cozy thursday: july fourth frolicking.

july fourth frolicking by siddathornton featuring Longchamp

We are in full hurricane mode over here in Wilmington. The rain is coming down in sheets, the clouds are of the scary, ominous quality, & my phone keeps beeping with tornado watches & warnings. Fingers crossed that Arthur calms down & we don't have to evacuate. The good news is, our guests arrived on time last night, & today we've enjoyed breakfast at Sawmill & a tour of the Battleship North Carolina. Justin will be off starting tomorrow, so if the weather lets up, we'll be enjoying fireworks downtown on the river.

With tomorrow being the Fourth of July, I knew I had to put together a look fit for fireworks. This red blouse from Choies really jumped out at me - I like the detailing around the neckline & the structured fit. Nothing reminds me more of the middle of summer than a nice, crisp pair of white pants - these from Brunello Cucinelli certainly fit the bill. Next we have probably my favorite part of this outfit - the shoes. These patriotic babies are from Kate Spade, & even though I love the red, white, & blue, I think these would also be cute in black. One day my dreams of owning a navy Longchamp will come true. They are just the perfect all-purpose tote, & they look clean & chic. I'm a big fan of studs, so these blue beauties would be perfect for the occasion.  With all the festive pieces of this outfit, I think a nude nail would play the perfect understated role - this Deborah Lippmann shade is exactly what I had in mind.

Just like in my last Cozy Thursday post, I will be linking up with Alison's Friday's Fancies post on {long distance loving}. We will be busy running around Wilmington & Myrtle Beach over the next couple of days, but I've scheduled some posts to go up in this space. Next week, I'll be getting back into my reading & commenting rhythm - I'm sorry for my quietness as of late. Look for responses to comments you've left me next week also. I'm looking forward to getting back to all of you!

What are you doing for the Fourth? What will you be wearing?

This post contains affiliate links, but all opinions & professions of love are genuinely my own. This is not a sponsored post.

cozy thursday: last week of spring.

cozy thursday: last week of spring by siddathornton featuring blue home accessories

In case you didn't know, this Saturday, June 21, is the Summer Solstice, which means we are currently wrapping up the very last week of Spring 2014. I wanted to celebrate that fact by pulling together a festive, floral look I'd happily don while running around town doing errands, or meeting some girlfriends in the early evening for a couple of outdoor drinks. 

When I saw this embroidered striped cotton top from Suno, I had to actively prevent myself from wielding my credit card & having it overnighted to my doorstep. I love the soft, feminine detailing, as well as the conservative cut [and it has an exposed zipper on the back, which I love]. It just looks like a breathable, airy top that I could wear basically 24/7. As for bottoms, I went with classic, vibrant denim skinnies from Rag & Bone. They are no-nonsense, & they are perfect for layering with such a show-stealing top. For the feet, I chose the Seychelles Holdin' My Breath beauties in Dark Brown, though I would love to fill my closet with all seven shades available. I love these sandals, because they remind me of my grandmother, who had a gorgeous pair of white look-alikes, though they were slip-ons - no buckle. Having professed myself as a studs girl for the past few years, I have slowly been dipping my toes into the pool that is dangly earrings. And I have to say, these hammered gold-plated stunners from Kenneth Jay Lane could definitely find their way inside my jewelry box. I love hammered gold anything, really. To top it all off, I'd apply a swipe of my currently favorite lip gloss: NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Beige - which, as you may know, is not beige - it's the perfect pink. 

It's been quite a long time since my last outfit post, & as I have re-evaluated my goals & wishes for this space, I realized it was time to bring them back. You will see outfit posts under the title Cozy Thursday around here every once in a while. They won't pop up every week, but only when I am feeling the pull to Fashion Land [is that a real place?]. When I do post a Cozy Thursday look, I will be linking it up with Alison from {long distance loving}, since her Friday's Fancies posts are what launched me into the world of creating fun, inspiring outfit boards.

That's all for today. Join me here tomorrow for another edition of my long-lost Weekender posts. And don't forget to enjoy the last week of Spring!

