MB Fashion Week vs. College Football.

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Isn't she pretty? I'm currently in search of a leopard bag for fall. Ideally, I want this one. I'd take amazing care of her. But alas... I can't afford her $3000 price tag. Oh Dolce & Gabbana, you know the way to my heart.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week starts Thursday. I desperately wish I could be there. {One day, oneeee day...} I am so excited to see what these amazing designers come up with this season. I will keep you up to date on all things fashion show related. Whether you care or not. MB Fashion Week is to me what college football is to most Ohioans {the best thing ever, in case you didn't know. ;)}

Hope y'all are having a fabulous Saturday, it's disgustingly hot here... but I keep telling myself that fall is almost here.

Love always.

bare. naked. truth.

Hey kittens! How are you?
So remember way back in the day when I used to blog all the time?
Yea, I do too.
Those were the good ole days, right?
I like to think I took a little summer hiatus. {complete with big hats and sunglasses - just like the celebs do.}
And I'm baaaaaack!!!

I thought it'd be fun to reintroduce myself a bit {hence the silly faces - what better way to kick off a 3 day weekend than to look at my goofy mug 11 times... Ok, a bit much, I know... but it was fun!}

I have done a lot of thinking about my blog and about what I REALLY want it to be. When I first began blogging I didn't really know where I was going with it. I knew I wanted to blog - I like writing, I like talking, I like fashion... so I just sorta went with it; without any real direction.

There are so many amazing blogs out there {with even more amazing girls who I am proud to call my friends} and I think that as much as I love, love, love reading them {and talking with them on Twitter} I got kind of caught up in the numbers. I stopped blogging from the heart {like this post and the ones that went with it.} and started blogging for others. I became slightly obsessive with how many followers I had, how many comments I was getting, who I was linking up with... I stopped speaking from my heart.

And that's where I failed.

This place is supposed to be an outlet - an online journal if you will. I want it to showcase who I am. Who I am as a 28 year old woman, a daughter, a friend, an employee, a seamstress, a fashion obsessee, a single girl, a sister, an animal lover, just as a human.

Blogging can be such an amazing thing if used right. I have met some of the most creative and influential people since starting this {girls from all over that are in love with the same things as I am; girls that love spending hours behind a sewing machine; girls that are so insanely talented and creative.} However, I want someone to one day look at my little piece of internet real estate and be inspired and say "I love her blog. I can totally relate to her. I want to be her friend." ...and I want it to be because I am being me. And nothing but that.

So, that said - I'm going to be doing a little makeover on the bloggity blog... she's going to get a lil face lift - possibly a name change - and definitely a bit more personal direction. Please pardon my dust in the meantime.

Sorry for the ramblings... but thanks for listening dolls! {if you've read this far and didn't get distracted by all those lovely faces I was making!}

Have a wonderful Friday and an even better 3 day weekend!! The weather man said it's gonna feel like fall by Monday! I. Am. So. Excited!

Love always.

p.s. Mom, I hope you are reading this and I hope you are satisfied with my capitalization. ;)

oh hey... remember me?!

hi my pretties...

how are you?

how has your summer been? 

mine's been good. busy. good. and busy. 

i know, i've been MIA for a few weeks. i needed to find some inspiration. needed to step back and reevaluate some things. work on me... then work on this. {plus, it was summer vaca... duh.} 

and with back to school and fall right around the corner... i thought it'd be back to blog too. 

Source: ow.ly via shillyana on Pinterest

i've missed you all. 

so much. 

hope you haven't forgotten about me. 

and i hope you will bear with me during the construction of this guy. i've got some big ideas and thoughts.  and have found some inspiration the last few weeks... and i desperately needed it. i was lacking in some major ways. and for a girl like me who thrives off of the things around me sparking my creativity... it was awful... just didn't feel right.

