the story

Brandi Carlile once described life as being like a story.  And she was right.  We're constantly turning new pages.  Sometimes we try to jump ahead and read the ending.  Sometimes we flip back a couple of pages, just to revisit the past.  With each new beginning, we start a new chapter, furthering our own story.  For yours truly, this year has been quite the chapter.  We welcomed a new baby into our family. I changed majors.  (Twice...)  I got a job!  I made some wonderful friends, and strengthened the friendships I already had.  School went well, and I survived Freshmen year! I spent my summer interning for the Youth group from my home church, and was blown away by the children I worked with.  I was supposed to be teaching them, but they taught me more than I can say.  I jumped into my second year of college, and with that came so many changes.  The biggest of which was that I moved into an apartment with three of my very best friends.  The semester went well, and I think I'm finally on the right track with knowing where I want my crazy career dreams to take me.  I got my wisdom teeth out and didn't swell an inch.  (For which I think I deserve some sort of plaque or Precious Moments figurine.)  Lastly, my love life has added a twist to the plot.  I've been dating the most wonderful boy for a few years now, and he really is perfect for me.  Long story short, a few weeks ago I broke his heart, then he turned around and broke mine, too.  It's been a popular time for Ben & Jerry and Carrie Bradshaw.  However the sun still shines, and the rest is still unwritten...

No matter what chapter you're writing, this new year is the perfect chance to start on the next one.  You can choose to continue your current story, or change the plot entirely...the best part?  It's completely up to you!  

Cheers to a new year.  A new start.  A new story.

I vow to follow my heart this year, and to stop over analyzing.  What changes will you make for your story?  Remember... you can always add more to your story.  Never stop writing until you're in love with the ending. 

much love.

-W 

we'll always have Paris

Hey there guys and gals.  As I've mentioned before, my mother is a very special woman.  She's to blame for my hazel eyes, my love for SNL, and my much too frequent David Bowie jam sessions in my car.  This Christmas she really outdid herself...

Sometime circa 2010 I fell in love with Paris.  Well, kind of.  My friends and I discovered the OPI nail color, "We'll Always Have Paris."  It was a deep maroon with a lot of sass.  The kind of dark nail polish that says, "I'm powerful and confident," without saying, "I listen to Slipknot and drink lots of Red Bull."  Ya feel me?  So of course, my friends and I all had our shiny gel manicures sporting the color.  The hue was a little "vampish" and glammed up any ensemble.  Much to my dismay, the polish was discontinued in the Spring of 2012.  Tragic, I know.  My idea of the perfect mani and pedi was forever sent to "the vault."

However, in true Cindy fashion, my mother performed a Christmas miracle this year.  Santa slipped in on Christmas afternoon, rather than hustling in that morning. So that afternoon, it was my turn to open a gift, and I chose a relatively small package.  I carefully unwrapped the polka dot paper to find not one, but TWO bottles of OPI's "We'll Always Have Paris."  I squealed with delight.  I was so surprised - it has been discontinued for goodness sake!  My mother had searched high and low for the color, and she eventually found herself dealing with the Ebay account of some lady in Utah.  She found the polish.  She found my favorite polish!  Like I said, she really outdid herself.

The lesson?  Well first of all, you should all be rocking a dark polish this holiday season, but more importantly...don't give up!  Just when you think something might be gone for forever, if you look hard enough, you might just find it.

lots of love

-W

'We'll Always Have Paris' looking so chic on my desk...right where it belongs.

                                         one of my fave holiday looks inspired by the color 

keeping up with you guys via social networks 

XOXO

tis the season

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...in Hobby Lobby.  Amidst all of the hustle and bustle that accompanies this time of year, Christmas is my favorite holiday.  The air becomes frosty.  The ground becomes a playground for layers and layers of white fluff.  The scarves and boots become chunkier.  The chocolate becomes hotter.  And the bells become jinglier.  Christmas traditions are a staple of my family, and the candlelight Christmas Eve service at my church is near and dear to my heart.  However merry the season may be, it's always bittersweet.  It pains me to think of those who have never had a happy Christmas.  I'm not talking about Santa and presents, although that is a part of it! Christmas is about being surrounded by those you love and those who love you back.  No matter your faith, the holiday is for family and friendship, and a sense of hope for the entire world.  I can't stand to think that there are people who have lived their entire lives and not spent a single Christmas Eve with a loved one.  My challenge is this- to you guys and myself- do something special for a stranger this Christmas season!  It might be paying for the woman behind you in the Starbucks line, or baking cookies for the old man next door.  Whatever it may be, it will make the day a little bit brighter.  There is nothing wrong with giving and receiving gifts!  Santa is a really cool guy.  ;)  Maybe this year we can be a stranger's Santa?  Don't stress this Christmas season!  Enjoy the family time and the happiness that comes with giving someone the "perfect gift."  I hope you all spend ample time singing carols and munching on cookies.





