Overtime.

Sometimes you win, sometimes your team loses to their rivals, the #2 team in the nation, after playing neck-and-neck into overtime.

I changed my outfit a bit. I got a lot of compliments at the bars after the game- even from rivals. Further proof that good style solves everything.

Sunflower Showdown!

Sunflower Showdown is tonight! My college team, the Kansas State Wildcats, will be playing our rivals, the Kansas University Jayhawks. I'm having a friend over to watch the game with me, and then probably going out for drinks. I'm excited!

I naturally have to rock a K-State jersey, but that doesn't mean I'm skipping the chance to look nice. I may even have a face sticker with the team logo left over from college. I'm pushing it with the Jayhawk-red shoes, and considering pushing it even farther by belting the jersey with red also. We'll see.

My Leatha.

Just a few (very simple) outfits I've been wearing lately. I've been trying a lot of cute stuff, but failing utterly to snap pictures. Clearly, a tripod is in my future.

The second is obviously my new leather skirt. I got it at a local vintage store and I'm thrilled with it. Seems somehow appropriate that my first leather skirt should be bright orange. I ended up wearing it out in brown boots. I felt all night like I should have a handkerchief around my neck and start drag races with flag.

Also awesome about the tripod- I can stop taking photos of my face Myspace-style in a dirty mirror:

I feel like this picture should have a list of my favorite bands and a few quirky quotes about me under it. Ah well.

Awards: The Sequel.

Wow, what a cool week! Fashion Therapist just gave me my second award! Her blog is so fun and unique, and she rocks a cast like nobody's business. I'm flattered to receive an award from a blogger I enjoy so much! Here is the Best Blog Award:

With this award comes some rules:

One. To accept the award, you must post it on your blog with the name of the person who has granted you the award, and a link to their blog.

Two. Pass the award on to approximately 15 other blogs that you recently discovered, and think are great.

Three. Contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I feel like the best part of getting an award (okay, aside from the validation) is getting to pass it on to other people whose blogs you really admire! Earlier this week I got to give one to three of my favorite bloggers. I think 15 is a tad excessive, so I think I'm sticking with 3. It's a damn fine number. I'd love to pass this award on to
 
1. Bright Side Dweller;
2. I Know, Right?; and
3. Style Obsession.
 
One is totally adorable, one has fantastic work stories, and one always has classy, beautiful collections of items that make me feel like a lady. Keep it up!
 
As for my regular posts, I've been putting together a lot of cool things lately, but learning the hard way how tricky it is to photograph yourself well when you don't have a boy to hand the camera to. I will step up my game! I got a vintage bright orange leather skirt I'm aching to show you.

Attempting Relaxation.

I spent the last four hours of my workday answering customer emails full of questions and concerns. While PMS-ing. On the way home, tired and grouchy and guilty because I was blowing off the gym, my car was almost hit by a giggling cheerleader (I saw both the giggling and the sticker on her car) not paying attention and experimenting with illegal lane changes.

To zen myself, I could clean my apartment. Instead, I intend to sit on my couch, watch tv, and plan what I'm packing for my upcoming trip to Boston. I bought a new leather duffel bag very much in the style of that messenger bag I'm still questing for. I'm so jazzed about it I keep trying to pack it now...

This is what my night looks like. Note the inclusion of my apartment (mmm, couch) and a bottle of my favorite wine.

The bag is a really pretty, rugged leather. It was originally almost $200, but it's on sale for just $60, with free shipping. I'm pretty excited about it!

Awards Time.

I was just given the Over the Top award from Jennifer Fabulous. Thanks! It comes with a quiz, but how could I turn it down when attached to an award? Srsly.

The OTT award comes with the following survey. It must be filled 
out using one word for each.

