Loving a good book

I was never one of those people addicted to candy or fatty foods. But my impulse control fails when it comes to a good story. Once I engage in a story, I want to know more. As a child, I walked around with my nose in books (literally, I actually walked around with a book in front of my face, somehow I was able to avoid oncoming obstacles...).

My parents used to scold me for reading all the time. And I had to be forcibly extricated from the pages of whatever tale I was reading to do normal things like eat, sleep, go outside. Of course, even after my parents told me to go to sleep, I'd creep under the covers with a flash light so I could finish my book. (I guess that's how I got used to surviving on very little sleep...and how I developed really dark circles at 9 years of age).

It didn't matter the kind of book - fantasy, biographies, trashy teen novels, or great works of literary fiction - I consumed them all relentlessly.

I'm the same way with stories on television. I can't stand to have stories meted out, episode by episode, spaced weeks apart. That's why I love it when series hit DVD - or better yet, online distribution through Netflix or Hulu. Then I can watch a whole season unhindered while doing data analysis or created graphs.

And when a season has aired on TV, but hasn't made it to DVD or online, I search out synopses of the episodes (much to Ev's chagrin). I still get excited to watch the story unfold when the shows go online. I just get caught up in the story all over again.

Sadly, nowadays, I haven't found time to read many books. I read scientific articles (which on their own can be quite interesting stories). But someday, I do hope to bury myself back into some hardbound pages.

I actually picked up these two books for photo shoot props based on a photog tip from Little Girl Big Closet. Unlike Tara, who always looks gorgeous, warm, and contemplative with her photo props, I seem to mostly get goofy with mine. I'm apparently incapable of not being silly :/

This vintage book isn't even a story book. It's Esquire's Handbook for Hosts. It tells how one should throw a party, shin dig, hootenanny... what to have on hand, salads to make...


Stories OOTD Specs
Vintage black accordian pleated Woolworth's skirt ($4.80 thrifted) (now hemmed! woohoo!)
brown v-neck tee sz M
reddish braided belt (thrifted 99 cents)
tan BCBG cardigan sz S (thrifted)
H&M black leggings sz 6 ($10)
black lace necklace DIY
Franco Sarto boots ($15)
F21 polka dot flower pin ($1.50) (placed on a plastic headband)


I've told y'all about my drug of choice. How about you? What are you addicted to?


As an aside, I've been using Polyvore more as a tool to create outfits. I'm hoping to get my whole wardrobe loaded into Polyvore. And for those items I can't find online, I find a look-a-like to add to my sets. Here's the one for this outfit:

Black and Tan w/o the alcohol by Lorispeak featuring vintage belts

That 70's show

Hubby said when snapping my pics this morning "you look very 70's, but in a good way!"

With the return of flared pants, saturated colors, recent runway shows, the 70's have staged their comeback.

I think that for me to feel appropriately 70s in these photos, I needed to stand in some heated orange-yellow sunlight with aviators on my face and wind tousling my hair. Where's my staged wind?! Pffft!

From Marc Jacobs' Spring 2011 show and Marc by Marc Jacobs Fall 2011 show, images from Style.com

I actually think anytime I wear this cardigan it's a 70s throwback. Or perhaps it's my brown and tan color scheme here? The ruffles and pants themselves don't feel inherently 70s and the pin feels much more 50s-60s to me. My friend Jeanny didn't get the 70s vibe from this outfit tho, so maybe Ev is just trippin'.

Actually, looking at this outfit, I think there might be too much going on with the ruffle AND the bow on the pants. What do y'all think?



By the way, I do love how my polka-dotted sleeves extended beyond my cardigan sleeves. I don't always mind when cardigan sleeves aren't full length because, I really like having my cuffs peek out. I think this is especially nice if there's a nice contrast between the shirt and the cardi.


70s show OOTD
Gap navy polka-dot blouse sz S (thrifted $5)
Anthropologie Elevenses brown bow pants sz 2 (thrifted $6)
Petite Sophisticate beige cardigan sz S (thrifted $5)
Gold vintage leaf pin ($3)
Franco Sarto boots ($15 at Ross)

I hope y'all have a lovely President's Day Weekend. Buddie's radiation appt was rescheduled for next weekend, so I'll be staying home doing some data analyses for a presentation next week!

Feeling much better! OOTD

Omg, what a difference two days of straight sleeping makes! I woke up feeling MUCH better today. Good thing too, because today is filled with a bunch of random stuff (dentist, vet appt) scheduled before our trip to CA this weekend for our dear friends' wedding!

As Cindi mentioned in the comments, it was beautiful and 70 degrees outside when I was sick. Now of course when I'm better.... it's raining again :) with a high of 63! Well, if it's going to be a soggy water ride outside, then I might as well dress for the occasion! (plus, I love any chance to get all nautical up in heeeyaaah!) omg I'm such a dork sorry!



I'm still working out how to best set my camera for indoor lighting with this mega-flash, so bear with me here :)



Having recently reviewed the Eze Sur Mer top - stripey ruched sleeve shirts were mighty salient when I was getting dressed. This H&M long sleeved version did the trick here, and set the nautical tone for today's outfit.



The shirt paired well with these oh-so-comfy grey JCrew cords! These pants are so soft and just great for those grey wet days we have around here!





OOTD Specs
Striped ruched H&M long sleeve tee by Divided sz 6 ($13)
Grey J Crew Corduroy pants sz 4S (thrifted $6)
Multi-strand red beaded necklace (thrifted $7)
Silver braided belt (thrifted 99 cents)
Franco Sarto boots ($15 at Ross)

Me and my U. Of Toronto advisor

He's great!

dinner with friends and an OOTD

From lorispeak

Went out to dinner with my dear friends Oliver and Jenna the other night. Jenna is getting married this year out at Orcas Island. It's so exciting! I also can't wait to see her in her wedding dress. We had this joke a few years ago, where my friend and I tried to imagine what kind of wedding dress she would wear. We figured it wouldn't be white and traditionally poofy, but it would be awesome and cool designer-y, so we picked one out on net-a-porter.com for her and sent it to her. I believe her boyfriend (now fiance) was like, 'what the heck did you tell them to make them think about looking for a wedding dress for you??!!' LOL. We're such trouble-makers

The food looks good, no? It's from a little french place called Cafe Presse in Capitol Hill (owned by the same people that run Le Pichet in Belltown). But sadness! Everything was soooo salty! I had to downgrade my yelp review to TWO stars! and I felt like I had to drink a gallon of water!

Last pic is an outfit of the day (OOTD) from that evening

green Caslon cardi
pink Climbing Cowlneck shirt from Anthropologie
grey Banana Republic pants
Franco Sarto boots
two vintage thrifted necklaces twirled together into one :)

still alive

see:



well sort of. Just gotta make it through all this dissertation stuuuufff.


once that's all done, I'll be more like:





OOTD:
Banana Republic gray slacks sz 4 (thrifted $6)
Franco Sarto boots ($15 at Ross)
On-A-Wing Anthropologie top sz 6 ($63 - sale and damaged discount from loose buttons + $50 gc from my MIL!!)
Camel Corduroy Blazer by Paris Blues sz S (thrifted $5)
Ridiculous pose (priceless)