Fashion Friday's

So I've been toying with the idea of doing this for quite some time now.
When I first started my blog I loved doing outfit posts.
I've continued to do them here and there (some of them are a little embarrassing... iphone photos and all...) throughout the past year or two, and it was in fact one of my main focuses on the blog up until a year or so ago. However while fashion is no longer the main focus of my blog now, it's still one of my passions and something I've loved for a really long time. Maybe not in the typical "shop til you drop"/must-have-the-newest-designer-brand-thing kind of way (though I have my moments when I'm looking at various Chanel/Michael Kors/Kate Spade/ pieces). But I grew up thrifting with my Mom and finding fun and unique vintage pieces as well as coming up with creative and fun outfits is still something I love doing.

Over the past few months I've really been trying not to shop as much (which I touched on briefly in this post) because I really do have a ridiculous amount of clothes. A good portion of which I've inherited from various family members (seriously, some of the best vintage items ever!) but still, I've definitely added to it with my love for the sale racks and thrift/consignment stores.
So as I've been cleaning out my closet I've been trying to be more conscious of what I actually do and don't wear (as well as what I wear too much... sorry striped shirts) so that I can make better choices when I do go shopping as well as utilize the pieces that I own more and mix things up a little.
Anyway, all that to say I'm now introducing a new feature/series here on the blog called....
*insert drum roll here*


(I know, super creative right?)
This will be a series of, simply, outfit posts! It'll challenge me to be more creative with the clothing I do have so that I'll shop less and also keep me from wearing the same thing over and over (again, sorry striped shirts...) as well as have a fun little post for you guys to enjoy (hopefully!) during the weekend.
When I've asked for feedback about what you enjoy seeing most here on the blog, outfit posts was one of them. Be careful what you wish for. ;)
Fashion Friday's won't necessarily happen every friday, but I'm hoping to still make it a fairly regular feature.

And so now, without further ado, here's the first official post!


Okay so since this is technically a re-blogged post I won't go into too much detail this time about the outfit. But if you want to hear more about it head over to the original post on Meagan's blog!
Outfit details
Belt- Thrifted
Shirt- Primark
Jacket- Thrifted
Shoes- Rue 21
Watch: Michael Kors
Necklaces: Gifted, made by me, thrifted, vintage
Rings: This Etsy shop and Michael Kors
Bracelets: Thrifted and handmade

All photos by Meagan Abell

Steven & Kelsey

Meet Steven and Kelsey.

I had such a great time location scouting for this country themed engagement, but I had an even better time actually shooting it!
It's couples like Steven and Kelsey that make me love what I do.
Capturing their love during this shoot was crazy easy.
Because you only have to be around them for a few minutes to see that they really do love each other.
Watching them interact was hilarious and such a joy to be around.
I love couples like that!
Couples who are comfortable with who they are, with one another, laid back, outwardly selfless in the way that they love and care for one another, and who bring out the best in the other person simply by being with them.
What an awesome testimony of what God calls us to in marriage, don't you think?
Speaking of which, I can't wait to shoot their wedding!
But in the meantime, enjoy the photos of these two cuties.

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Check out more here.
Interested in getting some portraits of your own done?
Email me for more info: by.leney@gmail.com


Something About Books



I love reading.
I always have.
I've recently come to appreciate more the value of owning books rather than just borrowing them from the library (though don't get me wrong, I love the library).
Growing up I visited the library at least twice a week. Often even three times. Needless to say all of the librarians knew me and I was pretty good friends with a lot of them.
But there's just something about owning the book you're reading. 
It makes it, and the story it holds, all the more yours to enjoy.

I'm currently re-reading The Great Gatsby so I can be ready when the movie comes out.
My 21 year old self definitely appreciates it more than my 16 year old self ever did.
Funny how just 5 years can give you a much better understanding and appreciation for some things.

I found yet another Alice In Wonderland copy to add to my collection the other day. 
I think I have eight now?
I've lost count...

I am so excited for summer. 
With summer always comes extra time for reading.
Days at the beach, river, pool or sailing (any body of water actually seems to be coupled with my need to read). I just can't get enough.
I need to make a summer reading list soon.

What's on your to-read list?

