at sea

I am really sorry for the lack of updates lately...school is really taking all my attention at the moment. But I do intend to take more outfit pictures and post more. In the meanwhile here are some more pictures from my easter holidays in the south of france.



Wearing the boyfriend's sweater, H&M chinos, Mango sunglasses and Allstars from Japan.









P.S.: I am featured on Mjukt Ljus. Thank you very much for interviewing me, Magdalena <3!

salt skin

frist pictures from the family vacation in the south of France, wearing my vintage silk skirt an old ZARA tee with an H&M belt and bracelet as well as my friend's blue Swatch.

More pics from the trip will follow ^o^

How to Look After Your Hair Whilst Travelling

How to Look After Your Hair Whilst Travelling

By James Fitch

The last thing you should have to worry about whilst travelling is your hair. While you want to look great on the road, carting around extra weight in your luggage from beauty products is not ideal. Blow driers, curling irons, hair straighteners, and your full line of daily hair products can be too inconvenient to travel with. For short business trips, where packing light is required, and for longer trips where carrying many beauty products is not feasible, you will need to know how to care for and style your hair without your full supply of tools.

Luckily, relaxed hairstyles are in vogue now. While the perfectly blow-dried and flat-ironed look is still stylish, a looser look is also quite popular at this time. This can be ideal for travelling. Skip the heavy styling products and heat treatment, and allow your hair to air dry naturally while you are away from home. Consider using a silicone-based styling cream to tame frizzy hair, or a light gel to keep curls in place. Simply towel dry your hair, apply the product, and wait for your hair to dry into natural waves or curls.

Depending on where you are travelling, you may not have the time or ability to shower and wash your hair each day. If you are in this situation, consider bringing along a few headbands for your trip. A simple headband can spruce up any hairstyle and fix nearly any bad hair day. Another quick fix for unwashed hair is a "dry shampoo." This is a product you spray into your hair that absorbs oil and restores a fresh appearance to your hair.

If your hair does not dry well naturally, or if you prefer to go with a more polished hairstyle, you still have many options for styling your hair while on-the-go. One thing to keep in mind is that many hotel and B&B rooms now have hair dryers available for guests. You can use a blow dryer and flat brush on small sections of your hair at a time, pulling it straight while drying. Some lodging facilities also have complimentary shampoo and conditioner for you to enjoy as well. Finally, if you are going to be in one location for an extended period of time, you might consider purchasing inexpensive appliances to use during your stay and then discard them before you return home. Ultimately, having great hair while travelling does not have to be difficult.

James Fitch writes about everything haircare and beauty related and works with Hair Beauty & Things who sell cheap shampoo online as well as everything from Moroccan Oil to GHD Hair Straighteners.

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Parisian

I'd wear a hat like this if I lived in Paris. Photo via Emily Takes Photos. 

I had breakfast with an incredible professor of mine from Northwestern. It was so fun catching up and enjoying crepes and coffee with her. Professor Vaux is about to pack up and head to Paris for three months. She and her husband are renting a flat in the Montmartre area.


We've been working on her book about Eastwood films and theology for over a year now, and I know I'll be missing her while she's on leave. But I'm also so excited just thinking about her sitting in Parisian cafes and working on her next book :)

Photo via Emily Takes Photos. 

Wouldn't it be fun to sit in the cafes of Paris while you work on your manuscript? I can just picture her there, enjoying the afternoon sun, a good book of poetry, a tiny cup of rich espresso, or an art exhibit at the Louvre.


Would you go abroad for a long trip?


I love reading about families who do. Like Gabrielle at Design Mom (she's in France, too), and David and Sarah (they've been traveling in the Middle East). Bonjour!

Photo via Etsy.

How to Take the Most Out of a Cruise

How to Take the Most Out of a Cruise

By Potko Potev

If you are on a cruise, you should know how to appreciate it and make the best out of it. You can do so by making yourself ready for fun activities on board of the cruise ship.

Plan your activities onboard. Take the time to explore the cruise ship. Go and check out restaurants, bars, gym facilities, swimming pools and internet services. The walk along and inside the cruise ship is itself a wonderful travel and you would be amazed that this is a one-in-all venue that you can enjoy.

