Live, Love, Laugh, Lilly

When A College Bestie Gets Married

2016-08-07T06:44:00.002-07:00

After over two years of planning, one of my best friends from college finally tied the knot with her man this summer! I met M when we were both in undergrad through a mutual friend. We were all in the College of Education together at Mizzou. These girls quickly became so very special to me! We had our weekly dinners together, and when we graduated we went in together to get football season tickets to start a tradition that is still going strong over five years later. When M asked me to be in her wedding, I was so thrilled to get to stand by her side! I hadn't been in a wedding yet, and I had no idea everything that would be involved! Over the span of two years, I wore Lilly to every Bridal event.

The Bridesmaids, Mother of the Bride, Mother of the Groom, and our Bride all wedding dress shopping in St. Louis. Our girl took us to 4 different bridal shops, only to end up buying the very first dress she tried on. :)

For a day of wedding dress shopping, I wore my Paws Off Elsa (older print, similar here), navy Heidi cardigan (old, similar here), J. Crew navy Pixie Pants, and Frye Melissa Button riding boots (I wear the extended calf). Elsa tops with Pixie Pants and boots are pretty much my fall/winter wardrobe!

Next up, the engagement party! We got to go back to Home Sweet CoMo (our bride still lives and works there!) for a night celebrating the happy couple!

Our classic "pose". There are pictures of us doing this at Mizzou graduation, random nights out, my rehearsal dinner, my wedding, various events for M's wedding, etc.

I wore my navy Lilly Pulitzer Charlena dress (older, similar here or here) with Kate Spade Karolina bow heels in seafoam (older color, similar style found here)

Fast forward about a year, which included my wedding, the birth of my baby boy, and life in general. I was unable to make it to the bachelorette weekend in Nashville because I was still on maternity leave, but the whole family made it to CoMo for the bridal shower!

Another even, another piece of Lilly! I pulled out my favorite Lilly Pulitzer Delia in Fountain Hopping for the occasion (similar here) and paired it with a navy Amalie cardigan and my blinged out Jack Rogers sandals.

Just a few short months later, it was wedding time! Back to CoMo we went. The rehearsal dinner was at our favorite spot during undergrad- Shiloh Bar and Grill. You can't beat some good ol' college nostalgia! It was a pizza and beer kind of night, and we loved it!

The Bride and her Maids! Pulled out my Lilly Pulitzer Cadence dress in Dripping in Jewels. I adore this one! One of my all time favorite prints, and such a fun and flattering style! (similar here and here)

Wedding day at the Tiger Hotel in Columbia, Mo!

These girls <3

If you went to Mizzou, you know it's goals to drink Champagne on the Quad!

Baby man pooped out in his Tula carrier the next morning! I love my Lilly Pulitzer Hillary Pullover for relaxed, throw on and go looks!

Baby G and his favorite Bride at the Farewell Brunch!

Just a little throwback picture- way back to 2011! These girls have been there for me through thick and thin and I am so grateful we are still doing life together!

Despite the expense, headaches, hard work, and drama involved in being in someone's wedding, I wouldn't trade it for anything! I love that I had the chance to be in this dear friend's special day. I can't wait to see what other big, special events we get to be a part of together!

xx, Emily Ann

My First Mother's Day

2016-07-03T17:01:00.000-07:00

After years of feeling like I was waiting for my life to happen, it's like God hit the "skip" button and BAM! I had everything I had been waiting for. Life came on, fast. And I couldn't be happier! My husband and I dated for a year. At that point, we decided we would get married. The next thing we know, we're pregnant and moving up our wedding and planned the whole thing in under three months.

I always knew that marrying him meant a "ready made" family, and I loved that. I couldn't be happier to have immediately become a step mommy to our beautiful girl. L was 11 when her daddy and I got married, and just three days after she turned 12 her baby brother was born.

My colorful, beautiful, happy girl and I at an 80's band concert shortly after we found out I was pregnant

My heart has been filled to the bursting in the last year. I am so incredibly happy! We didn't go about things in the traditional way, but my family is the most important thing in my life.

Mother's Day 2015, I took a pregnancy test and my (then fiance) and I found out we were pregnant. Mother's Day 2016, I was mama to two beautiful children! L & G make every single day beautiful. <3

Mother's Day 2015

The whole weekend was a very full one! My cousin who lives in California with her family flew in to visit our grandparents, so my husband and I made sure to make it up to St. Louis for the day on Saturday so our boys could meet and we could all catch up! It was wonderful- I hadn't seen her since our wedding in August!

My cousin and I with our baby boys and our Grammy. I have found that my Lilly Pulitzer Popovers have been getting even more love since having the baby- they are my new wardrobe staple! I'm wearing my Ahoy There Popover, which is an older one, but similar fun printed popovers can be found here!

We spent our first official Mother's Day with my family. We went to church, brunched, and just enjoyed our day. It was a beautiful time! And you know me, I had to wear Lilly for the occasion! I had been saving my Lilly Pulitzer Southern Charm Cathy shift for the occasion. (similar found here)

With my husband, R, my mother, and my brother at brunch. My Searulean Blue Lilly Pulitzer Amalie cardigan has paired perfectly with the Southern Charm Cathy shift!

With my sweet baby boy, G

Afternoon snuggles while G took his nap. I love how he curls up on me to sleep, it's so hard to put him down, even though I now I should!

My G after bath time that evening- he is such a happy boy!

Unfortunately, I didn't get to spend actual Mother's Day weekend with our girl. She was with her mother that weekend. But because she knew she wouldn't be with me for the actual day, she celebrated with me the weekend before. She gave me the sweetest card, and the gift she made me was so very thoughtful and original, I adore it! She is such a creative, artistic girl. She didn't know about Lilly before we were a family, and the previous summer I bought her first Lilly dress for my bridal shower. She remembered that it was a big deal for me as well as for her, and she made me a painting of the print of that dress. It was the best gift she could have given me! It is hanging in the bedroom now.

