unruly-things

the time has come again to say hello to a new year. a new year means a chance for a new you. or as it applies to most people, a chance at a resolution. I'm not going to list a bunch of ways in which I think to improve myself, because I think that my life is pretty darn great right now. but I will list some ways in which to improve my well being, in hopes to make a great life, even better.

05. I will go to the gym. I will, I will, I WILL. even in the morning.

04. I will stop eating sweets, except for only on special occasions or treats.

03. I will stop my unneccessary cheek biting. it's a bad habit and it does no good.

02. I will keep in touch, whether it be a phone call, an email, or simply a little suprise "box" in the mail. (hehe.....the box will be neat!)

01. and lastly, but not least, I will be more concious of how I'm treating others. as someone wise once said, "treat others as you would want them to treat yourself."

be well in 2007. see ya next year!

I love looking at other people's studios. it gives an insight into the life of other designers. this is the studio of German artist, Sandra Monat of Herzensart. I love the desk, and I love how the kitty is right next to the desk. I especially love the square pictures on the wall.
I can't wait until I have a house big enough for my own studio space. (or enough money to buy the new Mac Pro.)

the newest addition to our apartment. he's a black fur ball with tons of energy. it was tough to keep him still long enough to take his picture. but we watched a movie tonight, and the entire time he was sleeping on his back, purring.

now let's see how much sleep I get tonight. :)

I love our colors!! bright turquoise, gray, dark brown, tan and white = tranquility. our apartment rocks.

looking for some original greeting cards or gift wrap? check out Broadway Paper. I love their greeting card section! makes me really want to start my own cards!
these images are from their retail store in Milwaukee. I love the vibrant splashes of color!!!

work is so slow today, it's ridiculous. I wish I was at home working on the apartment.

10. sweets and treats. who goes on a diet before christmas? not me for sure! I had cookies, brownies, candies, and more.
09. anticipation.
08. family. christmas eve, we went to my grandmother's house here in Tampa, and christmas day, we drove to Crystal River.
07. steak, turkey, honey ham.
06. green bean cassarole.
05. winter brews and holiday ales.
04. the new tv.
03. gift giving.
02. initiating him as the "grill master".
01. spending christmas with someone I love very much and crying when he gave me diamond earrings.

it's so nice to feel like I've actually accomplished something. I've had my apartment for 4 and a half months now. and granted, I havn't been living there, but I still wouldn't have had the money to get anything that I needed. this weekend, I used my bonus to purchase EVERYTHING. the topping of the cake was my brand new lcd flat screen tv I got for christmas! my apartment actually feels "home-y" now!

after this weekend, however, it will no longer be "mine"... it will be "ours". we're so modern with our bracketless shelves and flat screen tv. thank goodness he's so handy with tools. actually, it's quite sexy.

I totally have bragging rights. this is what he gave me for christmas!!! he is the best ever.

what a day! over and out for the night. here's a picture of us "fine folk" on christmas.

christmas was...
fun.
a fantastic surprise.
a feast.
filling.
family.
friends.
a fxt wallet.
fine jewelry.

I hope everyone has a wonderfully merry day! enduldge in yummy treats, have fun giving presents, and most of all, be jolly!!!

Penelope Dullaghan is a whimsical illustrator for many various clients including United Airlines and American Greetings. her style is very cute and girly, yet edgy enough to please any crowd. the simplicity of her illustration is fun and appealing!

he'll find out tomorrow. until then, Merry Christmas to all!!

today is christmas eve, and I'm bursting with anticipation. I love gift giving. it's so exciting to see someone's face when the gift comes out perfectly. I can't wait for him to open his!!! we've been giving eachother hints all month, but I still have no clue what he got me.

on another note, I finally purchased a new hair dryer. for anyone who knew, I was using a 80's style dryer with a curly cord. oh yea, ghetto to the max. I'm so excited, blow drying is wonderful now that my hair doesn't get sucked into the dryer anymore. :)

last night, my boyfriend and I were in bed, falling asleep, when all of a sudden he got up and started putting shorts and a t-shirt on. I was like, where are you going? I mean, after all, it was after 11pm. he said it was a secret and he would be right back. when he came back, he had gone to CVS to buy cold remedy goodies for me. he really is the best boyfriend ever.

here's another. aparently, this is a peacock plant. the underside of the leaves are red and then top part of the leaves are brownish/dark green. I want one.

a found a beautiful photographer on Flickr today. I was searching for pictures of calatheas when I found this set of photos. gorgeous. I love the organic-abstract nature of all of the photos. it makes me want to go somewhere tropical, like right now. I need a vacation from the ordinary!

