Merry Christmas

I'd like to extend warm holiday wishes to all my readers: men and women... dishers and wishers... gay and straight... adults and children... young and old... married and single... friends and family... cats and dogs... commenters and lurkers...

Stay warm and stay dry!

Ms. Val

Google SketchUp

We spent the last few weeks of AutoCAD class learning Google SketchUp. Like driving a stick shift, it's very hard to learn. But once you get the hang of it, you can do some amazing things. As for me, I'm still trying to get the car moving without stalling it. Even so, I managed to squeeze out a few passable drawings before the class ended. Click on the pictures to view them larger.

Turf Green Underplate Escapes Death

Knowing of my fondness for Ironstone Fiesta, fellow collector Elaine sent me this ebay auction.

After a little negotiation with the seller over the price, this hard to find Turf Green sauce boat underplate was on its way to me.

On Friday afternoon, this package arrived in the mail:

The front of the box is mostly covered by the mailing label, but it is definitely a cereal box. That's what the seller used to ship vintage pottery. A cereal box. I still can't believe it.

Inside, the underplate was wrapped in newspaper. Funny, since the seller appears to have based her entire eBay business around the sale of pottery and dinnerware. The preferred packing material among dish collectors and buyers is bubble wrap, styrofoam peanuts, and an amply sized cardboard box.

We collectors are always sharing horror stories of badly packed dish purchases. I have been regaled with tales of items packed in paper towels, plastic bags, old, unwashed pajama bottoms (ew!), diapers, and maxi pads (double and triple ew!). Many of these are damaged in transit.

I once received a large oval platter that was loosely wrapped in a disposable hospital bed pad and shipped in one of those oversized fibrous envelopes. Naturally, it arrived broken.

But this time, I got lucky. My Turf Green underplate arrived at its new home safe and sound.

Christmas Meme

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both. I prefer wrapping paper for boxed gifts or flat items like books or DVDs. Hard to wrap items (anything in clamshell packaging) goes into a gift bag with LOTS of tissue paper.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. I'm paranoid about the possibility of a real tree drying out, catching fire, and burning the house down. I have seen the Phoenix Fire Department tree burning re-enactment video too many times.

3. When do you put up the tree? Around Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? First week of January.

5. Do you like eggnog? NO!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Either my powder blue bicycle with pastel daisies on the banana seat and tassels on the handlebars or my Cabbage Patch Doll.

7 . Hardest person to buy for? My mom. Everything she needs, she already has, and her tiny condo can't accommodate anymore "stuff".

8. Easiest person to buy for? Lucas. Everything he wants is inexpensive and easy to find.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? No.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? If anything, mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? This hanging decoration thing with painted wood birds, stars, and other thingies hanging from it. It was too big to go on the Christmas tree and I didn't have any other place in the house for it. The person who gave it to me hyped it up in such a way that I thought she was bestowing me with her family's jewels.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? No contest. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I usually start shortly after Thanksgiving, but this year's schedule forced me to wait until after the semester ended. I've been having to jam pack all shopping, cleaning, errands, and other Christmas prep into one week.
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14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No, but I would do it only if the item in question was something I know the recipient really wants.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas ? Cookies

16. Lights on the tree? Yes...LCD lights with a bluish tinge.

17. Favorite Christmas song? It changes all the time. Right now it's Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian Christmas Song) by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? This year, we're staying home, but some years we travel to visit family. Other years, we travel to escape family.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Yes: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? No, but I've been shopping for one. Everything I find is either tacky, chintzy, or just doesn't go with my decor. I'm not in any hurry to buy a tree star. I'll know the perfect one when I see it.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Yes to both.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Radio stations that play nothing but Christmas music starting on Halloween. Thank you, iPod!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Fiesta ornaments

24. Favorite Christmas dinner? The one I don't have to cook

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A vintage Fiesta sweets comport or a set of Fiesta baking bowls in Marigold.

Christmas Funny

I saw this at Random Musings of a Deco Lady. As a rabid fan of late '70s-era contemporary architecture (have books full of this stuff), I find it hilarious.

Family Jargon, Part 4

I hadn't done one of these lists in over six months. In the meantime, I have accumulated enough Family Jargon terms for two additional posts. The first of which is below:

Flowery Girl Smell: This is the scent the Kyle seems to think I emit. I once borrowed his sweatshirt and he implored me to take it off because he thought I was giving it "flowery girl smell".

