New Purchases

This week I hope to blog about:
-My themed Birthday Partayyy.
-My weekend getaway to Portland.
-Christmas-ing my duplex : )

In the meantime, here are my purchases form Black Friday weekend:

1. A new whimsical book called "Wildwood." $8.99 at Powell's (famous bookstore in Portland).

2. REI jacket (50% off). Purchased with Mr. Fleece BLACK FRIDAY MORNING (9:00 a.m.).

3. New boots-Madden Girl (sales tax free because they were purchased in OREGON!)

Bargain Shopping,
-SJW

A Fashionable Mullet

I turned 23 recently & received a Birthday package from one of my good friends (featured in this post). 

One of the items she gave me was this turquoise & navy Mullet Skirt:

Also known as a "Hi-Low" skirt.

I really like them & have been wanting one for quite some time. Here are the three options I created:

1.Fall Time

2. Spring Time

3. Date Time

Color-blocking seemed to work with all 3 looks. What do you think?

-SJW

Oh Me, Oh My, Oh Fremont Pie

While still in our sugar coma, Mr. Fleece & I met up with some friends & strolled around downtown Fremont (a neighborhood north of where we live). Here are some of the eclectic sights we saw:

 

A famous statue called "Waiting for the Interurban"

After working up an appetite, we stopped in a little cafe for lunch. They serve meat, veggie, & dessert pies. 

We tried the Pulled Pork & Chicken Pot Pie & are now inspired to find a good recipe to make at home.

With a little heart on top : ) 

I love me some Fremont.

-SJW

Willy Wonka has met his match.

Today Mr. Fleece & I went on a tour at Theo Chocolate Factory.

Reasons we went:
1.It's just 10 minutes away.
2. Tickets are only $6.00.
3. Our friend works in their HR Department.
4. CHOCOLATE samples.

We purchased a few of their holiday flavors!

Our tour guide gave us the low-down on cacao plants & how to make chocolate. He also shared that Theo was the first organic & Fair Trade chocolate factory in the country!

We walked through the factory & learned about each of the machines. I love the lime green tanks!

Afterwards we visited their retail store & tried any flavor we wanted: Orange, Salted Almond, Cheery Almond, Hazelnut Crunch & more.

Chocolate Bar Libraries!

No chocolate rivers or crazy psychedelic tunnels...but whimsically delicious nevertheless. 

-SJW

Sweater Scissors Socks

A no-sew easy project:
All you need is a fairly ugly sweater & some scissors.

It was cuter at the thrift store...

Cut the sleeves off right along the shoulder/armpit seem.

The large piece is transformed into a vest:

& the two long pieces are now legwarmers/tall boot socks.

Been wanting a pair of these for a while.

My legs were warm at work today : ) 

Much better than before!

Gotta love a homemade wearable "craft" that takes 2 minutes to make.

-SJW

Guest Blog: If I Ran the Zoo...or the Container Store

We recently did a little re-do of our circa 1977 wet bar.

Super Messy. Super Orange. Super Retro Owls.

We went with an industrial chic décor theme. Over the past few months, I have kept a lookout for appropriately trendy industrial chic containers that would be functional for an office space. And so I thought to myself, “I’ve heard of a place called the Container Store and while I have never been there, now might be the time.” 

While the Container Store was nice and bright and had lots and lots and lots of containers, alas I could not find what I was looking for.

It seems they do not stock old lard cans. . .

or blue collar worker lunch pails. . .

or vintage pharmacy receipt boxes. . .

or even muffin tin organizers. . .

Really?

I was a little disappointed.

Hobby Lobby pulled through with a nifty little galvanized metal cabinet

and Wal-Mart.com provided some very cool metal bins.  

I added the Scrabble tile labels

But that’s okay.  It would have been way too easy to just walk into a store and pick out all the containers I needed in one fell swoop. I wouldn’t have had the thrill of the hunt. I wouldn’t have had to use any creative juices. I would never have come to the realization that a lunch box makes a great place for storing greeting cards and envelopes. 

 I may never have discovered how wonderfully a lard can holds phone chargers and such.

If I ran The Container Store there would be a lot less bright and shiny and a lot more dented and rusty. 

And if you needed a working man’s vintage lunch pail you would know right where to go.

-MJE

P.S. Don't the maps look great?

Job Update: I have one!

I have been a Project Coordinator at EnviroIssues for 5 days!

Our company tracks communications & manages public outreach for clients & their specific projects. 

Basic Example: If there is a huge bridge being built-we'll work for the Department of Transportation to communicate road closures/construction schedules to the public. 

I work in this building:

On the 11th floor.

Which is right around the corner from this:

& about 2 blocks from this:

The Original Starbucks

Aside from the great location, I've been very impressed with the company itself.

-They set me up with a buddy the first day to introduce me to the staff, how they do things, show me my desk, take me out to lunch etc.

-I've had 7 or so orientations already-met with various coworkers to learn the ins & outs of the office.

-I have a staff manager (separate from my project managers)-who will do my monthly check-ins & be a go-to person if any work conflicts come up.

-I get a free bus pass. (I can leave my house at 7:45 & still get to work at 8:00!)

-Everyone has been incredibly welcoming & helpful.

-The office itself is bright with orange walls & modern furniture.The walls are adorned with pet photos & dogs are welcome to come into the office every Friday.

Here I am on my first day:

A Working Woman,

SJW