Colorful Adventurer

Thrifting and Pyrex.

I have been pretty sick lately, so excuse the lack of my old photos, I did not have time to go through my hard drive to find some to share. I left work early Tuesday and went to bed pretty much at 2:30 in the afternoon. I did not even get out of bed. Wednesday was a little better, I even went for a run, but the evening was busy. Then today, I should have stayed in bed today but work meetings got me out of bed and the fact I have a few projects that I am managing that are pretty high priority.

Anyway enough about sickness, since I have been on a thrifting high, I wanted to talk more about my trip last Friday with my friends.

You already saw the awesome skirt earlier this week. God that skirt really is lovely, especially for $3.99. Sometimes I do not know what I like more, the item I buy or the deal I get with it that I can essentially brag about. I do not like to brag about much, but when I get a good deal, I enjoy it to that extreme. The belt you see pictured above I have worn pretty much everyday. I used to have a nice leather belt, but I lost too much weight for it to fit my natural waist. Thankfully this $5 gem showed up, real leather too which is nice.

But I must confess something, during this trip, I think I started a new obsession. It does not surprise me because I am already pretty into vintage/antique things. But I found this pyrex bowl, for yes, only $5. I first gravitated towards it because it has balloons and bicycles on it. Then I saw it was pyrex and I knew people were kind of into that now, it has to be worth more than $5. Well it is, by far. I spent the other day scouring etsy looking for different color/prints of this Cinderella bowl that I can nest inside it.

I have held off on buying others for now, but maybe once I have my kitchen, and during thrifting trips I will keep my eyes open for other gems like this. Hopefully just as cheap, even though I scoured etsy, I would be paying about $30 a piece for them, which is something I am not interested in since I do not have my own kitchen (long story). So this pretty bowl will sit on my desk that I do my design work on for now hah.

Fair-Trade Outfit

I am a sucker for anything that has a good cause attached to it. If it means paying more for something that might not be as good of quality, I do not mind. I enjoy knowing that purchasing something goes towards a good cause. I know there are some fickle things in the whole business that might not be as good as they say they are. If I ever do find anything out about these products I show below I will definitely let you know.

When it comes to fair-trade, I am not the best at this subject but it basically means that the people working and making these products are in good working conditions and getting paid for what they do. Also, some of these like Warby Parker and Toms give a pair when you buy a pair, which I also think is nice. I met the CEO of Toms once, I was pretty happy about that. I know I look like crap in this photo.

Earrings - Bead For Life / Bracelet - Musana Jewelry / Dress - Mata Traders / Skirt - Bibico / Shoes - Toms / Sun Glasses - Warby Parker / Bag - Ten Thousand Villages

Now granted some of these items are way out of my price range, but I have bought some things on sale and some thing are really affordable. I do not know if buying items on sale defeats the whole purpose, but I still feel good about my purchases. Either way. I have not bought from all of these companies, but I know people who have and I have heard mostly good things from all. Toms are comfortable, they may look like nothing, but they are comfy. Mata Traders quality to me, is really good, much better than I expected. I own a few bead for life products, and love them. They do get a little sticky so beware of warm temps or rain. Musana Jewerly is good as well, I own that bracelet and I have worn it almost daily since I have got it. Ten Thousand Villages can sometimes be found on store fronts I know there is one in Baltimore. Bibico, items are really expensive, but I was able to find one on ebay and I am pretty happy with the quality. And it smells great but that might have been the seller. And as far as Warby Parker goes, I have been wanting to buy those sunglasses for a while, but I have not. I have heard both good and okay reviews from them. While one of my friends is really happy with her purchase, the other says the frame are pretty flimsy. But maybe one day, when I need new glasses (this summer), I can give you a review of what I think.

Banning Sweets, for a week.

I have been feeling a little sick lately. It could be because the weather decided it wanted to snow again here in Western NY. Finally my body may have just had it with the weather. But, I also think it might attribute to the bad things such as sweets, chips, and the diet sodas I have been drinking.

