the little things

To me, the smallest gifts can be the most meaningful. The tiny token that says, "I get you & thank you for being you".

Dainty earrings in her favorite color. A necklace that is as quirky & pretty as she is. This scarf that celebrates her love of art & the global artisans that create it.

Scarf ℅ Given Goods

Earrings ℅ Jojo Loves You

Enamel frog necklace ℅ Daisy Gem

Snag these last minute presents & score big with the tricky person on your Christmas List this year.

Earrings: Jojo Loves You has stunning, bling earrings in every color under the sun (seriously, & I love them a llllll). And the site is currently hosting a sale (12/13 - 12/15)

Blings: 3 pairs for $60 // Mini Blings: 3 pairs for $50 // Oval Blings: 3 pairs for $50 // Navette Blings: 3 pairs for $50 // Party Blings: 3 pairs for $60 // And you can Mix & Match...meaning the 3 pairs can be 3 different styles!

Necklace: Daisy Gem is offering you, my lovely readers, a special discount on this necklace ($8 off with code FROG8) or 15% off your entire order (code HERE15)

Scarf: Given Goods

Given Goods is your one stop shop for sourcing products that have a truly tangible impact on artisans' lives around the world, with every item purchased. They built the marketplace to sell high-quality & sought-afer products, but through their efforts, they are telling the stories of artisans. Check out this map to see how far your support of global artisans reaches.

All photos thanks to Zipporah Photography

grad school chic

{ What I Wore: denim vest c/o Chicnova // Old Navy vintage tee // Nisolo tote // ModCloth mint jeans // Madewell leopard skimmers }

When I debuted one of my "work outfits" last week, you said you would be interested in seeing more. Well, your wish is my command. As a graduate student, jeans & a T-shirt is the standard wardrobe. But I think that with a few special touches, grubby jeans & a tee can be transformed into something actually cute. Maybe this will become a regular "grad school chic" series!

Instead of a baggy tee, substitute a fitted, soft-as-butter vintage tee.

Swap out boring jeans, for a fun colored variety.

Add some personality with patterned flats.

Layer a basic tee with an easy to move in vest to add interesting details (perfect for under the lab coat too).

What tweaks do you make to your everyday basics?

P.S. enter to win a J.Crew gift card from me over on Jessica Who?

truth serum

{ What I Wore: J.Crew polka dot blouse // ModCloth mint jeans // Cole Haan tennis shoes (similar) }

I think one of the blog questions I get asked most frequently is, "So, do you actually wear that?"

And the answer is YES!

I would say 80% of my "what I wore" posts feature outfits I have worn either the day that I took pictures, or "re-enacted" a few days later (due to weather conditions, time crunches, a bad hair day, etc.). 

The other 20% of outfits are things that I AM going to wear in the near future (i.e. I take outfit photos on the weekends & then have my outfits planned for the next 5 days) or outfits that I photograph & then keep in my pocket as potential future looks.

I don't make up outfits in my room & run to the alley to photograph them.

This is me, trying to figure out my personal style, pulling back the curtains to let you have a peek in on the behind-the-scene-action as I go.

Not all outfits make it to the spotlight on the blog. 

And you can actually see many of my #ootd on Instagram

(including this outfit from last week!)

What are your favorite flavor of outfits featured on this corner of the Internet?

P.S. Did you see the gorgeous Gemmy Junky necklace we are giving away?! 

Time is running out, enter {here}

counter intuitive

Sorry for not posting yesterday - as you might have seen on Twitter, I just didn't feel like coming out from under the covers & serving up my bubble gum happy fashion post in light of the horrific events in Boston. 

When life gets me down or my energy levels plummet after weeks of trying to keep up with a puppy, it is my tendency to crawl into bed & not want to come out.

However, that just gets me into a viscous cycle of dark & stormy thoughts - worrying, stressing about things SO very out of my control, getting anxious about the big bad world that looms outside my door.

As simple as it sounds - getting up, fixing my hair, putting on a cute top & going about my productive day is what puts me at ease.

Look good, feel good, do good.
It's not a lot, but it is what I can do & I have to start with what I have.

{ What I Wore: Wallis blouse // ModCloth mint jeans // Steve Madden nude pumps }

This is my first kimono top & I am officially adding it to the list of simple things that make me happy.

What is a simple thing that makes you happy?

P.S. There is a fabulous giveaway running for a Posh'mina hybrid scarf right now!

enter {here}

Don't forget about Mother's Day coming up! Posh'mina is offering the Miss Mosaic & Muse at a discounted price in honor of chic Moms & Moms-in-law everywhere!

See all your options here & make Mom remember why you’re her favorite. 

