Yesterday consisted of; buying a wooden sword & “knighting” everyone after, passing out post cards w/ a best friend, eating ribs & snowcones -excited that my tongue was blue, commenting on going to “checkout” guys -then realizing they were in high school “Valentine”, Hayrides! where you forget to get off -& them looping back, meeting so many people I’m worried about remembering all their names, coffee/energy drink overload, smiling so hard my face hurt, eavesdropping on teenagers, packing for someone else, fashion shows **, being so sleepy you’re delirious, thumbs-up, steak, and scooting.
Today consisted of; looking for gloves, hugs, watching Home makeover and crying at 9am, showering & blowdrying, driving on the interstate!!!, meeting up w/ best friend and her perfect bear cub, getting things I’ve been meaning to get (-reed diffuser, vanilla trash bags, tub cleaner, gifts, shampoo, swagger, orange car stuff, etc etc…) detailing a car, PI(e), picking up laptops, calling out of state friends, buying beer for yourself & people you wish were there, eating hummus, catching up with my rss feeds, and watching Dawn of the Dead.

 - I still wish I had asked for those lockers at Habitat for Humanity. They haunt me with their awesome re-purpose possibilities. 

 - Talking w/ Renee on twitter has left me feeling like I want to go to the beach. I’m not a beach person at all, but I’d like a laid back weekend in the sun… Celebrate summer instead of dreading it! :) Maybe I can get some friends to go.

 - Tomorrow is Zephyrhills’ 100th anniversary. I’m volunteering with Jen to guard/hand out flyers about this huge gate that Gregg had reproduced. (Replica of the one above ^) It should be an awesome time, I’ll make sure to post pictures of the finished one. :)

 - Apartment News;

“Hey XXXXX,

As you know, when we talked & the ad on CL stated the apartment was $550 which included gas/electric. You said the deposit would be first & last months rent. -Which I agreed to. Once you spoke with Paul, you then said that the rent was $550, but electric was separate. (You estimated $50 per month.) & the deposit was $400.

Since the ad stated and you confirmed those details, this mix up is very upsetting. I really like the apt, but unfortunately, this could be a deal-breaker for me. I am prepared to make the first and last deposit, and pay rent of $550 including electric/gas as that was how it was advertised.

If you could forward this to XXXX so we can hopefully clarify the situation, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks!

Allison”

Boo!

We’d all dress from Givenchy Fall 2010 RTW

I am amazed with this collection.
Tons of black, red, lace…layers, textures…!
I’m in complete awe. Bravo Riccardo Tisci!

I don’t like cats much, they aren’t affectionate enough for my liking, but they are so cute! ack! Also, they do not taste sweetness. Thanks Oatmeal.

This looks incredibly tedious, but I think the end product is amazing -It would wow anyone! (Pictures are always links to original)

What a good motto to live by.

Martha Stewart has a tutorial on how to make a stuffed bunny from recycled menswear. I think this would be a good gift for a baby, but with softer new material.

Custom-made granola! I don’t think it’s too expensive, $8.25 for my choice of ingredients: Low-Fat Granola, Golden Raisins, Organic Banana Chips, Roasted Almonds and Organic Flax Seeds. Yum yum yum.

I’m loving the artwork for Teargarden by Kaleidyscope by The Smashing Pumpkins. You can hear as it’s being made, it is being released over the internet from the band’s official website for free, one song at a time. Make sure to check it out.

I’d like to get this wallet for a few friends. It’s a Toddland colab w/ Kelly Thacker, aka http://letsdiefriends.blogspot.com.

Yes, that is a link to a tutorial on how to make bread that looks like pandas. This is on the to-do list for sure. I am wondering if I could just dye regular bread dough verse using cocoa and green tea? Too cute!

DROPCLOCK is an aesthetically intriguing motion clock screensaver. Every minute of real time is numerically expressed with heavy Helvetica dropping into water in super slow-motion. Yarrrr, Mateys!

Would like to see this this.

Etat Libre d’Orange’s perfumes have me amazed with their creativity. I am tempted to buy a sample of each scent. How can I not when there is scents named, “Fat Electrician”?!

“One of my favourites is Putain des Palaces, a feminine, powdery and easy perfume. It is reminding me of soft and toned down turkish delight, pretty violets and a lady´s dressing table with boxes of powder, perfume bottles and make-up. It is soft as old underwear in salmon pink satin, but also very sexy, no not just sexy, erotic, animalic.

Beneath the pretty, powdery surface it is steaming with animalic, I think, even forbidden lust. It´s longlasting, with nice sillage and I feel like such a naughty, naughty grrrrl when I wear it. For me, this is powdery perfection but at the same time as hard on animalic as for instant the most well-known musc perfumes are.”

Enjoy ;)

I’m so fly, I feel like I’m skydiving… /sway

What I’ve been up to, also known as; why I haven’t been at the gym:

Monday; I was just sick as crap. Yay to constant Dayquil & Nyquil. As of today, I am still blowing my nose like crazy, my left ear is still clogged up -I feel deaf, and I feel like I am in dreamland. Thankfully, I am feeling a lot better compared to where I was this past weekend.

