the lighthouse keeper

a change

2012-01-16T16:58:00.000-08:00

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As you've all probably already noticed, I'm being a bad blogger. Yet again. I haven't read any other blogs in about two weeks and haven't even known what to post on here. There are definitely things going on in my life, in fact, more things than ever before. (Which might be just the reason that I feel such a disconnection from blogging - whenever real life starts to happen, I'd much rather live it than talk about it.) But seeing as I never tend get too personal on here, I don't really feel like writing about everything that's happening to me. The idea of talking about my life is exhausting, especially when I don't even know who I'm writing it for.

In short, I'm having very little motivation to continue blogging. I don't have as much free time as I did before I moved out here, and when I do, I'd rather be spending my time with Sean or reading or watching movies or getting out and exploring my new city. When I think of having to spend over an hour each day catching up on all the blogs I follow, it makes me put it off. And put it off. And put it off. Until one day it's been a few weeks since I last blogged and I force myself to catch up. I don't enjoy it as much as I used to and I rarely have any pictures that I'm very excited to post about anymore, my own or others'.

So, I'm seriously considering not blogging anymore, here on The Lighthouse Keeper or on my other blog. Which saddens me because I've really enjoyed the many inspirations I've received and the connections I've made and, at one point, it was such an integral part of my day. Though in reality, I can still keep in touch with those people outside of blogging, so it doesn't really matter. I don't feel anything keeping me here anymore.

Of course, I haven't completely made up my mind yet. If anything, I'll still continue posting to my photography blog, but it won't be very frequent. We shall see.

travel by constellation

2012-01-07T09:10:00.000-08:00

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Have a great weekend! I'll be spending mine at work, but that's alright. I'm actually in the midst of trying to land a second job. I really need it. Especially after just spending a few hundred dollars on photographic paper and inks for my shop. Yes, I'm a (struggling) photographer for those of you who don't know!

color crush

2012-01-06T11:23:00.000-08:00

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into the woods

2012-01-05T09:23:00.000-08:00

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a french press method

2012-01-04T11:38:00.000-08:00

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Yesterday I spoke of my Anthropologie Christmas gifts, but today I speak of my most favorite gift of all: my french press. My mom actually gave it to me for Christmas the year before but I never got around to getting coarse ground coffee or a coffee grinder, so I never used it. Until this year when she gave me an Amazon gift card which I used towards a little Bodum coffee grinder!

So I bought a tin of Illy whole bean coffee, ground the beans myself, and pressed my own coffee for the very first time a few days ago. And now I'm absolutely obsessed and don't want to drink it any other way! It was seriously the best cup of coffee I've ever had (even the dregs tasted good).

Of course, the pretty little design definitely doesn't hurt the whole "French" experience and I love how my tiny press is the perfect size to make one cup.

PS. If you want to learn more about the french press method, I highly recommend this post by the enormously talented Hugh and Sara.

tis the season

2012-01-03T11:59:00.000-08:00

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Tis the season for Anthropologie!

For those of you who have followed the blog long enough, you know how much I lust after almost everything that Anthropologie has to offer. Well, this Christmas finally saw some of that lustiness come to fruition (wow, that sounds dirty). I received the awesome-est little tape dispenser from Sean's brother - a little wooden camera design that says "Poulain" at the top - which is a coincidental reference to one of my absolute favorite movies. Then my brother gave me these cute little spice jars. Then with some money I received from other people, I finally finally bought the much-lusted-after Seasons: The Best of Donna Hay Magazine, as well as a zinc letter "A" and a ceramic berry basket.

Sigh. I wish I could live inside an Anthropologie catalogue... But at least I finally live in a city that has an Anthropologie store that I can wander around in whenever I want...

happy new year

2012-01-01T08:18:00.000-08:00

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Happy New Year, blog people!

winter wonderland

2011-12-31T09:30:00.000-08:00

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Bad blogger syndrome still hasn't left me... I swear after the holidays (yes, I count New Year's Day as part of the holidays, not sure if that's normal or not), I'll return to normal blogging mode! Or, as normal as I can while having a part-time job, looking for a second, and being distracted by my amazing fiancé now that I'm lucky enough to come home to him after four years of not being able to do so.

PS. Doesn't this picture look so cool with the snow on my blog?! It's not snowing here in San Francisco (so glad I moved somewhere that never snows), but I'm kinda liking it on the blog! I might keep it around for all of Winter!

happy holidays

2011-12-23T12:53:00.000-08:00

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I'm being a bad blogger again... I haven't read a single post in almost a week! Work and putting my apartment back together and watching movies has been taking up most of my time. And I probably won't post again until after Christmas (though I will try to catch up on reading your posts), so I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!

PS. If you're still following the situation regarding my roommate's girlfriend, she is officially leaving! She's bought a plane ticket for the fourth of January! Yay! (Not sure why she doesn't leave sooner so she can spend the holidays with her family, but I guess you have to consider the source.) But yay! Finally!

the look

2011-12-22T08:47:00.000-08:00

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I bought a ton of leggings at Old Navy the other day in hopes of finally jumping on the legging/sweater/boots trend. However, I can't find any sweaters long enough! I'm sorry, but I won't be showing my crotch this winter; I need something longer! So... do any of you know where I can find some affordable sweater dresses (I've already tried Gap, Urban Outfitters and Old Navy)?

