Yogurt in Marc.

And I thought I was crazy about handbags.

This is Yogurt, my 4.5 month gray tabby. He is slowly turning me into a crazed cat lady with his cuteness, and I'm pretty okay with that. Other than his need to sleep wrapped around my neck like a scarf, he's a pretty rad roommate.

Awful, ankle-biting dog in your purse or adorable, sleepy kitten in your purse? NO QUESTION.

"We'll All Sleep When We're Dead"

I may or may not have mentioned on here that I have a little bit of a purse problem.

While grabbing lunch with an old work friend/new school friend (apparently us Borders girls are actually huge school nerds... Who would have guessed?) on Friday, the topic of handbags came up. Thankfully, she too is a purse addict. Neither of us could explain why they, of all fashion accessories and articles, were the most alluring. Here's hoping someone else agrees.

I am unbelievably picky with handbags. I am a firm believer in the bigger-is-better bag rule (my excuse is I need to carry textbooks, a sweater, a drink, and possibly my laptop to and from classes.. In reality, I just like giant bags.) I pay a weird amount of attention to the hardware, strap length, stitching, and feet. And most importantly, they must go with my everyday pair of black boots.

So that means they need to be black bags, right? Or colored, or maybe white? Possibly gray? Kind of.

I'm slowly warming up to brown. It's taken me long enough, but I'm starting to like it. Maybe it's because of the absolutely wonderful and comfortable camel semi-perforated, cut out oxfords from Bakers I just found on clearance that I can't stop wearing. Maybe it's my "Old Man Hat" that I bought off Tomas for 50 cents in 2005, which Yogurt (another fan of accessories) is currently asleep in. Who fucking knows. All I know is, I'm on the hunt for a multi-strap camel carryall on the cheap(ish.)

Top Shop, $170

Top Shop, $80

Hmm. I'll be on the look for a while. On an unrelated note, I can't stop listening to the Star Fucking Hipsters album, Until We're Dead. I can't tell if the Naked juice or loud music or lovely bags or cigarettes that have me so half-asleep+wired. Perhaps now, since it is 2 AM, I should be sleeping. Maybe.

Triumphant return, or something.

Hello, Blogger! So much has changed since I last logged on! I'm no longer a sophomore at SWIC with a hamster living in the Metro East. I'm now a junior at SLU with a cat in St. Louis. I'm loving my new apartment, new school, and new pet (RIP, Tort) but have definitely found a few issues thus far.

Living in St. Louis is genuinely cheaper than Illinois except for one minor thing: groceries. The price difference from store to store and item to item is staggering, and has lead me to start shopping at multiple locations. I think I was spoiled by the ungodly cheap 24-hour Super Walmart in Collinsville. Thankfully, there is a Target/Schnucks/Walgreens intersection that makes my three-stop bargain hunting doable.

The stadium-like classrooms with 200 students and a mic'd professor are also a new concept. Weirdly enough, I also have classes with possible 11 others. It's a mind-boggling combination after two years of 35-ish per room.

And finally, it seems as though I missed the memo on what to wear to school. Maybe it's because I commute, or maybe it's because I think good skinny jeans are comfortable, but apparently there is a uniform. The very popular decorative hoodie + running shorts + flip flops + stretchy headband combination is so common, I'm sure I see 5 girls in it for every 1 who got dressed. I understand you want to be comfortable, I understand you probably live a few buildings down from class, I understand you might be hungover, I understand you're still half-asleep, and I understand that sometimes you just don't give a shit. But every day?!

College is meant to prepare us for the real world, yeah? Well here is the truth of it: before you leave the house, you should be wearing real-world appropriate clothing. You want to slack off and wear "loungewear"? Fine. I get it. But c'mon, not every single day. We're three weeks into classes and I'm starting to doubt some of you own pants.

The worst of it is I don't think it's just that ladies are wearing their pajamas out and about. I honestly think some people got up, showered, and decided this counted as an option Monday-Friday.

And so, to prove my point that wearing real clothing isn't so bad, I've prepared a little This-Or-That segment. For the price of your fancy workout clothing you could have a comfortable and appropriate outfit. It's just as easy to wear, it's just as easy to put together, and it will leave you with enough money for some lovely accessory (or three scrumptious espresso drinks, or a handful iPhone apps, as those seem to be more popular on campus as well.)

See? Not so hard.

Speaking of university, I should get back to my newspaper articles before Mad Men starts. But I'll be back on you, Blogger. I've been missing my rants and rambles on clothing and the like. And clearly I need more tools of procrastination.

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."