Almost there.

Can't believe Dressember is almost over!

Becoming obsessed.

So Leah and I (as previously mentioned) have spent a copious amount of time watching the Lord of the Rings movies this past week. We've seen them (way too??) many times. But as we finished the last one today we, as always, came away with so many questions. Having neither of us read the books (I know, I know!) we have decided that we're going to officially read them all and become obsessed. The deciding factor was finding this website containing a forum called The Council of Elrond after typing a few queries into Google. Such a wonderful place. This is why the internet was invented. We're sold.

Also: Dressember 28!

Merry merry.

My Dressembering has taken another hiatus! Alas, I've been under the weather (STILL) and have spent the past four days or so wrapped in a blanket on the couch watching The Lord of the Rings trilogy, then dragging myself to work and back. Pretty un-photogenic stuff.
However, despite my pathetic state, I enjoyed a lovely Christmas! Some surprise presents from friends on Christmas Eve (massage and facial, anyone?), then two days at Beth and James' house! Smoked salmon, Scrabble, gifts, LOTR, Beth's banana bread, and several "plays" by the kids. (Starring Nathaniel as Joseph, Megan as Mary, Katy as the donkey and Shane as baby Jesus. It doesn't get much better.)

Also: Cat Thing. The newest member of our family. Probably the best thing ever. He has diamond eyes.

I hope you are enjoying a lovely holiday and I wish you many blessings for the new year!

2012: Bring it!

This should be a 3-fer.

All right I admit I missed another Dressember day. Boo.
Yesterday I was ensconced in the living room making Christmas cards all day--in my sweats--so the only time I actually put on clothes was to go to work that night. Plus, I was feeling sorta under the weather. My sincere apologies, Dressember.
So here are Today and Tuesday's dresses!

Tuesday night we went the The River of Lights in Old Town. They basically cover everything in the Botanical Gardens with Christmas lights. It was really lovely! Kind of reminded me (a liiittle bit) of Disneyland. Also: Irish coffee. Then some Tuesday karaoke to finish off the evening. Woop!

Today was mostly work-related. Then it was off to Beth and James' for Las Posadas, which is a nine day celebration preceding Christmas which is hosted by a different family each night. Basically it's a reenactment of Mary and Joseph's pre-Christmas journey--trying to find a place at the inn. Traditional songs, food, etc. Love.

Just call me Ernie McCracken.

Christmas cookie extravaganza with Beth and the kids today.

Me: I'm feeling sort of run-down.
Beth: Here, take some vitamins.
Me: Thanks.

-Later-
Beth: Do you wanna take some of these cookies home with you?
Me: I dunno I've kinda been living off cookies. There's always tons at work and I just eat em all day.
Beth: Uhh no wonder you feel run down.


Just finished off this lovely snowy day with some bowling and air hockey.
I scored 120 on the last round.
Yeah, I bowl.

Sunday Funday.

Another work-clothes-only day yesterday. It seems there are far too many of those these days!
Happy Sunday!

Excuse me, ma'am.

Just be close at hand.

Well that'll serve me right for singing Dusty Springfield at karaoke Tuesday night. "BELIIEEVE MEE! BELIEEVE MEE!" has been echoing about the apartment for two days. Ask Leah. She even joined in.
Sorry I missed Dressember 14. It was another strictly work clothes day. Meh.

I am kinda liking this brisk weather we're having! It's warmed up A LOT this week. From 19 degrees to a crisp 44! Yessss.
P.S. Thank you, MOM for the snugly thermal tights! Best ever!

I still wanna big bear hug you.

Happy Monday.

Well it's official: school is over for the semester!
Now: home, shower, pj's, The Office reruns, bed.

Back in the saddle.

Sorry for the bit of Dressember hiatus. The past few days have been without a spare moment. On Friday I stumbled out of bed and to school, then jetted right to work, so no picture evidence of my outfit exists. Same thing yesterday. I worked 7-3, then went straight to pick out a Christmas tree with Beth and James and the family--in my work clothes. Sorry, Dressember! I'll bring a change of clothes JUST IN CASE from now on!
Anyway, on with it! I got me and Leah an extremely cute apartment-sized tree that we're really excited about decorating. Bring on Christmas break!!

Absolutely.

Bulls Eye.

Long long long day! We're on the home stretch; so pumped for this semester to be over! Just a quick snap here before I snuggle into my sweats and the biggest, fuzziest, warmest socks I can find.

Just like Dad used to say.

Growing up in the essentially winter-less confines of Orange County, the question "should I bring a sweater?" was merely one uttered casually while skipping out the door into a 55 degree winter day. But here, in a high-desert, above sea-level climate, this question (edited slightly) is one of grave importance.
Here it would come out more like, "should I bring another coat?" or "are two sweaters enough?"

