Sports and Shoes

There are only 3 times I will watch anything sports related:

1) Despite what my boyfriend says I do enjoy and watch the Olympics 2) World / Euro Cup, I'm sorry that's just a good time and 3) Giants baseball. I will be addressing the third....

Melky Cabrera  has been thrown out for the remainder of the season for testing for high levels of testosterone and I - am heart broken. I don't pretend to know a lot about baseball but I can say confident that we all felt a rush with Cabrera that we had been missing most the season. With Panda constantly out with injury for one thing or another, Wilson out with Tommy John surgury, Romo needing constant rest, Timmy and Zito failing the bulk of the team has been supported by Cain's perfect pitching and the dependability of players like Posey, Blanco, Pagan and Belt. They were keeping us alive but Melky was taking us all the way.... A good defense has always been at the center of the Giants but for once we had an offense that was just killing it.

And then the news broke and every Giants fan was simultaneously pissed and disappointed. I know people are comparing him to a thief stealing millions (which is true) but I see it more as a cheating an ex. He presents himself with a lie, makes us all fall in love and when the truth comes out you're angry, hurt, miss him and never want to see him again - and that's just what the Giants will do... there will be no resigning after this.


The big question now is, will there be hope for the post season? Well that all depends. It's time for everyone to step up and show 'em how a real Giant plays. Pagan, Scutaro, Posey and now Pence have all been answering the call the last few games against the Padres and keeping the dream alive but if we're really going to pull away from LA in the national west we are going to have to nail every single game. I'll still be routing for all our misfits .....

Switching topics to something crafty:

I've had my eyes on this CO+K project for some time

They're Batman Comic Book Flats. Using classic comics, some mod podge and old flats this crafty girl has come up with some pretty amazing shoes. I went to my local comic book shop and picked out some comics from the $.25 box. I can't bring myself to cut up a perfectly good comic but the damaged ones can at least be re-purposed into something cool. When I'm done with mine I'm also going to cover some old vans for my boyfriend, though I have a feeling he's going to choose X-Men comics over Batman.

Le Art

Switching topics over to art....

Its funny how something small can get your wheals turning... or in my case, spinning in place.

I frequent a crafter's website called Cut Out and Keep and on their boards a woman started a post asking if anyone had a deviant art. I posted a link to my own site, and took a look at the others. Since most the people there are crafters, their deviant arts are filled with basic arts and crafts. One deviant art, however, had some pretty amazing art. This of course led me to take a second look at my own art... some of it mediocre, some of it not half bad and some better then I could do now. As much as I love it art frustrates me. My friends, family and boyfriend have always been very supportive and encouraging for me to branch out in any art but they get very confused at my frustration with it.

In an amazing foreign film called Departures a Korean man gives up his dream of being a concert cellist which results in a drastic career shift to a kind of spiritual mortician.  Aside from being a touching movie a particular line has always spoken to me. As Diago comes to terms with the ending of his musical career he says, "l should've realized the limit to my talent a lot sooner". He is a very good cellist, better then the average musician, but not amazing enough to make anything of himself.

This is me.
I know I have some talent for art, I have an eye and some skill that the average person doesn't possess, but not enough to truly be any good. I struggle to imagine a scene without specific references to base my work on. I have a knack for imitation but not enough skill to execute anything creative. I try but then I see the work of others and I'm just blown away. It's so frustrating! It's like understanding another language but not being able to speak more then a few broken sentences. I still have family that asks why I didn't go into art as a career... I tell them its because I wouldn't enjoy it then (which is true) because it's simpler then explaining that I just wouldn't cut it.

Whats worse, years of not honing the skills I do have has made them start fade. Just trying to sketch a something decent is proving to be difficult. I don't know. It's something I'd like to rededicate myself to but just don't know if the final result will be worth the effort. I guess it doesn't matter, I don't have much time to do anything right now anyways. It's just very... frustrating.

It is time.

It seems I've been on a fashion kick recently. I apologize if its getting boring, but I just have to share: It's time...

                                       .....to get my purse.

Yesterday was my first payday for my first "real" job, and my boyfriend and I told each other when we get our first pay checks he will get a nice watch and I will get a nice purse. I've never bought a purse that was more then $30 and I really feel like its time for me to get a nice, good quality purse so a chunk of my first paycheck is going to a Fossil purse.

