First Impressions of Chicago

Here are some photos from my first day in Chicago starting with these really cool pedal buildings. I took this after we got off the train from the airport, you, know, when we completely misunderestimated (thanks for the word, Bush) the distance from the train station to our hotel. This would be at 5am Pacific time, just so you get the whole picture. I was a hot mess, and that's a compliment to 5am-after-a-redeye Nicole.

 This was the lunch dessert I enjoyed during a break from shopping after my well-deserved nap.

And these were taken after my second nap when I ventured out to find dinner while Stephen was shooting photos with some skateboarders across town. I couldn't find anything for takeout that was reasonable price or time-wise. I walked to Due but they said the wait for a takeout pizza would be an hour and fifteen minutes. Uh, no. I'm already ordering a pizza by myself I don't need to hang out for an hour by myself waiting for it. So I ended up stumbling into another place called Giordano's which was a twenty-five minute wait and much close to our hotel. Win.

 I liked this quote carved into the old Tribune building.

I See London!

Hello, Tuesday. Tell me, why can't you be Friday? I am tired again today because I had a soccer game last night (we won! and I assisted a goal!) and then I stayed up going through pictures from my trip and picking which ones I like and want to share with you. There are lots! We also did a family portrait shoot while we were there with the sweetest people so I will share some of my favorites from that too. And I did a little food session with some asparagus in my kitchen last week. Looks like it's time to sit down and to get through some pictures.

It's been kind of hard to get back into the swing of things, but I am forcing myself to get something done photography wise every night, sleep be damned. And I am making a few investments in photography gear (including a practical/geeky style backpack I have always tried to avoid) to get ready for the wedding I will be shooting in October. I'm super excited and nervous. And anxious. And nervous. I think you get the point.

Oh, by the way, the photo was taken in Chicago on Michigan Avenue. Marilyn is a traveling art piece so I'm not sure if it's still there but it was covered in people all day striking ridiculous poses and standing under her skirt. Did I make that sound creepy? Good. It's funny to me how people always want a picture of themselves standing in front everything they see. How many pictures can you possibly have of yourself standing in front of everything? When did that start anyway? And isn't anyone as paranoid as I am about handing over valuables to strangers? And germs?!

It's Friday!

cake., a photo by nicole cross on Flickr.

I am having a crazy sweet tooth the last three days and if something like this landed on my desk today I would be very appreciative. Hint, hint. I hope you have a good Friday and a fun weekend!

Day Thirty-Self Portrait

Since two very large mosquito bites are currently residing on the better half of my forehead I decided to think of some small part of myself that might express how I feel. I have been exhausted since our first attempt at returning home and I have not been able to catch up, let alone unpack.

One thing I do when I'm tired is I pull my hair down from whatever "style" I am sporting and mess it around with my fingers before tossing it up into a messy bun on top of my head. I usually repeat steps two and three until I go to bed. I tend to do the same thing when I'm writing regardless of whether I have caffeinated myself into oblivion.

Hey, whadda-ya know! I do concur it's day thirty! That's all folks!


Day thirty of what?

Day One: Selfie
Day Two: What I Wore
Day Three: Clouds
Day Four: Something Green 

Day Five: From a High Angle

Day Six: From a Low Angle

Day Seven: Fruit 

Day Eight: A Bad Habit
Day Nine: Someone You Love
Day Ten: Childhood Memory 
Day Eleven: Something Blue 
Day Twelve: Sunset  
Day Thirteen: Myself with 13 Things
Day Fourteen: Eyes
Day Fifteen: Silouette
Day Sixteen: Long Exposure
Day Seventeen: Technology 
Day Eighteen: My Shoes 
Day Nineteen: Something Orange
Day Twenty: Bokeh
Day Twenty-One: Faceless Portrait
Day Twenty-Two: Hands
Day Twenty-Three: Sun Flare
Day Twenty-Four: Animal
Day Twenty-Five: Something Pink
Day Twenty-Six: Close Up
Day Twenty-Seven: From a Distance
Day Twenty-Eight: Flowers
Day Twenty-Nine: Black & White

Day Twenty-Nine-Black & White

Good morning. Here is a photo I shoot yesterday. I don't shoot much black & white, but I do have some black & white film in my mom's old Pentax that I carry around when I don't feel like lugging my slr but don't want to miss out on having a camera. The things you see when you don't have a camera, I tell ya. Anyways, I decided I wanted to find something with texture for this assignment and I when I was walking with a friend at work I noticed the way the trees were casting shadows on the rough black cement below and decided to play around with that. I like the way it kind of looks like a fossil.

