Things I've learned in San Francisco so far...

1. Never underestimate the acceleration of a MUNI bus.

2. When someone graciously offers you their couch, you are obligated to participate in unfavorable activities (6 a.m. is not a fun time to work out, Ashley).

3. If you meet new people, refrain from telling them about your blog to avoid being called by your pen name.

4. Despite hundreds of restaurants in the City, people still seem to congregate at Subway for lunch.

5. There is a lighting conspiracy in bars where they make it seemingly light enough to read the name of the drink on the menu, but too dark to read the price.

6. "Clipper Card" is used in your daily vocabulary just as much as "hello" and "thank you."

7. To avoid awkward conversation, don't tell people you're not a Giants fan.

8. Rumor has it the Safeway in the Marina turns into a nightclub after 7 p.m.

9. The Golden Gate isn't a bad backdrop for morning runs.

10. Hand sanitizer has never been a better investment.

I Wanna See Your Peacock!

Back in 2008 I was asked through a friend of a friend of a friend to help serve at a Christmas party. Always happy to earn an extra buck or two, I happily obliged. Three years and multiple parties later, I created quite a relationship with Tom and even helped work at his daughter Christine's wedding.

Right before moving out of

San Luis Obispo, I worked my last Christmas party. It was at this event that Tom told me about how Christine had begun selling her handmade headbands online. On the outside I was calm and collected, but on the inside I was like a fat kid in a candy shop... stoked. Christine has amazing style and I couldn't wait to see her products.

Before I left the party, Christine gave me her Etsy seller name (Benny Peacock) and told me she would have some new things up in the next few weeks. Fast forward to the end of December and I made my first, but certainly not my last, purchase.

I immediately fell in love with the "Dana - Velvet Mauve Headband with Vintage Gold Button Flowers." I have worn this headband several times and always get the best compliments. I also purchased Benny Peacock's "Alice - Satin Creme Flower with Pearl Button." I'm saving this hair clip to debut at my friend Kiersten's wedding in July (I'm a planner).

Christine, aka Benny Peacock, not only has amazing handmade pieces, but they are all one-of-a-kind. When wearing my Benny Peacock merchandise I never have to worry about running into anyone with my same accessories. Don't you just love that?? And the icing on the cake... all of Benny Peacock's products are reasonably priced and shipped in a timely manner. LOVE LOVE LOVE!

I continue to stalk the Benny Peacock Etsy page multiple times a week because Christine is constantly creating more and more beautiful things to share with us. You can find Benny Peacock on Esty by clicking here or "Like" Benny Peacock Accessories on Facebook for updates on the newest products, and sometimes some awesome discounts. Happy shopping! :)

My name is Carrie, and I'm a clothes hoarder.

I have been back home for 3 weeks now and I still have yet to put away all of my crap. I would like to blame laziness for this organizational disaster, but I can't. I don't have a lot of "things" but rather a lot of clothes.

I have been designated a 3-drawer dresser and essentially a quarter of a closet to pack away all of my digs. If you know me and are aware of my shopping addiction, cue hysterical laughter. Using my mom's suggested "a little at a time" approach, I have been slowly but surely hanging, folding and packing away. I find my fingers crossed every time I try to wedge something new into my closet.

The other day on my weekly Target run, I found myself, as I usually do, in the book aisle. I saw Lauren Conrad had a new style book and decided to take a peek. I don't particularly like Lauren Conrad and have only seen The Hills a handful of times (due to my protest of MTV programming), but I love love love reading other people's opinions on what style means to them. Like flipping through The National Enquirer, out of sheer curiosity I picked up the book with no intention of buying it.... Until I saw Chapter 4: "Mastering your closet." At the bargain price of $13, I left Target with hope and, for lack of a better term, my new organizational Bible.

I read through the first few chapters with ease. "Style" has parallel similarities to "The Extra Half an Inch" by Victoria Beckham and both of Nina Garcia's books, "The Little Black Book of Style" and "The One Hundred," all of which I love. I found comfort in knowing that it took Lauren Conrad three days, a professional organizer, a stylist and several friends to help tackle her closet. She says to try on every single piece of clothing you own. If it doesn't fit right, is uncomfortable or simply can't see yourself wearing it anymore, toss it.

She also suggests tossing clothes in a number of different piles: give away, Goodwill, sell, garbage, and storage (put away a bag of clothes under your bed for 6 months. If you don't remember what's in there, you don't need it). These piles seemed a little too complicated for me. I usually toss my clothes in two piles: garbage and my "Jenny" pile. Jenny is my friend from San Luis Obispo who rarely buys clothes for herself, but rather takes peoples hand-me-downs (and looks better in them then I ever did). Giving my clothes to Jenny also helps cure the emotional attachment I sometimes have to pieces of clothing.

So here I am in my fashionable gray sweats and "I Heart NY" tee shirt, about to tackle the monster that is my wardrobe. I'm going to mix Lauren's ideas with my mom's approach and pray that this project is done before my 30th birthday. Wish me luck. I'm gonna need it...

Watch out Bay Area... here I come.

I don't like telling people that I'm currently "unemployed." In times like these I feel like being unemployed reflects a negative connotation. It allows people to jump to their own conclusions that I was either fired or am unhirable. I am neither. So for the sake of this post, and my sanity, I will refer to myself as being "in between jobs."

I spent my first week of being in between jobs scooting around Raleigh, North Carolina (I had a wonderful time, thanks for asking!). So this week I'm back to reality and on the ol' job hunt. Most of the jobs I have applied for thus far have been recommended to me by friends and family who have openings at their companies. Thankfully when you have someone vouching for you, your resume doesn't disappear into the abyss. For this, I have already had a phone interview.