Check out the activities on the cruise ship. You can ask the information desk for the activity list so you can sign up for fun activities that you like to do on a daily basis and for the entire trip.

Try to be adventurous and enjoy everything on your cruise. Have a great gourmet dinner in a restaurant or have it on the deck if you wish, go watch a live show Broadway-style or watch concerts. You can play bingo or go to the casino. You can go swimming, have a spa therapy, play tennis, do aerobics and listen to lectures, learn crafts or attend dance lessons.

When your cruise is on port call, you can explore the place on your own or go with a group. Join exploration trips on shore and have fun visiting restaurants, souvenir shops and major local sights of the place.

Grab the opportunity to enjoy good customer service. On a cruise, you are the pampered passenger whom the crew would like to please.

In case you have some kind of seasickness condition just be ready with your medication. The cruise ship has good medications for seasickness and you can always ask for assistance just in case. It would be good to check out the child care facilities of the cruise ship if you are traveling with young children. You can have the option of using them in case you would have an activity on your own. Your children would have fun and would meet new friends. You would also be able to spend more quality time with your partner knowing that your kids are safe and having fun on board.

Be ready to capture happy memories on your cruise travel. You are a tourist and it just makes sense that you have plenty of pictures to show when you get back home. You can take a picture of the entire cruise ship if you want; better yet include pictures when you, family members and new friends are doing activities, having fun or when you are out on port exploring places. A video cam would be a good accessory to bring along on your cruise to record every moment.

When you decide to take a cruise, keep in mind that you are going to take advantage of all the good things it could offer. This is what your money paid for - pampered service, convenience and worry-free kind of travel and an experience you would want to remember for lifetime.

Even more about cruises you can read here. If you are interested in other transportation methods like bus tours for example, visit this website.

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Things To See And Do In Corfu

By James Johnson

As one of the Ionian Islands, many people choose to holiday in Corfu as they are promised sun, sand and beautiful sea. And with holiday properties to rent you are guaranteed a very pleasant place to stay. Situated just off the west side of the Greek mainland, the island is covered with over three million olive trees which is one of the many attractions of the island.

When on holiday in Corfu you will be greeted with long sandy bays, little rocky coves and deserted bays. However you like your beaches to be you are bound to find one to your liking. Acharavi beach stretches the length of Acharavi and is about 3km. With so much space it is unlikely that you are ever going to struggle to find a spot to relax even during busy periods. Sunbeds, umbrellas and showers are all available on the beach and the Taverna owners will let you use their toilets if you purchase a drink. Acharavi is a clean, well looked after beach making it a pleasant and popular location for tourists and residents.

With so many different resorts to stay in and with all of them offering a variety of activities and types of accommodation including holiday properties to rent, it is extremely likely that you will find something to suit everyone when going on holiday in Corfu.

Acharavi is a busy and lively resort which makes it an ideal location for holiday properties to rent as it has plenty of Tavernas and bars. Behind the resort, set in the hills are excellent walking paths and you can visit the nearby Roman baths and Doric Temple. You can also enjoy a great day out at Hydropolis Water Park or rent small boats, go water skiing and on ringo rides. Acharavi has plenty of bars throughout the town and going towards the beach and lively cocktail bars showing the latest films and sporting events as well as quieter bars on the beach.

Agni Bay is perfect if your dream holiday in Corfu consists of stunning scenery and a bit of peace and quiet. Agni means unspoilt and describes this bay perfectly. Although it is not a resort and there are only three Tavernas and a couple of local buildings, this is a great place to visit when you want to get away from all the other tourists on the mainland. You can reach the bay by little rented motor boats which gives you amazing views of its beauty and crystal blue waters.

Corfu Town Kerkyra is a maze of narrow streets dominated by the 16th century fortress. This is a very historical part of Corfu as around every corner you will find a chapel, old mansion or secret garden square. This cultural part of the island is a great place to stay if you want your holiday in Corfu to be more about the sightseeing and less about the bars, and the best way to do this would be from your holiday properties to rent as you can come and go as you please.