One. More. Daaayyy!!

Day twenty-eight of what?

Day One: Selfie
Day Two: What I Wore
Day Three: Clouds
Day Four: Something Green 

Day Five: From a High Angle

Day Six: From a Low Angle

Day Seven: Fruit 

Day Eight: A Bad Habit
Day Nine: Someone You Love
Day Ten: Childhood Memory 
Day Eleven: Something Blue 
Day Twelve: Sunset  
Day Thirteen: Myself with 13 Things
Day Fourteen: Eyes
Day Fifteen: Silouette
Day Sixteen: Long Exposure
Day Seventeen: Technology 
Day Eighteen: My Shoes 
Day Nineteen: Something Orange
Day Twenty: Bokeh
Day Twenty-One: Faceless Portrait
Day Twenty-Two: Hands
Day Twenty-Three: Sun Flare
Day Twenty-Four: Animal
Day Twenty-Five: Something Pink
Day Twenty-Six: Close Up
Day Twenty-Seven: From a Distance
Day Twenty-Eight: Flowers 

Day Twenty-Eight-Flowers

I usually run away from bees (it's irrational, I know) but I braved it and got real close to this guy for the flower assignment. You can't really tell, but this is really tall and was swaying in the wind and through my lens it kept looking like the bee was gonna swing right into me, which eventually caused me to run away. But luckily, for all my efforts and bravery I got this photo.

Only one more day to shoot, y'all! Tomorrow's shooting assignment is another self portrait (blah) so I think I may opt to do whatever I feel like, cause that's more of how I roll.

Day twenty-eight of what?

Day One: Selfie
Day Two: What I Wore
Day Three: Clouds
Day Four: Something Green 

Day Five: From a High Angle

Day Six: From a Low Angle

Day Seven: Fruit 

Day Eight: A Bad Habit
Day Nine: Someone You Love
Day Ten: Childhood Memory 
Day Eleven: Something Blue 
Day Twelve: Sunset  
Day Thirteen: Myself with 13 Things
Day Fourteen: Eyes
Day Fifteen: Silouette
Day Sixteen: Long Exposure
Day Seventeen: Technology 
Day Eighteen: My Shoes 
Day Nineteen: Something Orange
Day Twenty: Bokeh
Day Twenty-One: Faceless Portrait
Day Twenty-Two: Hands
Day Twenty-Three: Sun Flare
Day Twenty-Four: Animal
Day Twenty-Five: Something Pink
Day Twenty-Six: Close Up 
Day Twenty-Seven: From a Distance 

Day Twenty-Seven-From a Distance

Hello, again. I just got home from my first day back at work, a soccer game and the grocery store. I know I owe you a couple photos, but I hope you forgive me for eating a burrito and passing out last night after I finally made it home. This was taken on Saturday after our original flight home was cancelled as many other flights were due to lightning storms in Chicago. While I was not happy our flight got cancelled, I was happy that our original flight was cancelled in Traverse City instead of our connecting flight in Chicago where I could not have possibly taken such a peaceful photo because I would have been a) stuck in an airport, and, b) in the middle of a torrential downpour.

Day twenty-seven of what?