I'm not exactly sure of what type of job I am looking for. I have a public relations degree with professional marketing and legal experience. As odd as this may sound, my diverse resume opens up a plethera of opportunities for me. Not only do I have the creativity that comes from a marketing background, but I also think strategically and critically because of my experience working with attorneys. On top of that, I have had the pleasure of working first-hand with company executives and attorneys (which I loved), allowing me to consider and qualify for personal assistant positions.

I may not be 100% certain about what type of job that I want, but I am sure of one thing: I will be fantastic at whatever it is I am hired for. I don't mean for this post to sound like a horn-tooting fest, but I know that a combination of my work ethic with an enthusiasm to learn creates an ideal work environment that any employer would be delighted to have in the workplace. Fingers crossed!

Golden Globes

As do most people, I mainly watch award shows to critique the dresses. At this year's Golden Globes, I found myself un-wooed, if you will, at most of the fashion choices. Women like Angelina Jolie, Sophia Vergara and Mila Kunis were all beautiful as expected. But there were only a few ensembles that really stuck with me.

In a sea of one-shouldered and sleeved dresses, Carrie Underwood's champagne colored, strapless Badgley Mischka really hit the mark for me. I thought it was simple, elegant and classic. Plus, I like sparkles. What can I say?! A+.

It may have been Claire Danes' Golden Globe that she carried as an accessory that won me over, but her salmon colored dress with the plunging back simply wowed me. I thought the modern gown mixed with such a vibrant color was uber chic. Bravo.

A well deserved win, Natalie Portman took home the Globe for Best Actress in Black Swan. However, her dress really threw me for a curve ball. I absolutely despise red and pink together in an outfit. It sits way up there with "jean on jean." This isn't 1986 where Hollywood is lacking sophisticated maternity wear. Always the optimistic, I will be holding out hope for her Academy Award gown (and win).

And what was with J. Lo (or is it Jennifer Lopez? Or Jenny from the Block? Or Jennifer Anthony?) and that god-awful white number she pulled out? Did she steal that dress from the set of Selena? Don't even get me started...

I can't wait to watch the Fashion Police tomorrow and see the critic's choices compared to my very important opinions. What did you guys think?

Small Town USA

As I map things out thus far, on the cusp of my 26th birthday I believe I will be entering the sixth chapter of my life.

Chapter 1: Kindergarten
Chapter 2: Junior High
Chapter 3: High School
Chapter 4: College
Chapter 5: Oh crap... I'm an adult. Now what?
Chapter 6: Gilroy Bound

Yeah, I said it. I'm moving home. That's right. Gilroy. Garlic-capital-of-the-world, home. No, I didn't lose my job or have some crazy sob story, a stalker, or anything cool. I just wanted to move home. So I am. I missed my friends and family and started resenting the 2 hour drive each way for visits. That's not the way I wanted to live my life. And more importantly I realized that San Luis wasn't making me happy.

People have called me crazy saying that San Luis Obispo is, and I quote, "The happiest place on earth." That's no lie. A few months ago there was even an article posted on Yahoo! about how it was literally named one of the happiest places on earth to live. Don't get me wrong. San Luis is a phenomenal city. But I'd like to see the scientific evidence behind this research. Minimally, I'd like to see the survey questions.

What people don't see when they look at San Luis is the lack of jobs, fair pay, and reasonable living. Not to mention the lack of diversity. I can throw a rock and hit 17 bleached blonds in jean skirts and Cal Poly tanks. That's not to say that I won't miss it here. San Luis Obispo has one of the cutest downtowns I have ever seen, I'm going to yearn daily for a Turkey California from High Street Deli and a Cowboy Cookie, and the wines here are better than anything I've ever tasted.

Additionally, I have San Luis Obispo to thank for my first real full-time jobs, without which I may never have met some of the most amazing and brilliant young people I've had the pleasure of working with. Also, if it weren't for San Luis, I might never have met Ms. Chavez and the whole nightmare-ish crew she calls friends.

Not many people can say that they are moving back in with their parents under good circumstances. But I can. Nothing will make me happier than being surrounded by my great parents, the friends I love, my insane sisters, my even more insane niece and nephew and a boxer that is the most loyal pet I may ever have the pleasure of cuddling with. Gilroy is no San Luis, but these are my roots and this is what I love...

127 Hours

My Monday night ritual of noodles and a $5 movie with my friend Jenny has not only become entertaining, but rather educating. This week we intended on seeing Black Swan. But as it always happens, it sold out right when we approached the ticket counter. We were left to see 127 Hours or to walk home in shame. "We should have eaten those damn noodles faster!" With our heads held high we dismissed the latter and headed into the theater. What's better than James Franco for two hours anyway? I guess Ryan Gosling for two hours, but I digress...

The movie wasn't quite like I had expected, but it was excellent. I would describe it as a mix of "Into the Wild" meets "Requiem for a Dream" with a touch of "Silence of the Lambs." Weird, I know. But the sheer thought of this movie being a true story made me quiver in my NorthFace (literally... I was wearing my NorthFace jacket. How festive am I?!). It was incredible how this man could have kept himself alive for as long as he did. A true outdoors-man indeed.

What I liked: I loved how interesting the cinematography was. The movie made you feel like you were down in a crevice in the middle of nowhere with this poor man, understanding all of his hallucinations and sharing every let down and triumph along the way. I also liked that I have the same exact Nalgene bottle as he had in the movie. Stay classy.

What I didn't like: The close up of the ants crawling all over him. Ick. I almost gagged a few times at parts that I'd rather not speak of.

Kudos to Danny Boyle for writing/directing the movie and making two hours of James Franco sitting next to a rock intriguing. This movie definitely makes James Franco Academy Award-worthy. Two thumbs way up.