Please Don't Stop the Music!

In my now ten month obsession in searching for a job and figuring out life as I know it, I've seemed to misplace my yearn for the things I love the most and still have the resources to enjoy. 
Fashion - I can lust at from afar because Lord knows my broke behind won't be purchasing any new duds (until someone sees what a wonderful little worker bee I would be for their company) except the basic necessity here in Chicago: a good pair snow boots.
Art - I'm trying my hand at painting. Living with a painter is inspiring. However, I'm not really motivated to put my brush to the canvas because I'm terrified of being terrible at it. I picked out a photo I took a while back and decided it would be a good starting place. In 3 weeks I haven't even gotten the background done, but it's a scary process for me! We'll see how it turns out. Needless to say, I'm taking my time. I was always good in art classes until it came time to painting or drawing 3 dimensional. To this day, I still have friends from high school that make fun of the 3-D scissors I had to draw for class. 
Photography - The one thing I'm most passionate about, I've really let myself slip on. I don't know why or what it is, but I know I love doing it. I suppose that when things are on rinse and repeat every day, it's hard to feel inspired. So, I'm looking for inspiration every moment I get outside this house. Most recent photo outing results coming soon.


And finally...
MUSIC - I'm in a musical drought. I have only had the opportunity to go to a few shows this year. Most recently the Raveonettes, in which tickets were donated to us (for a good cause, duh). When it comes to downloading music, I'm not a big fan of pirating. I like to pay for what I'm taking unless it's given for free. So I mustered up some spare change I found in the couch and made some new musical purchases via gomusicnow.com. New albums (new to me, maybe not so new to others) that I currently have on shuffle:

The Temper Trap: Conditions

One of my favorite albums I've heard this year. 4 boys from Melbourne, Australia have hooked and reeled me in. The first track itself was promising. My foot was tapping once Dougie opened his mouth. I might have even clapped along too. Who knows, I'm crazy. See, I missed the 500 Days of Summer boat and didn't recognize the apparently more popular track "Sweet Dispositions" which is probably the most radiotastic track on the album and also...one of my favorites. Sorry, I fell for it - it's catchy.

Mayer Hawthorne: A Strange Arrangement
I'm in love with this kid...and his music. This album is the retro (and white) spin of something C. Mayfield/S. Robinson-ish. Not only is it great soul, but the lyrics make me want to giggle and smile. I mean...he even throws in a "Don't be scerd" in there somewhere, but if you're not paying attention, you'd never catch it. Everything just blends into the rhythms without fail.

The Gossip: Music For Men

Beth Ditto has a great voice. She also doesn't give one iota about the fact that she is a big girl. She's been known to perform in her underwear or next to nothing and isn't the kind of lady that would even think twice about it. I try to picture myself seeing that live and I'm not quite sure how (in the moment) I might feel about that. But I've gotta respect the balls this lady must have hidden away somewhere. And if all else fails, just close your eyes. Because then, everything makes perfect sense and sounds even better.

The Black Angels: Directions to See a Ghost

I discovered these guys two weekends ago at the Metro in Wrigleyville. They opened up for the Raveonettes and not only did they put on a great show, but their sound is amazing. I don't know of too many psychedelic folk rock bands that can keep my attention for too long, but these kids manage well. They remind me a little of The Velvet Underground, which isn't a surprising influence being how their name comes from a VU song. With a female drummer who is on point - they brought in a variety of sound and beats using everything from double drummers to maracas.

Electric Owls: Ain't Too Bright
I have a great want to sing along to this entire album, tap my toes, and smile. I really couldn't ask for much more. The album as a whole is full of spirit and individuality. I just like it. And that's all that matters.

Neighborly Fall Foliage

I was walking the dog this afternoon and looking at the wet leaves in the streets and the trees all changing and some even bare bones already and got the urge to run in and grab my camera. This is the first fall I've experienced in 4 years so I felt like capturing it. Voila!

Ooo! Pick me, pick me!

