Off-Campus Style: Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

So I realized "Boston Campus Style" doesn't make much sense when I don't live on campus, eh?

I don't know if it's just this time of year, but I've felt crazy busy the last couple of weeks! I didn't think midterms were going to be a big deal this year, but I've been buried in work and school obligations for days. Every night I just hit the pillow and fall right asleep! So in a way, I guess it's good?

It was a beautiful fall day last week - not too warm, not too cold. The nice thing about this new 'hood is that there are plenty of big, green outdoor spaces to hang out in! It's the perfect stress reliever. So Craig and I went and had a picnic in the park. He's getting good at these outfit photos, don't you think? :)

Dress: Primark

Cardigan: Target

Tights: Alloy

Belt: Forever 21

Shoes: Minnetonka

Earrings: Flea market

Guest appearance by Craig's shadow.

An aside about this dress: a few weeks after I got it, I saw Aidy Bryant wearing it on SNL! I died. She has the cutest style.

ETA: I just realized this is my 50th post! Wow! It feels like a lot more than that, but maybe because I'm so bad at consistently updating :). Thanks for coming on this ride with me - here's to 50 more!

Boston Campus Style: Hot Spiced Apple Cider

I have been craving a hot apple cider for about 3 days, I'm not even going to lie to you guys. This outfit seemed like the physical manifestation of that drink. Fall camouflage, if you will. The leaves are changing, temperatures are dropping, and it's time for tights, riding boots, and cozy sweaters! And also peacoats, apparently, because I was pretty chilly in this outfit. Is it very cold where you live? I just wasn't prepared for this!

I'm a Looney Toon.

Dress: Forever 21

Tights and Cardigan: Target

Boots: Kohl's

Earrings: Betsey Johnson

Necklace: ? (super old)

Tote: Shakespeare & Company

I was reunited with my beautiful blogger buddy, Z! I missed her photographic assistance/frolicking around the Common with her. I love my new neighborhood, but I do miss having this beautiful space as my backyard!

Did you notice the big change on my head (other than my ridiculous roots)? You may remember I was thinking about getting a pixie cut - and about a month ago, I took the plunge! It takes me much less time to get ready in the morning, it looks less less silly when I wear statement necklaces and big earrings, and I feel a lot more "me" this way. I'm very glad I did it!

How is your fall going? Have you picked out your Halloween costume yet? As a Halloween pop-up shop worker, I like to know these things :).

Summer Checklist: Maudslay Stylin'

This weekend, I ticked another goal off my Summer Checklist! Craig and I visited a new state park, Maudslay, in Newburyport.

I know I said my goal was to visit 1 new state park, but we decided to pick up a parking pass that covers the fees for every state park in MA to encourage us to get out and bond with nature a bit more. Maudslay is an old estate that spawns a ridiculous amount of acres and includes beautiful forest paths, big open fields, gardens (some are even still tended to!) and old buildings that belonged to former groundskeepers and boatkeepers. It was so ripe for adventuring, we were checking it out for hours! If you live anywhere nearby, the parking fee is only $2 and it is so beyond that in adventuring value.

(I scratched this into a well because we are nauseating. To be fair, it looks way better than the vaguely satanic-looking initials above it.)

While we were there, I decided to give Craig his first test as fashion photographer. He was acting like he had never held a camera before, and then BAM, all of his photos came out totally professional looking. If I hadn't known him for 6 years, I'd say he was faking me out, guys. He's a natural.

Top: Kohl's
Shorts: Jessica Simpson
Sunnies: Vera Wang
Shoes: Minnetonka
Bag: Feed for Target
Necklace: Asos

We grabbed lunch in Newburyport center afterwards, and I scored this adorable bracelet in a vintage shop. I'm kind of in love with the entire town.

Did you do any exploring this weekend?

Summer Checklist: A Really Fun Weekend

Don't you love when things just come together in such a perfect way to make a really great weekend? I feel like I bottled summer. I just started back up at my old summer job, and while I'm so happy to be back, I was a little stressed out! And the forecast said doom and gloom all weekend. Serious bummer. Craig & I decided to schedule an indoor glow in the dark mini golf date to combat the rain:

But it turned out to be a beautiful day! So after the game was over (I won by 1 point, but the scores were totally embarrassing overall) we went to new-to-us ice cream stand 2/5, Richardson's, where I got some incredible Green Tea Ice Cream:

Saturday arrived with a ton of sunshine, too! We packed up and headed to Walden Pond for the afternoon,

Got some much-needed sushi,

And got some surprise Lowell Spinners tickets from my parents!

And Sunday, we picked some strawberries!

(Forever 21 shirt and sunnies, Jessica Simpson shorts, Target purse, if you were curious!)

mmm, strawberry donuts. Craig styled this picture all by himself! What a professional assistant ;).

Anddd this came out sounding like a big brag. But sometimes we have to share a really awesome weekend, and I did check off a few of my checklist goals! Did you have a fun weekend? :)

Boston Campus Style: End of an Era!

