Keeping Calm and Moving On

So part of the reason why I haven't been blogging much or very excitedly lately -- and some of you already know this -- is that right before I left for New York Fashion Week, my boyfriend and I broke up. And it, frankly, has been hard. Really hard. And so that, along with work, is part of the reason I've been so quiet lately. (That's not to say that I'm not buying stuff -- believe me, I am buying stuff, I'm just not writing about it. Nothing is going to keep me from buying stuff. Not even my vows to stop buying stuff.)

But there is a bright side: in two weeks, I'm finally moving into a brand-new apartment with a fresh start, so that will definitely pull me out of my doldrums. So while I'm trying to ignore the pile of clothing that has to get sorted and culled and packed within the next two weeks (I've already made a head start on packing my nail polish!), I'm thinking about decorating and furniture and all the fun part of moving in.

I've always loved the "Keep Calm and Carry On" posters at sfgirlbybay.etsy.com, and I fully intend on picking up one for my bedroom. In case you don't already know the story of the "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster, it was a British WWII poster urging citizens to, well, keep calm and carry on.

As I was getting off the light rail a few weeks ago, I noticed a girl wearing a pendant with "Keep Calm and Carry On", and realized that yes, I wanted one too. So, of course, I got onto Etsy and typed in that oh-so-familiar phrase. Many, many, many pendants popped up, particularly the kind that are on Scrabble tiles. While I like the idea of reusing Scrabble tiles, and it's definitely a good scale, I tend to play hard with my jewelry. So I wanted something waterproof, something that could stay on in the shower. I dug and I dug and I found the resin pendants at MarkJamesDesign.etsy.com. I've ordered one in royal blue (of course), and look forward to its arrival any day now! (I told you I was buying things.)

I also know that I can use some positive reinforcement at the office -- it's one thing to have the poster in your bedroom, where ideally things are calm, but in the office when the phone is ringing, your inbox is full while your computer is crashing, and there's buzz saws in the hallway... it doesn't hurt to have an extra reminder. So I found LillyandCoco.etsy.com, which sells sets of postcards in your choices of colors. Since they come in sets, I ordered the set of two -- one for me, and one for Karen with her big new fancy job. (Pink for me, robin's-egg-blue for her.) Lilly & Coco also sell this awesome KC&CO rubber stamp for you collectors out there; I desperately want one and have no idea whatsoever what I would do with it. (Besides, you know, stamp things.)

So thank you for bearing with me while I've become a slower blogger lately; I am still here, and I am still reading my Bloglines and my Twitter... I'm just more quiet lately. And things will get into fever pitch with moving, but I'm sure you understand 'cause you're our readers and you're awesome like that. (It's true, you know.) Me, I'm just going to keep calm... and move on.

images from sfgirlbybay.etsy.com, MarkJamesDesign.etsy.com, and lillyandcoco.etsy.com