For her first Lilly print, I think she did a wonderful job! The print is Electric Feel. I can't wait to see what she creates in the future!

I don't know what I did to deserve such a beautiful family, but I am so very grateful for them every single day!

xx, Emily Ann

Lilly Lover Meetup

2016-06-26T15:20:00.000-07:00

If anyone were to ask what I love most about Lilly, there are some pretty obvious answers that most Lilly Lovers will give you: I love the colors, the prints are so fun, I love how Lilly makes me feel! The list could go on and on for me. But really, what I love most about Lilly is the people I have come to have in my life because of a love of the brand. The thing with Lilly Pulitzer is, it's not just a clothing brand, it's a lifestyle. There is a community that is all about this brand! When my best friend first introduced me to Lilly in 2010, I had no idea what I was in for. Not long after she got me hooked, I stumbled upon my first Lilly Facebook community. This group quickly welcomed me with open arms, and made me feel a part of something so much bigger than myself. I found myself a part of several other groups as the community kept growing and I found some ladies who I am still friends with today- almost 6 years later! I was lucky enough this weekend to get to meet up with a few of my favorite Lilly ladies. These are women I have met through the community, and I am so grateful to have met them! We had an absolute blast together, and I can't wait to plan the next meet up with these wonderful women!

I hit the road early Saturday morning, decked out in Lilly and ready to meet up with the other gals in St. Louis. I wore my Lilly Pulitzer Barefoot Princess Essie dress for the first time- and oh my goodness, I love it! It is such a flattering fit, and definitely great for a hot summer day in Missouri! I do find it to be a little "boobalicious" so I use my Miss Oops! Boob Tube to help with some of the cleavage without the annoyance of tank top lines on my hips. I have also been loving my Ray-Ban Erika sunglasses lately, it's great to mix-it-up for my usual Wayfarers every once in a while.

Our first stop, of course, was to Pink Magnolia, the Lilly store in St. Louis! You can't have a Lilly Ladies get together without a little shopping! I ended up with a few goodies that went home with me- a pair of Callahan shorts for my daughter, and a new pair of beach pants in Nice Ink- I have been waiting for those to come out for a while!

All my Lilly Ladies! Decked out in our Lilly best- The Essie, Marlowe, Ali, and an oldie but a goodie- the Deanna Romper! (you can find similar here) And of course, what goes better with Lilly than Jack Rogers sandals and Tory Burch?

I also wanted to add- you can follow my friend, Jen, on her blogging journey And Hattie Makes Three!

Next stop, lunch! We opted to eat at Canyon Cafe, and you can't have a lunch with your gals without some drinks! My margarita was amazing! The tacos were pretty fantastic, too.

None of us had ever had a blowout before, so we went to a local blow dry bar, Breeze, to get our hair down. It was definitely an enjoyable experience- something I plan to do again for sure!

The finished product! Big hair, don't care. ;)

I am so grateful to have had the chance to spend the day being pampered and having fun with my friends! If you also have young children at home, you understand, it's so important to get that "mama time". My husband was a trooper and took both kids for the day so that I could go out and play. He's a keeper for sure! I can't wait to do another meet up with these fabulous Lilly Ladies!

xx, Emily Ann

A Very Lilly-Themed Bridal Shower

2015-07-22T09:02:00.000-07:00

As soon as my mama's friends found out I was engaged, they immediately went into shower planning mode. And knowing me as well as they do, there was no question that this would be a Lilly Pulitzer Bridal Shower! I knew they were a very creative and crafty group of women, but I was floored by how beautiful my shower was! My all time favorite Lilly print is Hotty Pink First Impression. Anyone who has been to my home knows that the print is EVERYWHERE- on a large canvas over my mantle, a monogram canvas on my mural wall, even my shower curtain is HPFI. So the ladies took that and ran with it!

The adorable shower invitation! The ladies even found someone local to make cookies that were very Lilly-fied

Since my house was already filled with Lilly and Lilly-inspired items, the ladies raided my house for a few things to add to my shower. The way they put it all together, combined with the things they made was just beautiful!

They even ordered Lilly Pulitzer Hotty Pink First Impression vinyl to make my Bride to Be banner!

My "throne" as they called it, using my Lilly Pulitzer murfee scarf in the much loved print. (My scarf is from the original release of the print a few years ago, but other fun prints and colors are still available here!)

They used my canvas print as the backdrop for the cake table. The cake was fabulous!

My new monogarm <3

The Lilly-inspired shift cookies were almost too adorable to eat- almost!

I've wanted one of these old windows to hang in my house for ages, this was a shower gift from one of the gals. She took all my favorite photos of R and I and made something I can hang in our home.

As of today, we're down to only 16 days until our wedding day! I can't wait to be Mrs. Smith!

I can't wait for 08/07/2015!

The cake was made by the same woman who will be making our wedding cake. She said she was so excited when they asked her to make a Lilly Pulitzer inspired cake because she has heard so much about it from her daughters- I love how it turned out! The inside was pink and blue. I can't wait to see how my wedding cake turns out after seeing her beautiful creation!

E & R

Of course I wore Lilly to my Lilly-themed shower. I had a dress from the fall line in 2011 that had been sitting in my closet, never worn, just waiting for the right occasion. I was so excited to finally get to wear it! My mama and maid of honor both wore Lilly for the occasion, and I bought R's daughter her very first Lilly dress for the shower. She looked absolutely adorable!

My mama, on the far left, is wearing the Palmer (no longer available, but you can find the "updated" version of the dress here), and Roman's daughter is wearing the Betty dress in Electric Feel from last summer.

Lilly Pulitzer Evie dress in Ring Pop. I wish they still made this style- it's so wonderful!

ADPi sisters, college roommates, and now my Maid of Honor. I don't know what I'd do without this girl!

My MOH is wearing the Gabby shift dress. The blue is no longer available, but they currently have it in prints and an adorable pink here!

