work in progress...

I've been working on a painting of the word "peace" in different languages for Aaron (my boyfriend): a grueling process of motivating myself to actually pick the paint brush up, dip it in the acrylic hue of my choice and create decent word art.  I love painting little things just for fun and I often surprise myself at how happy and carefree I feel after I am done.  Painting is something I wish I did more often (also on the list of things I'd like to do more often: sleep in a hammock; exercise; eat chocolate cake; exercise again to make up for the sleeping and eating; photograph beautiful things; drive on a lonely highway; blare music out of my car windows; dance to the soundtrack of "Mamma Mia").


Here's what it looks like so far:

What is something you wish you could do more often?



a lot of life...

Lately I have been listening to a song by Sufjan Stevens: "The Dress Looks Nice On You."  It's a really pretty song- one of those songs that makes you wanna dance or roll the windows down when you're driving in your car- ya know, cliche stuff.  I think that's what makes this song great, though: you listen to it and it makes you forget all the craziness in your life.  You slow down.  This song reminds me of my boyfriend because I see a lot of life in him.  He makes every moment extraordinary by being silly or just doing what makes him happy. 

Who do you see a lot of life in?

When you're gone...

The other day, I began reading “The Five People You Meet In Heaven” by Mitch Albom.  I’m not far into it, but I feel like this is one of those books that are intended to make you cry.  Reading about this man’s life makes me wonder what I will be able to say about my own.  Did I live it well?  Or did I waste it?  I know I’m only in my twenties but there are so many things I want to experience.  I hope I leave a legacy behind: not so much for others to look at but for my kids and grandkids to be inspired by what I did and take risks of their own.  I want them to remember me as a kooky old woman who treasured the days of her life and left no moment ordinary. 

So I ask you:  What is one thing you want people to remember about you when you are gone? 

a clean cut...

I had a hair appointment today (at SWaNK).  It was supposed to be one of those ordinary hair cuts... a little snip snip and then done.  However, I decided to kick it up a notch.  For a while I have been thinking about getting an angled cut (shorter in the back then angled down toward the front) but I haven't had the courage to do it because I wasn't sure how my curly locks would take to such a drastic change.  With a little nudge from the stylist at the salon, though, I was able to tell her "go for it."  I think I made the right decision :~).  I know hair is something that is miniscule but I really feel like a different gal.



Sooo short!

 What have you always wanted to try that you haven't yet?  Don't be afraid-go for it!

One thing...

Over the weekend, I saw someone who has stopped talking to me since I graduated college.  I won’t bog you down with the details but our friendship ended over something trivial and (in the grand scheme of things) meaningless.  There were many things I could have said to this person:  Why are you being so ridiculous?  Can we please be friends again?  Never mind, I don’t want to be your friend if you’re going to act like this!  But I didn’t.  I thought I would get something out of this person if I was simply pleasant.  That was not the case.  I said "hello" and this person barely even looked at me.  I would love to tell you that this didn’t faze me, that I went on with my day unperturbed and impenetrable.  But it did faze me.  I’m still sad about it today and I probably won’t ever truly be over it even though my mother assures me that I will never see this person again.  It got me thinking: 
If you could say one thing to someone that you care about (or cared about) and have no repercussions, what would it be?

a [burning] passion

Waking up this morning to the bitter cold beyond my covers, I decided I would make homemade cupcakes when I got home from work (just vanilla with mascarpone vanilla icing).  After a long day at the office, I went to the grocery store, got all of my ingredients, drove home and got to work.  I was so immersed in mixing and pouring that I didn’t even eat dinner.  Finally, after what seemed like 9 hours, the batter was ready.  I scooped the perfect size every time (only thanks to my ice cream scooper) and opened the oven.  The moment the heat from the fiery vault licked my face, I felt a burning sensation on my finger.  My hand jerked back and my wrist ended up getting burned.  Even though it hurt like the dickens, I didn’t want my cupcake experience to be ruined.  Usually I would get angry and abandon my efforts of divine baking but not today.  You see, I have a new obsession with owning a cupcake shop someday and I’m trying to become the best cupcake maker alive (or at least a pretty decent one).  There aren’t many things I would get burned for but cupcakes are one of them.  So I ask you this: 

What hobby do you have a “burning” passion for?

They were pretty good :~)

Today I feel...

Inadequate.  I’m at a new job (my first big-girl-job) and I usually feel like I’m an elephant in a tank top (a.k.a. awkward).  I've only been at this job for about a month and a half and I struggle everyday with confidence issues and writer’s block (which is a problem because I’m the communications and research associate).  I wish they would have taught me what having a job is really like while I was in college.  Maybe something called “Simulation of a 9 to 5 Job” or “Stay in School As Long As Possible or Suffer the Consequences.”  Which begs the question:  What class do you wish was taught at your school/college?  (Silly answers are much appreciated but serious answers are equally valued).