Autumn is here once again and I couldn’t be more excited about the change in weather. I love love love the cool crisp days and the winds that require warm drinks and thick layers. I… More
Casual Trail Walking
SO this post is going up much later than I expected. I had a whole bunch of posts planned and started for the end of April but the WiFi in Nebraska would not let me upload any pictures no matter what I tried. So I am just going to be releasing all those posts from April throughout the next week.
This is the perfect spring/summer casual outfit. I love it! It is so comfortable but also very cute and great for warmer weather. My mom and I headed out for a walk on Earth Day on Bobolink Trail in East Boulder. It is a great trail for mountain views and it follows a nice little creek. I haven’t had great internet here in Nebraska so finishing blog posts has been tough.
Shirt similar, Shorts similar, Sunglasses Amazon, Shoes Keds, Hat similar
❤
Erin
Rainy Days
The last couple of days have been really rainy (we even had a little snow). We always need moisture over here so it was a great way to end the week. I spent some time getting cozy with a book and a good cup of tea on Friday and went out for a fun adventure on Saturday. The rain gave me a great excuse to try my new rain gear. I really loved both the umbrella and the yellow rain jacket! They have held up well so far and I love how the umbrella covers so much.
I hope you are having a good weekend!
❤
Erin
A Perfect Spring Day
This week has been so crazy. I went to some incredible sessions at the Conference of World Affairs at CU. One was on Technology, Science and Agriculture and sparked my curiosity in how we produce food as well as how we teach younger generations about where our food comes from. That is not something usually included in schools, especially high school, so I am so curious about how it can be integrated into the classroom in public schools. The other session I went to was on impactful books. Although I have such a long reading list right now, I can never pass up an opportunity to learn about books that have been life changing for people. One book that intrigued me was Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges, which is a collection of short stories. One speaker shared Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain, as one of her books, and I am reading it right now!
I also had an amazing day shooting for RockHill Designs on Thursday and wanted to share some pictures. This is the white top I am wearing, its perfect for spring and summer (here is a similar one and here is another with that same hem)! I am going to do a bigger post with some RockHill favorites next week, but here is a sneak peak. I chose my favorite behind-the-scene shots:
I hope you have a relaxing (and warm) weekend!
❤
Erin
10 Favorite Outfits: March
This month went by way too fast (this past week in particular). I am at the airport as I am writing this, headed back to Colorado. It is bitter sweet since this week was so great and I am really going to miss a lot of people. I am really excited to see my family, and the beautiful mountains though. Here are my favorite outfits from the past month:
Snow day: Jacket ASOS, Shirt similar, Jeans similar, Socks similar, Boots similar, Belt Talbots
Work day: Blazer similar, Jeans similar, Shirt similar, Booties similar (also these), Earrings Baublebar, Sunglasses similar (also these)
Work day: Jacket ASOS, Pants similar, Booties similar, Sweater Abercrombie, Necklace similar, Glasses Oliver Peoples, Scarf Halogen (similar)
Walking around town: Jacket H&M, Top Aeropostale, Skirt similar, Booties similar, Bag Tribe Alive
Work day: Shirt similar, Belt Talbots, Jeans similar, Shoes similar, Watch Cluse
Cloudy beach day: Sweatshirt Vineyard Vines, Leggings J. Crew Factory, Sneakers Nike
Myrtle Beach: Top similar (also this one), Skirt H&M, Hat vintage Nordstrom
Charleston: Coat ASOS, Pants Lost + Wander, Top similar (also this one), Bag Everly Oak, Shoes Soludos, Scarf Halogen (similar), Sunglasses Amazon
Last day of work: Top similar, Pants similar, Shoes Aldo, Scarf Halogen (similar), Earrings Baublebar
Travel day: Jacket H&M, Top similar, Sunglasses similar, Pants similar, Shoes similar
Happy Saturday!
Erin
Capsule Wardrobe Challenge
The last capsule wardrobe was so fun for me that I decided to do it again. I just love how it gets me to think about pieces in entirely different ways. It only took a little push to get me out of my comfort zone and start styling pieces differently.
This time I chose an entirely different color palette that is very pink and perfect for spring. For some reason I ended up with only five core pieces this time, although six is a lot easier. I also wore a pink and white scarf so much that I could probably include it in those pieces. The weather screwed me up a little this week since it rained almost the whole week. I ended up changing into better shoes a couple of times.
Pink Dress: A versatile dress seems to be an essential part of this challenge. I wore this one four out of five days for the challenge. It can be worn as a top, skirt or dress and can be changed up with other pieces.
White Button Down: This is the other piece that is crucial to this week’s wardrobe. I also used a button down in the last challenge and I have seen just how great they can be!
White Chinos: I white pant is essential to any closet, especially in the spring and summer. Including these let me veer from traditional jeans while still keeping in season and warm.
Jean Jacket: I debated on this one for a while because I really love trench coats and wanted to include one in this challenge as well but I thought I should switch it up. I do think, however, that a jean jacket is a great piece of outwear to have especially for the warmer seasons.
