Stay tuned

Posted on April 25, 2012 by carlieblissirwin

So now that I’ve started on new freelance projects and have a new job with new hours, it’s taking me awhile to get adjusted to all of this newness. Sadly, this might mean that my blog gets a bit neglected until I can figure out where posting fits into my schedule. I’m still going to try to post every day, but I can’t promise that will always happen.

Please – stop crying. Your raw emotion is flattering but entirely unnecessary. It’s not that bad. Like I always say: “newness” is just “awesomeness” without the a, w, s, o, m and e. And with an extra n.

Clever right?

To appease all of you loyal readers clamoring for more tidbits of my life (as usual, I think that statement mainly applies to my mother), here are two Instagram photos I took on my way home from work yesterday. It’s not much, but I just wanted to let you know I didn’t forget about you.

Instagram insanity

Posted on April 23, 2012 by carlieblissirwin

Thank you, Instagram, for finally realizing that Android users like to take hipster-y photos too!

I just downloaded the Instagram app yesterday and kind of went nuts with it during a girls’ night out with some of my college friends. We were celebrating Sarah and Jeannine’s 30th birthdays, an occasion that obviously called for tapas and sangria at Cafe Iberico immediately followed by Photo Hunt at Clark Street Ale House.

Nights like these are my favorite.

Follow me on Instagram @carliecrash!

Will write and/or edit for money

Posted on April 20, 2012 by carlieblissirwin

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

That’s how I like to sum up my career right now.

For a long time, I’ve been thinking that I’d like to eventually transition to freelance copywriting and publishing work so I can have a more flexible schedule, occasionally work from home and take on a wider variety of projects.

Last week, the stars aligned and the opportunity to shift my career in this direction practically fell into my lap!

This is code speak for I got laid off, along with most of my co-workers. But no worries, we knew for several months that it was probably going to happen. It was no surprise. Such is life in advertising!

While I will miss some aspects of agency life and all of the fun, creative people I worked with, I’m so ready to dive head-first into freelancing.

On Monday, I start a contract copywriting job at another agency that will last for a couple months. But in addition to that, I’m also taking on freelance copywriting, editing and publishing projects. And I’ll just see where it all goes from there!

So all of this is leading up to the fact that this post is just one big shameless plug.

Have an article or website that needs some editing attention? Some manuscript that needs to be processed? Some copy that annoyingly will not write itself?

If so, I’m your girl!

I’m available for copywriting, editing and any developmental publishing/content development work. I’m working on creating a website portfolio of sorts, but until that’s up, check me out on LinkedIn.

So hire me! You won’t regret it. I’ve been told by several clients that I’m the most creative, talented and driven person they’ve ever worked with.*

*They never actually said that. But I could totally tell they were thinking it.

Hit me up at carbirwin@gmail.com.

Image via

What do you do when you don’t have to work on a beautiful weekday afternoon?

Posted on April 18, 2012 by carlieblissirwin

You grab a book and head to the park. That’s what.

And you take a bunch of photos. Because, after all, you are a blogger.

Birchbox

Posted on April 17, 2012 by carlieblissirwin

As far as the blogging world goes, I’m a little late to this party. But I just signed up and received my first Birchbox, and I was not disappointed!

If you haven’t heard of Birchbox, let me enlighten you. Basically, you pay $10 a month to receive a cute little box filled with samples of high-end beauty products. You can cancel anytime, but why would you? Don’t you like giving yourself presents? On a monthly basis? I know I do. A lot.

My first box included several packets of Befine night cream and moisturizer, Color Club nail polish, Viva La Juicy perfume, June Jacobs Perfect Pumpkin Enzyme Polish and Show Stoppers Designer Fashion Tape.

So far, I’ve only tried the June Jacobs pumpkin polish. You know how much I love pumpkin. It made me want to eat my face. Also, now my skin is super soft. Win.

So here’s what I’ve been up to…

Posted on April 16, 2012 by carlieblissirwin

There have been a LOT of things going on in my world lately, and unfortunately blogging has not been one of them.

