la petite sirène

2012-02-14T19:08:00.000-08:00

|i love valentines day|

i do. no secret about it.

i love sprinkles and hearts.

so i combined them into a cake.

which i should have photographed before i cut it smack down the middle.

you live and you learn.

the recipe is from sweetapolita. she is amazing.

mr.c loved it so i'm officially recommending the recipe.

happy valentines.

love to all.

2012-01-29T11:21:00.000-08:00

|arts week 2012|

since i got picked to be arts week coordinator for my college i've concentrated on trying to figure out a way to never again here from students "whats arts week? we do that?"

yes. we do.

so it's been DIY madness up in here.

i can't wait to put everything up for the week.

if one kid can tell another kid whats arts week is and neither of them were involved in planning or in a college of the arts club that already knows about it, i will feel i have accomplished something.

2012-01-12T15:33:00.001-08:00

|new wes|

1. it's about time.
2. i can't wait.
3. who else smiled through that entire trailer?

2012-01-10T00:01:00.001-08:00

|so obsessed|

morgan satterfield of the brick house is my spirit animal. i have been scrolling through the pages of her blog non-stop since kate mentioned it in her friday bits. she literally put a bird on it. she makes me want to move out of my house to start my own DIY humble abode more than ever and i hate using tools so thats an achievement. tools and me, we have an awkward relationship as when i see them, all i see is doom and missing fingers. she also has mr.c daydreaming about miniature modern doll houses. i spy a project in our future.

if she ever reads this (which she won't) i want to say i am 100% on the pro burl boat.
seriously, embrace the burl.

2012-01-09T13:05:00.000-08:00

|overactive|

anne emond always seems to get it just right. will there ever be a day when i don't think about cat related humor or the fact i should listen to more news on national public radio?

2012-01-07T16:23:00.000-08:00

|PBS is my jamz|

i got ridiculously obsessed with watching masterpiece theater over the summer while i was knitting. let's paint that pretty picture shall we? a young 21 year old in her favorite pajamas, knitting a scarf, cat by her side and watching masterpiece theater on netflix. i am a RIOT.

downton abbey is finally, finally coming back after what seems like a lifetime and with a two hour season premiere. i can hardly keep my knitting needles steady from all this excitement.

2011-12-31T16:26:00.000-08:00

|instant gratification|

i have succumbed to the phone app camera in an attempt to rectify the state of this blog. it has gotten so hard to come back after being gone for so long. i never meant to leave but my heart has been so tight with stress that capturing memories has been low on the list of priorities. however, it is (almost) the new year and maybe that means a new life for the blog. we've come so far together, i can't imagine not having it around.

so lets begin, new years resolutions:
- finish the blanket i just started knitting
- yoga twice a week

that is all i've really got going. i'd rather not set myself up for complete failure. i'm not sure how to turn "managing stress" into a resolution but it should be done so i manage to live into some semblance of old age. mr.c and i are spending new years inside, drinking gin&tonics while finishing a 1000 piece puzzle of world war two planes. we like to party.

♥ best wishes

2011-11-23T13:57:00.001-08:00

|what thanksgiving break is for|

*knitting in bed with a napping cat

*jurassic park trilogy marathon with mr.c

*sporadic holiday coffee runs

*staying off campus

*cleaning in preparation for finals

*oversized sweaters

♥

image via lovely things

2011-11-16T07:16:00.001-08:00

1. why is this not my life?

2. where can i get those amazing glasses?

2011-11-15T00:09:00.001-08:00

|did you know?|

that the reason italian gothic architecture looks nothing like the elaborate french gothic architecture so familiar in cathedrals like paris's notre dame is that due to the heat, italian cathedrals could not handle the same amount of stained glass windows. i loved that little fact i learned during an architecture class i took last year.

my memories of this trip are few and far between. i really remember those matchy gap outfits i'm sporting in the photos as well as my dad driving illegally through a piazza to get to our hotel. i remember climbing to the top of the duomo, but there is no recollection of seeing the botticelli's at the uffizi. i did however, have a super cool sparkly hello kitty backpack.

i can't wait to go back and make new memories. i have been daydreaming for a while since mr.c and i decided to do some sort of serious post-graduation europe trip that hopefully spain and germany will be a part of. i have to find that sparkly backpack again.

2011-11-11T21:20:00.000-08:00

|my parents were hipsters|

i love the tumblrs my parents were awesome and dads are the original hipsters. although in this case, my mom was the og hipster in my book. check out that sweet hat, oversized glasses and mary jane flats. she was super legit! ok, she has always been legit but it takes 21 years of growing up to appreciate it.

i've had this old box of slides from when my parents were yougin's (or as my mom refers to me and mr.c "children") and i will treasure them forever. all the photos are of them posing in front of famous architecture or paintings. i have two prints over my desk at home of my mom in front of a pollack and my dad in front of a photo of some obscure skyscraper, both presumably taken at moma back in the 80's. I LOVE IT.

anyways, i've started scanning them at work on our new professional scanner that i'm (also) officially in love with.

happy (retro) weekend.

2011-10-29T14:14:00.000-07:00

|happy halloween and such things|

i had so much free time when the semester started but now, crazy style, i am involved in 3 different on campus organizations which are sucking me dry. i am living on red eyes (coffee with espresso!) and have become obsessed with checking my email.

i'm am also obsessed with gemma correll and her kitties though. when mr.c is quizzing me on my french vocab and i don't know.....this is usually what i do.

au revoir.

2011-10-17T06:55:00.001-07:00

|bravo's next great artist|

ohmygoshyouguys.

i'm so excited this show is back on tv. i remember when the first season was on, mr.c and i basically decided it was the dumbest thing cooked up by reality tv (yes, more dumb than even bridal-plasty) because we couldn't imagine a way an art show could be fairly judged or how it would be received since 1) how art is interpreted is so dependent on individual experience with a piece and 2) contemporary art isn't beloved by the masses. i'm an avid watcher of top chef because its a world i don't understand (unlike the world of an art kid) and wish i did. i wish that in 30 minutes i could conjure up an amuse-bouche that would win me five grand but whatever i made would be a joke. well, surprise, we started watching great artists because those smart tv executives put it in the time slot post-top chef.

it became hotly debated: stupid vs. brilliant, dribble vs. insightful. suddenly, i found great artist more entertaining than top chef. mr.c and i always had great conversation after the show about "what would we have made?" or "how could we have done it better?" or "why did that stupid piece of c#$* win?" the great thing about the show is everyone has a legitimately insane personality and one contestent in the first season played the game i know fine art undergrads play all the time: make the piece you want, fake the explanation later. the whole experience hit pretty close to home and we LOVE impersonating simon du pury, the artists very french mentor.

so the show is finally on again, after what seems like the longest hiatus ever. i was sure it was never going to make it to second season, it seemed to niche and obscure. like i said, contemporary art is a trip you have to really want to make and the judging is not black and white. i just found out that jerry saltz, a judge on the show and prominent art critic, actually recaps the show for ny mag online. he adressed the issue i had with the show originally which is how it seems too anti-art world:

"I’m trying to see if art-criticism can be more elastic and populist. I want to see if criticism can coherently be performed for audiences outside art-land, where we have weird ways of talking that many of us don’t actually understand. I’m trying to see if it’s possible to have what we always say we want: To have more people look at, appreciate, and be exposed to art, wherever it comes from, however it’s seen."

which in the end, would be really great if it works out. i had a history professor who said he was scared to visit galleries or go into art museums because of the general high society vibe and the majority of the class agreed. i was upset, obviously, because no one should feel that way. art is meant to be seen, even if it is on a bravo reality show.

2011-10-04T14:45:00.000-07:00

|scenes from lacma|

i love lacma because it is such an eclectic mix of old and new art. they had this quirky installation for people to explore in (i, a more pensive explorer than the children trying to bring the whole piece down) but also new wing of ancient antiquities as well as familiar impressionist art upstairs on view. as i study, it has become increasingly easier to spot a painting and identify the artist from across the room which is generally rewarding if i am correct.

we wandered for two hours or even more. the hype around the tim burton show was a spectacle, and no we did not see it. the line itself was just too ludicrous to even consider seeing the tiny show. lacma is a museum i visit most often and in turn feels most comfortable to me. i love the buildings and the la brea tarpits next door, which although unpleasant to the nose have captivated me since i was a kid.

two art fairs also took place this weekend and unfortunately, i was not able to attend. there is always next year though.

