WAKING LIFE

in which monday always comes

2012-01-30T12:05:00.001-05:00

Monday, once again. I didn't post on Friday because it was POURING rain, but this is probably what I would have worn (since I was trying to wear a hat every day)!

(dress: forever21; vest: thrifted; boots: seychelles; hat: vintage)

I love weekends. After a wonderful date night on Friday (K and I had dinner at Sukho Thai, a new restaurant in Essex Junction, using a Jumponit! coupon I purchased this week [it was delicious], then walked over to the movie theater to see "The Descendants," which K had been adamantly against for some inexplicable reason except that he generally doesn't enjoy sad movies and it sounded like a sad movie [he really liked it--I always know best!]). I'm ashamed to admit that this means I've still seen only 3 of the 9 nominated films for Best Picture (the other two being Midnight in Paris and The Help). I would really like to see "The Artist" at the theater, if it will hang on for a couple more weeks.

It was a pretty warm/nice weekend, but we spent the rest of it cooped up inside (happily), with tea and books and studying (for him). Unfortunately, my body rebelled against the end of the weekend and I had a sudden-onset splitting headache last night. I ended up having to sleep upright on the living room couch to keep the blood from rushing to my aching temples, but the morning was actually quite nice--I rarely venture into that end of the apartment in the mornings, so I don't get the full benefit of a winter sunrise. It was lovely to wake up to the warm sun streaming through our tall windows, my headache gone, and to scrawl my morning pages over a bowl of oatmeal and raspberries. I did rush in to work this morning and immediately down two cups of coffee--clearly I missed my caffeine fix over the weekend (herbal tea just doesn't always cut it).

Anyway, tonight is Art Club and I'm excited to get together with the ladies and chat about art and life and have some good fun. I didn't meet my goal of writing 5,000 words since our last meeting, but I did write 2,000--and I probably wouldn't have done so without that goal in mind, so I call that a success :) Happy Monday, everyone!

in which to be is to grow

2012-01-26T12:06:00.000-05:00

Do you know, in Sanskrit the root of the verb "to be" is the same as "to grow" or "to make grow".

(My Dinner With Andre)

(dress: modcloth; hat: mad bomber; blouse: thrifted; shoes: seychelles)

Last night I watched "My Dinner with Andre" for the first time in my life, which is only embarrassing to admit because I was a film major and I'm supposed to be all over those cult classics. I was expecting some revelatory ideas, but to be honest it fell kind of flat in my estimation. Maybe five years ago I might have been affected or changed by it. I'm finding that a lot lately--so many things just seem so "been there, done that." Maybe it all just depends on the frame of mind I'm in at any given time. "The Artist's Way" was the first book in a long time (I think since I finally read "Walden" last winter) that really felt life-changing, and that was mostly just because it forced me to actively admit what I already subconsciously knew (that maybe art isn't all about passion and pain and madness).

Anyway, I just think it's interesting how quickly our minds can advance, if we encourage them to do so. I was thinking recently about my high school and early college years and how incredibly ignorant I was back then, and how exponential my spiritual and intellectual growth was in those last years of college and beyond. I made a mess of mistakes and felt at the time like I was simultaneously grabbing my destiny by the balls and flailing frantically about, but the fact remains that I learned so much about myself and my world during that time, and I laid a solid foundation for my mind to leap from. I just hope that I can continue to learn and grow and advance and be inspired for the rest of my life. (I'm definitely still way too ignorant about too many things, so I should probably just shift my focus from those things I think I've already "figured out"--retracing my steps might act as reinforcement but after a while it just gets repetitive.)

in which GM is alive and Bin Laden is dead (and i'm in a good mood)

2012-01-25T13:06:00.000-05:00

Did everyone (in the US) watch the State of the Union last night? I won't talk much about it, because I don't want to get all political, but I will say that I do think it is so important for people to watch out for and help each other in this country. I (and the rest of the public) am so fed up with the politicking and uncompromising idiocy of our current setup in Washington. And I feel bad for Obama. But anyway, at the end of his speech he was talking about how we need to have each others' backs, and do what is best for the country and our fellow Americans, not for our greedy, pig-headed selves. I say Amen to that. Now if only we could agree on what is best...

(jumper: etsy; tights: gift; chambray shirt: walmart; hat: stolen from mom; shoes: seychelles)

Anyway, enough of that. Here are some things that are good this week (my state of the union, in you will):

-raspberries in my morning honey&cinnamon oatmeal (i'd forgotten how amazing raspberries are!)-

-warm (enough) weather-

-discovering potential new favorite authors-

-k's super-easy new part-time job-

-kemp's cookies-n-cream froyo-

-successfully doing my 'morning pages' all week!-

-time logged on the treadmill-

-a functional heating system in my car-

-no mice in the apartment lately (according to the traps)-

-immune system standing strong against illness in the office-

-hats-

Happy Hump Day!

in which i wear a yellow hat

2012-01-24T12:10:00.000-05:00

I have been wanting a mustard knit pompom hat for ages. I stumbled upon this one while doing some Christmas shopping and waffled for much longer than necessary about whether or not to buy because it was like, $12. As you can see, it's awesomeness outweighed my waffle.

(sweater/hat: tjmaxx; shorts/belt: thrifted; shoes: lulus.com)

You know what would make this outfit infinitely more awesome? Elbow patches on this sweater. Maybe I should sew some on... it's too late for this outfit, but for the sake of this sweater's future..? Also re: this sweater, I almost bought a nearly identical one at Plato's Closet during my big spree there on New Year's Eve day. It looked the same except that there was a sort of chevron thing going on with the front. I didn't get it because it was too casual for my usual style, but I'm kind of regretting not buying it. Maybe I'll have to go back...

Well, this post was a whole lot of silliness. Last night I made lasagne. I also watched The Bachelor. I might wear a hat every day this week. Shorts make me happy. The end.

in which it's wear your pajamas to work day

2012-01-23T11:38:00.000-05:00

Okay, so maybe it's not officially "Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day" or anything like that, but I've declared it so by virtue of today's outfit. This tunic is one of the things that I switch off wearing around the house after work/on weekends, because it's so soft and cozy and non-restrictive. And it's plaid. For some reason I feel like plaid is warmer or something, but it's really not, it just looks cozy. This tunic is sadly near the end of its life... I need a replacement, quick!

(tunic: tjmaxx; sweatervest: plato's closet; hat: h&m; boots: l.l.bean)

I also thought today might be a good day to just wear my boots, since I looked outside and the wind was blowing and it looked terribly frigid (it actually was pretty temperate). These were my Christmas present from the 'rents this year--I really, really needed a pair of actual, warm winter boots. It's sad, but I've been back in Vermont for four winters now and the whole time I have been without honest-to-goodness boots (bad Caitlin). I still don't have a very warm coat, but that can wait...

K and I had a pretty lazy weekend. The highlight was driving into town to get chocolate milkshakes (!!!!) and sushi. I haven't had a milkshake in ages (ever since I worked at Seattle's Best and saw how much ice cream went into one of their milkshakes--yikes!) and I must admit, I still feel kind of guilty about having one (isn't that terrible??). But man, was it good. (So was the sushi :) Otherwise my time was spent alternating between reading my book (I finally finished it and now I really want to watch the movie again) and watching Friday Night Lights... pretty good way to spend a January weekend.

in which i wear my heart on my dress

2012-01-20T12:15:00.000-05:00

Man, it is not warm. I know I whine about the temperature every day, but seriously. It was windy, too.

(love me do dress: modcloth; necklace: jewelmint; earrings: gift; tights: hue; shoes: seychelles)

This is the Modcloth dress (now sold out, but here's another adorable option) that I bought for Valentine's Day (knowing that I would probably wear it at least once before then, because I can't stand leaving new clothes in my closet unworn for too long). I was unsure of the fit, but with a slip underneath it doesn't bunch as weirdly so I think I like it (and I think the print is just darling, so that helps). Unfortunately the color doesn't really come across because it's a cloudy day, but you can be sure I'll wear it again on a sunny one! I'm not sure I'll actually wear this for Valentine's Day... it might be a bit too casual for the five-star restaurant K is inevitably going to take me to ;) (hint, hint--just kidding).

I got my snowboots last week, and since then I have fallen twice--once while walking up the stairs behind our apartment, and last night I totally wiped out in the driveway (to be fair, it's a complete sheet of ice). I landed on my elbow and it hurt like crazy. Winter is treacherous. Anyway, the point of that story is that I suppose I was thinking that walking would be safer in these boots than in my usual towering heels, but in fact I walk much more carelessly and end up on my ass. It's like snow tires--during the first few blizzards of the season there are dozens of cars off the road because they drive like usual, thinking their studded snow tires will keep them safe (you still have to drive slower, fools!). My boots are like snow tires. Apparently I still need to watch my step.

Not gonna lie, I'm looking forward to a weekend not spent taking off my outerwear and standing the cold in front of a camera. Have a good one!

in which it's cold as ice

2012-01-19T11:27:00.000-05:00

I bought this dress with summer in mind. In the dead of winter, summer sounds so nice: sherbet-chevron prints on terrycloth rompers, twist creemee cones with rainbow sprinkles, bright-blue skies and rosy-red sunburned cheeks, fireworks and cold beer, lake swimming and sun-warmed sand, multicolored candy at a drive-in movie... these are the things that have been on my mind, these past few frigid days...

(dress: plato's closet; sweater: thrifted; hat: h&m; shoes: seychelles)

Art Club was lovely last night, but I was so worn out by the end of the day I didn't have much energy. I really need to figure out my sleep schedule and stick with it, even on the weekends (sleeping until noon on Sunday really threw me off, I think). Anyway, it is always nice to get together with those gals :)

I'm itching to go on a trip. Someplace like this, please:

No, seriously. I want to go to Bora Bora.

in which i know bare legs are insanity

2012-01-18T12:32:00.000-05:00

Every morning there is a point where I think, I've gone too far. My fingers aren't going to recover from their painful numbness (oxymoron? maybe, but that's the sensation) this time. I've officially frozen them past the point of no return. And then the feeling (and the color, and the flexibility) returns, and my mind tucks the pain away, and I get up and do it all over again the next day. Blogging is masochism.

