My Eyes Are Shooting Sparks

Hello there! So, it seems that I keep falling off the face of the bloggy world every weekend. It's just that every school week drains me so much that all I want to do on the weekends is cuddle and play video games and stay off of the computer. For this reason, I'm so very looking forward to spring break (only two weeks away!) Zak and I have been thinking about taking some sort of short trip to somewhere close like Boston of Philadelphia. The more I think about it, though, and as much as I would like to visit these places, I think my greatest desire is to get AWAY from any sort of city for a weekend. I'm so tired of my urban environment and I would just love to visit a beautiful, rural area, have a picnic and read Edgar Alan Poe stories out loud in some lovely open field. If that could happen, it would make me quite a happy lady. Do you guys have any plans or hopes for spring break?

Sweater: UO
Skirt: Forever 21
Tights: Hue
Shoes: DSW
Gold belt: Grandma's






Until tomorrow,
Nicole

The Vest I Swore I'd Never Wear

Hello there! So, as you've most likely noticed, I am totally wearing a vest today. A cropped fringed vest. So the story goes, about a year ago, my grandma was shopping at JCPenney (as she is apt to do) and, knowing that I like clothes that most normal people would never wear, she picked up this vest for me. It became a running joke in my household to reference the vest and ask why I hadn't worn it yet. Safe to say, I tucked it into the very back of my closet. Until this morning (cue dramatic music). I had put together my outfit (sans vest) but it just felt a bit boring, like it was missing some sass. And there it was, peeping out behind the striped sweaters and floral dresses - THE vest. I think it ended up pulling things together nicely. Also, the teacher I was meeting with today ALWAYS wears button downs and vests from thrift stores and stuff, so I may have been subconsciously channeling his style? That's normal, right? Oh goodness. Anyway, the moral of the vest story is that you should keep any weird/ugly clothes your grandma gives you, because she may or may not be able to see the future, a future in which you will want to wear a fringed cropped vest.

Plaid shirt, Skirt: UO
THE VEST: JCPenney
Tights: Hue
Belt: Target
Shoes: Mom's





Finally got a snake ring! Ignore my gross hand.

I hope you all have lovely weekends!
Nicole

Casual Thursdays

Hello there! So, my outfit today is super duper cozy-casual. Every other Thursday, I have to be at school until 9 (BOO!) so I wanted to make sure I made some comfy clothing choices. I decided that instead of staying at school during my four hour break from 11 to to 3, I would come home and relax in hopes of not being crazy sleepy by the time I get to come home. I also drank nearly a full pot of coffee. WOOHOO!

So, if you haven't noticed, I am totally into crop tops now. I picked up this cropped sweater at Urban Outfitters the other day for something wonderful, like 12 dollars. While you may not have much difficulty convincing me that a "cropped sweater" isn't the most logical garment, you would be hard pressed to convince me to not wear one. It's so cozy, and I think the fact that it's cropped makes me feel a little bit more put together on lazy dress days like today.

Oh, and also, if you follow my twitter you may have seen this, but I'm feeling a strong urge to finally dye my hair. I was thinking strawberry blonde. I'm a little terrified at the prospect of being at all "blonde" even if it's reddish brownish blonde. Any words in favor or disapproval? Have any of you had to deal with bleaching your hair/ have any words of caution and/or advice. Thanks in advance!

Sweater, Jeans: Urban Outfitters
Shoes: Rocket Dog
Belt: Delia's
Scarf: H&M
Necklace: Gift





(Even my feet are awkward)

Until tomorrow,
Nicole

We Carried It All So Well

Hello there! I just wanted to start off by stating the obvious: you are all so wonderful! Your comments on my last post made me so happy. I smiled as I read each and every one, and I'm so happy to have met you all through blogging! I'm going to keep this post a wee bit short since I'm exhausted and have oodles of work to do. I actually went shopping yesterday after class to Forever 21, and picked up this skirt along with a few other goodies. I have to say, it's lovely having a wearable floral skirt in my life again. The only other floral patterned skirt I own I got years ago, and the waistband is now HUGE. Seriously. I wore it once a while ago and was terrified that it was going to fall down in the middle of Target, which is never ideal. Forever 21 has some cute clothes, it's just that their stores overwhelm me so much. I'll see something I like online, then head to the store to browse for it, but be immediately turned off by how messy and chaotic everything is. Yesterday, though, I was finally strategic and hit the store on an off day at an off hour and HUZZAH! Cute clothes are mine!

