Springtime in Georgia.

Wearing: Banana Republic Heritage Floral Silk Ruffle Dress (c/o) in dark cypress & Eryn Heeled Sandal (c/o) in blue. Michael Kors pave ring. Necklace from a Boston street vendor. Anthropologie earrings (similar here). Photos by Rachel Hill.

These are the good old days.

I am realizing it only because I keep pinching myself. Like, is this weather really real?! The azaleas in Georgia during this fleeting span of a mere few weeks are second to no other charming southern foliage. Okay, I haven't seen the Cherry Blossoms in D.C. yet (it's on the bucket list!) but I will still argue this with anyone. Because the azaleas are a Georgia thing. Yes, they can grow elsewhere, but the great, humid state of Georgia is where these decadent shrubs comfortably sprawl out and revel in their decades of vibrant bounty. And the lifespan is short - the blazing shades of graceful rose, audacious coral and heated scarlet have a way of planting seeds into the sensations of your memory. Then after 3-4 weeks, they lose their flowering wonder, and elegantly defer to regularity once again. So these are the days, right now, to remember! This unapologetic breezy weather and saturated azaleas that are currently mid-bloom have me feeling all whimsical and hopeful that this season shift symbolizes more than just new growth in my backyard. Springtime is for more than just dreaming - its for action! This is the time to, quite literally, spring forward into motion on all those things that have been filling the to-do lists in my mind. No better time than the present to clean out my closet, clean up my desk, write the difficult posts that have been eluding me and continue chipping away at a few dreams.

Banana Republic was kind enough to send me this killer dress and shoes (how did they know I have a zillion weddings coming up??), which gave me the timely opportunity to try everything on and prance around outside in this coveted weather - taking captive the moment to really appreciate this season. Springtime, yes, but also THIS SEASON. The one I'm living. This season of young motherhood, of budgeting every dollar, of relentlessly writing and wondering if I will ever become everything I want to be. I live in this tension - and you probably do too - of hoping for more while trying really hard to appreciate everything I have right now.  I am so grateful for these gentle moments of reminder. It seems to me that we rarely ever know that we are living in the good old days. But as I take a moment to really ponder it, to feel the gratitude of the life I'm living, I wholeheartedly admit it. Standing in this silk dress, almost lost in the azaleas of my hometown, after so many tiring journeys and yet with so much life still before me - this is the truth. These are my good old days. And I intend to make good on them.

This post is sponsored by Banana Republic, who provided free product in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

What to Wear on Valentines Day? 3 Looks to Inspire with Fab'rik!

Got plans for Valentines Day? Then you need something special to wear! Whether you have a date with Netflix, a date with your sweetheart, or a date with your girlfriends, these options are sure to encourage your day-of-love plans. I'm excited to bring you three Valentines looks today, in partnership with Fab'rik!

Let me just give you the tiniest bit of background on this remarkable boutique, and you will understand why I reached out to them to collaborate on this post. Since relocating back to the Atlanta area, Fab'rik has become my go-to shop whenever I need to find something gorgeous and affordable. When I was looking for a dress to wear to a dear friend's wedding in Rome, I collapsed through the front doors of Fab'rik and begged for the stylists' help. I might have waited a bit too long to actually look for something, and suddenly the trip was upon us and you don't just want to wear any old thing to a wedding in ITALY, right?! Not only did they find me the perfect dress in under ten minutes, but they had a little play area set up in the store for my little 10-month-old (at the time) son Everett to gallivant in, stocked with toys and a baby gate, so that I could do my shopping with some peace of mind. The customer service was through the roof - they brought me all the sizes I could need, along with bottled water and an honest opinion when I tried on those 6 dresses really fast. I came back to the first one I tried on, and the deal was done. It was such an easy experience, and I felt like everyone in that store was on my side, wanting to help me in my miniature moment of need. Any mom of a toddler can sympathize - if you find a place to shop where you child doesn't absolutely lose their mind, then it's going on the list of "will visit again". But to find a place where my son is semi-comfortable and I get a little attention, encouragement and, let's just be honest, help? It's going on the "miraculous" list.

Fab'rik has been my go-to spot since moving back to my hometown. Today I'm excited to share three looks to inspire your upcoming Valentines Day plans - whether you will be flirting over cocktails or weeping to your 40th viewing session of Pride and Prejudice, we styled these looks with every scenario in mind!

