Outfit no. 62

Dress: Cotton On, cardi and blazer: H&M, necklace: F21, shoes: Payless, glasses: Ray-Ban

Before you go scolding me on the horrible backdrop and image quality on these photos, let me explain: I was lazy. And in a bad mood. And also it's cold outside. All of this conspired to make me take these photos as fast as possible without having to go out on the balcony. Since the chimney cleaners (Victorian street urchins, I imagine) came today while we were at work, we had to move all the furniture and things away from the fireplace. So I had a bit of room in which to be lazy and take indoor outfit photos. I dunno I am just really not feeling it today, guys! I'm gonna watch Doctor Who and Game of Thrones and drink a beer or something. I haven't energy for anything else.

But tonight Kenna and I are going to a Q&A at the University of Utah with ZACHARY QUINTO!! No we aren't going with him (I wish), the Q&A is with him. I hope there will be an opportunity for me to get a photo with him or something, because you know me, I love a good celebrity stalking opportunity! Even so, it's gonna be awesome and maybe he will talk about Benedict Cumberbatch you never know. >__>

What have I got in my bag?

Just a quick update to be all like, "Hey! Do you want to know what's in my bag?" Probably you don't. But you should pop over to Fashion Utah anyway, just to humor me, and read my guest post for Fan Friday (which was yesterday, I apologize for the delay). I had a lot of fun trying to artistically arrange a bunch of boring items for the photo. Enjoyyy!

Outfit no. 61

Skirt: H&M, t-shirt: Skreened, blouse (worn under t-shirt): Primark, necklace and jacket: F21, shoes: c/o Oasap, belt: vintage (via Etsy), glasses: Ray-Ban

Holy moly. I am so tired. I'm not sure what it is, but I've been sleeping terribly this week! It must have something to do with the super creepy cats that come out on the roof and peer into our third-floor window in the middle of the night, their cat-shapes silhouetted against the opposite wall. So, so creepy. I really don't like cats. They are always creepin' about, waking me up, freaking Lyall out. Etc. ANYWAY I am absolutely exhausted today, and I was yesterday, and it looks like I'll probably be the same tomorrow. Thank god for caffeine, I guess? I'm utterly useless and have nothing worthwhile to say today, it seems.

I'm a bit sad because the lettering on my awesome SG-1 shirt faded in the wash. I should have known to turn it inside-out! Ugh! Oh well, it's still legible and that's all that matters. I'm also a big fan of this belt that I ordered from Etsy a while ago, although I think I need to make an extra hole for it as it's a tad too big. And it was the smallest one I could find on there. What gives, vintage belts?

And now Lyall has lost his favorite toy under the couch for the third time this afternoon, so I must take my leave and go retrieve it for him.

Outfit no. 60

Skirt and necklace: F21, Belt and shirt: H&M, sweater: Old Navy, shoes: c/o GoJane, bag: New Look, sunglasses: Ralph Lauren

Today's outfit is a bit different than usual, I suppose, in that I'm wearing a bag. And I've got earphones in. And I'm wearing sunglasses. Wacky! This is because I walked to the leasing office to pay rent, and was listening to The National, and I didn't want to stop listening and it was basically just easier to go straight from my walk to standing on the balcony without removing my bag or earphones. Cool story bro. :(

But yeah, I really like this bag! I ordered it from New Look in London, because I saw it online and couldn't find it in stores and I needed it. It's my go-to bag when I'm not going to or from work, in which case I have a bigger bag that fits all my stupid work junk (i.e. food).

Back to the music, though. I've been listening to almost nothing but The National lately, and I'm kind of obsessed. I've had their most recent album for a while, and I love it, but then I started listening to it over and over again and I sort of figured, I ought to listen to their other albums. So I did. And I can't get enough. You'll find I typically listen to rather depressing music, and if not depressing at least vaguely melancholy, so when I'm getting all pumped up about life I'll play a lively jam like "Sorrow" or "Terrible Love" and think about how beautiful everything is. I'm the worst.

