LEX / LATTE

Back to basics

2012-02-09T16:53:00.000-05:00

After a drab, gray week, I decided to take matters into my own hands and inject a bit of sunshine into my life with a bright yellow sweater. And what do you know? Nature followed suit.

Sweater - Gap | jeans - Express | shoes - Nine West | scarf - souvenir from Paris | belt - Limited

I think this is as simple as an outfit can get, really. Cozy sweater, plain jeans, and a scarf, all in primary colors. I like to think that don't look like a box of crayons. I also now have a craving for Thai food, as the last time I wore all primary colors (2.5 years ago), I had Thai food at an amazing little hole-in-the-wall restaurant, where I haven't been since.

Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned from this outfit, namely, to simplify and brighten my life. As graduation draws near, things are becoming increasingly stressful, and I find that I'm making everything way too complicated. What should be a fairly simple apartment search has me up until all hours in the night. Papers seem daunting. The idea of trying to register my car in a different state is scary. And to top it all off, I have two major trips coming up in the next three months, which is great, yes, but also means that I'll be unnecessarily stressing over the details. I need to just cut out all the extra worries and get back to the basics as I envisioned them last year, when imagining my last semester of law school. And eat lots of chocolate, because there is no better cure for stress in this world.

Outerwear not optional

2012-02-02T20:04:00.000-05:00

And not just because it's raining.

Today's lesson: indoor lighting can be very deceiving. I'm no stranger to color, but today's fashion disaster was one that required wearing a coat all day. You see, for the holidays, my mother got me a few pairs of colored tights. I figured that a dark olive would look cute with a bright orange dress and a pair of loafers. Little did I know that what looked almost brown under the tree would turn out to be a fairly bright green in the daylight. Wearing an orange dress, I looked like a pumpkin patch in early fall.

Dress - Limited | tights - Hue | shoes - Nine West | life-saving coat - Limited

Fortunately, the lights at school were somewhat forgiving, allowing me to document the mishap. Lesson learned.

Oscar Wilde Child

2012-01-31T19:09:00.001-05:00

If I had to pick just one favorite author, it would be a battle to the death between Alexandre Dumas and Oscar Wilde. My love for Oscar, however, is much more open: there is a picture of me canoodling with him in Dublin, having an intellectual talk in Galway, and paying my respects at Père Lachaise Cemetery. And what do you know, on occasion I dress like him, too!

Blazer - J.Crew | shirt - Brooks Brothers | jeans - Express | heels - Clarks | scarf - souvenir from Paris

Not convinced? Let's compare:

All I'm missing is a cane. Well, that and his infinite wit and wisdom.

Not-so-secret garden

2012-01-30T21:21:00.000-05:00

I've taken a liking to taking a long walk from my downtown apartment to Georgetown on relatively warm, sunny days. This weekend, I had a companion, whom I have to thank for these embarrassing photos of me in the garden of the Old Stone House. Unfortunately, good company always tempts me to overeat at brunch and indulge in more than one dessert afterwards. But the 3-mile walk each way makes that okay, right?

Candid, mid-conversation.

Even more candid, after I lost my balance walking backwards.

Business comfort

2012-01-27T14:41:00.001-05:00

My biggest school commitment this year has been my policy clinic. For those of you not familiar with law school jargon, clinics are (at least in theory) practical courses where students get to work with actual clients under the supervision of staff attorneys. Last semester, our clients visited us in DC; this week, it was our turn to visit them in New York.

Client meetings can be tricky to dress for. These particular clients are a non-profit organization with a fairly relaxed vibe; plus, we had to travel 4 hours each way. As a result, we went for comfort, not stuffiness. Here was my solution, blurred by my iPhone.

Top - Limited | skirt - Limited | tights - Hue | scarf - street fair | shoes - Nine West

Pencil skirts are my go-to choice for any kind of office wear. I kept this poor skirt (wrinkled and slightly worse for the wear after the bus trip) from being too serious with colored tights in a muted color. The scarf would have fit in with our clients' general aesthetic, but I took it off for the meeting anyway. The wedge heels, worn only for the second time, surprised me. We wanted to walk a few blocks before catching a cab back to the station but ended up walking the whole way, which took us almost an hour -- and the heels were up to the task!

Here is my satisfied pose after a successful and productive meeting. Lawyers often complain about having to deal with clients, but for a law student, client meetings are a rare and valuable experience, and I look forward to the next one!

Another rainy day at the office

2012-01-23T16:50:00.000-05:00

To quote Office Space, somebody's got a case of the Mondays! Gray, rainy Mondays. Filled with clinic meetings. And editing journal articles. After a weekend of cupcakes and champagne, the lack of pastries anywhere on my agenda seemed jarring.

Top - Banana Republic | sweater - Forever 21 | jeans - Express | boots - Hunter | scarf - street vendor in Ulm, Germany

You guys, I'm completely addicted to my Hunter boots. I almost want it to rain so that I don't have to think about my choice of footwear. I just wish I had socks in a punchy color to break up all the grays and blues. Red? Orange? Yellow?

Life lessons from a 70-year-old

2012-01-19T14:44:00.002-05:00

The return of the sweater vest, with the addition of slightly-heeled loafers, which always make me feel academic.

Shirt and vest - Banana Republic | jeans - Express | scarf - ShopKo | loafers - Nine West

Also, life lessons learned at work today:

1. "Find a man who will buy you shoes."
2. "Be friends with Victoria's Secret."
3. "Let me tell you something about puppies. You don't want puppies." (And by "puppies," she meant men who try to be all cute and adoring and look up at you with big glistening eyes eyes and whom you can't ditch because it's, well, like kicking puppies.)
4. Most importantly, "Don't stir the cobbler."

The last of many firsts

2012-01-17T23:46:00.000-05:00

This is it: the first day of my last semester of law school. My last first day, unless I decide to go back to school at some point down the road. I was never one to carefully plan out first day outfits (and let's face it, as a second-semester 3L, you've got no one to impress), but it seemed fitting to wear a lawyerly pencil skirt and take pictures of myself in the library to capture the spirit of law school.

Sweater - Banana Republic | skirt - Limited | tights - Hue | boots - Bandolino | scarf - Shopko

Only 3.5 months left!

An uphill battle

2012-01-13T15:38:00.001-05:00

Breaking out of a style rut ain't easy. First it was patterned dresses with cardigans and boots, and now look at all these repeat offenders: head-to-toe neutrals, belt at the waist, trusty Sperrys. But I was mostly after comfort rather than style, as this was my outfit of choice to walk from my apartment all the way to Georgetown and back, making a pit stop at Trader Joe's on the way back.

Top - Banana Republic | jacket - Wilson Leather | pants - Banana Republic | belt - Kohl's | shoes - Sperry

Now, Georgetown is a pretty busy place, so I ducked into a side street to take photos and inadvertently found what may be the steepest hill in DC. Next time I think I'll perch myself on the Exorcist steps.

Variations on a theme

2012-01-11T19:18:00.000-05:00

Gray rainy days don't particularly inspire me to experiment with my closet, so today's outfit was strikingly similar to the last one I posted: black & white dress, cardigan, tall boots.

Dress - H&M | cardigan - Ann Taylor | tights - Hue | boots & socks - Hunter | scarf - street vendor in Ulm, Germany

Although people say that you're not supposed to pair black with navy, I decided that the black stripes of the dress could pass for navy if I squinted. It almost worked.

Today's dark colors were somewhat broken up by the arrival of the hot pink Birchbox. Whereas the December shipment left me underwhelmed, this month more than made up for it.

I don't care much for the fragrance sample or the magnet: I tend to stick with my signature scents, and our fridge is not magnetic. The other products, on the other hand, are great. The Archipelago Pomegranate Soap sample is huge and smells simply amazing. The Stila eyeliner is basically a full-size product in a dark blue color that is neutral enough to wear every day yet has just a bit of edge to it. I wear eyeliner on a regular basis, and I've never tried Stila products, so I'm excited to play around with it. The jar of Clark's Botanicals "Soothing Marine Cream" is exactly why I subscribed to Birchbox in the first place: it is a ridiculously expensive product, so sampling it is a must before committing to the full-sized container. Fortunately, this sample is very generous! As for the Lärabar, well, it's already gone.

A B&W kind of day

2012-01-10T12:04:00.001-05:00

Although my winter break was over a month long, it flew by way too fast, and before I knew it, I was back on a plane back to the east coast. DC greeted me with a sunshine, but yesterday was a grey, rainy/snowy day that had me hiding out at the library.

Dress - NY Collection, via Macy's | cardigan - Banana Republic | belt - Express | tights - ??? | boots - Sofft

School campuses are so strange when classes aren't in session. Although some courses and clinics are meeting this week, the school is basically deserted. In away, it reminded me of home. I grew up and went to college in a true college town, and as we got to be seniors, superseniors, and eventually graduates (translation: older) my friends used to say that they liked it when all the younger kids left for the holidays. I felt just the opposite: there was something eerie about seeing the downtown area, normally bustling with students, so quiet. I wouldn't trade city noise for anything.

Winter fat pants

2011-12-15T21:49:00.003-05:00

I may be home for the holidays, but my semester is far from over. Heck, the registrar just tacked on an extra five days by giving us a blanket extension on our papers. Endless paper-writing in December means one thing: lots of time spent at my favorite coffee shop, wearing my winter fat pants.

You heard right. Winter fat pants:

Top - Express | cardi - Ann Taylor | cords - Banana Republic | boots - Bandolino

The term "fat pants" isn't 100% accurate, as I like to think that I'm the same weight as I was a season ago, but they could accommodate more than a few extra pounds, should I choose to gain them over the holiday season. Or their equivalent in winter layers of socks, tights, and long janes. I'm absolutely dreading the day that these cords start to get too stretched out or faded, because then I'll have no safety blanket when I need copious amounts of cookies and hot chocolate to help me through the writing process.

Motorcycle equestrian

2011-12-05T11:20:00.000-05:00

It's December, and still no sign of what I would consider proper winter weather. So I'm carrying on with the autumn browns (and, it appears, my looking up and to the left pose). I kind of wish I had a wool jacket to wear with these leggings and boots for a true equestrian look and am still kicking myself for not getting that camelhair work of art that I saw at the outlet mall a couple of days ago. Maybe as a post-paper reward?

But if I'm not buying clothes, I'm getting food. Behold, one of my winter guilty pleasures: bone marrow.

And sconnie eggs (in a sausage shell!):

And, of course, cupcakes from Red Velvet:

Now I just need a couple more of those guys to get me through the next 50-some pages...

Exclusions and exceptions

2011-11-19T15:52:00.001-05:00

It's that time of the semester: paper-writing time. After treating myself to a freshly baked chocolate croissant (bought frozen at Trader Joe's), I reluctantly dragged myself to the nearest Starbucks in an attempt to be productive. I'm not usually one to wear head-to-toe neutrals, but I couldn't resist the cozy cords and sweater vest. Plus, sweater vests always make me feel extra nerdy -- ergo, inspiration to concentrate on 50 pages' worth of the exclusionary rule and the chilling effect of the Davis holding on the development of Fourth Amendment law. Err, perhaps the vest pushed me over the edge right there.

Shoes - Sperry | scarf - super old | everything else - Banana Republic

Somehow I managed to capture myself in one of the few moments that my sleeves aren't hiked up to my elbows. At any given time, there's probably about a 0.1% chance of that happening. Must be a good day for exceptions -- after all, that's what the aforementioned exclusionary rule is all about.

Olea europaea

2011-11-14T14:12:00.001-05:00

(Olive, that is.)

70 degree weather? Lounge chairs on the rooftop? In mid-November? By the look on my face, you can tell that I'm not terribly enthused. Neither are my razor and shaving cream, which were looking forward to a part-time schedule this season.

Why are my hands in my pockets, you ask? First of all, this skirt has pockets, so you bet I'll take advantage of them. Secondly, I had to hide my nails, which were certainly not in the olive color family today:

Keeping up with the Joneses

2011-11-09T16:06:00.001-05:00

Another gorgeous, sunny day here in DC. We had a Very Important Lawyer join us as a seminar guest to discuss the GPS tracking case that was argued before the Supreme Court yesterday (U.S. v. Jones). The occasion called for a preppy blazer -- not that I ever need an excuse to wear one.

And just for fun...

Feels like summer, looks like fall

2011-11-08T12:01:00.002-05:00

That's actually a lie. Not only is it in the mid-60s today, it doesn't even look like fall: everything is pretty much still green. So I'm taking it upon myself to make things around here a little more yellow, red, and brown -- just in time for Everybody, Everywear. Today's theme? Colored tights.

Top - Limited | skirt - Limited | tights - Hue | shoes - Target | scarf - gift from Ecuador

(Yes, I know today is about tights, but I couldn't resist taking a closeup of one of my favorite scarves!)

Take a look at how others have styled colored tights:

Fab Five Friday

2011-08-26T07:04:00.000-04:00

With all the earthquakes and hurricanes happening in my neck of the woods, it's time for something fab and fun, so I'm jumping on Linley's Fab Five Friday bandwagon.

