Animated Cardigan

Cool

2012-02-29T23:51:00.000-05:00

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

2012-02-28T10:03:00.001-05:00

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

2012-02-27T09:36:00.004-05:00

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

2012-02-26T00:37:00.000-05:00

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

2012-02-24T23:04:00.001-05:00

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

2012-02-23T22:09:00.001-05:00

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

2012-02-22T21:27:00.000-05:00

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

2012-02-21T15:06:00.000-05:00

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

2012-02-20T19:37:00.000-05:00

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

2012-02-19T19:47:00.000-05:00

"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?

2012-02-16T23:00:00.000-05:00

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

2012-02-15T20:36:00.000-05:00

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

2012-02-15T01:20:00.000-05:00

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

2012-02-13T19:11:00.001-05:00

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!

It's like looking through HD glasses

2012-02-12T21:37:00.001-05:00

Coat: Old Navy
Scarf: handmade
Cardigan: Target
Top: Target
Belt: Walmart
Jeans: Old Navy
Boots: Target
Lips: just Chap Stick today!

So here are my first pictures with my new camera! Oh. My. Gosh. The first big difference is going to be focusing--which I think will be easier? if I decide to buy a 50mm lens--and it's currently taking a little longer than usual for me to take suitable outfit photos, especially close ups. I imagine that will come with time though. But I'm just so happy; the quality is amazing, and uploading photos today was so painless--no major cropping, just a little alteration for colour. I don't know what I'll do when Picnik makes its exit from Flickr. I guess I'll have to learn to use Seashore in earnest, because I'm too cheap for Photoshop.

So on with it, right? This outfit was inspired by this pin. Pretty obvious recreation, huh? I needed something quick today because apparently shaving legs is now a 40 minute endeavour and I didn't have much time to get dressed before work! Womp womp. It only takes 10 minutes in the summer! Probably because I do it nearly daily then. On the bright side, I love how this looks so I might do it again in a different variation. The rust instead of red keeps it from looking too elementary school colour wheel.

This is a big week at Animated Cardigan--tomorrow is the first Style Imitating Art post (Salazar looks amazing and I have a lot to live up to!) and Tuesday is Valentine's Day & EBEW pink+ red day, which means Wednesday is ALL CANDY 75% OFF DAY and WIW pink day. Friday is curling day for me, which means Thursday...well, Thursday needs a hug, I think. But it'll be fun! So I'll see you guys tomorrow for the first ever Style Imitating Art post!

So many buttons

2012-02-11T21:25:00.000-05:00

Yes, the trees are blooming. No, this is not normal for February.

My pick for this month's book discussion...I wanted a love story for February. This is close, right?

Click this to see the large version, because I think you need to see it bigger. The depth of field...wow.

Just a few photos from the new camera. Oh, I'm in such love. Such, such love.
I'll be back with an outfit post tomorrow :)

Successful endeavours

2012-02-08T20:53:00.000-05:00

Cardigan: Gap
Dress: Loft
Tights: We Love Colors
Boots: Target
Lips: Maybelline ColorSensational Totally Toffee

One of my very first pins on Pinterest (which is in severe neglect right now because I'm busy being a teacher's pet) was this pin, which I always wanted to recreate but I didn't have the dress for it. Or so I thought! I don't have a navy dress but I do have this one, which fit the bill perfectly. Success!

In other news, I finished writing my first grad school paper. To celebrate I made a big purchase--in 8 to 12 business days, I will be the official owner of a dSLR! How exciting. I finally bit the bullet, especially after finding a new Canon T3 on sale for 24% off. And how can anyone resist 24% off? So prepare yourselves for some slightly better quality photos!

Introducing: Style Imitating Art

2012-02-06T23:12:00.001-05:00

Remember my last post? This is the really, really exciting news I wanted to share. You all know Salazar, right? If not, take a sec and pop over to her blog. Get acquainted. Say hello. I'll give you a minute.

Done? Great. Because Salazar and I are starting a style collaboration called Style Imitating Art! In the same vein as Everybody Everywear and Wear*It Wednesday, we're going to have submission-based "challenges" twice a month, but the main difference is that instead of putting a requirement on what you wear, we're giving each other inspiration and seeing what happens. No limits, no restrictions, just clothes and the greatest inspiration of all: art. We're using our favourite works of art to inspire what will hopefully become some of our favourite outfits.

But this isn't just for us! You're all welcome to submit your inspired outfits too. On the day of, we'll compile any of the pictures submitted and post them. Here's how the calendar works:

Monday #1 (today): Jess introduces her painting
Monday #2: Jess posts the challenge entries
Monday #3: Salazar introduces her painting
Monday #4: Salazar posts the challenge entries

Down the road, we're definitely willing to consider adding hostesses. We also would love to hear from you if you have any art to suggest! Our emails are

Jess: animatedcardigan @ gmail.com
Salazar: 14shadesofgreyblog @ gmail.com

And really, if you have any questions, comments, ideas, or want to work out an outfit, we're here. Email us your pictures and we'll roll them all into one awesome post two Mondays a month!

As such, our very first challenge starts today! Salazar and I drew straws and I'm in charge of selecting the very first painting. Kind of a big deal! So, ladies, here's the very first Style Imitating Art inspiration:

A Bar at the Folies-Bergère by Édouard Manet
A Bar at the Folies-Bergère is quite possibly my favourite painting of all time, and it has a woman in it, so what better way to start? Use this painting however you see fit--colour, texture, style, outline, or anything else you might see. Style an outfit, and send me a picture of it by Monday, February 13th at 5pm!

SO EXCITED.

Paralegal

2012-02-06T22:36:00.000-05:00

Necklace: JCPenney
Sweater: JCPenney
Skirt: Target
Tights: Target
Wedges: Target
Lips: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Berry Haute

For some reason I vey much feel like a paralegal in this outfit. From the chin up is Old Hollywood, and from the chin down is 1992 file clerk. That being said, I look pretty awesome so I don't mind. The last time I curled my hair I brushed it out before washing it, and when I looked in the mirror I said to myself "oh! That's how it's done!" & I vowed to do it again. That ended up being today. Bam.

I don't have a lot to say at the very second but I am working on a Very Exciting Post Announcing Very Exciting Things! So stick around because in about an hour (unless I get distracted by food which may very well happen) I'll be dropping BOMBS. Not really, but it's going to be awesome. I promise!

The Doritos ones were good too

2012-02-05T23:12:00.001-05:00

Necklace: gift
Top: Target
Skirt: handmade
Wedges: Target
Lips: Cover Girl Lip Perfection Lipstick in Delish

I seem to have a predilection for putting my hand in my hair. Note to self: stop that.

So, who watched the Super Bowl? I personally thought it was an uninspiring matchup and an uninspiring game with uninspiring commercials, so all around the experience fell flat for me. Though at the same time, I don't like the Giants or the Patriots so I was, for all intensive purposes, anti-invested in the game. How did you feel about it? I think the highlight was the Clint Eastwood commercial that aired during halftime. Everyone I was watching with was similarly blown away, so I say well done, Chrysler! Other than that, I loved the Budweiser Clydesdales commercial (I always do) and I enjoyed the VW dog losing weight to chase the car commercial. Other than that, I was disappointed. So many stupid movie trailers. You sank my battleship, Super Bowl XLVI.

Much to discuss

2012-02-02T21:31:00.000-05:00

Bobby pins: Forever 21
Top: Anthropologie
Skirt: JCPenney
Flats: Urban Outfitters
Lips: L'Oreal Colour Riche Volcanic
Fingers: butter London Trout Pout

After all the positive response I received on yesterday's post, particularly about my lipstick, I decided to take the advice/ideas some of you gave me and start a little mini-challenge (if I can even call it that) to wear all my lipsticks, and coordinate my outfits to them in some way. It'll be good self-portrait/headshot photography practice/I can work on my smizing! I'm calling it "liplocked" in my tags & I'll include the brand/name of each lipstick with my posts. Sooooo I guess we'll see how this goes.

This post is going to be all over the place. First of all, remember how I watch a lot of tv? One of my favourite new shows of the fall is Person of Interest (haha I typed "Person of Internet" first) but I have a bone to pick with this show--listen, if you're going to do an assassination episode, don't do a shot-for-shot remake of The Manchurian Candidate. You just can't improve on perfection.

Second, can we talk about Bruno Mars? His music's pretty swell and he's pretty adorable, but his last name could be so much better. It's not his real name anyway, so I came up with some ideas. Let's think about it. Bruno Mercury. Bruno Saturn. Bruno Pluto. BRUNO PLUTO, YOU GUYS. It's perfect. I should be hired as his brand manager/best friend.

Finally, in case you're wondering: yes. I did see my shadow.

Pank: southern for pink

2012-02-01T21:39:00.002-05:00

Sweater: JCPenney
Belt: Target
Skirt: Old Navy
Tights: Target
Heels: thrifted
Lips: Clinique Long Last Watermelon

Believe it or not, I own what must be at least 12 sticks of lipstick. It's hard to believe because I never wear any of them. I don't know why, because for the most part, they all look fine on me.

But today I simply couldn't resist wearing my hot pink lipstick with my hot pink everything else. The whole hot pink thing was in...about two summers ago so I think I'm finally ready to try it out. I've been told a couple times that redheads can't wear pink...and red...and orange, so I'm out to destroy the misconception. I guess I need to break out the red lipstick next!

On bookshelves

2012-01-31T23:44:00.000-05:00

Scarf: Target
Top: Target
Dress as skirt: Anthropologie
Tights: Target
Wedges: Shoe Carnival

In relatively unexciting (but exciting to some of you) news, my bookshelf is fully assembled and mostly filled! I warned most of you that I actually don't own many books; I'm a library user through and through, and most of the books I do own are either Latin & Italian history books from college or books that are special to me--favourites, signed copies, etc. Beyond that, most of my Latin books are actually boxed up right now, and I'm trying to decide if I want to haul them out and put them in my bookshelf which I will eventually have to move or if I want to use the shelf space for other things. The latter will likely avail.

If you take a good look at this grainy iPhone picture of the new bookshelf, you'll see that I have an assorted variety of complete crap. I have made a few changes since this picture was taken--moving a few things around, collecting more things. Although I try to live an uncluttered life, I am a thing collector. I don't have a difficult time throwing things away, but my mind has to be pretty far removed from the object, or I have to be fed up with it as a piece of clutter, to toss it. I also am guilty of liking pretty things, and unique things, and things that are fun to look at.

So my bookshelf is really more a receptacle for some of these random objects I've amassed over the years. My fiberglass xylophone mallets from high school. A framed picture of my dad at his college graduation. A signed copy of Jimmy Fallon's Thank You Notes. The stuffed bunny my grandfather game me as a baby. (The stuffed frog he gave me still lives on my headboard.) The roller skates I practically lived in during middle school (and which still fit, so I need to get back into that!). Crayons, nail polish, pens, lotion, the roses that were in one of the arrangements at my grandfather's funeral. My college class ring box. A birthday card my friend E. sent me a couple years ago that I just can't throw away. I have a lot of random objects, and they aren't necessarily books, but to me they're just as enjoyable to look at.

Though that I Voted sticker from two years ago? Yeah, that's gotta go.

In a bind

2012-01-28T23:28:00.000-05:00

Scarf: Anthropologie
Top: Urban Outfitters
Jeans: Walmart
Boots: Target

One of the great things about being a reader is that you usually amass quite the collection of books. And as a reader, you expect to have a bookshelf to put all your books on, right? Well, not exactly. My bedroom is about the size of my horse's stall (actually less--Indy's stall is 12'x12', my room is like 11'x10'), and for a long time it's been my bed, my dresser and my bedside table, all straight from a little patch of Sweden in North Carolina known as Ikea.

