Comfort

Stacy and Clinton say that comfort is a four letter word.

However, I think they'd agree that as far as comfort AND fashion go, I did all right today.

I haven't been feeling well the last couple days - at first it was a stomach ache, and I slept that off.  However, then this pounding headache set in.  I tried eating.  That didn't help.  I tried drinking lots of water.  That didn't help.  I tried sleeping.  That didn't help.  While I'm not entirely opposed to the use of pharmaceuticals to address illness, I am hesitant to drug myself.  Evidently, if my body is telling me it hurts, there is something wrong... taking a pain killer won't fix whatever is wrong!  However, I'm about to leave to go do a seminar on the faulty mothers in Adam Bede, and despite being a grad student, this is only my third seminar... and up until now, I've only really had a 50% success rate.  Given this nearness to failure (all right, I did decently well on the other seminar... just not as well as I did on the first), it wouldn't surprise me if the headache is stress related.  As such, I'm undecided... if I take an advil now, I won't be fighting the pain during the seminar.  However, maybe just doing the seminar will relieve the stress, and then taking an advil wouldn't have been worth while...

In any event, while I may not look all that professional (not that we are required to), at least I'm comfortable. 

Getting business done

It's been a slow transition in my work place since I switched over to working for economists instead of analysts.  I no longer have a general idea of what I'll be doing beyond grunt work.  And sometimes this grunt work involves lifting large boxes and carrying them through the building.  At least that's what I did last week.  So this week, I assumed it would be much the same, so I wore jeans.

And then ended up being in conference calls all day.  While jeans are acceptable for conference calls, I couldn't help but be a little disappointed - if I knew I wouldn't be loading boxes in the catacombs I would have stepped it up a notch. 

I also have a problem with these jeans - I love that they're the right length to wear with heels, but I hate that when I'm done work, and want to do something later on not in heels that I have to roll them up or change into a different pair. 

PS  - note the hand in the second picture - I have my ring back!  They basically had to melt it down and custom build it for my little fingers - yeah!

Sunshine on my window makes me happy, like I should be!

There is one decided benefit to working the opening shift at the writing centre where I work.  While my apartment has a glorious eastern exposure, and I've arranged it so the sun comes streaming in on me while I'm at my computer in the mid-afternoon, I'm rarely home during that time.  However, my office has a wall of westerly facing windows so I get a stream of light on me as my brain kicks into gear for the day.  (Yes, it happens AFTER I've arrived at work, but after two months of only being up one or two days a week before 10, I don't think that's really surprising). 

Of course, since I've been lazy / super busy and thus haven't had the luxury of that thing called time to take legitimate pictures, I've been webcaming it from the office between appointments.  The sun wasn't so nice this morning, so not only is the picture quality subpar, the lighting is quite abysmal.  Maybe once I get used to getting up... All right, I do have a couple hours off between work and classes, so maybe I'll start pulling a Hillary, and take pictures in the stack at the library! 

Less-Poo

I can't say I was motivated out of environmental concern. I can't say I was motivated out of concern for the condition of my hair.  My recent decision to give up washing my hair every day spring from my poor skin's need to not be subjected to the drying effects of daily showering during cold, dry winters.  

While my hair has already begun adjusting to the less frequent washing by becoming actually less greasy than usual, the issue has become what to do with my hair on the second day of this two day cycle.  While throwing it upin some fashion has become necessary, there is one main detriment:  it is nearly impossible to wear a toque and an updo simultaneously. 


And winter in Manitoba is cold.  And bitter.  And it chills us to the bone.  (Sorry, I had to).  While everything worked well during that nice thaw we had, the blizzard brought with it a cold front that isn't as bad as we're used to, but definitely nippy on the ears. 


While I'm certain I can knit my way out of this predicament (with some creativity in some form), for now, I alternate between freezing my ears on the way to school, and ruining my hair on the way home. 

