new plan...

so, here's the new plan - bulk posts!
this is the outfit i wore today.
and the same dress styled differently.
a stunner shade look for the brief moment of sun yesterday.

i made carol's cake for a small get-together. there are many leftovers.
this is my gardening look. i got lost on the farm only to find out that class was meeting on campus and not on the farm at all. ugh. oh well...i'll just have to come up with another gardening look.
jellie premiere!
and here is a non-cropped shot to show you what i cut out of most pictures. piles of things. and on this one occasion - amy.

First day of class!

I like to think that Tyra would say this picture is fierce. I felt a little Prince Harry, but I enjoyed it.

This outfit was also very practical for the rainy-ness that was today.

I added the jacket, but you can tell I didn't get it on in time for the self-timed picture. Oh well...you get the idea. I feel like Tyra would say I look like a gold bird getting ready to take flight.

Laundry Day

So, I don't think this outfit is too bad for a laundry day. It's old...but it works. Also, I look tan!

You can tell my interest is mild,

because I fail to blog in a timely fashion. Here are the updates -

I'm thinking that part of my problem is that I spend too much time explaining the clothes. More time spent blogging leads to more time spent putting off the time-consuming blogging. Therefore...I'm dropping the detailing of each item, unless of course I can't help myself. If you have questions, you'll ask. :) I firmly believe this. I'm also aware of the skimmers out there - skim away!

This outfit saw me through poetry of the 70's and an evening barbecue. That is what I call double duty!

Amanda was Ticked

Off-white T - Old Navy, Houndstooth Sweater - Isaac Mizrahi for Target, Wide Leg Jeans - GAP, Sneakers - New Balance, Beaded Necklace - Bequeathed from Mammaw

Don't be alarmed by the almost palpable angst in these two pictures. Amanda was ticked on Friday the 13th. I'm okay, I'm over it, but I didn't ham it up in the pictures. :) Enjoy!

Also...it was a two outfit day, so you get double the angst!

Striped Oxford - GAP, Trouser Jeans - GAP, Scarf - GAP

Wow...GAPped out and I didn't even realize it. Nice.

The Scarf!

Pleated Tank - NY&Co., Jeans - GAP, Black Flats - M. Patrick, Scarf - Bindya New York

I was pretty stoked about having a nice and breezy day with plenty of sun. Perfect weather for the wonder tank and the new scarf!

Recognize it?



At the conference, a guy asked me if I was making a political statement.
My response: "No. Just a fashion one."
The response I wish I came up with immediately: "Yes. I stand by Rachael Ray." :)

Oh well...

Poetry Perfect

I switched up the outfit to attend a poetry reading tonight with Mark. This reading is part of a larger conference with many academic celebrities in attendance. So...I decided to present a classier front than I did while running around Bangor. I've exchanged the mini + leggings for a pair of NY&Co. straight jeans and i've swapped the black and white sweater (not pictured) of this afternoon for the subtle orange to complement the flats.

This look is still far more coordinated than most intelligentsia would spend time on, but it fits my graduate school position, I think.

Bring on the poetry!

On a Teacher's Salary

(But not a teacher’s outfit) :)

White V-neck T – Old Navy, Jean Skirt – Clockhouse, Black Leggings, Floral Flats, Star Earrings & Red Beaded Necklace - xhiliration

This outfit was inspired by those gorgeous little floral flats that I found at Target on Tuesday. My mom and sister know that I have continued to admire the Chinese Laundry shoes that these are patterned after, so I was thrilled to find these on clearance for a cool $7.48. I had to settle for a pair of size 7s, but I have made much larger compromises for fashion – a loose flat won’t slow me down!

Anyway, later in the day, I picked up the jean skirt ($4.99) and the necklace ($.98) at Goodwill. The star earrings and black leggings were both picked up on sale at Target over the past two semesters as well. While it’s not teaching appropriate, I am pleased by having put together such an economically responsible outfit with my teaching means. Success!

Details of earrings:

and shoes:

Acceleration Central

Grey Tank – GAP, Blue Shorts – Old Navy, Sunglasses – Street Stand in Rome

Today (Tuesday) I went back to the river to sunbathe and accelerate the tan. : ) Clearly, this was the best costume for today. I took this picture before the tanning, so you can tell that I'm becoming a brown baby. And yes, never the acceleration on the face. :)

Despite the perfection of this outfit, I changed later:


Burgundy Top – H&M, Off-white Tank – Old Navy, Khaki Shorts – Old Navy, Watch – Fossil, Bronze Flats – Born

Since I’ve been back in Maine, I’ve been excitedly watching the Olive Garden commercials about their current specials. Around 4 o’clock (Amy mocked the ‘early bird’ timing, but I knew it would save time and hassle.) I realized my dream by enjoying several plates of salad and a bit of pasta and chicken. Needless to say, my plan to fill up on salad worked perfectly and I now have a complete meal in my refrigerator waiting for me.

Ugh, such heat...

Red Polka-dot Polo - GAP, Khaki Shorts - Old Navy, Watch - Fossil

So...the heat in Maine is pretty yuck. Today was the second day of 90+ degree weather with 50% humidity and 0% air conditioning. Ugh...