With both my grandmothers

I am blessed to have so many truly fabulous women in my life. They gave me a beautiful shower, where I felt so loved and had so much fun!

xx, Emily Ann

Engagement and Wedding Dress Shopping!

2015-07-17T08:31:00.000-07:00

I can finally share the news! I hinted a few weeks ago that I had some big life news to share, and now that we have told all our family and friends, and wedding invitations have gone out, I can share the news here! Our summer started off with lots of excitement when R asked me to marry him. It's been a whirlwind summer to say the least! Both being teachers, we wanted to go into the new school year as man and wife and are getting married in August before going back to school. Who says you can't plan a wedding in 3 months or less?! We may be crazy, but we're ridiculously happy and everything has really been a series of miracles (at least according to my mother) in terms of everything coming together for our big day on August 7.

It shouldn't come as any surprise that I have been wearing Lilly for all the big events that go along with wedding planning. When Roman proposed, I was wearing my Lilly Pulitzer Atwood dress from last summer (similar available here) in Sea and Be Seen with the navy Amalie cardigan. I couldn't stop smiling that day!

Once we picked the date, my mom and I started making dress appointments. We went to one local shop, and then we spent the day in the St. Louis area shopping for dresses. With our short time frame, we new there wasn't going to be any way to order a dress, so we had to find one in my size that the bridal shop would let us walk out with. It proved to be a harder task than I imagined! We left St. Louis frustrated and without a dress.

My dear friend Maggie went with us for the day of dress shopping! She's the one who originally introduced me to Lilly back in our college days. I'm wearing the Lilly Pulitzer Marlisa Maxi from last summer (similar available here) in the blue Let's Cha Cha with a natural Sullivan belt from a few years ago (similar here) and my favorite navy Amalie Cardigan, Maggie is wearing the Betty maxi from last summer (similar here) in Electric Feel.

As upsetting as it was to not find a dress in St. Louis, a friend of my mom's suggested we make a trip to Low's Bridal in Arkansas. It was a trip that took us over 3 hours, but we were not disappointed! Low's Bridal is in Brinkley, Arkansas, located in an old hotel. When we walked in for the appointment, I thought I had stepped into an episode of "Say Yes to the Dress" and was somehow in Kleinfelds! There were gorgeous dresses everywhere, they had refurbished the old hotel while still keeping that antique charm, and we were led to a room filled with dresses all in my size. When I found "the one" I had my moment and cried, not cute crying, but ugly crying. I was so happy and relieved to have found the dress (under budget!) that I would be walking down the aisle to marry R in. It was a wonderful day!

Leaving Low's Bridal with my wedding dress in hand! My dress is under wraps until after the wedding day. :) I wore my Lilly Pulitzer Parrish Maxi from last summer (similar here) in Sea and Be Seen. I decided it must be my lucky dress- it's the dress I wore when R and I went ring shopping and found my dream ring, and it's what I wore when we found the dream dress!

I have been documenting all the wedding planning and prep along the way to share with y'all here. Next time, I'll post all about my Lilly Pulitzer themed bridal shower! I'm so excited to share this journey as I get ready to marry the love of my life!

I can't help but share just one more ring pic. Snapped this one just this week after getting a fun summer pink manicure.

xx, Emily Ann

Lilly Does Kentucky Derby

2015-06-09T09:55:00.003-07:00

I know that the Kentucky Derby was over a month ago at this point (oops!) but I'm operating under the philosophy of better late than never! With school finally out for the summer, this teacher finds herself with free time once again. I thought what better way to jump back into blogging than with some fun photos from a Kentucky Derby party I attended- especially with American Pharaoh winning the Triple Crown just a few days ago! There aren't many options for events like these in my small town, but with my best friend living just a few hours away in St. Louis, we found a perfect event to sport our Lilly and watch the Derby. A closer college friend was helping host a fundraising event for Haven House, a charity that helps families to remain close to the hospital during long stays and times of need. (Much like Ronald McDonald House, only it's for family members of all ages) So Maggie and I dressed in our best and attended this fantastic event in Clayton, MO!

But first let me take a selfie... Up close look at my accessories! My fascinator was from Vineyard Vines, and I adore it! Necklace from J.Crew.

Maggie and I are both sporting Lilly Pulitzer! She's in a pink seersucker dress from last summer, and my skirt is the Lavender skirt in Mint Julep and my top is the Barcelona cami from Express. I'm obsessed with this print!

College roomies reunited! I can always count on Grace for a good time!

ADPi sisters <> <3

Adore days with my best friend!

Shannon, in the middle, is on the board of the Young Professionals board for Haven House. So proud of him and all his hard work- it was a great event!

Adore this picture with my girls. It was a great day for a great cause!

Hopefully I'll be back with a lot more to talk about this summer. I have some very big, exciting life news that I'll hopefully be able to announce soon. I can't wait to take you all on this new journey with me- more to come soon! xx

Lilly Pulitzer and the Carolina Cup

2015-02-28T14:30:00.000-08:00

It doesn't take much to prompt me into a Lilly Pulitzer purchase, but there's just something about a fun gift with purchase that really makes taking the plunge that much more fun. Every year, a group of Lilly Pulitzer Signature stores in North and South Carolina all participate in a fun promotion that goes with the Carolina Cup. They design a cute tshirt, a koozie, and you get both for free with any full price dress purchase.

I'm always a sucker for a coozie. And the cute Carolina Cup design on the front left chest is simple and fun.

How adorable is the custom Lilly drawing on the back of the tshirt?! I couldn't resist the pink and Lilly artistry.

I had told myself no new purchases for a while, but I just couldn't resist an adorable, pink Lilly t-shirt! And of course it's never hard for me to find something from the current season to purchase. I had been eyeing the Palmetto V-Neck T-shirt Dress in the print In the Vias. Of course this was the perfect excuse to go ahead and purchase!

