Life Lately: 5-7-2014

Hey there! Figured I'd pop by for an update of life (or, at least, my Instagram version of it, haha!)

{i turned 29!!!! love the card from my coworkers}

{this lady gets better and healthier every month since being diagnosed with Addison's disease. such a trooper}

{i tried out the packing tape project from A Beautiful Mess}

{my first batch of tape strips...so much fun!}

{the river at sunset yesterday evening...warm, windy, and beautiful}

I'm working on several crafting projects:

{a CMYK crocheted curtain...all of the motifs are completed, just need to connect and block}

{my first granny square blanket!}

{making this into a summer tank}

Cheers!

10.

10 years together.

And here we thought we wouldn't make it past the deal-breaking 2.5 years.

Every one of those days, I've loved you like no other. Let's be real for a minute, though. There were definitely times during which we experienced feelings of anger, frustration, misery, and loneliness; but through all of our fumbles, I always knew we'd find each other again and again. You can be a total poo-face at times, but you're also my best friend. I adore you.

We may not yet have children or own our own home, but I think we've decided to measure the "success" of our relationship in other ways. That we're happy together is enough of a measurement. That we've never separated or taken a break also matters to us. That I still giggle at your jokes and feel that you support my endeavors as I support yours means that we're winning at this thing called love. As you recently pointed out, we've been together long enough to have threadbare bath towels. That may well be the most important indicator of success :)

10 years ago, I chose you for your spunk, individuality, intellect, and compassion. We've lived in three different cities, adopted one loving dog, and enjoyed many hobbies together. You bet your buns I'm looking forward to the next ten, twenty, thirty years together. What we've built together fills me with joy, admiration, and hope for our future.

And now we have tattoos to commemorate this occasion--our own interpretation of the number 10.

{Philip's tattoo}

{my tattoo}

And true to your fashion, you decided to include your "one-more-photo-face." God, I love you so much.

*Photos edited from various ABM Actions.

March Books

The month of March found me knocking off two more books from my list. I'm still working on The Tenant of Wildfell Hall...le sigh.  I pick it up now and then but get easily distracted but other recommendations. I'm only human, geez :)

1) Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman
  --Having watched the Netflix show beforehand and loved the stuffing out of it, I really wanted to pick up this book. I wasn't disappointed, either, just marveled at the liberties taken with the show. One of the biggest differences I saw was Kerman's relationship with Pennsatucky in the book versus the show. MAN, they really wanted to find some kind of crisis to develop within the show, but geez...that was quite a stretch, guys. The book made me feel akin to the women Kerman encountered, which also comes through in the show. Overall, great book and great show. Interesting insight into what happens when one thing F's up your life.

2) Eat Pretty: Nutrition for Beauty, Inside and Out by Jolene Hart
  --I picked up this book at a recommendation over at A Beautiful Mess. It's right in line with health and nutrition books I feel drawn to read. It's a pretty good base for someone first getting into that field of thought, but I found myself at a few points thinking, "Elaborate some more on your idea here." Sometimes, I foundhte author wrote in great ideas but then didn't delve further into them as much as I'd like. Again, though, great book. I plan on trying out some of the more vegan-leaning recipes soon.

*Photos edited using Spring from the ABM Actions Signature Collection.

New Tattoo!!

{don't mind the red, hairy arm, ugh}

My second tattoo! The excitement to get it drove me crazy all week--it didn't help that I had to take my last round of Comps earlier that day to complete my Master's Degree. These photos were taken right after she finished the tattoo, blood, gross arm and all. Phil also got a new tattoo. We went to Artist at Large here in Wichita and had them done by the awesome Shelly.

I love it so freaking much! For all the pain of getting the color (which I think hurt more...), I totally want more already.

It's still healing now, all scabby and gross. Blech. I'll post clean photos when it heals, obvs.

Dear April.

You hold so, SO much promise in your 30 days. I can't wait to live each and every one of them. You're one of my favorite months (obvs! my birthday!). Here's what we have in store:

4-1: Picking up Mom from the hospital! Yay, she gets to come home!!!
4-4: Taking my last round of comps (ONE QUESTION) needed to complete my Master's this semester. And Philip and I have our appointment for 10-year anniversary tattoos 3 hours later. Ah!!!
4-5: First area farmer's market opens this season.
4-17: My TEN-YEAR ANNIVERSARY with Philip. Gah, ten years. Amazed.
4-18: A day off from work, huzzah!
4-19: Record Store Day!
4-25: Sis-in-law and fam in town, YAY!
4-26: ARCADE FIRE in KC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I found my outfit (see below).
4-28: My 29th birthday!!!!!!! Is it technically my 1st Annual 29th?