{all photos from Flickr}

shopping for bedding can be difficult. especially when you have no idea what you are looking for. I've been duvet shopping for a couple weeks now, and still have yet to find something I'm 100% on. through all of my hunting, I've come across some pretty things. the Modern Bedding Source is a great place for artistic, yet modern bedding finds. a little pricey, but well worth the drooling. I'm in love with the wildflower duvet.

the last page of Country Living Magazine is called "simple country pleasures" and always has some pretty things along with an inspiring quote. The quote from the January 2007 magazine made me smile. not only because I remember Rudyard Kipling stories from when I was a little kid, but also because this is part of my mantra. I always say, it's the little things that make a difference. smiling at someone, just at the time when they need it most, or giving a gift straight from the heart, totally selflessly. at this time of year, it's the little things that you do for others that not only brighten up their day, but also make us feel a little giddy.
last week, we had our company holiday party. every year, we get a gift for my boss and her husband. well this year, we also decided that we needed to get a gift for our accountant, whom without, we would probably have no business. he pretty much is our backbone, and we wanted to give him a little extra something special. our gift to him simply made his day. I don't think it would've mattered if we gave him coal, he would have still been glowing.
this photo is one of my favorite "simple things". my boyfriend holds my hand all the time, but everytime it makes me smile. it's the little things in life.

{photo from Flickr}

I saw this on someone else's blog and thought I might give it a try. here goes.

01. how was 2006 for you?
in a nutshell, 2006 has been emotional. I've laughed, cried, been angry, pouted, and smiled. I've learned, I've grown, and I've even changed. I think back to this time last year. I wasn't stable, I was full of anxiety, and wasn't happy with myself and my life. sure, I loved my friends and family, but if I think about it, I really wasn't 100% happy. I hated my job, I didn't feel appreciated, and mostly, I hated feeling lonely.
but now, I have grown to where I can appreciate life much more. I'm more concious about my health, I have started eating much better, I'm taking vitamins everyday, I don't really drink that much, and I'm going to the gym, occasionally. I've grown to actually like my job. and, most of all, I have found someone, who I can stand still with. I've found someone who compliments me in every way possible. people say I'm glowing. as a matter of fact, I am totally glowing with happieness.

02. what was the highlight of your year?
him.

03. what did you want to acccomplish that you didn't get to?
I still havn't started my business. I've been talking about "doing something" for so long now, and I havn't. actually, it makes me mad how much I've been procrastinating. I know I talk about this alot, but come on. what's it going to take for me to actually start something?

04. what are you planning for 2007?
oh man....what am I not planning? I've got so many ideas, plans, thoughts, visions. the big move in, hopeful business plans, kitties, and portland. so many ideas, so little time!!!!! oh yea, and I'm also going to work really REALLY hard to break the old habits and pick up some new ones. (ie cheek - bad, gym - good)

I still love this picture, after all these years. this was me and my group of girl friends, or so we called ourselves, "kalkar", in high school. this was the last day of school senior year, right before the senior pep-rally thing.
it's funny to think of us back then. so young, and innocent. not ready for the real world. so many memories we hold.

I think I've figured it out. the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is all the people like myself that go from work, to dinner, to parties, to the mall, and home again. the holiday season doesn't allow much time for a single breath! I woke up tired this morning, and I wonder if it's because my mind is on overload. it's like, this is the time of year when virtually all of the world is on high speed. I'm tired!

last night, my grandfather called me and asked to talk to my boyfriend. he was doing some conniving for my Christmas gift I presume. my boyfriend comes back to me and says, "I know something you don't know".

those little sneaks.

I want to make Christmas cookies so badly. I think I have pretty much wanted to make cookies every year, and never do. Mission for myself this weekend is to find some cute cookie cutters and start baking!