Day One: Selfie
Day Two: What I Wore
Day Three: Clouds
Day Four: Something Green 

Day Five: From a High Angle

Day Six: From a Low Angle

Day Seven: Fruit 

Day Eight: A Bad Habit
Day Nine: Someone You Love
Day Ten: Childhood Memory 
Day Eleven: Something Blue 
Day Twelve: Sunset  
Day Thirteen: Myself with 13 Things
Day Fourteen: Eyes
Day Fifteen: Silouette
Day Sixteen: Long Exposure
Day Seventeen: Technology 
Day Eighteen: My Shoes 
Day Nineteen: Something Orange
Day Twenty: Bokeh
Day Twenty-One: Faceless Portrait
Day Twenty-Two: Hands
Day Twenty-Three: Sun Flare
Day Twenty-Four: Animal
Day Twenty-Five: Something Pink
Day Twenty-Six: Close Up 

Day Twenty-Six-Close Up

Here are some semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips to make you hungry. I used them to make Toffee Squares, a recipe from Betty Crocker's Cooky Book circa 1963 that my family adopted as their own. We usually have them at Christmas, but they are delicious enough to make an exception. In fact, I many make an exception right about now...

Day twenty-six of what?

Day One: Selfie
Day Two: What I Wore
Day Three: Clouds
Day Four: Something Green 

Day Five: From a High Angle

Day Six: From a Low Angle

Day Seven: Fruit 

Day Eight: A Bad Habit
Day Nine: Someone You Love
Day Ten: Childhood Memory 
Day Eleven: Something Blue 
Day Twelve: Sunset  
Day Thirteen: Myself with 13 Things
Day Fourteen: Eyes
Day Fifteen: Silouette
Day Sixteen: Long Exposure
Day Seventeen: Technology 
Day Eighteen: My Shoes 
Day Nineteen: Something Orange
Day Twenty: Bokeh
Day Twenty-One: Faceless Portrait
Day Twenty-Two: Hands
Day Twenty-Three: Sun Flare
Day Twenty-Four: Animal
Day Twenty-Five: Something Pink 

Day Twenty-Five-Something Pink

This is a fallen flower on the deck in the evening. I was originally drawn outside by the way the light was falling on the deck, which you can see better in the photo below. I am about to make some cookies on my second to last day here and I am so dreading my vacation coming to an end I cannot describe. I think this vacation more than any other vacation before has given me a false sense of reality. At the beginning I almost felt like I didn't have to go back to work, but now it's becoming a reality. Perhaps it's because my life has become more routine than ever since graduating school and working full time, but I am really trying to squeeze every last drop out of this break. 

Day twenty-five of what?

Day One: Selfie
Day Two: What I Wore
Day Three: Clouds
Day Four: Something Green 

Day Five: From a High Angle

Day Six: From a Low Angle

Day Seven: Fruit 

Day Eight: A Bad Habit
Day Nine: Someone You Love
Day Ten: Childhood Memory 
Day Eleven: Something Blue 
Day Twelve: Sunset  
Day Thirteen: Myself with 13 Things
Day Fourteen: Eyes
Day Fifteen: Silouette
Day Sixteen: Long Exposure
Day Seventeen: Technology 
Day Eighteen: My Shoes 
Day Nineteen: Something Orange
Day Twenty: Bokeh
Day Twenty-One: Faceless Portrait
Day Twenty-Two: Hands
Day Twenty-Three: Sun Flare
Day Twenty-Four: Animal 

Day Twenty-Four-Animal

 

When I saw that the animal assignment fell on a day that I would be at my grandma's house I knew I wanted to make my Daisy the subject. She's pretty photogenic and kind of sits still, mostly because she likes the attention. Below are a couple more that I enjoy and wanted to share. Off to Sleeping Bear Dunes, have a good day!

Day twenty-four of what?

Day One: Selfie
Day Two: What I Wore
Day Three: Clouds
Day Four: Something Green 

Day Five: From a High Angle

Day Six: From a Low Angle

Day Seven: Fruit 

Day Eight: A Bad Habit
Day Nine: Someone You Love
Day Ten: Childhood Memory 
Day Eleven: Something Blue 
Day Twelve: Sunset  
Day Thirteen: Myself with 13 Things
Day Fourteen: Eyes
Day Fifteen: Silouette
Day Sixteen: Long Exposure
Day Seventeen: Technology 
Day Eighteen: My Shoes 
Day Nineteen: Something Orange
Day Twenty: Bokeh
Day Twenty-One: Faceless Portrait
Day Twenty-Two: Hands
Day Twenty-Three: Sun Flare 

Day Twenty-Three-Sun Flare

Hold dinner please, photo shoot here. Took this on our way walking from the car to dinner as everyone else kept walking. Additionally, I am standing in the street ignoring traffic. Sorry, gotta blog people!

