they used to call me "hat"

shrinky dink art

thanks to this lady, i'm now obsessed with shrinky dinks. i've been making all kinds of stuff {although i have to admit that most of it was a disaster} but i do have all these little goodies to show for it:

this little owl is by far my favorite:

which i then put on this necklace i made:

  

and then i made this little charm, too:

actually, i made two- one for me and one to send in the mail to my cousin who recently moved away from michigan, too. {i hope you're not reading this heather!}

maybe it's been inspired by our valentine swap, or maybe i'm just feeling old fashioned, but i have been writing {and wanting to write} lots of letters and postcards lately. 

maybe i should start a correspondence club? 

any takers?

new favortites

i don't usually post this kind of stuff, but walking around aggieville this week i've spotted some great finds, and even though my birthday isn't until april {april fool's, to be exact} i thought i'd let you all in on my budding "gift list": {really it's all just an excuse to show you what i like}

love this mug. a lot.

{get it here}

i would need two of these- one to keep and one to cut up.

pictoral webster's dictionary {get it here}

i have a thing for mugs. and owls.

{get it here}

postcards! i'm inspired to write someone- wanna be on my list?

{get it here}

i don't think my umbrella made it here in the move.

{get it here}

our internet has been pretty spotty lately, so i may not be visiting all of you {as i like to do} until we get it fixed :(

have a wonderful thrusday!

a little cheese for your wednesday

What have you been up to this week? Me? I've been racking up some major wife points. that's right, I'm the "Best Wife Ever!" , in all capitol letters because this is my official title now (according to my hubby who has said this pretty much every day since last week.)

Why, you ask? Because I keep doing all these things that are kinda inconvenient, but not really a big deal- like letting him watch the K-State basketball game online last night (after the internet had not been working all day). Or picking him up a couple times, at odd hours, after he had dinner and drinks with friends (because we share a car and i had other plans that got me to bed early).

I don't really think it's been that big of a deal, but he sure does! So you know what that means- as I told him last night, I will be cashing all these points in on an not-yet-to-be-named future date.

Maybe some new boots? Maybe a free pass on doing the laundry? Maybe a mandatory Jane Austen movie marathon?

Or maybe not. Because really, when hubs is happy, i'm happy too.

photo from here

city (comma) state

in my early college years, me and pretty much every single one of my friends were obsessed with homestar runner. for those of you who don't know, it's a website with funny animated videos featuring an odd group of characters.

every monday, a new strong bad email would come out, and i waited with anticipation, watched it {usually several times} and then proceeded to spend the rest of the week making jokes about it with friends, as we all worked on our character impressions.

i stopped watching when i moved to michigan {since i no longer had anyone to share the jokes with} and haven't seen it for years. but i was feeling nostalgic today and decided to check it out again {i wasn't even sure it was still around}

while there, i watched this recent strong bad email about independent films and couldn't get enough of it. i was surprised at how hilarious it was {or at least i thought so}. now, i love me some indie films {and music, and crafters and on and on} but i thought this was totally right on. so i thought i'd share. 

oh strong bad, who knew you had such bitting and hilarious social commentary hidden under that wrestling mask?

we're talkers

i've been waiting all week to share this next bestie post! sarah and i started this little project a couple weeks ago, and it has become one of the highlights of my week. i hope you're all enjoying it too! {you can catch up here}

ok, enough build up, here is today's word:

when i think about sarah and how our friendship started i think of all the conversations we had. she's been listening to me since the first days of our acquaintance- when i would go to spanish study sessions and complain about wedding planning. i didn't have too many girlfriends and sometimes i just needed to vent a little, and even though we were just getting to know each other, she was always an ear for me. looking back, of course, i see how amazing it is she was even interested in talking to me at all after that!

but when the two of us are together it's hard to shut up. 

we've have some pretty amazing and crazy times together, but there's not much i love more than just talking together. about important things- about nothing- about everything.

i'm quite proficient at rambling and she never tunes it out {a skill indeed!} and i also tend to get stuck on subjects and talk and talk about it {like a broken record} and she gets it. more than that, she joins in and is happy to talk about the same thing for hours at a time, too! {like a new job, or blogging, or our newest crafty exploit} there's no feeling in the world like talking yourself out with a friend. a best friend.

