A great cause, A sexy way 10:21 AM

As of late, as I'm sure you've noticed, I've been predisposed to discuss fashion. My blog started off rather differently. My principle reason for writing was to inform the young (uninformed) masses of the trials, tribulations, and resolve of horrifying job searches. I think I had some interesting things to say, but once I got a job I strayed tremendously from one of my main topics. So, I am here today to present you all with something that is totally up my alley in more ways than one.

Why is it up my alley, you ask?

It includes a little black dress
It includes an entire universe of cool accessories
It helps children
It's about marketing
It's a brilliant idea
It's for an amazing cause
It's academically inclined
It includes a BLOG
She is Indian. Like me.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Doesn't that sound awesome??????

Let me preface this "thing" with how I came across it...

I went out on a limb today and shared Sophie Blackwell's blog, Missed Connections (one of my absolute FAVORITES of all time) with my very data-inclined, analytical teammates. My purpose was to get them to think about how one dimensional insights (numbers, words) can come to life in an awe-inspiring way. To encourage them to think outside the box. Bring a little art into their lives. I knew I was treading dangerously went I sent it, with the very likely possibility of seeming irrelevant, but I couldn't help it. I was so eager to see what people would say back to my email.

I waited.

I waited..

I waited...

And finally, got one email in response (thank goodness, honestly).

It was simple:
"Hey,
You might like this blog.
1 year in 1 dress.
Cheers,
X"

How nice! Someone shared something as SACRED as a BLOG?? With little old me?? You can imagine my excitement as I waited for the website to load. Rocking back and forth rather violently in my seat (spilled some water on myself in the process). And then it loaded. A petite woman, short black hair, in a simple black dress.

And then my mind was blown. See for yourself. This woman, Sheena Matheiken, is the ultimate bad ass. All the money she made was sent to the Akanksha Foundation, a project aimed at changing and revolutionizing education in India. She works for an interactive ad agency in New York (love herrrrrr), and was inspired while she was taking a 6 month sabbatical to focus on herself.

In conclusion, this is the coolest thing ever. I am 500% inspired and think she is amazing. I want to pick her brain forever.

"that shirt is so me" 7:39 AM

Some women are so good, so incredibly good at finding a style that fits their personality seamlessly. I know this bombshell of a girl at work, who is always wearing tight-fitted, crew-necked dresses and looks ravishing. She could honestly wear this every day and no one would ever tire of looking at her. But, amazingly enough, she doesn't wear these every day. She finds other, perfectly suitable outfits, and never breaks her style genre. And I am absolutely stumped. How in the world does she do it!?!

There are a few things I know about my style:

I am all about neutrals, blacks and whites, browns and grays. I tend to stay away from fully patterned dresses or outfits. I’m pretty tall, and I’d much rather be elegant and understated than sticking out like a sore thumb. Well, I don’t mind sticking out, but I don’t want it to be sorely :)

I love floral, but not in the excessive way. I’m gorgeous top I bought a few weekends ago. It’s a dull white, and has this unbelievable rouched flower-esque pattern (which is so chic right now, I know you know what I’m talking about) and I love love love it. It’s classy but it a sexy, confident way. Swoon. If only I had millions.

I have been searching and searching for a designer that suits me. I’ve looked high and low, near and far, and today realized that my fashion idol resides in Paris. Oh, Paris. If I could have a nickle for every time I think about Paris per day. The flawless fashion sense, the bread, the cheese, the wine, the sensuality of Paris is just delectable. I've read about 7 Parisian/love/scandal novels lately and may or may not be girlishly obsessed. It infuriates me that my prior plans to go fell through. I really think I'm going to teach myself French... OH, and for those of you who haven't seen An Education, do so. Now. Okayyy, getting back on topic. Maje has just become my style guru.
This brand does everything I love. Neutrals, earthy but city chic, sexy, but subtle and so confident. Drool.

