Can I get a redo?

So, I wrote a perfectly good entry (complete with a My Fair Lady clip and everything!) on Sunday night, but blogger saw fit to destroy it. Blogger giveth and blogger taketh away. So is life. This kicked off a week of apathetic non-blogging activity. I wasn't holding a grudge or anything.. But I'm back now. With a vengeance one could say.

I really do want to keep this up. I'm following so many awesome pages, with such beautiful pictures and projects, that I could get sucked in for days. Well I've got to walk before I can run. So here goes:

Saturday

I went to a friend's bachelorette party.

Ran into some fancy ladies. 

(actually completely unrelated to the party, they were sitting on a bench behind a gas station)

Try not to be wildly offended by these jello molds.

It's all in good fun. 

Sunday

Who else saw the season 3 premiere of TRUE BLOOD?

I've read the books up until the two most recent, but I think I'm enjoying the show a bit more than the books at this point. Which is kind of surprising cause I almost always like the book versions better. (This is why I've avoided Lovely Bones, Time Traveler's Wife, and other movie adaptations.) It always seems like they gut the books, and leave the mushy parts. Yet, TB seems to be proving me wrong. Anything that makes Sunday nights better is always a good thing in my book. 

This is where I completely out myself as a theater nerd:

Who watched the TONY AWARDS?  

makes me want to pack up, move to NYC, and joint he stage hand's union so I can be part of this nightly magic. 

If you blink while caught in a whirlwind...

well all of a sudden you open your eyes and realize it's June. That's how I feel right now anyway. The older you get/ the busier/ the more involved/ etc., the easier it is to exist in the future. Does that make sense? I'm always looking ahead (what's on the calendar for the next week and next month and next year!) because of work and school that my personal life is starting to exist only in the in-between moments.

Summertime is just the excuse I need to reorganize and shake it up a bit. I don't want to take a breath and realize it's December without having enjoyed some very epic here and now moments. 

A quick recap of the in-betweens:

My friends Jackki and Derek moved away to live in Davis.

I miss them, but I'm definitely looking forward to visiting soon.

Especially since their engagement party is coming up in August. 

 

Like our Hot Dog on a Stick accessories?

My friend Alex also moved away... to CHICAGO!

I'm happy for/proud of her for setting off on a new adventure, but man will I miss that girl. 

Who knows, maybe I'll be blogging from Chi-town in the near future

white wine, scarves, and smiles for Japanese New Year in January

While not saying goodbye to dear friends, I've been keeping very very very busy with work and the first of four summer school classes. Right now I'm about to begin the third (and final!!) week of my American Inequality writing course. 

AAIS 104W. Writing about American Inequality (3)
Analysis of poverty, social class, and inequality in America. Students receive feedback in preparing papers on poverty and inequality. Emphasis on research techniques, evaluation and documentation of evidence, and style and mechanics of writing. Meets the upper-division writing skills requirement for graduation.

The reading list so far has included:

 

  Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan          Black Boy by Richard Wright

    Poverty in America by John Iceland

Not exactly beach reads, but pretty captivating and insightful. The class is super interesting, but whizzing by at the speed of light. My daily schedule for the last two weeks has been:

7a-11:15a -- Class

12p-5p -- Work

5p-3a -- Homework 

Not to leave off on a completely bleak note, here are some quick highlights I've squeezed in:

amidst a nasty bout with a cold,

 I treated myself to some yummy Ravioli at a local Italian place

 Daniel, probably playing with his Iphone

these adorable/comfy HushPuppies I found at a thrift store last weekend

a perfect summer time hat, made for lounging around with mimosas

(found in the dollar section of Target! they also had pink and yellow)

Maybe soon I'll get brave and post an Outfit of the Day (eeek!).  

Weekend Update II

Sunday (aka part 2 of summer vacation weekend) was pretty low key. What started off as a Mean Girls viewing party turned into a veggie taco dinner and United States of Tara filled afternoon. 

Grabbed some basic ingredients at WinCo. 

  

Put Sam in charge of chopping. 

and voila! veggie tacos

$10 meal, easy to make, and comfortably fed five people. 

p.s.: I know Mean Girls is supposed to be campy delightful fun (and I love Tina Fey), but I just never got into it. Actually it kind of irks me. Am I a killjoy?

