love, lindsey kaye

Gold Mine

2011-09-09T11:04:00.000-04:00

The past month has been a blur!

I've been out of town for three of the past four weekends now and I am so glad to be home. It was all wonderful fun; family and sun all over Florida.

One of those weekends was spent down in Tequesta with my dear friend Megan. The show, Next Wave, was a hit and the opening night party was packed with guests. I met some superb new artists and re-met another Gainesville local who happened to win best in show!

The best part of those three days though, aside from just hanging out and catching up with Megan, was driving to the Lighthouse Art Center classrooms and packing my car full to the brim with enamel and supplies.

This isn't even all of the boxes full of enamels gifted to me by Megan and the art center. The family of a local enamelist donated every last bit of her studio to the center when she died, but her supplies were older and every last one of her enamels is leaded. This meant that keeping them at a children's art school wasn't an option, but having them at my house is just fine!

This is the new kiln. I'm pretty sure my old one can fit inside the chamber of this one.

I'm excited to get working, even if I now have to fire outside on our screened porch. See, the old-school kiln requires a 240v outlet, which we have for our dryer on the porch. The leaded enamels also carry a bit of a risk as far as our pets are concerned. I can wear a mask and wash my hands, but they can't avoid getting the fine residue dust on their feet and fur ingesting it when they groom.

So, now I wait for the heat to dial it back a few notches. Working outside at a 1500 degree kiln when it's already 100+ outside isn't very motivating. I think for now I'll try to organize and catalog the couple hundred jars of enamel that are sitting in my spare bedroom, dreaming while I do of all the new creations they'll create.

Next Wave

2011-06-06T13:40:00.000-04:00

My sweet friend Megan moved back home to South Florida after college here at UF a few years ago. She landed the perfect job for her not long after that and has become the Assistant Director of Education at the lovely Lighthouse Art Center, a gallery and school located in her home town of Tequesta.

'Galaxy' dish in blue

Recently Megan sent me the call-to-artists information for a new show that will open at the end of June that features artists under 35. I stalled on it since we were headed to the big cities (Boston and NYC) on vacation just a couple days later. When I returned, I was surprised to find out that the deadline for submission was two days later and got myself in gear to photograph the pieces I planned on submitting. Well, good thing I wasn't relying on creating new work for the show because I would have never had the time, and then would have never had the opportunity to be a part of this exciting exhibit.
The board of directors quickly made their decisions and I was officially notified that all three of my submitted pieces were accepted! The large galaxy dish, sea glass pendant, and sand dollar pendant will be on display from June 24 through September 1.

Collin and I are making the drive down for a two-day stop so that we can visit with Megan and also attend the opening reception for the show on the 24th. The night boasts a micro-brew tasting and an awards ceremony for the artwork in the show. It's been a long, long time since my work was exhibited in a gallery and even longer since I submitted it to a juried show with the potential for an award. I'll be crossing my fingers they fall in love with one of them and that I can go home with a new feather for my cap.

Big Red

2011-05-13T17:55:00.000-04:00

Sold!
Thanks Amber!

An Atomic Holiday 2011

2011-05-02T10:09:00.000-04:00

Last year's Atomic Holiday Bazaar was a blast and I am flattered to have been accepted once again into Sarasota's finest indie craft fair!
Adrian Lucas is the lady behind the scenes and she's fine company to be in with this crowd. She puts in tremendous effort every year to make this event happen and when she announced applications would become available mid April I was mo-ti-vated!

I spent a few afternoons taking photographs of items that didn't sell at last year's shows (I know, major slacking right?) and listing items in my etsy shop and linking to them through Facebook. Then, I sent off my application and hoped that I made a good enough impression last year for her to have me back.

Well what do you know? I did!

(source)

I'll be starting to work earlier than I did last year (hello stressball) and will hopefully be able to crank out lots of inventory to keep my shop and my shows full through the end of 2011. I have a big order list to fill with raw copper shapes, enamels, and tools I need to make sure I have plenty of supplies for the season.

I'm excited to get started soon and I'm even more excited that the room I enamel in this time, has its own air conditioner. So, in my spare time you'll probably be able to find me working at the kiln, AC on 65.

Pink Elephants on Parade

2011-04-30T15:53:00.000-04:00

Collin's sister Meggan posted this photo on my facebook page today and I had to share it. I made this custom necklace for her as a Christmas gift and I'm thrilled she is smitten with it. I never took the time (had the time/made the time/was so busy I cried) to photograph it before I sent it off to her but it was definitely one of my favorite animal necklaces I've made.

The inspiration came from the pink elephants of the Disney classic Dumbo. The mix of stripes and dots were really fun to put together, and making custom items for someone who can't find what they're looking for anywhere else is so satisfying.

Happy St. Paddy's Day

2011-03-17T10:44:00.002-04:00

We'll be spending the day hosting friends for Irish deliciousness and beer cocktails. It's the third annual Teague/McLeod St. Patrick's Day Potluck (has it been three years already?) Check out the party from 2009 and forgive me for being such a slacker last year in 2010, where I didn't take photos.

On the menu this time is guinness slow-cooked brisket, scalloped potatoes, roasted carrots, steamed cabbage with vinegars, and herb bread with Irish butter and herbed cheese. I know friends will be bringing carbomb cupcakes, banoffee pie, colcannon, and lots of beer.

Sláinte my friends!
May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.

Retro Bold

2011-03-09T09:31:00.001-05:00

The matching peace dove necklace sold at the last minute of the Atomic Holiday Bazaar this past year. One of my favorites, I was just a little sad to see it go.

Although, I do still have these fun and funky earrings for sale now at the etsy shop! I'll be sad to see them go too - good thing I can make more!

Valentine's Love

2011-02-12T11:51:00.003-05:00

Sold!
Thanks, Catherine!

It's a New Day.

2011-01-04T11:06:00.002-05:00

source

It's a new Year.

December flew right by and left in its wake a mess of stress, plenty of tears, more fun than I can handle, and precious time with family and friends.
Then just when you're starting to get into it, they're gone.

After GLAM in Gainesville, we traveled down to SRQ for the Atomic Holiday Bazaar. It was fun and profitable (even if not as much as GLAM) and I was so happy to share my craft with our loved ones in the area. I don't know if it would have even been a money making situation if not for so many wonderfully supportive family friends who came down and purchased gifts for the holidays. Lessons were learned and the biggest was that stress does not help anything, and that even if not 100% done to my satisfaction things will turn out great. What matters is your attitude and your grace.
Then we came back to Gainesville for another couple weeks where work ramped up (as usual) and the obligations of the holidays hit me. I worried, worked too late, didn't eat enough and came home exhausted every day. Next xmas, it will be different. I realize now that I just have to have no shame in starting projects far in advance and be strong in saying 'no' when I need a break.
We made it through though, and traveled down to SRQ again just in time for Festivus and Christmas. Friday to Sunday were blocked solidly by family. By the end of it all we were both really really tired of talking about our jobs (which we did with everyone at Thanksgiving, when we were down for GLAM, and then again at Christmas!) and when Collin is going to do grad school. Ask him enough and he won't, okay? But Monday and Tuesday relaxation, friends, and hanging out recharged our batteries enough to get home, work one day and then enjoy our New Year's.

We invited friends over to celebrate with way too much tasty food, champagne punch, beers, and fun. Some came over and hung out while others were no-shows and still more were out of town. I was a little disappointed that so few people came, but those who did had fun and I got to end the night watching 200 Cigarettes on TV in my pj's. We were even able to break out the leftovers during the football game (which we won!) on Saturday.
Good times.

And now another year is over, and the new one begun. I've made a few resolutions that are casual and constant (budgeting/saving, eating more healthfully, walking the dog) and a few that are bigger and more unfamiliar (eating lunch every day, drinking more water, reducing stress and my reactions to stress, cutting back on bad habits around June). Many of my tasks on the life list are not yet done and I am certain that by September when my 1001 days are up won't be finished either. Can I edit it this late in the game?? Maybe I'll outline the new resolutions later, maybe I'll keep them to myself as to reduce the pressure. Maybe we have a big resolution/goal that the two of us want to accomplish in the Fall that we're not ready to tell people about yet.

Either way,
Cheers to 2011

Photo Bomb

2010-12-09T23:26:00.001-05:00

Time is flying.
This is my most frequent complaint. This way that my perception of time continues to increase in speed over time.
I don't think there's any way to keep it from happening. But, I can continue to enjoy all those minutes like I have been recently. Here's a photo post to say "What's up?".

This is Jobin. He's called Baby right now but he will be coming home with me after the holidays to live at his new warm forever home. He's one of the five lab cats we have been fostering for the past few years at work. With an impending move coming early next year, we're all slowly taking these guys home. Jobin was the first who came to hang out with us, and he's awesome.

Babies on the couch by the christmas tree. Scenes like this are why I love to put our tree up right after Thanksgiving.

Fall trees, they're turning to winter now. Gainesville stays pretty green all year around, but there is a delightful mix of trees here in North Florida. Some of which burn orange and yellow and red until they fall and blow away.

GLAM was a total blast this year. I wish I had the forethought to take more photos that day but I'm happy to say it was because I was so busy! There were shoppers lined up around the building for our opening and I met so many wonderful local art lovers. Our community so fully embraces the entrepreneur and it's wonderful to have been included among such talented peers. I definitely intend to dedicate a post to the sweet sweet stuff I grabbed either by purchase or trade.

Tomorrow we drive down to Sarasota to work at the Atomic Holiday Bazaar on Saturday and spend some much needed time with family and friends. Early is staying at Camp Gabe and Jenn with her buddy Foster. I'm hoping to eat my favorite food, make new friends, see old favorites, and sprint through this final stretch.

Weekend FTW

2010-10-26T11:35:00.000-04:00

I posted this photo of new copper hoop earrings on my facebook page last Thursday night and by Friday afternoon they were sold to my friend in Jacksonville.

Now that's a good sign!

I didn't quite work as much as I planned (aka every day) this past weekend but when Monday came I looked back and felt great. Actually, I felt great Sunday night after getting to bed at 1045, realizing that I accomplished everything I set out to do including taking a nap. It was shorter than I wanted, but it was a nap dammit. A good one.

I got home early from work on Friday and started running a computer clean-up protocol that was desperately needed. I still have a couple steps to finish but our home computer is already working so much better. Saturday morning in fact, Collin was able to stream some live soccer and he said it probably wouldn't have been possible had I not cleaned off so much junk the night before. Friday night I also went to dinner with Laura and Cindy for ladies night at The Top. Can I just ask why everyone is getting rid of their damn portobello sandwiches? It's my go-to favorite thing on so many menus and I am having to switch it up constantly now. Come on. I will say I like the addition of fried pickles to the appetizer selections. Always good. Always. I saw Jay working, said hi, and got us some stiffer drinks than usual to start off the night because Collin was super amazing and offered to drive us and pick us up. The benefits of having a husband spending the night in watching soccer and a friend behind the bar. So, instead of enameling when I got home I just hung out with Collin and we went to bed early.
Saturday we lazed around in bed as long as possible before I got up and went out to work. I also wanted to go to the mall and see if I could find a few things for the both of us. Our closets are sad. Well, my closet is sad and his selection of work shirts is small. Anyway I walked around forever and came home with 3 v-neck t-shirts in various colors and patterns. I am so typical. Someday, I will buy something else, I swear. I also drove out to Fresh Market to get a few pumpkins because they were half the price there as any other grocery store in town. Then I stopped in to Publix for my weekly trip. While I was out, Collin kept watching football (not soccer) and cleaned the house. Did I mention how awesome my husband is? He swept and mopped the house, cleaned the stovetop, cleaned the bathroom, and washed our sheets. BAM! By the time I got home I was exhausted and just really really wanted to take that nap. Too bad our friend Jon was headed over to watch the Bama/LSU game that felt like it was lasting forever. By the time it ended, I couldn't justify a nap so I made dinner and hung out at home with Collin until I could go to sleep early.
Sunday I woke up late, after 12 hours of glorious sleep. I made us a quick breakfast while we puttered around and then I made cookies (half of which I burned) to take over to Laura's house for pumpkin carving and snacks. I carved Jack Skellington into mine. Collin carved Lionel Richie. Good times, happy pumpkins. I just hope they won't rot before Halloween like they did last year. With daytime temps in the high 80's all week, I have little hope. Finally I came home and took a nap. No really, we walked in the door and I took off my shoes and got into bed. We were expecting Gabe and Jenn for dinner and TV watching at 5, and it was 4pm. I had well over half an hour for some delicious daytime sleeping and that's just what I did. Then I got up, made another quick dinner and had fun with our friends until about 7. Then I started enameling, popping in and out of the living room to hang out here and there. I managed to fire 8 pieces even while hanging out. Not as many as I hoped for the whole weekend but some is always better than none.
Satisfied.

Next weekend is The Fest so my brother and many friends will be in town rocking out. I won't see them much but plan on being brunch hostess to all - come cure your hangover with my bacon. After the cooking, back to more enameling work. This time, I mean it. But I won't be too sad if I get less done than my lofty goals planned.

Busy Lady

2010-10-21T08:52:00.000-04:00

Lots of time spent on Love, Lindsey Kaye this week so far. I am getting more and more excited for the shows coming up!
I even spent some time on the computer last night finally making a new banner and avatar for my Etsy shop and re-opening it back from vacation mode. And I thought I would have it back and running at the end of August. Hah!

Sunday and Monday evenings I spent working at the kiln. Somehow I managed to fire more than 20 pieces in just two sessions of a couple hours each. Enameling is not a quick process, but I'm getting more efficient. I think my design and craft are getting cleaner too; something I've striven for in this medium.

Check out the slick lighting on that necklace, eh? I invested a little money in a simple lightbox and lamp set I found (surprisingly) on ThinkGeek.com. Lucky absolutely destroyed the homemade version I rigged up with a cardboard box and tissue paper. It did it's job for a while but wasn't really what I needed anyway. This one folds down into a neat little tiny pack, including the lights. I think I might stop in at Michael's craft store sometime this weekend to get a few more background patterns, too. I have lots of paper but so much is just too busy for a project like this. Better saved for handmade cards and goodies.

More to come soon; I have tiny hearts, blossom necklaces, copper hoop earrings, sterling pendants, and a menagerie of animals still to do. I'm happy that our social life is still full but much more quiet. Prioritizing this time to work has energized me for more!

Keeping Up

2010-10-07T12:25:00.000-04:00

If I have learned one thing about myself as an adult, it's that things are rarely as bad as they seem before you actually get started.
As a child, I hated imperfection. A general term, but one nonetheless that could encompass whatever I thought was 'wrong' with something. Perfect to me meant arriving somewhere on time, dressed appropriately and prepared. If I was going to be late to dance class, I would rather just skip it. If I could get there on time but wasn't prepared or dressed (or whatever) properly, again I'd rather not go at all. My fears were in the faces of those who would notice. Notice that something had messed up the plan somewhere along the line and that I couldn't keep up with what I felt were my responsibilities. Fast forward to college and it continued. Woke up late for class; a 'normal' person might throw on sweat pants, forgo the makeup and get there a few minutes late because what mattered was getting there for the lesson. I, would curl into a ball and imagine the hundreds of faces watching me slink to the back of the room as I interrupted the lecture with my crazy ponytail attempt to cover up bedhead.
Therapy for my OCD helped me transition through these feelings to the place I am now. I might not arrive exactly on time and I might not look perfect, but I can find a comfortable medium for myself. I'm no longer paralyzed by a fear of 'imperfection' like I once was. Today I know it's never all-or-nothing. Rarely are there cases where it would be best for me to just stay home instead of being a few minutes late. I am thankful to have had the help I did in understanding this.

Sometimes I look back and can't believe how much more a relaxed person I am now than I was just over 5 years ago.

Recently I have started planning out the work I'll need to do in order to build my inventory for GLAM and Atomic Holiday Bazaar. All lumped together it's incredibly overwhelming. When I break it down though, I can see there is a reasonable amount of work but that it's not impossible.
Not so impossible seeming that I feel like I should just quit, like I should just not waste my time starting because I won't be able to finish everything as 'perfectly' as I want.
All I have to do is work at it, slowly, and enough will get done so that I feel accomplished. So that I will feel competent and that I have put forth enough energy.

Last week I did enamel on Monday night like I swore to myself I would. I finished 5 small teardrop pendants and they're ready for assembly once I drill the metal flowers. This Monday, I let myself off the hook because I wanted to relax with Collin on our anniversary. Tuesday we wanted to take Early on a long walk so that we could wear her out before trying to endure the hell that is clipping her nails. Last night we were dog-sitting for a friend and I didn't think that I could concentrate and maneuver around two big happy dogs while working. Tonight is my favorite TV night. One night after another of potential work gone because I am not prioritizing what I need to. Or, what I tell myself I should be prioritizing.

I'm rambling, and thinking 'out loud' here about all of this. But I feel that with everything I've learned about myself, I should be able to relax and allow myself to not have guilt over choosing other 'work' or even play over this work I have weighing on me. Then again, once I allow myself the luxury of not worrying about getting this done I feel anxious all over about not keeping up.

Lame.
What I really need to remind myself is that last year I had from now to the middle of November to fire and assemble and order all my supplies for GLAM. And I needed to conceptualize and execute my entire setup and branding and pricing.
If I can do that and be well-received and successful. I can do this too. I know the shows are a little bigger, but the work is faster and I am better now at what I do.
I can do this.
I just have to get myself to.
'Good enough' is good enough, and I will never accomplish everything I want to in a day. Things take time and when it's all done I will look back and think, "that work wasn't as bad as it seemed".

