Birthday Dressing

Today I wore my birthday gift from my friend Jon: the purple and pink polka dot dress from the Zac Posen for Target line

Dress: Zac Posen for Target, shoes: Aerosoles
It's such a pretty dress though it wrinkles pretty easily (bad for someone like me who is either always moving or lounging around). It's got a unique back and a lovely full skirt. And I do love a good full skirt...

Birthday Celebration Pt. 2

For my birthday dinner, I decided I wanted dessert. So I searched online and found a perfect little cupcake place (Molly's Cupcakes)at which to indulge my sweet tooth. I went with three friends who each had two cupcakes each, but I of course had to go for the gold with three. I took pictures of everyone's initial two cupcakes, but not my third.

My friend Abbey had mint chocolate chip and Boston creme pie.

My friend Andrew had chocolate raspberry and cookie dough

My friend Jon had red velvet and oreo

I had chocolate decadence (chocolate cake, ganache, frosting and mousse), chocolate raspberry and tiramisu (not pictured)

The cupcakes were seriously amazing. Moist cake and the most intense frosting ever (and I don't even like frosting). Plus, most of the ones we got were filled, which meant raspberry, cookie dough and creme centers. I definitely ate too much but it was so worth it.

Summer Goal #2

Last week I mentioned my first goal for this summer and I thought today was the perfect time to announce my second goal.
Summer Goal #2: Take Better Pictures
As a rule, I pretty much always take better pictures when I'm home. There's more room, and less people milling around, plus I have full access to outdoor locations where no one will look at me weird (aka my backyard). I'll be able to get back into the habit of actually bringing my tripod out of my room and natural light will provide me with better pictures. Oh and one other thing. As part of my birthday gift, my parents included a WOU (We Owe You) for a new camera, a Nikon that I asked for. So. I'll get to figure out how to use a new camera that will hopefully take much better pictures than my point-and-shoot.
Outside pic vs. Inside pic

Curiouser and Curiouser

I was browsing Forever 21's website when I came across something...odd.
This is the "Woven Gauze shirt." It retails for $13.80

This is the "Button Down Gauze shirt." It retails for $19.80

Confused?
They look the same and have the same description. So why are they different prices?

Birthday girl

I swear this is my last post of the day. Five is a little much, even for me.

Dress: Vintage, Cardigan: Gap, shoes: Gap, headband: H&M

I wanted to wear something special today so I chose my vintage dress that I bought off of ebay this winter. Last time I wore it was on Spring break when we went to the Alamo. It fits great and was a prefect weight for today's weather in the high 60s with a breeze. The fabric is heavy enough that even though it blows in the wind, it doesn't threaten to reveal anything scandalous in public.

A trip to...

So where did I end up going today?
To the Lincoln Park Zoo!
I love the zoo and my friends and I had been talking about going for a while. I decided, since I only have one class on Thursdays and my friend Jon only has one that we should take the day to go visit the animals.
We saw some pretty exciting creatures.

Birthday celebration Pt. I

Today my friend Jon and I took a little trip to celebrate my birthday. I won't say where just yet, but I will share some pictures of some very pretty scenery.

Mail Call: Birthday Edition

As you may have seen, today is my birthday, and I got some fabulous packages.

From my parents:

A new pillow, a preppy lunch bag and something else that I will share later.
From my sister:

Amazing books: Diana Vreeland's autobiography and an illustrated history of Vogue. Don't worry, there will be book reports. Also, two of the amazing nail polishes from OPI's Alice In Wonderland collection.
From my friend Jon:

Zac Posen for Target dress! I'll wear it tomorrow and provide some full length pictures.

Music Monday, Pt. Final

"20/20 Surgery" - Taking Back Sunday

I'm 20 today!!

Music Monday Pt. III

"The 13th" -The Cure

"Avril 14th" - Aphex Twin

"Fifteen" - Taylor Swift

"Sixteen Candles" - The Crests

"17" - Kings of Leon

"I'm Eighteen" - Alice Cooper

"Hey Nineteen" - Steely Dan

The finale...tomorrow.

A day behind...

It was pretty late last night when I had a chance to take pictures, so unfortunately they're a little drab. Tomorrow I'll have a much better location for pictures though.

Cardigan: Old Navy, Dress: American Eagle, Tights: We Love Colors

I did wear shoes most of the day, I promise. I'll have some posts that are a little more fun tomorrow and as I said, I'll have my pictures taken in a much much better location than either the stairwell or my room. And hopefully I'll actually post them tomorrow as opposed to Friday. But that's wishful thinking for now.

Music Monday Pt. II

"Welcome to the 60s" - Hairspray (Nikki Blonsky and John Travolta)

"7 Minutes In Heaven (Atavan Halen)" - Fall Out Boy

"Eight Days a Week" - The Beatles

"Nine in the Afternoon" - Panic at the Disco

"Ten" - Jimmy Eat World

"11:11 PM" - The All-American Rejects

"Prelude 12/21" - AFI

Red White and Blue

Whoever first put the red, white and blue color combo together was a genius. While I love going all-out for the 4th of July, I also love it at all times of the year. It's such a great color palette.

Cardigan: Old Navy, Tank top: Old Navy, skirt: Urban Outfitters, socks: Target, shoes: naturalizer

The skirt started me off on my red, white and blue tangent for the day and I only felt it right to complement it by wearing only those colors. I affixed a white bow that was cut off a pair of socks to my necklace for a cute adornment as well.

Music Monday

In honor of an event coming up later this week, I've decided to stretch my Music Monday out over a few days with a musical number game.You can probably guess where we'll end up later this week.
"One of Us" - ABBA

"It Takes Two" - Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston

"3 Small Words" - Josie and The Pussycats

"Four Kicks" - Kings of Leon

"Number Five With a Bullet" - Taking Back Sunday


To be continued...

Saturday Shopping

I went shopping yesterday with my friend Abbey who needed some new spring/summer clothes. My plan for the day was that I would spend no money - I don't have an unlimited budget after all. I broke that promise to myself however at Gap when I found a dark wash denim jacket for 40% off. I've been wanting a denim jacket, and now I have one.

I also found a perfect dress at Urban that I will probably go back and buy - I can picture it fitting into my summer internship wardrobe perfectly.

I also stayed up latelatelate last night so that I could order the dress I wanted from the Zac Posen for Target line. Or, rather, I didn't order it but one of my friends did as a birthday present for me. All in all, a successful weekend.