visit me at Ruche

Happy Friday everyone!

I've been featured this fine day over at Ruche's blog, for a feature entitled "Playing with Prints"!
Go check it out!

I'm happy to say one of my favorite outfits of this month was featured, of the leopard cardigan, as well as a fun floral chambray/coral pants combo. Both outfits are featuring one of Ruche's many delectable necklaces, and I would highly recommend snatching a gem up for yourself (especially since mine came with a bonus pair of earrings to go with each necklace...but maybe they just like me a whole lot!)

The Leopard Cardigan

 Targét and the chambray way

Have a fabulous weekend!

lumberjack

It's pretty stereotypical of me to associate a nice plaid print with a lumberjack - I certainly didn't feel like a lumberjack yesterday.

With my poofy skirt, clinking bangles and bright teal tights, I'd say I was more of a...fairy lumberjack.

Which I'm on board with.

On a side note, these are my very first tights of the season.
I feel rather happy that they're the crazy teal. Who knows what colored tights will show up this fall!

It's funny how the simplest things can really change the way you see yourself.
Small things that other people may not even see, but that seem like such a drastic change to you.
Things like changing which side you part your hair, or getting that small but significant trim that you feel sure people should notice.
Losing a few pounds, changing your makeup routine, using new hair product.

For me, it's when I don't use a bobby pin for my bangs.
Because the thing is, I don't even have bangs anymore. I've grown them completely out, and yet I still stick a bobby pin to the side every single day.
Yesterday, the bobby pin started slipping (which also happens multiple times a day...darn you, fine hair!) and I went to readjust it and clumsily dropped it in the car somewhere, where it shall remain forevermore.

Top: Ross, Skirt: J. Crew, Tights: Target, Boots: DSW, Bangles: Kate Spade

My husband and I went on a date night, bobby-pinless, and when we got home we went straight out to take some pictures before it got too dark.
When I look at these pictures, there's something odd and different about my appearance.
And all it took was the escape of a bobby pin.

Ever After: Danielle de Barbarac

After reflecting on my love for Ever After in last week's post, I concocted an impromptu photoshoot with the help of my tripod and (for the last two outfits) my handy husband.
I had watched the movie on Saturday, and began to think about what a modern Danielle would look like.
Her hair is simple and classy, and I'm not sure two side braids would ever be "out of style", although it's definitely reminiscent of an old school 'do of the hippy persuasion.
I could see Danielle in bell bottoms - but maybe that's more because she's played by Drew Barrymore.

Top: Forever 21, Blazer/Necklace: Lux Clothing, Skirt: Ruche (similar), Booties: Urbanog

I wanted to experiment for this shoot, and took advantage of Pixlr-o-matic to edit all of these photos.
It was fun to experiment, but also gave every photo a more fantastic feel to it, allowing me to imagine myself away into another place, into another time.

Top/Dress (similar, similar): Ruche

Danielle: You have everything, and still the world holds no joy. And yet you insist on making fun of those who would see it for its possibilities. 

Henry: How do you do it?

Danielle: What?

Henry: Live, each day, with this kind of passion! Don't you find it exhausting?

Danielle: Only when I'm around you. 

Top: Ruche (remixed), Skirt: LOFT (remix 1, 2, 3, 4), Shoes: Zulily (remixed), Jewelry: Cookie Lee

Grand Dame: Her name was Danielle de Barbarac...and this was her glass slipper. 

Perhaps you will allow me to set the record straight?

Wilheim Grimm: Then...it's true! The story!

Grand Dame: Yes, quite. Now then...what was that phrase you use? Ah, yes. Once upon a time...

my love for ever after

Confession: I am a romantic. 

It's debatable when this became true, although I'm fairly certain it officially began in a theater in Phoenix, Arizona in 1998.
I was nine years old. I have an inkling there were signs of my Jane-Austen-loving soul long before then, but this movie-going experience is the first one I can think of that has hefty significance.

Ever After was, and is, the perfect movie.

I've often dreamed out-loud to my husband about how I would absolutely die of happiness if I could plan an Ever After themed trip, where we would travel to France and visit all of the filming locations of this delightful movie. There are many reasons why I love it so, but on this blessed Friday I have chosen to highlight a few to let you all in on why it is so very dear to my heart.

1. It Makes Me Cry

One of my very favorite scenes.

...of happiness. 
Don't get me wrong, I cry ugly sad tears in this movie as well. But for the perfect movie, tears are a must.

