Outfit Post: 11/16/15

Sweater: Thrifted (Lauren Ralph Lauren) — Skirt: Thrifted (Maurices) — OTKs: Sock Dreams (Heather Over the Knee Stockings in Rust) — Boots: eBay (Steve Madden Troopas) — Earrings: Heatherly Designs

Lately I’ve been thinking about getting a tarantula. Ideally I’d keep it in my office at work, although the jury’s still out on whether tarantulas fall under my workplace’s “no animals” policy.

I actually have asked my supervisor to find out what upper management thinks; if and when I hear back, I’ll check around to see if any of my coworkers are prohibitively arachnophobic. I really don’t want to make work a bad or upsetting environment for anyone–I just think tarantulas are neat, and have ever since my kindergarten class had one (named “Harry,” of course) as a pet.

If the option is open to me, I have to figure out the best way to choose one. There are pet stores, of course, but is adopting one better? Are tarantula rescues even a thing? These are the hard-hitting questions I have to ask myself as I think about how to proceed.

I’d also have to pick a species. Preliminary research tells me that “grassland or desert” tarantulas are best for a beginner, and I do want to tread carefully in choosing one that I’ll be able to appropriately care for. The females of many tarantula species can live for decades, so I need to make sure I’m not entering into things lightly! I’m reading up on the subject (naturally), and it’s pretty amazing stuff even if I ultimately decide not to bring one home. For instance: did you know that in addition to shedding their exoskeletons when they molt, tarantulas can replace some internal organs, such as their genitalia? Fascinating!

Outfit Post: 9/25/15

Top: Thrifted (Kenneth Cole Reaction) — Pants: J.Crew — Shoes: 6pm.com (Think!) — Necklace: Thrifted — Earrings: Target — Ring: Monterey Bay Aquarium

I had no idea when I wrote the post from two Fridays ago that I’d already talked about my ball chair at work three months before that. Oops.

I am given to repeat myself, it seems.

Actually, you probably already knew that; I’ve probably already written about it on here, even. I have a tendency to tell the same stories over and over and to forget what I’ve already said to most of the people I see every day.

That’s another very human foible, but it is embarrassing when I unintentionally write the same blog post two or three times. My life must not be terribly interesting, because evidently I run out of topics! I’ll try to get myself into a couple of scraps and/or adventures sometime soon so I have something new to tell you all about.

Outfit Post: 9/4/15

Shirt: Target — Skirt: Thrifted (Maurices) — Shoes: Earthies — Earrings: Gift — Bangle: Thrifted

First off, I would like to offer a correction to yesterday’s post: I know very well and good that the portion of America’s Next Top Model Cycle 22, Episode 3 dedicated to animal-themed neck poses was, in fact, a teach and not a series of TyTyTips.

For this error, I am truly sorry.

However, I’m decidedly unsorry for talking about ANTM in and of itself. Since Cycle 22 began in August, my sometime blogging partner and I have been immersing ourselves in the wonderful garbage world that is Tyra Banks’ special brand of reality television and we couldn’t be happier.

We have our favorites (Nyle, naturally) and our most-hated (Mikey, also naturally), and we spend a lot of time gushing to each other about the incredible absurdity of the whole thing. Why not wrap models in skinny belts and fake hair? Why not give someone a beard weave? Why not consistently and willfully misunderstand the concept of something “going viral”? In the world of ANTM, God does not exist and everything is permitted.

Outfit Post: 7/16/15

Dress: Hand-me-down (Casual Corner) — Sandals: Gift (Clarks) — Bracelet: Thrifted — Necklace: Lia Sophia — Earrings: Angela Grace Jewelry

Hey, so did I forget to mention that I’m leaving for New Orleans in two days? ‘Cause I am!

I’m going for work and then staying on a few days after for, you know, New-Orleansing around. This’ll be my first time in any part of the American South! Exciting, right?

(I haven’t ever been to New England or any part of the East Coast, either. I have a lot of catching-up to do, nation-wise.)

So, besides getting to be happy for me, what this means for you folks is that I’m going to take about a week-long blog vacation. If I hadn’t warned you, I know you would all be extremely worried about me, so this is your heads-up.

If you behave while I’m gone, I’ll bring you back…a ghost from the French Quarter or something. So, later, taters!

Outfit Post: 7/6/15

Kurti: Thrifted (Fabindia) — Pants: Old Navy — Shoes: Golden Ponies — Necklace: Hand-me-down — Earrings: Lia Sophia

Here’s a thing: I wrote an Alternate History!

See, my friend Kate Schapira has a project called Climate Anxiety Counseling, wherein she sets up a booth and talks to people in her town of Providence, RI about their anxieties, climate-centered or otherwise. She writes their thoughts down and then composes Alternate Histories to explore how we might prioritize things differently in our world to alleviate these anxieties.

They’re lovely little pieces of fiction–this is one of my favorites–and as someone who struggles with a lot of anxiety in relation to climate change, I’ve found reading her work very helpful. The Alternate Histories look at people frankly but with optimism, seeing how we can engage with each other and the spaces we live in.

So, with all that as introduction, Kate invited me to participate in a phase of the project where guests write Alternate Histories of their own, and even though I was scared (of thinking about climate change, of doing a substandard job, of missing my self-imposed deadline), I accepted.

I’ll be honest–I struggled to work on my piece because of the physical symptoms my anxiety has. I spent a lot of time sitting at my computer with my heart racing and hands shaking as I tried to breathe evenly. I wanted to avoid, avoid, avoid, but I managed to sit with the feeling and write, and now I have an Alternate History to share with you! The climate anxiety counseling session it’s a response to hit very close to home, so it feels pretty personal.

