Whitewater canoeing

The Painter: To the Moon by Marc Chagall



Cardigan: TJMaxx | Dress as top: Loft Outlet | Skirt: JCPenney | Flats: Payless

can't talk, too busy watching the Olympics

It isn't alcohol

Cardigan: J.Crew Outlet | Dress: Gap Outlet | Belt: off a skirt from Kohl's | Wedges: Target | Drink: Wawa Lemonade Tea

This week has been a rough one, you guys. But I'm glad to say things are looking up, and hopefully we're past everything like that. But when things get tough, what do we all do? We fall back on the things that give us comfort and make us feel better. For me, one of those things is Wawa Lemonade Tea. When E. came to visit, she brought me four jugs of the stuff, and I try to keep a stash going in our spare fridge for when I need it. I've needed a lot of it this week. But the other thing that has given me some comfort, oddly enough, is getting dressed. I spent some time this week lying on the floor of an emergency room sleeping and crying*, and I was glad I was wearing jeans, but I was so happy to go into work one day this week and to stare at my closet and pull on a dress. It wrapped me up, it held me in, it made me feel like despite everything that was going on, there was something more there. There was an extra frame of support around me.

I mean, I'm wearing shorts and drinking Pepsi right now. But that dress and that drink were a big help.



*Things are going to be okay. Thank you all for your kind words earlier this week.

I'm ready for the boat

Umbrella: lost & found in college | Dress: eShakti | Belt: Old Navy | Wedges: Pink Studio

You guys have heard of eShakti, right? I mean, if you read any other small blog this month or a few months ago, you saw them doing a bunch of giveaways and stuff. They contacted me a little while ago asking if I was interested in review a product of theirs, and of course I said yes.

I had a hard time picking a dress, but after enlisting the advice of E., T. and A. (yeah, I'm indecisive), I went for the Ship to Shore Dress (I already own the Birds who Gossip Dress), and I'm really pleased with how it turned out. eShakti, in my opinion, offers really well made items at pretty affordable prices, and the fact that they offer customization on all their items for both sizing and style (want sleeves or a shorter hem? Ok!) is really unheard of. Both dresses I own from them are custom cut dresses, and they both fit really well. The only problem I have with this dress in particular is that the shoulder straps fall a little wider than I thought they would, so it's more of a rest on the shoulder than tank top design. (Which now that I'm looking at the pictures is EXACTLY how it looks. Mannequin, you so tricky!) And pockets! And cotton! This dress is great for summers.

eShakti is having a sale right now, with up to 40% off select items, including the dress I'm wearing. I definitely recommend their products, especially considering that they cater to a wide variety of styles and sizes. Go forth and buy a skirt!



Disclaimer: eShakti gave me this dress, but not this post. All the words written here are entirely my own.

Sigh

I had a really rough night/day, you guys. Like, seriously hard. We had a family crisis and there were some issues and I'm still reeling and I don't even know how I managed to yank on a dress today, but I was in no mood for outfit pictures. So here's a shot of butter London's new fall/winter 2012 collection. I want them all.

Hopefully, outfit posts will return tomorrow.

Californiaaaaaaa

Necklaces: J.Crew Outlet | Top: J.Crew Outlet | Skirt: JCPenney | Wedges: Target

My friend A. and I have been reminiscing about the wonder that is The OC. You guys remember The OC, right? Only one of the best shows ever, until that weird alternate universe episode when it jumped the shark. A. and I would watch it together, and I still clearly recall the day Marissa died; my mom let me watch The OC because she a) knew how important it was to me and b) probably pitied me since it was only a week after my back surgery. I texted A. throughout the whole thing and he was as devastated as I was. A. and I went to high school together and even though we've only seen each other once in the last five years, we still text each other like "remember that jerk Oliver?" or "I just saw Kristen Cohen on this TNT show". Or, of course, "Sandy Cohen's eyebrows". Classic moments in tv and life history, you guys.

Stormy weather

Umbrella: Totes | Sweater: Gap Outlet | Jeans: American Eagle | Flats: Toms | Nails: butter London Dosh

I had an appointment today with my orthopedist to discuss my back. Many a coworker have asked why I don't go to a chiropractor or get a massage or do some stretches, but it's hard to explain sciatic pain if it's never been felt, and it's even harder to explain why I have it when I'm 26, and why I had it when I was 19. In short, I fell off a horse when I was 18 and smashed three discs into my spinal cord, causing very strong nerve pain which travelled down my leg for a year and half. It took that long to go through the physical therapy, the myriad of drugs, the epidurals, and finally the surgery that stopped the pain and helped me get back to living my life. (All while bouncing between two homes, one at college in VA and one in Cardiganland.) A chiropractor could not adjust the herniated discs in my back; scraping off what was forcing itself into my spine was the only thing that worked. For six years, one month and eighteen days, anyway. And then it was back, stronger and weirder than ever--on both sides, and worst where my hip and leg meet, deep in my butt. It's so fun to display to my doctors where the pain is. It's been three weeks since it started, and I have been self-medicating with a bottle of my mom's Vicodin that expired in 2009 because it hurts that much. My orthopedist kindly never mentioned the S word, and I've begun round number two of a pill cocktail after completing a failed attempt to soften the pain via PT. Unfortunately these drugs don't make me loopy, so my posts will probably remain as boring and dorky as usual. Sorry! There are few options left before I end up back on the table, but the doctor doesn't "see any preliminary evidence of" another herniated disc. Good thing, since I don't have much of the last one left. So there's my sad, pathetic story of why I'm lazy and there are so few action shots now and I can't walk so well and it's weird when I try to stand or sit or lie down or breathe.

