Holidazed

[Photo Credit--www.treehugger.com]

Finals week is finally here, and instead of feeling festive and cheery, I am feeling stressed and anxious. Only 4 more long, dreadful days until I am home. As important as it is to study, it is equally as important to take meaningful study breaks. Call your mom, talk to your sister, watch your favorite show, do something to take your mind off whatever it is you are cramming. It's crucial to give yourself a break--you will get less burned out that way! No matter how small the countdown gets, I have to remember to stay motivated these last few days. A couple of Arizona Green Teas and Sour Cream and Cheddar chips just might help, as well.

Friday Five: Study Break Snacks!

[Photo Credit--iberkshires.com]

1. Cheez Its

2. Orange Juice

3. Pretzel Crisps

4. Famous Amous Chocolate Chip cookies

5. Bananas

Hello Kitty in the Friendly Skies

[Photo Credit--www.savingadvice.com]

Constantly traveling back and forth between the East and West Coast can be exhausting and draining. However, if the planes I flew in were this cool, my travel laments would decrease by...100%. While this EvaAir Hello Kitty Airplane only flies between Asia, I say bring it over to the U.S.A. for some air time. Hello Kitty tickets, airplane seat covers, and food utensils and napkins--tell me, what is better than that when you are stuck on a non-stop flight for over 6 hours? This is purrrfect. :)

The Weather Outside is Frightful?

December 9, 2009

December 10, 2009

Yesterday morning I woke up to 2 inches of snow and pouring rain. While the rain turned the snow to slippery slush and the wind blew through my clothes and stung my skin, it looked like winter was finally here. The field was blanketed in white, the trees were perfectly frosted, and the tops of buildings and dorms were lined with snow. A cup of peppermint hot chocolate would have been the cherry on top.

However, by the end of the day, the plow had cleared the streets and sidewalks and the rain had officially made the snow slush, if it hadn't already melted. "More snow tonight?" we all thought...well, we couldn't have been more wrong.

The morning of Day 2 of "winter" had clear, blue skies with sun and a fresh green field. Only a couple of piles of snow were the only traces of winter. Maybe I'm just not used to this New England weather, but I'm definitely missing Seattle weather--where the grey skies don't budge for months and there is constant rain or a phase of snow. All of this unpredictability makes it hard to plan ahead and decide on what to wear in the morning! I guess I can be thankful for no rain today since my boots are still drying and my umbrella is out-of-order thanks to the cruel wind. Though I do love the snow, I'm hoping I don't see any more of it until I am landed safely back at home and fully equipped with gloves, scarves, and dry boots.

Stay Warm for Less!

          [Photo Credit--www.barneys.com]                              [Photo Credit--www.jcrew.com]

As the weather gets more bitter and the winds start to pick up, stay warm with a cozy knit hat. No matter how many layers you wear or how many scarves you wrap around your neck, you won't be as warm as you could be. I never used to be a hat-wearer, but after my parents bought me a chunky knit hat, I am obsessed with how well they actually work. Walking back from my math class at 8:15 PM in the dark, freezing cold night, I am thankful for my hat keeping my head, forehead, and ears warm. 

While there are many different hat options, neutral colors can go with any outfit, but colored hats will add that extra oomph to your outfit. To stay warm for less, find hats that look cute, but don't break the bank. Browse stores with pricey hats, remember the style, and find a lower-priced version of it. Some great stores for lower-priced versions of clothing and accessories are Express, The Limited, J.Crew, and Gap, to list a few. 

This week's Stay Warm for Less features Tracy Watts's Hand Knit Toque Hat, coming in at a $150 pricetag. For a similar look but for much cheaper, check out J.Crew's Metallic Aran Isle Hat for only $30!! Don't spend more than you have to this winter--staying warm and looking chic is possible even in the coldest of days.

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

The shining Christmas tree is finally up in New York City, and it is as stunning as ever. As I walked around Rockefeller Center yesterday, I weaved my way through gift-bearing boyfriends and parents, trying to keep my candy-colored umbrella above me as a shield from the snow. I love the idea of people from all around the world coming together to see such a spectacular sight.

Tim Burton Exhibit at MoMA

[Photo Credit: vogue.com]

Tim Burton Exhibit showing until April 2010, seriously check it out. A neverending gallery of sculptures, sketches, paintings, costumes, and videos he has created and produced. He is genius.

The Friday Five!

[Photo credit--Golf Digest Magazine]

1. Golf Digest's January Issue...perfectly unfortunate

2. Catching up on shows--Gossip Girl, Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, 90210, 30 Rock, Family Guy, Curb Your Enthusiasm

3. Breakfast with Buddha by Roland Merullo

4. Mint Candy Apple Essie Nail Polish--to keep up with the holiday spirit

5. Earl Grey Tea with honey

The Holidays are Officially Here

[Photo Credit--www.makeandtakes.com]

There are 22 days until Christmas is here once again! In all of the days leading up to Christmas Eve and ultimately Christmas day, trees are decorated, carols are sung, snowflakes fall, presents are wrapped and sealed with love, and the apple cider is poured. 'Tis the season to spend time with loved ones and enjoy the spirit in floating in the air.

This holiday season, I am most looking forward to:

-spending time with Graeme
-spending time with family
-puppy and kitties
-candy canes
-twinkle lights
-peppermint hot chocolate
-sitting around the fireplace
-snuggling
-snowflakes
-love

Counting down the days...

Clothes to Dye For!

