I'll always be your Wendy Darling.

I have many legitimate excuses for my blogging hiatus, but I see no point in listing them. Life is a little messy right now, and I have been throwing myself into meaningless chores and work to cope. And somehow, midst the shit and drama, I forgot about my poor blog.

My sincerest apologies, dear friend.

Since my last post, I hosted my Thanksgiving. The 23 lb. bird was a complete success, served with all of the trimmings. The menu was as follows: turkey, bread stuffing, red skin garlic mashed potatoes, green beans with bacon, garlic butter rolls, cranberry sauce, pumpkin cookies, spiced maple pecans, and apple pie.

The party was a hoot, and I think everyone enjoyed their evening. It is a night I'll never forget, and not just because I spent hours and hours over a stove.


Dress, Free People [I think?]; Apron, vintage; Boots, my old riding boots.

Post-Thanksgiving, and post-extreme house recovery, I have been focusing on work and school. There are, shockingly, only three days of classes left before finals. The semester’s last issue of the newspaper has been sent to the printers and should be arriving on Wednesday. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I’ll be spending the majority, if not the entirety, of my holiday break back in my hometown this year. I’m packing the Jeep, bundling up Tortoise and heading out as soon as I turn in my last exam.

Despite my anticipation for going home, I do not think Tortoise is very excited for a car trip. Or to be staying in a house with cats.

Even though I will technically be home for Christmas, I still decorated my apartment with full force. My teeny space fits three trees, each of which I adore in a different way. The living room has an “apartment-sized” tree, featuring vintage and vintage-look-alike ornaments. The kitchen has a 2 ft. aluminum tree, covered in small antique Santas and gift tag decorations. And then there is my secret vice—my bedroom 4 ft. aluminum tree, which is covered in Hello Kitty. I keep it tucked away from the general area, since it clashes with the general décor (and since I am an adult with a fucking Hello Kitty tree.)

In between writing final essays and presentations today, which shouldn’t take too long since I am ahead of schedule as it is, I plan on cleaning the apartment again. I would like the place to be in perfect condition before I leave, so I am not greeted by a messy apartment upon my return. I will have to snap a few pictures.

I have also managed to finish my holiday shopping, and stay within budget. The wrapping is even complete. I suppose there isn’t anything that makes you more productive than having nothing to do.

Dance till you drop. Or your face meets someone's elbow.

Ska is Dead IV proved that, contrary to popular belief, ska is alive and kicking. Scratch that—skanking.

I haven’t danced through an entire show in years. Today I woke up with a sore back and a partially bruised and swollen eye. Oh, the glories of the pit.

Today, partly because of my exhaustion, I did not accomplish much. I paid my electric bill (woo-hoo!) and ran a few errands.

I decided to try the bareMinerals Mineral Veil Buffering Brush from Ulta. This line of make-up has single-handedly cleared up my skin in less than two weeks. I don’t care if it’s pricey, it’s worth it. However, it is a huge pain to carry around. So far, this little brush seems to work perfectly.

I also went to TJ Maxx to check out discounted home items. I snagged a great, and gigantic, casserole dish, a few Hello Kitty blown glass Christmas ornaments, holiday cards and an early gift for my mother.

After, Ricky and I grabbed dinner and ended up watching movies at the guys’ house. All around, it was a fun, but non-productive, day.

Hence I am now working on some pieces for The Eye of the Storm.

As pictured in my previous post, I recently snagged a sweatshirt-material motorcycle jacket. I had been looking for one just like it for months; it seemed they were only available in unflattering colors or at ridiculous prices. But lucky me! I was wandering Target, killing time, and spotted one left in my size. When I brought it to the register, I was informed it was 25% off. The woman in front of me, while collecting her bags, even congratulated me on my smart shopping skills while I jumped for joy.

The elbow to the eye from last night is staring to hurt again. Perhaps it’s time I caught up on my sleep.

Get ready, get set.

Leftover Crack is blaring on the record player.
I'm hyped up on coffee.
My purse is small and holds only the necessities.

There must be a show tonight!


Jacket, Converse One Star; Shirt, Dylan's; Belt, vintage; Skirt, H&M; Boots, my old riding boots.

Ska is Dead IV, featuring Voodoo Glow Skulls, The Toasters and Mustard Plug, is tonight at Off Broadway. Tommy should be here soon, and then we're off.

