Winter Survival

Well the winter has been mild, maybe the mildest I ever remember, which is nice.. for me at least, maybe a few more days of snow or at least one crazy winter storm would have been sufficient for aesthetic reasons and school closings... but perhaps next year...

After getting my purse stolen out of my car a few weeks ago, I realized one valuable lesson (besides fucking check that your car is actually locked before you walk away), I realized that you can have a million items in your purse like an extra contact case, a first aid kit, a retractable toothbrush, etc. for those "just in case" moments, but none of that really matters if you don't have a remedy for "just in case your purse gets stolen". So it's been an interesting time getting over the fact that these things can happen to YOU. After writing out a list of the items in my purse, filing a police report, and trying to replace the miscellaneous things, I also realized that the items I would normally carry around with me I do use regularly and felt lost without them even though they might seem insignificant, but buying new ones at my favorite and overly-visited store Target (french accent please) made me feel quite better :)

So here is my list of handy, CHEAP ($2 and under) items that not only you will use, but are especially helpful through these winter months, mild they may be:

1. Vaseline - nothing compares to the healing power of vaseline, chapsticks do not compare (trust me)
2. Compact Brush/Mirror - the benefits of carrying this around are obvious.. flyaways and face check.
3. Suave Cocoa Butter Hand Cream - Heals dried winter hands and I want to eat it
4. Johnson & Johnson First Aid Kit - clearly helpful for new-shoe blisters, random cuts and scrapes (but my twist is that I add Neo-to-go Neosporin and I throw in numerous drugs like advil, midol, everything.)
5. Retractable toothbrush and mini toothpaster (for under $1??) - late for class? just excuse yourself for a moment and brush your teeth in the bathroom! works like a charm
6. And lastly for only $1 you can retrieve your summer glow with ELF bronzer (the lid always seems to break off, so from experience I would carry in a plastic bag?)

ALL available at your local Target, happy end of winter :)

Christmas in the country

Well as exciting as christmas usually is, the fact that 3 days prior it was 60° outside made the christmas season a little less merry... I wish I was 8 again getting lisa frank stationary sets and cheaply made bright colored makeup sets...oh wait I still got that one.. I guess really I just miss the thrill of surprises and tradition and beliefs. I'm thankful for all of my gifts this year considering I picked out almost every single one ha.. Santa threw in a few randoms that I'm actually excited about.. Saki bottle complete with gorgeous saki pitcher and cups set and wooden chopsticks and wasabi gift card from my lovely boyfriend....not to mention the daodejing from my aunt, it was an asian christmas but what could be better? Also, a marble mortar and pestle so I can finally start creating my magical herbal remedies... To sum it up christmas was great regardless of feeling old and out of spirit but I guess that's why they make egg nog right?

An example of our oh so thrilling christmas morning...

Autumn days...

Well school is school, exciting at first, redundant later... I do like commuting actually, surprisingly. I like creating my own schedule and getting to run errands, being in charge of my own life and responsibilities for once. The only major change that occurred 5 weeks ago was living in another place, except it didn't even seem the least bit strange or different.. it felt normal. I do enjoy it. The irony of it all is that I created the most beautiful room to live in and yet it's been abandoned the past few weeks... sadly. I miss it and I'll probably return to it soon, but it's been quite a promising experience...

Evenings are often filled with watching the history channel or hgtv, pondering theories and conspiracies, ordering pizza or having a drink... mornings begin when the obnoxiously loud alarm clock goes off at 6:30 am... every day. definitely a downfall, but one I can live with ;) I threw a curve ball in yesterday afternoon and asked if we could go for a walk through the "millcreek woods" which I had never seen before, and they were pretty, especially now when the leaves are falling and changing, it was refreshing and I saw an effing awesome dead tree btw...

We had a serious talk, which started half-jokingly but also confirmed what I thought to be true.  We are both on the same page and not concerned with the traditional life milestones, I mean maybe one day but no time soon... we're so young, we have so much to offer the world ourselves yet and what difference will legally binding us make?

Anyway, with weeks of serious contemplation on a plethora of unknowns... aliens, the universe, the government, withheld information, religion, ancient civilizations, and the list goes on... my mind and my body decided it needed a break, so I got sick, blehh. I'm finally feeling mostly better, not 100% but I gave my body some much needed rest...

