Teaser Tuesday, December 22

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teasers:
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, pg. 229

--The storm didn't wait until nightfall to show its teeth.

--The marble columns and naked walls of the sitting room crept up to the coffered ceiling, which was falling to pieces.

Word Munching

So, it's that time of year again. The time when everyone (probably) is thinking about New Year's Resolutions, what they should do to be better in the future. And, of course, mine never change because they never come to pass. I'll be good for a week or two (usually the week or two before January 1st, actually) and then they fall to the wayside to be trampled on and found again in Mid-April when I decide to make mid-year resolutions that are then forgotten until the next January. Yes, it is that easy to see the pattern.
But ho! not this year! (as I say every year) at least one resolution will be fulfilled. Why? Because I have a need for it. My brain is hungry (nom nom) and I need to read.
Yes... that is the nerdiest thing I've ever typed.
But, dear readers, it's true! So I've devised a reading schedule slightly-based on some I found online and I have a good feeling about this one...


I've traveled the world twice over, 
Met the famous; saints and sinners, 
Poets and artists, kings and queens, 
Old stars and hopeful beginners, 
I've been where no-one's been before, 
Learned secrets from writers and cooks 
All with one library ticket 
To the wonderful world of books. 
~ Anonymous ~


The Plan:

Every other week, I will pick two books to read. They will vary in category (erm... go into that later...) and I'll have the entire two weeks to read both.
For instance, every month I have to read one nonfiction title, one book from this list
and two "others". So at the end of the year, I'll have read 12 NF, 12 from the list, and 24 "others".

--"others" can be any category I choose (fiction, NF, memoir, graphic novel, YA, etc.) However,
-they can't be for school
-they can't be a re-read
-I have to get at least 50 pgs. into it before I decide to replace it.
I'll keep a book journal to record info and comments about books. I might even post them here.
Well, sorry about the boring (to You) post. It's exciting for me! (but probably nobody else...)
Cheers :D

So...

There is a legitimate reason why I haven't updated in a billion years. And its name is NaNoWrimo.
I would explain, but I've only written 420 words today...
So bye :D
(Let's be honest... you probably won't see me until December.) Happy noveling, everyone.

Outfits...

I've been busy (with social life... not with school. ha) and I have a backup of outfits to post.
Well, okay, two.
I'm bad at this "daily pictures" thing... but I will get better! I promise! I hope.

Chilly Day of Layers:


My Lovely New Coat!!!


And underneath the coat...

This is a skirt that I refashioned out of a maxi dress from Old Navy! I really like it even though the dye job's a bit odd.

Well, that's it then. Cheerio!

Tights and Stripes

Tights and Stripes, originally uploaded by ParcelsandComfits.

It is finally finally finally cold here! (Granted, anything below 70 could potentially qualify as cold to me...)
Ahh, I love the cold. It makes me want to curl up by the fire and drink hot chocolate and think about Christmas. And I finally get to wear my sweaters I've been collecting from Goodwill! (Okay... I have like two. But still- that counts as a collection, I think.)
I got these tights a while ago on a whim and this is the first time I've worn them in public. I really like them- they're a lovely aubergine color. :D Of course, I was a bit chilly, but sacrifices must be made for cuteness's sake.
I'm working on a Fall inspiration post... But my bed is so warm and cozy that I'm not sure I'll last to finish it. ha- I'll put up a good fight, though.
Hope you're doing well. Happy Fall everyone! :D

Paper Writing

Paper Writing, originally uploaded by ParcelsandComfits.

I had the most monstrous paper ever to write!!! (well... actually, it was only five pages on The Odyssey, but when you procrastinate until the day before that's a hella lot.)
So, to ready myself for sitting in my room for hours on end, and to celebrate the beginning of Fall (I actually live in a place where it gets cool before November now. I know- weird.) I went for a sweater.
I actually really like this sweater a. lot. Especially the color. I wish I had more clothes this color because it is lovely and from the gods.
Hmm,,,
Well, since I am dddone with my paper, I might work on a Fall inspiration post...
Or I may go to sleep.
Decisions, decisions.

Hump Day Stripes-- First What I Wore post!

Hump Day Stripes, originally uploaded by ParcelsandComfits.

Well... I'm back :) I'm thinking that there's a change on the horizon... I've been in a terrible mood lately and suddenly... it's lifting. I know, right, welcome to life. But I'm taking full advantage of the lifting mood and getting back on board with this blog.
I actually love posting, so I think getting back to it will be good.
Plus, I've recently found out that the Goodwill down the street?
Um...
It's amazing.
So yeah.
Here's what I wore today... I'm hopefully going to start posting my outfits. Maybe not daily, but you know- often enough. ha

Details:

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

I've been away for so long...

