NY Resolutions!

 

I've enjoyed reflecting on 2015 {with the help of social media - time hop, instagram, etc} and looking forward to what 2016 will bring! Every year, I try to set a new year resolution - something that can reinvent me!  I already work out in the mornings and read at night so things like 'going to the gym' or 'reading more' isn't really an accurate way to better myself. 

 

A New Year's Resolution can be fun and motivating at the same time.  I've been feeling inspired to get back into blogging after my long hiatus in 2015.  I miss the blogging world, so I'm challenging myself to get back into it in 2016!  According to Instagram, my best 9 (aka the pics with the most likes) captured 5 pics used for blogging, 2 pics from my boyfriend and I's 'band, 1 {vacation} selfie, and the trip of a lifetime to the American Music Awards in LA!  These are three hobbies that I want to strengthen in 2016: blogging, playing music, and traveling.

 

I need to hold myself accountable for these goals but will also look to the support and feedback from all of you!

 

What are your new year's resolutions?  I want to know!

 

 

Summer Prints

Holy Moly!!  Is it August already?  I am still living in the past - back to June - where I took a week long vacation with my boyfriend and his family.  We vacationed at Martha's Vineyard and it was just the escape I needed!  My days went something like this: Wake up with coffee on the back porch while looking at the beach, go to the beach, come home for dinner, shower, head back to the beach (with wine) to catch the sunset, back home to sleep, repeat.  Martha's Vineyard is huge about outdoor showering - like, every house has a private outdoor shower.  It was secluded and still had a perfect view of the beach.

Another reason I like the beach so much is it requires no make-up!  Big hat, sunglasses, sunscreen ,and a bathing suit.  You're all set!  Packing is rather easy - I think I packed one dress for a 'nice dinner', two outfits (hint: this is one ...) to hit the towns in, three pairs of shoes....aaaand 5 bathing suits and 5 swimsuit cover ups.  Just because I'm on the beach without makeup doesn't mean I actually want to look like a bum...

This dress from New York and Company was flowy enough that I could wear it the day after eating a big lobster dinner and consuming glasses and glasses of wine.  The Panama hat is a must when you're out in the sun all day. I couldn't resist the gladiator sandals either. They were a fun twist for this summer dress and, thankfully, I did not have a tan line at the end of the day. {That would have been awkward}

We went into Oak Bluffs this day which is the more 'touristy' spot among the three towns. Any souvenir you want you will find in Oak Bluffs. I purchased a shirt I had my eye on last year. To my surprise, it was half off this summer! My buyer's remorse paid off for once!!!

Dress - NY & CO
Hat - Marshall's
Necklace - Francesca's
Jacket - American Eagle {old}
Shoes - DSW {These are on super sale}


 

Collaboration

 

 

I'm so, sooo happy to talk about my collaboration with one of my best friends!  This isn't the first time that I've blogged about Amber - she was also the main event of my very first post from March last year!  She had just accepted the proposal of marriage to her ol' ball and chain, Danny ;) Their wedding was March of this year and I wish we could relive that night over and over again!  Amber and I basically did relive her wedding night over because we went through their 4,000 camera roll of pics from their photographer, Martin Digital. Amaaaazing photos, by the way!

 

Anyway!  Amber just started a blog of her own and I couldn't be more proud of her!  She is an art teacher in Cincinnati and is so creative! Whenever I have the urge to be crafty, she's my go to person for advice!  One of her blog posts is about Bucket Lists, which really inspired me to make a bucket list of my own.  I have so many things that I want to do or accomplish in my lifetime - everything is just milling around in my head.  Might as well get it down on paper so I have a constant reminder of my goals.  We had a lot of fun making our lists - and we looked cute doing it :)

 

Having a bucket list reminds me that there are no limits.  A bucket list isn't someone else telling me what I should do or how to live my life - my list contains my own thoughts (...and maybe a couple from Amber's list that I copied....).  There are already a number of things that I've accomplished I never thought possible - recording a song, moving to another state by myself, and conquering my fear of heights with the slip n fly (http://www.ohiodreams.com/photos/slip-n-fly).  Now that I've created a list, I'm looking forward to checking each item off and who knows what else I will add to the list?!

 

My outfit:

Shirt - Marshall's

Necklace - Shop Hope's

Leggings - H&M

Shoes - DSW

 

Amber's outfit:

Shirt - H&M

Necklace - Francesca's

Leggings - Marshall's

 

Notebooks - Kate Spade