Craftastic

These are a few things I'm proud of. Both of these ideas came from Real Simple, not sure where the web page is now -- it was one that had new ideas for old frames. I got this frame and the wood chunk from Salvation Army. The knobs I got from Anthropologie on sale. I mod podged a scrapbook page for the apron hanger and just used leftover paint for the frame. I'm planning on doing more with Anthropologie hooks -- that's all I look at when I go there now -- and am waiting for more to go on sale. But a good hook sale is a rare treat...now, a good hooker sale they might have.

Home Decor

Ariana and I went home decor shopping last night while the boys were at Priesthood Session and this is what I bought at IKEA. I've decided to come to terms with the fact that I can't paint and should probably distance myself from DIY home decor for the most part. Except...well, I've had a few successful projects...I'll post them next.

Spiritual Marathon

I always feel a little exhausted after the spiritual marathon that is General Conference. But it's always a good tired. And my favorite talk was from Joseph B. Wirthlin on Saturday afternoon (that was the best session, too). Elder Wirthlin's talk was on charity and the best part was when he started shaking (I suppose it was Parkinson's flaring up) and Elder Nelson stood up and held his arm and back and steadied him for the rest of his talk. Elder Wirthlin plowed through his talk and was not about to give up, and I loved that Elder Nelson was exemplifying this Christ-like love that Elder Wirthlin was talking about. Very moving.

It's always fun to make Conference a little house party, too. Saturday morning we had the Elders over for a pancake breakfast and Sunday afternoon we had a pita sandwich party between sessions with our friends the Heinrichs and Neves.

I Like

I like Pushing Daisies. It's not laugh-out-loud funny, it's not overly dramatic, and it's pretty to look at.

Happy Birthday, Ma

Mom always got raging mad when I'd call her ma. But she can't get mad at me today! It's her birthday. And look, ma, I made you this lovely cake! Happy birthday!!

What we're up to...

Hey all. Just wanted to give a little life update since I got a new job and Adam started coming home at night. It's like we've switched places. Except not. Because switching places is not even remotely close to what we've done.

Anyway, I got a job at a little PR firm in Tustin. It's great. It's wall-to-wall with women. And it's in an adorable little house in the historic district with a park just down the street. It's pretty much all I could ask for. Oh yeah, and the job itself. It is also a lovely state of affairs. It's as if I've returned to the motherland -- the motherland where people say things like "let's use the matrix" and "what's going on with that campaign?" and "how about we pitch it this way" and "did you get that on the b-roll?" Just kidding about that last one. That's broadcasting. Pshh. Pfft. So I'm about to finish my second week and already I've been writing bios, backgrounders, fact sheets, press releases; I've pitched a bit to local media, attended a HUGE 5K fundraiser race for breast cancer, and at the end of the month I'll be going to OC's 25 Hottest (business people) event! I guess I never knew you could have fun at a job. But here I am. It is a great place to be.

Adam's done with his company's consolidation. To celebrate today they surprised him at what was supposed to be a big meeting and took them to Ratatouille instead! Leetle stinkers. They invited him to go for ribs after but he decided to come home to me. And my tuna casserole. Just his luck. Don't think that since he's home we actually hang out. He has to study for the looming exam. Oh good, he just gave me a taste of what he's going thru: Duffy, the onscreen tutor, can't spit out a sentence to save his life. Not that you want him to spit out his sentence because it's about promissory notes and a 90-day wait period. UGH.

So that's us. Did that add a little magic to your lives?

Travelin' Thursdee, Environmental Edition

Tonight, in honor of pollution all over the world, we head to Taiwan. I just cleaned the black muck off my living room fan last night and realized that my bedroom fan in our 3-story Changhua apartment was not unlike this fan. Hence, Taiwan does not have a corner on pollution and Orange County needs to check itself. I'm tired of this environmental tirade already.

This is me, Elizabeth, Rachel, Dorian and Sherilyn (teachers and roommates) wearing pollution masks in the school in Taiwan where we taught. Everyone in Taiwan wears these when they go outside, especially while driving scooters and riding bikes. I will have to fish mine out of the drawer now that I've discovered how much pollution is in this here sea breeze.

Travelin' Fridee

I forgot about Travelin' Thursdee yesterday. So today I bring you: Travelin' Fridee. It's a variation on Travelin' Thursdee. Since today's not Thursdee I gotta title it appropriately in accordance with the calendar.