Not that this makes up for my extremely long absence, but as I did give you a fair warning, I don't feel terribly bad about posting this video for my I'm-not-dead post.

After all, isn't it the best thing you've ever seen?
Me too.

The Day After Tomorrow

Is the day I move into college :)
Yes, I'm excited.
But mostly I'm just busy. So there probably won't be a new post for a couple of days. Sorry! I'm working on the Shoe Porn, Part Deux I promise! Also, I'm probably going to start posting my own pictures (DIY, Outfits, Thrift finds, etc.) when I have more time.
In the meantime, though, I'm not going to leave you desperate and wanting. So here's what my life will be like for the next four years:

Bridget Jones

Alright, I just finished watching Bridget Jones (the first of course... they definitely could have stopped with that one because one movie full of Hugh Grant is more than enough. Granted, one thousand movies full of Colin Firth doesn't begin to be enough, so I guess it's alright...)
Do you know, every time I watched that movie I'm inspired? And maybe that's ridiculous, because it's not like it's profound. Or even plausible. (Two guys? Well, two HOT guys? Over one incredibly neurotic girl? Jumping through cafe windows? I don't think so.)
Anyways, it inspires me. To write, oddly enough. To grab hold of my life. Why? Maybe it's that montage where she (momentarily) gets rid of all of her vodka and self-help books and Chaka-Kans her way to the gym. Maybe it's her finally figuring out what an utter asshat Daniel Cleaver (the aforementioned Grant, who you may have gathered: I am not particularly fond of.) Maybe it's writing in that little red notebook all of those pithy little sayings about a life that is scarily like my own, if almost 10 years apart.
Whatever it is, I've decided something. Something which I've probably decided many times in my life, but which I plan to actually fulfill this time, when I'm on the precipice of a real life, of a life that is something more than passing Physics and buying Teen Vogue and crushing on that boy in History class. I want to be my own person.
Now, I realize this is slightly ridiculous. I myself feel as if I should be wearing a shirt that says "Individual!" in glittery letters and giving speeches to middle-schoolers. But I'm serious. I get so swept up in the... drama.
I'm not talking about "following the crowd" or being "most unique" (I already am that, according to my high school. Cheers to them for choosing a redheaded "Weatherly" as most unique. I can tell a lot of thought went into that decision...)
To be honest, I couldn't give a shit what most people think. But, like Bridget, it's the guys that get me.
I know. I promise this will not turn into a relationship blog, God help me. I just... there's so much crap that happens, so many people I get attached to that just let me down that I wonder how I can have time to be my own person.
So I've decided to make a change. I've ordered this: little red notebook and am making this pledge: I will write down a log of my life, trivial as it is, so I can better figure out what to do with it.
Yes, I realize how ridiculous it is to pledge to "be my own person" whilst blatantly copying someone else. But I think of it as inspiration. This is a change, an alteration in thinking. No- an alteration in acting. I want to BE a different person, not just wish it.
I can just tell that my blog (and my brain) will thank me.
-Weatherly

Shoe Porn, part one

Yes, I went there.
Anyway, recently I've been noticing a distinct change in my fashion-feeling.
That sounds a bit new-agey, but stay with me. It's not really my style that's changed. Honestly, my style is fairly non-existent at the moment, since it went on a brief hiatus for summer. (This is a ridiculous phenomenon brought about by a mixture of laziness, business, and the sheer HEAT of where I live. Hopefully, now that I've gotten a bit of a kick in the pants fashion-wise it will cease and desist.)
But as I was saying, my fashion-feeling, the way I feel about different styles, and the kinds of styles I actively seek out and respond to, has been changing. I have, in the past, been very drawn to slightly preppy, slightly hippie styles that were easily adopted by yours truly, having grown up in a very Polo-friendly house.
Recently, though, it's like I've been abducted by aliens and they sent me back with a whole new mindset. I sudden;y want to put studs on everything and wear black leather with all of my soft sundresses.
I'm thinking... romantic princess and punk-ass bitch rolled into one and for some reason, this doesn't bother me at all.
I used to shy away from anything "ugly" or "harsh", but these picks, all shoes as the title suggests, speak to me in a way that nothing similar ever has.
I feel a change on the horizon, yes I do.

Net-A-Porter:

Lanvin lace-up shoe boots
I'm really glad they didn't call them "booties", but that's beside the point. I don't really know why I like these, other than the fact that they remind me so much of chocolate I find myself wanting to lick my computer screen.