Day twenty-three of what?

Day One: Selfie
Day Two: What I Wore
Day Three: Clouds
Day Four: Something Green 

Day Five: From a High Angle

Day Six: From a Low Angle

Day Seven: Fruit 

Day Eight: A Bad Habit
Day Nine: Someone You Love
Day Ten: Childhood Memory 
Day Eleven: Something Blue 
Day Twelve: Sunset  
Day Thirteen: Myself with 13 Things
Day Fourteen: Eyes
Day Fifteen: Silouette
Day Sixteen: Long Exposure
Day Seventeen: Technology 
Day Eighteen: My Shoes 
Day Nineteen: Something Orange
Day Twenty: Bokeh
Day Twenty-One: Faceless Portrait
Day Twenty-Two: Hands

Day Twenty-Two-Hands

My grama drinking her tea after dinner last night. Just got back from the lake and about to get ready to go out to dinner. Sure beats working, I'll tell you that much. Hope you are having a good Tuesday!

Day twenty-two of what?

Day One: Selfie
Day Two: What I Wore
Day Three: Clouds
Day Four: Something Green 

Day Five: From a High Angle

Day Six: From a Low Angle

Day Seven: Fruit 

Day Eight: A Bad Habit
Day Nine: Someone You Love
Day Ten: Childhood Memory 
Day Eleven: Something Blue 
Day Twelve: Sunset  
Day Thirteen: Myself with 13 Things
Day Fourteen: Eyes
Day Fifteen: Silouette
Day Sixteen: Long Exposure
Day Seventeen: Technology 
Day Eighteen: My Shoes 
Day Nineteen: Something Orange
Day Twenty: Bokeh
Day Twenty-One: Faceless Portrait

Day Twenty-One-Faceless Portrait

No big deal, just spying with my Papa's super crazy telescope. This was taken yesterday after my luggage finally arrived. Or rather, after I finally acquired my luggage that was supposed to be delivered between 10 and 2 but instead laid forgotten in a closet at the airport until we finally stormed down there at four to figure out what the hell was going on. For some reason, neither the airline nor the airport were able to contact the delivery person on the truck all day long. Meanwhile, delivery guy doesn't even have my bag! Grr. I am happy to have made it on the flight but there's something about your clothes and belongings being out in the universe floating around that really makes you feel like you can't start your vacation. Probably because you are stinky and have no clean clothes or deodorant to put on.

Day twenty-one of what?

Day One: Selfie
Day Two: What I Wore
Day Three: Clouds
Day Four: Something Green 

Day Five: From a High Angle

Day Six: From a Low Angle

Day Seven: Fruit 

Day Eight: A Bad Habit
Day Nine: Someone You Love
Day Ten: Childhood Memory 
Day Eleven: Something Blue 
Day Twelve: Sunset  
Day Thirteen: Myself with 13 Things
Day Fourteen: Eyes
Day Fifteen: Silouette
Day Sixteen: Long Exposure
Day Seventeen: Technology 
Day Eighteen: My Shoes 
Day Nineteen: Something Orange
Day Twenty: Bokeh 

Day Twenty-Bokeh

I took this picture of my grandma's Swarovski birdie when we arrived at her house on Saturday night. We had a hell of a time getting there. I misread our plane tickets and thought that we had to be at the O'Hare Airport at 7, which was really when we were to arrive in Traverse City. So, we go get to the kiosks to check in thinking we are early and, by the way, this is after we spent an hour reading in our hotel lobby because all our plans for the day ran early, only to find out it's too late to check our bags. Too late?? I look at our tickets and my heart drops to the bottom of my stomach. Crap! 

So we ask for help and get directed to the service line. Meanwhile, Stephen asks again for help and gets a phone number for United, they tell him the flight is delayed and that we can still try to get on. But when we get to the front of the line, the agent tells us, no it's too late and it's out of his hands and up to the gates at this point and the next flight is at 7 the next morning. Stephen says that he just talked to someone on the phone who said we could make it because our flight was delayed. The guy looks at us for a second. 

