The Way That I Am

outfit: dress and hair bow-- f21; belt -- topshop; tights -- target; shoes -- marais usa

Hello!
So I took a rest from taking outfit photos. Until today, I haven't taken anyway since Wednesday. I spent my days off in denim leggings and oversized sweaters. It was really refreshing not having to fret over what I'm going to wear or if I had worn it before or if my readers would like it. I'd like to transfer this carefree feeling to every morning when I get dressed, even on blog post mornings. I'm so over worrying about statistics. I'm blogging because I like it: I love the girls I've had a chance to meet, and I love documenting my style and watching it evolve. It feels good to be back in this mindset.

This morning while getting dressed, my blog didn't even come to mind. I bought this dress a while ago but it's finally down in the 60's and cold enough to wear a long-sleeve dress. I don't like that it's long-sleeved. I think I'm gonna hack off part of the sleeves to make it short-sleeved--it'd be more versatile that way. What do you think? I knew when I bought this dress that I wanted to pair it with something red. I love the peter pan collar--who knew I could find something so cute at F21?

This weekend I started working on one of my New Year's resolutions of getting healthy. I've started taking vitamins everyday, biking about a mile in the mornings, sleeping/waking earlier, and eating more fruits and veggies. My body already feels better so I hope I can continue this. I also put myself on an indefinite shopping ban. Like this dress, I have some things that I haven't even worn yet since I keep getting new things. I seriously have more than enough clothes.

Until next post,
Jasmine

Hold On To Me Tonight

outfit: chiffon ruffle top -- h&m; cardigan -- gap; skirt -- j crew; shoes -- marais usa; headband -- f21

Hello!
This is what I ended up wearing for our anniversary on Wednesday. My UO order didn't come in time so I had to go with my back-up outfit. The outfit isn't not too dressy, but then again, I'm not the type to dress up too formally. I mean for my wedding all I want to wear is a white maxi dress and go barefoot on my beach wedding with some flowers or a bow in my hair. But my wedding won't be for a long while, back to my anniversary outfit: I transitioned it to a night look by changing into heels and adding my sweater blazer over it. We had a stupendous evening! Robert made reservations at an Oceanfront restaurant that had delicious seafood and an indescribably amazing creme brulee! We then took a night walk along the beach, gazed at the stars, and had good conversations. It was short and sweet, but I'm glad we got to celebrate in the midst of our busy schedules.

My blog has been on my mind recently--a little too much. I don't know what has gotten into me this week: I've become this crazed maniac taking advantage of the situation that Robert needed a ride to school and forcing him to take photos for me before I drop him off (I usually use a tripod). And then when we're together at night, I use his phone to check my blog. I really don't know what possessed me. I think it's because recently instead of being inspired by other bloggers and blogs, I've become jealous, competitive, and insecure. It's an ugly side of me and I hate it. It serves me right to have lost a few followers this week. That is why I'm going to take a few days off of blogging--just so I can reevaluate why I want to blog (and I'm getting my wisdom teeth pulled out today...). I need to get back to this feeling. Sometimes I feel so silly being so serious over something that really isn't supposed to be so serious anyway, but whether I like it or not, over the past year, blogging has become such a huge part of my life: I'd just like to be for the right reasons and enjoyable again. I think I just need a break from the internet in general. I'm involved in way too many social medias: Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and blogging. It eats up at my free time. I want to detoxify by spending a week in a log cabin in the woods.

Until next post,
Jasmine

Wake Up Dreaming

outfit: bow -- etsy; cropped top -- f21; skirt -- uo; shoes -- marais usa

Hello!
Today is mine and Robert's fourth anniversary! I actually wore this outfit yesterday, but it's pretty fitting to post today on our special day with my new top that I got on Monday. I finally got a graphic tee, but now that I have one, I'm craving more! They're just so playful and I love them paired with skirts for a more casual look. A sweater over a dress or skirt is a Fall/Winter look; a cropped tee over a dress or skirt is going to be my Spring/Summer look. My students had such different reactions to the shirt: the boys all thought it was yucky that they were kissing; while the girls all thought it was cute and sweet. Typical.

Robert and I exchanged gifts yesterday morning. Since he still doesn't have a car, I surprised him by taking him to Best Buy to pick out a tablet and to get him a video game. We then went to the camera store and special ordered my 35mm lens. I'm so excited to get that lens. I currently use a 50mm. It's definitely going to be a lot easier to take blog pictures with the tripod/Robert not being so far away. I have no idea what he has planned for tonight. Usually I can guess what he planned, but not this year. He didn't give me any hints. Last year, we went to a vegetarian buffet and ended with working out at the gym so we'll see what he comes up with this year! I'll be back with a recap.