2011-10-03T00:12:00.001-07:00

|california cool|

conveniently, our visit to lacma on saturday corresponded with the opening day of their pacific standard time show (more on PST here) on california modern design. mid-century modern furniture and housing is one of my favorite time periods to study. everyone was optimistic and all the design was innovative. along with furniture, the exhibit included jewelry, clothing and textile from the era. they even had a full size model living room of the eames's famous pacific palisades home (no pictures allowed). i told mr.c it just felt like i was home.

2011-10-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

|2 years|

mr.c and i are spending the day eating in l.a. to celebrate. it is one of our favorite things to do (eat, not drive to l.a.) and conveniently i have to go to lacma to write a paper for a class.

what i am thankful for in the past two years is mr.c's endless patience, for being so kind to sit and quiz me for hours on my french vocab, for companionship and for always doing the dishes after i cook. i would also thank him for being generous and for cheering me up when i call him in the middle of a work day completely ticked off.

most importantly, he always claps during the friends theme song with me. ♥

happy 2.

2011-09-27T20:17:00.000-07:00

|1, 582|

she is livin the dream.

if i could sit and knit for 15 hours a day, i would be the happiest girl.

she has made 1,582 hats and scarves.

i bow down to her.

2011-09-27T09:09:00.001-07:00

|my little faux family|

i love them both so much. my favorite daydream is us living together in chicago while i am (hopefully) at grad school. i cook soup, mr.c does the laundry and ampersand naps on the windowsill because thats what cats do. ♥

2011-09-26T00:43:00.001-07:00

|2 most important things to know about me|

1. i can't keep my hair one length or color for a full year.

2. i talk about my cat more than my boyfriend. my co-workers can confirm this.

///

at my work, each employee has a drawer where we either stash snacks or handouts we want to throw away but won't. since we are allowed to personally decorate our drawers, i started covering mine this summer with pusheen print outs in an attempt to cheer myself up when things were getting outta control. one of my co-workers then added more cats and another a talking cup of coffee. all things i love apparently start with c: mr.c, cats and coffee.

thanks to theresa for the photos ♥

2011-09-17T14:44:00.000-07:00

the weather has been perfect this week. after days of 100 degree fry an egg on a sidewalk awfulness it has simmered down to overcast skies and a slight breeze. i slept through two thunderstorms the past couple of weeks (thank you thera-flu) so i'm hoping we see a bit more action soon. i think i talk about the weather on this blog as much as a character in a jane austen novel does (which they do, a lot) but if there is anything i look forward to about grad school its a climate shock. i spoke with a professor who warned me for a southern californian interested in chicago there is no jacket insulated enough to keep me from feeling naked.

these are the last of my camping photos that i have developed. someone in comments asked me what camera i use, it is my friends nikon film camera that used to be her dads. i'm not sure how old it is, but safe to say its "vintage". it is a fixed 50 lens and i use cheap CVS pharmacy film because i am always almost broke. i love the excitement of ripping open the freshly developed film but i have been hankering for a new digital SLR. i've been internet window shopping for them and i might give myself a fancy christmas present if i can swing it but i doubt it.

happy weekend! september is flying by, i can't wrap my head around it but i can't wait for pumpkin carving this year with mr.c.

2011-09-08T21:45:00.000-07:00

there is something undeniably magically about the california coast. i was pretty giddy about our camping trip this summer, one because i haven't roughed it in ages. i used to go camping and backpacking with my brothers boy scout troop (i'm sure he really hated that) because the girl scouts are pretty weak sauce. two, driving up there is a trip in itself. i was able to finish two novels there and back, which is so relaxing. i love all the grazing cows in the open fields as you drive up north, they always look adorable and so mellow. mr.c and i agreed we'd get one but they smell a bit too much.

2011-09-06T22:23:00.000-07:00

a year of ampersand.

there is a ridiculous amount of cat photos on my photobooth. if you look in my phone, all the photos in my album are of cats, majority my cat but also other peoples cats. i have a cat issue, if it is an issue i can't not love a cat. my drawer at work is covered in cartoon cats. i take cat lady to a whole new level of crazy.

i've had ampersand for a whole year now that we've reached fall semester again. i can't believe we found her as a little lump behind my friend's trashcan. she won the cat lotto if i do say so myself, she is more spoiled than the cat from the meow mix commercials.

2011-09-05T23:25:00.000-07:00

i can't even count the number of times i've been biking to school in the early morning and texted mr.c "i miss portland. ugh." there is nothing like almost being hit by a car because drivers don't look both ways before pulling out into the street that can make you long for the tree lined bike paths of portland. i was floored at everyone's ability to drive at the speed limit there and to actually use their eyeballs. i also can not stop lamenting the loss of my 12-16 mile bike ride a day legs. they were awesome and gorgeous, lets just be honest. i don't ride enough here to keep those thighs, primarily due to people's inability to use their brake pedal (see above).

but i also miss the food. such delicious food for fair prices up there. i told my mom there has to be something in the water up their that makes their bread and pastries so mouthwatering. mr.c and i start picking our favorite meals until we've basically named everything we ate on the trip. i brought back a bag of stumptown coffee for my friend theresa, so we had a little slice of portland left for a month or so until last week. i stopped by and she informed me it was the absolute last cup from the beans. she was kind enough to share it with me. ♥

2011-08-26T23:47:00.000-07:00

[sittin in big sur]

it is such a relief to have the first week of school behind you. i think my first week anxiety has only exponentially grown since my first day of class in kindergarten. although, it is cute to see new baby art students around our college and they have become increasingly eager to spot, the giveaway usually being too many cumbersome art supplies they haven't learned not to buy yet. i was running around just as crazy eyed on my very first day because for some reason, whoever numbered the rooms in the buildings at my school could not count. you either run into a wall or they jump from 188 to 211 with no reason. the worst is for some reason, summer always decides to really begin the first week. it has been 90 to 100 degrees every day this week. on top of being a high-anxiety worrywart, i'm just as neurotic when it comes to thoughts that i didn't put on enough deodorant to make it through a 3 hour french class and still raise my hand.

oh, my meaningless perils. i'm like monica from friends just without the obsessive cleaning much to my mother's dismay.

i have two novels already to work through by the end of the weekend (600 pages eek) but instead i'm watching reality bites and eating tortilla chips. so much for anxiety?

home again

2011-08-16T20:58:00.000-07:00

after two nights in big sur we made it home this afternoon to some pets that were overjoyed to see us. i love how cats have to ignore you for a bit when you arrive home from a trip to assert their dominance (which lets be honest, they own us) but all they really want to do is snuggle which ampersand promptly did as soon as i laid down.

despite a lost phone and too much loud snoring for me to handle, we had a nice trip. the weather in northern california is perfection to say the least. i loved wearing two sweaters in the morning, although i fell asleep on the drive home only to awake and see a smoggy brown landscape to which i said "oh, i see we are closer to home now." nothing like los angeles smog to make you feel all warm and fuzzy.

until my film from camping is developed, i just have portland photos. these were from a pitstop at ace before going to the oregon brew fest. we have a tradition of hunting down a photo booth so we will have a strip from every trip we take together. the one from ace is so much nicer than the one we have from san fran. mr.c noted that we should probably write down where they are from on the back so we don't forget. who knew as 20 somethings we might already be senile?

