Think Green!

I just returned from a weekend in Northern Michigan at my family's cottage. It was deliciously relaxing and full of family bonding time. Despite how much I love my family, it is nice to be back and have the house to myself for a few days while my parents continue to play up north. Plus, I was back just in time for the Oscars. Angelina's earrings and ring were amazing! Being an accessories gal myself, I think the classic black dress with bold jewelry is the way to go.

I have quite a lot of trips planned in the next few weeks. Two wonderful friends out in New York City bought me a plane ticket so I could spend some time with them. It was one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me, and I think I'll have to make a trip to my favorite vintage store to find them some treasures. While I'm in NYC I'm meeting with a creative recruiting agency in hopes that they will find me some work. It's been quiet as of late, but I figured it doesn't hurt to get some face time in.

After New York I rest for a few days and then head to Chicago for a week and a half to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and visit friends. St. Patty's has always been one of my favorite days of the year, and they do it right in Chicago. The green river, the South Side parade, the street performers- it is a blast! I can't wait to roam the city, decked out in green and hopefully make some new friends along the way.

St. Patty's as well as Angelina's Oscar getup have me thinking green and I was inspired by these adorable green accessories on Etsy.

Green clutch from Sidneyann

Vintage Emerald Earrings from AmberSky

Mini Pillow by Kalla

Shoe fairy

With my lack of income lately, it's been hard to keep up the lifestyle I was used to living (ok, who am I kidding, even with a job it was hard to support that lifestyle. ANYWAY). The state of Michigan may help me pay my bills, but it leaves little money leftover to support my shoe fetish. Yet, I always seem to find a way to find a good bargain and spoil myself now and then.

I've been needing a new pair of black boots all season, and have managed to get by with my old ones, or a smart pair of heels (which turned out to be not so smart once they were filled with snow). I figured I'd wait until winter was almost over to see if I could snag a pair at a good price. I went into DSW yesterday and after dealing with the most pushy saleswoman EVER (seriously woman, I haven't even looked around yet and you're nipping at my heels. Down girl!), I managed to find a few pairs I liked. My hopes were squashed when I discovered that the styles I wanted (black, leather, slouchy) weren't available in my size or were only left in brown. Ready to face failure, I wandered back in the clearance section. There, nestled in between last seasons canvas espadrilles and a god awful pair of loafers were the perfect pair of black leather rounded toe slouchy boots. In my size. For $34.

I think it's safe to say, I win at life.

Oceanfront views

This thick blanket of snow just won't go away! I'm sitting here, in front of the fireplace (ahh fireplace, i love you), looking at the sea of white out the front window, and thinking of somewhere warm. These photos of the beaches of San Diego make me want to lunch by the ocean and take long strolls with my toes in the sand.

Photos via belfathus, V.A.P. Photography

Taking a break

I have been completely lax in updating lately. The last month and change has been a complete upheavel in my life and I'm just now getting my bearings back.

I was laid off in December. Yet another victim of this shit economy. I guess the only good thing about it was I saw it coming and had already put a contingency plan in place. So, in a matter of weeks I put my apartment up for rent, filed for unemployment, checked out mentally to enjoy the holidays, packed up my life and moved back home with mom and dad. Perhaps with my head a little lower, but with the knowledge that it's only temporary and will help me pay off the small amount of debt I have in order to start over fresh.

As for a new job, I've been a bit apathetic towards my search. I would like to try my hand at living somewhere else, and since moving is expensive, it can't hurt to save up a little before I make my next move. Boston, Chicago, San Diego...the list keeps growing. The negative temps in the mitten make California oh so appealing.

I'm also taking this time off to re-evaluate what I want to do in life. I majored in Advertising, and have loved working at a large agency. However, during my time there, I also realized what I am passionate about and have this time to really find something that is geared towards my interests. Sure, I could take a job tomorrow, knowing that I could do it well and make good money; but would I be happy? Right now I have the time to really search for something that is a good fit, and hopefully, something more stable. For now, I'm keeping my outlook positive and my networking skills on overdrive!

"And wouldn't you know it, I was one turkey short..."

Thanksgiving is fast becoming one of my favorite holidays. I've noticed that unless you're cooking, the holiday is relatively low-stress, and usually encourages getting drunk in the early afternoon. At least in my family. There is also no shortage of my favorite foods, great stories (usually involving family turkey debacles...live turkey debacles, mind you), family bonding (hence why drinking is a must) and I find that I'm usually in bed at a decent hour. What's not to love?

I finally got my Christmas tree up, and somehow knew deep down, that it was not long for this world. As soon as it was plugged in and shining in all its glory, my cat gave it a look of pure determination as if to say "I will defeat you". Two days into her mission, the lights have been chewed through, leaving one sad strand to weakly blink on and off, and all ornaments have been moved up out of reach of batting paws. Christmas tree FAIL. Cat is currently sitting on my down blanket looking satisfied.

“ We sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers, who begin to interest us at first sight, somehow suddenly, all at once, before a word has been spoken".

~Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment
(via skysignal) (via sunlit-skies) (via littlesparrow) (via spectra)

image via gadl

Alligator flakes

The mitten got its first real snowfall of the year today. I immediately turned on Christmas music, made hot cocoa, opened the blinds and snuggled up on the couch to watch the flakes fall. I will, of course, only enjoy the snow until the holidays are over and then it will become the bain of my existence and will constantly make me late for work.

I do enjoy this time of year though. Putting on boots, wearing scarves, mittens and hats, sipping foamy lattes at my local coffee shop while frozen strangers burst in to get out of the cold. Steamed up windows from afternoon baking. I think, however, one of the simplest pleasures I get out of this time of year is just the fact that everything seems a bit more magical. Like everyone lets themselves take a break from their cynical lives for just a moment, and realize that the world is a pretty good place after all.

image via somewhereinAK