Valentino diamanté-embellished peep-toe pumps
I LOVE these so much it sort of hurts. I suddenly understand Carrie Bradshaw blowing her entire paycheck on one pair of Manolos. But, no offense to Mr. Blahnik, but Valentino is a sex god. I would gladly lay down my life's pension for these babies. However, since (although I could technically afford them... I have books to think about(Damn you, college education) I have a feeling I'll be DIY-ing them. More on this later, I have to go stare drooling at all of the zoom-in pictures.


Rupert Sanderson khyber cutout sandals
Alright, so this is the more hard-edge look I was talking about. This time last year, I wouldn't have looked twice at this pair of shoes. Seriously- covering the top of the foot? I don't think so. But I suppose my taste has evolved. How very mature of me. *snigger*

Still not sold? Yeah, neither was I. But take a look at it on a foot:

Damn.

Urban Outfitters:

Frye Chelsea Studded Oxford
Alright, so this is another I had to see on a foot to really love. I liked it okay, but I'm always sort of hesitant about the peep-toe bootie (eurgh, that word again.) To me, if it's done wrong it can look like you're trying too hard to be Aygness Deyn. Which, for those of you who were wondering, is. not. good.
I love how her toes peek (or... "peep" if you want to be a jerk about it) through the toe. It's sort of innocent and makes a great clash with the studs. Plus, it's a wedge which would make it superbly brilliant for a klutz like me, because it would mean actual walking ability, rather than the awkward wall-clutching toddling that comes with stilettos.



Jeffrey Campbell Cutout Bootie
I really wish they had a foot-picture for this one, because while it's interesting/adorable without a foot, there's a chance it could be horribly awful with one. That being said, I love this in theory. It's very Peter-Pan, (which I suppose makes it my always-style rather than my newly-dubbed "new" style... maybe I haven't changed as much as I thought?) I would wear this with green skinnies and a feather in my hair and call myself Tiger Lily. Bangarang!



Shopbop:

Pour La Victoire dahlia Over the Knee Boots
Okay, I wasn't even planning on posting boots, but once I found one pair, it was a snowball effect. I ALSO never ever ever planned on even thinking about over-the-knee boots.
I guess these are magic 'eff-with-Weatherly's-perception' boots.
That's cool, boots. You can have your way with me any day.
(sorry... but this IS shoe porn, after all...)



Belle by Sigerson Morrison Tie Back Tall Flat Boots
Alright, so this is just another pair of grey leather boots,right?

Wrong!

Reminiscent of ballet class, but with an edge that says: put me in a tutu and die. Need.
Wow... this is turning out to be a lot longer than I anticipated... Alright, time to break out the segmentation. Look for Shoe Porn, Part Deux soon!
You know what's funny? I opened Blogger to write a post about the knuckle-duster clutch. ha I guess I'm easily distracted. More on that lovely accessory later. :D

In which I show no self-control...

So, just a quick post since I'm technically supposed to be packing. (Yes, that's right folks, the time has come: I have 6, count them s-i-x, days until I leave for college.
Alright, well, amidst all of the hullabaloo going on, (last day at work, packing for college, realizing just how much books actually cost, read: a LOT), I was starting to get a little frazzled.
Okay, I was about three seconds away from a baby-punching meltdown.
So, to curb this socially-unacceptable tendency, I went shopping. :D
Yes, you read that right. In the middle of trying to pay for books and tuition for my first year of college I, Weatherly, went shopping.
And I don't even feel guilty.
I browsed Goodwill for about an hour. (or... maybe two... I wasn't keeping track. ha)
I realize I should have saved this money. But it went to charity! And now, I've put a large dent in my wardrobe needs!
There'll be pictures later, I promise, but I sent this to a friend who was curious about my purchases, so I figured I would copy+paste it here.

I bought:
--a pair of jeans that are SO soft. They still have the tags on them, (regular price? ummm... $35ish. My price: $7) I don't technically NEED a pair of jeans, but these are light-wash in my sea of dark-wash. I have one pair of light-wash jeans already, but they are incredibly tight. Read: not. cute. These are great. I'm thinking of straightening the super-flare leg, but other than that: perfect.
--3 sweaters (all soft and lovely. Including a grey sweater, which I've been looking for FOREVER.)
--One perfect print dress that is the no-wrinkle material and looks, surprisingly, really good on me.
--One really cute purple jersey dress with brass stud things around the neckline... Looks sort of like something you would wear to homecoming. I bought it for parties, but it would probably look cute thrown over a tee shirt with tights and boots. hmm
--One amazing cranberry-colored sheer blouse with fabric-covered buttons
--One polka dot teacup for my mom. (She's obsessed with polka dots. I don't know if you noticed our dishes... but it's sort of a problem.)
--One green scarf with blue squares on it. (summer scarf, not knit.) Actually, I think it might have been an ascot, since it was over by the suits. It's cute because it makes me think of my grandpa, in a good way. I think I'll use it as a headband.
and, the piece de resistance:
--a gorgeous caramel-colored vintage bag with gold buckles and white stitching, very reminiscent of Chloe. (erm... fashion designer, if you didn't know.)

