This week I got a special delivery. My sweet mom sent me roses, out of the blue. I had a big work week last week, and I did something weird to my neck in the midst of it all. I was working a photo shoot and I couldn't turn my head without turning my whole body with it. It was rad.
Anyway, my mom sent me roses to tell me she hoped I was feeling better and that she was proud of me.
Aren't moms the best?
(I forgot to take a pic of the flowers before they wilted, so the ones in the photo are from sweet T-Diggit for my birthday. Equally beautiful flowers from a beautiful girl.)
This year Ben and I decided not to dress up for Halloween. We didn't really have anywhere to go, so we figure why waste the time and energy on Costumes. So you can imagine my surprise when on October 30, Ben called me asking him to meet him to go find costumes. This is what we threw together... Yes, my entire costume did come from things I already own, including my retainers that were brought out of retirement. It's really too bad that at the game night we went to on Halloween, NO ONE else was in costume. Seriously, we were the only ones, and it was mostly people we didn't know, sweet. As we were playing games (Clue- I won, Uno Attack- I won one of the rounds, in case you are keeping score) I would forget we were in costume, until I would see my pigtailed reflection or look at Ben's pocket protector.
Another highlight of the holiday? Helping my brother with his costume. He told me he wanted to be... Goku from Dragon Ball Z. I didn't even know what he was talking about. There are enough asian stereotypes to try to live down in my opinion without dressing as an anime character. But, like a good sister I helped with his costume. I think it turned out pretty well! Not bad, eh? I love how into Halloween Ryan and Ben get. Remember them from last year? Ok, maybe I like to take pictures in character too. Turns out Ryan won an award for best costume at the party he was at. Looks like I can add "Award Winning Costume Designer" to my resume.
Hope you all had a good Halloween, next year can someone have a party where people actually dress in costumes? Thanks.
Side note- I asked Ben, "Don't you wish you had a girlfriend who liked dressing up as someone attractive for Halloween?"
Last month I went to North Carolina to participate in building two homes for Habitat for Humanity. My dad and my uncle Jim went last year to build with some of their clients in Charlotte, and invited me to go with them this year. Then my older brother Jason wanted to come to. At the last minute my dad had to go to Oregon for work, and Jason couldn't leave school, so it ended up being just Jim and me.
We ended up having a great trip and it was such a cool experience to literally help put a roof over someone's head. The families who are moving into the homes work on them with you, and they were so appreciative of everyone helping out. The first day Jim told me he was hoping we wouldn't have to work on the roof, because that is what they did last year and he said it is really hard on your body. Of course we were assigned to putting shingles on the roof, and he was not joking about it being hard work. You are basically in a squat position, leaning over hammering all day long. I was so sore after, and my arm was aching all night from using the hammer.
Action shot of me roofing
The most beautifully shingled roof I have ever seen
The next day we put up the siding on the house. Siding is much easier on the bod. It was a welcome relief. We almost finished two sides of the house, which was a lot! I was so proud of our group. I forgot to take pictures of the house after we did the siding, but I assure you it looked fabulous.
I learned a lot on this trip. Before I went I didn't even know how to hold a hammer properly. (Who knew you it worked better if you held it down on the handle, away from the head?) It was also really good for me to spend some time and serious energy serving someone else. I was dripping sweat, filthy, exhausted, sore, and I have never felt better!
A few side notes from the trip...
It was great to have dinner with another one of my uncles, Pete who lives in North Carolina. I don't get to see him very often and we had a great time.
I had a hotel room all to myself. That never happens! I felt like a little kid in my huge bed and fluffy white robe, with a beautiful room just for me.
North Carolina is so green and beautiful and the people there are so nice! I would love to go back and explore Charlotte more.
Jim is a great traveling companion. He and his family have always lived close to mine and our families have always been really close. (His son is Justin, one of my faves who will be home from his mission in Bolivia in eight months, not that I'm counting or anything) Anyway, growing up I always knew if anything happened to my parents, Jim and Jenny would take care of me. I still feel that way.