2. Books

Oh, the love of books! 
Most of it stems from the treasured influence of Danielle's father, who was a great teacher and loved to share his insights on science and philosophy with his young daughter. When he died, the last book he brought home to her, Utopia, became quite arguably her most prized possession. In fact, her application of its principals is one of the initial reasons she catches the attention of Prince Henry. He realizes this strength in her and later takes her to an astonishing library, hoping to woo her. She is, of course, completely woo'd. Because books! 
When he asks her to pick one, she says with wonder, I could no sooner choose a star in the heavens!
Her passion stuns him, because he is just a rich lost boy looking for his place in this world. Danielle is able to guide him with her sharp tongue and wise words, all of which she owes to her father and his gift of books. 

3. The Soundtrack

Try listening to "Utopia" or "The Homecoming" or even just the main "Ever After" theme without wanting to bawl your eyes out, travel the world, renew your hope in humanity or just fly away on your newfound wings.
This soundtrack is a piece of art, and is one of the biggest reasons why this movie gets me every time.
George Fenton, you angel, you. 

4. It Looks Like Rain

The fact that Leonardo da Vinci is in this movie at all is fantastic, but it's even better that he plays such a delightfully important character. 
His creative spirit inspires Prince Henry, and his solid advice and sweet (albeit sarcastic at times) personality play a big role in the central love story. 
The above sequence, in which he spouts "It looks like rain!" may be one of my favorite moments in cinematic history. 

5. The Gypsy Kiss

After their trip to the wooing library, Danielle is forced to save the prince's life from gypsies. They turn out to be good-hearted gypsies, thank the heavens, but it starts out pretty rough. 
Talk about a quirky side story that we all love. 
The best part? She saves him by picking him up when the gypsy leader announces that he will let her leave with "anything she can carry". So cheeky.
The gypsies erupt in laughter, and they go on as friends. In the heart of the gypsy camp near a warm cozy fire, Danielle and Prince Henry share wine, secrets, and eventually their magical first kiss.
It was the kiss to measure all other kisses by. 
Well, at least... according to my 9-year-old self, it was.
(Let's be honest, according to my 24-year old self, too.)

6. Justice

I still get the goosebumps of justice when Marguerite finally gets that punch in the face she's been begging for the entire film. 
Even though the result of this altercation leads to some of the ugly sad crying I mentioned earlier, (namely when Marguerite oozes pure evil and burns Danielle's beloved copy of Utopia), I still agree with the other not-so-evil step sister, Jacqueline: 

I shall never forget the way Marguerite's feet went up over her head like that. 

7. Glitter

For a girl of the 90's, this was the ultimate kicker. Cinderella with rhinestones. 
I don't know about you, but I bought an abhorrent amount of roll-on glitter sticks and tubes of glitter lotions and body sprays as an adolescent. This movie may be to blame.
If I could steal and perfectly replicate any look for Halloween (or just any ol' Friday night), it would be this one.

What are your favorite Ever After moments? What would you add to this list?
I would so love to know.

Happy Friday friends.

the law wife

I remember when we first moved to Virginia two years ago for my husband to begin law school, and I was introduced to the concept of "The Law Wives". 

I was contacted shortly after we were settled into the little fort we called home by a woman identifying herself as my "mentor". She was an older law student who wanted to meet up with me and encourage me in this new experience.

I was overjoyed. 

I had my first friend!

Granted, it was a friendly assignment which isn't quite the same, but going downtown to that quirky coffee shop was exciting and nerve-wracking and she gave me some of the greatest advice:

God doesn't call one spouse without calling the other. 

Dress: Anthropologie, Belt: LOFT, Necklace: Francesca's

This statement struck me as very profound, and I instantaneously felt the shift in my heart and mind.
We're a team. I was committed, I was in it to win it, I was ready.
I am a law wife. 

Over the next few weeks and months, I fell in love with the ministry that was The Law Wives.
I mean, how often do you get the opportunity to be a part of a community that strengthens, nourishes, and encourages you while you all travel the same rocky roads of change and transition together?
How often do you walk into a room of strangers and hear, We've been waiting for you! and We're so glad you're here! and Here, have some baked goods!
Strangers that are so happy to have you there, and are so supportive of you and your marriage and this journey, that they are active and intentional, and plan monthly events. Like going apple picking in the Fall. Like marriage retreats. And oh, my favorite, having a fancy Christmas Tea each December.

I remember my friends making fun of me at first, because I always sounded so snooty.
"Oh, I'm going out with the Law Wives tonight."
It sounds strange, like some bizarre club, but it has been one of the biggest blessings (if not the biggest, for me) of being here for law school.

I realized after a while that the reason it sounded so strange was because it was special.

This was my outfit for Monday night's law school event, the first of the year!
The Dean's Reception is day 1 of orientation for all of the new 1L students, so we got to go as mentors and mingle and enjoy dressing up and preparing ourselves for our very last year.

So cheers to the Law Wives, past, present, and future.
And cheers to being stronger now than we ever were before, and to being on this adventure together.