Happy New Year + Goodbye 2011

Can you believe 2011 is practically over? It went by so fast! Another year (the big, scary 2012 haha) is upon us.
I have many hopes for this new year, and I'm sure we all do. It's fun to think how we're starting fresh. A new year and a new resolution.

So, since I haven't really been doing outfit posts long enough to do a rundown of my favorites from this year, I'm doing a sort of farewell to 2011 and showing what has made it such a fantastic year.

Here are the things that through 2011 have made me extra jolly:

So I don't have a picture for this (yet), but the reason I didn't post for the past two days was because I was with my team competing in a girl's basketball tournament. And guess what?

WE WON THE WHOLE THING!!!
We came in first place :D
YEEESSSS!!!!!!!!!!

I cannot tell you how much screaming/hugging/dancing went down afterwards. Haha, it was a truly triumphant night. We've worked so hard since last year (when we came in a bittersweet 2nd place) to make it this far. And we've proved ourselves. We are the first girl's team at my small, private school to win a first place trophy AND get a banner!

I think that memory of winning will remain at the top of my list.

So, I made it on the Royal Court last Homecoming! I thought that was an honor enough, but then I was voted Spirit Week Princess, which was just plain flattering. I didn't know people thought so highly of me! So here I am with the Spirit Week Prince. Haha, and before you assume anything, we were nothing but friends.

The Royal Court

So this was when I first mastered the winged liner. Changed my life. Haha, I don't know what I'd do without liquid liner now!

I secretly love Disney movies...oh come on! You know you loved Tangled too. Just too darn cute. :)

The friends and experiences I made while at a summer writing camp are priceless. I never felt such inspiration or complete harmony as I did during that week. It was magic. All of us young writers, just encouraging and sharing our work with each other. It was so much fun!

Then of course there were unforgettable bonfire moments. Everybody broke out the instruments they'd brought along and we sang (most of us off-key) at the top of our lungs! :)

Which reminds me. I've been playing guitar for over a year now, and I must thank my cousin in the Philippines for spending so much time teaching me when I visited. Thank you so much! It is a skill I will always treasure.

Also, because of writing camp, I had some of my writings published! Thank you so much. :)

These thrifted Roxy boots have made my fall/winter outfits so much better.

Another shoe that's made my feet happier. These wedged, lace-up boots from Kirsten! :D I'm in love with them.

So I just have to throw in what a wonderful dog I have. Haha, Prince is just too adorable, and I love him. He always cheers me up.

These are my newly bought boho feather earrings from Forever 21. I'm already adding them to all my casual outfits to dress them up!

Another only recent addition of happiness, would be my cheetah scarf, which was a Christmas gift. So happy I finally got one! :) I'd been lusting for one for ages!

Another Forever 21 jewelry piece that's made me very happy. This feather/rock statement necklace has been featured on here so much. It just steps up any outfit!

And of course, my family is something that has filled my life with so much happiness and love. ♥

So remember all the things (experiences, people, etc.) in your life that have gotten you through 2011.

Here's to a New Year filled with even brighter opportunities!

♥

Modern Day Indian

Outfit Details:   Cardigan: Debs   Tshirt: Target   Tank: DownEast Basic   Jeans: Kmart   Boots: thrifted   Bag: thrifted   Necklace: Vanity

Isn't this sweater just amazing!?

You know that last post where I said I went to the mall? Well, this was one of my finds. I snatched it up for $9. I'm in love with the drape, pattern, and absolute coziness of it! When I put it on, it felt like I'd just wrapped myself in a blanket. 

So I went completely with the Indian feel of the print, and styled it with my desert boots, fringe bag, and newly acquired feather necklace. 

And I know some people have made a fuss about how society has mainstreamed "Navajo" and it's an insult to their heritage and all...but really? Its just a name for a style! A style that I happen to love very much. 

It's been raining all day, and although it's not snow, I can still appreciate it. After doing some errands in town today, I was able to come home, kick up my feet, and pop in a movie. The Blindside is a fantastic movie in my opinion. No one does it quite like Sandra Bullock does! Love that woman. 

♥

Hey, Grandma's Have Good Taste Too

Outfit Details:   Jacket: vintage   Tshirt: (thrifted) ella moss   Scarf: (gift) Ebay   Jeggings: Debs   Boots: (thrifted) Roxy   Earrings: Pac Sun

So I went shopping yesterday and on my way in to the mall, I saw an elderly lady walking with her husband, with the same exact bag on her shoulder. 

I just had to chuckle and tell her how much I loved it. ;)

Seriously, the color is just so vivid, you can't miss this bag! I picked mine up at a thrift store for $2 however, and her's looked fresh off the shelf. But hey, serves the same purpose. And in this case, this purse exceeds that! I love how roomy it is. I was able to take off my jacket and stuff it inside with ease once it got too warm inside. Plus, it matches perfectly with my new, teal feather earrings.

