One of my favorite things about living on the mainland and working at my current job, being able to dress up and experiment with fashion. At home in HI despite working two jobs in the retail/fashion industry and having an interest in fashion, I never seemed to embrace it. At TR I'd wear a dress and leggings or a top and jeans, and vans, sometimes flats. Billabong was worse, tank top and shorts, slippers. Jewelry was pretty much non-existent, one necklace. I'm surprised the holes in my ears didn't close.
Here in Seattle I put more effort, partly because weather and my job challenges me to step out of my comfort zone, mix and match things, figure out what my "style" is. So far I've learned, tights (especially fleece tights) is a must for cold weather, tuck in those tunics, stack them bracelets, layer those necklaces, and always wear your rainboots or uggs and bring your work shoes with you. I've tried color blocking, mixing patterns, wearing things I wouldn't have thought I'd wear – ummm a chambray shirt, I remember vividly insulting exbf Mike for owning one; high waisted knee length skirts, chinos! And OXFORDS, how I love my oxfords.
In just six months of working at my job, my coworkers can already point out a "that's something Sarah would wear" piece of clothing. Collared shirts, polka dots, whimsical prints, primary colors, preppy, long cardis, skulls, and anything in the color MINT. Lol.
I can't wait for spring and warmer weather, it will be nice not to have to wear tights 24/7. I'm looking forward to shorts and knee socks, new Sam Edelman sandals, and I'll be able to bust out my tank tops I brought from home!

February 2012, via Instagram

L-R, top to bottom.

1, Borrowed NYC travel guides because I booked my ticket for my NYC trip with Wendy.

2, The Fray at the Paramount with Ryan.

3, My first visit to the Seattle Public Library.

4, Found Grimm's in Capitol Hill.

5, Jason Wu for Target with May Wu and Gloria Woo, that's a whole lotta Wu/Woo.

6, Gasworks with Wayne.

7, Happy Birthday May!!

8, More OOTDs.

9, Hendrix.

Snowmageddon 2012. Seattle, WA. 

My first snow was alright. Actually it SUCKED, I fell twice and lost my keys. I woke up one morning and EVERYTHING was covered in snow. From inside it looked quite magical, like what you see on TV. Everyone excited, kids outside, everything looking like a white blanket. Then you realize this isn't TV, you still have to go to work in this weather. And going to work can be a challenge, since buses run on different routes, roads are icy, and of course people drive slower. I had to work on the worst day and they sent me home after one hour, I made 4 over the phone sales. The next day was really bad, so bad they actually stopped the 65 bus from going up 35th Ave, my only life line. Just when I decide that I wasn't going to let the snow win and head down to U-Village for a free Trophy Cupcake, they STOP the 65! I was pissed. So I spent the day walking around Wedgwood, snapping photos, eating at Grateful Bread for lunch, rented movies from Safeway, and spent the night making Rice Krispies treats. The days that followed after the snow, still sucked as roads and walkways were still icy. But I'm glad I survived my first snow!

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New loves:

-DOWNTON ABBEY, obsessed with it. I took notice as Prof. McGonagall is in it and I saw that it was nominated for a few awards. The first season was only 7 episodes (reminded me of a Japanese drama), and I watched it in about 3 days. I'm now starting season 2 via pbs.org. It's a Masterpiece Classic, and when I watch I feel like I'm watching something SUPER sophisticated and classy. lol. I love the fashion and of course the lavish life of English aristocrats. Hell I'd love to be a servant in the house of Crawley. I highly recommend this show, it's REALLY, REALLY good, good story, good acting.

-Moleskine, Moleskine, Moleskine. I recently bought 3 Moleskine journals, my style journal, a NYC journal, and a larger notebook that I turned into a photo scrapbook. In hopes of inspiring creativity.

-And the reason for the NYC journal, I'll be returning to the concrete jungle at the end of April with Wendy!!! NYC it's been 6 years, I can't wait.

-Saw The Vow, loved it. Probably 75% because of Channing Tatum. Why he's married to Jenna Dewan I don't get.

 

 

 

January via Instagram (Starting from the top: L-R)
1. Snowed in, Wedgwood photog adventure.
2. Rang in 2012 with roomie Priya.
3. Started the Instagram Photo-A-Day Challenge, my Longchamp Le Pliage.
4. New coffee mug from UO.
5. Love text messages from Priya.
6. Chinese New Year after party at The Garage.
7. Sunny days.
8. Decisions, decisions.
9. Good morning 2012, first sunrise of the year in HI.

