Yes you can...(no, I can't)...

Its almost officially 7/12 of the way through 2009 and its at this point that I look back to see how I'm doing against my goals for the year. Here's where I started back on January 5th:

• Buy my 1st home!!!
• Get involved in some business networks and charitable organizations.
• Run a 10k...maybe...ok, yes, a 10k...at some point...by the end of the year.
• Host a LAC meeting
• Wear more form fitting clothes...ha! Funny goal, but I need to transform my wardrobe. Stacy and Clinton from "What Not to Wear" swear by this for curvier women. I must try!
• Go on a REAL vacation...Hawaii, maybe?
• Add $xx,000 to my savings account.

Its pretty exciting to see how much I've accomplished. All except one. The worst one. The one staring back at me...the one I was most hesitant to include...the one I despise and wish I could avoid...dun, dun dun...

The dreaded 10k.

I hate to run. And frankly, my body's not made for it. I'm not lean. My legs are stubby. Running is for small-chested girls, which, I am not. I hate running more than anything else in this world (hee!). And...it doesn't help that I have "let myself go" so-to-speak, and I'm officially as out-of-shape as any human alive can ever be.

But, there it is, taunting me...the final goal to accomplish for 2009.

I don't know...5 out of 6 ain't too bad. The year can still be considered a success, right? Ack, I know, I know...

*le sigh*...In any case, I bought a bike.


If you didn't know, I'm carless in Berkeley. I've decided to give this a try for awhile. Its not bad. I'm close to the transbay commuter bus (charter, free wiFi, woot!) that brings to and from work everyday. And close to the North Berkeley BART station. The only thing I'm not really close to is a grocery store. So, I bought my "grocery bike". My commuter bike. 21-spds, commmmfy seat, 2 grocery bags off the back rack and one basket in the front. I'm pretty excited. At least this will get me off my arse and maybe even segue into jogging...

Maybe...doubtful...I still have 5 months left...wish me luck...or maybe I'll just jump on my bike and go get some ice cream...

Sunroom - Finished...

I can officially say that I'm finished with ONE room in my house! The sunroom decorating came to completion with some wall vases and simple orchids and greenery. I love this room. Its where I've had my Sunday morning coffee the last 3 weeks. Its where I sit just to relax. No electricity in this room. Just walls of windows, books, a view, and quiet.

Sunroom
Paint Color: Behr Song of Summer
White leather chaise: mine
Mosaic bistro table: Ace Hardware (if you can believe it!)
Ottoman: Craigslist
Jute rug: West Elm
Wall bud vases: CB2

I can't wait for the weather to cool...I'm going to snuggle up with a blanket and a book in this room...and enjoy. *le sigh*

Pampering myself...

The BEST part of my darling home to date is owning my VERY OWN laundry machines. Here are my glorious LG washer and dryer. AND, Bezerkely in all its hippy-splendor, has partnered with PG&E so that I get a $200 rebate for my Energy-star, water-efficient machine! No more lugging my overstuffed laundry bags to the quarter-robbing mat. No more going back and forth every 30 mins to check on my loads and hoping machines will be open. No more I say! These are mine, all mine!

Guess what I'm doing this weekend...laundry, sweet, sweet laundry...and I couldn't be happier!

Unfinished...

Ack. Just when I thought I was THIS close to having my interior decorated, I hit a snag. Shopping to fill a house is not that easy...and sadly, not as fun as I had hoped it would be. I'm impatient. I'm sure that doesn't help.

I'd looked far and wide for the perfect media console. I don't want Ikea'esque anything. I don't want particle board or MDF. I want straight lines, quality, weight, and wood...and that's harder to find than you'd think.

I settled on this one that would fit nicely in my modified mid-century themed living room:

After 2 separate attempts to have this piece delivered, and 2 refusals due to some serious dings and damages, overstock.com is now sold out of this console and cannot replace it for me. Argh. Back to the drawing board. I know it's lame...but I'm bitter.

Thoughts on these options?

I know, I know...they kinda look the same. Ack...help?

