mitchandwinnieblog

Mute Math Video

2009-04-18T12:05:00.002-05:00

My husband's friends Nate and Brandon just finished and released a video for Mute Math's Spotlight (the one on the Twilight soundtrack). Its really good! Go see it here.

Worries

2009-04-08T08:32:00.003-05:00

Yeah, um... I haven't written lately. oops

So I am at Central at the moment at my internship. My supervisor is in a meeting and I got here late so I am dinking around on her computer drinkin' a cup o' joe.

So, I'm worried. I want to get a job as a school counselor next year but Springfield is on budget cuts and there aren't really any jobs open close to Springfield-- what is a girl to do? Hope and pray and try not to worry... I am actually doing an ok job with that.

I have nothing to say

2009-03-28T15:58:00.002-05:00

I am very blah today-- much like the rainy weather and the cold front that has been brought in-- I'm just boring. Usually on Saturdays I get my stuff in gear and clean the house and do really fun things with Jeff. Not so much today. Although I did have a great lunch at Tea Bar and some good Charley's place time with some friends from church...

anyway, I'm ready for school to be done. I like Evangel, then again I don't, and mostly I'm just tired of sitting in classes imagining how I would do the job I have been training to do for a year and a half now. I'm just ready to go ahead and start doing it now instead of just talking about it (or listening to others talk about it more likely). Job interviews should be coming up, but I'm not sure what the competition is or even how many possibilities there are. I'm keepin' it cool, trying to think good thoughts, and get through the rest of this month. I have almost all of May off and I cannot WAIT. Spring gardening, pool visiting, reading outside...

le sigh.

NoiseTrade Widget

2009-03-24T21:26:00.002-05:00

Hey-- I love Miss Katie Herzig. Known her for a long time. Check it out

Hugo has a blog!?!

2009-03-21T17:07:00.002-05:00

OMG! My hubby just sent me this link today to inform me that Jorge Garcia (from LOST) has a blog that I did not know about. Just had to share! Its funny.

Picture Post-DC Trip

2009-03-17T16:28:00.010-05:00

So, I was pretty quick to update photos on my facebook of the Washington DC trip, but not so good about putting them on here. I just wanted to choose a few of my favorites to post. :-)

As for how things are going this week: very well! The sun is shining and the weather is GOREGOUS! I just skipped out of my assistantship to (try to) run in my neighborhood. I am freakin' nutts about Spring! This weekend I will plant some cool weather veggies in the garden and mow the yard for the first time. YESSS!

Films you must see!

2009-03-09T13:29:00.006-05:00

So, two films from the True False Film festival my husband and I attended last week that you MUST see are No Impact Man and Food Inc.

The first is about a guy and his family who go "No-Impact" on the environment for a whole year in New York City. It was great. I actually sat across the isle from the guy himself and got to watch his reactions to the film-- hillarious. He has a blog he keeps updated that you can go to by clicking on the flim above. I also added his blog to my blog roll.

The second, Food Inc., is about our food industry and how we get our food. A couple of facts: Did you know that 1 in 3 of all people born after the year 2000 will develop Type II Diabetes? Did you know that the average distance our food travels to get to us is about 1500 miles? The biggest thing I took away from the film is just how bad our meat industry is... I am trying (and have done so quite successfully, even while on vacation!) to only eat locally-grown and/or responsibly raised meat from now on. Its atrocious what we do to the animals we eat in this country, not to mention the workers in the factories of the meat companies.

So, now that I am all primed to go-green(er) I want to share info about a farm that does organic farming really close to Springfield-- Millsap Farms. I emailed them today to see when/if I can pick up some meat--they butcher chickens, turkeys, pigs, etc. :-) Also, I plan to frequent the Greater Springfield Farmer's Market once the season begins next month. Sigh.

Did I mention I went to DC last week? More on that later...

Hello from DC!

2009-03-06T08:59:00.005-06:00

Greetings from Washington! I don't want to take too much time to write, b/c I'll post pics later, but I am in DC with Jeff and some friends, Joe and Jannah Swink. We are having a lovely time. We have ran into our share of great politicians, seen some incredible sights, laughed our butts off, and have talked constantly in fake-British old women accents. Okay, so now I am watching Kathie Lee and Hoda's Today show segment, and I want to puke. SNL had it right when they did the parody of this show...

LOVING IT!

Because I care...

2009-02-23T11:07:00.008-06:00

So, I love watching the Oscars. I haven't always loved it, but the last few years I've made it a mission to try and see most of the Oscar-buzz films before the big night so I can root for my faves.
Also I love the pretty dresses.
There are many many MANY websites you can go to today to check out who thought what of what outfits, so who cares what I think, but here are my pics for best dressed and worst anyway:

BEST: Anne Hathaway. She's flawless in my book. Fun, quirky, young, and put-together.
Worst: Jessica Biel. I mean, Sophia Loren and Nichole Kidman rank right up there, not to mention Goldie Hawn looking like an aged hooker... But Jessica could have pulled off something chic or cool or beautiful or SOMETHING other than looking like she wore a sheet.
My personal fave: Natalie Portman. She has gutts to be able to carry that color, but man she looked good.

Home Alone

2009-02-22T15:46:00.005-06:00

So I've been all by my lonesome these past two nights. Jeff is out of town in Iowa, and my sister has been visiting old friends in Charlotte, NC with her bf. So I thought I would be super bored and lonely all weekend, but such is not the case. I've had a great time chillin' with friends and with my doggies...

Wanna hear about it?
Yesterday when my dog Sammie came in from being outside in the morning his forehead was covered in bird-poo. That was a nice wake up... so he promptly got a bath. Then, I ate at the wonderful Tea Bar and Bites with some friends, cleaned the house, worked out, did laundry, and went over to my friend's house- Kesha- to bake some delicious cupcakes Martha Stewart Style (click the link for the recipe). We delivered some to various friends last night, but I ended up with all the leftovers. I have about 15 at my house right now and I'm lucky I've only gobbled down two.

Today I woke up late and took my doggies on a four-mile walk down the Ozarks Greenways Trail. It was cold out, but very nice and sunny. Now I am drinking a chai latte and procrastinating writing an essay for a midterm due Tuesday.

Anyway, its been a good weekend. Next weekend though-- oh man-- its VACATION TIME! I cannot wait people! True false Film Fest and then off to Washington DC to see some great historical stuff AND visit the Swinks. I may not be able to make it through the week!

Oh yeah, and this is cool too

2009-02-17T17:56:00.003-06:00

You should check out the Dark Was the Night Red Hot compliation CD. It was produced by the guys from The National (a way cool band) and is for a great cause. It came out today and I cannot wait to go and purchase it!

Artists: Andrew Bird, Antony, Arcade Fire, Beach House, Beirut, Blonde Redhead, Bon Iver, The Books, Buck 65, David Byrne, Cat Power & Dirty Delta Blues, The Decemberists, Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner, Devastations, Dirty Projectors, Kevin Drew, Feist, Ben Gibbard, Grizzly Bear, Iron & Wine, Jose Gonzalez, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Kronos Quartet, Stuart Murdoch, My Brightest Diamond, My Morning Jacket, The National, The New Pornographers, Conor Oberst, Riceboy Sleeps, Serengeti, Dave Sitek, Spoon, Sufjan Stevens, Gillian Welch, Yeasayer, Yo La Tengo

Obsession

2009-02-17T17:52:00.002-06:00

Ok, so I HAVE to stop reading LOST fansites. I have always secretly snickered at people who are obsessed with fantasy films or games or whatever-- like Star Wars or Star Trek or play zombie games (hint hint: Mike Dockery)-- but I cannot stop reading LOST articles online. I am turning into THAT girl.

Oh, and if you're one of me, you may like this post by a girl who is more obsessed than I am.

Tonight is the Night...

2009-02-10T10:34:00.005-06:00

For the past two years Jeff and I have attended the True False Film Festival (a documentary film fest in Columbia, MO) with our friend Mike Denehy and our friends the Chiltons... this year, however, we've talked a vast array of comrades to join us in attending, and I couldn't be more excited to share this jewel of a weekend with others. Tonight at 9pm we get to choose our film tickets for the weekend. In preperation, Jeff and I stayed up last night to watch trailers of each film on You Tube(that were available) and drooled over the opportunity to see so much awesomeness! I can't wait. We're going to see films about a NY Times war correspondent, two guys who impersonate billionaires and get away with it, a film about women who protect abused children, and a film about a guy who lived with his wife in their house that was wired for people to watch like the Truman Show.
So, its not like you care b/c you haven't ever heard of these films, but for those of you who are attending, here is my list of choices for the fest. Oh yeah, and we can't see any movies on Sunday this year because Jeff and I will be flying to DC to visit our friends the Swinks.

Friday:
Gaea Girls 5pm Big Ragtag
Reporter 7pm Forrest Theater
Sounds like teen spirit 10pm Blue Note

Saturday:
No Impact Man 10:30 Missouri Theater
Yes Men 12:30 Macklanburg
Rough Aunties 3:30 Missouri Theater
Burma VJ 6:30 Missouri Theater
Food INC 8:30 Windsor
We live in public 9:30 Missouri Theater
The posters came... 10:30 Forrest

new music

2009-02-08T19:32:00.004-06:00

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. Things have been busy. Grad classes have been takin' up lots of time, I've been spending good time with my husband and friends, and enjoying the unseasonably warm weather.

You know what else has been cool lately? Good music! I just recently acquired the Bon Iver EP, the new Andrew Bird album (amazing) and just tonight purchased an actual record of Blitzen Trapper. There is a single that I LOVE off the new Franz Ferdinand album, and I'm totally stoked that the Decemberists have a new one coming up. Anyway, I've been be-bopping my head while driving around Springfield. You should too!

Oh yeah-- two more females worth noting: Lykke Li and LadyHawke!

...I am heading to the True False Film Fest this year (in a few weeks and I am so excited!) but am thinking this might be a good year to hit up a music fest too like Coachella, Bonnaroo, or Austin City Limits. Anyone?

SPRING skirts!

2009-01-23T13:53:00.003-06:00

It was amazingly 60 degrees out yesterday afternoon which made me think "Mmmmmm... I really really really can't wait until Spring." Its going to take a while though, folks, until the toes can get painted and a tan starts to form on this body. SO, in preperation (and for some fun) I think I might copy the idea of these skirts and try to make one myself (from Urban Outfitters):

On a walk...

