Put a Smile On

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Sometimes I have to remind myself that I don't have to be mad at things, or annoyed. It's my life, I can choose whether or not I'm going to let something bother me. And if it does bother me, I get to do something to change it.

It can be so easy to just get so caught up in thinking, "Ugh, why me?" When, in reality, we have the choice to take control. Yeah, some things are out of our control, but there's still plenty of factors that we get a say in. If we don't like something, we can actively work to change it, instead of sitting around and complaining about it.

This is something I'm still working on a lot. Ask any of my friends, and they'll tell you I'm the queen of complaining. And I know that I definitely tend to get stuck in the mindset of being mad or upset or whatever and stewing over it, when I could be focusing all of that energy on changing it or something that makes me happy. It definitely isn't easy, but in the end, I think it's worth it.

I feel like I should say that I had a perfectly fine day (and I got to Skype a friend!), so specific event happened to inspire this post. 

I just realized this is my second post on the matter... Clearly, this is something I struggle with. XD

Ombre

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I've was obsessed with the idea of ombre hair when it first got popular a few years ago. I looked up tutorials and how-tos, and researched which dyes would be best for doing it at home. In the end, I was too afraid of messing up my hair, so it remained boring brown. Even now, when I come across a picture with ombre on Pinterest, I find myself wanting it all over again. 

I think my main attraction to ombre (aside from the obvious: it looks cool), is that it's a way of having blonde hair without having to be blonde. I've long since accepted that I can probably never pull of blonde hair because of my skin tone, but the allure has never left. Ombre gives you blonde, but it keeps it away from your face, so you don't have to worry as much about it. And, if you wanted, you can go with a darker color to blend it well. And it's a lot less drastic than bleaching all of your hair (which I would definitely have to do, since my hair is so dark to begin with).

The last picture is my favorite, by the way. I love how the ends are a darker, so they blend better with the dark hair.

Magical Monday

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1. My new jacket. I finally bought the jacket I mentioned the other day. Today was my first time wearing it, and I'm obsessed. And I never want to take it off, ever. It's so soft and I love the color and it's just perfect. The only issue is that it's the most versatile color, but I'll probably end up wearing it with everything anyways... XD

2. Big Brother After Dark. I just discovered last week that they air a few hours of Big Brother After Dark a couple times a week. I love Big Brother, but I've never wanted to get on a computer to watch it. I've been loving watching it. It's mostly them sitting around talking, but it's a nice change from the scheming and game talk that they usually show on tv. It makes them seem more real.

3. Candy. I've just recently started taking advantage of the candy bowl at work. I don't ever really buy candy, but it's nice to have a little bit every now and then. I'm particularly loving the Sour Patch Kids that are in there right now.

4. Justin Timberlake. I'm sure everyone's already heard about the VMAs last night. I've only seen the first half so far, but oh man. Eventful is a good word to sum it up. Miley's performance was awful, but Justin's performance made putting up with Miley worth it. He was amazing. He's so incredibly talented, I just really can't describe it. I think Jimmy Fallon's description afterwards about summed it up... :P I highly recommend finding Justin's performance online if you haven't already.

5. NSYNC. They were AMAZING. I was fangirling and freaking out the entire time. To be honest, they were the number one reason I watched the VMAs at all last night. I had heard they were performing and I didn't want to wait until today to watch it on Youtube. My only complain is that it was entirely too short. Also, I'm still upset that Lance Bass is gay. I was am in love with him.

The print was originally created by Union Press.

Just Keep Going

The last two runs I went on, I had such a hard time even running two or three miles, when every week prior I had added about a mile to my run. This time, I was determined to get back up to speed. I ended up running about 6.75 miles, which is kind of insane (to me) but I was so proud of myself. 

After the first two miles or so, I fell into a comfortable pace that I could keep for awhile. While it was by no means a fast pace, I was surprised I could keep it, because I often have problems where I get tired and start slowing way down. But this time I was running about the same pace for about four miles of the run. For the last .75 miles or so, my pace slowed way down again, and that's when the run started to hit me and I felt like I was dying, but that's beside the point.

For the four miles, it was wonderful. It was hard and I was tired, but keeping that pace didn't seem like an impossible feat. It was simply about putting one foot in front of the other, and looking forward. Once my mind wasn't consumed with worrying about how slow I was running or what route I needed to take, I was able to let my mind wander and enjoy the run more.

