Flashback

DAY FIVE // a photo of yourself two years ago

Two years ago, I spend a night at a bridal boutique with a couple of friends, trying on wedding gowns. Because why not?

Pinching Pennies

from an old, old outfit post, in which everything but
the tights (hand-me-downs) was thrifted

DAY THREE // your favorite store

I am extremely money conscious/frugal/penny-pinching/cheap. That, combined with a pathological fear of finding myself wearing the same thing a someone else, has turned me into an avid thrifter.

When I was much younger, I hated the Salvation Army. It was a dirty place filled with ugly clothes that were only there because no one else wanted them. At some point I came around. For a while I would only buy clothing there that was some kind of name brand. Thankfully it didn't take long for me to grow out of that stage. Now, if you look back at any of my outfit posts, I can guarantee that almost all of every single outfit was thrifted.

I have only two rules for shopping at the Salvation Army:
1) The older, the better. Bonus points for being homemade.
2) NO underwear, swimwear, sleepwear, sheets, or blankets. No amount of washing could make those acceptable.

I'm a bit more lenient with the second rule when shopping at Goodwill. I have a bit more faith in the cleanliness of their items.

Thrifting has been more of a hobby than anything, but as I assume responsibility for my own finances, it'll be a necessity. Even if I'm ever in a position where I can afford full-priced fancy name-brand clothing, I'm not sure I could bring myself to spend that much. I'll be a thrifter for life.

This Dress Is Not a Muumuu

cardi: hand-me-down // dress: thrifted // belt: f21
shoes: target

I kind of love this dress. 

It has about as much shape as a paper bag, and the material bunches up awkwardly when I stick a belt on it, but that embroidery...I die. The embroidery makes it all worth it.

In other news, I've made the important decision that when I have my own house, I will never have plants in it - real or fake. Dusting hundreds of individual fake leaves yesterday put me off houseplants forever.

linking up with Sunday Style

Addicted Lately

This is a picture of me at the beach from last week. It has nothing to do with the post, but aren't we cute?

PINTEREST.

My boards were rapidly growing for a few weeks...and then they were rapidly shrinking....and now I'm going crazy again. 

Two reasons for the shrinking:

1 // When I'm in a pinning frenzy, I pin a lot of stuff that I'm not actually as 

crazy about the next day as I am in the moment.  

2 // I read an post called Blogger Beware: You CAN Get Sued For Using Photos 

You Don't Own on Your Blog. Now I'm paranoid. And concerned with doing the right thing,

but mainly paranoid.So I'm going through my Pinterest boards making sure everything is linked

to the original source, and I'm obeying their copyright laws...and I did that before I changed all the

pictures on my blog because it seemed less overwhelming. But now that I actually think about it, I

only have 150-ish posts, but hundreds of pins...so I don't know where that reasoning came from. I

guess I'll start with the blog before I do any more pins...silly me.

COUNTRY.

Looove it. 'Nuff said.

READING.

I've had to start reading for school rather than my own entertainment, but that's better than nothing.

SLEEPING.

I do it too much. I don't do it enough. It's really becoming an issue.

For example: The other day, I needed to read a chapter in my history text book. So I sat down at 8:00 pm and read a page...and woke up at 10:00 pm. I really had to read that chapter, so I woke up way early the next morning. I sat down at about 4:20 am and read a page...and woke up at 6:15 am. I never did read that chapter.

CHAMBRAY.

Fool-proof for any occasion

SLEGGINGS.

They're not jeans, because they're too stretchy. They're not leggings, because the material is too substantial. They're not jeggings, because they don't resemble jeans at all, in appearance or texture. They're kind of just really stretchy slacks....so I dub them sleggings. And I love them.

DOCTOR WHO.

I'm new to this, but I'm thoroughly obsessed. Not to mention extremely upset that Christopher Eccleston only got one season.

Anyone else "suffering" from any rather pleasant addictions?

