Sad Attempt

Wait.  What?  Oh my goodness!  Yes.  I'm back.  Not exactly a miracle, but if you wanna call it that, be my guest.  Honestly, this is just a short, sad attempt at reentering the blog world.  Baby steps.

Let's get real for a moment:  I haven't thought about this blog in, oh, 2 months.  At least.  But I've had other things to do, like live some life.  And build a house.  And hit some snags in the buying process.  And move in to said house.  And basically squat in said house for about a month.  And close on the house.  And then take light years to unpack.

So that's what we've been up to.  With a spot of work somewhere in there.

But enough of that!  Onward!  Sort of.

See, there are no photos of the house.  Yes, they've been promised for a while now, but seeing as we still have boxes in some of the rooms, I feel like it'd be best to show none.  It's all or nothing. 

But maybe as consolation, you would like photos of a certain Lou who just got a haircut?

He was quite tired from getting beautiful this afternoon.  I know how it feels.  It's a wonder I'm not always about to fall over from exhaustion due to getting pretty every morning.

Burp.

No updates in over a month and it's about to be a little longer.  Since we're moving very soon, I don't have a lot of creative downtime and there aren't too many updates one can't get from Facebook.

I will be back once everything is up and running at our new abode. 

Until that time comes, adios!  I have some other blogging ventures I am trying out in the mean time!

House

Hi hi hi hi!  I think I'm finally back from a long break of no blogging.  I've been moderately busy and my mind has been taken up with a lot of things I won't bore anyone with on here.

Before I go on, I want to give a shout out to my favorite coworker who I know is reading this!  Hi B!!  He's partly the reason why I felt like I needed to finally get back to writing already.  I needed a little bit of a push to stop being lazy.  

Anywho, Jarred and I have been really biding our time since early March when we got approved for a home loan.  I can't believe only a month has passed since we signed the papers to begin construction on our home.  I've posted some photos to Facebook, but I wanted to put them here as well. 

 This was the first day we went to go visit the site.  We were surprised the builders had already done this much work.  We didn't see them level the land or anything, it's almost as if the foundation *poof* appeared!

 Mom gave us a penny from 2010 (the year we got married) and Jarred threw it down into the foundation's corners. 

 We're both happy, but really, I'm not too excited yet.  We've wanted this house even before we got married, so it's been a dream for a few years now.  Now that we're in the process, I feel we're more focused on anything but the emotional aspect of the house.  We're going to be letting our landlord know we're moving soon and then we have to think about actually moving -- which I'm not looking forward to honestly.

 Okay, this was the second time we went out to see the site.  The builders had finished the foundation walls.  They had also moved in all the gravel to be poured in the foundation after they did a termite treatment. 

 That was the first time Lou saw his soon-to-be home.  I was a concerned mama about him walking all over the gravel, but as Jarred always reminds me, he was once an outside dog.  Lou even laid down on the gravel and got comfy real quick.

 This was what we found today!  The gravel has been poured and the plumbing has been installed.  I think the next step is to pour concrete over everything.  We were finally able to walk out to the eventual backyard.  It's all dirt of course, and Lou got some very dusty feet from it all!

I'm hoping to get a photo like this each time we visit the site.  It will be fun to see the house being built, almost like a virtual flip book. 

We have been going out twice a week to see the work.  We have not been out while the guys are working yet, but we have a scheduled framing visit at the end of the month.  I know we eventually won't be able to take photos like this because all the work on the outside will be done for the most part. 
I really can't wait to see the walls up!

Signing Away

Tomorrow is a big day for us!

Jarred and I are signing the papers tomorrow to make the building process an <almost> done deal. Once we sign off on the design and construction tomorrow, the builder will begin ordering supplies and begin obtaining permits. The next step for us personally is to get the loan officially approved.

I'm truly hoping that every step of this process is smooth sailing. I've heard too many horror stories about loan approvals that make me super nervous that something will go wrong and the bank will come back with a 'Never mind! We don't want to give you a loan after all!' As unfounded as that may be, I'm still going to be a wreck. So Mom and Dad, just let me worry -- it's my thing, you know.

This past week was a lot of fun, though I worked 8 days straight. It's only part-time though, so I don't have anything to complain about. Except my gas usage. 

Little Sis turned 21 and we celebrated with her by getting manicures and eating lunch at a favorite restaurant.