Lastly, the most recent news on my "interior design career" is that I'm renovating our upstairs bathroom at home... hopefully once I finish that and get the rest of the house in gear it will be a prime time to be back home, just in time for the holidays...

New school, New season, Old home...

so summer was shitty, far from a gem. it seemed that everyone's sucked for one reason or another, i could maybe pinpoint a few things but others i just don't know what it was... i am glad school started i was ready for once maybe because it's a new school? maybe because i'm having a life outside of school? maybe i just want it to be fall... i usually never want summer to end or school to start but for some reason this year was different.

after the first week of classes I think i'm really going to like millersville... i'm gonna have to force myself to explore and do things for myself and keep up with friendships and relationships if i'm going to be truly happy.. i'm gonna have to force myself to make visits and stay active. goals: SAVE MONEY, visit old friends, make new friends, work out, find new hobbies, help the earth, paint, paint, paint and go headstrong towards becoming an art teacher!

my intro to art ed class is definitely encouraging and inspiring... not all hope is lost about finding an art teaching job. things are looking up and i'm excited for the future and for the fall and all that comes with it :)

Home

So here I am, at home, where my roots began... in a seemingly so distant place from college or millersville or a whole new experience... I'm all settled in, all moved back, all-equipped with a fantastic dream car, my baby convertible which was heaven-sent or law of attracted... either way I'm extremely content :) Of course I will always be dreaming about the future and what is next to come.. whether it be a 'real' job or an apartment of my own someday, possibly shared with my lover? I know there is so much more to happen before that but I'm ready to experience it all...

The summer has been grand to me so far, with a very laid-back working atmosphere and new treasures and people and reconnections with old friends... I love my new job at Star Glazers, it's a great place completely perfect for me.. I can only wish to be paid more and work more, but what can you do... it's rare that you truly love your job :) it's art, pottery, fun, greatness.

Tiff is in Macedonia, half-way across the world and I have taken it upon myself to not only clean her room, but redo it and even switch it with a current storage room. That being said, it's more work than I realized and I'm going to need some helping hands but in the end I'm hoping it will all be worth it... one can only hope.

I'm excited for adventures yet to come this summer, whether it be more summer shows!, a short beach trip, a trip to Nashville :), and exploring my new university, let alone figuring out what I really want to pursue with my life and just how to go about it... definitely lots to think about, but when isn't there?

I'm sure I will write another post soon about the deep thoughts and conversations that seem to keep reoccurring in an attempt to figure out my life philosophy and what I believe regardless of others' beliefs.

Frigid

Considering that the temperatures are about 15 degrees colder than they should be this time of year... my spirits aren't exactly being lifted. As of now I will be finished with Temple University on May 6, 2011. I cannot wait to move home and create my boudoir paradise... just wait til I do and post pics ;) I can't wait to start a new life as well, in a smaller town, at a smaller school, with a more intimate lifestyle. Millersville has a beautiful campus that I'm ready to explore. I have to get crankin on all my work that needs to be completed by the end of school... and there's a lot of it. I am exploring wonderful ideas to create for summer when the weather finally catches up... here they are:

Winter Blues

It seems my mind has forgotten that it can process thoughts and record them onto a computer screen... really I forgot that I had meaningful thoughts at all. My mind has been so full of thoughts that it forgot how to think... which doesn't make any sense unless your thinking has been so warped and overwhelmed.

Anyways, I never really buy into all those minor diseases that are over-diagnosed, for example, SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder, but truly I'm just plain depressed more often in winter. I know it's more than just an acronym, I just miss the earth and the sun and honestly, I miss sweating? I just want to run and wear sandals, bare my legs and arms without a thought of the temperature. I've been stuck in a dream for weeks now. The dream of moving everything I own back into one familiar place that has a new sparkle and appeal, finally finding a means of monetary income, and reuniting with the green grass.

Frankly, I'm all schooled out. After the first week of spring semester, for some reason or another, my body finds everything and anything more important than class readings. It's pathetic. I need a big kick in the butt to motivate me to get up and start being productive and taking better care of myself. I couldn't tell you the last time I exercised or tried to look presentable on a daily basis. Enough of my complaining...

I'm just happy I get the weekends to look forward to <3