reviews

▴ Cozy mustard cardigan. For the past few years, I’ve been very into oversized cardigans. They’re basically my favorite way to make any outfit cozy. Despite owning many, this mustard colored one quickly moved into my top spot. It’s so incredibly soft! It looks great with dresses, and pairs easily with jeans and a t-shirt as well.

I purchased a medium and it fits comfortably loose. Medium is my normal size for a cardigan but I’d normally expect them to fit a bit more snug so if you’re looking for a tighter fit definitely size down. Cuddly fit? Get your normal size.

▴ Teva flatform sandals. Formerly a member of the cheap sandals club, these were the most expensive ones I had ever bought. I couldn’t understand why sandals should cost so much. I ended up splurging because I really love the style… and holy cow, my mind is 100% changed. These bad boys taught me that paying for a quality sandal is life changing. That sounds so dramatic but y’all, these are like walking on clouds! I can walk and walk and walk all day with zero pain or rubbing.

Can’t forget to mention the fact that they literally match everything. I can wear them with jeans, shorts, and even dresses and somehow they look perfect with every single outfit.

I wore them almost exclusively all summer, walked a ton and took them on lots of adventures. They show no real signs of wear other than the whites of the stripe on the side being a little dingy. I did see tutorials specifically on how to clean Tevas which I’ll have to give a shot! I definitely want to buy another pair this summer. Maybe these since they’re a tad dressier? Either way, I’m hooked. They’re worth the money!

▴ Bali Illusion-neckline underwire bra. I don’t think that I actually discovered this bra in 2018 but it is the year that I almost exclusively switched to it being my only bra. I love this bra so much that I own multiples in three different colors. (Only reason I don’t have more colors is that every time I want to buy a new one the price on the colored ones seems to be super-inflated compared to a black one)

What’s so great about this bra? Honestly, no idea. I can’t really figure out what makes this bra so perfect and comfortable but it’s so nice that I got rid of every other bra I owned aside from a few ‘fancy’ ones. It looks smooth under t-shirts, the straps don’t dig into my shoulders, and my boobs just fit in the cups really nicely. I don’t feel like I’m overflowing. It also doesn’t do that awful thing where it looks like it fits until you sit down and then the cups pop up.

I truly just love this bra!

▴ Double zip half moon purse. Large enough to hold the essentials but small enough I don’t carry unnecessary crap! Plus it’s super cute and affordable. Simple as that.

▴ Wild Meadow bell sleeve dress. I LOVE this dress. I was a bit hesitant to purchase it based on the one other review but I’m certainly glad I went for it (and for under $15 I really had no excuse not to!)

So, my first impression? It’s perfect! The material almost feels like swimsuit fabric except maybe not as heavy. It’s very comfortable. I actually really enjoy the material its made from because it doesn’t wrinkle very easily. Even sitting at my desk all day in it, it stays wrinkle free.

The fit is spot on. I bought a large, which is what I normally wear, and it fits exactly as I’d expect it. The length is great. I’m five foot seven and find that most dresses are a little short but this one is long enough that I feel comfortable wearing it anywhere.

If you’re not a fan of bell sleeves – this dress is basically the same thing but with different sleeves and a different pattern.

▴ Levi’s skinny jeans. Black high waist skinny jeans are kinda my thing. I’m very happy to have found this pair. They fit my body beautifully, don’t get baggy after wearing them all day, and don’t actually feel like wearing jeans. Don’t get me wrong they aren’t as comfy as leggings but they’re certainly the most comfortable pants I own!

▴ GOgroove camera bag. I love this camera bag so much I wrote a whole post dedicated to it. Read that here. A quick recap though – my all time favorite camera bag and trust me, I’ve owned a lot of them. It holds a ton yet remains comfortable to wear all day. Through my many adventures and the couple road trips its been on, it’s still clean and looking fresh.

One of the most important features it has is side camera access. Being able to grab my camera from the bag without taking the bag off is something I will never compromise on again. It’s just so convenient!

This bag is basically a steal! I highly highly recommend it if you’re in the market for a new camera bag. Be sure to check out my full review for more photos and details.

▴ Black overalls. The sizing options on these overalls nearly scared me away since they come in small, medium, large or extra large and for a pair of pants, I feel like that’s super vague. I suppose I buy pjs in sizes like that but I’m a heck of a lot more picky about how jeans fit than jammies. Since Amazon has super easy & free returns I just went for it. I really wanted a second pair of black overalls, okay? I chose large. I’m very happy with how they fit. If I were going for a tighter fit, I definitely could have pulled off a medium but I actually was looking for a pair with a more relaxed fit.

They’re roomy throughout the legs without looking oversized. The waist even has enough room to fit a bulky sweater without looking stuffed. I’m around five foot seven inches with a long torso and these fit perfectly lengthwise in my torso. Always an issue with overalls!!! The only real questionable thing is the length, which I already mentioned makes them a bit more suited for warm weather. Based on review photos though, if you’re shorter they’ll most likely be perfect on ya!

I am super excited to pair these with my Tevas when the weather warms up!

How about you? What were some of your favorite 2018 clothing purchases?
xoxo

Back in August I found and purchased this adorable pink camera bag. At the time I was using an older version of this bag, which is an awesome bag, I wanted something cuter though. That bag is perfect for exploring, getting dirty with, etc but I felt like it didn’t match the clothes I wear every day.

When I spotted this pink one, I knew it was the one! Something that was more ~me~, ya know? It has all the things I look for in a camera bag but for the price, I was worried it wouldn’t be very high quality.

I’ve been using my new pink camera bag consistently for a few months now. It’s been on a couple road trips, and on some great adventures but is still holding up beautifully! Fifty bucks well spent.

