I've moved!

Find me here from now on.

No buy June.

I'm re-instituting no buy month.  I feel like things have just gotten out of control and it's extremely stressful.  I have stacks of books.  My room is still full of boxes.  It's time for some action.

I didn't do January as planned, so June is it.  If I want something (and I want things), I have to wait a whole 30 days to purchase whatever the serious want is.  And right now, I seriously want these wedges.  C'est la vie.

Groceries & necessities are all.  Keep me honest blog friends.

Joy.

(from here.)

As I sit here and get a head start on "What my life will be like in 2012," I can't help but think back to the feeling I had yesterday on the lake and how to recapture that feeling long term.

The winds were high.  I was sitting at the front of the boat as we bounced along the whitecaps... wind whipping my hair, water splashing over my face, sun shining down.  I couldn't help but laugh.  I didn't laugh because something was funny, but because of the pure joy and happiness I felt in that moment.

Growing up!

My little man is getting his adult underbite.. he's growing up!

Fiesta.

Wow, two posts in one night?? This is rare.  At any rate, I'm being productive and that's always a good thing.  I've found that I was so busy for so long in my work life that I let things slack at home.  So now, getting things done!

My mom had a conference in San Antonio recently and they gave her some of the metal decorations for fiesta wreaths in her welcome bag!!  I desperately wanted to make a fiesta wreath for fiesta this year, but it was a week earlier than in the past and I just didn't have the time or money as I was in the middle of the move.

In the meantime I thought I could show off the pretty decorations in my room, as well as the cute little piñata that came with them, so I found some lace I purchased for a crafting project to make this little piece of decor to fit in the small space between two of my windows.  It's cute and adds some San Antonio flair!

Stay tuned for more.

(again, all photos by me.  please disregard the iphone quality.)

Home Sweet Home.

This post should've been posted Thurs night, but Blogger was down so I'm writing it today.  I'm pretty excited lately because I feel like my room (and the house) are FINALLY coming together... over a month later!!

After a trip to Ikea on the way back from Dallas last weekend, I picked up this lovely pot rack which just barely fit into the space we intended to use it for.  It makes the kitchen look pretty lived in, so I love that aspect.  We also didn't have a microwave this first month, so the stove was heavily used and it's nice to have the pots & pans easily accessible.

Then I stayed up super late on Thursday (and I had to drive a lot the next day) to get some of the bigger boxes out of my room.  I finally got one part of my room presentable... the closet!  My brother got me an awesome "Keep Calm and Carry On" picture when he was in London for spring break and it fits perfectly in between the closet and the door.  The bucket that my cookbooks and magazines moved into was a purchase the week before.  I also managed to (mostly) condense my large walk-in closet to this small 1920s closet.  I love it!

Hopefully I'll get down to business and clean out the rest of the room to make it presentable.  Can't wait to share it!

(all photos by me.  they're all iphone photos so please disregard the quality.)

On creativity

I fear that I've lost any of the creativity I may have once had... It seems like I had once been able to create characters and feel them. Now I can only mimick real-life situations that I lived trough. How and when did I lose my inspiration?

Starting up 750words again. Maybe that will help me get it back.

Calypso St. Barth for Target

Loving this Silver Pouf by Calypso St. Barth for Target.  It wouldn't match anything since gold is my accent color at home... but loving it!

More sleeping puppy

He had a busy, busy day so he's one tired boy!

Top 33 Worlds Strangest Buildings

From Bored Panda (via Pricetags)

 

Lotus Temple (Delhi, India)

 

Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Egypt)

 

Church of Hallgrimur (Rekjavik, Iceland)

Sleepy boy

Inspiration for Tuesday

 

(via.)

Lovely Saturday.

There are still boxes everywhere in the house... but we finally got internet!  Yay!  I watered the lawn this morning, but today was mostly full of golf.  Yes, golf.

We headed out to the Texas Valero Open held at the AT&T Oaks course at TPC.  We spent the first portion camped out in the bleachers at the 16th hole where there was a nice breeze.  We then moved to the 10th hole to wait for Geoff Ogilvy and encountered the top of the standings while waiting there.  Finally, we camped out at the 18th hole to see the end.  We witnessed Vegas make something like a 68' putt for eagle.  It was awesome.

10th Hole

2010 Champion - Adam Scott

Kevin Chappell - leader at the time

Geoff Ogilvy

Overall a fun afternoon.  Didn't accomplish much around the house, but a good Saturday!

(all photos by me.)

Amazing!

Pencil art.  How incredible is this?

Source. (via.)

Dreaming of a vacation...

Photographer Luis Monterio 

(via.)

New laptop!

