Into the Glimmer...

Hello there! It's been a while, no? And lot has changed around the DU stomping grounds. In the past several months, I relocated to Charlotte (instead of Charleston), got a new job at a big dotcom, ran my first 5K race, started training for a marathon (and I'm throwing a half marathon in during the training process), met a bunch of new people, picked up a new hobby (stand up paddleboarding!), started mulling over my jewelry line again, and visited two cities I've always wanted to see (Asheville, N.C. and Charleston, S.C.). Also, I turned a year older. Ahem.

So in terms of my 35 Before 35 list, not only am I a year closer to 35, but I've also crossed out a few more items including: #1 (move out of PA), #5 (get a job I love in an industry I love), #19 (run a 5K) with 20, 21, and 22 to be crossed off by Thanksgiving. And #4 (finish grad school) will be done by Christmas. And a few more are lined up for the last few months of 2012 and early 2013. So, not too shabby for my first year of list conquering.

But with all of these changes in my life, I don't feel like Displaced Urbanite is the right place to continue blogging. It seems so...hopeless. And that's not how I feel anymore at all. I'm no longer struggling in an area where I feel like I don't belong and where every road leads to a dead end. I'm in a new city, with new opportunities, at the start of a new journey. And so friends, thank you for reading this blog and I hope you'll join me as I go Into the Glimmer.

35 before 35 update

Just in case you were wondering, I haven't forgotten about my 35 before 35 list. I revised it a little based on some changing goals (for example, I added things about my pet photography business and removed a lot of things about this blog), but it's still a good list!

So, without further rambling from me, here are my recent 35 before 35 accomplishments:

8. Redesign my pet photography website
Admittedly, this is still a work-in-progress, but I've got a new brand identity and an updated website. I used SquareSpace instead of Wordpress to design it, but overall, I'm pleased with the experience and how the site is shaping up. You can check it out here. I'm still working on updating the blog, though.

9. Lose that last 15 pounds
It's gone, people! Gone! But I've been getting more and more into boot camps and training, that I'm probably on my way to losing another 10 pounds, which is just fine with me!

32. Watch LOST from beginning to end again
One of the more frivolous goals on my list, but it's done! Man, I forgot how much I love that show. And since I crossed this one off early, I have enough time to watch it again before I turn 35!

I also added a few fitness goals, like run a Warrior Dash and do a Metro Dash. I'm already on my way to the Metro Dash since I start training for that this Saturday (that's 5 hours at the gym, kids, wish me luck!).

And it's not on the list, but I'm considering renaming and redesigning this blog. I have no idea what I'd rename it at this point, but I want a name that's less location specific and I just want an entirely new look (because really, I feel like this one is a little half-baked).

So there you have! A few goals accomplished and a ton more go! Have a great Thursday!

And...changes (again!)

So many crazy changes going on around here! It's been a little bit of a whirlwind these past couple months and I'll try to get a few more blog posts lined up to discuss, so your reader might get flooded with DU insanity over the next week (sorry!), but first, my favorite change!

Remember how we were moving to Charlotte? D has been there for two months or so, and I'm still in Lancaster because I haven't found a job there yet. But not finding a job there, as frustrating as that's been, is probably a good thing because...

D got a promotion and we're moving to Charleston, S.C. instead. Charleston! Even though it's not (what I consider) a big city, I am still so excited! I'm moving to the beach! The beach, people! If you've read my blog at all over the past few years, you know the beach is one of my favorite places ever.


Charleston Skyline by Carl's Captures


Rainbow Row by zoonabar

Not to mention some of the other cool things going on in Charleston, like Charleston Fashion Week, the prevalence of indie and emerging designers, its proximity to Savannah and Savannah College of Art & Design, and....the beach! I know I love California (always and forever), but I do think Charleston is going to keep me happier on the East Coast a lot longer than other cities might.

It's still up in the air when exactly I'll move there, but I'm really hoping to be there by mid-summer. D will be there ASAP.

So cheers to Charleston and my newest geographic adventure!

look i'm loving:: floral jeans

I'm channeling my inner Kelly Kapowski here. I don't know about you, but between her adorable on-again-off-again boyfriend, Zack Morris, and her equally adorable, colorful 90s wardrobe, I pretty much wanted to be Kelly (really, did any girl from the ages of 10-15 not want to be Kelly during Saved by the Bell's run?).

