black birds on a grey sky.

[gloom is here - Thursday]

As a thick layer of gloom hovers over the city of Chicago today, I couldn't seem to find myself in a better mode of complacency. It is exactly what I needed after sunshine fest took over the past week, although getting out and soaking up the last 'without a coat' temperatures of the year were quite satisfying. Waking up to grey skies is automatically waking up to less obligation, or at least it feels that way. Sometimes it makes me down right hyper and I clean the house as if Mr. Clean were coming by for personal inspection, but actually, I would only let him in if he had his all natural counterpart, Mrs. Meyers with him. Let's face it, this is one cute cleaning couple;

A lot of people cannot comprehend why I sometimes possess the serious desire to move to London and forget the sun ever existed. I think grey skies give me some sort of reassurance, like I'm not the only one going through a little instability. I just like variation. Sunny skies all the time would kill me. I'm just not cut out for a bright sky every day, especially if the last thing I'm feeling is sunny and bright, and those days where those feelings cannot even be found the mood chart, that sun better make its way behind some clouds. However, the rain that made itself permanent for a week's time before the week of sun had set in also had a way of messing with my head. Heavy opposites you're playing Chicago. I wish I could ask for a little more consistency in high pressure & low pressure systems. Here's the thing, Thunderstorms tend to balance out my brain perfectly, especially gnarly ones that require tons of warnings to be sent out. It gives me something to track and follow, quite the weather enthusiast. I will admit, sometimes there is nothing like a bright blue sky with the perfect temperature to accompany it, but I could not have it every day.

My counterpart and I have been tampering with the idea of moving to Portland, OR at some point in our lives together. Portland is an absolutely an amazing place for more reasons than one. Whenever I tell people about this the first words out of their mouth generally has to do with things like "It's so rainy" and "Such a high suicide rate" and while this is correct, somehow gloom didn't hit the same in Portland. When we were there last September, it rained two days and was perfectly sunny for two and they have the dreary that does not keep you inside. It more so gives off that "lets get in our galoshes and gallop around town" vibe, which we did, minus galoshes. Plus, this gives you a reason to by one awesome umbrella. CHECK THIS OUT.

seriously: sing a little tune.

My name appears on the work schedule today, and I'm thankful that it did not during the last few sunny days of our Indian Summer. I can go into my windowless work environment and be rest assured that the gloom will still be lingering over us.

OH, YEAH!

Here's some 'Bloom' for Gloom;

Hair of a unicorn.

[Sunday]

I've had PJ Harvey in my head for a week's time.

Her album Let England Shake has been one of my go-to albums since it came out.

She won the Mercury Prize for this album.

 

I absolutely love cherry pop-tarts (and the placement of their sprinkles-SO MANY).

I may even like them more than it's brown sugar/cinnamon companion...

between my Halloween themed cereal special that I've been scarfing down and my intake of pop-tarts,

I'm starting to question when I started pursuing the same breakfast options as a six year old.

One of the best factors of friends ridding of their clothes is getting to go through them to see if you want anything.

I try to keep in mind the friends that like certain styles & when it comes time to give-away, I keep those people in mind.

When I helped my friend Brooke move some of her stuff months ago, she had me look through some of her clothes to see if I was interested in anything. I always find a few gems in my friends clothing disposals.

She said that I "have to take this dress" because she didn't know who else it would fit & it was an older vintage-y dress.

I gladly took it off her hands, and she informed me that she would give me the belt when she found it.

Next visit to her new apartment and the outfit was completed when she handed it to me. This was the first time wearing the dress since I got it all those months ago. It's not the most flattering, but I enjoy it none the less. The pictures really don't do it much justice.

& then there was this;

unicorn hair.

this needed to be noted right away.

This picture is from the October issue of Nylon and as soon as I saw it I kind of freaked out.

it's probably perfection.

Saturday's Occurences

[About Saturday]

So yesterday it was super nice out for it being eight days into October in Chicago.

