I have to do what?

Yesterday marked exactly two months until Commencement, which means that two months from today, I will officially be graduated from college. While I wouldn't say this put me into a panic, I couldn't get that phrase out of my head all day.  Exactly two months.  My brain kept saying it over and over.

I really don't quite know how to feel.

Perhaps I was spurred onward by this mantra, but when I got my e-mail from Rent the Runway this morning encouraging me to succumb to their beautiful, deadly scheme, I headed over to peruse the selections.  I've been thinking a good deal about summer dresses lately -- I'll be doing a post on that very topic in the coming week, but today is not the day as a result of my wonky feelings -- and the site's selection of ridiculously lovely clothes seemed to have some kind of special appeal today.  It was only after I looked at my favorite dress on the site (also for sale at Lilly Pulitzer) for the five millionth time that I realized Rent the Runway was the perfect way for me to wear a different dress to each day of graduation.  Sadly, my fav was already booked in my size for graduation weekend, which encouraged me even more strongly to book now, and I found two classy, classic options with which I am entirely pleased.

Lilly Pulitzer Dolly Lace Shift Dress

Milly Sail Away Dress

Of course I have to wear at least one Lilly dress!  University Commencement takes place in the morning, so I wanted something dressy but still light, as it is liable to be very hot at the ceremony (what?  Chicago has a summer?).  This pale yellow cotton shift should work perfectly underneath my robe and transition well into the rest of my daytime activities.

Convocation for the specific school from which I'm graduating takes place the next evening, and goodness knows I can't resist anything nautical.  The Sail Away dress by Milly grabbed my attention as I searched for something to fill the void of the navy dress that was unavailable.  In many ways, I think it's actually more appropriate than that one.  It feels a little dressier, but not fussy, and will transition easily from the ceremony to a late dinner with family.

And so, I have taken one step towards admitting that I'll be graduating in short order.  At the very least, now I don't have to face the ever-present fear of "WHAT WILL I WEAR??!!?".

On a totally different note, the lovely Sabrina of Sincerely, Sabrina tagged me for the Kreativ Blogger Award!  Her blog is wonderful, and you should all take a chance to check out what she has to say about fashion up in Ottawa, which I assume is just as cold as, if not colder than Chicago.  That's pretty much how geography works, right?

ANYWAY, I'm supposed to give ten random facts about myself and then pass the award on, so here goes:

1.) I haven't worn pants regularly since I was five years old.
2.) That being said, I haven't owned a pair of jeans since I was thirteen.
3.) I might love sour cream more than any other food.  Don't judge me.
4.) I can be satisfied with a single square of chocolate.
5.) Jurassic Park is one of my favorite movies.  It might be my favorite movie.
6.) I have a twin.
7.) Any length of unscheduled time less than three hours long does not feel like free time to me.
8.) I use my middle name, Elizabeth, on most things so people automatically know I'm a girl.
9.) My prescriptions always get filed under Harris.  I assure you, my last name does not sound more like a first name than Harris does.
10.) When I was younger, I wanted to be 6 feet tall when I grew up, but am now glad that at age 12, I stopped at 5'7". 

I would like to pass this award on to:
- Collections
- Rachael Passing Notes
- Styled by 3
- My Iowa Life

Whew!  Long post today, but thanks for sticking with it, I had a lot cluttering up my brain and it feels a good deal cleaner now.  Happy Monday to everyone!

This is a test.

But it is also a blog.  (Duh.)  It is my goal, with three months of college left (eee!) to do something worthwhile with my time.  You now suggest that a blog is not that. 
I beg to differ.

For those of you who don't know, Chicago can get pretty dreary in the winter. And winter can get pretty long (October to April, anyone?). So in an attempt to alleviate the Seasonal Affective Disorder brought on by my fourth seems-like-it-will-never-end winter, my intention is to put forth images of pretty things that make me happy, with the intention of making others happy. Pretty good, no?

While we're on the topic of what is and is not worthwhile, it behooves me to mention some, er, obsessions from which I find myself suffering these days.  Stripes, y'all.  Specifically, the horizontal variety. 

They are my love.  And not just any old stripes, no, but the variety which makes one think of all things summery and sailboat-y.  Not the most original obsession, but certainly my most passionate, at the moment. I am particularly obsessed with the above cardigan, having just purchased it in anticipation of spring -- a questionable decision, since, after living here for three winters, I know that spring does not arrive any time in the vicinity of mid-February. But I couldn't resist! Look how beautifully casual it is! And I am always a sucker for a three-quarter length sleeve.

So invest in stripes, y'all. Go to J. Crew right now and have them send you something that makes you feel like you own a sailboat.  Preferably involving navy. And to those naysayers who say stripes are not for the challenged of weight, I am not a small girl, and they always draw compliments on me. Word.

I'm ninety-five percent sure using the above image violates copyright, but no one's reading this yet anyway, right?

And also,



You know you love it.