I was thrilled that PinkBee Westend- Greenville was participating in the promotion. I first shopped with them during the After Party Sale in January, and they were fabulous to work with. You can contact them via Facebook, or e-mail, or just give them a call! They are always so quick to return messages, which I love. They also post on Instagram (@pinkbeewestend) frequently, adding to my Lilly Wish List with all the adorably fabulous outfits they post! The gals have always been very sweet, and my dress was shipped the very day I ordered it. Not to mention, who doesn't love a handwritten, personalized note with their order? I look forward to shopping with the ladies PinkBee Westend in the future!

Bridal Showers, College Roomies, and Nights Out On the Town!

2014-04-28T17:13:00.000-07:00

This last weekend I traveled to St. Louis for a bridal shower for one of my college roommates! I made a weekend of it, because really, how could I turn down a weekend with the college roomies? Sometimes, you just have to relive the "glory days"!

For the shower, I wore the Lilly Pulitzer Ashlynn dress in Pop Pink on the Square. To say I'm in love with this maxi would be an understatement- so cute and comfy! I've yet to see this on anyone without it looking unbelievable! Paired with my Lilly Pulitzer In a Knot necklace.

Once a sorority girl, always a sorority girl! We can't get together without throwing what we know. ADPi till I die!

With our bride! She's in the middle. The three of us lived together for over two years in college- how I miss those days! My roommate, Grace, on the right is wearing the Lilly Pulitzer Charlene shift from this year. So adorable!

What would a trip to StL be without a trip out to the Central West End? Wore my Lilly Pulitzer Elsa top in Amuse Bouche for a night out on the town! Paired with Spanx jeggings and some platform wedges to make this a night out look. And yes, I rocked my Kensie glasses- my eyes just couldn't handle contacts any longer that day!


Out at Brennan's in the Central West End in St. Louis! Love this girl to the moon and back. I was so blessed with wonderful college roomies!

I can't wait to see my college roommate's again in a few weeks for birthdays, a bachelorette party, and the wedding itself! I love that I'm still close to these gals!

xx, Emily Ann

Easter 2014

2014-04-20T15:43:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter, y'all! Easter has always been a family affair for us- love that we get together and can enjoy each other for Church and brunch! Rejoice- He is risen!

I wore the Lilly Pulitzer Antonia dress in Fiesta Pink lace with a J. Crew denim jacket and Steve Madden wedges. My brother is sporting a polo button up. So glad he could make it home from college for the weekend!


Three generations- Grandma, Mom, and I! You have no idea how long it took us to get a decent photo!

My family!

And because I'm a shameless doggy mama- my little girl, Darcy! She's a Morkie- maltese/yorkie mix. She just turned 2 a few weeks ago!

I hope you all had a very blessed Easter Sunday!

xx, Emily Ann

In Love with Briella

2014-04-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

Finding the right fit for your body type can be one of the most frustrating experiences. You think something will look great, and then you put it on and the waistline hits in the wrong place, the sleeves hit you wrong, it makes you look too thin, too fat, too young, too old... you name it! So when I find a style that I love, I want it in every color! When I bought my first Lilly Pulitzer Briella dress, I immediately fell in love with the fit. I also love that it is a style that's appropriate for me to teach in, but it's also easy to dress up for weddings, evenings out, etc. I have found Briella to be my go-to dress for all occasions!

My first Briella was in Lucky Charms. I wore it with the green Lilly Pulitzer bow belt and a J.Crew inspired blue floral statement necklace for the wedding of a childhood friend. (My younger brother is pictured here with me!)

Sorry for the poor picture quality, but I wore the same dress to another wedding about 3 months later for one of my coworkers. This time, I just wore the necklace and my Lilly Pulitzer Sophia wedges. I adore the gals I work with!

I made the same dress work for me when it came time for parent/teacher conferences. I paired it with a Lilly Pulitzer Flutter Blue Heidi cardigan, gray leggings, and BCBG western-inspired wedges. And of course my go-to Reece & Blaire bangles and Michael Kors watch.

My second Briella was the Ottoman Stripe Briella purchased in the New Year Cheer sale. I paired it with brown riding boots, gray leggings, and a navy cardigan from New York & Company for school.

This past week, I wore the same Ottoman Striped Briella with a navy Lilly Pulitzer Heidi cardigan and my BCBG Boots- it was warm enough to go without leggings! And of course, my Reece & Blaire stack!

Another New Year Cheer Sale purchase, I wore my Bait & Switch Briella for another evening of parent/teacher conferences a few months ago. Styled with navy Lilly Pulitzer Heidi cardigan, Lilly Pulitzer In a Knot necklace, gray spanx leggings, and BCBG boots.

This last Briella is from the current Spring '14 collection. Blue and white stripes, I recently wore it with a J.Crew denim jacket, black clover necklace from my gals at Mica & Molly's, gray leggings, and BCBG boots.

I'm excited for it to finally be warm enough for me to style Briella in new ways for Spring and Summer. I also have my eyes on this piece of Lilly cuteness from this spring- Briella slightly recut!

How perfect will this be for my cousin's high school graduation in May or a bridal shower for one of my sorority sisters? Oh how I love the Briella dress!

xx, Emily Ann

A Little Monday Happiness

2014-03-31T16:25:00.000-07:00

There's nothing quite like coming home to one of these hot pink little numbers sitting in my mailbox!

My gal pals Mica and Molly (sisters and co-owners of their own boutique) at Mica & Molly's are the BEST! I love their hot pink packaging, and they always write me a sweet little note along with my purchase. Whenever possible, I make my Lilly Pulitzer purchases through them! They are always so quick to respond to my messages, answer my questions and talk me through my rambling decision making process as I obsess over the new Lilly items and what I have to have. They make it feel like I'm out shopping with a girlfriend and never hesitate to give me their honest opinions on what would look best on me, if I really NEED an item or should wait, or even telling me which I should pick when trying to decide between two items.