I'm so glad I didn't give up after those two tough runs. I have a habit of quitting when things get little hard, especially when I was younger. But this time, my competitiveness one out. My desire to outrun myself won over my frustration with not doing well. And that same competitiveness (combined with the fact I'm entirely too stubborn) is helping me to add distance.

Running can be hard. I've been trying on and off for the past three years or so to get to the point where I enjoy it, and where it's something that I'm good at. While I'm certainly not "good" at it in terms of speed, I think there's something to be said for my refusal to give up and the distances I'm starting to run. I do know that I'm to the point where I'm starting to look forward to it, which I never thought I'd be able to say. There's definitely something to be said for when you just keep going, even if you want to quit.

My legs are going to be so sore tomorrow, though. They're already pretty sore.

Obsessed: Catbird Lovecats Ring

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I stumbled across this ring today on Pinterest, and ohmygosh. As a crazy cat lady in the making, it's absolutely purrfect. See what I did there? I just really love this ring. I've said before that I'm not really a jewelry person, but come on. This ring is amazing. It's a quirky way of showing a little playfulness with your jewelry. I also like how dainty it is, so it's not over the top. It's just the cutest ring... 

Unfortunately, I am entirely too cheap when it comes to jewelry, and I can't justify spending $32 on a ring, when I don't even like spending that much for jeans or a dress (hello, $10 Forever 21 jeans and sales+cheap stores). Even if I did change my mind, I have no clue what ring size I am... Though I'd be happy to figure it out, if someone wants to buy it for me. :P

Comfort is Key

Lately, all I can think about it this super soft, extremely comfortable looking jacket at Fred Meyer. It's nothing fancy, just a zip-up jacket, but it's been on my mind for awhile now. I was so tempted to walk over and get it during lunch today... I think I'm going to just go ahead and buy it next time I'm at the store. I think I can handle spending $20.

Anyways, that just got me thinking of comfy clothes. Here are some ways to stay comfy that I'm loving:

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1. Slouchy. I love the easiness of a slouchy t-shirt. It's so simple, but it can look so good when done right. All I want to wear is t-shirts right now, but unfortunately they're pretty much relegated to the weekend for me. I mean, I could wear them to work, but I generally try to dress at least a little nicer than that.

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2. Oversized. This is one style that I absolutely love, but unfortunately, I have trouble pulling off without looking like a shapeless bag. But sometimes it doesn't even matter, because all I want to do is wrap up in a big cozy sweater. It's still not nearly cold enough to want to wear giant sweaters yet, but I have a feeling the cold weather is going to sneak up far sooner than I'd like it too.

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3. Sparkly. Just because something is super comfy, doesn't mean it can't have a little touch of glam. And sparkles are the perfect way to add that, no? I especially love the elbow patches, because it's such a fun, unexpected twist to an otherwise ordinary outfit. Plus, I just like shiny things.

Nothing to Wear

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I'm at a point where I kind of hate everything I own. There are a few things I love, but since I can't wear them every single day (without people at work thinking I'm crazy), I've got to wear other stuff too. This problem is probably made worse by the fact it's summer, so there are some things that it simply isn't practical to wear. But regardless, I feel like I have this problem a lot.

I know it's a problem a lot of people have, but it definitely makes getting dressed in the morning a pain, and a lot less fun than it should be. It's a shame it's not practical to go out and buy a ton of new clothes every time I get sick of what I already own. I need to start forcing myself to think more creatively about wearing what I do have. That's not something that I've really done before, since once I find an outfit I like, I tend to wear it to death. I'm definitely not known for my "remixing" skills.

Maybe this weekend or next? I've started a list so I can add ideas as they come to me, but it's still pretty small. Until then, this is why you aren't getting too many outfit posts right now-- the vast majority of what I'm wearing is extremely boring.

Magical Monday

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I probably say this every week, but Monday came entirely too soon, and the day definitely went by a little slower than usual. It's days like today that I have Magical Monday, to help combat a case of the Monday blues.

The list: 

1. Baby animals. When I was at the zoo this weekend, I got to see a baby tiger and a baby clouded leopard. They were both so cute, I could just stare at them all day. Oh my gosh, I just want to steal them both!

