Stripes & Mustard

Ah, the snow has come. 

Logan is getting colder and the clothes are getting cuter.

I am a sucker for pencil skirts and chunky necklaces and this weather calls for both. 

So I like to take advantage of it and wear all the skirts and necklaces I possibly can.

 Top: Forever 21 $4.99 // Skirt: J. Crew $39.99 // Watch: Michael Kors $249.99 // Necklace: J.Crew $89.99 // Boots: Steve Madden $249.99

I also did a little something different to my hair. 

I'm not quite sure if the whole ombre look is really for me or not. 

A little edgy. I'm not used to it yet.

Just Call Me Samantha Cullen

I feel like a vampire.

Thirsty red lips. 

Pale skin.

Black clothes.

But really. 

I look like I just stepped off the set of Twilight. 

Not so sure if thats a good thing or not...

 Top: Forever 21 (old) // Vest: Belk $9.99 // Leather Leggings: Bohme $19.99 // Boots: Steve Madden $249.99 // Watch: Michael Kors: $249.99

A friend and I went out and did a little mini practice photo shoot in the mountains for Logan, UT and man, was it beautiful. 

And I love the way the pictures turned out! 

Nice work, Kenz!

Yes.

I have some amazing sisters.

Love in AOT.

Rose to Kappa Delta.

HOWL

Every year Utah State University host the biggest halloween party thrown on the West. 

It's called the HOWL

I am proud to say that this is my school.

It's always kind of a stressful time though. 

Finding an outfit and all...

I'm really bad at putting outfits together for halloween. 

I always end up waiting till the last minute to throw something together. 

This happened again this year. It seems to be a trend.

My friends and I wanted to be something together really bad but no one could agree on a costume. 

4 hours before the party was going to start we finally came the conclusion that we were going to be Army girls. Easy enough, right?

Fishnets. Spandex. Cut up USMC shirts from target. Camo bandana. Bullet sash. Fake Eyelashes. War paint.

That was the plan. 

And it all happened within an hour. 

And we are so exited with the outcome. 

We looked so sick.

Happy Sunday!

Happy Sunday! 

I love Sunday, especially my "Sunday Best"

It's my favorite day of the week. 

I just gush over pencil skits, chunky necklaces, and high heels. 

I feel silly wearing them on a normal day at school.

Today we learned about harvesting the field. 

Missionary work. 

"The field is white and ready to harvest."- D&C 4

Seemed to be the topic of discussion today. 

Go forth and serve whether it be on a full time mission or on an everyday basis. 

Now is the time to spread the word. 

People are ready. Now. 

So go. 

Top: Forever 21 $15 // Skirt: DownEast Basics $20 // Necklace: JCrew Factory $20 // Watch: Michael Kors

XOXO

There Is Sunshine In My Soul Today

This past weekend I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Semi- Annual General Conference. 

Being from out of state, I have never gotten the chance to go. 

I have always wondered what it would be like to go and never thought I would be able to. 

My sister came in town for the weekend and what better way to spend Sunday than at General Conference with our brother to listen to the prophet and counselors speak to us and give us council. 

I love Conference. 

I used to not really understand it, though.

I thought it was boring, pointless, and something that I could use almost as an excuse or a "hall pass" from regular 3 hour church. 

It only came around every 6 months, so I think I just thought of it as a day off from church because we didn't actually go to the stake center like we normally do every Sunday. 

My Mom would always make us listen to it growing up.

 We didn't have BYU TV on our cable, so we would always stream it over the internet and play it around the house as we went about our normal Sunday things. 

I was always the one passed out asleep on the couch after the second speaker was about done though. 

It took me going to college, being on my own and making my own decisions, to realize how fortunate I am to have the knowledge I have of this Gospel. 

I think a lot of the times, kids feel like they forced to go to church.

I thought that too.

Trust me- I hated going to the stake dances, seminary, mutual, and everything in between too.

But I sucked it up and went because I knew it was the right thing to do. 

My mom must know what she was doing that whole time, threatening me to not be able to do something on the weekend if I didn't go to one thing during the week.

She never let me miss one thing. Not one. 

So all of you young girls reading this who know what I'm talking about- I know exactly where you're coming from. 

Just trust your Mom and Dad, they know what they're doing. 

Even though I hated going to church functions and everything that comes with being a minority as a Mormon in my high school, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Being a member of the church is the secret potion. 

I take a step back a lot and look at the big picture. 

I look at members of the church and I think to myself, "Wow. They have got it all figured out. "

Everything about my church makes sense to me. 

