Inspiration: Stars and Bars

This week I'm all into all-American wholesomeness. Picnics, baseball, parades, hamburgers, etc. Memorial Day, one of my favorite holidays, is coming up on Monday and has really inspired me to be slightly patriotic...and by "patriotic" I mean that I might paint my nails red.

Red is another thing I've been really into lately. Apparently, red is my "lucky color." I once had my fortune read, and the result was that I should always wear red on Mondays and eat red foods such as strawberries and cherries to have good luck. It was a bit difficult coordinating something red to wear every week, so I came up with a compromise, and dyed my hair red. Now I wear red every day!

I'm a little sad that this Memorial Day, I won't be going home to our local parade. I really could have taken some nice shots there because my hometown is really pretty and super American-looking. I used to never miss the parade, because I was in it!

There's me! Cool, I know, right? Those were the days...

I wore this the other day. You like? Then my friends wanted in on the action.



Stay classy, Columbus.

Dress: Urban Outfitters
Shoes and necklace: Vintage
Sunglasses: Delias
Friends: Priceless

What I Did This Weekend: Pirate Hookers and more!

This weekend I went to a Pirates vs. Ninjas party. I know, right? It was a shit ton of fun. My friends and I chose to go the pirate route, though we looked more like bikers than anything. As Carly noted, pirates are bikers of the sea.





Naturally, there were Ninja Turtles.



Isn't the blood a nice touch?



I really don't recommend wearing an eyepatch while drinking rum.



Isn't this a cool room?



Eric and my new friend Mandy.





This kid broke a hammer before my very eyes.



Forgive me: I'm not sure how this is viewed in the blogosphere, but I wore the same outfit the next day, minus the gaudy gold pirate hooker jewelry.



Don't I live in a beautiful area?

Vest: American Eagle
Tank top: Hollister
Shorts and sunglasses: Delias
Sandals: Target

I told Eric I would make him dinner last night. He wanted Mexican, but since I am too lazy to do authentic, I made him a taco ring, otherwise known as "Taco Wellington."







It was so good! Eric ate half the ring in one sitting.

So that's what I did this weekend, in a nutshell. Do you like this feature?

Are you aware?

Perhaps if you have been reading my blog, or if we know each other in real life, you have noticed something: I am a snob. A huge snob. I simply can't help it. I try to be humble, non-judgmental, and sweet. But it's very difficult. Especially when it comes to two things: pizza and music.

The pizza is simply an issue because I grew up in an area that has exceptionally wonderful pizza (Youngstown, Ohio). I would rather not eat any pizza at all than eat crap pizza. And most of it is crap!

The music issue is a whole other can of worms. I started my journey into musical taste like anyone else: Hanson, Spice Girls, Will Smith, whatever. It was 1997 or 1998. But then I got into The Beatles when I was 10, and it's been a problem ever since! How could I possibly be expected to get into any music since I've already listened to the best band of all? Yes, I do like music and I find things that I like, but it's an uphill battle at best.

Now that you know this, you must know how significant it is when I say: I'VE FOUND SOMETHING.



Isn't Sam Cooke great?

Rain, Rain, Go Away

This week has been going poopily. I just have so much to do, and so little time to do it! For instance, today I read over 200 pages of Mansfield Park. I don't believe I have ever engaged in such an extensive reading binge.

It doesn't help that I just discovered Weardrobe and Chictopia, and now I am officially ready to resign to a life of internet solitude. Seriously, how do people have time to do these things? It's so overwhelming...especially Chictopia! There is soooo much there to look at. It's unbelievable. I can't even get into the Style Gallery, or maybe I am in it? I don't know. Apparently my clothes aren't good enough for these fashionistas. But they were good enough for all the guys driving by while I was walking to lunch!



This cardigan was a clearance Urban Outfitters find. I LOVE it. I'll probably wear it tomorrow. And maybe the day after, if it's not too smelly. It fits my style perfectly.

This is also my power dress. I love this dress. I know I love it, because it goes through the wash every time I do laundry. That is a rarity in Colleen's closet, believe me. And to think it was only $6 on a clearance rack at Gadzooks (too janky to even be a Forever 21)...in 2007! We never know when these things will happen, do we? And it's perfect for drankin' since my stomach can swell up with greasy food and beer and no one will know!



Cardigan: Urban Outfitters
Dress: Forever 21
Tights: Target
Purse: Express
Shoes: Vintage
Necklace: Vintage, gift from my grandma, bless her soul

I have two new followers which I'm very happy about. Thanks guys! Also, thank you Carly for taking these pictures and illuminating me on how much of a "Colleen face" that first picture is.

It is a look of disdain, if you must know.

You know what? I think I'll actually do an outfit post for once. I know, right? It never happens.



I bought this dress from Urban Outfitters my freshman year of college, and then I never wore it after that. I could never figure out the bra situation. I'm not the kind of lady who can go without, but my strapless bra looked incredibly sloppy and matronly with it.

But then I had a genius revelation.

And I put on a bikini top.

And everything finally worked. Now I think it's pretty cute and very colorful. It's super flowy and cool, great for summer barbecues!



Confession: I meant to wear these shoes to the barbecue I was going to, but it was just too far away and I didn't want to be the lame girlfriend limping around with blistery feet. Some day I will get the courage.