Seriously, wasn't this kid JUST born?  Time has flown and now she can do whatever it is that 21-year olds do....


We ended the weekend by taking Mom, Dad and Sis to view a model of our home.  I think they approved and Mom was definitely digging our kitchen!  I didn't feel right taking photos of the model home -- not sure whether that was allowed or not -- so we only got a few photos of the plot of land that is currently overgrown weeds and mud but will become a home in a few months time!



I'm going to come home tomorrow with a hand cramp from signing all those papers!

Selection Saturday

(via Instagram)

While the rest of the country is worried about Selection Sunday tomorrow, Jarred and I got to spend today doing much more important selections:  On our home.

This has been the longest and the shortest week ever.  Longest because I can't believe only a week ago we were having our first meeting with our builder.  It's been a short week because I worked everyday (which is unusual) and had a lot to do.  

Regardless, Jarred and I were so looking forward to today.  We had been told that selections take between 4-5 hours, but we only took about 2.5.  Jarred and I have poured over our options all week and went to the meeting today knowing with 90% certainty what we wanted.

Nothing is set in stone until we sign the papers in blood, but we're so excited to begin the process and to eventually show off our home!  As of now we're looking at sometime in June or July and these next 4 months can't go fast enough.

After our meeting, Jarred and I drove over to our little plot of land and walked around it.  I'm proud of us and our home coordinator.  She fought hard for us over that piece of land.  We're so happy to have it and look at our tree line!  With a wide open field behind that won't ever become houses, Jarred and I are truly the most blessed people.

It's hard to imagine that this piece of land will have a house sitting on top of it by the middle of the year.  This is a dream that Jarred and I thought we wouldn't be able to achieve for many many years.  How amazing it is when things fall into place, right?

Absence

Oh my word.  It's already March y'all!

I haven't completely forgotten about blogging but it's been hard to find anything remotely interesting to say because life is a blur right now.

Jarred and I have been doing some Spring Cleaning off and on this past week, but even so, our place seems to looked as trashed as it did before.  We've got quite a few bags to take to Goodwill soon.  I hate cleaning but ask me if I enjoy purging our home of things -- the answer is heck yeah.

I've also been working some good hours that keep me busy and make good money!  I've been picking up extra shifts where I can because we're going to need all the money we can get!

'Cause we're buying a house and all.

What was that?

Yeah!  We're buying a house!

Jarred and I are in the pre-approval stage right now but will begin the loan application soon.  We got the call this past Wednesday that we were in the clear to begin house hunting. 

Celebrations were to be had that night at Moe's.

 

(Instagram pic off my phone)

We began the search Friday.  We already had an area of town in mind and made an appointment with the builders.  We were there for about 3 hours.  I personally left super confused about what I wanted in a home.  I thought I knew before yesterday but then once I viewed some of the models, I felt totally different.  Jarred and I talked extensively about our options and decided to make another appointment with the builder for today.

We went in today with clear heads and asked to see another model we liked, as well as a model we had seen Friday.  Tonight confirmed which house we wanted.

I'm not sure exactly what it's supposed to feel like when you find 'the home'.  Maybe it's like the feeling women are supposed to get when they find 'the dress' for their wedding day.  I never had that, so I can't compare.  I only had 'the feeling' when Jarred and I went to pick out my engagement ring.  I saw it.  I cried.  I knew.  With my wedding dress, I liked the dress.  I thought it was beautiful.  So I wanted that one as my wedding gown.  Happily ever after.

I thought I would get that fuzzy feeling when I saw one of the model homes.  I thought there would be an overwhelming feeling of love for a particular space.  But I didn't get that.

As Jarred and I talked last night about the different homes we had toured, we kept coming back to the same one, saying the same thing:  "It felt like home."

Then we toured again today to make sure.

Yeah, it definitely felt like home.  Jarred and I both honestly want to move in now.  But alas, the home doesn't actually exist yet.

Anyway, we're still in the beginning stages of our loan and home selection, but as of right now, it's moving along at a nice pace already.  We'll be choosing our features on the house next week and we are so excited!

I know I won't be updating as frequently anymore because we'll be so busy, but I hope to check in at least once a week.  This is going to be a great (but stressful) few months!

Happy Birthday

Why the long face Schmoo?  It's your birthday today!

My awesome hubs -- I love you all the time... even when you pull a face like this. 

