Two New Dresses

I won't lie, I got these a couple of weeks ago. I'm only just now getting around to showing them to you, though. I have yet to wear them, but that'll change soon.

They're both 22/2x from eShakti, smocked in the back, and absurdly comfortable. Especially the bow-tie one.

 Can we just talk about how excellent this print is? This dress is covered in bow-ties. Not bow, but bow-ties. Nothing is cooler than this dress.

 The hem detail of the blue dress. It's still a bit wrinkled from shipping, but it's 100% cotton, so it is isn't a big deal. And I really wish these pictures could do the color justice.

 This dress fits fantastically. I think there's a bit of boning in the bodice, too, actually. It's unlined and completely cotton and just waiting to be worn.

 Guys, it has pockets.

 This dress might just be the most comfortable thing I own. It's lined, which is good, considering the light, sheer material it's made out of. It also has these little tab things in the shoulders for your bra straps. Really, why don't all sleeveless dresses have that?

Alas, no pockets.

The bodice is a little gape-y, unfortunately. It doesn't look that bad, but when I sit, it really shows more than I'd like it to. Nothing a few stitches can't fix, though. Aside from that, this dress is perfect.

I spent my own money on these. I think I spent about forty altogether. The blue one was on sale, plus I used a code to get an additional 10% off. Yeah, buddy. The second one was dirt cheap because I used a $20 gift code. You guys, eShakti gives you a $20 gift code after your first purchase. Could they be any more perfect? I think not!

I just felt like sharing my opinions on these dresses, because why not? I live to help you guys with your shopping adventures, or something like that.

B.F.G.

Also known as the big, friendly giant.

Also known as me in heels.

Skirt: Fashion Bug | Tee: Fashion Bug | Babushka necklace: Forever 21 | Heels: Forever 21

Since I was determined to wear these fabulous shoes to school today, I went for an obscenely simple outfit. All black, of course. I love that the print reminds me (vaguely) of that one Miu Miu collection, the one that still haunts my dreams. You know the one—the one with the daisy, cat, and sea gull prints.

Anyway, I realized that this was not the day to wear them for the first time. I need to be able to handle them a bit better if I'm going to be hustling to catch public transit. I ended up wearing flip-flops instead. But don't worry, heels, I'm coming for you.

Rembrandt 2.0

Top: thrifted | Belt: Fashion Bug | Skirt: Forever 21 | Bangles: Forever 21 | Ring: Icing | Shoes: Payless | Necklace: Fashion Bug

Some girl on the bus afternoon told me that she "liked my swag." I decided that it was about time someone noticed!

Just kidding, that word annoys me. Almost as much as the dreaded YOLO! cry. For the love of it all, stop it.

Anyway.

I spent nearly two hundred dollars this evening on supplies for my drawing class. With a coupon. And 15% discount. Seriously, this class had better turn me into some sort of wunderkind with charcoal. Although, honestly, it doesn't matter. It'll be fun, and I have all of this stuff to play with. I'm so excited about that class!

Italian, on the other hand, might prove a bit more difficult. Despite the fact that it's closer to French than anything, and that I remembered more French that I thought I did, and that I latched onto the alphabet pretty quickly, I'm pretty sure I left that class with less knowledge of the Italian language than when I walked in.

Oh, well, I have sixteen weeks to learn...something.

Brilliant!

Back to the world of academia! It's terribly interesting, right? Although, if you must know, I desperately wished for seven people to be kidnapped by bears (being on the wait list sucks, guys), struggled to stay awake in my archaeology class, narrowly avoided breaking my ankle running to catch a train in inappropriate running shoes, and went out to dinner with my mom.

It's been a long day, and all I want to do is lie in bed and listen to Cabin Pressure, my new favorite radio show. Well, my only favorite radio show.

Once again, I need to clean my room...

Top: Forever 21 | Camisole (underneath): Forever 21 | Skirt: Forever 21 | Shoes: Payless | Bangles: vintage

Color Me Helpful

Okay, so, I'm going back to school tomorrow. Which is rough (I have to get up early, and I am not meant for mornings. I'm just not), and awesome (Biology! Drawing!) at the same time. I'll be getting back to normal, with fairly regular outfit posts, so that's something we all can look forward to, I hope.

For my readers starting/going back to college tomorrow, or in the near future, here are some things you might find useful, whether your school is of the two-year, or the four-year variety:

