photography

White Lace // Two Ways

Happy Friday! One of my favorite things about the beginning of fall is still being able to wear summer pieces with light layering. It's hard to believe that only 1 week ago I was able to wear this dress comfortably and now, back in PA, its cold, windy, and rainy. Yesterday, Ava and I just spent the day cuddling inside watching classic movies and polishing off a whole bag of gold fish. I fell in love with this dress the moment I saw it in the store. The delicate lace mixed with the bell sleeves and open back is so dreamy and whimsical. Plus, it's under $30. To switch to a more fall appropriate look, I added this utility vest, black hat, and swapped out the pink sunnies for rose gold ray bans. The vest is a great piece for layering with effortless style.

I hope everyone has a great weekend! It's supposed to be more of the same weather around here with the cold and rain. Booo. Looks like Ava and I will be catching up on more classic movies and snacks. Not too bad lol. ;) 

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xo, Amanda

Little Gray Dress

This flowy marbled swing dress is one of those dresses you can simply throw on with ease and head out the door. It's so comfy and I've been gravitating towards gray colors lately. It's fantastic to pair with olive, burgundy, and blush. Some of my fall favorites! I wore this out for our first night in Rehoboth. It was the first time that I had worn these heels and they do need to be broken in a bit before they feel comfortable. They do fit true to size though. The lace ups are totally eye catching and on trend.

I've got so many photos still to edit from our trip!  I'm thinking of doing a separate post on just the family photos once they're all done. This always happens with my vacation photos. I end up taking so many and then procrastinate on editing them. Does this happen to anyone else with their vacation photos??

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xo, Amanda

The Blue Peter Pan

Hey all! Happy Wednesday. It's no secret that I'm such a sucker for peter pan collars As soon as I see one, I instantly go weak in the knees! This blue dress from Dressfo features a peter pan collar, fit and flare waist, and a subtle floral pattern running vertically along the chest. I'm wearing a size small and find it to be true to size. It's just slightly tight in the arms, but nothing bad. The blue color is so striking and pairs wonderfully with burgundy for the fall. This dress is under $30 making it a fantastic deal for the amount of wear you can get out of it. I was even a bit warm while wearing it during the day so there's no doubt it'll keep you toasty. The day started started out being cooler and turned warm once the sun showed up later in the afternoon. That's fall weather for you!

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xo, Amanda

Osea Skin Care

Skincare all Osea c/o: Ocean Cleansing Mudd || Essential Corrective Complex || Blemish Balm (moisturizer) || Ocean Cleansing Milk (can be used to dilute the mudd if its too strong)

Outfit: Plaid Button Down || AG Skinny Jeans || Daniel Wellington Watch c/o || Humble Chic Rose Gold Ear Crawlers c/o || Jackie Kennedy Unity Band || Jackie Kennedy Emerald Unity Band ||

One thing I'm very passionate about is skincare, especially since I've struggled with it since my early teens. I have very acne prone skin that I've concluded is due to hormones, aka that time of the month. Since I cannot control that, I focus on what I eat and put on my skin. Now, when I started using Osea, fabulous product by the way, I had a minimal breakout. I took some photos each week as soon as I woke up in the morning. The weekly photos above are from my iphone, completely untouched, and I'm not wearing any makeup. I've had far worse breakouts before, to the point where you could barely see any skin so please do not think I'm complaining about how my skin looked in the before weekly photos. I've had three horrible breakout points in my life and I'm talking about the times where acne dominated my face and you could barely see skin. That's how bad it was. Two times were when I stopped using Proactiv and the last when I was in my first trimester of pregnancy. I'm always trying to find that perfect product so I'm constantly on the look out for new skin care items.

I first heard of Osea when I received my Fab Fit Fun summer box. The Atmospheric Protection Cream was included and I could not get enough of it. I actually would mix it with my foundation to create a beauty balm and add extra moisturizer into my routine. Once I saw they had other products specifically for acne/oily skin, I knew I had to try them, plus the line is made with natural ingredients.