The leaves are falling and temperatures are dropping here in Chicagoland and I don't have the money to buy a decent pair of winter boots to keep my California toes warm. I've been out of a job for almost ten months now and the holidays are fast approaching. I never thought it would ever take this long to find my next job after being laid-off. And now in the last several months when I'm finally getting interviews, I never seem to be the winning candidate. Which is even more frustrating. I keep hearing "there are more jobs, things are looking up." But where? And now that we're approaching the close of the year, I'm growing weary that I may not find work until 2010, in which case - I might  lose what little cool I have left. I was always told that having WB on my resume and having worked in LA would definitely work to my benefit and make me stand out. Here I am, ten months later and I'm not seeing the benefit. I search for hours every day. I've used up about every portal of networking I have, over and over again. What else is there? Even God seems stumped.

Dear marketing and advertising agencies in Chicago,
I'm a Marketing Coordinator/Assistant Manager/WhateverYouNeedMeToBe Extraordinaire, and looking to grow. I'm absolutely fabulous and work hard. I'm smart, I love to contribute, and have great ideas. I'm eager and excited to learn and ready to get my hands dirty. I just need a chance.

Desperately,
Afton

Breaking Up is Hard to Do...

...Unless you're going to create a vintage "Sometimes Store" (true to its name) in his ex-bedroom once he moves his crap out! That's just what Christine Bejasa did. She has created a vintage clothing store in her former boyfriend's former bedroom in her apartment in Pilsen. Getting my dose of Daily Candy and also coming across their ad on Craigslist for the opening of the store, it just seemed too good to be true. But it is. The grand opening was this past Saturday and will be by appointment going forward. And the word on the street is not one thing is priced over $15.00! Vintage millinery all around at a great price with a little bit of "ex-boyfriend was here" in the atmosphere.

Not a bad idea...

Address: 913 W. Cullerton Avenue, First Floor

Fone: (312-243-1229)

Keep your eyes out for the website and online magazine coming out this fall!

"Hello lover..."

As we quickly glide into September and see another turn of seasons, I realize - shit. I've been out of work for 8 months now in 2 major cities. Luckily, I've been able to stretch my money and pay my bills. My circumstances could be much worse and could always get worse. But you really don't realize how little of a life you have and how little you can afford until you set your eyes on a pair of Jeffery Campbell shoes that you just don't want to live without. Voila.

Life isn't always friendly. We work hard, hardly work, and sometimes can't work at all. Some of us have the luxury to buy petty things we don't need like plasma TVs, BMWs, and designer shoes that make us feel better and look fabulous. But we all do the things we need to purchase the necessities to survive and sometimes live off of morsels because we have no choice. What I'm about to say just might sound petty, but I haven't had the luxury to indulge in anything in 8 months, so be it. If I have to cut back on morsels to get these shoes, golly that's what I'll do. Or you could just give me a job to help prevent starvation. Afton 2009!

For Those Who Don't Know...

I am Afton Michelle.

A twenty something year old transplant from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles to the slower paced summer city of Chicago. With a Communications degree from Southern Illinois University, I proudly gallivanted my banners of personal victories at Technisonic Studios in St. Louis where I shaped a colorful video production background. Also a former Urban Outfitter, I helped shape the ways of shabby chic fashion with my own two cents, but got out of my retail chains and jumped into entertainment and media marketing. A self proclaimed Saved by the Bell trivia champion, I'm a big city girl with big city dreams. Independent. Living the dream paycheck to paycheck.

A writer, photographer, and a bit of a vagabond. But above all, I'm a Christian, daughter, sister, best friend, lover, believer, and magic bean buyer. All things music, art, fashion, film, and my favorite: photography. And maybe a little advertising and marketing talk along the way.

Photo Blog: Summer time

Summertime in Chicagoland has been full of good friends, nostalgia, and reconnecting - nothing short amazing. I'll be sad to see it go sooner than later.

I'm currently re-reading Blue Like Jazz and in the chapter about Redemption, I came across this and thought I would share...

