With school finally out and stress out of my mind, I can finally sit down and share some of my favorite tunes for the season with you guys! There is nothing that puts me in the spirit quite like Christmas music. I recall driving home from my Nana's house on Christmas Eve jamming out with my family to a Christmas remix CD. I couldn't find it for forever, but I just stumbled across it again and had to share some of my favorites. It instantly puts me in the holiday spirit! I also threw in some classics along with some music that reminds me of winter. I hope you all are having a wonderful break! If you have any other song suggestions, let me know.
Hello loves! I am back yet again with winter formal pictures. It's so crazy to believe that twenty seventeen is coming to an end! It feels like just yesterday I was ringing in the new year with my family. I suppose time flies when you're having fun! Regardless, our holiday dance has arrived and passed and I absolutely adored it. I'm not going to lie, I have had my outfit picked out for months in advance. Whilst wandering around downtown Greenville one lazy September afternoon, I happened upon the dress of my dreams. I'll admit, the longer length made me hesitant at first, but upon trying it on I was hooked. It gives off a classy and elegant vibe perfect for an evening out with friends. I went with wavy hair and a winged eye for my makeup as well. Overall I had a wonderful evening and I can't wait to see how it turns out next year!
Wishing you all a happy holiday and a wonderful week!
Holy cow. Somewhere between my everyday rushed breakfasts and crazy school days I had almost forgot this place existed. Quite frankly, Junior year is kicking my ass (more than I would like to admit). I am realizing more and more lately that I hide behind this vision of perfectionism, particularly on here. The simple truth, though, is that NO ONE IS PERFECT. No matter how many posed pictures I post, or how wonderful my feed is, it does not change the fact that I too am human and I struggle. That being said, I am so so thankful for where I have ended up. Change can be scary (and viscerally uncomfortable, too) but I am so grateful for my struggles this year, both intellectually and personally. This school year has been an interesting one, as I am juggling three AP courses and an honors class, along with multiple leadership positions and soon an internship. While its chaotic and stressful some days, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I am so so so thankful for my friends and family for helping me follow my dreams and being there for me when it all becomes overwhelming. These wonderful people are my rock and my home and I don't know what I would do without them.
Now on to the fun part.
I don't want this blog to be a shroud of perfection. I want to be real with you guys. I want to show you who I am as a person, not as an image. I want to be messy and it be okay. I think there is unparalleled beauty in authenticity and the sad truth is that sometimes social media takes that away. I figure if I, one small teenage girl from NC, can help fight against this, its worth it. So here goes nothing. Here's to spreading authenticity, one blog post at a time. If you like it, feel free to stick around.
Hello loves, and happy Sunday! It seems like Autumn is flying by and I have yet to get the full fall experience! While juggling school, sports, clubs, and life in general, I often forget to just take some time to relax and enjoy the wonderful area that I live in. Today I did just that by exploring a nearby town called Greenville, SC! My parents grew up in the area and know it like the back of their hand. As for me, it's still pretty unexplored! The city has the perfect mix between the classic southern charm of the region and the hipster vibes of Asheville. My family and I decided to try out a new brunch restaurant called Golden Brown and Delicious and I think I am in love! I had some mouth-watering apple pancakes topped with goat cheese and a cup of OJ. We also ventured over to the coffee shop next door, The Village Grind. I absolutely adored the quaint vibes that the shop gave off! While sipping my vanilla latte (I quite honestly have an addiction to them), I admired the crazy pumpkin carving they had on display! For this day trip, I styled my chunky turtleneck from UO with my favorite skirt from Forever 21 and some black booties (similar). To accessorize, I added a faux leather belt from a local boutique and my favorite yellow clutch from Anthropologie (similar). I'm so glad I got to have a weekend adventure to enjoy Autumn and I look forward to the chilly months ahead.
Hello loves! Today I am so thrilled to be sharing some of the wonderful images from my photoshoot last weekend with the amazing Oussa Bun! We met in downtown Asheville and had a lovely time wandering around and snapping pictures! I had so much fun exploring the town and he did such an amazing job with the shots. I adore the dreamy vibes that the images in front of the bus gives off- it's perfect for the autumn season! If you are interested in shooting with him, you can find him on Instagram here. For this shoot, I wanted my outfit to be spunky and fun, and this skirt from Urban Outfitters did just the trick! I love the vintage and flirty vibe it gives off when paired with this tee from Urban. I've really been trying to get out of my fashion comfort zone and this look gave me just the kick I was looking for! For my second look, I styled this top that I was sent from Zaful (read my blog post here for a coupon code!) with my favorite denim skirt from Forever 21! This style gives off metropolitan vibes and I'm loving it. The simplicity is hard to beat!
I had such a wonderful time shooting with Oussa! Here are some of the images from the shoot:
Hello loves! I must say, I've had quite the weekend! Between touring Columbia University and attending the Global Citizens Festival, I haven't had a minute to spare! We began our trip with our college tour and I must say, Columbia has stolen my heart! I was at first skeptical of being in the city but I soon fell in love with the lovely campus and rich history. After our tour (and purchasing tons of Columbia merch), we ventured over to the MoMA! Ever since I was little, I have dreamed of seeing the Starry Night in person and I was able to make that dream a reality this weekend. I was so overwhelmed with the beauty of the artwork! I also got to admire some of my favorite pieces by Henri Matisse. After meandering through the museum, we trekked down to Fifth Avenue where I did some major wallet damage! I can't help but shop when I travel. I love buying clothing as a souvenir because every time I get dressed I am reminded of my wonderful trips! After making some purchases, we headed back home for the night. The next day we attended the Global Citizens Festival! I have always watched this event on TV and longed to attend it, so this year I entered to win tickets and I actually got them! We were able to see the Killers, the Lumineers, Green Day, and so many more amazing artists live! Needless to say, this weekend was one I surely won't forget and I can't wait to return to NYC!