Home. I was fortunate enough to go home for New Years. It was under sad circumstances, but nonetheless I was happy and grateful to be home with family and friends. I also orchestrated the most awesome surprise ever. I managed to keep my trip home a secret from roomie Priya. All day I kept texting her telling her to call me when she was done with dinner so we could talk. But she didn't call me, so I decided to just stop by the Citron House and try to see if she was home. Luckily the front door was open and she was home. My dad says he could hear her scream from the street. Mission accomplished.
New Years Eve was spent with family, doing our Kawachi traditions, eating our Kawachi style New Years foods. I met up with Priya, Leanne, Kat, and Amy at The Edition, oh ahem excuse me, the Modern. And danced, danced, danced the night away, with bottle service, it was nice. Not wanting the party to end, we went to go watch the first sunrise of the new year at Christmas Tree park in Kaimuki. It was AMAZING. I got to visit the Bong, watch the Cowboys-Giants game at Kanpai, hang with Matty and paddleboard, watch the sunset at Magic Island, eat at I-Naba, Highway Inn, Paina Cafe, AND foodland poke. It was good to be home.
I'm not sure if it was because I haven't been away that long, it felt like I never left. I fell right back into EXACTLY what I was doing before I left. It was nice but it realized why I moved. I love my life in Hawaii and the people who make it amazing. But Seattle has challenged me to open up to new people and a different lifestyle, to become more independent, and to grow up a little. I know one day I'll be back, but I'm not so sure when, the adventure is really just beginning.
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I've been in a writers block lately. Here's what's been goin on in the 206:
-Fun times with Seattle friends. Dinners, finding new bars, restaurants, etc.
-Work, work, work. And looking for more work.
-Snowmageddon (pictures to come)
-Chris Evans marathon and finally watched Bridesmaids. Seriously love both, Chris Evans and Bridesmaids.
-Finally watched the much anticipated documentary: Beats, Rhymes, and Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest. AMAZE-BALLS.
-Watched Tom Brady and my Pats reach the Superbowl.
-Watched Tom Brady and my Pats get their ass handed to them by Eli and the Giants. Damn you Eli.

 

 

 

My December in 9 photos via Instagram. Sadly thanks to the awesomeness of my iPhone 4S, my poor DSLR and point'n'shoot cameras do not get used as often. Add that to my 2012 resolutions: use camera more and stop eating after I get off of work.
I can't believe the holidays came and went that fast. My birthday was spent on the slopes of Stevens Pass, snowboarding with Makoto and Wayne. That's right MAKOTO! He came to visit and took us snowboarding. Now I'm going to be honest I was very scared about snowboarding. I last went over a year and half ago, and I absolutely SUCKED. I called my sister and watched some youtube vids for some tips. Luckily we started on the bunny hill, and I got to ride the magic carpet (something which my sister wouldn't let me do because she said it was embarassing). After my first run down the bunny hill, all of 50 feet, I got my snowboarding swag back! That was until I decided to take the ski lift and do the beginner run. The ski lift, my mortal enemy, I know I was overthinking the dismount, and I landed right on my tailbone. And I landed harrrrrrd, so hard I was hurting for the next week. Birthday dinner was spent at Spaghetti Factory with Ryan, May, and Wayne, we had great conversation over great food and wine. One of my best berfdays ever despite missing my girls.
The rest of December was pretty busy, breakfasts, lunches, and dinners with Chelsea and her bf; the Deloitte Christmas party in Bellvue, thank you May and Ryan for taking us; hanging with Grant, Michelle, and the girls in Maple Valley; and working ridiculously hard. But thankfully my hard work paid off and I was kept on board as a regular (best Christmas gift ever... well for this year).
Christmas eve was spent watching Jonas Brothers on Netflix with Wayne. The next morning we woke, put on some Christmas music and opened our presents. Wayne got a Keurig coffee machine, my favorite gift came from Priya, a little hand towel with embroidery that read "Citron Kid"... loved it. After we spent the afternoon feeding the homeless at City Hall Park downtown. It was freezing cold but it was an amazing experience. People were so grateful to get some food, clothes, and bedding, truly blessed to be apart of that. We headed to Bremerton for dinner with the Higa's. It was such a great day, one of the best Christmases EVER!
I spent New Years in HAWAII, but I'll leave that for another post! I'm currently in the middle of a Dawson's Creek marathon, even better the Pacey-Joey years, reliving senior year of high school-freshman year of college. Oh brother, what have I re-gotten myself into.

2012 Resolutions/Goals

1, Live it up in Seattle.
2, Visit Anna in CA and Ross in TX.
3, Eat healthier.
4, Find a second job.
5, Go to Disneyland and ride Star Tours like 5 times.
6, East coast trip with Wendy.
7, Eat at a Michelin star rated restaurant.
8, More giving, less taking.
9, Snowboard, snowboard, snowboard!
10, And like every year... Control my shopping!

Happy New Year!