Summer Wish List

     
      Though Summer is well underway at this point, I have suddenly been taken over by an overwhelming need to shop. It's gotten to the point where I have resorted to Internet window shopping. I almost feel like this kind of window shopping is worse than the traditional kind, because I am much more tempted to pull out my credit card and buy everything I put into my online shopping cart.
      I have compiled a list of things I would call "My Summer Wish List" whilst browsing the Internet, and have come up with a few key pieces I would love to add to my wardrobe.

1. This "Kiss Me" ring is really cute and also really affordable at a mere $2.99 at Urban Outfitters.
2. I've been in love with high-waisted shorts for a while now, and have been on the lookout for a pair of mom jeans to convert into a more affordable version of the pair above. The shorts are $39.90 at Windsor.
3. I have fallen in love (once again) with Jellies. This phenomenon has taken over most Tumblr users it seems, and I am a part of the bandwagon. They make me feel young again! This pair is from the girls section at Payless for $14.99.
4. I dress in neutrals a lot, and have been looking for a way to add color to my normally monotone outfits. This neon bag from Forever twenty one kills two birds with one stone, adding color to my outfits and satisfying my love for cross body bags. This bag is $19.80 at Forever 21.
5. Another new obsession that has come into my life is sarcastic t-shirts. They please my sense of humor and have become quite the trend in the past few months. I adore this one from Topshop for $20.00.
6. Bulky necklaces have been around for a while now, but I haven't jumped on the bandwagon until recently. I'm terrible when it comes to jewelry, I tend to wear the same pieces every day, so I never saw the need. I found this gem whilst browsing through the Internet, and I have fallen in love with it and the trend. This floral beauty can be found at shopconversationpieces.com for $18.00.
7. Dresses are short of my kryptonite, so of course I have been yearning to add a galaxy dress to my collection. I think the one above is the perfect mixture of trendy and vintage. It can be found at ModCloth for $50.00.
8. I already have a leather jacket, actually, but it's a metallic mint color that only goes with a few things in my wardrobe. I've been searching high and low through thrift stores, searching for a black version, very similar to the one above. It can be found at Urban Outfitters for $49.99.
9. My friend got a pair of heart shaped sunglasses a few months back and ever since then I have been hooked. I am in love with the pair above from Plasticland. They're really affordable at only $10.00 and exactly what I am looking for.

Thrift Haul: First Edition

         I am a firm believer in thrift stores, yard sales, clothing swaps, and consignment stores. If I can get nice, possibly name brand, clothes for a good price, I'm hooked.  My mom and I go thrift store hunting a lot, and this past weekend was one of many romps. We actually went to one of the stores that we tend to have bad luck with, but I actually came out with some pretty cool finds. I went in with low expectations and came out 2 pairs of shorts, 5 shirts, and a pair of heels later.

Red Shorts: $4.96

A personal favorite of mine, these shorts were affordable
 and high waisted (which I had been searching for!).

        

We almost died, but the cool 'in the road shot' was worth it

Red shorts = Red lips

 "We'll play hide and seek, to turn  this around"

Denim collared tank: Hand-me down from mom's good ol' days.

 Shorts: Originally from Old Navy (Possible cost: $22.94.) Purchased from DAV (Price $4.96 )

Brown Shorts: $6.96

I was in dire need of these bad boys.

Shorts: $6.96
Hat: Hand-me down from dad
Top: From Target $12.00
Beaded sandal: free from Neighbor's foreclosure (One mans trash)
Best  Friends: Priceless

Savannah, the photographer, really liked my barn door...

Ralph Lauren Tee: $4.96

I apologize for the wrinkles, I took this after the 

photo shoot.

Vest: $20.00 from Kohls
Tee: $4.96 (Originally $29.99)
Grey Tank: $5.00 from Walmart
Striped shorts: $11.00 from Walmart
Fake Toms: $6.00 at Dollar General

Denim and Pink

Oh look! Another barn door!

Lace Top: $6.96

    

Through our eyes...

We're just really happy it's summer.

Lace top: $6.96 (Originally $20.00 from Peebles)
Navy tank: $5.00 from Walmart
Polka Dot skirt: $15.00 from Ross
Sandals:$2.96 from an earlier
thrift shop adventure.

Sun and Raybans

Fun With Friends

Bless Savannah she really hates water...

Wet Seal Jeans: $6.96

They were so scared I was going to fall...

I thought we we're trying to look posh... my bad...

Melanie looks so confused! "What are we looking at guys?"

Follow the leader!

Jeans: $6.96 (originally $36.90)
Boots: $44.50 from Pacsun
High low Shirt: $9.52 from Deb
Floral Tank: $5.99 from JCPenny
Suspenders: $3.75 from Amazon.com

This little guy decided to join our photo shoot!

Ralph Lauren Polo: $6.96

Peek-a-boo!

We are soooo cool!

Reminiscing...

