Manic Monday

Going home this weekend was wonderful, but coming back wasn't so great.  Monday morning Luke and I overslept and missed weights.  Then because we had no groceries all I had for breakfast was a Nature Valley bar on my way to class.  My stomach got upset with me, so halfway through class I had to run to the bathroom to throw up.  After that I felt like garbage, so I just ate some plain spaghetti noodles.  It helped a little, but my stomach was still a little cranky.  At practice I was a little sluggish at first, but once the workout got going I started feeling better.  We had 8 300s, and I thought I was over the nausea... but after number 7 I had to head for a bush.  Let me tell you, noodles up your nose does not feel good!!!  Rest assured, we went to Walmart that night and got some groceries.  Cereal was at the top of the list!

The weights we missed Monday were maxes for bench and squat.  We did those today, and I got 80 for bench and 145 for squat.  To get a max we have to be able to lift the weight 3 times instead of just once like the rest of the world.  I don't really get it, but oh well.  Practice is going to be hard today... good thing I've had breakfast!

I Don't Want To Think Of A Title

The time has come.  After 2 years, I finally have to buy shampoo.  The last time I bought shampoo was the beginning of my sophomore year.  Once I finished that off I had enough free samples that I got online and little bottles from track meet hotels to last me until now.  It has been so long... I won't know where to begin.  Should I get one that makes my hair shiny, or go with a volumizing kind to help my flat as a pancake do.  Maybe I will get a "damage control" shampoo to help with the breakage and split ends.  I have been having trouble with that since I only get my hair cut like twice a year.  I can't remember... Do shampoos have different scents like body wash does?  Should I get a fruity smell so I'll be tempted to eat my hair when I get whiffs of it?  I just don't know.  I feel like I'm going to be standing on the shampoo aisle with so many option in front of me... just imagine David looking at Goliath.  But! If it goes anything like that story, I will conquer the wall of bottles and go home a champion.
I got my Big Brother Big Sister application forms yesterday in the mail.  One step closer! Too bad my interview isn't for another 2 weeks.  Andrew said he and his little have hung out twice and they had a really good time. 

Thursday night and Friday morning I caught up on my monthly crafting.  I did the 4s for the Artist Playing Cards, 2 ATCs for the theme "green", and one for the color black.

I'm not really sure what the plans for today are, but I know we are going to the first hockey game tonight. Go Chargers!

Less Test Stress Please!

Today I had my first test of the semester.  Unfortunately I have another test tomorrow, and then another on Thursday.  I was lucky enough to have my 4th test next week on Monday.  Today's test was Theatre, and I'm pretty sure I got an A.  I made note cards and study study studied.  I wish my other classes were that easy. 

Today I called Big Brother Big Sister and made an appointment for my first interview.  I am excited to get involved in this program.  I've wanted to since I was in elementary school watching Arthur.  Buster had a "big brother", and I thought that was so cool.  Hopefully everything works out.  A guy on the team, Andrew, went to meet his little for the first time today.  Exciting!

While I would love to sit here and come up with more to say, I have a Thermodynamics test to study for.  I am terrified!

Just An ATC

Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

First off I would like to start off with a Happy (yesterday) Birthday to my MIL, Karen. She is a wonderful in law, and after seeing many movies and hearing real life horror stories I know I am greatly blessed. Not every girl is lucky enough to have her husband's mother like her.

Luke, Brad, and I are currently watching the Godfather trilogy. Last weekend we watched part 1, this past weekend was part 2, and hopefully Netflix will have part 3 here by this weekend. After the first one I had Godfather dreams the entire night. The second one... oh, don't get me started on the second one! It is SO LOOOOONG. It actually came on 2 disks. How is that even possible?! The Sound of Music took 2 VHS tapes, but only one disk. The Godfather Part 2 on VHS must have been 4 videos. What a nightmare to rewind!

Today I went to talk to my theatre teacher about an assignment, and after we discussed it he mentioned that there was an open chorus part if I wanted it. I'm going to the auditorium at 7 for the read through. I won't have any lines, but he said if I wanted to do it and wasn't busy to go. At least I'll her hours for my class.