{images from Flickr}

"only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone." - pablo picasso

oh, and so much for going to the gym this morning. that little midnight disturbance was enough to break glass and shake the walls down. I'm so glad I have to courtesy to keep it to a "you and me only" level.

if someone were to ask me 5 years ago, where I thought I would be today, I would have not said "working at a small graphic design agency, still living in Tampa." approaching my 25th birthday in a little over a month, I've begun to really think about alot of things. everyday I come home from work with the intention of doing something for myself. some of my own work in progress of creating a name for myself. and everyday, I come home, and search the internet for endless hours, thus getting nothing accomplished. I've got all these ideas and dreams which I fail to execute. example: I've had the template for my website for 2 months now. it kills me to know how creative I know I am. I feel like I'm limiting myself. I need to utilize my talent.
hmm... I've begun to realize that I procrastinate way too much. I don't put important things first. I've said to myself so many times, that I'm wasting time. art makes me happy. creating makes me happier. so why do I limit myself to art driven by 9-5 influence?

1. I love... dlb.
2. Right now I want... sleep.
3. I feel... extremely tired.
4. I hate it when... people don't fess up to their mistakes.
5. I fear... losing the ones I love.
6. I'm lonely without... his warmth.
7. I need... to start my Christmas shopping.
8. Today I... created.
9. Tomorrow I'm... going to the gym in the *gasp* morning!
10. I just... rubbed my eyes.
11. I want to meet... my evil twin.
12. I'm hungry for... pettifors and white tea.
13. I love it when... it rains.
14. I'm afraid of... big hairy bugs.
15. I'm listening to... him, clicking.
16. I'm wearing... an old faded black t-shirt.
17. I wish I was... on a tropical island with him.
18. I'm craving... yerba.
19. I want to get... a kitty!
20. I can... tie a cherry stem in a knot in my mouth.
21. I can't... wait until August.
22. I have... the best boyfriend ever.
23. I haven't... balanced my checkbook in weeks.
24. I'm nervous to... see if it rains on Friday night......
25. My Mom thinks I'm... the sweetest.
26. My Dad thinks I'm... still his baby girl.
27. I think... winks are the best.
28. I'm happy when... I'm with him.
29. I'm sad when... I'm alone.
30. I like eating... sushi.
31. I hate eating... peas. yuck.
32. I love watching... him play the guitar.
33. I love listening to... classical music.
34. I like playing... texas hold 'em.
35. I hate waking up to... the alarm.
36. I can see... clearly.
37. I'm glad that... he loves me lots.
38. I'm disappointed that... florida state really sucked this year.
39. I look like... I'm incredibly sleepy.
40. I wish I looked like... a sleeping baby.

I took these pictures with my cell phone camera a couple weeks ago, but just uploaded them to my computer yesterday. the clouds were amazing. I don't know that I had ever seen clouds formed like this. as the sun was setting behind them, they shown so brightly, they were hard to look at. gorgeous.

here is a little peek of my 9-5 work. this is a new concept that I was working on today for a set of brochures, gift cards, business cards, and gift card hanging holders. I absolutely love it. I love the organic feel combined with the bright colors!! the brown even looks like recycled paper bags.

I havn't looked at the coach website in forever. but for some reason today, I decided to browse the purses. coach has gone a little overboard with the repeating "c" pattern, if you ask my opinion, but I did find these great drawings in the "do you know" section of their site. does anyone know of the artist? I tried doing some google-ing, but didn't come up with much.

I want a new purse. it always seems like during the holiday season, my head is filled with things that I want to buy for myself, but I refrain.... because, to me, the holiday cheer is much more fun and exciting when spread with the joy of gift giving!

beer on sunday? oh yes. especially Anchor Brewing Company's Winter Ale. The 32rd Special Ale is different every year, but always offers a great flavor. with a nice body and mouth feel, this beer is not only refreshing, but has hints of spice and coffee to bring joy to your winter celebration. I am taking a 6 pack to Christmas dinner! we gave it a 4.5 out of 5 stars in our beer book.

and I've got a holiday buzz! since I'm feeling extra christmasy today, I decided to do a silly blogthing. happy friday!

You Are Donner

The most loveable and sweet reindeer, you're also a total dork! Why You're Naughty: You keep (accidentally) tripping the other reindeer while flying. Why You're Nice: You're always smiling, even if you've fallen flat on your horns.

I've been listening to Stellar Road for a little over a year now, and I forget sometimes how awesome they are. straight from Chicago, Illinois, these guys have a good mix of alternative, jam band and acoustic music. I saw them once last Holiday season up in Chicago at a little bar called the Cubby Bear. they really put on a great show! hopefully these guys will make it down south sometime soon.

how cool!!! it's a kitty chaise lounger. it's a good spot for kitties and the top is a scratcher! I discovered this site today and there are some pretty interesting things. they even have a made-by-hand section.

