If you're my friend IRL then I probably sound like a broken record, but I really do love Girlfriend Collective. They're my favorite sports bras across the board, and these track pants 100% live up to the rest of what I've tried from the brand. Throw in the fact that items are made using recycled plastic and the sizes range from XXS to 6X (which is reflected in their marketing) and [chef's kiss].

So on the first trip out to McKee-Beshers WMA this year my friend Jessy and I were faced with two things: people, and in my preferred spot, sunflowers that were distinctly NOT in full bloom. But on one of our very few field trips into this new normal where (to be honest) everything is still terrifying and terrible, we were not deterred. We instead ended up hiking further and deeper in parts of the area  I hadn't explored before, got very inspired, and 100% want to go back when it's not a billion degrees outside to explore even more.

Also, why are these trips the ones where I always end up sweating like I've never sweat before?




*Fit Note: Esby says this dress runs true to size, and for the most part I agree with them. I like how oversized the XL appears on me, but due to my slightly narrow shoulders I've hand sewn in a couple darts in the back so the sleeves won't slide down. The material doesn't have any stretch, so just keep that in mind if you decide to invest!

So as has been established at this point, I live alone. Living alone during a global pandemic that necessitates you not being around people you don't live with has been... not fun. While the numbers across the US are rising rapidly because of a lack of any true leadership and a complete disinterest in actually managing anything from the current administration, there are a few rays of sunshine. First, I bought a car.

(Did I want to buy a car? Not really, but here we are.)

Getting the car (and a COVID test) has allowed me to create a little bubble of friends that I could see safely, which has done wonders for my sanity, and explore a little wider afield than I would usually. Here I'm sharing a few pics from Butler's Orchard, where large outdoor fields and timed tickets meant that people could go out fruit picking in their masks but not feel overwhelmed. And hey - new dress. Which, I just checked, is like 75% off and made with sustainably sourced cotton.

I know this is a bit of a departure from my usual, but I have to share a secret with y'all. I am having a moment with jeans, and it's not a particularly positive one. It's a very bad season to decide that jeans are too binding and yet... I'm trying to compensate by adding pants (I also don't want to wear skirts/dresses cause tights) but as I'm sure is shocking to no one, that's also difficult. I've got a couple pairs from Meeps and recently a couple from Uniqlo (to be seen later), but it continues to be a work in progress. Especially cause it's cold and I'm cold and even in the below outfit I kind of wish I'd included a scarf. Dammit.

If you know me you know I'm not someone who keeps her mouth shut on issues I'm passionate about. Abortion rights, access, affordability of basic healthcare - all of those rank right up there. As I nicely tell the ground teams when I see them around, "people find it much easier to give money for children or trees than they do for poor people to have access to safe healthcare providers", and I think this is especially true when it comes to sexual health.

When ALLRIOT reached out to me it was like they'd read my mind because I was already considering a few options to add to my social justice wardrobe and their brand has a lot going for it. ALLRIOT is WRAP certified for their commitment to ethical, humane and lawful conditions and practices in all manufacturing facilities and they have a 12 point system of principals that their suppliers must comply with (see more details on their Ethics page). Plus, items go up to either a size 2-or-3XL and the price doesn't increase at the higher sizes (woop woop!).

When they generously offered to let me try a shirt from their collection, this "Keep Abortion Legal" shirt immediately jumped out at me. I don't mind being a bit confrontational in everyday life, and if you're someone who wouldn't talk to me because I was an advocate for abortion rights for all then... perhaps enough said about that. I strongly believe in safe, affordable access to abortions as a part of ones basic healthcare - if you have a uterus, then you should be able to make whatever choice is best for you and your family. And I'm proud to partner with ALLRIOT in highlighting that.

Plus, on a superficial note, this shirt is SOFT. Super soft and the unisex "t-shirt" fit is exactly as they said - true to size but on the slightly more form-fitting side, so I stuck to a large and it's perfect. I'm trying not to add stuff to the closet all willy nilly but getting this one in hand makes me want ALL THE SHIRTS (plus, it's tagless so an extra A+ for them).

Yes I am that b*tch, the one who went to see the sunflowers at the height of the season and I have NO REGRETS.

(Except for the heat, humidity, flat hair, BUGS, weird allergic reaction, etc.) 

Honestly I'm just glad to have friends who put up with my shenanigans, because this was not a woman one job. But with their help I'm able to share one of the most ridiculous purchases I've made in recent memory, aka a linen romper with a super deep v-neckline.

Do I wear rompers? No. Do I wear super low plunge necklines with a lot of leg? No. Did Free People force my hand and find the one piece to make me break those rules? YES. Will I wear this enough to be worth the sale price + alterations final cost? Questionable....