Preppy New Year

I love this new cropped blazer! I found it on mega-sale yesterday for only $12. Score! The purple tank is from New York & Co. on sale last summer, shoes from Shi $40 a couple years back, and skinny jeans unknown... got 'em almost 3 years ago now. Pretty reasonable cost-wise.

My hair is a little outrageous here, and to me it indicates two possibilities: it's time to either
a) get a trim
OR
b) sign a modeling contract with Urban Outfitters

I think (a) is more doable, and frankly more appealing. Must work on completing that next week.

I made my New Year's resolutions last night. Here they are:
1. Lose 15 pounds. I've decided to start using the Weight Watchers system to get serious about it. I say "Weight Watchers system" because I don't have the money to join the actual program right now, so I've done a little internet research and downloaded some guides so I can follow the rules without paying membership fees. I'm going to also try to do some serious exercise to speed the weight loss along. In fact, I'm registering for a St. Patrick's Day 5k in my city so I have a deadline for getting fit enough to complete it. I'm really excited about setting this goal!
2. Stop freaking out about school. Yesterday I had a meltdown about the stress my professors on my committee have been putting me through. I'm officially a doctoral candidate now, but I have several reservations about going through with it at this point in my life, especially in light of some things that happened last summer and last fall around the time of my thesis proposal defense. I've decided that it's not worth it to kill myself over getting a Ph.D. and even if I don't do it now, I've proven that I am capable of getting into a very reputable program (my university's linguistics program is in the top 10 in the country!) and I can do it at a later point if I choose to. This resolution is really about enjoying life more and worrying less. Because it's just not worth it.
3. Take a fun 1-week vacation, even if it's just camping. I want to take a real vacation with K this year. Last year we went to Japan, but the reason we went was because my field research trip got botched. This year I want to take a fun vacation for the sake of taking a vacation, and planning it that way instead of a back-up to something else. We really want to go to Disney World for a week, but if that's not in the budget this year, then I'm cool with exploring Savannah or St. Augustine for a week, or even just camping. I'm not high-maintenance at all about this stuff. Just as long as we have some quality couple's relaxation time and do something new.
4. Keep track of household finances in my new book.
Last week, I bought a 2010 household finances book that has columns and schedules where you record every purchase you make daily. It looks kind of like a school planner, but it's only for finances. They had a ton of them at all the bookstores I went to in Japan. I can't recall ever having seen something like this in the U.S., although I'm sure somebody makes them. I think it's a really good idea, and they had them in so many different cute designs. I chose a super-cute Hello Kitty one that came with stickers to mark important dates, a receipt holder, and filing envelopes. I figure that looking at finances might not be so painful if it's incredibly cute. Here's hoping.

*~Happy New Year 2010~*

Jet lag recovery in style

Yup, I'm back from the islands, after three solid days of traveling. It really takes quite a bit of work to get to a Pacific island.

Jet lag affected me almost as soon as I got back home, since for some reason I can never sleep on planes, even if the flight is 12 hours long...but at least I was comfortable, because somehow they seated me in business class, woohoo!! I was able to stretch out and I think that's what kept me from getting a Charlie Horse last night. It seems like every time I do a long-haul flight, the first night back I get a nasty Charlie Horse that wakes me up in the middle of the night. Long legs + teensy coach seats with next to no leg room = ouch!

I feel a little stiff today, but I think that's from a combination of traipsing through three airports and two train stations with an overweight suitcase and three other bags, and then sleeping on an American bed last night after 3 weeks of sleeping on a futon in Japan. Er, that's a Japanese futon, not futon in the American sense of the word. Quite different. Actually I'm thinking of trying to get a platform bed and switch to a futon mattress rather than a traditional mattress because I think the futon reduces back pain. Plus, easier cleaning and airing out! But then, there is the slightly complicated matter of finding such furniture here in South Carolina and then of course affording it. Hm.

