Happy New Year!

This pretty much sums up my night (or at least it better)

Bridesmaid dresses!

Sometimes I forget that I'm keeping this blog to document my life happs and not just my mood swings...

So with that in mind, I thought I'd share with you the bridesmaid dresses we picked out! We're still sort of in the planning process, but I'll bring you up to speed so far.

When I first got engaged I knew immediately who I wanted to be up there with Tommy and I. My sister, of course was going to be the maid of honor. My best cousin Courtney and my three best friends from college, Brittany, Allie and Julie. It was kind of hard not picking girls from high school, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the college girls know Tommy. They've been with me since the beginning. They lived with me for that year we were apart. They apparently were taking bets on when we were actually going to get engaged (when I called Julie and told her, she said "YES! Allie owes me ten bucks" before she said congrats....haha). It just makes sense to have them up there with me because they went through it all. I love my high school friends dearly, and have obviously known them longer, but in the end I went with my gut and picked the girls I did.

Now, while I was sure of my bridesmaids, I was unsure of what they would wear. In case you haven't noticed, most bridesmaid collections are ugly. And they're expensive. And they definitely aren't modest enough for my one LDS bridesmaid. Oh, and did I mention that they're UGLY?!?! So I was having a lot of trouble figuring out what they would wear. I toyed with the idea of convertible dresses because everyone could find a style that suited them the best plus they were relatively cheap plus they looked FANTASTIC in my friend Tiffany's wedding. However, when I tried one on myself, all the styles were fine except the modest one. The one with sleeves was hella annoying. You really couldn't raise your arms up without the sleeves popping up over your shoulders and staying there. That just doesn't really work when you're wearing garments. Believe me.

I also considered choosing just one color and having the girls pick their own dress out. I wasn't terribly concerned that they all wear the exact same shade, in fact I like the look of different dresses, like this:

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But my mom was kind of concerned that paying for them would be tricky. Since we are covering the costs of the dresses, and EVERYONE lives out of state, the easiest is to go online. I reluctantly agreed, though not because I didn't like the look. (I really like that look).

Next, I decided to pick my bridesmaids' brains. That's what they're there for, right? I asked them to send me a dress that they thought they would look great in. My idea was that I would get all of their ideas for the "perfect" dress, and go out and hand pick one for each of them online but still have the above look. Well, that kind of backfired. I'm still not sure why. No one really responded. Or they sent me dresses and collections they thought I would like. Not a single one was like, "I look really really good in strapless cocktail dresses" or "don't you dare put me in a one sleeved dress, I hate that!". It was really weird. And that was about the time that things with school started to really ramp up, so I just sort of gave up.

And then, just last week we got a phone call. Well, my mom got a phone call. One of her friends just happened to be walking downtown and passed a store, Lily & Iris, that specialized in bridesmaid dresses. Not just from one designer either, but from many. And really surprising, given our locale, they weren't an LDS shop either (not that there's anything wrong with that, I do have an LDS girl in my wedding, it's just that in Utah, 90% of the bridal stores specialize in LDS weddings because there are SO. MANY. LDS weddings here. So many). My mom said she "had a feeling about this place" and we decided to check it out the next day.

The place was fantastic. OHMYGOSH I can't remember her name, but the woman who helped us was sooooo helpful. She didn't push us into anything at all, she answered all of our questions about alterations (because unfortunately, we're still going to have to alter one of the dresses to be more modest), and she didn't mind when we kept asking to see more and more styles. In the end we picked out five colors from one designer, Alfred Sung, and we're letting the girls pick their own styles. Here are the colors (all photos from www.dessy.com) :

Cerise

Fruit Punch

Majestic

Paradise

Strawberry

The colors don't show up too well on the computer, but believe me, they are all very different. Like I said, I'm still waiting on style choices, but you get the idea. Now, this may seem like a big jump from our original wedding colors plan, but just think of it as a fancier version. There will still be plenty of locally grown, in season wild flowers, and the dresses match that, but we're just upping the classiness of the thing. Make sense?