Two Years

2010-10-04T09:19:00.001-04:00

Happy Anniversary to my love.

Sunday, Collin and I packed up the car and drove a little while outside Gainesville to Cellon Oak Park. The weather was incredible (much like two years ago) and we had a quiet picnic in an open field, shaded by a century oak.

It was everything I could have wanted to celebrate another year. Delicious snacks, a killer wedding cake replay, and a big soft blanket in peaceful solitude.

goal fail

2010-09-27T12:30:00.000-04:00

So I said I was going to enamel on Saturday, right?
Well I lied.
Apparently.

I did not, in fact, do anything related to enameling on Saturday. Instead I hosted Collin's out of town friend staying with us for the football game after he arrived earlier than I anticipated. When I also realized that the football game would not be on TV I should have decided to stay home and work while listening to it on the radio.
What I did instead was go to a friends house to attempt watching it online through her TV. Too bad we found out after we were all there and the potluck had started that it was not online at all.
So we hung out and ate snacks and chicken legs listening to it on the radio.

I had fun, but if I'm ever going to get this work done, I'm going to have to start declining some invitations from friends eventually.
Sunday didn't happen either after waking up at nearly 11AM, cleaning the house, getting dinner started in the slow cooker, getting a surprise phone call from a friend passing through town who wanted to meet for a late lunch, and then hosting Gabe and Jenn (and Foster pup) for dinner and DVR'd TV premiers.
This weekend was full. And I really needed that early bedtime I gave myself yesterday.

SO!
Tonight, Monday night.
September 27th, 2010.

I will enamel several pieces. Start to finish.
Because I already made plans for Tuesday to hang out and watch an interesting DVD
with Adriane while Collin is out kicking around a soccer ball with his buddies. We went out for ladies night Friday night at The Warehouse and got to talking about religion/creation. A while ago my lovely friend Anna invited me to see a Christian astrophysicist speak about his thoughts on evolution and creation. It was a really interesting discussion and she then secretly went and bought the DVD for sale at the end of the event. I'm pretty sure it will lean towards the intelligent design side of the argument, but I have always felt bad about failing to watch it for so long. Tuesday sounds like a great night for it, especially because when talking it sounds like something that aligns greatly with what Adriane believes. She is in grad school for architecture (serious business) so I told her that I would always love to hang out and watch TV or a DVD while she's doing sketches or models. A lot of work for most people in school requires serious concentration, but thankfully a lot of hers can be done while casually hangin', but now that we're not all in school, it's harder to feel comfortable doing work if the other person has none to do. It will make for a great time for me to sit and finish the pieces I'll be doing tonight.
I've planned an easy dinner and everything!
GOALS. Aren't they great?

Avoidance

2010-09-24T10:09:00.001-04:00

I am reminded when I come to blog that I have been consistently avoiding all things enameling for most of this summer.

"It's too hot to fire the kiln."
"I still have to move in and finish the house for the party."
"I don't have time to build my work desk yet so I can't set anything up."
"It's too hard to move everything around when we have guests who will stay for football weekends when we need to put the bed down."
"I don't wanna."

But then I look at this and remind myself that it's not so hard to just get started and in one night or so have something gorgeous in my hands.

Something that hopefully others will think is gorgeous come December at the holiday craft shows I have already signed up for and paid the required fees to enter.

Mostly I'm putting off what I perceive as an overwhelming amount of work. I'm intimidated by all the talent I consistently see around me at these shows and the fact that you actually have to pay to get into them this time around which makes me think that my items and display have to be even better this year. I can, in reality, break it down so that it's a reasonable amount of work spread out over the next two months but damn. Just getting that first fire going has been rough. I am constantly putting off doing anything related. I'd rather cook dinner, bake bread, strategize supercoupon shopping trips, or catch up on the TV shows I missed from the night before. I was also supposed to have cable in the new guest room/work room and I don't. So I'm pouting.

Last weekend I made progress though and rearranged the guest room so that I can fit the big 6' folding table in there as a work space while I wait on creating whatever custom desk fits better in the room. It doesn't have to be pretty to be functional. All I really need is a desk, an outlet, and easy access to my stuff. Three things I now have.

This Saturday I will fire a good handful of pieces. Maybe a dozen? I don't think that's too ambitious. Then, Sunday morning when I'm re-watching the Gator game after I make breakfast for us and our guest (home games mean guests) I'll even assemble them into actual jewelry. Yep. It's a plan.
Now to stick to it.

Gator Bait

2010-09-23T09:48:00.000-04:00

Saturday the 4th Collin's Granny Carol came up for the first football game of the year.
It was over 90 degrees out with some serious humidity.

But we still won! I'm not going to comment on how they've been playing this year because people have had lots of opinions and know much more about football than I do. Check them out elsewhere. All I can say though is that when you win, by a lot, for almost every game of the last 3+ years... it's kind of hard to live up to the hype right from the start.

I'm happy I skipped the game the next weekend because oh man it was even hotter. No clouds and far too many people being treated for heat exhaustion if you ask me. I'm happy to host some of Collin's college buddies for a night or a family member or two and for now stay in the comfort of my air conditioning. This weekend's game against Kentucky should be nice because it starts at 7pm, but I really am looking forward to the first 'Fall' game. That one where I need a sweater and won't get a farmer's tan from my t-shirt.

I don't know how my favorite football team will do this season. But I can tell you that I'll have lots of fun while they're at it.

The Life List : update

2010-09-02T10:18:00.000-04:00

Over the summer a few more items have been crossed of my list of 101 things in 1001 days.

First there was #38 - getting renter's insurance.
We had some close calls in the last few years, narrowly missing really expensive damage to our things due to flooding (pipes) and theft. We also now have a dog whom we know would never maliciously bite anyone but who knows what can happen. We're now covered for all of the above and more. Thanks Geico! Not too many like to cover us Floridians for any kind of insurance so I appreciate it simply being available, as well as the ease of online registration and savings thanks to our having auto insurance through them for many years now.

Then a biggie, #60. Quit smoking cigarettes for six full months. Yes! I feel like now I can say I have officially quit smoking. I quit. I did it. Six full months with nothing and I have no desire to have one ever again. At least right now, I'm good. Collin has also taken the steps to quit and has thrown away his last pack since starting at the University. They are a fully non-smoking campus and he can't even have them in his car. I've always said that life changes are the perfect time to quit smoking; a move, new job, substantial new hobby. Something that disrupts your routine in a way that you can effectively remove smoking without noticing while you establish your new habits. Collin's done all three in the last month and is off to a good start. I am happy to support him and I'm happy he sees me as inspiration that we can do it together.

#75 is one step closer, having thrown ourselves a housewarming/birthday/new job party a couple weeks ago. It was a blast and I have a whole year to throw another one and reach my social goal. I think we'll hit the mark and then some.

I also have some items that will be crossed off the list soon enough (so I went ahead and did it already for one). Saturday Collin's Granny Carol is coming to be our inaugural house guest and is taking us to the first game of the football season. So, getting to a Gator game during the 2010 season (#73) is done if you ask me. Collin and I are also going to experiment with not going out to eat except with friends for the whole month of September. After a few months now of couponing we have a fabulous stockpile for ourselves and when I was planning out our monthly meals I noticed we could essentially eat like kings for the whole month with food left to spare and no need to go out. So, because we still have friends and like to do things like spontaneously accept invitations on a Friday night (like last weekend, where we got to then sit outside and listen to the Downtown Plaza concert on top if eating tasty sushi) we gave ourselves the leniency to hit up some of our favorite restaurants. We also have some buffer nights for leftovers or frozen pizza as well as meals planned that will work well for having friends over for dinner or dishes that will be a hit at the next potluck party. I'm looking to cross off #65 (no fast food for one month) by the time October comes, which I'm sure will be way too soon.

Stay tuned for that month of meals I've planned from our kitchen!

It's My Birthday

2010-08-12T09:15:00.003-04:00

source

Gmail Chat August 11, 2010

Collin: i love you

what a lovely life we have.

2:40 PM me: so wonderful!

i really do wake up happy every day

Collin: it's true

i do too

especially knowing that my life outside of home is improving as well

with a new career and whatnot

but i wouldn't change anything about you and me or where we are in life or in Gainesville or anything

2:42 PM me: me neither

everything is just right

i'm pretty sure i have everything i wantCollin: well that makes it hard for getting your birthday gifts

2:43 PM me: that's why it's so hard to figure out something for my bday

hahaha

jinx

Collin got the job.
He starts the 20th.
This is the best birthday present I could have ever hoped for but nothing I could have put on a wish list. The great intangible gift I've wanted for the both of us. I knew it would come, but the universe saved it for our 25th. Thanks.

We spent Saturday of Collin's birthday weekend accomplishing goals marathon-style in Orlando. Our day started at 8:30 when we dropped Early off at the vet for some checkup things, drove to Ikea to purchase our sleeper sofa, put that in the car, went back in Ikea to get the rest of what we came for, ate an amazing home-cooked lunch with chef Edgar and Christy at their new place, hopped over to the Mall at Millenia to buy Collin new clothes for his new job, then stopped by to visit my brother Asa and Kat (and friends) at their house before heading back up the turnpike northbound to scoop up Early Girl from her play date with Foster at Gabe and Jenn's and somehow fit a sleeper sofa, two people and a dog in my Ford Focus.
It was an exhausting day, but fun. And we were then able to do almost completely nothing on Collin's birthday except hang out, bbq burgers and go buy a (black) Wii.

Today I'm working on my own birthday, Collin is at the house finishing up a few things I've asked him to do for unpacking and probably working on these 'surprises' he says he has. I think this is the first birthday he has something up his sleeve that I didn't ask for. He knows I'm not that that hard to please and will usually just take me shopping so I can get whatever I want. He also knows I always have more fun planning surprises for other people (him) more.
Today I slept in 30 minutes later than usual, will eat Mexico Lindo enchiladas for lunch, hopefully be able to leave before 4 and then head home to relax with my love before he takes me out to The Warehouse for a birthday dinner date. I cook him whatever he wants for his birthday because he'd rather eat my food and he takes me out on mine because I always do the cooking. Then it's back home to do more of nothing and watch the finale of So You Think You Can Dance.

Turning 25 is going to rule. Life is moving right along and the view is getting better by the minute.

Big Changes

2010-07-29T09:04:00.000-04:00

Wednesday morning Collin had a first interview for a position at UF.
Last night we signed our last papers and picked up the keys to our new place.
Tonight we'll get started with the painting.
Tomorrow I'll finish up our packing.
And Collin will have his second interview.
Saturday is MOVING DAY!
And Sunday is the start of a new year.

source

I know that the start of the new year in January makes sense numerically and all. I get the whole, winter will be over soon/spring renewal/warming of the earth thing.
But for me?
The new year has always been in August. Maybe it's because my birthday is in August and it's always literally been the 'new year' in my life. Maybe it's because school traditionally starts in August in The South. I know living in rental houses whose leases all have started in August has the most to do with it.
For the past 7 years August meant a fresh start, a new budget, maybe a new neighborhood.
This August means all that and more. Maybe a new job for Collin, new work challenges for myself, and whatever else life can throw at us right now. Bring it on, it all seems to come to good. This next week in my life will be crazy and stressful, but I think we're looking ahead into a bright blue sky.

Process

2010-07-13T21:33:00.000-04:00

Photos from my last session at the house on 2nd Street.
Bittersweet.

Southern Summer 2010: RVA

2010-07-09T16:01:00.001-04:00

Collin and I are back from our summer vacation and time off celebrating the 4th of July. I wish sleeping in could last forever.
I really do, even if I am a morning person.

Richmond was beautiful despite the 103 degree heat and we had an awesome time with our tour guides Meggan and Ben. We had a rocky start (getting sick on an airplane is really embarrassing as an adult) and a rocky departure (mixed up flight days and severe cramps) but the in between was sweet.

Our first night in town we went to see friends from Gainesville play a show at Emilio's. Hot Graves and Battlemaster. Metal is the way to start a Richmond vacation. At one point I looked around and was the only girl wearing color. Until Meggan came back in from the bathroom that is.

Friday daytime had us walking through downtown browsing the shops and people watching. Meggan and I hit up cute thrift/vintage clothing stores while Ben and Collin had a beer and watched some World Cup. We met up to visit Plan 9 and pick through their stacks and stacks of records. The downstairs was dedicated fully to $1 records. Collin found some Avail, we grabbed a Steve Martin stand-up recording and I threw in an original cast recording of My Fair Lady along with the score to Disney's Fantasia.
By then we fully felt the 100+ degree heat and went to have lunch. Then we went home to just hang out.

The next morning we were off to the James River to swim. Belle Isle actually. To get there, you walk a suspension bridge hung from below US 301. How fitting - the highway that runs through Sarasota and Gainesville both.

We swam, tubed down the small rapids, tried not to trip and sunbathed on great big rocks. Eventually we found a little nook for ourselves where we could break out our PBR's out of sight.

Check it out - somehow I'm also allergic to Virginia freshwater too. Looks like I won't have to debate whether or not to get a kayak for the next time we go down the springs here in Gainesville. Too bad, but at least it's not that terrible. Just a little uncomfortable and a little ugly.

We finally took off after the boys hit 301 and went home for lunch and a sad watching of the US-Ghana game that we had recorded earlier in the day while we were out. I also have a photo of Collin on the floor after the game-winning goal, but I won't do that to him.

I took most of our photos that day. During the rest of our trip we also went to have a picnic at the botanical gardens that would have been gorgeous if not for the scorching sun. We spend some time at Ben's family home while his sister and her family were also in town, playing croquet with the little one Ava. We ate late night pizza at Bottom's Up, under the trains and highways. I hate a slice of the 'Chesapeake' that had blue crab and old bay and parmesan and omg. Washed down with Magic Hat Wacko on tap and served to us by a cute waitress who happened to be at the show Thursday night and didn't mind chatting with us made it even better. We took an afternoon to see the Virginia Museum of Fine Art. I could have spent all day there and I only wish we'd gone earlier in the morning. There was a special exhibit of Tiffany glass and entire wings dedicated to Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Fabrige Eggs and British fine silver serving sets. Guhhhhh I don't know how I didn't have my camera that day,
Oh wait, yes I do. I gave it to Collin to take some pictures at Ben's uncle's workshop where he hand crafts guitars. Then he didn't take any photos and left it on the coffee table when we left for the museum. Boo. We also just spent time driving around. We might have walked to see the sights had it not been so blazingly hot outside. The confederate memorial and museum, The Fan downtown, immaculate examples of Southern architecture and Hollywood cemetery housing among others, James Madison's tomb.

I loved Richmond, but I do wish we had been able to make time to visit in March or so when the trees and flowers are putting on their full show.
And when it doesn't get hotter traveling farther north in The South.

Update: 101 in 1001

2010-06-16T12:32:00.001-04:00

While Megan was in town from south Florida over Memorial Day weekend we packed a lot of fun into just three days.
So much that I was even able to cross a couple more things off the list.

#87 Visit the Natural History Museum (not butterfly part)
#88 Visit the Harn Museum of Fine Art

Both of these were accomplished, as well as the last part of #92, trying 6 new restaurants around town (thanks Shooting Star for great sushi and ridiculous happy hour drink deals).

Since I last updated the list at the beginning of May I can also cross off the following (or in my case, turn them pink):
#45 Go 2 weeks in a row without buying groceries
#47 Make a compost bin for outside and small container for daily use inside
and
I crossed off month 5 of #60 Quit smoking cigarettes for 6 full months. Now that one I will be most proud to finally finish at the end of this month.

Next to tackle will be fixing up that damn bike (aka #62). We sold another mountain bike from the garage last week but Collin decided he wants to keep the two Schwinn road bikes and my vintage sears 10-speed. That makes 5 bikes for two people. Only one of whom rides them at all so far. I would sell them in a heartbeat but he's the bike dude and it's true when he says that it would be nice to have bikes for friends when they are in town. We'll also be able to cross off #38, getting renters insurance, soon when we move. Can I also say it's been way too long since I've started this project not to have completed #68 -dancing downtown? Maybe I can cross that off the list when I finish #62. Double Whammy.

An Atomic Holiday

2010-04-30T12:25:00.000-04:00

Just a couple weeks ago I sent off my application to be included in the 2010 Atomic Holiday Bazaar.
Not even a week later I had an acceptance letter waiting for me when I logged into my email account first thing in the morning. AWESOME. Gotta love a prompt and enthusiastic welcoming to the show!

In it's fifth year already, I am blown away that I didn't know about this gem of an indie craft fair until last year. Maybe it's because I wasn't involved in my own business back then, but really, what excuse did I have for not knowing about it when I was living in Sarasota? I drove by this building where it is annually held every day.

Oh, I love that coastal Florida art deco architechture.

I am really optimistic that this will be the best show of the year for me and that means lots and lots of work this summer building my inventory for the Fall and Holiday rush. I have shows scheduled for November and December with one I'm wavering on for October. I've been really happy about using only profits from my artwork to pay for my needed supplies, but I think I'm going to have to give myself a little more cash to get everything I'll need to have enough work for all these shows.
It also means that I don't get to take too long off from creating while we're packing up and moving in July and August. I'll also have to get my enameling area ready for working pretty quickly even if that means leaving other (more fun?) home decorating projects aside until I feel confident that I'm not avoiding the real work to be done in the studio.