I know I don't really talk about my other classes, but honestly there isn't much to say. They make me tired just thinking about them. On that note, I'm going to go close my eyes for a bit.

Sunshine, Daisies, Butter Mellow...

Yesterday was a good day. I got some ATCs done (shown below) and the Kangaroo actually had the cherry slushie. It all went so swimmingly until after my shower. Luke and I were getting ready to go to TGIFridays for a date, and I checked my email. I got an email about the play, but I wasn't cast. It is okay because I didn't really expect anything, but nobody likes to feel rejected. I was sad, so Luke was trying extra hard to make me laugh. Of course, he didn't have any trouble with that, and cheered me over dinner. Then we went to the mall (to PacSun) and then to Target. We looked at microwaves in Target, but we didn't like any of those. When Stephanie moves out this weekend, she is taking her microwave with her. I think we will check Bed Bath and Beyond today or tomorrow. The first thing on the agenda for today though is the track team lake party at Coach Cain's dad's lake house. Last year was a good time, but he had to fly home for a funeral so this will be his first. I look forward to meeting the freshman and trying to learn their names. Here are the APC (Artist Playing Cards) I made yesterday. The entire deck will be a monthly process.

Twas Brilling and the Slithy Toves

Dear Mom and Dad,

I am in love! ... with my theatre class. No I'm not in love with the teacher. Just the class. After 3 years of college I have found a class I can actually pay attention in, and I actually look forward to attending. I'm going to run away with it and get married. Engineering Smengineering... that crap is boring. I know I wont have any money and I'll only have my flees to keep me company, but mine and Theatre's passion runs so deep that we can live off love alone...

Ha! Just kidding... kind of. It is my favorite class though. I have to write a scene (due next Tuesday) that I have to write about a conversion I wish I'd had, but I just let is pass me by. I have no idea what to do! Sure I have hundreds of conversations I wish I would have been brave enough to start, but I am honestly stuck. I don't really want to go with an angry one, or even a sappy one. But then I don't want it to be boring. I was hoping typing about it would help, but my light bulb is still dark.

I locked myself out of the house today. I was ready to go to my hydrology class and as I started down the steps I realized I forgot my purse, and I need my liscense to drive. Wait a minit... my keys are in there too! Crud. So I called Luke and told him to come let me in. Good thing he wan't doing anthing important, or I would have been walking all the stinkin way to Tech Hall. I would have been late if the teacher hadn't also been late. I walked in right behind him and sat down. Thank you little scooter!

And now, for ATC time... and then to convince myself to go on a run.

Magazine ATC Swap

Here are the pictures of the magazine ATCs that were sent to my by those who wanted to share. Enjoy!

tagorlily1

shorterthanu44

sunzorch

lorootaku
shorterthanu44
catrad

Well, that is all that were sent to me. There were many more participants, but that's it for now. Next time I host this swap I plan to make an Altered Magazine ATC and and Unaltered Magazine ATC instead of USA and International. Hopefully you will all join again! ~shorterthanu44

And Again is Begins

I have officially been to all my classes. We started school yesterday so I have now been to all four and I must say that Theatre Appreciation is by far my favorite so far. My Thermodynamics teacher is so bland and dry... like toast. My teacher is a nerdy piece of toast. Thermo is my last mechanics class I have to take (Thank the Lord), but I know it is going to be hard and I am going to hate it. My Hydrology class (finally something in the civil department!) seems like it won't be too bad. The teacher is comical in the way that he reminds me of Bullwinkle. I think it will be my second favorite class. Structural Analysis will come in third place because it is civil, but not very interesting. My professor (Dr. Ashraf Z. Al Hamdan) has a fast paced mumble so I will definatly have to read the book. I thought it was funny that theatre app was the last class I went to, because it just goes to show that I am obsessed with saving the best for last. I think that is the best way to live life. Always end on a good note whether it is a meal or talent show, you should always go out with a bang. For this class we are required to attend the two major "plays" on campus (I " " because one is a play and the other is an opera), write our own play (it only has to be a 3 page scene), devote 10 hours to theatre whether it be helping make sets, being in the play, or just going to see them, and write a 6 page paper. Of course there is reading, quizzes, and tests but that isn't the interesting part. For my 10 hours I would love more than anything to try out and be cast in it, but I forced myself to realize that I honestly don't have the hours to put into it. I know this is true, but I think I also found this reason becasue I'm slightly afraid of the rejection. The only two plays I've been in were because my aunt casted them. The first one hardly counts for anything because I was a prop and had to sit around most the time. I also decided that I don't have the time for it because I remembered the fantastic slap of exhaustion at the end of each day during Alice in Wonderland. I think I will try out simply because I get "hours" for it. For the 6 page paper, we can substitute it with 10 more hours and I really don't want to write. I wonder if going to see Cirque counts. There will be a show here is September and Luke and I want to go. I'm really excited about it.