You can ask anyone, I've been talking about getting a Fossil purse for at least 4 years now. I've always put it off while I was in school because I just couldn't justify the cost, but my love for their vintage style and amazing quality leather has not faded a bit. However, I'm not someone who get purses very often but when I do I'm very particular, so finding the right one this season required some waiting. Now that the fall catalog is out I've found the perfect bag, the only problem is I can't decide what color to get!

The bag is from Fossil's Maddox collection and is a medium sized satchel style purse with a detachable shoulder strap. The color is called "pecan" and is paired with a with a soft light brown leather. The print is a pretty lattice work that has become their signature, it is stylish but doesn't scream "BRAND" like other purses do. The over sized key purse charm is, well, charming! And the size is PERFECT, this one is truly medium sized with a few inner pockets to hold my phone and ipod. I love this bag especially the color....



The problem is this purse also comes in another color. The color is classified as "black/brown" and is trimmed in a dark brown leather. It's the same style and print but I just don't like the black as much as I like the pecan. I wouldn't mind it as much if the leather was light brown but its just very dark. The thing is, I know its more practical. The black will carry well into the fall and winter months and the black/brown combination makes it very versatile to fit with any outfit.

So which do I choose? Do I go with my heart and then be angry with myself when I can't use it in the winter? Or do I go with my head but be disappointed because I settled?

Either way I know they are both gorgeous bags that I'm grateful for having the opportunity to buy. I have a feeling that I wont know which one I'll get until I'm right at the check out counter.

Update

I got the pecan and I could not be happier :D 

oh.... and I also got the matching wallet.

 

 

What's next

Next in my line of work wear I think I'd like to get an "office" dress.

They're getting harder to find because the length of most dresses are on the shorter side and when you get all your height from your thighs (like me), its almost impossible. So far I've found some fantastic dresses of course, all out of my price range...

The first of my favorites is this dress from The Loft priced at $98.00

Adorable, right? Even if you subtract the soft poke-a-dot print the shape of the dress is amazing. It has a boat neck line that is modest, letting your shape do all the talking. The waist cuts in and floats around the hips only to straighten down the legs.

It kinda reminds me of some vintage 50's-60's work wear that I've seen patterns for. The skinny belt makes it very modern... but I would totally wear a plain, long sleeve black (or white) shirt under in the winter in true retro style. 





 This next one is a little fancier, it's from Fossil and costs $98.

The lace is so sweet I think it could easily be dress up or down, and of course it's a blush- burgundy (there's that color again) which makes me love it even more. A cream color cardigan would be perfect for wearing around the office but for a dressier occasion I'd pair it with a structured crop blazer.









 Also from Fossil (and also $98) is another beautiful burgundy number.

This one has a more peasant/ boho feel to it with a fantastic print. I'm also a sucker for a 3/4 sleeve... I just find them very flattering on my arms and I'm constantly pushing up full length sleeves anyways. (On a side note, I've never come across a full sleeve that was long enough, and it makes me wonder if anyone else has. Mine are always slightly short and it makes me self conscious, like I can't buy clothes that fit... but maybe that's the embarrassed girl who lived off hand-me-downs coming out.) I'm not a big fan of how they choose to style this particular model with a drop waist but so long as there isn't elastic in place (I don't think so, I think its just the belt) it can really be styled anyway you want. I'd wear it with a high-waisted skinny belt in a light tan but for a more casual look, I'd wear it completely loose.


Of course I could go the route of a more traditional, structured sheath dress... and I probably will have at least one for a wardrobe staple, but since I'm so young (the youngest in the office from what I've seen), I like to know I have the option of blending dressy with the more fashionable looks of the time. Here's hoping my dream wardrobe can become a reality... it may seem shallow to care about clothes so much but it makes the day so much more enjoyable when you know you look nice.

One Week

Well,

I have now been at my new job one week. I like it.

