30x30 Week 4 Outfits!

Day 1

 It's October 30! I have made it through the wilderness and to the other side. (Madonna joke.) I have to say, it wasn't as painful as it sounded! My favorite outfits this week were Days 2, 6, and 7. I'll post a recap of the whole shebang later this week. Now that I did it, I think you can too. I triple dog dare ya.

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

She Bangs

(Yep, I went there.)

Well, people, the deed is done. Anna getting bangs may not be a big event to the average onlooker, but let me tell you, this is a BIG deal (but it really isn't). I probably go over this stupid debate - to cut, or not to cut - every year. (I pondered this decision on the blog already here.) And then once the decision has been made, I second guess myself for another two weeks until I schedule the appointment in a moment of weakness. Such a tortured life I lead.

So here is the picture (I didn't have one so I went with the outfit pic I took today) of the finished result!

I feel very much like myself again. If you would ask me how I feel today, I would say "Anna-y." I hope that everyone feels very "(your name)-y" today as well. It's a good feeling.

Done Son

Susan, Megan, Me, and Amanda at Toyota Park

I am officially finished with the last soccer season of my career! It feels really weird to say that. We finished our season strong by winning our last two games, ending up with a 9-2 record. For about 30 minutes of our last game, the coach played my fellow co-captain and I (Susan) up at forward to let us have some scoring chances. After about 52 offsides calls (not even an exaggeration), I finally did put one away, and we won 5-0! (If you want to see this goal, my brother Rudi caught it on film here.) I will miss JV soccer with all my heart (here's just a few reasons why), but as for those 6 AM practices, to those I say adios amigos!

Displaying my 22-year-old maturity

We had awesome seats

As an end-of-season celebration, we went to the Chicago Fire vs. Columbus Crew game on Saturday night and witnessed an awesome 3-2 win. We sat immediately next to the "Sector Latino" by the corner which was fun at first due to the crazy cheers and constant drums, but then turned extremely annoying when they kept setting off red and white smoke bombs (I may or may not have contracted a respiratory complication) and the beer throwing whenever the Fire scored. I was lucky enough to catch the Fire's first goal (awesome play) on the video below, and then was even luckier to catch Megan and Susan's reaction to getting a nice cold shower of Coors Light from the neighboring cheering section at the very end of that video.

Smoke bombs

30x30: Week 3 Outfits!

 Day 1

Week 3 is finished! (I'm doing a 30x30 challenge with my wardrobe this month in case you are confused.) I thought I would be hating this challenge at this point, but I'm still going strong. I have to say, I definitely will appreciate my other sweaters and shoes when this shindig is all said and done. This week, my faves are Day 2 (hence two pictures for that one) and Day 7. 3 down, 4 to go!

Day 2

Day 2 #2

Day 3 

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

El Mejor Fin De Semana

Well, my friends, it just doesn't get much better than escaping the Chicago rain for Santa Barbara, California and the people who live there. Last weekend I had an awesome time reuniting with my friends from my semester in Spain who all go to Westmont College in California. (Last weekend I discovered this song. And I gotta say, there is nothing better than blasting this with the windows down and cruising along the coast.)

Santa Barbara is a beautiful city, the weather was perfect, and being reunited was amazing. I arrived on Thursday and flew back very early Sunday morning. In that time I fit in a lot of seeing people, eating, dressing up, making dinner, eating, seeing the area, and then let's round off that list with a healthy dose of more eating. I ate a lot. But I don't even care. It was wonderful. I felt like my good old Spanish Anna self again and these lovely ladies are wonderful hostesses. Check out the slideshow below for pictures of the people and, of course, the food.

                             

Hair and There

I'm debating a new haircut after soccer season. (Ends this week!)

I go through this RIDICulous process every fall. After having cut my bangs the previous year, I spend all spring and summer growing them out. Then I get antsy and have to cut the bangs in again. Rinse and Repeat. 

Last year, I chopped all my hair altogether into a bob, which was cute for awhile, but my time in Spain still has me wanting long flowing hair. So these are a few pictures of what I'm thinking I want. I think it's time for the bangs to come back! 

PS. You like my pun-tastic title? Or does it make you want to Curl up and Dye? It may seem dumb to you, but I think it's hair-larious. Like I'm some sort of big wig with these. Don't make fun of me or you'll have the devil toupee. 

Okay I'm done. Sorry. I'm through with the stupid puns from hair on out.  

30x30 Week 2 Outfits! (Minus a few?)

Hello there! I am back from my wonderful visit to friends in California! I will definitely be posting about that later this week, but I'm holding you all (or maybe just my Mom) in suspense until I get it up. For now, here are my 30x30 challenge outfits. I admit, I had to make a few exceptions with this past weekend. The 80 degree Santa Barbara weather didn't really cooperate with my Midwest-in-October clothing pieces, so there is probably going to be a few days missing. Here are the days I was in Illinois. Days 3 and 5 were my favorite this week fo SHO.

Day 1 

Day 2 

Day 3 

Day 4 

Day 5

And can I just say that I definitely have a high-heel allergy? Honestly, I'm such a wuss with those things. And they hurt SO BAD. Props to all you divas who pull them off on a regular basis.

Come Fly With Me

Codi, Julia, Megan, Emily, Chloe, and I in Toledo in March

I could not be more excited right now. In just 12 short hours, I will be boarding a plane from Midway to LAX to visit some great people. I'm staying in Santa Barbara, California with some of my best friends from my semester in Spain this past spring (some of whom are pictured above)!

