Day 16: Wet Wednesday

For day 16 of the Style Inspires Poetry Challenge, I planned on wearing my fuchsia top with my white eyelet jacket and my black ballet flats. That was until I looked out the window and saw snow … again. Big fluffy, wet flakes were falling from the sky, making the puddles in the street, in the parking lot and every where else even bigger than they already were.

Day 16-2

So, instead of my nice business casual look, I opted for my comfy green sweater and my cognac boots. My boots are the only shoes of my 30 items that I dare wear outside when the weather is like this. I don’t want to soak and dirty up my cream oxfords or lace wedges or chance it slipping in my black oxford pumps and wind up soaking my whole outfit. As for my black ballet flats, well, we’ll save those for a dryer day as well. I really beginning to think it’s time to purchase some rain boots. What do you think?

Day 16

A poem inspired by moving and that sad, awful feeling you get when you’re sitting in an empty, furniture-less apartment all by yourself:

The bare wood floor
that was once welcoming
in a new apartment,
now brought tears to my eyes.

The place against the wall
where the couch had sat
was now empty, along with
the walls that just a few hours ago
had held our memories.

The kitchen drawer was no longer
full of mismatched silverware,
but instead held
just one lonely set.

The cupboards of plastic plates
were now barren aside from the
top shelf of abandoned dishes
I hadn’t noticed until now.

I walked to my room,
sat on the corner of my bed
and slowly rocked myself back and forth
as I looked out my bedroom door
across the empty space that
was once our kitchen
to the bathroom, which now held
nothing but a garbage can.

In that moment,
it all hit me, like that time
I was so caught up, listening to a joke,
that I didn’t see the soccer goal
until it hit me square in the face.
Except, this time,
I wasn’t laughing at the end.

Day 15: Lazing in Lace

For day 15 of the Style Inspires Poetry Challenge, I had almost nothing planned. Since I didn’t plan on leaving the apartment, I thought it was perfectly reasonable to wear capris. I paired them with my nude camisole and maroon lace top.

Day15-1

I spent the day cleaning, packing and writing. It’s crazy to think that I’ll be out of this apartment by the end of the week and completely done with school in exactly one month. I got an email from Melinda, the features editor at The Grand Forks Herald, today asking exactly when I would start; it’s now official, I’m starting my new job as a features reporter for Accent on May 20. Sending the email made me start thinking about my first day, and I got a little nervous.

Day 15

However, I’m happy to say that I’m more excited than nervous. Once I accepted the position, I started jotting down ideas for the section in a little notebook. They aren’t all the most brilliant ideas, but at least it’s getting me thinking and brainstorming topics I could potentially cover.

I’ve been looking everywhere for inspiration lately and realized it’s people who inspire me the most, so today I wrote a poem about a random bartender. It’s crazy how many people cross our paths daily that go unnoticed. I guess you could say this poem is somewhat inspired by the poem “Some People” by Rolf Jacobsen (you should check it out – it’s a good one!).

He wears faded old blue jeans,
a solid gray thermal and a plastic
blue Avengers mask over his face.

It’s “Tax Day” they say,
“that’s why everyone’s wearing
red, white and blue.”

I’m sipping a long island, trying
to make the connection between
The Avengers and taxes.

Staring across the bar, I find myself
lost in my thoughts but suddenly I snap
back to reality and for a split second

our eyes meet.
They’re small, dark brown beads.
I wonder ‘what’s his story’ but walk away.

Day 14: Searching for a sign

For day 14 of the Style Inspires Poetry Challenge, I wore my leggings with a comfy tee for a chill early afternoon working on a story. It was just a comfy look for staying inside on a cold, wet day.

day 14

I love this vibrant blue top! It’s so unbelievably comfortably and can be styled up or down for a night or a chill day at home. It’s the perfect basic tee.

DAY ?

On another note, I can’t wait until the weather warms up, so I can bust out that vibrant yellow dress! I don’t know about you, but I’m praying for some sunshine, people!

30Items

For the NaPoWriMo challenge today, I am sharing a snippet of a little poem I’m working on.

It seems I’m always searching for some kind of clue,
Something that will tell me where to go or what to do.
I’m not looking for advice or asking for a hand.
More like a chalk arrow or a letter in the sand
Some supernatural sign to show me where I’m supposed to be.
Instead of second-guessing, there’d be some guarantee.

Day 12 & Day 13: Wishing for warmer weather

For day 12 of the Style Inspires Poetry Challenge, I was really hoping for warm weather. Saturday was full of sunshine, so I threw on a super comfy outfit for driving and moving. Leggings, a comfy tank and vest were the perfect combination! Yes, I did it – don’t hate me.

Day 12-3

Since I was just driving and moving my stuff all day (and not really out in public), I decided it would be O.K. to wear leggings as pants.

Day 12-1

Although the sleeveless top didn’t last long when the temperatures dropped, I loved this look and know I’ll be wearing it again in the future. However, next time I’ll wait until it’s a little warmer outside.

