Random Thoughts

Random thoughts for the eleventh day of August.

-Don't you hate it when you take a dark colored nail polish off in a hurry and are left with nasty stained finger nails and pink yuckiness around your nail bed? My finger nails are tinted a lovely shade of pink that is reminiscent of a pink stained tongue after eating too many hot tamales. Yeah, that's a weird analogy.



-I think I may officially be going blind. I'm sitting with face about two feet (maybe one and a half) away from the computer monitor and these words are just barely legible. I'm typing this solely on my ability to type without looking. Which I learned my senior year of high school. Kinda late. I finally had to take typing my senior year because I finished all my science credits and they wouldn't let me take three history classes. So I signed up for typing. I actually really liked it. It didn't feel like a school course. Just felt like I was typing for a hour straight. Took me about half the school year before I could do it without looking and now six and a half years in a clerical position...it's paid off.


(possibly in my future)

So, yeah, I can't see clear detail past a two feet in front of my face. Go ahead and get in the car with me. I dare ya.


-Pinterest might be my downfall. It's the equivalent of buying craft supplies when an idea hits you. You collect things and then file them away in the craft room and when you go to clean one day, you're suddenly asking yourself, "Why do I have three rolls of magenta ribbon? I don't really like this color."
Pinterest is starting to look like that. Pinning left and right all these ideas that you may never have the time to complete. And one day down the road you'll look back and say, "Why do I have so many pictures of embroidery hoops?" **



**Side note: I've been on pinterest almost two months and have saved several pictures of fabric covered embroidery hoops in hopes of doing a display on a wall that I may or may not one day own. You'd think one pic would be enough to spark my memory of doing this one day.


-I'm hunting for a chocolate/espresso brown bridesmaid dress for an upcoming wedding for a friend. To lose weight or to not lose weight? That is the question.


-I'm turning 26 next week. That is all.


-Finished The Help. Excellent book if you have not read it. My book club is heading off to see it this weekend some time.
We're reading a Philippa Gregory book now. The White Queen


I'm having a harder time than usual reading this. I usually love Philippa Gregory and have read so many of her other books. It's probably that I just don't know this particular part of history so it's harder to get into. I've heard from the people on Goodreads that it's excellent actually, so I will sojourn on.


-I want to get a dog. And this is the kind:


Schnauzer's are adorable and smart and great with kids (which will come one day).

Just a random brain dump. Birthday gifts for now two friends will be finished by the weekend. One will go in the mail and the other will be delivered in person to her fete on Saturday.
I'll show pictures of them when I know said long distance friend receives them so she'll be left in suspense. Mwahahaha!!

I need to pack!! (A.k.a. Brain dump)

Well, since our offer was accepted on the house a few weeks ago, we've gone through a round of shuffling paperwork here and there. We've met with inspectors, we've had our minds officially blown by the amount of work that has to go into it and we've avoided packing.

All in all it's pretty successful. :)

I have the desire the pack, but not the drive. Part of me doesn't want to start because I know it will be more shifting stuff from one room to another as opposed to packing it up.
I need to start a "Garage Sale" pile, "Throw out" pile, and "Pack" pile. We obviously can't pack everything because we still have to live here another month, but I can pack the non-essentials. Books, winter clothes (because Lord knows we aren't using them in this 1000 degree heat), movies. Yes, I'll pack up my movies. I haven't been watchimg them lately because of the book I'm reading.

Which brings me to reason #35 why I am not packing right now. The Help is such a good book!!!


I've had it for over a year and haven't cracked it open. Which is shameful. It's such a good, griping, funny story.
I love the characters and the story is heartfelt and powerful.
I highly recommend it. Before seeing the movie, of course.

I'm putting together a gift package for friend's birthday that is coming soon. :)
I'll show you what I put in it, after I've completed and mailed it, but then it might not be terribly surprising for the friend who receives it though because I know she reads this. Hmmmmm. Decisions.

I've got a new pen pal too!! She lives in Michigan. Found her via the blog Crafted Love. Allison decided to open up the possibility of pen pals to her readers and she got such a huge response that she divided us all up so we could correspond with each other and with her. Pretty clever.

Anyway, we just started corresponding and I can already tell I'm going to like her. She's into art journaling and looks pretty darn good at it. Which is a God send because I just started art journaling. Emphasis on the start. I've got a few pages all prettified but haven't added any writing to them. I'm so bad at that.....

I could write my prayers and what I talk to God about. That could be a great start. :)

TTFN everyone!! Thanks for reading, drop a note, I'm still here!

Praying for you all!

Guest post!

I'm guest blogging my book necklace over at Scene of the Grime today. (How cool is that name?)

Come on over and check out this cool lady!!!


Have a great day! :)

I'll leave you with this little gem.

