Say “Hello!” to the newest addition to my closet, courtesy of Dillard’s. With graduation looming in the horizon, I need to whip my professional wardrobe into tip-top shape. Come July, I will have to retire my jeans and t-shirts.
I had set out last weekend to find a nice pair of black slacks, but no sleek ones were to be found. Though I have more than enough dresses, I couldn’t help but take this one home with me. One more couldn’t hurt, right?
Tags: dress, professional dress, work clothes
Grow any fresh herbs lately? Not with the cold-snap that last two weeks. Ditto for homemade jam. What’s the point of making jam at home if you’re not starting out with plump, pretty produce?
Looking over my resolution list, I’m not getting off to a good start in 2011. I’m such a failure; I can’t even achieve the goal of sleeping 7 hours each night. In fact, instead of progressing with my goals, I’ve taken a few steps back, especially with the running. Without yoga in my life, I don’t treat my muscles right and stretch, which has resulted in some very sore shins when running. So it has been back to the ellipticals for the past couple of weeks.
At least I’ve been laughing and baking often. With a friend looking over my shoulder, I tried to make macarons. Though they didn’t turn out too well, too much feet, not enough head, and much too soft, we had a lot of laughs while baking up these little sweets.
Bonne Maman’s wild blueberry preserves? Just sweetened everything a tad more.
When enjoying life, add as much sugar as possible. And then add scant teaspoon more for safe keeping.
Tags: blueberry, bonne maman, macaron, resolutions
Interview season is over. No more spending weekends living out of a suitcase and exploring new cities. No more wining and dining with current residents. No more airplane peanuts. Now it’s time to get down to business and make a big decision.
This decision will bring a life-altering change, marking a transition from studentdom and taking me from my home. For all of my life, I have lived within a 17-mile radius, save for brief stints in la belle France. So even though people keep on telling me that 3 years is nothing in the grand scheme of things, it’s a big deal for me since I haven’t known any area for more than 6 months other than my home.
So I’m stuck. This is my first real adult decision, and I have no idea where to even begin. Strength of a training program versus sheer kickassness of a city. Or should happiness of the residents rule it all?
I just don’t know.
Tags: changes, growing up, moving
While the snow and wind are wreaking havoc outside, the oven is warmed up and pumping out yummy yellow cake cupcakes. Topped with chocolate sour cream frosting and sprinkles? Definitely warms the soul.
{via Mad Men}
Mad Men is one of those shows that is just too cool and sophisticated for anyone, so you always feel unworthy when watching it, as if you’re some kind of peeping tom to this members-only show. It isn’t the story line, dialogue, or acting that places Mad Men on a pedestal. We can all admit that the clothes and setting are what make us keep on tuning in for more. The clothes especially are just too hot to trot.
So when I came across The Fashion File by Janie Bryant, the COSTUME DESIGNER for Mad Men, I had to check it out pronto. With Snowmageddon 2011 forcing me into hibernation, this little book has been keeping me company beautifully. Since the fashion on Mad Men is oh-so-uh-mazing, Janie makes a lot of references to the characters, begging you to answer one simple question from the get-go: Are you a Joan or a Betty?
{via Mad Men}
Who seriously is a fan of Betty? Joan by far is the best dressed person on the show, with her jewel-toned color scheme and pencil skirts. And her gold accessories? Fantabulous. She always looks so put-together and professional. As I’m editing my closet, preparing for my entry into the workforce (Finally! I’m going to a contributing member to society), I keep on thinking, “What would Joan Holloway wear?”
So when a local vintage store began to liquidate its selection, I pounced all over this high-waisted pencil skirt. Though Joan favors solid colors, I think this houndstooth would get her nod of approval.
And this gold watch? Definitely on Joan’s list.
Though I’m always sad to see local businesses fold, especially ones started by young people, I am very thankful that I was able to procure these two items, timeless and quality items. That’s vintage for you.
Oh, looking at gold and pattern makes me want to squeal!
Tags: janie bryant, joan holloway, mad men, vintage
Victoria’s Secret has been a good friend to me lately, gifting me with my very first bikini while shopping the other day. As someone who has always been on the “healthy” side when it comes to body shape, I have long avoided two-piece bathing suits.
Since I’ve come back from France, I’ve been working out on a regular basis in hopes of never feeling self-conscious again when a guy decides to start feeling me up. Running and dancing have been key, and I’ve been quite pleased with the results. I am no where near walking down the runway, but I’m beginning to see some muscle definition in the middle. I didn’t immediately cringe when I tried this bikini on at the store.
Perhaps it was a little premature of me to buy this bikini before I was completely satisfied with my physique, especially since I’ve been having problems with running lately and have reverted back to the ellipticals, but maybe having this in my collection is the motivation I need to push through the pain and run again. Or at least dance for hours a day again.
Plus, the whole set cost me only $20. For a black bikini? A real steal.
And here I was beginning to worry that this sales season was a complete bust for me. I went on a rampage through Victoria’s Secret and came away victorious. My bottom drawer is now filled with age-appropriate undergarments, thank you very much.