Brooks Brothers non-iron shirt. Button-down shirts are hard to avoid in my world. Good thing I love them! Shopping for them, however, is a royal pain at times, since many shirts either gap in the front or need to be ironed religiously. Brooks Brothers shirts have solved all my problems. They are roomy in the bust but still form-skimming (I go for the tailored or fitted style rather than the classic) and, best of all, they really are non-iron! Plus, you can get some styles on clearance for about $35 dollars, which is considerably better than the $90 sticker price!

While we're on a preppy note, I can't help mentioning my beloved Sperrys. I have two pairs, one in the classic tan and one in navy, and the navy are by far my favorite. I've gushed about them before, but seriously, the leather is so soft (the tan ones are stiffer)!

And speaking of leather...I'm a Brooks saddle devotee. I have the B17 on my mixte and it feels like I'm sitting on air, since the leather conforms so perfectly to my bum. I am considering getting a Brooks Swallow for my road bike, just to see if their athletic saddles are just as good...

It's pretty safe to say that I like most kinds of food available to me, and I'm certainly not a stranger to hummus, but spinach and artichoke hummus in particular is a recent obsession, probably because it reminds me of my friend Caitlin's amazing spinach artichoke dip...

And last, but not least, my guilty pleasure! Glam rock in general, Bon Jovi in particular.

Lucky ladybug

2011-07-18T15:40:00.000-04:00

This busy, hectic summer hasn't presented me with many opportunities to get out of the office/apartment/coffee shop and channel my inner tourist. However, I took advantage of both B. and J. being in town to traipse around the financial district and the waterfront while wearing a colorful, office inappropriate dress.

Dress: H&M

And what's a gal to do when she looks like an overgrown ladybug? Why, take pictures in front of the federal courthouse, of course!

A special shout-out to Boston Legal from me and B.! ;)

The power of a pencil skirt

2011-06-30T15:39:00.000-04:00

Today, I'm dressing my best for my iPhone. It counts as a body part, right? And my black and yellow cardigan matches its black and yellow case too perfectly...

All kidding aside, today is about pencil skirts and legs. Many of my peers dislike pencil skirts for their implications: in a conservative workplace, women are sometimes expected to shun pant suits in favor of good old-fashioned pencil skirt suits. (I guess Hillary's style hasn't fully caught on quite yet.) Consequently, pencil skirts are seen as a sign of male oppression rather than a flattering garment that's a sign of femininity.

Well, I embrace pencil skirts for what they are to me. And, as I discovered about two years ago, what they are is flattering -- namely, flattering for my butt and legs. I don't count my legs among my favorite body parts, but damn, I like the way they look in a classic pencil skirt! And what's more classic than black?

Cardigan: Ann Taylor | skirt: The Limited | shoes: Circa Joan & David

Curveball

2011-06-27T16:48:00.000-04:00

My buttocks don't get much love from me. The way they stand between me and cute bottoms is worthy of an NFL defensive linebacker. But they were simply no match for the brilliant offensive maneuvers of this Banana Republic skirt. Pockets, railroad stripes, and the perfect amount of stretch -- ladies and gentlemen, it's a touchdown!

Shirt: H&M | skirt: Banana Republic | shoes: Alfani | tote: Coach | sunglasses: Bvlgari, c/o Sunglass Hut

Bonus photo of the day: a hurdy-gurdy player by the old state house!

Showing some ankle

2011-06-25T13:15:00.000-04:00

Weary of grading papers, writing cover letters, and doing more legal research than you can shake a stick at, I took advantage of a lovely sunny Saturday by taking to the streets -- and by streets, I mean Newbury Street. Hey, Banana Republic was having a sale!

This was also my chance to temporarily break free of my weekday pencil skirt uniform and jump on the Academichic Dress Your Best bandwagon. So today, I'm featuring a much-neglected body part: my ankles. Ankles don't get a whole lot of attention nowadays. They are either covered up by long pants or overshadowed by all the leg that shows when you're wearing a skirt. A single cuff at the bottom of skinny jeans solves the problem. Those Victorian ladies must be looking at me like I'm some brazen hussy. My, my, don't I feel risqué?

Shirt: Gap | jacket: BCBG MaxAzria | jeans: Express | shoes: Sperry Top-Sider

In honor of Memorial Day: seafood

2011-06-02T16:47:00.000-04:00

I've been quite the little travel bug lately. First a road trip to Boston via upstate New York and NYC, then a week of family, good friends, and good food in Madison, and after my first work week in Boston, back to DC I went for Memorial Day.

J. had a little surprise for me.

Fresh clams, caught on the coast of Assateague Island. These suckers were huge: each one was roughly the size of my palm, and my hands aren't exactly what one would call small.

Size, however, comes at a cost. Because they were a little tough, we decided to make them into delicious clam stuffies! (Well, J. decided. We all know that I don't cook, unless it's in the most extreme of circumstances.)

My roommate tried one and described it as "very Martha Stewart."

As an extra bonus, we had these guys, too:

It's official: I can't ever move too far away from the coast.

Chilling out, maxing, relaxing, all cool

2011-04-12T07:13:00.000-04:00

I'm not a maxi person. When I last wore a maxi skirt (sophomore year of college), I felt that it was a bit too hippie for my taste/personality. Then the skirt ripped along one of the seams, and I saw that as an excuse to trash it, even though it would have been a very easy fix.

Lately, though, maxi dresses have been all over the place -- including EverybodyEverwear, of course -- and they looked so comfy that I couldn't resist spending $10 on a basic one at Forever 21. I wanted to balance out the flowy silhouette somewhat, so I brought out the wedges and leather jacket and have been perfectly comfortable so far, chilling out, maxing, and relaxing.

Dress: Forever 21
Jacket: Wilson Leather
Shoes: Kenzie
Earrings: Souvenir from Germany

That's the library right behind me. Yes, I was brave enough to take these photos on campus, despite the persistent fear of getting weird looks from classmates. You see, if I'm taking photos in front of The Library (of Congress, that is), I can pretend that I'm a tourist. If I'm on campus, I have to pretend that I have a perfectly good reason for taking a random photo. Non-bloggers just don't understand.

Black/brown, winter/summer

2011-04-02T17:51:00.000-04:00

Whenever I buy something, I generally don't wait a long time to use it -- or, in the case of clothing, wear it. A couple of weeks ago, as we were in Georgetown, Emma handed me a skirt from the Anthropologie sale rack. It was just my size and incredibly cheap by Anthro standards, so I couldn't resist. Problem? I was itching to wear it, but it's not exactly warm in DC right now. Oh, what to do?

Shirt: The Limited
Skirt: Anthro
Tights: Hue
Hat: Macy's
Scarf: ???
Shoes: Target

*Pardon the poor quality, but my camera is the custody of my mother, who didn't want to take her bulky DSLR overseas. The iPhone has to fill in for the time being.

I decided to wintrify the breezy, summery skirt by wearing it with tights, a hat, and a scarf. Oh, and what's that? Am I wearing a black shirt with brown accessories? I blame the skirt, which incorporates both black and brown, thus giving me a free pass.

Porky pig

2011-03-15T12:08:00.000-04:00

Whenever I return to Madison to see my friends and family, it's almost a given that I'll be eating out a lot. This time was no exception. Most places I tend to go to are tried and true (e.g., Takara), but every once in a while something less frequented comes up. Thursday night it was Brasserie V, chosen by MSB in part because it was not in the midst of all the political brouhaha downtown.

Although I had been to Brasserie V before, it was never for a proper dinner, but rather drinks with friends and a quick lunch. It was just as I remembered: cozy, but not cramped or overly intimate (and by that I don't mean anything negative -- in my restaurant vocabulary, "intimate" is reserved for romantic dates). We got there just in time to snag two stools by the window while we waited for a table -- a big accomplishment at a small establishment like Brasserie V.

After warming up with a glass of St. Bernardus Pater 6 (which I'm not qualified to comment on, but I'm told it has notes of melon and very fresh banana), I ordered the pork-n-beans with kale and white bean puree. MSB opted for the confit duck leg with red wine gastrique, which, as our smartphones told us, was a reduction of wine, sugar, and fruit. Both dishes were delicious, and I found them to be sized just right.

For dessert, I couldn't resist ordering the maple bacon bread pudding. Sounds strange, but in reality, it's not much different from a bacon chocolate bar, and just as good. I had a hard time tasting the maple; MSB and his more refined palate didn't seem to have that problem.

The best part, however, was the bread basket. A carb lover such as myself generally appreciates any kind of bread served before dinner, but this wasn't about the bread. No sir, this was all about the butter -- the delicious pistachio cranberry butter, which was enticing enough to convince MSB, who typically shuns carbs, to eat some bread. Replicating that little bit of sweet, nutty heaven may be my next culinary challenge (run for your life, dear roommate!).

Spot, skirt, stair

2011-03-08T08:24:00.000-05:00

It's Everybody Everywear time! This month features polka dots, which I haven't worn in ages. I was hesitant at first, since I typically associate polka dots with more childish things, but then I found a floaty blouse at H&M that convinced me that adults could wear them, too.

Top: H&M
Skirt: The Limited
Leggings: Hue
Boots: Sofft
Belt: gift from mom
Earrings: The Limited

If the background looks different, it's because I'm spending spring break with my parents in Madison (instead of in Rome like I was originally planning. But that's okay. I'll get to have lots and lots of sushi with some of my favorite people and eat delicious home-cooked meals. I'll just have to have Italian wine with just about everything to pretend that I'm eating in uno piccolo ristorante...

30 of 30

2011-03-03T17:02:00.000-05:00

Last outfit! I put this one together around my scarf, which has both plum and purple shades (which one is more dominant depends on the side that's showing). I pulled out the plum with the cowlneck and the olive with the tights. As I was walking down the street in my olive tights, a gentleman remarked in passing, "Your legs turned green! It must be spring!"

Shirt: Express
Skirt: The Limited
Tights: Hue
Booties: Nine West
Sunglasses: Ray-Ban
Scarf: Adams Morgan Street Festival

And because the olive color reminded me of an old suede jacket that I got at Wilson Leather centuries ago, I simply had to dig the jacket out of the closet and throw it over the rest of it all.

That's it for my 30 for 30 challenge! Congratulations to everyone else who has completed it -- and those of you who are on your last few outfits, hang in there! A full recap of my own experience will be posted soon, to summarize the lessons I learned through this remixing process.

29 of 30

2011-03-03T16:55:00.000-05:00

I originally intended to wear this skirt with a tucked-in white button-down, but then I realized that my 30 for 30 button-down has been worn far too many times already. Hence, the cream turtleneck got to get out and see the sun.

Turtleneck: Express
Skirt: Sunny Leigh
Belt: Express
Tights: Hue
Boots: Sofft

Because this skirt is quite twirly, I tried to take a spinning shot, which turned out to be a failure, but here it is anyway:

28 of 30

2011-03-01T10:08:00.000-05:00

People usually say that they like having interns around because they bring energy and excitement to the office. I'm not sure if that statement would apply to me, since I'm not particularly energetic or exciting -- at work, I tend to be more of the diligent, reliable type. Still, particularly on gray, rainy days, I take my unofficial ray of sunshine duties very seriously:

Shirt: Ralph Lauren
Cardigan: The Limited
Skirt: The Limited
Shoes: Alfani
Earrings: souvenir from Russia

You know what else I take very seriously? Eating sushi. The sushi at work is surprisingly good, and my employee discount makes it even better. The spicy tuna roll never lets me down.

27 of 30

2011-02-28T16:13:00.000-05:00

I think I subconsciously felt the need to compensate for not wearing pink on Valentine's Day, because yesterday I wore not one, but three pink items. But I promise, I was good about not eating too much chocolate.

Camisole: The Limited
Sweater: Banana Republic
Jeans: Express
Shoes: Clarks
Scarf: Super old
Earrings: vegetable ivory

26 of 30

2011-02-28T16:08:00.000-05:00

Date night. Watching Inside Job at the National Archives. Then dinner with lots and lots of tortilla chips. Then jumping around in the hallway trying to take at least one decent shot. That's dedication to blogging, y'all. It's really too bad that the photos make my tights look almost black. Trust me, they are burgundy.

Dress: NY Collection
Cardigan: The Limited
Belt: Express
Tights: Hue
Shoes: Nine West

After the movie, I was absolutely starving and got the worst craving for nachos. I was planning on getting some at Qdoba, but Austin Grill was right on the way, so we went there instead.

Do not get nachos at Austin Grill.

For a third -- if not a fourth -- of the price, you can get pretty much the same thing at Taco Bell. There was nothing wrong with the chips, the tomatoes, or the nacho cheese. However, the meat, whatever it was, was atrocious. Edible, yes, and I ate just about everything on my plate, but I will not get those nachos ever again. Cheap-tasting food has its time and place; Saturday night at Austin Grill was not the time nor the place.

That's not to say that I didn't like Austin Grill. The place was cute (my companion pointed out that it captured the flavor of Austin), our waiter was attentive but not fawning, my margarita was quite good, and my companion's portobello quesadilla was delicious -- naturally, I had to try a bite. So there is definitely potential, but the nachos just don't have it in them.