Source: Google

So with this feeling of and upset stomach and just pure grossness, I have decided to ban all sweets, chips, and diet sodas for a week. Only one week. From this Tuesday until next Tuesday the 21st. No sweets for me, no cookies, no cheesecake, no fun size candies. No diet sodas, none, just pure water over here. I also really want to try having a fruit or veggie with each meal as well. Changes like these take time and can be overwhelming, so that is why I am sticking to the week plan. I will let myself have one exception to the rule, baked chips, because my god do I love chips. And possibly tortilla chips if I am faced with that.

The other thing is I probably should ban ice cream for a week. The boyfriend just bought me 3 half-gallons sort of semi out of pity I think, or for me to stop complaining, long story. Anyway he did get me some light ice cream, so maybe just maybe depending I may break it for that. But I will try to stay strong.

I know hear me already trying to get out of it. I think it is because for the first time in a while, I had real stuff, real chips, cheesecake, and even a wine cooler. I let myself semi-go, and I do not want to get off the tracks just yet. I am only about half way there, I need to lose about another 28 lbs. So I am about at the half way mark, I can’t give it all up now. Even if this has been the smallest I have been since 2nd year of college.

I am going to keep it up! And try my hardest to not get sick.

Inside Thoughts on Community

Last week I went to an AIGA event to see Ryan Clifford speak about social design. Social Design is 100% right up my alley and I wish I could do it, I wish I could figure out a way to do it.

This presentation really spoke to me in more than one way. I am somehow some day going to do social design, somehow I will get my master’s degree, and somehow I will not lie the corporate life anymore. But, until then, I have a lot of school debt to pay, and need to make enough to not only pay my enormous loans but also to enjoy life, just a little. I try to keep myself in tune with the design community as much as I can without actually being a designer, per say. I do a lot of freelance, but I feel like to some people that just means, oh you did your friends logo? Sure it does mean that sometimes, but I actually have branched out some, people actually recommend my work.

I know I have been getting into style but whenever I am in a room with the Rochester Design Community, I feel 100% out of place. Not saying there is anything wrong with them, but I personally do not feel cool enough. Maybe I’ll get myself some cooler glasses when I need to upgrade this summer.

I just am overwhelmed with hipsterness. But I guess a fit in a little bit, see if you can spot me. Sometimes I feel like I know what I want to do with my life, but I have some things holding me back that make it hard to complete. Like money, school debt, and real life experience.

This speaking event did hit home for me since he works at MICA, which is in Baltimore. Sometimes you don’t really realize how much emotions and feelings you hold in until it is forced out of you.

Never stop learning.

Photos: AIGA Upstate NY.

Oh Hello Mother’s Day

I wanted to share a Mother’s inspired look on this Mother’s Day. More like I should say this is something I feel motherly in, but I am no mother and will not be for a while. I hope you have been in contact with those Mothers in your life today. I know I did with mine, spent over an hour on the phone with her. I live quite a bit away, but had a good conversation.

I am really excited, if you pay attention to my Instagram, I have posted a few pictures from my thrift journey recently. (For those of you who do not know what it is, it is like a social network where you only share pictures. With me taking as many pictures as I do, I decided to one day give in to the temptations of social sharing of phone pictures.)

Anyway, I went out with a few of my coworkers, yes I finally have friends up in New York. We hit some of Rochester’s nice thrift stores. Let me tell you these stores were pretty awesome. I mean I got a pair of Adidas in practically new condition for $10. But that is not what this post is about. I am highlighting this skirt. Polka dotted skirt, pure awesomeness for $3.99. I think I am going to submit it into Modcloth’s blog of thrifted finds.

Also, today was a great day because remember how I said I did not think I was going to lose any weight, well I did. Even if going a little off track with my diet. I lost .8 lbs. But to counter my bad eating habits I did also run 7+ miles this week, with running a 5k yesterday (3.1 miles). I wanted to prove to myself that I could in fact do it. Now it is just about getting my time down to a time a like even more.