In other wedding related news, I got a dress! But I can't tell you what it looks like because my mom and sister would kill me. Sooooo there's that.

Why yes, Sullivan does generally start with an S, Mr. Field House Employee #onlyinutah #neverinboston

Horray for mindless work and listening to NPR

Happy happy holidays

I love this time of year.

Don't get me wrong, I don't start humming Christmas carols or anything, in fact, I hate Christmas carols. But I do love everything that winter break and Christmas has come to mean. I love giving gifts and spending lazy days with my family. I love seeing people I don't usually get to and eating a lot of really bad food. I love drinking a lot of wine and not worrying about a schedule. 

I love all those things, but I think I like the last one the most. I LOVE being on vacation. Even though I'm at school now, I don't have to be. And better yet, since school is officially closed today, I'm the only one in my office right now! YEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH. I'm not obligated to be here, or do anything really. So the work that I do get done is just extra. I loved sleeping in today and not getting out of bed until 11 because I was gchatting with my cute cousin. I loved walking to school in the SUNSHINE (yes, the inversion is gone! [though slowly creeping back]). I love staring across the empty campus and turning the thermostat in our office waaaaaay up. I just love Christmas break. Almost more than summer break.

Weird, I know.

Don't get me wrong, I looooooooove summer break. Mostly the temperature of summer break. But winter break is a perfect reprieve from school. Over the summer I feel as though I have so much time, but then it flies by. In the winter, I know I only have a little bit so I do everything I can to make it awesome. I've seen a lot of people I love. I've spent a lot of time with my family. I am back on track with my marathon training (seven miles yesterday what what?). And now I am at school catching up on everything I need to. And I still have two more weeks!

The sad part is that this time next year I'll most likely be back to work because I have to be back to work. No more extended winter vacation for me. So I'm totally going to live this one up (even though everyone is gone.....including Tommy!)

I am just in the best mood and felt the need to share it with everyone. I hope you all had an excellent Christmas and/or Hanukkah and/or vacation.

I'm FREE!!!!!!!

That is all.

But you want more, right? Well, I wish could give you more, and I'll certainly try, but in the interest of privacy (and, aw heck, embarrassment) I'm going to omit some details.

Today marks the end of a dark time, the end of being on a short leash, the end of answering every beck and call of a certain someone, and the end of a semester.

It marks the beginning of an old life, the option to leave, the lack of obligations and the final dash to graduation.

Despite the thick, oppressing air and lack of sunshine for over 48 hours, I feel happier and just plain FREEer than I have in a long, long time.

More than three months ago, something happened. I can't really tell you what it was. But it happened. And while the ordeal is not quite over, the grip it held on my life is now gone. Poof. Just like that. Happy Holidays to you too, Newton. Hope I never have to talk to you again. Everyone (everyone who knows, that is) keeps congratulating me on my new found FREEdom. They keep telling me how happy they are for me. And I know they are. And I guess I am too, but it feels wrong to be happy about it. I am, in a way. I'm really excited to do things I want to do when I want to do them, but I feel like I escaped Karma somehow, and She's going to come back and say "HA remember me? Remember when you eluded *****? Well guess what? KAPOW!" And something is going to happen that will make me regret asking to be FREE. Now, I know that Karma is not really a real thing, and when you look back on the history of it, and stuff, Karma's not really all about punishing (or rewarding) you in this life for little actions or inaction you have taken. It's more how your next life turns out. But isn't it funny that practically everyone blames, or attributes Karma to their misfortunes/woes/happiness/luck? I'm no different. See, on that fateful night, I couldn't help thinking that it was my fault that everything went wrong. Obviously, the mere act itself was clearly my fault. But it was so preventable and yet, it wasn't prevented. It happened.

But, I really should be more optimistic. Because if there's really such thing as Karma, then it's out of my hands. And if there's not really such thing (and my rational self wants to believe the latter), then everything will be fine. Either way, I'm FREE from it, and should just stop worrying about it. I can go back to my old life now. And that feels really really good.

