getting defensive.

After a wonderful weekend in Disneyland, it is apparent that I'm no longer in the "happiest place on earth". My condo complex was broken into last night. Cars were broken into in the parking garage and he was found in the building!

All this after a relaxing weekend away and the beginning of my first week of living alone. Needless to say, I'm not feeling safe.

I'm going to be buying one of the following in the next week:

BIG dog.
security system.
gun.
self defense classs.

have any other ideas??

PDX...round two!

I can't wait for my trip to Portland in 2 weeks! The last time I was in Portland, was 8 months ago. It's been too long! This time, I'll be staying in the "Hawthorne" District, just across the bridge from downtown.

Got any ideas of great sights and places to visit?

enjoy life.

It's a *little rainy outside, but I won't let that stop me from having a fabulous weekend. And I hope you do, too!





*I tend to look on the bright side.

baby, it's getting cold outside...

and judging by the weather in Seattle today, it's looking like it's time for me to stock my closet with fall essentials. Here's my top ten list:

one. tights...lots of tights in bright colors are going to look great with these new booties I just bought...


two. neck scarf... this will be a fancier change up from my usual pashmina's

three. wellies...i swear, this season i'm buying a pair of hunter boots

four. umbrella...I'd love an umbrella like this...with just enough room for two.

(image via the sartorialist)

five. sweaters...anything cashmere will feel cozy next to my skin.

six. tall boots....boots! boots! boots! I would kill someone for either of these boots!

Tashkent by Cheyenne (image via shopbop)


Loeffler Randall Matilde flat (image via shopbop)

seven. fall inspiration outfits...





(images from shopbop and impulse)

eight. reading material for cold nights inside....there's nothing better than wandering around a bookstore on a rainy day, picking out a stack of books to take home and devour. I also can't wait to hear some of my favorite authors reading at one of my favorite bookstores, Elliott Bay Bookstore

nine. tea & coffee.... must stock up on peppermint, green & Roobios tea and espresso beans from Cafe Ladro.

ten. a sunny destination to look forward to...

hey zooey....

wanna be friends? And share clothes? And stay up all night listening to music? OK!





This chick is cool...read this article for proof. Zooey Deschanel is the kinda girl you'd want your brother to date or the girl you'd like to be stuck in a broken elevator with or sit next to on a 5 hour airplane flight and she has the window seat and you're in the middle and you're crammed up in your little nook just giggling and talking the whole time. Yea, you get the idea. Oh, and her clothes are killer, too.

whatever...

my new phrase: " I'll blog about it"

I've found myself saying that over and over, all the time.

Lauren's new phrase is: " I'm over it."

hehe.

currently listening to...

I've always loved Amy Winehouse's music, but for some reason, I've never been able to fully love or support her because she's so F'ed up! Now, I have found someone with that same soulful sound and poignant lyrics that makes my soul happy.... Duffy!



Her album "Rockferry" is killer. I've been listening to track number 2 on repeat all day. Also, this video is sexy...


Also, thanks goes out to Matt for his recommendation!

no doubt about it.

today is a monday.


I have a hundred and one things to do, but no energy to do it.

can i get an amen?

finally!! Topshop has launched it's US website and is opening a store in NY in November!

When I lived in Scotland this was my favorite store! Soon, very soon I will start stocking up on cardigans, skinny jeans (they are the best! Everytime I wear them, people ask where they're from.)and ballet flats! I'm so happy to get a lil bit of the UK in the USA!

Going out tonight!

to celebrate my dear friends Kim & Jimmy's birthdays (yes, they're married and have the same name and birthdays 1 day apart!) I want to look extra special. I'm feeling these looks and wondering how I could pull them together with pieces I already have in my closet??

something fancy?...
something funky?...
something sophisticated?...
something sienna?...
(images from alldressedup.com)

bad news comes in three's...bad news #3

soon i will be living alone.

