outfit love.

Love the sparkle.  No comment on LL.

happy birthday to you.

happy birthday to my darling dear sister.  do you remember when you would only wear red?  it was so fun when we were small.  so fun now, too.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo.

daily om.

Let Go and Let Flow
Taking a Leap of Faith

Many people, in heeding the guidance of their souls, find themselves contemplating goals that seem outrageous or unattainable. In the mind’s eye, these individuals stand at the edge of a precipice and look out over the abyss at the fruit of their ambition. Some resist the urge to jump, paralyzed by the gap between their current circumstances and the life of their dreams. Others make a leap of faith into the unknown, unsure of what they will encounter but certain that they will gain more in their attempts than they would bowing to self-protective instincts. This leap can be exceedingly difficult for individuals with control issues because the act of embracing uncertainty requires them to trust that surrender will net them the rewards they seek. Yet when you make a leap of faith, believing without a doubt that you will land safely on the other side, you can accomplish almost anything you set out to do.

There have no doubt been times in your life when you chose to go where the universal flow took you. Yet you may encounter instances in which your objectives require you to step outside of the boundaries of your established comfort zone so that you may freely and actively jettison yourself into a new phase of your life. While you may fear what seems to be the inevitable fall, consider that in all likelihood you will find yourself flying. A successful leap of faith requires your attention, as it is the quiet and often indistinct voice of your inner self that will point you toward your ultimate destination. Understand that the leap across the chasm of ambiguity may challenge you in unforeseen ways but you will make it across if you trust yourself.

If your mind and heart resist, you can dampen this resistance by building a bridge of knowledge. The more you know about the leap you are poised to take, the smaller the gap between “here” and “there” will appear to be. Your courageous leap of faith can lead you into uncharted territory, enabling you to build a new, more adventurous life. Though you may anticipate that fear will be your guide on your journey across the abyss, you will likely discover that exhilaration is your constant companion.

how about: yes, please.

This is such a 16 year old post, but I must say. Damn. I could look at him all day. Team Eric all the way.

from daily om.

The Understanding Underneath

Experiences With Multiple Meanings

Though we humans are self-aware, we nonetheless cannot distance ourselves from the world around us and have a natural tendency to ascribe meaning to all that we experience. The significance we perceive in our experiences is rooted in our observation of patterns as they relate to ourselves. One situation has the power to teach us about life because it exposes us to something unfamiliar. Another touches our emotions deeply by enabling us to see how fortunate we are. Yet our initial impressions of an experience may not wholly reveal the true significance of that occurrence because our full response to an experience is like an onion with many layers that all have disparate meanings. Consider that a sunrise may stun us visually while simultaneously evoking memories of childhood and reminding us that each new day is a rebirth.

If you take the time to examine your experiences closely, you will discover that your original impressions may only be a part of a larger story of significance. Peeling away the layers of an event or incident can be a fun and interesting process if you allow it. To begin, relive your experience in your mind’s eye and from multiple perspectives if possible. Your interpretation of any situation is based not only on facts but also on feelings, beliefs, and your values. As you ruminate upon your experience, spend a few moments contemplating how you felt when it began and how your feelings had changed by its end. Ask yourself what abstractions, if any, it awakened in your mind. If an experience stirs up questions within your soul, it may be that in striving to answer them a new layer of meaning may reveal itself to you.

The significance of an experience may remain hidden to you for some time. The meaning of an event can change when viewed from another context or may only become apparent after intense meditation. An incident that seemed superficial may unexpectedly touch us deeply later in our lives. If you take a truly open-minded approach to your examination of each new level and do not shy away from revelations that could prove painful, you will learn much about your relationship to the world around you. And the refined impression you glean from your experiences after contemplating their significance can add a new richness and texture to your life.

i see you everywhere.

From The New Yorker:

This quietly powerful family history is the author’s third novel; her début, Three Junes, won the National Book Award. At the center of the story are two sisters: Louisa is four years older than Clement, and also nearly four inches shorter and about four decades more full of opinions.

Over the course of twenty-five years, the two grow up, fall in love with startling frequency, and confront challenges that reveal the impossibility of truly knowing another person, even a sibling. At first, the sisters seem dangerously close to stereotypes — the elder bookish and reserved, the younger boisterous and boy-crazy — but the book’s almost Biblical scope does not come at the expense of strikingly sensual detail. Glass sees the bond of sisterhood as a double helix, two souls coiling around a common axis, joined yet never touching.

I finished — rather devoured – this book last night. And then I had a good cry. Although fiction, the similarities to me (City Mouse) and SuSu (Country Mouse) are so striking. I am the introvert, she is the extrovert. I am more bookish, she is more outdoorsy. We both have had our fair share of challenges in matters of the heart. We both have our battles with depression. And sadly, cancer seems to be all around lately. This story was just really really close to home, touching on both fears and dreams we probably both share. I have to say, having a sister is by far the best present my parents could have ever given me. We may not see eye to eye all the time but at the end of the day, she is my rock, and without her, I would most definitely be lost.

Well, enough of the sap. I think you should read this book. And if you haven’t read Glass’ other books, you should read them too:

Three Junes

The Whole World Over

I See You Everywhere

weekend update.