My goal for the summer is to work more consistently. I can't exactly keep a schedule because I like to plan studio time around when Collin will be working in the evenings too. This lets us at least have a couple nights a week to relax, cook, and eat dinner together. I need those nights. So, on nights when he is out I like to enamel, or photograph, or edit photos, or post them online. Right now I've been doing a whole lot of nothing because I have a larger stock of inventory. I don't want to let that lull me into a sense of security though.
Ideally I would make time for myself to enamel, photograph, edit and post items online once a week each. Maybe I can keep myself accountable by fitting in a blog post about new pieces and progress on here?
For now these sound like nice goals. I'm just glad people are reasonable here and no one really schedules art festivals in the middle of the oppressive Florida summers - I would be too tempted to sell and I need to pace myself to keep from getting burned out.

sickness

2010-04-01T19:04:00.003-04:00

That's where I've been.
Sick.

Allergies.
Oak pollen coating everything in fine dust - turning the city to a giant tennis ball.

Oh, and work. Can't stop working now just because you are sick! Not when there are new instruments to finish setting up to get them running!

Really though, I was sick last weekend. Thursday night I woke up twice to change my sweat-soaked shirt and my fever didn't back down until overnight Sunday. So I did actually get to spend my already-a-day-off Friday and then my made-it-a-day-off Monday on the couch. That's also where I wound up each night after waking, again, so incredibly hot that I couldn't even lay next to Collin. Or the cat.
My only symptoms were the ridiculous fever and the constant coughing that kept the both of us up all night.

I started feeling better, minus the bruised rib I caused from coughing nonstop, but working full (or longer) days the rest of this week has wiped me out.

Other things that have been keeping me tired:
Filling custom enameling orders Monday and Tuesday night. I love love love waking up to new orders, whether they're from friends or strangers. Okay, especially from strangers! It really makes my day.

Wednesday I went out with Kara and Anna for dinner at Bistro1245. Nommmm those portabello sandwiches. Ugh. I could eat there everyday. It had been way too long since we've gone down to mid town for food and I need to be willing to drive more than 5 minutes sometimes to savor my old favorites. In town for just a couple days, Kara is home to Florida from NYC for Easter weekend and I am so glad she stopped in Gainesville. I say it all the time that one of our biggest reasons for staying in town is that everyone loves to come visit you. No one moves away and hates this place, so to be the ones who host visitors instead of the ones who travel to their friends is perfect for us!

Thursday wasn't anything fun, but I had to come all the way back into work to read samples that arrived late Wednesday night. It was the longest most drama-filled day ever for our sampler and I'm thankful my backup analyst had a flexible night so that I didn't have to miss dinner with my girls. I rewarded myself for driving all the way out there by getting chick-fil-a on the way home (since both of the ones in town are so far from us). I freaking love their chicken. Forever. But it's hard to keep from eating like all of it on my drive home. Stop lights just make you want a fry.

Now I'm here, working on Friday and pretty set in my decision to leave early as usual on a Friday to hang out at home for the afternoon with the family. I might go by the grocery store to pick up the rest of the sale items for the week I want to buy. I might go by El Indio and pick up mexican food to satisfly the craving I have for it already this morning at 9:15. Damn. 2PM can't come fast enough.

Quit Yer Bitchin'

2010-03-24T08:36:00.000-04:00

I'm guilty of it.
We all are.

Bitch, Bitch, Bitch.
As of late I've noticed almost nothing around me except all the complaining everyone seems to be doing.
Scrolling over my facebook wall reads like a bunch of babies with wet diapers. Sure everyone's in a huff about the recently passed health care bill (which p.s. I am excited about) but even aside from that so many are full of dissatisfaction. Relationships, personal health challenges, the weather, their kids, their mom, their dogs, their whole freaking life. I can't help but sometimes let it creep into my own mind and knock my good mood right on it's butt. And that right there, is something I'm trying harder now than ever not to let happen.

I had a draft post written last night and ready to go this morning but when I re-read it, I sounded just like everyone else...

So it's gone.
Deleted.

Instead I will ignore the stresses around me for just a minute and list some of the awesome that has made me smile in the past few days and is lined up to do the same in the near future.

I sold 4 necklaces and a pair of earrings this weekend through my facebook page and simply by having friends over for our St. Patrick's day party and the Ladies Clothes Swap.
My friends are lovely and we had fun trying on each others clothes, picking out new things and stuffing our faces with delicious girly noms.
The spring weather is glorious and I am getting inspired to take a long walk this afternoon just for photo taking of all the flowers and blooms.
After a busy busy weekend this next set of days off having nothing scheduled except enameling. Just what I want - naps and art.
... and maybe a little gardening thrown in with the naps and the art.

Spring makes me happy and I wish it would last forever this year. Thanks to some complications with our landlord, let's just say I'm not really looking forward to Summer (and having her as our new neighbor). Until then, I want to try as hard as I can to push out the negativity and enjoy this season in peace until our lives get a lot more dramatic.

Doggy Date

2010-03-19T13:10:00.002-04:00

Just look at these sweet pups hanging out together on Early Girl's dog bed.

We watched over this little gray and white fellow over the past weekend while our friend (and hopefully future neighbor) was out of town. His name is Eli. He is awesome. This pair gets along really well with mostly lazy couch slumbering or bone eating on their daily to-do lists. Throw in some yard running and a few hours of roughhousing and you have happy dogs.

Now that the weather is gorgeous and the time has changed back to where I like it to be (dark mornings, longer evening light) we're going to be making our way to the dog park more often with our girl. Eli and his mom live just a few blocks away so these friends will get to play in a big group.
At least until they both get tired and decide to stop and do nothing except lay in the dirt.

An Etsy St. Paddy's

2010-03-17T08:40:00.004-04:00

"May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, and may trouble avoid you wherever you go."

In honor of my favorite holiday I set out to find the sweetest gifts inspired by St. Patrick's day. After gifting and selling all the clover jewelry I made this year I had none left to list in my own shop! I did manage to keep one for myself but if I hadn't made my own I would have loved to wear this perfect lucky charm.

clover necklace by saralagrace

Here are more of my favorite etsy finds for the day:

lucky clover hair pins from HarmonyLaneHandmade

"if you're lucky enough..." notecard from kategreiner

a lucky key chain (8 is also my lucky number!) from alfrescouniquegroup

"In the Clover No.4" watercolor painting by GollyBard

Slainte to you and yours this St. Patrick's day!

Springtime Clothes Swap

2010-03-05T10:15:00.003-05:00

This spring, before you hit the mall or the web for new warm-weather clothes, why not try having a clothes swap party!?

Last year a small group of girls and I got together at my house to unload all our never-worn items and rifle through each others loot. At the end of the day I kept two dresses, five shirts, a long cardigan and a cute sparkly shrug - all of which I have worn several times in the last year. Some of them have even become favorites that I wear weekly (or more than that thank you).

If you're interested in holding a clothes swap of your own, here are some tips I have after learning from last year.

1. Sort sort sort. Before friends arrive, sort your own items into groups. As the others start to file in, they can go through their own bags and add stuff to the designated area. This saves time and allows people enough space to sort through and really look at the clothes without getting overwhelmed by choices. I even set up a rack with some hangers for particularly pretty shirts and dresses almost as a showcase.

2. Let people try things on. I kicked out Collin and Gabe that day and plan on keeping it a girls-only party again this year. With that many ladies wanting to try on clothes, giving everyone private (or at least semi-private) space is very thoughtful. Lines can form if everyone starts using the bathroom as a dressing room so think of other places you can transform. Hang a sheet to divide off your dining room and use the bedroom for changing too. Every space helps; some of you may already be friends who have no problems trying on clothes with each other but others may be less familiar or have other reasons to want privacy.

3. No even-trades required. The whole point of a clothes swap (if you ask me) is to be generous towards your friends with clothes that you already intend to donate. If you're already going to give it away, there's no need to keep track of how much each person brings or with how much they walk away.

4. Provide snacks. Sure, it's not always your favorite thing to try on clothes after you've eaten but having something to nosh on while you're hanging out and swapping keeps up the blood sugar and the morale. A light drink and something simple are all you need. As the host you can elect to do some of this yourself or you can enlist your friends or suggest a potluck style. Maybe a friend who has no clothes to contribute wants to make muffins instead? Perfect!

5. Donate it all at the end like you said. I have my own personal thrift store to which I like to donate and as the host I volunteer to transport all the leftover clothes there myself after the party. If any of my guests have another organization they would prefer to help, they can certainly take home a big bag of clothes to do so. It's a little extra motivation for people to come out if they only have to transport all their crap once.

Have you ever hosted or attended a clothes swap before? What other tips and suggestions do you have for someone looking to do the same this spring?

whatnow?

2010-02-24T12:12:00.007-05:00

If, in your opinion, the integration is started too early or if the peak end is delayed too much, use the parameter Fronting Sensitivity Factor for the peak start and the Tailing Sensitivity Factor for the peak end. The entered value multiplied with the left or right peak width determines the peak start or the peak end. Depending on the chromatogram type different values may make sense. Therefore, you should try which value is best for your chromatograms. Often, the value 2 is an appropriate starting point for finding the best fronting/tailing sensitivity factor.

SOMETIMES WORK MAKES MY BRAIN SQUISHY
(and I don't even get to analyze cool stuff like beer.)

Valentine's Sale

2010-02-15T09:42:00.005-05:00

Saturday was a ton of fun and I can't for the next show. My table looked gorgeous and was set up super fast thanks to all my pre-show preparations and that amazing husband of mine who helped me lug heavy stuff and set it all up.

"i loved this stuff and she was sooo nice" - written on a facebook photo post of my table!!

It was busier than I expected and I sold a lot as well as traded for a few amazing items from other artists at the show.
check out mooncat:

and the coolest dogs at the bbq:

I also got three pairs of beautiful earrings from other sellers who were also at GLAM last fall. One whom I bought a necklace from (one of two things I bought that day) and the other two from the same woman Collin had found those sweet pink skull earrings at. She ended up as my table neighbor and it was great to talk with her about shows and local craft fairs. She's done the Atomic Holiday Bazaar since the beginning so it will be great to see a friendly face there if I should make it into the show. She also encouraged me to do the O'Connell Center holiday sale - a two day mega sale in the UF basketball stadium. It's an expensive entry fee but could be really really worth it if I work all summer to build an inventory for the holiday shows that are all back-to-back-to-back.
So far it looks like it's gonna be a killer year.

Bullet List

2010-02-09T13:07:00.010-05:00

The days are moving fast and on this rainy afternoon my brain is being pulled in opposite directions.

Stresses in my life are prompting some thinking on optimism, patience and timing.
Three things I usually think I handle well but about which am frequently reminded I need practice. One day it's like you wake up and realize that every single thing is a shade of gray - that for every bad thing in your life there is a good side. I suppose it has to be true in reverse.

So. Let's start with the good, yeah?

good

The show this weekend is coming up so fast! I ordered supplies from my favorite Etsy.com seller and they were here like lightning - now to get to work!
My folding table came in at Wal-Mart and now I have to actually put it together and do a mock setup before this Saturday.
Free rides in the AM with my co-worker means I can save more vacation days for vacations.
Collin dug out those savings bonds from his grandparents and we're finally going through the steps to deposit them.
More subpoenas for Collin are in the mail along with the TurboTax cd from his dad.
Charting says my potential monthly lady-woes should arrive the day before the craft show. Perfect.

bad

I ordered the wrong jump rings. And I still have no car. No car to get me to the craft store that is all the way out here by work so I can purchase those jump rings I need to make any more finished pieces of jewelry.
Setup for the show on Saturday is only about half an hour. This is a very short window and I'm worried about getting everything done in time.
I've been waking up early because I can't sleep in the early morning due to the cat (as usual) and anxiety over sleeping late and holding up my friend.
Guilt is creeping in a little over putting Collin's savings bonds that his grandparents set up for him towards my our car, my our dental bills and my our credit card debt.
Collin's car is driving sluggish getting into first gear (after $1500 in recent repairs) and subpoenas mean extended driving.
I hope the work Collin has done for his dad this year won't screw us up with self-employment taxes.
Thanks to stress, potential monthly lady-woes might arrive the day of the craft show. Crap.
Potential monthly lady-woes might not arrive for the craft show at all. Ugh.

What a Week

2010-02-06T20:34:00.003-05:00

I've been working my little butt off enameling every day in preparation for the Valentine's Craft Sale at Boca Fiesta next weekend. This is sadly only due to the fact that I've been home Wednesday, Thursday and Friday thanks to my car being in the shop.

I'm not sure if I can really write about that now. I always feel conflicted with cars. I'm just not knowledgeable but at the same time I know enough and I research what to do. No matter what though, there will be things to find and mis-diagnose and cause me stress.

I am thankful for two things the most:
1) The extended warranty my parents purchased for my car when I bought it. They are covering thousands of dollars in repairs.
2) The nice service associate at Ford for talking with them on the phone for hours to try and make sure I am fully awarded for my eligible claims.

I am having a terribly hard time though, thinking about our trying to get out of debt and the constant setbacks we have had in the last few months. After that first month where it was a breeze to put 1000 in the emergency fund and live comfortably paying our debts as planned we've since not been able to fill it up yet.
Oh. And that emergency root canal ended up being $600 more than the insurance allotted amount for the procedure and was performed by a non-affiliated dentist so it's only covered 20% of that allotted amount. That bill is sitting on our desk, too.

I don't mean to sound like a bummer and get all woe-is-me about our financials but it's hard not to let serious car repairs affect the psyche.

I have tried to have a good week despite all the crap. Part of me wanted to cancel all these plans we'd made that involve spending money but I let it go and decided to focus on the rest of the month instead. Tuesday Cindy and Eve and I got together for ladies night at 101 finally and it was a nice couple hours to chill and eat fancy food on the cheap. It was also pretty great to see the newly remodeled interior and sit on buttery leather benches. After, I went home for a while and met up with Jon to see an outdoor screening of Groundhog's Day at Boca Fiesta for free (minus snacks and drinks). I only wish I'd worn a much bigger coat. Friday Collin was home all day so we walked some bikes down to the shop for trade-in credit towards our own bikes (finally). Saw an old friend there who is about to get married and has a baby boy! We went out to see the Shitty Beatles at Common Grounds later that night and ate up some Big Uli's burgers to close it out. This afternoon we opened up the house and worked in the garden it was just that beautiful.

I know it won't make up for all the car repairs and the dental bill and everything, but maybe just maybe I'll make a killing at the sale next weekend and take a nice chunk out of the 2010 total so far.

North Florida Winter

2010-01-12T15:34:00.002-05:00

More images from my neighborhood during the coldest week since the 1960's.
I'm happy to have a burst of Winter here in Florida - especially when our coldest cold is still warmer than the rest of the country.

It's been about 5 years since I last saw anything near 17 degrees (what it was this Monday morning when I woke up to get ready for work). Somehow though, the roses are holding up and our own flowers just might make it through. I'll credit Collin with that one as he's the one who braved the cold to lay out towels over our poor plants.

winter white roses

these were once little black berries

redberries

Here's to the warming sun and the potential for temperatures to hit the 70's this weekend. I'm hoping for a moderate rest of the season with a long drawn out spring. It can happen, right?

Deep Freeze

2010-01-09T15:38:00.003-05:00

Florida winters are notoriously mild. Even here in North Central FL we're used to hard freezing temps over night but full days spent in the 30's? Nope.
Our neighbors down the street had their hose spraying lightly over night across a big bed of ferns and succulents in their yard. You Northerners will have to tell me if this is to help the hose or the plants, but either way it made a spectacular show.

Happy Merry

2009-12-29T10:20:00.003-05:00

A week spent in the mountains makes my heart happy and my life slow down.
Cheers to a fabulously relaxing vacation where I left the house 3 times in a week to go to antique shops and the grocery store. The drive home may not have been to wonderful but an extra 3 hours in the car is a small price to pay for such snowy bliss this xmas.

This was the scene under our tree before I packed up all the shiny gifts and managed to fit them in 3 boxes - one that we were taking over to Meggan and Ben's so it could go to Sarasota in our absence.

The early drive

EG in the car

Obligatory road trip car photo

The first snow we saw in South Carolina

Finally in Tennessee. Early, meet your cousin Bethany.

Hates the beach, loves the snow.

Every morning on the breakfast table, at least three kinds of home made jam.

gramps

The last morning of free roaming

Hi Florida, after three extra hours on the road we're home.

I love a vacation that is full of food and naps and movies. We spent a lot of time just relaxing with my brother and Kathryn - drinking the xmas gin and playing apples to apples.

side note: My brother and I are now so similar that we both gave our dogs red hoodies for the cold, gifted each other the same bottle of gin (Hendrick's), bought woodland animal dog toys for the girls, brought Apples to Apples to play together, and then Kathryn picked out the exact blush I already love and use for us both. We win.

So many sweets and snacks and really, I wish I could stay for weeks at a time. The peanut butter chocolate pretzel sandwich things were the biggest hit of my treats. Oh, and my dad couldn't get enough of the rocky road brownies. I'm glad I didn't make chocolate popcorn as Erin and Craig sent up a great big bag along with other goodies from Deb's chocolate shop. Things like dark chocolate berry bark and gingerbread toffee. My mom outdid herself too with 7-layer bars, 4 kinds of oatmeal cookies, chocolate chip cookies and a lot more.

Let's just say I'm making a cake to bring to work for tomorrow and I won't be eating any of it. My teeth are choco-ed out.
I can't wait to ring in the new year - now to see what's going on around town!

2009-12-13T13:27:00.004-05:00

Good things are happening again.

Or, the bad things have stopped because we've accepted them and are working past it. It's hard to tell sometimes. Whether the storm of crap has ended and that's why it's easier to breath, or if it's because you started looking beyond the now and the universe follows your lead.

