Outfits, shopping finds and time with friends

Or this post could simply be entitled, Busy Days. 

So, two weeks ago, I was away from home all week, then last week I was practically not home because of my rush to edit my friend's photos, and now this week I've been gone a lot again. This is actually the first afternoon I've been home all week. Not that that's a bad thing. I enjoy being busy with a full schedule, but I also enjoy when my life slows down, and I have more time to reflect, or in this case, blog. ;) 

Monday and Tuesday I got to spend a lot of time with my biological father, Jonathan. He lives about 4 hours away, but he came down here for vacation. We went bowling, sightseeing at places called Acadian Village and Jean LaFitte Park (both tell of the Cajun history, and I'd never been to either), and finished Tuesday at the Kart Ranch, riding go karts in the pouring rain, then playing putt-putt golf. 

Here's a few pictures I took with my iPhone (sadly, my camera hasn't been fixed yet.)

I love this little village so much. It gave so much information on the Acadian's (or now referred to as Cajuns) past, which is something I always enjoy learning about. The little church especially took my heart, along with the uniquely built Acadian houses all around it. 

(Ford tee- Walmart (men's section), jean skirt- really old, black lace converse- Walmart, jewelry- made by me) 

I knew we'd be doing a lot of walking and possible go kart riding, so I tried to go with cute, sporty, and practical. I'm always nervous about the go karts, the seat belt buckles between your legs, and with zooming around I'm always afraid of my skirt flying up, so I wore tights under my skirt. I didn't want to wear a more straight down skirt, because I would've had to pull it up a little to buckle. Not so ladylike. Plus the worker, usually a young guy, has to check and make sure you're strapped in safely, which can sometimes be very awkward. Thankfully, this outfit proved to be the least awkward of any I've tried. Experimenting works, folks! ;) 

(Aztec top and white bubble necklace- Cato, skirt- Goodwill, flipflops and leaf earrings- Walmart)  

I had this outfit planned since I got the shirt a few weeks ago. I knew I wanted to go with a more boho feel, and I think I achieved that. Putting the necklace with the top was actually an accident. I got them both at the same time, and when I was putting my stuff up I realized how good they looked together! I wore this for me and my bestie's shopping trip on Wednesday. We went to Goodwill first, and ended up not going anywhere else! Normally, I can't stand to spend 2 hours in a store, but every time I turned around, I found more stuff! It took us a while to try on, and narrow down what we were going to get. That store had a wealth of hidden treasures, but I only had so much money. ;) 

First up, a New Orleans Saints pillow pet! They had them in the store for $30 (which I was NOT gonna spend on a pillow pet), but I found this one in really great condition for $5! I was like, "Oh yeah, you are so mine." ;) 

shoes 2 for $6

$4.50

$4.50

3 pairs for $2

I usually have a hard time finding shoes that fit perfectly due to having wide feet. But this Goodwill had tons of shoes that fit me! Sadly, I couldn't get them all, but these two I can see getting plenty of use. The navy pumps stay on my feet without pinching (a miracle for me), and have a cushiony bottom.  The black flats are already broken in while still looking good, and also have a cushiony sole.

I got the grey skirt as a challenge for myself, to style it in non frumpy ways, and dressed up or down for different occasions. I already have a lot of ideas for casual, dressy, winter, and summer. 

The grey sweater is soft and comfortable without being baggy, tight, or lumpy, and the perfect palette for a wide variety of styling.  Perfect qualifications for a sweater. I also got a jean skirt, but it's in the dryer. :) 

Sometimes, you just need fun socks, you know? They can be the bright side of a rainy or severely cold day. 

As sad as it is, Megan and I did not take a selfie during our day out. Sad right? I think we're kinda stuck between the older generation and the teen generation that takes a selfie every hour of the day. However she did make this sweet card for me that is now on my wall. She's a red head, and I'm a brunette. The picture and caption perfectly describes us. :) 

When we got back to her house we ate dinner, then watched the Christmas Card (my movie contribution), then God's not Dead. I'll say that I was pleasantly surprised by that movie. I really hadn't had high expectations for it, but I was gladly proved wrong. 

Oh, and God's not dead. :) 

My favorite music group is the Piano Guys, and they now have a tee on their website! I'd love to have one. :) 

And lastly, a selfie I took while waiting for Megan to get to my house. Still learning how to edit my iPhone pics the way I want. 

Have a great week! 