I started using the Cleansing Mudd in the morning and night to remove my makeup and sweep away any excess oil. I would warn to be careful around the eyes since this does have a tingly feeling from the tea tree and peppermint oils. The tingly feeling is what I loved most about the cleanser! My skin felt so clean and did not feel tight, which I often find is a problem with cleansers. It does not lather up, but rather stays more liquid. The Cleansing Milk was included to dilute the Mudd in case I felt it was too strong, however I did not find a need to use it. How it works from the Osea website, "Macrocystis, Laminaria and Fucus are mineral-rich seaweeds with trace elements that smooth and hydrate the skin. Natural fruit acids exfoliate and deliver nutrition to the pores, improving skin tone and brightness. Anti-bacterial Tea Tree Oil deeply purifies, promotes a healthy pH balance, prevents blemishes, and enhances skin's appearance."

I then used the Essential Corrective Complex after the Mudd Cleanser. This is a small glass container with a roller ball. I do wish this came in a bigger size since I used it all over my face instead of as a spot treatment. For me, I need to prevent breakouts from happening instead of treating when they do come out. This oil feels so good going on and again, does not dry out my skin at all. I love this stuff! As you can see from the photos, I used a pretty good amount of it in one month. This really helped clear out the acne that I had. From the Osea website, "A pure blend of botanical and essential oils, this non-drying acne treatment rapidly heals blemishes, regulates and calms sebaceous glands and prevents scarring. Contains Tea Tree, White Thyme and Juniper which all have powerful natural antiseptic and antibacterial properties."

Finally, I finished up my routine with the Blemish Balm, a moisturizer that has, "A proprietary base of three seaweeds combined with a unique blend of Cypress, Juniper, and Rosemary essential oils detoxifies, reduces inflammation, regulates sebum production, heals and tones." This is very light weight and absorbs instantly into the skin. This is a great option for the types of skin that cannot handle a heavier cream moisturizer.

My final verdict after using these products for one month is that they DO work. I did have another breakout at the end of the month, but it was smaller and did not last as long as they typically do. Hey, I'll take a less severe breakout any day of they week!

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xo, Amanda

Pink Lace Dress

Pink Lace Dress || Keds Sneaks || Pink Sunglasses || Mini Burgundy Saddle Bag || Daniel Wellington Watch c/o || Humble Chic Earrings c/o || Jackie Kennedy Unity Band || Jackie Kennedy Emerald Unity Band ||

Happy Monday! This past week my family and I had our annual family vacation in Rehoboth Beach, which was much needed if I do say so myself. We all had a great time and felt so thankful to be able to spend some quality time together. We had just about every type of weather you can think of for the fall, but honestly I really enjoyed that! Some days were sunny and hot, some were cloudy and cool, some were windy, and some were rainy. There was very limited wifi where we stayed so I wasn't able to use my laptop. It was nice to unplug for a bit and yet still have a little bit of access to what was going on in the world. Ava did absolutely amazing too! She really is a trooper on all of my trips. Traveling with kids is not the most relaxing thing in the world, but it does bring so much joy to watch them having fun and experience all of these new things with you.

On one of the hot days I was able to pull out this pink lace dress. It fits my body incredibly well (wearing a small) and has the prettiest crochet lace details and cut out in the back. How gorgeous is the eyelash trim on the bottom hem too?! Obviously, I adore the blush color. Even though its fall now where burgundy and olive reign supreme, I still love to wear colors that would be considered more for spring and summer. Think a pink sweater or coat that will look just as chic in the fall or winter and let you stand out from a crowd of darker hues.

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xo, Amanda

Ladder Cut Out Top

Happy Fri-yay! This week has honestly been such a whirlwind. A little r&r is an absolute must this weekend! I actually wore this look last weekend while I was downtown getting some errands done and of course grabbing a pumpkin spice latte =) They are literally fall in a cup <3 First off, I have been obsessing over all things burgundy lately. I cannot seem to get enough! This top not only is my current color crush, but also has the cutest cutouts along the sleeve, which gives is a unique spin. Plus, it's only $8.99! Yesterday I mentioned how I also got some black sunnies recently and these are one of the pairs . I love the oversized frame, hello Jackie O! 

