Undergrad Fab

the BIG, BIG news! (and 1/23)

2011-07-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

I've been putting off writing this post for weeks. Actually, scratch that, months. You're all well, well aware that things have been in transition here on Undergrad Fab for quite some time, and I've been pretty vague about what it meant. At first, I couldn't decide: should I stop blogging (spoiler alert: that's not the option I chose :)) should I completely re-brand my current blog, or should I leave it as-is and move somewhere else to start fresh? Ultimately, it came down to this: writing Undergrad Fab has been such a wonderful experience for me for the past few years, and I wanted to leave it as is-- a capsule of my undergrad experience, a testament to the growth and change that accompanied my college years. So here it will stay, untouched, a little corner of the internet that has meant so much to me over the past few years.

Of course, that doesn't mean I'm leaving for good! There were times this past winter where I was so unsure of where to go next, but it all fell into place exactly the way it was supposed to. If there's anything I've realized since then it's that blogging is so much more than just a hobby for me-- I've met some incredible people, it's become a part of who I am, and as a result of that, I've grown more than I ever could have imagined. So I'd like to welcome you to my shiny, new, permanent, blogging home, babble + bloom. This isn't a 'brand-new-start-all-over' kind of change for me, but rather, it's a chance to grow. To let my blog be brighter, sweeter, happier, more colorful, more me :)

I know it's risky, I know it's big-- but it's what feels right. Saying goodbye to Undergrad Fab is bittersweet-- it has become a part of me, as silly as that may sound-- but it's with only excitement that I move forward to new things :) I so hope you'll move with me and help me start this new chapter. And appropriately, cross off the first (and perhaps one of the most important!) things on my 23 before 23 list. To that, and to this journey ahead, I say: WAHOO! :)

Sunday Morning Poetry

2011-07-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

One day the sun admitted,

I am just a shadow.
I wish I could show you
The Infinite Incandescence

That has cast my brilliant image!
I wish I could show you,
When you are lonely or in the darkness,

The Astonishing Light
Of your own Being!

Hafiz

my little lifesaver.

2011-07-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be honest: as much as I'd like to pretend that I float through the ick and stick of summertime looking like a golden goddess completely unfazed by the boiling sun and 100% humidity, that's basically the opposite of the truth. In fact, more often than not I look like I stuck my finger in an electric socket after finishing a marathon run.

It's not pretty.

I realized today, though, that there was one crucial summertime (or quite frankly, all-the-time) must have that I forgot to include in my most recent vlog.

Baby Powder.

For the past few years, I've been using powder out of an ancient bottle I found under my the sink in my parents' house that I'm pretty sure has been there since I was a baby, but it's still my lifesaver regardless. I recently bought a purse-sized bottle of baby powder for less than $1 at my local drugstore and carry it with me everywhere and use it for everything.

My favorite, couldn't-survive-without-it use for baby powder is absolutely using it as a dry shampoo. My bangs in particular get icky and, let's face it: greasy (ICK.) during the summertime, and all it takes is a quick shake of baby powder in my hands, run them through my bangs, and they're as fresh and clean as if I just washed my hair. It works for the rest of my hair too, but I most often find myself using the powder to freshen my bangs.

What else have I used baby powder for in the past?

-As a mattifyer for my face/powder in a pinch when my face needs a touch up. I can get a little shiny sometimes, but a quick powdering takes care of that.

-To set lotion or deodorant and increase their staying power.

-To sop up a grease or oil stain on clothing while I'm out and spill something on myself. Just pour a little on the spot, dab it on, wipe off, repeat until stain is sopped up!

-To untangle chain necklaces. Just pour a bit on a necklace to loosen up knots and untangle.

-After shaving to keep my skin smooth + prevent stubble.

Long story short: baby powder is kind of my savior.

Do you use baby powder for anything? I'd love to hear your experiences with it or if you've found any more uses for it!

(fyi: not a sponsored post, just sharing a favorite tip!)

a little story about change.

2011-07-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

jean jacket: from sis, originally gap; tank: target, summer 10; skirt: gap, summer 06, sandals: target, summer 10

Guys, let me tell you a little story. It's called "The girl who used to be terrible at change but then learned that it's a hugely important part of life and got over it, mostly." I'm not going to lie, the title kind of gives away the moral. But I digress.

I will admit it: I've been a little quiet on my blog lately. And just like everything else in my life, I know this: I often find myself retreating a bit when I'm going through a transition or a change, because if I try to go about business as usual, you guys are going to see right through it and know that I'm not being completely honest.

Okay, okay-- that sounds a bit dramatic. But here's the real deal: I am stuck in this weird place of missing Minnesota and being simultaneously annoyingly joyful about my new life here in Milwaukee. I am gearing myself up for starting grad school at a brand new institution, I am preparing myself for some big challenges ahead. On top of that, I'm preparing some big ole things for my blog in the next few weeks. I know I've been alluding to the changes that are up ahead for a few weeks now, but I haven't made any formal announcement yet, because, well, I'm not quite ready. I'm rather attached to this little corner of the internets that I've created for myself over the course of two years and a few months, and to see it change in a big way is kind of scary.

But here's the thing: I know it's all good. Coming from a girl who resisted change as stubbornly as possible up until just a few years ago, I've come to see what a necessity and blessing it is in my life, and how quintessential it is to growth. So there it is: I'm more than a face on a blog, or a girl who likes to dress in bright colors and talk about makeup and poetry. I get scared and intimidated and wary about the big road ahead. PHEW. I said it. And I know you all can relate. So I'm going to put on my big girl pants, stare those changes in the face, and jump right in.

I know I'm not alone here: what do you do when you're faced with some big, challenge-y changes?

2011-07-04T07:05:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July, friends! May your day be filled with lots of parades, cookouts and fireworks :)

fireworks in Milwaukee

Sunday Morning Poetry

2011-07-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

My Sweet, Crushed Angel

You have not danced so badly, my dear,
Trying to hold hands with the Beautiful One.

You have waltzed with great style,
My sweet, crushed angel,
To have ever neared God's heart at all.

Our Partner is notoriously difficult to follow,
And even His best musicians are not always easy
To hear.

So what if the music has stopped for a while.

So what
If the price of admission to the Divine
Is out of reach tonight.

So what, my dear,
If you do not have the ante to gamble for Real Love.

The mind and the body are famous
For holding the heart ransom,

But Hafiz knows the Beloved's eternal habits.

Have patience,

For He will not be able to resist your longing
For Long.

You have not danced so badly, my dear,
Trying to kiss the Beautiful One.

You have actually waltzed with tremendous style,
O my sweet,
O my sweet crushed angel.

Hafiz

Goodies from Apothica.com!

2011-06-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

First, let me say this: I know I've been kind of lax on the style posts recently. I'm still getting in the swing of taking morning pictures before work, and I haven't been planning ahead well enough. Instead of taking a week or so off because I didn't have any outfit pictures for you, I thought I'd fill this past week with some other fun things instead. No worries, outfits will resume next week :)

And now for the fun stuff! I was given the chance to do a little shopping on apothica.com lately-- here's what I got, and what I thought about it!

Apothica.com Goodies! from Mary L on Vimeo.
*since I filmed this video last week prior to mah birfday, my comment about the nailpolish is now moot. however. that does not mean I love it any less :)
Deborah Lippmann Happy Birthday nail polish $18Korres Quince Lip Butter $7.50Laura Geller Balance-n-Brighten $29.20Voluspa Santiago Huckleberry Candle, $17.80

Have you tried or would like to try any of these products? I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions!

In the bookbag: vol. 2

2011-06-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

If You Were Here, Jen Lancaster

Let me preface this review by saying this: I adore Jen Lancaster & gobble up her books as soon as they come out. Whereas I'd give most of her other works a shining 5 million out of 5 stars, this one only gets 4. (If I were giving stars, which I'm not. But just go with my analogy :)) Jen's classic snark and awesome voice that is always present in her nonfiction memoirs is absolutely there in this novel, her first fiction about a couple moving into a fixer-upper in the Chicago suburbs (which just so happens to be Jake Ryan's house from 16 Candles. I'm thinking she had fun with the creative liberties that come with fiction :)) If you were a first-time reader of Jen's, I think you'd enjoy it wholeheartedly. But her characters so closely mirrored herself & her husband & other friends that her readers have come to know, it was hard to see this as entirely fiction. Some of her best, most identifiable literary vehicles (footnotes, etc.) that work so well in her nonfiction simply fall a little flatter here. In her memoirs, we understand that these notes are her own cognitions/hindsight into her own life, but in fiction, what are they supposed to be? Jen's thoughts? Or the main character, Mia's? Anyways, I certainly enjoyed this, but it wasn't my favorite, and I can only hope that her next novel is back on-par.

The Help, Kathryn Stockett

Add this to the list of popular books that I am reading super-late compared to everyone else, but I knew I'd want to see the movie, and being the read-o-holic I am, I knew I wouldn't see it before I read it first. Luckily, due to partly a super short library lending period (three days?! really, library?!) and the fact that it was flat-out excellent, I devoured this book in no time. If you're not familiar with the premise, it tells the story of "the help" in various families in the south around the 60s. It was riveting, well-written, and full of characters that you quickly become invested in, regardless of whether you love or hate them. An important novel on an incredibly important topic that doesn't sacrifice the dignity of those who lives through those years and experiences for themselves. I laughed, I cried, I couldn't put it down. READ THIS.

Two Kisses for Maddy, Matt Logelin

Matt writes a blog that I've been reading for almost two years now, so I was kind of super pumped for his book to come out. Matt lost his wife 27 hours after she gave birth to their daughter, Madeleine, and his blog & book are equal parts heartbreaking, triumphant, and 100% real and honest. So to say that I had high expectations for his book is a wee bit of an understatement. And it absolutely, absolutely met my expectations. The story chronicles his relationship with his wife, Liz, during their pregnancy, and gives a great insight into their many years together. It continues past her death, and into his first year raising Maddy alone. For his blog readers who thought they knew his story well (ahem, me), he managed to bring an entirely new light to what had happened to him besides just what he had written on his blog. The writing felt true to his voice, honest, open, and beautifully constructed. I'm not sure how the book would read for those who weren't familiar with his blog, but I can't imagine anyone not connecting with and thoroughly enjoying it. I sped through this in under two days (the first purchase on my pretty birthday kindle!)-- and the best part is, the story continues on his blog after the book is over! One thing to note about Matt's writing is that he does drop the f-bomb quite often. It doesn't bother me (and it fits with his voice from the blog) but if it would bother you, you may find it excessive or offensive.

What are you reading right now? Any recommendations for me? (or for my birthday kindle?!) I'd love to hear if you've read any of these books and what you thought of them!