Nothing beats a great show.

"I remember Hallooweeeeennnn.."

Halloween this year was fantastic. Ricky and I dressed up as Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz… from beyond the grave!

The costumes were relatively inexpensive. We found my dress ($14) and his tuxedo jacket ($45), both vintage, on The Loop, and I hand-sewed the apron. Everything else we already owned.

The party was hilarious, and the entire evening was a total ball. But now Halloween has passed, and it is time to start planning Thanksgiving.

My first dinner party was last year’s Thanksgiving. I was very proud of how everything turned out, excluding the mashed potatoes on my ceiling that thankfully no one noticed. I plan on making this year’s event bigger and better; a larger bird, more side dishes, and homemade desserts. I’m ecstatic.

We’ve been cleaning the apartment from top to bottom in preparation for such a large gathering. I’m finally getting rid of my junk drawers (and junk boxes and junk bags and junk piles..) and installing real organization systems into our lives. The place is starting to really come around.

In doing all of this cleaning, we’ve also realized we do not need to buy disposable lighters until 2011, at the earliest. So far we’ve found approximately fifteen, and there is still a bedroom and a closet to clean. Ha!
But for now, we are relaxing. Tonight is a night of Instant Netflix marathons and staying in our pajamas. Speaking of which, I had better get back to "work."

Tasty Treats & Three of a Kind

A mixture of copy editing, poker, working at the bookstore, baking, tutoring on campus, Mad Men and newspaper layout overtook my last week. But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel—the paper will be out tomorrow. And on the plus side, I managed to become pretty damn great at poker, semi-addicted to Mad Men and a few dollars richer.

Last night we all hung out, playing cards and watching the Food Network, aka the only channel that makes me miss cable. I made Beth a batch of low-calorie, yet totally scrumptious, Halloween-themed birthday cupcakes.



Low-Calorie Yellow Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting..

• 1 box Pillsbury Moist Supreme Reduced Sugar Classis Yellow Cake Mix
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup applesauce
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 container (or less!) Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Reduced Sugar Chocolate Fudge Frosting

By replacing normal cake mixes and frostings with ones from the Reduced Sugar line, using a small amount of delicious frosting (as opposed to a large amount of decorative icing) and substituting applesauce for cooking oil, the calories were drastically cut. Now that’s sweet.

Saint Louis Fashion Week - Surface

My sincerest apologies for not updating sooner. Apparently my previous week and a half has caught up with me in the form of the cold from hell. After 36 hours of sleep and a gallon of orange juice, I think I’m doing just fine.


Vest, BDG.; Skirt, H&M; Shirt, Forever Twenty-One; Jewelry, vintage.

Saturday’s show at Fashion Week was wonderful. Due to ride issues, I took a taxi into the city and hung out at the Lumière coffee shop, Peet’s, until the before party started. I enjoyed my last evening of free hors d'oeuvres and Borbas, which I am seriously now addicted to and wishing they weren’t insanely overpriced. I managed to snag a few brief interviews, asking all how the designs shown this week could transition for college students.

Tinypants, the men’s designer and sales/marketing director of Love Brigade, recommended the versatility and comfort of jersey-knit onesies. “You could throw a jacket over it and dress it up.”

Allyce King, head designer of Allyce King Designs and DIY Style, encouraged more college students to sew their own clothing. She explained the costs of making a jacket from scratch as opposed to buying one brand new. She also recommended “a lot of exposed zippers. All you have to do is slap it on and stitch around it.”

Jeff Stevens, TRIM partner, explained how each piece of TRIM clothing has a piece of interior fabric from a vintage car. “Bringing back vintage styles, mixing and mashing it up,” said Stevens, while giving his style advice. “What’s the next thing?”

I also ran around like a crazy person with business cards, networking myself to death in a final attempt to take advantage of the wonderful situation. Fashion and journalism have a lot in common; it’s all about selling yourself.

The show, Surface, included designers Skif, Wrath Aracane and Nice Collective. Skif’s designers reminded me of the occasional sweaters you can find on one of my guy friends; a bit tattered, thin and worn, loosely knit. The oversized, drapey garments were paired with large 1980s-themed jewelry. The entire look was rather homeless-hippie-chic, and reminded me of resort-wear in winter.