1. Where is your cell phone? desk

2. Your hair? short

3. Your mother? busy

4. Your father? busier

5. Your favorite food? cereal

6. Your dream last night? forgotten

7. Your favorite drink? milk

8. Your dream/goal? peace

9. What room are you in? office

10. Your hobby? antiquing

11. Your fear? spiders

12. What do you want to be in 6 years? happy

13. Where were you last night? couch

14. Something you aren't? tan

15. Muffins? blueberry

16. Wish list item? vacation

17. Where did you grow up? everywhere

18. Last thing you did? oatmeal

19. What are you wearing? jeans

20. Your TV? huge

21. Your pets? imaginary

22. Your friends? scattered

23. Your life? pleasant

24. Your mood? relaxed

25. Missing someone? ex

26. Vehicle? neon

27. Something you're not wearing? bracelets

28. Your favorite store? H&M

29. Your favorite color? blue

30. When was the last time you laughed? today

31. Last time you cried? yesterday

32. Your best friend? loving

33. One place where I go over and over again? bed

34. One person who emails me regularly? boss

35. Favorite place to eat? Panera

I know you’re supposed to pass this award along, but I’m not sure to how many. To make it a bit more special (and because quite a few girls I admire already have these), I’ll just choose three.

1. Dark Pony Designs

2. Chic on the Cheap

3. Living La Vida Rita

Party Arty, or Arty Party, or Whatever.

Last night was the Party Arty party at the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City. I only heard about the event about a week ago, and got tickets in a hurry. It's a yearly benefit thrown at the museum for young professionals. There was art on display, a fashion show, little photo booths, great food and free booze. I had a fantastic time. There's something very luxurious about discussing a Pollock painting while sipping wine.

In preparation for the event, I looked up photos and quizzed a co-worker that went last year to find out what to wear. I ended up feeling slightly underdressed, but not terribly. I took photos beforehand in case none were taken at the party:

I got a few shots of the fashion show- it was really dark and I had to hold my camera over my head to make up for my poor spot in the crowd:

We scoped the party for a while, partaking of our free drinks:

We even got the red carpet treatment.

All-in-all, it was a total blast, and one of the more swanky events I've gotten to attend. I can't wait to go next year- with a slightly more dramatic dress.

Also, did you notice the new haircut?

I just got the color touched up, made it symmetrical and cut wispy bangs out of my heavy, chunky one. It's pretty cute, and it will be much easier to look more professional and grow it out. New goals of mine.

Project Runway- No Spoilers.

I won't chat about the details of the most recent episode, because I know not everyone's seen it. But I am LOVING this season. The designers are better, the judges are back- happiness.

Just one thing is bugging me- what happened to Nina?

The first episode I didn't notice anything, but this most recent one she looked... rested.

Does anyone else think Nina looks mysteriously 10 years younger? I can't figure out what's different. I mean, good for her- I'm just so curious!

Indiana Jonesing.

Today's post is devoted to that for which I have searched about three years: the perfect brown leather messenger bag. Links in the comments under each picture.

Cute, but not quite the right shape.

It started in college with a desire for a cooler bookbag, and I thought it would end when I graduated. It didn't. The dream is to track down a messenger bag that looks as though Indiana Jones owns it. Darkish brown, real leather, not a briefcase, big enough for books, a bit worn.

Meh. I like the leather of it, but not really the shape or the height.

I've found a lot of things like it, even expanded my search to include purses that are similar. Not much luck so far.

I saw a bag similar to what I wanted at work the other day. A co-worker has a faux leather, slightly too-small black leather bag. When I mentioned to him, he shrugged and said he got it at F21. I told him about my quest, and he lit up. Apparently, he's on the same quest. Now I feel the double responsibility of helping him realize his Indiana Jones bag dream.

Looks very cool, but very new and stiff. I'd really like to start with something soft and slouchy.

So many are close. But I'm waiting for the one.

I found this on my hunt for photos today. It's the closest one I've found so far, and I'm a bit excited about it.

Winter, I Think We Need to Have a Talk.

