...a new me...

Yes, it's 2 am and this girl cannot sleep. Might as well blog..

L, this post is all for you, since you need to see my hair :)

I got it done this week. My friend B was going to get hers done and wanted me to go with, so I decided I might as well do mine as well. And it was getting pretty gross..the box color(I know..shame on me. But, in my defense, I was living in MD at the time and didn't want to spend $150) wasn't looking so good. We went to a chain, which I'm usually skeptical about...I've always had better luck with privately owned. I proved to myself that it was just coincidence. My stylist was amazing! She gave me exactly what I wanted..and I didn't even know what that was when I walked in there. I told her I wasn't sure if I wanted to go lighter or darker..so she suggested we do both. She put lowlights and highlights in. The lowlights were a pretty dark brown, with lots of warm tones in them. She made it a little funky, but kept it to a minimum so I didn't look like a skunk. I didn't know what I wanted for the cut either, so she made some suggestions and off it came!! She did the angle cut(don't worry, it's not very drastic) with the pieces in front long and then the back is a little shorter, with lots of choppy layers. It's so easy to style now. I love it. Anyways, here's some pics..you can't see the cut too well, but the color definitely shows up :)






We're at the new bar downtown. Half off martinis on Fridays! They have a GREAT selection too. I think it'll be my new favorite :)

...i am in love...

I've discovered a new cereal. Special K now has a "Chocolatey Delight." A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. It's basically the regular Special K with little chocolate bars floating around. I know..chocolate for breakfast?! No, it's great. Don't knock it, until you try it. I had a bowl for breakfast and a bowl for lunch. I cannot get enough of it. And the great part is that it has the same amount of calories as the original. How amazing is that?!

...is your mama a llama...

Today it was off to the fair with the rents(the only way to do it..since they pay). It's been a tradition for years. We stuff our faces full of fair food and wander around the animal barns. You know you live in the country when...
Mom and I always get dragged over to the tractor section, where we have to "take a peak" at the inventory. This year they had a guy carving wooden statues with a chainsaw. Interesting.

The fair always brings back a lot of memories. There weren't any rides involved this time...usually when I go with G that's a must(and yes L, I actually ride them). She used to make me go into the fun house....but that ended in high school after I broke my foot going through the stinking thing. Who breaks their foot at the fair? Ding, ding, ding..you are correct. This girl!!! I was with three other girls, so of course the fun house sounded like a GREAT idea!! I was second to last to go down the slide at the end and one of the girls was right behind me. Naturally, I hurried to get out of her way so I wouldn't get knocked out. I got knocked out anyways, because my foot got caught on the stupid rubber mat they had on the ground..foot went one way. body went the other. pop. the sound was so clearly audible. Of course, the girls didn't think it was broken and I can still hear G saying "Just get up and walk it off." Walking it off didn't help...I started going into shock and was about to pass out. They finally figured it was a bigger deal than they thought. I found a bench and someone found first-aid. The woman was a whacko. Apparently, she had found some new miracle-cure-all magnetic apparatus. It had about 6 metal balls that rolled and created a magnetic "force" when smacked. So, here I was, sitting in the middle of the fair, a goose egg on my foot, in pain, and crazy lady whacking her magnetic balls over my foot...hitting the broken bone every once in a while. She was very helpful. Of course, I had to wait for, what seemed like a lifetime, for the girls to go grab the car and bring it around to the nearest gate. They were very nice in accommodating me though. They took me on a golf cart to my car and helped me get in and out. What a crazy experience. Needless to say, every time I'm at the fair, I can still remember that joyful time.

Anyways, fast forward back to today. This year, there was a larger than normal petting zoo...complete with kangaroos, llamas, buffalo, longhorn(or some type of cow-ish animal with horns), and a camel. Of course, they had goats and sheep too..which I fed along with the llama and the longhorn/cow. They also had a traveling "zoo." It had monkeys, a sloth(which is my absolute favorite animal), panthers, an armadillo, and some big eared fox. It was a little weird to see that mix of animals in a trailer...a little sad too. We were saying that it's odd that in this day and age, they can get away with something like that since the animals just sit in their cages all day and don't get to move...especially the panthers.

