dream in neon turns one!

to me, dream in neon means thinking outside of the box, having fun, being crazy, testing your limits, and going after what you want. when i started this blog one year ago i had been reading style blogs for years, and always imagined having one of my own. it seemed like so much fun! create awesome outfits, take cool photos, and go on adventures. it would be like visually diary of my life. and on top of that, i loved graphic design! i could make my logo and create cute graphics. i had it all planned out. but i was nervous. of what? i'm not exactly sure. it just seemed like something that was easy to think about but would never actually happen.

then one day i just did it. i had just moved in with my boyfriend anthony, was working an internship part-time and was honestly kinda bored. it was summer and i wanted a hobby. anthony had been encouraging me and said he would take my photos. i thought, what the hell? let's just do it!  i put on a new dress and we met up for a date after work one day and he took a bunch of pictures of me and they turned out kinda dark and blurry, but i didn't care. i had outfit photos! i edited them and wrote a post about our night out in dc. i clicked publish. it was scary but i did it. i didn't tell anyone about it at first. i just kept planning outfits and taking photos. i had so much more fun than i ever expected.

now that i was planning posts, it gave anthony and i an excuse to get out and do cool stuff. we went on picnics, hung out at the maryland seafood festival, had our best friend visit, went to an awesome wedding, hit up the county fair in anthony's hometown, visited emerald isle with my family on vacation, went to NYC for the day, and so much more. it's so fun to be able to look back on all my posts in the past year and have a photo recap of all the fun things we did and all the cool places we went to.

i never knew how much i would fall in love with blogging. i got to meet a bunch of lovely ladies from the DMV area when we had a blogger bunch, i've worked with some awesome brands such as chloe + isabel and adore me, and i've created my two favorite kinds of posts-- totally thrifted and nine to five, that showcase my favorite thrifted finds and what i wear to work.

while there is so much about this space that i love, there is also so much that i want to improve upon. my goals aren't to post more or get more followers, my goal is to make this blog a representation of me. all of me. not just a few snaps of an outfit. i want to talk about things that are real and important, i want to focus more on writing out my thoughts and feelings, sharing more photos of family and friends; to put it simply-- i want to write from the heart. i am a writer by nature and want to dig deeper than just the color of a dress or what the weather was like today.

starting this blog has been one of the coolest and most interesting adventures in my life thus far and i'm so excited for the next year! thank you to every single one of you who reads this. whether you're my friend, acquaintance, or a blogger yourself, thank you. thank you. thank you. sharing bits and pieces of your life on the internet might seem strange, but if you're out there with an idea for a blog of your own my only advice is-- just do it!

thanks for reading and cheers to year two!

xxoo,
n

outfit details
skirt + headband: forever 21 (old)
shirt: random store in the mall (similar here)
shoes: buffalo exchange

date night in baltimore

a few nights ago, anthony and i got all dolled up for a night out on the town. we decided that since our time in baltimore is coming to an end, we should have one last shabang. while baltimore isn't my favorite city in the world (pittsburgh very clearly has my heart), it's been a fun place to live the past year. even though our apartment is a few miles outside of the city, we visited every so often. there are so many great restaurants at the inner harbor and never a shortage of yummy seafood. but it's safe to say i am more than ecstatic to be moving to dc. i'm such a city girl and can't wait to be living back downtown again. 

we decided to go to ale mary's for dinner because we just wanted some drinks and appetizers. they had a great draft menu (big plus for us) and a huge menu. they seemed to be all about the tator tots. like they had a whole section of the menu dedicated to just tots (!!) so we figured that we pretty much had to order some. we got the sweet potato ones and omg they were so amazing! we also ordered the crab dip and yes, i was in heaven. crab in any and all forms is my jam. 

i wore this new lacey coral dress i recently purchased from target. and i felt awesome. you know how there are just certain items in your closet that make you feel like your best self? well that's how i felt the minute i put on this dress. i love the bright orange color and fit is just right. it has a cute little belt that cinches at the waist and it paired great with my favorite nude heels and a pink necklace. i knew that simple accessories were the best way to go because i wanted the dress to be the main focal point of this look.

