My People Dress Me For A Week


You know those special days when ideas are just flowing like they are meant to and you are excited for the future content of your blog? The day that this idea struck me was one of those days. I decided that I wanted my bestest, closest, most admired friends to choose my outfits for an entire week. Much like those buzzfeed articles, those YouTube videos, but in my real life. I was going to go through the week, wearing outfits that my people had proposed, hopefully not complaining or freezing my butt off.

There were no rules, really. My friends were told to dress me in whatever they wanted to see me in. Whatever they thought I would look good in, whatever they wanted to put me in to push my stylistic envelope. It was a cold week and that was a big hurdle to jump over for most of the candidates.

Sunday's outfit was by Emilee Goldsmith. Emilee is a sophomore and we dance at the studio together. She's been a close friend of mine for a while now. She took me back to church again when I needed it, and we love to sing Seasons Of Love in the car together. So, like, an A1.

She probably had the warmest day of the week, but she had dressed me as though it was thirty degrees. And that was totally fine for me! Honestly, I would never ever wear this outfit. Like, ever. It's not my style. The sweater she had picked out, a cranberry XL sweater from Old Navy, had been pushed to the back of my closet as my style evolved and my sizing went down. She paired it with a red blanket scarf, light wash denim jeans, and brown boots. I feel like the boots give me duck feet, but maybe that's just me. 

I think Emilee did a pretty good job picking this outfit. Mostly because it was pushing the envelope of stuff that I would wear. I would call this outfit a mom outfit because I'm pretty sure I've seen every mom wear this at least once. It's a little too subdued for my actual style, but it was a nice change for my usually crazy and outgoing self.



One of my best friends, Emily Gosling, had the privilege of dressing me on Monday. Emily isn't my longest friend. In fact, I've literally known her since May 23rd of this year. But it's a well-known fact that I just trust her with my life, and my fashion.

Emily pretty much dressed me like herself on Monday. It was a chilly day and I had a radio interview for The Nutcracker Ballet. She put me in a denim skirt and a turtleneck, adidas on my feet and hoops in my ears. A wrist scrunchie just in case.

This was the outfit that I met my new pup Elvis in. There was an ice storm coming and my mom made me put sweatpants in the car just in case we were to get stuck on the highway. Spoiler alert: we didn't.

But I would totally wear this outfit again! It's cute and simple and I could do so many things. An interview, a job. School. A funeral. You name it, this outfit could probably do it.



Tuesday was Parker Bowman's day. The boneman. To make a long story short, I love this boy. A lot. He and his friends took part in the spring production at our dance studio, and the rest is history. Will I marry him someday? Fingers crossed.

Any way, Parker had to dress me on a day that I didn't have class. And I was totally thinking he was going to have me turn out some looks because I would consider him very stylish. But he decided to put me in leggings and a sweatshirt. "Bingo." My mom was judging this outfit hardcore. Even SHE expected more from the actual love of my life. (Also, I should stop calling him that to save us all.)

Parker claimed that his outfit wouldn't be the coolest, but it would be the comfiest. And he was right. It was a great relaxing day outfit. A good ole nap outfit. All I had to do on that Tuesday was head to rehearsal for the musical, and I was totally fine. Splits were allowed. It was a great time.




Humpday was for Ryan Fuemmeler. Ryan has been one of my best friends for so long. He is sweet, funny, kind. He keeps me on my toes. He pushes me forward. He calls me out on my BS and keeps me in line and honestly, if he wasn't around, I don't know what I would do.

So, I knew his outfit was going to be popping. And it was, really. He dressed me in an outfit that he had seen me wear once before that he loved. The only problem was it was freaking FREEZING on Wednesday. We were expecting snow. I think my midriff got frostbite and my thighs got all weird and tingly. But I was serving. My makeup looked good, I felt good. My windbreaker from Goodwill did everything but actually break the wind that day, but it was fine. It was fine because Ryan said I looked good. He even apologized for freezing me out.




The Thursday outfit was brought to you by none other than Hunter Reece. I met her in the first play that I was ever a part of, and really, she is one of my best friends. She is so much fun to be around, and I couldn't imagine my life without her at this point.

And that's why I feel SO BAD that she got a snow day!! She would've popped on such a cute and good look if it wasn't for that meddling snow. She wanted to keep me comfy since we didn't have class, and since I didn't have a matching tracksuit like she so wanted, she put me in sweats and my comfiest sweatshirt. And that was that.

I will say, I definitely was comfy. I definitely popped on a nap. I want Hunter to have a good ole chance and pick a good class outfit because I know that she isn't always sweats and sweatshirts for me. But hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.






My Best Friend Abby Jent was in charge of Friday's outfit. Abby and I have been through a lot together. Prom and summer and car rides and boys and everything in between. She's my rock, really.

So before I explain this outfit, I have to tell you she was almost CUT from the week. She wanted to dress me like 2010. T-shirt and skinny scarf. Bootcut jeans. Flats. Actual high school musical garbage. I cried a bit and she caved. And that's how you work your tears.

 Anyway, we were going to see the High School play and she wanted to keep me casual and cute. And really, that's exactly what I got. I loved this outfit, probably because I've worn it once before. Mom jeans from goodwill and a cute choker collared sweater, with a necklace that says baby girl. Black booties, which I seem to always wear to every production where I am the audience member. She wanted my hair straight and she wanted my makeup to be the star, and I think that we definitely accomplished that.

This outfit is definitely great for all sorts of things, too. It makes me feel good and makes me feel cute while still remaining simple. Of course, I would wear this outfit again.



Bridget Bone was in charge of Saturday's outfit, which I didn't actually get around to wearing until Wednesday of the next week. Bridget is a sophomore but she's still my freshie. She is one of my closest sisters. She's welcomed me into her life and her home and I want her mom to adopt me secretly.

