[ Ut Oh - May 22nd, 2012 ]

Hey there guys, I know this is going to be short but I really wanted to at least update you guys on why I haven’t been updating!

Well for starters I promise updates will return to normal either this Friday or next Tuesday!

Now that that’s out of the way, I’ve been having some health issues on top of the fact that I’ve got a wicked 8-9 hour Friday field lab that involves digging… for a very long period of that time or sifting (sifting is a lot more taxing then one would imagine!) oh did I mention the 10 page paper of Pathology and its uses in identification of victims of war or genocide? Oh and that 10 page paper on my ethnography topic? Oh and the 3 page sculpture paper? Oh and my final sculpture for the quarter? OH AND THE FACT THAT I AM AWFUL AND FRENCH AND DOING AWFUL AND AM GOING TO HAVE A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN OVER IT. Seriously, I am utterly hopeless with other languages – I’m quite sure I have some sort of mental block on them.

Either way, I’ve got just a ridiculous amount of stuff on my plate right now and its just made it far too hard to be responsible and keep up with updating. But after this weekend I’ll be in the clear besied my French mid-term and then its time for summer! So things will return back to normal and you’ll get to be elated that I’ve started my Tuesday personal updates and Fashion Fridays back up once more!

[ Fashion Ethnography - May 1st, 2012 ]

We started our Ethnography projects last week, or well I suppose we had our write-ups do before them but we actually had to start going out in the field to do our preliminary research which is due on the 4th.

I’m really excited about mine, for someone whose not interested in Anthropology, Fashion, or Marketing you’ll probably start gagging and wondering how the hell I could be interested in such a thing. My project is going to be looking at the Collegiate idea of Fashion. More specifically I’m going to be researching how important image (and I mean on a Fashion level) is the the Collegiate and how important they think it is to their every day lives. Do they think its important to look presentable for their advisor? How do they dress when they go to interviews? How do they dress at school? Do they think its appropriate to wear whatever they want infront of a teacher they may want to write a recommendation for a job or graduate school for them? I want to answer all of these questions and I’ll likely come up with a few more along the way.

We’re in the Preliminary Observations stage right now – that means I get to go and wonder campus and take notes on the type of outfits and style I see. I’m trying not to go into this too biased with too many pre-set categories of ‘dressers’ and ‘Fashionistas’ at DePaul, but I already have a generic idea of how the chips may fall as far as categories go. I want to add a lot of visuals (photos, possibly sketches) but the project doesn’t really call for that, because of the topic of my Ethnographic project I’m hoping the Professor will let me include at least a few pages – at least in my final report. Doing a project on Fashion, after all, is really nothing without the visuals.

The Colligate Life by relevantsurroundings featuring canvas shoes

Joseph skinny leather pants, £424
Current/Elliott low rise jeans, $200
Victoria’s Secret activewear pants, $47
Dolce Vita platform sandals, $179
UGG Australia heavy boots, $150
TOMS canvas shoes, $44

After this portion of the project, we move on to the interview phase. Now normally this wouldn’t freak me out – I mean after how long I worked for CollegeFashionista I’m pretty used to talking to random strangers, but finding someone to sit down and talk with me for the required 30 minutes? That freaks me out a bit, I feel like its where I’m really going to run into problems. Now, that’s not because I don’t think people will be willing but I’m going to be pulling aside students who are rushing between classes and I’m just a little nervous its going to be really hard for me to pull off. If anyone is interested or feels like they know someone who might be who would have the time between classes I’d be glad for the opportunity to speak with them/you! I’m trying to keep this as random as possible by not asking people that I at least know their opinion on how important image is, but I know its going to be hard to get people to interview.

[ Make an Impression - April 28th, 2012 ]

Our first full day of digging and sifting and carrying and lugging had me a little more out of sorts then originally expected! In by that I mean I passed out as soon as I got out of my wonderful 40 minute long shower. So I apologize for this slightly late post!

