I've always been rather attached to my things, especially my clothes, but when I moved to Brazil, I only got 50 pounds (23 kilos) to take with me - and it made me realize how little of my stuff I actually need (I also discovered a ton of stuff I had forgotten about when I came back - hooded silver lamé leotard? Oh hello there, don't know what I ever thought I was going to do with you!(?!)). Why do I even have all these clothes I never wear? They're just sitting around pooping out dust bunnies! Still, though, it's hard to make the jump from realizing I don't really need half of my stuff to actually getting rid of it, but I've been considering going semi-minimalist for some time now and attempting to whittle my wardrobe down to 100 items. (Still debating whether that would include shoes or not - because then I would have no clothes.) Summer seems like the easiest time to start the transition, since everyone's wearing so little anyways - and so here's an outline of the 4 pairs* of shoes you need to get you through the summer**!

1 - the simple but flashy flat sandals! Every fashion blogger is sporting some variation on these babies this summer. They come as expensive or as cheap as you'd like, but this cut always looks classy.
2 - the classic neutral heeled sandals (here) These are definitely my go-to for Summer 2013. They match everything, they subtly elongate the legs (out of my way Ms. Swanepoel!), and the block heel is comfortable enough to hold your weight for hours! Win-win-win! (These were my second choice.)
3 - the easy breezy flats Just get something with mesh. It's like Alexander Wang perfection for your feet.
4 - the comfy going out shoe because you want to look hot when you're having a beer at the bar but you also want to be able to walk to the bathroom without twisting your ankle.

Now for the hard part: if you could only pick ONE (okay, maybe two) pairs of shoes to sport all summer long - do you know which ones they would be? Or do you justhavetohaveALLofthemyoutakemyshoesIwillKILLYOU?

*You actually really probably only need the top two, but it just looked better as an image to have 4. Plus it just gives you more options.
**If you have a job, you might need some professional pumps or something too. This is just for out-of-the-workplace wear.

Every summer needs some basic classy sandals that you can throw on with any outfit before running out the door (so as to avoid ruining outfits with crappy flip flops! Ultimately, however, if you do your summer right they should end up looking at least almost as crappy as those flip flops) and these are definitely my 2013 pair. I've had them on my wishlist for weeks (last summer's sandals already fell apart) and finally my bestest boyfriend ever decided to surprise me with them. He failed (I wasn't surprised). But I am certainly happy!

Friday poured rain and was also a very special event for some of my close friends - they were featured in a very prestigious exhibit highlighting grad students' work at a local museum whose opening also features a free open bar - and I got to wear lipstick and heels.

The rest of my life is just a constant barrage of job applications punctuated by graduation parties - I've taken to cheesy-songwriting to alleviate the stress. Unfortunately they're not cheesy enough to win me millions, which is primarily what is lacking in my life right now. Actually I'd be pretty happy with 35K.

I, like probably everyone ever, have a complicated relationship with my mother. Currently our relationship is particularly complicated because I have, of course, hacked off all my hair, and she, of course, isn't very happy about this (sorry Mom!). Inexplicably, she still loves me and I (although I may not always act like it) still love her. Secretly, we might be more alike than I'd like to admit. Or maybe I can admit it, just this once - because my mom is beautiful (and still as in-shape and youthful as she ever was!), smart, strong (sometimes a little scary), and a tireless worker when it comes to her kids - that's role modeling at its finest. And because you know no one is looking out for you like your mom is.

(Also, I keep trying this morning to call my parents' house phone to tell her Happy Mother's Day and no one is picking up. I never thought I'd live to see the day when I woke up earlier than my parents on the weekends. Clearly this means I am a grown-up now.)

Anyways, for all the amazing mothers out there, but especially mine (because although she's not perfect, she's still pretty awesome) - Happy Mother's Day!

*Yes I did cut out my dad and brother from this photo.

If you've been wondering where I've been all week, well, the answer is having fun - the architecture school's Master's thesis show has marked the return of my social life.

Garsh do I love cookies! Especially when it only takes 15 minutes to make them (including baking time!). So this, of course, definitely makes at least my top 3 cookie recipes.

Say hello to my newest and very favoritest silky boxer shorts for out-in-public wear. Is it a skirt? Is it shorts? Is it pyjamas? YOU CAN'T TELL! Which for some reason makes me really excited. Nobody knows (whooOooOOooOOOooo)!