Ballerina Fox: Tulle of the Trade Skirt

Skirt // Modcloth

If I could say every photoshoot I did was as successful as this one, I'd say I'm making it as a blogger. Like, bruh - look at me. My bestie and I ventured into San Francisco this past Sunday to see Aladdin at the Orpheum (which is visually stunning af), and we decided to take some photos while we were at it! This was my first shoot in a real location, and it was bananas. I thought I would clam up, but in San Francisco, no one cares. I did the best I've ever done in front of the camera! We did our thing, and our day was beyond perfect! Like, I wish I could have days like it all the time. I'm getting more comfortable in front of the camera, and my bestie is getting better behind it. It's so weird to think our first shoot for my Singing in the Summer look was only four months ago. Time flies! But la-de-da, y'all aren't here for my my friendship musings. Let's. Talk. About. This. Skirt.

Dear Diary: 5 Benefits of Writing in a Journal

I've had an interest in journaling ever since I was a kid. I loved the idea of having a space for me to engage with myself and explore my emotions and thoughts because, well, I had a lot. I was always real garbage at keeping a journal though because it flared up my insecurity about my handwriting, or I would miss a bunch of days and fall off the wagon. Nevertheless, I'm back to journaling, and I'm feeling, like, way better about it this time.

My Sweater Weather Wishlist 2017

My little autumn heart has been breaking the last couple days. The clock hadn't even struck midnight on Halloween and my Twitter was already becoming a scroll fest of Christmas fantasies and winter gifs. You guuuuuuys. It's still autumn! We Americans still have Thanksgiving to enjoy! I mean, this week has been the first chilly, autumnal week I've had of the season. I've been dealing with summer temperatures still. I'm standing on my ground with this autumn business, buuut today's post is perfect whether you're enjoying the leaves or ready for snow. Autumn and winter are both sweater weather season, so here are some sweaters I hope to prance about in!

*None of the following images in this post are my own. They all belong to their respective product sellers.*

Poem 009: Moth on the Window

It's a moth on the window,

trying to reach light

separated by glass pane,

a wall holding back small body

in the glow-speckled dark

from what lies ahead.

A brightness cascading

in precise angles,

warming at the edges,

clarifying what the speckles

won't illuminate.

The moth doesn't know

the tangles of glass,

the unyeilding translucence.

It doesn't know how to pass

what all seems to be so

clear.

...

Plot Notes: A New Perspective

I'm burning a Cozy Flannel scented candle and have eaten two chocolate mint chip cookies. I didn't need the cookies at all, but this week has been the week of comfort food. I've spent my weekend organizing, cleaning, and unpacking my evacuation bags. Today is the first day in a week I've felt any peace. I've been chatting on Twitter about it, but in case you aren't aware, California is on fire. That might sound a bit hyperbolic, but I mean, if you want to take the time to look up just the Tubbs fire and Atlas fire, you'll get it. It's all horrifying, honestly.

Get A Boyfriend: Ahh-mazingly Soft Boyfriend Flannel

Flannel // American Eagle

I wasn't lying when I said I want to buy all the flannels. Like, mmm. The old me wants to say I spent too much, but I'm the new me with an adult job who can afford to spurge on four American Eagle Ahh-mazingly Soft Boyfriend Flannels since they were 25% off. I regret nothing, and you can't make me. Lemme tell ya that when I say these babies are soft, they're soft.

An Autumn Fashion Wishlist 2017

Hnnnng you guys don't even know how hyped I am about autumn fashion. I just spent more than I care to admit on flannels this past weekend, and I regret nothing. Besides, they were on sale. I always tell myself I'm going to go all out with fashion once the cooler seasons hit, but then I'm sleepy and wanna be warm and become a cozy little ball of ugly. I am determined af to be fine as hell this autumn. I need to trick myself in buying clothes that are comfy and warm while still showing how cute and bougie I am. Here's a few things I've found:

*None of the following images in this post are my own. They all belong to their respective product sellers.*

