8 things thing

Well, I've been tagged (there's a first for everything I suppose). And unlike the 25-things-about-me facebook phenom that I vehemently refused to participate in, I'm actually going to fill this one out. Mainly because I'm waiting for my laundry to be done, and, well, Jillian-Anne's blog is one of the few I look forward to reading :)

8 things I look forward to:

* starting cosmetology school in June

* going back to Aus some day

* owning a charger for my Macbook again so I can stop mooching off Elisa (I yub you Eesa)

* not being dirt poor for a little while (yessss! to student loan money)

* going home to visit my fam sometime this summer

* furniture! and paint! and wood floors! (June June June June June)

* Harry Potter 6

* watching O'Grady with John-Ross

8 things I did yesterday:

* played with Sego

* watched Ryan, Olivia, and Joe weed the garden (because I'm a slacker)

* listened to some Craig David (bahaha. but seriously.)

* cleaned out my cupboard in the kitchen

* got some soul shaking hiccups that took ages to get rid of

* interviewed for a job I don't really want but definitely need

* facebook stalked (i know) <- Me too, J. Me too.

* watched some 30 Rock

8 things I wish I could do:

* clean anything and everything with the snap of a finger

* apparate

* travel the world in a year

* be done with school (cosmetology and my BA)

* play an instrument well enough to be in a band

* be completely self sufficient in a house far away from the rest of civilization

* own a puppy

* grow my hair out faster

8 shows I watch:

* Gossip Girl

* 30 Rock

* Dexter

* It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

* Arrested Development (well, the DVDs anyway)

* O'Grady (also no longer on the air, but one of the best cartoons ever)

* The Simpsons (only the old seasons now and then though)

* uuuuuuh... I can't think of anything else. Soooo.... my life. I watch my life.

Crafty Little Thing

Some of you may remember (or maybe none of you do, either way see here for a reminder) one April day this year when I decided to purchase a cheap sewing machine from the evil empire that is WalMart and make some napkins as my first foray into the sewing world. Well friends, four months later my little project actually happened. This afternoon I decided to unpack my sweet beginning sewing machine (which I've named Isabella), read every single instruction I could until she was usable, and then practice on some scrap fabric.

Four hours later, Isabella and I churned out some fairly nice looking cotton napkins! My first one has some wonky stitching but it didn't take me long to get some at least fairly even looking edges going.

I really really like this hobby. Projects can vary from a few hours to a few days but progress is so fast! I mean one minute you've got yards of fabric and the next you're cutting, ironing and stitching it into something usable. I would definitely like to keep this up.

Also as stated in the post linked above, I was going to finish my orange knit bag. Well, tonight I finally went to put the buckle on and realized it just looked much better without straps or a buckle. So I undid the stitching on the straps to take them off, and left the flap just hanging. I don't know if I'll ever actually use this bag as it's really impractical for anything other than knitting projects. Get anything heavier than a bit of yarn in it and it droops to the floor. Still, it was fun to make given I had to use gigantic knitting needles. Plus I love the color.

And lastly, I did "finish" the purple crochet blanket. I would still like to add some embroidery on it somehow, and I think it needs some edging so it doesn't look so unfinished, but at least for now it's usable (though in this weather who needs it?). The huuuuge crochet hook I got to use on this was so much fun. Progress was fast too because the double yarn made it so thick.

So, I DID manage to finish some projects for once. For a few more pictures, see my crafts photostream on flickr. I'm sure I'll keep uploading pictures of my projects as I complete them.

But a weekend in Provo won't fix what's wrong with us

I have no idea why I've felt more like posting on here lately. It just seems like a thing to do. (also, for those of you not in the know, my title is a Mountain Goats lyric which, ironically, an Australian friend of mine, who has never been to Provo, told me about.)

I love Laura Veirs these days. My affair with her music started out slow and has steadily grown from mild attraction to can't-get-enough-so-google-the-lyrics-and-sing-along-at-all-times obsession. It's lovely.

In other news, I'm getting really excited for Utah. Both for my trip down there next week and to be moving back down in January. I love the ideas behind the Sego Arts Center and the new Pennyroyal Cafe (which promises lots of organic and vegan/vegetarian foods. YAY!) I fully intend to get as involved as possible with both when I'm actually in the same state.

Not to mention I'm really looking forward to living with Celia when I move. She's so great! It's going to be so much fun!

And I bought a small lime green suitcase with red and green apples on it from WalMart yesterday to take with me when I leave next week.

What I'm getting at is that LIFE IS GOOD! I'm excited!

Today is Brocky's birthday. He is two.

