What to Expect When You're Taking the Bar

Two weeks before the Bar, the weird dreams/nightmares kick in.

One week before the Bar, you cry hysterically over a commercial or episode of Glee. It's especially weird because you're crying over something Rachel says, and normally you want to stab Rachel. You will sob and sob and sob in the fetal position while your boyfriend stares at you in confusion. Realize this is why no one wants to marry you. Cry some more.

Six days before the Bar, you can't get access online bar materials. You think about suing the internet. Your brain starts thinking about the rules of joinder. You forget the analysis for an indispensable party. Cry.

Five days before the Bar you start picking fights with people in your head. You win, but you still cry.

Four days before the Bar, you go out in public and are amazed at all these awake, alert people who are doing things like going to wine tastings. You realize you have forgotten that people do things like that. You cry.

Three days before the Bar, you go to the coffee shop because you need to see actual people. You listen to music in your car and sing along and drink your iced coffee. When you get home, you can't bring yourself to turn off the car and go study. Sit in the car. Cry.

What will the next two days be like? I'm scared.

The Official Apology Letter, and Studying for the Bar Sucks

Maybe you remember me telling you I was going to blog my outfits while I studied for the bar? Perhaps you seem to remember a few posts wherein I did that? And those posts had pictures? Ah! Happy Annie. That was long ago. These days my wardrobe is a rotation of yoga pants and tee shirts. That's it. I do have a couple pictures to share with you, but when I promised you near-daily posts of outfits, I had yet to realize the panic and despair that sets in when there are three weeks left to go before the bar. It isn't fun. It isn't pretty. It means that you cry a lot, provoked my stupid things (maybe an ASPCA commercial perhaps, and no, not even the Sarah McLaughlin one, or maybe an episode of Glee, I'm just saying maybe). It means that you can't fall asleep and you are stress-tired. And maybe there was a time you cried because you wanted your mom, but you're a grown up and shouldn't do things like that anymore probably, again, just saying maybe that could happen to you. And you will probably get so angry at the noise of people TALKING in a hallway that you make signs with the rules of assault and battery that you will inflict on them if they don't shut it, plus a brief description of assumption of the risk and transferred intent. You stop working out because it just seems like too much, and then when you DO workout, your ab muscle cramp up and you don't know what because that never happened before. And you know what that last thing is that you want to do when you get home between 8 and 9 in the evening? If you said open up your laptop and write words, you are correct. I didn't take pictures, I didn't write, and I drifted off to sleep thinking "This suuuuuuuuuuuuuucks..." instead. So I let you down, and I'm sorry, but maybe I did that thing where I said "YES!" to everything and then didn't do all those things.

So, okay, I didn't keep up like I was supposed to. And I'm just not going to be able to deal with knowing there's something I am supposed to do that I am failing to do for the next two weeks. I'm going to take an unapologetic break from this blog, and then, after I recover from the trauma of the bar exam, I'll be back with happiness and dresses and rainbows. Oh and ponies. Like this.

I remember horses. And outside. And smiling.

See you guys in a couple weeks.

Love,
Annie

What I Wore for Evidence, Contracts 1, and also IN YOUR FACE

What I Wore for Evidence Day 1 (Friday):

Ruched Hourglass Top from Anthropologie

Levi's Jeans via Macy's

LC Wedges

Fossil Watch

Hat from Target

Ugh. Let's promise each other we will never use iPhones to take pictures inside, ever again. We don't look good, friends. Anyway, Friday was day 1 of Evidence. It was actually supposed to be day 2 of evidence, but I was a day behind. So anyway. This top. I loved it. I mean, it's polka dots, a boatneck, and has a cute little button detail in the back, so, right? And then during dinner, I dropped a lemon on myself, as I do, and this top was a victim. The color bleached right out wherever the lemon touched. I was so sad. Because, let's be honest. I drop a lot of stuff, frequently on myself, and this loss of color has never happened to me before. So I was hoping I would at least get store credit if I took it back. Do you know what happened? They let me return it. God bless you, Anthropologie. God bless. Anyway, I hope you didn't get attached to that shirt, because it is gone now. I did. A little.

Oh, and I didn't wear this hat at any point during the day, except to ham it up for Brady. Which is how I spend about 90% of my day.