For day 13, I was once again being a little too hopeful. I put on these bright pants and a tank top, wishing the weather would be nice. Unfortunately, I live in the midwest and winter just doesn’t want to go away. I made it about 10 feet out my apartment door with these flats on before turning back around to go get my black boots.

Day 13

We got about 10 inches of snow between last night and this morning, and I’m really hoping that’s the last of it. Maybe my little poem about spring will bring the warm weather!

Day13

I swap my dark wool pea coat for a light North Face jacket,
My black suede boots for a pair of nude peep-toe pumps,
and my signature gray cardi for a vibrant yellow mini-dress.

My night workout on the treadmill is happily replaced with a long run in the park.
My frantic walk to the class becomes a joyful stroll through campus.
And my, once stuffy, drive in my Cobalt becomes my favorite part of the day.

My hand no longer clings to the steering wheel; instead, it hangs freely waving in the wind.
The stereo no longer plays the sad lyrics of Adele, but blasts Katy Perry’s “California Gurls.”
And the mounds of snow slowly melt, turning into scattered puddles in the street.

Day 11: Glittery gold & comfy card

For day 11 of the Style Inspires Poetry Challenge, I knew I had to work so I decided to finally wear this glittery gold top from Limited. Paired with jeans and a blue cardigan, it made the perfect look for a casual Friday at the bank.

Day 11-1

I never would have paired with glittery gold top with a comfy blue cardigan, but when I realized I didn’t include a black blazer or cardigan in my 30 items, I had to. I have to say, I love how it looks.

Day 11

I love how the 30×30 challenges force me to break out of my “comfort zone” and try new pairings. I’m really expanding and getting the most out of my wardrobe.

30Items

For the NaPoWriMo challenge today, I’m sharing another one of my poems from poetry class. This one was inspired by a painting of an eerie forest.

Lost in an eerie woods

The sun shines through the trees
on a warm muggy day.
Running through the shadowed woods,
the mosquitoes swarm my body.

I run faster trying to escape,
but fallen branches cause me to stumble.
In my mind, one turns into a snake
I jump to my feet, letting out a scream.

I’m running faster and faster now.
My breath stolen from me.

I start to panic.
Lost
in an eerie woods
as the sun begins to set.

The trees become sharp dark shapes
closing in all around me,
the ground, a bed of snakes.

My heart leaps out of my chest,
as a large branch catches my foot,
launching me into the air.

I squeeze my eyes tightly closed
and drift off to another world.

Day 10: Fly away with me

For day 10 of the Style Inspires Poetry Challenge, I woke up to a bit of unexpected snow outside my window. I still cannot believe winter is still going strong in the middle of April, but I’m sick of all this talk about weather, so I will leave it at that. To keep warm today, I decided to try a new layered look with this lovely olive lace-back vest.

Day 10-2

I started with my tiered butterfly tank, threw on a neutral cardigan and finished the look with this great vest. Comfy, cozy and warm! For the bottom, I stuck with my Miss Me jeans and the only boots in the challenge, my cognac Mudd boots.

Day 10

I wasn’t sure how the vest would look layered over a cardigan, but I really like it! With the butterfly printed tank and the vest, I just want to fly away.

Fly away with me

when the sun doesn’t shine
through your window in the morning.
When you’re lost in your thoughts
and you can’t break free,
fly away with me.

Fly away with me
when you can’t see the stars
in the busyness of the city.
When you can’t catch your breath
but you won’t stop running,
fly away with me.

Fly away with me
when your heart fails to work,
’cause someone’s left you broken.
When you have no strength
to wipe the tears from your eyes,
close them and fly away with me.

Day 9: Two interpretations

For day 8 of the Style Inspires Poetry Challenge, I decided to wear my little sheer floral dress and leggings again. This time I paired them with my white eyelet jacket and black Steve Madden Flats.

Day 9-1

I love how much you can transform a look with a different jacket and shoes. Remember when I wore the floral dress with a jean jacket and cognac fringe boots for a country look? Well, this look is far from country.

Day 9

How do you transform your dresses to create completely different looks?

30Items

For the NaPoWriMo Challenge today, I decided to share another little poem I wrote for class. This one has a funny story behind it: There is a kid in one of my classes that is quite quiet and seems to keep to himself, yet I can sense him judging everyone as they walk in the door and judging everything anyone says. I hate this because I feel like everyone is opening up, sharing their opinions and he won’t, yet he judges everyone else. So, I wrote this little poem …

He sits in the corner of the room,
quietly judging
everything we say,
everything we do.

His eyes pierce through me,
cutting me open, leaving me frail
and vulnerable.

I wonder what he’s thinking,
what’s going through his mind
as he looks out of the corner of his eye.

He says nothing,
yet I know.
His raised eye brows

and blank face says it all.

… turn it in and the only comment on the entire poem was, “This is the best of the love poems.” I had to stop myself from bursting out in laughter. Then, I reread the poem and thought “oh my gosh. It does sound like a love poem.”

Funny how things can be interpreted two completely different ways.

Day 8: A hopeless fight to save the shoes

For day 8 of the Style Inspires Poetry Challenge, I wore my green and blue striped sweater from Forever 21 paired with a blue tank, jeans and my cream oxfords.