I would write more, but it is now time for me to go run. Hopefully those tortilla chips aren't still taking a tour through my digestive system. Stomach cramps while running are the worst.

92 Qs

I saw this on a swap-bot swap and decided to do it. The swap host got it from Facebook.
WHAT WAS YOUR:
1. Last beverage: Coke
2. Last phone call: My mom
3. Last text message: My Coke Rewards
4. Last song you listened to: The Lazy Song. I can't stand that song
5. Last time you cried: I can't remember
HAVE YOU EVER:
6. Dated someone twice: Yes
7. Been cheated on: Yes
8. Kissed someone & regretted it: Yes
9. Lost someone special: Yes
10. Been depressed for a long time: A really long time ago
11. Been drunk and threw up: Ew... No
LIST THREE FAVORITE COLORS:
12. GREEN!
13. Gray
14. Not really sure about the third one
LAST YEAR (2010) HAVE YOU:
15. Made a new friend: Yes
16. Fallen out of love: Nope
17. Laughed until you cried: Yes
18. Met someone who changed you: Nope
19. Found out who your true friends were: Somewhat
20. Found out someone was talking about you: Yes
21. Kissed anyone on your FB friend's list: Kind of a dumb question, but I guess so
GENERAL:
22. How many people on your FB friends list do you know in real life: All of them.
24. Do you have any pets: 3 dogs at home
25. Do you want to change your name: Yes. I wish I had gone with Rogina-Beck
26. What did you do for your last birthday: Luke and I went to Buffalo Wild Wings and then to a basketball game on campus
27. What time did you wake up today: 10. Late
28. What were you doing at midnight last night: Sleeping
29. Name something you CANNOT wait for: For Luke and I to get a dog
30. Last time you saw your mother: Before I came to Alabama the last week of June
31. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life: I wish I was braver. Is that a word or does it just sound strange in my head?
32. What are you listening to right now: The sounds of Luke and Brad skateboarding
33. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: Yes. My dad's friend.
34. What's getting on your nerves right now: At the moment... Not a thing.
35. Most visited webpage: Hotmail of Facebook
37. Nickname: Lo-Ro
38. Relationship Status: Married
39. Zodiac sign: Pisces
40. He or She: Not sure what the question is, but I go with I'm a she.
41. Elementary: It was Royse City Elementary back then, but it has been renamed since then
42. High School: RCHS
43. College: UAH. Where even the frat boys are dorks
44. Hair color: Light brown
45. Long hair or short hair: Long. Very Long. Too Long.
46. Height: 5'2" Wouldn't want any more or less
47. Do you have a crush on someone: My Hubs... and JJ Barea :)
48. What do you like about yourself: That I'm easy going
49. Piercings: Ears and cartilage
50. Tattoos: None but considering one
51. Righty or lefty: Righty tighty
FIRSTS:
52. First surgery: I only remember the one for my hernia.
53. First piercing: Ears. I don't remember getting it done though. I was really young. I remember going to get them, but don't remember it happening.
54. First best friend: Chelsea Dunn
55. First sport you joined: Foot races in Kindgarden. I could beat the boys back then so I stuck with it.
56. First vacation: Don't know. I would have been too young to remember
58. First pair of trainers: Brooks Adrenalin. The same shoes I get year after year.
RIGHT NOW:
59. Eating: Chewing on my thoughts.
60. Drinking: Coke. I'm upset that they got rid of the cherry slushie at the Kangaroo.
61. I'm about to: Finish this list of questions.
62. Listening to: The sounds of Luke and Brad skateboarding
63. Waiting for: Them to get bored with this spot and go somewhere else on campus
YOUR FUTURE:
64. Want kids: Eventually. Not ready for that yet though
65. Get Married: Already am
66. Career: I just want a job I actually like. Is that too much to ask for?
WHICH IS BETTER :
67. Lips or eyes: Eyes
68. Hugs or kisses: Depends on who they are from.
69. Shorter or taller: If it's a tree taller. If it's a shelf shorter
70. Older or Younger: If it's a cartoon older. If it's a cooked steak younger
71. Romantic or spontaneous: Spontaneous. It's more fun
72. Nice stomach or nice arms: Erm... Arms I guess. I feel like this is a silly question
73. Sensitive or loud: Luke is neither...
74. Hook-up or relationship: Relationship. Duh
75. Trouble maker or hesitant: They both sound annoying
HAVE YOU EVER:
76. Kissed a stranger: Nope
77. Drank hard liquor: Does tequila in a margarita count?
78. Lost glasses/contacts: I've never had either.
79. Hug on first date: Yes. Is that too far?
80. Broke someone's heart: Yes. Sorry
81. Had your own heart broken: Who hasn't?
82. Been arrested: Nope
83. Turned someone down: Yes Yes Yes
84. Cried when someone died: Pets yes
85. Fallen for a friend: Yes. When Harry Met Sally says its impossible not to
DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
86. Yourself: Mostly
87. Miracles: Fo Sho
88. Love at first sight: I don't know about that.
89. Heaven: Yes
90. Santa Claus: Well my parents are Santa Clause and they are real
91. Kiss on the first date: Depends on who the date is with
92. Angels: Yes

