un poète pauvre, mais libre

For so long I was so certain that I would grow up and become a famous writer of short stories or novels or maybe witty magazine features. And if that didn't work out, I knew for certain I would become an editor, a professional and vigilant grammar Nazi. But now I'm second-guessing that future.

After attending the media conference in New York and meeting the nation's most prestigious editors, I felt unimpressed. I can't imagine myself associating with them, and I surely don't want to become like them: boring, condescending, and -- did I mention boring?

I always have loved stories and writing, and I still do! Though I have written some fiction, I've always preferred writing poetry, and I've always been better at that. But, in case you weren't aware, poets don't make any money. Quite literally. None. Even when they have their work published, they still usually make none.

I haven't quite given up the notion of becoming a writer or editor, but I'm keeping my mind open to new ideas. With all my interests, I imagine I will experience multiple careers in my lifetime.

Oddly enough, this uncertainty feels good. I feel free not knowing what it is I want. I feel like dancing. I feel like exploring. I want to try everything.

Outfit Details:

(It deeply irks me that the waistline of my dress peeked out in these photos. I'm trying not to be OCD about it, but it's very very hard.)

Linked up at Not Dead Yet Style.

Necklace//Target (Surprised? I was.)
Dress (worn as blouse)//Vintage, 1980s
Cardigan//Charlotte Russe
Ring//Antique - Sara Coventry
Skirt//Vintage, Ralph Lauren, 1980s
Shoes//Vintage via The Paraders

Playing Dress Up

After an eternity (no exaggeration there) of devoting myself solely to workworkworkworkwork, I indulged in a brief round of dress up yesterday. I also spent time watching old episodes of House, made some muffins, and then decided I would do some painting with watercolor. Yep, I play dress up, write poetry and I paint too. 

Some people say that makes me a hippy. My brother says I have a chubby seven year old spirit trapped inside me. Which I suppose isn't too far off. I live off of sugar, and I mean, seriously, I'm wearing a t-shirt with a giraffe and a lion riding a tandem bike.

Outfit Details:

Hat//The Quirky Poet

Earrings//Kohl's

Necklace//The Quirky Poet

T-shirt//Modcloth

Skirt//Vintage

But there's nothing wrong with that :)

What sort of things do you like to do in your free time?

Ode to Polkadots

For fear of seeming like a complete slacker, I thought I'd put together a little montage of my favorite polkadotty outfits from my archives. Enjoy! Next week will bring new outfits.

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I may not own very many polka-dotted garments, but I wear what polkadots I do have quite often. I love polkadots. They make pattern mixing rather effortless.  Floral and polkadots: no-brainer.

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And I have to gush again about how brilliant my boyfriend is at photography. The lighting is so beautiful and warm and romantic in this last photo. Gah, I love looking at it and remembering how pretty and warm and happy I felt when he was taking the photo.

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Anywho...polkadots. They're great.

Kore

"I have watched your smile in your sleep

and I know it is the boat 

in which my sun rides under the earth

all night on the wave of your breath

no wonder the days grow short

and waking without you

is the beginning of winter

"How is it that I can hear your bird voice now

trickling among the ice towers

through the days of the anvil

as the year turns I carry an echo

over my own stones and I listen

my eyes are open looking ahead

I walk a little ahead of myself touching

the air where nobody sees you

and the sun as it sets through the forest of windows

unrolls slowly

its unrepeatable secret

all the colors of autumn without the leaves

"You were shaking and an air full of leaves

flowed out of the dark falls of your hair

down over the rapids of your knees

until I touched you and you grew quiet

and raised to me

your hands and your eyes and showed me

twice my face burning in amber

"Already  on the first hill with you beside me
at the foot of the ruins I saw through the day
and went on without pausing
loving the unheld air
as a wing might love it flying
toward you unknowing
knowing

"When they are together our hands are of an age

and a dark light flows up between them

into its feathers

We have brought

nothing with us

but what has come of itself

we pass the stone fragments

the ancient smiles holding out

no hands

like the trees their sisters born older

"I trust neither memory nor expectation
but even the white days of cities
belong to what they do not see
even the heart of the doubters' light is gold
even when you are not with me
in the flowerless month of the door god
you look at me with your eyes of arrival

"Thirty days after the solstice

forms of ripe wheat

emerge from the tips of the branches

Far outside them

here

where you have never been

I reach for you with my eyes

I call you with my body

that knows your one name

"Days when I do not hear you 

it seems that the season flows backward

but it is only

I

of hollow streets

deaf smoke

rain on water

"We cross the smooth night lake together

in the waiting boat

we are welcomed without lights

again and again we emerge by day

hand in hand

from all four corridors at once

under the echoing dome

guided by what has not been said 

"The shadow of my moving foot 

feels your direction

you come toward me

bringing the gold through the rust

you step to me through the city of amber

under the moon and the sun

voice not yet in the words

what is spoken is already

another year."

-- W.S. Merwin

Details:

"Kore" by W.S. Merwin - to read the complete piece (nope, this isn't the whole thing), see his collection The Compass Flower.


Photos by Josh.


Glasses//Ray Ban
Necklace//Antique
Dress (worn as blouse)//Vintage, 1980s
Skirt//Vintage, 1980s
Trench Coat//Vintage, Thrifted
Cardigan//Charlotte Russe
Shoes//Vintage, 1980s via The Paraders

Je me sens belle et malicieuse.

Details:

Photos by Josh.

