On a Happier Note

So I', sitting in the airport in Long Beach getting ready to go to Chicago and it's hard for me to believe that I'm going to leave 70 degree weather and go to where it's 14. Don't get me wrong I'm super excited to go, but it's gonna be a major shock to my system.

After I went to Weight Watchers this morning I realized that I really need to do something to change the way that I'm doing this. I mean really if I'm doing this half ass then I'm going to get half ass results. I mean seriously gotta get with the working out and cut out the sweets and cook more. I've been reading a lot about the slow food movement and I think it really sits with my beliefs about food and the way that we, as Americans, relate to food. I need to start cooking more in bulk so I don't have to worry as much about not having things ready.

So really this post is just because I'm sitting in the airport and I don't really feel like knitting, I know gasp, and I needed something to do. Sometimes it sucks to travel alone. I already miss Steve, this is going to be a long weekend without him, but it's going to be fun seeing everyone again. Ok they are starting to call my plane so I'm off...

Cute Shoes for Cheap, Worth It?

So I got my hair cut last night so that I look amazing for my trip to Chicago (I leave tomorrow). And I figured why not stop at Ross and see if there are any new shirts I needed for work. I found 2, while I was there I also managed to find 4 pairs of shoes that I needed, you know how that goes. Well I'm line and this guy comes out of nowhere and grabs this basket that was off to the side and gets in front of me in line. And I politely said," Excuse me sir but I was in line." And he says to me, "Well I had this basket there and that was holding my place in line." And I informed him that I wasn't aware that he was in line and told him I'd be the bigger person and let him go in front of me. Well that set him off, he started yelling at me and insulting me, so I apologized for the misunderstanding. At this point his wife, who was standing at the returns counter starts yelling at me and acting like she's going to come back and kick my ass. I apologized to both of them again and asked the man to refrain from speaking to me. He kept yelling at me and I said to him, "I've asked you politely to stop speaking to me and I've let you go in front of me in line, I don't see why there is still a problem." And he continues to berate me, at which point my parents friend, Joann, came up, she had been in line behind me unbeknown to me. She also told the man that she had heard me apologize to him numerous times and wasn't sure why there was still a problem. He and his wife then attacked Joann and me both. It was an insane night. Finally I get to be the second person in line and the checker at the regular counter (not the returns and exchanges) calls for the next customer, I naturally didn't go because I was behind crazy man. His wife then looks at me and says, "Bitch, it's your f*cking turn!" As I was walking to the register I said that the language was uncalled for and she came up on me and started pushing me, I asked the checker to check me out 3 times before she finally would. Then as I was leaving the store the crazy woman started following me out to my car, luckily I was driving Steve's truck, I think it made her back off a little, but she continued to scream profanities at me as I drove by. I think what upset me the most about this was that nobody who worked at the store came to settle this dispute. I mean everyone around me (Joann asked) said that he was the one who over reacted and that I wasn't in the wrong. The lack of help from people around was sad, but that's the way of people I guess. So here's the shoes I waited through this hell for:















So I don't know if I'll be going back to this Ross, but if I do I'm for sure taking Steve along with me.




Shared with Flock - The Social Web Browser
http://flock.com

More Office Geekieness

So in an effort to keep myself from going insane I have to have fun things on my desk. You've already seen my rubber band ball and my gnome garden. But now I will show you the franken-robot that Sarah knitted me for Christmas/Solstice this past year.

Rubber Band Balls Unite

So I saw this post on M. Patrizio's Blog about her rubber band ball and I figured that I should post a pic of mine. We get our mail at work with a rubber band around it everyday so my drawer of rubber bands was getting out of hand, so one slow day at work I decided to start a rubber band ball, it's just grown since then.



It's posts like this that make me realize what an office nerd I am.

Hand Spun is pretty

Two-ply dk/worsted weight about 500 yds



One-ply lace weight about 500 yds

Monday's

This is how my day started out:


That was the sunrise as viewed from the window of the apartment. I saw this as I was putting my yoga mat away. It was incredibly inspiring. Sometimes the little things are what I really need to make my day.

Then I got to work and my Mom was here, and we had some awesome conversation about making cloth pads to send to Africa via Goods 4 Girls. And it was cool and then my Dad came in and it was like no one could do anything good. So that's where I'm at at this point of my day. I'm sure it'll get better when I get home I'm going to work on a coat for my trip to Chicago next week.

Edit: I figured it out. My Dad brought me a valentine from my Grandma and she wrote in it "No college - no money. I'm praying for your weight loss." I don't care if I get money, but what the hell kind of valentine greeting is that? You're a slacker and you're fat? Whatever, this is why I don't enjoy going home for family gatherings.

D is for...

Disney World Lunch Box!!


This is what my Mom and Dad got me on their last trip to Round Top, Tx. It's a vintage Disney World Lunch Box and I love it. It takes 2 things I love, lunch boxes and Disney, and puts them into one pretty package. Here are some more pics:


The Back


The Top (and yes that's a random pack of glitter on my work desk!)



The Sides, I love the attention to detail with all the little pictures.


The safety information on the inside of the lid.


It still has the Thermos, I love that too! I guess I now officially have a collection of lunch boxes, I have 3 now.

Masks and the first 2 of my 101(or at least starting them)

So tonight we went to a Black and White party where the guests were asked to wear masks. Well we decided to go at the last min and so I made the masks from some stuff from Michael's. But I did use glitter on my mask:







And I used pom-poms on Steve's:







I don't have pics of either one of us wearing them as we didn't need them at the the party, but this is the first time I've used glitter just 6 more! And I've decided to take a pic everyday and post it. I made these at the El Pollo Loco and I looked like the crazy girl having craft time, but it was fun. I think I should do random crafts in public more often.

