tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46700901755457916852024-03-05T04:56:44.853-05:00The Vagaries of the CrowdTales of an old soulNikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-52994838281751024782010-02-12T16:38:00.002-05:002010-02-12T16:42:34.272-05:00Memory VerseTrust in the Lord with all your heart,<div>And lean not on your own understanding.</div><div>In all your ways, acknowledge him</div><div>And He will direct your path.</div><div>Proverbs 3:5-6</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been saying this to myself a lot lately.</div>Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-16845094779612271762009-09-22T20:35:00.004-04:002009-09-22T20:40:34.866-04:00From the fam<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Dd083j4vZd0mWCowgKUWZk7OkkymrFeGuWzOghNZmCrSYOWh-cqUyCX68AzO1v1sLPiRMVhz05-ugaR03MpMUDGtKW6vAL7IcTRU9ZSRJ_BSiPjiWffKaw6-BCUzDeMaHYmNXJ95lnhT/s1600-h/basil2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Dd083j4vZd0mWCowgKUWZk7OkkymrFeGuWzOghNZmCrSYOWh-cqUyCX68AzO1v1sLPiRMVhz05-ugaR03MpMUDGtKW6vAL7IcTRU9ZSRJ_BSiPjiWffKaw6-BCUzDeMaHYmNXJ95lnhT/s320/basil2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384455221314661778" /></a><br />Um, I wish I could express just how jazzed I was when I got this on Saturday. The Great Mouse Detective is the perfect blend of old Disney craziness, Sherlock Holmes, and Willy Wonka. <div><br /></div><div>The thing is, now I'm watching the Daily Show and Jon Oliver is doing his bit. Makes me wonder how impossible it would be for me to be a <a href="http://www.asklyrics.com/display/Fountains_of_Wayne/Comedienne_Lyrics/149276.htm">comedienne</a> in England. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sad news: my camera broke some time between Tuesday and Friday. I don't use it often, but I really was fond of that particular camera. <div><br /></div><div>But happy days will prevail: the sun was out today, the rain is gone for a little bit, and I just rocked my US History exam. </div></div>Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-51570703127544359832009-09-13T13:02:00.002-04:002009-09-13T13:18:55.077-04:00Birthday List?<p>Can I be 8 for a minute and make a birthday wish list? kthx.</p><ol><li>A <a href="http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat3189&PRODID=prd55688">serger</a> in order to "make more professional-looking garments." I don't know, that's what they always say and I <i>do</i> hate hemming things. I have a lot of dresses and skirts in my "Finish" pile only because I'm scared of hemming them unevenly. </li><br /><li>A Nikon SLR <a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9311755&type=product&id=1218082646627">camera</a>. Mom has a Canon and it's amazing, but I'm incredibly partial to Nikons. </li><br /><li>A Fleet Foxes CD.</li><br /><li><img height="150" width="150" src="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_430xN.53781250.jpg" align="baseline" /> <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19993209">these</a> vintage coffee cups. They look like ones I had when I was 3 that came in a tea set. They had Barbie on them instead of the pretty green and blue. Not going to lie: I like them both equally. </li><br /><li><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=25331416"><img height="150" width="200" src="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_430xN.71679399.jpg" align="baseline" /></a>This/A <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=25331416">coin purse</a> (in general) (<a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=30812005">This</a> is also lovely)</li><br /><li>Any art in general, especially <a href="http://jessgonacha.etsy.com/">Jessica Gonacha Swift</a> and <a href="http://flapperdoodle.etsy.com/">Flapper Doodle</a></li><br /><li><img height="200" width="200" alt="Cher Pop Art" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_430xN.59518340.jpg" />I love <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21708154&ref=sr_gallery_15&&ga_search_query=cher&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=2&order=date_desc&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title">this</a>. I actually may buy it for myself. </li><br /><li>Anything from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/">Etsy</a>.</li><br /><li>Anything directly or indirectly related to Cher, Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra, Humphrey Bogart, or Ryan Gosling in Young Hercules.<br /><img height="240" width="180" src="http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2007/database/ryangosling/ryangosling6_240.jpg" /><img height="200" width="300" src="http://www.empireonline.com/images/features/the-young-ones/young-hercules.jpg" /></li><br /><li>A date with Ryan Gosling. Sorry, those pictures really made me regress. </li></ol>I could never date Ryan Gosling, because we'd be having a great time eating dinner or something and I'd be far to distracted thinking of him in Young Hercules costumes. And I'd ask him everyday to reenact <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaV80m2WEJ8">this scene</a> from YH until he was so fed up that he'd break up with me. Being realistic and everything. <div><br /></div><div><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eaV80m2WEJ8&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eaV80m2WEJ8&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><ol><br /></ol></div>Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-20656180141654624012009-08-26T18:24:00.003-04:002009-08-26T18:54:45.350-04:00Philosophy 1<blockquote></blockquote>This semester's personal project is to find a philosophy each week (or every few weeks) and really try to apply it to my life. I'd like to see how my life could be changed just by thinking a little differently. The plan is to pseudo-/semi-document the occurrences here or other thoughts that come to my mind (you know, the general purpose of a blog) that are at least indirectly related to my new way of thinking. <div><br /></div><div>This week's (and probably next week's, too) is "<b>Fish where the fish are.