{"Dress up," they said. Oh yeah!}

What do you have planned this month?

Crocheting in a Hospital Waiting Room

Wanna see what I made while waiting for Mom's spinal surgery procedure yesterday?

Yup, that's a unicorn cat hat. One of my friends posted a picture of a dog unicorn hat on FB and said I should make it. This is what I improvised instead, no pattern. In a hospital waiting room. With people staring at me (no problem!). One elderly man came over later, sat next to me, and said he and his wife had wondered what I was crocheting.

I also made a bitchin' neon yellow headband. Really can't get enough of this line of Deborah Norville yarns.

Happy Weekend!

*Photos edited with the awesome actions at ABM Actions.

Introducing...Overworked Press

We did it! Phil and I opened an Etsy shop together!

Philip's been meaning to start his own artist website, but we set this up tout de suite to facilitate sales of his prints and the Nick-Unicorn coasters and stickers we're releasing (for reference on "Nick-Unicorn" see this post). Despite the "Press" in the name, I'll also be adding some handmade art of my own in the form of embroideries and maybe even some crochet goods. Still working out the logistics of that.

My Wichita Vintage shop is still open, albeit a little neglected as of late. But I'll be adding more items in the coming weeks, including some cutsie vintage kids' clothing and some awesome cups I found locally (for real, SO CUTE).

Anyway, check out Overworked Press!

Bring On Spring

Can we all just breathe a collective sigh? Spring is here! Yesterday, Enu and I strolled through our backyard, surveying all of the teeny tufts of green grass starting to poke through.

Things I typically look for to indicate spring:
   --buds on trees, grass beginning to grow
   --sun sticking around longer each day
   --the eventual planning of our annual summer Lake Trip with friends (yes, we plan several months in advance)
   --more coffees/drinks on our porch and local coffee shop porches
   --my birthday!
   --uptick in Philip's allergies--they hit him this past week

Here's to the season! May it be kind to us all.



*Photos edited using Petal and Opal from ABM Actions.

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February Books

February found me soaring through the Divergent series, at the recommendation of a few friends and about 1/3 done in my 30-book goal. Here's my contribution for February (two books not pictured, plus one pictured that I can't seem to finish).

1) Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions by  Neil Gaiman
  -My very first Neil Gaiman publication! How did it take me this long to find the brilliance that is Gaiman, you might ask? Girl, I have no idea. He's the shiz, though, and his writing makes me have all the feels. (YES, I've seen "Stardust," watched his Doctor Who episodes, and read his Marvel contributions, but hadn't read any of his actual books). Ok, seriously though, great writing. This is a book of short stories. I found myself particularly enthralled by "Chivalry" and "Troll Bridge." The old lady in "Chivalry" seems like everyone's little, old grandma. May this be the beginning of a Neil Gaiman reading-stravaganza!

2, 3, and 4) Divergent trilogy (Divergent, Insurgent, Allegient) by Veronica Roth
  -It really was only a matter of time until I jumped on this bandwagon. These were read at the recommendation of several friends, and I wasn't disappointed. I dig the dystopian future thing, and it's a theme that authors can really have fun writing. Veronica Roth built herself a nice niche with these books, and I really grew to love the characters. I have to say, though, that I've never had such a negative reaction to the end of a book series as I had when finishing Allegient. Never. I immediately ran to my computer and wrote "F*** YOU, VERONICA ROTH." on Facebook. I know! I never have that reaction. My thought is that the ending turned out to be completely unnecessary and a waste of my tears. I know it sounds selfish, but dammit! I really wanted things to turn out differently.

**The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte
  -February found me still plugging away at this book, so it doesn't actually "count" since I have it listed in January.



Happy Reading!

*Photos edited using ABM Actions.

January Books (yes, a little delayed)

One of my resolutions for 2014 is to read at least 30 books. Having been a voracious reader in the past (hello...I'm a history-degree-holding, library-book-themed-wedding kind of girl!), I found myself aghast when thinking back on books I read in 2013. I think I could count them on one hand (*GASP*!!!!!!!!). It's mostly to blame on the fact that I acquired my first smartphone last January right before my cruise. It's so tempting to watch an TV episode or movie in the time I used to spend reading. Even my comic books have become neglected, as my husband so often likes to remind me.

