80

For some reason that is completely unknown to me, seeing that I have 79 posts on this blog annoys me to little bitty pieces. I'm pretty sure that isn't right anyway, but the cliffhanger just kills me. There really is something unsettling about the number 9. Maybe it's just top-heavy. Aw.

For some reason, I've felt super body-conscious lately. I think it has something to do with the fact that I left all my good jeans at school and now I wear clothes from an era of my life where I tried to be something that I'm just not. Or not yet, anyway.

Hello. My name is Jenni Schweitzer, and I do not have a vested interest in polo shirts, florals, surfer dudes, or Lilly Pulitzer. I just don't know why people pay so much money for something so unoriginal. Hollister, anyone?
I would so much rather wear costume jewelry and candy pink lipstick with menswear. Really. That or something extremely feminine. I like wearing the two looks and not caring about whether or not it's balanced.

That sounds like a Longwood Look article. Does anyone have any thoughts for other articles? Things they want fixed? Please leave a comment here, on Facebook, or on the actual blog. We heart feedback.

Labels for this post: frame, uneven, contradiction

No-shavember

I know that it's December. I like December very much. But I want to talk a little bit about November, too.
November is a weird month for me. I think it's because I notice that instead of the trees gradually fading, they're becoming the stripped, skeletal supermodels of the winter foliage line. Yes, I can relate most things to clothes. Don't be impressed, because it's actually kinda lame.

Anyway, the most popular thing I heard people discussing in November was not actually Thanksgiving, but a popular movement called "No-shave November", or No-shavember. The idea behind No-shave November is that men will not shave their faces for the entire month, enduring the sympathetic ribbing of their peers due to their mountain mannerisms. All they need are some flannel shirts, which are in style just in time for No-shave November. Hmmm.

Of course this movement is funny, and personally, I like it. I like that we're starting to open up to how humans really look - men have facial hair. It can be a great look.
But.
I want to know how many women participated in No-shave November. I want to hear the comments their friends made to them. Maybe something like, "Gross" or "disgusting" or ironically, "manly". Why must we be so embedded in our cultural expectations as women that we can't allow our bodies to be in their most natural, 'imperfect' states? Or if we do, why does it then become acceptable to call us gross, disgusting, maybe even throw out a derogatory term for homosexual females?

I didn't participate in No-shave November. Maybe I will next year, and maybe you'll think it's gross, but I think this double standard is what is truly disgusting.

Labels for this post: progressive, girls, double-standards

Repetitive

So, I like dresses. And shoes. And makeup. I'm sure you've picked up on this about me, and for goodness sake I hope so.

What you may not (well, probably don't) know is what I'm currently getting into, which is jewelry.
My mother loves jewelry. It's her thing, and for some possibly subconscious reason, I've never had a vested interest in it. But I'm really starting to appreciate certain kinds of it.
My mom's style in general is classic. She really loves work clothes, silver, and she's the only woman I know whose primary stone in her engagement ring isn't a diamond. It's a beautiful oval-cut sapphire winged with two tiny diamonds. It's super beautiful, and I'm ridiculously proud that she didn't bow to the Tiffany montage of huge rocks and huger prices.

Anyway, I've really gotten into Betsey Johnson's jewelry lately. It's adorable. Fortunately (for me) there is a fantastic place called Nordstrom Rack, where they sell some of her adorable jewelry for much, much less than her boutique prices. I found a super-cute (redundant) necklace there this morning. I'm wearing it on Monday, so you'll see it then, if I remember to point it out. As if I'll forget.

I also (and contrarily) like vintage jewelry. Around Christmas every year, I ask for one nice thing. I usually only want one or two 'nice' presents. This year, I'm asking for a pair of vintage cameo earrings. I'm fairly certain you can find them on eBay, at estate sales, or antique stores. They're so graceful and timeless. I really love cameo jewelry.

I find that I'm drawn to certain things because I enjoy the history. I love thrift stores because they're crazy kaleidoscopes of life in many stages. I love my piano because it was my great aunt's. I love the Bakery in Farmville because I can't read most (or really all) of the labels on their products. And I love poetry, because it takes discovery.

I do not love that I'm hungry and my dad wants to meditate before we go eat.
I'm not really sure what great mystery there is to ponder.


