Monday Musings // Meet My Specs and Why It's Okay to Take Selfies

Happy Easter! God is good and God is real and Jesus is my brother, people. I just wanted you to know that I know that. I have a very personal relationship with my Higher Beings. I have a personal relationship with the church I belong to. This past weekend was what we call "Conference Weekend" in the LDS faith. It's pretty cool. A lot of people get really, outwardly passionate about it, and that's totally cool. I'm a little bit more reserved. Not that I don't want to "Share Goodness", not that I don't want to "Defend My Faith"...I do, oh I do, but sometimes somethings just have to stay close to your heart.

My sister said something really wise this weekend, I asked her how she was doing with the church and all and she said, "You know what, Dani, some people have problems with the church, I could have problems with the church, but I don't. I choose to keep believing and I choose to believe what I believe not what anyone else believes."

She was right, my family could choose to be angry at people that have hurt us and things that are hard, but we choose to believe and we choose to be happy, because that's what God wants.

He is patient and he waits and he loves.

And that's all I'm going to share today.

Now meet my specs...

Meet my new face friends, these are the Warby Parker Kimball glasses in Marzipan Tortoise and let me tell you something...

I was at work the other day just doing what I do and a girl comes up to me IN FRONT OF LIKE 12 OTHER PEOPLE and asks me the following question.

"Do you like your new glasses?"

Well, yeah I do. (I said this in my head.) What kind of question is that?"

"Um...yes, yes I do. I wouldn't have picked them if I didn't like them, why?"

And she gets this squirmish look on her face, like those looks that are reserved for the mean girls in high school that think they are so much cooler than you because they wear clothes from "Buckle."

"Oh well, they're just really distracting. I mean, I can't look at your face."

And my heart dropped because as much as I was confident about my choice of glasses for MY face, because MY eyes need them...her words bit through me. Her words are the words that girls in this world are always hearing. They are words of theft. That girl was a thief. She was stealing all my confidence. She was stealing the one thing that took me forever to feel okay about. I've been wearing glasses my whole life. They are kind of the thing that defines me. They are a fashion accessory that I get to wear everyday. And yes, my new glasses are very different from my old ones, but there was no question as to which ones I was going to buy when I tried the Kimball's on. I told Tyler that I didn't care if people thought they were crazy, MY eyes, MY face, MY glasses, MY choice. But that girl had to say something.

I'm over it now, but I just want to say this to EVERYONE reading this...

DON'T BE A THIEF!

Don't steal confidence away from people by saying petty things. Don't say anything that in the slightest could chip away at someone. Genuinely compliment someone. Genuinely mean something good. If you don't like something because that something makes someone happy, keep your mouth shut. Please and thank you, God bless.

In other news, I like my new glasses. No, I LOVE my new glasses.

And now why it's okay to take selfies and pictures of your food.

Society tells you that selfies are stupid and that no one cares about what your food looks like. Sure, that may be true, but I agree to disagree with society most of the time.

I like selfies. As Ezra Koenig once said, Selfies are cool because you get to see what your friend looks like that day.

Be proud of your face! Not that conceited proud, but that hey I like my look today and I'm proud of myself today. This is me. There may be a filter and there may not be, but it's not your place to say that or not.

And your food, if you had this delicious food and you want someone to see. SHOW THEM! SHOW THEM! I love it when people show me good food because then I know where I can go to get it. Share, because FOOD IS GOOD!

I don't like wearing my hair back because I always believed that I had a fat face or that my chin was too big, but I took this on snapchat the other day and my hair was back and I really liked this picture.I looked at myself and I liked what I saw. Is that so bad? I'm not trying to say that my face is better than other faces, I'm just saying that I liked the way I look. I rarely do that! And...I'm probably rambling on about this, but I'm not ashamed to share this. People can think all they want, but remember that caring? Yeah throw it away. Also, RIP old glasses.

And here is the food that I was eating when I took that selfie.

It's from In-N-Out, thank you very much. Get in my belly. Aren't you always craving this shiz? Yeah. Me too.

Here's a half-eaten piece of pizza that kind of changed my life. It's from Pizzeria 7/12. Go, go, go.

And then this. Stay happy and laugh a lot.

That's what life is all about. Stay happy. If you're having a sad day...that's okay. Cry and have a sad day and then try to be happy again and try to laugh again. Laughing is good. It's really good because chins double and eyes crinkle and teeth show and it's beautiful.

Now what was the point of this post?

Hmm...that's for you to decide.

