Sunday, December 30, 2012

16/30







Barrette: J.Crew Factory | Sweater: Target | Skirt: JCPenney | Boots: Target

I had a bonspiel this weekend, but I didn't play. I was sick, so two of my friends filled in for me, wearing my nametag as they went. And my team came in third place! I'm very proud, and from now on I think J. and S. will play for me all the time while I continue to receive the credit. Now that's good curling.

15/30







Barrette: Target | Sweater: J.Crew | Jeans: Walmart | Boots: Off Broadway

Well, the Philadelphia Eagles have officially finished their season, and now is the perfect time to clean the slate and look forward to next year.

With a new coach.

Which always sucks.

If you'll excuse me, I need to go cry in a corner now.

Break time

I've been sick for the last week, which has just been superb. Christmas was a miserable experience, to say the least, and the days before and after were about equivalent to a few circles of hell.

But!

I'm well on the road to recovery--today was day 6 of this utter nonsense, and while going to work on day 4 was a mistake, I can say now that the only thing that really remains is a persistent cough and a dull throb in my head after each cough.

Sexy.

but that's actually not what this post is about! I had written a post a while back that I never got around to actually posting, because it was all serious and dramatic and omg

(i'm not quitting blogging!)

but I never thought it was the right time to post it. But, well, it's less than a week away now, so here it goes:



My college roommate Sarah and I are driving across the country next month!

This was a really abrupt thing--Sarah was offered her dream job, and she starts January 14th, and this is something we always talked about doing in college, and no time like the present, right?--and suddenly we were planning this major drive across America that starts at my house in Cardiganland and ends in Oakland, California.

We leave on January 3rd (less than a week away!), and I'm flying back on the 14th. Between the 3rd and the 14th, we'll be hitting many major American icons, like Graceland, the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam, the Vegas strip, and the Pacific Coast Highway. I've never travelled west of the Mississippi River, and I've never seen the Pacific Ocean, and I'm so, so excited. I haven't travelled internationally very much, but I've been up and down the east coast countless times and I'm really, really, REALLY looking forward to seeing so many new things.

A lot of people throw about the term "once in a lifetime" to justify this, that and the other thing, but this really is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me. I've never had any reason to travel to California, and I've never had much reason to consider visiting the southwest, beyond the typical "oh it would be cool to see the Grand Canyon". The closest I got to ever going to Texas was when my cousin got married in San Antonio, but we didn't go because of the floods that year. Vegas? Well, I grew up in Atlantic City, so been there done that, except I never gambled, clubbed, or did much of anything when I lived there. (I was a kid, after all.) This is quite possibly the best time in my life for me to do this--I'm in my 20s, I'm untethered by anything except my car payment, this entire trip is taking place during my winter break. There really is no excuse.

I'm thrilled Sarah asked me, and I'm thrilled we're going. I won't be updating this blog while I'm on the road, though I plan to stuff in a couple more outfit posts before we take off. You're welcome to follow our exploits on Librarians in Transit, and you can always follow me on Instagram. I'll have a recap post of the major highlights when I return, but for in depth posts, info about our trip and pictures of the cats we're taking with us (no, seriously), add Librarians in Transit to your feed! I'll see you hopefully tomorrow for an outfit or two from my 30x30, which will probably not be complete until the end of January. OOF.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Merriful



From my house to yours, merry Christmas and happy Festivus! Enjoy your time, however you choose to spend it--I know I'll be wrapped up in a blanket, chugging cough syrup and watching The Muppets for the sixth time. I'll be back as soon as I feel healthy enough to take outfit photos again, but until then, have the happiest of holidays!

Monday, December 24, 2012

Yet another aside









Sweater: J.Crew | Skirt: Target | Tights: Target | Wedges: Target

Friday was my last day with my patrons until after Christmas. It's telling that I think of it as my last day with my patrons instead of my last day at work. But anyway, I wanted to wear something celebratory for them, and they sure did love the skirt. In that way that at least one male asked for my number. (One was kind of indiscernable.)