Through Falling Leaves: My Autumn Bucket List

AUTUMN THOUGH! Autumn is the best season of all seasons, and I'm ready to have a full on physical altercation about it but not really please don't hit me. The colors, the weather, the energy - mmm. I can't get enough of it. It's such a beautiful time of year. I just... ahh. My plans for autumn are maybe not as lavish as my Spring Bucket List or Summer Bucket List, but it's not a contest, ya know? Here's all the lovely things I want to have happen this seasons:

966 Pearl: Melted in Napa Valley

There's a first time for everything, so why not a first here on TCFL with a lil restuarant review? I've been full of firsts lately: first adult job post-graduation, first bachelorette party, first pole showcase, and first weekend brunch of many more to come! I'm right now feeling like a terrible blogger because I feel like I should have link opportunities here, but I neglect to make posts about fun events in my life. Oh well. Who needs to think about life when we can think about the deliciousness that is Melted in the Napa Valley?

Life with Cat Ears: 10 Reasons I'd be a Good Cat

Love the look? Check it out here.

If you haven't figured it out, I like cats. My Cat Babe Wishlist and my second Cat Babe Wishlist probably gave it away, but hey, I'm always happy to remind you. I'm a nice girl. My thorough love for cats often has me thinking what a good cat I would be.

008: Threaded

Love the look? Check it out here.

I’ve been held together by thread,

Threading thoughts

I filter through teeth,

Scraping away unpleasantries

And truths I thought might make you

Leave.

A thread I guided with trembled hand,

Going over and over mistakes,

Tricks of mind, personal deceptions,

Leaving lumped cross stitching

To be the perception of me.

I taste what I should have said

As I choke on the thread

Coming up my throat.

It’s smooth, water,

Cheek to earth,

Natural – where I was

Before I picked up a needle.

Here I am,

Starting to unravel.

...

The Vineyard Girl: Ruffled Wrap Skirt and Wander Necklace

Top // Cotton On (Similar)

Necklace // Etsy

Skirt // Zara

Shoes // Modcloth (unavailable)

You know how some outfits just make you feel pretty? Like, you look in the mirror and you're like GIRL. There's bae; I found her. It's me. I'm bae. Forever and always. But anyway, I absolutely love this outfit. One of my friends said she'd never been so attracted to me as she was when she saw my pictures. Safe to say this outfit makes me quite the attractive lady.

How I Knew I Wasn't In Love

Love the look? Check it out here.

*This is an archived post from my last blog Smile, Sugar. I have lightly altered it, but it is mostly unchanged from it's original writing and posting in summer, 2016.*

Christmas Time, 2013

I hadn’t bought my boyfriend a Christmas gift yet. Lights were strung through the neighborhood, Christmas trees were glowing in windows, and every radio station was playing some rendition of Jingle Bell Rock. Christmas was quickly coming - how did I not have a gift yet? I didn’t have much money, so I was struck trying to find something that was honest yet affordable. I mmm-ed and ahh-ed about it for a while, and suddenly I thought I had the perfect idea: I would tell him I love him. 

007: Tattered Carnations

A petal blooded girl

Spilling red roses and fuchsia

From wounds where wings

Used to be.

Wings of calla lilies, carnations,

Daisies for a daisied mind,

Flower girl with blooms in her hair

tied around her hips,

On the road, petals pooling,

Hands trembling with

Tattered carnations

She pulled from her own back.

Calla lilies linger

On her tongue, ghostly,

As teeth grind white petals.

Day, periwinkle lit,

Picks petals from her feet

And speckles the air

With her shame.

...

Singing in the Summer: Red Gingham Mini Dress and Core Values Necklace

Dress // Zara (unavailable)

Necklace // Modcloth (unavailable)

Shoes // Target

Bruh, what? A fashion post? From me? Is this even happening right now? Who even am I?

A Summer Fashion Wishlist 2017

Oh my goddddd. Straight up, this post is a lie. I literally have no summer fashion wishlist because it is so hot, all I want to do is be naked and not leave the cool sanctuary of my room. This hot weather is disgusting and I hate it and I do not handle heat well AT ALL. I know I was just saying how much I want it to be summer, but I've changed my mind. No. I don't want this. Stop. Buuuut society says I do, in fact, have to leave my house... clothed. Given that's the case, here's what I'd ideally like to leave the house in.