(sweater: target; skirt/belt: thrifted; scarf: vintage; socks: kohl's; sunglasses: kinney drugs (!); shoes: lulu*s)

I tried my best to get back on the color train today. This outfit feels essentially "Caitlin." This is the sort of thing I used to wear all the time, back when I actually took an extra fifteen minutes out of my morning to tease my hair (because somehow the outfit wouldn't work, in my mind, without the big hair). Another thing that doesn't work without the big hair: these sunglasses. For some reason I feel like they accentuate my flat head, or they're too retro to be worn without an equally retro 'do. Whatever, I'm weird...

Tonight is Art Club! I have been informed that the boyfriend of one of our number will be making pizzas for us, so that's awesome (and he's not even attending!). You know times have changed when the men are cooking dinner for the social events of their ladies ;) Now that's what I call progress.

in which i go the artist's way

2012-01-17T12:48:00.000-05:00

I promise I'll stop wearing such dreary colors, it's just been so... winter lately. (Although I have to say, I was amazed at how warm it was when I left for work this morning--and then I found out it was only 26 degrees. It's all relative, I suppose...) I've gotten into the habit of throwing these easy, cozy plaid scarves over outfits they don't really belong with, but I like it.

(velvet skirt/scarf/shoes: thrifted; shirt: uo; headband: modcloth)

I love how Modcloth throws a little somethin' extra in all of their packages. I ordered a Valentine's Day dress (at least, that's when I intend to wear it) from them during the big sale/free shipping extravaganza, and they included this little headband for free. Not so sure about the dress--I think it's terribly unflattering but I can't be sure yet. Time will tell...

Anyway...

A couple of weeks ago I bought a book called "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. I was inspired because I saw that a creative group in my community was reading and using the book as a tool for furthering their artistic endeavors, and it sounded relevant to my own Art Club. Since we are getting together tomorrow night, I wanted to get a head start on the book so that I felt I could share my thoughts at the meeting--and I was surprisingly inspired! I feel like I need to make a disclaimer here, and I promise not to get all self-helpy and annoying about this, but I was so affected by just the Introduction to this book that I knew I had to share with you guys.

As Julia was explaining her writing process and the moment when she realized she needed to radically revamp the way she thought and went about creating, it felt eerily familiar. As she described the misconceptions she had about what it meant to be an "artist," I found myself getting nervous. And then when she said that she realized she needed to abandon her ego to become truly free, I became downright frightened... and that was when I realized that this could really work for me.

I am not a self-help kind of person. I've always dismissed new-agey mumbojumbo about "The Secret" as... well, obvious. I've always felt that I had remarkable self awareness, and took that as proof that I don't need fixing. I know where the problem areas are in my life, but that doesn't mean I know how to change them right now--I placed blame on circumstance, not self. I have always had faith that I would eventually figure it all out. Well, here's the thing: I have an ego. I always thought that a well-formed, well-understood ego was the most essential part of the creative process. I always felt proud that I was as close to expressing my true, basic self as I possibly could be in proper society. I stubbornly cling to my vices and passions (no matter how self-destructive) like precious gems--these were the things that made me interesting, that inspired my angsty creativity, that kept me in touch with the human condition--amidst all this madness, I had true clarity. But I think I was wrong.

I never wanted to be one of those people. You know? The women who do yoga every morning and go for long, marathon runs and consume nothing but salad and sparkling water and smile all the time because they have so much control. I always felt that control was the enemy of creativity. But as Julia wrote about the spurts of creative energy she once relied on, racing against the clock as she drank her way through the stages of loosening to free her proverbial tongue and put words on the page ("bleeding prose") until she tipped over into drunkenness and her mind slowed to a halt, I thought maybe I didn't need a glass of wine for every thousand words. When she said that now she can just write, without waiting for the mood to strike, I thought wouldn't that be nice?

So I'm going to try it. The basic tools are:

Morning Pages

("Worrying about your job, the laundry, the weird look your friend gave you – all that stuff distracts you from your creativity. It eddies through your subconsciousness and muddies your day. Get it on the page first thing in the morning and move on with your day with a freer spirit.")

This one spoke to me immediately, mostly because I used to journal much more often and I miss it... it always helped to purge all of my drama onto the page. This morning, I woke up and wrote my morning pages in bed. And then I just got up. No problem. Considering the difficulty I've been having forcing myself out of bed in the mornings, this was quite a coup.

Artist Dates

("The Artist Date is a once-weekly, festive, solo expedition to explore something that interests you. The Artist Date need not be overtly “artistic”– think mischief more than mastery. Artist Dates fire up the imagination. They spark whimsy. They encourage play. Since art is about the play of ideas, they feed our creative work by replenishing our inner well of images and inspiration.")

This is something that I desperately need. When I was single, I used to take my "inner artist" out on excursions all the time. I used to sit for hours in coffee shops, just observing, or reading, or writing whatever came to mind. I used to ride my bike to the Museum of Fine Art and wander through the galleries in silence, pausing when I wanted to pause, flying through exhibits that didn't speak to me. I went to a movie by myself in the middle of the day. I sat on my balcony and devoured Simone de Beauvoir stories, uninterrupted. I need to recapture some of that--those calm, quiet moments where my mind could breathe, when I was completely alone and open to inspiration. I am an introvert, after all. It's hard for me to balance true selfhood with my relationships, because I have a hard time saying 'no.' I want everyone to be happy. I need to make sure to make space for myself in the coming weeks. It's easy to understand why getting out in the world and absorbing the artistry of it is important to "unblock" creative streams--if we sit on our butt in an office all day and then sit in front of mindless TV all night, where are we supposed to draw inspiration?

Creative Clusters

("Creative clusters, where we gather as peers to develop our strength, are best regarded as tribal gatherings, where creative beings raise, celebrate, and actualize the creative power which runs through us all.")

I already have the Creative Cluster in my Art Club ladyfriends. Bonus.

So, I apologize if all you want from this blog is photos of clothes. That was long-winded. But I think this is a good reminder that to be a creative person (I would even go as far as to say to be a person), we need to make time for ourselves. We need to slough off our negativity through some sort of meditation, whether it be writing morning pages or practicing yoga or simply sitting and listening to music. We need to be alone, experiencing the world without a gadget yapping at us, for several hours at regular intervals (Julia says once a week). And we need to get together with friends who are truly supportive and intelligent and positive influences on our lives.

So please--go forth and be awesome ;)

in which i miss the weekend (and warm weather)

2012-01-16T11:04:00.005-05:00

Hooooooooly smokes. I am amazed that I am still alive. I was only outside long enough to take about five pictures, and I thought my hands were going to fall off.

(dress/belt/sweatervest: thrifted; hat/tights: gift; boots: seychelles)

This weekend it was crazy cold. Today it is crazy cold. Friday there was a blizzard and I went straight home (skipped the gym--fail) to huddle under a blanket and watch Friday Night Lights with K. Saturday we were going to go bowling but we slept pretty late, so K made cinnamon rolls and we watched more Friday Night Lights. We decided to go see Sherlock Holmes that night, but after cleaning the snow and ice off of my car we realized that somehow it had filled with exhaust (I was sitting inside waiting for it to warm up, and suddenly felt like I was going to pass out--but my door was frozen shut, so that was even more terrifying). We cleaned off K's car and took that instead, but I was annoyed. The movie was good, and we continued our tradition of getting Moe's when it was over (buy one, get one 1/2 off!). The next morning we got up even later (it's hard to throw off those covers when it's this cold--even in a relatively warm, albeit drafty, apartment). I made Swedish pancakes, and we decided to go bowling that afternoon instead. When we started up my car it didn't fill up with exhaust, but the heat suddenly didn't work. So basically we said screw it, walked to the market for some groceries, and stayed in for the rest of the day. I won't lie, it was pretty relaxing. I'm finding it harder and harder to get going on Monday morning when weekends look like this (notice all of the ice on our window):

Swedish Pancakes

Ingredients:

1 c flour

1 c milk

4 eggs

1/2 c warm water

pinch of salt

sprinkle of cinnamon

bananas

jam

maple syrup

Directions:

Mix flour, milk, eggs, water, salt and cinnamon to make batter. Melt butter in pan and cook pancake until flippable, then flip and cook the other side. Spread jam on cooked pancake (I just do a strip down the middle), pile on the banana, roll up and smother with (real) maple syrup! This is one of my favorite quick-and-easy breakfasts :)

in which it is friday the 13th

2012-01-13T11:44:00.000-05:00

So yesterday we had a blizzard. And then it rained this morning. And then it snowed all day. I give up. Anyway, I thought it was going to be a winter wonderland when I woke up (see: yesterday's blizzard), so I dressed the part. There is more snow than yesterday, anyway.

(sweater: thrifted; dress: american apparel; scarf: tjmaxx; socks: gift; boots: seychelles)

Last night went just as planned--I ate soup, finished my book, wrote a few thousand words, and went to bed at a decent hour. And now it's Friday (the 13th!). I've never had a particularly bad Friday the 13th, although half of my english muffin-peanut butter-banana breakfast fell face down on the floor of my car this morning, but that happens like, once every two weeks. I did go through a phase in third grade where I would spend my recess time combing the grass for four leaf clovers, and the one day I found one turned out to be a pretty excellent day (the only thing in particular that I remember being good about it was that my drawing of our dog, Molly, won the pet drawing contest and I got a ribbon [although now that I think about it, I seem to remember the ribbon being red, which would mean that I only got second place... but still]). Anyway, I somehow convinced myself that four leaf clovers were indeed lucky, and I kind of still believe it based on that third grade day. Maybe it's just the power of positive thinking :)

Anyway, K and I have big plans for the weekend, so hopefully I'll be having lots of non-work-related fun in the next couple of days. It's weird being back in the office for a full week after such short weeks over the holidays. I hope you all have fabulous weekends!

in which what's in a trend?

2012-01-12T14:12:00.000-05:00

Trends are funny. Last year at this time, babushka/matryoshka dolls were everywhere and people were swooning over them left and right. And then? Silence. Whatever, I still think they're adorable.

(dress/scarf: thrifted; tights: hue; hat: h&m; necklace: forever 21; shoes: payless)

Someone should keep track of all of the trends we experience throughout the years. It can be pretty obvious based on blog archives and the like, but who has time to scroll back through? Maybe I'll start. A trend journal, or something :) I just think it's amusing how crazed people get about the smallest things (babushkas and buntings, moustaches and owls, bicycles and peter pan collars... the list goes on and on and on and on and on...).