I'm so happy to have found Maje and now absolutely looking forward to this weekend. I'm getting paid on Friday and will indulge in something beautiful.

Your (soon to be outrageously fashionable) friend,
A

*EDIT - Did you notice she's jumping in this pic?????

Sunflowers 11:51 AM

Highly recommend this book - It's a poignant mix of love, art, madness, and pain. It's beautiful.

Ick. 10:39 AM

Man... I am bumming hard today. Not sure what it is (this is me lying to myself... I know what most of it is), but I am sure that its the absolute wrong time to be feeling anti-social. What with eight meetings today and all. I just want to curl up underneath a warm comforter, with a heating pad to keep me warm, a little sun spilling in through my window, and sleep until Friday. It's such a hectic week (explains why I'm writing this, huh?), and I really have no time to enjoy myself. I feel sleep deprived and unmotivated and like an under-achiever. Nothing at work has happened to make me feel this crappy, I just don't like feeling like my life is all about my work. That's not how I see myself. I like fun and creativity and bright colors and relaxation and music and pillows and flowers and I'm just not getting that vibe today.

I feel lethargic and unenergetic. I don't want to smile or play or goof around. I miss AP, I think that's a big part of it. Having someone to love in your life makes everything amazing. But being far away from them takes everything down a notch. I know this is all temporary, but damn, I wish it was a shorter distance and a shorter time.

We put an offer down on an amazing apartment for the sister and I this weekend. We were so excited and loved it and spent the weekend glazed over with a newfound sense of independence, excitement, and anxiety (in the best sense of the word). Since we're Chicago novices, however, we came to discover that the area is so-so, semi-dangerous, which did not fly with the parents, and that new construction opens up an entirely new can of worms with lenders. So, in conclusion, the deal has been all but thwarted and I'm back to the drawing board, still shackled to my four-hour-a-day commute. It certainly is not making me feel any better. But, this is a very serious decision, a huge investment, and should be made slowly and surely. I just wish something would happen with ease, for once. Although I have learned this is a silly request to make.

I'm excited for this weekend. I have some fun plans. I just need to crawl out of this pathetic, life-loathing hole I've made for myself lately. Things are not bad at all. They just aren't as igniting as I'd like them to be. I need a change and some excitement and a life outside of work and travel, for God's sake!

I have ten minutes until my meeting and even my favorite blogs aren't cheering me up. They're highlighting, in neon colors of all sorts, all the things I love and can't have right now. Things will improve soon, it's probably just one of those annoying, self-pitying days that everyone has, but how I hate them. They are so yucky and make you feel much the same.

Regardless, I'm off to my meetings, hoping tomorrow will be better.

Your lame friend,
A

sad day 7:49 AM

Morning everyone.

I am hardly in the spirit to claim this morning is a good one. I happened to see one of my good friends from college on facebook chat this morning, while I drank my much needed cup of coffee and ate a doughnut that was quite the contrary (absolutely unnecessary). I was in a decent mood for a Monday, so I i/med her with a now completely inappropriate "HEYYY WOMANNN." She was one of the first girls I met in college, a sweet-faced, floral printed, big colorful earring-ed-type. She was (and still is, of course), amazingly intelligent, and has a keen eye for literary criticism.

Our last semester in school together was spent discussing her engagement and upcoming wedding. A summer wedding! I sent her some of my favorite design blogs to get her wedding wheels turning. I was so so incredibly excited for her!

We hadn't spoken in while. No phone calls since school ended. I am terrible on the telephone. I hate talking on the phone, so it was undoubtedly my fault. I did, however, have a few facebook-type talks with her, and all seemed fine. This morning, my "HEYYY WOMANNN" was counteracted by a "hey"... "how are you." I figured it was early morning, her curt response was nothing to get concerned over. When I asked her how she was, though, she said that she "could be better." SIRENS went off in my head. I immediately re-navigated to her facebook and her relationship status was hidden. You know what that means.

