fashion statement friday...errr, sunday: poolside hipster

i knew it wouldnt be too long until i ruined my bi-weekly blogging. im a procrastinator. & i blame my father for showing me his ways.

this is also what happens when you have the best napping couch in the world. things tend to not get done.

anyway, besides my couch, ive also been trying to spend some quality time poolside.

if you were blessed with pale skin like this girl {pointing to myself} then you probably feel my pain being poolside.

all the bathing beauties in their bright suits that make their tans pop... i, on the other hand, could wear the brightest yellow & still look like a ghost begging the sun to bless her skin...

so whatever. if i cant look like a tahitian hottie back from the equator, im going to at least use my time poolside to make some great fashion statements.

i found a GREAT black {push-up... hey, girl heyyy!} bathingsuittop at target back when i was spring break shopping for florida. ever since, i have yet to find 1/2 of a bathing suit that i lovemore.

so, when my birthday rolled around, i wanted to look for another pair of bottoms to go with my awesome black top. i rummaged through tons of brightly colored & patterned boy shorts, side-tie, hip hugger, & skirted bathing suit bottoms... & really wasnt impressed.

UNTIL... drumroll please... i came across the converse one star brand at the always wonderful target {they really can do no wrong!}

dont get me wrong, i love BRIGHT colors, but there is something about this simple more subdued color collection.

i purchased this little bitty below & look closely for the super cute belt {& when i say "little bitty" i mean full coverage bottoms... seriously, i have NEVER felt more comfortable in swim bottoms!}

unfortunately, i did not get this exact pattern... the one i bought is a cream color with tiny black nautical stripes & a black braided belt. {actually MUCH cuter & MUCH MORE hipster than this one} dang you, target.com, for not showing all inventory!

but seriously... how original is braided belt... on a BATHING SUIT?! who would have thought!

i love it! just because the beach is bright with its blue waters & tropical drinks doesnt mean YOU have to dress like a piece of fruit {what does that even mean?}

here is a little more inspiration for you fellow hipster beach/pool goers.

happy sun-soaking, loves! dont forget the spf! :)

xoxo,

darc

p.s. im not as hipster as i claim to be...

p.s.s. this is not the fashion friday i was planning on posting this week... be looking out next friday for personal pics of a new trend ive been trying lately! :)

shaken

today was supposed to be a great day.

i slept in, watched my daily dose of "how i met your mother"

got cute & tried a new fashion idea {look for it on tomorrows fashion statement friday!}

met my good friend {who i havent seen in probably a year} for a great lunch at pei wei.

bought a new planner. {hallelujah! i have a planner!}...

then was on my way to kaffe bona for some major lesson planning when...

my car dies in the middle of an intersection.

really, car? really?

ugh x 1,000...

my car has been doing this ridiculous thing where it gets below 1,00 rpm when the gas pedal is not being pushed & then it just dies.

which is just so wonderful & a lovely experience when you are in the middle of an intersection at 81st & memorial.

needless to say, i flipped out. somehow in between my horror of being in the middle of an intersection & praying for my life... i got my car to start again & pulled into a mcdonalds about 50 feet away.

& as it sit there, in the parking lot, on the phone with my mom... my car stays on. of course. thanks, car. thanks a lot.

whatevs. nothing is stopping me from getting to kaffee bona to do some lesson planning because i am the BIGGEST procrastinator EVER... except that my legs are shaking & im basically hyperventilating while having to stop at stoplights & have BOTH feet on the pedals to keep my car running at 1,000 rpms.

you guys, i need prayer. prayer that either

a) my car gets fixed or

b) i can somehow get my hands on a new car.

im also terrified to talk to my dad about it. it seems like im ALWAYS asking for him to fix something on my car. he also sees no problem with driving with both feet on the pedals to keep a car running.

i, on the other hand, do not think a 23 year old post-grad should be dangerously driving like that. its stupid & it scares the crap out of me. i can barely turn corners without running into a door frame while walking... how am i supposed to drive a car that turns off unless i keep my foot on the gas pedal constantly? might as well just ask me to rear end someone at a red light.