Seriously though this song is amazing. I don't know what it's about but it is perfect. Look at how awkward he is. Look at him stand in the window wearing a waistcoat. So good.

Now I will go and read Clockwork Prince, because I finally got my ass to Barnes & Noble for the paperback version! Super excited for some Will/Tess snogging! I hope. There better be snogging or I'm lodging a complaint.

Outfit no. 59

Dress: Target, jacket: F21, boots: Aldo, bracelet: gift from Dad, earrings: Topshop, glasses: Ray-Ban

My post is a bit later than usual today because I had to watch Game of Thrones before doing anything else. It's obviously a number one priority. AND IT WAS AMAZING. Oh, Ser Jorah! Littlefinger, my smarmy love... All my favorite questionably moral characters in one place! I am so happy my show is back again, and I can't wait to see who else loses a nipple in upcoming episodes.

But let's not forget Doctor Who! Did all you Who fans like Saturday's episode? I'm already a fan of Clara, although I admit I was kind of smitten from the very beginning. I may have ordered this jacket from Forever21 in London for the sole reason that it reminded me of Clara's jacket from the promo photos. No regrets.

AAAND if that isn't enough fangirl fodder for you (it never is for me), today the new City of Bones trailer is released! I CAN'T BLOODY WAIT. I'm going to die of excitement before this movie ever comes out. I might have to fly to Denver just so I can see it with Shaun or something, because I feel like nobody in Salt Lake has read it and I need an RL friend to go with so we can ugly sob over Jamie Campbell Bower's face.

Sometimes my blog is just a place where I say fangirl things on the internet. I'm sorry.

Um, outfit things I guess: I won this super adorable donut pin, as well as a bunch of amazing art and hand painted jewelry, from Michelle's giveaway on her blog, Creature Type! She's a really incredible artist with fun style, and I love her blog. I was so flipping happy when I won the giveaway; I now have fun prints to hang up around the house! And amazing pins to wear! Anyway yeah, go look at her blog and stuff because I like it.

I'm gonna go reblog Game of Thrones and Doctor Who things on Tumblr now and quietly weep fangirl tears until the City of Bones trailer comes out. Why can't I hold all these feels?

Park City

My dad came to visit from Phoenix over the weekend, which was really awesome! He hadn't met Lyall yet so he got to hang out with his little granddog, and see Greg's and my apartment and everything. It was a nice relaxing visit. We had coffee in the mornings, ate laid back breakfasts, watched The Hobbit, got Cold Stone after a dinner of leftover pizza, and generally did weekend things.

Yesterday my dad and I decided we'd drive up to Park City, which is only about a forty minute drive from us. It was what normal people would call a beautiful day, but it was a bit too sunny and bright for my tastes... Still, we had a great time looking in expensive boutiques and sitting up on the roof of the No Name Saloon with 3.2% beers and greasy food.

I hate attempting photography in such bright, direct sunlight, but I did it anyway just for you. Park City is a weird place. It's like a tourist town for rich people who go skiing. All the cars there were huge, shiny SUVs and pickup trucks, and everyone was walking around in puffer vests and weird cowboy boots. I don't get the whole Wild West rich person aesthetic. It's like they spent a ton of money making their houses look like log cabins, which they then decorated with bits of tree trunk, antlers, and Native American rugs. And not in a fun hipster way, but a weird way. These people were all over Montana, and I have a feeling they lurk everywhere in the West. I suppose there's a version of the outdoorsy rich cowboy out East, but I've no idea what it is.