In other news: this sweater is awesome, you guys. Shoulder waves!

"Memory card"

Necklace: wapa on Etsy | Top: Target | Skirt: JCPenney | Wedges: Target

I know I promised to spend more time off the deck, but this time I had a valid excuse: I forgot my memory card in my computer! I got my tripod out of my car and everything, and I went to check my first picture, and...nothing. Oops. So this is what you get. Better luck next time!

Ps. First attempt at a Gibson tuck in my hair. Not too terrible, huh?

So itchy

Necklace: heirloom | Top: J.Crew Outlet | Skirt: JCPenney | Wedges: Shoe Carnival

can't talk, too busy scratching my fire ant bites

Style Imitating Art: Early Sunday Morning

It's Style Imitating Art time! Partyyyyyyyyyyyy. This week's pick was Early Sunday Morning by Edward Hopper.

First up is Rebekah of From the Mixed-Up Files. Does she not look super comfortable and cute?



Next up, Vivienne of Thrifted Shift, who incorporated the scenery into her SIA. I think it looks fantastic!



And then there's the always amazing Pao of Project Minima. There's an up close shot too. I adore how she puts herself in the artwork! So clever.





My awesome college roommate (!!!), Sarah of Squalor Holler, has decided to join us this week! She looks sharp, right? I love the blazer.



My always lovely co-creator, Salazar of 14 Shades of Grey, looks adorable, right? I so love the light blue/mustard combo. What a pair!



And...then there's me!





Necklace: antiques shop | Top: JCPenney | Skirt: J.Crew Outlet | Wedges: Payless



Thank you all for participating! Everyone looks so wonderful and did such a fantastic job. I always love seeing how the artwork is interpreted!

Excuses, excuses

If you have to take a break during 30x30, you better have a good excuse, right? Well, if excuses were dimes, I'd be a billionaire by now. But below, in photos and words, are some of the reasons why my 30x30 took so long to complete.



Necklace: gift from parents | Top: J.Crew | Shorts: Ann Taylor Factory Store | Shoes: probably Toms

You'll probably vaguely recall the pictures above and below from back in June. T. and I celebrated my birthday with delicious Italian food, crayons and The Avengers. T. was pretty unhappy with tromping through the weeds to get to where these pictures were shot but I'm sure the theater customers loved watching us jumping in the air and acting like fools :)





AC readers, meet E.! My RA my junior year, E. managed our hall but also managed to help me survive a survey class--my first upper level one--on Latin literature. She became an awesome friend in the process, and ever since we've talked at least once a week (a good sign, I've found, for maintaining long distance friendship) and I've seen her every time I visited VA and she's come to Cardiganland twice. She came down for fourth of July (!!!!) and we had a ton of fun.



My mom, E. and I took a road trip up to Charlotte one day to check out the Mint Museum Randolph, which I love. (The name comes from the fact that the art museum was the first American Mint.) And lucky for us, they had a great installation out on the front yard, so we took that opportunity and ran with it.









Top: J.Crew Outlet | Skirt: J.Crew Outlet | Shoes: Toms

Then we celebrated 'Merka with some EXPLOSIVES. Because there is no better way to celebrate your country.













And then there was the night where my parents and I went to see Marvin Hamlisch perform at the local cultural center (above). He was the perfect little old Jewish grandfather, and an amazing pianist.

Top: Target | Skirt: JCPenney | Heels: Urban Outfitters



At the end of June, my library bid a fond farewell to the head of security (he has been replaced by a nearly-as-awesome person, thankfully). Staff were encouraged to wear ties for his retirement party, since he was devoted to ties, and I embraced that.

Top: Target | Skirt: Target | Tie: Target | Shoes: Payless (I bet you thought I'd say Target!)





What I wore the night E., my parents and I went out for dinner.

Top: Ann Taylor Factory Store | Skirt: JCPenney | Sandals: Ross



Remember that awful tie dye incident at the beginning of the month? This past week we had a meeting and I wanted to wear the result for my coworkers to see. It turned out pretty amazingly, huh? Still never doing it again.



Necklace: J.Crew Outlet | Top: hand dyed; Hanes/Walmart | Belt: Walmart (way old, like high school old) | Jeans: American Eagle





My parents finally took me out for my birthday dinner, a month late but not a dollar short. Filet? Ok! and it was DELICIOUS. Thanks parents!

Necklaces: JCPenney and J.Crew Outlet | Top: J.Crew Outlet | Skirt: Gap Outlet | Wedges: Target



So those are my excuses. That and I am a lazy oaf with a lack of determination. And unfortunately I wasn't darting around in the dress below, but I did get a good fine look at it. All that beading! Glorious. I'll be back to regular outfit posts commencing Tuesday night (today's post will be dedicated to SIA) and I can't wait!