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

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xo, Amanda

Olive Green Side Split Dress

Olive Green Shirt Dress c/o || Similar Hat || Freyrs Rocco Sunnies c/o || Belt: Who What Wear Target || Marc Fisher Heels || Kate Spade Bag || Humble Chic Choker c/o || Humble Chic Pearl Earrings c/o || Jackie Kennedy Unity Band || Jackie Kennedy Emerald Unity Band || Daniel Wellington Watch c/o ||

This dress is so cute and comfy to wear! I love the olive green color, especially for the fall. The material is silky and feels great against my skin. It is a longer length with a side split that buttons up if you wish, which I did. This dress does come with an olive green tie at the waist as well, but I decided to add my own belt to customize the look. That's what's great about this dress, you can style it so many different ways! Dress it up with some heels or down with some booties or flats. Endless possibilities. These sunnies from Freyrs are too fab! I'm dying over the gold rims and pink mirrored lenses. I did end up getting some black sunnies from Freyrs too because I feel like I have so many pink ones, but you can never have enough pink right?!

Can we all take a moment to look at my cutie little Rockette too?! Look at Ava do her kick haha. Also, her shoes are little cats. Enter the heart eye emoji here =) <3

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xo, Amanda

Plaid Shirt Dress // Transition Style

Nothing gets more classic than plaid in the fall. This shirt dress makes it easy to transition from the warm days of summer into the crispness of fall. The way I'm wearing it is perfect for right now with cool mornings and warm afternoons. Simply add a cozy blanket scarf and a jacket for when the weather cools down a bit. I always use leopard as a neutral in the fall so it's no surprise I added some pops of it with the rich colors of this shirt dress.

I hope everyone has been having a good week so far! We're half way through already. Counting down until the weekend, haha!

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xo, Amanda

Be Kind Today // Perosnal Note

My friend Brittany joined us for the day!

Be Kind Today shirt by Doc Shorty c/o || Paige Skinny Jeans || Leopard Loafers || Freyrs Sunnies c/o || Tory Burch Bag || Daniel Wellington Watch c/o || Jackie Kennedy Unity Band || Jackie Kennedy Emerald Unity Band ||

Happy Monday, friends! This post holds a special place in my heart. Not only do I 100% completely agree with the "Be Kind Today" message, but 10% off profits are donated to Multiple Sclerosis research. The shirt is sooooo soft and made in the USA. What's not to love?! Everyone needs a comfy cool t-shirt to wear. Why not make it one that is insanely soft, made in the USA and donates a portion of its profits to a worthy cause. That's a win in my book!

For those of you who do not know, my mother was diagnosed back in 1997 with MS. She unfortunately had a very bad form of it and declined quickly. I was only 9 years old at the time and my brother was 7. She lost use of her legs first and then over the years lost use of her hands. She eventually became bed ridden, only being able to get out of bed with a hoyer lift. Even then, she had trouble being able to sit up and needed a wheel chair that would recline. It was hard for me to accept this was happening to my mom at such a young age. My brother and I had to mature quickly and help out as much as we were able to. My dad took care of my mom every single day until the very end. I'm not going to lie and say it was easy. It was incredibly hard, but we all did it. We all pitched it and tried to make life as normal as we could. We took as many trips as we could together, got my mom out and about, and kept her up to date on everything that was happening in our lives outside of the house. We made what fun we could even though she was in bed. We'd watch classic movies together, some of our favorite tv shows, gossip about news events and our lives, bring home her favorite drink from Starbucks or little surprises we saw that we thought she would like, look at photographs I had taken on the tv, and much more. She made it to my wedding too. She was such a trooper that day and I was so proud of her. In later years she could only stay out of bed for 1 or 2 hours. That day, she came to the ceremony, went home to take a nap, and then stayed for the entire reception. She had an amazing inner strength.