2011-08-13T12:04:00.000-07:00

mr.c and i are packing our bags today to head up to big sur for a few nights of camping with some friends of mine. i'm excited to make s'mores and go hiking. two days off work before school starts next week is might fine as well.

see you all wednesday. ♥

photo via weheartit

2011-08-10T07:02:00.001-07:00

we fell into the general habit of waking up slowly and biking into downtown for brunch most days while on vacation. our favorite breakfast was kenny and zukes. i had a ridiculous breakfast hot dog with a side of the most delicious hash i have ever tasted. we devoured it quietly at a table in the corner window after waiting 30 minutes for a table (it's right next door to ace hotel and stumptown so it is popular). our brunch at besaw's was mediocre which was a bummer since it came highly recommended. although, our favorite place to grab a quick yet scrumptious bite was at little t american baker. i like...i just can't...i just can't get over how good it was. i was in line at starbucks this morning glaring at their sad pastries. mr.c and i overslept one day so we actually had lunch their too, it was just as good if not better.

PDX

2011-08-07T21:46:00.000-07:00

i took all my photos on film on our week trip in portland. unfortunately, due to a loading mishap i lost a whole two days worth of photos and at some point half a roll got exposed to the sun. all these things of course could have been avoided but silly me had to insist on taking all film so thats what i get.

i had to stop myself from photographing every house we biked by since they all were so unique and fun. i think i will have to require scalloped edging on my future home somewhere. ever since we got back, all i can think about is how much i miss the food. starbucks seems lame and there isn't one bakery anywhere near where i live that comes anywhere close to how delicious the ones in portland were. mr.c and i both are back at work already feeling like the trip was lightyears ago. its going to be an all portland week here on the blog. ♥

home is wherever i'm with you

2011-08-05T18:51:00.000-07:00

mr.c and i are home from portland. we had such an amazing trip, brunching and riding our bikes 20 miles a day. it feels so strange being home, almost like we never left. i'm happy to be home with my cat but i miss the trees and coffee, ah the coffee.

happy weekend ♥

vacation

2011-07-27T15:42:00.000-07:00

mr.c and i are packing our bags to fly off to portland tomorrow morning. we are so excited, neither of us have taken a serious vacation since we started working. i was telling me friend that i have literally stepped on campus at school everyday since school started back in january (except for a wednesday i had off two weeks ago but nevertheless) so i can't wait to go a week without seeing the office or a classroom. we are going to drink coffee, ride bikes and relax.

see you in a week ♥

photo via ndtphoto

our favorite dinner

2011-07-25T20:56:00.000-07:00

mr.c does the grilling and i throw together the veggies. it is so easy to make our favorite asparagus, just throw it on a foiled cooking sheet in the oven at 350 for 20 minutes after drizzling it with olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon zest and 3 cloves of garlic. when it comes out of the oven i squeeze lemon juice on them. they taste like perfection and it gets rave reviews when i make it on holidays. mr.c wanted to dabble in dry rubs, this one had coffee grounds in it which i thought was tasty. it was a super easy 30 minute dinner which we ate in the backyard garden afterwards.

pinned this week

2011-07-22T15:08:00.000-07:00

i started a man chic board on pinterest not to long ago. i think mr.c is a little jealous but he should realize most everything i pin reminds me of him. although, he swears he will never cuff his pants up due to extreme awkwardness of showing ones ankles. thats ok, i still love him.

happy weekend.

hope its a manly one. (i don't know what that means either. pick up a power tool!)

2011-07-20T08:50:00.001-07:00

i spent most of my time in school telling mr.c that the only thing i wanted to do when i was done was go to the beach with a picnic, a book and lounge all day long. mr.c and i don't have a very good track record with the beach, we can only really last a few hours. we are both really pale and don't like sand, but we do love to relax. we stumbled upon this little cove in laguna that has become our spot, free parking and no crowds make it our go to beach. i also find comfort in packing a picnic lunch, don't ask me why but its almost therapeutic for me to make fancy sandwiches and plan snacks for a day. we took a long walk into downtown after we cleaned up and poked around the funny shops. if anyone has a spare $125 you can buy some seriously cute cat statues in laguna.

2011-07-18T07:10:00.001-07:00

to me, fancy yarn is anything that i don't buy on sale or with a coupon at michael's. mr.c and i were in L.A. a few months ago and we visited knit culture. i bought the four skeins in the bottom photograph and since they are all $10 or more i have been too scared to knit them until recently. i'm currently knitting up the neapolitan flavor into a cowl using circular needles for the first time. i can't believe how fast it is knitting up, i'm officially in love with addi pro needles. i used one too many winks at mr.c the other night trying to hint that my coveted christmas present for 2011 is the addi pro interchangeable set. i'll owe him forever if he actually gets it for me.

the top lump is from purl soho, it turns out their warehouse is a mere 20 minutes away from where i live which is crazy convenient if i'm looking to blow an entire paycheck on gorgeous hand dipped yarn. although, the yarn when i bought it looked like this but leaving it unattended on the floor in my room for 10 minutes with a loose cat turned it into an unmanageable heap. i have no idea how i'm going to get it all into one neat ball.

i just finished my first hat and i'm looking to try to make a sweater however, i do have a few unfinished scarves. i have a bad habit of having to many knitting projects going on at once but i think it keeps from getting too bored.

mr.c and i are going to portland the last week of july, if you know of any great yarn shops up there let me know! i plan on staying occupied during flights and layovers by knitting while listening to books on tape (ipod of course, but that just sounds funny) ♥

it's alive!

2011-07-15T16:11:00.000-07:00

my beautiful film camera is working again after it was "broken". turns out it just needed new batteries which i always forget it uses. oh how i missed it! now i'm back to taking crusty old fashioned photos just how i like them. mr.c and i were brunching at a cafe once where a lady said my method was "archaic" to which i laughed but secretly makes me feel awesome because i refuse to let film die, its just too gorgeous although my forehead wrinkles aren't. i knitted the headband i'm wearing and its super comfy. super simple pattern here.

happy weekend.

2011-07-13T14:23:00.000-07:00

ever since summer school ended i've been sitting in my a/c all day after work knitting and streaming woody allen movies on netflix. my favorite so far is manhattan murder mystery, i found it cute yet suspenseful yet lighthearted. what a confusing sentence. on another note, it was so funny to see miranda's nanny for sex and the city in the movie. its also fun to see diane and woody back together again which reminds me that i need to watch annie hall again.

p.s.

how BOGUS is netflix changing their prices to charge separately for streaming and mail rental. i hate them because they know i'll pay it. grr.

p.p.s

i can't wait till midnight in paris comes out on dvd so i can watch it 1000 times over.

2011-07-11T17:39:00.000-07:00

in attempt to appear lovelier to grad schools on paper, i'm taking french again next semester and picking up after not having spoken any since my junior year of high school. lets be honest, i was never the best french student but i love the language and going through review books on my own i'm honestly surprised how much i do remember. its just all the grammer and syntax that gets in the way. blech.

but i don't know about you but every time i speak french i go to this place where i am julie delpy. this of course is crazy because i speak like one sixteenth of the french she does but in my head i am as fluent and charismatic as she is. 2 days in paris and before sunset are two of my favorite movies both which take place in paris. i recently re-watched them both on netflix and it made me happy yet gave me an existential crisis at the same time. julie does that to you.

all images via we heart it

how i feel always

2011-07-08T16:50:00.000-07:00

it never fails that when someone asks me what i'm doing on the weekend that i can't really come up with a better answer than "knitting and hanging out with my cat." which is literally what i said to my hairdresser the other day when she was trimming my bangs. i'm entirely too confortable chilling with mr.c in my a/c and watching woody allen movies on netflix with ampersand by my side to be bothered.

not that i never go out but in an attempt to be frugal i've turned into a bit of a hermit. mr.c and i are in fact going on a beach this sunday and eating here after so i'm looking forward to not being some sort of recluse for a day. happy weekend everyone. get out in that sun! ♥

comic from anne emond's awesome tumblr.

the 4th + mr.c

2011-07-06T00:36:00.000-07:00

we had such a lovely fourth of july around here. it was casual, delicious and we went through twelve boxes of sparklers. but mr.c was such a sweetheart this weekend...

thank you mr.c,

for always being the grill master

for fixing the french doors that have been broken for an age

for re-arranging all the furniture in my room when i needed the feng shui

and for not freaking out about how messy it was after

for lighting my sparklers when i was too scared

and for eating my homemade apple pie when you were already full

♥

happy 4th

2011-07-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

one last excruciating paper for summer school and then life is going to be about naps, french fries, fireworks and bike rides. happy safe 4th of july.

growing.

