Cold Cold Water

If you want to make your summer feel a little more epic, start listening to this song. It helps with all things in the epic-department. Definitely makes driving down long country roads epic. Riding in airplanes becomes epic. Applying lipstick becomes epic. Doing laundry becomes epic. But, it's a nostalgic epic. And sort of sad and urgent. Sad, urgent epic. It's like when you dream about someone you were once in love with, but haven't spoken to in years and then you wake up feeling displaced and thinking "Isn't this life big and strange?"

It is, this life. It is big and strange.



(Also: I have never really paid attention to the lyrics of this song and am not at all sure what it is actually about, but I do know I dig it. And it's epic.)

Giant spiders, wax and wood

I wanted to go to the McColl Center of Visual Art for the crazy, giant spider sculpture, which was crazy and giant and worth a visit. (Mel Chin is the artist.)

But what I really fell in love with was the beautiful, intricate wax work by artist-in-residence Natalie Abrams.

Oceanic, ethereal, coral reefs and oil spills and beauty, beauty, beauty.

Wax and wood and that's it. The exhibit wasn't lit except by natural light creeping in from far-away windows for fear the art would start to melt. I came for the spider, but I left loving the unexpected magic of sculpted wax art on a simple wood panel.

Parking lot pretty

I'm in training all week so I broke out some work wear to learn about how to be the most awesome literacy teacher in the world. Or at least to learn how to become a better literacy teacher. (And, okay, I'm a teacher who really embraces sentence fragments, but only on blogs! Or in columns! Not acceptable in more formal work! That's my disclaimer! Here's another sentence that ends in an exclamation point!)

I love to learn. I am such a nerd. I'm a nerd in a new polka-dot skirt and old ballet flats who takes pictures of her own feet in a windy grocery store parking lot. That is who I am.

Loving lately

Lately I've been loving: 

1. Cinnamon Buns. Yum. YUM!

2. Buying polka-dot sweaters super cheap because it's summer.

3. Going to literacy training and starting to gear up for the school year (four weeks away, but two of those four weeks I'll be in workshops). 

4. "Orange is the New Black" on Netflix Instant. I binged. It was SO good.

5. These illustrious and illuminating links:

 --- Just cause you're in your sixth decade doesn't mean you stop having inappropriate crushes or start driving slowly. Good to know!

--- Cat bow ties. CAT BOW TIES!

--- DIY diorama bookends. I love dioramas! I love bookends!

 --- How do cultures define the prevailing boundaries of style decorum and why are people who don't conform often shunned or ridiculed? Or so asks Melanie of A Bag and a Beret as she dons a blue wig

--- 11 tips for thrifting.

--- Waiting for the other shoe to drop. Happiness can be scary. I hear ya, Emily!

Eclectic Librarian

I've been thinking about my personal style lately. Mostly I've been thinking: What is it? Who am I? What is it all about, man? 

There were two articles that really started me thinking. The first one was posted on xoJane, and I read it and came up with a really long, convoluted definition of my personal style, which I don't even remember now, but I do remember it had some oxymoronic adjectives.  Later I read, Gala Darling's take on personal style and realized a 7-word definition of my personal style wasn't going to cut. I had to define the style that is personal to me in only two words. Two words! So few words!

But then I did it: Eclectic Librarian. 

Eclectic is both totally accurate and a bit of a cop out. It says "I am so many things! I enjoy a wide variety of thrifted fashions and am inspired by both '50s movie stars and cartoons from the '90s!"

Librarian refers to my bookish/schoolmarmish bent and makes it seem like I wear glasses as a signature accessory rather than simply as a way to see the world. (Although I wear contacts sometimes too. See? Eclectic! Ever-changing!)

But here's the thing: It is summertime, and in the summertime I don't seem to adhere to my eclectic librarian style. Instead, I prefer shorts and men's shorts and maxi-dresses and tank tops and all other assortments of whatnot and other. As seen here:



Now, let me first of all state: Clothes are fun. Style is fun. No one is saving lives here. This is not a super big deal. But I really would like to develop a consistent style. I'm 32. I feel it's time. So how do I marry my summertime and school-time looks? Can I? Have I already? And is it okay if I just change up my personal style definition and if I do, what do I change it up to?

These are things I think about.

I mean, what if I'm just an eclectic librarian on summer vacation? But that's five words! Or overheated eclectic librarian? (Three words -- better!) Or bohemian librarian? (Two words! Perfect! But is it accurate? I mean, if you wear a couple of maxi dresses and some wide-leg pants are you allowed to call yourself a bohemian?)

Like I said, not rocket science (but also so much more interesting than rocket science, amIright?), but it's something I've been pondering. What about you? Can you define your personal style in two words? Are you consistent or do you like to play? What is it all about, man?

Style Icon: Megan Draper

I don't have much to say about Megan Draper because Tom and Lorenzo have said it all.

Okay, that's a lie. I have a lot to say about Megan Draper, but I'm not going to say it as well as Tom and Lorenzo say it. Seriously, those boys can analyze style. I am absolutely addicted to their Mad Men recaps. And here's the shameful thing: I did not actually watch the current season because I don't have cable. I have seen all the other seasons via Netflix, but this current season I learned about only through blogs/Internet recaps. I cannot help it! I must know what happens!

So the last season I really watched was Season 6, and Megan was the best in that. She was all short skirted and singing and refusing to eat her sherbet, and I love Megan.

I especially love her style. She's so bohemian and hip. I absolutely love what she does with scarves. I myself have picked up some scarves due to her inspiring me. Thanks, fictional character Megan Draper, you are opening up my world through head accessories.

She was very smartly dressed when she worked for Don, but I like her much more as the fabulous actress.

Don really is such an old man compared to her. She's full of life next to him. Life and crazy prints and wacky sunglasses and floppy hats. And let me reiterate: Tom and Lorenzo are filled with brilliant insights on all things Mad Men. I think I like reading their posts almost as much as I like watching the show. 

Homemade popsicle

This pospicle is so delicious. I ate six of them in one day because sometimes I'm overly enthusiastic about popsicles. It is made with flavored water (I think I used "white grape"), lime juice and frozen mixed berries all zazzed together in the blender and thrown into popsicle trays into the freezer. So delicious and even good for you! Summertime at its finest.