pin it real good.

ok. new addiction alert time.

i am kind of obsessed with pinterest.

the girls at work got me started on it. it's essentially a place where you can be cruising a website of any sort (the demographic tends to be fairly cute/clothing/crafty/party), and essentially tag ("pin") a photo to various categories ("boards"). it's a completely fast and easy way to create your own inspiration boards, as well as follow other boards that you like and then you can repin THEIR pins. and for me, it's a quick way to pretend that i'm blogging (not that i'm giving up on you.), or at least quickly save ideas that i want to blog about.

i believe you need an invite to be able to pin, so let me know, and i'll hook you up.

but here are my warnings:

warning #1:

i have literally stayed up hours past my bedtime pinning. it's addicting as hell. especially when you find other pinners that you like, and then you're going through their thousands of pins, and before you know it, the sun is coming up. (not really, but pretty damn close.)

warning #2:

iphone app, coming soon.

pinterest.com

check it.

find me: chelseyclarke

it was fun.

i'm sure that when i initially pulled this picture off the internet and drag-and-dropped it into my "port of ships" file on my desktop, it was meant to reference different events and memories from a different time. seemingly a lifetime ago.

well, today is the here and now and i still wouldn't trade them -- or the so many fantastic times i've had since.

i am a very lucky girl.

the hills are alive.

i'm so good at NOT blogging, it's really a shame that i try and break that cycle.

i need to just take the leap and not put so much pressure on myself to be this awesome blogger, when in reality, i just want to show off fun stuff i find.

ANYWHO.

we got this notebook in at the store recently, and it caught my eye. now i can't wait to buy it.

{she climbed until she saw composition book. $5.95}

i know, i know, we all need another cute notebook like we need a hole in the head, but there is something about this that really strikes me.

firstly, it's nature-y...which, i love. (in my head i'm really nature-y.) as a result, it reminds me of camp, which is always ideal/essential on rough days.

secondly, i feel like it really speaks to how i approach many things in my life. i climb until i see. i have climbed, i do climb, and you damn well know that i'm climbing in my future. and even if you're not to the top, even if the peak seems eons away, the view doesn't seem all bad from here.

thirdly, this notebook reminds me of one of my greatest accomplishments. it also happens to be the inspiration for my hypothetical future tattoo -- which would be the longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates of the peak of mount whitney. i backpacked the west side of whitney with a group of diabetic 16 and 17 year olds in summer 2004. at 14,505 feet, it's the highest peak in the contiguous united states. we did it in ten days, hiking over 110 miles. when we started, my pack weighted nearly 90 pounds, and i think it was the sixth time i had ever backpacked. not too shabby, eh? it was truly one of those "i'm just flattered to have been asked [to be staff on this trip]" moments. it was so much fun, and so challenging, and an experience i look forward to repeating. soon.

when cancer is over, i'm doing it again.

so, here it is...the hypothetical tattoo:

36 34'42.9 N

118 17'31.2 W

it will be in honor of past accomplishments and future goals.

now i just need to figure out all those "minor" details including how to get over my crippling fear of needles and whether or not i want to commit to something for the rest of my life.

man, for a notebook that's only $6, i've done a really good job of justifying the purchase.

(the website for the parent company, compendium, has some really cute books and paper goods on it.)

to singledom.

life is a funny thing. a year ago today, i experienced a blindside of a breakup. it shook me at my core, and forced me to re-think what i thought i was doing with my life. little did i know that it is exactly what i needed.

since my freshman year of college, i had never been truly alone. there was always a boyfriend, kinda-sorta boyfriend, someone i was "seeing," and most certainly,

someone i could run to when the going got tough, rely on for late night phone calls and cute instant messages. (yes, i'm reminiscing about AIM... flashback, i know.) even in relationship interludes, i had people i'd go back to, safety

nets that i would take advantage of out of a fear of being alone.

