What I Wore: Apple Picking

As I mentioned in my earlier post about apple picking, sometimes I think it's necessary to embrace my Midwestern upbringing, especially around this time of year. For me, this meant taking advantage of the opportunity to wear overalls! I figure, once I'm living in New York, I will no longer be able to justify wearing such farm girl "fashions". Now is the time to sport the overalls, flannel, and enjoy the brisk Midwestern fall weather.









I've been thinking about purchasing a good pair of overalls for a while now. This is partially due to my urge to bring back the 90s in full swing. I haven't owned a pair since I was a small child, and for a long time I didn't think they would fit into my more feminine, classic wardrobe. However, as I get older, I'm realizing that I can have a wide variety of styles in my clothing arsenal. I figured this was the perfect time to try them out again! It turned out the orchard was a great choice. Plus, they are insanely comfortable (and you never have to worry about your pants falling down).









I'm gonna keep this post nice and short, but please enjoy the photos! How do you feel about "farm girl chic"?

For the Love of Fair Trade!

Hey all! I am so beyond excited to announce my very first partnership! Free Sparrow and Lov'edu Living have partnered up to talk to you all about the importance of Free Trade. But before I dive into Free Trade itself, I'd like to tell you a little bit more about Lov'edu! Anna Boettcher founded the London-based company in 2013 around the beliefs of the power of ethical business. Every single one of the items that she sells is handmade from all natural materials, sustainably produced and fairly traded. She says that she wanted to "create a circle of giving", where everyone involved, from the designer to the seller to the buyer, would be getting exactly what they deserve. ETHICAL is the big word, here. Her business supports not only the creativity of the people making the products, but also the community from which they come. Currently, Lov'edu is showcasing collections from Paris, London, Africa, Thailand, and Ibiza, where Anna was raised. Not only do they support people through the selling of their products, but they also support the community by promising that 10% of their annual profits will be donated towards projects that they feel are worth supporting, especially projects related to protecting the environment, furthering young people’s education, protecting children and assisting women to set up small businesses.

"The Lov'edu store is based on the belief that an object can only be beautiful where it has been created and traded in a joyful and generous spirit."





When I first visited their website, I was blown away by the vibrant colors and beauty of the products. Lov'edu features home decor, accessories, jewelry, and lifestyle products. Some of my favorites include the Maasai Glass Bead Necklaces and the Handwoven Baskets. They offer such a wide selection, so there is definitely something there that will please everyone. There is even a variety of kids' toys that are so sweet and charming, especially this little stuffed bunny. I hope that one day I can visit their brick and mortar store in London. I can't imagine how beautiful some of these products are in person! They sent me one of their African Trade Beads Bracelets and I love it! It is unique, interesting, and of course, lovely. I've worn it a couple of times already and gotten many compliments. It also came with an adorable little red heart stone that is currently living on my book shelf, reminding me of my promise to ethical products made with love.

"We believe that trade is the oldest and most powerful driving force behind cultural and creative exchanges in this world; it has made people travel, discover, be inspired and create since the beginning of civilisation. If used wisely, trade is the most beautiful way of not only creating livelihoods, but of uniting humans, across borders, without judgement, creating a space in which differences in culture, belief, ethnicity and tradition are not barriers to understanding, but rather, are sources of enjoyment, creativity and expression. It is a place where we all speak the same language, whether we are on the side of the giving or the taking, of the offering or the receiving, of the creating or the experiencing, it is an exchange, it is a trade."





And the best part is, everything is responsibly made and traded! I can't tell you how much I appreciate this company for it's fair trade values. In a nutshell, a Fair Trade product is anything that comes from farmers and workers who are FAIRLY compensated. They are given a just wage for their labor and you receive a beautiful, quality, handmade product. Because the workers are paid fairly and the goods are made sustainably, fair trade supports the community and environment. Every time you buy fair trade, you are personally supporting a person and their community, rather than a faceless corporation. In our society today, it is so important for us to think about what we buy and how we go about our consumerism. It is part of our civil responsibility to protect our society and make sure that people are treated fairly. Choosing fair trade is a guaranteed way to do that.

