Life Lately - ShyScout Vintage

Hi all!! I hope you had a good weekend. Mine was spent recovering from a cold, no fun. I did manage to make it out to see The Life of Pi - it was so good! I highly recommend it. I wish I would have read the book first though, that is now on my to-do list. Anywho... I also checked out an apartment this weekend. It was nice but we are hoping to look at a few more before we make a decision. I can't wait to find a place. I am already scheming about what my room will look like and I don't even have one yet, haha.

I have a bit more exciting news! This weekend I finished cataloguing my shop's inventory and began photographing the items. I am nearly done with taking the photos - in the home stretch! I am becoming more excited about it each day. Here is a mini sneak peak at some of the goodies headed your way!



This isn't even the clothes... Haha. Yikes - I know. I debated opening up a stall at one of my local antique stores but figured the items would be seen by more people online. I hope these items find good homes :]

Have a good Monday everyone!

On dressing like an old woman...

Hi guys! Happy New Year's again :] My year is off to a good start already. I started compiling my store's items yesterday and am pretty excited for everything to go live soon. Anywho...New Year's eve was a lot of fun. It mainly consisted of dancing and singing to 90's music but I am ok with that. I didn't end up wearing anything sparkly - I actually went with my outfit from Monday. Cute, simple, and warm.



My brother and I right before the countdown ^ I need to move out already! The city is calling my name...

Alrighty, let's get back on track. It is Thursday and that calls for a Thrifted Thursday post! Due to recent events I took a bit of a hiatus from my regular thrifting routine, but I am slowly getting back in to the groove mainly to stock my store. I did manage to find a gem though just in time for Christmas. I had just gotten my Christmas bonus and needed to spend part of it on something - pronto, haha.



I had my eye on this coat for awhile but it's price tag was a tad too much for me. Like magic though it was on sale for under $40 just in time for Christmas. And let's be real - it was going to be a "blue christmas" without that coat (ahaha I am hilarious...). The collar is mink - eeep! The ONLY reason why I felt ok buying it was because the coat is at least 40 years older than me...and that means the poor creature has been gone for a very long time :-/ Okkkk. I still don't know how I feel about it, but the coat is cute and sooo warm. I feel like a fancy old lady strutting around with this coat and I am completely ok with that.

Outfit Details:M Coat & Bag - thrifted, Leggings - TJ Maxx, Shoes - DSW.

Have you found any good thrift finds lately?

2013

Hi all! Happy 2013!!! I hope you all had a fun ringing in the new year with loved ones. I will tell you more about my night later on in the week. I had to write this ahead of time, because let's be real, I am probably going to sleep all day since I have the day off ;]



This is the dress I would have worn last night had I had been blessed *ahem* with double D's. I thrifted this dress at the designer sale. It fits me perfectly...except for the top. The top was designed for someone with proper flotation devices, haha. I wish I had the top taken in but unfortunately put it off until last minute. Would have been a fun NYE look, right? Anywho...

Last year was exciting - I started this blog, traveled to Japan, and scored my first "big girl" design job in the city among other things. However, I am looking forward to making this year even brighter. While my year may have ended in heart ache it has made me a stronger person. I am excited to focus on myself this year and get back to finding what truly makes me happy.

2013 Life List:
- Move to the City (this is already being worked out - wahoo!)
- Open the ShyScout store (coming to you some time this month!!)
- Get back to a happy blogging balance - I have missed you all so much.
- Swim at a beach in Chicago.
- Get my second tattoo.
- Roadtrip(s) - Nashville, Badlands, Canada.
- Camp.
- Host a party.
- Take up drawing/painting again.
- See more shows.
- Learn to cook.
- Fly away somewhere.
- Improve my photo skills.
- Read more.
- Dance.
- Live in the moment.
- Open my heart to new people and things.

I keep adding things daily, but I think this is a good foundation to start from. I have no clue what is in store for me a few months down the road - I am excited though :]

I hope all of your new year's are off to a good start!

New Girl - New Year

Hi lovelies! I am back - for real this time. I needed the break until the new year, well, almost new year. I am starting fresh. Just to clear the air - I have been dealing with a break up. I will be fine, but the holiday season was just too much this year and I didn't want to pretend to be happy about things. I also didn't want to bring anyone else down in the process. I never could have imagined that losing someone could hurt this much or for this long, but at least it is a reminder that what we had was real. Everything will be ok...in time. I just wanted to get this out and in the open so that I can start moving on with my life.

