Holiday Cheer

I'm thinking of recreating the magic of Christmas for myself. I've spent the past few years either stressed or apathetic to the whole shebang and I always feel like I'm missing out. This year I've given it a big more thought, especially after realizing Thanksgiving seemed so hurried and pointless, and I've put together a list of ideas for how to make this season a tad more enjoyable...

I started tonight by watching Elf, definitely my favorite Christmas movie (oops, wrote before I thought, Love Actually comes in parallel to Elf for my favorite). During the movie I started my Christmas shopping list and my holiday cards.

My Christmas shopping list is looking sad right now because I still have no ideas of what to get people but I'll be spending more time really thinking about it this year. I'm thinking etsy will be where I get my inspiration. 

After the movie was over I thought of all of the wonderful things I could do to make this season a little more happy. 

get meaningful gifts and wrap them way before christmas eve

gather around a fire (contained obviously)

See holiday of lights (CHECK!!!)

have a cookie making party

sing christmas carols (maybe, still shy about my singing voice)

watch holiday movies like Love Actually 

watch Season 1 of The O.C. (always puts me in cold/winter mood)

bundle up and drink hot cocoa 

go ice skating (OH BOY I NEED TO!)

finish a blanket OR scarf by christmas

send out holiday cards

take pictures

get pink tree or a picture with one

hang out with good friends

work on new years/birthday 26 before 26 list and continue checking off from 25 before 25 list

make paper snowflakes

make vegetarian gravy

Looks like I'm going to be verrrry busy. Fun, fun, fun!

*all images found via weheartit, vi.sualize.us and google images

What I Did Today...

Went to the fabulous mall and spent some time shopping at Forever 21... found a cute purse, some socks and a couple of rings.

Then came home, read (and attempted to finish before I fell asleep) The Gunslinger by Stephen King. No such luck, the nap won out.

Picked up Baby Brows with Señor Brows from parents of Unicorn Sparkles. 

Came home and had a family night of watching 2 of my favorite shows:

 

Then I retreated to my room and watched my favorite Christmas movie (because I love, love, love Zooey Deschanel) Elf! 

Now I am very sleepy and wish to watch the backs of my eyelids after I feed my very hungry stomach.

Goodnight and happy holidays!

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

Sign up here!

I am so beyond excited right now, I just signed up for Ms. Elsie's e-course on blogging. I've been trying to figure out how to improve my blog and I just ADORE, seriously, Adore, her blog so this is perfect. Elsie has been quite an inspiration for me over the past year and I'm just stoked out of my mind that I'm finally able to take one of her courses. Awesome town to the max. So stoked and ready!

Thank you Elsie for being fabulous (and gorgeous to boot)!

Recently Pinned

I LOVE pintrest. If you haven't heard about it, GO GO GO see what it is about! If you have one, ummm follow me please!

So to start off this week with a pretty and positive feel I'm posting some of my recently pinned pretty pictures. Here we go:

Delicious looking rainbow pancakes. I wouldn't even feel weird about eating the green one!

Yes please I want to make these!

I want to visit Las Vegas now. I want to eat here.

more red shade inspiration

I want to snuggle him sooooo bad!

And now to start the day fresh and happy. Have a bunch of things to do. Oh goodness. Positive outlook day 1 here I come!

1. Rainbow pancakes 2. felt alphabet 3. Las Vegas Veggie 4. pretty red 5. snuggle buddy

I DID IT!!!!

closer picture when it is fully healed!

#1 is officially checked off of my 25 before 25 list!
It says: Against the Grain
Done at: Lucky's (Downtown San Diego)
Art By: Thor

