My heart stops when you look at me, just one touch....

Hi, I know, it has been a whole week, I didn't post while in SF, I didn't even really have much internet connection at all actually.. and I loved it. I love not missing it, I love having to walk down to the coffee shop to get a beer or coffee to use the internet.. ok, maybe if I lived there I wouldn't, but that city relaxes me, I enjoy figuring out public transit, I get gitty when it works, I love to walk around through the different districts, and I love how I fit in, not because I look like I belong in the crowd, but b/c well anyone and everyone almost looks like they are in the crowd there. It is San Francisco.

I had a wonderful time at the conference, many inspiring movers and shakers, many great topics. Lots of connections to be made, and a few familiar faces in the crowd as well. Hope and glimmer of things actually getting better, jobs in the future, confirmation that I am on the right path and I am doing the right things where I am at (whether it is just a nice gesture, or the truth, is yet to be seen). Got to spend time with good friends, new friends, and no one at all,can you tell... I am in love...

with a freakin' City of over 750,000 people.. *sigh. oh San Francisco....

Now I am back in Arcata... the place is beautiful.. but its Rural... it Rural and isolated (not the same) and I am yearning to get to an Urban core hub, experience and live all these things I learned about it school.

I had a girl stop me this weekend while I was just browsing in a store and ask if I was from SF, I replied I "I wish" and she proceeded me to just do it, really, just go for it, find a job, any job, and get to the city, and then find another job to make it work, a better job, and just keep going...

I have to admit I am a bit stubborn, I want to believe I can do it, that it will work, I want to believe that I am a good person and good things happen to good people, and that it would all work out, but I also have someone gotten to this point where I don't think I can make it work, that I will get there and it will fail, I will fail, it won't work out, and I will spend my life waiting tables in a late night diner, and serving coffee to the crowd in the jobs I wanted and lost all my brain power and intelligence for...

That probably sounds ridiculous, but I am putting it out there, because that is the honest truth. I know people just jump into things they really want, when they want them  that bad, but I know it would be better if I waited a little longer, I know that I would have a little bit more saved up, I know that I would have more debt paid down. But do I wait?? is 6 more months intolerable here? Do I just go for it so I stop bitching about how much I hate where I am, even though I am gaining good experience (up for debate, but on the resume it looks nice)??

I am in love with a City, will the City take care of me? Or will I get there and it change its mind, will I regret not staying here another few months... Do I hold out and celebrate big on my 25th birthday and make that the moving date to SF??

ok, time to breathe, I am going for a run... don't worry, I am only in this funk for a few days, and I am sure my Board meeting will bring me back to earth this evening... I hope.. its good at bringing me to earth and keeping the dreams wandering and alive, its going to be my only sanity for awhile.. bring on planning a conference, that will make me feel useful for sure.

No good title

Alright, time to play a little catch up on what is happening in life right now. 1. I am sooo in love with this skirt... Although I have a really tough time photographing prints in a way that don't make them look massively overwhelming to my body. I promise they do not, which is why I decided to post this one anyways, and start with the side shot, b/c in fact it makes me look itty bitty... see!

Absolutely love (and I may be slightly obsessed with the new steve madden wedges that have appeared none stop since I got them). 



In other news, I am about to go through serious withdrawals and am currently in denial of my good friend Kristen moving away. I am so incredibly excited for her to move to Bend, to love the snow season, live with the boyfriend, and get the Firk out of Arcata and Humboldt. But I am going to miss her, A LOT. A LOT A LOT... she has been commonly referred to my sanity here, a fellow Cal Poly grad, she is my appointment to get out the front door and run, she is a wine and dinner date, a chick flick, a great friend... and I am going to get very lonely and be far more aware of how few people I do know here that are good friends and not acquaintances, co-workers, out age me by 8-10 years min., well you get the point.

Being "stuck" in Arcata has been far less difficult having Kristen around... and even as I write this, I am still in denial about it. I mean, what will it be without Kristen here?? I think I might go crazy, hopefully an exit will show itself shortly after Tyler and her depart. I can hope.

top - Simply Vera via Kohls

Skirt - Target

Shoes - Steve Madden via consignment

And in other news (sorry, I have been holding out/really freakin' busy) I will be on my way to SF tomorrow at this time (SOOOOOO EXCITED) to go to the West Coast Green Conference. I had applied back a few weeks for a scholarship to attend, not thinking there really was a chance I would get awarded, I signed up to volunteer a few days after that. Within' an hour of submitting my volunteer paperwork, I get an email saying I was awarded the scholarship! Pretty much my explanation of why I want to attend is because I am on the Board of Directors (I know, I am starting young, and yes I do things productive for them at the ripe age of 24) for Humboldt Plan It Green. As an organization that is growing, and growing quickly, especially with our annual conference, it would be great to see another growing conference and get ideas, and possible speakers for our event in April. Also.. this is a great networking opportunity for myself to just meet as many people that work in SF/bay area as humanly possible. Its an opportunity to gain those connections to network a job.

