On the Waterfront

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Words of Widsom Wednesday

How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful

Dress: Target Sandals: Kohl's

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Photo Roundup

I seem to be drawn to the warm colors of a late summer afternoon. To the wheat fields and barren land and the wild sunflowers that thrive in it. It's funny when you want to go out and shoot things and go on these adventures seeking perfect photo ops, yet you still have this touch of agoraphobia that makes you not want to travel too far out. It forces you to find beauty in things right where you are. Things you may have passed a million times but never really looked at. It's a nice lesson to learn, that while you work your way out, inch by inch, to further places, there is always something where you are that is deserving of being captured; to be looked at from a different perspective. You learn to open your eyes and find beauty within your limitations.

Across the Pond

Top: Lulu's Jeans: Levi's Sandals: Target 

Float on

Dress: Macy's Sandals: Old Navy 

I could wear this dress every day and not get tired of it. It's super comfortable and the tulip cut makes walking around on a windy day feel like you're a 5-year-old playing dress up. Unfortunately this particular style is no longer on the site, but the plus size version is still available!

Full disclosure: I get commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post.

It Made a Difference for That One

“Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said,  "It made a difference for that one.” 

--Loren Eiseley 


Don't ever think that what you do doesn't make a difference; small things can add up to big changes. We can look at the world and all the suffering, sadness and unrest and become so overwhelmed that we can't possibly fix everything, we do nothing at all. Or we could look around us and think, what can I do today that might make a difference to someone or something? You never know what big impact a small act can make. Be on the lookout for where you may be needed-- a kind word, a donation, a lending hand. It will make a difference, and probably in ways you may never even know.

"I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples."   --Mother Teresa 

photo: Elena Morelli

Black is Back

Top: Target Jeans: Walmart Kimono: Target Hat: Forever 21 Shoes: Old Navy

Remember how I said a couple posts ago that I was going through a "blue phase"? Well, I guess that didn't lost long, because judging from my last couple of outfits, black is back. Can I also just take a minute to talk about this new top? I saw it at Target on clearance for, like, $10. Technically it's a "sleep cami" but I doubt anyone would know the difference between a sleep cami and an awake cami because, is there one? Anyway, the thing that is the best about this cami is that it has a built in bra. Not like ones of those shelf bras that are just an added piece of cloth with elastic on the bottom. This one has a place to put removable cup for actual support and modesty. So anytime I can say "sayonara" to a real bra, I am all for it. I got one in black and one in grey and I'm kind of kicking myself for not getting one in white too. Crossing my fingers they're still there on my next Target trip...

California Dreamin'

Shirt: Kohl's Jeans: ASOS Sandals: Target Hat: Forever 21

       

Huck Finn

Jumpsuit: Old Navy Shoes: Nordstrom Rack

Sometimes it gets so hot that you're forced to forgo a shirt and go with just the overalls, Huck Finn style. 

Other outfits with these pieces:

 

Words of Wisdom Wednesday

A-MEN.

Image via Freelance Wisdom

Tent City

Dress: Gap Shoes: Nordstrom Rack

All my days off this week were filled with "maintenance" (ie. hair appointment, pedicure, dentist) so naturally I looked like a slob kabob. But once again I get to take advantage of my sister's hand-me-downs  with this dress. It's about the size of one of those tents they put over houses when they have termites and I couldn't love it more. It's so big and comfy (and it has pockets!). I'm also in love with these new Catherine Malandrino slip-ons I just got. I have to admit, when I bought them in 'nude' I didn't think they were going to match my skin so well my feet would look naked, but I'm actually impressed. (Full disclosure, I think it's just the paleness of my legs that are washing them out in the picture. They're actually a really pretty light pink in person) 

The Cracked Pot

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years, this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you”.  The bearer asked, “Why? What are you ashamed of?”  The Pot replied, “For these past two years I am able to deliver only half of my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. Because of my flaws, you don’t get full value for your efforts”.

The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”

Drink the Wild Air

After taking regular outfit photos for the last post, the sun started to dip behind the trees, giving the best rays of light we had to take advantage of. Golden hour is my favorite time of day. Everything is bronzed and dreamy. Cinematic, almost. It is by far my favorite time to photograph. I looked up different movies that are either known for their cinematography, or give off the feeling I want to capture in pictures and made a list of the ones I wanted to watch to gather inspiration. To see how they use light, how they capture moments, how they translate feeling through a lens. So far I've watched 6.5 out of 15 (I may have fallen asleep in the middle of The Tree of Life last night). But they already make me want to explore photography more. To capture life in a different kind of way. I'll post them as I go and learn and evolve. As an extension of fashion-posts or perhaps even in lieu of them. If you have any recommendations on any films with really dreamy cinematography, send them my way.