I am absolutely devastated for my friend. Devastated. She is so down on herself, feels completely undeserving, unmotivated, and unloved, when she is, in fact, amazing. She's beautiful, intelligent, and an absolute sweetheart. I wish I could fly over to her right now and tell her ridiculous stories, buy her some great books, surround her with pretty-smelling candles, and trendy jewelry and tasty hot chocolate (or all sorts of chocolate... just in case).

It's hard being a long distance friend. I tried to convince her to come visit me. That I'd take her out and show her a good time (I promised!). But she's so sad.

I guess this goes to show how everything in life is transient. You never know what tomorrow will bring. So keep your friends close and your best friends closer. Keep your family at an arms length and some good chocolates in your bed-side drawer. Prepare for the bad times, but hope for the best. And remember that no matter how much sadness comes your way, you have yourself to fall back on - a strong, independent, sharp-witted, bomb-shell of a woman (sorry boys, this post isn't for you).

And me! Love you, girl.

Sincerely,
A

Blue Tights 2:48 PM

Today a wonderful colleague of mine was wearing turquoise tights with a little black dress and flats. The dress and flats were conventional, but the tights were so outstandingly bright that it made her look amazing. She was totally hip-cum-corporate, perfect for the world of advertising, downtown Chicago, and our 5 hour "Storytelling" workshop. The workshop teacher (if you'd call her that with her unkempt hair, Tweety-Bird sneakers, and bright orange nails - no I'm not kidding) gave her super props for it and the whole class ohh-ed and ahh-ed at her trendiness. If I didn't love this colleague, I would've been super jealous, but since I do, I'm absolutely inspired.

I'm getting my hair cut today (Sidenote: FINALLY got an appointment after trying for THREE weeks. It's a 7pm, latest on the schedule, but it absolutely HAS to be done. I get to get my hair cut and styled and then go to sleep on it... nice)! Yippee! I am so thrilled because my hair is a mess. Not as bad as the Storytelling teacher (did I mention she was brilliant though, so her hair doesn't matter at all? She's won three Oscars!), but teetering on the edge of long, misshapen, and gross.

To tie it all together, I am inspired to do something less safe with my hair today. So I intend to get a funky (does using that work make me sound like a mom with an obsolete vocabulary????!) cut and then put a pretty headband in it. Like one of these. Don't you love them????

Your Inspired Friend,
A

Hello World 10:59 AM

It's another glorious, 80-degree day in Chicago. The sun is shimmering on the water, the beach bums are out catching some sun, and I am sitting in my cube feeling wonderfully productive and awarding myself with an oh-so-short blogging break.

I've been thinking a lot about blogging lately. I've been dabbling in some social media work/research, which requires more than my daily fill of blog reading (can't say I don't absolutely love it though), and I can't help but wonder...

Do these amazing bloggers ever feel like their blogs are mediocre? Boring? Uninsightful?

I'm pretty confident about my writing, and I have no qualms with sharing my thoughts with the world, but why would the world care about a 20-something year old blogger? I don't have any fun etsy-shop eye-candy, I try to make my living space pretty, but would never deem it blog-worthy. I love my job, love love love, but I'm still just a "junior." I'm sure advertising pros can "wow" the blogosphere way more than I can. So what's the catch? Where does the confidence come from? How do little blogs like mine turn into people's favorite blogs, like cakies, or, creative envy, or 100 layer cake, or a cup of jo, or {frolic!}, or PS I made this (I know you know I could go on forever...)?? How how how?!

Inquiring minds want to know! I really do love blogging, writing, sharing. So how can I draw people in? Sigh. Maybe I need to become a crafter. Or get married. Or have a baby. All my favorite bloggers fit those criteria!

But I absolutely will not have a baby. Or get married (for a few years at least). Crafting is always fun though :). I want to find a way to be me, and share the fun parts with other blog-lovers. I hope it's possible!

Until Next Time,
A