on change

{ What I Wore on a date: (old) H&M tank (similar) // Storets {vegan} leather skirt // Steve Madden heels ℅ Macy's // clutch ℅ Gigi New York }

all photos | Alyssa Torrech Photography

It is funny to look back at the version of myself that moved to Nashville 5 years ago. I was ending a 4 year relationship, moving away from all my college friends, embarking on a crazy journey towards a Ph.D., living in the "big city" after calling small town Arkansas home my whole life, & oh so young! 

5 years has brought change - new friends, new experiences, a degree, different last name, a career change, many moves, the loss of friends (growing older sadly sometimes means growing apart), & 2 adorable pug children.

I hear change when my alarm now goes off at 5am. I see change when I look in my closet & the pencils skirts have replaced the comfy blue jeans at the front of my wardrobe. I feel change when I come home from work after a 12 hour day of teaching & have never felt more fulfilled. I smell change when my husband cooks dinner, as we both adjust to the new life that is ours (he's shaping up to be pretty skilled in the kitchen!). I taste change when my Friday nights are more like ice cream and a movie on the couch rather than beer and honky tonks downtown.

Change is good. Change is hard. Change is refreshing. Change is the only thing we can grow to count on in this life.

I am so thankful to be surrounded by friends and family that embrace, support, love, and comfort during the many changes and stages in my life.

And just so you know, 26 going on 27 year old Jessica can totally still rock this skirt like 22 year old Jessica once did! Age is just a number right!? (less than 2 months till my 27th birthday and it's making me all sentimental!)

*Except this time, I'm headed out to dinner with my husband instead of dancing on bars with the ladies. Yup, things have changed.

How are things changing in your life? Any profound reflections on how the past 5 years have looked?

P.S. Change up your Summer wardrobe with the J.Crew gift card giveaway going on now. Enter to win here!

heart on my sleeve

{ What I Wore: sweater ℅ Fringe & Lace // Forever21 tank // Storets leather skirt // Sole Society heels // clutch ℅ Gigi New York }

Disclaimer: these days my legs are covered by a minimum of three layers at all times (currently sweatpants, a pug heating pad, & blanket), but when these photos were taken it was solidly bare leg weather. Additionally, I would love this outfit just as much with tights!

Sometimes you spot two items in your closet cozily nestled up to each other & think, "well, that could be interesting"… & then you try it out & it is your favorite combo to date! Thanks closet for coming up with this outfit!

To see the other way I rocked this adorable heart sweater, catch the other half of this week's MidWeek Mixup right over here!

Happy hump day y'all!

P.S. Enter to win a $50 credit to the Fringe & Lace shop over on Ashlyn's gorgeous blog!

P.P.S. There is still time to meet this month's blogger in the spotlight & enter her great giveaway too! Head right {here}

wrap it up

{ What I Wore: burgundy red Esprit fedora hat c/o Surfdome (similar here) // "Keeping it Cozy" sweater c/o Fringe & Lace // J.Crew tank // "Emerald City" necklace c/o Fringe & Lace // Denizen bootcut jeans c/o People Style Watch StyleHunters // "All in One" clutch c/o Gigi New York // Charlotte Russe wedge booties } 

stack 'em up, all bracelets Fringe & Lace.

Well what do you know, I haven't managed to fall off the "Take One, Pass It On" challenge wagon yet.

In fact I even took 2 items from yesterday's outfit & styled them up today. Boo-yeah! 

In news more exciting than how I may or may not be competent enough to dress myself, I have an exciting announcement to make! You are looking at the newest contributor over on Fringe & Lace, an online shop featuring everything you will want to add to your closet, all for under $100! I have talked about my darling friend Natalie's online boutique before & I'm beyond excited that she has invited me to be a member of her team. 

What do we have cooking? Well, to start with, a weekly feature where I will style up a Fringe & Lace item TWO ways. You just saw the first way I wore this fab open front sweater, but you will have to head on over to the Fringe & Lace blog to peep my other outfit (it involved liquid leather... go on, click it!)

Thank you for always being supportive of the new endeavors I take on, very excited about what the future holds!

Take One

{ What I Wore: burgundy red Esprit fedora hat c/o Surfdome (similar here) // J.Crew blouse // DaisyGem necklace // Citizens of Humanity "Dylan" boyfriend jeans (similar 1 // 2 // 3) // "All in One" clutch c/o Gigi New York // BCBG Generation heels via TJ Maxx }

Check out more great clothing & accessories from Surfdome {here} 

Well, I am on day 2 of the "Take One, Pass it On" challenge & already failing. But in my defense some pretty crazy things happened. For the challenge I am supposed to take one item from my previous outfit & transform it into a new look. But right after I took yesterday's pictures, I bent over to pick up Doug's poop, & the butt cheek of my pants ripped open. Not just a little bit, like a whole lotta bit. Nothing quite like running down your alley holding a bag of poop, tripod, pug & the butt of your pants closed. As if my neighbors already thought I was crazy... suspicions confirmed. 

So I took those pants & passed them onto the trash pile (let's be honest, my so called "mending pile" should just be the trash, because I haven't attempted to put a dent in it in months).

Never have I been so proud to own 2 pairs of near identical boyfriend jeans (yay for all the money I wasted saved while working for a boutique in college). So moving on, just imagine that these are the same jeans. To get over the other pair, I am personally pretending they are one in the same. We each mourn in our own ways really.

In happier news, my huge mug is currently gracing the home page of the fabulous jewelry shop DaisyGem & what that means for you is this:

Score $5 off my favorite necklace, featured in this outfit, with code "JESS5" or get 15% off your entire order using code "HERE15"

Have you mourned the loss of a favorite article of clothing recently?

P.S. Please take just a second to vote for me in the OnlineShoes competition {here}

It is oh so close & I am OH SO competitive ;) I just dare you to play me in Apples to Apples!