2009-01-18T19:36:00.010-06:00

Today the temperature was bearable so the Mr. and I took our doggies ("D-O-Gies", as I pronounce it) on a walk. We did little else this afternoon other than eat our breakfasts--The Michelle and The Mystery Jeff-- at Gaileys. Jeff wanted to bring the camera to take this pic for the Mystery Hour cuz its funny (spoiler alert!)...
...and I decided to take pics of some of my favorite houses on our walk. We are so blessed to live close to Phelps Grove area and we get to walk by some gorgeous homes that I can only dream of owning when I "grow up". So enjoy!

I like the deck on this one Its pink!very uniqueSO cute!

"Meh."

2009-01-15T21:53:00.006-06:00

"Meh." is the way I would describe how I feel about everything except coffee right now. Its simply too cold and too dreary outside to feel much more than that.
Meh.1. Indifference; to be used when someone simply does not care. 2.The verbal equivalent of a shrug of the shoulders. 3. A random word when people either don't know what to say, don't care, can't answer a question or are too drunk to form a coherent english phrase (not me, but funny).
meh. whatever. bleh. blah. bah. no. me. eh. mehh. shrug. apathy. lol. yes. indifference. boring. maybe. random feh. bored. mer. noob. don't care. beh. pwned. meeh. wtf. dunno. muh. whatev. meep. alright. what. cool. ugh. indifferent. okay. boredom. mah. nah. hem. gah. lazy. idiot. emo. grr. mediocre. ok.
(From Urban Dictionary)

ETSY art

2009-01-13T10:00:00.005-06:00

My twin sis' Winnie went to Iceland a couple of months ago and brought back some beautiful swag to share with me when she returned. One is a postcard with some great art on it that I think I may be hanging up soon in my bathroom. My poor, poor little (tiny) bathroom... its just so small and needs some love! Anyway, I tried to find something cute to go with it to hang in there and came across this awesome print by Joom.
At some point I'll post pics of the arrangement on the wall once I get it finished. :-)

More pics

2009-01-07T21:18:00.005-06:00

Cuz everyone likes more pictures!

Winnie and Sammy
My friends Kesha and Mara and I on New Years'
Bosco- Kesha's pup

House pics

2009-01-05T20:16:00.007-06:00

I have promised pics of the house several times since I re-did the guest room back in September. We got a new camera for Christmas (our old one broke) so here are the pics, as promised!
Our living room over Christmas break
Joe Ironing in the kitchen (I just made the small shade over the window over break)
Sammy actually being a dog
Our guestroom wall I redid in September

Bearded Guys

2008-12-31T11:28:00.005-06:00

Every year after Christmas I get a bit greedy. There are things on my list that I didn't get, and when I do get something for my house as a gift there are things that get moved around so I need something to fill a hole, etc. This year I went a bit crazy in a section of town in Iowa City just north of the ped mall. I ate lunch with my mother in law at a place called Hamburg Inn (where all the presidential candidates stop by just before the caucases) and then headed to a few shops.

One in particular had a bunch of items from some of my favorite sellers-- Henry Road and Boy Girl Party. I happened upon a print of bearded men that I just KNEW i had seen somewhere and I loved, so I bought it. I just figured out I had seen it on Design Sponge , and it is by an excellent artist Ashley Goldburg . I can't wait to show you how it looks on my dresser at home!

Best of 2008

2008-12-29T11:34:00.005-06:00

My husband, Jeff, just LOVES podcasts. One tradition we have when we drive to Iowa is to listen to some of our faves: The Moth, Wait Wait Don't Tell me, This American Life, 60 Minutes, Relevant Podcast, and sermons by Rob Bell via Mars Hill Church.

One podcast I found on our little trip last year was All Songs Considered by NPR. At the end of each year they do a rundown of the best of the year-- best new bands, best albums, best songs, etc. Last year I was so inspired (although all they could talk about was Radiohead- hands down the best of last year) I made a Best of 2007 mix. So, this year I did the same after listening to the long-awaited podcast on my way up to Iowa on Christmas night. Some are from their suggestions, some are my own, but here is the playlist:

1) Ra Ra Riot, Can you Tell, The Rhumb Line
2) Okkervil River, Unless it Kicks, The Stage Names
3) Bon Iver, Re: Stacks, To Emma, Forever Ago
4) MGMT, Time to Pretend, Oracular Spectacular
5) Mates of State, The Re-arranger, Re-Arrange Us
6) Noah and the Whale, 2 Atoms and a Molecule, Peaceful the World Lays me Down
7) Foals, Olympic Airways, Antidotes
8) Son Lux, Betray, At War with Walls and Mazes
9) Santogold, LES Artistes, Santogold
10) Death Cab for Cutie, Cath..., Narrow Stairs
11) Fleet Foxes, White Winter Hymnal, Fleet Foxes
12) Blitzen Trapper, Furr, Furr
13) Jenny Lewis, Pretty Bird , Acid Tongue
14) The Helio Sequence, Keep Your Eyes Ahead, Keep Your Eyes Ahead
15) Vampire Weekend, Walcott, Vampire Weekend
16) Beck, Modern Guilt, Modern Guilt
17) The Black Keys, Psychotic Girl, Attack and Release

DIY Christmas Gift Wrap Idea

2008-12-23T11:55:00.007-06:00

So its probably too late to be sharing this idea with everyone since Christmas is nearly here (JOY!)... but I went to my parents' house this past weekend and saw the awesome presents my sister had wrapped in magazine pages. She even made little cut-out snowflakes from magazine paper! I have done it before to save on paper as well, but haven't ever thought about ditching Christmas wrap all together in favor of a more green option.

If I had a camera at the moment (the Houghton's is broken) I would have taken a picture and posted it, but I'll settle for some I found online.

This one is an envelope made out of magazine paper from Cut out and Keep

A christmas present!

Everything's not lost

2008-12-22T10:50:00.003-06:00

This post might not make a lot of sense to some; to others, it might.

Somehow this Coldplay song is giving me a lot of hope right now. Its odd, but true. I have a huge smile on my face listening to it.

When I counted up my demons
Saw there was one for every day
With the good ones on my shoulders
I drove the other ones away

So if you ever feel neglected
And if you think that all is lost
I'll be counting up my demons, yeah
Hoping everything's not lost

When you thought that it was over
You could feel it all around
And everybody's out to get you
Don't you let it drag you down

'Cos if you ever feel neglected
And if you think that all is lost
I'll be counting up my demons, yeah
Hoping everything's not lost

If you ever feel neglected
If you think that all is lost
I'll be counting up my demons, yeah
Hoping everything's not lost

Singing out
Oh, oh, oh, yeah
Oh, oh, yeah
Oh, oh, yeah
Everything's not lost

The year in review

2008-12-17T15:46:00.002-06:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE HOUGHTONS

Springfield, MO --The Houghtons have had an interesting year to say the least. It was the year that saw significant money “donated” to the local health care system. It was a year that felt like a lot happened, and yet also felt like not very much happened at all. It was the year of our first Christmas letter.

The Better Half
Michelle went to full time with her pursuit of a Masters Degree in school counseling at Evangel University. She shifted to part time at work at Burrell Behavioral Health, running the program she started four years ago called KLASS, which is a great program teaching kids in a group setting about, well, social skills. Jeff is too old to enroll as a student. On the Masters Degree front, Michelle slowed down to a more reasonable pace after half of the year spent learning about mental health while injuring her own.

The Other Half
Jeff still works at the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks as a field representative. In that role he sets up blood drives with schools, churches, businesses, community organizations and anyone with blood in their veins that is willing. He then works with volunteers to make the blood drive a success. He has a territory so he is on the road a lot each day getting caught up on many podcasts that he enthusiastically recaps to Michelle each night.

Jeff still performs just about every Friday and Saturday night doing improv with The Skinny Improv at the theater downtown. He performs a lot of traveling shows on top of that too. In addition, his project, The Mystery Hour is still going really well in its second and now third season. It’s a late night talk show. Some people even say it’s the best monthly non-televised local talk show that happens to be downtown in all of Springfield. Even one of the Houghton dogs, Sammy, appeared on the show last month. In addition, Jeff writes an article for 417 Magazine spotlighting one of the guests who will appear on his talk show. He has shot a few embarrassing local commercials, one of which finds Jeff in a housecoat. Oh yeah, and he calls Bingo at a local coffee shop as a grizzled old man named Burt Machowski.

Why Michelle is Not Allowed Around Lawn Mowers in 2009
Michelle and Jeff had a great 4th of July weekend in St. Louis watching the Cubs beat up on the lowly Cardinals (Go Cubs Go!) and having fun at Six Flags. The next day Michelle was at her parents transporting their lawn mower because Jeff had broken theirs with his ‘run mowing.’ It was lifting the lawn mower into the car that proved to be the mistake. Unbeknownst to her at the time, she herniated a disc in her back. After literally laying down for 8 weeks she finally had surgery in late August. She tried her best to keep herself occupied while she and the bedroom ceiling became well acquainted. She had a lot of visitors, books read, websites checked, and pain… oh the pain! Almost immediately after surgery she felt better. Jeff drove back from family vacation in Colorado to be there with her. Noble indeed, but what was he doing out their enjoying himself while she was laid up anyway? Since then she has been easing back into exercise. She and a guy who looks strikingly similar to Jeff now take a Pilates class weekly.

“We do”
In February, Jeff and Michelle’s good friends Jeff Jenkins and Leah Hamilton got married. In fact, they met at Jeff and Michelle’s wedding. Jeff was a good, artificially tanned, best man. In April, one of Michelle’s best friends, Kesha Quigg got married and became Kesha Alexander. Michelle was a more appropriately tanned maid of honor. Then in May, Jeff’s sister, Cari married Bob and became Cari Everhart. It was a fun weekend in beautiful Lawrence, Kansas. Everyone was tan. Well, as tan as Houghton’s get naturally.

Jeff Becomes a Man
Jeff celebrated his 30th this year. Yep, seriously. They celebrated with a barbecue and wiffleball game, just like a 30 year old should.

Jeff Becomes a Man (again)
Onto a subject that should have been highlighted in a Christmas letter in the early nineties… About eleven months was spent with Jeff holding ceramic, rubber bands, metal, and previous meals in his mouth with his adult braces. He talked through them and about them all the time. Then, on the fateful day on November 10th, 2008, a day that will live in famy, Jeff got his braces off! All told he wore them for 2 years. They had become a centerpiece of the Mystery Hour. He is currently searching for new jokes, and sugar, lots and lots of sugar. Feel free to ask him to smile. He will gladly oblige.