Sunday Morning Poetry

2011-06-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

Work, Sometimes

I was sad all day, and why not. There I was, books piled
on both sides of the table, paper stacked up, words
falling off my tongue.

The robins had been a long time singing, and now it
was beginning to rain.

What are we sure of? Happiness isn’t a town on a map,
or an early arrival, or a job well done, but good work
ongoing. Which is not likely to be the trifling around
with a poem.

Then it began raining hard, and the flowers in the yard
were full of lively fragrance.

You have had days like this, no doubt. And wasn’t it
wonderful, finally, to leave the room? Ah, what a
moment!

As for myself, I swung the door open. And there was
the wordless, singing world. And I ran for my life.

Mary Oliver

Do you have a favorite poem you'd like shared on Sunday Morning Poetry posts? Or do you have an original piece you've written that you'd like to be considered for posting? Please email me at undergradfab@gmail.com

The year of twenty-wahoo!

2011-06-23T04:14:00.000-07:00

Last year, when I turned 21, I dubbed it the year of twenty-fun. Today, as I turn 22, I am officially making this the year of twenty-wahoo! (clever, I know.) In order to keep the wahoo alive and kickin' every day of my life, I've put together a list of 23 things to do before I turn 23. You all know how much I love life lists, and I've made (and accomplished!) many of them on the blog before. I was thinking about it today, and I realized that one of the reasons I love life lists is because you're actively crafting the kind of life you want to live. You want to be the type of person who climbs a mountain? Then you put it on your list and you do it. Now, I have no plans to climb any mountains this year, but I do have some big goals, and I plan to accomplish them one by one and start again with 23 this time next year. (tentatively labeled twenty-wheee! it's a work in progress.)

23 before I turn 23

Have a reiki treatment
Eat nothing but fruit for three days (it's a real thing, I'm not being ridiculous)
Try acupuncture/acupressure
Bike commute to work/grad school/wherever at least a few times
Make Indian food from scratch (chana masala mmmmm.)
Pay anonymously for the stranger's drink behind me in the Starbucks drive-thru (people used to do this when I worked at Starbucks, and it melted my heart. I love people.)
Watch When Harry Met Sally (oops. never seen it.)
Take a road trip
Camp. Or sleep under the stars, even if it has to be on my balcony.
Greet the sunrise outside with sun salutations & my favorite yoga practice. Preferably at the lake, but anywhere where the sun is and I am is good enough for me.
Have a dressy dinner party with friends that looks fancy on the outside but is goofy on the inside.
Go to a wine tasting, for the love of pete. Shouldn't I have done this by now?
Make pasta from scratch
Launch the new blog (wait, what?! I know! More details to come :))
Write a short story
Build a little nest-egg in my savings account
Say YES more. (yes to love! yes to life! yes to staying in more! Liz Lemon, anyone? ;))
Learn all the words to Ice, Ice, Baby
Cook something intimidating, like a roast of some sort. Or a souffle. Or a whole chicken. Anything but live lobster.
Read Anne of Green Gables (I never finished it when I was an itty bitty. Whoops!)
Knit myself hedgehog mittens
Create a fancy-pants recipe of all my own making. Not just throwing random stuff together (which, admittedly, usually works deliciously), but actually create a dish that I can stamp my name on as my very own, thankyouverymuch.
Make every breath I take be a prayer of love + gratitude. Be aware, consciously, of my blessings at least once every single day.

Here's to twenty-wahoo :)

Orient Watch Winner!

2011-06-22T06:49:00.000-07:00

First things first: I'm sorry this is up a little late-- my home Internet has been down since I got home last night, so I'm writing this post from my phone. Blerg.
Second: you. are. all. SO. awesome. I wasn't sure what to expect in asking you all for comments & recommendations as entries for this giveaway, but you all blew me away with your kind, thoughtful, funny, helpful comments. Have I mentioned lately that I simply have the best readers ever?

So while I wish I could give each and every one of you a fancy new watch, there can only be one winner. Thanks to random.org, the winner is: Nicole! Congratulations, lovely! Be expecting an email from me today :)

2011-06-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies! Don't forget, my Orient Watch giveaway (http://undergradfab.blogspot.com/2011/06/giveaway-win-orient-mechanical-watch.html) ends tomorrow! I'll accept entries until Tuesday, June 21st at 1 PM central, and announce the winner tomorrow evening!

a weekend in photos.

2011-06-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

What did I do this weekend, you ask?

Let me show you :)

Thursday started off with some of my very best friends at a local outdoor jazz concert:

I had Friday off from work, so I took my madre downtown for Food Truck Friday & a picnic...

...where we ate our weight in crepes, bacon + bleu cheese sliders + sweet potato fries. Heaven.

Then a quick trip to my grad school campus (both my parents' alma mater!) to get a look around & pose ever-so-dorkily in front of the building where my department is housed :)

Friday wrapped up with a yum-o dinner with Sara talking music, blogging & baking over old fashioneds (which I hadn't tried until now-- and let me say, yum.)

Saturday began with an awesome job interview for a bilingual nannying job (which I totally got! Hooray!) and of course had to celebrate by painting my nails with my new super-glittery nail polish.

nail polish: Happy Birthday by Deborah Lipmann

I did a little sneaking around in the kitchen to whip together these hotdog-on-a-grill cupcakes for my dad for Father's Day (just yellow sugar sprinkles, chocolate frosting, and hot tamales candies :))

...and finished with a trip to Half Price Books to sell a giant bag of books. For which I was given $5. Which I then spent all of on this movie. Worth it.

And Sunday, I left the instagram-ing at the door to spend a day celebrating Father's Day with my dad + family :) All in all, a lovely weekend. What were you up to this weekend?

(and if you're interested in seeing more of the instagram photos I've taken, follow me on your iPhones @marebel623)

Sunday Morning Poetry

2011-06-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

Sweet Darkness

When your eyes are tired
the world is tired also.

When your vision has gone
no part of the world can find you.

Time to go into the dark
where the night has eyes
to recognize its own.

There you can be sure
you are not beyond love.

The dark will be your womb
tonight.

The night will give you a horizon
further than you can see.

You must learn one thing.
The world was made to be free in.

Give up all the other worlds
except the one to which you belong.

Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet
confinement of your aloneness
to learn

anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive
is too small for you.

David Whyte

can and cannot.

2011-06-16T05:00:00.000-07:00

After graduating from college and successfully proving to myself and the world that I am, indeed, an upright citizen who can do things like take really hard classes and write really ridiculously ridiculous research papers and survive off of late-night cereal and extra-strong black tea during finals week, I'd like to think there are few things I can't accomplish.

Tank: American Eagle, older than the hills; Belt: Heartbreaker MPLS, Spring 09; Skirt: Gap, old; Sandals: Target, Summer 10

However, there is a small list of the relatively unaccomplishable for this post-grad girl.

1. I can't keep my hair not-curly in the summertime. Thanks, humidity. I've mostly surrendered to you, with the exception of my bangs. And those curly buggers and I will go down fighting.

2. I cannot post pictures from like, two weeks ago, and remember anything about my outfit choices or mental state on that day that's worth telling you. Things I do remember? This photo sesh with Sara was taken after hours of exhaustive apartment hunting to no avail. Craigslist, you're on my list. Also, can you tell I was tired?

3. I can't not let my spirits be lifted on a gorgeous day like this in my lovely city. It's been a month now that I've been back for good, and while I still miss the Twin Cities and can't believe that I won't still have to pack up all my stuff at the end of summer and move back, I am falling head-over-heels in love with Milwaukee all over again. Seriously, can you just try to look at this photo below and not be filled with sunshine and rainbows? Not possible.

5. I can't go anywhere without an extra tube of mascara, cherry lip balm, or deodorant on hand. Story of my life.

6. Finally, even though I am finding it quite hard to do the contrary, I can't quite lose hope that my perfect apartment is just sitting, waiting, wishing for future roomie Sara and I to find it. Discouraged though we may have been at the end of the day, the whole day absolutely reaffirmed my choice to make Milwaukee my full-time home.

And wouldn't you know, I just can't help but smile :)

oh, the weather outside is weather.

2011-06-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

Summer, you fickle little be-yatch.

Sorry, guys. I'm a little upset with summer in the midwest this year. Oh, what's that? 90 degrees and snow in the same week? (thanks a LOT, spring in Minneapolis). Or a high of 102 one week and a high of 42 the next? LAME.

Last summer was glorious. I spent 90% of the time in a sundress, on a beach (or wishing I were), eating frozen custard and dancing around in a heat-induced delirium. Like I said. Glorious.

This summer, I've equalled worn out my flow-y jersey skirts as well as my toasty zip-up fleece. What the what is the deal with that? When I took these photos, it was the hottest day of the summer so far. My super-sweet pixelated flower skirt from goodwill was put to excellent use as I dock-hopped around the local marina trying to convince yachters to take me sailin' on beautiful Lake Michigan. (I kid. Kinda.)

Lesson learned: don't complain about the weather in Wisconsin, or it will violently drop 50 degrees overnight and you'll be wearing tights and boots in June. Also, don't try to hitch a ride on a stranger's boat. It's probably not going to fly. (wait, what?)

What is your favorite warm-weather gear? Or, in my case, what's your favorite way to wear tights + scarves in June? ;)

Sunday Morning Poetry

2011-06-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

Stand Still

Stand still.
The trees before you and the bushes beside you are not lost.
Wherever you are is a place called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you,
If you leave it you may come back again saying Here.

No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you.

David Wagoner

real world: real world edition.

2011-06-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

Tee: ON, Winter 10; Belt: H&M, gift; Skirt: Gap, Summer 10; Sandals: Target, Spring 10

While I'm not exactly old, I'm not exactly super young anymore either. I'd rather save my money to travel and *a-herm* eventually pay off my student loans. If my Saturday night includes less dirty house parties and more bottles of red wine with my girlfriends in our yoga pants? That's fine by me. (Actually, that sounds great. Who wants to join me for a wine party?)

Anyways, right. Back to my point. So, I'm not really that young anymore, but I'm not old... but if you put me in a high school, I may or may not be mistaken for a student. Which was my concern last Friday when I helped my older sister out in her junior & senior English classrooms (See, I totally had a point! Just took a minute or two to get there... :)). The last time I was in a classroom as a teacher was during my internship abroad in London working with emotionally disabled five-year-olds. So, being worried about dressing like an authority figure was not #1 on my list back then (you get automatic authority-figure status when you're over five feet tall. It's great.)

After chatting with my sister about her normal daily wear (and perusing some of my favorite teacher blogs!) I think I managed to put something together that was still me, but appropriate and authority-figure-ish at the same time. Is this what it's like to be a part of the real world?

