{meet-ups} One to Stay and One to Go

Blouse: UO * Shorts: J. Crew, thrifted * Belt: thrifted * Cuff: thrifted * Bag: Target

Now first off, I'd like to point out that I have in fact worn more shirts than this one, despite what my recent posts may indicate. I just love how this shirt toes the line between casual t-shirt and lacy blouse. It's kind of become my go-to piece this summer. So when I knew I'd be meeting up with the beautiful witty Betsy for brunch a few weekends ago, this combo seemed to just fall into my lap. It was hot, humid, and muggy as hell, so I opted for breathable fabrics, perforated shoes, and casual weekend shorts (don't chino shorts just scream "brunch!" to you?).

One thing that is really tough about moving to a new place is that you kind of have to start over with your social group. Making friends as a grown-up kind of sucks, in my opinion. There are no more playgrounds in which we can simply saunter up to someone and ask if they'll be our best friend. There are no classrooms, sports teams, or after-school clubs in which you end up spending hours upon hours just being around other people. It's not like college, when there are dorms, and parties, and the constant flowing in and out of social circles. As an adult, all of that boils down to bars, clubs, or that most dreaded word: networking. And since I'm being honest here, I'll tell ya: I suck at all three. "Night life" has never been my thing. It's loud, overwhelming, and I end up awkwardly talking about real A-plus topics like the weather, summer construction, or what people are paying for their internet service. In short, it doesn't go super well. (Also, now would be a good time to validate this stream of consciousness, and to let me know that I'm not alone in the wacky world of adult friend-making.)

But brunch? Brunch I can do. And brunch, with someone that I've "met" through their delightful blog? That I can definitely do. So when Betsy and I sat down to our tasty bloody marys and unbelievably good creamed eggs, it was a lovely change of pace. (And I'm happy to report that at no point did I mention internet service rates, though I'm pretty sure that both the weather and summer construction did enter into our conversation.) Betsy is stylish, hilarious, smart, and super motivated, and it was easy and refreshing to launch into conversations about blogs, fashion, travel, moving, relationships, and, of course, our brunch. I earnestly look forward to many more moments of meeting and chatting over a strong drink and fabulous food.

Maybe that's the key. Maybe food is the hidden ingredient in my need to meet people. I'm much more comfortable talking to someone over a meal, which might be why bars are tough for me. There are only so many beer peanuts a gal can eat. So maybe I need to start just hanging out at brunch places. Sit at the bar. Strike up a conversation with the stranger next to me, who is also quietly enjoying their creamed eggs and morning mimosa. And who knows? Maybe we'll hit it off. Maybe they'll even give me a tip on how I can pay less for my internet service...

Title song: Lou Reed, "Egg Cream"

I Toured the Light

Me and Emily ~ Outfit details: Sweatshirt: Gap * Skirt: H&M * Red bead necklace: World Market * Serpentine necklace: Tree & Kimball * Shoes: Sperry Topsiders * Bag: Target

Bad news, folks. The ultimate Chicago blogging commune, also known as Emily and my apartment, is no more. Our year-long lease ends tomorrow, and though the awesomeness of two bloggers living together is almost too awesome, it made the most sense to everyone to move out. She and K, our other roomie, have new apartments all their own, and I'm happily subletting a wonderful apartment from a good friend. So although we knew it was the most practical solution to the end-of-lease dilemma, and although we're still practically spitting distance from each other, it's still a bit bittersweet to not have such a fabulous, hilarious, super-smart, utterly stylish woman as my roommate.

As a final farewell photoshoot, the two of us gathered at the lake on an immensely stormy day, and snapped away. It was only kind of sad, since even though it was our last photoshoot as roomies, I'm sure we'll be meeting up on the regular to gossip, eat, take photos, watch True Blood, and generally be awesome. 'Cause really, that's what bloggers do. Be awesome.

Emily, you da bomb. I'm so glad we got to live together, and I just love this very tangible, in-real-life effect that blogging has had on our worlds. Despite running in similar, and sometimes overlapping circles in real life, I'm certain that Emily and I never would have met, and probably wouldn't have become friends or roommates, without the introduction that our blogs created. It has been a hard year for each of us in many ways, but I can confidently say that it was a much easier year having someone around to share some of it with. I'm so grateful for the connection that we've made, and for the experience we shared this past year.

It is consistently amazing to me that every single style/fashion/lifestyle/vintage blogger I've met has, without fail, defied the stereotype of a "fashion blogger". Each is a bright, funny, multidimensional woman, articulate and motivated and fascinating. I am so happy, and surprised, to have found this pocket of women and friends. It's like the hidden secret of blogging, something perhaps not readily apparent on the surface, but something that strengthens and deepens the utter awesomeness of this community.

So I am looking forward to the next stage in Emily and my blog-lationship, not as roommates, and not just as bloggers, but as friends. It shall be lovely. And I'm sure this coming year will have just as many changes to adjust to, and transitions and challenges to meet, for both of us. I have a feeling, though, that these changes and challenges will be exciting, exhilarating, and enriching. This is the first time in awhile that I've been so excited, so scared, and so ready for the next year. Bring it on, life!

Title song: Bon Iver, "For Emma"

Week(end) Clothesline: Bloggers. They're Just Like Us.

