purple rain

If my flattened hair didn't give it away, it just started sprinkling when we started taking these pictures. I kind of forgot that with the beautiful spells of sun and 65 degrees comes random thunderstorms...

On a completely different, non-boring weather, topic is the subject of Rocksbox. If you guys follow on instagram, you've probably seen that I've been wearing various pieces of jewelry from them lately. There are literally hundreds of different subscription boxes out there - make-up, nail polish, clothes, snacks, you know the drill. I've tried a couple of them, like Birchbox and Le Tote, and wasn't the biggest fan. The concept of Le Tote is wonderful, but if you are outside of their standard sizing, the clothes didn't fit all that well - everything was always shorter than I wanted it to me, so it wasn't worth the cost of the box for me.

You know what looks good on everyone? Jewelry. Rocksbox asked me a few months ago if I wanted to try out their jewelry subscription box, and hey, who doesn't like to wear free jewelry? The concept of Rocksbox is for $20 a month, you basically get an unlimited amount of jewelry - well, you really get 3 pieces at a time, but if you don't like it, you can send it back and have a new box at your house in just a few days. Rocksbox gave me a subscription for three months, and I was thinking about if I would spend my own money on it, and you know, I really would. I have a large collection of necklaces I don't really wear. I wear them a few times and then I'm kind of bored with them. There are definitely exceptions - certain items I wear over and over again, but I definitely have more that I don't wear. When I got this Juliet + Co. necklace in a recent box, I was so excited because it's so pretty...but it's also a very "statement" pieces that I know I wouldn't wear as often as the cost would make me feel like I had to. So I wore it with an outfit I loved, and then sent it right back. Best part is that now I have a new box coming my way with a few pieces I think I will really love, and if it turns out I want to wear them again and again, I can buy them from Rocksbox at a discounted price (plus they give you $10 every month that goes toward a purchase, so it's even cheaper). 

Rocksbox isn't paying me to say any of this, but I wanted to share my thoughts on their subscription box. If you'd like to give it a try, you can get a free month with the code "franishxoxo". If you've signed up, or do in the future, I'd love to hear about your opinions on it! 

Blazer: Loft [exact | review here]

Tee: Boden [exact]

Pants: The Limited [exact]

Necklace: borrowed from Rocksbox

Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington [exact]

Shoes: J.Crew Factory [exact]

Nails: Essie [exact]

shopping, party of one

I've always heard that the day after Christmas is the best day of the year to go shopping, and so today I'm braving the crowds and going to the mall. I haven't been in a mall by myself in over a year, so I'm excited to just go! I really enjoy shopping by myself, but since we live further away from a bigger mall, I'm always either with my boyfriend or my girlfriends, and I hate making people wait around for me to try anything on so I end up never really getting anything. 

Since we're at my boyfriend's parents house for the week and they live in a bigger city, I have the opportunity to go out by myself! Here are some of the current deals out there, and just a few of the things I'd love to try on. Are you going out today, and are you still recovering from all the Christmas goodies?

• Banana Republic: up to 50% off 
• The side-zip sweater I tried on a few weeks ago is now on sale
• I'd love to try on this slight peplum top (perfect for our NYE plans!)
• Gap: 35% off online (code: GIFT4ME)
• I recently got this wireless bra for sleeping (you know, for when you aren't in your own home haha) and it's super cute and soft. I barely even notice it. There are also matching bottoms ;)
• I've heard that the Eversoft sweaters have a cult-like following - this v-neck sweater comes in several great colors (that red is so pretty!)
• J.Crew: 30% off full price + 40% off sale items (code: HOLIDAYTIME)
• Full price: you'll wear this plaid boyfriend shirt for Christmases to come
• On sale: these pencil skirts are amazing and now on super sale (I love that green color!) 
• Loft: 50% off everything (including some Lou & Grey)
• This sweater is the perfect mix of comfort and style - wouldn't it look great with leggings and boots?
• The pattern on this dress isn't actually polka dots. I think it would make a great dress for all seasons, just depends on the accessories! 
• I highly recommend this blouse that I got last month. I did end up having my tailor take it in on the sides slightly, but now it's one of my favorite blouses. I wore it to CR's grandmothers for Christmas and received several compliments :)
• Madewell: 30% off sale items + free shipping on all orders (code: FORYOU)
• This quilted transport tote is now just slightly over $100
• I don't love the styling of this skirt online, but think it would be super cute in real life

Sweater: Everlane [exact]

Tee: Boden

Pants: c/o Zappos [exact]

Scarf: Banana Republic 

Purse: c/o Shopbop [exact]

Watch: Michael Kors [save | exact]

Bracelet: gift from Lizzi [exact]

troll-lol-lol

Another day in Seattle means another day of playing tourist/tour guide! Bri let us use her car on Friday, so after a beautiful walk around Green Lake, we headed down to Ballard to grab some nachos + margaritas for lunch from the Matador, and then to Fremont to visit the troll who lives under the bridge (turns out he's a big softy). We ended up spending another hour walking around the area - it's adorable, and maybe my favorite part of the city so far. For dinner we had a sushi picnic down around Green Lake again - there were sooooooo many adorable babies around. It was mentioned that it was like watching real life America's Funniest Home Videos, with all the kids falling face forward into the wading pool and toddlers chasing squirrels, and it was so true!