</b>"</div><div><br /></div><div>I have a tendency to be agoraphobic. I don't go out much without considerable coaxing. I could honestly stay in my room 23.75 hours a day as long as I had food, water, and a book. I like people, but I can often satiate my need for human contact by just listening to people, be it through walls, doors, or on the TV. Of course, there are sometimes when I wish I met new people easier. This is where the philosophy comes in: I KNOW that the new people aren't going to saunter into my bedroom and instantly befriend me. So in order to meet new friends, I must go where there are new <i>people. </i>Genius, I know :) </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 19, 32); line-height: 21px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="reftext" style="color: rgb(0, 19, 32); line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">h</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">i</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">s</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">a</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">l</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">s</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">o</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">c</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">a</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">m</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">e</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">t</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">o</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">m</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">i</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">n</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">d</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://bible.cc/luke/5-4.htm" style="color: rgb(0, 146, 242); text-decoration: none; "></a></span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 19, 32); line-height: 21px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span><blockquote><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, </span></i><span class="nivred"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Put out into deep water, and let down</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> the nets for a catch.”</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></i></b></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”</span></i><span class="reftext" style="color: rgb(0, 19, 32); line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://bible.cc/luke/5-6.htm" style="color: rgb(0, 146, 242); text-decoration: none; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></i></b></a></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. </span></i></span></blockquote><span class="nivred"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#001320;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><blockquote></blockquote><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Luke 5:4-7</span></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#001320;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 19, 32); line-height: 21px; ">If you "fish where the fish are," sometimes God can come through in miraculous ways. It's a pleasant thought.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#001320;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#001320;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So here's to finding new opportunities and seizing them! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;color:#001320;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; font-size:15px;"></span></span></div>Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-31248255534441650922009-07-23T20:44:00.002-04:002009-07-23T21:02:36.942-04:00HousekeepingThis fell by the wayside, didn't it?<br /><br />Right now, there are many people in my driveway trying to un-break our minivan. Hopefully, it will be better soon.Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-38829193820377792112009-07-03T12:10:00.005-04:002009-07-03T12:16:11.054-04:00Finished!<div style="text-align: left;">Quilted Coasters have a place in my heart, and now have a place on my coffee table!</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_1p_wR555HEedjPModXO6z8FyGoqfYzdXkPiYoyRV-TYZUrpRsMK0nienPb7UfiswXF-QApxQlMgBlpP30FtEceIV7EEr-xrFKKG-NSN8bBzrJw8eljgzzEpLE2yMgX_I7e_89CiKOkI/s320/DSCN0018.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354267550683651874" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZPJ9S09MBz8JjrOY8WfxwoeRrKtT4ZaivLjsYSAzSVIQA7393tNwillN9gctq4LsS9d0qunvbq-7h8HhdyvbW4c8IxkREYOIqEK4sy9tzc_LxYM_7_PoJ0616Tp20GDCh61yuN5cLSZp/s320/DSCN0020.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354267939039402546" /></div><div>Ugh, they're dark because I took them at night because I was exhausted and not thinking clearly. On the camera, they looked like they were the right exposure. It's okay. They're good enough for me. </div>Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-29101849193333594912009-06-26T11:52:00.001-04:002009-07-03T14:07:33.527-04:00A "Wild" 12th Birthday<div style="text-align: left;">Sister 1 and Sam</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDD_NqYTzcdgpHwxXA2-YZyKSU6jcbrHZh1S7t2jQodoHsXOyPHiI8mt0pMMBFKpu_dpYQTsiwcBaBToaMBj6ad80cgzRhyIdu1q2IgFsHvk3x_mjVEgeO7zKvwt176SAtnmxhu4pecFrA/s1600-h/DSCN0077.