Hello loves! I'm so excited to be collaborating with Zaful to show you some adorable midi skirts and maxi dresses perfect for the upcoming season! My calendar for the next few months is jam packed with events and travels, so cute outfits are a must! I especially have been loving maxi and midi dresses, as they provide the perfect transition between summer and autumn. Zaful asked me if I would share some of my favorites from their website and my top three pieces are shown below. They were also kind enough to give me a coupon code for you guys that I will have linked at the bottom. I hope you enjoy!
The first dress I've been coveting is this gorgeous Floral Maxi Dress! I could imagine this styled with some nice leather boots or heels and a denim jacket for chillier weather! This would be an ideal look for dinner with friends or even fancier events like banquets or dates! I adore the boho vibes this look radiates.
The next look is a lovely mustard yellow Wrap Dress! I have been coveting this style of dress for quite a while, and seeing it in this autumn color is a dream come true! This dress is yet another more fancy look that would style quite nicely with some fall booties or even some nice heels.
Lastly, I found this gingham two piece set that would be the perfect transition piece for autumn. I have seen this all over Instagram and I was thrilled when I found it on Zaful! You could style the top with some high waisted jeans, white converse, and throw a denim jacket on top for a more casual look, or wear the skirt with a white crop top as the perfect end of summer outfit. Gingham has been in the fashion spotlight lately and I think its here to stay!
If you would like to purchase any of these items or anything else off of Zaful, you can use the coupon code ZFEN for 10% off! I hope everyone is having a wonderful end of summer and I can't wait to see where Autumn takes us!
XOXO,
Sadie
Want to have a fancier look this season? Check out Zaful!
Hello loves! Although school has started, my adventures haven't ended! My family took a day trip up on the Blue Ridge Parkway to enjoy the sunny Labor Day Weekend and it was absolutely perfect. We set out early Sunday morning and ventured on the Heintooga Road, a stunning drive with beautiful views of the natural scenery. We eventually arrived at our favorite picnic area, complete with old rock tables unlike anywhere else along the parkway. We enjoyed a delicious meal (including a lovely strawberry cake) and admired the surrounding views. For our weekend excursion, I styled my favorite pair of black jeans with a top from Urban Outfitters (similar), an oversized scarf, and my chelsea boots. To top off the look, I added my classic denim jacket from Gap! Enjoying the wonderful weather was the perfect way to spend my Labor Day weekend and I can't wait to return once the leaves change colors!
Holy cow... summer is officially over. It always amazes me how the season flies by and before I know it I've got a backpack on and am walking back into high school. Now that I have entered junior year, I am able to reflect on the past three months and I am so grateful for my adventures and the people I have met along the way. This summer I decided to film two seconds of video daily and edit it together as a sort of video diary. What started as a pet project I began on a whim ended up turning into something much more emotional and meaningful for me: documenting all of those moments that made this summer so wonderful. I cherished every single coffee date with my friends, every inside joke, every hike, and watching this video makes me all the more grateful. It made me realize where all of that time I thought just disappeared went. What was often lost in past years to Netflix or staying home was found this summer in taking risks and getting outside of my comfort zone. If you want to see the video I made, I will have it below. Thank you so much to everyone who made this past season unforgettable.
Hello loves! As my summer comes to an end, my trip out west does too. It's so wild to think about how quickly it has flown by. It seems like just yesterday I was frantically packing all of my clothes and jumping into our car at 3 am, half asleep and wholly excited for the adventure ahead. Now, as I am back home in the NC mountains, I am so thankful for the opportunity I had. We spent the second week of our travels camping in Rocky Mountain National Park with little to no phone service the entire time. I must say, prying myself from my phone was difficult but it was so worth it. You don't realize how much you rely on technology until you don't have it anymore!
Without social media and outside influences on my life, I was able to admire and immerse myself in the beauty of the area. Our first night, we camped at Aspenglen, a more remote campground with few people around us. Possibly the highlight of the trip was stargazing this night, as there was little to no light pollution and I saw my first shooting star! I am a huge space nerd, so having such clarity in the night sky was an amazing experience for me. Another highlight of the trip was a hike we took up to Emerald Lake. We woke up at the crack of dawn and seeing the mountains shadowed in the dawn's faint blue light was incredibly beautiful. Not only did we get to see the Rockies in this quiet and early light, the hike was insanely stunning. I have travelled across the US many times and this was by far one of the most stunning hikes I have ever walked. I fell in love with the alpine forests during our stay here and trekking through one was such a lovely experience. The lakes were incredible as well! We passed four lakes on our way up to Emerald Lake and since we were up so early, we were mostly alone for our hike up!
My phone died halfway into the hike and I was forced to stop taking pictures and just take in the beauty of the mountains. I am so blessed to have gotten to experience this trip and I can't wait to return. I am so glad to be home though! After two weeks of constantly moving hotels and campsites, and a week of no showers and no cell service, home is a welcomed break from my adventures.
Please enjoy these few snapshots from my second week out west! I also made a short little video about my trip. You can find it at the bottom of this post!
