A RENO EXPAT IN SEATTLE

Spring Fashion

2009-05-06T20:56:00.001-07:00

Drool. These babies are mine now and it's going to make my summer (I say summer because it will probably be mid-June before I can wear these full-time in Seattle). The rest of my spring/summer shoe closet consists of heels, specifically these...

So, with these in my closet, the plan is to wear only skinny jeans/tees/scarves and summer dresses. It's my preferred summer wardrobe. When the weather is hot, I like to keep it simple, so this will be my uniform.

Blogging again.

2009-05-06T20:45:00.000-07:00

I'm really gonna try this time. But I'm a sh*tty writer (I've realized) so these may not be as clever as I want them to be.

A Northerner's Dream

2008-09-25T11:59:00.000-07:00

Umbrella Today?

A nice little Saturday

2008-09-14T13:55:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, the day started with dim sum, continued with a trip to the Seattle Art Museum, and ended with a double-feature of Baby Mama and Waitress. It was a fantastic day, made only better that I was able to pick up this print while I was at the SAM:
I love Degas, and this print in particular reminds me of Toulouse-Lautrec, who I also love. If there was any time and place I could go and visit it would be La Belle Epoque in Paris.

***Side Note-Both the movies were enjoyable in their own ways, but it's a little weird I picked out two movies about pregnancy. Yikes!***

Fall Fashion

2008-09-11T15:08:00.000-07:00

English countryside/prep. Mixing tweeds, plaids, houndstooth with big chunky sweaters, wellies, dark denim, vests, scarves, oxfords, trousers. Ooh ooh.

Long time, no write.

2008-09-10T16:46:00.000-07:00

This is like when I used to make it my New Year's resolution to write a journal, and three days later, I gave up. I will do better now.

No sleep sucks

2008-08-14T13:22:00.000-07:00

So, I realized why it is so necessary for us humans to get sleep every night. Last night, I couldn't, and it wasn't my usual tossing and turning until I finally drift off to sleep. I. Couldn't. Sleep.

I started out the night later than usual because I have a night class on Wednesdays, and I can't just go home and go to sleep. I have to relax first. So, by the time I figured I should go to bed, I had a headache. I took something for it and I tried to relax. While I was laying in bed, I was overtaken (took? I don't know, me not think good now) by the sweltering heat of our apartment. In Seattle, it's not warm enough to justify AC, but those few days it hits 90 degrees, it makes for a pretty uncomfortable situation. So, I stripped of all my blankets, turned up the fan, and by the time I started to cool down, I started to get hungry. So, I did exercises and breathing techniques, and as soon as I started to drift, the sun started to rise, and I was fucked.

Words I can't stand Part Two

2008-08-10T15:14:00.000-07:00

6) Whiskey dick...no explanation necessary, right?
7) This isn't really a word, but I HATE it when people over-pronounce French words, that have been given an American context. For example, just watch Jeopardy, and listen to Alex Trebek pronounce French words within an English sentence. An-NOY-ing.

3 Dead Celebrities

2008-08-10T14:52:00.000-07:00

So, there is this idea out there (it's a piece of Hollywood lore, kinda like '6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon'), that celebrities die in threes. I think that the celebs have to be on a similiar 'famousity' level, and I think that timing of their deaths has to be within weeks. So far, yesterday Bernie Mac died of pneumonia and today, Isaac Hayes. I think that the current three can be rounded out by Estelle Getty's death about a week ago. So sad to see all of these great talents pass away. You will be missed.

Words that I can't stand

2008-08-04T14:21:00.000-07:00

1) Boner...it's just an awful way to refer to the male anatomy
2) Tits...same diff, but for women
3) Spiffy...I used to use this word in 8th grade, and I am embarrassed for 13 yr old Kristin.
4) Hella/Holla, Bro/Bra...I'm lumping all these together because I grew up in California, and these non-words are used far too much.
5) Panties...There is nothing sexy about this word, they're underwear. Simply underwear.

Ze other night...

2008-08-02T22:47:00.001-07:00

...we had a brilliant night celebrating Dan's birthday!

Once

2008-08-02T12:42:00.000-07:00

This is the most beautiful movie I have seen in a very long time, and I highly recommend it. I still can't get the songs out of my head, but not in the way that I've had "Breakin' Up is Hard to Do," stuck in my head for the last 6 years.

The need to flee

2008-07-19T14:27:00.000-07:00

I have changed a lot in the last few years. I used to seek out stability, and I wanted so badly to have a house and a 401k plan. To live comfortably with a husband and children by my side was my ultimate goal. Over time, I have moved away from these desires. Now, the idea of having children terrifies me, and I am more than happy to live in sin with Christian in our teeny-weeny apartment. Sometimes, I even want to drop everything and run away with him to some distant land, but there is still apart of me that craves stability. I guess its fear, but I think I am getting braver by the day.

