short story

chambray top / Madewell (runs big - mine is xs)

tank / Tees by Tina

shorts / 10 Crosby Derek Lam c/o MOSAIC (these are fabulous shorts - they don't wrinkle!)

shoes / Sam Edelman

bag / 3.1 Phillip Lim

watch / Michael Kors

sales worth shopping

Nordstrom is having their anniversary sale.  There are some crazy good deals going on.  Plus, free shipping and free returns.  Ends 7/25.

Here are my picks:

Piperlime is also having a great sale!  Everything on their site is 20% off with the code "EVERYONE" ...and as always, free shipping/free returns, too.  Ends 7/23.

Here are my picks:

Happy Shopping!

Xo-M

well soled

via

It's that time of year when I'm realizing all of the summer shoes that I still need, while lusting
over all of the fall shoes that are making their debuts.  Gosh, being a woman is tough.
Anyway, here are some of my favorites.

what to pack {summer vacation}

With the Fourth of July coming up on Thursday, I'm sure many of you will soon be leaving for long weekends away - hopefully spent near the water and with lots of family nearby.  Here are some essentials that you must not forget!

picks of the week

Everyone is allowed to have a want list, right?

image via

j. crew: 30% off

I gotta tell ya...

 I've never seen J. Crew have this many back-to-back sales as they've had this year.  Got to share the love.

Click here to shop.

can't miss this

J. Crew is having a pretty amazing sale right now.  If you spend $250 (which let's face it, you can easily do with just one outfit), then you get $75 off.  That's 30% off, which is the best sale you're going to find at J. Crew on full price clothing.  Shop away, my friends.

Here are some of my favorites.

Your questions, answered.

First of all, thank you all for the sweetest of comments!  We are so thrilled to be married and I can't wait to share TONS more photos with you all.  I was asked a lot of questions after the last post.  I'm here to answer the best that I can. ;)

You asked about this dress:

It's Rachel Pally.  I could live in this dress.  The fabric is as soft as clouds, but thick enough to not show every line and lump underneath the dress.

I'm sad to tell you that I recently bought it off of Gilt and I can't seem to ID it anywhere else. 

You asked about this dress too, which I also bought on Gilt.

Again, Rachel Pally.  I can't find this exact dress either, but here's one very similar - if not even prettier.

But the Rachel Pally dress that I really have my eye on is this one and this one.

I'm sure all Rachel Pally maxi dresses are alike.  Both of mine are constructed using the same type of fabric.  They are so well made and run true to size... but they are LONG!  In fact, I cut a large portion of the hem on both of mine using kitchen shears.  Heck, it wasn't a sewn hem anyway.

Tons of you wanted to know who makes this top.

It's Clover Canyon.  Their patterns are so unique and crazy, but they totally work.  You're going to kill me because I don't have a proper ID for this one either.  It's brand new to me, but not new to the world.  I almost bought this blouse at a local boutique, Copper Penny, last year, but decided to save the $200.  I'm glad I did, because it turned up at Saks Off Fifth this spring with a major price reduction.  I bought a pair of their pants, too.  You'll see those in Honeymoon Part Two.

Here's a similar blouse.  I love the pattern.  No open back though (sorry!!).

And if you're looking for an awesome open-back Clover Canyon dress, check this one out.

...you asked about my camera and which shooting mode I use.

Let me say first that I have no idea how to work my camera.  I try, I really do.  It's a Canon Rebel T3i.  

What I do know is that my favorite photos are where the subject is crystal clear and the background is blurry.  To do that, I learned that you need to set your camera/lens to its widest aperture setting, or the lowest f-stop number.  

About 90% of the time, my camera is on AV mode, which allows me to capture that slightly blurry background.  In some photos, you can barely notice it.  I turn my camera to that setting and make sure my f-stop number is the lowest that it will go, which is only about 4.6 with my lens, which came stock with the camera.  Nicer lenses allow you to go much lower, which will create an even blurrier background.

When I was out and about in the daylight (just taking photos of general scenery, not of a specific subject), I used the camera's automatic setting.  Can't go wrong with that!

