Creole Wisdom

countdown.

•Without further ado... here is the surprise I made for J.  He got it last night.  I think he loved it.

•Basically,it's a little countdown calendar to Valentine's day, but more like an advent calendar (where you open on thing each day).  I kind of came up with this because J and I are so excited about Valentine's this year- even though it's still a few weeks off.  We started talking/planning it around the time of... our Chicago trip.  I know, I know.  but we're both type-A planner types so just roll your eyes and be done with it! ; )
•Back to the surprise... I printed out paper that had cute x's and o's on it.  Then in the space left I wrote a nice message.  Folded them up, and dated them then stuck them on : )

•It's hanging up on his wall, and I hope he doesn't open them all tomorrow!

winter wednesday

•Yesterday, it was about 10 degrees outside.  A considerable change from -10, but not ideal winter weather (20s-30s).  I am not complaining though, because it could be -30, and that really cramps my style/mood/outlook on life.
•J and got lunch.  He picked me up at my comm class- what chivalry! We walked across the bridge to a warm lunch at noodles

•I love their stroganoff.  Have I told you readers, that I didn't eat that growing up in my home, and I discovered it last year?  When I saw other people eating it I kind of thought to myself: what is that gray, gross stuff those people are eating?  It's so good! Mom/Dad- why did you keep this from me? : )
•Whoah.  Who is this handsome man? Whew... too bad I had 1:30 class.  What a shame- couldn't spend all afternoon with him!

•Then he walked me right to my next class. Note to self: I am so ready for this weekend, I have a nice surprise planned for J- and it's going to be well-receive (hopefully)
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•We needed to have another Chocolate & Chatter to celebrate Karen's departure to Northern Ireland.  So sad, but exciting at the same time.  It was delicious!

•Then we sat around on my bed and watched TV shows until it was time to sleep. I am going to miss Karen so much, it is going to be so sad to say good-bye to her.  However, I know her experience will be really great, and we'll all be waiting to move into our gorgeous house at the end of the summer (more on that later!)

photo organization (digital)

•I'm so happy the first photo organization post was well received.  I know most people are all digital now, but everyone has prints lying around.  I just know it!
•Here's my method for organizing, backing up, and keeping digital photos safe:

•That's basically it... photo CDs!
•I am a mac person so all my uploads from my digital camera get put right into iphoto.  I've never had a problem with iphoto or my mac crashing, but I don't want to chance it. 
•In addition to iphoto I save edited (or photoshoped) images in their own file based on year. 
•Simple: just insert CD, pick what you want to save on it, burn
•Because trends come and go, and I'm not about to re-do CD covers (no time, no patience) I make them simple.  Just black on white paper.  I use a different font though, based on year.  Also, I title based on edited or just iphoto.  Got it? Easy.
•Now it's time to find a box to put all of these in (and next to my boxes in the previous post)
•Russel + Hazel has good ideas...

photo organization (non digital)

•I'd like to talk a little bit about photo organizing.  And while I know everyone has their own system, I like learning about what other people so, and thought I'd share mine. 
•Here are some things to keep in mind about my system: I'm in school and don't have lots of cash, so I can't print/develop every photo, most of my photos are on my computer/backed up on discs (another post), I do have a few printed photos, and I keep everything in a safe place (closet, upstairs, in my parent's house- not downstairs with my scrapbooking stuff.  Why?  Because of a fire)
•First things first: I like these cheap, but durable cropper hopper bins.  They come packed flat, and you just snap/assemble them yourself.  They come with divider and tabs for the dividers : )

•In front of each bin is a little label.  I just write the dates of what is inside.  I know that I can change these if I need to. So far I've only needed three, but remember- I don't have years of photos in boxes.  Still, putting this together (winter 2007) did take me a while, and I made sure to take breaks so I didn't get overwhelmed.
•I organize everything chronologically.  This is one of the few things I do like that.  My scrapbooks up until the end of college will be chronological, but after that no more.  Reading this book did it for me, great resource.

•As you can see the dividers are pretty fluid (they're not glued to the bottom).  I keep photo CDs and negatives in the back, and write the specific events on the divider tabs. 
•So dear readers, that is how I organize my physical photos that aren't going into a scrapbook/photo album anytime soon.  Stay tuned for how I organize my digital photos.

electric engineers are cool (exhibit a)

Now, dear readers, there are lots of reasons why electrical engineers are cool, I'm sure.  I just didn't really know any engineers until J came along.  So, just revel in my excitement...

Friday J picks me up, in the back seat of his car is a grocery bag.  "I got ingredients to make a fettucine dish and I have a surprise for later."  Oh! I was excited, what kind of surprise could this be?  When we got to his place we started making dinner right away. J choose his recipe from the cook book I gave him for Christmas : )

After dinner, and a few glasses of delicious white wine, J says, "are you ready for your surprise?"  Yes please!  I'm in another room at this point, and he's in the main room by his flatscreen computer monitor and I hear the Beach Boy's "God Only Knows" start to play. 

"Okay, you can come in now" and I walk in to find Big Love playing on his monitor ("God Only Knows" is the credits song).  (A little background- I really like this show, yes I know some do not, but I do- it's ok).  A little confused I say, "did you rent seasons 1 and 2?"  Because those are out and you can get them at Blockbuster.  He smiles at me, laughing a little in his eyes and says, "no- this is the first episode of season three." I was so excited!  Season three is out right now, as in, it's only on HBO now- you can't buy it, rent it, watch it.. wait- yes you can, if J is your boyfriend.