Belt, Cardigan & Skirt - Thrifted / Tank - H&M / Shoes - Minnetoka

Fitness Fridays

Well I am at another Friday, I will be honest with your guys, I ate what I wanted this week. Stayed within my points, but I used up most of my weekly allowance, which I never do. SO with that said, I doubt I will lose any weight this week.

However on a good note, I did run 2.5 miles comfortably this week even with big hills to climb. I took it head on and defeated those hills. I am pretty proud of myself for that. I also measured myself since I have been so down about not losing weight, well I lost about an inch overall. So that is pretty exciting to know I am still losing, even if I am not “losing”.

Also, I signed up for the Susan B. Komen Race here in Western NY. If you are the donating sort of person, feel free to donate to a good cause. You can view my page here. I have not done much to update it. I run these things for the good cause and fun of it. I am not the best at actually fundraising for anything. Maybe it is because I have never been in a position to donate nothing but time, and I don’t expect anyone to pay for a cause they may not even support.

But anyway, about a month from now I will be running the 5K June 8th at Delaware Park in Buffalo. I am looking forward to it. I have done this race 3 different times. First time walking with my mom in 9th grade. Second time in 2010 because I wanted to run a 5k for a cause I cared about. And now for the same reason, but also because I have never ran it in Buffalo being from Baltimore. I want to thank my Aunt Lily again for giving her support to help me run the race.

On a side note, I have been taking some “bathroom pics” of my self in the mirror at work. I kept telling myself I would not post these. But I am just so damn proud of myself for being so stylish. Plus when I get off of work, the first thing I do is change and end up looking like the top photo. It is really my only time to run and that is top priority to me at the moment. So bathroom pic versus sweaty gross pic, it is a tough call.

I am excited for the weekend, I hope you are too!

Home Away From Home

I spent the better part of five years of my life in Williamsport, PA. Also know as the Birthplace of the Little League World Series, or the “Big City” in central PA. Being from Baltimore, I can tell you it is not a “Big City” as they call it. Anyway, it had its good parts, its bad parts, and of course lots of mediocre parts.

It is a good place for me because it is where I learned to be a Graphic Designer, where I earned my Bachelor’s Degree, where I became a leader, where I met the love of my life, where I met and gained some awesome friends, and also where I learned a lot. I also had my first “real” job in the area, but I would not call that much of a highlight.

So I wanted to share some photos that the boyfriend and I took the last day we were there in 2012 before we split ways only for about a month of so that summer last year. It is almost a year ago to the week actually. Williamsport has a lot of pretty housing, it is shame that the college kids (myself included) ruin it.

And for those of you interested here is the boyfriend, pictured and on the blog. I left this place with this guy, somehow this is what I got besides my diploma haha.

Switching It Up

So I am going a little out of the order today basically because I had no time to put a wishlist together, nor to a really have a wishlist per-say or tangible things at the moment. Just living life, try to figure out what is good and bad for me, and even taking moments to enjoy it without guilt.

But I do have an outfit! An outfit featuring a modcloth dress that I love, which I will review on here since I can’t on the site. Thank you Modcloth, I love modcloth, but I finally did something decent I think I would have a chance at winning a gift certificate, and it sells out. Maybe it will be back up on the site before the contest is over.

These photos were actually taken yesterday evening, talk about real time there! I wore the top outfit with a cardigan over it to work during the day. Then in the evening the boyfriend took me out to dinner, then to the circus, then to a put stop for ice cream on the way home. Which was pretty awesome, but totally destructive on my diet. But he used it as a time to celebrate our 3 years and 2 months together. We usually do not celebrate the months, but any excuse to go to a circus right? We really do not get out much for the typical 23 year old crowd. I used up most of my weekly allowance points, but it was worth it. Oh well you’ve got to live a little sometimes. Plus it makes me happy when I do try to eat more and just can’t. My body has adapted to eating closer to the right amount of food.