*None of the following images in this post are my own. They all belong to their respective product sellers.*

Under the Sun: My Summer Bucket List

"You're busy playing nice, you sweeten up my life,
I'm here making eyes tryna keep you by my side."
Sugar, You, Oh Honey

Tuuuurn uuuuup! Summer time is here! Well, maybe not actually here because space and solstices and alignments and the planet and rotations and blahhhhhh. I didn't do well in science class, okay? The point is summer technically isn't here until Wednesday. But, like, I think I can ignore the that? Considering how insanely hot it is??? I think I've almost died twice? It's summer as far as I'm concerned. Summer is the time for adventure and shenanigans (And trying to survive but)! If I had to do a bucket list for exclusively one season, summer would probably be the most optimal since it's when everyone is in the mindset of LET'S GOOOO!

A Life By Words: The Two Quotes I Live By

When I originally set out to write this post, I thought I would include about five quotes. Five feels like the minimum, safe amount for a blog post (thought I recently broke that in my post Three Tips to Help You Start Writing Poetry Today), but when it came down to it, I realized I only needed two. I mean, like, I could sit here and pour over Google and Pinterest for beautiful quotes that make me feel all existential and profound about myself just for reading them, but that wouldn't be authentic now would it?

Poetic Beginnings: Three Tips to Help You Start Writing Poetry Today

*This is an archived post from my last blog Smile, Sugar. I have lightly edited it, but it is mostly unchanged from it's original writing and posting in early summer, 2016.*

Let me state up front I'm not a poetry master. My poetry isn’t a godsend, and I only barely have my creative writing degree. I’m an average girl who likes to write poetry (take long walks on the beach, cuddle by the fire…) and think I'm decent enough to maybe help others out. Cool beans? Cool beans.

Plot Notes: The Do Something About It Phase

Heck yeah! Another Plot Notes post. I've basically been busy every Sunday since my first Plot Notes post went up, but hey, I said from the get go they'd be casual, didn't I? I've been going on and on in a few of my posts recently about how terrible of a blogger I was in April, but I've moved passed the Gripe, Gripe, Gripe phase (thank god, right? 'bout time) and have entered the Do Something About It phase.

The Pinterest Girl: My Thoughts on Peer Pressure to be the Perfect Blogger

I feel like I need to start this with every disclaimer in the book. I don't want to ruffle any feathers, but this is one of those things I feel like chatting about. So here goes: I love blogging - honestly. I think the community is full of so many great people who make incredible content. Like, everyone works so hard on their blogs and it's amazing to see everyone discover new talents as they progress on their blogging journey. I truly admire how much work bloggers put into everything they do.

Another Cat Babe Wishlist

Yes! It's happening: another wishlist full of all things cat and babe! I was startled with how popular my first Cat Babe Wishlist was, so I thought it would only be appropriate to continue and do another. Oh no - I had to shop for more cat things. Poor me. I'm the saddest girl. Yeah right. But seriously, I'm so happy with how my last list was received and how so many people actually resonated with the term Cat Babe. It warmed my heart, to say the least. I'll stop holding up what you're here for though. Enjoy my latest list!

*None of the following images in this post are my own. They all belong to their respective product sellers.*

Poetic Process: Writing to an Obsession

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I know it's been a while since I've put up a poem, but I've already mentioned what a funk I've been in. Like other aspects of life, I haven't been inspired on the poetry front. Life has been muse-less for poor little me. Booo hooooo. I'm getting back to it though! Since I have no new or technically interesting work to share with you, I thought I would go ahead and do some collection talk and discuss methodology I have going on with it. In particular, I'm going to discuss writing to an obsession. I highly recommend reading my poems Watercolors and For You for this post because they're relevant afffff.

Plot Notes: A Peek Into My Blogging Process

You may or may not have noticed, but I toootally missed out on posting last week. My general posting schedule is Mondays and Thursdays, but last week I just... I couldn't do it. I was in a weird mental space where I felt detached from everything. You know what I mean? All my art and passions weren't connecting with me the way they normally do, and I honestly spent my time lounging and binge watching Silicon Valley. I wanted to blog. Like, I love blogging, friends, but even blogging wasn't singing to me.

