Its snowing!

And I'm freezing. Can we say someone did not pack appropriately??? Yes... I think that is a fair statement. Although I think there is an end in sight. Officially an interview for the new job is on Monday, although I am a little intimidated I know that they want to hire me, its 2 hours! with an observation period as well... luckily I have someone with insight that can help me be prepared, if she has any words of advice.

Housing is still in the works, I almost signed on for an apartment but was having that small gut feeling that it wasn't just right. So the search goes on, I might check on a friend of a friends place, its right down town and would be nice to not be a complete stranger as a roommate too... I will keep you posted.

Still a bit stunned that I am really here, but enjoying every moment of it, I am in Portland and staying here : )

I'm here

I'm here, I made it on Friday. 7 1/2 hour drive, with some traffic in one spot, but no snow through all the passes.. which is great news, and amazing, considering the storm that is going through the entire west coast right now!

I took some pictures yesterday as I drove around (getting incredibly lost, let me tell you) and just went to find the cord to connect it to my computer... its not in the cord box... i know it is somewhere, it did get packed, but it is not in the cord box : ( so the pictures will have to wait...

It is beautiful though, fall colors still holding onto the trees, but there are calls for snow tonight and tomorrow.  I am not yet convinced I am staying here, but I mean, I am... I am now from Portland...  : ) I like the sound of that.

Sorry about my absences, and for lack of pictures, once I get a place to live (on the agenda for the week) and unpacked, I will get back to normal posts, and outfits (on that note, I am going to freeze for the next few months I think.. bring on the gloves and scarves!)

24 hours to lift off

The packing commenced last night, and I promise to update this post later this evening once I grab some pictures from Kimber, we had a goofy fun evening that was successful in packing up all of my stuff (there was more then I thought) and avoiding tears.. for the time being.

Many humorous events occurred around some sweet aviators, my yellow snowboarding helmet (that is most likely getting a paint job soon) knock off bump-its (provided at some point to myself by my mother, but really knock offs...seriously though) and some other whacky get ups that ensued with the packing process.

Last full day at work, morning breakfast with Plan It Green BOD crew this morning, that makes it bitter sweet, I am truly going to miss those "kids" (aka - big grown up successful enthusiastic movers and shakers of Humboldt green building).

 And a pretty big storm is coming through this weekend... ironic, or subtly appropriate?? (It also should be dumping about 6" of snow across the mountains in Oregon :)))))) The rain was pouring this morning, and as I woke up I realized I have packed my rain boots way under everything else...

Flip flops it is... such a so cal girl to my bones no matter how I fight it, its there, hoping over puddles in the rain that requires the second notch of windshield whipper action, Yup, that would be me...

Tomorrow will involving breakfast with the work crew, then closing out my hours for this week, turning in the keys, and going home, packing all the packed stuff in my Escape, strapping the bike to the back, skis and snowboard on top of Karen's car, and hitting the road... I should make a few mixed CD's tonight for the road, since I don't have a Ipod Radio adapter.... hmmm

Oregon bound by this time tomorrow, ekk!

Weekend wrap up

Breathing, it would be a very good thing... I was reminded this weekend, and continue to try and remind myself too.

I realized I am more stressed about this move then I think I am, when I totally forgot I put someone on hold, and didn't realize it til I texted them later saying I missed the exit off the freeway to my house (there are 3 exits in the whole town). She kindly, I am sure laughing, replied " and you never came back either :)" I think she got a kick out of it, because it was so not a Heather thing to do.

I haven't taken outfit pictures, because, well I have been stressing and trying to figure out what I need to do first, second, and third. I went to actually take some this morning, and my roommate had moved some plants around, and the plant stand I use as a tripod wasn't in the hallway anymore.. and I simply didn't have the time to figure out another solution for the moment.

In other news, I am still excited, potentially have a room worked out (going to meet up when I get in town next weekend) and am looking forward to so many things.

It is a mix between stressed and overwhelmed with excitement. Crazy what that can do to you..

I keep forgetting meals.. Heather, the girl that pretty much eats non-stop... forgot to eat any meal at all on Thursday... how does one really do that?!?!