Wrath Aracane’s designs were practical and wearable; they were casual comfort with a slight twist. For example, my favorite piece was a men’s button down shirt with a black stripe going down the chest. It was like a mock skinny tie. Their pieces also included double pockets and necklines, which I really liked.



Nice Collective seemed to mainly include natural colors in unnatural fibers, such as a soft white cotton top mixed with black shiny plastic-looking bottoms. The collection included a lot of dark seersucker and angled pockets. The overall effect was oversized military casual.





Since then, I have been asleep. I guess I knew somewhere in the back of my head that living like this couldn’t last forever. Sleeping when I can and getting 75% of my daily vitamins and minerals from black coffee can only last so long.

In my hazy, cold-medicine state, I was able to realize something of the upmost importance. Thinking I’m going back to my real life of working and studying all God damn day is a terrible way to look at things. Who says this wasn’t real life? Maybe if I keep kicking my way to the top, this will be nothing more than the average work week.

I love my life.

Saint Louis Fashion Week - Emerge (Pt. 2)

Last night's show was, to say the least, spectacular.

I did not have a ticket for the show, meaning I would have to stand in the media pit. They were still for sale, but I couldn't justify spending that much money to sit for an hour, as opposed to standing and seeing the same thing for free.

But apparently it was my lucky day.

I got to the before party a little late. Of course, MLK bridge was shut down earlier this week, making going from Illinois to the Landing quite a joy. Once I arrived, I grabbed a Borba at the bar (seriously, I don't care if they clear my skin, they're delicious) and wandered the STL Craft Mafia booths. I picked up a pair of beautiful metal flower earrings and a small coffee cup and saucer ring. After, I decided to run to the powder room and then head up to the show.

To my surprise, in the powder room, next to the sink, lay a single ticket. I looked around, and no one was there. I picked it up and noticed it was for tonight's show, and it was front row.

However, I'm not that asshole who can just find something and call it my own. So I took it back to the ticket sales desk. That's where I was told "You snooze, you lose. It's yours."

Sitting in the front row was a different expierence, but definetly one I enjoyed. Espically because I fell a little in love with one of last night's designers, and being front row made my lusting a little more understandable.

The show began with TRIM, a rockabilly-meets-mechanic brand. The occasional woman's outfit that was shown featured skin tight jeans and pomped up hair. The men wore somewhat tight, straight leg jeans with a single cuff at the bottom, and either a western or a work shirt.



Next was Love Brigade. For the most part I enjoyed their collection, but I found some of it to be a little too free spirited for me.



And saved for last was Bolongaro Trevor, aka my new favorite brand. The show was paired with songs from The Sex Pistols and David Bowie, to name a few. It featured muted burgondeys, greys, plums and navys. There were countless additions of stripes, plaids and gold accents. I was also very impressed by the men's suit jackets, which feautured new and slighly odd straps and bands thrown in.













Neither Ricky nor Mitch nor Beth won anything at the casino last night. We still went out celebrating, and grabbed dinner at The Burger Bar. I had the most delicious coffee milkshake of my life, and will have to fight myself on getting another one.

Tonight is the final show, Surface, featuring Skif, Wrath Arcane and Nice Collective.

What to wear, what to wear..

Saint Louis Fashion Week - Emerge (Pt. 1)

Dress, Lark & Wolff; Necklace, made myself; Bracelet, Marc Jacobs; Bangle, vintage; Watch, Merona; Belt, Forever Twenty One.

Tonight's show is Emerge, featuring Trim, Love Brigade, and Bolongaro Trevor. It should be fun, espically since Ricky, Mitch and Beth are coming to gamble.

Dinner after? Hopefully.

Saint Louis Fashion Week - Project: Design!

Last night was the first show of this year's Saint Louis Fashion Week. To my surprise, it was even better than last year.


Dress, H&M; Belt, Hot Topic; Bracelet, Marc Jacobs; Earrings, Liz Clairborne.

The reception at the Lumière was very entertaining, with the mix of local painters working, massages being given, and barely-legals downing their complimentary Bud Lights at record speed. The beautiful heels worn were only overwhelemed by the undeniably tipsy wearers.

But enough sarcasim. It really was an absolute ball.

I was lucky enough to snag a second row seat again this year. It was great seeing the models up close, but it was even better seeing Stacy and Clinton from What Not To Wear!



Yes, that's right. They came and ambushed a poor girl who appeared to desperately need their help.

