Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Yellow, part 2


Yellow, part 2, originally uploaded by You dress like a librarian.
Via Flickr:
Golden Yellow Jackie Cardigan: JCrew
Brown polka dot blouse: Odille
Gray skirt: JCrew
Brown pointed flats: Xhilaration

Opps. I am clearly too in love with this cardigan. Sometimes though, I'm learning, it's okay to repeat a good thing.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Like the dying leaves

Via Flickr:
Golden yellow jackie cardigan: JCrew
Black bow top: Merona
Black skirt: Merona
Brown belt: Forever 21
Brown pointed flats: Xhilaration
Silver deer pin: Vintage (Etsy)

My favorite tree is right now is the one with the skinny black branches outlined in vibrant yellow/orange leaves. I am not sure what kind it is (some kind of oak tree?) but I love it.

Inspired I turned to golden yellows and smooth black to imitate its striking hues. Wonderful.

I am a bit less grumpy today- all it took was a morning walk, some Sugar cookie Sleigh ride tea (it seriously does taste like a real cookie!), and helping some students find books today.

Now I am calling it a day and, instead of finishing up some extra work I was given today (more instruction handouts- blerg) I am calling a mental health day and plan on drinking some delicious red wine while making the BFC's Beef Bourguignon (sans Cognac because I am a poor grad student). Life is delicious!

Now, if only this freezing rain would turn into snow!!

Monday, November 28, 2011

Wishing for snow

Via Flickr:
Cream short sleeve fairisle sweater: Forever 21
Gray long sleeve Tee: Mossimo
Navy Skirt: JCrew
Gray tights: Target
Brown boots: Famous Footwear


Well, Thanksgiving break is officially over and I am grumpy about it. I think it's because my work level is so minimum. When I was in grad school for literature the end of the semester was the worst. I basically spent all of Thanksgiving break outlining my own three 20 page papers for my grad classes and grading research outlines for my students (I was a TA with full teaching responsibilities). Then the 3 weeks before Christmas break were filled with tests, frantically writing those 20 page papers, and grading about 50 10-12 page research papers. I remember those overcaffinated crazy days: I hated them!!

But I still believe that I am happiest when I am busy. So I got up today and finishing unpacking from break and wondered why I felt so grumpy. And I think it's because library school quiets way down at the end of the semester. Here's what I have to do in the next three weeks: finish a lib guide for cognitive psych (basically done), read one more YA novel (Blubber), and do this group promotion strategy (which I'm pretty sure is just a plan of what we would do to promote new collections). I could get all this done tonight. I have to work at the library and do a few things for my grad assistantship (it's that time of the year to review and redo webpages) but I am sort of just drifting. Life is not hard. So why am so tired and grumpy?

My theory is that I function better when busy, i just do. And I think this strange half state is the weirdest state to be in. I don't have a lot to do but i have enough to keep me from totally relaxing and vegging out.

I think I am also getting more and more anxious about my upcoming job search. I was able to avoid it all semester and now the semester is almost over!!

Oh well, at least I have some leftover homemade pumpkin pie (I used Mark Bittman's pie crust and then just made the pie filling via the Libby's can) and the promise of snow.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Fall Break!


Fall, originally uploaded by You dress like a librarian.
It's official: only one 10 am meeting tomorrow stands between me and Thanksgiving Break.

While I have work to do for grad school, not having work or class will give me a little time to unplug, relax, and eat a lot of leftovers (turkey/stuffing/cranberry sandwich!). I am pretty pumped about it! And more pumped about the chance to finally read something for fun (Bossypants which my friend got me for my birthday in May!).

Best wishes and safe travels!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Job Hunt: Resumes

No outfit today; I was up last finishing a project so I wore jeans and a hoodie (which, as a coworker once said, "is soooo undergrad").  It wasn't pretty.

However, that does remind me that I should start chronicling my job hunt (which will officially begin once break starts in December) this next term, since I graduate May of 2012.

Having applied for jobs previously, I have a basic resume and cover letter but knew I needed to up my game for this round of job apps.

So phase one of the job hunt is just editing and organizing.  I'm not sure if I can be considered an expert but here are some things I am doing all semester to get ready.

1. Resumes: Not only polish this sucker but also create different versions so I can apply to different types of jobs.  I have a lot of different experiences and different jobs are interested in different things.  So far I have a general resume, a Reference and Instruction resume, an Academic Reference resume, a Public Library Reference resume, and a supervisory focused resume.  Done!

