Skirtin' Around | Fashion

I recently stumbled upon Star White's Beauty & Bows blog (re-launched as Dearly Noted). More than any person or blog I've come across, this thrifting guru has achieved the style I want (& occasionally achieve) in my life. Her willingness to experiment with colors & patterns allows her to pull off the prefect blend of preppy funk. The fact that most of her finds are from thrift stores only wins me over even more! I love her creativity in the world of skirts (this woman has a lot of skirts!) & am inspired to purchase more skirts and try the following:

1. Ditch the mini & go for a more modest length. 

2. Mix & Match Patterns & Fabrics

3. Find some great solid pencil skirts

4. Use belts for an extra pop & accent. 

5. Not related to skirts, but find a classic winter coat!

Did you notice her great taste in shoes too?

Style Crushin'

SJW

Fummer Fashions

fummer: the short season between summer and fall when everything is perfect for everything. 

Soak up that sun & put on that scarf, because fummer is alive & well. I'm mixing bright pieces with jewel toned favorites & starting to dabble with sweaters & tights. It's that time where turquoise & pink meet burnt orange & plum and layers thrive. Enjoy the changing season & all that that means for your wardrobe : )

Cooling off,

SJW

Life Wright Now | August

August has been filled with sweet Seattle fun! There's no reason to complain when you get to go to the Queen Anne Farmer's Market, take an evening dip in South Lake Union, walk through Discovery Park, see a free dance show at the Sculpture Garden, play friendly rounds of volleyball, cheer on the Sounders in person, help friends move, & window shop in Edmonds.

Here's some other highlights:

Watching
I haven't had a lot of time to watch much of anything other than The Olympics : ) I'm also excited to see the new Beatles documentary.

Eating
Delicious bites from the top of Smith Tower at the VIP Party. The picturesque building just got a makeover & has re-opened to the public. The view is phenomenal, & the Smith Tower Sazerac is delicious. I'd definitely recommend making the trip if you're in town or want a unique Seattle experience.

Reading
"A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry is on my up next list. If I like the story, I plan to see the play this fall at the Seattle Repertory Theater.

Listening
I think I'd always prefer an intimate house show over a large concert. This weekend, a group of us gathered to take in the tunes of husband & wife duo Out of the Dust at a friend's house. I really like their songs "All that I am Made for" & "Safe to Shore."

 summertime friends,

SJW

There are No Rules

There's this one line in "Notting Hill" where Hugh Grant's voice-over is describing his quaint little town & somewhere along the lines uses the phrase "and suddenly it's the weekend." I particularly like how he pronounces wee-kend & often pronounce it this way in my head. I'm not sure how suddenly my weekends come, but soon enough it won't matter that much. I recently put my notice in at work & Friday, September 9 will be my last day in the office.

It's the start of a mini sabbatical, something I know a. isn't for everyone & b. not everyone can afford. I'm certainly thankful for this opportunity to take a step back, rest, re-calibrate, & think through what's next for me, my career, & my family. After working four years in a corporate office in the field of communications, I want to reassess if that's the best use my time, resources, skills, & energy moving forward.

Fortunately, the plan for the immediate future is very clear, complete with moving next door, getting our rental properties in order, & supporting Mr. Fleece through a busy study season. I'm thankful for the time to focus on these things & do them each well! I also plan to help friends out with their kids, volunteer, & do simple things I haven't had time for recently, like bake, garden, & go to the gym.

This decision may seem strange & a smidge bit rash, but overall, I'm feeling a lot like this:

Changing it up,

SJW

Life Wright Now | June & July

The biggest news for the summer is that Mr. Fleece & I purchased the duplex next door! We now own two duplexes, which we jokingly refer to as Mediterranean and Baltic (the cheapest properties you can purchase in Monopoly). It's been a bit of a whirlwind, & feels very surreal, but needless to say we are incredibly thankful for the finances & direction God has given us to pursue this opportunity. We'll be moving next door in the next month or so & are excited for the (slight) change of scenery & opportunity to de-clutter & rearrange. 

In other news, here's what I've been up to this summer. 

Watching

Eighty years ago one naturally gifted runner won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. The movie "Race" tells the tale of Jesse Owens & how his story fit into a time period of racism & political unrest. It will definitely make you think. 

Drinking

Mr. Fleece & I have been hitting up La Marzocco to relax & reconnect on weekends. The coffee shop is adjacent to the new KEXP studio where they play reggae music every Saturday morning. The atmosphere is incredibly laid back & the cafechata (equal parts cold brew & house-made horchata) is my choice drink. 

Although I'm not a big beer drinker, I would also recommend Cloudburst Brewing. They are right around the corner from my work, just north of Pike Place Market. I like the industrial feel & would recommend the Market Fresh Saison Version 6: Peaches and Grains of Paradise.

Reading

I'm currently toting "Bringing up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting" by Pamela Druckerman to the pool & to the park. I'm fascinated by the different cultural thoughts around children & motherhood & in turn, our separate approaches to sleep training, eating, day care, etc. One of my favorite things is that French children are instructed to say Bonjour to every adult they encounter (especially when the adult is a guest in their home). This practice gives the child confidence & requires they show the same level of respect that's expected from their parents. 

Listening

I've also been hooked on podcasts by Jen Wilkin, a Bible study teacher from Flower Mound, TX. She is incredibly gifted in communicating the word of God, & uncovering connections in ways I wouldn't have seen for myself. I've been loving the teaching on Exodus, but would recommend starting with a one-off teaching session: #78 "Robe Your Minds for Action" if you're interested. 

Getting ready for the day,

SJW

There's a Reason I Don't Shop Online

Some day I may buy something from an actual retail box store rather than scouring Craigslist, Garage Sales, or Goodwill. When that day comes, I plan to start with World Market. They currently have a "small space" collection & a "mid-century modern" collection that I admire. Here are the items on my won't-actually-happen-very-unrealistic wish list.

$229.99 Jacquard Print Upholstered Neyla Armchair

$229.99 Rose Pink Tyley Chair

$549.99 Charcoal Gray Nolee Folding Sofa Bed

$449.99 Wood Flynn Hairpin Dining Table

$31.96 Aqua Henley Salad Plates Set of 4

$24.99 Gigi Floral Table Runner

$279.99 Green Hazel Split Back Dining Chairs Set of 2

Saving up,

SJW

Anniversary Getaway Part III | Local Lopez

While Orcas & San Juan Island certainly get more hype & attention, I think our hearts were pretty taken with little Lopez. Much quieter, this island is incredibly scenic & homey, perfect for day-driving or biking. Our time there was certainly shaped by our stay at Hummel House, a gorgeous little Airbnb on the center of the island. Owners Carol & Al have have been residents for 40 years & recently opened their self-built home as a Bed & Breakfast, complete with toasted homemade bread, eggs any way you want them, & homemade granola.

With locals & visitors to chat with over breakfast, we definitely got a unique experience. Otherwise, I'm not sure we would have learned about the dump, the recycling center complete with a take-it-or-leave-it section. We took a little mid-century modern table for free & gifted it to our friends M & L, who now have a matching set.

We also stopped by the Saturday Lopez Farmer's Market, a definite highlight. Charming quirks included the bowl with free plums & the random John Deer tractor parade through the center of town. 

We ended up buying some veggies at Thornton's Garden stand on our way to Shark Reef & Iceberg Point, two great spots for viewing wild life. We ate carrots & spied on harbor seals for a good while.. 

A Lopez Advocate,

SJW