Water, water

On Saturday I took a trek to the tip of Cape Cod at Provincetown to gaze at the sea. It is the coldest, deepest part of the ocean I have seen on this coast. The waves crashed violently as the wind howled, icy, still, for March. I scanned the horizon for an end in sight; silly me, there is none.

So easily and so often, I am struck by the powerful force of nature. Cold, unrelenting, unstoppable. As beautiful as it is frightening. I am humbled by its vastness and awed by its majesty. It makes me feel so small, and well aware that everything around me could be struck, shaken, crumbled, vanished in an instant.

My mind and heart is with the people of Japan. I may be far away, distance-wise, from their tragedy, but I am keeping their pain and sorrow close. As I gaze at my calmer coast, I can only imagine what they have been through and pray for their stamina and safety. I have yet to go over there but I will soon and, when I do, I want to help.

Here, you can view the Boston Globe's coverage of last Friday's earthquake and tsunami. Or watch the chilling footage, below.



And if you feel compelled, please offer Japan your help, here.



There is always hope.

Best of the Web Award!

I'm excited and honored to announce that Ip & Audrey is the recipient of a new award: Careers in Fashion is bestowing its Best of the Web award for Ip & Audrey's green fashion coverage.

Yay!

This is an amazing honor and I couldn't be more thrilled for my little fashion blog! Thanks to all of your for your continued support. Let's party!

Chasing Unicorns

See, I used to play with unicorns... and feed them coffee. And yes, I am a dork.*

Thank you all for your sweet comments on my last post! I am happy to report that, yes, unicorns do exist... because I got the job! Ok, well, it's not the job, it's a job, but it's a journalist one, and that's what I'm most excited about. It's only taken me, oh, three and a half years to get here, but I'm here now! And everyone has to start somewhere!

I am still working at my current job, and will be for the next few weeks, but pitched my new editor three stories today. He picked one of them, and then assigned me nine more. Nine?!? I freaked, which included tears and hysterical laughter (I was by myself staring at my laptop in bewilderment, so no one knew, thank goodness!). I mean, I'm excited and all, but it's been a few years since I've written anything besides a blog post! My last published paper article was in 2007! A little freaking out is definitely in order. But, hey, this is what I wanted! So I'm going to calm the crap down and just go for it.

My first front-pager, back when I was 21. I was a baby!*

And because I have a tendency to blather on about things that have very little to do with my, oh yeah, fashion blog, I am creating a space to blog just about work/writing stuff... because wouldn't reading the witticisms and woes of an aspiring reporter be fun? Or something? I'd like to think so! And if you think so, you can check out This Gal Friday. Yup. Super original, I know. ;)

Thanks, again, for all of your kind words and support! And do check back soon for a few new giveaways, plus a super-cool all new blog layout... I've been dying to unveil the new designs for a while, and everything is finally coming together!

Have a wonderful weekend... I'll be in New York, and hope to throw a little Oscars viewing party! While we're on the subject, who are your favorite nominees? I am firmly entrenched in Camp Franco. I'm also on Team Portman, simply because I like her... and haven't seen all the other nominees' performances. And hey, it'd be cool if all the big winners this year were twenty- and thirty-somethings, no?


*Please note that these horribly embarrassing images are from my college days, when I was horribly embarrassing and unabashedly dorky on a daily basis. Well, ok... Some things never change... ;)

This Gal Friday

I'm a big believer in dreams coming true, even if they take a little while. Since childhood, it's been my dream to write for a living. And since graduating college (a few years ago now), I've been trying to break into the newspaper business. But a big and nasty villain called the economic recession decided to gut that business in particular and make it nigh-on impossible to find work in the field. Nowadays, full-time writing jobs are so elusive that I'm beginning to equate them to unicorns... as in, it would be cool if they actually existed, but at some point we have to grow up and face the fact that they're nothing but a myth.

If only there existed a job where one can wear pink, and type on a pink laptop and, ooh... unicorns!

Well, not anymore.

Call it a comeback! More and more publications seem to be opening their doors to new writers once more. As I've spent the past few years freelancing, working odd jobs, just trying to "make it" as a writer, I'm more than ready to brush up the ol' resume and take the paper business by storm.

Yes, I'm a dreamer, but I really feel that this is the year "my dreams will match up with my pay," to quote Feist. Not that journalists get paid a lot... but at this point, any salary would easily fit into my dreams scale; all I require is a roof over my head, some Ikea furniture, a few whimsical odds and ends from Anthropologie, and some Trader Joe's groceries in the fridge.

Do I sound like a hipster-writer-blogger, or what? ;)


Of course, as a fashion blogger, I just had to create a journalist's dream wardrobe. Thank goodness Polyvore allows me to indulge my love for Kate Spade and Anthropologie without actually spending my whole paycheck on their lovely wares...

Gal Friday by erincathleen featuring slingback pumps

I would love to sprint around in an outfit like this, whether I become a big city professional or remain a small-town typist. But no matter where I end up, I know one thing for sure...

I need an iPad so I can rock this sweet case by Kate Spade!Kidding. Mostly. :) But I do love the newspaper print, and black, white and red happens to be a favorite color combo. Perfect for the aspiring writer, no?

So. I plan to be dashing off to interviews here and there over the next few months. Of course, I will continue to post updates here... and get back to blogging as usual. And you'll be happy to know that I have a few goodies up my sleeve before the month is out... more exciting giveaways! Stay tuned!

I hope wherever you are, you're enjoying the middle of February, inching ever closer to spring!

There can only be one...

... winner of the $100 Shopbop giveaway, but I wish there could be more! Thank you all for entering, and for following my blog! I appreciate each and every one of you and like to take any and every opportunity to say thanks and give back.

That said, I put all of your names into a hat (some of you earned multiple entries!) and have found our winner... Carmen! Congratulations!

I want to thank Shopbop for this amazing contest!

Again, thank you all for entering and for keeping up with my blog! I have some exciting new content on the way, so stay tuned!

Shopbop Giveaway!

Just what you need to ease the winter blues: a $100 giveaway courtesy of Shopbop! Read on for all the deets...


During the frigid winter months, your coat is arguably the most important piece of clothing you'll wear. A great coat should be three things: stylish, versatile and warm. As temperatures drop this season, Shopbop's got you covered-- literally!

One lucky reader will win $100 to shop the Shopbop sale. Shop for the latest trends from your favorite designers, like Alexander Wang and Michael Kors, or browse the site's collection of cozy winter outerwear.

Whether you want to keep it classic, set a trend or hit the slopes, a coat from Shopbop's designer collections will help you do it!

Classic

There's nothing more classic than a pea coat. Wear one to the office or for an evening out and you'll look refined and professional.

Trendy

If you really want to make a statement, a faux fur vest like the bold HHN by Haute Hippie Mongolian Vest should be your go-to piece.

Sporty

Puffer jackets are a perfect choice if you lead a more active lifestyle (or just live in a frigid place!). Casual and sporty, puffer jackets from Shopbop will keep you warm and stylish on the slopes or on the street.

Enter to Win!

Just leave me a comment telling me: when it comes to winter style, do you go for classic, trendy or sporty? Winner will be chosen at random, to keep it fair. Bonus: If you follow me on Twitter, Google Friend Connect or BlogLovin', you'll earn an extra entry! Just tell me in your comment which one you've opted to follow. And if you follow all three... that's three extra entries! Woo-hoo! Oh, and muy importante... this giveaway is also open to international readers! So what are you waiting for? Enter this awesome contest!

The giveaway will close on Sunday, February 6th at midnight. Good luck!

Wherever you are, I hope you're staying nice and toasty this season!