I've been MIA!

Hi Everyone!

As you can tell, I've been MIA on this blog, and that's an understatement. With work, and side projects, it's been difficult to find time to make good posts. I'm not trying to make excuses, though! The good news is, I'm working my way towards posting on here again. In the mean time, if you're interested in seeing what I've been up to, follow me on Instagram at @sweatshirtdressshirt. I'd love to chat with you on there!

Thanks for sticking with me,
Crystal

Mermaid Nails

Things have been hectic lately. I mentioned on Twitter yesterday that I added a little bit of freelance work to my schedule, on top my full-time job. Yes, it's a lot, and it keeps me busy, but I absolutely love it. Before I started working, I thought a lot about how I would pursue both my passions (psychology and graphic design/blogging) at the same time. I'm finally doing it, but there are a lot of things I need to change. I'm balancing work and the freelance stuff perfectly, but I need to find a way to fit friends and family into the mix. The good news is that I'm slowly figuring out what I can give up versus what I need to keep, in terms of work. You live and you learn. *sigh*

As for self-care things, if you're following me on Instagram, you'll see that I've been going out for ice cream a lot lately. Ice cream dates are pretty much the highlight of my week, every week... along with the Jasmine Thompson station on Pandora. Is it even possible for every single song to be amazing on one channel?

If you've read this far, you're probably thinking, "What does this post have to do with mermaid nails?" Well, I realized that even though there are a lot of people are on Instagram, not all my readers on here are. Here are a few pictures I posted a while back of my nails painted with 'Charla' by Zoya. I had just watched a documentary on mermaids on the Discovery Channel, and was tempted to have mermaid-esque nails. So, there there you go!

pop can vase: Target $4 SALE

Be Happy

To Be An Intern (for Blogshop!)

On Tuesday and Wednesday, I had the opportunity to be an intern for Blogshop, a 2-day intensive Photoshop workshop for bloggers and business owners put on by the very talented photographer, Angela Kohler, and my design idol, Bri Emery. I was ecstatic to meet both women, and even though I did a really good job at hiding it, I was beyond starstruck. Bri especially, has inspired me to the moon and back, and has been a huge influence in my desire to become a graphic designer.

In the two days, even though I didn't learn a lot of new information about Photoshop, I learned quite a bit about event planning, turning your blog into a brand, and why you shouldn't feel shame in being obsessed with Instagram (haha). I also met a lot of talented people, and made two new friends. Shout out to my fellow interns Leah and Moorea!

It's almost unreal how insanely successful Blogshop has become. Having only celebrated its 2nd birthday, it has already gone international with over 90 classes under its belt. I am so thankful to have been a part of the Seattle experience.

lovely flowers arranged by Jen Elliot

Aron Goyoaga wins the award for having the prettiest studio
goodies by BKR (bottle) //small gunns (candle) //moorea seal (ring) //herbivore botanicals (pink clay) //swim club (bath salts) //lhc calligraphy (greeting cards) //little korboose (tea towel) all photos by SWEATshirt DRESSshirt

Fall Photoshoot

chambray shirt: Urban outfitters //white t-shirt: Eddie Bauer //jeggings: TJ Maxx //nail polish: 'And a Cherry on Top' SEPHORA by OPI

To carry on with the tradition of having a photo shoot every season, my friends K1, K2, and I headed north of Seattle a few weeks ago, where fall had completely taken over. We ended up on a long road with a row of trees on each side. Most of the leaves had changed colors, and there were plenty on the ground for endless authentic shots. The air was crisp, but not too cold. The day couldn't have been more perfect.

In addition to the photo shoot, my friends and I had planned to have a Girls Weekend. We always joke about having "drunken nights at Rock 'n Sushi" (gold star to those that can tell me the movie that quote is from), even though none of us drink. We ended up actually going to sushi, and afterwards, rented Warm Bodies, which we figured out, wasn't our favorite movie. A part of me wishes there could be more weekends like this. But then I realized, if that were the case, I probably wouldn't be able to appreciate them as much as I do.

boots left: Frye //boots right: TJ Maxx

photo credit goes to K1 and K2.

How to Nail Your First (or even second!) Interview

If any of you have ever been to an interview, you will know the stress that comes in the days or hours leading up to the big moment. A few weeks ago, one of my former classmates, who is also a friend, helped me connect with the supervisor at the agency she works at. I submitted my resume and cover letter earlier that week, but for some reason, my resume never went through. Regardless, I landed an interview because of my connection.
As excited as I was, I felt a lot of pressure to succeed. I knew I had one shot, and that if I were to bomb the interview, I would not only embarrass my friend, but the school in which I graduated from... oh, and most importantly, myself.

