in which there are no shadows for the groundhog

I don't know about where you are, but I can guarantee that no Vermont Groundhog will be seeing his shadow today (but it's quite likely that we will have at least six more weeks of winter anyway, since we always do--although considering how warm it's been lately, maybe we won't!).

(blazer: vintage via grandmother; skirt: vintage via mother; earrings: flea market; socks: uo; shoes: lulus.com; fur collar: h&m)

I feel like time has just been flying by lately. How is it already Thursday?? I mean, I'm not complaining that the weekends seem so close together, but it does rather concern me that the months and years might just flash by without notice. I'm getting old, ya know?

I always feel infinitely more "vogue" when I bun my hair. I'm not sure why. I feel like one of those characters in romantic comedies who always has her hair severely tied up in a bun and it's supposed to be symbolic of how tightly-wound and organized and urban she is (all of which are pretty much the opposite of me). Maybe that's why I never really wear my hair up. Maybe it is symbolic. It is kind of funny, because I always feel like I have to move more carefully or be more rigid when I have my hair in a bun because I'm always worried that it will collapse. So there you go, buns=rigidity. Wow, there's a glimpse inside my head that you probably had no need for. Moving on...

I also like how when I wear my hair up you can see the highlights underneath, because I always throw it up during the summer when I'm sunning/swimming/et cetera (and don't really care about its inevitable collapse), so the sun bleaches it in spots. Speaking of hair, I need to trim my bangs...

And I need to stop "talking." Tonight: off to the gym, then hopefully some writing time!

Cheerio :)

in which i know bare legs are insanity

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 am a hat thief

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 dressing is an art

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 i love leaves

I love days like this. The sky is grey, there is a crisp fall breeze, the leaves match my outfit... ;) This dress is perfection for autumn.

(dress: thrifted; sweater: vintage; tights: h&m; shoes: lulu*s)

I really should just commit to doing my hair every day. I always like my outfit better when I tease my hair... is that weird? It's like an accessory in and of itself. When I was at the grocery store the other day, the cashier asked me if I was wearing a bumpit, and when I assured her that it was au naturale, she was quite impressed. Apparently she had fond memories of her mother's hairdo back in the '60s, and all of the teasing and hairspray it involved. There is definitely something to be said for not ravaging the heck out of your hair on a daily basis, but I figure since I don't straighten or dye it I'm probably better off than a lot of ladies anyway (as far as damage is concerned). <--- That's just me justifying my actions. I do that.

After my fun-filled weekend, I find myself in a bit of a Hump Day Slump today. Maybe it's just the laundry looming over my head. Hopefully the apple pie I'm having for lunch will lift my spirits (I tried to protest the apple pie bake-off at the office, but in the end it was too much to resist).

I just got a sudden urge to jump in a leaf pile.

That was weird.