"Fairly Traded - an item is deemed to have been traded fairly when the price of the item is the producer’s/artist’s asking price and can be translated, at it’s minimum, into a living wage for the time of labour plus a bonus for creativity. If wages are paid, they will be at least living wages (a living wage, as opposed to minimum wage, guarantees workers to cover living costs and lead a decent life). Producers are not tied to any trade agreements, they maintain full control over their work and work processes and remain 100% independent."





Over the past year or so, I've made the personal decision to stop buying from stores like Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, H&M, etc. These stores are selling cheaply made, mass produced disposable clothing and do not support their workers. My family stopped buying from WalMart a long time ago for the same reason: people are not being treated well. It may cost a little bit more for me to shop elsewhere, but it is completely worth it. I am paying for something more responsible and of higher quality. Little by little, I'm doing my research and finding out where I can shop and feel good about it. One thing I'm always certain of, though, is that when I buy fair trade, there is no problem. My money is supporting something worthwhile.

"Lov’edu believes in a world where beauty, art and style can be enjoyed within a circle of sustainability, through building relationships with designers, producers and crafters whose processes respect and work with nature. This vision is part of a process we call “The Love Education”: Love Beauty, Love Nature, Love Yourself. It is the practice of thinking and acting from a higher state of consciousness and awareness; of living a holistic lifestyle that is in harmony with nature, with humanity and thereby, with oneself."



I really am so excited to be partnering with Lov'edu! This is a cause that is very important to me, and I am proud to be supporting a company that believes in the same principles. I encourage you all to take a swing over to their website and peruse the lovely collections. I assure you, there will be something there that you will fall in love with! And remember, every purchase counts. Every time you choose fair trade, people benefit, communities benefit, and the environment benefits. On top of it, you receive something unique and beautiful! It's a win-win situation, always. October is Fair Trade Month! So, for the love of fair trade, go buy fair!

“Our philosophy of direct trade, from the producer to the shop floor, makes every purchase a holistic experience of giving and receiving. At Lov’edu every piece has a story, making our customers feel truly unique ” - Anna Boettcher, Founder and Director.



You can visit the Lov'edu website here.
For more information about American Fair Trade, you can visit Fair Trade USA.

Country Bumpkin

Fall is a-comin'! Being in Cleveland, the weather cannot seem to fully make up its mind. This is pretty typical of our city. One day, we get that lovely fall breeze, bringing in the chilliness that makes me want to bundle up in tights and scarves and adorable boots, and then the next day it's back up into summer temperatures and I'm in sandals and sundresses again. I'm not really complaining, though, because as much as I adore fall, we never really got a summer here. So we're all hanging on tightly to our last few warm days. There is abundance of people on the streets who you can just tell are denying the change in seasons. Even with the unexpected warmth, it's almost October, and no longer flip-flop season.





For some reason, fall seems to be synonymous with the ideas of country and farms. I suppose it has a lot to do with the images we see around this time of hay bales and scarecrows and, at least in the Midwest, plenty of fresh autumn produce like corn, apples, and squash. I know the apple season is ending soon, but I'm hoping to go apple-picking before it's totally gone. Enjoying the last of the sun's warmth before it hides away for the winter and running through the orchard is a wonderfully romantic idea to me. I haven't experienced the fun of apple picking since I was a little girl, and even then, I was with a school group so it would be entirely different if I were to go today!





Of course, the best part about fall, apart from the fashion, is the pumpkin!!! I cannot express to you all how much I adore pumpkin. Pumpkin flavor, pumpkin scent, the look of pumpkins on our porch, it's all perfect. I'm sure there will be a couple of posts within the next month or so about all the pumpkin goodness that I come across this season. Pretty soon, we will all be headed to our local farms to pick out our pumpkins for October and Halloween, and before we know it we will be carving jack-o-lanterns! You'll all have to stay tuned for that, too, because my family always seems to come up with the wackiest faces for ours!





Since we're still kind of teetering between the sunny heat of summer and the brisk chill of autumn, I'm taking advantage of these last chances to wear my lighter weight dresses without tights. This is one of my favorite dresses because it is so breezy and light. It was a thrift store find, and I'm pretty sure it's homemade. Every time I wear it, it reminds me of the dresses that Laura used to describe in the "Little House on the Prairie" books. I'm not really sure why, but it does make me feel kind of country bumpkin-ish (in the best way possible, of course). Today, I decided to add my orange gingham top, which just kind of added to that country feel. The boots just topped it off! Sometimes, I think it's ok to stray from high-fashion and be comfortable, especially as we get deeper into the season. Give in to the country callin' y'all!