So this cheetah scarf is one of my Christmas gifts, and I absolutely love it! I've been searching for the perfect one for ages, and I came across this one online and showed it to my dad. Thankfully, he is such an intuitive guy. I remember checking online for it a few days after showing it to him and being sad to see it had been sold. Yeah, it had been sold alright. To my dad! Haha, I love him. :)

After shopping, I went with my parents to watch The Darkest Hour, which is a pretty decent film. Definitely had me leaning back in my seat, cringing in anticipation of what would happen next. So a good suspense film with great effects - especially when it's in 3D! 

Anyway, hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying your gifts!

♥

Merry Christmas!

Wow, I can hardly believe it. Today is Christmas!

We spend so much time waiting and counting down to this holiday. But honestly? Why is it so important?

I hope you all remember the real reason for Christmas.

Today we celebrate how God sent His only son to save a sinful world. What great love that is!

Anyway, I felt I should talk about the real reason for Christmas, because it's so easy to get caught up in the thrill of receiving gifts, getting new stuff, going to parties, and remembering everything but the true meaning of Christmas. 

Okay, now on to the outfit post. ;)

Outfit Details:   Sweater: (thrifted) Old Navy   Skirt: Wet Seal   Tights: Wal-Mart   Boots: Kmart   Necklace: garage sale

And at this point, my bun fell out. Figures. I never could fight my hair. So side-pony it is.

Christmas is always a simple affair at my house. But I still like dressing up a little for the day.

So, you are probably wondering what I got, right?
The truth is, not much, but I could not feel more satisfied or happy today. It finally hit how it's not about presents, but about how we as a family gather together and find a way to remind ourselves how much we love each other.

However, I did get some nice things ;)
Like a greatly wanted cheetah scarf that I've been searching for forever! And a sweet t-shirt which I'll show on here later on. Plus, some cash for shopping. My favorite would be the envelop filled with pen caps. Because you see, I have a horrible habit of gnawing on those little plastic caps, and my dad has too many pens with chewed caps. He found a way to solve my bad habit. Haha, when I opened it, I started laughing so hard I was crying! xD

Nothing like sharing moments like that with your family. :)

Thanks to every one who has taken the time to read my blog. Every comment and follower makes me so happy! :)

Merry Christmas everyone, I hope you're surrounded by loved ones and have a wonderful day.

♥

Christmas Eve Day

So in case you can't tell, I'm not a big partier. I'd rather stay in at home with a pile of movies, Christmas carols being blasted, and shimmying around the kitchen while baking home goodies. 

However, that doesn't mean I don't have fun putting together an outfit. So yes, even for an at-home Christmas Eve, I wore this.

 Hey, you never know who might drop by!

Outfit Details:   Button-Down: (thrifted) OPI   Shirt: TJMaxx   Shorts: thrifted   Tights: Rue 21   Boots: (gift) Payless   Necklace: garage sale

This is not a typical outfit for me. But I finally decided to try the shorts + tights look, especially since it's so sunny and warm today! Ridiculous, really. I was hoping for a white Christmas, but it just doesn't seem to be in the forecast. 

However, I could not restrain my holiday attitude from appearing in my clothes. Thus, the deep green plaid and cranberry tights. Makes me happy just wearing them together. :) Haha, hope you're all having a great Christmas Eve and are spending it with loved ones! 

Merry Christmas!

♥

Grandpa Sweater

A newly thrifted sweater, and I absolutely love it! The print, the material, the amazing little shoulder patches. :) Isn't it adorable?

Nothing like an awesome grandpa sweater!

Well, not much to blog about...

There hasn't been any snow, and it's very depressing. It's only 2 more days till Christmas, yet I still don't feel very Christmas-y...

Ah well, maybe there'll be a sudden storm that will coat our town in a foot of snow! Wouldn't that be wonderful?

Hope that wherever you are you're having a fantastic time. :)

♥

Raid Your Friend's Closet

Okay, so I've featured Kirsten on this blog occasionally. She's my best friend and we think alike in sooo many ways. One of the many things we share in common is a love for fashion. We feel silly sometimes by how enamored we are by it, but hey, what can I say? One of us has a fashion blog for Pete's sake!

Anyways, yesterday we were hanging out and had an impromptu photoshoot. After rifling through her closet, I put together a look that I believe I may steal. 

So first off: Kirsten's look!

Outfit Details:   Sweater: thrifted   Leggings: gift   Boots: (thrifted) Hot Kiss   Scarf: (gift) Rue 21

The girl's a master at scarves and sweaters. She thrifts the best stuff! The scarf in this picture is actually an early Christmas gift from me. :) Glad to see she's already getting some use out of it. Then of course, she's rocking her fave boots. 

So here's what I put together from her closet:

Outfit Details:   Parka: Sears   Sweater: (thrifted) Gap   Dress: Rue 21   Boots: Payless   Belt: thrifted

Yes, I'm pretty certain that coat and dress may disappear from her closet if she doesn't keep a close on them...

Haha, they're actually both new additions to her closet and I had fun putting outfits together. Isn't that floral print just perfect!? I'm loving the fall colors in it.

I'm taking that girl shopping with me again, because she sure knows how to score fantastic finds!

Have a best friend's closet that you're constantly raiding?

♥