in which i'm singing in the rain

It may be raining, and I may be in black, but I'm not crying or mourning or any of that.

(skirt/sweater/scarf: thrifted; shoes: payless; tights: tjmaxx; umbrella: stolen from work)

Last night K and I went on a lovely little dinner and a movie date in Montpelier.  We were supposed to go on Tuesday night but his final went late and we didn't have enough time, so we got burritos and watched a movie at home instead, and postponed our date another night.  Seriously, though, we need to go out more often.  We had dinner at Positive Pie--my favorite pizza ever (The Green Man) with wine--then walked around town for a bit and went to the late showing of "The Five Year Engagement," which I thought was hilarious (like Friends with Kids, the cast makes the movie).  K's been so busy studying and writing papers lately that I feel like we never get to spend any quality time together, and the date was long-awaited and much-needed.  It's so, so important to have outings like this, to sit down and be served delicious food, have long talks, relax, and reconnect :)

in which there is snow excuse

It is cold, and snowy.  Boo.  I've all but given up trying to "think spring," and retreated back into my woolen skirts and warm coats.

(dress: h&m; skirt: goodwill; scarf: vintage via etsy; shoes: seychelles)

Monday night K and I went on a date, and it was great :)  We hardly ever get to go out anymore because he's always studying or writing papers or working weekend nights, so it was a welcome treat.  We were both craving straight-up Italian food, so we scouted out this homey little place in Winooski called Papa Frank's, where they served all of the basics.  We both got huge helpings of fettucine alfredo with broccoli (his also with chicken), a basket of buttery garlic bread, and a half carafe of chianti for dirt.cheap.  It was just what we needed.  After lingering a while over our wine, we went to the late showing of "Friends with Kids," which I've been wanting to see for ages.  Not only was it written and directed by Jennifer Westfeldt (one of my favorites; she also did "Kissing Jessica Stein" and "Ira & Abby," which are both great), but it was basically a cast-sequel to "Bridesmaids" (starring Jon Hamm [Westfeldt's boyfriend of a decade, who knew!], Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph, in addition to the fabulous Adam Scott ["Party Down" anyone?]). I really enjoyed it (no surprise there).  Her movies are always very much romantic comedies, but they're so much more clever and well-written than most of the crap out there these days.  She seems to write every script with the intention of NOT following the standard rom-com rules (in Jessica Stein she experiments with lesbianism because she's having no luck with men; in Ira & Abby she marries a man within 24 hours of meeting him [because why not?]; and in this latest two friends decide to have a baby together--not because they want to be together, but because they simply want a baby).  Recommended.  Also recommended (for me): more date nights with K.

In other news, you may have noticed that there is snow on the ground.  So much for not sticking.  Ironically, I got my summer tires put on just yesterday... jinx?

in which i've got the mediterranean on my mind

The weather is supposed to be positively summery all week. I am delighted.

(skirt/shirt: thrifted; trench: h&m; shoes: seychelles)

As you can see, I have officially switched coats--the first sartorial sign of spring (well, and bare legs, but sometimes those happen in the middle of the winter, so they don't really count)! I love this trench, even though the buckle broke off the belt. Instant classic.

Speaking of classic, on Sunday I was incredibly exhausted. I could hardly read my book without drifting into Nod after every other page, so there wasn't much to do but be lazy (plus K was off on his first fishing adventure of the season). That evening I watched "And God Created Woman" with Brigitte Bardot, and totally loved it. Now all I want to watch are foreign films from the 'fifties and 'sixties, preferably set in pretty seaside locales (where I want to be):

Happy First Day of Spring!

in which i'd like to thank the academy

I really enjoyed the Academy Awards last night. For some reason it made me think about how many great movies were made this year, and how many great movies will be made in the coming years, and how I can't wait to see what filmmakers come up with next. It may sound a bit ridiculous, but the ceremony somehow reminded me that there is so much ahead of us in life, in general, and what a thrill it is to be alive.