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good freakin' night.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

14/30







Top: J.Crew Factory | Belt: Target | Skirt: Ann Taylor Factory Store | Tights: Target | Wedges: Target

So I guess that world didn't end last night. Pity, isn't it? I mean, if we're going down, we might as well go out with the world ending. That's something no one else gets to brag about. Except we'd all be dead and no one would know about it so really, it would have been lose-lose either way. And all those library books & DVDs you had checked out? They're still due on the 23rd. Deal with it.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

13/30







Cardigan: J.Crew | Necklace: Anthropologie | Dress: Loft | Tights: Target | Wedges: Shoe Carnival

Tuesday morning I woke up with an oh fuck what do I wear pit at the bottom of my stomach. It's one thing to dress for work, and it's another to dress for work and an event. It was more luck than anything else that this outfit falls (mostly) into the 30x30; I didn't want to wear all black, and I didn't want to wear my houndstooth cardigan. But this outfit ended up being just the right thing for both work and a memorial service that was far more a remembrance of a life well lived than the mourning of a loss of one.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Another aside








Click to see my cuticles up close and personal

Long necklace: Old Navy | Short necklace: from mom | Top: J.Crew Outlet | Skirt: J.Crew Outlet | Socks: Target | Heels: Urban Outfitters | Nails: China Glaze Glitter All the Way over butter London Aston | Pinecone: painted with my grammy when I was 4

I don't really do nail art. I generally just slap on whatever colour I feel like and I'm on my way. But I saw this pin last week, and then with SIA I felt like no matter what I did to my outfit, I'd never have enough colour. And then I thought "ain't nobody got time for that!" but then I remembered I'm on winter break. THE PERKS OF GRAD SCHOOL.

Style Imitating Art: Roller Rat



STYLE IMITATING ART IS BACK. Clearly I'm jazzed about this! This week's inspiration was Roller Rat, by Banksy, which incorporates artwork by Damien Hirst. Let's see what everyone cooked up!



First is Pao of Project Minima, who went opposite of her usual interpretation and designed a top bearing the art! Very neat.



DANI? IS THAT YOU?! It is, it is! I adore Dani of DIYFATSHION pretty hardcore, y'all. And this outfit too. The tights! The belt! The sass!



Next is my awesome cocreator, Salazar of 14 Shades of Grey, whose outfit just made me happy to see in my inbox this morning.



Late entry! Rebekah of From the Mixed-Up Files... is here with quite possibly the most brilliant necklace I have ever seen.



And then there's me. I took a nonlinear approach and went for half painting, half art school. Oh, I don't know. Whatever. Full outfit post coming up next, and back to 30x30 tomorrow! Thanks for participating, ladies!

Sunday, December 16, 2012

12/30







Sweater: JCPenney | Belt: Target | Dress: Ann Taylor Factory Store | Tights: Target | Heels: Jeffrey Campbell via eBay

My coworker R. and I had a discussion today about style, in particular the history of plaid shirts. I am not joking. Then I asked him how he would define my style, and all he could do was give me a thumbs up and say "I love how you dress". Well, I'll take that, although that definitely doesn't answer my question. So, I turn to a) females and b) my style crew, aka you all, and ask: how would you define my style?

Saturday, December 15, 2012

11/30







Top: Target | Undershirt: J.Crew | Scarf: parts unknown | Jeans: Walmart | Boots: Target

As humans, we thrive on conflict. It is what pushes us forward, it is what creates ingenuity, it is the impetus for the development of a better society. But yesterday's tragic events go far beyond the simple x vs. y that forces us to become harder, better, faster, and stronger. Conflict, by its nature, is dangerous, treacherous, and true; it is impossible to avoid, and we bring it on ourselves as we strive for more.

I recently read a book whose main character insisted that silver linings are everywhere, and it's only a matter of finding them. I looked deep yesterday seeking that silver lining, and I have yet to find one, aside from considering that it could have been worse. Not much of a silver lining, is it? Let us hope that in the days that come one does emerge, one that is enough to console those who have been devastated at a time where it is the last thing anyone needs.

Friday, December 14, 2012

10/30











Cardigan: Target | Top: JCPenney | Skirt: Target | Tights: Target | Flats: Gap Outlet

I look like I have no feet in most of these pictures. Despite the grass being crunchy and dead, it's still two inches tall. I don't know how that's possible, but it is. Anyhoo! As of this posting I'm probably on my way home from a midnight screening (why are they only ever called "screenings" if they happen at midnight?) for The Hobbit, because I got suckered into a "fair trade" with my friends L. and A.--they went with me to see The Master, and now I have to suffer through The Hobbit. The only thing that could make this better/worse is if they dressed up as dwarves. They're men, so they could do it. I really hope they don't though because in that case you'll find me hanging from the rafters with a 32 ounce root beer in one hand and half of a fake Gandalf beard in the other.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

9/30





Scarf: JCPenney | Sweater: JCPenney | Tank top: J.Crew | Pants: JCPenney | Flats: Toms

WHO HAS TWO THUMBS AND IS HALFWAY DONE WITH GRAD SCHOOL?

THIS GAL