What you give is what you get

Cardigan - H&M, sweater - vintage, jeans - H&M, jewelry - antique, boots - Deena and Ozzy

I've been wearing the same thing pretty much everyday since I last posted. I've quite a bit on my plate, and sifting through my abundance of summer clothes has left me a little uninspired as well as upset since the season has passed.

Maybe the boots that I ordered will jump start my motivation to wear anything besides my Doc Martens, jeans, a tshirt, and cardigan. Incidentally, the boots are Doc Martens - but they're tartan fabric with a heel. I can't decide if I want to dye them. We'll see.




This past weekend I went up to Rhode Island to visit schools. It's anyone's guess what the lovely campus pictured below is, while the second photo is just a vibrant tree spotted on the way.




I've grown to detest talking about colleges, but I'm just going to say I really, really fell in love with Brown and RISD. Both were even more perfect than I could have imagined. Fingers crossed... not that I've sent an application to either yet.

xox Catherine

Golden afternoon

Cardigan - BDG, tshirt - Wildfox, jewelry - antique, skirt - Urban Outfitters, tights - Target, boots - Deena and Ozzy

I quite like how these tights look. I've found it hard to come by sweater-y tights, especially patterned ones. No, these aren't quite as comfortable as the few pairs of leggings I have... but they'll do. Expect to see them this winter.

I was planning on wearing this with a different top, but it looked a little too prim for me. I don't feel my best when I'm wearing something too much of anything - too girlie, too edgy, etc.





I came home last night... a little after 12am... to discover my ACT scores were up. Let's just say I'm rather pleased with the results, and I'm telling myself to be less hesitant when proceeding with applications. Also, I'm going to take a little trip up to New England this weekend. I've never been further north than New York, so perhaps I'll get a taste of something new!

Anyway, this past weekend wasn't too shabby. I took some photos downtown with a friend, and I'm pretty pleased with the results.



xox Catherine

But that's what wrong, I guess I just misunderstood.

Cardigan - H&M, tunic - H&M, skirt - Target, necklace - antique, cuff - flea market, leggings - Forever 21, boots - Doc Marten

Look, my hair's shorter! The weather's colder! Etc.! But it's Friday! So I guess all of the stress from the week can temporarily halt itself!

I believe tomorrow morning I'll be heading to the city to take photos, but it's something I genuinely want to do, y'know? I'm sick of pretending to enjoy doing things just so I have something to do. Example: the play. The idea seemed great, but if something becomes a hassle, it's not worth it.





I'm trying to mentally stray away from oversize clothing, but I just tend to gravitate toward it when it's freezing in the morning and I want to wear something comfortable.

On another note, check out me and my neighbor's puppy. He was trying to bite my necklace, how sweet!

xox Catherine

I can't hold you close, darling when you're not with me.

Vest - gift, tshirt - Pacsun, skirt - H&M, necklace - antique, cuff - antique, boots - Doc Martens

I wore this on Thursday to school then to get my hair cut. Oh, I don't know that I've mentioned this, so I'll say it now: I won most artistic for my school's yearbook superlatives. I don't think it's the biggest honor ever or anything, but it's still pretty cool because I usually think no one at my school knows who I am.

This day was actually rather interesting - I went up to a town with my friend to take pictures. We discovered there was a parade, so we walked around, came across a tall parking lot, took photos from it, and hung out there for nearly an hour. We went to a coffee shop prior to catching the bus home, and there was a "free library." I came across an old book with another book inside it written by some weird self-proclaimed doctor discussing psychopathology. Uh, right.




Anyway, last night (Friday), I saw Social Distortion, aka my favorite band. They were amazing! I'm a little surprised and upset they didn't play Story of my Life, but it's almost a bit of motivation for me to find someone to sing it with in the school's talent show. Never mind that I can't sing whatsoever... I like to think I'd be poking fun (in a harmless way) at the copious amount of couples that play guitar and sing together for the show.

My job at the Halloween store has ended, so I'm looking for another. I try a few nicer restaurants... though I probably wouldn't do well as a server.

Hope all is well! xox Catherine

10.26.10

Sweater - Forever 21, necklace - thrifted, cuff - antique, skirt - Element, boots - Doc Marten

I hadn't worn this sweater in ages... probably over two years ago. I guess that's not terribly long, but usually I wear everything I own again, again, and again.

Also, it was rather warm out on this day. More humid than hot, actually, but wearing long sleeves wouldn't have been a wise decision considering my school's crazy weather. Yes, my school has its own weather.




