Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Funny librarian face

Via Flickr:
Red stripe tee: H&M divided
Gray tank: Hollister
Black capris: Old Navy
Black Flats: Steve Madden


Every Spring I have a week where I have a dire need to rewatch my favorite Audrey Hepburn films. As a result I tend to gravitate towards my favorite black capris afterwards. It's classic and awesomely comfy. Perfect for starting up bike rides to campus (I don't live close to campus so the commute is either a 40 minute bus ride because of all the stops or a 25 minute bike ride).

Today was awesome- we had our GA meeting in archives (super fun!), then I volunteered in the computer lab, completed my order on Gobi3 for Food Network Cookbooks for the library, and am now ready to read more of The Game of Thrones (I was expecting a Tolkien read alike in terms of denseness, which I was dreading, but actually it is really engrossing...without all the songs!).

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Ebsco craziness


Spring Thing, originally uploaded by You dress like a librarian.
Via Flickr:
Green jackie cardigan: J crew
White ruffle tank: Old Navy
Blue stripe skirt: H&M
Brown wedges: Kenneth Cole
Timepiece necklace: Etsy

Spring break is over and I am officially back to work and school. I picked a great week to come back. We just changed printing clients so there are so many problems (like the client only sending certain black and white jobs to the color printer). Also, Ebsco was totally down today which made teaching library instruction sessions on Academic Search Premier (and Ebsco database) really fun.

However, it wouldn't be a typical reference shift unless something went wrong. As my boss put it. "it's just another great story for a job interview of how you can adapt." For sure!

And on that note, I want to share my new spring goal: to look at things (problems) more positively. This is especially true with the job search. Thus far I have applied to 32 jobs, had 4 interviews, and have no offers. However, I've had interviews!! That is good! Life is ok, for now.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Spring Break!


Stavkirke, originally uploaded by You dress like a librarian.
This picture was taken last June during a friend-cation to Door County. The weather has been wonderfully warm (currently it is 73 degrees) and it makes me long for the freedom of late Spring or early Summer when all I had to do was ride my bike to the library, sit in blissfully cold air conditioning, and then bike home to read paperbacks and drink homemade lemonade or iced coffee.

That trip to Door County was a wonderful break last summer (a break I am longing for now): we basically just read easy novels, took hikes, shopped, and drank tons of wine.

While I do have a practicum over Spring Break (I get to observe the reference desk at my favorite public library which is more fun than stressful) I am free of major homework and definitely plan on kicking back and drinking lots of cool beverages.

I will be on a break from cataloging my outfits until after Spring Break!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Sick Librarian


Standards, originally uploaded by You dress like a librarian.
Via Flickr:
Olive green jackie cardigan: JCrew
Black shirt dress: Merona
Teal belt: Merona
Black pointy shoes: Xhilaration

So I have an awful chest cold and have to make it through the busiest few days of the semester. Yuck. Yesterday I had to give a book talk for my class, work a long shift, and finish a paper. Today I was in the library at 8 am to teach, have a break now, work, then teach a grad level ESL class, and then work a 9-midnight chat shift This would be normally fine if I wasn't breaking down into coughing fits every five minutes. I am a little grumpy but I will survive.

Plus, after my meeting tomorrow, I am free for Spring Break! Which basically means I can lie on my couch for days on end and drink tea and watch Midsomer Murders. Now that is my idea of a sick day!

Thursday, March 8, 2012

It takes a little time...


Risotto, originally uploaded by You dress like a librarian.
I am currently enjoying a late lunch (totally in my blue stripe pjs....comfort!) while I work on my book talk. It's basically done but I am trying to memorize it so it goes smoothly.

The lunch is a green salad and the last of the delicious mushroom risotto I made this weekend. So I've always used boxed risotto (just add chicken broth and let it do its thing for 20 minutes) but decided to make my own from scratch from arborio rice. Between the chopping (mushrooms, onions, and garlic), the basic sauteing, and adding in warm broth slowly it took about an hour. Holy moly, it was totally worth it!! And it was so nice to just stir the broth in and drink some [a lot] of wine.

I used this recipe but added garlic after the onions had cooked a bit. I also only used 8 ounces of mushrooms and that was more than enough. I didn't have chives but I did throw in some parsley when I added the broth to liven things up.

It took a lot of time to make and clean up but I was reminded that some things are worth the time. I think life is like risotto right now- it's taking time to get a job but hopefully that means the end result will be a job I absolutely love.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

2nd verse, same as the 1st!

Via Flickr:
Navy jackie cardigan: Jcrew
Brown polka dot top: Odille
Gray skirt: Jcrew
Gray tights: Target
Brown Boots: Call it Spring

After looking through my flickr, it seems like I have quite the affinity for this gray skirt and those brown boots. Oh well! They are both comfortable and cute- both major requirements in an outfit.

In spite of dressing boring, life is actually crazy. I worked a chat shift until midnight last night and then got up at 8 to volunteer at the public library and then teach and work all day. Right now I am eating some chili (from the freezer- I made it last month) and drinking a night cap glass of wine. I am just trying to make it to 9 pm, which is a more acceptable bedtime than 8.

Monday, March 5, 2012

For the birds....


For the birds, originally uploaded by You dress like a librarian.
Via Flickr:
Olive green jackie cardigan: JCrew
Navy bird print top: Mossimo
White tank: Mossimo
Skinny Jeans: American Eagle
Brown boots: Call it Spring


...is what my last semester in grad school is. I feel like I have checked out. I enjoy work and I love providing reference services but I have totally spaced on my class reading. And the job search...also for the birds. There is a serious lack of full time pub lib jobs right now (teen librarian positions however are wide open). I know stuff will pick up though (it has to!).

In other news, I helped a patron find videos of dancer Robert Dunn that they couldn't find through Google through the Alexander Street Press Database. BAMF. I love those awesome feeling days.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Friday Fish

On Wednesday I made the Barefoot Contessa's homemade fried fish (except I baked them...ha!) and homemade tartar sauce. As a kid I wouldn't even try tartar sauce because "it looked weird" so I was a cocktail sauce girl all the way.

This homemade stuff....I may be a convert.

Today I had a bunch of errands to run and I still have to make a dent in the book I will be giving a book talk on. I had so much leftover tartar sauce I decided to make my life easy and delicious by picking up some frozen fish sticks to go with it. Yum. I am full, have groceries, have clean laundry, and am ready to do some reading!

Friday, you are the best.