I love to go to dance clubs. I always have since my first dance club experience around the age of 17…. Ask me the story sometime – it’s hilarious and resulted in me being grounded (oops!!!). Anyway. I love getting dressed up. I love moving my body to the beat and singing along with the songs I know. I love connecting with my girlfriends. I love enjoying a glass of champagne. It’s just so much fun! Unfortunately, I don’t do it nearly often enough…. mostly because I work 60+ hours a week and by the time the weekend comes, I’m not able to shake my 10pm bedtime. But it was a girlfriend’s birthday about a week ago, so I decided to help her celebrate at Masa in Tacoma.

I had asked another friend to join us, but she wasn’t able. So she and I agreed to meet first for a drink so that she could get home early. Well, we only decided to meet about 35 minutes prior to our meeting time. In case you don’t know – I live about 35 minutes from Tacoma. Which meant that I needed to leave NOW. I ran into my closet and grabbed the first shirt I saw, kept on my same jeans, forgot jewelry and perfume, didn’t get to touch up my hair or makeup, brushed my teeth, threw on the heels that were on my kitchen floor and I was out the door. Needless to say…. I looked fine, but would usually take at least a little care to touch up here and there as needed.

Fast forward to the dance floor. My girlfriend and I are shaking our booties. The dance floor is pretty empty, but surrounded by all of the people that didn’t want to be seen dancing on an empty dance floor. I see a body pass me on the left, and then from behind me someone leans towards my ear and says, “You’re the most radiant woman here and I thought you should know.” I smiled and thought, “Me? Who barely brushed her teeth? Who nearly threw on dirty clothes as she ran out of the house?” I was flattered!

I forgot to mention one other thing I love about dancing – people watching!!! So over the course of the evening, I was watching all of the girls walking in (and of course noted what they were wearing). I can’t tell you how many girls had obviously spent HOURS getting ready, and had ended up wearing something that visibly did not jive with their being, didn’t fit their body type, or was the wrong size. I saw a ridiculous amount of fidgeting, adjusting, repositioning body parts, etc. as it was clear they were not comfortable in what they had worn that evening.

This was my full circle moment. The girl who was 100% in line with what she was wearing (even though it was rushed and casual) was the one getting asked to dance (and for her phone number) repeatedly. And the girls who had spent hours primping their looks, but were obviously uncomfortable – were alone on the dance floor, or standing on the side.

While I do not go to dance clubs to meet guys – let me impart some wisdom on those of you that do….. it’s more about how you feel in the clothes you are wearing, than what you wear. Don’t get me wrong – what you wear is a little important (ie. If I ever see anyone in Uggs or Crocs at a dance club I will do them a favor and slap them). But in general – your inner feelings will translate to your outer appearance. So wear something that makes you shine :-)

“Know first who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly.” -Euripides

Oh…. Happiness. This topic has been popping up in various areas of my life over the past few months, so I decided that it’s time to write about it.

The topic was first brought up in my book club, where one of my fellow reading enthusiasts suggested that we read “The Happiness Project.” I was not familiar with the book, but was excited to gain a new perspective on the subject! Once I found out the concept of the project…. I realized that I’ve been doing this for years!

Over the past two years, I’ve been part of a group that gathers bi-weekly. Our structure was slightly different than “The Happiness Project” in that we tackled each of our areas on a weekly to bi-weekly basis. Our topics of study include spirituality, work/career, love/relationships, friendships/family, health/energy, home, prosperity/security, recreation/fun, community/world, beliefs, and self care. The idea is to identify aspects in each of these areas that are working for you, and those that no longer serve you – then allowing yourself to release the old to allow for new. I have used it as a structure to mold myself into a more vibrant version of myself (and an excuse to clean out my closets – literally!!!). And it works for the most part – but sometimes, life just gets in the way!!!

So back to happiness. The book brings up a number of good points – does money buy happiness? What defines happiness? How does one measure happiness? Wikipedia defines happiness as “a mental state of well-being characterized by positive emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.” It attributes factors such as biological, psychological, religious, and philosophical as contributors to ones level of happiness. I was drawn into the book quickly and able to identify with the author after reading these passages, “I had everything I could possibly want – yet I was failing to appreciate it.” and, “How could I let go of everyday annoyances to keep a larger, more transcendent perspective?” and, “I wasn’t as happy as I could be, and my life wasn’t going to change unless I made it change.”

