Librarian Crafts

Tomorrow I leave for a fun filled vacation week with my closest friends from college.  We are meeting from near and far in Door County Wisconsin (a dream come true really- beautiful scenery and delicious baked goods featuring cherries).  We've been doing a yearly get away on the cheap since we left college and I love it- we basically rent a cheap cabin/house, make our own food, relax, and, obviously, imbibe in crazy drink combos.  Having been away from undergrad for a few years, I find it interesting to see the friends I hold on to, the friends I make an effort to see.  Partly, I think it has something to do with goals and interests- this main group of friends is career focused.  We are all single currently- I know we all want to get married some day but I think we enjoy what we've got now.  I still see some of my married friends but aren't as close to them. 

Anyways, life altering changes aside, I am currently up to my ears in laundry so I have no cute librarian outfits to post.  I will post vacation pictures when I am back though (I'm trying to figure out how I can do that through my new android- as my friend said, "you are a librarian: you should be up on the latest technology."  Uhhh. Maybe. I'm a bit old school.).

Before that, I thought I would get to a post I have been meaning to do for a while: adorable and cheap paper lanterns.  I can't claim the idea as my own.  My friend (who is coincidentally, unmarried also, but has an adorable little daughter.) had these beauties strung up in her apartment and as soon as I saw it, I had to make it my own.  As a librarian however, I do have to properly cite my sources!

The tutorial on how to make the origami boxes for the lights can be found here: Party Paper Lanterns

My result (I have only close-ups so I need to take a far away picture one of these days!):

Close-ups:

I do have to say that this is cheap, easy, and relaxing.  I got the white string lights at Target around Christmas for a few dollars.  This specific oragami paper hails from Michaels (a lot of the paper is from the pack I link to, but I also bought another pack not featured online that had more of the colors shown in the tutorial).  Cute lights under $10.  I also loved making the boxes while I listened to NPR or This American Life in the fall.  A very soothing weekend activity.

Newsies

Newsies, originally uploaded by You dress like a librarian.

Via Flickr:
White peter pan collar blouse: Forever 21
Gray bermuda shorts: Old Navy
Yellow belt: Target?
Brown flats: Xhilaration

Scary things happen when I am in the mood to watch old childhood movies. If I had suspenders and a cap I probably would have worn them also.

Peas and Thank you

Spring Peas, originally uploaded by You dress like a librarian.

Via Flickr:
Green cardigan: Merona
White eyelet dress: Delias
Brown loop belt: Target
Turquoise sandals: Gap
Pocketwatch necklace: Etsy

I need to stop taking pictures in the afternoon when I get home from work. Biking home in 85 degree weather makes me feel disgusting!! But I was pretty pumped about this outfit so I had to capture it. It fits the summer library mandatory uniform- something light for traveling outside and a cardigan to brave the freezing library. I have to at least tuck one in my tote bag or otherwise it's goosebumps and shivers for 3 hours.

Right now I am enjoying some delicious stir fry and reading a bit more about HTML for my web design course. I was dubious about how quickly I could really learn this stuff but HTML is not that bad (CSS however, is going to be a trip). In a way it is kind of like grammar- as long as you follow the rules, you are good.

Long Day into Night

Polka Dottin' and Book Baggin', originally uploaded by You dress like a librarian.

Via Flickr:
Brown dot cardigan: Aeropostale
White ruffle top: Old Navy
Red skirt: H&M
Sandals: American Eagle
Tote bag: bought at a conference years ago

After a rather unfortunate series of events, I am back. I took this picture right before I went up north to visit family, before things went a little crazy. Towards the end of my vacation my Grandma, who has been in hospice for the past month, passed away. So, instead of coming back to work I got my shifts covered so I could stay at home for a little while longer.

I feel like I was in this vacuum-totally cut off from my every day life. My apartment feels strange and biking to the library feels new and different. But I will settle into things- life goes on.

I've got fun things ahead though- I get to work on checking the records for our VHS tapes at work and I am leaving on another mini (but fun this time) vacation to Door County with friends next week.

And I have delicious food in my fridge- I'm mostly excited about my splurge on some local eggs this week.  I feel some egg salad sandwiches and some delicious baked goods (muffins, perhaps?) are in my future.