It was a great night!  Such a thoughtful guy.  Not only did he get the first episode for me, but he also watched part of season 1 so he would know what was going on!  Amazing!  I had maybe mentioned in passing once or twice that Big Love was out, and I was sad no one I knew had HBO so I could watch it... I'm a lucky woman!

Three of the main actresses in the show.

pink.

•It's almost February, the month of pink, and already I've spied a lot of it around.  I'm excited.  It's time for a break from winter darkness as usual.

•And my most favorite... window clings!  $1.99 at Target.  So festive!

•I am thinking up good ideas for Valentine's day.  J is taking care of our "activity," but I decided I'd be in charge of the meal- brainstorming right now.  Restaurant, homemade? Combination of both? Hmm.  Any ideas?
•Both my parents joined facebook.  It's been hilarious.  Mom and I facebook chatted last night after wine night with Kate, Karen, and the Sigma Nus : )
•I'm looking forward to this amazing semester, and winter melting into spring (we've had nice weather today)

it's been monumental.

It's been a big week, and it's only Wednesday. I have been making careful note to journal, and because it's a new year, and I'm feeling up to the challenge that's been going very well.

Monday:
•Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  I love this holiday.  I love what this man stood for, I know he wasn't perfect, but the idea of peace really resonates with me. I think back to the struggles my ancestors have made.  In light of Obama's inauguration, it was also very special. 
•Also move-in day at the sorority house... for the last time.  And getting ready for my last semester of school.  Perhaps forever.  It doesn't feel like it, time has flown by.  This semester I'm living with my partner in crime/other half, Kate. 

Tuesday:
•Wake up, eat breakfast, pretty much get excited for the day (school AND inauguration). 

How can you go wrong, when you start out the day with wheat chex and history in the making?
•First class: Modern Black History.  I walk in to a teary-eyed professor handing me a syllabus and the inauguration playing on the projector.  We sat and watched, I prayed, and listened to the amazing words.  I never thought I'd get caught up in the Obama spirit, but I did.  I am so proud of him, and our country.  I recognize that no man is perfect, and that he has a lot of prove, but it is exciting nonetheless.
•Congratulations Obama family!

inspired by:

•ABC Carpet & Home Silk department. I have wanted to go there since high school, but always forget when I am in NYC.  Next time. Raw silk is my favorite fabric, sadly it kind of makes me itch, but maybe for the skirt of my wedding dress someday far away.

•The most charming image via.  Wouldn't this be the best gift?  I seriously wish I had seen this before Christmas, because I would of asked.  I want it! I want it!

•I'm such a sucker for white.  If I needed a piece like this, and if I do I will buy it- I would change the pulls to clear depression glass.  So cute though.  Perfect way to be organized and stylish at the same time.

•Delicious glass jewelry.  I'd take this in a necklace, but with thinner beads.  They look yummy.

details.

•So, per the bride's request I arrived early at the Church, before the reception and after the ceremony to do family shots.  We picked a room with lots of windows, and a simple, hanging background.  I am thankful it wasn't too sunny, as I misplaced my reflector (which isn't the end of the world because I paid about $20 for it, and can get another one)
•First I had the bride, Jenny, who is so fun to work with, stand and do some bridals...


•Then I got the groom in there, and I just love these.  I think Jenny and Ted will really like these:

•The only challenging thing was making sure all the family was in the room when I needed them to be.  Both the bride and groom don't have HUGE families, so I didn't really have to worry about stuffing people in to get lots of faces in a frame.  I love how they all coordinated with the bride's colors (robbin's egg blue and red- what a cool combination).


•Getting a little creative, this was the grooms idea.  I was afraid they might drop her, and so I gave careful instructions on how to pick her up carefully : )

•These are the men of the hour.  Those two Utah brothers on the right were hilarious- they were great.  What fun to work with!  I think they thought I was a little crazy, but what's wrong with that? ; )

•And ladies... the bride's sister (on the right in red) was such a treat.  Not only was she fun, but she smiles ALL THE TIME, and is hilarious.  I was telling them to show a little leg, and these are some festive, fun ladies!

•Some favorites...

•And onto the reception.  The groom wrote a special song for the bride, and preformed it-




•Dancing of course.  How sweet are they?  They are so clearly happy and meant for each other.  It was adorable to watch.

•More candids...

•The last of my favorites...

•I cannot wait for the bride and groom to see these.  It was really fun, especially because the colors were gorgeous and the couple fun to work with. 

chicago is for lovers part three (final round)

•8:30 am.  I wake up to a smiling, handsome face and a boyfriend who makes me breakfast before I'm even awake.  How did I get so lucky?  This is great : )
•After getting ready, we hurried out in the freeezzziiing cold (coldest day of being there) to the John Hancock building.  You know, as a history minor, I was in heaven- It was a perfectly clear day to be up there, too.  Just amazing views.

•We road the elevator to the very top, and put on headphones for the full tour... Wait, who's this handsome guy?
•I can't believe how good the audio tour was, J was making fun of the journalist they kept interviewing, but here's why I really liked about it: -The screen had a little video, so you could see photos of what they were describing
-A healthy dose a midwestern metropolis history (thank you!)
-The cute music
-Guiding yourself at your own pace

•J took this of me, and I love it!

•Another amazing view, lovely (and frozen) Lake Michigan!

•For our last meal in the windy city we headed to a sushi place near our B&B.  I love sushi! 

•1:30pm head back home to MN, and chat happily all the way home. 

•8:30pm arrive home...
I had such a wonderful time.  I am thankful that J and I didn't kill each other (hey- that's a long time to be just by yourself and the boyfriend).  The trip exceeded both of our expectations! J is great, and I am a very lucky girl.