What I Wore for Contracts Day 1 (today):

Old Navy dress

Roxy flip flops

Marc Jacobs sunglasses

So today was Contracts Day 1: offer, acceptance, and consideration, also known as: FORMATION! I bet you are all just so jealous of how fun my life is. Today I took a huge risk and wore a dress to study. This is a huge risk because I am a huge slut. Just kidding. It's a huge risk because that room is FREEZING and I seriously risk frostbite if I am not wearing three layers of clothes. I DID supplement this with my black hoodie and also ankle socks. Stylin'. 

After the lecture, I persuaded Brady to let me go to the mall. Actually, I told Brady we were going to the mall. See, we had to go attempt, and successfully return the above aforementioned polka dot top of lemony sadness. So anyway, I didn't like this dress outfit for shopping. You guys have to be dressed appropriately for mall shopping, too, right? Kay, good. So, I changed clothes.

Now, what you are about to see, no one has seen before, or at least not in the last 11 or so years. Because 11 years might actually be how long it has been since I have worn shorts. This is for a very simple reason: one day, a long, long time ago, a girl I knew said I had fat legs. I did have fat legs! OH WAIT NO I DIDN'T AND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THAT PSYCHO ANYWAY? I'll be succinct: this girl, and I am not going to name names, but she was a huge bully. She was mean. My lot in life cast me into close proximity with her for a number of years, and for a lot of days out of those years, this chick was super mean, not just about my fatty fat legs, but also about how dumb I was, how incapable I was, and how I would never achieve my dreams. But she was a child, you say! Kids! You can't take them seriously! That was a long time ago! YES IT WAS! And you know what, mean things stay with you. One effect of this was that I was unable to wear shorts for a long time. I only recently began starting to wear dresses and shorts, and even then, it is fraught with distress over hemlines and heels and OMG I CAN'T WEAR FLATS I AM GOING TO WEAR HEELS FOREVER AND EVER. It's super not fun.

But you know what? It's hot. I am tired of wearing pants because of my fat stumpy leg shame. And, I think this is a good time to break out some shorts (I own two pairs, both of which I bought in the past three weeks), because this week in therapy (yep) I am to write a therapeutic letter to Madame Super Bitch. If you haven't gone to therapy, or ever read a self-help article, a therapeutic letter is a letter you write to someone telling them how you feel and then you don't send it. You don't even show it to anyone, except maybe your therapist. And then you destroy it. And then you supposedly feel better. My letter is due Thursday. I'll let you know how I feel. Anyway, here is the proof that I not only wore shorts today, but I also looked a little bit hot. And hey, Madame Super Bitch? You can kiss my fat ass*.

What I Wore:

Rogan for Target blouse

Mossimo shorts

LC Wedges (I am definitely getting my money's worth out of these puppies)

* I know I will catch flak for this, but here's the thing? We all have our issues. I bet your issues are things that I would NEVER think would be an issue. Maybe you don't have any issues, and good for you! I have issues. It is called "My entire bottom half of my body, and sometimes parts of my top half." I won't hate on your issues if you don't hate on mine.

What I Wore for the Last (Finally!) Day of Real Property

What I love about this maxi dress:

I feel like a statue in it.

But I also have the mobility to climb on a piece of patio furniture and do a 'ta-da'!

You get a little peak at my back, which I think it pretty awesome. Thank, JM!

Until I get all prim and put on my cardi.

What I Wore:

BCBGeneration maxi dress

H&M cardi

Brady is the person responsible for that sad, sad marigold up there. He wanted me to tell you that as the responsible person, he has been taking care of those flowers like a good Flower Papa, but they just couldn't hack it in our 111 degrees. RIP, marigolds. I'll see you spicy little things next year. I'll probably try protecting you from the heat.

A Whole Bunch of What I Wores

Yesterday I promised you a post, and then do you know what I did? I went home to watch yesterday's Real Property 2 lecture on my couch, because Brady didn't feel well, and then I took a two hour nap and woke up not feeling well. Then I proceeded to lay about and do nothing productive, including watching yesterday's lecture. I absolutely hate being behind, but when you have stuff to do every day for two months in a row, there is bound to be at least a day that you just don't feel 100%, or even 50%, and you sleep all day.

Today I still didn't feel well, but I managed to get my butt out of bed at 10 am and shower and listen to a lecture before retiring to the couch. I upped my water intake and I am actually feeling better. I never believe people when they're like, "Oh, how do I look so beautiful all the time? I drink 8 glasses of water a day, dahling!" (They always say 'dahling,' just like that. And they wave their hand at you. Don't you want to smack those people?) But when it's 111 degrees outside, I think water might just have that special power Gwenyth Paltrow seems to swear by (plus eating 200 calories a day and being rich. I'm working on that last one. One thing at a time. Today it's water).

