Internship hunting, swamped, and Bingo. You read that right.

If you've been watching the weather news lately, you've probably caught wind that my college's area has been hammered by snow. As fun as it was the first snowfall, Salemites and Roanoke students alike became vexed by the continual pummeling of snow. Southerners are driving around in their cars with Everest on their rooftops. People are slipping on ice. Classes were cancelled Friday. Parties have been difficult to get to.

Some losers, like this one, helped build snow forts

with nothing but a lunch tray.

As such, Friday night not only displayed further proof that I go to a retirement home for my college education (and that attention-whores get what they want when they sit on bleachers and make out distastefully), but I proved victorious when I won a collection of items from Bingo. These items included a 12 pack of soda, popcorn, two DVDs (each containing four films), and a board game I'd rather not mention. Ask me in private if you want a good laugh.

Okay, so you'll probably be reading a lot about Valentine's Day and what to wear; I'll just leave that to Collegefashion.net and leave out the Valentine fashion lecture. Seeing as that I haven't formally celebrated Valentine's Day in three years, I see no reason to suggest what you should wear.

Instead, here is not one, but two outfits I've created from nothing but F21 gear. The first is rather plain, but helps me look forward to spring weather!


Spring fashion is released in February and I'm so excited! I channeled Hilary Duff's look from Gossip Girl (NEW EPISODES MARCH) and if it looks like I based the outfit around the fedora hat, I did. I usually don't go for the fedoras but that one was just so charming with the colorful band -- I used a basic white T and boyfriend jeans to focus more on simplicity and colorful details. I threw in an anchor necklace because I felt it was obligatory. Yay nautical!

The second is one I made a LONG time ago and based it off of my friend Betsy's pick: The purple floral cardigan. I made an outfit to reflect her cold campus in NH (which, ironically, doesn't have snow unlike sunny Salem. That is buried in feet of snow.) and her love of owls.

I feel as though this outfit is more current-weather friendly than my other one. Screw you, Pux, no one asked for six more weeks of winter.

Believe it or not I've been swamped with things to do/take care of in the first few weeks I've been back at Roanoke. My presentation for English majors about England, cover letters for internships, editing my resume, the ludicrous amount of reading I'm supposed to read and digest in an unreal time-frame, cheerleading, and the Writing Center, just to name a few. I hate sending people my schedule because you'd look at it and say "Pft, your class hours are ideal, you cotton-headed ninny muggins!" but it never includes the rando meetings I have or the time spent on my summer plans. I haven't been so nerve-racked about applications since high school and I got early admission so it didn't last long. I keep thinking at night, what if I don't my dream internship in NYC? What if I don't get any at all?

Luckily hangPROUD.com has offered me a writing position that I am allow to start after February. Whoo. Hopefully most of my extra-curricular projects will be completed by then.

I wonder how Amandalee is fairing in England...

Last few hours of being underage...

...And I'm hanging out on the computer. Just kidding, I did stuff today. I got a haircut (The "B" haircut for those who voted) and while playing Mario Party 8, out loud musings earned me some bangs cut by Kylee herself. I can't remember the exact age I last had bangs (single digits, no doubt), but it's weird falling under another white person stereotype. However, I'm liking it so far.

I attempted to meet a girl on my floor by asking where the laundry room is even though someone already gave me vague directions. I introduced myself off hand and she told me where it was and then went back to her room. Hm. Either I'm a lot scarier (weird??) than I've been told or she's rude. Guess I'm not going to have many friends on my floor of...three...other people.

Speaking of the girls at my school, I'd like to make an announcement:

DEAR ROANOKE COLLEGE FEMALE STUDENT BODY:

WEARING A SWEATSHIRT AND LEGGINGS IS NOT OKAY. LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS. PLEASE COVER AT LEAST HALF OF YOUR ASS TO SHOW YOU HAVE A SLIGHT PIECE OF DIGNITY. LEAVE YOUR "LEGGINGS AS PANTS" STATEMENT IN THE PRIVACY OF YOUR OWN HOME. THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO HAVE GUYS CHECK OUT YOUR REAR. I SUGGEST "JUICY" OR "PINK" PANTS OR EMBELLISHED BUTT POCKETS ON JEANS.

THANK YOU.

I'll be at the bar tonight. If you're not there with me, have a round for me. Thanks.

Back in VA. Yeah.

