// Ahoy!

Maybe it's because I've been watching an awful lot of New Girl recently (I really love that show!), but I've been constantly thinking about "age appropriate" style/behavior and how it directly affects the way people treat others. You know how in the show Jess sticks up for her "quirky" persona and ensures it doesn't make her any less of an intelligent woman? Even Zooey has to defend herself in the media. People are so quick to write off others for any and every reason - the way you talk, the way you dress, whatever. I see it happen a lot in the blog world and while I understand constructive criticism, I wonder why it bothers others so much what another individual is wearing. For example, I bought this Trollied Dolly dress via a ModCloth Cabin Fever sale way back last year. I remember thinking it was the cutest thing ever and I just had to have it (It was mega cheap, too!) When my order arrived I quickly abandoned that day's work and tossed on everything one by one to see how they fit. Luckily this fit like a glove. Unfortunately I felt like (I looked like) a baby doll. I was worried that if I wore it out and about people would look at me as if I were playing dress up. That silly fear (that was totally self imposed) kept me from wearing this dress for a full year! A couple of weeks ago I decided to abandon that fear and just rock it, and you know what? I really really love this dress. Even if it doesn't look like it was made for a 25 year old, I'm into it. Sure, the collar is a little bit "costume-y" but it's adorable in my opinion. There are so many Trollied Dolly dresses on the ModCloth site that I adore (and even more on the TD website!) Who knows what I'll be wearing when I'm 30? Will I be embarrassed about some of my choices? Undeniably! Will my style be totally different? It's possible. I'm just going to try and not worry so much about what other people think/feel about my clothing choices. It's sort of embarrassing to admit I let that hold me back ya know?

Last night was the first full night's sleep I've gotten in over a week. Here lately I've been waking up every 30 minutes or so for no reason. I'd toss and turn, then spend the entire day feeling totally crappy. I owe it all to the ZzzQuil I popped last night before bed haha! I feel so refreshed like I can take on the world. Of course I didn't really want to get out of bed this morning, but that's nothing new. Sunday is officially my last day of "sleeping in" and that's bumming me out! Toby's teacher is coming by for a home visit on Monday morning and then he'll actually start school next week. That means 6:30am (or earlier!) wake up calls for like the next forever basically. School is tough on the parents, too! I know I shouldn't complain - I've always ways I wanted to be a morning person. I want to enjoy (as much as one can) getting up at sunrise. I feel like there are so many more hours to the day when I don't roll out of bed at 9:30am. I'm hoping that after a week or two I'll be totally used to it and I'll be a morning person for life. Is that how it works?! C'mon, I need some reassurance here! If you have any tips on becoming a morning person, I could totally use them!

Today I'm finishing up some design work (I have a couple of really cute, girly blog designs launching here shortly!) and also finishing up the last of my sign orders. Friday is usually our "cleaning house" day and this little place needs it. My mom, nana and I are loading up and taking my 11 year old cousin Kaylie out for a girl's day tomorrow in Nashville. I have no clue what's on the agenda but I know it'll be fun. She's excited about shopping for jewelry and I'm excited about my $6 off coupon for Zyrtec at Costco... I'm really starting to show my age! haha 

Trollied Dolly dress via ModCloth

Vintage clutch

MIA Jukebox wedges