It finally stopped snowing, though I probably shouldn't celebrate just yet. As fun as taking a snow day off last week was (very, very fun), I will be ecstatic when this clears up. People who love snow clearly live in California, and have therefore forgotten what the stuff is like.

The view from my window.

All the snow has made clothing choices a bit tricky. I'm cold, and I can only really wear boots. I've tried a few other shoe options, but inevitably I end up ankle-deep in a snow drift cleaning off my car. I finally got all the salt and gunk off of my favorite OTKs, but I've been wearing bright red rainboots pretty much every day since. I did, however, end up wearing this to work on Friday:

I got an overall really positive response. I've decided to chalk this up as a success. Also further proof that they really don't care what I wear to work so long as I am a bit careful.

This weekend I had a lot of free time, so I tried playing with a few outfits. I have a really warm winter coat, so I generally have the luxury of wearing whatever I want and just throwing a coat over it. I gave this a shot:

Afterwards, I took one look at this photo and laughed at myself. Then I put that tiny, tiny skirt back, put some jeans on and went out for a while. While I have fun posting outfits that I like, it's fun to share my missteps too.

As evidenced by the above photo, I have very very short hair. It's grown out to the point of being in an awkward phase, and I'm anxious to let it get longer but shape it back up (and dye it back to brown, rather than the reddish color it's slowly lightened to).

I've never loved having long, long hair because it takes me at least a year to do it and is a massive pain. I am, however, the kind of person who is really drawn to the non-commitment of clip-in extensions. I got all kinds of fired up a few weeks back to try some, but a saleswoman talked me out of it. She laughed that my hair was way too short. I was disheartened and dropped the idea.

Oddly enough, it was Kate Gosselin's weird new hair that made me think to give it one more shot. I have a friend with clip-in extensions who has kindly offered to let me come over and try them. I'd obviously have to cut any set I purchased down a bit to blend a better with my hair. But I think it would be really fun to try! Anyone have any good, bad or ugly experiences with clip-ins?

F21, My Dear Watson.

Phew. That was a break I needed. Things have been a bit hairy here in Robinland, and I needed a time out. I think I'm a bit more stable now and ready to return to discussing socks.

I've been so down lately that I hadn't been shopping at all. Once I started coming back to the land of the living, I realized I had a bit of money laying around. Of course, I tried buying some new skinny jeans (a sad story for a later time) and hit up Forever 21. It was there that I found some clothing mysteries. Luckily for me, Sherlock Holmes just came out and mysteries are very popular at the moment. Maybe you could help?

Mystery 1:

I definitely have a thing for gathered skirts. I saw one on a mannequin that was just like this:

Except it had a piece around the waist and suspenders, like this skirt:

I was instantly in love with it and, after hunting a bit myself, asked the pseudo-friendly sales staff to help me track it down. They reluctantly stopped their loud conversation about oral sex preferences to spend about five minutes walking around the store, and then disappeared back to their areas. I assumed that meant they couldn't find it.

I can't find it on the F21 website, which is a weird first. My question is, even if I track this puppy down, is there a way to wear this that wouldn't look totally ridiculous? I'm all for dressing outside the box, but I still live in Kansas/Missouri. I might have to play in Polyvore with that one.

Mystery 2:

Another item that I can't seem to locate on the F21 site. This is getting spooky. Also annoying, as I now have to charge my camera and show you what I mean:

I bought this dress. I was kind of hoping to wear it to work, as well as on weekends and for light parties. The first thing Matt (hereafter referred to as "my friend Matt") said was that it looks like a schoolgirl costume*. That presented a problem.

I have done the arm check- put mine down by my sides and pointed my hands- the skirt easily passes. It's long enough for work. But it gives the illusion that it's shorter than it is. Am I deluding myself in thinking that tights, leggings, boots, or all of the above can make this casual-work appropriate? Now that I'm looking at the photos, I'm thinking it just isn't going to happen.

*Matt and I did not break up because he called my new dress a schoolgirl costume. Though he did get a face.