Phew. That was the hard one to talk about. Even just writing it, and putting it out to the universe--feels wrong. I haven't really talked to anyone about it.

NEXT CASE.

I am sooooo done with TAing the class from hach eee double hockey sticks. So so so freaking all the way DONE with it. The class wasn't that bad. Sure, there were a few students who made me want to SCREAM, but their grade reflects their poor attitude and I quietly relish that (no matter how smart you think you are if you don't come to class, [especially this class] there's a good chance you will miss something that you can't get out of a book. And it's not my fault. So don't you DARE bring it up in review session like, "I've never heard that term before like omg". I'm glad you did poorly on the test). No, most of the students were fun and excited and willing to learn. It was the instructor. Oh holy hell I could go on and on and on. But there's really no point. Because it's OVER. But I no longer have to do whatever she effing wants anymore. And boy does that feel good.

Last, it's the end of the semester. Which means that I get to spend all of the break working on my thesis. No, it's no the most ideal way to spend break, but it's my last chance of uninterrupted time to really work on it before it needs to be DONE. But also knowing that I can work on it at school, or at my house, or at my parents' house or at a coffee shop or at the city library is so LIBERATING. I really hope to get a lot done on it before next semester, because the spring is going to be a crazy time.

I'm so close to being done with school I can almost taste it.

I am just having the best day ever. Really really really. I love today. And OH MY FREAKING MOSES THE SUN JUST CAME OUT!

The end.

I have had this page open all day and now I'm about to pack up and I still haven't written anything.

I was once again inspired by a blog, this time by a girl who does nothing special except write really really well--check her out here. I followed a link to her blog from facebook and apparently so did the rest of the world because her post today was about how she suddenly became viral. Ha. That's not the point. The point is that she's an excellent observational writer--she's witty and topical! I can only hope to be like her. So when I got to school today I opened up blogger and thought, I'm going to write like she would. I spent the day thinking of things to write about, and came up with a list (though short). Topics such as "Why do people spend so much money on a mac and then don't learn all the cool stuff that goes with it like two finger scrolling?!?" or "That nasty wart/blister on my heel" or "How I can't make fun of students on facebook anymore because they've all added me as a friend" or "That stupid hypocritical bitch on facebook that I drives me crazy but I wouldn't delete her but then I finally did". You get it. My life revolves around (not "centers around" that is just plain wrong and stupid! another post I wanted to write) facebook. And mundane shit that no one cares about. And complaining. Again with the complaining. I promise I really am a happy person who is very lucky to have the life I lead!

So, despite my best efforts to observe something and then write about it witty-ly on the interwebz in the hopes that one day too my blog will go viral (even though I actually don't really want that), I came to the conclusion that maybe today is not the day. And I can't force creativity or inspiration.

Therefore, in order to not call the day a complete failure, I decided to document something that I am grateful for.

I am grateful for the health and safety of those I love dearly. Tommy's grandfather has taken a turn for the worse and it just made me realize that I am really lucky that my friends and family are (relatively) ok. Everyone is leading a productive life. Few are unemployed, and those who are have parents willing to take them in until things get better. With the exception of Grandpa Waner, everyone is in good health.

So I am thankful that all I have to complain about is this stupid wart/blister that is making it impossible to train for the marathon. Damn you, universe! Just kidding.

I'm heading home now, Tommy is bugging me on skype. It's the inter mural dodge ball championships tonight. GO DONKEYS GO!

Corelli's Mandoline: A Novel, Reviewed

Well folks, it was a long time coming, but I finally finished Corelli's Mandolin: A Novel, by Louis de Bernieres.

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This book, let me tell you, is fabulous.

The main story follows Pelagia, a young girl living on the island of Cephallonia in Greece during the height of World War II. Early on the book she falls in love with a local fisherman, Mandras, and they are betrothed. Soon after, however, troops from Italy and Germany invade the island, and Captain Corelli (of Italy) invades Pelagia's father's house.

[side note: I am currently writing my thesis and it has become very apparent that I am now a science writer--I mean, how boring was the above description?!?]

