friday's fancies - winning in white

This week's Friday's Fancies theme with Long Distance Loving is winning in white. I love a great pair of white jeans - it creates the perfect canvas for bright, summer colors! The blue in the bracelet helps bring out the pale mint in the tank, and the red hair bow adds some more color. And how cute are the sailboat shoes?

tank, jeans, bow, blue bracelet, bracelet stack, shoes

xo-ally

I'm going to the other Washington for a bit

[photo]

Hello all! Tomorrow I'm leaving bright and early to start a summer job in Washington DC! I'll be working with an organization where I lead groups of students during conferences. If that makes sense. Haha. I'm really excited to be there till mid-July. My work days are all day - think 8am - 11pm - so I'll blog as much as I can when I find the time! I'm working on scheduling some posts now so the blog doesn't go silent :) though follow me on Twitter and (my new! finally!) Instagram in the meantime!

Also, if you have any tips about DC or places I should go on my days off I'd love to hear them. I've never been there so I'd love to hear about it from someone who lives or has been there!

xo-ally

mixing prints

aaaand the .gif is awkward, as usual :P

Rebecca Taylor top | Articles of Society jeans | Sperry shoes | Nordstrom blazer (similar style) | Michael Kors watch | Swank bracelets | Nordstrom earrings

This outfit is all about mixing prints. I've usually kept it pretty simple with my polka dot jeans - adding some color or texture for sure, but staying away from crazy prints. However, pretty much any print would work paired with these jeans, seeing as they are neutral and the polka dots are subtle. A structured blazer helped pull the look together, and I wore my favorite pair of Sperry boat shoes and simple accessories to complete the look.

xo-ally

neon pink

H&M dress (similar) | Chanel sunglasses (similar) | Nordstrom cardigan | New Look shoes | Swank necklace | Swank bracelets | Kate Spade bag (similar)

It has been great to break out the brights lately, and I couldn't resist my neon high low dress! You may remember it from last summer when I wore a similar ensemble. This time I paired it with a cardigan (still a little chilly for May), new accessories, and flat espadrilles.

xo-ally

friday's fancies - memorial day weekend

This week's Friday's Fancies theme with Long Distance Loving is Memorial Day Weekend. I featured many true-blue pieces in this all-American outfit, with red and neutral accents. And I'm loving those glam Ray-Ban sunnies! I so wish I could wear something like this to kick off summer this weekend, but unfortunately, it will be raining in Seattle (what else is new?) I'll have to save it for sunnier days!

dress, handbag, sandals, sunglasses, bracelets

xo-ally

spring trend: mirrored sunglasses

As you've probably noticed, I've been LOVING my blue mirrored Ray-Bans (which can be seen in these outfits here, here, and here). To mark my one month-a-versary of having these sunglasses, I thought I'd do a quick post about the trend that's becoming more and more popular as we head deeper into spring.

Here are some styles to shop:

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Oakley

Ray-Ban

Personally, I absolutely love this trend right now. At first, I was a little wary - I hadn't seen anyone in person wearing sunglasses like these, and I knew I'd look crazy! But I went with it anyways and thought, "who cares!" The only downside is that when taking photos you can definitely see the photographer in the reflection, haha.

There are plenty of styles and colors to choose from, from aviators or wayfarers to shades of purple, green, blue...so many ways to add a fun pop of color to an outfit.

What do you think about the mirrored sunglasses trend?

xo-ally

currently...

With the end of the school year, moving out of my apartment, and so many other things going on, I haven't had time to blog regularly! Right now I'm back in Seattle to figure things out and do lots of job searching. I've had a few offers, but am waiting to find the right fit instead of taking the first thing that comes my way.

Currently I've....

Driven back to Seattle. There's a "scenic view" stop on 90 on the Columbia River. It is gorgeous!

My outfit that day

instagram

Looking at cars. I'm getting a car for a graduation present :)

Researching for jobs. Applying for jobs. Sending out resumes and cover letters. Tailoring all my resumes and cover letters. Preparing for some interviews I have coming up!

