new high

Or I mean, I suppose you could call it a new low. I'm not positive, but it feels even hotter today than it did yesterday! To get an idea, take a look at this photo

First, note the sad look in my eyes - that would be from standing in the heat. Second, do you detect an odd, cloudy film on the photo? Yeah. That would be the fog on the lenses. How do you know when it's too humid outside? When your camera lenses fog up the second you dare take a step out of the AC.

Ok, beyond complaining about the heat, here is a funny little anecdote from my internship today. I was sitting at the computer, working on an itinerary for a group coming in from Belarus next week, stretching out my legs under the desk, when all of a sudden my screen went black. What just happened? When did I last save my work? Basically, I'm freaking out. I look under the desk, and what do I see? A power strip, which I just flipped off with my toe. Swearing silently under my breath, I turn in back on and pray it wasn't controlling the power of any other computers in the room (it wasn't). Oh, and I had saved my work fairly recently. Just another example of my complete and utter klutziness you have all come to know in the history of reading my blog (broken foot while sledding anyone?)

 flea market pendant

vintage top

 gap jeans

toms

What is going on with the lighting on my camera recently? I had the same complaint yesterday, that somehow the color of my shirt was flushed out. As you can see from the detail shot above, my shirt is a light cream with these adorable embroidery details around the top. However in the full-body shots it just looks like a plain white tshirt. What am I going to do with myself?

And oh, by the way, I really like this pendant. If you look closely you can see it says Spelling and has a little Websters dictionary on it. How cute is that? And the bronze just goes so nicely with the cream top. A good $1 find at the flea market, don't you think?

Now, I need to somehow force myself to eat some food before I head out to Old Navy training, part 2, (how much training do you need to work in retail? Apparently a lot), despite the fact that I just ate a late lunch about an hour ago. Sigh. But if I don't, I will probably drop dead before they let us out at 10! I'm just hoping that this training is more hands-on and less paperwork, I've already spent too much time at a desk today. Oh well, hope you all had a lovely Tuesday safe from the heat!

P.S. I almost forgot! Superrr awkward story about this top. So when I got it at that vintage store I was talking about last week, they only had one dressing room, so when I was about to go in with half a dozen or so items they asked if I would let a woman who only had one skirt to try on go before me. My stuff was already in the room, but I said sure and let her go in. About 20 minutes or so later (how long does it take to try on one skirt?!) she came out and I went into the room. And noticed that the cream top I loved so much was gone. Really? Really?? I sneaked back out into the store and noticed it in her pile of stuff. You have got to be kidding me. First she takes my room, and then my clothing? I politely told the saleswoman that I believed that the other woman had taken something from my dressing room and she, appropriately flustered, got it back for me. When I came out of the dressing room the woman asked if I was planning on buying it and when I said yes she looked a little put out. Hah. That's what you get... That's all :)

really, really hot

Ok, so I keep complaining about how hot it is, how humid it is, blah blah blah... but I'm going to do it again today. It's freaking hot! Apparently earlier this afternoon the heat index was 112 degrees, and yesterday it was so steamy that every time I stepped outside my glasses fogged up. Yes, yes it is that humid in Minnesota. It's gross. And I had to dress business casual-ish today for my internship, a.k.a. no tiny sundress like I would normally wear on a day like this. Oh so sad

 necklace from vacation 

jcrew button down

target skirt

born sandals

So mom and I braved a quick trip out of the air-conditioned house and into to the alley to take pictures, but it wasn't until I approved the pictures and came back inside that I noticed they have the weirdest lighting! As you may notice from the detail shot below, my shirt is a light purpleish-pink. However in all the full-body shots, it looks basically white. So, sorry about that. It happens. This was a good outfit though to transition from my fairly casual office to having to make it through the rest of this amazingly hot day, as the button down is fairly sheer and the skirt a nice, light cotton. Haven't worn either piece in a while, and I like them both!

Sorry I haven't posted for the last few days, but I haven't really worn anything cute for awhile it seems!  I know, nothing cute on the weekend? Kind of a problem. Saturday morning dad woke me up so that I could go bike riding with him for about 10 miles or so, with a stop for coffee on the way. Afterward, he suggested I help with some gardening work, by the end of which I was dying. Then I showered and headed over to volunteer at the carousel, which means my requisite volunteer shirt and some short shorts to combat the heat (we closed early anyways, as the heat index surpassed at what it is safe to run the carousel). Then I threw on my Old Navy romper (as I've worn here) and headed over to my friend Colleen's house to go out for the evening! When I made it home in the morning (having put back on said romper since I didn't bring any other clothes) I wasn't feeling too well so I collapsed on the couch and didn't move. All. Day. Like actually, I napped and read for probably about 7 hours? Picture me with messy hair, in glasses and my little black romper, and sprawled on a couch. Yeah, it was a pretty attractive day.