Here, cleanse the palate with the goodness that is this opening sequence:

Weekend Update

I've been referring to this past weekend as my Summer Vacation Weekend. It was the only break I had between Spring semester and Summer semester. Sadly I didn't make out to Cancun or the Riviera. Buuut I did finally make it out to the Irond Bird Cafe. I've been meaning to check it out since they opened up, but haven't had a chance. 

The super windy Saturday night made for a perfect excuse to enjoy some hot coffee goodness.  

I had the 'Jessica Alba'. Delish.

Liz and Sam shared a lovely little French press.

Dan enjoyed a grilled cheese and hot chocolate.

Good friends.

Cool space.

Delicious coffee.

Simple Necklace For A More Simple Life

I was just trying to straighten up my room which is not a light task, mostly because I have too much stuff. I do not like having so much stuff clutter about, but I have a mild case of hoarding. (If I ever watch that show I seriously freak out.) I hate to fall into the trap of uber-consumerism, but it's hard sometimes. My goal in life is to live more simply. Thus cleansing the room of stuff. My mom's mantra: Love it while you have it or need it, and then let it go. Good philosophy I think. 

Oops got off track there for a minute. Point of post is that I was cleaning my room and I found this bead I got in some clearance bin at a craft store a couple of weeks ago. It was $1.50 and it called out to me. Using some embroidery thread (gifted from a friend) and a necklace clasp, I made a quick and easy necklace. It's very simple, and I like it that way. 

Best part: it's reversible! Two necklaces in one. 

I think the leafy green side is my fave.

These are the clasps I used.

 They were 36 for $2.50 at the craft store.

Colorful Cooking

Today was our staff appreciation day at work. We all met up at our director's house in Madera. In the haze of some long ago staff meeting I had agreed to bring a salad, a side dish, and dessert. Apparently I was feeling very ambitious that day, but more likely I was hungry and ready for lunch. I can make a few things well: scrambled eggs, pancakes, pupusas, sandwiches, spaghetti, etc., etc. You get the point. I can make things that are quick and easy. I put out a call on twitter and Facebook for recipes. Surprisingly (or not), most suggested going with pre-made stuff from the store. Considering I was coming to the end of a frazzled finals week where I'd been averaging 4 hours of sleep a night, that would have been the way to go. 

Anyway, this is what I came up with. Using materials already in the kitchen I got some pretty delicious (and colorful!) dishes to share. 

Fruit Salad

kiwi, Fuji apple, blackberries, strawberries, nectarine, and mango 

Shrimp and Veggies

Sautéed shrimp, zucchini, tomato, and onion. 

(used pomegranate vinegar wine and olive oil to cook) 

Cupcakes

Devil's food cupcakes decorated in our office colors. 

Everyone's a little bit crafty right?

I pretty much love DIY, crafting, and anything that lets you create. I also firmly believe in upcyling. I've seen so many blogs with amazing projects and ideas, and I always follow or bookmark them for another day. Somehow never having the time to actually go back and try it. In high school I used to sew my own bags out of old t-shirts and other fabric scraps. Recently I've recommitted to crochet. (It feels awesome to create a scarf or hat and be able to gift it to someone.) In the past I've also used my minimal sewing skills to make my costumes. The best one by far being an old prom dress I converted into a Queen of Hearts ensemble. So I guess you can say I'm a dabbler. 

Now that summer is almost here (and the thought of crocheting anything makes me sweat), and the possibility of free time on the horizon - I want to try out all of these projects! I also need to save money for fall tuition, and upcycling is your budget's best friend.  

This weekend a friend and I tried out a project from cutoutandkeep.net and made some awesome candle holders. Kind of like the religious ones they sell at the market. Only we stuck with our preferred musical deities. She made a Janis Joplin, and I (of course) chose The Beatles. 

Really easy project (and fun)!

All you need is:

- a glass container or glass candle. We got ours at the Dollar Tree.

- Mod Podge. We got ours at Michaels with a 40% off coupon you get if you sign up on their website.

- Colored tissue paper. Again Dollar Tree. 

- a print out of whatever image you want to use 

(Here's the site with instructions, if anyone wants to try it out.)

Best of all, now that we have all of the materials we can make as many as we want.  

Hopefully this is just the first of many projects to come this summer