some online retailers, to find some cute pieces that incorporate it!

What is your favorite color when it comes to plaid? I love a classic red or this gray like I have here! 😍

5 Ways to Cheer Yourself Up When the World is Full of Hateful, Nasty Scumbags

Good afternoon!🍹

Now. I know if you were to go by the title alone, this blog entry seems like it might be a little…negative. But really. I don’t think everyone is mean and nasty. I genuinely think that, for the most part, that that old man who flipped me off in traffic for blowing at him when he was swerving into my lane…must have just been having a bad day.

Or that lady who said the other day when I was buying a bouquet(for myself, as it turns out, because that’s how I do), “You must be buying these because you’re celebrating something. Must be nice to have good things happening in your life.” in the most sarcastic tone I’ve ever heard…must have just been going through something.

Alright, let’s be real. Sometimes, people are just…people.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t still believe there is good.

So, here are a few things you can do on those days where you’re just…really annoyed with or feeling hopeless in regards to humanity at large.

1. Treat yo self.

Really. This is such a mood booster! I don’t care if you buy yourself flowers or a foot long from Subway! To each their own. Do something or get something for yourself. Don’t get something because you think it will impress someone else—factor everyone else out of the equation for a few minutes and just do something or get something that you actually want. If you don’t like coffee, than don’t fake it like that time I thought it’d be a good idea to go to a cafe and “work on” my computer. I didn’t get anything at all done. I honestly don’t get how people go to coffee shops and get work done. How is it conducive to work?! I think we’re all just lying to ourselves and each other and looking busy. 👀

But anywaysssssss.

2. Do something nice for a stranger.

You thought this was going to be a self centered list, huh? Well, NO. Sometimes, you just have to take care of yourself in order to take care of others better. 💯✨

I personally like buying the food of people behind me at drive thrus. Or giving someone an extra tip. It’s the little things that you don’t even have to do that are the best!

3. Surround yourself with positive people.

This should be common sense, but a lot of times, we find ourselves hanging out with Debbie Downers, fun suckers and just people who like to put us down whenever they aren’t feeling so hot.

Find good friends who are glass half full kind of people. You’d be amazed at how much it will change your mood!

4. Find an outlet.

For me, my outlets would be playing random 90’s computer games on my PC, thrifting and going to estate sales, blogging and photography and so many more things!

Just find something that makes you forget everything else for a while.

5. Imagine the possibilities.

I’m a little bit of a daydreamer. I like to imagine possibilities rather than impossibilities.

When you think in positive terms rather than negative ones, it can change everything. Seriously, if you’re always doom and gloom, than no wonder the world always seems like it’s full of nasty hateful people! We all have days where this may seem like the case, but just accept that other people have bad days too and don’t let it ruin or affect your mood! Don’t let someone’s 5 minute temper tantrum or blow up cloud over the rest of your day.

Hope you guys have been having a good week and remember—you can always believe there is good, but we should also be the good!

Vintage Style OOTDS

I love fall because it seems like you can have so much more fun with vintage style. You can bring in and incorporate all kinds of cool boots and accessories to an outfit and have I mentioned the colors?!😍

Some of my favorite colors to pair together are rust orange, mustard yellow and navy blue! And the occasional forrest green!

It seems like in spring and summer, it is all about the bright, fun pops of color, but if I’m being honest, I’m more into muted tones myself!

Like the colors in this outfit! This skirt is one from Topshop and I had to have it a few years back! I saw it being worn on the character of Spencer Hastings in Pretty Little Liars and freaking loved it. It’s got part academic sailor, school girl vibes going on, part Suckerpunch, Japanese anime vibes on the other end. 🙌🏻 And it has the BEST POCKETS.

I found this skirt on eBay, believe it or not, and paid around $16 for it because one button was off of it, which I quickly fixed myself upon it arriving by mail! The white top I’m wearing was thrifted from a local Goodwill for $3.99. My mustard yellow cardigan is one I found at Ross the other day for just $5.99!