Around the interwebs

Just a few cool things I've noticed lately. Thought I'd share.

Etsy finds:


How cool is this necklace? Made out of typewriter keys. Now that is something to which you can aspire. Found here on Etsy.

Pictures:
My favorite place to get background pics for the computer: National Geographic.

They always have the best pics. Some amateur, some are professional, all beautiful.
Here's a few samples:


Beautiful forest in Germany


The dunes of Namibia. Isn't that gorgeous!? That bright orange is the sandy dunes. At first I thought it was the tinted sky, but read it was the dunes.


The tundra of Iceland. Simply breathtaking.

I love the landscape pictures. It screams God's glory and magnificence!

Google Finds:
I may be late to the party on this one, but did you know you can customize the background on your Google home page? I think it's pretty nifty.
Just a few faves:







Books:
I'm heading out to meet with my book club this evening. I'll be sporting my Book Lover's necklace and chowing down on yummy Chinese food.

We finished reading the book Shanghai Girls by Lisa See. It's a great story of sisters sold into marriage by their father in order to settle debts. It may sound archaic, but the story begins with the Japanese invasion of China at the start of World War II. It's a fantastic look at prejudice, rivalry, honor, family, and love. I recommend it. 4 out of 5 stars!


Tutorial for another bracelet coming soon this week. This time it's one of my own creation! :)

The four words that scare my husband

I think just about any crafter has utter these scary words: "I can make that." And has sent their spouse running for the hills. Or into the bedroom until you've finished destroying the living room, kitchen, dining room and bathroom in your attempt to make said craft.

Those are pretty scary words and I've uttered them too much lately.

You cannot find the floor in our living room. Our big stuffed chair has vanished. The kitchen table is no more. My crafts have exploded everywhere and over every surface that's available.

It's so embarassing that I'm refusing to post pictures.**


I've caught I-can-make-that-itis.

I keep finding all these amazing craft ideas on other blogs and I can't resist saying I can make that and then trying. Now, I'm not trying and failing. I'm just trying and not finishing. I'm also trying and moving on to the next craft without storing what I've just been working on.

I've got all these ideas on jewelry, home decor, painting, organizational areas, and books. Oh dear. Don't even get me started on my book collection.


I'm going to call it a collection, because other things that are considered collectables (i.e. stamps, coins, etc.) are things you gather and then stare at. I get all these books, on any subject and then I never get around to reading them. The stories sound great and I'm intrigued, but then a craft project calls and I pass on the book, for the time being.

I've got an enabler, too. She forces me to buy books. Forces me, I tell you!!
Ok, that may be a slight exaggeration.

I'm going to be starting a five step program making lists. It helps me keep my ideas straight and stops me from duplicating and losing track and jumping off on bunny trails of other activities to start.

Spring Cleaning is upon us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm purging our belongings. Mostly in anticipation of moving, but also as an attempt to curb my enthusiasm of starting another craft project.



**Side note: This is also why we haven't invited any friends over in awhile. Deeply apologetic!

Back to work to save my sanity (and a giveaway)

I finally made it back to work this week! Whew, boy. I love love love love love love love love my husband, but I think it's good for both of us to go to work every once in awhile.
In my opinion, I can survive being at home with a couple adventures out into the world, while Jaden can just stay in without any qualms. It's also really beneficial for me to get out of the house, because I spent my free time doing random craft projects. This, of course, led to many injuries. I stuck myself with pins, slightly burned my fingertips with hot glue and a candle, severely burned my knuckle with said hot glue (I was in such a panic to get it off me that I immediately started pulling my skin off--not a fun feeling lemme tell ya!), and harshly gashed my hand with fabric scissors. All of this without a first aid kit in the whole house!

You'd think after spraining an ankles seven years in a row (when I was younger) would be enough of heads-up for me to purchase a simple first-aid kit. Even after I fell twice a few months ago (spraining my ankle AGAIN) I still didn't purchase one.
I did have a few gracious friends who volunteered to help with my scissor injury and a few family members who just said to super glue it shut. It's healing nicely with just a band aid covering it.

Meanwhile, I'm finished with The Great Gatsby:

It's......an interesting book. I think the story is different: a love reconnection told through a bystander. It has an exciting ending, but I guess I don't understand why it's considered a classic. In my opinion, the spoiled nouveau-riche are not an intriguing storyline. Selfishness is one of my biggest pet-peeves and a story that revolves completely around bored rich people complaining about how "sorry" their lives are, does not bode well for my bookshelf.
I read it in high school, but like most required reading, I did not retain any of it.

On to the giveaway:
Great blog giveaway at All Things Vintage!! Maybe you could win?!?
Have a look!! It ends on the 13th.

Giveaway