Because if the real world means breton stripes and wine parties, I am so totally there. :)

Giveaway: Win an Orient mechanical watch!

2011-06-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'll admit it. Until riiight before I left for my semester abroad, I never, ever wore a watch. I was under the impression that my cellphone works just fine, thankyouverymuch... but when I went abroad, I knew I'd need a more reliable way to check the time, so I invested in a basic, cute watch that did the job just fine. I figured I'd get sick of wearing it after a few weeks like I always had in the past, but sure enough, a year and a half later, I'm still wearing it daily. Besides being a superbly functional accessory, a watch can add quite a bit to a look-- as evidenced by the more masculine watch styles that are crazy popular right now.

Why am I rambling about watches, might you ask? Well, my beloved London watch is clearly on its last leg (it keeps trying to tell me it's 9:40, regardless of how many times I change the battery. Bummer.) so I've been having major watch lust lately (ahem, Orient Mako, anyone?). So when Orient Watch contacted me about offering one of their awesome mechanical watches, valued at $135, to one of my lovely readers, I jumped at the chance!

Can we just take a second to look at one of the fabulous watches you could win? I'm particularly partial to the blue, but if you're the lucky winner, any one of these could be yours!

All you have to do is fill out the document below before the giveaway closes on June 21st. Please include a valid email address so that I can contact you effectively should you be the winner!

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5 Summer Makeup Must-Haves-- all under $5!

2011-06-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

I got a reader request a few weeks ago for some of my favorite beauty items for summer, so I put together a list of my top five. And bonus! They're all $4 or less. You can stock up on all of them for less than $16!

5 Summer Makeup Must-Haves-- under $5! from Mary L on Vimeo.

*just a note, because I'm OCD like that: the EOS lipbalm applies by just smoothing the balm right on your lips. No need for fingers or germs (I was just using up the product I had on my hands :)) Also: I said in the video that the bronzer shade I had was Golden Tan, but it's actually Copper Radiance. Oops!
Where to buy:
Wet N' Wild Tinted Moisturizer in 181A Beige, $4ELF Studio Blush in Candid Coral, $3Covergirl Cheekers Bronzer in Copper Radiance, $4NYC In a New York Color Minute in MoMA, $2EOS Lipbalm in Lemon Drop, $3
All items can be found at Walgreens, CVS, or Target, as well as online!
Let's hear it: what are your favorite beauty items for summertime? (or anytime!)

Sunday Morning Poetry

2011-06-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

This Moment

A neighbourhood.
At dusk.
Things are getting ready
to happen
out of sight.
Stars and moths.
And rinds slanting around fruit.
But not yet.
One tree is black.
One window is yellow as butter.
A woman leans down to catch a child
who has run into her arms
this moment.
Stars rise.
Moths flutter.
Apples sweeten in the dark.

- Eaven Boland

Perricone MD giveaway winner!

2011-06-04T18:27:00.000-07:00

Before I announce the winner, I have to say-- I loved reading your stories in these comments. I could relate to each and every one of you, your past struggles and current skin predicaments. I really, really wish I could give all of you a chance to win and try out the products you'd like.

But alas-- there can only be one winner. Sixteen of you entered, and the winner is...

#4, Diana! Congratulations, lovely. Please send me an email at undergradfab [at] gmail [dot] com within five days, and I'll set you up with your Perricone credit!

And if you didn't win, never fear-- I have another fun giveaway coming up soon :)

Don't Forget!

2011-06-02T19:05:00.000-07:00

A quick reminder-- my Perricone MD giveaway closes tomorrow (Friday the 3rd) at 5 PM central. You could win any product worth up to $150!

Paying it forward, finally.

2011-06-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

Remember back in January when the Blogger Pay It Forward project began to circulate? The premise of the project was that I would commit to making a handmade something for five other bloggers, so long as they promised to go ahead on their own blogs and promise to make five somethings for five of their readers, and so on and so forth.

I realize that it's *ahem* five months later, and here I am, finally paying it forward. But! I'm going to use my final semester in college as my excuse and also go with the old 'better late than never' standard :)

Here's the deal: I emailed my five craftees a week ago asking for their updated addresses, and only got two responses. Um, bummer. I do, however, have five packages to send out and would love to send one to YOU! The first three people who comment on their post with a valid email address (and respond to the email that I send to them within two days) will get one of my three remaining crafty presents. I'm not going to require that you pass your craftiness onto five other bloggers to enter, but I will recommend it if you can-- it's a fun way to connect and spread the goodness :)

I'll update here as I receive my three comments (if a bit belatedly, since I'll be at work all day :)) and notify you by email ASAP if you've got a spot!

Recipe for a Saturday

2011-05-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

Oh, Milwaukee. I've been officially moved in for a few weeks now, but I've been so focused on unpacking and working that I hadn't had much of a chance to re-acquaint myself with my lovely city until this weekend. And let me tell you-- acquaint myself, I did.

It all started with some food.

Mini cupcakes from Milwaukee Cupcake Company. Yes, that is a chocolate covered bacon cupcake you see.

Really, really good food.

Tempura snap peas from Swig. AKA heaven on a plate. I could live off of these babies.

And of course, no day out on the town would be complete without friendsies. Especially future-roommate, fellow-blogger, fabulous friends, like Sara.

Sara & I go way way back to the days to playing flute in the middle-school band, before either of us discovered our love for style, makeup, or de-frizzing our hair. (or maybe the hair thing is just me. It took me a few years to figure out that you don't brush curls.) Luckily, as we've grown, so has our friendship. And it just so turned out that we both have similar hobbies that are awesome. Sweeeet.

Sara is a super-awesome photographer, and lucky is the Mary that gets to live with her at the end of summer. Dearest tripod, I do love you, but nothing trumps a talented friend when it comes to photoshoots.

See what I mean?

Remember last week when I waxed poetic about how awkward I am taking pictures in public places? Luckily, my awkwardness only lasted for a few shutter clicks this time around. It also helped that the wind was re-donkulous and I was very aware that at any second, my skirt could forsake me & I could be facing a very serious Marilyn Monroe situation. Which, let's face it: is kind of funny.

Anyways. Long story short: Milwaukee is great. Food is delicious. Friends are better.

Life is good. :)

& of course, Happy Memorial Day to my stateside readers! Please take a moment today to be grateful for our servicemen and women :)

Sunday Morning Poetry

2011-05-29T05:00:00.000-07:00

She Walks in Beauty

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair'd the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
SO soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent.
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

George Gordon, Lord Byron

DIY: easy ombre manicure!

2011-05-27T07:56:00.000-07:00

I have a confession: I kind of adore nail polish. During my high school and college years, I worked at Starbucks, where there is a strict no-painted-nail policy, and I was slightly heartbroken to have to clean off my pretty nail polish every other day so that I wouldn't break any rules at work. Now that I've turned over my green apron for good, I'm finally free to have my nails painted when- and wherever I want, and let me tell you: I am running with it.

I've come across a lot of cute looks that I want to try this summer, but first on my list was absolutely the chic, fun ombre manicure that is gaining popularity on fingernails everywhere. I had a bit of a difficult time picking the colorway (it's harder than it looks!), but for a first try, I was really pleased with the results.

Want to give it a try for yourself? Here are the colors I used:

OPI in bubble bath (two coats) $8, NYC in a minute in Lincoln Sq. Lavender, MOMA, and Fashion Ave. Fuschia, all $2, Sally Hansen Hard as Nails in Brick Wall, $3

I had originally intended this to be more purple than pink, but when I got home to try the colors I had purchased (I purchased the NYC colors, the OPI & Sally Hansen were already in my collection) they turned out to be more pink anyways, so I ran with it!

Have you ever done an ombre manicure, or would you ever give it a try?

Giveaway: Win a top ten skincare product from Perricone MD!

2011-05-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

So, let's talk about skin. A few weeks ago, I did a vlog on my skincare routine, what has worked for me, etc. And while I think I've found a relatively good routine + product lineup, I still get breakouts, my skin still gets randomly ridiculously dry one week and then randomly ridiculously oily the next. Try as I might, my skincare is still a work in progress.

Enter: Perricone MD. I was contacted a few weeks ago to try one of their products, and I jumped at the chance. I'd heard a lot about the Perricone range, especially their top ten skincare products, and after reading all of the rave reviews (from wrinkle cream reviews to acne treatment--seriously, everything), I was enthusiastic to try one of their products.

I chose the Cold Plasma treatment-- even though it's promoted for treating ten signs of aging, it claims that it treats all ages, all issues, all skin types. I though I'd give it a run for its money and see if it could actually treat the things I struggle with: uneven skin tone, occasional acne & redness.

And while it's only been a few days, I'm enamored. My skin tone is more even, my occasional acne has finally chilled out, and I swear-- I might be glowing? I promise to keep you all updated as the weeks go on, since I've only had a few days to see how it's affected my skin, but for now-- I'm impressed.

Want to try it (or another Perricone product) for yourself? Perricone MD is offering one of my lovely readers any product of your choice worth $150 or less. All you have to do is pop on over to their website and let me know in a comment which product you'd try if you won. Simple!

I'll announce the winner on Friday, June 3rd. This giveaway is open to US + Canadian readers :) Good luck!

disclaimer: While I was given this product by the company, all reviews are honest and my own.

maxi-face

2011-05-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

So, first things first: I am not a maxi-dress girl. I regularly find myself being the arm-rest for my taller friends. I could stand on a milk crate and still not be able to look my brother-in-law in the eye. I can wear heels always, to any event, and still be a normal height. And therefore, I always thought I'd look swallowed and awkward in a toe-grazing frock.

Maxi: Target, Summer 11; 3/4 Tee: Target, Summer 11; Tank: Kohls; Flats: Target, Summer 09

But with the onset of summer, I began getting a bit jealous of all of the flowy, comfy maxi dresses popping up on blogs and in magazines alike, and well-- I caved. I'd actually tried this particular clearance-rack maxi on a few times during trips to Tar-jay, but always put it back because I wasn't wild about how it over-emphasized my chest. And yet, $5? I nearly bought it at least twice, but always ended up putting it back.

Finally, my maxi-dress tipping point came a few days ago when I spotted the same dress on the lovely Kathryn of Schoolmarm Style. I was in love with the way she styled + layered her dress, so of course, by the next time I found myself in Target, this dress found its way into my cart for good.

For $5, I'd say it was an excellent sartorial investment, and I won't feel like I've wasted a big chunk of change on a trend that doesn't work for me. I loved this particular outfit-- even though I felt like it wore better than it photographed. It was cool, comfy, and funky enough for a fun Saturday around town.