Today it's really snowing (the snowfall seems to be on a biweekly dump schedule, like recycling pick-up or something). I'm looking forward to going home and snuggling on the couch with a big bowl of delicious soup (potato/onion/kale/celery), which my wonderful boyfriend made yesterday, and the last few chapters of my book.

We're almost to the weekend!

in which i was never promised a rose garden

2012-01-11T14:20:00.000-05:00

I love this dress. It's a little bit retro, a little bit rock-a-billy, a little bit mod. Or something. Anyway, I enjoy it.

(dress: forever 21 via plato's closet; tights: hue; shoes: seychelles)

I'm going through a phase. I go through phases a lot, which is why I haven't quite figured out what to do with my life. I fluctuate between wanting to embrace my country mouse spirit, and then a month goes by and I feel the stirrings of my city mouse self again. I've been feeling very uninspired by office work, very disconnected from myself as I sit on my ass and stare straight into a pixelated world that doesn't much matter to me for eight hours a day. I want to get out in the world and DO something. Maybe it's just cabin fever. If that's so, I'm in trouble, because it's only January and the winter has just begun.

I go through these periods where I want to live on a farm. I want something simple and raw and down to earth (literally). I want to wake up early and feed animals that will then feed me, later on (eggs and milk and cheese). I want to drink hot tea in the afternoon and do crossword puzzles, or read, and then go out and get my hands dirty turning the soil or picking vegetables for dinner. I want my work to be a true reflection of myself. I always fought against that feeling before, telling myself that I could work to live (and telling others, in my preaching way)--that those 40-hour weeks, in their routine no frills/no surprises way, could be freeing. That health insurance and free weekends were worth all the numbness and boredom of the workweek.

I'm not sure I believe it anymore.

This week, I want to milk goats. Even in the cold. I want to invest in things like warm boots and thick, puffy coats instead of pretty dresses and ludicrously high heels. Next week, who knows? There are just so many things I could do, and none of them seem quite perfect. Not perfect enough to drop everything for, anyway.

in which i like bright colors and a bouffant

2012-01-10T10:14:00.001-05:00

Since last week was basically an extension of the holidays for me, I declared yesterday the true start of the new year. I'm already feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of the things I want/need to accomplish each day/week/month of 2012, but hopefully it will all fall into place as I get back into my routine.

(dress: forever 21 via plato's closet; sweater: h&m; tights: kohl's; shoes: seychelles; necklace: diy)

I've definitely entered hibernation/survival mode, where all I want to do is hunker down with some leftover Christmas candy (I have wayyyy too much) and be lazy.

Anyway, there is nothing like bright color and a bouffant to bring me out of hibernation mode--for a few hours, at least.

over the weekend: cape ann

2012-01-09T12:18:00.001-05:00

Since this was K's first weekend back on the east coast and we weren't able to spend the holidays together this year, we decided that a little weekend getaway was in order. We have always loved exploring little seaside towns, so K did a little research and we were off to Rockport, MA!

We arrived at our hotel (Rockport Inn and Suites) pretty late on Friday night, so we just picked up a quick dinner and drank champagne in the hotel room. The next morning we got up bright and early (for us) and explored historic Rockport village. It was a gloriously beautiful day for January--50 sunshine-y degrees!

When we had seen all that Rockport had to offer, we headed into Gloucester for more wandering and lunch at Destino's!

We spent what seemed like (and very well might have been) hours searching for the Annisquam Lighthouse, which turned out to be a major disappointment because it was in a residential area and the locals were not very keen on sharing their historic sights. I went on a bit of a rant about entitled rich people. But seriously--I just wanted to look at it!

We had a delicious dinner at Giuseppe's that night--fettucine alfredo and lasagne (which was unbelievable massive) accompanied by smooth Tuscan red table wine--and headed back to the hotel for more champagne, chocolates, and a soak in the hot tub.

The next morning, after breakfast and coffee at Brothers Brew in Rockport (his: Norwegian coffee bread, hers: egg&cheese sandwich), we drove down to wander the grounds of Hammond Castle. Unfortunately, it was closed for the winter (like most of the Cape Ann area), but we definitely intend to go back in the spring/summer to check out the museum and to look around inside.

It was much colder yesterday than it had been on Saturday, and overcast, and we had pretty much exhausted everything there was to do in the Rockport/Gloucester area, so we headed home. We took the back way and ended up in Newburyport, which we thought was so fabulous that we stopped to wander around a bit more:

Finally, we made our way back home, where we made nachos and freaked ourselves out with a few episodes of The Walking Dead (and now I'm hooked--who'd have thought?).

happy new year!

2012-01-02T12:55:00.001-05:00

Ohhh, New Year's Eve... you are fun. I convinced my friends (and mom!) to get all gussied up for the occasion, even though the party was only at a country house down the road. A girl's gotta get her dress on once and a while, and if you can't go out in glittery heels on NYE, when can you?

I bought this dress months ago at H&M, and though I wasn't entirely sure where I would wear it, I immediately thought of NYE (of course). It's actually more of an orangey-red than the pink that my camera seemed to want to call it. The glittery heels were a happy accident--spotted in the window of Payless (=cheap!) while Christmas shopping. But enough about me--doesn't my mom look amazing?? That dress/coat combination belonged to my grandmother and she looks so classy! You basically can't beat those faux-fur cuffs.

All-in-all, a good night was had by all. I dropped the (basket)ball at midnight, and that's when the party really started. My mom busted out the limbo pole (/broomstick) and we all got down and rowdy before finally heading home around 2 (yes, I limboed in those heels, and no, I do not have photographic evidence, which is probably for the best). We spent New Year's Day eating a scrumptious brunch (I don't think I was quite ready for a mimosa...), playing music, reading the journal (my dad keeps a journal of all of our adventures throughout the year and it's become tradition to read aloud on New Year's Day, while drinking hot cider from the "wassail cup"), and then going to see the late showing of "My Week With Marilyn" at the Savoy (which my brother called "horrifying").

So far, 2012 is okay in my book. Now I just need K to come home... (Wednesday!)
I'm looking forward to a whole new year of adventures, and to sharing them (and my outfits) with you here!

Merry New Year, everyone! :)

in the new year i would like to...

2011-12-31T12:00:00.000-05:00

//cook real meals with fresh veggies each night
//spend long, lovely days reading all the way through good books
//sleep more
//be tidier, for k's sake
//have adventures, always, in town and out
//spend more time outside
//write

this year in photos: 2011

2011-12-30T09:25:00.000-05:00

in which i like to rock the party

2011-12-28T11:03:00.001-05:00

I love this scarf. It's big and red and cozy and adds a splash of post-Christmas joy to any outfit :) The rest of this getup is eggnog-inspired, so I've got sartorial holiday cheer to spare.

(skirt/hat: vintage; sweater: thrifted land's end; scarf: tjmaxx; shoes: seychelles)

As you can probably tell, these photos were taken last week, at the height of holiday craziness (and before the snow). I wore this getup into Montpelier for a Mexican (food) birthday celebration for a ladyfriend who will soon be busting out of town. Tonight, more party! I feel like I'm never going to recover from being exhausted, but it's worth it to spend so much quality time with the lovelies in my life! I'm hoping that with the new year will come a much more structured routine (read: time to go to the gym and write), more hours of sleep (and maybe many a bubble bath), and more time/energy to keep up with blog commenting--I apologize for my absence of late, it's been way too wild around here to worry about what is going on in cyberspace, but I miss being involved and I'll be back in the game as soon as I can!

christmas time is come (and gone...)

2011-12-27T13:13:00.000-05:00

I can't believe Christmas is over... after all the time spent preparing and anticipating the holiday, it's always over far too fast. Luckily it was wonderful, and I got to spread it out over three long, lovely days. It's hard to have a bad holiday when everyone in your life is so great :) On Friday night I met my family at the White Rock for pizza and a long, rowdy discussion about life and the ways we're meant to live it, and then we went home and watched "It's a Wonderful Life" (because it is, and that movie is awesome).

I spent the morning of Christmas Eve making an apple pie (per my father's request), playing Bananagrams, and generally being lazy, until it was time to get dolled up and await the arrival of our guests!

(Getting the party started...)

I found my Christmas dress at Goodwill again this year, and after some serious hemming (and shoulder-pad removal surgury), I thought it was quite adorable with its little green bow...

(Here's what I wore last year)

The party started with some friends and drinks and lots and lots of food. Things got a little wilder as the night wore on (especially once the caroling began...):

On Christmas morning, it snowed:

We ate (and drank...):

And opened presents:

And ate (and drank), again:

(salad, butternut squash, mashed potatoes, rolls, applesauce--Thanksgiving redux for me, but everyone else also enjoyed a roast)

Last night, my longtime (think: since birth) girlfriends and I had our annual gift exchange at my friends' house, where we had more delicious food (and drink) and stayed up wayyyyy too late (for someone with work in the AM, an hour away) chatting about everything under the sun:

Cheers! (and Merry Christmas :)

in which it is the eve of the eve

2011-12-23T12:30:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!! We finally got some snow so it feels a little bit more Christmas-y around here :)

(shirt: tjmaxx; jumper/belt: thrifted; shoes: seychelles)

I packed up my car last night and am off to my parents' house for the holiday weekend! I'm excited to make merry in Woodbury with all the lovely people I have the good fortune to call my friends and family, and I hope you all do the same :)

Have a Merry, Merry Christmas, everyone!

looking back: oct-dec 2011

2011-12-22T10:05:00.000-05:00

OCTOBER:

NOVEMBER:

DECEMBER:

2010

looking back: july-sept 2011

2011-12-21T11:45:00.000-05:00

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

2010

in which i am a scrooge

2011-12-21T09:00:00.003-05:00

(TOP: this year's ornament; BOTTOM: (L) presents under the tree, (R) eggnog.

Before K left, we celebrated Christmas together. He made me a delicious dinner, we watched "Miracle on 34th Street" (the original), and then we sipped eggnog and opened presents beneath the twinkling lights of our pretty tree. I miss it.

I must admit, I was feeling a bit of the holiday blues these past couple of days. This Christmas wasn't quite going as planned and, despite all of the highlights (Christmas with K, Natalie MacMaster), something was bringing me down.