But now, true to its cyclical nature, fashion has come back around to some of those 90s styles I rocked as a tween and teen. This time though, while I may delve into floral jeans territory, I still plan to leave the sky-scraping, hair-sprayed-up-to-there bangs firmly anchored in the past (where they belong).


Shop:: Floral Print Skinny Jean, Delias | LC Lauren Conrad Pointelle Chiffon Cardigan, Kohl's | Vintage Cotton V-neck Tee, J.Crew | Millie Necklace, Stella & Dot | La Mer Collections Turquoise Crystal Chain Wrap Watch, ShopBop | Denim Dreams Artisan Bracelet by Bling, Glamour, & Glitz, Etsy.com | Martina Patent Wedges, J.Crew




Shop:: Current/Elliott Floral Stiletto Jeans, ShopBop | Slub Knit Drop-Shoulder Sweater, Gap | Berhta Flats, Nine West | Mixed Brass Lariat, Bauble Bar | LC Lauren Conrad Gold-Tone Simulated Crystal Filigree Ring, Kohl's | Heidi Clutch, Deux Lux

line i'm loving:: lc lauren conrad

I'm not normally a Kohl's shopper, but the LC Lauren Conrad line has sucked me in! It reminds me a lot of other higher end lines that I like, like See by Chloe and Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, and of course, Paper Crown, which is Lauren's contemporary line. I adore the LC Lauren Conrad blazers and have nearly all of them (some styles I have in multiple colors, too).

As for prices, I find them to be pretty reasonable as well. My only complaint is that there are more synthetic fabrics used than I'd normally like (polyester instead of silk, acrylic instead of cotton, etc.), but given the price points, I understand that. Here are a few of my favorite pieces from the recent collection:


Necklace: Silvertone Simulated Crystal Necklace | Sweater: Lurex Open-Work Sweater | Blouse: Solid Pleated Top | Pants: Pleated Trouser Pants | Ring: Silvertone Simulated Crystal Flower Ring | Bracelets: Tri-Tone Simulated Crystal Cuff Bracelet Set | Blazer: Ruched Boyfriend Blazer | Dress: Floral Shirred Dress

Does anyone else love this line?

35 before 35: displaced no more

Photo by zzmartinj

I know I haven't talked much about my 35 before 35 list lately. I've been working on it, and to be honest, it needs a serious revamp as priorities have changed (mostly swapping out all things jewelry design for all things pet photography, and also removing anything related to this blog and its page views). I'll get around to that update soon, but first I am super ridiculously pleased to announce that I can now cross number 1 (yes number 1!) off my list. Yep, I'm moving out of PA!

Without getting too specific, an opportunity came up in Charlotte, NC for D (with promises of more opportunity in the future) and we just couldn't say no. So off to Charlotte we go!

I'm still looking for a job and hoping to land one very soon so we can get settled, and of course, I'm thrilled to be heading to a larger urban area again. And yes, I'm taking my pet photography business with me. Word on the street is that there are lots of pets in Charlotte. :-)


Photo by kanpai80


Photo by hardingphotos

weekend wishes: peaches and green

We've had an unseasonably warm winter so far this year, which means spring fever is hitting me even earlier. And what combination is more spring-like than grassy green and petal peach?

1- Stella watch in rose gold, Fossil / 2- Kelly Glam Collar, Bauble Bar / 3- Cabana Dress, Madewell / 4- Pretty Edgy Nail Polish in Vivid Palmetto Green, Essie / 5- Nuance Salma Hayek Cucumber & Rosewater Dual Phase Makeup Remover, CVS / 6- Martina Suede Wedges, JCrew / 7- Felix Weekender Duffel, Deux Lux

introducing:: my pet photography business

I've been loving taking pictures of homeless pets for the Humane League and now I've decided to branch out and make a business out of pet photography. I built myself a (temporary) website that I'll be using while I fight work with Wordpress.org and build my permanent site. It pains me a bit because I'm basically using two Blogger blogs as one website - how exceedingly clever of me - but I figured a temporary site is better than nothing, right? Right.

So anyway, if you've enjoyed my pet photography posts, be sure to check out my new site! I'll be posting my pet (and shelter pet) photography there instead of here from now on, and keeping DU focused mostly on fashion and style. But don't worry, my beagles will still make appearances here every now and again (I can't help myself).