Beyond that I am very excited about this event due to the array of speakers and topics, there is a wide gamete of interested parties involved, from planning, building, architecture, to business products, public heath, etc.

Should be great, and well, its an excuse to go to SF... I love San Francisco... *sigh* can't wait.

So, with that I leave you, I will try and post a bit  while I am in Sf... and I will try and take some pictures at the conference and of my outfits (because of course I have got to have the right get up on for the whole networking gig :) )

Have a lovely weekend, between the conference I hope to meet up with good college friends, Rugby Patrick (look for some post back in February for the back story on that one), and some good baseball... GO PADRES!

Tired, but outfits

 I feel completely lame in jumping the gun and just posting outfit pictures, but I am exhausted. Ran 10 miles this morning, and just getting laundry done, a long list of random other things, and a tea party today...

I think I am still recovering from last weekend as well. Head over to my running blog to hear that story... if nothing else, to read that story. Normally it isn't as exciting, but this one is quite the tale.

top- american apparel via gift

sweater - gift

skirt - tulle

purse - ellington via consignment

boots- xhilaration  

Just a quick outfit I wore to work yesterday, been diggin' the Fall and North Coast vibe in clothe selection lately... I think its another sign i've been here to long... I am start to dress like I belong here, geee whiz.... 

I have much more going on this week that I will be sure to fill you in on, but its going to have to wait another day or so, sorry folks. 

daisy fuentes and steve madden....hmmm

Well they are 8 years apart in age, Daisy and Steve that is... but I find myself putting them together to often to be anything but a great match made in heaven... but wouldn't that be kinda fun... Steve Madden would probably be stoked.. and lets get real, who wouldn't want to have a man that designs shoes for pretty much anyone.

Alright, lets admit it, Steve is quite the Pimp, drawing in ladies far and wide, managing to be the cool guy that can go be paired with anything from the most formal occasion to some of his flats and sandals that make any women feel better and prettier. Regardless if Daisy and Steve ever met, hit it off, or even knew one another, every women that has met Steve's shoes continue to swown in heart felt love for the man, because after all, he is a man that is in tune with womens movers and shakers (their feet) and continues to make her feel at home, comfortable, and down right hot and sexy ever step of the way...

I am attempting to be a little risque or funny in calling Steve a Pimp... probably failing miserably...

Anyhow... I am off to work this morning, and then to dinner with a college sorority sister that is in town just for the night. I am sure there will plenty to be heard about her life right now, Just got married, seems to have her dream job, and looking for a house I think...

People like that make me feel somewhat unproductive, but I am ok with my life being different then that, I think I'd be having major issues if that was the case, I am not there yet... I need a man first... til then, I'll deal with Steve Madden working the crowd, as long as my shoes don't go missing.... 

100th post

This is it... over a year after beginning this thing it has less focus then when I started, but continues to document my journey..

unfortunately I have had the craziest week ever.. and a near death experience. I am currently drafting the full story for my running blog . It is a fairly lengthy story, but I am close to finishing it, and then you will understand...

I will however, for now, give you a better look at some of the new shoe additions that I have yet to actually do a close up of... here we go

So I went in to my favorite consignment shop (ok, the only consignment shop i know of in town) because it had been awhile, and well, maybe I would have some credit on my account. (even though I should not be shopping and spending money) Well turns out I did have $9 and some odd cents.

Now I work this store, its consignment after all,  I know prices will drop on clothes that don't sell right away. To put it lightly its got to be amazing for me to pay its 1st listed price ( go ahead call me cheap, ridiculous, whatever, I get it, I am, but here it works) , normally I can hold off and in a few weeks it will drop in price. Anyways,  I swing past the shoe section b/c lately they have been getting some better/nicer shoes cosigned. and there where these beauties....

A pair of lightly worn Steve Madden Wedges... 7.5, like seriously the only "worn" factor is a little bit of dirt scuff on the wedge on one of the heels. The fabric and straps and toes and all that, perfect...

Listed at $14. fit perfect...