Monday Musings // 13 Things

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HEY! Thanks for keeping me going friends! Thanks for reading! Thanks for actually caring about 13 things I'm currently "musing" about. Hi-YAH!

Lez do dis. 

1 // WHY on EARTH do girls post the following: 

"My dad is better than yours." 

"My hubby is better than yours." 

"My baby is cuter than yours." 

"My family is cooler than yours." 

Why do they do that? Why is that necessary? Why can't they post things like: 

"Hey I know you have a best dad, but I have one too! He's the best for me, just like your dad is the best for you! Some people don't have dads, boy I'm so grateful I have a dad. You can share my dad if you want, if you don't have one or if your dad isn't that great, because sometimes that shiz happens." 

OR

"Hey my baby is really adorable, and I love them...I know that some people can't have babies and it's really hard for them. I'm so sorry that someone has to go through that, you can definitely hold my baby, you can share my baby, my baby is your baby, that really blows,  let's cry about it together, or your baby is the cutest darn thing in the whole entire world. I love your baby!" 

OR

"I am really grateful for my husband today. He's a great guy. The end." 

I just feel like the world would be a better place if we didn't go around flaunting all the "cooler than yours" things, ya know? 

2 // Why is Gap selling the cutest and the ugliest t-shirts right now? Heck, I would buy one of those ugly t-shirts. Let's get real. 

3 // Don't mistake someone's feelings of self-love for them feeling complacent about their health. I am all about loving yourself and loving your body. I'm bad it a lot of the time, but I love it. I couldn't support it or preach it more, but sometimes I feel like people think I'm saying I don't have to work out or that being unhealthy is okay. I'm not saying that at all. You need to take care of yourself. You need to go on a walk. YOU NEED TO SLEEP! YOU NEED TO DRINK A WHOLE BUCKET OF WATER! You need to stop eating 5lbs of ice cream a day, that's really irresponsible, or you need to start eating! Guys, that's real. People destroy their bodies because they don't like themselves and we need to start taking care of our bodies because we LOVE our bodies! Taking care of your body can even be saying that you like parts of it when you look in the mirror. Do what makes you feel happy. You *clap* do *clap* you *clap*. 

4 // Tyler and I MIGHT moving to a condo this Fall and so I've been thinking about how we're going to decorate, because we're going to be there for the rest of the time we are in Provo. This room really got me so inspired. I love the grey walls and the bed spread! Dreamiest!

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5 // I am obsessed with Hozier and Nick Jonas right now. Judge me all you want! I'll never surrender! Hozier's voice makes me weak at the knees. #SorryNotSorry

6 // A lot of people are going to complain about things that you like. That's just life. Today though, I saw Madewell post this picture in an instagram.

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I was personally going ham and cheese over the styling. Some ladies over 25 did not feel the same. One lady even commented: "Uh, Kurt Cobain for Madewell, if I wanted this outfit I would go to Good Will and get that ratty t-shirt for 50 cents." 

First of all lady, great, you have an opinion. I am so proud that you want to voice it. 

Second of all, Kurt Cobain for Madewell would be a kick-a collaboration, too bad he died way before his time. 

Third of all, I freaking love a good deal, Goodwill? Count me in. Don't make fun. Go there and get your t-shirt. 

Fourth of all, ratty t-shirt, yeah it could be, but Madewell has good quality clothes. They really do and if someone actually had that ratty t-shirt I would hope that you'd be nice enough not to say that to someone's face and keep it to yourself. 

Fifth of all, her hair is practically amazing. Disheveled is in. You being rude...is OUT. AND LET'S NOT FORGET THE SHORTS. THE SHORTS, LADY! 

Sixth of all, I got WAY too passionate about that. I'm sure that lady is the nicest. 

7 // I realize that I never finished my runway recaps. I still have stuff to do. I'm going to finish them even if it's been like a month since fashion week. Better late than neverrrrr. 

8 // Good food and good people, that's all you need in life. 

9 // Sometimes, you just have to let go of all that "caring" you have bottled up inside of you. Not the kind of sympathy and empathy caring, I mean the "I care too much about what people think of me" caring. The toxic caring that eats at your soul. Just get rid of it. Say, be gone, caring! I'm through with you. 

10 // The other day whilst almost crying over a stupid assignment (the toxic kind of caring, you know) this song played and my heart melted. It made me cry good tears. Where are you now, Dani? Where are you going? What do you care about? SPEAKING OF MUMFORD & SONS, Believe ain't my favorite, but I am a loyal mumford gal, so we'll see. Nothing beats, Babel, I think. 

