An Awesome Evening of Shopping

Added to list of things I'm going to miss about Indy: shopping and hibachi with Carol. Not sure how I'm going to function without her once I'm in Jax. I assume large cell phone bills from texting and calling are in my future.

One of my favorite things about shopping with Carol is that she has an amazing eye for deals. That girl can find the most adorable stuff at Kohl's and Old Navy and then mix it with high end labels. We have pretty different taste in clothing (her- bright prints and color, me - neutrals/ east coast preppy) but we always agree on shoes and handbags. Anyways at H&M, Carol found me the most adorable black dress for $5!!!! on the sale rack. Love love love this girl :)

Also, Lands End Canvas had some awesome items, but the shirts aren't long enough for me and they run out of sizes quickly. The sales girl mentioned they've only been around since Nov. 09 and that they are still growing. I'm excited to see if they work that out in the future. I did, however, find some fab skirts for work that I can't wait to rock.

Photo from http://treasures-inthecloset.blogspot.com/ . The belt is not part of the dress.

Packing is Evil

Yesterday I booked the movers and they are coming Wednesday. I'm kind of in shock. How can it be time to move already? Am I really giving up my apartment that I love with an amazing view and a huge kitchen? Even though I started (and stopped) packing a month ago, I have so much to pack. I've completely underestimated the amount of stuff I have, even with my slowly moving stuff down to Florida. I've used up all my free craigslist boxes and I have to go to stores begging for boxes tomorrow and most likely buy boxes from Home Depot. I already know I have to buy a special box for my floor lamp and I'm hoping to avoid buying more.

I am really proud of my Goodwill pile. I know I could have sold some of the items on Craigslist, but I was just really uncomfortable with the idea of a stranger coming to my apartment since I live alone. So I'm forgoing $100? for personal safety. Plus yay tax write offs! I know the hardest part of the drop off will be not shopping since my addiction to Goodwill is insane.

I am making one stop to shop before I leave Indianapolis. I learned about Lands End Canvas stores from a friend from Middle School on her blog today. I don't know how I didn't know about this store, but they have one in Indy and not Jacksonville! It's hidden inside Sears and I will make a trip there this week. I know I could shop online, but I really want to see the sales rack for summer clothes suitable for Florida Fall. Well that's my excuse and I'm sticking by it.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Fall

One of my favorite times of year is the beginning of fall. The air smells amazing, cute fall sweaters start appearing in the stores, Saturdays are spent watching OSU football, and pumpkin spice lattes arrive at Starbucks. This week made fall seem suddenly here. OSU football game on Thursday. Check. (Off to a great start with the slaughter of Marshall.) New cute sweater. Check. Pumpkin Spice Latte. Check. Even the leaves are starting to turning even if it is from the lack of rain. So why is Mother Nature taking the weather from low 70's to 90????? Not cool Momma N... not cool. So I guess this is my practice for Florida heat till November.

Normally this is when I'd start knitting again, but I'm coming up against the truth that I won't need scarves, hats, or bulky sweaters. So I have decided that I am going to tackle sweater vests. You can wear a cute sweater vest over a t-shirt with jeans and boots in Florida... or you can't but I will anyways. I am a sweater girl... it's just who I am and Florida won't take that away from me. So... new project.

SweaterBabe.com #100 Little Lace Vest

I thought I'd even change things up and not go with a neutral color like I normally would. So, I'm going with KnitPicks.com Shine Worsted Yarn in Reef.

Not only will I think the color Floridify the look, but I have the yarn already and I can't justify buying new yarn with all the craft projects I have on my to do list.

Also added to my things I'll miss about Indy... the Goodwill stores here. Almost every visit have I walked out with amazing finds. Today was no different and I walked out with a shopping cart full of things for under $20. Sarah found a skirt that was almost exactly like the one from Anthropologie that she has been coveting. $90 for a skirt or $3.99? I don't get why more people don't shop there un-ironically. Anyways I'll share my finds once I'm down in FL and can start my first house project... Halloween Decorations! Halloween is my favorite holiday and I can't wait to start some tasteful decorations :)

I Might Not Hate Indiana...

Anyone who has been friends for me for the last few years knows my level of distaste of Indiana almost rivals my hatred of Missouri. Mainly because I live in the burbs and am kind of a bitch. But anyways, I actually discovered some things I will actually miss about Indiana after I move.

People Watching

One of the best people watching experiences I ever had here was attending the Indiana State Fair. I'm not a stranger to the awesomeness of state/county fairs having grown up in Ohio... but this was different.

Carol and I found great cheap tickets to go see Kelli Pickler and Rascal Flatts (yeah Ohio) at the fair. While the concert was great, the people watching was better.

Exhibit A

That is what the radio host from the local state fair decided to wear while interviewing people for front tickets. Cut off. Plaid. Can you buy this? Did he make it? I couldn't stop staring.

Exhibit B

Sorry for the blurriness of the second photo. But... cut offs... plaid... and cowboy boots!!! This was real! Also I saw more short sundresses and cowboy boots than a 1995 Seventeen magazine.

Bonus

A John Deere pulling a trolley around the fair

GIANT PINEAPPLE!

Downtown

Because I live so far north, I never really explored downtown. I have done the whole Circle Center thing for work functions and bar hopping during conventions, but I never really explored the Mass Ave area till recently. If I had known how amazing the area was and the normal people there, I would have moved/lived there a long time ago... but then maybe I wouldn't have wanted to move to Florida. So everything happens for a reason.

Today Sarah and I had brunch and coffee in Mass Ave and it was the perfect fall day... crisp... sunny... perfect sweater weather :)

Cool Art

Mass Ave Starbucks

LED Dancing Lady... Drunk Liz is endlessly entertained by this

Cheap Champagne

Sarah and I decided after a long day of eating, drinking coffee, and shopping that what we needed was more food and drinks. So I decided to start checking off my champagne to do list.

Sarah with a bellini (total lie... it was a mimosa)

Terrible photo of me (look how pale I am!)... but look at my awesome hibiscus champagne. There was even a hibiscus flower in it, which was not as gross as it sounds.

Not pictured were the blackberry (Sarah) and Lavender (mine). Add sandwiches and duck fat fries and we are still stuffed.

So all in all, Indiana has it's moments... but I can't wait for the beach!

Also sorry for the world's longest post. I promise the next one won't be so long.