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.

The Bittersweet Truth

....about working at URBN.

Why was URBN awesome?

Well, as you could imagine, the work space was beautiful....

Don't even get my started on the Free People building....

Jharoka, our coffee shop, knew I wanted a small black coffee and a breakfast wrap every morning...

I met wonderful, amazing people like Kathy, my supervisor, and Jen, my counterpart...

Free People Ruffled Up Cami

Johanna (pictured here) and many more people who helped me along the way, who I could also laugh with or ask a bizillion questions.....

Complete creative freedom in a fundraiser that helped puppies and kitties...

And I got to be Twitter famous for a day...

The view at lunch was great...

The view at my desk wasn't bad either...

Two words: sample sale.

Summer Party. Food. Drinks. Photo booths. Zip line. Rock climbing wall. Inflatable obstacle course. Screen printing. You name it.

And the best part of all....

Working on this one day...

 And seeing it online in a couple months and feeling like "I WORKED ON THAT!!"

Free People Printed Baseball Jacket

It was an amazing experience.

At the end of the internship I was hoping to be offered an temporary tech design job that would eventually turn into a permanent "big girl" job.

The offer I got instead was to extend my internship through the end of the year.

I wrestled with the decision to stay or leave for two or three weeks.

I loved URBN, but I [obviously] love the south.

I enjoyed Philly so so so so much, but it wasn't home.

I appreciated technical design, but I wanted more creative freedom.

My parents had helped me with rent of the summer (fortunately) and I think if the pay would have increased I would have stayed.

The door is still open at URBN, but I am happy to say I am back in the south.

My ultimate goal is to have my own store in downtown Asheville, but I realized quickly I'm going to have to do some work I don't necessarily l-o-v-e doing in order to save enough to do that.

Working part time and looking for more ways to continue learning about apparel construction and the industry in general isn't as glamorous as "working for URBN" but one thing I have learned in the past couple months is "Be who you want to be, not what others want to see."

God has a plan and that's all the comfort I need.

What I've Been Wearing

Free People shawl (similar)/ We The Free top/ It! shorts/ Locket from Lucky Penny- Boone, NC/ Lucchese boots 

 I borrow this shawl from my generous roommate, Amelia, and got SO many compliments. 

I love it.

At our favorite coffee spot in Philly.

@elixrcoffee

Free People top/ Sanctuary shorts/ Lucchese boots 

Eagle Pendant from Free People

($19.95 right now, ya'll!) 

Me and my lovely right-hand-girls. 

Free People jacket/ Urban Outfitters dress/ Angel Court necklace from Vaquera- Asheville, NC/ Old Gringo boots

Barefoot in the rain.

Cause you can take the girl out of the south, but you can't take the south out of the girl.