Inspired By: Pastels and Spikes

On this day it rained, so I thought it only appropriate to whip out the jeans I was originally told were forbidden in the work environment. Naturally, I opted for a pastel hue to rock with some spikes on my collar.

This way, my shirt doubles as a trendy staple piece as well as a weapon.

On an unrelated note, today I sprayed deodorant in my hair with the common misconception of it being dry shampoo. Ya win some, ya lose some, am I right? In this case, my hair lost some, and it smelled of armpits. Clean ones, people, relax.

Top: Topshop, Jeans: Free People

Inspired,
Amanda

Inspired By: Paisley and Shorts

When I first started my internship, I was told absolutely no shorts. But then I was also told to base my attire off of the rest of my department, specifically my supervisors. My supervisor loves to wear shorts.  Therefore, I now love to wear shorts. Every. Single. Day. Almost.

Upon arriving at work, a very cute, feminine man told me I looked adorable in this outfit. So, like, score one for Mandy. Paisley print for the win.

Shirt: Topshop, Shorts: Gap, Shoes: Joan & David

Inspired,
Amanda

Inspired By: Fancy Pants

What do you get when you mesh a not-so-dressy work environment and a girl who is over blisters from trying to run up and down stairs in heels? Patterned pants and penny loafers!

All I can really say about this ensemble is that those pants make me feel like a kaleidoscope, but a really cool and trendy kaleidoscope. Fortunately for me, this pattern is quite slimming, contrary that what most patterned pants do to the look of legz. Hey, even my boyfriend likes these pants. Score. Hi Zachary.

To quote a comment on this picture from my Instagram, "Dem pants though. (Insert pants emoji here)"

#Mandyreadyforwork

Shirt: Urban Outfitters, Pants: Zara, Shoes: Dolce Vita

And a warm welcome and sup to mah girl Elle.

Inspired,
Amanda

Inspired By: First Day of Work

I would assume you have all been cringing with excitement after my big announcement last night. 

Without further adieu, I present to you the commencement of said big announcement.  To begin the "Mandy Ready for Work" shenanigans, it only seems right to begin with my first day of work outfit.

Before my internship started, my mom and I tore through the racks of Zara, scoping out the "professional work attire" scene.  What we found was sheer bliss, to say the least.  Skirts and heels and conservative yet trendy tops were bestowed upon our eager purchasing hands.

So now, la da di da di, Mandy came to party in her Zara outfit.

However, she soon learned she was a tad too fancy for her casual PR department of trendy, casual people. So this signaled the first and last day Mandy felt the need to wear heels. But hey, at least I didn't go for the business suit. Am I right, ladies?

Blouse: Zara, Skirt: Zara, Shoes (maybe you can guess): Zara

Annnnd a big hello to my newest fan club member, Brooke. See ya when we catch some rays.

Inspired,
Amanda

Inspired By: A Big Announcement

Dear my beloved readers, friends and family, those who simply find joy in my daily outfit posts on Instagram,

I would like to share some very special news with all of you, because, well, I love you.  Or because I feel good about myself when I return to this here URL, one that I admittedly abandon all too often.

Before sharing my big big news with anyone willing to hear it, I'd like to tell you a little story. Mostly in hopes that while you read you expel a little chuckle, or at the least feel serene in knowing that Pretty Bird has returned.

My tale begins with a mere intern girl named Mandy.  She wakes up in the morning and puts on the outfit that she placed so neatly on her floor the night before.  She makes her self up to be quaffed and groomed.  She then looks at herself in the mirror, breathes a sigh of relief as she feels confident in the outfit she has chosen for her day's activities in the office.

After this sigh of relief comes a little lean and a bent knee. Mandy whips out her iPhone and snaps away at an angle that perfectly encompasses her day's outfit choice from neck to toe. (She hasn't quite mastered the facial expression, and she chooses to leave this out anyway.)

Mandy then clicks on her Instagram app on her screen and gives her morning outfit picture a nice filter that so beautifully captures the lighting and the vibrancy of her outfit.

Then, Mandy waits.  She waits for likes. She waits for the others to double tap her photo.

And just like that, #MandyReadyForWork.

So, without further adieu, I present to you my wonderful announcement.

Ready? Are you sure? Starting tomorrow, I will be sharing Mandy's photos and outfit choices with you, my beautifully loyal followers. Get fucking excited.