Top: Delia's
Sweater: H&M
Skirt: Forever 21
Tights: Hue
Hat: Modcloth
Belt: Target
Shoes: Ruche





Until Tomorrow,
Nicole

Hope That Something Good Can Last

Hello there! First off, I need to appologize for my blogging absence lately (mostly this weekend). I've been going crazy with homework, and this weekend I really had too much to do to focus on much else. I'm really hoping that with break being in three weeks things will calm down and get to be a bit more normal.

Secondly, I had a whole post typed up and ready to go for today. But I just can't post it. I was feeling rather upset today, moping about various things, and I channelled all of that into a post. Then, though, I took these silly, happy pictures and things started to turn around a bit. So, I decided to take my negatives and turn them into positives. In the other post, I complained about something that I often get upset over. I find it really hard to meet people and make new friends. I've had trouble finding people to connect with since I was little (though I've made some friends along the way who I dearly care about), mainly because I'm a bit different. Every now and then, this all comes to a head and I start to wonder if there's something wrong with me, if I should change. Maybe then my life would be a bit easier. Then, I come around though. I'm not like most people my age. I don't drink, I love good (old) music and past decades, I try so hard not to hurt anyone and to care for as many people as I can. It's hard to meet people I really connect with. But, I'm happy with who I am, and I wouldn't want to be any other way. These attributes about myself that are truly unique are a blessing, not a curse. Yes, they may make it more difficult for me to make friends, but when I find new people who really connect with me, doesn't that make it all the more precious?

Dress: Thrift
Sweater, boots: Urban Outfitters
Tights: Hue
Belt: Delia's





Until tomorrow,
Nicole

An American In Paris

Hello there! So, the other day I had to make my way into the city for an exhibit I had to see for my poetry class. The exhibit was actually pretty cool. It had to do with the New York school of poets (O'Hara, Ashberry) and while they're not my favorite bunch, the exhibit actually helped me appreciate them a bit more, which is always a good thing I suppose. It's funny. A year ago, I had one favorite poet (Billy Collins) and had hardly been exposed to any others. Now, I'm trying to get as much poetry as I can, and I like it much better this way. ANYWAY, before I continue to ramble on about my thoughts about poetry, I of course had to do some shopping while in the city as well. Urban Outfitters was a big whomp whomp. I did get one cropped sweater on clearance, that's cozy and wonderful and will probably wear tomorrow because I'm ridiculous! I also made a visit to this store called Vintage Thrift. There wasn't much in the clothing department, but they had so many records! I had such a fun time looking through them, and almost bought Queen's A Night at the Opera. My big scores of the day came from Buffalo Exchange. I found this super cool suede-ish skirt with a floral pattern on it, AND AND AND! I found a skirt with a cowboy print on it. I am too excited about it, but in my mind it's kind of the best thing ever. Can't wait to show you guys!

So, I suppose I should talk about the outfit I'm actually wearing in these pictures. Well, as the title of this post expresses, I for some reason felt Parisian in this outfit, with my breton stripes and trench coat. I'm not sure that either of these things are actually French, but in my mind they are connected to France, so I'm just going to go with it? Anyway, New York's been having some lovely warm weather lately so I opted for knee highs instead of tights, and my light jacket instead of my winter coat. I hear we're back to the thirties by Monday though. Hooray?

Dress: Salvation Army
Striped Sweater: Top shop, gift
Trench: H&M
Knee Highs: Target
Shoes: Mom's (oh my gosh, by the way, I'm in total need of some new neutral flats if anyone can recommend any!)
Necklace: Gift







Until Tomorrow,
Nicole

Looking In On The Good Life

So, i think I found a new photo spot on my campus! One of my most favorite things about my school is how old everything is. The buildings are all original from when the school was first built (with a few exceptions) and there are all these wonderful little nooks with old stone walls and grassy grounds. I didn't know this little spot existed until today! You go down this dirt and gravel path and then through this little archway and there it is! I felt a little like I was in The Chronicles of Narnia, which is always a good thing.

Yesterday, I was talking about having a case of spring fever, and I think it's only getting worse. It was almost sixty degrees out, and as much as I'm not over winter, it was nice to not be freezing! I felt so strange not wearing a big bulky winter coat! Also, I realize a corduroy skirt is not exactly sixty degree weather clothing, but I just love corduroy so much. And this sudden spring is making me worried that my corduroy days are numbered, so I'm trying to spend as much time with corduroy as I can before we must part.

