The Green Argyle Sweater Story

 

Once upon a time, way back in 2009, my sister asked my husband for some sweater recon a few weeks before Christmas time.  Then I was packing for our trip to Indy and was deciding which sweaters to bring.  I was thinking about bring this one.  John asked in a very accusatory manner "What is that?" while pointing at my sweater drawer.  "My sweater drawer?" I was confused.  "You have TWO sweater drawers??" "um, yeah... they don't all fit in one."  I had no idea what the issue was, but he was acting super weird.

On Christmas morning, I opened the present from my sister, and it was the sweater I am wearing in today's pictures.  And then they told me the whole story.  She had asked him if I had a "green argyle sweater" and he searched in my one sweater drawer, confirming that I did not.  And then at the very last minute, he saw my green argyle sweater in my sneaky second drawer, and was very worried.

The good news is that these 2 sweaters aren't really similar at all.  One is all green, one is mostly gray with a little bit of green.  One is lighter with 3/4 sleeves.  One is wool and long-sleeve.  So there was no great crisis.  And besides, I have since gotten rid of that other sweater, but I still have this one.

I realized that some of my favorite cozy sweaters never make it to the blog, because I tend to wear them on super cold snowy days with just jeans and boots, and I don't always get pictures on those days, of those kind of boring outfits.

Sweater: Gap
Necklace: gift
Top: JCF
Jeans: Old Navy Maternity
Boots: Madden

Lima Bean Necklace

John calls this my lima bean necklace.  I can't really argue with him.

**shortest post ever!


Necklace: Gift (similar style, similar color)
Top: Lucky (similar)
Skirt: Target (similar, similar)
Flats: Old Navy (option, option)

Paloma Gray (and Books!)

Two link ups in one day!  I'm continuing the Pantone challenge with Heidi and Marissa, AND it's Literary Junkies day.

First, the outfit.  It's pretty much all new.  I bought these shorts in Minnesota last Sunday.  I wanted a pair of gray (I mean, PALOMA gray) shorts last summer, but never found a pair that I liked, so I figured I should grab these.  The top is from Loft outlet, and the shoes are from J.Crew factory.  I wanted to wear the shoes on Friday, and then I realized the weather was perfect for shorts and a light sweater, and my new purchases were visible (in their bags, on the floor, in front of my closet), so this outfit happened.  It's a little plain for me, but the shoes helped!

Now for the book nerd stuff...  

1. What are you reading right now? Tell us about it!

I'm currently between books.  I just finished The Alchemist.  It's about a shepherd boy who goes on a journey looking for treasure and ends up on a different type of journey than he expected. 
 

2. Divergent, Hunger Games, or Twilight. Which do you prefer and why? (If you've never read them which do you think you'd prefer?)

I haven't read the Twilight books (and don't think I ever will), so I'm just picking between the 2 others.  I like the Hunger Games books better.  It's possible that is just because I read them first, and then Divergent was so similar in some ways.  I couldn't stop picturing Katniss!  But I think as a trilogy, the Hunger Games was much better. 

3. TV Series Based on Books they start out very close to the book to draw in the fans but then will start to separate themselves by changing things and adding characters. What are you thoughts on this?

I'm not sure I've watched many TV shows based on books.  I can see why this happens, because the TV folks want to keep the stories going longer than the book.  

4. You've just been recruited to help a movie studio bring your favorite book to the big screen. What's the movie and who are you choosing to play the main characters?

It's impossible to pick a favorite book, so I'm limiting it to my favorite book of 2014 - Ready Player One.  Since I listened to the audio book, I was totally imagining Wade Watts as Wil Wheaton, but Wade is supposed to be a teenager, so I have no idea who would be good!  Probably some unknown actor!  Aech would be Amber Riley, if she can still pass for a teenager.  Art#mis would be somebody like Alia Shawkat or Chloe Moretz.  Sorrento would be Timothy Olyphant.  For Halliday and Ogden Morrow, I can't decide, but I think it would be fun to have actors that are kind of "nerd favorites."       

5. Going back to the above question, do you keep it word for word the same or do you use this chance to change little things you thought would make the book better?

I would keep things as true to the book as possible.  For this particular book, I think the movie will have some difficulty, because it's 80% virtual reality.  I suspect they'll end up doing CGI, but I'd rather have it be like the Matrix, where it is real people on both sides.  It will also be tricky to figure out all the pop culture references and how to deal with the royalties from other movies/tv shows/video games.  

6. After you finish a physical copy of a book do you keep it for a reread, put it on a shelf to collect dust, donate it to Goodwill, or do you just not purchase physical copies of books?

I love the library, so I don't buy many books anymore.  If I buy a book and like it, I'll probably keep it to loan it to friends that might like it.  I very rarely re-read anything.  The last few books I've purchased have been at book signings!    

Fun questions this month!  Let me know what you are reading, and how you'd answer some of these questions. 

Sweater: Loft
Tank: Gap
Shorts: Old Navy
Shoes: J.Crew Factory

Off to College

Classes start at the University of Nebraska this week.  This got me thinking about my freshman year.  In August of 2003 (wearing a really cool blue camo print tee), I packed up most of my belongings into my Civic and my dad's Grand Marquis, and we drove up to Lincoln where I would know exactly no one else in my dorm.  

When I think about that now, it makes me so nervous!  What was I thinking?  I had awesome friends in high school and most of them were going to K-State.  For some reason, I had decided several years prior that I was going to UNL and I never seriously considered any other options.  I didn't even apply anywhere else.  I'm pretty sure everyone thought I was crazy, and they were probably right.  

