New hair in November

As the season changed I felt the itch to change my hair again too. I had kept it blonde since April, which if you know me (or have read this blog for any length of time) you know that’s a long time for me to have the same hairstyle! Chris really likes it short, so I knew I would get a bit of a trim and keep the shape pretty much the same. But I did decide it was time for a darker color.

So my cousin (and hairstylist frequently mentioned in these posts) Hannah and I picked out a really rich brown color and planned to balayage on the highlights. That is where the highlights are painted onto the hair, instead of done with foils. The end result is really natural and not streaky at all. I love how it came out.

I’m loving fall with my dark hair. And thankfully, the snow melted away rather quickly and the weather has been mostly warm all this month. A lovely November, if I do say so myself. I have been busy with the transition from lots of free time at my old job to no time to be online aside from working on my blog design projects. So my blog has been a little quiet lately. But things are going so good. I am thoroughly enjoying my new job and I know when I look back at this time in my life I will smile. It might not be as well documented, but it is good.

How has your November been?
Do you like to change your hair with the seasons?
What is a new trend or technique you’d like to try?

The day the snow came…

It started to fall in the early evening yesterday…whispers of the cold faintly seen in the glow of the street lamp. And in the passing of a mere 2 hours the world around me changed seasons once again.

In the dark still of the night the world glimmers in its reflection. A perfect blanket of white before the next day’s activities mar its surface. It is beautiful then. I sat still for a moment last night, staring out my kitchen window into the delicate softness that used to hold magic for me…and I smiled.

This morning the rooms in my home seemed different…quieter in a way, although the only thing that’s changed is the season outside its walls. I am glad for today, a banking day off and a chance to just sit in the quiet. A chance to reflect back on this last year as it begins to draw to a close and be thankful for the next part of my journey…so aptly portrayed by the beginning of another season.

The snow is not my favorite thing, especially come tomorrow when I must face it from behind the steering wheel, but today I am grateful for it. Today I can see and enjoy its beauty.

Today I am celebrating change.

Worth Sharing…

Here are some things lately that I’ve loved and that have stuck with me. I don’t have as much time to spend online lately so I try to make my time worthwhile and find uplifting and encouraging things to read. I hope you find them so too.

>>>> A few of my recent favorite inspiring and beautiful images from the people I follow on Instagram. 1//2//3//4

>>>> I loved all 8 tips Jenny included in her Decorating on a Budget post. The “paint last” one was surprising, but makes a lot of sense.

>>>> 15 ways to stay married for 15 years…Some I agree with, some I don’t, but an interesting read nonetheless. There are a lot of great comments on the post too.

>>>> Pictures printed as blueprint or engineering copies. Elsie @ A Beautiful Mess shared some of the ones she got made from family pictures and then over at Design Editor they shared these great camera prints and even have a free download of the camera images. Great idea for cheap large prints and I totally want to try it soon.

>>>> Creating business cards for my blog is on my to-do list and I love how Savannah’s from Maiedae turned out. Great colors and design.

>>>> I’ve been craving a change of hairstyle lately and have been pinning caramel colored highlights. There is a brand new Hair Diaries post in the works! (hint*hint)

>>>> The best color study post I’ve seen in a very  long time.

>>>> Finding Ella. A post from my favorite blog to just read. Her writing moves me.

What are you {loving} this week?
Do you have a favorite blog that you love to read?
What is inspiring you lately?

Week 11

I am working on getting back to my routine and schedule…blog posts included. And so I’m back to sharing my 52weeks project from 2010. I did a whole year of self-portraits and poems and I’m currently re-sharing with a fresh “two-years-later” perspective. Interested in seeing this from the beginning? Click HERE. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the photos, the poetry or even just what they make you feel. Please feel free to share.

I will remember today
years from now; someday
when the mists of the unknown
become the clear skies of tomorrow.
I am stronger than yesterday
more alive in some way
to break down to nothing but
salt-water stains
and start over again...
to renew the spirit within.

I think I am finally really living the “tomorrow” that I wrote about here. I have cleared away the mists of the unknown and taken control through gratitude, celebration and answered prayers. I used to live in tears and still cherish the cleansing power of them, but I am smiling so much more now. I almost can’t contain my joy. In 2011 I chose to “begin” on this journey, not quite sure where my life was leading, but through 2012 and the days leading up to right now I have found my “flourish”…I have found my true spirit within. I am appreciative of all I’ve been through, but I am not looking back anymore. Not wishing things could be how they used to be again because I am thriving in my current. I am so glad to have this space online where I can watch the journey unfold. Thank you, readers for being a part of it.

A week to remember

I am back to work today after an amazing week of training in Spokane. It was great to be in the city again for a bit and I am so excited to be a part of the team at Horizon Credit Union. I had fun getting back into the swing of dressing up a bit and wearing professional clothes again, so I wanted to share my outfits from the week.

I wore my new favorite blazer on Monday… I just love how it fits. And then I found some cute purple pants at Target, so I wore those on Thursday. Everything I wore was from Maurices, Target and Burlington Coat Factory. Those are my favorite stores. And if you look closely you might notice the other new thing that I got on Tuesday night: a new phone! I was due for an upgrade so I went ahead and got the Samsung Galaxy S III. I have a hard time with letting go of things (even when they barely work anymore…) so it took some convincing and a really good deal for me to make the switch. But I am so happy with my new phone!

I also took the opportunity of my time in the city to meet up with some of my friends that live there. And go to my favorite (and new favorite) restaurants. My nights were full of great food and encouraging conversations and my days were full of learning.

I know that this last week will be on that I remember for a long time. I felt like I was coming home and starting anew all at the same time. I love the financial industry and the values and member service based philosophy of this credit union. I think its going to be a very good fit for me and my personality.

The group that I was in training with was awesome. We had a lot of fun together and left with so many inside jokes and many important lessons: like remembering to check the expiration date on your cans of pop. I felt like a valuable member of the team at Horizon from day one and my skills and knowledge of the industry were utilized at training. I was able to help explain federal regulations and reporting, bring money handling and customer service experience to the table and it made me feel so good. I learned a lot from the instructors and made some new friends. “Yeah Buddy!”

It was such a terrific week!

And now I’m back home with Chris (thank goodness!) and in my branch again working with members. I am grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to watch life and my new career flourish.

What’s your favorite thing to wear when you dress up?
Do you have dreams of making a change in your life?
What’s holding you back from moving onward and upward?
I’d love to hear about your experiences with changes…

*Coffee Date* Friday

My week of training in Spokane is coming to a close…its been a great week! I hope your week was good too. Let me know what’s up with you in the comments. What would you share if we were having coffee? Come join us and meet some new friends over at Rags to Stitches blog. I love watching everyone’s vlogs. Did you vlog this week? Share a link so I can come visit you too.

Living and Celebrating

Hello November… hello daylight savings time and crisp leaves covering the ground. Hello shorter days and and new schedules. I am ready to welcome in the changes that November will bring. Ready for blogging when I’m inspired and setting new goals and expectations. Ready for reading and learning and designing. This month will be full of figuring out my new phone and applying all the skills I gained at training. There will be less eating out and more money saved; less wasting time and more cuddles; less stress and more time with friends. I just know November is going to be a month to remember in one of the best years I’ve ever had. There is always something to celebrate when you stop and look through grateful eyes. Hello November.