I hope this wasn't too boring. That's all folks

I Can't Think of a Title...

Yesterday Luke and I went with some friends to the river. We had a good time going off the rope swing and riding around in the boat. I even skied for the very first time. The hardest part was stabilizing yourself while sitting still in the water. It was actually pretty easy to get up and ride. I made it up my first time, but my arms got tired after a while so I just let go. My hips and shoulders are sore today from it.

I joined an ATC swap a while back that was an Alice in Wonderland mega swap. We had to make 9 specific cards that comprised of Alice, White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, Red Queen, White Queen, Caterpillar, Eat Me Drink Me, and Tea Party. I used the Cheshire Cat that I made a long time ago, but the rest I will post.

I traced most of them on a light board, and Danni drew the bottle for me on the Eat Me Drink Me card. I printed off the caterpillar to trace it because I didn't like the picture in the book. When I got frustrated with tracing it I just cut him cut and glued him down. I'm unhappy now with the Queens. I made these before I understood that the Red Queen and the Queen of Hearts were different people. The Red and White Queens are chess pieces. The Queen of Hearts is a card. The first two are in the second book... Through the Looking Glass. Now I feel like I must share this knowledge with the rest of the world.

Stuck in a Rut

Before Luke drove home after the wedding I found a broken pot hiding under a tree in his back yard. Well... I took it in hopes of fixing it and giving it new life. A few days ago I remembered it and pulled the plastic bag of ceramic bits out along with some super glue. This is what I had before.

And this is the after. The pot is sitting upside down because that was the easiest way to fit the pieces together, and the glue was still drying.

Unfortunately, either I missed 2 pieces that were hiding in the dirt, or they were gone. So now the pot is incomplete and I don't know what to do with it.

What a bummer. I was so excited about the design, and as I was fitting all the bits together it dawned on me that something wasn't right. Any ideas on what to do with it?

Last week I cooked ropa vieja on Monday, Grandma Squire's potato soup recipe on Tuesday, and a Campbell's recipe for herb roasted chicken with vegetables. They were all easy enough to make and turned out pretty good. Yesterday (Monday) I decided to make Aunt Margie's goulash, and while it ended up tasty, I had a terrible time making it. It was just one of those times where everything went wrong. I don't know what started it, but my brain was so frazzled that darling husband had to swoop in for the rescue. It is honestly a very easy recipe. I just had a few loose screws when I started.