"Who wouldn't want to be with their family for all time and eternity? You do love them more than anything in this world, right? "

"Why don't we drink, smoke, or do drugs? Cause they are bad for you and kill you. "

"Why don't we have sex before we're married? Because that's something you share with a husband because its the single most powerful thing on this planet and why throw that around like its nothing? I will never understand how people can abuse such a sacred thing."

"Why does the church have such a statement about avoiding pornography like the plague? Cause its filthy. And destructive. And is the single most detrimental thing that a man or women can bring into a marriage. Our bodies are sacred and not to be mistreated or used for visual entertainment or pleasure."

 It just makes sense to me. 

I have such a testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 

I can honestly say I have never been happier in my life than I am now. 

I don't know where I would be without it 

I am so grateful for righteous parents who raised me in this gospel. 

I might have kicked and scream when I was 15 going to church activities, but if i could do it all over again, I would do it so much differently. 

I would have actually payed attention in church, seminary, and sunday school.

I'll never get that back, but I can learn from it.

I am a firm believer in the church saying "every member and missionary". 

Be an example to others. 

They'll see it. 

They will wonder why you have such a light about you. 

When you have the spirit with you, you glow- and people will notice. 

Take the challenge and share the light of Christ to people around you.

Share the secret potion. 

xoxoiamamormon

Love For Black and White

I have this crazy outrageous love for black and white. 

Why? Cause color is overrated. 

It's simple.

Within color, things get lost.

When you turn something from color and black and white you notice features about something even more. 

My sister came in town last weekend and we did a fun little shoot by my house through Logan canyon and it was beautiful. 

I love me some Utah leaves.

Temple Tuesday

Today was a great day. 

I took an hour out of my afternoon and went to the temple to do baptisms. 

I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to drive down the street from my apartment and visit the house of the Lord. 

It's just peaceful in there. 

I feel happy. 

All my worries go away.

I stop worry about the worldly things and everything that comes with it, and I focus on what's most important.

Family. Health. Education. Church.

etc.

I am so grateful for being a part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and I can't help but share the love I have with the Gospel to the people around me. 

I live. 

I love it.

Happy Sunday!

Here's to another sunday outfit post.

It's been a while, and I realize that.

Life has been pretty hectic lately.

"Today is a gift. Today is the best day of your life. Yesterdays are over and tomorrow's you don't know about. 4 things: 1.) Don't procrastinate. 2.) Be nice. Don't be judgmental. 3.) Be honest in everything you do. 4.) Walk the Walk. Practice what you preach. Be a good Christian." - Spiritual thought from sacrament meeting today. 

The Church is true.

Surprise!

Today was a good day.

My best friend gave me a surprise visit for the Utah State homecoming game!

I am so grateful to have this girl in my life.

She has set such an amazing example for me to serve the Lord as a missionary to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

She will be receiving her mission call any day now! 

So exited for her to start this amazing journey! 

Just days before she find out where she will be serving for 18 months! 

xoxo

Logan Canyon

Sometimes,

When I'm really bored.

My friend and I go up the canyon and take sweet pictures with sweet outfits on.

On our iPhone because plan A & B failed miserably.

but it shall do.

KD's Look Good In White Red & Blue

Lezz be honest here. 

KD's are looking good these days as we are about to meet our potential new members!

Night one featured all the Beta Delta girls dressed in america apparel Kappa Delta letters v-neck paired with white skinny jeans and nude shoes. 

Me and my Big, Pais! Love her.

Yummy treats included raspberry and blueberry mini kabobs and chocolate dipped pretzel topped with an assortment of sprinkle pretties.

Kappa Delta banner hung under our front room mantel underneath our chapter's composite.

Blondes have more fun.

Love this big and little pair. Sam and CeCe Mae are presh.

All in all, house tour night was a success. We all looked so classy and put together. 

#AllWeDoIsWin

Kappa Dee

Kappa Delta

Beta Delta Chapter

Utah State University

#allwedoiswin

We're not your typical college sorority.

Full of diversity, charisma, and leadership.

I know, we're really good looking too.

#allwedoiswin 

This Little Nugget

So yesterday I babysat my two little cousins. 

Harper & Tatum.

First off, they are perfect and could literally take care of themselves because they are so laid back and perfect 

all. the. time.

They just sit there and play on the tablet or watch one of their million cartoons that are recorded on their DVR.

I just had to capture this little cutie and her fascination with the tablet. 

I swear this child is a genius.

I can't believe kids so young can completely operate any kind of device these days. 