Want to make an impression during an interview this Spring? You don’t have to stick to your traditional HBIC-Hilary Clinton approved pantsuits or business wear. Thanks to the current trends you can switch it up just enough to make an impression that’ll brighten your crayon among the options, but at the same time keep you appropriate.

Spring Interviews by relevantsurroundings featuring high rise pants

H M sleeveless blouse, £9.95
Summer jacket, $49
Vila high rise pants, £30
Dorothy Perkins patent leather high heels, $49
The Cambridge Satchel Company leather bag, $158
H M chain jewelry, £5.99
Essie turquoise nail polish, $7

For starters, I do suggest you stay more traditional with your shoes, black or nude pumps of some sort (close-toed) are going to be optimal. If you’re going for a Fashion-industry job you should feel free to switch this up (but not too much, you can make too much of a statement even in the Fashion industry – or alternatively come off as if you’re trying too hard, always stick with something that suits you and you’re comfortable in!), but in most industries – even if you can get away with switched-up tonal palette you want to at least keep the silhouette a bit traditional.

Jewelry should follow a similar design, while you can go a little more out-there with one, maybe two, standout pieces try not to overload yourself. I’m a big fan of lots of jewelry, but looking too cluttered can be distracting – you want to make an impression but you don’t want the interviewer to just be thinking about your shinnies when you leave – you want them thinking about you! I do fully endorse one or two standout pieces. For example, some complimenting and bold bangles with one great ring. It keeps it simple but can make you really stand out in a crowd.

Here is where you start to stand out from the pack. Instead of keeping with your traditional 3 B’s (browns, blacks, blahs!), mix it up a little in your tonal palette! Go with a pastel coral or pink pair of trousers – great for every day business-casual or for dressing up for something more formal! Pair your trousers with a cream or off-white button-up (I don’t really recommend stark white, ever, it can really flatten an outfit or look too harsh against other wise soft tones), if you aren’t planning on taking off your blazer or outerwear at any point I recommend making use of one of your nicer button-up tank tops, why? Well, no odd shapes under your blazer then! Nothing is more annoying then a button-up not fitting nicely under your sweater or blazer and making some wonky creases.

When picking a blazer to go along with your Spring-coloured outfit go with ‘ashier’ tones. I don’t want to say ‘cooler’ as that implies blues and greys and that’s not quite what we’re looking for! You’re looking for something that’s going to be a brown with pastelish tones to it. Something that gets away from being warm or neutral but doesn’t quite hit ‘cool’ tones. Confusing, I know, but you’ll know the colour when you see it! Anything too warm toned will clash with the rest of the outfit and anything too neutral risks flattening it out!

Last but not least, keep your nails and make-up simple! Stick with light lipsticks, basic eye make-up, little to no blush, and a nail polish that maybe has a little ‘pop’ but isn’t too bold – I again recommend pastels or neutrals!

The weather is finally suppose to feel more like Spring here in Chicago next week – so maybe I can go back to trying to do my own outfit posts! In the mean time check out HomeMint a new sister site to my lovely JewelMint that we all know I spend way too much time on (and got another free credit for – so another post is in the near future!)

[ To Dig, or Not to Dig - April 24th, 2012 ]

I’m super excited this week – despite an awful cold I’ve had since Friday plus side effects for a new medicine to treat my Fibro Myalgia, plus Pickles (poor thing) is also sick, its not winter what’s going on! – well okay anyway! We start doing field world in the Archaeology Field School this week at DePaul!

Off to Dig by relevantsurroundings featuring an opi nail

Denim top, $55
James Perse long top, $38
J Brand slim leg pants, $245
Frye kitten heel shoes, $215
Frye kitten heel shoes, $215
Burts Bees lip treatment, £3.49
Opi nail, $8.50

Its 5 weeks of digging on possibly historical properties out in Maywood, Illinois trying to help the city really find its history – its supposed to be a long running thing in the department if Dr. Gregory has his way. This is the second semester DePaul has been out in Maywood. I’m just excited because, well, I was that little girl who read Egyptology books and loved studying about old stuff and Mythos even as a kid, I mean I was never set up to be who I was trying to be at the beginning of my collegiate career – and my parents certainly weren’t shocked I made a complete 180 back to my childhood obsessions. Digging up sites and trying to figure out where old houses may have been, where someone dumped their trash, what type of nails and what not they used in their buildings (great for dating things!), who lived there… these are all interesting to me, even if they might be boring to someone else.