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Want to join me in blogging every day in June? The more the merrier. I even made a button to celebrate the occasion. Feel free to use it in your blog sidebar or in the body of your posts. Let's encourage one another to get back to our blogging roots. Happy blogging!

This post contains affiliate links, but all opinions & professions of love are genuinely my own. This is not a sponsored post.

friday's fancies #76: warm & cozy indeed.

Happy Friday! Today is a day that will be spent doing last-minute errands & putting an extra shine on our apartment, because tomorrow, we leave for Shreveport! Can you tell I'm excited? Because I am. Hopefully by the time you are reading this, I will have knocked out quite a few items on my before we leave to-do list, but if I haven't, that means I'll be running around like a crazy person all day. The latter is probable, & such is life, I suppose.

sweater | scarf | house shoes | mug | leggings

So, let's talk about this outfit for a minute. As it stands, two of the items in this set are sold out. Which, I guess, means that myself & a lot of people have a penchant for the cozy & comfy at the moment. The sweater & the house shoes are those two items, & I can't really blame people for scooping them up. They would be two perfect additions to the scene I'm envisioning with this outfit, which involves me sitting in front of a fire, sipping on a peppermint mocha [preferably out of this mug that I'm obsessed with], wrapped up in pretty much the coziest infinity scarf I've ever seen [maybe I can teach myself to knit a comparable one?]. And lately, I don't care if leggings are pants are not - I want to live in them & pretend that they are.

fireside reading:
- This post from Elizabeth isn't exactly recent, but it spoke to me this week.
- With a return to Shreveport on the quickly-approaching horizon, Laura's post about returning launched me into reflections about my hometown, & how excited I am to visit there.

link-up: Friday's Fancies on {long distance loving}

friday's fancies #75: just a little bit of sparkle.

By the time you're reading this, I will be completely finished with the Fall Semester. Through Statistics, Anatomy & Physiology, Cultural Anthropology, & Ethics, I'm not going to lie - tears have been shed, victories have been celebrated, & much, much has been learned. Now, pardon me while I take on my biggest project for the next few weeks: re-reading the entire Harry Potter series.

sweater | jeans | nail polish | boots

Since this will be a weekend comprised mostly of cleaning up around the apartment - & probably some Christmas shopping - I thought I'd interpret this week's Friday's Fancies theme as an opportunity for some sparkly nails. On Wednesday night, we also started re-watching Dawson's Creek from the beginning, so I have a feeling we'll be watching a lot of that over the weekend. And this outfit would be perfect for an afternoon on the couch in front of the TV. [Can you believe the coziness of that sweater?]

fireside reading:

- I'm going to have to dig through my closet & see if I have any shoes I could upgrade with some glitz, like Megan did in this DIY.
- Joelle's message of courage really resonated with me earlier this week.
- A must-read by Laken.

link-up: Friday's Fancies on {long distance loving}

friday's fancies #74: party-time!

Greetings from downtown Nashville! We arrived around 9:30 p.m. last night, ushered in by fits of pouring rain & fog. To say that I am happy we made it here safely is an understatement, but now that we're safely tucked into our hotel room, I'm really enjoying being in Music City for the first time ever. As I peer out of our 14th-floor view of the skyline, I already know this city is going to be one I'd like to visit again in the future.

dress | shoes

This week's Fridays Fancies theme is Party Perfect, & I think, with the addition of some opaque black tights & rich red lipstick, the above would more than fit the bill. Being surrounded by Christmas trees, tinsel, & warm, inviting light in the lobby of our home for the next few days definitely has me in the spirit to attend a festive fete. And happily I would, donning the frock above.

fireside reading:
- On Monday, I guest-posted over on 702 Park Project, sharing my favorite homes.
- This post by Sarah. That's all I have to say. A million times, this post.
- I thought this post from Jen about affiliate links was interesting. I think that blogging is such a personal, individual thing. You have to decide for yourself what's right for you: using affiliate links, accepting sponsors, etc. But it is the sole choice of the blogger, you know? Why should I care if someone earns commission if I click on a link or watch an ad? They've put in the work, I like their blogs & YouTube channels, so why would I not want them to benefit from it? That's my stance on the matter, at least. I let them do them, & I do me. Everyone wins.

link up: Friday's Fancies on {long distance loving}

friday's fancies #73: black friday brunch + blogging.