2011-06-27T15:49:00.000-07:00

jenna over at sweet fine day just wrote a wonderful post on why she shares her personal struggles on her blog. which of course got my brain wheels turning. as i've made my way through college i've grappled with the debate of what do i want in my life? as i've grown the answer to that has become a modest and comfortable lifestyle where i'm not over reaching my financial boundaries but always increasing my educational ones. although, that sentence practically negates itself.

i recently decided to focus on just one out of my two chosen degrees. i'm now just studying art history (hello lover) and am so relieved. i plan on going to grad school and then pursuing a phd since i've been told you need one to curate as well as teach. i've always loved reading and spent most of my life standing in museums (proof in photos) so it fits better than what i was forcing myself into previously. i really have too many opinions for one person and art criticism is the perfect place for me to thrive. its nice to feel at home too, researching, writing and observing come much more comfortably and confidently to me.

i never thought i would be now focusing on obtaining a phd. seriously, ask me three years ago i would have said something like "oh those are for smart people not me." but alas, i was protecting myself. i also learned that i want a family more than ever before. this is of course so far in the future (i mean, hello phd you take forever) but i'm a planner and in trying to contemplate my life decisions i seem to always factor in a husband and child. when i was double majoring and pushing myself to tears to attempt to get an art degree which would lead to a big hollywood animating career i was only met with resistance. i was very unhappy and stories about 80 hour work weeks, sleeping under your desk to beat the men to the office and crying mothers in the cafeteria because they never saw their kids only made me more depressed. why was i working so hard for something that would make me miserable? i mean, i'm sure the highs of the job are amazing and i won't deny that but i'm looking for something much more balanced and reliable.

which brings me to my final thought. as jenna said, she has control over what defines her a person and her life. that kind of empowerment is one i crave and one i don't want to fear having. i've recently gotten into a few heated fights in class over what it means to be a woman and a mother to which my main argument is stop trying to give us structured definitions when we have grown into so much more than what we were previously allowed to be. i am multi-faceted and will only grow with age (like cheese? no like wine, thats better) and so as to not stand too high on my soap box i am challenging myself to be kinder and more open to other females. if we can work together, like many do in this vast blogland, we can only help ourselves move forward.

weekend listening

2011-06-24T13:55:00.000-07:00

may i just applaud the person who's idea it was to do a covers album of buddy holly songs. the entire album is streaming on npr right now. it is all i've been listening to as i trudge through the last of my summer school assignments.

happy weekend.

♥

image via weheartit

one year ago

2011-06-15T07:03:00.000-07:00

one year ago i still had hair down to my waist and had just found a baby kitten. i finally shot the rest of my roll of film since the shutter speed setting broke on my camera. the second half of the roll is just blurry light but i knew there were some treasures waiting to be developed at the start of the roll. i was really shocked to see just how old the photos were when i got them today. i remember that day mr.c brought me flowers, i think we went out on a special date for some reason that involved il forniao. (drool) whatever we did, i felt like a pretty special lady. ♥

an understanding

2011-06-14T07:06:00.001-07:00

the other day i was talking about how i couldn't believe that famous people (i.e. certain congressmen) don't think they are ever going to get caught or hacked in this day an age. i kept saying, doesn't anyone learn for mistakes anymore? haven't enough people been caught in similar situations that people understand NOT to do these silly things?

but i seem to now understand because that no matter how often we bomboard our co-workers facebook with tacky status updates and photobooth photos, they still can't remember to log out when they leave. kids these days.

happy birthday mr.c

2011-06-13T16:24:00.000-07:00

you are 24.

i love ya' old man

♥

summer school

2011-06-08T14:39:00.000-07:00

my professor has ceased calling on me to answer questions in class anymore. after the third time today i realized that i can't even stop the tick of my arm raising when i know the answer. if i try, then my eyebrows just go up instead. its like when i check my wrist for the time when i know for a fact i'm not wearing a watch. i keep thinking of hermione, who just can't help herself but at least my professor can't take away points from gryffindor.

in other ground breaking news, i am a dork.

the gsp office

2011-06-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

we got hit with some really sad news at work about a month ago that our amazing boss is leaving after working at csuf graphic services for 13 years. we are all rather depressed about it and friday is his last day, i really don't know how i'm going to walk out the door. i got hired at graphic services a little over a year ago now and its been the best job a student can ask for with flexible hours and a fun work environment. i was hired as a production manager and now i also gallery coordinate which i feel lucky to be able to put on a future resume. i don't want to gush but any boss that lets you call out of work because you can't stop crying since your cat ran away and you need the day to look for her is pretty much the best boss ever.

my co-worker put together this funny parody video as part of our goodbye party+presents. we all love it so much and none of us have watched it less than 10 times now.

♥

2011-05-31T07:03:00.000-07:00

my amazon wishlist is bursting at the seams with my endless requests for new books to read. this summer i really want to get some reading under my belt since i think my brain has slowly been turning into goo as i spend hours looking at pretty things online. there is a general theme to this summer which seems to be half the books i want to read are about museums, art collecting and the contemporary art market vs. the other half which are light hearted, easy to read memoirs.

1. art in theory - this barely counts since the only reason i'm reading through some of the essays in this very large book is for an outside assignment from a professor. yes, i requested extra writing assignments because like i said, my brain has been turning into goo.

2. chasing aphrodite - i've been wanting to get my hands on this book since i read about it in the l.a. times. it is a detailed account of the scandal surrounding the getty museum and the investigation that exposed the illegal obtainment of italian antiquities. i read the first chapter inside barnes and nobles the other day but told myself the thrifty thing to do would be to order it on amazon for half the price. i'm an amazon addict.

3. seven days in the art world - amazon directed my attention to this book through recommendations of my love of art and memoirs. the author writes about the lifestyle of the contemporary art market and how auction houses have become the hip place. she follows a multitude of professionals including sitting in on a student crit at cal arts.

4. heat - currently my cat is sitting on top of my open copy of this book. so far it has been a delightful read about a former new yorker writer and editor quitting his job to become a chef with the guidance of mario batali.

5. bossypants - i can't wait to have picnics on the beach with mr.c and read this in my polka dot bikini.

6. i don't care about your band - i think this may be a perfect book for me since it combines my favorite format of mini essays and loathing of faux-sensitive hipsters. i refuse to read any bad amazon reviews for the book until i make my own decision.

i also want to read the object of my affection by steve martin and i was told there'd be cake to fill my lack of a new david sedaris or chuck klosterman book. i wish those dudes would get a move on. don't you hate it when your favorite author takes forever between publishing dates?

i don't know what to do with myself

2011-05-23T17:38:00.001-07:00

there is always a strange transition into summer for me where i have spontaneous panic attacks that i'm completely forgetting something majorly important until i realize that i have literally nothing to worry about because school is out.

i slept in till 10:30 on sunday and it was so freaking weird.

it was a definite challenge for my brain.

mr.c graduated on saturday which is crazy when you really think about it.

we had a celebration weekend of too much food and not enough wine.

i start summer school next week so i'll be lazily in and out around here until then. summer and i have a week to be acquainted before i'm thrust back into regularly scheduled freaking out.