****Don't forget to enter the FIRMOO GIVEAWAY!****

Because Sometimes Contacts Are No Fun

top: thrifted // cardi: hand-me-down // belt: thrifted // necklace: vintage
skirt: f21 // shoes: thrifted // glasses: nine west

When you've been wearing contact lenses for long enough, apparently people forget that you ever had glasses. And then they're shocked and give you lots of compliments (and the occasional "What's with the Clark Kent glasses?") when they see you in them, and it's kind of nice. 

I'm totally in love with my new glasses. It's nice to wake up and not have to worry about poking myself in the eye for the sake of being able to see. My contacts aren't going away for good, but these glasses will definitely be making more frequent appearances - especially on the sweat-pants-and-messy-bun days of finals week.

****Speaking of glasses....don't forget to enter the FIRMOO GIVEAWAY!****

Linking up with Sunday Style

These PANTS.

This picture, taken two seconds before driving off, does not in any way do these pants justice. But right now I'm pretty comfortable in my yoga pants and t-shirt, and getting dressed to retake pictures isn't very high on my list of priorities. I'll showcase these pants in another post someday...but for now this will have to do.

I'm headed off to camp at the beach tomorrow! Luxury camping...with cabins and real bathrooms and cooks...the works. It's only three days, but I'm going to love every second. To be honest, my favorite part is the fact that I get to wear sweaters every day. I'm sick of this summer weather - give me autumn already!

****Don't forget to enter the FIRMOO GIVEAWAY!****

Linking up with Sunday Style

Making It Up on the Spot

{Such an interesting leaf....}

top: thrifted {from the boys' section...} // skirt: thrifted //
shoes: target // necklace: earned, church

Today I gave a talk in church (Mormons do this thing where members of the congregation give little "sermons" during our meetings). I printed off my notes before we left for church and stuck them in my purse...except apparently I didn't. So I had to go up there, armed only with my scriptures and "Preach My Gospel" manual, and make it up on the spot. "Let the Holy Spirit guide", you know. And naturally, this happened on the Sunday that both the Stake President and the mission president and his wife were visiting (they're kinda a big deal, locally). 

So I guess you could say I was a bit nervous. 

Fortunately, though, it all went just fine. 

I talked about developing Christlike attributes and true conversion. The gospel wasn't made for perfect people; it's for every normal, flawed human being. God doesn't give us impossible tasks - He's given us everything we need to become like Christ, and by doing so, to become like Him. Consistency in developing these attributes leads to conversion: a change of heart, when we really only want to do good. The saying "every member a missionary" is a something we hear pretty often. I'm coining a new phrase, though: "Every member a convert". 

****Don't forget to enter the FIRMOO GIVEAWAY!****

It's a Glasses Giveaway!

So obviously by now you've all heard about Firmoo.com.

In their words:

About Firmoo
Firmoo is the World's Most Popular Online Eyeglasses Store. We have always been committed ourselves to offering customers the best quality products at the most affordable prices which start at 8 dollars- 80%-90% lower compared to that in local store. Furthermore, Firmoo has launched First Pair Free Program for new customers to test our products and service for free by paying shipping only.

In my words:

Guys. It's awesome.

Firmoo is basically the best thing to happen to the world since glasses became cool again. 

Which is why you should all be head-over-heels about this giveaway - FREE GLASSES, people!

Here's how it goes:

If there are less than 40 participants, TWO lucky winners will be receiving the frames of their choice (not including shipping) off of the Classic Series page (the most popular glasses on the site). And if there are more than 40 participants, a THIRD winner will receive an ENTIRELY FREE (shipping and all!) pair of glasses!
The giveaway closes on August 10th.

Let's go!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FYI; Also, My Heels Are High

top: thrifted // necklace: earned, church /
dress&belt: f21 // shoes: target

Look at me, trying to be a fashion blogger...yeah, this is why I'm a lifestyle blogger instead.

In other news, I'm off to camp for the next week! I'll be off in the woods without any technology. Not that me taking long breaks from blogging is anything unusual {as of this year, anyway}, I just thought I'd let y'all know. 

So here's to an amazing week for everyone, and a happy Fourth of July!

I'm Late!

So I was looking through the ol' blog archives, and I realized...it's MAY. 

Anyone remember what I was doing this time last year?

