GETTING SERIOUS (FOR ONCE)

Confession time, lovers. (Yes, again. So predictable.)
I could care less about labels.
It's not a very shocking admission, after all the exposition I've shared on my immature love of Forever 21, and considering how many people in the world don't give a crap either way who designed what you're wearing. But I feel like, being a blogger who could be considered "fashion oriented", it is somewhat outside the norm. But I don't really focus much on fashion as I did in the beginning. And I've never really known much about the industry.
Personally, I go more for comfort or what attracts me. Since I have a tendency towards the quirky and magpie, with the wallet of a match girl, my exposure to designers is from gossip rags or the rare Ebay find. Yesterday was a girl's day with mom, shopping in Orlando. When we went into the Gucci store, I felt like an intruder in my DF shirt and UO jeans. Yes, I could appreciate the beauty of the bags, scarves, and shoes, but I didn't have a feeling to save up the money to possess the beautiful pieces. They do not fit into my lifestyle.
And that's ok.


(Also, Marilyn in the Orlando/Kissimme area, your vehicle is ready at Oberry's. And the dude you gave your phone number to out on the town is desperate to get a hold of you. Just a heads up, though; he calls at all hours of the night, and may have a drinking problem. Good luck!)

WE DON'T NEED NO WATER

Thursday night, I went out with some classmates to burn
our aggravatingly useless study guide for Fundies. It took
hours to complete, was required for a grade, and when it
came down to effectiveness in preparing us for tests, it failed.
We made sure that we passed the class before commencing with
the burning. I mean, it only makes sense.

And how frigging awesome are my classmates? I love you guys,
and look forward to going forward with you for the next year!

OPEN LETTERS

Dear H,

I love you. So very, very much. You are my number one dude. <3






Dear lychee frozen yogurt,

You're delicious, and a great decompressing ritual.

Let's do lunch again.







Dear paperwork,

Seriously think I'm getting carpal tunnel. Any suggestions?

... Any that don't involve, "Suck it up, Sugar Tits"?






Dear 2 AM,

Nothing personal, but I don't like showering with you. If we were sleeping together, that'd be different. But we're not.






Dear bed,

I promise to spend quality time with you soon. This won't last forever.






Dear tea kettle & instant coffee,

You are life savers.






Dear daily organizer,

Holy shit, I'd be lost without you.







Dear nursing school,

You are difficult, challenging, heartbreaking, and frustrating. But you've also introduced me to some wonderful people, and given me the confidence in taking charge of my future that had been missing. You are the best choice I've made in years.

NABLOPOMO: What movies have you turned off in the middle, and why?

I love shitty movies.
Especially in an MST3K format.
And they are even better drunk.

There are only two movies I ever walked out on (or turned off). The
first was A Clockwork Orange, and that was totally for a booty call.

Sex > Kubrick. (Sorry Kubrick fans!)

The other was Paul Blart: Mall Cop. I was up at the Avenues,
drunk from my martini dinner, looking for a way to kill a couple hours.
Now, I love Kevin James. One of my boyfriends in high school kind of
looked like Kevin James. Despite my dislike of Will Smith, I went to see
Hitch solely for Kevin James.

Anyways, I needed to sober up, so I bought a ticket and popcorn, and
settled in. The movie was so terrible, I didn't last until halfway.
Shit, I didn't even make it until the first twenty minutes.

I still have no idea what the hell happens.

NABLOPOMO: How do you feel about not finishing a book once you've read a few chapters?

{Snap of a stall at a local bar.}


I usually have three books going at a time (thanks ADD!) so I lose my mind if I don't finish a book. However, I don't believe in forcing myself to finish a book if I hate it and am halfway through. If my attention and soul haven't been captured by then, nothing is going to. I've started so many Grisham novels, thinking, "Well maybe this time..." and keep getting let down.

Then again, after Lincoln and Child, I've been spoiled on churn-them-out authors. Danielle Steele, anyone?

NABLOPOMO: What is something you recently started that you know you won't finish?

More than likely it'll be

WORD TO YOUR MOTHER

I finally downloaded my camera from Christmas. Found a few snaps of my Christmas outfit, so here we go: another OOTD. I love this. It was basic, relaxed, and super easy. I just wish I had the head-to-toe, but the camera is usually used to capture H being adorable. Oh well!



Top: Banana Republic - Santa has great taste!
Jeans: Forever 21 skinny jean
Heels: Guess - half-size too big, but I love them anyways.
Jewelry: all gifts from family & BFF.