Wow! By the time you're reading this, I'll be done living in the dorms forever! Moving off campus is a strange sensation. I'm overjoyed to never have to eat at the dining hall again, but I'll miss having the Boston Common in my backyard! Luckily, I'm not going to be too far away. But still, going for runs with this in the background never really got old:

C'est la vie! Time to start anew with a great friend in a fun new neighborhood. Before that, it's back to my hometown to collect as much money as I can. This outfit will hopefully be one of the last things I buy for myself for a while...I need to reign in that spending until the fall! In the meantime, expect a little more regularity in my posts and look for a lot more recipes and DIY posts this summer...I get pretty crafty when I have enough space to stretch my creative wings :). And on that note, if any of you have links for great DIY tutorials for apartment decorations/furniture, let me know! I'm trying to create as much as I can to make a living space that screams "me!"

On this outfit: Why is it impossible to find high waisted shorts that aren't destroyed denim? I searched high and low and this was the best pair I could get. I was hesitant, but I kind of dig the 90's grunge of it all. I bought this on Saturday to celebrate the completion of my large and scary research paper. It's pretty simple, pretty summer. It was wonderful to go outside and take pictures to enjoy this great weather! I do not miss my big winter coat at all. It's so tragic that this sunny week had to grace Boston during final exams!

Shirt and shorts: Forever 21
Sneakers: Urban Outfitters
Necklace: Vintage hand-me-down

Aren't you in love with this necklace? I get more compliments on it than any other piece of jewelry I own. My grandma had fantastic style.

Pictures are, as per usual, by the talented Z. She's gotten so fabulous at glamour shots, I don't know what I'm going to do without her!

Boston Campus Style: Think Pink

First off, guys, I've had the best day! It was 72 degrees, I jogged on the Esplanade, strolled around the Public Gardens, read outside with my future roomie, and then went and got FREE Ben & Jerry's! I think I've spent like 5 hours outside today, and it's been perfect. And now I'm watching wedding shows, getting Boloco burritos, and blogging with my dearest Z (who also happened to take these pictures). Do days get any better?

These pictures are actually from last week (I had flip-flops on today!) but spring time was already beginning then. I love these pants: they really jazz up even the simplest outfit. I've never been much of a "pink" girl, but I think it can be really fun and spring-y when incorporated into your outfit in the right way. This is the first year I really dipped my toes into colored jeans since middle school, and I already have 3 pairs! I really think colored skinny jeans are moving from 'trendy' to 'staple.'

Chambray - Target
Tank - Cynthia Rowley
Jeans - Buffalo
Headband - ModCloth
Necklace - Betsey Johnson
Flats - Pac Sun
Purse - Target

um, we don't need to talk about the fact that the weather this week looks like this going forward:

New England, WHAT are you ever doing?!

Boston Campus Style: We Can Do It!

I was channeling my inner Rosie the Riveter this week. I need the strength! The amount of papers I have due this week is beyond anything I could have imagined - but, knock on wood, I think my real estate woes are almost over! And not a moment too soon...

This is another very slow week, for me. Do you feel that? I just want it to be Friday so I can have a night away from homework and watch Jurassic Park 3D in peace! But thankfully, the weather is catching up with the season (yesterday notwithstanding). I couldn't stand another week of cloudy days! I was beyond ecstatic that I could finally traipse around without a coat on - I laid out in the Boston Common for 2 hours the other day! Isn't it funny how much the weather can change your mood? Now I know I'm just getting greedy, but I wish this wind would let up now...blunt bangs and windy days are not a good combination.

Chambray and faux leather jacket: Target
Shorts: LC Lauren Conrad (Kohl's)
Headband: ASOS
Necklace: Marc Jacobs
Flats: Blowfish

Thank you Z for the lovely pictures!

Boston Campus Style: When It's Warmer Outside (!!)

I was overjoyed when I saw the forecast for today - 55 degrees! Unfortunately, yesterday's fantasy didn't exactly match today's reality, as the high didn't even reach 50. I blame those stubborn clouds. Nevertheless, it was nice to get some fresh air in, and not have to wear a jacket for a day. I think I have a bit of Seasonal Affective Disorder...I get so gloomy on rainy or wintry days. I just want it to be warm enough to lounge by Walden Pond!

I picked up this dress over spring break with my mom, having fallen head over heels for  it immediately (chambray AND polka dots, and for only $20 - happy days)! Break was somewhat relaxing, but much too short, and punctuated by tons of apartment woes. The Boston real estate market is incredibly difficult to navigate! I also got a hefty dose of nostalgia when Rick Steves' Europe hit Amsterdam, Cinque Terre, London, AND Paris...I nearly lost it when he said "dank u wel" to the Veolia attendant. Oh, the many train stations I was lost/tired/slowly losing my grip in just a few months ago! For today, though, I'll just take solace in what little sunshine mother nature delivers me and mix stripes with polka dots, just because I can. If you're interested in achieving a similar effect, I suggest sticking to the same color palate (blues and whites, here) and mixing one big, sparse print with one tighter print.

Dress: Monteau Los Angeles
Tights & Flats: Target
Cardigan: Poof
Necklace: Betsey Johnson (similar)
Tote: Forever 21