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MadisonChurch

All the puff sleeves | My go-to top for under $30

Posted in Fashion
on 06/27/2019

OK TODAY IS TOO EXCITING BECAUSE THIS TOP IS AMAZING. Pink. Puff sleeves. What more can you want?! No joke three ladies at the grocery store asked me where my top was from. That’s how you know it’s a good one! Let’s dive right into it and discuss my new favorite trend: puff sleeves. 

puff sleeve top | distressed shorts | earrings | sneakers (on sale)

I’m on a puff sleeve kick and I have this top to blame. Seriously, so obsessed with EVERYTHING puff sleeve since this top came into my life. Did I mention it’s under $30 too? Basically what I’m saying is you have to have it. OK? Ok. Today I went casual and did it with jean shorts but I am super excited to style it with jeans or a skirt for a dressier look. This would be a fab work top (for all my working ladies) or even a good top for your upcoming trip! I’m definitely packing it for my travels this year (post to come on that considering packing for 9 months is gonna be a learning experience). In case y’all wanna hop on board the puff sleeve top train I’m linking some similar below.

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Why beginning is the hardest + how to conquer it

Posted in Lifestyle
on 06/23/2019

Ya know when you get a thought? A thought so great you HAVE to get out a pen and paper (or in my case my notes app) and write it allll down? Coming home from my weeklong trip had me drained and frankly I wasn’t even sure what I was going to write about this week. Then it hit me. Beginning.

There’s something so beautiful about beginnings. They’re fresh, new, and can bring a sense of fulfillment. But sometimes they’re daunting, scary, unknown. You’ve got to go through some of the bad to get to the good. So today we talk: beginnings.

I visited the JFK museum two weeks ago in Boston, and while the entire thing was dazzling there was one quote in the last exhibit that struck a chord with me. JFK once said, “All of this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days… But let us begin.” That got me thinking: beginning is the hardest part.

The anticipation that leads up to that initial moment of stepping into uncharted territory can kill ya. I’ve talked before about the waiting game and that in between season so many of us struggle with. But now the time has come to ACTUALLY DO IT. DO THINGS. SCARY I KNOW. 

You just have to get over that initial hurdle. Why do we build things up so much making us so anxious to start anything new? Anything different? Out of our comfort zone? I for one am guilty as charged! As a chronic over-thinker, this is something I deal with quite frequently. There’s always a voice in the back of my head that holds me back. Being out of your comfort zone is scary. You have to re-learn the ropes and it’s not always the easiest or most fun task. I get worked up before I even start.

One of my 2019 goals was to go more confidently. So I’m taking that into account when I challenge y’all to join me in beginning. Just start- no matter how big the jump. You won’t get anywhere if you don’t at least take a chance! All it takes is one step in the right direction. It may be something so minuscule you won’t notice an immediate difference, it may be something so huge is shakes you the second you start. Either way it’s a start.

Don’t be afraid to make that jump. There’s always something better on the other side. All you have to do is begin.

inspiration | motivation | empowering

SENDING Y’ALL OFF INTO THE WEEK WITH GOOD VIBES. 

More #girltalk reads:

Relinquishing control even when it’s hard

22 things I learned by 22

Knowing your self worth

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Not all jean shorts are the same.. | The best shorts for under $80

Posted in Fashion
on 05/29/2019

HIIIII. Wow, I have been gone for way too long. Lots has happened since I’ve posted last, but that update will be coming in a #girltalk post probably sometime next week (yas). Most importanly, it’s SUMMMMAA TIMEEE. Which means jean shorts season. Let me let y’all in on a secret: my favorite shorts for under $80.

high-rise distressed shorts | run a little small, I’m wearing a UK size 4

black high-rise shorts | run TTS, I’m wearing a 26 

mid-rise boyfriend shorts | run TTS, I’m wearing a size 26

So no matter the style, I’ve got a pair for ya. Jean shorts have always been my summer uniform and this year is no different. I’ve added a few pairs to my collection this year and I’ve been wearing the heck out of them. Would y’all be interested in some easy throw-on-and-go jean shorts outfits? Let me know!

Some of my favorite places for jean shorts:

Abercrombie & Fitch (hey, don’t knock it till ya try it!)

Revolve

Mavi Jeans

Topshop

Forever 21

ASOS

my picks

HAPPY TO BE BACK. MISSED MY LIL CORNER OF THE WEB. TILL NEXT TIME!

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32 hours in Dallas, TX

Posted in Lifestyle
on 04/18/2019

DALLAS, TEXAS Y’ALL. One of new favorite places to visit. There is endless amounts of food, drink, entertainment, and charm in this city. 32 hours just was not enough! We attempted to cover as much ground as we possibly could in such a short time span and I think we did pretty good! Dallas, you were good to us. Here’s how the weekend went…

FOOD

Torchy’s Tacos… so yum. Loved their marg and queso (of course)! Affordable and easy Tex Mex.