Also, milestone: this was the first time I've taken photos solo in a public place. What what? I know, I'm a baby. But there was simply no other place to snap a shot and I knew I wanted to document this outfit before it got all muddled and worn, so I sucked it up and went to a local park. While I did come away with some decent photographs, it was also an excellent lesson in being awkward, and 3/4 of my photos turned out a little something like this. Hopefully with a little practice, I can learn how to make my face better during public photo seshes :)

Regardless, I think I'm a maxi-dress convert. Something I can layer in the summer and it feels like I'm wearing pajamas? SOLD.

Are you a maxi-dress wearer? What styles have you tried that you thought weren't for you originally but you ended up loving?

Apothica Giveaway Winner!

2011-05-23T13:34:00.000-07:00

Seventeen of you entered...

And the winner is...

#5, Lauren of SomeoneLikeYou!

Congrats, lovely! Send me an email at undergradfab [at] gmail [dot] com within the next two days to claim your prize :)

If you didn't win, no worries-- I have many more fun giveaways coming up soon!

Sunday Morning Poetry

2011-05-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

Self Portrait

It doesn't interest me if there is one God
Or many gods.
I want to know if you belong -- or feel abandoned;
If you know despair
Or can see it in others.
I want to know
If you are prepared to live in the world
With its harsh need to change you;
If you can look back with firm eyes
Saying "this is where I stand."
I want to know if you know how to melt
Into that fierce heat of living
Falling toward the center of your longing.
I want to know if you are willing
To live day by day
With the consequence of love
And the bitter unwanted passion
Of your sure defeat.
I have been told
In that fierce embrace
Even the gods
Speak of God.

David Whyte

In the bookbag: what I'm reading right now!

2011-05-19T10:04:00.000-07:00

Guys, this week is a very special time for me. Not because I've graduated, or moved, or blah, blah, life changes-- no, it's the week that I've finally gotten rid of my smelly, life-sucking textbooks and have started my fun summer reading.

Seriously, I am ecstatic. It's the little things.

If you've been reading for a while, you know that I'm a full-time nanny in the summers and have been for nearly 10 years. My boys are old now, and surprisingly, aren't demanding my constant attention and lego-building expertise anymore-- rather, they spend a lot of time bike riding with friends and going to little league practice and swim class. Which essentially leaves me with a good two hours every day with nothing to do but sit in a chair and cheer them on obnoxiously while I practice my 'embarrassing parent' skills so they'll be ripe for the picking when I have children of my own... or read.

Anyways, long story short: I read a lot in the summer.

I'm in the middle of a few books right now (because I am equal parts impatient and don't-like-to-read-moderately-gruesome-things-before-I-go-to-sleep. yup.) and I adore them all. Here's what I'm reading at the moment!

Bossypants, Tina Fey

Oh man, guys. If you know me in real life, you know that I aspire to be some sort of Liz Lemon/Tina Fey hybrid when I grow up. I was a little wary about how her comedy would translate to written word, but it's excellent. Proof: a little snippet from the book jacket:

"Once in a generation, a woman comes along who changes everything. Tina Fey is not that woman, but she met that woman once and acted weird around her."

Seriously, it's laugh-out-loud funny, and the perfect light-but-not-mindless reading to start the summer.

Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen

I know I'm super late to the bandwagon on this one, but I'm going to go ahead and blame it on schoolwork and other various lame excuses. If you haven't read it yet, it's an entirely gripping story surrounding a depression-era traveling circus-- but it is so, so much more than that. It is a bit gruesome and hard to read at some points, but overall, it's fantastically written, and I simply cannot put it down.

She Walks in Beauty, complied by Caroline Kennedy

If it's not already abundantly clear, I am kind of obsessed with poetry. I've only cracked the surface of this compilations of poems, but they're all centered around women, and each and every one is more stunning than the next. I guarantee many of these poems will be featured in my Sunday Morning Poetry posts in the future. The book is divided into sections that all deal with different aspects of a woman's life: falling in love, love itself, beauty, silence & solitude, marriage, children, death-- and the list goes on and on. I would recommend it to all women-- young, old, poetry lovers or newbies. There is truly something for everyone here.

Want to know what else I'm reading? Be my friend on goodreads!

That's what's in my bookbag at the moment-- any recommendations for me? What are you reading right now? My summer reading list needs some beefing up!

seventy-two.

2011-05-16T10:17:00.000-07:00

If the creator had a purpose in

equipping us with a neck,

surely he meant for us to stick it out.

-- Arthur Koestler

Over the course of 72 hours, I

- graduated from college

- celebrated my new grad status

- packed up everything I own

- put it into a giant truck (blerg)

- moved from Minneapolis to Milwaukee, for good this time

- unpacked everything in said truck, and

-slept. a lot. making up for lost time, perhaps?

Tee: Kohls, Fall 10; Skirt: Kohls, 2006; Belt: NY&Co, Fall 10; Espadrilles: Payless, Summer 09

To say this weekend was crazy is a bit of an understatement. There's still a piece of me that can't quite believe it yet, and probably won't until I start my first day as a grad student come this fall. Big changes are coming up, and quickly-- I'll be moving three more times in the course of the next few months (all in Milwaukee, just different places :)), starting grad school, starting a new job, and settling in for realsies in this city that I've only spent summers in for the past four years.

Also, as I'm sure some of you can imagine (and the lovely two birds were astute enough to ask about :)) this blog will be changing a bit as well. What exactly that entails, I'm not 100% sure about. I know these things for sure: I would like to think I'm still fab, but I am most certainly not an undergrad anymore, and that regardless of the direction I take, I will still be here, blogging away, for quite some time :)

So, to recap: changes? Heck, yes. Good ones? Of course :)

Sunday Morning Poetry

2011-05-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

Flower in the crannied wall

FLOWER in the crannied wall,
I pluck you out of the crannies;—
Hold you here, root and all, in my hand,
Little flower—but if I could understand
What you are, root and all, and all in all,
I should know what God and man is. Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Vlog: Recent Purchases + Current Favorites!

2011-05-11T07:47:00.000-07:00

I've had a little extra cash this week after selling my textbooks back to my school bookstore, so of course I went on a little shopping trip :) Watch below to find out what I got all for a great deal!
Recent Purchases + Current Faves! from Mary L on Vimeo.
Note: it is super super hot and humid in Minneapolis. Hence the melted makeup and frizzer hair! Oops :)

Also! Have you entered my Apothica giveaway yet? Only a few entries so far, you have an excellent chance of winning!

Giveaway: $25 gift card to Apothica!

2011-05-09T05:00:00.000-07:00

Lovelies, in celebration of my two year blogoversary, I am super, super excited to bring you another fabulous giveaway this week from the awesome Apothica.com. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that besides my love for clothes, I have nothing short of a deep love for makeup & skincare. So I was thrilled when Apothica contacted me to offer you guys a $25 gift card to their fabulous selection of all things beauty related.

I particularly love their fantastic selection of Clinique products—I’ve been a Clinique fan since I started wearing makeup as a teenager. To this day, their Happy Heart perfume is my go-to everyday scent, and I love nothing more than the gorgeous, universally flattering Almost Lipstick in Black Honey.

Sound fabulous? I thought so. Entering is easy!

Choose one of the following options for one entry and report back to me about it in a comment on this post. You can do more than one for a bonus entry, but make sure to let me know about it!

First, visit Apothica.com, and then:

1. Write on their facebook wall about what you think of Apothica. Bonus entry: Opt in to Apothica’s newsletter!

2. Tweet about Apothica on your twitter account. Bonus entry: Retweet Apothica’s tweet about this giveaway!

3. Write something on your blog about what you think of Apothica. Bonus entry: write about Clinique and link it to Apothica.

The winner will be announced on Monday, May 23^rd! Good luck, lovelies!

Sunday Morning Poetry

2011-05-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

For the Artist at the Start of Day

May morning be astir with the harvest of night;
Your mind quickening to the eros of a new question,
Your eyes seduced by some unintended glimpse
That cut right through the surface to a source.

May this be a morning of innocent beginning,
When the gift within you slips clear
Of the sticky web of the personal
With its hurt and its hauntings,
And fixed fortress corners,

A Morning when you become a pure vessel
For what wants to ascend from silence,

May your imagination know
The grace of perfect danger,

To reach beyond imitation,
And the wheel of repetition,

Deep into the call of all
The unfinished and unsolved

Until the veil of the unknown yields
And something original begins
To stir toward your senses
And grow stronger in your heart

In order to come to birth
In a clean line of form,
That claims from time
A rhythm not yet heard,
That calls space to
A different shape.

May it be its own force field
And dwell uniquely
Between the heart and the light

To surprise the hungry eye
By how deftly it fits
About its secret loss.

John O'Donohue

of barns + dresses.

2011-05-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago, I traveled back to Wisconsin to spend the Easter weekend with my fam. Besides eating my weight in cake shaped like a lamb and celebrating the day wearing dollar-store bunny ears with my sister, I got a chance to hop over to a local park and take some pictures in my graduation dress with my dad.

dress & belt: JCP, Spring 11; Flats: Target, Fall 10

I love my trusty little canon point-and-shoot as much as I could possibly love a camera, but it was incredible to see what a great camera can do for an outfit shoot. And honestly, in the two years that I've been blogging and taking outfit pictures, this was the first time I'd ever had anyone else take my photos. Usually, it's just me + my tripod (or in years past, me + my waist-high random surface :)).

I thought it was going to be super awkward, and that I wouldn't be able to pose or get a shot the way I wanted it, but it was awesome to actually have someone to interact with and try different shots, angles + poses.

Granted, it helped just a smidge that a) it was an absolutely gorgeous day, b) my little town is cute and quaint and has lots of pretty little parks and random barns to take pictures next to, and c) that I felt totally fab in my new graduation dress!

Besides the fact that I can guarantee you'll be seeing a lot more of this dress in the future (especially in the immediate future, as in, my graduation in less than a week. gah!), getting a chance to take my photos outside in such an interesting location has really inspired me to get more creative with my photos now that the weather has warmed up. Those of you have been reading for a little while know that when I can, I try to take pictures outside, but most of the time I'm stuck with my (albeit lovely and cute) little corner of my bedroom.

I can guarantee that as I hunt for apartments in my soon-to-be new home city, I've most definitely got my eye on how close they are to cool, scenic areas.

How do you like to take your outfit shots? Are you an adventure-seeker or a stay-at-home photographer? Do you take your own shots, or have a designated photographer?

if you're a google reader junkie, you need to read this.

2011-05-05T16:08:00.000-07:00

Guys, I have a bit of a problem. It's not unlike my anthropologie-itis, in fact. It's called "I subscribe to too many blogs, and I read all of them in reader, and therefore commenting is a bee-yatch and drives me insane."