As I said, over the years she would lose use of certain things. First and immediately were her legs, then her hands, bladder, some short term memory, speech issues, and eventually having trouble swallowing. My mom never gave up though. She was a fighter and always had hope. She never wanted to be counted out of anything. She raised us and was an amazing mother even from her bed. I couldn't have asked for a better mother than her and I can only hope that I'm half as good of a mother to Ava as she was to my brother and I. I had a magical childhood and I attribute that to both of my parents. My mom lost her battle on December 27, 2013. My dad, brother and I were all holding onto her as she passed away in our arms. Justin had to hold me up because of how hard I was crying and screaming. I couldn't even breathe. MS changed all our lives forever. It is a terrible disease that currently has no cure. It doesn't get talked about enough, but I keep hearing more and more people being diagnosed with it. I've included some links within this post to the Multiple Sclerosis website. If anyone else has gone through something similar, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

This photo collage is from my first post ever here on this blog, which I dedicated to my mom. You can view it here.

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xo, Amanda

Comfy Tunics

Finally, it's Friday! Even though this was technically a short week with the holiday, I still cannot be more thrilled when the weekend rolls around. With that in mind, I have two super comfy looks with these slouchy tunics from Mint Julep. I don't typically wear slouchy tunics, but found them to be easy to throw on and go when I was running around town doing some errands. The first look is great for fall with some skinny jeans and tall boots, which are waterproof and have the softest lining inside. The second look is all about casual cool with some skinny jeans and white sneaks. White sneaks to me are the epitome of cool girl style. Both tunics are meant to be worn a bit big. I'm wearing a size small. These would even be cute as some pj's to snuggle up in!

Does anyone have any plans for the weekend? I think mine is going to be spent cleaning around my home and putting some of my summer clothes away, even though its been kind of hot out lately! I'm hoping the humidity will start to die down soon. Oh! Has anyone taken a peek at Lauren Conrad's new Runway collection?? It's absolutely gorgeous with luxe and soft feminine pieces for fall. Her first Runway collection last year had so many beautifully crafted pieces that were amazing quality. I can't wait to take a look at the new one!

 

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xo, Amanda

Red, White, and Blue Plaid

Plaid Top (Under $20!) || A&G Jeans || Marc Fisher Heels || Tory Burch Bag || Karen Walker Sunnies || Humble Chic Stud Earrings c/o || Daniel Wellington Watch c/o || Jackie Kennedy Unity Band || Jackie Kennedy Emerald Unity Band ||

Plaid has always been a fall favorite of mine. It's the one pattern that I always turn to and know how easy it is to dress up or down. I personally love wearing it on the weekends for a casual cool look. This top is so comfy and will definitely keep you warm in the cooler temps. I was actually a bit too hot on our Jim Thorpe trip wearing this. The afternoon hours ended up being a bit warmer than expected. On the flip side, it's good to know how cozy it'll keep you in the crisp fall air! I love the patriotic colors, which were perfect for the Labor Day weekend.

The weather has been jumping all over the place in PA. One day it'll be nice and cool in the low 70s and then the next it'll jump right back to the humid 90s of summer. I feel that's how fall always is around my area. Layers are essential! September has always been one of my favorite months, May being the other. The sky always appears to be sapphire blue in September with still warm days and cool nights. I was always excited to go back to school too, haha. Yep, I was one of those kids. Maybe it was just the back to school shopping lol. In any case, September has that feeling of starting anew, most likely because of the new school year, just like May has the same feeling because of Spring blooming.

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xo, Amanda

Burgundy Floral

Happy Tuesday, friends! I hope everyone enjoyed their Labor Day holiday and the long weekend. Now that Labor Day has officially passed, I'm completely in a fall state of mind! I also had my first PSL from Starbucks for the season <333 Yum! We did so much from picnics, ice cream, having friends over, Steam Town's Railfest, and a trip down to Jim Thorpe. So many wonderful memories.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous this past weekend, perfect for this burgundy floral dress from Shabby Apple. I'm obsessed with the color and print and how the dress hugs my body in just the right way. The jersey material is so comfy and soft. Oh, and twirling, of course! Haha, you know me and my love for dresses or skirts that twirl beautifully. How darling is little Ava too?! I got this dress for her a few weeks ago from Target and thought it would match nicely with this one. I love being able to wear matching items with her. My mom always used to the same with me and I always thought that was so neat.

Burgundy is one of my favorite colors for Fall. That and olive tones mixed with neutral accessories, but for the sake of this article we'll stick with burgundy for right now. I chose tan or cognac accessories to go with this dress to have that gorgeous fall feeling. Other colors that would go well are pink, gold, champagne, navy, and peach.

