Casual Days

You can call me Mathangi Arulpragasm since I've been so M.I.A. on this blog.

I'm glad to say my absence hasn't been entirely due to the weather, although

that has played a major role. My sister and I were blessed with a visit by our

mom, nanny, and younger brother. I only get to see them about once a year, so

this visit was very welcomed and much needed. It passed in a whirlwind though:

days jammed packed with eating out, lots of shopping, and fun-filled activities.

My nanny took Paul and I to the casino to play some poker and I must say, I

felt like a fancy pants. I mean, you either go to the casino 'cause you have money

to spare and you're looking for a good time or you have an addiction - I was

hoping people were thinking the former.  I was also a lucky gal who got real

spoiled by her momma. She's to thank for these snazzy new boots.  

And while Paul and I already went to Winterlude with my brother, we'll take

any excuse to eat a Beavertail - those things are the best! I was deliriously

happy to see that most of the ice sculptures were gone and the remaining ones

were melting. Yes, melt, melt, melt! I truly do love layering, the cozy sweaters

and the boots that allow you to tackle any adventure, but I'm ready to ditch all

those extras. I want spring! I'm ready to start complaining about the rain and

all its limitations. Sometimes I question my protest of winter, for naturally I am

a home-body (Example: Paul and I for Valentine's Day got together with

another couple, had some drinks and food, and played the newlywed game).

And being cooped up all the time has seriously increased my jewelry collection.

I've been seeing the most precious dainty necklaces lately (see here & here) and

again I thought to myself easy peasy. More like I'm cheap and I'd rather

use materials I've already got sitting in my craft box, but mum's the word on that.

Outfit:

My sister's // Scarf

DIY // Necklace w/ Beaded Pendant

DIY // Mini Bottle w/ Feather Pendant

Thrifted // Dress

Thrifted // Belt 

Thrifted // Sweater

Thrifted // Bag

DIY // Wool Leg Warmers

Soft Moc // Hush Puppies Combat Boots

Hey, Ho, High, Low

I'm starting to feel as if this winter will never end! I miss the days where one

could spend hours outside under the warmth of the sun. One good thing comes

out of winter though: my documentary watching increases substantially. Lately, I've

been discovering the negative effects of fluoride in our drinking water (70% of

the US and 45% of Canada) and trying to figure out why Dave Chappelle would

give up the "American Dream" and escape to South Africa. Some riveting stuff!

Since I so desperately need some colour in my life I thought this dress was

the perfect pick-me-up. And while I love this dress, I got beef. Yes, major

beef. I recently received a gift card to Winners (TJ Maxx in the States). What

I find great about this store is that almost everything in there is sort of junk.

And what I mean about that is: other clothing stores that have overstock or items

that have been made incorrectly (wrong colour thread used, for example) instead

of throwing this stuff out they sell it to Winners. What a wonderful thing! Think

of all the stuff being saved from ending up in landfills! But then I found out this:

Winners doesn't bother to recycle anything. They throw all the cardboard boxes

their stuff comes in into the garbage compacter. Sigh. I'm pretty sure companies

get tax reductions for their environmentally friendly business practices, too....

Recycling is the easiest form of preventing garbage (besides reducing, hah)! So

I have never bought anything from Winners until this gift certificate, which

totally blows because that store has the most precious dresses for such

incredibly low prices. I had such a hard time narrowing my choices down

to three dresses, I wanted them all! Oh, well. I've got a moral compass 

and it's not pointing me in the direction of Winners. 

Outfit:

Thrifted // Hat

Thrifted // Wool Sweater

Winners // Dress

Thrifted // Belt

Thrifted // Necklace

Le Chateau // Boots

The Page Turner: Difficult Men

Well, I kind of put my foot in my mouth, didn't I? I labelled myself a 

self-proclaimed book-aholic and then I don't touch a book for months.

I really showed you! I blame it fully and entirely on boredom in material

form: Kanthapura. I tend to really enjoy books set in India, but that one

was a total miss. So I had to bite the bullet and I joined the masses -

I am now one of those that don't finish books they start. Gasp. 

My reading slump thankfully came to an end and I'm back on the

train of enlightenment!  When I saw Difficult Men on my friend's

coffee table I immediately thought to myself:  Why thank you, Brett

Martin.  You seem to have a written a book with me in mind!

Reasons To Read Difficult Men:

1. After reading this book your confidence in the fact that TV

is more than just mere junk will be restored. Feel bad that

you're watching Breaking Bad instead of reading a book?

Don't! This book gives great insight into the deep intellectual

process of the shows we love. The fact that a lot of these shows

deal with economical issues -  how even the middle class

isn't fully secure and men who need to break bad in order

to keep themselves and their families afloat - insist that TV is

doing more than keeping society in a zombie-like state. Have

faith that not all TV is keeping the mind deactivated, rather we

have come upon an age of thought-provoking television shows.

2. I often find the lives of writers, and in this case show creators,

to be more interesting than the works they produce. Take the lives

of Ernest Hemingway, George Orwell, and Virginia Woolf for

example. This may have something to do with my fascination with

the world of artists. 

3.  If you're experiencing withdrawal symptoms after Breaking Bad, 

The Sopranos, Mad Men, The Wire, etc. has ended, 

this is a great way to get one last fix.

The next book will be Charlie LeDuff's Detroit. So far this book is

terrific and I can be found reading it in a binge-like manner.