Just Good Sunshine

just a bundle of yellow, named jenny, pushing through grad school

[justgoodsunshine]

2016 Favs

Is it just me or does the novelty and thrill of a new year wear off as soon as you’re either back to work or school?  I love the idea of having the chance to start over but it’s always so much harder to keep those resolutions than we want it to be.  

Everyone said 2016 was a bundle of crap, but I don’t think it was that bad.  It was definitely 366 days of learning more about life.

Some highlights:

ONE // Pittsburgh

I feel like I spent my entire time in Pittsburgh telling people it was a more relaxed Boston.  I really grew to love my small Pittsburgh family and found myself crying while I drove out of the city for the last time.  I never expected to move there and my job was no walk in the park but I find myself missing my day to day life.  Needless to say, more often than not, I don’t miss waking up to panicked texts from 16 year olds when they’re not feeling well and need to go to the hospital, but I do miss having many people running around my home.  Also, I was lucky enough to have a killer assistant who was more of a partner-in-crime than an assistant, who was always there to bounce ideas off of, share new purchases, fix my eyebrows (lol), binge watch RuPaul’s Drag Race, deal with the mayhem of our jobs, and to run to Church Brew Works in the middle of the afternoon (a hidden gem of Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville!).

TWO // J. Crew

There may be a pattern here but huge contributing factors to why I liked Pittsburgh so much and why I’ve adjusted to Madison are because of working at J. Crew.  I’ve worked in retail since 2011 for numerous companies but with this one, things seemed to click.  I love the clothes which makes it easy to sell.  Even more, I love the feeling of helping someone find the perfect outfit for an interview, date, graduation, whatever!  Knowing that they trust your judgement and seek your advice is certainly fulfilling.  I hope to continue sharing my passion for the company and creating great outfits through 2017.

THREE // Family

Last year was a very bizarre year for my family.  I’ve always been very close with my parents ever since I left for boarding school when I was 16.  My mom chose to do multiple touring shows throughout my time in college, which I thought was for a more consistent income.  I later realized that it was also to not live at home.  After a long separation, most of which I don’t understand, my parents officially divorced this year.  My friends have been so supportive as to how to cope with this and everything that comes along with it.  Also, my Bubbie, my mom’s mom, passed away in May at age 91!! What a champion.  I shut down after her passing and threw myself into my work but I miss her every single day.  Later in the year, my mom’s biological father passed away as well.  Boy, when it rains, it pours.  On the bright side, my parents spend a freaky amount of time together and usually cooperate, which makes me think that they’re not so bad as friends.

FOUR // Madison & Grad School

I’m clumping these two together because in my mind they go hand in hand.  I’m starting to realize I don’t hate moving to new places.  Of course, the actual moving in and unpacking process drives me up a wall but I love getting to the point where I feel comfortable in a routine.  Madison is such a fun place with a ton to offer that I haven’t even really had the chance to explore.  I was always so afraid of huge universities but now that I’m here, I love the possibility to make it feel like a small school within a larger community.  I’ve been running around saying I wanted to be a Spanish teacher.  I finally had the chance to get up in front of a room full of bright eyed students and do just that: TEACH!  One hundred percent a huge highlight of this semester and of my year was realizing how difficult and fulfilling and amazing teaching is.  I can’t wait to get to do it again! And here we go with another semester of grad school, starting up on Tuesday, already have over 40 pages to read! Fun don’t stop, friends, fun. don’t. stop.

Hope you’re all enjoying the new year so far!  Happy Friday the 13th ;)

Disfrute del sol! 

[justgoodsunshine]

J. Crew Retail & Factory Hauls

I SWEAR I do other things aside from shop at J. Crew haha I’m actually baking brownies, grading tests, and finishing up some linguistics homework.  And, of course, watching the season premiere of How to Get Away With Murder!  I just happen to be super excited about both J. Crew Retail’s & Factory’s new collections!!!

Let’s see what we’ve got here...

Retail first!:

I actually have this same boyfriend plaid shirt from last year but in blue.  The red version is perfect for Badger pride! 

I loooove the Deck-Striped Tee.  I have it in maybe six colors because it’s perfectly oversized and J. Crew comes out with a new colors just about every month.  This rollout features a drop before the stripe and comes in heathered gray and a navy.  

Super cute headband (similar set) with grippy on the inside.  I just bought a Tippi Sweater in this color and they would look adorable together, so perfect for fall!

Factory next!:

This pull-on skirt is great and such a quality fabric.  I’m definitely holding on to this one.  I can’t wait until the weather cools down a bit more so I can pair it with tights and boots.

