Wait, what? It's been five years since I published my first ever post on LunaVida? HALF OF A DECADE? How is that actually possible?
This blog began almost exactly a year after I graduated from college. Back then Matt and I were spending a year in the deep countryside of Florida, having said yes to the first post-grad job offer that came our way. It was a rough year being stuck there in rural Florida for any amount of time, let alone a full year. (No shade at rural Florida, it's just not the right place for us.) I needed some type -- any kind, really -- of "creative outlet" and I somehow narrowed in on an affordable fashion blog.
Since my very first blog post ever (which you can see and cringe at with me here) our lives have changed a lot. We've moved from Florida to Arizona to California over the course of those five years. We've added two more members to our family, being Kingsley and Ollie, of course. (Back in December 2012 our family was just Matt, Kitten Luna, Puppy Kota, and myself!) My sisters both had daughters. Matt and I have both held different kinds of jobs. We've made amazing lifelong friends in adulthood while remaining close to childhood friends. We've made a lot of stupid mistakes and taken risks that paid off. We've had more Netflix and takeout nights than I can count. And every moment of these past five years, however adventurous or mundane, LunaVida has been there too. It's wild to think that this little virtual scrapbook has included everything from my evolving personal style to a diary of sorts from my 20s to my journey from super longtime vegetarian to [finally] going vegan. What an odd idea a blog is, but what else can give you the same thing? Well, I guess a paper journal circa 1997 can give you that... but it's the digital age now and I'm trying to stay current here, kids.

Navy and white print cocoon coat: Old Navy

[similar]

Off-white lace babydoll blouse (also seen here): Target

[similar]

Hudson dark wash skinny jeans (also seen here, here & here): c/o Shopbop

[similar - on sale!]

Splendid LA gray ankle boots (also seen here, here & here): c/o Shopbop

[similar]

[similar red lipstick]

I am so lucky that LunaVida still doesn't feel like another job or chore (most days). It's still fun for me. It's a daily task that I often look forward to doing. That isn't always the case because it is certainly a labor of love, but it's also a continuous part of my life that I keep getting to learn from and get excited about.

Throughout the years of LunaVida, I've gained new skills. It's given me a gigantic timeline of my life over the past five years that I can look back on one day. It's allowed me to work with amazing brands. It has held me accountable and taught me how to prioritize better.

It's introduced to amazing people. Like you :)

I'm so grateful for all of you who choose to read this blog. It's much more fun to share and engage with you guys. So whether this is your first time ever stopping by LunaVida or you have read every single post since Day 1 (hi, Mom), thank you. I hope you'll keep coming back from five more years (and then some) 💗

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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Sweater: Skinny Jeans + Sweater + Flats [& LunaVida's 4th Anniversary!]

Happy December, party people! First off, a sincerest thank you to my sister, Shannon, for thinking up this blog post title. Second, today is the fourth anniversary (or "blog-iversary," as some say...) of LunaVida. It blows my mind that I began writing this blog in 2012. Doesn't that seem so long ago? Realizing that actually makes me really proud that I stuck with it, though. LunaVida is definitely a labor of love - it seriously can take a lot of time. But I love it. I also love that you keep coming back to check in and if you ever have any suggestions or recommendations, I would love to hear them. It's no fun to write this if you aren't enjoying reading it, so please let me know what you do and don't like. And, most importantly, whether you have been a loyal reader since the beginning (I'm talking to you, family members) or just happened upon my blog today, thank you for following along with LunaVida!

Burgundy chunky knit sweater (also seen here): Old Navy

{Similar $, $$, $$$}

Hudson dark wash skinny jeans (also seen here, here & here): c/o Shopbop

{Similar $, $$, $$$}

Pointed-toe leopard print d'Orsay flats (also seen here & here): American Eagle

{Similar $, $$, $$$}

Rebecca Minkoff black "Mini Avery" tote handbag (also seen here, here & here): c/o Shopbop

{Similar}

Tortoiseshell oversized sunglasses (also seen here, here & here): c/o Polette

Madewell gold bangle: c/o Shopbop

{Similar}

How has your December been so far? Last week, I decided to book a last minute flight to come out to Ohio, and meet my new niece, Nora. I've been here for the past few days, spending some "Q.T." with my family and enjoying the Cincinnati life. I am about to head home to San Diego for a couple days, but then on Friday I head back east again, but this time to Savannah, Georgia. I'm maid of honor in my best friend Chelsea's wedding and it's bachelorette party time, baby! I cannot wait to celebrate her upcoming marriage!! (What a month it's already been - and it's not even Christmas yet!)

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Ladylike & Lacy: Tank + Denim + Wedges

Howdy!  [Yep.  I said that.]  Today is a big day for Matt and me: it's our 7 year anniversary.  Lucky number 7, baby!!  I think it is so crazy that we met over 7 years ago when we were just wee little 18 year olds, who had never had the opportunity to even vote yet.  [Obviously we both voted for the "Rent is Too Damn High" party in the 2008 election, but this blog isn't about politics, so moving on...]  I'm so grateful for Matt, and I can't believe I was fortunate enough to meet the guy I'd spend the rest of my life with so early on.  He takes care of me and our three fur babies better than I could ever ask.  Plus, he loves me deeply, despite the fact that I'm really weird (guys, that's not a joke.  You don't even know the half of what Matt has to put up with).  So I just want need to say...
I LOVE YOU & HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, MATT!

