Outfit Post Outtakes & Learning Vulnerability

I originally decided to post these because I was hyper and thought they were hilarious and assumed other people needed a hearty laugh too. Bring on the next morning and I was very hesitant about this post. Vulnerability is difficult, dear ones. And daytime brings about a clarity that night shoots out the window. I did not want to show these photos.

Then I heard this TED talk titled The Power of Vulnerability by Brene Brown. Please listen to it. 

Before it was even finished, I jumped on this post to write a little more.

I want to be a vulnerable blogger, makeup artist, wife, friend, human.  That doesn't mean I HAD to post these. But for me, I feel a great need to look perfect on the outside. I'm a makeup artist and aspiring creative director! It's how I'm supposed to be, right? Expect perfection.

But no, today I choose to show these hilarious photos for two reasons. 1: To allow myself to be vulnerable and 2: because laughter is extremely healthy.

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I asked Nik to take some outfit shots of me and this is what ensued. I call it "Bad Day to Be a Blogger".

 Not all shots turn out well. Or even ok. But at least we had a great afternoon in Battery Park. Thanks Nik! [But I am never asking you to take outfit photos again.] I love you.

And you're welcome for these.

Molls

Park[s] Date

While Lacye visited us, [our first family member to visit us since we were married!] she was super awesome to put up with me begging, "Will you please take pictures of me for my blog??" She's super talented and since I expect everything I do HAS to be AH-mazing, it was swell to have someone take "official" looking pictures. AKA fashion blogger worthy :P. You can see my post about Lacye's style here. She inspires me in so many ways! 

I did my sisterly NYC duties such as taking her thrifting at some favorite shops so that she could return to Arkansas and tell everyone who asks, "Where did I get this amazing blazer? During a trip to New York City visiting my bro and sis. No big deal. Oh yeah, I also picked up these rings and canvas shoes while there. Nothing MAJOR." There should be a sarcasm typeface. 

To the point, I bought both the jacket and the dress at a store in my neighborhood. Super score. Lacye said I looked like I was channeling Blair's style from Atlantic Pacific. And I nearly fell over upon hearing that statement. Who DOESN'T want to have a closet/style like Blair? I count myself a fan.

Jacket: Thrifted | Dress: Thrifted | Tee: H&M | Belt: Thrifted | Leggings: H&M | Boots: TJ Maxx | Gloves: ? Christmas present | Bag: TJ Maxx

Liebster Award

A special thanks goes to Queenly Tan for nominating me for the Liebster Award. The comment she left on this post completely made my day :). Thanks for the blog love Miss Queenly Tan! So now it is my turn to wave the magic wand and throw some fairy dust on 11 bloggers so here goes…

What is the Liebster Award?

The Liebster Awards origins are pretty much a mystery. Bloggers nominate other bloggers that have 500 or less followers. "Liebster" is German for "favorite", so this is kind of like the "favorite blog award". It's basically a "Hey, that's a sweet little blog you've got there. Here's an award!" You can't just accept the award. You have to play by the ever changing rules and pay it forward. Then you can put the award on your blog to see. 

Rules of the Liebster Award:

1. List 11 facts about yourself.

2. Answer the 11 questions given to you.

3. Ask new 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate for the award.

4. Choose 11 bloggers with 500 or less followers to nominate.

5. Go to each bloggers page and let them know about the award. 

6. Thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog.

11 Facts About Myself: 

1. I have five brothers (we all have the same mom and dad) and am the only girl. Can you say SPOILED?

2. I LOVE milk. I drink it with pizza, mexican food, spicy things, and everything in between. My Xanga (anyone remember that social platform?) had a banner that read "I love milk". 

3. I despised college. Even more than that I despised the people who live in the past and claimed "It's the best time of your life" and "life is all downhill after college". What kind of person claims you've peaked in life before your 25th birthday? I'm gonna rock my career and the rest of my life.

4. I have ADD and ADHD which is one hefty reason why college and I were not friends. It makes for interesting life situations :)

5. As a teen/youngster I never wanted to get married and didn't care much for the idea. Guess what? I am married to a freaking amazing man who pushes me to be the best I can be. You can bet my perspective on marriage has changed.

6. I studied abroad for a semester in London, England. I still feel like I left my heart over there. NYC is an excellent band aid though. 

7. Nearly every morning I lived in London I cried because I had never experienced so much gratefulness in my heart. My heart burst in a way that I can't explain. I still thank God all the time for that life changing time. 

