first day of school - fall 2010

Today I treated myself to a Frappe from McDonald's. I don't usually drink coffee because I'm afraid of getting hooked, but today I thought it was necessary. And delicious. I haven't gotten much sleep the past few days, and my only class today was an 8:30-12 drawing class. On the way to school I listened to some of the music that I loved in high school, and fell in love with these songs and groups all over again. Alkaline Trio, The Weakerthans, The Shins, The Decemberists. Love them. Takes me way back.

this picture is from last night. i spent my last day of summer working 9-5 (yes, on labor day) then i saw my oldest friend. (in years known, not age) we got subway and picniced in the park. he knows me better than anyone in the world. love this guy. and after the sun went down, i went to see my newest friend. we watched a movie called "the good, the bad, the weird" about korean cowboys. lol of course, i loved it. :-P

This is why today was great:

1. I found a great parking spot without having to hunt for it 
2. got to school early enough to drink my Frappe and eat my egg n' cheese biscuit
3. drawing teacher seems like he's a pretty cool guy
4. he has a Russian accent. I think that's neat.
5. this class in on the 2nd floor, rather than the 4th like my past drawing classes. Less stairs!
6. got out of class at 10 instead of 12. Didn't have to draw on the first day.
7. great old-school tunes in the car
8. saw a butterfly
9. knees are healed and I can jog again (I hurt my knees a couple weeks ago from not prepping before jogging)
10. saw my new friend today and watched a funny movie
11. Got a letter in the mail from my Dear Darling Penpan, Jaymie. She gave me a CUTE little owl necklace! I can't wait to wear it tomorrow! :)

And now I need to get some rest. These allergies are driving me nuts! XD How was your day today?

Spread the Love Week - Day One

Day One of Spread the Love week was a success. (And yes, as you can tell by the picture, I'll be wearing love-themed clothes all week.. because I'm dorktastic like that.) ;)

When I opened my eyes this morning, first thing I thought was, "Wasn't there something I was supposed to do today..? .. .. OOH! Spread the Love!" So I hopped out of bed (around noon.. I LOVE summer) and started working away on making friendship bracelets to take to work.

 
Probably like 90% of my good friends are my co-workers. It makes it so much easier to go into work, knowing that you love all the people there like family.  After I got a little sun out back, I came in to make cookies. I found this recipe that looked pretty simple, with normal ingredients that I already had.

As it turns out, after I mixed the dry ingredients together, I plopped by butter in the bowl and went to put in the sugar. .. .. I WAS A CUP SHORT! AAAH! So I had to get in the car and drive to the store.. When I got back, I was finishing up the cookies and went to grab the last ingredient- vanilla. .. WE WERE OUT OF VANILLA!! WHO THE HECK RUNS OUT OF VANILLA?? Seriously though, you never use more than a spoonful at a time- a bottle last for like, years.. *uugh* (and I don't say these things in an angry tone- when things like this happen, I just throw my hands in the air and laugh) Aaanway, when the cookies were FINALLY done, I brought them to work to share with my lovely friends. And the cookies were delish, if I do say so myself. ;) Hard work and frustration paid off.

While I was at Hobby Lobby, dropping off my cookies and bracelets, I got a little something for my kitty cat. She loooves pom poms. She has about a million scattered around the house already, but she likes them best when they are fresh out of the package. (I know, I know, spoiled. and kind of weird. But hey, what can you do?) Normally, I wouldn't have gotten these for her, since she really doesn't need them, but I thought, "You know what, it's Spread the Love Week."

And check out this picture. Action shot. lol

Also while I was there, I got this little wallet card for my Ex. Him and I broke up a year ago, but we have a long history, so we stayed friends. And we are both much happier that way, just for the record. But I wanted him to know that I'm there for him, even though too often in his life, he feels like everybody is against him.

So that's it for day one. I wonder that tomorrow will bring. <3

"spread the love" week

i was completely overwhelmed with melissa's post here on oh my darling today. it was about spreading the love. one year ago, she was the victim of a violent attack, and now on the anniversary of that day, she's looking to counteract the hateful things people do in the world.

source

she calls it "Spread the Love Week," and if you would like to participate, please check out her blog post here. i hiiighly recommend it! and you can get the cute button to put on your blog too, so you can spread the word about Spread the Love. :)

 i'm participating, of course, and here are a few ideas of things i've already planned on doing:

1) make friendship bracelets and cookies for my friends at work. i *miraculously* have the day off tomorrow, and saturdays are super stressful for the girls at the hobby lobby where i work, so i wanted to do a little something for the ones who are stuck there 8 hours tomorrow.