PS. And yes, though I love the outfit in the above picture, I am looking for something a bit longer. At least long enough to cover my bum!

sail away

2011-12-21T09:01:00.000-08:00

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weekend recap

2011-12-20T09:28:00.000-08:00

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Well well well, what's new with me, you may be asking? Well:

1. Nearly three weeks after the fact, someone finally came to check out our apartment in regards to the mold situation (described here and here). They found a couple of hairline fractures and a falling light on the outside of the wall where we were having the leaking problem. They sealed them up but they were hoping to find something more obvious, so we still have to keep an eye out for more water.

2. One good thing about the leaking/mold problem is that it was an excuse to buy new furniture! Granted we just bought new furniture and a new mattress two months ago (which we should be reimbursed for), but new furniture is always nice in my opinion! So, we got furniture that can be pulled away from that wall and allows more air circulation in case the water comes back. Hence, our first real bed (I've only ever had a bunk bed, a futon, or just a regular bed frame, never anything with an actual headboard or footboard) and nicer, more grown-up night-stands (compared to what we had before). I still have to put together my dresser and then we'll move our bookcases into the bedroom and hopefully we can have the entire apartment put back to normal in time for Christmas.

3. Yesterday, I had my last day off work until Christmas, which I spent in downtown San Francisco with Sean. I love this place! I love being in a city and doing things that I could never do in my hometown! I often feel as if I'm in a movie when I'm walking around this city. In summary: we enjoyed a bite at Quizno's, a 30% off sale on the already-on-sale items at Old Navy (where I saved a hundred dollars!), a jaunt around The Container Store (where I bought extra hangers and an awesome LEGO box), a viewing of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows which was rather good (though not amazing), and a walk around the Children's Creativity park where, ironically, Sean spotted my very first grey hair (which I kinda freaked out about)!

How have you been?

happy friday!

2011-12-16T10:58:00.000-08:00

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Sean has been dying to see the new Muppets movie, but with my work schedule and his class schedule, we haven't had a chance. Going to the movies is one of my favorite things to do and there are quite a few new movies that look pretty interesting. Anybody seen any good movies in the theater lately?

Have a wonderful weekend!

wild woman

2011-12-15T10:39:00.000-08:00

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moody botanicals

2011-12-14T08:53:00.000-08:00

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Wow. Just wow.

what's in your bag

2011-12-13T09:01:00.000-08:00

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I've always enjoyed those "What's In Your Bag?" projects. Some people have the coolest, prettiest stuff. My essentials aren't nearly this glamourous.

the challenge

2011-12-12T10:31:00.000-08:00

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Okay okay, now I'm all caught up on blogging! And hopefully that means the return of regular posts here on The Lighthouse Keeper.

So how was your weekend? Mine was okay, I had to work. I have today off but I've got so much to do in regards of taking care of the mold situation. Still, nothing is being done about it and we have to keep sending emails and calling. I hate this whole situation and feel like a little kid, wishing my mom and dad were here because they would know exactly what to do and what to say and who to yell at.

PS. The snow is back on my blog! I've been using this widget every holiday season ever since I first saw it on Daniella's blog.

pre-raphaelite beauty

2011-12-09T08:55:00.000-08:00

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For the first time in I don't know how long, I picked up an issue of Vogue that I was actually tempted to buy. These images of Saoirse Ronan depicting the Pre-Raphaelites' muse stopped me in my tracks. (Waterhouse is my favorite painter, so it's no surprise that I'm falling for these.) The styling and textures are stunning and Saoirse looks absolutely amazing!

stuff

2011-12-08T09:18:00.000-08:00

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After spending quite a few hours sitting at the computer yesterday, I finally caught up on three weeks worth of missed blogging (or, almost all of it). I like to read each and every post of the blogs that I follow. And I follow a lot of blogs. So even getting a day behind puts me on edge. And the longer I put it off, the more daunting it becomes. (It's amazing how working ten days in a row makes you not want to do anything when you actually have the time off.) But, I took the time and I did it. So. I apologize for my silence the past few weeks. I may not have commented, but I definitely read and I definitely saw. (Okay okay, so maybe I didn't read every single word, I skimmed over some, but I still saw.)

And now if you want to know what's been going on with me:

1. I've been working steadily, but getting a few days off here and there. And trying so freaking hard not to spend the little money I actually earn on everything at Williams-Sonoma!

2. We're still dealing with the mold situation. Remember how I said I hoped it wouldn't be an uphill battle? Well it's been just that. We've spent the last week talking to one person, calling another person, then talking to this person and checking in with yet another. Only to call another number and then another and then wait to hear from another person who's waiting to hear from someone else who's waiting to hear from the person we just talked to, who's waiting to hear from them. No joke. But I finally talked to someone today who said that something has gone terribly wrong with the way it's been handled (no shit) and that we should finally be hearing the verdict on what needs to be done tomorrow. God I hope so. I want the situation to be resolved! I want the problem fixed! Whether it's construction or moving to a new unit. I'm getting tired of sleeping on the crappy futon (with bars sticking into my back) in the middle of the living room while Sean sleeps on a pile of blankets on the floor next to me. I want to get reimbursed for all of my furniture that was damaged so I can go ahead and order a new bed frame, new mattress, new mattress pad, new sheets, new dresser and new night-stands. And I want to be able to sleep in my bedroom without worrying that there is mold in the walls and that it could grow back and destroy my new furniture all over again. I understand that San Francisco is wet and damp. I can deal with poor insulation and constant condensation on the windows. But come on! My walls and floors shouldn't be leaking!

