Fashion Post: Loving and Letting Go

So, this year I’ve reduced my monthly budget for clothes. I wasn’t spending the full $150/month anyway, and with an increase in rent and utilities (I didn’t realize how nice it was to split bills with three other people!), fashion was the first thing to scale back on. To sequester? Too soon?

I’ve been really good at tracking my purchased and buying a mix of things I need, and things I want. Using Jessica’s trusty list of closet staples, I have been meticulous with the voice in my head saying “do you need that?”. I had to buy a dress for a friend’s wedding, but I made sure I could also wear it to work and out to brunch without looking overdone. I got rid of my trusty black pencil skirt in the move because it had to go, but I just bought a new one from J. Crew on a great discount. For almost two years I’ve been saying that I need to go about fashion this way, but until the last few months, I hadn’t really been doing that.

My closet could use another purge, I think. And unfortunately, the dress I wore yesterday is most likely going to be one of those casualties. I hate getting rid of clothes that I love. It’s easy to get rid of jeans that have a hole in them, or sweaters that have gotten so pilled that I shouldn’t leave the house in them. However, it’s those middle-of-the-road clothes that are harder: sure, they’re a little stretched or faded but they still work! They’re so comfy! I still love them!

No. I need to start letting go. And I need to start with this dress.

I can’t find a picture of myself wearing it, so I’ll have to describe it instead. I bought it at a street fair four years ago (like, four years ago this weekend, I went to the same street fair again on Sunday). It’s black with some white stitched flowers, knee-length, with some eyelet lacing. Guys, eyelet detailing is back in now! I should totally keep it! But when I was sitting on the subway yesterday morning I noticed that the lace is still a nice black, but the rest of the dress has faded to the point where it almost looks like navy blue. In my apartment lighting I couldn’t tell, but on the train and at work it was noticeable. And it looked weird.

I love this dress, but it isn’t of the highest quality and it’s not like I can refurb it to make the dress a nice, new looking black anymore. So it has to go.

…that being said, when I got home it somehow managed not to end up in the garbage.

Someone give me advice on how to be ruthless letting other things go. Because at some point I’ll probably have to tackle my bookshelves too, and I’d rather not do that whilst sobbing over every volume I deem “free market” worthy.

Writing in Transit: The Bargain

Her: So, if I make you watch Pride & Prejudice, how much Star Trek do I have to watch?

Him: Well, that’s a tough one…I mean, it’s not like Star Trek and Pride & Prejudice should just be an hour to hour ratio. I feel like you need to watch at least three or four episodes to really get it.

In lieu of a drabble, here is a quote from a particularly adorable couple on the train last night. This conversation went on a bit longer, but they didn’t come to a definitive agreement.

Cindspectus Turns One

Today is my blog’s first anniversary! I just wanted to write a quick note of thanks to those that read it, whether you visit regularly or happen to have stumbled upon it.

So, thank you! I somehow ended year one with 219 followers (it’s amazing how much traffic you get when your blog is featured on Freshly Pressed the second day of it’s existence). This time around, I’ve tried to get involved in the blogging community as a whole, rather than operating in my little blog vacuum. I’ve gotten to know so many wonderful people, so thanks for that too.

The last year was a pretty good one. My first entry ever was about not having a smartphone. Finally got one of those. I kvetched about finals and papers, and then I graduated with my Masters. I moved into an apartment with my wonderful boyfriend (who, in the spirit of not calling him “the beau” anymore, I’ve decided to upgrade to “D”). I read a lot, I drank some great beer, and I had some fun adventures. I’m glad to have my space on the web to share it.

Last week, a student I hadn’t seen in months happened to pass me by in the hallway. She stopped, and said, “I just want to let you know, I’m graduating in two weeks! And I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.” Wow. First, I can’t believe I helped her out as a freshman and she’s graduating, holy smokes! It hadn’t sunk in yet that I’ve been here for four years. Second, it was one of those warm, fuzzy moments where I’m glad to be where I am.

I’m glad to be here too. Thanks for joining me. And I hope to be celebrating my 2nd anniversary in the same style next year!