It is highly recommended that you take a trip to Mount Pantokrator which dominates the Northern part of the island and is over 1000 metres high. The views from the summit are breathtaking and if you look south you can see the islands of Paxos and Anti Paxos. Looking north you can see the northern islands Mathraki, Erracusa and Othondi. If you are lucky you may even see the southern tip of Italy which is over 80 miles away.

You will discover that a Greek holiday is all about the eating from starters (mezzay) to main courses consisting of fresh locally caught fish, tender meats, organically grown salads garnished with herbs and home pressed olive oil.

Greek nights are a great night out and your holiday in Corfu would not be the same without them. There will be lots of dancing, especially with fire and local Tavernas are a firm favourite as they normally have a small but friendly crowd and a good atmosphere.



About the author

A vastly experienced traveller who has enjoyed staying in budget hotels,
holiday properties and the height of luxury. from http://www.FreeArticlesAndContent.com

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Planning For Initial Family Cruise Trip?

Planning For Initial Family Cruise Trip?

Author: Rocco Vasquez

You must have start off feeling bored by identical type of vacations every yr with your household. If you are in some kind of indecisive circumstance, then choose for a household cruise vacations. You will be astonished with the form of adventures you and your total household will knowledge. Its equally satisfying for adults as nicely as little ones.

Household cruise vacations are most current and hottest pattern in investing holidays for a great deal of great reasons like: becoming price helpful; household cruise vacations are intended to have a range of enjoyment routines and excursions for all members of the family; you can go to just about any component of the globe your family members is fascinated by. So no make a difference what time of the 12 months is you can discover a cruise as per your likes.

But, before you commence organizing your household cruise vacations, focus on with your family with each other and go around numerous cruise vacations info 1st. This will give every person a likelihood to recommend their opinions and assist you choose the finest family cruise which fits the interests of complete loved ones.

Disney loved ones cruise vacations are 1 of the favourite options of younger households. They are well-known for their marvelous kids' applications, dwell entertainment shows. But if your little ones fall in age group of 7 to 15, you really should attempt for other cruise vacations also that also cater to youngsters and families and offer desirable relatives offer cruise alternatives.

Do a great evaluation of the household cruise vacations deals from the a variety of cruise lines. Cautiously see what every single bundle has to give for the diverse ages and interests of your complete loved ones. Make sure that you pick out a deal which has enough actions for all the age groups in your family members. The cruise vacations not only feature peculiar locales, they also have pursuits which will rev you up like basketball, rope climbing, swimming, exclusive ship excursions, kid's clubs, buying, full spa, and night enjoyment. There are swimming pools with things for young children such as water slides and games. For sport-addicts cruise have video clip arcades. On-board exciting possibilities are volleyball, Olympic Video games, miniature golf, magic shows, paddle-ball court, Yoga, fitness walks, entertaining academic projects. Some cruises also characteristic films and skating. There are some on-shore adventures and tours to get pleasure from on every single port you achieve. Family members cruise packages supply foods such as hamburgers and pizza that the little ones will leap for. Cruise ships are famous for gourmet feasts as effectively.

It's not effortless to decide destinations to pay a visit to on a family members holiday cruise. Some locations may possibly have a noisy party kind environment suitable for partners, children. Some areas might not be as fascinating for the family members to get pleasure in. Seem for cruise offerings that cater to families with sights such as wildlife parks, historical museums, amusement parks, water parks, historical tours. Adventurous activities this kind of as snorkeling, para-sailing, and hiking are on the record for teenagers.

Some superb family cruise destinations are Walt Disney Globe in Orlando, Florida (with Disney Cruises), Bahamas, Islands of the Caribbean, Hawaii, and Alaska. European cruises are equally very good for households.Read more: cruise vacation

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7/30 + 8/30 = Halfway Done?

Fractions!  I add them!  I am several days ahead of my photos in this challenge, but I have realized one very frustrating thing: when I picked my items it was unseasonably warm for here with lows in the 40s and highs in the upper 60s and now it is no longer unseasonably warm.  I wish I'd made a few different choices.  So I subbed a couple of things this week (2 dresses for a pair of pants and another warm cardigan), and I'm considering one more substitution.  Those items hadn't been worn in the challenge yet, so it wasn't cheating.