Highlights
Michelle’s twin sister, Jenn, moved back into town and they hang out a lot, along with their other close friends. Yes, they look alike.

The Houghtons can often be seen around town traveling by bike. Michelle got a new basket and a bell for hers but ended up not being able to use it for most of the summer. There’s always next year.

Jeff got poison ivy while Scott was in town in July, which joined forces with the chiggers he got while camping with Bob and Cari, to form an itchiness that proved to be stronger than modern medicine for a good three months. Or as Jeff says, “like a whole year!”

The Houghtons took in a stray dog for what was anticipated to be a short time. He stayed long enough for his named to be changed from “New Guy” to Morris. He was as cute as he was not at all house trained.

The Houghtons started their first garden this year!

Currently, Jeff is facing impeachment after attempting to sell Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat.

By the Numbers
5… Number of months the Houghtons cared for New Guy/Morris
43… Number of doo-doos and poop-poops cleaned up after Morris
0… Number of times Morris offered to help
21… Number of times Jeff got knocked over while filming a bit for The Mystery Hour with theSpringfield Roller Girls roller derby team
4125… Times Michelle has said “Good D-O-Gies” to Sammy and Lucy
4… Number of pops Jeff drank in two years while wearing braces
18… Number of pops drank since November 10th

2009…
Next year Michelle will be graduating from grad school and looking for a job. The Houghtons look forward to visiting their friends the Swinks in Washington D.C in March. That trip will come after their annual trip to the True/False documentary film festival that they looooove going to each year in Columbia, MO. Jeff will be wearing a retainer the rest of the year.

Hopefully, we’ll be able to spend more time with people like you who mean so much to us and are such a big part of our lives!

Sincerely,
The Houghtons

Frozen

2008-12-16T10:22:00.005-06:00

I'm going to complain for a minute--
Last night at some point the pilot light in our furnace went out so Jeff and I woke up this morning to a FREEZING house. My gosh, it was down in the teens last night and that's when our furnace chooses to do this. My feet are STILL cold and I feel permenatley frozen inside despite being at work now where its warm. BOO!

Update

2008-12-08T10:59:00.003-06:00

Oh, how life has been busy! Its been good busy, but so much of my free time these days is taken with Christmas shopping, holiday get-togethers, and reading the Twilight series (yes, I am a fan). Plus I am sort of sick of hearing myself talk (or reading what I write, in this case) that I haven't felt like updating much. I go back and forth with this blog, not knowing whether I even want to keep it up or not. Well, not much else to say. My classes are finished after tomorrow for the semester, but I'm still plugging away at my internship at a Springfield middle school as well as work and my graduate assistantship at Evangel. I'm exicted for Christmas just to have another break.

Christmas wishes!

2008-11-27T21:20:00.030-06:00

So, its Thanksgiving, but I am thinking of Christmas. Jeff and I are in Iowa at the moment sitting around the living room watching Home Alone movies (Jeff's dad's personal favorite) and digesting our dinner with his family. Its been pretty fun so far. Yesterday I went Christmas shopping downtown and found a few fun things. More than anything I like getting my closest family and friends presents. If you'd like to know my personal Christmas list, (and even if you didn't) I am going to post it here. These are just a few things that popped up into my head today...

An orange throw for my room

New dinnerwear and bowls

Soap and Paper drawer liner paper
IPod Nano 4th Gen. Armband

A new robe

MOVIE TIME!

2008-11-18T22:57:00.009-06:00

When it starts getting cold outside I generally go through a few weeks of sadness and moodiness due to the sun going away so early and missing my vitamin D time outside doing fun things. There are, though, two things I get excited about:

1) The clothes. I really like to layer and wear boots, so colder weather suits me (plus I hate how I look in shorts).
2) Movies! I love Oscar season when all the good movies start coming out that actually mean something. So far I have seen Changeling and Rachel Getting Married, neither were amazing or anything-- but I can't wait to see (and I'm almost embarrassed to say the first one, but what can I say, I work with Middle Schoolers all day) Twilight, MILK, Benjamin Button, and Man on Wire at the Moxie. Speaking of new theaters, the new Hollywood Theater downtown is pretty sweet. Its nice to have it in the area of where I spend all of my free time anyway. More exciting though is the new Moxie opening up in the Wilhoit Plaza. After some SKINGO action tonight, Jeff and I stopped by the new building to talk to Dan and check out how the progress is going with the theater. Of course, I have a soft spot for the Moxie because Jeff and I got ENGAGED there, (if you don't know the story you should-- Jeff is great at creating inventive ways to do things) but I just love the types of films that they show.
Oh, and one last point about movies, I know its MONTHS away, but I can't wait to go to the True False Film Festival in Columbia in March! Since Jeff and I started going two years ago we are addicted! Its amaaaazing.

So, on to deeper things, specifically (and hopefully) deep sleep. Enjoy your week, and go see some movies!

"Barack is the new black"

2008-11-12T22:02:00.006-06:00

Jenn brought something home with her from Iceland especially for me: a free newspaper with Barack Obama on the cover with the headline above splashed above... there was a tagline at the bottom saying:

Barack Obama's call for change resonates as deeply in Europe as it does in the U.S. THe new leader of the free world is seen as a unifying symbol, capable of rebuilding the bridges that the Bush administration burned down in the last eight years. Hope has been restored.

Well, I was intrigued. I got home tonight and started reading the article, written by an American, no doubt. He starts the article by relating American literature to America's place in the world. It, like American literature, is described by the author like this:

To be American as long as I've been alive has been to be at the top of a fading, maniacal empire, and to have been hyper-conscious of it.

My husband says all the time that one of his number one reasons for supporting Obama is to help us regain respect in the world, and I tend to agree. I remember going to Paris and Amsterdam in 2004 (or 2005?) to visit a friend studying abroad and I was taken back by all the American-haters, more specifically, Bush-haters, out there.
I don't really have much else to say about the article... I don't think one man can truly "save" us and do as much as he's being built up to be able to do, but wouldn't it be nice?

Several things

2008-11-07T17:50:00.006-06:00

I had a bad week and I'm so glad its over. I finally went to see the "Sensi" (Jeff and I see a guy that does alternative therapy-- healing-- accupressure that we call the "sensi") yesterday and he helped my leg a lot. He gave me some Dit Da Jao to take away inflammation. It smells horrible but is helping.
In other news:
I am at Cafe Rendezvous and just finished working on a big assignment for my Internship class. Glad thats done with. Its cozy in here. I tend to prefer Coffee Ethic for coffee, but they have good food here.
The new downtown movie theater opened today which I walked into-- it seems cool. I might go see Changeling there tomorrow night.
Its getting colder out which I like at the moment.
There is a Mystery Hour tonight.
I've been thinking about what I want for Christmas.
I'm glad the elections are over.
I watched my dad's dog Lilly play with Kesha's new pup Bosco forever last night and that was fun.
I slept in today and spent most of my afternoon in bed.
I am listening to a really good song by Iron and Wine.

That's about it.

OUCH!

2008-11-05T13:34:00.003-06:00

So I sprained/tore/pulled-- SOMETHING-- my calf muscle in my left leg running the other day. No wonder it hurt (see post below). Yesterday it wasn't too bad, but as the day wore on and into today it just got worse! IB Profin and icing it hasn't helped too much. Accoring to WebMD its just going to take time to heal. Great. Another injury. Lovely.

I took the first step...

2008-11-03T21:59:00.005-06:00

So today I went running for the first time in four and a half months b/c I called my doc and he cleared me to go for it. I've been bumming about my post-surgery in-the-middle-of craziness weight gain while all of my friends are their most svelte selves. So, I've decided to try and lose 5 pounds by Christmas. I'm not one to diet, or really care THAT much, but something's gotta give. Especially since I found out today that I cannot wear 1/2 of my wardrobe to work anymore... but that's a different story not to be shared on the Internet...

So, I went running-- back to that-- it was awful! Good god I know why people who don't run hate it. It was so hard. By about 1/2 a mile my left calf muscle turned into a 5 pound ball and my feet went to lead. I'm serious, I must have looked like I was trying to hobble-run (a new trend I'm starting) down Dollison street between Seminole and Cherokee. Around a mile into it I gave in and stopped. I ran a few more times after that, only to stop 50 feet later, then start up again, etc. Geeze. On top of it all I usually get sore the day AFTER a tough workout, but I have been sore all night.

The rest of my day was pretty crummy. Lots of embarrassing events one right after another. I am being humbled each day by my lack of ability to keep up with myself. I sorta want to stare up into heaven and say to God, "OK, OK! I'm done with growing! Put me back to my I-can-handle-everything-myself-thank-you self!"

Oh, but I won't give up. Tomorrow is a new day (VOTING DAY!) and I have five pounds to lose...

I was 20 feet away from (hopefully) the next president!

2008-11-01T23:29:00.011-05:00

I am SO glad that Jeff and I have gotten involved in the local Obama effort this week. First we went canvassing on Wednesday, then for 1/2 of today, and it really paid off-- we got to get into the Obama rally tonight in Springfield ahead of most everyone else and be freakin' 20 feet from the stage! It was AMAZING watching the whole Obama family interact, and then hear Obama talk for quite a while about the issues.

He started off by talking about how Dick Cheney endorsed Mcain today by taking to the campaign trail-- sorta bashing that whole deal to bring home the point that there will be "four more years of the same..." blah blah blah-- I sort of care (because i don't think the republican's view of trickling down money works), but most of all I care about having a strong leader in the white house who talks a lot about bringing people together. He got to that point at the very end, after he gave the same speech I heard on NPR the other morning (its a really good one) going over the issues and what he plans to do. (He throws in a good line about cutting taxes for 99.9% of all plumbers, btw.) But then he got to the good stuff-- talking about how good Americans are, and how its time for us to ban together to be good to each other, serve one another, get involved in community service, be good parents, etc. etc. That is one thing I respect about the Republican base-- their sense of values and how important it is to emphasize that families take responsibilty to do good because the government cannot do it alone.-- and I am so happy to support a candidate that believes in putting responsibility and accountability in the white house as well as in the family home.

Anyway, enough preaching, it was awesome. It feels historical. Three days before the election I got to see him. Close.

Election...

2008-10-29T16:50:00.002-05:00

OMG, I can't stand it anymore-- as Wyatt on the John Stewart Show said last night-- can we please just get this over with already!?! I am SOOO ready to know who is going to be our next president, and am SO nervous it won't be Obama. OH PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE!!!!
Jeff and I are going door to door tonight to volunteer for the campaign.

