Episode 5: "Not-so-tentative plans"

"Ship's Log, Stardate 93797.94:  

Welcome back.  Let's catch you up.

For starters, look at this.

Soothing?  Winter beach themed.

It's the current theme I've tentatively settled on for the new Command Center.

I think I can accomplish those cubbies by simply upcycling my current pink, tan, and brown ones by covering the faces with faux fur.  To pull them out (I will be covering up the original handles once the fur is sewn in place), I plan to insert two rivets near the top of each cubby to pass through weathered-looking rope handles.  And the driftwood ball should be a simple balloon and glue adventure.

The driftwood pillows and winter beach rug are all from Society6.com.  Candles, faux furs, and zen rock piles are pretty straight forward and store bought, though a small d.i.y. zen garden or sand grass terrarium might be nice as well.  For driftwood, I will just have to do some searching where it is legal to collect it.

Speaking of work, the annual celebration at headquarters has been announced, but so far, not even a hint on this year's theme.  After missing out on the chance last year to drink and gamble unabashedly and wear AatP's Queen's Coach with an enormous, rose covered derby hat, I am really excited for this year's event.

The entire team is already anxious about being told the theme in time so that we can get our ensembles ready well in advance.  Even the guys who usually wear t-shirts and jeans to work events are excited to dress up.

And speaking of dressing up, I did a little of that as well.

I'm wearing matte plum lip crayon from F21 and a NYX smokey eye palette from ipsy.  I stuck with the white blouse + collar and cuff set combo that I chose the last time I coordinated this dress, but I really disliked how having white tights and black heels made me look last time, it felt poorly balanced from the waist down when the top half was okay.  

Instead I wore dark tights + boots, since they seem to make the length of the skirt portion seem more deliberate rather than too short.  Also, since I wore a much wider hat than last time, and shoes with a heavier weight (chunky OTKs instead of minimal heels), I chose my ash blonde wig for lots of side volume to balance it out.

Top half was okay...

But I felt it really needed dark tights, and a blouse with more defined shoulders and collar since hair is not framing my shoulders.

I was really happy with how my makeup turned out both times, however.  I tried out the "eye blush" trend with Meet Matt(e) Hughes liquid lipstick in their darkest color, and then a traditional smokey eye and dark matte lip for the other.  

I'll keep practicing, but for the next several days, I will be packing, moving, and then unpacking again.  Minimizing and organizing my wardrobe (and other collections) has made the whole process seem a lot less daunting, though.  I feel I have a better awareness of the amount of stuff I have, the type of care and length of time that will go into packing it all up, and I really don't think it is that bad.  Also, having moved a lot in the last several years has kind of braced me for this, and I'm looking more forward to this new place than any others before.  All blonde wood floors!!  Not a spec of carpet in there!!  

And then the best part - I'll be setting up my new room, so you'll get to see that from conception to completion.  I hope you stick around for the journey, it'll be fun!  As always, I will leave this frequency open for response.  

- Bear out!"