It's not so bad

This maybe one of my most semi-professional work outfits, and I kind of like that it is still very me in the sense that it is not your typical black pants and button-up. I don’t ever think I could wear something like that, I have one black high-waisted skirt, and I almost never wear it because I feel like it just isn’t me. It’s a little “too-polished”. Hell, I can’t even manage to get the wrinkles out of my dresses before I wear them; I am not one for the title “polished”.

Lately I have been thinking a lot about my personal image, and my “status” in society. It seems almost every time I sign on Facebook, or go to a family gathering, or even talk to co-workers, I feel that I am constantly being shoved into a little category. When asked about what I got my degree in, English, I am always asked if I plan on teaching someday, because an English degree couldn’t possibly be used for anything else. I hate that the fact that I bought a house and am getting married are symbols of success, rather than happiness. I bought a house because I wanted to have my own space to do what I please, to have a place to always come back to. I don’t plant on just settling down and having babies right away, I may never have kids. I don’t see anything wrong with people who do, but I hate that if you don’t do what is “next on the list” that you are not successful. People I work with find it strange that I don’t apply for management positions when they are available, it’s always “you have a degree, don’t you want to make more money?” funny thing is, the people who say this to me are managers who are completely miserable. Everyday they come into work complain about their husbands/wives/kids, and then they take high-paying jobs, that always come with more stress and responsibility, and are always mad at the world and difficult to be around. I am sure this is not the case everywhere, but I don’t see the point of adding more stress and responsibility to my job for a few extra bucks at the end of the month. I don’t LOVE my current job, but what I do does keep me busy and it is interesting enough. I like that I am a little challenged by my work everyday, and yet at the end of the day I get to just leave and enjoy the rest of my life.

I also hate when people look down on others for working in the service industry or for “just” having an online-shop for their occupation. Service industry jobs are rough, god knows I have worked several of them, some worse than others, but they are not the worst places in the world. The work itself is hard, but I always loved my co-workers at those jobs, and some of the managers as well. I went on more bowling outings, birthday parties, and after-work drinks at those jobs than I do at my current one. The hiring manager at a resale clothing store I worked at (one of my favorite jobs), told me that she loved hiring people who worked in fast-food because they always were the hardest workers. People who start an online shop to see their art, photographs, crafts, etc. It is a lot of work and it takes balls to get it going.

I have no idea where this post came from, but I guess what I am trying to say is that whatever you do, people will always expect you to do more and they will always try to measure you by your “accomplishments”. Do you don’t have to buy a house to have a home; you don’t have to earn triple digits to enjoy your job. Hell, if what you want in life is to start a family, go for it. Life may never become completely perfect, but I honestly feel that if you follow what your passions are, you will be able to enjoy it a little more. Even in a wrinkled dress :)

Details
Dress-Modcloth
Belt-Thrifted
Shoes-Alloy
Purse &
Necklace-Gifts
 

Song of the day "Bottom of the Barrel" By Amos Lee

Motivation Station

Sometime late Sunday night I was bitten in the ass by the motivation bug and ever since I have been on the go. I always go through these phases, I make lists, try to cram in as much as possible each day, and I usually end up exhausted. This time, I am not going to be stupid about it. I have pretty much decided that I am done with going out on weeknights for awhile, I know, I sound old. I don’t mind going out as long as I actually have the free time, but lately I have been just trying so hard to do everything and it is causing me to face-plant into my sofa after work and not move until morning. Kyle and I have been busting ass cleaning the house, and it finally looks like it. I am *almost* caught up with laundry, and have been able to find things when I need them-whoa, big feat at 26 years old, huh?

Other than that, my life has been dedicated to working out, wedding planning, catching up on amazing television shows-Hello Torchwood!-and making a dent in my summer reading list. Woot Woot!

Details

Shawl- & necklaceF21

Dress, belt & Shoes-Thrifted

Purse-Mudd

Song of the day "Older" They Might Be Giants

Summer, be nice.

It is that time of year where I no longer have to check the weather, I already know everyday for the next three months it will be hot as balls. I will have to carefully plan out each outfit according to where I will be that day, and have layers that can easily be shed in the heat and thrown back on in the intense AC. Sunblock will be slathered all over my all but translucent skin, causing me to break out like a hormonal teenager, and no matter how many pairs of sunglasses I own, I will lose them all.

Summer does have some plus-sides, once you get past the bugs and clean off all of your fans, the days seem longer. The day is not done at 6:30pm, nope. If there is still daylight in the sky until 9ish at night, then you can stay up watching TV. You can take an impromptu walk up to the Dairy Queen and get a frozen yogurt. If you are not easily freaked out by bugs, you can enjoy lightning bugs once it is dark. Just make sure bath yourself in bug spray so you don’t get eaten alive by mosquitoes. As much as I crave brisk-cool fall mornings, colorful leaves & cider, I will try to be friends with summer this year. At least for now.

Details

Dress & Necklace-Target

Cardigan-F21

Purse-Sears

Shoes-Thrifted

Song of the day "I should have known better" performed by She & Him

Little Bits: Early Summer

More instagram pics because my camera battery charger is still MIA. Kyle is on a mission to pick up a new one today, which means it will show up sometime shortly after we buy the new one…but at least I will be able to use my camera again, woot.  

