Over the Top

So, wow, I am really, really, really behind on Marvelous Mondays. I formally apologize, and offer up this post on a Wednesday. I'm going to do them all this week, and hopefully one day I'll get a shot outside! I think we all fail to understand just how gorgeous my campus is.

The first theme I'm behind on is Over the Top. While I'm occasionally a bit of an obnoxious dresser, I generally tend towards more simplistic looks. I think I'm turning into a minimalist. I wore this obnoxious pattern party with much more low-key accessories. I was so excited when I woke up this morning and it was cold outside! I've been waiting to wear this sweater since I put it away for the summer.

Sweater, collared top, dangly earrings: Forever 21 | Dress (worn underneath): Image | Leggings: WalMart | Boots: Forever | Cuff: Vintage | Headband: Christmas present | Necklace: Claire's | Studs (worn later): Mudd

And my mom sent Halloween decorations in her last care package! While we haven't gotten around to hanging up some of the cooler ones yet, we have started decorating. One of my roommates even brought these cool Olvera Street guys to hang out with some leaves and stuff.

And finally, I wrote a short article about my love of biology and the importance of education for a local environmental group. Maybe go check it out?

Down the Bunny Trail

I ended up joining in some Easter festivities. You know, getting up early, getting (overly) dressed up for a play thing a family friend was in, and taking a nap shortly after coming back home. But, between the play and nap, I did have an egg-salad sandwich, and what says Easter like egg-salad?
I'll tell you what, nothing.
Except the delicious pastel rainbow cake I made last night.

Dress, necklace: Forever 21 | Headband, tights: WalMart | Ring: Icing | Glasses: Charming Charlie | Bag: Target | Earrings: Claire's | Shoes: Wanted

Mes Cheries

Happy Valentine's Day. If, like me, you are without a valentine, then I'm pretty sure that means we're each other's valentines.

Lucky you!

(I actually really wanted an excuse to post this picture.)

Venti

I'm still all sorts of sniffly, but I took some cold medicine and decided to brave the world with Erika today. We exchanged Christmas presents, got lunch at our new favourite Chinese place, and rung in the new year almost a week late with mini bottles of apple cider from the dollar store.

All in all, it was a good day.

30x30 Items:

Sweater: thrifted | Skirt: ASOS Curve

Other stuff:

Necklace: Hot Topic (gift from Casey) | Bag: Target | Flats: Payless

My gift from Erika is a teapot...

...stuffed with candy. These are all things that I like, and this is why we're friends.

Quindici

Today, we celebrated Christmas. There was the typical Christmas morning melee (which is what happens when there are thee little kids, two preteens, and some actual adults), which resulted in quite a lot of fantastic wearables currently in and around my closet. Then, in the afternoon, we went to my aunt and uncle's. There was break dancing, more present-opening, a prime rib dinner, and red velvet cake. And you should know that I like all of these things.

Prepare for really quite a lot of pictures, mostly of my nieces and nephews.

Although, when I say mostly, I mean almost entirely.

30x30 Items:

Skirt: Fashion Bug | Top: Marshall's

Other stuff:

Necklace: gift | Bag, boots: Forever 21 | Ring, bangles: vintage | Tights: WalMart | Coat: Ross

The niece demanded photos.

An Aside: Merry and Bright

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, winter, or something else entirely (or nothing at all), I hope the ending days of this year are lovely, cheerful, and warm for you. You've all made this year a great one, and I've met some fantastic internet people through this blog. You all make my computer screen glow with happiness (and nothing else, okay?), and you're all such splendid people. I hope next year is full to the brim with you lovely folks, and whichever new people somehow end up in this corner of the internet.

Now, go and raise a cup/bottle/bowl of something as a toast to yourselves. And then drink it. Unless it's chunky soup or cereal, cause that's just rude.

Dodici

Went wandering the Boulevard with Erika. Our day was also composed of further Christmas-ifying her house, watching The Grinch, shopping at Target (for presents, I swear!), and gorging ourselves on sugar cookies.

Good times, guys.

Good times.

Christmas, complete with Erika's dog, Luna.
She loves me.

Undici

My mom and I started our Christmas shopping today (I know, we're cutting it awfully close, but we just live life on the edge), and I'm one present short of being done. That's a nice feeling.

Although, if I'm being really honest, I think I might be two presents short. There's a copper bag at Target that  might be for me. And from me.

It's best if you don't question it.