I like how professional the company is, I like that its challenging enough that its not boring and time does seem to go buy quickly enough while I'm there. The only problem I have is that I feel like I have no time... I keep telling people I got spoiled with a "summer break" after graduating and working only part time. Now I've moved straight into full time (I know, boo-hoo me) and I'm just getting used to it. Its nice not having to split my time between two jobs and full time school anymore which got overwhelming but the only down side is I have no break from one continuous job. I feel like I have no time in the evenings... I go straight from work to taking care of things I wasn't able to do during the day to bed... but having weekends off (which is something I haven't had since high school) is really nice.

Today I went shopping for some work tops... I had previously only had enough money to invest in one weeks worth before actually getting a job. Now that I have it I'm going to start building up my work wardrobe. I find that I have an obsession with chiffon tops. I don't know why I just think they always look very nice and can take everyday wear much better then knits. It also works well for our upcoming fall weather (which is cold in the mornings and hot in the afternoons), long sleeves in lightweight material can pass in any sort of weather. I should be happy because chiffon is very much in this season but it's not making for much variety in my clothes. I've really been surprised where my shopping bouts have taken me. For the last few years I've likes places like Forever XXI and Love Culture but  now that I'm looking for work wear the quality and the styles just don't cut it. Now I'm shopping at places like New York and Co. and The Limited, which in the past I thought was boring but now I can appreciate. There are still some younger, trendier places like Urban Outfitters and H&M that I seem to find a happy medium in but to be honest I'm really enjoying... well... looking nice. For years now I've been dressing like a slob, mostly because I didn't have the money to invest in anything else, now that I'm older and starting a real job I love looking put together in clean basics and chic tops. I'm even consistently putting on make-up, something I've missed doing but never cared enough to spend time on. I just feel... like its about time. At first I was sad when I thought "oh, that's not something I can where any more" but the more I look, the more I don't miss the cheap super trendy pieces that just don't suit the life style I want to have. I'm ready to start taking charge of my life, and I'm ready to look like I do.

So here's one of the tops I got today. By far a big splurg (at $46.90) but it was something I was eying online and when the crafty but super nice sales associate brought it to me in the dressing room to try on I was hooked.

Its a pretty, basic white blouse with a faux peter pan color blocked collar and sleeves. 

Its the simple feminine details like that, that makes a top special.

To off set the unexpected cost I also got this cute purple pendulum top for a steal at $16.99!

The shape is very flattering and the skinny waist belt was included.

While my summer style has been filled with the softest pinks and, uncharacteristically for me, nudes,  I've already decided my color for this fall is going to be a very rich burgundy color. I'm not sure if that will be a the new color for the season but it will definitely be a personal trend. So stay tuned for more! In the mean time I want to switch topics and complete this blog with a small nod to nails. 

I love a colored nail, but to me the cleanest and best way to wear polish is with a classic french tip. I hate fake nails which are costly and always look like what they are... fake. French tip looks the most natural while showing off your nails at their best and Sally Hanson has the best french tip kit I've come across.  It comes with a great crisp white, a very shear nude and a protective clear polish and the set is completed with nail strips to block off a perfect, slightly curved tip. The results are very nice and usually last a week, but with my new job that doesn't involve shlepping boxed, I'm expecting them to last even long.

I'd like for my next post to be about my family, but I don't want to step on anyone's toes. Hopefully I can talk on here without offending anyone or hurting any feelings... we'll see.

Books that need reading...

So I went to Barns and Noble today and of course I picked up a book.

This really wasn't a good thing seeing how my book shelf is collecting books that I have simply not had the chance to sit down and read.

The book I bought was the second and latest novel written by Lauren Groff called Arcadia, I already own and have read her first novel Monsters of Templeton as well as her collection of short stories Delicate Edible Birds. I'm looking forward to the book but I have a stack of others waiting for me to finish or start including:

- The Complete Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde (3/4 of the way finished)
- John Connolly The Gate (1/5 in) and it's sequel The Infernals
- Steven Hall The Raw Shark Text
- Tana French The Likeness
- Jo Nesbo The Snow Man (few chapters in)

These are all REALLY good books that I either have read/own several more of by the same author or are the next book in a series of books I want to read. But where do I start?