Light pink tank top with lace detail: H&M

-Similar styles: Forever 21 $8.80, Old Navy $9.00 (on sale from $12.50) or H&M $12.95

Use promo code "SPECIAL" for 25% off your OldNavy.com purchase for a limited time!

Dark wash skinny jeans: PacSun

-Similar styles: Forever 21 $7.80 or Old Navy $22 (on sale from $29.50)

Gray wedges with gold lasercut detail: DSW

-Similar styles: Amazon $9.99 (on sale from $44.99), Forever 21 $29.80 or DSW $39.95

White lasercut vegan leather handbag (also seen here & here): DSW
Gold "A" initial bangle (also seen here): c/o Blue Sunflowers


I hope you have a great first day of October!  Matt and I will be celebrating our anniversary with delicious food and wine, so it's pretty safe to say we're starting off one of the best months successfully!

Be sure to check back again to see the other "Travel Diaries" posts about the rest of our time spent in Santorini and then Mykonos, Greece!

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Print In Progress | Cardigan + Blouse + Jeans + Boots [& LunaVida's 6th Anniversary!]

Today is the 6th anniversary of LunaVida!
It's still so crazy to me that six years ago I decided to start a blog because we were living in a rural town in Florida -- and honestly, I was going stir-crazy for the year we were there. I needed a creative outlet and settled on a blog that I somehow still enjoy writing more than half a decade later - just now I get to do it while living in my dream city instead. You never know where things will go, or where life can take you in a matter of just a few years. (Which makes me want to remind anyone else who is currently feeling stuck, just like I was in good, ol' Spring Hill, that things do get better. We just have to work towards what we really want every single day, and eventually, we'll get there. Okay, sorry - promise that I'm done with the motivational speech... for today.)
Anyways, as I type this I am at my mom's house in Ohio with snow outside the window... aaand with hair that I dyed BLONDE kinda on a whim last night 👀 What better way to celebrate another "blogiversary" than with a brand new personal lewk? 😉 Just kidding, dying my hair had nothing to do with LunaVida turning six years old today. (And no, these photos don't show my new hair. You can see it on IG @alliegee319!)

White open front knit cardigan (also seen here, here & here): Target

[similar - currently 30% off!]

Multicolored floral print wrap top (also seen here): c/o Simply Be

[similar]

Light wash ripped skinny jeans (also seen here, here & here): Target

[similar]

Cognac belt (also seen here, here & here): Gap

[similar]

Madewell cognac riding boots (also seen here, here & here): c/o Shopbop

[similar - under $30]

Mint green stud bracelet (also seen here, here & here): Urban Outfitters

[similar]

14K gold layered necklaces (also seen here, here & here): c/o Sivado Studio

Urban Expressions vegan leather nude crossbody bag (also seen here): DSW

[similar]

Off topic but the photos in today's post were taken in Julian, California back in October. I've discussed my love for this tiny town on more than one occasion, but the fall colors that were starting to pop through during this particular day trip made for the prettiest backdrop. Funnily enough, I'm now bundled under multiple blankets living that winter life back in the Midwest. Makes me feel like I'm really (temporarily) experiencing all the seasons this year!

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Hat's Off: Sweater + Jeans + Boots [Plus LunaVida's 3rd Anniversary & a Giveaway!]

I can't believe today is the third anniversary of LunaVida!  The fact that it's already been three years since I began this very blog just makes me realize that when people tell you "Life flies by the older you get," they seriously mean it.  Every year life goes by faster and faster; however, I love that no matter what changes, I can always come back when I am craving some nostalgia in my life and take a gander at some of my old [embarrassing] posts.  LunaVida is like an environmentally-friendly scrapbook, and I can't thank each and every one of you enough for reading it.  I mean it when I say I love and care for you all, and I would like to say thanks for making these past three years of blogging so much fun!  And what better way to celebrate than with a special giveaway for you LunaVida readers?!  (Be sure to check out the Rafflecopter widget at the end of this post to see how you can enter to win.)

Black floppy hat: Target $14.99

{Similar $$ or $$$}

Gray speckled turtleneck sweater (also seen here): Old Navy

{Similar $, $$ or $$$}

Dark wash skinny jeans (also seen here): Gap

{Similar $, $$ or $$$}

Save 40% off your Gap.com purchase with coupon code "GOOD" through today!

Burgundy knee-high socks (also seen here, here & here): JCPenney

{Similar $, $$ or $$$}

Madewell flat cognac riding boots: c/o Shopbop

{Similar $, $$ or $$$}

Use promo code "EXTRAGIFT" for 30% off your OldNavy.com purchase for a limited time!

Enter below to win your choice of frames from Firmoo (including free shipping)!
May the odds be ever in your favor.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I just want to thank you all one more time for your support of LunaVida for the past three years.  If no one read this blog, it would certainly be a lot harder to want to keep up with it.  I sincerely cannot say thanks enough or express my gratitude, but please know you are appreciated!  If there anything you ever would like to see specifically on LunaVida, please reach out and let me know!  Lots of love to you all :)

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