You name it.

ipad.

ipod.

iphone.

This girl knows how to open up my phone, swipe through my apps to find Netflix, find the show of her choice, and push play.

It's so crazy to me. 

This next generation. 

Man.

Today.

So today was a great day. 

I got my Luke Bryan CD. 

And let me just say something.

 It's UNREAL.

Like, seriously though. 

My favorites?

1. That's My Kind of Night

2. Roller Coaster

3. Play It Again

4. Beer in the Headlights

I am so obsessed with him.

It's a constant reminder when I listen to a song that I am going to marry a boy from the South.

With a truck.

And a plaid shirt.

And a guitar.

And southern charm.

And maybe, if at all possible blonde hair and blue eyes.

Preferably over 6'3''.

And I got my usual. 

Diet. Coke.

It's a daily occurrence that happens between 2-4 daily.

Happy Sunday!

This past weekend was the Young Single Adult Conference for the Southeast Area.

My neck of the woods.

It was awesome. 

They had a number of activities throughout the weekend including multiple workshops and speakers that came from all around to speak the the singles. 

They also gave dancing lessons and put on a giant dance for all 600 people who came. 

Not my thing, but I went with it. 

I am fortunate enough to live 15 minutes away from the stake center that this conference was being held which is also the stake center that shares a parking lot with the Temple.

Sometimes I take it for granted. Being down the street from the house of the Lord and all.

People use to have drive hours and hours to go to the temple and I see it nearly every day driving by.

Everyone needs improvement, and I need it in the church category and being more grateful for the opportunity I have for being so close to it.

Anyways, moving on.

Today was the last day of the conference. 

We had a regular sacrament meeting, but there was a fireside broadcast given by Sherrie Dew, Brad Wilcox, and David Bednar. It was set up like a socratic seminar. The three of them sat around a table and discussed a number of topics. It was very cool to see them communicate with one another.

All in all, it was a great weekend spent with great friends. 

Love a good little spiritual nugget of a weekend.

The Church is true.

Be You

You Light Me Up

I love me some Franklin, Tennessee.

Tonight was magical.

In Downtown Franklin, there is a old Gray's Pharmacy sign that was restored and lite back up after 10 years of being out of order. 

It was kind of a huge deal and it felt like the whole town was there to celebrate! 

The Mayor and all the important people in the county came and gave fancy speeches and then the owners of the store came out of the window and lead the countdown.

It was awesome.

I love Nashville and little moments like this.

Red on Red on Red

Happy Sunday from Nashville to wherever you are in the world! 

It it toasty and humid here in the South, but I gotta live it up before I head back out to Utah for school! 

16 Days! Crazy!

Let's talk Sunday outfits.

My all time favorite day of the week. 

Heels. Skirts. Jewels.

all things I just gush over.

Top: UO $12 // Skirt: H&M $20  (similar here) // Belt: Forever 21 $5 (similar and much nicer one here) // Heels: Blush Boutique (similar here) // Watch- Michael Kors $$$ 

Think I have enough red on today?

I bought this cute high neck elbow length tee the other day when I was at Urban Outfitters and I just had to wear it ASAP! 

I love wearing red. It's just one of those colors (next to black) that I think really makes you feel good inside. Well I was feeling extra good this morning while picking out my outfit so I decided to load up on red. 

So, the bubble necklace. The one and only. 

Well, I think the trend has come and is on it's way out and I would normally say to ditch the bubble necklace and move on to another chunky necklace, but my red necklace was left in Utah so I had to borrow Momma Cram's for the day. But normally I would have done another type of chunky gold and black necklace or earrings to tie in with the gold toed shoes. 

This look would also look fab with a high messy pony with big dangly earrings with red lipstick! You need something accentuating the neckline because the neckline on the top is so high, you need something there cause your eye automatically goes to your bare neck without anything around it.

To tie in the shoes I threw on a cheetah skinny belt to add some pattern other than stripes to the look. Don't be afraid to add another kind of pattern to an already patterned outfit. I love mixing polka dots and stripes together and cheetah and hot pink gingham. Don't be afraid to take risks! Life's too short. And if you have confidence in what your wearing, no one will be staring you down at church wondering why  you are wearing a chevron dress with zebra heels.

Rock that zeb-ron. 

(See what I did there?)

Also, on another note:

Naturally I was going to name this post "Love Him Was Red" but then again, my love life is pretty much non existent so that wouldn't have been appropriate. Cause then I would be lying to you, and that- my friends, its not okay.

Hope you had a fabulous Sunday today!

xoxo

Her Favorite Color Is Neon

So I know what you're thinking. 