I spent far too much on presents this year and feel like I have nothing to show for it (none of them are special enough, it was all too rushed) and now all of the funds I had planned to put toward a very special something have been depleted...

Most of my packages will not be arriving on time because Amazon is a liar...

I don't have my favorite fellow at home to celebrate with... :(

I'm still stuck at work every damn day of the week and only have one extra day off for the holidays...

It's cold but we still don't have any snow...

I have literally no self-control around Christmas cookies or eggnog...

And I just feel stressed.

There is added pressure this time of year to be jolly all the time, and I just haven't been feeling as festive this season. In fact, I've been feeling downright Grinch-y since K left. Hopefully the happy festivities in the coming days will entice me down from Mount Crumpit to join in the joys of the season...

looking back: apr-june 2011

2011-12-20T12:00:00.000-05:00

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

2010

last night: natalie macmaster

2011-12-20T09:40:00.000-05:00

Last night my parents took my brother and me to see Natalie MacMaster in St. Johnsbury. The photo is terrible, but the show was amazing! Natalie is a fiddler from Cape Breton, an island off Nova Scotia with a pretty incredible fiddling tradition, and a culture strongly influenced by the Highland Scots and Irish who settled there centuries ago. Not only is Natalie an unbelievably talented fiddler, but she is just bubbling over with joy and passion for her art, and the energy she has on stage is infectious. At one point, she "invited" us to a typical Christmas Party at her parents' house, and as she described the scene I truly felt like I was there--tapping my feet beside the piano in the cozy Cape living room, or step-dancing on the aged wooden floors while fiddlers of all ages played rollicking folk jigs.

This is the life that I want. I want to have and attend parties where people play music in living rooms and everyone dances and drinks and is merry, always. The concert made me appreciate more than ever my family, and the folk songs we play together, and all of the dancing and merriment that goes along with it. It made me realize how important it will be to keep that tradition alive in future generations--to play music simply for the pure joy of it, and to keep it raw, and real, and honest. It also made me wish I had never put down my fiddle. And maybe I'll try to pick it up again in the New Year :)

It made me appreciate more than ever where I grew up, in the middle of nowhere in rural Vermont, where the winters are harsh but the community is close (probably to counteract the effects of the cold), where friends are for life and family is for longer and you have to make your own music if you want to dance.

(It was quite a show.)

looking back: jan-mar 2011

2011-12-19T16:00:00.001-05:00

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

I was going to wait until the last week of the year to round-up favorite outfits from 2011, but with all of the scrambling and busy bumbling of the many upcoming eves before Christmas, I just don't have time to worry about what I'm wearing (plus I might be spending a few nights with my parents, which means getting up too early to take outfit photos). So here we go! The first installment of WAKING LIFE 2011 :)

2010

at the movies: melancholia

2011-12-19T14:03:00.000-05:00

mel·an·cho·li·a [ mèllən kṓlee ə ]
depression: depression as a form of psychiatric disorder

When I first read the description for Lars von Trier's Melancholia, I thought it was going to be a slightly weird/twisted/dark film about a depressed woman on her wedding day. But then, um... what? I went to see the movie with my girlfriends last night, and it was so much more than I expected it to be. It wasn't until the end of the evening (and a couple of post-cinema cocktails) that we unanimously decided we liked it, because it took a while to wrap our minds around what we had just seen.

The very basic (non-spoiling) premise is that a young woman (Kirsten Dunst, who my friend later asked my opinion of, since I normally can't stand her/think she's a terrible excuse for an actress--perhaps with the exception of The Virgin Suicides--and I decided that she should stick with playing depressive characters, since I quite liked her in this) is getting married in an elaborately coordinated ceremony, hosted and funded by her sister and (reluctant) brother-in-law (that's Part I). In Part II, we find out that there is a planet (Melancholia), hurtling toward Earth, which is causing the *sane* sister (Charlotte Gainsbourg) intense anxiety, despite her science-loving husband's assurance that the planet will fly passively by.

Most surprising to me was the fact that I found it incredibly funny. Not in the typical laugh-out-loud way (though I did, and often), but in the subtly understated, ridiculous way that life is amusing every day, even in the darkest moments. The cinematography was breathtaking, the characters were amply exasperating, and the film had a quality of magical realism that seemed to tread the line between science and fantasy that exists in all of our minds, for better or for worse. I'm surprised by how much I'm still thinking about it, and would definitely recommend that everyone see it, but perhaps have a cocktail or two afterward (to help with digestion ;)

in which i'm dreaming of a white christmas (and an irish holiday)

2011-12-15T12:25:00.001-05:00

It's raining today. What the heck is that about? Weather like this takes me back to the bus trip I took across Ireland in December of 2006. An adventure like that is starting to look mighty good right about now--lately I've been craving dark pubs, thick stout, long rides through foreign countrysides, and lively music in the night.

(turtleneck dress: american apparel; polka dot dress: forever 21; scarf: thrifted; boots: seychelles; hat/socks: stolen from mom)

Tonight is Christmas Eve for K and me, and I took the day off tomorrow in true holiday fashion. We did some serious shopping last night, hitting Church Street and then working our way through the outskirts of the city.

It was a lovely evening :)

Oh, and I miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight have bought myself a pair of super-sparkly glitter heels at the mall. Because I like shiny things.

in which it's christmas time in the city

2011-12-14T12:12:00.001-05:00

Most of life is so dull that there is nothing to be said about it, and the books and talk that would describe it as interesting are obliged to exaggerate, in the hope of justifying their own existence.

-A Passage to India-

(jumper: thrifted; shirt: old navy; tights: ralph lauren; shoes: payless)

I bought this jumper at Goodwill and hemmed it to a reasonably charming length. I tried to make it look a little bit less juvenile with the very grown-up combination of lipstick/bouffant... not sure if that was success (not sure I care, The rest of my life has been so dull lately there is nothing much to be said about it. I find the (above) quote quite relevant, since so often I have nothing of note to say to the world, which makes for rather rambly style blogging. I often feel that so much of the lifestyle blogosphere has to be prone to exaggeration, in the same way most people naturally recount events that have transpired in their lives (to make them funnier, or more tragic, or more transcendent). I don't necessarily have a problem with this--I think it encourages us to exaggerate our real lives, which usually = more fun and excitement, which in turn = positive. Anyway, it just struck a chord when I was reading last night, since I've been at a bit of a loss about what to write all week.

Tonight K and I are going Christmas shopping and I'm pretty excited, even though I really haven't the slightest clue what I'll be buying. (To be honest, I'm most excited about the eggnog latte I intend to consume.) I love the lights on Church Street at this time of year, and the buskers playing holiday classics while we windowshop. Silver bells, silver bells...

in which i hippy gypsy shake

2011-12-13T13:05:00.000-05:00

This is really a springtime dress, but I got it at Goodwill a few months ago and it jumps out at me every time I rummage through my closet (probably because it's chartreuse--did you know that chartreuse is the easiest color to spot from a distance?), so I decided to attempt a winterization and wound up with a sort of gypsy-sixties medley. I'm not going to lie--it felt weird to wear so many bright colors all at once. I used to go crazy with color all the time but I feel like I've become more sartorially subdued in the past year. Maybe this is my way of subconciously trying to counteract the fact that I'm 26 and I still dress like I'm 16 most of the time...

(dress/scarf: thrifted; tights: hue; shoes: lulu*s)

So, I didn't go to the gym last night. But I did get groceries and do the dishes and make chili and write a bit and watch several episodes of The League... so that's a lot. And tonight I'll go to the gym, I promise. Being good is so hard around the holidays. Not only are there Christmas cookies to eat and eggnog to drink, but it's just such a damn BUSY time of year. It's hard to find time and still maintain some semblance of sanity. After this weekend, it's Christmas! Craziness. Actually that kind of freaks me out... I thought I had so much more time... blargh.

in which with monday comes the blues

2011-12-12T13:22:00.001-05:00

I've been super lazy when it comes to dressing lately. It's cold and dark in the mornings and I am a bum. I had just about the laziest weekend of all time, after my Friday night, which I tried to cram too full (dinner, play, party) and ended up wasting all of my energy for the next couple of days. Anyway, I suppose that I'm back in the game today--not-so-eagerly anticipating all that I have to do this evening, since I put it off all weekend (gym, dishes, groceries, dinner), but up and at 'em all the same.

(sweaterdress/belt: thrifted; scarf: f21; shoes: lulu*s)

This week is going to be a busy one. K leaves early on Saturday morning, so we're doing some shopping together on Wednesday evening and having "our" Christmas on Friday night. I am also supposed to bake some cookies for work (I might just make some macaroons so I don't have to worry about using gluten-free flour again...). Ohhhh the holidays...

in which it's friday, friday, friday, ohhhh!

2011-12-09T13:56:00.001-05:00

Today I wanted to be cozy, and nothing is cozier than plaid. But I also have big date night plans tonight so I also wanted to easily transition to a more classic look--if I lose the plaid shirt and swap out the shoes, voilà! Simple LBD style.

(dress: tjmaxx; scarf/shirt/belt: thrifted; boots: seychelles)

I don't have much else to say at this point, except that I'm really excited for my fun-filled weekend! I'm definitely going to have myself a merry little eggnog latte, do some shopping, maybe even bake some cookies (it's that time of year when my college girlfriends and I exchange cookies and books--best tradition ever)! Or that might happen next weekend. Or both. Anything could happen! It's craaaaaazy!

Boy, I need a weekend.

Have a great one!

in which it has begun

2011-12-08T11:11:00.000-05:00

So, it finally snowed again, and I think this time it's here to stay (if the cold air is any indication). Also, my photo spot is free of intruders once again. All is right in the world, it seems.

(dress: banana republic, gift; sweater: tjmaxx; belt: thrifted; boots: seychelles; gloves: gift)

My dear friend sent me this dress (thanks, Bonnie!) and I think it's fabulous. The print has a tribal-meets-chic-meets-sixties vibe, and I love it paired with brown. I also love that since starting this blog my friends sent me their sartorial cast-offs :) I am always standing by to remix!