Black backgrounds

Since my engagement ring doesn't fit my finger yet (it's going to be sent away to be sized today), I've been wearing it on a chain around my neck (à la Carrie Bradshaw - minus the whole "pre-wedding freak out").  However, I still want it to look exceptionally presentable, so I've been trying to see how I can wear my tops to accentuate it.  Ultimately, this leads to higher neck black tops, of which I have only really one, and it is one that I struggle to style well.  It's a trapeze top (is that the term I want?  I call it my tent shirt, but that's fairly derogatory), which is not a shape with which I'm usually comfortable.  By tucking it into a higher waisted pant, I usually am OK with it, but I've had little luck any other way.

I knew I was going to wear jeans today because we've returned to the regular winter weather of -31 windchill in the morning.  I think adding the cardigan (also a trickier item for me, as it isn't as form fitting as I'd like) helped, but it's the belt that really ties it all together... I get the shape I want, but also the presentation of the ring I had hoped for!  Success!

Dress for the ocaission / new accessories

There are key times in a person's life when it's integral to look spectacular.  Among them are job interviews, running into ex-boyfriends, and any time when a picture must be taken to ensure the immortality of the moment.

Well, my dear readers, I have to admit I have failed.

I woke up Saturday morning and thought: "To hell with clothes, I'm staying in my jammies all day".  When Scott arrived home with flowers, I assumed he'd finally taken my hint to start being more romantic, and thus thought: "Maybe I should get dressed", but I read a few more chapters in my book instead.

When I got through my required reading, I suggested we take a walk, so I threw on a very odd combination of skinny jeans and a hoodie... one for ease of fitting into boots (given it's currently blizzard-ing), and the other for warmth (given it's currently blizzard-ing).  While Scott had shaved, I thought: "Maybe I should shower when we get back", but I thought "nah" and put my hair into the most practical and least attractive toque-wearing option:  pig tails.

When we arrived home from our walk, I thought: "shower or pajamas?" and my laziness prevented both.  My laziness also prevented the guilt of looking so slovenly as we drank wine and watched Breakfast at Tiffany's, so there was no problem, right?

However, when a sparkly engagement ring surfaced after the movie was over, it immediately occurred to me, as I began snapping photos of my hand, and inevitably getting a grungy jean, or faded hoodie in the way, that this was yet another moment when it is integral to be dressed for the ocaission.

Of course, I take solace in the fact that Scott is choosing to marry not only the pulled together Cara that usually walks out the door in the morning, but also the Cara that loves lazy days of ill-matched comfort wear!

(And no, I'm not trying to make a fashion statement by wearing the ring on my thumb... my fingers are seriously that small that it flops around on any other finger.  It's even too big for the thumb!

Surviving... without any tips!

It's now been gorgeous for 7 straight days, so instead of thinking of ways to survive winter, I've been out enjoying it.  It's been great pulling on shoes instead of boots, layering sweaters instead of parkas, and deciding to walk to the grocery store instead of drive.  While I did resolve to do more blogging, I have no regrets - when the temperature hovers around the freezing mark in January you don't question it... you take advantage of it! 

The difficulty, of course, is that this spring fever which has come upon me has reduced my ability to think logically.  There have been many a day this week when I've soaked my canvas sneakers through on my walk to and from class. So this morning I was smart - I wore a more solid fabric shoe with a heel.  Of course, this did mean sliding down the back lane in my new pumps hoping that I didn't have to run for the bus*.

But in any event, this is a dress I've been wanting to wear for a while, as I bought it in summer, but didn't have the shoes to go with it.  These shoes came as part of my birthday present from my parents.  I love the retro feel to them.  I'm still a little wary of them, as I have tended to stay away from rounded toe shoes, except in a ballet flat.  The strap detailing also is making me wonder if it's shortening my legs, but I'll have to see when I take pictures.

The dress, after surviving round one of alterations, is getting close to where I want it.  Next time I'm home, I'm shortening the sleeves, so I don't feel so 80s.

*I drafted this post during my lunch break at work.  As I ran to the bus after work, I did not slip on the ice.  No, no, rather I baptized these shoes in a big puddle of slush.  Sigh.