Exercising. After sitting around on my laptop doing job stuff all day, it is so nice to do something active. I haven't had much of a chance to run outside (don't enjoy running in the rain. And this time in Seattle it's always raining), but have been going to the gym or doing blogilates videos. This one is one of my favorites:

xo-ally

orange lace shorts

 

Swank shorts | American Eagle shirt | Nordstrom tank | Sperry boat shoes | Michael Kors watch | Swank bracelets | Ray-Ban sunglasses

I'm currently in Seattle, where it has been cloudy and chilly every day, but that wouldn't stop me from wearing shorts! I probably looked ridiculous walking around, but I couldn't resist the orange lace shorts. Probably best to wear them before my tan fades, which, looking at the forecast, won't be long. I paired the orange and cream colored shorts with a ton of other blue pieces and metallic accessories. Summer clothes are my favorite!

Happy Sunday!

xo-ally

friday's fancies - stripes

This week's Friday's Fancies theme with Long Distance Loving is stripes.

top, skirt, shoes, bracelet, bag

xo-ally

the past few days... [graduation/weekend]

These past few days were a blur. Graduation weekend went by so quickly. I felt like I was just going through the motions, with random bursts of emotion and then trying to "turn off" being sad at different points. But I'm very sad that college is over. College has been the best four years of my life (so far). 

Here is a photo one of the professional photographers took when I wasn't looking! Aw :(

[photo]

The ceremony was pretty long but not bad. Walking across the stage to get my diploma was really quick and came up fast in the ceremony since my name is close to the beginning alphabetically. I had lunch reservations with my family after the ceremony and because it was so crowded when we all got out, didn't get as much time after to take photos. That is one thing I really wished I had, was more photos. (And sunglasses!! I forgot to bring them, and it was a weird cloudy-but-bright day so I was squinting in a lot of the photos.)

The latest move-out date for my apartment was Monday at 1pm, so Sunday night and Monday was crazy with balancing time with friends but also time for packing. With the help of a few friends (thank goodness) I had everything cleaned and packed from my room right at 12:59. Locking my apartment door for the last time felt so surreal. I'm staying near campus for a few days with some friends in houses (so jealous their leases aren't up till June!) so I have a little time to breathe.

Saturday night instead of packing we just went to grad parties, told old stories, and played flip cup :)

Sunday night we went to Jack & Dan's to celebrate graduation, here's a pic:

Here's our apartment pre-packed! I miss it this way:

And my room after everything was moved out. So sad and empty :(

On another note, today we went to see The Great Gatsby. In my opinion, it was amazing. So incredible. I loved it. And the party scenes were so cool and over the top and just perfect. It feels like I've been waiting forever for it to come out in theaters so I was so excited and pleased with the result!

Tomorrow we'll have to figure out some things to keep us busy and not dwell on the fact that school is over forever and that we're all going separate ways soon. These past few days have definitely been "post grad depression" and there is just a certain gloomy mood over everything. Blahhh don't make me leave college. Ever.

xo-ally

PS - posting might not be as regular as usual for the next couple days since I moved out of my apartment and have little access to wifi for a few more days. I'll be back up to speed soon though!

graduation day

I cannot believe this day has come. My college graduation had always seemed so far away. In third grade, my teacher told the class that we would graduate from high school in 2009, and college in 2013. It seemed ages away back then, being only 8 years old in 1999. And now it's here. WOW!

Move-in day was in late August, on my 18th birthday. Little did I know that I would meet five of my best friends that day.

September 2009. We look like babies

A few weeks later, I tried out for the Gonzaga Dance Team. Four years on dance team was so much fun and I feel blessed to have gotten to know all of the girls throughout the years.

It hits me at random moments - when I look at the calendar and see what date it is and how close it is to graduation, when I write cover letters to employers saying "I will graduate this spring" and have to change it to "I will graduate next week," and packing up my room. My room! I've lived in the same apartment for two years and it definitely feels like my home. I'm not ready to leave my home or the amazing people here. At least I still get to hang out here till next week!

xo-ally

friday's fancies - easy weekend wear

This week's Friday's Fancies theme with long distance loving is easy weekend wear. This is pretty much my "summer uniform" on a relaxing day - denim shorts and a shirt, with Sperrys (I am LOVING that new pair!!)

shirt, shorts, shoes, rings, bag, bracelet

xo-ally

studying for my "final" final...