Henry’s Majestic for brunch. HOLLAAA. The best twist on breakfast classic and their “sparkle bar” has any topping you would ever want for your mimosa! Y’all have to go here.

My first In-N-Out burger experience and I was SOO SAD. Not as good as I had hoped but they were so busy I have a feeling that’s why our food wasn’t A-1.

Henry’s Majestic (brunch) // Bird Bakery //Torchy’s Taco // Mi Cocina (Tex Mex) // Sixty Vibes (uptown italian winery)

Storri // Hudson House // Honor Bar // Hard 8s (BBQ) // Overeasy // Yolk // Snooze // Breadwinners

DRINK

Truck Yard was so much fun and we really loved the vibe here! Such a fun kinda chill spot with food trucks too. Their drink menu was super fun too!

If you go to Storri, you have to get the frose!

Happiest Hour // Truck Yard // Billy CanCan // Standard Pour // Picole Pops (alcohol infused popsicles AMAZING)

SIGHTS

We spent most of our day on Saturday at Highland Park and it was by far our favorite. There’s nothing better than window shopping at Fendi, Balenciaga, Harry Winston, and Alice + Olivia with $5 in my pocket. Each store we went into we asked for recommendations too and it’s always nice to have a local’s perspective. I added all of the suggestions to my lists too.

Highland Park // Joule hotel // Grassy Knoll

 

Happy to check Dallas off my bucket list! I’m dying to get back there and experience a bit more of the city, hopefully soon?! Who wants in? I swear I’m a good time.

WHAT I WORE

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Seasons of waiting aren’t always a bad thing + here’s why…

Posted in Lifestyle
on 03/28/2019

So it’s the end of March (April is so close I can taste it) and I’m stuck in this awkward phase. It’s somewhere between: I’m a college student who just wants to have her fun and the fear of being an adult is on the horizon. May will bring graduation, and along with it, the loss of a routine I’ve been living for my entire life. School, summer, and then school… AGAIN. The thought that this routine would have to break at some point has crossed my mind but I like to push it to the back burner. After graduation, things will never be the same. For the past 22 years, the idea that someday I would have to become an adult seemed just so distant. Well, not anymore! So now, we wait. Wait for what? Wait to be scared?

After doing all of this hard thinking (which I then rewarded myself for with some Netflix), I came to a conclusion.

Waiting for something to happen: whether it be a job, boy to come along, the right time to move, change your hair color, reinvent yourself can become a good thing if you let it.

There is purpose in this season of waiting. I’ve become a firm believer that things happen for a reason. People are put in your life for a reason. Everything has it’s purpose. That’s the piece to the puzzle I was searching for before. Life is about to come and hit me like a ton of bricks so so so soon, but this “waiting game” should not pass without my acknowledging it’s purpose. The “waiting game” should not distract me from living life. IT’S HAPPENING ALL AROUND ME.

Be grateful for the between season. I personally have found so much joy in the nostalgia of it all. Looking back on my past four years of college with all the crazy late nights, early mornings, and everything in between has been something so so special. It’s not just the nostalgia that I’ve relished in, but the fact that my life will never be the way it is right now. I will never be able to graduate collage again, to share all of these funny college memories with my friends like going out until 2am at our college bars, eating as much Chick-Fil-A as our stomachs can hold, and laughing until we cry. Bittersweet is probably the best way to describe it. While enjoying this season I’m in, thoughts of the future continue to creep in.

Basically what I’m trying to say is, don’t let the “waiting game” keep you from living your life. Don’t wait of the next big thing to come along and miss the amazing things happening in front of you! Challenge yourself to make those in between moments count. Find the joy in the little moments, even though they may not feel like much at the time, you’ll appreciate them so much more when you’re through with all of it.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, LOVE YOU PEOPLE IMMENSELY.

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The best way to shop online for formal dresses

Posted in Fashion
on 03/14/2019

Hiii friends! I question I get all the time from my friends and insta followers is: where should I go to shop for formal occasions? For us college aged girls, it’s probably formals, semi formals, but this could even work for weddings too (bridal showers, couples showers, wedding events galore!)

THE BEST TIPS + TRICKS FOR ONLINE SHOPPING

My favorite places are the sale racks. I just can’t pass up a good sale. I can’t! I always check places like Saks off Fifth, Neimans Last Call, and Revolve sale! You can find amaaaazzzing dresses for half the price! I love a designer dress, but sometimes the splurge is just too much for my poor lil credit card, so that’s when I hit the sales! It may seem daunting to go through pages and pages of dresses, but think of it as thrift shopping. Sometimes ya just gotta dig!