What's your favorite part about fall? What images come to mind for you?

P.S. I have to wear a slip with this dress and sometimes I think it's fun to let your petticoat slip a little :P

Few Words

Tonight, I'm finding it difficult to put my thoughts into words. Mostly because my thoughts are not substantial enough at the moment to write anything particularly meaningful. While I could just put off this post until the words come to me, which could be in a day or so, I have found through experience that writing when you least want to can bring out some of the best work. Sometimes you need to just let yourself write in order to find what you were really trying to say. This is probably the fourth or fifth time I've tried to start writing, trying to come up with a topic that I could really expound upon, when in reality, all I needed to do was write about how much trouble I'm having writing. Sometimes, you don't need a lot of words. Sometimes the few words that you do have in your head are worth just as much time as the long, eloquent thoughts that rush out of you when you're feeling at your creative best.





If nothing else, finding this habit of writing every day, no matter what thoughts you may or may not have, keeps your mind active and helps you to later pluck those deeply buried ideas out of the cobweb-crusted corners of your brain. I've mentioned before about my Belgium blog and how, when I was writing on that blog daily, I found that I wrote some of my best poems, took some of best photos, and created some of my best art. It's an important part of the daily routine, even if it's short and sweet.





It took me a while to get them out, but I think these few words were very much needed on my part. Plus, they are accompanied by this cute outfit, which I think really exemplifies the idea of style fluidity that I was talking about yesterday. This business casual-ish look is quite different from the 90s drab that I was rocking yesterday!

P.S. I'm a little bit in love with this necklace. I bought it at a tiny little boutique in Westchester, PA and it's now one of my staples! Simple, lovely, and versatile. Basically, the perfect necklace.

I suppose my few words turned into quite a few words! That is what happens when you just let yourself go and let the writing take over.

Cool and Comfy

Something I've always known about myself, but have really been paying attention to these past few days, is how vast my interests are. Of course, my main focus is, and always will be, the performing arts, but I am drawn to other things, too. This blog, for example. My photography, my writing, reading, fashion, travel, are all interesting to me and I enjoy the time I spend on them. There is a common denominator, though, between all of these different hobbies: they're all very creative. I like using my mind in unconventional ways. I enjoy looking at the world through a camera lens because you can capture what you see in a way that someone else might not notice with their naked eye. I can describe my life experiences through writing in a way that is very different from someone else's experience. Similarly, I can dress myself differently every single day to reflect what it is I am feeling in that moment. Fashion is a great tool of self-expression that I have been exploring since I was a teenager.





Just as I have a number of different hobbies and ways to pass my time, I also find that I have quite a few different styles. I wouldn't say that my style is finite or rock solid. It's fluid and changes, depending on my mood. There are days, like this one, where I just want to be comfortable and channel my 90s "Full House" childhood. Other days, I really gravitate towards my vintage pieces. Some days, I have the urge to be as feminine as possible. Sometimes, I like to follow modern trends, like layering. There are times when I feel like I'm having an identity crisis with my clothes. However, the more I think about it, the more I like that about myself. I like that I can take the pieces in my closet and put them together into unlimited combinations to suit whatever I'm feeling. It's just one more way to let my creative mind blossom and make something unique.





We went to visit my cousin today at the University of Dayton and I knew that I was going to be spending a good portion of the day in a car, probably sleeping, if we're being honest. I wanted to be comfortable and ready for whatever weather, since you never know in our lovely state of Ohio. I just got this shirt yesterday and I'm already completely in love with it. I have a feeling it's about to be one of my go-to pieces that I throw on when I have no idea what to wear. It's simple, versatile, and insanely light. It has that easy-like-Sunday-morning vibe that you sometimes need when your mind is going a mile a minute and you just need to chill. Pair it with some fun jewelry, like this awesome hand piece and super earring pairing, and I felt cozy and chic all in one! Isn't it amazing how clothes can help you feel that way? At least for me they can...





