Days 10 and 11: Maybe There's a Shark in the Water

It's been a pretty busy week at casa de Annie. Between finishing up edits on a massive law review article and working on my own paper, I've spent far more time sitting in front of a computer than I would like. The good news is that I only have one day of class left, and that's for only one class! Also, I found out I have two take home finals and only one in-class, which is my trial. (Yikes!) I'm feeling a lot better, too, so that's always exciting. Especially for Mulder and Boyfriend.

Day 10 was Wednesday. I had Pretrial Practice and wanted to be comfy because I had my last "quiz" in that class. I also had to sit through possibly my last editing meeting! 

Top: ModCloth

Jeans: NYC Blank

Boots: (I'll get back to you on that! Just realized I don't know!)

Thursday, Day 11, was my last Thursday class of the semester. That's three classes, one of which I was my closing argument (yes, the one I thought I was going to do on Tuesday). I knew I wanted to wear these pants, but I really wanted to soften them up a bit, so I added the lavender cardi. One of my professors mentioned how it helped my closing argument, which was defending a woman accused of murder; the justification was self-defense. I guess it's good to know - for my trial I will be playing the role of the prosecutor, which plays well to my lack of emotion and drama.

Cardi: J.Crew chiffon

Pants: Express Editor

Heels: Kate Spade

Earrings: Nordstrom

Necklace: pictured with Tiffany & Co. heart tag, but I switched it out for a long J.Crew necklace, which I took off during lunch and forgot to put back on for my closing

Day 12 doesn't have an outfit. I've been in workout clothes all day. Not cause I'm working out. I'm securely sitting on my butt. But because I've been reading for my paper. Mostly re-reading. I read all this back when I wrote my outline, but that was a number of weeks ago, and I can't remember what I'm supposed to be talking about.

Day 9 - Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury

Today I'm feeling a bit more like myself, so I had a bit more fun getting dressed. If "fun" equals a pencil skirt and button-down, which it does to me. I'm weird like that.

I have a closing argument today in Trial Practice. It isn't mandatory that we dress up, and I don't dress up for these kind of assignments, but Tuesdays and Thursdays I do try to dress with a bit more effort, because that class is taught by three adjuncts, all of whom I hope to know someday on a professional basis. As far as I'm concerned, every day is a job interview at law school, so it's always best to err on the side of professionalism. Plus, when I know I'm going to be the focus of attention, I feel better if I look the part, or at least more the part than I would in jeans and a tee shirt. I don't know how some of those people do it.

Don't worry, the dog doesn't go with the outfit when I leave the house. But if I am standing around, he stands next to me and stares at me.

See?

Top: Rogan for Target (I haven't been wearing this shirt much, which is why I put it in my 30 for 30)

Skirt: Express

Shoes: Kate Spade

Necklace: J. Crew

Glasses: Coach (yes, I need them to see when I am reading.)

I love this necklace more and more every day, and I like its chunkiness. 

Off to Lawyer Pretend Time!

Day 8: Porchrail

What happened this weekend? A whole lotta nothing. Saturday I went shopping with my mom (house shopping! not clothes shopping!) and I wore the purple sweater dress from me 30 for 30 pile with the BR wedges and a pair of leggings. I didn't get pics, though, so use your imagination. Yesterday I went with Boyfriend to his riding lesson, and I didn't wear any of my official 30 for 30 pieces, but I really couldn't. It requires different clothing, like working out. Other than that, I spend probably about 20 hours on law review stuff. No lie.

Here's todays' outfit. I'm still not feeling totally great right now, and I'm still sticking with safe outfits. I hope once I'm feeling better, I'll try branching out.

 Top: Anthropologie (I forget its name)

Jeans: Banana Republic

Cardigan: J. Crew

Shoes: Nine West (I can't stay away from them for long!)

You guys are going to be seeing a lot of this little guy. He is my shadow. My shadow who sits on my lap and leaves blonde hair all over me. Sorry, I just can't get rid of him, not even for a second.