Inspired,
Amanda

Disclaimer: Pretty Bird is Mandy. Mandy is Pretty Bird. And who am I? That's a secret I'll never tell. Xoxo, Mandy girl

Inspired By: Big Little Shenanigans

I'd like to welcome myself back to reality for a moment and say hello to my beloved blog, one that I've abandoned for so many months.  For that, Pretty Bird, I am sorry. 

Aside from that, I'd also like to stray from my normal topic of conversation, mostly with myself, and delve into the world of being a sorority girl.  Not in a weird way, people, relax.  I just want to share all of my big little endeavors with my biggest fans. That is, if I still have any. Miss you! Wink wink.

Today's post has little to do with fashion and a lot to do with love.  Lots of love, in fact.  The love I, and all of my sisters, have for our littles.

Let me just preface this post with a love note to my little.

Little, you are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life. All I want to do is hug you and give you candy and clad you in all of my handed down clothing.  You are perfect and should never change because you're my leetle, and I love my leetle.

OK, enough of that.  Let's digress into the typical big little exchange during the mysterious days.

In the few exchanges in which the littles have absolutely no clue who their bigs are, even though they may have an inkling, these bitches go cray. Muploads on muploads of baskets with captions such as "OMG BIGGIE I LOVE YOU MORE THAN ANYTHING! I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE BUT YOU ROCK!" Like, yeah, I rock and I'm glad you know it.

But anyhoo, although I am all too familiar with this love fest phenomenon, seeing as my big is the best person in the entire world (aside from my little, of course), I still find the process peculiar.  Like how could you possibly love me if you have no idea who I am?

Is it because you know I'm a pretty bird and you love pretty birds? In that case, I love you even more than I thought possible.  Maybe you read my blogs, little? And for that, I thank you.

These digressions are even giving me a headache, so moving back on, I suppose.  Let's talk about baskets. Wow, what is there to say about these baskets. So much time and money spent on rather pointless things that either make no sense or will make your little fat. They will make her phat too.

Like how much candy could my little eat if I throw 20 bags of Reese's in a green pale? The world may never know.  Will she ever wear the ugly shirts I've handed down to her since I no longer wear them? Will she parade around in the weird hat I've positioned so nicely to angle off the side of her basket in an artsy fashion? Will she ever utilize the stuffed giraffe? So many questions, only answers I can draw from my own experience.

Well, that's all I've got for now.  Not my typical material, but I thought my life was slightly interesting that perhaps someone would be interested.

Big, I miss you. Little, I love you. AEPhi, you are the best thing that's ever happened to me.

Ew grossing myself out with this sappy love fest, so BYE!

Inspired,
Amanda

Inspired By: Fall

Goooooood afternoon, party people. So like, hi. It's been awhile. And it gets increasing more awkward every time I bring that notion up because then you're (Molly Elisa) all like, "Hey, Pretty Bird, where you at? It's been since June that you blogged last." And to that I say, yes, but I have had a lot on my plate.

Okay, no excuses, just blog posts.

So don't fret, and instead take in all the beauty that is this post because it seeps beauty and briskness from its pores.  I'm talking about the Fall season, of course!

Maryland is often quite humid and hot in the summer. Naturally, one can only sport her Free People cutoff shorts for so long before craving pastel colored skinny jeans.  So, when the weather turned brisk and crisp and everything fall-like, I obviously did a jig, put on my Free People ensemble from head to toe and frolicked on Frat Row. (poet and I didn't even know it, as always.)

Without further adieu, please enjoy two of my fall favorite outfits. I also instagrammed the following photo and entered it in #FPCLOSET competition, so like, Free People, vote for me.

Shirt: Free People, Jeans: Free People, Flats: Sam Edelman

Trying to be artsy; I even made this my profile picture on Facebook. I believe this to be so artsy in fact, that a man friend of mine told me my picture was weird and that I should delete it immediately. Men just don't understand.  Am I right, ladies?

If I could captain this picture, it would say: "Hey! Hi! Look at me twirl and be a pretty girl!"

Ya know, just laughing and being candid and flailing my hair and whatnot.

Shorts: Free People, Boots: Anne Klein, Sweater: Roomate's (Thanks for the sweater, EmDawg)

Perhaps sunglasses would have been a better idea than my spectacles in the sun. Oh well, YOLO. Sorry, I hate when people say YOLO so I used to say it as a joke and then it became a habbit. Sorry not sorry. Ugh, that one too.

Special thanks to Sarah for being my photographer and frolicking alongside me on the Row. Tootles.

Inspired,
Amanda