Best Friends Forever

From the moment I met R, I knew we were going to be best friends. She is wise beyond her years, and is always inspiring me to be the best version of myself. During college, she shared this quote with me. Not surprisingly, she came up with it, herself. Reading it always resets my perspective on what it means to have confidence. I hope it can do the same for you.
graphic by me. visit my portfolio [here].

A Good Time

One of my friends recently posted this quote on Facebook. I had to share it with you guys (in the form of a graphic... of course!) because I love the message it has behind it. We all go through tough stuff in life, and even though it can be easy to forget, there is always room for optimism and positivity.
Have a great weekend! graphic by me. visit my portfolio [here].

Orange Inspiration

In the fall, we tend to see a whole lot of orange, whether it is in pumpkins, leaves, or the flames of a cozy fire. Here are my favorite picks for this season's star color:

1. Color Hit Nail Polish in 'Trick or Treat' via Sephora $5 2. Quay Eastside Shades via Nasty Gal $40 3. Leather Bracelet via H&M $13 4. Gloriosa Bowl via Anthropologie $14 5. 4-Pack Pumpkin Spice Candles via Target $39.99 6. Mercury Glass Votive Holder via Kirklands $4.99 7. Orange Ammunition Earrings via Jewel Mint $40 8. Geometric Leather Necklace via Etsy $44

Fall-Themed Festivities

Because of our different schedules, my friends and I typically try to designate at least one weekend out of each month to hang out. Last weekend, we threw a fall-themed party, and followed up with a crafternoon the next day. Our fall-themed party consisted of a trip to the pumpkin patch, a baked potato bar, homemade caramel apples, and the best baked seeds I have ever tasted. Last year's October get-together was fun, but this one, without a doubt, takes the cake.

the most amazing apple cider donuts

Penny Pincher: The Benefits of Having a Student ID

graphic by SWEATshirt DRESSshirt
Being a student can be stressful, but it has it's perks. Did you know, that with a valid student ID, you can receive discounts at hundreds of shops and restaurants? Check out a few of my favorites:
RETAIL -- Amazon: register for an account with your student email and receive a free Prime Membership trial. -- AMC Theaters: discounts for students every Thursday -- Ann Taylor: 20% off -- Ann Taylor LOFT: 15% off -- Apple: 8% off online and in-store -- Banana Republic: 15% off -- Charlotte Russe: 10% off -- J.Crew (both regular and factory): 15% off -- Jo-Ann Fabrics: 10% off (must register online first) -- Juicy Couture (both regular and factory): 15% off -- Madewell: 15% off -- Steve Madden: 10% off -- The Limited: 15% off -- Topshop: 10% off -- Urban Outfitters: varies by location, but some places will give you 20% off
FOOD -- Buffalo Wild Wings: 10% off -- Chipotle: receive a free drink -- Dairy Queen: varies by location, but some places will give you 10% off -- McDonalds: 10% off -- Subway: 10% off
*Most discounts are in-store only.

Who Is Confetti Splendor?

After months of preparation, I'm excited to finally announce the grand opening of Confetti Splendor, my paper goods Etsy shop! Since before I can remember, I've had a deep love for design, paper crafts, and being creative. With the encouragement of a few close friends, I made the decision to invest in an outlet that would allow me to give a little piece of what I love doing, to the world.

Currently in the shop, you'll find a selection greeting cards. Each one was painted/hand-drawn and designed by me. They come in a variety of styles, ranging from vintage, to modern, to girly, and everything in-between. I'm working on new inventory as we speak and there will also be a giveaway either this week, or next week, so keep your eyes peeled!

To all the readers out there: thank you so much for your support. My blog and passion for what I do wouldn't exist without the interest and involvement of all of you. I appreciate your companionship, whether you have been with me since 2010, or yesterday.

XO,

SWEATshirt DRESSshirt

Superman

Early last week, Taylor Swift released a new track called 'Sweeter than Fiction'. As I was listening to it yesterday, it reminded me of 'Superman', another song of Taylor's that I listened to A LOT in college, especially during fall quarter of my senior year, when I first met my, now, boyfriend, G. To those that are new to this blog, you can read about our story here.

Back to the song-- I seriously forgot how true it spoke to my actual experience. Something I've never told you guys: Even though G and I are the same age, G was actually one of the TAs for my class, while I was a student. Of course, romantic relationships between TAs and students were forbidden, so all I could do was dream (I'm not trying to sound creepy... I swear!), which is what this song is mostly about.

I say this a lot, but it's strange how fast time flies. Later this month, G and I will be celebrating our two and a half year anniversary. In just two and a half years, we went from being strangers in a classroom of 200, to talking about all the pets we're going to get when we live together in the future.