Oscar Wilde is amazing and I'm very close to completing the collection. I've also read John Connolley's Book of Lost Things and his short stories Nocturne so I'm really excited to finish his next two books.  The Raw Shark Text has been recommended to me by the same person that recommended Mark Z. Danielewski House of Leaves, which was dark and interesting and I read in less then a week (look at the size, that's impressive). The Likeness is the next in a sudo-series that started with In the Woods (a great mystery story about Dublin's murder squad) and the rest of the series looks just as riveting. I've also heard that Jon Nesbo's work compares close to that of Stieg Larsson, The Snow Man being just one in a series of mysteries.

And yet there's still more I want to own! I just finished my boyfriends copy of Neil Gaiman's/ Terry Pratchett's Good Omens and want a copy of my own in addition to his two collections of short stories Fragile Things and Smoke and Mirrors. I'd like Nesbo's second book The Lepord as well as Tana French's Faithful Place. I feel so overwhelmed because I know now that I'm working full time I'm going to have even less of a chance to read.

I guess I just have to start chipping away one at a time... people always wonder about different super powers they'd like to have. I always thought an ability not to need sleep would be wonderful, I could get so much work/ reading done with time to spare. Anyways, maybe I'll start doing book reviews with each one I finish. If you are interested in any of the books I've listed they are linked to their amazon counterpart. Most are what my profile defines as my kind of book: a little mystery, a little romance and a touch of the fantastic.

Keep it Covered

Good morning :)

So there is something a made the other day that I'd like to post. Its a little buttoned cover that can be used for many things but I made to keep personal items personal. I really was in the mood just to sit down with a thread and a needle to sew so as much of it as I could, I did by hand.

In order to make this I hand basted the materials in place before machine sewing them. I slip stitched the cover closed, I used a blanket stitch to close the pouch and do a decorative trim around the flap, I hand made a button hole with a button hole stitch and then finished by adding a button. It was more time consuming then if I had used my machine but it's fun doing small projects well. For a more indepth how-to please see my CO+K

Job vs Career

So I was just hired at my first full time position at a good company since graduating college this spring. Before I can start working I had to go to a clinic to have a physical and drug test. The process took almost 3 hours due to constant mistakes and just a plain disregard for others time... it's funny because every doctor tells you to make an appointment and yet non of them ever keep it. You're the one paying them and yet you sit half naked in an exam room for almost an hour for a process that takes two minutes while they are constantly "running late".... To get back to the point, the doctor examining me asked what position I was just hired for... I told him "Credit Collection Representative". He gave me a look and said "So you're going to call people to be mean to them".  "No" I said, "I'm going to make sure people pay for what they have been using". He finished the conversation by giving me another all-knowing look and saying, "Sure, we'll call it that".

I have no shame in my job, people make a promise to pay in exchange for goods, I don't feel like a bad guy for holding them accountable to their agreements for goods they have already been using. Not to mention this is a good job, I will be working full time plus overtime and for once I will have benefits (something I really need). I am more then happy with this job, I am STOKED. I will be able to pay off my student loans, save some money, become a more independent individual and hopefully work my way up in the company. This position has absolutely nothing to do with my degree but honestly I wasn't expecting my first job to. I have a degree in humanities, something I thoroughly enjoyed learning about and would not take back, but I knew going in my area of study that it was going to be a hard sell to potential employers. Short of working in a museum (which I applied and interviewed for) or a school (no thank you, not my temperament) my degree does not apply to many careers other then the sheer well rounded ability to learn. Turns out that was all I needed in order to get my current job.

My brother once asked me what career I hoped to have. I told him honestly, "I don't really care what I do. So long as it's a decent job for a good company all I care is that I make enough money to freely enjoy my time with the people I love when I'm not working". He was absolutely shocked. My brother is of the mind set that his career, a teacher, is his obligation to better the world and gave me a long speech about how his job is his life. I appreciate teachers enormously, especially here in California where their responsibility is so great, their resources so little and their compensation even less. I admire all those who have a fulfilling career that makes them and the world better for it... I just don't want to be looked down on for not having the same. I may not be able to change the world in a significant way through my work but I hope to improve the lives of my friends, my siblings, my boyfriend and maybe my own family one day by truly being able to focus on us and our well-being over that of a career.

Maybe that will all change and I will also find my own "career" but I'll still be proud of where I started, where I am today and be proud of those who are able to succeed in at their own jobs, what ever they may be... because their is no shame in working.