My ever-changing style will always be a big part of my personality. I really do enjoy taking the time in the morning to look through my clothes and put together an outfit that makes me feel my very best each day. I believe in "look good, feel good". This doesn't necessarily mean that I think the way I look is the most important thing about me, or even that I need to fit into any sort of predefined definition of "looking good". What it means is that I feel best when I know I took some time to put some effort into myself. I know that my confidence brightens when I'm happy in what I'm wearing, whether it fits into society's standards of "pretty" or not. But I'm about to get into a whole different topic, now, so I think I'll wrap this up here! What about you? How do you define your personal style?

Nostalgia

For some reason, the past few weeks have really brought out my nostalgic thoughts. I've gone through old yearbooks, passed some time with friends, and enjoyed reliving my high school days through reminiscing. Of course, I really have no desire to actually go back to those days, but thinking about them really makes me miss how simple it all was back then. Sure, we stressed about school and we worried about boys and there was drama with friends, but in the grand scheme of things, life was easy. We went to school, day after day, hung out afterwards, and in my case, participated in an astonishing number of extracurricular activities. We thought about the future, but mostly about college. We talked about getting married and having kids, but now it's actually starting to happen. We were getting older, but we weren't quite "growing up" yet.





Now, all of the sudden, my friends are getting married. Some of them are even parents! It blows my mind every time I see a new engagement or baby announcement. I just keep thinking of us as that silly group of teenagers, running around the high school barefoot waiting for our drama club or dance team rehearsal to start. Now, we're graduating from college, some from grad school, getting big kid jobs, finding life partners and having children. Suddenly, we're all grown up. I'm not quite there yet, but at the end of this year I will be out in the world, making my career and settling into adult life. It's scary, especially when I think about how easy it was to be a teenager, cruising in my '94 Jeep with the windows rolled down, blasting some indie rock music in the middle of summer with my friends piled in the back seat.





Sometimes, I miss my past. I know, though, that I need to move forward. It's funny how when we're kids, all we want is to be grown up. We want to be treated like adults and we *think* we want that responsibility. Then we become adults and it all changes. We want the coloring books and the roller blades and bubbles. I'll be honest, I still pull those items out from time to time! It's fine to reflect on those times and think about how much we've grown, but it's important not to get bogged down in them. We are who we are because of where we've been and what we've done. I do think it is healthy to acknowledge that part of ourselves. But it is time to head in this new direction toward adulthood. I want to be that adult. My grown up life is right in front of me, and I think I'm ready to embrace it.

Back To School!

Well, here we are once again. The beginning of the academic year. This is my fourth and final year at Cleveland State, and let me tell you, I am so ready to graduate! We are only in the second week of classes and it already seems like the tasks are piling up. I definitely came into this year, though, with a get-it-done mentality. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I can't wait to reach it!





This is the outfit that I wore on the first day of school, last Monday. This dress was one of those amazing finds on super sale that fit perfectly and wears so well. I found it over the summer at Urban Outfitters, on clearance! I rarely shop there, because I am a poor college student, but when I'm in Orlando, I often find myself in the store, just browsing and exploring the different patterns and shapes. I really think that if I didn't go into theatre, it would have been some aspect of fashion, be it design, weddings, what have you. I love this dress because it is light, airy, has a beautiful feminine shape and a lovely delicate pattern. I don't always go for the super girly style, but when I do, I enjoy the lace and floral features. To be honest, I probably have more floral prints in my closet than anything else. They are classic and timeless and, let's face it, they make me feel pretty!





This necklace is one of my staple accessories. I can't believe I haven't featured it on the blog yet. It was another lucky Florida find. I was in Macy's and there was only one left, without a tag on it, and I just knew I couldn't leave that store without it. It's one of my favorite necklaces of all time! It always reminds me of the old tales of Coco Chanel and how she wore her sewing scissors on a string of pearls around her neck. French perfection.





I'm going into this school year as positive as I could possibly be! I'm ready to take on the world and finish my education strong. I really believe in the power of positivity. A good attitude brings so many other good things with it. School is tough, yes, but it is one of those things in life that is always worth the work. My old band director used to say, it's 10% skill and 90% attitude. Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but I completely believe that so much of your success lies in your own self and how you perceive the world. It is a choice to keep your chin up. Is it always easy? Of course not. But the effort pays off the in the end. Trust me.

Are you back in school this year?