BLAZER REFASHION

A while back, I snagged a honeysuckle pantsuit at the thrift store and proceeded to make sassy shorts out of the pants. Since then, the blazer has been sitting in my closet, unused and uninspiring. But after a few sessions browsing Pinterest, I had the idea to make it into a summer jacket. Perfection!

(And the perfect project to kick-start my "Do It Your Own Damn Self" pledge.)

1) First order of business, chop those sleeves off! It's infrequent we need long sleeves on the Space Coast, and the sleeves are too short on me anyways.

2) I want the length a bit shorter, so I cut it off just above the pockets. It's a shame they have to go, but I can always add them in later, depending on how the fit turns out.

3) The cut looks boxy on me, and I want to make it fitted. Wear inside out, pin the back, run the pinned section through the machine, and et viola! Ready to assemble.

4) Roll hems twice, pin, and sew in place. And run the iron, just to finish it up.

5) Flash your sass!

(I am a dork.)

(And, hooray, Pinterest!)

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!

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

More than likely it'll be

NABLOPOMO: FREE STYLING

Friday was a stressful day for paperwork completion. I blame procrastination and crazy hormones. The best part of the day was chowing down on a Big Mac in front of the Heart Center at the hospital. Ah, I felt so American.

NABLOPOMO: FREE STYLING

Tonight is a night for studying, so here is an old picture of Lou's Blues in the rain. GRINDSTONE was playing, of course, so it was a special night. They play again on January 31, at Lou's, hooray!

NABLOPOMO: FREE STYLING

{Image courtesy of Google Images.}

I am very open about my sexuality and sexual drive. That isn't to say that I throw it in people's faces, or flaunt my body for the sole purpose of advertising my availability. There are people who are not as expressive or out with their sex, and I don't want to make them uncomfortable. But if I'm asked, I'll answer honestly.

The evolution from shy Catholic schoolgirl to brash, sexual woman was a very bumpy one. Lots of weird mutations. (Darwin, holler!) Where I am at right now, I owe mostly to my rape counselor. She helped me take the times where I was most vulnerable and hateful of myself, and guide me to embrace and celebrate my sexual being. Without her, I know right where I'd be, because it has happened.

Before seeing her, I was an out-of-control flirt who was almost daring a man to try and pick me up. I went home with a former lover one night, one who I knew how he would treat me, who was gentle, and sweet, nothing like what I was fighting. On the way to the hotel, I broke into uncontrollable sobs, puked my guts out, and bailed out of the car. I called a girlfriend and begged her to come find me. It took hours for the tremors and crying to stop. The fear stuck around for weeks.

I'm still not totally past the experience, but I can function and succeed in my life. I've had lovers since my time with her, and have even managed a relationship or two. I think that because of my experiences, that I see the power and importance of owning your sexuality, before others try to define and use it for their own ends.

They won't be as careful of it as you will.

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!

NABLOPOMO: FREE STYLING

On Thursday, I finished the first week of classes. It is exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. This is the beginning of my professional life, and the change from free-form college courses to private university structure is something else. I only developed my taste for fashion at eighteen, so to be told I cannot wear jewelry, nail polish, perfume, or have styled hair is a strange jolt back to my tomboy days.

Obviously, there is a reason for the strict dress code: clinicals. When you are scheduled to work the psych or dementia rounds, you don't want to set off the clients; be it a smell, color, or easily accessable weapon. I'm not saying that all our rounds will be spent getting attacked by clients, but we strive to reduce that likelihood and keep the clients feeling as unthreatened as possible. However, since clinicals aren't until the beginning of February, there is plenty of time to adjust.

I've been looking at nail painting tutorials, posts, and even downloaded a virtual nail salon app on my phone, just to satisfy my need for pretty nails.

In the end, strict dress rules are so worth it.

<3

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!

AN HONOR

I got an email this afternoon, stating that a blog entry I made was going to be posted on BlogHer! I am super stoked. It's an honor to contribute, even in a tiny way, to such a wonderful site for female bloggers. I wrote a brief article on my adoption and how I have tried to find out who I am.

I hope to continue to contribute to the BlogHer family.

(OOTD, and apology post coming up next.)

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.