There Is Power in Pressed Powder

*Note:  I don't actually used pressed powder

*Double note:  I won't pretend to know anything of substance about fashion or makeup.  I use what products work and I use trial and error until I achieve a look I like.  However, it should also be noted that I'm a novice artist that really understands value or light and how it affects an object (ie: my face).  

 I've greatly enjoyed having an ULTA in our mall.  I could probably spend hours in the store and it wouldn't be difficult to spend tons of money.  Over the past few months, I've invested in good quality makeup that should last for a long while. 

Jarred and I have had a few funny discussions about what women who wear tons of makeup 'really' look like.  It may be a little cruel (maybe not), but I got a good laugh from the horrified look on my husband's face when I showed him a picture of Kim Kardashian sans makeup.  Here's a link to a Google search, just in case you were wondering.  Of course, that's one extreme, considering that she's a celebrity. 

I truly think that ordinary women like me have this notion that they don't look all that different with or without makeup.  And that is a load of bull.  Ladies, we look way different without makeup on, but our husbands continue to love us, thank goodness.

For the sake of proving these women wrong, I decided I'd be a makeup martyr.  So I snapped photos of myself without makeup and then with a finished face.  None of the photos have been altered accept for positioning them in a collage format in Picasa.

On the left we have 'before' and on the right we have 'after'.  Obviously.

Don't play - makeup is awesome.

Breaks

Sometimes breaks are necessary.

Trust me, I visit the blog and sit for a while in front of a blank post every single day.  Today is the 20th day of 2012 and this will only be my second post. 

So what have I been up to this month?  The usual.  Working, spending time trying to clean our home, and the occasional craft project.  There has been a little bit more sleeping involved than I would care to admit, but I have every reason to cut that bad habit out.

Tomorrow may be a little bittersweet.  If I had continued on the college path, I would be heading back to class on Monday.  In fact, it was about a week ago that I officially dropped my classes.  And I bawled like a baby to Jarred before I did it.  He told me I still had time to think about it, but I couldn't agonize over a decision any longer.  I dropped my classes online, exited out of my Internet browser, and didn't look back.

Though I would have enjoyed the classes this semester, it's for the best that I am skipping college at least for a while, working my little part-time job to earn us some saving money and focus on truly bettering myself.  Jarred deserves that in a wife and I should expect the best from myself.

I digress.

I'm taking a break from school, but hopefully this small break I've been taking from blogging won't be as long!

Currently, Jarred and I are sitting in the computer room.  He is playing Super Mario Galaxy on the Wii while I watch him. 

This afternoon my iPhone decided to take a bath.  So it's under a lamp in a bowl of rice drying out.  Hopefully it will still work so we don't have to shell out money for a new phone.  Because, let's be honest:  once you go iPhone, you don't go back.

At least I have a great hubs that cured my sniffles with a trip to Panera Bread and the mall. 

And without further ado, I finally have a couple of pictures with my beloved Hunter rainboots:

 Opening my gifts from Jarred on my birthday.  Turns out the 7s I asked for were too small, so we had to order 8s.

Got my 8s in the mail!

2012

Last photo of 2011.


We're 1 hour into the new year.  

2011, you were great.  But time only moves forward.

When I look back, I guess we did have a pretty busy year.  We celebrated my mother-in-law's marriage, Jarred turned into a mid-20-something, we vacationed in the mountains, moved across town, celebrated our 1 year anniversary, I got a job, and turned 24. 

Hopefully 2012 will be just as busy.  I've decided that this year there will be no plans.  If there were any, I'm throwing them out the window.

Let's live a little.

Let's have fun this year.

Let's go with the flow.

Welcome welcome Baby New Year! 


I wish a very happy beginning to 2012 to all bloggers and readers out there!

First photo of 2012

Christmas 2011

They got their Keurig.

Welcome to our Christmas.

Happy Holidays to you and yours! 

4: Edition 2

1.  Smashbox O-Gloss

This stuff is the bomb.  I know it's been out for quite a while so it's nothing new.  In fact, I don't even think the technology that goes into this gloss is new either.  O-Gloss is basically a lip color that goes on clear and shortly after turns your individual shade of pink.  Holler.

2.  The Lonely Island



I'd heard all their stuff before and was quite familiar with them but just recently got their whole sophomore album 'Turtleneck and Chain' on iTunes.  It's a comedy album and I wouldn't exactly call it G-rate.  But either way, smitten I tell you.  Smitten.



