It's Just Another Manic Monday

Another fashion post? What the what is going on?

It's no secret that I've been a wee bit stressed lately. It took me over a week to find time to pick up my new specs, I've needed a haircut for about a month, keep forgetting to reschedule my dentist appointment that's this week, I'm breaking out, and needed have to get in for a bridesmaid dress fitting about two weeks ago. Oh, and now I average about a 50-60 hour work week.

Oy vey.

Not to say I'm not enjoying my new position, I am - very much so. It's challenging for sure, but every now and then I get little successes that remind me how great I could be in the position.

But I really need a haircut.

However, the one thing I can control is how I look and present myself. And lately I've been feeling like if I look put together, people will perceive me as 'put together'. So lately I've been going on shopping sprees on the aforementioned ModCloth.com, picking up new cute outfits. I figured I'd start the week off right and don one of my new dresses.

It's a pretty crappy cell phone self-shot, but the dress is going to be one of my new favorites, and the shoes are my ever-versatile rainbow wedges. Seriously. I love these things, I wear them ALL the time. 

I also sported my new geek-chic spectacles. You can't see them very well, so here's a photo I uploaded to Path earlier today.

I love them, and they're surprisingly lightweight considering how thick the plastic is. And, since it is thick plastic, my coke-bottle lenses don't stick out so much.

Huzzah!

Feeling Fashionable

Recently I've become quite obsessed with the site ModCloth.com. Seriously, it's brilliant. Super cute vintage-y clothes, and they send me emails with outfit suggestions. I honestly cant tell you what a big help that is since it saves hours spent at the mall putting together outfits for purchase, something I'm really not all that great at anyway.

For example, this outfit was spawned out of one of those emails:

I roped a co-worker to take this picture at Starbucks during an afternoon Frappuccino run. The purse is one of my favorites, given to me by my dear friend Eleanor. It's an elementary school science book cover repurposed into a purse. It's one of the most unique and awesome purses I've every seen.

Hopefully this furthers my point that engineers can be cute too. And I've got more where that comes from...as long as ModCloth.com stays around. ;]

Wednesday Wisdom

I saw this picture circulating on Facebook recently and I must say, I fell in love with the statement.

I too often think that we find ourselves regretting decisions or fretting over those 'what-ifs'. We never really stop and think about the things that wouldn't have happened had we actually made those different choices. Would we be the same person we are today? Would we know the same people?

Most likely the answer is no. Honestly, I remember just a few weeks ago feeling like I may have made a mistake career-wise. While I loved my position, I felt I had stayed too long and would have trouble finding another job should I need to. But now I'm in the Engineering Manager, and nominated for my first award. Had I not been where I was, learning what I've learned, I wouldn't have the opportunities I have today.

So really, we need to appreciate our "mistakes" more. Every decision, good or bad has lead us to where we are today. Now, our lives are what we make it. More "mistakes" may be made, but they may lead us to great places.

I don't know about you, but that sounds pretty exciting.

Engineering Manager? Moi?

A couple weeks ago, dear blogland, I mentioned that I may have some exciting work news for you which made me feel like I should dress snazzier. Well, the cat's out of the bag so I can finally share it!

I have officially been named the new Engineering Manager at Parallax! 

I'm very excited at the opportunity and the challenges it will bring. It's also going to allow me to put all of my leadership training from college to good use!

Also, I have an amazing boyfriend who is cooking a delicious dinner for me tonight to celebrate. 

Life is good. :)

The Pa-arty's Oooover...

And just like that, it's done. Last night was the final midnight premiere of anything Harry Potter. And while Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was very, very good, I can't help but feeling a little...blue.

My love affair with Harry goes back to when Sorcerer's Stone was first released. It was 1998 and I was 12 years old. My mom had brought the book home on a recommendation from a friend and meant it to be for my brother or sister (seven and nine, respectively). However, as soon as she mentioned that it was about wizards, I snatched it up and devoured it in days.

The book that started it all...