3. And as far as this situation is going: come to find out he's been trying to get rid of her this whole time. He told her she's free to leave whenever she wants. But knowing her, it's going to take more than that to get her out of here. If she's going to leave, he's going to have to physically pack her up and move her himself. (I realize I've been completely vague about this whole situation and everything that's been going on concerning her, but I've talked about it with everyone I know enough as it is, I didn't want to complain about it on here. Long story short: one of my roommates moved his girlfriend in two months ago and she was a nightmare from the beginning. Saying and doing the stupidest things: putting empty dishes in the refrigerator, leaving windows and lights on when she was the last person to leave the apartment, taking two-hour long showers, never taking out the trash, leaving dirty dishes in the sink for days on end, using our food without asking or replacing, leaving the bathroom door closed with the light on so that we all assume that it's being used by someone, knocking on the door to be let in even though she has a key... Basically, I can't even make up the stupid stuff that she says and does.)

So there you have it. And though all this annoying drama is going on, I am very much enjoying my life in San Francisco. I absolutely love being with Sean. And I even enjoy my job and the people I work with. Working as a cashier really isn't that bad. It's no career, but I don't dread doing it. I even think it's good for me and my shyness. I just have to try hard not to continue using that fake polite voice after I get off work!

portrait of the pilot

2011-11-30T11:22:00.000-08:00

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I'm over a week behind on blogging... And I need to catch up! I'll do it sometime soon, I swear.

comfort food

2011-11-29T10:25:00.000-08:00

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I wish my breakfast looked like this every morning...

PS. From working at Williams-Sonoma, I can totally tell that the orange juice is in one of our Picardie glass tumblers. And we carry that jar of Seville Orange Marmalade. Oh yeah.

dark days

2011-11-28T09:12:00.000-08:00

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Sorry to be absent so much last week! I've been working ten days straight and I'm exhausted. Add to that we found mold growing in our closet, on the backs and bottoms of our dresser and night-stands and even our bed. Our bed! This is a completely unacceptable situation and I'm so in shock I almost can't be angry. Though I am. Very very angry. We're going to the rental office soon (though I still have to be at work this afternoon). I just hope this isn't the beginning of an uphill battle...

If anyone has any advice on how to deal with a situation like this, our rights, etc. I would greatly appreciate it!

happy thanksgiving

2011-11-24T06:09:00.000-08:00

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I'm up early today to go work at the Williams-Sonoma downtown in Union Square (I usually work at a different location). It'll be interesting... either it'll be super busy or super slow. Either way, I get paid overtime. Then it's back to the apartment to "celebrate" the holiday with the roommates we don't like.

But, I'm thankful to finally be with Sean! And I'm thankful that everything is going okay for us out here so far. I'm thankful that I have a job, even though it isn't full-time and I don't make enough to support myself, let alone myself and Sean. It's better than nothing!

Happy Thanksgiving!

girls on floral

2011-11-22T08:54:00.000-08:00

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I'm really really loving the Girls on Floral tumblr. Pretty girls + dreamy photography + flowers = so cliché. But who cares. I love it!

weekend recap

2011-11-21T09:21:00.000-08:00

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Well, Sean just got back this morning! Which is good for two reasons: 1) because I missed him and 2) because it is freaking cold in our apartment and I need to snuggle against him! We're trying to save money and not turn the heater on unless we absolutely need to, but if you're just sitting around doing nothing, it's freezing! Luckily his mom sent us a bunch of cozy blankets, which will get a lot of use.

In other news, I finally finished reading Cold Mountain which I absolutely loved. I'm looking forward to watching the film version tonight. I received my first pay check and found out that I get paid more than I thought I did! Woo! I also spent the weekend working and will spend the rest of this week working. Which is very good money-wise but I'm already kinda tired and behind in my movie-watching from Netflix.

But the most interesting part of the weekend came when I was riding the bus home from work on Saturday night and found that I was riding with the same person I had sat next to on the way there. Small world! So he struck up a conversation and we talked for awhile and he handed me a beer from a case he'd gotten at a beer festival. Free beer from a stranger on the bus? Sounds crazy but it was actually pretty cool.

So, I can't promise that I'll be blogging much this week. But I'll try...

time apart

2011-11-18T09:51:00.000-08:00

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Well, Sean left for an animation convention in Los Angeles last night which means he'll be gone for the next three days. I already really miss him, even though I should be used to time apart by now! But I've been spoilt by our actually being together every single day for the last three months. It's strange to look back on those four years of long distance and how it actually seems forever ago. The first day I arrived in San Francisco and moved in with him, it felt so right, so normal, as if we'd never been apart. As if those four long years never happened. While we were in it, it felt like forever, as if we'd never figure something out and we'd never be together. But now it seems as if it flew by, as if it never happened.

