Cool

Cardigan: Target | Top: Gap | Belt: Target | Skirt: Target | Tights: Target | Wedges: Target

One of this week's most comical incoming search keywords that led to this blog was "dirty tights abandoned in public". I can't decide if this means I should dedicate more content on AC to dirty tights abandoned in public, or if I have dedicated a sufficient amount of content to the topic, since I'm getting hits for it. Meanwhile, I am fairly certain this outfit is this outfit, just in a different colour scheme. Oh well. If the glove fits, you must acquit, or something like that.

Book lover

Dress as top: eShakti | Cami: Eddie Bauer | Skirt: Target | Tights: Target | Wedges: Target | Lips: Maybelline ColorSensational Plum Perfect

A couple of you probably noticed my On the Shelf feature on the sidebar, which listed the books I was reading. You may also have noticed that I'm referring to it in the perfect tense, since it is no longer there. I deleted it after realizing that grad school is probably going to stop me from reading for fun, or even for work, more than a book a month. I usually breeze through one a week, but so far this year, I've read four, three of which were before school started.

I rotate the book discussion at work every month with my coworker, and today was my first discussion of 2012, Tess of the d'Urbervilles. A personal favourite of mine, but this month I struggled to finish it and slammed through the last 60 pages TODAY. I don't know how, I don't know why, but I was merited for my battle by being dubbed Jess of the d'Urbervilles by the book group. And though On the Shelf is gone and I won't read another book for two months, I can proudly say that having that nickname makes zipping through Tess very much worth it. :)

Of art and orchids

Cardigan: Target | Top: Old Navy | Skirt: Target | Tights: We Love Colors | Boots: Target | Nails: butter London Rosie Lee over butter London Big Smoke

This is my outfit for this week's Style Imitating Art! Salazar's hosting this week, and a week from now I'll be posting the next piece of art for our inspiration. Yay! The second I saw Salazar's pick, The Artist's Garden at Vèthueil by Claude Monet, I knew what to do--this shirt, this skirt, these tights, and done. The only thing I was stumped on was incorporating the pink Monet uses sparingly but beautifully on the stairs and the roof of the house in the background. I finally figured out an option--nails. Success!

Orchidstration

My family and I went to a botanical garden for an orchid show today! So much pretty, so little time. Here are a few snaps from our time there.









See you all tomorrow!

When all crumbles around you

Headband: Target | Cardigan: Target | Top: J.Crew | Jeans: Walmart | Flats: Target | Lips: Maybelline ColorSensational Make Me Pink

Today was a rough day for me. My car broke down halfway between my house and work, and my mom picked me up and dropped me off at work. For my lunch break I had planned to walk to one of my favourite spots for a sandwich, but when I got there I was greeted by a note in the door saying that the deli was closed early. So I made it back to work thinking I would raid the vending machine, but that was out of order. So I snarfed some stale animal crackers I found in my boss's file drawer and half a bottle of Sprite. Then work was insane all night and I didn't get any of my reading done for Monday night's book discussion! What is happening in the world and why did today decide to be crazy?

So I'm happy that--without my tripod, which was in my car--I was able to get outfit photos at all. Even if they highlight my gray hair. Priorities: blogging, car, eating. This is definitely the correct order.

Some stains don't come out with Tide To Go

Top: Anthropologie | Belt: Old Navy | Skirt: Old Navy | Heels: Urban Outfitters | Lips: Cover Girl Lip Perfection Embrace

This lipstick is one of two that I have been anxious about wearing. While I love this crazy rich purpley magenta, it clashes a little with my hair and my skin colour. It also looks really dark in soft light (see first picture), and I don't know if dark lipstick works on me. And maybe I could stand all that and make it work, but worst of all--it stains my lips, even over Chap Stick. We're talking hot pink stain. Though the stain actually looks pretty good so maybe I can use the lipstick that way!

Also, the format of this post is different from prior posts. I didn't have enough interesting/funny/intellectual thoughts to fill today's post but now I'm thinking about making it permanent. Thoughts? Complaints? You don't care, you're just here for the frowning young woman?

The whole hog

Cardigan: Marshalls
Top: Target
Belt: Target
Skirt: Target
Tights: Target
Wedges: Shoe Carnival
Lips: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Rosewine



At work today, my boss and I fleshed out a plan for me to run a month long programming series on grilling! Unfortunately at least three people have misheard me and believed I was starting a series on drilling. I'm equally versed in both areas--self-trained griller, and college-trained craftswoman--but I don't think I can stretch drilling holes into four hours.



And that's really all I have to say. I'll be going hog wild from here 'til my first program.

