7 of 30: craig monkey

Another backlog post. I wore this on Monday as my drive in a car for hours then visit Hearst Castle outfit. As you can see from the wrinkles, I was obviously sitting all day. I also have with me, Craig: an adorable stuffed monkey that was Robert's as a child. I myself have a stuffed seal named Pip (after Pippin from Lord of the Rings, since I was a fantasy nut in elementary and middle school--oh wait, still am. whatever). While Robert was away, we constantly switched custody of the "babies." But anyhow, Craig was in the car with us driving from Socal to Portland.



You finally get to see the pattern up close :)




And, it is silly, but the photoshoot started out being in the hotel room, since I "matched the room" according to Robert. But it was hard to get decent shots inside, so we moved out. Wish these had worked out, since I was jumping around on the bed and stuff. Hehe.




button up: thrifted
shorts: thrifted
tights: TJ Maxx on sale
shoes: Steve Madden

5 of 30: take it all

Another on-the-run post. Robert is in the shower, his parents are coming to meet us in half an hour to finish loading up the cars and then we're heading up the coast highway back to Portland. The weekend has been a crazy flurry of restaurants, touristy sight seeing, the graduation ceremony and packing. I wore this two days ago while wandering the pier and harbor of Santa Barbara.

While Robert's dad was in college, he lived on a little boat in the harbor. So we visited his old boat and walked around. As you can see, it was cloudy and overcast. I suppose that weather thinks it funny to just follow me around wherever I go.





All of the little sail boats were so cute :)





Another lovely photo set taken by Robert. I think from now on, my outfit posts might be a little picture heavy. At least until I figure out how to be more picky? But I doubt that that will happen. In this post, I already had to eliminate a bunch of others I liked. And not going to lie, it's really awesome not really having to crop at all. And only having to barely toggle with other things. I'm so excited for life, and blogging and my summer classes :D

My blog will be back to normal posting, commenting, etc in the next few days.
I'm going home! :)

4 of 30: ready to start

As many of you have gathered by now, I am sort of away (hence the slow amount of posting). And I feel silly for repeating, but for anyone who has just found me/is catching up, I'm currently in Southern California for my boyfriend's (Robert's) graduation. He graduates Sunday, then we and his parents are driving up the 101 back home to Portland.

We were sitting in the car last night after an amazingly large Korean BBQ dinner and I suddenly realized that I'm no longer in a long distance relationship. It's been a crazy hard three years of skype and phone calls. It doesn't feel real that it's over yet. Maybe once we get home and on with our lives, it will. But I doubt it--it's become a way of life. I'm already ready to get back to real life. Though I guess vacation is nice too.





(I'm not particularly religious, but I like this photo anyway)

So, I already stated that I would indeed be thrifting in California though I am participating in the 30 for 30. I find far too many amazing things whenever I'm down here and this is my last chance (for a while at least), so it seemed silly not to take advantage. I'll be posting up stuff once I get home :D I am so amazingly happy with the stuff I found. It's been 99 cent blouse heaven down in here.





And, I was pointing at a silly model airplane some person was flying around. Robert is (was?) studying film--with a focus in cinematography, so it is quite lovely to have someone so picky taking my photos. In terms of the pictures, he's more of an OCD nut than I am. Plus, he has a nicer camera. So I'm looking forward to a beautiful summer (and beyond! He's not far away anymore!) of fun, pretty photo shoots :D

2 of 30: we get on

For some reason, this first outfit was a little daunting, since it feels like I have a lot of freedom and choice. I also didn't want to wear something super awesome, since I did my own pictures today. Hehe. Do you guys ever do things like that? Save super great outfits for when someone specific does your pictures?

Kept it simple today. Clothing-wise and with accessories. Just wore Robert's class ring, which he gave me a bit over two years ago. I used to wear it every day, but sort of stopped. He bought me the chain to wear it on for our first Christmas together. I've started wearing it again for old times sake, just since the long distance is almost over :)





I actually put this outfit together because of these sneakers--which I included in my 30 because I like them, but never wear them. I'm not really much of a sneakers type of girl. I hate it when my feet feel bulky or clunky, which is why I love flats to death. I thought this outfit was interesting, since I usually style this pretty dress in a really soft, girly way.






Also, don't know if anyone caught this, but this is 2/30. Why? Because number one is actually an outfit that I'm saving for a guest post, which will happen later this month :)

Anniversary + I won something!

Yesterday was my three year anniversary with Robert. Which is crazy, because that means we've also been out of high school for three years. He is my very very best friend, though we are long distance. Through high school, he was the classic "nice guy" who listened to my problems whilst I dated a not so nice guy. Luckily, I fell for him and we are happy now. I am so thankful.