"And that's the tricky thing about life, really, that the things we want most will kill us. Tony the Beat Poet read me this ancient scripture recently that talked about loving either darkness or loving the light, and how hard it is to love light and how easy it is to love darkness. I think that is true. Ultimately, we do what we love to do. I like to think I do things for the right reasons, but I don't, I do things because I do or don't love doing them. Because of sin, because I am self-addicted, living in the wreckage of the fall, my body, my heart, and my affections are prone to love things that kill me." - Donald Miller - Blue Like Jazz

PS - Also currently working on a seperate website coming soon to host my photography. Stay tuned!

I Me Mine

Some of my favorites...

I'm thinking I should take that volume back up off the shelf...

So here I am. 12:01 a.m. and all I can think about is the fact that I'm leaving California once and for all, in 6 days. SIX.

Of course "I'll be back", but the mere reality that I'm hanging up my hat on this place is unreal. If I could sum up what I went through nearly six years ago to get my 19 year old self out here in a a few paragraphs, I would. But I think it would take the smaller part of a book. A lot of tears, sacrifice, turmoil, which led to smiles, new friends, new "family," and a new life. And here I am, about to embark on yet a new beginning and sacrifice over again...and I'm sort of in the same place at 26 that I was at 19, preparing to leave behind all I knew for unfamiliar territory.

At 26 I'm currently unemployed in this totally awesome economy and job market (thank you former President Bush), with nothing but a little hope in my wallet. I found my apartment in about 24 hours, leaving behind friends and the only family I've known the past two and a half years which has been Lisa, my roommate and best friend. And moving away to start a new life with someone I love. All of these things match verbatim what I was doing/leaving then. Crazy how life mirrors itself.

As much as I want to pretend I'm completely prepared for this, I'm not. It's an adventure by every definition of the word and anything could happen. I'm excited for a new start and a new chapter in life's novel. But there is a part of me that is absolutely terrified. But even though that's true, I know I will get through it and come out on top. I always do. All I need is a little time and a couple of folks willing to take a chance.

But I'm going to miss this view and the feeling I have standing on the balcony off of my bedroom...

Onward and Upward

I love writing. And for some it's an outlet when they're upset or angry. But these days people are blogging about anything and everything, and some even make a living off of it. I'm not trying to make money, but I'm no different. Sometimes I write as a muse but most of the time I just want a way to be heard when I have something to share or say. I've had a blog since I was 18 years old. At first it was more of a "Dear Diary," type of thing, later turning into small pieces of writing I had worked on for cause & effect. I'll leave that blog where it is. This one is different. Blogs are everwhere -all things blog. This is just that. A fresh start and a blog of all things Afton.

Growing up in St. Louis, I moved to Orange County, California (Huntington Beach) in 2003. From there I moved to Los Angeles and have now been here for about 5 years. These last five tally marks on my calendar have been all about discovery. Along the normal time path of love found/love lost, good times, and tragedies, I've learned to be an adult. To take care of myself. To have a voice and speak up and give my opinion. One of the things I haven't quite realized is what exactly it is I want to do, but I can tell you some of the things I want to do along the way.

One of those things is photography. Since I was a kid I've been obsessed with photos. Looking at them. Caputuring them. I use to steal old black and white photos from my grandma and carry them in my pocket. I learned the basics of film photography in high school and later digital photography on my own - (it's not that difficult). Now I have the tools and equipment to really make something of it. More of that will come in time once I have moved and things have settled down.

In two weeks I'm picking up my life once again and moving to Chicago, Illinois. The windy city will hopefully bring more smiles, friendlier people, and just one tank fill up away from my family. I have to be out of my apartment in two and a half weeks and as of this moment do not have a place to live yet in Chicago or a job. But boxes are being packed and plans are being made.

I have all I feel I need: a solid soul and the blood I bleed.

Onward and Upward.

(Thanks to Shabbyblogs.com for my fancy background)