The outfit below is what I wore to the circus. I was pretty excited and pretty proud of myself for putting something like this together. I have never done it before. It is something I have learned with following style blogs, remixing is key. Plus it makes your clothes per wear more valuable. I used to think dresses were a dress up occasion only type of thing. Only for dances, easter, church, and weddings. But I have grown to know that there are dresses for all types of occasions, even everyday.

I love to florals, lace, and pearls look. But I must say I really really like how I can rock the florals with sunglasses, a leather jacket, and leather converse. Pretty awesome in my opinion, and I just sort of feel “bad-ass” but not because I am still wearing a floral dress for crying out loud.

Featured: Switch It Up Dress

My review: I am usually a large but with losing weight I almost bought the medium. I am glad I didn’t, I do not have a larger chest but if I went down I am pretty sure the buttons would have been gaping at the top. I also went for the large because it was an inch longer, which is conservative enough for me to wear to work, which is important for me. I really like how it can be dressed up or dressed down easily. It is fun, pretty, and the belt is pretty cool too. The material is nice and flowy without worrying about your skirt blowing up all the time on a windy day.

Outfit #1: Dressed Up Work Day

Switch It Up Dress - Modcloth / Top - F21 / Shoes - Bait (ebay score) / Pearl Necklace - Family / Bracelet - Musana

Outfit #2: Dressed Down Evenings

Switch It Up Dress - Modcloth / Shoes - Converse / Jacket - Modcloth (sale score) / Necklace - Etsy / Earrings - Knotty Owl

If you are ever interested in making a Modcloth purchase please sign up using this link (you’ll save $15) No jokes.

Another Skillshare Class

I usually try to write about things I am working on on Tuesdays, but recently I have been wrapping side jobs up. I have not been doing much with my evenings besides working out and getting out. But I guess if there was something I could talk about it would be a new skillshare class I am taking. I love skillshare, I have learned a lot from it.

I am taking From Scratch to Success a class based on getting a goal set in plan and a business plan all figured out. Since I just started looking into it today, I do not have much to write about. I also do not have any fancy pictures to show either.

I am also working on try to enter a Modcloth contest where you review a product and style it two different ways to possibly win a gift certificate. I will be posting photos later on.

Other then that I am just trying to keep my head afloat in my actual job without going crazy. I try not to talk about it much on here, but its is not the best of times at my job, but I do still enjoy it and the people I work with.

Inside Thoughts on Personal Style

“When you don’t like what you are wearing you just don’t feel good.” - Random Lady Co-Worker #1“And that’s why I wear my Spiderman underwear.” - Random Lady Co-Worker #2

I thought this would be a great way to start this post, as I was walking the halls during work, I overheard this conversation, no joke. It is exactly what I heard. It made me smile and happy that people feel this way. Honestly it sort of has helped me understand my inner battle of lifetime tom-boy girl turned to girl who wears dresses.

I was the definition of Tom-Boy. Never ever wore dresses unless it was a prom or graduation. Never ever wore make up, well I still don’t except for my middle school lip gloss phase that is an essential part of life. I guess it did not help that I was not “cool” per say in high school. I felt awkward wearing dresses. I had a denim skirt, just one and whenever I wore it, well I got “compliments” if that is what they’re called. I played sports, and I was surprisingly good at them.

In college I would not be caught dead wearing dresses either, I was strictly a jeans and hoodie girl. It did not help that my school were mostly country boys from Pennsylvania who probably could not handle a girl with a booty in a dress. Plus, I liked being one of the guys, I still do. Now I guess I am just incognito.

