"Don't Panic!"

Dress (Voodoo Vixen, ModCloth); Shoes (Donald J. Pliner, Zappos); Glasses (William Morris, Revolution Eyes). All photos by Jason Jones, Jones Photo.

Douglas Adams had it right. "It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes"... even when they come in a small red and yellow cardboard box full of salty deliciousness. The same is true of girl scout cookies. And Reese's Eggs (which are far superior to ordinary cups). Mmmmm. Reese's Eggs.

I am an emotional eater. Lately, I have been feeling a bit more emotional than usual. Emotional in the "I want to eat an entire box of Thin Mints with a Reese's Egg chaser while buying eleven pairs of very expensive shoes from Zappos" sense. Both of these things are bad ideas. I will not indulge them.

This time of year is always a little depressing for me. Chalk it up to lack of sunshine and socialization (a touch of self-diagnosed Seasonal Affective Disorder, perhaps). And as tempting as it is to eat my feelings, it's just bad medicine. This is particularly true when my feelings taste like things that give me a rash and a stomach ache. Funny, I am actually that person who loves vegetables (especially mushrooms, asparagus, and cucumbers), but my feelings never taste like salad...

One of my favorite things to do in the midst of the Winter doldrums, however, (and which gives me neither a rash nor tummy trouble) is to read. I can wrap myself in a fluffy blanket and read for hours, completely lost in someone else's story. I don't indulge that particular pleasure as much as I'd like to because I often find myself unable to stop. "Just one more chapter" becomes the antithesis of endlessly hitting the snooze button for nine more minutes of sleep. Yep, I am really, really bad at moderation.

In any event, I've recently spent a few lovely evenings reading (for at least the fifth time since junior high) Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. Yes, it is completely goofy science fiction (I am also a lover of Dr. Who and Lost in Space, so you shouldn't be that surprised). But, it is also brilliantly written and full of witticisms and thoughtful observations that reflect real life even while couched in a story line full of utter nonsense (the potato quip is not even one of my favorites). If you've never read these tomes, by all means put them on your list. Doubt me? Just check out some of the books' best quotes - I guarantee you'll smile (and if you don't, well then, as the great Zaphod Beeblebrox said, "Shee, you guys are so unhip it’s a wonder your bums don’t fall off.”)

Shoes (Badgley Mischka, Zappos); Sunglasses (Prada, Revolution Eyes)

Fashion is what you buy; Style is what you do with it!

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