Bridget wanted me to look, and I quote, "I want kinda sexy and also subtle and such. Maybe fishnets?" So that's what we did. I popped fishnets on under a pair of holey high waisted jeans. Bridget loves me in red, so I did a red crop top and a black belt.

Okay, omg. I seriously love this outfit. So much. Like, Bridget really did that. Abby Jent, who is one of Bridget's closest friends (we're all in a group together) was surprised to see that this was a Bridget look. It was so cute! I got so many compliments at school. It was one of my favorites to wear.


So to wrap it all up, I had a lot of fun during that week. Really, I did. There were so many different styles to sport.

Through polls, the favorite outfit was Abby Jent's look. That didn't surprise me. I think it was the most flattering on me, and it didn't push the envelope for the viewers too much. My personal favorite, though, had to have been the Bridget look. Like, I would totally wear that again. It was so stinking cute!

Would I do this again? Absolutely. Maybe in the summer, maybe with different people involved. I just love to see how people want me to dress. I love the variety in style and I love that each person was so eager to go ahead and do this little experiment with me. It was so much fun!

XOXO

Vote For Me: Midterm Elections 2018

Photo by Mirah Curzer on Unsplash
I am seventeen years old. I haven't voted in any elections just yet, except for a mock 2008 presidential election in my 2nd grade class. That year I voted for John McCain because that was who my dad was voting for and I secretly wanted to be favored. Barack Obama surprisingly won the school election, which was strange for my Midwestern, small town, predominantly white elementary school.

Then, my seven year old self didn't really care about politics. I was too busy singing Taylor Swift on the playground. Too busy making mud pies when it rained. And, I mean, that's how it should be. Politics were always an adult thing to me. I never heard of teenagers getting revved up or emotional because Barack Obama was elected a second term. Then again, just ten years ago, everything was different. Politics weren't force-fed to us. We weren't drowning in what Trump just tweeted and what harmful executive order was going into effect next.

But now, here we are.

I am seventeen years old. I haven't voted in any elections yet, and there is a fairly important one happening very soon. If you ask me, midterms are more important than presidential elections. 35 seats of our 100 Senate seats are up for grabs. the 435 Representative spots are also up for election. Do you know what these numbers mean?

For Democrats to take control of the House of Representatives, a total of 23 seats would needed to be gained. To have the majority in the Senate, just two seats would be needed. And this doesn't seem too difficult, that is, until you look at our numbers.

The House. The Senate. The President. We are swimming in a sea of red. This would be fine and just, if it wasn't the most conservative, crazy, right-leaning Republicans with the majority. So, I'm telling you to vote.

Actually, I'm begging you. Please go vote. The executive branch is so so important, and we are lucky enough to now have the right to vote those in that we believe should represent us, our country, and our ideals. It wasn't always that way. The Senate was a millionaire boys' club, with officials elected via state legislatures. We now have and hold this power, and I think we so often take it for granted.

When you go vote, think of me. Think of your children, your grandchildren, your friend's children. It's their future that you're voting for, their future you're electing. You are holding the clay and it starts with you. Vote for me. Please vote for me. When you vote, think of the Senators and Representatives that I will have to look up to. Think of everything that could affect me, my future, and my rights. And then vote. Vote for me.

XOXO

Curtain Calling




When I was thirteen years old, I saw my first Broadway show. Kinky Boots, an astounding show with an incredible story and an even better soundtrack. The show was fun for me because I was just starting to get into my love for the drag culture, and it was even more fun because I was experiencing it with one of my best friends. She was an experienced theater-goer and this wasn't her first rodeo, but it sure was mine.

It was a crazy experience. You know that feeling you get when you walk into Disney World and you see Main Street USA? Or when you watch a crazy cool firework display on the Fourth of July? Yeah, that's exactly how I felt. Wide-eyed, unable to contain my toothy grin. I was a proper Carol Channing while watching that performance of Sex Is In the Heel.

I sat there in my seat during the performance, and I just felt something. A yearning and a beckoning. These people were on stage right in front of me! I felt like I was a part of something big and grand and miraculous. I cried with the characters and I laughed, and it was safe to say that the actors had done their jobs. I left the Fox and I downloaded the soundtrack, but I still wanted more!


I have always loved musicals and musical theatre. But I had only ever seen movies. Only ever listened to soundtracks via my iPhone. I only had watered down interpretations of what this was actually like. It was rather safe to say that I WANTED THAT. I wanted to be a part of that! I had this calling and it was ringing in the back of my measureless mind. And it grew even louder through Tony award shows and through Hamilton, and through all of the Broadway Review shows that I had performed in at my dance studio. (Oh, and that one time we did Hairspray. I'm still in love with that.)

So, I finally auditioned for a show at the beginning of August. I wore a white t-shirt and a denim skirt and red lipstick, because one of my dance teachers once told me that red was good for an audition. It's eye catching! And that's what I was going for.

I. Was. So. Nervous.

I read for the character of God (Yeah, you heard me right) and I tried to make the blurb about the Virgin Mary as funny as possible. And it must've worked, because I was cast in the show, An Act Of God. I really could not believe it! The day that I found out, it was raining, but nothing could rain on my parade. It was a good, good day. My first audition, my first show. Every other time that I had been on stage, I had been dancing. This would be my first time with actual lines and I was so ecstatic.

To make things much cheesier and much more High School Musical, it was the start of something new. I was in rehearsals almost every night of the week. I was learning and having fun with this new group of people that I got to call my friends. The theater was a new safe space and safe haven for me; another place to express myself and another place to  learn and grow. I felt my plans for the future start to change.

I'm the kind of person that falls in love so fast. And that is exactly what happened with the theatre. I just wanted to be there everyday! It was a longing that I hadn't felt since I had started ballet classes in Kindergarten. I didn't think anything could even try to compare to my love for dance, but yet there we were.