I did accomplish ordering Christmas presents for my sisters though. I stumbled across Beyond the Rack and its super exciting, they switch out the deals every couple days, and its always a variety of things, shoes, clothes, jewelry, trips, kitchen stuff, etc. I got a $10 credit just for signing up too! Check it out, some of it is still out of my price range but there are some good things to be had as well.

I also received back an email from the Tri-Delta Alumnae Chapter in Portland, sooo excited!!! More people to connect with, and a major reason that Tri-Delta continues to be a part of its members lives, and its always good to have some girlfriends to grab a drink with, and get to know, and get tips from about the City. Very excited....

So I have accomplished some, just not the cleaning out the car, trying to get the rest of my online classes squared away before I move (I think I am just going to be doing them up there too, its fine, they are online for a reason), and oh yeah, Pack?!?!?

I hope you have a wonderful week, and really, I am doing ok, I just need to remember to eat when normal people do and I think I will be fine.

I am moving to Portland!!!!!!

Wow... I said it. I am moving to Portland!!!!!!

 With the job nearly secured I have put in my resignation here, and started sorting through and organizing things last night in my room. I have begun to look at possible housing options, even though I am still a bit in shell shock that it is actually happening and that it is actually going to work.

It is not as scary and nerve wracking as trying to go to the Bay, its affordable, I will be able to find a place in my price range there, I will be able to move out on my own, revert back to being a 24 year old (I joke around that i went from 22 to about 35 when I moved up here). I will have my own stuff, my own kitchen, my own BED, my own space (all which will have to actually be found and placed, but thats alot of the fun!). I will be in a City, with lots and lots of people, with lots to do, lots of trails to run, maybe even bike, and with mountains to ride on close by...

I am not excited at all, I am sure you can tell!

I apologize for the absence of outfit photes, but I have been too overwhelmed to sleep before I put in my resignation, and then too tired to take pictures yesterday, as I needed to recover on the sleep...

Its happening, there seems to be signs of better things coming my way. Living on my own, without so much (graciously accepted and appreciated) assistance. And being freakin estatic about the place I live...

*sigh... so happy

That feeling, that something is right...

Apparently the good vibes I was feeling on Monday should have egged me on to something bigger possibly happening this week....

So yes, it really is 2 am, and yes I really am up, and plan to be at work no later than 8 tomorrow morning. Why must you ask. Because, you see, Heather is making a jump, things might get a little bit messy, but in the cleanest safest way possible.

Folks, it looks like H Phi (that would be myself) is moving out of Humboldt County. Now I am sure I will post later tonight (at a reasonable hour) or tomorrow about confirming this, but I have received communication that I should start looking for a place to live, and that they would want me there before the beginning of December.

Ok, I'll cut to the cold hard facts and stop dragging this out. 

My friend Jade that I stayed with when I was up for the 1/2 marathon works for a center that works with children with behavioral issues (I am sure I will find out some politically correct term to use). She is moving up in the world there, and her spot will be open... she would/will be my supervisor... recommended I apply. This was around 11 am today (yesterday?), by 2:30 I was in my car talking to my mother for confirmation in my thought process of said situation, which bless my mother,  considering I asked her what she was doing when she picked up and the reply consisted of "getting to the end of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride!"... She was at disneyland and handled her 24 year old daughters freak out session quite well. 

With the mother clearance I asked Jade the next steps, most of the paperwork is in at this point. I know it will be challenging work, testing at times. But honestly I am looking for that, I think it will probably hit me like a ton of bricks at some point, a what where you thinking, moment. 

But its a job that pays enough, with enough hours to make it work (this was the numero uno reason I have not left yet) , it will get me to a City and out of a Rural community (numero uno goal) where I am only just now sorta starting to become accepted as a whole. It will make my overall happiness level of place go up (priceless really). 

It puts me in the center of a City that is one of the top, if not the top City as far as land use and planning and sustainable communities goes... Even leaving my "career field" for something new, there will be plenty of ways for me to get involved and stay involved with Planning in that City. I also sorta think maybe its what I need from Planning. I need to step back, and be able to volunteer, find niches of the community and planning, and get to know oregon and portland without the pressure of an extreme learning curve just to keep up in a planning job. 

