Dressing Up for {Happiness}

In high school I conducted a little experiment for a while to see whether the way I dressed affected the way I was treated. You see, I had a real issue with people being jerks to me. Sure, it's high school and everyone is a jerk, but I realized even then that there is no point in [unprovoked] rudeness. The experiment was to discover whether when I put on thought-out clothing, an outfit I had to spend time on, my classmates would hold their tongues.

Honestly, there was nothing scientific about the variables or control factors . . . but I found that I had much better days when I “dressed up”. Whether it was that others shut up or I felt powerful enough to ignore their condescension, we'll never know, but I did learn that I could make myself feel better through the day with nicer clothes.

I'm not saying that you need to wear a $200 outfit daily to feel great, I'm saying that some clothes that match, maybe have a fashion-forward approach or a great piece worked in are going to give you more of a spring to your step than that second or third cup of coffee. (And just a side note: I do a lot of thrifting to find great clothes)

How do you get in the habit of putting on a presentable outfit in the morning? Well there are two great motivators I use: showering in the morning and picking out my threads the night before. The latter of the two might seem juvenile, but think of how much more coherent you are at night and how finding something great to wear will motivate you to get up and get ready to wear it.

Also, I know many people have issues with knowing how to put together clothes that match and/or are fashion-forward. My solution: find pictures of outfits you love, and try to copy them. I still even do this. It's no crime! I mostly use my Pinterest account for this type of research; I will pin outfits, hairstyles and make-up ideas to my Oh La La Fashion board and go back through my pins when I'm about to go out, go to class, or just grab lunch. Here are some outfits I really love and will probably copy soon for the Fall season:

I don't mind making jokes, but I don't want to look like one. - Marilyn Monroe

Fall Clothing Love [Mens]

Though less celebrated than ladies fashion, mens style seems to be making a comeback. Maybe I'm mistaken, but it seems like we have turned away from the “styles” that called for less upkeep, and are moving back toward men that do their hair in the morning, and that put more than work out clothes on every day. There is a part in the classic movie, Clueless, where Cherdescribes “90s guys” perfectly, making fun of their baggy jeans and of covering up their “greasy hair” with a ball cap.

I don't think there should be so much heat between the guys who claim to represent class, versus the guys who claim to have swag. If you're polished and stylish, it's probably attractive to the type of girl you like so who gives a hoot?

Anyhow, here are my favorite picks from my Manly Style board on Pinterest. Enjoy!

Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile. - William Cullen Bryant

Fall Clothing Love {Ladies}

To celebrate the approaching fall fashion season, I have rounded up a few of my favorite fall looks. I'm really looking forward to getting out all of my cold weather clothing on the 30^th per Martha Stewart's instructions on her website calendar. Laugh all you want, but that woman knows what's up when it comes to homemaking.

So here are my favorites from my Pinterest Oh La La Fashion board. Tomorrow will me men's!

Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.- Emily Bronte

Post-Game Recap

As you may have noticed if you read my posts regularly, I did not post Monday or Tuesday. Agh! I have been thinking for the past month that I may have to cut back on my posting come school time, but I thought it would be more of a choice than a necessity. Silly me. Well, I'm less than a week out and already feel like I have places to be and things to do, so on and so forth.

I really can't believe there are only 4 days left until classes start. I feel like this has been the longest summer in the world though so it's not that my break is ending too soon, but it has just gone on so long that it is a little unreal all that I have done and that it's coming to an end.

Recap on my summer of traveling:

Celebrated my 21^st birthday in Ohio with my dad.

Revamped my bedroom and livingroom.

Drove down to Texarkana, TX to live with me mum for a few months.

Visited Miami, FL.

Visited Ozark National Forest and the Cossatot.

Went to Dallas for a Rangers v. Tigers game.

Roadtripped through OK, KS, NB, SD, WY, CO, UT, AZ, NM, hitting up Badlands, Mt Rushmore, Devils Tower, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain, Zion, and Grand Canyon national parks.

Roadtripped through LA, MS, AL, GA, NC, TN, WV, stopping in Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

He who does not travel does not know the value of men. – Moorish proverb