"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams."
--Dr. Seuss

Until next post,
Jasmine

Like You Do

outfit: t-shirt and tights -- gap; dress as a skirt -- victoria secret; bow -- f21; belt -- vintage via etsy; shoes -- marais usa

Hello!
I took a break from purging last night by playing dress up in my closet. I ordered a dress from UO for our anniversary on Wednesday, but according to online tracking, it's not scheduled to come until Thursday so I had to plan a back-up outfit and hope it arrives earlier. If not, then I can wear it on Valentine's day. This dress was one of the options. I love the paper-bag skirt, but I didn't like the spandex top so I folded it underneath and wore a relaxed t-shirt instead. I'm thinking of hacking off the top part of the dress and just making this a skirt. I tried to make this outfit more complicated than it needed to be by trying to pattern-mix it with striped tops and trying it with some bold tights, but in the end, I think less is more. Also a result of last night's dress up party of one was a lame attempt to curl my hair with a straightener. I'm horrible with hair and make-up which is why I just straighten my hair and go bare-faced everyday. It looks better after I slept on it. I think I just found a new hair routine. I'm also liking this black top, black tights, and bright skirt combo. It's just so easy. You'll definitely see me in something similar again.

Monday nights are our date nights so I try to dress up a bit on Mondays, which is always hard since well it's Monday. I sorta forced Robert to take these photos for me this morning. His dad was using his car today so he needed a ride to school. So on the way, I made a pit stop at the lake...and at a mall where I finally picked up a graphic tee. I love the way these photos turned out. I just seem to smile bigger and more genuine while he's taking my picture so...I'm thinking I should take him to school more often!

Until next post,
Jasmine

Boxed Memories

outfit: camel sweater -- h&m; bow skirt -- uo; tights -- target; suede heels -- steve madden (thrifted)

Hello!
Tonight I'm starting a humongous purging project of my room. Recently, I've been attracted to a minimalistic lifestyle and living spaces. Only having what you need just seems so...free because you're not surrounded by things you once desperately wanted but is now stuffed away into a random corner or drawer. A lot of my old toys and stuffed animals are going to be donated to my classroom, but most things will probably just be thrown away. I have so much junk. I'm surprised none of my friends have suggested me to be apart of the show "Hoarders." On the right side of my room, I have all my beloved books from Elementary school and beyond. On the left holds all my clothes. And everything in between is everything else that holds a memory, like letters, photos, and random gadgets. Most of my books will probably be packed away until I own a house and can finally have my dream library (just like in Beauty and the Beast). I think transitioning my closet to become minimalistic will be the hardest part, so I'm saving that for last. I already have a feeling this is going to take a long time or will never get finished, but here's hoping.

Until next post,
Jasmine

Maybe

outfit: le new big tee -- c/o aa; skirt -- zara; belt -- h&m; tights -- gap; shoes -- topshop; leaf headband -- f21

Hello!
Thank you all for your kind words on my last post. It's taking some time, but I think I'm finding my footing and starting to feel like myself each passing day. This week I was overcome with fear about losing someone close, especially Robert. I stayed up pretty late tossing and turning, wanting to call Robert just to make sure he was breathing. This fear too subsides with each passing day. I'm just taking it a day at a time, and while it doesn't really feel like much is changing, I know that when I look back, things will be different.

The 70+ degree weather has inspired me to wear brighter colors lately, even though it's like full on Winter on the opposite end of the country. I definitely feel like I embraced Fall and Winter by wearing more neutral and earthy tones, but I am so ready for Spring. I have been craving graphic t-shirts but in my closet of basics. I want to pair them with skirts and wear them with my denim leggings...but I don't have any! I've got to change that. I also have to find myself an anniversary dress since my fourth anniversary with Robert is next week! I wanted to go to Disneyland to celebrate, but we're too busy to take out a whole day to celebrate (no matter how much we really want to)...so he's supposedly planning a romantic evening. Any time with Robert is a good time no matter where we are!