I had a nice quiet holiday with family and friends. I saw Les Mis Christmas eve and it was fantastic!! I also won front row tickets to The Book of Mormon the day after Christmas - IT WAS AMAZING!!! I definitely want to see the show again if I get the chance. Saturday was my brother's 21st birthday and we went to Medieval Times that was a lot of fun as well. Aaaand now I can't believe that the year is coming to a close. I am pretty darn excited though for this year to end.

Exciting news!!! I am moving to Chicago at the end of January - wahooo! Well...so long as everything goes as planned. I will be moving in with two guys from college and it should be an adventure. I am envisioning my life as Zoey Deschanel's character on The New Girl, haha. Alright, not really (to be honest I have only seen two episodes of that show), but it should be a fun change of pace. For today's outfit I thought I would use Jess as my inspiration -



I should have left my hair wavy to truly go for Jess's look, oh well. I got this dress for Christmas and I love it. It is simple, but the cute bow belt really helps jazz it up. Another positive from all the crazy that has been going on in my life is that I lost all of my college weight - wahoo. Bathing suit season, here I come!

Outfit Details: Dress - Modcloth, Coat, boots & bag - thrifted, Tights - Betsey Johnson.

Tonight I will be spending my New Year's Eve in the city. I am still not entirely sure what I am going to wear, but I can guarantee that it will be sparkly ;]

Have a fun, safe, and happy New Year's everyone!

Wardrobe Wednesday - Jackie O 2.0

Hi lovelies!! How's it going? I am super excited the week is half way over, that's for sure. However, tonight my work is having our Christmas party at the House of Blues....soooo I guess I can't really complain :] I am also excited for this weekend to get here because it is going to be packed full with old friends who I don't get to see often enough. Wahooo. Do you have any fun plans?

Today's outfit post might be the last one without me all bundled up for awhile. It has gotten so cold, eeep! I took these photos the other weekend when it was a beautiful 60 degree December day. I picked up this cute little mod dress at the designer sale back in October. I was so happy to find out that it fit me because it was one of my favorite items that I scooped up.



The dress reminds me of something that Jackie O would wear. I had to jazz the look up a bit though so I added a cute thrifted ice cream pin aaaand my new favorite hat. It is just a shame that I have to wait until next spring to wear this look out and about, oh well...

Outfit Details: Dress & pin - thrifted, Hat & tights - Target, Shoes - DSW.

I started setting up the ShyScout shop!! I am getting pretty excited about it. I hope to open it for the beginning of the year. I still need to make business cards though...ay yi yi! Any shop tips? I could use them all.

Have a great day everyone :]

Seeking Style

Hello Shy Scout readers! I’m so excited to be bringing you another installment of Allison and I’s Seeking Style series. 

This time, I want to discuss individuality and personal style a bit further. Growing up, as I said in my last post, I’ve had many different phases and styles. The lesson to learn from this trial and error system is that it’s very difficult to find one’s own unique style, and channel this into our daily outfits. My primary problem was finding something that truly fit “me”. 

After a few times of trying different outfits, I learned that I enjoyed a bit more of a grunge vibe, with ripped jeans, comfy shirts, and boots. It took me a while to get to this type of signature style. I tried being girly, I tried being preppy, I tried being sporty. Then, I finally realized that the one thing I wasn’t being, was me. One day I came home, took everything I owned out of my closet and drove over to the closest thrift shop and donated the rest. This cleansing of all these types of clothing that weren’t “me” enabled me to start fresh. I went shopping, with the money I got from selling the clothes, and bought a few simple pieces. I bought some combat boots, a few nice t-shirts, and some jeans. In this process, I learned that I love accenting outfits with bright colored jewelry too. And voila! I had finally found my own unique style.

photographs courtesy of google images

This was my method of going about it. But, I realize every girl is unique in how she approaches channeling her own style. I think a great way to get started is just sitting down with a stack of magazines and collaging together the pieces that stick out the most. This is an awesome way to mix and match, without actually heading out and paying big bucks for an outfit you might end up disliking. Take your time, channel your creativity, and find what really speaks out to you. Maybe stick up photos of some of your favorite fashion icons for further inspiration. A couple of mine are featured above. This is another method that I still use, and will always continue to use in order to channel my own personal style. 

Thanks so much for having me!
-J from My Life in Lavender 

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To check out my Seeking Style post from last week, please head over to J's blog :]