MISSION: PUT TOGETHER 

is back!

Of course, I'm a bit late this time, but my blurry pictures and I are jumping in nonetheless.

Texture week is kicking off with a day of ruffles - so here they are, in what may be my absolute favorite Sunday outfit to date.

cardigan // hand-me-down
top // kohls
skirt // f21

Happy Mother's Day!

The Day That Thrifting Fulfilled My Dreams

Behold - the thrifting haul!

white blazer // $2.78
banana republic shirt // $2.00

suede booties // $5.80

maxi dress // $3.40

And most importantly...

My ballerina skirt.

warm-up skirt //  $0.83

If you've read this post, you know why finding this was pretty much the highlight of my week. Possibly the highlight of my month, if nothing  more amazing happens.

I spend about 10% of my time at home in my pajamas {sleeping},

5% changing in or out of whatever socially acceptable clothing I wear in public,

and I may or may not now spend the remaining 85% of my time playing dress-up in my ballerina skirt.

And I'm not afraid to wear it in public...

Before driving to the library, I was wearing it with a black t-shirt and leggings.

To go to the library, I threw on an over-sized black sweater and my riding boots and called it good.

Sorry, sweat pants...this is a childhood dream being fulfilled here.

My Name is Niamh and I Take Awkward Outfit Pictures.

And as a result...the face gets cropped out.

But not the soccer ball.

everything: thrifted 

I was ready to give up on pictures altogether, but I'm way too proud of this jacket not to have a post dedicated to it. It's the product of yet another fabulous thrifting trip. A brand-spanking-new $80 Vera Wang leather moto jacket for $6 ...that doesn't happen every day. So when it does, it must be documented, regardless of how awkward the pictures are.

I am truly, deeply in love with thrifting. 

And I'm broke again.

The Morning I Didn't Make a Mess Getting Dressed

scarf: h&m, thrifted // cardi: ross  //  dress: thrifted //
belt: thrifted // tights: hand-me-down // shoes: twentyone, thrifted

Generally, I leave for church in the morning having emptied most of my closet onto my floor - but not today. This is the one and only outfit I tried on.
Which is definitely a miracle that may never happen again.

-----------------------

Sometimes...I need to remember how much I have to be happy about.

Not today, per se - today's a happy day - but just in general.

Instead of how annoying this bipolar weather is {fuh-reeeezing in the morning, sweating by the afternoon} - how awesome it is that I can still wear all my favorite winter pieces, just in layers.

Instead of how strongly I dislike going to school {have I complained about that lately? I haaaaaate my classes...} - how blessed I am to have the opportunity to be educated, and the gift of being able to learn relatively quickly and retain that knowledge.

Instead of being annoyed by a certain person - being glad that apparently somehow I'm a good example to them? And then trying to be better.

Instead of wanting more - being grateful for enough.

Instead of dwelling on mistakes - accepting the Atonement and moving on.

Sunday Style at Plane Pretty

Style Showcase at MoMoMod

Watch What I'm Wearing at Watch Out for the Woestmans
My Style Monday at My Greatest Hits

This is Who I'll Be Spending Valentine's Day With.

Dear Boys,

You're all useless. This is where the real love is:

Love,
Just Fine without You

Hope y'all  have a happy Valentine's Day -- I know I will!

Because Sometimes, I Think I'm Kinda Classy

earrings: avon (thrifted)//blazer: vintage (thrifted)//dress: vintage (thrifted)
belt: target//shoes: target (thrifted)

Looking classy and being classy are two TOTALLY different things, though. So a more accurate title would be "Because Sometimes, I Think I Look Kinda Classy". 

Being classy...that's taking an insult in stride.

smiling just because I can.

being grateful.

lifting someone up.

letting something go.

having a good attitude.

making sacrifices.

accepting sacrifices.

respecting others.

respecting yourself.

looking outward.

looking inward.

balance.

And so this week - I'll be classy.

P.S. By the way, I think this is the new format my Happiness Project is going to take - goals I make weekly based on my current needs/impressions. I'm thinking this will be easier to keep up and stay motivated with. Here goes nothing!

MoMoMod Style Showcase