Maxi dress: Old Navy * Shirt: Thrifted * Boots: Target * Coat (in last pictures): vintage * Necklaces: borrowed from Emily * Gold cuff: grandmother's * Earrings: Maurices * Rose ring: Forever 21 * Cameo ring: grandmother's * Lipstick: Revlon, Kiss Me Coral

Last Thursday, Amy Creyer, of Chicago Streetstyle Scene, hosted a Cynthia Rowley trunk show in Wicker Park, and invited a slew of bloggers. And indeed, a slew of bloggers attended. Emily and I headed uptown and met Lisa, Tabitha, Gina, and Sabrina at the trunk show, and followed up the festivities with a tasty birthday dinner for Tabitha at feast. 'Twas rad.

I have a million gazillion pictures of the evening, and my little fingers are still tired from all the typing I did yesterday, so I'm keeping this one light. I opted for another maxi dress outfit, for comfort and warmth (what you can't tell from these pictures is that I'm wearing long underwear and leggings under the skirt! Winter: 0, Clare: 1 MILLION), and blinged the everliving crap out of it with as much gold as I could find. A swoop of coral lipstick and I called it good.

Das bloggers: Me, Tabitha, Lisa, Amy, Gina, Sabrina, and Emily (photo courtesy of Amy)

Champagne and chocolate!! Yes, this was the source of my champagnover from last week. From top: Me, sassin'; Lisa, rocking the fur and looking supah hawt; Emily and Tabitha, who totally came dressed as twinsies!; Me, sassin' again, only with chocolate! (top and bottom photos courtesy of Emily)

Carbs, champagne, and general silliness ensued at feast, where almost all of us ended up ordering macaroni and cheese. We's a classy bunch, y'all. Bloggers. They're just like us. (bottom photo courtesy of Emily)

Lisa snapped these awesome pictures of me outside of feast as we headed home for the night. It was windy and cold, but we were determined to be the dedicated bloggers that we are and get a few snaps.

Then, Emily and I stopped in an alleyway on the way back to our apartment and got a few more shots of our outfits.

And then we jumped around. It took literally a million takes to get these jumping pictures. I think both of our knees are permanently damaged from the antics.

It was such an awesome time, and I already miss hanging out with these rad ladies. We've hung out (in real life!) a few times now, and it's been so rewarding and wonderful to spend more and more time with them and get to know them better. They are all such incredible, funny, gorgeous, smart young women, and I couldn't ask for a better crew to hang with. Can't wait for the next time, ladies! I fully endorse the idea of a slumber party, complete with 80's chick flicks, side ponytails, and midnight snacks. 

I had a kaleidoscope in my purse. For realsies. (photo courtesy of Emily)

Save That for Later

Shirt: Target * Skirt: Goodwill * Cardigan: H&M * Belt: Joe's * Tights: We Love Colors (navy) * Boots: thrifted * Earrings: Tree & Kimball

It's Monday. It's Monday and I'm not altogether okay with that. It's Monday, and I had lasagna over the weekend, so we may as well just come out with it and start calling me Garfield. I ended up having the kind of weekend where you wake up on Monday morning and wonder how in the world it isn't still Saturday. And I'm still quite exhausted, which is a shame, and means that when I burned my finger on my straightener this morning, it resulted in an entirely unnecessary amount of tears. Okay, seriously, the pity party is over. Onward and upward, my friends!

Joe got me these altogether magical earrings for Christmas, from Tree and Kimball. Lisa of T&K is delightful, and I am positively obsessed with her creations, so I was ecstatic to see a little box of hers under the tree. I've worn them a few times, but keep failing to properly document their awesomeness. Aren't they fantastic? And they're lace, so they're super light, which is perfect for my sensitive ears.

I wore this outfit last Thursday, when Emily and I were the happy hosts to Lisa, of Archives, and Tabitha, of Fashion Therapist, for a dinner at our home. As much as we all love all of the more structured blogger events that we've been to, it was refreshing and wonderful to have a more laid-back excuse to hang out. I cooked while wearing a vintage fur crown and Lisa's fabulous stole, we gabbed about blogs, Chicago, and all things awesome, and it was a positively lovely way to spend a Thursday night.

We made homemade manicotti for dinner, which was, of course, cheesy and delicious (seriously, you can't go wrong with inordinate amounts of mozzarella). Tabitha brought the vino, and Lisa came with cupcakes in hand (you can witness their progressive carnage above). It was delicious, and I think it's safe to say we were all sufficiently stuffed by the end of the evening. It was a delight to hang out with these ladies, and I was happily unsurprised by how easy it was to chat and be together. There was plenty of silliness, plenty of laughs, and plenty of cupcake-frosting-noses, which, in my mind, are crucial to a good dinner party. I can't wait for the next excuse to chill with these rad ladies.

I was also insanely happy with my outfit. I had picked a few items for my 30 pieces that I'd never worn before (which, in retrospect, seems like a classic rookie mistake, though it seems to be turning out okay. This cardigan and skirt are two of those pieces. I snagged the cardi months ago at H&M, but it's really light-weight so I haven't had the balls or cooperative weather to bust it out yet. I love the dark navy and thin white stripes, and I'm obsessed with the exposed zipper (though I don't think you can see it in these pictures). And this skirt was a $2 impulse buy at the Goodwill near Joe's house. I'd been on the hunt for a good knit skirt for months, and I love how this one fits and feels.

I have another crazy week ahead of me, with a to-do list a mile long and more emails to write than my little fingers feel up for. But I'm trying to keep a positive face on all of it. I have leftover lentil soup for dinner tonight, and I'm planning on keeping the hot tea flowing throughout the course of the week (with maybe a cup or two of hot chocolate thrown in for good measure). Add in one or two mid-week movie viewings (I just got Atonement from Netflix), and I should have no problem getting through the week.

Title song: Beck, "Cupcake"