My view the other day studying on the grass

I've had a pretty easy week so far in terms of finals, which I didn't expect considering I took 18 credits (the max amount) this semester. On Sunday I had a speech final, but we just went out to a restaurant and gave short speeches. It was so much more fun than a test! 

Since I took some finals early, I just have one more test left tomorrow morning (8am....so early for me....) and I'm about to go to the library. My "study outfit" often consists of leggings or Nike shorts with a t-shirt, but since I was out and about running errands today, I wanted to wear regular clothes instead of gym clothes. (But really - sometimes I feel out of place wearing gym clothes off campus. One time I wore Nike shorts and shoes to the doctor's office and he asked me if I was on the cross country team....#awk have any other college girls experienced this? Haha) anyways, this is what I wore this afternoon and will wear to study. The whole outfit is SO comfortable, especially the denim shorts. 

I also finally found a graduation dress! I had been looking and looking, to the point where even buying online wouldn't work because it wouldn't ship soon enough. Finally I just went to a little boutique and found this mint and pink dress! Perfect for spring and just the right amount of daytime formal for graduation. And it was only $42 - you can't beat that steal.

Haha you can see my purple pillow pet in the photo :P

Have a wonderful Wednesday, lovelies!

xo-ally

navy blue

 H&M dress (similar) | American Eagle shirt | Nordstrom sunglasses | Forever 21 bangle  (green) similar | Nordstrom bangle (blue chevron) similar | Target earrings

Here is the outfit in a .gif:

I found a random french fry on the ground while taking photos, haha:

Navy stripes, sandals, and sunglasses are classic spring staples and make me happy that spring has officially arrived!

xo-ally

bloomsday/cinco de mayo

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Hope you all have a fun day. Since it's my last Cinco de Mayo in college, I'm going to celebrate for sure at the lake in Coeur d'Alene. It's such a nice, warm day (my fave weather) so a bunch of us are going to the "beach" part of the lake. Yay!

This morning I'm running Bloomsday, a huge road race in Spokane. This is my first year doing it so I'm excited. I enjoy running, but today I'm not doing it competitively or with a set time in mind. I'll run part of it and walk part of it with some friends.

Enjoy your Cinco! I'll be back either later tonight or tomorrow with an outfit post.

xo-ally

friday's fancies - may flowers

This week's Friday's Fancies theme with long distance loving is may flowers. The floral bustier on the dress is oh-so-adorable and I cannot get over the little bows on the Kate Spade sunglasses!!

dress, sunglasses, link bracelet, bow bracelets, sandals

xo-ally

electric green chinos & orange stripes

Nordstrom tank (similar) | J. Crew shorts (new colors) | Nordstrom belt (similar) | Kate Spade bag (similar here, and this one has a metal bow!) | Michael Kors watch | Forever 21 bracelets | Nordstrom sweater | Ray-Ban sunglasses | Sperry boat shoes (this exact pair happens to be on sale!)

It's so sunny today! I got to take my bright green chino shorts out of the drawers for the first time in a long time. The warm weather makes me want to do anything but be inside, but unfortunately I have a final to study for this afternoon. Maybe I'll study outside on the grass :) it's crazy to think that tomorrow I have my last actual class as a college student! And only two more finals and my thesis paper. So, so, so weird letting that sink in.

I also love the color combo today. Orange and green have been a favorite color of mine since I saw Blair wearing the orange-green outfit on Gossip Girl (beginning-ish of season 1, where Blair and Nate break up, I can't find a photo of that outfit online). I like to put the colors together if I get a chance!

xo-ally

brights on brights on brights

Lilly Pulitzer skirt | Nordstrom tank (similar) | Nordstrom cardigan | Juicy Couture bag (similar) | Chanel sunglasses (similar) | Michael Kors watch | Nordstrom chevron bangle (similar) | Juicy Couture pink bracelet | New Look flat espadrilles (similar)

It's been a while since I've done a .gif outfit post! Hope you like the look today, I wore my Lilly Pulizer skirt (one of my favorite spring skirts) in the Wild Confetti print and hinted at the blue-green color in the skirt with my tank. It was windy and chilly so I had to throw on my cardigan, but that didn't stop me from keeping the outfit totally spring! I pulled out my white flat espadrilles for the first time this season and I'm so excited because they go with almost anything. Yay for spring clothes!

xo-ally