My stats

STATS

AGE: 24

HEIGHT: 5'6"

WEIGHT: 20lbs heavier than at age 18.

MARITAL STATUS: Single

LOCATION: Gig Harbor, WA (re: dads)

CURRENT WEATHER: Snowy and beautiful.

Since the death of my grandfather, I am feeling more and more motivated to follow what my heart is telling me to do. Seeing how wildly successful my grandfather was made me stop and say, "why not?" to school. To New York. To a new adventure as a young, single, aspiring designer.

The way I see it, my life has the possibility to go in two general directions at this point.

Direction #1: I stay in Seattle and continue to work for the company I do. There is no real guarantee that I will go further with this job or not, but, you know, its safe. Secure. Comfortable. I could save money and put that on a down-payment for a house or condo. Buy nicer furniture. Maybe find a boyfriend, eventually find a husband, then have some kids. All in all... just a sort of "settling down" process. Which would be so, whats the word, ME! I would do that. It would be really nice I am sure.

Direction #2: I move home. Save money. Move to New York City. Find some seedy apartment in a bad neighborhood to afford the rent. (Erg, I hope I am joking about this one). Go to school in the fabulous Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan. Ride the subway. Meet friends that say things like, "You need a qwuata? Or how about some wuata? Maybe a hat dag?" Learn about design in the CAPITOL of design. Go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Play in Central Park. Experience living in New York for approximately 3.5 years and yes mom, come back. Come back with new experiences, a new degree, a new expertise in my chosen field of work. Maybe come back with a boyfriend. Hopefully come back with more confidence and ability to be good at something. Come back with my weight like it was at age 18. (hahahahahahaha)

While all of this does sound quite dreamy and fun and adventurous, trust me.... I already feel the tightness in my chest of what doing something like this means. It means being away from my family. It means missing out on all of the fun and amazing things my cool friends do. It means feeling entirely alone in a city of millions of people. It will mean really hard work with no guarantee that my field will really need me. It means watching my money FLY out of my ears and nose into thin air. Can I really do this? I am feeling a little displaced at the moment because I cannot entirely unpack. My chest gets tight and I feel like crying every time I think about all my stuff sitting in a pile in the garage. When things are not in their "places" I am HIGHLY anxious. HIGHLY. If I am this anxious when my hairdryer is not in its hairdryer basket but in a drawer and I cannot find my brush and my socks are touching my *U's because they are in THE SAME DRAWER (gasp!), what am I going to do when I have to move across the country and I don't know where to buy toothpaste let alone figure out how to get my socks to not touch my U's? Can someone tell me this??? WHAT AM I EVEN THINKING!!

But, for now, I can still enjoy my family. For now, I can still hang out with my great friends and have dinner and watch movies and drink wine. For now, my life is still regular. Except for the fact that my socks are touching my U's.

*what my mother and grandmother call underwear.

I have a reason...

...for not blogging in so long.

A) I refused to blog about the election and that was a mighty hot topic. I am more of a "keep it to yourself" type. My guy did not win. But I can happily say that I am confident in our President-elects abilities and that of his staff to do some really great things the next four years (oh lets be honest, the guy and his cult like following will be around for the next eight.)

B) My grandfather died on the 5th. It was sad. I am still sad. And I didn't have the energy to express it.

Also, this little hiatus is going to be going on just a touch longer since dun, dun, duuuun (!!!) I am leaving for New York tomorrow!!

Get ready Upper East Siders. This West Coast girl is headed your way, and straight for The Palace hotel (is that even real?) to grab a drink and watch for this guy.

SHARK SWEATER!

Good LAWD that boy is a dream.

Anyway. Wish me luck on my trip New York/self discovery. I will need it.

You know you love me...

XOXO,

K

Carolyne Roehm Book Signing

Happy Friday!

For those of you who don't know who Carolyne Roehm is. Stop reading and go look at her website here. I love spending time just browsing all of the beautiful ribbons and decor that she has. I would love to get a hold of one of her books too. They look beautiful! One of her new books, A Passion for Blue and White, is set to come out on October 28th. If you are lucky enough to live in New York, head down to Archivia Books and get your copy signed by Carolyne!

Here are the details:

When: October 28th, 5pm - 8pm

Where: Archivia Books

993 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY

"Enjoy the last glow of Autumn and skip through the leaves..."

- Carolyne Roehm

Exposed Beams

I noticed a trend today in my recent "favorites file" of magazine clippings. I put sticky's on the rooms with exposed beams. To me, it adds a really natural visual structure to the room that I love.

Here are some of my favorites.

ELLE Decor

This house is my DREAM house. Featured in ELLE Decor. The next picture is in the kitchen of this house... so beautiful.

