throwback thursday

pretending to buy puppies // snuggling baby Evie // grill night // a beef jerky love text // peachy pink nails // random wine bar times // jelly shoes // the sweetest giant pup // banana chocolate smoothie

all things that are good.

what they wore :: maxi dresses

I know, I'm behind on the maxi dress craze. Here's why: I never found one I liked! I loved all the ones I saw on my friends. I envied strangers from afar. But I never saw one that I wanted. I tried one on once. It didn't fit right, so naturally, I gave up. :)

My weird thing about maxi dresses is that I want them to be looooong. Longer than my ankles. I want it to come all the way down to my feet, if not past. Most of the maxis I've found stop too short for my taste. Then my 6 foot tall roommate bought a maxi skirt. It looked great on her! I couldn't get over how this beautiful, tall girl found a skirt that looks appropriately long on her. I decided to give maxis another shot.

Almost by accident yesterday, I stumbled upon the maxi dress section at Target. I was surprised to find not one, but two dresses that I loved!

The bottom one is perfect for a summer wedding I have next month. I am playing guitar and it can be tricky to find a dress that works. I don't trust strapless to stay up (especially with a guitar strap on, which can move things around), and I don't like to wear too short of a dress while I'm standing up in front of everyone. This was the perfect solution! I can't wait to dress it up. The other one I just really loved and wanted for a fun night out. Maybe I'll wear it to dinner at the beach this weekend!

I'll be on the hunt for more casual options like this:

Because who can resist a good stripe?

Where do you get your favorite maxis from?

all images via target.com.

the talk :: why growing up is the greatest

via weheartit

Do you ever stop and think about how wonderful it is that you are an adult and can do whatever you want?  I often do. It's the little things that make your mid-twenties (or older) that much greater. I give you...

my top ten list of reasons why growing up is the greatest:

1. You can make a whole frozen pizza just for you. I mean, you can share with your friends if you want. But mostly, you could just eat the whole thing yourself.
2. You can watch Netflix until 2 AM with no judgment. You have to get up for work at 6? Who cares! One more episode of Freaks & Geeks won't kill you.
3. You can drive wherever you want, whenever you want. Spontaneous trips, bailing on work early, getting a random pedicure, hitting up the library, unplanned happy hour, staying out late... ALL THINGS.
4. You can take a real vacation with friends instead of family. I know people still love taking trips with their families. That's cool. But I like trips with my friends more, and since I'm an adult, I can take one any time I want and do whatever I feel like doing.
5. You make all the decisions. Sometimes this one can be tricky... if you're like me, you don't know where you're ending up in life, especially career-wise. But I get to make those choices and hopefully life will turn out great! (And only get input when I decide I want it.)
6. Eating breakfast for dinner and other such ideas. I had a Popsicle before dinner the other day, too.
7. You can finally be interested in things your parents never let you do. Like play guitar (me) or live in another country for a year (my friend Emily) or paint your walls bright purple (my roommate + our kitchen).
8. You can get a pet that you've always wanted! Dog, cat, iguana, hedgehog, snail... I don't know what you like. But now you can get one :)
9. Shopping and spending as much money as you care to. $200 for one Target trip is not unheard of...
10. Living with your friends and having the time of your life. Or, getting married and living with that person. OR, living by yourself with your dog! Basically, living however you want!

And there you have it-- this week I'm going to spin class, having a sleepover with my girlfriends, going out dancing, getting a two-hour massage, and heading to the beach for the weekend. (#11 - you'll sleep when you're dead!)

music monday :: from the blog world

Over the weekend, I saw an example of blog musicianship that was too good to pass up. Do you guys read The Secret Life of Bee? This chick (Bri) is so cool. I mean, really. I laugh hilariously at the videos she makes while driving in her car (safely, of course), and her daily take on life. Why don't we live closer so we can be good friends? Ugh. 

The point here is that she is a really talented singer. Luckily, so are her sisters. This gem was posted over the weekend and I thought, "wouldn't it be cool if they could one day sing at my wedding?" I concur that it would be fabulous.

And here are some others (via Bri's YouTube because I am a stalker):

I'm a singer too, but I don't have the siblings like she does! Amazing talent. Visit Bri's blog and search for more of her videos there!

what they wore :: TWICE

This is a day late on account of feeling awful this week and not knowing why... I've taken three hour naps every day after work. (I never nap. Ever.) Feeling a bit better today, so here's your belated WTW post!

Have you checked out Twice yet? It's basically an online thrift store, but for specific brands (JCrew, Banana Republic, Kate Spade, etc.) The best part is that while you are getting deals on gently used clothes (for much cheaper), you can sell your own clothes to Twice and get some cash! One of my friends got $50 for some clothes she sold. Not bad, huh?

I haven't tried it yet because I just donated some clothes and there isn't anything else I'm parting with, but you should jump on this one! Sign up and you get a $10 credit. Happy online thrifting!

tuesday-ness.

There's just something about being at home on a Monday that automatically makes Tuesday its twin. How does this even happen? For instance: I got to work and found out it will now cost me $8 instead of $6 to park every day. L A M E.

Basically, the only thing I can do to combat this day is to look at this picture over and over again until I pee myself from laughing:

My puphew is better than your puphew.

recharging.

This weekend was so necessary for me to recharge my batteries. I've been feeling stressed out about work and life, often feeling like I'm trying so hard but getting nowhere. Spending time with my best friends and being in the sunshine and screaming for our team at the top of my lungs at the USMNT game really helped. And breakfast the next morning with iced coffee and the most delicious bagel sandwich.

best friends.

photo by AO Annapolis... we're at the very top (see my red wig?)

with old friends & new... our "vamily" (that's what you're called when you travel in a 12 person van for 6 hours together)

alicia, tresa, and me!

oh when the Yanks go marching in...

So refreshing to laugh and have a good time without worries. I haven't felt that in a while. I'm determined to keep that feeling even though it's over.

On a more "music monday" note-- I know that everyone has been on the Lana Del Ray kick for quite some time. I never really got into her except for the radio hits. But I decided to listen to both of her albums front to back this week, and I love them. She has such a unique writing style and is so random. When I genuinely stop and listen to her lyrics, half the time I'm amazed and the other half shocked (in a good way). And her sound is so moody-meets-random-meets-truth. She's quite the expressive artist.