friday's fancies #28: date night + shreveport bound.

justin is back again this week for friday's fancies!
and girls, honestly, i don't think we'll be seeing a fancies outfit designed by me alone for quite some time. justin is in absolute love with putting together the outfits with me, it's true. but what he's even more in love with, is reading what y'all have to say about what he puts together. for this week's theme, date night, justin thought a movie in the park would be fun. i'll be honest, at first i was a little worried that it would come out looking like our picnic ensemble from last week, but i think we're in the clear! be sure to check out the other looks on {long distance loving}.

friday's fancies #28: a movie in the park. by siddathornton featuring slimming pants

today, after some little errands this morning, justin & i are booking it over to raleigh to catch a flight to our hometown, where we'll be spending the weekend. having been in kinston for nearly two months now, i'm excited to enjoy a weekend back home, seeing family & friends. we have quite the agenda planned, which i'll share in my shreveport weekend recap next week!

here's to safe travels!

link up: friday's fancies on {long distance loving}

mid-week currents: sales, travels, & stress.

currently...

reading may's instyle. 

though i am saving most of it for my flights on friday. 

writing the chronicle of my career. you can see the first installment here.

listening to a mix of artists 

some of my dearest friends suggested. they include james morrison, ed sheeran, 

jj grey and mofro, lionel richie, walk the moon (really love tightrope), a silent film, & james vincent mcmorrow 

(really love if i had a boat & breaking hearts).

thinking about everything i need to do today. it's quite a list, i'll tell ya that much. 

but my run is going to come first. exercise has been my priority as of late.

smelling my coconut oil infused hair. i've been using coconut oil as a moisturizer 

in both my hair & skin about once a week, for about a month now. a shout out goes to nikki phillippi on youtube for that recommendation. thank you! [watch this video]

wishing for safe travels in a couple days as we head to our hometown. so excited to see everyone!

hoping everything in the remaining year works out. i'm hopeful, but a bit stressed at times.

wearing my favorite comfortable pants, from target. these are seriously some of the best pants 

i've ever bought. find them here. also, an sae jersey. you know, my uniform... 

loving the awesome sale i caught at walgreens yesterday. thanks to that, i will be trying 

got2b's fat-tastic instant collagen infusion mega-lift root-bootsting spray, 

as well as suave's dry shampoo (which i've heard rave reviews on)... all for $6.

wanting this weight to fall right on off. i've been working hard. i'm seeing results, 

but ready to see it translated to the scale as well. know what i mean?

needing to really get started on my to-do list. there is quite a lot to accomplish today, 

ranging from exercise, to cooking dinner (which i'm really excited about, as i'm making 

stuffed bell peppers - one of my favorites!), as well as applying for some jobs. 

like i said, a full plate today. all things i want to do, though, so that definitely softens the blow.

feeling sore, sore, sore. but that's a good thing. right? yes. it is.

photo: the beautiful road to southport, north carolina; taken with iphone

the ugly truth about my career.

as i am highly dramatic & tend to ramble, this story shall be split into parts. sorry, i'm not sorry. 

i am not one of those people who knew what they wanted to do with their life by the time they hit fifth grade. 

but, i did know people like that - they went on to become doctors, teachers, architects, part of the military...
and i think some small part of me envied them then.

but i know a large part of me envies them now. 

as a freshman in college, i began working my way toward a career in graphic design. that is, until my drawing teacher told me i couldn't draw. in hindsight, i realize that teacher was just being honest with me - telling me what in truth i already knew: 

that i wasn't going to be making a living by drawing. 

but, in the moment, it felt both devastating & humiliating. 

[it's hard enough to enter a classroom full of your peers, 

put your work on display for all to see, then listen as they & the teacher critique it. it's even harder when the teacher has already announced to everyone 

that you lack the ability most in the class possess.]

i know it sounds like i'm carrying a large chip around on my shoulder, 

but i'm not - i've let this little incident go completely well, for the most part. 

so, after my first quarter of college, 

i marched into my art advisor's office 

with a change-of-major form. 

survival of the fittest, he probably thought to himself 

as he signed away any dreams i had of a career in design, 

with a swish of his expertly poised pen. 

and so, i found myself out on the open road, 

the alley-way of majors at my fingertips at only eighteen.

i played it relatively cool in my second quarter 

[well, as far as academics are concerned, that is... 

my personal life was in a shambles of the kind i'd more likely rather forget]: 

i took english classes, paired with the type of courses only freshmen & sophomores 

have the pleasure of luxuriously sailing through - general degree requirements. 