A few weekend things of note:

I resisted the HUGE urge to purchase a beautiful handbag that really should be mine.  It’s not on my shopping list as an essential, so I didn’t get it.  I am kind of bummed, but was reminded that it’s not going anywhere, and I can get one when the time is right.

I tried SALMON in a Japansese soup and it was GOOD.  Seriously, I never like seafood.  But it was good and fragrant in a fishy sort of way and it didn’t want to vom.  I’m pretty impressed with that bit.  I also ate an umeboshi plum that looked like a mouse’s heart.  So much so that I truly questioned the fact that it was a plum and not some crazy rodent organ. It was kind of good in a suspect kind of way.  I don’t think I would eat one again and I definitely think I deserve a gold star for the effort.

TopShop is all sequiny goodness.  I wish I could fit into a size 2 so I could sport some of the gaudy ridiculousness.

Oh, and one more thing.  I am trying to determine if I am too old and/or too fat to wear leggings.  They look so comfortable and they are definitely hipster approved.  I think the answer is most likely going to be a yes to both, too old and too fat, but I think it’s worth investigating.

Also.  I love having one more day of weekend.  It feels like it should be Monday tomorrow, but it’s NOT!

shopping list: autumn and winter.

Since Labor Day, the weather up here in DC has been so beautiful, so early Autumn. I am in the process of cleaning out closets and happily, I don’t need a ton of things to get me through the fall/winter. I could probably get by with nothing new, but where is the fun in that? Besides, I like doing my part for economic recovery.

The issue at hand is how in the hell do I achieve the look I want and still be comfortable, yet have a bit of edge. I want to create a hybrid uptown/downtown look.  Maybe a little French Girl thrown in. I am at a loss. Half of the time, I feel like a soccer mom because of all the comfortable things I insist upon. Yes, that is directed at you, Dansko clogs. They are a fashion abomination, something akin to the crocs sported by Mario Batali, but I can’t give them up. I am going to try and restrict them to weekend wear, something I did not achieve last year.

So, to start, I am focusing on basics in black, gray, tan, white, and navy.  I have most everything I need here. Then I am going to try to add in color and edge with accessories, etc. I know my closet is of utmost importance to you.  Riveting, in fact. Keep reading.

Yesterday, I bought five pairs of shoes. I am keeping three and returning two. All very cute flats. Now I need to find a pair or two of LOW HEELS. Why in god’s name is it so difficult for designers to make these? Two inches or less. Much to the Man’s dismay, I just can’t rock 3 inch heels for more than an hour. It just doesn’t happen. So, I am going to return two of the flats and hold out until I find something with a little height that is a bit more work appropriate. Or going out appropriate. Either or. God. I hate shoe shopping although I love shoes.

I also took a chance on Boden again and ordered this dress. In black, of course. I hope hope hope it fits. Every time I order from them, the sizing is off and I have to deal with pain in the ass returns. Cross your fingers because this pretty could be a huge fall/winter/spring staple.

What else do I *need*? Here’s my list. I’ve gotta say, if you don’t do this and like to shop, it’s a godsend. I only allow myself items that are on the list. If they aren’t, I don’t *need* it and I don’t buy it.

1. Black pants (always, right?)
2. Gray pants
3. Black wool skirt
4. Jackets in camel and blue (probably hard to find)
5. 2 Weekend Sweaters
6. 2-3 tops for work
7. Black low/medium wedge heels
8. Patterned low heels (maybe an animal print)

Other randoms that I don’t *need*, but want:

1. A couple of chunky sterling silver bracelets
2. A LV tote (I know. You don’t have to say anything. It’s ridiculous. Waste of cashola. I even have issues with carrying the one I have, but I think I would use it a lot.  A tote, not handbag.  Every time I see someone with the one I want, it immediately pulls the look together.).
3. Light weight black leather blazer/jacket. Not outerwear. This is part of the reason I want to go to BA. To have one custom made.  Maybe next year.

Ok, that’s enough, don’t you think?  I doubt I will end up with half of this stuff because I have all of this in my head. Now the trouble is finding the right garment in person. That hardly ever happens. Anyway, the hunt is half of the fun.

about today.

It’s Wednesday.  Hump day.  I was dying for the workday to be finished by 10:30.  You know what that’s like, every minute, painfully ticking by.

On the bright side, I saw the cutest little cavalier puppy and that reminded me how much I REALLY want to get one.  I am not sure how to manage a puppy because I don’t think I can use the excuse of I must go walk my dog to adjust my work schedule.  I mean, people do it with babies ALL THE TIME, but life isn’t fair.  Pshah.  I think puppies are just as important, but I’m not sure I would win that argument.

On the way home, I almost wrecked my car because I saw an Alexandria police officer patrolling on a Segway.  And then I almost wrecked my car texting the man about it.  So very odd.  Fancy perhaps.  Either way, it made me smile.

And then when I came home, I discovered that the housekeepers were here today, and it was my favorite, Rutima.  Oh, she is good.  And oh so worth the cost.  In this recession.  So you know it’s good.

And that is it.  I need to take my fat ass to the gym.  The situation is not getting any better sitting in front of the computer, that’s fo sho.

save the words.

With so many new words popping up, do you ever wonder what happens to the old ones?  Well wonder no longer.

I am going to have to spend some quality time here so that I can stylishly beat the man at Scrabble the next go’round.