Tuesday Trends: Neutrals and New Finds

Dress: thrifted Sweater: Forever21 Necklace: H&M Shoes: Payless

I just found this dress at a thrift store by my house. It is quickly becoming one of my new favorite pieces! I'm not really a fan of the "short in the front, long in the back" look. But this dress is just short enough, that the tail in the back doesn't look so strange. 

Also, I've had that sweater since my sophomore year of high school...in case you were wondering. 

I'm NEVER getting rid of it.

Hope you're having a wonderful week! Tomorrow's hump day, hooray!

Yours Truly,

Posts From the Office #2

Well, it's that time of the week again. MONDAY. That means another five full days of life in the office.

Here are a couple things that I've had the pleasure of starting my week off with...

1. First thing is first. Listen to all voicemails left from student's who called after hours. Love this job. This morning I had, not one, but TWO students leave a seven digit call back number. Seven digits?! (In what time period did you give someone your 7-digit phone number?) So what am I left to do? Try all 296 area codes in the US until I reach the correct "Sarah Thompson". 

2. A mom and her son walk into the office to check-in for their campus tour. I hand him (the student) the routine paperwork to look over and an information packet about the campus. His mom literally pushes him aside, looks over his papers, tells me the information we have for him is correct, grabs the folder, and takes a seat. The poor kid just looks and me and then follows his mom out into the lobby. I be he CAN'T WAIT to go to college. 

3. Someone I talked to on the phone today told me that "Ariel" originated in Spain and was a common hispanic name. I mean...he could be correct. Or not, because my parents named me after the rebel preacher's daughter from the movie Footloose. And no part of that movie screams hispanic to me. But maybe...

Clearly, it's going to be a great week!

Any other good Monday stories?
I know you all have them.

Yours Truly,

Looking for {Hope}

My life is full of a lot of joy and many, many blessings. But I still encounter doubt and hardship on the daily. I don't particularly like being anxious, upset, or scared. Who really does, ya know? So, to counter act the doubts and uncertainty in my life, I'm trying something new. I'm training myself to look for symbols of hope throughout my day, every day.

Today, I'm finding hope in...

The sunny, blue sky that somehow makes me feel like today is going to be better day.

The love story that I had the privilege of being a part of last night at my lovely friend Elizabeth's wedding.

And...
The excitement of knowing that when I go to bed tonight, I will get a brand new day in the morning. And it could be filled with anything!

It's amazing how the small things can make a world of difference.
So, where are you finding hope in your day today?

Yours Truly,

She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not

Today, I'm linking up with my sweet friend Michaela to share what I'm loving and not loving this weekend...

She Loves Me:

1. The Olympics. The opening ceremony is tonight!!! I LOVE the Olympics. It's two weeks of world-wide unity and excitement. GO TEAM USA!

via

2. Pastel Colors. I am in love with all things pastel right now. Clothes, nail polish, shoes, paint, home decor...if it's pastel, I gotta have it.

via

3. Kickboxing. My new favorite way to exercise.

via
But obviously, I only kickbox infront of brick walls...you burn the most calories that way. 

4. Quiet Time. There is nothing more essential to my daily living then quiet time with myself and Jesus. Whether that be reading my Bible at breakfast, spending time in prayer during my lunch break, or journaling before I go to bed. Time with Jesus = 100% better day.

via

She Loves Me Not:

1. Crop tops. Why are these in style? NO ONE looks good in them. Just bein' real.

via

I found this one on Etsy. ETSY!!!! Someone is selling this for $34.00.
UNREAL. 

2. Broken DVD Player. My DVD player broke a couple weeks ago. And if you know me, you know that I spend 7 out of 7 nights a week watching a movie. But since the poor thing broke, I'm limited to the 9 channels that I get on cable. It's a rough life. 

via

3. Being away from my family. This is the first summer that I have been away from my family and I am missing them terribly. But I'm hoping that they will come up to Seattle to visit me soon!

And there you have it! What are you loving right now? I'd love to hear :)

Yours Truly,

Seattle City Target

Ok, so my roommate might be a bigwig at the new city Target in downtown Seattle (This is only the third one in the country!). And I might have gotten to go to the big VIP opening last night...

And it was definitely one big Target-style party. There was live bands playing through out the night, fancy food and wine, a put put golf course, and a surprise appearance by Bill Gate himself!

My favorite detail of the night, however, had to be these adorable Target cupcakes displayed throughout the store.

So cute, right???

It was so fun to be at such a big city event with so many important people! If anyone ever invites you to a City Target VIP night, GO!!!!

Or just go to Target on a normal day. Because shopping at Target never falls short of a good time with surprisingly good finds.

What have you been up to this week? Any big events in your future? Target stories?
Leave them in the comments :)

Yours Truly,

I'll Follow the Sun

So it is July 25th and the sun finally made an appearance in the Pacific Northwest! About time. Seattle in the sun might be one of my favorite things in the world. It is a city full of so much nature and the sunshine just amplifies its beauty. It is days like today that completely put me in awe of creation.