Until next post,
Jasmine

Never Goodbye

outfit: striped top & chambra skirt -- j crew; belt -- zara; flats -- marais usa; ice cream hair pins -- etsy

Hello!
So sorry that I haven't been around lately. I'm in a style rut and I've just been feeling down lately. We all have our moments. While I was pretty excited that I get to finally spend a whole day with Robert, the purpose of our day trip really has weighed my heart down lately. A really good friend of mine passed away recently. I wasn't able to attend his funeral on Wednesday, so Robert and I made the trip to LA today to visit his grave. This is my first real experience with death and I'm so all over the place about it. Last week, it made me take charge of my life, but right now, I feel so lost and scared. He was the one who got me into photography and blogging. So it definitely stings whenever I take a photo and blog, which might be why I'm in this rut. But of course since today was dedicated to remembering him--I had to take the best photos in a good outfit. These photos are 100% unedited! He always thought I used a heavy hand while editing anyway...

I don't know what's going on with my style lately. Shopping has even become a chore: All I ever want to wear is sweaters over dresses. My closet actually overwhelms me now, and the sudden change to 80-degree weather is not helping me decide what to wear in the mornings either. I guess since I'm not really feeling myself, I just haven't really been able to dress like myself. Robert even took me to Third Street Promenade for some shopping, but I walked away with nothing. I thought this outfit was original, but then later on today I realized that it was this one using the other twin top. Please bear with me while I figure things out. I do love my new hair accessories though. Aren't these ice cream cone hair pins so cute and yummy? They made today a little more sweet than bitter.

RIP Vincent Young (12/17/88 - 12/18/10).
Thank you for everything. You'll always be remembered as a big guy with an even bigger heart. It's never goodbye. See you soon.

Until next post,
Jasmine

Break Through

outfit: t-shirt -- gap; skirt -- j crew; bow -- f21; shoes -- topshop; belt -- anthropologie

Hello!
A super easy and casual outfit today. I've been having really good days at work lately. And the best part of it is that the other teacher who was hired to help me out hasn't been here this week since she sprained her back. I feel like I have way more control over the kids since I first started about four months ago. I come out of work smiling and feeling accomplished, instead of telling myself that tomorrow might be better. I even got a raise! I don't know what came over me this week but I have just decided to take charge of my life...and my classroom apparently.

The overwhelming-ness of the "New Year feeling" has worn off, and I'm taking steps to actually accomplish my resolutions. I've fallen asleep reading books lately instead of watching videos online into the wee hours of the morning. Today, I ate healthily for the majority of the day (the night snacking is really something I am trying to get rid of). I've been eating meals at home and that has actually saved me quite a bit of money. And I haven't made any impulse buys while shopping. Actually lately, I've been feeling pretty overwhelmed with the amount of clothes that I do have instead of feeling sad about what I don't have or what I think I need. Hopefully I can keep this up for the rest of the year.

Until next post,
Jasmine

Brighter Days

outfit: elbow-patched camel sweater -- h&m; leaf headband -- f21; skirt -- aa; flats -- marais usa

Hello!
First, I'd like to wish one of my favorite bloggers--Amanda--a happy 21st birthday! She's actually the one who inspired me to try this pullover over a skirt/dress look and I've been hooked ever since!

I really liked this outfit, not really sure why. I just felt super good and comfy all day. I even made myself laugh a little when I thought that I resembled a tree by wearing brown and green together and this leaf headband. This was also the first outfit I tried today. There really is no methodology to how I get dressed everyday. I don't really have any rules either. It's mostly just trial and error. Some days I end up with a massive pile of discards, but other days like today it's a one hit wonder. I forgot how much I loved this skirt. I loved it so much that I bought it in two other colors. I went through an American Apparel phase last Fall, but now I've found a better, more honorable store to get my basics--Gap. I love this sweater so much that I bought its striped brother. Robert then made it a rule that starting tomorrow I can't get anymore multiples unless it's Buy One, Get One Free; basic t-shirts; cardigans; and tights. That gives me an hour and a half to buy its cream cousin...Just kidding. They didn't have my size, otherwise I just might have. Maybe this rule is a good thing. No more striped fraternal twins for me!

In tune with my 2011 Style Resolutions, I've been looking into other hair accessories that aren't bows. I am in love with this leaf headband that I found under heaps of headbands at F21. It hasn't left my head since I bought it Saturday night. Right after I paid for it, I tore off the price tag and put it on. I want to find some big flowers to put in my hair in preparation for Spring, particularly a sunflower since that's my favorite flower. School resumes tomorrow and I'm really not looking forward to it.

Until next post,
Jasmine