#postfinals

More than metaphor, here is an actual story:

The semester was an implosion. By far the worst graded/evaluated performance of my adult life. Horrendous, on par with my behavior immediately preceding my psychiatric ward visit. 

*Side Note: I don’t think it matters that I did poorly this semester. School is a soft “no-fail” kind of atmosphere. And although my grades tanked, I read/wrote/painted/”gee-tar’ed”/napped/danced/listened/socialized more in 3 months than I had done in a long time. The “opportunity cost”, may as well use the verbiage they teach us in fancy business school, for failing was a huge investment into my person-hood. Economic decision are made at the margin and the differential between cost-benefit was exponential. An order of magnitude different. You can only value a decision by the cost of what is lost by making that decision (the cost of losing the 2nd best, or next best, choice). In this case there was no loss. Just significant gain. But I digress.  *Return to text*

By this point in the story my behavior has become what can only be described as “volatile.” My soul was burning with that particular brand of manic-depressive discontent, of which anyone with the condition is accustomed. After failing my last final, and after very little preparation, I jumped in my car and headed to Florida. Left at noon and drove for seventeen hours straight. Burning the midnight oil, driving straight for the one place my heart dearly missed. 

Being home. Baptized and absolved. The return of the prodigal son. There is a cleansing feeling that only accompanies being away from home for too long. The absence of some absence is the greatest gift. My suffering relieved. The first sip of some cool water after 40 days in the desert. The truest, most pure moments, are not the addition of some positive in life. But only come from the negation of a negative. This has been codified in myth and proverb, psalms and fables, didactic parables and contemporary novels, but has been so lost in these post-modern times. (See, “absence of irony” for further explanation)

“I keep shouting but no one seems to hear.” -Pink Floyd (& also every artist ever) 

7 Post-Finals Finds to Reward Yourself With

Photo credit: ELLE.

Three more weeks left of hard work, and then it’s SUMMER!

I can’t even begin to list all the things I’m excited about doing this summer, so let me state two obvious ones: 1. Being done with this semester’s workload, and 2. Summer fashion, of course.

After all the hard work we’ve done this semester, we deserve to reward ourselves. And how better to do that than with an amazing sartorial find that we will wear all summer long? I’ve rounded up seven awesome options, each under $ 60. So hit “send” on that last paper and then click “add to cart.” 

Products: 1, 2, 3.  

1. There’s no better way to treat yourself (ok, maybe other than chocolate) than with a great piece of statement jewelry. I’m obsessed with these Baublebar chandeliers, which will be equally amazing with your going-out dress or jumpsuit as they will be with faded daisy dukes.

2. Okay, little secret: of all the items in this post, these ASOS heels are the ones I will most likely snag for myself. I’m drooling over the idea of them paired with a floral slipdress and a blazer. With the fringe and the sturdy construction, they turn a simple outfit into a high-fashion one and add cool contrast to more feminine silhouettes. The ankle straps and thick heel will make them easier to walk in, so you can bet I’ll rock them on summer nights out. Oh, and they’ll be my boyfriend jeans’ new significant others come fall.

3.  The off-the-shoulder trend is huge for summer 2016.  This top from Zara is so easy, you’re going to want to rock it every day.  Talk about effortless chic.

Products: 4, 5, 6, 7.

4.  A perfect floral dress is a summer must, and this adorable one from Forever 21 is just $ 22. Plus, with the slip-like silhouette and the lace-up detail, it’s super on-trend. This baby can go everywhere — to the beach over your bikini, to a BBQ under a jean jacket, on a date when paired with metallic sandals and big earrings. I’m in love. 

5. Want to reward yourself with something that will make you smile every. Single. Day? Invest in a super-cute phone case. This Kate Spade one is worth the splurge — it’s a total conversation starter and will remind your friends to say “cheese” in all your Snapchats and Instagram-worthy pics.

6. When I really feel like I deserve a treat, I go for the last thing on earth I need but something that I truly love: a new purse. This flamingo-shaped bag is too cute for words. It’s bigger than most quirky-shaped crossbodies I’ve seen, so it will make your outfit AND actually be able to hold your stuff.

7. Finally, what better way to sustain yourself till summer than with daydreams of rocking a cute new bikini? I love the unique shape and cute floral print of this one from Modcloth. It can be sweet and modest or more revealing if you unzip the cool zipper detail a bit, and it will totally stand out from the beach crowd.

What do you think?

Do you want to snag any of these summer finds? What pieces are you lusting after right now?  How do you reward yourself post-finals? Let me know in the comments.