♥

photo via weheartit

retreating

2011-05-10T17:39:00.001-07:00

until finals are over, i have to take a break from here which i usually do just this time i thought i would be polite and tell you were i'll be until around next thursday. as usual, i'm over-worrying about everything and with the goal to really stick it to my professors i'll be hibernating over my textbooks until somehow (through osmosis or other means) i manage to get 100% on all my exams.

i quote my facebook status: "drank so much espresso today, i can't type straight."

however, i'll probably still be semi-active on pinterest. i do love to spend my study breaks looking and pinning pretty things.

feel free to check out my boards.

until then

♥

image via weheartit

2011-05-10T07:29:00.000-07:00

the other day i was whining about myself and mr.c told me i was beautiful because my pale skin reminded him of a classical painting. yes. he said that. swoon. he is JUST dreamy.

so i swore, everyday this summer i was going to put on sun screen. even though it is nasty and makes you smell funny. the spray one isn't even a better solution because you are still supposed to rub it in. what? nasty.

then i came upon this video which made me tear up since both my mom and my grandma have had skin cancer cut off of them. it haunts me because i find any excuse to avoid the dermatologist (i have work, a quiz, i'm hungry). i was dumb, i went to so many water polo practices and swim meets with no sunscreen on. i've been red, pink and orange. i love each and every one of my little moles but one of them could not be so cute anymore which is why right after finals, i'm going to the dermatologist.

be proud to naturally glow in the dark!

♥

yeah i did it

2011-05-09T06:52:00.001-07:00

i am catlady. hear me roar.

love you momma

2011-05-08T13:11:00.000-07:00

thanks for doing everything you can to get me through college.

also, thank you for taking me to countless museums as a kid

who knew i'd turn out studying art history in college so i can curate as an adult?

well you probably knew a little.

love you bunches

♥

2011-05-05T00:07:00.000-07:00

curating my ballet album on pinterest has become an odd priority although i've become absurdly picky about the photos i've been choosing. i follow a ludicrous amount of ballerina tumblr blogs, there is something so irresistible about tulle to me.

i can't believe i don't have a board dedicated to cats....

i'm still alive

2011-05-03T07:53:00.001-07:00

hello there.

things have been a little kooky (but not too spooky) around here

school is over in just about two weeks

ampersand finally got her cone off after a month of torture

mr.c is GRADUATING

eek, makes me feel so young

i got a really amazing mint and basil candle

you would think my room smells like pasta but no way jose

i have three knitting projects going that get more attention than my homework right now

summer has taken over my brain

which is unfortunate since i'm going to summer school!

blerg.

but i am still alive

sorry blog, i do still love you

an education

2011-04-25T15:46:00.001-07:00

theresa and i have been having girls only camp outs in my room where we knit all night, talk about kittens and watch re-runs of friends online. although, we've reached the inevitable point where we have practically seen every episode of friends (i feel like that should never happen with so many seasons, but alas) so a little while ago i pulled up "an education" on netflix because a) the soundtrack is amazing, b) cary mulligan is adorable, c) its a pretty movie so therefore is perfect for girls only camp out night.

when i saw that movie the first time, it made me wish i had kept up with my french and had more floral print dresses to wear casually. the same thing happened again of course so now we are dreaming of a trip to france once we graduate. i'll have to dust off my french dictionary and buy some more striped tops asap.

image via weheartit

this might be the best thing ever

2011-04-19T16:03:00.001-07:00

i happened upon this amazing piece of beauty this morning.

type in anything, it tells it to you in LLAMA.

go cheer yourself up.

oh and welcome to my desktop.

yes i have an addiction to opening tabs while working.

don't hate.

bits of griffith

2011-04-13T00:29:00.001-07:00

a dreaded group project assignment forced mr.c and i out to griffith observatory on a sunday afternoon last week. neither of us were prepared for the parking but it allowed for a nice walk. now i just have to put them all together in a sparkly powerpoint presentation.

i may have been doing this the whole time we were there...

a little gem

2011-04-10T21:09:00.001-07:00

"'The roads that lead to art are infinitely varied.' Friedrich denied that there was a single absolute ideal of beauty and perfection for all artists and which was achieved by copying standard models and following set rules. Art, to him, was "at the center of the world, at the center of the highest spiritual effort." To arrive at that center each artist had to go his or her own way."

- Casper David Friedrich via my textbook 19th C European Art

ready.set.knit.

2011-04-07T23:17:00.000-07:00

i was looking for knitted hat patterns on etsy and stumbled across this beauty. i can't even find the words to describe how perfect this sweater is. its my new summer knitting challenge. i don't really know if my skills are up to par for the project but i need this sweater in my life.

Tiny Owl's Magic Attic Etsy

in which my cat is the cutest astronaut ever

2011-04-01T19:29:00.000-07:00

my poor ampersand got her ladybits dealt with the other day and soon after the crafty little beast ripped out her own stitches so the vet stuck a cone on her for good measure. after they put it on, she acted like it was so heavy she couldn't possibly lift her head. she is such a ham.

i like to think it makes her look like an astronaut or like she is wearing a bonnet. she has been just the sweetest though, cuddling like nobodies business. ♥

midnight in paris

2011-03-29T09:51:00.000-07:00

midnight in paris is apparently woody's allen new movie whose trailer i stumbled over last night. it looks beautiful and pretty funny (pseudo-intellectuals and all). i really wanted to like vicky, cristina, barcelona more than i did but i can't seem to find a reason i'm not going to love this movie. its funny to see rachel and owen together again after wedding crashers. blerg! i want a baguette now.

p.s.

is rachel mcadams anyone else's girl crush? i can't stand how perfect her hair always is!

happy weekend

2011-03-25T18:03:00.000-07:00

my warby's finally came in the mail! last year i sent for a home try on box and wasn't totally in love with any of the frames so i waited until the new collection was released to consider buying a new pair. between that time though, i basically told anyone i could about the site because its basically a goldmine for anyone who wears glasses. i even told my doctor when she asked me where i buy glasses and i hadn't even bought any from them yet. unfortunately, this time around i liked ALL 5 try on frames equally which made choosing so much harder! i ended up ordering the tenley frame and i'm so happy with them. they are such a refreshing new shape for my face after years of square frames.

i hesitated with the tenley's only due to their large size because lets face it, its gotten very trendy but i just can't bring myself to wear small frames anymore after the diaster that was my glasses somewhere between 6-8th grade. they were so small and i thought i looked great but oh, if only i could go back in time and shake some sense into myself. maybe i'd tell myself to stop wearing those bright pink paul frank sweatshirts as well.

anyhoo...

yesterday i made this cake and these cookies to bring into my office. they were loved and i highly recommend both recipes.

tomorrow i'm hitting up the huge michael's yarn sale with theresa. i'm so excited its like christmas morning in march.

♥

illustration mood board

2011-03-24T07:26:00.000-07:00

right now in my illustration class we are working on narrative pieces based off an excerpt of text given to us by the professor. i chose the snippet that says something about a girl with weary feet letting her hair down and dipping her feet in a fountain. i had multiple ideas but settled on the not so justifiable one that is a ballerina, post-show at the paris opera house, relaxing outside and of course, i threw in a cat for kicks. this may sound crazy but its looking super adorable. so i gathered inspiration for the following things:

1. pretty pretty ballerinas: i'm so lucky one of my best friends is a gorgeous ballerina who posed for all of my reference photos. i have a small obsession with following ballet themed tumblrs. it is a total weakness of mine and i can just spend hours looking at all the photos of tutus.

2. paris architecture: is there no more beautiful place? i'm lucky enough to have visited multiple times and when i read the snippet about a girl in a fountain the first thing my mind when to was the place de la concorde.

3. 101 dalmatians: there is such a distinct, wonderful 60's style to this movie. the black line work in the backgrounds is so fun and i'm planning on pulling that idea in my illustration.

4. mary blair: goodness, she is my hero. one of the first female concept artists for disney, every thing she created is still so magical. i'm taking a non-realistic approach to my illustration and mary blair's flat shapes and bring colors sprung to mind immediately. the whimsy and uniqueness of her work has such character as well as her eye for composition.

i never look forward to coloring my pieces because its one of my weaker abilities but enjoyed sketching ballerinas (and cats). i'll give you a peak after class tomorrow.