3.  tumblr

Yeah, click the link and you can see my tumblr in its infancy.  Not as interesting?  Eh.  While I love blogging, I appreciate what tumblr was intended for.  Microblogging.  'Cause I don't always feel like writing out a long post.



4.  Wayfarers



Thank you for helping me buy myself a much wanted present, Grandparents!  I've had my eye on a pair of Ray-Bans for a while.  I really thought I'd get the tortoise glasses, but then I did a 180 and went all Risky Business on it.  Wayfarers really are great glasses, so I'm sorry I inadvertently look like a cocky jerk in the picture.  Again, Risky Business.  I swear it's just the photo!

Things Change

Change of hearts are such a double-edged sword.  But in most cases, I feel that it's simply God laying something heavy on my mind -- telling me I need to do something different. 

He did that in March when I went back to the art program at school.

He's done it again.

I enjoyed the 2 art classes I took and I was really looking forward to next semester.  But I'm so burnt out.  And honestly, I don't truly appreciate school right now.  So I'm more than likely taking a semester off.

There's nothing overly dramatic about my exit.  It's simply that I need to do some growing up.  I haven't appreciated school.  I can't keep a clean home.  Seriously.  The townhouse is so dirty.  I'm super lazy in nearly all aspects of my life.  I kinda suck.

At least I'm responsible at work.  And I really enjoy every single day at the shop.

But I need to learn responsibility in all areas.

I'd like to prove to myself that I am responsible before I go back to school.  I'd like to take some time to work at my job, work at my drawing, and work at keeping my pigsty clean for once.

Aside from that, I still don't know what I want to do.  It's not that I want to be working retail for the rest of my life.  I'd love to have a job someday that allows me to use my creativity, regardless of whether I have a college degree or not.  But seeing that I'm almost 24, I think I need to figure out what I want to do sometime.  I'm young, but I'm certainly not getting any younger.

I feel pretty confident in my decision.  Jarred told me to do whatever I needed.  I'm glad to have his support.

Whatever happens happens and I know God is faithful.

Christmas Wishes

I'm lumping both birthday and Christmas together, because let's be honest; when your birthday falls only days before the most major holiday, it's all the same.

To clarify, that's my own doing.  My parents (and Jarred.... and all extended family) have always been really good at separating the two days.  But now that I'm older, my birthday isn't as important to me.  So when Jarred asks for a wish list, I normally only have 2 or 3 things I want.  

Wish lists have been presented to family and presents have all been bought, so I figured I could post my Christmas list to the world now and it be acceptable.  I didn't want to post it early before family knew what I wanted and make it seem like this was an obnoxiously obvious hint.

1.  Hunter Wellies

How does Jarred know when I really want something?  When it's something I've wanted and kept wanting for about a year.  And it's a rarity that there's something I hold off on buying for that long.  I discovered Hunter wellies while researching boots.  I have wanted a pair of riding boots for a number of years but have yet to find a pair that I love that costs less that $400.  Yeah. 
I was intrigued by these pairs of rain boots that I kept coming across during my boot search.  After more research I've concluded that Hunters are the ultimate in rain gear, yet the boots can also be worn in the winter snow, during the summer with shorts, etc.  And apparently they are very fashionable. 
I concur.


2.  Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh

I haven't worn perfume in years.  I have some perfumes my high school boyfriend gave me that I still love, but I hardly ever wear them.  In fact, I have no idea whether they're still good.  Do perfumes have expiration dates?  I have Chanel No. 5 and Miss Dior Cherie, but I have recently been interested in purchasing a perfume that I could wear every day.  I'd heard many good things about Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh, so Jarred and I went to the mall so I could sample.  Sure enough, I think it's the scent for me!

3.  Anthro Necklace and Charms

I love Anthropologie.  Love.  I have quite a few pieces that I've collected over the years, including my favorite necklace ever:



Lenora Dame Menagerie necklace worn during our engagement photo shoot.  Best $70 spent in my life.
Just a note:  LD has really jacked up their prices.  And by 'jacked up' I mean doubled.  And by doubled I mean HOLY CRAP.

Anway.

Anthro is now offering DIY charm necklaces.  I wish listed the bronze necklace above.  I also had several charms picked out, but honestly, they're all pretty.