Tradition

2008-07-18T16:59:00.000-07:00

Tonight is Christian's and my "date" night. It's a little contrived, but when you are trying to save money, and find it hard to treat yourself, sometimes you need to specifically set out to do so. Also, it gives Christian and I a chance to set aside all of our work and enjoy time together. No matter what we always have fun together, even if we are both working on opposite sides of the room or just vegging out in front of the T.V., but these nights mean quality time. And tonight we get Ethiopian food. I've never tried it before (Reno doesn't have Ethiopian, imagine that!) and my tummy is grumbling in anticipation.

Mamma Mia!

2008-07-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

I can't wait 'til Friday when this potentially earth-shattering movie comes out. I can't imagine anything better than a romantic musical comedy set to ABBA songs and starring Meryl Streep. Oh, you could add the silver foxes, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth, as a cherry on the ultra-gay sundae. I don't think I will be able to talk Christian into this one.

Oh, and I am excited for Dark Knight too...

Starting over, yet again

2008-07-14T14:01:00.000-07:00

Today is my first day of classes at the Art Institute of Seattle. I am going for my B.A. in fashion design, and I am continuing where I left off from my old school. I have changed schools in hopes that when I graduate I will have a reputation behind me. While this school isn't Parsons or FIT, it's what I can afford, and their job placement is pretty awsome. I feel that with my hard work, a little help from them could launch me into a good job. And I'm off...

Happy 4th!

2008-07-04T13:33:00.001-07:00

Thanks to the troops and everyone who has given something to preserve the country.

I'M BACK, BABY!

2008-07-04T13:03:00.000-07:00

After returning from my trip down south, I am now in food recovery mode. I eat so terribly when I am on vacay, and everything I do centers around food. I wouldn't see anyone if I didn't meet them over a lunch. And when I go, it's all restaurants and homemade comfort foods. I don't have a lot of will power when faced with food, and I have a great tendency to overeat. Since returning, I have had the most awful empty/hungry feeling because I am trying to eat normally.

I am thinking of doing a cleanse. I know that these are terrible for you, but I also like the idea of starting with a clean slate. And it doesn't have to be an extreme cleanse. I have been considering just eating "clean food"(nothing processed), but I have to research a little more. When I try to put together a list of "clean" foods to eat, I inevitably run into things I can't eat. I'm thinking fruits, veggies, brown rice, nuts, lean meats and water. That's a good starting point I think, and I think a week of that should set me straight. From there, I would like to lose a few pounds (after going to the doctor and being 10lbs over where I want to be), so maybe I could build off of the "clean diet." I'll combine that with lots of walking, and since I am so centrally located to everything I need in Seattle, I can just build it into my everyday life. That's the plan for now. Gone are the days of the gym for me, and I really like it.

Well, I'm off...

2008-06-27T16:55:00.000-07:00

This weekend I am heading to San Francisco to visit some friends. I can't wait because one of them just got engaged, so it's time to celebrate. I will be staying the the heart of Haight-Ashbury, and its Gay Pride Weekend in SF, so it should be a fun-filled weekend. If we do get to go shopping, I will get in my biannual visit to H&M. Unfortunately, I have never lived in a city with my favorite chain store, but that fact won't last much longer, since we are finally getting one in Seattle. I just hope that I like it as much when I have access to it (you know, because we want what we can't have).

After SF, I will be visiting my ol' stomping grounds of Reno, NV. It will be a short trip, and probably packed full of visiting. It's one of those vacations with no rest or relaxation involved. Fun. But, I will get to see my niece! YAY!

Now, back to getting ready. This involves me checking to make sure I have packed everything I need 3 or 4 times, and trying to not stress out to much over the upcoming plane trip. This time though, I will be aided by a prescription of Xanax. Woo.

Currently reading...

2008-06-26T18:10:00.000-07:00

I have been reading this history of Paris for about six weeks now (while still trying to read textbooks for school), and I have fallen for it. Alistair Horne takes you through a history of France through the eyes of Paris, touching on all of the major evolutions in regime, while still supplying folkloric musings of the lesser parts of history. I had started becoming slighlty obsessed with the French culture when I picked up this book, and it has since become my drug. The age I am currently reading about is the Napoleonic Era, so luckily there is still more to go.

Jogging or in a hurry?

2008-06-26T17:10:00.000-07:00

So, I have noticed a phenomenon in Seattle that I have never seen before, and I have created a game out of it that I call Jogging or in a Hurry. When going on about my day, walking through town or riding the bus, I often see people jogging along the sidewalks. But they are not wearing jogging gear, or even running shoes. They're wearing outfits of cargo shorts, logo tees and street Pumas. I often wonder if these people are just in a hurry. I find it hard to believe though since their pace suggests a leisure activity. So, it leads me to believe that this is a proper jogging uniform for the Pacific Northwest. I may just throw away the idle exercise clothes taking up space in my closet, and (if I ever take up jogging) just wear a dress.