What I Wore: Shirt and Sweater (Old), Necklace (Popbasic via giveaway), Skirt (c/o Shabby Apple), Shoes (Rockport via giveaway), Purse (Vintage/Garage Sale)

 This photo shoot is a very special one! We woke up bright and early, put on our Sunday Best (well, okay I put on my Sunday best. Amos just got dressed) and took off for Cody's Hot Air Balloon Festival! The balloons take off early in the morning here in order to catch the most favorable wind patterns as they are essentially un-steerable vehicles. When we got to the festival  all the hot air balloons all lay side by side on their sides, as hot air was pumping them up. The whole thing- basket and all!- tips upright when there gets to be enough air inside. There may or may not have been jumping up and down in excitement when the first one took off. May or may not. The real reason this is such a special shoot though, isn't because of the balloons. Its because of what I was wearing.

A few weeks ago, Shabby Apple contacted me about sending an item to review. I ultimately chose the Picnic Park Skirt, and was as excited as could be. My husband knew that I'd been waiting anxiously for it too, so when he saw the package in the mail, he left it, and handed me the mailbox keys the minute I came home. How thoughtful, because it was prettily wrapped, and a delight to get. The skirt was even wrinkle-free right out of the package, and ready to slip into right away. I maaaay have spent the next half hour or so playing dress up in my room.

You would've done that too though. The skirt is lovely, comfortable to wear (and miraculously is also something I can machine wash!) and obviously well-made. There were a few strings loose from the fabric above where the hem was stitched, but that is to be expected from hems that are stitched rather than serged. Everything is very sturdily made. The skirt's color is even better than the pictures showed, more of a springtime green than the almost-neon coloring I'd been thinking it was. The color was something I'd gone out on a limb about since there is little of it in this girl's closet, but it has already proved very remixable. It fits perfectly too, which was something that had worried me. I'd looked up their sizing guide after dutifully measuring myself, and ordered the recommended size, even though I'm normally a smaller dress size. No need to have worried though; their clothes run very true to their sizing guide.

After having such a positive experience with Shabby Apple, its a little shameful to admit- this is my first item from them, and the hindrance before this was largely due to cost. Even sillier is the fact I'd been following the company's doings for well over a year now despite never buying. They want things to be cute and modest! They love old movie stars! They like travel! The sad part is, it is not even that the items are so very expensive- most are forty to a hundred dollars. Items from Shabby Apple do cost more than some places like H&M or some such, and not too long ago I was broke college student trying to make a small budget work. Somehow that mindset just stuck with me. Here's the thing though, with Shabby Apple  you are not purchasing a trend item that will be worn through in a season. You are purchasing a quality item that is timeless in appeal. Ultimately, it is something that will stay in your closet instead of getting replaced over and over. It is cheaper in the long run. Plus, though Shabby Apple doesn't make a big deal out out of this, 5% of their net income goes to charity. They work with Accion, a charity that provides micro-loans to women around the world, helping them become more independent and successful in running their own businesses. I love that my future purchases can help that (and future purchases there will be)!

Have you ever made a Shabby Apple Purchase? Are there any items from them on your wishlist this month?

I did receive this skirt courtesy of Shabby Apple. However, the opinions and endorsements stated here are my own.