Outfit number 7 has been my least favorite so far of this challenge.  The fabric of the long top didn't play so well tucked into my skirt.  But oh well...

 30x30 Items: 11. Black A-Line Skirt - Sandro + 14. Multi-colored Jewel Tone Blouse - Willi Smith + 24. Purple Cardi - August Silk + 27. Spectator Oxford Pumps - r2

Accessories: Tights - Target (remixed), Ring - Salamanca Boutique (remixed)

My 8/30 was for a day of traveling.  I flew from the Upper Midwest to San Antonio to visit my sister and to run a half-marathon.  No matter the season I freeze on airplanes, so I went with a sweater dress and tights.  

30x30 Items: 3. Blue Sweater Wrap Dress - Target + 30. Grey Slouchy Boots - Steve Madden

Accessories: Tights - Target (remixed), Cami - New York & Co. (remixed), Necklace - Gift (remixed), Ring - Boutique in Murano (Gift and remixed) 

What do you tend to wear when you travel?  Does anyone else freakin' freeze on airplanes and in airports?

P.S. The winner of our CSN Stores giveaway is #37: Food According to Karen!  We'll be in touch shortly to get you your loot!

Roman Holiday, Part III

Our last day in Rome, we were going to the Vatican Museums, the Sistene Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica in the morning and early afternoon, so I knew that I wanted to wear something modest that would cover my shoulders and go at least down to my knees.  I chose my trusty yellow dress.¹

1. Dress - Signature by Robbie Bee (remixed), Sandals - Steve Madden (remixed), Necklace - Gift (Boutique in Berkeley and remixed), Belt - from another dress (remixed), Purse - Nine West (remixed), Sunnies - Oscar de la Renta (remixed)

By the way, if you are planning to go to the Vatican as a tourist, I highly recommend reserving your tickets ahead of time online.  When I went in 2006, I hadn't pre-arranged tickets, and I waited about an hour in the line.  It was January then so there weren't nearly as many tourists as there were when we were there a couple of weeks ago during the height of travel season.  

After gawking at the Sistene ceiling and the Last Judgment and at the dome of St. Peter's and rolling our eyes at the people who couldn't use the slightest bit of common sense and thus kept getting yelled at by the security guards, we made our way to a fast food joint called Mondo Arancina.  AUH lived in Rome for a summer a few years back, and she had told us of the wondrous chocolate and ricotta-filled pastries that they sell there.  I'm not usually a fan of sweets (aside from ice cream), but this thing rocked my world!

Then, we made our way to Trastavere, where we walked around, saw quirky things, heard an outdoor classical concert in a piazza, found my coveted pair of harem pants at a little market, and had an amazing last evening meal on an Italian terrace.

Thank you, dear readers, for indulging me with my honeymoon posts.  They have enabled me to hang on for a bit longer to those magical ten days during which I enjoyed the company of my handsome husband, ate whatever I wanted, and didn't think about academic work at all.  These ten days were the absolute best out of my summer.  What's the most rockin' thing you've done this summer?  What have you enjoyed most about the summer of 2010?

And don't forget to be a bad ass and send us your summer boot photos!

Roman Holiday, Part II

You may remember that while the Dissertating Yogini was visiting, I started to admire and covet her harem pants.  While I was in Italy, I became all-out obsessed with finding a pair.  I kept seeing lovely ladies rocking them as we water taxied about Venice, climbed towers in Siena, and strolled while eating gelato in Florence.  On our first full day in Rome, as we walked from Piazza Spagna to the Trevi Fountain, I insisted on going into every store that looked as though it might have harem pants in order to fulfill my quest.  Sadly I could not find any that I liked or that fit me.  However, in Promod, I found not-quite harem pants.¹ 

1. Pants and Tank - Promod, Sandals - Boutique in Florence (remixed), Purse - Nine West (remixed), Sunnies - Oscar de la Renta (remixed)

 Even though I knew I would still continue my obsessive search, I decided to buy the next best thing in the interim.  I wore them the next day in Rome to do some walking around, visit the Pantheon and go out to the Via Appia to see the catacombs and the tomb of Cecilia Metella.