I'm not going to divulge much more information about the plot because it twists and turns and comes back on itself and nearly everything is related, and honestly, it's one of those books you're better off being surprised by.

But oh my god let me tell you, de Bernieres is a literary genius. Though much of the story is told from Pelagia's point of view, each chapter is different and switches between characters. Often, if they are not about Pelagia, Dr. Iannis (her father) or Corelli, they are told in the first person or by letter in a different character's voice. This technique makes the novel very interesting and exciting to read. One of my favorite chapters was sort of a train-of-thought of EL DUCE (Mussolini)--absolutely hilarious and you can tell de Bernieres didn't think highly of the man (for probably all the right reasons).

I found after reading it that the book is historically accurate--which makes it all the more intriguing. Throughout the novel, Dr. Iannis is attempting to write a history of his beloved island, but continues to get frustrated as his own biases and opinions of how things went down keep sneaking into his text. Ironically, one of the Italian soldiers remarks, "I know that if we win then there will be stories about mass graves in London and vice versa". After this statement, it becomes apparent (at least to me) that the author wants the public to know what happened in Greece from all different points of view, because it's common knowledge that whoever wins the war gets to write the history books.

de Bernieres also provides a lot of commentary on different forms of government--especially communism and fascism--through his different characters. Unfortunately I don't know much about the subject, so it was difficult for me to follow, and it will be nearly impossible for me to review. BUT if you're into that sort of stuff, it's in there.

So I mentioned early on in this post that it took me a long time to read this book and that is for a couple of reasons. The first is that I have had no time lately. What with all this running and wedding planning and thesis writing, I get into bed right after dinner and fall asleep before I hit my pillow. But I have to admit that the beginning was kiiiiiiiinnnndddaaaa slooooooooow. I think if I were able read bigger chunks of it over longer time periods, I would have gotten into it, but all I could manage was a chapter or two a few times a week. And since his chapters switch characters and plot lines each time, the stories didn't really pick up until about halfway through (and it's a 400 page book here people). So honestly, I didn't get excited about picking it up until the end (although, pahleeese don't get me wrong, when I did have time to read it, I was always glad that I did because de Bernieres is an absolutely stunning writer. You feel like your eyeballs have turned into golden honey after reading what he wrote because he's that good).

But when you get to that tipping point where all the stories have momentum and the characters are built, then you'll fly through it. I would reccomend this book to anyone. It is combines multiple love stories, historical events, and political commentary into a book that will make you laugh and cry (oh my god I haven't cried so hard since the last episode of Grey's amiright?) and think. It is hands down one of the best books I have ever EVER read.

So go pick it up from your local book shop and dig in. And let me know what you think!

PS I mentioned in my last post that I read two doozies. Well obvi this was the first, and the second was the second installment of the Hunger Games titled Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I flew through it in about 13 hours, and now I'm reading the last of the trilogy, so when I'm done with the set I'll review the whole thing.

PPS Do yall know anything about florists? That's the next big "thing" on the wedding planning to-do list and I'm sorta at a loss on this one....

The art of procrastinating

The above title is nothing new to this blog. I clearly write when I'm bored at my computer, which is invariably when I'm at school avoiding work. Which is exactly what is happening right now.

I'm not entirely sure how I became so good at this procrastinating stuff. In the past I have blamed my lack of activity and things to do. I know that seems crazy, but hear me out. I found that when I was taking four classes, plus four labs, plus working 20 hours a week, plus researching a capstone paper I had no time to procrastinate. I had to get things done. And in order to get things done on time, I needed to start right away. The past year and half has been a completely different story. I haven't taken more than three classes (only one with a lab). I only spend MAX 10 hours a week on my TAing duties. And the "thing" that needs to get done? That pesky thesis. AND IT'S NOT DUE FOR ANOTHER 6 MONTHS!!!! (ok, now that I think about it, it's due in maybe five months...YIKES). So I just get into this habit of reading shit online that at first seems useful and then all of a sudden two hours later I look up (yes, I get so slouched down reading drivel online that I actually have to look up to see the clock in the top right hand corner of my computer) and realize I have yet to do anything with my day! WTF??!?!?!?!?!? It's crazy! If I even spent as much as half of my day working on my thesis as I do on the interwebz I would probably be halfway done by now!

