Creole Wisdom

the next decade

I've been thinking a lot about all the things I would like to do before I reach 30.  Here are my top ten:

1) Finish undergrad and get into grad school
2) Finally figure out what I want to do (besides just scrapbooking, lol)
3) Marry
4) Buy a home
5) Have 3-4 children
6) Master cooking
7) Stay healthy
8) Maintain strong relationships with friends and family
9) Keep scrapbooking, journaling, and blogging
10) Be silly and have fun

Clearly, I have my work cut out for me!  Yes, I know life does not go according to plan, but a girl can try, no?

getting it together

Okay, we are so not done here.  But, I'm pretty happy about things so far. 

Here is the fabulous Ikea couch.  Let me tell you, that store is pretty much heaven.  I purchased this couch for much less (orginally $500).  It is also a sleeper sofa.  The cover was on sale (very cute, if you ask me) from $140 down to $78.  Saved a great deal.

Here's a closer look at the print.  You know how I'm a French country girl, so I'm thrilled.

What a cute table, huh?  This was from my roomie's parent's house. 

The bathroom reminds me of the Upper East Side in New York (not that I would know what that is like).  But it brings images of Charlotte York's house (S*x & The City).

I got another good deal when it came to the microwave.  Don't know what the original price was but it was only $45.

This lamp is gorgeous, another gift from my roomie's parents.  I love it.

Mom went and looked at TVs today, and tomorrow I'll check them out at Best Buy.  I'm thinking a 25" with a dvd player.  Hopefully I'll find one soon.  More photos to follow once it's all put together. 

birthday wishes

Here are my sad attempts at getting a photo of Matt and I before going to "White Christmas."  I love him in the second picture, not looking at the camera at all! 

The day started out like most with a great birthday call from Miss. Jay!  I was thrilled.  We chit chatted and then I eat breakfast, made specially by mom.

I stayed in my pjs for most of the day and then went to Ikea with mom.  We found a new couch since Miss. Crazy has moved out.  I'm so excited, we found it for $275 (usually $500) in the "as-is" section (with NO visible problems, but a noted tear) and today I went back and got a floral cover on sale for $75 from $150.  I'm thrilled.  Pictures of the newly decorated space to follow!

We had an excellent dinner complete with mom's German chocolate cake.

Later Matt and I got together with friends, some whom I've known since kindergarten and we had a little get together.  Pretty good day!

Christmas Festivities

We had (and are still having) a great holiday!  I just adore this time of year, and all the fun right after another.  Speaking of fun, tomorrow is my 20th birthday- way to go for another decade!  I think a scrapbook page is in order... 

Christmas eve day we picked up Matt (he didn't go home this year) and finished decorating the tree.  My parent's always get a real tree, but not the smelly kind, which I prefer.  Still, I think it looked beautiful (we went with a red and white theme of ornaments this year):

Can you see my shrink-wrapped chalkboard?  It was a hit, the shrink wrap was not *#$&, that stuff is difficult!

Christmas eve we get to pick out one present, usually a pair of pajamas.  Mom chose these for us, and my step-dad and Matt had matching lounge wear from Target, but I have been forbidden to post a photo, sorry!

We did the usual evening church routine, and joined family for dinner and gift exchange.  Mom insisted on early bed.  Since she and step-dad have to sing in the choir we didn't open gifts until the early afternoon.  Mom was thrilled with her chalkboard and wrote our casual lunch menu on it:

Matt had a wonderful Christmas, and got several things on his "wish list" including the ipod nano courtesy of mom!  I opted for my "practical," but none the less well received gifts. 

I could not of been happier, I've been lusting after a juicy zip up for a very long time!  Matt was so sweet to get one for me!  Also, it truly was a Lily Pulitzer Christmas with a summer zip up (love those things, perfect for over t-shirts!) 

Don't you just love that cute little pink palm tree?  I tell you, I am a Lily fanatic and manage to get everything on sale! 

It was so nice to have everyone together for Christmas, such a relaxing day.  I can sigh a breath of relief, no traveling, no planes, and no waiting to see Matt!  Are they not adorable?  Love this photo of them!

After gifts and lunch we decided to head out to the movies and see "Pursuit of Happiness," which gets one thumb down in my opinion!  I got to wear my new zip up and Matt donned the brand new shirt I found him.  Actually that shirt was a steal, like $10 from an original $75.  I got it as the Kuhlman outlet, and let me tell you- I'm planning another trip back there.  They have wonderfully tailed button ups for men and women in unconventional prints and colors.  I was actually shocked he liked this, man I did good, and I'm going back again!