An Act Of God was my first show. I got to be back stage with one of my fast-growing best friends, Hunter. On opening night, my knees were shaking and I thought that I was definitely going to throw up the Monster energy drink that I had downed just before. But I forbore. I got a "Love you, good luck" hug from Hunter, who was playing God that evening. I got a bouquet of flowers and a pack of Reese's from sweet fourteen year old Addy, who was the second cast's God. People in the audience laughed. They laughed! I think that was the most fun of it all. To know that as a cast, you could provoke a reaction. Any kind of reaction. It was so much fun.




Love you, Good Luck.
There are so many good things about that show. It made me realize how much I love the Theatre. How much I want to be apart of it. How much it has impacted my life in such a short amount of time. It's brought new opportunities and people and friendships. And I will forever be grateful for that calling.

XOXO



Social Media: The SILENT KILLER

In this day and age, it's hard not to have social media. I mean, come on. Everything is online! We get our news from the Internet. We get our family updates and our 8 year old buddy's birthday party invitations via Facebook. Most of the laughs that equip my friend cliques come from Tweets. My recipes come from Pinterest, especially when I'm feeling super healthy. My best photos can be found on my Instagram, though a whole bunch of my cutest selfies live in the archives of my Snapchat memories.

So, if there are so many good and fun things about Social Media, how could it possibly be silently killing us all? Easy. Everything has balance. When there is one good, there is one bad. One Yin, one Yang.

I know how extreme it sounds, calling Social Media the silent killer of my generation. But it's true. Through the social media platforms of today, there is so much love and light. But there is also so much hatred and so much evil and so so so much ugly. Which really freaking sucks! The Internet was such a cool idea. Really, big ole shout out to whoever decided that social media platforms would be a great way to stay in touch and see a different side of people's lives.

But also; what the heck, man?! It is hard enough with to struggle with a mental illness. But sure, go ahead. Add the comparison and toxicity of 7 billion people on top of it why don't you.

It's hard to explain, hard to actually find the words to describe how I feel on the topic. I'm addicted to social media. Yeah, I'll say it. Hello, my name's Grace and I'm a Social Media Addict. Shocker! A seventeen year old high school student with an Internet addiction. Never heard of that before.

Really though, it's hard. Everything is so much harder with the Internet and the access to social media.

There is more fighting over one's political views, and it's always much more hateful because people feel that they can get away with their slurs. There's more comparison. I am always wondering why my life isn't picture perfect and pristine like every Instagram model's. Does she even have bad hair days or bad mental days? Why don't I have a potted succulent?

Everything is at your fingertips. You can diagnose your bad days as a crippling clinical disorder. Why is there so much evil in the news? Obviously, young children are exposed to social media and the Internet far too early. We've seen children take their own lives too many times for this not to be an issue that we talk about. Where are they learning this? Why were they pushed so close to the edge, that suicide was the answer?

Social Media Anxiety is so real. The comparison is so real. There are so many comparisons every single day. In the beginning of my childhood, there was comparison. Of course there was, there always will be. But with the rise of the Internet came a new ideal for unreachable perfection. One that we all strive for. And, if you are a perfectionist like me, it's hard when you don't hit that level of unreachable perfection. Why can't my skin be edited to perfection? Why do I live in a small town in Missouri and not a penthouse in beautiful New York? Why am I not as happy as everyone on the Internet seems to be?

Am I doing something wrong? Is there a reason why my life doesn't look like theirs? Should I always be smiling, and is something wrong with me since I am not always grinning from ear to ear? Do people really not care about the songs that I post on my Instagram stories? Is my friendship really only measured in Snapchat Streaks?

So. To wrap it all up: I think Social Media is pretty cool. But I also think we all need a break once in a while. To breathe, and to remind us where we came from. We come from books and we come from family time. We come from fuji film and face to face communication. We come from imperfections. We all start from somewhere, and I feel for the ones that will grow up not knowing a time when there was no social media. To the few of us that were there in times of no Facebook Messenger and no Snapchat, look at us go! Ugh. It was so good. I already need a cleanse.


XOXO

Return Of The Jedi

I haven't posted in a while. I haven't written in a while, for that matter. And I'm going to tell you why. Why was Grace mysteriously absent for eighty-four years? Was she on a soul searching mission through the continent of Africa with only the linens on her back and a canteen of boiled and purified water? Really, that would be super dope and I wish that was the case. But it sadly is not.

I feel like I've been on a soul searching mission. One that is still ongoing and one that I'm still trying to figure out. Since we last spoke, my spring melted into summer. I got busy with dance and work and stress of the production season, but really, in that time, I was thriving. I had a nice big group of friends from dance including boys that were brought in for production time. We were going out every week to celebrate rehearsals and the start of our new friendships. Though I was stressed with choreography, I was happy. The stress was a good stress. My medicine was working, I was going to therapy. I was so happy. Dance concert happened and our friend group was strong and we lasted into the beginning of the summer. Ugh, it was so good. And then it wasn't.

I got into a car accident on June 25th. My mother's freaking birthday! Happy birthday mom, here's a scary phone call. No one was involved and no one was injured, thank God, but I very well could have been. It was scary. All that I did was dip down into a ditch and then I couldn't get back up onto the road. I hit a sign and the ditch stopped the car from flipping and hitting a telephone pole. The car? Totaled. My summer? Nonexistent. It seemed to stop as soon as I hopped out of the car, my hands shaking and my face rushing with a tingle of adrenaline. I was, for lack of a better term, pissed.

That was when I really started to notice myself lose control. I had been doing so good. So happy. I was going to bed every night excited to wake up the next morning. I wanted to be alive! I was smiling and laughing and pst, can I tell you a secret? I even fell in love. BLEH,
EW. I KNOW, RIGHT?! And that was scary because A) I had never felt that before. B) I couldn't do anything about it  and C) There was no way that anyone could feel that way about me.

I was so in my head. My isolation began again. I felt like since I couldn't get myself places, that I didn't deserve to be there. That no one wanted me there. I deserved to feel this way. I deserved every negative thought that was going through me. My suicidal thoughts started to relapse and I was so lost. Exhausted. Drained. Numb.