That whole first week was sort of a blur, but here are some random things I remember:

• About 4 hours into the 5 hour drive, my dad asked my mom if she had packed his shirts.  She hadn't. They were going on a 1-2 week road trip after dropping me off in Lincoln, so I think they went to the mall to buy him some shirts on their way out of town.  
• I felt very "freshman" when I went to pick up my books.  I was in line next to a girl who was so obviously (to me) not a freshman.  She seemed like she knew what was going on and not at all nervous.  I later learned that she lived across the hall from me, and was a freshman, and she thought that I seemed confident while she felt nervous.  I quickly became best friends with Anne and her roommate, Brooke.  You may remember them from Friendizona Weekend and other various shenanigans.  
• My roommate thought the dorm showers were gross, so she just didn't take a shower for the first 3-4 days.  It was August in Nebraska.  Daily showers are kind of important when it is 100-ish degrees outside and you are carrying boxes up to the 3rd floor.  This was not the weirdest thing about my roommate.  She moved out without telling me at the beginning of second semester.  I didn't miss her.  
• That first weekend, I was invited to a BBQ cookout for the Campus Crusade group.  When we got there, somehow they didn't have any meat, so it wasn't much of a BBQ.  The main thing I remember is playing ping pong with Collin, who ended up becoming a great friend.  You may remember him from the Montana trip.  
• I was in the Honor's Program, and we were "required" to read Seabiscuit over the summer.  For being a pretty good kid, I was very rebellious about certain things (particularly things that I deemed worthless).  I thought it was stupid to have required summer reading for college so I just went to the movie and skipped the book.  I bluffed my way through the discussion groups after our Honor's Welcome luncheon.  Most of the other honor's kids were shocked and appalled that I hadn't read the book. I was sort of proud of myself.  I still am.    
• My first day of classes, I was kicked out of my Poli-Sci class for being a Sophomore (my high school had a lot of concurrent credit classes).  The TA just said "If I read your name, you aren't allowed in this class!" and then read a few names, including mine.  I asked him what I was supposed to do, and he said he didn't know and didn't care but I couldn't stay in that class.  I went outside, sat down on a bench and cried.  Then I called my mom.  Then I met with my adviser and got my schedule fixed.  I still don't know why they let me register for that class if they were just going to kick me out on the first day.  It was the only class I was excited about, so it was pretty disappointing.  

Do you remember anything interesting about your first week of college?  

PS - this outfit has nothing to do with going to college.  It's a little but outside of my comfort zone (tucked in shirt, AH!), but I really like it.  

Top: Sunset Rd
Blazer: H&M
Necklace: gift
Belt: Limited
Skirt: Loft
Sandals: Carlos Santana

Blue Skirt Remix

For some reason, I don't have much to say today.  It's been a long week and I am super excited for the holiday weekend.  I'm hoping to get some spring cleaning done around the house, and you know, maybe sleep in really late!

Here's a little remix of my blue pencil skirt.  Apparently, I liked wearing it with white-ish sweaters during the fall and winter.  I'll have to mix it up with some other options this summer.

1/2/3/4

Go check out the other remixers over at AJ Wears Clothes!

Do you have any exciting plans for the long weekend?

Outfit details:
Top: I.N. Studio
Skirt: Target
Necklace: gift - blog swap
Sandals: Carlos Santana via DSW

Posing like a Model

You guys, I have had some serious writer's block this week.  Maybe I am just so excited for Thanksgiving that I can't focus on blogging.  Lucky for you, my nieces have been kind of hilarious this week, so I will just tell 2 stories.

The other night, I was on the phone with D, who is 8 years old.  Our conversation went something like this:

D: All we do at school is learn. It's so boring!
Me: I think it is fun to learn new things.
D: And THAT is why you aren't ready to have kids! 
Me: Well, maybe my kids will think school is fun. 
D (totally exasperated with my ignorance): What kid would think school is fun? I mean, your kids will be related to me, and I don't think school is fun, so they probably won't either!

She then lectured me about how school is torture and how if I ever have kids, I better not send them to school because school is just the worst.    

Then on Thursday, my sister instagrammed a picture of my youngest niece E, who is 4.  She kind of looked like she was getting ready for a boxing match.  The caption was "I asked her how she thought Aunt Andi should pose..."  Since I am always striving for "favorite aunt" status, this picture had to happen.  

I hope you all have a lovely weekend!!

Dress: Old Navy
Cardigan: Marisa Kristina
Necklace: gift (from the Bauble Swap)
Belt: Limited
Shoes: BCBGeneration

EDIT:  E has requested her picture on the blog.  I just do whatever she wants!

I think I should start a series inspired by her fashion!  She is mixing prints like a pro fashion blogger!

Swapping Baubles

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I signed up for a couple blogger swaps recently.  For Shanna's Bauble Swap, I was paired up with the lovely Terri.  It was so fun to read through her blog and get ideas of what she might like.  And of course, I loved it when a box came in the mail with a new piece of jewelry for me!

extreme close up!

 
Terri did a great job picking out this green necklace for me!  I love the bright color, and the multiple strands of beads make it more of a statement piece.  I will definitely be wearing this on a regular basis!

Thanks to Shanna for hosting, and to Terri for the cute necklace!  Head on over to Terri's blog to see what I picked out for her!

Here's a close up on my shoes, since this is their first time on the blog!   I got these when my sister was visiting (big surprise), from the Dillard's clearance rack.  I love my gray boots and gray flats so much that it just seemed like a good idea to get some gray peep-toe wedges! 

Dress: Gap
Shoes: Michelle D (from Dillard's)