Five Things Friday: Fashion I die for

Have you ever heard the expression "Things come in Threes"?  Maybe it's an I-was-raised-Catholic thing.  Either way, I've heard it my whole life.  When babies are born, when people die, when good things are happening, when bad things are happening, when run-of-the-mill-not-at-all-related things are happening... "Things come in threes."

Well I think things should come in fives.  

Three is too manageable. It doesn't push the envelope.  I like fives.  The halfway point leaves you with quite a bit accomplished, but still a good bit ahead of you.  Think of your five favorite people -- now cut it to three.  It sucks right?

What about your five favorite songs?  When cut down to three, it's lacking something.  Maybe a whole genre, or a whole artist, or a whole time period is missing.  It just won't do.

Now think of five goals you have for your life.  It's lofty, right?  But they're your goals! Why shouldn't they be lofty.  And, hey, with the trend of this post, I'll give you five years to accomplish them.

Alrighty then, enough mucking around.  I'm starting a new tradition.  It's called Five-things Friday.  In each post I'll tell you about FIVE things... predictable, I know.  Maybe five trends I'm loving.  Five songs I can't get out of my head.  Five new pieces of clothing I'd like to add to my closet.   The possibilities are ENDLESS... except when it comes to reaching #6.

And without further ado... the five fashion trends I'm totally LOVING right now.

1. Colorful Denim. 

I mean, if anyone's shocked by this one, they haven't read my previous blogs, or looked at my pinterest, or read anyone else's blog or looked at their pinterest... Everyone loves the colored denim that has become all the rage this season.  It's really not even that novel of an idea anymore -- but I'm okay with it.  The world is better if for no other reason that people's pants are making the world prettier with all their colors! Their available at every price point and in every fit, so there's a way for everyone to rock this fashionable favorite.

Image from The NY Times / J Brand Denim

2. Hippie-Chic

Chic is the operative word here.  Please bathe. Please wear deodorant. Please look fabulous in your favorite florals, denim, fringe, jumpers, feathers in your hair, sunglasses, big jewelry and anything else you can find indie inspired, because I freaking love it all!  My personal version of hippie-chic has an added side of Navajo. I like a good native-american-vibe when I can find it.  Of course the two styles are different and individual, but when combined, I think they have quite the impact. 

Image via Pinterest

Image via Pinterest

Gahhh, I love this look so much.  via Pinterest

3. Pink & Orange: New Best Friends

Who knew these colors went together until someone GENIUS put them together!??! I mean, hello world of fabulousness.  I die for you pink and orange.  I absolutely die. Mostly because you're a color palette my hair color just won't allow, but anywho I do love to stare at you.  Brunettes, blondes, please, I beg of you, embrace this trend.  Do it for those of us who look like pale, ghastly creatures in the shades of tangerine and Texas.  (Warning, the three looks below are very similar.  I tend to over-endorse spectacular execution of good-old-fashioned STYLE... please excuse.  Also, please buy a handbag in a bold color and wear it with your orange and pink ensemble.)

Image via Pinterest

Image via Pinterest

Image via Pinterest

4.  Bold statements, with equally bold tan lines.

As someone who worries more about sunburning that sunbathing, I often find myself perplexed when I hear the comment, "Ugh it would leave such awful tan lines."  Tan lines, you say? What are those?  I love a good ruffle, some fringe, perhaps an oddly placed strap (or a hundred?), I've even been known to covet a giant bow.  See also, the one-strap, the endless ruffles, and the straps here-straps there styles I'm also coveting.  Naysayers be damned, I've got on SPF 70.

Image via Pinterest

Image via Pinterest

Image via Pinterest

I love a good one-piece. via Pinterest.

Image via Pinterest

5. Tutu-precious

I am a dancer. Every dancer loves a good tutu.  Ok, some hated them.  But I'm sensing a ballet-inspired trend coming on and I must say, I LIKE IT.  Soft subtle elegance ranges to daringly bold playfulness. I like it all.  And hey, you have to be bold to rock a tutu.  

Image via Jack Rogers

Image via Pinterest

Image via Pinterest

Image via Pinterest

So tell me, what five fashion trends are you loving right now?  What look are you dying to try? What do you think looks great on others but maybe isn't for you? (We've all got them, mine is orange and pink!) 

HAVE A FABULOUS FRIDAY, y'all.  Tomorrow I'll be breaking my cardinal rule of blogging and posting on Saturday. It's St. Patrick's Day. I must. It's required.

xoxo.

Making it Happen

So today (it's still Wednesday as I write this post for Thursday) was part one of the Making Brands Happen Business and Branding Webinar.  It focused on your brand, what your visual representation says about you and how to better hone your brand to reflect your authentic self -- really that only scratches the surface of what we discussed, but you'd have to attend one of these webinars for yourself to really wrap your head around the whole process. 