Target sandwich review

2008-10-28T10:57:00.004-05:00

I love most things Target, as you well know, but today i ate an Archer Farms warm-up-in-the-microwave-sandwich that was just yuck. It was a breakfast sandwich, so maybe that has more to do with it than anything. Maybe it was just the taste of the french bread it was on, or the undercooked egg in the middle... I'm not sure. I was disapointed and now very hungry.

Camp Michelle

2008-10-27T14:32:00.005-05:00

Camping Post

So, above is a link to my sis' website regarding our camping trip this weekend with pics included. Nothing like posting pics of yourself the worst you look ever after sleeping in a tent/sleeping bag without a shower!

No really, it was so good. I got to make a new friend-- Lindsay W. and spend time with some good friends roughing it outdoors. A bit of "CAMP MICHELLE" came out of me. She is an alter ego that enjoys making fires, cooking over a fire, and basically all things fire and camping. She's sorta a take-charge (when am I not that way though, I need to get a hold of myself) kinda gal.

Anyway, other than that have been enjoying the fall weather and "engaging my abbs" as I do anything thanks to my new Pilates class.

Happy Fall everyone!

this weekend and next weekend...

2008-10-20T21:16:00.005-05:00

This past weekend I went to Iowa City with my husband to see the Hawkeyes beat Wisconsin at home. It was a good time. Jeff's two brothers and sister were in town, so that made it extra fun for us. Every time I am there I just itch to get some time at the town's ped-mall (if you've ever been to Boulder, CO., they have one too...) and go shop in some of their unique stores. I got to for a few minutes Sunday morning, but not enough to really truly get satisfied. We're going back over Thanksgiving so I will for sure be hitting up AKAR, White Rabbit, and Revival.
Ps. I took in some jeans that I recently bought and don't fit (le sigh) and exchanged them for some way cool Biviel shoes at Revival. They are awesome (and were really cheap compared to the original price of the suckers).

In other news, this weekend I am going CAMPING with my girlfriends. I cannot wait!

Give a little love

2008-10-13T22:32:00.004-05:00

Here is my heart to share tonight-- but I have to preface it a bit for understanding. I have this group counseling class that I have been going to this semester where we actually have group counseling in our class. Its been really powerful for me because I've used it as an opportunity to get some counseling. I have bumbled around a lot in it-- been pretty vulnerable and have put myself out there in a way that might be "too much"... but here is what I thought after tonight's session:

I am not so much going to title each section—what I am learning about myself, others, and about groups—but try to touch on each one throughout this reflection. I need the limitlessness of that in this moment, I believe. I hope that is ok. Tonight’s class (Yes, I was so moved by this group that I am writing as soon as I get home…) was good for me. I’ve really appreciated this group in my life right now as an outlet for me to share all the junk that rolls around in my head each week. I might only share part of it, sections really as I feel like I might explode with everything that lies in there if I don’t limit myself a bit, but I am learning so much from those sections I do share and am learning even more from others’ reactions, my reactions’ to their reactions, and others’ sharing of themselves too.
I have this need to know and be known. It’s like this driving force inside of me that won’t let me stop at simple pleasantries with others. I want to get behind people’s eyes, I want to connect with them, and I want them to connect with me, too. I think that is why I was so angry tonight with (no name here) for saying he didn’t really need to get into his feelings with others. I find it so hard to understand. I know, I know—I am differently wired than a lot of people in this area—I guess what I am trying to say is that I know I need to understand this about other people better; my response in anger is only because I want to feel validated in my own need to have others understand me. I am afraid of what it might say about me if others can control themselves to protect and choose when to open when all I want is to burst out with who I really am and get to the heart of all things (maybe too quickly). To me, life is just too short. I don’t want to go through this life not ever affecting anyone or letting others affect me—or protecting myself so much that I don’t feel anything. I want to feel everything.
God is really moving in me. This doesn’t have a ton to do with group—but it is on my heart at the moment so I am sharing. He really is. I don’t have any idea how or why or what—I just know he is doing something inside of me. This weekend my husband and I talked a lot about how we are seeing him move in our hearts and how we have no idea how to follow him or what we’re doing, but we both know for sure that giving up control to him is more important than anything that we try to do to connect with him.
I guess that is sort of like where I am at in this process with group. I see that we’re at an impasse of really opening up to each other—to really confronting ourselves and who we are—and I can’t wait to see how it plays out. If I give up this need to control and push us to the next point it will all play out so beautifully and I’ll feel better about my part in it all instead of guilt over “talking too much” or whatever. (I think talking is my own way of protecting maybe--interesting thought.) Letting go—feeling it all, letting God take the reigns—is so important to what I need right now.

These lyrics in a song by Noah and the Whale I am listening to really touched me tonight. Makes me think of what God is saying to me:
Well if you are (what you love)
And you do (what you love)
I will always be the sun and moon to you
And if you share (with your heart)
Yeah, you give (with your heart)
What you share with the world is what it keeps of you

smile like you mean it

2008-10-10T20:39:00.007-05:00

I love the coffee ethic. I really really really love it. I can come downtown to hang out by myself on a Friday night to do homework and still feel cool while I am here. The title of this post is only because it is the song I am listening to at the moment while I am sitting here (procrastinating doing more homework).
So, there really hasn't been much to report lately. I started back to work this week and have been BUSY again. I now remember why I was so miserable before I hurt my back-- I live a busy life! Geeze.
OKay now they are playing my favorite Radiohead song-- can it get any better?!?
While I have been here I got to run into two people I only sort of know that I wish I knew better-- Trevor and Abby. They use to live next to a friend of mine and then moved away. Now they have a new little baby and I'm sure don't have time to hang out, but they seem like people Jeff and I should be friends with and Jeff and I need friends. At some point tonight Jeff looked at me and said "Oh Mitchy, what are we going to do about getting friends?" All of his have moved away (except Mr. Jenkins who is infinitely busy). Know of anyone we can be friends with?
I am sitting next to my bestest friend Miss Winnie, btw. I love her. She is dating someone now. Super excited.
What else?

much better...

2008-10-10T18:43:00.001-05:00

...today. NUTELLA!

attractive?

2008-10-09T22:17:00.002-05:00

I'm not gonna lie, I just have been feeling icky lately. Not sick-icky (although I haven't been able to shake the cold/flu thing I caught last week completely) but ugly-icky. I go through these spurts sometimes where I feel a lot bigger than I really am--although I know I am not actually overweight. I want to go on some sort of diet and not eat much but then when I eat less I get so hungry. Anyway, we'll see. Maybe its that my hair is short and I want it to grow out. Maybe its because its a new week with long days and its hard to go from here to there and feel awesome. Maybe I'm just getting older and having a harder time staying in shape. Maybe I want to run but I can't so I feel lazy. Maybe its the Nutella I just bought and can't stop eating.

Maybe I want to go to bed. Goodnight.

pumpkin spice latte

2008-10-01T17:51:00.003-05:00

Well hello! I am so finicky about this thing that I'm not sure if I'll keep blogging or not, but here I am at the moment nonetheless. I am going to post some before and after pics of the guestroom I just re-did in our house. Its awesome. I was actually motivated enough to do something! THen, well, I got sick these past two days and have been mostly sleeping. At the moment though I am settling down with Jenn in a lawnchair at my parents' house drinking a pumpkin spice latte and about to go watch the Cubbies in their first playoff game of the season. Fall, ahhhhhh.....

not cool

2008-09-28T02:18:00.005-05:00

Oh boy. Its 2am and I am feeling so uncool right now. Its been hard to be motivated recently after all the badness with the back situation. Once I moved on from that I got right back into school and my new internship at Pleasant View Middle School--- I just forget that creative michelle that likes to go and take over things-- do something new and fun and impressive. Not sure any of it was that impressive. Anyway, I've been up for the past hour reading blogs of others in this town who are infinitely more talented, cute, and motivated than I and am feeling a bit down on the old self. I don't even know why I bother to write when I've abandoned this thing so no one will possibly read, but I just want to say-- at least tomorrow-- I am going to be motivated, world. I am going to get up out of my bed and do something positive with myself other than clean my house. K? K.

post-surgery mitch

2008-08-17T21:17:00.003-05:00

Hello! I got surgery two days ago and am feeling great! I updated almost everyone via text message, email, or facebook, so I felt very little need to put all the details on here. To sum it up, i was there for most of Friday, was in actual surgery for only 25 minutes, and am now trying my hardest to stay quiet and relaxed and not do too much. The new saying around my house is "No bending no twisting," which I believe I had upheld well these past two days (thanks to the "gopher" that my mom bought me yesterday to help me reach things). I think these next two weeks as I wait for school to start I am going to be my own worst enemy-- waiting to get better but feeling good and wanting to do more than I should.

Anyway, I plan on sewing quite a bit and reading as well to pass the time and be "good". If anyone has any suggestions on books, I have a 30$ gift card to Barnes and Nobel from my friends as a get-better-soon gift. Lemme know.

kesha's bag

2008-08-14T21:33:00.004-05:00

I kept myself busy with this tonight (surgery is in the morning) and decided to give it to Kesha because the stitching was a bit off. More to come post-surgery!

lets see here...

2008-08-13T19:29:00.003-05:00

What updates to give? Not really anything exciting to speak about. At the moment I am listening to our stray we hope to give away "squeaking" outside (he wants to come in and has a high-pitched bark), my sis Jenn is making me nachos-- (we just got done with "ear-candleing" her, and let me just say its messy and smoky. She sells the candles at Mama Jeans and wants to know what to tell customers about it). Ummm, what else??-- I have been working on my research project for the past four hours, and now its olympics time.

Earlier today I had my pre-operation appointment and got the run-down of how its all going to go. I will get there at 8am, then be wheeled off to pre-surgery where they'll knock me out, then when I wake up I'll have to eat, drink, pee, and breath into this tube thing, and four hours late I'll get to go home.

I'm actually more excited to have the surgery than nervous. Of course i will be nervous, but I can't wait to be able to go out and do things again! I tried to go to Marshals yesterday to shop just a little bit, and made it about 10 minutes before I had to go back into the car and wait for my sister to buy some jeans. I really want to shop right now b/c of all the fall stuff that has come out...

Um, I love the Olympics. The end.

OMG

2008-08-11T22:04:00.001-05:00

i am going to have SURGERY on Friday morning. CRAZY!!!

ETSY store additions

2008-08-10T23:52:00.003-05:00

I am pleased to bring two more additions to my store. I am really really really hoping to sell some items since I have not been able to work these past three weeks and could use some moo-lah.