006: For You

I never loved you,

But with flowers, I tried.

Pulling from gardens

I grew for you,

Every flower [blooming]

For you. I slink through

Scents to bottle for you,

Picking petals

From each one for you.

Three, seven, thirteen,

I start counting to see

If there are the same number of

petals on each flower for you.

Mind daisied for you. I say

I hate you, I love you, I hate you.

I always loved you,

Do you love me?

I break it into pieces

I put in the flowers –

For you.

...

The 21-Year-Old Virgin: My Thoughts on Being a Virgin in My Twenties

"Take off all your clothes and

Baby, let me blow your mind"

Stroke God, Millionaire, Dance Gavin Dance

The birds and the bees. Bumpin' uglies. Goin' all the way. Doin' the deed. Gettin' lucky. Makin' love.

I, uh, can't tell you what that particular sensation is like, my friends. I mean, I hear it's quite lovely and many people have an enthusiastic outlook on the activity. I hear I'm missing out and god, I need to get laid already. I also hear it's only okay and I need to hold onto my virginity for dear life. Talk about mixed reviews, am I right?

Floral Days: My Spring Bucket List

"I'm wide awake, so what's the point of dreaming when your life is great?

Celebrate the feeling, celebrate the feeling"

Be Okay, Oh Honey

Why hello, spring! Yes, yes, the glorious spring equinox has arrived, so turn up for pretty flower days ahead. Days full of picnics, bright colors, and all things floral are now in our midst. The first day of spring has been full of rain for me, but I'm not going to let it get me down. The rainy days will pass, and I'll have days full of pleasant bits of sun flitting through the air. Spring is such a pretty time of year. The flowers bloom and green returning to the trees sparks up a little flair for adventure and achievement. Since I'm rather jazzed about the season, here's my bucket list of things I want to do!

A Spring Fashion Wishlist 2017

Spring is officially one week away, and I'm bursting! Like, dude, you don't even know. We were basically drowning here in California for all of February, so I'm begging for spring. We've been getting some beautiful sunshine the last two weeks, luckily. I've been able to shimmy my way into a few dresses and flirt with some sandals! I love the fashion of spring time because I'm totally a dress and skirt type of gal. Since I'm so jazzed about it, here's a little wishlist of a few bits I'd love to have for the season.

*None of the following images belong to me. They belong to their respective sellers.*

005: Tantrum

Freckles are embers

singed by bleeding indigo flames

from mouth unkind.

Charcoal falls, ash rains,

fist collides with the wall.

It burns from my knuckles.

It’s burning. Everything is burning.

I am burning.

Dense black and purple smoke

fills lungs, it tastes

bitter on the tongue.

A flash in my eyes,

I scream unkind with

bleeding indigo flames.

...

004: Light

I turn on a light

and flecks speckle air -

flitting, glinting, charming

in my aura. [brightening]

In white palm, I take them,

pale gold, sparkling,

and crush them to

glittered dust

I run over my body.

I twirl the coy ribbons

flirting in the air

around my finger,

tingling warm, summer morning,

and weave them through my hair

so it looks like it

shines.

It is not gilding

if it is light, not gold.

Made of shadow, stroked

with light, I am dusk.

...

A Cat Babe Wishlist

Real talk - I'm lowkey obsessed with cats. I think they are such sweet little creatures and I want to rub my face on every single one. Well, except the ones I know will scratch my face off. I'll pet those ones from a comfortable distance... with my eyes. You get the point though: Bre vibes with cats. My affection for these little cuties earns me the title of "cat lady," but my god. How completely unsexy does that sound? I mean, honestly? We have this cultural vision of a cat lady and the negativity people imply with that term, and I think it's just kinda mean. That's not me - I just like cats. So no, I'm not a cat lady. I'm a CAT BABE. I have no shame in my love for kitty bitties, and one of my favorite ways to show that is in my fashion. So to all my fellow cat babes, here are some bits and bobs I want to add to my cat babe wardrobe. 

