LITTLE NOWHERE TOWNS

Sorry for the month long hiatus! During architecture finals, it's hard enough to find time to sleep, let alone find time for photography, exploring, and other blogging related things. Besides academic work, the only thing I've done is hosted a Friendsgiving for a combination of students that couldn't make it home for the holiday and a few blogger buddies who go to school in New York as well. Since the group was mainly vegetarian and vegan eaters we made a few alterations to the typical Thanksgiving meal and it turned out spectacular! 

I'm pretty excited about the next few months of my life, starting with the fact that I'll be in NYC this upcoming weekend, and then a few days after that I'll be back in Seattle! There's something about the west coast that I just can't get enough of - the way of life, the amazing food, or maybe because I grew up there and have emotional attachments to it. Regardless, plans have already been made to try new restaurants, and reservations have been made to tour the new Filson factory. After that, I come back to New York, and then in March I head to Texas for a week. Right now I'm figuring out the logistics of a summer trip to the U.K. and tickets will be purchased soon. 

Other than that, I had a great time taking photos with Asiah, a talented photographer at my school. There was a lot of frozen fingertips and scarf throwing, but she's got a great eye and can't wait to work with her again. 

WEARING: PENDLETON PLAID SHIRT   //LEVI 511 SLACKS // CLARKS DARGO RISE BOOTS // ZARA COLOR SCARF // UO AZTEC SCARF  // 

EAT, DRINK, AND BE SCARY

There was a point in my first year of college as an unsuspecting 18-year-old where I saw a 5th-year student and though to myself, "I'm going to be 23 when I graduate from this place!" At the time, it was a mortifying thought; 23 seemed to far away and so old. But last weekend, I did it, I turned 23 and it wasn't that scary. I was able to take off for a long weekend to visit some close friends who graduated a few years ago and now live and work in Syracuse, NY. They showed me around for a spectacular birthday/Halloween weekend.





The geography of New York State will always confuse me, but I do know that we drove to a couple of the Finger Lakes for a beautiful autumnal afternoon. We spent time in one of the more touristy towns, but then drove to a lake house and spent some time in the peace and quiet of the woods.

Afterwards, we grabbed a tasty bite to eat at Pastabilities for my Birthday dinner. Couldn't say no to their homemade pumpkin ravioli! We ate, drank, and then got a bit scary to celebrate Halloween. The bunch of us got different pumpkin costumes and went out on the town as a pumpkin patch! Syracuse has a lot of beautiful old buildings that had been brought back to life and plenty of great food to eat.

Thanks to everyone who made turning 23 much less daunting than I thought it would be 5 years ago. In the upcoming year, a lot of things will happen and I can't wait to share it will all of the amazing people in my life.

ALUMNUS

Last weekend was my schools annual Alumni Weekend, and a close friend who graduated a few years ago decided to come down for it. We spent a lot of time catching up, eating, and drinking. We caught dinner at Peck's Arcade which was a beautiful space with delicious bites, but the portions were minuscule.
As always when I host, breakfast is on me. I made maple cinnamon rolls which were accompanied by another friends' pumpkin streusel donuts. We explored the farmers market, the little city of Troy with all of its little shops, and found a run down stairway with a bunch of strange wall paintings. Of course, we stop to take pictures in it! After having people come to stay with me the past two weekends, I'm starting to realize that people really do make a place.



WEARING: JCREW GREY TWILL SHIRT  // JCREW SUNGLASSES  // GOODALE CHINOS // UO ARTILLERY BOOTS // BLK PINE WORKSHOP BAG // JCREW WOOL "SHACKET"  // 

TROYALTY

For those of you who don't know, when I say I go to school in New York, I don't mean New York City. Actually, I'm really nowhere near it. Three hours -or 140 miles- north, you might find yourself just east of the state capital in what once was a industrialized area on the Hudson River, but is now where I will have spent 5 years of my life.

When I first arrived here, an older friend warned me to not go downtown into the city, yet now I live there! A lot of initiatives were introduced through my university and the city itself to revitalize what could have been a ghost town. The New York Times recently wrote about the dinky town I'm calling home, and another source refers to it as "the new Brooklyn", and it's actually getting to feel that way. New and creative bars, restaurants, and shops are opening and the weekend farmers market brings life into what not so long ago was dead. I guess what in trying to say is this: even though I may not love it here (or the east coast at all really) I'm enjoying this revitalized place that makes me feel like Troyalty.