 

 

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xo, Amanda

Crossover Sweater

Finally, it's Friday! This outfit has so many staple pieces that you'll find me wearing all throughout fall, especially on the weekend. To start off with, a cozy sweater, skinny jeans, chic and comfy heels with a fab bag to carry all of my essentials. It's a go-to look that never fails. This crossover sweater is so soft and felt heavenly to have on! The cross over detail is unique and adds a bit of a cropped look to it. As long as you have a medium rise jean on the crop effect isn't too bad. Plus, I love the mock turtleneck. I've been leaning towards a lot of gray, burgundy, and olive tones for fall if you haven't noticed, haha! Yesterday was the first day of meteorological fall and it did not disappoint. The air had a nice cool crispness to it that I just drank right in. Perfect sweater weather. 

I hope everyone enjoys their weekend!

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xo, Amanda

Fancy Feet

One of my favorite things about fashion is being able to mix and match different types of styles to make an outfit. Here, I'm mixing casual and fancy for a cute transitional look. On that note, happy September! The striped dress is a thicker material with a 3/4 sleeve. Perfect for fall weather. The weather was deliciously cool yesterday so I threw on a jean jacket, which is the one item I continually grab for once fall hits. I'm wearing a size XS in the dress and felt very comfortable in it. Totally a staple item and for only $15.99! Now, onto these gorgeous vintage inspired fancy shoes. Oh, my heart fills with joy every time I look at them! They fit true to size and are completely comfy to wear. I had mine on all day walking around and would not complain about them. They are a mary-jane style with an almond toe and the prettiest floral jewels that sparkle and shimmer beautifully. So eye catching! The block heel is also a big trend for fall.

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xo, Amanda

Black Bow Tie // Pops of Pink

Zaful Lace Dress c/o || Zaful Cat Sunnies c/o || Zaful Rock Stud Heels (Great Valentino Dupes!) c/o || Ralph Lauren Bag || Christian Paul Watch c/o || Jackie Kennedy Unity Band || Jackie Kennedy Emerald Unity Band || Jewelry Be Mine Earrings c/o ||

This outfit has to be my favorite that I've worn recently. Everything about it feels chic and it just clicks. Ever have an outfit where you put it together and you instantly know its a winner? That's how this one felt that moment I put it on! The white lace dress with the black bow tie is absolutely gorgeous and comes with a nude slip underneath that is detachable. A size small fit me perfectly and the quality is fantastic. I'm so obsessed with it! Its darling for day time, but I can definitely see wearing for a fancy night out. Black and white it always a flawless combo that will never go out of style. Add in a few pops of pink and voila!, you have some fabulous flair. Any pop of color will work, but you know pink is my favorite ;)

The rock stud heels are amazing dupes for Valentino's for only $30.99! Compare that to the $900 Valentino's and well, you know which ones I'm going with! They fit comfortably and true to size. I'm wearing a 37, which is a 6 1/2 US. The cat eye sunnies are soooo cute! I love cat eye anything basically, haha. I'm definitely the cat lady =) I find that some sunnies tend to slide off of my nose, but these stayed on very well and the purple mirrored effect fit in so well with the color scheme. 

I seriously cannot believe this is the last day of August!! Time is flying by so quickly anymore. I feel as if I blink my eyes and the whole month is gone. Does anyone have any end of summer plans coming up?

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xo, Amanda

Off The Shoulder Floral Print

SammyDress Off The Shoulder Dress c/o || Rebecca Minkoff Bag || AMI Club Wear Sandals c/o || Pink Sunnies || Christian Paul Watch c/o || Jackie Kennedy Unity Band || Jackie Kennedy Emerald Unity Band || Similar Tassel Earrings ||

If you've been reading this blog for a while, then you know I love floral prints whether on dresses, skirts, or tops, its the one print that has beautiful romantic qualities. This off the shoulder number from SammyDress is perfect for the end of summer and beginning of fall. I am always a bit sad to see summer leaving, but secretly (or not so secretly haha) excited for fall to get here. I'm still trying to get in as many summer pieces as I can though! I love how the dress has cute little ruffles along the sleeves, is a one size fits all with an elastic waist, and feels super comfortable to have on. I wore this dress out this past weekend while running errands with Ava and of course our daily walks and ice cream dates. It's a fantastic dress to just slip on and head out the door. It's also only $15.48!