♥

my subconscious is saying something to me

2011-03-22T07:16:00.000-07:00

i waste a lot of time on cooking blogs. although, if i enjoy wasting it then technically it wasn't wasted right? i love baking and my mom got me the perfect cake stand for my birthday so ever since i've been trying to figure out what will be the first dessert displayed. as i went though my overstuffed recipe folder i noticed i had bookmarked a lot of baked donut recipes. i think its the combination of my love of donuts plus love of colorful sprinkles.

i don't own a donut pan, but i think its about time i go on amazon and order one. oh, my tummy just rumbled at the thought.

clockwise from left:

1. vanilla bean + turquoise

2. glaze + funfetti

3. pink icing + sprinkles

4. mini apple cider

for japan

2011-03-21T00:15:00.000-07:00

it seems like everyday the news from japan gets more heartbreaking. i love that artists are putting together pieces just to raise funds for relief and donating the proceeds. here are a few that i found:

1. relief by nan lawson

2. remembrance by beauchamping

3. heart for japan by green optimist

more options can be found everywhere you look (such as here, here and here). my donation went to for japan with love after seeing so many bloggers gather support around their efforts.

i can only hope things turn around soon.

♥

2011-03-20T15:12:00.000-07:00

even though its raining here all week i've got my mind on sunshine, especially since i'm on spring break next week! my mind has been cluttered with all sorts of ideas of what to do with sunny skies, here are a few:

1. make this cake

2. find a new pair of strappy sandals

3. create delicious homemade popsicles

4. ride my new bike everyday to work and class

5. dye my hair a funky color

(here is my logic: i can only get away with this for so long, might as well do it in my 20's when its still somewhat socially acceptable)

6. take weekend hikes with mr.c

7. sew with the windows open

8. plant a veggie garden

9. daydream about summer and striped bathing suits!

does it bum anyone else out that the cutest j.crew swim suits are all online only? i mean, we know it looks good on the model but how can i trust my butt to get into it without trying it on first?

anyhoo,

happy spring! ♥

p.s.

the image that i placed text over is from tumblr. if anyone knows who really took it let me know so i can credit appropriately.

pardon my dust

2011-03-17T20:30:00.001-07:00

things are going to be haphazard while i play around for a bit....

sick

2011-03-15T10:24:00.000-07:00

getting a cold after having an amazing birthday weekend is the worst. i know because that is exactly what is happening to me right now. bogus.

mr.c did such an amazing job trying to surprise me on my birthday by taking me to umami burger in L.A. and then the bigfoot lodge (hello, yes man!). unfortunately, i'm an excellent guesser and i was already under the weather so a trip to the bigfoot lodge has been rescheduled. however, i do highly recommend the manly burger at umami (absolute heaven).

i'm planning on finally getting around to purchasing new batteries for the film camera and getting this blog back on track. its been a really rough semester topped now by this terrible cold. i have high hopes for great new posts and a new layout.

♥

21

2011-03-10T07:35:00.000-08:00

today in my birthday card my mom wrote

"i still remember when the hospital called me to tell me i was have a daughter."

she actually hung up on them and had my dad call them back to double check because she was so happy she didn't believe it!

aw. i'm always going to be someones baby.

♥

happy weekend

2011-03-04T20:22:00.000-08:00

♥ me and &

whistle while you work

2011-03-03T07:21:00.000-08:00

its dangerous when you keep saying to yourself "i just have to make it through this week." because if i've learned anything about this particular semester so far there is nothing easier about the following week than the last one. drats!

bits.&.pieces.

2011-02-28T07:17:00.001-08:00

she: perspective homework. modern cabin. cat torture.

him: cyborgs. ink. wool cap.

a week of bad news

2011-02-25T19:48:00.000-08:00

it just hasn't been a very good week in these parts

and school is chugging along like a boat through molasses

i've been daydreaming a lot about summer and starting a home garden.

i want to get some raised beds and start growing all sorts of veggies.

i also want to plant sunflowers like we used to do when i was a kid.

sunset magazine's website has been a nice getaway for me this week

the dictionary doesn't recognize suggestivism...

2011-02-21T21:40:00.000-08:00

so i'm going to attempt to explain this the best way possible:

CSUF's art department has a satellite art building in santa ana called the grand central art center. there are studios, a gallery, gift shop and on top, apartments for student artists to live in. its in the santa ana arts district (which was actually featured in sunset magazine) surrounded by other galleries and the awesome gypsy den which features the best hot coco in random vintage mugs.

anyhoo, the graphics office where i work at CSUF does vinyl for lots of varies art programs/shows, GCAC being a steady bi-monthly client. just a few weeks ago my boss taught me how to use the vinyl cutter all on my lonesome which is crazy since he is strictly the only one who uses it and my palms still get sweaty every time i set up the machine but don't tell him that.

the first vinyl order i set up and printed on my own was for the suggestivism which is now showing at GCAC. as it turns out, audrey kawasaki has a piece in the show! i've loved her work for a long time and was kinda excited that i cut the vinyl for a show her piece was in. dorky? heck yes but i was stoked. so mr.c, annie, theresa and i all headed down to see the show, and of course my excellent vinyl work.

♥

1.21 jiggawatts

2011-02-18T07:28:00.001-08:00

yesterday...

i found out drawing stairs in correct perspective wasn't as hard as i thought

but still its pretty darn hard

today...

i am helping mr.c move out!

tomorrow...

i will freak out about finishing my mid-century modern forest cabin with stairs in correct perspective for class

happy weekend.

understanding mommas

2011-02-15T23:05:00.000-08:00

ever since we found ampersand as a baby nugget, i've kept her strictly indoors. i'm very adament about it due to the coyotes in the area. sometimes this gets difficult to coordinate with lily, our miniature poodle who likes to be outdoors and sadly, still hates the cat. this is also difficult because ampersand has this morning routine of waking me up at 5:30am and begging to be let into the living room area to do her thing (climb furniture, scare dog, eat food etc.) so from the hour and a half that i'm still asleep i trust she is safe with the doggie door closed.

well when i woke up this morning all the doors were open and she was gone. now i don't want to say i was sobbing uncontrollably. take that down about two notches and thats where i was. i knew i loved my cat but of course my first thought was she had hopped the fence, run down the street and was now (pardon me..) roadkill. after calling my mom and then running around yelling "kitty boo boo" like a crazy lady, it turns out she was nearby chasing the neighbors cat. i was so relieved and she wouldn't leave my side for the rest of the morning while i got ready for school. i always joke about her being my baby (because i'm crazy) but i guess i mean that more seriously.

so now i understand why my mom never wanted us to ride our bikes anywhere but around the block, why i always had to wear elbow pads, always had to call home from where ever i was and so on. the other night was i telling my mom i can't believe ampersand is SO big, when i can still remember how she used to be just a little pile of fuzz and ribs. my mom answered that she still can remember holding me as a little bambino in the hospital the day i was born.

oh jeez.

my poor children are going to be so smothered in love.

do you think i can teach a cat how to use a cell phone?

♥

kelly vivanco

2011-02-15T16:11:00.000-08:00

this weekend mr.c and i went gallery exploring with my father in culver city before going out to dinner. most of the stuff we saw we just grumbled about. both mr.c and i have this bad habit of looking at stuff and saying "we could make that." because realistically we could. we have the knowledge and supplies to say make a faux sponge out of balsa wood (don't even get me started... 5 grand for a sponge...) however, we stumbled upon the thinkspace gallery which i recognized from various ads juxtapose magazine. an artist by the name of kelly vivanco was showing and after a day of awkward drawings and sponges, it was nice to see some whimsical, colorful paintings/illustrations.

my favorite was a small piece that featured two small striped frogs reading a map in the middle of some reeds. she has a lot of pieces featuring lanky females, but my personal favorites are the ones that have animals in clothes. another great thing about the show were a few pieces had handmade frames that were shaped like small houses which i thought was a sweet touch.

all photos are off her website.

