Category Archives: February

day 58. nine/thirty.

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I’m proud to bring to you my first actual blog featuring the blogger bun. I feel like I’m becoming a real style blogger. Okay, not really, because that apparently requires an adorable husband, a really nice camera, and a well-designed site. I can’t even pretend to have any of those. Not even a camera, because I usually use my iPhone. An old iPhone, at that.

Maybe someday. Maybe I’ll ask for a camera for graduation. Maybe I’ll save some money and buy one. Who knows? I’m that unpredictable.

(False. I’m very predictable.)

White tee: Francesca’s; Vest: Ginger Gals, TJ – Similar; Jeans: Target; Belt: Old Navy; Shoes: Target – Similar; Scarf: Gifted

To be perfectly honest, this isn’t my best bun to date. I actually am a frequent wearer of the blogger bun – I just never really blogged it. Maybe on Tumblr. Not sure. I didn’t have a whole lot of time this morning to perfect it, though. I pretty much just teased it up and ran out the door to class. It’s usually a lot bigger. This might be for the best, though. I am trying to look more like an adult these days. Pfft. I take that back.

Bun size has nothing to do with being an adult.

Well.

…

My hair looks especially auburn in this picture. I like it.


Check out that fake yoga pose. I love yoga. Well, I say that – I’ve only ever been to one class, and the most regular yoga I get is from the Wii or from various yoga workouts online. But I’ve really liked every bit of yoga I’ve ever done. I keep reading about it on this pretty lady’s blog (along with all of her other awesome workout commitments), and it sounds better every day.

Maybe I’ll try to make a commitment to it at some point. For now, though, I think I’m going to stick with the Wii. Nothing beats that balance board, right?


PS The Oscars! I was very excited, and I was not disappointed by any wins or losses. It did seem like The Social Network got short shrift this year, but at the same time, it won everything everywhere everyday at all of the other award shows, so I didn’t feel too bad for them. It was nice to see them sitting in the second row, though. Whoops on the Oscar seating people, I guess. Eh.
If you haven’t seen The King’s Speech yet, get to where it is and watch it. It’s one of the best movies I’ve seen in a while.

day 57. eight/thirty. honeysuckle spring.

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It is with great pleasure that I bring to you this sweater. I love it. It’s probably the most comfortable top I own, and since it’s long enough to wear with jeggings (aka not real pants), I wear it all the time. I hate wearing jeans, I’m going to be totally honest with you here. They’re just so restricting.

Skirts and dresses for days, ladies. Always.

Top: Francesca’s; Skirt: Old Navy; Belt: Francesca’s; Tights: Target; Shoes: Target; Black necklace: Francesca’s; Ampersand necklace: Etsy; Earrings: Francesca’s

I’m really Franny’d out today, aren’t I? Hm. Oh well. It could be worse, couldn’t it? Always.

It’s been a really boring couple of days. I really wish I had more to report. Go to class, go to work, do homework, get stuff done. That’s it.

I did tell people that the first day of spring had already arrived. No, actually, it’s March 20th. So if I’ve told you it’s officially spring already, it’s not. Just a few more weeks and I can start wearing my cork wedges again. I’ve never been so ready for spring weather in my life. I got out my spring/summer/early fall/Indian summer clothes today, and I’m dying to wear them. A few more weeks of the clothes I have in my 30, and then it’ll be time. I don’t really know what I was thinking, tempting myself like that.

But it was just so exciting to see everything!

I’m really bad with little temptations like opening my oldnew clothes. Really bad. No regrets.

I’ve really gotten into the honeysuckle trend this year. It’s the official Pantone color for 2011, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. I mean, I like teal (2010), but honeysuckle is just much more Bailey. Pinks and reds are some of my favorite colors to wear.

I’m going to be totally, completely real with you: Part of the reason I dyed my hair more brown from the bright red is because I couldn’t wear honeysuckle with red hair. It’s one of my favorite colors to wear, and it was just impossible. So…problem solved!

I look super skinny with this belt on. It’s weird. I like it. It’s probably a combination of the belt and the dolman sleeves. I’m not sucking in here, I promise.

And this, friends, is Cleopatra, who sat on the bench and yowled at me the entire time I was taking these pictures. All five minutes of it. It’s not like she needed anything except attention. Of course. You’ve never met more needy cats than the two of mine, I promise it.

day 56. seven/thirty. we have to go back.

