Save It For a Rainy Day

One | Two | Three 

{My favorite is the Blade Runner one, and will very likely be getting the white one soon. Florida's rainy season has commenced!}

A Pressing Matter

One of my latest hobby undertakings is flower pressing. So far, I've been pressing them between books on tracing paper, with 15# pounds of pressure and anywhere between 1-4 weeks.

I was happy with how this latest batch turned out, which I collected on my last hike. I'm a little sad how the violet turned out, but I love it all the same.

{Early} Friday Fancies #2

I am so amazed by this Dumpling Squid by doug.deep on Flickr. (Check out his whole stream for a ton of gorgeous shots of other unique creatures like the nudibranch, cuttlefish, and hinge-back shrimp!) I am a huge fan of animals, especially oceanic ones, and MOST especially cephalopods. I have a cuttlefish tattooed on my right forearm with plans of a ocean-based half sleeve soon! This squid is the most gorgeous thing I've ever seen, with colors I didn't even realize were found in nature.

I know what you're thinking... how can you possibly say no to this Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake by Offally Tasty? Frank and I are celebrating his 25th birthday with my family (his is in Maryland) this weekend and I've been searching for the perfect cake to make him. I think I've found the one. Shhhh... don't tell!

Melissa of SirenJewels on Etsy is one of my favorite sellers that I've had the pleasure to work with. Her jewelry is high quality, handmade and beautiful conceptualized. I have a few pieces from her (some gifts, some presents to myself) and recently commissioned her to make me a long pendant with a silver-wrapped moonstone. I have yet to receive it but I can't stop staring at the beautiful photos she sent me. Check out the rest of her shop for even more pretties.

Method of Action, well-known for their typography-based learning games, recently released their new game simply Color. "Color" tests your knowledge on common color theory and then in-depth color relationships. I spent last evening playing a couple rounds. With super fun and challenging design-based games, I can see Method of Action spearheading a new type of online gaming arena. Found via Hello Miss Potter.


Mentionables

• Reading everyone's Alt Summit blogging conference recaps makes me really want to go next year... another thing to add to my list! See Kathleen and Megan's posts for more information.
• I'm obsessed with almost everything Elise posts. I found her a few weeks ago and have been so inspired, especially by the maxi dress she just made for herself. 
• Did you know that you can also find me on Pinterest? I've recently started sculpting my boards and plan on doing quite a few crafts soon!

I was originally inspired by the "What's In Your Bag" tumblr some years ago and had a fun time doing this project twice before, first with my big gray purse and then my fitness bag. I've been meaning to do another one, so here we are!

I've been lusting after the posh neon messengers that have been making their way around the internet and was super happy to be informed that my local Target had a suitably sized knockoff for a reasonable price. Of course, I snatched it up right away and have been in love ever since. A big thanks to you know who!

Having a smaller and limited-dimension bag has made me re-adjust what I really need and what I tend to keep around "just in case".

Visit the Flickr page for notes on what's inside.

Not Quite Instagram #3

Life lately has been busy. Between school, work, social life and all of the things in between, I needed some time to look back at how my last few weeks have been, as narrated by my camera phone. I am a lucky girl.

Green socks that just almost perfectly match my bedroom's accent wall. | Taro boba ending a delicious meal of Vietnamese curry and egg rolls.

Spotting fine silent auction art at a local brewery - shark made of shark's teeth. | A smoking van providing an ethereal view on a drive home. 

Enjoying a mid-dinner aerial show at one of my favorite eateries, Casa Tina's. Paired with ceviche and a honeydew margarita, it's tops. | Our new (and first male) kitten, Remy, hamming it up (and currently attacking my feet).

Enjoying a new living room space, complete with Constant Comment tea and Attack the Block. | Scrabble with family on Sunday evenings, Lazy Susan and all. 

How has your life been lately?

A Thankful Thursday

A few things I am saying thanks for today... my lovely pug Lilo (my last birthday present) and her ability to brighten my day, especially when I get home • vitamin C and its healing abilities • surprises from my best friend • Christmas gifts that last far beyond the holidays • lovely coworkers • a desk job, especially in tough times • understanding instructors.

Hiking

Beautiful clusters of Christmas Lichen.

This year has been wonderful so far. I know it's so early, but I feel like I have accomplished quite a bit, thanks much in part to my best friend, who is always a treasure-trove of good advice. Though I have tons of goals I've planned for myself this year, one of my health-related goals was to hike more. Though we don't have mountains or big hills, I've been wanting to enjoy the Florida State Parks that are somewhat local.

