busy making future headlines

goodbye 2010. i will miss you. you were a good, good year to me.
hello 2011. i expect great things from you!

happy new year everyone! i am currently quietly sitting at home on the couch with a crochet afghan over my lap. i've been sick all day. but dexter & mad men have been keeping me company until midnight. i have also given my blog a mini makeover for 2011. it's not much, but i think i like the changes.

for the past month or so, i have been cultivating a sort of list of things to remember & live by. i thought welcoming the new year would be a good time to share it with you. some of the things included may be familiar to you, but i have made them my own. i suppose it is some kind of manifesto of sorts.

live simply
create & cherish every day
use what you already have
when you eat, take time to enjoy every bite
appreciate others

be prepared for amazing things to happen

be kind & show kindness
go on adventures
stop & smile
sometimes be spontaneous
observe & notice the details in your surroundings
do not worry about tomorrow
love & be loved

i hope you enjoyed it. i believe it will be a work in progress & i will continue to add to it. if this inspires you to make your own list, i would truly want to see it! let me know if you create one yourself.

photo source
title from castledoor

a perfect match, pound for pound

i'm kind of in love with this couple & a bit obsessed with their blog. oh, & their videos & photography. quite simply they rock. (all photos are theirs)

i went thrifting today! got some fun things that i will show you all soon. all of the things i bought are for projects i want to work on during my last three weeks of break : )

tonight i made tortilla soup for dinner. it's amazing! tryyy it.

(title from castledoor)

replies:

linda: thank you! it was a lovely holiday. i hope yours was too! lighthouses are pretty mystical!

brynna: yes, inception is amazing! go get it girl! & yes, polaroid film is SO expensive. but the kind i got is from the impossible project. about $23 for eight photos. not too bad!

amy: aww : ) that makes me happy you & your mom liked my card. thanks for the package again!

inside the cabinet of wonder: that's exactly how i felt! haha. is it not possible to be both a star trek & wars fan?? lol.

allison: doesn't the cotton lotion smell so good?? it's my favorite scent at bath & body works. & they gave suggestions on the lookouts to take photos through them : ) i don't know if i would have been so clever hehe.

holiday

hello! i've been away for far too long! my family went on a quick holiday getaway for a few days down the coast. it was beautiful!the coast had neat lookouts that i loved. i took photos through them.my mom was fascinated with the tide pools. what a science teacher : )my squinty-eyed family polaroid time! for breakfast one morning, we ate at this place that had a dish called tortellini & eggs with spinach. it was very interesting & yummy!beautiful sunset through the clouds.fun lighthouse we went exploring at.we had such a lovely time.

i don't have any photos from christmas, partly because i was lazy! but i took some photos of my lovely gifts from incredible friends & family! scarf from india, metal bell charm, & "fairy & gnome" pots from abbie

rimmel london mascara & maybeline lip gloss (really good!) from alisa

music box & inception (!!) from cameron

thrift score, decor tape, velvet amber blackberry perfume (isn't it cute?), & impossible project polaroid film (!!) from my parents (& a coat that is not pictured)

toms & cotton lotion from raquel

i hope you all had a wonderful christmas! the new year is creeping up on me. i'm still in shock that it is almost here. i don't really have plans for new year's eve...i guess i'll just see what happens!

p.s. my cousin wendy can't post any more photos on her blog. she explains it here. anyone know how to help??

replies:

natalie: i absolutely love craft fairs. if you happen to hear of one nearby, definitely try to go to one! this is the first year in a long time that we actually got a real tree. it smells so good! i'm in the middle of pirate radio right now & i'm a little disappointed with it. we shall see how it ends though! & everything is illuminated is a definite must-see-soon!

dandelionkisses: oh i wish you had been here to go with me! the same renegade happens in august too. so you should plan ahead to make a trip to visit me & we can both go next time! whaaat? no tree for 14 years?! omg. the eclipse was pretty cool! from what i could see anyway. it was pretty cloudy...

