Ramblings
Bummer of a Day
Yesterday was a bummer of a day. Hubs found out that he didn’t get into two MBA programs that he applied to this fall. I understand that it is an extremely competitive year for B-school applicants, especially with the recession and all, but I truly believe that he deserved a spot. I’m his wife, so surely I’m biased. However, I’m not the only one who believes in him; his co-workers, managers, and peers were taken by surprise at the decision.
Somehow Hubs has remained upbeat despite the crappy news. In fact, I’m more crushed than he is. As a Christian, I believe that everything happens for a reason and the Big Man upstairs has a plan for us. At least, I’m supposed to believe this. I want to believe it. I have to believe it. But, I still struggle to believe it.
I asked Hubs how he could be so cheerful with such devastating news. Hubs said he’s able to have a thankful heart in difficult times because he has seen that God has always taken care of him. Each time he has been given bad news, good news was waiting just around the corner. For example, after college, Hubs didn’t get a Microsoft job that he really wanted. Later he found out that he was accepted for a top marketing position, one of only four available spots in the entire country. He survived an icky breakup with a girlfriend. A few months later, we met (and of course, we all know how that story ends 
). So, Hubs innately trusts that we will be taken care of. I, on the other hand, have trouble trusting that the Big Man is really, truly looking out for us. At least I married the right person–one who will always humble me and challenge my lack of faith.
On the bright side, I got my new stamp order on Friday. I purchased a few retired stamps that I couldn’t live without, including a background stamp is called Stitched. I like making my own patterned paper out of background stamps because I get to choose the colors I want. The card I made is a “just because” card. Just because I’m thankful that my Hubs is just about the most amazing person I know. I’ve never believed in anyone more than I believe in him.
Card Recipe (all supplies SU unless noted): Stitched background stamp, Best Yet hostess set, cardstock in basic brown, kraft, pink pirouette, ink in basic brown, chocolate chip ribbon, pink felt and twine from Michaels, flower layer sizzix die, stampin’ dimensionals, button from Walmart
Ornament Card & DIY Lightbox
So, I’ve been thinking about what’s in store for Hubs and me over the next few years. He applied for grad school recently and I was struggling with the idea of possibly moving to another locale for a few years. I’ve given it great thought, and I think I’ve come to peace with relocating. In fact, I think it’ll be a good experience. For one, I will have extra time to pursue some creative fields of work that I’ve been contemplating. Two, it’ll give me a chance to get out of my comfort zone and introverted shell.
It might not come across in my blog, but I’m a pretty introverted person. I wouldn’t say I’m shy (shy and introverted are often thought to mean the same thing, but the two are not necessarily related). But, if I’m around a large group of people for an extended period of time, I can become exhausted. I need down time, and lots of it. Hubs is completely the opposite. He’s one of the most extroverted people I know. He gets energized at large gatherings with tons of people.
Anyway, I think that packing up and moving to a big city would force me to go out and meet new people, join clubs and groups, and do things that I wouldn’t normally do. Now, we’re just waiting to hear the schools’ verdicts to find out where we’ll be for the next two years. Unfortunately MBA applications have skyrocketed (up 40%) since the financial mess, so we’ll have to wait and see where the future takes us.
Today’s card is a simple one. I wanted to make an ornament shaped card, so I used a scalloped circle die and ran it through my Sizzix machine. The top of the ornament is just a thin strip of paper that I ran through my Fiskar’s paper crimper plus a ring that I punched from using two nested circle punches. Quick and easy.
You might have noticed that the background for some of my card pictures have changed. I set up a makeshift lightbox in my house using a frosted plastic bin, binder clips, clip on lamps from Walmart, daylight energy saving bulbs, and a piece of white posterboard. It actually works pretty well! The whole rig was around $30. Lamps were $8/piece. The bulbs were expensive because I bought energy efficient ones at $7/bulb. I had the tub already, so no cost there. If you sell small items on eBay, this is a great home set up. I got the idea here.
Before I go, I just wanted to share Stampin’ Up’s latest promotion. It’s a few days late, oops, sorry! From the SU website:
Dates: December 1, 2008-January18, 2009
Product Offer: Spend $20 and get 20 percent off any stamp set from the Fall-Winter Sampler
Alrighty, have a great day, everyone!
Thankful
Why I Started This Blog
I was so inspired by Kim’s post a few days ago about why she started her blog. So, today, I just wanted to step back a little bit and share the reason I started this blog.
Pre-haircut days at the Rodin Museum in Paris. I do miss my hair, just a little bit.
