how random is it?

I love surprises. I always keep my iPod on shuffle and, until my friend Sara told me she hated it, I used to keep my CD player in my car on random.

I just don't like knowing what is coming next and it's too easy to memorize a 17-song CD. I get much more excited when my favorite song comes on by chance versus knowing it's coming next.

However, it took about a year of me having an iPod to discover that maybe shuffle wasn't so random. It seemed that some songs kept playing in a similar order. I later learned that it's never truly random because it follows a formula to generate what song plays next.

I felt a little cheated...

Until now. Random.org can truly generate randomness. I'm not sure how useful it will be in my daily life, but it can definitely be entertaining. It will give you random card, create a random list, and even generate a lottery ticket.

I realize this is something really random to post about, but isn't that the beauty of it?

A devoted scholar for life...

Yesterday I was trying to tell Jim, via text, about a friend of ours that dyed her hair. However, in my haste to tell him, I accidentally said she "died" it, and preceded it with an "OMG". Before Jim could read the entire text he saw that OMG she died...

How did it happen? He thought. He began reading the rest of the text, looking for something tragic, something sad.

He was relieved to find "her hair" instead.

It made me think of a conversation I had after my freshman year of college. I'd just returned from interning in Los Angeles and was meeting an old friend. It was clear we'd grown apart during our first year at school and I was attempting to ask her what she'd become interested in during the course of the year.

She said, "Well, I've gotten really into anthropology."
"Oh my gosh! Me too!" I said, excited to finally have something to really talk about.
"Really?" She said, equally shocked and relieved.
"Yes! Their clothes are so cute!" I exclaimed.
"What?" she said, confused.
"What?" I said. Thinking maybe she preferred their jewelry or home decor. "Ohh..." Then it clicked.

She likes studying anthropology. I like shopping at Anthropologie.

It was definitely more embarrassing for me than her...

Of course, she'd spent the year at a liberal school, redefining herself, changing her name, and studying brand new things.

Although I also went to school, I'd spent the last month interning for Los Angeles magazine, redefining my style, changing my major, and studying new brands.

I can't say the mistake wasn't clearly on my part, but you can see how it would happen. Maybe.

Undoubtedly, it's a lesson in how much much people can change. She and I once had so much to talk about and suddenly, after embarking on such different journeys, we couldn't even dodge a few homophomes.

It certainly makes me think about the importance of my surroundings. The things we do every day become habits. The people we are around begin to influence our decisions and change the way we think. Whether you like their style, agree with their opinions, or just have a tiny girl crush, you begin to emulate them.

It also makes me realize how important it is that we're confident in ourselves. No one likes a chamelion and while you can wear as many hats as you'd like, you have to remain true at the core. Had my friend told me she just "LOVED Anthropologie. Especially their aprons and ruffley skirts" and I had responded "While I love cultural anthropology I'm not that into linguistic anthropology", it may have been a greater cause for concern. Because we both would have been lying. And we would have lost our true selves in one short year.

And because that was the last time I spoke to her, I can't help but wonder if she's still studying anthropology. I'm undoubtedly still devoted to my studies at Anthropologie and to prove I've done my homework, I'd like to say how much I love the Stowaway Necklace. It's nautical and elegant and just perfect for spring.

to covet

I have this problem. I always love the look of strapless dresses in stores, and therefore purchase them. However, I rarely wear them once I'm home. I don't know what it is about my closet that is a black hole for strapless dresses, but I'm trying to stop buying them. However, I need a release because they're everywhere this season.

A few gems I've found...

The Bright Young Things dress from Mod Cloth. So cute! I'm actually glad they're nearly sold out, because I don't know how much longer I can abstain...

Also from Mod Cloth, I love the Composed in Sunshine Dress. It's so happy!

Since Saturday, I've been dreaming of the Sun Dot Dress from Anthropologie. If I'm being honest, though, I didn't really refrain from buying it. It just didn't fit me right. However, I think I would be having remorse if I'd purchased it Saturday, as it's now almost 50 percent off.

I'm in it for the clothes

“You believe in long hair, peasant skirts and sandals. But you in an open relationship? I don’t think so.” – Blair Waldorf, Gossip Girl

I fell asleep during Back to the Future so I'm iffy on the details of the film. However, I was awake long enough to figure out the movie is about time travel (right??).

While the movie didn't hold my interest, it's been a wish of mine my entire life to live, for even just a day, in every decade of the 1900s.

I just wish I could watch everything develop. In history, I was riveted by Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall. I love learning about Prohibition. For some reason, ever since seventh grade, I've been so intrigued by fallout shelters. And even though free love isn't really my thing, I am captivated by the counterculture of the 1960s.

There is just so much to learn about that history can't show me. I want to watch a traditional man fall in love with a wild flapper girl and struggle as he chooses between the life his father wants and the life she could give him.

I want to watch a perfect little family unit, with a mom and a dad and a boy and a girl, function in a fallout shelter. I want to see the mom put on her apron and use way too much butter and say things like, "happy hands are busy hands".

I want to see the little pieces of Americana in action.

And of course, I want the clothes to be fabulous. I picture the mom in a bright yellow dress with white polka dots (and pearls). Maybe something like the 1950's Sweet Yellow Eyelet Dress from Posh Girl Vintage. Even in a fallout shelter, you'd feel pretty in that gem.

Maybe a decade later, when they've long since abandoned the shelter, her blonde haired daughter, now 16, will rock the 1960's Margaret Smith Mushroom Dress with go-go boots while she swings through the 60s.

If only I could see it all transpire...

Right now, I guess I'll have to settle for what books, movies and vintage online shopping can provide.

I just found this Prep Sweatshirt from Wildfox Couture and the retro feel makes me smile. It looks soft, snuggly and like a track sweatshirt a boy might have given his girlfriend (after he wore it with Ray Bans and shorts that are way too short by today's standards). And in fact, I think the "W" on it might just stand for Whitney. Or wisftul...