Just Say YES.

I think I have always sold myself short. Or at the very least I have stifled my creativity, never failing to remind myself of the uncertainty and difficulty of following certain dreams. I've come up with a long and ever-growing list of reasons why, for example, I should not make cooking my career. "I wouldn't like the lifestyle of a chef." "I don't have the money to go back to school for culinary studies." "I want cooking to be my hobby not my career. If it was my career I might not love it as much anymore." There is undoubtedly truth to all of these. But I have failed to admit what is perhaps the biggest reason I haven't followed any of my creative passions. It shames me, but fear is the biggest factor. I look with envy at my friends who are confident in their ability to support themselves through music, photography, painting, food styling, and so on. I'm too busy worrying that I may find out I'm simply not that talented. 

A few days ago I listened to my friend recite her own poetry into the airwaves from the Lake Forest College radio station. It wasn't even a poem she had worked on for weeks. She did not allow herself time to weigh the pros and cons of reading it on the air. If I heard her correctly, she began writing it in the station and read it aloud only moments after finishing it. I was overwhelmed by her courage (as I have been before as I watched her recite her poetry at an open mic night). And not only that, but I spend the better part of the next half hour deep in thoughts unique to me that were sparked by her words. Sammie, you are brilliant and I wish more of me could be more like you.

Anyway... aside from making just $44 dollars for a whole night's work, I had a lovely day full of:

AJ Noodles

And one DELICIOUS homemade lunch. Whole grain spaghettini with sauteed garlic, onions, tomatoes, and spinach. 

Preparing a beautiful and delicious meal warms me like few things can. Food is medicine. 

Dress No. 2: Even Greater Success!

It has, yet again, been a while since my last post. To be honest, that is likely to be the norm. At least for a while.
First order of business: I have a serious lighting issue in my room. There is no ceiling light, which is a.o.k. with me, I'd rather live by lamp light anyway. But it has been difficult to create lighting that is effective but still muted and of course inexpensive. So I made a purchase.

They're not going to stay quite like this, but it's all I could do with minimal time.

And in more exciting news... I have completed another Salvation Army dress turned adorable garment! This one I am SO excited about. It took even fewer alterations than my last project, but the only change it really deeded was some shortening. (It fit me like a glove from the moment I tried it on.) The print is a perfect reminder of the nineties, and the colors scream autumn. Because I plan on wearing this in the colder months, I'll be wearing it with tights or leggings, so I opted to really hack some of it off. I find it awfully sexy. I'm going to get a lot of use out of this one!

And did you notice the BOOTS?! Just picked them up. I'm officially not allowed to spend money on anything other than gas for the next week. They were a little pricey, but entirely too dreamy to turn down.

I finished this dress yesterday.... and wore it for the first time yesterday! Claire and I had been discussing a fancy girl date for months and it was finally able to work out last night. It's getting pretty chilly at night around here, so I paired it with my VERY favorite sweater from (where else?) The Gap.

Yes, that sweater is navy blue, those tights are black, and those boots are brown, and YES I love it. Everything about this outfit made me feel beautiful and as though fall is finally here! My favorite season! Zak put it nicely the other day. Autumn is like the foreplay to everything good about this upcoming half of the year. The first fallen leaf, just as the first cool fall breeze, infallibly thrusts me forward into anxiously awaiting pumpkin pie, cuddling with AJ Noodles next to late night fires, Thanksgiving feasts, and candles... lots and LOTS of candles. I know many of my friends dread the abrupt end to summer weather, but I think it's the time of year (at least seasonally speaking) to which I look most forward. 

Happy Autumn!