• Don't wear open-toed shoes in a lab. Any lab. Especially chemistry. You're just asking for amputation. (I will be ignoring this tomorrow, because I doubt I'll be spending much time in my bio lab. Such is the life of waitlisted students).
• Don't wear heels or new, uncomfortable shoes until you know what to expect. You'd probably want to know how much walking you'll be doing to/from classes, how much time you have between classes (not all of us can run in heels. I can barely walk in them), how hilly your campus is, etc. You'll thank me for saving you from blisters and achy long-day feet.
• On the first week, at least, you'll want a decently-sized bag. Something that can fit a bunch of notebooks and/or a binder. This seems like common knowledge, but trust me, it's absurdly easy to be caught off-guard with a bag that's just a little too small for all the stuff you have to carry.
• Unless your campus has a uniform (do they even do that? I don't know), then seriously, you can pretty much wear whatever you want. Clothes are clothes, and unless you're wearing, like, a bikini, you're probably doing it right. My favourite part about going to school almost every day is honestly the fact that I have to get dressed every day. I'm not gonna lie: I spent most of the summer in my pajamas. I'm excited about getting to wear some of my new clothes, and some of my older stuff in new ways. Use this as an opportunity to get creative, or just live your life in sweats. Seriously, college isn't like high school: 90% of people really are there to learn, so what you're wearing will probably only barely cross anyone's mind. Have fun with it, or don't. Wear what you want.
• Actual useful tip: if you're a commuter, one of the best things in life is an extra layer. Cardigan, coat, scarf, it doesn't matter. If it's made of cloth (or something along those lines. Whatever), and if you can safely bunch it up, you can use it as a pillow. Also, they're good for wearing when the commuter bus is way too cold to survive. Because seriously, that sucks. Even when it's still a hundred degrees out.

These are just useful little things that I've picked up in the past couple years. It really is all simple, common-knowledge stuff, and honestly, I think that the only thing that everyone ought to remember is that bit about labs, but I'm just trying to be helpful. I figured I'd impart my wisdom! Because, let's face it, I am terrifically wise.

We Missed This

For the first time in a (very) long time, Casey and I went to the Boulevard, for the Farmer's Market.

I know—weird, right?

We walked there, got smoothies, wandered and reconnected with old friends (by that, I mean we got more free samples than we could handle. Everyone missed us), made new friends (the same way), and went to the town's new museum. It's actually really cool. It's a combination art/historical museum, which I enjoyed. I never realized that this town could actually be interesting.

After dinner at one of our favourite restaurants, we went to watch an open mic night. Always fun.

I wish I could lead a more interesting life for you guys, I really do.

Wandering the High Sierras

So I've been gone a while. I went to Mammoth for a few days with my family. It was a sort-of family reunion, which was really nice. My aunt came in from Tucson, my aunt and uncle came up to join us (it was their trailer, after all), my cousins came up from San Diego, all that jazz.

On the way to Mammoth, we stopped at this restaurant, Schat's Bakery. It's a great bakery, with fantastic sandwiches. The whole place makes me think of Denmark in the 70s. It's so fabulous it hurts.

I say strange things.

We finally got there, we were thrilled. Seriously. Mammoth is this great mountain town, so all week it was about 75 or so. Vastly different from my hometown, which is stuck in the middle of the desert and averages an easy 105 all summer long. It feels like death, if death feels like an oppressively hot summer.

We had dinner at this good restaurant, Roberto's. Awesome shrimp quesadilla, awesome chili rellano, awesome lime Jarritos. Really, I could spend all day talking about how much I love lime Jarritos. Specifically lime.

My uncle arrived the next day, bearing barbecue. We all chilled for a while, just enjoying the weather and all that.

After that was a day trip to Yosemite. Third national park of the summer. My aunt kept a tally for me.

Next was my other aunt arriving, my cousins coming to the campsite, barbecued dinner, general excellence. Also of note, I drove. In traffic. To and from the grocery store. Look at me, learning new things!

And then we came home.

Sigh.

Thrifty's is the best.

(Super) Easy Maiden Braids

Okay, so. You've seen this hairstyle before, done on my friend Erika's hair, but I thought I'd show you how I do it on a regular basis. Via video. Because this is the future.

I don't know.

It's the same exact style, just simple maiden braids, just done more simply. It's easy, it's messy, and I think it looks good. That's all that matters, right?

Lust List: Academia

I don't know about my fellow students, but my classes start this month. As in a couple of weeks. As in far too soon. But despite this little fact, I'm excited. Of course, I'm excited for my classes (drawing and biology especially), but I also love the fall. My closet and I are much more suited for autumn.

Anyway, here are some of the things I'm feeling. Lots of prints, witchy details, and interesting colors. Oh, and school-appropriate bags.

Day Eleven: Coming Home

Coming home from a great vacation is the best/worst thing. On the one hand, it's lovely to be home when you get there. On the other, it sucks to leave.

We left early, stopping for Starbucks. I even did the unthinkable and got coffee. I'm not a coffee drinker, for reasons unknown.

The drive was very, very, very long. We had lunch at an In-N-Out in Utah (not sure where) and passed through Arizona, Nevada, and a very dull chunk of California. I have recently discovered that I really want to explore an abandoned water park just after the fruit check, though.

I gave (almost) everyone their presents when I got home, introduced them to the wonders of huckleberry (I still have some of that licorice left), and honestly enjoyed being back home, in my own bed.

I would love to get a job at Yellowstone next summer, honestly. I want to go back as soon as I can. That place fills you up, makes you feel smaller and more alive. You can't escape the sheer might of everything there, but at the same time, you feel a bit closer to connected, you know?

Stop me before I wax too poetic.

I think that everyone should go to Yellowstone and Grand Teton at once. There's nothing quite as cleansing as a tremendous view, right? That's all you get there.

And so it concludes.

I think this just means that I need another adventure, and soon!

First bit of California in a while—in Utah.

Jerry in Arizona.