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDD_NqYTzcdgpHwxXA2-YZyKSU6jcbrHZh1S7t2jQodoHsXOyPHiI8mt0pMMBFKpu_dpYQTsiwcBaBToaMBj6ad80cgzRhyIdu1q2IgFsHvk3x_mjVEgeO7zKvwt176SAtnmxhu4pecFrA/s320/DSCN0077.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354264149308107058" /></a>Sister 2<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIDfGsaWHUo6rufRvkFJPyu0uknzk3wT3lg06ZkWStH6G15TRnRzLYPmiOnZksL55P3_eaaeB6txAqr-PmwiiRLMu_McsXCXXhkS4pXAcT7QyC4tbV4fkVB2-lgTYBUqItP07Uy2ZYKHi/s1600-h/DSCN0054.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIDfGsaWHUo6rufRvkFJPyu0uknzk3wT3lg06ZkWStH6G15TRnRzLYPmiOnZksL55P3_eaaeB6txAqr-PmwiiRLMu_McsXCXXhkS4pXAcT7QyC4tbV4fkVB2-lgTYBUqItP07Uy2ZYKHi/s320/DSCN0054.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354264143360000274" /></a>Dilapidated cake. I didn't notice the wonky bottom until just now.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwIazWvV2scwS76ud1muyruBZ2oD3kQP3mlx8IhCZDemFpRfp5JtMTSG-Eoj1ti4gHEqJN5nqNsfEArYb0zK-6SvCRHIPVbR8nAcpd7fp-11TArBopW1Z7H_BP0JnQXoMRjUsLv2738Me/s1600-h/DSCN0036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwIazWvV2scwS76ud1muyruBZ2oD3kQP3mlx8IhCZDemFpRfp5JtMTSG-Eoj1ti4gHEqJN5nqNsfEArYb0zK-6SvCRHIPVbR8nAcpd7fp-11TArBopW1Z7H_BP0JnQXoMRjUsLv2738Me/s320/DSCN0036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354264134351866722" /></a>The group we got together.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6cSq_LAJ2JyXIYU8NUcG-b9aQOP7wFmxD-XcNF5b3XLpDeaXB0qvhPU9u9-Bfzy1qjFRD1asIvRZpW97yJDloAiJCeoa12JnqwIKsczCFwf9l3xs3wQPftuQ6nc_GQ3GBIF4dGrCmJNf/s1600-h/DSCN0033.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6cSq_LAJ2JyXIYU8NUcG-b9aQOP7wFmxD-XcNF5b3XLpDeaXB0qvhPU9u9-Bfzy1qjFRD1asIvRZpW97yJDloAiJCeoa12JnqwIKsczCFwf9l3xs3wQPftuQ6nc_GQ3GBIF4dGrCmJNf/s320/DSCN0033.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354264127170770034" /></a>Grace and OUR best friend. I love her.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOFnD_wnUC-fhzEz8CUIXmPAL8YcOVid8S97gmHaR0X4rZWp0SVdWKj68duK4z-AGfsGvA7h95evDzrcnvzbR9yP5QbARUkYqiEWEAR1WuHJUjTqUisbnPlLaaQuZPTNFxWcAuP83oxvu/s1600-h/DSCN0032.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOFnD_wnUC-fhzEz8CUIXmPAL8YcOVid8S97gmHaR0X4rZWp0SVdWKj68duK4z-AGfsGvA7h95evDzrcnvzbR9yP5QbARUkYqiEWEAR1WuHJUjTqUisbnPlLaaQuZPTNFxWcAuP83oxvu/s320/DSCN0032.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354264126050682530" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">We don't look alike in this picture, but there was one on the camera where she could've been my blonde twin.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPz3_Pc9E-G5_p7ISGemed0b-w8KbymsWaQ-S8VFPWWiAAcOuC2tbXjeyt_Y_qCe8MEM0MzODxKsWtj-maavXBbK4Xq8OhuVgQ7JL_s8cggc_YcBJuC-kVTf1XdU44UghHb9hQ6K8A0NkC/s320/DSCN0089.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354264606606289058" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was a good time. She received some great presents and spent time with some amazing friends (and one hilariously shy "boyfriend").</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy birthday, sis!</div>Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-90045282591975206202009-06-15T13:10:00.003-04:002009-06-16T13:34:26.495-04:00The simple thingsI <strong>love</strong> quilted coasters. I know they're pretty en vogue in the crafting community, and I'm sure they're on their way out, but there's something about them that melts my heart. They're so simple to make, but they look so tailored.<br /><br />Right now, I'm at work, putting invoices in numerical order, dreaming about making tens of quilted coasters tonight.Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-29939241409059607412009-06-13T22:17:00.004-04:002009-06-16T13:35:26.616-04:00An Etsy DayI've been in kind of a funk today. I'm sure it has nothing to do with teaching 16 kids ages 4-6 for 2 1/2 hours Sunday through Thursday, then starting my real job on Thursday morning and working by myself all day Friday.<br /><br />I overslept today. I woke up at 10:30. That's how I knew my day was shot. I NEVER sleep past 8:30. I've been to parties and gotten back at 4:30 in the morning and I still wake up at 7:00. It's just my nature. I also didn't put in my contacts when I woke up. "Glasses days" are hardly ever good days.<br /><br />However, my ill mood was lifted around noon when I realized that moping wasn't going to solve anything. So this afternoon, my younger sister and I figured out the guest list and mailed out invitations for her "wild" 12th birthday! It's a jungle-theme, so we bought two sets of invitations: one pink set with leopard edges and zebra in the center and a blue set with blue zebra stripes on the flap and a purple stripe on the overlap. They are too cute. I'm making three skirts for the occasion, too. I'm making my sister and her best friend matching zebra skirts-- Grace's will have yellow fabric underneath and sewn with yellow thread and her friend's, Alex, will have pink fabric and pink thread. My skirt (I love sewing for myself. I get so tired of wearing the same thing as everyone else.) is made from a canvas-like material (but thinner). It's a natural, unbleached color with an eggplant trim and a zebra, a deer, and a bird looking around trees near the bottom. I love it.<br /><br />That was a huge aside, and after the "invitations" talk, has nothing to do with this post. Since I wasn't really in a social mood, I spent a lot of time online. And since it's Saturday, NO ONE updates their blogs, (How selfish of them!) so I spent most of the day on Etsy.<br /><br />I had to buy my sister (same one) a present. I plan on making her some things, but she loves ducks. I get that. When I was 12, my friends and I went through this weird "We love monkeys/frogs/ducks" phase. I thought I had seen a tutorial online about how to sew a stuffed rooster. My plan was to take that basic principal, then add felt feet and a bill. I couldn't find it, though. Which led me to Plan B- Etsy, of course.