Polyvore

These past few days I've found an odd amount of free time. I've spent it exercising (yes, finally getting back to that!) and spending time with my family. I've been going on walks with my siblings, playing card games with them, and snuggling up with them to watch movies. Sometimes I get so busy I forget the things that are really important. Making memories with my family.

Anyway, this morning I didn't have much to do, so I got on Polyvore. And ended up making 2 sets! I thought I'd share them with ya'll and see what you thought.

Autumn 2013 by pawpawsgirl92 featuring bootie boots

outfit #1

In Louisiana, it really doesn't get very cold. As matter of fact, I usually only wear jackets in the winter. I haven't used my coat in years. So in the Autumn, we have to pretty much find Autumn colored clothing in lighter materials. I've become really fond of neutrals this season. The sweater looks cozy while not being stuffy, and warm enough to ward off a chill, while not sweating. While trying to accessorize this outfit, I couldn't seem to drag myself away from the neutral shades. Grey nail polish has been my favorite nail color lately, although I haven't found the perfect grey polish for me yet.

outfit #2
I love pencil skirts (as you may have noticed if you've followed my blog for any length of time.) The two most flattering skirt styles I've found that work on me is the maxi length, and straight down past the knee length. I've learned that midi skirts do not compliment my short legs, and seem to only make them look stubbier. I really love this houndstooth skirt. It can be worn with several different colors, although I think I like it with red best. I have a few turtleneck sweaters, including a red one like this, but sadly I don't get to wear it that often. Considering it's hard to wear a necklace with a turtleneck, I balanced my outfit out with large teardrop earrings.

outfit #3

Aztec print as well as peplum tops have been in style for quite a while now, but I haven't tried either as of yet.  I like this blue and black Aztec print, but I have seen a few color combos in Aztec that I didn't like. The way I look at it, the only way to wear a peplum top without looking frumpy, is to wear it with a straight down skirt. That can be a pencil skirt, or even with a straight down maxi. I've also seen peplum tops worn with a skinny belt right above the flair. For ladies with wider hips, or a backside they try to downsize, I would think wearing a peplum top could be tricky. You would definitely have to try on different ones and see which one works the best for you.

Autumn 2013 2 by pawpawsgirl92 featuring a toms footwear

outfit #4

Some days, it's just fun to wear grey. I know some days I like to wear it, not because I'm sad or under the weather, I just like the color grey. I've never worn grey with red before, but it looks like a fun color combination. I have to be careful though, because at one time in my life about the only colors I wore were blue (usually navy), brown, tan, or black. I didn't realize how dreary my color choices were until my Mawmaw mentioned that it seemed like I was trying to go without being noticed. Blend in with my surroundings and become invisible. I hadn't realized what I was doing until my Mawmaw pointed it out. Ever since then, I've learned to enjoy all colors (with the exceptions of olive and light or bright yellow), and try to mix and match them up to look their best. So I still have a tendency to be wary of those colors.

outfit #5

I don't know about you, but I just think it would be fun to style a leather skirt. Nothing skin tight, but like the skirt in this outfit. I love my leather jackets, boots, and purses, so why not a skirt? One thing I would do is mix the more edgy with the light and feminine patterns and materials. For instance, lace. I've recently really begun to love lace, and in this bright, beautiful shade of blue, I think it would compliment the leather skirt nicely, and create a good balance. Not to mention the rosette earrings and high heeled suede pumps.

outfit #6

You know when you're going to the store, and just want to be comfortable for that day? Well, I've been seeing all these cute, light sweatshirts in different colors, and I think they're perfect for that. Matched with your favorite, comfy jean skirt and some matching converse you're all set. But why not add a little pop of color with some bright earrings and polish? I've noticed that often times bright colored accessories or polish can just add a little pep to my step, and make me feel cute. And honestly, who of us doesn't like feeling cute?


So did anything I say help you with something you had been wondering about? Which outfit is your favorite? 

memories and my favorite color

Hello there!

How are ya'll today?

I am enjoying my morning (ok, I know it's almost afternoon. Another great thing about Easter vacation!) I'm sitting at my desk typing this post, listening to Gospel Light Teen choir, smelling my wonderful cinnamon candle burning, and feeling the breeze coming from my open window.

I'm wearing this necklace...

  that was given to me for my 20th birthday. Well, my best friend Megan surprised me with a mall day, and she got me this necklace at Charming Charlie's for a really good price. I love it. Some jewelry is simply to go with an outfit, but some jewelry has meaning to it, you know? Like this necklace reminds me of all the fun we had that day. Plus, it reminds me that even though Meg and I live far apart, She still loves me. That, plus we've sent each other letters, and she's mailed some postcards to me from their vacations, so it has a lot of memories wrapped up in it. And I think the 3 pearls is a good symbol of the fact that we're 3 years apart, and yet I can tell her just about anything.