So the time finally came for me to throw some stuff away, move some stuff around, and suddenly I had "room", aka just enough space to stuff a bookshelf of some sort into my room. Off to Ikea my mom and I went, and we found the perfect setup! Two tall and wide glass door covered shelves flanking a narrow DVD shelf. The only problem was that we brought my Volvo, which is an amazing car but is a bit small for a nearly seven foot tall shelving unit. So three hours and one auto change later, we returned to Carolinian Sweden with the family SUV and loaded up five flat and long boxes that I hope will hold my assorted crap. I mean books.

The perfect "yo" face

2012-01-26T19:49:00.000-05:00

Because I kind of hated my outfit today...

The second one is my horse, Indy :)

Crunchy sunset

2012-01-25T20:52:00.000-05:00

Necklace: wapa on Etsy
Cardigan: Anthropologie
Dress: JCPenney
Tight: Target
Boots: Target

So for my 300th post, here are some grainy pictures of me in a parking garage.

See you tomorrow!

Barney rubble

2012-01-24T23:22:00.002-05:00

Top: Urban Outfitters
Cami: Eddie Bauer
Skirt: handmade
Bangles: Walmart & Forever 21
Wedges: Payless
Fingers: Zoya Shawn

This morning I woke up and updated Twitter, because one of my goals surrounding this blog for 2012 (see sidebar) is to be more engaged with Twitter. So I said, and I quote:

I have wanted to paint my nails for about a week but haven't been able to pick a colour. That's dumb. Let's do this.

Another one of my goals is to be more proactive and not procrastinate quite so much, especially now that I'm deeply entrenched in the warfare of grad school (why did no one tell me how much WORK this is?!), I not only painted my nails but I also curled my hair! I recently started reading Skippy Says and Feathered and Freckled, and these two lovelies have such pretty, red, curly hair. I wanted to go to there, so I did. And it only took an hour of my life that I'll never get back! Looks cute though, I guess. I'll probably stick to Slightly Rumpled for most future engagements (eg. life).

If you are wondering why the perspective of these pictures looks a little off, it's because for the most part my camera gently teetered atop a piece of mill rubble while I took these shots. My brain broke this afternoon and I grabbed my camera but had taken the tripod foot off to replace the batteries and I forgot to put it back on, so it sat on my ottoman, five miles away from my car and I in the mill park. Oops. So rubble it was! The pictures turned out fine but my camera probably has asbestos poisoning now. As long as it get the mesothelioma those personal injury lawyers are always talking about, we're okay. But my camera has a mean streak so if it needs to sew we're taking that rubble DOWN. I mean, even further down. Because it's already pretty far down there.

B-52

2012-01-24T00:23:00.001-05:00

I'll be back tomorrow night with a new outfit post (there is nothing worse than cold rain for outfit pictures) but for now, Madeline of Madeline Quaint created an amazing post involving yours truly and some other amazing bloggers with everyones' if-I-could-do-anything-to-ny-hair hairstyles! I'm sure I'm making it sound weirder than it is so obviously you need to click the link and check it out. I am totally in love with mine but everyone else looks great too!

Wondering where I am?

2012-01-22T14:11:00.000-05:00

Sweater: JCPenney
Pants: Old Navy

Passed out drunk on Ikea furniture and glögg.

Sad, then happy, then wtf

2012-01-19T18:17:00.000-05:00

Necklace: JCPenney
Sweater: gift from parents
Skirt: thrifted
Tights: Target
Wedges: Shoe Carnival

Do you remember the cat from this post? Her name was Abigail, and we adopted her waaaaay back in 1999. She was basically the best cat I've ever met--not a mean bone in her body, always happy, knew she was in charge, and pretty much had the run of the place. She died at the age of 13 (!) in November, and my parents and I were absolutely heartbroken. Abby moved with us from NJ to SC, and she was the last remaining cat from that part of our lives.

After a couple months of mourning, I caught my mother on petfinder.com (do you see where this is going?) and by the time 2012 rolled around, we were driving to Charlotte to meet a new black cat who we would eventually adopt, named Hera. Hera has been fitting in pretty well--she fights with the other cats, but much like Abby, she's very social, loves people, purrs VERY loudly, and loves to play. She also greatly appreciates attention. Unfortunately, a side effect of this can-do attitude is that today while I was doing some reading for one of my classes she vaulted onto my back and clung there, hanging off me, with her nails firmly sunk into my flesh.

My back is now a paisley of Hello Kitty band aids and allergic rashes. AWESOME

D minor

2012-01-18T20:30:00.000-05:00

Coat: Old Navy (and $25!)
Sweater: Gap
Skirt: JCPenney
Tights: We Love Colors
Heels: Urban Outfitters

On my way home from work today, I stopped at a pedestrian crossing and watched two women walk across the street, almost exactly on pace with each other. But something was ever so slightly off, and suddenly with each step they were more and more out of pace with each other. Obviously one just had a slightly shorter stride, but it reminded me of how much I seem to enjoy dissonance.

When I was young and we went grocery shopping, my dad and I would carry the groceries up a floor of steps and into the kitchen. He would be in front of me, and I would make sure that when I followed him up the steps I would walk almost in pace with his steps, but just slightly off so there was an eighth note-eighth note-eighth rest-eighth note beat. Weird, I know, but I loved it, and when I took a class on Mozart in college, I noted that some of my favourite pieces were written in dissonant keys (K. 626, anyone?) and that's strange indeed.

So I guess it comes as no surprise that I really like the dissonance of this outfit. Cream sweater versus white details on the skirt, slouchy knit reined in by form fitting...polyester, plaid against floral, black battling gray, and let's top it all off with some crazy nearly neon shoes. I also took a big step out of my comfort zone and wore some dark lipstick, which looks pretty dissonant on my face. But for some weird reason, I think it all works. I could be totally wrong, though.

Root beer

2012-01-18T00:16:00.000-05:00

Gold necklace: antiques shop
Bow necklace: Anthropologie
Sweater: JCPenney
Dress as skirt: Anthropologie
Boots: Target

A looooooong time ago, I was a daily reader of the comics in the newspaper. My dad still does it but I'm too lazy now. Anyway, I read them all, whether I loved them or not, thought they were funny or not. There's one comic called Zits, which is about a teenager, his parents, his girlfriend, his best friend, and his best friend's girlfriend. It's not very good (I bet it's hilarious if you're the parent of a teenager though), but one day Zits made a whooooole lot of sense.

The teenager is staring into his girlfriend's eyes, and he says "your eyes are so beautiful, like...chocolate". Then he tries again. "Like...Oreos." One more time. "Like...root beer. Ugh, now I'm hungry." And he leaves. And the girlfriend says "blue eyes get all the romance." And it's totally true, right? Root beer? That's the best you can do? I personally love root beer (just bought ten bottles of Barq's today...it's that good) but please do not compare my eye colour or sweater colour to something I drink. Thanks in advance!

Cut loose

2012-01-15T21:39:00.000-05:00

Shirt: Walmart?/hand-me-down from my dad
Top underneath: Target
Jeggings: Old Navy
Boots: Target

Did I ever mention that I went to see Footloose with my coworker T.? Well, I did. We caught it at the dollar theatre (which was $1.50, by the way, such a ripoff!), and I was totally ready for it to suck. I was emotionally prepared to have wasted my hard earned $1.50. But something wonderful happened. It didn't stink! I'm happy to report that it was a pretty faithful remake of a movie that seems difficult to update (who bans dancing anymore???). Also, school bus racing. Seriously.

So today I just on this outfit and thought I could probably be cast as an extra in Footloose wearing this. It's the plaid shirt, no doubt. My dad gave me this shirt because it shrank on the whole, but especially in the sleeves; one day he put it on and the sleeves ended at about mid-forearm. So I took it, and the sleeves are short on me too but unlike my dad I am well verse in the art of rolling my sleeves up, so they stayed there all day. And now I'm going to kick off my Sunday shoes and watch some Downton Abbey because I am nothing if not classy and in love with British period dramas.

The difference between January and July

2012-01-12T17:18:00.001-05:00

Dress: JCPenney/Christmas gift
Belt: Target
Tights: We Love Colors
Wedges: Shoe Carnival

Overall, the summer vs. winter argument has a clear leader, and that's winter. Sweaters, the Super Bowl, snow, tights, caramel hot chocolate, past date Octoberfest, bonspiel season. Oh, and Christmas/Hanukkah and all the fun that comes with that. And by fun I mean food.

But one thing that summer really succeeds in doing is avoiding depressing movies. I horseback ride, and people know that, so hello! I do not want to see War Horse so stop asking me about it! I am going to see The Muppets tomorrow and I'm going to cry through that, so what makes the world think that I can handle a movie like War Horse? I start crying every time the trailer comes on. So no, no War Horse. And listen--I am That One Librarian You Know who did not read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (I tried but got 50 pages in and decided I'd rather read a book I didn't have to force myself to open) and will not be going to see the movie. Sorry, gang. I'll wait with semi-baited breath for Six Fast Six Furious with everyone else.

A quick primer on grad school note taking

2012-01-11T23:42:00.002-05:00

Step one and only: just don't do this.

Green sweater party

2012-01-10T23:11:00.002-05:00

Necklace: gift from parents
Sweater: JCPenney
Scarf as belt: gift from parents
Skirt: JCPenney
Booties: Old Navy
Nails: butter London Bluey, All Hail the Queen, Victoriana, British Racing Green, & Wallis (I got bored again)

Since cutting my hair (did you notice it's seven inches shorter?) I've been trying various ways to make it look how I want, and I have found that the most successful way to do so is my pulling the bottom half of the hair on my head into a bun and covering it with the top half. I feel kind of dumb wearing a hidden bun in my hair but it looks good now! I just have so much hair that even when it's shortish it's really hard to control. But ha, I have the upper hand now. And even better, it looks awesome with my green sweater, so we're all set for today. I thought about doing EBEW but at the last minute I decided I hated my outfit (ever had that happen?) and yanked out my green sweater instead.

And it turns out my boss and I both wore green sweaters. Is it a sign? Probably not, but who cares? Green sweaters are awesome. In theory, one of my shopping "rules" for this year is not buying things in multiples unless it's really, truly necessary (riding pants, underwear, etc.). But this sweater, you guys. I got two for Christmas in gray and ivory, and then I saw that it came in a variety of actual colours, and I couldn't resist moss green and hot pink. And the green matches my hair really well, which is what I need after cutting it off and traumatizing the daylights out of it.

The tweest of them all

2012-01-09T21:38:00.001-05:00

Flower clips: H&M
Coat: JCPenney
Dress: JCPenney
Tights: Target?
Wedges: Shoe Carnival

Let's talk twee! My best friend A. and I spent some quality time (ok so it was like 2 hours) picking the perfect sleeve for my Macbook. And even then, I was still uncertain and had to ask another friend for advice. And my mom! This is how bad I am at making decisions, you guys. I ended up buying this sleeve, and I think I made the right choice. During our long, epic journey through Etsyland, A. referred to more than one of my picks as "twee". I don't really know a lot about twee, so I set off to investigate.

Turns out, in Britain, twee's kind of an insult. Sweet to the point of disgust, like eating 20 packets of Splenda. I'm sure A. didn't mean it that way, and I certainly didn't take it that way. In America, though, twee is a term for a specific subgenre of indie pop that is surprisingly sweet and seemingly innocent. Ever heard of Belle and Sebastian? Los Campesinos!? Camera Obscura? The Postal Service, even, is a little bit twee. And the serious terminologists end the definition at that--a type of saccharine music that is enjoyable but can be almost too precious for its own good.

