Outfit post 3!!

This outfit post has a kind of theme: skirts with pockets! I absolutely LOVE skirts and dresses with pockets, and am even considering a wedding dress with pockets when that day comes (I watch too much Say Yes to the Dress). I feel like these outfits are both really me. One is a more business professional me, and the other is a more casual every day me. I love them both.

I was really excited about this first skirt because I had been looking for a gray one to wear to work. I walked in to H&M, saw it, and freaked out because it had pockets! Plus H&M is relatively cheap, so I was pretty content buying it. The black top border is great for defining a waist, and the gray goes great with bright colors. I wore black patent wedges to work this day. They're really comfortable.

Pink Shirt: New York & Co., Gray Skirt: H&M

This next outfit I wore just this week. I absolutely LOVE Lauren Conrad's designs and I feel like they really help define my style. Therefore this is one of my favorite skirts. Sadly in the picture I didn't put my hand in the pocket, but I assure you, they are there. The cardigan was a Christmas gift from my boyfriend's parents (his mom knows my style well). I totally love it and was excited that I could finally wear it since it has quarter sleeves. The back is a sheer crochet lace type of thing and it's so cute. I finally took a detail picture for you all! I wore some brown (I can't remember the exact name, kind of like a wood shade) flats. They're kind of uncomfortable, but way cute.

Gray Cardigan: American Eagle, Bird Print Skirt: LC by Lauren Conrad for Kohls

 

The back of the cardigan!

I'm feeling quite stylish as of late. Except for today, I went from scrubs to a t-shirt and shorts. Hopefully I can keep up the pictures!

Any style suggestions for me?

I Feel Like.

I feel like exploring.....yet I have nowhere to go.
I feel like writing........yet I have no words to pen.
I feel like reading.......yet I have no time.
I feel like learning.......yet I have no medium.
I feel like starting my life......yet I have no means.

I feel like I've been off work for way too long and my mind is going nuts. Maybe I'll start to make daily to-do lists. Or ACTUALLY find a means and medium to start doing things like learning. I think I just need to get out of my house.

Team Pride vs. Trashiness

I'm a pretty big Indians fan. I love the game of baseball and I go to dozens of games a year. One of the things I love about Adam is that he's got an equal love for baseball and for his respective team, the Detroit Tigers.
Adam and I like to try to go to games together when our teams play each other. We went to two games just last week when the Tigers were here in Cleveland, and the experience was.... less than enjoyable.

Detroit Tigers at Cleveland, summer 2012

Of course we're going to wear gear for our respective teams; I had my Tribe shirt and hat on, and Adam wore his Tigers hat and Justin Verlander jersey.We were in our beloved spot on the homerun porch with some friends, and during both games Adam continuously endured jeering and disrespect from Cleveland fans whom I used to believe were classy. Now, I know that in Cleveland we've got a bit of a jaded spirit from not winning a baseball world series since 1948, but that by no means legitimizes your choice to bad mouth fans of the opposing team who are there to do the same thing that you're doing; WATCHING BASEBALL AND SUPPORTING HIS OR HER TEAM.

I've been to my fair share of Indians games in Detroit, and never once have I been disrespected based on the logo that is sewn onto my baseball cap. Who knows if it's because I'm a female, or because I wasn't being that raucous, but I can say that at this point, Detroit's got more class than Cleveland when it comes to having opposing fans in their home stadium. I'm not proud of that, and frankly, I'm embarrassed. When I have to turn around and give you the death glare because you just viciously yelled "Go back to F***ING MICHIGAN," amongst other things, at my boyfriend who has not said one damn word to you, we've got a problem. No, you've got a problem. You're an ignorant asshole who doesn't have the decency to accept other peoples' understandable love of their own sports teams. And based on that, I can only assume that you're probably a racist as well. Honestly, you're doing a disservice to the team by claiming to represent them. I could go on and on about these lame excuses for fans, but I don't want to get any more riled up than I am. It just makes me so mad, and is probably one of my biggest pet peeves.

Contrary to the assholes that we endured, there were also a good handful of fans that would jokingly poke at Adam, then start up conversations about lineups and players. It's a nice change of pace, and that's what I like to see; Good sportsmanship and camaraderie. We're all there for the same reason. We love baseball, it's America's past time and we all grew up on it. We love our teams, and we come out to support them no matter their wins or losses.

So next time that you're at your local sports game, accept the fans from the opposing teams and make them feel welcomed. Show them how great our city can be, and how inviting and CLASSY Cleveland (usually) is.

Unless it's a guy wearing a Lebron James Heat jersey. Get him the hell out of there.