A week from today, Black Friday will be upon us. For many, that means it's time to shop-til-they-drop. I've always found it fascinating the way some families make a day of the whole thing: rising at 3 a.m., guzzling coffee, mapping out their assault on the stores, refueling mid-day, & then jumping back into the craziness. As I've written before [here & here, to be exact], my family has never really been one to take part in these festivities. In fact, the only time I've been Black Friday shopping was the first Thanksgiving Holiday that I spent with Justin's family in Dallas, when we were still in college.

I'm not entirely sure what this year's Black Friday holds in store for us. We have family coming to stay with us for Thanksgiving, so there is a chance we'll get up & face the Wilmington crowds, but as of now, plans are still in their formative stages. One thing, I do know: there will be brunch, & there will be blogging. Thus, I've pulled together a cozy little look conducive to a Black Friday well-spent.

top | scarf | bag | jeans | glasses | laptop | boots

fireside reading

- My sister told me about this live tweet of a rooftop breakup, & I think it's pretty entertaining [and, well, relatable]. Favorite part? When the guy asks if they're getting pizza or what.

- I've long loved Laken's blog, & her recent move to Squarespace has me considering similar action.

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

NYC-bound! + friday's fancies #72: city style.

Happy November! A little bit later today, I will be boarding a plane that will take me to NYC for the first time, ever! I am beyond excited, because New York City has long topped my list of places I'd most like to visit. To make things even more exciting? I'm headed there to celebrate one of my oldest friends, Laura, by way of her bachelorette party! There will be dancing, there will be singing... there will be lots of catching up to do. If you'd like to follow along for the adventure, follow me on Twitter or Instagram... or stalk the hashtag #siddastravellog. I'm going to try to take some footage, so there may be a vlog headed your way in the coming week or so. We'll see. In the meantime, I'm off to celebrate my dear friend's upcoming nuptials.

dress | necklace | lip pencil | shoes

This week's Friday's Fancies theme - dressing according to your city's style - is perfect for me this week, but not for obvious reasons. Since I'll be in New York City this weekend, I decided to depart from representing my hometown, instead opting to rep for the Big Apple! We'll be spending a lot of time out on the town, so I've pulled together a look showcasing classic, dramatic black - perfect for celebrating a bachelorette. This isn't what I'll be wearing this weekend, but I feel like [or hope] it captures the spirit of energetic NYC night life.

fireside reading

- I loved Alison's time-sensitive gift guide, which she posted earlier this week.

- Seriously gorgeous photos of some seriously gorgeous fall flowers.

- Meg's posts about New York have me even more excited to visit.

LSC

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

fireside reading is the cold-weather counterpart of beach reading, 

which you may have seen in previous posts, such as this one.

a return to friday's fancies [#71]: in the office.

knit | top | necklace | slacks | flats

Lately, I've been rummaging through my old blog posts, kind of like one would rummage through a trunk of their belongings found in the attic. I revisited some fond memories, remembered some not-so-fond ones, & just generally reminisced, but mainly I was aware of my favorite types of posts & information-sharing techniques being brought into focus pretty clearly. 

It's a funny thing, blogging. You do certain things, you stop doing certain others. Your blog evolves slowly, sometimes for no reason other than progress for progress' sake, sometimes as a means to feel as though you're making progress. I say it's funny, because all we should really do while blogging is enjoy it. That's what this is here for, at least in my eyes. To enjoy. And to share.

All of that to say, I've been missing being a part of the Friday's Fancies community somethin' fierce. And that's why I'm promptly rejoining today. No, I did not follow the theme of this week, but I plan to pick that back up next week. I always enjoyed taking Alison's prompts & somehow melding them with my life at the moment, then creating an outfit board to match. So, expect to see a Friday's Fancies post here each Friday, as it was in years past around these parts. I'm excited!

