CHATS

These days I am preparing, while trying not to prepare too much, to move to South Korea to teach English as a Second Language in the public school system. I began the process in February of this year and it has been a great roller coaster of feelings.

Let’s go back a little bit. I graduated in May of 2009 with my degree in Interior Design from Missouri State University. Since graduation, I have considered a wide variety of careers in the Interior Design field and, at this time, I am still unsure which would be the perfect fit for me. My dearest thought is that I will move somewhere, get my Masters Degree in Interior Design, Historic Preservation, Green Design, something more specialized and also interesting to me… Although, right now even the most wonderful of those ideas in my head aren’t exactly where I want to be right now…and it took me two years to truly accept that realization. I applied for jobs I was overqualified for, just for the sheer excitement of being really financially stable (thank goodness they fell through).

For years (since about 2005) I have mulled the idea of teaching abroad over in my head but until this year I didn’t have the confidence or guts to consider leaving this town, this country alone. Now, at 25, I have the very clear idea that this is what is next for me. It brings excitement, adventure, eventually it brings broader knowledge, exposure, new skills, adaptability, financial stability, a wider list of things I can do next in my life because of the ability to save money while teaching. (Who knows, perhaps I will fall in love with teaching and get my Masters to teach at University.) It may sound plain crazy to some, some may understand, but I am excitedly preparing to be scared, lonely, feel small in the world, exhilarated, different.

Having that history, I will begin to explain the anguish of the past week. So, when I began the process in February I started a long list of tasks to acquire the proper documents to send to obtain a teaching position. Among the list of things I began the necessary steps to obtain an FBI Criminal Background Check. (I had heard it takes the longest, so I started well in advance) I sent of my fingerprints from a professional fingerprint technician and called to check up each week on the progress and found out about 6 weeks in that my fingerprints had been declared unclear. I freaked out a little, sent off 3 more cards and continued checking back with them. Closer to 7 weeks later, creeping up on some deadlines, I find out they are once again unclear. (Last Monday) So, I began to cry and made a lot of phone calls, emailed my recruiter Mina and told her what happened. She talked to a man of the South Korean government who did my Skype interview and he said hopefully there would be positions for September or October. Hopefully? Wow. I didn’t know that would possibly fill, I thought that was the safe overflow for people like me. So now, I have sent off my third request with 3 more sets, from two new places. I am having them expedited as the FBI agreed to work with me because of an inherent job loss. (I was told by many people on the phone many times that there was no possible way to expedite, thank goodness for this lady Cynthia)

Now, I wait. It has been a little over a week since I found out. I was prepared to send everything off last Wednesday, when I was hoping for my Background Check to come in. The really frustrating thing is that it is squeaky clean. (Haha.)

All this to say, kind of, is that it is really hard to be mentally and emotionally (and literally) preparing to go in August, when I really don’t know if I will get in. My preferred city of Busan has now been filled, and I was truly getting pumped imagining myself there as I did a lot of research on the beach/mountain town.

When preparing for something so huge, I think it is natural to feel you have to be really mentally immersed in it all the time in order to feel okay or ready. I was preparing so much, it was becoming slightly difficult to focus on my everyday life here. Now I am wondering if I still have it in me if I do end up having to wait until February or something. The thing about waiting is, some of my closest friends are going in February, and perhaps it could be a really amazing thing for me to have them there. They are the reason I buckled down and began the process, because I wasn’t going to be completely alone.

Although my words may sound defeated, I don’t truly feel that. It is more of a feeling that I don’t understand what to feel. I think I am going to continue to be proud of my decision to go, and need to keep in mind that going is what I am doing. I just may have to wait a little longer, prepare a little longer, fret a little longer, be excited a little longer. I probably needed this. . .

. . . e v e r y t h i n g !

As winter continues to tighten it’s grip, the fade to black is becoming more and more apparent in the worlds of fashion and interior design. The color black has always been a staple in my wardrobe and I find it classy, simple, mysterious and smart; however, I find the recent darkening of cultural aesthetics to be very exciting, unexpected, and fresh! I think the color has long deserved to be enjoyed for it’s beauty, as well as it’s compatibility with other colors,  not just it’s timeless style factor. The trend is painting it’s mark on make-up, shoes, decor and design and the look is quite heavy, and wonderfully strange.  Pieces of clothing and decor, as well as various trends, that may have once struck consumers as being unappealing are being viewed  as  beautiful, inspiring, and interesting.

We’ll begin in interiors:

How about the drama these black lacquered floors add to this exquisite, yet plain, dining room?