But twee seems to go beyond that simple genre description, according to most of the internet. The styles of Zooey Deschanel, Miranda July and Carey Mulligan are considered twee. The Athens (Georgia, y'all) Banner-Journal even outlined twee fashion points before a local concert. Women are often derided for dressing too uptight, too childish, and everything in between. Wearing anything other than a black sweater and black trousers is an open gate for criticism, and I'm not a fan of that, especially since for a very long time I personally believed that wearing twee clothing was really not classy or cute. But I think, after being introduced to the world of style blogging, and feeling more comfortable with who I am and confident in how my body is, maybe twee isn't so bad. It looks good on some women, and they embody the positive, happy lifestyle that the music helps develop. And I decided, after looking at this dress and all the research that lay before me, that I might be slightly twee today. And I'm okay with that.

Want to read more? Try this stuff:
Twee As Fuck: The Story of Indie Pop on Pitchfork
Twee on Urbandictionary
How to be twee on Wikihow
Don't Fear the Dowager: A Valentine to Maturity by Julie Klausner, and the amazing response by Elizabeth of Delightfully Tacky, The Infinite Variety of Individuals
And if you're really into the point Elizabeth made about the woman's power to bring life into the world, Why Women Aren't Funny by Christopher Hitchens*

*I'm just practicing citing things for grad school

Instainterlude

2012-01-05T16:35:00.000-05:00

I'm currently battling a raunchy cold (like two days out of work sick--glad I have a hundred hours of sick leave!), so here are some Instagram photos from the last week.

For Christmas, my coworker, T., gave me a small nutcracker that she repainted to look like Justin Bieber. I collect nutcrackers (I have at least 20) so minibieb fits right in!

Home sweet Schnitzel!

Water at Trader Joe's. Also known as my most favourite place ever.

The champagne I had for new year's. Also known as the most disgusting holiday beverage ever. (After eggnog.)

This is a first look at a dress I bought at JCPenney on Tuesday. I went to a BIG JCP rather than my local one, and I thought I was going to look hideous in this dress. Turns out I actually want to be buried in it, so you know how that turned out. Illness notwithstanding, I'll be doing an outfit post with it next week!

Technological wanderlust

2012-01-03T23:23:00.001-05:00

Necklace: handmade
Sweater: JCPenney
Pants: JCPenney
Socks: parts unknown
Wedges: Shoe Carnival

Yesterday I took the grand plunge and bought a Macbook! And very similar to when I took my Env2 texting phone to Verizon and upgraded to an iPhone, the trainer who helped me with my data transfer was duly baffled by the sight of my new Macbook (named Schnitzel) and my old IBM Thinkpad (named Parliamentarian) sitting next to each other. It's a bit like night and day--my Thinkpad is an archaic but amazing work of art while the Macbook is sleek and brilliant; think Titian versus Clyfford Still.

As such, despite my owning two computers now, I'm using my mom's new HP because Parliamentarian and Schnitzel are now in lockup at my local Apple Store for a data transfer. The days are rapidly ticking down to the first day of my classes at grad school, and I'm trying to get so many things done! In the beginning of December I was starting to feel like I was singlehandedly keeping the Postal Service afloat, but now I feel like I'm keeping our oil economy healthy, between all the driving from one end of Cardigan;land to the other. I'm such a busy bee, and all for a stinking degree that I'm going to be paying off forever! But it's worth it just to see my two computers in harmony. Best friends forever.

A love letter to at least 97 awesome people

2012-01-01T16:00:00.000-05:00

Heidi from Literate and Stylish recently posted about a problem she was having with Blogger comments remaining in Blogger rather than transferring to Disqus. I believe the problem is that with the mobile version of a Blogger site enabled, Blogger's commenting system overrides Disqus. So on the mobile site, only Blogger comments appear, while on the full site version, only Disqus comments appear. I'm disabling the mobile site now to avoid further issues like this. I'll monitor the issue going forward (my favourite football phrase) and if the problem continues I'll be contacting Disqus.

So to Bren, who left this comment on this post:

"Absolutely adore your blog...finding it has been one of the highlights in a pretty gruesome year for me. Thanks!"

Here's what I have to say. First, thank you for reading my blog. Thank you all. I never thought I'd have any followers, let alone 97 (?!) through Google Reader after a year. (Sometimes I feel lame because other blogs grow so fast but I received my first email about an affiliation program and I don't even know how to respond--I can't imagine how I'd handle it if this blog mushroomed like some do.) I have no idea where 94 of you came from or how you found Animated Cardigan, but I am really, truly honoured that you all think I'm funny/clever/stylish/un-boring enough to follow me and read my posts and, hopefully, take away something from this crazy thing. I know I can be a bit sporadic in posting, but I'm really glad you're all still hanging around!

& specifically to Bren, I hope with all my heart that 2012 is a million times better than 2011 was, and if there's anything you want to see from me that would help--ridiculous nail polish, how I look with my hair teased to high heaven, whatever--let me know and I'll try my best to help out.

And lastly, because I'm talking about how much I love you guys and how much I love this blog, here's a screenshot of the best text messaged I ever received, from earlier this year:

I just about melted into the floor in a puddle of rainbows and sunshine when I read that. I don't think about myself as a particularly inspiring person--for the post part I just go about my life and hope for the best--but once in a while someone posts a comment here or a friend sends a text and I'm reminded that there's something about me that is good enough for others to find inspiration, and that makes the broken cameras, horrible lighting, quarreling with hobos hiding where I take my pictures, and spending 40 minutes every night editing my photos and writing a post all very much worth it.

So thank you all for following along, and I can't wait to see what the new year brings us!

Top twelve-ish of 2011

2011-12-31T09:51:00.015-05:00

Gosh, have I really been at this blogging thing for a year? Insane. My official blogiversary is in November, but I consider my official start of & dedication to style blogging as January 6th, when I wrote this post on my resolution to make this blog something I could be proud of. And wow have I ever accomplished this! I'm so happy to see how my style has grown and expanded over the last year, and I'm so ready for what 2012 brings. It's going to be wild--grad school, the summer Olympics (!!!!!!) and more responsibility at work--but I'm nothing but excited to dress for everything that comes my way, and to share it all with you!

With that, here are my top picks for each month this year. I'm pretty sure I didn't pick everything everyone else liked, but hey, it is my blog, after all ;)

January: Happy Refrain

February: Tredecim

March: In love

April: What's that now (above)
&
April: Take the outfit and run (below)

May: Graphic inspiration

June: It's a ferry tail

July: Lessons in pointless literary technique

August: Think hard, think fast

September: A promise this way

October: On scarves (above)
&
October: Worktoberfest (below)

November: The return of the jedi (above)
&
November: Steak me home tonight (below)

December: Career shift (above)
&
December: On bodycon (below)

Do you have a favourite? Least favourite? I could show you a number of particularly bad ones but I'd rather leave them buried in the archives! I'm actually driving to a bonspiel right now--I love scheduled posting--but I've been contemplating this post since December began and I love seeing how far I've come, both as a self-stylist and a self-photographer. I hope you've enjoyed the ride too. I loved blogging this year and I can't wait to see what 2012 brings!

I'll see you on Sunday with a new year and a new outfit post. Have a wonderful celebration and end to your 2011!

From jeggings to Olympics

2011-12-30T19:14:00.000-05:00

Necklace: handmade gift from T.
Sweater: gift from parents
Jeans: Old Navy
Boots: Target

I'm really excited to bring you guys my final outfit post of 2011. Yesterday was my last planned post, but my social calendar (aka my curling calendar) changed and I had time to run out of work and grab some shots of this outfit just as the sun was setting. I'm glad too, because this outfit is evidence of my first time wearing jeggings, my first time wearing coloured denim, and the elusive black turtleneck from my shopping diet. And my parents got it for me! I couldn't have picked a better one because this one is a sweater but it's not itchy or really thick, and it has a nice pattern but isn't cable knit. Perfect.

Tomorrow I'll be in Charlotte for a small bonspiel (my club's first time hosting one!) and I have a 2011 recap post sitting in the queue. I'll likely be back on January first with an outfit post, but if not then definitely Monday because T. and I are going to some fancy yarn store or somesuch. Perfect venue. Also probably buying nail polish, because we only have about 150 bottles between the two of us and that's definitely not enough. That's a good start to 2012, right? And then my official countdown to the London Olympics will officially BEGIN.

On bodycon

2011-12-29T23:03:00.001-05:00

Sweater: JCPenney
Belt: Old Navy
Ring: class ring
Skirt: JCPenney
Booties: Old Navy
Nails: butter London Bluey

In my internet travels over the past few months, I've come across the term bodycon, especially in reference to a certain style of dress, eg. the Herve Leger skin-tight curve-hugging band aid dresses that look so amazing on Kim K. For a long time (threeish months) my brain filled the blank for me and expanded bodycon into body confidence, and I operated on the assumption that this is what bodycon stood for. I recently realised that I didn't actually know the full meaning of the term, so I looked it up. Lo and behold, I was wrong--even according to the Oxford English Dictionary, bodycon actually stands for body-conscious.

In my mind, these two phrases have very different meanings. Conscious, sometimes misconstrued as conscientious, is a rather dubious term that is usually reserved for the easily influenced (or awake). Being self-conscious is rarely seen as a good thing, for example; especially when we compare ourselves to society, the self-conscious label is attached to those who battle low self esteem or with sociological struggles. To be conscious of a subject is colloquially to notice it in a critical light, rather than an optimally positive one. Confidence implies something entirely different, of course--we all want to feel, look and be confident, and we all want to be recognised as such. We strive, day in and day out, to be taken seriously by others, and at the root of successfully winning a client, helping a patron or passing a test is confidence. The confidence to say that I will pass that oral final, that I will find that book with the green cover and the dog (really, that happened once), that I will crack that glass ceiling. That I will wear this outfit--this outfit will not wear me.

So why is bodycon a placeholder for an ambiguous at best, insulting at worst, loaded term thrown around today at the outsiders of the crowd like it's a disease? The women with the chutzpah to wear bodycon dresses are, to me, anything but body-conscious. Instead, they are self aware and understanding of the power of confidence, which is what is instilled in them when they wear this style of clothing. Perhaps it is the strain that society places on perceived attractiveness that brings this terminology to the forefront--the insinuation that we aren't just noticing how another woman dresses, but we are noting it with a critical eye.

I, personally, refuse to give into the true terminology of bodycon; rather, I prefer to keep in mind that any woman willing to slide into a Herve Leger dress or a hip skimming pencil skirt--myself included--deserves the utmost respect for displaying her confidence first and her self-consciousness second. The idea that even as we praise a woman for embracing her body we compress her successful confidence by attaching a cleverly disguised backhanded compliment is gauche, and I refuse to fall victim to the ruse.

Outfit (and, ultimately, post) inspired by this pin.

Dressed for life

2011-12-28T20:49:00.000-05:00

Necklace: Etsy
Dress: ASOS (gift)
Tights: Target
Flats: Banana Republic

This dress is the most ballin Christmas present ever. Look at this FAIRISLE. I have been spending ~~weeks~~ ~~months~~ years looking for the perfect fairisle apparel, and here it is, in the flesh, draped on my body. This is also the first thing I've ever owned from ASOS and I have to say I'm pretty pleased. The dress is really well made and so comfy (but you can tell from the photos). I'm really impressed with their Curve line--clothes for non-tiny women that aren't shaped like a bag? Ok, I'm in. The dress is a little big for me in the waist, but from what I've learned the hard way, my body isn't the average plus size (or straight size) body. But anyway...awesome. I want to be buried in this dress.

A smattering of random topics

2011-12-27T23:46:00.000-05:00

Coat: JCPenney (gift)
Scarf: Eddie Bauer
Sweater: JCPenney (gift)
Pants: JCPenney (gift)
Socks: gift
Wedges: Shoe Carnival
Dog: Ellie

I am ever so carefully inching my way toward grad school. For someone who has never, ever handled an undertaking like matriculating at a major university, I have to say I'm doing pretty well. I have finally attained the American dream of being in major student loan debt and freaking out about the idea of my grandkids paying off my loans for me because I'll be a ball of dust by the time I make enough money to pay everything back.