Something tells me I'm not the only one afflicted.

Anyways, today I was reading the fabulous Whoorl's blog post about google reader, where she introduced me to the google reader next button. And my life was changed.

All you do is install this nifty little button in your browser toolbar (easy as pie on a mac, and probably nearly as simple on a pc ;)) and it takes you automatically to the next post in your google reader. Click, click, click. Reader is read and I actually get to comment on the lovely blogs that I subscribe to!

If you're a total internet lame-o like myself and had no idea this existed until now, enjoy! If you actually know how to do fancy things and figured this out years ago, a big awesome kudos to you :)

Follow this link, click on 'goodies', and scroll down until you reach 'put reader in a bookmark". Click, click, click away, my friends!

two years.

2011-05-03T10:58:00.000-07:00

Two years ago and a few days ago, I had a great idea.

I was going to start a style blog. I had been reading others for a while, and I was enamored. I wanted to stop wearing the same pieces together over and over again-- I wanted inspiration, I wanted community, and I wanted style.

Luckily, I'd had a name picked out for a really (really) long time-- what can I say? I'm a planner. All I needed to do was work up the courage to finally post my first my picture. And let's face it, my photography skills, while not great at the moment, have gotten exponentially better over the years :)

my first outfit:

This blog has been so much for me-- it has taught me how to find my own style, step out of my box, it has given me a place to write and to think, it has been a venue for meeting some of the most thoughtful, kind, and wonderful people, and has grown with me over the years.

my one year blogoversary outfit:

Last year, when I celebrated my blog's first anniversary, it seemed like it had been forever since I began writing Undergrad Fab. That first year was full of big! monumentous! blog occasions! and each one seemed to come at a snail's pace-- my first comments, my first followers, my first blog friends, and the list goes on. And then all of the sudden, this year has gone by in the blink of an eye. Um, what now? I've been blogging for two years? Never once did I imagine I'd get to this point, or even begin to fathom what a wonderful experience blogging would be.

So thank you, all of you. Old readers, new readers (red, blue readers? sorry, easily distracted :))-- you are all so wonderful. I adore getting to chat with you over comments and my heart skips a beat every time I see a new follower or make a new twitter friend, or get a reader email. I'd struggled a little bit these past few months about what exactly my blog's purpose is, and you are all the ones that have inspired me and motivated me to find it for myself, and I have. I wouldn't be doing this without you, and I am grateful for each and every one of you.

So here's what I'm wearing today-- an homage to my very first 'blogworthy' outfit, with a healthy dose of my signature faves (stripes and purple, of course) to round things out. Here's to year #3, may it be even more fab than the first two :)

nostalgic.

2011-05-02T11:42:00.000-07:00

I've been a little sentimental, lately. Nostalgic in my better moments, weepy at my worst.

I mean, really-- in the next two weeks, I'm going to finish up my undergrad career, graduate, leave this gorgeous city that I have come to love over the past four years, and move six hours away.

So it's not like I'll be back often for a quick lunch, really.

Cardi: from my sis; Tee: from my sis; Tank: Kohls; Cropped Chinos: ON, Spring 10; Flats: Target, Fall 10

Don't get me wrong: I'm excited. I'm excited to move to Milwaukee, to be closer to my family and friends, to be living full-time in another city that is close to my heart, to be starting grad school, and being a part of the honest-to-goodness real world. But I've hit the point where I am at the beginning of the end, starting to have to say goodbyes, that, for the most part, won't be see-you-laters.

I was honored last night to be able to speak about my experiences in my job as a student leader to a large assembly. I've been fluctuating a lot lately between equal parts nostalgia and equal parts get-me-outta here (mostly due to having to write countless research papers :)) and this was the perfect opportunity to reflect on the abundance of good that has been in my life the past four years. I remember listening to seniors speaking at the same event when I was a freshman, and thinking how long it would be until I was at that point. Wondering what exactly what my college experience would bring, and if I would ever get to share it like they were. At the risk of sounding like a big crazypants, it was kind of magical. I got to stand at the podium and tell all of these students all the things I'd wished I'd heard earlier, all of the things I've learned and the tough ways in which I've learned them, and how I wouldn't change a single thing about all of it. I got to look back on my four years as a college student and wipe away all the stress and the ick and see it for what it was: blessed.

I don't know if I'll ever be able to reconcile in words what my emotions are doing now, as I begin the ends of being a college student.

So though this may be my nostalgic, contemplative, goodbye, my beloved University of Minnesota/ lovely Twin Cities face...

My excited, looking-to-the-future, bright eyed, bushy tailed look is never far behind :)

Sunday Morning Poetry

2011-05-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

The Rights

I want to give you
something I’ve made

some words on a page--as if
to say ‘Here are some blue beads’

or, ‘Here’s a bright red leaf I found on
the sidewalk’ (because

to find is to choose, and choice
is made.              But it’s difficult:

so far I’ve found
nothing but the wish to give. Or

copies of old words? Cheap
and cruel; also senseless:
                          Take

this instead, perhaps--a half-
promise: If
I ever write a poem of a certain temper
      (willful, tender, evasive,
      sad & rakish)

I’ll give it to you.

--- Denise Levertov

$100 Shopbop Giveaway Winner!

2011-04-30T09:23:00.000-07:00

I tallied up all of your lovely tweets, comments, and blog posts... (71! holy buckets!)

And the winner is...

Shannon! Congratulations, lovely!! Please email me at undergradfab@gmail.com and I'll get your giftcard to you ASAP!

Thanks to all who entered-- stay tuned for more giveaways coming up in the next few weeks, and as always, thanks for reading :)

almost effortless

2011-04-29T05:00:00.000-07:00

Tee: Loft, from my sis; Tank: Kohls; Cuffed Chinos: ON, Spring 11; Flat Sneakers: Gap Outlet, Summer 08

Confession: I kind of wish that I had a miniature Michael Kors that I could carry around in my pocket 24/7. Besides the fact that I couldn't afford a pair of Michael Kors socks if I tried, but still. I love him. And he is super fab on Project Runway, hence why I want him for constant style consultations. But I digress.

Anyways, I read an interview with him a few weeks ago where he said that the key to an effortless look is one that is 95% put together, with one unexpected element.

Um, he-llo. GENIUS. Could everything be spelled out so simply for me from now on?

I've had these shoes for a while (oh hey, gap outlet $3.97 clearance!) but I hesitate to wear them for one reason or another. But I was just dying to give the grey-pink-navy combo a try today, and I think they struck the perfect 'almost effortless' note :)

So maybe I've finally mastered effortless chic. Although, I don't think I'll ever be able to shake my natural tendency towards 'giant cheeseball'.

Sigh. Pocket-sized-Michael-Kors, where are you when I need you?

My $100 shopbop giveaway ends tomorrow! Don't forget to enter!

occasionally dressy.

2011-04-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

I'll be honest: in my day-to-day life, I have, um... very little need for formal wear. Oh, the life of a college student. Yes, there is the occasional formal event that I need to dress up for, but unfortunately, my life calls for more skirts and flats than dresses + heels. Over the winter holidays, of course, the number of dressy events jumps exponentially, and I finally had a chance to put my beloved dressy dresses to work! (yes, that is how long I've been sitting on these photos. Whoops!)

I adore both of these dresses for their versatility & simplicity. The grey sheath dress above is consistently one of my go-to pieces when I need to not only dress up but also look professional. And of course, I would live in my black and white polka dot dress if I didn't live in the frozen tundra. C'est la vie.

What are your go-to formal pieces? Do you ever incorporate them into your daily wear?

Don't forget to check out my $100 shopbop giveaway! It closes this Saturday, April 30th!

Vlog: Undergrad Skincare Routine

2011-04-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

I've gotten a couple of reader requests lately about what sorts of skincare products I use, my routine, etc. So I thought it would be easiest to put it all together in a vlog! Enjoy, and leave any questions below and I'll respond to them ASAP :)
Undergrad Skincare Routine from Mary L on Vimeo.
What are your go-to skincare products? What hasn't worked for you in the past, and what have you found that you've loved for your skin?
Many of you already have, but don't forget to pop by and enter my $100 shopbop credit giveaway!

2011-04-24T07:20:00.001-07:00

To those of you that celebrate, have a blessed + happy Easter!

Sunday Morning Poetry

2011-04-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

The Swan

Did you too see it, drifting, all night, on the black river?

Did you see it in the morning, rising into the silvery air -

An armful of white blossoms,

A perfect commotion of silk and linen as it leaned

into the bondage of its wings; a snowbank, a bank of lilies,

Biting the air with its black beak?

Did you hear it, fluting and whistling

A shrill dark music - like the rain pelting the trees - like a waterfall

Knifing down the black ledges?

And did you see it, finally, just under the clouds -

A white cross Streaming across the sky, its feet

Like black leaves, its wings Like the stretching light of the river?

And did you feel it, in your heart, how it pertained to everything?

And have you too finally figured out what beauty is for?

And have you changed your life?

Mary Oliver

Guest Blogger: Sara of Style Snapshot

2011-04-22T05:00:00.001-07:00

Hello lovelies! I'm away for the weekend celebrating Easter with my fam, so I asked one of my best real-life friends (who is also my future grad school roomie!) to step in for me today. She put together this awesome post on styling button-downs that I absolutely adore. Enjoy!

Hi everyone! I'm Sara and I'm SO excited to be guest blogging for Mary. We've been really good friends for years and she's the one who got me into blogging because I loved her blog so much. We're also sharing an apartment at the end of summer, and I can't wait! Mary's note: be on the look out for some fabulous apartment videos/roomie style posts once we're all settled in!
For this guest post I thought I would share some spring fashion tips as spring is finally approaching. I'm focusing on button up shirts because they're super easy to throw on and look stylish. I'll be showing you guys some new ways to style your button-ups for spring!

First I chose a denim button-up shirt(H&M). Denim is really in for spring, but it can be hard to style if you're someone like me who wears jeans pretty much everyday. Colored jeans are perfect for denim shirts, especially since color is huge for this spring. These red skinny jeans from Forever 21 are an awesome way to add some color to your wardrobe and look great with denim!

Next up is another denim button-up(Forever 21), but this one is lighter and sleeveless. I decided to pair this top with some faux-leather shorts from Zara and converse for a sort of grunge/rocker vibe. Leather is also very in for spring and it looks awesome with denim. I wore a black lace bra under the denim shirt, making it perfect for a casual date, but it can be paired with a black tank underneath as well.

