Thursday Things: Summer Edition

1. Pretty sure "Home" by Philip Philips was and is forever more the theme song for Baylor's class of 2013. Don't ask me why...it seems like it was constantly played on campus, one group performed it for Baylor's student talent show "After Dark" (which almost the entire student body goes to see)....aaaand I'm almost positive it was the song I listened to on repeat the day I left home, with all of my life packed up in a Uhaul, and drove to Texas. It's also probably because Baylor is now home. Probably.

2. My legs are pretty much all muscle now. It's depressing. Muscle's good, yes, but not when you can NO LONGER FIT IN YOUR BEAUTIFUL LEATHER BOOTS. Dang calves. Stop getting thicker!

3. I love coffee. Love. But my stomach doesn't....whyyyyy? Meh.

4. I'm obsessed with stripes. I own approximately 349 pairs of striped shirts. I think I subconsciously want to be French, oui?



5. I secretly wish my life was like the Mamma Mia! movie. Breathtaking Greek islands location, beaches and white sands galore, summery colorful clothes, and everyone around me spontaneously breaking out into song and dance? Yes, please.

6. Painting your nails mint green results in you looking quite tan. A lovely accidental side effect.

7. I'm currently in love with all things mint. See above.

8. My hair is getting ridiculously long. FINALLY. And of course, only after I'd completely given up and resigned myself to the sad fact that it hasn't grown at all in 3-4 years despite my best efforts, which included everything from "growth-inducing trims," refusing to cut it, increasing healthy fats in my diet. I've gained weight - because I've eaten more sweets, fried food, and meat recently...and now my hair is longer.

GAH. Of course, right? That's the only change, so the only logical answer is that more fat = longer, thicker hair. Apparently an abundance of veggies didn't work for me personally when it came to hair growth.

I'm doomed.

9. I'm most definitely a ring girl. I left the house without wearing a giant cocktail one and immediately felt horribly self-conscious about my naked hands. There's something about rings that add instant confidence and style, much like a swipe of lipstick on a 'blah' day.

10. My little sister owns more make-up than me. As in, she's running a mini-cosmetic store on her vanity table. There's something wrong with this picture. 

11. Sarah Vicky's blog, Classy Girls Wear Pearls makes me want to run away for a Nantucket summer vacation - complete with her gorgeous New England-style clothes.

12. It's completely impossible, but based on my food cravings, you'd think I'm pregnant. All. I want. Are ice cream, chocolate, and fried food. Oy vey.

Modest Monday: Pink in the City

 Just joining the Modest Monday party? Here's the original post. Each Monday, I post a modest, stylish outfit. 

Why? Because I believe you don't have to sacrifice fashion and style for purity. 

 Modesty does not equal frumpy. This is my way of showing that modesty can be fashionable and pretty. I'm a girl determined to live a life of 

purity, 

modesty, 

and plenty of style. 

__________________________________

I've always loved Houston - the urban downtown feel and sleek architecture, and of course, all the shopping in the Galleria. 

So when two friends of mine suggested a day trip to the city, I couldn't resist!

 Cameron Durham, a fabulous photographer and art student based out of Houston, his brother Adrian (an  extremely talented ballet student), and I to managed hit the Texas streets in style. 

Started the day with breakfast at Whole Foods: iced raspberry mocha, fritatta + cinnamon rolls. Perfection. 

 We caught the bus downtown.



Talk about colorful commuters...

Adrian and I, mid-shopping. It was a complete accident that our bags matched our respective outfits.

Nordstrom scarves.

Navy + white polka dot vintage shirt//thrifted

Fuchsia velvet skirt//thrifted

Belt//thrifted

Jewelry// The Icing

The beautiful photography was shot by Cameron  (except for the Instagram pics, which are mine).  So delighted to have him participate in a Modest Monday shoot!

I found this skirt at Goodwill ($4-$5) and fell head over heels with the color and texture. It was a bit loose, but I knew a belt would fix that in a pinch. The color and lush look reminds me of Grace Kelly, so I wanted to carry over the vintage feel with the polka dots. 

And I couldn't go to Houston and not do some damage! Kate Spade has my heart...I even matched the bag (and the entire store, in all honesty - I adore the brand's bright vibrant colors). <3 p="">

We worked up quite an appetite shopping, so we headed to Ruggles Green, a delicious cozy little place featuring vegetarian and organic food. Cameron and I split their fantastic veggie burger with sea salt-sprinkled sweet potato fries as well as a gloriously mouthwatering feta + pesto veggie pizza with arugula. We came close to burying our faces in it. It was that good. Adrian ordered a onion and Swiss panini that was excellent as well. 

Instagraming the goodness. 

 Dessert, even though we were stuffed: luscious carrot cake + vanilla bean ice cream.

All in all, it was the perfect end to a lovely trip with the Durham brothers...always love hanging out with those two. They're fellow vegetarian and art enthusiasts. We laughed more than we should have, ate a ridiculous amount of good food, and held our own, style-wise in the city.

What's your favorite outfit to wear when you travel? Do you keep it casual or dress up in bigger cities? 

__________________________________________________________

Your turn! Show me your Modest Monday. Link up your outfit (it can be as casual or gussied up as you want).

Don't have a blog?

 Email (raewyn83@gmail.com)

 Instagram (raewyn83) 

or Tweet (@GracefulEats) 

me a pic of your outfit with hashtag #modestmoday if you'd like to see it featured on the blog!

