my maternity photoshoot.

At 36 weeks pregnant I asked Mr. Q to take some photos of me because I wanted to remember what I looked like super preggo. I love all the pretty maternity shoots on Pinterest and showed him a few of my favorites for inspiration. The downsides of pregnancy for me were constant heartburn and regular morning sickness beyond the first trimester, but one of the upsides was the clearest skin I've had since elementary school - how could I not want to document that? I was also reaping the benefits of prenatal vitamins with thicker hair and longer fingernails, and found myself Googling whether pregnancy could make freckles more prominent (it can). I felt great about my appearance, and that's not the normal state of affairs for me. I'm so glad that I did get some photos when we did - the next weekend we went on our last date night as a party of two, and the weekend after that I was in labor!

One of the benefits of living close to a college town is a freely available beautiful setting! We started our afternoon on the campus of Ferrum College. My dress is from Pink Blush (same style in new colors) and I got the kimono on sale from Motherhood Maternity (similar). Mr. Q insisted that I wear my glasses in a few photos because "your glasses are you."

From Ferrum, we headed to our friends' beautifully tended Zen garden. This is probably my favorite photo from the day.

Finally, we headed back to town. I was inspired by a friend's maternity shoot which included some shots in front of a vibrant mural. There's an art gallery in our town that has a beautiful Van Gogh inspired mural on the side. It was a great backdrop for a few more photos in the last of the evening light.

Linking Up With:

Threads for Thomas

Walking in Memphis in High Heels

Get Your Pretty On

this week's clicks.

get your week off to a colorful start...
SWOON.

Melanie Duerkopp

• A colorful San Francisco Ferry Building wedding.
• A round-up of the prettiest signs for weddings.
• Monika Hibbs' pretty spring guest room refresh.
• A cozy boho baby's room from Project Nursery.

SMILE.

• Desktops: Baby Chick, Mel Armstrong, The Everygirl.
• April Fools' roundups from Apt. Therapy and BuzzFeed...
• and a local known for his elaborate pranks and quirky art.
• Ringo Starr is now a knight of the British Empire!

FLASHBACK.

• 2016: Books that inspired me, an Instagram update, 5 songs that changed my life,
• 2015: a fairytale romance, a spring color palette, and restaurant wedding receptions.
• 2014: table number ideas and reflected on how my passions affect my goals.
• 2013: pastel wardrobe ideas and reflections on challenges in marriage.
• 2012: inspiration for our patio.

pinspiration: floral manicures

Floral manicures are nothing new, but they've definitely been prominent on my Pinterest feed lately! I've noticed that a lot of the beautiful images are from LA Studio Olive + June, but there are plenty of DIY versions as well. I have nothing but admiration for ladies who have the patience and talent to paint these designs freehand on their own nails - for the rest of us, there are manicurists and nail wraps to get our nails perfectly ready for spring.

Would you try floral nails? Do you prefer one accent nail, or ten floral tips?

this week's clicks.

get your week off to a colorful start...
SWOON.

Exquisitrie Wedding Photography via Elizabeth Anne Designs

• Girly honeymoon fashion inspiration from Elizabeth Anne.
• These chic NYC e-pics from Jamee make me want to visit!
• Melissa Oholendt shot these blush pink vineyard nuptuals.
• A romantic Virginia wedding with sweet details from SMP.

SMILE.

• February desktops from Kate Spade and Kitchen Heals Soul.
• Pretty sure I need this kids' golden unicorn lamp in my life.
• Listening to all the calming tracks on Spotify this week.
• Really wish our townhouse had a fireplace on chilly nights.

FLASHBACK:

• 2016: The V-day tag, Literary Junkies, cozy Pinspiration, and what was in my purse.
• 2015: the MoonCats scarf I still wear all the time, fave Oscar looks and an Oscar-inspired outfit for the PMT Style Challenge, my fave pins, and blog loves.
• 2014: my blog loves and shared my fave Oscar fashion, hair, makeup, and accessories
• 2013: fave Oscar looks, Gold Rush cupcakes, City Hall weddings, and winter in IG.
• 2012:inspiration for a feminine winter wedding.
• 2011: my favorite folk and classical instrumentals for weddings.

this week's clicks.

get your week off to a colorful start...
LISTEN.

• I've been listening to the Hamilton Mixtape nonstop since my mom gifted it to me for Christmas - my current favorite track is Usher's version of "Wait for It." I need this on a poster in my classroom: "I am the one thing in life I can control. I am inimitable. I am an original."