 You're wondering if this blog is going to eventually become a fashion blog. 

The answer to your question is yes. 

I am constantly asked where I get all my clothes from and I finally caved and decided to make my dumb/silly/pointless blog into a lifestyle and fashion blog! 

I am all about finding the greatest deals and making them look nice, expensive and  most importantly- professional and I want to teach girls how to dress and look like these things on budget.

I am all about keeping it classy but young and fresh at the same time. I love heels and pencils skirts and chunky jewelry and curly blonde locks. I love curves and I love showing mine off, cause you know what- they're real and everyone has them. I've got a donk and boobs and it's just down right realness going on front and back of Sam Cram. Everyone obviously has things they don't like about themselves. I have a few that I might mention on here some day, but for now I decided to work them and own them and prove to girls that you most certainly do NOT have to be a size 2 to be happy. 

I love my life and I am so grateful for every opportunity I have been given in my life. I wouldn't change it for one thing. Life is way too short to worry about the number on the scale or if the cute boy sitting next to you in class thinks you have too many curves to even give you the light of day. I will admit, these such thoughts have crossed my mind a time or two, and I had to take a step back and screw my head back on straight.

Cause dangit. That boy doesn't deserve a chance with you. That right there is a boy. Not a man. He is a poor excuse of a man. It disgust me that some guys are so turned off when a girl isn't their "perfect dream bod" of a girl. Ok, not everyone looks like Megan Fox or Gisele Bundchen. That is not real. That is called genetics and some people are just born with that gift. I for one, do not possess such gift. 

Darnit. 

Moving on.

Today's look was thrown together in a matter of 5 minutes. 

I kid you not- I was laying on the couch and my mom tells me she was waiting for me out in the car to meet our good friends for dinner and I was wearing sweats with a nasty pony tale on my head leftover from cleaning the church this morning. 

I quickly ran down to my room, let down my hair (oh- what a sight) sprayed some of my favorite dry shampoo in there, and gave it a little brush through and hairspray. I threw on a great new pair of distressed skinny jeans that I picked up from Old Navy yesterday and threw on {my favorite style} blouse and a belt and grabbed some heels hoping they would match as I ran out the door. 

To my surprised they worked and I officially felt like I was crazy for wearing bright neon heels, but I love them- so I totally justified it being okay.

Let me just say- my shoe collection could put Kim Kardashian to shame. Except not at all. But kinda. It's a little ridiculous how many pairs of heels I own. And the only day I get to actually wear them is on Sunday! And we all know there aren't enough sundays in the week to rock every single pair.

And sometimes I feel like I'm being a little too dressy wearing heels with skinny jeans, but sometimes it just makes you feel good. At least that's how I feel when I slip one of my gorgeous stilettos. 

But this is my problem. I am 5' 8 and I always feel like a giant whenever I am around whoever I am around. All. The. Time. I feel like I tower over everyone, but I know it's always me just being insecure. We all are deep down inside.

Plus, wearing heels is the easiest way to give yourself the illusion of looking thinner because your legs look a lot longer than they are from the front and your hips sit back and gives the appearance of skinny-ness. Now- who wouldn't want that? Pick me!

Side note: My girlfriend, Mckenna, and I always joke around with each other about our heel obsession. Whenever there is a party or a get together of some sort with our Momma's we always know that if the other person is going, then we are okay to wear heels because we are both always down for an excuse to dress up and doll ourselves up. Always.

It's a problem actually. Cause I need a man who is AT LEAST 6'3 because I need him to have some inches on me even in my tallest heels at church. He has to. That's one of my most important criteria. Along with a few other that I will for sure post about one of these days. 

So there's my tip for the day. 

Wear your brightest most colorful pair of heels with some distressed skinny jeans and go out on the town with your girlfriends (or in my case my Mom, my good friend, and her Mom)  and feel good about yourself! 

Go get em' tiger. 

Top: Old Navy last season $20 // Jeans: Old Navy (they run really small) // Belt: Forever 21 (super old) // Heels: Fergie via Off Broadway Shoes on sale for $15 

Sometimes my Mom and I pretend like we are models in the car as we wait for the light to turn green.

She tried the sock bun for the first time and might I add- it looks fab.

She's single.

Baby Pink. Babydoll Top

Is it just me, or do you feel like whenever you buy something new you feel like you have to wear it next day? Maybe it's not the fact that I HAVE to, but probably because I WANT to.

That's how I feel tonight with everything I am wearing to this party.