A good friend of mine reached out to me in this time of need and invited me to church. I'm very open with the idea of God. I believe there's a something, a someone. I needed to surround myself with people and good energy again. So, I went. Is it cheesy to say that it changed me? Even just a little bit?

It was refreshing. It was good to know that there is always someone to love you. There is always something listening if you are brave enough to speak. There is always something or someone pushing you in the direction that you need to go in. And I loved that. I needed that.
Since then, I've had a lot of questions about religion and my own personal journey through faith and spirituality. It's good to have a group of people that can sit down and answer my questions and guide me through this because I still feel so lost. But we're getting there!

School has started back up, and so has dance. I'm hoping that the routine helps me get back into a better mindset. It's my senior year and the last thing I want to be doing is crying in my bed over how lonely and sad I am. I'm taking classes at the local college, and I was even cast in the Autumn play! Better things are coming. It is just hard to remember sometimes.


XOXO

Spring Up Your Life!




There's a little boutique in the town that I live in called Ophelia. On the corner of the street with marble pillars and big bright windows. Windows with mannequins in little dresses and skirts and pants. It is almost never crowded and always beautiful. And in the window for weeks upon weeks, I stared at this particular dress in the window. I showed my mom when we drove past together, I gawked at it when shopping with a friend. She bought a maroon jumpsuit and I sighed because of my two dollars and that little dress that seemed to taunt me.

So I went back to that boutique on the corner at the beginning of March. I ran to the last dress that I saw, a large LAST CHANCE sign hanging near it. It was a small, and I was so upset! but the lovely girl working that day showed me a mannequin that was in the window who was wearing that dress. She was wearing MY dress, because it was my size and I was way too excited about that. So of course I bought it!

One of my sweet best friends is a pretty stellar photographer, if I do say so myself. So this past Saturday, we decided to go out and about taking pictures in this dress. Don't worry, I got him that free Panera lemonade. We also took photos for an art project, and you just have to know that those turned out amazing!

This dress is figure flattering and so stunning on. The color blocking element of the dress is one of the elements that I love most about it. It is just amazing. Millennial pink pink sleeves, yellow torso, black collar and skirt. And GUESS. WHAT?! The dress ties together in the back in a little bow that, if you ask me, just makes it so much cuter. Why is everything so much better with a bow?!





This dress gives me some Mid-Century Modern vibes. Maybe it's the high collar or the sleeves, or even the shape and fit of the dress. Let's just say that it's all of it combined! I decided to pair the dress with a yellow purse from Old Navy. I also paired it with a pair of nude wedges. They're my mom's and she was in Australia in the time that we took these photos, so SHH don't tell her.



We took a few photos in a local Chocolate shop called Sweetheart Chocolates. And it was just too cute! Small and quaint and it smelled like all things yummy and delicious. We bought the chocolate covered oreos which are personal favorites of mine!


This is seriously the perfect dress for Springtime. I already have planned to wear it for three other events and, like, can those happen now? I just want to live in this dress!

Shoutout to my bestie Ryan for tolerating me, taking pictures of me, and also buying those oreos. And thank you Sweetheart Chocolates for letting us take pictures in your store!

XOXO

FEBRUARY FAVORITES!




PHEW. February. Like, what? Twenty-eight days that I thought would never end. It's the shortest month, yet it felt like the longest! Here, I was still getting back into a routine of work and school and socializing. Which, I'm still working on. I feel like January is always a trial month and then February is REAL. Which, meh. This can either really work in your advantage or not.

February is the month of love and red and hugs and kisses and chocolates and all of the boys that decided to suddenly ghost me! Just kidding, but really(I'm not salty at all). A lot of new things came into my life that I decided to keep around for my own personal enjoyment.

I didn't do January favorites and I almost didn't write my February faves. But like I said, January is not real! It's an illusion! A trial month! February is real, let's get down to business. So here are my February faves!



gif from awesomelytechie.com


The first favorite of mine that I just have to mention is my favorite read of the month. For February, my library does "blind date with a book," where you pick out a book that is covered up based on the little quote written in paper. I picked up "It was a pleasure to burn." I was like oh em gee this is going to be some sappy sweet Rainbow Rowell/ John Green esque ish. But no, it was Fahrenheit 451!

I had been meaning to pick it up and read it for awhile, and it was like fate. Valentine's Day brought us together. It very quickly became one of my favorite books of all time. I just couldn't put it down! Whenever a book does that for me, it's definitely a keeper.


Obviously, I have been quite the fan of red this year. February was no exception. It was deemed as normal to wear red from head to toe, and I was very happy about that.  Lipstick, nail polish. Dresses, flannels, sweaters, t-shirts. I love red! It's romantic and sexy, feminine and elegant. You can be absolutely anything in red.

And you no what else is pretty awesome? My JORD Watch!! So as not to bore you, I'll just leave it at this; BEST. WATCH. EVER. So sleek, stylish, and fun. Goes with everything, makes me feel like the first lady or something. If you're interested in learning more (and you should be!!!) you can check out the full review/giveaway here.


I've also really been in love with Jeffree Star liquid lipsticks this month. Which should come as a surprise to absolutely no one, but I mean come on. They last, they're beautiful, and cruelty free! My favorite shade to rock is Nathan from the family collection. 

Still on the topic of makeup, I have a new favorite highlighter. It's hard not to please me in the highlighter department. If it's shiny, I'm buying. Gifted to me by a dear friend (Shout out to you, Jennie), Hippo from ColourPop is seriously EVERYTHING. My skin looks glowy and lit from within. It's almost that silky wet look and omg it's amazing.

Those are just a few of the things that I loved in my February. I would love to hear about your favorite things! Is it an eye shadow, a pair of socks, a soundtrack? Here's to many more favorites in March and beyond.