Of course, a goodie from Mica & Molly's wasn't all that was in my mailbox today- I also had an eBay steal and a facebook sale purchase! There are times I feel like eBay can be overpriced, but every once in a while I come across something I've been on the hunt for at an amazing price! Living on a teacher's salary, I always try to find my Lilly for less than retail. Sometimes that means making myself wait for something I want, but it also makes acquiring that item so much more rewarding!

On the left is the Lilly Pulitzer Elsa top in Amuse Bouche that I found on eBay for almost 75% off! I've been on the hunt for this top ever since I let it slip through my fingers in the Lilly Pulitzer Endless Summer Sale. I can't wait to wear it!

In the middle is from the item from Mica & Molly's- Lilly Pulitzer Houston top in Ring the Bellboy from the latest Spring '14 shipment. I absolutely love this print! I had to tell myself to pick my favorite item in the print so I didn't end up with every single item in it! Houston top is basically the Elsa without sleeves- perfect for spring and summer! I plan on pairing it with navy minnie pants, or skinny jeans and a navy cardigan, or white short and white capris for this summer! Such a versatile top!

Last is a J.Crew Perfect Shirt in navy checked- a perfect layering top for multiple seasons!

Needless to say, I have my outfits for the rest of the work week planned!
xx, EmAnnv

You Must Be Really Ready for Spring

2014-03-30T14:00:00.002-07:00

I can't even tell you how many times I heard that this last week. I can't decide- if someone walks by you and says, "You must be really ready for Spring!"is it a compliment? I will admit, I may have jumped the gun a little with my Spring colors and outfits this week considering we had days in the 30's and 40's, but our smattering of 60 degree days put me in the mood, and the pieces of Lilly Pulitzer's spring collection I had purchased just couldn't sit in my closet unworn any longer! As I've been on a blogging hiatus for so very long, I thought I'd start trying to post weekly and go from there. It's been brought to my attention by several friends lately that I'm basically fashion blogging through my Instagram account (linked on the side bar) and I should be blogging for real and sharing how I style, etc. So here it goes- another attempt at blogging!

Saturday, March 22, 2014

I wore Gap mint skinnies, Old Navy striped t-shirt, J. Crew denim jacket, Tory Burch nude Caroline flats, Etsy pave link bracelet, Michael Kors watch, and a Reece & Blaire bracelet for running errands and going to the movies with my mama on Saturday.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

For church on Sunday, I wore my Lilly Pulitzer Malibu blazer, J. Crew perfect tee, Spanx jeggings, and Tory Burch nude Caroline Flats. I had a hard time deciding on a necklace, but I ended up wearing the Lilly Pulitzer In a Knot necklace on the far left.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Lilly Pulitzer Briella dress, J. Crew denim jacket, Spanx gray leggings, BCBG cowboy-inspired boots, and black clover necklace purchased from my favorite gals at Mica & Molly's (where I make at least 90% of my Lilly Pulitzer purchases- also find them on facebook!).

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

This was probably my favorite outfit of the week! Lilly Pulitzer A Delicacy Elsa top, J. Crew black Minnie pants, monogram necklace, and Tory Burch nude Caroline flats.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Lilly Pulitzer Santana dress, J. Crew denim jacket, Spanx gray leggings, BCBG western-inspired boots, Reece & Blaire bracelets, and Michael Kors watch.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

J. Crew Factory gray Tippi sweater, Paige skyline skinny jeans, Lilly Pulitzer Nice to See You Murfee, and Michael Kors tan loafers. I wore the scarf tied like the middle option. So many possibilities!

Friday, March 28, 2014

Lilly Pulitzer Flutter Blue Heidi cardigan, J. Crew perfect tee, Paige skyline skinny jeans, Tory Burch nude Caroline flats, black Clover necklace from Mica & Molly's, Etsy pave link bracelet, Reece & Blaire bracelets, and Michael Kors watch.

Saturday, March 29

I had a bridal shower for a sorority sister on Saturday, I wore Lilly Pulitzer pink Elsa, Spanx jeggings, Lilly Pulitzer In a Knot necklace, and BCBG western-inspired boots.

Our lovely bride-to-be is in the middle!

Love my sorority sisters! Pi love!

For church today, I wore my Lilly Pulitzer Hotty Pink First Impression Babs wrap, J. Crew perfect tee, Spanx jeggings, Prep Obsessed necklace, Reece & Blaire bracelets, Michael Kors watch, and BCBG western-inspired boots.

As you probably noticed, there are a few key pieces that I repeat. There are also several of the stores I mentioned that are run by gals I have come to consider friends- Mica & Molly's and the gals at Prep Obsessed- and I'll be sure and tell you more about them in a later post! I also make an effort to support small business in my purchases whenever possible! I hope you all enjoy my return to the blogging world. Have a colorful day!

xx, EmAnnv

First One to Take the Plunge

2013-06-28T08:47:00.002-07:00

This has nothing to do with Lilly, but I wanted to take a moment and share a photo that makes my heart happy. A few weeks ago, the first one of my sorority sisters was married. Happily, all of us from our little group were able to make the trip to St. Louis for her wedding day. She had us all arrive early so we could have photos done by her photographer. This is the first photo that has made the cut and our little bride immediately sent it to us all. I love my sisters! Pi love and mine <3

I'm on the far left- wearing J.Crew Factory dress and bubble necklace!

xx, Emily Ann

A Look at Easter 2012

2013-06-17T19:43:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are some photos from Easter 2012! Ever since I was a little girl, I've enjoyed the yearly tradition of searching out the perfect Easter dress. For this Easter in particular, I knew it had to be Lilly, and it had to be very "Spring-y." So, I found a dress that I had loved since Spring of 2011 when a very dear friend wore a dress in the same print for our college graduation. I bought the dress, it didn't quite fit, so my weight loss goal was to fit into it- and I did! I wore the Kiki in "Portrait of a Picnic"

My mama and I in front of my parent's house! I added my Sullivan belt in Natural and wore pink pumps.