2. Cover letters:  I learned the hard way last time that I don't have to write cover letters fresh each time.  Obviously I am going to personalize each one before I send it off but I have created a document that has paragraphs that discuss varying skills of mine: instruction, in person reference, virtual reference, public library experience, cataloging, technology (primarily website design), and supervision.  Basically, I have a basic cover letter format (with an introduction and conclusion and all the other basics) and I just copy and paste in the corresponding paragraphs, personalizing them if needed.  So say I apply for an Instruction position that wants to know about my instruction skills, reference experience, and experience with social media. Wham Bam- copy and paste. 5 minute cover letter.

3. Additional statements:  I updated my teaching philosophy so it is now library instruction centered.  It still needs some work.  I think teaching philosophies are perhaps the hardest thing to write.

4. A bit of flash: I spent this summer creating a web page to house my basic resume.  I won't link it here because it gives away too much info but if you can get stuff online, do it!  Even if you don't do the HTML or CSS yourself, you can still use sites like Wordpress or Weebly to create free and easy webpages. If it can set me apart from someone else- I am willing to try it!

5. Organization:  I have everything saved on my laptop and flash drive and google docs.  I also have an "applying" folder and an "applied" folder to house resumes and cover letters in progress and that I have already completed.

6. References:  I have nailed down my 3 main references and a few extras for variety (For example, I have the professor who taught me how to teach composition who can talk about my teaching persona).  I have them all set with my resume and other information and they are ready to refer me!

7. Peer Review: As a final step I had a few professors and colleagues look at my resume just to make sure it is free from errors; they caught things I had totally missed! Whoa!



I am basically ready to start filling out endless applications.  Phase 2 is coming up over break: buy a classy, sassy, and professional interview suit!  Future library job, here I come!!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Lobstah Killah!

Via Flickr:
Black jackie cardigan: Jcrew
Beige lobster tee: Old Navy
Gray jersey skirt: Merona
Black flats: Steve Madden

Instead of grumping around about the 55 degree weather and stubbornly trying to layer up with sweaters I decided to embrace it and go tights free and rock my lobster shirt (as reminiscent of a delicious lobster dinner on a friend's patio this summer).

I love this skirt because it looks classy but is super comfortable (like pj pants comfortable). Totally essential for sitting at the reference desk for three hours this morning and only getting 4 directional questions (Tuesday morning is the total opposite of Sunday night!!).

Monday, November 14, 2011

Red Hot


Red Hot, originally uploaded by You dress like a librarian.
Via Flickr:
Red ruffle top: H&M
Gray skirt: Jcrew
Black tights: Target
Brown boots: Famous footwear

We had a tornado warning today so it was freakishly hot this morning. It's nice because I was able to open my windows and enjoy a fresh breeze but a little bit unsettling (It's november!) Luckily, it is cooling down so we should be back to chilly temps soon!

In other news, finding datasets and surveys for patrons today turned out surprisingly easy- there are lots of government resources. Finding statistics freaks me out (mainly in the where to look) but it's kind of fun.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Autumnal


Autumnal, originally uploaded by You dress like a librarian.
Via Flickr:
Rust cardigan: Mossimo
Burgandy Tank top: Mossimo
Navy skirt: Jcrew
Gray tights: Target
Brown boots: famous footwear
Timepiece necklace: Etsy


The time change has made life crazy!! Every time I get home it is crazy dark outside. Blerg. The fact that it is dark at 5 combined with the fact that I swapped late shifts with people this week means I have been getting home and face planting directly into my couch.

On the plus side, I volunteered at the local public library today and helped a patron with his resume and also measured someone's inseam so she knew what pants to buy (for real). Oh, and I picked up the Elf movie soundtrack! Life is crazy but good.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Sunny Sweater, Rainy Day

Via Flickr:
Yellow Cardigan: Merona
White ruffle top: Old Navy
Navy Khaki Skirt: Jcrew
Gray tights: Target
Brown pointed flats: Xhilaration
Skeleton key necklace: Etsy

Not a new color combination from me by any means but, clearly I was hoping that a bright sweater would make the rain stop. Alas, it did not. Although one nice thing about being a librarian is that rainy days actually make you want to be in the nice dry warm library!

Not pictured: raincoat, umbrella, and giant rainboots.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Robin Hood


Robin Hood, originally uploaded by You dress like a librarian.
Via Flickr:
Navy Jackie cardigan: Jcrew
Green jersey dress: Merona
Gray tights: target
Brown boots: Famous Footwear


I love this green dress but whenever I wear it with tights and brown boots I feel a little bit like Robin Hood. Not that that's a bad thing- it just means I have to live up to some high arrow shooting, bad guy foiling expectations!

Also, I love public libraries. I am a grad assistant at an academic library and have been waiting for over a week to get books over our library loan system. One is supposedly on its way and the other is still processing. Today I had enough! I went to my local pub. lib. and sure enough they had a bazillion copies of Girl Who Played With Fire. This is what public libraries are good at- having a lot of what the public wants. Amazing!!