I discovered Pictory through Wayfare Magazine, and I could seriously spend hours on this site. It’s basically a window to the world through the eyes of others. Readers, amateur and professional photographers alike, submit a photo and caption according to the themes, and the editor selects 20-40 submissions to create a photo story. Explore Paris, find something to write home about, or read secrets of inspiring women (seriously, go read them — amazing). You didn’t have anything else to do today, did you?

Photos by Lauren Farmer, Florian Franke,  Dan Lai, Patet Amparo, via Pictory

I had a completely different post planned for today.

But I’ve been thinking. And then I read this post on consumption over on The Average Girl’s Guide, and it got me thinking more. The blog world is very product driven, and this blog is no exception. And lately I’ve been feeling a little weird about that.

The thing is, for as much as I shop, I’m not much of a buyer. I’ve managed to keep my closet small, and almost everything is from the clearance rack. I agonize over pretty much every purchase I make, and I try to visualize each purchase at least three different ways with other items in my closet, or in a specific place in my home for home decor.

So why shop? For me, the more I shop (without buying), the better I am able to define my personal style and recognize what is truly worth purchasing when I actually need it. I hope by sharing it here, it inspires you to think about your own personal style. And sometimes you just need to look at something pretty!

Why am I telling you this? I guess I just want to say that I am not trying to be Becky Bloomwood, nor do I want to encourage you to be. You probably already knew that, but it never hurts to be reminded, yes?

How do you feel about this product driven blog world?

Photo by Chris Craymer for Cotton Inc

Maybe I really need a nap, because I’ve been pinning a lot of bedrooms lately. I wouldn’t mind laying my head down in any of these spaces, but I think I like the one with the quilt the most, probably because it reminds me of the quilt on my bed. Which one do you love?

Photo sources: Marcus Hay, BHMA Deco, Country Living via Apartment Therapy (found via Curating Style), Femina via My Scandinavian Home

When the peplum trend first started gaining popularity, I was not a fan at all. Truth be told, I’m still 80% not a fan. But when that first image caught my eye, it was like a gateway to the trend for me — suddenly I started finding other uses of peplum I liked. Though I probably will not buy into the trend (never say never!), if I did have unlimited funds for a shopping spree, I’d love to try out these pieces. What do you think of peplum? Are there any trends you thought you hated and found later you actually liked?

1. A Wear Floral Peplum Top // 2. Modcloth She’s Got Peplum Top // 3. Modcloth Fro-Yo Consideration Top // 4. ASOS Peplum Jacket

Photo sources: Le 21 Arrondissement, Atlantic-Pacific, See Jane

You may remember Jadyn of Dutch.British.Love from this guest post she did for me when I went to Hawaii, but for those who haven’t met her yet, say hello! She posts amazing inspirations for the home, and I’ve enjoyed watching her transform her house into a home with her fun personal touches. Here’s a look at her life at the moment:

What are you crushing on?

STYLE // I haven’t brought out my shorts yet, but I can’t wait! I’d love to add some lace to a pair of cut-offs. So cute!
BEAUTY // I love Benefit make-up and my sister just got me this amazing kit of concealers. It comes in very handy at the moment, since my skin is acting up like it hasn’t since I was a teenager. Ack! Besides coming in handy, this kit also makes concealing fun!
HOME // I love stripes and wear them pretty often, but I really want to add some to our decor too. I have been crushing on this IKEA rug forever and I think I might actually bite the bullet and buy it.

What are you dreaming about?

DESTINATION // My sister and her family normally live in California but they relocated for 18 months to Washington DC for her hubby’s work. So visiting them is my number one dream destination right now, can’t wait to hang out with my sister, her hubby and my adorable 8-month-old nephew! Of course, it doesn’t hurt that I’d love to explore Washington DC too and I’ve never been.
CURRENT GOAL // Opening my Etsy shop Oh Happy Dish with unique handknitted dishcloths. I’ve been knitting away can’t wait to get it up and running. I am also very excited about the banner Lisa designed for my shop!
ON HER BUCKET LIST // My Dad was born on Sumatra in Indonesia. I’d love to see it someday!

What are you currently doing?

ON HER TO-DO LIST // My hair is down to my lower back right now and I want to chop 10 inches off and donate it to make wigs for cancer patients. I’m hoping I’ll have enough hair left for a shoulder-length bob.
CURRENTLY READING // A novel about a father’s will in which he sets conditions that his four adult children have to live up to before they can inherit his fortune. He wants to teach them some life lessons that he wasn’t able to teach them during his lifetime. It’s a very intriguing story and it’s set in the South which so makes me want to visit there!
BLOGGING ABOUT // I recently participated in a blogging challenge where participants added a color of our choice to our home in several ways over the course of 5 weeks. I picked yellow and I really enjoyed doing the wrap-up post that showed the progression and the final result.