I spent the first three days of the New Year (December 31st, January 1st and January 2nd) in parks around my area. The first hike was in a park along a beautiful river, which I had the honor of hiking with my mom. The second two were very close boardwalk hikes in a park not far from where I live, one day with a friend and the other with Frank and our pug, Lilo.

Last Saturday, I had the chance to take Frank to the one I visited with my mom and we had a great time - we packed a lunch and took our time over the combined 4.5 miles.

On top of being a fun way to exercise, I have been using the hikes as a way to appreciate nature and to explore the somewhat forgotten parts of the woods. Hidden fungus, pretty leaves, less-beaten paths... all of which I found at the last park. Since flower pressing is one of the hobbies I wanted to embrace in 2012, it was fun to hunt for new potential pressings. These photos are a few of my favorite shots from the adventure.

Etsy Earmarks - Modern Paper Goods from Red Star Ink

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

[via Oh So Beautiful Paper.]

I was typically going to reserve the Etsy Earmark for those Etsians who I've had experience with, but I found Red Star Ink's shop just today and HAD to give them a spot! How amazing are these designs? They are very fun and offer practical solutions to many problems. I enjoy the clean design and the whimsical design mixed together, offering a fresh, modern look.

I especially in love with the bills notebook and will very likely be picking that up for myself sometime soon... maybe.

Best $5 I Ever Spent

In lieu of this year's quest for frugality, I'd like to celebrate one of my best $5 purchases - a fire pit found whilst bike-garage sale hopping. The particular weekend we found this was a challenging one. The car was in the shop, which left Frank and I stranded and worried about the upcoming mechanic's report. Nevertheless, we decided to bike it and enjoy one of our favorite activities - garage sailing (as I like to call it).

We happened upon this one find after months of perusing the stores for our favorite fire pit designs. We were taken aback by the seller's price and were even more astounded to discover they'd be willing to drop it off at our place for free! Needless to say, it was a great find.

Since then, we've used it only a handful of times as we live in Florida. But tonight, 40 degree weather beckoned us to bring it out and burn the firewood we collected from a recent trek through a newly discovered park. As we sat in front of it, warming our bodies and cuddling with the pug, I was happy to embrace the wonderful find and to appreciate the chances we took to get it. This year is going to be one of extreme financial conservation - I'm ready to make it happen, hopefully with a few more chilly fireside evenings.

For the quality and how well it's done so far, I would say, without a doubt, that this is the best $5 I ever spent.

What's the best $5 you ever spent?

My theme for 2012: Necessary Sacrifice

I know exactly what Arriane of Wanderrgirl means when she feels like she plans more than she actually produces. I spend tons of time elaborating a perfect plan and before I know it, it's past my bedtime and that thing I really wanted to do gets pushed off, never to be completed.

For my 2012 Resolutions, I wrote four main categories, each with a main goal. I won't bother you with the details but these are my main resolutions.

• Health & Fitness - Find a plan that works for me and be consistent.
• Finances - Spend WAY less than I make/live far beneath my means.
• Artistically - Push myself beyond all known artistic limits.
• Personally - Stop holding myself back.
• Universally - Become a conscious consumer and focus on homesteading. (added)

What it comes down to is that my dreams require sacrifice. These sacrifices include lounging time, purchasing new things, going out to eat, spending wasteful time on the internet, eating foods that I know aren't bad for me. I will need to give up things that I have previously self-indulged in.

Sometimes I am terrified of myself. I have many moments in which I feel completely incapable of changing my bad habits. I have always described this being to my mother as a nefarious version of myself that is pulling me back and coercing me to do the things I know I shouldn't... I suppose it's another way of realizing my own "devil on the shoulder". These last few years have been pretty awful, on my own accord, of course. It's been dotted with ups and downs and being perfectly honest, the good to bad ratio is about 1:1. I'll spare the heartbreaking details, but the point is that I am ready to turn my life around.

This year is going to be tough because I am going to have to instill a great amount of self-ethics that have been virtually absent in some portions of my life. I will be sad from time to time but I know that by sacrificing going out to eat or buying a new pen or shirt that I don't need will give me more cushion in my savings account. I know that resisting the cupcakes my coworkers brought in will bring me even closer to my ideal body. I know that pushing myself to exhaustion while working out will improve my stamina and power. I know that working hard and long on my last year of school will mean that I leave with my degree and design skills beyond comparison.

I also need to believe that I can change. Believe that I have what it takes to be just as good as my idols.

And with that, I'm off to make the last hour of the first day of the year productive.