11 // We all have storms. Don't discount your storm even if someone has a bigger storm than you. Learn from your storm. 

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12 // These linen-blend dresses are SO cute. So summery. I love stripes and linens. 

13 // I call this my "me in a dream" self: 

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Monday {Muse}ings // Jenna Lyons (THE QUEEN)

Forget about Beyonce, okay maybe you shouldn't forget about her, but if you know me you know what I mean, when I say that Jenna Lyons is QUEEN!

So here are 10 (though there are more than 10) times when Jenna Lyons emulated her majesty.

1 // The time when she attended Solange Knowles's wedding decked out in this ridiculously beautiful ensemble. I'm no fan or fur, but I'm a HUGE fan of that feathered skirt. So major. Also, leave it to Jenna to make her signature slouchy white button up, wedding chic.

2 // The time when she let us into her beyond perfect Brownstone and wore the coolest outfit that you only wish you could wear at home. Do you think she ever wears sweatpants to lounge in on that couch? Heaven forbid.

3 // The time she wore THIS! I wish I could see that whole dress, but of course, she pairs the sweetest feminine dress with opaque tights, a great snood, a mixed material coat and her signature gold baubles. 

4 // This time when she wore Stan Smith's, slightly flared trousers and that slouchy white button up again. It's the same time that she proved that she can also be the queen of minimalism. Kudos to the lady next to her. Her outfit is right up my alley.

5 // The time when she fearlessly wore her glasses and didn't give any craps about what people may think of glasses. They are THEE signature Jenna Lyons piece. I love a girl who can confidently rock glasses. 

6 // The time when she said this. Oh and when she rocked an all-denim look with sexy Louboutins. She also says that Leopard is a neutral, sooooooo there. 

7 // #praisehandemoji

8 // The time she made all your street style wishes come true. 

9 // The time she was the most adorable and fashionable mother. Did you know she sparked quite the controversy when she painted her son's toes pink for a photoshoot. To all the haters, pleeeeease. 

10 // The time and ALL the times that she's not afraid to always rock her classic pieces. You'll always seen Jenna with her two gold bangles and that distressed denim. I love her because she owns everything she wears, and she's not afraid to stake her claim on pieces that are just "her." 

Monday Muse{ings} // NYFW Street Style

Saying that I love fashion week is an understatement. I LOVE LOVE fashion week. Like it is my dream to be there one day. I don't care if I'm a magazine editor. I don't care if I'm a lowly minion sitting all the way in the back. I don't care if I people don't know who I am, I just want to go. I want to analyze the fashion and I want to see the art that these incredible designers have been mastering for the past year. It's a beautiful spectacle. Everything about it is worldly, but everything about it is magical. It's just the best. My favorite part about it though, the street style. I LOVE the street style. So that's what this post is about today. Some of the best street style looks at NYFW. All photos are either from Pinterest or Vogue or Elle or any fashion magazine website ever. I don't own any of them, though I so wish I did.

Stay tuned for a Runway Recap. ;)

1 // A popular look was neutrals with a vibrant accent of color. I love this all grey look with a yellow purse. It says "I'm a functional and fabulous fashion editor that is going to write a bomb yet critical review of all the shows I get to see." P.S. This one is obviously from London Fashion Week but it still counts!

2 // See that pop of orange. *heart eyes* *heart flutter* It was rainy and pretty dreary all week, but that didn't stop the ladies from pulling out their parkas and making it work. You can't see her shoes, but she's wearing sneakers and I just love that. 

3 // The hat! The hat, I say! 

4 // Even if you're not walking the runway, you are walking the streets of New York Fashion Week and those streets might as well be a runway. It's all in the details with this one. From her bag, to her scarf, to her lovely red manicure, to the wind swept mane. To looks fresh, parisian and effortlessly put together. 

5 // Gigi Hadid is all the craze right now. She was flawless in every single one of her shows and she basically is the "it" girl right now and for good reason too. She's not just trendy, but she knows style. She knows it well. Heck, she's probably freezing but she takes a moment to show that she's a fashion force to be reckoned with in that leather jacket of bad-assery. 

6 // At fashion week, especially if you're one of the big gals on campus, you're allowed to wear an oversized orange coat, doc martens and a sweater/cardigan as a scarf. Oh and jeans. Let's not forget the jeans, am I right ladies? Or should I say Leandra? 

7 // My girl Jenna. That. Is. All. 