I think no one reads this anymore. But what do I know? And really it's for me anyway. I guess I just can't help but wonder.

I started a new knit project today. I really needed something to do and crochet squares, while nice, are not exactly challenging. Well, neither is my new project, but at least it will be something I can use when I'm finished with it. And it's going super fast. It's an orange garter stitched messenger bag. I really love the yarn I'm using too. It's very soft.

We went to a Mexican restaurant tonight for Brock's birthday. He loooves his chips and dip. Guacamole is his favorite. I ordered two cheese enchiladas and I forgot to say no beans, only rice. I don't normally like refried beans anyway, I think they're kind of gross, but now I think they're doubly gross because they've got lard in them. Very few places use anything else. So I ate the one enchilada that wasn't touching the beans haha. I brought the other one home. I'm going to try to suck it up and just eat it, but seriously, I've become a bit of a freak about this. I really really hate eating anything that has animal in it. I never ever thought I would be this way. Maybe after a few weeks I'll calm down, I don't know. But right now it's a little bit of a pain hah.

I think I'll get back to knitting now. Or sleeping. One of the two.

We are friends, we are friends till the very end

PostSecret makes my Saturday nights and Sundays better.

Avery taught me how to curl my hair with a straightener tonight. Who knew that was even possible?? Or that I'd love it way more than any time I've ever tried to use a curling iron? Craziness!

We did some serious shopping tonight. And by that I mean we tried on a kagillion outfits, loved a lot of them, and bought nothing. All in all, it was a total success. We have no money but that doesn't keep us from enjoying clothes!

Then we spent about 4 hours discussing boys and how dumb they are (sorry boys). We rehashed a lot of the troubles we've had in the past, and discussed the ones we're having now. I got a lot of food for thought.

Anyway, since I'm missing out on an hour of sleep tonight, I think it's time for bed. Remember to set your clocks an hour forward! I hate the lost hour, but boy do I love the extra daylight that'll be rolling in with the coming weeks. Spring is a good time of year.

The final countdown

I am the world's worst packer. It's almost 10 and I'm barely finishing my laundry now. Yahoooo!

So Brandie, who I work with, is also flying to California tomorrow, but she is leaving on a cruise to Mexico. She will also be gone for 10 days. So basically we are taking the exact same days off. And ironically, we were the two closing the shop tonight. Every 5 minutes one of us would yell out either "what?? It's only -:--?? This afternoon will never end!" or else "Hey, guess what!? We're leaving tomorrow!" The 3 to 6 o'clock stretch was basically an eternity.

But! It is finally almost here! In 13 hours I will be in the car with Brandon off to whatever he decides to show me first. I can't wait!

Anyway, I'd better be off to finish packing.

I probably won't have time/access to post anything while I'm gone. But if I get a chance, I'll send a quickie of an update.

Have an excellent 10 days my friends!

Listen to good music, read good books, see good movies.

Oh, and P.S. Project Runway update - Christian and Jillian both made it to the final three. Thank heavens. I cannot wait to see what they come up with. This might be the best PR season finale yet!

Central Coast Cali, here I come! (Please don't rain on me) countdown: 12.5 hours. Yessssssss

One red paper clip

I would like to trade one red paper clip for a house. Hah.

Hey, if Kyle MacDonald can do it, so can I!

I think it's completely nuts but also really cool. We should all trade paper clips for houses. Maybe it would save our economy? (kidding)

Crocheted squares completed for Warm Up America: 2.5

Central Coast Cali, here I come! (Please don't rain on me) countdown: 17 days

Things are good.

I know I'll be safe in these arms

Aaaaaagh! Sometimes! I love Brandon so much! That I want to run around screaming it for hours on end! haha

He is seriously perfect. I don't even understand how I got so lucky. Man.

Ok, sorry, that was really mushy, I know, but I just had to get it out.

Anyway, Urban Outfitters shipped my coat today. Finally. I am so excited. I've been wearing the same purple plaid coat (as seen in my profile pic) for over two years now, and it was time for an upgrade. So I bought this pretty little thing online for about 30% of the original price. The yellow so completely matches nothing that it actually kind of goes with everything. I love it!

Also on the topic of shopping, if you live in the SLC area, I have a new blog you should check out: www.yourheartout.com. I read it semi religiously, taking notes for when I move back down there. They've got tips on the cutest clothes shops, restaurants, furniture stores, and other miscellany in the Utah Valley and surrounding area. It's great if you're looking for one of those hidden treasure kind of places, or if you want a knick knack that's truly original. I highly recommend checking them out.

Well, it's mon pere's birthday, so I'm off to celebrate old age hah. Wishing you all the best of evenings!