Source: shelbynycole.blogspot.com via Madisson on Pinterest

but... i have a feeling this fall is going to be a good one... and this blog is going to reflect that. 

expect to see this little bad boy up and running very soon! Eeeeek!
{p.s. this is my 100th post {which is kinda like a birthday! eeek!} - BUT i think is a fantastic time to do a little revamping... of everything. don't ya think?!}

have a fabulous friday and an even more fabulous weekend! 

i know i will.

love always.

Always Believe...

Good morning {afternoon or evening}, Lovelies.

How was your weekend? Do anything fun? 

I went home to the parents' house this weekend. A weekend in the country is always good for the soul {and it was Mother's day... so even more reason.}. Didn't do anything too crazy - saw the family, ate lots of delicious food, and had some drinks with the boys. 

I also introduced Mom to the world of Pinterest. {If you don't know what it is - it's addicting. It's evil. It sucks away all your time. True story. Don't do it! Just kidding... it's super cool!} Anyways... she is hooked - I officially sent her an invite a little bit ago. {You're welcome, Momma!} But then I logged in tonight to kill some time until I fell asleep - yes, I totally should be reading my Kate and William book - buttttt... I couldn't help it. Deal. ;)... and I saw this sweet little guy she posted on my "thoughts" board... and she wrote "always believe" under it... 

So sweet. 

So perfect. 

I love her.

Source: one-happy-mama.com via Jacqueline on Pinterest

It's truly the little things. I needed to see tonight, I've had some rough moments this weekend. But this made me smile. {Thanks Mom. :)}

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. 

Let's cheers our tea, coffee, wine, whatever your drink of choice is - to a fabulous week. {With not so much rain, ok Mother Nature?!}

Love Always.

                                                            

Twitter. Greta. Wedding Inspiration.

I have really come to love the twitter/blogger community. It's so refreshing to "meet" and chat with other people across the country who are doing the same things and support one another. It's hard to imagine life before social media - what did we do before then??? {I even get most of my news from Twitter - thank you NBC4i for that! Sad isn't it??}

Yada, yada, yada... get to the point Jackie. {Sometimes I just start rambling... I apologize.}

Anyhow - I have asked my dear, sweet friend Greta of NL Designs to do a little guest post for me today - It's always nice to have someone else do the talking! And she's fab - I know you guys will love her and enjoy getting to know her just as much as I have!

Hi everyone! My name is Greta and I am from the great state of Wisconsin! I was born and raised in Titletown, USA, 4 blocks from the World Champion Green Bay Packers :) I now live in central Wisconsin with the love of my life and his four children from his previous marriage. Ever since I was little I've had a passion for weddings. I love reading wedding blogs, planning weddings and doing DIY projects for the big day.

[partying at Lambeau immediately after the Packers won the Superbowl!]

I currently have an Etsy Shop that is undergoing reconstructive surgery. When I started the shop in February, I decided to sell fun things that I really enjoy making for affordable prices. However, as my blog evolved more and more, I've recently decided to clearance everything out in the shop in order bring in a line of wedding products! I'll be featuring a line of cupcake toppers, table numbers, save-the-date cards, bridal headbands and more!

Here's a shameless plug before I begin my guest post today... there are two things you can do! You can [visit my blog] and find a coupon code for an additional 30% off my products that are clearanced anywhere from 40-80% already! The other thing you can do is enter my first giveaway! Have fun!

So I met Jacqueline via twitter at the beginning of her blog. We became great friends instantly and can sit for hours and talk [though we've never met in person!]. We LOVE to talk about love and weddings and so today I wanted to share an inspiration board that I've created for her based on some of her favorite color combinations!

blue & coral

pink & muted green

mustard yellow & gray

here are some links for you guys if you'd like to see more!

NL Designs BLOG

NL Designs Etsy Shop

NL Designs on Facebook

NL Designs on Twitter

& my "other" blog Confessions of Wisconsin Housewife

i'd LOVE to meet you :) 

all photos [source]

Um, so how cute were those inspiration boards?!

I love, love, loved them {especially the pink and green!!}

I was swooning over bridesmaids dresses!

