the awkwardness

Lemme ask you something.

Have you ever tried to be a model? Like, solo? Without your friend/life partner/offspring/pet sharing the frame with you, bearing some of the camera's burden on their own shoulders? Okay, but have you ever done all that but also with the full realization that you are a huge dork who cracks up when the camera's on her, doesn't know how to fix her own hair, and whose clothes are all from the Target clearance rack circa 2009?

Right. That just leaves me.

So please imagine how it feels trying to take part in your own self-imposed Fashion Week.

Pretty awesome, basically.

I was going to wait until after the week was over to post some of my extremely inspirational fashion pictures. Buuutttt...that just seems so long, you know? I hate to keep you waiting. And also it would be a really long, photo-heavy post. So I figured I'd go ahead and get two days out of the way. We can call Days 1 and 2 of Fashion Blogger Week "The Awkwardness." Please imagine Diana and I uncomfortably standing around saying "ummmm....what should I do now?" and then posing each other and trying to snap a picture before the model busts out laughing again. YALL. I was not cut out for modeling. Which is convenient since I'm pretty sure I'm too old and slightly too...uh...curvy. So whatever. No skin off my back. (What does that expression even mean??! Sick.)

First of all, you should know: Extensive research has gone into this project!! I mean, we subjected ourselves to hours of looking at fashion blogs...getting ideas for posing, for outfits, for camera angles.

Diana apparently actually gleaned something from all that research. Me? I think I'm too uncomfortable even looking at fashion blogs. I feel embarrassed for the (cool, pretty, skinny, trendy) girls. They're posing alone!! Over and over!! What are they laughing at??! Where are they looking? Who do they con into taking all these pictures every day? So many questions...I can't focus. So anyway. I tried. By day 3 (which I won't show right now) I did at least learn that they always carry something in their hands. A purse. Some 'sunnies' (gag me). Something. So at least that gives them something to do with their hands. Smart girls.

SO. On with The Awkwardness.

Fashion Blogger Week, Erika and Diana Style.

Monday

 Ooooohhh I was uncomfortable on Monday!! Out of about 40 pictures, I'm only not-cracking up or looking terrified in like...3. Thank goodness Diana firmly understands the Fashion Blogger Rule about chopping heads off. Why is that trendy? Because then you don't have to continue worrying about "what do I do with my FACE??!"

 I'm going to break the Fashion Blogger Rule about listing where you got your clothes. Maybe that's fun to do if you're bragging about your sweet labels (I'm not) or your clothes are this season's and people could go purchase them if they wanted (mine aren't). The earrings, however, were a gift from Amanda J-- so if you like them (I DO!!), she gets the credit!

Tuesday

 Tuesday was better. Outside is definitely better. Hey-- almost this whole outfit is this season, even! (Fancy labels: TJ Maxx times 2, Forever 21 times 2, Old Navy times 2. I'm an equal-opportunity wearer.)

 From this angle, you can't even tell how disgusting my nails are! Truly, Diana has camera skillz.

 I'm telling you, head-chopped-off pictures are what's up. Never going back.

Alright. So now you've seen the first two awe-inspiring days of Fashion Week. Things can only go up from here, right??

PS. I did the Adrenal Cocktail again last night and slept well again. All you people who were wanting long-term evidence...well, now we've got two nights of success. AKA get your OJ and cream of tarter out, ladies, and get mixin! 

PPS. When I just now "previewed" this post before posting it, it made me cringe. So many pictures! Of me only!! AWKWARD!!! Sooo...in other words, if I hadn't already told you I was gonna do this, I would never, ever post this. I'm mortified in advance. Just so you know.