Bookworm

Exam time is always incredibly stressful. One of my very favorite ways to relieve stress? Grabbing a favorite friend and heading to Barnes and Noble with the intention of buying nothing but coffee or tea while we're there. It works every time, even though it makes little sense that I would try to get away from reading books by... going and reading more books. That being said, here is my short (for now) list of uber-girly books that I'll be poring through the next few weeks...

What Would Jackie Do? : An Inspired Guide to Distinctive Living by Shelly Branch
Better Than Beauty : A Guide to Charm by H Valentine
A Guide to Elegance by Genevieve Dariaux
Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart
How to Be Lovely: the Audrey Hepburn Way of Life by Melissa Hellstern
All You Need to Be Impossibly French: A Witty Investigation into the Lives, Lusts, and Little Secrets of French Women by Helena Frith-Powell
What Would Audrey Do? by Pamela Keogh
Everything CS Lewis that I haven't gotten to already... even though theology/spirituality is tough reading when you're in the middle of a crowded bookstore, so I think I'll stick to the frivolous.

Buon Thanksgiving

I hope you all had a fantastic holiday, and could spend quality time with those most important to you and reflect on how blessed we all are... so many people were not able to come home, or didn't have a home to go back to for Thanksgiving. The highlight of the day for me is watching the Macy's Parade; I was a bit sad that I didn't get to see but about 15 minutes of it, but given how much it made me miss New York and the summer, it was probably a good thing. At least I got to see the performance by the cast of the Little Mermaid (which was not that great of a play, but has such an incredibly talented cast!) ...what I would have given to be able to see the parade in person! One day. =]

Although I enjoyed Thursday, I had also been looking forward to Wednesday for quite some time... they have been building a new J Crew outlet 45 minutes from my house (the nearest one otherwise is 3+ hours away), and the grand opening was last weekend!! I was a bit worried that I would be disappointed in the merchandise and selection, but my only complaint, if you could even call it that in the fit of joy I was having, was that they didn't carry shoes or jewelry (but do any of the factory stores?) The haul? Spent under $200 (one ninety eight, to be exact) and scored bootcut jeans, espresso flannel-lined chinos (a new favorite... dressy on the outside, pajama party on the inside!), a black turtleneck sweater dress, and the lady day peacoat in camel... I felt like I was practically stealing that one. I was going to post pictures, but can't seem to find them anywhere... I'm sure you can probably just imagine what jeans look like. ;) I can't wait to see what Christmas sales are in store!! (Get it? In *store*? Anyway....)

In a fit of procrastinating the loads of work I have to finish before exams, and since I'm incurably festive sometimes, a good part of my break has been spent downloading ridiculous amounts of Christmas music. I compiled my top 20 favorites on my playlist, in no specific order... enjoy!! =]

The Weekend.

What a crazy weekend! ...especially considering that on Friday, I had absolutely no plans except to recover from staying up till 3am on Thursday (any guesses as to why I would do that? hint: it has to do with that time of day right before it gets dark...) After my last-minute hair appointment on Saturday morning, my mom came into town and we got tickets to see a Christmas favorite, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, that night! I'm glad that at least my family can keep up with my serious case of spontaneity... Anyway, the show was phenomenal - for what the music sometimes lacks, the light show and pyrotechnics definitely make up for it! My mom had been wanting to go for some time, so I'm glad she got to see it although her only comment was on how deafening it was...

Before the show, we got in some pre-mad dash shopping - I used to hate, HATE shopping with "old folks", but ever since college my mom has become my indispensable shopping buddy. Although shopping with my friends is a lot of fun, I'm usually more focused on socializing than actually looking, plus I rarely try anything on unless it's absolutely screaming at me to buy it (I believe this actually happened when I got my red Gap peacoat...). However, my mom always pulls out the things that I might not give a second glance to for whatever reason, but when I try it on OMGIHAVETOHAVETHISRIGHTNOWPLEASE. Like this (in navy).
















I almost missed this chance to channel my inner Waldorf, but thanks to my mom, this somehow incredibly flattering shirt (that does not, in fact, make me look like a pilgrim) has already been put to good use... twice. (In case you were wondering, it's J Crew's Emerson blouse... with my college discount and the 20% off sale, we ended up scoring it for $12... take that, "J Crew is way too expensive" naysayers!). What can I say? Moms always know best. =]

'Tis the Season

You know, I'm not sure that I know anyone who DOESN'T absolutely adore this time of year, unless it's solely because of the cold weather (our blood runs a little bit thin in the Carolinas ;]). This year, even though I'm stoked about getting my Santa list together (and I'm probably more excited about shopping around for presents than actually receiving them), the thing that I am most looking forward to is the Christmas party my roommates and I are going to get together. We had deliberated not getting presents for each other (there's four of us) but we still wanted to do something special... so we came up with the idea that instead, we'll host a party for our friends and family with an 'admission fee' of bringing a present that we'll give to a family in need chosen from the Angel Tree at our church. I'm not much of a cook, so my roommates will most likely mastermind the food aspect, but I am all about some theming and decorations!! =] I'll update on the progress of the planning of it when it gets closer (even though we're done with the semester in a few weeks... now there's something to be thankful for!!!)

Another reason to adore the holidays that I discovered this morning? Panera Gingerbread Bagels. Mmm.

AHHH!

http://www1.bloomingdales.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=114635&PartnerID=LINKSHARE&LinkshareID=BolFSqx4S4U-BaS2aNodvgQuWXmCV6gYRQ

Oh Marc Jacobs, how I adore thee.

Now if I can only teach my mother how to use the computer well enough to buy my Christmas presents online... =]