♥

happy weekend

2011-02-11T17:24:00.001-08:00

i'm so happy its almost valentines day! i have such a good present for mr.c that i've been dying to give him. after talking to my co-workers, i realized that i do have a small obsession with holidays and gift giving. there is just not many things i enjoy more than going on the perfect gift hunt. i hope you all have a lovely weekend!

somebody is reading my mind

2011-02-10T19:12:00.001-08:00

these have been posted all over my facebook page. i literally think they were made just for me as karma for making fun of hipsters while wearing thick rimmed glasses. although, i do need my glasses to actually see so take that hipster ariel meme.

see the whole delightful collection here

a small step to the left

2011-02-07T14:36:00.001-08:00

ever since i started college, i've declared i'm an animation major who doesn't want to animate. i've always intended to try to progress into storyboards or visual development. of course, there are parts of me now to that hopes to do book illustration or freelance because no matter how bad i want to work "in the business" i don't want to live in southern california. for the rest of my life. i would appreciate more freedom for my hard work. also, something inside me has stirred and its asking me to read more textbooks. the other night i was causally googling graduate art degrees out of curiosity and i got very wrapped up in the idea of going somewhere with snow to earn a masters in art history and criticism.

so i'm finally changing. i was talking to my bff theresa about it and she said if i'm still talking about changing or considering it for the third year in a row thats probably my brain (and my heart) saying something to me. so i'm switching from animation to illustration. its really only a small step to the left in my BFA, but in my brain its a huge leap.

its crazy and feels foreign for me to say but i feel this huge weight lifted and that i'm going down a more suited path for my life goals. i was sitting in my architecture focused art history class last week, just marveling about how much i love art. i just love staring at it, learning about it and visiting it in person. i want the freedom to travel, to see but still be able to create on my own. thats why i think illustration and art history are the perfect combination. it also doesn't mean i have to give up my big studio dreams either, which is what is so perfect about it. i'm not giving up anything, i'm only opening more doors, more windows for myself.

so now i see myself finishing up my duel BFA and BA at CSUF and then moving on to somewhere with snow to get my masters. then from there, who knows? i could shop a portfolio around or i could teach but the sense of variety and choice just thrill me!

happy weekend

2011-02-05T08:51:00.000-08:00

thanks for all the recent love on the blog everyone! hope you all have a wonderful weekend. i'm cooking up a hearty breakfast for mr.clark this morning before we stock up on art supplies and get to work. he's been hired to complete a graphic novel and well...i just have a pile of homework which is far less exciting but has to be done.

my work put on a gallery show and had its reception last night. basically an excuse for us to eat cookies and hang out with each other. although, we do this at work as well so...

ps. please tell me you've all seen the google art project. amazing!

♥

my piece is the 4th row of the postcard

hobo tendencies

2011-02-03T07:32:00.000-08:00

a few months ago i was at my friends boyfriends house (still following? ha.) and his mom made us some "proper" tea. his dad is british so of course it had to be proper. it was then i was introduced to the tea cozy. i had literally no idea such a thing existed and i was so confused, then she starts whipping out this whole collection of them. what? like hats for teapots? i think it was love at first sight. i love tea but the way i make it is usually just sticking a pyrex full of water into the microwave. quick and dirty.

so i've officially become obsessed with collecting tea pots and cozies now. i have been seeing a lot of super cute tea pots that come built in with two cups. i didn't think teapots could get any cuter but i think they just did.

the ceramic tea for two is actually on etsy!!

sweet rose creamery

2011-02-01T16:32:00.001-08:00

i am an avid watcher of both the food network and the cooking channel. usually if its on, i'll watch it, especially if its throw down with bobby flay or worst cooks in america. mr.c and i both enjoy watching "the best thing i ever ate" and its sister show on the cooking network "unique eats". the downside is these shows seem to be on really late at night or at least thats when i see them so my tummy starts to rumble real quick.

so late one night "unique eats: ice cream" was on and they were featuring sweet rose creamery. the show is always interesting, but its always always better if the restaurant happens to be nearby, which this ice cream shop was. so after our visit to the getty villa since we were in the neighborhood, so we stopped by. it was delicious! i had salted caramel ice cream in a waffle cone, they even sprinkled a little bit of salt on top afterwards to really add an extra punch of flavor. it was super rich and creamy. mr.c had cookies n' cream which as he put it was "literally cookies and cream."

we took a little stroll around the shops and neighborhood while we ate our ice cream.

it was a lovely end to a really great afternoon

♥

sunday day trip

2011-01-31T07:26:00.001-08:00

this sunday we woke up un-chararistically early to make it to the getty villa in malibu for a day trip before settling down at night to do some homework. it was surprisingly rainy for how warm and sunny its been in the past week, but the getty put out some umbrellas which saved the day. we got there around 9:30, explored the gardens in the rain and then tried to do some drawings inside the museum. mr.c and i were both pretty grumpy at how rusty we were, nor did i personally appreciate being watched over the shoulder by the museum guards but thats what we get for drawing in public. nothing is worse than wanting to do really good drawings but only getting bad ones that strangers get to judge. boo i say, boo.

it was really lovely just being in the atmosphere and mr.c had no idea the getty villa even existed so it was fun to take him there. we walked around whispering art history facts to each other and identifying different types of colonnades. now we're just lying around wishing we didn't have to go to work tomorrow.

♥

minimal happenings + work space

2011-01-26T16:36:00.000-08:00

so before i was running around freaking out like a chicken with my head cut off, i managed to finish cleaning and organizing me studio. now there is craft space and work space. there are new lamps, a book case and now featuring a third desk! its ah-mazing having all the space and actually being able to see the floor. ampersand is enjoying it more than anyone since she can perch freely on the windowsill all day now.

i just bought a ton of new art supplies and i am in full, hardcore student mode who thinks about nothing but a shiny 4.0. i'm going to keep posting as much as possible but i anticipate sparseness. thanks for those of you who are hanging in there with me. i appreciate it whole heartedly!

♥

p.s.

the framed drawing was mr.clark's christmas card to me. it's truly amazing and keeps me smiling while i work.

countdown to face melting awfulness

2011-01-18T13:21:00.000-08:00

i'm halfway through my last week of winter break. *cringe* i don't want it to end! its almost worse than summer ending especially because this upcoming semester is going to give me gray hair. i have three studio classes, count it 3, which is seriously daunting enough as is but two of them are probably some of the hardest studios i will have to take just based on the skills i'm expected to acquire (perspective drawing and beginning 3D animation). not to mention, one of them is an all day saturday class. every time i say it i vomit in my mouth a little bit. blerg.

so this past week i've been trying to be as leisurely in activity as possible which has resulted in a crafting frenzy. i finished knitting a scarf, taught myself how to crochet, took a sewing class and made a purse. now i'm attempting to make another purse and start a nightgown. i find it so exciting to know how to sew on my own machine now especially since i feel comfortable enough to tackle bigger projects.

so for my last week, i'm going to sew and bake since i won't have anytime to do that with a loaded 15 unit semester plus putting in enough hours at work so i don't go broke. i will also finish this delicious garlic chicken wrap as seen above. its scrumptious!!!

♥

i've never met an artist that didn't procrastinate

2011-01-13T21:44:00.001-08:00

my work is putting on a gallery show about dinosaurs. rawr.

we got suckered into it to fill up gallery space in the student union and now all of us are rushing to meet the deadline (tomorrow) because we are seriously a bunch of slackers. i say this out of love and no one is going to try to deny it i promise. except one poor girl who actually stayed up till three a.m. to finish her piece for the real deadline. snaps for steph.

you can't see it, but there is a dinosaur in my piece! i swear.

more later ♥

p.s. sorry for the terrible photobooth photos lately

p.p.s. whats the deal with these horoscopes? apparently i'm not a pieces anymore :(

p.p.p.s. shoot i should be working.

class of 2011

2011-01-10T20:36:00.000-08:00

seriously, i just taught myself to crochet thanks to some lovely ladies that have taken the time to upload 7000 tutorial videos on youtube. although, my brain is confused by the concept of crochet just because their is only one needle. it still seems to think i should only be knitting. i'm am just dying to crochet a giant granny square blanket. whats even more awesome and inspiring is that at a family dinner for mr.c's great aunt, she was wearing a granny square sweater. i really really wanted it. i haven't actually completed a square yet but i'm getting there since getting all my stitches even has proven to be difficult.

and yes, i am drawing my crafting power from my hedi hat.

