Applescruffs

The editorial of the always lovely & chic Zooey Deschanel and the stylishly scruffy Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the current issue of In Style reminds me of all the things I am not doing this summer.

1. frolicking through fields...this is entirely inexcusable because I am back home in the Midwest right now, farmland basically.

2. Wearing pioneer chic, which is one of my favorite types of chic ever since its so simple, utilitarian, but distinctly fashionable. As long as I can slip out of my shorts for two minutes this can be solved too.

3. Running around with my scruffy boyfriend. This is an impossible feat for you would need a boyfriend first and one who can grow scruff. The last major crush I had was on a guy who couldn't grown facial hair. So naturally I poked fun at him by giving him stick-on mustaches for Christmas....yes, really ;) Oh well my dog is a bit scruffy, so can I hang out with him? hehe

4. Clear skin...This is my current fiasco. I've always had mild excezma after periods of stress. Usually it can be cured by a prescription from the dermatologist. Unless your dermatologist is an idiot who prescribes you a cream that burns your skin causing you to become red and puffy everywhere on your face. And since one of those patches of excezma was underneath my eye, the allergic reaction I had makes me look like a PANDA! I'm not joking, a little girl pointed & laughed at me today...And like a bad romantic comedy or something, the one day I look like a PSA for the Center of Disease Control, I run into 3 old acquaitances I haven't seen in a year....FUCK! So until this gets under control & I bitch out the derm, no outfit photos...

song of the day: "Chinese Blues" by Travis (this song is just solid- the rocking piano chords hooked me)

Honestly is the Best Policy

Sometimes we just need to be honest with ourselves and with other people, despite how difficult that can be. So thanks for Indy for giving me a prompt with this little tag of 10 honest facts about myself...warning I decided to be really honest, so I may not paint the best picture of myself, but isn't that the point?
[Photo by my friend Katherine]

1. One of my closest old friends is incredibly clingy. I see him about twice a week for 3 whole hours of insanity. Its almost like entertaining a 4 year old, and believe me sometimes I just need a break. Today I just really wanted some time alone to read books, watch movies, call another old friend, so I actually lied to him that I was busy. I thought my "doctor's appointment" excuse would work, but just as I was about to settle into a day of solitude he texted me, "I'm bored, wanna watch a movie?" Oh, how flattering, "I'm bored," great so I guess this means that I have to babysit you yet again? It's really evident that he has no other friends back home, and neither of us have real jobs, but that shouldn't mean he needs to call me up every second. All I can say, is that if we were dating (which we never would, he's gay) I would dump him by now!


[I just want a day off like Emma, whose jean jacket and Chanel make up for the sweats ;]

2. I have never had a boyfriend. I've always been a bit romantically slow. While girls in junior high were grinding at dances, I was still running around on the playground & playing pretend. At summer camp, while everyone was flirting at dinner & making out in the woods, I saw no point. Even in highschool, I found grinding disgusting up until 11th grade. By the time I really became interested in a relationship, all that guys wanted were cheap hookups, which is definitely not my thing. So now I am 19, about to be a sophomore in college, having never experienced anything really. It shouldn't be a big problem, but it seems like every year something doesn't happen the weirder I feel...

3. I like my guy friends better than my friends who are girls, which is really ironic because I never even had any guy friends before college. Like I said above, my romantic woes extended also in the ability to converse with a straight guy on a friends basis in high school. So I knew nothing better than catty girls borrowing the three-way-phone-call tactic straight out of "Mean Girls." Now, hanging out with guys I enjoy the lowkey atmosphere. There's no competition, we don't always have to be serious & mature adults, and they make me laugh. Yes, my best friend is a girl, but something tells me that when I'm not bonding with her, I'll be in my three-favorite-guys dorm room :)

4. I have a really close relationship with my parents. They see both the best and worst of me, and for that I see no reason to really deny them any information (ok, my dad doesn't know about this blog yet). They know all about my petty fights with friends, crushes on guys, future plans, political leanings etc. We don't always agree, but its nice being that candid with someone and not having them judge you even if they are my parental units haha.

