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Stripes That Flatter

Published on June 13, 2017June 13, 2017 by PeculiarPorter20 Comments

Hello darling! How is your day going? It is finally h-o-t in Connecticut. It is about time! The past month has been wishy-washy from low 50’s to low 70’s so you bet I’m ready for some nice 80° weather.

Earlier this spring, I interned with Saratoga Living Magazine. I wore this stripe J.Crew dress on one of my days in the office. I definitely have a love hate relationship with stripes and I have a few tips up my sleeve on how I pick the perfect stripe dress.

Tip: Look for pieces that incorporate vertical stripes alongside the horizontal stripes.

If you find a piece that has vertical stripes on your sleeves, near your legs, or on your waist line it will automatically make your silhouette look slimmer and leaner. One of the main reasons I love this dress so much is because the vertical stripes on my waist make my petite torso look so much longer than it actually is. The wide pleats below my waist line also elongate my hips making my waist look even smaller. So when you’re looking for a stripe dress find one that incorporates vertical stripes in your “trouble areas.”

Tip: don’t go overboard with stripes.

Stripes are a busy pattern. It might be wise to try and keep stripes as minimal as possible. If your want more stripes in your outfit try for a bigger pattern so that it doesn’t overwhelm the eye. Since this dress has very tiny stripes it was good that it was at a shorter length compared to a midi or maxi dress. The stripes would have been overwhelming with that amount of fabric.

Tip: Include a bold color in your outfit to break up the busy pattern.

My polo cardigan is the perfect addition to this outfit to break up the thin stripes. If you want to experiment with stripes in this warmer weather definitely try out a bright colored shoe, earrings, or necklace… maybe even a hat! They are all great additions that will incorporate not only your personality but some fun in your outfit.

Other than rocking some stripes I’ve been hunting down jobs. Some of you may be curious how I’m handling my post college life. I’m in this bittersweet faze where I’m happy that my four years are done but also sad that I’m not returning to my “home” this upcoming fall. I’ve been applying to jobs left and right on LinkedIn and Ziprecruiter. I’ve had a few bites here and there and I have a big interview today (fingers crossed that it goes well). My dreams and moral are high so it’s just up to the big guy to send me in the direction I’m needed.

Do I have any recent college graduates reading my blog? Let me know in the comments down below how you’re handling the post college life.

As always,

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Photo Credit: Blogger friend Alicia Bryan. Her blog.

How to Spice Up a Graphic Tee

Published on May 30, 2017May 30, 2017 by PeculiarPorter13 Comments

Hello darlings! Are you being hit by this miserable cold wave? I’m back in Connecticut and it has been in the low 50°’s all week AND it has been raining. Talk about a double-edge-sword.

On the brighter side, this outfit is always my go-to mood booster. This is something about a quirky, graphic tee and a bold, print skirt that puts on one of those feel good smiles on my face. (Speaking of which, my cacti obsession has not ended… I may have just received this cacti print shirt! I’m in love!)

Graphic tees can sometimes be tricky to style. Trust me, I went through a weird phase in middle school where I loved buying graphic tees but would only style them with dark wash skinny jeans. What is the fun in that?

Tip: Spice up that sassy tee with some equally sassy elements.

By adding more patterns and textures in your outfit, you automatically make it so that your outfit is more eye catching. The trick to adding either color or sassy bottoms into your graphic tee is looking at what the pieces have in common. Now, obviously white and black go with everything. Sorry, you caught me… I went for the easy way out. However, if this shirt was in same green the skirt has and still said this fun saying, it would still go perfectly. I love picking a color that is barely represented in a wild pattern like that green and wearing that color as a top. This makes the little color representation stand out and make it more alluring.

Tip: Tie the graphic tee in a knot to give the outfit more dimension. By doing this you automatically make your outfit look more flattering on your body.

The majority of this outfit (tee and skirt) is from Banana Republic. I admit, I rarely ever shop at Banana Republic. I might need to lurk their graphic tee section more because this tee has been on my body nonstop lately. I currently am dreaming about this shirt on sale and this shirt that would look great with high waisted green pants. I usually style this En Blanc En Noir shirt with a knot because it breaks down the material bulk. Plus, it gives my outfit even more sass.

What does your favorite graphic tee say/look? How do you normally style it? Let me know in the comments down below.

As always,

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Photo Credit

Siena College’s Graduation

Published on May 25, 2017May 25, 2017 by PeculiarPorter1 Comment

Hello darling! Based on the picture and the title you probably know that this post is going to be about graduation. The scary and unforgetable moment where you are released into the ‘real’ world.

