Wherever The Wind Blows.

Sorry for the long time between posts, life has a way of getting in the way sometimes ;) I am currently traveling a bit, and loving every minute of it. I will keep you updated over the next couple of weeks with photos and stories. For now here is a picture of the Eiffel Tower from my time in Paris....more to come, no fretting ;)

And, this is kind of my life over the next month...and I kind of LOVE it. 

Peace. Love. Joy.

Watercolors.

 I found these amazing embroidered shorts at a discount store a few weeks back, and fell in love with the detail and fit of them. I wore them here with a lovely watercolor top from LC Lauren Conrad that I have had for a few years. It is by far one of my favorite tops that I own because of the use of color Lauren put into the design--its gorgeous! I may never get rid of it ;)

 Clearly, I was trying to have some fun with this whole photo thing ;)

(top-LC Lauren Conrad, shorts-random, shoes-Bamboo, MK tortoise shell watch)

Peace. Love. Joy.

Hello, Fall 2012 Couture--I adore you.

I don't know about you but some of my ultimate favorite fashions are from the couture shows. There is something so free, and creative about them; they express themselves in a way RTW can't always do. Don't get me wrong I sure do enjoy my RTW collections, but it is so nice to see explosive creativity expressed, and couture is the brilliance of fashion in so many ways. It teaches me to appreciate the masters behind the great designs, and the amount of time it took them to make beautiful pieces of art that only a few people in the world will ever get to wear.Now, that is amazing.

Here are my favorites from the fall 2012 couture shows that just took place in Paris:
Chanel: I love the vintage approach Karl took, very different than usual.

Elie Saab: Probably my favorite collection this Couture round--hello, future wedding dress ;)

Valentino:

Happy Weekend!

Enjoy it, folks.

Peace. Love. Joy.

Aztec Me.

 This is my one and only maxi dress, and I like to pull it out at least once a year. I love the aztec like print since it reminds me of my cultural obsession with the lovely Native Americans. I threw this embroidered top over it to create a nice contrast, and change things up a bit from just the maxi. I don't weare maxi's a whole lot, but when I do I certainly enjoy it. Maybe, I need to add them to my shopping list next time I am out? ;)

These pictures are taken in one of my favorite spots in Frederick (if you're an avid reader, I am sure it looks familiar). I love to go here just to sit and think; it's extremely peaceful & serene.

(top-Solitaire, maxi dress-Forever21, sandals-Target, DVF sunglasses, MK watch)

I hope your fourth of July was the most magnificent.
There truly is nothing better than celebrating the joy of freedom.
xo

Peace. Love. Joy.

Thoreau Had It Right.

Ever since I picked up Walden for the first time I've felt I had a companion in Thoreau. Over the years I've been drawn to his way of living, and often pondered his deep thoughts he was kind enough to write out on paper. I've come to the conclusion that the man really did know how to live.

Over the past year, I worked my butt off in every sense of the word. I added hours to my already full time job, by working other little side jobs. Meanwhile, take into account that I was in school as well. Yeah, I know, insanity defined. Or was it? Well, to the world around me certainly not, and not to me either since I had been caught up in my new found American "workaholic" mentality.

You'd think some profound notion grabbed my attention, and I had this epiphany that maybe, quite posisbly, I should slow down. I mean, I am only 20, I've got my whole life ahead of me to act like a crazy person, and work every waking moment (sleeping a couple hours in there somewhere).

What really grabbed my attention was the stress that was accumulating on my body. Everything in me was exhausted. I was doing life, but I noticed I was basically living it like a zombie of sorts. I had no ambition, no drive. The things that used to make me come alive, I was simply too tired to embrace or enjoy.

I started to mentally make decisions on how I would change. First cutting back the side jobs, then eventually ending the full time job, to take only the side jobs. Yes, I took a pay cut, but I also felt life begin to return to my veins. The things I once enjoyed and found inspiration in began to be weaved in and out of my daily life.

I began to see the crazy, workaholic mode from a completely different light, now that I wasn't in the midst of it anymore. It was indeed just that, crazy. I still can't understand the audacity one must have to live like that. I can't help but think Thoreau really did have it right, and maybe just maybe we are all doing it wrong.

Sacrificing love, and inspiration for some more dollar signs in our bank account. Or maybe it's just a pride thing, it feels good to announce to the public, "I too have no life! My life is work!" It makes us feel as if we deserve to be on this earth. But, really it is insanity. It's a train we jump on and never get off, until our bodies are in overdrive 24-7 and we don't know what it means, nor what it feels like to jump off and simply breathe.

When is the last time you picked up a good book, and simply read?
How about the last time you simple laid in the grass and looked up at the beautiful, vast expanse of sky above your head?
When is the last time you were able to enjoy your coffee? Not just throw it back to get a caffeine jolt from being overly tired.

What if we were courageous enough to indeed jump off the train, and enjoy life for once?
How would the quality of our life, of our world, change?

Maybe, just maybe we should mirror Thoreau a little more here in the 21st century we find ourselves in.

Peace. Love. Joy.

Snapshots.

Dashing Emancipation is officially over for the year--what an amazing event it was! I was so honored to partner with my amazing friend, Melissa Burriss to see this dream come true. I cannot wait to share all the pictures and different aspects of the night. More than anything I was so honored to support an incredible organization called, Love146 and see the merging of my two loves; fashion and social justice.

Here are some recent snapshots from life....enjoy!

 (AE shorts, 70's handmade Native American inspired button up--thank you, Mama!)

 Vacation Time! (Jcrew high waisted bottoms, bandeau top-target)

 Antique shopping anyone?

 Summer Weddings (Jason Wu dress, LC Lauren Conrad Heels)

Dashing Emancipation logo :)

Hope your week is off to a great start! Stay tuned for more posts this week :)

Peace. Love. Joy.