"You guys checking any bags?" 

"Yes, three." 

"That will be $75."

Then we go through security only to find we are in the wrong terminal and we have to run across the airport. I sounded like a very loud duck in my Greek sandals and I'm sure I looked just as great. We run onto the plane and high five each other, relieved. Then our plane taxied for 30 minutes until the announcer informed us there was a "mechanical difficulty" and we would have to deplane. Fast forward an hour, and we are on a new plane headed out. I have never been so happy to be on a plane to the Midwest in my life.

Moral of the story, harass airline agents if you think you can make your flight. You probably can and they probably know it. It especially helps if there are two of you and one of you looks like you are about to cry and the other is pushy. Try it.

Day twenty of what?

Day One: Selfie
Day Two: What I Wore
Day Three: Clouds
Day Four: Something Green 

Day Five: From a High Angle

Day Six: From a Low Angle

Day Seven: Fruit 

Day Eight: A Bad Habit
Day Nine: Someone You Love
Day Ten: Childhood Memory 
Day Eleven: Something Blue 
Day Twelve: Sunset  
Day Thirteen: Myself with 13 Things
Day Fourteen: Eyes
Day Fifteen: Silouette
Day Sixteen: Long Exposure
Day Seventeen: Technology 
Day Eighteen: My Shoes 
Day Nineteen: Something Orange 

Day Nineteen-Something Orange

Hello again, the internet froze last night so I am officially catching up tonight with a couple posts headed your way. This was taken our last night in Chicago after the most delicious meal at traditional Italian restaurant Quartino, which I was referred to by Jess of the blog Make Under My Life. I really like Chicago and I think I will go back some day. But not when it's snowing.

Day nineteen of what?

Day One: Selfie
Day Two: What I Wore
Day Three: Clouds
Day Four: Something Green 

Day Five: From a High Angle

Day Six: From a Low Angle

Day Seven: Fruit 

Day Eight: A Bad Habit
Day Nine: Someone You Love
Day Ten: Childhood Memory 
Day Eleven: Something Blue 
Day Twelve: Sunset  
Day Thirteen: Myself with 13 Things
Day Fourteen: Eyes
Day Fifteen: Silouette
Day Sixteen: Long Exposure
Day Seventeen: Technology 
Day Eighteen: My Shoes 

Day Eighteen-My Shoes

This was from the architecture boat tour we took on Thursday. If you read my previous post you know that I was a little bit hesitant about taking a tour as I don't enjoy being talked at, but I'm glad to say I really enjoyed it. I decided to downplay my feet because there were so many more interesting things around me than a red pair of canvas shoes. 

This was taken right as we were turning around and as you may be able to tell I was sitting front row, which made me feel like I was in class and a suck-up, but it actually turned out well because I didn't have to worry about getting the tops of strangers' heads in my photos. All in all, it was a gorgeous day and a great way to see lots of good stuff with very little effort. Success!

Sorry it's been quiet the past couple days, I really wanted to spend as much time as possible enjoying the rest of my time in Chicago and today was a big waiting game waiting for our luggage that didn't make it with us last night. If only I could pack light and didnt have to check my fatty of a bag.

Day eighteen of what?

Day One: Selfie
Day Two: What I Wore
Day Three: Clouds
Day Four: Something Green 

Day Five: From a High Angle

Day Six: From a Low Angle

Day Seven: Fruit 

Day Eight: A Bad Habit
Day Nine: Someone You Love
Day Ten: Childhood Memory 
Day Eleven: Something Blue 
Day Twelve: Sunset  
Day Thirteen: Myself with 13 Things
Day Fourteen: Eyes
Day Fifteen: Silouette
Day Sixteen: Long Exposure 
Day Seventeen: Technology  

Day Seventeen-Technology

There is so much architecture here that is unusual to me as I live in a city where a lot of the buildings look like they were built in the seventies, so I wanted to do something that juxtaposed old and new technology. Though these buildings are quite different, it's interesting to me to think that at one time the building on the right looked really modern to someone, like something they had never seen before. Whereas now, even the building on the left, which is modern in style, is not something that we would consider ground-breaking technology. Speaking of architecture, I'm off to catch an architecture tour boat right now! I don't usually like being talked at, but so many people have suggested it to us that I have high hopes of enjoying it. Have a good day!

