blog vacay wrap up

two weeks, a pixie cut, a puppy, shopping, a tattoo & a secret

Here endeth my momentary blogging vacation. Some life situations require a moment of disengagement to truly understand and cope with them.

The last two weeks have felt like one intense whirlwind of change. If this sounds like hyperbole, take another glance at the photos above - these, combined with an announcement I'm hoping to make tomorrow, will make the reasons for my recent absence fairly obvious.

Photo 1: A Perfect Hair Day
This is what my hair looked like last Sunday afternoon (8/2/12), pre-visit to Jessie at Kami Hair in Salt Lake - where I hacked it into a pixie cut and threw in a weave of bleach for good measure. Although the general population seems fairly divided on the issue (it seems to be an issue of love or hate with few in between), I have yet to come down fully on either side. I'm having trouble getting the style down just right, and the fact that my hair grows as fast as Rapunzel's doesn't help much. In order to keep a pixie, I will have to trim it every two weeks... not an idea I'm a fan of. Any tips for styling/growing out a pixie cut?
Outfit info below.

Photo 2: The Cutest Puppy EVER on the Face of the Earth
An adorable chocolate lab pup that wandered into my yard a little after one in the a.m. last Monday night/Tuesday morning (8/3-8/4). Apparently, one of my neighbors is an animal collector. Unfortunately, I can't keep this gorgeous lil guy and the owner isn't going to claim him - he's currently up for adoption at the Tooele Animal Shelter if anyone is in need of a super friendly furry sidekick.

Photo 3: The Best Damn View
I'm pretty sure the Motor Vu has the best sunsets in the entire Tooele Valley. #justsayin

Photo 4: Torn Between Heaven & Hell
The view of the SLC LDS Temple from the upper level at the City Creek Center. I spur-of-the-moment decided to drop in there the other night, determined to purchase something from a store I've never been in - but quickly realized that most of the shops there are wildly out of my budget. I then proceeded to blow most all of my money at H&M, a store that is rather rapidly and suddenly becoming my favorite place to drop ungodly percentages of my income.

Photo 5: Fall Fashion Studies
Hanging out in the study hall at my favorite coffee shop of all time, The Coffee Connection. Researching fall trends counts as studying, right???

Photo 6: Self-Portraiture
A late-night attempt at capturing some of my fab snags from H&M + my new do. I may or may not have worn this to an early morning meeting Thursday morning that may or may not have been extremely important. Check back tomorrow for full disclosure.
Outfit info below.

Photo 7: Yes, Virginia - Tattoos DO Hurt Like a *****
No, actually, I'm not orgasming - that expression is one of sheer agony as that nice gentleman tattoos feathers and birds up and down my side. I can now definitively say that yes, tattoos hurt like hell... especially over the hip and near the under arm. But I didn't bitch out, either. So where's my cookie?

Photo 8: Unfinished Business
The majority of my gorgeous new (and first) tattoo, by Jon Fields at Susie M's Custom Tattoo, on State Street in SLC. I rolled the dice a bit and selected an artist by Googling "tattoo shop salt lake city" and stopping on a name that sounded nice (and had space for a walk-in Saturday afternoon). It definitely worked out in my favor - if you're looking to have some work done, I highly recommend looking Jon up, or stopping by Octane Tattoo in Tooele (ask for Johnny or Steve - both good friends and excellent artists).  I plan to go back in late September/early October to add some color to the piece.

Photo 9: Captain Stansbury, We Salute You
Stansbury Island on the Great Salt Lake at sunset, as I drove back to Tooele earlier this evening. The commute from Salt Lake to Tooele and back can seem long some nights, but I never tire of this view.

Photo 10: Pretty In Pink
An up-close shot of my quickly growing out pixie hair cut (I'm pretty sure it's already grown at least an inch) and another outfit that I may or may not have worn to yet another important meeting that may or may not have happened earlier tonight. I repeat: check back tomorrow for full disclosure.
Outfit info below.

Photo 11: Tightropes In High Heels
I'd like to see you scale a parking barrier in four inch stilettos with mosquitos buzzing about and live to tell the tale.
Outfit info below.

outfit a (photo 1)

white button down shirt :: forever 21 | blue tunic tank :: forever 21 | pocket watch necklace :: nine via urban wear (similar)

outfit b (photo 6)

black blazer :: charlotte russe (similar) | charcoal gray draped blouse :: H&M (similar) | red pencil skirt :: H&M (similar) | burgundy skinny belt :: H&M | black satin pumps :: wild diva (similar) | pocket watch necklace :: nine via urban wear (similar) | earrings :: maurice's | gold cuff :: charlotte russe (similar)

outfit c (photos 10 & 11)

salmon pink button down blouse :: H&M (similar) | khaki pencil skirt :: H&M (similar) | salmon pink skinny belt :: H&M | nude pumps :: maurice's (similar) | pocket watch necklace :: nine via urban wear (similar) | earrings :: walmart (seriously) | neon piped messenger bag :: francesca's collections (get it here)

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designing myself

Happy weekend, blog world! I was fortunate enough to have an early start to mine - my lovely employer gave us Good Friday off. I don't even know what Good Friday is, aside from that it's the Friday before Easter. And I think it has something to do with Passover, though I don't know what that is either.