(psssst... Your order ships out the next day and for free in U.S. and Canada!)

daily mint

{What I Wore: J.Crew Factory striped blazer // J.Crew silk tank & leopard belt // ModCloth mint jeans  // Charlotte Russe booties (currently on sale!)}

{Get the Look}

stripe blazer (exact) + silk blouse + mint jeans (super cute & under $20!) + leopard belt + wedge booties

Ok, first off, yesterday's conversation about fast fashion vs. investment pieces was so great to read. It really made me consider both sides differently, & I loved getting everyone talking!

Oh & I still can't make up my mind about that dang bag... I think I might think too much!

I also have recently realized that I have been much harsher lately about which outfits I wear are "blog-worthy"... & I'm not sure how it got that way.

While I cringe at the quality of my earlier photos, in the beginning the blog served more as a personal style diary of what I wore, be it casual work wear, or fancier event-ready ensembles... but somewhere along the line, it came to my attention that more than just my mom, BFF & boyfriend were reading along, & I got the notion that I had to impress you, so I started sharing only the good stuff. 

While on the one hand this has made me more accountable to not simply put on the grad school allowed uniform of old t-shirt + ratty jeans, I also stopped sharing many of my day-to-day outfits. 

So here it is, one of my regular person outfits, when I wasn't going anywhere but to work to put on my white lab coat and play with frogs all day. 

When you look good, you feel good amiright!? (regardless of my irrational fear of wasting a good outfit)

So there you have it - not Jessica the "style blogger", but Jessica the grad student, pug mama, might have frog eggs on her sleeve at any given time woman

I am still figuring out my "personal style" & I thank each and every one of you for tuning in to see my journey! (Shhh, don't tell anyone, but I seriously have the best readers - YOU GUYS!!!)

P.S. These wedges are so super comfortable, and even though they only cost $15 from Charlotte Russe, they are the shoes I get the most compliments on (move over $235 Tory flats!)

infinity X infinity

{ What I Wore: J.Crew schoolboy blazer & Blythe blouse // J.Crew Factory sequin tank // ModCloth mint jeans // boutique shoes // Helzberg Infinity X Infinity collection diamond necklace }

{ Get the Look }

J.Crew Factory blazer {$98.00} + blouse {splurge $74.50 // steal $19.80} + J.Crew Factory sequin tank {$39.50, other option on sale for $14.99} + mint jeans {$22.99} + infinity necklace

As much as I love my statement necklaces, I have been seriously gravitating towards small charms, & dainty but sparkly pendants lately. When I learned about the new Infinity X Infinity collection from Helzberg Diamonds I couldn't wait to style up one of their stunning intertwined infinity pieces & share all the details with you ladies! Seriously, how darling is this fabulous necklace, with the glitziest diamond right in the middle!

I adore the sentiment behind the notion that love that lasts for Infinity X Infinity, & these gorgeous pieces are just the way to celebrate that everlasting bond.

Have you ladies started dropping hints about what you hope Cupid brings you for Valentine's Day?

What's your favorite token of love - flowers, chocolates, jewelry, foot massages?

Maybe you should add Helzberg diamonds to your wish list!

Find more dazzling sparkes from Helzberg on Facebook, Pinterest & Twitter

just a few of my favorites

{ What I Wore: J.Crew cashmere sweater // Blank Denim mint jeans (love these) // Old Navy ballet flats // Kate Spade earrings & bracelet }

 On our anniversary we stayed in and snuggled up to some wine & board games... my favorite kind of date night on a chilly evening!

(Oh, and I talked my man friend into taking some quick pictures of me too... win!)

I put on some of my old and new favorites: birthday present cashmere sweater, favored mint jeans that I refuse to put away for Fall, birthday present jewelry from my bestie, and a pair of funky ballet flats that have recently made their way to my closet.

 Putting on my favorite pieces and hanging out with my cutie instantly brings a smile to my face.

Do you have a "feel good" item? Or entire outfit??

Hope you have a great weekend

Thank you for your wishes of good health - I am starting to feel better, and although I know sleep is the best medicine, looks like I won't be getting much this weekend between building a Habitat for Humanity house and a horseback riding date with the boy.

 xx

Jessica

sundaes on sunday

{ What I Wore: ModCloth peplum top // Blank Denim via ModCloth mint jeans // Target wedges (now on sale!) // ModCloth necklace }

{Get the look}

peplum top {$39.99} + mint jeans {$46.40} + black wedges (with studs!) {$47.99} + statement necklace {$8.99}

Nashville Tourist

Ty and I entertained out of town visitors this weekend. Nashville can be such a tourist trap that I typically avoid the "when-in-Nashville-sites" so I don't run into Midwesterners/Australians/retired Floridians/etc. in cowboy hats and boots (after 3 years, I feel like a local)... but when friends come to town, it is fun to get down with some honky tonks and Southern fried cooking.

If you are ever looking to come visit Music City, there are some great guides out on the internets. My personal favorite (most true to what I would actually want to do in Nashville) comes from the lovelies over at Design*Sponge (Nashville guide)

P.S. they have great guides for other cities too!

