A Look Back, and A Look Ahead

Holy turds, I've been so bad about updating this month. I blame a lack of blog writing motivation, winter lethargy and perhaps, over thinking what the focus of this blog should be.

With the name Thriftburgher, the original intent was to focus on the thriftiness in my life. I think I've done that for a bit, especially in earlier posts, but I've also been writing about things that I've enjoyed and/or have interested me.

Some of my favorite posts from 2014:

My vintage postcard series, particularly my various Pittsburgh sets. (links to original posts in photos)

There have been a few outfits I've liked, too:

                     

Various photo collections, my wedding series and thrifty reviews have also been highlights over the past year.

My favorite blog reads run the gamut. Some tend to focus on a spectrum of topics that interest the blogger and their personalities shine through. (A Beautiful Mess, Delightfully Tacky, The Laughing Medusa, The Dainty Squid, The Clueless Girl's Guide.) Other favorites are primarily outfits or recipes. (Midwest Muse, Room 334, Melodic Thrifty & Chic, Food in Jars, So Hungry I Could Blog) And then there's more nostalgic, news-based throwback blogs I adore as well. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's The Digs, NPRchives)

I have other favorites too, but I read so many that I can't possibly list them all. :)

I don't know, I'm just thinking about how my perspective has changed on this whole blogging concept since I started last year. How does my blog appear to other people?

I would like to have a spectrum like focus, but with a full-time job it's difficult to maintain. After all, my life isn't all that exciting. Even my last few thrift store trips have been total fails. I'd either leave empty handed or buy things for other people.

But I'm hopeful and can kick my ass back into gear. My tentative refocusing goals this year: Perhaps a Q&A series, keep up with outfit posts, but nail down a harder emphasis on all things thrifty. Not necessarily having listicles about thrifting, but being better about documenting my journey to various flea markets, garage sales, estate sales, etc.

Any suggestions? :D

(S)Kate

This post is to celebrate being a new roller derby recruit. Huzzah! It's been a goal of mine for awhile to try it out, so it's excited that it's happening at last. :)

I'm pictured above, about four years old, tightly holding onto my cousin Casey's hand, at the same skating rink where I'll be training this winter and spring. (I would kill for those Barbie themed elbow and knee pads! Haha.) A product of the 80s, roller rink trips were occasional but consistent. I often was the person with a death grip on the carpeted wall all the way around the rink. Apparently my mom and I went on a few skating lessons when I was about five, but then she learned she was pregnant with my sister so we stopped going.

Even though I've only been skating for a few weeks now, I can say I'm much more confident on skates. I can stop without running into a wall and everything! We'll see how things go moving forward. Wish me luck!

Feeling Newsie

I've been eyeing up this dress for the longest time, maybe over a year? Anyway, Mark got it for me for Christmas! It's the perfect dress for me, not only because of the print (I'm a newspaper reporter AND a cat owner) but it has a great, flattering cut, too.

In case you were wondering, these shots were taken on Mt. Washington, Pittsburgh's most popular overlook. (There are others, but this one has the easiest access.) There's really no wonder why this area has so many visitors.

It's also a spot that provides a lot of memories for me. I lived in this neighborhood in college. (although it wasn't the part with this view) Mark proposed here. We'd often come here to contemplate, calm down, or just stare with wonder. You can see for miles in each direction, and the views are incredibly picturesque. There's the skyscrapers, of course, but also, the rivers, the bridges, the lights, the look of peace of it.

The history adds depth, too. Nearby are the two remaining inclines in operation in the city, which will take you from Mt. Washington to Pittsburgh's South Side neighborhood and back. They're historic because back in the day, this is how many steel workers commuted to work. (A large steel mill used to sit at the bottom of the hill. It's now a strip mall and business area called Station Square.)

Mt. Washington is one of Pittsburgh's cheesiest places, but I love it anyway. Perhaps even more than my new favorite dress. :D

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Outfit: Dress, Modcloth; cardigan, J. Crew; tights, H&M; boots, Macy's.

Update: 26 before 27

Hi everyone. Sorry for the absence over the last few weeks. I've been busy on many fronts as of late: work, personal and hobby. Since today marks my half birthday, I thought I'd go over the goal list I made six months ago. It's an ambitious list, but I think I've been pretty good at tackling a lot of the things so far.

Get a pet
I want a dog so badly. But I make take anything at this point: A turtle, a cat, a salamander. Whatever.

Wally has been the best companion, ever, really. He's very smart, loves cuddling and attention, and loves giving us kisses by softly biting our faces. Lol. And he follows commands surprisingly well for a cat. Mark is convinced we inherited a dog in a cat's body.

Try out for a sport
It's always been a dream of mine to do roller derby.

This is something I've really followed through with this month. I bought my first pair of derby skates, and have been practicing a ton, which is one of the reasons I've been absent on the blog. Tryouts for the team are this weekend. Don't tell me to break a leg. ;)

Read more
I'm constantly reading news articles all over the interwebs and writing stories. But my leisure reading is seriously lacking. I hope to maybe read 20 books over the next year. It's still not that much, but I feel like it's an attainable goal.

I've been trying to stay on top of this one, too. (Also, if you look to the side of my blog, I recently added a book-reading widget! Huzzah!)

Host a major holiday feast

I successfully cooked for eight this Thanksgiving! It was pretty overwhelming, but really rewarding. I might start hosting on an annual basis. As long as Mark can cover the turkey. :D

Go on a road trip

Mark and I went on a very fun trip to Boston back in October to commemorate our one-year wedding anniversary. We saw many historic sites, visited Salem, and I cried a few times driving because the drivers there are incredibly aggressive. But all in all, a fun adventure!

Some things I need to work on before my birthday: Attempting more ambitious cooking, sewing of any kind, being more loving and appreciative, sending more snail mail.

I think having a list like this has been really nice for me. It puts things in perspective and motivates me to follow through. Have you had success making goal lists?