Hello, normal life!

FREEDOM! A couple of hours ago I FINALLY finished my last exam, and I feel as if a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders! I double checked with my counselor today and all I need to do is finish this online computer class this summer and I will have an Associate's Degree! Not too exciting, considering I can't do anything with it, but it's nice knowing I have a degree at least!

I will finally be able to get back to outfit posts and shop listings! I cannot express how crazy the past few weeks have been. I was studying nonstop and would often be at school from the wee hours of the morning until it was dark outside. This has definitely been my most challenging semester, but it's all over and I will never have to take another general ed class again! Tomorrow I'm going to orientation for ODU and I am so excited/nervous/anxious to sign up for my speech pathology classes..!

Ya see that scar on my arm there? One of the things I miss about my blog is telling you guys about all of my little mishaps! On a busy Sunday morning at Starbucks a few weeks back, a pitcher of extra hot milk was on the steaming wand (and was about 170 degrees at the time), fell off, and just so happened to splatter all over my forearm. At first I thought it was ok so I kept making drinks but it started to feel really tingly and I look down and the skin is peeling! Yuck! It turned out to be a pretty nasty burn. Fun fact, huh?

This dress is one of the most beautiful I own. It's from the 50s and the pastel blue shades are just so completely dreamy. I have a feeling this will be my go-to dress. There aren't really a dozen ways to wear this one.. maybe change the shoes, accessories, etc.. but I really think the dress speaks for itself and doesn't need to be accessorized too much!

Well, these pictures were taken last weekend at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens.  The last time we went was when we took pictures for my "All the Colors Fade" outfit post! The gardens looked so beautiful with all of the flowers blooming! It's what I considered my first real day enjoying spring. We danced and sang and skipped and  were just so goofy the entire day, it was honestly the most fun I've had in a while! A bunch of old couples kept walking by and smiling at us.. I like to think that we remind them of their youth, young & in love! I leave you with some of our goofiness. Right after these pictures were shot, it started POURING down rain and we had to sprint for about 5 minutes all the way to the car! Such a good memory, though.

Outfit Details:

Dress: vintage

Sandals: Target

(That's it! I told you I love simplicity with this one!)

Currently playing: Anchor & Braille, "Blur."

(Any Anberlin fans out there? Anchor & Braille is lead singer Stephen Christian's acoustic side project. He wrote many songs that he felt didn't go with the vibe of Anberlin and were far too personal for the band & those songs are now available on his new album, "Felt." Definitely worth a listen, I'm hooked!)

A dash of hope

You wanna know how behind I am on posts?! These pictures were taken last Saturday by my dear friend Shelby of Moment of Clarity. (Thanks Shelby!) She was just home for the day so we decided to meet up in the morning at my favorite vintage shop, which I will be mentioning again in the future! Although there's another local vintage shop that has more of a selection (and a SUPER friendly staff..!), I absolutely love this one because you immediately feel as if you're family. It's owned by a woman named Patti and her sister helps her run the store, along with her mother and son and daughter.  Her son is a super cool guy named Ryan, who's in a local band, and we are planning a trip along with his fiance and Patrick to see Ray Lamontagne in Maryland in August! If you can talk to a guy about beards for over a hour.. you know he's friend material.

I found this darling 1950s cotton dress at a random thrift store in the ghetto area of Norfolk.  Norfolk can be really amazing and artsy, but it definitely has it's scary areas! Needless to say, I wasn't there for long, but glad I ventured in to find it! I don't have much yellow in my wardrobe, as it usually isn't a very flattering color, but I think the pale yellow works.  Because of the silhouette, I had a hard time styling this dress at first. I knew it needed accessories, but couldn't seem to find the right ones until I remembered about this necklace & the headband. Pat and I got up early to get our cars inspected but we ended up not getting there as early as we planned because it took me so long to get dressed.. whoops :) Good thing I have a very understanding boyfriend who kept complimenting me instead of nagging about how long it was taking!

In school news.. the semester is SO close to being over! I have my lab final practical Tuesday, and today is the ONLY open lab day and I only had time to go for a hour earlier between classes and I work until 7:30 and I'm going to rush back to school to study for about 2 more hours.. then rush home to go to bed since I open at work in the morning (4:30am)! The rest of my exams are in 2 weeks and it couldn't come sooner! I signed up for for orientation today at ODU and couldn't be more excited to start! I'm so over general ed and am SO happy that all of my classes from now on will be major classes!

Outfit Details:

Headband: Target

Necklace: vintage, thrifted

Dress: vintage, thrifted

Shoes: TJ Maxx

Currently playing: Lady of the Sunshine, "Home Sweet Home"

*Shelby, you should know EXACTLY why this blog post is titled "A dash of hope"...!!!

