HI[re me]LIGHTS FROM GRADUATION! (and only pic from day 7)

I got to wear a cap and gown for the 1st time!
In high school we graduated in white dresses.

ONLY PIC FROM DAY 7 - shoes = gold wedges from the day I was
 a "nautical nut" -- this look is super easy and quick! Just throw on jeans
and a patterned top, and you're ready to go!

I also got to spend time with my grandmother, who I'm extremely close to,
for the first time in a while. (This also serves as evidence I'm in my
challenge gear!!)

First pic taken post-grad ceremony!
The freshman year roommie!

My favorite pic of the day

My mom brought me really pretty cupcakes to my grad brunch!

I wound up not wearing the shoes I'd planned to because I was afraid I'd be
"that girl" and trip walking across the stage. I opted for this old pair of awesome blue
Marc Jacobs sandals that just so happened to match my awesome blue dress! (I call them my "Jasmine
 shoes"). However...

...I wore them to grad dinner that night, had no problem walking in them, and managed to
stay within my challenge guidelines with my cream UO blazer! ;)

My thoughts in water color..... TAKE 2!

For some reason, as soon as Blogger started acting up yesterday, I had the foresight to take screen shots of what I'd written, so I could share it with you today. I have ONE MORE final paper due today, so outfit pics from yesterday and today will have to come later. Here is yesterday's post:

I'm feeling really, really happy today, so I hope these colorful paintings add brightness to your day. Also, you get to learn more about me: not only do I study the History of Art, but I take a stab at the practice of it every once in a while. Don't be too critical; water color is an extremely unforgiving medium with which to work. Enjoy!

- April showers bring May flowers -
- There was a torrential downpour last night, but it's beautiful outside today -
- I made this for my mom for Mother's Day in 2007. I am 22 years old, and her favorite gifts I give her are still the ones I make her.... I love that! -

- the Man and I just picked up our caps 'n gowns together... so weird, but so exciting and empowering! -
- I am graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (my name. how suiting?) in 3 days. Having gone to a really small, private, all girls school, I'd never seen what real school spirit was. "Dance by the light of the moon" is a line from my favorite fight song at UW. This painting actually serves as a sketch for a ceramic (terra cotta) slab box I made last summer. Being creative is the best outlet... take a stab at it. You'll be surprised how much you enjoy it if you really let loose. Painting is my primary form of meditation. -

- Cupcakes are not only yummy, but pretty too. -
- I am sitting in the library "working," and all I want to do is eat this sketch. -
- I fostered a puppy from the Humane society while attending Emory University in Atlanta, GA (I transferred there for a bit...). Her name was Cupcake, and no, I didn't name her. I miss her every day, but I know she found a good home (yes, I actually know this for a fact, I'm not just being a blind optimist), which reassures me I did the right thing by giving her up after I nursed her back to health. I'm happy she's happy... and that another family gets to enjoy all the effort I put into training her wild puppy butt ;) -

- I'm going to be a little bit naughty tonight, and that's A-O-K! ;) -
- A young lady with beautiful read hair asked me to design a tattoo for her. She wanted a "badass fairy," and this is what I came up with it. Even though it's not something I'd necessary want on my body permanently, I'm happy to know that my creativity makes others happy! -
- I'll leave you with this: I hope this little sketch inspires you to do something "badass" today. Break free from the shell that's blocking your creativity and express yourself in an artistic way that makes you feel AWESOME! - 

N.B. Painting is especially good if you have any issues with your heart. I highly recommend starting to learn (you can easily teach yourself; I've learned more from trial and error than I have in any of my art classes), and even grinding your own pigments/making your own paint from the very beginning. Go to an art store (or if you're near a university, go to the school store) and ask the person who's helping you to pick out a kit to make your own Sumi-e paint, and make sure you also purchase the right brushes and paper. [MAJOR TIP: The key to all painting? Quality brushes.] Sumi-e painting is an Asian style of painting, and a great place to begin!

<3 Madison

Day 4: Nautical Nut

Today's outfit is exactly what it sounds like, and also serves as a tool for describing my personality.

....okay, so that might be pushing it, but you'll see what I mean.

I woke up today from the light and heat of the sun in my room. Under any other circumstances, that'd be an awesome thing, considering I've been "wintering" in Wisco since, oh, you know.... OCTOBER of this year, with the occasional need for a North Face in SEPTEMBER. However, today I had mixed feelings about this 80 degree, "instant summer out of nowhere" weather, because I still have two major research papers to write by Friday, and couldn't go outside and play [ <--- personality giveaway #1: I really do mean play when I say "play"... My mom still has to buy Disney princess paper plates for my birthday cakes at 22 years old - haaaaaaa].