xoxo

Win

the ever popular Christmas Card

                                 

FRONT

BACK :) 

j'ai vingt ans

The last time I wrote, my words were celebrating my sweet momma and a turn of age for her.  In keeping with the theme, this time I'm writing on my own birthday.  That's right!  A week ago today I celebrated my 20th birthday!  Now don't get too excited.  There aren't very many things that come with being twenty...other than the fact that my age no longer begins with a "1" and that I can no longer be considered a "silly teenager."  When people asked if I felt any older, my response was, "No, not necessarily.  I've just been around for two decades now...that's a bit eery."  However, I've had all of seven days to soak in the feelings of being twenty, and let me tell ya, it feels great!  I'm one step closer to being an adult.  I'm focusing more on my future and what I want to get & give in this life.  If all goes as planned, many wonderful things will happen in my 20's:  Graduating.  Move to NYC.  Big girl job.  Marriage.  And maybe even a baby or two?  (Way, way, way towards the latter end of my 20's, don't worry Mom & Dad!)  

As a newfound 20 year old, I'm much more ambitious.  I'm not just talking of things that I want to do, instead, I'm actually doing them.  For instance, I'm working on landing an internship either this summer or the next.  So, I set my goal of applying and messaging fellow fashion folks for intern opportunities once every two days!  Before long, I'll be connected with ample employers, and hopefully I'll have options when the time comes to decide how I'm going to spend my summers.

One other addition to twenty year old Windom is my new Motto:

Be smart.

Be hot.

Be happy.

Be holy. 

Before I finish, I must make a toast to all of my friends who helped me celebrate.  Being twenty wouldn't be the same without you all.  

The festivities were wonderful.  Filled with great friends, good food, and blue hair dye.  Oh, and don't worry, the icing on the cake...my roommates and I put up our Christmas tree!  Holidays all around.  

No matter if you're 12, 20, 42, 62, or 102, you can always find something to celebrate.

be glam.  

PROPS 

Somebody call Avril. 

the best gifts don't come in wrapped packages  

xoxo,

Windom

                     

the ninth of October

October 9th is a very important day for this planet of ours.  It was on this day in 1986 that The Phantom and Christine hit the theatre stage for the very first time in London.  Seventeen years later, the 9th of October marked the grand opening of Mission: Space, found at no other than the happiest place on earth.  While both of these events were major game changers in my book, there is one other happening that outshines them all!  It was on October 9th, 19....(for me to know and you to not find out) that my beautiful mother made her way into the world.  And aren't we glad that she did?

For those of you who haven't had the privilege of meeting my momma, she is the one of the prettiest, funniest, wisest, most compassionate, most creative gals you'll ever stumble upon.  A child of the 70's, she has the best taste in music, and also the best hand-me-downs to pilfer through in her closet.  She's got the vocal chords of an angel, and can pick her way through any acoustic arrangement.

She's always been "a cool mom."  She threw the best birthday party, and makes the best cheese dip.  Qualities I hope to possess one day, when I enter the maternal years.

My mom has always been a best friend, a listener, and a teacher.  She knows me better than anyone.  She's laughed with me, cried with me, smiled with me, and had my back through all stages of my 20 years.  She's been my biggest cheer leader, and also my accountability partner.  She's so beautiful but she doesn't know it.  She taught me from a very early age how important it is to care for others, and constantly amazes me with her heart of gold.

Most importantly, my mother has always been a mentor for my faith.  Many of my junior high and high school memories are filled with me crawling into her bed, late at night, and finding her deeply rooted in her devotion for the day.