ELLE Decor

ELLE Decor

ELLE Decor

(I don't know where I got this!)

Reindeers are in. I'M SERIOUS!

Check out this little ditty I just bought.

So cute, so warm, so vintage inspired! I love it. Can't wait to wear it next to my mom who has a sweater with a similar pattern, that she actually knit herself years ago.

Forever 21

I have been waiting for this weekend and am so excited that it is actually here! The friends and I are off to Maltby's Cafe for breakfast and then headed to the Pumpkin Patch to enjoy the fall weather and search for the perfect pumpkin!

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Pennington & Bailes

*UPDATE:
A) My mom pointed out that I had the wrong, "wear". How embarrassing and VERY unbecoming of me.
B)Per my future roommates request.... I tried to replace the Marshall U pants with WVU ones, but.... they don't have them. Sorry. I tried!

Oh, how I wish I lived in an area where tailgating was a favorite past-time. Because then I would be associating myself with people who wear outfits like this, and that just makes me happy.

If someone showed up to a Hawks or Huskies/Cougs game wearing these? He would get run over by a Subaru.

If you do in fact live in an area that appreciates this lovely sort of attire, please go to

Pennington & Bailes

immediately and stock up on your favorite critter pants covered in your schools logo.

The new Krissy 08'/09'

Hello All,

It has been awhile. But I haven't really had much to talk about either. This weekend was interesting. Friday, I was in a SOUR mood (just ask my dear sister who had to console me about it). Sometimes I have a tendency to wallow in my "situation", whatever it may be. Topics that can get me VERY upset leading to said counseling sesh with sister include:

1) Job

2) Friends
3) Missing friends
4) Catty fights with friends
5) My weight/body image ISSUES. And man do I have them. ("Buzz your girlfriend...Woooooof")
6) Dilemmas with future
7) Being single, with apparently LOTS of non-single friends now (although Saturday I was affirmed that there are still a few left!)

So, back to Friday. I had a meltdown because I was home. On a Friday night. Nothing to do but try desperately to watch Grey's Anatomy online. But, alas, having a 6 year old Dell came to bite me. It would NOT PLAY. DELL would CRASH every single time. Commence real tears over this. It was more of a build up of frustration and loneliness than anything. All I really wanted was to be in Alabama watching it in my sisters bed with my little four legged niece and nephew. URGH! And as I was spilling tears over this situation, every other situation that was bothering me came out with it. I was sad because I was alone. I was sad because I feel like I have been working so hard at the gym and trying to eat as healthy as possible without any results to show for it. I was sad that I am again, trying to uproot my life and find fulfillment in SOMETHING (i.e. all of the school searching). I got myself completely worked up unnecessarily.

Sister went into ACTION let me tell you. I bet you she was just fed up with my antics to be honest. Regardless here is the plan we are calling, "The New Krissy 08'/09'":

1) Examine my eating habits and consult with nutritionist friend for advice.

2) Find more single friends... Small group through church, volunteer groups, etc.

3) Write down five good things about my day everyday.

She wants me to start appreciating the "now". I am a true dreamer. If things aren't happening as they happen in my dreams....I take action to change that. Or find a new dream to seek after. However, this is leaving me quite unhappy and unfulfilled with my life.

I am determined to change this.

5 GREAT things about my weekend:

*Sleeping in*

*Shopping and lunch with my mom*

*SALSA dancing on Saturday night*

*Nice, but heart pumping hike with my marrieds*

*Family dinner finished off by core warming apple cider with my marrieds*

Ahhh.... I feel my mood lifting higher already

Auf Wiedersehen

Headed to Leavenworth to drink beer and eat brats with my friends at Oktoberfest!

Have a great weekend everyone...

Auf Weidersehen!

JOULES!

I am seriously SO GITTY I cannot even begin to explain it. It is similar to this:

The reason for my over-stimulation in AWESOMENESS?

The British call it Joules. It is a store so suited for me it is crazy and I couldn't help but clap my hands in a fit of joy when I saw all of the beautiful clothes.

But the obvious issue with this, is that,

(A) The clothes are in Britain + (B) The American economy is FILTHY = (C) The clothes are twice as expensive.

BUT JUST LOOOOOOOOOOOOK

New Title

I noticed in the last couple months that there are well, A LOT of blogs having to do with all things preppy. And I love it somuchsomuchSOMUCH! However, I want to set my blog apart a little bit. The title, "Very Becoming", actually comes from something my mom has said to me. If ever I do anything inappropriate (who me? NEVAH!), she jokingly says, "Krissy, that is VERY unbecoming of you".

So this is my blog that is for all things that ARE becoming of me.

ENJOY!