Now, this may surprise some of you – but I have to admit to you that I am a reformed pessimist. ‘Being happy’ has not always been a priority of mine. I cannot pinpoint exactly where or when this changed. I do know that making several huge life changes over the past *nearly* three years has helped me change my perspective (especially when coupled with the group that I mentioned in paragraph three). Does this mean that I am inherently happy all of the time? No! To all of my fellow Northwesterners – we know that being happy is a definite choice (especially from about now, until April).

Over the past few weeks, this deliberate choice has rang true for me more than ever. I have realized that on the days that I don’t make the conscious effort to be happy, that it mostly doesn’t happen. So, in order to keep my mood up I have begun to start my day with a new affirmation – Today is a phenomenal day and I choose to live in love. I have realized that while some may be naturally attuned to happiness, some of us may just have to place a bit more effort towards the matter. What I have learned over the past few weeks is that I am focused and dedicated to the continuous improvement of myself, and I need to take the time to be grateful for the amazing opportunities, relationships, and overall fabulousness of my life!!!!

One last note – I am a person that needs continuous reminders. I can have a hard time focusing (especially when I forget my morning coffee!), and get distracted VERY easily. So, I’ve begun using tattoos to remind myself of how I want to feel and the type of person that I want to be in this world. I sat for my first tattoo at the age of 18. Oddly enough, I chose the symbol for smile. I was still a glass-half-empty girl at this point in time.

I got my next tattoo at the age of 27 – which is even more of a reminder due to its visability. Most people don’t notice it when talking to me, unless I’m gesturing with my hands. But I see it and that’s all that matters.

I’m about to go get my third tattoo….. I’ve talked big for the past few days, but alas – I have chickened out yet again. I will add a photo of it once I finally get over my phobia and it’s healed :-) Make your day a phenomenal one!!!!

“There’s more to life than chocolate, but not right now.” – Anonymous

I was blessed to attend a networking event in June. This event was FULL of amazing, powerful, and beautiful women. I connected with several phenomenal ladies that evening. Of particular note, I met two of the women from Seattle Chocolates. They told me about their new retail outlet store that they were in the process of opening, and how they had planned to print the patterns from their chocolate bars onto fabric that would then be draped onto mannequins for display. This was me….

Long story short – I ended up working with Seattle Chocolates to develop four dresses based on their chocolate bar patterns.  I LOVED it!!!  I got to flex my design muscle, and have fun at the same time!  Here are some pictures of the dresses:

Dark Chocolate

Extreme Dark Chocolate

Panoramic Pecan

Peanut Butter

Well, what are you waiting for – go buy some chocolate!!!!

Seattle Chocolate Company, 1180 Andover Park W, Seattle WA 98188

”Seattle thinks it’s Paris but it’s really Dubuque…….I will say this for Seattle, though. One of the things I like is that nobody cares what you’re wearing or how you’re dressed.” -Dan Savage

What is to be said about the fashions in Seattle? This has been a huge topic of discussion since I moved out West. Everyone wants to know what I’m doing as a Fashion Designer living in an area that invented grunge. Not going to lie – sometimes I wonder myself!!!!

For example, I attended a great event last Wednesday at the Bellevue Hyatt.  Here’s the info from their online invitation:  Girl Power Hour is hosting their annual Anniversary Party during Fashion Week at The Bellevue Collection; featuring a night of fashion, stylish networking, philanthropy and social glam sponsored by Verizon!

And this is what I wore (for those of you that don’t know me – I’m the one in the middle)

Girl Power Hour

Pretty fancy, no?  For the most part, everyone was dressed in cocktail to formal attire.  I even saw a few men in three piece suits (yum!!!!).  But unfortunately the fashion statement that stood out more than the others was JEANS!!!  I am a firm believer of dressing to your comfort zone….. but I felt that blue denim at an event such as this was not acceptable.  But then again, I think it’s inappropriate to wear pajamas in public – and TONS of people do this.  Was I off base in my shock and distaste?

It just makes me wonder – does Seattle really want to be known as the place where you can wear anything?  Or do we want to join the rest of the world in dressing appropriately to the event which you’re attending?