Fierce Florals

This may come as a surprise, but I come from a family of hunters. As in, don your camos, rise before any sane person would ever rise, head to the woods, shoot a deer sort of hunting. As in Katniss Everdeen hunting. Now while I have no problem with the activity, it's really not my cup of tea (and details of hunting trips are verboten for my sensitive, animal-loving ears!). But I do think I have the gene, even if mine manifested in the thrill-of-the-hunt at say, Nordstrom, or even better, a discount store like Nordstrom Rack. The skills required for both activities are actually the same, when you get right down to it--you have to have a keen eye, stay focused on the prize, and be alert at all times. Same same, right?

Enter this dress. I was at my local Last Call Neiman Marcus shopping for an event when my keen intuition kicked in and I spotted this dress on the rack. It was mere moments from rack to fitting room to purchase, adrenaline pumping all the while.  I ended up wearing something else to the event, but decided to keep this dress and figure out how I could layer it so I could wear it to work (it needs tights for work too; don't worry, I'm aware of the high hemline). I think it looks far cuter with a white shirt underneath than it did without. Voila! 

Can we just talk about these booties for a minute? They are under $50, and I cannot get over the gold geometry going on on the heel. They add a little edge to any outfit, and I love that, because it's a rare day when I want straight up girly. I like to mix it up a bit, to keep you on your toes, you know?

I'm really into florals for spring, so I linked a few additional floral dresses below. 

Alright, this old lady needs to hit the hay (or watch Downton Abbey...you'll never know!). 

Thanks for reading! 

Go Big or Go Home

This jacket is my most complimented article of clothing I've ever owned. I can't tell you the number of times I've been stopped on the street, hollered at across the road ("fabulous jacket!"), or been asked if someone can pet me. And, I will be the first to admit, I EAT IT UP, hook, line, and sinker. My husband is always teasing me about my unabashed love for compliments--I seriously can't help it. This self-help book I'm reading right (Better Than Perfect; I highly recommend it) now is pointing out my incessant need for affirmation from others, which makes me feel like I should not be so desperate for people to like what I'm wearing and what I'm doing...but hey, at least I have a sense of humor about my neediness. 

It's been a crazy couple weeks for me personally, and while sometimes I feel like walking away from this blog because it can be incredibly stressful to find time to fit it in, I see a shoot like this and it completely re-energizes me. Nahal and I work so hard to get the right lighting, the right focus, hell, even the right outfits! So when I come home to find a shoot full of great photos, it makes me feel like maybe we're getting something right. 

Feel free to compliment below. :)

xoxo,

The Needy Blogger 




18 Irresistible Dresses for Valentine's Day

I’m not much of a Valentine’s Day celebrator. I’m not in the “it’s just a Hallmark-contrived holiday” camp or anything, but I  do think that surprise or spontaneous romance/dates/celebrating love is more meaningful. The one time Aaron planned a big Valentine’s Day for us (dinner at Chez Panisse and a moonlight kayaking trip), I got stuck in Atlanta on the way home from a business trip and didn’t make it home until days later. See? It's just not meant to be. And I'm ok with that. I'd rather skip all the Valentine's Day kerfuffle and stay in with a good glass of red wine.

All of this aside, I'll find any excuse to dress up or to window shop! Nahal and I decided to link to our favorite girly girl dresses, just in case you're in the market.

How do you celebrate Valentine's/Galentine's Day? Leave a comment and let us know!