Christmas may be over...

but I am still wearing my {handmade} christmas sweater! Well handmade in that I decorated it, not that I knitted it or anything.

My friend and I made not matching ones, but connecting theme ones, which makes it all the more awesome.

Keep in mind that those deer and the Merry Christmas are hand stitched on there. We are quite the homemakers.

Here they are together.

Notice how it goes from city to forest?? Oh, and don't mind my awkwardness.

Jane Austen

Now I am pretty sure all of you are familiar with Austen (at least one movie if you haven't read her). I *love* her books, Persuasion is my personal favorite so far. Something about the past regret and all that angst.

I was watching The Jane Austen Book Club with my sister tonight (can you believe she has an english degree and has NEVER read an Austen??), and it inspired me to read Sense and Sensibility one I have yet to read though I just finished Mansfield Park last night and was planning on a different book and would rather re-read Persuasion. 

 I don't always love each part of Austen's novels, but something always makes me want to come back to the stories-- I just need to make it through all of them so I can start over again! (The only one I have read twice is Pride and Prejudice because I couldn't remember the differences between the book and movie anymore.) So when I finish Sense and Sensibility, the only Austen's I will not have read is Northanger Abbey and Lady Susan. Any of you read those two yet?

So, to get to my point, what is your favorite Austen and which is your favorite movie version?? (can be different than the book)

I have already said which movie version is my favorite... 2005s Pride and Prejudice.

*Sigh* It just never gets old.

PS. Has anyone read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies?? I always hear good things about it, but I could never bring myself to buy it. I *did* however read the first page in Borders.

White Christmas

Watching White Christmas tonight... I think I would prefer watching Mickey's Christmas Carol or Disney's A Christmas Carol tomorrow next year though. 

What are your favorites to watch during the holiday season??

PS. Today my family and I spent time together not cooking together, or playing games or spreading Christmas cheer, but driving around the area to see the outside of houses we liked.



We found one we really really really like, and it almost seems too good to be true! I suppose we will just have to see when the people selling it get back to us. SO EXCITED!

Merry Christmas everyone! (And Happy 25th Birthday to my sister Allison!)

Note to self:

1. Shower everyday. Even if you aren't planning on going anywhere or seeing anyone. Especially during the holiday season.


2. Put on normal clothes while at home. PJ's may be more comfortable but are definitely not socially acceptable for being around other people. Especially when the sun is out. During the winter.

Cause of this revelation? Being horribly embarrassed to find myself at 9:30 pm reading Austen's Mansfield Park in my bed, in pj's, hair unwashed and pulled back in a horrible look and hearing the doorbell ring.

*Note: I already have mini panic attacks when the doorbell rings and I am all gross. Always hoping it isn't someone I know and would have to face looking like a slob. Most of my friends already know they need to give me at least a ten minute heads up before showing up to my house.*

<--- This is *pretty much* my face when I realized what I was about to have to do.

My Dad answers the door, and calls my name. I groan internally and yell to hold on for a minute and panic in my head at what to do. Bra? Sweatshirt change from my extremely old and stained sweatshirt? Jeans? Fix hair somewhat? Wash face?

So much to do, so little time.

I throw on a new(er) sweatshirt and put on a bra. Walking hesitantly down the stairs I see that it is my new church acquaintances and one or two that I have never met before. I *sure* know how to make an impression.  They drop off some delicious bread and I can only assume, flee from the house and discuss the fact that I don't shower unless I have to. And I am NOT one of those girls who can take a day off from showering. Did I mention this was the first day in a week or two that I was not out of the house and showered with make-up on? I mean, I have to live it up before I get married and have kids and will be running all over town every day.

So, those new rules are to help me from seeing embarrassment like that again. Especially since I have told all of you that I am definitely not one to wear my pj's in public, or with people I hardly know. I mean, I wouldn't even greet the pest guy or UPS man like I was, and I will never see them again.

Now I can only soften the harsh memory with the yummy bread they bought. Yet it is a reminder of the embarrassment. Oh the irony.

PS. If you ever want to come to my house unannounced during the day and find that no one answers the door despite the fact that you can see at least two cars outside, that would be because we are probably all at home hiding in our rooms determined not to answer. I'd call first if I were you.

At least it had my family in stitches for the next 15 minutes or so...

UPDATE: My sister is still cracking up every time she sees me tonight. Never going to live this down.