8. I get confused with left and right and east and west. I still try to shake hands with people using my left quite innocently believing it to be my right hand. I am full blown lefty so I blame the misunderstanding on that :P

9.  My favorite films usually involve war or violence. I generally dislike romantic comedies.

10. I have been complimented on my firm handshake by several men in random situations.

11. I think sports are boring to watch. Mention the Razorbacks and I'll probably start snoring.

11 Random Questions from Queenly Tan:

1. What do you want to be 5 years from now? A full time, professional, freelance makeup artist with a prominent reputation. 

2. What's your fashion obsession? (Is it bag?shoes?etc.) Blazers and jackets. I will never stop growing my collection of them. 

3. Favorite color? Midnight blue

4. Something you cannot live without? Mascara. I'm a light lashed lassie.

5. Best childhood memory? Any involving mine and my brother's many fort building experiences. Fort Knox was a monster.

6. Other hobbies aside from blogging? Painting! And exploring my city.

7. Straight or curly hair? I love both. Mine is straight but as my moods change I try to make my hair follow suit. Lately it's pompadour, top heavy styles.

8. Ideal man, if any? My husband :)) Witty, skinny, stylish, with a head for business and investing. 

9. Describe your personal style. It depends on which alter ego I am living out that day. Gypsy rockstar. British equestrian. Sidewalk model (NOT to be confused with street walker), a painting come to life. There are so many of us. 

10. Do you believe in 'first impression lasts'? Absolutely. That's one thing that keeps us stylists in business.

11. Motto in life? <Slaps face> "You can't be perfect, Mollie. It's a great learning experience to mess up".

And the Winners Are:

1. Kinks are the New Pink

2. Ashes of Laughter

3. Priscilla Francine Makeup

4. Style of Sam

5. Silver Lining Studio

6. Saved by Fashion

7. Nothing But a Pigeon

8. Nestled in Nostalgia

9. Vanity and Vodka

10. Lizz Aubrey

11. The Fluff Report

11 Questions for my blogger choices: 

1. What has been your most exhilarating life experience so far?

2. Do you try a trend just to try, or because you really like it?

3. What's your biggest career dream/goal?

4. How much in advance do you plan an outfit?

5. What do you do to get inspiration for a post when you don't know what to write about?

6. Who influences your style?

7. What did you wear when younger that mortifies you now?

8. Are you right-brained or left-brained?

9. What possession would you never agree to share?

10. What do you love most about your physical appearance?

11. What is the best thing that could happen if you took a risk and succeeded?

Can't wait to read your answers, ladies!

Mollie

How Nik Proposed

Many of you asked for the story, so here it is. Grab some tissues.

For those who don't know:

1. Nik and I had dated for four years on this date.

2. Nik has lived in NYC for ten months and I live in Arkansas.

3. Long-distance sucks, but is worth it when you desire to spend your life with that person.

4. Nik is also a blogger. (His design blog will make you laugh).

It was dark and stormy night. No not really.

To preface, one week before our FOUR YEAR anniversary, I mentioned to Nik that maybe I should give him pointers about my ideal ring so he would have an idea...you know, when the time came (I imagined the earliest he would propose would be at my graduation in May). He said why not (he was so convincing!) so I began to send him pictures of which setting I thought I liked best.

Eight days later…

Waking up on the morning of our anniversary, I just about slapped myself for telling Nik not to visit. Because it’s my last semester of college, this time is EXtremely busy so I was adamant that he could not visit. It’s just too hard to say goodbye sometimes so not seeing each other is almost easier.  

You know that moment when you REALLY regret something you said and wish you could take it back? That’s how I felt. I began to daydream all day that MAYBE just maybe he would ignore my instructions and swoop down to AR in the most romantic way possible.

He’s extremely romantic, so…maybe? “But no,” I told myself. “He knew you couldn’t emotionally handle it during this time. He’ll respect that.” But everything in me wanted him to surprise me. All day I told my classmates about our four year skype date (I sort of wanted to shout if from the rooftops). I was shocked not to see it on the front page of the newspaper. Typical.

I rushed home after class to get dolled up and sweet Abby Southerland (my “sister”) came to make sure I picked something swell to wear. Little did I know she was making sure I would look good in pictures for when a certain man asked me an important question. She even had a neighbor takes pictures of us, “just because” she said. Yeahhh right.

It was now 5:30 and I jumped on skype, my heart racing. I thought if Nik logged onto skype, then that would settle in mind that he WAS in NYC and not ready to show up at my door. (I’ve said many times that scientists should invent a way to apparate, because it would TRULY revolutionize long-distance relationships. I don’t think they’ve made headway though.) Nik then called me on skype and I answered only to see a blank screen, not his handsome face. (I found out later Nik was covering his camera so that I would think skype wasn’t working. It was all a part of his diabolical plan).  The Skype menu then said “Nik Parks is offline” so my heart was racing even more—not in a good way. He called and said (in the saddest voice he could muster) “Mollie, my internet isn’t working…I don’t think we’re going to be able to skype tonight.”