XOXO

The BEST Women's Watch For Spring Time


**Sponsored by JORD Watches. All opinions are solely my own- That's What Grace Said.**

I've never been a watch girl. Ever. I could never find a watch that suited my personal style, so I just opted to avoid watches all together. Too formal. Too "manly". Too bulky.

And then, JORD Watches waltzed into my life.



Shoutout to my man Tony, who was the one that approached me to send me a JORD watch. As a slow growing blog platform, I check my emails every day just to see if anyone is willing to work with me. And that fateful day that Tony contacted me on behalf of JORD, I was so ecstatic!

Perfect for men and women, JORD has styles, designs and colors for literally anyone and everyone under the sun. Because JORD's watches start at such a reasonable price, you could gift arm candy to any one of your friends and family members, any time of the year.

I picked a watch from the Frankie Series, all decked out in Purpleheart wood *swoon* & Plum. I have to say, I couldn't have picked a better watch! It's the perfect statement piece that is also casual and toned down just enough to rock with absolutely anything. Dresses, leggings, t-shirts, jeans. Dressed up or dressed down.




Since this watch is so effortlessly beautiful, I thought that I would pair it with an effortlessly beautiful outfit, trying to keep the watch at the forefront of the look. The bright pinks and corals of the kimono pair nicely with the plummy pinkness of the Frankie watch.

Against a black bodysuit, a nice pair of jeans, and a necklace to balance out the accessories, this watch is absolutely everything. The floral Kimono really ties everything together, and in my humble opinion, makes the watch pop just that extra bit. Your eye is drawn to that purpleheart wood because it is a simple breath against the chaos of the floral.










I am so so happy with my JORD Watch, and guess what?! You could have the chance to win a $100 gift code to use on JORD's website! Isn't that amazing? The bummer is, only one lucky person will win that code. But all who enter will get a 10% off discount once the giveaway closes, and that is just as sweet. So, what are you waiting for?! Don't you want to spruce up your wardrobe with a new watch?!

You can enter this amazing giveaway here. The giveaway will close 3/18/2018 at 11:59 pm. Both the $100 gift code and the 10% off discount codes will be expire May 6th, 2018.

XOXO
Luxury Wooden Watch

We NEED To Talk

Eighteen school shootings in the year 2018. It is now February sixteenth.There has been one full month of the year, and eighteen school shootings. Children, teachers. Faculty, teenagers. Gone at the pull of a trigger. Screaming. Texting parents their goodbyes. Locking themselves into closets for safety, playing dead for safety.

photo via We Resist, Facebook.



I try to stay in my lane as best as I can. I am passionate and strong willed, though, and so that comes as a bit of a challenge to me. I get into Twitter fights with strangers, Facebook quarrels with family members. I debate with family, talk with friends. Everything ends with that "okay, that's your opinion and I respect that" sort of vibe. We move on with our lives. But this. I can't sit on my hands any longer. I can't bite my tongue.

Let me say it again just in case you might have forgotten.

EIGHTEEN SCHOOL SHOOTINGS IN 2018 AS OF FEBRUARY 14TH.


When will it be enough? How many teachers have to die? How many children do we have to lose? How many parents need to grieve? When is it ENOUGH?

I am so pained and heartbroken. The first school shooting that I vividly remember is the Sandy Hook shooting back in 2012. I was eleven years old. I saw the big words scrawling across the screen on CNN; BREAKING NEWS. I didn't know what it meant. I mean, sure. I could piece it together. A school. An elementary school. A shooting. Someone had gone in to shoot someone with their gun. Okay. I watched. Twenty eight people, dead. Gone. Children, for crying out loud! They would never get to see their parents again. 

I had never seen anything as scary as that. Surely, that was just a one time thing. And then, I grew up. My eyes opened. I saw, and continue to see, all of the scary things that go on in the world daily. There have been nearly 300 school shootings since 2013 ALONE!!!!

Every time there is a mass shooting of some sort, we come back to this one political hot topic. To gun control or to not gun control? That is the question. We are always talking, but no one is listening. And why is that? Why are our voices not being heard? Are the deceased LGBT club goers not enough? Are the injured school children not enough? 

I am not here to tell you what your political standing on this particular topic should be. I am just simply stating that it starts somewhere. It starts with someone. It can end with someone, too.

Scott Beigel.
Alyssa Alhadeff. 

Martin Duque Anguiano. 
Nicholas Dworet. 
Aaron Feis. 

Jaime Guttenberg. 
Christopher Hixon.
Luke Hoyer.

Cara Loughran.
Gina Montalto.
Joaquin Oliver.
Alaina Petty.
Meadow Pollack.
Helena Ramsay.
Alex Schachter.
Carmen Schentrup.
 Peter Wang.

My heart goes out to the families. Those that lost brothers, sisters, girlfriends, boyfriends, husbands, fathers. Your loved ones are sparks and we will not stop until those sparks are a fire of justice.



XOXO

Seattle Suitcase Goals



Seattle is the emerald city. Home of coffee, rain, space needles, and Nirvana! It is my absolute favorite city in the United States. Maybe it's the coffee. Or maybe the rain. Or maybe because it's just so simply romantic in the most elegant and sweet way (ex. Sleepless in Seattle). This will be my second time in the city, and it just captivates me every time. I love it so much, I can't explain it! You may be wondering; how do you even pack for a trip like that? It's so rainy, right?! It's too cold for any cute clothes, right?!

WRONG!! 

Seattle's fashion scene is one of my favorites. You can be comfy or chic, and I've tried to show that with my outfits for this weekend trip. 


Nirvana tee. Leather Jacket. Red flannel.

Outfit One

Outfit  one is exactly what I think Seattle would be if it was an outfit. A graphic tee, a flannel, a leather jacket. Pair it with doc martens and a cute little mini skirt and you're good to go! if you're going to Seattle in the winter like I am, I would suggest tights with that skirt.



