here’s a treat.
Good thing I was well dressed at a young age.
This month, the girls of Quirkboard have been quietly (unless you follow us on Instagram) participating in #StyleMeMay, an Instagram challenge started by the lovely Hilary Rushford of Dean Street Society. I have loved participating in this challenge and I wanted to share a few of my images with you darling readers.
From an egotistical perspective, this challenge has taught me that taking a mass quantity of photos of one’s self and posting them online is perfectly acceptable as long as there is a large group of ladies doing it as well. From a fashion perspective, this challenge has been an easy way to change the way I look at my closet. Also, inspired me to take on an even bigger challenge. So what’s the next step, you ask? A 30x30 challenge!
We quirky girls have discussed participating in this challenge multiple times but I think now that we’ve (almost) successfully completed the #StyleMeMay challenge that it is time to actually do it!
Also, I think it’d be a great way to rev up the blog and make us a bit more committed.
So what do you think, ladies? Shall we challenge ourselves? I say, come June 1st, we go for it!
Before I go, I have to share with you something I have known since early 2008:
Sara Bareilles is a genius. She recently released a new EP entitled Once Upon Another Time and although I have only listened a handful of times, I am nothing less than a happy, happy fan. Favorite track so far? Sweet As Whole. Hands down. Who doesn’t love a song casually filled with profanities?
That’s all. I must go mentally prepare myself for the season finale of Revenge. I may not survive this night.
..sam
Shirt: Marshall’s (and borrowed from Kim); Necklace: Nordstrom Rack; Pants: MNG by Mango; Sandals: Target; Belt: again, it’s Kim’s, and I have no idea where it’s from…
Today I got cavities filled. So why wouldn’t I dress up? Novocaine is perhaps the strangest thing I have encountered in awhile, and it makes it very, very difficult for me to drink my free coffee (I love my baristas) out of it’s straw. The top right part of my lip has forgotten how to pucker and my cheek feels a bit numb. That’s completely normal, right?
Probably not. But I’m going to ignore it and continue only drinking in private until I can feel the right half of my face again. Spraying coffee fountains across the room every five minutes is something only I and the dog I sometimes pretend I have are allowed to see.
..sam
This is love.
These things have made me very happy recently:
Feeling fancy at work (that rarely happens, but I have #stylememay to thank)
The amazing photos taken by Daniel Silbert at the fun. concert I reviewed here
Making this gift for my parents’ thirtieth wedding anniversary (inspired by this pin)
This outfit looking exactly like it did it my head
Becoming dangerously close to knowing every word to this song’s rap
Listening to this man’s angelic voice and drinking PBR tallboys with friends
Laughing so hard when I received this in an email (As hard as I have tried to resist it, I’m starting to find the song catchy. Damn you, pop music.)
And last but not least, sitting on my bed in my underwear, listening to these talented folks, and completely ignoring the fact that I have to leave for work in fifteen minutes. I guess I should find some pants.
Happy Friday!
..sam
What I’ve worn as of late.
Until I get myself a professional photographer (still waiting on an offer, by the way), this is as good as its gonna get.
And yes, I am slightly obsessed with teal. But don’t worry, I think Kim’s preparing an intervention. Thanks for the concern, though.
..sam
This life is fun. This photo was taken at the fun. concert at the House of Blues in Boston last weekend. Nate Ruess, Jack Antonoff, Andrew Dost, and the rest of this amazing band put on one of the most dynamite shows I have seen in a long time. Their presence was contagious and Nate could not seem to wipe the giddy smile off his face for more than a second.
Together with their talent and their smiles, fun. provided support for what I had written on here a couple of months ago (I know it may be perceived as egotistical to quote myself, but I’m doing it anyway): “This is real, passionate, bloodthirsty music. This is the reason I spend hours screaming lyrics in dark, dingy venues, sweating ruthlessly on the stranger next to me. A strange person’s sweat doesn’t matter when you are experiencing what I perceive to be the closest achievable thing to godliness.” I knew I was right about them. Their set on Saturday made me feel more alive than I have in a very long time.
So do me a favor. Go on iTunes or Spotify or to your nearest record store, get yourself a copy of Aim and Ignite, and listen. Really listen to the trumpets, the lyrics, the harmonies. I promise “for the first time in a long time” you’ll feel alive. Ten points to the person who identifies what song that last line is from.
