7.04.2018

The Next Step

Hello friends!

If you have been reading my blog for a while now, you remember the very beginning- the days of The Ginger Prep and the eventual step to Freckles and Fashion before we ended up here, at Sadie Jane Styles. Today I decided to take another step in my blogging journey. You can now find me at sadiejaneallen.com! I am so excited to continue writing and sharing my world with you all. I love y'all dearly and I hope you like the new website!

XOXO,
Sadie

6.03.2018

A Yellow Summer Dress

Hello loves, and happy summer! I am officially done with junior year (thank goodness) and finally have time to sit down and share this lovely look. Zaful recently sent me this adorable yellow dress that I featured in my summer wishlist (you can see that here). While Zaful gets mixed reviews, I have worked with them twice and I have always liked the pieces that I have received. This dress, though, is by far the cutest piece I have gotten from them! I adore the color. Yellow radiates happiness and sunshine, which is perfect for the season. The light and airy linen fabric fits the weather as well. I especially adore the straps- they tie in bows. Plus, this dress can be made to fit many body types! For reference, I ordered mine in a size small and it fit perfectly.

I chose to style this dress casually, with a pair of light blue sandals from American Eagle. This outfit is versatile and comfortable, making it ideal for any summer adventure! You could also wear this dress with some cute wedges for a dressier look.

If you like this dress, you can check it out here! It was only $23, making it an affordable way to try out this trend for summer. Be sure to also check out Zaful here.












I hope you all have a wonderful week!

XOXO,
Sadie





5.17.2018

Styles for Summer: Zaful

Hello loves! Now that my school year is winding down to an end and summer is right around the corner, I can finally think about rejuvenating my warm-weather wardrobe. I have been loving bright colors, clean looks, and floral dresses lately, so I thought I would share some of my favorites I found on Zaful! These pieces are quite affordable, making it easy to stay on-trend and in-budget. Plus, they regularly offer discounts to their customers! You can visit their website here!

a darling red dress:


First, I found this adorable red dress that looks just like one I had been lusting after from Peppermayo but for half the price. I can't resist a good floral print! This piece would look darling paired with some white converse and a denim jacket, or dressed up with some lace up heels. It also has an adorable tie-up back, making it a perfect piece for the summer season! You can buy this dress here!

a flowy white top:


Recently I have been loving white blouses paired with nice denim. They seem very French to me, as if I should be sipping a fine wine on a countryside and watching a sunset. I wish that was the case! Despite not traipsing through France at this moment, I definitely love to emulate that look in my style. This flowy white crop top would look lovely paired with a denim skirt and some cute sandals. Plus, white blouses look wonderful if you have a tan! You can purchase this piece here.

a beautiful button up dress:


I couldn't help but include this adorable yellow button up dress in this wishlist! Yellow has always had a soft spot in my heart and the moment I saw this piece I fell in love. I can imagine myself picking strawberries or wandering through a garden in this dress. To top off this overload of cuteness,  the straps are little bows! What more could a girl ask for? You can buy this beauty here.

a textured top:


Lastly, I wanted to include another white top that has wonderful texture! I love how the bottom of this top flares out a bit, leaving room to show a little tum! I imagine this top being paired with some fun floral shorts, cute sneakers, and some nice gold jewelry. This would be the perfect piece to style for both meeting friends for coffee or even a dressier event. You can buy this white crop top here.


If you want to have a look at some more affordable and fun pieces, go check out Zaful's website here. Let me know what is on your summer wishlist!

XOXO,
Sadie


5.06.2018

Prom '18

Hello loves! 

Last night I had the pleasure of attending prom with three of my favorite people- Abigail, Juniper, and Christian. We first ate some delicious pizza at the Purple Onion before getting down on the dance floor. I adored getting ready and getting to wear my dress from ASOS! I hope you all had a wonderful and safe night at prom and I can't wait to attend next year. 











