Spring Cleaning the Mind

+ FIFTY SHADES OF WHITE BY MIKAEL JANSSON FOR WSJ MAGAZINE MAR '13

How does one even begin again after my last post? I spent most of the weekend before the post moping, not doing much, save for the odd shower. I sent an email to my professors and excused myself from classes that Friday. From past experiences though, constant sleeping in and not having a schedule is one quick track to depression. So I forced myself up as the week started again and resumed my normal schedule of classes. I also made my way to the gym for the first time in the semester to get my fair share of endorphins. Boy am I unfit.

My friends were incredible. They took me to Petco (my first time ever). Apparently it was a vaccination day so there were a ton of adorables doggies of all different breeds around for me to play with. Pet therapy is the bomb. That wasn't just it though. They also brought me to the mall to visit dun dun DUN, Forever 21. It must have been over two years since I've been to a Forever 21 store. Honest. And I cringe as I type this: I bought three items of clothing. The quality is shit (to be expected) and rather slutty (therefore not fitting in with my existing wardrobe at all), however they were purchased under extenuating circumstances and I really needed the extra retail therapy.

I had originally planned to stay away from the blog for at least 2+ weeks. What made me really snap out of it though was learning that my professor's wife gave birth over the course of the week. Literally witnessing life moving on before me was surreal. Classes were cancelled (yay) but geez were those giant spoonfuls of perspective pie! Since, I've recovered from a bad cold (the things you contract when you visit your boarding schoolmates at Lena Dunham land Oberlin) and managed to complete two midterms and problem set. Woot woot.

Bet you guys thought I would forget to say one big giant THANK YOU to the Internet. You people are supposed to be creepy and scary. The numerous kind and sweet tweets and emails I received were anything but. You guys know who you are! Even others who did not send me a personal message per se, thank you for continuing to read this blog and giving me a platform to share all sorts of random fashion-related thoughts I have on the spur of the moment.

It's been a while since I've shared things I've like on the web on the blog:

• The recent layout change inspiration came from After Visiting Friends. Coincidentally the book also features the macabre theme of death. I'm sure the book is good but the site is just beautiful to look at. I made the overall font size bigger because it wasn't showing up well on my dad's PC at work (LOL I know) but I intend to write more in the future anyway, so here's to not straining your eyeballs as much.
• Three sweet new fashion blogs I found. They're all so creative and fresh! 
• Sew Overdressed
• We Have No Style
• The In Club
• I watched the Beyoncé documentary on HBO Go. Man did she sound like a megalomaniac. That is not to say that she isn't a great strong role model for young girls and I still love her beyond reason. Here's NYMag's review of it for you.
• So much about fashion bloggers and the fashion industry has been written since Suzy Menkes' article got blown up on the blogosphere. I've got nothing particularly interesting to add but I loved reading these two responses in particular (apart from Leandra's and Susie Bubble's): 
• Batty Mamzelle, "Criticism/Uncensored: Why Fashion Bloggers Are Not Journalists, and How They Killed Their Credibility"
• Beautifully Invisible, "Fashion Blogging: It's Not Just About Pretty Pictures"
• Scott Simpson's essay, "You Are Boring"
• Mantone: A Manly Guide to Wearing Color
• Q&A of Amancio Ortega on Business of Fashion, whom I have mentioned previously in What's the Big Idea.

Thank you Marlene for featuring me along with some of my own favourite blogger ladies, such as Hannah-Rose and Fen Frances. Thanks Kali for your thoughts on my one-off piece – it's good to know I'm not just talking to myself. A "rebuttal" may come as time permits. Thanks Katrina for linking me in your links loved. Thanks to Joshua Baker of Becoming Minimalist for sending a crap ton of traffic my way.

Can't believe March is already here! God knows I need spring desperately.