Lastly, my outfit the night of the show was awesome. Why don’t I document these things more often? I need my own personal photographer. Any takers?
..sam
Kristin and Kim have kicked ass today with the posting. And me, well, I hate being left out.
I’m currently on a bus on my way to the aforementioned city. Since I am neither at work (yippee!!!) or capable of taking photos of myself on this cramped little bus, you’ll have to settle for this photo I found on Pinterest. But rest assured, my outfit is grand. Here’s a teaser for ya: gray polka dots and teal jeans. Enough said.
I’m headed to the city for the weekend to attend a writing center conference. For two days I will be gloriously at peace with my colleagues and my people, discussing our writing center work, how great we are, and, reluctantly, the things that we need to change or work on. It will be two days filled with coffee and all things nerdy, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.
Follow me on twitter or instagram (_samwill on both) to be privy to all the fun being had. I know you must be riddled with jealousy. Why wouldn’t you want to spend your weekend discussing comma splices and all the fun ways to teach students about them?!
That sounds awful. I promise it’s more fun than that.
..sam
FREAKY FRIDAY
Kristin inspired me to blog my Friday work outfit as well! You are a magician! Clearly the bosses are out, so I bring to you my eighties-esque outfit today. When I got in, the lovely Elizabeth[photo credit] said that I looked ‘fun’ today, and then proceeded to teach me how to ‘tight roll’ my pants (not shown). Apparently to complete the look I would need some fun colored socks to truly bring it back, however I may just leave that trend alone : ). Topped it off with a messy snooki-(hair)do/ or maybe a don’t…
Happy Friday All!
.:kimberlee
It’s casual Friday around here (ahem, most days are casual whatever-day because I freelance and work from home, but who cares? It’s Friday, so it’s super casual day.)
It’s also brilliantly sunny out and should hit 65 degrees at some point, so I did what any girl would do and paired some neutrals in the form of chambray/denim/olive with some reddish coral flats, a wrist of bangles, and some mala beads.
Top it off with a ponytail and I’m ready to work (and play!)
»kristin
all things new and sunshine, too.
(this pose is infamously known to my Fiji friends as the Sam stance. I hope some of you are reading this!!)
Sunglasses: TJ Maxx; Shirt and jeans: Nordstrom Rack; Shoes: BP. at Nordstrom
And sadly (or perhaps wonderfully, depending on your perspective) I mean everything in this outfit is new. New haircut, new sunnies, new shirt, pants, shoes, service.
Okay, the service thing isn’t true but I felt I could not complete the sentence without it.
Alas. Today is an amazingly gorgeous day in New England. It’s March and it’s warmer here than it is in California. And while global warming is most certainly the cause and the world may just be ending, I’ll take seventy degree days in March and brand new outfits to boot. Because if the apocalypse is upon us, don’t we deserve sun and warmth before things go belly up?
Woah. Sorry I just got all Doomsday Preppers on you guys. Before I go, I just want to say that I hope you enjoyed meeting my room, my porch, and my makeshift closet. Don’t my clothes look so very pretty hanging in a ROY G BIV (ish) row?
..sam
can’t. stop. listening.
There’s nothing more refreshing than a new band addiction. It has me looking forward to a moment in the future when I’ll put on this album for the first time in days, weeks, or months, and look back to this time in my life - these moments when I was playing this album non stop for days, weeks, or (in extreme circumstances) months - and remember exactly what was going on during that time. This album will always be linked to March 2012 and my potential grad school plans abroad, my oldest friend getting engaged, and my (not always so) patient waiting.
I’m waiting for something. For someone to return, for something to become as real and tangible as it is in my head.
Today I was composing an anxiety-producing email that was meant to come off as casual academic dialogue between myself and an impressive Scottish professor. I know what I have to say (the email still has yet to be sent) and I know what I’m writing is good, but I’m tongue twisted and it all looked and sounded like jibberish (and still does). In a moment of exasperation, I asked Kristin via gchat why words are so terrifying.
Her response? Something simply brilliant like, “probably because they’re more powerful than we realize.”
The girl just could not be anymore correct.
Words are stressful and anxiety-ridden. They’re laced with alternate meanings, with lies, with truths. They hold this unshakeable power.
And tonight in the shower, where I often do what I consider some of my best thinking, I was pondering this topic once again. What makes words so scary?