SWOON.

Studio McGee

• Studio McGee's fresh take on country club decor.
• From APW, a relaxed and pretty purple wedding.
• A calming master bedroom from House Tweaking.
• Featured on SMP, a chic DC engagement session.

SMILE.

• Desktops: Geninne, Sea of Atlas, Mospens Studio.
• Watch Joe Biden receive the Medal of Freedom...
• and a record-breaking female astronaut's spacewalk.
• Wishlisting Cristina's picks for a home yoga space.

FLASHBACK.

• 2016: a goal-setting moodboard, fave streaming shows, and entertainment picks.
• 2015: Top 3's, cranberry wardrobe updates and black, white, and blush inspiration.
• 2014: favorite Instagrammers and red amaryllis inspiration.
• 2013: January blog loves.

What are you loving this week? Share your favorites

or link to your most recent blog post in the comments!

sunday simplicity.

Ashley Goodwin Photography via Ruffled

“She quietly expected great things to happen to her, 

and no doubt that’s one of the reasons why they did.”

— Zelda Fitzgerald

sunday simplicity.

Nataliya Studios via Style Me Pretty

“Stay is a charming word in a friend's vocabulary.” 

― Amos Bronson Alcott

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and I always like to add a little pop of red to my outfit.  Here are some of my favorite poppy and cherry red picks for the 14th, with a little bling thrown in for good measure!

View this set on Polyvore

1. Old Navy striped crewneck sweater (Similar: 1, 2, 3)
2. Dailylook leather polka dot iPhone case 3. Bath and Body Works Forever Red Eau de Parfum
4. Jeffrey Campbell heart flats from ModCloth  5. Merona cardigan from Target
7. Aeropostale love bracelets  8.ModCloth Refine Mint dress
9. Dior nail lacquer in "Rouge" from Sephora  10. Merona handbag from Target

Linking Up With:
Style Sessions at Style Elixir
Wednesday Style Connection at Unpredictable and Chic
What I'm Loving Fridays at Simply Lulu Style

Style: My Favorite 2014 Grammys Looks

Two weeks ago, I shared my picks for best dressed from the 2014 Golden Globes, and now that awards season is in full swing, I wanted to give my two cents on who looked amazing at this year's Grammy Awards.

Romance

 

E! Online | Just Jared

I am really into flowing, romantic styles right now, and Katy Perry's Valentino Spring 2014 gown was my absolute favorite look of the night at this year's Grammys. It looked amazing on her - sheet without being too revealing - and the music note pattern was perfect for the occasion without being tacky.  Taylor Swift rocked a romantic, goddess style flowing dress in gray chiffon by Alberta Feretti for her performance of "All Too Well."  I love the style of Taylor's dress, especially the sparkly embellishments, but I think it would look even prettier in a colored chiffon - maybe a light teal or peach.

Shimmer/Metallics

InStyle | Just Jared

The biggest trend of the night fashion-wise was probably metallic and shimmer.  Taylor Swift's gold Gucci dress for the gold carpet was perfect for her statuesque frame.  I also thought Queen Latifah's shimmering black boatneck gown was a great choice - she looked so elegant.

Red

E! Online

Stars like Tina Fey, Lupita Nyong'o and Taylor Swift were ladies in red at the Golden Globes, and at the Grammys, Pink was one of the best dressed stars on the red carpet in a formfitting Johanna Johnson gown and a surprisingly feminine take on the undercut hairstyle.  I like the geometric panels on her dress.  Her performance, which featured aerial acrobatics, dance, and a duet with Nate Ruess, was one of the highlights of the night.  I'd love to attend one of her concerts.

Girlie

E! Online | Just Jared

Ariana Grande and Sarah Hyland both wore looks that were sweet and age appropriate on the red carpet. Ariana wore floral Dolce and Gabbana (are BLACK floral prints going to be a big thing this spring?  Because Tina Fey's Golden Globes red carpet dress was stunning and now this... I'm onboard.)  Sarah Hyland's black and white colorblock Emilio Pucci shift reminded me of the Mod looks of the 1960's, but she accessorized with modern strappy sandals and an Art Deco inspired black and white clutch.

Best Dressed Men

Just Jared

Robin Thicke showed us that he is capable of classy during his performance with Chicago - there was no Beetlejuice suit, life-sized stuffed animal, or twerking to be seen, just a classic tux in luxe velvet.

