Welcome Back, Winter, Once Again

Hello, December..I can now officially listen to Christmas music and other wintery themed songs, such as Owl City's 'The Tip of the Iceberg'. Our Christmas tree went up today..I must say, we come up with some pretty great themes for beauteous trees. Haven't really delved into the Christmas movies yet......there's still time, and I will share all of my favorites with you!

In other news, I've been babysitting a wonderful little girl, who is only 10 months old, but can walk already..I only take care of her for four hours at a time, but it certainly takes some energy out of me..some? I mean, a lot.

Isn't she a sweetheart? Who knew I'd be taking care of my old high school art teacher's daughter..

Christmasy stuff coming soon..

And So I Thank The Lord..

This short little movie always inspires me on Thanksgiving.. Johnny Appleseed! So pleeease watch and enjoy :D

Today I am thankful for..family, friends (best, old, and new..), pumpkins, turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, all of those three mixed together, coffee, cousins, Ephraim, leaves, my car, art, music, pintrest.com, Turner Classic Movies, and everything God has blessed me with..so so much. Thank youuu!

Everything Is Shipshore..

I think I may have discovered something that may be my new favorite thing:

http://pinterest.com/

I don't really get how I get 'invited'..but as long as I get to see the pretty pictures and discover where they come from and can save the pictures to my computer..I'm game.

Examples:

and my favorite..

oh, and..

Cause If You're Not Laughing, Who Is Laughing Now?

Between having a flat tire last week and getting a new one, having to replace my glasses' lenses twice so far, the 'conveniences' of life haven't been so kind to me lately. One note: Don't buy glasses from Wal-Mart..my lenses have been getting spots on them/in them that are impossible to remove. We'll see how this pair lasts..

In happiness, I visited a pumpkin patch and went trick-or-treating with my nephew..here are the rather enjoyable pictures:

There he is, my little Pooh..

I hide leaves in magazines and books (so they can dry flat)..I found this one in a magazine..

Those big, pale orange ones in the front are my new favorite pumpkins..

But I can't forget about the beauty of a classic pumpkin..

The Calm Rational Voice Is Not Always Accepted..

Yesterday, I went to the art show opening for 'International Experience'..what is that, you ask? It's the collective works of the Dean's Scholars, pieces from our trips abroad. Here's my contribution to the show:

It was nice to see some great friends. There's some sweetness to the relationships built with people you've gone to your first foreign country with..they protected you, supported you, and experienced some crazy things with you.

All in all, I had an 'eh..lame' feeling at the show. It was sort of anti-climactic..I planned to stay the whole hour, but was ready to leave in 30 minutes. Everyone else was just ready to get back to their homework or projects..but I finally got to experience the blues of visiting my home of four stressful yet amazing years. Glad that's out of the way..

There's nothing like this time of year, though. I was raving to my friend about all of the 'free' art there is around..leaves, I mean. The colors are just unmatchable. Colorful leaves are the inspiration for my paintings right now..not sure how long that obsession will last, but it's so festive right now.

Wanna see my carved pumpkin? Not as clever as my 'Pumpkin' pumpkin of last year, but still lovely:

Thanks to Martha Stewart for refreshing my memory on pumpkin carving techniques. She inspired me to carve out the bottom..

More Halloween festivities to come!

It's All About The Food..

Since turning twenty-three today, I have discovered that older birthdays are all about the food. I've discussed this with my friends who are older, and they concur. Last night, I made broccoli balls, blew out a candle on a red velvet whoopie pie, and shared a brand new bag of salt & vinegar chips with my best friend, who also promised to get me some fried pickles when we go out sometime. Today, the day was planned around a grand breakfast, a sweet & salty hot chocolate at Starbucks, a delicioso dinner at our local Roman Delight, and a homemade dessert just to put our stomachs at bursting point.

In other birthday delights, I got to talk to four of my best friends on the cellular phone..can't thank them enough for being in my life. Aren't friends devine? Facebook birthdays are the best. I like to show my appreciation to everyone by responding to every wall post..tiresome, but it must be done. Joy must be shared. All in all, a superb day with my family..they love me and I love them.

Some happy coincidences..last night, on the eve of my birthday, I was continuing to work through the fifth season of I Love Lucy, and I just happened to come upon the episode where Lucy and Ricky miss Little Ricky's birthday because they are away in Italy..a little Italian boy claims to Lucy, "She's-a her-a birth-a-day too!" Today's free download from Starbucks is a song by Kings of Leon called..'Birthday'. Huh. Isn't God great?

But the birthday fun isn't over yet. I guess it is just general fun..but..tomorrow, I get to have movie night with friends and listen to my favorite radio show. Thursday will be dinner with a best friend. Saturday will be time with aunt/cousins/etc. Next Tuesday will be lunch with a best friend.

Life is grand. And it only gets better with age.

Oh, That I Would Wear These Shoes..

Comfort? Possibly..more than those high heels I tried to wear this morning. Style? Most definitely. Came upon these little beauties as I was shopping the Keds website, seeing if I could use the $10 off $50 coupon. Ehh, I'd rather randomly come upon them in a store like Marshall's or TJMaxx and gasp, 'I must have these!'