Beanie. Turtleneck. Jeans

Outfit Two

For outfit two, I paired high waisted jeans with a crop sweater. The sweater has bell sleeves, which is totally perfect because that means I don't have to pack bracelets OR necklaces. The beanie and the boots coexist together to add that subtle pop of red. Ok, maybe not subtle. Still cute though!


Jacket. Top

Outfit Three

Outfit three is really just an option if I want color one day. Matching the yellow of the laces with the yellow top really ties the whole outfit together. Denim is totally Seattle and makes it just the tab bit edgier. 




I wish that I was going to be in Seattle for longer. But for this time, it's only a few days. Are you going for a few days, too? Here's some essentials that you MUST pack!

  • Jeans
  • Denim Jacket
  • Flannel
  • Boots
  • Beanie/ Hat
  • Graphic Tee

And my carry on essentials? well, that's easy. I'm a pretty good person to fly with. I don't take a huge carry on that I have to keep getting up out of my seat to get in to. I usually just take my purse or even a back pack. Inside would be my eyeshadow palettes that I really do not want to break, a book, head phones and a phone charger. A water bottle (empty until after security), some snacks. I'd like to say that I nap the whole time, but that would only be a dream.

May your endeavors be joyful. Have fun out there, kiddos!

XOXO
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A Guide To: Dauphin Island, AL





It’s the middle of July. The sun is so hot on your skin that you’re red and lathering on SPF fifty every thirty minutes. It’s now acceptable to wear flip flops and loose tank tops over swimsuits. Sunglasses and sun kisses and sea salted hair. It’s the perfect summer on the perfect beach. It sounds like this could be the setting for a romantic novel that you would curl up to read when you’re stuck at home for the summer. But no. This is all real. And it happens at Daupin Island, Alabama.

It would be easy to file Dauphin Island under the Cute Beach Town category, because this is exactly what it is. Stretching only a mere seventeen miles long, the island is anything but your classic tourist trap. There are small businesses and tiny gift shops, a few gas stations, and the Ship & Shore. But other than that, it’s up to you to find peace and tranquility in the island. And that’s not too hard!

What To Eat.


Before you cross over that three mile bridge as you creep slowly onto the island, please make sure you get groceries. The essentials such as bread and milk and eggs, paper towels and anything else that you may need for a week in paradise. Have some recipes planned for dinners on the days that the island restaurants are closed, as they all seem to be on the same day. But when you’re ready for something that isn’t from your beach house kitchen, here are some of my favorite places.

The Lighthouse Bakery. Open most days (except for Mondays and Tuesdays), the Lighthouse Bakery is everything that you may think that it is. Coffee and pastries and sandwiches, as well as other delicious foods and desserts. Some days are specific to omelets and some are specific to biscuits and gravy. Everyday sure is amazing, though! One of my favorite items from the bakery is the cream cheese danish. So delicious.

Island Rainbow. Your hotspot for island pizza! The pizza is delicious, the ice cream is super yummy, and if you’re craving a “humdinger” this is the place to go. Since Island Rainbow is also closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, it seems like everyone is craving their pizza by Wednesday. My tip to you is to head to Island Rainbow to order your pizza instead of calling in your order, because the phone is always off the hook! It is so worth it.

Miguel’s Beach’n Baja. OMG. This is my absolute favorite spot to eat at on the island. I’m a huge fan of Mexican cuisine, and Miguel’s is no exception. The burritos are amazing, the taquitos are delicious, the nachos are to die for. Really, you could get anything and be happy. Miguel’s is closed from Sunday to Tuesday, so you better go and grab your taquitos and queso (why is their queso so GOOD?) while you can!

What To Do. 


Dauphin Island really is the perfect place to just breathe. With a book and a hat and a new found love for just… being. The internet is… eh, so don’t go to Dauphin Island expecting to keep up with the Kardashians. But there are so many more things to do and see on the island that you won’t even want to see if Kylie’s actually pregnant or not!

Rentals. There are numerous little places to rent bikes, jet skis, canoes, and many other things for your fun in the sun. My most favorite is renting bikes and riding the island. There are beautiful parks to see like the Goat Tree Reserve and the Audubon Bird Sanctuary. The bikes are cute and totally insta-worthy, which counts for something right?!

History. If you’re a history buff like I am, you will fall in love with these next few things to do in Dauphin Island. Fort Gaines was once a French fort in the 16th century, and then came under control of the U.S. in 1813. It’s full of incredible war history, if you’re into that stuff, and you can even see reenactments on some days. Oh, and I definitely think it’s haunted.

And speaking of haunted, how about that Indian Mound Park?! Indian Mound Park houses an ancient indian burial ground, and many claim that you can hear chanting and and music of the tribes from many years ago. How cool is that?

Shopping. Aside from the many little souvenir shops where you can find Dauphin Island t-shirts and bumper stickers, there is The Happy Octopus. The Happy Octopus is such a cute little boutique on the island. You can find island necessities such as hats and swimsuit cover ups, and you can find Happy Octopus brand shirts to sport when your week in paradise ends. I love this boutique so much!

West End Beach. Though there’s a beach everywhere you look, the West End Beach is so much fun. It’s at the very western end of the island. There are lifeguards keeping watch, there’s usually a little shack for food, and in the past, there’s been a blow up slide! Most nights in the summer they host the movies on the beach, and it is just so amazing and fun.


Kind and generous people. Beautiful beaches, beautiful parks. Delicious food and delicious ice cream. There is nothing better than a summer in Dauphin Island, Alabama.

XOXO

When Your Best Friend is Poison




I had a friend once. A best friend. One that I spilled my secrets to. One that shared her favorite television shows and movies with me. One that gave me good advice, one that offered a shoulder to cry on when I needed it. One that was honest and kind and gentle. She was everything that a friend should be.

Until she wasn't. 

Losing a friend is a lot like a bad breakup. It's painful and it's sad and it makes you hate that person so much, but sometimes, it's actually for the better. And when you get out of that relationship, you get to see. You get to turn around and see the path of chaos and destruction that this person left in your life. And you just stand there, like oh. Okay. This is better for me. I'll be okay without them.