So I'm keeping myself busy by catching up on reading, going to see Breaking Dawn by myself, and then I work this weekend (the start of seven straight days of work, including Thanksgiving).

oui

2011-11-17T09:37:00.001-08:00

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Oui, oui, et oui!

in the morning light

2011-11-16T09:23:00.000-08:00

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Ismay Ozga of Two Two Oh Four has been taking some super gorgeous instagrams lately. I just love this one! What I wouldn't give to have that gold and rose light filling my room each and every morning...

lights of the universe

2011-11-15T11:31:00.000-08:00

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under the tuscan sun

2011-11-15T09:46:00.000-08:00

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Can I live here? Spend days here? Wander the fields and streets here? Please? PLEASE?!

eddie

2011-11-14T10:29:00.000-08:00

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I know I never gush about boys on this here blog, but I have to make an exception. I heart Eddie Redmayne. He seems like one of those incredibly good-looking actors that's destined to become a household name, but I'd just like to say that I liked him before you. I liked him when I first saw him in that small part in Elizabeth: The Golden Age. And as the perfect William Stafford in The Other Boleyn Girl. And the sweet, quirky guy in The Yellow Handkerchief. And in that disturbing based-on-a-true-story role in Savage Grace. And the absolute perfect Jack in The Pillars of the Earth.

If I still let myself go with crushes on movie stars like I used to, I'd totally be obsessed with him. Okay. I'll be quiet now.

icing on top

2011-11-14T08:57:00.000-08:00

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After a brief Indian summer here in San Francisco, it's getting cold again! And I'm loving it! Hopefully I won't have to deal with anymore dressing in sweater and jacket only to end up wishing I was wearing jeans, t-shirt and sandals instead. Everyone keeps saying to dress in layers here, but I guess I'm still resisting.

PS. There was a big blowup regarding the situation last night. Is change around the corner? I can only hope...

the situation

2011-11-11T07:50:00.000-08:00

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Well, you know how I wanted to spend part of the day yesterday reading in the coffee shop? It didn't happen because apparently all of the downtown coffee shops are packed around lunchtime. Which seems rather obvious in retrospect... I guess I'll just have to time it better next time.

And I might as well mention it: The real reason I wanted to spend time in a coffee shop is so that I could get out of the apartment. Super long story short: we're having roommate issues and I just need to get away and not be holed up in my bedroom all the time. I realize the living room is a communal living space, but it would be nice if a certain someone wasn't always using it as her personal workspace so that I could get a chance to enjoy the rest of my apartment for once. (On top of that, she's a real idiot who lacks all common sense and needs things to be told and explained to her as if we're her parents.)

Yeah. Super long story short...

a continent at your table

2011-11-10T09:38:00.000-08:00

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My plans for today:

Wake up early (check) and make waffles from scratch for Sean and I.
Garnish with strawberries and maple syrup.
Make a pot of coffee.
Sit in our dining nook while the morning light slowly seeps in through the sheer curtains.

Take the bus downtown to run errands.
Go to the Starbucks near that one bus stop in hopes that it's as perfectly quiet and cozy as last time.
Order an espresso macchiato "for here" and sip from an actual ceramic cup.
Sit awhile.
Read a good chunk of Cold Mountain.
And, for once, actually enjoy the atmosphere of a coffee shop.

what a woman

2011-11-09T07:36:00.000-08:00

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the loneliest number

2011-11-08T11:31:00.000-08:00

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I... don't know what this stands for or means, but I like it!

weisz woman

2011-11-08T09:49:00.000-08:00

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I don't have many all-time favorite actors, but Rachel Weisz has long been one of them. Apart from being immensely talented, I can never get over how incredibly beautiful she is.

weekend recap

2011-11-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

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I apologize for the lack of posts at the end of last week! The internet was down and I kinda didn't know what to do with myself... You'd think I'd get a lot of reading done, but for some reason I didn't. (Though I'm falling real hard for Cold Mountain.)

So, since you last heard from me:

After having a cold for the past two weeks, I almost feel completely better (finally). I took my own advice and finally went to the Legion of Honor museum (free on Tuesdays). I might have my first photo assistant job this weekend (fingers crossed). I've decided that the holiday peanut butter M&Ms and cherry cordial M&Ms are the best things ever (especially when mixed together). I attended the Williams-Sonoma holiday meeting last night and met a lot of co-workers and already made one friend!

And now I'm off to my very first day at work! I don't know what to expect, though of course it's mostly training right now. I hope I don't feel too overwhelmed and inadequate, especially since I've never worked retail (unless you count that one day) and it's been six years since I last used a cash register. So far I've gotten an incredibly good vibe from everyone and really like my manager who seems so helpful and understanding and extremely easy to talk to. Wish me luck!

sick day

2011-11-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

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I've been sick with a cold for over a week now and I'm really getting tired of it! Though it's probably my own fault as I acted as if I wasn't sick: going out a lot, walking across the Golden Gate Bridge, eating way too much chocolate, taking medicine and then running out and then taking it again... But I'm determined to feel better by tomorrow as it's my first day working at Williams-Sonoma. So bring on the tea and the book and the bed...

the new gypsies

2011-11-01T09:58:00.000-07:00

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all hallows' eve

2011-10-31T13:03:00.000-07:00

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Happy Halloween!

smoke and mirrors

2011-10-31T11:45:00.000-07:00

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sleepy hollow

2011-10-28T13:08:00.000-07:00

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Some creepy Halloween-inspired forest and field shots for you!