Unrelated, I am now the proud owner of a fantasy football championship final team! Last week my team pulled out a monster week which blew me past the competition, and now I'm playing the other division winner in my league. (He's also a guy I curl with!) We're both excited, and we're both winning some money for this. And that is awesome. I'm just hoping that Aaron Rodgers doesn't play this weekend so my opponent has to put in his kind of crummy quarterback.

By the way...check out this dreadlock that randomly sprouted in my hair. It took a little while to undo, but really? Where did that even come from? How did that happen? I just washed my hair! I didn't try anything different, but bam. There it is. My hair channeled its inner Marley.

So this is Christmas

2011-12-25T23:22:00.001-05:00

Here are a few pictures of the last two days!

Scarf: Gap
Top: Target
Jeans: Gap
Slippers: parts unknown

I wore two outfits yesterday, and this is what I was in most of the day. I was baking, cleaning, wrapping, etc. all day Saturday, and for the most part I just needed to be dressed in some manner. The kitchen looks pretty good here but by the time I was done today it all looked like a bomb had gone off.

Cardigan: parts unknown
Dress: Target
Belt: Target
Tights: JCPenney
Wedges: Shoe Carnival
Cat: Lucky

This is what I wore to mass last night. Also, this is essentially this outfit with the dress backwards and belted instead of the cardigan buttoned at the waist. Why mess with success? Also, when did it become appropriate to wear a halter minidress to church? I make my annual appearance so I might be a little out of it, but I thought modesty was still a key in the church. Next year I'm breaking out the tube top for church. I hope it doesn't snow.

My dear nephew L. is 10 months old now--holy cow, the little sucker has teeth and nails and can pull himself upright. He's kind of a jerk in the way that he throws things on the floor and kicks you when you're holding him and if you get in his face he tries to hit you, but he'll be over that when he's old enough to remember what he's doing. I hope. I can't not love him though.

Here's what I was baking yesterday and today. I really wanted to try out this pin, but my mom wanted chocolate cake. So we compromised and I made a chocolate cake with white (green) chocolate trees. I'm really pleased with how it turned out--this is actually my first cake; I usually bake pies and cupcakes and small things like mints, things that don't have to be delicately pried out of a tin and hopefully not smashed into pieces. The cake turned out beautifully though! Aside from a mild crisis involving a bit of chocolate cooling too fast and not having some trouble spreading frosting, things went smoothly (haha frosting pun) and everyone loved it. I'm all caked out right now but I won't rule out making one in the future!

Sweater: JCPenney (gift from parents)
Top: Target
Jeans: Gap
Flats: Toms

Here is my awesome family. From left--me (of course!), my dad, my mom, my former supervisor/work sister M., my former supervisor's daughter S., and baby L. Ellie's the dog in the forefront :) We consider M., S. & L. part of the family, and I can't imagine life without them. They're so stinking awesome--S. has come to curling and we went to see Kesha together over the summer, and M. has been a source of constant hilarity and support. It's so great to have them because most of my biological family is in NJ and my stepfamily is spread all over, so after moving to SC we didn't have anyone to spend the holidays with. Now we do, and it's awesome! Even more awesome: they may have given me bacon band-aids for Christmas. Yep.

Merry merry, everyone! Enjoy the rest of your holiday and I'll see you all tomorrow!

Merry merry

2011-12-24T21:27:00.000-05:00

To everyone who reads this blog and basically everyone on earth, I wish you the best Hanukkah (night #5 coming right up!), Christmas, Kwanzaa, Festivus, New Year, Saturnalia, ad nauseam that you could possibly have. I'll be back Monday with outfit posts (no, seriously, I will), but until then--have a wonderful holiday, whichever one yours may be!

Preening habits

2011-12-21T23:13:00.002-05:00

Scarves: Target & Walmart
Shirt: work
Jeans: American Eagle
Flats: Toms

Last night, though the one and only Pinterest, I found a Tumblr called Curly Hair Problems. Now, by no means is my hair kinky or even curly (apparently I am a 2C according to this method), but I found myself actively relating to a lot of the entries, including "Your hair takes 3 or 4 hours to dry completely", "After trying to control it for years, you just give up", and the ever embarrassing but entirely true "Dreadlocks".

Tops: Target
Jeans: Walmart
Boots: Target

Yesterday, I washed my hair and popped a couple bobby pins in place, and I was fairly certain it looked exactly the same as it always does. Apparently I was wrong, though, because st least six people asked me how my hair looked different, that it looked good that way, etc. There's a lot of power behind complimenting my hair (as opposed to my style or my skin, how I walk, whatever) because I really feel like I have no control over it most of the time. Although I know I have amazing hair--and I've been stopped on the street and salons have been asked for the scraps from a haircut--I also know that it is extremely difficult to train, to adjust, or to force into a certain hairdo. My hair takes offense at what I ask it to do sometimes, so those few days where people say it looks amazing and I actually made a slight effort to fight it? Well, I consider those some really good days.

Any wrong you do

2011-12-19T19:53:00.000-05:00

Cardigan: Anthropologie
Top: Target
Skirt: handmade
Tights: Walmart?
Wedges: Shoe Carnival

I'm about to get really intense here. Are you sitting down? Is your chair in a upright position? Is your tray locked? Okay, good. Here we go.

Remember Walker, Texas Ranger? Remember this?

You're welcome.

Jury's still out

2011-12-15T19:52:00.000-05:00

Sweater: Anthropologie
Skirt: JCPenney
Socks: Target
Boots: Target

The photo above is how I feel about this outfit. I'm kind of blah about it, but in a way I'm glad because I rarely photograph outfits I don't like. Which is why there are sometimes long gaps between my posts! I have to admit, though, that this outfit looks better in the pictures than it does in the mirror. Which is strange because Allison and Katy have both discussed the opposite effect. I'll admit that better-on-the-body-than-in-the-photos effect has happened to me before, but I try to avoid mentioning it because what's the point? You guys don't see in real life! You have to go off the photographic evidence, just like on CSI: Miami. So call Horatio in and tell me what the evidence states: is this outfit good or bad?

Career shift

2011-12-14T19:33:00.002-05:00

Cardigan: parts unknown
Dress: Target
Bracelet: Target
Tights: Target
Wedges: Shoe Carnival

I have some spots that I really love to go for photo shoots (calling them that is weird). I mean, I don't take pictures in a location if I don't like it, but there are some places that were made for things like this. Secluded but safe, eye-catching but not overwhelming, well-lit but not over-lit. This wall has always been that place.

I've had to avoid this wall lately, because much as I love it--and love the guys and gals who decorate it so well--someone has been defacing some really awesome art with some really stupid curse words. Not even in a stylish way, just "fuck you" and "stupid shit" all over the place in black spray paint. Lame. So I've been driving by and sighing wistfully on my way to my fallback location, waiting for the day when the artists would return. And that day has finally come. And I am perfectly coordinated. This is a sign! Perhaps I should quit my job and live as a backpacking graffiti artist, travelling across the world and spray painting thing.

Well, maybe I should stick with the library.

A long-winded story of loss and love

2011-12-14T00:15:00.000-05:00

Cardigan: Target
Mustard tank: Target
Elephant tank: Banana Republic
Belt: Target
Skirt: JCPenney
Flats: Steve Madden

It's fascinating how things can come full circle. Earlier this year, I read Ready Player One, a science fiction novel that fell squarely in the cross-section of virtual reality and 1980s pop culture. Sounds weird, I know, but it's one of my top five books of the year. Anyway, the reason I bring this up is because I'm now reading what will probably be my second-to-last book of the year, The Third Reich by Roberto Bolano. I actually had to beg my coworker--the woman who orders all the fiction books for our library--to purchase a copy for the library so I could read it. (I'm a poor library employee, I can't pay for books!) She eventually relented, and when the book rolled out of technical services, I was the first and only person in line to read the book.

The reason why this is halfway fascinating--at least to me--is because The Third Reich is about a man who plays war games, and ends up playing against a man who has kidnapped his friend in order to get him back, or his friend dies. I mentioned Ready Player One earlier because in the book, the main character is transported into a virtual version of the pinnacle of 1980s cinema, Wargames. (You know you love Matthew Broderick.) the character becomes Matthew Broderick, and is required to recite the part, line for line and move for move, or he loses the game in which he is trapped & dies. So in conclusion: wargames twice in a year.

And then I found five dollars.

Missing: two perfect slippers

2011-12-12T23:02:00.000-05:00

Necklace: Anthropologie, lengthened by me
Top: Walmart
Skirt: made by me
Tights: Target
Wedges: DSW

I'm in crisis mode right now because when on Friday before I left for Virginia, I wore my slippers. And now, having returned from Virginia, my slippers are nowhere to be found! They are made of warm gray fleece and have molded perfectly to my feet and have scarf-wearing penguins embroidered on the top of each foot. If you see them will you send them back my way? Because my feet really miss them and I don't think we can make this Hanukkah & Christmas work without them.

Post is lacking in graffiti

2011-12-11T22:44:00.001-05:00

Cardigan: Target
Dress: eShakti
Boots: Target

I'm back! Yaaaaaaay! To clarify about my extremely long week, it seems that since receiving my acceptance letter from grad school, my life has been insane! I was in Asheville on Tuesday, Columbia on Wednesday, Charlotte and Chapel Hill on Friday, and a whirlwind tour of northern Virginia and Richmond on Saturday and Sunday. On top of that a big work program on Thursday and a department meeting on Monday have kept me from a) being well rested and b) actually doing anything regarding matriculation at said grad school. Eep! The outfit above is actually from the big work program, which went very well so yay.

Necklace: handmade
Top: Target
Jeans: American Eagle
Boots: Target
Face: sour

Here's what I wore today (thanks S. & E. for the phone shots!). This is a riding in the car/eating brunch/really tired so I'm wearing flared jeans tucked into my boots kind of outfit. And this mug says "South Carolina" on it and has a bunch of the iconic things of SC inside the letters. My senior year roommate bought it for me what must be at least three years ago, and she gave it to one of our other friends to give me, because my roommate now lives in Utah. We finally got together this weekend and our mutual friend remembered to bring it! Totally cool, right? And by cool I mean silly and silly is right up my alley, but you already knew that. See you tomorrow!

Pardon me

2011-12-09T17:09:00.000-05:00

I'm pretty horrible poster, but I PROMISE Monday regular posts will resume! This week has been beyond busy, and I haven't had time to eat some days, let alone take and post outfit pictures :( I'll be in Virginia all weekend, but I'll be back Sunday night and my bff E. (who reads this blog) will, I'm sure, be all over me for outfit pictures. For now, here's a sneak peek at yesterday's outfit!

See you all Monday!

A little break

2011-12-06T00:09:00.000-05:00

I'll be back tomorrow with an outfit post, but for now here's a picture of the best Christmas gift of all--I got into grad school!

Two times the outfit, one time the writing

2011-12-03T20:17:00.000-05:00

Scarf: Target
Cardigan: Target
Top: Target
Jeans: American Eagle
Flats: Toms

This is what I wore driving home from Charlotte today. When I was a little kid my favourite colours were pink, purple and red (in that order) so why not make it happen as an outfit? And there it is.

Necklace: made by my grandpa
Cardigan: Target/embroidered by me
Tank: Target
Jeans: American Eagle
Flats: Toms

And this is what I wore on Friday to speak on a local news anchor's webcast. Whoa, famous! I wanted something that wasn't ridiculous or boring, and I think I struck an even match. I received a ton of compliments about my sweater (of course) and one woman even asked if I'd make her one. I should have given her a link to this blog so she could learn to do it herself!