I smiled a lot more last week. Collin worked in Orlando Monday night through Wednesday and I used the nights to pump out the xmas ornaments we're gifting family and friends. Productivity really helps to bring me out of a slump.
Then a spontaneous ladies' night at 101 with the girls Thursday melted a little stress from the week and started off a weekend of relaxed company.
Bonfire and beers with the dogs at Cindy's Friday night and after a busy Saturday daytime (errands, work, errands, enameling) she came over to our place and we watched Fight Club on TV and did nothing. It was great. Even got to hang out with Collin after he got out of work because I was still awake!

I finally got Dave Ramsey's book in at the library, too. Picked it up while I was out running those errands on Saturday (like dropping off an etsy order at the post office).

Crap. Now we have to actually start doing the real work.

Good timing though - at least more this week than the last. I think if this book had come in in the thick of financial stresses I might have been a bit overwhelmed and emotional to read it properly (aka without extreme guilt and self-loathing). However, in a better space I realized that we are alright. From reading a little about the baby steps we managed to accomplished #1 ($1000 savings) a long time ago and it turns out the debt snowball was what we were already doing. Well look at that. I will say that we were tested by this last months emergencies - real ones like vet bills and necessary car repairs - and got discouraged. It's nice to have $1000 in savings but what do you do when all your emergencies in a two week span total double that amount? Cry. If you're me. Also if you're me you break the cardinal rule and put some of that shit on those credit cards you hadn't used in about 6 months (Dammit!) so that after xmas you can start the new year off by paying off those newest charges asap before getting back to baby step #1.

I'm constantly having to remind myself that we just started this process and we're so young. When I do, I am super stoked on our potential. We're still 5.5 years from 30. Finishing step 3 (the real emergency fund of 6 mo. expenses) is the goal and hopefully with motivation we can also save up a hefty home down payment with a great rate on a 15 year mortgage.
Who really knows though, right?

I'm determined but I'm still a little anxious about "living like no one else now...".
Some of his more radical ideas I just can't swallow for ourselves. Like, we could sell Collin's drums, but really? No effing way. And if we do that and sell some furniture we could move into a littler apartment but it's the same deal.
I'm not there yet (if I ever will be). I want to stay here because I think it's unfair to have a large dog in too small a space and we have too many benefits that aren't monetary. Like access to the Thomas Center for dog walking, great neighbors that help us not have to board Lucky when we travel, a utility bill half paid for by our landlord in exchange for letting her use our address as her own, updated (safer) plumbing/hvac/fireplaces and do you know how much it costs to move? A lot.
Most of it though, we're going to do.
Some expenses will just have to go - like the "credit protection" I have on my amex and vices we simply do not need to keep feeding. We need to keep better track of our stuff - Collin especially with tips and freelance, his variable income. We have to know exactly what we have so we can make sure to live well within our means. I have to be better about the budget, too. It's all to easy to say that I can spend extra at the grocery store because we're eating out less this month but if I don't do the math and don't move the money, it won't happen. It will all just over spend.

We're also lucky that we've been able to provide for ourselves in unexpected ways this year. Just this past couple weeks when we're really struggling, I make 4 sales on Etsy and Collin gets a fat stack of subpoenas. Maybe I won't get those prescription sunglasses right at xmas, but I'll get them sometime and I want more to be out of debt than anything else right now.

January will see a lot of mint.com and spreadsheeting, I tell you what.
Much love to the coming 2010

(much love to my 100th post)

proof

2009-11-17T19:49:00.003-05:00

That I was once a high school cheerleader.

Came across this on the sidebar slideshow (say that 5 times fast, eh?) and had to reminisce for a moment. Ahh the bruises and sunburn and fabulous arm muscles.
I actually wore that uniform to school on many an occasion. And I'm pretty sure the skirt came to just below my ass. How can you respect a dress code after walking the halls in things like this?

Truth is, I quit cheerleading at the start of football season after it was revealed to us that because of 9/11 we weren't allowed to fly to Dallas for the national competition we'd won a bid for at cheer camp that summer (sidenote: that was the first time I ever went to Gainesville!). What a bummer. I was definitely not in it for the football or social implications. The cheerleaders weren't really at the top of the totem pole as far as popularity went at VHS.
We had a great football team (State Champs '00) and still do actually - whatup Trey Burton. That's just not what I loved about the sport.

So goodbye tiny skirt and bloody noses.
I went back to the world of ballet and blisters.

Whoa

2009-11-16T09:53:00.002-05:00

One week (less now even) until the big show at GLAM!
(What happened to October and November? Sheesh.)

Since my last post I've been trying to finish up the loose ends involved in preparing for my first craft fair. The show down at Vicki's was cake - send my items and show up for the opening party to eat, drink, and maybe talk to a few people about my work and the process. Mostly just eat and drink though.
This one, I have to provide everything I need to both attract people to my area and make me look professional enough to want to buy something. Except the table, that comes with the registration and I am SO EXCITED about that.

Kim over at The Sassy Crafter has graciously put some fabulous tips on her blog for n00bs like me that were an awesome help in addition to the various Etsy.com resources for those just breaking into the craft fair scene. Now, it's all coming together. I cannot wait to take a million photos next weekend of everyone's amazing items and all the pretty smiling faces supporting Gainesville's local artists.

In the past 10 days I...

Enameled on fine silver for the first time. WHY DID THIS TAKE ME SO LONG?
Watched the Gators kick butt - twice!
Raided Smiley's Antique Mall for vintage baroque picture frames
Enameled necklaces, bracelets and another bowl
Perused the Gainesville Fall Arts Festival with Eve, eating an arepa and a mug of lemonade/cherrywine mix
Attended an art show at Daacha where I saw many friends and watched collaborative painting and my friend Adam drumming inside a box.
Spent way too much more money on supplies
Took advantage of and used our new gas fireplace every night since it's been installed
Worked a full 40 hours at the lab
Celebrated with friends for Cindy's birthday at The Top (nom nom corn nuggets)
Walked Early and Foster to the dog park
Got jealous of everyone who had Veteran's day off work
Ate delicious food out in Archer with Gabe and Jen, finally seeing Religulous
Got paid
Listened to Metal played in the second bedroom
Assembled more and more and more for the show
Loved on Lucky all warm from sunshine in the open windows

It has been busy, but lovely.

fantasy vs reality

2009-11-03T07:45:00.003-05:00

Last night I made spaghetti and meatballs. With half of one of those frozen garlic bread loaves with that are so good with their too much butter and seasonings built right in.
It was a really simple night.

I got home early from work and we relaxed and watched TV. Collin watered and looked after the yard while I started dinner. We went on a walk with Early down to the Thomas Center as the house filled with the smell of our meal.
After it was all done and we were both satisfied we just kept looking at each other and smiling these wide, bright grins. These looks on our faces kept saying, "I love you. And I love our life together." and we were both so sincere.

I said last night to him that I wouldn't change a single thing about my life. That I have not the tiniest piece of my life to complain about. Now, I know this isn't the first time I've felt that way. I've been in just the right place and time in my life before; happy and fulfilled. Now though, the present, feels more permanent. It is more permanent. I'm older now and more aware of what I need to make me happy vs what I want that could make me happy. In the past years I've been successful in sifting through the both and really focusing on my needs - things like a loving partner, a comfortable home, a handful of good friends, a satisfying yet enjoyable job.
These things I now have.
Sure there are parts of my life I would improve on; debt and Collin's school status are the two big ones but I'm not worried about them because we're actively working on all this together.

Yet I find myself asking whether I am simply settling or lucky to have found this place where I want to stay and raise a family? Why would I run off to start over in another city when I'm not unhappy here? I think it would take some miracle job for Collin and I to make a move and I just don't see that happening. Some of our friends are becoming restless though. Many moved here for college and are just tired of this town. I understand. Had I moved here for the same reason we would have probably jetted off to some other corner of the country by now. Maybe not though. I'm not a wet blanket or anything, I just like stability, and the comfort that comes from living in one city longer than two years. As Collin said to me once when we were still long-distance-dating, "I'm not a waffler". A handful of friends are starting to put some roots into our community as well. One just bought a house this past year. I find myself even more content knowing that we could be building the extended family we reach out to for the next 20 years.

I once heard about a study that stated womens fantasies were much more frequently about domestic life and milestones rather than sex (to hell with trying to find it, this was so so long ago). I want to say that they simply asked of both sexes, "What are some of your fantasies?" and let them answer openly without prompting. Thoughts about getting married, owning a home, landing a dream job were frequently first thought of by women - I am not surprised. This is me, but especially after marriage I find this to be true. Is it this way for most married women? Is it because we know we can have good sex when we want (assuming our husbands are similarly willing to drop anything for a romp) and these are the things in life about which we aren't sure? Are fantasies supposed to be your ultimate dream reality or something you can have if you're just patient and work hard?
Am I doing the fantasy thing wrong? Or am I, in part, living my fantasy already?

SOLD

2009-11-01T15:33:00.003-05:00

Thanks Chris!

I hope your new lady friend has a happy birthday later this month
Also thanks for helping me to cross off (or in my case, turn pink) #26 on my list of 101 things to do. Even if we did kind of cheat because we did the whole thing in person and then I just asked you to "buy" it on Etsy so I can get some sales feedback. You're a true friend.

G.L.A.M.

2009-10-19T11:43:00.004-04:00

The woman who runs this event contacted Meggan through Etsy.com the weekend of our art show at Heart's Desire. While I was a little bummed she didn't find me herself (I have Gainesville as my location, too!) Meggan was kind enough to pass on the event information so I could apply for myself.

An email to the SassyCrafter, a week of wait, and I'm in!

The show will be November 22 just a few blocks away at the Thelma Boltin Center downtown. Just one week before this will be the Downtown Arts Festival - a much pricier and bigger event taking over all of downtown with booths full of paintings, glasswares, jewelry and street food. OOOOhhh the street food at an art festival - don't get me started. I already have plans to walk around the festival like usual, but this time with fliers in hand for our own show the next weekend.

I also get to cross another item off my 101 in 1001 list (sell at a local art show).

I know I'll be working like a mad woman with just about a month to make everything I'd like to sell. All while constructing our Halloween costumes (Thor and Sif, husband and wife Viking Gods) and letting myself have fun for Gator football, The Fest/Halloween weekend, and an occasional Thursday Ladies Night at 101 with the girls.
Of course, with all this going on I signed up for another show coming December 4th. My friend Megan (one G - I know a lot of Meg/g/ea/h/ns) works at the Lighthouse Center for the Arts down in Tequesta, FL. She's started an amazing monthly event where young artists come to show/sell and demo their work on a Friday night. Food, music and tasty beverages are all part of the fun and I am really excited to go.
It's been too long since I've seen Megan and I'm all for another opportunity to sell my pieces. I am really nervous about doing a live-demo and talking in front of people though. Something tells me the library card I picked up last week will come in handy as I try to research some more on enameling technique and teaching so I can be clear and concise. I think my worst teaching nightmare involves dropping a piece of 1500F metal and glass, setting fire to the table and building. Unlikely, but my work table at home has the burn marks to prove this has happened before. I don't know if I'll be making much for this show specifically (unless I sell out at G.L.A.M.) but who knows. The show at Heart's Desire ends on November 30th and I am going to try to get anything that didn't sell a few days early to take home with me after Thanksgiving and bring to the LCA event.

Oh, and I have those custom orders from friends and family that have been trickling in these past couple weeks. Thanks facebook, my business appreciates your social networking capabilities!

my 101 in 1001

2009-10-08T12:11:00.021-04:00

I mentioned this challenge back in January, and I guess I never got around to posting it here (or completing the list, for that matter). Cleaning up at work last week I found my list. Sure it only had about 60 goals on there but I figured that since I'm almost a whole year into this thing, I might as well round it out to 101 and put it in writing. I've actually accomplished more than I expected and after months of not even looking at this list. Surprisingly (or, not surprisingly?) I haven't completed a number of goals on that list that seem so simple - I have to keep them on there and get motivated - no back tracking to erase things I have yet to do, even if I'm incredibly tempted.

I'm setting my start date at January 1, 2009 since thinking about new years resolutions was what led me to find the 101 in 1001 in general. I had a hell of a time thinking of a full 101 things. Am I not that creative? Am I not adventurous? I think I just have reservations about putting things on the list that are counter productive to each other. Like, wipe out half of our credit card debt while listing vacations we want to go on.

Goal:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

Rules:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Start Date: January 1, 2009
End Date: September 28, 2011

Completed item
Working on it

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Artsy Fartsy
1. Learn watercolor technique for enameling
2. Paint a portrait of Lucky
3. Sew cute pillows for the living room (March 2009)
4. Finish Collin's Converge skateboard
5. Re-finish the round table with the glass top
6. Make a wedding album for Erin and Craig (May 2009)
7. Put all of Matt's radio show cd's on the computer (June 2009)
8. Get Collin to organize said music on the hard drive (April 2009)
9. Backup all photos to hard drive (April 2009)
10. Create something using GIMP program (July 2009 - business cards)
11. Make wedding album for guest photos, cards, and pre/post wedding events March 2009)
12. Take a class at UF or use their resources (Screen prints in November 2009)

Wanterlust
13. Nashville, TN
14. Boston, MA
15. NYC
16. Gem mining in Tennessee (June 2009)
17. Charleston, SC
18. Visit 3 giant heritage oaks 1, Cellon Oak Park

Material Girl
19. 4 skirts for everyday wear 1, 2, 3, 4
20. New couch(es) or steam clean the ones we have
21. TV stand for bedroom (June 2009)
22. Have more than 1 pair of wearable jeans at once (September 2009)
23. Have aquamarine from Mexico set in wearable jewelry
24. Finish Collin's tattoo in color or get his Rollins tat

9 to 5
25. Start store on Etsy.com (July 2009)
26. Sell an item online to a stranger (December 2009)
27. Sell an item in person (October 2009 )
28. Get in an art show/festival (October 2009)
29. Get in a local art show/festival (November 2009)
30. Make back all money invested in enameling (December 2009)
31. Set up hard and computer filing system
32. Get a raise at the lab each year 2009, 2010, 2011

Domestica
33. Hang photos and artwork in the frames that are laying around (August 2009)
34. Purchase a rug for the living room (June 2009)
35. Re-cover dining room chairs (March 2009)
36. Create better enameling workspace (July 2009)
37. Clean under the fridge and oven (August 2009)
38. Get renter's insurance
39. Tend to the fishtank monthly for 6 months in a row 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
40. Collin and I live with no roommates (August 2009)
41. Landscape the yard (April 2009)
42. Bake 5 bread recipes (5/5 - no knead bread, MS dinner rolls, bagels, pizza dough, fruit tarts)
43. Go through and purge old cooking magazines for recipes (May 2009)
44. Write down favorite original recipes somewhere (August 2009)
45. Go 2 weeks in a row without buying groceries
46. Sweep/swiffer the kitchen and bathroom every week for two months
47. Make a compost bin for outside and small container for daily use inside

Finances
48. Stop using credit cards entirely for 3 months (1, 2, 3)
49. Get life insurance (May 2009)
50. Pay off 50% of all credit card debt
51. Create a budget and setup online monitoring (September 2009)
52. Contribute to 401k at work (March 2009)
53. Save 1000$ emergency cash (November 2009)
54. Quit paying for vices (August 2009)
55. Start to save for an emergency fund (February 2010 - baby step #1 accomplished. again)

Health and Self
56. Find a general practitioner and get a physical (January 2009)
57. Find a dentist and have a routine cleaning (September 2009)
58. Fix crown (December 2009)
59. Get wisdom teeth out
60. Quit smoking cigarettes for 6 full months (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
61. Chart cycles for 2 full years (4/10-4/09, 4/09-4/10)
62. Fix up a bike and ride it to downtown
63. Get prescription sunglasses
64. Go 6 months between hair appointments for 1 year (December 2008, June 2009, 12-09)
65. No fast food for 1 month

Socialite
66. Make 3 new girl friends (Cindy, Eve, Rachel (again))
67. Meet 3 more neighbors (Tom, Melissa, Rod)
68. Go dancing downtown
69. Send a friend in Boston a present for "no reason" (June 2009)
70. See my laark ladies once a year each (at least) 2009, 2010, 2011
71. See my parents once a year (at least) 2009, 2010, 2011
72. Send out Xmas cards each year 2009, 2010
73. Go to 1 Gator game each year 2009, 2010, 2011
74. Send Piper a surprise present (April 2009)
75. Have 6 parties over the course of the 1001 days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 - NYE '08, St. Patrick's '09, St. Patrick's '10, Piper's 4th Birthday picnic, housewarming at 931, Labor Day Chili Dogs

Family
76. Adopt a dog (July 2009)
77. Talk about a time line for building our family (January 2009)
78. Have a "nice" dinner date every 2 months for a whole year 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
79. Take professional photos with Collin
80. Walk the dog together to the dog park each week for 2 months 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Generosity
80. Donate clothes to hospice (January 2009, May 2009)
81. Donate to operation catnip once each year 2009, 2010, 2011
82. Donate 10 cans of food
83. Give $$ when asked by a homeless person (August 2009)
84. Gift food to a neighbor unexpectedly (January 2009)
85. Buy from the farmer's market 5x 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Gainesvillian
86. Go to the Butterfly Rainforest exhibit (September 2009)
87. Visit the Natural History Museum (not butterfly part)
88. Visit the Harn Museum of Fine Art
89. See the nutcracker during the Christmas season
90. See a performance at the Phillips Center (Ben Folds, March 2010)
91. Spend a day at Newnan's Lake
92. Try 6 new restaurants around town 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 - reggae shack, peach valley cafe, boca fiesta, mexico lindo, ichiban, shooting star
93. Visit the Tree of Life Meggan always talks about - Cellon Oak Park
94. Walk around the Spring and Fall arts festivals (spring, fall)
95. Go to two Downtown Friday shows at the community plaza (June 2009)

Floridian
96. Visit the Cedar Key seafood festival
97. Float down the springs (in a canoe)
98. Hike Paine's Prairie and/or visit for a meteor shower
99. Tour the Lakeridge Winery
100. See more of St. Augustine with Tom and Melissa than just their house
101. Take Early to a dog friendly beach (October 2009)

One Year

2009-10-06T20:36:00.003-04:00

I'd be posting all about my wonderful weekend celebrating the opening of the art show and the first anniversary of my marriage.

Except...
My nose is buried in my new book.

The Year of the Flood, the latest by Margaret Atwood. I read The Handmaid's Tale in high school and wrote my final research paper in Dystopian Lit juxtaposing Oryx and Crake between it and Brave New World. Sigh. Now this is a sequel (of sorts) to Oryx and Crake and so far, so good. I read she is writing a third for the group and you can bet if things continue as the last 75 pages have I'll be reading it as well. I'm making it obvious that I have a crazy love for utopian/dystopian novels. Anthem was the first (as I'm sure it was for many teenagers in American schools) but it was just the beginning.

Collin bought me this book for our first anniversary. We decided a while ago that it would be fun (and cheaper?) to stick to the time-old traditional anniversary gifts. Paper it was for Year One. He had some help with this pick, but I gave him a few ideas that I would love all involving paper. I was excited to see the package on our couch this past Sunday when we arrived home after our weekend away.
I was also happy to see a bottle of champagne left chilling in our fridge by our awesome neighbor/friend/cat-feeder Craig.

For his gift I ended up purchasing Collin a ticket to go see Deathklok again this year in Orlando when they come on tour. They're playing with two of his other favorite bands even! It may seem more romantic to buy tickets for the both of us but when I really thought about it I wanted to gift him a night away with the boys, too. It's purely coincidence that this second gift actually saved me another forty bucks ;)

In Review

2009-10-06T10:38:00.001-04:00

November 2008

December 2008

January 2009

February 2009

March 2009

April 2009

May 2009

June 2009

July 2009

August 2009

September 2009

October 2009

So this was a year. One of just many of the future if we are lucky. If not, at least we got life insurance in this span of the past 365+.

We've done more than this together, and more apart as well. Dealt with health issues, road trip vacations, working multiple jobs and a new member to the family who ate our ipod (to his dismay) and a nude high heel (to mine).
It all works out in the end.

I sure as hell hope that people are right when they say your first year of marriage is the hardest. I don't think they are, but if so, we're set for a great life.
I love this home we have and our little family of four (when you include the fuzzy black children of ours). Next year will hopefully be more of the same. Days and months flying by. Filled with love and smiles and good things. There are hardships, but this partner I have here, he gets it. He knows how to support me. When to shut up, when to talk, when to draw me a bath and when to start doing the dishes. He cleans the litterbox and doesn't take it personally when I don't finish the sandwich me made me because it has too much mustard.
I love him. More than I ever expected.
and he gives me more love than I ever knew possible.

Strange Days

2009-09-30T07:51:00.003-04:00

Life is still full and has been... interesting lately. I haven't done any enameling work since my last big push before I had to send everything down for the show. I ran out of flux in the process and since starting to use it again and do everything right, I'm not about to waste materials and time on an inferior result. I find myself missing it even though it's been stressful.
It's been nice though, I worked long hours at home to finish everything in the past couple months and to make time recently for gardening, house cleaning and general sittin'-on-ass has been wonderful.

Things that have also been wonderful in the past week:

1. The change of seasons. Fall equinox came and went and somehow in North Central Florida, this meant an instant change in weather. The breezes are cooler, the evenings are mild and this morning I had to wear a sweater because it was 56 degrees out. This is particularly awesome because it was the exact same weather pattern the year before for our wedding weekend. How coincidental for our anniversary to come each year with the most glorious weather imaginable.

2. Collin and I planned and installed an invisible trellis for our flowering vines on the backyard fence. The passionflower is still growing like crazy but ran out of room in its little corner and started to spill over into the neighbors yards. Woops. Hey, at least it's pretty. We've been meaning to help out our little yard for weeks now but with working on the show pieces and the incredible heat it just wasn't happening. Pictures soon, although it's "invisible" so they're not as awesome as you might imagine.

3. Also fixed up the front yard some more and replaced some of the boxwoods and flowers that had died since putting them in this spring. Thank you Lowe's for having a 1 year return policy on potted plants. I will never pay for one again this year.

4. Because it is so nice out we were able to walk Early down to the Northeast dog park this week. She and Smokey had a blast and it was fun to see more of our neighborhood that I had yet to discover. Something that makes me want to stay here forever. I need to take a photo tour of our area and show off the picturesque homes we have.

5. Cooking up a storm for Collin and myself. First it was the need to get in the last of the late summer meals. The bbq and burgers and salads (like we won't be eating that kind of thing all winter or something). Now I'm suddenly struck with the urge to bake casseroles and roast pork loin and winter squash. I can feel the knit sweaters and hot cocoa now.

6. Kara came to town! I was able to see one of my best friends (even if just for a few hours) meet her sweet boyfriend whom she's been dating for a year now and catch up. Something about our wedding - Anna and TJ, Kara and Ben and Meggan and Ben all started dating just before then and are still going strong, Rachel and Nick are engaged even. Am I some kind of good luck in love charm or what? We had good times at The Top and a delicious brunch at a new place in town. It's not close to our house but it's right by the interstate which will make for a nice meet up spot with the family in the future.

There were a few things this week that weren't so good.

1. Timmy, the beloved cat of our neighbors at the Fat Tuscan Cafe, was hit by a car and killed this past Saturday morning. This was the same little boy kitty we found and were feeding under our house. I'll never forget the first day we met him and coaxed him into a carrier with some wet food. Man he was pissed. I was crying with laughter at his pitiful little growls he was trying to make while still eating. Grrrnomnomnomrrrnom. So cute. It shouldn't have happened - but it did - and in many ways the situation unfolded in the best ways possible. Whoever hit him was kind enough to move him over to the grass near Eve's driveway. She also was out of town that week. This kept her and Timmy's owners from having to see him first thing that morning or lying there in the road, worse off. Collin and I were able to move him onto an old towel and cover him up (we were already wearing gloves and working in the yard) before getting and telling his owners. I took his collar off for her too, that way if she didn't want to look at him, she would know for sure who it was. This was... hard. I haven't had a reason to cry like this in so long. Collin had the hardest parts of moving Timmy onto the towel and going to tell his owner. I couldn't thank him enough for being strong that day.

2. While we were in the front yard later, working to keep our minds off of it all, our upstairs neighbors cat escaped and sprinted past us into the next door neighbors yard. OMFG are you kidding me? Right after we are emotionally drained by sad kitty issues, we're chasing a cat around a giant yard hoping he hasn't found any of Timmy's pass-throughs. Now I don't mean to brag, but I was the one who was finally able to sprint and catch him - half his body already over the fence - by the tail and the scruff. I carried him back to his home and he was so scared! This one is definitely not an outdoor kitty, and after seeing Timmy that morning and the stress of chasing his own little one around outside, our neighbor has no plans to let him live outdoors.

3. Our new landlord is awesome and helping us in a million ways by fixing up every problem we have with our place and then some. She is however starting to rub me slightly the wrong way over little things like storing items in the garage that we - not she - cleaned out. So we can store our stuff in there. It's silly, and I can't imagine it would ever be a real issue, but Eve and I were talking last night and both were a bit taken back by how she seemed to think that it's in any way cluttered at the moment. Maybe I need to show her some photos of what cluttered really looks like.

4. I took photos of all the last pieces I made for the show and promptly forgot to load them on the computer. By the time I noticed, Collin's sister had already taken her camera home and erased half of them. Boo. My fault entirely, but I hope she can find them in her recycle folder!!

Tomorrow marks the start of October and it means I need to boogie down and get some Halloween plans started. I want to decorate the house and porch this year, carve pumpkins and figure out a costume that requires minimal effort and money. And one I can easily eat/drink in and doesn't require a wig or face paint. I'm thinking we may make animal masks or costumes and wear them with our regular clothes. Eh?
October will kick off this weekend with a wonderful start.
Thursday night is Ladies Night and then Islands are playing at 1982. Done.
Friday Collin and I are going to the salon to get his hair cut and my nails done. My yearly manicure - what a treat! Then we'll drive with Early Girl down to Sarasota for the gallery reception and hanging out with our friends Matt and Janelle and their dog Toby.
Saturday we have plans to go to the dog beach for Early's first visit with dinner later that evening to celebrate the one-year anniversaries in the family. Also that night, more catching up with old friends and visiting our favorite Sarasota eateries. Including Muncheez 420 Cafe - a spot close to the bars that was recently featured on the Sarasota episode of Man vs. Food.
Sunday we'll pick up freezer goodies from Granny on our way out of town before driving back for a quiet evening on our real anniversary. Maybe a movie in with some popcorn and, weather permitting, a cozy fire.
Then, it's back to the grind. If only it were like last year and I had next week off and we were looking towards vacation in Savannah.

Fantasies

2009-09-10T21:54:00.006-04:00

I can't stop listening to the new Metric album.
No really, it's been on repeat for a few hours. It's burned to a cd and tomorrow morning will be put into my cars player. I'm going to guess it won't come out until Collin ejects it to put in something heavy.

This is one of those bands for me. One of those bands whose albums I know I will love before they come out. Take this as my recommendation (not that you think I have any taste in music) that you go get it somehow. I say this fully aware that I am biased entirely. Almost every part of my adult life has a metric song that goes with. Freshman year college parties, to late night city walks in Boston, heady love and heartache in Sarasota, early morning driving on I-75. So much more. It's all there.
Somehow this band ended up as a soundtrack of sorts. I wouldn't have guessed until tonight. Not until I got this latest album for myself. It's new but sounds like all the songs that push old memories right to the front. I would have listed a dozen other bands before Metric - and they would still be appropriate - they all have the same effect. Really, it makes perfect sense.

I'm excited for this - to make new memories to these songs and mark this time in my life so vividly. I know it will happen like the rest. I know that a few years down the line I'll dig this burned and scratched up copy with pink sharpie scrawl from the depths of my Ford Focus and I'll wonder, "What number is that one song with slow intro I loved?".
I'll rub it on my t-shirt to clean it off.
I'll turn up the volume.
I'll roll down the windows.

I'll remember it all.

photo dump

2009-09-07T16:42:00.003-04:00

Today I borrowed Meggan's camera (because it is amazingly better than mine at macro shots) after we hit up Michael's for a few fun things. I needed to take photos of all the work I will be sending to the show in Bradenton in a few weeks and also take good shots of the pieces I'll be putting up on Etsy soon.

I think the swords may be my new favorites.
Maybe.

(or maybe the spring oak leaf is my favorite for real)

2009-09-02T18:38:00.006-04:00

A few weekends ago, the night we took photos of our work for the art show, Meggan, Ben and I drove one of my armchairs and a small table and 100 feet of extension cord down the block to the Thomas Center gardens. We were there to take photos of Meggan with her fabulous anthropologie inspired birdcage chandelier and get a few sister-shots while we were at it. Thankfully we were familiar with the setup of the grounds and knew right where the electrical box was (and how much length we'd need to make it into that tree). Sometimes you just get the itch to set a scene and make it happen. I want to do something similar again as the bike tire chandeliers Meggan makes were my original inspiration but she'd just sold her only currently finished one. When you have the inspiration, the perfect location and a sister in law with talent and a great camera - why not?

We set up, opened some wine, and played around with scenes and backgrounds until dusk really settled in.

Here are my favorites:

sisters
Ben took all our duo photos and I took a few of Meggan by herself. She even sat me down for a couple shots at the end of the night. You can really see the difference in lighting between the two group shots and the portraits of me. I love the blue cast - it's all Alice in Wonderland nighttime glow.

We both fell in love with the blue evening light and tried for a few more photos together. Some were alright but the light fades much faster after the sun sets and before long we both had ghoulish shadows making us both look less than attractive. Without wanting to mess with any other light source or flash we called it a night and packed up our things. Ben used his skillz to drive in reverse back to the house with the chair and all the other goods.

Without getting all sappy - I love these photos. Not just becuase they're photos with my new sister whom I am so lucky to share so many interests with, but because they once again show me how in love with our neighborhood I am. In love. Never a day goes by that I am not aware of how lucky we are to have found a safe and beautiful home, in an area with neighbors who care and gorgeous public spaces to enjoy as we please.

Lovelies

2009-08-25T11:54:00.003-04:00

Looks like that little art show is getting some attention down south. A small magazine in Sarasota called West Coast Woman is writing a feature on the Bradenton show. The event was originally going to just be listed in the calendar but with it as a feature the writer asked for some photos. Meggan and I spent some time yesterday taking pictures of our things to send her way (and some fun sister pictures just because). These are the ones I passed along.

I realized after I was editing some of these that I only took photos of a few things and those were all similar in shape or color or design. Crap. Maybe I can get Meggan back here in a few days with that fabulous DSLR of hers to take a few more. I took some on my own with my little point-and-shoot but it's just not the same. Look out next week for more photos of more lovelies.

Collin will be on the road to the Palm Beach area for work all day Wednesday and Thursday. This isn't so bad (that money is much needed) and I can enamel Wednesday all night with the pop music station on as loud as I want (without being embarrassed). Thursday he'll miss my allergy skin test but I'm sure I'll take some photos of that fun time. I have a feeling that I won't want to work much after my forearm is injected with all the stuff that makes my immune system work on overdrive.

I'm working on it

2009-07-30T10:42:00.006-04:00

Yesterday Erin sent me along the press release for the gallery show in October - how exciting! A real press release that has my name in it and tells people that I make things and that those things will be on exhibit and for sale in an art gallery.
It is very hard to express the squeals of excitement that have come out of my mouth over this for you via the internet. I am both simultaneously excited and freaked out. I am relieved that the whole family and all the Betty's will have their items on display as well. A big party, with all your favorite people. It's a very non-harsh environment in which to reveal my enamelware and Etsy.com store to the world (hah).

Here are some little earrings I've made. They probably won't be sold on this kind of hardware, but that's what I had in the jewelry box today.

I finished writing up my storefront information; about me, store policies, shipping, etc. Etsy is so easy to use! I'm glad I signed up for an account way back when I did so that I can have a little more street cred with an anniversary date of about a year and a half a go and 8 whole positive feedbacks (from shopping, of course). I was contemplating setting up an additional account for selling, something with a new shop name not connected to my own. I even went so far as to procure this name for myself on etsy, blogger and wordpress should I ever change my mind.
Instead, I stuck with what I have. Having my real name connected to my store will keep consistency (and that anniversary date and feedback that is oh so important in my mind). I can also integrate my shop with my blog if it ever becomes something other than a part time hobby.

love, LindseyKaye - it has a fabulous ring to it, no? Also, I think it's sweet that upon sending people their purchases I can include my business card and it will serve as a slautation and thanks; a reminder that this was handmade with love.
I have yet to list any items - I'm waiting until most of what I'm making for the show and site launch are done to pick between them and figure out who will be sold where. Until then the shop is set to "vacation mode" with some information about the upcoming show. Hopefully if anyone stumbles upon it until then they will be intrigued enough by the pendant in my profile photo and the fact that I'll be in a real art show in a real art gallery to come back.

What do you think?
www.lindseykaye.etsy.com

Simple and clean. That's what I'm going for these days.

Homecoming

2009-07-27T10:17:00.002-04:00

Welcome home, Early Girl.

I can't believe you're finally here! To be honest, I didn't ever really see myself as a dog owner. I liked dogs alright, but considered myself a loyal cat person. It wasn't until I lived with Mark and Mud that I ever even thought about having a dog friend of my own. Mud was so sweet and even-tempered. He was playful and an irreplaceable guard dog. I love that boy.
Then Collin came into my life and even though a loyal dog person - he always loved and cared for Lucky. Still, when family or friends with dogs would visit I could see it in his face. I knew he wanted a dog of his own; to raise and love and come home to.
Now, here she is.

Recall this post and it will be clear that we jumped the gun a little on our adoption plans. I was thinking that it wouldn't be until the beginning of 2010 that we would be in a favorable situation to bring home a dog. After Gabe told us of his plans to move in with his girlfriend, we thought we'd get things started. It might have been nice to have a little time with the house to ourselves before adding a pup to the mix, but it wasn't necessary. In fact, because we'll be living with another roommate come November, this was the exact right time to take her in and get settled as a family. She will know us and the house and feel comfortable and safe before we add another person and all the excitement that comes with.

I took Thursday and Friday off work for some "maternity leave" - basically to help Gabe with his moving and keep our house from turning into a tornado field in the wake. Thursday had us working our asses off deep cleaning the kitchen. Moving the fridge and stove to sweep/mop underneath kind of cleaning. It was gross and therefore all the more necessary. We even got around to switching the door handles on the fridge so it doesn't swing open into the counter anymore. Man, that was hard.
That afternoon we drove out to Alachua to pick up our girl. Came home to a quiet house and a lover who almost immediately found her toys. We have given up keeping her off the couches (and resigned to the fact that when we buy new furniture like that we will just have to keep her in mind) but she still isn't allowed in the bed. Being the ultimate good-girl she is, she knows right away when she's doing something wrong and it takes us no time at all to correct her. A snap of my fingers and she'll get down, sit, lay down, come, and so much else.
Early even met Smokey and they have a lot of fun chasing each other around the back yard. Gotta love that crazy-dog-run dirt spray. She met Inca too but they didn't hit it off as well. I even heard Early bark when she was with Inca so I knew that she wasn't happy at all. This was after hearing her bark for the first time when we were walking and a stranger came up behind us. I am so glad to know that she can bark and we'll be working with her to reinforce good barking behaviors (like barking when someone comes on the porch or knocks at the door).

Mostly, she likes to sleep. On the couch, on the wood floors, on the rug, on her bed. She snores and farts and is adorable. She even seems to always have a pillow under her head. Her favorite toys are the skinny fox, the rope ring and the baby bone (a plush bone-shape toy with a squeaker she never squeeks). I would still say that her very favorite is the toy we gave her when we came to visit the second time. Just a little rope knot, but I think somehow she knows that this is hers and it came from us with love.

scared shitless

2009-07-13T09:24:00.002-04:00

This summer will bring some changes in the lives of Lindsey and Collin over the next coming months. One big awesome amazing happy thing for the both of us, and two big things for me that will ultimately affect him - one good, one bad.
Well, that depends on how you classify good and bad I suppose.

Let's get that bad news out of the way, shall we?

I'm going to the dentist.

Ugh. The dentist.
Here is where I confess something terrible:
It has been nearly 6 years since I last visited the dentist. For anything. Even back then at that last appointment I was in need of the two things that I need now. Both scare the crap out of me and are so expensive that I just couldn't get myself back there to take care of it. Years of putting this to the farthest back of all burners has made it an almost immediate concern.
But now, I have this lovely thing called dental insurance. Maybe this is nothing new to you, but for me it is a lifelong first. I have actually had said insurance for one whole year now but because there is a year long waiting period for specific procedure coverage, I have been waiting still.

Or putting it off because I am still so freaked out.
That's a bit more honest there.

First thing first, I need a crown. I chipped a middle molar back in high school. A little ding off the side where the original tooth was worn thin thanks to a filling put in years before. I chipped this tooth on gum (?). It never bothered me but it chipped again a couple years later and then at the last appointment I had it was clean and healthy but needed a crown. Something that took longer than the one week I was home over winter break my freshman year of college. Since then my putting it off has been about time and money. When can I take days to recover, when will I have a thousand bucks to cover dental work??
Never, that's when.
Until now, with insurance that covers 50-80% of the cost and at least a couple remaining paid vacation days in the bank to cushion the blow that is taking off work.

Also, those damn wisdom teeth. The top two have been through the gums and in place for several years now. They had room but I know they need to come out because they can't be properly cleaned back there. The bottom two are another story; impacted and coming through the gums anyway they have ruined the orthodontic work done on my bottom teeth back in middle school for sure. My jaw clicks and aches sometimes. I know this has to be fixed.
Again, when do I have the time for major oral surgery and the thousands of dollars to cover the costs?? Only now.
And it is only now that I can go in to see someone even for a routine cleaning because I have been so ashamed of not being able to take care of those bigger problems that I wouldn't let a dentist in there when I could well afford the regularly scheduled shit.

Ugh. I am honestly terrified. I am anxious over pain, over them telling me it's worse than it is, over the embarrassment of neglecting my teeth for so long. I am worried the crown will never be right (previous problems my mom had) and that I'll get some crazy infection and will be put on antibiotics only to have some severe allergic reaction. I don't even have an epi-pen yet. I have never had surgery or anesthesia - I am freaked the fuck out over saying or doing something weird/vulgar/bitchy/crazy while I'm under. These are the things that scare me the most.
The other thing is the money. I'm worried that we can't afford this (even though we have to some way or another) and that it's one more thing that will keep us from getting out of debt. Something we've been working really hard on together.
So yeah, wish me luck in August after our birthdays. I'm still waiting until then for my first appointment because the coverage for major procedures doesn't kick in until September 1. I have a hunch that once they see what is in there, they will want to start fixing it right away.

My only comfort is Collin. I am put at ease knowing he will be taking care of me while I recover. I am happy knowing he has a flexible schedule and will be there for me when I need him. When he tells me not to worry about the money, I don't so much. I know he will never resent me for needing this and needing to spend our money on this. He's even already seen me in a terrible and embarrassingly incapacitated state thanks to vodka, my bridesmaids and my bachelorette party. I love him.
So, there's the bad.

The good for me is that I will be featured in a SRQ gallery/boutique along with Collin's mom, sister and the other Betty's. So many of his mom's friends are truly talented (herself included - pottery what?) and I'm really flattered that she thought to include me and invite me to exhibit at the show.
Of course, this would spark my motivation for a full on enamel debut. I have been working for the past few weeks since learning of the show to get my shit together and really start something.
My goals are to make over 50 pieces for this show with 20 pieces or so to put on a newly designed and launched Etsy.com store site. I want to design and print business cards to set out with my work while it is for sale at the gallery to spread the word and encourage people who don't find exactly what they love to contact me about custom art. I want to start branding myself and my product.
I am totally excited and totally scared about putting myself out there like this. I have the potential to make some real money here and that also puts other worries in my head. I have been talking about this since I got my kiln a year ago and I am glad I've had the time to play and create gifts and keep it my hobby. I am worried though that with it as a job, it will lose the fun. I think this will be something I have to consciously not stress out about. Something that I need to purposefully keep simple and uncomplicated.
Something I know very little about.
I have 2.5 months remaining until the exhibit opening on October 2nd (our first anniversary weekend!) and I think I will be just fine.

However... and here's the part about the big awesome totally rad exciting wonderful thing involving the both of us...

We're adopting a dog!

Thought I'd be knocked up, yeah? No.
Collin and I have been talking about a dog for quite a long time now. Discussing when the best time was, when we would have the money and space. What about Gabe's cats? Gabe doesn't want a dog.
Well, Gabe is moving out. In less than two weeks now we will be welcoming this sweet girl into our lives.

Internet, meet Early.
This little girl has been in foster care for far too long and we are so so so so excited to bring her home next week. I'm even taking two days off for "maternity leave" to spend time getting to know her and getting used to a new schedule.
Collin is nothing but excited - I however am still a little scared. I've never had a dog before and I am trusting Collin to help me learn how to be a good doggymom to this one here. I know she belongs with us - we've even had our eyes on her from the start. It's just hard not to be anxious about the start of something new, whether it's good or bad or just different.

I've found myself nesting in the middle of all these new things. Mostly in preparation for the pup's arrival, I just want everything clean. I want to welcome her and spend our time together hanging out having fun with no worries about chores or to-do lists. It's also in part because Gabe is moving and I'm unearthing items that haven't been used in years - that may be part of it...

Right now I am trying to concentrate on the present before it becomes the past. I am appreciating my quiet morning routine, my lucky (while he is my only, my goodboy) and my messy house full of Gabe before he heads out to move in with his own love.

This life is a good one, even with changes on the horizon.

Southern Summer 2009

2009-07-08T11:41:00.002-04:00

So we went to Tennessee to visit my parents at the end of June.
The last part of the month was crazy. I will admit to having cried more than once about the stresses of work combined with the stresses of taking time off from work. I don't really know how I managed to take 2 whole weeks off for the wedding last year.
Everything came together though; work was tied up, the car was clean, bags packed and off we were through the south and into the mountains.

Every time we drive somewhere on vacation, there are photos of us taken in the car. Collin is almost always driving. He is so wonderful.
Of the 1000 miles round trip, I think I only drove 250? That's love.

We left behind the flat land of Florida and Georgia for the hills of South Carolina.
Then the scenery changed again to large rock walls and mountain passes. Blondie did a good job up that steep grade. I love my little car. Miraculously (not really) we only got "lost" once, right in Elizabethton. Of course I use quotations around that lost because we were actually exactly where we were supposed to be, we just thought we were lost and proceeded to drive in big circles for half an hour. A quick call to my dad and he laughed at me and told us to quit turning and go through the first light, we'll know where we are then.
He was right.

I love coming home to Tennessee. They have lived here in the cabin for almost exactly as long as Collin and I have been together. My first trip here to visit them and the new family home was with him, just three summers ago. It was our first long drive together after many many separate drives up and down I-75; Sarasota to Gainesville and back. The sight of their land and the gate can relax my body like nothing else.

On the first day we just hung out. We arrived in the evening, but the days are long enough now that I could still go off and take photos - soaking it all in.

We ate this broccoli the first night we were there. Delicious. I hope this thumb they gave me gets greener every year.

It was the first time I was seeing their garden all done up. The last summer we were here my dad and Uncle Andy had a garden they worked together at Andy's house. My parents were still working on their home and didn't really have the time to put in for a proper plot.
This year though, whoooo boy, it's just grand. I love that you can see my grandma's house in the back ground.

Tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, dill, lettuce, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, bush beans, more lettuce, watermelon, and oh yeah - cabbage.

It was around the potting shed that we watched the birds and chipmunks from the back patio. You cannot know how delighted we were to find out my parents had named the resident chipmunk "chippie".
as in
"Where's my chippie?"

The fruit trees have gotten so much bigger. Mom added markers to help Grandma remember which trees were what when they weren't fruiting.

It's too bad that all the fruit this year is being destroyed by these little assholes. THANKS A LOT JAPAN FOR THE BEETLES!
(But really, thank you for your maple trees. They are glorious.)

Pears...

I can't tell you what these flowers are, I asked but do not remember. I do know though, that I want one.
Or five.

And the cutest little apples in the land.

We had a nice meal, watched TV and went to bed early(ish) that night. My dad has gotten a new job truck driving and works through the night. It's not a terrible schedule for him and my mom because they still have all weekend together.
He leaves at night after dinner and relaxation, around 9:30, works through the night and arrives home for a big breakfast at 8:30. Then he goes to sleep until just before dinner. It was too bad he didn't get to come along for all our fun stuff, but I am happy that he and my mom have a stable financial reality now - it's hard to find work anywhere let alone in these areas of the country.

Wednesday morning came and mom took us off to Blue Hole for a short hike and some waterfall action. After the last summer hike here, I figured the water would be way too freezing for swimming - I would be wrong. We parked at the top and made our way down nature's stairs to the first landing.

Blue hole is a creek that runs over three increasingly larger waterfalls. The middle fall pours into a wide round pool.

The first fall felt like it was in a cavern almost. There were only little pockets of the brightest sunlight. Spotlights through the trees and rock.

I had to stop myself and remember to take in the feeling of the cool breeze off the falls. In mid summer, it is a treat to feel this comfortable outside. Coming from Florida and the land of 100+ heat with 90% humidity I couldn't get enough.

We went down the next set of (mans) stairs to the second landing.

We were greeted by an even bigger waterfall and a pool I wish I'd swum in. Next time, I will. It was in no way too cold to swim this time - at least in this water.

Collin was brave and climbed down to the bottom and took this shot of the biggest fall of the series. There's no swimming at the bottom down there...

We headed home for an easy afternoon. Collin watched sports while I took a long nap on the couch, and then in our bed upstairs. What can I say, the best vacations are those when you have time to nap. We had another awesome dinner with fresh veggies from the garden again.
My parents don't have a garbage disposal or compost pile... but they do have these across the street: Goats!

Yaya, Pepper, Billie and Arnold.
Come and get those scraps!

Another evening spent watching TV (how can I miss So You Think You Can Dance?) and hanging aroundwas topped off by a night of looking at old photo albums from my dad's boat and fishing charter service. Some of the biggest smiles on my dad's and grandpa's faces are when they're holding fish that hang to their knees. I have many many memories on that boat, of the salty air and seasickness as I watched my family reel them in.

The next morning dad got home and we had breakfast, then it was off to Gem Mountain!
I was looking forward to this the most on this trip. I asked my parents if we could go gem mining sometime while we're up there and this place was the best - just under an hour away in Spruce Pine, NC. Mom bought us a 5 gallon bucket to share and we all went to town on the flume. Sifting and sorting.

Who would believe those gorgeous gemstones previously looked like this:

Is it obvious that in this photo I am in the middle of fulfilling a lifelong dream. I can't explain it or where it came from, but I have always wanted a bag of gemstones. Loose, faceted stones of all kinds. Well, after that Thursday my wish can come true. They may not all get faceted, but I have them for later.
To think there is a profession where an affinity for sparklies is the #1 skill requirement.

This was the biggest piece of aquamarine found that day. I left it in their capable hands to be cut and polished for future wearing. About a month and a half and I'll have a shiny surprise in the mail. Then for Christmas, the plan is to set both this one and the cushion cut aquamarine we purchased in Mexico on the cruise.
I asked Collin if he minded that one day I will become That Lady With Too Much Jewelry On.
He doesn't, as long as that's not until we're old.

Also, please check out the super adorable shirt I scored at the clothes swap we held at my house. Perfect for Tennessee.

Once the bucket was sorted, we took our gems inside to have them professionally checked out. A nice woman went through all 6 bags of ours and set aside all the stones large enough for jewelry-quality faceting. Those would be the stones on the left.
I really didn't know what to expect coming here. I thought maybe we'd find a few cool things but really? All this? It blew my mind.

A quick stop at the grocery store on our way home for burger fixings turned into my wet dream when we spied this little bottle in the beer cooler.
MAGIC HAT?!
Yes, the elusive Magic Hat. My most favorite of all beers. I became aquainted with this lovely in Boston and it's been almost 5 whole years since the sweet light taste hit my tongue. I have talked about this beer to anyone who's ever asked me, "What's your favorite beer?". Every time I drink some summer fruity brew, I wish it was this. A "not quite pale ale" it has hints of apricot and I could really drink it forever.
We also picked up a sixer of Lucky Kat, Magic Hat's other summer brew. New to me, it was delicious and I could not resist the name.

After lunch and beers we started separating out all the gems that were previously sorted at the mine. Of course we didn't buy one of those little books so I barely knew what most of this was hours later. Some were obvious; amethyst, quartz, ruby, garnet. The hard ones were the darker stones - is that tourmaline or onyx?? And the stones that looked just like the throw away rocks until they were wet. We quickly realized that we need some water and a bright light to see things like emerald and sapphire properly.

That day was also my parents 30th wedding anniversary.
Yes, 30th . 3-0 years. I love them so much and am so thankful to them for being a wonderful example of a happy marriage. Nothing is perfect, but they're still best friends and so in love after the years of raising kids, running businesses side-by-side, and moving across the country to a place where they knew no one.
A place though, that has views like this.
Lake Watagua - we had dinner here three years ago to celebrate their anniversary and Grandma wanted to take us here again this year. Boy do they make good catfish and fried pickles. Do not laugh at my Southern taste in food. Fried pickles are a regional favorite to be cherished and loved and passed on to future generations of Southerners.
Here's a panoramic view from a little ways down the walk. I think their favorite part about this restaurant is the wall of windows overlooking this lake and the mountains. In a way it reminds me of The Wharf restaurant from back in the day. Too bad there weren't any giant aquariums.

Thursday night saw more relaxing, more gem sorting and a late night look through my mom's old high school yearbooks. I had never really thought about the fact that my mom and her sisters are all a single grade apart - imagine that. Five girls, all in highschool (or a year away) at the same time. Gross.
I'm so glad my parents didn't have a bunch of kids like that... I even thanked my mom for this in the car later on this trip.

We planned Friday so that my dad could stay up after his shift and come with us to Elk River Falls. Blue Hole was a series of small falls but this one was one big drop! Definitely majestic.
I love seeing my dad enjoy these places and have fun taking us to see them ourselves. I have so many memories of him guiding us through the property in Arcadia way back when and now showing us these beautiful scenes in their new home.

Boulders like these really dwarf you.
This day was actually pretty chilly. Rain came over night and the humidity hit us that morning, it sprinkled a little but was mostly just cold when we were on our way to North Carolina. Honestly it was a welcome change to the heat of Florida for sure.

Some day, way way back, those giant rocks were pushed by the force of water. Amazing.

We left the falls and made a couple stops at some of my parents favorite farmer's markets. The first had dahlias as big as your head.
No, really.

AS BIG AS YOUR FACE.
Perfect natural geometry. Seeing things beautiful as this are what make me feel humbled. Grateful that the universe unfolded as it did.

So much good produce, right off the land. Mom bought some black raspberries, blueberries, white peaches and red plums. That night for dinner I made an amazing fruit salad as dessert.

They can grow poppies here!

Collin and I bought some local wildflower honey from their bees and a jar of homemade pecan apple butter. We also stopped by Hump Mountain Apple House to get, well, apples.
They also had their own honey.

When we came home Dad hit the sheets and Collin curled up on the couch to watch baseball or something. Mom and I went off to downtown Elizabethton for some antique store shopping. I have so much love for those little shops. I ended up finding an adorable mug and breakfast plate set, a ring holder shaped like a cat with a long tail (like lucky) and a fabulous table on which the TV in our bedroom now sits. I've been actively looking here in the 'ville for so long to find a table that fit in that spot, was strong enough to hold the tv and was open enough at the bottom to keep the air conditioning vent accessible. I haggled the owner down 8 bucks and we took it home with us.
Collin was sound asleep on the couch when we got back so I read some and woke him up in time to go water the garden together and start on dinner.

Every night after eating and cleaning up we would sit in the rocking chairs that line the front porch and watch the fireflies as they rise from the earth. The hummingbirds would dart from feeder to feeder suckin on the sugar water and sure enough as the light faded, the flashes started. Friday night I finally let that little kid loose and grabbed a jar to catch some for myself. They're so slow - this was not hard. They didn't light up in the jar like I'd hoped though and soon enough I let them loose.