Anyhow, I decided to wear something comfortable and stylish today, and it's such a relief to wear something that isn't wrinkled and musty from being in a suitcase. Plus this sweater is super soft and comfy. Plus, the entire outfit, including necklace and shoes, cost me less than $100.00. Not bad, huh?

More fun from the island

That last one is my new desktop wallpaper :) I still can't get over how clear the water is. Have you ever seen anything like this?

A belated Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas (yesterdat) everyone!

Today in Miyako, the wind is unbelievably strong. And I have a cold :( Yuck. So, I decided I needed a hairstyle that would stay put all day and not get blown around, so I put it into the mass of braids here. It reminds me of how we used to wear our hair for football games during marching band. Ah, memories.

So, even though I'm self-conscious about looking fat, especially in the legs, when I'm in Japan, I am loving wearing leggings here. Super comfortable and convenient for all the sitting on the floor that you are always required to do here. I don't have many pairs right now, but I'm really tempted to buy more to go with some of the new dresses and skirts I have (well, new to me-- some of them are "new" from Goodwill!). The tunic I have on in this picture is actually going on three years old now, wow. It doesn't seem like it was that long ago when I bought it, but I guess it was. I would looooove to stock up on cute clothes here, but alas, my suitcase is only so big, and it's already threatening to not close properly with all of my newly accumulated stuff.

Also, I've been living in cardigans like this one. Soooo comfy. Stuff like this actually makes me like winter a little bit.

Ahem.

Miyakojima and South Carolina-style winters, that is. Anything north of the Mason-Dixon latitude would not be nearly as pleasant.

沖縄でのんびり～

Greetings all from Okinawa! It's not quite as warm as I had expected it to be, but it seems it's far warmer than back home in good ol' SC. Evidently the forecast was calling for flurries in SC. Flurries...SC....those two things just do not seem to go together. Even though it's chilly here, it's still in the mid-60s, and it's supposed to warm up more by next week. Which means, with any luck, I can go snorkeling again!!

Yes, that's right, the first day I arrived here, I went snorkeling at a beautiful beach with crystal clear water. I could see all the way to the bottom when I was in water that was probably 15-20 feet deep. I saw so many types of colorful fish swimming in and out of the coral reef! I think I can only name one of them, and I'm not even sure I'm correct with that one. Luckily I found an island guide that includes pictures and names of all the fish you are likely to see snorkeling, so I'll have to check the ones I've seen and then translate them at some point.

There is so much that I've done and seen so far, it would take a very long time to type it up, which I don't have right now because I'm getting ready to go out to see a local music show! But here are some snippets of my adventure so far:

*I walked about 30 miles in one day, at first because I was exploring and then because I got lost.
*I accidentally hitchhiked.
*I drank apricot-flavored sake. And today, peach-flavored sparkling sake.
*I have no idea what 50% of what I've eaten is. And it's going to stay that way.
*I've made several new friends who are fellow travelers here at the same guesthouse.
*I've watched local songs performed on sanshin. And I'm going to again tonight!
*I found a sesame snack that might be even better than my beloved Chinese restaurant sesame balls- beni imo dango (picture here: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3168/3114554075_31a78be169.jpg). It's a type of purple sweet potato mashed and fried with sesame seeds. Yummmm~~

Color on a grey day

Another fashion post!
Since it was grey and gloomy outside today, I decided to play around with photos inside. My apartment is tiny, so I'm looking for creative places to take photos. I'd like to have a fancy-schmancy camera, but I kind of like how this one turned out.
I went thrifting on Sunday and found this awesome skirt for only $4. Love it! I got two other skirts as well, which were also $4. I love this one because it has a cute pseudo-kimono print, which I think suits this week perfectly.
Also, you probably can't see it very well, but I'm wearing this amazing purple nail polish. I love purple nails! It cheers me up when the weather is less than stellar...and when I'm working on another paper >_<

My last paper is due on Wednesday at 3:00. I guess that means it's time to get cracking, huh?