The show started after finishing some "reaction shots." Wednesday's event was entitled Project: Design!, and was hosted by Project Runway season 4 runner up, Jillian Lewis.

The first collection, Evil Kitty, featured a few details I fully enjoyed, like exposed zippers and cap sleeves. However, the rest of it seemed to be light blue velour gone wrong. The designer's pieces I had seen prior to the show were beautiful. I'm not sure why she chose these.



The second collection, Jelek, won the $30,000 grand prize. I was fairly disappointed. Although the tightly pleated bodices were very impressive, the skirts on most of the outfits seemed poorly constructed.



Next came Jennifer Neal Clothing, one of my personal favorites. It was like gothic hipster bondage (quite a mouthful, eh?) and I adored it.



After that was by far the most wearable collection, Katie Kantley. The shirt dresses she made looked unbelievably delicate, and her choice of coordinating muted colors was perfect. I had my fingers crossed for her.



Then came Kristian Cortez, a collection that seemed beautiful and perfectly made and ever so slightly lackluster. Perhaps I was still just lusting over Katie Kantley's minidresses.



The final contestant was a collaboration entitled Trashbiscuit. The outfits were half-naked and possibly hot-glued. But it was amazing watching it all go down the runway. There was a fantastic pleather dominatrix stewardess number that I somehow did not get a photo of. I think I could have watched their stuff all night. Fuck, at least it is something different, y'know?



After the finalists finished, Jillian Lewis showed her latest collection. In my opinion, it was very hit and miss.

For example, she had several tops including this abstract ribbon pattern, which I adored.



On the other hand, she made several huge mistakes with knits, including wide-knit nude Daisy Dukes and this pointed shoulder sweater dress. It looks like an outfit made for cybor-grandmother.



After the show ended, Ricky (who had been playing poker, and won $50)and I headed over to Fubar and saw The Creep Show. Hell yes.

Can this week get any better?

Inter Nos.

Without going into too many details, this has been one of the best weeks in a long time. And it's just getting started.

Chicago was fantastic. Lexy's vegan extravaganza was not only delicious, but positively boisterous (in the best of all ways.)

As a post-party form of recovery, we did some much needed shopping on Saturday. Thankfully, I didn't spend too much. I did, however, find some killer blindbox toys and a pair of thigh high socks I'm madly in love with.



The Marc by Marc Jacobs store had a haunting Halloween display, which I basically adore. They also had the Latin bracelets I had been looking for. Needless to say, I've been wearing at least one ever since.



We also visited Chicago's Bleeding Heart Bakery, which was divine. I had a latte and the fruit tart, which was almost too cute to eat. The astounding cakes on display were made so much better by the Misfits poster hanging behind them.

The rest of the weekend is a blur of shopping, music, coffee and highway. I was gone longer than expected, but when I was offered a ride home to see the Lower Class Brats and my oldest friends, how could I possibly say no?

But I am home now. It's good to be back, although I can't see myself winding down. I've literally slept maybe 20 hours since Thursday, by choice.

Tomorrow starts St. Louis Fashion Week, along with The Creep Show. I am hoping to make it to the latter, but I can't guarantee it.

I have to roll. The party isn't over just yet.

"I Love Livin' in the City."

Here I sit, in by far the most beautiful Chicago apartment I've ever seen. Kudos, Twin, it looks fabulous.

I am taking a break from preparing vegan dishes for tonight's party. Miss Lexy has out done herself, I do believe.

My train ride was fantastic, despite the fact that I had to wake up at 4 AM. I was able to sleep for almost three hours on the way here, curled into a ball. Oh, the glories of being petite!



It's a smidge gloomy today, if you can't tell.

The view here is astonishing. I can't believe it took me this long to come visit! Also, I was finally able to give Alexis her Barbie-themed birthday present, which I think she fully enjoyed. We're a bit nutty for themes.


[Sweater, yard sale; Tank, Target; Skirt, vintage; Belt, Hot Topic; Leggings, Hot Topic; Boots, Nine West; Silver bangle, thrift store; Watch necklace, Marc by Marc Jacobs.]

I'm back to baking.

"Rev It Up & Go."

I'm off! Toodles!

Too cold to sit outside; Too bored to sit inside.

I am sitting in the Cyber Lounge on campus, trying to kill time. I had a brief meeting at 4:40, but my next class doesn't start until 7:00. Oh, joy.