Love my little brother!

The whole family with my grandparents

And a photo of my beautiful friend Maggie wearing the dress in one of our senior photos at Mizzou! My ADPi little took senior pics for us at Mizzou's columns and we snapped a few together- ADPi and ZTA <3

Stay tuned for more posts documenting my time in 2012!

xx, Emily Ann

Remember Me?

2013-06-16T19:53:00.001-07:00

It has been an incredibly long time since I posted. Between my move last summer, my new puppy, and my new teaching job (YAY!) I was swamped over the last year! Now that it's sweet summertime, I find myself with a blissful excess of time (Oh the joys of teaching!). After going through photos of the last year, I find that my Lilly was worn in many, MANY places. Rather than rush through one giant post with my Lilly, I will be documenting the different occasions in different posts over the next several weeks. have no fear, I will do my best to also include my current Lilly-wearing events as well! I'm going to start with the "oldest" event first- picking up right where I left off!

Just a quick look at the house and my puppy- the two things that started my blog decline due to all the attention they demanded!

Home Sweet Home! I'm now a proud homeowner of this sweet little place!

She was just a tiny thing of 5 weeks old here- love at first sight!

My Darcy girl has been a huge blessing, I adore her!

First things first: My teaching job!

I've mentioned several times before that I wore Lilly frequently when I was subbing in the school district I hoped to eventually find a full-time teaching job in. After subbing for a teacher for almost 4 weeks, I must have impressed the right people because I was asked to interview for a 7th grade Communication Arts position that would be open in the building the next school year. I was ecstatic! So in June, I went to interview for this dream job. Of course I had to find a way to fit Lilly into my interview outfit- the District Assistant Superintendent even commented on how cute my top was! I was incredibly blessed to find such an excellent job. My first year of teach was incredibly hard, but it was rewarding and I still can't see myself doing anything else. I'm looking forward to year two in the same school!

I wore my pink Rivia top (yay Lilly!) with New York & Company pencil skirt and blazer. Don't forget, every girl needs a pair of black pumps! I knew I needed to put my own twist on the traditional suit. If I was getting hired, I would get hired for ME and it worked out when I was called and offered the position the very next day!

After accepting the job the day after my interview, my roommate and I decided we needed to go out and celebrate my new big girl job! Of course I wore Lilly

I am excited to start up my blog again. Stay tuned for my next post in the next few days- I'll be posting Easter 2012 and much more!

xx, Emily Ann

Sweet Southern Prep Giveaway

2012-04-11T07:53:00.002-07:00

If you haven't checked out the blogs I have listed on the side of my page, you definitely should! Especially Sweet Southern Prep. She's a sweet, Lilly-loving mother of three and she blogs about so many fun, preppy things! She's currently hosting a giveaway with Dani Notes Stationary for a personalized iPhone case. I checked out Dani Notes Stationary and oh my goodness, preppy overload! I found way too many items to fall in love with, and will definitely be making a purchase sometime soon! So head on over to Sweet Southern Prep, enter the giveaway, and feel free to let her know I sent you. If I can't win the giveaway, I'd love it if one of y'all would!

xx, Emily Ann

Spring Has Sprung!

2012-03-20T17:01:00.004-07:00

It's official- today was the first day of Spring! I've been anxiously awaiting the official transition into Spring so I can pull out all my lovely floral and pastel clothing to go along with the beautiful weather we've been enjoying lately. Luckily, I was given the chance to bust out one of my favorite Spring shifts today- I was called in to sub at the Junior High!

Lilly Pulitzer Lace Worth Shift in Skye Blue Exbloomsion with my bronze and gold Jack Roger Navajo sandals. (I also wore a green J. Crew cardigan, but it was so warm when I left school I immediately took it off!)

I must have done something right today, because they asked me to come back and sub for the rest of the week. I'd like to thank Lilly for helping me look fun and put together- maybe next she'll help me get a full time teaching job!

Hope y'all had a fabulous first day of Spring! I sure enjoyed the 80 degree weather we enjoyed here in Southeast Missouri!

xx, Emily Ann

St. Patrick's Day the Lilly Way

2012-03-18T19:29:00.005-07:00

You've got to love when a holiday that's all about eating and drinking with friends lands on a Saturday! Especially because St. Pat's also fell in line with my weekend off for this month, so I had a St. Pat's Saturday full of fun! Friday and Saturday I spent looking at some houses with my parents and our realtor- I'm on the hunt for a place of my own, and they're helping me find the right place. Friday, after thinking we'd never find one, I fell in love with a cute little house built in the 60's. Since I think I've found "the one" we set up a meeting with the realtor for Saturday so my roomie-to-be could weigh in on the house before we went any further. She and I went over the house top to bottom, talking furniture and fixtures and curtains. Needless to say, we both loved it! Afterwards my parents took us for a late lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant. Nachos and margaritas was a great way to start off our St. Pat's celebration! After dinner, my parents headed home and Court and I headed downtown to meet up with some friends. It was a gorgeous day, and we spent the evening on the patio at our favorite bar with green beers and our friends. It was a fabulous way to spend the day!

My wardrobe doesn't have very much green- try almost none. I have one green cardigan, which it was to warm to wear, and that's the only item of green clothing I own. So I had to get creative with my green wear. I painted my nails a fun mint green, and wore one of my Lilly dresses with a floral pattern that involved some green leaves. What better excuse to wear Lilly?

Lilly Pulitzer Somerset dress in Just Love with Natural Sullivan belt, Michael Kors watch, and bronze and gold Jack Rogers Navajos. I love this dress, it was so fun and comfortable!

