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 there is romance in snow

I had a completely different getup planned for today, but it felt like a hazy romantic sort of morning. Sure enough, not long after I took these photos it started snowing--big, fluffy flakes like we've hardly seen all winter. We'll see if it sticks around. I'm just glad I have the weekend to huddle inside and catch up on Downton Abbey and do some hemming and Oscar-watching.

(dress: Modcloth; tights/necklace: gift; sweater: stolen from cedar chest; shoes: seychelles; slip: uo)

I love this dress, madly. It was my first Modcloth purchase, and maybe my favorite. I think the print is perfection for spring, but the cool florals work equally well for the winter months, which is a fashion blogger's dream! Also, I like my milkmaid braids much better when I make them looser like this... I'll never go back to my old braid ways.

Happy weekend, everyone!

in which what's in a trend?

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 it is the eve of the eve

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!

in which it has begun

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 and then the snow started falling

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.