He had sunflowers delivered to my work. And made my sort of bad day lovely. Whenever I go to Southern California to visit him, I always remark about how the roadside flower stands are sweet. They sell a lot of sunflowers on the side of the road.




But yeah. I'm driving down to California with his parents in two weeks for his graduation. He's done with school and coming back to Portland. It's been a crazy three years. With it's definite up and downs. And I'm freaked out about how stupid and sappy this post already sounds, but I wouldn't change anything for the world. Especially now that the long distance is so close to over. I'm cutting off this sappy bragging right now :)

A picture from over two years ago:



And a recent one, from the Seattle trip:



I've also won my first blog giveaway thing ever! :D From Kira, of Rain or Shine. I got to choose two headbands from a set and received them yesterday in the mail. The little package definitely made my already happy day happier.

She has a cute little etsy shop and blog. PLUS, she lives in Portland too :) check it :D




AND, random thing: I'm totally meeting up with Leanna, of The Violet Reaction on Tuesday! I'm so excited :D She's catching the train up here to Portland and we have plans to thrift and eat and wander :)

This is another somewhat brief and type light post. Happy Friday!

Dinner Party. Or Film Festival.

I'm sorry I sound like a broken record! It's been Robert Robert Robert these past few posts. But he's sort of a big deal to me. So if that bugs you, just don't read anything. And just look at the nice pictures :)




My last outfit post from Seattle. When I heard that Robert and I were going up to Seattle for a film festival, I got excited just because of the idea of dressing up. Because seriously! I haven't been to a wedding or any other sort of thing that would require nice pretty clothes in a long, long time. And prom was forever ago!

Robert put up with me on Skype while I browsed through pages and pages of dresses--I basically ignored him and did that thing where you give one word answers. So just to be nice, so he would feel involved in some way, I sent him the Modcloth link and told him to tell me which dresses he thought I would like. I've got to admit though, I completely underestimated him, because he totally found this one. And I probably never would have clicked to it and saw the BACK if he hadn't linked me.



Because the back, my friends, is what made me fall in love with the rest of the dress. The color was nice, the collar was nice, but the cut out back made it perfect.




Surprise! Another picture heavy post. It's hard to pare down when Robert takes so many good pictures. Plus, I love this dress, so I want to show it off. I styled it really simply and with soft neutrals--because it doesn't need adornments. Felt sort of like a housewife getting ready for a dinner party at times, but I think that was because of the heels and the matchy-matchy nature of the outfit.



These are the sorts of faces I make while Robert tests exposure:




dress: Modcloth
cardigan: ? from high school
nude tights: Gap
heels: thrifted
purse/clutch: thrifted
headband: F21

Seattle, day 2

I absolutely adore this set of pictures. I also loved wearing this outfit (it was breezy and casual, plus the shoes made me feel like a ballerina) and I loved this day too, so that helps. On Sunday, Robert and I rented the complimentary bikes from our hotel and rode along Seattle Waterfront through the Olympic Sculpture Park and then to Pike's Place Market.

I would definitely suggest visiting the sculpture park if you end up in Seattle somehow (I'll be posting pictures later). You get views of the water, the city and the railroad tracks. Plus, there are all of these silly, quirky little sculptures and installations. This glass wall was one of them. It cast this just gorgeous light all over the path and was perfect for my outfit photos, since a lot of the same colors were in my skirt.




Since we went biking, I wore these little lacy pajama shorts under my skirt. I did have to wear nude tights, but I didn't want to be flashing people either way.

blouse: thrifted
skirt: H&M
flats: Urban Outfitters
nude tights: Gap
bag: thrifted



Robert even played along and let me take some pictures of him. I meant to give him his own outfit post, but I suck at using the lens on his camera and most of them aren't focused right. Silly me.



He left back for school yesterday morning. We were best friends through the latter half of high school, confessed the night we graduated and then the summer after graduation, he left for school. This was the last time I'll have to say goodbye to him. For a while at least. Because he's done in seven weeks. Then, I'll be roadtrippin' down to SoCal with his parents for his graduation, and then he's coming back. Crazy, right? It's been three years of long-distance.

It's a bit surreal, really. I can still remember that first time he left I cried and cried. We stood on my porch for an hour and a half, pretending to be normal, dragging out the time until he'd really have to go. Since then, it's gotten a lot easier to say goodbye but it's remarkable how it still hurts a little even though we've done it countless times now. So I'm a little sad today--especially while looking at these pictures, since this weekend was so perfect and carefree.