I walked around in flip-flops..because aren't they the best option for walking around dirty animal barns, stepping in dung, sawdust, and hay?! My feet are filthy and tired....but not broken this year!!!

...slacker blogger...

Yes, yes I know. I am slow at updating this thing. I was reminded by L today..she even came up with my title. I think I have about two readers, so it doesn't really matter, does it?!

The biggest news of the week is my DIY project I've been working on.

I have been wanting a headboard for about 2 years now. I've looked high and low for this thing..but they're either too expensive or just not what I'm looking for. I'm pretty picky when it comes to putting something into my living space...can you tell I'm a designer? Anyways, I decided the cheapest and best option would be to make my own. Then, I was at IKEA a few weekends ago and found amazingly beautiful fabric..well, it's really the unfinished curtain panels they sell..but it's perfect. It's exactly what I pictured in my mind and I knew I wouldn't find it anywhere else.

It was VERY easy to make, anyone could do it. It was also only about $20, since I used cheap materials and stuff we had around the house. I wanted to keep it light, so it would be easy to move and hang. So, I decided to use foam core board...you know, the thick presentation boards. I also knew they would be the perfect height and width(with two glued together). So, that's just what I did...overlapped them, glued, and let it dry. Don't mind the alcohol bottles..they're heavy and I use them for all of my gluing projects.



Next, I used an old fleece blanket as batting. I folded it three times to fit the boards and to get the desired thickness, with overlap on the back so I could staple it. I used a staple gun...which, by the way, is the best tool ever invented. I've always loved it and this project proved how excellent that thing really is! I did however, have to make sure I had the right staple sizes to go through the blanket and into the foam core, but not come through the front, since the foam core is really thin...9/16" worked for me.


After the blue blanket, I had to cover it with white fabric, since the fabric I picked is a little sheer. I could have skipped this step if I had chosen a white batting, but since I was being resourceful and went with the blue blanket, I added a step. We had stock in the white, so it was one more thing we could get out of our huge fabric pile.


Finally, the last layer went on and I was done!


Now, it's on to installing the thing. I'm still trying to figure out how I want to attach it to the wall. I have a couple of ideas, but still haven't made a decision. Don't worry, I'll post pictures as soon as I get it up!

...strike...

So, the professors at my school may go on strike. Tuition just went up and nobody knows where all of the money is going. Our studio prof so kindly informed us today that if it does happen, she won't be around. Remember, this is the class that has a humongous project?! Not to mention, we meet with her almost every class for one-on-one time. Sucks. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens. I'll keep you informed!!

...time for a change...

I decided it was time to change the background. L sent me a great link with lots of backgrounds. I said I would never get into that...but here I am, trying to figure out what looks best. Oh well, hope you enjoy the change.

Check it out..

...birthday parties and old friends...

The first week of school is officially over. And the first weekend? Gone. I now have 14 weeks of school left.

The art hop was Friday and as it fits right along with my project, I decided to head on out there with one of the girls from school. It was nice..nothing like I expected, but nice none the less. We saw three of the galleries downtown and then went to the trade center, where they have several artist's studios. I always forget how nice downtown is..there's so many little shops and restaurants that everyone forgets about...and of course the art galleries are always forgotten. It's surprising they can all stay open, but I guess each one has their own little specialty catering to their own market. So, I realize my project will be perfect for the area. Glad my "research" was so helpful.

After the art hop, it was on to a birthday party...which was the most sophisticated and well done thing I've been to in a long time..maybe ever. The backyard to this house was beautiful...there was absolutely no grass, it was all mulch and stone paths, with little garden islands all over. They put up white lights, chinese luminaries, and tea light candles everywhere...it could have been the site for a wedding reception. Take note, I want that for my next birthday...but I guess I need a small downtown backyard with a lot of character and charm first....