♥

happy weekend

2011-01-08T12:57:00.000-08:00

i'm spending my weekend daydreaming about owning a little long haired dachshund. they have come to captivate my brain recently. aren't they just the cutest? hopefully i'll finish a few knitting projects while watching big love season 4 on demand. see, i really know how to party on the weekend!

♥

image via weheartit

a bright future

2011-01-05T12:20:00.000-08:00

everybody is talking about the new year and how they are going to change, keep their resolutions, lose weight etc. well, sure, i may have made the "i'm going to exercise more and eat less burgers" resolution in my head but thats about as far as i'll go this year. so lets look at all the resolutions i will NOT be keeping this year shall we:

* to stop biting my nails: i've been doing it for as long as i can remember. it is a lost cause.

* to not let dishes pile up in my room: see above explanation

* to procrastinate less on big school art projects: cha' right. lets get real.

* to stop eating french fries: that is just a crime against humanity and not a life worth living.

* to buy less coffee at starbucks: well now i have a giftcard so thats just rude not to use it.

*to put less gummy bears on my yogurtland: thats almost as bad as giving up french fries.

*to stop saying "yeah man" and "dude": sorry mr.c, i can't help it if they slip out.

so it's not that i'm being pessimistic here, i'm just being real because... man, sometimes a girl likes to eat french fries while procrastinating at starbucks.

image via weheartit

2011 seems to be all the rage

2010-12-31T11:04:00.000-08:00

it seems like this year really flew by but when i started going through old blog posts to do a year round up (which everyone in blogland seems to be doing but it's fun!!) i started seeing all these photos that i had all but forgotten about!

january: a dark time in my life having just experienced a tonsillectomy. mr.c spent long hours sitting next to me in bed drawing while i cried about not being able to eat pizza. when i felt better we ventured out on a rainy day to the natural history museum before school started again.

febuary: i wrote about my nerd showing and i started creating my first animations! i also sewed mr. c a big comforter for valentines day because as a caring girlfriend, i could not sit by while he used a sleeping bag as a blanket.

march: i turned 20, got a job, and started doing puzzles with mr. c. there was also tragedy as my best friend lost one of her sisters. a month of ups and downs.

april: mr.c and i went to san francisco, the first of many trips together. i almost dyed my hair blue and cried a lot over finals.

may: finals ended, summer started. theresa and i shot our first wedding while mr.c and i built stuff in his garage.

june: mr.c turned 23! i cooked a whole bunch and took many naps.

july: mr.c and i went to san diego together. i also worked a lot during july.

august: my bike got stolen while i was at work. it was sad times. in happier times, theresa and i rescued a small kitten which i dubbed ampersand.

september: school was in full swing while lily tried her best to befriend the little kitty.

october: mr.c and i celebrated our one year anniversary. we've definitely shared good and bad times but we love each other more everyday. we also carved some seriously cool jack o lanterns.

november: i got really bad at blogging. i did manage to blog this drawing.

december: mr.c and i had such a wonderful christmas compared to last years. i've consumed too many cookies but they were so delicious. we are both excited for a new year, mr.c is done with school while i'm finishing up my third year.

my 2011 predictions:

now i enter a long period in my life while i explain to everyone that its going to take me more than 4 years to graduate because BFA's have more units and i'm a double major. they will nod and pretend to understand but still think i'm a slacker. i will buy less cheap clothing and in general, try to save more money by eating out less. mr.c is going to start cooking and forge a path in the art world. i see lots of knitting, sewing and crying over homework. i don't think there has ever been a year where i haven't cried over homework.

cheers!

see you in 2011 ♥

have a safe and happy new years.

nothing pretty to report

2010-12-29T17:50:00.000-08:00

i used my week off from work while campus is closed for the holidays to really crack down on cleaning. i gutted my art studio and finally organized the overflowing crap pile in the corner. pardon my french but SERIOUSLY...why was all that stuff still there? i found a bunch of old high school geometry homework, valentines cards from elementary school and my entire collection of american girl doll outfits. i saved a few of my favorite grade school notes, my old dream catcher from preschool and of course, all the doll clothes, including my precious dolls, are tucked away safely for my future baby girl (because i AM having a girl. obviously.)

it felt so good to purge. although, i don't think the trash cans agree with me since they are groaning under the weight of old drawing pads. i did this primarily because my momma gifted me a brand spanking new sewing machine for christmas. i am beyond stoked to have one of my own and to start quilting. mr.c and i spent today at ikea looking at desks and chairs. the poor guy had to pry me away from all the gorgeous wood top kitchen counters and cooking supplies. what can i say, i'm a homemaker at heart.

now i'm working on my closet. its also been gutted into submission. ampersand is enjoying the new running space and open shelves to climb. my goal is to edit down my wardrobe to essentials, donate my old high school nonsense (and all of those impulse forever 21 buys) and to really cultivate a grown up collection of outfits. everything that enters will be tasteful and useful. the idea is that everything i buy will be good quality from now on, even my shoes. i've had too many $20 quick buys break or snap on me.

so right now,

there aren't any really pretty photos to post.

i have some leftovers from christmas i'll dump soon.

but for now i have cleaning to get back to.

♥

image via weheartit

happy holidays from both of us!

2010-12-23T23:44:00.001-08:00

he cleans up real nice.

see you after the holidays!

hope you all have a very merry christmas,

and that santa doesn't bring you coal...

♥

i'm lucky in love

2010-12-22T15:08:00.000-08:00

seriously. i can be really goofy but the man still loves me to death.

earlier this week i had all my friends over and we each made a gingerbread house! it was so much fun and together they looked like a small winter village. more photos later, right now i'm making peppermint bark and gingerbread loaves to give with presents. ♥

and then there was oodles of food.

2010-12-20T13:45:00.000-08:00

i did something very crazy for mr.c's celebration dinner . i made a rack of lamb. *cringe* i couldn't stop thinking of the poor little boo boo that i was seasoning for dinner. however, it was sort of really scrumptious along with au gratin potatoes, sting brings sauteed in lemon and garlic and an apple crumb pie. it's been raining non-stop here which brought an extra bit of coziness to the night. i've never made a dinner that depended so much on timing before either so i'm somewhat proud of myself for pulling it all off. although we did sneak some bits of the lamb back into the oven because mr.c and i both hate rare meat.

click through for recipes:

the end.

2010-12-18T18:20:00.001-08:00

the semester is over for me but for mr. clark he is completely done with college. tonight i'm cooking a huge and fancy celebration dinner for him. i hope you all have a lovely weekend doing your final christmas shopping, goodness knows i still have plenty to figure out. i'll be back monday with recipes and photos.

happy holidays!

happy winter break!!!

image via weheartit

ridiculously proud momma

2010-12-09T22:19:00.001-08:00

my cat is HUGE!

well she isn't a full size cat since she is only about six months old now but everyday i can't believe how big and regal she is looking. getting her to behave around the christmas tree has proven to be a problem but i think she'll get it soon.

my favorite cat nicknames when i'm too lazy to say "ampersand!":

1. kitten mittens

2. toaster cat

3. kitty mew mew

4. kitty boo boo

frankly, most of those have more syllables than ampersand. go figure.

5 things to constantly remind myself

2010-12-03T00:49:00.001-08:00

1. you need to draw at least 15 minutes everyday.

2. having strong opinions does not make me a bad person.

3. you are still learning everyday. stop being disappointed in mistakes.

4. putting yourself down will get you no where and is actually counterproductive.

5. you aren't in it alone.

bonus: you are what you eat. stop snarfing hot cheetos gurlfriend.

difference of opinion

2010-11-29T12:44:00.000-08:00

my history of animation professor was trying to make the point a few weeks ago that animators train harder and have to study more in school than doctors . now, i'm not going to sit here and say its not hard to animate or that it doesn't take long, grueling hours of work to accomplish the goal but at the end of the day i'm not responsible for anyones life. my friend in class, samantha, agreed with me because neither of us are capable of performing brain surgery. so we did some drawings instead:

1,3&5 are samantha

2,4,6 are mine