Last night's meeting of Art Club was everything that I expected it to be. Mostly we just drank wine and ended up getting really fired up about politics, but art and politics have a historically important/difficult relationship, no? I mean, I honestly cannot believe this came out of our country:

This is why I can't bear to watch the news anymore. Not that I watch Fox News anyway, but it's incredibly painful for me to imagine that this is the world I live in. No apologies today for getting political on the blog... I'm too riled up.

Tomorrow is Friday, yay!! It's our last full weekend together before K leaves for the west coast for the rest of 2011 (and then some), so we're going to fill it up with good times. For starters, tomorrow night we're going to see a local production of White Christmas! My holiday spirit seems to have dropped off in recent days (I'm not as excited about Christmas songs on the radio, etc.), so hopefully this weekend can jumpstart my merriment.

in which dooney meets bourke and a bag is born

2011-12-06T12:18:00.001-05:00

Life's been busy lately! I feel like I'm booked up all the way through the holidays (which isn't true, but obligations stretch as far as the eye can see)! It's been a struggle to get to the gym three times a week, since every other evening seems to be spoken for! Last night I went to the gym after work and then K and I met up to do laundry (and for me to eat sushi), and by the time we got home I was ready to go to sleep. Tonight I have another meeting of Art Club, so once I've run the multiple errands I have lined up for the afterwork hours, I'm looking forward to lounging around with my ladyfriends, drinking sweet wine and discussing art/writing/etc.

(dress/scarf/purse/belt: thrifted; tights: tjmaxx; shoes: lulus.com)

I suppose 'tis the season for fun tights! While I stuck to basic brown and earthy green throughout the autumn months, I'm looking forward to busting out my wilder (it's all relative...) pairs when winter is underway. My legs will basically need to be covered 24/7 to keep out the cold, which means I have to keep it interesting with playful patterns and bursts of color. The chill has definitely descended over my little corner of Vermont, even if the snow hasn't.

Have a merry little Wednesday, everyone!

in which diamonds are a girl's best friend

2011-12-06T11:05:00.001-05:00

It is a gross rainy day, so I figured I could use a little color in my life. These jewel-print tights are really fun, but I don't wear a lot of bright colors so I wasn't sure how to incorporate them into my wardrobe--and then it hit me. And this outfit was born:

(dress: h&m; heels: seychelles; tights/hat: gifts)

Speaking of gross rainy days--WTF? Weather like this is why I left the Pacific Northwest, and while I do get rather irritable when I have to clean snow off my car, this is just weird. Also, what is up with all of the people swarming my photo spot? The location I've been using lately has had about eight cars parked in it for the past two days. What gives?

Sometimes I like working in an office. I like my morning ritual--pulling into the parking lot, starting up my computer, going downstairs for my coffee, sipping from my toasty-warm mug while waiting for the day to begin... and then I'm over it. The A/C kicks on, there is a crisis or two, my butt falls asleep from prolonged sitting, my coffee goes down my gullet and is gone, somebody starts eating something that smells delicious, the clock seems to stand still... and then I wonder if mopping the floor of the coffee shop was really that bad. But oh yeah... $$$$.

Whine, whine, whine. Tonight I'll be hitting the gym and doing laundry--but don't worry, no tanning for me.

my merry sunday

2011-12-05T14:00:00.000-05:00

[chai espresso, en route to Log Town]

[brunch: broccoli quiche, fruit salad, cheese twist, mimosas, kahlua coffee]

[tree chopping]

[the trek]

[eggnog and Bananagrams] (+White Christmas)

[our tree]

On Sunday, K and I drove into the woods to chop down our Christmas tree at my parent's house. It was a lovely day.

2010

2009

happiness

2011-12-05T11:13:00.003-05:00

I had a great weekend. Friday night I met up with friends for the First Friday Art Walk in Burlington, and we hung around drinking cosmos for a few hours before heading out into the world. We really only stopped at the S.P.A.C.E. gallery, since it was close and we had been so impressed by it at the Art Hop, but it wasn't nearly as exciting this time around. We ended up singing karaoke at St. John's Club, which was hilarious--definitely not the usual Burlington scene, which was much more my style (and by not the scene I mean a bunch of middle-agers who were totally into their karaoke--awesome). We sang and danced and had a great time, and I didn't get home until late late late.

The next day, K and I went into town to do some early Christmas shopping, and I waited at the Skinny Pancake while he got his hair cut. I read, and sipped my mocha, and basked in the warm sunlight, and it reminded me so much of those cozy winter days I spent holed up in cafes when I was in college, just reading, or observing, but always quiet, alone, and blissfully content.

Sunday was lovely in an altogether different way... more later!

in which i wear fur on friday

2011-12-02T15:13:00.004-05:00

It's Friday, Friday, Friday! So glad. This week has draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagged it's ass. Today was a pretty good day, though--we had a holiday party at work with yummy chili and presents, and then I spent part of the afternoon making paper snowflakes :)

(skirt: thrifted; shirt: tjmaxx; faux fur: h&m; boots: seychelles)

Also, I should have worn red lipstick with this outfit. But I was in a hurry.

Tonight I'm meeting up with the girls for the First Friday Art Walk in Burlington--should be a blast! It's going to be a really great, Christmas-y weekend, with lots of shopping (probably some Starbucks), Christmas tree-chopping, and maybe even a sleigh ride (!!???!)

Have fun kicking off your holidays, everyone!

making a list

2011-12-01T13:02:00.001-05:00

Since December has officially begun, and I officially hate my outfit today, I thought it might be a good time to post my Christmas list. I had a really hard time thinking about what I wanted for Christmas this year (aka, nothing in particular), so I scouted out some items on etsy, thought of a few things I have wanted for a while/need replaced (and of course included my usual list of books-that-are-hard-to-find-at-goodwill).

1. lady biographies

2. fiction

3. sheer polka dot black tights

4. opaque navy tights

5. flora by gucci perfume

6. a nice, quality down pillow that doesn't hurt my neck when i sleep on it

7. vintage faux fur coat via the whimsical emporium ($52.25)

8. plaid coat via heart and harbor ($46)

9. vintage poppy print dress via Salome Vintage ($35)

10. vintage bird print dress via morganavintage ($25)

11. vintage floral print maxidress via VoraciouslyVintage ($28)

12. vintage carriage ride dress via HandmadePrairie ($55)

13. angeles lola tan tassel wedges via lulu*s ($55, sz 8.5)

14. gold sequin party pumps via lulu*s ($38, sz 8.5)

15. l.l.bean winter boots (because if someone doesn't buy them for me i may never own a pair)

in which i am a hat thief

2011-11-30T12:12:00.001-05:00

I feel a bit like Paul Bunyan in this get-up. Or a gnome.

(cardigan: target; hat/blazer: stolen(!) from mom; jeans: pacsun; boots: seychelles; belt: thrifted)

I am such a thief. I stole this hat from my mother a couple of years ago, wore it all the time, and then somehow lost it. Imagine my surprise when I discovered it in the outerwear accessory drawer at my parent's house this weekend. Maybe mom stole it back? Anyway, it's in my clutches once again. (Mom, if you really want it, I'll return it...)

Also, I need a haircut like craaaazy. I haven't had a cut since last November. The beginning of last November. This is not abnormal for me--I usually allow it to grow until it starts looking irreconcilably ratty--but I always hate to lose even a little bit of length. So often I contemplate going really short (bob-length, perhaps?), but I always lose my nerve. I'm actually pretty surprised that it grew as much as it did this year. I had really short hair in high school (and it looked terrible, in retrospect), and it took all four years of college to get where it is today! Why is it that when you're trying to grow your hair out it takes ages and when it's already long it just grows like mad? This is what happens to my hair when I shower at night, braid it, and sleep on it. It's the only way I can get my hair to hold any sort of wave.

Last night (after being pulled over by the police on my way to the gym) I changed my headlight bulb all by myself (in the dark, while holding a flashlight in my teeth). I felt like one badass lass, let me tell you. While it's easy for me to just turn those tasks over to K (he changed my battery last weekend), it's nice to take charge every once and a while. I think it's important for us ladies to be able to take care of ourselves!

Funny Story:

My college girlfriends and I got a flat tire while driving back from our Cape Cod girl's weekend a couple of summers ago, and we immediately all got out and started attempting to change the tire (something I do know how to do, thankyouverymuch). All was going swimmingly until we realized we were missing a very important key (I can't remember what for, but something was locked). Meanwhile, a cop pulled up behind us to flash lights and warn other cars that we were down&out--and the cop was a woman! She told us she was really impressed that we were changing the tire ourselves, since she had happened upon plenty of able-bodied men in her day who couldn't be bothered to handle it. Finally, when we realized the situation was quite hopeless because of the aforementioned missing key, we called AAA. The tow truck came to get us, and guess what? The tow truck driver was also a woman!! I got a huge kick out of that. Women are awesome.

Anyway, long story. Also, it's Wednesday.

Ohhhhhh we're halfway the-ere...

in which you say november i say september

2011-11-29T12:12:00.000-05:00

Having a blog is weird. I'm so much more aware of the weather than I would be otherwise. Like, normally I would be delighted that it is warm and snow-free around here. But that throws off my winter-weather dressing (and I feel like I've exhausted my autumnal outfits).

(dress/belt: thrifted; socks: uo; necklace/scarf: gifts; shoes: lulu*s)

Anyway, I didn't go to the gym last night because I forgot my gym clothes and it was a big mess (but I'm going tonight!), and instead I just made chili (yum) and wrote 2,000 words! Hooray :) If I'm going to ditch the gym I have to at least be productive...

Not going to lie, pretty ready for the weekend. And it's only Tuesday. Sigh.

in which winter is fickle

2011-11-28T13:41:00.000-05:00

I had planned on wearing this outfit in the wintry snowglobe that was last week, but the temperatures rose shortly after our Thanksgiving snowfall and everything melted! And it's raining (boo). Oh well, I had a rough morning and my brain wasn't cooperating, so I couldn't rethink my Sweater(vest) Monday. Going back to work after a four-day weekend is a treat, let me tell you.

(sweatervest: thrifted; hat: h&m; dress: old navy; boots: seychelles)

Housesitting was marvelous. I cooked, K made fires, we walked in the woods and watched the first Christmas movies of the season... it was wonderfully relaxing:

Last night the gals and I met for Art Club and now I have a wine headache that won't go away... but it was worth it, as always! :) Tonight I'm going to hit the gym, make chili, and get cozy. I need to get some writing done this week, but it seems like there is so much going on! Maybe I'll pound out some pages this evening, if I'm feeling it...

feast or fashion

2011-11-26T16:42:00.001-05:00

I had a lovely Thanksgiving :) These photos were taken just before we turned onto the road to my parents' house--it's just there, in the hills at my back.