XOXO,
Sadie





4.16.2018

A Life Update and School Advice: Junior Year

Hello everyone! I'm not going to lie, my life has been quite crazy lately, especially since Junior year began. I feel like nothing could have prepared my for the insanity this year would bring. However, I am managing (with the help of a few cups of coffee daily and needed naps along the way). I thought I would give you guys just a bit of an update into my life and some tips I have for managing school and just existing in general.


Firstly, I have always been an overachiever. When I was younger, my dream college was Harvard and I wanted to be a "world peace ambassador" (Did I even know what that was? Probably not). In middle school and early high school, I was extremely competitive regarding my grades, sometimes studying late into the night just to make sure I got an A on a test or quiz. I was so focused on my grades and the numbers that sometimes it distracted my from what I was actually learning. This year has been a bit of an awakening for me personally. I am currently juggling AP Language and Composition, AP US History, AP Calculus, and Chinese 4 Honors. On top of that, I have a communications internship with the Asheville Art Museum and have several leadership positions throughout my school and community. 

Sometimes, though, there is a thing as too much.

This year I have had to prioritize what hobbies and extracurriculars really matter to me. For example, I ditched Indoor and Outdoor track. Why? It just wasn't right for me. I still did cross country (because who doesn't love running a 5K on the daily?) but I knew that track just wasn't a productive use of my time that would truly make me happy and fulfilled. I instead applied for a college internship through my local art museum. To my surprise, I actually got it, and now get to write about art weekly for their blog. While this might not be your cup of tea, it is a dream come true for me. Plus, I get to do something that will help me enter the job field that I desire.The lesson learned? It is okay to quit things that aren't productive for you. If it doesn't set your heart on fire, find something that does!

Another challenge I faced this year was accepting that I couldn't have perfect grades in every class all of the time! I know this sounds crazy, but pressure on high achieving teens, whether it be from themselves or those around them, can make a B seem unbearable. Going into junior year I had this picturesque image that I would keep 100 averages in all of my classes and be the perfect student all of the time. Did this happen? Of course not!!! On my first Calculus quiz I got a 66. I was so upset, stressed, and certain that I would not not be able to attend college and would instead spend the rest of my days wandering the country and hitchhiking. All jokes aside, I was so upset I came home crying to my parents. However, after quite a few academic blunders I can tell you that grades don't define you! I am not that 66 in my teacher's grade book and I am not my GPA. With hard work and many trips to my tutor, I was able to get my grade up to an A and the 66 didn't even matter. Even then, that number still wasn't me. This year I had to realize that stressing myself over stuff like that was pointless! Rather than beating myself up over what I did wrong, I tried to figure out what I could do to fix it. It made the world of a difference for my mental health, which took a heavy hit last semester as I struggled to juggle all of my work. Letting go of the little things helped tremendously with my stress levels.

Organization has also been a life saver.

I cannot stress enough: if you are a student or a busy human being, BUY A PLANNER! If I didn't write down every assignment I had to do nightly, I would probably go crazy. I have to write everything down, from upcoming quizzes and tests to homework due the next day. To keep things fun, I also began writing my outfits of the day (though at school they are mostly just t-shirts and jeans!). If you decide to do extracurriculars, having an agenda helps tremendously as well. Just for life in general, it is always good to write everything you can down.

Lastly, I would advise you to only take on what you can. 

While taking millions of AP classes may seem fun and like it will definitely get you into college, thats just simply not the case. Take classes that interest you and will help you in your career, not just those that will boost your GPA. I am so excited for my senior year because I get to take AP Art. I'm not doing it because of a number, though, I am doing it because I'm genuinely passionate about it. Be sure to take classes that you're passionate about! Besides, colleges will look at much more than a number on a page when deciding to admit you. Plus, school is so much better when you enjoy what you are learning!

This semester has been a whole lot better for me, both grade wise and with my mental health. Seriously, allowing yourself to breathe and not stressing over the little things makes the world of a difference. If you have any tips for students like myself, let me know on Instagram or in the comments below. I hope you found this post helpful and have a wonderful and happy week.

XOXO,
Sadie

4.09.2018

Sadie Jane Travels: Spring Break '18

oh. my. goodness.