I thank God every single day for my wonderful mother.  All the time we hear how I'm her made over, her spittin' image... I hope that goes for the inside as well as the outside.  If I'm one half of the mother that my mom is to me, my kids are going to have it pretty darn good.

Cheers to all of our memories past, and those yet to come.

Happy Birthday to my sweet momma!  I love you more than you know.  Infinite X's and O's.

Win

414

You've probably noticed by now that I have an overwhelming affinity for Carrie Bradshaw and her glamorous life.  If not?  Well, I'm filling you in.  I have an overwhelming affinity for Carrie Bradshaw and her glamorous life.

The clothes.  The shoes.  The apartment.  The boys.  The job.  The fact that her body is sprawled across NYC transit... The list goes on and on.

If I could live Carrie's life for a day, I would.  I was recently called out for saying "Oh, that's very Carrie" on a much too frequent basis.  Guilty as charged.  I'm constantly dreaming up and noticing parallels between the life of Carrie Bradshaw and that of Windom Paul.

I live in a four girl apartment.  "The girls of 414," we like to call ourselves on occasion.  I live with three of the best girls out there.  And it just so happens that the four of us mimic the Sex and the City crew quite well.  It's actually a bit eery.

First we have Aubrey, the Miranda.
Aubrey was one of the first friends I made in college.  She hails from Oklahoma, however her family is Hog Wild.  And on that note, we have the first denominator between she and the spunky redhead- Aubrey loves athletics.  Basketball, football, baseball, Razorbacks, little league team, you name it, she's a fan.  You know those kids who wind up front row at an SEC game with their chests painted?  Well one day, probably someday soon, that will be Aub.  Like Miranda, Aubrey doesn't do anything halfway.  She gives her all in school, in Chi Omega, in friendships, in her relationship with God, in her relationship with her boyfriend... you'll never find her slacking.  Aubrey is the "mom" of the apartment.  She keeps her eye on the dishwasher, the laundry room, and lovingly reminds us to lock the front door. She and Miranda tend to seem like they have everything together, and typically, they do.  Aubrey has "her life plan" in motion.  She knows who she wants to be, what she wants to do, and who she wants to share it with.  However, the little spitfire that she is, every once in a while Aub will bust out a bit of her inner diva, and have a freakout moment.  As she should, because every girl, no matter how "on top of things" she may be, is entitled to the occasional freakout.  Lastly, and most importantly.  Aubrey, ditto to Miranda, is such a loyal friend.  I had only known Aubrey for two weeks when I knew we'd be forever friends, and that she'd eventually be one of my bridesmaids.  Anything you tell Aubrey will be kept in confidence, and she's always on your side.  One of my favorite things about Aubrey is her vocabulary filled with quacky phrases such as "Starvin' Marvin."  Miranda once asked Carrie if she, "...had a big plate of crazy for lunch?"  That is so something Aubrey would say.  Aubrey is always there.  She's always truthful.  And she always leaves something better than she found it.  Carries late night calls for advice to Miranda are so telling of my future with this girl.  Aubrey will always be a listening ear, and a rational advice guru.  I am so thankful that I found my Miranda.

Next comes Rachel, the Charlotte.
Rachel is from my hometown, however we went to different high schools.  Therefore, I really got to know this gal once we wound up at the same university.  And now, one year post our world lit class, she's one of the roomies.  And thank goodness she is.  Rachel is the perfect blend of the other three girls under the 414 roof.  Born and raised in Alabama, Rachel, (like Charlotte) is a down home, southern, and traditional girl.  She works at Victoria's Secret, and aspires to be a teacher.  Both characteristics I believe Charlotte York would swoon over.  Rachel has such a level head, and never fails when asked for advice.  Charlotte spends many seasons searching for her "knight in shining armor."  Rachel is in a serious relationship with a guy who, just today, she said "treats her like a princess every single day."  Rachel will surprise you in beautiful ways.  She's my stunning, bright eyed friend who will support you in all that you do.  She's self sufficient on so many levels, however she's not afraid to ask for help when deciding what skirt to wear for her dinner date.  She's strong willed and knows what she wants, and she'd never settle for less than she deserves. She's a brilliant girl with a very bright future.  She once chewed a boy out in her history class for constantly belittling her- I love her hidden spunk. Like Charlotte, Rachel is this gorgeous sorority girl with a petite frame.  However, Rach has a strong backbone, and is not afraid to speak her mind.  Rachel completes our quartet better than anyone else could.  I am beyond happy that she filled our fourth spot.  We've only lived together for a few weeks, and we've already shared in so many laughs and memories.  And I know that list is about to rapidly expand.  Everybody needs a Charlotte.  I am so happy that mine came in the form of sweet and spunky Rachel.