Day8-1

I love this casual look for hanging around the house and cleaning, which is exactly what I did today. Since I’ll be moving out in about a week and a half, I’ve been trying get rid of some old junk and pack up little things every day.

DAY8

Today, I tackled the closet. Robert and I both had some old stuff that needed to be thrown. Unfortunately, one of the things that needed to be thrown were my absolute favorite pair of shoes: my little cork wedges with the beautiful delicate white flowers.

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Since our writing prompt in poetry today had to do with shoes, I decided to share the sad story of these lovelies in my NaPoWriMo story for today.

Delicate white flowers,
skinny leather straps
and a comfy cork wedge.

I anxiously waited weeks for them to arrive.
Summer was nearly over
when they finally came in the mail –
a cute little box I quickly tore open.

When my toes nearly froze and fell off,
I finally put them to rest, pulling them out again
the day grass peaked through the snow.

I’ll always regret wearing them
to the park that day and
climbing the mini rock wall
just for the sake of a photo.

The next day, walking into work,
I felt one falling off my foot,
looked down and wanted to cry.

The little leather strap
had snuck out from the cork.
I tucked it back in and hoped for the best.

Later, I tried Gorilla glue.
They lasted another day.
Then, I tried a hot glue gun.
They lasted one more day.

Finally, a nail held the strap
inside the cork bottom …

until the nail poked through
and stabbed my foot.

Day 7: Color contrast

For day 7 of the Style Inspires Poetry Challenge, I had to wear this lovely black and white peplum top. It’s the first time this little darling has left my closet. This morning I paired it with black pants for working at the bank but decided I needed some color for the rest of the day. I swapped my black pants for these awesome red skinnies and was good to go!

Day7-1

At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the look, but I decided to go for it. After all, that’s the purpose of this – to experiment and try new looks. After seeing these pics, I’d definitely wear it again! I love the contrast in this look.

Day 7

30Items

For day 7 of the NaPoWriMo, I’m going with another advice poem for my poetry class. This one is inspired by my many years as a nanny.

Nanny 101

At first, they’ll be quiet.
Children (most anyways) need time
– and treats – to warm up to new people.

Sit down and ask them about
their favorite things – colors, animals,
friends, toys, games – nothing too complex.

By the end of the day,
you’ll be their best friend.
By the end of the week,
they’ll hate you.

Don’t take it personally.
Remember, they are just kids.
Don’t bribe them with toys
or treats or extra time on the computer.

When they beg and cry
for a pop or a piece of candy,
don’t give in. Think
about how that sugar will affect them.

Trust me, you don’t want to deal
with hyped up kids or
upset the parents who
pay you each week.

When they get in a fight,
don’t take sides.
Let them explain
– in their own words – exactly
what happened.

If you didn’t see it happen,
sit them down for a time out.
Remember, kids will lie and
make up stories.

Don’t believe everything
they tell you, especially if
it begins with “But Mom
said we could.”

Someone is guaranteed
to get hurt, whether it’s
today, tomorrow or next week.
Remember, bandaids and kisses
are like little magic fairies.

You’ll say the wrong thing,
accuse the wrong kid,
maybe even accidentally hit
one in the head with a ball
while playing catch.

Remember, everything will be O.K.

Day 5 & Day 6: Weekend Recap

I decided to combine days 5 & 6 of the Style Inspires Poetry Challenge into one post because my weekend has been a bit crazy.

Day5-2

Yesterday I worked from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and then rushed to Grand Forks to sign the lease and get the keys to my new apartment. I brought a few suitcases full of clothes and some dishes to start moving in and decided to hang out for awhile, working on my magazine writing story. Although I didn’t finish the story, I made good progress and decided to head home to Fargo.

Day5

I had plans to go downtown with some friends, so I quickly changed tops and was ready to go.

Day6-1

Day 5 & 6 were technically the same day, but, hey, for the sake of the challenge, let’s count them as two since I wore two different outfits! (Plus, I didn’t get a chance to take photos today).

Day6

It was the first night in a long time that I’ve been able to go out and not worry about getting up early in the morning. We enjoyed a few drinks and then danced the night away.

photo

I haven’t had the chance to write a new poem for the NaPoWriMo challenge, so I decided to share an older one inspired by my favorite ballet.

The Nutcracker

Dancing delicately on the stage.
Their pointed toes,
Porcelain skin, glistens in the spot light.

I sit in awe, watching a fairytale.
My eyes locked on the little dancer, twirling
Around and around and around.
I hold my breath, so she won’t fall.

The music grows faster, her face transforms,
From peaceful to frightened.
My heart freezes for her.

Spinning around and around and around,
With strong and fierce movements,
The escapes his hold across the stage.
And at last, I am free.

Other dancers enter the stage,
Dressed in colorful costumes from foreign lands.
The Sugar Plum Fairy from the land of sweets,
Then the Spanish, Russian, Arabian, Chinese.

The little dancer in white with her prince,
Watch in awe,
As the others put on a show
With ribbons and hoops.

She awakes from a dream,
Embracing her wooden prince
No longer full of life.