{Catching up on Modest Monday? Check out all the previous weeks here.}

When You Need a Shoulder To Lean On and Someone To Be Your Safe

What does it mean to tell someone, "I need you to be my safe?"

It means, I need you to be here for me right now.

'I need you to talk about light subjects, ones that don't touch the turmoil bubbling within.'

'I need you to grant me your ear, your company, your quiet presence. Just that is good enough.'

'I need you to just be here for me.'

'I need you to not judge me right now.'

'I need you to just be here.'

'Even if you think I'm wrong. Right now, in this moment, just be. Here. For me.'

'Please.'

And that person, if they're who you think and trust and hope they are - if they're a better person than you (because I know I can certainly be judgmental and opinionated during my less "grace"-filled moments - which are far too often), they will nod and say, simply,

Yes.

Modest Monday: Think Mint!

 Just joining the Modest Monday party? Here's the original post. Each Monday, I post a modest, stylish outfit. 

Why? Because I believe you don't have to sacrifice fashion and style for purity. 

 Modesty does not equal frumpy. This is my way of showing that modesty can be fashionable and pretty. I'm a girl determined to live a life of 

purity, 

modesty, 

and plenty of style. 

__________________________________

Ah, mint. I love you so. 

Cool, refreshing, and delightfully summery, you're one of my current favorite colors. Simultaneously classy + soothing, I love wearing you. 

Cardigan// Old Navy

Skirt// thrifted

Heels// Forever 21

Necklace// stolen from my mother

Ring// Premier Jewelry

Eyeshadow// Target line

Whether as eye shadow,

jewelry or nail polish,

cardigan,

or in the form of a purse. 

You're my type of color.

__________________________________________________________

Your turn! Show me your Modest Monday. Link up your outfit (it can be as casual or gussied up as you want).

Don't have a blog?

 Email (raewyn83@gmail.com)

 Instagram (raewyn83) 

or Tweet (@GracefulEats) 

me a pic of your outfit with hashtag #modestmoday if you'd like to see it featured on the blog!

{Catching up on Modest Monday? Check out all the previous weeks here.}

On The Road

It's Monday.

And I couldn't be more grateful. Because this Monday means a day off from work, a road trip with my beautiful best friend on said day. It means driving in the car, doing nothing but chatting and laughing and listening to music after nearly two weeks of listening to orders being called out, tasks being assigned to me, questions being asked about summer classes, and such.

It means sunny skies and long fields and endless green plains of Texas. It means going back to my second home, where I reside during the school year. It means going back to Baylor green and gold. It means the quiet of a long car ride, so excellent at prompting gentle musing while the miles speed by outside the passenger window.

It means getting to spend some time with one of my favorite girls before we're separated all summer, and getting to help her move in.

It means seeing one of my other favorite girls (this one's a redhead and wonderfully fantastic in every way) once we're back on campus and hugging her to death.

It means free access to Lightroom, one of my very favorite things, in Baylor's library.

It means a mini, mini "vacation." Some time to breathe and think on the ride to and back, hopefully.

It's Monday. Hurray. :)

Growing Up: Why Your View Changes When You're No Longer Nineteen

Being 20 can be hard. 

It can be so, so hard. 

And yet, at the same time, it's glorious. 

Independence, youth, growing and seeking, deepening in maturity, taking risks and reaching out for those big, bold dreams that you weren't quite sure if you were worthy enough to dream when you were younger. 

20 is acting on those dreams - having the guts to chase and take initiative. 

20 is also when you start to see with an adult's eye. 

When you see your parents and why they've done the things they've done and made the sacrifices they've made. 

20 is when you begin to think about bills and loans and payments, jobs, living expenses, and the future, and all the heavy - oh so heavy - burdens resting on adults' shoulders. 

20 is when you start to see the villains that your parents - who always seemed like superheros when you were growing up - battle daily and have battled. 

20 is when you see the scars and battle wounds...see the lines of care and worry, of sleepless nights, and constant plans and prayers created on your behalf. 

20 is when you realize, more than ever, that your parents actually are superheros.

They give and they give and they carry and they soldier on, whether they are exhausted, sleep-deprived, sick, crippled, ailing, out of work, struggling, stressed, or busy. 

And you wonder what on God's green earth did you do to deserve that and why they keep giving even after they've given all they possibly can? 

How do parents go beyond that? 

20 is when you realize that the two greatest, strongest, bravest, and most loving people you will ever meet in this life are the ones who welcomed you into this world and gave you the name that makes you you. 

20 is when you realize that the dreams you had at 18 and 19, and all the good times you enjoyed then and shelter/support/benefits/memories of childhood existed because of two people. 

20 is when you realize just how much your parents have done for you. And how much you hope to be like them. 

Hello, Summer and Blogsphere!

Bueno, dear peeps!

I apologize for the long lapse...finals rather swallowed me up during the last few weeks of school. I'm back home now - and actually getting proper sleep again, thank goodness - but I also started work and have been logging some serious hours in some seriously high heels.

So! I'm popping in to say hello and let you know things should be returning back to a normal schedule here on My Spare Oom. I'll also be contributing more to A Catholic Young Woman (I can't link to it properly as I'm typing this on my phone - one of the cons of being a modern blogger on the go), and a few other blogs.

I'm very excited for this summer because we have some exciting features coming up on the blog: the return of Modest Mondays, How-Tos, some fashion and beauty posts, tips about college, and some brand new features I can't wait for y'all to see!

So keep an eye out for some fun posts...happy start of summer!