Anyway, I'm gonna catch you up on What I Wore now.

Saturday was a Con Law workshop on Substantive Due Process, Equal Protection, and Religion/Establishment Clause. After the workshop, I was on a mission to find a photo frame for my dad's Father's Day gift. There's a new store that opened up next to Padre's a few months ago called Camelback Consign and Design. I really wanted to check it out, so I headed over there after the workshop. I didn't find my photo frame, but I found some cool stuff. None of it came home with me, but I took pictures and I will do a post about it! Fun fun fun fun. After my browsing excursion, I headed over to the car wash for a car bath for my poor little Saturn who got filthy in a storm that hit downtown Phoenix a while a month a long time ago. I inadvertently went to Danny's Car Wash, which I try not to patronize after I sent my car there with the explicit directions to remove the big pile of bird poop on the hood, which they failed to do, and then refused to redo my car. I asked you to do one thing, Danny. Anyway, this time they got my little red coupe confused with a white F350 and held onto it for a while because they thought they were going to detail it. I sat in the sun waiting for my car until Brady went and inquired (I hate talking to people) and fixed the whole thing out. If I were going to get a free detail out of it, I would not have minded the extended wait time, but Brady saved me from my bad karma points. By the time we were in our clean, chemically-perfumed cars, I was sweltering and went to Target to get some shorts, since I own one pair of shorts to my name. I am not a shorts person. It's a lingering self-consciousness from a girl who called my legs fat when I was like 10. Our minds really hold onto things. Anyway, when I finally got home, I was ready for bed. At 6:30 pm. It all worked out, though, because Brady made me dinner, and the steak quesadillas made the compromise to my rep worth it. Here's what I wore Saturday:

What I Wore:

Shirt: Target (another super comfy shirt I love during the summer every day of my life)

Jeans: Levi's via Macy's (cuffed)

Sunday was Father's Day! First I got up and listened to the first two hours of a Con Law lecture, and then I headed over to my parents' for dinner. My mom and I were going to go get a pedicure (I know, Happy Father's Day, Daddy) but the salon was closing early. I took my talons home in sadness, but then I felt better because my mom made chicken casserole. It was a nice, quiet semi-special day with my family (my dad says his birthday is his special day, and that's how you know I am his daughter - our shared shunning of Hallmark holidays. That goes for Valentine's Day, too!). Here's what I wore:

What I Wore:

gauzy purple dress from Dubrovnik

Shoes: LC wedges

Necklace: Eiffel Tower necklace

This is the second time I have worn this dress, which is a shame because it is really perfect for Arizona summers. The only thing is I worry that it's see-through in the light, and I am not into adding layers when it's the temperature of hell out here.

Monday: I didn't take any pics. Sorry. Don't worry, it's an outfit I'm sure I will wear many more times over the next few weeks.

Tuesday we had a "mini-exam." That means we had to write two essays, without notes. Without notes, it's really more like a creative writing exercise, because I haven't memorized outlines yet. Most of my "rules" are based on things that seem like they could be right, and sound about halfway familiar. Brady wasn't feeling well, so we went back to my place to listen to the lecture and then the aforementioned two-hour nap happened. Here's what I wore for the one hour I was productive yesterday:

What I Wore:

Tee from Anthropologie

Cropped pants from J.Crew

Cardi from Target

I can't tell you how many times I have had to save this cardi from people who wanted to take it home with them. It really is a great little cardi. Some people hate cropped cardis, but I find them perfect for us short-waited people.

Okay, last day. I already explained how useless I was today, so I'll spare you the epexegesis.

What I Wore:

Nebraska hoodie (stolen from Brady)

Yoga pants from Old Navy

Reading Glasses from Coach

My main goal tonight is to get back into a normal schedule and get back on track tomorrow. That reminds me: gotta go chug a few more ounces of water, dahling!

P.S., Sorry about these photos. I don't know why I can't make them larger without them being all blurry. I will have my IT guy get on that.