random and spontaneous date nights are the best. and i'm sure they are going to happen a lot more often this summer. living downtown combined with the fact that neither anthony and i will be in school for the first time since we started dated (hello, free time!) i know that we are going to have so much fun getting out and exploring dc. i can't believe that tomorrow is finally move in day!! wish us luck. i'm thankful to have my whole family coming to help out. hopefully we can make it at least a little bit fun ;)

happy friday, all! enjoy your weekend.

xxoo,

n

outfit details

dress: target (it comes it so many colors!)

heels: famous footwear

necklace: forever 21

clutch: vintage

sweetlife festival

over the weekend anthony and i went to the sweetlife music festival in columbia, md. sweetlife festival is sponsored by sweetgreen, a restaurant chain that features healthy and local options.  i heard about this festival because it's at one of our local venues (only about 10 minutes from our apartment) and lana del rey was one of the headliners. she is one of my absolute favorites of all time and i couldn't resist seeing her so close to home. as much as we'd like to-- we can't all go to coachella, now can we? 

we didn't get there until later in the afternoon, and almost immediately after our arrival it started pouring. we prayed that it would blow over, and eventually it did, but i was most definitely soaking wet for a large majority of the day, haha. i decided to keep it comfy in high waisted shorts and a simple top, but piled on the accessories. there was so much great fashion inspiration it was hard to not just go up to every girl in a flower crown and ask to take her picture (i resisted because, hello, creeeepy).

festival fashion is definitely one of my favorite types of outfit inspiration. i love the bohemian vibe that everyone gives off and the fact that most people aren't afraid to go a little bit out of their comfort zone. if there is ever a time to rock something a tad bit more on the dramatic side, it's at a summer music festival, and sweetlife definitely didn't disappoint. it's like a flashback to the seventies and allows us all to pretend that we're hippies for a day. and who could argue with that?

photo c/o sweetlife festival

we ate yummy food and drank lots of budweiser. we're not even going to talk about how much one can costs. okay, we are. $9! WHAT. it's like they knew how desperate i was to sing along to lana del rey with a red, white, and blue beer can in my hand that they knew i would pay the price no matter what it was. the sun eventually came out and dried us all off just in time for lana to come on stage. i had so much fun dancing and singing along to some of my most favorite songs. it was the perfect (almost) summer night. i've had this song stuck in my head ever since:

red, white, blue is in the sky 

summer's in the air and 

baby, heaven's in your eyes 

i'm your national anthem

have you been to any music festivals so far this year? i'd love to hear your go-to festival style tips!
xxoo,
n

outfit details
shorts + shirt: thrifted
bag: vintage
boots: target
jewelry: forever 21

florals forever

happy weekend! i couldn't be more excited to be in pittsburgh this weekend. it had been months since i'd seen anthony's family and we decided it was a perfect weekend for a road trip. i left work a bit early yesterday afternoon so we could get on the road (and not hit any treacherous dc traffic) and we were able to make it into town just in time to order some pizza, drink a few beers, and relax + catch up. i love me some good ol PA :)

our plans for this weekend include lots and lots of thrifting. for some unknown reason, anthony's hometown has the best thrift stores, like, ever. i always plan to spend allll of my shopping funds when we come here to visit. his mom and i do can do some serious damage when you put us in a goodwill together. she's even picked me out some good pieces before! i love that she has instilled in anthony the beauty of thrifting-- he's one of my fave shopping buddies as well. wish us luck as we hit up some awesome shops today!

sometimes, all you need in life is a good floral dress. when spring time rolls around, it's very difficult for me not to buy every single flowery dress that i come in contact with. while reorganizing my closet the past week, (attempting to put away winter clothes, bring out spring clothes, get rid of thing i don't wear anymore, etc) i've realized that the total number of dresses i have is insane!! and compared to the amount of pants i own, it's just laughable. i definitely am in need of some downsizing. i would seriously pay someone to come and secretly take a bunch of items to goodwill for me haha! any takers? ;)

i hope you all are having a lovely weekend. thanks for stopping by. <3

xxoo,

n

outfit details

dress: forever 21

moccasins: target

bag: vintage

9-5

this week is officially the three month mark at my new job! it's so exciting to think that i've been working full-time for three whole months. it's honestly gone by so fast and i've enjoyed this "adult" life more than i ever thought i would. yes, i loved college and roommates and eating pizza all the time and going to bars on weeknights, but i've found there's something so awesome about getting into a routine and focusing on myself. 