courtney.: hello! ohhh :/ that's too bad! but i didn't know renegade had a store! how cool! sometimes i feel like just getting in a car & having a renegade craft fair road trip & going to all of them : )

inside the cabinet of wonder: i got your christmas gift at the renegade! : ) it should be in the mail soon! hehe. fan boys was so fun! i really enjoyed it. with being both a star wars & star trek fan (gasp!), i was laughing at all of the little inside jokes throughout the movie.

alexia: thanks! i really love the color of my hat : ) oooo! you saw the science of sleep?! it's like one of my favorite movies. golden ponyboy! so good. so good.

shelbyisms: ohhh you got it! gooood! i'm so happy you liked it : ) you are so cute.

the wind blew a peculiar morning

it's been pretty cold & rainy lately! but i love the weather : ) makes me feel cozy, but sleepy at the same time.
the renegade craft fair was awesome! we all had so much fun. it was quite big & crowded. i probably bought too much & i know i spent too much money. but i was happy nonetheless!i bought quite a few christmas gifts at the renegade, so i won't post photos of those, but i did buy a few things for myself: japanese masking tape & a golden leaf vintage barrette from sprout. i love my new barrette : )i won a giveaway from amy! she sent me some tea, a paper crane, and a cute puppy plushie, all inside a little drawstring bag. love it : )my sister came home for christmas from la. i missed her! today we went to the local farm to finally pick out a christmas tree. it was fun! the farm cat was very friendly & cute. & then we took a quick tour of the farm's greenhouse. it's awesome in there with all of the plants!we also took a walk to the library this morning. i picked up some favorite movies (the science of sleep, everything is illuminated, & mamma mia!) & some new ones i haven't seen before but am super excited to see (fanboys, alice, & pirate radio) well, i'm staying up to see the lunar eclipse tonight! i'm so excited. it's suppose to be the first one on the winter solstice since the 1600s. crazy cool. while i wait for it i'm going to sip one of amy's teas & watch fan boys or pirate radio : ) hope you are all well!

replies:

natalie: aww thanks : ) i can't wait to get your card!! amy is genius.

dandelionkisses: hehe thanks hun! i wish you were there too! hehe ohhh yeah. thaaat's riiight.

mlle.emma: thanks! ohhh that sounds so nice! lovely.

amy: yes i got yours!! but i'm going to wait until i get all the cards, to do a post about them. thanks amy : )

brit: oh i love how the map envelopes turn out. they are so neat. & also fun to make. wow! 7am?? ugh. no fun! well, good luck on your exams! i'll have to check out that book. sounds interesting! you have a lovely week, k? : )

christmas card maker

it's been a christmas card & envelope making factory on my bedroom floor for the past week. i've been making cards for the exchange i'm participating in. i got all the cards in the mail yesterday, so you fellow card makers will be getting them soon!
today i am off with petunia to the renegade craft fair! i'm so excited.

p.s. mel stringer is offering a free paper ornament on her blog! go check it out : )
p.p.s. cakies is having a neat vintage givaway!

replies:
linda: thanks! isn't it amazing? well i learned step by step from this blog. it took a while to make, but i think it's worth it. all you need is a thick magazine/catalogue & patience!
natalie: there should be more vintage finds this winter break!
shelbyisms.: : )
amy: yup! thanks again amy!!
dandelionkisses: hehe. you should make a tree too! for your room : )
pauline: no worries! aww. i'm so glad the diy kit got to you safely & that you liked it! ohhh & isn't broken english so good? mmm i think i want to see it again now... : )
brynna: good! make a tree & then post about it!
mckenzie mullen: haha! oh wow! how nice : ) it must have taken them a long time. because i was surprised how long it took to make my tree.
one of us: awww thank you for the sweet comment! & yay!! i'm so happy. you made my day : )
naomuack: hello! why thank you very much! i love the beatles : )
brit: oh thanks! at first, i wasn't going to get it. but my mom talked me into buying it. haha she's a great thrifting partner : )