Monday

The Windy City

M and I took a road trip to the Windy City, the Second City, the home of the Cubs, Bulls, Sox, Hawks, and Bears. . . none other than Chicago.  It was an awesome adventure.  We saw the sights, ate great food, and had a fab time overall.  These pics are all taken in the city's very cool Millennium Park.

Dress: Forever XXI // Purse: Urban Outfitters // Moccasins: Minnetonka //
Dress: Forever XXI // Purse: Urban Outfitters // Moccasins: Minnetonka //

Here I am, in front of "The Bean." This giant, chrome, jelly bean-esque statue is by Anish Kapoor, and is actually called, "Cloud Gate."  Tourists like taking photos of themselves in it.  M and I were no exceptions.  (Look closely and see if you can find M taking my picture.)

Moccasins: Minnetonka // 

Dress: Forever XXI // Purse: Urban Outfitters // Moccasins: Minnetonka //

Here I am posing with one of Jun Kaneko's tanukis- a creepy looking pig-dog* trickster with polka dots :)
  
Dress: Forever XXI // Purse: Urban Outfitters // Coat: can't remember; it's super old //

It started raining.  I went to play in the Crown Fountain nonetheless.  It's a video sculpture/ fountain, I guess.  There are different faces projected on the fountain that seem to spit water into it. I frolicked.  Maybe a little too much.  But, who's to say how much is too much?


My maxi dress was great to tour around in.  It was flowy and comfy.  It was tied in a knot when it got hot out, and dried out nicely after I sat in a puddle.

Millennium Park is like a free outdoor art museum.  Check it out if you're ever in Chicago.
♥ Meg xoxo

*This is the technical name, made up by M. 

Thursday

THE dress

Mum brought me back this dress from a Florida vacay a few years ago.  It's a perfect summer dress.  M calls it the dress because he loves it on me. :)

Dress: gift from Mum // Sandals: Target //

This dress is simple.  It's just a long flowing dress.  Somehow, though, the mix of patterns on it and the way I feel when I wear it makes it something more than that.

Dress: gift from Mum // Sandals: Target //

Here I paired it with glittery sandals, gold rings, and sparkle nail polish.  Sparkle and shine make everything dressy, right?

Arrow ring: Forever XXI // Knot ring: Urban Outfitters // Nail polish: Sally Hansen Real Nail Polish Strips //

What do you think about the new top-of-your-finger rings?  My male relatives and guy friends are confused by them.  haha. I'm sort of in love.  Also, I tried those new nail polish strips from Sally Hansen.  They worked really well, and weren't that hard to apply. Bonus: no need to wait for them to dry.

Dress: gift from Mum // Sandals: Target //

I used the extra nail polish strips from my nails on my toesies, and they worked perfectly.  Who doesn't love a little glitter? 

♥ Meg xoxo

Monday

Walks With Men

by Ann Beattie

"You see through this; understand I was naïve, even if you factor in that I was young."

This little book was a strange and short account of one girl and her relationship with an older man. It tells the story of Jane, a recent Harvard graduate, who comes under the tutelage of Neil.  Neil is twenty years older than Jane; he teaches her the important things in life, like what brand of umbrella to carry and which dishes to order at restaurants. They become lovers, and marry quickly, without ceremony.  The rest of the novel involves the result of Jane's subordination to Neil, the loss of herself, and her ultimate education about men.  
This story is told from Jane's point of view, in a sort of short form.  Everything is told in the past tense, which allows the reader to remove him or herself from the proceedings of the novel.  All of the events that Jane explains have already happened.  Beattie chooses her words with care; each short sentence packs in a great deal of meaning.  Jane also addresses the reader from time to time, as if she is actually telling the story out loud.  

In a world where bookshelves are cluttered with copies of Fifty Shades of Grey, I found this book about female subordination quite new and different.  Jane feels like she is learning from Neil, and doesn't realize how skewed her views have become until she is forced to step back from him.  When telling her story, Jane is able to reflect upon her actions with Neil - she realizes that she should have asked more questions, not let him support her, been less passive, and not run back to him after setting herself free. 