I put back a lot of stuff, including one really cool dress that was a black tank on top with ruffles around the sleeve openings and a grey pleated skirt bit, empire waist sort of like what you're talking about, and had a deep scoop back. It was so cute. But I have way too much black in my wardrobe, and I'd already picked up a heck of a lot of stuff, so I put it back. Oh well.

wow...
I basically have my fall wardrobe, now.
And it cost half as much as ONE sweater from J.Crew.
nice.


(yes, I realize I just wrote a novel on what I bought at the thrift store. sorry. I was happy... still am, actually. Who says retail therapy doesn't work? ha)

Trolling Etsy

Just doing a bit of browsing on the best website ever. I'm thinking of taking the dive and buying all handmade this holiday season. What do you think?
Oh, and I know... the bison is a bit out of place. But isn't that the coolest thing ever?
I know, try to contain your excitement, you're embarrassing.
:)

Billy- Large Bison


Wool cloche


Vintage brown leather oxfords


Tarte


Little love note


The Vivian Lee train case


The Nina Simone dress


Emily Dickinson's lace necklace

I'm addicted

to this video. Seriously- it is so amazing it gives me chills.
And I've sort of got a crush on the guitarist. :)

Raiding UO

Alright, so confession time:
I have never shopped at Urban Outfitters.
I've never even been inside one.
It's not that I'm against them, (even though they seem to have a seedy background...) it's just, there's not one by me. Plus, you know, I can't afford it.
However, I often troll the website for ideas and eye candy.
It may be hipster-infested,but it's still lovely to look at.
Things I'm craving:

Perforated Oxford Heel--so gorgeous


Leather Ankle Wrap Skimmers-- not my usual style, but for some reason I NEED them. I think it's the amazing color. sigh



Leather Saddle Shoe-- I went to private school when I was little and I remember wearing colored keds and saddle shoes every day. I was born to be stylish, I guess. ha


Lace vest-- Fall always makes me think textures. Lace always makes me think romance.
This vest makes me think both. I want it so badly.


Ruffle Raincoat-- Okay, so when I was thinking I needed a raincoat, (I mean, it's pretty rainy where I'm going to school, and walking across campus in a monsoon with little more than a hoodie? Yeah, not looking forward to it), I was actually thinking rain slicker. You know- those cute yellow ones that sort of make you look like Paddington Bear or Coraline? But the fashionista in me said no.
So this is an alternative that I would wear... every single day if I could.
(But I'm still on the lookout for a yellow slicker. Just saying.)


Lace Inset Pullover-- Okay, so I would never buy this because it is just TOO easy to DIY, but I'm putting it up here for that very reason. My mom just gave me a pile (and I mean a PILE) of clothes that are either a)horrifically mom-ish or b)just don't fit. In adding this to my already monstrous pile of to-be-altered clothes, I came across a soft grey sweatshirt that is just a smidge to frumpy... Which means I'm about to have a free lace-inset pullover. huzzah



p.s. Yellow Rain Slickers:




Just saying.

Bee Mine?

So, sometimes I think I'm living in the Truman Show.
Only, you know, it would be the Weatherly show, obviously.
But anyways, sometimes when I'm craving something, fashion-wise, I'll suddenly see it pop up in the fashion world, like a beacon of light.
And, okay, this could be due to my heightened awareness of that certain thing.
But I prefer to think of it as a magical sort of fashion karma: Think stylish and you will be rewarded.
Lately, I've been craving bees. It all started with this lovely cardigan that the adorable Emily, one of my biggest style crushes, bedecked with little brass bee buttons.


It just kills me.

So, I had bees on the brain, and lo and behold, what did I happen upon at Style.com?
That's right. Vogue likes bees too.
sigh.
I think my life is complete.
More bees-y things:

Bee Wings Brooch


Bee Place Cards


Birds and the Bees Ring


Bea Season Necklace


Honey Bee Necklace



Bee Kisses,
Weatherly