25 of 30

2011-02-25T14:34:00.000-05:00

One of the things that bothers me about D.C. is the security. Student dormitory? Security guard or a student employee. Library? Same. Apartment building downtown? Doorman. I miss the good old days when all I needed was a set of keys, and my guests could come and go as they pleased. Also, those doormen? They talk. Thank goodness, today I was being talked to, but who knows if I'm also being talked about? Lesson of the story: be nice to your doormen. Apparently, some people don't realize that. But hey, it's D.C. -- somehow, I'm not surprised.

Oh, and you want a 30 for 30 outfit?

Shirt: The Limited
Skirt: The Limited
Blazer: J. Crew
Shoes: Clarks
Earrings: very old
Scarf: even older

24 of 30

2011-02-24T15:10:00.000-05:00

I like color, I really do. However, I usually limit myself to one colorful item per outfit. Today, however, I was feeling adventurous and paired a bright blue skirt with a green button-down -- with a healthy dose of black to balance everything out, of course.

We had a little photo shoot in the mailroom, but of all the pictures that were taken, the only acceptable one was of me not looking at the camera. Figures.

Shirt: Ralph Lauren
Skirt: Express
Belt: Express
Tights: Hue
Boots: Sofft
Earrings: fair trade, gift from mom

23 of 30

2011-02-23T19:28:00.000-05:00

You know how people sometimes ask why you're all dressed up, and you think, "Huh? I'm not dressed up!" Today was one of those days. I had an informal meeting with the dean, so I opted for something a tad more traditional than bright tights or a houndstooth dress, but I maintain that a cotton sweater and a polo dressed up do not make.

Polo: Ralph Lauren
Sweater: Ralph Lauren Sport
Pants: Express
Shoes: Alfani
Scarf: ???
Earrings: gift from Molly

I made a huge mistake in not wearing my sunglasses. Tortoiseshell Wayfarers, where were you when I needed you most?

In other news, I'm delighted to report that I successfully made poached pears tonight. It was surprisingly easy and required nothing more than tossing together an arbitrary amount of red wine, sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, and cinnamon. If Evie can do it, anyone can.

22 of 30

2011-02-22T15:09:00.000-05:00

I was in a foul mood this afternoon, thanks to a disappointing phone call and a paper that's due tomorrow. All I really wanted to do was mope around at home, wearing PJs and eating inordinate amounts of junk food. But, fueled by chocolate-drizzled caramel and a few truffles, I decided that instead of feeling blue in private, I should show my blue self to the world. So off I went to Barnes & Noble, in all my blue glory...

Sweater: Express
Skirt: The Limited
Leggings: Hue
Boots: Sofft

Really, it's amazing how much the smell of a bookstore can lift my spirits. That, and a chai latte.

21 of 30

2011-02-22T14:59:00.000-05:00

I have never seen the ocean from North America (apparently, the fact that Boston is right on the shore doesn't count). So, despite the gray and drizzly day, we took an impromptu road trip to Ocean City and Rehoboth Beach before they transitioned into their usual touristy selves.

Shirt: The Limited
Jeans: Express
Jacket: Wilson Leather
Bag: Coach
Scarf: gift shop at the National Gallery
Shoes: Nine West

Funny thing: I'm much worse at posing for pictures when someone else is taking them than when I'm just doing it with a self-timer (though that's not saying a whole lot). So, even though I had a photographer on hand, I totally blew it as a model. And, of course, he had to take a candid photo of me mid-stride...

As we were strolling along the wet beach, picking up the occasional shell, we came across this guy:

Other highlights of the day included salt water taffy (which made me feel like Carrie Bradshaw from the Atlantic City episode), peach flavored gummy penguins, and a yummy dinner at Dogfish Head. All in all, a good way to spend a holiday!

20 of 30

2011-02-20T16:52:00.000-05:00

In a desperate attempt to inspire myself to be productive, I spruced up today's outfit with a tie and glasses. I really should have taken a closeup of the tie, because I'm quite smitten with its subtle purple damask pattern.

Shirt: Banana Republic
Pants: The Limited
Shoes: Alfani
Tie: Alfani
Glasses: Versace
Bag: Coach (diaper bag!)

I blame the grumpy look on my Criminal Law reading. Why I signed up for that class is still a mystery to me.

19 of 30

2011-02-19T12:46:00.000-05:00

On the agenda for today: externship seminar (aka Life of Frisch), reading White Tiger at B&N, and scaring James by cooking dinner.

Dress: NY Collection
Polo: Ralph Lauren
Boots: Sofft
Leggings: Hue
Earrings: fair trade from Chile, gift from mom
Trench: The Limited
Aviators: Ray-Ban

My houndstooth dress is super comfortable, but I thought the pattern would be a bit much for a semi-lazy Saturday, so I tried to dress it down with a casual polo and thick leggings. You really can't go wrong with a simple red, black, and white combo...or can you?

Even though today was wonderful, sunny, and generally perfect for an outdoor photo shoot, it was so windy that I didn't dare take photos outside for fear that my camera would topple over and fall to its doom. Still, because my ombre coat matches my aviators so well, I couldn't resist documenting it. Hence, the dorky shot of me wearing sunglasses indoors. So sue me.

18 of 30

2011-02-19T12:31:00.000-05:00

Hello, long weekend! Not only do I have Monday off, but because of the faculty retreat at school, I'm a free woman until Friday. You bet that the next several days are going to be filled with coffee shop trolling and lots of food. I went to Whole Foods yesterday and am all ready to experiment in the kitchen -- with the fire department and poison control on speed dial, of course.

Cardigan: The Limited
Skirt: The Limited
Shoes: Clarks
Scarf: Express
Earrings: Demetra

As I was walking home from work, I realized that my cardigan was one button off, making the ends uneven. Why doesn't anyone tell me these things?

17 of 30

2011-02-17T14:59:00.000-05:00

There's a heat wave here in DC! The city was bustling today, and even though I'm not a huge fan of 60+ degree temperatures in February (it's unnatural, I tell you!), it was nice to see so many people out and about.

And look, ma, no coat!

Shirt: Banana Republic
Cardigan: J. Crew
Jeans: Express
Booties: Nine West
Scarf: gift
Worn to: work, class, massive grocery run to Whole Foods

16 of 30

2011-02-16T17:48:00.000-05:00

One of my professors, trying to illustrate a point, asked us to think about our DVD collections in comparison with our shoe collections, presumably expecting the former to be considerably larger than the latter. I couldn't help laughing. Unless you count each Boston Legal DVD separately, my shoes far outnumber my movies and TV shows. And that's the way (uh-huh uh-huh) I like it.

Sweater: The Limited
Pants: Express
Shoes: Alfani
Scarf: gift from Ecuador

What's this? Black and brown together? Go ahead, call the fashion police. My affirmative defense (or mitigating factor, if you absolutely insist) is that as I got ready in the morning, I was still under the influence of Richard Wright's Native Son, which we had to read for today's class. If you want a disturbing, gruesome book, this is the one for you. It's powerful and poignant, but certainly not for the faint of heart.

15 of 30

2011-02-16T17:35:00.000-05:00

Discovery of the day: my cobalt sweater does not photograph well. Also, it does not get along with other articles of clothing, leaving behind a messy trail of blue. Do not wear this sweater to an illicit rendez-vous or to rob a department store -- the little blue threads will give you away.

Sweater: Express
Pants: Express
Booties: Nine West

14 of 30

2011-02-14T16:23:00.000-05:00

I cheated. I unexpectedly had an important meeting today -- important enough to wear a full suit. I didn't include any jackets besides the velvet blazer in my 30 for 30 and, by necessity, had to venture into the temporarily abandoned areas of my closet. Fortunately, I thought to include pencil skirts and plenty of button-downs, so once I took off the suit jacket, the rest of the outfit was totally kosher.

Shirt: The Limited
Skirt: The Limited
Hose: cheapie drugstore pair
Shoes: Alfani
Glasses: Burberry

Oh, and wasn't today a holiday or something? I do believe it has something to do with penicillin. Still, in an unexpected twist, my Valentine's Day, ordinarily unremarkable, became remarkably corny.

13 of 30

2011-02-14T14:39:00.000-05:00

Sunday's itinerary: more museums. This picture was taken by the Sackler Gallery; I couldn't resist the pretty gate.

Sweater: Ralph Lauren Sport
Skirt: Sunny Leigh
Belt: Kohl's
Tights: Hue
Shoes: Alfani

The matchy-matchy belt and shoes combo strikes again! I think I mentioned previously that I almost always pair this skirt with a white camisole and a red fitted cardigan. But a belted sweater? What? Even though I'm fairly satisfied with the experiment, I'm not used to wearing the skirt with so little red.

We also enjoyed brunch at Chef Geoff's downtown. It was my first time there, and I have mixed feelings about it. The food (true to form, I ordered the lox) was good, and the ambiance was nice, with a jazz trio softly playing fun tunes like "I've Never Been in Love Before." The service, however, left much to be desired. We got the brunch special, which came with an entree, a mimosa, and coffee. The waitress brought the mimosas, but forgot the coffee. Rachel ordered her omelet without tomatoes; the omelet was full of them. We toyed with the idea of ordering dessert, but ended up telling the waitress that even though the choices all looked delicious, we were full. The waitress didn't hear the last part and brought out dessert spoons. Fortunately, we were able to stop her before she put in the order.

Although I tend to be a pretty easy customer, I was a bit frustrated by the time the bill came. Yes, I can see myself going back there for the food and music -- as well as to give the service another chance -- but I wouldn't recommend the place to anyone who likes their brunches to be a well-oiled machine.

12 of 30

2011-02-14T14:22:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, Rach and I spent a good portion of the day wandering around various museums. My houndstooth dress had not seen the light of day yet, so I decided to play around with it, layering it over a button-down and adding a splash of color with the blue leggings. The belt goes without saying, of course; I pretty much count it as part of the dress.

Dress: NY Collection
Shirt: The Limited
Belt: Express
Leggings: Hue
Boots: Sofft

A funny thing happened at the National Gallery. Rach and I ducked into a room to watch a brief documentary about Chester Dale, and on our way out, a guy approached me and asked if we went to school together. After some awkward confusion, we established that we were once in a seminar together. He and his friend were hosting a visitor from Chicago, and we (and a few others) met up later at night for some drinks and dancing. Even though everyone in the group knew no more than two other people, we all got along famously and had an absolute blast dancing all crazy-like at Napoleon. Win? I think so.

11 of 30

2011-02-11T11:44:00.000-05:00

Back to purple we go. Even though today started out fairly chilly (my inner Midwesterner is laughing at that), by the time I had to start running between buildings in the afternoon, it warmed up considerably. I decided not to bother with my coat and used my scarf instead.

Camisole: The Limited
Cardigan: The Limited
Skirt: The Limited
Shoes: Alfani
Scarf: street vendor in Paris (or was it Ulm?)
Earrings: international fair at Duke, 2004

The first thing Rachel noticed about my outfit today was that the cardigan matched my iPhone case. Yes, people, I'm color-coordinated like that. But really, I highly recommend having a bright cell phone case; when I had a black one, I always confused it with my wallet. And trust me, bad things happen when Evie pulls out her wallet.

10 of 30

2011-02-11T09:17:00.000-05:00

My friend Rachel is in town for the weekend! We spent most of yesterday wandering around DC, hitting up Eastern Market, Georgetown, and Penn Quarter, making a few exciting discoveries in the process.

Discovery #1: Georgetown inhabitants clearly like Japanese art:

Camisole: Express
Cardigan: J. Crew
Skirt: Express
Tights: Hue
Shoes: Nine West
Scarf: Street vendor in Paris
Earrings: fair trade, gift from mom

Rachel, having studied abroad in Japan, went nuts over this mural, and I think it made a great backdrop for my blue and gray outfit.

Discovery #2: Georgetown Cupcakes. Enough said. I knew about it, of course, but never made an effort to go there, since Red Velvet is only blocks from my apartment. I don't see myself making a trip to Georgetown just to have a cupcake, but if I'm ever there for an unrelated reason, a cupcake will be consumed.

Discovery #3: Cowgirl Creamery. We had wine, we had chocolate, all we needed was cheese. Cowgirl Creamery had a great selection, and I'm surprised that we limited ourselves to four cheeses.

Discovery #4: Introducing new friends to old ones isn't so bad! Even if the new friend comes over when you're not around, and the visiting old friend has to entertain him until you come back.

9 of 30

2011-02-09T18:07:00.000-05:00

My purple reign continues. Didn't I warn you in my pre-30 for 30 post that I had entirely too many purple items?

Top: Express
Turtleneck: Express
Pants: The Limited
Shoes: Clarks
Hat: Macy's

I was running late this morning and didn't have time to take a shower. I get terribly self-conscious of my hair when it hasn't been washed for over 24 hours, so I took advantage of the fact that I didn't have any important business to attend to and wore my cozy hat all day long. Oh, and I topped the whole ensemble off with my purple (and white, to be fair) Northface fleece. I was a walking eggplant.

8 of 30

2011-02-08T07:56:00.000-05:00

I cannot deny how much I love blazers. In the warmer months, they are my outerwear/top layer of choice. However, they tend to get bulky under coats, so they don't get much play in the winter months. Enter my new plum blazer: bulky, yes, but so warm and wintry that I couldn't resist including it in my 30 for 30. Oh, and look, just in time for the Everybody, Everywear blazer challenge!

