Awkward & Awesome: JetSet

So, I had a lovely photo to share of me standing next to my suitcase, all rearing to go to the airport. I was very proud of it too. I also had everything lined up and ready to write this post while waiting to board the plane.

And then I get through security and sit down to upload the picture from my camera. And what do I find? I find that I packed the wrong cord. WHAT?! Yeah. So needless to say, since I can't somehow teleport the picture from my camera onto my little computer, I also can't post it. I'm left with this boring google imaged photo of an airplane. sigh. 

But enough of that. It's thursday, and that can only mean one thing...

The Awkward
- The seats in my Art History classroom. They are stiff and wooden and uncomfortable. But more on the awkward end, they are unnecessarily and abnormally close together. In all directions. So, it just leaves me trying to acrobat my way to a seat and then doing some more creative (but not-so-graceful) attempts at gymnastics in order to get out. Uck.
- The aisle seat I have on this flight. I don't actually know if it will be awkward, but if movies and television (specifically The Wedding Singer) have taught me anything, it's that your elbows get knocked by the carts. Meh. 
- Sitting in interviews and really needing to blow my nose.
- Being on hold with my bank while sitting at a teller kiosk at my bank and really needing to blow my nose.
- In general, just really needing to blow my nose when I can't do so. Also, just the act itself.
- Zoning out while standing outside of a gym that has glass walls and then realizing you're looking straight at a boy working out and he's looking straight back at you. For the record, I wasn't interested. 


The Awesome
- Travelling
- Getting to spend all weekend telling people why I love my job so much!
- When one of my staff members told me she saw me walking around campus on monday and that she thought I looked like a model - so kind!

- Packing for my trip to Ontario! I'm so excited. Like, the overthemoon kind of excited. I also just really enjoy packing. So... Double-Awesome.
- Really warm coats and scarves and gloves... I hear it's insanely cold where I'm going so I'm thankful for these in advance.
- The fact that my travel buddy and I are equally freakishly organized and need to have our ducks in a row at all times. It's definitely going to make this trip a lot easier. Also, she's fairly awesome just in general. 

To be honest...

 

{Cardigan: Hollister, Dress: Gap, Tights: vendor @ school, Boots: Roberto Vianni via Joneve, Belt: thrifted}

Ok. Confession time.
This is not what I wore today.
After an excessively long day of class, work, and hours upon hours of interviewing, I got home and immediately bee-lined for my bedroom to throw on leggings {i only wear these at home} and the baggiest, most comfortable sweater I could find. This meant no pictures today. No way, José. However, I took a few quick shots of this outfit last week that I never posted, so I thought I'd do so now. Thoughts?

I have a ton to do before I leave tomorrow for Ontario, where I am attending a conference and doing some recruitment for my department. Having said that, I am off to bed now in order to wake up early enough to get everything done!

Have a wonderful evening and I hope to see you tomorrow for some Awkward & Awesome action!

Spy Games

{Trench: Joe Fresh, Scarf: American Eagle, Trousers: Gap, Pumps: The Bay, unknown brand}

My Tuesday: Early morning alarm. Run across campus to three different shops trying to print photos for a presentation. Meetings, meetings, meetings. Class. Eight minute slothtime session {aka napping with some sweet tunes playing in the background.} And then I finished up my day by interviewing candidates for positions within my department for six hours. All in all, it was productive, but very exhausting. I am certainly hitting the hay immediately after posting this. And that's saying a lot considering I can't remember the last time I was tired at 11pm {I'm a nightowl living an early bird's life... shhh}

Anywho. The top half of my outfit changed over the course of the day, however, I wore these pants and this trench coat all day long. And let's talk about this trench for a moment, shall we? Yes, we shall because I. am. in. love. with. it. My desperate and unsuccessful attempts to hunt down the perfect beige trench that have lasted the last FOUR YEARS were finally put to rest last week. I had major issues finding an affordable and quality coat that didn't cut my body in a weird way, but alas, the hunt is over and I could not be happier about that.

It also kind of makes me feel like I'm living in a spy versus spy kind of world. Ya know? Ok. Maybe you don't. 

That's all for now!