So much so, that I couldn't resist stopping to take some pictures on my way home from work.

I'm incredibly jealous of whoever is inside that boat! 

Seattle is full of benches like this. I love that there have been places created to just sit and take it all in.

One of the things that I love most about where I live is that I can see the city skyline, the mountains, and the puget sound, all in one pan!

Pretty cool, huh?

Words can not describe how full of wonder my heart is today. Creation never ceases to amaze me and consistently reminds me of how awesome God is.

How does the beauty of nature and creation bring joy to your life?

Yours Truly,

Tuesday Trends: Friendship and Maxi Skirts

Shirt: Forever21

Jacket: Forever21

Scarf: Forever21

(sensing a theme?)

Skirt: N. Rack

Shoes: Old Navy

My dear friend, Jessica, came up to Seattle to spend the weekend with me! I convinced her to help me out with this week's fashion post :)

Isn't she adorable???

I love her little Toms!

It was so fun to have her visit! We did some thrift store shopping, movie watching, and some serious trivia dominating at a sport's pub down the street from my house (We won a whole $10!).

Also, I decided to give my blog a little make-over today. You like? Suggestions?

Yours Truly,

P.S. I know this is a day late but...She chose JEF!!!! Thank goodness. Let's be honest though, Arie didn't really stand chance...

DIY: Coat Hooks

Materials:

a piece of wood

paint

paintbrush

4 hooks

(I found mine at Anthropologie and Home Depot)

sandpaper

screw driver

pencil

Sand faces and edges of your piece of wood

Paint the wood.

FUN FACT: You can buy paint samples at Home Depot in ANY color for just 2.79

Once paint is dry, sand again around edges for a weathered look.

Mark with a pencil where screws will go.

Use screw driver to attach hooks to wood.

And...

I'm moving into a new house soon and I think this will look great on the wall of my new bedroom to house my favorite coats and purses. But, it would also make a great coat rack to hang by the front door...I'll let you know what I decide.

Happy Monday!

Yours Truly,

All Good Things Must Come to an End...

I think you know what I'm talking about.

The season finale of the Bachelorette is tonight. It's down to Jef and Arie. In honor of this special day and Emily's life changing decision, today's blog post is dedicated to, what is likely to be, the MOST DRAMATIC FINAL ROSE CEREMONY OF ALL TIME.

Here's a little bit about her final two hopeful, "I'd give anything to be Ricki's new dad", madly in love with a women I met two months ago, bachelors...

Up first, Arie.

Occupation: Race Car Driver      Hometown: Den Bosch, Netherlands

Pluses to choosing Arie:

-They share a common interest and lifestyle of racing

-Attractive...for the most part

-Jef will still be single

Minuses to choosing Arie:

-The in-laws

-Wants to be Ricki's "friend"

(pulleasse, we all know you'd way rather just have Emily all to yourself)

-Her lips will always be chapped from all the non-stop make-out sessions

And secondly, Jef.

Occupation: Co-owner of a sustainable water bottle company      Hometown: St. Georgia, UT

Pluses to choosing Jef:

-He IS the perfect man

-He is committed to bridaling his passions

-He is witty, stylish, funny, incredibly attractive, wears pants that fit him, 

writes beautiful letters, has a loving family, and is in every way PERFECT 

Minuses to choosing Jef:

-I can't be with him

And for your entertainment, I have found someone who agrees with me whole-heartedly...maybe even more so.

I think that about sums it up. You can better believe that I will be counting down the hours until Emily reveals her choice to America. They both have one more chance tonight to win Emily's heart. Will you be watching?

Yours Truly,

Birthdays, Summer Cleaning, and True Love

Here's what I'm up to this weekend...

1. Church! Disclaimer -- the church in my photo collage is not my actual church. I wish. But I will be going to a church on Sunday morning. 

2. Sunshine! I am praying that this weekend will be full of it.

3. I've been trying to clean my room for the past three weeks and I always somehow get...distracted. So this weekend I'll be, once again, attempting to wash my sheets and clear some floor space.

4. A couple of my roommates and I are going to treat ourselves to breakfast out this weekend. Hello pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacons, and maple syrup :)

5. The Bachelorette finale is on Sunday night! I am team Jef all the way. But if Arie wins, I plan to nominate Jef as the next bachelor, apply for the show, fall madly in love with the man that I know I'm suppose to be with, and live happily ever after.

6. There will also be some major celebrating this weekend for my wonderful roommate's birthday. The big 22 on Saturday! I feel so blessed that she is a part of my life and I cannot wait to celebrate this special day with her!

7. The weekend will also include some shopping... :)

8. And finally, a new DIY project that I'm suuuuuper excited about! More info to come later ;)

What are you up to this weekend?

Yours Truly,