I had a friend take a picture of me by the library, but I failed to ask for a full-body shot, so this is the result. The entirety of the outfit consists of the blazer, the scarf (bought at the Adams Morgan street festival last October), the Demetra earrings, a white camisole, Express jeans, and my plum Clarks shoes. Matchy-matchy yet again, but I'm not complaining this time around.

Also, I'm kind of wishing for a pocket square right now.

7 of 30

2011-02-08T07:46:00.000-05:00

Monday was a good day for several reasons: we made brownies, the assignments at work are getting more and more interesting, and I felt both comfortable and confident in my outfit.

Turtleneck: Express
Pants: Express
Scarf: Italy
Belt: from mom
Shoes: Alfani

The pants are ridiculously high-waisted, which is bad in theory but great in practice (especially at work), because I don't have to worry about sitting down or bending over. The pant legs are ridiculously wide, too, but the cuff at the bottom makes them feel polished. Plus, I was very fond of the monochromatic theme I had going with the blacks, whites, and grays.

Monday was a bad, bad day for one reason: my laptop decided to die on me. Sunday night I stepped away from it for a few minutes to take a phone call, so it went into sleep mode and never woke up. I tried every home remedy known to me, but to no avail. The Apple Geniuses (after being surprised that I knew what the PRAM and the SMC were -- my outfit didn't exactly scream "computer savvy") couldn't think of anything else to do, so they suggested sending it in for repairs. Do the math: 3.2 year old laptop + 1 week without it + hefty repair price = time to get a new laptop.

Although I wanted to get another MacBook Pro, Apple is probably going to release an upgraded on in a couple of months. As a result, after much deliberation, I settled on the 13" MacBook Air. I'm still amazed by how light it is. However, portability comes at the price of performance, and I hope I don't regret my decision anytime soon.

6 of 30

2011-02-06T15:16:00.000-05:00

What's this? No black, yellow, or gold? Isn't is Super Bowl Sunday? Yes, but my Sunday was not about football at all. I spent it reading Melville at Barnes & Noble, trying to find a screw for my towel bar, waiting in line at the grocery store, and silencing my smoke detector every 10 minutes while my oven cleaned her filthy self.

Sweater: Ralph Lauren Sport
Jeans: Express
Shoes: Alfani
Belt: Kohl's
Scarf: ShopKo

Going to Safeway two hours before the big game starts? Bad idea. Everyone was in a hurry to get chips, dip, and beer. 40 minutes in line. No joke. Note to self: don't do this next year.

5 of 30

2011-02-05T18:30:00.000-05:00

My 30 for 30 remix might as well be titled: How to Remix Your Collared Shirt. Or maybe How to Remix Your Wardrobe from The Limited.

Shirt: The Limited
Sweater: The Limited
Skirt: Express
Sweater tights: ???
Shoes: Sofft
Scarf: from Italy
Worn to: Seminar, movie

I bought this sweater a couple of years ago and am now wishing that I had bought a few more in different colors. It's perfect for layering over shirts because it allows the color to peek through; it's incredibly easy to care for -- no dreaded fuzzies; and it fits very comfortably, without being overly snug under the arms, which is a frequent problem for me.

In other news, No Strings Attached is a fabulous chick flick. So darn cute. My favorite part? The carrot bouquet, of course. That's what I'd like for Valentine's Day, in fact. I could use a few carrots. Or turnips. Yes, turnips.

4 of 30

2011-02-05T08:13:00.000-05:00

Natural light makes its first appearance in my 30 for 30! I spend most of my weekdays cooped up inside or walking on busy streets where I can't set a camera down. By the time I get around to taking photos, it's already dark outside. As for mornings, I'm simply not a morning person and refuse to get up earlier than I need to. But yesterday, I had a few minutes after work to snap a photo while waiting for a friend to meet me at the Library of Congress. The taxi in the background wanted to get in on the action, too.

Shirt: Banana Republic
Pants: The Limited
Scarf: The Limited
Belt: from mom
Shoes: Alfani
Earrings: Janice Ho
Worn to: Work, Calvert Marine Museum

Does the belted scarf combo look familiar? It should. A. from academichic sports it quite frequently, and I decided to give it a try. I rather liked the result, primarily because it eliminated any worries about the shirt gapping a little bit in the front. Oh, and Hair liked it, too.

After work, we drove out to Southern Maryland to look at old oyster buckets and scallop fossils, as well as to indulge in some deep-fried seafood. And crab cakes. Yum. The belt definitely needed to be loosened for that.

3 of 30

2011-02-03T17:29:00.000-05:00

Busy day! Any time there is a law-related event on my schedule, you can count on my digging out the pencil skirts. Today was no exception...

Shirt: The Limited
Sweater: Banana Republic
Skirt: The Limited
Shoes: Alfani
Earrings: made of tagua (vegetable ivory)
Worn to: Work, class, journal meeting, networking dinner

Valentine rhymes

2011-02-03T08:02:00.000-05:00

Two poems I heard on the radio today at work. Some may find them in poor taste, but S. and I couldn't help laughing out loud:

"Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
The test confirms
I'm eating for two."

"Roses are red,
Baby is white,
Are you sure
The DNA test is right?"

Also, Happy Chinese New Year! And happy 82nd birthday to my grandma. The Year of the Rabbit is her year -- not zodiacally speaking, of course, but it's my grandpa's nickname for her. Funny, considering that once upon a time (in my Ultrazone days) I was affectionately called the White Rabbit.

2 of 30

2011-02-02T13:23:00.000-05:00

Confession: I'm in love with this shirt. It's a great color, it never needs ironing, and it lets me embrace my inner prepster with the large crest. For those who like the whole popped collar look, it's got some pretty sweet embroidery on the back (which never sees the light of day, because I can't pull off the popped collar for the life of me). I rarely ever tuck in my shirts when wearing jeans, so this is a new look for me, although I'm afraid that it may draw too much attention to my hips. Oh well, I couldn't resist the belt-shoe combination. Here I go, being all matchy-matchy again...

Shirt: Ralph Lauren
Jeans: Express
Shoes: Alfani
Belt: Kohl's
Earrings: fair trade, gift from mom
Coat: Jones New York
Worn to: class

1 of 30

2011-02-01T13:08:00.000-05:00

Day one! I played it safe and wore a combination that I've been wearing on a regular basis ever since purchasing the cardigan. It didn't help that I was running late this morning and had to rely on an old standby just to save time.

Top: Express
Cardigan: The Limited
Pants: The Limited
Shoes: Clarks
Earrings: Demetra
Worn to: Work, class

It's no secret that this plum color is one of my favorites and that it shows up in my wardrobe with alarming frequency. As a result, it's all too easy to wear those matching items together. Case in point: the top matches the diamond pattern, which matches the shoes, which match the purple pearl earrings. Yes, it works on a basic level, but do you think it's too matchy-matchy?

30 for 30 Remix: Day 0

2011-01-31T17:54:00.000-05:00

This February, I'm hopping on the remixing bandwagon and, along with many other bloggers, joining Kendi's 30 for 30 Challenge. The rules are simple: Pick 30 items from your closet (shoes count; accessories don't) and remix them into 30 outfits over the course of 30 days. Oh...and no shopping until the challenge is done. So, without further ado, here are my 30 for 30 picks.

From left to right: Limited, Limited, Banana Republic, Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren, Express, Limited, Limited

From left to right: Express, Express, Ralph Lauren Sport, Limited, Banana Republic

From left to right: Limited, Limited, J. Crew, J. Crew, NY Collection

Skirts, clockwise from upper left: Limited, Sunny Leigh, Express, Limited

Pants: Express, Limited, Express

Clockwise from left: Nine West, Alfani, Sofft, Clarks, Nine West

This is my very first 30 for 30 remix, and I'm sure that I'll discover halfway through that I did not pick the right items for it. As you can see, there is an abundance of whites and blacks, and the whole extended purple family has been invited to the party. Also, I'll tell you right now: my closet suffers from a dire lack of fun stand-alone tops and prints. As such, most of my 30 for 30 items are fairly predictable, since you really can't go wrong with a button-down shirt layered underneath a cardigan or a sweater and paired with jeans or a pencil skirt.

Of course, I had to throw in a few exciting items as well. I am particularly looking forward to playing with the houndstooth dress that I got right before the holidays. I also decided to include my blue skirt in hopes of being forced to build at least a couple of outfits around it. Finally, I'm super excited about the velvet blazer that I got from my mother. Even though blazers are underrepresented in my 30 for 30 because I rarely wear them in the winter, I love them dearly; velvet, however, is wholly new to me, and I'm looking forward to trying it out.

The goal in choosing my 30 for 30 assortment was to balance dressing professionally for my internship while avoiding looking overdressed for class and still leaving wiggle room for coffee shop study days, date nights, and an upcoming girls' weekend. And because D.C. weather in February is unpredictable, I tried to balance winter clothes with something I can wear when the temperature hits 50 and above (like it's supposed to on Wednesday).

My, orange you on fire!

2011-01-12T09:49:00.000-05:00

I've been back in D.C. for a couple of days now and am currently in mad cleaning mode. I was in the middle of hacking my way through my closet with a machete when Hair suggested getting together for a drink. Oh no! In my jungle of a closet, there was not an outfit to be found. Sweater dress to the rescue:

Dress: Express
Boots: Liz Claiborne
Coat: The Limited

I love my swingy coat with the cinched waist. Wearing it when it's snowing makes me feel particularly festive and feminine.

We ended up going to The Gibson -- a dimly lit speakeasy that is easily missed if you don't know which door to open. The drink menu was spectacular and boasted a wide selection of bitters and gin-based concoctions. The presentation was likewise impressive: when serving drinks garnished with orange peel, the cocktail waitresses lit it on fire before dropping it into the glass. And because it was a Tuesday evening, it was not at all crowded, which, in my book, warrants an extra star. I'll be back.

Marrow me?

2010-12-22T19:13:00.000-05:00

Whitney and I were on the same page when picking a place to catch up on life: more than anything, we wanted warm holiday drinks.

Irish coffee isn't too hard to find, but a quick Google search showed that Cooper's Tavern had a whole separate menu dedicated to wintry goodness. Not surprising. It only opened recently, but Cooper's Tavern quickly became a favorite with me and my friends for its cozy atmosphere, extensive selection of beer, and very reasonable prices. This time around, it met my expectations once again.

We decided to be adventurous and order the bone marrow. What a treat! The flavor and creamy texture are not for everyone, but I personally found it to be delicious, particularly when paired with the roasted garlic (although what isn't delicious when paired with roasted garlic? My garlic-loving soul was quite content). The portion was surprisingly generous, even for two people.

The poutine that we got was unremarkable. As much as I love the concept of fries with gravy and cheese, it's not the best choice for a conversation-oriented meeting where food tends to get neglected for prolonged periods of time: the fries get cold relatively fast, the cheese gets hard, and trying to eat the resulting mess quickly becomes more challenging than enjoyable.

Our waitress made a mistake on our order, so we ended up with complimentary pretzel sticks and beer cheese dip. So simple, so good.

The warm winter drinks did not disappoint! I had hot chocolate with Korbel and orange peel; Whitney had something that tasted exactly like tiramisu. They were both delicious, fairly priced, and came in the most adorable little glass mugs. I'd love to go back to taste the rest of them! Well done, Cooper's, well done.

Slow November: A Skirt Story

2010-11-21T20:25:00.000-05:00

Holy blogging hiatus.

Not much has been going on in my life besides school, work, and routine social engagements. The fall semester of 2L is winding down, finals are about to turn my classmates into panicked woodland creatures, and DC has yet to see temperatures below 50 degrees in the daytime.

My father, oddball that he is, is now trying to learn more about football. The other day, he called me to ask for an opinion on his weekly NFL picks. What?

In the absence of exciting news (and exciting food -- sad face) in my life, I've taken to photographing some of my outfits. Unlike a few of my favorite bloggers, I'm not participating in any kind of 30 for 30 challenge, nor am I planning on turning this into a style blog, but I must admit that it's fun to capture some of my favorite outfits, and if I'm ever in a funk, posting photos might inspire me to come up with something more creative than usual.

After Thanksgiving, I will get my hands on my mom's old camera; until then, these iPhone photos will have to do.

Cardigan: The Limited
Camisole: The Limited
Skirt: The Limited
Shoes: Aerosoles
Belt: gift from mother
Earrings: souvenir from Germany
Worn to: LSRJ bar review at The Front Page

I have the hardest time with this skirt. It looks black in the picture, but in reality it has a subtle white crosshatch pattern, which makes it difficult to pair with a top. A colored shirt always seems to vie with the pattern for attention. A white blouse would be a good choice, but the cut of the skirt is not such that a usual button-down can be worn tucked in or out. Pairing a white camisole with a black cardigan was a good solution. The bright red belt and the earrings added a much-needed splash of color without overpowering the skirt.

Sweater: Ralph Lauren
Skirt: Express
Leggings: Hue, via Macy's
Shoes: Alfani, via Macy's
Earrings: souvenir from Ireland
Worn to: Georgetown Law's performance of Chicago

Here's another skirt that gives me trouble. Black goes with almost anything, though, and it didn't fail me here. I was unsure about experimenting with these leggings, which I've only ever worn tucked into boots. But bare legs would not have been appropriate on a somewhat chilly night, so I went for it. I must admit, I liked the way my legs looked in them!