Oh, and the title is from a new album I downloaded last night called "Batten the Hatches," by Jenny Owen Young. I listened to it while I ran this morning, and I love it. This is the name of one of the songs, and it seemed fitting.

Day 5 - English Style

In an effort to stay on track, I'm bringing you the only non-blurry photo I took of today's outfit... the outfit I didn't put on until about 5 this afternoon. It was really one of those days, on top of one of those weeks.

If it hadn't been for RT week, I don't think I would have made it out of my pajamas today. Not that I didn't do anything - I spent a good chunk of my day cite checking for my last law review article of the semester. Which explains the face in these pics, along with the consistent blurriness. Dead face from editing, and blurry from the wine in which I consoled myself from the day of editing. Anyway. I acknowledge the lack of enthusiasm in this post, and I apologize. Tomorrow I am shopping for my new home with my mom, so hopefully I will have revived spirits.

Anthropologie Highest Accolades dress

Old Navy cardi

J. Crew dot tights

Anthro Bright Bulb earrings in peach

Miss Bisou wedges

(And Mulder's polyfil-free fox on the crate)

Everyone has bad days. Today was mine. I hate when people say "FML," because it's like, cheer up charlie, things aren't that bad. People have it way worse. But sometimes, days just suck. That's ok. Because tomorrow is a clean slate. And now it's time for bed, so tomorrow can arrive sooner. I really need that blank slate right now.

Day 4... reported on Day 5

I know! I'm a day late! Thursdays are always kind of hectic for me, and last night went even longer because I had a law review dinner/celebration to attend for the completion of the third volume (in which I am published!) So by the time we got home and took pictures, no one really had the energy to do anything other than watch Parks and Recreation episodes and eat chips and queso.

You might be getting today's pics tomorrow, too, because I right now I am on the couch editing in my pajamas and a sweatshirt, and I have no reason to get dressed until dinner tonight with my parents (it's RT week!). Anyway, here's what I wore yesterday.

Before I post anything, can I just say that I do have a full length mirror in my house, and if I thought I looked as hippy as these pictures make me look, well, I probably would have cried and gone back to bed. I mean, it looks like I've pushed out 5 kids. Does this mirror/picture incongruity happen to anyone else? And why is it only my boyfriend's camera that likes to disfigure me? So confused. And sad.

Anthropologie Molded and Melded Tee in sky

NYC Blank Skinnies

BCBG blazer

Banana Republic wedges

Forever 21 earrings

J. Crew necklace

This is the first time wearing this necklace, and I got raving compliments on it! The best part, I paid $10 for it. No lie. In fact, I don't think I paid full price for anything I am wearing today, except maybe my earrings, which came in a four pack for like three dollars.

I don't generally talk about how much I spend on clothes, or anything. Like Don Draper, I am from the midwest, and we don't talk about ourselves -or money. Money is a tacky subject - if you're talking about your own money, you talk about a sale or a great price. You do not talk about how much you spent on something if you're referring to "Oh, my gold crusted diamonds were SOOOOO expensive, but they're SOOOOO worth it. I can't imagine wandering around with regular, non gold crusted diamonds like you're POOR or something." You do not ever talk about other people's money. You can complain about prices going up, but you should never talk about how much you paid for something as a pretext for bragging. It's an Ohio thing. Also, most of my family never had the kind of money where you could brag about how much you  spent, and if you're bragging about funds, it's like you're throwing your financial situation in the faces of people who work in factories and don't get vacation days. So if you're discussing money, and I freeze up and cringe, this is why.

It's also why I don't talk prices here. To me, how much a person chooses to spend on herself is not open to discussion or judgment. It's as personal as health matters. It's no one's business. The only time I might bring up price is if I am discussing dressing on a budget. THEN it is ok, but in general, we won't talk about money here. I will say, though, that I am a law student living on loans, and that there are great deals out there at places like Bluefly, Gilt, Rue La La, Zappos, and just the sale section of stand bys. I am not someone who will never pay full price for something I really love, but I am also a person who can't afford to be irresponsible. Not that I am always the girl with spreadsheet budgets or anything. The blazer in those pictures sat in my close for a good number of months with the tags still on it. Still. I wish I could peruse websites and click my little heart out, but I can't. Someday. And I'm proud to say that when that day comes, I'll have earned it, which is something else my working class roots taught me.

