Sew Cute

Graduation has come and gone, but I wanted to share some details on what I wore for my big day. Finding a graduation dress was a struggle. Now and days I am super picky about what I wear, and I only really shop from J Crew and Lilly Pulitzer. Occasionally some other stores. I found a great Lilly dress (as seen in my graduation photos) for my College of Liberal Arts convocation ceremony on Friday. But, I was struggling to find a dress for my actual graduation ceremony. Then I found this great coral dress from Nanette Lepore from Rue La La. It was on super sale, I got about $300 off! Such a steal! 

I'm usually a hard core print girl, but I wanted my dress to be simple (for me) and classic. I still wanted a colored dress so this cute coral Nanette Lepore dress worked out perfectly! It was a little long because #shortgirlproblems, so I got it hemmed at a local dry cleaner. Not sure why every dress was made for someone a size 0 but 5'9 but oh well, it worked out in the end! 

The dress has super fun detailing, which is why I loved it. I'm obsessed with these little bell sleeves. It gave such a fun feminine detail. Also, can we talk about these fun flower embellishments? It gave the perfect spring summer vibe to the look. The flowers continued onto the back of the dress as well. In addition, there was a little strip of fabric that went across the top part of the back for an extra touch to the otherwise pretty open back. 

For my "graduation" accessories I had a Pi Beta Phi stole which we bought as a chapter. It was nice to have something to wear for graduation from my sorority. Most chapters buy a stole or have cords that represent their sorority colors. I opted for the stole just so people would know what it was for. I find that people have so many cords it's hard to know what they represent. So, the stole makes it more obvious! In addition to my stole, I had my cum lade cords for my grades. With as involved I have been the past few years of college I was so excited to graduate with honors. Most semesters I had 18 or more credits on top of activities and a sorority so any honors was a great achievement for me! 

Another fun accessory I had for my graduation look was this Alex and Ani bangle. My parents gifted this to me before my convocation ceremony so I could wear it all weekend. I love Alex and Ani, as you all know, so this bracelet is perfect! It even has a little tag that says 2017. 

Couldn't help but snap a few Disney inspired pics! My brother and dad got this I'm Celebrating... Graduation button for me at the parks. Then I picked up this fun Mickey graduation hat as well. It's super cute and will act as a little momento as well.

Picking shoes for graduation can be a stressful thing. You have to keep in mind how much walking or standing you'll be doing, if your walking on grass, and so on. These Calvin Klein heels I picked up from Nordstrom Rack are seriously the best heels ever. They are so comfortable, the perfect "nude" shade for my skin tone (shout out to the other pale-ies out there), and are the perfect height. They aren't to high and have a thicker heel so walking in grass isn't an issue. 

For my accessories I kept things simple, and classic. I didn't want to wear anything to trendy or flashy just to keep my pictures looking as timeless as possible. So, I opted for my lavaliere necklace, my Alex and Ani grad cap bangle, and my Pandora charm bracelet. To finish the look I wore my go-to pearl stud earrings. Again, super simple, but super classic. 

Where it's from: 

Dress: Nanette Lepore 

Shoes: Calvin Klein (Nordstrom Rack) 

Bracelets: Alex and Ani, Pandora 

Location: Iowa State University 

Did you graduate recently or are you graduating this spring? Tell me your outfit details in the comments!
XOXO 

Miranda

Some day when spring is here..... Well I think spring has officially sprung and we are on our way towards summer. Thank God because I cannot handle these spring allergies anymore. Has anyone else been struggling with allergies these past few weeks? My eyes get so itchy I wipe off all of my makeup! But, one perk of spring I do enjoy is all of the flowers! Working at BHG this past school year has given me an even bigger appreciation for flowers and gardening. So, I ventured to Reiman Gardens in Ames (right near Iowa State) to walk around the grounds and take in all of the spring flowers. 