What are your plans for this weekend? I'm probably staying in with Sean, watching B-movies, and eating way too much chocolate. But that won't stop me from dressing up: super tight and super short black sweater dress, black thigh-highs, black opera gloves, black ears. Cat, anyone?

PS. The Book Club Blogger's Book of the Month is up on Charlotte's blog. Which... I didn't read. Because... I still don't have a California driver's license. Which... I need to check out books from the library. I still love the Book Club Bloggers, I swear! Hopefully I can kick my butt into gear and continue studying the 90-page manual and just do it.

and i quote...

2011-10-27T12:24:00.000-07:00

looking up

2011-10-26T12:03:00.000-07:00

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So... I got another job! Or, a new job as you'll recall that I quit that first one after working only a day. It's a seasonal position at Williams-Sonoma and, well, it's a job. It's good for now and it'll definitely be nice having some money coming in. So, yay! It feels good!

a room of one's own

2011-10-25T15:17:00.000-07:00

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Some living spaces I've been dreaming of and wishing for lately...

If I had my very own place and didn't live with my fiancé or other three housemates, I would decorate so girly. Which is strange because I don't think of myself and the things I like as girly. But I guess you would have to consider these rooms considerably girly...

field trip

2011-10-25T10:06:00.000-07:00

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There are so many museums here in San Francisco! I really need to start taking advantage of it!

into the deep

2011-10-24T09:59:00.000-07:00

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Both of these are so gorgeously styled, they almost hurt my heart...

the new gypsies

2011-10-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

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Sorry I don't seem to have much to say these days. I'm just busy with stuff to do: get affordable health insurance, make assistant business cards, buy assisting gear, contact photographers, get a California driver's license, buy and learn Lightroom. But! I had an interview yesterday (for a seasonal sales position) that seems very promising, so keep your fingers crossed. A little money would be really nice right now.

Have a great weekend!

untitled

2011-10-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

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dream bathroom

2011-10-20T10:13:00.000-07:00

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This... is my dream bathroom!

I know it's quite popular at the moment, but I've always had a thing for claw-foot tubs. I really just love the whole eclectic look of this: the worn hardwood floors, the odd choice of wall color, the pealing paint, the chair used as table, the antique flower tiles, the haphazard placement of picture frames, the floating sink, the oddly placed fireplace, the quirky hooves, the little cluster of flowers, the pretty bottles, the ornate sconces, the embellished mirror... You get the idea!

the homebody

2011-10-19T12:40:00.000-07:00

source via le projet d'amour

I love all the tiny, intricate details in Becca Stadtlander's illustrations! Is it weird to want to live in them? Because I'm falling hard for the eclectic decor in that first picture and the coziness of the second...

monsieur louboutin

2011-10-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

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nature morte

2011-10-18T12:54:00.000-07:00

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and i quote...

2011-10-18T08:29:00.000-07:00

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I realize I already posted this quote last week, but it's so applicable to how my weekend went that I had to post it again. Bigger.

I keep saying it over in my head, believing it, and making it true.

weekend recap

2011-10-17T12:47:00.000-07:00

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Well, it was a long weekend for me as I spent two full days at the APA Photo Assistant Basic Training workshop. I've been meaning to join APA and I finally got around to looking at the site last week and that's when I noticed the workshop coming up a few days later. I can't convey how perfect the timing was! Being new to the area and wanting to work with photographers, I couldn't have been presented with a better opportunity.

Assisting photographers is something that I was encouraged to do back in college but never did. Now, college was four years ago and I find that I don't really know what I'm doing. Sure, I've done a few freelancing jobs and I worked as a full-time photographer at a printing company. But I was the only photographer there and, for the most part, I felt like I was stumbling along doing things the only way I knew how, getting out of practice, creating bad habits (i.e. not using a light meter or incorporating light ratios), and overall not learning from anyone.

People keep telling me that I'm a great photographer and could open my own studio, but I always say that I don't want to. I'm not being humble, it's just that I know how much I still need to learn! I want to work at a studio with someone who knows what they're doing, has worked in the industry for quite awhile, doing the kind of work I'm interested in, and who's willing to take the time to teach me. I don't want to be the photographer right now. I don't need to be.

Looking back at my college days, I realize that yes, I should've been assisting. And now I find myself in this amazing city and it seems to be the right time in my life. For those of you who don't know, assisting is something that is very hard and scary (cold calls!) to get into. You don't make a lot of money at first, yet you still need to be flexible and not having a job right now might actually be a good thing!

So, this weekend went really well! I got a lot of questions answered, refreshed my memory on basic lighting setups, made quite a few contacts, and met some amazing women (even one who went to Virginia Tech and, like me, just moved here from across the country about a month ago).

in the nude

2011-10-14T10:02:00.000-07:00

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So sensual and so gorgeous...

she's like a rainbow

2011-10-13T14:23:00.000-07:00

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I love the smoky effect in this image and how her green eyes just pop against it!

crowded and intricate

2011-10-13T11:21:00.000-07:00

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I love doodles that look like this, all crowded and never-ending...

something smells fishy

2011-10-13T09:09:00.000-07:00

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medieval times

2011-10-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

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Not sure if this is really considered medieval or not, but it brings to mind a tapestry that would hang in a castle back in medieval times. I love the look!

grey matter

2011-10-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

1, 2, 3, 4

a hint of red

2011-10-11T10:44:00.000-07:00

1, 2

and i quote...