I just want to know who gave me these hips. It's absurd. I don't really look like this in real life, right??

Day Three: Falling onto Old Ways

Today was a bit of a blah day, and I'm not going to lie, I went with a standby. This skirt is one of the best investments I have ever made. I probably wear it once a week, it's basic but still interesting, and I get compliments nearly every time I wear it. Most importantly, I feel comfortable in it - not "sensible shoes" comfortable, but it's true I don't worry about it getting twisted or sliding down or getting otherwise wonky. When I say "comfortable," I mean that I feel like it looks good on me and I don't worry that I look silly. I want to say that I don't care what people think about how I look, and screw them if they don't like my style, but that's just not me. I care. And if I don't feel like something looks right, I will be (even more) self-conscious until I can change into my pajamas. And when I hit a certain level of self consciousness, I get very cranky. So we don't want that to happen.

But this, I feel like it always looks right.

J. Crew skirt

J. Crew Jackie cardigan

Nine West flats

Tiffany & Co. necklace

Forever 21 earrings

With the cardi undone, Forever 21 tank

One of the reasons I chose this skirt as part of my 30 for 30 Challenge is because, while it's something that I wear regularly, I always wear it with the same old thing (a black H&M top). I didn't include that top in this challenge, and I'm gonna force myself to try it with something new. That's one of the reasons I'm doing this challenge: with all the clothes in my closet, I still wear the same things all the time. Don't tell my dad, but he's right: there are clothes in my closet that still have tags on them. So I'm challenging myself to try new things. 

So while this is a standby for me, I am trying something new with the cardi. Baby steps, you guys.

I realize I have worn these shoes every day this week. I promise, different shoes tomorrow. Just for you guys. Don't say I don't do anything for you.

30 for 30 Day 2

Today I have followed all the rules, but I'm not sure about this tank. I didn't select it, but I pretty much have four tank tops/camis I wear under everything. To me, they're underwear that it's ok to see, because it means people don't see your actual underwear. Like a trick! Buttoning the cardigan isn't really an option here because of the skirt, but I obviously have to wear something under it. Or not! I can be a rebel! Or take fashion cues from Madonna and walk around in my bra at work/school!

Oh, wait, I just remembered I'm a 26 year old law student. That might have worked if I had chosen stripping as a career path, but as you can see, I'm more academic and nerdy than... however you choose to describe strippers. I don't judge!

Regardless, this is my outfit for Day 2. It's another new piece - the cardigan. This combination was inspired by the wonderful blog, Little Girl Big Closet.

Anthropologie Breezy Polkas Cardigan in red

ModCloth Pro Bow-no skirt

Nine West flats

Anthropologie Bright Bulb Posts in peach

J. Crew necklace

Fossil watch

You will notice my hair is dry today! That's because I had to wait a bit later to take pics. See, Mulder had his salon grooming appointment and needed to show off his new haircut.

Bitches love his new haircut. And that isn't even a bad word, because Mulder really does mean female dogs.

Also, I think I need to get a different system for photos. This whole hold-camera-point-at-mirror thing is just a bit to myspace-y for me.

Oh! And did you see that adorable thing on top of the stack of clothes on the bookcase behind me? That's my third dress for the challenge! And yes, it IS the Highest Accolades dress from Anthro, and YES, those ARE horse show ribbons on it! So you see why it had to come home. I don't think I have anywhere to wear it during these 30 days, but I'll make it nerdy for school. Well, if I just out it on, I up the nerdy factor anyway. It's my special talent.

Off to school to plow through my authority binder for law review. As my fellow law reviewer/friend says "I hate law review. Id." No black "Id./2010 L. Rev." shirt for us, thanks.