Next I chose this super thin bright blue button-up top(H&M). This sheer colorful top is perfect for spring. I wanted to wear it in a new way so I tied the front and tucked in the rest. I decided to try out the color blocking trend and pair this shirt with some yellow jeans(Quicksilver). I absolutely love these jeans and can't wait to see how many different outfits I can make with them this season!

My final choice was just a plain white button-up shirt(H&M) To style it for spring, I paired it was a bright red belt(H&M) and some colorful bracelets(H&M). For pants, I wore these ripped black jeans(Urban Outfitters), but they could also be worn with black jeans or even regular jeans for a less distressed look. I love how this outfit really showcases how much a little color can bring to an outfit. The color trend for spring doesn't mean you have to go out and buy all sorts of colorful clothes. It can be just as eye-catching to get super bright accessories and pair them with basics you already have.

Thanks so much for reading, and I hope you got some helpful spring tips out of my long, rambly post! :) If you like my style, or would like to check out my youtube channel, follow the links below!

Blog: saras-style-snapshot.blogspot.com

YouTube: www.youtube.com/StyleSnapshot

Thanks again & have a great day!

Sara

Have you entered the giveaway for a $100 giftcard to shopbop yet? Head on over to Tuesday's post and check it out!

purply.

2011-04-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

If you haven't noticed, I have a thing for purple.

Tee: ON, Spring 11; Skirt: Gap, ages ago; Leggings: Primark London, Spring 10; Flats: Target, Fall 10

I was never one of those kids who vacillated on their favorite colors, or had a second or third favorite. Nope, it was purple through-and-through. I always picked the grape-flavored lollipop (even though the green apple was always tastier), oogled the fresh plum-y eggplants in my Mom's garden, and I never passed up a chance to color a picture with only the orchid crayon.

I guess it's just always been a thing with me.

This is at least the third, if not the fourth monochromatic purple outfit I've worn on the blog.

Yup. Definitely a thing.

In the past, I've had trouble styling this skirt. I love it (and it has a super-funky purple and green reverse side to boot), but I've had it for years, and it always seemed to represent a different me than I am now. So I tend to get stuck in the trap of dressing like that old me when I wear it.

But when I picked up this sweet lavender striped tee in my newest Old Navy shopping trip, I knew it would be the perfect compliment for a monochromatic look.

And yes, even the details were purple today. I stopped short of wearing my big funky purple flower ring, but it took nothing short of a miracle to get me to withhold.

Eye makeup: Wet n Wild Color Icon Palette in Petal Pusher

Lipgloss (darker in person): NARS All Night Long; Nail polish: Avon Nailwear Pro in Luxe Lavender (one of my very favorite polishes!)

Are you a fan of the monochromatic look? What's your favorite color (to wear or just in general!)

If you haven't yet entered my $100 shopbop giveaway, head on over to yesterday's post to enter!

GIVEAWAY: $100 to shopbop!

2011-04-19T05:00:00.001-07:00

Remember not too long ago when I hit 100 google followers and I promised a fabulous giveaway?

I may be a day (or ten) late, but I am most certainly not a dollar short! The fabulous Shopbop is offering YOU, my awesome readers, a $100 giftcard for whatever fabulous deals you choose.

Might I suggest some of the fabulous 3.1 Phillip Lim goodies that I'm currently dying over?

Like these to-die-for 3.1 Phillip Lim shoes:

Or perhaps some gorgey 3.1 Phillip Lim jewelry?

...I KNOW, RIGHT?

Um, good thing I can't win this giftcard, because I would totally spend it in an instant. Yikes.

Anyways, winning is simple!

You must:

Follow me on google friend connect or bloglovin' and leave a comment telling me so.

Want additional entries?

1. Follow me on twitter (and leave a comment on this post telling me your @username so I know who you are!)

2. Tweet about this giveaway: ie. Check it out! @marebel623 is hosting a $100 shopbop giveaway on her blog today! (but you can say whatever you'd like as long as you include my @username :))

3. Post about this giveaway on your blog and leave me a comment with the link!

This giveaway will be open until April 30th. This giveaway will be open internationally, but not to Pennsylvania bloggers. Sorry guys!

Good luck, and thanks to Shopbop for the great giveaway!

miss pinky pants (+mini giveaway winner!)

2011-04-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

Tee: Gap, Summer 10; Scarf: H&M Berlin, Spring 10; Tank: Kohls; Flats: Monoprix Paris, Spring 10; Pants: ON, Spring 11

Do you know what happens when you take one new favorite thing of clothing (pink pants), add two old favorites (scarf + flats) and toss in a wardrobe workhorse (grey tee)?

No, this isn't a real riddle... I'm not that clever.

I am, however, pretty pleased with myself. This may not have photographed as well as I'd liked it to, but I adored romping around campus all day in it. I got multitudes of compliments, which I guess will happen when it looks like you dyed your pants with pepto-bismol. But truth be told, I liked being little miss pinky pants, and have a feeling these babies are going to get a lot of wear this summer. Hopefully when I'm more tan so they don't blend with my paley-o legs-- ba dum bum *chhh*

(that was my terrible impression of a rimshot.)

And last but not least-- the winner of the giveaway is #3, Kimi!

Congrats, lovely! Send your mailing info to me at undergradfab@gmail.com within the next two days, and I'll have your package on it's way ASAP!

Sunday Morning Poetry

2011-04-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

Morning Poem

Every morning

the world

is created.

Under the orange

sticks of the sun

the heaped

ashes of the night

turn into leaves again

and fasten themselves to the high branches ---

and the ponds appear

like black cloth

on which are painted islands

of summer lilies.

If it is your nature

to be happy

you will swim away along the soft trails

for hours, your imagination

alighting everywhere.

And if your spirit

carries within it

the thorn

that is heavier than lead ---

if it's all you can do

to keep on trudging ---

there is still

somewhere deep within you

a beast shouting that the earth

is exactly what it wanted ---

each pond with its blazing lilies

is a prayer heard and answered

lavishly,

every morning,

whether or not

you have ever dared to be happy,

whether or not

you have ever dared to pray.

Mary Oliver

a hello + a giveaway :)

2011-04-14T04:00:00.000-07:00

So, here's the deal. I've noticed lately that I kind of sort of have the most fabulous readers ever in the whole wide world, and quite frankly, I don't know you all nearly as well as I should. So in the interest of making you all my new best friends (which would absolutely be the greatest thing in the whole world, I hope you know), I would love, love, LOVE for you to leave a comment and introduce yourself (even if we're already blog bffs and you think there's nothing more I could possibly know about you! because there is always more to learn :)), leave me a link to your blog so that I can come visit you, tell me a nerdy joke, etc, etc. I guess my curiosity just got the best of me, and I would love to see who is stopping and reading what I have to say :)

After that's all said and done, I'll randomize the comments and pick one commenter and send them a fun little gift package full of some of my favorite things in the mail!

And even though I wish I could send each and every one of you a sweet little gift as a thank-you for just being you, my bank account laughed in my face when I tried to go with that plan. So to the rest of you, I leave my new favorite song, dedicated to each! and! every! one! of you, because you are so lovely + fab :)

As always, thanks for reading, lovelies :)

against my impulsive instincts

2011-04-13T10:54:00.000-07:00

When you realize how

perfect everything is,

you will tilt you head back

and laugh at the sky.

--Buddha

Top: Old Navy, Fall 10; Tank: Kohls; Cropped Chinos: Old Navy, Spring 11; Flats: Target, Fall 10

I don't know about you guys, but whenever I buy new clothes, I absolutely must. wear. them. IMMEDIATELY. And then, in a week or two, they don't seem so fabulous and new anymore. So this time, after I brought home a few new pieces from Old Navy, I decided to go against my impulsive instincts and ration them throughout the week. This meant no wearing one than one new piece at a time, and pairing new pieces with old so that I didn't get stuck in the 'this only goes with that' mindset.

So far, so good. It's making my 'old' clothes seem much more appealing than they felt just a few days ago, and it feels like I'm getting even more bang for my buck.

Are you a clothes rationer? Or an insta-wearer like me?

Inside the shopping bag: Old Navy

2011-04-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned before that one of the reasons I've been feeling blah lately has been that I have been feeling so uninspired by my closet. Since I've started running, my body has really changed shape. Yes, I am and always have been a pretty solid hip-py hourglass, but I've noticed that my clothes just fit differently this spring/summer than they have previous seasons. So I bagged up all of the old clothes that weren't serving me well anymore and dropped them off at my favorite thrift store. Then I gave myself a $40 maximum spending limit, and headed off to Old Navy to see what I could find!

I know that $40 could get me quite a bit at one of my favorite local thrift stores, but I was really feeling the itch to do a little first-hand shopping for the season :)

What came home with me?

Two pairs of cuffed skinny chino capris in a rosy pink and a deep charcoal,

2 @ 10.49 each (originally $30 each) = $20.98

One dove grey detailed tee (originally $19.95) = clearance for $4.98

One lavender and white striped scoop-neck tee (originally $19.95) = clearance for $3.99

Ruffle scoop neck tank (originally $19.95) = $5.95

Grand total: $35.90

Total savings: $83.95 (My favorite part-- saving more than I spent!)

I was super pleased with the pieces I picked up, and I know they'll be nice, easy pieces to transition me from spring to summer. I've already professed my undying devotion to those gorgeous pink chinos-- be prepared to see them remixed over and over again in the future :)

How do you spice up your wardrobe when it's feeling blah?

Sunday Morning Poetry

2011-04-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

The Spirit Likes to Dress Up

The spirit

likes to dress up like this:

ten fingers,

ten toes,

shoulders, and all the rest

at night

in the black branches,

in the morning

in the blue branches

of the world.

It could float, of course,

but would rather

plumb rough matter.

Airy and shapeless thing,

it needs

the metaphor of the body,

lime and appetite,

the oceanic fluids;

it needs the body's world,

instinct

and imagination

and the dark hug of time,

sweetness

and tangibility,

to be understood,

to be more than pure light

that burns

where no one is --

so it enters us --

in the morning

shines from brute comfort

like a stitch of lightning;

and at night

lights up the deep and wondrous

drownings of the body

like a star.

Mary Oliver

un-stuck.

2011-04-07T13:29:00.000-07:00

Who will we become?

We will become ourselves.

-Patti Smith

Well, hello there strangers! It's been a while, hasn't it?

tee: gap, summer 10; skirt: free people, thrifted; flats: gift; tank: kohls

Regardless of how long it's actually been, it feels like ages. I simply have been feeling a little stuck lately when it comes to blogging. My outfits have been the same old, same old (uniform of the past week: a variation skirt + leggings + tee + flats every day. For real.) and my inspiration has promptly zipped out the window and I haven't seen it since. Blerg.