The past week before bed Luke reads Harry Potter (he is reading the entire series and is on book 2 now), and I craft in some form or fashion. Last night as I was folding magazine pages (to make one of those bowls) I announced, "I need a break." Luke stopped reading and asked, "From what?" With certainty I replied, "ATCs." He looked shocked! I love ATCs, but it is so hard for me lately to work on them. I hate to admit it, but I think I might be burning out. I am in a creative rut and just thinking about forcing myself to sit down and make one makes me resent it even more. I'm finishing out the swaps that partners have been assigned, and I think I'm calling it quits. BUT! Only until I'm out of my rut though. I'll stick to folding magazine pages until I find my groove again.

I'm going to keep posting my ATCs that I've made though. Here is one I made for a Bob Marley Lyrics swap.

Wands, Witches, Wizards... and Paper

We went to see Harry Potter in IMAX 3D last night, and it was amazing. Even though it barely followed the book, it was beautifully done. They stuck to the jist of the story, but even the scenes they included were done completely different. Aside from the book, I loved the movie. I was disapointed in the IMAX theatre though. I have been to a real IMAX before and it was increadable. This was more like a giant screen with intense surround sound. This one still looked better then regular 3D though.

Yesterday I went to my first scrapbooking class. These are the layouts we made. We followed the general pattern and then changed them up slightly however we wanted.


Today Luke and I are going to watch the women's World Cup final. Go USA!!!! We have been watching the games since group play, so it is really exciting to see everything that has happened. All the drama and the amazing plays. I've been looking forward to this since Wednesday.

Now for my ATCs. The first one I made for the lovely Yuzz, and the other for a color green themed swap. I think it is better than the first one I made like this for a different green swap.

Skateboards, Golf balls, & Onion Tears

Happy National Nude Day! When I looked up what today's holiday was on holidayinsights.com I had the choice between National Nude Day and Pandemonium Day. Nude Day sounded less hectic, but if you choose to celebrate it in public I would go to a place where is it accepted... or just stay home if I were you.

I started running on Monday so I was sore Tuesday. After I ran Tuesday the soreness meter went up a few notches. Wednesday morning was torture until I ran. After the run I started feeling better, but sitting down and going down stairs were still problematic. This morning I can see the light at the end of the "Time to start working out" tunnel. I think this evenings run will be much better. However... I'm not looking forward to starting weights. Then the process will just start over again.

A few nights ago Luke and Passen wanted to do something so they finally decided to deal with the pile of skateboards in the living room. They used scraps of plywood and 2x4s to build them a skateboard rack. It looks really good, and the living room is another step closer to being finished.

Yesterday we went to Funtasia and played put put golf. It was a lot of fun (even though I'm no good) and there was a cat there that I fell in love with. She was pretty young. I don't think even a full year old. She was completely black with green/yellow eyes, and so sweet! If our landlord would allow pets I would bring her home. I prefer dogs, but at this point in our lives a low maintenance cat would be better. Alas, it is better to not have to pay for all the other expenses that come with a pet while we are in college. Gosh I miss our animals!!!!!!!!

I guess I'll show 2 ATCs since I forgot to include one last time. I joined a swap where I had to make 20 ATCs and send them to 20 different people. This is what I made. Unfortunately the picture won't upload the correct way, so it is sideways.

This is all of them finished

This is the original one I made, but I didn't have enough of this paper to make 20 of them. This one actually loaded the correct direction.

I saw the swap as an opportunity to spread awareness on HIV/AIDS. Visit joinred.com for information about the campaign.

I almost forgot... I bought an onion chopper yesterday. No more crying in the kitchen! I imagine pepper spray to feel like onion fumes. TORTURE! I am more than pleased with my purchase.