Newest Obesession: Tarot Cards

So my friend is basically the best person in the world. Not *just* because she is awesome, but because she got me this for Christmas!

Seriously, I have been spending too much time with it. Me and my sister *may* be a bit obsessed. What can I say? I have been wanting a Tarot card set for a long time. It is scarily accurate about things. seriously, it knows me better than I know myself. We *could* be making it fit into what we want, but I think it's a little more than that.

And because of Christmas fatty-ness, I have one of these eyeing me from my desk and I thought I would share my love. I like to eat it so the chocolate all melts, and then I can chew on the toffee bits.


PS. If you follow me on Twitter, then you got to see my hair the other day. It's how Naomi from the Rockstar Diaries wears it a lot so I thought I would try it! It's a bit more daring than I normally am with my hair and it  is slightly more work than my normal brush-through. Here it is again, in case you were dying to see it. Which I know you all are.

Happy holidaysssss

Warning: This is an unpleasant topic.

Remember when I posted about how fantastic my relationship with machinery and all things technical is? Well, I think we can safely extend the same status to bathroom sinks.

Last night I started to attempt unclogging my sink. My Dad refused to help me so that I "learned to be self-sufficient and independent" or something crazy like that.

{not my sink}

So I researched and strategized for a bit on what to do Thank you Youtube I decided plunging would be my best bet. After plunging, plunging, plunging for about half an hour nothing was really coming up and my hands felt permanently curled around the plunger and my shoulders were burning. And also the plunger was sending fountains of water all over my bathroom and me, which *always* makes this more pleasant.

So I looked up a different method and managed to get the sink stopper out after grabbing a wrench in the creepy-web-infested garage. Did I mention this was at like midnight? Not a good time to be walking around in practically the dark.

So after getting the stopper out I bend a wire hanger to try at break up the clog or whatever, and lo and behold, the hanger gets stuck. *Just my luck.* At this point I am so frustrated that there *may* have been a few tears.

If I was a quitter, this morning my Dad would have seen a very, very messy sink with a wire poking out of it. However, I managed to get the bottom part of the sink out (yes, I practically disassembled the whole thing) 

After about 3 hours of struggling and failing miserably.... In the end I won, so take that sink!

I'm totally good at giving

{A Little Sussy}

Don't you love the plaid wrapping paper?

... except not really.

You know those people that just give AMAZING gifts, that are exactly what you wanted but you didn't know it? And it's completely thoughtful and original and awesome?

I am not one of those people.

Ergo, my sister (one of those people I described above) and I always split presents for our parents. She figures it out and researches it, I pay for half. It's a deal that has worked for many years.  Except that it leaves me on my own on what to get her.


Example of my limited skills at getting others good gifts:

-Last year I got her a certificate for a facial.

-This year I was planning on the same, but she said she would rather have money. So I am giving her cash. This idea makes me cringe a little on the inside, I mean it doesn't get much less thoughtful than that does it? At least, I can only improve from here.

 It's the thought that counts right??

PS. Did I mention that it's also her birthday on Christmas? She is going to be 25 and that totally blows my mind. Where did all the time go??

Lovely all around

Tonight as I was getting ready for bed, I looked down at my oversized sweatshirt and sweatpants. Warm? Sure. Cute? Not so much. I wouldn't even answer the door to a solicitor in these things. They aren't ratty or anything, but to me sweats just say to people you see that "Hi, I don't care what you think of me."

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind when other people where sweats or anything. I get the days when jeans are just not looking that good. It's just for me I can't wear them in public.

So I was thinking about a little something I have been wanting for a few years now, but I can never find one up to my expectations.

Remember the nightgown Eliza wore while singing "I Could Have Danced All Night" in My Fair Lady?

I want it. Real bad.

Any tips on where to find one similar? It doesn't have to be exactly the same, but whenever I see that similar style I go weak in the knees. I just find them oh-so romantic, don't you agree?

PS. Isn't she just darling in this movie?? It's my favorite of hers.

New York, New York

In the normal style, instead of studying for my finals I have been reading The Rockstar Diaries archives (last semester it was being obsessed with all classic Disney movies). All. of. Them.

I know most of you probably follow the amazingness that is Naomi Davis, but being inundated with this sort of awesomeness is starting to make an impression on me. I have now decided that:

1. I need to go visit New York again. (eighth grade was too long ago)

2. At some point in my life a need holgaroid. Preferably sooner rather than later.

3. My future home must have some walls with blackboard paint so we can draw and have fun over and over again. Plus it's super cute.