The weather here has been down right oppressive, and I was finally brave enough to bust out my crop top... and yes, it is the tamest crop top you have ever seen (my arms have to be over my head for my belly to show)... baby steps!

{ What I wore: H&M top // J.Crew necklace // Blank Denim via ModCloth mint jeans // Nine West sandals } 

{Get the look}

coral, ruffled top + mint jeans + statement necklace + nude sandals {splurge // save}

What exploring have you been doing lately?
Do you ever act like a tourist in your own town?
Happy Monday!
xx

Jessica
P.S. Have you grabbed my button yet? Let's swap... check out more {here}

Afternoon update: If you like this look, check it out on my first contributor post to Teen Vogue Fashion Click {here}

awkward&awesome

Good morning... things have been pretty awesome and awkward around here... but I guess I wouldn't have it any other way!


**Before I get to my A&A, I have a public service announcement... I love reading your blogs, and sometimes in the comments I can't figure out how to link to your site (I am slightly technologically challenged)... so let's all use this little genius-ness


post: <a href=http://www.myhereandnowlife.com/ ]]> Here&Now</a>
Put your domain name where the purple text is (i.e http://www.myhereandnowlife.com/), and what you want your link to show up as in green (i.e. Here&Now)**


Ok, back to the regularly scheduled programming...

{ What I wore: StyleMint Tangerine Tank // Blank Denim via ModCloth mint jeans (similar) // NineWest wedges }

{ Awesome: }

- Mint jeans... these guys continue to rock my world. Is there a color they don't look amazing with?! (check out more navy + mint inspiration here)

- I have officially become a hoarder of striped tees... and is officially AWESOME!

- My new roommate moved in, and came with a kegerator! Still working on getting some gluten-free cider in there!

- The boyfriend got a motorcycle... I can't lie, he looks pretty smoking hot on that thing! (he still is trying to get me on the back...but I'm letting him log a little time on that bad boy before I hop on)

- No cable or internet in the new place yet (which is why I haven't been able to reply to as many comments, or check out your amazing sites this week!), but it does mean that the boy and I have been playing board games, catching up on some season 1 Entourage and generally nesting.

Don't mind me... just fixing my mullet!

{ Awkward: }

- I have had a iPhone for about 4 years now, and I still fail to hit the "dial" button about 90% of the time... so I stand with my phone to my ear for 5 minutes before realizing that I don't know how to make a phone call! Text messaging is going to be the downfall of me!

- Driving down a busy, street in the heart of Nashville, I almost hit a deer... my country girl survival skills must be rusty, because I freaked out (luckily the deer ran to safety in a nearby park)

- I am such a baby when it comes to anything that closely resembles "working out" (re: skinny fat), so when riding my bike I realize that I am exerting so much effort that the tops of my feet are sweating... that is NOT ok with me!

- Bringing 2 poop bags along on the walk, and the pug lays down 3 deuces... what are we feeding him!? 

- A typical evening at my place has been captured in the video below... I was doing a little rearranging of the bookshelf (have I mentioned how OCD I am about organizing!?), when Doug took it upon himself to defend me against the villainous Piggy Bank

(*Warning: if you are at work, turn off your sound or use headphones, this video contains barking)

How has your week shaped up? 
Any awkward? Awesome? Do share!
xx

Jessica


P.S. I have just recently become obsessed with the fabulous clothes over at Oasap and signed up to be a part of their fashion hunter program
 (you can too: Join Now )
The wonderful people over at Oasap also have a Super Giveaway opportunity for you
{enter HERE to vote for the item you want to win!}
152 silk tops & dresses are up for grabs! So get to voting!
There will be 1 winner selected for every 100 entries, and you can enter 3 times!
For extra entries:
Like Oasap on Facebook
Follow Oasap on Pinterest
Giveaway ends July 10th, and winners will be announced soon after
Cheerio!

spring-ify

Still unpacking... but I am actually enjoying finding new places for all of my clothes, shoes, and baubles (the bf is under the impression I have too many shoes! What is he thinking?!).
 When I can, I enjoy having all my clothes hanging in my closet/folded in my dresser, instead of putting away "out-of-season" items (out of sight, out of mind).
Besides cold weather coats/gloves/heavy wool sweaters, what defines a "seasonal" item?
I don't like to stereotype my clothes, and attempt, when possible, to wear my favorite items all-year-'round.

{ Blank Denim via ModCloth Mint Jeans (similar) // Urban Outfitters Button Down // Target Booties (LOVE these) }

These Target booties could be considered "Fall/Winter" wear by some, but paired with pale Spring basics, I think they have successfully been "Spring-if-ied"

What do you think?

Have you been "Spring-ifying" any of your favorite Fall/Winter items recently?
Do share!
 xx

Jessica