Blogging has taken a backseat in my life course lately, I apologize. I also apologize for the miniscule picture you're squinting your eyes to look at. But, it's proof that I successfully ran the race this past Saturday. My friend Brittany and I conquered 9.3 miles with unnatural ease and I'm extremely proud of us. I walked up to the start line with no expectations, and honestly, I thought that I would crawl across the finish line... but much to my surprise the race was really enjoyable. It took us throughout downtown and the San Marco area where we jogged along the river, across two bridges, and entertained us with bands, mimosa stands, and people in their front yards with hoses, freeze pops, and oranges. Next year I'm going to take the race more seriously, I loved it so much Brittany also has a picture of me kissing my metal in excitement... but we'll keep that in hiding.

Saturday night we all went out in celebration of the race, it was a great time but I woke up Sunday feeling more than under the weather. I thought I was hungover but I was constantly nauseous and tired with no appetite for two whole days up until this morning. I was beginning to worry about mono, the flu, cancer... yes, my mind wanders like that. But I feel 110% this morning and have successfully kept my breakfast down with no questions from my stomach. Sickness has been conquered and now I'm ready to finish two dresses for the show. Speaking of, I am once again so thankful for the people in my life. It's really motivating to know that people support my dream. My grandparents sent me a check in the mail for materials. For those of you in Jacksonville or close to it, I would appreciate you coming out May 1st in Five Points for the show. I'll post more details as they arrive. And for those of you that can't make the show, I'm going to try and have my friend Cayla take tons of pictures with her fancy camera.

Once those two dresses are finished it should be time for St. Patrick's Day, then a road trip to the Keys and Ft. Lauderdale till Sunday, we're bringing the beach cruisers, the pup, and ourselves. I think a mini-vacation will be the perfect start to training for the new job, sewing, and getting into a focused mindset.

HomeIsWhereEverI'mWithYou

I haven't left the house this entire weekend aside from seeing Alice and Wonderland, a bike ride, and a jog with the pup. Normally, things such as staying in on a Saturday night and having my mom turn me down on sharing a glass of wine would bother me. I might have even called myself a loser twice, but looking back on it I'm proud of the self-control that has persevered throughout the entire past week. I've been able to focus on the upcoming show by watching numerous runway collections and listening to off the radar bands for music ideas. I've also done some sketching and plan on beginning the collection this week. More exciting news is that I had two New York fashion businesses contact me this weekend about job opportunities and I will be speaking with them at the beginning of the week. My life is such a whirlwind right now.

Yesterday, like I said, Piper and I went on a 30 minute jog and then a bike ride. She did really well with her smaller, pink leash that had been retired since her baby days. I think the bulky black one that I tried to graduate her into is much too cumbersome and annoying for her as of yet... and apparently feels great on her teeth because she sinks her mouth into it at any chance she can get, pulling me like she's a mini horse wearing a bridle.

Today I plan on increasing the run to 45 minutes, I wonder if there's any other runner trying to get back their endurance within a week of the River Run. Maybe I was foolish to sign up, but I'm also a little curious as to what I can push my body to do in six days. When I lived near campus I used to run miles on a daily basis and I forgot how great I feel when I begin the day with a run, I'm glad I've been bullied back into this. Now all I'm missing for a little more motivation is some sunshine.... come on Florida, show us what you've got....

YoungBroke&Fabulous

Since my move home my life has become a lame version of the movie Raising Helen. Lame because I'm broke and I owe bills, so my social life is limited to coffee dates and walks with my dog. I choose coffee because although I'm positive I'm not an alcoholic, it's a lot easier to stop at one coffee than it is to stop at one beer.

Today I made a board game for my sister Christie's class named "The Prefix-Suffix Shuffle." I'm not kidding. Tomorrow morning I am waking up to make the girls lunch, get them to school (in the van), and then go pick up my mom at the hospital for a minor surgery she's having (in the van).

As you can assume, I'm impatiently waiting for my tax return to arrive and for my server training to begin at Whiskey River so I can begin to piece back together my life as a Floridian. Whiskey River, for those of you that don't know, is a newly built bar/club/restaurant opening in April. They have been doing insane marketing and plan on having a national recording artist at the private grand opening. They will have DJs, a mechanical bull, VIP sections, and then the lunch and dinner portion of the restaurant, including an outdoor patio. I did notice a flyer of a girl in a skimpy cowboy outfit at my interview and made sure I wasn't going to be wearing her glorified bra. Shirt and jeans I can deal with. I can honestly say I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I got hired, but I have a feeling I'm going to be making some great money.