our dialogues are rarely profound or life changing, but when you add them all up and put them together, they kinda are.

now go see sarah and hear her take on the subject. {it's sure to please!}

a little thanks

a few drawings i made for my etsy packages

{speaking of which, i put up some new items. wanna see?}

book recommendations

i got so many great book recommendations the other day- thank you! i wrote them all down and took the list to the library and i thought you might be interested in what i'm reading now. i narrowed it down based on what was available at the library that day {and some personal choice too, of course}

currently reading: people of the book by geraldine brooks 

{over half done and loving it}

on standby: on beauty by zadie smith

water for elephants by sara gruen

the corrections by jonathan franzen

and to return the favor, here are a couple of my personal recommendations:

empire falls by richard russo

flight by sherman alexi

i think it's time you met

amidst a gray and foggy week here, i feel like a little ray of sunshine :) 

it's just been one of those good weeks, i guess. made better today because i got my violin out and just played {after months} it felt so good!  the bruch g minor- just like riding a bike {a rusty, slightly pitchy bike, but a bike none the less!}

so, dear friends, i think it's time you met my wonderful companion:

his name is leonardo. and if you don't already know this, it's pretty normal for people to name their instruments- my sister once named her cello after a favorite uncle, and a young student of mine once named his violin "frank" and his bow "stein". {get it? frank and stein. so cute.}

i, on the other hand, chose leonardo- part ninja turtle {to kick some musical ass!} and part renaissance artist {fitting, i think}

and just in case you wanted to see it as well, here's the photo in the background that i always carry in my case:  

{my sister and i in italy, 2002}

it always brings me a little sunshine on cloudy days.

oh happy day!

i'm so excited to tell you that i made my first etsy sale!

and this is my 100th post!

needless to say, i'm pretty thrilled :)

here is my purchased item, hidden in packaging of shredded pages from my old martha stewart magazines:

my shop is looking kinda shabby right now, but i'll be working like crazy in the next couple weeks to put up some new items.

so go visit it {if you haven't already} and please- tell me what you think!

my little etsy

 {and don't forget to sign up for the valentine's card exchange! sign up closes saturday}

going home {and coming back}

i love going home. {by which i mean visiting my parents.} we always have a wonderful time- sleeping in, playing games, watching the national geographic channel.

it's great to catch up with mom, browse my sister's enourmous dvd collection and raid her closet, and gather around the dinner table for some good food.  all things you can't do over the phone. 

but as much as i love going home for the weekend, i love coming back just as much. there's nothing quite like coming back to your own apartment, your own little family, unpacking, showering in your own shower before settling in for the night and saying- "all right week, i'm ready for you to begin."

i hope all your weekends were as wonderful as mine <3

photo here

baby talk

my sister babysits for two little twin babies {about 18 months now} and sees them a few times a month. she's been doing this for at least a year, so they know and love her. they came over last night to spend the day with us and it was quite an adventure.

husband is pretty leary of babies, but he spent a fair amount of time with them, which led to quite a few funny conversations {by which i mean he talks to the babies. like they're 9}. here are my favorites:

josh comes downstairs to find a twin with no pants on and he says, in all seriousness: "where are your pants, baby? you need to put some pants on."

the twins are both sitting on the kitchen floor playing with josh and he says: "alright, you need to master object permanency. just because you can't see it doesn't mean it doesn't still exist, ok babies?"

my hubby. the future college professor. totally cracks me up.

photo here

holy family shrine

thank you all for the great book recommendations- i got a bunch of them from the library {and i'm feeling much better}

we're spending the weekend in nebraska with my mom, dad and little sister for a delayed christmas visit. i love visiting my family. but i hate the drive. even though it's only 3 hours, it feels more like 5 {one lane highways with low speed limits and even slower speed limits through small-town kansas and nebraska}

but this is the one part i always enjoy: the holy family shrine

it means i'm close to home, and it's breathtaking!  