2. Learning random facts about yourself. I discovered that when I was, like, one, I could understand some Russian. Like, what? I guess my babysitter was Russian and treated me like part of the family. She spoke her kids in Russian sometimes, so she spoke to me in Russian sometimes too, and I started to understand some things. That would have been so cool to know Russian! Shame I know a grand total of one word now.

3. Awesome plans. A few friends and I have decided that we want to go to England (and Ireland) and so we are in the (very) preliminary stages of planning and beginning to save. This needs to actually happen, or I'm hoping a plane solo. London is calling.

4. Family friends (with cute dogs). I saw two different family friends this weekend, which was nice. It was also nice seeing their dogs. One of them has had the same dog most of my life, and it was nice seeing him again, though he's getting so old and it's makes me sad thinking about it. He's my favorite of their dogs. The other family friend just got a new one (I mentioned him yesterday), so it was fun getting to meet him and see her other dogs. And, y'know, it was nice seeing the people too... :P

5. Ed Sheeran. Ever since I got my iPod, I've been listening to Ed Sheeran in the mornings. Listening to him has helped to make the mornings a little brighter, and I'm pretty sure I fall a little bit more in love with him every morning.

I also just wanted to take a moment to mention Lee Thompson Young's suicide. At first, I thought it was a rumor, since I just couldn't believe that he would have taken his own life. But then I saw another person posting about it, so I looked it up. I used to watch The Famous Jett Jackson all the time when I was younger, and to think that someone I grew up watching, someone who isn't that much older than me, is no longer here... I guess I don't know what to think, other than it's far too young. R.I.P.

I Heart Hawaii

Warning: popsicles are a dangerous thing. I know I sound ridiculous, but I found this out the hard way yesterday. Though, I think it's one of those things that only I would manage to do... I was at a family friend's house and she offered us popsicles. It was a nice day and I took one.

A few seconds into eating it, though, my lip got stuck. You know around winter, the image of a kid with his tongue stuck to a flag pole (from A Christmas Story or something)? That happened with my lip and the popsicle. I didn't even know that was possible. I ended up ripping of a little bit of skin from my lip, and it even bled a little bit. Maybe a little bit of TMI, but I just felt like the world needed to know about the danger in popsicles.

Today was much less painful, aside from my morning run. That was less "pain" and more "omg I'm dying, it's so hot, why am I doing this?" It's frustrating, because I keep getting too hot when I run, and it slows me way down and I end up quitting sooner than I have in the past. I'm not sure what's up, but hopefully it stops, because it's really starting to bug me that I'm not going as far.

Other than that, we went to another family friend's house for a barbecue today. She just got a new dog last week, a rescue German Shepherd named Anton, who is the cutest thing ever. I spend most of the afternoon getting dragged around by him, but it was worth it, because he really is the cutest thing. Of course, her other dogs are cute, too. When I wasn't chasing Anton around (I had his leash for awhile), I was trying to get one of her other two dogs to come over so I could pet them. 

Tank: Billabong (Via Shop on Oahu). Shorts: Ross. Sandals: Fred Meyer.

It's been so nice to get out of the house this weekend! And sleeping in entirely too long yesterday was glorious. I definitely needed it after last week. I'm definitely dreading waking up early tomorrow...

Anyways, I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!

Stay young

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I went to the zoo today with my family, and it just got me thinking about the things that I'll always enjoy, no matter how old I am. Here's the list I came up with:

1. Zoos. I was lucky enough to grow up near quite a few zoos, so trips have been a pretty regular occurence throughout my life. No matter how many times I go, I never get sick of seeing the animals. I'm pretty sure the only way I ever get anywhere is because I always have other people prompting me to keep moving, because there are some animals I could literally be watching forever... tigers

2. Fairs. I also happened to grow up twenty minutes away from the biggest fair in the state (and what I've heard is one of the biggest west of the Mississippi, if not the biggest). I'm not super big on a lot of rides (I'm a chicken), but I love walking around and seeing all the sights. And there are plenty of spinning rides to keep be entertained, too. Not to mention, the elephant ears... Yum!

3. Disney. I think I love them more now than I did when I was little. I love watching old favorites, and rewatching those that I didn't watch much when I was younger, to see them with a fresh perspective. Singing, great characters, and a happy ending? What's not to love. Disneyworld (or Disneyland) are fabulous too, and I've been dying to go back.

4. Swings. I don't get to go on swings very much anymore, but I absolutely adore them. When I'm on them, I still try and swing as high as possible. I love soaring up, and then the rush you get when coming back down. 