(dress: modcloth; coat: mirage; scarf: thrifted; shoes: lulu*s)

I also got teary-eyed a total of ten times:

I cried when the cinematographer ran off the stage so fast, like nobody cared.

I cried when one of the winners for makeup design thanked his children.

I cried when Octavia Spencer won for Best Supporting Actress and was so, so happy.

I cried when Christopher Plummer won for 'Beginners,' finally, after 82 years, and again when he thanked his 'long-suffering' wife.

I cried when the Northern Irish girl said 'mom, this one's for you!'

I cried at: 'And for all the women in Pakistan who are working for change.'

I cried when Jean Dujardin won Best Actor for 'The Artist.' I f***ing love the French.

I cried when Meryl Streep thanked her husband first, so it wouldn't fade out with the music.

I'm serious about my blubbering, apparently. It might have been all of the wine I was drinking, but it all just made me feel so happy and warm :)

Oh, and Michelle Williams was my Best Dressed, by far (and everyone else's, apparently!). I loved it almost as much as her 2006 yellow Vera Wang (right):

in which i fought the sun and the sun won

Today's outfit was inspired by a self-challenge. I decided that I had to wear this jumper immediately or it was going to Goodwill, because I really never know what to do with it (it's so... white!). And then this outfit was born, and I actually really like it, so the jumper stays. I'm such a sucker for an excuse.

(jumper/scarf/belt: thrifted; dress: h&m; hat: vintage; shoes: lulu*s)

Last night I watched the documentary "Life in a Day." It was pretty enjoyable--not earth-shattering or anything, but I thought the concept was brilliant. I've always been so intrigued by the lives of others, which is probably why I love reading blogs so much (and books, and watching movies...). There is nothing more fascinating than the human life, even down to the daily minutiae. I have so many possibilities swirling in my head these days, it's exciting--last night I couldn't sleep for the dizziness of endless ideas, and still I woke refreshed and ready for the day.

I'm looking forward to the weekend (but what else is new?). There is so much I want to do!

in which i wear the flags of our fathers

Today, in the U.S. of A., we celebrate our presidents. (I celebrate by going to work, as usual, but I'm not bitter...) So thank you, George, John, Thomas, James, James, John, Andrew, Martin, William, John, James, Zachary, Millard, Franklin, James, Abe, Andrew, Ulysses, Rutherford, James, Chester, Grover, Benjamin, Grover (again), William, Theodore, William, Woodrow, Warren, Calvin, Herbert, Franklin, Harry, Dwight, John, Lyndon, Richard, Gerald, James, Ronald, George, Bill, George, and Barack! (I was very tempted to leave a few of you of the list, but for the sake of naming everyone I decided to include you... you know who you are.) The making of this list made me realize how completely hopeless I am at U.S. History. I am rather ashamed to admit that I have never heard of half these people, but whatever, remembering names and fact/figures was never my forte. (When my friend Steph and I visited my friend Catherine in D.C. we were trying to make a reverse list of all of the presidents while we walked around the National Mall, and I must admit that my contributions were slim after a couple of decades.) Basically the only way that any sort of historical facts stick in my head is if I watch a biopic that makes the person seem interesting. Whoops. Anyway, Happy President's Day! This outfit is sort of an accidental homage to the flag--I didn't plan it, but we've got stripes and shades of red, white and blue, so I'm calling it patriotism.

(shirt/skirt/belt/scarf: thrifted; necklace/slip: urban outfitters; shoes: lulu*s)

I had a pretty good weekend, which went by too fast, as usual. On Saturday I did myself proud by finally taking myself on an "Artist's date"--first to see "The Artist" (which I thought was appropriate), and then to Goodwill, where I went a little spring-crazy with pastels and floral prints. I enjoyed the movie, and it was a treat to sit in the dark theater by myself in the middle of the afternoon. I'm glad I saw it at the cinema instead of waiting for it to come out on DVD--the effect definitely wouldn't have been the same without the old-movie-house feel. The rest of my weekend was spent being lazy and trying to squeeze in some time with my fellow.

And now, welcome to the week!