My return to Roanoke has been...placid. I enjoyed setting up what little I had in my room -- no decorations, no microwave or refridgerator, not even my cheap full length mirror from Walmart -- and spending some quality time with Kylee and her Wii. I hit the gym this morning and discovered how horrendously out of shape I was but that's okay because there were few people to judge me. However, I was laughed at by the girl next to me when my iPod switched to a new song that's volume was TEN TIMES LOUDER THAN THE LAST SONG so I nearly blew out my eardrums and yelped as I lunged to fix the skewed volume settings. I guess I would've laughed too if I wasn't bleeding out of my ears.

I discovered today I was at my lowest weight since I started checking it at college, but then sighed when I realized it was from lack of muscle. Swedish power bars, anyone?

I bought my required paperbacks, ate some poptarts, and intended on getting a hair trim today but the salons were all booked. I feel like trying something new but at the same time terrified. Bangs? Too much work to manage. Layers? Too boring. Super short hair? I'll save that when I have kids and too busy for long showers. I really don't know what to do if I wanted to do something different with my hair. Suggestions?

Having alone time forces me to read (ugh, I know, right?) and after reading a few chapters of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (I recommend), I consulted my 'Zaar "Great Style" book and followed it's advice. As part of my New Years Revolution, I intend to spend less of my fashion money at Forever 21 by buying only basics and fewer dresses, coats, "fancy" tops, etc. Fewer.
As such, I used my Gift card to buy some tanks, a new crisp white t-shirt and button down, and some cheap jeans. A good start. Hopefully I can keep to this when spring/summer clothing rolls around.

I like my living conditions so far -- I'm directly across from the bathroom and a water fountain, I have one neighbor and the rest of my neighbors are on the other side of the bathroom or a floor above. If anyone ever visits, there's plenty of room for you on my floor. I can probaby fit about seven marines on my floor. I doubt Andy or Mo read this so that reference is meaningless to everyone else.

I am famished. I wonder what Chef Bob is serving this evening.

At least I update more often than Maddox

Why does no one ever make New Years resolutions anymore? Are people so lazy and vain enough to think they don't need to change or better themselves? Or is it because people try to avoid guilt when they give up on their resolution halfway through January or February? Determination and consistancy seem to be rare these days, or at least in the people I've been asking.

My New Year resolutions include being more forward-thinking and active about my dreams of working as an editor in a publishing company or as a part of the editorial staff for a fashion magazine. As such, I'm going to make an effort to buy less frivolous party clothes for frat parties and attempt to purchase more items that I will more likely be wearing after college. I have begun to finally "find" my style (many thanks to Anne for giving me Harper's "Book on Style" for Christmas! It really helped me!) so now it's that much easier to shop for myself.

I've also decided to try something new for my blog: since I'm constantly browsing Forever 21, I'm going to make a way to guarantee that I'll be updating once a month. Once or twice a month, I will collaborate things I particularly like on Forever 21 and make an outfit that costs $100 or less. This will not only show what my "style" is being defined, but also be a good source of procrastination and maybe help my friends find something they like as well.

So here's the first one -- hopefully of many:

I have created a "wish list" so you can find all of the items in one easy place.
Just go to Forever21.com, click "wish lists" and look up by email: ecparke@roanoke.edu and select BLOG January.

For the record, I would suggest the pearl earrings for day, diamonds for evening, and the cameo earrings if they're your style. This is an outfit I'd wear to class sophomore year or going out, like to the movies, a dinner, or a 21ST BIRTHDAY PARTY THE ELEVENTH!! I already have a strapless red dress and the same blazer, but as every fashionista knows, never wear a designer or store look head to toe. These things are just what I'd put on manikins. (sp?) Clearly my time in England influenced my fashion tastes; if I had layered on some necklaces, selected a sequined purse and picked out booties with studs, this would totally look Topshop. But I digress.

I know it's not exactly LA fashion as F21 is all about, but whatever. BTW does anyone else think the girl posing in that blazer looks stupid?

Happy New Years!

Home for the Holidays

And when I mean holidays, I really mean Christmas and New Years.

I had one day trip to London with Michael before finishing up my papers and flying home the 12th. We breezed past a lot of London must-sees (most of them I had already experienced during a family trip way back when), got lost in the shadier parts of London and had a blast in Harrods. The day ended with fish and chips and a sleepy bus ride back to UEA.

Kelly, Philly and Beth sent me off with a bunny friend with a UEA t-shirt (his name is Achilles), Tom sent me off with a wooden cat from Bali and the rest of STC01 made my last night at UEA memorable with water fights and shower parties.

I was surprised by how huge Fortinbras has gotten since we first brought him home last summer and I surprised Dan that Saturday night by having him come back from Subway to find me on his bed playing with his dog, Bruiser.

