Portland, etc.

A few photos from my trip to Portland some weekends ago, all of which I stole from my friend Monika who I went with. It was so much fun to get away from work for a weekend and enjoy a new city. Seriously one of the most relaxed places to visit, and I would definitely love to go back.

I'm so excited for Amy to come tomorrow, and the rest of the Bloggers (who are coming) are arriving in just a few days! Although everything is planned out on paper, I'm sure something will not go right. I just hope everyone travels safely.

Below is the front of a card I received from my friend Kelsey (the same one who is sending me a song every day this summer). One of the sweetest things I have ever received. I leave to go back to the East coast in exactly a month. Summer just didn't seem long enough.

It's like life decided to haphazardly throw lemons at me.

I can't really catch them and most are just hitting me in odd places.

This has been my life lately.

Working lots at the pool during the week, and spending my weekends out and about freely. Last weekend I went down to Portland, and spent a lot of time in the Portland Art Museum (PAM). More to come on that soon, it was a great time catching up with some friends from school, as well as getting away from everything - if only for a day.

It was my best friends birthday last week so I sent him a package of all things that reminded me of him. This includes: a Fun. CD, funfetti cake mix, an anchorman tee shirt, a batman/joker card, vitamin water, and of course a handmade card. He claims to have loved it. Part of me is a little skeptical because he hated the gift his girlfriend got him, however he outright told her that he didn't like it (smooth move bro). Oh well, I don't think they should be dating anyways.

My jobs at the pool have engulfed my life. I spent 15 hours at the pool I work this past Tuesday alone. 60+ hours a week I spend working, but since I'm on a salary this would be the equivelent of me getting paid $5 an hour. I'm going to ask for a raise.

I think I'm just taking things too seriously. Today, one of the newer employees told me I acted like I was 25. I'm taking that as a compliment, since I was dealing with pool members at that time, but I also feel aged, and expected to act older than I am. Which I do. But I do still want to me a nineteen year old who runs around with his friends spontaneously, not really having to worry about operating a facility, running a swim team, and managing a "bussiness".

Seriously.

Am I working to live? Or living to work?

The lines are blurred.

The Red Gingham Shirt: Part 1

Sometimes the sun will shine in Seattle summertime. (Please enjoy the alliteration.) Having purchased a few new pieces to add to a more warm-weather friendly wardrobe, in addition to wanting to revisit the fashion roots of this blog, here is the first (of what is hopefully many) true menswear post.

Tadlianne, a friend of mine who is attending an Art Institute for photography assisted me in the shoot, since I was fed up with my previous attempts of photos. Although we didn't really plan any of these shots and just kind of hung out with each other, we got a few really awesome shots in that I am really happy with.

-What I'm wearing -

Red Gingham Shirt - Tommy Hilfiger

Gramercy Shorts - J. Crew

Suede Bucks - Nordstrom

Sunglasses - Vans (taken from Honora)

Gingham as a pattern can be rather bold depending on the color, and the red can't help but to produce the imagery of a picnic. This sort of vibe is perfect for the summer, worn casually with a pair of rather neutral chino shorts, and complementary blue shoes. I tend to roll the sleeves of my shirts up due to my arm length (they are rather long and take over a look with all that fabric) but it's a great way to keep a look casual. A cloudless day is also the only time in which I can pull out the suede shoes without worrying about ruining them, and I love all things navy blue.

A freshly picked flower can add a pop of color

I have a few other great way that I would like to introduce gingham into a look, so expect more posts involving the gingham shirt, a perfect staple for summertime. Hopefully by the end of this mini-series (inspired by the one-piece-three-ways post by The Style Blogger) you all will want to go out and integreate a similar piece for yourself.

I Have The Potential to Throw a Whirling Dervish Out of Whirl

-credit-

Well, I originally was going to wait until I had the said outfit post ready to post again, but alas, It has not happened quite yet and I didn't feel like putting off a post much longer. On that note, I don't actually have that much to say. So please, enjoy my list of random thoughts.