Well kids, we are almost to the weekend {it's my Friday today! Thank you Amy and Alex ;)}

p.s. don't forget about your Momma's this weekend...spoil them like craaazy!

Love always.

in the sea...

{source}

how gorgeous is this? 

the dress.

the train.

the staircase.

the color.

perfection.

we all need a little inspiration on a cool, wet Monday. {at least i do.}

hope your week is off to a good start!

love always.

Timing is everything.

No pictures. No music Monday. Just me, writing...

I've had the saying "timing is everything" stuck in my head all night. I know its because I went and saw Country Strong again. {Side note - amazing movie. Seriously, go see it.}
But anyhow, there's a song performed in the movie titled, "timing is everything" and its so true. I keep thinking about how everything in life goes back to that... if I would have been a second early or late... would that have changed it all? Just altering the slightest of moments could completely change the world around you.

Now, I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason {I've mentioned this several times before, I know.} And I think they go hand in hand...

Life is all timing, chances, and reasons... the school you choose and the job you don't get; the amazing friends you make and old friends you lose; the falling in with someone and the realization of disdain for something; the first and last breaths we take. But... I think its all the in-betweens that really, truly matter... like how not getting the job you were lusting over ended up leading you to the job you didn't know you would love. How losing your oldest and dearest friends led you to some of the most amazing people you've ever known. And that falling out of love with someone would you bring you to falling in love with something else...

I do believe timing is everything. And I believe we need to make the most of our time... enjoying those we were blessed with, not dwelling on those that leave. Diving head first into things we love, not slowly half-assing things we hate. Smiling a little more, feeling sorry for ourselves a little less...

You never know when that one second could change it all...

I apologize for my nonsensical ramblings. {It's late, er, early...I can't sleep... and my mind is just in la la land.}

Love always.

What inspires you?

Things that inspire me... sketching {even though they're terrible sketches!}, fashion, the people and world around me, a spring thunderstorm, coral, fabric, photography...

Tell me... 3 things {or people} that inspire you...

Cheers to an inspired Tuesday!

Love always.

A very simple notion.

It's been an interesting few weeks. Actually, it's just been an interesting few months, haha, even years... and I've done a lot of reflecting recently... thinking about life and how it works out. Thinking about the people that come and go in our lives... the rhyme and reason for it. A person could make themselves half crazy thinking about it all. I've done that, almost drove myself crazy trying to figure it all out. And I have realized that I'll never have those answers, that I have to chalk it up as a lesson learned and hand the reins over to someone bigger and more powerful than I. And hope that He's got a really good plan in store for me...I'm hoping... and praying.

I know that at the end of the day the most important thing is to be true to yourself. It sounds like a very simple notion. But I think it's one of the most difficult.

Of course, we all want to please others. To help others. To do good for others - but I'm learning that the first step in that - is to do good for ourselves. We need to take note of the things that make us the happiest; whether it be something as small as a piece of chocolate or as large as a vacation to the beach. We need to allow ourselves that happiness, and NOT allow those around us to strip us of it.

At 27, I feel like I'm finally becoming who I'm supposed to be. I'm learning what I can deal with, and what I can't. What I need, and what I don't. What makes me laugh and smile and what makes me sad. I've learned what I can compromise for others - and I've also learned what I can't. And I think that's the biggest - knowing what we WON'T compromise.

My goal is to do what makes me happy. And I want you to do the same. I want to embark on a journey of realizing what it is that makes us all happy, that makes us all tick. I want to challenge you to notice what it is about yourself that you WON'T compromise for others. Share it and be proud of it. No matter how big or small.

For a long time (about 3 years) I've wanted a tattoo on my wrist. I have always wanted it to say "inspire. dream. believe. faith." I want it to be a constant reminder to always... "be inspired. dream big. believe in myself. and have faith in all things, no matter what." And I now also feel inspired to share that with all of you... I want you to join me on this adventure...

What makes you happy?

Love always,
me