All the Frills: Books Ends and Other Odds and Ends

I had a great Festivus you guys. I got crocodile bookends, a complete set of Agnes Strickland’s Live of the Queens of England from the 1890s (I love me some rare books). Oh, and a replica saber-tooth cat skull – perhaps now the most wonderfully weird and totally unnecessary thing that I own.

Weekend Reading:

• The Courtney Love/Nasty Gal collaboration. So many babydoll dresses. I do see a few things I want though.
• This museum, dedicated to menstruation, actually sounds like it would have been pretty amazing. Also, some men are really confused about periods.
• John Dee, the Elizabethan polymath, was amazing. And I’m not just saying that because I study the court of Elizabeth I.
• This might be my favourite summary of Oscar nominated pics … Doof Warrior you guys, Doof Warrior!
• I was always fascinated by Jeremy Bentham’s mummified head as a kid. Then I studied him a bit in my capacity as a historian of early modern Britain (not to mention the numerous times one is presented with Bentham in that grad school classic, Foucault’s Discipline and Punish. Bentham’s a pretty neat dude.

The Chiefest Duty

I spent the whole day working on some scans I got from the British Library that needed to be transcribed (it’s actually a fascinating set of documents related to an elite Jacobean woman (one of the Queen’s ladies in waiting) engaging in a bigamous marriage and the associated fallout – it has memorable line that she was driven to seek love outside her marriage with another man because her husband had ceased to be intimate with her twelve years ago and that this was “the chiefest duty of a husband”).

Then the helpmeet and I rolled out for dinner and a movie and I was too zonked by that point to put a ton of effort into this. I think it’s not terrible for a casual night though.

pants: Target / top: Winners / brooch: my grandmother / shoes: Winners / jacket: H&M

Plaid and a Hair Cut

I was feeling a little nutty for my trip to the grocery store and associated other errands so I figured plaid pants, booties, and red lipstick were all totally valid choices. I regret nothing. Also, as you probably noticed, I cut my hair!

pants: Old Navy / shirt: Target / jacket: H&M / brooch: my grandmother / booties: Target / necklace: emitations

Dinner Date

Worn to dinner with a friend. We checked out Tavern 1903 [note: as has been pointed out to me, that's not the correct name ... it was previously Tavern 1903 (which I've visited before and really loved) ... and evidently I just can't let go because even though I know it's a different name, different menu, I'm still living in the past. The proper new name is the Alberta Hotel Bar and Kitchen. I clearly need to learn to let go] in one of Edmonton’s historic spaces and, man, was it ever tasty. Seriously one of the best meals I’ve had in a while.

dress: Banana Republic / boots: ASOS / necklace: Jenners / jacket: H&M

Winter at Work

A pretty boring look for work but, hey, it works. Usually I’ll ditch my boots for a pair of heels at the office, so at least that dresses things up a titch. It’s hard to get super creative in the winter though.

pants: RW and Co / shirt: Joe Fresh / blazer: H&M / boots: Steve Madden / necklace: Aldo / bracelet: ASOS

All the Frills: Ice Castle

So the city that I live in built a giant ice castle. And it was ever bit as magical as you could image. It was all lit up, there were fountains, and fires, and music, and an ice slide. And yes, I was the only big kid who rode it (twice) and I am very happy with my choices.

Weekend Reading:

• The Doof Warrior from Mad Max was one of my favourite characters of 2015 as well. The random placement of that idiot totally made the movie for me.
• On my next trip to Scotland I definitely plan to spend some time on this train.
• This dog wearing pants as explained by the Atlantic makes perfect sense to me.
• I’m not sure where I stand on this Chrome add-on. Especially after I read this.
• There’s no excuse for bad history.
• I am genuinely really sad about the deaths of David Bowie and Alan Rickman. This helps. So does this.
• This guy got Sir Mix-A-Lot's old number. I am deeply pleased that we live in a world where such a thing is possible.

Spirit Animals

My Swinton top (seriously, Tilda Swinton and Dorothy from The Golden Girls are my spirit animals).

pants: H&M / top: Zara / shoes: Aldo / necklace: Target

Low Key New Years

I had a super low key New Years this year. My helpmeet was working and I was ill over Christmas so I wasn’t really jazzed about going out to celebrate. I also always find New Years kinds of anticlimactic and Halloween is, as you know, my big holiday. So, instead of hitting the town, I got all gussied up in a faux leather skirt and the shoes I wore at my wedding, procured a nice bottle of wine, got some pizza, and spent the night watching movies and Skyping with one of my very best friends in San Diego. It was a weird way to spend New Years, but probably also one of the most fun new New Years I can remember.

skirt: Simons / top: Simons / shoes: Nina Ricci / necklace: Target / rings: ASOS

All the Frills: The Necklace Board

So, as part of our recent round of house upgrades, I came up with this little scheme to better organize my necklaces. I’ve got to say that I’m pretty pleased with myself – especially since I special ordered silver thumbtacks to match our décor because, well, the Devil’s in the details.

Weekend Reading (and it's a feminist-heavy load of links!):

• So this might be the most ridiculous casting call ever.
  
• This story about a 90 year old who came out at age 70 is really moving and tragic in its way.
  
• You’ve got to love the so-called “men’s rights” movement. What a bunch of dangerous loonies.
  
• This article about a woman’s death from an illegal abortion, not to mention the callous partner and social structures that more or less forced her into it, is appalling. And a useful reminder that the lives of women are at stake when reproductive rights get stripped.
  
• This Reddit feed about rapists is truly horrifying.
  
• Japan’s treatment of these so-called “comfort women” is horrifying.
  
• This app showing places where women have made history is awesome – too bad women, by virtue of their gender, show up WAY less in the historical record than men…

Coming Soon: A Much Needed Hair Cut

So, I’ve decided to chop off my hair! Well, technically, I've actually already done it but I'm a bit backed up on blog posts so it hasn't debuted here yet. It's not super short but definitely shorter than this current mess. I’ve had longer hair for a while now and I definitely felt like it’s time for a change. So watch for the new cut to appear soon.

boots: Aldo / jacket: H&M / purse: Michael Kors / scarf: Target

Book Revisions and More Book Revisions

Another favoured fall/winter jacket – perfect to wear to the library for a long Saturday of book revisions. Ugh. I can’t wait until this project is over….I think I’ve rewritten most of the chapters about three times now. But new research keeps leading me in new directions. I need to stop tinkering, I think.

dress: H&M / leggings: Target / boots: Steve Madden / necklace: Aldo / jacket: ASOS