I know I'm not the first blogger to feel this way, and I know I certainly won't be the last. But I'm beginning to see the need to redefine what I'm doing here. Perhaps that means a big change, maybe all I need is a little one, but just as I change, my blog needs to change with me. And that's a smidge daunting.

The idea popped in my head the other day that maybe my blog has simply run its course-- maybe I'm meant to be done. But immediately, that didn't feel right. And then I gave myself a little mental smack on the wrist and a pep talk about not being so dramatic, geez.

lips: maybelline color sensational in coral crush: day-glo pink in real life, suprisingly subdued in photos. nails: opi cozu-melted in the sun

I was poking through my early posts, and it reminded me of how much fun I've had with my blog-- how passionate I was about it, and how involved I was in the community. And lately, it's lost the fun that used to be present. So I hereby promise to you, lovely readers, as well as myself to stop taking everything so seriously and have fun again. Pinky promise :)

Here's to more fun!

Have you ever felt stuck when it comes to your blog?

What have you done to re-find your voice?

Sunday Morning Poetry

2011-04-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

Sleeping in the Forest

I thought the earth remembered me,

she took me back so tenderly,

arranging her dark skirts, her pockets

full of lichens and seeds.

I slept as never before, a stone on the river bed,

nothing between me and the white fire of the stars

but my thoughts, and they floated light as moths

among the branches of the perfect trees.

All night I heard the small kingdoms

breathing around me, the insects,

and the birds who do their work in the darkness.

All night I rose and fell, as if in water,

grappling with a luminous doom. By morning

I had vanished at least a dozen times

into something better.

Mary Oliver

holy 400, batman!

2011-04-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

Fair warning: this is going to be one big unrelated mish-mosh of stuff today and my sleepy brain can't think of one single common element to tie them all together. Don't say I didn't warn you ;)

Cardigan: NY&C0, Summer 10; Dress: Target, Spring 11; Leggings: Kohls, Spring 11; Flats: Target, Fall 10

First things first: When I went to begin writing this post today, I noticed I just recently hit my 400th post. What the what now? I remember being super psyched that I had hit 300 around the beginning of this school year! I have to say I've been thinking a lot lately about the future of this blog and where I see myself in relation to blogging in the coming months. I haven't figured out for sure where I want to go from here yet, but seeing that 400 reminded me really how much blogging and the general style blogger community has meant to be over the past (nearly) two years. I'm on the brink of getting sappy, here, but I just have to say-- each and every single one of you, whether you've read since the very first post (and there are some of you still out there! Ahem, Clare, Kendra & Shannon and I'm sure others that I may have missed :)), you're brand-spankin' new or somewhere in between, your readership and support means the WORLD to me. So thank you. Like, a lot a lot. :)

Second: Oh, this dress. Oh, how I adore it. Oh, how I want to snuggle up with it like a sweet floral blanket and daydream about all the endless possible outfits it will eventually be worn in. I've had the hankering to wear it with my magic green cardi since the day it came home with me, and I was most definitely not disappointed. Red dress, you may just be as magic as my cardi.

Third: for all of the complaining I do about Minnesota winters, there is nothing I love more than a Minnesota spring. It's worth the endless months of snow and negative 30 degree days when you get to go for a walk in the sunshine next to blooming trees and melting snow. Mmmmm, yes please.

So let's recap:

Dress = great.

Spring = greater.

YOU all = greatest.

Just in case I didn't make that clear enough :)

senioritis + the button headband

2011-03-30T08:44:00.000-07:00

headband: made by my bff; cardi: thrifted; cami: kohls; dress: gap, altered by moi (spring 08); leggings: kohls, spring 11; flats: target, fall 10

I've had a few days worth of pictures sitting in my camera since late last week, and yet apparently, uploading them clearly must have been, like, the biggest chore ever, because I waited until today to do it. Honestly, I think I'm a little burnt out lately and my blogging has taken the hit because of it. I just found out that I've been accepted into both Masters programs I applied for (!), and have three big research papers to write before the semester is over-- which of course, combines to make the perfect storm of senioritis. I'm just going to enjoy my last few weeks (seven, but who's counting? *ahem*) before graduation as best I can. Often times, like today, that means wearing my brightest, button-y-est headband and fakin' it til I make it :)

Sunday Morning Poetry

2011-03-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Miracles

Why, who makes much of a miracle?
As to me I know of nothing else but miracles,
Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,
Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky,
Or wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge of the water,
Or stand under trees in the woods,
Or talk by day with any one I love, or sleep in the bed at night
with any one I love,
Or sit at table at dinner with the rest,
Or look at strangers opposite me riding in the car,
Or watch honey-bees busy around the hive of a summer forenoon,
Or animals feeding in the fields,
Or birds, or the wonderfulness of insects in the air,
Or the wonderfulness of the sundown, or of stars shining so quiet
and bright,
Or the exquisite delicate thin curve of the new moon in spring;
These with the rest, one and all, are to me miracles,
The whole referring, yet each distinct and in its place.

To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle,
Every cubic inch of space is a miracle,
Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with the same,
Every foot of the interior swarms with the same.
To me the sea is a continual miracle,
The fishes that swim--the rocks--the motion of the waves--the
ships with men in them,
What stranger miracles are there?

Walt Whitman

sunny side up

2011-03-25T09:48:00.000-07:00

skirt: NY&Co, summer 10; Tee: Kohls, Fall 10; Belt: JCP, Winter 10; Leggings: Kohls, Spring 11; Boots: Gift
If there's anything I've learned over the past few (kind of icky) days, it's this: if you want to cheer yourself up, wear yellow.

I got this skirt on sale last summer the same day I bought my beloved green cardigan, and kind of got in a rut of wearing them together. Fortunately, I've since learned that my cardigan is, in fact, magic and goes with everything-- but this skirt, not so much. In theory, it shouldn't be hard to remix, but my brain is stuck on a few combos and it's hard to break out of the pattern.

In the spirit of another challenge, I've decided that this skirt needs to be given a chance to shine. So, over the next few weeks, I'm going to try to come up with at least five or six new outfits centered around its gorgeous, sunny yellow and fun-but-neutral pattern.
Any ideas for me? How would you style this skirt if it were in your closet?

california dreamin'

2011-03-23T06:30:00.000-07:00

Dress: Target, Spring 11; Jacket: from my sis; Leggings: Primark London, Spring 10; Flats: Target, Fall 10; Sunnies: Target, Fall 10

Oh, how I wish it were still this sunny and snow-less outside. Minnesota, I am done-zo with your yo-yo temps and sneaky season switching. Alas, I'll don my boots and leggings once more and hope this is the end of the snow for now.

This was the last of my outfit shots taken on spring break, meaning shortly after this was taken, I was finally confronted with my full closet again. Um, hello daunting. It took me a while to finally get back in the swing of dressing with more than 30 items again, but I think I've got it-- more on that tomorrow, of course :)

And lastly, this dress. Oh, this dress. It's no surprise that I've been craving floaty fabrics and sweet florals lately, and this fit the bill perfectly. I have big plans for it in the future involving a big, floppy sun hat and strappy sandals, but it's just as good with leggings + a jacket... for now :)

faux-pster

2011-03-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

Tee: F21, Summer 10; Jeans: Kohls, Fall 09; Keds: Primark London, Spring 10
Contrary to what these pictures might have you believe, I am not, in fact, in the woodsy backyard of my parents' house right now. Nope. Sneaky, I know. Spring break is officially over, as my long and rainy drive back to Minneapolis made abundantly clear yesterday afternoon. However, I knew I'd be finishing my 30x30 while in Milwaukee, so I knew I wanted to pack at least a few pieces to celebrate my new wardrobe freedom before I had full access to my closet again.

I've had this outfit idea a-brewin' for a while, and I was super excited to give it a try. I will say, however, that I felt especially hipster-tastic in my purple keds, breton stripes and new glasses. Unfortunately, as hard as I try, I think my unabashed cheerfulness and sizable collection of *NSYNC cds will prevent me from ever attaining full hipster-status. Until then, I'll just drink my fair-trade tea while reading Hipster Disney Princesses and enjoy my faux status :)

Sunday Morning Poetry

2011-03-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

Year of Yes

I wish I had said Yes!
beloved
When you asked me out to walk
among the leaves
the turning leaves
You were offering me
the sound of dreams,
And I turned you down
politely.

Not today, I smiled
Perhaps,
Maybe, tomorrow?

But I wish I had said Yes!
beloved
I wish we had shared this light.

Next time don't ask
Just take me!
Order me to dress!

I am going to need your help
beloved
To begin the Year of Yes.

Shaista Tayabali

*found through the always-awesome Sarah Von of yes & yes

30x30: the finale

2011-03-18T09:52:00.000-07:00

I've said a lot about my experience with the 30x30 already, so this time I'll let the pictures do the talking :)

Which were your favorites? I think my top were 4, 14, 24 & 28.

If you'd like to read about my entire 30x30 experience, click on the tag below or the link on the sidebar!

30/30: finito! (updated: now with working pictures!)

2011-03-16T07:15:00.001-07:00

Cardi: from sis; Tee: The Limited, winter 10; Necklace: gift from my sister, etsy.com; Jeans: Kohls, Fall 09; Flats: Target, Fall 10

So here we are, slightly over 30 days later-- and I'm done! I think I said most of what I wanted say yesterday, basically that this challenge has truly taught me how to get the most out of my closet. I can't wait to have a go at remixing the pieces I've neglected over the past month & a half and see what turns up.

Before starting the 30x30, I was in a pretty big funk, inspiration-wise. The weather had been hanging in that icky, winter slush with a fresh six inches of snow falling every other day, and I simply wasn't feeling my closet. And as I've mentioned previously, I was struggling with my body image as well and having a hard time feeling good when I was getting dressed.

It was kind of a tall order to call on the 30x30 to fix all of that, but I have to say that 6 weeks later, I have a completely renewed perspective. I'm happier with my closet (and haven't bought a thing), happier with my body (that of course has to do with this rather than the 30x30, but I'd like to think it put me in the best state of mind to move forward), and happier in general.

I was hoping that I would be starting this challenge in the midst of winter and ending it with the first warm (ish) melty days of spring, and sure enough, the sun is peeking out and the snow is disappearing. I'm more inspired than ever to start fresh with the change of seasons. In all, so glad I did the 30x30-- I don't know for sure if or when I'll be doing another one, but I know what I've learned about my closet + self will be sticking with me for a long while!

If you did the 30x30, what did you learn from it?

I'm curious to see how it went for all of you!