I had no idea there was a black tulip. maybe I did, but I forgot. anyway, these are gorgeous and totally swoon-worthy. I always loved yellow tulips but these are so beautiful.

photo shoot! I'm dying for a picture of myself like this. but in a field of tulips. it makes me miss my long hair though. oh well... it'll grow.

{photo by andaria}

just when I thought I couldn't possibly love west elm any more than I already do, I discovered they have feather ornaments. I'm in love......

I eat it every morning for breakfast. wouldn't you think you would get sick of something like that every day? I totally don't. I love oatmeal.

btw, it's so windy outside! the high today is only 68. isn't that great? finally it feels a little like December.

today we rearranged the organization in my apartment for an additional body. I threw out two big boxes of clothes which I plan to give to Goodwill and I unpacked some stuff that still had yet to be unpacked. we put some of my blankets into cabinets and made room in my closet. we even made a spot for our future kitty!!
it was weird and almost overwhelming. I'd never done anything like this before. I even cried when we were trying to figure out where to put my bear and little black whale. they've never been put into boxes before, or put on a shelf out of my reach. as silly as that may sound, they had been a huge part of my life and I didn't want them shoved into a little box.
it was hard at first, but well worth it. so...count down begins. t minus 29 days.

isn't it strange when you wake up starving? especially when you know you had a big dinner the night before. we went out to dinner last night with another couple, and it's strange. it was like, wow, there are other people! I couldn't remember the last time we had socialized with others. we end up spending so much time together, but it was so nice! and dinner was delicious! we went to Soho Sushi and had spicy crunchy tuna, eel, and yellowtail.
it's funny how easliy you forget about company when you're in the present company of someone you love. at least I don't get tired of him. ;)

we had another beer tasting this week. it featured different brews from the Rogue Brewery in Newport, Oregon. We sampled the Juniper Pale Ale, Hazelnut Brown Nectar, American Amber Ale, Brutal Bitter, Kells Irish Style Lager, and the Dead Guy Ale. of all of them, I'd have to say that the Juniper Pale Ale and the Dead Guy Ale were in close tie for my favorites, but the Dead Guy Ale came out on top. with a deep honey color, this ale is a very smooth, but hearty drinker with a sweet finish. A+++!

an advertisement in the December/January 2007 edition of dwell caught my eye. Karen Konzuk, sole designer and manufacturer of Konzuk Metalwear, creates a concept of jewelry that is both clean and contemporary. she uses a very unique combination of stainless steel, concrete, diamonds, and powder coated enamel to create beautiful, simple designs. Konzuk consists of a collection that embraces materials and methods that reflect simplicity, design-centric philosophy, and a minimalist aesthetic of contemporary design and architecture.

{all images from Konzuk}

I woke up this morning singing Christmas songs. it really is in the air! being that today is December 1st, I'm going to try to use this as a chance to start my resolutions early. and that means going to the gym and paying bills on time. here are a few images that make me cheerful today.
01. J Hill design
02. eggpress holiday cards
03. little paper planes
04. image from Flickr

I've been putting out fires all day here at work. it's amazing how many people can't fix their own problems. and me, being the busy bee with my concern for others, and cause I can't just sit around and let there be problems, I fix them. I'm the best fire-putter-outer this side of the west.
big pet peeve: people who can't fess up to their mistakes.

there are certain cd's I remember listening to when I was a little girl that now remind me of events or times in my life. they bring warm feelings to my mind. one in particular is The Essential Electric Light Orchestra by ELO. I can remember listening to this cd with my mom in the car on the way to piano competition. the drive to piano competition was so fun, because we got to really bond. we were so silly together. it's little things like this that really make me miss her. now whenever I listen to this cd, it brings back wonderful memories.

did anyone know that there is Latin Profanity? it's actually quite humorous.

Latin class was so fun in 8th grade. our teacher was a nut. he was so weird! I remember, every St. Patricks day, he would wear these awful green corduroys. my best friend and I used to cut up all the time in class. I can remember drawing all kinds of neat things in my Latin book. we made our Latin books a work of art! I had wanted to keep it forever. we were huge nerds.

but then again, I guess I'm still a huge nerd.

