Everyone Loves a Boston Girl

Do you ever feel bipolar? Not in a clinical sense, but more in a “omg life is awesome” one minute to a “what the hell am I doing?” the next minute sense. I get that way a lot. Some days I feel absolutely euphoric about my work. And others I feel like I have no idea what I’m doing.

Sometimes I have a non-stop giddyness about being a freelance writer/community manager. There are so many things I absolutely love about it. But the second someone says, “You’re so lucky! I’m so jealous!” I get pissed. Don’t get me wrong, I do feel lucky. I know I’m lucky. I feel like the world is at my fingertips. I’m not stuck in an office and I can work from bed and wear pajamas all day. Life is good. But not exactly grand.

I guess I work for myself. But I also work for no fewer than 5 bosses. I don’t have to see them every day (or ever), but I do get constant e-mails, many of them thinking I work for them and only them and asking me to do things NOW. I work from 8 a.m.-11 p.m. most days, with some breaks here and there.

My schedule is flexible. I can go on walks, take lunch breaks, run errands whenever I please. I can go on vacation. But I can’t go on vacation and still get paid. I don’t get vacation time. I still have to ask for time off. And then I fear I’ll lose my job because of it.

Health insurance isn’t cheap. And I pay for it on my own. And I don’t take sick days because I don’t get them. I’m always looking for new work for fear I’ll be out a job and won’t be able to pay the bills.

Nothing is secure with my work. I realize no job is secure right now, but working for startups make everything even less so. When a simple e-mail can be sent saying, “thanks for your work, but we can no longer pay you anymore,” getting laid off is easy. Companies can shut down quickly. I know this from first-hand experience. Sometimes even my bosses have no notice. No severance, no unemployment, just a sorry and goodbye. Nothing is secure. And that’s scary.

But then, I’ve always craved security. It’s how I was brought up. It’s what I have in so many areas of my life. I’ve always done what’s comfortable; what’s safe. Ask anyone who knows me if I’m a risk-taker and they’ll laugh in your face. I don’t even go on roller coasters at amusement parks. Many of my friends have been in my life since I was 7. I keep my feet on the ground and my head is always level. Risks scare me. And the secure thing has always made me the happiest. Except when it comes to my career.

Maybe you’d argue a career isn’t exactly the thing to be taking risks on in the current economic climate. And you might be right. But it’s the only way I know to get where I want to be in life. I cannot wake up every day for the rest of my life knowing I could have done more; feeling trapped. No matter what happens I know I’ll be OK, I’ll make it out somehow. And some day I’ll look back and say thank God I took some risks. Isn’t that what life is all about?

Because I’m not one of the celebrities offered $100,000 to sit in the front row at Fashion week shows (ahem, Rihanna, ahem), I have to be content watching from the sidelines. Also known as my couch. But hey, at least I haven’t been banned from Fashion Week (ahem, Lindsay Lohan, ahem) and maybe someday I’ll be invited. Though I’d probably have a panic attack/heart attack trying to figure out what to wear each day.

I’ve been doing a lot of Fashion Week writing and thus paying a lot of attention to it this year. And now, since this is my blog and I am not a model (or a fashionista), I just want to point out a few things I especially love so far from the designers at Fashion Week. Which means the pieces I would actually consider wearing. In real life. I have a huge appreciation for lots of the stuff shown at Fashion Week, but let’s face it, I’m not about to wear fur booties (yet, anyway) or dresses that completely drape over my already non-curvy body. But there’s still lots that I would wear and totally want to own.

One trend you’ll see in my favorite pieces are color! I love color and while my outfits sometimes seem mostly black/white/gray, I’m always immediately attracted to pieces with color.

This Zac Posen dress is a piece I would die to own. I love this dress for fall because it looks fabulous with tights, but also adds some fun color to a somewhat less colorful season in fashion. I love the busyness of it, while still managing to keep an elegant (but fun!) simplicity.

Though I’m not really a turtleneck girl, I love the way the skirt works with the top, again by Zac Posen. The colors are exactly what I think of when I think of autumn. One thing I’m having an easier time with in my Fashion Week studies is that I don’t have to love every part of the outfit. I think this skirt is awesome, but might just pair it with another top.