2011-10-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

dream wedding

2011-10-10T11:52:00.000-07:00

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Quite literally.

The other night I had a dream that I was getting married and I was wearing a very tight black sparkly dress, very similar to the one above but with a skinny silver belt around the waist and without the poofy sleeves (which were short or long, I can't remember). I also had three diamond encrusted onyx rings of varying sizes and styles.

I swear I'm not gothic, but it's very astronomy- and constellation-inspired which I am totally for! So, if you have any onyx rings lying around, feel free to send them my way! I also wouldn't mind wearing that Elie Saab creation (who just so happens to be my absolute favorite designer).

What do you think?

the search

2011-10-07T17:39:00.000-07:00

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So I started my new job yesterday. And today... I quit. Like I said before, I didn't know what to expect. I've never had a sales position before and I thought I'd give it a try even though I was pretty sure I wouldn't like it. And I didn't. Don't get me wrong, I understand the necessity of the job (because how else would the company survive), but the whole being pushy without being pushy thing and creating a "sensual sales experience" just isn't me.

So I'm diving back into the search! (Not that I hadn't stopped looking.)

PS. The bottles of booze are irrelevant to the content of this post! it just looked good with the picture of the telescope.

the beginning of a new day

2011-10-06T08:08:00.000-07:00

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Well, I'm off to start my new job today! It's nothing fancy, just a part-time position at a little boutique, but it's something. And I'm amazed at how fast it happened. I only started filling out applications a week ago!

So, I have no idea what to expect and hopefully it isn't too boring. Wish me luck!

dreaming in charcoal

2011-10-05T11:18:00.000-07:00

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Ever since Crystal Gentilello first mentioned painting her new San Francisco apartment in a daring shade of charcoal, I couldn't wait to see the outcome. Luckily, I didn't have long to wait as she recently revealed it in the latest issue of Rue!

And. I. Love. It.

The grey is dark though not gothic, bold though not overpowering, subtle yet daring, classic yet glamorous. In other words, absolutely perfect. A flawless compliment to the many textures featured in the room (and you know how much I love a perfect texture combo): the luxurious grey curtains, velvety wood tables, crystal clear glass lighting, pale pink flowers and ornate objects.

honey i'm hombe

2011-10-04T12:22:00.000-07:00

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I freaking NEED this jar! Isn't it so beautiful?

the great white

2011-10-04T09:41:00.000-07:00

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Good grief these are epic...!

girl in space

2011-10-03T12:19:00.000-07:00

1, 2

and i quote...

2011-10-03T09:30:00.000-07:00

book of the month

2011-09-30T20:51:00.000-07:00

cover photo scanned by me

September's Book Club Bloggers Book of the Month was chosen by none other than myself. Jack Kerouac's On the Road is a book I read a few years ago but had been meaning to re-read since. Thus why I chose it.

First, let me say that I honestly forgot about the significance of San Francisco in this book! Having just moved to San Francisco myself, I won't lie that it was my favorite thing about this book. I couldn't help but savor the many passages written about its foggy bay, glittering nights, eleven hills, and purple sunsets.

"I suddenly realized I was in California. Warm, palmy air - air you can kiss - and palms. Along the storied Sacramento River on a superhighway; into the hills again; up, down; and suddenly the vast expanse of a bay (it was just before dawn) with the sleepy lights of Frisco festooned across. Over the Oakland Bay Bridge I slept soundly for the first time since Denver; so that I was rudely jolted in the bus station at Market and Fourth into the memory of the fact that I was three thousand two hundred miles form my aunt's house in Paterson, New Jersey. I wandered out like a haggard ghost, and there she was, Frisco - long, bleak streets with trolley wires all shrouded in fog and whiteness."

While I am more than aware of the immense popularity and culture significance of this book, I'm almost afraid to admit that I didn't love it. Don't get me wrong, I didn't not like it, but while I enjoyed the first part of the book, I found that I was tiring of it about halfway through. The initial excitement and thrill of being on the road with the thoughts of Sal Paradise slowly turned monotonous. I also started to wonder if I'm even supposed to like Sal. I don't think I liked his friends; I found Dean Moriarty rather exhausting and annoying. But, am I supposed to like Sal? Is he like his friends or is he different? Or does he only seem likable because he's the narrator?

Yet, I can't completely disregard this book because it had more than its fair share of descriptive imagery:

"...but I preferred reading the American landscape as we went along. Every bump, rise, and stretch in it mystified my longing. In inky night we crossed New Mexico; at gray dawn it was Dalhart, Texas; in the bleak Sunday afternoon we rode through one Oklahoma flat-town after another; at night-fall it was Kansas. The bus roared on."

and:

" As a seaman I used to think of the waves rushing beneath the shell of the ship and the bottomless deeps thereunder - now I could feel the road some twenty inches beneath me, unfurling and flying and hissing at incredible speeds across the groaning continent with that mad Ahab at the wheel."

and:

"And before me was the great raw bulge and bulk of my American continent; somewhere far across, gloomy, crazy New York was throwing up its cloud of dust and brown steam. There is something brown and holy about the East; and California is white like washlines and emptyheaded..."