Life According To Instagram

Wow so I've been a little absent in doing week in review posts lately.
Quite honestly though, I've been thinking about changing the format of how I do them/whether or not to do them anymore at all.
But I do really like making a little collage of all my instagrams to see what I was up to during the week because, well, that's just fun gosh darn it.
So we'll see.
For now, here are some instagrams from the past (few) week(s)...


Follow me at @agirlnamedleney

When One Door Closes


So I realized recently that I like taking photos of doors when I travel.
Above is a quick example of a collage I threw together of some of the doors I took photos of when I was in New Mexico a few years ago.
Yea, I said some.
I also apparently did this when I was in England/Scotland last year.
You can see that collage here.

Speaking of New Mexico though, I'm hoping to go through some of those photos to share here on the blog sometime in the upcoming months. 
It still remains one of my favorite places I've visited in the states.
You really are hard pressed to beat the expanse of beauty that is the american west.

What about you?
What have been some of your favorite places to travel?

Europe In Photos {Part 10}

Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you've all been waiting for
(Actually just the moment I've been waiting for)
Finally, here is the last batch of England photos!
It only took me a year.
Literally.
That's not too bad right...?
(Don't answer that)
Goodness I miss it so much though.

 Here's one last shout out to all the awesome people I met and became friends with and to the friends I travelled with and visted and let me stay with them etc.
I still feel so blassed to have had the experience.
I know I've talked endlessly about it but it really was one of the best of my life.
Can't wait to go back one day!

These photos are from my fourteenth and fifteenth days.
Feel free to read the above links so you understand the story behind the photos!
You can see a round up of all my posts from my trip here.
You can see some Instagrams from my trip here.

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You can see previous Europe In Photos posts below

Goodness

Photo cred: Meagan Abell

"My goal is for you to become so convinced of My goodness that nothing can shake your trust in Me."

 I'm so overwhelmed by God's goodness lately.
It's the best kind of overwhelmed.
I feel so full of joy my heart just might burst.
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  I apologize for the unintentional break from blogging! 
I currently have 15 folders of photos on my desktop awaiting editing.... so things have been pretty busy lately.
I should be getting back into the swing of things here shortly though.
With lots (and lots) of photo posts for you to enjoy!
I know you can't wait.

Brian McDaniel

Brian has been mentioned several times here on the blog.
Here, here, here, here, here, here, here and even here.
Ok so a lot actually.
I met him almost two years ago when we were mutually semi stalking each other for street style photos. We've been friends ever since. 
Though I don't get to see Brian all that often, I always love catching up with him when I do. He's such a fun person to talk to and I feel like I always learn something new from his cultured and fashion forward self. 
Not to mention we are glasses twins.
So clearly we were destined to be friends.
Brian's been busy with some new projects lately, but he is probably most known for his Richmond street style blog Dirty Richmond, on which I've been honored enough to be featured a few times!
But anyway, I came across these photos on my hard drive which I took this time last year for a feature for From The Runway To RVA. Due to some website maintenance and other things, the feature was never able to be published. 
So I thought, hey, there's no reason why they can't still be shared with the world!
So here we are.
And though anyone that knows him (or even just follows him on twitter) knows that he loves Adele, vinyl records and has a VHS collection, I feel like these images portray not just those things, but Brian's fun and charming personality.
I definitely would love to do a photoshoot with Brian again at some point, now that I have more experience, a better lens and a better eye, but I still love these photos. We had a lot of fun shooting them!
So enjoy and be sure to check out Brian's current tumblr where he posts beautiful and enchanting photos of what he's up to every so often in Richmond and elsewhere.


The Kind Of Friends



There are some days you are extra grateful for friends.
The kind of friends who pull you out of slumps.
The kind who pray with you, out loud, in the middle of a Starbucks for a solid ten minutes without even being a little bit embarrassed. 
The kind that wander around big cornfields and abandoned houses to find that perfect shot.
The kind that almost always try to pay for your food and/or drinks when you're out with them.
Even when they can't afford it.
The kind that inspire you and motivate you to be better.
The kind that remind you what you're capable of and how much you have going for you.
The kind that text lyrics to that one song to you in ALL CAPS.
With lots of emojis.
The kind that send you youtube videos to really dumb but really funny things.
The kind that love you simply because you're you.
Even if you're a little bit weird.
Especially because you're a little bit weird.
Those are the kind I'm extra grateful for today.