29/30: remixability

2011-03-15T07:17:00.000-07:00

About a week & a half ago, I was deep in my 30x30 with seemingly no way out. I remember feeling completely inspiration-less and thinking that it was going to take me approximately seven more years to finish this challenge. And bam, all of the sudden, I'm one day away from being done! I'll be posting a full recap of outfits when all is said and done, of course, but I have to say that I'm so glad I participated this go-around.

Sweater tee: The Limited, Winter 10; Scarf: H&M Berlin, Spring 10; Skirt: Gap, Summer 10; Flats: Target, Fall 10

I've always been smidge secretly jealous of all of the bloggers with seemingly giant closets, while I got by with a smaller closet and a student budget. But when I picked out pieces for this challenge, I ended up choosing my most-worn pieces anyway and came up with nearly 30 new outfits from them.

It has really been an awesome lesson in working with what you've got, and made realize how silly I was being before. I don't need a giant closet to be constantly remixing and reinventing my outfits-- I never did, and I never will. That doesn't mean when I finally get a big-girl salary I won't be expanding my closet a little bit more, but I know finally understand what everyone's been saying for so long: that a big, fancy wardrobe does't really have anything to do with the quality or creativity of your outfits! It really truly is all about how you work with it that counts.

With that being said, I am suuuper pumped to be able to wear the rest of my closet now. Not because I've missed it necessarily, but more because I'm looking forward to getting the chance to put together new outfits with pieces I've neglected for so long, and to really take the 30x30 remixable approach to all of my wardrobe :)

27 & 28/30: one dress, two ways.

2011-03-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

This lovely little purple frock has been sitting, unassumingly, in my 30x30 since day one and has gotten zip camera time so far. What's the deal with that? (here's where I sheepishly admit I still haven't worn the batwing blazer I included. And I won't wear because I didn't pack it for my spring break. whoopsie.) So it was an easy decision to toss it in my luggage for my trip home-- it's versatile, a great color, and always manages to look fabulous regardless of what else is going on in my outfit.

twenty-seven:

cardi: from sis; dress: thrifted, 2006; tank: kohls; belt: kohls, fall 09; leggings: kohls, ancient; flats: target, fall 10

twenty-eight:

dress: thrifted, 2006; cardi: ny&co, summer 10; tank: kohls; boots: gift

Which look do you like better?

Sunday Morning Poetry

2011-03-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

Healing

There is healing in the laying on of hands;

in the letting go of fear, in asking for help,

in silence, celebration, prayer.

There is healing in speaking the truth and in keeping still,

in seeking sunlight and not shunning struggle.

Laughter and the affirmation of wholeness hold their own healing.

When the soul dances, when the day begins in delight,

when love grows and cannot be contained,

when life flows from moment to moment,

healing happens in the space between thoughts,

and the breath before the first sung note.

Healing is a birthright and a grace.

When we dare to be open to the unknown,

when we extend ourselves in caring,

when we welcome in the vast expanse of life,

healing comes from the heart,

and blossoms from the inside out.

Danna Faulds

Saturday night is date night!

2011-03-12T17:00:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry, you guys. I make terrible, terrible puns. But if you watch this video, you will see that Saturday night is indeed date night. Enjoy!

PB + sea salt dates from Mary L on Vimeo.

p.s. how do you like my new glasses? I got them yesterday and haven't been able to take them off my face since. Be prepared to see more of them coming soon to a post near you :)

25 & 26/30: weekend wear

2011-03-12T11:08:00.000-08:00

I'm so close the end of my 30x30 I can just taste it, lovelies-- and it tastes like sweet, sweet wardrobe freedom. However, as I realized while packing up my giant suitcase for spring break, I'll be finished halfway through my week of break, and won't have real full access to my closet again until I'm back in Minneapolis a week from Sunday. Oh well, c'est la vie-- I guess I'm just capsule wardrobe hopping :)

twenty five:

Sweater: Gap, Fall 10; Tank: Kohls; Jeggings: Kohls, Fall 10; Flats: Target, Fall 10

twenty six:

Dress: Kohls, ancient; Leggings: Primark London, Spring 10; Tank: Kohls; Flats: Target, Fall 10

I'm hoping, being back in my nice and wooded, green-space loving hometown, I'll be able to find some more interesting photo locations. As long as the weather cooperates with me this week, I'm planning on doing a little more exploring!

24/30: the winter happy list

2011-03-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

Cardigan: NY&Co, Spring 10; Dress: Gap Outlet, altered, Spring 08; Leggings: Primark London, Spring 10; Boots: Gift

So in looking back at my past few posts, it's become crazy clear that I have been one big grump about winter this year. Which is ironic, since I spent last winter in rainy London, wishin' and hopin' that we'd have even a smidge of snow. Funny how that works :) Anyways, as I was walking to class today, I realized I could either keep whining, or I could appreciate what's left of the chilly months before they're gone for good.

Of course, the eternal optimist in me chose the latter.

Without further ado, I give you: the winter happy list!

1. I can totally go outside without my hair frizzing or bangs curling. Whereas in the summer, I can't take a half a step away from air conditioning without going afro-tastic.

2. There really is nothing more beautiful than bright white, un-walked-upon snow. Which you would think would be all stomped on by March, but on my school's second, more agriculture-centric campus, it is everywhere and it is bea-youu-tiful!

3. It is the perfect cuddling weather. Just ask my cat. And my snuggly blankets. And anyone who walks by. What can I say? I'm a cuddler. :)

4. I can spend a whole day making soup and no one says peep about it-- yum.

5. And of course-- cute boots. and tights. Need I say more?

See? Boots and tights. I may love them even more than I love my frizz-less hair and making soup.

Perhaps even more than I love this ring! However, my peachy-springy nail polish probably tops the charts-- I'm not quite letting go of my spring dreamin' quite yet :)

23/30: spring-a-ling-a-ding-dong

2011-03-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

I have decided to stick with love;

hate is too great a burden to bear.

-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Headband: boutique in Milwaukee; Scarf: Gift; Tee: Kohls; Jeggings: Kohls, Summer 10; Boots: Gift

One thing I made sure to do in my 30x30 was include plenty of spring clothes for the end of the challenge-- which, apparently, I have completely forgotten that March in Minnesota does not equal spring. In fact, it equals 6-16" of snow this coming Wednesday. I'm moving to Bermuda, by the way.

Anyways, while these clothes haven't necessarily been weather appropriate, it's been fun to inject color + pattern into my wardrobe, whether it's in accessories or actual pieces. If I can't have real spring, I can at least pretend like it's here :)

20, 21 & 22/30: powering through

2011-03-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

In the interest of powering through: another weekend roundup!

Thursday:

dress: Gap, Spring 08; Tee: ON, Fall 10; Jeggings: Kohls; Belt: Gift, Winter 10; Flats: Target, Fall 10

blerg. Sorry for the iPhone pictures-- and dirty mirror, and kitty photobomb, and the fluorescent overhead lighting (which I never ever turn on in my room, but this was at 11 PM. oops.) But this was taken after a 16-hour-day and frankly I'm impressed that I was able to hold it together long enough to get this snapped. Fast-forward seven seconds and you would see me already in my PJs and snuggled up in my cozy bed :)

Friday was a fancy-dancy work event. I wore a dress that was definitely not in my 30. Oopsh. :)

Saturday:

Tee: Gap, Summer 10; Tank: Kohls; Skirt: Thrifted, Summer 10; Leggings: Primark London, Spring 09; Flats: Target, Fall 10

Sunday:

Scarf: Street market in London, Spring 07; Cardigan: Thrifted, originally BR; Tank: Kohls; Jeggings: Kohls; Flats: Payless-- I was wearing my black flats in my 30 during the day, but they got so soaked in the melted snow that I had to change for my pictures!

While I'm not feeling overwhelmingly stifled by my smaller-than-usual closet, I am definitely getting ready to have full access to my wardrobe again. I've realized just how few things I actually wear in my closet, and I'm looking forward to branching out and trying to remix with pieces that usually never get any face-time at all. Seeing as my beloved (yet rarely worn) peacock skirt has basically been the MVP of this remix, I think I've proved to myself that the clothes that typically sit untouched can most definitely be creatively remixed :)

Almost done!

Sunday Morning Poetry

2011-03-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

19/30: a little deeper than usual.

2011-03-03T05:00:00.000-08:00

So I have this little condition. It's a lot like my anthropologie-sale-itis, actually (in that it is 100% fake and absolutely not a real thing.) It's called I-won't-run-outside-if-I-can't-feel-my-toes itis, and it has plagued me all winter. Which has thus resulted in a little extra wintry fluff and generally lethargy. Well, not anymore, friends! Today I got the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred in the mail from netflix and it is kickin' my bootay. In a good way.

I don't intend to do it every single day, of course (like another 30 day challenge I've participated in... *ahem*), but I'm thinking it will be a good supplement to my already-established yoga + running schedule. I don't often get personal about certain things on my blog, and body image and weight are one of those areas that I tend to shy away from in everyday posting, but in reality, these things are huge to me. And sometimes, I just feel like I need to talk about it.

So on that subject, I will say this: I started running this past summer and felt better than I ever have in my entire life. I felt balanced, happy, glow-y (I'm convinced you can tell the difference in my pictures from this summer), and totally and completely in love with my body + self, and I've lost that lately. I've loved the 30x30 because it has meant a chance to enjoy getting dressed again-- it has been the necessary push out of an icky slump, and a reminder of why I love my self + body just the way they are.

Really, in the end, I've become inspired by the renewed purpose that the 30x30 has injected into my wardrobe, and after a few slow starts back into my running routine these past few weeks, I knew I needed something different and fun to do the same thing for my physical self. So I'm trying something new-- and it doesn't matter if I go all the way through or hop around on the workouts or decide I'm done after two weeks in-- it's simply a jumpstart to remind me that taking care of all of me should be my top priority, always.

I'd love to hear what you have to say-- what do you do when you need a reminder of how fabulous you are? What helps you move in a new direction?

18/30: silly me

2011-03-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

Whatever you are,

be a good one.

--Abraham Lincoln

Oxford tunic: JCP, Winter 10; Skirt: Gap, Fall 10; Boots: Gift

What do you guys do when it's 31 degrees outside? Apparently, I wear knee socks (I swear, they're hiding under the boots. oops. :)) and no tights. And then I freeze my tush off on the way to class as the wind threatens to have its way with my skirt. Oh, what's that, guy walking next to me? You're still wearing boots and a puffy coat and I'm not wearing pants? Yup. That's exactly what's going on here.

On another note, I know I'm lagging a little bit in the 30x30, but I'm still feeling good about it so far! I hit a bit of a rut last week because of some serious snow-droppage in Minneapolis, but now that the sun is shining again, I'm feeling happy and inspired :)

Sunday Morning Poetry

2011-02-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

Still I Rise

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

Maya Angelou