I don't remember this day too vividly, so I'll display a few photos of my ceramics work - pretty basic. I made both of these on the wheel, at which I'm still not terrific, but it's incredibly relaxing as I mention again, and again, and again.




I decided to take photos of these so I can print them out and put them in my portfolio, maybe.

Hope all is well - I'll be doing another catch up post soon!
xox Catherine

Trying

Shirt - Olive and Olivia, dress - Target, jewelry - mostly antique, socks - Target, boots - Deena and Ozzy

I like how these photos came out, but I'm still interested in buying the f/1.8 50mm lens. The f stop on my camera rarely goes below 5. You know.

I'm still incredibly stressed and wrapped up in everything, but today wasn't so bad. I worked literally all weekend, which drained me physically and mentally and so on. I'm still glad it's only temporary.




I know I've worn this outfit twice before, but never to school so I decided I'd take it for a spin on this particularly warm October day. And naturally, being outside for ten minutes caused three bug bites. Less than summer, but still too many!



As you can see above, I've learned how to make a contact sheet for negatives! It wasn't exposed for a consistent time throughout, which explains the variations. I'm content with some, but I still want to shoot some more... preferably tonight, because it's the only time I have free and the camera is several days overdue.

Ah. Hope all is well! xox Catherine

What's there to do?

Cardigan - BDG, top - Asos, necklace - mom's antique, cuff - antique, rings - self made/random shop, jeans - H&M, boots - Deena and Ozzy

I wore this yesterday. I suppose I would consider today a "skip day" if I weren't so concerned about my astronomical level of stress. Thus, first mental health day of the year. Much needed.

I started work yesterday, and it went pretty badly. Dressing room attending at a costume store = horrible. Otherwise, it wasn't so bad.




I'm almost ready to force myself into tights. As you might know, I'm not a fan... but I miss wearing dresses and skirts.



So I'll leave you with another pinhole photo. I like to think I'm "ahead" in that class, partially because everyone that's taken it gives a warning, but also because I really enjoy it.

xox Catherine

Because here they come, 10/18/10

1. Zara - $100, 2. American Apparel - $6, 3. Spring - $80, 4. Topshop - $80, 5. Modcloth - $30, 6. Topshop - $65

Nothing like a good ol' wish list to spark my interest in dressing myself. I'm uninspired. However, I'd like to note the two Topshop creations on my list. Normally I shun them into the category of things I think are overrated (Jeffrey Campbell Lita's = blogosphere shoe of fall 2010), but I quite like these. I guess I'm jumping on the 60's/70's autumnal dressing bandwagon...

On another note, here's my current playlist:
1. Where Nobody Knows - Kings of Leon
2. I Want You - Kings of Leon
3. No Cars Go - Arcade Fire
4. Somewhere in Between - 22 Jacks
5. 1,000,000 Years BC - the Misfits
6. Crown of Thorns - Social Distortion
7. Soul to Squeeze - Red Hot Chili Peppers
8. Dog Days Are Over - Florence & the Machine
9. Death or Glory - Social Distortion
10. Telling Them - Social Distortion

Can't say my music taste is terribly obscure. Sorry.

Also: I developed my film, but finished the process literally minutes before leaving school. Some of them might have come out well, but I didn't get a good look.

Also: I start my temporary job tomorrow. Hurrah.

xox Catherine

I'm not the only one that thinks we're taking ourselves too seriously.

Cardigan - H&M, necklace - made by me, cuff - antique, top - Kimchi Blue, jeans - H&M, boots - Deena and Ozzy

I'm trying to mentally schedule a haircut for sometime next week, but I don't foresee much free time. Oh well, the more (filled) the merrier, right? This morning was freezing... a guy in one of my classes told me he thought it was supposed to go up to 94 degrees today. I wish, maybe somewhere else, though.

It seems that I've been characterizing my days by the art stuff I do. Today I took two pretty good pinhole photos (see below!), finished a charcoal reduction still life, and will probably be going out to shoot photos leisurely since I've already done the assignment.

Now if only my writer's block would subside... luckily, tomorrow's a "late day," so I'll have more time to stay up. So I can pretend I'll do something productive.





Supposedly it's my school's spirit week, and frankly, I'm not really one to give a crap about that. However, I've heard some discussion of a "senior prank" - throwing toilet paper and/or streamers during a pep rally. I'm not really a fan of pep rallies, but I might not avoid it just to see what happens. It's hardly original though, considering a couple years ago bouncy balls were thrown in a similar manner.