With the start of school, brings the start of homework. Saturday was filled with the thought of getting it all done...it didn't happen. Aren't the gossip sites, facebook, and a movie more important? Guess not, but I'm still ahead of the game. This not having a job thing gives me plenty of time to work on stuff during the week. Don't worry, I won't get used to it for long...my wallet will be telling me not to. After a lazy day, it was off to my favorite bar/restaurant to meet up with old friends in town for the weekend. Nothing eventful here, just good to see everyone.

Today brings homework, cleaning my room, and possibly a trip out to see and say goodbye to the friends....and of course preparing myself for another week...

Week 2, here I come!!

...it has begun...

The past two weeks have flown by and no posts have been made. Let's catch you up....

I was in my cousins wedding the weekend before labor day. It was a wonderful ceremony and reception...it's always great when the family can get together for events other than holidays. Wedding receptions with the fam are my favorite, since everyone likes to break out their best dance moves(many may be a result of the high doses of adult beverages consumed) and it makes for a GREAT show!

After returning from the wedding, middle brother came to town. It's no surprise that I love any time spent with family, so of course it was a great time. There seems to be some little adventure our family always partakes in when we're all together..it's not just sitting around watching tv all day...which must be why I love it so much. Although, there was no big adventure or hilarious story this time, it was still fun. A trip in the little convertible is always a must, so it was down to the craft to visit one of the local shops for coffee, a visit to the friend's farm to see the hens and goats again(i know, i know...what rednecks we are but they're hilarious to watch), and then it was on to the burg for some drive-in lunch. There's just something fun about doing that kind of stuff with family...

Brother left Friday and it was on to the next family member! Auntie, D, and I headed to detroit to pick up L. It's always a fab time when the four of us are together, as we can never stop laughing.

I had my first large gardening experience on Saturday(watching Mom pull weeds or helping L plant wildflowers doesn't really count, since I barely got my hands dirty). L went off to visit some friends and I stayed to help Auntie and D with the rock garden. It was intense!! We had to pull the weeds out and then dig a trench to put in the edging. It took us quite a few tries and lots of laughs to get it right, but we finally figured it out. Of course, at this point, it was the middle of the day, the flies were starting to bite, and it was scorchingly hot and sticky. We gave up after putting in two lengths of edging and headed to the pool! The night was finished with a visit from my parents, a bonfire, and of course a ride on the gulf cart with the gals...mom included of course. It's really a bowl of laughter when the five of us are together, as the mom adds all of her hilarity to the mix!

Sunday included shopping, a pool visit, pretzel making, and another ride on the golf cart. It was a little more interesting with just L and I. We went under the running irrigation system several times, as it was directly over the path we wanted to take...only to find out later, we could take the path behind it and not get one drop of water on us...you live, you learn though, right?! The irrigation systems don't always work to our advantage as they leave mud puddles all over the field. We somehow always think the golf cart is invincible and that it will make it through them all. We were wrong. I got us stuck in a mucky mess and volunteered L to push for us. I was nice and told her I'd put the cart in reverse and she could push from the front, so she wouldn't get too muddy. Didn't work. She had to move to the back end and use all her strength to get us out while I was rocking with the cart to help it along. We finally got it out, with the addition of many spatterings of mud all over the back of the cart and L. At least I could laugh about it....

Unfortunately, the weekend came to an end and it was back to school for this girl. I said goodbye to freedom and hello to a stressful 7 months of hell. I have two design classes and two business classes. I now remember why I got out of the business school too....the bore factor was very high! Not to mention, everyone and their mother takes business classes so I get to see 75% of the school twice a week! It should make for an interesting semester. I'll try to keep you as updated as possible when I have free time and/or when I don't forget I have a blog and need to update every now and then....