Want to know more about Habitat for Humanity and how you can get involved? Click here.
Look at the beautiful fall storm going on right now...
View from my balcony right now
This is why I love October: 1. It really feels like Fall, and I love fall. 2. It is pouring outside and it is sunny at the same time. 3. The leaves have changed colors and make everything look gorgeous. 4. Halloween is in October, any good costume ideas? I heard a GREAT idea today, I won't give it away but let me say I am excited to see pictures of the Brutsch family on Halloween. 5. It is my birthday month, and what's not to like about that? 6. October kicks off the holiday season, and I LOVE the holidays.
Seriously though, any good costume ideas? Last year Ben and I dressed up like this and loved it. What is everyone dressing up as this year?
It is 2:15 in the morning right now. I can't sleep.
Maybe it is because I ate too much for dinner and I can't find a position that does not make my full tummy hurt? Maybe it is because I am really enjoying the Ingrid Michaelson station on Pandora? Maybe it is because I am loving the thunderstorm going on outside right now? Maybe it is because I am almost 26 (yikes), and I am reflecting on all the things I did or did not do in the past year? Maybe it is because I am really starting to need the wrinkle cream I use every night? Maybe it is because I wish I tried a little bit harder to convince my parents they needed a translator (me) on their trip to Barcelona?
Really, it is because tonight my thoughts are keeping me awake. Hopefully now that I got some of them out into the open I will sleep.
"The storm is coming but I don't mind." (Keep Breathing, Ingrid)
UPDATE: It is now 3:32 am, and no sign of sleep yet. I think it's going to be a long night.
Also known as my version of heaven on earth. Seriously, I walked around smiling from ear to ear the entire trip. Dear readers, please brace yourselves for one looong post. Also, this is going to be an overview of the entire trip, if you want to know more about the fashion shows and presentations, please visit my fashion blog here.
I took the red-eye to JFK on Sunday night and arrived in New York around 6:00 am on Monday morning. From there I went straight to Casa Schofield, to clean myself up a little bit. Ciara and Lyle were nice enough to let me stay with them after I invited myself. She is a good friend, because this is how the conversation went, "Hey C, so I am coming to New York and I need a place to stay, and I am actually coming tonight... do you think I can crash with you?" Luckily she let me stay there. Love you C.
From the Schofield's lovely abode, I walked over to the Elite Model Management office to meet with my boss and a few other people.
The Elite Office
While at the office I was VERY excited to see that many of the comp cards (the photos on the shelves on the back wall in the above photo) were ones that I styled. Ok, many is an exaggeration, but I would say probably 20 or so were styled by me. It was great to see my work in the New York office.
Close up view of some comp cards
From the office we went to the office of Trump Models, but unfortunately the Donald was not there. After that meeting we went to the Chris Benz presentation in the Meatpacking District.
Some of the models at Chris Benz
The presentation was really cool and I loved the colorful clothing. From the presentation we booked it to the Upper East Side for the Sergio Guardarrama fashion show. The show was in a beautiful building, and I loved that we had a seat in the third row. At the show we saw Russell Simmons, Jojo (singer of "Get Out"), and Kanye West's girlfriend Amber Rose closed the show.
The best photo I could get with my phone
Russell Simmons posing for photos
From the show, I went and got some delicious New York pizza, and then went back to Ciara and Lyle's to get a little bonding time with C. The next day I was off early again and went to meet up with my boss, Stacey and Melinda, Vikki and Lacey from Pulse (the agency I work with). The other ladies on the trip had not been to New York, or had not been recently so we boarded one of the double decker tour buses to see the town.
My self portrait on the bus
I have never been on one of the tour buses before, and it actually was a great way to see the city. When I have been before my main mode of transportation is the Subway so it was great to see how the city connected together above ground. We drove past Parsons, where I went to school and where they used to film Project Runway. (they now film it at FIDM, hmmm first Parsons then FIDM, sounds like someone else I know...)