{and from what i can see on the website, the grounds are just as beautiful}

on a hill, overlooking the highway:

{photo here}

how we usually see it: {lit up at night}

{photo here}

{photo here}

{photo here}

incredible, no?

book talk

 i've been getting sick all week. {which makes sense because hubby has been sick for a week 1 1/2 and has been using my toothbrush!} 
well, i think i've just been fighting it off all week.

which means taking lots of vitamins and sleeping 14 hours a day. which is fine, but i want to read a lot and i just don't have a great book right now. i've been starting and stopping a whole bunch of novels from our home library, but i just can't seem to stick with one.

anyone have any ideas for me?

i'm looking for something interesting that doesn't take too much concentration {since i'm half asleep most of the time} but is a couple steps above chick lit. and i don't want to buy anything, so hopefully it's something i can find at the library.

thanks you guys!

photos from here and here

valentiny treat

oh valentine's day. not my favorite holiday {although i don't dislike it} but let me tell you what i do like: making things, receiving some snailmail, and sharing the love.

 so this valentine's day my bestie and i are hosting a card exchange!

i'm excited.

This swap requires you to dust off your best grade-school-art-class moves and get down and dirty making something sweet for 5 new friends. Nothing big and fancy, just a little snail-mail love. In return, you will receive 5 cards from fellow swappers.

If you want in on the bestie love, please e-mail sarah: helloauburnst@gmail.com by January 23rd. Leave your home address and your blog address, and whether you're willing to send a card internationally.

We'll e-mail you back with the names of the people who will be receiving your love notes that week. Then you'll have till the 14th to get them to everyone!

We hope you'll join us!

word #2

in a series of words about me and my bestist bestie.

this word is sure to pop up quick

it's one of my favorite things to do, and something i love to do with sarah especially.

it also reminds me how we became besties to begin with: we were in the same {horrible} spanish class, and found ourselves working together on a group project {with her future hubby, who was already in my circle of friends}. concentrating on the project at hand became difficult because study sessions constantly turned in to "shirt parties" {that's what we called them}.

we made shirts.

a lot. 

and thus our creative and friendship bond was formed, never yet to be broken. we're talking instant connection. instant understanding and acceptance. that's hard to find. and even though we all hated that class, and some of us {read: me} barely passed- we're left with very fond memories. cause i met my best friend there.

not to mention that sarah is one of the most creative people i know. she's constantly coming up with new and wonderful things. {just stop by her apartment and you'll agree}

i could go on and on about her excellent taste, eco-friendly mentality, and all around original innovations, but i won't. i'll save it for next time

{and there will be more}

and so now, separated by so many miles and space, our friendship is something i cherish and cling to {for dear life!}. something i can't live without, and certainly don't want to!

now, go stop by my bestie and see what she has to say!

{and while you're there, ask (no beg!) for a video tour of her apartment}

and stop by tomorrow to find out what we've got cooked up for valentines day. i think you're gonna love it!

i keep my jars

and canasters, cover them with paper, and fill them with crafty things.

these are some favorites:

{shelf 1: baking powder canisters, spaghetti sauce jars}

{shelf 2: instant coffee canister, various sauce jars}

{gift box covered with reused wrapping paper, silver photo tin}

{office supply boxes}

{my favorite little mustard jar of red buttons}

ps: thanks to all of you who left notes yesterday. i feel much better now!

it's okay

well, i had a post all written and ready to go, but i scrapped it. i don't know, it was forced. cause the truth is that i'm feeling kinda homesick today. we had 2 snow days this week so i've just had too much time on my hands. not that i'm complaining about getting some recoup time at home with the husband, its just been pretty quiet here and i can't just walk upstairs to be around family and i can't just hop in the car and drop by my bestie's place {both of which i was really getting used to.}

i'm excited to be home, but i'm even more excited to go back to work tomorrow. i was not made to sit around so much!
 i know it's gonna be a great week, i'm just ready to get it started already.

music & lyrics

i'm a music person.

music as in melody.
in fact, i love nothing more than a melody with a great harmony. so really, i think you could say that i'm a harmony person.

my husband, on the other hand, is a lyrics person. {which is good because he has trouble keeping a tune} and he can't truly love a song {or a band, even} if he doesn't love the lyrics.

i, on the other hand, usually make up my own anyway, so lyrics rarely catch my eye. but i love this song. and i love the lyrics even more. so i thought i'd share both, since it seems to be such a rare combo for me.
{and i don't know too many 20somethings who can't relate to it right now, including myself}

After years of expensive education

a car full of books and anticipation,
I'm an expert on Shakespeare and that's a hell of a lot

but the world don't need scholars as much as I thought.