So the summer is coming to a close and a whole lot of people are going off to college here pretty soon.

In honor of our seniors at work going off to school my Mom (my boss) threw a low key going away party at her frozen yogurt shop, Sweet CeCe's, after hours and brought everyone pizza and supplied unlimited yogurt for the 7 girls that were there. We sat a reminisced about the year at the shop and the hilarious stories of some of the craziness that happens behind the scenes at the shop.

I have this weird obsession with wearing funky heels with skinny jeans. It's like my favorite thing in the world. Try it, maybe it'll become your thing too!

Top: UO $9.99 sold out (similar here) Jeans: UO $39 (on sale in store) online here // Shoes: Blush $10 on sale // Aviators: Truck stop. 

It was super fun but it was so sad to say bye to my #1 favorite employee to work with! 

I will miss you Taylor! The past 2 1/2 years have been nothing but fun with you! 

I'm sure going to miss bonding with you over Luke Bryan and heath bar.

We are all going to miss you so much! Come back already! I don't know what i'm going to do without working with you! It's going to flat out stink.

xoxo

My Go-To

Top: $16 here // Jeans: $39 (on sale in store) online here // Flats: thrifted for $10 online here

Every girl needs that one go-to outfit. 

Mine? Linen white v-neck tee, skinny jeans, and my fav cheetah Tory flats.

Yesterday I was having one of those days where I just needed something new. 

I was so over all of my clothes and yes, this morning when I was getting ready I thought to myself, "I have nothing to wear". 

Um. Yeah right. 

Yes I do have clothes to wear, but I am just so darn sick of everything in my closet. Mainly bottoms. 

Ok, lets be real. It's hot outside. It's humid. The last thing I want to be wearing are jeans. For two reasons. Reason #1: They are so darn uncomfortable and the second I get home, the first thing I do is change into some yoga pants or some version of it. Reason #2: They are skin tight and when you combine that with the heat that is currently draining my soul, this makes for one big fat HECK NO. 

However, I actually didn't get ready for the day today until 4:00 cause I was headed to work, so the temperature was a little bit more bearable. 

So, to kill time I headed down to the Gulch in Nashville and ran into Urban Outfitters. And man, I scored some goodies.

Once I got home I was running a little bit behind so I just threw on a pair of skinnies I picked up from Urban and a fresh crispy white linen tee. I paired them with my Tory Burch flats {which I scored on at Plato's Closet for $10!!} and called it good. 

Simple, easy and classy. My three favorite words to describe a look. 

xoxosimplicity

Aaron's Party

Throwing it back to my tween years. 
Ladies and Gents.
My "Justin Bieber" back in the day when Hilary Duff was my idol, Disney channel was G rated, and Aaron Carter was the teen heartthrob.
Oh, how things have changed.

So my reason for posting this was because basically...

this happened today.
He followed me on twitter.
Why? I don't know. I don't ask questions.
However- Life = Made

Except not at all. 

But it's still cool, right?
I like to think so.

Soul Surfer

So today I was sitting at home flipping through all the dumb channels on tv. After numerous disappointments of what seemed like a good show, I came across one of my favorite movies. The story of the girl who was involved in a a shark attack and lost her arm. Soul Surfer. 

First of all, can I just say that if I could do one thing really well- it would be surfing. I mean- come on. Who WOULDN'T want to be a sick looking surfer girl who lives in Hawaii and gets all the boys' attention. And have the bod of a surfer girl. Um. Yes please. Anyways, moving on. 

So in honor of that movie and the 15 minutes I got to watch of it, I decided to rock my Vans US Open of Surfing 2013 t-shirt my mom brought me home. (Yes, she went. And yes I am jealous) I paired it with some {skanky- might I add} cutoffs (yes I know, they are the farthest thing from classy, but I was hot- so I let it slide) and some orange tinted aviators. It felt like a million degrees outside today with the humidity so I had to live it up with shorts and a t-shirt! 

This Never Happens

Dress- Blush Boutique $80 

Ok, this never happens.

It is possibly the hardest thing in the world to find affordable, classy, flattering, black dresses for me. And trust me when is say that it feels like you won the lottery when you it's the first dress you try in at the store.

The hunt was on for a modest black dress to wear for one of my sorority recruitment nights, and I found it. Once again, my favorite store in Nashville pulls through. Hooray for Blush Boutique in Belle Meade!

In my opinion, a little black dress is something that you will have for a very long time. It is a staple in every woman's wardrobe. So it's okay to kind of splurge a little bit on it because it will last you and you really will get your money's worth out of it.