now that the temps are warming up, i've (hopefully) put the tights away for good. and i feel like a whole new world has opened up! don't get me wrong, i sometimes do like wearing tights, but nothing is better than a dress with bare legs. and it feels as though it's been forever since i was able to do this! i can wear bright colors and focus on simple layering, rather than bundling up and stomping through a foot of snow. 

one of my fave work combos is layering a dress and a cardigan with a belt cinching the waist. i'll take any excuse to wear more accessories and sometimes just a dress seems a little plain to me. nothing spices up a gray dress like a highlighter orange (neon, if you will) sweater. it's light and breezy and added just the right amount of oomph to this office outfit. plus, it's thrifted! woot woot.

thanks for stopping by! happy almost weekend!

xxoo,
n

outfit details
dress + belt + mocassins: target
sweater: thrifted
bag: h&m (only $35)
necklace: forever 21

denim diaries

over the weekend, anthony and i had our little sisters in town. and by "little" i mean 15 years old and (maybe) taller than me. both of them are awesome and hilarious and it was great hosting them in baltimore for a few days. we tried to jam pack as many fun things as possible in their less than 48 hour trip and i'm pretty sure that we succeeded. i've found that when having people visit for the weekend, equal parts rest and adventure is key. because as much as everyone loves a good brunch, sometimes you just need an extra hour or two of sleep on a saturday morning!

they both got here friday night, and we started off by ordering indian food and watching a movie. neither of them had ever tried indian food before (!!!!!) and there was no way we were letting that nonsense go on for another minute. indian is honestly probably my favorite kind of food ever. so we ordered a lotttt. ya know. for the sake of them trying as much as possible. not so i could eat more than half my weight in naan and curry.

saturday we woke up late and headed out to hampden-- an adorable neighborhood outside of baltimore. we browsed some antique stores, did some shopping, and ate at cafe hon for lunch. this little town is so cute and colorful i almost couldn't take it. i mean there were pastel houses on every corner; it doesn't get much better than that. it was the perfect scenery for a gorgeous spring day.

it was by pure coincidence that we all got dressed in varying forms of denim on saturday morning. whether it's chambry, skinny jeans, or a jacket-- we basically have all your denim bases covered here. and when we walked by this purple wall, i decided that it would pretty much be a sin if we didn't stop and take some outfit photos here. the blogger in me just couldn't resist this colorful backdrop and our coordinating looks. :)

the rest of the weekend was filled with duck pin bowling, yummy mexican food, and, of course, more shopping. i'm finding when it comes to hosting friends in town, its extremely difficult to find plans that don't include going to my favorite restaurants and clothing stores. i definitely need to be better about brainstorming things to do that are more creative (and better for the ol wallet). what's your favorite thing to do when a friend comes to town? i need some ideas!

i hope everyone had a great weekend. enjoy the rest of your monday!

xxoo,
n

outfit details
shirt: tj maxx
pants: buffalo exchange
jacket: avalon exchange
loafers: c/o duo
purse: h&m
jewelry: forever 21

spring is here

it's officially the first day of spring! even though the temperatures are basically the same as yesterday, it feels like a fresh start. this new season means short sleeves, cute flats, and dresses with no tights. i hope to finally put my big jackets and knit scarves away for good. and honestly this doesn't make me the least bit sad. this winter seemed like an especially long one. i mean just on monday there was a few inches of snow on the ground! it's giving me extreme cabin fever and i'm ready to start planning some fun outdoor adventures. 

there's so much to look forward to in the upcoming months. my sister and anthony's sister are coming to visit this weekend. next weekend is my niece's first birthday. in april we have some friends coming to stay with us for a few days, my birthday, and celebrating easter with my fam. it's awesome looking at my calendar and having fun plans almost every weekend! i'm someone who likes staying busy (with the occasional lazy netflix binge day every once in a while- obvs). it helps keeps my happy and motivated. are you someone who's more spontaneous or do you like thinking ahead?