It took me months to figure this out. For the longest time, I was set on the idea that I had done something wrong. That maybe it was my fault, because hey; that's what she told me! I still believed her because I trusted and, quite honestly, loved her. She was my best friend, after all. I would've done anything for her. Even paint myself as the bad guy.

Now, I'm not victimizing myself. I know what happened between us. I had a hand in the falling out, too. But for the most part, it was because of her toxicity. She didn't like that I knew what was going on. She didn't like that I confronted her about it, she didn't like the fact that she could be wrong or hurtful. To make a long story short, it was best that we go our separate ways. I won't lie; there's still tension. We're not acquaintanced anymore. We don't talk or make eye contact, and we try to stay out of each other's ways.

Toxic people come in many different shapes and sizes. Some may be your parents or grandparents. Others may be friends, lovers, teachers. It's a sad thing to recognize, but it is the truth. You are extremely strong-willed and capable if you are able to weed out these people whose main goal and purpose in life is to make your own hell on earth.

It is so extremely hard to find out that your best friend is not really your best friend. It's like a stab in the back. You've trusted and looked up to and loved this person, and suddenly, they aren't there. At the toss of a hat, they have moved on to something different. Someone different and better.



I wish things were different. Sometimes I wish that things could be better again and that we weren't just ghosts to each other, passing by and not noticing or caring anymore. How one person that you trusted the most can turn into a stranger so quick is astonishing to me. I know all of these little Jeopardy facts about a stranger. Her favorite television show, favorite food. But she's a stranger.

 May you have the courage to weed out the bad people in your life. Maybe you, too, will be happy with the choices you've made. Always move forward.

XOXO




5 Books That Changed My Life




If we've never met before, let me introduce myself. Hi, Hello, I'm Grace and I'm an avid reader. I like reading stand alone books and series. I like to read late at night or early in the day with a cup of coffee. My genres and book interests change as the seasons do. I've read plenty of classics, plenty of romance, plenty of fantasy novels in my reading career. But everyone has those books that touched them somewhere deep inside, that changed them and inspired them and made them think. And I know that I have at least five of those particular books.


5. Girl Code: Gaming, Going Viral, and Getting It Done

I just want to start off by saying that I really really want to be best friends with Andrea Gonzales and Sophie Houser. They are the masterminds behind this amazing Autobiography. Girl Code is one of the first memoirs that I've ever read, and it is so inspiring. I love boss babes, I love strong independent women that know what they want and go for it. This story is exactly that! It made me interested in programming and coding and I wanted to grow up to be just like the for a hot minute. It's so inspiring and I think that every young girl interested in STEM should read this story.

4. Fear Street: Killer's Kiss

Another series that I was absolutely entranced by was Fear Street by R.L. Stine. In the fourth and fifth grade, I probably had about three friends. We were all what you would probably call "weird", and so when we found the Fear Street novels in the school library, we were so stoked. It was like we had a little book club. We would read a book from the series, call each other and talk about it. Talk about it at lunch and recess and everything in between. It was so much fun! Killer's Kiss was one of my favorites from the series and is one that I remember the most.

3. The Hunger Games

I'm sure that everyone has read this series and has considered Suzanne Collins their book bestie. I think that the Hunger Games is the series that really really made me love reading. I loved and hated and sympathized with characters. I wanted more for my favorites and boy did I want to kiss Peeta Mellark! (Honestly, still do. Except now I also love Finnick soooooooo) The Hunger Games made me fall in love with sitting at home to finish reading a book. I felt like Katniss was my best friend and I wanted nothing but good things for her. It also made me fall in love with Dystopian novels, which was quite exciting!

2. Bridge to Terabithia

Ugh. Katherine Paterson reached into my ten year old chest, wrapped her cold hands around my heart, and just YANKED it out. I remember reading this story in my fifth grade class. It was the first book that ever made me feel such strong emotions. It was the first book that ever made me cry my freaking eyes out. If books aren't your thing, the Bridge to Terabithia movie is actually pretty good. But please please please read the book. It will change your life forever.

1. The Outsiders

This. Book. It's got to be one of my absolute favorites of all time. I've read it so many times, and each time I find something new to love and focus on. The characters, I feel, each have one attribute that I relate to. Ponyboy's love for writing and words, Two-Bit's too big mouth. The story of friendship is inspiring. The close knit family is so incredibly lovable. S.E. Hinton, thanks girl.

So those were just a few of the books that made me who I am today. I would love to hear about what you've read and what you love to read! What books keeps you crawling back for more?


XOXO

Z is for Zoloft




Depression. Anxiety. Bipolar Disorder. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Did you cringe?

There's a bubble around the discussion of Mental Health. A bubble to disguise it, a bubble to hide it. A bubble that stigmatizes it, turns it into a monster. You shouldn't talk about it because it will get you. You shouldn't talk about it because others have it worse. You shouldn't talk about it because you're just being dramatic. That bubble gets bigger and bigger and darker and darker. You start to think that these people are right. Should I hide it? Should I keep it in this bubble? Should I tell anyone what I'm going through? For awhile, you'll decide on no. You're fine. That's what they tell you, anyway, their hot words only making that bubble bigger.

The bubble is big and strong now, all because of fear. But why? People are so frightened of the things that they don't know or understand. So frightened, in fact, that they would rather silence one asking for help just so that they are comfortable. How is that fair to the ones struggling most?

I've become very passionate about mental health and its underlying stigmas. This is because of my own personal battles with depreciating mental health. I found it hard to come out and talk about it. I felt like I was being dramatic, or sensitive, lazy or overtly introverted. That's what people told me, so that's what I believed.

I felt like I was being dramatic, or sensitive, lazy or overtly introverted. That's what people told me, so that's what I believed. 

