Lots of feels

Emotional wreck at your service. There's so many good things and then those moments in between that are so down in the valley of sadness that you forget the good things up on that really high mountain for a second. I don't necessarily think that's age 23 for everyone but what a coinky-dink this post was. I had to post it.

It was just a second! This current writing is to say "there was my moment to vent via Nylon Magazine and now I'm over it and moving on." I put on my big girl pants and I'm back on the mountain top! Yipeeeee

I'm ready for your extreme ups and downs 23. Ain't gon bring me down. Fist bump

Thanks + praise

I'm just so thankful. I have such a good life and I am, indeed, #blessed.

Thankful and giving praise to the man upstairs because...
+ Those two ladies in my pictures make life fun and will be around forever and ever
+ I have two wonderful parents who love each other and their daughters, dearly
+ I have a good man to hug me, kiss me and love me always
+ I have good friends who have my back
+ I enjoy my job and actually have one
+ I have nice things
+ I have a roof over my head
+ My family, near and far, is loving and caring and there whenever I may need
+ I have had a great education
+ I am healthy and alive.

What a great day it was.

Christmas Time is.. Here.

The wishlist of 2013! Christmas time is verrrrrry near.

01. A set of these marbled latte mugs | Leif

02. Jeffrey Campbell d'orsay In Love flats - To die for in every. Single. Print. | NastyGal

03. Colorblock leather watch to go with everything and anything | Cold Picnic

04. The weekender. Must. Have. For my trip in January! | Everlane

05. Bobbi Brown Beach Body Oil. A tongue twister and have only heard the best about it. | Bobbi Brown

06. It's OK, a good daily reminder to hang on my wall. | Etsy

Please & thank you.

01. Olivia's 15th birthday!

02. Liv's homecoming for her freshman year of high school.

03. Dad & me at homecoming pictures

04. One of John's chickens

05. A beautiful blue sky in Raleigh

06. Liv & Mom at homecoming pictures

07. Halloween decor at the Raleigh party

08. Roy Lichtenstein comic strip character & Indiana Jones

Happenings No. 01

.01 J.Crew's Sample Sale | There's nothing that I look forward to quite as much as the sample sale. Piles and piles of cashmere, dirt cheap Barbour coats, millions of shoes - it's a J.Crew employee's dream. An exhausting dream. BUT! I scored a winter coat, Supergas, those blue suede oxfords I've been lusting over since they came out, a Pave bracelet and few other things. Wonderful day.

.02 Meg Jay's Ted Talk | Who doesn't love a good Ted Talk? I read this article the other day about people who think their 20's are "throw away" years and how it's actually the opposite. Very relevant. It was connected to Meg Jay's Ted Talk about how people always say "30 is the new 20" and basically that you're assumed to start real life when you're 30. Twenty is for experimentation. But really, you should just begin planning for the future now! It was so inspiring and motivating.

.03 Alabama Shakes | Right after the sample sale, I rushed to Cary to see the magic that is Brittany Howard and she did not disappoint. Her soulful, deep, strong, AMAZING voice was one of those overwhelming things that can make me cry. And the energy! I loved it. She's a fantastic woman and I want to be her BFF.

.04 Virgin Mobile's Free Fest | And ya know, being the concert goers we are, we woke up at 6 a.m. the next day and trekked all the way to Columbia, MD. But for a great reason. We were some lucky winners of the free tickets to a festival full of Washed Out, Robin Thicke, Icona Pop, City and Colour, the Avett Brothers, MGMT and an all-time favorite, Vampire Weekend. It was a great day besides the crazy expensive beer and downpour. And we got to stop in D.C. The besssssst!

Goals | Oct. 2013

Eating | Gluten-free. The things I've heard have only been good, so I'd love to try.
Drinking | Pum. King. If I can ever find it!
Practicing | Meditation.
Mastering | Balancing two jobs and saving money.
Learning | French. Je suis une femme.
Playing | Vampire Weekend and Dr. Dog albums.
Finishing | My grad school portfolio. 
Reading | Harper's Bazaar has been killing it. I don't like to read, but I do like to read their articles. And I'd like to start re-reading the classics. 
Walking | Everywhere I can.
Wearing | Madewell's fall collection, lots of lacks of color and not enough layers for this time of year. 
Cooking | Big meals to savor leftovers. And lots of sweets.
Working | Too much.
Traveling | To Boone for a good homecoming weekend.
Wanting | More leather goods, more time with loved ones and more joyful traveling.

NYFW 2013

As I'm going through my Instagram feed and flipping through slideshows of designers' Spring/Summer 2014 collections, I'm noticing a lot of similarities and maybe a little unoriginality.

But my God. Oscar de la Renta, the king of fashion. He never fails. Never copies. Never disappoints. If only I could afford...