Owl Ring//Charlotte Russe
Blouse//Vintage
Cardigan//Vintage
Shorts//Vintage BONGO, 1980s
Tights//Vera Wang for Kohl's
Shoes//Vintage
Handbag//Charming Charlie's

 

Rajesh's Sweater Vest

For those of you who have not yet seen my “Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty” post, this is probably news to you: I’M OBSESSED WITH THE BIG BANG THEORY. Picking a favorite character is impossible since they’re all incredibly brilliant and have their own distinctive styles, but I have quite a fondness for Rajesh Koothrappali. He’s just so endearing. 

Along with our mutual affection for sweater vests, Raj and I have a lot in common. The most obvious similarity is our pouty, puppy dog, brown eyes. Aren’t we precious?

In social situations Raj is usually the fourth wheel on the tricycle, poor baby. I too end up the wall flower in most social scenes, not that I mind much. Actually, I prefer it. That’s where Raj and I are different.

Though Raj is from India, he hates Indian cuisine. I don’t care much for it either, but I don’t care for the spicy, burn-your-taste-buds-off kind of food anyway.

Raj does practice Hindu religious principles when it suits him, and he practices yoga. I practice yoga on a semi-daily basis, too. Like Raj, I like to use yoga to calm my mind in uncomfortable social situations.

Raj is frightened to death of women. He uses yoga techniques so that he can stand in the same room as them “without urinating.” I’m not afraid of women (considering I am one), but the tiny, angry Vietnamese ladies at the nail salon my mom likes frighten me just a little.

  

And I should mention that Raj is a brilliant astro-physicist. Well, I’m no physicist, but I got a B in my astronomy class last year. So we could talk about solar flares and other space stuff if Raj had consumed enough alcohol to make conversing with me comfortable.

What I'm Wearing:

Earrings//Vintage

Sweater Vest//Vintage, 1960s

Blouse//J. Crew, Thrifted

Owl Broach//Antique

Cameo Ring//Antique

Jeans//Target

Shoes//Payless

 

 Photos of Kunal Nayyar (aka Rajesh Koothrappali) are credited to the makers of The Big Bang Theory, which airs on CBS.

EWOK!!

I can't say I'm thrilled with this entire look, but I feel cozy and I do LOVE this hat...so much :)

When trying on this hat, I was essentially frolicking through the store. I was with my mom at the time, and she was just giggling at me (as she often does because I'm a bit of a shenaniganizer). She told me I had to get the hat because it makes me look like a little ewok. And I love ewoks*.

Meep!

Look inspired by Freckles in April.

*No ewoks were harmed in the making of this hat...or in the making of this post, for that matter.

Outfit Details:

Hat//JC Penny Outlet
Polka Dot Blouse//Vintage
White Blouse//Charlotte Russe
Sweater//The Quirky Poet
Cameo Ring//Antique
Belt//Vintage
Broach//Antique
Jeans//Target
Booties//ModCloth

Green With Envy

Some days self-confidence eludes me. Blogging does have a way of boosting one’s self esteem and then other ways of making one feel inferior. 

While many blogs I read admonish thrifty spending and remixing, others highlight expensive brands and lavish jewelry. Seeds of envy have been sprouting in me. (It’s very unattractive.)

I think the commercialism of the holidays plays to this; it waters those seeds. Not only do we want nice, expensive things for ourselves, but we want to give the best presents too. That’s a lot of pressure and a lot of disappointment. Ironic that the most materialistic holiday of the year follows one that was set aside as a day to be thankful for what we already have. 

We truly are an insatiable culture. Nothing will ever be enough. What harsh standards we place on ourselves and one another. It’s difficult to cultivate contentment and self-assurance in that sort of environment. But I try. 


Even now, writing this, I'm feeling better about it. How blessed I am to have such beautiful people (and beautiful clothes!) in my life.

Outfit Details:

Bow Tie//The Quirky Poet

Blouse//Vintage

Cardigan//Target
Jeans and Bracelets//Charlotte Russe

Tote Bag//Vintage from Fanciful Notions
Floral Pouch//Vintage

Socks and Shoes//ModCloth

Curiouser and Curiouser

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll is my most favorite literary work, so when I found this necklace, I was - to say the least - ecstatic.

Alice's coming-of-age story may seem disorganized and insane, but after reading it a few times, the symbolism becomes clearer. I do wonder about Carroll. I've heard many disconcerting stories about him, and his characters (especially the Caterpillar) seem proof of his supposed dysfunction. Nevertheless, I enjoy his work. Perhaps I'll post one of his poems for you in the future.

It's difficult to choose a favorite character, but I do adore the Cheshire Cat. He is the only character who is completely kind and helpful to Alice during her journey. The Mad Hatter isn't wholly terrible to her, so he's my second favorite. He gets fussy at times, but I find him and his eternal tea party amusing. And everyone else in Wonderland is rather cranky. 

I've had my writing compared to Alice in Wonderland on multiple occasions. Not sure if that is simply because the piece has influenced me so much or if it's because I'm genuinely whimsical and juvenile. Either way, I enjoy that comparison quite a lot.

My dreams tend to be wild like Alice's. I'm always tumbling down a rabbit hole, embarking on nonsensical adventures. 

What's your favorite piece of literature?


Outfit Details:

Necklaces//ModCloth
Oversized Cardigan//Vintage
Dress//Vintage My Michelle
Embroidered Flower Ring//Antique
Rope Ring//Charlotte Russe
Tights//Vera Wang for Kohl's
Socks and Shoes//ModCloth
Delightful Tea Cup//Vintage