Closet Shopping: A Day in the Studio (Or, I Quit My Job)

Now that I'm freelancing again, I wanted to ensure I would work regular-ish hours and take regular showers. So, my food blog partner and I are sharing a studio space in Kansas City's Crossroads Art District with two amazing photographers (in fact, they're the ones who shot my wedding). The building is full of really attractive, artsy people. It's kind-of like being back in Brooklyn, and I'm inspired to put a little more effort into what I wear.

Now, you're probably like, "What?! You quit your job?"

Yes. I've been working for a while on a post called "I Quit My Job." But I can't very well post pictures of myself working (er, posing) in my new studio space without offering some sort of explanation. So, here's the abridged version and a longer one will surely follow. 

I quit my job. I was unhappy spending 8 to 12 hours a day doing administrative tasks to promote other people's work — especially when it was so similar to the work I used to do, and wanted to be doing. So, I quit my job to go back to full-time freelance food writing. I made the decision months ago, but given certain major life events — like buying a house! — the timing wasn't great.

I even had some offers for other jobs, jobs that paid really well. But I don't want other jobs. I want to do what I want to be doing, when I want to do it (which is sometimes 2 am) and I want to get paid a fair wage to do it. You know what? So far, I'm doing it.

There will be struggles, and I know it doesn't look like the smartest decision I've ever made in a time when I'm trying to pay off my debt, save money and live with a mortgage, but I've been working my whole life to pay for things. And the more money I made the more things I bought or leased or consumed.

Speaking of leasing or consuming, you're probably also wondering how I can justify renting studio space when I don't have a regular paycheck and I'm trying to be frugal. Well, the space is really affordable. Like, less than I was spending on lunches every month before I started this project affordable. Also, I'm so much more productive when I'm there, and when you're freelancing, productivity equals dollar bills. 

So, now that I'm spending less, I want to spend my time doing work that I love. And since I don't have to rush to be in at 9 every morning (not that I was ever on time), I can spend a few extra minutes digging into the back of my closet for clothes I forgot I had. 

jeans: Levi's Bold Curve, Skinny (purchased last year at TJ Maxx) | shirt: thrifed many years ago (and recently dug out of a giveaway bag) | shoes: Miz Mooz (found on the clearance rack at Nordstrom Rack last fall) | clutch: Hobo (purchased last year at TJ Maxx) | glasses: Warby Parker

My Sad Sack Lunch

I've impressed myself with my dedication to packing lunches since beginning this project. Sometimes it's leftovers, but most days, I'm able to put together a salad with vegetables from my garden and CSA, and I've even started making big batches of dressing so I can pour a daily serving into a tiny mason jar. It's frugal, healthy, and if I wanted to, I could totally be self-righteous about my local vegetables (I'm not).

But this week, well, I'm just bad at it. There's a lot going on, and I'm not getting a lot of sleep. I was half an hour late to work yesterday. Last night I was up until 1 am working on a freelance article about old barns. We're supposed to close on the house tomorrow (even though I still have a hard time believing that the bank won't pull the plug in the next 24 hours). Oh, and we leave for Chicago Thursday. There are other things going on, too, but I don't have the energy to write about them just yet.

The point is that even though I didn't really prepare a lunch yesterday, I managed to at least stuff what was left of a grilled tri-tip into a sandwich bag. Meat is good for one's brain, so that's something. And who couldn't use more protein? For a minute, I pretended I was going to stick to a strict paleo diet after that steak, but when a bag of M&M's pretty much magically appeared on my desk, that was over.

I'm not complaining about eating a delicious steak. Especially because I didn't pack any lunch today. I have three dollars in my pocket, and I'm going to find a way to turn that into lunch. Stay tuned...