5. I am an English major yet I absolutely loathe most poetry haha

6. I have a horrible tendency to whine about everything, but really I do know my life is pretty damn good right now. So don't take my rantings for real most of the time, because if there's one thing I never want to be is a victim. True, there are some days I want to me a whiny little martyr, but when it comes to real problems I usually suck it up and shut up.

7. Although I think I want kids (how am I supposed to know right now? And I'd need to meet someone first haha) they do not necessarily have to my own. If for some reason I can't concieve then I would never blow thousands on unrealiable IVF, but go for adoption.

8. Ever since I decided I was an Atheiest, I have never felt better. Religion may be vital for some and I do respect that, but for me I am fine in believing nothing more than "Everything happens for a reason."

9. As much as I want a great job that allows to be live a comfortable life and I know that getting a foot in the door early is imperitave to that, I get really tired of hearing how I should be building my resume at only 19. Its impossible to get a job right now, even a crappy one at Starbucks let alone an internship, but occasionally I meet that super teen who does have an amazing job and I feel behind. What happened to being a kid? To enjoying your summers? To having time to figure out what you wanted to be when you grew up? For the most part I do know the last question, but sometimes I just wish the pressure to be impressive went down.

10. I love Haribo gummies.

song of the day: "Lions Jaws" by Neko Case (this somber song kind of fits my frusturated mood today)

Potter, take Weasley with you. He looks far too happy over there.

Oh no I am about to do something I rarely subject you to on this blog. Post in bullet-points! Ahh! Why am I sacrificing good writing for a series of unconnected thoughts today? Well its amazing you're getting that even, my brain functions very oddly when I go to bed at 5am the night before. I wish I could say I was at some insanely awesome party, but alas I was actually at the Harry Potter at midnight showing! I take that back, it was almost like a party as I watched hundreds of fellow Potterheads freak out before the film begun in their cloaks and t-shirts (Where can I buy the hilarious "I get sleazy for Ron Weasley" t-shirt I saw!). Its almost like a cult...a strange cult of an entire generation haha But for a cult it can awfully divided in public opinion.

There are those diehard fans who are annoyed when Hermione's dress is pink not periwinkle in the 4th film. Then there are those who have never cracked the spine of one of the books and don't care. And hopefully there are few, like me, who love both mediums of HP & cannot wait to see the book-to-screen translation every time. With these disparaging viewpoints leads to a lot of strong reactions about the film. The guy who went with me loathed it (he hates David Yates style, so his response is almost expected), but I liked it...I think? I had overdosed on HP earlier that day by rewatching movie 5 and finishing my reread of HP6 merely 4 hours before and being up that late made the whole thing feel suspended in time. I know I loved specific parts, but I cannot comprehend the film as a whole. Its like I watched a ton of Youtube clips on the film haha. So I am seeing it again Saturday at more normal hours. Here is what I did love.

*Spoilers beware!*

*David Yates has such a distinct style. Each of his films are very noticably his. He is also astounding with visuals. His engaging transitions progress the movie along while providing plot points through a newspaper or a poster here or there. There are some really great layering visuals, where at one level of the castle we can see Malfoy brooding & in another level Harry questioning.

*Yates also has a way of really grounding the magical world in the muggle world. By opening in the seedy parts of Surrey for the last two films, he sets a relevance to the the Wizard War. Things you only read about in Daily Prophet updates from Hermione in the books are literally depicted on screen. Its gritty, dark, and real.

*Finally he really has brought out the best of his actors. People seem to take it for granted that Daniel Radcliffe ceased over acting in the 5th film thanks to Yates subtle direction. With his direction, Harry becomes a real boy not some emo boy or cocky hero (loved Daniel in the Felix scenes), Hermione is genius, yet vulnerable (and they're finally letting some of Emma's natural beauty shine through), and we really do get the side of Ron that is cunning, but equally cruel.

*Just like how Yates get the best out of his actors he really milks his scenes for all its worth. These books are gargantuan and complicated, its only expected to cut things out, so I really do value what he keeps in. He has a good way of figuring out whats really relevant and its keep us diehards guessing.