I had to, I didn't have an option. At $14 they would be gone before the day was over, and I liked them far too much, "they where a love at first sight, a mine at first sight "piece... And with my store credit of $9, these heels cost me $5...

Am still explaining myself... ok, I am going to move on now...

To the next score... Vera Wang Sandal Heels... on the sale rack at Kohls.. Thought they where like 16 or 17 bucks... to hot to contain... then realized the ones I picked up where in a box marked $10.  Kristen was with me, and she was good, put them down (she is moving to Bend.. she won't be needing sandal heels any time soon, and you know, I think I would take Bend and snow season over these heels. But I am not moving to Bend, and they are Vera Wang Heels... for $10.. I can't not get them....

I wore them out last weekend (I went out, I know, shocking) and they seriously are possibly the most comfortable hells I own, I walked all over, and did not even think about wanting to take them off, thats a good pair of shoes (turns out they where originally for sale for $80 - - score of the century)

They are higher then they appear in this shot.. I did not know my camera had a stunting growth option.. hmmm 

Please excuse the black running pants, I should have cropped them out

And last but not least, these Elle peep toe pumps. I believe they were around $15. Kristen owns them, and said they where worth every penny she spent on them (at full price), great work shoes, comfy, and basically that I had too. 

Now what I really need are boots, thats what I need for this season around the corner, called, oh I dunno... winter...

Mid-day slump

It is that evil mid-day slump time. I need to go get coffee, and I wish the project I was working on would allow me to shut off my computer and just work on it on paper... I am more productive that way, because you better believe I multi-task to no effectiveness when I have a computer on... case in point, I am writing this blog post instead of adding more to the project description or the effect on human population this project will have for a document for the Federal Grant award... that most likely someone will skim over, and maybe some student doing a thesis down the line, might read. But lets get real, no one is going to really read the damn thing.

Ok, enough of that, I felt excited this morning because I discovered a new combo in the closet. Typically I wear this shirt with just jeans for a casual Friday outfit (which in Arcata is still a dressy outfit). And was all giddy when I looked in the mirror with it with this skirt (remember this is the skirt that I forgot existed and just showed up in there one day, I love with that happens... anyways, back on topic)

Top - consignment

Skirt - consignment I think

Shoes- BCBG girl wedges via the Discovery Store

Watch - Citizen

and now I am debating purchasing a beautiful Nikon DSLR... hmmm I want to, and its a steal for a practically brand new camera (used 1 day) from a high school friend. 2 lenses from 18mm-200mm. Its the D3000 model if anyone knows anything about them, any input would be greatly appreciated. It comes with the Case, a 4gb memory card, 2 batteries and the charger too. Listed for $675 obo, for a friend $500 obo.. what would you offer... its a steal either way after all... Or do I really need it at all. Christmas present to me?

Why do I want expensive things... I already know of 2 weddings I am attending next year, and I would like to travel a little bit, even if its just on a little vacation... but do I need it for that??

back to outfits!

I am back : ) I know you missed a few outfit posts, but I just wasn't diggin it. Not looking for the face time I suppose. Well here we go again...

Word on the street is strips are in again... and I scored this lovely top sale-ing this weekend.

This weekend I was introduced to a wonderfully dangerous event that happens annually in the City of Ferndale. They call it "Bargain Days" and what that translates to is a truly City-wide garage sale, I am talking main street shops have sales, and residents all across the town pulling out the garage sale stops. You park and walk, and just walk, there are that many, you just see the next one from the one you are at.... it is an all day event. We got there around 9:30 and finally called it quites around 4... and honestly could have kept going if we wanted.... and they go again on Sunday.

All in all, I spent 23 dollars total, and that is including my $4 fancy coffee prior to the start of sale-ing... picked up a singer sewing machine for $5, a perfume mirror for $2, a frame for my marathon 5x7 pictures for $1, a fun scarf, Danskos for $2 (might have been the overall best deal of the day), and a much of other small little things. There was plenty of furniture, and if you needed baby stuff, you could outfit a child for the year, then return the next year, and I am sure the sizes would increase right along with your kid. Fortunately this allowed us to hop over those sales, as we are not there in life yet.  $23 for a day full of walking in beautiful sunny weather, picking up a sewing machine so I can finally hem stuff without toting everything over to someones house to do it. 

shirt - Seven via garage sale

jeans - Gap via consignment

heels - Vera Wang (score of the century as well, for $10)

vest - consignment

scarf - gift

A wonderfully spent Saturday, and easy on the bank account as well... can't complain about that now can we?

Now if I could just figure out if I like the scarf or the vest with the shirt... hmmm, what do you think?