Highlights since I've been home include going to NYC with Anne and meeting up with Dylan and Cody. We had lunch at Lillie's, got lost on the subway that headed to Brooklyn, not Times Square and got an exclusive visit to one of the floors at Condenast. I won't go into details but it was so cool for me.

Hanging out in Farmington has been slightly surreal after being in England for three months. It was as if I had just gotten used to going to classes twice a week, travelling wherever, whenever and spending most of my time in lesiure clothes. Now back home, it's back to dressing up for the latest dinner party, waiting for friends to pick me up at my house since I have no car nor public transportation at my convenience, and no longer having to cook for myself - a trend that will continue when I go back to Roanoke and its dining hall. I have collected my souveniers from England in a box to scrapbook/document later.

Speaking of, a night at Betsy's with Kelly was a blast from the past when Betsy uncovered a bunch of my short stories that I wrote in high school, that being read after years proved a) even though I've never done any drugs, I was on the biggest acid trip during junior year and b) apparently I had a secret hatred for Kelly because I inadvertantly had her brutally harmed, killed or ignored altogether in nearly every story. My personal favorite is the Legends of the Hidden Temple adventure.

Okay, on to other things.

So apparently the new sexy thing is to be androgynous and wear nothing but black. As much as I love New York and love black get ups as much as the next person, I don't believe this is look is as "sexy" as the NYTimes have it cracked up to be. For the record, the hour-glass figure will always be sexy and in style. Maybe it's just me, the low-brow fashionista, but how is this sexy? I actually screamed a little when that slide came up. I feel this trend is more for the models with the bodies of tall lanky eleven year olds. Sometimes sexy in the fashion industry greatly differs from sexy in real life.

Again, maybe it is just me -- my personality and overral presence can be overwhelming and severe so if I dressed in severe clothing and all black all the time, it would make me even less approachable. I'll hang on to my colorful, flowy summer dresses for now, kthanks.

For other clothing, they're not so lucky. I have two full Lord and Taylor bags of clothes I'm getting rid of. First come first serve, then it's off to Goodwill!

I've been toying for the font size for fifteen minutes.

So of course instead of finishing up my 500 word essay about my poetic skills (answer: zero), or finishing the first draft of my Gothic short stories (werewolves -- except they wear their shirts when human) OR starting my Chaucer essay at 1:00am, I chose to play online Scrabble and look at pretty clothes.

So I stumbled across this pretty thing, shat myself (pardon my language) and needed to write about it, even though I could've written about Bath and Essex weeks ago. No matter, here I am.

Divine.

For those who don't know (or care -- losers), this is a Lela Rose bow dress that I want to own, to possess in every sense of the word. This isn't your F21 or H+M, guys, this dress is for the high rollers. Seeing as I am not completely fluent in the world of higher fashion, I'm still waiting around for Forever 21 to make a knock-off of it. Even then, it won't be 100% silk and I doubt there will be a built-in bodice. I sigh dreamily. If you have to ask how much it is, you can't afford it.

Speaking of clothing, whoever has been dressing Serena van der Woodsen needs to be reconsidered. Lively's stylist has been peeving me recently and I highly suggest (s)he be replaced by whoever did the past seasons. In case you haven't noticed, Serena has been wearing SHORTS to show off her lucious legs outdoors in November. Watch a few past season 3 episodes and ask: "Isn't she cold?" Also -- that ratty pony tail from 3X09 with the horrifically large-shouldered dress in Tripp's office? Bleh. Go look for it and say I'm wrong. Was anyone else freaking out Deroda being preggers?

Parenting tip for Ms. Waldorf: give your child an earlier heads up when you up and move to Paris. Just a suggestion.

Oh right, so I've been travelling!

Fail.

My adventure to Bath was unusual because this time I had a friend with me this time. That's right -- just to remind you, I travelled alone (much to the horror of my mother) to Great Yarmouth, Cambridge and Oxford. This made my experience in Bath that much more interesting because I was with my friend Corey (fondly referred to as "Philly"), regardless of the windy, rainy weather. So yes, it was good weather for us.

What I'm wearing while being Had by the weather of England: Michael Kors sneakers, Seven for All Mankind jeans, leopard trench from Lord and Taylor, green scarf from Old Navy (from Amandalee!), and Poundland umbrella. I do this to make myself feel special (I mean, why does anyone start a blog? Exactly.)