While getting dressed this morning and pulling on that fourth pair of tights, I was reminded of something my Dad used to say: "Don't be ashamed to be warm!" And after trekking about the city on this lovely 17 degree Tuesday, I'd just like to thank him. Because, after donning literally ten layers of clothing, I remained comfortably warm as snow brushed my cheeks and my breath billowed in clouds about me. Dad, you were right. And I wasn't ashamed.

Snow day.

I'm trying to decide if that means I have a whole day to finish my media theory project and study for my media writing test tomorrow, or if I now have a whole day to joy read, drink hot beverages, watch Hoarders on Netflix, and maybe clean my room. The jury's still out.
The following photo shoot consisted of me and Leah running out our front door, posing long enough to snap a half decent picture, then sprinting back inside and burying ourselves in blankets on the couch.
Happy winter!

Greedy Reader. (Or: What I've read this year.)

2011 is (much too) quickly coming to an end, so here's my annual book list! It was a pretty good reading year. Though I didn't spend half as much time reading this summer as I would have liked, (too much beaching and playing Scrabble..or wait, can you have too much beach and Scrabble? Nevermind). But I managed to conquer some of the ones on my list, all of which I'd highly recommend. Here I've pulled some of my favorite quotes for you to enjoy. Read on.


"Don't leave me, honey. You're warm. If you leave I'll have to put on a sweater."
-Lorrie Moore, Self Help

"We would be together and have our books and at night be warm in bed together with the windows open and the stars bright."
-Ernest Hemmingway, A Movable Feast

"I been silent so long now it’s gonna roar out of me like floodwaters...and you think this is too horrible to have really happened, this is too awful to be the truth! But it’s the truth even if it didn’t happen."
-Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

"A purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved."
 -Kurt Vonnegut, The Sirens of Titan

 "I may not have been sure about what really did interest me, but I was absolutely sure about what didn't."
-Albert Camus, The Stranger

 "To be awake is to be alive."
-Henry David Thoreau, Walden

“You think when you wake up in the morning yesterday don't count. But yesterday is all that does count. What else is there? Your life is made out of the days it’s made out of. Nothing else.”
-Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men


"The Essex was going down. The whale, having humbled its strange adversary, disengaged itself from the shattered timbers of the hull and swam off, never to be seen again."
-Nathaniel Philbrick, In the Heart of the Sea

“I'm always disappointed when I see the word 'Puritan' tossed around as shorthand for a bunch of generic, boring, stupid, judgmental killjoys. Because to me, they are very specific, fascinating, sometimes brilliant, judgmental killjoys.”
-Sarah Vowell, The Wordy Shipmates

"It no longer seemed important to prove anything. I had found something outside myself that gave meaning to my life."

-Anne Moody, Coming of Age in Mississippi 

"‘Don’t you want to know,’ I raged, ‘whether you’re going to live or die? I’d be just a bit  curious myself!’”
-Lynn Barber, An Education

"Every window on Alcatraz has a view of San Francisco."
 -Susanna Kaysen, Girl, Interrupted

I'm wearing at least two scarves.

Day four of Dressembrrrrrr. The cold just don't stop!

It's officially winter.

There was snow on the ground and everything this morning!
Had a nice day off (a rarity these days) today. Met up with some classmates for a little study session this morning, then went over to Corrales with Beth, James and the kids for the annual St. Nicholas light parade and bonfire. Such a lovely time. The locals decorate their cars and tractors with Christmas lights and drive down main street while the rest of us watch from the sidelines. We were lucky to make friends with a group who had a small bonfire and we roasted marshmallows and drank cocoa during the parade. Annnd then it started to snow.
Afterward everyone headed over to a HUGE bonfire behind the Corrales community center and the children were able to see Santa and tell him their Christmas wishes. Megan was too shy to talk to Father Christmas, but Katy asked for a Strawberry Shortcake doll and Nathaniel asked for a pair of pants(?). Haha. I love them.

Anyway, here's dress number three!
There are many more layers here than meet the eye..

Lay it on me.

Came across a toppled-over stop sign (due to those crazy crazy winds!!) on my way to the bus stop this morning, got an A on my last paper for my hardest class, treated myself to a lovely chai tea latte from Starbucks, then did some reading while eating some delicious tomato soup and toast for lunch. So far, a good day.

I will say, though, I'm opting for a third pair of tights next time. Brrr!

Is it me or does it feel like Dressember in here?

Well here I am, saying yes to the dress! Thanks to Blythe Hill and the lovely gaggle of ladies who have participated in past years, I am ready to accept the challenge of wearing a dress every single day in December.
I admit, though, I'm a little daunted by the task. Especially living in the insanely fickle climate that is Albuquerque, NM. And the fact that I am currently sitting at my desk shivering! Hence, expect to see a lot of skinny jeans under these dresses, folks. Just a warning.
Also: how do you fix your hair for 70 mph winds?!

All rightyyy, here goes. Let the dresses begin!