8 // Her boots may be Stuart Weitzman and her jacket may be Burberry, but her all black look is easy to pull off and a fool-proof guide to your future fashion weeks. 

9 // Caroline de Maigret is my must. I just want to be her. She is the epitome of french je ne sais quoi.  She is THE french girl muse. She is the french girl. Plus, again with the denim and the unique take on the classic stripe. This outfit is telling you that a classic girl must have a camel wool coat and a striped shirt with a blazer for extra style and layering effort (or the lack thereof). 

10 // Winter White! Can we count her pop of color as the cab? Actually, can we really talk about the REAL star of the show, the girl in the background with the plaid coat and fur collar? Um YES! *praise hands* 

11 // Another simple look to pull off that packs a lot of fashion week punch. Sweater dress, check. Leather jacket, check. Black cashmere scarf, check. Black pants, check. White sneakers check! Check, check, check. 

12 // As you can probably tell, I like looks that I could actually wear in real life. This look I would actually wear in real life. 

13 // Get out of here, beautiful fashion model that I wish I could be. When in doubt, all black, all the time. 

14 // Last but not least, everything about this look. The hair. THE HAIR! Of course the camera is all up in her face. This is phenomenal. That orange was everywhere. 

What were some of your favorite fashion week street style looks? 

Comment below! 

Monday Muse{ings} // Muses, lately

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My hair is coated in a coconut mask. Make up off. In the comfiest yoga pants and thriftiest of thrift store shirts. Looking on pinterest at beautiful women and my husband tells me I look like Brienne of Tarth a la Game of Thrones. Bring on the pretty girls that I want to be. Hashtag: Self love. Hashtag: Wishing I was pretty. Hashtag: I'm just kidding. Hashtag: Here are some of my muses, lately. You know, girls that inspire you?

Also, I noticed that a lot of the women featured in these photos are very slim and usually have blonde hair. I just wanted to say that I do like myself and I don't wish to be just like these women. It's just one of those things where you get inspired to dress that way or carry yourself in that way. I just wanted to clarify. ALSO holla to slim girls with blonde hair. They're beautiful. And holla to the girls with hair coated in coconut mask!

1 // I've been thinking a lot about how I will dress when I'm older and wiser and cool like my mom is now (although, my mom has always been cool, she's just a perpetually cool person.) Anyway, yeah, so I've been thinking a lot about that and I've decided I want to still wear jeans and blousy tops. Dress your age, I say, but don't be afraid to channel your inner spirit and throw it back with your style every once in a while. Because a white button-up tunic, light wash jeans, and nude oxfords never killed a middle-aged woman. Mom, you would rock this look btw.

2 // I love ALL black with a pop of blush and gold. Gold, blush, and black. That's all you'll ever need. (I say the same thing about white, grey, and black) Potato, potatah. Bonu points if your pop of blush is a chunky knit beanie and if your pop of gold is a sequin(??) clutch.

3 // I always love styling with minimal jewelry. I am all about basic pieces with stand out patterns that can stand alone. Not that I don't like jewelry. I love it. The only problem is is that I have the hardest time wearing it. Since I was a child, my skin has hated all fake metals (so glam, I know) and I can only wear the real deal (so glam, I know, I know). So I will endure the cheap stuff for a day and suffer for a week (ghastly rash, psoriasis (so glam, I know, I know, I know))...so you don't see me wearing a lot of baubles. Though a girl can dream. Anyway, that's why I love the simple looks. Bonus points if your simple look involves a white dress from Free People with a quirky and awesome grid print.

4 // Because all of us have that inner grunge girl that hangs at the beach in an oversized flannel. Hey, it can get pretty breezy there!

5 // Because all of us not-so secretly wish we could be Lauren Conrad's hair...wait I mean Lauren Conrad. We all wish we could be Lauren Conrad.

Who are your pinterest muses? Any type of girls that you pin too much? Is this a weird phenomenon? AM I THE ONLY GIRL THAT DOES THIS!?! Send help!

Monday Muse{ing} // Miroslava Duma

Another Monday, another muse. Today's muse is Miroslava Duma, the petite former editor of Harpar's Bazaar Russia. This beauty is the queen of street style and you can definitely see why. Just in her late twenties she is a fashion force to be reckoned with. Look, she's one of the most photographed woman in fashion. She's totally down to earth too with her own charity foundation and freelance writing for publications, even one she started herself. How could she not be my muse today? 

Photos // 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

+ s t a y // g o l d