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I would just like to first say that, for the record, this was waiting for me when I got home. It’s an old Lefton China figurine that belonged to my great grandmother, I think, and my mom found it in our storage building while I was at work.

Quoth the message with it, “I AM THE SWAN QUEEN.”

And yes, that is my LOST box set in the background. Booyah!

Dress: Francesca’s – Similar; Skirt: Francesca’s – Similar: Tights: Target; Shoes: Target; Necklace: Francesca’s

I’m going to be completely honest with you here. It’s been hard to make this post, mostly because I didn’t want to let that picture of the rainboots leave the top of my blog. I really like that picture. That’s narcissistic, isn’t it? Well. Maybe it is.

This is one of my favorite dresses, though. I wish I’d thought to take a picture of the back (or have someone take it for me, more likely). It’s a very open back, meeting at the top with a little button. Very cute, and kind of hard to describe. Maybe next time.

And I did just throw that skirt on over the dress, making it a blousy little top. Very fun, and very comfortable.

And in case anyone was wondering, this little peach is Phoebe, one of my puppies. She’s not a puppy, but she’s a cousin or something to the dog I posted about a few weeks ago. Tiny! Cute!

This is the epitome of Phoebe, her essence. That is, laziness. She’s lying on top of her three (THREE) dog beds, which she has to jump onto because she’s so short, wearing a sweater, and looking at me like, “Are you for serious right now?”

She’s such a diva.

day 55. six/thirty. rain, rain, go away.

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I can’t believe we’re almost a week into the 30×30 already. Isn’t that unbelievable? I feel like it’s just flown by. I may have to make it the 31×30, because I still haven’t made up my pictures from day 2, and now I’m just kind of feeling like I should just try that one again another day. One photo shoot a day is about as much as I can do, friends.

My mom said I look like I’m in the mall in this picture, not in the entryway to a house. I’m not really sure how to respond to that, since it’s her house. The mirrors and glass are cool, though. I’ll have to get some good shots of the foyer area later.

Coat: Gap – Similar; Top: Gap – Similar; Jeans: Target – Similar; Scarf: Old Navy; Socks: Francesca’s; Boots: Target; Bracelet: Christchurch, NZ, street market

Today’s the first super rainy day of the new year, which is kind of exciting.

I mean, I really hate being out in the rain. If you didn’t know that, you probably don’t know me that well. When it’s raining, I would much, much, much rather stay inside, hang out, watch movies, drink coffee, do some writing, etc. Also, probably take a nap should be in there, too.

Anything except be out in the rain. Fortunately, it stopped raining in the late morning and it’s been about sixty the rest of the day. It’s looking a little grim for tonight, but I don’t have plans to go anywhere, so I’m really not that worried about it.

Things are still really bad in Christchurch. If you can, please go donate to the Red Cross effort in NZ. I know it’s hard to put together an effort for all of the things going on in the world right now, but even $5-10 helps. They find people days, up to about a week, after they’ve been buried alive in rubble. There are still hundreds missing, and they could still be out there.

I feel a little weird having such smiley pictures while I talk about such a sad thing. But just know that this does mean a lot to me, and if I could be there right now helping, I would.

My mom did take my pictures today – that’s why there are several “artsy” sideways shots. They didn’t turn out half bad, though.
This is also the inaugural day for those boots. They were fantastic and I felt preppy walking around in houndstooth rain boots. I liked it.
And by the way, I’m completely obsessed with those pink socks. They were one of those risky purchases I wasn’t quite sure about, but I wear them all of the time and they’re fantastic. We’re almost out of long-sock weather, so I’m trying to get as much mileage out of them as I can right now.

day 54. five/thirty. GRE prepster.

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Top: Old Navy; Jeggings: Francesca’s; Boots: Target; Belt: Had it forever; Scarf: Thanks mom!; Bracelet: Christchurch, NZ, street market

I took the GRE this afternoon. I forgot that I signed up for the 1:00 time, and it was only last night when I looked at the email that had the testing center address in it that I realized I was taking it in the afternoon rather than in the morning. Good thing I didn’t have to be there at 8, right?

I found this shirt recently at Old Navy, and fell in love. I don’t know what it is with me and nautical stripes lately, but I can’t seem to get enough of them. Good thing they’re in season this year, right?

This is also my first foray into actual photos of me wearing my jeggings. I used to be a hater (it’s a dictionary word now, check it), but then I realized that they’re like jeans, but also like being comfortable all the time without even trying. And the best part is that most people don’t realize they aren’t jeans, if you get the right kind.