Day seventeen of what?

Day One: Selfie
Day Two: What I Wore
Day Three: Clouds
Day Four: Something Green 

Day Five: From a High Angle

Day Six: From a Low Angle

Day Seven: Fruit 

Day Eight: A Bad Habit
Day Nine: Someone You Love
Day Ten: Childhood Memory 
Day Eleven: Something Blue 
Day Twelve: Sunset  
Day Thirteen: Myself with 13 Things
Day Fourteen: Eyes
Day Fifteen: Silouette
Day Sixteen: Long Exposure 

Day Sixteen-Long Exposure

I took this yesterday morning at 5am barely awake going from the terminal where we arrived to get our baggage. Yes, I realize this photo was supposed to be taken the day before and I took one the day before for this assignment but this opportunity and photo trumped the other so I'm breaking the rules. So the situation is this: the camera is sitting on the hand rail on one of those flat escalators and the sides of the hallway have all these colored panels and the ceiling has light rods that streams different colors through the long hallway. I was so tired and Stephen demanded I take out my camera and not miss the opportunity for a great picture he knew would be better than the one I took the night before; he was right (If you know me, that little fragment of a sentence right there is huge). There's some pretty cool art in airports these days and I think it makes having to be in the airport slightly more enjoyable.

Day sixteen of what?

Day One: Selfie
Day Two: What I Wore
Day Three: Clouds
Day Four: Something Green 

Day Five: From a High Angle

Day Six: From a Low Angle

Day Seven: Fruit 

Day Eight: A Bad Habit
Day Nine: Someone You Love
Day Ten: Childhood Memory 
Day Eleven: Something Blue 
Day Twelve: Sunset  
Day Thirteen: Myself with 13 Things
Day Fourteen: Eyes
Day Fifteen: Silouette 

I'm in Chicago!

Hello lovely people! I have made it safely to Chicago and I have a day 16 photo to share with you but my stinkin hotel does not have any free wi-fi whatsoever (stingy much?) so I will have to use the visitor center in the morning to post. It has been one very long day. We arrived at 5am and took the train downtown.

After underestimating the distance to out hotel we barely dragged ourselves and our luggage there. And after we got breakfast we were able to check in and take naps. Then I went shopping and took pictures. Love Chicago so far but, what's with all the revolving doors?! I almost got stuck in at least three because as soon as I step inside of one I instantly feel powerless for some reason. Like I'll be lucky to just to get out in one piece. Not sure why I get so nervous, but then who can explain their irrational fears?

Day Fifteen-Sihouette

Pulled over near SF State on my way home last night because I really liked the way the trees were back light and thought I could pull off a nice silhouette. Then, a golfer walked by and made for the perfect element to show the scale of the trees. I also like how he pops out from the green grass. I missed his swing because I was lurking from across the street and a bunch of cars went past but, hey, that's the life of a lurk. Moral of the story: lurking on strangers is all about timing. And lurkability. Think I made that up? That's because I did.

Day fifteen of what?

Day One: Selfie
Day Two: What I Wore
Day Three: Clouds
Day Four: Something Green 

Day Five: From a High Angle

Day Six: From a Low Angle

Day Seven: Fruit 

Day Eight: A Bad Habit
Day Nine: Someone You Love
Day Ten: Childhood Memory 
Day Eleven: Something Blue 
Day Twelve: Sunset  
Day Thirteen: Myself with 13 Things
Day Fourteen: Eyes

Day Fourteen-Eyes

The second is my favorite, I think laughing eyes totally work for any "eyes" assignment, but I paired it with the first one to be sure. This is Jo, talk about taking a look on the bright side. It's good to see her be able to laugh with everything her family is going through. Positive vibes.

