Hello autumn

I know.  It's been forever.  Sorry.  That's all. :)

Shirt: Forever XXI // Belt: borrowed from another dress // Skirt: Old Navy

Fall leaves are here.  I love the crunch of fall leaves underfoot.  But, I also love bare legs.  Et volià: perfect fall weather.  The sky is super blue, the sun is shining an autumn sort of shine, I'm wearing a long skirt with bare legs.  Happiness.

Shirt: Forever XXI // Belt: borrowed from another dress // Skirt: Old Navy // Boots: Burlington Coat Factory //

I think this is blurry because it was so sunny. . . C'est la vie.

Skirt: Old Navy // Boots: Burlington Coat Factory //

I'm continuing my love affair with lace from the summer right into fall.  It makes everything feel a little prettier.

Shirt: Forever XXI // Belt: borrowed from another dress // Skirt: Old Navy // Boots: Burlington Coat Factory // 

My shirt in this outfit is actually a really short dress that I tucked into a skirt.  I rode the skirt really high (above my waist)  and added a big belt.  Also, I thought that adding scrunched down knee socks could only add to this outfit.  :)

Boots: Burlington Coat Factory // 

Breathe in the fall air.  Crunch into a crispy apple.  Dance around in a lacy skirt and bare legs. 

♥ Meg xoxo

Bridges and fields

Pumpkin Spice everything has hit stores and the internet.  In my part of the world, though, summer and summer dresses are both going strong. Today it was 40C (around 100F), in the shade.

Dress: Topshop // Boots: Burlington Coat Factory //

I wore this outfit last week to celebrate the end of summer.  Little did I know that the hot, hot summer would be continuing on into September. I know, my laces are untied and my hair is crazy.  This outfit sums up my summer :) I bought this dress in Chicago, along with a few others with the sides cut out.  It appears that my love of exposed midriff in my beloved bikinis has seeped over into the rest of my summer style.

Boots: Burlington Coat Factory //

My tough black boots made my white sun dress seem even more girly, in my opinion.  I like contrasting different styles in one outfit.  You can't see it because of my book, but I am also wearing a gold chain headband as a crown on top of my wild waves.

Dress: Topshop // Boots: Burlington Coat Factory //

I traipsed through this field to get to the bridge for my pictures.  I decided on the way back that the field would've been just as nice a location... so I snapped some more pics.  I love the feel of the summer breeze floating through the lace cut outs in my dress and in my boots.

Dress: Topshop // Boots: Burlington Coat Factory //

So long wild summer outfits.  That is, until the weekend ;)

♥ Meg xoxo

Cum Laude

by Cecily von Ziegesar

"For the first week of school you cling to the people you met on orientation, not because you have anything in common, but because you don't know who else to talk to..."

This novel follows the lives of a group of freshmen students through their first year at Dexter College, in the 1990s.  The narratives include those of Shipley, a beautiful blonde who the boys love and the girls hate.  She focuses her early weeks at college on trying new things, in order to shed her good girl persona.  Her roommate is Eliza, a loudmouthed, "edgy" sort of girl.  Then there's Tom, athlete turned artist, and his roommate Nick, a hippie who appreciates marijuana - a lot.  These four navigate the waters of living away from home together in residence.  Alongside their stories, is that of Adam and his younger sister Tragedy.  Adam is a day student who lives in the countryside near Dexter.  With the help of his outgoing high-school aged sister, Adam becomes involved in school and with the other students.  

This story is told in a strange sort of style.  At times the author addresses the reader, as if he or she is coming to college and experiencing its drama.  Other times, the author uses free indirect discourse to describe what is going on in the minds of her characters.  I usually love this style of narration, but found it to be "just okay" in this novel.  It's gets a bit confusing when the perspective jumps around in the same paragraph.  

The themes in this novel are very adult, especially coming from the author of the YA Gossip Girl series.  There is a lot of sex, drugs, and alcohol at Dexter College.  The events in the novel are super extreme.  It seemed like a bad soap opera to me for a while when I was reading it.  All at once, though, I stopped looking at it as a Sweet Valley University book on acid, and saw it for what it really was: a satire.  Once you figure that out, the book proves to be more enjoyable.  

Overall, I thought it was an alright book... nothing too challenging or thought-provoking.  And no real definitive ending for these characters. Read it and let me know what you think. 

♥ Meg xoxo

Purples overalls

So, September's here... and the madness of back to school has left me a few post behind.  This is an end-of-summer outfit if I ever saw one ;) 

Shirt: Forever XXI // Overalls: thrifted and diy // Sunnies: Target // 

When I bought these overalls at the thrift shop, they were beige.  I bought a box of purple Rit dye from the dollar store, and dyed these bad boys in my kitchen sink. They turned out even more beautifully than I ever imagined. They are well worth the $2.99 spent at the thrift store, and the $1.25 spent at the dollar store.  I'm in love.

Sandals: Target // Overalls: thrifted and diy // 

Take a look at the beige thread.  I love when the thread stays the original colour when you dye something.

Shirt: Forever XXI // Overalls: thrifted and diy // Sandals: Target //

I'll tell you a secret.  This shirt is actually a crop top.  I know, I know - I fully reverted to the 90s with this outfit.  It fit so well under these overalls because there was no bulky fabric to tuck in.  Genius, right? 

Get yourself some overalls before summer is over.  They are comfy, and come with a bunch of pockets.  What's not to love?

♥ Meg xoxo

PS. Please note how bizarre the face on the book looks on my face in the first pic. I only noticed right now.

Eleanor and Park

by Rainbow Rowell

"He knows I'll like a song before I've heard it. He laughs before I even get to the punch line. There's only one of him."

Rewind to high school in 1986.  Mixed taped and comic books are the important things in life.  At least they are to Park.  Half-Korean, and small in stature, Park tries to lie low on his bus to avoid being bullied, on his way to and from school.  He has a seat to himself and likes it that way.  One day, an eclectically dressed, new girl with curly red hair is forced to sit beside Park.  Eleanor sits down next to Park, and changes his life forever.  

This teenage romance is much more complicated than it seems.  Park and Eleanor are so unlikely.  They don't talk at first; they simply share Park's comic books and avoid the obnoxious popular kids on the bus.  The reader is treated to perspective switches every few pages or paragraphs, so we are able to read what is going on in both Park and Eleanor's minds. Park struggles with making his father proud, learning to drive standard, taking on Eleanor's tormentors, and trying to focus on what Eleanor is saying instead of just looking at her beautiful mouth.  Eleanor struggles with keeping her guard up around Park, and wanting to tell him about her family situation and abusive stepfather. Although they both know that their all-consuming first-love can't last forever, they try courageously to make it last. 

I loved Park - he's a comic book loving, mixed tape making, sweetheart, who stands up for his girlfriend to everyone who's always picked on him.  And I loved Eleanor too - she's got a love for strange outfits, and doesn't seem to fit in anywhere.  She valiantly tries to protect all of her younger siblings, and herself, while falling in love with Park and his family. 

Although this is technically a YA novel, I think that it deals with themes that can be appreciated by older audiences.  I laughed and cried with Park and Eleanor when I read this. Their story is familiar, yet complicated.  It's fresh and new.  I recommend this read to those of you who can remember high school, the 1980s, or that giddy feeling of falling in love.  

♥ Meg xoxo

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. 

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

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

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

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