There were also 1 or 2 decorative dish towels I put on my list.  If I receive them, I won't be using them in the kitchen.  They'll get framed and hung up because they are way way too special and pretty to get food gunk on them.


That's it for my wish list this year.  I've been toying with the idea of buying some Ray-Bans after Christmas, but there's not all that much I could think of to ask for.  Jarred and I are very lucky and happy in life.  We don't buy things that are super expensive during the rest of the year anyway, and we've always been of the opinion that if we really really want something (within reason; no Chanel purse for me!) we buy it.  And we'd rather have quality items that will last a lifetime too.


It's finals week here and I had my final drawing critique today.  It went well and everyone was very complimentary of my piece.  I think I will be able to get my portfolio back later in the week, so I may begin to post photos here. 

Also to be noted:  I started a tumblr account tonight, which is a microblogging format.  I can see myself posting over there multiple times a day.  I already have 8 or so posts up, but I think I want to wait a while before I make it public beyond Facebook.  Yes, if you're FB friends with me, you can find the URL on my page already.  Once I do make the link viewable to everyone, this will be the place to find the URL.

Ciao!

Purple and Red

I'm a week late, but Happy December y'all!  Obviously Jarred and I have had much of our (minimal) decorating done since Thanksgiving Day, but it doesn't exactly feel like Christmas.  Blame it on the weather, school, and work if you must.  The weather has just started to turn really cold, school is still in session and that's always a buzz kill, and we're not playing Christmas music at work (thank God).  Once finals are done, I'm sure I'll begin to feel the Christmas Spirit. 

But I'm far from in a bad mood.  I've been doing really really well this past week.  Awesome.  We have a cluttered home, but Jarred and I manage somehow (eyeroll).  Just as long as the laundry is being kept up, we're good.  

I'll stay busy with school until next week and then I'm free at last.  I will be doing a lot of drawing this weekend since my last critique is Monday.  I've definitely proved something to myself in that class, but I won't be sad to see it over with.  I want to get to mediums of art that actually interest me!  Hope by the end of next semester I'll be able to finally do something with the 'Art' tab under my header.

I big puffy heart the people I work with.  So maybe that's why some of the women kinda rubbed off on me.  A few had their hair dyed and I started to get the itch to change up my color.  On the cheap. 

So I bought some box dye.  The color was called 'Reflective Auburn Black' or something like that.  Perfect.

I'm still washing dye out of my head almost a week later.  And my hair isn't black by any means.  It's more reddish purple.  At least in direct sunlight or under fluorescent lights.  Gah!!

But you know what?  I can rock it.  Whatever.  A male customer even told me my hair looked great last Saturday, totally unsolicited.  *cheesy grin*

  I think the color has toned down throughout this week, but last weekend, I got a few weird stares from people at the shop. 

SO SORRY YOU CAN'T HANDLE THIS HAIR! 

I don't think I look half bad and  it may be red/purple/whatever, but you know what?  Honey Badger don't care!!


Um, by the way, please don't watch this if offended by vulgar language.

This is a running gag at work.  Yes, we're awesomely funny AND have may-jah swag. 

As finals approach, I wish all students good luck!  Don't down too many energy drinks!

What I've Been Up To

This post doesn't have too much of point besides me making excuses for myself as to why I am a terrible blogger.  It's all the normal stuff:  school, work, sleep, TV, Coldplay....

Okay, so the first day back to school wasn't too awful.  I especially enjoyed my drawing class.  Today was a figure drawing lesson, but this time the model was clothed.  I was a bit relieved.  I still can't believe that only 3 short months ago I was standing at our front door crying my eyes out to Jarred because I was so nervous to attend my first drawing class.  And look at me now:

Excuse the lighting -- it's an iPhone photo!

I'm really proud of the work I've done.  I've obviously improved, even past this piece, which was drawn during the mid-terms.  Once the semester is up, I'd like to show some more of the work I've done. 

Jarred and I took some time yesterday to do a little Christmas shopping for Lucas.  We ended up going to Petco where I found the cutest little sweater for him:

Click here to view the shirt on Petco's website!

How darling is that?  I saw the skull and cross bones and was instantly sold.  He is going to look so adorable.  Can't wait for Christmas to get here so I can stick him in it!  We also got him a matching monkey's fist knotted rope ball.  What a spoiled pup he will be!