New colors!

I've played a little bit with my blog layout, mainly colors and photos. Let me know if you have any ideas or want to see anything new!

These are pictures from Adam's graduation, and IS Symposium!

Outfit post 2!

I finally took more pictures of my outfits!! This first one is from one of the first really nice summery days we had. My boyfriend was coming to visit, and I wanted to look super cute! I also had bought this skirt a while back, before actual skirt weather and I had been trying to figure out a way to wear it. Here's how it turned out, I'm really happy with it!

Striped body con skirt: AE, Jean vest: Forever 21, Sandals: Target. The vest has a really cute lace panel on the back but I forgot to take a detail picture, AGAIN. Go me. 

 For this outfit, I was just feeling REALLY hipster. It was pretty hot out, and my sister had just given me this pair of high rise shorts that she got from Goodwill that didn't quite fit her. I decided that this summer I'm going to be less modest and if I've got it, flaunt it. This day I felt that I had it, so I wore my lace crop bustier top. Never mind my wet hair, it just tops off the HIPSTER look. Oh, I was calling this look "Hipster Slut" all day, though I was told it just looked hot.

Shorts: Goodwill, Crop Top: Charlotte Russe, Bad Quality Picture: Me.

  I think it's time to clean the mirror. 

I'm trying to be more fashion forward for the summer. It can be hard because it's so hot and all you want to wear is a tank top and shorts. But this year, I'm gonna work hard!

Hidden Fears

Hello all,

Here is my graduate school acceptance update:
Towson
Pitt
Cleveland State
University of DC
Eastern Michigan- Wait List
Toledo- No idea

Basically, my future in graduate school (this year) is riding on EMU. If I get in, I'm definitely going there. If I don't, I've got a choice on my hands.

There's a volunteer program called City Year, which involves working with at-risk children in public schools across various cities in America. I applied to City Year Cleveland last year before I learned that I got my job at UH. I'm trying to decide if graduate school doesn't work out for me this year either, whether or not I  should apply for City Year DC. The stipend they provide is about as much as I make here in a month, provided I would need to pay for rent etc. They also provide loan deferment and scholarship for higher education after one year of service, among other benefits.

I was writing an email to a friend, asking her opinion and basically explaining this situation when I realized that it sounds like an awesome opportunity. I realized that I'm just afraid of living on my own, under the poverty line. But in reality, so many people with whom I graduated already do it, or plan to do it. It's just life. I can't live in mommy's home forever. I'm too comfortable, and I'm actually starting to outgrow the comfort. I'm antsy to get out. Why not move to a new (awesome) city where my roommate and my boyfriend will be? Why not live on food stamps for a year? It's not glamorous, but hey, everyone's gotta do it at some point.

It's a 40 hour a week gig, with a stipend etc. I'm assuming this experience would add to my resume, and hopefully get me on track to becoming a speech-language pathologist, damn it!

This would be my first time ever taking a dive into something. I really think I'm starting to branch out.

Oh yeah, they get to wear these fashionable uniforms too.

Perseverance

So I'm in a class at Cleveland State. It's a class that I took at Wooster, and I didn't do the best in it so I thought I would take it again to try to get my grade up. We've got an exam coming up that is scheduled on a day when I have a conflict. In the adult world, conflicts are expected. I figured I would email my professor and ask if I could take the exam a day before the rest of the class because of it. His response email in its entirety: "That would not be possible."

My response in my mind: "WHAT THE HELL?! CAN HE DO THAT?!" I'm trying to do well in this class, and I'm going to fail this exam because my professor is paranoid that I'm going to tell the answers to every other person in the class (as if I know all of the answers). I tried to drop the class, but it was already three days past the drop period. None of the offices I tried to go to for help even acted like they had any idea how to petition for a late drop, so I decided I'd just give up.

I'm not doing the best in the class right now. The class curriculum difference between CSU and Wooster is incredibly different. CSU's is heavily physics based (for some reason beyond my knowledge), while the Wooster one was much more physical and more relatable to the field. I'm already not doing well in the class, and this test is going to throw me over the deep end.

I cried, I was at a lack of answers or hope, and I decided I was done. I asked my trusty advice giver what I should do, and he said I should continue to go to class. Even if I do fail the test (and probably the class), maybe I'll get some little glimmer of good out of it. I mean, I DID pay for it. And it will show my perseverance. I just want to get in to grad school, and if this DUMB little speed bump is going to hold me back, then I need to rethink my motives.

So that's it. I'm going to be the bigger person and continue to go to class. It's not like I have anything better to do, and I really do try to learn (even if I am terrible at physics).