Yes this is one big ramble, for that I apologize, its the migraine and sniffling puppers.

Its not the most exciting project, but I’m excited regardless, having field school experience will be great for grad school applications as well as trying to find internships.

I’m afraid this’ll be another boring personal update. I’ve spent all weekend just trying to relax and… in the process watching all four seasons of Parks and Recreations, I’m sincerely glad I finally gave in and just watched the show because even though, yeah, the first season was kinda blah and sucked – sticking it out was totally worth it the third and fourth seasons are pretty universally hilarious.

Now starts the ridiculous time of the year. Catching up a chapter in French, doing my field study for Ethnography, starting field work in Archaeology, my 10 page paper for Forensics (which I still need a topic to research or book to review – eek!), and starting a realism project I’m really stoked for in Sculpture. Its certainly going to keep me busy for the rest of the quarter, thankfully!

[ Fight the Downpour - April 20th, 2012 ]

A nasty cold has me late once again! This rather gross weather outside doesn’t help to get one motivated either – but it can make for some good writing inspiration!

The Transitional by relevantsurroundings featuring steve madden boots

H M sleeveless shirt, £9.95
High waisted skinny jeans, £20
MOTO Fitted Denim Shirt, $64
Steve Madden flat leather boots, $100
Steve madden boots, $100
Leather watch, $32
Turquoise ring

How is it one dresses in this disgusting weather? I find myself wanting to bust out my Spring fashionables and colours (those lovely purples and nudes and natural-stone tones I’m seeing everywhere make me die of happiness inside!) but its so nasty out this time of year that I find myself stuck with the b’s of Winter (that’s black, bronw, and bland by the by!). My Spring fashionables just don’t seem to live up to the test of this weather. Then I remembered something lovely about layering – there’s no problem with a little overlap of your winter staples into your spring wardrobe to weather-proof but keep it blooming!

First, a good pair of ankle boots is important for anyone who lives… well anywhere that isn’t near the Equator. They’re great for snow, rain, and can be worn during the summer to edgy up your favourite sundress. I suggest going for black always as it has the most versatility, but I myself have been eyeing some brown boots to add to my wardrobe since my black ones get so much use out of them.

Second, wraps and denim/flannel! Want to wear that cute nude tank top you bought when we got a glimpse of spring/summer weather that just POOF disappeared? Well wraps and overshirts are a must for any wardrobe, they’re great ‘transitional pieces’ things you can wear 80% of the year and you can throw over a cute dress or top if its a little chilly out. Wraps are great because, well we all know scarves in summer is a little taboo but on those days where it might get a bit chilly – they double up!

Lastly, a staple you should invest in during these Transitional times is jeans with some ‘pop’ to them. I know, I know how scene kid right? Wrong. I’ve always kinda had a thing against coloured denim – but I’m beginning to think that’s because they were neon back then. These new corals, purples, reds, and pastel denims? I’m kinda falling in love with them and they’re a great way to spice up any outfit!

[ The First - April 17th, 2012 ]

Well hello ladies and gents! I’m pretty excited about todays post – though for those of you who were curious to see how I’ve revamped my apartment you’ll have to wait until next week – because I’ve got some pretty big news that I mentioned originally last month but got a little side tracked from…

I have a website now! For those of you who have followed my on tumblr or my wordpress for awhile or however long, I’m no longer a subdomain! Thanks to a lovely donation of some server space from a friend who practically forced me into it (yeah, looking at you Josh, I wasn’t really given a say in the matter, ahem!) relevantsurroundings.wordpress.com is now just relevantsurroundings.com! Except its not just a blog website, I’m going to be using it for a lot of things most likely.