I recently pulled a piece of yarn out of my hair

2011-12-01T20:41:00.000-05:00

Ribbon: for World AIDS Day
Top: JCPenney
Skirt: JCPenney
Tights: Target
Heels: thrifted

Well, photo number one today is a lesson in how not to pose for an outfit picture. Yikes, I don't know what I'm doing but note to self, never do it again. I did like how my hair looks though, which is exactly why you see it. In case you can't tell, I have enough hair that I can easily smuggle cocaine AND international cheese across the border simultaneously in it. If I tease it into a beehive, watch out. (Should I do that?)

Speaking of my hair--do you ever have nights where you look at your hair and have to resist the urge to just chop it all off? I can extremely close to doing so last night. I don't really know why because I like how my hair looks now, but sometimes I feel like just taking the scissors to it and lopping off six inches. Though usually I then remember that I like pulling my hair back and braiding it, and the scissors clang to the floor with a hallow sound and I clutch my mane with my own hands, promising to never go to That Place again.

Wear*It Wednesday: Graphic Tee Edition

2011-11-30T18:45:00.001-05:00

It's time for Wear*It Wednesday! I am so, so excited, you guys. Everyone in this post looks so stinking stylish. Here we go!

Mandy of Juggling Chic is up first, and doesn't she look awesome? I can totally see her walking down the streets of Nashville in this outfit. (That's a compliment, I swear!)

Next is Salazar from 14 Shades of Grey. Between the outfit and the backdrop--I'm just amazed. Her photography is so pretty, and she is too. And her shirt is adorable!

Hilary of Young and Naive is a newcomer to WIW and she knocked it out of the park, don't you think? I mean, I'm a fan of the Black Keys anyway so I'm partial, but the hat and cardigan? Adorable.

Rebekah of From the Mixed-Up Files says that this outfit would fit in at her church since there are quite a few Packers jerseys spotted in the pews on Sundays. Well, boo Packers but yay for this outfit! Pink/white/blue is a great upgrade on the classic red/white/blue I've been fighting with.

Rachel basically invented WIW so of course she's going to do it too. And of course she's going to look awesome. She recently revamped her blog, For the Birds, but no matter what she calls it, it's still thrifting gloriousness.

Look. At. This. Blazer. BiblioMOMia has found essentially the best blazer in the world and I am so glad she shared it! & her shirt is from Out of Print Clothing, which specializes in putting book covers on shirts. Awesome!

Flyingpurplehippos.com is joining the WIW fun for the first time too, and I'm thrilled to have her! If this purple tee & these boots are any indication, we're in for some very cool outfits.

Jackie of Made with Love by Jackie B. is pulling off the most perfect Parisian vibe with this outfit. I love the high waisted skirt with the sandals. She looks so pretty!

Last but not least, here's my outfit. It was freezing when I woke up today and it has stayed that way but I refuse to let The Man get me down! I love this top--I ordered it from a menswear clompany because I liked the design so much.

Cardigan: Target | Tee: CXXVI Clothing | Bracelet: Target | Skirt: Walmart | Tights: Target | Socks: Target | Boots: Target

I want to thank you all for your participation. You've made this such a huge success and you've made me crazy happy in the process! How I feel is photographed below. Thanks K. for photographing me and I hope you all enjoy this post as much as I enjoyed making it!

Generally lacking in moral dignity

2011-11-29T22:51:00.000-05:00

Coat: Target
Dress: eShakti
Tights: Target
Boots: Target

The clock is ticking, you guys! Graphic tee Wear*It Wednesday lands tomorrow! Get a camera and send me those pics!

Otherwise, here's me going about honestly buying and wearing a dress from eShakti. No blogger incentives, no bonuses for my review, just me thinking this dress was cute and buying it (albeit with a code from Fab Finds under $50 so I saved $20). I usually am pretty wary of anything that involves giving my measurements, and doubly so with eShakti since I've heard very mixed things about their tailoring and customer service. But now that it's on and around me, I can say I'm extremely pleased--the dress fits like a charm, and it's very beautifully made (and pockets!). Of course, the pitfall of this is that the company is based in India--I have nothing personal against India (Indians need to work too!), but I live in a part of the country that was heavily negatively impacted by the loss of textile companies to outsourced employment, and buying this dress was a somewhat hard pill for me to swallow morally once I knew it was coming from India. I'm generally not a heavily morally upright person--I'm loose of lip to say the least--but this involved some internal conflict. Obviously I ended up buying the dress and I'm happy with the end result, but if you're not thrilled with outsourcing (or wholly against imported clothing) you may want to look elsewhere.

But for me, it's hard to beat anywhere that sells dresses for plus and straight sizes, especially when they include custom sizing for $7.50. That's kind of a big deal for my huge arms and proportionally-challenged chest. So overall, the pros outweigh the cons this time around! I'd like to get this dress next--perfect summer living on a houseboat kind of dress. This may or may not be my plan for summer vacation. Don't steal my idea ok? Or if you do, at least book your time on the houseboat after me.

Paging overt Americans

2011-11-28T22:51:00.000-05:00

Shirt: Old Navy
Dress: Loft
Wedges: Shoe Carnival

Part of my goal with this year's shopping diet is to pull out some of the lesser worn pieces in my closet, and this dress is definitely one of them. I bought it last April for a pair of weddings, and it hasn't been worn since. Until today! Hiyo! I've been wanting to wear this dress to work; I was worried I was going to look like some crazy patriot in this outfit but it doesn't look overtly American. I mean, I love America, don't get me wrong. But it's like wearing green and red any other time than Christmas. It can get weird. Fortunately I think the kind of cornflowery shade of this dress offsets the USAUSAUSA chants I'm hearing in the background.

There's one more day for everyone to email me (animatedcardigan@gmail) your graphic tee outfits! I'm getting so excited seeing the pictures I'm receiving. Everyone so far has looked amazing! Rachel will be posting a few inspiring looks tomorrow, and if you need even more ideas, there's always my graphic tee pin board. Or I can bat around ideas with you if you want. Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled graphic tees yearning to be worn free!

Holiday time is here I guess

2011-11-24T19:04:00.001-05:00

Top: Threadless
Skirt: thrifted
Boots: Target

Lens flare all over this piece. I took my pictures today after putting the ham in the oven (we don't do turkey) and before our guests arrived for Thanksgiving. And in keeping with my promise to bring you some looks with graphic tees, here's one!

I noticed in yesterday's post that most of the shirts I wore were blue. So I thought I'd try avoiding that this time around. I'm in the process of developing a board on Pinterest specifically for graphic tees so everyone has some inspiration for Wear*It Wednesday! :D I'm still in the process of finding pictures but here's the board if you're interested.

And for those of you who are American, I hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving. Eat lots of pie/turkey/whatever and be thankful for friends, family, and life. I know I am.

On graphic tees

2011-11-23T19:54:00.000-05:00

Next Wednesday my first time hosting Rachel's amazing weekly feature, called Wear*It Wednesday. I'm featured on Matters of Merrymaking today wearing a tunic! Don't ask me what a tunic is though because I'm still not sure I get it. Anyway, the concept is like a mini-EBEW, where each week is assigned an item of clothing and style bloggers submit their looks to another blogger, who hosts that week. The hostess gets to pick the theme, and I'll admit I kind of jumped in without knowing what my item was going to be. Fortunately a flash in a pan/laundry basket it brought me an idea: how about that graphic tee lumped at the bottom of the pile?

I'll admit it. I own a ton of graphic tees and I wear them a LOT. They're rarely seen on this blog because they're normally not allowed where I work, which is totally understandable. Graphic tees can be a pretty loaded issue, because they can cause strife, insult others who don't agree with your shirt's statement, or seem entirely immature. This is rare, but you wear a shirt with strategically placed shamrocks and you're bound to receive some looks.

I know you've been desperate to see some shots of me in college, and I've been equally desperate to share them with you, so here we go. This was quite honestly my college uniform--one of a rotating cast of 30 graphic tees from Threadless, a pair of jeans from American Eagle, and my trusty black Vans. Every. Single. Day. Sometimes I'd throw on one of two cardigans and that would be a fancy day--if I had a presentation to give, most likely, or a meeting with my adviser. Often, though, my classmates learned something from my shirts: a) that I was a walking billboard for Threadless, and b) that I had Whimsy and Vibrance. Or at the very least I had to have some sort of personality.

The point here is that throughout my life, I've spent a lot of time expressing myself through graphic tees. Even today, when we were allowed to wear our team colours at work to "celebrate" the Palmetto Bowl (I'm sorry but Army-Navy is really the big deal, not Clemson-Carolina), I bucked the trend by dusting off my Invincible/Eagles shirt from Philavania. I wish I could wear it everyday but I won't because that's overkill.

So here's the deal. Since I'm off all weekend, how about some outfits involving graphic tees? And then you can take all of the little you've learned from my styling my graphic tees and you can style your own graphic tees and email picture of them to me at animatedcardigan at gmail.com. I'll be featuring them ALL on the 30th to celebrate the...uh...end of November. So dig out that college shirt proclaiming your love for the local bar or your English department and join me!

Muddy walkers

2011-11-22T22:54:00.001-05:00

Scarf: Target
Top: Target
Pants: JCPenney
Flats: Banana Republic

Working on a tip from approximately five years ago (I'm serious), I checked out one of many local churches, hoping there would be a swing set and no people around. Apparently there aren't any church parties that go down Tuesday afternoons because I had the place to myself and check out this amazing swing set! My neighbour was right. For once.

Like many milestones from my college career, my graduation was an anticlimactic event. There was much excitement (and dread) on my part, which quickly warped into annoyance when I watched the weather report and read emails from college administration warning of procedures for commencement "in the event of inclement weather". Usually, graduation at my college was held on the main campus circle, but rain threatened to move it inside, while family & friends would have a thrilling time watching in my half-packed apartment on closed circuit tv.

Fortunately the rain blew through overnight & graduation took place outside, but not without 50 degree temperatures and everyone's favourite material: mud. Lots of mud. Everyone walked the same path up to the stage to receive their diplomas, and the walkway wasn't reinforced, and by the time I (with about 200 people going ahead of me) took the great walk myself, the walk was glistening with mud. I was, by the way, wearing these shoes. And there was mud on the outside, mud on the inside, and mud on my pants. It was awful, and my feet needed to thaw after the ceremony was over. Fortunately I have a smart mother who was like "let's hose these off!" and they were good as new. And I got a diploma that day, so I guess it wasn't all bad.

The return of the jedi

2011-11-21T21:48:00.002-05:00

Thaaaaat's right. What We Wore is BACK! K. and I ran across the street on our break for some fun quality time in front of the camera. So here we go!

I'm wearing:

Cardigan: Anthro
Dress: Anthro, shortened with safety pins for the day
Tights: Walmart?
Heels: thrifted (!!!!)
Red nails: Zoya Carmen
Green nails: butter London British Racing Green
Yellow nails: butter London Cheeky Chops
Blue nails: China Glaze First Mate
Gray nails: Zoya Dove

I thought maybe it would be a good idea to repaint my nails and do the skittle thing again. I'm not making this a permanent habit but I kind of love the effect.

K. is wearing:

Necklace: This and That
Top: Dots
Bracelets: Dots
Pants: Dots
Flats: Shoe Department
Button: Work

K. wears this necklace nearly daily. She's a big New Orleans Saints fan, which is good because otherwise I'd have to kick her out of my friends circle because she also likes the Washington Redskins. Just kidding, we both know our respective teams suck this year.

By the way, I tweeted a couple days ago that I thrifted a pair of shoes. HERE THEY ARE. $5, people. I got crazy lucky--I've been looking for duo toned shoes (exhibit a: this pin) for a few months now and haven't found anything in my price point that would be available after my shopping diet was over, but for $5 I'm willing to break said diet. I think it was worth it. And they've been worn maybe 3 times at most because the original tread is still on the sole!

This is one of the first pictures we took, and it was really morea practice shot than anything. As soon as I saw it I was like "whoa, K.! I look so much taller than you!" And then she looked up at me and said "well, you are." Touche, K. Touche.

