These are the musings, adventures, trials, & triumphs that make up my life...and what I wore during them.
"I am good but not an angel. I do sin, but I am not the devil. I am just a small girl in a big world trying to find someone to love." -M. Monroe
she dreams in poetry but writes in prose // she lives in ballet flats but likes to feel the grass between her toes // she craves her Starbucks fix // she's pearls and she's politics // she makes her own sunshine on a rainy day // she gets her work done but she lives to play.
Friday, December 31, 2010
out with the old & in with the new
My 2011 resolutions: none. No resolutions, no regrets. I try to be the best version of myself each day, but often I'm not; I make mistakes. Nevertheless, I don't need one day to make myself feel good about reinventing myself - it's a constant process. Writing things down won't make them happen. The only thing there is is to just do.
That being said, I do have a few 2011 blogolutions (If Sarah Palin can coin a word, so can I)
1. Blog twice a week at a MINIMUM. Even if it's just a picture or a quote, I should blog frequently and regularly.
2. Get more personal, to some extent.
3. Have some short posts more frequently with quotes I like, pretty pictures, or funny videos.
4. Start a new blog that focuses on politics and policy. I have a few here and there in this blog, but they don't fit with the rest of the post. If this is something I'm passionate about, it deserves my focus.
Hope you're doing something wonderful tonight!
ab imo pectore,
Hannah
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
reading has never been so chic
{via rough review}
{via kate spade}
The Kate Spade website also has Great Expectations and The Importance of Being Earnest. I would love some classically girly books, like some Jane Austen titles.
ab imo pectore,
Hannah
Monday, December 27, 2010
good morning, upper east siders
Blair is my favorite character, because she is the most complex. She feels deeply but lives in a shallow world.
I tried to pick my favorite of her outfits or accessories for the whole show, but that proved impossible. As I tried to decide between her green pea coat and yellow accessories outfit and her white Marc Jacobs dress and headband, I realized I could not pick the best of all three-and-a-half seasons. Here are my top five from season four so far.
{photos via http://blairfashion.blogspot.com from youknowyouloveme.org}
No one else makes black and white look so fashion-forward. Love the patterned tights.
The colors on this dress make it so elegant and almost seem like the are from an old, faded photograph.
This must be Blair's least expensive outfit all season. The skirt was not even eighteen dollars. She is mixing florals perfectly and proving that cheap can be chic.
The fuchsia with red could not be better. Leave it to Blair to mix it up while still looking elegant. I couldn't not choose this glamourous dress.
I lovelovelove how Blair mixed these prints. The beret is so Paris and the perfect accessory to start to the season.
You know you love me.
xoxo,
Hannah
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas!
I watch Charlie Brown's Christmas every year. Regardless of what you believe, Christmas is about more than gifts and aluminum christmas trees. It can be about religion, family, reflection, tradition, or any number of other things.
I love the tradition and spirit that comes with Christmas. Everyone is just a little happier, a little nicer, and a little for thankful. I wish we could be like that all year. I watch Charlie Brown, The Grinch (cartoon, obviously), Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas, and other classic Christmas movies. I also like to reread A Christmas Carol by Dickens every year.
Everyone's family is unique, crazy, and quirky, but they're the only one you have. I wouldn't trade mine for the world. Spend some time with loved ones today :)
Merry Christmas, everyone!!
ab imo pectore,
Hannah
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
semiformal
I went classic in black dress, matching black rosette bag, and black heels. I absolutely love this dress!! I also had classic red nails, and I wore a matching heart necklace and earrings set that my friend got me for my birthday a few years ago.
Here is the only pic that shows my full dress. It was taken on my phone, which explains the quality:
In the future, I am going to use Rent the Runway to get dresses. You can borrow a designer dress that you will probably never wear again anyway for about 50 dollars.
ab imo pectore,
Hannah
Monday, December 20, 2010
In the eye of the beholder
I am a firm believer that you should read beautiful things and look at beautiful things everyday, which is why I like inspirational quotes and artwork so much.
But beauty isn't just a pretty picture, it's about something that speaks to you and it's something that you can carry inside you wherever you go. This is one of my favorites:
Something about this painting has always struck me; the motion, the colors, the odd angle has captivated me ever since I first saw it on a deck of cards that were intended for some sort of matching art game I had. I don't know enough about Degas and this piece to say much, but this is what beauty from a real artist looks like.
I chose the above Thomas Kinkade at random, as they all look pretty much alike, and no one painting has stuck with me. To me, looking at the painting is the equivalent of eating marshmallow peep after marshmallow peep; over processed and sickeningly sweet with no real substance. Yes, it portrays the (idealized) optical reality of the world we live in, but it doesn't say anything about what it means or feels like to be a citizen of that world. I guess it speaks to the triumph of mass-produced commercialism over taste, but I don't think that is his intended message. Sorry for the rant, but I really cannot understand the appeal of his "art." Maybe some people don't consider Duchamp's pieces to be art, but at least they make you think.
I would much rather have a print of the Degas painting than an actual Kinkade. I have an series of pastel drawings of Boston in my dorm room that I bought on the streets of Boston for about 20 dollars. An actual artist made it, and it captures the spirit of the city we are both from.
ab imo pectore,
Hannah
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
hello, finals.
1. Music. If you're sick of your own music, I recommend listening to other people's iTunes on your network, Pandora, Glee music, or Straight No Chaser's Christmas music.
2. Find a non-library non-room place to study. Preferably with comfy chairs, food, and coffee. I've studied at Starbucks and Panera lately. There enough noise that it doesn't feel too quiet, but not enough to distract you. Also, change up your setting if you're having trouble focusing.
3. Self-control. My friend downloaded a program for mac called self control. You can choose to block certain websites for a certain amount of time to help you focus. No more hours wasted on Facebook stalking and newsfeed updating.