Of course first and foremost at the moment is the blog, which can be found by either going to the main page or simply adding /blog to the end of the site. Its powered through wordpress itself so followers no need to worry! You’ll still be able to get updates and the likes and you won’t have to navigate another new layout (that was step one, getting my wordpress layout situated so I could follow through on making the rest of the site blend with it).

It also has a revamped About Me section and a Photo page as well that will eventually hold photography, sketches, and graphic design done by myself – but for now its just another little fox sketch that links through to my Flickr and gives everyone a little apology for it being under construction!

Sorry to break it to that person who thought my sketches were ‘flat’ and ‘like an 8 year old drew them’, whoever you are anon, I warn you! You won’t like the site! It happens to feature my favorite sketch I’ve done so far – Bernard, a fox that was inspired by my own foxy little dog Pickles. I did all the work on the site myself, with a little guidance on some backend things from my generous friend Josh – but all the coding itself and sketches (of course!) were done by me, which is something I’m rather proud of as I haven’t really built a website since high school, at least not anything more then coding some images onto a page for my online journalism course. Its pretty simple for now but I’m still proud of it! It was a good practice exercise to get myself back into being able to code html and use Dreamweaver.

Hopefully in the next month the Photos page won’t be too much of a project for me and Josh to somehow tackle before my Dreamweaver trial runs out (whomp whomp whoooomp). All in all, I’m pretty stoked!

I’d really love to have everyone’s thoughts on it! Questions, comments, concerns, typo’s I overlooked because I wrote the About Me on no sleep, no caffeine, and having just written two Anthropology papers!

PS. Please ignore the wonky, randomly doubled up posts on the site blog for now! WordPress went a little overboard with the importing…

[ Cabochon - April 13th, 2012 ]

Now silly me, I wrote this post but Comcast is the worst company in existence and my internet has been so shoddy, slow, and constantly restarting the last few days wordpress just wouldn’t load properly to post it – utterly rude if you ask me (so was the first lady who yelled at me, called me a liar, oh and refused to transfer me when I kept having to repeat myself, I have a lot of respect for people who work tele-comm customer service because of the rude douche entitled people they have to deal with, but if I have to say the same sentence 6 times and I ask to speak with someone else, there is nothing unreasonable about that or cause for you to be snarky when I was polite, kthx).

I immediately fell in love with the Tiger Cabochon ring the second I saw it on the jewelmint homepage when I logged in – knowing I had a free credit and wanted to treat myself to something nice for getting through the first round of papers and tests for this quarter (is it still treating myself if it was 100% free?). I’m always a little skeptical to order rings from websites – because much like shoes or jeans they can fit differently in every single style and brand and there really is no one size fits all, heck even a size 7 heel can fit differently just from one being a stiletto and one being an oxford pump! But thankfully, the ring fits comfortably my middle finger – right where I wanted it (though noticeably a little wobbly on really cold days, but thankfully that’s not often enough for me to care and I’m still definitely glad I didn’t go a size down, the ring would be much too large to not look silly on my ring finger.)

I’ve never been big on the huge ring thing but this one sold me, it wasn’t gaudy, it wasn’t obnoxiously big, it wasn’t silly abouts of this-is-obviously-from-Urban-Outfitters-and-worth-1/3rd-what-I-paid or just clearly out of my price range so maybe it was bitterness, that’s right actually ya know what I think it was bitterness.

My favourite part of this piece is actually how well it goes with all of my turquoise jewlery. On my left hand I wear the same three rings everyday: a little $1.50 ring I got in Wales, a great cheap thrift store find, and my one splurge in Paris – the big turquoise sterling silver ring I wear on my pointer finger (the other two go on my ring finger to cover up my tattoo, which I need to get touched up and its really annoying to get asked all the time if I’m engaged – no I just don’t need a diamond to make me happy, I’ve already got one!) I was honestly worried I was investing (kinda?!) in another piece of jewlery that I wouldn’t be able to wear very often because it didn’t go with my daily essentials! (I’m STILL wearing my Prarie Rose necklace daily, its perfect for my Springtime colours and trends!)