5. Harry Potter. If you know me at all, you knew this one was coming. I'm a Harry Potter addict, and love rereading the books and rewatching the movies. I always find small details that I overlooked the first time, and marvel about how much of a genius J.K. Rowling is. I don't forsee my love of Harry Potter going anywhere.

Long Day

Road trips can be super tiring when you're already half asleep. Who knew? We drove about three hours both ways, and only spent about two and a half hours outside of the car. Just thought I'd give you a visual. For those who don't know Washington very well, we drove from Western Washington to Central Washington. 

It's really a gorgeous drive. We go through the mountains, and the sun was shining, and I always get so absorbed watching the trees and looking for deer (I only spotted one this time). And I think it was worth the trip, though we won't know for sure for a little bit. After grabbing lunch, we headed back, and that's when the sleep deprivation (sleeping badly+waking up early for the second time this week) really started hitting me. It was taking everything I had to stay awake in the car... 

My boss gave me a ride home, though, which was really nice. And since then, I've done pretty much nothing other than lay around. I cannot wait to go to bed tonight, and (even more exciting) to not have to get up with an alarm tomorrow!

Feels Like Summer

Whenever I wear this outfit, I always feel like summer, which is probably silly, since it involves jeans and sleeves. But the pants are so bright and cheerful and the back of this shirt are just so summer, you know? Contrary to feeling very summery today, the weather sucked, though. It was cloudy, and it rained on and off all day. I guess that's still summer, just more "Washington summer" than traditional summer. Guess we've gotta make up for the really nice June we had... Normally we get rainy, gross weather all through June, and nice weather in August.

Please ignore the demonic look on my face. I liked the pose XD

It was nice being able to take these pictures after work today, instead of rushing beforehand. I was able to take the bus before mine today, and it was so nice to get home a little earlier, curl up on the couch, and catch up on tv. I'm finally all caught up on Graceland (at least, until the new episode airs tonight). So gooooood. Also, I need their house. Gorgeous.

Unfortunately, tomorrow's another day when I have to get to work suuuuper early. And by super early, I mean an hour early. But it means I need to catch the bus when I'd normally be waking up, so not my favorite. But it involves a mini-road trip, so I really can't complain. It should be a fun day, and hopefully the trip will be a success!

Top: Fred Meyer. Jeans: Target. Shoes: Toms.

Also, random, but FaceTime is the greatest thing ever! I just used it for the first time on my iPod, and I love it! 

Day Dream

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I'm super tired, since I had to be at work an hour early today, so I thought I'd just share a photoshoot with you tonight.

To me, these photos are channeling a carefree summer day. I love the loose, easy outfits (and the contrast with the more tough outfit in the first photo), and how they channel a beach vibe. It makes me happy, and helps me forget that summer's almost at an end.

"Day Dream"

Model: Jayla Harnwell

Photographer: Jake Senfeld

Magical Monday

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Is it seriously Monday already? I swear, the weekend always goes by so quickly. Probably doesn't help that I spent all day Saturday holed up watching a new show...

The list: 

1. Graceland. It's the new show I've started watching. I still have two episodes left, which I want to finish tonight or tomorrow, but I love it! Seriously, USA Network knows the way to my heart. First Suits, then I discovered White Collar, and now this? Perfection. Plus, Aaron Tveit. I mean, come on. How could I not watch it?

2. My new boots. I've been wanting a pair of boots like them for awhile, so I was so glad I liked them when I wore them last Friday. They're definitely going to be getting a lot more wear come fall... Plus, I love that I can lace them up or fold them down.

3. Hercules. I'm watching it right now with my brother. Sometimes it nice to just curl up and watch Disney, no? Actually, it's always nice to curl up and watch Disney. I think this is my brother's first time seeing it, and he seems to really like it. It makes me happy.

4. Instagram. I've had Instagram for over a year, but it looks so much nicer on my iPod! It's bigger, and the pictures are so much clearer. I compared them side by side, and the difference is so big, it's so insane. Speaking of...

5. My iPod. I got it today, and I'm obsessed. I've spend all night playing around with it. Such a good decision, I just wish I had bought one sooner! Though, I must say, it's makes me a little sad knowing it's just an iPod and not an iPhone. My phone is so dumb. I'm pretty sure it was jealous, cuz it died by one today, which is pathetic, even for my phone.