4. Schedule what studying you want to do when to keep you on track. Also schedule breaks. Breaks are good.
5. Sleep eight hours every night. Do it. Your body, mental health, and GPA will thank you. Since you have no class, a few extra hours of sleep is definitely do-able. I am about to take my own advice and do just that.
6. Don't stress out. I am the queen of getting stressed out, but it is not productive. Life will go on. Keep Calm and Carry On.
ab imo pectore,
Hannah
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Neruda is a Chilean poet, so this is a translation I especially liked.
I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.
I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way
than this: where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.
ab imo pectore,
Hannah
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
rainy days
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain" - Vivian Greene
Today was a very rainy day! As nice as it would be to stay inside and watch a movie, I had a lot of things to do today!
Here's what makes the rainy days a little better...
Pucci Rain Boots - more fun and less common than Hunters. I get compliments on these boots without fail. every single time I wear them.
North Face rain coat - love the color!
Got this ring on vacation in the Dominican Republic with my mom. I wear it whenever it rains because it matches my rain jacket perfectly.
I also wear leggings every time it rains, because I hate how rain feels on denim, khaki, and corduroy. I also have a purple umbrella that matches my rain boots. :)
ab imo pectore,
Hannah
Monday, November 22, 2010
I heart books
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Harry Potter Thursday
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
teenage dream
Sunday, November 14, 2010
ellies!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
pandora
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Lilly Love
Monday, November 1, 2010
classic.
Friday, October 29, 2010
modern art
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
glass half full
Sunday, October 24, 2010
papers and events and service, oh my!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Ignorance is the new black, apparently.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
love like crazy
"Be a best friend, tell the truth, and overuse "I Love You." Go to work, do your best, don't outsmart your common sense. Never let your praying knees get lazy, and love like crazy." - Lee Brice
These are some more country music lyrics I love. Maybe he isn't implying everything I'm about to write, but these words inspired a lot of thought. I think all these exhortations center around a single message: To really put yourself out there and try in everything you do in a genuine way. If you have been sincere, then no matter what happens, you can feel good about it.
Sometimes it takes an incredible amount of bravery to do seemingly simple things like to really and openly try your best, to truly do everything that is involved in the incredible act of being a best friend to someone, and so simply say things the way they are, without worrying about how people will react. Being genuine is, ironically, one of the most difficult things to do sometimes
As for overusing "I Love You"...
A lot of people treat those words as something sacred, precious, to be locked away like fine china and only be taken out and used on special occasions, if ever. While I agree that exclamations like "omigosh I totes love that..." devalues the meaning of those three words, I've been thinking recently that "I Love You" shouldn't be treated as almost unsayable. I want it to be a part of my everyday. Something about the way it feels on my tongue, something about how the letters and syllables feel tactile. I would rather love too much than not enough. If someone cannot love you back, then it is truly their loss because at least you have loved and felt fully, whereas they have not had that experience. There is no shame in it. Say it to your parents, your friends, your boyfriend, anyone who means something to you - even if it doesn't last.
All of this above is why I sign my posts "ab imo pectore," or something like "from the bottom of my heart".
ab imo pectore,
Hannah
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Once you're real
"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.
"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."
"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"
"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."
"I suppose you are real," said the Rabbit.
The Skin Horse smiled. "The Boy's Uncle made me Real," he said. "That was a great many years ago, but once you are Real you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always."
Coffee
In which I become a Southerner
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Elizabeth Warren
There has been a lot of controversy surrounding whether Elizabeth Warren is a good choice to head The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. Here’s how I see it:
Pros: Her appointment will show Obama and his administration definitively prioritizing Main Street over Wall Street. Also, Ms. Warren is an academic, not a politician or Washington insider, which I think will give her a fresh perspective. The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection was also Ms. Warren’s idea, which she originally proposed in 2007, before the vast majority of Americans new that anything was wrong.
Cons: It may be a struggle to get the Senate to confirm Ms. Warren as she is not perceived as a being politically neutral. Also, some do not believe she is qualified for the job based on lack of experience or inadequate academic credentials.
All in all, I think she is a great choice to help fix the system that desperately needs fixing. Lately, politics, for better or for worse, has been about the outsider, about the grassroots involvement and the choice of the people. When we thought the White House had failed us, we brought in a previously little-known Senator by the name of Barack Obama as previously apolitical people got involved with grassroots campaigning. Now that the banks have failed us, isn’t it time Obama appoints the people’s choice, namely, Ms. Warren?
ab imo pectore,
Hannah
I just love a good cardigan; they are a preppy staple and quite prominent in my wardrobe. They add instant polish and warmth - both of which are always a plus in my book. Here are some ways to wear them:
1. long cardigans over leggings for early morning classes
2. shorter cardigans over dresses instead of a bolero jacket
3. in place of a blazer for a corporate/dressy occasion
4. over an oxford shirt with the sleeves rolled up
I especially love J. Crew cardigans. The Kate Spade 'kimi' cardigan is my most recent cardigan purchase – I’m now obsessed with it but have yet to wear it!
P.S. Cardigans are popular among women, but what do you think of guys wearing cardigans? Personally, I'm a fan.
Nail Polish
For the past year, I’ve been loving purple nail polish of all sorts. Particularly, I've been into lavender as a fresh summer alternative to pinks and corals. I think this color is a little chicer and more unexpected than standard pink. Here are two of my favorites:
OPI Lucky Lucky Lavender
American Apparel L’Esprit – although this color looked slightly bluer than I expected once I put it on.
Also, while I know many people love a french manicure, I am not a fan. To me, short, rounded nails with clear or colored polish is the classy way to go.
ab imo pectore,
Hannah