<br /><br />I was surprised that even Etsy let me down a little bit. I searched for "duck" and "stuffed duck" (I felt a little weird typing that) and "plush duck." I was shown a lot of amigurimi ducks, but only a few sewn ducks. I found one that I liked, so I got it, even though it was a bit pricey.<br /><br />After I found that, I decided to kill some time. With parties on the brain, I started to think about my own party in a few months. Even though it's in September, I've had the theme picked out since I was 16: when I turn twenty, my theme will be "The Roarin' Twenties." (It just so happens to work out that my mom accidentally bought me a fringed skirt from Urban Outfitters for Christmas). I have everything already: the clothes, the headbands, the boas, and the music. But a basic Etsy search led me to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7319748">flapperdoodle</a>. I absolutely love her things. I especially love that her biography is pretty similar to mine. She's two years older than I am and loves old movies and replaced Britney Spears with Frank Sinatra years ago.<br /><br />My FAVORITE:<a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24716350"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 430px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 430px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_430xN.69610291.jpg" border="0" /></a>Other gorgeous prints<br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24934273"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 430px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 430px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_430xN.70342154.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25264124"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 430px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 430px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_430xN.71451297.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />(All images owned by flapperdoodle. I'm just a fan)</div><div></div><div>I love that one of her character's names is "Ramona." A few weeks ago, my sister and I were talking about what we were going to name our future children and I said "If it's a girl, Olive and Ramona. If it's a boy, Luc, Landon, or Macon."</div><div></div><div></div><div>This whole post was just a long way of saying, I love the 20's, Etsy, and my family. And even summer, but just a bit!</div><div></div><div>Love </div></div>Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-35937210203916542552009-06-09T16:53:00.004-04:002009-07-03T14:13:10.160-04:00VBS is not for the faint of heartAfter Mallory left for Honduras, I've been more conscious of my decisions. I've tried to not waste time and I've been attempting to listen more than I talk (it's harder than I thought!).<br /><br />Sunday kicked off VBS at my church and I'm teaching Pre-K. This is a HUGE test of patience and love. Tonight is the 3rd night, but Sunday we had 13 kids and yesterday we had 15. Fifteen five-year-olds is A LOT, especially when our schedules were so messed up.<br /><br />Mom and I were really bummed that we were getting so many directions that we couldn't do anything, so the kids missed both music AND crafts. I could tell she was becoming flustered and she could tell I felt like I was in over my head (I can deal with groups only if they involve people who are ages 10 and up. Give me 100 teenagers, and I'm okay. Give me 25 high school sophomores and I will show you a great time. Children, however, are a WHOLE different ballgame). But we both prayed to ourselves and God really came through (as did one kid's grandfather. There was no dealing with that one).<br /><br />I felt especially guilty when I was pushing Kylie's wheelchair. Kylie is a 5 year old girl who was diagnosed with bone cancer in her femur in October. She's had so many rounds of chemotherapy and even had to have her femur replaced with a steel rod last month. Even after everything she's been through, she was the sweetest kid there. She listened to the stories, she didn't talk out of turn, and she still had fun and laughed and smiled. We were coloring while the other kids were on the playground and I taught her some French words. Her favorite, as is everyone's, was "bleu." It's just so much fun to say! But how on earth can I complain about bruises on my shins and how exhausted I am when sweet Kylie is looking at me and laughing with me? I have no reason to complain or worry. "Consider the sparrows," right?<br /><br />We're learning about the underground church this week. We emptied out two Sunday school rooms: one for a prison cell where Paul and Brutus the Roman guard stay (Brutus lets us visit Paul for a little bit everyday. He's not really a bad guy deep down) and another for a "cave" so Christians who want to worship can do so without being caught. I know it's meant for children, but SEEING it, even on such a small scale really helped me to understand how MUCH Christians went through just to praise God. Every year, we hear stories about missionaries in other countries and how they have to worship in secret, too. I don't think we get it sometimes. I know I've never appreciated how much they put on the line just to praise God. It makes me feel incredibly guilty for sometimes oversleeping on Sundays.<br /><br />I love working with children, though. They teach me so many things, both spiritually and artistically. One of the girls kept talking about sunflowers, so I think I'll try to make my sister a sunflower jumper!