Tuesday; Sushi w/ Gregg & Lost :D I’m actually liking sushi, I’ve ate the same roll both times now, which is tempura rolled up in rice with a piece of shrimp on top. I think the place I’ve gone to calls it a “crunchy roll”, but I didn’t have any luck while google image searching. It’s good, and I’m crazy about edamame. Lost was amazing, I was glad that it wasn’t a “filler” episode.

Wednesday; Saw Art & Copy @Tampa Theater w/ Weg, Jessica, Dave, +++ I didn’t like it. Applause after? Come on! I liked the facts that were littered throughout about advertising, but Art & Copy seemed more of an advertisement for advertising. & a lot of tooting their own horns.

Coming up;

Saturday; Work during the day, one of my favorite ladies, Jen, is celebrating her birthday that evening, I’m going to try my hardest to get her trashed.

Sunday; Strawberry festival w/ Gregg, Marissa & Doug. Make your own Strawberry Shortcake here I come!

Tuesday I looked at an apartment that is for rent. I’m really hoping I get it. I called & e-mailed the landlord yesterday, and still haven’t heard back yet… so I am getting nervous, but Jai Shree Ganesh… ;)

My dad said he’s chip in for some basic furniture, which is really awesome of him. I’m exciting and praying for the best possible outcome.

I don’t talk to some of these people, and I was 30 pounds heavier, but this picture makes me happy. It was good times. Recently single I relied a lot on togetherness with close friends. /sniff sniff

X

When you haven’t forgiven those who’ve hurt you, you turn your back against your future. When you do forgive, you start walking forward.

I constantly struggle with forgiveness; I always try to scramble off as fast as I can to avoid all heartache. I try to forget what has been done, and hope that my pain will eventually dissolve with time. I’m starting to feel that time doesn’t cure all wounds.

I’ll say outloud that I’ve forgiven someone, but in my heart the heartache and pain still will linger -It’s bullshit false forgiveness. I’ll try to convince myself that holding on will remind me to keep my guard, and not allow the same mistakes happen. I’m only holding on to the pain and memories by not seeking forgivness.  

This has led me to pay the price over and over by bringing anger/pain into every new experience. I sometimes feel I’ve become so wrapped up in the bitterness that I can’t enjoy the present. I don’t want to be owned by this.

The path toward peace feels so difficult -Everything I read on the matter says it’s not a quick fix. That it is changing your ways of thinking. People don’t usually admit to being wrong, -but still when someone does, does the feeling that I was “right” help me forgive? No.

I’ve read that reconciliation, however, is not always possible. I’m okay with walking away -Forgiveness doesn’t mean I have to reconcile with someone who has treated me badly.

A promise to myself;

Staring now, I want to consciously make the decision to seperate myself from the painful memories of the past. I want to keep my mind and heart open to joy around me. I accept this is a commitment to the process of change -I no no longer want to see myself as the helpless victim. I will allow myself to take control of my life. I want to be able to let go of personal grudges - I no longer want to define myself by them. I will no longer be what others have made me feel.

via Coilhouse

lol

I still haven’t figured out what to call the weekly round-up of links & pictures, but here is what has been in the queue… enjoy :)

- Dump the Bastard greeting card; something I need to remind myself of lately. I think this is something I am always reminding myself of! Relapse!

- Super pretty, I wish I could do my hair like that!



- This weekend I have been crazy emotional, snowballing, out of control wreck… I’m just wanting to get moving and find some peace. It all starts with me rolling the ball, follow though Allie!

- San Francisco artist and performer Spy Emerson recounts her experiences creating and voyaging on the junk art rafts - so beautiful!

- 100girls100days.com is a blog about a man who goes on 100 dates with 100 girls in 100 days, it’s an interesting read. I’ve only browsed a bit because the idea is interesting, I want to read beginning to end.


- Sixteen panda cubs pose for a class shot on their first day at nursery, :D !!!

KRAFTWERK - Trans-Europe Express

fuckingdelicious.tumblr.com - If you are friends with me on any social networks, you’ve probably seen this. It’s really cute.


- Skit here.


- I don’t care how much mess they make, I’ll take them both. :)

Okay, time to work. Have a good week. :)

I am so sick! It feels like there is a sharp? golf ball in my throat, my neck is so stiff -I’m unable to turn it left or right. I am constantly freezing (fever), I’ve had my jacket on for 48 hours straight.

I felt a bit better after some chicken noodle soup yesterday, but today it’s back with a vengeance!

Some people recommend a “hot toddy” which wiki describes as, “cinnamon sticks, lemon peels, fresh squeezed lemon juice & honey. Add 1 to 2oz Whiskey to each mug before serving. Cloves, ginger and allspice or packaged mulling spices may also be used.”

I’ve gone to the gym everyday this week, and I have a sneaky feeling that is what gave it to me, and making me worse.  I think tonight, (I get off early on Friday’s 4pm -compared to Mon-Thurs 7pm.) I’m going to pick up all the ingredients on the way home and veg out, and try to kick this cold/flu.