My life wouldn't be the same without Caroline, the Samantha.
Caroline is one of my oldest friends.  It all began on the Vacation Bible School stage when two adorable four year old blondes were singing rhythmic tunes about Jesus' love.  Our relationship has evolved from matching ensembles in the third grade, to wrapping (toilet paper meets tree limbs) 8th grade boy's houses circa 2006, to traveling to Italy together as high school Juniors, to taking on our Freshman year of college together as roommates, and the journey continues... Caroline is so the Samantha.  Caroline's beauty is indescribable.  She's a tall, blonde bombshell with the body of everybody's favorite yoga instructor.  However, the beauty of Caroline's heart exceeds her outer beauty.  Caroline is confident.  She's wise.  She knows me better than most people, and is always on point with her observations.  Caroline draws a crowd, and attracts every eye in the room, without trying in the least.  Tonight was my first trip to a fraternity house as a sophomore.  To be honest, I was a bit nervous prior to going, afraid that I wouldn't remember proper frat house etiquette.  Caroline grabbed my hand on the way out of the door and reminded me, "Win, this is going to be fun."  A crazy, invigorating gust of confidence and collectiveness rushed over me as I was walking side by side with Caroline down that nasty frat hallway.  She held her head so high, not in an arrogant manner, but with a beautiful confidence.  Having Caroline by my side, in all walks of life, gives me so much inspiration and self confidence.  She is number one at building me up after a rough day, and has a heart of gold.  Caroline is one of those girls who probably doesn't get enough credit.  From the outside you see this etherial, blonde stunner.  It's so easy to get lost in her looks, and forget to see into the inner Caroline- filled with these beautiful thoughts, (I swear, it's as if Caroline sees the world in a different way than the rest of us down here) and deep insight.  Caroline's number one passion is music, (right above sour gummy worms.)  She eats, sleeps, and breathes new artists and write-ups.  Caroline is strong.  She's brilliant. She's kind hearted.  She's funny. Like Samantha, Caroline can take charge, and look darn good while doing so.  Just like Samantha, she is level headed in every aspect of life, and can frequently remove herself from a situation and give fantastic unbiased advice... except for maybe when it comes to the male category.  She said today, "...you guys know that I'm never a diva until it comes to a guy." Caroline has been my backbone through many things.  She's loyal.  She's trustworthy.  She's a fun time.  She's the Samantha. More importantly, Caroline is MY Samantha.  I wouldn't have it any other way.

Then there's me.  Windom, the Carrie.
For starters, it's 3 o'clock in the morning and I'm cuddled up in my lush pillows, writing this piece.  Like Carrie, I like my money where I can see it- hanging in my closet.  I've always had an attraction to the art of apparel.  I'm a risk taker.  An outfit that Im sporting may not be "cute" by society's standards, but you better bet your bottom dollar that it will be "very Windom."  Maybe it just came with the name, but my sense of style has always been unique.  I'm a dreamer.  So much so that sometimes it's a character flaw.  Like Carrie I have days where I want to revolutionize the world, one T-strap stiletto at a time, and then there are others when all I need is to lounge in my oversized sweater, roll the love stories, and get to know Ben and Jerry on a much deeper level.  (Love those two.)  While dressing, I always ask, "What would Carrie do?"  However, the self confidence that Carrie radiates has ventured my way, and the process has become more of a, "What does Windom want to do?"  Followed by the classic, "Oh, that's very Carrie."  Bradshaw and I share a passion for writing.  A passion for clothes.  A passion for love.  And most importantly, making every opportunity as glamorous as possible.  Like Carrie, I don't like confrontation.  And many times, it takes my best friends to remind me to hold my ground.  One of  my favorite places in the whole wide world is my cheetah print covered desk.  Contorted in my chair, with nothing but my window, my computer, and a box of cheddar bunnies.  I find myself there at the end of each day.  I might sit down and right one sentence.  Or I might stay awhile and compose four pages.  However, writing is my outlet.  It's my therapy.  Well writing and a good pair of open toed pumps, of course...