So, we ordered some pizza from a new place in St. Paul that just opened, and I get to have a little dinner with my family! Oh, and update on my sister in Australia (don't know if you recall, but a post or two ago I mentioned she was there on choir tour and that the group had lost their luggage!), apparently most all of the luggage - including hers - has been found! I'm so happy that now she can enjoy her trip worry-free. Have a lovely evening!

rainy rainy day

Ugh, when I said yesterday was a blah day clearly I hadn't quite comprehended how blah a day can actually get. Well, maybe that's being a bit overdramatic. The activities of my day were fine, it is just absolutely horrible here, weather-wise. I woke up to the dog barking because of the thunder, and I'm sure I will go to sleep with the sound of rain pounding on the roof. Sure, some people like this weather. Just not me.

vera vera wang cardigan

topshop tshirt

martin&osa shorts

born sandals

Oh self-timer photos - yeee. That's what happens when you're left alone, yet again. But guess what? I remembered to put shoes on for these! Baby steps...

One of my only patterned/brightly-colored shirts. Thought it would spice up my rainy day. 

Went to the Mall of America today, Jenny and I wanted to check out Nordstrom's anniversary sale. I'm sad to say it wasn't very good! I really wanted to go see the pair of Frye boots I want to buy, but they weren't even in store. Sigh. But then I tried on this Dries Van Noten sweater that was just the color of that American Apparel shirt I wanted, made of cashmere of silk, and absolutely gorgeous! Too bad that even on sale it was over $200. Once again, sigh. But I guess it was good that I didn't buy anything, I definitely don't need to spend any more money.

Speaking of money, I start my job next week! While at the mall Jenny and I also ran down to the Mall of America badging office so that I could pick up my Mall of America employee badge - so now while I'm at Old Navy I can traipse around the back hallways of the mall without getting in trouble. Yay! And now I'm off to a friend's house to watch So You Think You Can Dance, have a lovely evening all!

blah day

So today I got up at 11 am, and not for any particular reason, considering that I went to bed before 1... and I haven't really done anything since. Let's see, I: took a shower, went with mom to pick up the car from the shop, had a massage (soooo necessary and lovely), made myself some cauliflower, and watched TV. Fascinating, huh? The exciting part of my day, however, has yet to come - Harry Potter comes out tonight! When I finish this post I'm heading over to a friend's house to watch the first part of the 7th movie, then we are heading over for the midnight showing. Can't wait, even though the theater will be absolutely swarming with the crazy fans, dressed up in costumes (not judging, some of those crazies are good friends of mine, just stating the facts ^^ actually, I dressed up for the last one...)

Yay for self-timer photos! Haha, kidding. Not about the self-timer photo part, the excited part. You know, it's so much easier to find attractive photos when you can have a living, breathing, aware-of-camera-angles person take 30 or so photos of you in 5 minutes than to set your camera on the stairs and take about 10, super-awkward photos. So bear with me folks

forever21top

thrifted belt

gap jeans

 I love this top! It kind of gives me of a retro, diner-waitress vibe, you know? Probably that's just in my head. But put it on with a little black skirt and you would see just what I mean. Or maybe you wouldn't and I'm crazy. Both are definite possibilities

Is this picture awkward? I wasn't sure if it's really considered appropriate on a fashion blog to put up pictures of your jeans zipper (well, perhaps not inappropriate just kind of weird). Whatever. I just really love this belt! I know, it's just a basic brown belt. But honestly I think that everyone needs one. They are just so great for pulling together a basic outfit and giving it a little more polish. I got this one for probably 6 pounds or so when I was in England last summer, and have loved it ever since :)

Other awkward thing about self-timer photos: Since I'm in the house, I always forget to wear shoes! Therefore, I'm awkward and barefoot. Sorry about that

Home alone again... Natalie is on choir tour in Australia (jealous, right? I know I am. Except apparently the first parent email update came in, and they seem to have lost their luggage in-transit. Halfway across the world with no clothing to change into, or even a toothbrush? No thank you. I'm sending positive vibes and crossing my fingers that it will show up for them soon ^^), mom and Aunt Lori just went down to Iowa to pick up some things, and dad is working late. So sad. Next time I'll throw a rager and mess up the house, that'll show them to leave me alone :)

Ok, I need to get myself together and head out the door! To all of you who, like me, are heading to Harry Potter tonight, get excited! Only a few more hours :)

vintage shopping

So Jenny I trekked all the way to Wayzata today to do a little vintage shopping! Groupon sent me a coupon for $20 off my first deal, and it expired today - so when I went online and saw a coupon with $50 of clothes for $25, I thought it would be perfect! I found a few adorable new blouses, and with my $20 off the groupon, it only cost me $5! It was a good afternoon, definitely worth the 30-minute or so drive 

old navy shirt

charlotte russe shorts

toms shoes

sophie watch

We had a little mini-photoshoot with Sophie out in the alley! She was cute and lots of fun, that is until she tried to follow a rabbit or something into the neighbor's bushes and I had to hike through a pine tree in order to find her...

