Why are you online?

When I was 10 or so, the internet (Prodigy) was mainly for playing games on my parent's Commodore 64 computer. I also recall something about "bulletin boards," but I'm not sure if I used those when I was that young.

When I was 11 or so, the internet was for giggling with my friend over comments made in AOL chat rooms. A/S/L check, anyone? It was the thing our parents didn't want us to do (talk to strangers), but safer because you were behind the comfortable confines of a computer screen. Also, I got my first email address: cran11@aol.com (because I was 11, and I liked the Cranberries).

When I was in middle school, the internet was for communicating with friends I had in the real world. I had my second email address, KERMIT4474@aol.com (because I liked the muppets, and AOL generated some random numbers for me).

When I was in high school, the internet was for goofing off with my friends, emailing with boys I was too shy to talk to in person, and researching (a little).

When I was in college, the internet was for so much:

• Friendster (R.I.P.)
• MySpace (almost R.I.P.)
• Dowloading tons and tons of music
• Finding out when / where shows were playing and stalking Jump, Little Children in particular
• Blogging (2002-2004, 2004-2007), and usually being a bit emo about it
• IMing all of my college friends with my latest screenname (TorchSongHero - because I loved Jump, Little Children) to organize meet-ups outside of the dorm, express myself in my away messages, communicate with my roomie who sat a few feet away from me, and flirt with boys
• Research
• Homestarrunner, among other web entertainment
• Photo sharing
• Emailing friends from home while studying overseas

In the following years, the internet continued to be for all of those things, and more. Now, the internet is for work and play. Isn't that kind of crazy? I think so. And I like it that way.

The internet and I have been having a love affair since Prodigy, and old internety has aged very gracefully.

I'm online for lots of reasons. (Hey, you're reading one of them now!) True, I do enjoy a little shameless self-promotion, but I read my fair share of personal blogs to offset my egomania, I think. And perhaps I overshare on the internet sometimes. But, you know what, I'm really not that worried about it.

What about you? Why are YOU online?

Old tunic, Old Navy cardigan, jeans & flats, Gap scarf - Can I just say that I'm really digging this outfit? This is quite me.

Seven

Here they are. My first pair of designer jeans. I'm such a proud mama.

Now, for those of you who don't know, my husband works in denim. No, that doesn't mean I got these for free. But he did buy one of those daily deal coupons for a local boutique so that I got them pretty much half off.

But he knows denim. So I let him help me pick them out, and we settled on this high-waisted boot cut style. The cool thing? I'm not supposed to wash them. Like, for a year. Sound strange? It's true. I'm supposed to let them develop their own "wash story" through wear and tear, not tumble dry low. (Ha! See what I did there?)

And so I guess I'll be styling these a lot and watching their wear evolution through my outfit photos. Pretty cool, huh? Oh, and they fit like a dream. I guess now I know why people invest a lot of money in their denim. It only makes sense for someone like me; I can wear jeans everyday at work if I like, so might as well get some great quality, right?

 Banana Republic top, Seven for all Mankind jeans, Mossimo wedges, Gap scarf, F21 locket, Mango blazer (bought in Spain in 2004)

26 of 30: What's With the Door?

 Gap top and scarf, J. Brand jeans, Converse vest, husband's belt, Madden shoes, Old Navy bag

I just don't know. This door is literally one door down from my apartment building and it is so bizarre. I don't know what this place is/what it used to be, but it sure makes a fun door to pose in front of.

This was my last 30 for 30 outfit before I started my new job. At first I was nervous about making my 30 pieces work in this new office. True, I only had four more remixes after this one, but you just never know what the atmosphere is going to be in a new office.

Fortunately, it's totally casual. I work with a lot of guys (engineers and programmers) and a few women, and they all dress really casual. Which is great.

Slowly catching up with these posts, people!

Thanks to Steph for taking the photos!

20 and 21 of 30: Naptastic

 gifted tank; Gap sweater, cords and socks; Old Navy jacket, Madden boots, F21 shades

What's that? You thought I'd started slacking? Well, maybe just a little bit. A couple of friends and I had President's Day off, so we decided to take a spontaneous trip to Napa. We did Napa on the cheap, which meant sharing dishes at meal times and staying at the cheapest motel available (the Chardonnay Lodge. Super classy joint.).

It was a splendid trip, indeed. We walked around a couple of wineries and got a free tasting. We also ate pizza and junk food in our motel room. Like I said, classy.

I'm in need of some new boots, y'all. I love these. They are loading so slowly. But I really need some good, leather flat boots. Even just this one-inch heel gives me trouble sometimes. I'm thinking I need to seek out some taupe-colored boots. Taupe goes with everything, right?

 Gap sweater, scarf and socks; Madden boots; Old Navy jacket; Target ring (see how I'm showing it off in that second shot?)

But tomorrow it's back to work (for my last week before the new gig starts), so I'd better hit the hay. Stay classy, blogosphere!

(P.S. Doesn't my friend Christie take some lovely pictures?)

Fashion Risk #3: Maxi Skirt

OK, it's not actually a maxi skirt. It's a dress. But I fooled at least one friend. (She even asked if she could borrow my skirt!) And I fooled my husband. Mission accomplished.

I wore this to church--I was singing that day--and I left it on the rest of the day. Now, anyone who knows me well knows that I have a tendency to change into what the hubs calls "fat pants" the instant I cross our apartment's threshold. (Don't worry--he doesn't think I'm fat, that's just his pet name for my lounge pants.)

But not on Sunday.

On Sunday I stayed in this outfit all day. I was that comfortable.

Plus, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out style wise. Getting closer and closer to honing in on my style aesthetic. But it's still just out of reach, so it seems.

Dress: Old Navy (old old old) Sweater: Gap Belt: F21 Scarf: Gap Boots: Madden Necklace: c/o Erskine College

Get excited, because the next few days I'll be posting how I've styled different pieces from my husband's closet as he's been away on a business trip.

P.S. Also very excited because today I ordered my "try at home" Warby Parker samples.

Currently listening: Lost Shepherds