This is a really quick read, because of its short-form style.  I recommend it if you're in the mood for a quick, yet thought-provoking novel about one woman and her education about men. 

♥ Meg xoxo

Tuesday

Peace and love

So... I went out downtown with Erin the other day dressed like a hippie.  Lots of people commented on my outfit.  Some construction workers thought I was a hula dancer. Whatevs; it's summer. :)

Top: American Eagle // Skirt: hand-me-down // Flower crown: crafted //

Check out this sweet wall art.  I'm just continuing my love of murals this summer, aren't I?  I'm completely in love with the Converse high tops on the hare. ♥

Top: American Eagle // Skirt: hand-me-down // Flower crown: crafted // Flip flops: Old Navy //

Sometimes I just revert back to my fashion roots and can't be controlled.  I loved wearing tummy tops as a small child, and also wanted to be a gypsy, or a hippie, or both.  Fast forward a few decades, and I'm living the dream.

Flip flops: Old Navy // Skirt: hand-me-down //

Thanks Erin for taking these pics.  [And for walking around with me, dressed like this].

I'm loving this summer.  I mean, I can't wear stuff like this during the school year, after all ;)

♥ Meg xoxo

Wednesday

Sail away into the sunset

Sometimes I think that navy goes with neon, and sometimes I think that it goes with an all-out sailor dress with anchors, ropes, and sailboats.  What can I say?  I'm a girl with many thoughts.  haha. Included in this hodge podge of a post are thoughts about sailboats, creepy tow trucks, and sunsets.

Dress: Anthropologie // Shoes: Globo Shoes //

I got this dress from my favourite part of Anthro - the sale section. :D  

Dress: Anthro // Shoes : Globo Shoes //

I took these pictures on a little walking trail at the end of a dead end street.  As you can see, as I was setting up my camera I was looking right into the sunset.  I failed to notice a tow truck parked in said dead-end street.  That is, I failed to notice the truck until its driver started whistling and cat-calling at me. With only four photos snapped, I abandoned my outfit shots to the creep.  I might be writing a strongly worded letter sometime in the near future.  In general though, I wish that taking photos of oneself didn't seem so strange to people who've never read a blog.

Shoes: Globo Shoes // Dress: Anthro //

I love a good novelty print.  These little sailboats are the cutest. 

Dress: Anthropologie // Shoes: Globo Shoes //

I love the look of the pictures in the sunset.  Everything is glowing and shining.  But, I stepped out into the [dead-end] street for this last shot, so you could see the true colours of this dress.  It's so bright and summery.  

After this picture, I fled the scene of the outfit shoot, and drove off into the sunset.  Literally. 

♥ Meg xoxo

Thursday

Neon and navy

M and I went out for dinner the other night for a my-online-course-is-finished celebration.  I was pretty pumped.  So much so that I wore a little pumps and shorts combo.  :)

Tank: vintage // Shorts: J.C.Penney // Heels: Nine West // 

People always end up pairing navy with whites or reds, and stripes.  I like that look.  But today was all about navy playing second fiddle to my neon shorts and crazy patterned shoes.

Tank: vintage // Shorts: J.C.Penney // Heels: Nine West // 



















                                                                                                                                                                                                                        This shirt is pretty exciting in photos, though. . . I mean, I knew that the bottom part was see-through, but it doesn't seem this sheer in real life.  But, whatevs - it's summer. YOLO and all that.  haha.

Heels: Nine West // M's shoes: Converse // 






















I'm loving our new shoes.  I bought mine and his on a shopping day with Erin a few weeks ago. They were both mad on sale. . . and love[s] at first sight.

Heels: Nine West //

Man, these shoes. There are pansies, animal print and neon accents.  These are an obvious staple in any woman's wardrobe.  Ha.  

Oh, in case you're wondering:

1. This is not my house
2. I wish it was

♥ Meg xoxo

PS. Thanks M for taking the pics.  You were right about my photo choices. xo