The Circle of Life

Hey peeps! What's shaking?

This post is actually going to be rather short and sweet because I'm  working on my second and final  sermon of the summer. Where did the past couple of months go?!

It is for this Sunday and is coming together, slowly - but surely! I'm actually using 'The Lion King' as a reference, which I'm really stoked about! Who doesn't love 'The Lion King,' right? Crazy people, that's who. (Sorry, Amy.
Its true.)

So, I leave you with some words of wisdom: 

"Oh yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it!" - Rafiki 

and a song to get stuck in your head.

P.S. Thanks to my sis for taking these shots for me! 

Shirt, Shorts, Shoes, Belt, + Hat: Thrifted

1903 Indian Head penny Necklace: Vintage: Yard-Sale (for only $2 - whatwhat!) Similar here.

Have a great day everyone! 

xoxo, 

Laura 

Melmac Monday: The Return

Happy Monday, all! Hope that you had a super fabulous weekend! 

Mine was pretty grand - Friday I had the best time with my best friend at the MixTape Festival, where Hanson, Gavin DeGraw, The Script, OneRepublic, and Train were performing. It was FANTASTIC. Also, I was about six inches away from Pat Monahan - yeah. Be jealous. 

Then Saturday, I did a little grocery shopping with my mom and sister. And then I did a little visiting with my grandma and we all went for supper. All in all quite a good weekend! 

If you are new the blog, you may not know that I thrift a lot more than clothes. I'm also a huge vintage dishware fanatic.  I used to do a post  called Melmac Monday where I would post my wonderful plastic finds and when I didn't have any new pieces to share, I would find some that were being sold on Etsy. After awhile, that got a little monotonous to be honest. So, I just stopped. 

But, then when I got these amazing blue bowls for only 45 cents a piece (!!!!) I couldn't help but share them. So, I have decided Melmac Mondays will still be a feature, not every Monday, but when I have my own pieces to share. 

Enjoy! 

xoxo, 

Laura 

Photo Shoots of Late

Hey there everyone! I hope that you are having a wonderful week so far! 

I had quite a full day: work at the office, volunteer adventures, painting project - with a paint fiasco included, and now just relaxing whilst watching Gilmore Girls; season one - kicking it old school! :) 

Anywho, I just thought I would share some of the photo shoots that I have done of some friends lately. It has been really fun getting behind the camera and getting to shoot some gorgeous gals. Plus, they get some new profile pictures! 

So, enjoy these shots! 

And thanks to Abby, Bethany, Maggie, and Sarandon for being lovely models! 

Have a great night, all!

xoxo, 

Laura 

Classy

Yo, yo, yoggity yo. 

How's everyone doing on this lovely Friday summer evening? 

I feel like today has been pretty busy - lots of action going on. 

Traveling: I went to up to school today, just for the day to give a presentation. It was a good quick trip that is kind of getting me super pumped for school. (Did I just admit that?)

Listening: I have been listening to the Imagine Dragons album literally non-stop. It is so good - especially "Cha-Ching (Till We Grow Older)." It just puts you in such a happy mood! 

Watching: Dude. One Sentence: There are brand new episodes of "Whose Line is it Anyway?" HALLELUJAH! 

Reading: I finished Between the Lines today since my last post and am now starting on Harry Potter #5 for probably the 60,000 time. I re-read the Harry Potter series at least once a year - usually in the summer. And then in the winter, I go through the movies. These habits keep me itching for some HP ink actually. Soon, I think. ;) 

Planning: Yard saling (I'm assuming that is verb?) tomorrow with the family. Best way that the Whitman family bonds. Last time we hit up the yard sales the following conversation happened: 

Laura: Oohh, here is a nice copy of 'Frankenstein' - I think I shall get it! 

Whitman brother #2: You are going to buy a copy of your autobiography? 

Yeahhhhhhhh. Thanks, bro. 

Check out our family yard sale tips here -- insults optional. 

Wearing: The complete opposite of these pictures. I have been in PJ shorts and a baggy band T-shirt since I got home. It is just too darn hot for real clothes. 

This lovely red dress is from the eShakti spring/summer line. It took a bit to get to me - and then it took me a little bit to actually wash it. (I was afraid that I was going to dye all my other clothes - but, it was fine!) If you don't know anything about eShakti, you can buy clothes based off sizes (0-36) or you can measure and it get completely customized. I got this one customized, compared to my other eShakti dress, and it fits so well! It is a smidgen large in the -- err -- boob area, (which I'm pretty sure was my own measuring error) but other than that it is perfect! 

It begged to have gorgeous photos with a "classy as shit  (umm?) Schmidt" hairstyle - in the words of my friend who styled it for me. Thanks, gal! 

I recently wore this dress to a wedding and it is soooo fun to twirl in. Best part about dresses. Except for pockets. This dress has pockets. pockets. 

"Whose Line," yard sales, and pockets. 

What more could you want? 

Dress: c/o eShakti

Shoes:  vintage Steve Maddens: thrifted 

Necklace: Borrowed from my mom

Bracelet: Gift 

Earrings: Handmade by me

xoxo, 

Laura 

This post was a product review for eShakti. In agreement to do a review for them, I received their merchandise at no expense to me. However, my opinions expressed in this post are all genuine and honest. 

Let's Remix this Business #3

Hey everyone! 

I hope that you are having a great week so far!