My oversized watch from Nordstrom's semi-annual sale last year! It's just a cheapie from BP, but I had been looking for something menswear-esque for awhile, and didn't feel like springing for an expensive watch (though I would love an one of Michael Kors' diver watches, especially the tortoise ones...)

So Jenny and I are sitting on the couch watching Keeping up with the Kardashians, but I need to leave for pilates in a few minutes! Will put up some pictures of my new purchases soon, they are quite cute :)

best. day. ever. (again)

As I decided that I wanted to christen this post as the best day ever, I realized that I've already used that title before! This post, however, was describing how I was finally allowed to walk small amounts without my crutches. So I guess that takes the cake. But to be honest, yesterday (what the title was referring to) was pretty exciting, because... I got a job! Finally, someone got past my lack of job experience :) I am now going to be your local sales associate (well, if you live in the Twin Cities) at the Old Navy in the Mall of America! Pretty darn exciting, at least for me - and maybe for you? I'll stop harping about my lack of money/daily activities now, and perhaps even have interesting stories to tell? That would probably be better than this rambling...

jcrew button down and pants

toms shoes

So I just realized that I wore an outfit comprised entirely of J. Crew items today. Ugh. I really try not to do that! I find that, although I love J. Crew and their aesthetic, when I wear too much of it at a time it can encourage a sort of cookie-cutter dressing, you know? Because it all fits together in such a perfect, matching way, I start to feel really repetitive really fast. I mean, I would say I still look cute, but I feel like I'm cheating in some way...

Yes, yes I am wearing my Toms again. My one consolation for you, my readers, is for the amount of time I wear them, you would think they would wear out soon? And then they will fall to pieces and I won't be able to put pictures of them on here anymore. Or I could just wear other shoes? No, too easy...

Had my first full day of the internship today! My first day was technically yesterday, but due to an unfortunate power outage there was a lack of work for the interns, causing us to be sent home after only two very unproductive hours. But today, I was able to be there for the full five! I helped write proposals and itineraries (I'm helping out at the Minnesota International Center two days a week, if you haven't seen from my earlier posts, like this one) as well as filing of new resources they are working on. It may not sound very interesting, but I really enjoyed it! And I think I may try to do something connected to this when I go back to D.C.? I mean, their program all radiates out from the agencies in D.C., so having experience working at their organization would probably help me find something else of that type... we shall see. As far as this summer goes, I plan to continue helping out there, as well as honing my customer service skills. Actual (low-paying) job, here I come!

so. hot.

So, this skirt is a little longer than what I would usually wear (I just don't like things near my knees, I don't know why. Unless it's a full-length skirt, but those just don't look good on me anyways. So short it is) but it was for church and I liked the color so I thought why not. Stole it from my mother if you're wondering, and it's surprisingly not too small for me! She's tiny... Done rambling now. But yes, as I said in the title, it's so hot outside. Like, extremely hot. 

jcrew tank

heritage1981 belt

tulle skirt

toms shoes

 After taking these pictures I went and changed into golf clothes (with the least amount of fabric that I could get away with on the course) and attempted to play some golf with my dad. Not the best plan. Even in a golf cart, the humidity and the heat was so intense that I only made it through 6 holes... and I didn't even play about 2 of those... I know, I'm a bit pathetic. Heat does that to me. Oh, and since then I changed again to go to a movie with my friend. Into the shortest dress I own. Appropriate? Perhaps not. Necessary? Most definitely. I'm still kind of overheated to be honest. I tell you, Minnesota really is the land of weather extremes.

So this skirt is naturally even longer on me than I already have it pictured. So I decided to use my little brown belt to make it into a sort of paper-bag waist and hike it up a bit. But the color is nice, and I liked it in combo with the tank top.

 Sooo, I've worn my Toms every day since I bought them. Problem? Maybe... I know, some people I've talked to really aren't a fan of them, but I love them! They are so comfortable, and they seem to go with everything with my wardrobe (they're navy, my wardrobe is navy/other neutrals with small amounts of color sprinkled in - perfection). Wore them yesterday when I volunteered at the carousel for 4 hours yesterday, and my feet didn't hurt a bit! Doesn't mean that 4 hours isn't wayyy too long of a time spent on your feet corralling small children onto a spinning ride (so. dizzy.) but still, it helped.

Ok, we are heading out for some Thai food, so I need to wrap this up! Not that I actually have anything else to say about my life, not really - except that Beth and I went to Horrible Bosses (and snuck in some coke and Cafe Latte cake - yummy ^^) and it was actually hilarious! Apparently it was supposed to be bad? I don't know about that (and am most certainly not a movie critic) but I quite thoroughly enjoyed it. That's all! Have a lovely Sunday all :)