Animal Inside

So, earlier this week, I wore my dog print dress to work, and it made me remember just how much I love prints that are more literal interpretation of the phrase "animal print." So tonight I decided to round up some of my favorite animal prints.

Here are the animal prints I love:

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1. Birds. First, I just want to say that this skirt is absolutely gorgeous. Anyways, I love that bird prints can be bold or dainty, but that they always have a girly element to them. So cute.

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2. Dogs. I think that this is the most uncommon print out of the ones on this list. Dogs are kind of an odd thing to put on a dress or shirt, but I like it. It's a great way to make an otherwise plain outfit much more playful. 

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3. Cats. I'm probably destined to be a crazy cat lady, so naturally, I love cat prints. It makes me incredible sad that I don't currently own anything that fits the bill (other than socks with cat faces). Seriously, how cute are these dresses. Also, this is another reason Taylor Swift and I need to be best friends.

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4. Tigers. I think tigers are probably the most popular, though more often it's in the form of a face, more like the shirt on the right. I love that tigers are so popular, because they're my all time favorite animals. And come on. A giant tiger face on your shirt? So fierce. 

Fun fact: I've fed a tiger. You should probably be jealous.

Friday Florals

Today was one of those days that just didn't feel like Friday. I think it's because this morning I felt kind of gross, and then I was super tired for most of the day due to the fact I kept waking up last night. Even now I still don't know that it feels like Friday. But I will say, I am definitely looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow. 

I also want to try and get in a run this weekend since I slacked a little last weekend and didn't do anything, and I don't want to make it a habit. I don't know that I'll be able to do what I've been doing every other run and adding a mile, but we'll see how I'm feeling. Even when I don't think I'll be able to, I end up being too stubborn and competitive with myself not to go the extra mile literally.

I've had this dress for about four years now, though I've only worn it a handful of times. I don't even know that I have a reason for not wearing it more often, I just kind of haven't. But I do like it, so I'll have to try and work it in more.

When I thought of how I wanted to style these boots (I ordered them the same time I got the shoes I wore yesterday), I definitely wanted to try with this dress. I originally had planned on folding them down, but I decided they looked better with this outfit laced up. I love them though, and I can't wait to keep wearing them! They're definitely going to get a lot of wear as the weather gets cooler.

Dress: Charlotte Russe. Leggings: Pimkie. Boots: Charlotte Russe.

It'll be interesting, as I keep blogging, to see what appears here. I have so many clothes, and so many of them go untouched. But I don't want to show you the same outfits over and over again, and I suspect I'm going to have to force myself to get a little more creative soon. This will probably get easier once fall rolls around, since it'll be cool enough to wear some more layers, but still. I mean, I think the last time I wore this dress was two years ago, yet here it is.

Pep in Your Step

This is the peplum top I mentioned a week or two ago. Today was my first time wearing it, and I love it. It's so pretty! Honestly, the only reason I even tried it on was because of the back, but I'm glad I did. Such a good deal, too! It was only, like, $13. 

Anyways, I decided to pair it with these shoes, because of the lace. I bought these shoes a month or two ago, but this is my first time actually wearing them. They're so bright (most of the pictures don't even do them justice), I haven't known what to wear them with. But I figured, jeans and a white shirt couldn't clash too much. I felt a little patriotic, but I was assured I didn't look that bad.

Sorry about the lighting in most of these photos, by the way. I took a ton of pictures, and kept playing with the settings, but hardly any of them turned out. I tried my best, but alas, they still don't look very good. I guess I should probably add a fancy DSLR camera to the long list of things I'm saving up for. That list is so long already, it's so intimidating.

When I was browsing through shoes online, I instantly fell in love with the lace inserts on the side. I would have loved the shoes anyways, but the lace definitely won me over. I guess I just love a pretty detail. Though, I must say, they look like a more salmon color. Again, these pictures really don't show how bright they are. I do like them, though, I just need to figure out what to pair with them. Any suggestions?

Because I'm sure you want to know what I look like when I'm talking to my dog.

Top: Marshalls. Jeans: Forever 21. Shoes: Charlotte Russe.

In other news, I'm still trying to switch up my poses. Though it resulted in a lot of unattractive faces. I need to work on that. Most of the photos that actually had decent lighting involved me making the most ridiculous faces. I don't even understand.