There's apparently been a dilemma at work over what radio stations we can listen to.  We'd been listening to country for the first few weeks and that got old super fast.  Thank goodness we are now able to listen to an edited version of Top 40 radio.  I even told one of the assistant managers that I feel like I work harder with more upbeat music playing. 

I've been so busy with work and school that I've had no time to keep up with music.  As I said in a previous post, I bought the entire Mumford and Sons album and have been playing it on repeat constantly.  I remember telling Dad, "Mumford and Sons could possibly replace Coldplay as my favorite group".  And that pained me to say.  But one week ago at work I heard it:  Coldplay's new single "Paradise".  And that's when I reaffirmed my love of the group.  I don't think anyone will ever displace Coldplay in my heart.

So who wants to see their new video for "Paradise"?  Dad, I think you'll get a kick out of it!



Try not to abuse the replay!

This will probably be the last you'll hear from me for this week.  I may write one more post before the weekend, but I'm still mulling topics over in my head.

Have a wonderful week and happy beginning of December!

After Thanksgiving

Howdy y'all!  Hope Thanksgiving break has been a blasty-blast!  Only about 8 hours of it left!

Jarred and I stayed home this year due to my fine job in retail.  I knew I would probably have to work Black Friday, so driving 8 hours back to the Motherland was out of the question.

 Jarred and I woke up on Thanksgiving like we've done for the past 3 years to decorate the Christmas tree and watch the Macy's Parade.  I only took a few photos because I am not embarrassed to admit how completely enthralled in the parade I was.

Jarred and his Corvette ornament

 My Wall-E ornament

Action shot!

The tree is so full now -- this is the first year we've had all Jarred's ornaments too.  I will remember to take a photo of the tree all lit up sometime.  It's lovely!

Black Friday wasn't as dreary as I thought it would be.  There was a definite difference from the last time I worked retail.  I didn't come home ready to keel over this time around.

I've got less than a month left of school and I am so glad.  This semester has been a hard adjustment.  I'm more than ready for a little break.  I'll be back to do it all over again in January and then I'll be assessing whether I like school enough to continue or want to take a semester off to refocus and work and make a little money.

I hope this month leading up to Christmas is fun-filled and stress-free for everyone.  I'll be back soon!

4

There are 4 things I'm crazy about right now:

1.  Mumford and Sons.

Please don't give me that look.  I've been hearing about them for a while but didn't pay it any attention because I thought they were a country group.  And Meaghan no like country!! 

Ahem.  Anyway, there's this song I've been hearing on the radio lately called 'Little Lion Man' and finally learned who performed it last Friday while Mom and I were driving to see a play.

Bought their album.  Got up the next morning and almost immediately messaged Dad about it.

Could this group replace Coldplay in my heart?  Maybe.  And it pains my heart to say that.

2.  LORAC gloss or just makeup in general

After the unusually craptastic day I had at work last week, I went to the mall to buy myself some new earphones and I made a trip to Ulta.  I came out with minimal damage done money-wise and with some fabulous new gloss.  The beauty blogging community has long been all about LORAC Couture Shine in Haute.  Their assessment that it was the greatest color ever was in fact correct.

In other beauty news, Meaghan has finally found the best highlighter (Benefit's High Beam) and has developed the motor skills necessary to use a lash curler.

3.  Leopard Print

It's a well-known fact that I love animal print, be it zebra, tiger, or crocodile.  The one print I have been searching high and low for was leopard.  In the form of a scarf, if possible.  Finally settled on a non-budget breaking one from Target.  It's been worn 3 out of the past 3 days.  And I can guarantee that you could potentially see me about town wearing it tomorrow.

4.  Sandy Skoglund

I am very fortunate to work with some of the sweetest people in the world.  The majority of my coworkers are my age of younger and I enjoy being with them during work.  What I've found amazing is everyone's genuine interest in everyone else.  Most of my coworkers know I am an art major, but of course I haven't showed them any of the pieces I've worked on.  At least not yet.  Before we closed up for the day, I had a good conversation with another employee about art.  He said he enjoyed Picasso and asked who my favorite artist was.  I answered without hesitation "Sandy Skoglund" and ended up doing a search for some of her work. 

Of course I love Van Gogh and very much feel an emotional connection to his works.  So in that respect, he is my favorite.  But if we're talking about what artist I admire and get inspiration from, it's totally Sandy.  And to think this love affair all began with a simple photograph of 'Fox Games' in a textbook.