Sometimes I think I was born to be a blogger. I’ve been on the internet since AOL had chat rooms. When Blogger first became popular, I started my very first weblog. I wrote mostly about silly stuff, like my daily to-do list. But, even then, I loved sharing information about everything: hot new bars, good restaurants, and hidden boutiques. I eventually started multiple blogs on different sites: Live Journal, Xanga, and Wordpress, to name a few. The pivotal point of my blogging “career” was writing for Weddingbee. After writing about my wedding projects, ideas, experiences, and failures, I realized I really loved sharing information with people.
We live in a digital age where a wealth information is at our fingertips and the amount of data in the cyber world will only increase. In the past, people did not have easy access to information. If someone wanted to start up a hobby that required a large amount of expertise, like photography for example, that person would go to the library, pay for classes, or consult experts. Today, if someone wanted to take up photography, that person could search for “DSLR basics” on Google and find thousands of websites with great information. Of course, it would take more than a Wikipedia article to become a pro photographer. But nevertheless, there is good information out there and it’s free.
The internet, and specifically blogging, has shaped my paradigm of the world. I believe that there is no reason for a person not to have access to information. It should be a right, like clean water or air. I also love that the availability of information is forcing the world to become more transparent.
Take the wedding industry, for example. The dynamics of the wedding industry have greatly changed within the last few years, simply because brides and grooms have access to more information than ever before. The internet has also spurred more competition in the industry, as new vendors are able to access information to sharpen their skills and also reach numerous people to elevate their brand.
So, how does this all connect to my little blog?
Despite what people may think, I don’t consider myself creative. In fact, Martha Stewart intimidates me. However, I do believe that everyone can cultivate and practice creativity, and it’s both healthy and satisfying.
I did not know anything about weddings, rubber stamping, or photography a year ago. But, I’m resourceful and patient when it comes to seeking information. All that I know now, I learned within one year of furious web browsing. While I was planning my wedding, I was exposed to so many fantastic ideas from the forum of women (and men) on Weddingbee. I found myself trying new things I would not have otherwise thought of. I was actually able to cultivate my creativity by gathering ideas from others. As a result, Hubs and I had an amazing, personal wedding that is still one of the best days of my life.
Now, as I’m starting up new hobbies (specifically paper crafts and photography), I’m determined to share everything I’ve learned with others. I’ve found so much satisfaction and accomplishment in creating crafts and photos that I never imagined I’d be able to create. It’s only right to return the favor, since so many people in the blogosphere have been indispensable in my learning.
I write here because I know there is probably someone in the world who, like me, is intimidated by Martha Stewart and all the other creative gurus. I write to empower those people. We might not be Martha Stewart, but we can create some pretty nifty stuff.
So, dear readers, if you’re interested, I will share with you more than you ever wanted to know about rubber stamps and ink. And, perhaps, a thing or two about myself along the way.
Snip Snip
I know a term exists to describe a post wedding chop (when a newly married woman cuts her hair short), but what about an anniversary chop?
Hubs has been bugging me for months to cut my hair like Victoria Beckham. He’s the only guy I know that prefers short hair over long. Well, one year into our marriage, I finally took the plunge. I didn’t go Posh Spice short, but this is the shortest haircut I’ve ever had. I think I like it!
This picture doesn’t show the new ‘do that well. It’s actually an angled bob that’s quite a bit shorter in the back and it angles down to shoulder length locks in the front.
My stylist is a godsend. I’ve been going to her for six years and she can always translate my crappy instructions (” Ummm, can you cut my hair short? And make it kind of cute-like? And make the ends do that cool tousled looking thing?”) and turn them into a stylish haircut.
I love wearing headbands in my hair, and I think they look even better with short hair.
What do you think? Should I keep it short for a while? Or grow it back out again? Hubs wants me to cut it even shorter. He likes the short hairstyles on Catherine Bell and Shannon Sossamon. Mmmm. I don’t know about that. Shoulder length is already a drastic change for me.
On Sunday, I got to wear my new ‘do out for the first time. Hubs and I celebrated our anniversary with dinner at Manresa. We each ordered the tasting menu, consisting of 12-14 tasting portions. Oh WOW, was it an experience! Hubs and I don’t dine out expensively very often. In fact, this was the first time I’ve ever ordered a tasting menu. Typically, I pick an entree a la carte. But yesterday, we splurged. I tried so many things I never would have ordered: raw oysters, raw sea urchin, raw egg yolk, raw beef (a.k.a beef tartar), horseradish ice cream, and more! It was an amusement park for my taste buds and I enjoyed every ride.
Our first tasting course consisted of raw oyster and sea urchin.
Course number three was artfully displayed in a half shell. I don’t remember what kind of egg this was, but there was a raw yolk with some cream thing and some crunchy stuff on the bottom. Sorry, my food vocabulary obviously needs some fine tuning. I’m not doing the poor restaurant justice. In any case, it was very rich and delicious.