30x30 Items:

Sweater: thrifted | Dress: Avon

Other stuff:

Bag: MulberryxTarget | Watch: mom | Bangles: vintage | Tights: WalMart | Boots: Forever 21

Two quick notes about this outfit: I've had it in my head for about a month, and I'm so pleased that it turned out the way I thought it would, and I really ought to stop calling this my Beatnik Sweater. Even if it makes me feel like I should snap instead of applaud and maybe wear a beret.

Oh, who am I kidding?

Beatnik Sweaters for life!
(I keep forgetting to link you all to Jess and Dani for their 30x30 looks. I highly suggest you ease my pain and click those links. Ease your pain too, the pain at not knowing just how glorious these ladies are. Because they are.)

Nove

So today was the last day of the semester. We each went into our drawing class for about thirty seconds to pick up our portfolios. I got another A, despite my firm assumptions that I would get a low B. But, hey, I certainly can't argue. I'm thrilled with it, even if I'm less than thrilled at leaving my art group.

Cue the collective sniffle.

We made do with wasting time together, doodling, and having In-N-Out for lunch. 

But now, the important part: my semester is over. I can sleep in to ungodly hours, and life is awesome.

30x30 Items:

Dress: Forever 21

Other stuff:

Coat: mom | Necklace: Claire's | Bracelet: vintage | Tights: WalMart | Boots: Forever

The thing about this coat is that it makes me want to be all ladylike. I want to pair it with tights that don't have holes (which drives my mom batty, by the way), some heels, and red lipstick. Hmm. I think I may have to do that one of these days. You know, be a lady.

'Tis the season, after all.

Lust List: Christmas Wishlist

I am a creature of wishlists and procrastination. So, instead of working on my portfolio for drawing (still no idea which pieces I'm putting in) or speaking to myself in Italian, I did this.

I regret nothing.

Because this is a list of things I'd actually really love to open on Christmas day, it includes an absurd box of Rembrandt soft pastels (I assure you all, I don't really need the $1000+ box of 255, it's just pretty, okay?) and some books that I really can't fit on my bookshelf. Also, clothes, shoes, and a bag. I am nothing if not predictable.

Sette

Tonight was the Bolouvard's big holiday to-do, and while it wasn't much, it was a lot of fun. Erika and I went, and her boyfriend tagged along, and there was free cocoa, an elf on stilts, six years spent in front of a light display taking pictures, the last of the free popcorn, a tour of the Western Hotel, and Chinese food.
A condensed/accurate look at the evening.
Man, I'm tired.

Snow! Just kidding, they're suds.

Ice sculptures!

Close-up of the pretty light things happening in and on the MOAH.

Sei

Today, you guys get a bit of a two-for-one. My outfit pulled double duty, as it had to carry me though school and a tea party. I forgot my camera for the tea (sorry!) but at least I got a shot of my outfit. Hopefully that makes up for it.

Quick story about my day, though. Not that it's interesting. I just like sharing, guys. I feel like we're friends.

After finishing the big class art project (we each created a tile then put it together, like a giant Picasso puzzle), we got out of drawing at one rather than 2:30. Most of my art group went over to Starbucks for lunch, pet stories, and discussions on our favourite Disney movies. After dropping another member of our group off at her class, the three of us sat in K's car for a solid half hour playing music on our iPods and rocking out. Then, K went home, leaving me and J to watch videos (I love introducing people to Sherlock (guys, it's on Netflix (so is Doctor Who))) for another forty-five minutes.

There is a reason why drawing is my favourite class, and it is that group.

Eventually, I made it back into town. My mom picked me up, we picked Casey up, and we all picked up some cat food. I did some magic and my outfit went from comfy to mostly-tea-appropriate.

The tea was a lot of fun. My aunt and one of her friends were hostesses (among nearly a hundred others, I'm not sure how many tables/groups there were), and the food was delicious. I gorged myself on tea, if that's possible. Not likely. There was singing (which Casey and I totally knocked out of the park), a story, and a raffle. The raffle was totally rigged, I swear.

But then, I always say it.

And then I came home and made this post.

Next on the agenda: watch a movie and then go to sleep.

30x30 Items:

Sweater: Thrifted | Dress: eShakti

Other stuff:

Collar: DIY | Tights: WalMart | Boots: Forever | Bow: BOOLVD

I'll post the original once I find it. Promise.

Uno

Sorry I didn't get this up till the 2nd, though to be fair, it's only just past midnight. So, in my eyes, it works.

I know. Full of excuses.

Whatever.