They solidify all the things in our heads. If someone says what you’ve been thinking, it makes it undoubtedly true. It’s why mothers warn us to be careful what we say because once its said, it can never be taken back. We can never make a second first impression. If you post something on the Internet, it’s permanent.
Like this blog post. It will continue to exist forever. So before I say anything too much, I’ll stop myself and leave you with these beautiful words. Ones set to music that will explain everything in the way I know I never could:
and when you notice all your stars are in line
yes, yes, you’ll find me
I’ll be there waiting right behind
and when you notice that your mind is fleeting
mine is fleeting, too
that magic walk that’s in your skies
..sam
Weekend Birthday Wear
My 26th birthday is tomorrow (SO OLD!), and I have a few things on my schedule. A fundraiser breakfast in the morning, a trip to Starbucks to redeem my FREEEE birthday drink (the bigger, the better), an afternoon outing to one of my favorite consignment shops, and dinner out.
And whatever other adventures present themselves throughout the day, I’ll be game!
This is an outfit I may very well recreate tomorrow. What do you think? It’s casual with a little personality and fun. Perfect for a birthday, especially when you’re crossing over from your mid-twenties into your *gulp* late-twenties.
By the way, if you haven’t played around on Polyvore yet, you must get over there! It’s everything I love about Pinterest, but better because you can actually compile all those cool things you find and create full outfits.
»kristin
Feeling sick? SUCK IT UP, iced chai that is.
- 1 tzao chai tea bag
- heated water & frozen, cubed water
- agave sweetener
- vanilla almond milk
Well hello there! Are you sniffly and wishing you had a yummy treat to make you feel special? Try making an iced Chai! Sammy is responsible for getting me hooked on pumpkin iced Chai’s from Starbucks, and today I had a hankering but not an ounce of motivation to make the .34 mile trek down the street for one. Ta Da- Chai on the fly! Not too bad, I would use two bags instead of one next time and perhaps think about stocking up the pantry with some cinammon sticks, but it was a nice little treat.
Happy Sunday!
.:kimberlee
Dress and leg warmers: Target; Shirt: Marshalls; Tights: Anthropologie; Scarf: Urban Outfitters; Necklace: Banana Republic; Belt: Zara; Boots: DSW
Taking outfit photos is apparently an art it will take time to master. How does Kendi make it look so easy??
One day I’ll figure it out. Until then, you’ll have to appreciate what I could do on my own.
I am a woman of few words today. I’m too distracted by catching up on Private Practice reruns to write anything of substance.
..sam
A tittle is a small distinguishing mark. - Wikipedia
My friend /& lovely colleague and I have had many vent sessions about inspiration and our creative regiments. We share a similar frustration about how our art should be an outlet, without judgment for our creativity but this idea can be daunting and keep us from diving in headfirst. I love the process but I need to break the habit of worrying about subject and get into a rhythm.
About a month ago this friend shared this video with me. Featuring a Doyald Young, quite possibly in my opinion, one of the cutest men in history. He was an inspiring Logotype designer, you may recognize some of his work: Cheesecake Factory, Prudential, etc. I found comfort, challenge, and encouragement in this short film about his love story with typography. Doyald used the word, permeate several times to describe how typeface- his work and passion, ran through his life. The best way I could describe his insatiable appetite for typography was very much like the process of osmosis. It surrounded him each and everyday, the subject for him was so special, he only grew more eager to learn and practice. I am thinking this may be part of an answer to my process frustration. I need to be locked up with my work, let my inspirations permeate, and let myself understand why the things that I think inspire me, inspire and let this guide my work. The film is a little bit less than an hour long but I would highly recommend taking the time, he is truly an inspiration and there is much more to take away that this entry does not touch on.
Another video to help me begin permeating I found thanks to Emma Fexeus’s, someone pretty awesome I follow on Pinterest. It is words of encouragement by Ira Glass: http://pinterest.com/pin/112871534380904878/ It was a sigh of relief and possibly/hopefully a kick in the pants or whatever bottom I decide to wear each day. Ira encourages to “DO A LOT OF WORK. It will take time but you have to fight your way through”, to get to where you want to be creatively. Take a look, go ahead- you won’t regret it.
I had this thought yesterday- if I’m lazy and succeed it would be a result out of luck. I’ve decided that luck is for smucks. I’ve got a lot of work to do. I’m stoked.
.:Kimberlee
(Source: logoblink.com)