We were served three yummy dessert tastings. Our third dessert course was a chocolate and banana cream cake/ganache/mousse with coconut ice cream. Mmmm.
No card for today, folks! Tomorrow, we’ll be back to our regularly scheduled posting of paper goodness.
Return from a Cultural Paradise
After a missed connecting flight and being stuck in Philly for a night, I’m finally back from Europe! Boy, what a trip. It was amazing, to say the least. I have about 20+ gigs of pictures to sort through, but I did get to pick out a few of my favorites last night.
This place is called The Hamlet and it’s part of the Versailles palace grounds. It was one of my favorite places in Europe. Doesn’t it look ethereal? This mini village was Marie Antoinette’s personal retreat on the grounds.
Barcelona by night. This was outside the National Art Museum of Catalonia.
And Barcelona by day. Outside the same museum, this is the view below.
Of course, the lovely Tour d’Eiffel. It was lit up in blue to commemorate France’s leadership of the EU.
The beautiful Louvre. I could spend days wandering aimlessly in this place.
On a riverboat cruise on the Seine, the sun was setting and I captured this shot of Notre Dame in the background. Paris is my favorite city in the world. I could live there.
Lastly, a picture in the Barcelona metro station. We took lots and lots of metro and I didn’t miss my car one bit.
Of the three cities Hubs and I visited (Paris, Madrid, Barcelona), I highly recommend Paris and Barcelona. Madrid was nice, but the other two cities were really my favorites. I’ve been really busy ever since we got in, but it’s good to be back. More to come soon!
Tagged by a Penguin!
Surprisingly, I’ve been blogging for 7+ years and I’ve never been tagged. It was bound to happen sooner or later. In any case, I was tagged by my Penguin cohort over at Weddingbee who’s sassy, spunky, and she also lives in the condo of my dreams (you should see it; it’ll make your little heart melt, it’s that cute).
Here are the rules of this tag game:
1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. Write 6 random things about yourself
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them
5. Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is posted
I don’t think I know six bloggers who haven’t already been tagged with these questions, so I’ll have to cheat on number 4. Hey, I never said I was popular.
Six Random Things About Me:
- I’ve been arrested and taken down to the station in a paddywagon. Yup. When I was the ripe young age of 20, I went with my girlfriends to a Korean club in SF. Well, this K-club was notorious for allowing underage people (like me) to drink. On the night we visited the venue, it was raided by cops! Thankfully, I wasn’t drinking that night. The police officers grabbed up all the girls and asked for our IDs. Of course, we all conveniently “forgot” our IDs at home. Hah. I ended up in the back of a van stuffed with 10 crying girls (I wasn’t crying; I was way too pissed). When we got to the station the cops put us up in a little room for a minute, took our prints, and let us out. No charges were pressed, but boy does the experience make a good story now!
- I was a cheerleader in high school. That may not seem random if you don’t know me, but those who do know me understand how introverted I really am. I don’t like being the center of attention, so I have no idea what compelled me to try out for the cheerleading squad. There certainly weren’t any cute boys on our football team.
- I missed my junior prom because no one asked me. As an insecure high school teeny bopper, this was actually pretty traumatic for me. I spent prom night with my girlfriend, gorging on pizza and Coke. *sob*
- I put my makeup on in the car every morning. It’s not as bad as it sounds. Driving in SF city traffic allows for lots of wasted time at stoplights. These are precious minutes that can be utilized so that I can sleep in ten minutes longer in the mornings. I never apply my makeup if the car is moving, only at full stops of at least 30 seconds. But I’ve become a pro at applying eyeliner without a mirror.
- I want to be a homemaker. This might not seem random, but it’s definitely more uncommon here in the bay area. Most women I know want a powerful career and financial independence. For me, none of that is a priority. I would be completely satisfied as a stay-at-home mom. Of course, I’d still want to do something constructive with my time. Perhaps a small home business or a community service cause would fill that void and allow me some adult interaction.
- My first job was piercing ears at Claire’s. I cannot believe this store trusted a 16 year old girl to pierce the ears of 4 and 5 year old kids. Seriously, if you have children, don’t ever let Claire’s associates touch their earlobes. I barely had any training before a piercing gun and a purple marker were shoved in my hands. There are hundreds of poor, unfortunate souls out there with lopsided earrings because of me. Are you reading this, little Sarah? I’m sorry for the trauma I caused you. I hope you’ve forgiven me!
It’s about 5am right now and I’m off to catch my flight. I didn’t get a chance to tag anyone back, but I hope that my embarrassing facts plastered over the internet were entertaining for you to read. See you in two weeks! I shall leave you with a parting thank you for indulging me.