I've decided that I need to be making more money. I have way too much of an expensive taste for my own good. it makes me sick to think of all the clothes and shoes and purses and apartment stuff that I want to buy. I guess I'm being a brat, but damnit, I want new clothes!

on another note, my boyfriend had to go to school all dressed up with a tie on for a speech today. I missed the hottness. :(

YAY!!!! the tea came yesterday! we ordered three different teas from Rishi like over a week ago. it took forever for them to get here, but finally we have tea! I got a White Tea with Peach, and it takes like orange blossoms and peaches. yum! we also got Moonlight White Tea, and Shade Grown Yerba Mate. now I can't wait to order tea again.

my boyfriend is so cute. by the time I had come home from work yesterday he had already drank three glasses of tea.

everytime I have looked in the mirror today, my eyebrows have been crazy. the right eyebrow is sticking out everywhere, and the left one is a mess. it must be a sign. hm.....now I wonder what that means?

it's a square sized box. hm.......

today I started feeling a little down. well, not totally "down" persay, but I was beginning to stress out a little bit. here are a few things that have kept me happy today:
new tunes
christmas excitement
january 1
new gym clothes
guessing what might fit into a shoe-box sized box that I'm getting for christmas
kitten{s}
holiday treats
his smiling face

my boyfriend and I have started a beer and wine journal! there have been so many times we have gone to the beer store, gotten a new beer, and forgotten if we liked it or not. so, we decided to start a journal. in our journal we will have labels, descriptions, our taste notes, and rating. we had a terrible time taking some of the labels off, and I ended up ripping a few of them. {of course} but it's off to a good start! this weekend we did the first of the tastings with a few IPA's from Total Wine. so here are our first tastes! {all of the ratings are out of 5}
01. Acme IPA - I love the label, but it gets 2.5 stars {the .5 was for the label}
02. Dogfish Head 60min IPA - 4 stars
03. Dogfish Head 90min IPA - yum yum YUM! 4.5 stars
04. Harpoon IPA - 1.5 stars
05. Avery IPA - 3 stars

do you ever drive in your car without any music on? I rarely do, unless I'm talking on the phone or to someone in my car. today I drove from work, to wild oats, and back to work again with no music on. I didn't even realize that I had no music on until I was pulling into my parking space at work. it's weird. I was totally zoning out. and it's like, I don't even really remember the drive. but I made it there ok. and I made it back ok. my mind must have been working a million ticks per minute. it makes me wonder if our lives are equipped with auto-pilot.

ME! :)

check back to see my updates on my very own printed t-shirts!

when we ask ourselves which people in our lives mean the most to us, we often answer that it is our family and friends. family are there to support us and our beliefs, scold us when we've done wrong, and love us for who we have become. friends are there to share things with, give advice, solutions, or cures, and make us happy when we are down. one thing we need in our lives is a good friend. someone we can count on when we need them, someone who can be silent with us in a moment of confusion, someone who genuinely cares about us, someone who can tolerate not knowing everything about us, not healing us, and not standing by us all the time. I have always felt that the great privilege and comfort of a good friendship was one in which I had nothing to live up to or explain. I once read a quote somewhere that said, "good friends are like stars. you don't always see them, but you know that they are there."
I feel as though I have done a fair job on my part of being a good friend. I've listened when someone needed me, I've given what I thought to be the best advice I could offer. however, sometimes it's the little things that most people don't see or pick up on. it's the bigger things that stand out in our minds. like the time I didn't go to so-and-so's party, or the time I didn't pick up my phone.
it's funny how life is always changing. we grow and shift. it's hard when it seems that a good friend denies your right to grow. I'm not always going to be exactly the same. but I'm still myself. I still care about my friends and I still love each of them dearly. a true friend is the most precious of all possessions. and true friends are impossible to forget.

{even if you do send death text messages, I'll still try to understand}

...to us.
6 months ago today, I met him. the best choice to go out on a week night I ever made! love you babe.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Turkey Day filled with yummy treats and good company! I thought I would list ten things that I am thankful for:

10. opportunity.
09. my amazing and supportive family. they have been more than there for me all my life, and I love them to death.
08. my wonderful boyfriend. the incredible way he makes me feel. he's my devil. I love him so much.
07. my job. I know I hated it for a long time, but they really have done so much for me. and I have the potential to do so much more.
06. my creativity. without it, I have no idea how I would have graduated college. I might have actually had to take hard sciences or hard maths. just kidding, well....sort of.
05. my musical talents. even though I haven't touched the keys of a piano for probably over a year. {electric keyboards not included}
04. the ability to cook. and to cook well. I love food. sometimes more than I know what to do with!
03. wine. point blank.
02. the simple fact that 90% of the time, I am genuinely a nice person. example: I would NEVER take someones laundry out of the dryer and put it on the dirty shelf. I'd be courteous and wait. {stupid hooters bitches}
01. my love for life.