Anyway, have some photos from our little day trip! And let's put our heads together to sort out what the deal is with this creepy moose statue. Why is it wearing jeans? :(

Book Review: Sharps

I finished Sharps by K.J. Parker last week (I think?), and am finally getting 'round to writing a review. I saw it randomly at Barnes & Noble while nursing a vanilla latte several weeks ago, and when my dad sent me a giftcard to BN.com, I added it to my cart immediately. I'm not sure what exactly intrigued me about it beyond the fact that it's about fencing. I'm really picky about what books I read, and if I'm not super interested after reading the back cover blurb, I probably won't bother. Still, I had never read anything by K.J. Parker before, and I had absolutely no idea if Sharps would be any good.

When I started reading, I had just tossed Beautiful Creatures aside in a huff, frustrated that I couldn't relate to the characters or muster any interest in what happened to them. I felt I needed a break from YA paranormal romance, so I started Sharps without super high expectations.

I was instantly hooked. Honestly, for about the first 50 pages, I had no idea what was going on, or who anyone was. There's a vaguely Game of Thrones-y vibe about the book in that it's told from several characters' points of view, and it's heavy on the political intrigue. Plus the characters' names are super weird (Tzimisces? COME ON). But for some inexplicable reason I felt I needed to find out what was going to happen, and I kept reading. I'm so glad I did, because I was thoroughly swept up in the story and the various arcs of each character.

The story follows a team of fencers from Scheria, who are sent on a fencing tour through a neighboring enemy country, Permia. It's meant to be a sort of peace-making mission, because Permians are hardcore fans of fencing, and the two countries have recently been at war with one another. The team consists of three men and a woman, all of whom are pretty much either bribed, coerced, or forced into representing their country on this team. The tour goes awry form the get-go, with their party facing bandits, a broken axle, horrible weather, and far too much pickled cabbage. As their journey through Permia continues it begins to verge on the ridiculous, with riots, fires, more bandits, and assassinations following in their wake.

What kept me interested, aside from the great characterizations, was this constant feeling that there were bigger machinations going on in the background. I don't want to give anything away, but there's a definite feeling of "what's really going on with this fencing tour?" throughout the narrative that kept me turning the pages.

The characters themselves were as intriguing to me in their own right as the "plot" as it were, though I suppose you can count character arcs as plot arcs. Maybe? Anyway. The Scherian fencing team is made up of Giraut, a young man who's told to choose between joining the team and being hanged, so he makes the obvious choice. He's a practiced fencer, but a privileged young man who literally freezes at the first sign of danger. Addo is the son of a Scherian war hero, and as his father requested that he join the team, he really has no choice but to do so. He's quiet and unassuming, but arguably one of the most complex characters on the team. Suidas is a champion fencer, and is offered a significant amount of money to join the team. He starts out as the group's voice of reason, taking the lead when their carriage's axle breaks and leaves them stranded, but as their journey progresses his behavior becomes more erratic as he's forced to relive his time served in the war. And finally there's Iseutz, the only lady of the team, terminally grumpy and only there because it's better than the marriage that had been arranged for her back in Scheria.

The team's interactions are strained from the start, and since pretty much nothing goes right during the entirety of the tour, they're at one another's throats for the majority of it. What I loved was the sarcastic, banter-y dialogue and the author's dry, witty style. Often the book felt like a very dark comedy, but I wouldn't describe it as such. In fact I don't really know how to describe it, as it's not high fantasy and it's not even really about fencing. It could almost be like, gritty mannerpunk, or... realistic fantasy? There's no magic, no fairies or monsters, just people. But it's set in a fantasy world, so take that as you will.

This is the most rambling, useless book review in the world, and I'm sorry. You'll really just have to read the book and form an opinion for yourself. I really, really liked it. The characters were alive and engaging, the dialogue was brilliant, the story and conflict carried along at a nice clip, and the world was so fully realized that I have a hard time believing it doesn't exist somewhere. For me the real heart of this story is in the characters, so if you're a fan of character-driven books, I'm looking at you! Check this one out.

So yes, Sharps was a surprising hit with me, and I urge everyone to read it, regardless of your normal taste in books, because I can see pretty much anyone enjoying it. Go! Read!