[you know, classes like university seminar].

in my third & final quarter of freshman year, 

i decided to amp it up, choosing biology as my major 

in an attempt to follow in my dad's footsteps & attend physical therapy school. 

i was rewarded with a big, fat, ugly C in that first biology class, 

as well as a drop from the corresponding lab. 

oh yes, my slacking, distractedness, & general life drama in those months really paid off.

note: that is not to say that this time in my life wasn't one i look most fondly on. 

i met one of my best friends & bridesmaids, as well as my fiance, during this time. 

by the end of freshman year, though, i never wanted to see 

another charcoal pencil or classroom equipped with sinks ever again.

and i told myself i wouldn't... 

to be continued...

photo: iphone

a couple of photos for your monday.

something i love today: when justin cooks dinner.

photos: iphone

a lovely little weekend.

i'm not going to lie:

i've been extremely spoiled this weekend.

i've had starbucks three days in a row.

and today, we got it for free.

but don't worry - 

i have nearly cried tears of thankfulness

at these pops through that beloved, caffeine-laden drive through.

the privilege of this situation is not lost on me.

other delicacies we've enjoyed on this road trip weekend

include strawberry banana smoothies from cafe brava,

authentic japanese fare at genki,

& the most delicious mexican lunch at azteca.

and don't even get me started on the caramel popcorn & cherry coke

we enjoyed while seeing 21 jump street at the carmike theater.

or the home cooked buffet we experienced at mccall's,

complete with steaming fruit cobblers & soft-serve ice cream.

but food wasn't the only main event; there was also shopping.

pfgs, button-ups, & sweaters for justin.

neon, dresses, feather & arrow earrings, & spring time sandals for me.

and all of those lovely little events, as well as some others,

have brought me to now... sitting on the couch with justin,

watching florida baseball, enjoying a glass of wine,

and biding my time until i hit the gym...

happy, happy sunday!

photos: iphone

a little golf date.

back when we were still in college, as well as when we were still living in shreveport,
a favorite pastime of justin's was to hit the course for a round of golf.
when he wasn't going to meet up with his friends, i would often accompany him.
now, don't be fooled: my golfing skills could definitely use some work.
mostly, my involvement out on the course includes
indulging in my current read, cheering on the good shots, & encouraging on the not-so-good ones.

i'm happy to say that nothing has changed.
last sunday, for the first time since our move to kinston, we hit the course
at falling creek country club for an afternoon of sunshine, reading, and, well.. of course, golf.

not only did justin get to brush up on his skills in preparation 

for the sae golf tournament he'll be playing in next weekend, 

but we also got to spend some quality time together [and i got to read harry potter]. 

it was the perfect little lazy sunday afternoon, & i can't wait to go back.

photos: iphone

friday's fancies #27: justin's take on picnic duds.

let the records show that for this week's friday's fancies, justin asked me if he could put together my outfit for me. i'm kind of loving his fancies enthusiasm, & i have to say, he has great taste! budgets aside, i would gladly don this preppy look if i were attending a lazy sunday afternoon picnic. 

and that watch? yes please. 

now we just need to hit the mall for a little shopping spree...

friday's fancies #27: justin's take on picnic duds. by siddathornton featuring Ray-Ban sunglasses

link-up: friday's fancies on {long distance loving}

make something.

so often, i find myself in a state of limbo.

wanting to do something,

thinking of doing something,

dreaming of doing something.

but, almost just as often, i stop myself.

worrying about the tiniest of details.

worrying that what i create,

what i write,

what i try...

won't be perfect.

so, then what happens?

nothing is created.

nothing is written.

nothing is tried.

and, i find: 

that state of limbo is worse

than failure.

so, this is a project i challenge myself with:

create.

write.

try.

without fear.

starbucks sunday: easter currents.

on this easter sunday, justin & i saw our visitors - his mom & sister - off, as they are heading back to shreveport today. 

then, we hopped in the car & drove down to new bern for brunch at baker's kitchen, which i've read numerous rave reviews about. while we didn't get to sample their main event item - the french toast - we were equally pleased with our pancakes, eggs over easy, &, in justin's case, a giant belgian waffle. we sipped coffee, discussed life, & just generally enjoyed each other's company. it was quite a perfect easter brunch! 