Writing wouldn't be half the fun without these girls in my life.  Even when they don't realize, they're constantly inspiring me.  Aubrey, Rachel, and Caroline are three of my biggest blessings.  Nothing makes me happier than us gathered around the kitchen, or ALL of us cuddling on my full size bed, chatting, laughing, crying, and trying to figure out this thing called life.

Ironically enough, we're about to start our weekly 'girls night in,' and guess what series we're going to dive into?  You guessed right...

They say nothing lasts forever; dreams change, trends come and go, but friendships never go out of style. - Carrie 

Cheers to the girls of 414.  I love you all infinitely.

xoxo

youth

Thanks to my cryptic Finite professor, I was up until two in the morning last week scratching my eyes out while trying to multiply matrices and reciprocals and what have you.  Anyway I rolled (literally) out of bed the next morning incredibly exhausted and expecting a pretty below average day to be ahead of me.  However, my day was, in a word, serendipitous.

The happy surprises began as I was walking home from my grueling Finite course.  I love the walk back to my apartment...it's downhill, relaxing, and I take a residential road rather than walk through campus because I love to admire the old character homes.  I was nearly crossing the threshold separating these charming homes from our, um, next to charming apartment complex, when I spotted the most inspiring doodle on the sidewalk.  A child had used white chalk to sketch an oversized hopscotch path.  My heart stopped for a moment, as did my feet.  I hovered over the drawing for a few minutes, taking it all in.  My thoughts raced down memory lane and feelings from my happy childhood flooded my heart.

We live in a society where "recess" means "alright kids, get out your iPad and let's all go play Angry Birds under that tree over there."  Don't get me wrong, the advancement of technology has been a blessing to America.  I believe that some of these gadgets can do things better than any of us ole humans ever could.  However, I'm not a fan of children drooling over an iPhone on a road trip when they could be playing the license plate game.  Children and technology have become so synonymous in America.  Maybe that's because "future," "technology," and "children" are all guilty by association.  I can't describe to you how happy I was to find evidence of children playing outside.  It gave me so much hope.   It was such a happy sight.  Yes, it was just one hopscotch path, but that makes me think there are many more out there.  There have to be.

long time, no see

Hi folks.  I am genuinely sorry for the astounding amount of time I have been absent from my baby (blog.)  By no means am I a techy, and I've been battling some big computer issues... However, the tables have turned and the sun is shinin'.  I'm back!  I've missed you all dearly, and was filled with joy when I fixed all of the troubles.  So many things have happened since we last chatted.  I've been decorating my future apartment, making the most of my time left in Jonesboro, and I've laid eyes on my hunky long distance boyfriend!  This summer has been so good to me, and I hope you all can say the same! Won't be long before we're talking of back to school fashions! ;) Be happy.  Be healthy.  XOXO

The aforementioned hunky boyfriend. 

anchors away

       Being an aspiring fashion guru, the question gets asked all the time, "What inspires you, Windom?"  The list goes on and on.  My answer would vary from my quirky family to the overly talkative produce attendant at the local market to Milk's Favorite Cookie, the all powerful Oreo.  However, when forced to sum up my answer with one word, I would be able to confidently respond with"travel."  Whether it's a spot of where I've already ventured, or somewhere I've yet to mark off my bucket list, I'm constantly being energized by the allure of our world.  
        My earliest travel memories take me back to places such as the beach, Big Cedar Lodge (Branson, MO), and to my mother's old stomping grounds in tiny town Carrolton, Mississippi.  These recollections provoke emotions of happiness and many, many smiles.  The laid back, haphazard feeling of the ocean makes for a cool toned, relaxed ensemble.  Big Cedar Lodge radiates coziness and warmth.  There I remember falling in love with horses and emerald green and rust hues as well.  My Mississippi memories are flooded with slices of watermelon and my Aunt Mary Winnie (no joke, there) getting tickled by her own stories.  From my maternal roots I've developed a love for floral prints, red lipstick, and peanut butter pie.  All of these early expedition memories inspire the fashion choices I make today.  
        In 2011 I was lucky enough to land a spot on a school trip to Italy.  We flew into Milan and roamed (pun intended) all over the entire nation.  Being the future art history major that I was, I tried my hardest to take in every detail:  every brush stroke, every stone carving, every flora aspect that I could.  If the surroundings weren't enough, the people and the language were the cherry on top.  Italians have such a casual way of dressing, yet it says, "I could take the world by storm while riding my moped in my McQueen.  Watch it."  They were super glam with perfect, dark manes.   While the majority of Italian I used was asking where I could find the bathroom, (Dovè il bagno?) I was surrounded by tongues that spouted off the beautiful language.  I truly believe that the best way to learn about a culture is to be planted within the culture; have the art, the people, the language poured into you.  Needless to say that I owe majority of my fashion inspiration to that Italy trip.  I hope to return one day very soon.  And there are many, many places to mark off of my bucket list!  
       I don't limit my inspiration and ideas to places I've already seen.  In many cases I'll pick out an outfit and dream up a scenario when the ensemble would be absolutely "perfetto."  Even if I'm taking a trip to a simple grocery store, there is no problem pretending that I'm about to jet set off to the northern shores of Greece.  "Travel" can take you to Paris, Rome, Turkey...but it can also take you to the town over for a day.  With fashion, physical traveling is fun and very inspiring, but don't forget to let your mind travel as well.  You'll never know where you, your mind, and your favorite hand bag will wind up.  Bon Voyage!  