Also:



Look, it's me!

I'm still ridiculously fascinated that boxes can be cameras. Mind blowing, really.

xox Catherine

Talk is cheap, and it doesn't mean much.

Cardigan - H&M, necklace - antique, tshirt - Pacsun, skirt - Forever 21, boots - Doc Martens

I wore this last Friday, for which I feel like a bad blogger because it's taken me so long to upload these. I begged my sister to come to a park with me so I could take photos with a borrowed school camera - so anxious to develop them! We learn how next week, so until then... cue false-suspenseful/bad-horror-movie music.

I suppose this is still a little more dressed up than what I might have worn two years ago, but I'm not totally impressed. Perhaps this is a reflection of my current attitude and insecurities regarding multiple aspects of daily life.




I was supposed to visit a college over the weekend, but due to a few unforeseen circumstances, it didn't happen. It would have been my first portfolio review! Crazy. So instead, I'm going to an open house at my sister's school this weekend, which entails a review. Gulp. And in a couple weeks, National Portfolio Day hits Philadelphia. Gulp.




Isn't that tree crazy? I love the interesting oddities you can find in nature.

xox Catherine

PS I've been hired for a, er, late seasonal Halloween store job. I'm hoping to boost my savings account and keep it at a happy level. But of course, I want shoes.

Sometimes I like you and sometimes I don't, I feel like I'm gonna and then I won't.

Cardigan - BDG, dress - Modcloth, jewelry - various, socks - Target, boots - Blowfish

Today was good for the most part... minus a disappointment set up a half hour ago since I realized I wouldn't manage to take photos today.

No, most of today was quite nice - I took quite a few photos with my box, worked on a painting I started a while ago, threw on the pottery wheel, etc. It's nice to not have to drag myself from class to class and to not dread waking up everyday to go to school. Understandably so.




Normally I just let the titles of my post pass, but I have two things I'd like to say about this: the title is comprised of Social Distortion lyrics, whom I'm seeing in three weeks. They're pretty much my favorite band and I'm so excited. Also, do you know that feeling when you feel like you love someone but can't decide if it's love or hate? ...that doesn't make much sense, and instead of referencing more lyrics from said band, I'll leave you dear readers with a vague notion of what's going on in my mind.

xox Catherine

Sweater - thrifted, jewelry (most) - antique, jeans - Delia's, boots - Doc Martens

I feel like a terrible blogger. A week since my last post? I'm slacking... but I'll blame the cool rainy weather as opposed to anything I've done.

I've worn my Docs everyday this week, which I love because I love them, but I also frown at this because it's cold. Hasn't surpassed 70 degrees in what feels like forever. I'm already itching for the return of warm weather. On the bright side, I'm (sort of) feeling inspired again, it didn't rain today, I drank acai green tea, and I managed to get a shot from my pinhole camera (aka my box).

Tomorrow I plan to go out with a friend to take photos - pretty excited to see how said adventure will turn out.





...I suppose you can make out that the image above is leaves, right? Right? Okay, maybe I'm just too fascinated by the fact that a box can serve as an image recorder. But fascination is good and I've missed it over these past couple weeks.

xox Catherine

Making it work

Cardigan - Forever 21, dress - vintage, cuff - antique, boots - Deena and Ozzy

I tried to make this dress a little more autumn-appropriate. I wore this yesterday to school, then changed before I went to a friend's house because I thought I might have been taking a walk. I didn't.

I'm so insatiably underwhelmed lately. I have a list of possible culprits in my head, but I don't have the motivation to spell them out on paper. I need to remind myself that making lists does wonders for organizing my thoughts... but alas, nope.




I'm hoping this weekend will bring a bit of spark. I'm finally visiting my sister at college - there's going to be a flea market this weekend, so we agreed it would be a cool time to go.

And can I note that yet another month has passed and we're going to enter the double-digit months? Yes? Very well then.

xox Catherine

9.24

Tshirt - borrowed, jewelry - antique, skirt - vintage, shoes - Urban Outfitters

I wore this last Friday, which actually ended up sort of horribly because I couldn't lift my mood. I should clarify: most of the night was awful, but around 12am and on it wasn't terrible. I miss some of my friends!



I'm getting really freaked out about applying to colleges. I'm comparing myself to my peers way too much. I just have to keep reminding myself to RELAX, and that I can't change what I've done/haven't done over the past three years... and that I'm not defined by a lousy number. But what proof do I have?

xox Catherine