I hope y'all had a great, green St. Patrick's Day!

xx, Emily Ann

Southern Nest Blog Giveaway

2012-03-15T08:37:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite blogs to read is Sweet Southern Prep! Her posts about everyday life with her kids, Thirsty Thursday with yummy drinks, and Fashion Friday where she gives preppy fashion tips make her blog one I check almost every day for new posts. She's currently having a giveaway with a decorative monogram from Southern Nest! Head over to her blog, let her know I sent you, and enter yourself to win one of these adorable monograms for your home!

xx, Emily Ann

Saturday Night Pipster

2012-03-14T08:25:00.004-07:00

One thing that can be said about good ol' Missouri is that she can't ever make up her mind on the weather! It has been beautiful and in the 70's during the day, but in the evening the temperature has been dropping so low that I was able to find an excuse to wear my new Lilly Pulitzer Pipster sweater dress Saturday night! After an incredibly long work weekend, I ended my work day Saturday at 8 pm and headed straight to a girlfriend's place to change and get ready for a night out on the town with a few friends. Since my work schedule has been shifted to evenings, it's become harder and harder for me to find time with my friends. I'm the last one of the group to still have a retail job, while the rest have transitioned to "real" 5 day a week, 9-5 jobs. So, despite the hard work week, I jumped at the chance to dress up and have some fun!

I couldn't have been happier with how cute my Pipster dress turned out to be. I experimented with the look a bit- with a belt and without. I ended up wearing it with a belt, it helped give me more of a shape that way. As cute as I think the dress is, I'm hopeful that it's only going to look that much better as I continue to drop weight! I'm proud to say I'm down 5 pounds since starting my weight loss mission, and I hope to keep dropping and reach my goal weight within the next few months.

I love the confidence that a cute outfit can instill in a girl. I felt cute, and I think that how you feel about yourself influences how the people you meet perceive you. I was more outgoing throughout the evening, and I had a guy ask for my number for the first time in an embarrassingly long time- talk about a confidence boost! Between wearing my Pipster and having a guy ask for my number, it was a pretty successful evening with my friends!

Without the belt

With the belt! Paired the Lilly Pulitzer Azalea Pink Frilly Ferns Pipster with my Natural Sullivan belt, Michael Kors gold watch, dark brown tights, and camel BCBG boots.

I hope y'all had a wonderful weekend!

xx, Emily Ann

Lunch at Lilly

2012-03-10T07:55:00.011-08:00

Just another reason to love Lilly Pulitzer is the wonderful events and gift with purchase specials they run. Today, March 10, is their annual "Lunch at Lilly." Lilly Pulitzer online, and every Via store, is participating in the event. The stores themselves are hosting shopping parties, and the website is offering free shipping on all orders along with the lovely gifts with purchase. Unfortunately for this girl on a budget, I won't be participating in the event. But you better believe it wouldn't be a stretch for me to come up with a shopping bag full of items to reach $1000 so I could get every one of the gifts offered! Since I can't participate in earnest, I'm going to share what I WOULD have bought if I had the money to spend and participate in this festive event!

First thing I would put in my bag would be the Briar skirt in Lavish Lillys Placed. The colorful print and fun feminine shape make it perfect for spring and summer, and an easy item to dress up or down depending on the occasion! The Briar skirt retails at $98.

Next item on my list is the Elsa Ruffled top in Hotty Pink! I love the Elsa, such a versatile and feminine top, and with the added ruffles, lighter weight, and little polka dots it's got to be mine! This shirt retails at $138.

Next thing I'd buy would be the Ricci shift in State of Mind. I've had my eye on this dress since Lilly starting previewing their Spring line! I love the print- a patch for each state- and the style of the dress is to die for! The little details completely make this dress for me. The bow on the shoulder is too cute! This dress retails at $188.

Second on my shopping list is the Peggy dress in Spring Fever Toile. I saw a Lilly Pulitzer Via store belt this with the Sullivan (which I already have) and it was too cute! The seersucker, ruffles, and silhouette on this dress would make it a great spring and summer item for me! Not to mention how fun the Spring Fever Toile is. Lilly is known for putting all sorts of fun themes in their prints, and this one is full of Spring and Summer fun! This dress retails at $198.I have a thing for the A Thing Called Love print! I bought the Somerset in the same print and I just think the colors and patterns in it are lovely! This dress has caught my eye- great shape, pockets, and the back has an adorable keyhole cutout- too cute! This dress retails at $198.This next dress on my list has been a big hit with the ladies in my Lilly-loving community- the shape, details, comfort, and easy to wear dress is on everyone's wishlist! I'm loving the Carolyn Day Lilly- such a lovely print! And with ruffles you can't ever go wrong! I can see this dress transitioning from spring to summer for me, as well as making it's way into the classroom for those early weeks when it's still too warm for fall clothes! I think it's another item that would look great with the Sullivan belt, as well as with Jack Rogers or possibly even cowboy boots! This dress retails at $118.Last on my list is the Buttercup shorts in Pink Seersucker. Leave it to Lilly to take a closet staple and add the perfect feminine touch- scalloped edges! These shorts would be great with any number of tops I already have, great for day wear or paired with a cute top and wedges for a summer evening. I'm spotting scalloped shorts in many Spring catalogs, but I think Lilly did it best- the best price and the cutest look! Not to mention Lilly Pulitzer has been making the Buttercup scalloped short for years now- they were the first! These shorts come in several prints, I'd love them all, and they retail for $74.
Like I said, it wasn't hard for me to "spend" $1000 on Lilly's Spring line! But this girl will just keep them on her wishlist and wait for them to either go on sale, or gradually add these items to my closet as I have money to spend here and there! Were any of y'all lucky enough to participate in Lunch at Lilly? What goodies would you buy?

xx, Emily Ann

Lilly's Spring Fever

2012-03-08T08:05:00.003-08:00

If you don't stay up-to-date on Lilly Pulitzer's "A Colorful Blog" you're missing out! I love knowing what they have going on at the Pink Palace, and their most recent blog post is about a few of my favorite prints from the Spring line! So head on over the A Colorful Blog and see what pretty and fun prints Lilly Pulitzer has available for this spring!