This ring is another one of those fantastic jewelmint pieces that just goes with so much of my wardrobe it makes me squeal on the inside. I’ll admit though, I wasn’t really sold on this whole mint franchise when CollegeFashionista first got involved with it when it was fairly new, I hate things that you have to pay monthly for (fun fact: of all the jewlery I’ve received as of yet, I only payed for that Oscar’s grab bag because its one of those awesome sites where referrals earn you credit, ie – freebies).

That being said, I have to say, I fully back this company – a true rarity for me with anything that requires monthly service (ahem, looking at you Comcast) – if only because its also so simple (unlike on many sites) to go in and ‘skip’ a month, I only wish they let you fully remove a credit card once it was added on to the account, because you can only replace it with another one which I guess makes sense with the skip option, but I don’t currently have access to a credit card so its a little annoying I can’t remove my old one without putting up my debit card when my finances really can’t risk me forgetting to skip a month. I’m honestly not as sold on StyleMint (the Olsen shirts and sunglasses version) because honestly, I could get anything on there at Forever 21 or H&M for half the price and it’d probably last me just as long. I do wanna take a spin around BeautyMint though, I’m always looking for new Beauty products to fall in love with! And there really is no price you can put on having good, clear, healthy looking skin.

Plus, the pretty jewlery certainly doesn’t hurt! And theres so much variety, there truly is a bit of everything for everyone!

This post brought to you in part by the really dreadful lighting in my apartment, and how much I hate how those eco-friendly lightbulbs do not make for good photo taking. Oh also, the lighting in my apartment just sucks – which I will be rectifying as soon as I get a bit of return cha-ching from someone owing me with another glorious trip to Ikea.

[ Bonjour! - April 10th, 2012 ]

Bonjour! Things are starting to get quiet busy again, school has really started to get going.

My proposals for my Archaeology and Ethnographic research projects are both due within the next week and I still have yet to find a proper book to do my Forensic paper on! Sculpture is going well, brilliantly so really. Instead of doing the regular course because of my issues with weariness and what not me and Susy decided on me doing it as a sort of independent study where I can work on my own time when I’m feeling well and I get to work souly with clay! Instead of working with plaster which is a huge boon to me, I’ve missed working with clay so much – I really do love it. I only wish we had a kiln so I could permanent my projects (especially this first one, my Dad would really love it). French is… well its going. Language has never been my strong point and going back to studying a language when I’ve barely spoken it in a year is proving to be just as tough as I thought it would be.

I’m most excited about the little changes I’ve made in my apartment. Its funny how a few cheap little wooden items for my kitchen and rearranging my living room have given it a fresh new look! I’m about 70% done with all the rearranging and major spring cleaning (two years of school papers and random junk mail really adds up after awhile, and apparently I had a whole section of my cabinet just full of grocery bags, apparently I am a hoarder of the useless and mundane!). I’ve already snapped some photos to show off the changes once I’m done. I’m trying to ‘adult’ up the place. Getting rid of shoddy little plastic items and putting my beloved stuffed panda collection into storage, getting rid of cruddy looking candles and all the little other odds and ends that have cluttered up the place over the last two years. Oh and finally – FINALLY, once my Dad pays me back some money I’m getting a real couch, not the awful, cheap, uncomfortable Ikea one I’ve had for over 3 years now – a real couch that I can actually sit and relax on and not feel miserable about 30 minutes in.

Next weeks Tuesday post’ll be all about my apartment and revamping it so I’m pretty stoked to write that entry needless to say, as well as my next two Friday posts! This Friday is going to be about my latest freebie snag from JewelMint (I love sites that give away free credit for promoting to your friends and stuff, its the only way I’ve been able to treat myself to these little jewlery purchases, free stuff ahoy!) and the following week is gonna be a review of this new skin care/cleansing/mask set I got at Target on a whim to try and clear up how awful stress has turned my skin lately.