I have been struggling with the fact of change, and me changing my style so much. I know I have stated before that is it because I needed to wear something other than jeans to work. And black pants were not going to be my answer. (I have nothing against black pants, I just didn’t want to look like everyone else.) If I really had to think about it, I think my lack of creative job has landed my creative style to blossom and show through. Looking back now at some of the stuff I have bought and wore, it does not surprise me. I just never felt comfortable standing out, I never ever wanted to. I was a chubby kid and never really got my self confidence back until recently. So why on earth would I want to draw attention to myself. I wore my hair down in middle or high school and it was like “Oh My God You Look So Pretty!!!!!!” Which to me translated “Holy Fucking God You Look Different WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED.” At least that is how I felt. Now I get a compliment and I feel wonderful I am so happy that people I look up to like my style. People at work I respect like my style. It just makes me happy inside, and I am sure it shines through. I may still have chubby legs, but dammit I look good because I feel good.

I feel like style really is something that blossoms during life, like most things. It takes time, patience, care, and a lot of mistakes. But it is fun and it is always evolving. Just because you dress yourself nicely does not mean you are conceited and unfortunately it is really shown that way. I believed that is what it meant for the longest time, but now that I am older, I get it. I always get compliments and my boyfriend seems to like it even though sometimes he does miss the jeans and the t-shirts, and I miss them too. I would have never guessed that over a year ago when I said I wanted to change my style I would be here, now. I never thought I’d give a damn about style blogs or well even write one (sort-of) myself.

Bicycle, Bicycle, Bicycle!

I have been on a Queen kick lately, can you tell? Bicycle Rides, I never knew they would become such a big part of my life. I have always had a bicycle, except for in what I like to call the dark ages. My years after my beloved blue bicycle was trashed away and the only one I had was yes my Wal-Mart Magna Purple awesomeness wrapped up in cobwebs in my shed. I grew up in a suburb of Baltimore, and there really weren’t any good places to ride your bicycle. Unless you likes cars as your companions. Which I do not, for many good reasons.

I discovered bicycle paths in college. I had no idea that there were paths dedicated to bicycling. Rails to trails are pretty awesome, and I think the canal takes the cake for me.

So I was feeling pretty bummed before this ride, the boyfriend said get up were going for a ride. So I put something decent on to share on the blog, and decided I am going to make this not only a good ride, but a good blog post.

A lot of bloggers out there who do bicycle style and it usually is paired with nice pretty dresses. They usually use it for commuting to a local shop or in town. Well I live in a small town now, so even bicycling about a mile to the “Main Street” is even a bit excessive. So when I go for a ride, I got for a few hours and usually 8-10 miles. This bicycle ride took place on the canal, yes the Erie Canal. 15 miles on the Erie Canal… or how ever the song goes. I never really thought about the Canal existing, until I lived by it. It just got paired in my head with ancient civilizations like the Aztecs and Mayans and their death games. History was not my best subject, as an adult I do sort of regret that.

Anyway this bicycle ride was just what the doctor ordered, and it was so nice out too, my thin flannel started to be a little to warm for me by the end. This weekend I am at the Bicycle Swap aka Velofest that happens at the velodrome near Philly, this post is pretty appropriate even though it did happen last weekend. So get out there and ride your bicycle, what are you waiting for?? It will be too hot soon.

Shirt (similar) - Woolrich Flannel (I got this from the employee store when I worked there so it was like $3) / Shorts (old) - American Eagle / Shoes - Toms / Headband - F21 / Sunglasses (prescription) - Ray Bans (yes for real… I kinda get a discount at work haha)

SPCA Animals!

Okay, I have a confession to make before I get too in depth in this post with animal pictures. First off, I love this. I love taking pictures of the animals and I wish I could do it forever, but I know it will end one day. I love having the opportunity to finally do this.

Now with all that said here are the facts of me going and doing this every other week. I have an hour commute to and from work, it is not only a drain on me, but also a drain on my wallet with the ridiculous gas prices. For me to get to the animal shelter after work, it is another 45 minutes on top of that just to get there. I have maybe 20 minutes in between to change and grab my camera. Then by the time I get back and edit the photos, and oh eat dinner, my day is shot. I am going to bed.