I appreciate how Kate and her work have challenged me to face something I have a very real fear of, and encouraged me to think about reorganizing my life. She writes thoughtfully, generously, and with a clear head, and as she’s also a poet, her way of expressing ideas feels both beautiful and like truth. There’s a core there that truly believes we can take care of each other and steward the planet, if we’re willing to work.

Go check out Climate Anxieties Counseling. It may be challenging, but it’s the kind of challenge that helps you level up.

Outfit Post: 5/31/15

Shirt: Target — Shorts: Thrifted (J.Crew) — Vest: Thrifted (Gap) [patch: gift] — Shoes: Gift (Clarks) — Earrings and pin: Gifts

It occurs to me now that I never discussed my thoughts leading up to Eurovision 2015, or the dramatic results!

Opinion one: Aminata from Latvia was robbed. ROBBED.

Opinion two: Sweden’s song was awful in a bad-Imagine-Dragons-overplayed-radio-song kind of way and it pains me emotionally that it won. (I won’t be embedding or linking it here, but I invite you to go look it up if you’re curious. Really, it’s probably not that horrible, but I heard it at least ten times over the course of the last month and am thoroughly done with it.)

Opinion three: For weird videos, it’s hard to beat Belarus, with their angry fire running and frantic inside-a-giant-hourglass violin playing.

Opinion four: if you’re not familiar with Eurovision now, I highly recommend you check it out. It’s not too early to get excited about Sweden 2016, and I’m already looking forward to any stiltwalkers, wolf-people, or giant Vikings that the prospective entrants might have in the works. Here’s looking at you, 2013’s Ukraine performance.

Outfit Post: 3/5/15

Dress: ASOS — Camisole: Gap Outlet — Boots: eBay (Steve Madden Troopas) — Socks: Sock Dreams — Bracelet: Thrifted — Earrings: Gift

Over the weekend I went with a couple of friends (including Edie!) to a makeup store, where a very pleasant employee put foundation on me for maybe the second time in my life?

My skin tone was so flatteringly uniform and matte! It was an unusual experience–I’ve worn a full face of makeup only a handful of times, and the most recent instance was definitely at le wedding two and a half years ago.

We were angling to get full-on makeovers, but alas, it wasn’t in the cards. Still, I bought myself some discount nail polish and a charcoal mud mask goop that makes me look somewhat Smurflike.

The sheer volume of products available in the makeup world is pretty intimidating to a person who doesn’t know what they’re doing. (Or, at least it is to a me who doesn’t know what she’s doing.) BB cream, eyebrow kits, foundation, setting powder–there was a skincare item there made with honey and gold flakes. After a while it all starts looking pretty snake-oily, you know?

Even though makeup will probably never be my Thing, it’s nice to have friends who can make recommendations in a sea of identical-looking mascaras, and I really enjoy watching other people have fun with pretty face colors! And, of course, there’s always Madison:

Outfit Post: 3/2/15

Dress: eShakti — Cardigan: Thrifted (no label) — OTKs: Sock Dreams (Harajuku Scrunchy Socks in Steel Blue) — Shoes: Thrifted (Born) — Necklace: Thrifted — Earrings: Heatherly Designs

Hey, friends! How are you doing? I feel like I haven’t checked in recently.

Tell me what’s been going on in your life lately. I’ve sort of been in a holding pattern myself, but things could definitely be worse.

An example: in one of my attempts to act like an organized adult, I got some jars and have been putting my spices and dry goods in them instead of letting them sit in the plastic bags from bulk bins. The idea of thwarting pantry beetles is really pretty exhilarating, and the food looks like a thousand times fancier in glass.

To supplement this project, I ordered some high-quality seasonings and spices from Penzeys on a friend’s recommendation, and everything just arrived yesterday. The Vietnamese cinnamon smells amazing and we made some great tacos with the taco seasoning tonight, so I’m pretty high on the spice hog.

Anyway, spices. Please feel free to share any thoughts you have, on spices or otherwise. I mean it!

Outfit Post: 2/3/15

Dress: eShakti — Cardigan: Nordstrom Rack — OTKs: Target — Flats: American Rag — Scarf: Shop in Hallstatt, Austria — Earrings: Hand-me-down

I’m sitting here trying to write this blog post, but all I can really think about is the salad that I want to go make for tomorrow’s lunch.

Seriously, I’ve been waiting for this avocado to ripen for three days. If the arugula’s all wilted I’m gonna be pissed.

I can’t leave well enough alone so I’m making a few changes–no kale, extra arugula. Who knows what else I’ll do, I’m a loose cannon!

Outfit Post: 1/13/15

Dress: eShakti — Cardigan: Thrifted — OTKs: Sock Dreams (Heather Over the Knee Stockings in Slate) — Flats: Thrifted (Born) — Necklace: Thrifted — Earrings: Leah Staley

Grays have been very appropriate for the last few days, since we’ve been awash in fog and overcast skies. Some more rain would be nice in addition to the cold, but I also enjoy fog in its own way. Very theatrical and atmospheric.

I also enjoy being photobombed by Flat Tire. What’s she thinking about here? Cat stuff, I guess.

Sometimes she gets enamored of the shutter’s clicking and wanders in circles in front of my photo area trying to figure out where it’s coming from.

Between that and the Petcube that Mike got as a toy for her himself, it’s a wonder that sight and sound have meaning for her anymore.

And now she’s sleeping on my laptop keyboard, making it very hard to type. You might say that she’s integral to the blogging process.