Alexa Chung for Madewell

Long time no blog! I've got a wayyyy overdue Barcelona post coming, but in the meantime, LOVING the Madewell collaboration with Alexa Chung. Could she be any cuter?! If I could afford this stuff I'd buy it all, but I think I can replicate some of the looks with cheaper buys. It's great inspiration, anyhow.

I'd Wear That: Trench and Gold Watch

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September

¡Bienvenidos, Septiembre! It feels like I've been waiting for the end of August for forever, despite it being an amazing month. I'm in no hurry to rush summer away (it basically just showed up in the PNW), but exciting things are on the horizon. Primarily, Barcelona. A part of me can't believe it's actually happening. I leave next Thursday and I can.not.wait!

I'll be here soon!
(View pic from the apartment in L’Eixample.)

The first week at my new job has also been going swimmingly. I think I'm going to really enjoy it; a nice respite from my work at the City. However, it does have one major bummer - the commute. To remedy this I've decided to move to the neighborhood where the job is located. It's a great 'hood and I would love nothing more than to be able to walk to work, the surrounding theaters, and decent restaurants. I basically live in the 'burbs now and have to bus or drive to anything remotely cool.

Fall is definitely in the air. Temps are significantly cooler at night and dew awaits me on the windshield each morning. I'm desperately in need of a wardrobe update and J. Crew has been on my mind. Can someone just gift me everything in Jenna Lyons' wardrobe? Thanks.

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I'm looking forward to my vacation and the possibilities on the horizon. New job, hopefully new place to live soon, and perhaps a new l'amor? Only time will tell...

I hope everyone had a great summer and that you also have a few things to look forward to!

Iris Apfel

What a character. Wish I had even a modicum of her fashion chutzpah. Check out this recent NYT piece about her.

5 Things

It's been a while, but I have a lot to be thankful for lately.

1. I'll be starting my new job on Monday! Thankful for answered prayers.

2. My awesome friends. I am very thankful to them for making me feel like a rockstar for my birthday this year. All week long people reached out to me with offers of lunches, dinners, and best of all - a floating/camping trip!

3. I am thankful I survived that camping trip. I am decidedly indoorsy, and we floated (hey, summer goal) down the lower Yamika River. The first five minutes were a little treacherous because we floated right into the trees and my back got all scratched up and some people capsized, but we survived! What doesn't kill you, right?

4. A very nice going away lunch, party and gracious present from a boss who I felt at times did not appreciate me. Haven't we all?

5. I'll be in Barcelona in two weeks!

Black Dandyism

A blog called Street Etiquette, which I've been following for a while now thanks to my friend Ryan who linked to it on his facebook page, was recently featured in the NYT style section. I really like what these men are doing: presenting an alternative paradigm on traditional media's view of black men, black culture and black style. Check out their site.

Lately

It's been a while, friends. Lots going on and lots to report. First up, I got a new job! After five years of working at my current job, an exciting opportunity literally landed in my inbox about a month ago.

I'm pretty passionate about the arts. I stared this blog three years ago (are you my fan?). I've been on the board of The Crew at Seattle Repertory for most of that time as well. And this past year I volunteered as an Associate for an organization called ArtsFund. I landed a position on the executive side of a nonprofit arts org and I couldn't be happier. It wasn't an easier decision however; the pay is significantly less, I have to be in the office by 8:00am, and my commute is going to be about 15 extra minutes.

I'm leaving the comforts of a decent salary, nice coworkers, 20 vacation days per year, a free buss pass and plenty of other perks that come with my gig for what I think deep down is what I should really be doing: working in the arts. I start one week from Monday and my last day at my current job is this Friday.

In other good news, I'm going to BARCELONA next month and I can't hardly wait. I'm staying mum on the details for now, but if you know me at all then you should know the likelihood of a man factoring into this equation is relatively high.

What else. My birthday is this coming Monday. I'm not much for celebrating my own self, but some wonderful friends have reached out to me this year and I've got mini-celebrations happening all over the place! An awesome dinner at Revel last night with gal friends K and Lu. A lovely new friend picked up the check today at lunch. A floating and camping trip planned for this weekend with about 12 friends. A happy hour with a surprise location planned on my actual b-day, plus my boss's annual birthday lunch—I picked Seastar—coupled with a going away party for me at work (with cake!), I will have certainly been properly fêted come the actual day. I love my friends.


About that pic above, K and I ran into three, middle-aged ladies when we were leaving the Sunset Supper at The Market earlier tonight. They asked us to take their picture while donning silly poses in front of an illuminated Pike Place Market Sign, then they wanted us in the pic with them. We never got a clear answer as to why they were wearing the gowns or where the heck they were going. All they said was you shouldn't wear a wedding dress only once. I can't argue with that.