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! --James 3:3-5</em></span>Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-71503458548573299032009-06-05T14:46:00.002-04:002009-06-16T13:37:58.349-04:00Sometimes the truth just smacks you in the head<em>If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. -- Galatians 5: 25</em>Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-59926573857840422009-06-04T21:50:00.003-04:002009-06-04T21:58:39.692-04:00A little nugget<div>Dolls with freckles really bother me. I think they remind me too much of the Puzzle Place.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGunJo5vhC2St5pwBPShkrt8r8wc-HX_0gVFapSRpqg5q0zTUVo3r6OiGRxy4jWtpHr_8AJQZpT1UCqsgtM1yae78SWNQOg1ZjlsRIUMrRIRe_wNQONYn7vV4649CLAN8V8Wkah5Ug6Ffu/s1600-h/puzzle2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343655804787335986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 170px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGunJo5vhC2St5pwBPShkrt8r8wc-HX_0gVFapSRpqg5q0zTUVo3r6OiGRxy4jWtpHr_8AJQZpT1UCqsgtM1yae78SWNQOg1ZjlsRIUMrRIRe_wNQONYn7vV4649CLAN8V8Wkah5Ug6Ffu/s320/puzzle2.jpg" border="0" /></a> I loved them all except for Ben, the blonde boy. (Skye and KiKi were my favorites.) I think my distaste for him has stayed with me until adulthood. He's more than likely the reason why freckles on NON-LIVING things creep me out.<br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-89082881384903067352009-06-03T20:12:00.004-04:002009-08-26T18:52:49.695-04:00Just a walking cliché...Yesterday, I took (okay, <em>dragged</em>) my younger sister to Hancock Fabric because I wanted metallic thread. Unbeknownst to us, Hancock was having a massive sale on summer fabrics, including linen.<br /><br />Any woman worth her weight in salt has either owned or wanted a pair of linen pants/shorts or a skirt. Any sewer (I don't like the word "seamstress." It sounds like "mistress" + "seam-ripper") who's sewn more than a patch on a hole has worked with or wanted to work with linen. They "ooh" and "ahh" and swoon and faint over how soft it is and how soft it becomes after washing it. They like how versatile it is and how summery it feels.<br /><br />I am not that sewer. Last April, I bought some linen the color of sunshine to make myself a skirt for Easter. I imagined my finished project to resemble a linen skirt I bought from Old Navy ($3!) five years ago (I still have the darn thing, too. I actually wore it to ICE). Well,...it didn't. The material pilled in some areas and was too thin in others. It wasn't soft AT ALL. (Then again, I'm a cotton/silk blend kinda gal.) I cut the pattern out, pinned it together, and put it in my pile to "get to" where it still humbly lies.<br /><br />THIS linen, however, was 50% off--FIVE DOLLARS A YARD! How could I pass that up? It was navy blue and calling my name. "Helloooo, precciiiooooussss. I'm the exxaaaaccccttt shaaaaaddeee ooof bluuuuuue yooouuuu weeerreee loooookiiiiinnngg foooor! Tooouuuucchhhhh mmmeeeee.." So I did.<br /><br />I'm so glad I did. This linen was 300x better than the first. I took less than half a yard and made my youngest sister a simple skirt with hidden pockets made from a fat quarter of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=14832107">Gaughin's Garden</a>. The entire skirt cost about $3.50 to make. I love it. (She has a funny way of showing appreciation, so I'm not sure if she loves it as much as I do. I DO know that she'd begged me for a week to make her a skirt with pockets, then pitched a fit when I asked her to try the finished project on for size. And after the fit was pitched, she asked me to make her another skirt and a wallet. I think I'll focus on my other sister for a bit to see if SHE's more grateful.)<br /><br />Again, I wish I had my camera, since I'm pretty proud of my pocket-making abilities (Thanks to a pattern in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Weekend-Sewing-Projects-Inspired-Stitching/dp/1584796758/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244075903&sr=8-1">Weekend Sewing</a>!)<br /><br />Since I have over half a yard of this delicious fabric left, I think I'll attempt to make <a href="http://www.freepeople.com/images/content/bldg15/makeabag.pdf">this</a> now.<br /><br />Happy crafting!<br /><br />PS: How cute are <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25565455&ref=fp_feat_2">these</a>?!Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-88546790673519313372009-06-01T09:50:00.004-04:002009-06-01T10:29:13.379-04:00First weekendSaturday night, one of my closest friends left for and arrived in Honduras for a six month mission trip. I thought she was leaving next month: Saturday night, I was at a party.<br /><br />Sunday morning, I realized how much I should be doing and how little I really am. I don't want to waste any more time.<br /><br />Saturday morning, <a href="http://craftydaydreaming.blogspot.com/">a very good friend</a> and I went to the <a href="http://www.ice-atlanta.com/">Indie Craft Experience</a> in Centennial Olympic Park. We bought presents for people we love and a few things for ourselves, including two delicious cupcakes from <a href="http://dulceveganbakery.blogspot.com/">Dulce Vegan</a>! I love ICE, because it's just miles of inspiration and good conversations.<br /><br />So between two days of inspiration (I took my mom and sister on Sunday after church!) and God, I think I can stop wasting time. I'm writing it here, because even if no one reads it, it still solidifies it in my mind. I need to be held accountable to what I promise myself and others.<br /><br /><em>I will not waste my precious, limited time with trivial, shallow, and stupid activities. I will treat my body like a temple and know that it is an amazing thing. I will spend more time with my family and less time trying to salvage relationships that I shouldn't be in anyway. I will stop undermining God and pretending I know better than He does. I will love with all my heart and try to let thi</em><em>ngs roll off my back. I will continue to be optimistic, but still work hard towards what I want.