Year Two, To-Do Lists, Blue Beast and SCU

So I fell off the blog writing planet. My apologies, but life turned into one hot mess. But I’m back now!

I started back with professional development at my school basically the first week of August. It was a surprising return to work after a lazy, delicious week and a half in France, and a week in Holland with my dear old mum.

This year I am teaching 4 sections of Intro to Art, and one new honours class called Visual Communications. It has been a big change jumping from teaching 3 sections last year to having 2 preps and teaching 5 classes this year. I’m also in my second year of BTSA, which is this huge project that feels like insane amounts of busy work.

In September I started at Santa Clara University for my Master’s program. It has been the worst experience of schooling in my life, but I have already invested so much there, that leaving now seems like such a waste. I can go more in to detail at a later point, but for now I am just putting my head down and finishing my masters and getting the hell outta there. I thank god, that my good friend Annie is in the program with me, or else I would have given up on SCU a long time ago.

About 3 weeks ago, I was in a car accident on the freeway. I was shaken up and pretty sore, but overall I am fine. My beloved blue beast of a Prius, was not fine, it was totaled. It was my first accident where I had been the driver.

Losing my car was such an emotional blow to me, it was my first brand new thing, that I got to pick out and own all by myself. Afterwards I struggled with feeling guilty, even though it was not my fault at all, I still felt a sense of loss over losing my first car. I have been unbelievably blessed by kind and giving parents (and a super awesome and helpful brother) who are helping me with all of this headache and drama of being in a serious car accident.

We got money from the insurance company pretty quickly, but I wanted to do some research on cars. I looked at a few others, but am pleased to say that I am going with another Prius. For now, I am lucky enough to borrow my mom’s car while my parents are out of town. My brother has been amazing over the last few weeks, he was a giant help with the whole car mess, and overall we have been hanging out a ton and getting along famously (which is rare for us), so that’s nice.

So, in short, life has been busy, some days better than others, but still pretty good I would say. I am trying to remain positive. I have a job I love, a great itty bitty apartment that is all mine, and in the future, a bigger paycheck. I voted (yahoo!) and have been trying to stay on top of all my different areas of life. But to be fair, my to-do list is out of control! Even my to do lists has a to-do list! I am so behind on my Christmas shopping, usually by now I’m done.

But, life is still pretty good. Hows yours? How are things? How has your week been?

-S

Venice Beach, a Roof with a View, and Sunsets on the Pier

On our last day in L.A we walked along the canals and Venice Beach, had rooftop drinks with a gorgeous beach view at Hotel Erwin, and saw a fantastic sunset at the Santa Monica Pier. I had a lot of fun visiting … Continue reading

Summer in Tahoe

I don’t know about you guys, but sometimes it’s hard for me to let myself take a break. I get too caught up in my to-do lists, going to the gym, seeing friends, and all sorts of other random things … Continue reading

Shorts, Purses, Puppies and Bowties

The last few days have been spectacularly warm here in the Bay Area. Hitting the high 90’s every day has prolonged the summer feel, and I have been hitting up my shorts shelf every day. These are a few of my go-to pairs:

Hot heat makes shorts a must.

September heat makes shorts a must.

I had been waiting for something special to wear my new Kiel James Patrick purse to. So when my friend Kim had a BBQ I decided it was time to show it off. It was a casual relaxed affair, and I loved every minute of it.

My KJP purse debut

My KJP purse debut

Sometime in July the Roomie and I got new collars for both pups. Reece’s rocked a blue one and Nala got one with whales and a bow-tie. They fell asleep one afternoon in the back of my car and this is what they looked like. It proves they are indeed related.

Nala and Reece's new collars.

Nala and Reece’s new collars.

Nala loves to wake me up in the morning by standing basically over me until I wake up from the sheer force of her staring at me. In this photo she was momentarily distracted by the squirrels playing in our yard.

Nala 1

Nala 1

We loved how she looked in the whale bowtie, so we decided to find some other colors for her (and Reece’s!) to wear occasionally inside the house. We had a small photo-shoot the other day, and both pups rocked the photos.

Nala in her red bow-tie

Nala in her red bow-tie

Reece's in her lilac bow-tie.

Reece’s in her lilac bow-tie.

Both of them wanted the dog treat the Roomie had in her hand!

Both of them wanted the dog treat the Roomie had in her hand!

I’m hoping to make this a regular thing.  Do you have any pets? Do you do silly thing with them like I have? I hope everyone is having a great Sunday!

Love,

-S

Sunglasses and Pearls Part 2, Fancy Friday, and IPhone Cases

Robert the Magnificent (AKA my fancy photographer friend) sent me more photos. There were two beautiful ones from our photo shoot in the park about a month ago, you can read more about it in this post Sunglasses and Pearls. I’m wearing the sunglasses I talked about last post, from Banana Republic. I love them so much I am thinking about buying a back up pair in case anything happens to these.

Sunglasses and Pearls 3

Sunglasses and Pearls 3

Sunglasses and Pearls 4

Sunglasses and Pearls 4

I had a conflict on Friday, so this week’s Fancy Friday will be held on Sunday. More about that in tomorrow’s post! Robert was also able to recover one photo from the dusk lighting from last week’s Fancy Friday. He is fond of the serious faces, so this is why we look solemn.

Fancy Friday 3

Fancy Friday 3

I settled on this phone case, and ordered it this morning post workout. I got the durable option, and the Roomie is giving it to me for my birthday next month.

I hope everyone had a lovely Friday night! I know I did. What did you do? Do you have any big weekend plans? Can’t wait to hear all about it!

Love,

-S

New Cars,Kiel James Patrick, Moleskine, and Sunflowers

On Wednesday my good friend Joey swung by the house to show off his new car. It was a sexy little white convertible, and we zoomed off to celebrate at Santana Row with some bubble tea. He was over the moon about this new beast of his.

Isn’t it pretty?

Joey is happy.

Joey is happy.

Joey and his new car

Joey and his new car

All good things come to those who wait:

Beautiful things come in pretty boxes.

Beautiful things come in pretty boxes.

I also picked up a new planner. As much as I love my little Iphone, I really do love writing things down physically. I seem to remember them better if I do, and I also love looking over the week as a whole. While I have finally figured out how to use the Iphone Calendar, I am forever making mistakes and putting events on the wrong day/time. So for now, back to my beloved Moleskine.  I love the 18 months planner, it covers the school year and summer all wrapped in one! I started using them my first year of college and have used all used many of their different products over the years.

My new Moleskine

My new Moleskine

I stopped by the farmers market on my way home to pick up some summer fruit and flowers. Fresh flowers, and sunflowers in particular, make every day a little bit brighter, don’t you agree?

Sunflowers are my favorite flower

Sunflowers are my favorite flower

So how was your Thursday? Did you do anything fun? Do you have any plans for the upcoming long weekend?

Love,

-S