(dress: h&m; shoes: seychelles; feather fastener: gift from k)

We arrived around 11 and immediately started eating--cheeses and crackers, shrimp (for those who eat shellfish), and veggies with dip. Oh, and eggnog. Because it was too early for wine? My grandmother and uncle (mom's side) came up from Connecticut, as is tradition, and we hung out and chatted and made merry until it was time to eat.

(clockwise from 12 o'clock: candied carrots and string beans [cooked in maple syrup]; mashed potatoes; creamed onions; butternut squash; cranberry sauce; applesauce; also: salad, bread)

I don't eat turkey, but I never go hungry on this holiday. All but the onions and cranberry sauce came directly off our property, and the turkey was a local free-range bird from Misty Knoll Farm.

After dinner we played a little music, watched The King's Speech, and (finally) dug into the pie. Yet another wonderful Thanksgiving come and gone... and it just keeps getting better and better. My parents and brothers went down to Connecticut this morning to put the roof on the cottage, so K and I are housesitting (aka taking care of the dear old dog)--we're currently sitting in front of a roaring fire. What a life :)

thanksgiving

2011-11-24T12:00:00.000-05:00

dance music in dark rooms.

champagne and high high heels.

art club and creative energy despite the world.

my wild woodbury women + boston lady loves.

utah.

my job, which is better than i give it credit for.

heat included.

old movies in black + white.

truth and intelligence.

my scrappy white subaru, which somehow keeps running.

mom+dad, who've made me who i am.

k, who likes me that way.

sweet silence and a good book.

lakes to swim in and air to breathe.

life.

2010

2009

in which and then the snow started falling

2011-11-23T14:27:00.000-05:00

First came cold, then came snow! It's still rather warm and wet, but the fat flakes have been falling all day, and it's officially a winter wonderland around these parts. Pretty amazing how it can pile up overnight.

(dress: modcloth; scarf/belt: thrifted; tights: ralph lauren; shoes: seychelles)

Today is a good day. It's the last day before the extended weekend, and K came into town to take me to lunch at Juniper's Fare, for a special little treat :) Tonight will be busy--I'm heading to the gym after work, and then baking an apple pie for the big day tomorrow. I am a little annoyed that the snow came before Thanksgiving... it won't go with my harvest-inspired outfit. Snow is decidedly December precipitation.

Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving (tomorrow) to my US readers! I will be eating all day.

in which it's getting cold in here

2011-11-22T14:43:00.000-05:00

Okay, this is like a Where's Waldo of fashion blogging--can you spot the ring?

(dress/scarf/belt: thrifted; tights: h&m; shoes: poetic licence; earrings: claire's; ring: gift)

If you said: is that the thing impersonating a brooch on your scarf, you're right! I feel clever. Can you also spot the frost on the ground? Yeah. It got frigid overnight. Finally feels like November!

Last night I went to the gym (I did it, guys!), and it felt amazing. I left work in a really sour mood--I had to stay late doing something miserable, and the whole day had been one of those pre-holiday disasters. Anyway, I ran on the treadmill for a while and--no lie--emerged a new woman. I was in such a good mood when I left! I always forget how great I feel when I actually get exercise (go figure). Now I just have to keep it up.

So, so, so, so, SO looking forward to the long weekend. One (and a half) more day(s)!

in which i'm living la llama loca

2011-11-21T11:53:00.000-05:00

My weekend was so incredibly uneventful I have absolutely nothing to say about it. But it was good. Sometimes it is necessary just to relax. K and I saw J. Edgar (and got Moe's) as planned on Friday night, and the movie was pretty good. Since I am not a history buff by any means, I didn't know much about the man, and didn't even know he was the head of the FBI. So there was that... haha. But the movie actually ended up being a love story of sorts, which is always right up my alley :)

(sweater/jumper: thrifted; shoes: charlotte russe; earrings: gift)

It's actually a really beautiful day today, despite the freezing temps. I'm planning to stop at a new gym after work tonight to sign up and work out for the first time in ... too long. By writing it here I feel like I'll hold myself to it. But maybe not.

Thank goodness for the four day weekend up ahead (and Thanksgiving, yay!)... I could use a real vacation :)

in which i plead gilt-y

2011-11-18T16:55:00.000-05:00

Man, I'm not even sure what happened this week. It was so fast and yet... I'm so glad it's over. Tonight K and I are going on a Movie and Moe's date, and I'm excited (mostly because I'm hungry)! We're seeing J. Edgar (his pick), which is only fair because I will most definitely force him to go see My Week With Marilyn when it comes out next week. Biopics are the best!

(dress: maurice's; coat: tjmaxx; boots: seychelles)

My only other plans for the weekend involve lots of writing, reading and relaxing.

Happy Friday, friends!

in which dressing is an art

2011-11-17T12:21:00.000-05:00

I wish I had known my hair looked like a busted soufflé before I took all of my outfit photos this morning. C'est la vie, I suppose. This outfit came together in a whirlwind this morning (clearly my hair was a victim of said whirlwind), so I am pretty impressed with myself for being inspired enough to tuck the bottom half of this sweater under for the cropped look I so admire. Also, apparently it is "gaze off into the distance" day on the blog:

(blouse/scarf: thrifted; skirt: vintage; sweater: tjmaxx; trench: h&m; shoes: seychelles)

Last night the girls and I met for Art Club and it was a great success! Fueled by a delicious cheese spread, we discussed our current projects (and our lives, of course...), then shared some of them! We had a very special advanced screening of Elizabeth's documentary short, tried on Sasha's latest sewing project, and read/critiqued some of Megan's poetry. I was the only lame-o who didn't have anything to contribute for critique, but I really don't want to start tearing apart the novel before it's even finished (we'll get there...)! These gals are so talented (and just awesome), I'm so happy to know them!

in which the gloves make the girl

2011-11-16T10:59:00.003-05:00

This outfit was built from the gloves up. K wanted to go to Old Navy one evening to look for sweaters, so I accompanied (isn't it great when your man likes shopping as much as you do [sometimes more...]?). I didn't have any money to spend, but I did spot these swell striped gloves for $2.50 (in a two-pack!), and had to "splurge." I love gloves. I have a classic black leather pair that is perfect for the winter months, but I would love to slowly amass a collection of pretty leather handwarmers in various shades of brown. These aren't leather, but they're awesome. They feel sporty but also classy--perfect for a jaunt on horseback (sidesaddled, of course), a game of polo, or even a hunt (if I were into that sort of thing...)

(blazer/skirt: vintage; chambray: walmart; gloves: old navy; shoes: lulu*s)

What about you? Do you have glove love?

As you can see, I've switched up my blogger template a bit to make the whole blog a bit brighter. I chose my old template because I wanted the blog to have a warm feel, like a cozy nook on a cold night, but since fashion is more about POP! WOW! and all that jazz, I think the simpler backdrop is better. What do you think?

in which i'm down by the riverside

2011-11-15T14:20:00.002-05:00

I feel a bit like a swamp thing (or river monster) in this outfit, which I didn't realize when throwing it together this morning. I blend in pretty well with the dirt/grass/muddy water surrounding me, which at least is pretty clever camouflage for a blogger who likes to hide from drive-by gawkers.

(tjmaxx; dress/scarf: thrifted; tights: h&m; necklace: uo; boots: seychelles)

I love this coat. I loved it when I bought it but it's only grown on me even more in the past year. It's perfect with November's dead leaves and golden autumn light.

Last night was nice--K and I had Indian food and wine, finally watched The King's Speech, and I got crafty with a work project (which was for work but not work-related, which means the difference between fun and boo hiss). Tomorrow night Art Club is finally meeting again--we're all so busy and it's been far too long!

in which i've got a cape to keep me warm

2011-11-14T11:14:00.002-05:00

It has been SO WARM here for the past couple of days--positively balmy. That springtime feeling is in the air, like everything has started to thaw even before freezing. Not that I'm complaining. It's just wacky in that "Day After Tomorrow" global-warming way.

(cape: goodwill; dress: thrifted/gift; boots: seychelles)

I'm taking advantage of this lovely weather by letting my bare legs breathe a little longer, and wearing this sensationally soft new cape/poncho that I scored at Goodwill this weekend. It may look warm, but my inability to wear a coat over its armless bulk will render it useless to me in the coming months. I do hope it snows a bit before Christmas, preferrably before K leaves for the west coast--I want to get in the holiday spirit!

This weekend was low-key. I didn't do much moving around, but I did manage to spend most of Saturday tip-typing away and getting a significant amount of work done on the novel. Days like that are the best. Plans to continue tonight...

Happy Monday, lovelies!

last night: gogol bordello

2011-11-11T15:03:00.000-05:00

Last night K and I went to see Gogol Bordello perform at Higher Ground, and it was awesome. This band has to be the most genuinely cool group of musicians out there. Eugene is like a giant, pulsing slab of heart on stage, encouraging the audience to truly live on the dance floor--to revel in the pure "joy of existence". Of course, he was stirring up the mosh pit when he spoke those words, but in his exuberance he captured everything that I love so much about dancing. And boy, did I dance.

Dancing to me has always been a purely personal experience, and I totally go for it every time--no matter who is there or what the music is like, I will probably be the wildest dancer in the room. There is just something about it that is so freeing. I initially became interested in Sufi Mysticism for this very reason--the whirling dance of dervishes is their form of prayer, and the Sema represents a man's mystical journey beyond ego, through love and truth, and finally to perfection. I've always felt that way about dancing, and while I prefer a wide berth to the bruising, top-stomping of the mosh pit, Gogol Bordello is one of those bands that really makes you feel like you're whirling a little closer toward whatever version of Nirvana you aspire to.

The encore was at least an hour long--they just kept playing and playing and playing and we kept dancing and dancing and dancing. Eugene has roots here in Vermont (this is where he was resettled as a political refugee when he first came to the States), and it was obvious that he has great love and appreciation for the "fucking amazing" energy of his fans here. I'd never seen the band perform live before, but it was quite the show. And I basically want to be Elizabeth Chi-Wei Sun. I could totally rock those cymbals, no?