Guy's Leaves Tee

Women's Window Tee

le sigh

2008-08-08T11:58:00.003-05:00

oh dear, things are not looking so bright today. The weather is beautiful, which reminds me of Colorado-- fairly warm with no humidity-- which reminds me that Jeff is headed there next week and I was supposed to go with him on my only vacation for the year but I have to stay here, in my boring bed with all this pain...
I have a checkup with my specialist doc on Monday. Its looking like I'm going to need surgery. I'm just not getting much better... I mean, I still cannot function without being on the full dosage of pain meds and muscle relaxers, and when I get up I still can only go a few minutes. Sigh.
I might not be able to enroll in classes for the fall either. I have a little less than three weeks until they start. I just have no idea how things are going to go, and I'm starting to get very anxious about, especially with all the money we're loosing from me being out of work.
Needless to say I'm a bit depressed today. I think I might go outside and lie on the concrete and pray. Get some vitamin d and try to trust that God has a plan.

I heart shoes!

2008-08-07T19:23:00.009-05:00

OK, so I've been reading lots of fashion mags and am LOVING the new styles coming out-- especially in shoes. Everything is so modern and retro looking. Booties, "shooties," oxfords, moccasins, mary janes, t-straps, and riding boots are all over the pages of each of my favorite mags, so I thought I'd pick some of my favorites and post them here. I am kinda excited because I have some really great fall shoes already that fit into these categories... I have some great Franco Sarto mary-janes I picked up WAAAAY on sale last winter, I have had these amazing pair of riding boots for probably 5 years now, I have some cute booties I wore all last winter, and I just bought some awesome moccasins from target a few weeks ago (okay, so maybe I sent my brother-in-law to get them when he was headed to the store anyway)...

Kenneth Cole Reaction Party Bell-a mary-jane in berry

Calvin Klein Rocci Bootie

Frye Bonnie Tall Riding Boot

too expensive for me, but oh-so-cute mary-jane by Corso Como Virgo

Woven Oxford Heel at UO

Anthropologie Parula Peep Toes
Check's in the mail by Seychells T-strap

Anthropologie bootie:

Two Tone Oxford Skimmer at UO

4 weeks and 4 days

2008-08-07T17:32:00.003-05:00

Still lying here folks. I am feeling a bit better, but not much, and am suffering from supreme amounts of boredom. I worked on my paper a bit today, read more fashion magazines, coveted many a shoe, and took two naps. I bet your day was more exciting than mine...

decorating

2008-08-05T15:50:00.004-05:00

So my parents are getting all new flooring in their house this week, and have suddenly been inspired to redo their bedroom and the guest bedroom. Since all I do is lay around in my room and do nothing, I have been shopping to help them figure out what would look good. I created this inspiration page in Polyvore and thought it looked good.

Four weeks and two days...

2008-08-05T12:13:00.003-05:00

Its hard to count the days I have been injured anymore so I'm going to start counting the weeks plus days of how long I've been injured and holed up in misery. Its actually not all that miserable when I am laying down and not completely bored, but I must say the boredom is getting to be more the case rather than me being acceptably occupied.

So yesterday was a fabulous day, as far as pain is concerned. I had very little pain when I would get up.. it was so very exciting. I didn't post anything about it because I was nervous the pain would come back today, and alas, it did. I've been up a few times and each time am hobbling across the floor... so there you have it. Boo. I started my IDD treatment yesterday and am going every day this week. I'm sorta thinking that if I am still the same by Monday when I have a check-up with my doc that I am going to request surgery to just get this whole thing over with...

BUT, i did end up getting out last night to somewhere that wasn't a doctor's office or the pool (the pic above is from last night)-- I went to the Coffee Ethic with my sister, Winnie, and Arin. It was wonderful to see civilization and feel slightly normal (although I was getting a few strange looks because I was lying on the couches instead of sitting like everyone else).

Keep praying friends!

-Mitch

Day 26 of Herniated Disc update

2008-08-01T22:22:00.012-05:00

Below you'll find pics of recent sewing projects as well as some info on how I'm doing with the incident...
Jeff's Tees

Arin's Owl

Hello everyone. Its about 10:20, and you know what is going on that I am missing right now? The Mystery Hour, my husband's show. Sadness.

As far as how I'm doing-- Well, I got my cortisone shot yesterday. Before I get into that, let me tell you that yesterday had to be one of the most miserable days I've had ever, besides July 8th when I went to the doctor the first time for this nasty incident. I will spare you the details and will just sum it up by saying OUCH. Now, back to the shot. It was very invasive. He stuck a needle into a small opening in my lower spine to get the medicine right at my nerve root... it was sort of a mini-surgery if you ask me... It isn't going to help heal me, but it should make me feel a whole lot less pain, which is very exciting. It can take anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks to take hold... i am crossing my fingers for the earlier side of things.

Anyway, to the good stuff; Pictures! I have more pics of things I've made in the past week above, and will add in a little treat of pics from last Sunday when I went to the pool with my friends and their dogs (I left mine behind for obvious reasons). enjoy!

Mitch and Lilly
Mara and Thora Leah and Leia

I've been sewing!

2008-07-30T19:38:00.007-05:00

HORRAY! I have been spending the past couple of days sewing some new stuff to add to my long forgotten ETSY store and am so pumped to show them off! I hopefully will be doing more throughout this coming week, and wouldn't it be cool if I actually sold something to help pay for all these dang medical bills? geeze. here is a preview:

Day 23 of Herniated Disc Update

2008-07-29T14:59:00.004-05:00

I had my second specialist appointment today. The MRI has been read, and yes, I have a herniated disc-- its the last disc in my spine. As far as herniated discs go its "large", my doc said. He also did a nerve test to make sure my muscles in my left leg (where the extreme sciatica pain is) weren't degenerating, and they aren't, which is good. If they were I'd have to have surgery right away. So, the route for treatment we're taking now is to get Cortisone shots and start the "IDD" table, which is like a better form of traction. I should start on the IDD table by the end of this week or first part of next week.

The biggest snag we're running into is that the hospital I have my insurance through only lets the anesthesiologist do the shots, and the waiting list is THREE WEEKS OUT! OMG! Soooo, we sorta told the doc that that is ridiculous (he agrees, but its a Cox hospital legal thing that he can't do anything about) and he said that he would try to pull some strings for me after he gets done seeing patients today at 3. I am going to call tomorrow to see when he set up an appointment for. That shot I hear is usually very helpful for pain like this, i just wish I could get it NOW, or like, THREE WEEKS AGO! Grrr. I am thinking of writing a letter to the hospital saying how bad of patient care that is, given that I've been in extreme pain for three weeks and the only saving grace I have isn't available for another three.

In other news, I had my sister go to Target to get shirts for me to do applique sewing onto. I'm hoping that I get some inspiration to start doing that for fun instead of just lying here staring at my ceiling. I really should be working more on that paper that's due in August, but I have so much time on my hands and am so "down" from all of this its hard to get motivated to do something I don't want to do when I can't do anything that I want to do. does that make sense? Oh yeah, and I didn't win that decor8 contest which made me sad, but it was a longshot anyway. I could have really used some new fabric and paper to inspire me. I guess I'll just have to get creative with what I've got. (I feel like i've been doing A lot of that lately though).

Plate search

2008-07-28T16:12:00.007-05:00

So, I am a clutzy mess which means I drop things occasionally (see below post for a sad example). Most of the plates that my husband and I received as wedding presents have broken because I have dropped them, so I have decided to replace them with a random assortment of plates.

At first I thought I would just want plates that are either red or white with red in it... but then after looking on countless websites I haven't had the best luck. So I have decided to go with a new eclectic theme to fit in with my kitchen ware--- white dinner plates with either red, light green, or tealish-tiffany blue designs on them. I am going to start with the needed plates first, then hopefully start to collect bowls and dessert plates as well. Here are some examples:

Ikea Plates:

Anthropologie Plates:

Pier1 plate:

frustration (Day 21 of herniated disc post)

2008-07-27T18:05:00.006-05:00

So throughout this whole thing I've tried to just be okay with the circumstances and accept that I don't get to do everything I want to do. For the most part I think I've done fairly well.

At the moment though, not so much...

I am so sick of not being able to get anything for myself, feed myself, do anything productive, and do anything I enjoy doing, like tending to the garden or my pretty flowers outside. Grrrr! About 15 minutes ago I attempted to fill up the bird feeder I strategically placed outside my bedroom window and ended up dropping the entire bag of birdseed on the ground, spilling all of its contents at my feet. I immediately started bawling because I can't bend over to clean up a mess like that. I calmed myself down, but not before I asked Jeff through my tears to clean it up and huffed and puffed my way through the pain to cut some flowers to fill my new hanging vases in my living room. These ascetic sort of things I love to have around and they make me so happy, especially now, but I can't do them very well when I am in pain and its so frustrating.

Tuesday's doctor's appointment cannot come soon enough. Oh please Lord, I pray that this pain subsides so I can have my life back.

For Megan (late night and I can't sleep quick post)

2008-07-26T00:43:00.011-05:00

My friend Megan was talking today about Urban Outfitters and how expensive it is. I thought I'd check out the sales online (since we don't have the store here-- I vote we get one in the new college station!) to see what I thought... I tried to find the stuff I thought was the coolest from U.O. and post them... What do you think?
Lux Wisteria Top: $19.99
Granny Satchel in Stone: $29.99
Ethereal Necklace: $19.99
Swedish Flower Printed Rug: $19.99 (I actually bought this one but had to take it back b/c it was a bit out of place in the room I wanted it for.
Made by Elves Evan Oxford: $39.99 (I WANT!)

Day 19 of herniated disc

2008-07-25T17:50:00.002-05:00

Updates:
Today I went to go to the pool with a friend I rarely see. It was great to catch up and talk. I'm getting TAN people.

I am still crossing my fingers at the possibility of winning the decor8 inspiration contest where I'd win tons of amazing fabric and cool stationary paper. Ohh, just the thought of winning gets my sewing gears turning.
Speaking of, I have appliqued vintage fabric onto two shirts in this past week. One for my hubby and one for my brother-in-law. I am also currently working on sewing the ends of the fabulous bathmat I bought from CB2 that was too big for our tiny bathroom. I can hand-sew from my bed in the lying down position, which has helped me mentally to handle all of this... it gives me something to do that I love. I tried to post pics I took but they were awful, I didn't have enough stamina to take a good shot so I'll post them later when I can get my husband to.