2) write back my penpals! i keep meaning to do it and i keep letting the day get away from me. >_<

3) send a little inspiring card to my ex-boyfriend. we dated for 6 years, and the last couple years of our relationship were really hard because he developed a drug addiction. its something he still struggles with now. we're still friends and do a pretty good job of keeping in touch. and he only lives 10 minutes away, but still. i want to send him a card to let him know that he's a special person to me and i know he has the power to kick the habit once and for all.

4) donate some clothes to charity.

5) my friend's birthday is coming up and i was gunna buy her something, but now that i think about it, making her something would be more meaningful.

6) send a few thank-yous to people i think deserve them. ;)

i hope lots of people participate in this project. let's take it a step further and try to rid ourselves of negative thoughts about others. sound like a plan? awesome. :]

Fun with my friends

In my last post, I named my 4 goals to accomplish by the end of the year. Goal #4 was to spend more time with my friends. Kinda funny how these things work out.. Last night my good friend Kyla invited me out to dinner. Then today I went to the Farmer's Market with my friend James. Then my BFF Amber was free today, so we went jogging together. (Which I hope is the first of many workouts together. If I had a Goal #5, it would be to be more active.) I only got photos at the farmer's market, and only a few turned out. *they have a little petting zoo in the back* But I'll share those few photos. :)

summer time

i hope you are all having a great summer! live the dream life! <3

what's your favorite part of summer?

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remember to enter the giveaway!!!

this is my Aha Moment

i finished my owl painting! isn't it cute?? :) i'm gunna list it on etsy as soon as i get my mac back from the shop so i can edit the photos. i made it as a prop to take to the interview for mutual of omaha's "aha moments" campaign. honestly, i think i did a poor job at the interview. a lot of blanking out and not being sure if i answered the question that was asked. oh well. not gunna dwell on it. here is what i would have LIKED to have said:

My name is Angie and this is my Aha Moment:
A few months ago, I was feeling really down on myself. The clothes I was wearing didn't make me fell pretty. My free time was spent doing nothing but watching TV. I felt like I was in a rut. One day I was sitting in english class, listening to another student read her essay out loud. She used the quote, "dress for the job you want, not the job you have," and hearing that really inspired me, not only in my wardrobe, but in my life. I've taken that quote, and stretched it. Why not, "live the life you want, not the life you have?" In doing so, the life you want becomes the life you have! 
I used to sit around and say things like, "Oh, I wish I knew how to sew, or crochet, or cook. Someday, I'll learn." One of the things I had always wanted to do was to open an online business, where I would sell my handmade goods and art. I had wanted to do pursue this goal for years, but I always had the "someday" mentalily. Why not make someday today? After hearing that quote, I decided to go for it. Making jewelry and art and crafts really gave me a sence of accomplishment. I had a feeling of pride when I would finish something new. It was such a good feeling. And checking the site to find that I've sold something?? SUCH a great feeling.
The possitive feedback I've gotten from my customers totally brightens my day. I'm a detail oriented person, and they notice that. I put care into making my jewelry and crafts, right down to the packaging, and I've gotten comments from people saying, "Not only did I love the necklace you made, but opening it felt like I was unwrapping a present." And that makes me feel really good.
From opening my online shop, I've learned that I really can do anything I want. I've learned that when you get stuck in a rut, the only thing keeping you there is yourself. You just need a little push; it could be an inspiring song, a movie, or in my case, a quote that I made into my own. That little push is your Aha Moment, and it will change your life.

My friend Amber gave me a ride down to Dayton, since i'm a terrible driver. i have a phobia of driving places i'm not familiar with. seriously, i freak out. so it meant a lot to me that she spared me that terror. (although learning to drive to new places is something on my "the life you want" to-do list) and she gave me this adorable little book called "good friends are hard to find." it's filled with pictures of cute baby animals and friendship qoutes. i love it. :]

"I can only think of one thing greater than being happy and that is to help another to be happy too."  

- Jim Thomson

After the interview, we went to Panera, where I got a GREAT bowl or broccoli and cheese soup. then we decided to make a girl's day of it, went shopping at marshall's where i got a pair of jeans and the world's best sweatshirt. <3 and here is a photo of my cat, just for kicks. and she normally has both her ears; one of them is just under her face at the moment.