Pretty Pretty Pillows :)

So, the reason I was 'treating' myself to a surprise yesterday was because my World Market birthday coupon was about to expire and I thought I had given myself clear (albeit, internal) instructions to spend the free money ($10) on something small yet fabulous, and walk away a winner. But no. Check out these gorgeous throw pillows to see the culprit behind my $59 (although formerly $69) birthday surprise purchase. Surprise! You're an idiot. World Market wins again. 

Tuesday, Shmoozday...

So, it's becoming more and more apparent that my dedication to this blog has a striking resemblance to the kind of effort I've poured into various diaries and journals throughout the years- now abandoned, forgotten, and growing old in a dusty corner of the universe. But fear not, I have rebooted my brain (thanks to the first month of my Happiness Project) and am ready to rededicate myself to whomever actually reads this from time to time (hi, mom).

It's actually surprising that I've been so absent lately seeing as I've had so much on my mind and virtually no one to talk to. Amy has moved back to St.Louis indefinitely leaving me to fend off loneliness monsters that follow me around the house and devour me at night when I realize no one is going to be eating soup with me, or watching Four of a Kind, or stealing my bobby pins. So, to get some sleep, I spend the night at a friends house watching movies and becoming more than friends. Which brings me to the next thing that's on my mind (not the boy- you won't find any juicy deets here. Although, I think he might be stealing my bobby pins now). I've been mildly consumed lately by solidifying my official list of People I Want To Be. The other night we watched Salt- you know, the one where Angelina Jolie is accused of being a Russian spy plotting to kill the president? Well, anyways, I want to be her. It started off as CIA Agent Salt, but I'd also settle for the real Angelina Jolie.  Emma Watson/Hermione Granger was the first to make the list back in 2001 when I saw Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone- an epic film for any young aspiring witch, waiting for her letter from Hogwarts. Taylor Swift's Bestie 'Abigail' is on the list for the obviously fact that she can hang with t-swizzle whenever she pleases, but it's her shameless performance in a hilarious YouTube video that sold me a couple years back. Most recently (aka: this afternoon), I added Selena Gomez cuz she's gorgeous and is/has/was/whatever dating Justin Bieber which I feel is a pretty big frick'n accomplishment considering how many crazed 10 and 11 year olds she's up against. Her newest song 'Who Says' captures that 'girl-power' hunger that just hasn't been properly satisfied since the days of Hilary Duff (judge if you must). In fact, to illustrate just how much I love this song, my favorite CD right now is the disk I burned of just 4 songs- all of which are, you guessed it, WHO SAYS! So, yea, I wanna be her. There's more of course: Kate Middleton, Carrie Underwood, Princess Jasmine, Rachel Ray... the list goes on. But I think that's enough idol sharing for now.

It's time for me to stop fantasizing and start making things happen! Whoooo! Big plans ahead: shower, dishes, vacuum, and surprise trip to World Market! Okay, well the trip is not a surprise- but whatever I buy myself will be a surprise. I'll let you know what I find tomorrow. Until then, peace out, girl scout!

I'm a big girl now!

So, in my last weeks as a 22 year old, I've notice that I'm slowly but surely morphing into an 'adult.'

'Whatever do you mean, April? you ARE an adult.'

            Wrongo. BUT, I have been up to some adult things. Here's a list from just this week:

•  Pick up a friend from the airport
•  Become a Price Chopper Card holder
•  Make crab cakes (and sauce) from scratch
•  Pay my own credit card bill
•  Become an avid recycler
•  Spend good money on furniture you don't need to assemble
•  Buy and wear a knee-length dress (that's still cute)
•  Simultaneously pee, text, and hold a baby (can't explain it, but i felt strangely mature)

Still need to:

•  Clip and use a coupon
•  Get a 9-5
•  Make a casserole
•  Read the news
•  Learn how to get to Walmart without using the GPS

Zzzz

I enter this haven, cold, but mine,

Sleepily disposing the evening’s dress to a cluttered corner.

Outside, the sky has dimmed to nothing

And I find you lain across my bed

Waiting for my want of you.

To this skin, be comfort’s soft touch.

To this corpse, wrap warm around me.

Your muted fragrance of spring and cotton sings me to sleep

And stays till I’m waken by the sun’s golden kiss.

Thanks for the cuddle session last night. I love you, Snuggie!!!!!

Hey hey heyyyyyyy!

Wondering why I haven't posted anything in the past month? Here's a very official looking line graph to explain:

That being said, March has been neither kind nor cruel to me. No major changes to report on, except that I bought some new bowls the other day.

In other kitchen news, I have two new favorite eats:
1) Bread, cream cheese, sliced tomatoes, salt & pepper
2) Sandwich with honey roasted turkey, provolone cheese, and granny smith apple slices- it's kind of the bee's knees, just say'n.

And These Are A Few of My Favorite Things

My biggest advice for happiness right now would have to be surrounding yourself with things you love. If you watch as many interior decorating and/or makeover shows as I do, you've heard this a thousand times and then some. But I swear, it REALLY works. And not only should you invest in things you like, but don't waste money or space on things that are less than amazing- the clutter just sucks out the beauty of your really great pieces. 