My counterpart had a day date planned with car repair and I knew if I wanted a fun day, it would be totally up to me. I texted a few people, thought about taking a train into the city to roam around by myself, or bounced around the idea of driving back out to Naperville to spend it with my parents. I had a super good feeling about this one. Lunch downtown, followed by meandering through the blocks and heading into the Riverwalk was the game plan. We ate lunch outside at Hugo's Frogbar, and then proceeded to walk around. My parents have never been in an Apple store. I know, I KNOW.  I feel like a big reason for this is because my parents both hate crowds in addition to high priced gadgets that they feel serve them no purpose. I am totally against the idea because I know how busy it was going to be on a day like that in downtown Naperville. I warned them of this, but we continued to walk to it anyway. There was a tiny shrine outside for Mr. Jobs and my mom refused to let me place my iPod headphones along the bouquets of flowers. I don't think she quite realizes that I have countless pairs around the house. Her reason? "I need new headphones, if you're just going to put them on the ground, I'm going to just pick them up & use them". Needless to say, they are still in my purse. At this point we are now outside the doors and my parents are just kind of anxiously looking in and my mom is like, "Do you really want to do this?" and my dad said "No." So my parents have still never been into an Apple store. I applaud them for this. It's just a bloody awful experience, grimy fingers swiping countless iPads, kids taping away on the Macs, and 182,219 employees just dying to ring your purchase right in the middle of the store, or on the side of the store or wherever the hell you want to purchase your item because they can. It is kind of like my standing with Denny's. I've never been in one, and I have no desire to ever go in one.

So we continued on and I had wanted tea and I ditched the Starbucks idea after seeing that 20 people were parked in line at one of the three downtown locations. I decided to take it on over to Adagio Tea. I had never been here and was kind of expecting a mix between a Starbucks & an Argo Tea. However, it was more like Teavana. I was so excited and my parents were tea enthused as well;

 

You were able to smell everything on your own, which I loved. I hate having to ask employees to smell the tea, especially at Teavana because you are smelling out of the bin that people purchase the tea from. I could have gone around the room smelling and comparing the teas all day. I absolutely loved it. I smelled the Cocomint Green and it pretty much sealed the deal, really solid combination. Ideal for morning or after dinner, because you get the kick from the tea, and the sweetness from the chocolate & mint for after you chow down.

But I am dying to taste this sweet potato pie. I'm hoping they have these teas year round, and not just seasonally.

I cannot wait to go back there, hopefully it will be sooner than later.

We walked across the street to a little shop called Serendipity. It's a super mini thrift that gives back to charity.

Last time I was here they had some lime green Doc's in the window for $25!! Unfortunately they were a size too big and my mom has some serious disdain for certain bright colored accessories. This time they had a fabulous plaid patterned Pendleton** coat, wedding dresses, and this gem;

 

for $6!

WHERE ARE YOU, LADIES?! Let's be friends.

Red Hat Society

along the riverwalk.

If you're unfamiliar, the Riverwalk in Naperville is sort of a big deal to people who live around the area, for it is rather awesome; click here for more

[the 'fit]

 

Boots: thrifted Goodwill $4 Tights: Forever21

I can't say I'm a fan of the Marilyn Monroe statue downtown Chicago...

But this Dick Tracy one is all the rage in my book.

There is a great little story about it [here]

I guess we can top it off with this excitement;

OH YEAH, BABY! RETWEETED BY XRT!

Tessa__Gee Tessa Groll 

Hell yes! Terri played some new @flo_tweet and I screamed when it came on. so good! @93xrt

8 Oct Favorite Reply Delete

All in all, it was a really good day. I really wanted to spend the day outside doing something fun. I was glad that day included the rents as well as one of my close girlfriends and her companion. Everyone has the "get outside" mentality this weekend. I'm mustering up the anticipation to take a stroll around the neighborhood. Keep it real.

[show line-up tonight]

Sunday Night Football. The Good Wife. Breaking Bad. Dexter

**I have the BEST luck when it comes to scoring Pendleton goods in Thrift stores. I was in the Portland Goodwill about a year ago and there was this phenomenal floor length red coat. I tried it on and about three other people that were in the store flocked over and insisted that I needed to buy it. It was $50 and I knew this coat would last me forever. I decided to take the advice of the store-goers and I bought it. So yesterday I was in front of this plaid coat and my mom and I had struck up conversation with this woman and her friend visiting from New York. She also adored the coat and said "Hey, you know try that on, if it fits and your mom doesn't get it for you, I will." Unfortunately, it was pretty big and it did not make its way into my life, but feel fortunate for finding such things.

Why yes, I do have the time, It's Jelly time.

[About Thursday]

this song is really good. We heard it driving home the other day on XRT of course.

She reminds me of a young Chrissie Hynde/PJ Harvey.

It finally happened. My counterpart and I headed into the city via Metra in the early afternoon and hiked over to the Shedd Aquarium. They've been hyping the hell out of their new Jellies exhibit and I've been dying to see it aka bugging him to take me! They have this cool little theme song they always play on XRT and it always makes me ultra excited to see their pulsating little bodies pushing their way through the water...okay that might be too much commercial quotation, but it's damn accurate. Check out this music and do the Jellies dance (which I made up and TOTALLY FORGOT to do while in the exhibit).