If you haven’t graduated yet or are about to, there is this unwritten feeling that everyone gets in the audience. We sit there with our butts inching off the chairs to finally walk across that stage. There is a feeling that each grauduate has. It is a mix of excitement and nervousment. Some of people sitting in those chairs know exactly what their next adventure is going to be while others sit in their seats with curiosity. This feeling that is sprinked all throughout the building is something you’ll cling to and remember for the rest of your life. As soon as you get that diploma, you’re entering a life where the choices are now up to you. You no longer have your hand held through assignments and presentations. You are in charge of your future now. It’s a nerve-racking and excting feeling that makes your stomach twist and turn but it’s a feeling that you’ll keep in the back of your mind for the rest of your life.

Many of you are probably wondering, “where is she going to? What is she doing next?” The answer is quite simple. I have no idea. Now, I know that sounds terrifying and scary and overwhelming but it isn’t like that to me. I have so many passions that it is simply hard to pick something that I really want to do. I know one thing, I want to make a difference whether it be with my words or my actions. I want to help people find themselves or help themselves.

I plan on taking you on my adventure to find this. I’ll be taking the next month or two applying to mutiple places. Hopefully, I’ll find a job or a starting position that will help eventually find a way to achieve my goal. I’m not worried, because I believe that God has a plan and he will help figure out what I want to do as long as I put the effort in.

I hope you stay connected to my jouney as I go through this transition to adulthood. If you have any advice feel free to comment down below. As for now I’ll be scrolling through LinkedIn and Indeed.

As always,

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Siena College Champagne Toast

Published on May 16, 2017May 23, 2017 by PeculiarPorter3 Comments

Hello darling! I’m going to let you in on a little tradition that Siena College does every year for seniors. Each year the senior class is invited to the president’s mansion and is given a toast by the friars. Together, six friars and the senior class, we all sing the Siena fight song which goes like this:

Put on your old green bonnet
With the yellow ribbon on it
And we’ll drink 6 friars to the grave

Though we ain’t got knowledge
We’re a damn good college

S-I-E-N-A….

Before the ceremony started, my housemates and I decided to take a few graduation pictures. Siena college does housing very interesting. We are all given a lottery number, based completely randomly, and are supposed to pick our senior housing with that. There six eight-person-houses that were still alive striving this year year. After we leave, they demolishing them and making them six-person-houses. As a result of our crummy lottery number, we had to partner up with another four person group. I wouldn’t have changed getting a crummy lottery number for the world. The four girls I didn’t really know that well before, have become very close. Through countdown parties and even just sitting around doing homework. I wouldn’t have picked a different outcome of this year.

Expect a tear jerker post on graduation coming up this week. *Sighs deeply and tries her best not to whimper.* Thanks for stopping by! Did/does you college have any wacky traditions? Let me know about them in the comments down below.

As always,

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Senior Cruise

Published on May 16, 2017 by PeculiarPorter7 Comments

Hello darling! I wanted to highlight all of the fun I participated in during my last week at Siena College (tears falling quickly down the side of my face). After a jam packed day of bar hopping in Saratoga, the senior class of 2017 hopped on 9 buses to go on a Captain JP Cruise Line boat. The three-hour experience let us sight see Troy to Albany and then back again. We ate, danced, and slightly froze our butts off. Regardless of how cold it was, it was probably one of the most rememberable trips I had during my senior week.

The cruise ship consisted of three different floors. The third and second floors served food and the top floor had an opening to see the dance floor and exit outside the boat. There were also bars on each floor, which made many seniors very happy. During the cruise, we were given a buffet styled dinner that consisted of salted potatoes, salad, eggplant parmesan, bread rolls, and fried chicken. After people finished eating dinner, everyone gained enough courage to take pictures in the cold outdoors. We tried our hardest not to look as if we were freezing out butts off.

Everyone was dressed to the nines but not dressed for the weather. Oh, well! Despite being cold, I was super happy wearing this dress. I’m actually slightly obsessed… I cannot wait to wear it again. The little cutouts made this soft floral pattern so edgy and unique. Plus, the cap sleeves were another reason I was sold. My dress is currently on sale if you want to check that out! It also comes in black.

After the cruise, Siena hosted a “late night dinner” at the dining hall. We blasted music and danced on tables. If you remember High School Musical then you know exactly how the scene looked. One of my friends danced so hard he ripped his pants. If that isn’t rememberable, I don’t know what is.

Looking at these pictures and writing this post is making me sad beyond belief. But I’ll get to that in my upcoming graduation post. Keep your eyes and ears peeled because it may be a tear jerker… or nah.