Overall it was a wonderful Christmas!

winter wonderland

Yesterday around 1pm it started to snow.  I was so excited, as this is the first real snow of the year.  Matt has never spent a winter in Minnesota, so he was really looking forward to snow as well.  He packed his sled and skis from home. 

I love this picture of him looking out the window like, "wow!  It's snowing!"

There's a pretty big park a few blocks away with great hills.  We beat all the school kids home and went sledding.   On second thought I really do need to cut that hair, dang, it needs to go!

The park just looked gorgeous, I love the look of trees just covered in snow

Later Matt took me to see The Holiday down at Block E.  It was actually really, really long, but okay.  I would suggest seeing it later or renting it, seems like there are better holiday films out there.

My blog friend Shannon sent me this funny link today, so if you want to see my acting a fool as an elf- here you go:  my  elfamorphosis! 

red and blue

Lately I've been obsessed with the color combination of red and blue.  I really think the two suit each other and look pretty interesting, unconventional.  I am not a big fan of navy (blame it on a few too many years in school uniforms and mom's favor for this color on me) but there's just something about a light blue with a vivid, vibrant red.

Other color combos I like:
-pink and green
-yellow and white
-gold and maroon (hmm, I wonder why!)
-orange and black

For the next year I've been thinking of some scrap-resolutions (and I see that I've broken the first two with the above lo!):
-Use my handwriting more (thanks for the push, Shannon)
-Put more than one photo on a page (I am so bad at this!)
-Clean out and purge supplies on a regular basis
-Always have adhesive on hand (double sided tape is my favorite)
-Keep a "style file" (collection of scrapbook ideas I like/want to try)
-Homogenize all albums

These will replace the current modge podge I have now.  Can I also say for the record that American Crafts makes terrible 8.5 x 11 binders, they are practically cardboard.  For years I was a Pulp fanatic, but two of my albums are falling apart and I'm not rough with them.  Hopefully these will be better, fyi: they are Live Oak/Hiller Brand from www.scrapbook.com.  I think these are the ones that were sold out at Pebbles. 

Endnote: I finished with finals and work yesterday.  I am so happy, trilled, beyond overjoyed to be off.  Looking forward to seeing how I did, I'm pretty sure I did well.  I would like to make the Dean's list like I did last year, but am not quite sure!

merry, bright, and ETA: I rock (at the bottom)

For the second year in a row I went to go see, The British Advertising Awards, at the Walker Art Center.  The thing you have to understand about Minneapolis, is that we're kind of a weird theater town.  Yes, we're the home of Target, the Pillsbury dough bough, Betty Crocker, and Creative Memories (proud, aren't I?  LOL), but there are truly some amazing theaters here.  I grew up seeing the Christmas Carol at the Gutherie and musicals at the Old Log Theater.

The British Advertising Awards are pretty funny to see, especially after finishing my Journalism class.  The ways they do thinks across the pond are pretty interesting.  Cool to see the differences.  Here is a snapshot my mom took of us in the parking lot before heading out to dinner:

Fun way to "recycle" my formal dress ; ) Just kidding, I always wear stuff over again! 

Speaking of things that are merry and bright, the project I created for my mom for her Christmas gift:

I wanted to create a cute little chalk menu board so she can write what is for dinner.  I am actually shocked at how easy it was to adhere the "Kitchen Louise" courtesy of Wonderful Graffiti.

for a long time I've wanted to get something from there, but since I don't live anywhere permanent I didn't see the point.  Also, their larger items can be pretty pricey. Now that I've made this for her I'm thinking of getting one with my monogram in hot pink!

Honestly, it was one of the most economical presents of the whole year.  I think the graffiti cost $8.00, the chalk board chalk and eraser a total of $5.50, and a touch of scrapbook paper covering the Lakeshore logo on the eraser for $.50!  I am economical, I love it!

Funny of the day: Last evening Matt came back from "hanging out with his friend."  Usually he wears his heavy coat, but I noticed something funny- there was a large bulge under it!  Now, I have no idea why he didn't just bring that over to his place, but it made for a pretty silly display.  And how he hid it in my room without me finding it is a miracle!  Although I'm pretty sure a black juicy couture zip up is in my future... call it women's intuition ; )

ETA: Earlier this morning I sent Wonderful Graffiti the photo above.  Sometimes they add people's examples to their project Gallery.  Here's what a woman there sent me back, I am on cloud nine.  LOL, what a pick me up!

Subject: Your Wonderful Graffiti Photo
Body: It rocks. You rock. Thanks for sending it, Katie

a few hours to spare...