Anywho -- Lara Casey and Emily Ley (the creators of Making Brands Happen and other stellar companies to boot) have been two of my pseudo-life-mentors for a while now.  I say pseudo because we don't actually know each other (details) and they're not just talking to me when they blog about all of their wonderful thoughts, ideas and day-to-day genius. But, alas they've made it their life goals to inspire others, to spur them on toward greatness, and encourage everyone to Make Big Things Happen in their lives.

Image via Pinterest

Listening to them talk today got me thinking about what my dreams really are.  I struggled to find a way to articulate them in simple, concrete ways.  I want to be happy. Well what will make you happy? I want to be successful. At what would you like to succeed? I want to be creative. What exactly would you like to create? And then I had it...

I want to play an active and consistent role in creating and maintaining happiness and fulfillment for myself and encouraging others by way of living life to its maximum potential, finding joy in all circumstances, creating both beautiful and timeless tactile goods, experiences and surroundings, and at all times doing the things that put a smile on my face and the faces of others. 

Hmm... scratches head... well, how did you land on that one? 

I did a goal-setting exercise today that asked me this:  "What quote do you live by?"

After a few bible verses popped into my head, I realized they were my "should-be" answers.  (It's true, the gospel should be the quote that I live by.  But I was being brutally honest, and the alternative is not contradictory to the Gospel, but rather, I think, complementary.)  Instead I landed on these two quotations:

“Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. Let their spirit ignite a fire within you to leave this world better than when you found it.” - Wilfred Peterson

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. ... We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” - Nelson Mandela

Image via Pinterest from Making Things Happen

I picked up on a few very important trends in these quotes: 1. Find what fires you up, 2. Let your light shine, 3. Encourage others to shine, and 4.  Surround yourself with people who encourage you.

These four things are encouraging me in a rather overwhelming soul-searching adventure I'm on.  Once I reach the end of it, I might share what all the fuss has been about. But for now, I leave you with this:

Image via Pinterest

Go. Go now. Get out there. Start today what will make your dreams come true tomorrow.

Chase your dreams.

xoxo.

Wedding Wednesday: A Breath of Fresh Air

I started a whole new pin board today to begin the process of planning my best friend's wedding.  Now, she's not yet engaged, but I've already been informed that I'm "planning the whole thing."  Challenge accepted.  She wants an outdoor (read: on a farm), fall wedding with rustic and "Farm-tastic" details. 

Enter: Baby's Breath.

I've always loved Baby's Breath.  Something about those tiny little white flowers is just so ethereal.  If I could get close to the clouds, I feel like they might just be made of baby's breath and we just can't tell all the way down here on the ground.  (Ok, so I've been on a plane, and I know the clouds are really just condensation, but come on, go with me on this one.)

Baby's breath (Scientific name: gypsophila) is among the least expensive flowers you can buy, which is great news for brides, as it's becoming one of the most popular trends in weddings. 

With an outdoor wedding, there's nothing but space to contend with.  And while large floral arrangements are gorgeous, they're also expensive and can pretty much blow a hole the size of Texas in your budget.  Using Baby's Breath introduces a light, airy feeling while still dressing up an area that, on most days, is just a green pasture.

I love these bouquets of Baby's Breath secured to the ends of the aisles.

Image via Pinterest/Southern Weddings

 

These wreaths of Baby's Breath are absolutely to die for.  Great for doors leading to the indoor "facilities" to help guests know they're allowed to go inside.

Image via Pinterest/La Fleur Weddings

I've already mentioned my love of long banquet tables at the reception, but nothing is more annoying than centerpieces that keep you from having conversations with the people across from you. These tall vases of Baby's Breath are not only beautiful, but they don't block your vision! 

(And I absolutely adore the abundance of votive candles.)

Image via Pinterest/Style Me Pretty

Then there's the bridesmaids' bouquets.  A definite opportunity for a big statement, but also an opportunity for a big distraction.  Think about it. Their bouquets are right at eye level of the loved ones gathered to witness the exchange of vows, not the exchange of flowers... Why not do something simple and gorgeous like Baby's Breath?

Image via Style Me Pretty

 

It's hard to tell, but I think this is an arch made of twigs with Baby's Breath woven in.  If I'm right, I don't even have to see the photo clearly to tell you it's to die for.  And, in a wedding that's outdoors, but still very religious, it's a challenge to create something of an altar for the ceremony.  This would be a fantastic option. 

(I also love the vintage wooden buckets of flowers to complement the ceremony location.)

Image via Style Me Pretty

These garlands just put the whole Baby's Breath thing right over the top for me. I mean, who wouldn't want garlands of flowers decorating their ceremony and reception site.  Especially on a farm.  There's plenty of uses for a garland, not only decor, but roping off areas that are restricted or less-than-desirable (read: risk of stepping in cow poo?) I wouldn't dare cross a garland line -- rope, on the other hand, I'd totally ignore.

Image via Style Me Pretty

What are some of your favorite uses of baby's breath? Seen anything cool lately? Anything I should file away for the (long-off) fall farm wedding?  Send the ideas my way.

On an unrelated note, thanks for bearing with me yesterday as I used the blog for a more personal post.  My grandfather is doing well, but truly, every day is a blessing.

Xoxo.