On Saturday we headed up (down? over?) to go on a little hike to Snoqualmie Falls. Bri and I seem to match where ever we go - this time in our favorite Everlane tees. After the "strenious" hike, we treated ourselves to the most expensive pizzas ever, but they were worth every cent as they were so so good.

On the way back into the city we stopped at U Village because I've wanted to get to a Madewell all summer. I was hoping and praying that this crossbody bag would magically be on sale as it would be the best bag ever, but it was unfortunately still full price. My luck turned though when we popped into J.Crew as they were still having their 50% off sale items sale in stores. I have wanted this dress since the day it was released, but with the hefty price tag, I have held off for a good four months. I found the last one on the sales rack, in my size. With the 50% off sale plus my student discount, I got it for one third of the original price! I'm excited to wear it now during the summer for our last couple of trips, and then a bit more covered up during the school year. There are a few sizes left online, and with the current 40% off deal (that ends tonight), you can get it for a steal too! If the pattern is too busy for you, I think this subdued striped one would be a great addition to any closet (plus it comes in petites and talls).

Tee: Boden [exact on sale]

Shorts: Gap [similar on sale]

Necklace: Forever 21 [exact]

Purse: Coach [current version]

Watch: Michael Kors [very similar save | exact]

Shoes: Target [similar version now on sale]
Nails: Essie [exact]

We are headed down to Portland today - thank you so much for all of your awesome recommendations! We can't wait to fit in as many as possible into our quick 24 hour stay there - as many donuts as possible will be instagrammed ;)

quintessential

Everything about this screams summer to me, right down to the layer of sweat ;) Now that my life is a little less hectic, I'm trying to eat better (and regularly) and exercise more, but that means I feel like I'm constantly sweating too. But seriously, what's more summer than stripes, light weight shorts, sandals, and feeling too hot?

Well, possibly linen. I've wanted some linen pants forever, especially for cooler summer days/nights (unlike today) when it's still too hot to wear jeans. I happened upon these from Loft, and decided to order them after seeing that they are currently 50% off. I'm hoping they're that perfect in between pant for summer. 

Plus linen is supposed to be wrinkly, right? Perfect, because I do not plan on taking my iron out once this summer.

Tee: Boden [exact]

Shorts: Old Navy [exact]

Shoes: Madewell [exact]

Belt: Gap [similar]

daytime // nighttime

I've been kind of annoyed with the idea of getting dressed and blogging about it lately. I feel because I don't blog daily like I used to before I was in school that every time I do blog that it should be of something special. I feel this internal pressure that I need to put a lot of thought and effort into what I'm wearing, and make it worth taking pictures and editing and uploading and presenting it as "this is good enough for the internet" kind of thing. A large part of that comes from reading a ton of (awesome) other blogs, and seeing how much effort and talent they put into their space, and then feeling like nothing I can really do can compete with that. Because let's be honest, "work" clothes are kind of boring...and especially when they are being worn in a city that seems to never have nice weather. 

But you know, the whole point here is to show what I'm actually wearing in real life, and not dressing for the blog or putting on special outfits just to take pictures. So here are the two parts of what I wore today. It didn't feel like a costume or fake or something I just wore to blog - it felt comfortable and like myself. The first part is what I wore during the day to go to school. The second outfit is what I changed into to go study at the library - just a few simple changes to make it comfy enough to sit in for 6 hours but also dressed up enough to maybe not look like a freshman on the undergrad campus (unfortunately I think the study-induced forehead wrinkles now give me away!).

Blazer: J.Crew, thrifted

Tee: Boden [exact]

Pants: The Limited [exact]

Necklace: Forever 21 [very similar save | splurge]

Purse: Kate Spade [cute similar]

Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington [exact]

Shoes:  Lucky [exact]

Nails: Essie [exact]

Blazer: J.Crew, thrifted

Tee: Boden [exact]

Jeans: American Eagle [exact]

Purse: Kate Spade [cute similar]

Shoes:  Lucky [exact]

Scarf: H&M