Gatekeeper, seasons wait for your nod

It's that time of year again where I'm sifting through my closet trying to decide on clothing items to donate and giveaway. Early spring cleaning, perhaps? While part of me is all gung ho about reducing the quantity of stuff I own another part of me is getting all materialistic and thinking about pending acquisitions. Sigh. I don't feel too guilty, though, as my current wants only total two...

I missed out on these flats last year, but this year I'm going to stalk H&M until they are mine.

Thanks to my friend, Erin, I'll be scoping out Old Navy for this green twill romper.

Is there anything particular that you'd like to bulk up your wardrobe with? Do share!

P.S. Would you like a not-so-interesting little tidbit? "Gatekeeper" by Feist is the 9th most played song in my iTunes library and the song from which today's post title comes from.

On pacts and patience

I made a vow a few months ago that I wouldn't grumble or complain about winter too much this year. I'm happy to report that I stayed true to my word and cannot recollect much recent animosity toward the aforementioned season. Good job, Emily. However, I am rejoicing in the fact that calendar winter is finally (FINALLY) drawing to a close. Just a little over a month and then it will be spring. *Insert enthusiastic exclamation here* Now comes waiting patiently for the temperatures to rise and the snow to melt. In the meantime, another storm is creeping in making me nervous about my drive in to work tomorrow morning. We've been fortunate to miss a few heavy storms this year, but it seems like when it does snow up here it's always in the early morning hours. I think I'll set my alarm a little earlier (yikes) just to be on the safe side...

Anyway, with my brain headed toward a one-track-spring-mindset, I've decided to share a few photos I found on my computer from early last spring (March, I think). I can't wait until the landscape looks like this again with the grass waking up from its winter slumber and the air smelling of new life. Oh, the handsome dude in the one photo with me is my younger brother. He's a goof.

Scarf and skirt: Gap, Jacket: Target, Cameo: $1 Store, Bracelet: Delia's

Creature of habit

Today, for some unknown reason, my mind has been preoccupied with my weekday morning routine. Seriously, I've been thinking about it all day. Perhaps its a result from waking up tired and not refreshed at all or from the fact that in my still-tired-stupor I managed to get ready and leave the house earlier than on a good day. That in itself left me baffled, but whatever the reason, I'm still perplexed. My only rational conclusion: the mind is a funny thing. So, with that said, what really goes on in the life of Emily at the crack of dawn?

• 5:00am. My alarm clock goes off. I groan and tell myself not to fall back asleep. After stumbling out of bed, I flip on the oil burner in order to heat water for the shower. While waiting (usually 10-15 minutes), I mosey into the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee (1o cups!) for everyone. Then, I go to the front door where through the window I squint to see 1) if it snowed overnight/is snowing and 2) what the temperature is. The verdict this morning: 1) yes/yes and 2) 6F (-14C).
• 5:30am. I've emerged from the shower and beeline it to the kitchen to make my cup of coffee. Mm, coffee. I return to the kitchen after getting dressed and rummage around for breakfast. Breakfast is usually any combination of the following: cereal, toast, banana. And, of course, more coffee.
• 6:00 - 6:15am. I'm probably still having breakfast because most mornings I operate at a snail's pace.
  
• 6:15am or later. Time to go outside to warm up my car and brush, scrape, or chip off anything that piled on it overnight. Upon returning inside, I quickly finish my coffee then brush my teeth.
  
• 6:20 (ideal) - 6:35am (panicked reality). I hit the road. It takes roughly 30 minutes to get to work. The first few minutes of my drive are spent fussing over radio stations as I have to wait about 5 minutes for my car's cd player to warm up. The poor thing doesn't like the cold weather! Once it's all set and wants to play nice, I pop in whatever cd I grabbed on my way out of the house. This morning it was "29" by Ryan Adams. His voice is always amazing, but I particularly love it in this song.
  

Tell me, what is your morning routine like? Do you operate in a semi-structured manner like I do? Or are you free from time constraints to lounge around as you please?

Changing my stripes

First order of business: I got a haircut. A very long overdue haircut. I'm fortunate to have my sister as my personal hair stylist. She's the only person on the planet who can go anywhere near my head with a pair of scissors. Here's hoping that we always live in the same state. Haircuts could get rather expensive otherwise ;) I didn't do anything drastic to my hair unless you consider chopping 7 inches off drastic. My plan was to go in to the salon and have her cut 5 inches off, but once those initial five were gone we looked at each other and said, "keep going." While I do miss my long tresses spilling out from under my hats (exhibit a, b, & c), I love the fresh just-cut bounce and feeling my hair now has.

Next up: I'm wearing stripes. Horizontal stripes, that is. I have a few pretty pinstripe blouses, but tracking down the perfect striped shirt has eluded me until now. Well, okay, I do have this amazing nautical sweater pictured here. But back to the t-shirt -- it's so soft and cozy, the latter of which I attribute to it being a size or two larger than what I normally wear.

Cardigan: gift (TJ Maxx), Shirt: H&M, thrifted J. Crew corduroys, Headband: Forever 21, Shoes: gift (Target)

Lastly, do you remember a few weeks ago when I shared some Polyvore sets and asked you all to guess which item you thought I received for Christmas? Without further ado, my wrapped and packaged surprise was...

sparkly zebra print flats!

It's been a bit quiet around here this week. I've found that when I want to blog I can't and when I can I don't want to. Funny how that works. I've also had a lot on my mind lately which has put me into a prolonged dull and unexciting mood. I'm anxious to be rid of it and to get things moving in that direction some friends and I are having a Jane Austen movie marathon tomorrow night. We'll be watching the four titles pictured below. My friend who is hosting has never seen the "Pride and Prejudice" mini-series. I've told her she's in for a treat! I can't wait!

photo source

Do you have anything fun planned this weekend?

Wallet-friendly Wednesday

Welcome to the first Wallet-friendly Wednesday Accessories Edition. Here is what a few of my recent trips to the Salvation Army have yielded in the pin/brooch department:

A charming hand painted duo that has me dreaming of spring!

$0.50

$0.40

A sweet seashell!
$0.25

♥ My cardigans will be happy adorning these little beauties! ♥

Of photographs and trees

"The tree rustled. It had made music before they were born, and would continue after their deaths, but its song was of the moment." - E.M. Forster, Howards End

This past Autumn I was quite fixated on photographing trees. They stand so tall and noble offering subtle gifts of beauty. I love taking that second-look and seeing something my eyes passed over in prior moments. For example, after looking upwards and letting my imagination go where it may the branches in the first photo took on the form of a giant spiderweb anchored in the sky...



Camera: Nikon FM 10
Lenses: Vivitar Soft II 52mm, Vivitar 52 mm Cross Screen VI
Film: Fujicolor Superia X-tra 400
Click photos for an enlarged view