Just a heads up, my posts will probably continue to be quite late in the day posted for the next few weeks as I’m coming off of Lyric for my Fibromylagia and hopefully going on to another mode of treatment because it made me feel all woosh and spacey even 6 weeks in when initial side effects should have been gone – so needless to say my body is all sorts of out of whack as is my sleeping pattern!

Au Revoir!
Until Friday!

[ Slugs, Nails, and Puppy Dog Tails - April 6th, 2012 ]

Again I’m posting quite late on a Friday! I promise its for a good reason though, many trials, errors, a doctor’s appointment, and two trips to the two in-city Target’s later and I think I finally just give up and have to admit my hands aren’t steady enough for this fancy-nails business, but that doesn’t mean I can’t talk about it!

(love the colours, but the look on my face accurately describes my feelings toward my shaky hands and bad eyesight – I mean I could put on my glasses, but come on that means walking across the apartment)

Ever since two-toned nails popped up in fashion shows last year, I’ve had nail-envy (and so it seems, has most of tumblr). I was specifically trying out the coloured cuticle look myself (I’m going to try and do two-toned with just the tips next week! I’m likely to be way more successful at that).

I truly adore this trend and all of the fun nails you see these days, its a really awesome thing to see how creative some people can get with them.

Personally I’m all for simplicity (or maybe that’s also because art classes tend to be a killer of pretty nails, the only time I’ve done something fantastic with them, they were ruined in three days!) but I love looking at nail art, and I love seeing fashionable ladies who rock it on the daily!

(all images found on here)

You don’t have to be artsy or creative to give a little extra UMPH(!) to your nails. Try doing a fade with some glitter, or painting one of your nails another contrasting or complimentary colour. You can even try some simple polka-dots (toothpicks are your best friend!). A fresh set of stand-out nails can add just as much sparkle and ‘wow’ to an outfit as any accessory or pair of shoes can!

If you’re not the type that wants to muck around with details or try anything two-toned you can always just go for complimentary/contrasting overlays!

(all images found on here)

Any girl with any style can have a bit of fun with a simple switch up of the usual polish!

[ Grasping at Straws - April 3rd, 2012 ]

I’m grasping at straws to think up a post for this week! This isn’t because I’ve done nothing but nothing I’ve been doing is finished to have something to show for it! I’m in the process of doing a major cleaning and rearranging of my apartment, the living room is allllmost done and then I’ll show it off. Its also that time of the quarter when I have nothing to show from school or talk about really, we’re just choosing topics for my Archaeology and Ethnographic Research classes and I’m still desperately looking for a book to do a write-up on for my Forensics course.

So yes most of my weekend has been spent on Imgur, Tumblr, and doing a Spring Cleaning of sorts to my house (though its more like, there’s 2 years worth of school work and stuff that has accumulated that I’m just binning).

This is why I hate this part of the quarter and this part of the year! Its not quite warm enough for me to really go out and do anything and I always seem to rabbit hole myself into solitude the first few weeks of the quarter – making my usually quiet, boring person even more so quiet and boring.

Oh and I have sketched some things on my new grahpics tablet, just for fun, most of what I do is utterly dreadful or for a jokes but sometimes my little doddles come out cute – but hey! I’ve only ever been proud of one thing I drew and that was when I drew a mouse peeking over a brain on a Congrats card for one of my good friends getting into grad school.

I’m still learning and adjusting to using it and honestly, most of what I draw would be considered a bit odd anyway its definitely nothing I’d ever sell or call art or anything like that, I just do it because I enjoy it, there’s something really cathartic about sketching even if the end result is wonky or poorly done – it just takes my mind off things and lets me concentrate on something else for awhile which is lovely.

I hope you enjoyed the post today brought to you in special thanks to: rambling.