~ let's hear it for the boys ~

Let me just get it out in the open right away: I'm not a relationship person.
*And another thing: There's going to be a gallon and a half of sarcasm in this post.  Possibly a bit more.

Okay, so I'm not saying I've completely given up on the prospect of having a loving (non-feline) relationship sometime in my future, but I'm retiring from the ever-tiring search for "the one," a search that I've only halfheartedly participated in, and a notion that I only halfheartedly believe in.
When I was younger, I always said that I wouldn't date until I was 20.  It was mostly a stubbornness thing, but Young Me did have a good point (that being that I am an extremely picky person with incredibly high standards).  I could tell you the whole damn thing, but the short version of this tragic story ends with me breaking my personal vow at the wee age of 17.  But no matter.  If at first you don't succeed, try try again.

I'm not too sure why I've decided to renew Young Me's vow.  Maybe this is just the next step of settling into my crazy cat lady status, or maybe it's because Valentine's Day is fast approaching, but whatever the reason, I couldn't be happier.  Which brings me to the main point of this post - February the 14th is going to be a whole lot of awesome this year.  Here's why...

• I'm going to be livin' it up in Savannah on Valentine's Day, instead of my usual routine (*you know...eating chocolate, watching chick flicks, and crying softly into my pillow*)
• I'm on a new diet that allows me to eat as much chocolate as I want as long as I think about doing squats once during the day
• I'm back to wearing fiery red lipstick everyday

• New Girl and The Mindy Project exist (just in case I get a little sappy and need a good laugh to snap me out of it)
• I have my priorities sorted out

• I am 100% free of crushes....unless we're talking about fictional character, olympic athletes, or handsome british men, in which case my crush bank is overflowing 

• I've now read like 99% of Shakespeare's great love stories and I'm under the opinion that love is nothing to get all worked up over (or drown yourself over, for that matter...looking at you, Ophelia)

• this photo exists (via the Kitsch Bitsch on facebook)

There you have it, folks.  Of course there are many more reasons why this Valentine's Day is gonna rock, but that's all for now.  So, however you choose to celebrate this day of love, don't let it be the only day you show the ones you love just how much you love them.  Remember to dish out love every single day!

xoxo,

Eliza

~ get funky with it ~

People always say to dress for the job you want, live a life of inspired thought, and spread kindness wherever you go.  I've always heard that you should treat each day as though it's your last.  In other words, never put anything off or tell yourself you'll do it later.  Never waste a good outfit on a bad day, never miss an opportunity to do something spontaneous, etc., etc.  All these things sound fantastic, but the challenge comes with fulfilling the goals that society tells us to set while dealing with the obstacles that the universe throws in your path.

Now don't get me wrong!  I love dressing up, taking road trips, never missing an opportunity to tell someone how I feel, and I think that being kind is the greatest and most important part of life on earth.  But we all have off days.  Days that go downhill from the minute you get out of bed.  Days where the closest you get to a great outfit is looking at that photo of the gorgeous girl with effortless style that popped up on Pinterest while you talked yourself out of getting out of your PJs for the fifth time that day.  Yeah...eating a salad with quinoa and organic beets would be fantastic, but so would a bowl of cereal and half of the brownies you made last night.  Sometimes you're really bitchy to people you love, and you don't know why.  You're not mad at them, and they haven't even done anything wrong, but you just can't find any sympathy or kindness within yourself.

This is what I like to call, The Funk.

 You convince yourself that you'll exercise tomorrow...it's too late in the day to go for a run, you could do yoga but then you'd have to move the pile of clean clothes on your floor to make room for a yoga mat, you could find a pilates video on youtube but your laptop is almost dead and you don't know where the charger is.  The list could go on.  (fun fact - these are all excuses I've used in the past 24 hours).

So what's to be done?  How do you combat the "life sucks and everything's awful and I want peanut butter cookies but I also wanna get back in bed and watch chick flicks until SNL comes on" blues?  Here are some of my tried and true techniques:

01. The "Snap Out of It" method

I've tried this several times.  Telling yourself to get over something can actually either make you feel worse about the situation and you'll find yourself sitting on the kitchen floor eating ice cream from the carton, or it'll have an instantaneous, miraculous effect on you and you'll be feeling better in no time.