Don't you be hatin' on my gold jewelry. Also, I've been really obsessed with this red nail polish lately.

I don't think I've worn this necklace since sophomore year of high school. For once it works with something!



Dress: Urban Outfitters
Shoes: Target
Bracelet: Juicy Couture
Necklace and ring: Gifts, who knows?

Yesterday I organized my closet and my make up. I also took the doors off of my closet, because I can't stand not being able to see all of my clothes at once! I have a lot of possessions, and I want to be able to appreciate them. I feel that's the only way to justify having so much. I also finally bought one of those over-the-door shoe racks, so my shoes are organized instead of lying in a huge pile next to the TV.



I was SO proud of myself that I removed those doors all by myself. Now I just need to find a place to put them...



And this is my new make-up and hair station. I feel classy.

Last night I went to a barbecue "Sausage Fest." The boyfriend and I stopped at Urban Outfitters on the way home. While wandering around in the clearance section, I mentioned that I really wanted a coat hanger to put all my purses on. I turned around, and there was a coat hanger! It was only $20, which is awesome considering it was originally $68. My boyfriend was kind enough to carry it all the way home. But I'm so excited, because now I can see all my purses! And also realize how ugly they are and how I need to really improve my collection.

After that interesting journey, we came home and watched Requiem for a Dream. Have you seen this? I never had. And let me tell you, it was a strange experience watching it with someone who looks remarkably like Jared Leto.



Freaky ass shit.

I'm off to play with some puppies now. Bye.

I realize this blog looks like shit right now...and I assure you that I am going to work on this quite soon and fix it up. All I want is for my blog to have a floral, vintage wallpaper background but apparently that is TOO MUCH to ask for. Can anyone help me out here?

Update: I somehow sort of figured out XML. I just need to point something out to all the haters: I'm not as dumb as I look.

Youtube Glamour and Bedroom Aesthetics

Okay, I should be doing homework, but I have unfortunately discovered a new obsession (doesn't that always happen during homework time?!). Perhaps I have been living under a rock, but Youtube has an endless amount of frothy, glamorous videos of pretty, popular-looking girls applying make up, getting ready to go out, showing off their clothing purchases and closets, etc. These videos are perfect for someone like me, who is lying around in squalor and should be writing a paper on site formation.

I know it sounds weird. But here's a good example:



Isn't that delightfully fun? It's rather inspirational too (obviously, or I wouldn't be writing right now). I want to work on building up the aesthetic quality of my life. Right now, there's a bunch of crap on the floor. My laundry basket is filled with clean clothes that need to be put away with my computer charger draped across it. My desk is littered with books. There are like 5 empty water bottles next to my bed. There are shoes everywhere. My jewelry box is hanging open with jewelry spilling out of it. And just forget the make up situation...it's horrendous. There's a lot of other negative stuff going on in my life right now, outside of this room. This room is my sanctuary from all that is awful, so I should probably try to make it nice, shouldn't I? Perhaps if my surroundings are nice, I could be nice too.

In that vein, here's some pictures of some pretty bedrooms (I LOVE to look at bedrooms):

I love white. I guess I can never have children, pets, or red wine, because all I want in my life is white everywhere. It's so calming and clean and soft...and if with a chaotic and drama-filled life, I really value those qualities.

Well, anyone who reads this blog, what do you think? Should I begin a quest for Youtube domination or stick with blogger as my weapon?

I Just Wasn't Made For These Times

I have been in QUITE a mood lately, but The Beach Boys have already described how I feel more beautifully and accurately than I ever could.



I've listened to this album twice today, it's wonderful. If you like Animal Collective, you will definitely like the Beach Boys. That sentence should probably be the other way around, but for me, the experience has been a little backwards. Regardless, it's nice to find music I like. It is a VERY rare thing.

Her Name is Geo

Well...shit. My dear '93 Geo Prizm broke down yesterday in the Taco Bell drive-thru and now it don't work. I'm heart-broken. I've had this car since I was 17. My neighbor gave it to me for free, and somehow I've driven it for four years! My dad has hopes that we can fix it, and I certainly hope we can, because I must tell you: walking two miles to work sucks.



If you're fond of 93 Prizms like me, I highly recommend this book: King Dork. It's about a dork (duh) struggling through high school, making up fake bands with his friend (i.e. Balls Deep), chasing semi-hot girls, complaining about the "Catcher Cult," and making fun of his '93 Geo Prizm-loving principal. My sister recommended it to me and I really liked it.

I like when high school is portrayed accurately, i.e. My Life as Liz and not The Secret Life of an American Teenager.

Though it must be said that Secret Life is HIGHLY entertaining, especially if you're someone who thinks Seventh Heaven is comedic gold.

Daisy

Slowly scaling back my Facebook...but it's going a little bit like this.



Doesn't anyone get it? Facebook is evil! Mark Zuckerberg doesn't "believe" in privacy! I think it's all a conspiracy and we should all delete it before it's too late. But I don't want to be the first in case someone wants to invite me to a party.

Sorry I've been MIA lately. I'm in a class on Jane Austen and I've been spending all my time reading all her works...it's extremely time consuming, as you can imagine.

I have an audition for the Real World on Saturday. Holler holler!