</em><br /><em></em><br />Now, I am going to help my sister with her writing. Mom bought her advanced kindergarten books to do during the summer so she won't fall behind when she goes to first grade in August.<br /><br />(I had pictures, but my camera is on the lam again)<br /><br />(P.S. <a href="http://www.jessgonacha.blogspot.com/">Jessica Gonacha </a>was at ICE and I LOVE her art. It's unique, but not too abstract)Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-28828175507553337092009-04-20T08:52:00.002-04:002009-04-20T08:54:15.443-04:00Tea from Jittery Joe'sIs it just me, or does the Chinese Flower Green Tea from Jittery Joe's smell like Trix cereal?<br /><br />Adulthood, meet Childhood.Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-10067824864304110232009-04-14T10:27:00.007-04:002009-04-14T11:33:20.503-04:00April Showers Bring May Flowers<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(And Mayflowers bring Pilgrims)</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eJZnIHwzvzM&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eJZnIHwzvzM&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: normal; "><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's raining pretty substantially now. It makes me happy that I didn't wash my car. It rained/hailed on Friday, cleared up on Saturday, and it's been raining since early Monday morning. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I absolutely love it, though. I love it when I'm at home. I like driving in it (well, 80% of the time) and I like walking in it (again, ~80% of the time!). I love that it takes away some of the pollen from the air. I love that Lake Lanier is less than 8 feet below full pool. I love how GREEN everything is lately! It's easy to forget how pretty spring is when summer is so blistering, fall is so busy, and winter is so long. In contrast with the dull background, the green is especially bright.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Actually, I supposed I walked away longer than I thought because now it's stopped raining and while the sun isn't </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">out</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, it is shining through the clouds. And according to the weather, that's the end of the rain for the week. Hm. I'm going to miss it. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: normal; "><img src="http://cdn2.tomsshoes.com/ProductImages/28-TOMSTYLERWHT-H.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 431px; height: 235px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For Easter, I bought Toms Shoes for me and my sister. I've been meaning to buy some for years now, but they slipped my mind until a few days ago. I was getting tired of wearing my burgundy moccasins from Old Navy that I've worn almost every day since November. I had brown ones, too, but the weather forecast in New York didn't predict snow, so when I wore them and they were exposed to frozen water from the sky, something happened and they turned white and splotchy after they dried. I found my Keds from four years ago that romped around Rome and Pompeii and Delphi and I've been wearing those lately. They're still comfortable and everything, but they're blue and I hate wearing blue shoes with blue jeans. It's a stigma from my all-blue outfit from 3rd grade--ill-fitting white shirt with tiny blue flowers all over it over dark powder blue leggings with blue Reebok sneakers and a blue necklace. I thought I was stylish. I thought that's what </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babysitters_club#Claudia_.22Claud.22_Lynn_Kishi"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Claudia Kishi</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> or </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babysitters_club#Anastasia_.22Stacey.22_Elizabeth_McGill"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stacy McGill</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> would wear. Years later, I still cringe that I went out in public like that. (The description is nowhere NEAR as upsetting as the vivid imagery I have in my mind.) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I hope you enjoyed that long aside. Whether you did or didn't, buy Toms Shoes! It's a great cause and a great shoe.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Drip drip drop, little April Shower / What can compare to your beautiful sound?</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">[Edit: I've tried to edit this 3 times and nothing works. I apologize!]</span></i></div>Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-38548584817544484912009-03-31T21:07:00.005-04:002009-07-03T14:20:25.433-04:00A conversation with my mom today<div style="text-align: left;">"I am really smitten."</div><div>"I'm happy for you."</div><div>"You know the best part?"</div><div>"Riding the bus with him?"</div><div>"No, but close. He has laughing eyes. Like upside down <i>u</i>'s. You can't find those in Forsyth."</div><div>"No, you can't."</div><div>"It's all farmer's eyes with wrinkles and sunburns and the perpetual scowl of 'Boyh, git in here!'"</div><div>"It's very slim pickin's."</div><div>"I'm glad I'm here."</div><div>"Me, too, honey."