When I first started planning out how my living room would look, I chose safe colors. It was going to be a pretty space with a soft kind of comfort, but it lacked the personality that I was afraid to put in a room that would be used and viewed more than any other in the house. Late one night, I decided to start a new swatch board just for fun- the kind of room I'd create for myself if I had total control. And then that's when it hit me- I DO have total control. Yeah, a lot of people will see this space, but not as often as I will. And the people that come through my home will hopefully be fans of the kind of person I am, so it makes sense that they would appreciate and possibly love a room that actually reflects who I am and what I truly like- no, not like- LOVE.

Loves of my life:
- Books
- The color purple
- Beta fish
- Frida Kahlo
- Photos/art
- Flowers
- Shiny things
- Lace
- And, of course, my seeeeeeeeeeester!

Sooooo..... want to see how this concept looks/works in my life? Here's new and improved living room.

Something Old In Someplace New

Just this past Christmas my family and I made our annual trek from St. Louis to Texas to visit relatives. Excluding the cramped, seven-person, fourteen-hour car ride, it was- per the usual- a great way to spend the holidays. The three long days were a simple kind of fun- hot biscuts in the morning, presents in the afternoon, football in the back yard, good food all around, and naps as I pleased. But the absolute best part about the trip was the opportunity to scavenger for antiques in my grandparents' basement and attic. Among these dusty gems were an old fashioned coat rack, a wooden rocking chair, a gold clock in a fancy case, a bronze kettle, and this desk and mirror. Makes me feel kindda cool to have such old, family oriented pieces that are highly unlikely to be found in someone else's home (especially once I paint them purple). Plus, they're free!

Sometimes I'm just Sketchy...

I recently finished my small contribution to The Sketchbook Project. I had a lot of fun with it, and definitely appreciated having another outlet to spill some creative juices into from time to time. I can't wait to see this exhibit and checkout everyone's books!!!!!! If you want a preview of how mine turned out, scroll on down!

Copy: A little bird sits on a line, ready for a song.

But where are all his birdie friends he needs to sing along?

Are they snoozing in their houses? Are they snuggling in their nest?

If early birds get the worm what happens to the rest?

Copy: I think I'd like to live in a museum. I'd be taken care of, beautiful, inspiring, AND appreciated. I could be a painting you could feel yourself floating towards until you fall inside to escape the world. I could be a photo- a moment so important it couldn't be sacrificed to the laws of time and change. Or maybe a statue! A seemingly ordinary statue a young girl happens to notice more than any others- enough to sit, sketch, and imagine a life for someone she's not sure really ever existed... a life for me. 

Copy: A flower lives inside a vase-

Pretty, but alone. 

Does it yearn for garden friends

Whilst sitting in your home?

A shiny vase cages beauty, 

Unfolding petals glow. 

Protected and adored inside, 

She can no longer grow. 

Copy: I''m writing from a rooftop, 

Potted plants my company. 

I look unto a city,

And its rooftops stare at me. 

Fresh green grapes from market men, 

No shoes upon my feet. 

Pajama pants- a comfort blanket, 

Wooden bench- my seat. 

Prague is yawning, sun is setting, 

Clouds turn pearl to grey. 

A light breeze blows my smoky hair, 

And carries stress away. 

It's a funny feeling 

To forget how to be sad. 

To finally feel each moment, 

Is the best you've ever had. 

Copy: The plane ride was great. I love looking down at the shrinking squares of cluttered city life and seeing a million green blankets of nothing but breathing room. So often I feel like we are running out of space, like the planet is being weighed down by the mass of an overpopulated race. But a view from the sky tells a different story and I am comforted by the emptiness- an escape on the edge of chaos, waiting for me... to jump.

Extreme Makeover: Chair Edition

Years ago- maybe five or six- I read about this girl who lived in a cellar, tied to a chair. She wasn't allowed to stand, walk, or breathe in summer air. She couldn't speak and she never showered or wore clothes. If she had any understanding or comprehension of her tragic existence in that dark hole, she must have thought she was born into hell- an experiment of the devil, crazed by authority and power. 

If I had to spend my days sitting in a single chair, I'd want it to be beautiful. It would have to have soft, purple cushions with a micro fleece blanket hanging on the back, ready for snuggling. I'd need there to be proper lighting- enough to read or draw. And it would have to be facing a window. And a TV. And be in a room that wasn't too cold. 

So where is all this chair talk headed??? Meet my newest DIY project!

This Week's Cliff Notes:

This past week was a bit of a roller-coaster- started off great with 2 snow days filled with soup and sister bonding and then went downhill from there. Shout out to Mother Nature who saw fit to combine my first three days of my p-did, the coldest three days of the year, and my first three days of my (outdoor) job. That was awesome.

Today: I got to sleep in, but I woke up with a stomach ache. My hair was not working in my favor, but I dressed up in one of my favorite dresses to feel pretty regardless. My GPS froze, so I got lost a couple dozen times. I got my second (undeserving) ticket in a matter of 4 days. The light in my kitchen went out.  Someone hit my car in the parking lot, but they left a note. And one of my headlights went out, but -hey- the other one works!

