Saturday, June 21, 2014

Happy National Wear Your Lilly Day!


It's a belated Fashion Friday... I've been a little behind but this one was for good reason! Today is National Wear Your Lilly Pulitzer Day!

Here's my outfit for today... my favorite shorts ("You Gotta Regatta" Callahan shorts), a striped top and easy flip flops. I love wearing stripes with this print! It adds a little nautical touch.



Earlier this week, I brightened up a Little Black Dress with a Lilly scarf (Spike the Punch!), bright pink flats and a soft yellow cardigan.



What did you wear for the solstice and/or Lilly day? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Beautifying beige walls

Lately, I feel like I am surrounded by beige. My walls and carpet are two shades of the color, and while I have bright accessories all over, sometimes it doesn't feel like enough.

I finally purchased a television console for my living room (meaning my coffee table can go back to being a coffee table!) from IKEA. It's turquoise and metal, with sliding doors. I can change the channels through the doors! I am so pleased with it.



But the empty space above it bothered me. It bothered me when the TV was sitting on the coffee table too, but now I was ready to do something with the space!

I found these Moroccan tile mirrors at Target. They came with stencils and were surprisingly easy to hang correctly!

Cairo helped get them level.

The finished product!

But I wasn't done yet... I knew I could add a little more to my walls. Like in my kitchen. I like my hand-made "EAT" wall art, but it needed a little refresher.

Besides, what if EAT was lonely!?

My parents gave me a vintage plate and a turret that my great grandmother made. Dad and I purchased plate wall hangers for under $5, which came with hardware, and Dad had them up in under 5 minutes.


Spring hangers are your friend!

He's a magic man.

Ta Da!

So simple, but it makes the wall look refreshed and brand new. I'm sure I can find a few more walls to decorate and improve....

How do you decorate your walls? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Friday, June 13, 2014

Fashion Friday: Patriotic Edition


This week's edition of Fashion Friday was marked by Flag Day on Thursday! Happy belated Flag Day! I took the opportunity to wear my new red sleeveless monogrammed polo.


Naturally, I took photos at the George Washington monument in the city square.


Breakdown: red polo, white monogram, polka dot navy skirt, nude kitten heels, pearls to complete the look!


There are a lot of easy options for patriotic wear. What are some of your favorites? Independence Day is coming...!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Another clothing post: Same dilemma, different day!

I'm only 23, but I've graduated college and have a full time job. That makes me an adult, right? I bet you know where this is going....

I'm tired of people assuming I am a high schooler!

Being mistaken for a college student, though, isn't so bad, but I pay rent and bills and take care of another (furry) life. I'm not a lil baby, but I do have a lot to learn and grow from.

It feels like there is no in between of "college wardrobe" and "matronly" for me. I want to wear as much Lilly Pulitzer as possible, but it does make me look pretty young (baby faces, wear with caution.) So how do I wear what I want, when I want, without being mistaken for a 16 year old?

Lately I've been digging through my closet and cleaning it out. Styles I don't wear, styles I think are a little too young are headed to consignment stores or Goodwill. This helps bring in a little extra cash, and it helps consolidate and simplify my life.

I've been trying to make better choices about what I purchase. I want my wardrobe to be versatile, so now I ask myself, "Could I wear this to work?" before I buy.

As for Lilly... I have plenty of Murfee scarves (love them for cold weather Lilly Loving!) but a Georgia summer is a little warm for scarves. I've had my eye on an Elsa top, and maybe it's time to bite the bullet and just buy one (or two!)


How do you mature your wardrobe without abandoning your personal style? I'm taking suggestions - share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself (even if you look 16),
Alyson

Friday, June 6, 2014

Fashion Friday: Mixing it up


Happy Friday! Today's outfit its a mish-mash: I've used stripes, scallops (my favorite!) and a dash of leopard. Sounds nutty, but in small details, you can add a bit more bang for your buck with details!




Keep cool with a high bun


And as always, a denim jacket is my go to for a light, but functional cover up.

Do you like to mix patterns? Tell me how you like to mix it up in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Cha-ching: Budgets and Over-Shopping

Welcome to Cha-Ching: Posts about money. In these posts, we'll discuss budgeting, overspending, buying, selling, trading, you name it! Because extra money means more Lilly, it's important to make the most out of it.

The thing I've noticed the most from living alone is that no one is here to stop me. I am almost a full-fledged adult, and I've got a nice little paycheck and holes burned into my pockets.

It's taken me a whole year's time to figure this out, so please let me spare you, post-grads: your money is going to different places now. You must stop shopping on frivolous things.

What counts as frivolous? That depends, what's in your budget?


Are you saying, "Huh!? What budget?" because if you are, grab a piece of paper and write down everything you've spent money on this month. Everything - right down to the slush puppies you've been getting at the Circle M before work. (Yes, that may be a personal example. It's hot!)

Whattya got? I hope the first thing on your list is RENT followed by UTILITIES, such as electricity, heat and the like. After that, I'd like to see some GROCERY money, PET FUNDS (Kitty Cat's gotta eat) and maybe a little something for yourself - mine is the JULEP subscription box. And, if you've got everything under control, a little bit going into SAVINGS. Add all those suckers up! How much do you spend?

It doesn't have to be fancy! 

Now, grab your last paystub or two, depending on how much you get paid. Subtract how much you're spending from your paycheck -excluding your taxes and health insurance (if your company supplies it.) What do you have left?

Look at the number. How does it make you feel? Happy? Sad? Alarmed? Like you've lost control of your life? Some of those feelings I will encourage you to take to your parents, or a therapist (no judgements) but hopefully, you've got a little something left over.

There are a few ways to wrangle those numbers down, you know. If you have the patience, try couponing. Like books, movies and magazines? Get them from the library. Lots of designer clothes? Try selling ones you don't wear online.

I'll cover some more money-saving tactics I've been using as the month goes on. Do you have a specific tactic you'd like to see a how-to for? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson