Radiating Engergetic Florals and Sandalwood No More

So last night - or rather, very early this morning, I suppose - I wrote a lovely post for you all. It was about how my room has recently been repainted (remember that resolution? Ta da! Or, well, it will be "ta da" for all of you once I clean up enough to get photos posted), and how much of a process it was taking the room apart and putting it back together again. Actually, the process is still going on, as about 50% of stuff is still lying (laying?) in an burdenous pile on my sister's floor.

I have acquired a lot of crap over the years.

I wrote one of those awful, nostalgic posts about the memories and time-traveling feelings all of the items in my room held for me, including such gems as "With a spray of an aging bottle of Tommy Girl it was like 10th grade washed all over me again," and "My stomach knotted at the thought of my 8th grade English teacher who I majorly crushed on and still occasionally think about in, erm, adult ways."

AHEM. Anyway.

Then Blogger crashed on me and with a click of "publish now" my post was gone. Which explains this cheapened post you're all reading now. But, actually, I think that's okay. No one needs to read a post about how many photos of friends turned frenemies I have or how many Field Day participation medals I've acquired. No one needs to know "how far I've come."

With my cool teal walls and my big white desk and bookshelf full of books and not toys, I'm feeling more adult (even if being adult means staring at your e-mail all day long waiting for any news, ANY NEWS AT ALL.). And the Tommy Girl is in the trash.

Featured Crafter: KimArt

Earlier this week, I frequented a college-town Starbucks. Like other Starbucks near universities I've found myself at in the past, some local student-done art was featured on the walls. I took note of one artist, KimArt (as she goes by), who had some colorful paintings I admired. Smartly, she also features and sells her work on Etsy. Remarkably, I remembered to look for the shop when I returned home that evening, and was I ever delighted! Not only does Kim sell her paintings and paper crafts, but she also makes these really lovely headbands and hair clips. She crafts all of the flowers herself! SO much more unique than a sparkly applique simply hot-glued on a black band (seriously, as my headband-connoisseur sister recently figured out, many of these crafters all use the same easy-to-find designs and mega-markup the price).

Love this sunny clip, too:

*this is not a sponsored post

Things to Do in 2010

1. Learn to knit. (Because aren't these so colorful and pretty?)
2. Run a 5K. (I was about to type "half marathon," but let's be serious.)
3. Improve my yoga practice.
4. Add more interviews and insider-y finds to this blog (I know, I've been talking about this all along).
5. Eat out less, buy locally and cook in more. (I mean, geeze, I have all these books).
6. Craft a necklace I'd like to wear. At least one.
7. Visit and buy something (perhaps for my crafty necklace) from M&J Trimming.
8. Grow a little herb garden.
9. Build the desk I bought from Ikea and paint my room (Hopefully soon! Note the eternal paint chips).
10. Make at least one new real and true friend.
11. Keep in touch with someone I don't see very often at least once a month.
12. Wake up by 9 AM on the weekends (Or, okay, at least most weekends).
13. Take books out of the library (They're free!).
14. Go ice skating.
15. Travel to a new state (International travel will, alas, not likely be within the budget this year. Unless I throw in the towel on this whole job-hunt thing altogether and go to Australia).
16. Take more photographs to show you all!
17. Give up the sugar (and especially the Splenda) in my coffee. (Thanks for the inspiration, Finslippy!)
18. Host a party.
19. Pitch and write something again. Lately, my creative energies have been directed in a more practical way (if you count checking job boards every hour practical - damn! I wasn't going to mention getting a job on this positive post!).
20. Dance more. Definitely dance more.

I think that sounds doable.





(Image via Ralph Hockens)

San Diego Photo Journal: The Food

Everyone's favorite part of vacation! The eats! In short, yes the fish tacos and the Mexican food are what everyone says. Plus (as in most major cities these days) there are delicious cupcakes. But perhaps avoid the too-hip-for-us-anyway, super-salty Asian-fusion. Highlights from the Gaslamp District below, which - as we didn't have a car - was where we ate most of our meals.

Oh, and hmm, happy new year!

Fish facos at The Tin Fish

Cuties at Heavenly Cupcake

The Cheese Shop

More red velvet at Coronado Cupcakery

Mexican dinner at La Puerta (and then drinks next door - the name unfortunately escapes me.)