There to Stop Close-Talkers From Standing Too Close

Three day weekend!!  And I only have to work at the mall for one of them.  Maybe I'll try to knock the 'Organize the Apt' off the To-Do List.

Probably not to this degree.  Actually, I don't think I have enough stuff to make organization like this happen.  I do like the yellow wall closet though, maybe I'll look into painting too.

(photos collected from pinterest)

Keep Calm and Summer On

My favorite summer outfit inspiration pics of late.  The trends, done right.

A little crop top skin is acceptable, especially in a subtle paisley print or when it converges into an interesting hemline. Key word here: a little.

Black and white.  I feel like this is always a trending color combo, but it's been big this summer.  Shades of white work best.

And attention-getting blazer jackets.  Stripes, studs, whatever.  The dragon surfer girl is probably one of the coolest people ever.  She probably really takes the Keep Calm Summer On mantra to heart.

(photos collected from instintodevestir, becauseimaddicted, pinterest, karlascloset, lovemoreblog, and enterloop)

An Episode of Taste

I wish there was a guy like this who would make the rounds at the office once or twice a week.  Any more and we'd be in trouble.  Well, more like our waistlines would.  And even though the Donut Guy is wearing a Canada hat, this was on the beach in Greece.

(photo by e.hunt)

Nautical Sunblazers

Now that I (can) wear heels almost everyday (without killing my feet), I've made some observations while out and about beyond the office setting, like at a coffeeshop or the grocery store.  People treat you differently, like you're on an important mission, like you have somewhere to be.  Like, you've paid your dues and you've made it.  You've got your life together.  That's what I always thought when I saw ladies in a 9-5 uniform, their heels clicking away.  Yes, girl power!
An interesting side note, the ones that I'm wearing below were much harder to get used to walking in than my lace-up oxfords.  The first day I wore them, my heels kept slipping out.  Embarrassing.  It even happened when I was walking next to my boss, which I recovered with a laugh and "Woah flat tire" comment.  I can never escape my awkwardness.
PS.  This dress is from Paris.

(photos by e.hunt)

I Knew You'd Be Lovely

One of my middle-aged co-workers asked me the other day, "So Erica, who are the young girls crushing on now?  Is it still Justin Bieber?"  Firstly, Justin Bieber?  Really?  Secondly, I think the last time someone asked me this was at a birthday sleepover in middle school.  Anyway, they only knew one of the three, and we went on to spend the next twenty minutes looking at pictures of them online.  Pretty good way to wrap up a Friday, I'd say.

1.  Joseph Gordon Levitt.  Oh the delightfulness.  He's got perfectly messy dark hair, looks impeccable in a suit, and seems like he would be really fun to hang out with.

2.  Kid Cudi.  He sings, he acts, and he's into fashion.  And look at that little kid grin.

3.  Simon Baker.  He's Australian and he surfs.  And he's Australian.

(photos collected from favourite-celebs, pinterest, pigeonsandplanes, fuckyeahscottmescudi and shechive)

And Baby, We'll Rule

But every song's like gold teeth, grey goose, trippin' in the bathroom.
Blood stains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room.
We don't care, we're driving Cadillacs in our dreams.
But everybody's like Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your time piece,
Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash.
We don't care, we aren't caught up in your love affair.

And we'll never be royals.
It don't run in our blood, that kind of luxe just ain't for us.
We crave a different kind of buzz.
Let me be your ruler,
you can call me Queen Bee,
and baby, I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule.
Let me live that fantasy.

-Royals, Lorde

Missing my college friends today.  This song seemed like we were: on top of the world no matter what was going on, having fun no matter what the surroundings.  We didn't need anything fancy, just our friends.

Whether it was making weird, Spiderman-like poses

Acting out famous SNL skits 

 Stumbling on photos a few days later that you forgot were taken

Making fraternity-themed gingerbread houses

Trying to start a dance party

Actually being part of a dance party

Really getting into a dance party

Inventing a dance move at the dance party

Or watching a friend have a dance party on your bed

while doing this...

we were, in general, just really awesome and never had a care in the world.

(photos by s.harris, a.baker, n.williams, fellow dancers, e.gerhardt, and b.hall)

Dissolving Into the Mainstream

I went for a walk after getting home from work today, to the end of the street, a left down the hill, following the sharp right turn under a canopy of vines that hang from the power lines, and then I saw it.  The abandoned house that you may remember has provided several backgrounds for personal style posts.  Well, I didn't actually see it, because all that's left is a giant hole in the ground with some rocks scattered about. That's right; no more spontaneous clumps of wild flowers or tall grass, no more interesting dirt and wear patterns on the walls, and no more creepy animal noises coming from behind the garage door.  Just this.

(photos by e.hunt)

We'll Be Departing at Twilight

No commentary required other than this is absolutely beautiful.

(photo collected from pinterest)

A Chick, a Broad, a Doll, or a Dame

Since I got my new job, I've been looking for a good inspirational office style blog.  I know, I know, another post about work.  You're probably sick of these, and ones about France, but that's my life right now.  I promise I'll be back to my old, kindof out there, kindof quirky, kindof maybe posts soon.  Well, with the help of Pinterest, I've finally found one, The Classy Cubicle.  Much like the title, it's a little predictable, a little bit boring, and a lot preppy, but it's a good place to start.  She's got the bright color-combo thing down pat.

(photos collected from theclassycubicle)

Long-Discarded Revolutionary Roles

One of my co-workers said I looked very French today.  I went on to think what my life would be like if I were living in Paris and had just gotten a job.  I ended up not thinking about what kind of job it would be, or which park I would most like to lunch in, but how much more awesome getting to work would be.  If the metro existed here, my commute would be made up of walking to the metro, making a line jump or two, walking up the stairs into the sun shining through breaks between the tall buildings, and walking the rest of the way to work along with the rest of the young professionals.  As much as I love riding in the Dreamobile, I really don't love the rush hour traffic.  Alright Nashville, let's create some construction jobs and get this going.  My company will provide the furniture.

(photos by e.hunt)