Defeated

Do you ever have one of those days where you just feel.... deflated? Like the balloon of promise about something that has been lifting you up for awhile, keeping you high above the drabness of your life just got popped. Ohhhh, that's me.

I have been researching going back to school for a few months now. I have it narrowed down to a couple of schools in New York and one in Boston.

New York School of Interior Design

Pratt Institute

Boston Architectural College

I am going out there in November and have been VERY excited about it. I can't stop thinking about the "endless" opportunities that a degree would offer me or give me a head start on. The knowledge and experience that an actual education in design would offer me. I have been wanting an adventure for the last year or so (please refer to THIS post). Wouldn't New York just be amazing to experience?? Or Boston even? I can imagine going to all these cool classes learning about colors, and drafting, and furniture and LAWD that just gets me all revved up!

Currently I work for a yacht building company and am an Interior Design Assistant. Obviously, this sounds like a great job. And, trust me, IT IS. Very cool working environment, great pay, "possibilities". However, for the last 5 months I have just been so bored. Not the whole time, but a lot of it. Because of my lack of actual experience and knowledge in design, I am left to run errands, return samples, write up select orders and general administrative duties. You know, like an assistant would do (I understand that this is my job and also that everyone needs to start somewhere). But despite that I am feeling really unchallenged and wanting more, still. I know for a fact that design is a passion of mine and I think I would be REALLY good at it given the opportunity. How do I get this opportunity other than going to school and proving that I CAN?

Coming back down now. Reasons that were brought to my attention (I had previously been just ignoring them or assuming that they would just you know... "work out")

1. MONEY. Hello, school costs a boat load, so does living in NY.... can I actually afford this? Probably not.

2. Friends. I have a pretty cool group of friends. I like them. We do fun and cliche stuff like trips to the pumpkin patch, preppy beach weekends, picnics in the park, etc. I love it. Why would I leave that???

3. Leaving a great job that I already have in a poor economy that has "potential" for advancement. Its true, so why would I leave?

4. Family. They are an hour away. No more going home for weekends. No more breakfasts with dad. Trips home would be more selective and infinitely more expensive.

5. Starting over. Completely. I mean, new degree, new city, new friends, new job, new finances, EV-ER-Y-THING. Completely different. I hate change.... why do I always bring it on myself.

I was you know... crying in the bathroom about the whole thing. Just felt a lot of self-doubt and worry and frustration. I was at work though so I got myself back together and went back to my desk and had a very reassuring convo with my good friend, we'll call her "J". She is currently going back to school for counseling and had these insights to give me. It instantly made me feel better: This was the gist of our conversation....

Me: I feel defeated...

J: Well here is a kinda pep talk. YES you know there are factors that make school hard. You figured out that without people telling you (etc rent, tuition, not knowing people), BUT, if it is a desire of yours, you take the bad with the good. What you need to do is (aside from what others say) sit down and figure out your pros and cons of going. After looking at them on paper...decide if YOU think its worth it. The other way you will get an answer is whether God opens/closes doors..ie. you get accepted to the school/are able to find housing etc. Sometimes he works through those scenarios to direct us to where we are supposed to go so be prayerful about it. I mean, we all want our friends opinions on things...but ultimately..you know yourself, your personality, desires better than any outsider.

She is right. She made me feel much better and reminded me to lay this one in God's hands. If it works out, it works out. If not...I still have the job I am at and life goes on.

more animals

Fall is my favorite season

You heard me. Fall is my favorite season. I am more gitty about it than spring or summer. Something about the air just makes me want to take a deep breath and savor it. Personally, I think that Fall and Winter are the most romantic seasons of the year. Maybe it is the cold factor and the need to be close to people. Or maybe because it is a time of traditions. And there is no better way to practice traditions than with someone special to you.

Here are just a few of my favorite things about Fall....

1. Cool days when the sun is out. Similar to that feeling of being warm in your bed but having the window open and your face feel cool. So soothing and cozy.

2. Fall leaves. So cliche but just.... LOOK at how beautiful this Seattle street is.

Photos courtesy of this site. Thanks!

3. Pumpkin. Spice. Latte.

4. Speaking of pumpkins.... I love fall for pumpkin patches!

Picture taken by my friend at our 2007 Pumpkin Patch Day

5. The changing of the wardrobes. All of my summer dresses, tanks, shorts.... go into storage and out come my winter coats, sweaters, and warm shoes. Here are a couple of sweaters I have been thinking about, but won't get because (single fist pump to the sky) I AM ON A BUDGET!

J.Crew.com

6. Holiday Movies. Here are my favorites:

7. The anticipation of winter coming. I love planning trips home, Christmas shopping lists, and seeing the ballet (The Nutcracker) at the Pacific Northwest Ballet with my grandmother. I love getting excited when I hear it is going to snow and anxiously looking outside to see if it is. I love planning ski trips with friends and the exhaustion felt after a good day on the slopes.