I forgot stamps

Sweater: J.Crew
Top: Target
Jeggings: Old Navy
Socks: parts unknown
Flats: Toms



My Toms are dirty, my hair is wet, but I painted on yesterday's lint-and-cat-hair-covered jeggings sans cover and ventured out into the public. It was just to the post office to mail in a project for school, but I feel empowered, y'all. My usual postal worker didn't scream I CAN SEE THE SHAPE OF YOUR LEGS at me and I think one woman may have looked at my Toms for half a second, but otherwise the retired people and young folk hitting the USPS on their lunch breaks paid me zero mind. Well, until I hauled my giant bubble wrap protected envelope up to the desk and said I wanted to mail it. I think I'm single-handedly keeping the USPS in business. My getting into grad school is the best news they possibly could have received.

A leg and a calf

Necklace: JCPenney
Sweater: JCPenney
Jeggings: Old Navy
Boots: Target



I'm not going to lie, you guys. I'm a little nervous about wearing these jeggings without boots. I mean, they're the same as any other pants--they're just tighter than I'm used to on my calves. But I have both bared my calves and worn tights, which is basically the same as not wearing anything in terms of leg silhouette. I'm overthinking this, I think, but the point still stands that I'm self-conscious about wearing jeggings without something covering them somewhere. I need to get over that.



And because I didn't like any of my other pictures today, here's a picture of my lovely horse. I'm glad to finally have a camera that can catch him because he is not photogenic and he's always making faces! Such a sweet, though. See you tomorrow!

A whole new world

"What is this stuff and why does it taste like HEAVEN?!"

Baby L. celebrated his first birthday on Tuesday, and today was his first birthday party, complete with his very own birthday cake :)
See you all tomorrow!

Where you at?

No outfit post today (I was going to post a picture of my hair because it looked cool today but my photos didn't transfer right! boo) but if you want to see where else I've been this week, check out these links:

Monday: What We Wore Winter Remix Challenge on What I Wore

Tuesday: Red and pink on Everybody Everywear

Wednesday: Wear*It Wednesday: How to Wear Pink on From the Mixed-Up Files...

Thursday: my bed, for a nap. :)

Inked

Cardigan: Target
Dress: eShakti
Belt: Target
Tights: Target
Wedges: Target



Today's post is simple. What are your thoughts on tattoos? I am planning to get a tattoo, and since I'm not the type to do anything without overanalyzing from every angle first, I have thought heavily and deeply about it. I've made my decision and it is final, but I'm always interested to hear what others say. Everyone I've asked have varied in their views, from "do it it'll be cool!" "to "don't got to this parlor" to "you are ruining your body". What do you all think? Btw, below is what I want--I'll explain the reason when I get the tattoo for real! & yes, it is a sailboat.

Pesky love day

Necklace: Forever 21, lengthened by me | Sweater: Old Navy | Necklace as bracelet: JCPenney | Skirt: Target | Tights: Target | Heels: thrifted | Lips: Maybelline ColorSensational in Are You Red-dy | Nails: butter London Bossy Boots


One of the things I hate about Valentine's Day is that any other day, this would just be an outfit. I would just be wearing clothing. Would I be nicely dressed? Sure. Would I be celebrating a holiday? No. But because I'm devoted to my blog and I really wanted to get back into EBEW, here I am, wearing red and pink and screaming to the world HEY, I KNOW IT'S VALENTINE'S DAY. Oh well. There'a box of chocolate and a card from my parents so I'm happy.


(I feel like this picture makes me look a little bit like this gal.)
Valentine's Day is also International Quirkyalone Day. For more info on that, read this. I'm proud to be a Quirkyalone, and even more proud that there is actually a term for what I am. There are a lot of people who are Quirkyalones and relate to this lifestyle, and there's no shame in it!


In relation to Valentine's Day is the day that happens after, better known to me as 75% Off All Candy Day, also known to me as The Best Day Of The Year. Yeah, I'll even capitalise "the" for that one. I can't wait for past date chocolate and half stale candy hearts. I especially love the white ones. I hope you all had a Happy Valentine's Day/International Quirkyalone Day/Singles Awareness Day/Tuesday and I'll see you tomorrow!

Style Imitating Art: A Bar at the Folies-Bergere

Striped top: Target | Button down: JCPenney | Dress as skirt: Old Navy | Tights: We Love Colors | Heels: Urban Outfitters | Bangle: Forever 21 | Lips: Maybelline ColorSensational Pearly Pink





Oh hi there! Wondering what all this is? What's with all the non-colour? Well, Salazar and I are ringing in the first Style Imitating Art with one of my favourite paintings! I am so excited about this and Salazar looks amazing, don't you think? I look like a frump but I'm cool with that because I think I did the painting justice--minus the lace, the barmaid is a bit of a frump too. I love that we both are dressed completely differently we both embody the painting in our own ways. I'm so excited to see Salazar's first painting next week!



My coworker saw me today and said "oh, you're dressed like a real librarian today". You mean frumpy? Yeah, well. I do look like I own 20 cats. Want to see Salazar's full, not-cat-owned post? It's right here. See you tomorrow!



Ps. Want a button? Have one!