And so the obsession began. I essentially grew up with Harry, anxiously awaiting the release of each book and attending midnight release parties when they came in vogue. I would re-read each installment until the bindings started to wear, pretty much lived on Mugglenet, and basically drove my family nuts with my incessant gushing about the series.

The first movie was released when I was a sophomore in high school, and fortunately I had friends who were just as excited as I was. They weren't doing midnight releases then, so we popped into the first showing we could that Friday night. We brought Bertie Bots Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs, stuffed owls, plastic Potter glasses and had the time of our lives. Before I knew it I was buying robes and house sweaters to complete my nerd-tastic ensemble. 

Now here I am at 25 and all that excitement, all that anticipation is gone. There's nothing new to look forward to. I'll never be in a midnight release line again. And while it may seem completely melodramatic, that's rather disappointing for me. 

Just look how excited queues make me!

Trust me, the final installment was really very good. You should definitely see it. I'm definitely going to see this movie about eight more times in theatres (and don't you dare think I'm retiring my Ravenclaw house uniform) but it's just a very odd feeling to now look back on Harry Potter with nothing but nostalgia.

But, as they say, all good things must come to an end.

So to commemorate this event fellow Potterheads, new or old, I propose a toast: To the magic that's kept us enthralled for the past 13 years. To the books that kept us up all night reading. To Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs. To the fond memories we've shared. To Snitches, wands, Puking Pastilles, muggles and butterbeer. And most of all...

To Harry Potter, the boy who lived.

Locked & Loaded for Fun & Sun in Florida!

Steven's brother is getting married on Saturday, so we're heading back to Florida. w00t.

We've also got plans for some boating, beaching and we may throw some pooling in for good measure. However, after my tryst at the river last weekend, I noticed that my bathing suits were in pretty sorry shape. Elastic stretched out, fading fabric, really just no fun at all.

This year, work was very nice to give us fiscal year end bonus, and after a couple days of consulting with this generosity, this sum told me that it wanted to become new swimwear. Isn't that just the nicest?

So yesterday I moseyed on over to my favorite swimsuit shop, Le Target. I immediately found one I wanted when I spotted this saucy black number with comic book print. I kid you not, insta win for yours truly.

And I may feel a little bit like a super hero wearing it...

I also picked up a Converse One Star Number, I can't find a picture of it, but it's similar to the one here (but in black & white).

Then, since I was already there, I might as well pick up some other items, right? Of course! Gas is expensive, and you really should make the most out of every mile driven. Let that be a lesson, kids.

Alright, so since I've been feeling "fashionable" lately, I picked up a new dress for work. (Plus, I may have exciting work news for you soon, which may make me feel like I need to dress snazzier.) It's a nice light fabric, so it will breathe nicely here in the Sacramento heat AND it's uber cute.

Hooray professionalism!

Then for funsies I picked up some rockin' aqua shorts because, well, why not?

Fun, fun, fun, fun...

I also splurged on various tank tops to mix & match with since I've been in a "tank top" mood lately. I mean, the high IS 102 today. Just sayin'.

I <3 Target. It was a serious drain on finances when I worked there, since half the time I worked as the operator which also doubled as being the fitting room attendant. Needless to say I would amass quite the collection from what was discarded by shoppers. It's MUCH safer to only pop in a couple times a month.

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day '30'

Day 30 – A photograph of yourself today + three good things that have happened in the past 30 days

Oh. Em. Gee. Did I really make it to the last day? Is this really ending?! I mean, I may not have completed it in exactly 30 days, but that's just a guideline, right?

At Flughafen Zurich!

Anyway, that's me earlier today, before I boarded my flight back to the States. I am now in Atlanta, waiting out the last 3 hours of my 5 hour layover. But, I did treat myself to the Delta Sky Lounge so I'm enjoying free drinks & free internet. I tell ya, this is like airport heaven!

So, three good things that happened in the past 30 days:

1. I successfully completed my sixth excursion to Europe, with two international Educator's Courses!
2. I visited the Doctor Who Experience!
3. I found out the Altanta Airport has a Moe's. I know what I'm having for dinner! Omnomnomnomonom.