Featured on Chictopia?? Say wha!

Today was a fairly normal day... shopping with the moms, enjoying the warm weather, preparing for another style shoot.

Checking up on all the social networks, as usual.
Until I noticed something a bit strange when I logged into Chictopia.

Weird, I suddenly have all these random points that I didn't have before! (You receive "chicpoints" when people "like" your outfits, leave you comments, and such.) Checked my messages.

A letter from an editor:

"Hi there,
Congratulations! With your amazing style and creative write up, your photo Chic Blog post has been selected by our editor to be featured on Chictopia’s Home Page. If you have our iphone app, your photo will also be displayed there in 24 hours.
As a reward, you are receiving 500 Chic Points for this amazing honor. Hope to see you on the Home Page again!"

What? No. Really? Seriously?
Clicked to the front page.
Lo and behold...

I even had to open a new browser just to make sure I wasn't imagining things!

I am flabbergasted. Just flabbergasted. I don't even have words. 

Chictopia, I would describe as THE internet headquarters for fashion enthusiasts near and far. And there's little blogger n00b me on the front page, sheepishly staring back at 192,000 pairs of visiting eyes that graze the site daily. I am beyond honored that someone considers my style worthy enough to be displayed there. 

Man, I've really been needing some encouragement lately as to whether this whole fashion blogging endeavor was cut out for me, and, well, I think there we have it, folks. Thank you, dear reader and friend, for coming along with me. I can't wait to see where this path will lead!

(Thanks God :D!)

Remember the sailor and Miami Vice lovechild?

No? It's cool, I think only my mom and a couple friends were reading my blog back then... although it really wasn't that long ago! Anyway, I promised I would re-shoot it, and I decided today would be the day!

Blazer: thrifted Ralph Lauren
Pants, scarf, and clutch: thrifted vintage
Shades and shoes: thrifted

I really like the backyard of my summer house. There are a few great, simple settings that I'll be using for most of my shoots from now on. It's convenient, private, and safe! What more could a fashion blogger ask for?

I hope everyone has had a lovely week!

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree

What I've been working on these past few days!

Would totally wear a flower as an eye patch if I had to :)

As I was scavenging the blog world for wedding inspiration, I found this amazing tutorial for fabric flowers from Wednesday Custom Design! Aren't they lovely? They're so easy to make and you only really need scissors, hot glue, and fabric. Aside from these and our spool save-the-dates, we're also in the process of making yarn ball chandeliers! Next time we whip out a bunch I'll stick up some pictures. I'm just so elated that there are ways to create a beautiful atmosphere for our wedding without spending a ton of money! Seriously, it only cost about $30 to purchase the materials for the flowers and yarn chandeliers.

I have to admit, the world of crafting and DIY projects is so addictive. I hope to keep it up even after the wedding. Urban Outfitters even has a whole blog feature dedicated to DIY! The shirt I'm wearing up there in those pictures? You can't see the whole thing but it used to be an 80s dress. Not only was the dress schoolteacher-length but the cut wasn't too flattering for my figure. Yet, when I spotted it at the thrift store I couldn't help but take it home with me because I loved the micro polka dot pattern and turquoise green color. After playing around with it and experimenting, I decided to go at it with some scissors. Now, I have a sweet little summer crop-top! Maybe I'll add a brooch or a creamy collar of some sort... hmm... :) so much potential!

What projects are you working on or have been inspired by lately?
Oh, the things we can create with our hands!

Iron and Wine!

What a magnificent Thursday night it was! Take a wild guess who I went to see *cough*obvious title*cough* ;)

 My luffly date!

I think the Knitting Factory has to be one of my favorite venues... The sound quality is killer and the atmosphere is pretty cozy!

You know, I could go on and on about how awesome the band was, but really, if you've heard any of their stuff before, there's no need to convince. I think what really gets to me is how dramatically different it is to experience the music live. I just love that. There is so much more emotion and passion involved that you can really see in the faces and body movements of the performers. And it shines through their music! Sam Beam is a man among men, I tell yah. What a talent. Since their new album, I would say, is much funkier than the ones previous, they had a whole new crew with a couple of saxes and even a trumpet, I believe! And so refreshing to see them put a new, more upbeat twist on some of their older, mellower songs.

The opener band, The Head and The Heart, also took me by surprise! I had never heard of them before this show, and shoot, they really wowed me. Those harmonies... oh those harmonies. And I swear, there is something so hot about a girl who can sing and play violin. I was crushin'! Needless to say, I bought their album right when I got home and have been listening to it since. It's actually humming through my speakers as I write this.

Overall, we had a deliciously good time :) I was thinking about including the story about the drunk girl and her gypsy wiggle who butt raped me for a good 30 minutes (I'm serious... her butt was raping me, like GRIND style) but it was only a minor lowlight. If you really want to hear the story, you can ask, I guess! Haha.

Shows are so bittersweet! I wish I could trap the whole experience in a little jar and revisit it from time to time. It'd be a whole lot more reliable than my memory.

I'll end here with this :) please have a listen! One of my favorites from their set.

Hello June!

The second half of the shoot with Alysse! I've been wearing the same shoes and bag all the dang time! Ah well, can't apologize for my favorite accessories :)

Anyway. I love this outfit! Especially those shorts.  Even despite the mega wedgies they give me.

Gah! I feel like the only thing I can think about these days is the wedding! Still so much to do! Ordering invitations, flowers, attire for the wedding party, decorations... this is going to be a busy month. Must not freak out!

Top: gift from Christina

Shorts: Bill Blass thrifted
Shades and belt: thrifted
Shoes: aerosoles
Bag: Coach thrifted