both before & afterwards, we explored downtown new bern, which is a gorgeous, serene, water-surrounded little town. the church steeples rise high into the sky as the weeping willows fall down onto the brick sidewalks. it's a perfectly peaceful place, one i'd like to return to soon. we also saw some little corgi puppies for sale in the window of one of the shops. i wish we could have played with them, but it was off-limits. they were precious. 

tonight we plan to relax, catch up on our shows, & see titanic on the big screen. a little secret about me is that i've never seen titanic in theaters. seeing it will be a dream come true for this titanic-obsessed girl.

long story short: no starbucks coffee was had today. but warm, fresh coffee poured straight into the mug before my very eyes is a very, very close second.

currently...

reading nothing. and i'm very sad about that. books breathe such a fresh air into my life. they are something i like to have around, constantly. i need something new to get into. well, actually i would like to read the white castle of louisiana, but i have not a clue where i've misplaced it. i am pretty sure it's sitting in a storage unit, 1100 miles away from me. i may order a new one off the internet. and then, i do believe i'll re-read the entire harry potter series. gives me a reason to finally fulfill my lifelong dream of a hardback harry potter collection. <--- nerd alert.

writing many, many blog posts tomorrow. getting caught up in a big way, so that i can work on making this blog the very best it can be. sometimes i get so discouraged, because i lose time to work on my writing, on the skills i feel best about. but tomorrow will be a catch-up day... a day to listen to music, read, & soak up every second of free time i have. 

listening to the soothing voices that announce the masters. golf, while not the most thrilling of sports to view on television, is no doubt one of the most comforting. and justin's commentary is truly priceless.

thinking about my career, & the ever-changing nature of it. and thinking about making a decision very soon, & never looking back. thinking that this time, it has to be for real. no more second-guessing.

smelling marc jacobs' lola. my current favorite perfume. so glad i got it for christmas from my parents. it's sweet & soothing.

wishing for things to work themselves out. with a little help from me, of course. i know effort must be exerted in order to see results. i just wish the path were a bit clearer.

hoping i don't cry a river when we see titanic tonight. but i know i will.

wearing a pink shirt in honor of easter. also, jeans & an old favorite hoodie. if we were outside currently, i'd wear my brand new neon shades, that i am slightly obsessed with. it's love.

loving text messages from family, saying easter isn't the same without me.

wanting chinese food.

needing to research careers, look for jobs, & live in the moment, all at the same time.

feeling good about all of my recent workouts. nothing compares to the post-workout feeling. now to get all that diet stuff in check this week. i'm doing a lot better.

photos: iphone; taken in new bern, north carolina

another night.

i am wearing a white dress
and a flower necklace.
i walk over the threshold,
& emotions overflow.
i see the ribbons,
i see the smiles,
i see the surprise.
but most of all, i see you.
all of you.
individual,
but coming together.
in one grand,
overwhelming gesture.
and in that moment,
i know how lucky
i really am.
thank you.

friday's fancies #26: flower power.

it's flower power week over on {long distance loving}! {av} has chosen a floral frenzy for this round of friday's fancies.

at first, i was going to go for a more subdued look, but the more i thought about flower power, the more i realized that this week - if any - was the week to go all out. sure, the shoes may be a bit much... sure, the bag paired with the necklace and the floral dress is a little obnoxious. but... i've found, sometimes wearing lots of bold pieces can take your day from meh to bring it on!

friday's fancies #26: flower power. by siddathornton featuring wedge heels

without a doubt, this dorothy perkins vintage floral dress would feel right at home in my closet. classic lines, playful details... it is the stuff of legends, i tell you. and honestly, who can really say they don't wish for a valentino bag, & more specifically, this red, floral beauty? to be quite frank, the mai tai of day wedges have been sitting in my saved items of polyvore for a while, just begging to be featured in some way or another on this little blog. granted, they are a bit over the top for this outfit, but the honest truth is i really do like them paired with this gorgeous lanvin raffia mask & flower small necklace. i know, it's overkill. but sometimes, overkill is a good thing (just work with me here). cosmetic junkie that i am, an outfit just wouldn't be complete without gloss, polish, & blush. essie's canyon coral, tarte amazonian clay twelve hour blush in frisky, & some lip-smacking guerlain terracotta gloss do the trick, & do it well.

link-up: friday's fancies on {long distance loving}

a photo for your thursday.

today's wish: to know all the presidents, in order, by heart.

photo: iphone