We watched a movie Friday night and woke up for our last breakfast together on Saturday. My favorite, biscuits and gravy. We packed the car, said some long goodbyes and were once again off, headed back home. We had planned a pit stop in Savannah to hit up Vinnie Van-go-go's for a slice and a beer for dinner. It was SO HOT in Savannah though that I was dripping all through my meal after walking just a few blocks. Our the window flew our romantic plans of walking the city for a while, getting ice cream or something sweet and sightseeing again where we honeymooned last year.
We finished our food, and walked to the car in the garage. After 5 1/2 hours of driving already Collin was never so ready to get back on the road.
I tried to take photos of the "welcome to" signs for each state both up and back...

FAIL.
Living in Florida, I find it funny sometimes that I have to drive north to get to The South. Hopefully the next time we visit there will be a white christmas to greet us.

Jenn

2009-06-13T13:49:00.001-04:00

The newest piece, and the first created at my little enameling work corner.

Created on a domed round copper piece with a silver pendant setting. This one is named for its recipient, the super cool girlfriend of our roommate Gabe.

Today I'm working on two more in similar colors and design. It's impossible to make a duplicate of anything you create in a kiln, but I am so in love with the background that I can't stop making pieces this same color. I tried some watercolor enamels for the first time on her and I love the depth I can achieve in the base - in the right light, she sparkles even without any gold.

Coming soon: pendants for Misha and Marion.

Project Backyard : One Month

2009-05-08T09:25:00.000-04:00

This is the story of our back yard.

When we moved in, the house and yard looked very different. Most of that difference was the garbage all over the place. It took little time to get the inside of the house and the front porch comfortable. Two years later and I'm still just now making plans to give us more storage and simplify our life.
The back yard was always just a dirt patch with weeds. All kinds of weeds you can imagine, I'm sure.

Just about one month later, our hard work in making the yard as enjoyable as the rest of the house is paying off. I dug up a photo of the yard from last summer when we put in the pool. I wish I'd taken a photo before we cleared enough weeds to set it up, but I think I can sum up the amount by saying that they were EVERYWHERE.

One summer of fun in the pool was followed by a few months of upkeep and cleaning even though it was too cold to swim. Then the winter happened and we just let it go. The water was too cold to clean properly and we kind of gave up. Out of sight, out of mind. Had the pool (or yard) been a size that allowed us to walk all the way around it, we may have kept things going. But it was not. So the pool had to go.
This yard we have now is quiet and clean. It's brimming with the possibility of vegetables to eat. Let's follow along.

Day 7:

Grass seedlings are sprouting. I really thought they'd take longer than this to show themselves. Proof that lawn repair kits work really well when you use them to start lawns from scratch.
Future sunflowers! I sprinked (way too many) sunflower seeds that my mom sent me from her own flowers in Tennessee. They are almost 3 feet tall by now.
This purple ballerina angel trumpet was a variety I'd never seen before this one. I'm sure they're pretty common (I bought this one at Lowe's, right?) but I'm only familiar with the cream or peach drop variety. All of them are lovely, but something about the double-petal and upward bloom caught my eye. These have been flowering every day since part way through the first week. The blooms don't last long, but they're so beautiful.
The variegated jasmine trained on the root trellis. This one has bloomed since day one, the confederate jasmine is slower but more robust. It has bloomed a little but I think it's working on sending out vines more.
Day 14:

Look, real grass. Almost a lawn we can enjoy! Things were still really patchy at this point and I think this is around the time I sprinkled some more grass seed on things and evened them out. Fire ants were still coming up even though we'd been treating that little area of yard for almost a year (since we put in the damn pool). I finally gave in and bought another product that you attach to the hose and spray over the whole yard. It has worked wonders. Good thing is that it also kills fleas (and a million other things) so when we get that doggy he/she will have a safe place to play, free of pests.Day 19:

A panoramic shot to show just how much things have grown so far. The squash and zucchini (under the jasmine arch) are good indicators of the explosive growth that has taken place.

Day 27:

One month (pretty much) from the planting date and we have such good growth - the flowers tell me that the plants are happy.

Here are those sunflowers from seed, BIG DIFFERENCE.

And the first tomato flower. Soon, you will be a fruit and I will eat you no matter what my doctor says about me eating tomatoes with GERD.
The first bell pepper flower. I am happy to be growing these in red and yellow. Or is it orange and yellow? Either way, it's not green, and those are the bell peppers I have yet to come to like. It's been quite some time since Collin and I met and I proudly exclaimed my hatred of peppers... looks like he's rubbed off on me some. It proves you can begin to like something if you prepare it enough for another person.
Zucchini explosion! The growth of these plants is seriously mind-boggling. These plants have gotten gigantic. I probably should have planted fewer things around them though because I've already had to relocate some basil and may need to move a marigold because they're just not getting sun anymore. These big broad leaves are protecting more blossoms than I can count. We are being very patient though and resisting the urge to pick off all the flowers and fry them up right now before they can give off fruit. It's hard, but we're waiting until the first round of veggies are up for harvest before we raid the plants for their blooms.
The biggest surprise of the garden so far has been the passion flowers. The only variety I've ever seen, and the variety on the tag of the plant we purchased had purple flowers. A pretty and softer palette. The first bloom on our vine happened to be a bright magenta! HOW AWESOME?! We've been back to the store to get supplies to clean up the front yard (another story for another time) and every passion flower at their store was in bloom, but none were this color. I think we're lucky to have gotten this by chance. The purple would have been nice, but this adds some real color to the corner.

The whole yard shot at one month. Grass is growing, veggies have started to flower and shrubs are happy and thriving.
Collin and I are both very genetically recessive. Blonde hair, blue eyes. When we have kids, they're nearly guaranteed to be the same. I like to think somewhere on that genetic code is the place where our parents handed down their green thumbs - looks like we got full sets of that one, too.

Seeds of Love

2009-04-07T08:13:00.000-04:00

This is a photo from last summer before we installed the pool. The yard had already been cleared most of the way by Collin's dad one afternoon when he was visiting and bored (thanks, Craig). Still, weeds weeds weeds everywhere.

This is a photo from a couple weekends ago after we took down the pool and started working on digging up the last of the weeds and roots. Potato vines are the worst; the thorns somehow get sharper and more numerous the deeper you go. Some of those ended up about 5 feet long but we dug out some other nuisance roots that were over 7 feet long! I've also been treating the yard for fire ants periodically over the past year and consistently for the past month or so. There are still ant hills that crop up here and there. Oh, and there was a nice surprise of swarming carpenter ants on the garage wall near the hose. I have no mercy for poisonous insects - they were promptly and thoroughly poisoned. We also have a hefty bucket full of rocks ranging in size from <1" to >15 lbs. Other inorganic items we found buried in the yard: a full size fast-food tray about half a foot deep, and old-school home made label from 1983, a t-shirt, several pieces of broken glass and bottles, a razor head, and lots of random plastic film.

This past Saturday, to celebrate 6-months-married (already?!), we finished the job. Our landlord is awesome and gave us a generous budget with which to purchase supplies for landscaping the yard. We still have plenty of money left to add more to the back and even re-do the front yard too. The front will have to wait a couple weeks but I'm excited for things to look good. Working on a project like this is so much better when we can do it together, we're a good team. And planting a garden together is, for me at least, pretty darn sweet.

I researched good plants for our area and walked around the Lowe's garden center taking notes on my favorite flowers and vines. I saw a lot of plants from my yard growing up and, naturally, quite a few wound up on our cart. I know these plants grow well in our hot, humid summers and the drought conditions that somehow combine with hurricane season. Things like angel trumpet flowers, jasmine, and liriope.

Here's collin raking in the good stuff before we plant the border. There are some really huge wild hibiscus plants along the back fence that we opted to keep. Mostly because it was going to be impossible to dig them out without some kind of power tool. They also are pretty. In the late summer they like to bloom bright red drop flowers. We cut them back so much a few weeks ago when we started working on things. They've already grown so much - I think we'll have a lot more trimming to do throughout the season.

This is the back fence line, where we planted flowers and shrubs exclusively. It was so bright when I took some of these, I doubt you can really make out the individual plants too well. On the left though, you can see the jessamine vine that will hopefully crawl all over the fence. That along with the passion flower vine and two kinds of jasmine! I was able to save the longest roots and tie them together to make natural arching trellis for all the vines.

The finished product, including fire pit. We reserved the left side of the fence for a few flowers and all the vegetables. The whole yard is bright, but I wanted to make sure that the little guys don't get burned this summer so the shadow created by the fence line should do the trick. In the ground are tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, yellow crooked-neck squash, zucchini, watermelons, basil, mint, and onions! We saved the jasmine for this side of the fence. I know it will get big eventually and once the veggies are done, or after we move on and they are neglected, the jasmine will keep that side beautiful. We also spread out grass seed on the lawn. I can't wait to see it start sprouting - really I can't wait to break out the lawn chair and get some sun with a bbq going and a cold drink in my hand.

So, who wants to come to the eventual garden party? This yard is going to be perfect for enjoying friends, cooking outside, and eventually playing with our new pup. The pup who was, in part, our motivation for landscaping the yard. We wanted to make sure the lawn and garden were well-established before letting a dog back there. Plus, we wanted a nice place for us to play together; one that wasn't full of thorny vines and fire ants and broken glass.
As sore as I still am, it was a wonderful day.

make it hot

2009-03-31T12:41:00.000-04:00

ENAMELING!

This is my attempt at motivating myself to start making things with my hands again.
Maybe sometime this weekend I can get a few hours in on this puppy. I was having problems with heating last time I fired her up, but I hope the problem is either gone or can be fixed easily.
Let's hope I don't have to order any parts or anything.
I'd like to start working with the "watercolor" enamels I got for Christmas and maybe make a sweet little dish or two.

My "studio" (what was once our dining room table, since the wedding I've moved my workspace to the spare room desk)

Lumps of hard glass enamel make shiny smooth dots and swirls.

Taken during the fourth firing on this piece - melting lumps at 1500F. When they're smooth and molten, I stick a long sharp tool through that little opening and drag it through the melted glass.

Et, voila! It comes out like this:

This is another one I made that night. The two biggest pieces yet. They're about 8" wide and because my kiln is so stout, I couldn't enamel the back. It still looked sweet though, and I painted some varnish on the back to seal the copper fire scaling.

Her are more pieces that I made as gifts for those of us who helped us so tremendously during the wedding. Hopefully they're all being displayed with love in their new homes.

I don't like the idea of the little initials on there so much anymore. I think if I start making these for reals I want to have some other kind of non-alpha marking to brand them. A specific color swirl or dot combo? Another metal piece but twisted into a shape of sorts. A number?
Maybe I could number all the pieces I do, big and small, and that could be their name identity.

I hope that someday I can make a little extra money selling these on etsy. People love their copper enamel jewelry over there and I have found very few people selling larger pieces like mine. Certainly none with swirl and cloisonee work. Walking the Spring Arts Festival this year I wished I could build up an inventory to sell like that. Perhaps sometime this year I can do art walk in St. Augustine, or here in Gainesville?
Someday, maybe.
I always have to remind myself to start small, and keep loving what I do. No need to turn this into a chore.

The Luck of the Irish

2009-03-19T19:12:00.002-04:00

You probably don't know that Collin and I are ridiculously scotch-irish, but we are.
With a surname like McLeod, it's pretty much given away. I've always felt lucky that Collin's last name allowed me to still represent part of my heritage after our marriage. It's probably a big part of why the decision to change my name was so easy to make.

I do consider myself a generally lucky person. Come on, my cat is even named Lucky! Celebrating St. Patrick's day was a yearly tradition for both of us. Growing up two blocks from my paternal grandparents meant I got to go for a dinner of corned beef and cabbage, carrots and potatoes. Nothing fancy, just dinner as usual - but somehow special. Really I'm just another white American girl. But on St. Patrick's day I can remember that of the many families that make up my tree, most hail from the same corner of the globe.

That photo is us two years ago. Yes, I did just erase that last sentence after looking at the file name again to see that it was indeed from 2007. More and more it seems I am reminded of how fast time passes and small the world really is.
That year, Collin's parents took us on vacation to Epcot for a day with a night in a nice hotel before hand. Now, we're in Gainesville so it's not really that much of a trip but any time spent at Disney is what I call a vacation. Epcot is totally my favorite Disney park. I know, you say, "it's boring" but no way! The World Showcase is amazing, and Future World has its finer parts. I went on "Living With The Land" (a ride inside - you guessed it - "The Land") for the first time on that trip and they have the most amazing hydroponic fruit and vegetable gardens. Big trellised pumpkins trained into a Mickey-head shape, canopies of tomatoes and conveyor belts of organic herbs.
Good fun, that trip.
We spent lunch time in the UK of the World Showcase and ate such things as pasties, pastry-topped meat stew, and plenty of green beers.
Thankfully Erin and I thought ahead and made reservations.
I say "thankfully" because food will always play a big part in my celebrating St. Patrick's day. I'm not sure if I only make these dishes once a year because I only crave them around this time or if it's because I want to keep them really special.
Last year was a dinner for two; a quiet night at home after work.
This year was a party!
My fellow Irish lady Rachel (former roommate and actual Ireland traveler) helped me put together a feast for our friends. This past weekend was incredibly fun. Cooking and sharing food with people we love, that's all I need.

The menu for the night was delicious! I have to say, we were pretty creative in altering some recipes to make them party friendly. Things started later than dinner time so that the night could run late and give those working enough time to join us. Traditional whole corned beef and steamed cabbage wasn't going to work too well. I'm not sure how appetizing all of that would be to those who didn't grow up with it either. Instead, we came up with this:

Savory

Shepherd's Tarts
corned beef and peas in pastry shells, topped
with mashed potatoes

Cabbage Hand-Pies
pastry pockets filled with cabbage, potatoes and mushrooms

Reuben Braidscorned beef, sauerkraut, 1000 island dressing and
irish blarney cheese in a braided crescent roll dough

Herbed Cheese and Crackers
okay, not Irish in any way - but tasty!

Sweet

Banoffee Pie
toffee and fresh sliced banana in a graham crust, topped with
banana pudding and fresh unsweetened whipped cream

Shamrock Sugar Cookies

a not-too sweet sugar cookie with royal icing

Car Bomb Cupcakesguinness chocolate cupcakes filled with Scotch whiskey ganache,

topped with a Bailey's Irish buttercream frosting
Edits were made to this recipe from smittenkitchen

Drink

Black and Tan

guinness stout + bass ale

Golden
harp lager + bass ale

Half and Half
guinness stout + harp lager

Irish Car Bomb
guinness + a shot (1/2 whiskey + 1/2 bailey's)

Black Velvet
guinness + champagne

People ate a lot of food, drank good Irish beer (of which very few were green), and in general had a good time. We'd downloaded some music; the Chieftains, Dropkick Murphy's, the Pogues, and the like.

We had plenty of leftovers to share with those who couldn't make it. We even had some left over for ourselves (but not so much that we had to throw any away). Perfect.

Next year I'll be making the car bomb cupcakes again. They are now a McLeod family tradition.
I loved the reuben braid even though I don't like traditional reubens. It was the absence of the rye bread for sure. ick.
On St. Patrick's day proper I used the little leftover meat we had to make some corned beef hash with eggs and blarney cheese. It hit the spot after already chowing down on dinnertime favorites.

Slainte to all the Irish among us!

May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall soft upon your fields.

cult of personality

2009-02-04T14:14:00.000-05:00

So we saw the proof layout and edited our wedding photo album about a month ago! I should have written about it then, but lazy gets me every time.

We went down to Djamel's place in Ocala and he ordered in chinese food while we (I) went over every page and every picture. There are some more photos that he missed on the dvd's he burned us and I can't wait to get the album and the last disk to share with everyone (like the solo portraits of my bridesmaids, as well as my bridal portraits and more photos of Collin and me). He also let it slip that our wedding was being considered for the special weddings issue of Ocala Magazine. I didn't want to tell anyone because I didn't want to jinx it but he called me a couple weeks ago and they picked us!

Sadly, you see my face in none of the photos.
Just goes to show that editors and brides have very different taste. I still can't get why they didn't use the gorgeous image of the tree with all the guests instead of chelsea's cupcake tattoo. I mean, I love that shot, but in our album it's on a page of 8 photos, not a full spread. Plus, really? Cupcake tattoo and no photos where you see the bride?! Also, the entire wedding party didn't wear checkered Vans. Just me and the Mister. The guys and our dads just wore plain black.

10.04.08
lindsey + collin

Although Lindsey and Collin went to middle school together, it wasn’t until college friends (re)introduced them that their paths crossed again. (“We were both too shy to talk to each other back then,” remembers Lindsey.) It was early in 2005, when Lindsey came to Gainesville to visit Rachel (the future maid of honor), that she ran into Collin — a good friend and high school classmate of Rachel’s. He showed up at a party with his roommate Gabe (the future best man), the sparks flew, and soon after the friendship/flirtation turned into a long-distance romance. A year later, Lindsey packed up her things and moved to Gainesville, just a quarter mile away from Collin’s house. That December, Lindsey surprised Collin with a new drum set, and he surprised her with an engagement ring. Their do-it-yourself wedding was no less inventive: The earthy palette was inspired by the bride’s collection of antique glass (put to good use for the flowers and table décor); flowers ordered online were arranged by friends and family; the reception featured traditional favorites and a pizza bar; and the entire wedding party wore checkered Vans.

I do love that you see Collin looking so handsome and my sweet tattoo. Plus see that shot of our invitations in the bottom left? It's new to me! Part of me is kind of like, what the eff? I wanted all the photos when I thought I had all of them... but then I think, it's just extending the wedding excitement. Hopefully I'll have that album soon and can get the last disk with the wayward photos. I know my mom was sad not to see any real "portraits" of me among all our photos... she'll probably be a little sad not to see me in the magazine, either.

hello 2009

2009-01-08T09:55:00.000-05:00

NYE was the jam.
Very fun, although I wish I'd been able to have a little more to drink. Plenty to eat though :D it was great to see all our friends stuffing their faces and talking about cross-dipping theories regarding the sweet potato latkes and basil dressing. It was a good crowd and not too big, a few people we invited who we really wanted to see didn't make it but overall, the night was a success.
It makes me want to have more parties.