Happy Saturday, lovers!

OH, CLAUDIA...

I've been missing for a while because I haven't quite felt like blogging. The inspiration and desire was waning. These things happen, and sometimes, instead of forcing it, you just need to unplug and reboot. And so, I'm back and ready to kick out the jams.


(And bad jokes. Aw yuss.)


Since Thanksgiving is the last kind-of lookbook time I have, I'm going to share some snaps from my Thanksgiving with SIL's family. We spend the week in Georgia, at a beautiful house in the mountains of north Georgia, owned by SIL's friend's grandfather. It was low-key, and no-internet/cell phone signal (for me at least). (And there was TV, so I got to watch my future ex-husband Aaron Rodgers and the Pack kick the Lions ass.) Nice time to relax, laugh, sit by the fire, and drink exciting new cocktails.


(Mmmmmmm, gin and juice. New fave.)



Friend's house where we stayed the first night. Beautiful and so inspiring.


F21 sweater|Hanes men's undershirt|F21 jeggings|Fryes


First night on the mountain! FYI, grilling during high winds and frost temperatures is not recommended. Guess who learned that the hard way.


Good morning! I have such handsome men in my life. :D


This is what we got to see every morning with our coffee.




Meeting his other aunt and uncle for the first time!


















Hiking on Black Friday!




Post-hike: F21 Madras|F21 jeggings|gift socks|Fryes (not pictured)


(We were at a rest stop, soothing the unhappy baby, and SIL was getting ready to try breast feeding. Just before anyone gets all up in my grill about safety and car seats and whatnot.)


That's all, kids! After this chance to recharge, I'm planning out some new posts, and the same silly, ridiculous nonsense you've come to expect from and over-caffeinated spaz attack.

Love you!

RAINY DAZE

The summer/fall transition is usually marked with afternoon thunderstorms down here. Weekend before last, we had a wicked storm that left the town looking like a tropical storm had hit and strewn debris all over. I thought I was going to be flooded in at work, and was anxiously checking the warehouse for any leaks. Luckily, all was well.

When I took these pictures, it was a surprise storm. Where the sun is out while the rain is falling. I love those. But by the time I dug out my tripod, the storm was effectively over.

Lame.











Sweater: Kohl's clearance
Tank: Kohl's clearance
Jeans: Diesel
Wellies: Target
Ring: F21
Earrings: my grandma's


Attitude? Sass and brass, baby.

BEAUTY OR BEAST

I finally touched up my hair color. This is the ugly side of getting pretty. Telling it like it is, lovers.

(Told you this was going to become a series!)






Aw, yuss.

JUMP SKIP THE BOOGEY

For some reason, I'm really into jodhpurs. It's not like I grew up as an equestrian; the only times I rode were at my aunt's in the California valleys in Calvin's, Chuck's and a vaquero hat.

As best I can figure, this strange attraction may be due to all the reading I've done lately on Teddy Roosevelt. Oh, Bull Moose, you so crazy. He was a badass, if a bit, uh, unique, to put it kindly.



Would you like that image to be used? Crazy grin? I know I sure as shit wouldn't. That'd be the first image I'd delete from the camera. Looking like that... No take backs! But considering some of his speeches, I doubt ol' Teddy gave a shit.



Like I said, badass.

Somehow this went from talking about jodhpurs to Teddy. Whatever, I love Teddy. Especially when portrayed by Kate Beaton of Hark! A Vagrant.

UTILICAPE

You read that right: utilicape.

Here's ASOS's version.

{Now on sale for $54.89!}

That is the only fashion-related item I found with a quick (read: lazy) Google search for "utility cape". When I tried for "utilicape", the only results were for the domain ultilicap.net. Psh, whatever. I was surprised to not find any Batman references, since I always figured that if anyone would need a utilicape, it would be the Caped Crusader. For Pete's sake!


{Not you, Pete.}

My quest for the utilicape came as a result of various sources indicating that capes will be "in" this fall. After perusing a number of adorable options, I thought that the ultimate find would be the utilicape, so that I could look chic and carry my purse contents sans purse. Fabulous, I know, right? Sadly, not only were most of the current options outside my price range (roughly $25), but I did not find a single option that would satisfy my utilicape desires. Should I find that one cape for me, I'll have to modify pockets in it.

It's a tough life I lead, lovers.



Happy Hump Day!