So, I jumped on the "Read X Books this Year" resolution bandwagon. I figured I'd start with 30, allowing for flexibility each month, and go from there. I can tell you that January really kicked off with a bang!

1) Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural BIrth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health by Toni Weschler, MPH

  --Go buy this book. NOW. If you're a woman who isn't at least tracking her waking temperature, it's time to get with it, sister! My friend first loaned me her copy waaaaay back in like 2009, and I flipped through it, not thinking I would be able to adhere to the suggestions and quickly gave up reading it. I finally purchased my own copy in early January and devoured it cover-to-cover. I'd already been tracking my temps since April 2013, but reading this book put everything into perspective. Much, much, MUCH recommended book. SERIOUSLY, why were we not taught this in our health classes? I would know so much more about my body had I been tracking it all this time. If there's one book I can recommend to ANY woman for ANY reason to do with health, this is by far the book.

2) Making Babies: A Proven 3-Month Program for Maximum Fertility by Sami S. David, MD, and Jill Blakeway, LAc

  --I almost didn't pick up this book because we're not really TTC right at this moment, but I got it anyway and am glad to have done so. The first half of the book rehashes a lot of Toni Weschler's work (sometimes verbatim in places, I think?); and the second half seeks to classify the reader into various groups and prescribe a plan for health based on that. I found myself in between two categories and need to start following the plan. Pretty interesting ideas!

3) Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened... by Allie Brosh

  --GAH, how can I not read this book? Having "found" her site several years ago when she announced the book, I'm been patient since then. The book had me in stitches! Brosh not only brings the hilarity to her writing, she also brings true feelings. Because we don't just read things like that for humor--we read them to identify emotions within ourselves. I fucking love her work and can totally relate on depression.

4) A Dance with Dragons: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Five by George R. R. Martin

  --Freaking. Finally. I'd wanted to read this book since it came out and ended up waiting a couple of years AFTER I'd finished Book 4. Not sure why, but I'm glad I got around to reading it. You won't find any spoilers here (everyone dies! J/K!); I'll just throw out there that I really, REALLY can't wait this time until Book 6 comes out...whenever that happens. Poor Mr. Martin has an entire legion of people pushing him along. I kind of feel bad for him.

5) The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte

  --One of the only Bronte stories I've yet experienced. I think I picked this book up at the annual Art Museum Booksale we frequent in May and thought I'd give it a try. It's included in my January list, even though it's still a work in progress (even now in March, when I've read 5-6 more book in between). But what I've so far read, I really like. Strong feminist tones, which were pretty controversial for the mid-1800s. Anne even published it under a pseudonym, and one of her sisters condemned the themes, if I remember correctly from the forward in the book. Anyway, still ongoing!

Happy reading! 

Craftiness--Crochet--Granny Stripe Blanket--DONE!!!!!!

It's done. What I began months ago is finally complete. And awesome. And the best thing ever right now. Seriously, it's so comfy! I could not be happier with the result.

I felt bad about the idea of throwing away the scraps, so I put them into a thrifted bubble silhouette that I'd been meaning to redo. The silhouette, tray, and curtain/tablecloth (below) are three things I picked up at the church garage sale way back in August. I used one of Philip's old grey Prismacolor markers for the frame.

The decision to run the stripes vertically was the best decision I could have made. I wanted this blanket to be able to fit into our washer, after all, and keeping them horizontally would have made it waaaaaay bigger. Plus, I find this more appealing visually.

Believe it or not, we've lived in this house for nigh on three years (this summer) and hadn't decorated our bedroom (I know!). The painting and head were art class projects of my husband's several semesters ago. Still need to add a painting to the large wall to the right.

Materials used:
--Red Heart Grey Heather (base color)
--Deborah Norville Everyday Soft Worsted (stripes): Flourescent Yellow, Wild Blue, Neon Pink, Bright Violet, and Electric Green.
--Size H crochet hook

The Kansas print is from The Big Harumph, and I made the little purse back in high school from a dress I wore in childhood.

{F-off, World. No, for real though, middle-finger unintentional.}

{good night}

{my new place to chill}

**Photos edited using the fabulous ABM Actions. So fun!