WEARING: JCREW GREY TWILL SHIRT // JCREW SUNGLASSES  // LEVI 511 JEANS// CLARKS DESERT BOOTS // TIMEX WATCH // URBAN OUTFITTERS FIELD JACKET // 

Thanks to my lovely roommate ~Victoria~ for taking these photos! 

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME

This entire summer I have been trying to find a cap to replace the ratty blue cap I've had for ages. I stumbled upon Ebbets Field Flannels which has a lot of unique, well-made products - and is actually based out of my beloved Seattle!

For some reason, everyone in the Pacific Northwest gets really into local sports teams, even if they are absolutely terrible. With the Seattle Mariners, this is also true, but it doesn't stop me from going to a game every season! A week from today I need to rep my local team so I'll probably get one of these caps based off of designs from 1955 and 1938. If those don't work I also really like this retro logo from the 70's that has come back.

BEACHIN' AROUND

Once, I told jokingly told a friend that if I'm ever drawn as a comic book character I'll probably be wearing this scarf. It's been a cool weather staple of mine for years now; probably because the colors in it compliment my wardrobe and the brown matches my hair! I've worn it in below freezing temperatures in New York and blustery summer days in Seattle, I think I even wore it to a job interview once? Today I wore it to the beach. I got home from an amazing trip to Portland Friday so I'm spending the weekend unwinding before I have to head back to work tomorrow!

WEARING: JCREW TWILL SHIRT // LEVI 511 JEANS // UNIQLO SOCKS //  CLARK DESERT BOOTS // JCREW SUNGLASSES // UO SCARF //

OXBOW PARK

Georgetown, a neighborhood just south of Downtown Seattle is home to the largest pair of cowboy boots and hats in America. Attimitedly, attractions around here aren't "normal" (the gum wall, Fremont troll, Space Needle, etc.) but these are just so weird. "Boots 'n' Hat" were originally commissioned for a western themed gas station in 1954 but in 2003 they were relocated to this park for preservation; the boots used to be bathrooms back when it was a gas station! Apparently it made an appearance in National Lampoons Vacation... can someone verify that for me because I haven't seen the film.

WEARING: JCREW FLORAL PRINT SHIRT //   // LEVI 511 TROUSERS // CLARKS DESERT BOOTS // UNIQLO SOCKS // STEVEN ALAN RAIN SLICKER // 

NOT QUITE STRIPES

This post has been hanging out in my drafts for almost a year now, and I have no clue why! I got this shirt (almost a year ago) because a friend picked it out. Seeing it on the hanger, it wasn't something that I would have picked out for myself, but with a little bit of prodding I tried it on and  never took it off.  While that last bit over-exaggerates my affinity for it, the shirt is something I now really enjoy. The black and white pattern aren't quite stripes, but as you can see above almost like hand sketched lines with different thicknesses.

Trends are hard to avoid, mainly because as consumers we are limited to the retail selection set out for us, so I try and purchase things that can still be relevant in the future. This shirt is one of those that I pull out every time it gets warm enough for short sleeves, and because it's black and white with a print that closely resembles stripes, I haven't had a problem with it yet.

WEARING: TOPMAN SHIRT // LEVI 511 JEANS // UNIQLO SOCKS //  J.D. FISK MONK SHOES //

SYMPOSIUM STYLE

While we were at our symposium over the weekend, my lovely friend Victoria (who went with us) took far too many photos of me when I was not paying attention. Most of them were pretty horrendous. Some of them are okay, like the ones above.

So when it came to attending a conference/symposium like where we were at - filled to the brim with architects, artists, and students - we knew we should be presentable, but there was no need for a suit and tie like the professionals that attended. I brought my go-to light blue shirt that basically matched with everything and paired it with my new favorite pair of pants, which are maroon. They work so well with the rest of the blue and grey clothing I have. They also matched Jessica's cardigan which is why we have this fierce photo of us above!  I thought I would channel some east coast prep with a pair of blue oxfords, and then had some fun with the nautical themed anchor socks.

If you know me, you know I love fun socks.

WEARING: JCREW SHIRT //   // LEVI 511 JEANS // 1901 BLUE SUEDE OXFORDS // UO SOCKS // OLD NAVY BELT // SUNGLASSES JCREW // BAG JCREW //