But the point is...how did I sink so low? How have I become this person who could multi-task and time manage and get stuff done like a CHAMP to doing practically nothing day in and day out? Is it really a lack of deadline? Is it a lack of motivation? Is it a lack of other shit in my life? It's hard to say. I've made deadlines for myself, I've made cute crafty to-do lists, and computerized to-do lists, I have added activities to my day (and life) like going to the gym, cooking dinner, wedding planning, going to church (more on that later), I have gotten a second moniter, I have created little rewards for myself for finishing projects, I have forced myself to stay at school until six instead of five AND NOTHING WORKS. It's 1:33 pm right now, I have been here since 9 am and all I've done is opened the document.

Yeah yeah yeah I could just make myself do it right? RIGHT?!?!?! Yeah I wish. I just can't. Me, the person who was able to stop smoking COLD EFFING TURKEY can't write a gd thesis. I just don't get it. WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?

But after this post I have promised myself that I will write until 6 if not later. So we'll see how that goes.

Also, book review coming soon (just finished a doozy--well two doozies) and a craft review. Hahahahahah look at me, blogging. Psh.

Just feeling the need to check

I haven't come by in a while, and I just feel the need to update.

Today everyone (well, all the boys) went skiing. It's the first day that Snowbird is open, but I just wasn't feeling it this morning. They don't have much snow, plus it's going to be very crowded, plus I just felt like having a me day, yknow?

So today I woke up early and transferred my prescription to Jolley's Pharmacy. It's a local pharmacy within walking distance from my house, and I've just been on a local kick lately. With all the OWS (Occupy Wall Street for all those reading in the future...) stuff going on and our economy still in shambles, I just feel the need to support local businesses and take my money out of the hands of giant corporations. So sorry, Walgreens..you actually didn't do anything wrong except be a big box store. I kind of liked you (although lately, the pharmacists have been anything but friendly...last time I went I waited for LITERALLY 10 minutes at the window. I pushed the call button at 8 mins in and they told me to hold on a sec. Really?!?! You can't help me? It will take 3 mins TOP! I have the exact change right here!!!! WHY DO I NEED TO WAIT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR 8 MINS!?!?!?!? So, I guess that's what really got the ball rolling on switching pharmacies, but for the most part, they were ok).

ANYWAY.

Now I'm at school and I just finished grading papers. Phew that feels good to get out of the way before noon on a Saturday! Unfortunately I still have more class prep  to take care of by Monday, but I can probably get it done that morning. Which means I can do whatever I want for the rest of the weekend!

Which means that as soon as I'm done writing this I'm heading to the gym. Tommy has all but bailed on me with this running thing, which is fine, I guess. Except I really like running with him. It makes running so much more bearable! But I'm not going to force him to do something he doesn't want to do. So I'm going to go to the gym and get my three miles in. Then probably work out my arms and abs. But who knows?? This is my day bitchez and Imma do what I want!

Then I'm going to get all crafty (what what?) and make some of these bracelets. My sister posted them on Pinterest as something she wanted and I realized I could make them myself. So can you say crafty homemade Christmas gifts? Cuz I sure can! (You can bet I'm making a whole bunch for all the ladies in my life).

Well shoot scratch everything my mom just called and wants to hang out. Which is fine by me cuz it's MY DAY BITCHEZZZ! Did I already say that...whoops?

Well that's it I guess. Maybe I'll craft tomorrow. Tata for now!

Some thoughts

Well wedding colors are picked out...that's exciting! We picked them loosly based on a wildflower bouquet we found in a magazine. Think deep purples, sky blues, hints of pink, marigold and green.