Cardigan: The Limited
Camisole: The Limited
Skirt: Sunny Leigh, via Macy's
Shoes: Kenzie
Belt: Express
Earrings: souvenir from Germany
Topped off with: Ombre trench coat, The Limited
Worn to: Dinner with Hair, movie with Emma

Unlike the other two skirts, this one is a staple in my wardrobe. Because it has both brown and black elements, I can pair it with just about anything. My go-to ensemble includes a white camisole and a red cardigan that hits right at the waist. Alas, the red cardigan was in the wash, so I decided to mix it up with a maroon one over a lime green camisole for a splash of color. The cardigan isn't fitted at the waist, so my favorite belt came into play.

A word about these Kenzie shoes. Heels always put a little spring in my step, but there is something special about these. They seriously alter the way I walk for whatever reason. For lack of a better description, my stride seems to become softer, and I turn my toes out a bit more. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that they are wedges (gorgeous wooden sculpted wedges) rather than stilettos, so the weight distribution is different and the weight shift from heel to toe is more gradual as I walk forward. I fully love it.

You know you're a law student when...

2010-11-02T20:43:00.000-04:00

You know you're a law student when, upon slicing your finger open, you say "Ouch!" and then, instead of thinking, "Where's my first aid kit?" you think, "Well, that was an involuntary utterance of pain. Not hearsay!"

Love me, love my bookshelf

2010-10-30T20:17:00.000-04:00

Probably the cutest OkMessage I've ever received:

"I am finding the way you write terrifyingly endearing and disarmingly clever; it would be a crime if law school took that away from you.

By the way, I think our embarrassingly bourgeois bookshelves would be besties."

Batcycle business

2010-10-26T08:57:00.000-04:00

My Batavus BUB finally has a name! Last month, a bike valet remarked that if Batman needed a bike for errands, the Batavus would be it. My natural reaction was to dub it Bruce Wayne.

I've had Bruce for a couple of months now, and it's proving to be indispensable for my frequent grocery runs. (Side note: Isn't it strange how I refer to bikes that I perceive as female as "she," but I can't bring myself to refer to a bike that I perceive as male as "he"? I'm afraid that Bruce and the yet-unnamed Speedster will always be "it.") However, if the load is a bit bigger than what I'd be able to grudgingly carry on foot, I run into a problem. The bungee cords are so darn strong that the bike cannot carry even a week's worth of groceries. Smaller things, such as fruit, can be arranged in the bags around the bungee cords to a certain extent, but items like egg cartons and cereal boxes run the risk of being snapped in half. Larger, seemingly more solid items are also a problem. I once tried to carry a case of beer on my front rack, and by the time I got home, the bungee cords had basically shredded the cardboard to bits.

This is somewhat frustrating, as the BUB has incredibly sturdy racks and should, in theory, have amazing hauling capacity. Even though Whole Foods is my happy place and I'm more than glad to go there multiple times a week, it would be nice to be able to really load up, in case I foresee a particularly busy week or if flatmate and I decide to host an event.

The design of the racks (namely, the holes in the horizontal plates) seems to indicate that I could mount some kind of basket or trunk on top of them. However, Batavus does not produce any such accessory, and I don't know how to even begin trying to find something made by another manufacturer, since such a purchase would almost certainly have to be made online without being able to fit it to the bike on the spot. I was considering getting the folding Wald baskets, but the rack tubing is too thick for the Wald mounts. At this point, panniers seem to be my best option. However, they will also have to be ordered online, as all the bike shops in the area only carry the really sporty kind. This also presents the problem of having the wrong mounting system -- and also the problem of heel stroke. But at this point I might have to suck it up and come to terms with the idea that I might have to return an online purchase if it doesn't work with my bike.

How do others tackle similar problems, I wonder?

Incrimination nation

2010-10-21T12:27:00.000-04:00

Last night, at dinner, we were talking about what shows up if we Google our own names, how some things (which may or may not be an accurate representation of reality) might be hard to get rid of, and how those things can obviously hurt those who may want to, say, run for office.

D made a really interesting point about how in 10 or so years, when our generation gets to the point of having our own political campaigns, Internet results and the like perhaps won't matter. In today's culture, many, if not most people, have some dirt on them. Some of it is very public; some is protected by fickle privacy settings; and some is stored in GChat logs, text messages, and other things that one considers private, in theory, but that could easily surface if need be. Back in the day, when electronic media wasn't prevalent, an individual had a certain degree of control over what information is out there. Nowadays, that level of control is rapidly diminishing. Even if one does not put up incriminating photos on facebook, what are the chances that there is a text message in existence about a particularly wild and eventful drunken night? Most people know better than to put anything shocking online (then again, what to do if someone else writes a blog entry about you and refuses to take it down?), but are we supposed to refrain from using e-mail and text messages as means of private communication as well? In response to all of that, D suggested that maybe our generation will become desensitized to things that other generations would have considered scandalous simply because there will be such a wealth of incriminating information out there.

In the alternative, the only people running for office will be those who never did a single thing wrong in their lives: never drank before 21, never ran a stop sign, never used profane language, etc. Not a bad idea in theory, if not for the fact that such people (at least in my experience) tend to lack the charisma and social skills necessary to garner popular support.

What an exciting time to be a young (almost) professional. Heck, what an exciting time to be a human.

Electra Amsterdam Classic 3i: A Review

2010-10-05T12:47:00.000-04:00

As soon as the LGRAB gals informed me that I had won the Batavus BUB in their Summer Games, I had to re-evaluate my bicycle inventory. I had my Dutch-style Electra Amsterdam, I was working on a vintage mixte, I had just acquired a sporty road bike, and now I had a utility bike on its way? That's four bikes. Something had to go.

The decision was not a difficult one. The road bike had a distinct recreational purpose that none of my other bikes could fulfill. The vintage mixte was my pet project, my baby, and a nimble city bike for daily commuting. The BUB would come with great carrying capacity for grocery runs and a relaxed upright position for leisurely rides.

Carmen, my Electra Amsterdam, had neither the agility of the mixte nor the sturdiness of the BUB. Yes, I could use her for daily commuting, for grocery runs, or for leisurely rides, but she was not ideally suited for any of those purposes. Hence, I resorted to Craigslist and a couple of days later handed her off to the adorable fiancée of a Dutch lawyer. She served me well, and I think that she found a good home with them.

[caption id="attachment_989" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Carmen, my Electra Amsterdam Classic 3i"][/caption]

Because I sold Carmen on such short notice, I did not get a chance to take proper photos for a full bike review. However, I will provide a review nonetheless, since I remember that when I was in the market for a Dutch-style bike, information on the Electra Amsterdam 3i was scarce.

Generally:

The Amsterdam women's step-through only comes in one size -- a 48 cm, I believe, though I never measured. The Classic model, which I had, has a steel frame, which means that the bike is relatively heavy and unwieldy. The weight was not all that noticeable when I was riding, however, and the bike was reasonably agile for something of that size and weight.

I personally thought that the Amsterdam was a very good-looking bike. Yes, I would have preferred a more traditional loop frame, but the swan frame does have a certain charm to it. The whole package definitely got more than few stares and compliments on the street, especially once I attached the front basket. If you don't like attention, the Amsterdam is not for you. However, since this is a review, I reserve the right to be picky. Therefore, I will note that it looked just a tad out of proportion -- a bit stretched out, so to speak. The head and seat tubes were quite short compared to the overall length of the bike, and raising the handlebars and the saddle made it look a little like a tall lanky teenager right after a sudden growth spurt. Once again, I'm just being picky.

Gearing:

The 3i model comes with a 3-gear Shimano Nexus internal hub. The second gear was pretty much perfect for a leisurely ride on a flat surface, but I found myself wishing for the lower and higher gear to be a bit more spread out for better hill climbing and more speed in flat areas. I'm not sure whether the 8i hub would solve that problem. From what I understand, the outer limits are generally the same; there are more intermediate levels, that's all. However, another cyclists might find the range comfortable, since it's such a matter of personal preference. The shifting was smooth as butter (I might even go so far as to say that it was my favorite part of the bike!), and, as with internal hubs in general, one can shift even when fully stopped.

Braking:

The rear coaster brake was, fortunately, supplemented by a front hand brake. Whether you love or hate coaster brakes, there's no denying that if something happens to the chain, you're out of luck unless there's a hand brake. I'm not going to pretend that this is my favorite system in the world, as I really do prefer hand brakes, but once again, this is a matter of personal preference, and I did not have any concerns about the quality and performance of the braking system.

Accessories:

The Amsterdam came fully equipped with a skirt/coat guard, a chain case, and fenders, all of which are quite desirable on a commuter bike. In doing my pre-purchase research, I noticed that some people had problems with the plastic fenders. No such problems in my experience. Once I assembled the bike, the fenders stayed put. The skirt guard is certainly pretty, with elegant pinstripe detailing, but it's plastic and looks as stiff as it feels; I would have preferred something more plain but fabric/vinyl. The chain case fully covers the chain on the outside but not on the inside. On one hand, that may make basic maintenance (like greasing the chain) easier; on the other hand, the chain remains somewhat exposed to the elements. I kept the bike inside and didn't torture it with muddy or snowy conditions, so I can't attest to the quality of the chain case aside from its effectiveness in preventing an unpleasant encounter between my pants and the crankset.

The rear rack came in handy for picnics and grocery runs. It is by no means a heavy duty rack -- certainly not heavy enough to hold a passenger -- but it serves its everyday purpose quite well. The hooks are large enough to be hooked not only through the hook loops, but also onto the rack itself. That was indispensable if I was carrying a larger item, such as my picnic basket, which did not permit the bungee cord to stretch from hook loop to hook loop.

The headlight was a pain in the butt. It was designed to be installed at the very top of the head tube, so I quickly remounted right over the front wheel in order to be able to hang a basket from the handlebars. Note: in order to make that change, you have to buy a different mount. Even though the position of the light was easy enough to adapt to my tastes, the poor quality remained. The bottle dynamo was both weak and noisy. Had I kept the Amsterdam, I would have invested in a better lighting setup. As for the tail light, no problems to report there.

Had I kept the bike, I would have bought a different saddle, too. The factory saddle was just...acceptable. If you like cushy saddles, you'll probably like this one. I personally prefer something a bit more firm, but I wasn't bothered by this one too much. Still, I would have preferred something like my Brooks B17.

To summarize:

All in all, I did not have any major gripes with the Amsterdam and would describe my Carmen as a good starter Dutch-style bike. Also, at about $700, she was much less of an investment than a Workcycles Oma or a Gazelle Toer Populair (though the quality, of course, was sacrificed). If you're not sure whether a full-blown Dutch bike is for you, or if you're not willing/able to spend more than $1000 on a bike, I'd recommend at least considering the Electra Amsterdam.

So why did I get rid of Carmen? She performed her duties reasonably well; however, the mixte and the BUB perform them better. Also, the frame was a bit too small for me; had it fit better, I might have been more reluctant to make the sale. (Amazingly, the BUB isn't much larger from what I can tell, but it fits infinitely better.) The coaster brake was not my favorite feature, either. I did get used to it after a while, and I actually appreciate it when I'm carrying a load on the BUB, as my legs provide more stopping power than my hands. Still, on an everyday commuter bike, especially in an area with a lot of stoplights, I prefer regular hand brakes, which give me more flexibility when stopping and starting. I don't think that any one of those things on its own would have made me sell the bike, but the combination of several of them pushed me over the edge.

Restaurant review: Poste Moderne Brasserie

2010-09-28T11:38:00.000-04:00

This post is about a week overdue, but I can't resist putting it up anyway. Last Sunday Emma and I decided to have brunch somewhere in my neighborhood, and Poste was our chosen destination.

First things first: Poste is not cheap, and, having looked at the menu online, I had my doubts about spending so much on one brunch dish -- after all, in prior weeks, I spent the same amount on brunch buffets.

[caption id="attachment_983" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Soft scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and caviar."][/caption]

No worries. Poste made it worthwhile. The scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and caviar were absolutely delicious (really, I have yet to try a bad smoked salmon dish at brunch). If you think about it, caviar -- even not-so-good American caviar -- is worth it. Plus, the waiter brought out a breadbasket. But not just any breadbasket! Instead of rolls, it had no less than four different kinds of baked goods, including a croissant and raisin bread. Add some butter and jam, and Poste gets an extra star just for that.

I'll throw in another star for the nature-y setting. The outdoor seating area is surrounded by what the waiter called an "urban vegetable garden." I know from prior experience that the garden area can be rented out for cookouts -- perfect for those who don't have a backyard of their own. Also, there was a cute little potted plant on the table, which added an air of rustic charm.

The one downside was the location of the restrooms. You keep going...and going...and going...through the entire restaurant, down a long hotel hallway, up the stairs, down another hallway...As lovely as the restrooms were, one might not want to take turns for restroom breaks but rather go en masse to save time.

Bike valets FTW!

2010-09-21T15:18:00.000-04:00

Whereas a few posts ago I complained about the lack of bike parking in Georgetown, I will dedicate today's post to praising WABA for providing a fantastic service: bike valets.