Harry Potter and Honeymoons

Harry Potter marathon! We watched the first four yesterday and we are currently on the 6th one right now. Luke and I are looking forward to the 8th movie coming out. The theatres around here are doing midnight showings in all of their theatres. Every one of the showings are sold out. One theatre is even doing a double feature. They are showing the 7th movie and the the 8th right after. These two movies make up the seventh book. One of these double features starts at 9 and the other at 12. Not one of them at 9 and the other at 12. There will be a double feature at both of those times. Whoever goes to the midnight showing isn't going to be home until 5 in the morning! They must be crazy.

Luke and I had a lovely time on our honeymoon. We went to Lookout Mountain, GA. It is actually in Georgia, but halfway down the mountain you cross into Tennessee where everything to do is in Chattanooga. We went to Rock City Gardens which was amazing. There were trails going through insane rack formations and beautiful gardens. It was awesome. We also went to Dinner in the Diner. It is an old train car made into a restaurant. The food was delicious! The area was actually an old train station and all the cars were turned into different things. There were other restaurants, and some you could stay in like a hotel room. That could be a fun place to stay if we so choose to go back. There was lots more to do in Chattanooga. I hope we get to go back again sometime.

I have planned to make dinner a few nights this week. After we finish this HP movie I'm making Luke go to Walmart with me and get the stuff I need. Hopefully all goes well.

Tired of Coughing

Yesterday Luke and I were watching a firework show in New York on TV, and it was CrAzY! It made us wonder if other countries celebrate their independence day as hard as we do. Decorations everywhere, people inviting all their friends over to grill and play, firework shows that cost a fortune that are synced to music. There is so much preparation that goes into that single day. Here at the Beck and crew house we had fajitas and jumped on the trampoline. We scootered over to a spot on campus where we caught the finale of one of the firework shows off in the distance.

On Sunday we went with Ethan to the river and met Andrew and Adam. Adam had his daughter, Fallon, there, and she loved me. It was a really good time. I got to wear my big white hat and sit in the shallow water playing with Fallon. I also rode the jet ski a bit and played on the rope swing. I'm sure we will return before the summer was over.

Today Luke and I watched two women's world cup games. England beat Japan, and Germany beat France. Yay! USA plays Sweden tomorrow to see who has to play Brazil. Yikes.

The house is really coming together. Thanks to my awesome organizing powers each room is starting to look better. Our dresser that we stained looks good in our room... except for the spots we missed. We didn't do the strips between the drawers because we didn't realize the drawer edges didn't touch until we put them back and noticed the bright light wood shining through.

And now for my ATC of the day. This one is titled Song Bird.

Home With Hubs

I am happy to be back in Bama with Luke, but I had a wonderful seven weeks in Texas. I ATC'd my heart out with Danni, I'm sure we watched Moulin Rouge a million times, the wedding was lots of fun, Paige's wedding was lots of fun, I got the be Alice in Alice in Wonderland, and I was so happy to see all of my family that I rarely get to see. Now that I'm here I have been cleaning and organizing this house. I was sick the first two days, so I didn't do much. I rearranged the kitchen, so everyone is a little lost right now looking for silverware or a pan. It was honestly really bad. I thought I might go crazy. Everyone agreed to it though, so they can get used to the new configuration. After I was done being sick, Luke got whatever I had which is strange because Luke never gets sick. Someone at the camp passed it around because Frankie and Danni were sick too. I wonder who else got it.

As for the camp... I had a great time, and even though I was exhausted at the end of every day the performances were well received. The best part was the little girls that swarmed me after the show. One girl just kept saying Alice! and grinning really big. Another had her picture taken with me. I actually scared one little girl during the Jabberwoky scene. Poor thing. Now I can add my script to my collection of Alice books. There are 5 now and still working on it. They aren't all Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I have one very large book the Danni gave me. It is all of Lewis Carroll's works including Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and Through the Looking Glass. I have Alice in Zombieland which I'm reading now. Alice I Have Been which is a book about the real Alice Liddle, that Rev. Dodgson(Lewis Carroll) named the book after, as an older woman. My script of Alice in Wonderland. I also have another Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, but it had become my decomposition book. I want to get the Looking Glass Wars books because they are amazing. There is also a manga series of Alice themed books I might get. It will just keep growing because it is such a wide spread story. I like reading the original Lewis Carroll books and knowing all the words they are going to say. I have been saying lines from the play all week.