I'll be going to Chicago this weekend to visit my best-friend, and "twin", Alexis. It's going to be a weekend of retro fun and shopping fiascos. I couldn't be more excited.

Since my last visit, Marc Jacobs has opened his Chicago store. I've been eyeing the current Special Items all day. I plan on paying all of my bills before leaving, because who knows what shopping self-control I'll have once I'm there.

On a completely different, but equally exciting, note, Ricky and I went midcentury furniture shopping on Monday. We ended up snagging a pink and grey formica hairpin-leg kitchen table (with the leaf!) and a butter cream chrome bar cart from TFA for under $130. What a steal. I also snagged a clearance vintage miniature doctor's bag for $5 from The Vintage Haberdashery.
God, I love St. Louis.

But, no matter how peachy our new kitchen is, or how much fun I'll have with Alexis, the real highlight of my week was when a man yelled "Arrr, yer be a sexy pirate!" to me at a gas station last night. How I didn't fall for that line is still beyond me.

"And all the boys, they say 'Hey you, Zombie.'"

Yesterday was one of those fan-fucking-tastic days.



Ricky and I slept in, grabbed some Waffle House, and hung out at the guys' house while the bands loaded up for the Zombie Party at the Fox Hole. The show was incredible (ahem.. Opposites Attack, Benedict Arnold, The Handme Downs, and the Koffin Kats), and it was followed by one of those epic all-night parties.



On a somewhat humorous note, after the show, Mitch, Beth, Ricky and I searched the city for a gas station. Once we found one, the poor attendent thought that I had been mugged and kept asking if he needed to call someone. He even gave me a paper towel for the blood.



What a fucking night.

October, at last.

The past week has been a blur of coffee and newsprint. However, it was entirely worth it.

The first newspaper this semester (and my first as editor!) came out Wednesday evening. Needless to say, I am over the moon with happiness. The stories turned out good, the layout looks wonderful, the brand new addition of color on the front and back pages is striking.. It really makes all those 11 or 12 or 13 hour days on campus worth while.

The newspapers are available at the Granite City, Red Bud, Belleville, and East St. Louis Southwestern Illinois College campuses.

In my spare time since my last update I have gone successfully gone both vintage luggage shopping and on a mad DIY spree. The luggage, which very well might not actually be that old, is a light brown leather-looking suitcase with a buckle and a small handle that cost me $7 second-hand. The DIY projects have included everything from an assortment of throw pillows to apple-green pelmet boxes. I would go snap a picture, but they are in the bedroom, and Ricky is still asleep.

I can't blame him, though. I would love to still be asleep. The sun hasn't even began to crack over the horizon. Every year I forget how hard it is to wake up when it is still dark.

There is a plus side to the seasons changing. It is finally October, which means I can finally wear my trench coat without looking totally insane. The high temperature for today is somewhere around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, plus a lovely wind, which means it is a legitimate time to wear a long jacket. The coat, which is a light grey Nine West toggle trench, was a birthday present, meaning it was only useful for a few weeks before it became too warm. It has been hanging, sad and lonely, inside my closet, waiting for the leaves to fall. Jacket—your time has come.

On another, and completely off-topic, note, I have suddenly began caring about my nails. Although yes, I've always painted them, they've never been a big deal. I am too impatient to wait for normal nail polish to dry, so I only use fast-drying on my fingers. Up until last week, I was addicted to Avon Speed Dry Nail Enamel (what can I say? I used to be an Avon lady!) which dries very quickly, but bubbles horribly. Now I am in a mad love affair with Sally Hansen Insta-Dry Fast Dry Nail Color and Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen. They look perfect and dry quickly. I have polka-dot toes and little flowers on my thumbs. I feel nauseatingly girly, yet oh so happy every time I notice them.

I should go dry my hair. I'll be tutoring 9-4, followed my sushi with some friends from my algebra class, then extreme-cleaning my apartment. Fridays are always something.

Should today be a Starbucks day? Silly me, of course it should!

Blue Jean Baby.

[Blazer, H&M; Tank, Hanes; Jeans, Express; Belt, vintage; Watch, Merona; ID Bracelet, TJ Maxx; Purse, Kimchi Blue; Pumps, Madden Girl.]

It was a long, good day.