so kate spade has a devil hat! isn't that great??

last night at dinner, my boyfriend and I were talking about the difference between right brained people and left brained people. I have always thought of myself as being right brained, but never thought more than that about it. so I decided to do a little research. experiments have shown that the two sides of the brain are responsible for different ways of thinking. the left brain is accountable for logical, sequential, rational, analytical, and objective thinking. left brained people look at things as parts rather than a whole. the right brain is responsible for random, intuitive, holistic, synthesizing, and subjective thoughts. right brained people look at things as a whole rather than taking them in parts. therefore, left brained people focus on logical thinking, analysis, and accuracy. right brained subjects focus on aesthetics, feeling, and creativity.
it's really interesting to me how one person may fall into one catagory or the other. being more creative, I have always known myself to be more geered by the right side of the brain, but I do notice that I have a few of the characteristics of the left brain. I am creative, and sometimes random, and probably think more subjectively, but I am also good at math, and I can remember numbers very well. tell me a birthday once and I'll remember it forever.
so, it makes me wonder, do people only have distinct preferences for one side or another? can some people be more "whole-brained" rather than specific to right or left? or maybe the things that I see as thinking with the left brain are really just my intuitive thinking. something to ponder.

beginning with the various shapes of pasta on yarn collection that most jewelry artists cut their teeth on and developing into a love for all things metal, the jewelry of ˚Brooke Medlin˚ now falls somewhere in between, displaying a childlike love of color and a fascination with texture and form. with soothing, organic shapes rendered new by unexpected texture and saturated color, Brooke creates beautiful and unique necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings using metal, sterling, copper, glass and gemstones.
and I'm in LOVE!!!! especially with her necklaces and rings.

{all images from Brooke Medlin}

my boyfriend and I decided to get some yerba mate today at the store. we had two chocolate yerba mate lattes, and both us of are totally not tired. however, my mind is working a mile a minute, and I've created some great illustrations!
so, awake and it's almost 1am? not a good idea...
yerba mate mind awakening lattes? good!
{and it also doesn't help that I'm antsy as hell about thanksgiving...mmmmm. turkey, green bean casarole, stuffing, cranberries, mashed potatoes.....I'm drooling already.}

since I'm the coolest illustrator that I know, I decided to create my own holiday cards this year. here's a preview!

hehe...I'm silly, but I want this shirt. or to make my own "Levi's" shirt. it's appropriate. :)

for some reason, the word "spirograph" popped into my head a minute ago. I totally loved the spirograph I had when I was little. where can I find one of these, are they even still made? I want one! I want to create really cool things like I did when I was a kid.
it's funny to find things that we once played with when we were young and reminisce. it's even more interesting to relate how we felt about certain things when we were young, compare to how we feel now. for instance, I loved the spirograph when I was young, and even though I was a miny art nerd then, I'm sure I could make some even cooler patterns now.
one time, I went to an antique toy show. I want to go again. I bet I could find a spirograph there.

{image from Flickr}

I found an interesting site today while blog browsing. it's called Apartment Therapy. it's a little dwell-ish, with some pretty cool pictures. I'm in love with the wallpaper in the bottom right picture!!

this is my 50th post! kind of hard to believe I just started this blog less than a month ago. I must like to talk alot. :) so I leave you with my 50 birds.

one of my co-workers is a very wise old man who has experienced a lot in his day. this is what he told me this morning.
"life is like a bunch of curve balls being thrown at you. it fixes itself depending on how well you hit the ball."
I take it as, no matter what life gives you, it all depends on how you handle it. if you freak out and start crying and ignore things, then you might strike out. if you stay calm and focus, you might hit a home run. and if you're lucky, maybe even a grand slam.

it's been..... well, it hasn't been good. after FSU was shut out for the first time in 230+ games by Wakeforrest, offensive line coach, Jeff Bowden, has retired. thank goodness.