Image Courtesy of Maria Reme, Monica Biering Hammer.

Lovely!

Image Courtesy of Flair Home, and Mark Chamberlain.

Image Courtesy of Aura.

I love the glamorous subtlety of this interior, the way the gold mirror contrasts with the rest of the space, and how the different textures and other surfaces (matte walls vs. lacquered floors) add sparkle and elegance.

A cozy, unexpected bathroom in black. Image Courtesy of Melanie Acevedo.

So traditional, yet fresh..

I am loving these rich, warm golden tones against the black.

I really enjoy these large wood paneled floors in black and the row of stairs trailing up the stark white walls, as well as the matte, velvety seating unit against the crisper, shinier finish of the floor.

Candles courtesy of Brooks Barrow via Etsy.

Bill Indursky via apartment therapy

Design courtesy of Maison Couturier,  ”a secluded tropical estate in San Rafael, Veracruz. Built in 1833 by French immigrants”, via remodelista.

All unmarked photography courtesy of Apartment Therapy.

F A S H I O N  a n d  C O S M E T I C S

Photo courtesy of Preen pre Fall 2011.

Over the knee faux leather panel leggings courtesy of LeilanniLand on Etsy. I am completely intrigued by the different textures and unique tones of the color black. I have been noticing these subtleties in both fashion and interior design. (Notice examples above and below-black matte nail polish, flooring vs. matte black walls, etc.)

Image Courtesy of Tom Ford

Nail color courtesy of O P I via polishandkonad.

Courtesy of Preen pre fall 2011.

Kate Moss Courtesy of Vogue

Image courtesy of Burberry Pre Fall 2011, via hearty chic.

LOUIS XIV black raw silk bolero courtesy of maryandangelika on etsy.

Midnight – Pure Organic Mineral Eye Color courtesy of orglamix via Etsy.

]]> http://elisequackenbush.com/2011/01/07/l-i-s-s-e-q-u-e-d-e-s-i-g-n-b-l-o-g-2/feed/ 0 elisequackenbush done 55 done (4) Image Aura Luxe collection black room with gold mirror appt therapyBF Melanie Acevedo black walls 44 66 bigblackfloatingmadeeasilymovedcushionsandrebuilt.modernclassicfurniture gallery.rumid.dk from danish mag RUM etsy brooks barrow candles black walls trend alert maison couturier bedroom with black wall image2 leilanniland leggings tom ford black OPI-Obscurity 3 kate-moss-for-vogue-uk-september-2010-090810-6 burberry bolero orglamix smoke eye http://elisequackenbush.com/2010/11/17/l-i-s-s-e-q-u-e-d-e-s-i-g-n-b-l-o-g/ http://elisequackenbush.com/2010/11/17/l-i-s-s-e-q-u-e-d-e-s-i-g-n-b-l-o-g/#comments Wed, 17 Nov 2010 09:39:06 +0000 elisequackenbush http://elisequackenbush.com/?p=594 Continue reading →]]> S C I E N C E E X P E R I M E N T

(trend)

lonnymag.com

Interior Designer: Laura Day

Anthropologie: Crystal Votive

$58.

Quartz. Brazil. 3″L. 6″W.  6″H.

Scientific Air Plant

tortoiselovesdonkey.etsy.com

$12.75

Anthropologie: Beach Find Bottle, Coral

$598.

Found glass bottle. Metal. Found Coral.

18″H. 12″Diameter.

USA

Anthropologie: Beach Find Bottle, Coral.

$598.

Found glass bottle. Metal. Found Coral.

18″H. 12″Diameter.

USA

Mad Scientist 1000 ml Pyrex Lab Beaker.

gallivantinggirls.etsy.com

$16.

Anthropologie: Celestial Coasters

(update: received these for Christmas and they are even better in real life!)

$32.

Set of 4. Clay. Glass. Glaze. 4″ Square. Handmade.

USA.

Molecule Vinyl Wall Decal.

lovesickrobotdesigns.etsy.com

$10.

USA

Anthropologie: Botanical Nomenclature Curtain.

$158-$198.

50″W.

Imported.

Anthropologie: Needlework Garden Shade

$128.

Hardback. Wool. Imported.

10″ H. 16″ Diameter.

asoftplace.net:

Succulent arrangement in vintage apothecary container

Anthropologie: Sao Paulo Bookends

$98.

5″H. 5″W. 2″Diameter.

Brazil.

  I hope you enjoy what you find.

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