And as I promised my mother months ago, if I didn't move closer enough to home to drive and visit, I would move to a City that had a major airport... I think Portland fits that bill.

I think this might be just what the doctor ordered, or had planned. I just didnt know it yet.

I am not saying the words yet, the ones that mean i really am.... you know.... to you know.....

I will save that for tomorrow or the next day, when something more happens. I am afraid even talking about this this much will make it disappear and not be real... even though I am pretty sure this is Real Life. : ) 

And I am slightly terrified, but then I calm down for a second and think about actually doing it, and I start to smile, that is why I know its right, because although scary and terrifying in ways.

I just know, I have that feeling.

That for once, it is all leading somewhere I can see, and the marine layer moved away long enough to read it out... its not perfect, its not a fairy tale though either, its real life... ok, I still don't feel like its real life, but in about 5 1/2 hours its going to be real life for sure!

(and yes I am moving to a City based off of people telling me they think I would like it, and my only real experiences in the City consisting of drinking too many Jameson shots with college friends, being overly forward with a very respectful boy after said shots, and 2 days later running 13.1 miles in dumping cold rain, still excessively hungover, including 4 miles up Barbur St... it can't get any worse then that right?!?)

I am excited, I think more excited then I have been in a long long while.

And this is what I kept reminding myself..... and will continue on the bad days, the rough days...

"This is an important lesson to remember when you’re having a bad day, a bad month, or a shitty year. Things will change: you won’t feel this way forever. And anyway, sometimes the hardest lessons to learn are the ones your soul needs most. I believe you can’t feel real joy unless you know what it means to fail. You can’t know what it’s like to feel holy until you know what it’s like to feel really fucking evil. And you can’t be birthed again until you’ve died."

– Kelly Cutrone

(stole the quote from Free Honey, but soo what I needed to see today and share with you)

Hope you all have a lovely week, and if not, read that quote again.... : )

It got me....

How was your weekend? I was busy out helping friends all weekend at their house, but it was a pleasant time, lots of good laughs, even while helping them get some weeding done, enjoyed some of the short lived warmth the sun brought in.

I think I have been going through blogger/Esty shops too much lately, I was out at my favorite consignment shop this weekend, and they have the $1, $2, $3 rack I almost always start at. This rack is typically some questionable items, a few wondrous finds, and normally many pairs of pants that are not sized correctly (sooo many I wish would fit, we are talking 80-100 pair of jeans, with the tags still on, labeled like a 8, fit probably a 2). Every so often I come across a steal of a find.

Orginally I was not stoked on this jacket, but I had to buy it, which is weird since normally I get something on and its a yes or no, pretty quick process. This jacket was different, it is something I could totally see someone else wearing, but that I had to buy, I couldn't just let anyone take it.

Have you had this ever happen?

I figured it could be a perfect "because I love you and you will love this piece like it deserves to be" gift. Or maybe it would be in my closet for awhile, and I will grow to love it and keep it, haha. always a good option.

Anyhow, I put it on this morning to take pictures for you guys, really that was it, just so I could show you it. It already had a place in the back of the closet picked out, where it wouldn't get it the way, but would stay nicely kept. ( I also realize now, that these pants are also from that same 1,2,3 dollar rack, such a great find : ) )

jacket - ClipperMist via consignment

pants - Gap via consignment

tank - target

I think its wearing on me, I left the house in it.. its here at work with me.

My dad would die if he knew. It is what he is getting me while he is over seas for Christmas. Although I told him black, and a different style, I totally told him to stay away from the style this one is in... and here I am, enjoying a $3 leather jacket that was everything I didn't want, such a typical Heather move.

Oh, and I bought my very first item off Etsy this morning! I will share when it comes in for sure, I am thinking holiday partywear, it is a very "Heather" item though, so I don't think you will be shocked.

Anyhow go check out Christina's blog SecondSkin and her Etsy shop, that's where I got the item, and she is rocking the listings lately, throwing lots of goodies (clothes, purses, shoes, accessories, etc)  up there on a regular bases, and her blog just pretty much makes my day  : )

Hope you kids have a great week, I am feeling good vibes this Monday, so hopefully you get some too!