After months (okay, or years) of battling my sound card and blue screen memory dumps, I took the plunge today and purchased a new laptop!  Not the highest tech gadget or the specialty built computer I really want and wish I could afford, but I got an incredible price for what I need (e-mail and watch tv shows) for now.  Yay!  I get to pick it up in-store tomorrow... I can't wait!!

(Source.)

Grateful.

I got a piece of news today that several months ago would have made me feel indignant.  I would have felt angry, upset and just plain wronged.  I waited for all those feelings and more to kick in, so that I could tell myself again that it's for the best...

But then they didn't kick in... and I realized that instead of angry, I was feeling peace and acceptance.  That I'm finally past this--life lived, experience gained and lessons learned--and I am happy.  Things have ways of working out like they're supposed to and I am happy and thankful and grateful for that.

And when I say that, I can't help but think of American Beauty, when Lester says: "I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me... but it's hard to stay mad, when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst... And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life..."

Right now I can't feel anything but gratitude because I know I'm where I'm supposed to be, and how can I be angry about that?  And for that, I am grateful.

(photo: source.)

Life.

I've been thinking a lot about life lately.  Well, I think about life all the time.  I think about where I've been, I think about where I am now and sometimes I like to think about where I might be going.

I've had a lot of nights lately that have kept me awake at night in anticipation, because I can't help but being so excited for the future.  What's next?  Here be dragons.

The Sea v 2.0

"The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesan

(picture. quote.)

Stripes

(via.)

So classic.

Grace Kelly at the Oscars.

(via.)

Chic Mudroom

This makes me seriously wish I lived in a place that requires a mudroom...

(via.)

Texas fight!

via. (or here)

Thinking about getting this for the pup.  I'd love to do it in time for March Madness, but not sure how much he's going to grow.  Since he's almost outgrown the sweater I bought him, I think I'm going to hold off... I know it makes me that person but I know he'll get a lot of use out of a Texas jersey!

Panic and run amok.

LOVE this... too funny.

(via.)

All you who are weary...

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30

Nothing less than butterflies

Based on the day, part of me wanted to write a post ranting on the past and recent injustices that I felt have happened to me.  But then I realized that it's just the pain and exhaustion talking... I'm not angry and things work out like they are supposed to.  Then I thought about something an old friend told me seven (?) years ago.  I was searching for this particular quote and ran across some old writings of mine... some made me cry, some made me laugh and some reminded me of my favorite songs I forgot even existed.  I was going to post some of my favorites... but maybe another time.

However, here is the one I was looking for from Feb 20, 2004 (although I know the wisdom predates that by some time):

"don't settle for less than the most amazing person, that person who steals your heart but throws his right back at you, the guy who won't make you cry, but wipes your tears and holds you while you do."


A reminder to get back to my hope that there be nothing less than butterflies.

First puppy snore

He's now 14 weeks and this is the first time I've heard him snore... although he does have allergies and is constantly sneezing, reverse sneezing and rubbing his eyes.  Poor little guy.

Other things he's learned in the past 7 weeks include nudging me instead of barking to get my attention, fetching a tennis ball (and other toys), understands the meaning of no and is now sleeping outside the pen/crate.  He's also up to date on shots, microchipped and an all around very happy, healthy puppy!

Adjusting to life as a lefty...

Well I am on Day 3 post-op after a slap repair (at least one anchor) and a rotator cuff repair.  It's difficult to do everything left handed... I feel completely worthless at most things right now, but I'll get there!

Hoping to have some cool photos of the shoulder after my follow-up with the OS on Monday.

Currently reading Vendetta by Michael Dibdin and not really watching anything.  Hard enough to get comfy as it is, don't need the computer to make that more difficult.  Since it's taken about 20 mins to type this left-handed, don't expect to hear too much from me till I'm out of the sling in 6 weeks!!

A Map for Saturday

Watched another movie this morning... "A Map for Saturday" about one man's year backpacking around the world.  It gives me the travel bug, makes me want to save up all my money and just go somewhere for awhile.  It's funny... for my last vacation to Australia  everyone kept saying "I wish I could do that" or "Your so lucky you can do that."  Well, anyone can do it, if they have the right attitude. 

The movie helped remind me how I've lost a lot of focus on where I wanted to go in life and where I've ended up.  Maybe it can be a constant reminder of where I wanted to be and how to get there.

Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art

I just finished watching the 2009 film "Bright Star" and can't believe I didn't watch it sooner than tonight.  The love story of John Keats and Fanny Brawne is told so absolutely, heartbreakingly beautiful...

Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art —
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like Nature's patient, sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors —
No — yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft swell and fall,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever — or else swoon to death.

- John Keats, 1819

Bear patiently, my heart...

"Bear patiently, my heart, for you have suffered heavier things." - Homer

My hearts hurts. And I don't know why I still care.