Maybe I'll go travelling for a year,
finding myself or start a career.
I could work for the poor though I'm hungry for fame
we all seem so different but we're just the same.

Maybe I'll go to the gym, so I don't get fat,
aren't things more easy with a tight six pack?
Who knows the answers? Who do you trust?
I can't even separate love from lust.

Maybe I'll move back home and pay off my loans,
working nine to five answering phones.
Don't make me live for my friday nights,
drinking eight pints and getting in fights.

I don't want to get up, just let me lie in,
leave me alone, I'm a twenty something.

Maybe I'll just fall in love that could solve it all,
philosophers say that that's enough,
there surely must be more.

Love ain't the answer nor is work,

the truth eludes me so much it hurts.

But I'm still having fun and I guess that's the key,

I'm a twenty something and I'll keep being me.

awkward husband

i love my hubby.
he doesn't like to take photos so i don't post them very often.
since he doesn't like photos he always goes to this face:

{wide eyes, crooked mouth}

 

and he gets overwhelmed in large crowds and makes this face:

{seeing daisy may and seth bernard at founders. with lots of people}

{at the 4th of july parade. with lots of people}

he's cute.

besties forever

let me tell you about my best friend sarah: she is amazing and i love her with my whole heart. i got to see her {finally!} over the holiday {since she lives in michigan and i live in kansas} and while together we decided that since we started blogging to keep in touch, it only seems natural that we have some posts together too.

today begins our idea to share our story with you. one word at a time.

if i had to pick one word to describe our friendship it would be snort.

because we both snort.

 and it is so much worse when we're together.

it's infectious.

 but only to us. our husbands {who are also best friends} think it's ridiculous.

 which makes us laugh even more.

sarah can put a smile on my face instantly. and even though we live 800 miles apart now, hearing her voice feels like we're sitting down in her living room together. like we've never been apart. we can talk, we can cry, we can share stupid secrets and fears, but it always comes back to the snort.

because really, why cry if you can't laugh, and why laugh if you can't snort?

now go visit my bestie and see her side of things

jobby

 so i started my new job this week {yesterday morning} and i already love it! i'm the program director for a childcare program at a local elementary school. i work odd hours {which i kinda really like} and i think it's gonna be a blast.

i'm not all about talking about work, but while we're on the subject, i also work with a young boy with autism on saturdays, and i'll be teaching violin lessons {my true passion} a couple evenings a week again soon!

i've come back from my vacation energized and excited about life.

i love being a part of little people's lives.

new year's resolution

i started reading cold tangerines last night, {which was recommended and borrowed from a dear friend} and i really love this quote:

"today is your big moment. moments, really. the life you've been waiting for is happening all around you. the scene unfolding right outside your window is worth more than the most beautiful painting, and the crackers and peanut butter that you're having for lunch on the the coffee table as profound, in their own way, as the last supper. this is it. this is life in all its glory, swirling and unfolding around us, disguised as pedantic, pedestrian non-events. but pull off the mask and you will find your life, waiting to be made, chose, woven, crafted."

i love this! this is what i want my life to be. this year i will live my life each and every day. i will work for my goals and plans and dreams every day. i will remember to stop waiting for my life to begin, and start living it. i'm excited about where i am, and where i'm going {even though i have an open-ended 5-year plan} this is my new year's resolution.

"your life, right now, today, is exploding with energy and power and detail and dimension, better than the best movie you have ever seen. you and your family and your friends and your house and your dinner table and your garage have all the makings of a life of epic proportions, a story for the ages. because they are. every life is."

i hope this inspires you today.

i'm back!

we're finally home after a seemingly endless car-airplane-car trip back.

we had an amazing holiday vacation. i could go on and on about it, but i won't- except to say that it was perfect. but now regular everyday life is calling me back- i have bills to pay, a new job that starts tomorrow {so excited!} and my own bed to sleep in. time will go fast and i'll be with my family and friends again before i know it.

and even though i've misssed you all and missed updating, it was nice to take a break and just be with friends and family. 

and now i'm getting ready for bed. we've been up since 3am, and i have to be fresh and ready to go by 6:45am tomorrow, so this girl needs some sleep!