Blush Heels: Blush is obviously my go to color this year. I chose these shoes because the color made for another easy color palette (white and pink) and because they are great for both the work place and home. Mine are from Aldo and are the perfect color and height.
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
I hope you enjoyed this months capsule wardrobe challenge. It is such a fun way to update and switch up your wardrobe!
❤
Erin
Book Round Up
About every three months I am going to be rounding up all the books I have read in that time. This will be a good way for me both keep track of everything I have read and to share what I have been reading. In that time I also have some personal goals to read a variety of different genres including at least one newer book and one non-fiction. I will go ahead and do a short verdict on each book I include.
Capture Your Style: For anyone interested in media/blogging etc. this is a really useful book. It helped me think a lot about instagram as a platform and how to utilize it. I really liked her approach to thinking about not just the photos you posts but your feed as a whole. You are telling a story and that should be easy to follow and understand.
The Rules of Magic: Because I did a whole review on this book I won’t go into detail but I absolutely loved this book. Read more here.
Sense and Sensibility: Jane Austin is a favorite of mine but her books can be slower since the language is a little more difficult and the pace in general is a lot slower. This is the one Austen book that I knew nothing about so it was great to read. I actually listened to it as an audiobook while driving back from South Carolina and I think that actually helped me get through it.
Reason for Hope: This is Jane Goodall’s autobiography and it was incredible. I found it to be one of the most honest accounts of life I have ever read. She goes into so much more than just her experience as a scientist. She talks a lot about spirituality and her struggle with humanity and violence.
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry: Neil DeGrasse Tyson has always been so intriguing to me. I loved Cosmos and have always been fascinated by the stars. This book breaks down quite a few astrological concepts into manageable pieces and understandable language.
Everyman’s Poetry by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: I am not big into poetry but since I loved The Psalm of life so much I decided to try some more of Longfellow’s work. I highly enjoyed it and am opening up a lot to poetry in general.
Harry Potter: I am lumping the second, third and forth together since they are all books I have read many times before. There is something so comforting about re-reading beloved classics. This time was even more special because I was listening to Harry Potter and the Sacred Text throughout. I feel like I thought about many events and characters in such different ways than how I have in the past.
During the very first week of 2018 I was finishing up Party Girls Die in Pearls by Plum Sykes but I included that in my 2017 favorites so you have find that here. Thanks for reading! I am always eager for reading suggestions so feel free to comment with your favorites.
❤
Erin
Life Update No. 3
With a lovely trip to South Carolina, this month has been a pretty exciting one. I have been focusing a lot on working, reading and seeing friends. Side note: when I was young one of my favorite activities was visiting the library and I feel like I just re-discovered how much I enjoy that. I have spent lots of free time just browsing the shelf. It also makes reading so affordable! The trip to Myrtle Beach and Charleston broke the daily work routine up which really nice. I got to eat lots of seafood, hang out on the beach, enjoy great company and discover a new city.
Big exciting changes are happening for me this week. I made a last minute decision over the weekend to move back home to Boulder. The move was going to happen but I decided that I really wanted to be home for Easter so I moved everything up by about two weeks. There were lots of reasons that led to this decision but in short I have been feeling very torn between two places and unable to really give myself to starting a new chapter in life. The last minute decision has made everything this week very crazy. I have been going non stop since Saturday morning, working, catching up/saying goodbye to lots of people and packing. As crazy and stressful as it is, I know how much better it will be to have things here fully wrapped up. I will then be able to put myself fully into my goals for the next few months.
Watching: I have two shows that I have been watching over the past month, Altered Carbon and Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. Aiden and I started watching Altered Carbon together since we haven’t found a show we both liked since The Good Place. Altered Carbon is a futuristic show that grapples a lot with class differences and how the wealthy control the world in a whole new way. It can be pretty violent but overall I am really enjoying it. The other show I have been into lately is Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. This is actually one that I am getting back into after watching the first season last year. I love a good murder mystery and the female lead in this one just makes it for me. If you are looking for some great vintage style inspiration then this is your perfect show as well. I am also into the soundtrack (lots of jazzy music).
Listening: Siembra by Bomba Estéreo has been on my playlist for a little while now but I recently have started to listen to it on repeat. I love everything about it.
Reading: I have finished quite a few books since my last Life Update post but I am currently in the middle of The Tudors. This is the first historical non-fiction book I have read in a really long time. It recaps the whole reign of the Tudor family in England. For some reason I am finding it very intriguing and I like the writing style of G.J. Meyers (it is much more understandable). I realized how little I know about non-US history so I am trying to branch out. The role of religion has especially captured my attention throughout this book since it is historically has such a big presence and that presence has carried into the modern world. In short this book is very out of my comfort zone but I am really liking it.
Wearing: Recently button down shirts have captured my attention. They have always been a staple but I have recently discovered just how versatile they are. One project of mine is to find some button downs that fit well at thrift shops and alter them.
Thanks for reading and have a great week!