Rompers, freckles, & pocket watches

Well, folks.. I'm alive! This blog post is proof.  My nonexistence in the blogging world has been due to the fact that I had a total of four part time jobs! Insane, right?! I want to do an entire post dedicated to my newest job.  A few of you may already know about it if you follow me on twitter or if we converse.  I'm super excited.. not only is it related to my major but it will certainly change my perspective on life and completely inspire me. And yes, still in school full-time, but luckily the semester is coming to an end and I'm trying hard as ever to keep my grades up! So, in just a short three weeks, I will be posting more regularly, but until then I will try to update more!

Yesterday, a classmate and I took a trip to the zoo for a bio lab project in which we must create a field guide.  The weather was absolutely perfect and this morning when I woke up, I was pleasantly surprised to see more freckles! One of my favorite things about summer is that my freckles come out.  They remind me so much of my childhood.  They are actually one of my features that get the most compliments! I've never understood why people are so eager to fade out their freckles or cover them up with makeup. Let your natural beauty shine, girls! The things that make you unique are what make you most beautiful.

I got this sweet little romper thrifting a few weeks ago.  People kept complimenting me on my skirt, though, because the bottom hem is super low.. almost like harem pants! I was going to put it in the shop, and I took pictures and measurements and everything, but it's one of those items that I just couldn't let go, not just yet at least. I'm sure it will make it's way there sometime this summer, though! If you want first dibs you can always email me & I will let ya know when it will be posted!
I found this 1950s pocket watch at a local vintage store and couldn't resist.  For part of his anniversary gift, I got Patrick a 1980s pocket watch (he loves the style of the 80s ones best) and I was on the hunt for one for myself. I knew I wanted gold, and I wanted one with roman numeral numbers, as well as a really pretty design.  I didn't care much if it worked as I just wanted to use it for a necklace.  This one was a teensy bit more pricey than what I wanted, but it was just too perfect to pass up!

Thanks for stopping by, lovelies, and thank you for all of my loyal readers & friends who stick with my blog, even in moments of desertion! I'd like to do something to thank you guys. I cannot express my appreciation.  So.. I will be brainstorming.. stay tuned!

Outfit Details:

Necklace: vintage

Romper: thrifted

Belt: thrifted

Shoes: Target

Currently Playing: Peter Broderick, "There and Here"

P.S.-If you haven't already, enter my giveaway with Tieka from Selective Potential to win a beautiful vintage 1970s butterfly sleeve dress from my shop!

Etsy Update! & giveaway with Kendi!

Alright guys.. I've been a terrible blogger lately, but I've been hard at work finishing up the semester and spending my free time on the shop! I haven't even read any blogs in what feels like weeks.. ugh, I miss them! So.. I present to you a few of my latest items to the shop! 

vintage 1950s Original by Caprice bag

 

vintage 1970s THE BIRD AND THE FLOWER dress skirt

vintage 1940s MILITARY SWEETY dress

vintage Coach-style Laura USA all natural leather bag

vintage 1960s nautical sailor shirt & shorts suit

Again, those are just a few of my recent items added to the shop! I want to take a second and say thank you to all of my readers who have been so patient with the lack of updates & so supportive with the shop! It seriously means the world to me.. it's what keeps me going! Alas, the semester is almost over, I quit my 2nd job to focus on the shop, which also means more time for the blog, so I'm excited to have ONE job like a normal person and be able to do my thing on here! It will be a great summer! Not to mention I got into the Speech Pathology program at Old Dominion University..! SO that means Seattle is being put on the back burner for an extra year, but we are still visiting this summer and very much planning on moving there ASAP!

ANNNNNNNND, if you haven't entered yet, be sure to enter my giveaway with Kendi Everyday! I absolutely adore her blog & was so excited when she wanted to work with me on a giveaway! So enter here, the giveaway is for $25 store credit to my shop!

Reader Request: Spring wedding style

 A few days ago, I got a reader request from Baily asking me to post some ideas on what to wear to a spring wedding.  Since I will also be an attendee at a spring wedding (29 days!) and haven't really thought about what I will be wearing, I decided to take her up on the challenge! 

 For the first look, I wanted to go completely neutral tones and romantic-feeling pieces.  With all of the flowers in bloom at a spring wedding, neutral tones are sure to look great next to all of the pink and red tones.  Simple, elegant, and classy!

Spring Wedding Guest by finderskeepersblog featuring TopShop

Items in this set:
Much Ado About Something Dress-Mod Retro Indie Clothing & Vintage..., $64
Kate Spade Cammie, $295
Pearl Watch Bracelet, $30
Bow Heart Earrings, $20
FILIGREE BOW ANYWHERE CLIP, $55

The next look is inspired by Summer Fin! I fell in love with this dress the moment I saw it and have been drooling over it ever since. Sigh, it is seriously the perfect wedding guest dress, and blue paired with yellow-gold is quickly becoming one of my favorite combos.  I think I NEED these shoes and the ring.