Adventures in New York: Warwick Valley Winery

Previously I’d written about visiting two other wineries on the Shawangunk Wine Trail. I hadn’t been able to get to the Warwick Valley Winery due to an event they were having the day we planned to visit, but I got the chance to go this weekend. I’d heard about how wonderful it is from D’s parents, and I’d had my fair share of their Black Dirt Red table wine, so I was looking forward to seeing it in person.

I was not disappointed.

The weather wasn’t on our side, but the rain held off enough for the drive up, parking in the gravel lot, and spiriting inside towards the smells of food and wine. It rained on and off the entire time, but the winery has such a large eating area and tasting room inside that we were able to find a seat and stay dry the entire time. Although I probably would have sat outside if it had come to that.

Warwick Valley has live music every weekend, and the band that was playing on Saturday was phenomenal. Thank you, WV Winery, for having a good website and letting me find their name later on: The E’Lissa Jones Band. Jones was strong on both violin and guitar, and the rest of the band was excellent too. Drinking wine, eating pizza, and tapping my foot to the music (why yes, I am secretly an embarrassing grandfather) was such a nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Three bottles for five people? It’s easier than it should be.

The winery has a cafe with pizza, sandwiches, and other light fare. After D’s family and I housed a few small margherita pizzas and a cheese plate (all with a few bottles of wine, of course), we were ready for the wine tasting.

For 5 bucks, you got seven pours, and we handed over the additional $2 for a sample of spirits from their distillery. Have you seen Doc’s Draft Ciders in your grocery store? I see it all the time, I had no idea it was actually made at Warwick Valley. After some whites, a blush and some hearty reds, we got a sample of the cider and then their own Warwick Gin.

Look at that sexy tasting list!

All terrific. The Chardonnay was crisp, the pinot noir just the right mix of dry and fruity. If I hadn’t had to worry about schlepping everything home on the subway, I would have bought up the entire tasting room. Even so, D and I walked out with a Gewürztraminer, the Black Dirt Red and a bottle of gin. Not a bad haul, right?

If you’re nearby, go visit Warwick Valley. If you aren’t, and are looking for a fun day-trip after spending some time in the city, go there. If you can’t do that, then go to your grocery store and pick up a bottle of Doc’s Cider. No questions, just do it.

Only shot of the 2 of us, and it’s blurry as hell. Sigh.

Getting Lost in the New York Times Archives…

I know, it’s Friday, I should have another Writing in Transit post, but I’m having too much fun getting sucked into the black hole that is the New York Times Archives. Oops.

My graduate school, bless them, lets their alumni have full use of their archives as long as you contribute money to the alumni fund. If you donate $1 per year, you’re set. And I’m not sure if my love of history, vintage NYC and ephemera is as well documented as, say, my love of books, but it’s something I really enjoy getting lost in.

Also? I love a good mystery.

Yesterday one of my favorite blogs, Ephemeral New York, posted about some old New York phone exchanges, including one for an elevator company that went unnamed. Without a name, one can’t figure out if the “JU” in the phone number is for Manhattan or Queens.

The photo/phone number in question (via Ephemeral New York).

In the history of all of the world’s mysteries, this one isn’t particularly intriguing. But still, it’s unsolved. And I hadn’t taken a dive into any old newspaper archives recently either, so the hunt was on. Thank you, Baruch, for having access to New York Times archives from 1851 through the present day.

Many, many classified ads later, my search results haven’t given me the answer, but I’ll spend a little bit more time on it. I did find this gem though:

Brooklyn rental listings from January 1958.

My current neighborhood had spacious, five room apartments for $155 a month. How nice for them. I currently have 3 distinct rooms, one open space in between my bedroom and hallway, and a kitchen that two people can hardly stand in at the same time, and I pay…well, let’s just say I pay a lot more than that.

Whatever, I can’t be mad. Inflation, cost of living, blah blah. I can’t even be mad that Brooklyn Heights apartments were going for $110! I hope those apartments went to some good folks.

Isn’t perusing this stuff a great way to pass the time? No? Yeah, I know, I guess I have some strange hobbies.