I want to be well before Sunday, I’m having brunch with Gregg @ The Bungalow, and then hopefully apartment hunting. In the evening were meeting up with a friend and her beau to see Shutter Island @ Cine Bistro in Hyde Park. I really don’t want to be that girl sneezing and passing this on to my friends.

Wish me luck…

I hear it mid-December to mid-February, “It’s so cold! When is it summer?! I want to wear my flip-flops!” -Total aggravation with ANY temperature under 75 degrees.

I do admit I am a total wimp when it gets under 30 degrees. That’s acceptable, I grew up in Florida. I’ve never shoveled snow, or scraped windshields… I’m talking about the ‘sweet spot” of coldness which (to me) is 40-60 degrees.

Some reasons why I love cold weather;

I love jackets, they are handy, pockets to put keys, cell phone, wallet…. Everything within reach, no purse needed! Hoodies! Who doesn’t like being a freaking kangaroo?! & you are 90% less hung-up on “how fat you look”, hidden -presto!

Hot foods like soup, coffee, chili, taste 1 BILLION times better when you are cold. Hot coffee in 80+ degree weather is miserable, and I just don’t like iced coffee. (You that do, you’re blessed!)

Cuddling with someone is also 1 BILLION times better when it’s cold out. You automatically scoot close together for body warmth. It’s a miraculous thing. Have you ever have to lie in bed & whine about how hot and humid it is?

Fires in fire places - They make everyone happy. Everyone loves building fires, and roasting marshmallows. They make everyone gather around with pillows and blankets, books and conversation.

Baking; I can use the oven without making the kitchen unbearably hot. No one likes icing that melts.

This list could go on forever, I’ll be the girl SO bummed when Florida heats back up.

I’m leaving you with a song, that hasn’t stopped playing in my car all week; Enjoy!

When you hear that I have died, think of this.

Think of cool nights breezes while you walk to meet your friends for a beer on a Thurs­day. Think of wak­ing up in flan­nel sheets on a snowy morn­ing and kiss­ing some­one you love. Think of hung-over diner break­fasts and the best cup of cof­fee in the world. Think of the sound of tires on seamed high­ways while you travel, think of French kiss­ing and leather jack­ets and push-up bras and bour­bon, think of the joy of hard work with friends. Then think of me.

Not sad, not the melan­choly soli­tude of empty skies, but the full days and crowded bars and signed con­tracts, a smile too big for my face, remem­ber I said I stay busy enough to fit three lives into one. When you hear that I have died, know that I want laugh­ter, and danc­ing, real danc­ing, to music that makes you move with­out think­ing, you’re wear­ing boots and jeans and a great t-shirt and won­der­ing if the girl at the edge thinks you’re cute. And you moth­er­fuck­ers had best DANCE, none of this bull­shit rock-nod hands-in-the-pockets shoegazer non­sense, no, make an ass out of your­self, feel your hips, kick off the high heels and sway on the shoul­der of a stranger, when I die, you’d bet­ter be laugh­ing your ass off on side­walks, eat­ing deli­ciously unhealthy food, drink­ing shots and tip­ping your bar­tender well no mat­ter how much money you make.

And Adam has to read the poem he wrote, and Laura, and June, and Scott Car­pen­ter has to play “Don’t Go Away, Chloe”, no fuck that, every musi­cian I’ve ever made out with or video­taped or road-tripped with has to play, so drink some cof­fee, baby, it’s gonna be a long night. When you hear that I have died, the best thing you can do is to get laid that night with a com­fort­able stranger, use my story to get their sym­pa­thy, and when you kiss them for the first time, think of me then.

When you hear that I have died, and you will, remem­ber your best revenge is to live well, take risks, save up money and chase your per­fect hap­pi­ness. Beat the sys­tem and learn to make your art really sup­port you, craft into some­thing your audi­ence can’t live with­out. Then make the world an even slightly bet­ter place — stop throw­ing your cig­a­rettes on the ground, vote in the next elec­tion, graf­fiti your life on the eyes of the hungry.

Then just do me one last favor. Please. Love some­thing. Any­thing. Start with your­self, but find pas­sion in every­thing, from an apple pie to a novel, make a fam­ily, get a degree, walk what­ever path is yours with your chin up and feet planted firmly. Have the best sto­ries to tell in the old folk’s home, about life­long friend­ships and epic love affairs, about the time you lost every­thing and yet found your­self hap­pier than when you began.. and remem­ber that time we got in SO much trouble…

Poets.. remem­ber. This is the story that never ends. When one of us leaves, another walks through the door. The pages turn, the sun keeps ris­ing. All you can do in the mean­while.. is to speak for your­self. Raise your voice high, tell your story, join hands against the dark and sing our souls to the sky. Know the best in me comes from the best in you, that as you tell your story, you will be telling mine, and our lives will be linked together for­ever, and every­one who hears you will become a part of the change we make.

So when you hear that I have died..
just ….live.

–Gabrielle Bou­liane