Top 5 Birthday Dresses

Hey y'all,

Every year in Jaunary I search for the perfect birthday dress to splurge on for my big day. This year since my day of birth will be celebrated with a relaxing weekend with my parents and the fact that I am trying not to splurge on any clothing items I am just looking at dresses from afar. I typically always look at local boutiques for dresses and here are 5 dresses I would seriously consider for my birthday dress...

Linear Equation Dress from Vestique

Love Is A Battlefield Dress from Red Dress Boutique

Polished & Pretty Dress from Girly Girl Boutique

Groove & Jive Shift Dress from Fedora Boutique

and my dream birthday dress:

Vela Dress from Anthropologie

Do you have a favorite boutique? Do you shop for the perfect birthday dress? 

My 21st birthday dress was from Vestique's store in Raleigh!

A Holiday Affair {OOTD}

Hi y'all,

With only two weeks until Christmas Eve, it is officially Holiday Party season! Whether you are getting dressed up for a family affair, work party, date night, or a night out with the girls I am always a fan of the little black dress and this one is work appropriate and under $30 so I wear it constantly! Here is a quick holiday look I put together:

Old Navy Dress (on sale)/Vestique Necklace (green color on sale)/Target Heels/bracelets: Kate Spade & Groopdealz (similar)/ Anne Klein watch (similar)/Kate Spade clutch (similar)/ Target Pearl Ring (similar)/Monogram Ring Gift (similar)

What is your go-to holiday look?

WILW: 4th of July!

Hey y'all,

I am of course loving the 4th of July and all it means about the freedom of this country I am blessed to live in but it is more special since I know as a military "brat" for most of my childhood I know the sacrifice of service members since my Daddy and both grandfathers have served in the military. I hope everyone prays for those still out of country fighting for the rights and protection of freedom for the USA.

Now onto something more lighthearted. This week I have been loving....

my sister's homemade oreo and lemon truffles. I might share the recipe with y'all if you want.

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these 4th of July inspired pins

planning my beach vacation during the last week of July. Now only my job has to approve the time off and I will be by the coast in less than 3 weeks!!!

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this dress I just ordered from Vestique. I have the one-shoulder Mesmerize in Coral top and was so excited to see the pattern back in a strapless dress. Now to stalk the mail for it, my Erin Condren planner and my swap packages. EXCITING!

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Now I have to run into work for a few hours then pooltime and fireworks!

Peace and Blessings,
jDl

Sunday Social {4} & Sayings

Happy First Day of JULY!
I can't believe June has come and gone and this blog is a whopping 2 months old. I'm so excited to see where the road goes on my journey post-college but as of right now I will continue with lots of inspiration and the usual Sunday "get-to-know Jessica" post.
The questions of the week: FASHION
1. What is your favorite store to shop at?If you looked at my clothes currently you would see a lot of college/sorority t-shirts and that is truly what I wear mostly since it was my go-to college look and my current retail job has a strict wardrobe so I don't purchase a lot of clothes currently. My top 5 stores would probably be: Old Navy/Gap(I love their basics and their jeans.)T.J. Maxx/Marshalls(I love a good deal)Target (hello cute affordable and great clearance section)Anne Taylor LOFT (I only go to the outlets. Frugalista here if you can't tell)J.Crew (Warehouse Sales....)I do also love small boutiques like Vestique and Francescas and department stores like Macys.
2. If you could afford anything and everything, which designer brand would you covet?This is so hard. I'm leaning towards J.Crew because it has a large range of everything, but I love Kate Spade accessories, and then there is always something more designer such as Ralph Lauren.

3. Must have closet staple?

This is a long list:

The perfect pair of jeans

A White t-shirt. Classic and can always be dressed up.

Black dress pants

LBD (or whatever color. Just something that makes you happy and you could wear for many occassions)

Cardigans

A blazer

A button down blouse

A Suit

Black Pumps

Flats

My Favorite would be a tie between jeans and cardigans.

4. Favorite kind of shoes? (brand or type)

Hmmm. This is hard since I love shoes but I will go with what you will most likely see me wearing on a daily basis(well not at work)...

Rainbow Flip Flops

5.Best clothing deal you've ever gotten? (sale or amazing find) 

Well, I would probably go with the dresses I have gotten from the J.Crew Warehouse Sales. There were two sales in the Chapel Hill area while I was in college there. One the January of my Junior year and the other the fall of my Senior year. The first year the dresses were $15 a piece and the second sale they were $20 but for the J.Crew Collection of dresses that was an amazing deal(sometimes over $200 a piece). I love to find deals on clothes( FRUGALISTA right HERE) but I think that was probably the best deal. But I also got my suit from Belk's this spring from $300 to $99 so I consider that one a good deal too.

Here are some of my J.Crew Warehouse dresses in action.

Big/Little pic at SemiFormal Fall 2012

Sorority Fam: Activation Fall 2012 (also worn for Formal 2011)

The Lorelei Dress at the Nutcracker December 2012
(I also have the Lorelei in silk in brown)

Graduation Dress

Formal 2012

Cotton Lorelei in White: worn for everything.

6.Style you'd love to try?

I'm not that adventurous in my style. I have always loved classic and simple so I would love to try something a bit more daring like a splash of neon here or there but nothing crazy.

Sunday Sayings: For your weekly does of Inspiration (rather Pinspiration)

What are your responses to the questions? Any suggestions for places to shop/bargain find?

Peace and Blessings,

jDl