Today, I am sharing with you an outfit that I would be delighted to wear when I finally get to return to normalcy. It has nothing to do with my life this weekend, as most of it will probably be spent in pajamas. In short: it will be a house-cleaning weekend around the C Residence. I'm off for a bachelorette party next weekend, so it's time to get everything in order, so Justin doesn't have to clean while I'm away, & I will get to come home to a clean apartment to kick off November with. Here's to responsibility!

Ohhh, & pssssst: I'm chopping my hair off today. There will be a post, with befores & afters, next week!

LSC

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

wardrobe reconstruction: stripes 01.

late summer stripes
top | shorts | flats

Stripes. One of the most classic wardrobe components you'll come across. When deciding the parameters of my personal style, I knew stripes needed to be a key element. I've always loved stripes; they can be nautical, a bold statement, or an understated traditional basic, like in the top shown above. If you visit my stripes-themed Pinterest board - found here - you'll see I've already collected a lot of inspiration when it comes to this wardrobe staple. Be it tops, dresses, shorts, skirts, flats, or bags... gimme those stripes.

Want to read more about my wardrobe reconstruction? It's all here, & there's much, much more to come!

this week's posts:

a song, a book, a quote, a look

beach reading

the sunday currently

little joys: a fulfilling monday schedule

so far...

two candles

drugstore living: recent buys

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

weekender.

Y'all, I slept ultra-late this morning. For my classes this past semester, I was rising bright & early around 6:15 each morning. Today, I slept until 11:00. That's quite a stark contrast, wouldn't you say? I've already had my hot chocolate & greek yogurt for breakfast, & now it's lunch time. Just like yesterday, today will be comprised of cleaning around the house, watching YouTube videos, writing... & I think I"ll go have a nice, long run at my park.

It's been a while since I've had a Friday's Fancies post, so I'm brining one your way today. The theme is shorts, which I love, & since we may have a night out ahead of us, I thought I'd put together a little going out look. It's been ultra hot & humid in Wilmington lately, so minimal clothing is a must. If you know me, you'll know gold glitter is kind of a must these days, as well as pearls & coral lips.

clutch | earrings | blouse | lip gloss | shorts | shoes

this look also bears in mind the parameters i've set for myself for my wardrobe reconstruction, 
which i still haven't yet blogged about. that is coming very, very soon.

In other news, I was lucky to stumble upon some YouTube channels that I'm REALLY excited about. They are all run by the same girl, & they encompass beauty & fashion, organization, & house-wife-ish stuff. Here they are:

The Busy Bee Buzz

Organized Like Jen

My Housewife Life

I don't know what it is about Jen, but I just love her! She is inspiring me to get my home ultra organized, & I'm pretty excited about it. I cannot stop watching her videos - luckily, there are a lot of them, & I have some catching up to do! And - bonus - she has a blog, too.

this week's posts:

weekender + a song, a book, a quote, a look

i've decided...

the sunday currently

savannah snapshot: flags + flowers 

a birthday month overhaul

Happy weekend, folks! Let's make the most of these summer nights. 

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

weekender.

It's late Friday morning, I'm getting ready to put together my to-do list for the day, & the rain is steady falling right outside our living room window. The warm yellowish glow of the lone lamp exudes light from my desk. And I can't tell you what a welcome respite today is, after walking around miserable - for no reason - this week.

Today's outfit board falls in tandem with this week's Friday's Fancies theme - tanked - even though the weather outside suggests fleece-lined hoodies & yoga pants as proper attire.

tank | shorts | cardigan | loafers | pearls | satchel | watch

read about this saying's origin here

Though I haven't really been myself this week, I've still managed to collect some inspiration from around the internet to share in this space today. Blogging really opens up a little door in life - one filled with flowers & golden sunlight & warm cozy reading nooks - that can be accessed any time, any day, anywhere. And I can't adequately express what a comfort & haven it provides for me each week.

beach reading:
- Allyssa shared her favorite Chrome Extensions, & now I'm itching to try them out.
- Betsy referenced her review of Navel Gazing in one of her posts recently, & now I want to read this book.
- Nadine shared her Lazy Girl's Guide to Beauty, & now that sunscreen is on my shopping list.