Thanks for all your support and encouragement, especially to those that have given me advice since the beginning!

More posts about G:
What I Wore on Our First Date Proper
The First Time I Posted About Him in 2010, Asking For Your Guys' Advice
Our First Time Meeting and Dating Advice

Loving Him Was Red

For those of you that are fans of Taylor Swift, you will know that she is currently on tour. This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to see her for the 3rd time with two of my best friends, and as you can probably guess, she was beyond amazing (more on that later). During the months leading up to the concert, I had so much excitement, I could barely contain it. I started to dream about seeing her live almost every single night, and the night before the concert, I had to falsely convince myself that the concert was actually two days away, just so that I could get some sleep.

I've been a fan of Taylor since 2006. She has impacted my life in a way that I can't really explain, and truly deserves the title of being my idol. I looked to her music during times of rejection, times of loss, times of extreme happiness, and pretty much... all the time. She's not afraid to be personal with her music, and I truly admire her for that, because her courage has helped millions.

Back to the day of the concert. Something I wasn't expecting was for the day to be incredibly stressful. A lot of things happened to my friends and I that set us back, such as heavy traffic, getting into the arena late, having the concession stand run out of food, and trying to get past crowds of people, just to climb the mountain of a staircase to get to our seats.

Despite the bad luck, I was incredibly grateful to have been at the concert, and forgot all about our struggles when Taylor began to perform. Even though I wished we could have had closer seats, Taylor's ability to reach out to every corner of our 20,000 seat stadium made our "nosebleeds" a million times better. I already cannot wait to see her the next time she comes to Washington.

Job Hunting and Post-Grad Life

As some of you know, I graduated from my Master's program back in June, and finished my internship earlier this month. At first, I was disappointed in myself for not having secured a job to start at right away, but became relieved after realizing a break was what I needed. However, one week turned into two weeks, and before I knew it, it had been nearly three weeks since I last had any type of responsibility... besides looking for jobs.

I've never really had any experience with "serious" job hunting, as the last time I had a real job was pretty much never. I've only ever truly interviewed once for a paid position, and that was back in high school to work at Hollister. Every other "gig" I've had, either consisted of volunteering as an intern, or... wait... yeah. That's about it.

Bellingham Teacups

My twin friends, K1 and K2, who I've mentioned on here before, have a deep love for all things vintage. Over the years, I have become more and more inspired by their taste and style.

About two weeks ago, a small group of us went to visit K2, who lives waaaaaay up north in Bellingham. She showed us around town, and in addition to the AMAZING food she introduced us to, K2 took us thrifting. I had never been thrifting before "for reals", so I didn't really know what to look for, or what a good deal consisted of. I ended up finding two must-have teacups that, according to my friends, were a steal. With them being $5 and $6, I think I would have to agree.

If you're ever in Bellingham, I highly recommend checking out their Goodwill. It's clean, heavily stocked (with good stuff), and everything is dirt cheap. Hands down, it was the best thrift shop I had ever been to. K2 says that it's also rated one of the best secondhand stores in the country. You can't beat that.

from L to R: gift from K, antique mall, Goodwill

New Places

This past week, I spent time on the island of Oahu. Before I left, I never really thought it was possible to "forget" what it was like to be inspired by something besides the internet. My vacation refreshed my views on what it means to "bring your ideas to life", and truly stick to your personal style as an artist. If only I could travel more often. Cheers, to new places.

A Celebration

A few weeks ago, I graduated from my Masters program. My friend K threw me a surprise party to celebrate my accomplishments.

As always, I was beyond impressed with K's work. From the food, to the decorations, all the elements of the party embraced the themes of being feminine, elegant, and whimsical. My favorite part of the party was the ombre, ruffle, chocolate masterpiece, which I would consider to be my "dream cake". Also at the party were lemon bars, a flag banner, several rounds of Heads Up (via iPhone), a lace table cloth (actually a curtain from IKEA), pizza, iced tea, and lots of laughter.

Party tip #283: On a budget? Get creative with your decorations. For example, a lace curtain can become a nice tablecloth, and ordinary tissue paper can be easily transformed into decorative pom poms (tutorial here).

The Happiest Place on Earth

Life has been incredibly busy lately, but somehow, some way, I was able to fit in a trip to Disneyland.  I hadn't been since I was 4, and clearly, could not remember anything from that trip. G and I spent 3 days meeting various characters, snacking on fried food, going on rides, and enjoying the sun. I now understand why they call Disneyland the Happiest Place on Earth. I'm still exhausted from all the walking we did, but am already thinking about how badly I want to go back.