We also went dress shopping and may have accidentally found my dress (whattt????) Yeah no shit. It's cray cray fo shizzle. My mom and I went impromptu shopping and the second dress I tried we both really liked. And it was hella cheap. And I'm not super committed to getting the perfect dress. Like, really omg?!?!?! Yes, I am that kind of bride. If it looks good and the price is right....I don't know what's stopping us!

Next news. Thesis. And real world. And job searching annnnnd yeah. I'm already snoring too. And if I think about it too long I start eating my hair and sprouting pimples like it's my JOB people. UGH I should have gone into petroleum. Or pre med. Or gold digging or or or

KELLY STOP IT, says my split personality. GET YOURSELF TOGETHER WOMAN AND TALK ABOUT THAT MARATHON YOU AND YOUR BOYFRIEND-I MEAN FIANCE ARE PLANNING. JESUS. CHRIST.

Ok, you're right split personally (NO SHIT). Today I figured out that Tommy and I are 23 weeks away from the Salt Lake City Half Marathon. WOOOOO. But we're following a 12 week training program, so we're taking it slooooooooow. We're doing each week twice through week 6. Then weeks 7 through 10 three times in a row, and then 11 and 12 as normal (since they're cool down weeks). Hopefully by the time the actual race comes around we'll be soooo ready for that shizzle. Unfortunately Tommy's legs and feet hurt about every other run he goes on so that's kind of a downer.

Also, winter is here and I hate it butttttt trying to be bright and sunny in my personality to make up for it (YEAH FUCKING RIGHT).

Really trying to get back into the habit

Hello there blogger world! I'm really trying to get back into the habit of blogging regularly--especially since there's so much to do these days! Between marathon training and wedding planning and thesis writing (how, oh HOW could I forget about that?!?!)....

For some strange reason I've also been on a cooking kick. Which is fine. It's been fun so far.

Anyway, Tommy and I completed week one of the training schedule, ending yesterday with a four miler. We took Bandit to the dog park and ran around it four times. Best. Run. Ever. Not that I would run there again (can you say boring? I prefer one big loop--constantly changing scenery!), but I just felt so good. I'm excited to see if I can do two-four milers this week.

In wedding related news, WE BOOKED A VENUE YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Deer Valley here we come! There are some beautiful photos by the lovely Pepper Nix that really highlight the venue we have chosen. I just love the idea of getting married outside in the mountains, but luckily for us, if the weather changes, they have a beautiful indoor space too.

I also really really wanted to get married in Park City. Not that we have any special bonds with the place, but because our out of town guests will have much more fun in PC than SLC. They can easily get around without a car, there are things to do--shopping, galleries, museums, hiking, biking, site seeing, spas, etc etc etc--and since most of our guests are of the out of town variety, I just know they'll be happier there than our lovely capital city *cough*.

And now that we have that out of the way I can begin all of the other stuff too! Before we booked a venue I felt like I was getting too ahead of myself thinking about colors (what if they don't match the venue), bridesmaids dresses (need the colors first!), flowers (again with the damn colors!), food (half the potential venues provided it), etc etc etc. This huge weight means I can start planning everything else. And let's get real, planning is like my favorite hobby (Tommy says I have special planning hands--whenever I'm about to tell him of some special plan--say for the evening, or next weekend, or what I'm going to do with my day, I apparently [ok, I actually do it] clasp my hands together under my chin). So let the planning begin!!!!!

Oh one more thing...

Tommy and I are training for a half marathon. We're loosely following both this schedule and this one. Since it's not until April 10, we're doing each week twice. We're on the second addition of week one now, hopefully we can stick with it!

Wedding wedding wedding!

So....BIG NEWS: Tommy and I are engaged!

So far I only have a pinterest set up--not too sure how I feel about it yet but.....

Other than that, stay tuned for more wedding related fun!

New Years Resolutions (part two...I guess)

Guys, I did it. I am about three weeks into January and am fully sticking to my new years resolutions!

Well at least the first two, for now.