This is me sad I can't play today.

Something I want the world to know about the University of Wisconsin is that BEER is sold at our student union! People sit outside when it's nice out and do work on "the Terrace," one of the campus's most famous spots, overlooking one of the lakes between which the University is situated.

Anyway, I decided to make my own fun inside before leaving to do work:

TOM'S via eBay
glasses via SMU

Bracelets: gifts
Watch: Michele via Radcliffe Jewelers

Something I think is really awesome about this outfit (and project in general) is it makes me realize how versatile my clothing can be. I literally threw this on this morning. The top is so comfy and the writing is in French [ <--- personality giveaway #2: I am almost fluent, and I love the French language more than almost anything in the world - It's beautiful, complicated and romantic].


Anywho, back to the outfit: let's talk accessories, and what they can do for ya. Here I'm wearing TOM'S, what fellow blogger, BiblioMOMia, describes as "the universal grad student shoe" here -- and I'm about to be one (after I take some time off, of course... this girl is fried)! My look is great for day time, and extremely functional (which for me, means comfortable) [ <--- personality giveaway #3 - I always have to be comfortable. I am not the kind of girl that will sacrifice comfort for beauty or fashion].

Wedges: Jessica Simpson via Nordstrom BP 

However, if I change my "hairstyle" (remove the signature sign of a schlepper, THE PONY TAIL), and throw on pearls (mine are fake - don't think looking classy has to require dough) and some form of heels, I completely change my look and feel! I also now have a potential outfit for "the last Tuesday night" of college, though I doubt this is what I'm going to wear ;)

Meet my giant bean bag. It... he?... makes my apartment much cozier, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't spend a lot of my time here when I'm home writing papers, reading, or just watching TV*.

Please excuse the awkward foot shot. I wanted to make sure you got another glimpse of the giant buckle that I love so much on the side of these "easy-to-dress-up-or-down" wedges!

Like I said, the sun woke me up this morning, and it was really, really hot in my apartment. I don't do well with heat [ <--- personality giveaway #4 ], hence the reason I chose to go to school in Wisconsin even though I'm from the East Coast. By the time I ran around my apartment in yoga poses (and just around my apartment in general like a total weirdo), took my pictures for the blog, changed accessories, took pics again, and packed up my books to head out for the day, I saw a sweaty mess in the mirror that kind of resembled me from earlier this morning....

Faux pearls: Ralph Lauren via Macy's

And yes, I left for a coffee shop this way! It's okay, though -- people didn't notice my hair because they were distracted by my first attempt this season to look like a sailor's girlfriend... or at least I'd like to think so!


*TV: I am a huge TV series fanatic. If you, too, would like procrastinations from finals week, or if you are a "real person" like I'm about to be, and need a distraction from the stress of every day life, then take my advice and start watching one of the following series if you haven't already....


Quality drama:
-The Wire (1 hr/episode) -- In my personal opinion, The Wire is the best show that has ever aired on television. Season 4 is, by far, the best, and most people who I've talked to who've seen the show agree. Thisa means you have more and more to look forward to as the seasons progress!
-The Sopranos (1 hr/episode)
-Six Feet Under (1 hr/episode -- extremely creepy but intriguing)


Witty comedy:
-Arrested Development (.5 hr/episode)


Purely for entertainment's sake:
-Prison Break Season 1 (1 hr/episode)-- but then stop there!! It gets really bad. However, the first season reminds me of The Shawshank Redemption in a TV series
-Nip/Tuck Seasons 1, 2 and 3 (1 hr/episode) -- once again, stop watching after Season 3... it goes down hill.


....MORE TV ADVICE TO COME IF YOU COMMENT WITH YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT ANY OF THESE SHOWS :)

Day 3: Study Chic

I can honestly say that yesterday was the first time in a while that I felt truly productive, and I chalk it all up to my invigoratingly colorful outfit with jeans that were tight-fitting enough to keep me awake, and a top and cardi that were loose-fitting enough to provide comfort all day and night.

You know those days when you are absolutely swamped with work, and you keep chipping away at it, but feel like you're getting nowhere? Well, those days have encompassed my past couple of weeks.