As always,

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What I’ll Remember Most About Siena College

Published on May 2, 2017May 4, 2017 by PeculiarPorter7 Comments

Hello darling! This post is full of tear jerks and sappy stories… but would it be a college recap if it didn’t? Saturday I went to senior formal with all of the lovely friends I’ve made over the past four years and Monday was the last time I’ll walk out of a classroom at Siena college. It was my last college class… wow, that is scary to type! &Yesterday was when I finished my last undergrad assignment. So, yes, I’m feeling a boat load of emotions.

But how did I get to this point? Four years ago, I was not the person I am today. That may be cliche to say, but I’m a different person from who I was when I was awkwardly brought my belongings into my first dorm. I remember my father telling me that I had to register myself by myself. I was nervous and awkward but it was certainly something he needed to let me do by myself. I shyly got my handbook and saint card and knew this was going to be in interesting four years.

Over the years, I’ve met some incredible people. The Siena community has impacted my life with one open door at a time.

To making friends from the first night in college, to making friends in Italy. My perspective has changed due to these wonderful people. From expanding my horizons away from Dunkin’ Donut’s bagels to dreaming about when my friends come back with Long Island or New Jersey bagels. To realizing people actually say ‘aunt’ like ‘ant’ (still not over it). To realizing no one actually likes tequila (why?). To realize each and every one of us get a little bit home stick once in a while. Each person of the Siena community has changed my perspective to being more openminded and curious. Those are traits you cannot just learn magically over night. Hearing the Siena community’s unique perspectives has helped me become an overall more accepting person, and I wouldn’t change that for the world.

Mickey’s Dress | My dress |My Shoes | Courtney’s Dress

The Siena class of 2017 has given me memories I’ll cherish for years to come. I’ll remember yelling out the windows freshman year, cramming during midterm and finals week, getting lost in multiple countries, buying random fish tanks, being dragged to more Starbucks in foreign countries than in America, each trifecta, Chowderfest and Larkfest, Thursday nights, chucking jolly ranchers out the windows at passing freshman, tarpozia, dressing like creatures for theme parties and halloween, getting brunch at Iron gate, blowing up 300 balloons, Siena fest, losing my voice at basketball games, jumping in pools fully clothed, the list goes on and on and the memories do not stop. These people have created memories I’ll never forget because these people are unforgettable. (Cliche but relevant).

And the new friends that I’ve made just this year. You’ve made this year incredibly exciting and perplexing to how our livers are still existing (sorry mom and dad!). Thank you all for being remarkably you.

With each laugh and each tear shed, I know I made the best decision of my life four years ago. I’m glad to be a Siena alumna…. in 10 days. Not a day shorter or longer.

Senior week begins on Sunday and I look forward to showing you a little piece of my life. I’ll be going to Saratoga, on a cruise in Troy, a champaign toast, the ‘beach’ if it is nice, and actually graduating on the 14th with all these wonderful people. I hope to cling to every second of these last days. Look out for a few tear jerker posts coming soon.

As always,

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The Fall of Instagram?

Published on April 25, 2017 by PeculiarPorter4 Comments

Hey darlings! A little bit different a post than normal. I wanted to open up a little bit of a discussion to see what you guys are thinking about this new Instagram change.

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed but for the past few weeks Instagram has been changing slowly. It seems as if every time I scroll on Instagram I’m seeing more and more advertisements and less content that I actually want to see.

I intern for Aubrey at The Coastal Confidence and she was explaining to me that since Instagram is owned by Facebook, that they’re trying to make the app more sponsor based. That means we’ll see more people promoting their pictures in order for them to be seen and less of your friend’s content.

My opinion…

To me, it has been very frustrating seeing this big change. Instagram is something that has always been more of an intimate experience than other social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. I’m someone who does follow a significant amount of well-known bloggers, but I really enjoy seeing my friend’s content as well as less known bloggers. When I log onto Instagram now, it seems to be more of just the well-known bloggers instead of my friend’s and less known bloggers. I almost am getting to the point where I need to go through an insta-purge and really see who’s content I still enjoy.

However, one thing that makes me not stray far from Instagram is the newly added InstaStories. This addition seems like a more artsy version of snapchat. Plus, I find it really amusing seeing what some of my favorite bloggers are doing in the weekend. It’s a great way to hear their voices and see the way they react to things. Plus, I adore when they do big hauls. It’s something that I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to do on Instagram but if this app stays relevant we’ll never know!

What do you think?

Have you noticed this Instagram change? Does it make you want to rethink who you’re actually following? Do you think there will be a new groundbreaking social media app? Let me know in the comments down below. I’d love to hear your opinions about this.

As always,

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