For those of you not familiar with the company, here is aSammy Dress review from my last post with them. They sell bohemian dresses, lace and vintage reproduction dresses, trendy tops, bags, shoes, you name it. I had not heard of the company until they reached out to me, but the prices are fantastic and shipping took about 2 weeks. The same deal with all over seas companies.

 

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xo, Amanda

Soft and Feminine

This top is the epitome of feminine style. The pink color mixed with ruffles and little cotton dots breathes new life into the everyday blouse. I simply fell in love the moment I saw it! I wanted the look to be soft with pastel and neutral colors creating a palette of chic femininity. This top would also be great with a pair of dark skinny jeans and leopard flats or a bright blue skirt and some neutral pumps.

I hope everyone had a fab weekend! I made sure to soak up as much of summer as I could with little Ava bug. We're literally always running around or outside. There was lots of ice cream and walks this weekend haha. One of the local Penn State campuses had their yearly craft show too that we always attend. It's great to see all of our favorite vendors and catch up with everyone.

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xo, Amanda

Jumpsuit

Happy Friday, loves! Woohoo for the weekend! Speaking of weekends, can you believe that Labor Day weekend is next week?! Seriously, where is the time going? This jumpsuit that i'm wearing would be perfect for the Labor Day holiday whether being spent at the beach or at a backyard bbq, this is sooo comfy and feels silky against the skin. It's actually pretty flowy, but I wanted more definition to my waist so I belted it. The weather has been getting a bit warm again and this felt great to have on in the heat. I also have on another choker, which I wore to a wedding last weekend as well. It's a chic and elegant way to try out the choker trend going on. It's so light weight too, you barely notice that it's even on! This is actually the choker that convinced me to give the trend a try. I was very iffy as to whether or not I'd get one, but this totally changed my mind.

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

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xo, Amanda

Transitional Suede

Over the past few days we've been having some cooler weather, thank goodness!, so I've been able to wear some of my favorite transitional looks. To me, this is everyday cozy chic. You can never beat having a white sweater on hand to cuddle into. They're great for layering in the winter too. This one from Down East Basics is sooo soft with a slightly over sized fit. It would actually be perfect with some leggings. I opted for these suede shorts from South Moon Under, which is one of my fave stores to stop in! There is one in Rehoboth Beach that I visit when in the area and also one (where i got these shorts) at the National Harbor. Suede is HUGE for fall, especially with a nod to the 70s trend. I'm not necessarily one for the 70s vibe, but I do love how the updated pieces have a polished feel that's very chic. The suede feels buttery soft and the cut out details are so cute!

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xo, Amanda

Blue Criss-Cross Dress

Blue Criss-Cross Dress c/o || Similar LC Sandals || Saddle Bag || Christian Paul Watch c/o || Jackie Kennedy Unity Band || Jackie Kennedy Emerald Unity Band || Earrings c/o ||

I'll always be one of those girls who turns to a puddle on the floor when I see a gorgeous dress. There's something about the details that sends my heart a flutter with a little thrill coursing through me. Does anyone else get like this?! I do believe a good dress, or any outfit for that matter, can change the course of your day! This blue criss-cross dress, hello that back!, has stunning lacey cut out details, a little flair at the hip, and as I mentionedbreathtaking criss-cross straps in the back. I'm wearing a size small, though I do wish it came in an XS size. It was slightly loose in the waist for me. Nothing a seamstress couldn't fix.

This dress is from Sammy Dress and only costs $26.53!! Seriously, an amazing price. I found the exact same dress at Goodnight Macaroon for $149. I mean, how can you compare those prices for the exact same thing?! The quality is excellent with the fabric being sturdy. A little Sammy Dress review, they sell bohemian dresses, lace and vintage reproduction dresses, trendy tops, bags, shoes, you name it. I had not heard of the company until they reached out to me, but the prices are fantastic and shipping took about 2 weeks. The same deal with all over seas companies.

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xo, Amanda