Sometimes roommates can be bad...but when you get a roommate who is great, you want to hold onto them for as long as you can...until you find a permanent roommate for life, that is. Lauren is the best roommate for me. She was when we lived together three years ago with Anne in the duplex. That's where she taught me how to make Swedish pancakes and how to properly do my laundry (whites with whites, colors with colors - DUH!). Her room was in the basement of the duplex and always cooler in the summer time, so I'd sneak down there and sleep with her every once in a while and we'd watch an Audrey Hepburn film as we fell asleep. Then we lived with my parents for a couple months before she moved to CA and I moved to the UK. That was random, huh Lo?! For the third time, she moved in with me when she came back from CA. Which is where we are today.

She is the best roommate, which is why I don't think I can top her. I suppose I'll keep my eyes and ears open for potentials but I'm thinking living alone is the way to go. I know that because I'm terrified of it.

Honestly, I'm afraid to live alone. What will I do with all this time...by myself. Will the silence make me lonely? I am a strange version of an introverted-extrovert. I cherish my alone time because I love to be around people so often. What will happen when I am alone now most of the time? Will I still want to be alone or will I always want to have someone around or something entertaining me? I love coming home, walking in the door and seeing Lauren's purse on table - I know she's home. I love opening a bottle of wine and nibbling on goat cheese & figs while standing in the kitchen in our underwear, re-capping our days. She got me into juicing and buying Trader Joe's soy milk. I love when she gets in her "cleaning moods" and doesn't want me to help because it's therapeutic for her. I love that. Sometimes, she even sleeps with me. We love the same food, music, tv, movies, clothes, decor...I should just marry her! But since I'm prone to the males, her as my best friend will have to do.

I know her reasoning for leaving is justified and I will support her wherever she goes...because that's what friends do - no matter what. Even if she's leaving me alone in a big city, empty house, with no one to make breakfast with every morning.

On the upside, I know I will still see her when she comes to clean my house every other week.

bad news comes in three's...bad news #2

My friend Nicholas Aaron Madrazo died on September 9, 2008. He was a Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps, serving in Afghanistan. Him and 3 other soldiers died in a roadside bombing.


I am still shocked and stunned when I think about his death. It is tragic and unbelievable. When I heard the news Tuesday night, I didn't believe it. I wanted to be angry with the reasons he was over in the middle east and with the people who killed him but Nic believed in his heart that he was meant to serve his country this way. He believed that this is what he was called to do. He was a true patriot and a soldier of strength and courage. He is a hero, no matter what your views on the war are.



I've grown up with Nic since 6th grade. He was my first boyfriend in 8th grade ( and by "boyfriend" I mean we talked on the phone at night and saw one movie and dated for about a month before he had his friend break up with me at Disneyland. ha!) We went to church together and had a great group of friends. I have memories from taking trips to Whistler, California, and summer camp every year and they are all great memories. We ended up going to the same college together and had a mutual group of friends there. Even though over the last few years we haven't stayed in touch as frequently as we should have, every time we ran into each other, we'd always end up reminiscing about the days when we were little care-free kids! I laugh when I think about his sense of humor, wit, kind heart, and openness. He was always someone who I could talk to about anything and he'd really listen. Every time you saw him, his smile would light up the room and his joyful spirit was contagious. I will miss him.

Nic, I'm so thankful that I've been a part of your life - a life that has obviously touched so many people all around the world. Your family and friends are in my prayers, as we're all feeling this great loss. The memories of you will never go away. I will carry them with me always and smile when I think of you... you are in a far better place now than I could ever imagine. You will never be forgotten.


Someday I'll see that bright, smiling face again!

bad news comes in three's... bad news #1

i am single.


enough said.

re-couperating...

does Mac & Cheese sound good to you??

Because it does to me! Yummy. This week has been so exhausting that all i want to do tonight is curl up on the couch with comfort food, wine and a good film.

I'll update you soon on the events of the week that led to me needing a quiet night in.