Now let’s see if I’ll care if someone sees London, sees France, and sees my underpants.
Tags: makeover, panties, victoria's secret
New Year’s came and went without much ado, but I have to say that I am sad to see 2010 go. It had been an amazing year–finally getting over my ex, traveling and meeting new people all over the country on the interview trail, starting to run, kissing another guy, regaining my footing, and making way back to France. I still have a semester left in my fourth year, a.k.a. the country club year, and a few more interviews, but I have a feeling that 2011 won’t be quite as magical.
But I’ve been trying to be optimistic about this new year. 2011 is going to bring a big change in my life, with the start of residency and most likely a move. I’m long past 18 years old, but having some responsibilities in the hospital and finally moving out of the 20-mile radius that I was born and raised within makes me feels as if I’m about to transition into adulthood. I’m excited and little sad at the same time. Ready for the change, to start a new chapter, but a little reluctant to be away from all of my friends and all that is familiar.
It’s going to take a lot of courage and audacity to find a place for myself in whichever city I end up matching in, so to commemorate the new year, I finally put together a layered cake. For the longest time, I avoided layer cakes, opting to make cupcakes or halving the recipe, because I didn’t want to go through the hassle. I mean, stacking two pieces of cake together and then frosting it all was just too much work for me. I’m absolute crap when it comes to putting together and slapping on the frosting. And where would I store such a creation?
But if I ever want to be taken seriously as a baker, I needed to get over my laziness and break out that turntable. It wasn’t so bad in the end, and the results were pretty good. I used the cover recipe from the Cook’s Illustrated Holiday Baking 2010 special issue, and it turned out a moist and not-too-sweet cake. I don’t know if this will be my go-to recipe for red velvet cake, but it’s definitely a contender. The fact that I don’t have a picture of a cake slice should be enough proof of this cake’s yumminess–I didn’t have the patience to go get my camera before wolfing it down.
It’s super late and clichéd, but I just love making lists. I kept my goals nice, sweet, and simple because I hate the feeling of failure. A girl’s gotta feel accomplished somehow, right?
Tags: baking, red velvet cake, resolutions
It might be a British brand, but it has that oh-so-laissez-faire French chic to it.
Toast has just begun it’s winter sale, which means the prices are still too steep for me but the selection is still great. Here are my picks.
1 fine jersey snood || 2 metallic bangle || 3 felted wool cape jacket || 4 ravenna jacket || 5 breton tee || 6 chambray shirt || 7 pinstripe pencil skirt || 8 carina tunic dress || 9 pinstripe cigarette trouser || 10 soft cord jodphur trouser || 11 riding boot || 12 short biker boot
New York City is an expensive place to even breathe in. I knew that when boarding the plane destined for the great city, which is why I didn’t plan on buying much stuff while there. Having just returned from a two-month sojourn in France and with all the flying I’ve been doing with interview season, I just couldn’t justify a shopping spree. I only brought carry-on pieces with me, packed to the max since I was going to be gone for a week, so that I wouldn’t be tempted to buy anything.
My plan didn’t work all that well. While I didn’t purchase many clothing items, I did fall in love with Lush. My old college roommate is a big fan of the store, so I sampled all of her facial cleansers and beauty cremes while staying with her in NYC. Unfortunately, that store isn’t priced for those trying to spend on a budget. I did purchase some facial scrubs and conditioner from Lush, but only after much internal debating and aggressive persuasion from the salesgirl. I’m not one to dish out much money on personal items, and it clearly showed in my uneasiness as I was walking from the store. Then when my friend asked me if I wanted to go see the latest Harry Potter, I bemoaned how expensive movie ticket prices are in NYC.
Which prompted my friend to quip, “I never knew how cheap you were until this trip.”
Her comment really cut deeply. Was I truly cheap? Since I’m not taking out student loans and am living off of my father’s good graces, can I be blamed for thinking about how much I was spending everywhere I went? Plus, with another big trip to either Argentina or Vietnam this Spring, my brother has been harping about how I should be saving. Even my parents have made a comment or two about my spending to him, especially since I’ve been vocal about my desire to go back to France a.s.a.p.
{via Confessions of a Shopaholic}
My family is by no means rich, very far from it, but my parents work wonders with budgets and have been able to pay for my schooling. It is super nice to not have any debts to pay off when I graduate in a few months, but sometimes I wish I had taken out loans like all of my friends. I realize how absolutely ungrateful and spoiled I am, but sometimes I have to decline doing activities with my friends because I feel guilty wasting so much of my parents’ money. My friends have this mindset that since they already owes thousands of dollars in loans, what will a few hundreds hurt? So eating out everyday and buying their hearts’ desires aren’t out of their means, per se.
With this crazy notion of mine to become reasonably fashionable this year, I’ve been really learning how expensive clothes and good beauty products are. I guess that’s the price to pay to feel good about yourself and not feel self-conscious when young French boys want to feel you up. So if I can’t go to the nicest restaurants or decline invitations to go to the movies, does this make me cheap or budget-conscious?
Tags: shame