More Eugene:

The Pied Piper of Hutzovina

(An excellent and human documentary by a woman who was infatuated with the man and accompanied him on an adventure through Eastern Europe)

Everything is Illuminated

(I didn't even realize that Mr. Hutz played Alex in this movie, since I only watched it because I loved the book so much, but nobody else could have played the part. He totally made the movie--one of the best book-to-film adaptations I've ever seen)

in which it is the 11th hour

2011-11-11T11:11:00.002-05:00

Today is the coolest day ever, because it is 11/11/11 AND it's Friday. I always used to say that 11 was my favorite number... which really only came up on those silly surveys we used to do in middle/high school (what is your favorite color? what is your favorite number? what is your favorite non-alcoholic beverage?), as if our answers to those questions somehow revealed something about our inner selves. Hey, maybe it does. What does my liking 11 say about me (I like symmetry? Repetition? I actually really like the word "eleven"--it sounds like a pretty name).

(shirt/scarf/belt: thrifted; skirt: vintage; socks: uo; shoes: lulu*s)

Anyway, I feel sort of like I need to seize this day and make something exciting happen because the date is cool. I probably will do nothing. Oh well!

I think the time may have come for me to find a new blog photo location. There is an elderly gentleman who lives on the road that runs perpendicular to the one I take photos on (above), and he did peer questioningly at me while getting his mail once last winter, but this morning he and his wife drove down the driveway and slowly inched forward and reversed to get a good look at what I was doing (through the trees). I got into my car, hoping I could wait it out and that they were actually going somewhere, but no such luck. They started driving toward me, so I turned around and drove off. They gaped as I passed them, and I saw in the rearview that they also turned around. Some pretty serious drive-by gawking. I just don't get it! The road is not your private property! Let me take my photos in peace! Whenever I see someone doing something strange I might watch creepily from afar, but I would never insert myself unnecessarily into the situation. Unless they were doing something... you know, dangerous. Or whatever. Even then...

Oy. I'm feeling snarky today. Happy Elevensies, everyone!

in which i am colorfolk and fancyfree

2011-11-10T12:55:00.001-05:00

Apparently Thursday is the day I wear really obnoxious (in a good way) florals. I wore this dress in honor of Gogol Bordello because it has a folky Eastern European vibe (in my mind), but I'll probably end up changing before the actual show. It's not a great dancing dress because it's too puffy, which makes me self-conscious. And I don't like being self-conscious when I'm dancing. Still, it's fun for daytime, when I can attempt to tame it with a cardigan :)

(dress: modcloth; cardigan/hat/necklace/belt: thrifted; tights: hue; boots: seychelles)

Want to hear something crazy? I'm actually sort of looking forward to snow/winter! This is probably because I'm looking forward to the holiday season/eggnog, but still. It seems weird that we've really only had one blizzard so far this year and it didn't even hit where I live/had melted by morning. Maybe we'll have my favorite kind of winter (short and sweet with lots of snow and temperatures that don't make me want to cry)? I don't want to jinx it...

One more day until the weekend!

in which i wear camel on hump day

2011-11-09T12:10:00.001-05:00

I think this is secretly my favorite kind of outfit. Classic colors, sort of preppy, with big, sixties hair and high, high heels. While I will always love a fun frock, I just feel so age-appropriate and sartorially organized in clothes like these. My coffee was the same color as my sweater today. It makes me think of a (movie?) where the assistant to someone high-powered (I'm thinking Devil Wears Prada, but can't remember) puts milk in the coffee so that it is camel-colored, but the bosslady had actual said "caramel-colored," not camel. I don't know why that amused me so.

(sweater: target; skirt/belt/scarf: thrifted; shoes: lulu*s)

My friends and I stopped at Target when we were in Plattsburgh, since Vermont doesn't have one and we all love it (I would be delighted if all Walmarts in the state were magically transformed into Targets). Apparently it will be at least five years before we get one here, which I actually really support (I hate box stores--our state is too little and lovely for them!), but it doesn't mean that I don't want to shop there when I have the opportunity!

Things have been pretty busy lately, which I have countered with then being lazy and going to bed early. K and I have been watching lots of Californication and I'm finally nearing the end of The Adventures of Augie March, which I actually really love but haven't been able to sit down and focus on for extended periods of time. Tonight will probably be no different!

Happy Hump Day from Camel-Colored Caitlin!

in which i've got that thanksgiving feeling

2011-11-08T12:45:00.000-05:00

For some reason this outfit feels very academic. Maybe it's the plaid scarf and the headband. And the oxfords. Anyway, I really enjoy academic-chic, especially in the fall. I know we're nearing winter, but I'm going to milk this season for all it's worth!

(dress/scarf: thrifted; tights: hue; shoes: seychelles)

I am feeling pretty good about life this week. Don't you love it when that happens? K and I are going to see Gogol Bordello on Thursday night, which will be epic, and I really want to see Hairspray this weekend but I'm not sure I can afford it/anyone will go with me. But I'm keeping it in the back of my mind, just in case a wealthy benefactor wants to take me out (mom?) ;)

In the meantime, I've been feeling very appreciative of my job/boyfriend/family/friends/health lately. This does wonders for my mental wellbeing. I suppose 'tis the season for Thanksgiving, 'tisn't it?

in which i get sheepish

2011-11-07T12:13:00.001-05:00

I think I'm going to have to bring back Sweater Monday... it's that time of year! Surprisingly, it was incredibly easy to get out of bed this morning. I'm guessing that's because of Daylight Savings and the fact that it wasn't completely black as night when my alarm went off this AM. I had almost forgotten about this spectacular sheep sweater, but I'm so glad I remembered I had it! Sheep are awesome. And it's pretty appropriate to knit a sheep scene on a wool sweater--like an homage to the fluffy little donors :)

(sweater/skirt/belt: thrifted; tights: hue; shoes: lulu*s)

I had a really fun weekend with friends on the New York side of the lake! We took the ferry over on Saturday afternoon (and who doesn't love ferries?) and drove down to Keeseville to see my friend Nancy's new apartment. We sat around and snacked for a while (several hours...) before heading into Plattsburgh for a wild night on the town. By wild, I mean not really. But it was fun! We had Thai food at Sawatdee (food was great, service was slow and sporadic), and then started bar hopping. Our first stop was Monopole, where I really wanted to play darts but a large group of rowdy middle-aged women were dominating both boards. After sipping a single cider to my friends' rounds of tequila sunrises, we decided to scout out Rumours, where we started a dance party by ourselves in the back room (the best kind). The music didn't really impress us, so after an hour or so we decided to move on to Peabody's, where we danced like wildwomen for several hours. We finally emerged around 12:30 AM and happened upon Olive Ridley's, where we saw that a live band (Party Wolf) was playing. It was by far the best part of the night--they played all of the same popular music/hits that we had been hearing all night, but it was such much more fun live and the energy in the crowd was electric (plus they played Lady Gaga and Ke$ha, which I admit I love to dance to!). Anyway, really good times. I think we pretty much experienced all that Plattsburgh has to offer!

The next morning we had breakfast at a diner in Keeseville and briefly went to check out Ausable Chasm (I have been wanting to go and will definitely go back and make a day of it during the summer months--hiking and tubing and camping, oh my!) before hopping back on the ferry and driving home. It was really great to have a girl's weekend away and to catch up with everyone (and although I think I'm getting too old for sleeping bags on the floor, I'm definitely still able to dance all night!).

in which it was all yellow

2011-11-04T11:31:00.000-04:00

I guess I'm ending the week with an overdose of yellow. That's okay with me, it's my favorite color!

(dress: h&m; belt/shoes/scarf: thrifted; socks: uo; coat: sears)

This weekend is shaping up to be pretty fun! I've been super lazy and self-indulgent lately, so it will be nice to get out and socialize. Tomorrow I'm crossing the lake with some gal pals to visit one of our old friends who moved to Keeseville this year. I imagine there will be lots of eating and drinking (and hopefully some dancing???) as we tool around Plattsburgh tomorrow night. I've only been to Plattsburgh once before in my life, and I have a very, very early memory of stepping off the ferry and noticing that the trees had doughnuts hanging from their branches. Is this a real thing? I don't know. You can bet I'll be checking the trees for doughnuts this time around. Tonight K and I have to go to the laundromat, which is positively the most uncool thing we could possibly do on a Friday night, but I suppose that's what we get for putting it off all week.

Hope you all have wonderful weekends!

in which i fancy november florals

2011-11-03T12:08:00.001-04:00

I love this dress. It's so over-the-top bohemian and the bright colors make me smile. Dresses like this are the reason etsy is awesome. In other news, my bouffant just keeps getting bigger and bigger. K laughed at me this morning. I feel like Ms. J on America's Next Top Model, as her afro grows larger each episode (or shoulder pads, or whatever other tumorous growth she chooses to add to her getup that season).

(dress: leasvintage via etsy; tights: hue; necklace: flea market; boots: seychelles; belt: thrifted)

Last night I drank wine and made pumpkin soup but unfortunately did not do any writing. I'm so bad. The soup was the best it has even been, though! It was such a pretty, vibrant mustard yellow and so flavorful! I used this recipe, but I left out the tahini (mostly because it seemed extraneous) and actually used the red lentils this time (in the past I've only been able to find boring brown). I think it made a huge difference. I also used a small pumpkin instead of a regular big one, which probably helped the flavor. I added a little cayenne while it was cooking and sprinkled some chili powder on top (but it didn't really even need any).

in which a wednesday is a wednesday

2011-11-02T11:42:00.000-04:00

I wonder what would happen if the people who own the woodshed behind me ever happened to read my blog. They would probably be totally confused.

(jumper: VintageStore123 via etsy; tunic: tjmaxx; socks: sox market; shoes: lulu*s; jacket: delia*s via plato's closet; earrings: flea market)

Tonight I am making pumpkin soup and who knows what else. I've been feeling pretty uninspired lately (maybe because I'm not feeling so melancholy?--there does seem to be a direct correlation), so maybe I'll try to force myself through a few pages of the novel. I guess that probably means I should pick up some wine...

in which november has begun...

2011-11-01T11:11:00.001-04:00

... and it's cold. Too cold for sheer&sleeveless in the open air.