trevi fountain, rome

southern italy, take me back

literally traveling in style.  safety first, buckle up! 

jet lag at its finest

clash of the (fashion) titans

    "Delta who?  Delta Nu!"  I hope you're lying if you say that you don't remember the scene in Legally Blonde 2 when Elle and an uptight Congresswoman meet and realize that they both belong to the same Greek sorority.  They were strangers with a gigantic bond.   Today I had a similar instance.  (Minus the screaming and secret handshake, of course.)  I had the privilege of introducing two strangers.  Strangers who happen to be two of my very best friends in the entire world.  Carter, my forever friend, is an aspiring designer who continually turns heads at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC.  Five feet ten inches of talent and wit.  The second stranger, Morgan, I met during my Freshmen year of college but I feel as though we've been friends since the crib.  She too desires a career in the fashion industry.  Not designing, but more of a stylist or creative director position.  I've been meaning to collaborate the two for quite some time.  I knew that when they finally met, the creative juices would start flowing and that a beautiful friendship would blossom.  So Carter and I grabbed our favorite sunglasses, some mint tea, the latest Vogue, and decided to hit the road to Memphis, TN.  "What's the dress code?," Carter asked as I was literally en route to his house.  "Imagine that we're going to a picnic in Moscow.  That's my idea."  Now that the technicalities were taken care of, we were off.

       I can't put into words how happy I was to have these two together.  They are both so special to me, and now they're friends as well!  Like I predicted the two began swapping stories and aspirations.  I've never heard the words "glamorous" or "dying" used more in my entire life.  It was fantastic.  The evening consisted of laughing, eating, shopping, dancing, and spontaneous photo shoots.  We were all in our element.

        The uniting of people with a common passion is such a beautiful thing!  No matter what you find joy in, be it fashion, movies, sports, whatever, I encourage you to seek out those who share your passion.  Network, make friends, and let your creative juices start a'flowin'.  I once read that you shouldn't look to other people's inspirations to find your happy, but rather you should trust what inspires YOU.  And it's beyond safe to say that these two inspire me.  They're a large part of my happy!  Go find your happy.             

                                                                      

XOXO

                                                                 will work for shoes

                                                                     so much happy

                                                                   & so much love

maiden voyage

Hi Y'all!  It's only appropriate to begin my blog in the same way I begin most conversations, right?  It's true... I was born and raised in the South, and wouldn't change a thing.  While my home is found below the Mason Dixon line, my dreams will hopefully take me to places all over the world.  I am a former art history major who is about to begin her second year of college as an Advertisement/ Public Relations major.  My ideal career would fall under the category of "fashion PR."  I love fashion.  I love working with people.  A gig in the fashion PR industry would be the perfect blend of the two.  This blog will be focused around all things fashion and finding the beauty in the everyday ordinaries.  Thank you all for reading!  Enjoy!


This picture encompasses so many of my favorite things:  My first trip to NYC, my best friend and FIT Student, Carter Kidd, and cupcakes! xoxo