Reiman Gardens has both indoor and outdoor areas to explore. I love this tropical green house area. So many beautiful flowers and plants to discover. Not to mention it is super warm in there! When we went it was a tad chilly out, because it had been raining. Go figure the day we go the weather stops being so gorgeous. It was still super nice to walk around and get some fresh air though. 

As for the outfit, I kept things pretty simple. But, there is one new addition I'd like to share with you all... I got a Louis Vuitton speedy 25 from my boyfriend for graduation/ an early birthday gift! My boyfriend is terrible at keeping gifts a surprise, so I kind of figured out what he was getting me. He didn't crack under pressure, aka me constantly asking what he got me, and tell me before he gave it to me. I have been wanting this bag for so long. My man inspiration came from Carly from The College Prepster and Sarah from Classy Girls Wear Pearls. They carry this bag around quite frequently and I just love the shape and its classic style. For graduation I wanted a bag that was timeless and that I would have forever. Jeremy defiantly knocked it out of the park with this gift. You'll be seeing a lot of it in upcoming blogposts I'm sure. 

The rest of my outfit includes this adorable simple white top with a flair detail on the sleeves. A little eyelet ruffle adds the perfect dainty touch to an otherwise simple top. Pairing a white top with a bold pair of shorts is my favorite during the spring and summer. This pair of teal chino shorts are from J Crew. These are basically the only shorts I wear during spring and summer. They look great with everything and are a little more polished then a pair of jean shorts. Usually I go for the 3" inseam but I also have a few 5" pairs. 

For accessories, I also kept things super simple. My go-to trusty Jack Roger sandals are a must. Now that they are my most broken in pair I always reach for them if I'll be doing some walking. For my bracelets I'm wearing an Alex and Ani graduation cap bangle plus my Pandora bracelet stocked with Disney charms. Since my trip I haven't taken it off. I was never a Pandora person before this bracelet! I think it is because I got it on a hard bangle versus the moveable chain bracelet. 

For my necklace I'm just wearing my lavalier featuring my Pi Phi and Triangle letters. Then I topped off the look with my go-to pearl earrings, that were also a gift from the boyfriend.  

Where it's from: 

Shirt: J Crew 

Shorts: J Crew 

Shoes: Jack Rogers 

Belt: vineyard vines 

Bag: Louis Vuitton 

Bracelets: Pandora, Alex and Ani 

Location: Reiman Garden 

What is your favorite spring flower? Mine is peonies and tulips! Let me know yours in the comments. 

XOXO 

Miranda

Today I'm talking about Disney in March, aka Spring Break season. We'd never gone to Disney for Spring Break before. Usually we take our family trip during the first week in January. We thought that was busy. That was child's play compared to March. It was insanity! So, I wanted to give a few tips and go through what it's like to go during Spring Break time. Luckily, I'm graduating so I won't have to worry about the constricting schedule of going to school. This means I'll never have to go in March again. But, in case you are still in school or are planning a trip around your child's schedule, here are some of my insights on Disney in March..... 

Crowds | During spring break the crowds were unbearable! Almost everyday was a madhouse. Not to mention normal spring breakers there were also many events going on like a cheerleading competition, music days, and more. We found that going, at our usual time, during the first week in January right after Christmas was less crowded! 

Wait times | Wait times all depended on what time you get to the parks. I highly suggest going at park opening and for early magic hours. When we arrived for early magic hours we were able to get a lot done before the big crowds. Also, arriving at opening is always a good idea. You can get in a ton of rides before everyone strolls in at 10am. After about 10 or 11am wait times were already pretty long. Big rides like Space Mountain and Mine Train were at 90mins. So, be sure to get your fast passes as well, and get them for earlier in the morning. Also, keep checking back for new fast passes throughout the day. Even if you can get fast passes for smaller rides it is still worth it.

Character lines | Meet and greets for characters weren't to bad of a wait. We always get the fasts for the Character spot in Epcot which goes by super quickly! I'd say they averaged from 15-35 min depending on the character and when you stepped into the line. 

