Itsy Bitsy

Un-packing the final trash bag of spring clothes last week I was stuggling to find a home for all of my swim suits. I have a bikini for every day of the week because I used to live in them all summer when I was in high school. Summer employment and self esteem issues got in the way of me wearing them as frequently, and yet the pile of bikinis remains.

Me and E our senior year of high school. Love this binkini, and true to form still own it!

Not another bikini picture until next summer when I went with E's family to Canada. Loved that hawaiian print bikini, but lost the bottoms when we went camping. If I hadn't, I would probably still own it.

Last bikini picture to date. Please note the technique: self conscious? Hold small child in front of you!

As I was shoving the last of the pieces of clothing that I don't like to be photographed in, in to a drawer Mom said "You could probably get rid of a few."

So I've resolved to pitch a few bikinis in the name of more space and not torturing myself. I don't expect my body to fit in to something I wore when I was a freshman in high school. It's been a good ten years and my body has changed a lot, but it's still sad saying goodbye.

Of course I got thinking about it, and I would still have four bikinis left that fit, but if I was throwing three other ones away, doesn't that mean I get a new bikini? (I can hear Mom groaning through my computer screen)

American Eagle // Delias // Gap // Target // Victoria's Secet // Oldy Navy

I'm really loving the bandeau/reto underwire style, each of the suits has really strong ties to fashion this spring: Retro, Floral, Polka Dot, Tribal Print, Neon, and strong prints. To be honest I'm leaning toward the Old Navy suit because I have a gift card, but I'll be darned if that American Eagle suit isn't the cutest thing!

Which one is your favorite?

Sunday

Happy Sunday!

This week has gone from stressful to joyous and down to stressful again. I'm hoping that getting back in to a routine and finishing off my to-do list will help like it normally does...or maybe I need to shake things up?

One thing I know will make me undeniably happy: Beatles Sunday.

Anniversary

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! (or as they as they were known back then: Pam and Jack)

My mom posted this picture this morning and said: "typical. The bride is beaming and the groom is like 'oh good it's all over with!'"

27 years later, still beaming. Love you both.

Catch Up

Last night the festival of ten minute plays I was assistant stage managing ended. I severely underestimated the awesomeness of working on a festival of plays that only lasts six days. You're getting to work with a new company and you come in to contact with all kind of different artists in terms of directors, actors, stage managers, etc. The sad thing is you only really get to know everyone at the cast party when you're saying "so long".

I had an experience like this in Ohio working on a comedy festival, but it's different since all the troops go back to their homes (and I didn't have to get on stage and be made a fool doing a Monty Python dance number.) Here, everyone is still a Chicagoan. There's a chance I might get to work with everyone again, which would be lovely!

But now that the festival is over I can focus on stage managing a full length production for a company very close to my apartment. My friend has been substituting for me this past week so my first rehearsal with the cast is this Saturday for a photo call and blocking the second half of the show (blocking = stage movement/choreography I only realized that not everyone knows what this means when talking to Dad.)

So I'm a one show woman ya'll, and it feels fantastic! Hopefully now I can get back on track with writing, running, and cleaning my gross room. You couldn't tell by the garment rack pictures because I shoved everything out of the way, but I still have a trash bag of tops to put away and a pile of bikinis to sort through...ugh.

Shopping My Closet

One of the perils of renting in Chicago (or in general) is the severe lack of storage space. My closet is more impressive than I expected, but with the addition of my Spring and Summer wardrobes space had become limited.

While I appreciate my closet for its high shelving and depth, it has a tiny door making parts of it very difficult to reach or see what I have back there.

But no more! For I have bought...a garment rack!

I got the idea while watching No Strings Attached...alone...the day before Valentine's thankyouverymuch (you can see it off to the right in this picture). It fits nicely in the nook between my closet and the door where I hang all my purses. Those bins are full of my winter clothes. Currently I have no place for them, so they will remain an end table/catchall.

It makes shopping my closet so much easier and adds some visually appealing "creative clutter" to my space. It's also going to make #22 on my 24 Before I'm 24 list a lot easier:

22. Shop my closet and wear all of my clothes. If I don’t, I have to donate it at the end of the season

I bought my garment rack at Target and it serves its purpose well enough for what it costs. Hopefully once my career becomes a little more lucrative I'll go for aesthetic and throw down the cash for the commercial grade version at the Container Store.

What do you think? Would you ever have a garment rack in your apartment?