SPOOKY

Happy halloween for those who partake. I personally don't celebrate Halloween, but this year my friend M.C convinced me to dress up as our prince, Ezra Koenig, and be Vampire Weekend at school. BEST DECISION EVER.

Obviously, since we're two teenaged fangirls, we took a ton of selfies and tried to get Ezra's attention on twitter. At lunch I tweeted him a picture of us and all of a sudden I start getting a ton of favorites and retweets. And lo and behold EZRA RETWEETED ME. 

ASDFGHJKL; ERRMERGERD. WUT.

Like, one of my favorite people, from one of my favorite bands acknowledged my presence and retweeted me to 185k followers. MC basically died of excitement and I was smiling all day just thinking about it. It's funny how something as small as this can literally make someone's entire day. 

Now I just need to work on getting tickets to a Vampire Weekend concert. Maybe he'll let me go backstage, since you know, we're like BFFs now.

**My computer is being stupid right now, but I'll upload the rest of the pictures I took later!

Warm Autumn

Have I told you guys how much I love this dress? Because I really, really love this dress. I wore it last weekend (?) when we still had a bit of a cold front. I have quite a few outfits on my laptop that haven't been posted yet, so some outfits might look a bit out of place! I'm all about anything maroon and dresses are probably the easiest things to layer and dress up or down. I styled this dress here, and seven other ways here because it's just that amazing. I've basically decided that my goal in life is to buy and wear as many pretty dresses as I can, and no one's gonna stop me.

Dress and Scarf: Forever 21 >> Cardigan: Gap >> Boots: Steve Madden >> Sunglasses: Aldo

Sweaters That Speak

1 >> 2 >> 3>> 4>> 5>>

I'm that girl who is always cold. Sometimes I forget what my arms look like because I'm always wearing a cardigan or something cozy-- even in the summer. Considering that it's basically always summer, my fall and winter wardrobe is rather puny and pathetic. I need to get some simple sweaters for layering and such, but I'm really digging fun sweaters that make a statement. I'm all about making a statement in the easiest way possible. I don't have the patience to host arm parties or spend time meticulously tucking and cuffing shirts and sweaters. Fun, bold sweaters make it sooo much easier to just put it on, add a necklace and be done. 

I think everyone and their mother has that fox sweater from old navy and I don't blame them. The grey and orange one, which also comes in different color combos, from j.crew would be perfect with some booties, moto jeans, and an awesome necklace, and I think that the red and turquoise one would be ballin' with some leather pants and my gold chain. 

So while I look online for more cute sweaters from the warmth and comfort of my rather plain and unstylish hoodie, I want to know what y'all think about sweaters that speak.

Balance.

In one of my last posts I mentioned how I was having a hard time being motivated and trying to fit all my interests into one coehesive blog. Of course school is always first on my to do list, but I love this little blog of mine, and I plan on working on it for as long as I can. I've always felt bad when I skip a music madness post, or if I haven't posted an outfit I'm a while. I've decided to setup a "schedule" (and I use that term verrrryyy loosely) that allows me to expand my bubble, be consistent, and help me generate new ideas whenever I'm in a bit of a rut. I don't necessarily plan of flowing this to a tee, and I won't beat myself up for missing a post, and I hope you don't either. Right now my goal is to post an outfit, a fashion/beauty/diy post, a roundup type of post, and a discussion/opinion/rant post each week. I don't want to just post pictures of pretty outfits and write some fake, cheesy post to go with it. I want to be able to share what I'm up to, what I'm thinking about, how I feel on certain topics, cool things I've stumbled upon recently, and of course, how to have awesome style. I'm incredibly glad that I've come to realize that I am soooo much more than what I wear. I want to voice my opinions, and hear the opinions of others. Most importantly, I want this to be a place where I can just talk, about anything and everything.

So thanks for sticking around and dealing with my awkwardness.
I really appreciate it.

Bright Lips and Rhinestones

Don't you just love it when you find a shirt that is literally perfect for everything? My Aunt gave this to me when we were visiting over the summer and surprisingly, this is the first time I've actually worn it. It's not something that I would probably pick out myself, but it's unique and can be styled sooo many different ways! I could easily pair it with a pencil skirt for a more formal occasion, or with some fun printed shorts and converse for a causal day out. 

ish gets real.

First of all, I would like to say that I basically wrote this post in my head, but because I'm stupid and hate strongly dislike typing, I didn't think to type it as I went along, so now it's 2am and I’m trying my best to make this sound as good as it did in my head. Let's begin, shall we?

I love my blog. 

A lot.

But lately I've had almost zero motivation to do anything on it. A lot of people say that in times like this you should remember why you started in the first place, but my answer to that is I have no clue why I ever started this. I first started blogging three years ago when I was super into making YouTube videos (that we shall never speak of ever again. they were super embarrassing). I think it was a mix of wanting to be like other successful youtubers, and possibly get some free swag from companies. Hey, I was 13 and I had no clue that there was a whole community of bloggers out there! I don't even think I actually read blogs when I first started. Fast-forward to a few years later and I've started blogging again and I actually stick to it, but I still have no idea why I even do this.

Blogging was fun in the beginning, I was constantly finding new tips, I had managed to learn some html and design my blog, and I was super proud and happy. As the months went by, my design changed quite a bit, I knew a bit more, I had a friend, and my numbers were ever so slowly increasing. In March, Indiana tweeted about me which led to a huge spike in numbers, I went to my first blogger event, and I also did my first sponsored post. I was finally getting places. My life was like Gatsby's and it had to constantly go up. I felt like I was on the right track to "makin' it big.” My little blog baby that I had loved so dearly was finally getting some attention. I was bursting with ideas and inspiration, I had almost convinced myself that blogging would become my day job and I would live happily ever after. 