Anyway...you can see the toll that this weather has taken on my accessories, make-up, and overall complexity of wardrobe composition. And though the picture I've given you here is light-bleached and odd, the others were exponentially worse. For your viewing pleasure:

Down by the River

Brown Tank - NY & Co., Jean Bermudas - Levis, Red Sunglasses - Forever 21, Beaded Necklace - Gift from Navajo reservation

Yesterday, (yeah...the internet still fails) I spent the afternoon by the Stillwater River. Jessica will be pleased to learn that I accelerated my tan with all the dry oil. :)

Another short coat day

Gold Coat - Willi Smith, Teal T - Old Navy, Jeans - GAP, Red Flats - M. Patrick, Red Bead Necklace - Old Navy

The common rule regarding accessories is that less is more. The famous adage instructs that when you feel you are ready to leave the house, you should then remove one accessory before you go. I guess I did this bass-ackwards today because post-blog I'm going to add an accessory. Oh, well...


I bought this cute coat at T.J. Maxx 'n' More yesterday afternoon, and I think it's going to be perfect for today's again blah weather. The weather lady said 54, but it looks pretty sunny out there, so we'll see!

Cute back, right? I love the button. :)

Classic Black

Black Tank - NY & Co., Jeans - NY & Co., Black Flats - M. Patrick (I know, it's lame, but I love them.), Watch - Fossil, Pink Sapphire Ring - Kay Jewelers, Heart Necklace - Middle school leftover

I'm feeling very Audrey Hepburn/Jackie O. today. I got up this morning all excited about walking to The Store and blogging and reading. However, as it goes these days, it started raining by the time I stepped out the door. Oh well, Amy saved the day and I'm now blogging from Starbucks. I'm telling you...this lack of internet is starting to get to me.

Moving on... I quickly realized that my outfit (though cute and fun) did not fit the conditions outside. Instant fix to the Audrey outfit: the Jackie O. coat.

In other news, the best setting for taking pictures in my dingy apartment: Sunset. Interesting...now I just need to find a better background.

Bowling Ballerina

Black Dress - NY & Co., Grey Tank - Gap, Black Leggings - Kohl's, Red Flats - M. Patrick, Heart Necklace - Target $1 Bin :)

This outfit was inspired by the song that has been in my head for several days now. The song is 'Sugarcane' by Missy Higgins. Here are the lyrics:

Baby ballerina's hiding somewhere in the corner,
where the shadow wraps around her
and our torches cannot find her,
she will stay there 'til the morning,
crawl behind us as we are yawning,
and she will leave our games to never be the same.

So Grow Tall Sugar Cane.
Eat that Soil, Drink the Rain.
But know they'll chase you if you play their little games.
So run, run fast Sugar Cane.

This look was extremely functional for the walk to and around campus. I ended up going candlepin bowling later in the night and the ballerina look actually worked out well with the Lysol-ed, tri-color, rented bowling shoes. Nice...

I tried to take ballet pictures too...but I'm really just going to leave that to Jessica. :)

I had to add the jacket for the walk. Maine is a bit chilly (and very rainy) these days.

In case of rain

Blue Shirt - Gap, White Shrug - NY & Co., Plaid Shortpants - Ann Taylor Loft, Boat Shoes - Sperry Topsiders, Blue Beaded Necklace - Bequeathed from Mammaw, Flawless Skin - Arbonne

As you can see, I was ready for anything today. My plan was to drop off my car and then spend some time in town reading and then walk back home later in the afternoon. Of course this didn't happen and I ended up driving back home with my rejected car, but at least I was ready for that plan too!

And for the Arbonne comment -- Can you see the Arbonne difference?! I can and it may be a placebo effect, but I really think my skin looks great. Today (in preparation for the inevitable downpour) I wore ONLY mascara and my own even skintone. It is truly spectacular. I'm convinced.

It's been raining since I got back to Maine, so this pic provides flair, but not quite style with the joining of two very divergent plaids. :)

Umbrella - Tommy Hilfiger

This could become a problem

I know I've missed several days, but I'm not one to take responsibility for things. SO...my excuses are as follows:
1. sweat
2. memory card
3. travel
4. lack of internet at College Park

Now that I've taken care of that...my recent outfits.

Oh, and I also apologize for the size of these pictures. I am posting from the library b/c of the internet situation, but even here I am having massive struggles. Ugh. This WILL be rectified.

Monday:

Beige Top with Tie - Calvin Klein, Jeans - Gap, Bronze Flats - Born, Watch - Fossil, Beaded Necklace - on loan from Jessica (there is some debate about the location of purchase - I think 1,000 Villages, Jessica thinks NY & Co.), Polka Dot bag - Knock-off Kate Spade from the streets of NYC, Duffel - No Boundaries, Suitcase - Value City

This look was put together for maximum comfort and ease of movement. The shirt doesn't wrinkle (great for the planes, all 3 of them), the watch keeps me on track, and the flats allow me to look cute while I run from gate to gate. I took this picture around 7pm when I finally got back to my apartment. So as you can see, the outfit held up pretty well.

Oh, and we can all thank my mom for my sweet new super-short pixie. Success!

Tuesday:

Sheer floral top - Charlotte Russe, White Tank - Gap, Jeans - NY & Co., Bronze flats - Born, Turquoise beaded bracelet - H&M

Well, I've been suffering from a bit of deja vu since I got back to my apartment last night. It just feels very...last summer. In honor of that feeling, I decided to wear the outfit that made me a celebrity on the first day of orientation. I was wearing this top and these jeans when I ran into the very first meeting of TA's, grad students, faculty members, and so on (I was late, of course). Later in the day, I wore this outfit to the very first mixer at Laurie's apartment (soon to be mine!). I found out several weeks, months for some people, later that their first impressions of me were largely based on aspects of this outfit. Oh well...they were mostly good. :)

The accessories have been changed to protect the innocent.