*None of the following images in this post are my own. They all belong to their respective product sellers.*

Twenty Things that Make Me Happy

I don’t know why, but I’ve always felt an aversion to writing this type of post. Like, I totally love reading them (nosy af), but I’ve felt like no one would be interested in reading mine. And that’s silly, right? I mean, I know you’re all basically obsessed with me and want to know every silly detail there is to know, right?

Now Accepting Boyfriend Applications

"Drink that love / It's like a habit
Feeling like a savage / You know I gotta have it"

Young Robot, Dance Gavin Dance

Pro tip: this post is entirely a joke, Please take it as such. Thanks bby

003: June

Careless days back in June

with lazy breeze no match for sun fever.

Gazing, watching, wondering in blue.

Bugs around me dance effervescent.

I’m lost under the willow tree

with thoughts that ponder skyscrapers.

Concrete cracks spit dandelions

they crush under their city shoes.

But flowers grow in my stomach,

drawing in honey bees

who hum evening symphonies

for orange watercolor atmosphere.

Tip-toed starlight sneaks into the sky, elegant

and slow. Take a moment, listen

to the night, become lost again.

Breathe, intoxicate yourself with nature’s perfume.

...

What You Need for Your First Pole Class

Ayyye so you you wanna pole dance, huh? That’s what’s up. I have people in my life and online tell me how cool they think it would be to take a pole class all the time. Of those people, I actually manage to convince a few. It’s exciting and you feel a little sexy just thinking about it, but I won’t pretend there aren’t some nerves before. A lot of those nerves are because you don’t what to expect, and you don’t know how to prepare. I mean, I would have loved to have had a comprehensive list of what I needed before going into, so I thought I would try and put a lil something together. (You're welcome.)

The Makeup Confession

*This is an archived post from my first blog Smile, Sugar. It got a lot of praise, so I want to repost it here. This post was originally written and shared in spring 2016.*

A confession: I love makeup.

This is a bit about myself I never wanted to admit. You see, liking makeup isn’t something I can simply acknowledge and go about with my business. Oh no - saying I like makeup is the antithesis of the insecure views I once clutched to like they were my lifeline.

002: Cocklebur

Lingering in the eye,

It draws along nose

To Cupid’s bow,

shapes the mouth,

evoking language,

philosophy.

Tangling teeth with spools

Of old thread –

A thread through lips,

In breeze,

Waving and waiting,

Waiting to catch

The bur on a sleeve.

5 Tips for a Better #TeacupClub Meeting

If you follow me, it’s likely you know about #TeacupClub. If you don't, well, I mean, I'm impressed. I feel like I talk about it all the time. #TeacupClub is a community I started on Twitter back in May 2016 for bloggers to chat and have organized comment exchanges. I have a whole page about it you can check out too! The comment exchanges are what I - ever so cleverly - named club meetings.

Why Did I Start Over?

Okay, yeah… I’ve been pretty vague about this topic, so I guess I'll take a moment to elaborate on the deets. Like I've said, I had a blog before this one, and it was called Smile, Sugar. (with a period at the end). A good number of you probably remember my announcement I was shutting down back in August. The idea was something that hit me pretty suddenly, and it felt right, ya know? I told myself I’d put too much into it to just be like nahhh, but deep in my gut I knew shutting down was what I needed to do

But, like, why?

001: Watercolors

With watercolors,

I paint the air between

Us.

Yellow, because I’m trying,

And burgundy because you

Like the way it looks on your

Skin.

I dip my brush

Into crystal cup,

Ballerina shoe ribbons of color

Dancing to orange,

Mixed to sensible harmony.

I go for blush pink

But the mixture isn’t right.

The colors mush to

Runny earth tone.

I pour my cup in the air

Between us

To wash away the color,

But we already watched

The paint dry.

I'm Back, Baby

Hello, hello! Oh, how I've missed this.

It feels like it's been forever and a day since I've made a blog post. Which, I mean, it lowkey has been, but that doesn't matter anymore because I'm here now! For those of you who have never met me, I’m Bre. I wrote a blog for a while, stopped, and now I write this one. You haven’t missed much, to be honest.