Tears began rolling down my face before I could hit “end call”. Sobbing uncontrollably and alone on my couch, the emotions swirling inside me took over. This had to be the worst anniversary ever. Dressed up, ALL alone (Ok Mollie, he didn’t fly in for a surprise visit), and feeling like the world could just end. COULD THIS DAY GET ANY WORSE??

Suddenly there was a knock at my door. SERIOUSLY???? (Yes, apparently it can get worse). Worst timing ever award goes to the neighbor-that-I-was-going-to-verbally-attack-and-make-wish-he-had-never-knocked-on-my-door. I swung the door open with a vengeance and low and behold, there stood my Knight in Shining Awesomeness, Nik Parks.

The next part is a bit blurry to me so I had Nik help me “remember” it. You’ll see from the pictures just how stunned I was. I couldn’t believe my eyes!!!!! Nik said  “Heeeeey there” trying to ease into the conversation because he could tell I was about to faint. He hugged me and I was still trying to believe my eyes, hug him, and wipe the running mascara from my face. Shocked, I remember noticing the song “Marry Me” by Bruno Mars was playing and that there was a photographer some feet from us taking pictures—but it never crossed my mind he was about to propose! I was simply pleased he was there in person! That was good enough for me.

Nik said he had something for me and at that exact moment a neighbor decided to come stomping down the stairs. We waited an awkward moment and stared the guy down for his impeccable timing (I have no idea who the poor chump was).

Nik then pulled something out of his pocket, knelt down on one knee, and asked,

“Mollie, will you marry me?”

WHAT THE WHAT??? As if my heart could take any more surprises, he popped the question!!!! In disbelief, I leaned toward him, began poking his forehead and asked (I was dead serious mind you)

“Is this real? Are you really here?”

He reassured me that he was every bit real and quite serious.

I grabbed his face and whispered “OF COURSE!!!”

The rest my friends, is history. Blissful history.

Thanks to Tyler Hollowell for these images!

First moment seeing Nik:

 It was perfect. I wouldn't change a thing about it. Nik did an INCREDIBLY spectacular job.

I love you Nikolas!!

Molls.

P.S. The ring he gave me looked EXACTLY like the picture I sent him of my dream ring. I sent that picture days after he already had it made.

Adventures on Dickson

Abby and I took a much needed morning off to dress up and relax after a highly emotional week.

Started with breakfast at The Little Bread Company, then coffee at BHK, and a stroll down a very  windy Dickson. Our strolling led us to my favorite shop, The Dickson Street Bookstore where   we lost ourselves for an hour reading How to Kazoo, Imperatables, and Anna Pavlova. I'd say it was     

    a grand day off. 

Jacket: New York and Company | Dress: Target | Tights: Express | Shoes: Gianni Bini | Watch: Michael Kors

Photo Shoot World

Can I admit something? Most of the time I day dream in what I call "photo shoot world". I see a color, a fierce makeup look, a cunning tea cup, a well cut glove, darling vintage item, avant garde hairstyle, dainty flower bouquet, or dark wooden floor and my mind instantly creates a photo shoot around that item.  Mind you I do it with people too so watch out, I might be mentally styling you into one of the shoots. 

Since it's my passion, I assumed this was an excellent choice for a career. Right? Do what you love is what "they" say. (Who are "they"? Elizabethtown anyone?)

Hence I am creating photo shoots for my portfolio. I have a stunning model and best friend, Abby, who happens to be my sister as well (Not biological, but since when did that matter? We're family). I had no idea how skilled she was until this shoot. She blew my mind! Then bring on the photographer, Mallory, who is such a visionary and eats creativity for breakfast. She is a winner in my book. Aka she's a killer photographer. I get stinkin' stoked when we find time to collaborate. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I present:

Night Time Makeup Shoot

The lovely and talented Bri and I got together for an indoor night shoot last week and boy, was it splendid! Bri is one of my oldest and closet friends and I adore creating art with her. She often doesn't give herself enough credit in the talent department so I'll do it for her...Ladies and Gents, someday you will hear her name and it will be synonymous with the likes of Annie Leibovitz, Tim Walker, Nick Knight, and Patrick Demarchelier. (Sorry Bri, I only know fashion photographers).

If you're interested in the photography elements of the shoot, head over to Bri's post about the shoot.


These next shots (images 1 and 3) are from a "shoot" we did in tenth grade (See? We've always been dabbling in our fields :). The 2nd and 4th images are our recreation of them. I think it's fascinating to see how much I've changed.

Is it possible to be TOO passionate? I think not. I have passion for shoots flowing out my ears :). That made more sense in my head. Anyway.

Until next time,

Molls