I'm sorry to say, but Bobby, your time has come. you oughta be next.

today on my lunch break, I went to Wachovia to set up a new bank account. which went well, got it all set, just waiting for the debit card to come in the mail. anyway, on my way back to work, there was major traffic on Howard. who does road construction during lunch hour on a busy street? so after the road blocks, I passed a bunch of cars on the right side. yea I know, not supposed to do that. this asshole in a white truck stopped at the yellow light instead of going through it, so I quickly got into the lane next to him, in the front of the line. I had a feeling that he thought I was going to speed up real quick to try to pass him, which I wasn't going to do since I was already in my lane. so instead of putting my foot on the accelerator right when the light turned green, I waited a second and eased the gas. sure enough, that jackass peeled out sooo loudly and zoomed out front of the other cars so fast that he looked like an idiot. hehe. and who was he trying to race? little old me? }:)
gotta love the little humorous things.

I gave away my first bird today! I gave the polka dotted one to my co worker who was battling with breast cancer and just had a mastectomy. it really made her happy! she said, she would remember me always, every christmas. I hope that the birds bring as much joy to other people as they did to her.
today has been a good day so far. I've been in a great mood. aparently it's contagious. whatever it is, I'm happy. and I'm going to make more birds tonight!

here is a set of words that I like. I like words that aren't used in everyday conversations. words that make me feel different to say. some of them I just like for the complex spelling or meaning. others just simply sound cool when you say them.

unruly. {of course}
lovely.
eloquently.
vintage.
secret.
calathea.
callalily.
guwerztaminer.
fathom.
ludic.
pearl.
silly.
rejuvenation.
musing.

leaving him in the morning and becoming instantly lonely.
when he stares me in the eyes, then leans over to kiss me.
the silly faces he gets when playing his guitar or brushing his teeth.
the way he picks me up off the ground when he's hugging me.
our kitchen dancing.
how he holds me at night.
how my heart flips when he winks at me.
how cute he looks when he gets the questions correct on jeopardy.
feeling content.
consuming.
incredible.
infatuation.
can't live without eachother love.

green. peaceful. refreshed. safe. harmonious. here are a few green photos I found and love:
1. from a Flickr image set by Olivia Lee called Creme of the Crop.
2. a green snake from Google Images.
3. a beautiful green mum, my favorite color for mums. green hydrangeas are pretty too.
4. a green hoodie from Anthropologie.
5. green punchbuggie!!
6. and my green nalgene.

so here we are at another Monday. even though I can't stand them because it's just another week of work, I have begun to think of Mondays as something refreshing. it's a chance to get ahead on the week. especially at my job, because lots of spas aren't open on Mondays. so today I don't have the Monday blues, I have the Monday green. green is refreshing.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! mine was great and relaxing, but as always, way too short. here's a recap of my weekend! and happy Monday.

meeting old friends.
eating sushi and drinking sake.
almost beating my boyfriend twice at pool.
showers.
berry blast and hawaiian storm.
pretty things from victoria's secret.
birds with lavender.
graham crackers, key lime pie yogurt, and jeopardy.
giant sunday morning breakfast.
portland browsing.
chilly nights = sweat pants.
cuddling with the windows open.

I decided to let my creative juices flow this weekend. I went to Pearl yesterday with a simple intention of purchasing a new sketch book. {which I did buy, very cool, linen cover} I was walking around the store trying to find something really neat to get for my boyfriend, when I found the felt. I have always had a thing for felt, but I've never made anything with it. I was feeling extra artsy, so armed with ideas of little animals, I purchased navy blue, dusty rose, and baby pink felt, along with some goosefeathers and string. and thus, I have created birds! I stuffed each one with poly fill stuffing and a teaspoon of lavender for a relaxing scent. with the strings attached to the top of their heads, they will make great christmas ornaments.

oh, and did you ever "create" with those little pom poms when you were a kid? I used to love them! they always cheered me up. so, I bought my boyfriend a package of yellow pom poms because he was having a weird day and needing cheering. I know, I'm such an art nerd.

called "perhaps the best I.P.A. in America." an imperial I.P.A. brewed to be savored from a snifter. a big beer with a great malt backbone that stands up to the extreme hopping rate.
9% abv so you only get four in a pack. 1 beer = 1.5 regular beers.
tastes like heaven in a bottle... or brandied fruitcake, raisiney, citrusy.
food pairing recommendations: pork chops, beef, grilled fish, frites, focaccia, split pea soup, stilton cheese & escargot.

I'm in love with these little shoes! and the leg warmers are so hot.