Mine has been pretty good; just trying to stay cool because it is HOT. Oh my goodness, I went to the grocery store the other day and I all I wanted to do was climb in the milk cooler. 

So, I have been reading a lot - I finished 'The Fault in Our Stars' (so. good.) and just started 'Between the Lines', which I'm really excited to read. Also, I have been watching 'Catfish' which I think the sociologist in me finds very interesting. Have you guys seen the show or the documentary that the TV show is based on? 

Anyway, I haven't done a remix post in awhile, so I thought I would show you the different ways that I have worn one of my favorite thrift finds. I found this vintage top last summer during half-off day at one of my favorite thrift stores; I think it was about $2. Definitely one of my favorite pieces - it is so versatile! 

Well, I better jet off - I'm heading to the food pantry that I've been volunteering at as part of my internship. It has been fantastic! 

P.S. I'm heading to this in August. If you are around the area, check it out - it should be a good time! 

Southern Belle

Pull Your Boobies Up!

Just for Funsies

Iowa Stubborn

Party in the U.S.A.

Remix Post #1 

Remix Post #2 

xoxo, 

Laura 

One Thrift Trip: Red Like Cherries

Oh hey, there! 

I briefly mentioned a new blog post segment when I was crying (literally) over  that vintage wedding dress; which by the way, has another part to the story now updated on the post - check it out! 

Anywho, I got this idea back during Christmas when I had to buy a complete outfit for Christmas Eve service (post here) - that wasn't something I necessarily had done before. 

So, to make thrifting a little more challenging and different, I decided to try this again. Thus, I bring you "One Thrift Trip"outfits. Basically, I will go into a thrift store with a certain amount in cash, with the intent to buy things that I can wear together. I decided that if I have $5 or less, I have to find at least two major items that go together. If I have more than $5, I have to find all the major pieces - so basically everything, but accessories. 

For this trip, I went to Jubilee - my favorite thrift store, which is only a 2 minute walk from my house.  I only had $5 in my pocket, so this really was a challenge. 

And I scored. I got this striped top for $1 and these amazingly comfy red shoes for only $2. I have been wearing both of these pieces since in a lot of other ways - so versatile! Don't you just love those items? 

Well, I better jet - I have a bowl of chocolate peanut butter ice cream calling my name! Hope that everyone has a great night! 

P.S. Thanks to my wonderful friend Maggie for taking these shots for me! 

Shirt + Shoes: Thrifted: Jubilee 

Jeans: Hand me downs

Cami (underneath shirt): Wal*Mart

Hat + Necklace: Thrifted 

xoxo, 

Laura 

Party in the U.S.A.

Hey all - hope that everyone in the States had a wonderful Independence Day yesterday! 

Now, I'll be the first to admit that I am not the most patriotic person - this was one of the reasons that Girl Scouts wasn't very fun for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm very appreciative of where I live and the privileges that I have because of that. But, patriotism is still not my thing, but I digress.

However, when I found this very odd (and let's be real, awesome) skirt at a thrift store, I knew I had to get it for my family's 4th of July picnic. Come on, it has American flags, British flags, and gold carts. Golf carts. I couldn't have made up this skirt if I tried and I certainly couldn't have passed it up. 

It was perfect for a day of grilling, lots of desserts, games with the family, and walks with my cousin.

She actually took these pictures for me and we may or may not have done a little trespassing to get them done. ooo, breaking the law! ;) This was actually just the old train station that was turned into a store - which was closed for the 4th. It was great to spend time with my cousin, who is definitely a wonderful friend; we always have a blast when we are together. 

Taking goofing pictures, dancing to Grease, and making nerd references are just are some of our many specialties. 

After I left the picnic, I get this text from her saying: "either those are fireworks or this is the Hunger Games and a tribute just died." 

Yeah, my family is the best. 

Top: Vintage: Thrifted 

Skirt: Handmade: Thrifted 

Belt, Bracelet, Shoes: Thrifted 

Lipstick: Victoria's Secret 

Oh. In case you missed my blooper post the other day - here is just a glimpse of some of my crazy faces. 

There was a train coming. And it was LOUD. 

Have a great weekend everyone!

xoxo, 

Laura 

Oops, My Bad.

Hey everyone! I know I haven't been around for a while - things have just been crazy. Work has been crazy and just emotional - for anyone who doesn't know, I'm a ministry intern at my church for the second summer in the row. And this summer, has shown just how hard ministry be when sad and just plain sucky things happen in the congregation. But, I know that there are really awesome things about ministry too - like most things in life, you simply have the good and the bad. 

So,  after having a hard last week, I'm having a blast spending time in Charlotte, North Carolina for Church of the Brethren's Annual Conference, where I get to see a bunch of people that I don't get to see that often, get updated on church business, and just unwind a little bit. 

And I was hoping to get some blog posting done, buuuutttttt someone (me) may or may not (definitely) forgot the memory card reader. So, the two outfit posts that are on my camera are staying there until I get home on Wednesday. 

But, I wanted to post something anyway, so welcome to my very first blooper post! What I usually do with my bloopers is very randomly post them on Amy's Facebook wall with some silly caption, just to brighten her day and make her giggle. 

So, enjoy (and don't judge); I'll probably see you on Wednesday or so! 

I really don't know why people are friends with me if I make faces like this. :) 

xoxo, 

Laura