Martha Stewart had a pretty good idea for using the blackboard paint in other ways and custom colors. I love the aqua blue example and the calendar!

Now if you excuse me, I think some Frank Sinatra is calling my name...

PS. Did I mention how nice Naomi is? Who knew Rockstars would be so friendly and sweet?? Wait, on second thought, I'm pretty sure that's apparent from her blog. Love you Naomi!

Dear Future Children,

I hope I raise you right,

with love and understanding.

That we have tons of fun

experiencing life together.

I know I will learn a lot from you,

and I hope you learn a lot from me.

I can't wait to meet you!

PS. I suppose the same things can be said to my future husband. I really really can't wait to meet you!

PS.PS. I hope terribly that I won't have kids like on Supernanny. Anyone else afraid that will happen to them from that show? Hopefully watching it will cancel out any of my inclinations towards raising my kids similarly to those parents.

Don't judge me Supernanny!

As soon as finals are over

I will most likely be watching this a few times. I just want to live in that movie. It would be pretty awesome. My cousin can come too and play the music (because she totally can, and it makes me extremely jealous)

And trying to tackle this. Yes, remember when I started reading it?  apparently I can't read it much during the school year.

And finishing this anyone else read this because it was on Lost? Just me? Sweet.

PS. Lost starts on February 2nd for its final season! Anyone else extremely excited/sad??

Hope all of you are farther along in your Christmas shopping than I am!

Christmas List

So for the past few years in my family, my parents have us kids shop for ourselves because we are "picky" so I was thinking of asking my Mom to get me this dress.

What do you think? In real life will the pattern make your eyes go bezerk?

Oh no! I just went to order it, and it's off the website! Email me back, email me back.


And in a perfect world, I would also get this....

{Rousseau Necklace}

Anthropologie, you can be so cruel sometimes, $138?! I wish it was in the "justifiable" price range.

Getting into the holiday spirit

Look what my wonderful sister did for me while I was in class tonight!

(No one wanted to buy and decorate a whole tree, so this was a good compromise! And free)

I just love white lights across the dark green branches. It smells good too!

A bit of glitter to catch my eye when I lay in bed...

And we cant forget my desk!

One of the best parts of it is that I get to keep it all in my room and see and smell it all night long!

Don't I have just the best sister??

Dreaming of a White Christmas..

just like the ones I used to know never knew.

I just want to tip my hat off to the weather today. I woke up this morning to a thin blanket of snow coating the neighborhood and nearby foothills.

It may not be much, but it sure was magical.



(I have never seen the snow actually stick here! Aand it made my car all nice and clean!)

Please, please try your best to do it once more this season please! Is around Christmas good for you??

One of my favorite things:

Laundry right out of the dryer.

(I was about to climb into the dryer and snuggle all of my clothes.)

It's warm, snuggly, and smells nice and clean.

I mean, what's better than that?

PS. I am starting to think my family has a thing for laundry. We got our new washer Saturday, Thank goodness, it was getting pretty bad without a washer in the house and we stood around watching it wash our clothes for awhile. We were pretty much in awe since it was so quiet and spun the laundry so fast. We are easily amused.

PS. PS. Anyone else use these in their dryer instead of laundry softner?

Folsom Prison Blues

So I live near a prison. Folsom Prison to be exact (oh wait, aren't you *not* supposed to say where you live on the internet?)  and if you don't know what that is, shame on you. Go listen to some Johnny Cash.

Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny C...

There. Just to make it easier for you.


Anyways, as a result whenever I hear helicopters over my house and sirens I naturally assume that someone has broken out. I know, I know, that *probably* is not the case BUT my sister has had the search light stay on here for a few seconds one night while she was walking the dog.


AND my 7th grade history teacher once told us about the night cops went around her neighborhood with loudspeakers telling them not to go outside and to lock their doors.


Yet somehow my parents don't understand my irrational fear of walking around the house at night.

Disclaimer: Actually Folsom is pretty much one of the safest towns around. So I guess I don't really have a reason to be so freaked out all the time, but it *is* a good excuse, right?

Anything interesting about the town you are from??

China

My parents got back from a 2 week vacation in China last friday. And yes, the did ditch me and my sister for Thanksgiving-luckily my Aunt took pity on us and had us over for dinner.

So they got me this from China:




The scarf is very asian, no?


I like it, but it looks in no way like a typical souvenir from China.

