Billie Jean

Houndstooth

||Skirt, Leifsdottir||Top, Sweetpea||Heels, Schuler & Sons Philadelphia||Earrings, Anthropologie||

I am going through my computer & finding old photos I took from this past year that I never posted. Here is my favorite houndstooth top. I am a sucker for houndstooth. I love a good black and white outfit. This picture was taken back in August and I can't remember why I never posted it? Or maybe I did and I can't remember? #MomBrain ...will the fog of "mom brain" ever clear? I don't think so. Sometimes my brain is "on" and sometimes it is "off." This picture was also taken on my second favorite street in Baton Rouge, Government Street. It is where all the vintage shops are and also where a bunch of adorable "old" houses are too. Highland is my favorite street. That is where all the big, plantation homes are and that street is the prettiest to cruise down. It reminds me of the house from Forrest Gump. When I think of southern beauty, I think of big, oak trees with moss hanging off the branches and oversized porches with rocking chairs swinging back and forth. Highland Road is like that. 

Rodeo Boutique

RODEO BOUTIQUE

4350 Highland Road

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808

"RVC: Incorporates authentic, vintage buttons, chains and jewelry. These buttons and findings are from actual couture clothing and find new life in signature RVC pieces. RVC jewelry is meticulously handmade using gold plated brass." 

These RVC pieces that are explained above can be found at the Rodeo Boutique in both Baton Rouge, LA and Ruston, LA. In Louisiana there unfortunately isn't a huge fashion community, but it is very much growing every year. I think that absence has finally been acknowledged so companies like Kendra Scott and boutique owners are really trying to fill that void here in Louisiana- so people like me who move here from places like Austin (where the shopping is amazing), will have somewhere to get their fix on.  So when I saw the pictures of these Chanel pieces on Rodeo's Instagram page, I instantly got butterflies in my stomach. My first thought was, "Oh my gosh, I need to put on some lipstick and jump in my car immediately!" ...because jewelry like this, especially when you hardly find anything like this in Baton Rouge, are gonna go fast! And, they did.

I am happy my husband snagged one up before they all were gone (actually, I don't know for sure if every piece was sold out, I just know that the inventory was getting low and pieces were selling fast). I don't know if this is something that Rodeo is going to keep getting in or it is a one time thing. I know that coming across vintage Chanel isn't incredibly common- I hope that as soon as there is a big enough supply, that Rodeo keeps selling them. To me, they are just really unique and what fun items to add to your jewelry collection! One of a kind for sure. I know that there are necklaces and rings but I am not sure if there are bracelets and earrings. My husband said that when he went to the store to pick a piece for me for Christmas, he said there wasn't anything but necklaces- and not too many to choose from. 

If you live in Baton Rouge or in Ruston, and you have a need to splurge on some beautiful, vintage Chanel jewelry, then I would recommend it! The collection truly is special, so if that is something you are looking for in your life right now & have a little, special spot in your heart for Chanel (don't we all), then check it out- assuming this is a collection that they will continue to carry (keeping my fingers crossed). You won't regret it. I am a huge fan of repurposed items, especially if they are vintage and even more so if they are couture!! The pieces range from $160 - $260 and Rodeo is open Monday thru Saturday from 10 am till 6 pm (closed on Sundays).  Happy holidays folks!! 

She & Him

Look at this gem I found just now. I am up because I can't sleep, that and Joey snores. I am scrolling through all my photos on my laptop, trying to find good ones of Tory to print for Joey's x-mas present. And, I found this photo that I took back in July. Oh jeez, I can see how much weight I've lost in my face. I lost 11 pounds in August and more since then. I have lost 95% of the weight I gained while I was pregnant, I still have a little bit more to go. But I like looking back at pictures of me in the past, so I can see my progress. It is hilarious. I don't think I will ever grow up, I will always want to play dress up. Thank goodness I have a little girl who likes doing this same. Score! 

And, I found another sweet gem! A photo of Joe like this is rare. He has so many darling outfits, but he never wears them. I would say his outfits are "cute," but I am not allowed to call them cute. I have to use manly words, like "darling" or "dapper." Darling is manly right? Anyways, this is a picture Joey asked me to take of him back in May. He needed a photo of himself for a work project, so he got all "dappered" up. The suit is all him, but of course, because I try so hard to be hipster, I made him put on his bowtie. Well, actually, sorry hipsters but bowties to me will always be #frat. Bowties and pearls 4 life y'all, what's good? #sorority

Downtown Abbey

||Coat, Plenty by Tracy Reese||Booties, Bussola||Dress, Bordeaux||Hat, Anthropologie||Earrings, Kendra Scott||Lips, Albeit||

Before & After

BEFORE

I took traditional, B&W, film photography for three years in high school ...and then during my first semester at Austin Community College. I also took digital photography classes for two semesters after that, but had a hard time switching from film to a DSLR camera. Once I moved on to Texas State, I put photography on hold, as I changed majors from photography to fashion merchandising and then finally on to business management. Once I graduated and had Tory, I picked up my dusty camera and started taking photos again. When you stop doing something for a really long time, it takes a while before you get back on track. The only way I can "find my way again" is to keep snapping and snapping until I find my groove. I don't think I have found it quite yet, but I know that someday it will just show up and surprise me. I love photography and I am glad that I got back into it. Having a child helped me because I don't have a lot of pictures of myself growing up so I didn't want to wake up one morning and realize that I have no photos of my child when she was small. I take quite a lot of photos during the day, Tory poses for some, cries in the others & sometimes will sneak into the frame- like a typical photo-bomber. Her little appearances make me smile though and turn my photos into something a little more special. 

AFTER