crisis averted

so the problem i alluded to earlier had to do with the wedding. we've been debating whether or not to call it off over the last couple weeks. not the marriage, just the wedding.

it all boiled down to $2,000. it was all the money we needed to be able to pull it off, but we had no way to come up with it. none whatsoever.

let me tell you - we have been stressed over here. like sick-to-our-stomachs-constant-headaches-can't-focus-on-anything-can-hardly-eat STRESSED.

so last night we asked my mom if we could borrow the money, and she said yes! now the wedding IS happening.

it's a relief to have that finally settled. at the last hour. with only 5 weeks to go.

now, hopefully, i can start looking forward to it because, honestly, i've just been dreading the whole thing...probably the entire time we've been planning it actually. i don't think anyone will ever understand just how difficult this time has been for us. my family will be the closest to understanding. i know every wedding is stressful, but this was not your average wedding stress. maybe i'll tell you about it someday, but today, i'm just happy to know there's a way to make this thing happen.

today is my first dress fitting.

maybe now i'll finally get to feel like a bride.

i'm going to try my absolute hardest to enjoy this last month. i think i'll be able to now that we know it can and will happen.

praise jesus!!!

the holiday issue

have you heard? the latest issue of southern flourish magazine came out yesterday!

and it's probably the best issue of all because it's their holiday issue!! i love holiday issues. they're so festive and full of inspiration. they get me into the spirit of the season.

this issue is no exception. it's full of fun DIY projects, gorgeous photos, yummy recipes....annnnnd a really amazing cover story that was styled by annette joseph! annette has worked with gwyneth paltrow (my favorite ever), so i was really excited to see her work in this issue of the magazine.

the coolest part of all is that southern flourish is offering my readers a 20% subscription discount. all you have to do is enter the code, EXPERIMENT, at checkout, and you will receive a whole year of southern flourish for $8 instead of their regular $10. you can download each issue from your email or read it in their page-flip format by using the private link they provide to subscribers.

happy reading & happy holidays!

actually

yesterday was a tough day.

so last night, levi & i ate our feelings & watched love actually 'til 2:00 in the morning.

and even though nothing was actually resolved, i went to bed very happy.

i posed this question on my twitter last night:

"help! i can't tell you the problem, but send me your best advice anyway. thanks in advance."

i loved all the advice i received, so i wanted to pose the same question here. leave me a comment with your best advice. i'm going to do a post later with some of my favorites. and who knows? maybe you'll hit the nail on the head!

(also, please don't worry. levi & i are fine; life is just hard sometimes...which i'm sure you understand.)

getting dressed: week eight

this is what i wore on thanksgiving. i called it "a study in polka dots."

i am so squinty in all of these photos. it was really sunny that day, & i am hopeless without my sunglasses. my eyes look tiny.

here i'm trying to explain to levi how bright it is.

one of levi's little 4-year old cousins was asking me what happened to my skin. he wanted to know how i got black dots on it. haha!

cardigan: j.crew via ebay

white tee: gap

skirt: bdg from urban outfitters

tights: target

shoes: circo from target (kid's section)

what you're wearing: sonya

alright. after a 3-week hiatus, i'm bringing back the what you're wearing series with sonya of sass. sonya writes about her life, her beautiful little girls, her interests, and her loves. she shares her gorgeous photos and her gorgeous self.

also, she's moved like 95,000 times in the last year. not really. i'm exaggerating, but still.

without further ado, i present:

sonya

dress: urban outfitters

tights: target

shoes: minnetonka moccasins

glasses: warby parker

interview questions:

1. where did you wear this outfit?

I wore this outfit to run errands with the girls. We grabbed coffee, hit the grocery store and a few other stops. It's a little chilly out, so I was also wearing a coat. :)

2. where are your favorite places to shop? favorite online stores?

I really love the Gap for its timeless pieces. But now that I moved to Providence and have a UO within walking distance of my apartment, I'm all smitten over their clearance section.

3. do you have a style icon?

There are a lot of bloggers that I love. Annabel of Blushing Ambition is one of my favorites. She calls herself a lazy dresser, but I'm all about being comfortable since I always have too preschoolers in tow. Cute, low-maintenance style is what I'm about. Celebrity-wise, it would be Rachel Bilson. Hands down. Love her.

4. what do you have the most fun shopping for and wearing? (i.e. sunglasses, jewelry, shoes, jeans, boots, sweaters, things with stripes, skirts, you get the idea)

Dresses!!! I really love dresses. I'm a curvy gal, so this is where I always have the most luck. Jeans and blouses are always a toss up. I also really love shopping for slouchy sweaters.

5. is there anything you would love to wear, but are timid to try?

There's a lot I'm probably too timid to try. I keep trying to wear belts over shirts/dresses and always end up taking them off before I leave the house. It just doesn't feel right to me!

and now for the silly/fun questions:

1. if your style spoke a language, what would it be?

This one is hard! I've lived in a lot of different places, and I feel my style is a culmination of all of that. Right now I vary a lot between my NC beach casual style and my New England classics. It's fun to mix it up.

2. what cartoon character best reflects your sense of style?

I don't know if it reflects me, but I think Daria was way ahead of her time. She's my favorite! I went dressed as her for Halloween this year!

3. what time period would you love to have dressed in?

Either the 60s or bringing back the early 90s. I was too young to really enjoy it.

YES on Daria & the early 90s! oh, how i love my 90s! i hope you enjoyed getting to know sonya! i know i have! you can say hello to her here!

and don't forget to enter the giveaway!