Lately I have been noticing my ongoing battle with being a creature of habit, and craving spontaneity and new places. I keep wanting to rush out to a salon and chop off all of my hair into a pixie-cut or slap fresh paint on the walls of my house. I want to travel to a new place, somewhere I have never been (which isn’t hard if I ever leave the state of Michigan). Kyle and I passed a coffee/alcohol bar that we’ve never been to and want to go. I want to max out all of our credit cards and go to Europe. But then, often times I get so mad when things change. Last night we went to the WAB in Ferndale, a favorite brewery of ours, and I was severely bummed they no longer had the green dressing for my Topopo salad. I am in the second season of Doctor Who and am in love with the tenth doctor, but I pout and whine because I miss the ninth. In the end, I am a true Libra at heart-I have to have balance. I can still be adventurous, I just need my security blanket (or in my case, a stuffed Wicket) with me.

1) Even on a 90 degree day, a must-have. 2)Our garage patio all ready for summer! 3)Pretty Polka dots on my new Summer dress. 4)My bestie Jamie & me. 5)I live in these. 6)Snacks Buddy. 7) Ice cream from Treat Dreams in Ferndale.

Song of the day "Ain't she sweet" Performed By The Beatles

PS-Did anyone else watch "Bunheads" last night?

Taste of Summer

These photos were taken on a 90 degree day a few weeks ago, when Kyle and I ventured down to Eastern Market for the day. We still have some yard work to finish up; hopefully this weekend and I can take some pictures and post them up here. Lately, there has been so much to do it has been hard trying to get everything done. Thankfully, I have not been too stressed out. I am on a mission to get the most out of my day: I bust-ass at work, try my hardest to get the house clean and get some exercise in, and spend time with Kyle. Sometimes we end up getting Subway for dinner, sometimes the extent of my exercise is just taking Louie for a walk, but in order to fit everything in, you sometimes have to compromise. I scheduled out a great workout plan for the next week, so that will be my primary focus. I need to up my strength training and do a few intensive cardio sessions a week.

Also, my life has been consumed by books and TV. I have always been a reader, but I have at least 24 books stacked by my bed to get through this summer. Kyle and I have also been sucked into the world of Doctor Who; we are on the tenth doctor. It is so nice to end the day unwinding in front of the TV while I work on blog & wedding stuff. It’s the perfect balance of being lazy and productive at the same time.

Well I hope everyone has a great weekend! We’ve got cleaning, yard-work, and hanging out with friends on the schedule. Starting with roller-skating tonight.

Details

Dress-Lost & Found vintage

Belt-Thrifted

Shoes-Minnetonka

Bag-Gift

Necklace-Borrowed from Mariah

Song of the day "Thirteen" By: Big Star

Little Bits: Bit of Saturday

Hello all! Sorry for being such a slacker-blogger as of late, life has been busy. Thankfully it has been a great blend of excitement and of the mundane, keeping things interesting.

Saturday was the Oak Apple Run, and I ran and finished my very first 10k! It was hard, but it different ways than I had anticipated. For instance, running on pavement is a lot different than running on the track at the YMCA. It took a mile or so for me to adjust, and also to adjust to all of the people. I only stopped a few times for headphone adjustment purposes (I have really strange shaped ears), but other than that I did run, if very slowly, the whole race. It took me an hour and eight minutes, which is a turtle pace, but I am just glad that I did it. I actually did not run a full six miles until the day of the race, I know, I know. But now that I know that I can run six miles, I can work on improving my time.

The best part of the 10K? These amazing guys! Kyle did not have time to train at all, but managed to jog/walk with my friend Sara. I tried my hardest to keep up with Brian, as it was his first 10k too, but he finished in under an hour (my goal for the next race). This was Aaron’s first race and he was one of the first 100 males to finish and got a medal! He was sick, still managed to run, and get a great time.

Later on Saturday night Kyle, my parents and I went to an even t for my work. It was a dinner cruise on the Detroit River, very swanky. Thankfully, the dress-code was “dressy-casual”, because it was quite chilly. We had fun sipping free drinks, eating yummy food, taking pics and hanging out with my co-workers.  I took a picture of the Ambassador bridge with my camera phone (sorry for the instagram pics, but our camera battery is dead, charger nowhere to be seen).

"Raise a glass to, the Ambassador. As she is moving you, across the dance floor" -Sam Roberts, Detroit '67.

Song of the day "Alligator", By Tegan and Sara

Engagement Photos

I am so excited to finally get this post up because it is my favorite one on this blog so far. Kyle and I had a lot of fun taking these photos with Chris and Michelle, they didn’t get mad that we kept cracking up each time they told us to look at each other and they even encouraged our goofy behavior. I do like that there are a lot of nice ones of us too, because we don’t have any nice ones of us. The pictures were taken in Detroit, at the Lincoln street art park, Imagination station and near the old train station. We went to Mercury Burger bar after for some delicious food-I even ate a burger which never happens, it was amazing. I am so happy to have such talented people in my family, and it is so cool that Chris and Michelle live only a mile or so away from us. I had a hard time picking out which photos to post, but if you want to see the rest of them you can here.

Thanks again to Michelle & Chris for the photos!

Song of the day "Tongue Tied" By: Grouplove