{both images from Urban Outfitters}

relationships. by definition, a relationship is the connecting of two people. to have a successful relationship, two people must connect on many different levels, whether it be socially, physically, or spiritually. to me, social and physical connections are very important. I simply can not be with someone who is not socially compatible with me. I enjoy people who like to do the same things as me, as most of us surely do. that's why we have our friends, they are socially compatible with us. and for our boyfriends/girlfriends, we are wrong to say that physical attraction does not matter. whoever made up the concept that attractiveness doesn't matter must have been high or something. this is the initial thing that draws us to a person. I'm not wrong to say that I wouldn't date someone who I found unattractive. spiritual connections are important, however, not as important to me in the large scale of things. however, I would not date someone seriously involved with their faith, because I am not.
so, what does it mean to be compatible? similarities and connections make relationships develop. social, physical, and spritual connections make relationships stronger. chemistry makes us connect. chemistry. it's that spark we get. it's the butterflies you feel when you're with a person. it's what draws us closer to a them. there is something about that person that you can't get enough of. it's in the way they talk, move, smile, wink, laugh, or frown, that compels you to want to be closer to them. it's when you're in a crowded room full of people and they are the only one in your eyes and you in their's.
simply put, a compatible relationship is one in which we are able to connect with another person. it's someone we feel good being around, and comfortable with on all levels. it's when everything suddenly goes right, when you don't have to talk to understand eachother, when you can't stand being alone...it's when you're finally able to stand still.

a dear friend of mine sent me this in an email this morning. I sware I've heard this somewhere before, but this time, it really made me think differently.
"as we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. you will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. you'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. you'll fight with your best friend. you'll blame a new love for things an old one did. you'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love. so take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.
don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin."

I must say, there are many times that I spent unhappy and wished that I could've just smiled. I feel better when I'm happy, and my happiness rubs off on others. someone once told me that I was stressing years off of my life. I totally agree.
I agree that by wasting time unhappy, I've only been hurting myself. it does no good. it get's nothing accomplished. if I've discovered one thing lately, it's how my actions affect others. it's incredible how much your mood spreads, it's contagious. I never thought too much of how others felt when I was smiling or when I was in a pissy mood.
so resolutions early, I'm going to try to stay happy, or at least 90% of the time.

why do people always smile for cameras? is it because we've been trained that seeing a happy picture makes us feel happier? when did this start? and why do people say "cheese"? why not "sneeeze"? it has the same facial effect.
I havn't always wondered this, but I just thought about myself in pictures, and half the time when I do smile, I look funny, fake, or cheesy. sometimes I get the dreaded double chin. sometimes I get a good photo, but the bad ones are scary. then, looking back at pictures makes me think about what was happening in my life during the time when the picture was taken. I think about times when I havn't been happy, or havn't been satisfied. I wonder if the feeling can be seen through my eyes. lately, though, people have commented that I look different. I look happy, my face looks good, and I don't have the double chin. could it be that I really am shining my happiness through the photos? in some, I'm not even smiling, but there is a sparkle in my eyes.
so to answer my own question, I don't think people always need to smile for the camera. I think that the facial expression should show your mood, reguardless of a smile. if we make kissy faces, frown, smirk, grin, smile widely, or scowl, the photo will be at it's best when we are just being ourselves.

he is good.
I am good.
good + good = gooder.
together we are goodester.

hehe.

a couple years ago, I purchased a vintage looking silkscreened print from Goodwill for $10. I've never really thought much of it, except that I thought it was pretty neat. it's a print of navy blue sailboats on a heathered camel color linen, streched to a wooden canvas. there is a signature at the bottom, Marushka. honestly, I didn't even pay for it. my dear friend bought it for me because she wanted to! anyway, one day a friend of mine was in my apartment and fell in love with it. he even offered me $50 for it! I liked it too much so didn't take the money. but the admiration for the print made me wonder where it came from. so I did a little research and this is what I came up with.
Marushka, a design and silk screen textile manufacturing company, was founded in Spring Lake, Michigan, in 1972 by Phyllis Gifford and Dick Sweet. the name "Marushka" means "Mary" in Polish. in 1984 the facility moved to Grand Haven, Michigan. the prints usually depicted the landscape of the Lake Michigan shoreline--sea grasses, native flowers, seagulls, shells, beach scenes and farm land. after 1985, an apparel business called Michigan Rag was added to Marushka. hand printed art, similar to the vintage Marushka prints can be found at The Art Farmer. there are some of the vintage images that I found.

{all information and images from eBay stores}