And I completely understand the urge to just go... and to keep on going. To live that bohemian lifestyle on the road, to feel that freedom of not knowing what's coming next or where you'll sleep or how you'll get your next meal. I think we all dream about that at some point in our lives, though few of us ever follow through. I enjoyed the wacky adventures and the interesting people that Sal encountered along the way, but it lost its luster after awhile and I found myself growing impatient and wanting it to be over. I enjoyed the book much more when Sal was on the road by himself, which ended up being a far too small portion of his adventure.

You can read the rest of the Book Club Bloggers' reviews here.

pretty in pictures

2011-09-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Well, I'm taking a break from blogging the next few days while Sean's mother, stepfather and grandmother come to visit! Sean hasn't seen anyone from his family since he moved out here seven months ago, and I haven't seen them in over a year. I also haven't seen them since Sean and I got engaged over Christmas, so I guess it's kind of a big deal! Plus, it'll be really nice to see familiar faces now that I'm across the country from everyone I know and love.

So, I thought I'd indulge you with a rare post of lots of prettiness to tide you over, rather than the usual one or two.

PS. I'll be back tomorrow with this month's Book Club Bloggers Book of the Month!

juno

2011-09-29T10:27:00.000-07:00

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I think Juno Temple has such a cool look. I love when her hair is untamed.

neck wear

2011-09-28T16:33:00.000-07:00

1, 2, 3, 4

Some gorgeous necklaces I've been drooling over on Etsy...

PS. Don't you like how the last three posts kinda go together? Me too.

the searcher

2011-09-28T10:38:00.000-07:00

1, 2

and i quote...

2011-09-28T08:47:00.000-07:00

This amazing poem was written especially for me on a typewriter. I chose the topic of Astronomy and a few minutes later, I held this poem in my hand. Find out why here.

ghostly desires

2011-09-27T11:15:00.000-07:00

1, 2

in the details

2011-09-26T09:42:00.000-07:00

1, 2, 3

I think I've mentioned before how my posts usually just put themselves together when I notice what looks good together. Like these three, they just kinda lined up next to each other and looked nice. And then I noticed that they do have something in common: those tiny little details in the flower, the whiskers, and the curtain. I like when that happens.

the autumnal equinox

2011-09-23T12:46:00.000-07:00

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Happy first day of Autumn!

the mermaid

2011-09-23T11:06:00.000-07:00

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the rose

2011-09-22T14:34:00.000-07:00

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Um, can you say, amazing?!

For some reason I'm really attracted to lots of color lately. Maybe Krystal was onto something when she said it must be because I'm finally with my guy...

PS. I posted some more San Fran pictures over here!

spots and stripes

2011-09-22T09:46:00.000-07:00

Sarah Eager, 2

the salty air

2011-09-21T11:08:00.000-07:00

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this is san francisco

2011-09-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

photo by me, Andrea Despot

So, guess what a certain someone finally did?

That's right! I finally got around to taking pictures here in San Francisco! I'll share the rest later, but that one above is my favorite.

I can't believe I've been here almost a month now... and have accomplished so little. Now that I'm not on a regular schedule, it's been kinda hard keeping up with blogging, yet I know some of you want to know what's going on with me. I tend to internalize things and not talk about the "negative" stuff and what's worrying me. I already talked about some of it on my other blog (right here), but I've basically been psyching myself out to the point of not doing anything. But... I had a really great talk with my mom the other day about not thinking things to death and not being so serious, to just have fun with this chapter of my life. I know I know all this, but I always tend to forget. People are just people and for the most part, they aren't judging me for all the tiny things I think they are. Now, I just need to get out and do it!

color pop

2011-09-16T11:17:00.000-07:00

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I love the colors in this pin up portrait! So pretty and fun.

creature comforts

2011-09-15T11:47:00.000-07:00

1, 2, 3 (unknown)

and i quote...

2011-09-15T09:50:00.000-07:00

and i quote...

2011-09-14T10:27:00.000-07:00

i dream of africa

2011-09-13T12:47:00.004-07:00

1, 2, 3

I just finished Kuki Gallman's memoir, I Dreamed of Africa, and so I'm dreaming of Africa... Again... What else is new? (And just so you know, as usual, the book is much much better than the movie version.)

You can see all of my previous Africa posts here.

oodle doodle

2011-09-13T09:35:00.001-07:00

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I wish I could doodle with water colors this well...

Quick update: My IKEA furniture is arriving today! Yay for furniture! Finally.

Speaking of furniture: the other night Sean and I were making a late-night run to Walgreens so I could get some alcohol and we found a coffee table on the side of the road. It's actually really nice and sturdy and Sean was sweet enough to carry it through the woods all the way home! Normally I would've felt guilty about spending money on something I don't need (like that bottle of wine), but it was totally worth it after finding that table. My very first piece of furniture! Which I love! And was free!

eva green

2011-09-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

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She's one of my favorites.

furnishings

2011-09-07T12:36:00.001-07:00

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Hopefully I can start blogging more regularly sometime soon, but seeing as I'm still without a desk, sitting on the hardwood floor and hunching over my keyboard is quite painful!

But...! I ordered some furniture from IKEA which will hopefully arrive this week. I got a couple of drawer units and a big board to put on top that will serve as both our desks. (The same as the one in the picture above.)