Over the weekend, I attended the Adams Morgan Street Festival. Festivals mean crowds, and I was fully prepared to park my bike a little farther away from the main event, out of harm's way. Imagine my surprise when I pulled up to the festival site and saw this:

[caption id="attachment_967" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="WABA bike valets"][/caption]

Bike racks! No need to seek out street signs, lamp posts, or young trees to which I can lock my bike, and no need to worry about doing a thief-proof job (to the extent that a thief-proof locking job can be done, of course). The bike valet service functions essentially the same way a regular valet service does: the valets take your bike, park it, and give you a tag. The racks that you see are actually brought in for the day and wouldn't normally be found there. The parking lot is supervised throughout the event, so the risks of theft are minimal. And it's 100% free! Major, major kudos to WABA for running this program. Every well-attended event should have ample bike parking.

Some things that people say to me...

2010-09-20T16:09:00.000-04:00

"Who answers the phone like that nowadays?" After I picked up the phone and said "This is she" in response to "Evie?"

"LOOK AT THE HAIR. HOW CAN YOU SAY NO TO THAT HAIR?!" The best bud after I asked him to screen someone who sent me an OkMessage.

"If Batman needed a bike for running errands, this would be it." A bike valet about my Batavus BUB.

Genius idea: mini desserts

2010-09-18T16:04:00.000-04:00

A few days ago, one of my friends and I happy hour-ed at Gordon Biersch. It's a pretty average place with decent food, and I do go there quite a bit, but there's nothing particularly spectacular about it. However, I was struck by these mini desserts, served in large shot glasses. For those times when you want just a little something-something, they are perfect. Well done, GB.

[caption id="attachment_974" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Strawberry cheesecake, chocolate mousse, and a double serving of warm apple pudding."][/caption]

Newest addition to my bike family

2010-09-09T18:45:00.000-04:00

My BUB is finally here! After much anticipation, I picked it up from the Bike Rack, and it is now bonding with Victoria and the yet-unnamed Speedster. (Okay, so I picked it up more than a few days ago, but today was the first day that I was able to take it out for a ride.)

From what I can tell, we should get along splendidly, but the cynic in me says that it could just be the initial excitement talking. Once the honeymoon period is over and I'm fully acquainted with the newest member of my bike family, I'll be sure to write up a proper review.

A bruncher's paradise

2010-09-05T18:40:00.000-04:00

Today Emma and I had our weekly brunch at Café Bonaparte, a charming little French crêperie in Georgetown. Crêpes, cheese, and chocolate? Yes, please!

Will I be going back? Mais bien sûr.

Wait a minute, did I write a whole post without saying anything negative? That won't do. While I didn't have any gripes about the restaurant and the food, I became a bit frustrated with the bike parking situation in Georgetown. I naively expected to see a bike rack somewhere in the vicinity of the café. No such luck. Lamp posts? Although definitely pretty and old-fashioned, they were much too thick for a U-lock. After marching up and down the block with Victoria in tow, I finally found a lone street sign that I could work with. When Emma and I embarked on a little shopping excursion after our meal, I had to resort to using a few young trees near our target boutiques.

I realize that Georgetown streets are crowded. There's definitely no room for hefty bike racks that block the sidewalk. But what about the ones that are shaped like an upside-down U and that could easily accommodate two bikes? I don't see why a few of those can't be sprinkled throughout the shopping district, in-between the lamp posts and the fire hydrants. If they were parallel to the street (and thus the bikes would be parked parallel to the street as well), they would not obstruct the flow of pedestrian traffic.

I wonder if the lack of bike parking has something to do with the image that Georgetown tries to project (and succeeds). It's a posh, preppy district. The metro does not go there; the assumption seems to be that those who spend time in Georgetown either live there or have cars to get themselves there. To be fair, there are a couple of buses that run along Wisconsin Avenue and M Street, but the occasional bus does not even compare with the metro or a proper biking infrastructure. Bike lanes in Georgetown? Forget about it. Could this mean that bikes are viewed as an inferior form of transportation, one that the rich should not bother with? Just (delicious French) food for thought.

Restaurant review: Café Continental

2010-08-22T15:51:00.000-04:00

On my last day in Madison, Whitney and I went out for brunch to Café Continental. In a word: yum!

Granted, Café Continental is a little more expensive compared to other brunch options in Madison, but you really do get what you pay for, and the prices are by no means outrageous enough to make me think twice.

After much deliberation, I picked the smoked salmon benedict (smoked salmon, dill cream cheese, and fresh Roma tomatoes on two English muffin slices topped with poached eggs and citrus hollandaise). As a side, I picked the rich, creamy continental potatoes. Oh my goodness. A little bit of heaven on my plate, and so pretty, too!

What I really appreciated about the benedict was the fact that just one of them was enough to fill me up at brunch (to be fair, the potatoes helped), and I had another whole one to take home with me for a late lunch.

My only criticism is the the muffins were just a tad too toasted -- not burnt by any means, far from it, but crunchy enough to make cutting them a challenge. Perhaps a sharper knife would have done the trick -- but I'm reviewing the food, not the silverware.

Note: I love salt. Really, if not for fear of getting strange looks, I would lick a brick of salt the way horses do. The smoked salmon benedict was just salty enough for my taste, so I would imagine that some people might find it a tad too salty. That is, however, the nature of smoked salmon...

Whitney made her decision considerably faster and settled on the Frangelican toast (three slices of traditional French toast sweetened with Frangelico liquer, topped with fresh roasted hazelnuts). She loved it. I should note that when I was at Café Continental a month or so ago, that's what one of my friends had, and she, too, loved it. Given that I had my own delicious dish to demolish, I only had a bite of the toast, but it was divine: flavorful, moist, but not soaked to the point of being soggy. The roasted hazelnuts really brought out the Frangelico flavor. If I get a chance to go back during one of my Madison visits, I think I might have to order this.

Final thought: being a real sucker for presentation, I absolutely love the fact that Café Continental brands its plates with its name and logo. It's a very simple, classy way to add unity to all the plates on the table, and it gives you an excuse to have all this fabulous extra white space. I love white space on a plate; it really sets off the shape and color of the food.

Basically, I would recommend Café Continental to anyone for a good, classy brunch.

Introducing Victoria Frankenbike

2010-08-15T07:32:00.000-04:00

Back in June, I wrote about having acquired a vintage mixte frame for a restoration project. Now, a month and a half later, the project is (mostly) complete and ready to accompany me to D.C.

[caption id="attachment_762" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Before."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_919" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="After."][/caption]

This was my first restoration project (I'm hoping that it won't be the only, but who knows how much time I'll have on my hands in the future), and I must admit that I am pleased with the results. Let's see how it all holds up!

I never figured out the precise year and make of the frame -- and now that it's been painted over, it's too late for that -- but based on my initial examination, I'm guessing that it's a Motobécane Mirage from 1972. It's really too bad that I wasn't willing to work with the initial orange-brownish color and thus had to get rid of the old Motobécane decal. Unlike the usual blocky letters that we're used to, this logo had somewhat of a cursive look to it. Oh well. It's not like a Motobécane is a particularly upscale brand that needs to be flaunted.

I was able to salvage the following parts of the bike: the frame and fork, obviously, the crank set, the bottom bracket, the pedals, the derailleurs, the chain (which was in surprisingly good condition), the handlebar stem, the shifters, and the brake levers. Everything else I had to purchase separately, either new or used.

In the near future, I'm planning on replacing the rear derailleur: although the current one works, it's a bit finicky. I'm also probably going to spring for a new set of brake levers, though the current ones work just fine and dandy. Also in the works are front and rear racks. Everything that I saw at the LBSs was simply too bulky and did not have the look that I desired.

Not surprisingly, my favorite parts of the bike are the saddle and the fenders:

[caption id="attachment_920" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Classy, timeless parts."][/caption]

I went with the Brooks B17 in honey as my saddle. I kind of wanted to get the aged finish, but the LBSs didn't carry them, and I -- predictably enough -- was too impatient to order one online. In retrospect, I'm happy with my decision, as it's a very simple, elegant look that matches Woody's Fenders wonderfully.

As for the fenders, they were simply a delight to work with. Sure, they are bit pricey, but I'm always willing to support artists (especially woodworkers), and I saw this as an investment. Even though Cody had to make them from scratch, they arrived within a week -- that's great customer service right there! The installation was also a breeze.

Overall, the restoration process went smoothly and was surprisingly easier than I had anticipated. In fact, I only ran into two problems. The cotters were a royal pain to remove, but it had to be done in order to add grease and get rid of the critters that were residing inside the frame. A cotter press would have been the right tool for this, but I wasn't willing to make the monetary investment...so I had to resort to brute strength -- and since I don't have any of that, it had to be borrowed.

The seat post also presented unexpected problems. Any which way you cut it, the diameter was just slightly off. My options included buying a narrower post and using a metal "adapter" (no clue what its proper name would be in the bicycle business) at the top of the seat tube or buying a slightly thicker post and using a reamer to make it fit. What is a reamer, you ask? Well, search YouTube for bicycle + reaming, and you'll get a nice visual. Fortunately for me, my father has every tool known to mankind, so getting my hands on this little gadget was not a problem.

The finishing touches included pinstriping around the lugs and adding some twine accents to the handlebars. I really do like the look of twine and am currently thinking of other bicycle parts to decorate.

[caption id="attachment_921" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Cork and twine. Classic."][/caption]

The name for the bike actually came about before the bike itself did. I knew that I would be using a combination of old and new parts, which naturally reminded me of Frankenstein's monster. And so, Victor Frankenstein morphed into Victoria Frankenbike. Now, to think of appropriate -- and manly -- names for the Speedster S50 and the BuB, which is on its way!

Wooly animal balls

2010-08-13T20:57:00.000-04:00

My thoughts on last night's Project Runway:

Damn, I love Heidi Klum. This season she looks better than ever. But, unfortunate choice of pants this time, Fraulein!

Tim Gunn: "I prefer the wooly balls." Best scene of the episode.

Betsey Johnson...love her clothes, but she is a certifiable nut, and I'm not sure I mean that in a good way.

Although it's rare for me to want a contestant on any reality show to go home (exception: Michelle on Jake's season of The Bachelor), I was really, really hoping that Casanova would get the boot. The man annoys me to no end.

Speaking of annoying me to no end: Gretchen. Just because you won the first two contests, that doesn't give you the right to start acting as a mentor to the others. That's Tim Gunn's job.

A skirt made out of napkins - what a genius idea! Comes in very handy at a party, as Betsey Johnson pointed out.

I don't think I'm ever going to like the color pink.

Goodbye, work; hello, bike!

2010-08-08T18:16:00.000-04:00

My summer internship is finally coming to an end, 11 weeks later. It's been a great experience, and I feel truly lucky to have had this opportunity. Of course, we girls couldn't leave without having a little photo op.

On my way home, I saw a small brown object crossing the sidewalk right in front of me. At first I thought it was a clot of hair. But wait, could it have been an animal? So I took a closer look, and sure enough, it was a tiny little creature with a tail about twice the length of its body. Adorable!

Finally, my last day at work seemed like the perfect time to follow through with the plan that my father and I had been hatching all summer. In a nutshell, my father can't stand the idea of me on anything other than a proper bike -- which, in his opinion, is a road bike. He was not terribly pleased when I brought the old vintage Motobécane frame home and, in an attempt to get me to see the light, offered to subsidize the cost of a road bike. Hey, I'm not going to say no! I am by no means a hardcore cyclist, but I have been going on reasonably long rides lately, 30 miles being the average, with an occasional 50-miler thrown in. My old Schwinn hybrid simply wasn't cutting it for me anymore, and both the BuB and the Motobécane are strictly city bikes. To top it all off, there was a sale at Willy Bikes...And so, there was a new addition to my happy little bike family: the Scott Speedster S50.

The yet-unnamed Speedster is definitely a step up above my old Schwinn but not so fancy that my dilletantish self would feel silly. Still, I have a feeling that it's going to push me outside my comfort zone and encourage me to go on rides that get progressively longer and faster. I can't wait to take it for a spin on the D.C. trails!

Punctuation gets you noticed, part II

2010-08-02T19:39:00.000-04:00

After sending a courteous yet negative response to an online message, I got the following reply:

"You're sure not making this easy for me, Evie--I have an extreme weakness for girls who know how to use a semicolon correctly."

Yes. Again. Clearly, semicolons are guy magnets. (See Part I.)

Restaurant Week: Sardine

2010-07-31T20:12:00.000-04:00

Restaurant Week is a wonderful tradition in Madison (and other cities), when some of the best restaurants in the city offer a three-course meal for a very reasonable price. After much deliberation, Hannah, Caitlin and I decided on Sardine as the place to go for our weekly dinner.

Whereas most restaurants offer three choices for each course during Restaurant Week, Sardine's menu boasted four appetizer selections and five entrée selections. I started out with the rock shrimp cakes, served with remoulade and petite endive salad. The warm shrimp cakes packed a lot of flavor while retaining a nice texture that was devoid of large chunks of shrimp. The remoulade was just a tad on the tart side and at times ran the risk of overpowering the shrimp cakes; fortunately, they didn't come smothered in it.

