arry Eisler turns down a $500,000 book deal with St. Martin’s Press to self-publish.  Reasons?  More money, better DRM.  Man, the times are changing.  Even I’M considering self-publishing now.

Jacket – French Connection (a Goodwill purchase for $5!!)
Top – Ann Taylor Loft
Jeans – Express
Sandals – Endless
Sunglasses – Ralph Lauren

Behold! The jacket I will be tromping around Spain in in less than a month (squeeee!). I’d been looking around at various jackets for a while, but I actually came up on this steal at the local Goodwill–<3 the local Goodwill–for $5. It’s originally from French Connection, and I love the zipper detail on the sleeves and the overall cargo look. Couldn’t be happier! :)

Scarf – Core Power Yoga
Coat – Tulle
Top – Ann Taylor Loft
Jeans – Express
Heels – Naturalizer

It’s still too cold for my taste. Can’t give up the giant scarf just yet. :c Lots of things being tossed up in the air around here. More on this later.

ave ya’ll seen what Forever21 is doing today?  They’re matching 100% of every dollar you spend on their site today for relief efforts in Japan. You’re the best, F21!

Purse – Aldo
Sweater – H&M
Leggings – Forever21
Boots – DSW

Some of you may know from Twitter that I’ve got a trip to Spain coming up in about a month. I needed a cross body bag with a tight seal so I could carry things with me without worrying about theft. I really love all of the classic Chanel I’ve been seeing on other fashion blogger’s sites, but due to my lack of funds I opted for something less costly. This quilted leather bag from Aldo will do the trick, and I love the floral fabric interwoven with the chain on the strap. So cute!

ho is the most adapted author in cinema?  Slate has the answer, with some surprises:

“After Shakespeare (the leader by a mile with 831 titles) comes not Brontë (35) or Philip K. Dick (21), but Anton Chekhov (320). Hemingway (56) gets destroyed by Stephen King (127). Dr. Seuss ties Franz Kafka at 70, Joseph Conrad ties Sophocles at 62, and Homer ties Raymond Chandler at 34. Emily Brontë edges out her sister, Charlotte, by one title.” (Via)

The Chronicle of Higher Education interviews The Common, a new literary journal of place, on the future of journal publishing.  The–insidious–take home message?  University affiliation is key.

Cat fights break out as it becomes apparent that nobody, libraries and publishers included, is making enough money to survive in the book business:  “As libraries cope with stagnant or decreased budgets, the recent decision by publisher HarperCollins to restrict the lending of e-books to a limited number of circulations per copy threatens libraries’ ability to provide their users with access to information.” (Via)

A cute, modern use of a library classic: the card catalog cabinet.

Dress – Marshalls
Tights – Wallgreens
Heels – Guess
Earrings – Gifted (BF’s Mom)

Readers, I have a secret to share with you: I’m an Irish dancer. Think Riverdance, if you’re unfamiliar. At one point, I was the manager of the dance troupe Leim Irish Dance (Leim means “leap” in Gaelic) at the University of Michigan. I haven’t danced in several years due to an astounding lack of Irish dance groups/schools for adults in downtown Chicago, so every year the 17th of March leaves me nostalgic for my hardshoeing days back in college.

This dress is actually sorta old–from around the time I was dancing in college, but I still love it. Its gotten lots of mixed feelings throughout the years–I’ve had people stop me on the street to tell me how much they love it but I’ve also had friend use the term “Fern Gully” in a disparaging way when adjudicating an outfit involving this dress. Oh well. Can’t please them all.

Eireann go Bragh!