Denim Daze

 {Cami: Garage, Denim Button-up: H&M, Scarf: Payless, Jeans: Big Blue via Plenty, Boots: Joy & Peace via Sterling Shoes.}

Today was such a good day. It wasn't necessarily sunny, in fact it was pouring catsanddogs. It wasn't a lazy-do-nothing-day, in fact it was insanely busy. But it was an awesome day nonetheless. My classes were interesting, I was efficient with my errands, and I was just in an all-around good mood (with or without this dreaded cold). But I mean it. Nothing could stop me today. Not even the fact that I was on the phone with my bank for half an hour and was transfered to four different departments eight times, or the fact that my order for mass amounts of hot chocolate and coffee from food services was forty minutes late. I made a conscious effort to stay positive throughout the day, and to take things as they come, and it worked. The power of positive thinking = Amazing. You should try it some time. Seriously.

I also got to see my mom today for the second day in a row (we had tandem pedicures together yesterday)! And I baked six dozen cookies.  And I'm getting more and more excited for my trip to Ontario for which I leave in less than THREE DAYS! In the mean time, you can expect a few more posts from me in the next few days, including a 30 for 30 update closer to the tail end of the week.

T{minus}Seven Days until 30for30!

yummm...

Feel Good Tunes

"We get to that bridge and we've already crossed it, married and divorced it ba-da-di-dadada..."

A Short Announcement.

This is my excited face. Why? Because. I've taken the plunge. I'm holding my breath. I'm jumping out of the plane {with a working parachute, of course}. I'm diving into the deep.

I'm doing 30 for 30.

Kendi's blog is one that I have been religiously following since last Summer and I am happy to say that I will finally be participating in her tradition of appreciating and shopping your own closest. I admire Kendi's ability to remix - it gives me hope that I too can learn to do so successfully. I'm excited to choose my thirty pieces wisely and begin brainstorming ideas of the thirty outfits I can create from them. I'm also hoping that this project will cause me to make daily postings habitual, and help me in the long-run in terms of consistency.

The only minor issue I have with this plan is that I will be across the country at a conference and making presentations for the first day of the challenge. Business casual is the dress code {although I really don't mind since it's not too far off from my everyday style.) Regardless, this definitely means that I will need to start planning my thirty a.s.a.p. and ensure that I pack everything that I need for my trip and this project ahead of time.

Having said that, I'm incredibly excited (and proud of myself) to be finally participating in this adventure. Wish me luck!

Awkward & Awesome: Numero Uno!

It's awkward & awesome time! I've loved this since I read Sydney's original post, but as I hadn't actually started a blog yet, it was a little bit trickier to fully participate.

But I'm here now! So, without further adieu, let's get started.

The Awkward
- How people stand uncomfortably close to me when I'm sitting on a nearly empty bus. I just do not understand it. It's as if they're huddling for warmth or something. Please, leave my personal bubble alone.
- The fact that I have no one to take pictures of me, so they're all timed shots in my bedroom... this needs to be remedied fast!
- I had to analyze a building in my city for an art history class. I chose an old CPR station downtown that has since been reverted into a mass transit location. As I was sitting there minding my own business, jotting things down in my notebook and taking pictures of the space, I noticed that there were several people looking at me, including a few security guards. I slowly started to realize that it definitely looked like I was casing the place.
- When you say goodbye to someone after a conversation and then realize that you're walking in the same direction as them for a little while longer. This happened to me three times today. Threeeee.


The Awesome
- Finishing the "hard" sudoku puzzle this morning, in record time. And yes, the picture was necessary.
- How my job is sending me across the country for six days to promote our program at other schools and attend a conference. I am uncontrollably excited for it - I leave a week from today!
- The tandem pedicures my mom and I are getting this weekend. 
- This.
- Valentine's Day cinnamon hearts. I seriously love these.
- And perhaps the most awesome: The fact that I unknowingly dropped my cellphone in the middle of the street while running to catch a bus, and a woman picked it up and ran after me to return it. The kindness of strangers always gives me hope in the world. Thank you.
I like that there are so many awesome's on this list. It makes me oh-so happy.

Black, White, and a Dash of Red

{Shoes: Aldo, Top: Gap, Vest: F21, Jeans: American Eagle, Belt: My mother's closet.}

Today, I was reminded of a few jokes that I made up when I was in second grade. I was a pretty witty child with a knack for wordplay, ifidosaysomyself. It takes that kind of kid to come up with the following gem:

Q: "What does a lawyer wear to work?"
A: "A lawsuit!"

Hahaha... ah, it still makes me laugh. I tell ya, seven-year-old Karla was hi-larious.