</div>Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-63274888096166526162009-03-30T11:18:00.009-04:002009-06-01T09:50:15.979-04:00Weekend Sewing<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">love </span></b><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Weekend-Sewing/Heather-Ross/e/9781584796756/?itm=1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">this</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> book! I'll admit that a few weeks ago I read it in Barnes and Noble and liked the ideas, but didn't buy it at first. During spring break, my mom and I went to Crate and Barrel and I was looking at the desks and armoires because I remembered that the book mentioned something about putting your machine and fabric/notions in a computer armoire for easy access. I couldn't exactly describe what it looked like to my mom, so I bought the book to show it to her this weekend. I'm so glad I did! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I made four checkbook covers out of scraps and fat quarters (kind of lame, I think, but I love to make small things).</span><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I look back on "high-school-me" and I remember the times that my friends and I would drive to the Macon Mall and sometimes just look, but mostly just buy useless stuff. Being 16, our favorite stores were usually Gap, American Eagle, Hollister, and Abercrombie, of course. But we weren't just teenagers. We were also a bit pretentious. So, being snobs, our ultimate favorite place to go was Mori Luggage to look at the Vera Bradley bags. I remember on a few occasions laying down twenty-five dollars for a </span><a href="http://www.verabradley.com/Site/Store/ProductDetail.aspx?colorid=9021&sku=222%3a9021"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">simple checkbook</span></a> cover<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. I'm shaking my head in past regret-- oh, youthful arrogance. When I sat down to make these, all of my fabric was bought on sale from </span><a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">purl</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> or from a local <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">fabric store, </span><a href="http://www.fortheloveofstitches.net/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">For the Love of Stitches</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> (I love that name). I made all four of my covers for less than $10.</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319143093571189186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF6xSvU6LCszHOxhCXs3yVKj9-DAQMbBaBu6iecIGZjn7_tFLk1-2hKJJ2h-jRFU3qZtbudG0GASuMSXEnDUptCp2Net50eITrUhVeEtSe8_PNmzyDnuiJ5Mlm6Lov3q1ix74owSGyEppF/s320/DSCN0717.JPG" border="0" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I love it so much more than my old Vera (and that's saying a lot, because even though I can't believe the price, I still love my green elephant cover even after 4 years!)</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 375px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3541/3400397728_d1edbe32b1.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This pouch was pretty easy except for the edge stitching where my needle insisted on sticking. It's okay, we all made it through relatively unscathed. This is actually my favorite pouch that I made, which is why I haven't picked a closure for it yet. I don't want to mess it up by rushing into a decision. Velcro seems like the smartest choice (opening and closing would be easier and would reduce pressure, less pressing on the precious goods INSIDE, etc.), but snaps look so nice and professional. I'll probably resort to asking a friend and just going with whatever they say. It's a win-win-lose situation, and that's as good as I can hope for in these types of problems!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The great news is that my neighbor saw my work (I made more than just these two, I promise!) and loved it! She owns a tea room in a nearby town and she said that if I could make enough to form a stock, she would let me sell them in her company! I'm praying that this really will happen, because goodness knows I could use the pocket money! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Sewing was a wonderful way to relax after such a rough few weeks! I can't wait to do it again.<br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div></div>Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-14720856752049521992009-03-27T10:28:00.000-04:002009-03-27T10:28:07.381-04:00Baggu Grosgrain Guest GIVEAWAY!!!!<div>I LOVE these! Not only do I want one, but I want another one to put in my car, another to put in my purse, one to give to my mom for her car, purse, self, and a few to hand out to strangers! They are just too cool!</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com/2009/03/baggu-guest-giveaway.html">Baggu Grosgrain Guest GIVEAWAY!!!!</a>Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-86479596511230786702009-03-12T08:15:00.002-04:002009-03-12T08:53:08.472-04:00I miss my Mac.Our new iMac is coming in tomorrow. We're all excited about it.<br /><br />I made a skirt for me last night and when I went to hem it, I accidentally melted it. It should be easy to repair, but I'm just a little frustrated. I think I'll take a break and sew a nightgown and some coasters.<br /><br />I already miss the warm weather. Yesterday was wonderful.<br /><br />Now that the sun is up, I think I'll start working.Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-16761172107443787612009-03-05T11:47:00.001-05:002009-03-05T11:48:29.768-05:00I just realized what's missing.I've lost my camera cord. <div><br /></div><div>I have some amazing pictures on my camera. I guess there they'll have to stay.