Luckily, they saved themselves and got me something that actually *looked* like it was from China:




A box? What could it be??

Chopsticks!!

(excuse my bad acting skills)

Complete with panda detailing!

Now I need to go work on my chopstick skills-- my asian side cringes every time I need to use them. 

See you next year November!

Is anyone else as excited as me to see November leaving and December coming??

Don't get me wrong, I love fall, but I am looking forward to Christmasy stuff and no more school.

Tomorrow to kick start the month I will be:

- listening to Josh Groban's Noel

-Having some Swiss Miss

-Putting up some decorations (I'm currently in love with candles)

-and maybe, watch Home Alone. It's a classic.

"Forever Today: A True Story of Lost Memory and Never-Ending Love

For my Biological Psychcology class we were supposed to read this article about a man ( a musician pictured playing the piano) who had severe amnesia. It is the most devastating case of amnesia ever recorded: Clive had a brain infection which left him with a memory span of only seconds.

If not being able to preserve new memories wasn't enough, Clive also had retrograde amnesia which deleted virtually all of his past memories.

I found myself incredibly touched as I read about his struggles.

"It was as if every waking moment was the first waking moment. Clive was under the constant impression that he had just emerged from unconsciousness because he had no evidence in his own mind of ever being awake before. . . . “I haven’t heard anything, seen anything, touched anything, smelled anything,” he would say. “It’s like being dead.”' 

I can't even imagine how confusing and lonely this would be. Not knowing when the last time I saw my loved ones, if they were alright or still cared would be heartbreaking. But as I read the article talked about how he was able to become a happier person after a few years of deep depression. Reading about how he and his wife interacted almost made me cry. It reminded me that even through monumental struggles, Heavenly Father will give us a light.

"Nonetheless, a strong emotional bond begins to develop. Clive and Deborah were newly married at the time of his encephalitis, and deeply in love for a few years before that. His passionate relationship with her, a relationship that began before his encephalitis, and one that centers in part on their shared love for music, has engraved itself in him—in areas of his brain unaffected by the encephalitis—so deeply that his amnesia, the most severe amnesia ever recorded, cannot eradicate it."

I'd recommend it to all of you! If you read it let me know what you think.

PS. "Forever Today" is the memoir Clive's wife wrote about him and her experiences after his illness.

Happy Tofurky Day!

Though I have never had a tofurky myself, I have been a vegetarian for about three thanksgivings now, (vegan for two of them) I love the name! I get a lot of amusement from clever meatless names for food.


Suprisingly I'm not that into holiday feasts. I am not a huge fan of stuffing, and I never eat pumpkin pie.

So the parts I look forward the most to for the holidays is seeing family! (I'm sure you do too)

Do you have any favorites foods of the holidays??

Hope you are all having a wonderful day!

A Day of Thanks

In honor of Thanksgiving tomorrow I decided to share with all of you this little gem:

Fact: I drew this a few months ago. Felt nostalgic for childhood crafts during my film class.

Your welcome. Now go forth and eat a lot!

Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis

I watched this a few days ago for the first time. Apparently I really liked it because I am still constantly singing

"Meet me in St. Louis, Louis.
Meet me at the fair..."

and that's all the words I know. But it's quite catchy.

Meet Me In St. Louis ("Meet Me...

But now, I must go write a little because I am nearly 10,000 words behind in Nanowrimo.



PS. Did you guys know that "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was originally sung in this movie?!

So long, Oprah.

Dear readers,

I'm sure you've heard the news, and if you haven't I'm sad to report that next season will be the last for Oprah.

Maybe not all of you watch her, but we all certainly know who she is. I grew up watching this lady (Don't ask me why I was watching Oprah in elementary school, I got nothing.)  and can't imagine what daytime TV will be like without her there.

(luckily she teamed up with Discovery Networks to create OWN, stands for Oprah Winfrey Network. Interesting acronym, no?)

On a brighter note, what did you guys all think of New Moon??

I thought it was pretty awesome, K. Stew wasn't as twitchy and Robert looked pretty good. I found it kind of weird that the majority of people in the theatre I went to were middle-aged couples. Wayy more men than I imagined went.

Did anyone else get super dizzy when when we were watching Bella on the forest floor? It felt like the entire theatre was spinning. And Taylor Lautner is just so darn cute.

Poor kid is so objectified. I'm *pretty* sure on every interview he does they talk about his abs. With good reason of course.