Polo: $6.96 (Originally $44.50)
Skirt: $19.99 from Target
Sunglasses: $12.00 from Walmart

 

Button-up Shirt: $2.96

A little Ozzy Osborne-esque...

Button Up: $2.96 (Originally $11.94)
Dress: $24.99 from Target
Shoes: $24.99 from Payless
Sunglasses: Borrowed from Sophia

"Why are you my clarity?"

Heels: $6.96

We look like the princess and the pauper.

Secrets keep friends close...

White tank: $6.00 from Walmart
White top: $18.32 from Deb
Yellow Skirt: $4.96 from an earlier thrift store haul
Shoes: $6.96 (Unable to find Original price)
Sunglasses: Borrowed from Sophie

Wake me up before you go, go!

I had so much fun doing this photo shoot! These are my best friends in the entire world and there is no one else I would want to be photographed with on a humid day in June. A special thanks to my amazing best friend behind the camera that somehow managed to make us look photogenic... It's a mystery really. Thanks so much Savannah! I'd love to hear about you some of the things you have snagged from thrift stores, yard sales, and/or your mom's blast from the past, so please share in the comments below. There's nothing better than a conversation about a great deal!

The Perfect Wave

   

 

(No waves but at least there is water!)

     Today was what I would call the perfect wave. I started off the day at church like I do every Sunday and then made plans to go with my friend to the movies later to see The Purge. After somehow convincing my mom to allow me to go see a rated 'R' movie - Apparently if you continue to point out that it is basically a more violent version of The Hunger Games it becomes an acceptable rating - my friend and I headed back towards my house so that I could change out of my church clothes and grab everything I needed.
     Once back at her place, we ate lunch with her family, and after they had all cleared out, we settled down to watch Pitch Perfect. this is one of my all time favorite movies, and I will watch it a million times if given the opportunity (Whilst quoting the whole thing, of course). We decided to head out after the fantastic yet not-wanted ending of the movie, and made our way towards a frozen yogurt chain in a nearby town called Sweet Frogs. Again, Sweet Frogs is one of my favorite places, and if money and calories were not a problem, I would eat it all day every day.
       It was after we finally finished stuffing our faces, after we browsed through the shops surrounding the movie theater trying to kill time, and after we bought snacks at the local Food Lion, that we finally bought our tickets and sat down to watch The Purge. Now, I'm not a scary movie person - I watch them because I love movies and hate not knowing about things that people are bound to be talking about - but I found myself thoroughly enjoying this movie. As creepy as it sounds, I love the ideas and thinking behind it. I guess it's the writer in me, but none-the-less, it kept me enthralled and on the edge of my seat.
     The movie ended, I said hi to a friend that we ran into leaving the theater, and we headed back home discussing the movie and dancing like fools to the latest hits station. It was a good day. In fact, it was probably some of the most fun I have had in a while, considering it has been raining cats and dogs the entire week I had finals. Not exactly what I would call 'fun'.
    But this wasn't the end. Far from it, actually. You see, my mom rented Chasing Mavericks for us to watch. After finally deciding that watching a third movie was not in fact overkill, I made my way upstairs and let the entertainment ensue. Chasing Mavericks was a great movie, in fact, I would go as far as saying it was one of the best new movies I have seen in a while. I don't even know what made it so powerful, yet something in it struck a chord with me. You see, (without giving away too much and ruining the movie), this kid Jay loves surfing. There is nothing else in this world he loves more than it. He spends all of his free time doing it, and it's what makes him feel alive. In the movie he's chasing Mavericks, the biggest waves in the world.
     I fear if I say anymore I'll ruin it for someone, so I'll leave it at that, but what really strikes me about all of this is his determination. He is so determined to be the best surfer he can be. It reminds me of my life and the lack of determination I sometimes have in what I love. There is nothing I love more than writing and I spend a large portion of my time doing things that will hopefully make me better at it, yet still I wish I could have just some of the determination that Jay has.
     I live on the Chesapeake Bay, and water sports have always been a big part of my life. I've just been in love and fascinated with them for as long as I can remember. I don't think I can even comprehend Jay's love for surfing, yet a part of me knows exactly what that perfect wave feels like. For me, the non-surfer, it's when the water is calm and the boat is pulling your knee-board, skis, or inner-tube just right. It's when your body is moving just the way you want it and your knees are feeling up for anything. It's when you're well rested and ready for a day on the boat. It's when you can feel yourself become one with the water and suddenly you can do anything.
     The perfect wave doesn't have to be water related. In fact, though I love that 'perfect wave' feeling when I'm knee-boarding or skiing, I love it even more when I'm writing. When suddenly words are flowing from my fingertips like the flood gates of my mind have opened and everything just makes sense. When I finally reach into the deepest, darkest corners of a character and find I know everything about them and feel them come to life. That is a perfect wave that creates a high only writers will ever understand.
    You see, I think we can find the perfect wave in anything we love. All it takes is a little determination.

    Where do you find your perfect wave?