As for my hair.  You asked about that too.

I'm going to make a video on how to do the hairstyles you asked about.  Stay tuned!

spring lust list

Hive & Honey Military Twill Slouchy Pant

Tilden Pumps by Michael Antonio

(thanks to seeing these on DON, now on my lust-list too)

Tinley Road Knit Wrap Maxi Dress

Joie Sigrid Top

Gatsby Sandals by Sam Edelman

Kate Spade Gayla Shades

Kate Spade Metro Watch

a really long-winded story about beauty pageants

via

As a former competitor in pageants, I felt that this would be an interesting topic to bring up.  We all seem to have opinions on the subject and I thought I'd share mine.

Growing up, I was never a "pageant girl."  I competed in my first pageant when I was in sixth grade.  I had the stomach virus the whole week prior and was still sick on pageant day.  But I was determined to wear that dress we found on the sale rack at David's Bridal (it was definitely a flower girl dress), even if my face was sickly and had the same pale, white shade as the dress.  Mom and I really didn't know what to expect.  I think I had my hair curled at the JC Penney salon and we put on a dab of blush, some lipstick, and I was set to go on stage.  Needless to say, I didn't win, but I didn't care by the end of the night... all I cared to do was get my nachos and coca-cola and get home in bed.

Two years later, I tried it again and won both of the small, local pageants I competed in.  And the next year I tried again... and won both of those pageants too.  At the incredibly awkward ages of 13 and 14, getting on stage with the spotlight centered on you wasn't the easiest thing, but it was a huge self esteem boost that girls this age often need.  

 Fast forward about six or seven years later, and I, for some reason, got interested in pageants again.  I was a college sophomore and thought it would be something fun to do.  Mom and I went to Columbia to pick out a -get this- real pageant dress, not something picked up off the racks at Dilliards.  I also picked out a pageant swimsuit, heels, and jewelry ...all in one fell swoop.  I was told about an upcoming pageant called the "Carolina Queen Pageant."  This was a whole different deal than the local pageants I had competed in ...the hair was bigger, the dresses tighter, and there was a swimsuit portion.  Without any experience in this realm of pageantry, I braved it and ended up placing first runner up to the former Miss SC Teen USA, Caite Upton.  You know her.  Remember?

 

The pageant was even nationally televised.  We didn't know it at the time, but it was used during the first episode of TLC's "King of the Crown" TV show that aired back in 2009.

Then I was introduced to RPM Productions, Inc.  For more than 30 years, RPM has partnered with the Miss Universe Organization to produce premiere statewide events.  There are local preliminary pageants across SC that lead to RPM's Miss South Carolina USA pageant.  So, I tried my hand at two.  In November of 2009, I ended up entering the Miss SC USA pageant "at large."

Competing in the state pageant yet again took pageants to a whole new level for me.  I still felt new at this and was "thrown into a pack of wolves" ...so to speak.  My expectations on the whole experience were so different than the reality I experienced.  It was harder in many ways, but I gained so many rewards that I didn't expect.  We all hear that pageant girls are catty, rude, and two faced.  In reality, you become part of a sorority of women who leave a legacy that impacts communities through charities and other causes. You make new friends and enjoy an atmosphere of glamour and fashion, while developing poise, confidence, and career-enhancing skills.

I experienced this.  

Through the handful of pageants I competed in, I walked away with dear friends, role models, and mentors.  I tested my abilities and surprised myself in many ways.  I stood on a stage in a bathing suit with the spotlight on me in front of thousands of people for goodness sakes.  Not just stood on the stage...but you gotta work it, you know. ;)

Another great reward of pageantry is the adrenaline you get from high amounts of determination and motivation.  The best I've felt in my life was during the months that I competed in pageants.  Everything I did was with the pageant in mind.  Not to where it was an obsession, but I watched everything I ate, exercised regularly, got plenty of sleep, and really worked hard on the white-strips, hair masks, face masks, etc.  Taking care of yourself pays off and it's nice to have that extra motivation to do so every once in a while. 