Of course, I felt way too comfortable in these flowy, lightweight cotton, not-quite harem pants so I changed into a stone toga.

I did find actual harem pants on my last day in Rome, but that's for another post....

While I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't wear these pants in the classroom, I love them for plane travel and more casual research days.  What do you think?  Classroom appropriate? When you are visiting another city or country, do you feel like it's easier to buy items outside your normal style boundaries or that would normally be off your radar?  Are you a fan of harem pants or do you think the craze is best left in Hammer Time?

Oh, and don't forget to submit your summer boots photos to us at fashionableacademics@gmail.com by Friday!

Dressed for a Day in Siena

After three days in Venice (and an afternoon/evening in Padua), M. and I took a train - well, 3 actually - to Siena.  I desperately wanted to make it to Siena on this trip, so I twisted M's arm until he agreed to add two extra days and this city to our planned honeymoon itinerary.  We only had 24 hours in Siena, and that was enough to hit the major sights of the city without being rushed or stressed.  If we'd had a second day, I would have enjoyed going to Catherine of Siena's house and to a monastery a few kilometers away from the city.  I dressed to stay cool and comfy.  I also knew I'd need to wear comfy shoes to climb the 400+ steps to the top of the Torre del Mangia.¹

1. Dress - Signature by Robbie Bee (remixed), Sandals - Steve Madden (remixed), Scarf as Belt - from a discarded top (H&M), Purse - Nine West (remixed), Sunglasses - Oscar de la Renta (remixed), Earrings - Target (remixed)

After I climbed this bad boy, I also had a lovely sheen to add to my list of accessories.

We didn't get many photos of the two of us together on this trip, but we did get a couple of self-portraits with my older point and shoot camera.  This one from the top of the tower was one of my favorites.

One thing that I noticed on this trip was that most (female) tourists of all ages and nationalities were not wearing sneakers.  Most were wearing strappy sandals, often of the gladiator variety.  I was wondering if we are in a post-stereotypical-tourist-attire world until I glanced at the men - my husband included.  Of course, I generalize a bit, but Germans, Italians, Kiwis, and Americans were all wearing rompers, harem pants, jersey dresses, and gladiator sandals.  I'm wondering if the arrival of stores, such as H&M and Zara in the US, over the past few years, as well as the kind of trends that are currently in fashion, have blurred the boundaries between so-called national styles.  

For those of you international readers, do you notice a strong stylistic divide between Americans and Europeans or Australians?  For those of you who've traveled abroad recently, do you agree with my impressionistic assessment?  Why or why not?

Oh, and I did also see some stylish ladies rocking the summer boot look in spite of temps in the 90s.  Have you rocked the summer boot lately?  Don't forget about our CFP!

The Bicycle Dress Makes Its European Debut

After a blissful interlude, I'm back in the states and back to the blog!  It was the best trip of my life!  I walked hand in hand with my hubs through the streets of Italian cities, ate gelato almost every day, and didn't touch a lick of academic work for twelve days.  Although I'm jet lagged and have a bit of a case of post-honeymoon ho-hums, I have to tackle depositing my dissertation and packing and moving in the next week.  But for now I'll share with you the European debut of my Anthro bicycle dress.  I wore it in Venice and Padua with gladiators and a belt¹ and in Florence with gladiators and a headband.² I did have intentions for remixing a bit more dramatically, but since we were putting in long days in the hot sun, I pretty much gave up on that and went for comfort. 

1. Dress - Anthropologie (remixed), Belt - from another dress (remixed), Sandals - Steve Madden (remixed), Barrette - Goodie (Target and remixed), Necklace - Etsy (remixed), Purse - Nine West (remixed), Sunnies - Oscar de la Renta (remixed), Background - Courtyard in the Doge's Palace, Venice

Last Sunday was our first full day in Italy.  We went to the Doge's Palace and the Accademia in Venice.  Then we took a train to Padova to meet up with one of M''s cousins who has lived there for several years while attending veterinary school, and just walked around, since the churches and museums were closed, and had a glass of prosecco or two in cool cafe bars and lovely dinner in the main piazza.