Even the guy at the testing center today asked me to turn out my pants pockets, to make sure I wasn’t hiding notes, I guess, and I had to tell him they were leggings, not jeans, and I didn’t have any pockets. That conversation was kind of awkward. But I was comfortable for the four hours of the test, that’s for sure. And that’s what counts in my book.

There hasn’t been as much text in my blogs since I started the 30×30. Does that bother you at all? I’ve realized over the past couple of days that one of the things that really does make me happiest is feeling put together every day, and having evidence of that makes me feel good about myself. I don’t know, maybe you think I look ridiculous. Who knows?

After all, a picture’s worth a thousand words, right? So this post technically has at least 6,000 words. I wish you could see how hard I’m rolling my eyes at myself right now. Cliches are the devil’s work.

I just don’t want you to think that I’m slacking, or that I’m losing interest. Because that’s not the case at all. Fashion blogging is something I’ve wanted to try my hand at for a while now – not because I think I’m super fashionable, but because I think I dress comparably to other street style bloggers on a regular basis, and I thought it would be fun to jump into that world for a little while.

And believe me, it has been fun.

I’m also trying out new poses in my pictures. Some of them are a little silly. Today, they’re mostly tame, because these pictures were the last thing I did today and I’m exhausted and I really just wanted to fugghedaboutit and go to bed, but I knew I had a responsibility to you, dear readers.

PS Do you like the redone blog header? Rachel Whitaker noticed how sad and pixelated it was, and she used her computer magic to make it a million times better. I can’t thank her enough – it really needed some help. As does the rest of the blog, but that’s going to have to wait until at least the weekend, if not until next week. I don’t know. At least I have a good header!

This is going to have to be a short post, because I have to wake up early to take my car in to get an estimate for the wreck damage. And it’s downtown, which means fighting rush hour traffic to get there. Yuck.

You should comment. Because I get a decent number of hits, but no comments. I don’t care if I know you in real life or not. Comments are what keep blogs going, or didn’t we learn anything from Gawkerpocalypse?

day 53. four/thirty.

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We’ll start this one off with a funny picture. I was setting up PhotoBooth in the living room, getting ready to go outside, and my dog Phoebe jumped up on the couch behind me. I thought it might be cute to take a picture with her. So this is me, my right hand holding the laptop and my left hand waving around above the iSight, trying to get her to look at the camera.

Clearly, she knew what was up.

This is one of my favorite outfits so far, imagined or put together. I bought this shirt a few days ago at LOFT, and I’ve been dying to start mixing it up.

And hooray for outside pictures! It was a pretty nice day outside, so I thought I would try and get some natural light for my photos. I know the quality still isn’t there, but…it’s getting there, right? I really just need to suck it up and buy a new camera next time I get paid. Since I’m not shopping on my 30×30 (you know, since that’s one of the rules), I’m hoping that’ll save me some money. A camera might be a worthwhile purchase, though.

Top: LOFT; Dress: Charlotte Russe; Belt: Francesca’s; Necklace: Francesca’s: Sunglasses: Target; Bracelet: Christchurch, NZ street market; Boots: Target

There is one thing that’s been on my mind for the past day or so. There was a 6.3 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, yesterday. I don’t know if all of you know this, but that might be literally – literally – my favorite place in the entire world. We stopped there for a few days on our study abroad a few years ago (2007? really? that long ago?), and I fell in love with it.

The damage has been extensive and there have been deaths. They’re rebuilding, but as everyone knows, getting out of a natural disaster is one of the most difficult things a country could have to do.

“Christchurch, today is the day your comeback begins,” Prime Minister John Key said. “While nature has taken much from you, it cannot take your survivor spirit.”

So say a prayer for NZ. There are a lot of crazy, history-making moments in the world right now, and everyone needs thoughts and prayers, but this moment really spoke to my heart right now. That’s why I’m wearing my bracelet today, in remembrance of everything going on there right now.

And finally, this last picture is where I scraped my knee along the top of a cast-iron gate my parents have leaning up against that brick wall. Ouch!

day 52. three/thirty

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It’s been a long day. It’s also been a very cold day, for having been 80 the past few days. It was about 40 all day. Brr! Warm weather, come back!

PS Day two/thirty is coming later tonight. I have to retake some pictures, because yesterday’s were just embarrassing. Wait for it. Also, wait for my picks post. Someday.

I did take my pictures in the OC library, though, in the carrels. I felt a little weird doing so, but I don’t think anyone saw me, so I feel like I escaped judgement on that one.