*Yes there are a lot of plot points moved around, but I don't think they really detracted from the theme of the book. Most of the main relationships and scenes are still intact and if they did skip something important they will most definitely compensate in the next 2 films. I appreciate how Yates & Kloves are willing to break it up to make a good film, since literal translations are so dull.

*The tone of the film was great. Its very dark at certain points duh, but the contrast with the romcom feel was nice balance. This one was quite funny at times, I laughed more than usual. Kloves as a really subtle sense of humor sometimes and with people as dry as Alan Rickman and natural as Rupert Grint delivering the simple lines, one basic phrase can be really funny.
[Bonnie Wright really stepped it up too, making a wonderful love interest for Harry]

*Jessie Cave was brilliantly nuts as Lavendar Brown. She is quite scary, but secretly I think most girls can identify with that crazy stalker girl haha.

*The casting on Tom Riddle was perfect! The two boys look very similar and are incredibly unsettling. They deliver their lines so deadpan and cold you are really chilled. The creepy visual effect of the face of Tom always being the last to fade from the memories was really haunting.
[Anyone see a Hitler resemblance here?]

*Also props to Jim Broadbent who captures all of the best and worst of Slughorn. We love him one minute and are uneasy the next.

So yes, I liked it. YOUR THOUGHTS?

song of the day: "cause=time" by Broken Social Scene (there's more going on in this song than the typical BSS)

One Take Watson

[Just like Hermione dominates Ron & Harry in the books, Emma is the standout in this lineup. This Prozena Schouler is sexy & modern with that edgy leather top, but still youthful]

I lied yesterday in my latest bookclub post. I completely left out probably the most important part of my entire childhood, Harry Potter. It defined me- my college major, my favorite country, my vocabulary, my sense of humor, my fashion sense....

Before HP I would rather turn on the TV than pick up a book. I've never been a rapid reader, always placed in the embarrassing slow readers school groups. Yet I found myself pouring over those massive tomes for hours on end never caring how many pages or "big words" were in there. I've reread the books so many times I've actually cracked the binding on my copy of HP6 (which I continue to destory as I reread it for the FOURTH time right now before the film). From HP I picked up dozens of other fantasy books hoping they would be as fufilling, although many weren't I was turned on to many other genres and cult followings of other authors (cough Michael Chabon cough ;). I became so passionate about books and where they could lead me that I am essentially devoting my entire life to them as an English major. I dunno exactly where that path will lead, but I will love whatever I do as long as literature is involved[Almost a reversal of the NYC premiere for an interview. This has a really fun runched neckline, keeping it interesting without being lowcut]

Of course part of the allure of the HP is not just the magical world of Hogwarts, but the magical world of England. Although the Brits are just as obsessed with dressing up before the premieres too, they ironically miss out on some of the excitement because they're British! For an American everything is somewhat familiar because we all speak the same language, but different because of culture and customs. To them Ron shoving another big fat sausage into his mouth during breakfast is standard English dining, whereas we can never fathom eating a kipper in the morning or ever really haha. As Americans spazz out about SATs, Brits are busy studying for GCSEs (OWLs) & A-Levels (NEWTs), therefore the concept of subject specilization in high school is absurd. Yet when Americans learn British culture they inevitably pick up some slang. Well at least I have, I've been known to use words like "pitch" (for field), "cheeky", "as well" (also), "bender", "dodgy", "botch", etc.
[The ruffles don't over power somehow, but mostly I'm amazed at her ability to wear those heels! wow!]

You can't start using a word like "cheeky" and not have any idea about that dry sardonic British sense of humor. I've practically memorized Hugh Grant romcoms throughout the years, but nothing makes me laugh like anything out of Ron Weasley's (or the entire family for that matter) mouth. I've sort of adopted that sly caustic sense of humor myself, if a bit mean at times. I can make you laugh, but only at my or your expense.


