Because I am Crazy

In the past few months, I've become kind of fascinated with the world of personal style blogs. Something about keeping a log of everything you wear, and what you look like every day, really appeals to the obsessive record-keeping part of my brain. Plus, it's kind of addictive to see how people express themselves through their clothing, and how real people with real bodies and real budgets interpret (and eschew) trends. Keeping all that in mind, I've decided to participate in Kendi's 30 for 30 challenge this year. (If you are at all interested in clothes and styling, I highly recommend you check out Kendi's blog!)

Anyway, here are the rules of the challenge:

1. The first rule of the 30 for 30 challenge is: don't talk about the 30 for 30 challenge.

2. No shopping for 30 days! (I'm going to abstain from buying new clothing, but may still shell out for a new book or two....)

3. Pick 30 items of clothing, and wear 30 outfits made of those items.

4. Shoes count towards your 30 items, but belts, jewelry & other accessories don't.

4. Pajamas, exercise clothing, etc. doesn't count towards your 30 clothing items.

Since the next 30 days of my life includes not one but two trips, this is going to be a challenge. One trip is my family's yearly week in Colorado, which involves a lot of hiking and chilly nights. I'm going to do myself a favor and decide right now that hiking boots, fleeces, grubby jeans, etc. fall under the category of "exercise clothing," but I will try to select only a very few outdoor necessities to add to my 30 items for that trip. Later this evening (after coming home from food and fireworks at my grandmother's house) I will post my catalogue of the items I've chosen.

Also, quickly, I think this kind of challenge is a good idea not just because it will force me to be more inventive when putting outfits together, but also because (I hope) it will make me more appreciative of what I have and more careful about what I buy. My goal is to approach acquisition mindfully (not always an easy task), and maybe putting myself on this kind of clothing "diet" will help. Furthermore, I wore a uniform to school for 12 years of my life and, to be honest, I kind of miss the simplicity of being able to throw on the same skirt, blouse, knee socks, and shoes every morning. If only I was still fifteen.....

What I've Read in 2010

Every January, I set myself a challenge: I will read 100 books this year. Most years, I end up with a list of 60 or 70 titles, but this year I'm actually keeping up with my goals. Here's what I've read so far, with no omissions--not even the most embarrassing supermarket romance novel has been kept off the list. I tend to read four or five books at a time, keeping a balance between literary fiction, romance, young adult fiction, and nonfiction, so that I always have a book to pick up that suits my current mood. Keep in mind that Nora Roberts generally tends to coincide with periods of great stress in my life--I self-medicate with trashy romantic suspense. What have you read lately?

1. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jaqueline Kelly
2. Out of Sheer Rage by Geoff Dyer
3. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
4. The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy
5. The Ballad of the Sad Cafe by Carson McCullers
6. Song of the West by Nora Roberts
7. Boundary Lines by Nora Roberts
8. Prom Nights from Hell by Meg Cabot, Kim Harrison, Michelle Jaffe & etc.
9. Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner
10. Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halprin
11. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation by M.T. Anderson
12. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
13. Born in Fire by Nora Roberts
14. Born in Ice by Nora Roberts
15. Born in Shame by Nora Roberts
16. Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner
17. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
18. The LIghtning Thief by Rick Riordan
19. Service Included by Phoebe Damrosch
20. The House on Tradd Street by Karen White
21. Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
22. Any Which Wall by Laurel Snyder
23. A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson
24. Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
25. The House of the Spirits by Isabella Allende
26. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
27. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
28. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
29. Hotel Paradise by Martha Grimes
30. A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L’Engle
31. Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts
32. Lord of the Far Island by Victoria Holt
33. Going Bovine by Libba Bray
34. Band Geek Love by Josie Bloss
35. The Handmade Marketplace by Kari Chapin
36. Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner
37. Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella
38. Truly, Madly by Heather Webber
39. Runaway by Meg Cabot
40. A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Meg Cabot
41. The Old Man and Me by Elaine Dundy
42. Wild Life by Molly Gloss
43. Genuine Lies by Nora Roberts
44. Geektastic Ed. by Holly Black and Cecil Castelucci
45. Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen by Susan Gregg Gilmore
46. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
47. Commencement by J. Courtney Sullivan
48. Betsy and the Great World by Maud Hart Lovelace
49. An Off Year by Claire Zulkey
50. Betsy’s Wedding by Maud Hart Lovelace

Goin' Wild in the Country

Last weekend, I was lucky enough to be able to meet up with two of my best friends for a trip to the Indiana countryside. Rarely have I spent four such perfect days--our trip was filled with sunset walks, flying luminaries, farmer's markets, history museums, lazy afternoons spent with embroidery and Moonstruck, and just basically perfection.

What was I thinking?!?

Image by 工字背心, found via Creature Comforts.

I miss my long hair so much! What was I thinking when I cut it short? I know what I was thinking: I need to metaphorically shed a year of negative thoughts and self-doubt and anger. And it worked, but I REALLY miss being able to go days without washing my hair and throw it into a braid and leave the house. Next time, remind me that I hate short hair, I hate having to wash my hair every other day and STYLE it for goodness sake to have it look decent.

For My Dad

Thank you, Daddy, for teaching me how to swim, for tutoring me through physics and calculus (even when I dissolved into tears over my homework every night), for teaching me that reading separate books silently together IS a family activity, for helping me put up the Christmas tree every year, for always coming running when there's a bug in my room and then humanely capturing it under a glass and putting it outside, for doing the dishes every night after I cook dinner, for loving me and supporting me even when I don't know what the hell I'm doing with my life, for telling me that everything will work out in the end, for giving me a hug whenever I need one, and for reminding me that it is ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA to wear tie, closed-toe shoes, and to be prepared no matter what (it's the boyscout motto, after all). You're the kindest person I know. Happy father's day!

Ruth's Obi Belt

My friend Ruth recently (by which I mean a month and a half ago; these pictures are ooooold) graduated from grad school and requested only one thing of me in return: an obi belt! Ruth wanted something she could pair with solid t-shirts and use to dress up otherwise basic outfits. After a little snooping around on the internet, this is what I came up with:

This project couldn't have been easier--just cut two 5" wide strips of fabric (mine ended up being patched together and ended up about 80" long), sew together with right sides facing, leaving one end open, turn, press, topstitch, and that's it! The hardest part for me was matching patterns--I used the same Amy Butler print in two different colorways so the belt would be reversible, and I wanted to be certain that the same portion of the bold horizontal print would be visible on both sides of the belt. I think it turned out pretty well!

(just to give you an idea of what it looks like on--Ruth wears it much more cutely than I do!)

(and the other side!)

Sunny Day Dress

The sun came out! It was gloriously sunny and only in the mid-80s today, which was perfect weather to explore the gardens at the Philbrook with Jessa. We also saw "To Live Forever," the current traveling exhibition of Egyptian artifacts from the Brooklyn Museum. It was a really cool exhibit, but Jessa and I both agreed that we wished the wall text and information in the accompanying brochure were more extensive. Then again, we are both REALLY into ancient Egypt. The whole outing kind of made me want to re-read The Egypt Game, one of my favorite childhood books. Sadly it just got packed into storage, so I guess I'll have to wait a bit. In any case, here are a few images from my day:

(not recommended while driving)

(Jessa's awesome front door)

Dress-thrifted at White Rabbit in IC, Bracelets - thrifted, Shoes - Target, Hippo- Awesome