Just Jared

I like when stars look great on the red carpet while still being true to themselves and their genres, and that's just what Blake Shelton did, pairing a perfectly-cut vest and jacket with jeans and boots.  Blake's performance with some of Country's most well-known Outlaws - Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Kris Kristofferson - was one of my favorite performances of the night, and I also loved Miranda Lambert's duet "When Will I Be Loved" with Green Day's Billie Jo Armstrong (somehow I'd missed the fact that Billie Jo released an Everly Brothers tribute album with Norah Jones last year until recently).

E! Online

Also in the "be who you are" category, Ryan Lewis and Macklemore color-coordinated, flashy, but still very well-cut tuxes.

What were your favorite looks at the Grammys?  Which performances did you enjoy the most?

Spring Color: Dazzling Blue

Pantone confused style bloggers and fashion magazines alike when they announced a Color of Spring before announcing 2014's Color of the Year, Radiant Orchid.  For a few weeks, Dazzling Blue was enjoying full-on Color of the Year status thanks to the misconception.  This year's take on cobalt is bright, saturated, and cheerful, and can look modern, edgy, or completely feminine depending on how it's styled.  Designers are creating Dazzling Blue takes on several of our favorite trend pieces - pencil skirts, studded shoes, envelope clutches, cluster earrings, and of course, florals.  Which of the pieces below is your favorite?

Disclaimer:  ModCloth items contain affiliate links.

View this set on Polyvore

1. The Limited pencil skirt  2. Charming Charlie chronograph watch  
3. The Limited envelope wristlet  4. Charming Charlie floral phone case (Similar: 1, 2, 3, 4)
5. ModCloth cluster earrings  6. ModCloth floral dress  7. J. Crew leather ballet flats
8. J. Crew studded flats  9. J. Crew tassel loafers (Similar: 1, 2)

Steeper or Cheaper: Swiss Dot Chiffon Blouses

J. Crew Chiffon Dot Top (out of stock)

J. Crew Factory Dotted Keyhole Top in navy, Dublin green (shown) and ivory

Old Navy Swiss Dot Chiffon Top in wine, navy, white, coral, and lagoon (shown)

One of my favorite purchases so far this season has been a Swiss dot chiffon blouse.  It's a little bohemian, but still very ladylike, and super versatile.  I snagged mine at Old Navy, and felt very proud of myself when I saw a very similar shirt for a hundred dollars more on the J. Crew website.  The J. Crew blouse is now out of stock online but may still be available in stores; as far as I can tell what the J. Crew and J. Crew factory versions have going for them that the Old Navy version doesn't are a thicker fabric (ON's blouse is super sheer and must be worn with a cami) and nicer cuffs - the Old Navy ones are elastic; both J. Crew version feature a hemmed cuff and button.  Old Navy offers the style in a wider range of colors.  For a teacher's salary and wardrobe, the Old Navy version hits the spot!

clicks of note.

get your week off to a colorful start...

Well, I survived my first week with a new crop of middle school students and I'm already loving them.  This year's group is funny, creative, and enthusiastic.  Some of my students have their reservations about reading and writing, but they've all set goals for themselves and are willing to face their struggles head-on.  Right now, my focus is on building relationships with my students so that they trust me enough to ask for help when they need it.


LISTEN.

• New music releases this week include John Mayer's Paradise Valley... is it pay day yet?*  I'm loving the track "Wildfire" (here's a link to the official lyric video) - it's the perfect end-of-summer cookout song.  I'm linking up with Musical Mondays at My So-Called Chaos - don't forget to check out what everyone else is listening to this week!

SWOON.

Style Me Pretty via Stephanie Williams Photography

• Emmaline Bride has rounded up some lovely ideas for using parasols in weddings.
• Check out this sweet, feminine vintage-inspired birthday party from Hostess with the Mostess.
• Julie from Willow Bird Baking shared photos from her sweet Charlotte wedding on her blog.
• I love the graceful muted palette in this elegant Sonoma wedding featured on Style Me Pretty.

SMILE.

• This recipe themed bridal shower from Celebrations at Home is genius - and adorable.
• Jenny Steffens Hobick from Everyday Occasions now has her own store full of party essentials.
• The perfect new wardrobe staples for late summer (from Mix and Match Fashion).

FLASHBACK.

• Last year I shared wardrobe inspiration and home decor ideas in shades of navy blue, daydreamed about a bohemian citrus-inspired wedding, and rounded up my favorite brides in forehead bands.

*No, it's not.