Aside from the various interview flops that have gone on I am so pumped to be part of a fashion show in the works. It will be held in Five Points on May 1st and I could not be more excited to show my collection. I'm so thankful there's a reason for the free time I've been given until Whiskey River opens and will spend it sewing. I also haven't lost sight of continuing the professional career search. I've actually become more accustomed to the fact of settling for a salary with benefits as long as I can be creative and provided with a compelling conversation in my workplace. Aside from that, I've let my stubborn and sassy work dreams subside. Lastly I decided today that I'm going to tackle the Gate River Run next saturday. Most people have been training for weeks... while I've gone on a few leisurely jogs with Piper. Time to step up my game!

WouldYouLikeToDanceAroundTheWorldWithMe

Hurricane Blizzard is what they call it. Sounds like an overpriced cruise ship beverage if you ask me. I woke up to a sloshy mixture of rain and snow this morning, and before that discovery, to an annoying dry cough. Welcome to my last day in New York. It's been almost a full month with no success in finding a paid fashion job. I have made strides. And I have been hired as a cocktail waitress. But when it came down to it, my parents were strongly suggesting I give my pup away to a new home, and... I did not have 2,200 cash lying around for the next month. I would be sacrificing a lot to stay here and I didn't want to have any regrets. If I move back to Jacksonville some people might view it as a failure, but I view it as a place to rest, save up, sew, and plan my next adventure.

New York City is a struggle, that's part of what makes it so energizing and enticing. The majority of people that live here WANT to be here with all of their heart. All of their soul.

After a month of the internship and getting a minor glimpse of the real fashion industry I realized what I didn't want to be. And sometimes when you see what you don't want, it points you in the direction of what you do want.

I don't want to be glued to my phone. I don't want to be on the edge of my seat feeling inadequate. I don't want to feel constantly stressed or live my life for the success of somebody else. If I'm struggling, I want it to be for the well being of myself or a reputable company I strongly believe in. I need to be given the respect that I give back. I want it to be a worth while and enjoyable struggle to reach my goal with dignity and self worth intact.

I'm going to miss this place. New York reminded me how enjoyable it is to strike up conversations with strangers. It taught me that every day can become an adventure, and you have the decision to make it one. It taught me to actually like cold weather. As I type this I'm in fur-filled boots, UnderArmor leggings, a shirt, a hooded sweatshirt, and lastly a fur hat head band. Cold weather allows you to dress ridiculous and I've come to comfortably adore these layered get ups. Human beings are such adaptable animals; total chameleons with the ability to live in any weather climate.

New York, I'll be back. Whether it be for a visit or another temporary residence. Until then, thanks for the hospitality.

Gypset

I can't wait to read the book Gypset Style.

Here is a brief synopsis of the "gypset life" and where it originated from in an interview with the author:

Gypset lifestyle references the 1960s but it is not a continuation. My book traces the wanderlust tendencies of the counterculture starting with the British romantic poets like Lord Byron and Percy Shelley who left England for more tolerant shores of Italy in the 1800s. The Victorian adventurers like Richard Burton and Jane Digby on up to the beatniks who lived in Tangier, and then on to the 1960s with hippies backpacking around India and Asia. All of these groups needed to go outside of society to find freedom and create. Gypsetters as a group really started to emerge in the 1990s when counterculture had become commodified. Places like St. Tropez or downtown New York City, once alternative refuges, had been taken over by bankers and real estate tycoons. The Gypsetters came along and said, that’s not luxury, that’s tacky. Real luxury isn’t for sale. It’s something that has soul and creativity.

So, in short, what should we do to live like a Gypsetter?
JC: Be spontaneous and wander.

GypsyChild

Right now I'm craving a sweet pile of breakfast food and sushi all at the same time. I woke up not feeling well this morning and immediately blame it on the head cold that has been playing games with me all week, disappearing and then waking me up vengeance. I made a healthy breakfast of eggs, salsa, coffee and a banana in an effort to ignore the fact I might be getting sick and called a contact from The Donager group to set up a time to meet with him tomorrow. He made sure to stress that he WAS NOT an employment agency, but he's nice enough to put a face with a voice and a resume so I'm grateful for that.

It was raining when I woke up and has continued to pour down all day. I'm sitting here dreaming of sushi and belgian waffles with nails painted, make up and heels on, ready to go apply to my last resort: hotel and restaurant jobs.

As soon as the rain lets up I'm out the door.

What is it with the show 24? I've only become remotely obsessed with one show in my entire life, Gossip Girl, which was arranged and reminded by my room mates and friends or else I surely would have forgotten about it. Every man I know is either a loyal viewer or at least a big fan. I called my dad last night after taking a personality-career test to tell him I am destined to become a journalist. Only 5% of the population achieve these results. I finally have my life figured out! He politely hung up the phone as fast as he could mumbling the numbers 24 into the receiver...

Looks like I've lost him to the cult too.

He did call back, we caught up and ended the phone in a mutual agreement that I was the gypsy child of the family.