❤
Erin
A Day in Charleston
Charleston just might be my new favorite city. The buildings are beautiful and the narrow streets create a historical but picturesque vibe. I loved it so much that I am going to recap all the highlights in this Charleston in a day post. I realized very quickly that coming back is most definitely a must. I know there is so much more to see and do.
Magnolia Plantations: This was the very first stop on our way into Charleston. I highly recommend checking out one of the many gardens/halls/plantations just outside of the city. There is a lot of history associated with these places as well as beautiful grounds. It can be pricier depending on what you choose to do but we had a great time just walking around.
Brunch at Butcher & Bee: This is the perfect brunch spot. The food was amazing and reminded me of home. They have healthy, delicious food that is reasonably priced and the atmosphere is very homey but modern. Also a plus was parking, since it is not directly downtown.
South of Broad: This iconic Charleston neighborhood is filled with picturesque houses skirted by extensive gardens. Beautiful houses line the streets, many of which have much historical significance. The streets are narrow and make if feel much older. We were there during the Garden Tours which actually was useful because they had lots of very friendly people stationed throughout the streets, helping you.
White Point Garden: While wandering the streets, we ended up at this park right at the water’s edge. Historically this is a great area to visit.
Jeni’s Ice Cream: This is actually the best ice cream I have ever had. There service was great and I recommend trying lots of flavors (they are all so good!).
King’s Street: The shops are a great stop that is not too far from South of Broad. Of course I had to find a great bookstore, Blue Bicycle Books. Other than that I just enjoyed walking the street and exploring a bit.
Dinner at Leon’s: Seafood is a must for any coastal visit. We didn’t want to break the bank so I found Leon’s which has great food (especially seafood) for very reasonable prices.
Sullivan’s Island: Our last stop, on the way out of town, was the beach. I had heard the area is very beautiful and can never resist an excuse for the beach. It was very windy but that actually made for some incredible views.
It was such an amazing experience and I highly recommend a visit. I can’t wait for next time!
❤
Erin
Book Review: The Rules of Magic
Last week I read The Rules of Magic, by Alice Hoffman, while we were at the beach in South Carolina. I knew it would be good since it is the prequel to Practical Magic and it has been highly recommended. What I did not realize was just how much I would love it and how much it would impact me. Because it was so significant, I have decided to devote an entire post to my thoughts on it. I will not spoil the actual story or ending, but rather talk about the themes that I related to and that impacted me.
The story is entirely separate from Practical Magic, but is about the same family and has similar themes. It is the story of Jet and Franny (the aunts from Practical Magic) and their journeys in life. The family has been cursed in love for hundreds of years. Each generation has their own complex experience. In brief summary, three siblings Jet, Franny and Vincent struggle in their relationships with each other, their parents and their significant others, while also coming to terms with their family’s history and origins. There mother does not talk of her family or the secret’s that are held deep within her past, making the journey of discovery all the more difficult.
Despite the premise of magical roots, the story turned out to be very relatable. Much conflict within their stories are things that we all face throughout life. Finding yourself, family, love, relationships, death and grief.
This story helped me come to terms with so many things in ways I had not thought about. A major theme, especially in the beginning, is connection to family and how ignoring/denying where you come from will never end well. This is shown through the lens of witches denying who they are, in large part to find love and get away from the legendary curse, and the consequences that ensue. It struck a chord with me because I do believe that those who came before us make up a large part of who we are, although we may deny this at times in our lives. Embracing this could bring about great things and cherished relationships. The first part of the book takes place throughout the teenage years of the siblings and I found their experience and feelings to be very similar to my own in that time of life. This drew me in immediately.
The second element of this book that was important to me was that of grief and death. This is a very human subject that can be so difficult to deal with in reality. There are lots of books that involve death but this one brought out the grief process in a way I never experienced. I don’t want to spoil anything so I won’t go into detail, but the subject of death and grief are very prevalent and incredibly relatable. The loss of someone we love so dearly can feel like the whole world crashing in. It might feel like we lose a piece of ourself. The loss in this book brought that reality to fruition and really challenged me to think about how the losses in my life have effected me and how I deal with grief.
Loss goes along with the importance of love because death (and the potential for loss) creates a fear when it comes to love. Opening yourself up to love can be incredibly difficult when loss has been a big part of your life. The fear of loss and pain are so much more real when you have people that are so very important to you. The curse of the family in love brings the fear of losing someone into close proximity. Fear of loss is ever present and cannot be ignored or hidden. Through out the story I thought a lot about what it means to love others despite your own potential to experience great hurt.
As you might guess, I highly recommend this book. It is written beautifully and the characters are developed in a truly remarkable way. I would love to hear any thoughts you have had if you have read this book (or otherwise). I am also always looking for book recommendations!
❤
Erin
Bell Sleeve Floral
I found this dress along with one other on Shopbop last month and couldn’t wait to share. South Carolina was warm enough, so I took the opportunity. I love the floral pattern and the colors are perfect. The sleeves also add a really fun touch that is definitely from anything else I have. It is also very comfortable.
Dress Shopbop, Bag Everly Oak, Sunglasses Amazon, Shoes similar
❤
Erin