Bath included various trips to thrift stores that were stuffed to the GILLS of vintage clothing, but I was good and all I got was a silver chain necklace. Philly and I poked our heads into the Jane Austen museum, passed an Eastern Asian art museum, and visited the Fashion Museum as well as the Roman Baths all in one day. The day we arrived was mostly dedicated to finding our hostel and feeling our way around the streets of Bath, seeing the street performers and window shopping. Philly took many magnificent pictures that I will pirate from her so I can show them to my family and friends. That's a heads up, Phil.

Why do I keep posting pictures of me with my mouth wide open?

We had some fun trying on corsets and the skirts at the Fashion Museum. In this picture I'm wearing a gigantic skirt, a hand-me-down brown sweater from Anne and Dan's button down. My jeans are still on.

So...Essex. That was last weekend.

How can I describe Essex? I guess the first step would be to show you the kind of people who live in Essex.

Essentially Jersey girls. With British accents.

In this picture I'm wearing my Topshop romper that my sister doesn't approve of, her hand-me-down hot pink tights, and the silver chain necklace from Bath. By the way the Americans won. You don't beat us at a game we brought to you. It's just not done.

So Beth was kind enough to let Philly and me visit her quaint (and awesome!!) country home in Essex. The English countryside is much prettier during the day with the November sun shining amongst large, cumulus clouds that artists often depict in oil paintings, than, say, at night when it was a deluge of freezing rain. Why yes, we went clubbing in that weather. That would explain my CANCEROUS SOUNDING COUGH but anyway, the residential area of Essex was beautiful even though it was a natural habitat for "chavvy" folk .(Philly and I translated this term as "Jersey girls", "Chongas", and "Guidos".)

And now that I'm done with this post and it's 2:37am, I'll leave you with this new website I've become addicted to: www.cracked.com. It's a "humor" site, and yes, some of the articles/posts are kind of MAD magazine-ish (aimed towards an immature male audience) but most of them are hilarious and even interesting. I've LEARNED things from this website. I read all about the Twilight series without having to actually read the books (another summary, for those who don't have the patience to read witty sarcastic summaries), why a zombie invasion can happen in real life, how badly scarred I was as child, an article even my boyfriend can enjoy. The terrible thing is that when you're done learning something funny/interesting, there are links at the end of each article that will entice you to read with its attention-grabbing headline: Why yes, I'd love to know what six mental illness beliefs Hollywood wants me to believe, or no, I don't know the seven chick flicks that secretly hate women. It just keeps going!

In other words, I'm punishing you by making you stay up as late as I do trying to do work but end up goofing off on the internet. Ha-ha.

Wait, before I go to Bath, about Oxford...

First, if you remember my entry of Things You Won't Find in My Closet, I mentioned how even though I hate the pants-form of maxi-dresses, I was okay with the idea of rompers.

So today, I'd like to announce that with the help of Beth of Essex, I bought my first romper on sale at Topshop:

She found it and it's fabulous. Even though the one displayed on the website is uber wrinkly. Who is hiring the staff to allow wrinkly clothing pictures on websites?

Anyway, so I figure before I leave for Bath with Philly tomorrow morning I should skim over my adventures in Oxford.

Oxford happened in mid-October the week after Great Yarmouth. I was just too lazy to write about it so here I try:

-I took the wrong tube in my London transfer and miraculously made it to my train on time.

-I enjoyed how close the train station was to the city and didn't have to pay for a bus fare or walk forever.

-I trespassed into Oxford Math Institution gardens (very pretty and yes, I was aware I was in enemy territory as an English major...) and other campus grounds, sneaking in with groups of students.

-I got lost in residential area until Santa wearing a tweed jacket and matching tweed fedora offered to direct me back into town.

-I stayed at a Funky Hostel where the staff was funky, the bedrooms were funky and the prices of beverages at the bar? Awesome. It was funny how I just walked in and asked to spend one night there. "One night?" "Yes, just one." "Um, okay." [insert unnecessary awkwardness here.] As I settled into my room and wandered around, it was apparent that I was the only girl travelling by myself. Everyone else was travelling with other people or if they were travelling alone, they were males.

-I met two Aussies who were kind enough to invite me to spend the next day with them, taking a tour of Oxford Castle (amazing) and Christ Church (Hogwarts) and then we got burgers. Perfect day, right? Of course it was.

-I purchased a large child's Oxford polo shirt for eight pounds after my realization that the rugby shirts were 40 quid. Ew!

-I saw a church that inspired the setting of my southern gothic short story that I turned in today.

Tomorrow I will be travelling with a friend (My mother heaves a sigh of relief) to Bath where we plan on visitng Stonehenge, the Fashion Museum, and the Roman bath houses. We'll probably just wander around a lot too. Who knows.

We'll be back Saturday! Cheers!