Long story short, I accepted a new job early last week and I start next Monday! In the meantime, I have this entire week off to bask in the sunshine and frolick through fields of wildflowers. (Note: Right now it’s really cloudy and I’m in the city, probably at least 20 miles away from the nearest wildflower. I guess this is when I realize I don’t actually live in The Sound of Music? I may need a moment to process that.)

I spent this past weekend celebrating my career move (more on that later) and Will’s 30th birthday, which involved me planning a fabulous surprise party! Then having to cancel it! Because Will had to travel for work! And ruined everything! (Ok, not really – I had to do a little rescheduling, but was still able to surprise him. I just like to do that thing where I pretend to be mad at people for things that are entirely out of their control. Is that a thing?)

I also celebrated my friend Kim’s 30th birthday (April was a busy month for birthing cool people back in 1982) and went to tea with my friend Laura and my mom at the gorgeous Driehaus Museum in River North.

The weird thing is that the only photos I took during the entire weekend were completely random and had almost nothing to do with these events. But I will show them to you anyway because otherwise this post would be completely lacking in visual stimulation. And if you’re like me, your favorite part of reading is the pictures.

Celebratory mojito!

Celebratory vodka and Limonata!

I made food! Edible food!

And this is the result! Just kidding. This is the Illinois Wesleyan alumni tea at the Driehaus Museum. Also, I’m done with the exclamation points.

Beautiful chandelier at the Driehaus.

I challenge anyone to top the randomness of this post. I’m pretty sure it can’t be done.

Grahamwich

Posted on April 11, 2012 by carlieblissirwin

In the contest for Cutest Little Sandwich Shop in Chicago (which exists only in my head as far as I know), my vote goes to Grahamwich.

I mean, the people who work there wear newsboy caps. Some even have suspenders. If they were to, say, break into a rendition of Seize the Day, I would fill that tip jar with enough cash to pay for their artsy grad school tuitions. No joke.

Plus, their grilled cheese is made with cheese curds, and you know it rocks.

Go there. You may run into me. I’ll be the sleepy-looking girl who may or may not have stayed up past her bedtime to watch Peeta on Leno last night.

Versatile blogger shout-outs

Posted on April 11, 2012 by carlieblissirwin

A couple days ago, lyndawithaycrawford was kind enough to name me in this post as one of the “versatile bloggers” she enjoys following.

It’s a major award! Thanks Lynda! 🙂

I’m not exactly clear on the rules of this thing, but basically, if you get nominated by someone you’re supposed to also name some blogs that you enjoy following.

Now I follow a lot of blogs, including the ones pretty much everyone else follows. (Cupcakes and Cashmere? Cup of Jo, anyone? Love them.) But I think here I am going to highlight the ones that maybe a lot of you don’t know about. I’m spreading your blog-reading horizons. And you’re welcome.

So here they are, in no particular order…

1. afternoons & coffeespoons: Gorgeous photos and poignant thoughts from an NYC girl who really knows how to appreciate life.

2. Another blog from Danielle: Social media pro and all-around fun girl Danielle shares her adventures in STL, daily outfits and random thoughts to make you smile.

3. iHateGreenBeans: Seriously fantastic recaps of The Bachelor and Bachelorette. This blog is pretty much the only reason why I’m still watching (and loving) those shows.

4. A day in the thoughts of LHM: My fabulous former co-worker Lauren posts about her life as a newlywed in the Lou (aka, St. Louis).

5. One Fine Day: Ashley lives in Hawaii, has an amazing Kate Spade/J.Crew-inspired wardrobe, impeccable taste and a super bubbly personality. Yeah, I want to be her too.

6. Peppermint Bliss: Bailey used to live in an amazing house in Chicago. Then she and her husband had a baby and moved to another amazing house in Texas. Plus, she’s an amazing interior designer. The key word here is “amazing.”

7. Running from the Law: Awesome photos on this blog. Plus, Sara is funny, intelligent, thoughtful, and sincere – pretty much the kind of girl we all want as our best friend.

Do yourself a favor and add these ladies to your Google Reader. Go on…