About the budget:

I get paid $747 every two weeks. Yikes, I know.
If it's the first of the month:

• $500 directly into savings

If it's the middle of the month:

• $40 into savings
• $460 into a different rent account

That leaves me with $287 for two weeks:

• $100 for groceries ($50 a week)
• ~$15-$20 for gas (this averages out over the month as I fill up when when I fill up, and it usually lasts me three to four weeks)
• The rest (~$160) is for fun. I realize that this is excessive, but I enjoy buying things! I can't be one of those super thrifty people. Not yet at least. I'm already saving for summer and car insurance, which means that in the short-term-long-term I'm set. Also, I haven't even spent close to this 160ish amount, and what I have left over by the time my next paycheck comes in goes straight into savings. 

Since I do have so much excess, I think after a few months I'll see what I can cut (maybe only $75 for groceries over two weeks?) That way I won't have to work over the summer, which is a number one priority right now :).

Anyways, guess what I'm supposed to be doing work, so I think I'll sign off for now and make this into a series. Hahahaha (evil laugh).

Get crafty, pt. 2

Ok guys, I'll make this one short seeing as it's waaaaaayyyy past Christmas...but look what I made:

 It was my only Christmas decoration, but I think it turned out well. My mom collects the pine boughs from a mountain in Southern Utah and just buys all the decorations during the previous year's sales. She makes these as presents for all of her neighbors and helped me make one!

 Close up. Basically you just wire the boughs together how you want them, and trim them to look good. My mom makes the bows, but they're not too hard...just a lot of bending and wiring. Then we glued on the ornaments.

 This is the one I made for my landlords.

Close up.

The end.

Get crafty, pt. 1

It's a new semester and that means plenty of time for procrastinating! Which means that I can finally update my blog with things that I did last semester.

[side note: ever notice how a student (and probably professors) mark their time in semesters? How the year doesn't start with January first but with "sometime-in-august"? So, right now, this is the middle of my year. Though it's everyone else's beginning.....oh well!]

I made awesome blinds, bitches. The window above my bed did not come with any sort of shade and seeing as I was in the basement, I selectively chose to think that no one could see into my bedroom...though I'm sure the neighbors got plenty of entertainment anyways. But, NO MORE will I (and Tommy ;) ) be giving free shows to the world! Thanks to this blog, hiphousegirl[dot]wordpress[dot]com (again, not linking because of the super-stalker way I discovered it), I found this blog and made some sweet-as blinds.

Step 1. Buy supplies.
      -Fabric that you like
      -Blinds that fit the width (height doesn't matter) of your window
      -Fabric glue

 2. Cut up the blinds. Take most of the slats off by cutting the thin strings that connect them. Measure the height of your window and decide how many folds you want in your new shade. I chose three, each being about a foot apart.

 3. Glue fabric onto blinds. Drink beer.

 4. The hiphouse girl used cans to make the glue stick, but I found that they just rolled off. Probably due to the unevenness of my apartment.

 5. Find boyfriend to hang them up!

 YAY!!! More crafty posts to come!

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO POST RIGHT NOW!!!

It's been soooo long since I have posted and I have done a LOT of crafts and I really want to post them. I've also accomplished some house-hold items that I've been waiting to do and I've started a fitness program. 

But I also have made some New Year's resolutions aaaannnnddd I think it's really the only time sensitive post soooo here goes:

• Really and and truly budget myself. I don't want to get a job this summer and I'm confident that I can make enough money until then to live semi-comfortably. Now that I have bought a ski pass, and Christmas is over, I have no business spending as much money per month as I do. More on this later
• Lose weight. Seriously. It's getting out of control. I've joined a couple of fitness sites and calorie counting sites, etc. I think I can do it relatively painlessly...as long as I cut back on the calories and walk to school and go to the gym a couple times a week.
• GET A REAL HOBBY. It sucks not having one...I love Tommy soooo much but I just feel like it it's gonna end reeeaaal fast if we keep hanging out all the time. Not from my end, but his. He'll get sick of me. They always do.

Anyways, I these are probably very typical resolutions, but they're the only thing that I want to come out of the new year. I'm watching TV right now and can't really focus on anything.