Simple Summer.

The Over sized shirt adds volume to an outfit. It’s also very easy and can be worn with leggings or skinny jeans – both of which are comfortable and we all have em. Whenever oversizing you always want to have one piece of your outfit that is fit to size. If your bottoms are loose have a form fitting top and vice verse. I chose the same fitted jean shorts with three different over sized shirts, below. All three were thrifted and I added a bit of an 80′s look by cutting the neck of the shirt wider. Off the shoulder makes any shirt more feminine. Add a jacket, cardigan or vest for layers and have fun with it! The bargain bins at goodwill or Salvation Army are a perfect place to find oversized T’s for super cheap. Who doesn’t love an article of clothing for $.75?!

These jean shorts used to be pants that my legs grew out of but still fit my waist. Make what you have work.

The black shoes are from the post before. Don’t feel like you have to have mounds of clothing. Find something you love and wear it till it dies!

Go Phils!

Winter favorites.

The way I see it, spring couldn’t come fast enough. The random 60 degree days this winter have been a tease of things to come, good things. I suppose sitting here, right up close to the fire place in a cozy sweater and slippers is also not so bad. But I long for the sun. The green. The new. Ready to thrive.

My favorite thing about winter is layering. Layering takes an outfit to the next level and it’s super simple. Add a cardigan, jacket, over sized sweater, hat or scarf to make your favorite outfit even better. A classic combo for me lately has been an all black outfit with one or two articles that pop with color. I’m all for keeping it simple while making it my own.

You just can’t go wrong with a leather jacket. Or jean jacket, for that matter. Switch it up!

Pants, black hoodie, leather jacket, jean jacket and loafters – Thrifted. Teal shirt – Target. brown scarf – H&M.

Just talking about over sized sweaters make me feel warm and comfortable. Different patterns, colors and knits make an outfit fun to put together. Seriously, all you have to do is search the sweater section of goodwill, find one you like, wear it with leggings/skinny jeans and a blazer and you’re set (Don’t forget to wash before you wear!).

The top knot, ladies, the top knot. Grease? Split ends? Dye fade? All three? Don’t worry – it happens to us all; just throw all of your hair up on top of your head, no worries!

Over sized cream shirt, scarf and shoes – Thrifted. Knitted cardigan – Forever21. Knitted hat – Sportsgirl. Leggings – Target.

Coming later this month – Thrifting tips, Wedding madness and a 1st birthday celebration!

UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

First of all – Does anyone other than my dad read this? Secondly, writers block, lack of inspiration and a very serious case of culture shock have left the past four months post-less. But! I’m back and somewhat caught up with the times on this side of the world. Searching for purpose.

Onward! Oh and it truly has taken eight full months to, in some sort, be a stable minded person full of hope and joy and life. I am broken! In repair. Learning again, what it means to live in a culture of plenty. And it IS so romantic to have a bike and not a car… in all those darn movies, the cute main character has that red bike and rides it all over town, wind whipping her hair and makeup perfect. Unless it’s winter and your bike has flat tires anyway and not much is nearby. Oh it truly has taken eight full months!

I have decided to busy myself by trying out style blogging. These posts are for the penny pinching, budget keeping, vogue coveting people out there. If, like me, most of your closet is thrifted and your favorite store is Goodwill then this, my friend, is for you. If that isn’t you but you want to learn how to save a few bucks while still keeping up with the fashion trends of today – welcome! I will share my tips and fun finds and we shall see what’s to come of it.

A sneak peak of just that:

More to come. Promise.

Beiler to Kabakjian.

Thursday, October 6th – Rehears!

Friday, October 7th – Set up!

Saturday, October 8th – Wed!

And it’s all over in a day. Or, I guess, it all begins in a day. My sister is now a wife! I am stoked for her.. and for me because I gain another brother out of this whole ordeal. Friends and family from out of town started arriving a week in the weddings advance and thus began late nights of playing music with my older brother or folding programs with dear friends or sipping on wine and cheese with those i got to be with for the time being.. a great week to say the least. There is something to be said about going from Beiler to Kabakjian. It is a process… like everything else, but it is special. Over the past three months I’ve gotten to watch my sister prepare for a new journey. I’ve gotten to observe her as an adult making decisions and choices for her future life. I have noticed her, more than ever. She’s becoming something great and I get to see it happen. The day of her wedding was so full of joy and simplicity. I didn’t want it to end! I could have held her bouquet and adjusted her dress as many times as she wanted or needed me to… I just loved seeing her enjoy everything she’s been pouring herself into since March.

My first loaf of bread, in short, was a disaster. Too much flour, not enough time. My second? Success. A fine wheat loaf with a good amount of moisture; my grandma affirmed me in this. It’s lovely to have her wisdom right up the stairs. My next attempt will be a bit more complex. Bri and basil biscuits. I’m hoping they turn out as delicious as they sound. I will surely let you know and possibly make you jealous and hungry…

A brand new copy of Peter Pan sits on my desk waiting to be read. I couldn’t resist when I picked it up in Barns and Noble and read the first page. What a GREAT first page. It does what every book aspires to do –  draws you instantly in and doesn’t let you walk away satisfied unless you get more. The life of J.M. Barrie is interesting and an adventure in itself… the inventor of Peter and the world he fondly belongs to has quite a beginning. A writers mind is a wonderful and scary thing. Anyone can write a book. Makes me wonder what sort of craziness gets caught in pages out there. Makes me wonder what I’m missing. I’m wanting to grow my library… can you recommend?

Mr. and Mrs. Kabakjian have already been warned of the frequency in which I will be knocking on their door offering company of the kindest sort. Regular dinners, game nights and hang outs have been arranged. And maybe a music session here or there. I am blessed to call them neighbors and family. What an autumn this will be!

These past weeks.

Cassidy fell asleep in my arms while I read on the big comfy cozy chair. That’s got to be every parents favorite place. Almost success at getting filmed on the mega-tron at the Phils game. Dancing in the parking lot afterwards, we didn’t care. Reruns of The Cosby Show with the Masteller children. Shoot.. I’ll ‘watch your kids’ anytime. Planning parties, all sorts. Love playing hostess. Tis the season to get engaged; currently in two weddings. Who’ll be next?! Rediscovery of past loved artists while scrolling through the ipod… Keane and Rosie Thomas to name a couple. Work… pouring myself into it. Getting a little bit filled up by it. Knowing deep down that it wont give back.. knowing deep down what will.

When it rains I am reminded of the greatness of having the ability to hear. Little circles of water hitting me in the head and face while I walk from the car to the house… hitting the top of my roof making noise… I’m constantly aware that things are not as they normally are. I’m on my guard. When will the rain stop? How do I feel about it this time around.. will I joyfully splash in puddles or curse the heavens because there is a wedding to be had? No matter which I choose there will be someone somewhere who picks the other but the rain will fall still. Might as well bring an umbrella just in case, I suppose. Personally, I think there is fun to be had in the rain. To bicker over whether John or Mary is right or wrong about it stopping or starting is silly. The rain has its own mind made up and the simple fact is – right now you’re missing it and there may very well be a time when all you want is rain but it just never seems to come.

I’m making it a point to learn how to make different types of bread. If you have a recipe or advice or really anything to say about the rights and wrongs of bread making I’d definitely read your words.

The 1st of the 24 coming very soon.