For my entrée, I chose the duck breast with aged balsamic vinegar, roasted figs and summer vegetables. It was sheer perfection. The duck breast was tender and juicy, the balsamic vinegar was flavorful but not overwhelming, and the vegetables, especially the French beans, were wonderfully fresh and crisp.

As for desserts, we all shared them, and they were all positively delicious.

Of course, if I can't criticize the food, I'll find other things to criticize. First of all, the place was loud and crowded, though I'm sure that Restaurant Week is to blame for that. The noise was not unbearable, and we girls have had conversations in much louder places, but it would not have been ideal for a romantic date.

Secondly, we had to wait about an hour between courses, which was most likely also due (at least in part) to the Restaurant Week crowd. Fortunately, we were in no hurry, and the whole experience reminded me of prolonged lunches and dinners in Europe. Still, if I had to pick a place for dinner before a concert or a play, I'd think twice before picking Sardine, for fear of being late to the main event.

Lastly, although the service itself was professional (we were never lacking clean utensils or water), our waitress was not particularly personable. Of course, I'll attribute this once again to the stress of Restaurant Week.

(It just occurred to me this morning that my Restaurant Week experiences have all been at seafood-themed restaurants: Blue Marlin with Lawyer Boy, Ocean Grille with MSB, and now Sardine with my ladies. Both food-wise and company-wise, Sardine wins by a long shot.)

To sum it all up: restaurants generally don't go out of their way to cater to the Restaurant Week crowd and seem to reduce the quality of the food in proportion to the fixed price, but Sardine managed to deliver both quality and value. That seemed to come at the expense of service, but still, well done!

Viennese summer nights in Madison

2010-07-29T10:23:00.000-04:00

Yet another Concert on the Square has come and gone. The weather yesterday was nothing short of perfect; in fact, I put out our blanket a few hours early and did some of my work outside. I was lucky enough to get a great spot that was very close to the stage. This is a rarity, as the two lawns adjacent to the stage are usually completely fully by 3 or so. (The general rule is that one can't put out blankets before 3 in the afternoon, otherwise they'll be removed. However, most people interpret that as a ban on unattended blankets before 3, put theirs out around 2 or so, hang out until the clock strikes 3, and then leave.) It was the closest I'd ever been to the stage. The audience normally surrounds the entire Capitol building, and there are speakers set up on all sides, but there's something to be said for being right in the midst of things and seeing the orchestra and the conductor.

After taking a quick break to fetch my picnic basket from home, I took advantage of the late afternoon to catch up on some reading. I'm currently working on Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited, upon the suggestion of The Monarchist. Now that I'm about 100 pages in, I'm not at all surprised that it's his favorite book.

Amanda and Jordan joined me shortly before the concert started, and we had a jolly good time people-watching and discussing the program. Deep thought of the night: writing a symphony for your sweetheart is terribly romantic but could come off as creepy if you do it before the relationship reaches a certain level.

[caption id="attachment_879" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The concert featured dancers from the Madison Ballet. After all, what is a Viennese waltz if there is no waltzing?"]

Some other highlights of the night included the Blue Danube Waltz (of course, can't have a Viennese-themed night without it), the Thunder and Lightning Polka, and the Overture to Die Fledermaus. Those people sure know how to tickle me pink.

After the concert, not wanting to let a breezy evening to to waste, I went for a jog along Willy Street and came across these lovely bike scenes:

And, on my walk home along the Monona bike path, I saw a copper-colored moon rising above the lake. Sadly, the scene did not lend itself to iPhone pictures.

Thanks, LGRAB!

2010-07-23T15:06:00.000-04:00

My coworker Natalie will attest to my having a minor meltdown at work this morning. You see, I got an email from Trisha of the wonderful bike blog Let's Go Ride a Bike -- which I follow religiously -- notifying me that I won the grand prize in their Summer Games.

Here it is, the Batavus BuB:

The ladies of Let's Go Ride a Bike encourage readers to incorporate bicycling into their daily lives -- and what better encouragement than prizes? Over the course of the past nine weeks, LGRABbers completed 3 sets of fun biking events such as bicycle picnics, test-riding bikes, and going biking with their friends and families. Dottie and Trisha partnered with a few generous sponsors to obtain some amazing bike-related goodies for the participants, including the new Batavus BuB, courtesy of Fourth Floor Distribution.

I decided to join in the Games just for fun, mostly because I love biking, love LGRAB, and love the ideas that Dottie and Trisha regularly throw out at us loyal readers. Never in a million years did I expect to win anything, let along the grand prize. I know that it was just the luck of the draw, but I feel incredibly honored, and, frankly, stunned. Thank you, LGRAB and Fourth Floor!

For all the nitty-gritty details of the Games, visit LGRAB's Summer Games page:

If this sounds like a fun little something...there's talk of Winter Games as well!!!

What, like it's hard?

2010-07-20T07:18:00.000-04:00

B. got into Harvard Law.

When I called him to say congratulations, I was so excited, he thought I was crying.

I'm so proud of that boy.

(He got into Stanford, too. I've got such genius friends.)

Minneapolis getaway

2010-07-19T18:44:00.000-04:00

Now that my friends are scattered all over the country, it's getting harder and harder to get together with some of them, especially the ones who are not originally from Madison and who don't go back there for the holidays. Taking a trip to see a friend in another city is a rare treat, but boy, is it ever a treat!

This weekend Kiley and I visited Rachel in Minneapolis for a much-anticipated girls' weekend. The trip couldn't have come at a better time: Rachel is getting married next year, so the bridesmaids, including Kiley and myself, had to get fitted for their dresses ASAP. I'm pleased to report that they are quite nice and, thank goodness, not pink. I am not pleased to report, however, that my bust, waist, and butt measurements are not conducive to picking a dress size with any degree of certainty, as my waist and my butt differ by three whole dress sizes. Alterations are definitely a must.

No girls' weekend would be complete without some kind of shopping trip, even a very brief one. Ours consisted of wandering through the Kitchen Window while waiting for our dinner reservations. I purchased a set of picnic wine glass holders -- a must for anyone who frequents the Concerts on the Square. We also came across these gems:

Dinner at Chino Latino was an interesting fusion of Asian and Mexican cuisines. The battered shrimp was to die for. But, more importantly, the drinks were incredibly festive:

I will have to remember the lovely presentation for when we host cocktail hours at our new apartment.

The rest of the weekend involved playing with Rachel and John's new puppy Aldo (so precious!), hot tubbing it at our hotel, facials, spending a good chunk of the day at Mall of America -- for the amusement park, mind you, not for the shopping -- and watching bad TV during a tornado warning. All in all, a success.

I must say, however, that I was not terribly impressed with Minneapolis in general. Granted, I didn't get to see a lot of it, but it seemed like we had to hop on the highway anytime we needed to go somewhere. I'm assuming that things are more accessible downtown or uptown and that those parts of the city are walkable/bikeable. Perhaps it's because I'm used to not having major highways in the middle of Madison (the Beltline sort of loops around the city, although with all the expansion, in the future it could very well become in the middle rather than on the outskirts). Or perhaps it's because the highway structure reminded me a bit too much of Dirty Durham. Regardless, I'm not a fan of that kind of layout.

Bastille Day

2010-07-15T12:26:00.000-04:00

My French-themed Wednesday night:

Sanding the first coat of paint on my Motobécane while sipping champagne and watching a documentary about Rudolf Nureyev (yes, Russian in theory, but French for all practical purposes).

Hip-hop picnic

2010-07-13T18:46:00.000-04:00

We recently discovered that the Olbrich Botanical Gardens host summer concerts -- much like the Concerts on the Square, but in a more intimate setting. Or so we thought.

Since the botanical gardens are not within walking distance from my place, the concert tonight presented the perfect opportunity for the Bike Picnic event of LGRAB's Summer Games.

Armed with wine, cookies, a fruit salad, and utensils, I set off on Carmen along the Lake Monona bike trail (I'll be honest: I have no idea what the trail is actually called. Lakeshore seems to be reserved for Lake Mendota, so I'm at a loss).

Sure enough, the setting at the botanical gardens was much more intimate. However, we felt a bit out of place, as most of the concert-goers seemed to be families with young kids. Tonight's performance was advertised as "family friendly hip-hop and world beats," featuring Magic Mama. We assumed that "family friendly" meant free of swear words. Little did we know that Magic Mama would be singing about little piggies going to the market, peace pirates, and Cheese Puffs. Not quite what we were expecting.

Although the concert was not well-suited to a group of recent college grads, I must say that if I had a young child, I would definitely consider taking him or her to such a performance. Magic Mama emphasizes environmental education, and it's never too early to introduce children to Earth-friendly concepts. Also, I fully love the idea of "organic" hip-hop, created and recorded live with a loop machine.

Next week, swing music!

AFOS 2010 Roundup

2010-07-11T18:40:00.000-04:00

The annual Art Fair on the Square has come and gone. A quick summary is warranted.

The good:

The people. The museum staff is full of incredible individuals, and I feel absolutely privileged to have had the opportunity to work with them again this year.

Those rare but oh-so-precious Judy moments that most people don't get to witness.

Food. Food. Food.

A tan!

Judy and the Bank Girls, featuring André.

A great leg workout while marking booths on the South Hamilton quad.

The 200 block was filled with the most sociable, friendly artists, which made for great conversations while directing traffic and fun booth visits during the actual event.

I placed the highest bid on a fantastic wooden sculpture/vase at the silent auction.

Picking up full trash bags and driving them to the dumpster (and playing "guess the mysterious liquid that's seeping out of the bag") was so much better and so much more fun that just picking up trash.

Caitlin and I scouted an awesome jeweler for the museum store.

I got a picture with Piccolo Pete!

Goofing around with Fleischman, including throwing ice cubes, racing golf carts and making fun of my trash-throwing abilities.

The bad:

It was the last Art Fair for Peter, Bethany, and Katie...and most likely for me as well.

Concession-wise, the Fair didn't bring in as much money as we were hoping.

One hour before the Art Fair was supposed to close, it poured --> general panic among the artists.

I was guilty of flirting with a married man -- one of the artists on my block. I couldn't resist the lost puppy look. Wait, maybe that should go under "the good."

Pepsi boys? No Pepsi boys!

No gloves for our trash adventures.

The ugly:

6-person "limo" golf carts. Seriously, they were bad enough to warrant the "ugly" label.

That awful feeling I get every time the Art Fair is over.

An unwelcome and unexpected encounter with MSB during setup on Friday. It had the potential to ruin my mood for the rest of the weekend -- and very nearly did so, in fact. Thank goodness that the Art Fair, being the absolutely amazing event that it is, quickly made me forget my sorrows.

What are the chances that my employer next summer will let me have a three-day weekend for AFOS 2011?

Fourth of July Fail

2010-07-05T18:43:00.000-04:00

The problem with holiday weekends is that my friends all go out of town to visit their families, and I'm left to fend for myself, which kind of sucks the joy out of having extra days off.

In comparison with other holidays such as Christmas and Easter, I don't have too much beef with the 4th of July. Although I wouldn't say that it's my favorite holiday, I think it's fair to say that it's my least disliked holiday for sure. But that's only half of the story; as a matter of fact, I do dislike the 4th of July, though it's a different brand of dislike.

Unlike most females my age, I don't have many romantic fantasies. I don't dream of guys bringing me flowers, I don't plan my wedding -- unless it's in a mocking fashion, and I don't have visions of dining with my lover at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Still, I like to think that I'm allowed one romantic fantasy. That fantasy happens to be watching the fireworks on the 4th of July with that special person. That has yet to happen, because every year something inevitably gets in the way. The point here, as one might easily guess, is that the 4th of July always leaves me disappointed and feeling lonely. This weekend was no exception. So, in a somewhat failed attempt to run away from negative thoughts, I threw myself into a couple of DIY projects.

The first one, of course, was the Motobécane restoration. She is now cleaned off, de-rusted, and patiently waiting for me to find a suitable paint color. Most of the parts have now been obtained; the only things that remain are the saddle and the grips. I'm currently torn between the B72 and the B17 Brooks saddles. Since the Motobécane will be a commuter bike, and, depending on how I install the handlebars, the riding position will be fairly upright, the B72 might be a better choice, though I'm not sure how I feel about springs. On the other hand, if I intend to have the handlebars level with the saddle -- haven't decided yet -- and end up taking her for longer rides, the B17 might be a better choice. Decisions, decisions. At any rate, once the restoration is complete, there will be a whole post detailing the process and describing the results.

The second project that I had on my hands this weekend involved a picnic basket. Amanda and I are planning on attending a few more outdoor concerts this summer, so I figured that I needed to be prepared. Unfortunately, most picnic baskets out there seem to be designed for hardcore picnic-goers and come fully equipped with dishes, utensils, and a price tag to match. I was looking for something much simpler and cheaper. The World Market had several cute baskets, but only one had a lid, and it was not a convenient shape for anything wide and flat (pies? cheese platters?). So, off to Target I went, and walked out with a basket that was the perfect size and shape but had an absolutely atrocious, tacky lining, which I hated so much that I didn't even bother taking a "before" picture.

Doing a complete 180 from the more manly task of fixing up a bike, I trashed the old lining, made a quick trip to the craft store, and sat down with some fabric, ribbon, and a sewing machine.