_ I'm really enjoying watching HGTV Design Star & The Glee Project right now. (Don't judge.)
_ I really need to shave.
_ I wish I could grow a mustache so that I could wax it and curl the ends because that would be totally awesome.
_ The weather should improve.
_ Public Speaking isn't fun.
_ Today marked the beginning of my first of many 40+ hour work weeks, and I actually didn't mind it. It consists of getting up to lifeguard at 5 am, coaching from 7 to 10:30, supervising swim lessons from 10:30 to 11:30 and acting as assistant manager of the pool until about 1:30. (And then once swim meets start, I shall say goodbye to any free time.) It helped that one parent bought me a mocha, and another brought me a muffin - still warm from the oven.
_ Speaking of free time, Honora and I shall be cooking and singing tomorrow. (Not simultaneously.)
_ I added James Quaintance (see photo at top) to the list of people I want to grow up to be, including Adam Levine and Ryan Gosling. (I envy the tattoos.)
_ Thinking about motorcycles...
_ Seattle Blogger Trip (Coming so fast!)
_ I really need to finish reading The Social Animal so I can read the other million books that are sitting on my side table, including Fahrenheit 451 from Lizzie!
_ I want to go thrifting.
_ Everyone should go and listen to The Lumineers as well as the new Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes album right now.
_I have no idea where these post titles keep coming from.
_I'll stop rambling now.

Welcoming June with an Open... Umbrella?

Me at the beach, unintentionally taken by my sister

My weekends are proving to be rather eventful thus far.

Last weekend the annual Folklife Festival was going on in the Seattle Center and I usually go to experience a bit of Seattle culture and to listen to Folk music, but this year I arrived with purpose. My good friend Honora had the luck of having one of the stages approach her asking if she would perform.
So of course I had to go see her.
And of course she was amazing. (As usual.)
Take a listen, you wont be disappointed.

This past Saturday I went to the Outlet Mall with my parents and ended up getting 2 pairs of shorts, a polo, and 2 button ups as well as satisfying the demands of a Fathers Day gift. Pictures on my new clothes to come soon, I'm going to try to have one of my friends in photography school do a shoot with me. After spending too much money I met up with two of my friends who just got back from school, and we ended up at Starbucks after a while. (I tried an earl grey tea latte and it was fantastic.)

After that I went over to another friends place to make fried PB&J's. (When we were at Folklife we saw a food stand whose specialty was deep-fried peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. We all thought this was an interesting concept, but none of us wished to spend $7 on a sandwich so we vowed to make them ourselves.) They are actually rather good. If you wish to try yourself, make sure you pile on a lot of peanut butter and jelly, then coat in pancake batter, and fry - we used sunflower oil.

I ended up having to work on Sunday, but that's life.

Just listening to Kings of Leon, enjoying tea, and thinking about reading more.

Good Day.

I have enjoyed today.

Woke up at a reasonable time (NOT 5 am.) and went down to the mall.

Picked up some yarn to crochet a scarf for one of my school friends, Kelsey. She has decided to send me a song every day this summer to make sure she stays in touch which is cheesy and cute and I love it. I also went to a clothing exchange store, and got rid of some old clothes - and they gave me $28 for it! So of course I bought a ridiculously inexpensive Ralph Lauren button up for $14 (see picture above.) I then spent another bit of that money for two new books at a thrift store. So essentially I got paid to buy stuff today. Perfection.

The weather was awesome today so I went lap swimming at our outdoor pool before it opened to beat the rush. I can do this because I am also the assistant manager, assistant swim coach, and head lifeguard at this pool. I'm working on my speedo tan line.

Made myself a delicious grilled turkey and avocado sandwich for lunch, then went back to the pool. (Going back was the only part of the day that I would have liked to avoided since I went to clean out the pool filters which were gross. I'll spare the details.)

Then I went and printed out some pictures to send to some friends who just graduated from RPI (and I hope I will see them again someday) and while I was at the store I saw a bunch of Seattle post cards. Its funny to think that other people can get so excited about coming here. I mean, YES, this place is awesome. But I still find it amusing.

Had awesome homemade hamburgers and finished it off with a milkshake I made for myself. Going to watch The Lady in Black soon, we'll see how Daniel Radcliffe does outside of the Harry Potter world. Below are some of my adventures I've had so far since I've been home, documented with instagram. (Follow me at anintegraldesign if you'd like)

Have a good Memorial Day Weekend everyone!