Though I've been with Sean for five years, we haven't actually lived together for four of those years, so now that we finally do live together, we're getting used to each other's quirks all over again. Things are going alright, but one of the biggest things is that when he's working, he likes to have background noise, a movie or music playing. But I can't have any noise whatsoever! We haven't had any real problems with this yet, but since we'll be sharing the same workspace, who knows how it'll go. We'll see...

food with thought

2011-09-06T13:29:00.000-07:00

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Before I left Virginia, my dad gave me three pieces of advice:

1. Don't get pregnant
2. Don't eat all pasta
3. Don't waste anything

Number one aside (it would just be bad timing in both of our lives if I got pregnant right now), I've got a question for you guys:

How the heck do you eat affordably and healthily?

After living at home for the past four years, I was spoiled by my parents doing most of the shopping and cooking. When I wanted to cook something on my own, I bought the few ingredients my parents didn't have and made it without spending too much money. I also ate a lot of spaghetti and meatballs (which is my favorite meal ever, though I realize how unhealthy).

The only experience I've had with living on my own was two years in college when I lived mostly on Easy Mac and frozen entrees. I also didn't have anything else to pay for: just food and photography equipment. Nowadays I'm a grownup with student loans, insurance, phone, utilities, and for the very first time: rent! I've only been here a week and I suddenly realize how freaking expensive food is! Not just a meal or two, but enough food to live on! I feel like I've already spent way too much money and am kinda starting to freak out.

So how do you do it? Other than making sandwiches every day, how do you cook a wide variety of meals that are both healthy and affordable? And I don't want anything fancy here; I want to use ingredients that can be used in multiple recipes, ingredients that won't go to waste. I'm already a little proud of myself as I was trying to figure out something to eat with what few things we had in the fridge: so I made quesadillas with cheese, tomatoes, and onions. And I realize that this is something incredibly easy, something that anything can be added to: leftover chicken, vegetables, etc. But I do realize that I have so many tomatoes and onions and even some leftover garlic that I can't possibly use it up any time soon. So I had another epiphany! I can throw all three of those ingredients into the spaghetti sauce that I just bought!

So, the wheels in my head are already starting to turn. But I still need any advice that you guys have to give. Pretty please?

into the lens

2011-09-06T11:37:00.000-07:00

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in the city

2011-09-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

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What to say? What to say? There really isn't much to report right now as I'm still getting used to living in San Francisco. We live in the Presidio which is a secluded sort of park/neighborhood near the Golden Gate Bridge. It's sorta out of the way from everything and far from downtown so it takes forever to do the simplest things, such as going to the grocery store: we hop onto the free PresidiGo shuttle and get off on one of the drop-off points and then walk a half mile to get food and a half mile back. And then just finding cheap clothing hangers was a chore: the nearest Target is really far away so we had to hop onto several buses to get to The Container Store downtown. I'm so used to shopping at places like Target and Walmart for the best deals and it seems that here, it's best to just buy everything at the local grocery or convenience store as it'll just cost more by the time you pay for the bus or subway...

But on the bright side: I'm finally starting to get used to the bus system! And I finally got a Clipper Card so that I don't have to take forever fumbling with dollar bills. So, that's about it for now. Just getting use to this wholly new way of doing things. We haven't gotten out that much and sight-seen so I have no pictures to share at the moment. (But the picture above actually is of San Francisco by Cindy Loughridge.)

two

2011-09-02T10:21:00.000-07:00

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near and far

2011-09-01T09:58:00.001-07:00

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Well, I'm in San Francisco! And all 29 of my boxes arrived safely (save for a few broken ceramics and glassware, which is really no big deal). I've unpacked but have no furniture so everything is just laying on the living room floor. It's kinda driving me crazy as I want to be completely settled in already (I don't even have hangers yet). But I've only been here four days so I need to just calm down...

Anyway, I have so much blogging and internet stuffs to catch up on (I just got my computer in the mail yesterday), but I just wanted to let you all know that I should return to regular blogging soon (sans desk).

taking off (almost)

2011-08-24T10:13:00.001-07:00

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Well, I'm officially unemployed and am spending my Wednesday packing the rest of my stuff and washing clothes. I don't leave until Sunday, but I need to make sure I can fit all my clothes into my suitcases (I think I actually can!) and I need to ship everything else today so it'll get to San Francisco as soon as possible.

Which means I won't have my computer until next week. I can still use my parents' computer but I won't be blogging. I'll still pop up here and there but I'll be pretty silent until next week.

So... I'll be spending my last days in Virginia visiting my sister and saying goodbye to random people and finishing up some errands. Also, there was something rather profound about my big move that I've been meaning to say that I completely forgot about:

It seemed as if the universe was aligning, helping me out, giving me signs and letting me know that everything will work out just fine. Ever since Sean and I decided to move to San Francisco, I've been selling more photographs, getting more dog- and house-sitting jobs, booking more photography sessions and even teaching my first photography class. I got the chance to get paid overtime for the first time in two years. I didn't get sick at all, resulting in no unpaid sick days. After participating in the annual local art competition for the past eight years, I finally won one of the big awards which meant big money.

Moving across the country means spending money. It also means saving money for when we'll be struggling through those first few months. So the universe sent some extra money my way this past year and it was perfect timing.

Little things. Little signs. Letting me know that yes, this is right.

And that rare earthquake that hit the east coast yesterday? Only days before I move near the earthquake capital of the world? I don't take it as a bad omen. Instead, I think it's pretty freaking ironic and almost comical. I take it as a good sign. As if it were just for me.