I've been working on figuring out my new year's resolutions... it's hard.
I may make one of those 101 things in 1001 days lists that I see people making all over the internets.. 1001 days seems like a better timeline - but that's a lot of fucking things to do.

Maybe I will just try in the next year to:

Really, actually, 100% quit smoking cigarettes. I "quit" late last spring and haven't bought a pack since, even went over a month with zero smoking to get that hundred bucks from the boss man at work... but I still take drags from Collin's when we're on the porch and that means I haven't yet quit. I think I'm just being lazy.

Read 5 new books... and the His Dark Materials trilogy that I devoured in a week doesn't count. #1 will be Atlas Shrugged because I've been putting it off for years due to the small print and looming 1k+ pages. Whatevs, when I get into a book I could be done with that in days. Others may include the newest Palahniuck book that got a good review by my book soul-mate Regina when I saw her at the christmas party.

Get myself to start hitting the gym before work at least twice a week. I'm hoping I can get this going by March when it's not quite so cold. A reminder: I already wake at 6:40ish to get to work around 7:30. I'm guessing that to get to the gym, work out, and get to work by around 7:30 will require me to wake up on those days at 5:45 or so.
Not terrible, but I'll have to work it out so I don't mess with Gabe's normal morning routine of waking up around that time or shortly before to get to work by 6. Can I make it at 5:30?

Pay off 1/2 of my credit card debt. This is a big one, and it's going to be a bitch because I don't really have any extra money and I'm still sitting on debt incurred from those good ole college days when my loans and scholarships didn't really cover enough. Oh, and those couple months before the wedding where we kind of said fuck it and just put shit on the cards to deal with later because we needed all the cash for vendor payments, rent, and making up for each taking 2 weeks off work.

Finally, I really want to be a better employee. I do realize that I'm saying this while wasting half an hour lj-ing instead of working. Mostly I need to cut the frivolous wedding websites out of my habits since, you know, I'm kind of done with our wedding.

Oh, and Go Gators! Kick ass in Miami tonight, let's get another national championship title so I can run around celebrating with strangers in the streets. Yes, this is my husband and roommate battling to keep control of their "champion cock".
Let's make this year equally as badass.
Watching this makes me want to stop by XTC on my way home to keep the tradition alive - the original was destroyed by people trying to steal it. I think Gabe still has it in his room though.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Team McLeod : Down at The Top

2008-12-04T12:17:00.000-05:00

The Top. A well-known Gainesville hot spot downtown, this restaurant/bar has been the site of many celebrations past. Both our 21st birthday's and Meggan's 21st were held here, the goodbye brunch sending Rachel and Kara off to move from Gainesville to NYC, countless dinners with Anna gabbing about wedding planning... I could go on.

Really all that mattered in the end was that it was clean, cool and big enough to fit us all. They also have a photobooth which sealed the deal.

The youngest guest at our wedding was baby Havana (the cutest happiest baby I've ever met) with the next oldest being at least 14. We didn't have too many kids at the wedding, but I still made sure to clearly state that the after party was for 21+ only. I would have hated for any of them to come just to be turned away at the door.

The bridesmaids headed over to the bar with Djamel right after the wedding was over. I don't think it took us more than half an hour to finish up at the Thomas Center and home. The walk down felt like it took forever though, I just wanted to get there! Besides, I had an entourage waiting for me out front.
Pay no attention to the jaywalking happening in this photograph.
YEAHHHH - let's party.
I know you! Hey door man, my wedding dress is my ID. Just kidding - you can't really get away with that in Gainesville.
Photobooth love. I had a hard time acting all excited in these photos. I think I would have had more fun if all the girls were piled in there with me.

And the husband arrives! Husband!! He and most of the groomsmen opted to change out of their rented tuxes back at the house. I don't blame him for not wanting to ruin clothing he didn't technically own, even if he looked damn good.
Someone had grabbed a big table by the door and I made a point to park it right by the entrance. If you were coming to hang out I wanted to make sure I saw you and got to say hello. I had been on my feet for so long already that day and all I wanted to do was sit and sip on a gin and tonic.
Sagar kept his tux but added his own jacket. The best suit jacket I've ever seen.

The whole after party was so much fun. We had our corner of the inside and eventually spilled out onto the porch too. I probably could have made more rounds to spend time with everyone but I really just wanted to sit and let them come to me.

The roommates. Awwwwww.
That's more like it.
The best shot of my shoes all day. You can really see the poof that bubble hem added to the dress.
We had strangers coming up to us and congratulating us all night! At one point two generous folks came up and offered up some shots! Later we found out that they are actually the owners of The Top - two really rad people who were so happy to have us that night!
They should be happy! I don't want to think about how much was spent on drinks and sweet potato fries that night.Collin spent some time catching up with Kevin at the end of the night.

See? I'm still in that same chair. This is the photo we chose to close our album. It sums up the end of the night perfectly; talking with friends in a bar, arms around each other and new rings on our left hands.
The bar was open for another hour when we decided to take off. It was time for Djamel to get going (he'd stayed well beyond our contract to hang out with us and keep shooting) and a nameless bridesmaid was way too drunk and hitting on one of the groomsmen. We said some long goodbyes and went back out into the street. There we stopped to say hello and goodbye to our many friends who'd made their way over to the Atlantic for the Joy Division/New Order cover show that was going on. I even posed for pictures with a few random guys who were visiting Gainesville for the first time - I'm pretty sure I made their night.

Inspired, Djamel asked us for one last shot. When he told us his idea, how could I object?
Goodnight Gainesville. Downtown, we love you so. Thanks for giving us gorgeous weather, a beautiful historic site and cheerful strangers on our wedding day.

We walked back to the house holding hands and broke out the leftovers as soon as we got in. We turned on the TV to find the wedding scene of one of our favorite movies while I took out the hundred bobby pins and brushed the hairsprayed nest that was my hair as I sat perched on the edge of our bed. It was the perfect quiet end to a glorious day; in our home with our cat we were husband and wife.

Team McLeod : This is the Day

2008-12-04T11:14:00.000-05:00

There was a summer once, sometime in the late '90's, when the five of us girls hung out almost every day. Rotating among our houses we seemed to travel in a pack. One thing that was for sure - Empire Records was in someone's bag. That movie was played hundreds of times. So many times I am surprised the tape (yes, tape) didn't completely warp. If you've seen the movie yourself you should remember the ending scene. All of the friends, their movie-problems solved, dancing on the roof of the store to "This is the Day".

Just like the first song of the night, I knew this was the tune to close the dancefloor. It's sentimental for us and the lyrics were more than appropriate on our wedding day.
"This is the day, your life will surely change. This is the day, when things fall into place."
We even used this song on our wedding website; one more element to add consistency. That also meant most of our guests knew the song even if they'd never seen the movie. Oh yeah, it was also in an M&M's commercial not too long before the wedding... that may have also been why people knew it. I still say it's because they couldn't stop looking at our amazing website ;)
It was almost like we couldn't contain how happy we were. I didn't want the reception to end but I was looking forward to the after party we'd organized downtown.
So we went out with a spin...
And then I stole Forrest's sunglasses.

And tried my hardest to freeze time.
Shouts of joy and laughter filled the room when the song was over and as if on cue, all the guests started moving toward their seats to collect their things. The house lights came up and the soundtrack changed to a metal guitar version of Canon in D (I know, we're awesome).
We didn't have a big send-off with all our guests - mostly because we knew we weren't leaving the Thomas Center right away. There were people to coordinate, parents to direct and Collin couldn't keep himself from helping to break down all the music gear. Those going to the after party made their way down to The Top and a few people stayed to help where they could. We walked back down to the house to relax for a few minutes and let our parents in. They generously offered to shuttle all the stuff from the Thomas Center back to our house. Things like gifts, centerpieces, coolers full of leftover food and drink, decorations, you name it.

Once everything and everyone was accounted for, we locked the door behind us and started walking downtown ourselves. Party #2 - here we come!

Team McLeod : The Good Life

2008-12-04T10:57:00.000-05:00

We were both taken by surprise when groomsmen Sagar and Sam hoisted Collin up on their shoulders at the start of Weezer's The Good Life. Little did I know that I would be next.

Wahh! Pleeeease please don't drop me!
Safe in the hands of Gabe and Zack, I had so much fun. This was Sagar's first time attending and being a groomsmen in a western wedding. He's a Florida boy, but like I said before we're some of the very first of our friends to walk down this path and his family weddings have all taken place in India. I am so glad he got the guys to help him share this tradition of his own with us.
There was a lot of loud singing from everyone on the dancefloor.

After I stopped worrying about falling off their shoulders, I started worrying a little about my dress falling down off my boobs. Why didn't I put on some of that hollywood tape? I steadied myself on Collin most of the time to try and prevent both.Before we knew it, the song was over. Either that or the guys' arms were getting tired. Either way I was quite triumphant at my ability to roll with it in my wedding gown.
Congratulations on having awesome friends babe!
Then started the hugging. We all knew the night was coming to an end and I knew especially well because we planned the playlist, remember? I think I grabbed onto everyone in the hopes that it would keep the night going.
You can see I already grabbed my cute little clutch I carried at the wedding. It's barely big enough for a couple makeup essentials, my phone, and a slim stack of cash and cards, all a girl really needs.We had one more song left and I'd saved it for last.

Team McLeod : Passing the Torch

2008-12-04T10:44:00.000-05:00

Apparently there are people out there who hate the bouquet toss. Hate. It. Being the first among our friends to get married, we didn't run into this problem whatsoever. I can't imagine having to try and coax our friends out onto the dancefloor for this, but like I said, those people do exist.

Here's my "Can I throw it yet? Are you guys ready for this?!" face. It's lovely.One, two, three...
Who will it be?!See how I had to practically drag those ladies out, kicking and screaming, to catch the bouquet?
And Anna takes it for the win. Honestly, she's the person I was aiming for in my mind when I tossed that baby over the rail. She doesn't want to get married right away or anything, but I know it's something she sees for her future - something that not every one of our friends does. A few others may have even stepped out of her way!
Coincidentally, she and her current boyfriend started dating just days after the wedding and have lots of future plans. Not one to casually date, when she starts seeing someone we know it's serious. She has one more year of grad school left before she'll be called Doctor and he's planning to spend the summer doing mission work in Africa. If anyone can make it through a long-distance relationship, it's her, and I have my fingers crossed in my mind that someday I can tell the story about how they got married thanks to Anna catching my bouquet.

Team McLeod : Run to the Hills

2008-12-04T10:35:00.000-05:00

This is how happy a groom can look when you play his favorite band at the reception.
Especially if that band is Iron Maiden.

Collin and his friends, well, they love metal. I love me some metal too, but it doesn't make me air guitar like it does them.
His closest friends from high school days got in on the act with him. Remembering arguments they once had about the drum solo, raising their fists in song.
The guests who may not have been familiar with Iron Maiden certainly enjoyed themselves simply because everyone was having so much fun with it. Sure, you don't hear it at the typical wedding, but from us you should expect nothing less. I have always thought a wedding should represent yourselves both as a couple and individuals - I think our guests learned the most about us through our music.

Team McLeod : Do the D-A-N-C-E

2008-12-04T09:30:00.000-05:00

You will make the bride happy if you dance at the wedding. This is a fact. In the future, wheever our friends start getting married, I will remember this. As the bride on our wedding day, this sight was so great to see.

I can't tell you what song is playing just by looking through the photos, but for the rest of this booty-shakin' post I can share a list of just some of the songs that made us and our friends look like this:

Tyler was amaznig - mixing up the playlist to match the mood and staying away from DJ commentary he kept the floor full all night.

ZZ Top - La Grange

Electric Six - Danger! High Voltage!

Tom Petty - Runnin Down A Dream

Jurassic 5 - What's Golden

The Commodores vs. Q-Tip - Brick vs. Stop

Q and not U - So Many Animal Calls

Kenny Loggins - Footloose

MGMT - Electric Feel (JUSTICE remix)

Walter Meego - ForeverTalib Kweli - Get By

Violent Femmes - American Music

Outkast - B.O.B

ELO - Hold On Tight to Your Dreams

Collin had only one song request - if you know him, you can probably guess....

Team McLeod : Isn't She Lovely

2008-12-04T08:29:00.000-05:00

As hard as it was to pick a first dance song for Collin and me, it was even harder to pick something for my dance with my dad.

I'm a sentimental daddy's girl no doubt about it, so almost every standard father-daughter song I heard made me cry. Either that, or they just didn't represent us at all and I couldn't bring up an emotional response. Song after song - no dice. Until one day driving home from work I got tired of the cd in my player and switched on the oldies station for the rest of the drive; Stevie Wonder saved the day.

Why hadn't I thought of looking for a more upbeat song before? I didn't have to give up my desire for an emotional connection to save myself from the dreaded "ugly cry", I just had to pick a song that made me overwhelmingly happy instead.
My dad turned out to be quite the dancer. Never a shy guy, he ended up being such a hit on the dancefloor all night!

Like I did on his arm walking down the aisle, dancing with him made me simply beam. I could feel how happy he was - so proud to dance with his daughter on her wedding day. To let loose and celebrate the incredible joy and love of the day. It really was catching.
The end of the song faded into the first dance song of the night. Our guests weren't the shy type so there was already plenty of dancing going on before the cake cutting, but this was the official start; no more slow songs, bring on the jam.
Saturday Night by the Bay City Rollers started blaring and the entire ballroom started clapping together, shouting the words. As a nod to Collin's dad and their familial love of the movie So I Married an Axe Murderer I knew from (almost) day 1 that this would have to mark the start of the dancing. I'm glad to report that no "piper's went down"!

Team McLeod : Love You Madly

2008-12-03T22:56:00.000-05:00

The most delicious cake I have ever eaten right here. Hands down, no contest. And isn't it pretty? When Cake's "Love You Madly" starting playing from the speakers I knew it was finally time to taste it, too.

The topper was made the night before out of a floral foam sphere and some skewers and button mums. Granny Carol said it looked like a hedge ball. I don't really know what that is. I just wanted something floral and modern - and I loved the results!

The layers, from bottom up: sour cream pound cake with lemon curd and raspberry mousse, chocolate cake with peanut butter mousse, and two layers of cheesecake. When we ordered the cake, we didn't plan on saving the top and ordered appropriately for that. However, when we got home we found the whole top tier as well as 3/4 the bottom tier in the fridge.
SCORE.

The cake was covered in buttercream with minimal fondant (just the thick bands). Our baker doesn't work with fondant the way most wedding cake makers do these days and I'm glad - buttercream is just so silky and lovely. Jenny Wagner made the confection and we had a great time working with her during the process. Her pricing was fair, her shop is local and she served us cake when we went into our meeting to talk about designs and pricing. That sealed the deal.

If only we had a sweet Scottish sword to cut this cake with or something. Instead we used a crystal-handle set that I purchased on sale when I was shopping with Erin. Too bad I broke the cake-server part before the wedding.

Open wiiiiide.
We're nice and we love each other so we didn't do any smashing. Not even any little dabs on the nose. Maybe we're no fun, but he knew full well how much time was spent on getting made-up as well as how expensive our photographer was - he respected my wishes to not have butter and sugar all in my pores. If he wasn't going to smash me, I wasn't going to smash him; deal's a deal.
Mmmm buttercreeeammmm.
Hey! We want cake, too!

After the cake was cut we guided everyone out into the main room while the caterers were portioning slices onto plates. Your cake will come soon, I promise. We shared our leftover cake with co-workers, friends and neighbors (with some kept for ourselves for sure). I still think about that cake a lot, nearly every time I drive down by the bakery.

I think that for our anniversary I might get a few slices from her - I think waiting a year for a craving is long enough.

Team McLeod : Cheers!

2008-12-03T18:49:00.000-05:00

I wish we'd had more time to dedicate to toasts at the wedding reception but let's be honest - I wanted to dance. Sometimes it's wonderful and lovely to have an open floor for guests to speak should they feel inspired. Sometimes it drags on and you end up losing half an hour of your precious time to speeches given by drunken distant relatives. The later being what I was trying to avoid. With such kind things said at the rehearsal just the night before, we didn't feel like anything was missing by having only our honor attendants say a few words.

Rachel and Gabe share a history of their own and each gave a touching and lighthearted toast. They got things started with a few verbal jabs about Rachel insisting she went first because hers would be so much better.

Gabe, a gentleman, of course had no problems letting her go ahead of him. Not without introducing her as the girl with "the face of an angel and the mouth of a sailor". When her reply to him contained a well-placed f-bomb I was glad we had a mostly-adult reception.
She said sweet words and talked about our long friendship. 17 years strong - now that's a big deal. I remember way back when - sometime in middle school I think - talking with the girls about weddings and how we have to be eachother's bridesmaids. There may have even been a chart worked up so that we would all get to be someone else's Maid of Honor. My maid was Rachel, even all those years ago.
Next up was Gabe. A better person to toast us probably doesn't exist. As Collin's roommate of 4.5 years and mine of 1.5 at the time, he knows us as a couple better than anyone else.
He had his own funny moments - talking about being our bachelor roommate, living in our garage apartment well into our adult lives.
Once the glasses were raised and "Cheers!" was shouted by all we hugged and cried a little (or Rachel and I did at least).

Now, did someone say wedding cake?