Cardi: J. Crew; Dress: Charlotte Russe; Belt: Francesca’s; Shoes: Target; Earrings: Francesca’s

I’m definitely still learning how to take my pictures. My options are either my laptop, self-taken iPhoto pictures, or getting a professional fashion photographer (aka my mom) to take them for me. I’m trying to minimize the laptop pictures because the quality is just so bad – so grainy. We’ll see, though. I like this first picture, except for the fact that I forgot the cardinal rule of pushing in my chair, so…there’s my coat!

I also found these super pretty books on the third floor. For as much time as I spend studying on the third floor, I rarely look at those books. I mean, these are all advanced chemistry tomes, I think, so…no thanks! They sure do make for pretty, vintage-y pictures, though.

I mean, they probably would if I weren’t holding it like I’m about to sing a hymn from it, right? Maybe next time.

Fun fact: For most of these pictures, I used the take-four option on Photo Booth, and on all but one of these, I couldn’t find the pose I liked until the last frame. Cute, I know. That’s what crop is for, right?

Closeup so you can see the actual colors. Also so I can look like my neck is broken. But hey, straight hair!

If you know me at all, you know that my favorite part of a DVD is the outtakes, the blooper reel. And no photo blog of mine would be complete without some of my own. At some point tonight, I thought this was a cute pose. What is my leg even doing? What is this?

I guess I thought it would be really cute to do a “heavy books are heavy!” take, but…that’s not exactly how it turned out. I did get a good laugh out of these pictures, though, so hopefully you will, too. If not, then I guess I’m just humiliating myself on the Internet. Whatever. That’s nothing new.

Fun Fact No. 2: I never realized how much I absentmindedly pick at my cuticles until I watched Black Swan. NEVER AGAIN! Bad habits: resolved by terror. (I know, that was a pretty gross fact. Sorry I’m not sorry.)

I hope you have a blessed night!

day 50. 30 for 30 remix time – one/thirty.

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Buckle up, people. This is a long post. It’s been an extensive day.

My morning was pretty boring – just taking care of general business. Ugh. The afternoon was really good – some family friends came into town for the day and we spent the mid-late afternoon with them, and then we went to go see Black Swan.

If you haven’t seen it, it’s not for the faint of heart. But I loved it. Extremely intense, but fantastic. Definitely has my vote for Best Picture next weekend.

But here we are.

It’s time to remix, friends. I’ve put it off long enough, and although I didn’t actually intend it this way until I wrote this blog post, day 50 is a nice, round number to start with. Easy to remember where I started, perhaps? We’ll see.

I forgot to line up my picks and take pictures of them. I’ll do that for tomorrow’s post. Or something. I’ll let you know.

I have to admit, I got a little nervous after I made my picks. I’ve read Kendi’s guide (worth it, by the way), gone over and over the things I picked, and yet…I was nervous. I picked a lot more skirts and dresses than most people seem to do. But – and I know this is something I’ve picked up from work – a dress can be a dress, a top, and/or a skirt. I guess I’m already on board with that tip.

And where am I going to be wearing most of these fabulous outfits? Well, to work. Duh. So it makes sense that I would be prepping myself for that. Right? Right??

And to quote the man himself (Tim Gunn, of course), “Make it work.”

Here’s today’s outfit. I’ve had my eye on this dress since we got it in, and with my work bonus I finally was able to grab it. I can’t quite seem to get out of Spring Creek, even when I’m not working, can I? I need to work on that smile, though. Man. Sorry.

Cardi: LOFT; Dress: Francesca’s; Belt: Gap; Shoes: Target; Necklace: Francesca’s; Purse: Francesca’s

I was debating whether to include this one because it’s so dark, and then I saw my brother in the background. Hilarious. Love it.

Isn’t this entryway cool?

And because I thought my hair looked really good today. No, not really. I was trying to get a better shot of my lion necklace, but I really just got an excellent picture of my hair, instead. I’m fine with it.

It was definitely an interesting day. It was also the first time I mentioned the 30×30 in real life to someone, and they knew what it was (exciting!).

Anyway. Oh, I also went to Cool Greens for lunch and had a Bahamian Jerk salad. YUM.

Then we went down the way to Gigi’s Cupcakes and I had the Scarlett’s Red Velvet cupcake. Another giant YUM.

And now, because I just got home from the theater, Black Swan wore me out mentally, and because I’m becoming an Old, I have to go to bed. See you tomorrow!