Fight The Good Fight

This is my absolute favorite dress I own. It's a vintage Gunne Sax dress that I got from my mother who I believe got it from my dad's mom. I've had it for as long as I can remember, and at first it was used for dress up, but now I can actually fit into it and love it more than any other article of clothing I own. I do love other pieces, but this love runs deep. This dress I will delicately treasure until maybe one day I have a daughter, and then she will hopefully love it as much as I do.

The school semester is almost over, and I am so relieved. I'm getting antsy in my classes, but I am more focused than ever. This is rare for me since usually by the end of the class term I'm slacking off horribly and giving my professor the puppy eyes so they can extend due dates for me (I know I'm terrible). These past couple of months have been the first time I've truly been on my own, and it's been really tough. It's hard for me to make new friends and put myself out there, and I've always relied on my family being there to fall back on, but now they're six hours away, and I've really had to rely on myself. There have been so many times where I've broken down and wanted to give up. Sometimes I had to fight myself and push through tears to get in the car and drive back to Tennessee, because it's the grown up thing to do. I'm teary eyed writing this, because it has been very emotional for me, but I know I will be so proud of myself for getting through it and achieving what I came here for. I'm not giving up and I'm going to keep on fighting, even if what I'm fighting is myself.

Tiny Dancer

 I haven't  had a ballet class in about a year, but I still dance wherever I can. I wish there was a free early morning Saturday technique class, but as there is none, I make do with what space I have in the apartment. For someone who loves late nights and sleeping in, you wouldn't expect early Saturday morning dance classes to have been my favorite, but they were. I loved slinking out of bed, rolling my wet hair into a bun and slowly waking up to tondus and plies at the barre.
I do miss it a lot, some days more than others, but sometimes I have realistic dreams where I'm back in the studio dancing different variations en pointe, and I can hear the piano and my instructor guiding me with her voice in the background. I'm never sad when I wake up like other people experience when they wish their dreams were real, rather I feel happy that I could do it in the dream world, and I look forward to the next night of dancing.
Ballet will always be in my heart and never a distant memory. I will continue to dance until I can not dance anymore, and then I will dream of dancing until I am no longer.

Till next time,

Jess

Chase All Your Cares Away

I am in the best of the best moods right now and it's because I'm staying on top of all my assignments, and I'm going home so so soon. I am also absolutely in love with my outfit today and about froze on the way home. Ok, that last part doesn't sound enjoyable, but I like being chilly outside and feeling instant relief when I get inside in the warmth and snuggle up. It also gives me a normal excuse to consume hot chocolate (People think I'm weird for drinking hot chocolate in the summer. It doesn't magically taste bad just because it's hot outside!?).

I feel like the pictures don't give the outfit justice, because I did them in a rush. The camera is leaning, the quality and lighting are off, and I didn't quite get detail shots like I usually do, but MAN! do I love this outfit. This cardigan is also my favorite that I own. It was hidden among a rack full of clothes at TJ Maxx, and I'm so glad I found it and was able to take it home.

 I decided to triple up again on the challenge since it just didn't seem right to post the challenges the last 2 days. I don't mind tripling up since it gives me more to work with and show you, and I hope you don't mind either =] (cuz I'm doin' it anyways! Muahaha!).

Day 11: Your Spring Fall Essential

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Cardigans! If the weather is as unpredictable where you are as it is here, then it's crucial to layer. I didn't put a picture of me in a cardigan, because I'm wearing one in my outfit that I just posted. Also, LOOK AT THIS CARDIGAN from ModCloth! I need it! (Mom are you looking?)

***Fun Fact Time! The cardigan was named after James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, a British Army Major General who led the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War. It is modeled after the knitted wool waistcoat that British officers supposedly wore during the war. The legend of the event and the fame that Brudenell achieved after the war led to the rise of the garment's popularity.-Wikipedia

Day 12: The Outfit You've had the Best Times In

Sorry for a webcam quality picture, but I used it because this was taken right before I went on my first "date" with Patrick and met some of the best friends I've ever had. It is very special to me. This dress is my favorite and it's already been on the blog twice even though I've only been posting for 2 months!

Day 13: A Lazy Day Outfit You'd Wear at Home in Front of your Bf/Friends

A tee-shirt and jean shorts. Yup. That's it. I see other fashion bloggers with their "Oh, this is my lazy day outfit" or "I didn't bother getting dressed up today" and they're somehow still in heels and their hair done and looking absolutely fabulous. Not this chica. I'm even wearing my favorite Olan Roger's "What the Poop" shirt. 

Welp! I'm ending my super long post here. I hope everyone is doing well and had a swell Monday. I'm seriously in a perpetual fit of butterflies over the fact that I get to see my love in days!

Till next time,

Jess

Lest We Forget

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In Flanders fields the poppies blow

      Between the crosses, row on row,

   That mark our place; and in the sky

   The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

   Loved and were loved, and now we lie

         In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

   The torch; be yours to hold it high.

   If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

         In Flanders fields.

-Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

everything is vintage/thrifted

This is the outfit I decided to go with. The tube skirt is my grandmother's and the top is a vintage thrift find. I felt like putting victory rolls in my hair, but I ran into a little trouble with the apartment so I didn't have time. I hope everyone has a good Veteran's Day. Let's take this time to remember and honor the fallen.

Till next time,

Jess

And You Smell Like One Too!

I don't know if everyone knows that part of the birthday jingle, but if not then the title is probably a little awkward. I decided to post photos I took at Nashville's Zoo. I went last September with a friend and absolutely loved it. It's HUGE! My legs were so tired by the end of the day, and I slept like a big ole baby. Lucky for us there was a wedding going on, and I got to peek at the dresses and decorations. I love weddings. I love the mood weddings put people in and the music and dancing. I also love that people are all sharing in a very special day for two people. I always thought I'd end up working somehow with weddings, and I still may end up doing that, but for now I'll just admire them from afar...or behind the bushes as I was doing with this particular wedding. What? It's not that weird. Ahem! Here are the photos.

 It's a lot of pictures, but I hope you enjoyed it. If you are ever near or in Nashville, you should most definitely check out their zoo. It's gorgeous and one of my favorites. I shall do the challenges in another post since this one got so long, but I haven't forgotten! =] I hope everyone has had a wonderful Saturday, I'm off to see my school's production of Titus Andronicus!

Till next time,

Jess