Wearing:
Dress: Fab'rik Ruffle Hem Sweater Dress in Red / Boots: Qupid Nixon in Grey Oil / Bag: Fab'rik / Bracelets: Fabulina

Wearing:
Boots: Anne Michelle Steppup in Chestnut Black / Clutch: GS Snakeskin in Charcoal / Top: Fab'rik Off The Shoulder Top in Black / Jeans: Paige Verdugo Skinny in Blackshadow / Necklace: Fabulina

Wearing:
Booties: Joia Perforated in Grey / Jeans: Flying Monkey Distressed Skinny in Rivercreek / Sweater: Dakota Chenille Boyfriend Sweater in White / Necklace: Fabulina

I hope your Valentines Day is stylish, comfortable and brimming with love! If you're interested in snagging a few of these pieces, stop in to your local Fab'rik (you can find your nearest location here). Many thanks to Jamie, Rewa and Sydney at Fab'rik PTC for partnering with Oy! on this post :)

*All photos by Sydney Frost.

The Very, Very Best Dress. (+ a Sonnet James Giveaway!)

I want to talk to you about Sonnet James. The dreamiest brand ever.

I stumbled upon this delightful brand because one of my favorite bloggers was the model for the look book a few years back. I was mesmerized by the dresses, all the striking colors and the careful, chic, and yet very playful tailoring, and I thought, “Hmm, I’ll remember that brand one day when I have a baby.”

That day came a bit sooner than I had planned.

Upon ordering and receiving two of these dresses in the mail, I was seriously hooked. And since I am an extrovert and I am obsessed with sharing my favorite things, I just HAVE to shout it from the rooftops – these dresses are my favorite dresses! I want every lady I know to experience the wonder of wearing an SJ dress!

Fabric. Fit. Feel.

Let’s talk about the fabric, the fit, and the feel. You know, the bread and butter.

Soft. Like, luxuriously soft. Fitted in all the right places. Loose and comfy in all the right places. It’s like I finally found a brand that understands my body type! I am short, petite and curvy. It’s really hard to fit into standard sizing when you’re a short gal with a booty that likes to hang around while the rest of me has already walked away. And yet! These dresses are just perrrrfect. I also really love the length. Keep scrolling, you will be able to see how it hits just above the ankle. Which is very very great, because most normal dresses and skirts tend to be way too long on me. Not these dresses!

Another wonderful element of this particular style is the fact that it is breastfeeding-friendly. I was a little wary of that fact when I bought the dress, but let me just tell you that the neckline bounces back from all the stretching and pulling that it has endured. And after every wash, it still looks brand new! Insert little praise emojis.

I also want to mention that although this brand was created under the premise of "playful dresses for playful moms", you most certainly DON'T have to be a mama to fall hard for these casual gowns. Because seriously, get a load of the tailoring. The styles are so adorable, I almost feel like you can sense the humor and a little wink of the eye in each dress.

Travel Buddy.

I am especially ecstatic to report that these dresses are THE JAM for traveling in. I wore them all over Madrid and Rome last month, and they were easier and more comfortable than anything I’ve ever worn on a plane. The length of the sleeves adds a bit of extra coverage and temperature-control for those chilly planes, and the soft material was a dream to sit in for hours on end. I paired these dresses with my trusty Keds, which really completed the “I’ve-died-and-arrived-in-comfort-Heaven” outfit for me.

It was kind of like wearing sweatpants. Except that I looked cute and felt even cuter. So, you know, it was better than wearing the sweatpants.

I'm wearing the Sonnet James Florence Dress. Hat is Urban Outfitters (similar here), shoes are Seychelles for Anthropologie from last year, bracelets are a random assortment, including the Keani Manta Mystique Found You Cuff, Ring is Pandora. Everett is wearing Baby Gap Onesie and Pants. His shoes are Freshly Picked in Goldenrod. 

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Now For A Giveaway!

I wasn’t asked to promote this brand. SJ doesn’t need my promotion. I hunted them down and smothered them with my adoration. I truly love the brand and I am thrilled out of my mind to have the opportunity to partner with SJ to give away a dress to one lucky Oy!  reader!

How can you win? Enter using the Rafflecopter below! And gooooooooood luck to you, friends!

a Rafflecopter giveaway