In other news, I love these shoes. "Why?" you may ask. Well, because they remind me of the upholstery one may find on an antique couch. And I find something very charming about having that same fabric covering my feet. On another note, I also love this belt. It's one of those things that I will wear with just about anything if I can get away with it. Finally, check out the lace detail on the back of this vest - I like how the white pokes through from the top underneath.

I cannot wait for tomorrow and some Awkward & Awesome Thursday love!

I cannot get over this song...

   That is all.

A Prance Around My Apartment

In order to appreciate the things I have and the home I have made for myself, I shot a few photos of the little nooks of my apartment that bring me the most joy. Now, I am sharing them with you!

{A group of photographs taken by my best friend in high school}

{The letters spelling out my name were made by a friend of mine.
The picture is one of myself and my staff at a banquet.}

{A little decorative shelf in my bedroom - I built it myself! Thanks for making it easy, Ikea}

{An old map of Paris. I LOVE THIS.}

{some of the items on my coffee table: The Book of Awesome, a candle, cinnamon hearts,
and a variety of magazines, including my Real Simple subscription.}

{My bookshelf. I seriously don't know what I would do without it.
I have more books stacked in my bedroom too. It's an issue.} 

{My bedside table. I just really like this lamp.} 

{Some more shelves with little mementos. My favorites are the picture of my mother when she was thirteen, left,
and myself with my oldest sister when I was 3.5 years old, right.} 

I hope you enjoyed that photo tour of the things that make me happy. Happy Tuesday!

Sha-Bam

Jeans: Big Blue, Dress: Thrifted, Blazer: TNA via Aritzia, Boots: Joy & Peace via Sterling Shoes

So I woke up early for class. Very early... or at least 'very early' in Karla world. My early start allowed me to finish all my classes AND errands for work all before noon. Of course, this was great but it did however leave me with an entire day in front of me, with no plans at all. So. You may be asking, what productive, time-consuming task did I attack with my newfound freedom? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. From what I can remember, my lazy day involved a lot of tea, a lot of cop shows {a guilty pleasure, thankyouverymuch} and a tad bit of reading mixed in there. My evening was a little more productive and social, as I celebrated two friends' birthdays, but that's about it.

TGIF!

Rough and Tumble

 Jacket: Le Chateau, Sweater: Gap, Jeans: American Eagle, Boots: Roberto Vianni via Joneve, Earrings: Plenty

I'm a big fan of pairing elegant, soft pieces with more rough, industrial ones. Thankfully, these boots and jacket come in handy when I'm going for this sort of "opposites attract" kind of look. I lovelovelove the waterfall of ruffles on this sweater {and, as a side note, how amazingly soft and comfy it is!} I knew I was going to be running around between meetings and class all day in the weird rain/snow/slush mother nature so graciously gave to us, so something comfortable and easy was a necessity. I also love these earrings that I forgot I had because they were lost in the treasure trove that is my jewelry collection.

On another note, I had a wonderful coffee date with my ex-boss turned friend/mentor(?) today and I got very excited for an upcoming opportunity! As terrified as I am to be graduating in mere months and going through the dreaded interview process, I'm also incredibly excited to see what's next. I promised myself that this blog would not discuss work or school... but... looks like that's just not going to happen. Oh well, I like my job. And my classes, for that matter.

'Til my next post - ADIEU!

The {Official} First

Button-up: thrifted, Cardigan: Gap, Jeans: Mavi

This was me yesterday, on the first day of class after the winter break. I felt like pulling a little bit of a biz-casz/geek look and this is what it turned into.

Classes went fairly well today, I'm excited for them - particularly an Art History class on American design and architecture. Can't wait to delve into that some more. Boy, oh boy. I'm excited. Other than class, my day was extremely productive. I guess that's what happens when classes have you up at the crack of dawn {for me, 'the crack of dawn' is eight thirty... no judgement.} Regardless, I was able to cross everything off my scary To Do list by 3pm, leaving me plenty of time to attack the television shows I have been completely ignoring. {I, Karla, am a tv junkie.}

Don't ya just love the first week of school?

Well, hello there.

Hi. This is me, Karla.


The basics? I'm a twenty-one year-old History major in my last year semester of school. I hold a live-in position within Student Development at my university and love the work that I do with first- and second-year students.

This blog, however, won't be talking too much about the things mentioned above. Instead, this will be a mini vacation from my work. It will be a place for me to catalogue my thoughts about life, style, and design, clips of inspiration, successes and failures, recipes, and perhaps even an outfit or two.

That's all for now - wish me luck!