i love target...

i think that most people would agree when i say that target is pretty much the greatest store ever.

{lately their home decor has been killing me}

i have always thought that they had cute clothes but have never really tried anything on more than once or twice in my life.

but the other day i was in urgent need of a dressy outfit and target was the most accessible store for me to find something in a hurry.

i found myself with piles of clothing in my arms, which i had not expected.

and then i was in one of those horrible positions in the dressing room where i had to decide what wasn't absolutely necessary for me to buy.

but i decided on this skirt and top.

{and another skirt that i will be showing you soon}

and i am just absolutely in love and happy with my target shopping emergency.

top: mossimo via target

skirt: mossimo via target

belt: nine west via unknown 

bag: lionel via marshalls

shoes: enzo angiolini {thrifted}

necklace: heavenly couture

bracelets: {teal} via forever21/{pink} via aeropostale 

p.s.

my mom got these two suitcases plus another smaller one that matches, all for $1 at a thrift store.

such an adorable find.

-xo

my maxi...

i am crazy for maxi dresses and maxi skirts.

the problem is, i can never find maxi dresses that aren't about a foot too long on me.

one of the problems with being short is that dresses always seem too fall at the most awkward lengths.

but, i found this one at ross and it is just the most perfect length for me.

that never happens.

seriously, never.

as soon as i found this one, i felt like i was just on a major roll so i started shopping everywhere for more.

 but unfortunately, i can't find another maxi dress that fits.

so ross... thank you. 

 

dress: hot product via ross

shoes: steve madden via t.j.maxx (on clearance for $4!)

bag: kate landry via dillards 

hat: calvin klein via norstrom rack

scarf: francesca's

bracelet: gifted

sunglasses: steve madden via t.j.maxx

boho inspired...

i couldn't be more thankful for the recent trend in mixing patterns.

as a dirt poor student, i'm hardly ever able to go shopping for clothes.

and i hate it.

it breaks my heart every single time i walk into any store.

so of course i feel as if there is absolutely nothing in my closet to wear. 

it's so frustrating.

but luckily, i'm able to mix and match basically whatever i want to give me more outfit options.

this skirt and top were both bought over a year ago.

and by putting them together- i have a completely new outfit! 

i love that.

and these hippie/behemian headbands, i just couldn't be more in love.

i think they add a little more flare to the mixing patterns trend. 

 

top: chloe k via nordstrom rack

maxi skirt: maurices

clutch: francesca's

headband: target

bracelet: 36th street garden center (boise)

this last one is an outtake.

clearly my balance on a beam isn't nearly as good as it was when i was younger!

bright prints and neutrals...

last week i ventured into a local mall here in california that i had never been to before.

i only went because my secret reward card from victoria's secret was about to expire. 

so i only planned on spending a few dollars at most.

but of course, i found myself exploring lots of new shops and boutiques that i had never been to before.

so naturally, i bought...

 and bought...

 and bought.

my excuse?

well i have to buy new clothes because i need something to blog about.  

sometimes blogging is just the worst for my wallet. 

but sometimes a girl just needs an excuse to shop her little heart out. 

top: joppa

skirt: charlotte russe

shoes: steve madden via marshalls

bracelet: forever21

purse: gifted

my cute photographer for the day.

this is the california that i love.

not the beaches.

not the fancy cities and towns.

(although i do love those as well)

but these beautiful big mountains covered in green bushes.

this is what i fell in love with when i was a little girl.

and i continue to fall more in love every time i see them.

tights on...tights off...

so these pictures were taken from one of the last photo shoots that i did before i moved to california. 

i just didn't have much luck with this outfit.

the first time that i went out to take pictures in it the sun was setting and the mosquitoes were out like crazy.

so my legs were getting eaten alive through my tights, so we decided to postpone the rest of the shoot.

the next time i went out to take pictures, i just must have been having a bad day.

honestly, i never wear tights.

i think that they itch like crazy.

and i especially never wear purple tights.

with red flats.

but i kind of liked the look.

well after we shot a few pictures and i looked back at the camera to see how they were turning out, i was disgusted and took the tights off.

well then i was disgusted at how white my legs were and how stumpy they looked in flats.

(whenever wearing shorts or skirts i almost always wear some sort of heels cause my legs are so short!) 

so i never posted this outfit.

but as i was looking through all my pictures on my computer the other day, i came across these and i appreciated them more this time than i had before. 

so i decided to post the pictures with and without the tights and let you be the judge! 

dress: t.j. maxx

cardigan: abound via nordstrom rack

tights: romwe

shoes and belt: thrifted

clutch: francesca's 

necklace and bracelets: forever21

sunglasses: kate spade via nordstrom rack 

i'd be lying if...

...i said i wasn't obsessed with watching gossip girl every night on netflix.

...i said taking clients at beauty school doesn't terrify me on a daily basis.

...i said i'm not stupidly excited for this weekend to eat cake oreos and have a sleepover with my cousins.

...i said i would be able to survive a day without drinking soda.

...i said i'm not head over heels in love with these california beaches.

...i said that a stranger didn't leave a note on my car last week saying how badly it needed to be washed.

...i said i didn't seriously consider buying a kitten to make my home feel less lonely. 

...i said i don't look at my pinterest boards over and over and pat myself on the back for my great taste ;)

...i said i wasn't still putting on aloe vera twice a day from a sunburn i got almost a week ago.

 ...i said trying to change my perspective on life hasn't made me a thousand times happier these last few days.

-xoxo

7 things to make a weekend magical...

it may have been a little chilly, but it was nice to stop and look below the pier and see the long haired surfers riding along the waves.

it was nice to watch the beach paintball tournaments from above.

it was nice to see the young boy at his booth performing magic tricks.

it was nice to end our walk with lunch at ruby's, in a booth with a beautiful beach view.

it was nice that it was with him.

weekends when he visits are just the greatest.

it was nice having my diet coke refilled over and over.

it was nice sharing a milkshake... especially since it was his favorite flavor.

it was nice having my best friend to take silly pictures with in the car.

it was nice being able to wear my first maxi dress (first one ever that hasn't been too long on me).

and it was nice to be able to go to dinner at p.f. changs, the restaurant that we had our very first date at many years ago. 

~~~~~~

okay, there were definitely more than 7 things that made the weekend great.

but those are the only things i had pictures of.

two more things that i think should be mentioned:

 we watched tons of red boxes with popcorn and peanut butter m&m's, and ate an entire package of cookie dough.

i truly love weekends like these.

oh and on a side note.

while in huntington beach, it was not nice to see the guy on the street hammering a nail into his nose.

yep.

sick.