a year ago, i was not left with an option. and it was hard. there were a few really hard weeks. there had been no conversation, no trying to work things out, and quite frankly, no clear reason. it was just over. and he was gone. from that initial mentioning of the "b word" to moved out in essentially a week. all of a sudden, i was alone. and i didn't have a safety net, because he had always assured me that i would never need one, ever again.

now, i can not sit here and say that i have been the epitome of the independent, single woman through the past year. i have pursued relationships, taken advantage of friendships, and i have hurt. i have hated being alone. hated sleeping by myself after nearly three years of sharing a bed. hated not having a lap i can rest my head on, or someone to sit around a read with. it has been hard not having someone hold my hand before scary new cancer adventures, and after three years of cancer adventures together, it was terrifying heading into surgery without the person that was always there to kiss my forehead when i woke up.

obviously i have survived. and i will continue to do so. i have moved on in many ways. to think of the last year, the breakup seems to be eons ago. i have done so much on my own, and so much more with the support of my family and friends.

i was able to conquer the night before surgery. i was able to spend my summer at bearskin doing my dream job without conflict. i've been able to spend my money guilt-free. i've been able to watch as much stupid tv as i feel entitled to. i've been able to blast country music as loud as desired without judgement or complaints. i have more closet space.

so there. i can do it.

though, i still only use half of the bed.

maybe one day i'll scoot over to the boy's side of the bed, but hey -- maybe not.

i think that's ok too.

sidenote: not sure when this blog got so emo and personal, versus just me posting cute things that i want to buy. i'll have to work on that. apologies.

happy hearts day.

i am by no means "that girl." the one that begrudgingly wear a pink scarf to work on february 14th, the one on the brink of tears when flowers are delivered to someone else's front porch, the one who blames Hallmark and the floral industry for a holiday the catholic church sanctioned around 498 AD, the one who wants to throw things at any couple passing by.

oh, hell no.

i love valentine's day.

pink and red? flowers and treats? a twinkle in the hopeful eyes everywhere? amazing.

and heck, if it means that people pull their heads out of their butts for even five seconds to realized how lucky they have it to have someone to love, then that should make up for any sourpusses out there.

if you have someone to think about on february 14th, you are lucky. whether that person is someone you have in your life, or someone you had in your life, or someone you are looking forward to having in you life, you are lucky. if an otherwise be a mundane day is visited by the thought of love, whether it's the flirty guy that works at starbucks, the innocence of your first kiss, or your love for your childhood pet, then you are lucky.

when you stop and look around, no matter what day of the year it is, we're all pretty lucky.

and if taking an extra minute out of your day to write a card to a certain friend, or give a significant other a token of affection, or even letting the other person choose the tv show for the night, is depressing, then damn...i think your priorities are off.

valentine's day goodies from:

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happy valentine's day.

embrace the spring in your step. i know i will.

here's to you.

she's my bestie. she's my roomie. she's my partner in crime.

and she is offended that she was not mentioned in my "eight months in a hundred and fifty words or less."

so, my dear katie, this is my ode to you.

since the first day of freshman year of high school, you have rocked my world. we bonded over a love for sushi, and you tried to be cool by telling me you surfed. i'm not gonna lie, it impressed me. over those next four years, a strong bond grew -- a love for long-haired men, being the original gangsters of jack johnson, and making sure we were never too cool to worry about embarrassing ourselves. you were always the one of the few in our crew not named "megan," the one who would try and figure out which of our siblings could get married so we'd be legal sisters and you were rad enough to not want to stay in-state for school. not to mention you lived in napa, being the one defender of napa in the frequent sonoma/napa throw-downs.

you are my champagne connoisseur, my master chef, and own more glassware than we will ever know what to do with. you're weird about touching people, despite my attempts to, ya know, touch your arm in passing, or give you the ol' football smack-on-the-ass. you buy a damn good present, and i'm glad we're at that point in our relationship where buying each other jewelery just...seems right. you always have snack packs, you will always share a doctor's examination table with me, and you are a fantastic doctor's appointment companion. oh, and you're a wonderful chemo buddy, no matter the type or timing. and giiiirl, we've done it all.