See y'all tomorrow!

iwhipmyhairbackandforthiwhipmyhairbackandforth

Polished

2011-11-19T20:33:00.001-05:00

Sweater: Old Navy
Top: Old Navy
Jeans: American Eagle
Flats: Toms
Thumb: Zoya Colette
Index: butter London Wallis
Middle: butter London Victoriana
Ring: butter London Knees Up
Pinky: Zoya Dannii

When you were a kid, did you ever have a problem with nail polish? I had a serious problem. I was addicted. I used it not only on my nails but for art projects. Possibly involving toothpicks. And more than once I spilled my polish on the beige rug in my play room, which resulted in my mom taking all my polish away and hiding it until we moved six years later. To be fair, we both forgot about it and didn't find it and my mom was all wtf and I was all omg! And then I threw it all away because it was six years old. Oops.

I'm more responsible with my polish now, but I still have a pretty major stash. And since I lost out on all of those years of irresponsible nail colours, I'm making up for it by wearing ridiculous colours all the time. I'm 12 at heart anyway, and if I can't keep my My Little Pony collection out in the open I should at least be able to air out the ol' polish stash once in a while. Or daily. You know.

Also, guest photographer T. said this picture looks like a Gap ad. Aside from being much larger than the average Gap model, I am inclined to agree.

Lunatics, maybe

2011-11-16T21:47:00.002-05:00

Necklace: JCPenney
Top: Gap
Skirt: JCPenney
Boots: Target
Bag: sent from Penguin/stolen from boss

LITTLE FACTS TIME

Chores I actually like some chores. Specifically dusting & doing dishes. But I really, really hate emptying the dishwasher. I have been known to bribe people to get out of doing it.

Ringtones My ringtone used to be AMAZING. It was the Monday Night Football theme song. But when I got my iPhone, it came with about 15 lame ringtones AND an old car horn. So that's my ringtone now.

Uncanny ability I can memorize song lyrics by listening to a song four times. Five if it's a rap song, but then I'm good to go. My best friend pretty much hates me because 8 years later she still doesn't know all the words to EI by Nelly. (Sorry A.! I still love you!)

It must be the family part that gets me

2011-11-15T23:39:00.000-05:00

Top: JCPenney
Cami: Old Navy
Skirt: handmade
Wedges: DSW

Do you guys ever cry at tv commercials? I usually don't (except those happy birthday ACA commercials but who DOESN'T cry at those), but there's a couple every holiday time that really, really kill me. There's this one Publix commercial of a little old lady making this gross looking bread pudding and it takes her all day and her grandkids all love it and they love her and it's so GROSS LOOKING but I tear up anyway.

The other one, also from Publix--jeez Publix lighten up!--is about this kid who can't get home for the holidays because he's basically Doogie Howser and he only gets one day off a year. It cuts between him taking the bus home and his family getting ready for a big holiday meal, and then he opens the door to his apartment and BAM, there's mom and the whole crew with all that food and they're all happy and home is where the heart is, etc. Kills me every time!

What about you? Share so I don't feel like as big a loser for welling up watching commercials. This is why we keep them on mute!

The Beauty and the Mess

2011-11-14T23:44:00.000-05:00

Necklace: Anthro, lengthened by me
Cardigan: Target
Pants: JCPenney
Wedges: Target

Hyperbole and a Half recently waxed eloquently on depression, and I thought I'd throw in my two cents, specifically regarding the end of her illustrative story. I struggled against depression through most of college (I ultimately won the battle, yay me!) but the stress that has landed squarely on my shoulders the last two or three months has stirred emotions that haven't existed inside my mind for a long time.

Allie's story is one that ultimately has a hopeful ending, and I find myself relating with the emotions she describes toward the end of her comic. There's something almost beautiful about the power depression can give a person with little self-esteem or major self-consciousness; the loss of interest and inability to experience pleasure or pain is almost a buff against the world that can subtly and counter-intuitively boost a person's confidence, because suddenly someone feels nothing and he or she feels invincible. Suddenly, not giving a fuck becomes a magical and very powerful thing. Sometimes, as in Allie's case (and hopefully ultimately in mine), it helps. Sometimes it hinders, and this can be a very dangerous strength. When I struggled to eat and sleep in college, the fact that I didn't care at all caused my physical health to suffer nearly as much as my mental health; now, the fact that right now I don't care what others think has facilitated a very serious and honest conversation with myself (not in the talking to myself on the bus way, I swear) about what I want and need in life. And in the end, that's actually a good thing. Depression is a terrible illness I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy--the places it can take a person are worse than the ninth circle of hell--but there is a silver lining to everything, and I hope that those suffering from this illness can find it, as Allie and myself have.

So basically also not caring what other people think has allowed me to wear this cardigan backward. Suck on that, haters.

Meanwhile

2011-11-13T23:05:00.000-05:00

Since I'm still in mildly severe pain (ugh), here are some Instagram photos!

Here's what I've been sitting on for the last couple of days. Coworker T. has a donut pillow and I'm trying to resist asking for it but I might end up caving.

I carry emergency Percoset with me because I've injured so many body parts and restrained so many old injuries that I have a contingency plan in place. Thank goodness, because Friday night was bad enough even with the medicine.

My horse, begging for treats a couple weeks ago. Love that face.

I decided to curl my hair last week, just for kicks. Then I slept on it, which was dumb, but it looked good at the time!

This is the skirt I've been working on. I'm nearly finished, but I can't bring myself to go through the effort of installing the zipper.

Yesterday's sunset. Before I noticed the loose pig hanging out near our storage barn. Yeah, that was interesting.

The cupcake that constituted half my dinner on Thursday (in addition to a small pile of lettuce...amazing). At least it was delicious!

Thus far, November has been a really stressful month for me, in terms of my private life, my relationships, my career, and what may eventually be my education. Nearly every facet of my life has suffered in some way--mostly just shitty circumstances piling on top of each other--and I'm not a happy person right now. I don't plan to take any time off from blogging, but if a day or two goes by without my posting, it's probably me trying to get my life back in sync. Hopefully this passes quickly, and if not, there are only 17 days left until November is out of my life for another eleven months. In my opinion it can't come soon enough.

The morning after

2011-11-12T14:28:00.000-05:00

Cardigan: American Eagle
Top: Target
Skirt: Talbots
Boots: Target
Nails: Zoya Marina

This is what I looked like the morning after...

I woke up at 6:45 to drop my favourite author off at a totally different airport than originally planned, since his first flight was cancelled.

I ate nothing for dinner.

My curling team won our game against my former team 11-2.

I slipped on the ice and fell directly on my tailbone.

I threw three perfect shots in a row.

I nearly froze to death overnight.

This is how I feel about my tailbone

These photos are not so bad for not being able to sit down, right?

ToC for $1000

2011-11-09T19:54:00.000-05:00

Cardigan: Target
Necklace: Anthropologie
Dress: Ann Taylor
Belt: Target
Tights: We Love Colors
Wedges: Shoe Carnival

You guys watch Jeopardy? I watch a TON of Jeopardy. I'm sure I've mentioned it before (remember Mark?) and now the time has come for me to buddy up with all my favourites from episodes past: the Tournament of Champions.

The Tournament of Champions is on my list of can't miss tv, below the Olympics (summer and winter) and the National Spelling Bee but above (above!) the Kentucky Derby and the season premiere of Burn Notice. That's saying something, you guys. I go through withdrawal when the Tournament is over--I read the J! Archive for weeks, perusing clues, missing their signatures on the screens and awaiting reruns. I don't have a problem, I can quit whenever I want! That's a like, I can't. And I don't want to. If loving awesome tv is wrong, I don't want to be right.

I hate to break it to you

2011-11-08T23:44:00.001-05:00

Necklace: gift
Top: Target
Skirt: thrifted
Boots: Target

But they power washed this wall and replaced the bulbs and now it just looks like a plain old cement wall instead of an underwater paradise.

Do you have any suggestions on what I should wear to meet my favourite author? I'm going to be escorting him all around town, and my boss said comfort first (meaning jeans) but I don't want to look like a schlub if I can avoid it. Please help because I'm really not sure what to wear that will make a good impression, reflect my personality, and be stylish! I'm thinking black jeans and my brown boots on the bottom but I don't know what to wear on the top. Van? Audrey? Jessica and Jessica? Meghan? ANYONE HELP ME PLEASE

Just read me in already

2011-11-07T22:54:00.002-05:00

Silver necklace: JCPenney
Gold necklace: antiques shop
Dress: Old Navy
Belt: Target
Tights: both JCPenney
Wedges: Target
Nails: butter London British Racing Green (or Eagles Green)

I'm not too proud to admit that I practically never watch movies. There's just way more tv to watch. In the last year I've seen Monte Carlo, 50/50 and Attack the Block in theatres. And the last two were on the same night. I do often feel like I'm missing out on some epic film (think Blue Valentine, not The Immortals) but it usually passes pretty fast.

And I know I'm really late to this show, you guys. BUT. I just got Bridesmaids from work (I was 63rd in line!) and I'm totally gonna watch it at some point in the fairly near future. Because I keep hearing all this whatnot about Melissa McCarthy and it just keeps COMING and now I feel really left out of the loop. Read me in, guys! Someone read me in!

This was my post for:

&

Stop staring

2011-11-06T11:16:00.011-05:00

Necklace: wapa on Etsy
Cardigan: Target
Tank: Walmart
Jeans: Walmart
Boots: Target
Bag: old school
Cat: Mavis
Horse: Bullet

I don't usually do outfit posts on Fridays, and this is why. I am currently off Fridays for curling so my outfits aren't really too worthy of documenting, but I liked this outfit more than usual.

While I was taking these pictures, I had a few assistants/taunters. My mom watched from the sidelines, one of many cats decided to pose with me, and then I looked over and saw that a certain horse was (im)patiently waiting for dinner. Never a moment's peace on a farm like this one.

Saturday School: the constellation cardigan

2011-11-05T12:51:00.002-04:00

I've received majorly positive feedback (thank you so much by the way--you're all incredibly sweet!) on my how-to-ish posts recently, like my scarf tutorial and the reveal of my constellation cardigan, based on this cardigan from Anthropologie. So I thought I'd try incorporating a monthly series called Saturday School (clever, right?) of me helping you do stuff! So the inaugural Saturday School tutorial is how to make the constellation cardigan yourself.

Don't you love my awkward laughter? I also had to film this twice because the first time I did it I played it back and I had cut off my own head. That's talent right there.

Does anyone have any suggestions for what they'd like to see Saturday School cover in the future? Hair, colour theory, pattern mixing? Please suggest, and enjoy!

Frosty

2011-11-03T15:42:00.000-04:00

Necklace: JCPenney, lengthened by me
Cardigan: JCPenney
Dress: Old Navy
Tights: Target?
Wedges: Shoes Carnival
Nails: butter London Wallis
Cat: Zoe

Today? You guys, there was frost on my car. My awesome dad was cool enough to warm up my car and scrape the frost off it, but really? Frost, in the beginning of November, in Cardiganland? I don't like it one bit. I Know I begged for tights weather, but this is a little too much. I wish sweater weather had been enough!

Wearing this dress to work may or may not have been a good idea; while everyone seemed to like the outfit, everyone also thought I was all dressed up for a hot date after work. No, but thanks for asking! I'll be busy in the corner all afternoon eating three pounds of chocolate and crying myself to sleep now.

Steak me home tonight

2011-11-02T21:45:00.003-04:00

Cardigan: Target, embroidered by me
Skirt: handmade
Tights: Target
Wedges: Shoe Carnival

So first let's talk about this cardigan, because I'm too proud of myself not to. A few weeks ago I saw this cardigan on Anthro's website, and I thought WHOAMAZING. (My brain always flows from word to word like that.) Then I saw the price tag--$118--and I thought NOFRIGGINWAY. Then I thoguht about it for a moment. Why not just make the thing myself? I had a navy blue cardigan I wasn't wearing a whole lot and a ton of embroidery thread in my sewing stash. So I hopped to and here we are! I used some interfacing as backing and it looks amazing. Two people have already asked me to make versions for them!