Overall experience went a little like this: I had been thinking about Against the Grain as you know considering I posted about it a couple of days/maybe a week earlier. I thought and thought and didn't want to wait any longer so I sent a text to a tattooed friend asking for a recommendation on a really good walk in tattoo shop. If I had been getting my hot air balloons or anything else I would not have done a walk in, but this was basic and I trusted my friend's judgement. He told me about Lucky's so I looked them up and found nothing but great reviews on their Yelp page. Then I went to their Myspace page and looked at the examples of artists' work and was again impressed.
After having a semi distressing talk with the guy looking at my car for insurance I gathered my things and drove into a place I call my driving Hell. Oh downtown I don't miss you. Found the shop, parked the car and walked in a very determined manner in.
Talked to the first guy explaining what I wanted, waited for a second for the script guy (as they called him at first) to come back from break. He came in, I told him what I wanted, he asked if he could show what he would like better, I agreed. I leave art to artists when I don't have all the knowledge I need. He drew up a gorgeous piece and I was sold.
Waited while he set up and was a little nervous, not for the feeling but for my future. I get it, everything changes, and while I know I'm going to be tattooed doing the first one was like breaking a seal that I was a tad afraid to break.
He called me over, I sat down and placement began. We found out I am double jointed in my elbows/wrists (not quite sure which part is responsible for the way my arms can turn) and perfected the placement.
Then it began... whoever says a tattoo is completely painless is lying. I'm not saying it was excruciating or anything close but it wasn't a nice soft lover's touch either. It's like bee stings, or tips of really sharp razors catching your skin, or sandpaper continuously rubbing your skin raw.
The part that kind of surprised me was my lack of anxiety about the needle. It might have been because the needle goes too fast up and down to see but either way I now know that part of a tattoo will never be a problem.
Total it took less than an hour to outline, fill and touch up the writing. I left at the same determined pace as I entered and went on with my night.

Like all big decisions in my life I have been going back and forth about how I feel about this piece. I love it but I wondered if I would always love it. Today (3 days later) I can say that I am completely and totally in love with the piece. I no longer want to worry about how it will affect my future because it won't affect it negatively if I don't let it.

YAY!!! I finally accomplished #1 on the list!!!!

It Is Official

My car is a total loss.

Now what? I get to wait some more for a new department of my crap insurance agency to contact me. I might turn blue from holding my breath on Monday, I probably won't hear from them until next Wednesday or so. I swear this is all a bad joke.

And then? I find a new (to me) car. This is bumming me out. Normally I like all things shopping but when it comes to cars I do NOT. I do not like car shopping because I always, and I mean always, like cars out of my price range. I could go for a 2007-Present Volvo S40 or a 2003/2004 Jetta VR6 or maybe a 2008-present Mitsubishi Lancer... all more expensive than what I think I might be getting from insurance.

So shoot, up crap creek with a very tiny paddle. Do I take this guy to small claims court and figure out the difference in money that I would need to cover the new car? Do I get a car I don't like as much? One of the problems is I was spoiled from the get go. My first car was a brand new Jetta with a sun/moon roof, 6 disk cd changer and it was just my best friend. Probably why I would consider going back to the 2003 Jetta and this time upgrading to the VR6 engine. My second car, may she rest, was a 2010 Corolla Sport. No sun/moon roof but she was gorgeous and I love, love, loved her.

I guess I am just going to have to take my sweet time with this one and really, really do more research. Pretty sure I'm going to need to get a used car.

The part that really tans my hide is that I will still be paying for the totaled car after this is all over. I can either use the money to get a new (to me) car or pay off the loan but if I pay off the loan then what am I going to do to get a new car considering I am jobless (technically) and can't prove an income. Plus, I don't want to be paying payments anymore. At least not any over $200 a month.

So here I am, confused as can be hoping I get a good amount of money to cover this mess.

p.s. I need a job, a fun one that makes me excited to get up every day. One that challenges me. I need a job that won't question tattoos or piercings. I guess I need to start the hard search. Get real deep in it and try real hard.

I'm exhausted just thinking about it all.

a little hello

I've blown it pretty big lately with the daily posts.
I need to go to bed as is so I don't have much time.

I want to say CONGRATULATIONS!!!! to Mrs. Dani on the birth of her beautiful baby boy. Visit her at www.sometimessweet.blogspot.com if you don't already!

And as far as the blanket square count goes I have completed about 8 since last time, 5 today. I just did a total count about 20 minutes ago but I forgot and I'm too lazy to get out of bed. Much apologies, next post will be a little more lively and on track with me.

Wednesday I will get to hear what is going on with my car. Now that I think about it I might not even hear about it until Friday considering the appointment is all day Wednesday so the person could take a look at it before closing if they wanted and then Thursday is Thanksgiving and then Friday they MIGHT get back to me. I hope it will work in a better way where they get there in the morning. That would be a glimmer of goodness in this nightmare of a situation.

Other than that life is normal. I was a little down today due to a couple of things but tomorrow is a new day so we shall see what it brings.

Goodnight!