I have so many ATCs to post. I will add them one at a time. I painted this one with gouache paint.

Yesterday Luke and I stained our dresser. Once we finish it (hopefully today) I can finish organising the disaster of a room we have right now. Luke, Brad, and I went for a ride. Luke and I on scooters and Brad on the GoPed. Then we jumped on the trampoline for a while. Then we went to the mall and played black light put put golf. I won with the biggest score! Luke actually won with the lowest.

Luke and I are going to church today, so I guess I'll go shower and get ready now.

Blog Challenge Day 4

For my last "What inspires me?" I'm going with what I've got on the brain right now. I watched the Mavs game tonight, so I thought I'd show you what they inspired me to make.

They are 3 games into the finals right now, but only have one win. It's okay though. I believe in my team!!! Beat the Heat!

I'm going to sleep now... We are leaving at 5 am tomorrow for San Marcus. My sister has freshman orientation!

Blog Challenge Day 3

I can't decide if today was really long, or way too short. Time seems to have then effect sometimes. It is full of tricks and illusions that make you wonder things like, "How long was I asleep," or "It's already over?!" I found out a few days ago that June is the official "birth month" of AIDS. This wicked disease turns 30 this month. 30! That doesn't sound very old, but when put into perspective... It's not as young as you think. Today's medicine is so advanced it really blows my mind when I think about the crazy things they have accomplished. Improved methods for surgeries that were potentially dangerous in the past, having a better understanding of how to help someone rid of the microscopic killer that is destroying their body, and even knocking out many vicious, life claiming diseases all together. With HIV/AIDS there is no cure. It is easier to keep people alive longer these days, but it is such a complicated disease that any person who has it is promised death by it. It is like the perfect virus. The doctors come up with one drug, and it mutates to help it avoid the drug and stay alive. It is impossible to create just one drug because it changes and gets stronger with every new person it infects. This brings me to what inspires me...

Causes

Even though we are not all as rich as Magic Johnson and have the best medicine money can offer, there are causes out there fighting to help make life better for those with illness. I'm not just talking about HIV/AIDS though. The American Cancer Society, Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, The National Marrow Donor Program, and Living Water International are all amazing causes that will never give up hope. They raise money and awareness to help create a better future. Every time I eat Yoplait and the lid is pink I save it to send in. I play games on Free Rice to help send food to hungry children in other countries. Reading the stories of others and seeing what I can do to help is inspiring because it bring hope into a place that fosters so many hopeless and broken soles. Even though the cure for HIV/AIDS seems to be so far away, researchers have found that children born via C section to mother who have the disease are born free of the virus. There is a new goal of having every child born AIDS free by 2015. Tell me that doesn't get you Inspi(red) too.

Blog Challenge - Day 2

This morning when I woke up at 7:30 I decided that I didn't want to go back to sleep like I usually do. Instead I got up and had a small cup of coffee. I just love the mugs at my house. There are so many different ones, but the one I used this morning is one that I remember us having a long long time ago... in a galaxy far far away. I remember when I was first old enough to understand it, and it still cracks me up today.

Anyways... before my tangent, I was talking about waking up. After I got a bit of coffee, I grabbed my decomposition book and a pen, and went outside. I sat on the concrete and watched the sun climb up the sky. It was beautiful and the weather felt so amazing. Here in Texas, this is the only time it will feel this amazing in the summer. This is what brings me to "What inspires me?"....

The Morning

I love the morning. I can think more clearly and something about it makes me feel more alive. I sat there for a while and wrote in my decomposition book. It wasn't really anything important or interesting. Just whatever thoughts came into my head. I'm sure they will get painted over later, but it felt nice to just write. Then I took a few pictures. I love the long shadows that the low sun casts, the sparkling dew, and the gentle brightness that seems to sharpen my mind. Once I went back inside I was ready to create.