Yesterday I did some tie-dying...something that I usually have done at camp where it didn't really matter how it turned out because it was a camp shirt that I would probably only wear to bed after that. But yesterday...I took an old, raggy LnA v-neck shirt that I absolutely adored (and in turn, wore out) and made it into something that I can wear again, all for $free.99! Instead of throwing my beloved shirt away, I was able to make it new again, and probably saved money since now I don't have to buy a new shirt. Instead of tie-dying clothes that I probably won't wear, I found that it is better to use a shirt or clothing item that you will constantly wear. In just 10 minutes, I updated my wardrobe, and spiced up an outfit. Now I won't be dreading wearing that shirt, but instead will be looking for fun ways to wear it!

Some ideas to wear with tie-dye items...vneck tie-dye shirt with skinny black or denim jeans and blazer, off the shoulder shirt with tie-dyed headband, tie-dyed socks peeking out from boots, tie-dyed bed sheets or curtains/tapestry, or tie-dye a summer dress. For my shirt I used a lot of blue dye, with some purple sprinkled in here and there. I also tie-dyed my shirt dry. In the past I have soaked it in water, but then the dye will bleed, and it works all the same. Also, when you are washing the dye out after 12-24 hours, wash it in cold or lukewarm water...hot water may take away from the color. Pick a color theme for your clothing canvas, for example, stormy (blue and purple), neon (yellow and orange), rainbow (all colors), and so forth. Be weary of the colors that bleed and blend into brown. There are a ton of different patterns you can do, but in the end, don't think too much about it because it will most likely not turn up exactly the way you want. Do a little spiral in the middle, rubber band it from all sides, and start adding the dye! On dry cloth, the dye takes time to soak in, so do it slowly and rub the tip of the dye bottle on the cloth to help it stain. Make sure to really soak the shirt with dye, and stick the cap into the shirt to get the middle of the clothing article. When you are satisfied, put the tie-dyed item into a plastic bag, and let it sit for 12-24 hours. The next day, wash and enjoy!

Blast from the Past

[Picture credit--www.bbc.co.uk]

Just take a look around you, fashionites. The clothes that you see on the runway and in magazine spreads, even on the street, have most likely been recycled and remodeled from past looks. Looks from Dior and Chanel have outlasted styles time and time again. Chanel's classic suit and Dior's Bar jacket with the pinched waist have managed to stick around for good. As women, we can only laugh at having that perfect Barbie body with impractical measurements and a height to die for. When a piece of clothing comes along that will accentuate and flatter our waists, we'll take one...or two...or three. Especially if it lasts through the constantly changing fashion cycle, that is money well spent! Nowadays there are many pieces of clothing with cinched waists, you can even add a belt around a flowy top to enhance your middle--in a good way, of course! Pay attention to classic pieces that will stay with you forever. You will happily wear a good investment, and look fabulous in it. Besides, when a piece is timeless, you can dress it with anything--dresses, pencil skirts, skinny capris, shorts! Make sure that the article of clothing is well-sewn, fits well on the shoulders, hips, arms, and is something that you absolutely cannot live without. When things are changing so fast, sometimes you only get one chance to get what you want.

It's a Grey's Anatomy-Reese's-Chocolate-Snuggly Kind of Day

[Photo credit--www.catspictures.net]

Have you ever had one of those days when you are just so sluggish and out of it? All I want to do is sit in front of the computer watching week-old shows and catch up with the day's celebrity gossip. I have no motivation whatsoever to write my math research paper or study for my Chinese test. I do not want to update my sociology journal or clean up my desk. I feel so lazy it's disgusting, yet at the same time it's nice to just veg out on junk food and not study. I guess I'll allow myself one, or two, day(s) per week to sit back and do absolutely nothing. Maybe tomorrow I'll actually use my day to do something productive... Don't let the rain get you down--start that project you have been pushing back day after day after day, take out your trash and recycle, make your bed, organize your closet, call your high school friend you haven't talked to in months! Do at least one productive thing per day, and then sit back and relax for the rest of it--so when you feast your eyes on the latest episode of America's Next Top Model and stuff your face with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (ahem), maybe you'll feel a little bit better about yourself!

That Time of Year

[Picture credit: ehow.com]

It's finally that time of year when the Christmas songs have started to play in department stores and fancy, bright, outrageous decorations are strategically placed so that at every turn you see a Christmas tree, Frosty the Snowman, or Santa's sleigh full of goodies. While these decorations are sometimes glamorous (see Cartier above), they are often so blazingly obvious that it can be too much to handle--especially when Christmas isn't just around the corner. Even though Halloween just ended and Thanksgiving is a mere two weeks away, Christmas is that time of year to make lots of sales and to get everyone in the spirit for the holidays. As much as I love looking ahead and planning the future, and while I do love Christmas and all the decorations and music, I wish we could just enjoy the moment that we are in sometimes. Before the turkeys come out from their year-long hibernation in storage, let's just enjoy ghosts and pumpkins and zombies. Before the ho-ho-ho's, let's say our thanks and count our blessings. And then when Christmas finally does come along, we'll be able to appreciate it even more. If the statue of Rudolph has been out for over a month, by the time December hits, we'll get irritated by the glow of his bright red nose. I'm all for getting in the spirit of the holidays, but when is "too soon" too soon?

Back to blogging. After leaving this blog behind for a couple of months, Partial to the Rain is finally back. I love the rain, maybe you'll come to love it too?

Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away...

[Photo credit-umbrella.net]

On gray, rainy days, sometimes all I want to do is crawl back into bed and put on my sweats. However, college classes motivate me to get out from under the warm blanket, put my rainboots on, and trudge across the muddy field to my hour-long class. If I hit that snooze button two too many times, I find myself running to class...without my umbrella. While a rainjacket can keep me dry, it's nice to be sheltered from the millions of raindrops. Don't let the rain get you down. I found this cute umbrella at Bella Pagoda, and with an umbrella as noticeable as this, maybe next time I won't leave it behind...

Hello Seattle...

I miss you.