I’ve also had success on sites like Poshmark. If you can find a trustworthy seller, then you’re good to go! I’ve gotten name brands like Lovers + Friends and For Love + Lemons on major sale. Normally I can even find them with the original tags still attached, which is obviously the best deal of them all.

dress | runs TTS, I’m wearing a small

shoes | run TTS, these are my favorite shoes for dressing up! I wear them to everything and they come in tons of different colors!

Here’s direct links to my favorite places to find dresses for formal occasions:

Revolve

Saks Off Fifth

Neimans Last Call

ASOS

Free People

Show Me Your Mumu

Poshmark

Fashion BNKR

Have a formal event coming up? Let me help you find a dress! I swear I have over 100 saved in my cart between all the stores I online window shop at lol.

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Not your mama’s jeans | My favorite mom jeans under $40

Posted in Fashion
on 03/02/2019

I know what you’re thinking. Ew, no. How am I ever supposed to look cute in mom jeans? I could never pull those off blah blah blah. Well, I’m here to tell you that you can and will be able to pull them off after reading this post. I was one of those skeptics but once I found the right pair and figured out how to style them, things were AMAZING. So amazing in fact, that they are now my most worn pair of jeans in my closet. HUUGE FAN. I’m never turning back!

bodysuit // jeans // boots

The ultimate key to pulling off mom jeans is to balance out the looser fit with something tighter on top. If you arne’t a fan of tighter tops or bodysuits, I say a cropped shirt will do the trick too. Showing off that figure is what makes the jeans work. Frumpy with frumpy is what’s not gonna make them work. So stick to cropped or form-fitting on top. My favorite way to style mom jeans is with a bodysuit. I always find the best ones at Forever 21 or Boohoo, NastyGal, Asos, places like that. I’ll link some of my favorite bodysuits below.

the jeans

Now onto the good stuff: these jeans. They’re on sale right now (don’t you love that) for under $30 so please snatch up a pair! I actually cut off the hem of mine for a distressed look and I love the way they turned out. Once you break them in, they’re the best. Super comfy and they can be super flattering (if you style them right). Basically what I’m saying is go get you a pair of mom jeans: they really are all the rage right now!

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Striped sets + my movie marathon list

Posted in Fashion, Lifestyle
on 02/21/2019

The weather lately has been the biggest drag. It’s been rainy and chilly, which is a combination I’m not a fan of. It makes me wanna curl up with a good movie and never ever leave. Anyone feel me on this? I swear I could do that every day for the rest of my life and not get tired of it! A girls gotta Netflix and binge you know!

sweatshirt // shorts

Speaking of curling up in bed with a good movie, there’s nothing that’s more comfy to do it in than a matching set. If you’ve been following me for a while, I’m sure you know that I am a SUCKER for a matching set. There’s just something so extra about it, but I love it too much. I picked up this set a few weeks ago and it has not left my body for very long. I am looooving the muted stripes and the colors are just so fun and springy! Plus you can definitely wear it out! Grocery shopping? Errands? Coffee? Casual lunch? You need for all of the above. Comfy, cute, and matching – nothin better.

I’ll go ahead and put a few of my other favorite matching sets below for y’all! Hop on the bandwagon with me :-)

If you know me, you know I watch ALOT of TV. Really, I do! I would consider myself a connoisseur of romantic comedies. I’ve pretty much seen almost of all them on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon… is that something to celebrate? Idk honestly but I’ll take it! I guess it comes in handy sometimes… and now is one of those cases. I put together a huuuuge list of all my favorite rom-coms from the 80s to now. If you ever need a movie, or 11, to watch- just come here. Screenshot this list and check em all off! You’ll be much more prone to think your life is a movie (I know I do- it’s a character flaw).

THE BEST ROM-COMS EVER

A Cinderella Story // He’s Just Not That Into You // 10 Things I Hate About You // She’s All That // Drive Me Crazy

You’ve Got Mail // 13 Going on 30 // Two Weeks Notice // Stuck in Love // Yours Mine and Ours // Pretty Woman

 Pretty in Pink // Can’t Buy Me Love // Legally Blonde // My Big Fat Greek Wedding // She’s The Man // 27 Dresses

Easy A // Bride Wars // Bridesmaids // Crazy, Stupid, Love // Princess Diaries (1 & 2) // White Christmas // Hairspray

Baby Mama // Mamma Mia // To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before // Almost Famous // Parent Trap // Lizzie McGuire Movie

Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants // Aquamarine // High School Muscial (ALL 3 OBVI) // Pitch Perfect (1 only)

Friends with Benefits // No Strings Attached // Lady Bird // Breakfast at Tiffany’s // Bring It On // La La Land // Grease

The Devil Wears Prada // While You Were Sleeping // Never Been Kissed // Love Actually // Clueless // Trainwreck

When Harry Met Sally // The Proposal

 

PLEASE WATCH SOME MOVIES THIS WEEKEND IN MY NAME! DM me any you think I should add to the list :)

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