the rad list: chaucee.

rad: great; wonderful; excellent; exciting.
if you don't know by now, rad is one of my favourite words. :)
i've decided to start a rad list, showcasing blogs/bloggers that i adore. i know a lot of bloggers do this, but i always love when they do. it's exciting to see who is out there in bloggyland... i have found some of my favourite bloggers through posts like this. i don't think this will be a super frequent thing, but i would love to share some of the dreamy, wonderful people who have inspired me and my creativity in some way.

my first blogging lovely is chaucee from streets and stripes. i first "met" chaucee when i won a giveaway (one of her amazing handmade hats). let me tell you, i'm so stoked i did. she is absolutely fantastic! we share quite a few common loves - she & him, photography, dresses, panera, and naomi from the rockstar diaries. chaucee has the sweetest, most precious spirit and a beautiful heart... i absolutely love seeing the world through her eyes. in one word, she is refreshing. not to mention, her smile is contagious! i asked her some questions which she graciously answered below... make sure to check out her blog and leave some sweet words, tell her i sent you. :)

one. how long have you been blogging and why did you start? Well if we really want to go back far, I started keeping a blog when I was 13 years old. However, it was locked up, super emotional (you know how girls are at 13), and just for myself. But about three years ago I started a blog called The Fashion Archives (which is now closed) and I fell in love with blogging. From there I decided to open up a personal blog called Lah Mode on wordpress which just recently transitioned to blogger under the name Streets and Stripes. I feel really confused myself after writing that so I'm sorry if only a little sense came out :D

two. one of the focuses of your blog is your personal style and what you wear everyday --- how would you describe your style?

I would describe my style as "me". I won't wear something that doesn't make me happy and comfortable. That can include pieces anywhere from indie to preppy to bohemian. Since I'm a student I like to remix a lot of my outfits with things I find at local thrift stores. Old Navy, Target, and Gap are also staples : )

three. who and/or what inspires your style?

I really love what Naomi from Rockstar Diaries wears. She isn't actually a fashion blogger but the pictures she posts always have her in such adorable outfits! I love her style. For the most part I would say that I just find inspiration from browsing through stores online. But when I think about getting dressed I don't think about what other people have worn, but what I want to wear at that moment .

four. what is your dream career? do you want to pursue it or is there something else you're going to do?

Oh boy. This is the question of the decade! I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do and what I'm called to do, but I wouldn't mind being a photographer (I'm still a beginner), running a full time etsy shop, or being in ministry with my husband (whom I have yet to meet :P). I'm also a musician and can totally see myself doing that as well. But first and foremost I want to be doing God's will for my life. And of course (as I slightly referred to) I hope to get married to a handsome man and have lots of babies :)

five. we seem to have a common love of photography --- what inspired you to pick up a camera?

I would have to say my friend Adalie Plain. We went to school together back in the day, and she is just simply amazing and so talented. My mom was also a big influence. She is always taking pictures and it fostered an interest in me as well. Now my mom, my older sister, and I are always seen with cameras around the neck! It's really become a fun thing for us to do together. I saw the way all of these people just captured life, and I wanted to do this as well, but through my own eyes. It's something that I've truly grown to love and I only hope to get better and better. Maybe you can help me out! ;D

six. what are some of your favorite blogs right now and why do you love them/what keeps you reading?
I actually have a section of my blog dedicated to my favorite blogs (fashion related and non-fashion related) so visit that section to see all of my favorites. Hmm, well to start things off I have to say that I love The Flower Child Dwelling (of course!!). But my other favorites would be Adored Austin, Jen Loves Kev, What A Nerd Would Wear, Sandra Juto, Cakies, Color Me Katie, and This Time Tomorrow. All of these blogs have awesome pictures and great ladies behind the blogs! I love when bloggers share their lives and not just their wardrobes - that's what keeps me coming back for more.

seven. you have an etsy shop, taylor house! tell us about it :) (note: guys, her knitted hats are SO COZY! :))

Well I started Taylor House back in 2007 as a way to get rid of some of the extra knitting projects I had laying around. Knitting is one of my favorite things to do and since a girl can only have so many cowls and scarves I decided to open up my own etsy shop to sell off the extras and hopefully make a buck or two (what can I say.... I'm in college). Right now I have a mix of handmade knitted items as well as vintage pieces.

eight. describe your personality in five words:

Spontaneous, passionate, loyal, creative, driven.

nine. you have a beautiful singing voice (note: trust me, folks, i've heard it ;)) - how long have you been singing/how did it all start?

Aw thanks! Well I guess you can say that I have always been singing, but I got my first guitar at age 13 and have been writing songs ever since. I was actually a songwriting major down in Nashville before I moved back up to Philly and switched majors.

ten. share a favorite quote, or song lyric, or excerpt from a poem - whatever inspires you :)
Oh boy this is a tough one! My favorite quote varies all the time (depending on what I'm going through at the moment), but currently it's "Help me see not so much to be understood as to understand." - St. Francis. I really try to apply this to my life.

thank you, chaucee, my darling!