What I Wore for Constitutional Law 1 and Padre's

Is there a name for the phenomenon of meeting your idol and being disappointed? Like you LOOOOVE Tom Hanks and then you meet him and it turns out he's totally okay with kicking two ten year old girls off a balcony to watch the Disneyland Aladdin parade? Was that oddly specific? Not that that happened to me or anything. Anyway, that phenomenon happened to me today. Today was supposed to be super exciting because our Con Law lectures are by Chimerinski, and I totally geeked out because I LOVE Chimerinski's Con Law books. But his lectures were about not nearly as exciting as you thought (and I bet you thought Federalism, Powers of the Judiciary, Executive, and Legislature, and Individual Rights were like an off-the-wall party). In fact I would liken it to that interminable time after the medical assistant leaves the exam room and you just hang out in a paper dress waiting for the doctor to walk her happy butt in the room. Good thing I wasn't wearing a paper dress. Here's what I did wear:

Hi-o, baby basil! I can't wait to eat you!

What I Wore:

Pink Old Navy Tee (seriously, LOVE THIS SHIRT YOU GUYS. I am planning on buying it in more colors)

Grey Lounge Pants from Old Navy

Black Flip Flops from Old Navy

I'm gonna be honest, you guys. All my comfy clothes are from Old Navy, or at least that is what I am learning from this experiment. But you know, it makes sense. Unless you are one of those ladies who needs to sleep in silk chemises (I am not) or lounge about in a robe that matches your lavendar plants (again, I am not), chances are, you are gonna be totally happy with the cheap stuff, so why spend money on clothes you don't care about or that you don't wear out to impress anyone? These lounge pants are gold, seriously. I almost didn't want to wear them to listen to the lecture because as soon as I put them on I just wanna go to sleep, and sleep isn't really helpful when you're trying to remember stuff.

After my lecture, I killed a Civ Pro essay and then booked it home to meet my parents for dinner. We went to Padre's, which is my dad's single favorite restaurant ever. We frequent that patio pretty frequently and have "our" server, who always remembers what we drink. Today she told us she's getting her psychology degree and she wants to go to law school and I yelled "DON'T DO IT!" Just kidding. No, I did, and then I told her that it's a lot of work but worth it. So, yeah, I lied. Kidding. I still don't know how I feel about law school. All I know is I want to be a prosecutor and they make you get your JD to do that. Am I better for it? We'll talk about this after the bar, because right now I just feel annoyed by the whole thing. Here's what I wore to tell some poor girl she shouldn't go to law school:

What I Wore for this very tiny iPhone pic:

Saint Tropez West dress via Macy's

LC wedges (yes, those ones!)

Who's that cute guy forced into posing with me? That's my dad! Happy Father's Day, Dad! Thanks for having me, and then for putting up with me for so long!

How are you saying thanks to your dad this weekend?

What I Wore for Conflict of Law

You guys can stop your clamoring. I know, I know, I missed yesterday and you are all distraught. I am sorry. I just, got busy, and I was so excited to workout, and, you know... Anyway, you didn't miss much. I know my first post probably made you think that my life is all fabulous yoga pants ad cotton shirts, but sometimes it's more simple. Black shorts, a teal burnout tee-shirt, and I even re-wore those AMAZING black Old Navy flip flops. You know, I'm starting to think I shouldn't share all this with you. I don't want you getting jealous of me. Actually, go ahead and be jealz.

Here's what I wore today (plus the leftover pizza Brady and I ate for dinner, thanks to BJ's brewery, which I do not recommend)!

What I Wore:

Picnic blouse from Modcloth

Twill Leggings from Lauren Conrad (I know)

Blue flats from Target

Eiffel tower c/o Mom, for Valentine's Day (she is adorable)

As you might have guessed, today was Conflicts of Laws. Exciting stuff. Get this? I also wrote an Agency and Partnership essay. I know, right? I almost peed my pants.

I really would not to soil these pants because I love them. They are so comfortable! One day after work at the prosecutor's office, I decided to visit the place where all the shoplifting defendants came from: Kohl's. And then I kind of bought some stuff, because it turns out there are actually some cute things at Kohl's, which I thought was shocking. All of our defendants stole t-shirts with slogans written in neon and hip hugger jeans or some such, whatever the kids are wearing today. In addition to these super comfy leggings, I also bought a teal trenchcoat (!!) and a pair of wedges I wear only all the time... all the time that I am not locked in our freezing cold study room, I mean. I would wear them, I guess, except that they are not conducive to sock-wearing. They have a super cute bow on the toe, though.

Tomorrow is the first day of Con Law I. Hold on to your Lauren Conrad panties!