letting go

via 

Confession.
I am a perfectionist.
And I have it in my mind that I need to have everything together-- and for me, that's a lot. Succeeding at the day job, the blog, my etsy shop, in my relationship with God, my husband, my family, my friends... plus a clean house, healthy meals... it goes on.

And I know I'm not alone in this. And in no way would I ever judge anyone else for working really hard on their blog and not having time to do laundry or cook. Yet, I judge myself. I don't give myself the same freedom I extend to others.

But I'm deciding this summer is the time to let go in some areas. I do not need to be perfect. You do not need to be perfect. And that laundry can sit in the dryer for another week.

How do you let go?

xo, erika

i've learned

blazer: thrifted // top: gift // jeans: urban outfitters // shoes: seychelles (old)

I've learned a few things recently.

Like...
- no one looks graceful running to catch the bus. especially when that someone is wearing high heels and carrying too many bags
- a piece of a toilet seat cover actually works just as well as an oil blotting sheet. (weird, I know)
- ice cream, like chocolate, is good for the soul and sometimes a necessary part of the diet
- reality tv, sometimes, is also very necessary (especially after a long day.)
- white blazers (or any blazers for that matter) are a great thrift find
- and no matter how cute the shoe is, if it's painful to walk in, it's not worth it.

surprisingly the shoes I'm wearing here are rather comfortable (for 4-inch heels that is.)

xo, erika

p.s. anything weird you've learned lately?

mint green + orange

dress: fleet collection // shoes: urban outfitters

I bought this dress over Memorial Day and it was one of those things that I stalked online and when I saw the 15% off I had to get it even though I had told myself that I didn't need it.

It's hung in my closet until yesterday when I pulled it out for a wedding in central Washington. It was a great wedding, but what wasn't so great was us getting lost in the forest (literally) on our way there. I guess that's what you get when you try and fit in a side trip to the oldest bar in Washington before the ceremony. 

Don't worry-- no one really noticed me running across the field during the procession.

What did you do this weekend? Have you ever been late to a wedding? Or is that just me...

xo, erika

friday finds + favorites #4

 

what do you on thursday nights when you're supposed to be doing something else... you redo your blog layout, that's what. (to be fair, I did fold laundry first.)

I switched from two columns to three. oh, yeah. (brushes shoulder off.)

And when I redid my social media buttons, I found this gem: pantone colored buttons! brilliant.

other good things on the internet:

 this bleach tutorial is helpful and hilarious.

I need to find some skinny little gold tubes to make these. via honestly wtf.

I love baby goats (well actually any baby animal) so I loved these photos on gentri lee's blog

i also liked this kitchen redo and this hilarious bachelorette recap and this post too. 

in real life:
sunshine! // a wedding this weekend // a lunchtime run by the water // this salad for lunch // golfing with the husband (first time golfing ever!) // bachelorette viewing parties w/ my friends // blueberries

<a href="http://rougeandwhimsy.blogspot.com/search/label/friday%20finds%20and%20favorites" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpb5Pp81i8PFOkw9BVD6Cautjs6SddFofo8Veaf__E0NJD5wKVwLBSyMS3yKIveSvmK3VmUIhtZ09NcNholPq4nYFGRmGEuouzZ75L1LEdNdJCXZGQ6b8irVa9I3wz8-PhVF2Mm91uUuRO/s400/18383449009.jpg" border="0" alt="Rouge & Whimsy" /></a>  

link up! 

xo, erika

the thrifting olympics

I love the Olympics even though I am not particularly athletic-- growing up I was the hiking-running-dance-horseback riding girl and was probably less than average in each, so I never had a real dream of competing in the Olympics.

Well the real Olympics, that is.

I'd like to think that I'd do pretty well in another type of Olympics, with events like coffee drinking, twitter refreshing, alarm snoozing and thrifting. I'd like to think my latest thrift would have brought home the gold. If I was competing or anything. You know.

But it was honestly one of those days when (almost) everything fit and it was just win after win and I almost hugged the lady at the register in sheer glee. Not all days are thrifting gold; some days I don't get anything good, which is why when Olympics-worthy trips come along, it's worthy of a lengthy post in praise of the haul.

so bear with me as I boast.

why it's amazing: polka dots and stripes and it's Ann Taylor (from like 20 years ago)
cost: $4.99

why it's amazing: pleated mid-length skirts are my new thing (see me wear it here)

cost: $3.99

why it's amazing: so good over a swimsuit or with a knit maxi skirt

cost: $4.99

*not pictured: a white blazer and a pair of floral shorts that were 99 cents... and in need of a major refashion, (which may or may not work.)*

have you found anything good lately on the cheap?

xo, erika

p.s. link up your online (and real life) favorites tomorrow for friday finds and favorites!