I also wore the dress in Florence, where M. and I had intended to rent bicycles.  However, when M. saw how crowded the streets were with tourists, he decided that trying to ride bikes through them wouldn't give us the relaxing vibe we were going for.  I have to admit that I pretty much agreed.  I was content to walk around Florence and see its lovely sights again.    

 2. Dress - Anthropologie (remixed), Sandals - Steve Madden (remixed), Headband - Goodie (Target and remixed), Purse - Nine West (remixed), Sunnies - Oscar de la Renta (remixed), Background - Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

That day we climbed the 400+ steps to Bruneleschi's Dome, went to the Uffizi museum, which houses my favorite painting in the world, Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, and escaped the crowds at the Bardini Gardens.  The gardens were a beautiful little oasis on a hot afternoon in Tuscany.  They also provided tremendous views of the city. 

Looking at these pictures is such a lovely break from the reality of packing that I need to get back to.  I'll take other little breaks to try to catch back up on the happenings in the blogosphere over the course of the next day or two. What has been your favorite vacation (or vacation combined with research trip)?  Where did you go and what did you do?

Reader Request: Packing for a More Fashion-Conscious Country (or City)

One of the great perks of academic work in many fields is the chance to travel for research or conferences.  Four years ago I put most of my stuff into storage, packed up two suitcases with clothes, a few books and pictures, and went off to Spain for a year and a half. Sometimes, though, a shorter trip is in order.  I've gone to Mexico for research twice for a period of a few weeks or two months, and to Spain for a couple of weeks a couple of times.  One of our readers, Scuttleboose of Lose the Boredom, requested some tips on how to pack for a two-week research trip to a more fashion-conscious country in a carry-on, so I thought I would share my tricks.

If blending in with the locals is important to you, my first recommendation is that you do some internet research to see what the trends are in the country/city that you are traveling to.  Look at what the local style bloggers are wearing and saying and what the fashion mags are touting.  Ask friends who have recently traveled to those places or friends who live there what the locals are wearing.  Also check out The Glamourous Grad Student's City Chic series in case the city you're traveling to has been covered by anyone recently.  Even if you don't care so much about looking like you are from Milan, or Paris, or Buenos Aires, or wherever it is you are going, research the weather if you haven't been to the location before.  If you're traveling to use archives, I strongly recommend that you verify that the archive in question does not have a dress code and make sure that you know their policies about notebooks, writing utensils, whether or not they require you to bring gloves, etc. before you start packing.

Once you have a sense of these things, make a list of things to pack.  Think in terms of remixable pieces.*  Figure out a variety of combinations so that you can minimize the number of pieces you need to take to create two weeks' worth of outfits.  I'll give a few examples.  A jersey dress could be worn to the archives or the library with a cardi and a belt (many archives tend to be chilly even in the hot summer months) and flats and to go to dinner and drinks by removing the cardi, changing shoes, and adding a statement necklace.  Don the dress for another day at the archives by wearing it as a skirt and adding a blouse and a belt.  A pair of jeans could be worn with a blouse for the archives during the day  (unless your archive is like the Vatican and has a no jeans dress code) and a tunic for night and a tank top and your comfiest flat sandals for doing touristy activities on the weekend.  They could be worn with a tank and cardi back to the archives or library.




Find me on Polyvore

Items that I would not leave home without for a summer archival trip:
- a pair of versatile and comfortable flats
- a cardigan or two (I usually wear one on the plane because I freeze on planes and in airports)
- a dress that can go from day to night by switching shoes and accessories
- an umbrella
- laptop and camera and flashdrive
- necessary documentation to get into the country and archives
- power converters/adapters etc. for laptop, camera battery charger, etc.
- pencils (I never use them except at archives)

In order to maximize space in your carry-on suitcase, I recommend either rolling your clothing (this also minimizes wrinkling) or using vacuum packing bags.  (A friend of mine vacuum packed her ginormous down comforter and brought it with her to Europe, and this event solidified in my mind their miraculous powers.)  If you plan on taking a pair of boots, I recommend wearing them on the plane in order to gain some extra space in your luggage.  You can always stash a pair of flip-flops in your purse and switch out for a long flight.