Happy Reading!

xx, Emily Ann

Recent Lilly Purchases

2012-03-07T09:27:00.006-08:00

Budget or not, if I spot a Lilly item that I've had on my wish list for a while on sale, I can't help but find a way to make it mine! Recently, I've been on a slight spending spree and in the last two weeks I've purchased THREE Lilly Pulitzer dresses that I've had my eye on for a while!

My first purchase was the Pipster Sweater Dress in Azalea Pink Frilly Ferns. I decided I needed this dress when I saw a friend wearing it with brown riding boots- such a cute look! I found this dress at Village Palm, a Lilly Pulitzer Via store, at 50% off! Living in Missouri, our weather can be a bit bi-polar! Spring may be arriving in some places, and we have our warm days here, but we are far from having the cold days behind us here! So I plan on wearing this dress with tights and boots and maybe even with some wedges for a while until the weather gets too warm to wear it. I also think this would be cute with my Sullivan belt- one dress, so many ways to wear it!When I received my dress from Village Palm, they included a coupon for 15% off my next purchase. The bargain hunter in my couldn't let that go to waste, so I called up the ladies to see if they had the Somerset dress in Just Love- and they did! I've loved the look of the Somerset since Lilly Pulitzer released the first round of items for Spring. It's very similar to the Cassie dress, with the frilly details on the sleeves to add just a little something extra. I've seen this dress worn in several ways, all of which I mean to try myself! Of course it will be adorable when the weather gets warm with my Jack Rogers sandals for the day, or some ruffled wedges for an evening out. To wear it now, I've seen it paired with navy leggings, boots, and the Sullivan belt. I can't wait to try that look out myself! I also think this would be fun with the Sullivan belt and my cowboy boots- can you say fun?? I think this dress will prove to be very versatile and fun for several seasons.
My final purchase is a dress I have been wanting for months now! Ever since Lilly Pulitzer released the Helena Sweater Dress, it has been on my wish list. The versatile navy color, the ruffles on the sleeves and the hem- this dress screamed "Emily" to me! When Lilly Pulitzer posted this photo on their facebook page showing the versatility of this dress, I absolutely knew it had to be mine! I couldn't afford to pay full price, but in the last few weeks several Lilly Pulitzer Via stores have been marking it down, and a few women on websites I belong to have started to list this dress now that it is past season for them to wear it and they find that it sat in their closet all winter! So I was lucky enough to snag this dress at a little over 50% off and I'm thrilled! Once I get it, I can't wait to find a way to wear it a few times before it gets to warm to wear it, but I know it will be a staple in my closet next fall and winter when I'm (hopefully) teaching full time!Have any of y'all found any great buys lately? I love sharing when I save and hearing about how others have snagged something they love at a great price!

xx, Emily Ann

A Very Colorful Happy Hour

2012-03-01T09:48:00.003-08:00

One of the most frustrating parts of working retail is the hours. Working weekends, evenings, holidays, and only having time off in the middle of the week can really start to take it's toll. The fact I haven't had a weekend off work since before Thanksgiving is tough, especially when the majority of my friends are working regular jobs that are five days a week, 8-5 pm, while my schedule is all over the place. Because my work schedule really takes a toll on my social life, I was unbelievably excited to be off work by 4:30 Wednesday afternoon. Just enough time to run home to freshen up and change out of all the black (yuck, my work dress code really dampens my style) and meet a few friends at a local Mexican restaurant for happy hour and half price appetizers!

I love the quote by Oscar Wilde, "You can never be overdressed or overeducated." As a (hopefully) soon to be teacher, I couldn't agree more that you can never be overeducated. Education is a lifelong pursuit, everyday should be a new opportunity to learn something. But what I really love about the quote is that you can never be overdressed. I fully believe in looking and feeling your best, whatever the occasion. I never feel better than when I'm decked out in a fun and colorful Lilly dress, skirt, shirt, or murfee scarf! So of course I decided that the rare happy hour was the perfect chance to wear a Lilly dress I've been dying to wear every time I open my closet door. I had originally purchased the dress hoping to wear it for a holiday party, but again my crazy work schedule prevented me from attending any Christmas or New Year's Eve parties. So then the dress was meant for Mardi Gras festivities. And again, work prevented me from going on my trip to visit college friends and wear my colorful dress. So I may have been overdressed for a casual Mexican restaurant for drinks with friends, but I decided that there was no better occasion for my Lilly Pulitzer Booty Caw Shauna dress than Wednesday night.

Lilly is perfect for any occasion, especially when you feel as fun and festive as I did wearing my Lilly dress last night! I bought my Shauna in Booty Caw from a fellow Lilly-Lover who ended up with two dresses in the same print and didn't need them both. I was so grateful to her for passing along the great deal, so I could own a dress I love in a print that's to die for!

Always remember that you can never be overdressed- as long as you love how you look, you can dress however you want no matter the occasion!

xx, Emily Ann

Sunday Success

2012-02-26T12:06:00.003-08:00

You may remember that I set weight loss goals for myself. It's more than losing weight, it's about being healthy and making myself happy with my body again. Dieting can be frustrating. You feel like you're counting every calorie, monitoring what you eat, working out, not giving in to every craving and yet the scale doesn't seem to be moving down as quickly as you would like. So far, I've been using My Fitness Pal on my iphone to count calories and monitor my food, as well as exercising, for about 3 weeks. So far, I'm only down about 4 pounds. Very small victory, and I hadn't been noticing any difference in my clothing, appearance, etc. Until today! I wore a dress to church this morning that I haven't worn since December. I was rewarded when I realized that the dress was fitting a little looser and laying better than it had the last time I wore it. It may be a baby step, but it's a step! I'm definitely feeling better today now that I've noticed a small change in my body! Success is a wonderful feeling!I hope y'all are having a wonderful Sunday and enjoyed your weekend!

xx, Emily Ann