It has a much more traditional look now, with the demure olive lining and simple brown trim (finishing the edges of the slippery ribbon was a royal pain in the behind, let me tell you). To balance the drabness, I wove a few fake flowers into the lid for a little splash of brightness. Overall, I'm quite pleased with the results. Let's see how everything holds up at the next Concert on the Square.

I can't stay in Suzy Homemaker mode for too long, though, so shortly after finishing this quick project, I joined my dad in the basement to play with pneumatic nail guns and various kinds of caulk. The new bathroom that he's been working on for the past couple of months is now nearing completion; photos to come!

Not your typical tip

2010-07-02T12:48:00.000-04:00

I am not stingy when it comes to leaving tips; unless the service was truly atrocious, I almost always leave a bit more than might be expected. If the service was exceptional, or if someone in my party was particularly difficult or demanding, I usually leave more.

My mom takes that philosophy overboard. We got mid-afternoon drinks today, and the total came to 20 dollars. I would have left 5 for the tip.

My mother left 10. Why? Apparently, we should be extra nice to cute waiters.

Food frenzy

2010-07-02T06:03:00.000-04:00

These past two days have been filled with good food and good company. No better way to spend my summer days and nights, I say.

Wednesday was the last day of the judicial term and also the first Concert on the Square. The weather was absolutely gorgeous for a picnic, so Amanda and I did precisely that.

On Thursday, to celebrate the end of the term, Nathan took us out for lunch. We had a hard time picking a place (what else is new?) but finally settled for King & Mane, a new place that opened on the corner of -- how fitting -- King and Main, where Local Tavern used to be. I was definitely in a salad mood, and the beet salad with goat cheese and roasted pistachios definitely hit the spot.

Finally, last night, Caitlin, Hannah, and I took another excursion to Willy Street. This time our destination was Jamerica, where, after much deliberation, I decided to treat myself to some ox tail.

All in all, a successful week, food-wise. And as long as there's good food in my belly, I'm a happy camper.

Oh, what a beautiful day!

2010-06-30T09:09:00.000-04:00

Any work doldrums aside (conference days = nothing to do), yesterday was as fabulous as can be. Let me enumerate the reasons why I loved this gorgeous, sunny Tuesday.

It was gorgeous, sunny, and not too hot -- enough said.

Over my lunch break, I caved in and bought an iPhone 4 at the local AT&T store. Although I appreciate Apple products, I'm by no means a die-hard Apple fan and would never wait in line to get a new gadget the day it's released. However, realizing that iPhones that are ordered now won't be shipped until mid-July and being somewhat anti-online shopping, I thought I'd drop by the store to place an order in person. I was in luck: they had two black 16GB iPhones left, so I snatched one up right away.

So far, I'm very pleased with my decision, but that's a story for another post. What matters most is that it allowed me to document the rest of my day without resorting to a regular camera.

After work, Claire and I got together for some girl talk. Claire is a great hostess and always offers her guests something to munch on. I brought a few things over, too, and we ended up having a nice and healthy mid-summer afternoon snack.

I then met up with Megan, whom I hadn't seen in a couple of years (!), for some wine and sangria at The Icon. I'm not a big wine drinker, and red sangria usually feels a bit "heavy" for my liking, but white sangria is just the bee's knees. Perfect for the summer!

Last, but not least, I made an exciting purchase. After diligently checking Craigslist a dozen times a day, test-riding a few bikes, and carefully evaluating the delicate balance between comfort, condition, and value, I am now the owner of a vintage Motobécane mixte from the early 1970s.

Next step: hunting down some parts. The brakes, crankset, pedals, and gear shifters are salvageable, but the handlebar is rusty beyond all repair, the chain is crap, and the rear derailleur is non-existent. Some wheels might be nice, too.

Then comes all the pretty stuff. I've already got my eye on some wooden fenders!

Velo exploration

2010-06-25T13:45:00.000-04:00

I've decided that by the end of the summer, I'm going to get myself another commuter bike: something slightly zippier than my Carmen, for when I'm more concerned with speed than fashion. I'm about 95% sure that it's going to be a mixte, as I don't like most women's frames, and while I do adore the classic diamond frame, some of my outfits are diamond-frame-prohibitive, so I'll reserve diamond frames for recreational purposes.

My dream is the Soma Buena Vista mixte. Unfortunately, not only is it pricey, but I'm concerned about buying a frame without being able to see how its particular geometry works for me. So, for now, I'm looking at complete bikes that I can actually test ride -- with the full expectation of replacing most parts.

Earlier this week, I headed to Budget Bicycle Center to take a few bikes for a spin. Despite their enormous inventory, I was a bit disappointed with the mixte selection. I rejected several right away, since it was painfully obvious just by looking at them that the frames were going to be too small. Oh, the joys of being 5'8". That left me with 4 bikes that were in my price range. So far, this is the frontrunner:

Surprise, surprise...this is going down as an event in the LGRAB Summer Games!

Coach Voyager: a review

2010-06-24T19:27:00.000-04:00

I'm very particular about my school/work bags. As soon as I entered high school, I abandoned backpacks in favor of something more professional-looking: black, simple, with either a single or a double strap. Unfortunately, none of them were quite right, so I was constantly on the lookout for something better.

Enter the Coach Voyager.

Believe it or not, it's a diaper bag (why anyone would want a designer diaper bag is beyond me, but to each his or her own). I did not realize that until after I had made my purchase, but that doesn't change the way I feel about the bag -- namely, in love.

Not the least reason for my warm feelings is the great price. I would be hesitant to pay full price for it (or for anything, really), but the outlet mall made the purchase almost a no-brainer. Also, while I don't consider myself to be a brand chaser, I have a couple of Coach bags in my collection, and I'm incredibly impressed with how well they've held up over the years. Granted, I've only had the Voyager for about a month, so I can't make a prediction about how long it's going to endure everyday use, but based on my previous experiences with Coach, I'm very optimistic.

The signature Coach material, amazingly, does not gather any dirt and has managed to survive a couple of pretty heavy rainstorms while successfully protecting the contents of the bag. The lining is a very pretty and professional-looking dark blue. It's a heavier fabric, which really distinguishes Coach from cheaper bags. I can't even begin to tell you how many of my bags needed to have their lining repaired. By comparison with my other Coach bags, I don't think I'll have to worry about that problem here, at least not for a long while.

One of the things I love about this bag is its width. It's approximately 5 inches wide, which means that I can fit some pretty thick books/file folders in there without completely distorting it.

I have yet to use the outside pockets -- one zippered, one with a magnetic closure, and two smaller side pockets -- but the inside pockets are what make this back truly wonderful. The larger pocket that was meant to hold the diaper pad fits my MacBook Pro just perfectly. There's a pocket especially for writing utensils; given my affinity for unusual pens, I prefer a pocket rather than individual pen loops that never hold anything properly anyway.

There are four (count 'em) elastic pockets on the inside, intended to be for baby bottles. I have repurposed them to hold a water bottle, my computer charger, a pair of flip-flops that I walk to work in before changing into heels, and snacks. The remaining non-elastic pocket is perfect for my wallet, phone, and keys. If I ever needed to bring an umbrella, I'd probably stick that in one of the outside pockets.

Lastly, not only does the bag have two leather shoulder straps, it also has a longer detachable strap. I've already used it a couple of times to sling the back across my body when biking to a coffee shop. It's wide, soft, and amazingly comfortable.

My only gripe is that even though there's a zipper, when the bag is fully closed, there's still a gap on either end. In inclement weather, that could be a problem. I'll figure out a solution eventually.

All in all, I'm thrilled with my purchase. Here's hoping that it serves me well for a few years!

Grocery run

2010-06-20T18:01:00.000-04:00

The LGRAB Summer Games continue! Today was a lovely day, and our fridge was looking quite empty, so I decided to take Carmen out on a quick grocery run. Our destination? Whole Foods, of course.

All loaded up.

As noted by Slow Bike Madison, "there's a dearth of slow biking in Madison, which is a shame. Madison is full of bikes, but most seem to be either hyperathletic models or fixies." A Dutch-style bike like my Carmen is a rare sight (though I did see a white Electra Amsterdam last week). Not surprisingly, she attracts some attention. As I pulled up to the bike racks, a gentleman leaving the store complimented me on my ride. As I was about to walk through the doors, a young woman walked up to me and asked where I got my basket (Nantucket Bike Baskets). Moral of the story: riding a Dutch-style bike in Madison (or anywhere in the U.S., for that matter) is not for the shy.

The basket is surprisingly roomy.

Boris and Natasha, Westlaw-style

2010-06-17T13:23:00.000-04:00

You know it's going to be an awesome case when the defendant's name is listed as follows:

Theresa Marie Squillacote, aka Tina, aka Mary Teresa Miller, aka The Swan, aka Margaret, aka Margit, aka Margret, aka Margrit, aka Lisa Martin, aka Resi, aka Anne, Defendant-Appellant (and Kurt Alan Stand, aka Ken, aka Junior, aka Alan David Jackson, Defendant-Appellant).

And it is. In your leisure time, I highly recommend taking a look at U.S. v. Squillacote, 221 F.3d 542 (4th Cir. 2000).

German intelligence agencies? Liberation movements? Going to law school to further your career as a spy? (And here I thought that going to law school on a dare was bad enough.) False flag operations? Friendly overtures?

Someone should make a movie out of this.

Wednesday wonders

2010-06-10T17:26:00.000-04:00

Today was pretty grand...for a Wednesday. I decided to work outside of the office for a change, so I spent the first couple of hours of my work day at Café Soleil. It was my first time there, and I must say that, although the ambiance was nothing special, the coffee was darn good. I then moseyed over to the farmers market. The whole street was permeated with the sweet smell of fresh strawberries...Yum. I left with a bag of sugar snap peas and a delicious rhubarb raspberry turnover. And look what I saw parked between the market stalls!

That's right, a white Electra Amsterdam. Carmen's cousin.

I then met up with TM for a homemade lunch on the MMoCA rooftop. I wish I had my camera with me, because it was the most beautiful of days: warm, sunny, and simply the kind of day that puts one a great mood.

After work, Nick and I headed over to the Weary Traveler, as he insisted on my trying the notorious Bad Breath Burger. He was right -- it's nothing short of delicious.

We then enjoyed a couple of mojitos at Natt Spil and ended the night looking at my shoe collection and trying to get a positive outlook on our love lives.

All in all, a very successful Wednesday.

Hello, Hermès!

2010-06-07T17:17:00.000-04:00

Gasp. I took a big step forward today and decided to wear my inherited Hermès scarf, which went well with my vintage-style Kenzie shoes. Of course, that necessitated a picture to commemorate the occasion -- with Carmen, naturally. Claire had the brilliant idea of having the brick house as the backdrop, which worked out quite nicely. Also, I think Claire now has a teeny crush on Carmen. Can I convert her to the biking lifestyle???

In other news, Natalie and I had a "Woohoo!" moment this afternoon when the Chief told us that we were, in a nutshell, pretty fabulous. I spent the past three weeks doubting my abilities, but apparently I had nothing to worry about: the boss is pleased.

A superb Saturday

2010-05-30T12:49:00.000-04:00

After that train wreck of a date on Thursday night, I spent Friday kind of miffed. I knew that I wasn't going to hit it off with this guy, but I was at least hoping to get a good story out of the whole thing. The only thing I got, however, was a shot of Jameson from the bartender after the date ended. (Side note: I have to admit that Necklace Guy (formerly known as the Soulmate, but I am no longer referring to him as such, as it might give people the impression that I was the one who considered him my soulmate, rather than the other way around) and the Monarchist set the bar really, really high for odd first dates. Also, if I'm apparently this desperate for stories, I should perhaps start stunt dating, à la Billy.)

Seeing Cory and Hannah on Friday certainly helped lift my spirits, but it was Saturday that really put me in a fabulous mood. I woke up in the morning to find these on the kitchen table, courtesy of one of my roomies:

Thanks, B.!

Then I headed over to Milwaukee to get the SGH gift certificate off my hands. I spent a long time choosing the pair of sunglasses that I wanted before finally settling for these guys:

Yes, they are the complete opposite of what I would normally wear. I figured that I'm always going to be willing to spend money on a sleek, metal, rectangular, "masculine" pair, so I might as well put this certificate towards something that I wouldn't otherwise buy. I feel like I should wear them with a vintage headscarf, Audrey Hepburn-style.

I don't think I need to elaborate upon my excitement about dinner, especially when dinner involved these:

And the night ended with Nick's birthday celebration at the Great Dane. Good times.

Best concurrence ever.

2010-05-22T15:27:00.000-04:00

In doing some legal research (story of my life these days), I came across the following concurrence:

"I join the majority opinion except the third sentence of p. ##. I don't use the A-word. For the reason set forth, I write separately."

A Carrie kind of day

2010-05-21T19:05:00.000-04:00

"There are some dates you cannot wait to keep, and there are some you both know you will never keep." - Carrie Bradshaw, SATC 6.1

Ooh, Pacific Islander!

2010-05-17T18:52:00.000-04:00

A facebook discussion of the SNL Census skit with Betty White and Tina Fey:

Me: I want Betty White to be my granny.
Billy: I want Betty White to be my wife.