Flower & Garden | Flower & Garden Festival was one of my favorite parts of the trip! Be on the lookout for a more extensive Flower & Garden review. During my spring break it was the second week of the festival so it was pretty crazy, but we couldn't tell if it was crazy for the festival or for spring break. None the less it was crazy. But, there were so many great food stands, topiaries, and other fun things going on for the festival. So, for that reason I would for sure recommend it! 

Weather | Naturally, the one week we went in March it was freezing. Okay not freezing, but cold for Florida. It was in the mid to high 50s during the day and would get down into the 40s at night. Some days were cloudy so we didn't even have the sun to keep us warm. Keep track of the weather before you go! We made the mistake in January once and didn't bring any warm clothing. I'd say pack a pair of jeans, leggings, and sweatshirts and jackets to be safe. Even if it is warm it can get chilly at night! I would pack a pair of leggings and a sweatshirt in my backpack to put on at night. This was super helpful, especially if you plan on staying for fireworks and night shows. 

Have you gone to Disney in March? I want to hear your experience! Let me know in the comments! 

XOXO 

Miranda 

Stripes are my go-to print no matter what time of the year. But, during spring I especially love pairing dainty striped tops with a simple pair of jeans. Since I got this pair of Paige jeans I have been living in them. They are so comfortable they basically feel like pajamas! I especially love them because they are a great dark denim. I prefer a deeper blue jean versus some of the lighter washes out there. 

Statement earrings have also been a favorite of mine recently. I've always loved them, and I have quite the collection of them. My favorite places to pick up statement earrings are J Crew, Baublebar, and now Target! This pair of white fringe and beaded earrings are from Baublebar's Sugarfix collection at target. They are under $15! Such a steal. Target recently added to the collection so some of their pieces are even on clearance. I picked up some for as low as $6. They are great dupes for the original Baublebar earrings I love. J Crew's sale section is also a great place to find earrings. Usually they have a ton of different styles to choose from, and you can snag them for an extra 50% off if your lucky. Check the J Crew Factory store as well for some good deals. 

Speaking of deals, we need to talk about these adorable bright orange espadrilles I picked up from Target. They were on clearance for only $13! I used to hate orange. But I wore a super cute Victoria Beckham for Target orange romper to my graduation party and it was super cute. Everyone loved the orange color on me, so I decided to give it another try. I have to say sorry to orange because I am loving this bright shade! It's perfect for summer and spring and these shoes will be great for upcoming trip to Florida. Espadrilles are a great spring shoe because they are super comfortable but give you the feeling of a sandal, without busting out the sandals too early. 

Where it's from: 

Blouse: vineyard vines

Jeans: Paige 

Shoes: Target 

Earrings: Target 

Bracelets: Alex and Ani, Pandora Disney 

Watch: Michele 

How do you wear stripes for spring? Let me know in the comments! 

XOXO 

Miranda 

It's graduation weekend! YAY! To say I'm excited for graduation is an understatement. But, before my big weekend I wanted to share some of my graduation photos I took with my lovely Big. We went around campus and hit my favorite spots. 

What I'm wearing: 

Dress: Lilly Pulitzer 

Shoes: Calvin Klien (Nordstrom Rack) 

Necklace: KJP 

Bracelet: Pandora, Disney Pandora charms 

Cap: check out my DIY post here! 

Congratulations to everyone graduating this weekend or this month! 

XOXO 

Miranda 

The amount of compliments I got on this bag was ridiculous! It's super cute and makes you stand out in the parks. I picked it up on Hot Topic's website, but it is available on Danielle Nicole's website and Box Lunch. Right now the glitter background option doesn't seem to be available. But, the bag available now is very similar to this original style. This bag sold out so quickly! So if you see it I would purchase right away if you are set on it. Box Lunch and Hot Topic usually have a deal with a certain percentage off all items online so look out for that as well. 

Have any questions about Danielle Nicole handbags? Let me know in the comments! I recently purchased the Beauty and the Beast rose bag and the Cogsworth makeup bag so be sure to look out for those items in future posts! 

XOXO 

Miranda