"Field Day..."

Basically, in a nutshell, I shopped feverishly all weekend. Between the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and 4th St in Berkeley, I single-handedly stimulated the economy like no bank-bailout could ever do!

Some finds from the weekend:


Plaid has been my new thing. My boss calls me a "cowgirl" in my plaid tops. But, I like it...hey if Lauren Conrad can pull it off, why can't I (other than the fact that she's 22 and a size 00...and I am not...) So, here's my new purchase from the Nordy sale. This along with these boots, and about 10 pairs of Spanx/tights and I'm golden for the Fall...

I think these boots can also go deliciously with my new dress from Anthropologie...
Not to be outdone, my house needed some sprucing as well. Up went the window coverings (finally! No more exhibitionist!) and after dropping some serious cash at CB2, ZGallerie, and the Crate & Barrel Outlet Store, all the "little extras" one needs to make a house a home (picture frames, candles, kitchen gadgets, etc...) are nestled nicely around my digs.

Whew. And now, I look forward to my pb&j sandwich for lunch and cup ramen noodles for dinner. Ha!

...sofa to be delivered this next weekend and then I'll finally take some "after" shots of the house and post...

"I feel pretty, and witty, and bright"...

I just snagged this Mischen dress off Gilt this morning. I love the deconstructed cut paired with the flow of silk. I feel lovely and feminine and spring-like just looking at it! Can't wait to pair it with my break-up boots I bought a few weeks ago from Urban!

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale just 14 hrs and 45 minutes away! Super excited. Great time to stock up on the Fall and Winter essentials along with some key statement pieces. Sadly, this may be my last shopping spree for awhile. Home mortgage and renovation costs will be my only expenditures for the next year, or two, or 30...

Whew...

All moved in. Still a lot of unpacking, assembling, installing, and other-stuff-ing left to do. Updates and pictures to come soon...promise...

Bezerkley...

36 hours left as a San Francisco resident. I'm moving on. Berkeley here I come! I'm feeling good about it. Not as sad as I thought I'd be. I mean, realistically, I'll still be spending at least 10 hours a day working in the city! And its only 15 minutes away.

In Berkeley I have better weather.

In Berkeley I have an actual house.

In Berkeley I have a nice yard.

In Berkeley I can find parking anywhere.

In Berkeley there's a McDonalds 3 blocks away.

In Berkeley Target is just down the street.

Yes, I'm trying to convince myself that I won't lose my swagger moving away from the city. I don't want to worry about ending my year-and-a-half string of the "time of my life". I don't want to miss out on the everything the city has to offer.

But its a new stage in my life. And I'm ready for it. Bring it.

Still Syleegurl in the City...just a different city...keep reading - new adventures just around the corner and I'll continue to share them all...

Throw us a bone...

Ok, really? This much gorgeous-ness is just not fair. If there's any justice, he'd have bad breath and she'd have corns on her toes. Still, its hard not to love them, huh?

(Gabriel Aubry, Halle Berry, Nahla)

Rainbow...

I spent the entire weekend painting. In 4 days I will be moving into my new house! And the ONE thing I MUST get done before that time is have all the rooms painted. So, I was on a roll (har, har)! Here's some of my handywork...

This is the study (Behr Dark Storm Cloud): think dark wood furniture, a bar, and a glass of scotch...

This is my bedroom (Behr French Taupe): I painted this color last week and hated it. But, after getting my new bedding & seeing the nice match, and realizing that I did not want to have to paint this whole room over, I decided to stick with it. I'll live...

No pictures of the finished Sunroom. But, Behr Song of Summer ended up being a lovely choice. And though it took 3 coats to cover up my previous color fiasco, I love the way the room turned out! Now, just the Living Room left to paint. After all was said and done, I ended up sticking with 3 of my original 4 color choices and only changing out one of them. Whew...what a relief to have that done...

...and I was able to sneak in a little bbq'ing in my back yard to celebrate the holiday! Fun!


Cleaning Thursday, moving Friday...and then everyone's welcome to come over!