It's been a week where, even though I've wanted to,  I haven't been writing. Like, anywhere. Last night, as we watched The Office, I sat down with my ink-&-paper journal & just willed myself to write something down - anything. And when I finally did, it felt good. I really, truly, am a writer at heart, & the craziness inside my head only seems to line up & make sense when it turns into the written word. 

This lack of writing has manifested itself in my blogging habits, also. I currently have about fifteen post ideas that I really want to will into fruition right now, but it just hasn't happened for me yet. Perhaps today I will sit down at my keyboard & turn some of these ideas into actualities. But, here is what I did manage to tap out over the course of this week...

this week's posts:
happy birthday, mom!
the sunday currently
things i like

When I think about this weekend, I think about early rising, lengthy brunches equipped with too many cups of coffee, little projects around the newly-cleaned house, & writing. Just, writing. 

weekender.

It's been the kind of week where I wake up & sleep-walk to the coffee pot. Yes, believe it or not, not every single week is like that for me. Weeks like this leave me wishing for long, lingering weekends in which I can wear outfits like those below, flitting around to antique shops & beaches & swimming pools, just being lovely. And while this week's Friday's Fancies theme revolves around wedding guest wear, I thought I'd share a lazy little summer outfit.

summer scarf | flip flops | shorts | top

The top is a pretty great value - thinking of ordering one in every color.

beach reading:

- Sometimes I need to read quotes like this one that Betsy meditated on, on Sunday.

- My style muse & namesake, Lauren, reminds us not to get caught up in the numbers.

- Julia's pattern mixing party has taken my summer wardrobe inspiration to new heights.

- Jessica lets us in on a few beauty bargains. 

this week's posts:

weekender

the sunday currently

recognizing nostalgia

around here lately

After a bit of a trying week for both of us, Justin & I are excited to hit the beaches of Wilmington this weekend. There aren't many other plans for the next couple of days, other than that. I have reading to do - both school- & leisure-related. The house will - God willing - be clean by this evening. Add in some crafting, & you've got an accurate look inside my life. Here's to sand, ocean-views, words on pages, & spools of yarn, waiting to be made into something.

weekender.

Happy Weekend! Justin & I don't have any big plans for the next couple of days, other than soaking up some sun on one of the local beaches. Not long ago, we made a promise to ourselves that we would take complete advantage of our proximity to the ocean every weekend of this summer. And that is exactly what we intend to do this weekend. For that reason, I was thrilled that this week's Friday's Fancies theme revolves around sunglasses. Can you tell I've got Mad Men on the brain? Those shades are screaming 1960s.

headband | swimsuit | sunglasses | sandals | coverup 

p.s. don't forget sunscreen!

beach reading:

- Allyssa's Branding Your Blog series has me inspired to polish my layout.
- Bethany is home & happy & shared a bit about the hardships she's faced. And it's inspiring.
- This isn't reading, but I have a new favorite beauty guru. Here she is.

this week's posts:

beach reading

thoughts on blog every day in may

the sunday currently

on being a student again

shreveport snapshot: around here lately

favorites as of late

When I think about goals for this weekend, I think of relaxation. And that, of course, leads me to think of the beach. I do, however, need to pick up A Thousand Splendid Suns from our library, to tote with me when I plop down in the sand & the surf. We have also GOT TO FIND a wreath hanger this weekend. I know, it sounds silly, but this task has proven futile for weeks now. And do I really need to say that I plan to watch as many episodes of Mad Men as I can? Also on the docket? Finalizing Father's Day gifts & planning our Sowell Family Trip to Destin!

friday's fancies #70: wedding prep.

tote | top | ihome | shorts

 

Today is a day of festivities: Lindsey's wedding weekend* has finally arrived! On the one hand, I feel like I've been waiting for this weekend for years, & on the other hand, I can't believe it's actually arrived. Since this morning is the Bridesmaids' Luncheon, & the Rehearsal & Rehearsal Dinner is tonight, I obviously wouldn't be thinking of wearing the above. And if I did... well, that might be a little bit awkward. I've centered this week's Friday's Fancies look around getting ready for the main event: the wedding day! The theme this week is stripes, so that Michael Kors tote presented itself in all its glory, & I couldn't say no. If I owned it, I'd pack it to the brim with necessities & call it a day.

