Little Old Lady

Dress as Blouse: Target; Pencil Skirt/Belt/Cardigan: H&M; Flats: Target; Necklace: Handmade by CP

Thank to everyone for such kind and supportive comments on my last post. I am truly, truly blessed to have such a wonderful family and even through hardships I know that I am a lucky lady indeed. 

We are headed into a long weekend (woo-hoo!) and I have a few plans here and there, but will leave room for a little spontaneity. My husband and I are going to walk through Antique Row here in Tacoma and I have my eye out for some neat bookends. I have some chores to do as well, but plan to take a bit of time to enjoy a little genealogy and perhaps some crocheting. I have some major granny tendencies. What are your Labor Day plans?

Powder Puff

Top (actually a dress): Macys; Skirt: H&M; Shoes: JC Penney; Purse: Rebecca Minkoff Rumor courtesy of 6pm.com

I cannot get enough of this bright pink, pop of color, Rebecca Minkoff cross-body bag! I received it in the mail a few days ago, as a surprise from 6pm.com, a fantastic online outlet retailer that offers great discounts on many designer shoes, bags, clothes, and accessories. I urge you to check out their site and their Facebook page as they're fun to interact with and always have deals on their site! Thank you, 6pm!

Today, I wanted to style my outfit around the purse and didn't want any patterns, colors, or bodacious items to overshadow the bright pink bag. I suited up in a black blazer, black pencil skirt, and a patterned navy and black dress (I love using dresses as tops with pencil skirts!) and think that it allowed the purse to shine! What do you think?

In other, more personal news, I am headed off to Oregon for Labor Day weekend and am taking a day off from work on Friday. I hope to get some outfit photos taken down there in a new location, but we'll be celebrating birthdays, visiting my boyfriend's family, and eating out at all of our favorite restaurants, so Instagram (@kmalie) might be the best way to catch my updates this weekend. What're your plans this weekend?

Be Brave

Top: Old Navy; Dress: TJ Maxx; Shoes: Payless

My dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease when he was 36 years old. I was about 11 or 12. My grandpa (my dad's dad) was diagnosed almost a year ago with it as well. It has touched my family and changed each one of us in different ways. My dad was forced to retire from his dream career as a pilot and a captain. He has taken every step since his diagnosis with nothing but grace. My mom has been with him every step of the way. Her support and loyalty to him has been a shining example to me not only because of her strength in facing his diagnosis, but because she so clearly does not define him by it. 

Believe it or not I can tie this back to my outfit. I am proudly wearing my "Be Brave" bracelet. Or, rather, Bravelet. My mom came across these and now we each (along with my grandma) wear these and remember that not only are the men in our lives brave, but we are too. Even when it is hard. I really love mine because a portion of the proceeds goes towards Parkinson's research, but also because it is not quite the loud rubber accessory you see so often. These Bravelets come in many different colors in support of many different causes and they are adding more all the time. 

Summer Silhouettes

Top: Ann Taylor (old); Skirt, belt: Forever 21; Shoes: Target; Necklace: Rose quartz (similar)

There is a Radiohead song called "Everything in it's Right Place" and often, when things are feeling good in my life, I think about that line. Though it could apply to a clean apartment, or a set of books on a bookshelf, I think it works so well to describe that feeling of contentedness that I very rarely get. I am by nature an impatient, always-moving, forward-thinking person, and I find myself easily bored, tired, or frustrated with the pace around me. When I finally got the apartment I wanted, I started dreaming of a new apartment, even higher up and with better views. When I got a permanent position at my job a year ago, I was always looking forward to the idea of a promotion or a raise. It's this neuroses that makes it difficult for me to feel content, though I know that I need to just slow down and appreciate the world around me.

Right now, writing this blog post and watching the sun rise over the Cascades to the east, I feel as if everything is in it's right place. I am overjoyed to be doing my new job, love my work environment, and am excited by the challenge of doing something new. I love this apartment, the cat curled at the foot of the bed, and the quiet person sleeping under a grey quilt. I am excited for the fall, the crisp air and the cleansing cold of winter. Everything is in it's right place.

Welcome Back! How was your Summer?

Top & Pants: Old Navy; Cardigan: Target; Shoes: JC Penney

This  was my last photo shoot on campus since all the students are back and it is far too hectic to truly break out all of my favorite model poses. We had a good summer of beautiful backgrounds to work with, but that time has come to an end. Well, not really. We still have to beautiful park behind our apartments and lots of fun downtown places to explore. I headed into the cafeteria this morning for some scrambled eggs and coffee and was surrounded by a massive swarm of students back from their summers away. I couldn't even count how many times I heard "OMG HOW WAS YOUR SUMMER?!?!" followed by "OMG SO GREAT! HOW WAS YOURS?!" complete with flailing arms and lots of hugging. Just another sign that fall is basically here. 

Blueberries for Sal

Top: Ann Taylor LOFT; Pants: Gap; Shoes: Target; Bag: Thrifted Coach; Sunglasses: American Eagle

This weekend my boyfriend and I decided to get out of town and headed to Snoqualmie, a teeny town in the mountains about an hour to the north east. We were largely inspired to go because they have a brewery, but ended up off on a fun adventure picking blueberries at the base of a gorgeous mountain. I'm not a big blueberry eater, unless they're in pies and syrups, but it was so much fun to pick them at this u-pick blueberry farm off the beaten path, that we ended up with a big bag of fresh berries.

In addition to picking blueberries, we sampled delicious beer, dipped our toes in a chilly, slow-moving river, spent time in the park with good friends, and ate big scoops of ice cream (before dinner) from a local candy company!