*This method works better when executed by Cher*

02. The "Listen to Music That Makes You Dance" method

Laughter may be the best medicine, but when you're in a funk, laughter can quickly turn to crying.  Play it safe and angry dance that funk away (the louder the music, the better).

03.  the "Change Out of Yoga Pants and Into a Vintage Ballgown" method 

Try it.  Even if you change back into your PJs five minutes later.

04.  the "Stay In Your Yoga Pants and T-Shirt All Day" method.

If 03. doesn't work for you, try this method.  See which one works best for you.

05. the "Eat Comfort Food" method.

Mac n cheese, Indian food, spring rolls, cinnamon bread, red beans and rice, bagels and cream cheese, Chinese food.  The list could go on.

06.  the "Sit On The Floor and Cry If You Need To" method

If anyone approaches you, kindly let them know that they can either join in and cry on the floor with you, or go far, far away and leave you to cry in peace.

Let's face it.  We all need a day off once in a while - a day off from eating right, dressing in our finest garb, being the designated listener, etc.  And even if you don't want a day off, you can bet your life the universe is gonna give it to you anyway.  

So make the most of this opportunity.  Shut off social media, wear the clothes that look like shit but are the comfiest garments you own, don't feel like you have to explain yourself or justify your feelings, eat the damn brownies, go for a long run or just stay in bed all day, it really doesn't matter.  Do what feels right. 

You won't always be in this funk.

xoxo,

Eliza

~ black and white ~

I love bright colors, don't get me wrong, but once in a while it's refreshing to stick to a black/white/beige color palate.  So a few days ago, with the help of my grandmother's coat, I stuck to my usual policy regarding pattern (LOUD, LOUD, LOUD) while keeping to my new color scheme...

{gap jeans, gap top, vintage coat, old navy flats, F21 hat}

Unfortunately it's now too cold to wear anything but layer and layers of sweater, three pairs of socks, leggings under jeans, a puffer vest, thick jacket, scarf, gloves, and hat.

{coat from my awesome mama, gap sweater}

Today I kept with the black/white theme but added a touch of red lipstick to warm me up (it didn't warm me up at all but at least I felt like I was doing something...)

And since Florida is expecting snow tomorrow, school got canceled - that means I don't even have to get out of my pajamas, can watch movies all day, snuggle with a kitten, and eat peanut butter cookies.  I can't think of anything better than that!

Hope you're all keeping relatively warm!

xoxo,

Eliza

~ merry and bright ~

So far this weekend, I've been to two holiday parties.  One last night (food, drinks, dessert, and all my neighbors) and one this afternoon (cookie baking/decorating, hot tea, and a bunch of my friends).

01. {last night, post-party)

02.

03. {with my beautiful sister}

04. {party outfit #2: F21 top, gap skirt, gap shoes}

05. 

06. (1955 Wamsutta ad}

And remember!  You don't have to have a crowd to have a party - small dance parties are the best, anyway!

xoxo,

Eliza

~ skirting the issue ~

It's funny how every summer the idea of wearing sweaters, tights, and plaid is sickening.  Yet the minute the temperature drops below 70 (which, let's face it, is cold for Floridians) I find myself unpacking the fall/winter clothes and wearing them even if I sweat through the layers.  In Florida you learn to accept the sweat, the warm falls, freezing winters, and generally bipolar weather.  I can't count how many times I'll be decked out in my winter clothes and someone on campus will walk past in shorts and a t-shirt!  Today was a perfect example of that - low 50s in the morning, high 70s in the afternoon.  As I walked out of the grocery store, a men's soccer team walked past in shorts, and tank tops (with a few shirtless ones mixed in).  Here's what I was wearing....

{vintage bobbie brooks skirt, F21 sweater, target tights and bag, isaac mizrahi shoes}

This skirt was my mom's from the late 60s/early 70s, and I'm completely in love with it!  And the shoes?  I got them when I was eleven and they still fit.  Definitely a good investment!

Oh and if you love vintage advertising, google "bobbie brooks ads" and have fun...

This outfit will be reserved for fall-related grocery shopping (pumpkin, brown sugar and cranberries), and library visits.  Now here's a word from our favorite clothing snob!

xoxo,

Eliza