Polka Dot Top: Delia's
Corduroy Skirt: Urban Outfitters
Gold Belt: Grandma's
Tights: Hue
Necklace: Gift
Shoes: Mom's





Until Tomorrow,
Nicole

Spring Fever

So, I hate to say it, but I caught a terrible case of spring fever today. The sun was just so bright, and I didn't even need a heavy jacket! So, in a frenzy that results from wanting to wear spring clothes in the middle of February, I ended up looking a bit like an easter egg. Or maybe a Cadburry Cream egg, considering my tights and sweater. But anyway, I was actually surprised how much I wanted to dress like spring today. I'm really not ready for winter to be over. I need these next few weeks to be all about snow storms, hot coco, warm blankets, and bundling up. Winter needs its time, too, you know.

So, as I said, I really wanted to wear something colorful today considering how warm and fresh everything felt outside. I had an entirely different outfit on today, but it was pretty much just navy and white, and that was not going to cut it today (I may save it for friday so I can hopefully go bare legged in 60 degree weather, not that I want sixty degree weather, but if it happens...). So, what resulted was an explosion of blues and pinks and rusty reds. And braids. Because I just needed to feel more like a little girl at an Easter celebration. Also, sorry these photos aren't the best. They were super rushed and taken just as I was flying out the door to make it to class. That sentence makes me seem like a bird. Or a witch. Of which I am neither, for the record.

Top: Delia's
Cardigan: Zara
Skirt: American Apparel
Tights: Hue
Belt: Goodwill
Moccasins: Minnetonka




Until tomorrow,
Nicole

You're So Good To Me

Hello there! So, I know today is Valentine's Day and all, but I'm in the "it's just another day" boat. It's funny, before I had a boyfriend or even started dating, I was one of those bitter youngins who so desperately wanted someone to sweep someone off my feet. Now that I have a boyfriend though, I don't see the point in Valentine's Day. It seems rather useless, in my opinion. I did, though, see Zak today (in fact he's over right now!) but that's mostly because I wanted to celebrate some news I received yesterday. Last night I got an email saying that I was chosen to read in my college's poetry festival! This is pretty exciting news (also scary news since I have stage fright!) so I wanted to see Zak and celebrate. I made myself a cake, and Zak and I ate half in about five minutes. Hooray!

In regards to my outfit, I did get slightly Valantinesed up with a pink dress and a little bow with hearts on it. Even though I don't celebrate, I thought it would be fun to dress a little romantic :)


Dress: swap with Amber Rose
Cardigan: Zara
Tights: Hue
Oxfords: Steve Madden
Bow: Claire's





Until Tomorrow,
Nicole

In Which I Attempt To Be A Classy Lady

Hello there! Well, I've really had such a lovely weekend. For Zak's birthday, I bought him tickets for a performance of Mozart and Beethoven by the New York Philharmonic. Yesterday, we went to the performance, and my goodness it was wonderful! We both had a great time, and I was double happy because Zak really enjoyed it (he's a big fan of classical music!). We spent the day in the city around Lincoln Center, and I took some photos to document. So, I'll keep this short (since a super fun weekend means a super lame Sunday of home work) and proceed to show you too many pictures.


Hooray! It was quite cool to see the Fashion Week building, even though I didn't get to go in or anything.




I didn't get any good photos of my classy lady outfit (A black dress, gray sweater, and blue heart tights) since it was cold and windy and AWFUL outside.


DIY heart tights!


A blurry photo, inside Avery Fisher Hall


Pre-dinner red velvet cupcake from Buttercup Bakery! (We had Crumbs AFTER dinner :) )


Another blurry picture, of Zak! This was taken at the restaurant we went to, Whym.


Me, at Whym, eagerly awaiting delicious food!


Delicious food! Zak and I both had yummy chicken pot pie. I forgot to take a picture of our appetizer (pulled duck sliders) because I was too busy EATING THEM. Seriously, they were delicious and gone within about five seconds. Note, there also aren't any photos of the after dinner cupcakes we ate...


Wehn we got home, I wanted to try to take a decent picture of the two of us, since we were both looking spiffy, but this proved to be difficult. So, we just took pictures like this...



And, of course, this



Hope you all had swell weekends!
Nicole