The boots I have are the Born brand. I found them at Dillard’s 5 years ago and loved their vintage look. I paid $59.99 for them, but they were originally $139, so that was a heck of a good deal!!!

This other outfit is another example of how I like to layer: boots, tights, a tank top dress and a baggy sweater over it! I got the sweater forever ago at Marshall’s so I don’t remember what I paid for it—not over $20 though—and it has become one of my go to pieces. The dress was $9.18 from Forever 21 and I loved the brown and polka dots!

I just love getting to mix modern and vintage looks, especially in fall! 🍁😍

What are your favorite colors to wear around this time of the year?

5 Ways To Prioritize What’s Important to You

Sometimes with how busy and crazy life can get, it’s easy to give up on the things we actually love doing.

We make excuses, time gets away from us, or sometimes, we just genuinely are exhausted from all the “responsibilities” we have. Ugh!

Lately though, I’ve been noticing some things about prioritizing the things I love. It’s really just a matter of sitting yourself down, making some goals and prioritizing…well, your priorities in life!

Here are some tips for how you can make time for the things you love doing during the day!

1. Look at your calendar and find those empty spots during your day/week.

If we were to really think about it, we have an hour at least each day where we can make time for the things we love. For me, that would be finding time to practice photography and blogging! I don’t know about you, but these times are usually when I’m just watching tv or on my phone anyway! Instead of completely wasting that time, I’ve been trying to take advantage of it instead! Really, it comes down to time management! If you sit down and map out how you can best use your time, you’ll find that you have more times for the things you love than you once thought!

2. Learn to say “NO”.

This is a hard one for me, but I’ve gotten soooooo much better at it! In order to make time for the things you like doing, you’re going to have to say “no” to some things. Sometimes, it might be easy because these are things you kind of didn’t like doing anyway, but occasionally, it means turning down a fun night out with friends. Learn to say “no” so you can say “yes” to the things you want to improve on or have time for in your life!

3. Ignore the critics.

Maybe you don’t have any critics, but chances are you might. Whenever you’re trying to institute a lifestyle change, you will usually experience some pushback from those closest to you. Maybe they think your blogging is silly. Maybe they think you’re ridiculous for taking that bagpipe class! 😂 If it’s what you want to do, than ignore the critics. Some people just don’t like change!

4. Have fun with it!

If you view this priority as “work”, chances are, you are going to drop it within a week. Make whatever you’re doing fun! If you’re trying to exercise more, tell yourself how lucky you are to have two legs that work and allow you to run. If you’re trying to get better at photography like I am, have fun coming up with locations and concepts for a shoot! Don’t take it too seriously!

5. Research, practice and invest in yourself.

Especially when you are learning a new skill! Read up on what it is you’re trying to learn! Practicing your skill naturally will make you better at it! If you look at it as investing in yourself, you will keep at it longer and prioritize these things more naturally!

Is there a skill that you all would love to learn? What steps are you taking this week, right now, to prioritize it?

Stripes Galore OOTDS

So, I have a thing for stripes. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’m the type of person who buys alooooot of neutrals and has a favorite top in every color in her closet! However, I do like patterns like polka dots and especially stripes!

Stripes can be so great to add interest to an outfit that would otherwise be boring.

I also love the color mustard yellow. It’s hard to find things in this color, unless you just get lucky or are shopping online, it seems, but I love it! It tends to go well with my hair and skin tone.

So, when I found this jumpsuit on a girl’s Poshmark for $29.99, I had to have it! It’s more than what I would normally pay for clothing, but it was a statement piece and I brought it to Italy with me. And it incorporated two of my favorite things: mustard yellow and stripes!

As you can see, it can also be worn different ways! It’s actually strapless, so I will wear a chambray top over it and tie it off! Everyone always thinks it’s just pants for this reason, but I love that it is so versatile!

Do you have a favorite color that you tend to buy when it comes to clothing? And what are your most versatile pieces in your closet?