it's been a while since i've worn this vest but as soon as i put it on i remember why i bought it in the first place. it's just so fun!! if you don't have a fur vest-- you are making a huge mistake. dramatic, yes. but c'mon. you probably still have a few more weeks, if not months, of wearing it before it gets too warm. and in case you need more of a push check out this one and also this one. ahh, i want both! and don't forget to pair it with a colorful tee and some cool boots (both of which were stolen from my sister's closet. oops).

i hope everyone enjoys the first day of spring! buy yourself some flowers or something :)

xxoo,

n

outfit details

shirt + boots: target

vest: urban exchange 

jeans: tj maxx

necklace: forever 21

mix and match

it was a beautiful and sunny weekend for the first time in what feels like forever! i spent the weekend at home with my family and it was so nice to be able to actually spend some time outdoors without being all bundled up. weekends at home are always my saving grace. it's nice to escape the daily routine of waking up, going to work, coming home, working out, and going to sleep. every once in a while you've gotta indulge in some extra sleep, yummy food, and lots of blue moon. and trust me, that's just what i did! :)

this floral dress from forever 21 is a current favorite piece in my closet. i love the pattern and the fit. it's loose and comfy, but i can still dress it up with a blazer for work. as i mentioned in my last 9-5 post, a key point for me when it comes to shopping lately has been whether or not i can wear something for fun and for work. it's so much easier than i thought to find pieces that can be styled for both! especially since i love dresses so much. dresses > pants. any day/every day.

i kinda love how much is going on in this look. the patterned dress, the colored tights, a studded bag, it's all a little over the top, and i looove it. and the icing on the cake? this cardigan has elbow pads!!! there's nothing in this world that a love more than a good elbow pad (well i'm sure there is, but you catch my drift. i love these things).

this outfit really makes me think of my best friend brittany. she gave me these tights for christmas (along with a green pair, very holiday spirited haha) and we both have a love for elbow pads (we're weird). when i visited her in seattle last year she wore my favorite sweater (featured here and here) the whole time i was there. she loved it so much i knew that i had to get an elbow padded sweater of her own for christmas. i found a similar one to mine and she was so happy! yay for christmas successes. it's always nice to have little reminders of each other even though we live on separate coasts.

i'm praying for the sunshine to stick around for as long as possible. but, we'll see how this week goes! sending you all warm vibes <3

xxoo,

n

outfit details
dress: forever 21
sweater: buffalo exchange
tights: h&m
shoes: urban outfitters
bag: studio c
sunnies: doubledutch boutique 

flower power

at this point i'm sure you all have entered the Adore Me contest because duh-- free lingerie for pinning. life doesn't get much easier than that, people! and i'm finally back with an outfit post. i'm sure i'm like the millionth person to proclaim that i'm "so over this snow," but dangit, i am so over this snow!! we got another few inches on sunday night, getting me out of work on monday, and half a day tuesday (which is always appreciated), but at this point i'd rather work a 500 hour week and never, ever see fluffy white stuff fall from the sky ever again. or at least until next winter. 

i ordered this gorgeous coat from romwe a few weeks back and was so excited when it came in the mail. i was getting tired of wearing the same jacket to work everyday (#firstworldproblems) and i wanted something fun and colorful. plus, it's light enough that it will easily transition to spring. i am more than ready for some pastel action in my life. who's with me?!

speaking of spring, this floral sweater is great for shining light into the darkness of winter. it keeps me warm and cozy, but on the outside it's fun and bright and i'm pretty sure these flowers are daisies (which happen to be my favorite) and if they aren't, well i'm just pretending they are anyway cause daisies rule.

i got this gorgeous layered necklace from anthony's aunt and uncle for christmas and i just love it. i'm not sure where they got it from, but they said it looked "so nikki" and they were right. it's great! i thought it would pair perfectly with my silver studded duo loafers. throw on some quirky glasses, and you have a casual, laid back look that helps you cope with these forever-lingering winter months. 

thanks for stopping by! i'm heading to my parents this weekend and couldn't be more excited to see my fam :) happy almost friday, y'all.

xxoo,
n

outfit details
sweater: forever 21
pants: tj maxx
coat: romwe
loafers: c/o duo
necklace: christmas gift
glasses: amazon