Beyond that--have you watched Happy Endings yet? Because I am dying for some Steaktanic right now. I'm also glad that this show exists because it reminds me of how much I have to look forward to in my early 30s. Like...uh, living with my best friend, owning a food truck and being terminally single.

Or maybe if I'm lucky I'll pretend to be Jewish and 27 so I can find a guy on JDate while my best friend's fiancee will dump me at the wedding and run off with a roller blading guy. No, really, you need to watch this show.

Scarves for all occasions

2011-11-01T23:16:00.001-04:00

It's officially scarf season here in Cardiganland, and really in most of the northern hemisphere. I have more scarves than you can shake a stick at, so I thought it would be cool in conjunction with Rachel's Wear*It Wednesday to do a scarf wearing tutorial! There are soooo many ways to wear scarves and this tutorial is by no means inclusive, so if you have suggestions or ideas of your own, feel free to add them.

Just a warning, I make some really stupid/angry faces in this post. I wasn't angry though; this is just my face. No makeup, sometimes not even glasses, hair that looks like the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and kind of blurry in spots. But hopefully you still get the point. I made up all the dumb names for these myself. Here we go!

The basic knot

1. Loop your scarf around your neck.
2. Tie a single knot below it.

The twisted knot

1. Fold your scarf in half.
2. Slip one end of the scarf through the loop.
3. Below that end, twist the loop 180 degrees and put the other end through the loop.

The necklace

1. Take a square scarf and fold it in half diagonally.
2. Tie the diagonal ends together.
3. Add a necklace for good measure.

The square cape

1. Take a square scarf and tie adjacent corners together.
2. See where my arm is? That's where my neck goes.
3. Wear it at the front or over one shoulder if you dig the windswept look.

The double

1. Tie two scarves together.
2. Wrap, wrap, wrap.
3. Tie the other ends together.

The checkmate (my favourite)

1. Take two scarves and fold them in half.
2. Drape both over the neck in the same orientation.
3. Take the end of one scarf and slip it through the loop of the other.
4. Take the end of the other scarf and slip it through the other loop.

The Kenny

1. Wear your circle scarf like an idiot.

The sidesaddle

1. Start with a circle scarf.
2. Add an additional scarf underneath.
3. Loop the scarf partway up over the circle scarf.
4. Pull the ends through the loop.

The big ass bow (this one's ridiculous)

1. Tie a single knot under your neck.
2. Fold a circle scarf in half and insert it below the knot.
3. Tie another single knot underneath the bow.

Of course, the final step for any of these is to check in the mirror and fluff/adjust as necessary. Especially with the double I like to preen the scarves to perfection. Because you know, you aren't really a hipster unless you have a perfectly sculpted scarf to complete your ensemble.

What do you think? Will you try any of these? Isn't that bow bananas? I'll probably never wear it in real life but I thought it looked comical.

November wish list

2011-11-01T10:23:00.013-04:00

Wish list is baaaaaaaaack! Is it really November already?

This dress from Shabby Apple is to die for. I might possibly ask for it for Christmas--I love the combo of the pastel with the amazing teal. And it is definitely the right cut for my body--because if there's one thing I need it's to bold and underline the fact that yes, I have crazy hips. I want to go to there.

I need a new winter coat. This is for real--I discussed winter coats earlier this year and much as I love that ivory coat, it is not as warm as it once was and it is very old (we're talking five years here people). I have struggled with finding coats that fit my arms, but I recently tried on this coat at JCPenney and I died. It fits! My arms! WITH A CARDIGAN ON! WHILE DRIVING! (I mean, I didn't take it out of the store or anything but I did sit down and pretend.) I especially love the yellow, but I'm trying to hold out for a supersale or at least some coupons (because you know JCP is all about the coupons).

We own this at the library, but I wouldn't mind a subscription to The Atlantic. I mentioned reading Kate Bolick's cover story last week in conjunction with reading The Marriage Plot and reflecting upon my existence as a single 20something woman living in a geographical region where marrying early is considered a social norm. I could go on and on about marriage but the point of this is that after reading All the Single Ladies, I went back and read the rest of the magazine and was really impressed. I want more!

It's football season, and I love it. I live for football. Every summer I wait on bended knee for the start of training camp, the fantasy football drafts (I usually have two or three teams), the opening kickoffs and the return of Sportscenter to normalcy instead of All That Stupid Baseball. But for all my love and devotion to football, all the hours spent poring over stats and watching and frustration when the Eagles inevitably don't win the Super Bowl again, I've never actually owned a football. I played powderpuff football in college & once I played center, and that's about as much interaction I've ever had with a football (because do I look like a ball handler to you? I'm such a lineman). Now that baby L. is around it's my job as head aunt to teach him football, and I'm going to need one to do that. It's time.

What do you think? Anything on your wish list for this month?

Next time on the Roadshow

2011-10-31T20:54:00.002-04:00

Ears: Target
Cardigan: Old Navy
Belt: Target
Skirt: JCPenney
Tights: Walmart
Boots: Target

It's Monday. You know what that means? Antiques Roadshow drinking game night! I've never actually tried an Antiques Roadshow drinking game but I remember an episode of Frasier where Frasier, Niles and Martin (their dad) get together and watch Antiques Roadshow and they take a drink every time the word "veneer" is uttered. In my experience you're more likely to get drunk waiting for the words "quartersawn oak" or "patina", but who's counting, really? Antiques Roadshow is great sober and I have a nagging feeling it's even better when drunk.

The best thing about Antiques Roadshow, though, is the reactions. The eyes popping out of the head, the tears, the uncontrollable laughter. Sometimes people can't speak. Once in a while they're unhappy. The feedback booth at the end of the show (people come in with their treasures and say what they loved about AR and how much fun they had) is the most hilarious because people are totally candid about the random junk they've hauled down to the Roadshow. This seems like the kind of shared experience in which I'd like to take part.

Too bad I only own reproductions*.

*EVERYBODY TAKE A SHOT

On scarves

2011-10-29T22:11:00.000-04:00

Scarves: both from Target
Dress: Old Navy
Tights: Target
Boots: Target

One of the best things about fall is football. Directly behind that is fall accessory season. Boots, scarves, tights. And here are all three! I altered my six shopping picks so I could buy this dress from Old Navy (for $14.71 no less). Goodbye red skirt that I probably won't find in stores anyway since it's fall now.

Back to the scarves. Is anyone interested in a possible scarf tutorial? I know pretty much everyone has one but I wear my scarves pretty crazily (see above and below pictures). I like to do more than one scarf because sometimes one just isn't enough and it can inject a lot of colour/texture/pattern into an otherwise simple outfit. Also, it is sometimes freezing at work and that definitely merits more than one scarf! What do you think? Want to see how I cleverly tie my scarves?

Better than radio on mute

2011-10-27T16:13:00.000-04:00

Cardigan: Boden
Belt: Target
Skirt: JCPenney
Flats: Target

Have you ever set your commercials on mute? My parents and I do it a lot; we'll read while the commercials run since we don't have that fancy Tivo thing. I get a lot of reading done with the commercials on mute.

But sometimes I don't feel like reading so I watch the commercials on mute instead. And some of them are absolutely hilarious. I do this with regular commercials too--I'll try to guess what the product is before it's revealed in the commercial. There have been a number of commercials I can't figure out; one was with a deck of cards and another was with an exploding glass ball. It's a better way to pass the time between episodes of a Burn Notice marathon than actually watching commercials, anyway.

In the garden

2011-10-26T20:44:00.002-04:00

Blazer: JCPenney
Top: Anthro
Skirt: JCPenney
Wedges: Payless
Fingers: butter London Bluey

Little Facts time!

Where I was recently spotted I recently did a work video for youtube (definitely not linking to that) that involved me pretending I was on safari. It was really weird and I had a hard time filming without laughing but we made it through! I was also on Distinct.Style.Innovation. Sweet!

So fascinating to me I recently read this article in The Atlantic about women and marriage today. I'm kind of curious about marriage (in a different way--as in I don't see marriage as an end all/be all but the institution fascinates me) and this article is amazing for that.

Random mail item of the week I received a Tiffany & Co. catalogue yesterday. It was in an envelope and I was really disappointed when something sparkly and shiny didn't fall out. Even if I don't view marriage as the most important thing ever I'm kind of sad about not getting some bling.

For when you're cold but you hate sleeves

2011-10-26T00:06:00.000-04:00

Top: JCPenney
Sweater vest: Boden
Skirt: JCPenney
Wedges: Target
Fingers: butter London Bluey

Today was my coworker H.'s birthday. Usually this isn't a big deal--this blog is not turning into a celebration of my coworkers' anniversaries of existence--but H. is a special case. He's a genial older dude with a sharp sense of style: khakis, polo shirt, and sweater vest. Every single day. And I'm not talking the boring gray vest of yore; recently he came into work with a lilac polo and a robin's egg blue sweater vest. H. claims that his wife picks the combos for him, but I have my doubts.

To celebrate H.'s birthday, his boss had the excellent idea to have everyone in the department wear a sweater vest. I'm technically in a different department but we're all on the same floor, so I pulled out the ol' swest in honour of my awesome coworker and because come on, why not wear it? H.'s boss even bought a bunch of them at the thrift store so everyone would have one to wear; at one point coworker L. was wearing a brown swest with what I'm fairly sure were reindeer on it. Happy birthday, H., I hope it was as stylish as we all were!

Total control

2011-10-24T21:24:00.001-04:00

Scarf: Target
Cardigan: parts unknown
Top: Target
Cords: LL Bean, skinnied by me
Wedges: Shoe Carnival

I tweeted earlier today about how much I really liked my hairstyle today. I mean, I didn't do much, just clipped back the bangs (my stylist calls them that even though they're down to my chin but I'm not denying her that) and put it in a bun, but I love the way the bangs are falling across my forehead a little bit. I look like I have it all under control. If only everyone knew ~~I recently received a speeding ticket, I'm freaking out about grad school, and still have fines on my library card~~ that I really do have it all under control.

Speaking of control, can we talk about these PANTS? Audrey wore her red pants today and I mentally got the memo because I felt the need to wear some hot pink. I skinnied these cords myself because the bootleg on them was kind of womp womp, and I love how they look now. I used this tutorial, which was crazy easy; I just used upholstery thread instead of all-purpose thread because corduroy is so thick. And voila, I finally got on board with the coloured pants/skinnies trend, even though ~~I still can't find that credit card bill~~ I'm perfect otherwise.

An ode to my favourite jeans

2011-10-21T18:09:00.000-04:00

Top: from work
Jeans: American Eagle
Flats: Toms

Do you know how some days, all you want to wear is a pair of jeans? And generally, on those days, all your jeans happen to be in the wash. But you don't want to give up hope, don't want to have to pull out those khakis you've worn once in the last year or the skirt that it's really not warm enough for. You want jeans, dammit, so you refuse to accept the fact that there are no options left. You dig deep into your pants drawer, upending countless pairs of shorts and yoga pants, and suddenly you see it. A peek of denim. What is that? you think, and you frantically plunge into the sea of fabric and you miraculously unveil a pair of jeans that you didn't know you even owned. You skeptically unfold them and start to pull them on, thinking there's a reason they're at the bottom of the drawer; they're your thin jeans, they have holes, they're stained beyond repair and you just can't let them go. But as they slide over your hips and you zip the fly, you realize none of these things are true. And they fit perfectly over your curves, they're the right length for your 32.5 inch inseam, the rise covers enough for you to sit but not too much for you to stand. You breathe a joyful sound of relief. You've unearthed your favourite pair of jeans, and you're never letting them fall to the bottom of the pile again.

