there's no other love like the love for a brother

Today I wore this to work...I wanted to combine the casual denim and sneakers with the black dress (and I actually found out later in the day that my tights were navy and not black...that's what I get for dressing in the dark!), and I love the result. I also did a super high pony tail which I haven't been able to do in such a long time!

Here's the necklace my grandma gave me at Christmas. It's a shilling design from 1928.

I like that I'm posting more pictures of my accessories lately because it makes me want to put on things like these buttons which I had been neglecting in my jewelry box.

I've gotten really good at timing these jumping pics, but today I was so off! I took almost four before I got one where I was actually in the air. That's ok...does it count as exercise?!

I also want to give a shout out to my awesome brother who's going through a rough time right now. I love him so much no matter what.

the original conjuring cat

This is what I wore for girl's night last night...I love this beret so much, but it makes my forehead itch like the dickens.

All I want to do lately:

• eat organic food
• plant flowers
• play with my cat
  
• read Shutter Island
  

but February made me shiver

Today is a good day. My tests are done, and tonight it's girl's night! And, it's absolutely gorgeous outside.

This is what I'm wearing today - a good outfit for the February weather.

This is the brooch that's been on my hat ever since I bought it.

Happy almost-weekend, everyone!

every time I've held a rose...

"If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly,
our whole life would change."

--Buddha

This is what I wore to work today! I decided to use some of my Valentine's Day roses in the pictures (thank you Bob!). They are the most beautiful flowers that I have ever received...they smell incredible and look gorgeous. I used the rose motif also in my cardigan and my jewelry.

I love the spectator style of these shoes, but even more special is that they were my great-grandma's.

Tomorrow I will be at school the whole day. I have a test in my anthropology class, a two hour break, then my childhood & adolescence class, then a test in my Native Americans class, another two hour break, and lastly my sign language class. Sigh, a long day, but hopefully a good one, too!

"But he that dares not grasp the thorn
should never crave the rose."

--Anne Bronte

doggone lover

I cannot seem to catch a break these days! This weekend I was lucky to have both days off but then was confined to my couch with a nasty bout of food poisoning. My body's system still doesn't seem to be back to normal, but at least I'm up and about.

After taking pictures today I realized that I didn't really like my outfit for today. However, I did like the accessories I put with it. Here they are...

Peacock feather ring from Charlotte Russe and fingerless gloves from H&M.

I don't have pierced ears, so I don't wear earrings often, but I love these thrifted dream-catcher ones.

I need to start wearing pins and brooches more often...they add such character to the outfits. Here are two, both thrifted, an Irish setter and a moth, that I wore on my vest today.

I think I'm going to start putting up more pictures of my accessories...hopefully my outfits will be good enough to be posted, too!

tell 'em that we're just good friends

I had a much-needed night with the girls that included scrummy homemade food and yoga. This day could not have come fast enough, let me tell you. My week has been so stressful, but for the moment I'm at peace and feelin' so good.

This is what I wore to work today. I realized that my sock drawer is lacking (in a major way) solid colored socks. I wanted to do just plain red, but all I could find was striped. I need the socks I had when I was a kid...the perfect length and awesome colors - navy, teal, red, purple...I believe.

It was a beautiful day out...the sun was shining and the temperature was just cool enough to be refreshing.

I had my first sign language class last night! It was so fun. My favorite sign is the sign for cat.

Well, I'm off to bed. Gotta rest up for the day of studying I have ahead of me!

the lady in red is dancing with me

My hectic week is hectic as ever, but I sure as hell am having a good time with some of it. For example, last night I had a yoga class taught to me by a friend (visit her blog!), and it was amazing. I have never really been into yoga that much because I don't like not being able to do things right away, but I think all that will change now. The class was phenomenal...I felt amazing - both mind and body. Though I'm feeling it a bit today in my back and shoulders it's just a reminder of the amazing things my body can do! Girl's night was a total blast, once again.

This is what I wore today. I love getting in the spirit of Valentine's Day (and also, the Chinese New Year) with wearing red and lots of it.