A little overview

▴ External Dimensions – 15″ x 10″ x 7″
▴ Comes in a variety of colors including blue, purple, and of course, pink.
▴ Padded laptop compartment which measures 13.5″L x 9″W.
▴ Adjustable interior dividers.
▴ Includes a rain cover that easily stores in a pocket in the upper section of the bag.
▴ Side camera access zipper.
▴ Multiple accessory pockets.
▴ Tripod foot pocket + strap.
▴ Reinforced with thick padding to protect your devices.

The number one thing I look for in a camera backpack is side camera access. Being able to grab my camera from the bag without taking the bag off is something I will never compromise on again. It’s just so convenient! 

What I keep inside

My daily carry is usually my Canon 6D Mark II with 35mm lens attached. There is definitely room for a second lens in the bottom compartment though. My Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II goes in the top compartment along with my wallet and other odds and ends like my keys. All of that fits super comfortably with lots of room to spare. I can carry the bag all day at this capacity without any pain or feeling like it’s too heavy.

When flying I jam pack this thing! My iPad goes in the laptop pocket. Kindle, Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II, wallet, and Polaroid Originals OneStep 2 all fit in the top compartment. Canon 6D Mark II with 35mm lens attached go in the bottom. I remove the extra dividers and fill the space with packs of Polaroid film. Even completely stuffed like this, it very comfortably fits under an airplane seat.

Friend to bugs patch does not come on the bag, of course. I just can’t stand having a bag without a patch sewn on it. Check out Frog and Toad Press for more fun patches!

I can’t really think of any downsides to this bag, honestly. It’s comfortable, holds everything I want to carry, is a great size for my frame, and looks super cute. I feel like my equipment is safe and secure. Even without the rain cover, which I opt not to keep in the bag, my gear stayed dry while I walked in the rain. I’m super jazzed on this purchase and would absolutely consider purchasing a second bag from the same brand. There’s actually another one just like this but in more colors and with an added pocket. I kinda sorta love the black one.

I highly recommend picking one up for yourself in you’re in the market for a new camera backpack! It’d make a great gift too!
xoxo

I’ve been thinking about getting a point and shoot camera for a while now. I love my DSLR but it’s bulky, I worry about breaking it and it’s not very inconspicuous. The image quality though! I hated spending money on a point and shoot just to sacrifice quality. It was hard to determine what would suit my needs without breaking the bank. Jeff and I would talk about going in on one together and sharing it but we could never decide on which camera to buy. After wanting one really bad for a few years, in the last year or so I’d basically given up on the idea.

…Until Jeff randomly bought one. I was excited for him but initially, not super impressed. Then, a couple days later, while we were out grabbing coffee he offered to let me borrow it to take a photo. Immediately I saw what a great little camera it was. The photo turned out better than expected and I never even had to touch my big, bulky DSLR. Over the next few weeks, I watched him take more photos with that little camera than he had probably the whole year. Sharing it wasn’t really an option. I honestly felt bad asking to borrow it because I could tell he loved it that much. It basically renewed his love of taking photos.

With our honeymoon approaching, I decided I needed my own point and shoot. I was tempted to just buy the same one as Jeff but ended up choosing the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II instead. The big selling point there for me is the flip out screen. I’m a sucker for a flip-up screen. I get so much use out of the one on my 6D (and all the cameras I owned before it that had one) that I’ll never buy a digital camera that doesn’t have one.

The G7 X Mark II is a 20.1 megapixel camera that offers continuous shooting mode (good for kitty yawns!), has an impressive 100mm zoom and even goes down to f/1.8 (perfect for beautiful blurry backgrounds.) It has wireless connectivity so you can transfer photos straight from the camera to your phone which is super useful while you’re out and about. There’s a 3.0″ LCD monitor that tilts up 180° and down 45°, ideal for self-portraits and taking pictures at high or low angles easily. It shoots video, time-lapse movies, and most importantly, you can shoot in RAW.

First impressions

So, obviously, I haven’t had it for very long. Its been just over a month but I can without a doubt say it was a great purchase! I 100% should have purchased this camera sooner. I find myself taking more photos than normal, and capturing moments I probably wouldn’t otherwise. The biggest example I have of that is that Jeff and I actually took some nice photos together on our last trip. We take road trips fairly often and in the last four and a half years we’ve taken only a couple of photos together on those trips. (At this moment, I can literally only think of one photo we took of the two of us on a trip!) Having a small point and shoot camera I can just lean up again my camera bag or purse makes it so easy to get photos together. Its obviously something I can do with my other camera but something about this small camera is changing the way I look at taking photos and what I shoot.

There are certainly instances I prefer to use my DSLR and I’m not sure I’d leave on a vacation without it. I don’t see the G7 X Mark II replacing my 6D but it’s certainly an essential item for me now. I carry it in my purse everywhere I go. (I even bought a purse specifically to make sure the camera would be easy to grab and use!) It makes it so easy to take photos of everyday life. I’m capturing all the little moments I didn’t before because carrying my big camera was too much of a hassle or it wasn’t worth setting up the shot.

The only thing I find even a little bit strange is that it doesn’t have a viewfinder. That’s extremely common with point and shoot cameras but definitely, a weird thing for me to get used to. I still find myself wanting to bring the camera up to my face to shoot. Other than that, no complaints from me at all. Everything is performing exactly as expected. It’s easy to set up, and quick to turn on, focus, and shoot. It’s essentially perfect. Exactly what I was looking for!

The G7 X Mark II was definitely a great purchase. If you’re looking to spend a little less and not 100% attached to the idea of a flip out screen, the G9 X is an incredible little camera as well.

I can’t believe it took me so long to finally get one but I’m certainly glad to have it now.
xoxo