I'll ask those of you who have traveled abroad for research (or for fun) to share your tricks for saving space in your luggage and your must-have items in the comments.  What's your methodology for packing for a research trip?

Oh, and don't forget to enter our CSN stores giveaway!


* Unless I sauce or wine myself, go to a smokey night club, or end up running 15 blocks in an item of clothing, I tend to wear pieces of clothing 3-6 times before washing them.  (Underwear excepted.) It's better for the life of the clothes and the environment.

Not the Shoes I Planned

Yesterday I went to do some work on a project in a coffee shop and to meet up with AUH.  After running into some colleagues of hers (who for some strange reason thought that she was tutoring me . . . but hey, I liked the idea that I look young enough to be in college, as it gives me fodder for the blog and it strokes my vanity) and having a coffee, we dropped by the public library so she could take some stuff back and went for a little walk through one of our local parks.

I hadn't planned to wear the shoes that I did with this outfit that I wore yesterday.¹  However, when I went to leave the house I couldn't find the pair that I wanted to wear so I grabbed this pair of heels.  That seems to be the story of their life.  You see, these shoes were an "emergency" purchase on a trip a couple of years ago.  I had packed my trusty big backpack for two months of research in Mexico City and Puebla.  On my way to Mexico I flew through Dallas to spend a few days and to attend a friend's wedding.  Although I admitted to being a hasty packer a couple weeks ago, normally I am very type A about getting ready for a trip.  I make a list; I verify that outfits look cute and occasion-appropriate before putting them in my luggage; I take extra under garments and socks; I put my pjs on top so they are easily accessible.  However, in spite of all this careful preparation and packing, I somehow inexplicably arrived in Dallas with my cocktail dress for the wedding but no shoes -- aside from running shoes and functional (cute but not in anywhere near the same register) flats.  I had picked out a pair of shoes, thought I had put them in the backpack, but must have taken them out at some point for rearranging and not realized I had forgotten to put them back into my bag. 

1. Shirt - Cable and Gauge, Skirt - Easy Wear (remixed), Shoes - Alex Marie (via Dillards), Belt - Kensie Girl (remixed), Earrings - Target (remixed), Barrette - Goodie (remixed)

Another Dallas friend and I dashed off to a mall, and I found these shoes in Dillards.  They weren't too expensive.  They seemed to be pretty comfortable.  I bought 'em.  They turned out to be a wise choice, as they got me through the wedding and a night of dancing with only a little bit of tired feet at the end of the night.  That's not bad for heels that haven't been broken in at all.  I've worn them a couple of times since that trip, but it seems like I only ever grab them when I can't find the shoes that I am planning to wear.

Do you have any item of clothing that you only seem to wear in certain circumstances in spite of the garment's inherent versatility?  Have you ever made an "emergency" purchase that you've ended up being really happy with or really disappointed with? 

Home is Where My Closet Is

I'll keep this short today because I'm starting to feel anxious about the fact that I haven't done any work for over a week (this has not happened for years).  I arrived back home from a week on the road late Friday night, and I spent the last two days trying to get organized, running, and seeing friends.  I went out for dinner with two of my girlfriends from Ecology last night to talk about how things were going with doggies and kitties and work (trees, birds, and book reviews) and recent adventures in househunting and at campground sites.  I decided to wear a new-to-me dress that I scored on Ebay a few weeks back.¹

1. Dress - Hazel (via Ebay), Tank - ??? (I've had it for years, it might be Target), Sandals - Steve Madden (remixed), Bangles - Target

Usually, I'm pretty organized when I pack, but with the defense and other chaos of the week before last, I ended up just chucking some shit in a suitcase and making sure I grabbed my running shoes.  There was no plan, no cohesion, no extra pair of socks.  So I was really glad to be reunited with my closet this weekend.

I was also very happy to be reunited with Bailey, who has taken to wearing hats after her time away at boarding school.  

Are you of the careful packer variety or do you end up on a roadtrip with a suitcase full of random pieces?