Blog Challenge Day 1

Here I am... procrastinating as usual. Between the wedding and Danni's grad party, I had a very busy 2 weeks. This week has become very lazy because of that. I have barely crafted all week. I guess I will get on with the blog challenge now. The topic is... hang on. I'm still trying to decide.

Okay... I've got it. Things that inspire me. Today I will start with someone that is a musical genius. My sister and I watched an interview with her yesterday and then one of her concerts.

Lady GaGa

Watching her wild concert was just amazing. There wasn't a dull moment! The interview was great. Her story is truly inspiring. She was the kid that got thrown in the dumpster because she was different. She played classical piano growing up, and when her dad gave her Bruce Springsteen sheet music it changed her life. I was amazed by the whole thing. Afterward I was able to go get some ATCs in. I read on Talk2TheTrees that if you watch, listen to, or even look at something that inspires you in any way, it will spark your imagination and get you out of a creative slump. Today I started my ATCs for the Alice in Wonderland Mega Swap. I'm now finished with the Cheshire cat, and the white rabbit. Only 7 more to go. Sorry... no pictures today.

Wedding Countdown: 3 days

I forgot to mention on the last two posts that the flower ball I made is slightly larger than a golf ball. I realized it is hard to tell just by the picture.

Now for my creation of the day. This ATC is for the Cuban half of me. For this swap I had two partners, but I had to make an extra for myself.

I can't wait to see my husband tomorrow! I am so proud of him... he is going to nationals in the pole vault for the third time. This time, however, there will be 4 more of our team mates joining him. The first time he went, he was all alone. The second time it was him and Latrice. This time it will be him, Latrice, Jennifer, Andrew, and Will. Good luck to all of them next weekend in Turlock, CA!

I Love Vanilla Coke!!!

Today I went to my mom's PreK classroom to help out. The kids always do something funny or tell me something amusing, but today took the cake. I found myself with an admirer, and he made me these

I also have a few crafts to show you. After my failure with the twisted cloth flowers the other day, I decided the next day to try again. I used the same piece with glue on it for my first try just in case I messed it up again. Of course I had another glue mishap, but I ended up finishing it and then making one more. They aren't that great, but here they are.

Today I made a few ATCs, and I just now realized I forgot to take a picture of one of the Zentangle flower. Oh well. I'll just have to show you my very first fabric ATC. I used a tiny sewing machine! The border is the leftover from the Crown Royal bag that I used for the flower. The blue is a screen cleaner. Not too shabby for my first try.

Craft Creations

The craft blogs I looked at yesterday inspired me to start trying a bunch of different tutorials. Yesterday I decided to make a paper flower ball. It took forever! but I was pleased with the end result. I used a piece of 12x12 scrapbook paper and went to work ripping it into a little larger than 3.5 cm squares. Then lots of origami.... lots and lots of folding. I had to make each petal, use 5 petals to make 1 flower, and 12 flowers to make the entire ball. 60 petals! I think I might have lost my mind if the folding was complicated at all.

Today I made this flower I found, but it's lame. I didn't want to use my scrapbook paper so I cut out of a magazine.

So I decided to try making one of those fabric flower. The first method I tried to follow wasn't working for me, so I looked around for a few more. I used a Crown Royal bag for the purple cloth. I wound it up and liked how it looked, so I went to get some glue to put the thing together. I found the hot glue gun, but no glue sticks. Then I found the mini glue sticks, but now mini hot glue gun. After searching and searching I got really annoyed and decided to find something else. I found a tube of Scotch Maximum Strength Adhesive, but I couldn't get the stupid lid off!! I considered Gorilla glue, but there were too many warnings on the label and I didn't want to deal with it. As I was considering super glue I saw a can of a spray on adhesive, and fabric was on the label's approved list. To keep from making a mess in the house I went outside and sat on the concrete with cardboard to work on. Of course... I MESSED IT UP!!! I sprayed it on, but made one wrong move and the flower popped open and unwound. I made a desperate attempt to fix it, but the damage was done. Now my fingers are sticky, purple and fuzzy. I am done attempting to craft today. I'll stick with my lame flower and move on. Maybe I'll watch Tres Caballeros to make me feel better.