Competing in pageants opened many doors for me.  I signed with a modeling agency here in Charleston.  I hate to say "signed" because that makes it sound big time.  So, to re-word... I was under a contract with an agency and was able to do some modeling projects on the side while I was still a student in college.  This began because I won a photo shoot as my prize in the Carolina Queen pageant.  Without that shoot, I wouldn't have had the photos in my portfolio to be able to meet with the modeling agency.  I wouldn't have had that extra push to pursue it either.  On the same note, numerous Miss USA contestants have gone on to do much bigger things, like launch careers in entertainment by appearing on E! Entertainment, CMT Insider, MTV, Survivor, The Amazing Race, Fear Factor, The Bachelor, and countless television shows and movies. 

I realized that I have a passion for communication, specifically public speaking, through the many instances when I had to speak in front of large crowds during pageants.  I then went on to change my college major from Health Promotion to Communication.  I enrolled in various advanced public speaking classes.  Sounds corny, but those classes really molded me as an individual.  Facing a fear changes you...especially when you end up excelling at it.  I can honestly say that if it wasn't for pageants, I wouldn't be in the career field that I am today.  I would have graduated in Health Promotion and gone on to be a nutritionist or something directly health related.  My life is different because of the rewards I gained through competing.  

 

If you're interested in competing and live in South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, or Louisiana, you can contact RPM to find out how you can compete in this year's state pageant.  

You can find out more on their website, www.rpmproductions.com, or by visiting them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/rpmproductions, or simply by calling the office: (803) 648-6220.

Miss SC USA, Megan Pinckney, and Miss SC Teen USA, Tori Sizemore

I think the whole summary of this post isn't specifically why competing in pageants is something you should do.  The point I am trying to make is that testing yourself can cultivate many rewards.  Whether it's sky diving, training for a race, getting certified in something new, or really, anything that challenges you.  

There are many bounties to be developed through weighing your limits!  

spring lust list {C. Wonder}

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 

oh yeah...

Sorry I haven't responded to the comments and emails asking about the dress I wore to my bridal shower.  I am so not good at replying to emails.  Working on this.

My dress is the Ali Ro Sparkle Knit Belted Dress.

You didn't even see the best part, though.  It has a bit of a V'd back.

Just for reference... because I know many of you will ask.  :)  I usually wear between a 2 and 4, but in this dress, I ordered a 4 and am very pleased with the fit.  If you're a size 8 or 12, lucky for you.  You can buy this dress for $120 OFF its original price of $298 by clicking here.  For all of you other sizes, I've only been able to find this dress still available at Saks. 

counting the days {spring preview}

J. Crew's spring collection is making a preview and I'm spotting a few things that need to be in my bags for the honeymoon. Oh, can't it be April already? We've had quite a few 75 degree days this past week. What a tease! I'm ready to bid adieu to winter and get some sun on these legs.

satchel // necklace // bracelet // bikini // hat

earrings // passport case // shorts // shoes // sunnies

{emerald}

You may have heard by now that the 2013 Pantone Color of the Year is EMERALD.  This excites me to no end because emerald is one of my favorite colors to wear.  I think it looks good on people with warmer undertones (more yellow in skin color, like me) and people with cooler undertones (more pink in skin... think The Little Mermaid or Alyssa Campanella, former Miss USA at the Miss Universe pageant -she has red hair  and cool skin and ROCKED an emerald gown).

all images via

If you aren't a fan of wearing emerald, consider sporting it through bold accessories or a handbag.  

Happy Weekend!

Brandon and I are hitting up my favorite restaurant, O-Ku, tonight.  Lots of errands are on the list for tomorrow.. and oh, a facial!  Time to get that bridal glow on, y'all. 

Xo-M

{holiday gifting}

A week ago, someone asked me to post some Christmas gift list ideas.  Well, if there's one thing I'm good at, it's putting together wish-lists.  Within the coming weeks, I'll be posting some holiday gift giving ideas.  

Here are some goodies from C. Wonder that I think anyone would love to receive. 

Wool Herringbone Throw Blanket

Foo Dogs Set

Polka Dots Soup Bowl

Classic Ginger Jars & Vase

French Bulldog Notecards

Large Nylon Pouch