Gustavia: The Summer Dress

Summer is the season of white cotton dresses, cool early mornings walking in the still woods, and long afternoons sipping lemonade under the shade trees, so it wouldn't be fitting to let the summer slip by without at least one post with a white cotton dress.White cotton dresses with eyelet and lace have been an obsession of mine for as long as I can remember.  I spent years searching for the perfect little white dress before finally realizing that they are all perfect in their own way.Each dress is a whole and complete vision, a work of art, a dream made real and I love them all just as they are.  This particular dress is a very exiciting thrifted find from Anthropologie brand Eri + Ali.  

Originally coming in at $178 (0r so saith the internet) I found this dress on a resale site in new condition for a meager $40.  While researching this dress, I also found that I really loved the way it was styled in the first photo below the outfit info below and decided to get as close to that look as possible.  I've already been wearing this dress since summer is in full swing and I love the loose fit and the breathable fabric.  I really miss the days when clothes were mainly made of natural fibers instead of recycled plastic dunked in forever chemicals.  Nothing will ever be so comforting to wear as cotton, especially on warm summer days like this.

Outfit Info:  Gustavia Dress by Eri +Ali from Anthropologie

White Eyelet for Spring: Petallush Pt. 4

Today's post is bittersweet because it is another beautiful dress but also the last day in my collaboration with Petallush.  This collaboration has been so much fun that I am hopeful this is not the end but the beginning of many more great posts together.  And don't forget that you can save an extra 10% off your order with my code BLEU10.

Nothing says springtime better than a white eyelet dress.  After all those months of snow, you would think that we'd be tired of white, but set against the bright new greens and flowers, a little white eyelet dress just the perfect way to welcome spring.

I used to be very fearful of wearing white because I do so many messy things in a day, cooking, cleaning, crafting, gardening.  So, I spent years yearning to wear white cotton dresses but denying myself because they would only get stained.  Then I discovered a magical thing called an apron. Suddenly there was no need to fearfully avoid white dresses and the age of spring eyelet began!

I love all the details in this dress, from the lace scallops to the lined fabric, and the flare at the sleeves for maximum movability and comfort.  I'm ready for morning bike rides and picnics in meadows full of daffodils, and more than anything I'm ready for wearing white dresses.  Hello, Spring, I've missed you more than I can say.

Shopping Info: White Short Sleeve Round Neck Rayon Zipper Mini Dress-$43.50 from Petallush.  Save 10% with my code BLEU10.  Aria Flats in Ginger Yellow-$79from VIVAIA.

A Christmas Song

The Christmas Song

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire

Jack Frost nipping at your nose

Yuletide carols being sung by a choir

And folks dressed up like eskimos

Everybody knows a turkey and some

mistletoe

Help to make the season bright

Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow

Will find it hard to sleep tonight

They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly

And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times,
many ways
Merry Christmas to you

They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly

And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times,
many ways

Merry Christmas to you
Merry Christmas to you

Shopping:  Dress from The Other Sparrows, Eyelet top from SheIn 

The Seamless

The seasons ripple and flow like a breeze across and endless wild flower field, at times so seamless and natural I hardly notice them changing.

The colors evolve: first brown then gold, pale green then dark, pastel spring flowers give way rich summer reds. 

The warm sunshine is dormant and then returns.  Life continues on in its gentle way and I continue on in mine, 

 grateful for this grand harmony of being alive in the world,

 picking wildflowers on a green hillside on a warm spring day.

Outfit from Shein

Sure to be More Springs

Quotes from Anne of Avonlea 

by L.M. Montgomery

“That is one good thing about this world...

there are always sure to be more springs.”

Afterall," Anne had said to Marilla once, "I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens,

 but just those that bring simple little pleasures,

 following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string

Shopping Info: Sydney Dress and layered dress from Free People and FP One