Also, I started on my research paper (well, barely) yesterday. That was a very good thing. Starting I think can be the hardest part on big projects like that.

Anyway, continue to stop by and check on me. I love hearing people tell me they read my facebook notes or my blog. It makes me feel more connected to the world since all I can do is lie in this bed.

Oh, and PS: here are some pics from the other night when Mara brought her dog Leia over (the king charles) and a little miniature yorkie she's dog sitting named Peanut.

Sometimes...

2008-07-24T23:44:00.003-05:00

I have moments when I've been lying down for a while and forget that getting up hurts. Then I get up and I remember. That's all for today.

Day 17 of herniated disc

2008-07-23T23:39:00.003-05:00

So... the MRI machine is weird. Very,very strange situation-- to be in a long tube and have crazy machine noises going on REALLY LOUDLY around you for 25 minutes. I felt like I was in some trippy techno dream or something.
I am getting sick of doctor's appointments at this point. I've been every day this week and am paying dearly for it in pain. My muscles are crazy tight and I've been feeling pain just like I was those first few days, which is rather disheartening. I don't have another appointment scheduled until next Tuesday to start treatments with my new specialist doctor, which is TOO STINKIN' LONG, so I am calling tomorrow to see if there are any cancellations or if my Doc can fit me in tomorrow or the next day. Cross those fingers with me. I want to start getting better NOW.

I thought I'd post a few pics of what my problem looks like:

Day 16 of herniated disc update

2008-07-22T16:28:00.003-05:00

So I went to see the spine specialist today. It was sort of a wake-up call to how severe this whole thing is, and also a confirmation of how much pain i am still in. He ordered me an MRI tomorrow, and I have another appointment with him next Tuesday (which sucks, because I still will be in all this pain when I am up and around for at least another week). At that appointment they are going to do a nerve test and hopefully give me a Cortisone shot so I can get rid of some of the pain. After that they will probably start treatments on this traction-type machine called an IDD that deals with discs and such. If that doesn't help me heal and I am still in a lot of pain, then he said I may end up needing surgery. My hopes of getting a shot and all of this being a bad dream sorta slithered out the window at that point. I was also supposed to go to Colorado with the Houghton family mid-August, which looks like it won't be happening because I don't have any vacation or sick time left to take and will start taking leave-without-pay next week... not to mention all of these appointments and tests are starting to add up financially.

Anyway, I am sorta down today. I was going to go to the pool after my appointment, but its been rainy outside, so I'm stuck in my room again with no one home and no ability to do anything that requires me to move. boo.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.

I had a good idea...

2008-07-21T22:51:00.007-05:00

So I saw this about a month ago but thought I'd comment about it. Last year I got these great placemats from a flea market and decided to make pillows out of them:

Then I notice that Urban Outfitters apprarently has copied my brilliance. Guess I should have sold the idea to them a year ago and could have made the big bucks. Oh well.

Day 15 of herniated disc

2008-07-21T13:35:00.003-05:00

Updates:

Today I went to the doctor. It was a very long afternoon of lots of movement, which hurt a ton, but I believe we made some progress (hopefully). I got referred to a spine specialist who will most likely do Cortisone (is that the term?) shots in my back to relieve the Sciatica I am experiencing. Hopefully I'll get into them by this week so I can start back to work and school and get my muscle tone built back up through PT. My X-Ray didn't show any arthritis, but did show a bit of a curve in my spine.

I'm still feeling about the same as I have been-- only able to walk or sit for a few minutes before the pain starts getting really bad. Today's excursions already have me worn out, and I still have a PT appointment at 6 tonight...

Mentally I'm doing ok at the moment. Just trying to stay positive and busy.

Comment if you stop by to check on me. Mucho Love.

Dr Horrible

2008-07-20T23:54:00.002-05:00

Please watch this: Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog

Decor8 contest

2008-07-19T13:55:00.006-05:00

Everyone cross your fingers for me... Decor 8 is hosting a contest for someone to win amazing paper stacks and fabric stacks. Do you KNOW what I could do with all of that right now?!? I am laying flat on my back for most of my life these days and would LOVE to be able to hand-sew more items with all this time I have, I just cannot go out and buy fabric because I'm bedridden for the most part. There have already been, like, 400 people who have entered, so I am setting my hopes high, but what a blessing that would be for me in this depressing situation of boredom.

ETSY favorties

2008-07-19T13:04:00.003-05:00

I originally set out this morning to find some folders I can take with me to classes in the fall. I always need something to put my handouts in, and cannot find any folders outside of Wally-World or Target. There aren't any online! I veered my search to Etsy and started finding all sorts of fun shops and items I thought I'd highlight here.

These are the closest I got to finding folders with pockets in them. If I cannot find what I'm really looking for these may be a good option from Lemon Tree Studio . I mean, Amy Butler paper? Who can go wrong? From looking at Miss Lemon's blog, she may love Owls more than I do

The second is from a pottery maker I stumbled upon this morning called VesselsandWares. What a wonderful, pretty site.

This site, called Olive Vintage, I came across with a bunch of vintage finds. I love this olive oil and vinegar duel bottle, such a neat design!

Finally, I love anything by Pego:

Day 12 of herniated disc

2008-07-18T18:52:00.005-05:00

I've been super excited about my laid-up online purchases coming in yesterday and today, but some of them were disappointments. The CB2 bath matt I bought is too big and I'm thinking about cutting it in half and making two out of the one. I also am not sure about the rug I bought from U.O.-- it may be a bit too "busy" for the sun-room. Of course I wasn't able to stand long enough in the room to get a good look due to the pain I was feeling, so yeah... that whole thing has diminished the joy I thought I would get out of receiving my purchases. To be honest, I'm starting to feel a bit depressed. I'm very frustrated that I still cannot get up for longer than a couple of minutes without extreme pain. I just want to do something. Anything. Even enjoying a shower would be nice. Patience, patience.

day 11 of herniated disc updates

2008-07-17T21:57:00.008-05:00

What I have been doing today: reading The Shack and my NYLON magazine, went to the pool with Jeff's bro Scott (he's visiting for 10 days), and watched So You Think You Can Dance with Jenn.
Visitors today: my sister (yesterday: my dad, Donna and Debbie from Evangel, and Mara with her cute dog Leia)
Work status: keeping up on projects for Evangel and Burrell via email.
Research project due in August: Still haven't started
Longest time I was up today walking: 10 minutes.
Number of bottles of Vicodin I have gone through: 3
Date of next Doctor's appointment and (hopefully) an MRI: Monday morning
Showered? yes (thankfully)
Number of times I cried today: 0. (yessss! mental state improved!)
Online purchases: 0. I'm out of money to spend :-(
Number of frozen peas or corn bags I went through to ice my back: 3
Times a cuss word slipped out of my mouth because I was in pain: 0
Times I've called into the living room: "JEFF...": countless

Anyway, sorry to disappoint with not many updates today or pictures. I'll try to do better tomorrow... I should be getting in several packages of my online purchases and hopefully will do some good picture posts with that.

If you stop by, leave a comment. I'd like to know who's checking on me. :-)

Mama Mia! Madness

2008-07-16T13:33:00.004-05:00

I just clicked on Fugly's website and found a polethora of Mama Mia advertising. Someone should Fug the Fug girls for allowing this to happen! Their post was even from the priemer of the movie, and when it loaded I heard a bit of that STUPID SONG THAT DOESN'T GO OUT OF MY HEAD. MAKE IT STOP!

day 10 of herniated disc

2008-07-16T13:21:00.003-05:00

So, today won't be as much a picture post but more of a rambling "what I'm learning through all this" post (again). Yesterday I reported that I went to the pool for some much needed out-of-my-room time and vitamin D for my mental health. I was feeling so good yesterday. So good. After we got back I took a much needed shower, then Jeff and I enjoyed some Millies salads thanks to his Mommy paying for us to have an anniversary dinner. (2 years-- go us!) Then Jeff's little Bro Scott came into town around 9ish. He's staying here with us for the next 10 days...
So because I was doing so well I started to feel like I should be doing more. I did some laundry, watered the plants, etc. I would get up for 10 minutes, do some chores, get back down for 10 minutes, repeat. Today I'm not feeling as great I think because I might have been pushing it a bit too much last night. I'm just getting so sick of laying here and asking everyone to do everything for me. Its hard. I mean, I just so want to be able to go outside and be a human again. But the Lord (I said "The Lord" I sound so evangelistic) is teaching me to stop trying to do everything on my own. I keep getting his kick right in my rear, literally, every time I think I can do it alone without him.
So I ask, those of you who pray, be praying that what God is teaching me right now sticks. He's doing it for a reason, I know. I needed it. I was just so ragged and burned out and not trusting Him... I just pray that I can learn more about letting go a bit and giving him control.
K, enough of that stuff, I'm gonna look through some design websites and enjoy myself for a while.

I laid in the pool, not on my bed

2008-07-15T19:45:00.004-05:00

Today was a WONDERFUL day. Probably one of the best I've had in a long time. My sister was off work so she took me to my friend Mara's parent's pool. It felt amazing. So good to be out of my room for the first time in 9 days (outside of the doctor's office or PT). Too bad my new swimsuit didn't come in time. I bet I'll be there several more times before this whole thing gets better. Here are pics:

day 9 of herniated disc morning shots

2008-07-15T11:04:00.009-05:00

More urban outfitters model poses (day 3 without a shower)
bloomies on my new patio furniture
morris jumping on me
lucy jumping on me
Here are some pics of when I just woke up from a muscle-relaxer coma. I needed to let the doggies in to feed them so I grabbed my camera to capture the experience. Updates: getting up didn't hurt as bad as when I had to let the doggies out at 6:30 this morning. Probably because I brought a new ice pack with me to lay on immediately. Time I was up: 4 minutes. Later today: Pool pics!

day 8 of herniated disc picture post

2008-07-14T17:42:00.006-05:00

Jeff had a good idea-- since I'm so bored and can't get up without wanting to punch someone that I should keep the camera by my bed and take pictures daily to put on here as photo posts of the excitements of my day.

Here are some pics of just the past hour. First is Jeff's shirt covered in Sammie hair after he petted him for five minutes, second is pics of my doggies keeping me company, and third is how I look all ratty and un-showered. Hey, I'd fit right in as a Urban Outfitters Model!