Hope everyone had a good weekend and be looking for a new post sometime this week!

No Fashionista

I hadn't forgotten about you bloggy world.  I've been cooking up ideas for posts for about a week now and have had simply no time to actually write out anything.  I guess that's what happens when you're a student and work a job.  

Student?  Yes, it's whatever.  I love my studio class, but all my other classes are meh.  And honestly, I'll be glad when I get this basic studio out of the way.  Next semester I can focus on areas of art that I am actually interested in.

Job?  Yes, it's going quite well.  I enjoy my coworkers, the actual work isn't too bad, and I come home at night in a decent mood.  It's a nice change from my last job, that's for sure.

Other than that, nothing much else has been going on.  The home is barely being kept up, but yesterday I focused on deep-cleaning our bathroom.  It looks all nice and sparkly now.  Went to Target and picked up a shower caddy and a new toilet brush.  Big purchases, right?

In my last post, I had mentioned the shower curtain I had recently bought.  Today I had Jarred kill two birds with one stone and photograph the curtain and... me.  Because I was loving on my outfit, though fashionista I am not.  

Jarred and I went to our church's Christmas bazaar today to have lunch.  I wanted to wear my new menswear button-up shirt and leopard scarf.  I cuffed my jeans over my Minnetonkas, looked at myself in the mirror and became concerned.  I asked Jarred if I looked too hipster.

He answered, "No, you don't look too Occupy Wall Street-y."

I love my husband.

Anyway, don't you love the shower curtain?  It's so nice and clean looking and so is the bathmat and counter tops.  Ignore the mismatched towels.  I wanted to put out 2 plain white towels but we apparently lost the second somewhere.  

I am on a major minimalist kick and am finding everything white with a dab of color to be very appealing.  And besides for that, if something in the bathroom gets dirty, whatever!  Bleach it!

Alright, now this next picture is a little bit weird for me to post because it's not meant to be a portrait but rather a close-up of my skin.  I unfortunately don't have a before shot of my face, as in 'before I began using my Clarisonic'.  But this is the after shot of using it for about a month and a half:

 

My skin is much smoother and makeup goes on much better.  I will always have a tiny bit of scarring on my cheeks from when I had acne.  But the tone and texture of my face is much better than it was before.  Clarisonic, you win.

I've been a bit more careful with my makeup application and nail polish.  Maybe it's because I'm working at a place where the uniform is less than feminine. 

Speaking of nail polish, I think I've found my one true love:

butter LONDON's All Hail the Queen.  My new favorite color. 

I'm going to remain pretty busy until the end of the semester of course, but I hope that I can keep up the blog by making one post a week.  Maybe? 

Though I'm probably the last person people would take beauty advice from, I'd like to do a post that goes through my makeup routine from start to finish.  With pictures included.  Which could be scary.  But then, it's just a thought.

I hope everyone has a good rest of the weekend.  I'll be busy busy!

Redecorate

So tired.
Life just got super hectic with school and work and everything in between.  

I took this past weekend and began purging our home of more junk.  Could I possibly be addicted to that?  I love love love throwing stuff out.  You just wouldn't be able to tell from the state of our home right now.  Read: messy.

Jarred and I have yet to begin working on our computer desk.  I'm sure it's something we'll be able to slowly work on soon, but I want to make sure the computer room is all spick and span before we begin sanding and painting.

While we are redoing our computer room, I also wanted to begin work on our bathroom.  I have a vision, but I just can't really describe it and can't even draw it really.  I just see it in my mind.  And love the ideas I have.  Along with the extra money to pay credit cards and student loans, my paycheck will go towards buying new home items.  We figure taking it room by room would be best in the end.  We won't lose focus as easily!

I bought a new shower curtain last week and it finally arrived, though I had it delivered to my parents' house.  I greatly recommend West Elm for anyone looking for some nice home items.  With much contemplation, Jarred and I originally decided on this curtain:

...and then I saw the backorder date of November 15.  No thank you.  So I bought us this one:

Happy happy.  I have dreams of glass canisters and a cute gray striped dish for jewelery/etc.  And a cheap white bathmat.  Can't wait for it all to come together!

This will probably be it for the rest of the week.  Mom and I have some fun planned to begin the weekend and I'll be back here to report!