After waiting for months for Spring Break, it finally came! I have been looking forward for a week off for quite a while, especially because its been a bit chilly in NC. This year, my family, Christian, and I ventured down to warm and sunny Florida- 30A to be exact! This region of the sunshine state has always held a place in my heart. When I was young, my parents rented a house in the idyllic 30A community of Seaside. I've been obsessed ever since. Last year, we stayed in Rosemary Beach (read about it here) and this year we opted to stay in between my two favorite areas in a community called Seagrove. Getting to relax by the water and explore the area was just the thing I needed to rest and recharge from a stressful school year. I took a ton of pictures and even vlogged the trip. Both are below! I hope you all had a wonderful and restful break.


bathing suit: top and bottom from aerie

We took a boat over to an isolated and quiet island known for its shells! It was so relaxing to enjoy the calmness of the island and search for sea life.


dress: target

This was taken in Rosemary Beach! This town has the cutest architecture and has wonderful stores. Christian and I wandered around the village one evening and enjoyed the sunny weather.


One of my favorite parts of visiting the beach is watching the sunsets! This was taken our first night there while we strolled on the sands.


shirt: hollister


Perhaps one of my favorite stores in Seaside is Sundog Books! I ended up leaving with far too many new reads and a sweatshirt. There is even a record store upstairs! How perfect can this place get?


dress: target

Another evening spent enjoying the sunset!


Nothing beats a smoothie on the beach, especially when its chocked full of nutrients! I got this one at For the Health of It, an adorable health foods store on 30A.


Another snapshot from Shell Island!


We wandered around the communities at Rosemary Beach and couldn't resist picking some flowers along the way.


More of Rosemary Beach!


On our way home, we stopped by Radium Springs, GA. I visited it quite a while and did a blog post on it. Read it here for an LOL! I look so young!


Yet another sunset. This one was at Rosemary Beach!


More Rosemary Beach adventures!


Another Shell Island pic!


There were so many birds at the beach! I got to snap a picture of this beauty while wandering dockside.

and lastly... my vlog! I hope you enjoy. :)


I hope you all had a wonderful Spring Break!

XOXO,
Sadie






3.20.2018

Warm Weather Jams

hello loves!

Now that Daylight Savings Time is officially in effect (let me just say that I am bitter over my lost sleep), there is no denying the arrival of Spring! It has been a bit cold lately in NC, reminding me of our earlier January days and leaving me fearful of snow. Spring Break is right around the corner, though, which means warm destinations lie ahead! Along with this, I will finally be getting my license this week! After a long (and agonizing) year of waiting, I will be able to take to the streets! One of my favorite things to do at the end of a long day or just for fun is to go on sunset drives! No ride is complete without a jam sesh, though, so today I thought I would share some of my favorite tunes for warmer weather. Whether you'll be lying on a sunny beach or driving, these tunes are perfect for the upcoming season. I hope you enjoy!

You can listen to these songs in playlist form on my Spotify here.


XOXO,
Sadie

3.11.2018

Springtime Photoshoots

Quite honestly, I don't think that there is any better way to spend a Saturday then with friends and a camera. Yesterday, OussaNichola, and I met up for a photoshoot! After sitting and chatting for a while we went around our area taking pictures and having fun. Even though it was a bit chilly, I tried to keep a springtime vibe throughout all of the outfits I chose! In my first look, I styled my favorite girlfriend jeans from Abercrombie with a faded green button up from J. Crew (similar). To accessorize, I added my lace up heels from Target. In my next look, I wore my favorite off-the-shoulder dress from Urban Outfitters (an equally cute alternative). I especially love this piece for warm weather outings and I can't wait to wear it to the beach! For my last look, I wore my trusty denim skirt from Forever 21 with a white ruffled cami! I also threw over my green button up and used a bandana from Madewell as a headband. I really enjoyed spending the day with such wonderful people and I can't wait to do it again!

ps- check out the last picture for a real life behind the scenes shot!










Happy Sunday loves! I hope this next week treats you well.

XOXO,
Sadie