When your dress has an uncooperative neckline

Do you guys ever deal with this? The dress is perfect... the pattern is on point.. the length is excellent... but the neck. It just doesn't work.  You try folding your bra down with a paper clip. You try the cute bralette. Maybe a cami? Dare you go bare? I've tried all of these, but I couldn't wear this dress until I learned to layer.

The thing about under garments is,  well, they are meant to stay under the garment. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of this new bralette trend - but with this dress, it just doesn't work. So, after the success I found layering a sweater with a dress that was a little too tight, I thought I'd try a warm weather variation. 

I will say, with this shorter dress, the layer worked best with a crop tee. But I have a lot of those :D 
What do you think? Most people thought I was wearing a skirt. But whether a skirt or a dress, at least I finally get to wear it!

Tee: via Madewell sold out | same via ShopBop
Dress: Free People via TJMaxx 2013 | similar for ruffles | similar for ruffles
Sandals: via DSW last year | similar  
Photography: Natalie Folchi of CincinNatalie

1 cookbook you'll really want: Thug Kitchen

Sweet Potato, Squash, Black Bean Enchiladas

Beer Roasted Cauliflower Tacos

Roasted Chick Pea Tacos

BBQ Bean Peach Salsa Burritos

Confession time: I'm obsessed with vegan. Follow me on instragram & you def already know. I'm living the thug kitchen life & it's so damn good.

Seven months ago, I bought Thug Kitchen per a friend's recommendation. I was taking photos for Rachel & Casey's Engagement & while the files downloaded on Rachel's computer, Casey made me browse through this book. I had never seen more beautiful photos of food in my life. & the recipes! Yes, it is true Thug Kitchen Chefs do not watch their language -- which actually makes it easier to understand. & fun. 

I ordered the cookbook on Amazon the next day - with no clue it was actually vegan. I let many months pass, picked it back up & slowly learned how to cook. Okay, second confession: I'm actually more of a kitchen helper.  Either way leaves me feasting.

Clearly I'm drawn to the Mexican dishes, but there is so much variety to choose from. If you're up for a new adventure in the kitchen, I heartily recommend you try the Thug Life.

It is the best $12 investment I've ever made. 

Order the book. & thank me later.

Photos taken with iPone 5s & edited with Snapseed, VSCO and Instagram

Morg's Merry Maids... take NASHVILLE!

So about a week ago I came back to Ohio with an adorable southern accent. Why? Because I spent Memorial Day Weekend with these beautiful ladies, self dubbed: Morg's Merry Maids. You can look us up on Instagram ;D

We share one gorgeous, fabulous, sweet, wonderful friend, Morgan, & we gathered in Nashville to celebrate her. Going into this weekend I knew two of the bridal party. The bride (of course!) & the maid of honor. When I left, it was with so many lovely new friends. 

So I want to take this post in a few directions: 

1. Nashville. Fun! We were in the super touristy parts. We stayed at a hotel near Broadway, took a sprocket rocket, bought cowboy boots and laid out near our pool. It was really fun, but when I go back I want to do Nashville the local way -- so suggestions are 100% welcome. 

2. Bachelorette Party: Believe it or not, this is the first Bachelorette Party I had ever been to. It was really fun & I learned so much. The Maid of Honor was a pro. She literally thought of everything. There were games, personalized shirts, personalized water bottles, personalized gifts -- not just for the bride! We had an itinerary, & plastic champagne glasses, we were delivered champagne to the room, we were delivered champagne to the restaurant... are you sensing a theme? I had no idea Bachelorette Parties were such a big event! No wonder people love them. 

3. Southern Girls: are so sweet. Except for myself and the MOH, all the bridesmaids met our sweet Morgan either in college at Clemson (South Carolina) or post college in Charleston (South Carolina). They have great accents & have never met a stranger. I can't wait to see each of these wonderful women again in September when Morgan Milano becomes #HappilyEverMuller.

To happily ever afters & love all around.

xox

Photos edited with Lightroom & VSCOcam

Crushing on lately

This apron. 

This photographer.

This brand. 

This app. 

This book.

This video.

This class. 

This blog.

This flea.

These shoes.

This dessert.

This purse.

This editing program.

These tacos.

This song.

Oh darlings..... I want so badly to eat chickpea tacos  from a good cook book while I make frozen dark chocolate bananas in a cute apron listening to my favorite coldplay song before a fun flea market where I may run into Honey Events or Best Day Ever Photographers. I want to online shop for cute open toed shoes & adorable lemon purses while I'm using lightroom to edit photos or snapseed on my phone which  I learned about from Studio DIY's #cantcropthis class while I was browsing for more in-studio youtube links like Bon Iver at AIR studios when I somehow also discovered snappy casual blog. 

But instead, I'm in the middle of event season. A girl can crush, can't she ;D 
What are you crushing on? Any good youtube music vids I can listen to while I'm working? Or photographers, apps or blogs I should know about? Xox.

Slouchy Jumpsuit

Hello friends! Welcome to the start of a wonderful week. 

Life updates + musings + a question for you:
1.  I'm looking to invest in a new lens for my Nikon D3200. Right now I have the kit lens the camera came with & while it get's the job done, I'm hoping to cultivate my skills & would like to start with a lens to pull up my f-stop & blur the background up, re: above. Didn't Natalie do the best job with this? I think she has a 35mm -- what do you all suggest?

2. This jumpsuit looks like a dress. It has incredibly wide legs & is so slouchy you will literally feel like you're not wearing clothes. It is, in one short word, amazing. Last August, at my Papa's memorial service in Detroit, my cool-traveling-older cousin was wearing a jumpsuit, or perhaps pants, she bought in Spain in a similar style.  Oh how she was the envy of us all!

Sans European travel excursion in my near future -- I have been scouring the internet for something similar since.  There goes Curate again, making dreams come true :D

3. I'm in Kansas City! The city of fountains. Just two weeks shy of making it a year. 

4. You basically have to be dehydrated every time you wear a jumpsuit. 

5. Last but not least, I went pretty simple on the styling of this outfit. It has so much character, I really didn't want to detract from that. But if you're looking for other ideas to style your jumpsuit, check older posts here and here.

How's life, guys? Love you so much. I hope you spend the week pursuing your dreams. xo.

Jumpsuit: Elan Genie Jumper via Curate Boutique 
Sandals: Frye 2010 via TJMaxx | Similar via Asos
Earrings: Kate Spade via Nordstrom Rack | Similar
Photography: Natalie Folchi of CincinNatalie