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!

Day 1; Night 2

I've been a little behind on posting, so I'm kind of playing catch up. Plus, things are about to really busy with graduation lurking around the corner. Here are my first outfits for the first 2/7 days. I know it's kind of pathetic, but I couldn't leave my apartment on the second day 'til night time because of all my school work, hence the reason I'm all dressed up!

Day 1
Accessories: Shoes via BCBG; Sunglasses via Urban; Pendant via House of Harlow

Night 2
Accessories: Earrings are vintage via Portobello Road, London; elaborate fishnets via Selfridges, London; Clutch via Urban; Heels are Steve Madden via Loehmann's

What do you think?

This post makes me realize my goal for the summer: begin learning photography... I wish I could take awesome self-portraits like some of my other fellow bloggers!

My 14 for 7

Black Silence and Noise skirt via Urban, shorts via Urban

Grey Splendid Maxi skirt via shopbop.com; Olive Maxi dress via Massimo Dutto (Barcelona)

Sold Jeans via South Moon Under

Black Hudson Cargo pants via shopbop.com

Item #8 via friend's closet for week; Striped tee via Urban

Lace top via Urban; Purple Michael Stars racer back tank via South Moon Under

Blue cardi via Madewell in Georgetown; Cream blazer via Urban

I love the double pocket detail

[Item #14 not pictured - White BDG button down via Urban]

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: Double Whammy!

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure

Color: Back to the Fuchsia

Now, this stuff WORKS! Sally Hansen claims that it is "all 5 steps of a manicure in 1 bottle," and it really is (see their website here). My nails needed to be filed, buffed, and everything in between, but I didn't have time. I hate when my nails look shnasty, so I pulled this out of my cabinet (had bought it one time at Walgreens thinking I might try it some time) and put on a couple coats. Not only did it fill any spaces that needed to be buffed out, but it really does shine and stay on as if you've had a full on salon manicure with all the steps (base coat, polish, top coat, etc.). 

It's awesome, and I wanna get more colors!

Sally Hansen dares us to compare it to our favorite salon brands (like OPI and Essie), and I have to say, I am quite surprised by how torn I am about which is the best polish. Additionally, it goes on super smoothly and easily due to the tapered end of the brush to polish your nails... I barely got any Fuchsia on the sides of my nails and cuticles! 

It's been 3 days and my nails still look exactly the same... we'll see how long this awesomeness lasts!

On a less exciting note.... I was really excited about the Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen (again, Walgreens Wanderer right here....) in White, because I thought it'd be good for giving myself a French manicure (or, at least attempting) and drawing cool designs on my already-polished claws. 

Don't be deceived!

I took this picture immediately after I added the heart to nail, and was pumped about how good (I thought) it looked, and all the potential designs I could create to avoid studying for finals!

Well, even after an hour of waiting for it to dry, and being careful for three, it never did. I eventually had to wipe it off (which I hate doing with any kind of nail polish -- gooey grossness) and I'm mad I bought it. Maybe it didn't turn out well because it was on top of the Sally Hansen Salon polish, which is supposed to appear to have a shiny top coat finish, and you are supposed to apply the pen to the nail before you add anything else?? But I don't know. 

Anyway, go for the Complete Salon Manicure polish! I wish they had more colors, but I'm sure they'll add some new summery ones soon.

Wanna know how I learned to walk in high heels?

LIKE THIS!....

 In case you haven't gotten it yet, I learned to walk in heels (pathetic, I know... I'm graduating from college in 11 days...) by wearing them around my apartment! Whenever I've been home lately (lounging, cleaning, cooking, whatever...) I've been "practicing" by just hanging out in my brand new grad shoes! In the images above, I'm in my kitchen takin' care of day-to-day AM business....

...and now I'm almost a pro :)

I highly recommend this trick if you've got some major "schlepper" in you like I do!

P.S. DON'T JUDGE MY UGLY COLLEGE APT KITCHEN FLOOR TILES! I had nothing to do with them.
P.P.S. Like my bath robe?
P.P.P.S. Whenever you are adding a "P.S.," you add an additional "P." Most people don't know this, and just add another "S." It is a huge pet peeve of mine because I took Latin for so many years! [insert nerd criticisms here]... Anywho: If you forgot multiple things in whatever you're writing and need to "double P.S. it," then it should be "P.P.S." - this means "post post scriptum" (which makes more sense then "post scriptum scriptum" if you think about it!). 

14 for 7 from the 7 til 14

...confused yet??

So, I've been trying to come up with something appropriate for me right now (this time of the year, this much school work, weather, blah blah etc.) to help me start remixing like Kendi. She always has such great ideas for remixing, and I think I'm creative enough to get crafty and design my own project geared towards my needs. I am a schlepper... I could be in PJs or sweatpants all day. Since I'm graduating in 2 weeks from today, I need to change that... This project will force me to get up and get dressed every day (which will be good for finals week because, for some reason, I focus better when I'm dressed properly), and think consciously about my outfit choices.

This is my project:
The week before graduation, May 7th through 14th, I am going to wear only 14 different articles of clothing (for 7 days), so that I can better learn how to remix what I already own! Kendi inspires projects like the 30 for 30 challenge, which are way too intense for me at this point in my early blogging career... You can read her rules, but right now I'm working on mine. I've already established a few, though, some of which are similar to hers:

1) Exercise clothing does not count. That'd be gross. I'm allowed to change to work out, which means I'll probably be more inspired to go to the gym for some endorphins the week before my summer begins, anyway!
2) Underwear/garments/shirts/tanks don't count either, obviously.
3) Accessories are not part of the 14. Shoes, to me, are accessories. Therefore, shoes aren't part of the group either ;)
4) The weather is still REALLY iffy here, so leggings/tights and outerwear are not part of the 14. Also, I might need to substitute a pair of jeans for a pair of jeans since I'm in college and there are always laundry issues or people borrow your clothes, etc.

I also already know some items I'm going to include!! I have to consider things like Saturday to Saturday means senior/grad brunches and I don't want to be a.... WAIT FOR IT.... outfit repeater! (hence remixing)... ok, anywho:
1) Gray splendid maxi skirt via Bop
2) Dark green, knitted maxi dress
3) 1 Pleasure Doing Business Skirt -- either blue and white stripes or GOLD -- what do you think?
4) White lace crop top via Urban
5) Royal blue cardi via Madewell
6) Jeans (undecided which pair) *
7) Striped tee shirt via Urban
8) White button down via Urban
9) either another skirt (black?) or a pair of shorts... weather dependent * In Wisconsin this time of year, it could be 30 degrees or 70 from day to day...
10) 1 special outfit for something special! This 1 special outfit could be decided last minute, or borrowed from a friend, and must count as one of the 14 pieces
11) Cream blazer via Urban
12) .....??

WHAT AM I MISSING? I feel like I need more "bottoms," although it's only 1 week. Suggestions? I'll post my items soon with pictures!