Post-Whole30:: January 2016

*raises right hand* 

"Never have I ever...." stuck to any sort of dietary change (for the better) for more than a couple days.  NEVER.  But this past January I completed Whole30.  I was not perfect.... I definitely ate Whole30-approved foods [cooked in butter at Waffle House] twice.  But I shed 7.5 lbs in those 30 days and a total of 5 1/4 inches; and putting on this form-fitting dress and feeling good was a great reward.  It was the first time in a long time I hadn't felt like an over-inflated version of myself.  This isn't a plug for Whole30, I don't even care if you want to try it, I'm just telling you... it was a great learning experience.

Thunderbird earrings from Lucky Penny - Boone, NC/ KUT from the Kloth Bryce Jersey Sheath dress/ Gray cardigan from Minx - Asheville, NC/ Frye booties won in this lucky occurrence

Ammonite ring from Elementality - Asheville, NC/ Moonstone-Topaz ring from Enter the Earth - Asheville, NC/ Blue goldstone bracelet can be found at Elsa Fine Online

Snuck into the neighbors gated community for these pics....do I look guilty?

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of love, power, and self-discipline."

2 Timothy 1:7

Same Ol' Place, Same Ol' City

What can I do? I'm falling in love....

[with Atlanta more and more every time I go].

KUT from the Kloth Nora Plaid Blouse and Chrissy Flares

Vidalia Vogue necklace + super cool hat I found in the Atlanta market

Day 2 of 2 style:

Sanctuary olive button up/ Elsa Fine peplum tank/ KUT from the Kloth Catherine Relaxed Boyfriend denim/ Frye booties

Vidalia Vogue quartz necklace + arrow chain bracelet

Elsa Fine let me tag along to get my bead fix at the Atlanta market.  We had a delicious dinner post-day 1 at One Midtown Kitchen.  Can you say margarita pizza, truffle fries, and fancy venison dishes? YUM.  

Next time, Metro Cafe karaoke, we're coming for ya.... and I'll be in a surgery shoe... can't wait.

Check out the official KUT from the Blog post here.

Garage Door Envy

KUT from the Kloth Harmony Top/ Scrapbook vest from Union Boutique - Asheville, NC/ KUT from the Kloth Chrissy Flare/ Frye booties

Does Jordan have the best garage door for picture taking, or what?  Sometimes you'll even see it show up on elsafine.com.  She even has a brick wall.  Some people just have it all.

Stop what you're doing and go try these jeans on.  In my first KUT post, I told you KUT from the Kloth jeans were REAL comfortable, and that is 100% truth.  But now, I have FOUND MY FIT within KUT.... I thought it couldn't get better, but I was wrong.  This mid-rise was made for me.

Check out my mini moment of style fame here.

Much Needed Re[fresh] Air

Back when it was warm, I was attempting to re-take pictures of all my Etsy [Vidalia Vogue] listings so everything looked more cohesive.  This is kind of what the behind-the-scenes mess looks like.

Crochet vest from Urban Outfitters/ Eyelet crop top found at Buffalo Exchange in Charlotte, NC/ Francesca's skirt/ Frye booties

Grab this southwestern-inspired coin purse here.

Shop the vintage scarf lot here.

Studio Jules Calavera necklaces can be found here in various styles.

  This was also a day I got to run over to Cornelius and help my sweet friend Amanda get a grip on what her elopement style was going to be.  Dress shopping.... I'm in.

So even after all the effort of trying to make things looks consistent in lighting and background as far as product photos go... I've lost control again and I'm lucky to catch natural daylight for photos when and where I can.  But honestly, I kind of like the chaos.

"Snake Farm" ...It Just Sounds Nasty

Dress from Dillards/ Free People top

Vidalia Vogue Horn Necklace

Vidalia Vogue slave bracelet 

Vince Camuto Ristin Bootie

I just can't help myself.  I passed up on these booties one day at Belk, but I couldn't do it a second time.  At least it wasn't the $900 Old Gringo's I REALLY wanted.  HA!  Also, I can't help singing "Snake Farm" all day long when I wear these.  I saw If Birds Could Fly do a cover of this Ray Wylie Hubbard song in Asheville a while back. You should give them a listen.  I went from thinking "Who is this Virginia chick in a Gretchen Wilson photo tee?" to completely in a trance watching them perform.  The cover they did included clever use of the tambourine and I just couldn't find a video to do it justice.

But I'll save you some searching and give you a link to one of my favorite videos I could find of them.... 

Ain't Missing You - If Birds Could Fly

(I wish I could embed the video, I really do.... I wouldn't let me).

One more for good measure: Good Timing Woman - If Birds Could Fly

2015: The Year of Mr. & Mrs. Thompson

Do most of my posts start with the statement "better late than never"? Cause I feel like they do.  This post has been a long time coming, but after I had already waited so long after our engagement shoot session I figured I might as well wait til 2015.  

Where: Asheville, NC

Hair & Makeup: @beautybycort

Photographer: Victoria Grace Photography

I set myself up for having a lot of anxiety about this photo shoot by writing this article on What to Wear for Your Engagement Photos before I was engaged.... long before.  I felt like I was dressing for Summer and he was dressing for Fall, but I think (I hope) the colors we chose made us look cohesive.

And I was happy to take my own advice on bringing a prop.... the dog & the bouquet I made in a hurry.

Also, I tried to narrow it down to 5 for the post, but I just couldn't.

 Him: Levi's Shirt/Wrangler Jeans/Lucchese boots

 Her: Dress & Bracelet from Anthropologie/ Frye booties/ Necklace from Vidalia Vogue on Etsy

My hair! Did Cortney do a beautiful job, or what?!  Waylon and Austin look handsome, as always.

Both Frye booties I wore in this shoot are ones I picked from this very lucky occurrence.

 Him: J. Crew vest/ DL 1961 shirt/ Lucchese boots/ Belt buckle from Waylon Jennings Merch Co.

Her: Dress & Bracelet from Anthropologie/ Frye booties/ Necklace from Elementality - Asheville, NC

 This is might be my favorite.

No, this one is definitely my favorite.  My version of American Gothic was executed beautifully.

Thanks for running the pitchfork out in a hurry and being a stand-in stylist [requesting Austin to roll up his jeans for this last one], Mom!

We were using truck headlights for light at this point.

That's all she wrote, folks! Thanks for being interested in this special, special moment in my life.   God has truly blessed me with my forever friend.