This is a ship. It's part of the Tall Ships club. It is a replica of a really old ship. And some of these replicas sailed all the way from Sweden just to make it to the Tall Ships Festival last weekend at Dana Point, CA. We went with our friends the Heinrichs, who, in keeping with their German heritage, love Tall Ships. So do I, I discovered. Although none of us had the funds to go tour the Tall Ships, we admired them from afar. While we ate ice cream cones and funnel cakes. Which one can always afford if one has his or her priorities straight.

I Got a Jeeeearrrrbbb

I got a job! And now, with the remaining three days of freedom, I have to work on my morning hhhhroutine, which is the most important routine of the day.

When I'm not working on that I'll be relaxing by the pool, reading, blogging, blog reading and drinking this:



It's Papaya Milk and here's the recipe:

Papaya
Milk
Sugar or Karo syrup (if desired)

Liquify in the blender.

It's a favorite drink of mine discovered during my hiatus as an English Teacher in Taiwan. This drink really calmed the nerves after a long day of listening to the sweet sounds of Chinglish screams. It became my most expert Chinese phrase, "I would like a moo-gwa bing-sa, please; xie xie" because I would buy one almost everyday on my bikeride home. Ahhhhhh, it was just what I needed to shift from Techuh Massa to lie-on-the-bamboo-mattress-and-don't-do-a-thing Massa.

Don't Judge My Art

But feel free to judge Adam's cuz it can only get rave reviews. These colorful ones are mine - going for a sort of Rothko-inspired set but when the middle one ended up with a poo-brown outline I had to cover it with some mint and the remaining eggplant. Be glad the original is not posted here. Just know that painting over the brown saved it from a fate on the bathroom wall, as that is where it originally seemed to "fit best" if you know what I mean.




Adam has deep dark secrets and must thus reveal them through his art. He's a self-proclaimed "landscape guy" and wants to try some craggly mountains next. This was his first attempt at painting, and I was suprised at how good he was. Are you surprised at how good I was at my first attempt? Don't answer that.


And finally we have Ariana, the seasoned artist joining us for our First Annual Art Night. She has actually "taken classes" and knows "different techniques" when it comes to all kinds of art. She told me about something called "printing" and showed me her stuff. She is my first artist friend. An artist friend is a good friend to have.

Oh -- PS - We bought a new dining table!! Our FIRST dining table. There it is in one of these pictures. Can you spot it? $200 dollars, people. And the seats match our couch. How on earth?

Travelin' Thursdee

Can anyone guess where we are today?

Tag Time

4 Jobs I've Had:
Lifeguard
Texaco Gas Pumper
English Teacher
Copywriter

4 Places I've Lived:
Roosevelt, UT
Washington, DC
Changhua, Taiwan
Cambridge, MA

4 Fave TV Shows:
NBC Nightly News - go Brian Williams!
So You Think You Can Dance - go Sabra Tooth Tiger!
Oprah - go Oprah!
The Office - go Dwight!

4 Favorite Foods:
Cocoa Covered Almonds from Trader Joes
Snickers
Papaya Milk
Bacon, Egg, Cheese Biscuit from McD's

4 Websites I Visit:
Too many blogs to count
People.com
Craigslist.org
NYTimes.com

4 Places I'd Rather Be Right Now:
In the pool
Alaska and/or Africa
In Golden Spoon, frozen yogurt inserted into mouth
Sitting on Adam's lap

4 Movies I Love:
Dirty Dancing
Napolean Dynamite
Almost Heroes
The New Pride & Prej although Keira Knightly is a snaggletooth

4 People I Tag:
Heather
Marilee
Miriam
Jessamyn

Tunics are True

Am I the last to jump on the Tunic Train? Tunics are the way of the future and I'm the last one to know it. These were in last year when friends and family were pregnant, and I'm only now finding out all that can truly be accomplished with these Tiny Tents.

Adam happened upon $100 extra big ones this weekend (happens all the time) and naturally I spent my half on a few Tunics I'd been eyeing (plus some earrings and drawer knobs). Naturally, he spent his half on dinner for me (why is he the nice, non-materialistic one?). In just an evening and a day, wearing a Tunic has freed me from all my Troubles.

I can eat more at dinner. No one can even try to see that ribs & brisket belly I'm trying to suck in. I feel more female. Who wants to flaunt a waist when you can flaunt a nightgown? I can sit down and stay covered up. The Tunic is that Tried and True friend who'll cover your backside on any occasion. I can run headlong into the wind and get caught up and carried away like a kite. The Tunic Takes me higher.

Tunic, Tunic. Tunic True.
Tunic in Taffeta, silk and cotton, Too.
Tunic in orange, red, purple and blue.
Tunic in a Tiffy. Tunic in a jiffy.
Tunic, Tunic. I love you.