Faux

I'm pleasantly surprised that after having to wear this skirt all summer I haven't developed deep-seated feelings of disgust and disdain for its silk, polka-dotted pleats. I bought it on super-sale last December and was mere seconds away from also getting its red diamond-patterned counterpart, but I think I realized that the world (and my budget) is too small to justify having copies of an admittedly average skirt in my closet. This leather t-shirt was patiently waiting for me on the clearance rack in Macy's in Center City last winter. I think it knew I would be impressed by how soft and convincing its imitation leather fabrication was - and it was right! I've spotted this strikingly similar top on Piperlime and can attest to the unexpected versatility of faux leather tee. It's admittedly a little stiff, especially in the sleeves, but unless your day job requires a lot of arm-raising I'm sure you'll be just fine. In case you're still not convinced that you secretly want a leather shirt, my fallback outfit this fall has boiled down to this top and a pair of high-waisted skinny jeans and it's the easiest way to hide how much difficulty I may have had getting dressed that morning.

Maybe it's just me, and perhaps I had grown too accustomed to have a limited number of choices and simple combinations all summer, but recently I've found my wardrobe to be a bit overwhelming. I think this means it's time for a seasonal closet purge, so maybe I'll be able to find new homes for my confusing clothes at Buffalo Exchange.

I'm also back into the swing of classes, meetings, group projects, writing and editing articles, and everything that comes with each new term. I'm currently tossing around the idea of graduating early, or maybe picking up a part-time job or internship. The worst part about thinking about my no-so-immediate future is looking at the last few folders of pictures I have yet to edit from my summer abroad. Maybe I'll make a post about this week. Maybe.

Faux leather top - Kensie 
Polka dot skirt - J. Crew 
Morainn leather gladiator sandals - Aldo 
Bag - Madewell 
Watch - Marc by Marc Jacobs

Walking Billboard

I didn't get dressed this morning intending to be a walking Madewell billboard, but that's exactly what happened - maybe I can add that to my resume when I apply to the new Madewell store that opens on Walnut Street next month. I'm still living a life plagued by jetlag, so I was up bright and early just as the sun was rising and was out of the house to run errands. I'm hunting for the perfect set of picture frames to hold print of the photos I took this summer and so I hit every thrift store I could think of. It was cold enough for tights which kind of bummed me out, even though I shed them shortly after leaving the house.

I feel like I missed the gradual transition of summer to fall that we're fortunate enough to experience on the East coast. On the last leg of my Europe trip we jumped from warm and sunny Prague to cool and cloudy Amsterdam, back to a summer-like week in Paris, then to a rainy and cold London. It was so cold in the UK I ended up having to buy a new jacket in Zara to make walking around in the rain more bearable, a compromise I was willing to deal with. Now I have less than a week before I move into my new apartment, to enjoy what's officially left of the summer season, and relish not living out a suitcase.

Chambray shirt, striped skirt, Lovelock satchel - Madewell
Ankle boots - Old Navy
Watch - Marc by Marc Jacobs

DIY Terrariums

Does the internet need another DIY tutorial on how to make terrariums? No. Will I make one anyway? Of course. I'm still overcoming a serious case of jet lag that knocks me out at 9 every night and wakes me up at the crack of 6 AM. In a desperate attempt to make use of the early hours I would have rather spent asleep, I've embarked on a terrarium-making spree.

You'll need:

• glass containers
• small stones
• cactus soil or potting soil
• a spoon
• newspaper to cover your work area
• succulents or cacti

I found two of my glass containers at the craft store and two at the thrift store, and none of them cost more than a couple of dollars.

Start with a layer of small rocks on the bottom - this will provide proper drainage for your plants. Fill the next layer with just enough soil to cover the roots of your plants. Once they're in place, fill the area around them with some more soil and pack it down.

If your terrariums have lids, you should also sprinkle a handful of activated charcoal between the stones and soil to absorb extra moisture.

That's it! It's certainly not rocket science, and I've heard that succulents are pretty resilient plants. Hopefully these will survive once they're moved into my new apartment at the end of week.