So now on to today's Polyvore set. I like many colors, but today's color is my favorite.

For the longest time, my favorite color was blue. But over the past few years, I've developed a real adoration for red. It's bold, classic, feminine, and good for any time of the year (in my opinion). A while back, I wrote down an article that listed the personalities of colors. The color red's personality is: warmth, boldness, gaiety, excitement, impatience, joy.

Pretty interesting, huh?

I have the personality of several other colors as well if you'd be interested for me to do a post on them sometime.

Now, to talk about the set. I found a dress similar to this, but it had a 50's style air to it. Sadly, it was a size too small, no matter how I looked at it. So another lady from our church got it. O well. :(

The red heels....*sighs*. Perfection.

Red roses are my favorite flower, so of course I love the earrings. And once again, red nail polish is just...classic. My friend Abby would agree with me on the red converse. And I don't normally care for clutches, but this red satiny clutch with the little silver rhinestone Love on it is just adorable.

So what was your favorite item in this set?

Tonight we're going to church, so I'm going to try to get a few pics of my outfit. It's really cute. :)

Have a good day!

Scarves! Hats! And cute outfits!

Hola!

How is everyone on this lovely Friday?

I've spent it well with my family. We went eat, window shopped, then went on a short road trip. Now, I'm back home.....so I get to relax, right? 

NOT!!!!!!!

Too much to do! Too much to do! 

Story of our lives, right? 

Well, enough chit chat. I got lots of stuff to talk about today! Hopefully at least one thing will be a blessing to someone. 

Let's start with today's outfit.

Whenever I know I'll be out a lot that day, I tend to put more thought into my outfit, and appearance.  

For instance, today I wore makeup. Makeup, is something I've always kind of struggled with. I never wore it much during my teen years, but since I turned 18, I thought I might as well look a little older. Still, I do not wear much makeup. Here is about as much as you'll see me with: foundation or powder, eye shadow, mascara, and lip gloss or sometimes lipstick. Blush doesn't work too well on me, and I've never (or anyone else, for that matter) been able to apply eyeliner correctly on my eyes. It just never works.The intention of makeup is not to cover up your natural beauty, but to bring it out. To draw men's eyes from your body to your eyes with tastefully applied eye makeup. 

Another big beauty tip to attract people's eyes to your face is to have a genuine, joyful smile on your lips, and true compassion and godly love in your eyes. 

Someone once said that the eyes are the gateway to the soul. 

Going on with the outfit, there's one thing I'd like to point out. As a rule, I never wear a necklace AND a scarf. It's best to have only one, maybe two eye grabbing accessories in your outfit. Having both a scarf and a necklace together can be over powering. But this outfit is an exception to the rule. The necklace is small enough, and the color of the scarf tame enough that they complement each other.

Scarves.

What good is a scarf?

A scarf can be good for many things. It can be for warmth, or adding a special touch to a less than exciting outfit. 

But there's one thing that a scarf can do especially for me. You see, I'm kind of large in the bust area, and no matter how loose my shirt is, I cannot hide the fact. A scarf can help to draw attention from your bust, to your face, or help conceal them, as in the way I wore this scarf. 

Now, to talk about the hat. 

Until recently, (in other words, this week), I have not worn many hats. I get terrible hat hair, so once I put a hat on, I can't take it off. This week when shopping with my mom, I bought two hats! Both were great prices, and I really like them. 

The two ways I wear the grey hat are.....

this way, and.....

this way. 

Here is a pic of the other hat I got. 

(a black velvet hat I got at Walmart for $5! Also, the leather jacket I got this week for $25! It looks brand new, and is genuine leather! I've wanted a leather jacket for so long, but I waited for a good deal. So glad I did!)

Now, here's my outfit spec's for the day.

grey hat: $4.50 at a resale shop called Clothes Mentor (It still had the original tag! The original price was $20 from a store in the mall!)

pink 3 quarter sleeve shirt: given to me

grey leopard scarf and Eiffel Tower necklace: Rare splurge at Charming Charlie's 

black bracelet: don't remember

watch: I'll talk about that later

black jean skirt: $6 at Clothes Mentor

Black lace converse: $10 at Walmart 

 I know this has been a long post......ok, EXTREMELY long post, but I have one last thing to say.