My amazing boyfriend sent me some beautiful roses for Valentine's Day and I had fun taking pictures with some of the rogue petals...

Tomorrow is one of the busiest days of the year at my job. I'm so glad I'm working with fun people!

For some reason I really want to dance the macarena. What the heck?

blame it on the boogie

Do you ever have those days when you look outside and say, gee, it's wet and slushy outside. I should wear my little pink shoes. Yeah, 'cause that's what I did. They are soaked. And my feet are still recovering. And did you ever think, I'll just put my shoes back on and go and take pictures for my blog? Didn't think so either.

I was feeling off-duty-dancer-ish today, so, I went with it. This scarf is amazing - it has knights jousting on it. In pink and purple and turquoise.

I have a test in my Psychology of Childhood and Adolescence class on Monday, and also a quiz on the different parts of the skull and the teeth in my anthropology course. I've got to kick my behind into high studying mode for tomorrow.

Also on the schooly note, I'm so psyched because I've signed up for a sign language course. I've wanted to learn sign language for so long, and I've finally signed up! I had to miss the first class, which was tonight, because I couldn't get out of work, but, you know. They are every Wednesday night from 6-8:30. I'm hoping that after this beginning course then I can take the intermediate course in the summer!

This week is off to a hectic start...but I'm kind of liking it.

and in the morning kick me in the head

I don't know what to talk about first! Okay, I'll start with last weekend - one word: amazing. My boyfriend and I had so much fun celebrating our anniversary. We took a trip to the Mitchell Park Domes and sat on the couch cuddling - those were the highlights. I'll post pictures of the Domes sometime this week.

This is what I wore today. I love how the colors in the scarf go so well with the tights. But, my favorite part of the outfit has to be the lurking cheetah on my scarf...oh, and also this vintage purse. My mom took it to one of her proms so it's extra special.

I'm super busy this week (pre-Valentine's rush at work) - work everyday plus school, plus making Valentine's, plus maybe signing up for a beginning sign language course that starts this Wednesday night, plus eating and sleeping. Equals I will be very busy. Plus girls night/yoga extravaganza on Thursday (lots of laughing and smiling). Plus trying to stay sane. I'll let you know how it turns out.

this time is forever...love is the answer

Tonight was girl's night! I went out with two good friends and we talked for hours! We had so much fun and found out so many things that we have in common. It was one of the best nights I've had in so long. We're planning on every Thursday night being a girl's night, and we might even be taking a weekend trip to Chicago together...I'm so excited.

Anyways, this is what I wore. I did my hair a little differently - in a side part - and I like how it turned out.

It's also my four year anniversary with my boyfriend. He came down for the weekend so I'm really excited to see him tomorrow! I love you, Bob.

This weekend's going to be so much fun! Love to you all!

do you know what today is? today is tomorrow

Today (Groundhog's Day, officially) we had snow again! It fell all day - big beautiful flakes. I'm wearing a new wool beret (terribly itchy...my poor forehead) with some vintage pins I stuck on it.

Here is a groundhog just for you.

I learned something so interesting in my Physical Anthropology class yesterday when we were discussing the Black Plague. Up until recently it has been believed that if you contracted the bacterial disease, you were a gonner for sure. Now they have evidence that people survived the sickness, and even that people highly exposed to it weren't affected. So, they analyzed the genes of descendants of those survivors and found something interesting. On the gene called CCR5 there was a mutation called Delta 32. This mutation caused a protective case to form around the white blood cells, saving the cells from being attacked by the bacteria. Currently, the descendants that posses two mutations are immune to Aids (even though Aids is a virus it still attacks the white blood cells the same way).

In the same class we are learning the different bones in the body. Our Anthropology department currently has a real skeleton for the classes to study. I've never seen a real skeleton (besides the remains of mummies, I suppose) before. I mean, I've seen the reproductions of the bones and skeletons, but seeing it in real life was really different for me. I never fully realized how beautiful they really are. They are so intricate and extraordinary. I'm very inspired.

Well, that's all for tonight. Tomorrow I have class and then work...a long day, but you know, that's life. Pip pip.