U.O. disappointment

2008-07-14T15:24:00.010-05:00

I just got the new Urban Outfitters early Fall catalog and i was quite disappointed! Most of the time I get the catalog I know there are going to be a few things in there that are quite edgy and too grungy for me, but this time EVERYTHING in there is uber grunge. Do we really have to go back there to that sad, sad, state of ratty clothes, drab colors, and look like we haven't showered in several weeks in order to be fashionable? Here are some of the looks from the catalog:

I sort of like the long cardigan here, but don't like how it looks like she's worn it five days in a row.

Yuck! Plaid!

I like some of the boots, but check out the girl in the meshy-whatever- top. ick.

oh, and to add to this as an afterthought, I just saw on fugly that MK Olsen is looking like a shower is in order:

Mama Mia!

2008-07-14T01:08:00.005-05:00

I don't know about you, but I am sick of hearing or seeing something about Mama Mia every time I turn on the TV or am on the Internet. That dang song gets into my head and I HATE it. Blech!

Shopping in bed

2008-07-14T00:47:00.007-05:00

I love online shopping. Well, I'd rather go to the store, but I obviously cannot at the moment. My mom and dad gave me a present today: 100 bones to shop online for whatever I want. Wanna see what I bought???

First thing: a new swimmie. Jeff and I went to Six Flags and walked around the waterpark in our skibbies and I was horrified at the feeling of nakedness in my bikini and just wanted to cover up... quickly. I thought this was very cute and reasonable.

This bag is from Target. I've had my eye on it for several months and then saw it online today for 8 BUCKS! Score!

This rug rocks! We could use a bigger one for the sunroom for when the doggies track in muddy-ness.

One red plate from UO. I know it sounds silly, but I am going to start collecting red plates for my kitchen because i've broken most of mine... mixing and matching means I won't have to worry about replacing the whole set!

From CB2 I got those teardrop hanging vases I showed pics of in a previous post, a new bathmat (exciting I know), and this cool planter on sale. (the green striped one)

There are more things like clothes, but if I went through everything you'd get bored fast.

I'm glad this has kept me a bit sane today since my sister and amazing friends all went to KC to see Feist. I had a ticket but ended up selling it to another friend so she could go in my place. They went to church today, ate at First Watch (a GREAT brunch spot), went shopping, and then saw Feist at the Starlight. I was really sad to miss out, but had the shopping to distract me which was nice. My mom came over for most of the afternoon too which was great. We had some great conversations and she did some of my housework for me, like sweep the ridiculous amounts of grass off my sidewalk and patio from when Jeff mowed yesterday.

Anyway, So far it seems like I'm inching my way to getting better, but I'm not nearly there yet. We timed how long I was able to be up today and I topped off at 13 minutes. Pretty exciting. It hurt like hell getting back into bed after that though.

7 days disabled and counting...

2008-07-12T15:26:00.005-05:00

Well, folks, this isn't healing fast. at all. Here are my updates in case you're interested:
1) The pain:
Its miserable. When I stand up and move around I can only do so for about 5 minutes then I have to get back in bed because my sciatica flares up and I can't walk. My left foot even goes numb. I've been going to PT every day this past week. I shower only every other day and have to get my sister or my husband to dress me.

2) PT: I love my physical therapist. She's such a fun girl (my hubbies' age) and is great to joke around with.

3) My family and friends: They've been amazing. AMAZING! I have visitors stop by every few hours to get me food and give me good conversation. I've felt so blessed by how each person I truly care about loves me and takes care of me in their own way...

which leads me to the supernatural part of this all. God is really using this to heal me mentally, which sounds sort of strange. I am felling "alive" for the first time in a long time... all I've had time to focus on is classes and homework and what needs to be done next, I've truly ignored myself, my needs, and most importantly the dependence I MUST have on God to be who he's truly made me to be. Through this experience I am having to trust Him SO MUCH (I had to drop two classes this month and probably push back my graduation date) and give up control on ALL things. I'm learning what a control freak I actually am and am having to give that up on just the simplest things like how my medication is arranged on the bed next to me. I'm seeing myself through this mirror of honesty that I haven't been able to use because of all the busy-ness and stress in my life... I am truly blessed, however funny it may sound, to be in this condition so that I can remember what its like to be dependent upon my God.

So there you have it. I for sure have not been this insightful every day while in this condition. There has been a lot of crying and pain and some depression, but I am trying to let go. Let go and let the cards fall where they may.

Oh, and PS, check out my facebook pics if you want to see some hilarity with me not being a showered, clean michelle. Its pretty funny.

New Beck Album

2008-07-11T01:00:00.004-05:00

Just got the new Beck Album for a b-day present for my dad... he loves my sister and my's taste in music, which is lots of fun. We get him a CD and right away are able to download them.

I have each of Beck's albums and am always so impressed with each one he puts out. I loved Guero and The Information in the last couple of years... this one, Modern Guilt, seems a bit more loose, grittier, and melower, and I'm loving it so far. Its nice to have some good new music to listen to when you can't move. Here's the cover, find it at your local CD Warehouse or purchase on ITUNES. can't tell you what songs are my faves at the moment, they sort of all run together. Enjoy!

still laying flat...

2008-07-10T12:59:00.011-05:00

Well, here I am, five days into my injury and still laying flat on my back in a lot of pain. Trying to stay positive. Trying to get out into the world through cyberspace and continue to call and talk to people. Its been a huge test of faith and my need to control everything-- I surely can't right now. Its hard to even get up to go to the bathroom. honestly, I'm starting to get depressed.

So, wanna see some cool stuff I've been looking at when I am bored and no one is around?

I got the new CB2 catalog in the mail yesterday, and although a lot of it is way modern for me, I like to so much of it! I am the type who wants to mix modern decor with old grandma-y stuff, so I thought some of it was way neat and am coveting a lot of it. I can't get some of the pics to come up on my blog, but you should check out the website and the new catalog.

These are some hanging vases I am coveting from CB2. On sale even, super cheap, but what a great idea! I think I may order a couple.

These plates I found are on sale at Pier 1. Not that I can run out and buy them or anything, but I thinking I want to start mixing and matching my dinner wear in reds and whites so these would be perfect.

I have been super into gardening this year and am really into doing anything that spruces up the yard. Isn't this little birdie house cute?

Another covet of mine: Tom's Shoes. Ever heard of them? Its an AMAIZING company with an amazing mission. I love these red polka dot shoes. Before I post the pic, I sort of have a beef with Tom's shoes, not the company, but my husband. I bought him some last year and they were too small, he NEVER returned them so I'm sure they're way beyond the point of being able to. They're still sitting in our utility room for whenever he feels up to calling them to figure it out. We'll see. But here is my fave:

Laying on your back for two days sucks

2008-07-07T21:52:00.003-05:00

So, no exciting updates-- just pain. I went to the doctor today who put me on steriods, vicatin, valium, and some other pain meds-- I start physical therapy tomorrow. If that stuff doesn't work then I guess I'll have to drop a class and get a MRI or something. I've been in a fairly good mood today, which is good. Gave my dad some b-day presents and my parents came over and brought me a good dinner. Winnie took care of me too, even helped me shower. Going to the doctor was the worst pain I've ever experienced and hopefully will ever experience. It was excrutiating. I was crying and wincing and screaming at some points b/c of the amazing amount of pain just getting up and walking and sitting in the wheelchair. I'm fine when I'm flat on my back, not fine any other way.

Anyway, pray for me. I'd really like to be able to stand up sometime soon without crying.

disabled

2008-07-06T19:36:00.002-05:00

So Jeff and I went to St. Louis this weekend to go to a Cubs/Cards game and catch some rides at Six Flags. Altogether it was a great little trip... nice to get away and enjoy some different things. I cant say I was entirely the best company for Jeff; however, because I was just so exhausted from these last two classes I've (almost) finished for the month of june. Its been so hellish to try to fit in 20 hours of class, 20 hours of work, 10 hours of grad assistant stuff, and on top of it all try to get all my assignments done on time and with an acceptable amount of work put into them. Its been really hard and very trying.

With that said, I have been having a hard time with my back lately. I think all the sitting I've been doing on top of bending over a lot to work on my garden has just done me in... so today I lifted a lawnmower and my back has completely given out. I can't move. I have gotten up a few times and each time the pain is excruciating. I am very very frustrated.

Anyway, i really don't have much else to say besides that... just a lot of frustration and exhaustion. Not doing so well today, folks.

BAHHHHH!!!!

2008-07-03T12:49:00.003-05:00

OK, so today is the last day of my two June session courses-- career development and research and statistics. It has been a very hellish 4 weeks but I am almost, almost there.... reaching, reaching, reaching-- ALMOST! Then I get 5 days (FIVE DAYS PEOPLE, that's more than i got between spring and summer session courses!) off before I start two more classes for four more weeks. grrrr. I can make it. Can you tell this is a pep-talk to myself?

Decor 8 design contest

2008-06-25T11:38:00.001-05:00

Mara Dockery, bff, has entered a contest on http://www.decor8.blogspot.com/
Go and vote for her (she's on the 2nd or third page and you'll see her name above the picture!) and enjoy!

Birthday-- fun? not fun? not sure

2008-06-25T09:41:00.003-05:00

So I had to go to class on my birthday... they're both super long equalling 7.5 hours... by 8 o'clock last night I was getting pissed. Didn't want to be there on my birthday. Didn't want to be there period.

But I have made some excellent friends. Actually, here they are: Krystina, (myself), Ashley, and Beth. We're getting through this madness together. thank god.

on another note-- Jenn got me the shirt that I'm wearing in the pic as well as the shoes, named "WINNIE brown" by Pink Studio for by present. Highlight of my day I believe was opening these puppies up. yey!

Tonight I am going to have a bbq with some friends and hopefully stay up to late and sit by a fire pit drinking margaritas. yummie. I'm no lush, but margaritas in the summer are just way to good to pass up!

Letting Go...

2008-06-23T17:18:00.003-05:00

So, last week I sorta broke down about the amount of chaos and stress that is in my life. I tallied up the amount of time I spend at work, at school, or working on assignments in the past two weeks and I think I am spending approximately 60-65 hours a week being busy. STRESSED busy.
So last Thursday I had a little moment of insanity. I got back a test from my Careers class and got a C on it, which really upset me. Then I figured it out: A C isn't so bad in Grad school when you're cramming a semester's worth of work into four weeks (and doing it in TWO classes at the same time). I resigned that I will probably make a B or a couple of B's this summer-- and that that's ok.
And man, do I feel better! I actually took a day off from any schoolwork on Saturday and went garage-sale shopping and worked on the garden. I am LOVING June so far! I planted tons of flowers and am starting to reap the benefits of some of the veggies we've planted... I love lightning bugs too, AND its my Birthday tomorrow. I've already got most of my assignments done for this week (thanks to not being so darn perfectionistic) and am going to soak the goodness of the summer in for the next couple of days. Well, at least while I'm not in class. :-)

postmodernism....