Classy Animal Art

I was browsing the 1st Dibs art section recently and noticed a pattern in what I was drawn to at the moment. Antique paintings of animals. Here were some of my favorites.

A Fine English Painting by Richards of ShiptonEnglish

Mid-nineteenth Century

G. Sergeant Antiques L.L.C

A Fine Whippet Portrait

English School

19th Century G. Sergeant Antiques L.L.C.

Antique painting of English hunting dog, signed Bailley

England, circa 1889

Floxglove Antiques

FOLK PORTRAIT OF A BULL, SIGNED L.D.D., 1885

American

Jeff R. Bridgman American Antiques

Duck Shoes

I seem to be on a shoe kick lately. I guess I am just getting ready for fall and preparing my feet to be INSIDE shoes once again. But, I cannot wait....

Topic in shoes today is what some call Duck Shoes. They are great for fall/winter days when it is rainy or muddy. They have that great classic outdoorsy style and I just love them.

Here are some examples. I chose the Navy/Tan ones from L.L. Bean.

L.L. Bean Rubber Moc

Tory Burch "Matthew" Duck Shoe - Nordstrom

The Berkley Penny Loafer

Hello All!

So in my last post I said that I had gone "shopping with me". Well I had success. In my job, I walk a LOT, because the job site is so big. So heals are not really a great option for me to wear on a daily basis. Plus, I am naturally drawn to flats more, but the flats I do own have seen better days.

ENTER THE BERKLEY PENNY LOAFER.

Oh, oh my gosh. I saw them at Nordstrom's and about died. It is hard to come across a "penny loafer" that doesn't make you look like a complete dork. And these were JUST PERFECT! And super comfortable. And not too expensive. And can be worn with or with out socks (argyle of course).

Oh, and I also found these at 30% off at Banana Republic. Yip!

On Loneliness

Today was kind of a lonely day. I didn't have any plans and I was not a part of anyone else's. So ya, it was kind of a lonely day. When days like these creep up on me it is a stinging reminder that I don't have someone special to hang out with whenever I want. It is a reminder that sometimes you will not be included in things and that friendships seem to change in the blink of an eye. That your forever friend, lives in Alabama unable to hug you when you need it most. But like each weekend that this happens, it is also a reminder of the importance of learning to be happy all by your self. So today, I hung out with "me". I went to the gym, with me. I went and got coffee (Pumpkin Spice Latte GOD BLESS YOU!), with me. I went shopping, with me. I ate lunch at Nordies, with me. And it was fine.

But, honest moment, I want SO much, for it to not be just me anymore.

"What I saw today"

There is this blog that I have been following called "What I Saw Today". It is similar to The Sartorialist (except for What I Saw Today does menswear only), but the writer actually SKETCHES what he sees. Here are some of my favorites that he has posted recently.

"Nelson in an Orange Leather Vest"

"Bow Tie #3. University and 12th Street"

"Why is it that European Men..."

("take a look that is so American - here a pink oxford shirt, madras shorts, moccasins - and make it look better?")

"Madras, White Pants, Top Siders"

My Preppy Name

Your Preppy Name Is...

Pemberton Chaplin Weatherley the Fourth But most people know you as Miffy

What's" Your Preppy Name?

I love this!! What is your preppy name??

PS. It is September 11, 2008. I still remember everything about that day seven years ago and will never forget....

Skills for Men

I came across an article from Esquire Magazine while reading this blog. I thought it was smart. I wonder if there is a list of "know-hows" that women should know...

Anyways, read here, and learn. My personal favorites are: 9,10,16,46,74

Cover of Esquire, June 1965

MOTHER CHUCKER!

Confession: I am completely obsessed with Gossip Girl. Here are my reasons:

1. The wardrobe. Oh my land it is UNBELIEVABLE! It is seriously just beautiful. My favorites are of course Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass.

2. The drama. While it is a little...over the top, it is entirely addicting and even my own mother, bless her heart, can not get enough of it. What do you think we did while I was home all weekend??? Answer: watch the entire first season.

3. That's it.

So the second season of GG started on Monday. And thank you LORD for my roommate who bought this GHETTO (!) set of rabbit ears (a TV ANTENNA PEOPLE!) for our TV. Because without her insatiable need to watch the Olympics, I would have not been able to pick up channel 11 and continue this guilty pleasure every Monday. Thanks ROOMIE!

Here is a link to an awesome and accurate recap of this horrid show. READ ME

And some pictures of my favorite fashions of the first episode.












(Oh, he makes me blush a little bit)


YOU KNOW YOU LOVE ME!
XOXO, GOSSIP GIRL!