And that is, waiting pays. 

I've wanted this certain watch for a long time, but didn't want to spend $15 on a watch that I couldn't wear with every outfit. Besides that, I couldn't decide which color to get (this watch comes in a lot of pretty colors). 

This week at Cato, I saw the watch I wanted! And here it is!

This watch with the different interchangeable bands will go with any outfit! And it was $20 for the whole thing! That's like getting 5 watches for $4 a piece! 

So you see? Waiting does pay, as it did with my leather jacket, and now these lovely watches.

Well, I've kept you long enough, so now it's time for this post to end. 

Until the next time! 

Love ya'll!

A birthday and an outfit!

Hello everyone!

First, I'd like to say happy birthday to one of my closest friends....

Abigail Morgan! 

(picture taken at last week's Ladies Conference in Ms.)

Love ya, Abby! 

Here's a few other pics of me and friends at the conference. Though I've only scratched the surface with the editing. So much more to do! 

friends who showed up right before we left. Sadly, they couldn't come. But I had a blast spending the morning with them!

the three teens from our church.

It's one thing to have best friends and close friends. But it's a totally different thing to have a friend so close, that she's more of a sister than anything. This is Megan, my best friend, sister, and kindred spirit. I love you!

Today is a week since these pictures were taken. But the memories are still fresh. The uncontrollable laughter, the happy quiet moments, the lessons, the things observed, the wiping away tears from laughing so hard, and not so important, but because of the purpose of this blog I'll talk about it, the observing of different styles. 

I'll tell you, all the ladies looked nice. But I like to observe people, their choice of clothing, and the outfits they put together. I've gotten inspirations that way for many outfits in my own wardrobe. 

One example, is the outfit I'm wearing today. 

Sometimes, I find a cute sleeveless shirt. But I usually do not buy it, unless I plan on using it as an undershirt. Well lately, I've really liked the style of wearing a short jacket or cardigan over a sleeveless shirt, or otherwise inappropriate dress. In today's styles, it's hard to find things that are MADE modest. So you have to improvise. A dress with spaghetti straps but is long enough can either be worn with a modest undershirt or over jacket. A cute, but very short dress can be worn as a shirt with a skirt. There are even ways of making pants into a skirt.

But anyway, back to today's outfit. 

Another example of improvising. This skirt used to be ankle length. It's very thick, and in south Louisiana, that made it only comfortable to wear on rather cool days. That doesn't happen often in the south. So rather than throwing it away or giving it away (the skirt is made very well) I went to my Mawmaw's to fix this skirt and several other garments. It's almost like having a new skirt! It's much more comfortable to wear, and will look really cute with my knee high brown boots (when it gets cool enough). 

And this is as I was saying before. Someone gave me this sleeveless purple shirt. And before now, I only used it occasionally as an undershirt. But now, it has a new purpose. You see, good fashion is not always having to go out and buy the latest thing. It's using your head to mix match new outfits with what you have. Buying a new item is not bad, but you still get lots of satisfaction from making a new outfit this way. And you feel like you've accomplished something.

lovely fleur de lis necklace: given to me for my birthday by Abby, the friend who's birthday is today.

cute flower headband: borrowed from my sister ;D

and purple disc earrings gotten for $1 from Charming Charlie's!

black lace converse: $10 from Walmart

Ok, here's another issue I'd like to address. I've heard this question asked a lot. 

Are converse feminine? 

Well, I don't think I'd ever see a guy wearing LACEY tennis shoes. So I think I'm pretty well covered. =)

But what about the regular converse?

Here's my opinion. 

It's not fact, just what I think about the topic.

If converse are worn with pants.....yes, they're not very feminine looking. 

If converse are worn with a very dressy or flairy skirt.....I think.....they look kind of ridiculous.

But a pair of clean converse with a nice jean skirt.......I think looks very nice. =)

Now, if you put converse versus a regular pair of athletic tennis shoes, I believe the converse are more feminine. They're slimmer, and not as bulky and big as a regular tennis shoe. 

I'd like to end this little discussion with a comment I heard from another girl. She said that if she sees a girl wearing converse with a skirt, she knows that the girl wears skirts all the time. Because, you never see a girl who wears pants wear converse with a skirt. 

Once again, that was her opinion, not necessarily hard core fact.

But I happen to agree with it. 

Well, I think this post has been long enough, so I'll end it. 

Have a good weekend!