Glorified Tee

[Dress, Express; Leggings, Hot Topic; Boots, Nine West; Belt, Hot Topic; Watch, Target; ID Bracelet, TJ Maxx; Silver bangle, thrift store; All other jewelry, vintage]

I woke up late today. And by "woke up late," I mean hit the snooze button for over an hour. Way to go, Julia.

I was exhausted, my head hurt, and I couldn't imagine sitting in class for nine hours. But then I remembered I have not only my first algebra exam, but also my first biology exam, on Thursday, and I could not afford to miss the reviews.

I think it is a safe assumption to say that many rushed and worn out college females turn to sweatpants in the morning, especially if they're running late. But not I. No, no, I still feel embarrassed going to the drugstore in pajamas when I'm ill. Instead of the terribly comfortable, but God-awful eyesore, sweats-and-tee outfit, I turned to the prettier alternative: a t-shirt dress.

If you don't own a t-shirt dress, go buy one. I'm been having a wonderful obsession since I bought my eggplant one at Express several months ago. Although they no longer offer it, they have a similar style, the Shoulder Snap Sleeveless Dress. I also really like Alexander Wang's T-Shirt Dress, with its low, rounded neck. Although typically I'm against pre-fitted "t-shirt silhouette" dresses, I think the Silence & Noise Silk Print T-Shirt Dress is actually very sweet. Perhaps it is the fact that the pattern is reminiscent of something M.I.A. would wear, or perhaps it is because I adore Silence & Noise. Either way, I think it's delightful.

Prior to the t-shirt dress, I turned to trapeze dresses for presentable comfort. Although I still wear them from time to time, nothing is better than jersey knit. Clothing like this ruins the oh-so common "but I like to be comfortable.." excuse.

Despite the fact that I ignored the alarm for so long this morning, it was a good day. I found the time to grab a latte and a bagel before class, BIOL100 was released thirty minutes early, and I was happily greeted by my Moleskine in my mailbox when I got home.

With any luck, tomorrow will be marvelous as well. I'm covering an event for the newspaper at 11 AM, and my last class won't be out until 10 PM. Oh, joy.

At least it gives me an excuse to wear my new heels.

Nostalgia & Pretty, New Things

I did some much needed retail therapy today. Although I didn't buy much, I somehow managed to wander the store for almost three hours. It was exactly what I needed—mindless and fabulous.

I walked out of the store with three items, none of which were a wallet. Ha!

I found a gorgeous burnt orange pleated-bib blouse (Nine West, on clearance for $10!) for interviews/formal business events, a pair of low retro-looking red pumps (Madden Girl), and this adorable bracelet.



I wish I knew who made it. I'm kind of in love with it.

The shopping definitely brightened my day. I am a firm believer in retail therapy. In high school, during fights with friends or significant others, I wandered to the local Hobby Lobby to browse craft supplies and fabric for hours on end. These days, I like to stop by Rag O Rama (aka "Avalon Exchange" as of earlier this year; it is still Rag O Rama to me), Timeless Authentic Garments, or the always fantastic TJ Maxx.

I am listening to PARK, an ex-Springfield, Ill., emo band (and a guilty pleasure for us lucky kids who used to see them during our hometown scene's glory days), on headphones. Is it 2004? It very well might be, since I definitely wore torn jeans and a black tank top out tonight. Thankfully, I've upgraded from back-pocket-less flares to skinnies and a black hoodie to a plaid shrunken blazer.

Despite the desperate need for purchasing pretty things, the day was good. After the editorial meeting and shopping, I came home and worked on newspaper things. Then, around eight, I went to Benedict Arnold's band practice and hung out with the guys. I'd say today was an all-around success.

Tomorrow will hopefully be equally as nice. I'll be in class from 12-9, with a break or two thrown in. Another long day. I think I'll leave early enough to grab a skinny vanilla latte on my way in. Nothing makes algebra more bearable than coffee.

I'm anxiously awaiting a few internet purchases. I ordered a Moleskine Pocket Memos book (I'm a total Moleskine snob; I just can't get enough), along with some new business cards. Hopefully, they will be here when I get home, making a long day much more exciting. After all, a little shopping thrown in helps even the bleakest day.

Wallet Woes

Today at work I helped a woman dig a card out of her wallet. It was stuck deep down in a shockingly tight pocket, and she couldn't get it out by herself.