So, without further ado, here is the outfit that kept me going for hours on end yesterday, so I could finish up my FLW architectural theory papers [please ignore the hair, as this is my "study girl" look... not that I don't throw my hair on top of my head all the time anyway...]:

Ta da!

Since I was so productive yesterday, I didn't have time to post, but I did manage to snap some great pictures of my accessories before I headed to a coffee shop to do work with a friend.

Necklace via CUSP in Georgetown

Shoes: 1937 via Madewell in Georgetown
Ring: a NYC boutique via a friend

You might be wondering why I'm wearing pants and a sweater on May 9th -- us UW students got jipped this year... no Spring! It went straight from Winter to Summer here in Madison, Wisconsin, ladies and gentlemen, but yesterday was the one day that felt truly Springy. Sunny, a few sail boats back on the lake, and an awesome breeze. Nevertheless, a "breeze" here isn't a normal one, so I was even a bit chilly in what I had on.  

What do you think of the view from my college apartment?! I feel so lucky to wake up to a pretty view every day.
Lake Mendota, Madison, Wisconsin

My favorite detail of outfit #3 outfit that I didn't even notice until after I'd put it together is....

...all the POCKETS!

I mentioned in one of my earlier posts about this Madison-made remix that I was hoping that, even though this particular project isn't that hard in terms of # of articles of clothing/days to wear them, it would help me be less of a schlepper by forcing me to get dressed every day. So far, it's working, and I love the way I feel!

I hope my little project has inspired you to get out of bed and put yourself together at LEAST one day this week, even if you're swamped or stressed or anything and everything in between!

I also hope you take this little tip into consideration, as it is something I didn't even realize I did until this post!!: whenever you have a test or paper (if you're in school), or if you have to focus for a long time, WEAR JEANS! They'll keep you awake... I promise.

<3 Madison

P.S. Notice the posters on my wall? I graduate this coming Sunday with a degree in ART HISTORY. I love art. Besides the lake, another good thing about being in Madison, Wisconsin is being so close to the Milwaukee Art Museum. It's an architectural gem, and they have an incredible modern and post-modern collection. They have a Frank Lloyd Wright exhibition until Sunday, too! If you can I highly recommend checking it out!

Necklaces du Jour

Well... yesterday's "jour"

Notice the time stamp.... did I tell you I was an insomniac or what!? 


Anywho: these were the necklaces I happened to be wearing yesterday:

Heart via the Man; Pendant via House of Harlow

The reason I'm showing these to you is because, even though it was just another average day of finals week, I managed to throw on a piece of revelatory bling!! My double-sided gold heart necklace... One side has an "M," my first initial, and the other side looks like this: 

"Austin Danger Powers?"
"Danger's my middle name."

Well, Rae is mine!!

Now that I've let you in on my little secret, I'm also going to tell you how much I looooove my middle name :) Do you like your name? I'd love to hear some cool ones!

Product Review & More About MOI!

Something you should know about me: I am a procrastinator. 

I am also a very lucky girl! Tomorrow I'm headed to Barcelona, Marrakech & Madrid with the Manfriend for our last Spring Break before... wait for it... "THE REAL WORLD." Obviously my nails need to look purdy and stay as perfect as possible while I'm frollicking around Europe and N. Africa. So, after another all nighter [oh, the joys of being a college senior], I took Katie's advice from Running on Happiness and I tried Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nails.

I promised myself I wasn't going to work on this blog at all until I graduate and actually have time, but some things are just too cool, quick and easy not to share with you! Purchased @ Walgreens

Also, I came up with another means of procrastination that is actually going to be pretty effective with helping me to travel lightly.... I made a day-by-day list of what I'm going to wear in each place, complete with my flight itineraries and the weather forecast for each day. [my eyes are always bigger than my stomach in terms of packing, and this helped me to fit all my clothes/crap, cause we all got it!/toiletries -- another guilty pleasure = travel size items -- into a carry on.]

.... if you procrastinate like I do, then stay tuned for the embarrassing, or possibly cool, if you're into "notes"in sketchbook form of my packing list, and maybe even a few pictures from my trip! I highly recommend expressing your thoughts/worries/to-do-lists in a visually creative way. I took a course one summer at Maryland Institute College of Art titled "Sketchbook As Diary" -- It's fun and therapeutic, and you have to do it anyway. 

I am sorry if my posts seem all over the place! I am still a newbie, and haven't even figured out how to change the template for my blog or exactly what I'd like this space to become. So, for now, bear with me, and let me know what you think {after you go buy these Salon Effects miracles!}