okay, im done ranting about sucky things because God is always good & He always provides.

when i got to kaffe bona i got to talk to 2 awesome guys working the counter. they were so friendly & made me laugh {probably because i looked like my car had just died in the middle of an intersection... but whatever. it worked.} i got to drink an awesome vanilla italian cream soda. listen to a group of old ladies play scrabble behind me. {adorbs!} & be in the air conditioning. {praise Jesus!}

but after i got my drink, i still wanted to cry. but, ya know, im in this public place... by myself... crying doesnt really seem like a good option. & then switchfoot's song "24" comes on in the coffee shop. i mean, it kinda makes me want to cry more... but i dont. instead i just relax, take some deep breaths, & sit back in gratitude.

i am blessed. & so are you. take time to reflect on how this life we live here on earth is not about us.

... & listen to this song.

all my heart,

darci

music monday: a single girl's playlist

you can probably decipher my mood & current feelings by looking at my "recently played" tracks on iTunes.

which is exactly where this weeks music is coming from. there are a few i am going to share, so bear with me... they will be worth your time, i promise! {& if you hate them, feel free to not tell me:)}

#1 "love is gonna find you" by jd eicher & the goodnights

the music vid looks homemade... & i love it. simple & to the point. {just like i like my boys! did ya catch that?} & just like the lyrics say "it'll hit you when it what you least expect". oh, love. such a tricky thing.

#2 "say you like me" by we the kings

i don't think there's a video for this song, so you'll just have to do what i do & sit back, close your eyes & make your own music video in your head. the title of this song says it all... if you like me, SAY YOU LIKE ME. :) again, it's simple! + i love the upbeat tempo.

#3 "skip the charades" by cold war kids

i had to throw a little bit of indie into the mix. besides the fact that i love his sweet voice, this band is so hip, i can barely handle it. & who doesn't love a good song about everyones favorite game night activity. & lets be honest... as a single girl in this big world, i couldn't agree more. just skip the charades & games.

#4 "what i know" by parachute

another man who's voice makes my heart melt... sigh. & the tribal-ish "ehhh-ohhh's" in the background... perfect! this is actually a really sad song if you listen to it from the guys point of view. but i like to look at it from the girls point of view... sometimes you just have to move on. "oh a suitcase waiting by the stairs, oh they're both worn out from all the years. they're ready to let go."

that's all the music i have for this week, kiddos.

xoxo,

d

fashion statement friday: the plus one pedicure

consider yourselves lucky to be reading this post...

i saw this new trend in Glamour magazine & decided to try it out.

i was a little hesitant because its pretty bold & a little edgier than i usually go for. also, i was going to be meeting the other teachers at the school i just got employed at & didnt want to seem like the "young & crazy new teacher" by the way my toes were painted... but...

i did it anyway. no regrets, right? :)

after questioning my closest fashion advisors {i.e. my mom & 9 year old niece... as well as some friends} i decided i like this trend. i even got some compliments on it from random strangers over the 2 1/2 weeks.

not only is it a fun & easy pedicure option, it also reminded me of the days of painting every toe a different color of the rainbow... *sigh* the good ol middle school days.

i chose black & white because those were the colors used in Glamour, but celebs have been spotted using different colors, including kim kardashian & vanessa hudgens.

{i LOVE her navy blue polish... im going to have to try it out when it gets cooler outside!}

well, edgy black toes + one white toe... its been a fun run. but im ready for some more "fun" & "summery colors." hopefully see ya in the fall! :)

let me know your thoughts! :)

xoxo,

d

do ya dig?

things ive been digging lately...

1) thursday nights of SYTYCD reveal show followed by re-runs of glee

2) picture messages from my roommate consisting of pillows, bowls, & other house-y items. this living situation is like being in a long-distance relationship.