[The bright pop of red is a nice chance, very flouncy and feminine, but the banded heels add some edge]

All of this makes sense so far, but HP affecting my style! Well with my love of all things England came British fashion designers & brands, Burberry, Luella, etc. And I am always engrossed in Emma Watson's latest outfit as you can see by this post. I've compiled all of her HP6 promo looks to "fashion critique", except honestly I don't have much to critique. Just like the film so far the best reviewed in the franchise, these dresses are some of Emma's best ever! Yet I can't help but leave a few comments below each photo! Enjoy!
[A simple shift for an interview, made a bit more interesting with its pattern]
[The vintage Ossie Clarke, wreaker of wardrobe malfunction, is probably my favorite. So elegant, almost Shakesperian, but the plunging neckline makes it fun and youthful]
[This geometric Christopher Kane has really fun lines, definitely highlighting the best attributes of Emma]

[But I still love some fun-loving polka dots and the shoes are to die for!]

So now I'm off to don my Gryffindor scarf (haven't worn it in 2 years!) for the midnight release of the 6th film! Cannot wait!

QUESTION OF THE DAY: who is your favorite HP character?

Although I can never pick just one, I love Lupin :)

song of the day: "Mushaboom (Postal Service Remix)" by Feist (Ben Gibbard joins on this already amazing song!)

Blood makes noise And I can't really hear you In the thickening of fear

When think back to my childhood I remember Kraft Macaronic 'n cheese, swimming lessons, stuffed animals, "101 Dalmations", arts and crafts, and TV, lots and lots of TV. You name a Nickelodian or Disney TV show and I probably watched it. I wanted Lizzie Maguire's wardrobe, the ability to surf like the kids on "Rocket Power", and the siblings on 'The Brothers Garcia" (a TV show about a Hispanic boy and his family, which meant that me, the white female only child was probably not the target demographic haha). When really I should've been outside on the swingset, running through the sprinklers, sledding, reading picture books etc. Now of course I've had a total shift and except for obsessively watching "True Blood" I'd rather reread Harry Potter than spend countless hours watching "16 & Pregnant" (which for the record is very entertaining while you're on the elliptical at the gym ;). But still I realize most of my childhood was centered around TV shows of kids having adventures I would never have if I just sat on my butt all day seeing ads for oreos and then begging my dad to buy them at the grocery store.

Why is it that those annoying lists on Facebook "You grew up in this decade if you remember" always list TV shows, brandnames, and trends? Shouldn't childhood be nearly universal? Apparently not, according to Don DeLillo in his novel White Noise. We've always lived in a consumerist society constantly bombarded by product placement that we find ourselves humming a jingle more often than a song on the radio. Of course he over extends this point in the book by making the central family of WN, the Gladneys, seemingly dictated by ads. For example, its impossible for the protagonist, Jack (a renowned Hitler studies prof at the local college, an area of study he "pioneered"- obviously the book is also part academic satire) to kiss his ditzy 4th wife, Babette, in the kitchen without noticing the label on the frozen corn out on the counter. But this book is so extreme none of it is meant to be really believable. The characters are basically vehicles for DeLillo's points not actual humans. Jack & Babette have 4 children from previous marriages who all exhibit various reactions to consumerist society but none are very developed. Denise is obsessed with pharmaceuticals, Steffie mumbles ad slogans in her sleep, Heinrich is irritatingly scientific, and Wilder is too young to know any better than to ride his trike.

The only thing they all have in common is their overwhelming fear of death and the mystery of the afterlife, hence the title of the novel. What if death is just white noise? So the characters cling to other forms of this phenomenon, whether its TV or brandname cereal. Things get brought to a head when an airborne toxic event takes over the town. Jack accidentally becomes exposed and finds out he is scheduled to die in about 30 years, the time it takes the poison to deteriorate his system. Therefore he & Babette are forced to discuss their greatest fear, death, something that cannot be staved off by buying more products.

DISCUSSION:

I am having really bad luck with bookclub this year it seems. Out of the 5 books Annie & I have read together, I have really detested 3 of them, WN being one of those 3. The writing style is distinct and easy, yes, but DeLillo really starts to bang the reader over the head with his absurdist points on consumerism (a child mumbling slogans in her sleep, give me a break!). The book gets more intriguing when we learn what the title actually means. Fear of Death is kind of always in the background for most people, but to overthink this point so much is just downright depressing and pointless. Annie & I both felt a bit helpless and saddened after finishing the novel due to this very problem.