thank you for all that you are KM.
i love you like a fat kid loves kate.
(get it? instead of "cake" i used your name...)

oh. and thanks for thinking i'm funny. you really boost my self-esteem.

hello stranger.

well, here i am world. back in action. okay, okay, so maybe it has been eight months. but, ya know. what are you going to do? sometimes life gets in the way of chronicling it all on my laptop to update the world (in theory) on the ins and outs of my life...of which there have been many.

since june 5th, my last blog post, there has been so much that has happened, and all i can say is that i'm so glad that it all did.

has it been perfect? of course not.

has it challenged me? most certainly.

have i loved every moment of it? hell yes.

so, let's give this a try - eight months in a hundred and fifty words or less:

bearskin. leaders-in-training. bed rest. chelliot. fresno. fake boyfriend and girlfriend. bridesmaid business. my best friend’s wedding. drinking. dancing. cuteness. giants games. “let’s make friends” party. sixty coors light. s’mores. rabbit. more lits. norovirus. lits again. red roof. drama. more lits. crystle caves. justin bieber. closing circle. missing camp. visits. giants games. oakdale. krystle. holly. santa cruz shakespeare festival. more giants. business law. giants fever. clinical trial. tumors disappearing. birthdays. lions pub. surprise lits. magnolia. lions pub, again. carrie underwood. beach blanket babylon. hardly strictly bluegrass. fake breakup. jack johnson. teen ed retreat. giants win nlds. sharktoberfest. phillies. palm springs. sisters. black. orange. pennant. rangers. WORLD SERIES! parade day. mixed results with trial. bernardo. thanksgiving. palm springs christmas party. finals. boulder. graduation. new iphone. “damn girl.” work. della santina’s. christmas. new years eve. scott. breanne. 2011. hip pain. goodbye mackensey and nardo. radiation. new treatment. sick. 26. birthday brunch. school.

smiling.

so. that is what life has been like. once again, ups and downs, but as usual, one day at a time. loving it as i go.

i do have to say that the giants being in the play-offs, followed by the world series was beyond exciting. the city was a-buzz, orange was everywhere you went, and everyone had a spring in their step.

the day the san francisco giants won the world series is a day i will never forget. we laughed, we cried, and we kept trying to pinch ourselves to wake up from this dream. still, now, just thinking about it makes me tear up a bit. honestly those were some of the most exciting, happiest, and completely unforgettable days of my life.

(here is my outdated homage to my favorite team in the world.)

in short, i guess that is what's up.

watch out blogosphere, i'm back.

i love this city.

every time i come around the big curve on the 101 and see san francisco's skyline, i fall in love all over again. today is gloriously sunny and i have the next three days off.

that means: brunch.pedicure.shopping.cleaning.camp programming.itunes organizing.crafting.flea market.graduation parties.airport.mary.probably total aussie chaos.

all in san francisco sunshine.

hard to complain about a weekend like that.

the look: summer 2010

okay, okay. so...this isn't really THE look, it's more like MY look for what my summer is going to consist of.

i pretty much hold it down with all the classics: a well-fitted tee, a little sun protection and my go-to j.crew khaki shorts. i like to consider it the middle ground between the staff that are unshowered in sweatpants, and those that look ridiculous in full hair and make-up, thinking that the middle of the woods is a place where accessories and perfume are required.

for me, i tend to be satisfied if i find a clean shirt, slap some deodorant on, and wash off my feet before sticking them into my sleeping bag. at camp, it really is all about the little things.