Super late post! I just finished packing and wanted to get my post up. I was really out of it this weekend and with traveling this week I hope to be inspired to stay on top of things. I'm thinking some of my posts this week might come from my iPhone as I am out and about being a tourist in Chicago. I don't know why I decided to take a week and a half instead of two as I could barely concentrate today and I still have tomorrow to go. I don't think "Sorry, my brain is already on vacation" is a good excuse, but it's true. It's already out of here.

How was your weekend?

Day fourteen of what?

Day One: Selfie
Day Two: What I Wore
Day Three: Clouds
Day Four: Something Green 

Day Five: From a High Angle

Day Six: From a Low Angle

Day Seven: Fruit 

Day Eight: A Bad Habit
Day Nine: Someone You Love
Day Ten: Childhood Memory 
Day Eleven: Something Blue 
Day Twelve: Sunset  
 Day Thirteen: Myself with 13 Things

Day Thirteen-Myself with 13 Things

Today I started packing for my trip to Chicago and Traverse City, Michigan. I leave on Tuesday and I have never really packed ahead of time in my life. Why? Because when I try to pack ahead of time I take things out and forget to put them back, so I figure if I put everything in at the same time as close as possible to when I leave it will work out great. Also, I have always hated packing because I decide what I am going to wear every morning based on my mood and what colors I'm feeling. How could I possibly know how I am going to feel two days out, let alone a week!

Well, turns out throwing random crap into a suitcase two hours before I'm supposed to be at the airport has not worked wonders either so, in the spirit of change, I decided to make outfits for myself. I was thinking about packing at the same time I was thinking "What the hell am I going to do for a picture of myself with 13 things," and BOOM. Light bulb moment, people. And it turns out pulling stuff out of the closet really helps you realize things that would go great together than you never really thought about before, DOUBLE WIN. I have six outfits so far, which might be just fine since I will probably want to be comfortable over stylish some days when I'm in Michigan.

In case you're counting, the 13th thing is the scarf. I know it's going to be hot and humid but I wear a scarf pretty much every day and the thought of not having one (or five) makes me really nervous. It's kind of my thing. Call me crazy if you want but I have good scarf taste and I'm not trying to hide it.

Day thirteen of what?

Day One: Selfie
Day Two: What I Wore
Day Three: Clouds
Day Four: Something Green 

Day Five: From a High Angle

Day Six: From a Low Angle

Day Seven: Fruit 

Day Eight: A Bad Habit
Day Nine: Someone You Love
Day Ten: Childhood Memory 
Day Eleven: Something Blue 
Day Twelve: Sunset 

Day Twelve-Sunset

Late post today. I will tell you I have been in slow motion all day so it's no surprise I'm barely getting this is in by midnight. Yesterday after work I went to a friend's house to catch up at about 7. The sun was still up and shining so I decided I would eat something and go for a stroll once it started getting golden outside. But, instead, I got carried away catching up and next thing I know I look out the window and it's totally dark. Fail.

So today I did my day thirteen assignment and kept in the back of my mind that I could not miss another sunset. It was foggy all day over here in the Sunset and after I ran some errands I thought if there was any hope of seeing the sun I would have to go across town. I hopped on the freeway towards downtown ready to stop wherever it was peaking through. No such luck, the entire city was covered in a thick blanket of low, gray fog. So I decided to go somewhere high as fast as possible before any more light fell off.

Here is a summer evening in San Francisco. I'm sure there were lots of shivering tourists today. They always pack way too optimistically and then end up buying all those SF jackets and fleeces, you know the ones I'm talking about if you live here or if you have ever been to Fisherman's Wharf. They all have a SF patch with a Golden Gate Bridge on one side of the zipper. As if a fanny pack doesn't give away the fact that you're a tourist fast enough.

To add to my aforementioned fail, I get home to find that the fog above the ocean had blown away, which probably made for a great photo opt. (Deep, cleansing, patience-inducing breath. Trying not to be bitter.) Que sera, sera.

Day twelve of what?

Day One: Selfie
Day Two: What I Wore
Day Three: Clouds
Day Four: Something Green 

Day Five: From a High Angle

Day Six: From a Low Angle

Day Seven: Fruit 

Day Eight: A Bad Habit
Day Nine: Someone You Love
Day Ten: Childhood Memory 
Day Eleven: Something Blue