Beyond Birkenstocks: AUH in VT

I have never before started a post with a close-up of my feet. I had to buck my own trend for these Jeffrey Campbell wonders, though. After my exams I jetted off to Burlington, Vermont, where I got my undergraduate degree and where my family still lives. I'll admit it: I wore only Birkenstocks during the college years, except when I had to don 5 layers top to bottom to combat snow. In the past few years, however, I've started exploring all of the other amazing options Burlington has to offer. One store in particular, Stella on Church Street, offers a cornucopia of amazing shoes, from Frye sandals with heels (who knew?) to Miz Moo and, recently, beautiful and affordable tunic dresses and other styles.

Here I am in the store looking frightened at the sheer amount of beautiful clothes and shoes surrounding me. I wore my wine-colored Target dress because I knew it would pair well with the grey Campbells. The kind lady who took these photos noticed that the pairing worked even better than I had expected: the purple in the dress brought out the purple undertones in the shoes, which have a wonderfully vintage look to them (with buttons!).

I love that Burlington's style is so eclectic. In this town you've got Hot Topic blocks away from Stella and the Peace and Justice Center and April Cornell. I'm very much enjoying sitting back and watching jazz festival performances while sipping a Moulin Rouge and watching people with a range of styles walking by. I don't get to watch the performances while wearing the Campbells, though, since I can't justify them in my budget, but I'm having a fabulous time trying everything on.

Dress: Target (remixed)
Shoes: Jeffrey Campell, which will maybe be remixed some day if I do a lot of freelance work

Which cities do you love to visit for a different take on style?

Note: Stella did not slip me the shoes (or anything else) in exchange for being mentioned here.

The Value of Escaping

Dear Fashionable Academics,

I recently returned from a fabulous honeymoon in the Bahamas. I write in order to urge all of you to take a honeymoon, whether you're married or single or just in need of a break. We didn't spend a bundle, we had a completely wonderful experience, and I have returned a completely sane Megarita, which is saying a LOT.

First, we designed our wedding around our honeymoon. I love snorkeling and beach, and my new husband loves the beach and was willing to try snorkeling, so I devoted my research brain (which had not been functioning since the engagement -- be warned) to finding an affordable place in a beautiful location. After about two weeks, I found a small dive resort on one of the outlying islands in the Bahamas. It's nestled among a scattering of residences, has its own beach, a dive shop, and the vibe of a larger B&B. In addition, it was very much in our price range. With flights, food, and hotel, we could spend around $2000 on close to a week of island time.*

We found a stretch of time at the Greenwood Resort (link here, if you're interested), and then went back a week or two to book the wedding. I married another teacher, so we had the wedding during my spring break, and the honeymoon during his. (High School vacation is a bit stricter than university.) This system worked out beautifully, because we got to have a small, fun wedding and then blow most of our money (although really not that much) on travel.

Do travel. Do get away and spend six days in a place that requires nothing from you except eating, sleeping, swimming, pointing at fish, and the occasional walk. Do not bring anything except silly books to read. Bring a camera to record the silly things you see. Prepare to be silent and thoughtless for long stretches. Drink a little or a lot, stuff yourself with delicious and exotic foods, and connect with your friend, your lover, your spouse.

This trip saved me as a person. The wedding, small and painless as it was, nearly wrecked me as a human being. Traveling to the Bahamas, just with my fella, reminded me that I could be fun, and playful, and STILL. So very still. I'm in the midst of finals now, and I'm not completely evil,unlike every year in recent memory. I can only thank the honeymoon for that. We work thankless jobs for little money a lot of the time. After a year of furloughs, insurance rate hikes, and a spitefully tiny job market, I needed to play in the islands. I encourage you to treat yourself well in a similar manner.

Peacefully,
Megarita
*an important sidebar, for us at least. My husband and I swore that we would not go into debt for the wedding or the honeymoon. We got some money from friends and family, but not anything exorbitant. We lowballed everything. We could have been somewhere posh for the honeymoon, or I could have worn a big white dress or had a cake or something, but we got back from the Bahamas WITH NO BILLS TO PAY. This is key, I think. No burden.