So DeLillo's ideas are bit much is one conflict, the other is his method to deploy these ideas, these two-dimensional characters. Maybe I would've responded a bit better to the novel if the characters were true men and women not just mouthpieces for various theories. The most obnoxious of these figureheads is a fellow professor, Murray (trying to pioneer Elvis studies...insert eyeroll here) who is just a pure voicebox for all things DeLillo on death and consumerism. He is so ridiculous and obvious in his intentions that the book loses some credibility.

Annie heard DeLillo speak at her college & has read some of his shortstories and noted how his writing varies from this novel. Maybe we picked the wrong DeLillo, oh well...

WHAT I WORE:

STATS: dress: H&M flats: local boutique flower locket: Urban Outfitters owl necklace: Anthropologie

song of the day: "God Help the Girl" by God Help the Girl (this song is very retro with some modern lyrics that would've been perfect for the character of Gigi in "He's Just Not that Into You")

On the Fence

Currently the advent of me using a tripod is the only thing not freaking me out right now. For with it, I will probably be posting more outfits (since the quality of the photos is no longer a deterrent) and therefore daily posting shouldn't be so mentally taxing sometimes haha. (Btw, next time I will make sure my shorts aren't wrinkled...sorry about the almost-camel toe haha and disparaging lengths ugg) But its the only thing for certain on my horizon.

I clearly have way too much time off this summer & not enough to mentally stimulate me. Hence I am overplanning for the future yet again. It all started innocently enough, researching study abroad programs in the UK for Junior year (some have November deadlines, eek!). Little did I realize that I actually have the option to spend an entire year abroad instead of the usual semester. There are so many advantages to this obviously: a full integration into a country & university, a chance to make some real friends (I've heard many students hate study abroad kids because we disappear so quickly so there's no point interacting haha), no regrets about leaving too early, etc. As much as I think I can handle a full year NOW, I dunno how I will emerge at the end of sophomore year? So many things happened just in freshman year and I cannot fathom how I will continue to change- will I switch career ideas again? (from journalism to anything but) will I retain last years friends or meet even better new ones? Will I enter a serious relationship? Can I really commit myself to a full year away from my college, not knowing whats in store in just the next few months?

I've concluded its a bit dumb to plan study abroad schedules around friends. Some of us will leave at different semesters, some will inevitably come back really changed from their experience, and second semester went by so fast would it really be that bad to stay another few months? Plus its the age of internet communication. I am friends with old high school buddies still and we barely saw each other all year. And if a few of my friends do study abroad in Europe as well then we could always hop countries for a weekend, right?
STATS: blouse: Urban Outfitters, shorts: J. Crew, belt: local boutique, flats: UO, octopus necklace: local boutique

Does anyone have any advice for me? Either from speculation or personal experience. Have you studied abroad? Are you thinking of it? Tell all!

song of the day: "Greens, Grays, and Nordics" by Deastro (there's something insane and chaotic in a good way about this song, a bit like Animal Collective)

Blue denim, come on gimme danger

My summer wardrobe seems to be shrinking that or my boredom has finally seeped into every little element of my life including wardrobe. So alas, I have not be very stylish this week but I realized I forgot to post an old outfit from a few weeks back (and before the new tripod rule, so sorry for the bad quality). I love how this very prim ladylike dress actually has a fun babydoll quality to it when on, so I had to take that up a notch with zany hot pink peep toe pumps

STATS: dress: local boutique pumps: Nordstrom

To inspire you (and definitely me too):

The Facehunter has posted some really great simple looks lately, reminding me of a very important fashion fact- never forget the power of good denim!
These are wonderful highwaisted jeans. They are a unique fit without looking like mom jeans. And the heels just make the outfit work!
This is such a simple but chic combo. Mostly it works because of that amazingly dark wash denim
This reminds me of cross between a 1940s pinup and a little girl, odd but awesome combo. The buttons are the skirt are so cute and the flowers add a nice pop.
The proportions on this outfit are fabulous. That is one tight tiny pencil skirt, but the oversized scarf balanaces it out.
Where can I get those wedges!?

song of the day: "Dance Music" by the Mountain Goats (I love the perky poppy piano in this song)