101 Things in 1001 Days

So I saw this on Handmade Homeschool's Blog and thought it was an awesome idea. I'm categorizing them so that it's easier for me to figure out what I still have left to do. Here's what the site says about it:

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

Start Friday February 15, 2008 - Friday November 12, 2010

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Some common goal setting tips:
1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.

2. Stay Focussed. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.

3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.

4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.

5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.

And here's my list:

Travel:
1. Go camping
2. Take a trip with my Mom
3. Take a trip with my Dad
4. Spend 6 romantic weekends with just Steve
5. Go to the fair
6. Go to a county fair in another state
7. Visit 8 national parks
8. Visit 3 States I've never been to

Finances:
9. Write down every purchase for a month
10. Make & sell stuff on Etsy
11. Put money into retirement fund on a regular basis

3 R's:
12. Write & leave fortunes around the city
13. Learn 3 types of decorative writing
14. Write a note to someone in a service oriented job once a month
15. Read a book on "proper" letter writing
16. Make a list of the top 5 people who have influenced me & write them letters
17. Leave a positive note on a random car or bike twice a month
18. Put a note in Steve's lunch once a week
19. Read a book on etiquette, modern or vintage
20. Send a handwritten thank you note every time I receive any type of gift
21. Write 3 short stories
22. Write 2 letters or post cards a month for "For the love of letters" group on Ravelry

Crafty:
23. Design a full wardrobe in the vein of sewing with a plan
24. Make 1 garment a month
25. Refinish or recover 1 piece of furniture
26. Knit 5 items for charity
27. Learn 3 new forms of art/craft
28. Decorate for 6 holidays
29. Make a corset
30. Make a 3 piece tailored suit
31. Use glitter in 9 projects

• Masks 02/16/08
  

32. Make gifts for neighbors & leave them on their doorsteps
33. Brew a batch of my own cider, beer, or mead
34. Create 3 shrines
35. Make 5 pillows
36. Knit or crochet a giant doily
37. Refashion or recover a pair of shoes
38. Knit something for Chris
39. Make a full size quilt
40. Make a burlesque costume
41. Make a bathing suit
42. Learn millinery
43. Make 5 pieces based on art pieces
44. Create an art journal
45. Make 4 pieces of jewelry
46. Buy & revamp 8 pieces of clothing from a thrift store
47. Publish a knitted design
48. Learn to steek
49. Make an alphabet book
50. Knit Steve's blanket
51. Knit 13 items from stash
52. Take an art class

Green:
53. Go to the Farmer's Market once a month
54. Switch to all non-toxic or natural cleaners
55. Use only reusable grocery bags
56. Make 1 "green" change a month
57. Plant a tree
58. Grow 5 varieties of herbs
59. Research community gardens & join if able
60. Grow flowers from a seed
61. Use only reusable cups & mugs
62. Make or give fair trade gifts for Christmas
63. Switch to natural beauty products
64. Buy & Start using a diva cup
65. Reduce plastic in kitchen by 90%

Health:
66. Build the stamina to run 5 miles
67. Run 5 k for a cause & get donations
68. Make 1 new recipe a week
69. Track my points 1 week a month
70. Go 1 month with no TV
71. Learn to surf
72. Do yoga 3 times a week
73. Ride my bike to work once a week
74. Make bread
75. Take the stairs instead of the elevator when able
76. Go to the beach, on the actual sand, once a month
77. Do 1 full detox
78. Go 1 month with no processed food
79. Take a class in burlesque or pole dancing
80. Get to my goal weight
81. Take Chris on a nature walk
82.Stop drinking coffee
83. Take a course in swing dancing
84. Learn to snowboard

Miscellaneous:
85. Take 12 units at a college
86. Go to 5 concerts
87. Sleep under the stars
88. Compliment someone everyday
89. Go caroling
90. Have 1 day every month with no plans
91. Take a picture everyday for a year & post it to the blog
92. Only wear skirts & dresses for a full month
93. Get another tattoo
94. Clean the car out once a week
95. Make a personalized emergency kit for my car
96. Make Limoncello
97. Blog updates when tasks are finished
98. Find a creative way to save for & buy a digital SLR
99. Design or have designed a logo for Etsy shop
100. Buy 4 pieces of original art
101. Get a new job

C is for...

Christiania



I went to Europe 2 years ago this June with my cousin Kim, we had a lot of fun. While we were in Denmark visiting my cousin Adrianne and her husband, Johannes, and their 2 kids, Emil and Ella, we went to an area of Copenhagen known as Christiania or Freetown Christiania. It's an amazing place, it was an old naval barracks that was taken over by a group of people as a protest against the Danish government for lack of affordable housing.

As we were walking toward Christiania you started to feel the difference in the street. There started to be a distinct feeling of creativity. Once we entered the archway marking Pusher Street your senses were overwhelmed. The smell of marijuana was overpowering, and the distinct lack of infrastructure was quite apparent. There are no cameras allowed on Pusher Street, but once you get beyond that you can photograph all you want. There was a distinct hippie/artsy feel to the entire settlement, like a throwback to the 1960's. As we continued through the streets there were the most amazing houses and parks, all made from materials reclaimed from the naval barracks. It was like visiting a giant artist/hippie commune. I feel in love instantly, from the innovative architecture to the abundance of plant life amazingly absent from the rest of Copenhagen, everything seemed to mesh with my spirit instantaneously. It makes me want to start thinking about innovative ways to build a house or finish off the inside of an older house. I know that I am a hippie at heart and this is probably all that looks like from this post but it felt like everything that should be in life, none of this living off credit or anything like that, just life in balance with nature and government. The only thing that worries me about this settlement is that the Danish government is trying to get rid of Christiania because it doesn't adhere to traditional values or structure. Hopefully the next time I'm there it still will be also.

To view the entire photo set go here.