Here's to making next week SPECTACULAR!

Craft it Out

As my oh-so-eloquent pop mentor would say, today I feel like a plastic bag.

I had this huge list of things to get done today, and none of it worked out. At all.

Having just moved to KC this week, I’m still in the midst of setting up shop. Which, here, means scrubbing floors, staring at unpacked boxes, making maintenance requests, having sketch maintenance men stare at my broken shower door with an idiotic ‘solution’, fighting with sketchy maintenance men about said shower, and having my cable/internet company screw me over 10 ways to Sunday (which may or may not be the correct expression I’m thinking of). Alsooooooo, just found out I have no garbage disposal (and no dishwasher), my trip to Walmart was unsuccessful (which never happens and is a bad omen in itself), my front tire has almost no air in it, I’m having a fat day, AND Oprah was a re-run. What. The. Hell. This sux.

Anywho, you know how after 500 things don’t go your way, there’s that tiny, frivolous, should-be-insignificant straw that breaks your crabby, fed-up back? Well, today, that was my mailbox. After receiving a bajillion letters addressed to the former tenants (and only one for me) having to stare at Mike and Justin’s name really pissed me off. So, naturally, I made a trip to my favorite craft store to buy the best kind of medicine: new scrap booking paper J

This is how I made my day just a little brighter. 

I FRICK'N *BUILT THIS!!!!!!!

* assembled, but come on! Give me a break, I 'aint no carpenter.

Blessings

Turns out that when God closes a PR door, he opens an advertising window. And what’s even better, is that when He follows you out of a Jack ‘n the Box city, He leads you into a land of Chipotles. Today’s lesson: God is good. God is great. Let us thank Him for burritos (the job offer was nice too). 

Happy New Year Everyone!

I gotta say, I’m super psyched about starting a New Year on 11:11 (1/1/11). It’s like the perfect day for making wishes which, ultimately, is the same thing as making resolutions; you know, I wish I’d lose twenty pounds, I wish I’d take more pictures, write a book, or get a paying job that’s not babysitting. This year, my wish-o-lutions come out to over 15 different ways I’ve committed to change or improve in order to become a ‘super-me’: eat more vegetables (recommended by my incredibly thin vegetarian sister), run outside, read the news every day, publish a children’s book, read the bible, blah blah blah… and so the list goes on.

Last year I came up with the idea to create a list of 12 things and on the first of each month I’d pick one. It seems like a cop-out now because when the month was over so was that resolution, but it was fun and took the pressure off of holding myself accountable for things I wasn’t sure would work out. I have to admit though, I ended up sticking to most of them for the rest of the year simply out of habit. Anywho, it might be something for you to try.   

Best wishes ;) 

Jingle Bell Rock: (sort of)

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, jingle all the way.

Frosty the snowman is a fairy tale they say.

A partridge in a pear tree had a very shiny nose,

Deck the halls with silver bells, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Away in a manger the weather is frightful,

But silver and gold is oh so delightful.

Feliz Navidad to the new born king,

Fa la la la la for five golden rings.

'O little town of silver and bells, all is calm and all is bright.

I saw mama kissing Rudolf one thumpity thump thump night.

Then one foggy Christmas eve Santa came to say,

'Grandma got run over by a one-horse open sleigh.'

'Do you hear what I hear?' said the little shepard boy,

Noel to the world, and to all a good joy.

Sister, Sister

One thing you should definitely know about me is that I have a (baller) sister. In most ways we're opposites, but for whatever reason I'm kind of obsessed with the girl- sometimes I'm mildly annoying about it, other times I'm down right creepy. Regardless, she still likes me enough to move into our new apartment in Kansas City together- whooo whooo!

ANYWHO, after she refused to play/sing a song for me tonight (per the usual), I decided to creep on some of her old youtube vids. This is what I found: 

'Do Whatever You Feel' music video

'Lion'- Amy & the keyboard

Family Photos = Gift Tags?

Hey y'all. I'm just wrapping up my second day as a blogger - pun intended ;) 

This year, in an effort to shake up the traditional Christmas wrapping, I decided to try something new.  I personalized each package with black and white photocopies of my first Christmas with each family member. It was pretty simple to do and everyone has enjoyed seeing the pictures under the tree. I used brown and gold gift wrap to tie everything together (and keep it classy), and then added some twine and feathered bows (cuz I found some bags of feathers in the basement and was feeling a cooky kind of creative). 

I'm a sucker for presentation & packaging so let me know if you have any fun things to try. It may be too late for Christmas, but I've got 3 big birthdays coming up in January :)  

So I have a blog

Thought I'd join the 21st century (finally) and get myself a blogg'n. Not sure what this will turn into. I, of course, have ideas- hopes really- of what this may or may not become. Most likely it will be a random collection of 'creative life scraps' if you will. You know, some photos I took, a DIY project I'm proud of, links to design sites, a deep poem here and there, and a lot of nonsense. For now, I'm just going to post this and figure out how exactly this whole thing works. Later, world!