2008-06-19T18:15:00.002-05:00

oh here we go again... an evangel class talking abuot postmodernism...

design website junkie

2008-06-13T22:12:00.007-05:00

after surviving one of the most hellacious weeks I've ever had (god i love grad school) I decided to give myself a break tonight... Took a nap this afternoon/evening, ate like a pig, put my new duvet cover on my bed, (pictures to come!) and started sewing a blanket I am making out of the old quilt from anthropologie we had on our bed. I did this all while watching one of the prettiest movies ever-- marie antionette with kristen dunst and jason schwartzman.

Oh, also-- it was a freakin' monsoon outside today! I came home from work and had to park across the street because my driveway was impassible with water. The fenced in garden area was completely washed out too-- all the weed barrier was wiped away along with the mulch covering it. I waded around out there tonight to make a makeshift-creek to get the water to run to the ditch in front of the house. crazy.

To get back to my break though-- I have been laying on my couch this past hours parusing through endless design websites and admiring others' work. Thought I'd post some pretties for you to enjoy. so, enjoy!

Of course I started with design sponge (see link to right) and found tons of goodies! This is from a website called fawn&forest by a designer named "KLT works". My womb has been itching so I found this ADORABLE!

Lighting by Offi & Company:

Let me take this opportunity to say that when it comes this time of year I get really excited about looking at new things because its my birthday and I like to find off-the wall crazy stuff to ask for. This would go perfectly in my room:
found this on fawn&forest too... decoylab... from KC, MO!

Journal by Nantaka Joy off threepotatofourshop.com website

notebook on threepotatofour.com

art by bird nerd from viatmindesignshop.com

new duvet cover

2008-06-11T09:52:00.004-05:00

We finally picked out our new duvet cover at Ikea. The Swinks are sending it to us in the mail. I'm super excited... really like it:

In other news, Morris has been added to pet finder as a SWMOK9 adoptable dog. Made me sad to put him on there, but we really shouldn't have three dogs. One too many. The link is: http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=11048334

Flowers

2008-06-08T22:27:00.005-05:00

Oh how I love gardening. Each fall and spring I add about 50-100$ worth of additions to the flower beds and the landscaping process. I'm slightly obsessed. Today on a stress-relief run (huge paper due thursday, two new classes starting monday) I looked admiringly at all the pretty landscaping jobs at the houses around us.
These pics are of flowers bought at the springfield farmer's market on battlefield. I planted them yesterday in our bed in front of the house and am really hoping i can do as good of a job keeping them up as the farmers did. We'll see, i'm not amazing at it-that's for sure. And its a freakin' lotta work. But I love, love, love flowers...
Enjoy!

I've started on my new obsession this year too-- vegetable gardening. pictures of the process to come!

Renewed Interest in Design

2008-06-06T17:37:00.011-05:00

In the few moments I've had to bask in my in-between-classes glory (didn't last but like, 2 seconds, I was done with my final last night I started to work on a paper this morning) I've had some time to think about design. This was prompted by some bad behavior of two dogs-- mugshots below:

Morris- aka "new guy." Love him. needs a home though.

Lucy-- aka "first born."

The other night while Jeff and I were watching (and getting very excited) Obama give his awesome democratic nominee speech these two hooligans tore the quilt on top of the bed to shreds. I LOVED that thing. It was a gift from the Fowlers and Dockerys-- a quilt from Anthropologie that I basically designed our whole bedroom around. Since then I've been frantically looking for a replacement to much disappointment. I think I might have found two candidates that would work with our two primary goals: #1-Budget. #2-color scheme of orange, pink, purple, and cream. Here are the two candidates, both from Ikea. Votes?

Number one:

Number two:

In other news I took pictures of the house today. I have updated a few things here and there and wanted to share the goodness on my flickr site. Thought someone who stops by the blog might wanna take a gander as well. Enjoy!

white people

2008-06-02T14:38:00.007-05:00

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/full-list-of-stuff-white-people-like/

If you haven't been to the above website and laughed at your white self lately, you should. Its hilarious.

I went to Lawrence, KS this weekend for my sister-in-law's wedding and can't tell you how many things off this list I took part in. Indie Music, Whole Foods, recycling...

Sigh (of relief)

2008-05-29T11:05:00.004-05:00

Oh friends, I am so sorry. No one is ever going to read this anymore because I have been terrible-- TERRIBLE-- at keeping this site updated. I am truly sorry, more to myself.

Things have been good lately. Of course the weather is lovely this time of year, which means lots of backyard time with Jeff and the poochies. We aquired a new one a couple of weeks ago and are trying to find a home for him. We're calling him two names-- "new guy" and Morris. He's adorable, but three is a crowd, if you know what I mean. So, anyone want a dog?

Another part of this time of year-- Allergies. I've NEVER, NEVER, had them this bad except when I walk into a room where a cat is. For the past two weeks straight its been attack after attack of sneezing, itchy badness. I haven't been sleeping well its been so bad. (well, I don't sleep well anyway).

What else??? i'm enrolled in a class called Advanced Developmental Psychology. Its been a pretty good class. Challenging, yet interesting... makes me want to have babies. Seriously. Of course its not feesable until next year when I'm done with school, but my womb has started itching.

Another interesting tidbit-- I am addicted to Scramble on Facebook. Its a game you can play against your friends. I have about 7 games going each day and spend the last 20 minutes of my waking hours playing... you should play too.

K, think that's about it. I miss people. I miss being involved. I think I am going to read blogs for the next 30 minutes or so to keep up. yey.

where I've been...

2008-04-22T21:07:00.003-05:00

honestly? mostly buried in school work and trying to de-stress myself. Work has been crazy-- although I managed to make a program last for Burrell and I'm thrilled about that success, I'm working my tail off to make it work and am exhausted from that and all the homework I do each night.
I think I've done a pretty good job, of not wigging-out that is, but mostly my time consists these days of doing homework. The past few weekends I was involved in getting my good friend Kesha through her wedding. (showers, bachelorette, wedding weekend took up lots of time.)
Also, our house went through some major stress this past month with the flooding we've had. I'll let the attached pictures below do the talking:

One of the trees in our front yard decided to fall over. It ended up being a good thing, but sorta crazy. Here are the workers sawing it up in the street where it fell.

This is me crouching in the giant hole where the tree use to be.

Here are the worms Jeff and I picked up OUT OF OUR HOUSE when it rained all night and flash-flooded our area. Yes, we had WORMS IN OUR HOUSE--- on the carpet, in the sunroom, in the laundry room, in the kitchen... EVERYWHERE. ewh.

More fun stuff...

Here is a pic of the "bachelorettes" kidnapping Kesha for her party. It was great-- she married a cop so kidnapping her was perfect.

Here are some of the bridesmaids for the wedding--- I would post more pics but am too lazy. Look at my facebook if you're interested in more.

my yard is a lake

2008-03-18T23:35:00.004-05:00

How did my yard turn into a lake?
I am sitting by the window watching the sup pump pump out the massive amounts of water laying dormant under my house. My good friend Todd brought it over tonight to help us out. I am wondering if my car that is sitting by the end of the hose is going to be washed away because there is so much water spuing out (and there is so much more to go). I am wondering just how long it is going to take until our house floats away on top of this river the rain is creating in my yard.
I am thankful, however, of the large amounts of mice that have been drowned under my house.

grandma

2008-03-14T16:18:00.003-05:00

So last Monday my grandma passed away. She had been battling pulmonary fibrosis for 6 years and finally went to heaven. Its been a long week consequentially. I went up to KC to see her on Sunday and have been there until last night. Now that I am home its been nice to just sit and be alone a bit. Right after I walked in the door last night I began a cleaning spurt that has lasted into this afternoon. I vacuumed, did laundry, cleaned the bathroom... Today I did some yardwork with a side of playing with the dogs, and I caught two snakes. (I really like snakes).
Anyway, that is a whole lot of rambling to say I'm not sure how I am feeling about everything and at the moment have just been staying busy. I plan on sitting down with my journal and bible soon to reflect on Eileen's life. Maybe I'll post some of it when I can.

sleep

2008-03-08T13:15:00.003-06:00

I can't do anything but sleep these days. I think its the weather. My hypothesis is that when the temperature starts being in the 60's the normal things that motivate me-- wearing a new outfit, seeing flowers outside, sunshine, music-- will kick in and I will be able to wake up at a decent hour to just, well, be. Lately I can't seem to make myself do anything productive before noon. Its starting to affect the way I feel about myself, but I just can't seem to drag myself out of it either. Boo.

Weekend of Wedding Bliss

2008-02-24T23:28:00.005-06:00

Ahhh... the wedding. A wonderful weekend of fun if you're in the wedding and know a lot of people, or a frightening long and boring event if you know only the bride and groom. This weekend Jeff and I fell on the fun side of things at Jeff Jenkins and Leah Hamilton's wedding.

First of all, lets give credit where credit is due: they met at Jeff and I's wedding. I introduced them. Leah was playing piano for the ceremony and Jeff was our usher. I even snapped a picture of their second encounter at the skinny show the boys put on for Jeff and I the night before the wedding.

Highlights from the weekend:
1) Getting to spend time with two of my favorite people, Joe and Jannah Swink. We had the privilege of hanging out with them every day from Wednesday night until today (Sunday) and even had them stay the night the last two nights. I can't tell you how many times Jeff and I talked about how lucky we were to have them living up the street before they moved to DC.

2) Talking to several of my old high school friends in the bathroom of the skinny during the reception. I was good friends with Leah in high school so of course there were a star-studded aray of old friends at the event. It was great to catch up on everyone's lives. And what more fitting of a place than a giant bathroom lobby area?

3) Spilling the beans about a secret I shouldn't have spilled after having a couple of drinks.

4) Being complimented by a friend of a friend on my wearing of "shortie boots the right way." She's a fashionista who lives in Chicago.

5) Crying a ton during my Jeff's (best-man what what!) speech. He spoke so well of all the wonderful qualities Jeff and Leah have, and looked so darn good doing it in his tux.

6) Cutting the cake with my best friends.

7) Talking to Yakov Smirnof and his two kids, Natalee and Alexander, while waiting the in buffett line.

8) Eating Bijans catering and good yummy cake.

Pictures to come soon!