Later on, a different customer mentioned, after I complimented hers, that finding the perfect wallet is one of the hardest shopping tasks. And I'm starting to agree.

I have been dissatisfied with my wallet for a while. For the last few years, off and on, I have been carrying a pale pink vintage leather pouch with a few small pockets and a zippered coin pouch. Although I still adore the thing (which costs me a mere ten cents at a yard sale), it has lost its shape and strength over time.

Last week I switched back to a wallet I bought in 2007 on clearance at Urban Outfitters. It is a somewhat-slim, armored teal leather zip-around. Although I love it, it is very heavy. And the life of the zipper is starting to be questioned.

So I find it important that I prepare early for my possible upcoming wallet loss.

When I begin looking for anything new, I automatically turn to Marc by Marc Jacobs. I really love the Totally Turnlock Zip Wallet, $138.00 at Bluefly. It looks spacious, but doesn't seem overwhelming. And who doesn't love his classic turnlock pieces?

But, alas, if I spend $138.00 on a wallet, I will have no money to put in it. So I stared browsing Betsey Johnson's website, in hopes of finding something more reasonable. Her Little Bow Pleat Checkbook is very sweet, but is still $125.00 and doesn't show any inside detail pictures.

Then I found what may be it... the perfect replacement. The Gianni Chiarini 'Athene' Clutch in Olive, available for $88.00 at Nordstrom, seems ideal. It's a classic leather envelope with better storage.

But have I bought it yet? No. I am being picky and it is bothersome.

Odds are, I'll search vintage Etsy, second-hand stores and sale bins until my current wallet dies. When it comes to accessories like purses and wallets, I need to make sure they fit; not me, of course, but all of my stuff. I'm a sucker for club cards (hello, Starbucks Gold, Sephora Beauty Insider, CVS Extra Care, Kerasotes Five Buck Club, Borders Rewards, T.G.I. Friday's Give Me More Stripes, The Club at Ulta, just to name a few...)

Needless to say, I have to have a wallet that can hold its own. And then some.

We all fall down.

[Shirt, Hot Topic; Skirt, H&M; Leggings, Hot Topic; Boots, Nine West; Bag, Tommy Hilfiger; Silver bangle, thirft store; Studded watch, Sanrio; Gold bracelet, vintage; Studded bracelet, vintage; Rings, vintage.]

Tonight should be a good night.

Pleased to meet you.

My name is Julia.

But you probably know that already, assuming you've glanced at the sidebar. If not, let me introduce myself. I am a nineteen year old student, majoring in journalism. I am the editor of my college's newspaper, an on-campus English tutor and a clerk at a bookstore.

I live with my boyfriend, Ricky, and our hamster, Tortoise, in the greater St. Louis area. Our apartment is full of mid-century furniture, framed posters from "the best show they ever played!", and KidRobot toys. It's small and lacking in convenient storage options, but the kitchen and powder room are tiled in retro pink and black, and the closet is a walk-in. I can't complain.

Between the two of us, we read approximately twenty-five magazines per month. He hopes to be a brewmaster/brewpub owner, and I dream of being a magazine journalist focusing on style or design; needless to say, the postman must think we're nutty since we receive everything from Beer Magazine to ReadyMade to Lucky.

I recently snagged a copy of H&M Magazine, and completely loved it. I thought it would be nothing more than a glorified catalogue, but I was entirely wrong (although I was a bit biased since it featured two of my favorite Skins actresses.) The article "Shop Smart!" was particularly great; I've always been put off but some people's opinions on designer outlet stores and the like, and think it's fabulous that they are starting to be embraced.

When we're not working (or reading magazines) we normally end up at shows, wandering The Loop, or entertaining. I have a bit of a knack for being a 1950s-housewife, so we have dinner parties regularly. We're currently perfecting our sushi rolling skills to have a Japanese night soon.

Tonight we're going to Italian Fest. It will be in the low 70s, so I'm not exactly sure what I'll wear yet.. Something with black leggings and knee boots, I'm sure. As far as shoes goes, I am a sucker for slouchy boots. I am currently on my third or fourth pair since 2007. Thankfully, the ones I wear now (Nine West Black Leather Cheryl Boots) are holding up much better than my last pairs.

I think I'm going to run off for a bit. I need to get ready for tonight, and should finish some newspaper business. Besides, Side A is over and my record needs to be flipped.