I don't know what happened between now and then, but I definitely don't feel that way anymore.

Don't get me wrong, I still love blogging, but it seems like nowadays I feel inadequate. Like everyone is growing faster, or has brighter ideas, nicer pictures, cuter outfits, better writing, chicer blog designs, more good hair days, or has a life that people actually want to hear about. It seems like every time I go though my bloglovin' feed I feel the urge to redesign my blog because it's not cohesive enough, or spend forever and a day trying to get the perfect shot of an outfit or a diy that probably won't even appear on my blog until weeks later. And in some cases, this is actually a good thing, using others to motivate you to become better, but in my case, I think it's just bringing me down even more. I've become so focused on obtaining success that I was never able to really figure out why I started this in the first place.

I love blogging because I love the community. Honestly, I wish that all my favorite bloggers could live on the same street as me so that we could all talk and hangout and be the biggest group of friends that the world has ever seen, but that's not possible, so instead I read what they put out there for the world, and I ooh and ahh over their pictures, and I magically create some sort of bond with someone I've never met. That's why blogging is so great. No longer will I ever be plagued with boredom because my friends forget to invite me to places. I can put my thoughts out and get opinions from people all over and be exposed to things that I would have never encountered in my physical community. 

I would love to get more comments/followers/tweets/repins etc, but maybe I should try to give more of those things before I can receive more of them? More talking to you rather than at you, or posting things that are a bit more insightful and stimulating. I love posting outfits, but I am so much more than what I wear. I love NPR and talking about how what our government does now will affect me as an adult, or about the struggles that almost every AP student faces, or figuring what the heck I gonna do with my life after high school besides college, or even more light hearted topics, like reviving my dead and damage hair, or proclaiming my love for mac and cheese, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and statement necklaces. 

I have a feeling that this blog is gonna change. Maybe it's not, and I'm just saying that because its 3AM and I feel like I've having some sort of crisis over here. I'm hoping it does, and I'm also hoping that I'll have a stroke of genius or a brain flash like Jimmy Neutron because I have no freaking idea how to combine all my likes and interests into one cohesive blog.

What can I say. I'm a complex teenager.

Casual Flannel

You know what my favorite thing about fall is (Besides Pumpkin flavored things)?  Flannels. Y'all better get ready to see this shirt a million times this season.

Shirt: H&M | v-Neck : H&M | Jeans: PacSun | Backpack: Amazon

Representing With Style

I just realized that I haven't posted an outfit in over two weeks. I'm a great fashion blogger, right? I shoot my outfits on the weekends since I wear a uniform to school, but some days I'm just not feeling it, and I don't have any pretty outfits to show you.

Anyways, my first Youth Council meeting was on Monday and it was great! I had no clue what to expect, or how to dress so I went with an outfit that was a good mix between dressy and casual. This shirt is my go to for almost anything because it's comfortable and basic, but has some details that make it totally appropriate for a dressier setting. The skirt has a pretty simple color palette, but is super comfortable and has pockets which is always a bonus. I went with a super bright purse because...well, I only have three, and this one held all my stuff. You can obviously tell that I'm super mindful when putting together outfits. 

I was literally shaking while writing this blogpost before my friend Jaden came to pick me up for the meeting. We headed to City Hall together, couldn't figure out how to get out of the parking garage, but managed to get their in one piece. We listened to a presentation about transportation, and one from Imagine Austin. We also voted on our topics that we're gonna be focusing on and the topic that I wrote my application essay on got the most votes.

I though I would mention that I'm finally out of school for two weeks so hopefully (fingers crossed) I'll have some more posts up.

Top: H&M / Skirt: H&M / Shoes: ALDO / Bag: H&M / Sunglasses: Amazon

ACL {or any other music festival} Essentials

Only a few more days until ACL. I would be excited, except for the fact that I'M NOT GOING. I went the past two years, and those were some of the best nights of my life. Give me a great band, good friends, and a swarm of sweaty, enthusiastic people and I'll be happy. When it comes to ACL, or any music festival, I like to make sure that I have everything I need without being weighed down by a ton of crap.

I don't carry much so I'll usually go with a crossbody bag or a small backpack. I prefer backpacks because they more comfortable to wear when your jamming hardcore, and they make it easier to sneak in my camera (more on that later). I think the most important thing to bring is a WATER BOTTLE. I love my camelbak (not pictured) and make sure to fill it up and freeze it the night before. They have water filling stations at ACL so you'll never be forced to buy expensive bottled water.

You're obviously going to bring you phone, so make sure that you have the official ACL app downloaded so you know when and where things are happening. I also bring my charger and try to scout out the charging station or one of the tents when I'm not at a show. Other basics would be a pair of sunglasses that you wouldn't cry over if you lost them, some cash, sunscreen, hair tie and bobby pins, hand sanitizer because they almost never have any at the port-a-potties, chapstick, a sharpie incase you decide to stalk a band to get their autograph, a snack to eat while waiting at a show, and an extra memory card for your camera.

You're *technically* not allowed to bring DSLRs to ACL, but it's so easy to sneak one in that you might as well. Last year, I just put my camera body and lens into my bag, tossed a cardigan over it, put all my stuff on top, and got in with no problems. I had it out all day and no one tried to confiscate it or told me to put it away. I took a lot of video, but my camera still managed to almost make it through the day (it died at the very last show). Someone actually asked me if they got security was mad that I had my camera and my response was "I bet they would be... if they knew I had it."

SO for all you ACL attendees, I hope this list helps! And make sure to get sweaty, sing loudly, and dance your hearts out.