Meet the Boyfriends: Ben

You guys, I think it's time. I want you to meet my boyfriend. Things are getting pretty serious and I can really see this going somewhere. I know we've only been dating for 6 (almost 7) years (!), but sometimes you just know, you know?

No but really. A few people asked via social media to hear more about our boyfriends, so I thought it would be fun to do a little Q&A with Ben. We've been together for quite some time (no we're not getting married anytime soon, so cool your jets, Mom.) He's a video production artist by day, musician by night, and he thinks he's quite the comedian. Here's what he has to say for himself.

And tune in next week to meet Skyla's boyfriend, Tony!

One Trend Two Ways: Leather Shorts

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend! We're starting the week off with a new series exploring different ways to wear fun seasonal trends. I don't know about you, but sometimes I hesitate to join in on the latest trend because I'm afraid it won't last or it won't suit me (I'm looking at you, peplum.) But what's the fun of having a fashion blog if not to push you out of your comfort zone? We'll take the plunge and show you a few ways to wear the items you may be nervous about, so you can decide if they're right for you. First up: (faux) leather shorts.

We love this outfit because it acknowledges the badass-ness of the leather without letting it steal the show. Instead a cozy knit sweater tee and velvet sneakers soften the look for a perfectly comfy weekend getup.

100 Happy Days

If you haven't heard of the viral happiness campaign taking your Instagram feed by storm, then you need to crawl out from under your rock and rejoin human society (it's not so bad, we have cronuts now.) The challenge? Share a photo every day of one thing that makes you happy. That's not so hard, right? But the real question is this: should you be happy for 100 days in a row?

The 100 Days of Happiness campaign has received a lot of criticism for seemingly encouraging people to suppress their more complicated feelings. Wearing a smile doesn't pay your mortgage, or fix your marriage, or get you out of a dead end job. Humans are complicated, and your anger, fear, and sadness are just as important to your life as your happiness. So, is this just another unhealthy ideal you can never really live up to?

I'd say no, as long as you keep it in perspective. The ultimate goal of the campaign is to train yourself to acknowledge and express your feelings. Every time you stop to think "Does this make me happy?" you're inevitably also asking "Am I happy right now? Am I sad? Am I angry?" You're acknowledging a complex combination of feelings, and naming the things that cause them. No more hiding behind the monotony of a busy lifestyle, or ignoring your feelings because "That's just the way things are." Sure, you may only be publicly sharing the positives. But if the process makes you think about the whole picture, it's going to help you change it.

What do you think? Have you done the challenge? I've avoided it so far because I don't want to annoy my Instagram followers, isn't that silly? Unfollow me if you want, I'm starting today. You can follow along by following me at OhNoItsLindsay on Instagram. But fair warning: it'll probably be 100 pictures of my dog.

My Life Goal: Rory Gilmore's Reading Challenge

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If I had a Harry Potter-style patronus, it would take the shape of Rory Gilmore. That might be the nerdiest statement ever written, but it's true. She's driven, quick-witted, and never leaves home without a book. If you're not familiar with our favorite Gilmore Girl, I highly suggest you get your priorities straight and plant yourself on the sofa for the next 2-3 weeks to marathon one of the best-written TV shows of all time. And if you are familiar with the show, then you know why I'm so excited about the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge.

It's a list of every book Rory read or mentioned throughout the entire series, and it's 339 books long. The author, Patrick Lenton, estimates that it would take a little over 2 years to complete the challenge (assuming one book every two weeks). I have no plans for the next two years... I might as well give it a shot! Take a look at the challenge and let me know how many you've read, where I should start, and if you think I'm crazy for even considering it. I'll check in periodically and let you know how it goes.

What's on your reading list?

Dress of Green Gables

Confession. I haven't actually watched Anne of Green Gables (I'll get on it soon, I swear!) But I'm plenty familiar with the sweeping shots of young Anne meandering through various picturesque countryside scenery. And I believe there's some bit about her red hair and the nickname Carrots. That's enough for me to feel like Anne's kindred spirit in this floral frock. Isn't it just the most romantic outfit?

Outfit Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition is a word that we throw around a lot lately. It seems that we can't see a frilly, feminine top without pairing it with an edgy, leather skirt. It's like our M.O. (which stands for Modus Operandi, or "mode of operation" in Latin. Now you know.)

So when we saw this top at fellow local Blogger Dina's amazing vintage event at our favorite boutique, NOTO, this outfit was naturally our first instinct.

Exploring at Home

Hello! I hope you all had a lovely weekend. We spent a few rainy days exploring our little city, and we'd love to share a few photos with you.

PS. This instagram picture pretty much sums it up. <3 <3 <3