Carey Mulligan- Never let me go by Naja93 featuring a pink floral dress

you may experience a feeling of unreality

The amazing weather has definitely arrived. along with some sadness and stress.
Since I was gone Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and could not check my email, I found out Saturday night when i was finally home alone that a classmate from Drury passed away last Wednesday. Her name was Alexandra Parker, and she sat across from me in my Global Awareness class. A couple of my friends from Drury knew her pretty well, but I didn't. I was only friends with her on facebook, but seeing her presence around campus, I thought she seemed like such a sweet and intelligent girl. I haven't been able to get my mind off of her passing since Saturday evening.
I think I could probably rattle on about this for a long time, but I just have to say that this tragedy helped to open my eyes, as all kinds of shocking incidents might do, to the fact that loving people is the most important thing in life, aside from loving God. Sometimes I need to be reminded of this fact because I am so selfish and weak. Being young it can be difficult to accept something so sudden and scary like the death of a classmate or loved one, or simply the fact that we are human and not invincible. I wish that this had not happened, and even that I had gotten to know her while I had the chance, but I know that God will work through this awful situation.
Alexandra Parker, so many people loved you and your death has left a gap in the lives of many.  May you rest in peace.

"...And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. " Revelation 21:4

when the sun is out, i've got something to laugh about

summer, summer, summer.

my body aches for thee.

it's the time of year when i make my summer driving playlists, start buying sundresses and sandals, plan summer fun ideas, and scour wal-mart for the best in pool time toys. beautiful weather is a gift from God, and i for one cannot wait to enjoy it this year.

perfect morning by munchye featuring Anthropologie tops

this looks like the perfect morning to me.

Delias & Picnic Love by munchye featuring Aeropostale clothing

i really want to spend more time around my boyfriend's house this year, especially in the beautiful field, and have many more picnics.

casual cupcake by munchye featuring Marc by Marc Jacobs bags

this one is mostly inspiration for simple, really cute outfits to wear during my summer study program in tokyo & kyoto (two months away, woah!)

love & happy thoughts!

erin

slightly sinister//poem written by andrew to me a few years ago

i took a walk

to the Wok

in my mocc-

asins

i heard him talk

a lot of crock

that damn mock-

ing bird

'till i took a rock

and cleaned his clock

and now he mocks no more.

-drew douglas

turn that frown upside down

it is so easy to find myself feeling like i "need" and just haaave to have so many things. especially clothes.

i'm so blessed and i find myself still wanting more: consumerism and materialism overtake me. isn't it time to put that down and look for something higher?

instead of just wanting things, i'm trying to turn my love of creative fashion into a creative outlet other than shopping and wanting.

so, i started using polyvore. it's so much fun to do and be creative, and rather than making me want things (though that never stop with so many cute things in the world) it helps me be creative with what i have and just have fun.

here are a few of the outfits i've come up with so far, mostly inspired by old fashioned things and the English literature i've been readin'.

Brideshead Reworked by munchye featuring Nicole shoes

this one was inspired by this particular book cover - one of those covers that really makes me interested in reading the book, and also a little by what Virginia Woolf stuff I have read.

day at the beach by munchye featuring Kimchi Blue flats

i got the idea for this set when i was in santa barbara and saw a girl on the beach with a big floppy hat, under an umbrella, opening a train case. oh to be that girl, and do crafts on the beach on a pleasant sunday afternoon (unlike today in southwest missouri!)

Dreams of Spring by munchye featuring Monsoon accessories

and finally this set, inspired by a few of the things i already own and from my love of the idea of something so cosy and casual, but also very pretty. my sister-in-law lindsay has been a big influence on me for that sort of style, she always looks cute and cosy at the same time. : ]

now i'm off to do some rainy day reading - finishing Jane Eyre. this book is making its way into my favorites. as much as i love more modern american literature, english romanticism and victorianism still intrigues me so much.

dreaming of the sky and rollie pollies...

so, amongst all this snow and coldish weather,

i am really craving one of those incredible, unseasonably warm days we are blessed with

every so often in southwest missouri.

this week last year, it was like 60-70 degrees all week,

and i remember wearing a sundress to

Josh and Nick's birthday party on Friday, February 6th.

i drove with my windows down, listening to Rocky Votolato's Makers album

in a sundress.

my favorite sundress: white with buttons, an empire waist, and a subtle hankerchief hemline.

one of my favorite dresses of all time.

what i remember most about the day was the beauty of everything around me:

the weather

the occasion

the people

putting a flattering, pretty and comfortable dress has the ability to transform me into something i strive to be: sweet and delicate, confident and happy.

comfortable in my own skin.

welcome summer, come on in.

Countdown to Hibernation... 5, 4, 3, 2,....

Although it would officially complete my first week of classes this semester, a snow day sounds like a better plan for tomorrow.

Some things I hope to do with my time?

-Repair all broken pieces of clothing and jewelry on my craft table, or as many as may be repaired

-Wrap Josh's birthday present and brainstorm ideas for creative birthday cards and items for other friends

-Launder

-Finish Frankenstein

- And maybe even an extra project or two...

So much has happened in the past week, both in my life and out in the world. The speed of time rolling along is overwhelming, and my semester promises to be a stressful one. My goal is to keep my eyes on Christ and those around me and carry out each day with love, patience, and care.

On a totally separate note, I just viewed and commented on this photo from The Sartorialist:

Something about this photo of Kanye West really struck me. Apparently it was taken at a Louis Vuitton show in Paris. I can't really put words to it but it is a strangely beautiful image, not particularly aesthetically pleasing to me (perhaps because of what Kanye represents in my mind). The photo seems profound and almost epic, yet not beautiful. In my literature class we have been talking about the difference between the beautiful and the sublime, the sublime being something profound and aweful (awe-inspiring) and beautiful being something that can be more shallowly appreciated. As an example, a pretty flower would be considered beautiful but Mount Everest is somewhat terrifying, brooding, and inspirational, so it could be thought of as sublime.

What category do you think this fits into? Thoughts?

p.s. There are probably a lot more photos I could think of to post onto this question, but most of them fall under the category of sublime for sure, as I associate it with tragic events and such.

Love,

Erin