Labels for this post: brief, shiny, Mom

Conformity

You know, sometimes you see people you know pretty well, and you realize something about them at that moment. It's interesting. I have a friend who I used to think had really great style, and when I saw them recently, I realized that everything about what they're wearing is the utter sameness of most other people our age. It's not inherently bad, but I'm still disappointed. Mostly in myself, because the lack of individuality about this person is so expected that it's more exciting when it rains outside. At least then I get all worked up. I think maybe I'm part cat.

My Mom is coming to town to see our choir concert tomorrow, and I wish I had more time to spend with her so I could take her shopping. She loves shopping in Farmville; she's a total sucker for downtown touristy ambiance. It's something I love about her, and I'm glad she accepts it and lovingly drags me into Ye Olde Overpricede Crafte 'R Us.

I would highly recommend taking Children's Literature. It's such an awesome class, and you can read some of the books in an hour. Plus, they're really cute, and you get to over-analyze them like a mofo. I would also really recommend hot chai tea from Starbucks, and perusing the "Women of the Year" article in this month's Glamour. I read them and got a little teary at the bookstore and into my chai tea. It's a beautiful story.

Don't embrace the ideologies that are fed to you. Wear tuxedos like Marlene Dietrich and speak out when someone calls a girl a bitch for speaking her mind. Actually, be that bitch, and don't apologize for it.

Labels for this post: time, for, class

Scroll

I think it's interesting that the windows on this Mac will respond to the scroll button on the mouse only if it's used in the down direction. For some reason, it won't go back up. I'm pretty sure there are many people who could identify with this scroll button.

I also like the way "scroll button" sounds. It's a crunchy and satisfying elocution.

I realize I haven't written for a few weeks; I'm sorry. I've been really well, I'm very happy, keeping busy, and of course trying to go shopping. I think I might be getting sick, but I'm not sure if it's a little thing and what I really have is psychosomatic in nature. Mostly I'm dizzy and I can't sing that clearly, and I cough a little bit. I probably just need some soup and daytime television.

I'm considering writing a brief essay to Real Simple magazine about how a major step in my growth as a woman was finding a good guy. They like questions like, "When did you realize you were a grown-up?" and "What's the greatest love story in your opinion?"

I actually responded to the love story one. Taylor Swift.

I think I'm going to apply to be a Glambassador in the spring, because I pretty much want to be Megan Flynn. The title is acceptably cutesy, too.

I'm going to avoid doing anything productive for 20 minutes and look at vintage cameo jewelry online. Yeah, that sounds nice.

Labels for this post: nice, witty, update

Details

I would just like to say that I Very Much Like Macs, and I plan to get one when I achieve financial independence. So, basically, in ten years or so.

Hello everyone.

Today I was walking down Brock Commons to practice with my accompanist, and I saw a girl I sat next to in one of my classes in the spring. I was maybe fifty feet behind her, but she was walking quickly and carrying lots of stuff, so I didn't bother her. I remembered her name, her year, that she was manic depressive, used to cut herself and sucked at math. I couldn't remember her boyfriend's name, but I remember that he was working on a project for abnormal psychology about the emergence and cause of paranoid schizophrenia, to help diagnose his mother.

I think maybe something is wrong with me. Why should I remember such gruesome details? Is it shock, or do people just inherently want evil things to happen to other people and instinctively focus on the negative?

I'm a nice person. I swear.

How cute is this bracelet?? It's Betsey Johnson. Of course.

Labels for this post: Mac, gruesome, Betsey

Titles

I like titles. In fact, I've thought of several good titles for my book.

If I ever write a book.

And therein lies the problem: I can think of witty phrases that can suffice for titles, but where is the content when you wipe away the wit? I know for sure that if/when I write a book, it'll be a collection of essays and not a continuous story. Unless it's a children's story, and then I'm not really sure what's going to happen. Maybe I would have a better idea if I could draw with my eyes open.

Regardless, I very much want to write a book someday. Even if I'm too young to have worldly experience or cultural competence. Even if I really have no idea how I define love. Even if I can't tell you the barest definition of quantum mechanics.

Possible titles:

You Eat Underwear (and other funny things that have happened to Jenni Schweitzer)

and

The Diary of a Got Away Girl

[all of these are mine, so don't even think about taking them]

I'll let you know.

Labels for this post: brief, titles, uncertainty