BOODWAH

I am so darned pleased with the reception that Of North is already receiving! I've been a bit nervous about making this change, taking this step, and so I appreciate the kind reception that the new blog has already been receiving. I'm still working out a few kinks. There's a new Bloglovin' that you have to follow for updates and I guess it isn't so easy to change the name & URL of a Facebook page, so I also created a new FB page for Of North. I've decided to keep my Twitter handle the same - a little bit of Urban Tease must remain, just for the memories. I'm hoping that I don't lose any followers in the dust by making all of these changes and switching platforms.
The thing that I'm possibly most excited about as I begin writing Of North is a new partnership with BOODWAH! Jayne is a fantastic seamstress from the UK who's creating loads of beautiful vintage and dance inspired pieces out of lovely stretch velvets and other fun prints. She sent me this pair of leopard paneled shorts among a few other pieces to bring on my trip to Arizona next week, but I wanted to get some photos with them for the launch of the blog. I thought - there's no better way to ring in the new blog than with a new pair of shorts!




Since it's so bloody cold out (and about 6 feet of snow), I stayed in to take the photos, playing up my inner pin up which is also like one of my top favourite things to do, especially when it's my day off and freezing out. As couch photos (or stair photos) are more intimate, I thought it would be a good time for some real talk. Also, necessary as my life has taken a major change and I feel like I should address it! 
For my end of the year post at my old blog (I feel like I'll be linking back there quite a bit!), I talked about how 2013 will always remain the year that I was madly in love with my boyfriend, Jesse. As many of you know, as I've spoken candidly about it on the blog, Jesse has had a lot of health issues lately, requiring a lot of treatment and out patient care. In the end, this was a lot of strain on our relationship. He called me last week to let me know that things were through and he didn't love me anymore. Quite unfortunately, I still love him loads and so this news has been difficult for me to stomach. However, in the end, there's no point in wasting your time trying to be with someone who doesn't love you, and so I am moving on also - to bigger and better things!
That makes me sound very calm and composed about the whole breakup. I am not. I've been a slug for the past few weeks (our relationship began breaking down very suddenly a few weeks ago), mostly parking myself in front of the TV or in bed, moping and feeling sorry for myself. Jesse was the first boy in my life who I felt very truly in love with and the first who I formed such a strong bond with. He was my best friend. He treated me like heaven and even though times were very difficult for the past several months due to his health issues, I never once regretted being his girlfriend or wished for things to be any different. Maybe one day he and I can talk things over, but he's never much been one for communication, and so here I am, stuck in my own head about the whole thing, moping and watching re-runs of Arrested Development. 
I'm trying to give myself a boost by connecting with some old friends, focusing on the blog, searching for a job, and thinking up all the crafts I'm going to do after I kick this sudden cold that has plagued my body. Also, as Jesse declared the relationship bust, I canceled my flight to visit his family in Reno, and now have over $500 in free flight credit. I'm planning a trip to Seattle in May and Disneyworld/Harry Potter World in December! Travel always gets me amped up to keep moving.






I was just checking the 10-day forecast for Scottsdale, AZ and am looking at some pretty decent weather for while I'm there! Upper 70s & sunny - I'll take it! I'm already planning to pack my other goodies from BOODWAH but hmmm what else? I haven't dressed for summer in over 6 months - it will be difficult not to go overboard! I also haven't bought myself anything new in months, and I just got a fat bonus from my underpaid internship, so I'm hoping I don't go overboard shopping while in Scottsdale! I hear they have a 9% sales tax on everything. I feel like that will hold me back on shopping. I've been spoiled as Minnesota doesn't have sales tax on clothes.



I'm going to go mope for a bit now. I've got such a cold that it's not really motivating me to do much (on top of the break up). What are your favourite break up or general feeling-sorry-for-yourself movies?
Thanks again to everyone who has been checking out Of North and following the new blog on our new social media platforms. I've got so many plans ahead for Of North - but what do you want to see from the blog? Was there any aspect of Urban Tease that you especially enjoyed? And thanks again to BOODWAH for helping me kick off Of North with these awesome possum new shorts!