Battle of the brawn

2011-10-19T18:54:00.001-04:00

Hat: mom's
Cardigan: Target
Dress: Anthropologie
Belt: Target
Boots: Target
Fingers: butter London All Hail the Queen

Let me get real with you guys for a minute. I totally stole this outfit from Anjali. Like, pulled it up on my iPhone this morning and all. The only differences are a lack of accessories and boots instead of heels. I seem to be incapable of wearing this dress without a cardigan and a belt, so maybe I need to work on that. But maybe not, because I like how it looks.

On Monday I received a phone call from a number I didn't know. I answered the phone, and I was finally able to check something off my bucket list--I was called to be part of a political survey! FINALLY. And today I read an article that claimed the GOP debate last night was a Boston-Austin brawl. I thought that, thus far, has been the funniest part of this entire presidential race. Oh, and what Michele Bachmann wore last night. Love Boat, here we come.

Are you the sweeper or the thrower?

2011-10-18T23:42:00.000-04:00

Here's my recap from my trip to Washington!

Nothing like the Metro. This is the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro. I've never seen an entry tunnel decorated like the Chinatown one!

Every time I got to Washington, I try to peep some different museums. I end up at the National Gallery of Art a lot--I always want to see the exhibits--but this time around I swore to do something different, so I went to the National Portrait Gallery, which is absolutely amazing. I can't believe I've never been there! This is a portrait of George S. Patton, the Cardigan family's patron general.

There's a permanent collection of portraits of every single president, including some sculptures, like this one of George H. W. Bush playing horseshoes. I thought it was really cool looking.

Here's the Mall. When I left the hotel on Friday it was drizzly, but by the time I came out of the National Portrait Gallery it was beautiful and sunny and warm with a nice breeze. A perfect fall day. I also went to the Library of Congress, but I didn't take any pictures. Too busy fussing at the classification system.

Here's the ice at the club that hosted our bonspiel. Awesome, isn't it? I had my first taste of curling at this club waaaaaaay back in 2006, just after the winter Olympics; my friends and I drove up for an open house at the club and the line was out the door and around the building! I didn't get to play but that trip planted the seed. And then I got to come back and play three games, which was amazing! We lost them all by sizable margins--unsurprising since we were playing people with 40 years of experience each while our team's total experience was about 4 years--but we scored in all our games, and I had a fantastic time playing. Even if I was exhausted.

This guy's name is Jimmy Fallon. No, really. His team's name was Late Entry with Jimmy Fallon, and they had matching shirts that looked like the Late Night logo. It was hilarious! This is the second Jimmy Fallon I've met. And I am enamoured with his pants. I even found them online, and the same people who made Jimmy Fallon's pants made the Norwegian men's curling team pants that went viral in 2010! I need these pants. Or some similar variety of insane curling pants. Technically they're golf pants, but who cares?

PRETZELS. I met some college friends for dinner and we drank beer (well, two of us did) and ate pretzels (well, three of us did) and partied hard (no, none of us did). So much laughing.

Meet Barney. He's the pony I rode all the time in college, and every time I'm in Virginia I have to stop and see him. I plan to adopt him after he ages out of the college program. It might never happen since Barney's a great therapeutic riding horse, but if he ever needs a home, it'll be with me :)

I stayed with my college pal E. Sunday night. We watched football and braided each other's hair and ate cookies. Well, two of those things are true. She made these amazeballs pumpkin spice cookies and LIGHTBULB, why not make a batch and give some to the people who wrote me letters of recommendation for grad school? (I submitted my app on Wednesday.) So I made some today and they were a huge hit. I may have had to swat my dad away more than once to protect the stash.

All in all, a really good trip. Not long enough, of course, and not enough pictures to demonstrate how many times I was at Wawa (at least 7), but still a great time! Back tomorrow with outfit photos.

I just came to say

2011-10-17T22:07:00.000-04:00

Scarf: Gap
Top: Anthro
Jeans: Walmart
Boots: Target

I'm back! I was not planning on doing an outfit post today, but I was traveling through the eastern outskirts of Cardiganland and couldn't resist the temptation of sunset + orchard. Come on.

This was my driving-for-eight-hours-can't-stop-won't-stop outfit. The most essential parts of this kind of outfit are comfortable pants (duh) and a ridiculous topknot, because wearing my hair down for long periods in the car makes me hot and pulling it back makes it impossible to use the headrest. So into the bun it went, and then every time I came out of the car I hit it on the edge of the roof. I'm not used to an additional two inches of height! Coincidentally this is how I wear my hair when I curl, and my teammates started say that when I put up my hair I was putting on my game face. It wasn't too intimidating since we were handily beaten in all our games, but who cares! It was awesome. I'll have a recap/photo post tomorrow!

Spelunking rules

2011-10-13T00:25:00.003-04:00

Necklace: Anthropologie, lengthened by me
Top: Target
Skirt: handmade
Wedges: Shoe Carnival

You guys, I'm leaving for Washington in like 9 hours and here I am updating my blog! Ridiculous is what I am. I haven't even packed yet! I'm going for a bonspiel and while I'm there I'll be seeing some swell places (Library of Congress!) and hanging out with some college pals. I probably won't update while I'm gone, but I'll try to take outfit pictures and as with all my trips I'll have an Instagram/regular picture recap.

Regarding this outfit, all I have to say is that I counted to be sure and I was stopped by three totally random people today so they could fawn over my necklace. Sweet! Also, while taking these pictures someone pulled into the parking lot of this place, parked in the very corner and watched me. Creepy, but whatever, I'm doing nothing wrong! There were no "no trespassing" signs. Take nothing but pictures & leave nothing but footprints. Done and done. Seacrest out.

All I heard were shells

2011-10-11T23:20:00.001-04:00

Necklace: wapa on Etsy
Cardigan: Target
Top: Banana Republic
Skirt: Walmart
Tights: Target
Wedges: Payless

No, those aren't bullet wounds on my arm. (Phew.) It's raining here in Cardiganland and I can't say I'm too sad about it--although I had to cancel a riding lesson with my trainer, I got some sewing done (my Halloween costume is going to be off the chain, y'all) and I got to sleep in! Can I get a what what?

How many times have I sounded like Vanilla Ice in this post? Only twice so far. That's kind of disappointing. How much do I look like Vanilla Ice? Only a little, which is also disappointing. I don't remember What his hair looked like but it was kind of tall, wasn't it? I'll work on that, but no, that's not my Halloween costume...so maybe I shouldn't work on that.

Marked

2011-10-10T23:21:00.000-04:00

Necklace: antiques shop
Top: Anthropologie
Skirt: JCPenney
Tights: We Love Colors
Wedges: Target
Fingers: butter London Diamond Geezer

Short one, y'all. Check out that gash looking thing on my wrist. Great, right? It's actually a burn, not a cut. I fought the iron and the iron won. I tend to be a little accident prone--not injury prone, thankfully, but I own the fact that I'm a klutz--and a couple years ago my mom even bought me special oven mitts that go all the way up to my elbows in an attempt to eschew inner arm burns when I took the Thanksgiving turkey out of the oven. That worked, but now I need some iron mitts. Can someone get on that for me so I can stop searing myself?

Alive with the glory of love

2011-10-06T22:30:00.000-04:00

Necklace: gift
Top: Target
Belts: Target
Skirt: JCPenney
Wedges: Target
Toes: butter London Wallis

I consider myself majorly lucky to have an all-time favourite band that 1) is still together, 2) is still making music, and 3) seems to release an album every other year. And if they aren't recording, they're on tour and I've been even more majorly lucky to see them three times.

So today when I received an email about a new interview with the frontman for the band about their new album, I squeed and read and read and read. And already I have two things to look forward to in 2012--this album and the Olympics. And I guess grad school, if I get in, but that's not as fun as the Olympics and music.

Worktoberfest

2011-10-05T21:23:00.001-04:00

Top: Old Navy
Belt: Target
Skirt: American Apparel
Wedges: Shoes Carnival
Book: This Beautiful Life by Helen Schulman
Drink: Pepsi

What does this outfit look like to you? Is it this?

If so, then YOU'RE RIGHT! Octoberfest has just ended and I live in an area with a large number of German immigrants, and best of all, the local oompah band came to the library to jam. I'm about as German as any other third generation American (so not really all that German) and I can honestly say all I needed to make my life complete today was some beer and a soft pretzel. I settled for a good book and some Pepsi instead. Compromise: it's what makes Germans great.

Or all that anger.

Tell your tights to shut up

2011-10-04T23:59:00.000-04:00

Necklace: JCPenney
Top: Target
Skirt: JCPenney
Tights: Target
Booties: Enzo Angiolini

There's this awesome lady named Rachel and she runs this awesome blog called Distinct.Style.Innovation (I'm constantly flabbergasted by the amazing things she thrifts), which has this awesome feature called Wear*It Wednesday. It's basically a weekly Everybody Everywear and it's really neat because every week there's something totally different and most of the time I don't even have the stuff but this week is the plain white tee and I totally have that! (Yeah, that was a really long sentence.)

So here you go, my awesome/plain outfit with a white tee shirt. Epic, right? I thought about wearing a boatload of accessories and really jazzing it up but then I thought nah, let the tights speak for themselves. Because they do have a lot to say, don't they? Chatty little things, those tights. I was walking into work today and I thought I heard a man whistle at me, but then I realised it was just my tights. It's a good thing I didn't have to kick them out of work for causing a disturbance!

Pop quiz

2011-10-01T14:29:00.000-04:00

Necklace: heirloom
Cardigan: Target
Top: Boden
Jeans: Walmart
Boots: Target

Q: What do you do when your team loses a game, you sleep poorly, you get stuck in traffic, you don't have the chutzpah to ask someone out, and your tractor gets stuck in a ditch?

A: You put some orange lipstick on and you move on with life.

and then you fawn over your own hair for an hour

On the count of three

2011-09-28T15:51:00.000-04:00

Top: JCPenney
Belt: Target
Skirt: JCPenney
Wedges: Target

Three little facts, as cleverly developed by Rebecca...because it's easier than coming up with a real post topic. Especially since I have to go back to work in an hour!

Favourite new fall tv shows Person of Interest, Revenge, New Girl

Currently sore right leg teardrop

September's financial gain opening a 401(k)

Et tu, Phaedra?

2011-09-25T22:40:00.000-04:00

Top: JCPenney
Cords: LL Bean
Boots: Target

As a Latin major in college (read: BIG NERD), I keep up to date with a lot of the mythology spoofs and adaptations that come out, both in book and movie form. So I guess I was kind of surprised to see the trailer for Immortals during football tonight. I've never heard of it, and now I'm disappointed in myself for not keeping better tabs on all this whatnot.

And then I remember Troy and Clash of the Titans and how badly both those movies sucked. Come on, Troy, the Trojan War was seven years long, not seven days. I'm writing a letter. And I decide that it's okay for me to probably not see Immortals after all. I'd rather see The Ides of March (totally not about Julius Caesar, as it turns out) instead.

Go forth and Kindle

2011-09-22T15:20:00.000-04:00

Shirt: Old Navy
Skirt: handmade
Tights: Target
Boots: Target

Today's work heavily outweighed yesterday's work--one of my favourite patrons came in for a downloadables troubleshooting session, which I was able to fix, & she was extremely thankful for it. And today Kindle went live in over 11,000 public libraries, including mine! I spent most of the morning acquainting myself with the setup, which is crazy easy, especially compared to our existing setup. I dig it.

And most important, TIGHTS WEATHER. Okay, not really--it was 75 when I took these pictures--but I am not waiting for the weather to match my outfits anymore. Who cares if I'm sweating and my hair has picked 500 ways to frizz? Because I look awesome and this location is awesome. AWESOME. I'll be back, abandoned mill surrounded by kudzu in the middle of the nature preserve. I'll be back.