in which you say november i say september

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 plaid meets plaid

This is why autumn is awesome. Because layers plaids is fun. Also, this blazer is amazing and I wish I could wear it every day (it's a-blaaaaaazing). Truth? This buffalo plaid men's shirt=my pajamas. I wear it to sleep, and then sometimes I just keep wearing it. Now you know all my secrets.

(blazer: plato's closet; plaid shirt/belt: thrifted; skirt/socks: stolen from mom; boots: seychelles; bag: uo)

Anyone else having problems with Photobucket today? It is being a menace, and I can't tell if it is the site or my computer... either way, boo hiss.

I did a little bit of math and determined that if I want to meet my self-set deadline for finishing the first draft of my novel (by the end of the year), I have to write ~4500 words/week. That kind of stresses me out, but I have written ~2000 so far this week, so maybe it won't be completely impossible. Time to buckle down! What projects are you all working on? I'd love to hear about some of your nonblog creative endeavors!

in which raindrops keep falling on my head

It's like a rain farm around here.

(dress/belt: thrifted; fur collar/trench: h&m; boots: seychelles)

Apologies for the grainy photos, my camera clearly can't function in the pouring rain. Boo. Dark and dreary days like this make me want to go to the gym for some reason. Last night I was ridiculously productive--I wrote for several hours and now am hovering right around 30,000 words. The novel is coming along nicely!

I originally bought this fabulous fall dress with the intention to immediately hem it into a mini, mostly because I feel awkward traipsing around the office in floor-length garments. But then I decided that I didn't care. I definitely plan to hem it sometime soon because I think it could easily become one of the most versatile pieces in my wardrobe with a higher hem, but right now I'm going to enjoy it as it is (and apparently hide it underneath a trenchcoat). I have been frustrated with this trench every since I broke the belt buckle off in my car door, but I think an actual belt is a good solution! I actually really like the way this looks.

Everybody excited about NYFW? Wish I could go--maybe someday!

in which these boots were made for walking

I have been wearing these Seychelles booties with everything lately, and I can already tell that they might replace my oxfords as fall favorite this year.

(dress: forever21; blazer: delia*s via plato's closet, scarf: thrifted; boots: seychelles)

I'm glad it's Friday. It's hard not to be affected by the mass destruction I see on my way to work every day. Communities around Vermont have been pitching in to help clean-up, but every day the piles of furniture and garbage on lawns and sidewalks get higher and higher and houses get emptier and emptier until they look like nothing but dried-out husks. Not to mention that my favorite thrift store (Bargain Boutique) was absolutely devastated by the flooding and basically no longer exists. When I passed by last night it was empty--gutted and dark. This sort of thing never happens to us up here! We know how to handle snow and ice storms, but because we're land-locked we're not so well-equipped to deal with (or expect) flooding on such a grand scale.

Anyway, aside from the sad state of my beloved Vermont, I'm feeling pretty good right now. I went home last night and started researching Anthropology master's programs in the UK, but I got sidetracked and ended up working on my novel (even better!), then drank champagne and watched Project Runway while "studying" German with K. Now I'm just generally feeling pretty good about life and can't wait to spend the next few months devoting myself to my writing and wearing fall clothes ;)

Seriously, I decided that I like autumn dressing (tweeds, wools, furs) because it feels so easy and natural for me to wear those things, and also makes me feel like an adult. The clothes I crave in the summertime can sometimes feel so juvenile and/or twee--rompers, florals, cute little sailor and sundresses, heart-shaped sunglasses... there is nothing wrong with those things, and I still find them charming, but I feel a bit out of my element wearing such things now that my mid-twenties are in full swing. And I'm not really glam enough to pull of chiffon maxidresses for day. I get weird enough looks when I wear a hat.

in which i pat myself on the back

I know I haven't worn this dress in a while but I still feel like a cheater, since the outfit is basically a reproduction of its last incarnation. Mostly it's the hat. I wanted more of the tunic to poke out the bottom, but it is holysmokes short and just wouldn't show its face. Oh well. I'm pretty impressed at how well this dress has held up, considering that I made it without a pattern on a malfunctioning sewing machine...

(dress: diy; tunic: tjmaxx; shoes/socks: kohl's; hat: thrifted)

I've officially gone running twice this week (!!), which makes me very proud of myself. Also, I spent several hours doing this last night:

I ended up writing ten pages, which doesn't seem like an awful lot in retrospect, but felt like serious progress at the time! All I need is a bottle of wine and an open window and I'm golden... (geez, is this "pat yourself on the back" day on the blog, or what?)