We got off the bus in the West Village and walked around a little bit. This is where my dorm room was, so I showed everyone around (to Magnolia to get cupcakes and to the amazing shopping on Bleeker).
I loved this billboard for Marc Jacobs and Barneys. Talk about an eye-catching color!
We got back on the bus and toured the rest of the city. We got off the bus near central park, which was right by our next destination. The Plaza hotel for the Betsey Johnson presentation. The presentation was awesome! I couldn't get enough of the great live band, dancing models, the fabulous clothing and an actual run-in with Betsey herself. (She bumped into me, literally)
Models at Betsey Johnson
My boss, Stacey, with two of his models that were in the Betsey Johnson lineup.
Right across the street from the Plaza the Coco Before Chanel premiere was happening. I couldn't resist taking a pic of the outside.
We wanted to stay and see who would show up for the premiere, but we had to RUN to make it to a screening of The September Issue. I absolutely loved the movie, and was so glad I got to see it. (I don't know if it will make it to theaters in Utah, although if it does I will gladly go see it again) After the film, we went to dinner, and watched the cast of Gossip Girl film at the Hotel where the people I worked with were staying (The Empire Hotel). We spotted Chace Crawford and Blake Lively. Blake was wearing Ugg boots with her chic outfit, I am assuming her feet weren't in the shot.
Each night, Ciara and Lyle graciously set up my air mattress bed (which was very comfortable), and then I would deflate it and put it away in the morning. Ciara captured me in action...
Sadly, this is the only photo I have of the Schofield home, and I didn't get any with sweet Ciara or the Lyle.
The next morning I met with Stacey, Hannah Holman (model in the new Miu Miu campaign) and Wayne Sterling (founder of Models.com) and then we had a nice breakfast with Lacey and Melinda. From there Lacey, Melinda and I booked it to Chelsea for the Koi Suwannagate presentation, which was beautiful.
After the presentation we had to hurry and get a cab up to Bryant Park to go to the 3.1 Phillip Lim show in the big tent. WE ARE TALKING THE TENTS PEOPLE!!! We got to hang out backstage for an hour or so while they set up. This was definitely one of the coolest parts of the trip.
Me backstage
All of the clothing next to each model that would be wearing the look's photos. The shoes were on the ground below the racks, ready for quick changes.
Model Ali Stephens, (who I talked to later and gave me tips for getting a good seat at the show) getting her hair done
Show run-through
Backstage video, yes I am narrating it. Sorry.
Ali in the show, photo from style.com
My view of the show (sorry, the pic is from my phone)
From my seat I could see Nina Garcia (of Project Runway and Marie Claire fame), Lauren Conrad (who the photographers didn't seem to care about photographing), and Leighton Meester (from Gossip Girl, who the photographers couldn't photograph enough). After the show, I wasn't feeling very well and I couldn't get into Ciara and Lyle's until after she was done with work around five. Soooo, I got something to eat and passed some time sitting quietly at the Manhattan temple.
Well, that may be my longest post ever. All in all, I had the most amazing couple of days in New York, and Fashion Week was everything I hoped it would be... and more.
OH. MY. GOSH. ohmigosh! Guess where I am headed tonight!!! New York FASHION WEEK!!! Bryant Park here I come. This is how I feel about it...
Sorry for the nasty pic, but I had to capture my excitement. The past few days as I have been looking through the photos of some of the shows, I have been thinking about how at least once in my life I want to go to Fashion Week. How I would pretty much die to go, and then last night my boss provided me the opportunity to go. I leave TONIGHT! TONIGHT!!!! I am dying!
(I apologize for the excessive use of exclamation points)
On a given day you can find me writing from home, working on a photo shoot, traveling somewhere, or trying to figure out how to get my dream job without having a reality show on MTV; all the while wearing skinny jeans and trying to figure out something to do with my hair.
This week I got a special delivery. My sweet mom sent me roses, out of the blue. I had a big work week last week, and I did something weird to my neck in the midst of it all. I was working a photo shoot and I couldn't turn my head without turning my whole body with it. It was rad.