1. giants hat 2. rainbows 3. american apparel {sheer jersey short sleeve women's summer t}

4. j.crew {9" chino short} 5. ray-bans {large aviator} 6. straw fedora

7. tom's {ash canvas classic} 8. j.crew {broken-in boyfriend chino short} 9. merrell {siren sport}

song for the dumped.

so, about an eon (ok, so maybe a little over three years) ago, my little sister got dumped. her first big heartbreak, blah blah blah. being the big sister that i am, who was living a few states away at the time, i made her a mix.

well, a few months ago, appropriately so, PB found it in her car, and couldn't help but send it in my direction. and i must say, i think that this is a playlist that certainly gets the point across and makes me laugh at the same time. while being incredibly big sister-little sister appropriate.

songs for the dumped

Growing Pains Theme Song

*NSYNC - Bye Bye Bye

Nancy Sinatra - These Boots Are Made For Walking

Destiny's Child - Survivor

JoJo - Leave

Justin Timberlake - Cry Me A River

Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten

Hilary Duff - Why Not

Britney Spears - Stronger

Aretha Franklin - Think

Christina Aguilera - Fighter

Jessica Simpson - A Public Affair

High School Musical - We're All In This Together

Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody

The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun

Michelle Branch - Are You Happy Now?

Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive

Peggy Lee - Sisters

i love you sister.

flicker of the campfire.

well, it's official. summer 2010 is upon us and i could not be more excited.

this summer, i'm headed up to bearskin meadow camp for the 19th year.

when i was 16 & 17, i was a counselor-in-training at bearskin and can confidently say that it was one of the most impactful experiences of my life. those two summers influenced me to challenge myself and better my life through friendships, teamwork and leadership. it lead to my employment for six of the past seven summers, college admissions, an internship and experiences i never would have pursued otherwise. most significantly, my experience at camp has led to some of the most meaningful relationships i have ever had.

i could not be happier to say that i will be returning this summer. i was offered the position of leader-in-training (the updated cit program) coordinator, and i immediately knew that i had to take the position. it has been my dream since i was 16 to be able to influence teens the way my cit coordinators influenced me (thank you jeff, suzy and tracy). with careful medical schedule planning, and perfect timing for MM & TM's wedding, i was able to make it work. none of it will be easy. i have been interviewing teens for the past few weeks, and the expectations are high. more than anything, my expectations for the program are the ones i have to worry about. because this program has made such a difference in my life, i want it to mean the same thing to the participants.

i will have to take a break at some point during a session to come down the hill to get treatment back here in the city. knowing that, i told JG (my camp boss and previous fellow 2001/2002 cit) that i will need strong support staff that i can rely on when i have to return to the real world for 36 hours. luckily for me, after nearly 5 years, i have reunited with EW, a dear friend from my first summer as cit. i am so happy to have him back in my life, and the even better news is that he has decided to work the program with me, and "inspire the next generation of us" as he likes to say.

i am incredibly excited to spend six weeks of my summer in kings canyon national park and at the place that i will always be able to call home.

a-dorable.

so, today, while cruisin' around etsy (as i so often do on lazy afternoons), i found this most adorable of sellers, and these cute, cute bags.

found on etsy.

i'm not usually one to go the nautical route - often a little to east coast for this left coast gal - but between the bold yellow color (she also does navy, red, and green), and the over-exaggerated rope handle, i'm kind of in love.

i will be the first to admit, i have a certain addiction to tote bags. i easily own more than 15 totes and rarely have a use for them. i am hoping that summer will bring more opportunity, especially if i'm going to try and justify a cute, new striped one.

(i don't think have a yellow one yet!)

finals.

so close, yet so far.

amazing.

i. absolutely. love. these.

i have no idea where they would fit into my life, both physically and aesthetically, but i think there is something so entrancing about them.

also, i'm sure that my rather colorful book collection would not too nearly as chic as the white and grey palette they have going.

you can find more gorgeousness here. god damn. love those italians.

found on splendora.

great american grump out day.

being a grump is not my scene. though, if it were, i would make sure to not be a

grump on may 5th, great american grump out day.

*pout*

while i am rarely a grump (in my own humble opinion), i do have a special affinity for pouting. luckily, i am not only aware of it, but I am very willing to admit it. frequently while pouting over the phone or via text or email, i will make sure to let all parties involved that my lower lip has made its way out from beneath my top lip.

does it achieve anything? i doubt it. but hey, sometimes a girl just needs a good pout.

flippin' amazing.

(i wish that i could apologize for when i get cheesy and lazy and put up these inspiration posts, but i can't. because i love them.

so deal with it.)