If I were the girl in the ad, I'd be screaming in excitement. It'd be along the lines of:

"JELLIES! OH MY GOD ::SCREAMS::"

I LOVE starfish.

Let me say this though, we scoped out the whole place and we saved the jellies for one of the last things we did. I love everything they have there. Unfortunately the penguins were closed for show, but that's okay, as long as my brainless little blobs would be rockin' solid, I knew we'd be fine. While it was a neat little exhibit, it was not what I was expecting. I was expecting a HUGE exhibit, especially because it's going to be there for quite some time (as most of them go), like floor-to-ceiling jellies is what I wanted. I wanted to be encompassed in Jellies. If only I could have been wearing jellies...However, they were still beautiful and laid out rather nicely. I snagged a few pictures of them;

One of these Jellies makes me want egg drop soup-ASAP.

another makes me want to brush my hair.

Oh the urges the jellies give.

If you're in the area, definitely check out the Shedd. A good time will be had.

Rest assured, it not only confirmed that I love these little guys, but that I am also looking to purchase a home large enough to house my beluga whale I hope to have in the future. Hopefully my counterpart is also actively looking into the same situation.

What a great time.

It was so nice to get out in the city on such a nice day. I have been trying my best to take advantage of all this nice weather action. In addition to taking mighty fine advantage of that, I'm quite enthused Argo Tea finally had a chance to make its way through my body, that delicious bastard. So I've never been and I've always assumed it was snooty because of their "city only" locations. I went in and found out that it was rather Portland-esque. People on Macs-everyfreakingwhere, dim lighting, menus that screw with your head until your realize they are purposefully changing to show you more options, dread-locked baristas...on and on.

I got their version of bubble tea, which allowed me to choose a flavour & a type of tea. I chose green tea/coconut/2% milk. It was delectable! It was really neat because it was not typical bubble tea with the tapioca, but was the actual taste of coconut;

I want to work here. I want to make little leafs in your milk froth. I want to sell insurmountable amounts of tea. I AM ARGO TEA!

::deep breathing::

okay. it's cool.

But yeah, needless to say, I am glad I finally had it.

Now I'm craving it and the closest location is 20 miles ::sobbing::

So, 10:30 p.m. probably isn't the ideal time that I should have waited until to eat the leftover fried rice from last night, but being that I have a few more years of lucky metabolism ahead of me, I shall relish in the greasy goodness past dinner time.

Hopefully your Friday night plans are a tad better than mine.

I am going to make Oatmeal Raisin cookies today.

[Yesterday]

what happens when you thrift pants shorter than anticipated?

You add some funky socks and call that shit a day.

shoes: [target] they always have them $9

socks: stolen from my moms sock drawer long ago.

 

sweater: found at Marshalls, brand Mercer & Madison.

 

top: Old Navy. I have so many funky print things from there as well as basics.

I can incorporate this top a million different ways.

Intermission Song:

Florence + The Machine [remix]

I posted this song the other day. The official video is out for it. See that[HERE]

I just finished this scarf last night. I also started it last night.

It looks as if I'm back to my scarf-in-three-hours regime.

I love making what I call, 'Scarp Scarves'. I've been talking about finding this onslaught of usable yarn at my parents house. I plan on using a lot of it in a blanket with the same concept I'm knees deep in [I just got a craving for banana bread]. In addition to finding all of this yarn, I found this awesome scarf that I made back in high school that I've been incorporating with everything. Well, I had the time on my hands and wanted to make another one. If you want one...let me know.

I tend to make them with a mix of different types/brands of yarn which makes them really soft & super warm.

Someone should really make sure I don't shop during the month of October because I get suckered in with shit like this. I should not call it that though, because upon having it this morning, the first bite was like crunching into my youth. I literally plunged head first into the longing of wanting to be an 8 year old watching Saturday morning cartoons, picking out the crunch berries profusely. While I normally never get cereal like this [I kind of like my food to have some benefit, I guess], the "LIMITED EDITION" plastered on the front kind of made it official. It did turn the milk a Shamrock Shake shake sort of green. Groovy. I'll take it.

I love it when all the holiday episodes and movies start rolling out.

**It's true. I'm going to make Oatmeal Raisin cookies today.

Things I Carry

I've seen this done around the internet and have been wanting to do this for some time.