I'm not sure if any of you guys feel this way or not, but when you have a life-changing experience, you really hold dear those who were around you for that change. This is why I'm particularly excited. It has been WAY too long since I've seen these girls. And they knew me in Spain, which was a very special time in my life. I just love me a good reunion!

(As for the 30x30 challenge, the temperature out there may cause some problems with my outfit choices. I'm going to incorporate as many 30x30 pieces as possible, and still get a picture each day of my outfit. I'll let you be the judge!)

Four Eyes

Help me help you. Help me help you! (1996 movie reference.)

I thought I'd help you out. Who doesn't need a little tip every now and then? I'm going to pass along one of my favorite deals in existence. Want some prescription glasses? Okay how about for twenty bucks?

They're from Zennioptical.com. Just type in your prescription, wait about three weeks, and voila. You have some brand-spanking-new glasses that make your day a little brighter. These are my latest:

I'm loving these. My first pair was also oversized, and my Spanish brother, Jose Antonio, said that the big frames made me look like a journalist from New York. However, those didn't last the test of time on all those flights and suitcases last semester. So, to fill my hipster desires, I ordered this pair for the new school year. I feel smarter already. 

(Also, anyone else notice how the print of my shirt is way too similar to the print of the couch? Classy.) 

Let's Talk About the Weather

Have you SEEN the weather out there lately?! 


In case you are reading this far away from the greater Chicago area, let me say that the weather has been just gorgeous. (Or "just gawgeous" if you are reading it in a Brooklyn accent. Either way works.) Honestly. We've had 80 degree days for like a week straight. And the trees/grass/fields are golden, red, orange, and amazing. I love driving anywhere because of the view. And dangit, I'm just in a better mood! 


Well, the past week has had a certain e. e. cummings poem on my mind. It was first given to me by my uncle Kevin, my high school History/English teacher, and I think he's got some fairly good taste in these matters. It just sums up the vibe of the outdoors. If you're reading this inside a temperature-controlled, flourescently-lighted room, take a moment to unplug your laptop and read it on your front porch or something. (This might take more effort and logistical planning if you are reading this on a desktop computer. Make it happen.)

----
i thank you God for this most amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes


(I who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday;this is the birth
day of life and love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)


how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any-lifted from the no
of all nothing-human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?


(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
----

Aaaaahh. Now don't you all want to be English majors? 

30x30: Week 1 Outfits!

Day 1

Drum roll please...the first week of outfits is here! (Here is the challenge I'm doing if you want to catch up.) So far, I've had an awesome 30x30 experience. It IS only 8 days in, but I've had a really good time picking out outfits - it's like an extra little game every morning when I get dressed! I think that thus far my favorite outfit is Day 6 (pictured below), and I was the most nervous to wear Day 7 - rocking those high-waisted, lightwash flares was SCARY. We'll see how next week goes. 

Day2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Geek Squad

Let me tell you a little bit about my English 356 class. First of all, there are only five of us in the class. Second of all, my professor is this dude who was definitely a hippie at some point, is completely disorganized, and rides his bike everywhere. And the actual name of the English 356 course is Ancient Mediterranean Literature, which is cross-listed for History credits. From all of these facts I'm pretty sure we can all agree that this group of six individuals are embracing our inner nerds. Or outer nerds.

Yesterday we went downtown Chicago to the Oriental Institute (lots of artifacts and history from the Ancient Mediterranean world) for some research and exploration. After a quick tour of the basement Co-op Bookstore across the street from the University of Chicago, our prof took us out to a place in Hyde Park called Medici on 57th for delish, authentic Chicago pizza. It was a really cool place with writing all over the walls and tables. We students all drove back to campus together afterwards and had a little trouble finding the freeway out of the city, but eventually found it after a turnaround or two. Benefit to this small side track: we got to hang out at local places like "Al's Chicken Shack" and the place with the "WE BUY GOLD" sign. It was classy.

the co-op bookstore 

our booth at Medici's

please and thanks. yum. 

Lazy Sunday

Why am I more productive when I don't have the time to be productive? And when presented with the rare gift of free time, I don't accomplish anything?

Usually, I take pride in juggling homework, two on-campus jobs, soccer, classes, friends, living in the house, Bible study, and the occasional babysitting gig. It's when my day isn't penciled full that I lose my direction...those are the days when I have no time management whatsoever.

For example. Today, I had all the time in the world to work on anything I wanted. I guess my one merit was bringing my computer to the Apple store at the mall to get fixed. That took one hour. That left 8 other hours for whatever I wanted. I could have taken a nap to catch up on sleep. Gotten ahead on homework. Cleaned my room. Planned my future. Learned Japanese. You know, the typical "to-do" stuff.

But what did I actually do?

Watched somewhere around 6 episodes of Sex and the City, my latest TV series guilty pleasure. (It's pure filth. Don't do it.) I generally sat around and chit-chatted with whomever was within earshot. Oh and I checked my e-mail once. So I got that going for me. I think I've diagnosed myself: I have Compulsive Lister Disorder. CLD is a serious condition. I need a list to cross off or I'm lost. Let's be honest - sometimes I just write dumb stuff on my lists like "brush teeth" so that I can get the joy of crossing them off! I have CLD because without a filled up schedule I don't know how to function.

Without a to-do list, I resort to-do nothing.

So. Tomorrow is a new day and I shall do better. I'll do better, of course, because I have classes, a meeting, an away soccer game, and won't return home until super late. OH, not to mention the fact that I have a Tuesday jam-packed with homework due and a field trip downtown! Ahhhhh. Now THERE is a day I can get behind.

(If you are not aware of the Lazy Sunday reference in the title, do yourself a favor and watch the SNL video here. Mr. Pibb and Red Vines equals crazy delicious!)