So I miscalculated the time of my final this morning.  Don't worry, I miscalculated in a good way, I thought it was at 8:00, but instead it's at 1:30.

Since I was already showered, dressed, and makeuped I decided to call the ONLY person who is awake before 8am on a Saturday... yes, my mother.

She has decided to once again open her kitchen as the Christmas baking headquarters, so I'm going over to help...

Usually I'm never up this early, especially on a weekend...  So I turned on the tv and to my great luck (lol) the Bratz doll show was on.  Did you see my added quote to the left?  If not...

"That's, like, totally unfair!"

I just have to ask, how do you mothers of girls keep a straight face?  I was busting up over this, I think the context was the mom asked the daughter to do something/a chore.

Last weekend I was introduced to the real Bratz thing for the first time.  I say the "real" thing because the ladies on NSBR at 2peas are always debating about these poor misspelled play things.  My mom's nurse's daughter is 4 and was dying for a Bratz pillow and doll... Checking out the girls aisle at Target, the aisle that used to be filled with Barbies and Polly Pockets (what happened) had now been higjacked by these, these... dolls?  Yes, because they look like a cross between an adult animation toy and Barbie on crack.  We picked out a yellow pillow with a HUGE Bratz face on it and a "baby bratz" doll to go with.  Have you ever seen a real baby with enough weave to rivals Rupunzels?  She had a cut off top and shorts on with "real" jewelery and some really hot hair.

Now I do want to give them mad props for diversity.  That is great, and I'd like to see other toys follow suit.  The sad part of this is, if I was a five year old girl, I am positive I'd have Bratz all over my Christmas list.  I would of been fascinated!  (Who isn't though?)

That being said, I don't think I'll ever be the same again.  What will the future Anthropologists and Historians say about us?

to the wire

The only thing that keeps me sane around final times is making lists. 

Last night's list:
-Finish Anthropology paper
-Study 3/4th of Journalism study guide
-Start French study guide

Well, I got all three of those done.  My Journalism final is on Saturday morning, yes you read right, Saturday morning.  Yep, a bummer!

To get ready for that I have to:
-Finished studying guides (I make these for each chapter, way to save time around finals!)
-Go through tests
-Go through acts (for some reason Journalism has a tons of acts/laws, and I need to get those straight)

I pretty much have a list like that for all four of my finals, and I'm working pretty hard now.

By next week I'll be done, off relaxing and having fun.

Every year I take a picture of my studying mess and create a scrapbook page about it.  I think it will be cool for my descendants to see how hard I worked.  LOL.  My junior year I actually ended up slipping my honor roll certificate into a small pouch (don't have that page scanned, sorry!)

Anyway, I'm getting very excited for Christmas.  Since no one reads this blog, the shopping I've done so far:

Matt: two new pairs of boxers, button up shirt, new swim trunks
Arlene: Betty Boop pj pants (she loves Betty, just loves her, and she'll be thrilled)
Jay: haha, not telling!  But your present is on its way, sent it yesterday!
Mom: kitchen caddy that matches her paper towel holder, mini chalkboard that says, "kitchen Lousie" courtesy of wonderful graffiti
Dad: Burberry socks
Step-dad: gift certificate to his favorite store

It feels so nice to be done!  I'm thinking of actually decorating my small silver tree from Target, I have pint-sized ornaments and it would be pretty cute.

On that note I'm off to campus to hand a paper in...

Just for Laughs

Tea Partay

They might be vanilla, but they are hard, no?  I cracked up when Jay sent this to me.  It is so us, so our sense of humor.  Now mind you I'm really not a big fan for alcohol ads, but this is so much more than that.  The boys are serious, very serious in their madras shorts and polo tops.  I'm a bit sad that none of the girls had lily dresses on, I mean what is more preppy and cool than a pink and green sundress in some crazy print?

RE: my last post, thank you all so very much for your kind compliments!  I am so happy I went, it was a wonderful time and Joe was such a gentleman! Now, he's looking for me to find him a young lady... any takers?  coughcoughjaycoughcough...

RE my second-to-last post: I have a really strange shape, and it is much the talk of my household.  I neither inherited it from my mom or both my grandmothers.  I guess I'm an "hourglass," as that would explain the smallish waist but generous (haha) behind and hips.  Vintage stuff has always fit me really well, I think I should of lived fifty years ago.  I'm sorry, but jeans today are not made for a woman with curves!

On a more serious note studying for finals has commenced and I'm just hating it.  Really, it does not take that much time to sit down and prepare for four big tests, but I hate doing it.  Oh well, off to work...