3) listening to our own "watching fireworks" playlist while, well, watching fireworks. its not a crime to want to listen to "firework" by katy perry while watching fireworks in the sky, am i right?

4) one word text messages... especially when that word is "engaged!" congrats, drew & jenna! :)

5) answering the question "so do you feel older?" the answer is yes. the next 363 days of being 23 will consist of a big girl job, a big girl house, a big girl salary & hopefully a new big girl car... plus who else knows what on top of those things.

5) spending hours looking through blogs. its been a while since ive found a blog that i could literally spend hours looking through, but i have come across one. kendi everyday is a style blog of probably the cutest 20-something fashionista ive ever seen! ive definitely been inspired by her fashion.

xoxo,

darc

drum roll please...

hello, blogger world.

welp. so much for blogging a lot more!

fortunately, i do have some pretty dang good excuses for being absent that past few weeks... or has it only been days? i have officially lost track of time.

i had the pleasure of attending 2 beautiful weddings of 2 of my sweetest friends, 2 job interviews, & ONE BIG MOVE back to tulsa... all in the midst of about 2 weeks.

after a busy busy but wonderful time, i am pleased to announce to the blogger world...

that i am going to be a first grade teacher at ripley elementary in the fall!

i was offered the job on june 1st and accepted it on june 2nd... just in time to drive off to dallas for erica's big day as an employed woman! :)

ripley is a small... SMALL... town just 15 minutes east of stillwater. which means i will be moving BACK to stillwater sometime this summer.

i have already been given the keys to my classroom & cant believe i will have my own group of little fabulous "firsties" in just 2 short months!

i have so much planning & organizing to do this summer... including making a 1st grade blog for my class!

im so excited about this new chapter in my life, but i do need your help!

i need prayers for the following things:

• passing my final teaching certification exam on june 20th (the OPTE)
• figuring out living situation in stillwater
• beginning my student loan payback
• finding a reliable car before school starts (the good ol saturn prob just wont cut it!)
• figuring out insurance stuff (6 year olds + miss prothro = accident waiting to happen! eek!)

i would love to pray for you all too. leave a comment or shoot me a message or text. we are all inthis together, right? :)

God is good, all the time, people!

never stop having that faith that He will come through for you!

love always,

darci

(*here's a peek at my classroom! im going back for a visit this weekend & then ill post more pics!)

to everything there is a season

seasons... its funny how they work.

its may 22nd & just last week it rained... A LOT... in stillwater, america. which really cooled down the weather. one night i even wore jeans & my fleece jacket... & sandals which left my toes freezing.

even though it is summer break...

even though the saying goes "april showers bring may flowers"...

there we were, middle of may, with constant downpours & cold temperatures that left me wishing i had left my little space heater in stillwater with me.

it was almost like something (the weather, the earth, stillwater, oklahoma?) was trying to hang on to the cool spring weather...but never fail... saturday brought back the humid heat and 90 degree summer weather this part of the states are used to.

this somehow (in a weird metaphorical kind of way) reminded me of myself.

confession: i am terrified to leave my comfortable life in stillwater. i am trying to hold onto my college lifestyle. i dont want to let it go.

if you havent noticed, i changed the layout to my blog. i added some fun & bright colors, updated my banner with more recent pictures, & changed the text.

but there is one thing that has stayed the same... "she smiles at the future"... & this is somethingi will be working on over the next season of my life.

even though i am beyond nervous about so many things coming up in my life... i.e. living with my parents, finding friends in tulsa, FINDING A JOB!... i cannot let myself sink into a slump.

just like proverbs 31:10 says

"she is clothed with strength & dignity. she smiles at the future."

i will go about this next season of my life with my head up & trusting God with everything.

with all of that being said, just know you will be hearing from me more & more. i am going to take the next few months, the ones that will be filled with unanswered questions & a new-ness that will take time getting used to, to really focus on blogging. it will be fun, so i hope youre ready, blogger world! :)

xoxo

darci