(dress: vintage; slip: uo; skirt/belt: thrifted; shoes: seychelles)

Halloween was wonderful! K and I didn't try to do anything too fancy, which I think is key. We carved our funny pumpkin...

... and then ordered a pizza and cuddled on the couch watching scary movies and drinking wine (and playing with matches). It was the absolute perfect way to spend the scariest night of the year, especially after such a busy weekend!

in which it is all hallows' eve

2011-10-31T11:21:00.000-04:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

(dress: diy; turtleneck dress: american apparel; hat: vintage; glasses: f21; shoes: lulu*s; tights: hue)

I definitely failed on the costume front this year, but I wanted to do something sartorial to acknowledge the All Hallows holiday. Orange and black it is!

I had quite a weekend! Friday was my birthday (as you know), and K planned out a great evening for us. We went to dinner at our favorite Indian place in town and had a leisurely meal over Darjeeling tea and yummy curries before walking across town and descending into FlynnSpace for the Trio Gusto "Paris Hot Club" show. The space was arranged to evoke the ambience of a Parisian nightclub in the 1930s, and the music was fantastic. It was the perfect night--my fellow knows me so well! :)

On Saturday we drove to my parent's house in Woodbury and played music for a few hours in preparation for our show that night. Around 7 we headed over to the White Rock for pizza and drinks, and the Fresh Greenes kicked off the show while we ate and tapped our toes. We played an hour-long set and then hung out while the Fresh Greenes wrapped it up. After the show we headed over to a friend's house (in the snow!) for a little after-gathering, which involved a light-up drink fountain filled with spiked cider, pie and pumpkin bread pudding, and playing of the organ. By the time we were ready to leave the snow was really coming down, so we had a long drive home and didn't end up getting back to the apartment until around 3 AM.

The next morning we got up bright and early for brunch across the street at Toscano with my fabulous family, where I ate Florentine Benedict and sipped a mimosa and we had a lively conversation that got especially fiery when we started discussing the education system in this country (as usual). I spent the rest of the day curled up on the couch watching indie movies and winding down.

Tonight K and I are carving our pumpkin (finally!) and watching scary movies! Can't wait :)

in which i am 26

2011-10-28T12:30:00.000-04:00

It's my birthday today! Hooray! :) In honor of the occasion, I pulled out my red tights. Apparently the sun also decided to pull out his shine for me, like a big, bright spotlight on my day. So these photos are a little wacky, but I'm not going to stress about it because I'm not allowed to stress out on my birthday. I have no idea what I'll be doing this evening, because my fellow has kept it quite secret, but I'm excited! I have no doubt that it will be tons of fun :) This weekend is going to be packed full of all the very best people in my life. I'm so grateful to have such wonderful friends and family, it makes it easier to know I won't be growing old alone ;)

(dress/bows: f21; tights: hue; shoes: seychelles)

Last year I made up a big long list of things I wanted to accomplish when I was 25, and... well, let's just say I'm not even going to update you on my progress because it's pretty embarrassing how badly I failed to deliver. So this time around I'm going to try to be a little more realistic (and a little more specific). Wish me luck!

26 (Goals) for my 26(th year)

1. Finish a first draft of my novel!

2. Finish in-progress TV pilot

3. Finish in-progress screenplay

4. Exercise at least 3x/week

5. Take an extended road trip

6. Rediscover film

7. Try Ethiopian food

8. Design and sew a dress

9. Sing karaoke

10. Go camping

11. Apply for an MFA program OR teach abroad

12. Go to the dentist (ha!)

13. Read all major religious texts

14. Get a massage

15. Take a train

16. Go cross-country skiing

17. See live music outside

18. Visit Walden Pond

19. Sell some clothes

20. Go ice-skating

21. Have a picnic

22. See a Broadway show

23. Have my short film transferred to DVD

24. Go to a jazz club in Montreal

25. Reorganize my filing cabinet

26. Stop biting my damn nails.

in which i emerge from the fog

2011-10-27T15:48:00.000-04:00

I'm feeling a lot better today after a full 24 hour respite. I called in sick and spent all of yesterday swimming in a sea of blankets, tissues, and Nyquil (and finishing the last of Felicity--definitely see the J.J. Abrams influence in those final few episodes ;P). I still feel like my head is full of smoggy air (I promise that is not my natural state), and am hoping for another long, luxurious night of sleep to cure me completely in time for my birthday tomorrow! Today I just wanted to be comfortable for my return to the office, and opted for a cozy knit dress :)

(dress: modcloth; boots: seychelles; tights: hue)

As you can see, I did push through the fog of my head cold to trim my bangs last night. They were getting out of hand.

Did anyone else watch Felicity (I know I'm yeaaaaars behind on this one--last year I ploughed through Ally McBeal, so you can see I'm slowly catching up)? It's funny, because especially in the first season I kept recognizing clothes that some of the characters were wearing (specifically Julie Emerick--who was SUCH an annoying character I'm glad she went off to find herself and spared us for the last few seasons) from my middle- to early-high school days. She had a couple of shirts that I'm positive I had circled in the Alloy catalog (does anyone remember that?--Alloy and dEliA*s were the big thing back then). I'm curious--were you rooting for Ben or Noel?

in which i am sick

2011-10-25T13:42:00.001-04:00

I'm crazy sick today. Booo. K and I went grocery shopping last night and I was craving Vitamin C so badly that I bought a carton of grapefruit juice and immediately drank two glasses when I got home. Apparently my body was trying to tell me something. I spent all night sniffling and sniveling and now I've got a full on head cold. Impeccable timing, illness.

(skirt/blouse: vintage; paisley capelet: thrifted; shoes: lulu*s)

Standing out in the cold with bare legs probably isn't the brightest way to spend a morning when kicking off a cold, but whatever. I've been so good about keeping up with the blog lately, I didn't want to fall by the wayside! Tonight I really want 1) spicy chili, 2) a hot bath, and 3) an early, Nyquil-induced bedtime. I really have to rally if I'm going to be able to sing this weekend!

Now, please excuse me while I go blow my nose for the nth time this morning...

in which look mr mojo i'm a coffee pot

2011-10-24T10:08:00.001-04:00

I love coffee, I love tea

I love the java jive and it loves me!
Coffee and tea and the jivin' and me,
A cup-a cup-a cup-a cup-a cup, yeah!

(sweater: cedar chest; skirt/hat/belt: thrifted; shoes: seychelles)

... yeah.

I think this outfit has a great coffee&cream vibe going on. I had almost entirely forgotten about this sweater (which I stole from my parents' cedar chest long ago), but when I was puzzling over what to pair with this lovely pleated skirt, it immediately sprang to mind. I think this skirt is so pretty--just another Goodwill gem!

I had... quite a weekend. The kind of weekend that I kind of hope doesn't happen again for... ever. But that's enough of that. It's officially my birthday week (and Halloween is just around the corner)! I must admit, now that's it is starting to get reallllly cold at night (and snow is in the forecast), I'm getting excited for the holiday season. Since K will be away for Christmas and New Years again this year (visiting the family out in Washington), I'm going to have to get an early start on the celebratory spirit! But I'm getting ahead of myself... perhaps for now I should focus on getting that pumpkin carved. I live way too much in the future, and it's been quite detrimental to my mental health lately. I need to learn to be more present. Perhaps that will be one of my 26 goals for this new year...

in which this is a wild wind

2011-10-21T11:06:00.001-04:00

'Twas a blustery day today--it won't be long before the trees are bare.

(dress: h&m; shoes: lulu*s; scarf/belt: thrifted; necklace: gift)

I sort of love the combination of mustard yellow and various shades of gray (and of course, my trusty loafers). I would literally wear this dress every day if I could get away with it. It's so floaty and fun and has a great vintage feel.

So, so glad it's the weekend. I've had a pretty productive week, which makes me feel better about my life [:)], but that doesn't mean I don't treasure the prospect of lazy days ahead! I'm hoping to make a Goodwill run tonight or tomorrow, since the clothes in my closet are pretty bored with each other and have been clamoring for some new friends! I hope you all have wonderful weekends and take advantage of these autumn days before the falling leaves become flurries of snow (maybe that threat is nearer for me than most of you... but still!).

PS: I will be 26 years old in exactly one week... crazy!

WAKING LIFE

in which monday always comes

in which to be is to grow

in which GM is alive and Bin Laden is dead (and i'm in a good mood)

in which i wear a yellow hat

in which it's wear your pajamas to work day

in which i wear my heart on my dress

in which it's cold as ice

in which i know bare legs are insanity

in which i go the artist's way

in which i miss the weekend (and warm weather)

in which it is friday the 13th

in which what's in a trend?

in which i was never promised a rose garden

in which i like bright colors and a bouffant

over the weekend: cape ann

happy new year!

in the new year i would like to...

this year in photos: 2011

in which i like to rock the party

christmas time is come (and gone...)

in which it is the eve of the eve

looking back: oct-dec 2011

looking back: july-sept 2011

in which i am a scrooge

looking back: apr-june 2011

last night: natalie macmaster

looking back: jan-mar 2011

at the movies: melancholia

in which i'm dreaming of a white christmas (and an irish holiday)

in which it's christmas time in the city

in which i hippy gypsy shake

in which with monday comes the blues

in which it's friday, friday, friday, ohhhh!

in which it has begun

in which dooney meets bourke and a bag is born

in which diamonds are a girl's best friend

my merry sunday

happiness

in which i wear fur on friday

making a list

in which i am a hat thief

in which you say november i say september

in which winter is fickle

feast or fashion

thanksgiving

in which and then the snow started falling

in which it's getting *cold* in here

in which i'm living la llama loca

in which i plead gilt-y

in which dressing is an art

in which the gloves make the girl

in which i'm down by the riverside

in which i've got a cape to keep me warm

last night: gogol bordello

in which it is the 11th hour

in which i am colorfolk and fancyfree

in which i wear camel on hump day

in which i've got that thanksgiving feeling

in which i get sheepish

in which it was all yellow

in which i fancy november florals

in which a wednesday is a wednesday

in which november has begun...

in which it is all hallows' eve

in which i am 26

in which i emerge from the fog

in which i am sick

in which look mr mojo i'm a coffee pot

in which this is a wild wind

in which it's getting cold in here