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My, my...I've really been ignoring this blog thing for, well, pretty soon after I started it. It's not that I don't enjoy blogging. I really do. I love reading other blogs, too. I guess it's that I have such a hard time putting my life out here for other people to see. The semester is almost over, and I'm so very much looking forward to having some time to only do (insofar as my budget and work schedule will allow) exactly what I want to do!

But what have I been up to? Other than feeling real down about myself for reasons I'd like to label inexplicable, I suppose I've been on a mini-roller-coaster of school, work, boredom, exhaustion, and apathy. Not to worry, I've pulled myself out of it just in time for this update. One or two notable changes since January are:

1. After nearly three years of working at the same Starbucks in the same neighborhood with the same customers, I now work at the Starbucks just down the street from my house! I'm really missing so many of my friends I left behind. Everyone at my new store is really great and I love them all already. (I miss you Katie!)

2. Stephanie turned 23! I declared that I would spend the remainder of my 22nd year of life cherishing every moment of being in my early 20s, but I really am liking the adults that I see my friends and I all becoming.

3. I attending my very first bachelorette party! With Gaga inspired games, obviously!

4. Emily got married!!!!!!!!! It was so beautiful, I could cry just looking back at it. Yes, Emily get married, but it was more than that. To me, at least, it was such a bonding moment. Helping each other get ready, zipping up Emily's wedding dress, looking for my mom's face while I walked down the aisle, and standing between one of my best friend's two sisters-in-law....as though I didn't have an obsession with weddings before - but I'll have to get into that later.

5. This was just the icing on the wedding cake - or, the strawberry on the wedding tarts, rather. To the left, that's Stephanie's mother, and that's my mother to the right. Don't they look so pretty? Of course those two leos hit it off! With how well their daughters get along, we knew they would.

Now, I have been up to some projects, too. I promise to share about those later this week.

A New Year!

2010 has really been off to a good start! Jared and I had some delish Taco Bell for NYE dinner, then we went off to the New Year's Red Road Powwow at the Convention Center downtown. That's us just after midnight. :)


This is the frame I picked up from a thrift store, and I painted it an off-white color. All we have to do is get a mat for the print - for now it's framed and hanging out in the living room.

I also made a laptop case for myself! I made one for Stephanie for Christmas, am going to make another for Emily (I'm not sure how big her laptop is, so that's on hold for now) and I couldn't wait any longer to make mine. I used iron-on adhesive this time to stiffen the bag and help hold the shape, and it turned out nearly perfect.



This photo's at a weird angle, and you can't see the colors on the flap very well - baby blue & khaki -but you get the gist. I'd sewn on the flap before sewing the front and back sides together, and I apparently made it very off-center. I'd like to think it adds that, er, homemade touch. Sure, sounds good. I love pockets, so here's a shot of this cute one.

Okay, last two shots:


I woke up early this morning (Jared was running a big late for work and I woke up in the fury that ensued,) so I decided I could use some nice wintry gloves. Goodbye over-sized ugly sweater, hello warm paws...

Time, must you pass so quickly?

Where do I begin? Let's go with Christmas. It was a marathon 34-hour celebration (we calculated it) in Visalia, Fresno, Clovis and Fresno again across three bloodlines and five houses. Wait - six! After I finally got home from my Dad's house Christmas night, it was time for Jared and me to open our presents for each other.

Jared and Andrew

Jared and Julian

Julian, beating the 1st Annual Christmas Pinata

Girls dressed for winter - Stephanie, Lucia, me

Stephanie

Memory game I made for Emily's son Silas

Little Leaf Tea with mama

It was freezing that day! The tea was delicious and it warmed us up.

My favorite corner of the apartment

I'm waiting for my books for the upcoming semester to come in the mail, and we've already put away our Christmas decorations. I'm really looking forward to 2010, though. I've seen very few movies, so I've made a list of just over 100 movies that I've compiled from "Best Movies of All Time"-esque internet lists, and by recommendations from friends. It is one of my New Year's Resolutions, which I already kicked off this week with The Sound of Music and Ferris Bueller's Day Off - I know, most people can't believe the movies I haven't seen.

In just over a week Jared and I will be spending the day taking photos of our friends Danica and Chase, then we have plans to take my parents to a hockey game, his mother out for dinner, and my dad and step-mom to a movie. Ahh! Oh - the year's also going to be dedicated to spending more time outdoors with Stephanie, Jared, and my parents with my new hiking shoes. 2010, I'm ready for you! For now, it's off to the thrift stores downtown to find an pretty frame for my new baby blue "Keep Calm Carry On" print - I think I'll need to see that daily this year.

Time has been going by so quickly lately! The semester is over (thank you!) and I've finally had some free time! That's left me with a few very important things to do: make Christmas gifts, bake up a storm, and spend plenty of time with friends and family.

Since the last day of finals, I've spent my last four days spending time with my best friends and my boyfriend. We got to dress up for his work Christmas party, and go out with our friends!

Today, I spent the morning relaxing because I actually had a weekend off. So, I got a little start on the rest of the list - with two projects (that will be gifts, so I can't go into detail) and chocolate chip cookies!

I'll have to get to the rest of the gifts tomorrow, after I make a trip to the craft store for some materials. I love making these presents! They're made with so much love, one-of-a-kind, and so personal. Really, I've gotten a little envious - I guess I'll have plenty of things to make for myself after the holidays are over!

Who doesn't need study breaks?

We all know how easy it is to get lost browsing Etsy shops. Well, this time around I came across Mojo Spa Style. Apparently they're based out of Chicago, and this branch is an extension of Mojo Spa beauty products. What caught my eye, though, were these accessories.





Images via Mojo Style Spa's Etsy shop.

An Unnecessary Lesson

On the same block as my apartment is a church. This church has a building with classrooms facing the street, and a nice blue exterior. Well, I turned down the street and noticed how bright the leaves on the trees were - yellow! orange! rust! So pretty, with the baby blue exterior peeking through. Oh - and did I mention the deep blue sky? Well, I immediately realized that the lighting offered by the setting sun would dissipate, and I'd have to wait until the next day to bring out my 35mm.
The next day, so excited about how pretty the leaves will be, I make my left turn and see - NOTHING! The trees were IN THE PROCESS of being chopped up! Just like Steve Buscemi's body toward the end of Fargo! Well, just to rub it in my face, the universe decided to let me know that, like my blush, the trees were concealing what really was horribly bland scene.



All in all, I GET IT! Seize the day! Carpe diem! Blah-bidy blah blah....