 

I'm so excited for Lindsey & Tison's big day. Let the party begin!

this week's posts:
roadtrippin' to jackson
family heirlooms
the sunday currently
a public apology to life itself
one of my first draft posts
what i want to blog about
the girlies

*wanna see what we did for her bachelorette party? go here.

 

linked up for friday's fancies on {long distance loving} 

 

friday's fancies #69: roadtrippin' to jackson.

top | earrings | sandals | scarf | pants | bag | watch

Today, Kara & I are heading east to Jackson to see our little Kelsey graduate! The Friday's Fancies theme for this week - Easy Weekend Wear - was the perfect buzz phrase to keep in mind while dreaming up a road trip look. They're all basics, just nice basics. If only budgets didn't exist.

this week's posts:
a southern bachelorette weekend
sidda just loves books
the sunday currently
what exactly it is that i do
the unmentionables
experience music
shreveport snapshot: a moment on the porch

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

  

friday's fancies #68: a southern bachelorette weekend.

Today we shove off for my dear friend Lindsey's bachelorette party! While we won't be spending time in the French Quarter pictured above - we'll be celebrating in its Louisiana namesake - I know there are lots of laughs & adventure in store for us. Below is what I'd be rocking, budgets aside. And even though my dream outfit isn't in the cards for this weekend's festivities, I have a little black dress in my suitcase that I know won't disappoint.

top | skirt | earrings | clutch | heels

Here's to a weekend full of laughs, drinks, friends, food, & music. Happy Bachelorette Party, Lindsey!

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

photo: taken in charleston, south carolina \ nikon

friday's fancies #67: neon novice.

bag | top | pearls | shoes | blush | skirt

I don't claim to be a neon expert by any means, but as I wrap up the last leg of my road trip to Shreveport this morning, I know I'll daydream of donning this ensemble to my mom's honors society banquet tonight. True, this outfit would be pretty spectacular, but I think I have a perfectly good one up my sleeve for in-real-life, too.

This weekend holds a lot of exciting plans for me. As mentioned above, I'll be attending a banquet for my mom's induction into an honors society tonight, which I couldn't be more thrilled or proud about. On Saturday morning, I'll be joining Lindsey on a wedding errand. I'm so excited to see her! And on Sunday, I'll be attending church with my parents in the morning, hopefully followed up by breakfast at either Strawn's or Another Broken Egg. Happy Weekend!

this week's posts:

back to basics

six months married

the sunday curently

best of youtube beauty lately

for boston

wilmington snapshot: a day at the beach

more about me

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

friday's fancies #66: back to basics.

slouchy top | brogues | pants | tank | necklace | earrings | nail polish | watch

Honestly, I'm not even sure that this outfit would work. But in my head, it comes off as preppy with a romantic twist, & I like that. I mentioned in my first post-redesign entry, that my mantra as of late has been back to basics. I feel that this look is indicative of that: clean lines, simple colors, classic shoes & accessories, & a lovely soft pink polish. With a return to school in my future, I think an outfit like this would be perfect for a day of hitting the books, hanging around in coffee shops, & furthering my career.

This weekend, Justin & I plan to attend some of the Azalea Festival activities downtown. This very event was going on last year, around the time we were looking into moving here. I'm excited to be on this side of the festivities this year! We need to really take advantage of this weekend, since it'll be the last one we spend together for an entire month.

this week's posts:

polka dots + crawfish boils

the sunday currently

wilmington snapshot: st. patrick's day parade

why i watch youtube beauty videos

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

friday's fancies #65: polka dots + crawfish boils.

As I said yesterday, Justin will be spending the weekend on the golf courses of our hometown, competing in the SAE Alumni Golf Tournament. Afterwards, he'll be chowing down on some crawfish with all of his friends. I'll be holding down the fort, but if I were tagging along, I'm pretty sure this would be my dream crawfish boil outfit.

nail polish | sandals | shorts | top | bangle | jacket | wristlet

How cute are those polka dot shorts?!

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