Friday, August 9, 2013

Big Star

Summer can start! I finished up my web design class yesterday and am all amped up to have three weeks of fun. I kicked Friday off with spending several hours at my internship, getting pissed off, buying school supplies at Walgreens, discovering that my laptop Godfrey is broken, researching new laptops, and then cleaning the fish tank. Cool. This better not be what my summer is like. Okay, it isn't all bad. My friend Tyler stopped over and I adore him so that was nice. I had corn on the cob and ate on the back deck with my parents. I got a call back for an internship I really want. I signed up to attend a political summit in a few weeks. I get to see my best friend of 16 years tomorrow (after not seeing her for months!) and my boyfriend is taking me to dinner at the restaurant that we had our first date. Life is great.
 
I'm glad that I tend to have a good outlook on things. I was contemplating this today. Are people born naturally optimistic or pessimistic? Or is it entirely a choice? I go through phases where I get myself worked up, thinking that my life is horrid and completely hopeless and nothing is good. But then I give it a day or two to cool off and am able to think clearer. Today as I left my internship in a huff after pretty much being called incompetent about typefaces (!!!!!!) I wandered the aisles of Walgreen's and just thought things over. Then I took a long walk home in the sun and worked to convince myself that things aren't really that bad and people who put you down really don't matter. Why are people rude & petty anyways? I don't understand it. This outfit is to counter all of that unhappiness - bright and colourful and optimistic!
 
I've been sick with an infection from bad allergies (dang it, I love my cats too much). My doctor prescribed me a nasal spray so my boyfriend brought me to pick it up. While we were waiting I was looking at the hair stuff. There's been a box of Goody hairclips there for years and every time I go to pharmacy, I look at it and want it so bad. I mentioned this to my boyfriend and he bought them for me. And an ice cream cone. The small things that make my life so wonderful - Goody hairclips like I wore in pre-K and mint chip ice cream.
 
I found this shirt in some little store in Montmartre when I was in Paris in June. I liked the bright colours and the '70s vibes. I think it's deadstock from the '70s actually, given how (badly) the fabric breathes. I wasn't sure what to wear with these acid wash Cheap Mondays so I thought, "I might as well go all out with colour!" and threw on this top, immediately knowing that these orange sneakers from yeswalker were necessary. And of course the heart shaped shades. I couldn't resist. And do you know what? Wearing this outfit actually made me happy.
 
My boyfriend shot these photos for me and I was so happy about everything that I got a bit silly (keep your eyes peeled for a ridiculous outtake in the next few days). Being light of heart at the right times is such a good feeling. Who knew that silliness could heal the heart so well?
 



Keeping this blog is also something that frees my heart and brings me great joy. I don't care how many people read it or how many people like my outfits. I only care that some people hear my words and some people think about them and have something to say. Although some people have nasty things to say to me on my blog, for the most part it's a supportive community of young people all wanting to make the world more beautiful. I was pretty elated when I found out that over 900 people visited my blog yesterday. This is more than double the average. Maybe these people weren't reading my words, but I'd like to think that they were. And I'd like to think that, even if you don't take them to heart, they're at least considered as viable and true. It's hard being someone who, ever since she was a toddler and had to go to speech therapy with a mouth full of lisps, has been told that she talks wrong. That she doesn't articulate well. That her feelings don't matter, her opinion doesn't matter, what she has to say doesn't matter. All I care is that one person thinks that my words matter. So what I'm really getting to is this: I'm super emotional today and just want to give a huge THANKS and a huge hug to all the sweet words that have been coming my way lately. I wish that I could individually get to know every reader. I wish that I could hear about your life and your troubles and your joys, the way that you hear about mine. So here's what I'm asking of you: leave a comment telling me something about yourself, something that's been troubling you, and something that you feel positive or joyful about.
 
For me, well you know about me, but I'll share my one trouble and my one optimism for today. My trouble is that a former co-worker's son was badly beaten by a gang in Saint Paul. He was just walking down the street and they attacked him. This man, the father, was the nicest guy, always with a giant smile on his face and with a love for silent films. Please keep the son & his family in your prayers & thoughts.
 
My optimism is this: mean people don't matter. I have so much love and friendship in my life, and thus I have so much to be thankful for. Even if today had its downs, I was also able to realise its ups. And I'm thankful for that.
 
Stay optimistic, my friends xx

9 comments:

cowbiscuits said...

thise sunglasses are AMAZING! Love the shirt too!
You gotta mixmatch clips!

That is so sad what happened to your co-workers son, i hope he recovers physically and mentally, humans can be so cruel.

cowbiscuits

Anonymous said...

I read your words!
And if I were religious I would say amen.

My positive thing is that I've been feeling a butt load better about myself of late. I made the resolve to lose weight and now I've lost over 10% of my original body weight before I started. The raddest thing is that my weight has been the only thing holding me back and now that I'm loosing it I feel so free!

My negative thing is that I've been working a little too much and I'm wearing thin. It's time for a holiday to the country with my grandparents where the biggest ordeal for the day is fishing for our dinner in the dying light of the summer day, the fresh water of the river lapping at my legs.

Kitsune-kun said...

such a fun top!

Unknown said...

That shirt is just so adorable - you did such a great job styling it!

xoxo,
Laura
http://lauraisthriftingthroughlife.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

I read your words, and I can relate :) I also have outfits that make me feel better instantly! I love yours, its just perfect!

My negative thing is that I have trouble letting go of the past. I find myself obsessing over mean things mean people said to me, even though I know I should let it go. I believe rude people are unhappy, and thus they try to make others feel bad as well, so why should I care?

My positive thing is that because I am spending Summer at home (which I was pretty bummed about at first), I get to spend time with friends I haven't seen in a while. Homemade summer rolls and movie nights with the girls I've been friends with since fourth grade is just priceless!

Thanks for this post, you made my day!
xx
Miriam

Greet said...

I love your blog and outfits. And for some reason you remind me of Lolita (You known the Vladimir Nabokov one) OK maybe the heart-shaped glasses could have triggered that thought, but even when you don't wear them you as a person still remind me of her (in a good way)!

pessimistic thoughts of the day: I've just returned from a lovely relaxing holiday in Southern France and tomorrow I have to work. My head is aching and our street is filled with a fair that is producing disgustingly loud awful tunes (loop every 5 minutes) that make my head pound even more.

optimistic thoughts of the day: I'm thankful for being able to have such an sweet holiday. Although France is not really that far for a Western European girl, I still think it's important to be thankful for every opportunity life brings to you (or you bring to life - oh dear metaphysics at its best)

Anyway, I think I would like to add, since I haven't commented on your blog, that I think you are pretty awesome! I so agree on making the world a more beautiful place - I don't understand rude people either.

Rachel Haes said...

I love how colourful and fun your sweater is. You hair clips make me feel nostalgic as well.

Priya said...

This outfit is so fun and I've said it before, but I've got to get some heart-shaped sunnies! I love especially that last paragraph- such a great reminder. I always appreciate your outlook!

Things about me:

1. I started my blog when I stopped running in college.
2. Something that's been troubling me are a few specific people who are disrespectful to me, and I feel helpless in that situation.
3. Something I feel positive about is that even though I don't have a real job right now (and therefore not much $$), I know I will find one, and in the meantime, I have time to blog, read etc!

Praying for your co-worker's son, that is just terrible.

perfectly priya

streetwear said...

nice modeling, lovely stylist out fit, i am gonna try this out thanks for sharing

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