Not Being Naked: day 9

Fact: I did not get dressed until 4 in the afternoon today, because earlier I was dressed in my scrubs and doing manual labor in Bellevue, AKA the worst city in the whole wide Washington.

There is, I wish to make clear, nothing wrong with good, honest manual labor. Among other things, it means I did not have to go to the gym today.

My supervisor: Wow! You are INCREDIBLE!

Me (internal monologue): Incredible at moving boxes?

Me (out loud): Thanks!

Anyway, I got dressed to go to Costco and buy a couple of things, and then received no appreciation for doing so because I forgot apparently the ONLY THING that was REALLY important for me to buy (a chicken) and now my dad is pouting like a six year-old girl.

But anyway, clothes!

fake snakeskin shoes + denim skirt + white t-shirt + other orange sweater + red necklace (was my mom's) + purple hair clip (gift from Kelso) = 10/10

The 100% score was scientifically garnered because while I was in line at Costco, an autistic eleven year-old patted my butt, then reached around and tried to hold my hand. His mom was horrified, but I thought it was hilarious.

Not Being Naked: day 8 WORST DAY EVER

Can you believe that a day could go so horribly wrong even in an outfit like this?

other grey pencil skirt + orange sweater + black hooker boots + white blouse = 8/10 (-1 for the wrinkled skirt, -1 for not fixing all my problems)

Outwear in lieu of accessories = khaki coat (thrifted) + blue scarf (gift from DHB)

I guess the cool thing is I cannot imagine Day 9 being any worse, eh?

Not Being Naked: day 7 (The "I really need to do laundry" edition)

I really need to do laundry. That is why today I was forced to wear a dress as a shirt.

short red dress + grey pencil skirt + long white sweater + black hooker boots + grey bead necklace (thrifted) = 8/10 (-1 because I couldn't take the sweater off, -1 for the necklace having a bunch of loose threads that look kinda tacky ... but I just can't throw it away ...)

I am going to do some laundry right now, actually.

2010 Books Galore

The Man from Krypton: A Closer Look at Superman by Glenn Yeffeth, ed.

I promise this is the last comic book-related anthology I will review for a while. Maybe. We'll see. You never know.

This was another one of the Smart Pop anthologies that I read over the summer, and this was one of the better ones. Superman has been around long enough that there is plenty to say about him. I would say this one is just as good as Webslinger.

Positive Discipline: the First Three Years by Jane Nelson

I started reading this at my employer's house when I was a nanny and liked it so much I wanted to finish it. In fact, I decided I wanted to read all the books in the Positive Discipline series. It's a really great philosophy for dealing with kids.

The main premise is that kids behave well when they feel good about themselves and their abilities, and parenting's goal should be to empower kids to learn through doing rather than be motivated by rewards and/or punishments. I saw a lot of truth in what they were saying. But all bets are off until I am co-raising a child that is not also my sibling.

Replay by Sharon Creech

I found this book at the library kind of by accident. I really liked Walk Two Moons, also by Creech, so I thought I would give it a shot. It's a really nice little book about a young Hispanic boy who feels like he doesn't fit into his family because he's very introspective and imaginative (his family nicknames him "fog boy"). Really short, nice read. Might have choked me up at the end. But what else is new.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

Oh man. If you read only one reworking of Shakespeare set in rural Wisconsin, make it this one.

Kidding aside, this was an amazing book. Earned all the praise it garnered when it first came out. I could see it becoming a classic. The book is a retelling of Hamlet, told from the point of view of Edgar, a mute teenager who raises dogs with his parents. Even though I've read Hamlet so I had an idea of how things are going to end (re: not good) this book was incredibly gripping. The author is able to make everyone's point of view come alive--even the dogs' point of view, which I think is a rare gift.

Of all the books I am posting about today, if you plan to read one of them, read this one.

The Birthday Ball by Lois Lowry

Another fun, easy YA read. Fact: Lois Lowry can do no wrong. Also fact: this is one of those books I would like to read to my class someday (probably fourth grade and up). It's a reworked fairy tale with a pretty traditional-sounding premise, but still turns out to be really fun. I was genuinely curious as to how things were going to work out, which is a good sign.

P.S. Blogger's paragraph spacing rules are SO IRRITATING

Not Being Naked: days 4, 5 and 6

I had a busy weekend. But don't worry, here are some pictures of me wearing clothes. 'Cause I know how much these posts enthrall you guys.

brown polka dot dress + other orange sweater + red superhero boots + gold disc earrings (thrifted) = 10/10* (per Allen, the only straight guy I know besides DHB who has opinions about clothes). This is the outfit I wore to my birthday party.

*To be fair, he didn't submit an actual rating. But he did send me a text message with a dirty joke about my breasts, so that is pretty much the same thing.

This what my earrings look like. I always get lots of compliments on them, however they are made of very cheap metal that hurts my ears so I can never wear them for an entire day.

Also, I L.O.V.E. polka dots. When I was a nanny D used to call them "polka bots." Doesn't that sound terrifying? WATCH OUT FOR THE POLKA BOTS!!!!!

This is a real song WTF. Also, it sucks.

Anyway, the morning after eating lots of unhealthy food I went to Sunstone. It was awesome.

White t-shirt + other grey pencil skirt + calculator watch + black hooker boots + grey bracelet (was my mom's in the sixties) = meh. Maybe 5/10?

I felt okay about this outfit while I was wearing it but it didn't photograph very well, did it? Also, I had a Kendi-esque existential crisis about whether or not to tuck in my shirt. The fried food kinda made that decision for me, though. That being said, I really love this skirt. Sunstone lasted from 8:30 in the morning to like 10:00 at night and I was totally comfortable.

Yes, comfort is my raison de mettre. I am a boy.

This next outfit will be shown on the floor instead of on my body because I am already in my pajamas and I simply do not want to get dressed again. Are you kidding me?

blue v-neck t-shirt (cute, but a little cleavage-y) + black and gold scarf (thrifted, see previous) + grey pencil skirt + fake snakeskin shoes = 10/10 mostly because someone at Stake Conference today asked if my shoes were from Banana Republic and I was like SWEET

This outfit looks even better on my body than it does on the floor. Feel free to leave any clever pick-up lines in the comments.

xoxoxoxoxo

ek

Wait a minute.

Here you go.

Not Being Naked: day 4 (actual)

Fact: TAKING MIRROR PICTURES IS THE WORST

See why I usually cut out my face?

I really enjoyed today's outfit but it was pretty much IMPOSSIBLE to get a photo of it.

Especially because I wanted to include the earrings.

Full body shots are pretty much impossible.

Anyway, today was black t-shirt + short blue dress + black slip (that's not cheating, is it?) + fake snakeskin shoes + calculator watch (wal-mart) + turquoise earrings (gift from my godfather) = infinity/ten

1. Mostly I am just proud of myself for not spending the day in my pajamas.

You can see the shoes here. I wore the fake leather jacket as well but not when I was inside so it doesn't really count as part of the "outfit." Also, another disastrous mirror picture. Hello, stump legs + looking pregnant. Eyuck.