I’ve always been a fan of Diane von Furstenberg’s designs and this collection is no different for me. This dress doesn’t exactly scream fall to me, but the style looks like it would be quite flattering on a variety of bodies and the sequined cardigan helps it fit with the season. Everything about this look is just SO appealing to me. I want to swim in it! Plus, I think this model is beautiful.

I’m not totally sure I would wear this DVF, but I love it. It’s a little bit out there without being totally ridiculous and given the right occasion, it could totally work.

I’ve never paid a whole lot of attention to Badgley Mischka but they really impressed me with their collection. When I first saw this dress I thought it might look a bit too much like something I could buy at Express. But this dress is so much prettier and actually shimmers (it’s a bit easier to see in the video of the model, over this photo). The neckline is exquisite and the tights and shoes are the perfect simple pairing.

I absolutely love this Badgley Mischka skirt. And this model is inspiring me to try wearing one of the many blazers I have hiding in my closet that I always think look too business-like. But paired with a skirt like this, the blazer looks perfect.

Marc by Marc Jacobs is always a favorite of mine (plus, I love that he doesn’t invite celebrities to his show). I’m obsessed with SO much from their fall collection, especially the fact that he pairs a thin belt with so many of the outfits. Cropped jackets always make me happy and this outfit is the perfect autumn Gossip Girl look. OK, so I would look hideous in those shorts paired with a cropped jacket, so I’d have to opt out of wearing them together, but I think it looks awesome on her.

This is one of my very favorite casual looks of Fashion Week so far, again from Marc by Marc Jacobs. Clearly, I’m not overly-adventurous in my fashion sense, but everything about this outfit is appealing to me. I’ve recently become more of a hat person and think fall is the perfect time to sport a fashion hat. I’m not too into the shoes for myself, but I think the look is fabulous and would be willing to try them. This jacket is a dream come true to me (I told you I like gray and black).

My favorite NEW designer discovery in Fashion Week so far is Sachin and Babi for Ankasa. This husband and wife design team is making me swoon. This fuschia dress with black ribbon belt? Yesss. And I love the way the necklace works with it, too.

Another ribbon belt on a high-waisted skirt; it’s simple, but would work with so much.

And lastly, this Sachin and Babi design actually makes me want fall to come. I’m not sure if I could get this particular skirt to work with my waist, but I’d certainly be willing to try (and do whatever it takes to make it work!). And I think I need a pair of these shoes since they seem to work with absolutely everything!

So, those are my initial Fashion Week thoughts. Clearly, I’m an amateur, but I’m having lots of fun paying attention and getting inspired. Oh, and wishing my bank account was a little bit larger, so I could actually indulge in some of these designs come fall. But for now, just looking is perfectly OK with me.

(all photos taken from Fabsugar.com.au, except for Sachin and Babi for Ankasa photos taken from Elle.com)

Single or attached, I’ve always been a fan of Valentine’s Day. Pink and red? Basically my color dreams come true. And I was always raised to think of Valentine’s Day as just a day of LOVE. Not a day of just love between couples. I mean, let’s face it, I wasn’t exactly dating too much in high school, but every Valentine’s Day, my mom would give me a sweet card and a gift bag filled with lots of fun little Valentine’s Day presents. And it was always a fun day, no matter what.

These days, I get giddy from walking into CVS and seeing the shelves filled with red and pink boxes of chocolates, heart-shaped trinkets, and pretty sparkly things. Nope, it does not take a whole lot to make me happy. And I guess it’s safe to say that sparkly objects do distract me. I don’t need to be in a relationship on Valentine’s Day to just think February 14 is a totally pretty, fun day.

Seriously though, the color pink has always, and likely always will, make me happy (can you not tell from the theme of my blog??). It’s just a happy color, much like bright yellow. But, of course, it would make me even happier in the form of pink Christian Louboutins. Or a pink-ish DVF dress. A pink Kate Spade bag. Or a pink Burberry trench. While playing around on Polyvore for a work project, I started compiling a few of my Valentine’s Day favorites. It’s kind of addicting and also kind of makes you feel all sorts of greedy.