Spring Wedding 2 by finderskeepersblog featuring Seychelles shoes

Items in this set:
Grape Expectations Dress, $60
Amazon.com: Seychelles Women's Gypsy Sandal: Shoes, $85
Small Gold Pocket Watch, $1,850
Garden Party Collar Necklace, $275
Peter Golden Tail Ring-Mod Retro Indie Clothing & Vintage Clothes, $15

My third and last look includes pastels! Truly, pastels are my favorite colors to wear.  Spring, summer, fall, or winter, and especially for weddings.  And lace? You just can't beat it.

Wedding Style 3 by finderskeepersblog featuring TopShop dresses

Items in this set:
Lace Top Tube Dress by Rare**, $100
Gaga studded mesh ankle boots, $580
forget me knot ring, $54
Patrizia Pepe Bow Suede Belt, $36
Monsoon Accessorize - Brooches & Badges, 18 GBP

I hope this helps, Bailey! If any of you guys ever have a question about how to style a certain piece or have an upcoming event that you'd like me to create outfits for, feel free to email me at finderskeepersblog@yahoo.com!

It's the last time

Saturday was the perfect day. Patrick and I actually had a WHOLE Saturday off together! I didn't even have to open in the morning, which usually makes me grumpy for a while until I get more relaxed.. so.. a whole day of relaxed Brittany and Patrick!

When we have days off together, we don't really know what to do with ourselves.  We are so used to work, school, and whatever else coming in the way of having a completely relaxing day. So, I actually slept in past 5 a.m. (9!), ate Krispy Kreme that my mom had brought home from the night before (doesn't she know bathing suit season is right around the corner?! And we live in a beach town?! Sabotage!), and caught up on some blog reading! We met up around noon, and I tried to show Patrick the ways of thrifting.. and it was not a success! I hate thrifting on the weekends because everything feels picked over, there are way too many people with their huge shopping carts taking up all of the aisle, screaming kids, etc.  I can't shop in that kind of environment and he can't either.  We did pick up a flannel shirt that has some pearl snap-buttons, which he's obsessed with.  He won't buy button-up shirts now that don't have snap-buttons (lazy!).. so he bought the shirt to take the buttons off & use them on another shirt.  Semi-success?  And I found NOTHING. Not a thing! Kinda frustrating, but I needed to save the money anyways because I'm exploring a new thrift store Wednesday!

After shopping, we went to Guitar Center, which was right next to the thrift store.  Patrick's obsessed with the place, and often we will go and he will just browse guitars and we will sit in a sound-proof room and I will listen to him play the sweetest melodies for me on the most beautiful guitars!  In the morning, before we met up, he began writing a new song and he debuted it for me.  It was so beautifully written and I was brought to tears at his talent.  Patrick's always been an amazing guitar player and singer/songwriter, but his transformation has astounded me and I cannot wait to see where his passion takes him in the years to come.

Afterward, we were once again stumped on what to do.  I suggested Bed, Bath, and Beyond to buy more pillows for my bed, but I didn't feel like spending money.  Then I got really hungry for fries so we went to Five Guys! Such a guilty pleasure but so, so delicious.  I ordered the little cheeseburger with mustard and grilled onions, and Pat said he was going to get the same, but at the last minuted he yelled, "Who am I kidding! I want the big one!" Hahah. Go figure!

We headed down to The Narrows, which is a local nickname for a state park.  We go paddleboarding there in the summer because the water is really calm, unlike the beach where the waves can be rough and we think of paddleboarding as more of a calming sport that doing it for the tricks and whatnot. There are also several docks for boats and tons of people go tubing and water skiing down here!

The night ended with a trip to Trader Joe's where, of course, we only planned on buying a few things but ended up spending almost $30! I love Trader Joe's, but maybe a little too much for my own good.  Then we settled down & cuddled up to watch Role Models.. an interesting movie but.. Saturday was actually our "Stupid Movie Sunday" so it's justifiable!

As for the outfit, I've been aching to wear this little peter pan collared blouse! It's so simple and I know it will be a summer staple for all of my floral & patterned skirts! And the skirt was sitting in a local thrift store for a while, and I don't know how I could have looked at it so many times without purchasing! It's vintage 1960s and I have a lot of ideas on how to style it up different ways that I will show you later on!

Finally, I am declaring this outfit post as the last time I am wearing tights for outfit photos.  I have SO many amazing dresses that tights just take away from the look and am desperate to wear them! Also, it's my way of rebelling against the weather (I actually wore a coat Saturday because it was still in the 40s, which is crazy because last weekend hit the 80s) and I think that if I don't wear tights and a coat it will automatically be wrong.  So.. I may be a little crazy, a little desperate, but this is my plan.

Outfit Details: 

Blouse: thirfted vintage

Necklace: gift from Patrick

Skirt: thrifted vintage

Tights: Hue

Shoes: thrifted vintage

Currently Playing: Great Lake Swimmers, "It's Too Late"