This song seemed appropriate for the purse journey.

This is the purse I carry and the things lovely possessions that are in it on the average day;

purse: thrifted; Goodwill $8 I absolutely LOVE IT!

Wallet:

Forever 21 front sales bin [pic includes: shopping lists, reciepts I can never throw away from stores in Japan, Comme des garcons perfume samples I got at the museum that make the air smell awesome each time I open my wallet, love notes from my counterpart, & wedding seating of a wedding we went to this summer] This wallet is oozing with memories. I have hotel room keys, business cards, & a couple of pictures. It's the good times wallet.

Matches:

These are from Hugo's Frog Bar in Downtown Naperville I always go here with my mom for a quick lunch in the middle of a busy day. We both end up snagging a few of these matchbooks when we leave. They always help me in a jam.

Pepto: for obvious reasons!!! Notepad: (Target) to get out whatever is clawing at my brain mints/gum: obvious choices

Book: if room allows, I always have a book. I've been toting around The Picture of Dorian Gray for too long and it needs to get finished. B&N sells classics for CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP! pen assortment + sharpie: necessary bottled water: oh, absolutely.

Eye Patch:

My most recent & random addition. I'm so proud. I love telling people the real reason pirates wore patches. 

I found this in the bin of yarn at my parents house. What a gem!

Headphones: 2 pairs. Very important LipBalm: (Sephora, $7) Amazing! Flavour actually tastes good.

Deli #:

I decided to keep this one because the deli counter was hoppin' when I was there

& I had a valuable conversation with an older woman behind me.

Plus, B22? Like I'm throwing anything with 22 on it out.

Tea: chamomile, it isn't a bad thing to carry around. Especially because a cup of hot water is free at Starbucks.

Lighter & Cigs: bic-(PURPLE!) and Nat Sherman's. I love these because they are light & don't have additives.

[Fantasia's] are my favourite way to go, but those are more of a treat.

Lipbalms/Glosses: Yelpstick, I get this at the Yelp events that I go to. They are awesome. Revlon: [firecracker]

Sephora: lipstain. I regret not getting the hot pink. Maybelline: in some embarrassing shade.

hunting pocket knife thing: I love the idea of having this on me. always.

Abercrombie 8 perfume:

I HAD TO! An old employee of mine was a model for them & he got me a sweet discount. This scent reminds me of high school and I can't resist having it for a backup scent. I've had it for so long, but now it reminds me of so many things because of all the times I've used it.

I'd love to see spin off posts of this. It is SO neat to see what people tote around.

Unfortunately, I couldn't include my phone in this shot [because that it was I use for my camera!] and this purse doesn't feature my other favourite fun time purse item which is my tiny toy phantom hand that broke off some odd toy I had in my old bedroom. I pulled it out in any situation that required assistance and said "Need a hand???" while jabbing them with it. Ah, I shall bring the hand back.

Eating Accordingly

Being that it is October, I like to eat the cereal of the season;

Obviously.

On another note, I get that they add whole grain, who cares.

Why aren't they adding more fiber?

October Daze } Outfits } Roseanne

[Sunday's Ensemble]

 

Jacket: OLD [fervore??] Brown sweater: old-school Target

Shirt: Target Dress: Old Navy [on sale-awesome score!]

Necklace: homemade

As you know, big Florence fan, her single "Shake It Out" came out today.

I cannot wait to see her tour with her upcoming album Ceremonials.

This is a must-see read from [Interview Magazine]

So I went to Target today to get a few things that I forgot to get for the next two weeks when I went shopping yesterday. Of course, I couldn't resist taking a little stroll around the sales rack [which can seem like a thrift rack] and the sock section where funky tights and boot socks reside.

This dress was like "OH HEY, BUY ME!" I know you can't really see it here, but the pictures are extremely unflattering unless it is being worn. I will show it then. I know, no one is on the edge of their seats. I love the pattern so so much and knew it would work in any season. For $14.00, there would be no bitching or self discussion, this thing was going to be mine. The boot socks are a must each season [$8 a pack] I get one pack, so now I have 6 pairs. I love Plum purple and the mix of purple/colours for the 1st pair. Really stoked to wear them with my Docs and/or every other pair of shoes I own.

This clip is the first part of the episode, it's lengthy, but good!

I had the honour of seeing the Halloween episode of Roseanne, S2 last night because apparently someone over at TV Land is thinkin' just like the ol' TG. I wanted to get all revved up for Halloween on my first day of October and this was perfect last night! I love Roseanne and it's perfect white-trash humour.