Somehow I’ve never owned khaki colored pants, which is just so bizarre to me.  I found these, the Frankie Chino Pant, and I’m not sure if I love them.  The rise is a little bit low and they’re a smidge longer than ankle length on my frame.  I’m not convinced they’re super flattering for my figure so I’m going to wait until my roommate gets home for a second opinion.  I really want them to work!  I’ll keep ya posted...

I think this shirt is Factory’s response to the Deck-Stripe tee and I love the blue and green stripes.  Because I have a larger chest, I have a tendency to buy my shirts a little too large.  I can’t decide if I should size up in this one but I’m definitely keeping it one way or another.

Firstly, the color on this photo does not do this teal justice.  It truly is the color in the photo on Factory’s website.  Such a gorgeous teal, great concept, and a great wool blend.  It’s a little tight, especially when I sit down.  The long front zipper does actually zip so you can give yourself a little bit of extra room for, oh I don’t know, walking up stairs haha.  

And lastly, to end on a positive note, I have a solid pair of these, the Winnies, I have a pair of the (now-so-sadly-discontinued) Minnies, and I have a pair of the Marties.  They’re all awesome.  I couldn’t resist this patterned pair- navy with coral polka dots, just too fun!

Any fall favorites from J. Crew’s new collections?!

¡Disfruta el sol!

[justgoodsunshine]

Happy Hump Day from Melena Sunshine

My magical former assistant, Jamie Lynne, got me super into RuPaul’s Drag Race.  After growing ridiculously obsessed with the show, I spent so long trying to come up with an appropriate (and hypothetical) drag name for myself and landed on Melena Sunshine.  Melena is the Spanish word for long hair or mane, which, being the leo that I am, I most certainly possess.  Sunshine stems from my love of all things yellow and always bringing that extra pop of optimism to a day.  And there you go, Melena Sunshine.

(soon to come: a Hilldale Mall Haul and my J. Crew October collection must-haves!)

Dress: J. Crew Factory (super on sale!), Necklace: old J. Crew (similar), Cardigan: J. Crew (super on sale!), Flats: old Gap Factory (similar), Purse: Kate Spade, Lipstick: Rimmel Moisture Renew in ‘Red Alert’

¡Disfruta el sol!

[justgoodsunshine]

First Days of School Outfits

Many of us have survived two. whole. days. of classes so far!  It’s been a wild ride thus far, especially reaching both days but, despite the work and nerves, I feel like it’s going to be fun!

For my first day yesterday, I wore one of my favorite dresses and flats.  I almost always wear Vans or some other comfy shoes to walk to class and then change into flats once I get to the building I teach in, which is also where my office is.

Dress: J. Crew Factory (on sale!); Flats: J.Crew (similar)

I actively make a point out of trying to avoid wearing pants until I really have to.  Usually, I can hold out until mid to late September, sometimes even early October if the weather is especially mild.  So naturally, I wore another dress today, for day two of classes!

Dress: Madewell (similar, super cute, and on sale!); Flats: J. Crew

Sneakers: Vans for J. Crew (similar- remember ladies, size down a size and a half to convert to men’s!)

What do you like to wear for the first day of school?

¡Disfruta el sol!

[justgoodsunshine]

Meet the Sunshine

My initials are J G S, which just so happen to be the same first letters as Just Good Sunshine

I’m about to start grad school.  Tomorrow.  After being out of school for a little over a year, this will probably be painful.  #gobadgers

Oh, I’ll be pursuing my Masters in Spanish Linguistics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, again #gobadgers

I did my undergrad at the tiniest, most wonderful liberal arts college for women in Massachusetts, where I studied ze ballet and ze español.  I miss it and its foliage on the regular.

Just spent the last year in Pittsburgh, which is an awesome city! So highly underrated.  Definitely more beautiful than I expected or imagined and really incredibly lively. 

I love love love J. Crew.  I also work there so I may be biased but it’s pretty dang awesome.

I’m on varying levels addicted to fried potatoes of all sorts, shopping, the color yellow, laughing, coffee and vessels in which one would put the coffee lol, and learning new things.

¡Disfruta el sol! (Enjoy the sun!)

dress: brandy melville (similar), earrings: charming charlie, necklace: love always

[justgoodsunshine]

Just Good Sunshine

Hey there!  I’m Jenny.  I’m at a crossroads in my life which, naturally, is the best time (attempt) to start a blog (again).  

I spent the last year working with, living with, and taking care of high school students whose entitlement lead them to strongly dislike me and my position of authority.  This past summer, I worked with another group of high school students who liked me, but more importantly, I could actually tolerate them!  And although we all had our days, pretty sure my lovely assistant, Jamie, could too.  Two of them in particular tried to start me a blog because they thought I had a lot of cool insights to share (I do not) and people would love to read about them (they do not).  Anywho, they tried to start me a blog that was not free and the dream was lost.  But because they were great little nuggets, and because I’m all for new beginnings right now, I say, why not.