</div>Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-746071594637562682009-03-02T21:29:00.003-05:002009-03-03T01:07:38.161-05:00"At least you're functioning"<div>Thanks, <a href="http://onepearlbutton.blogspot.com/">One Pearl Button</a>, for my gorgeous clutch and vintage finds! </div><div><br /></div><div>Today I realized that I'm not a big fan of snow. It's pretty and all, but a little inconvenient. And it's more destructive than most of us realized. Pine trees were uprooted, branches are down all over the state, cars abandoned, and the poor daffodils suffocated. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And power outages city-wide, just in time for midterms! </div><div><br /></div><div>But, I'm pretty studied up, thankfully. So now I'm working on a blanket and I'm excited about it. It's more tedious than I expected, but right now, I'm knitting with a color called "Almond" and it's really raptured my heart (the other colors are violet and "lake" *swoon*.) I've been taking pictures of the progress, but I've misplaced my cable to connect it to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">l'ordinateur</span>! </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm wearing burgundy nail polish (Ms. Can't Be Wrong by<a href="http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml;jsessionid=VG0LKDZJUSRCACV0KRTQIGQ?id=P217311&categoryId=C7010"> O.P.I. for Sephora.</a> It really is my favorite, besides Skinny Jeans, Madame President, and Cab Fare. And "Note to Self" which is on my left hand... who am I kidding? I love 95% of those colors. Probably more) and with my fair skin, all I can think of is a grown up Wednesday Adams (I was more of a "Munsters" baby myself, though).</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm excited about Spring Break for the sole reason of my sewing machine. I had plans to go to Chicago, but those fell through. Believe me, I'm not upset at all. Sheila has been calling my name and I have plans for her! </div><div><br /></div><div>I have to say, though, even though I'm not a big fan of snow, I do enjoy snow days. Especially when they give me three extra days to study for a midterm! </div><div><br /></div><div>Love and scribbles,</div><div>Me</div><div><br /></div><div>( Every time I watch a Harry Potter movie, I'm always really glad that Snape wasn't all bad. I love flawed heroes the most, because the world is full of them. )<br /></div>Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-15537799185549234652009-02-28T11:59:00.001-05:002009-06-05T14:51:25.230-04:00Midterms.Midterms are going to be the death of me...Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-5383374893919375742009-02-25T20:34:00.004-05:002009-02-25T20:54:55.622-05:00Note to Self: Putting a little pressure on this blog<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">I promise never to discuss my weight in front of my children. </span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div>I hate dysmorphia. And I hate that I feel like I'm using a scapegoat when I say I "sorta" have it. </div><div><br /></div><div>I hate standing in front of the mirror, looking at a picture, and worrying about the scale. </div><div><br /></div><div>I hate KNOWING that I'm normal, but that not being good enough for me. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>About once a week, I stand in front of a wall and do the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9eMWk31XT90vIc5-HGFXaXGlBD5ndo4TPaGv6ujqBeD6_kLI2NQPEBcbQsOY5AnzTo383fI_n8_tCCDvOnBFKLW7L3BCMcE4rntg_rLXOBDJ53A4STeq5GZvoJcU5aY_knYtoyVkWLir/s1600-h/PeterPan+Tink+0309b+5_620.jpg">Tinkerbell nonsense</a> and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">justify</span> my measurements to myself. I look at how far apart my hands are, then imagine a girl that size walking by me and I judge myself on how I would judge her. It's the worst thing I could possibly do. It's not healthy for me, nor for the people who are my size. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I hate hiding the crazy. </div><div><br /></div><div>Usually, writing bad things down helps me work on them. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670090175545791685.post-74189145594343355802009-02-16T23:11:00.002-05:002009-02-16T23:25:01.637-05:00Started fantastic, ended with an elevated legWith 4 days before the best weekend of the year, and after about 12 hours of sleep over the span of 3 days, I pretentiously decide to pass a girl on the sidewalk. I didn't HAVE to, but I hate being behind people, so I thought, "Why not?"<div><br /></div><div>Here's why not: After stepping off the sidewalk and taking three steps, my right foot finds a HOLE in the asphalt and decides that it's a good place to rest, while the rest of my body wants to keep on trekking. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, that's right. Right now, I'm in my bed, where I have been for the last 10 hours, with my foot on top of two pillows and under a bag of ice, with a sprained ankle. </div><div><br /></div><div> And the only thing I can say besides "WHY!?" is this:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Zut alors.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div>Hopefully, it isn't too bad and I can be out and about by Wednesday. My mom is on her way up here, because I'm five, and though I thought I could handle the excruciating pain on my own, I was wrong. She's bringing me my ankle brace (this is my third sprain on the same ankle, but my first one in 6 years) and she thinks it's fractured. God, I hope not.</div><div><br /></div><div>I wanted to work out today. It was supposed to be a simple day. I even went to class instead of skipping my last class to nap like I'd originally planned! </div><div><br /></div><div>The good news is, many fantastic things did happen this week. It kind of keeps my mind off the throbbing.</div>Nikkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07233327149630341448noreply@blogger.com1