I really love doing it, but I have been having a hard time convincing myself to continue to do it, especially with the nicer weather. It is bad enough that I have to spend every day of my week inside an office building that resembles the 80s, doing a job I can tolerate. At least my co-workers are awesome.

But then I go there and see the animals. And all is better. This time a corgi mix and a newfoundland mix. There weren’t a lot of animals again so I went to the barn and discovered a sheep.

I have been feeling pretty good lately when it comes to my fitness. As long as I don’t look at that awful BMI calculator that the Government tells you that you are overweight, all the time. I get it, I am 5’ 2.5”, but I have a lot of muscle mass. And when I say muscle mass, I mean muscle mass, not just some hard fat hanging out, nope muscles.

When I was at the doctors for one of my check ups the other day the lady was really surprised when she took down my weight. She was like girl you do not look like that at all. Which made me feel better, but I was pretty content with the number. She then went on to tell me that sometimes people just have denser cells. I hope she is right.

Anyway to a more positive note I want to thank my Aunt Lily for contacting me Wednesday night, after reading my post I suppose. She wants to help out with the Komen for the Cure Race. So it looks like I will be running that June 8th! I am excited, plus it gives me a reason to run more than 2 miles haha. Which I have been doing fairly comfortably at a slower pace (about 12mins per mile). But I think I want to try running faster and run a faster 5K. So that is something awesome to look forward to and will keep me on track with running until at least June 8th haha. Althought I must say I am pretty proud of myself for being pretty adamant about getting out and running at every opportunity I have.

So let’s hope to more pounds being shed this week :). Also I will be headed home this weekend, so I will be completely unplugged, from the blog anyway. If I get to editing the photos you will see an outfit post this weekend.

Fitness Progression In Photos

Surprise! I did not go through my hard drive last night for pictures. And I have had this in my drafts, I wanted to do this once I hit my goal, but I realized I have hit the half way mark time wise. So why not share some progression photos.

December 2012:

February 2013:

March 2013:

April 2013:

People have told me that they can really see a difference. Especially when I go home because they did not see me everyday when I was doing this. The other night I was walking with the boyfriend and he kept going on about how he can feel my ribs. I don’t know if I really take that as a compliment. All I can think of are those pictures of anorexic people who need some help. No worries I am losing weight a healthy way and busting my ass in the process. But I do have an exceptionally large (wide) rib cage, as I think I have said before I was born to be a large.

I am sure you will see some May photos soon up on this blog since I have some pretty good outfits picked out to style. I just need to get out and not get super awkward photos taken.

Hello May. 6 Things.

First of All I want to thank all of you who come to my blog and read, it is exciting to see that people I probably do not know read this. I hope you enjoy it! And feel free to comment or send me an email if you wish to.

Okay, back to the post.

Instead of a wishlist filled with products I am tempted to buy, or tempted to make anyone else buy, I wanted to share something a little different. My May wishlist. Not things that I want to buy, but things I would like to accomplish by the end of May.

One. Creative Project: Put a PDF portfolio together, a nice one. And update my resume for potential future job searches.

Two. Spending Freeze, for real. Keep within a realistic budget. So my wishlists will probably be filled with things I enjoy rather then things I have been stalking on the internet to buy. I want a new savings goal and reevaluating my loan payments. Something that is keeping my head in check; This video:

Three. Running, get up to 4 miles comfortably. I also want to before the end of this month figure out if I can sign up (money wise) for the Komen 5K here in Buffalo.

Four. Explore at least one new place. Can be anywhere.

Six. Stick to my diet and exercise routine, hopefully reach my 160 mark. This might be a little bit of a stretch, but we will see. If I am closer to 163, I’d be happy. Ultimate Goal is to reach my goal by my birthday in September. My more short-term goal is to fit into my size 8 thrifted dress I got for a June wedding.