I haven't been feeling particularly inspired of late; I think it's at least partially due to the overabundance of clothing that is literally spilling out of my closet, drawers and baskets beneath my bed. My wardrobe is in pretty serious need of a purge, but I haven't been able to work up the motivation/energy to get it done. I have two three-day weekends in a row though - maybe after some time to relax, I will finally hop to it.

My short absence from the blog has been primarily due to this lack of inspired feeling. I had hoped that a creative break would allow me to regroup and recharge my imaginative batteries, but alas - I feel no such relief. I feel as though my life has settled into a bit of a rut, and I've been wracking my brain for ways out. I think this is my version of cabin fever, since I typically feel more peaceful during the winter, and spring causes me all sorts of anxiety.

I would love to take a vacation, to go somewhere I've never been, but that would require a bit of time and saving. In the meantime, I need a more short-term, immediate fix for the pricking at my spirit I'm feeling. The insomnia, restlessness, ADD, itchiness - all symptoms that cause me greater problems. The fact that I am up and typing this entry at 5am is an example of such.

Looking over my 25 before 26 list, I'm not sure whether I feel inspired by my progress in the last week, or overwhelmed with what I have left. It's really not a complicated list, since I 'optimized' it; I suppose I've been living in neutral for so long now that shifting into drive and actually getting things done on a personal level feels a bit intimidating. I've checked off four things from list in just a week (two of them biggies), but I still have 18 to go before next Saturday. I can do it - I just have to push myself a bit harder than I have been.

I realize this post is coming off as a bit of a Debbie Downer, but honestly, life isn't all cupcakes and rainbows. I have been working really hard lately, and making a great deal of progress because of it. I'm beginning to see the results of those actions, and it makes me want to work harder. I think my frustrations primarily stem from not really knowing what exactly to do to keep moving forward, from wasting so much of my life screwing around, and from not being able to devote my life and all of my time to my work. While I do enjoy my job and love my co-workers, it's not my dream - and I don't want to spend my life working for someone else's dream. I am so tired of being told that I can't/won't/will never achieve the things I want, and I am so ready to start making people eat their words. I feel like I've finally started on that path, and I'm afraid of screwing it up (again), but I also know that I have to keep going, to keep pushing myself, to keep putting one foot in front of the other, because that's the only way to get anywhere in life. I have to keep moving.

The plan for this weekend:
-Cross a few more things off of my list.
-Implement a few of the planned additions/changes to the blog.
-Take some time to meditate and relax.
-Start on my closet purge.
-Achieve a goal.
-Impress/inspire myself.

I picked up this skirt and blouse on my birthday shopping trip this week. I was supposed to go to SLC next week with my mom but... it fell through. Long story. So I took myself to the local Maurice's and blew way more than I should have to cheer myself up. Shopping provides a (very) temporary cure for my frustrations. I love putting together outfits, even if it's solely for dressing room pleasure. The recent release of Instagram for Android makes it even more fun. I have a therapist - his name is retail.

blazer: Zara

black shirt: maurice's

white floral skirt: maurice's (similar item here)

black chunky heels: kork-ease

necklace: forever 21

hat: maurice's (similar item here)

Are you on Instagram yet? Let's be friends! 

My username is frayedthreads - leave a comment with yours.

have you entered my birthday giveaway? 

We just hit 40 individual entries, unlocking the first bonus prize! Think we can make the second? We need 106 entries - tell your friends, your neighbors, everyone! The deadline is 12:01am on 4/16, so make it quick!

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catching up

Just a quick post tonight using the Blogger mobile app, to say thank you to everyone who's entering my giveaway and following my blog! I decided to take a much needed couple evenings off from the mad work I've been doing on my blog. I'm exhausted and needed some time to recharge, so I decided to treat myself to an at-home mani/pedi while catching up on The Daily Show and then get some sleep (the last part didn't work out so well btw).

I stopped by Maurice's on my way home tonight. I tried on this dress and loved it with a grey cardigan, but it was when I switched to the denim vest that I really fell in love - I wasn't a huge fan of denim vests/jackets before, but now I *need* one. I didn't get this one, but I am going to hunt the perfect one down before the end of the season. The way it can make anything look summery and casual makes the denim vest my new summer staple.

Did you know they finally released Instagram for Android?! Let's be friends! My username is frayedthreads - what's yours?

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