To add beauty to this blog post, I give you this:

'But a much more important recipe. I have learned how to live, how to be in the world and of the world. And not just to stand aside and watch. And I will never, never again run away from life, or from love either.' -Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina

How Do You Pronounce 'Either'?..

I pronounce 'either' just like Audrey Hepburn, as seen here in 'Sabrina'. My friends seem to notice how peculiar it sounds..I think it makes me unique and a bit debonair, in a girly sort of way.

Problem Solved?..

The nearest Levi's store to me is in King of Prussia. I desperately want to try their new Levi's Curve ID jeans, which are separated into Slight, Demi, and Bold Curve (based on the size of your butt), and come in a variety of styles, like skinny, skinny boot, and boot. Could this be the answer to my jean fit prayers?!

Visit the site, take the quiz, and find out if you're as eager to try these as I am..

An Experience..

If you step into an Anthropologie store, or just visit their website, you have just experienced a piece of me..the style, creativity, and cleverness is joy personified. Soon, I will own these (once my birthday comes next week..):

A dream fulfillment for me would be to work in one of these stores. (They're having open interviews in October! hmm..) Three great things about the employees:

1. They address you by name, once you try something on, and they write your name outside your door..and later on, will ask, 'How did it go, Heidi?'

2. They prepare a fitting room for you, if they see you holding a boat load of goodies..

3. They are calmly nice..meaning, they don't scream 'HELLO, HOW ARE YOU?!' just so they can fill their quota. Instead, they nonchalantly ask, 'Hey, how's it going?', as you're having your Anthropologie experience..

Recommended..sign up for the Anthro card. You get a 15% off coupon for your birthday in an unbelievably cute mailing..aaand I think there are other benefits I have yet to discover..

Honk If You Love Peace & Quiet..

Adam Young of Owl City has let us fans know that he is having an Autumn Sale of moichandise..here are a few of my favorites:

Finally, a band tee that I actually want to wear..the V-neck makes it so breathable. Oh, and the leaves totally hit the spot..

This..this I don't understand..but, yes..hmm..

These are just beyond clever..gahhhhh. Take time to really read them, and prepare to slap your knee..

Hardware Store

This is, so far, the best interactive delight I've seen from Anthropologie..click here and have fun picking out your own knobs and handles for your furniture..

Got to visit with Maggie Rose today..we are a pair of kooks.

First Birthday Gift..

You should have seen my face this morning as I opened this little beauty..

There are no words to describe how much I love this store..well, no words that I am clever enough to think of right now..

Lady's Choice..

Perfectly proper all-weather cover..clever! I could possibly wear this every day, with everything..aaand not get bored.

A deep deep flood, an ocean flows from You..

And what will I be able to do tomorrow that I cannot yet do today?

Now that I am no longer in school, I have found so much time to do just about..anything. So far, just this week, I have:

Visited friends I haven't seen in about a month, and one I haven't seen in two and a half months.

Been to the eye doctor.

Ordered a new pair of glasses.

Received those new pair of glasses.

Visited the dentist.

Filled out substitute forms for three different school districts.

Learned how to properly 'drive' a golf ball.

Paid for FBI fingerprinting.

Printed my fingerprints.

Set up a doctor's appointment for a TB test and the completion of three physical forms for teaching.

It's all good..and it feels good too.

'And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.'

Is this the way to the Buzz Lightyear?

This was a very eager to work boy on Main Street..he was helping to direct traffic, 'All the way down, please..no stopping, please!'
This little cowboy sat in the bakery, wearing his oversized hat.
And someday, I will be able to stay in this resort..sigh.

They're busiest on Mondays..

Did you ever see such a thing? A very talented balloon..ist made this in CiCi's. It's fun to make her fly..

God must've been working on this beauty all day..

Tronorail..

Sunshine of the day (even though it was raining..) was this cute little girl carrying her own, little umbrella around the Disney Marketplace. Thanks, little girl..

Hmm..the cloud of the day (which was really just disappointment in human beings..) was this woman, who made her dinner reservations while riding Living With The Land. No thanks, chatty woman..

And, props to me today! I saw this beauty of a monorail, which I have named the..wait for it..TRONorail! Ha, hahahaahaha, haaaa...did you already see that in the title? Gah, I gave it away..

Oh, maaaan...

It's almost been a whole week since my first post. Gotta keep up with this better.. Uhh, future posts will be about my adventures in Walt Disney World. Are you excited? I thought so!

Cloud: Crowds.

Sunshine: Sunshines peeking through the clouds. Oh, and Disney World.

Natural character..

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is right down the street from my church. Dad and I drove up the hill right near our cemetary and tried to see if there was any visual of the work sight there. I saw the potential for having spectators drive up there if it was a good spot to see any famous people, and we could casually put a donation bucket up there. Alas, you couldn't see a thing. "The church is in the way." Ha. It's still way cool that they're so close..who knew? Well, we had some guesses..

Cloud: Invasive dancers.

Sunshine: Dancing. Stories.

It will be exactly how He wants it to be..

I'm not sure how long this will last, but I figure..if I like reading blogs so much, I might as well give back.

Hello Blog,

It's certainly nice to meet you.

Cloud: Printers.

Sunshine: Lunch with friend. Sky Sailing. Dinner with friends. Laughing so hard your shoulders hurt.