 Have you ever lied to yourself? Have you ever told yourself that you were okay, that you would wake up tomorrow and it would all be sunshine and rainbows again? Have you ever believed it?

There comes a time when you can't lie to yourself anymore. Something is not quite right and you know it. It takes courage to come out from behind the curtains, to escape the darkness to tell your truth. It was surprising to see that people cared so much. That doctors knew what to do. That there were medications to try and people to talk to and things that would help. If I would've had the chance to talk about it sooner, I would've. I wouldn't have suffered alone for so long.


Society has always seen mental illness as a weakness. Despite all of the information we now have at our very own fingertips, things still have not changed. The stigma against mental health and wellness still lives on. We're still seen as weak, or lazy, or dramatic, even though that really isn't what is happening. It's a constant battle and struggle. We are stronger than you know.

I wish someone would've been there to hold my hand from the very beginning. Part of it is me. I didn't open up about my feelings. I've never been very good at that. But another part is society. I was sure no one wanted to know and that no one cared. Little did I know, I was so wrong.

I wish someone would've told me that it wasn't over and that I was doing my best. I wish someone would've told me that even after you start medication, even after meeting with a physician, you will still have those days. Those days where it takes all of your energy to breathe, let alone think.

The Zoloft helps, but I still have those days. Of course I do. I'm only human, fighting in my own battle.
I'm sitting there in bed, three in the morning, eyes on the green ceiling fan that doesn't match the decor of my bedroom. It's a scary place for my thoughts to be so late at night. I have to be my own savior, my own knight in shining armor. There is no room to be the damsel in distress.
I close my eyes and eventually sleep. I wake to pale light peeking through, telling me it's morning. I have my coffee, take my Zoloft. We go hand in hand these days. I do my schoolwork. I soldier on. Because that's all I can do.

XOXO

Happily Ever After | WDW 2017




You walk through the gates of the Magic Kingdom. The sweltering heat of the summer is licking at your face, your neck, even the backs of your knees. Main Street USA is there in all of its glory. It smells like candy and waffle cones and everything gorgeous and sweet, and you just want to bottle up the scent. At the center is the castle. Picture perfect: sun shining down from behind the tallest peak of Cinderella's Castle. You stand there, relishing. In the sweet smell, the jovial music, the view of Magic Kingdom that makes your stomach tickle.

You are happy. Sweaty and sunburned and happy.

Many of you know that I LOVE Disney. Movies, music, books, fashion. You name it, I've probably got it or seen it or heard it at least once. It's just been a part of me for as long as I can remember. I used to dress up in Belle's red dress from Belle's Enchanted Christmas. I used to play a Disney CD in my hello kitty radio as bedtime came, trying to get to sleep before Ursula's Poor Unfortunate Souls started because the tune used to scare me. I'm a seasoned Disney professional.

For my Sweet Sixteen, we wanted a WDW Trip. But since my twin and I are Geminis, born in the heat of summer, we decided against a summer trip. Florida in the middle of summer? No thank you. We decided to go in September and hit up Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party for the second time. The Halloween party is AMAZING and definitely a favorite of mine. So of course I would want a Halloween party as my own birthday party!

I don't want to bore you with a week in my Disney life, so I will try to keep things relatively short. Our week started off with the party, and the very next day, we checked in to The Beach Club. Oh. Em. Gee. I want to move in to The Beach Club, I want to bottle up the smell and spray it all over my body as a perfume. It's a short walk to Epcot and a pleasant boat ride to Hollywood Studios. AKA my two favorite parks. The pool is nice, the people are lovely, and you really do feel like you are at the beach. It's so amazing.


I am a food fiend. That may be why my hips don't lie at this point in my life. I love all different types of food from all different places. So, I just have to tell you that my most favorite place to eat at in Disney World is San Angel Inn Restaurante. I walked into the Epcot Mexico pavilion two years ago in January. The smells and the sights and the people just made me smile. I also felt extremely hungry. We were in a rush and didn't stay for any special meals, but I kept that restaurant in mind.

The next trip, as soon as we could get our dining reservations with the Dining Plan, I knew exactly what I wanted. And I was not disappointed! It was my favorite meal of the trip. Everything was so so so delicious. If I could eat those plantains every day for the rest of my life, I definitely would. Not to mention that their cheesecake was delicious and amazing and I definitely felt like an honorary golden girl.



Aside from loving food, I really do love roller coasters. I'm an adrenaline junkie in the safest form of the word. Roller coasters are probably as cool as it gets for me. I love fast roller coasters that flip upside down in the dark (Rock n' Roller Coaster). I love slower roller coasters that feel classic and tell a story (Seven Dwarfs Mine Train). I love scary stories and drops (Tower of Terror). I love it all. I was most excited to ride Flight of Passage in Pandora.

From the very first time that I heard WDW would be adding to Animal Kingdom, I was excited. Don't get me wrong; I like Animal Kingdom. Notice how I didn't say love? It is just a half day, three star park to me. But that Pandora addition though!

Pandora captured my heart from the very beginning. Every rock, every leaf, every light has so much thought and beauty behind it. It feels like you are stepping into the Avatar film. I was looking for my own personal Jake Sully behind every tree. It is so stunning. Shoutout to Joe Rohde and all of the other Imagineers behind he project!

Now, to Flight of Passage. The queue was incredibly long, but honestly, it was worth it. I would wait eight years to ride Flight of Passage again. It is a crazy trip! It's so realistic. You feel like you are actually there, on the back of a Banshee, flying through Pandora. There's water and sound and every time that freaking Banshee breathes, I scream a little. It feels so real! It was one of the highlights of the trip for me- I never wanted to get off and I just wanted to ride again and again.




Hopefully, this post taught you something. Like which resort would make a great perfume, and which restaurant has the best plantains, and which roller coaster actually breathes. While my trip wasn't just these three things, they certainly highlighted the whole thing and made it that much better. I miss Disney always and always want to go back. Who's going to take me next?

XOXO