So, today/yesterday was also sort of the start of the holiday season. Casey came over and we basically spent the day baking, decorating my house, watching Christmas specials, taking my niece and nephews to the playground, and wandering WalMart. There was a minor camera-related accident in WalMart, but luckily, it didn't end too badly. So hooray for that.

Also, I bought  more books. Luckily, I do, in fact, physically have room on my bookshelf.

Anyway, without further ado: my first outfit for this 30x30. I hope that little summary of my day worked as fanfare, I really do.

I like swings, okay?

Casey and a nephew, living sloth dreams.

Lust List: Celebratory Style

It doesn't matter whether you celebrate any holidays this winter or not. It doesn't matter whether you have a social life or not. These two things are irrelevant in the face of one vitally important fact: you will celebrate this season.

Whether your plan involves celebrating sedately with your friends or partying with your grandma (what?), you really ought to be prepared. And that means having appropriately shiny clothes, jewels, and accessories at your disposal and on your person.

Challenging

Okay, so, I think we all know that I love a good clothing-related challeng. Or a mediocre one. Trust that this one falls in the first category.

Enter: The Ways to Wear Challenge! If you want more information, go click the link and learn.

This month's challenge is a little black dress!

I have three entirely black dresses, one with polka-dots, and one that's half-black-half-grey. Out of these many dresses, only one really works under the LBD umbrella. Which, honestly, isn't that big an inconvenience for me. I mean, none of my adventures really call for one, but it's all good.

This dress counts as LBD and, well, black dress. Visual proof:

Dress: Forever 21 | Tights: Hue | Boots: Forever

The above is how I dressed to face the melee that is grocery shopping on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. We got our turkey and some pre-made pies (disappointingly enough) and hightailed it out of there before we could be swallowed alive by the crowd. Thank everything we don't have to go, say, Wednesday night. I'm not one for massive shopping crowds. Probably the main reason behind my absolute refusal to go do Black Friday sales.

Okay, it's really because I am not getting up at three in the morning or whatever for that. Not. Worth. It.

Anyway.

This is how I styled the above dress for the challenge, and whatever adventures might call for an LBD, as opposed to Simple Black Dress.

Dress, bag, boots: Forever 21 |  Stockings: Torrid
Photobomber: niece

Bracelet and ring: vintage | Necklace: Fashion Bug

Among my new favorite boots. So good it hurts.

So that, good readers, is my challenge look. Huzzuh! Now, if you have plans to do this challenge as well, you have till tomorrow to think up/photograph/submit something excellent. Hop to it!

Belated Boo

As you are likely quite aware, yesterday was Halloween. Clearly. It was also the day I officially became a "twenty-something." Well, okay, maybe not that. I mean, I'm only twenty. There's no "something" to it.

Anyway.

I celebrated by sleeping in till almost noon (lovely), watching Halloween episodes of my favorite sitcoms (the best part of the year, you know), dressing like a witch (again), eating jalapeno poppers, and watching Psycho with Erika. I did try to get through Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus, but alas, it's tricky when you're on candy duty for the night.

Since my mom is currently in Arizona with my camera, I have no pictures from last night.

Here, have a shark costume for dogs instead.

In the future, I will dress up all creatures with no say (cats, dogs, 
children) as sharks.

Michael Meyers is Running!

Tonight was the Boolvd. It's this giant carnival on the boulevard here, with (as I'm sure you've noticed) a decidedly Halloween-like spin. Casey and I went (as a Crow Eater and witch, respectively), and brought my niece and her friend (a faerie and The Riddler, respectively) in tow.

We got papusas (except for casey, who had a cow tongue taco) for dinner before really adventuring. After that, though, we wandered down the Boolvd for a bit, watched a Ghostbusters themed dance, and raged at all the people dressed as Slender Man (well, no, just me. Because I am terrible at that game and he's so dumb and I keep dying and I just want to win!).

Then we went through the haunted house in the old Western Hotel. That was a lot of fun, especially since the girls were so scared. Immediately after that, we went through a family-friendly haunted house. It was more cutesy than scary, but fun nonetheless.

Then came the desserts, and then we came home.

All in all, it was a night well spent.

Now I'm off to watch cheesy 1950s horror films.

Man, I love Halloween.

My niece, the most charming faerie.

It's too bad I didn't get a good shot of the infamous platforms. 
They give her a good seven inches. Bare minimum.

Oh, you tough, huh?

Don't wanna come across us in a dark alley. No, sirree...