But really, I’m just happy it’s almost Valentine’s Day and I have a whole lot of love in my life right now. In the form of the most loving and caring family, fabulous friends who are always here for me, and the most amazing boyfriend in the world. So while I wouldn’t mind Sephora’s set of 10 lip glosses (in pink!), I’m pretty much all set with everything I’ve got.

Happy upcoming Valentine’s Day weekend… I hope you have a love-filled holiday. Or at least get that pink Essie nail polish.

Sometimes you learn the most important lessons at the most random times. I remember being a senior in college, standing in the gift shop I worked in and unpacking new greeting card shipments. I was especially excited because we had just started getting Quotable Cards and they all said fun stuff on them that helped pass my hours at work. The very first one I pulled out of the box said this:

“For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin- real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one…. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. -Souza”

Honestly, I had never thought about life like that before, even though I was 22 years old. And I realized this is exactly what I had been doing. College seemed like just a brief period in my life. There’s so much pressure surrounding what you’re going to do after college, that college always felt like a simple thing I was meant to get through so I could get on with the rest of my life. Would I go to grad school? Where would I work? Would I get married and have kids? What would my life be like? Wait, what would it be like? It was happening right in front of my face. RIGHT NOW. What was I waiting for?

I still catch myself doing this from time to time and I often go back and re-read the quote to bring myself back to the moment. This quote popped into my mind this morning because I realized I was doing it again. I’ve been so busy with work lately that I often find myself saying things like, “As soon as I get through all this work…” But the problem is, I don’t ever get through all the work. And I probably won’t ever get through it all. This is my life. And I need to balance the work with the play, instead of just waiting to relax until after the work is done. Because the work is part of my life. Part of the present.

But I’m much better than I used to be. Maybe it’s because I’m through all the school and am working in a field I truly love. I’m pretty sure life will change; hopefully my career will grow into something even more and maybe some day I’ll even have a house instead an apartment. Maybe I’ll have a family. And maybe I won’t have debts in the form of grad school loans (please! please!). But you know what? It doesn’t really matter. Because I’m living life NOW. And instead of waiting to find my happiness, I’m happy now. And it feels so good.

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A few weeks ago, I was just sitting all innocently at my computer when an email popped up. A potentially life-changing email. OK, so not really life-changing, but still pretty awesome. It was from a company called Izola Shower. And they wanted to know if I’d like to have an MBTA shower curtain. Would I like to have an MBTA shower curtain?! Um, did they even have to ask?? Well, they probably did so they could have my shipping address. But other than that, they did not have to ask.

OK, let me be clear on a few things. I am not really a fan of the MBTA. Mainly because it’s dirty, I get nauseous every time I’m on it, and it stops too much with no explanation. However, I appreciate the MBTA because it generally gets me where I need to go, which is more than people in many other cities can say. Plus, it’s a pretty complex system that can even get me to my parents’ house with not too much effort. Oh and plus, it’s cheaper than a cab.

So, you can bet I hung this little bugger up (I actually hung it in my boyfriend’s bathroom since my roommate looks at my funny whenever I want to make a personal change to the apartment, but that’s whole other story) right when I got it. Because why wouldn’t I want the entire MBTA system map hanging in the bathroom?

Check. it. out.

My only disappointment is that you can’t view the map from the inside of the shower. Because I was actually really excited to figure out my daily plan of attack while IN the shower. But instead I have to stand outside of the shower to view all the MBTA routes. BUT, I can always look at it while I’m brushing my teeth so NBD. Also, if I reallyyy want to, I can just get another shower curtain and hang it on the inside of the shower too. Bam, problem solved.

And trust me, ALL the routes are there. Even for the commuter rail! Absolutely anything you want to know about any MBTA route is here. In the bathroom.

Izola has lots of other shower curtain maps too, like a Chicago transit map for all my Chicago buddies and an NYC MTA for all you NYCers. But they also have other fun shower curtains too for you know, if you don’t care to stare at your daily commute every time you’re in the bathroom.

But I do enjoy staring at my daily commute in the bathroom. Probably mostly because I don’t have a daily commute. Seriously though, I love my new MBTA shower curtain and think it’s definitely a necessity for every Boston girl. Now. Where should we go next?!?! I’ll map it out.