Parking Spot: My side of the bed. Some evenings, Luke will climb on the bed and watch TV with his dad. When I come upstairs for the night, I'll tell him to shove over because he's "in my parking spot".

Locking It Old School: Having to lock the car doors with the power door lock button because our keyless entry remotes are patently unreliable.

Dinner with The Peeps: Q’s client dinners. Every few months or so, Q’s group has customers who come to town for training. These visits typically last 2 or 3 days. During which time, the group will take the customers out to dinner. Meanwhile, the boys and I will pile in the car and head over to In-N-Out Burger.

Aisle 1: The candy aisle at the North Peoria Super Target. It's bigger than your average grocery store candy section in that it takes up both sides of a very long aisle. Aisle 1 is Lucas’ utopia.

Exploded Clown: This term was coined by the folks at Collectible Medium Green, but we've started using it here at home. An exploded clown occurs when the Fiesta dishes are used, stored, or displayed with little or no thought paid to the colors chosen.

Community Notebook: This is a spiral notebook that doesn’t belong to any one person. It sits on a table and anyone who needs a piece of paper for homework or shopping lists can take it from there. At any given time, we have 2 or 3 community notebooks floating around the house.

Red Rain: Very heavy rain. Lucas derived this term in reference to the Doppler radar maps on the TV weather report, where the locations receiving the heaviest rain are shown in colors ranging from red-orange to maroon.

Family Jargon, Part 1
Family Jargon, Part 2
Family Jargon, Part 3

Crazy Eights

I really don't know why I find stuff like this so interesting. I also can't believe we managed to put 11,111 miles on the Dodge in less than a year. I have a much longer commute than Quinton, and I usually drive the Mustang.

What Problem?

How is it that childhood obesity such a problem when I can't even find size 28 x32 jeans for my 14 year old son?

Goodwill Treasure Trove

While out Christmas shopping today, we stopped in Goodwill to seek out hidden treasure. While Q and and the boys looked at old school video game systems, antiquated cell phones, and cookbooks, I headed over to housewares in a vain attempt to find Fiesta.

I have found dishes at Goodwill before, but NEVER Fiesta. But today, I was pleasantly surprised. Looked what jumped in the trunk and followed us home:

The housewares section was not very well organized so it took me several passes before I found all the Fiesta. In all, I came away with three cereal bowls and six dinner plates. I left one cobalt dinner plate behind because it had a big honking chip under the rim.

Other than some utensil scratches--which can be cleaned--everything is in good shape.

Oh, and today was half price day. I got all nine pieces (four of which are in retired colors) for less than $4.

Chocolate Cravings

Armed with a tip from a fellow collector, I headed over to the Dillard's to check out the new, highly anticipated Fiesta color--Chocolate.

It looks like a Hershey bar. Almost good enough to eat. Here it is pictured with my vintage Amberstone shakers:

For now, I only have the fruit bowl. I also want a 4-piece place setting, which includes a mug. But Dillard's only sells the 5-piece sets. I guess I'll have to wait until Macy's gets Chocolate in stock.

I love this new color. I really do. But aside from the place setting, I'm not sure how much of it I'll be buying. Under the light of the dining room, Chocolate Fiesta is almost the exact same color as my walnut-stained table:

On the other hand, the completist in me demands that I have a place setting in every color. So if anyone in my family is looking for gift ideas, you can never go wrong with Fiesta. And Chocolate Fiesta is double sweet. BTW, I don't have the place setting in Ivory, either.

Breaking The Law! Breaking The Law!

...so sang Judas Priest back in 1980.
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And so will we come January 1.
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That's the day when a new law takes effect that makes it a ticketable offense to sport a license plate frame that covers the word "Arizona". The complete article can be read here:
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Law targets license plate frames that obscure "Arizona"
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These plate frames are everywhere. They advertise the driver's favorite sports team, the college he attended, his military affiliation, or the name of his favorite mega-church. And still others proclaim that their car "stops at all garage sales" or lament that they'd "rather be shopping at Nordstrom". Apparently those of us who shop at all the in-between places don't care to advertise.
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But the overwhelming majority of plate frames advertise the dealership where the driver bought his car. Apparently people don't mind being rolling billboards for a car lot.

Our license plate frame falls into a gray area. While the "Arizona" in the plate is covered up, it is covered up with another "Arizona".

So, will we remove it? I'm not sure yet. On one hand, I'd definitely like to avoid a $135 fine. But on the other hand, I can't stand that our rights are slowly being chipped into oblivian. And this is a prime example of that.

On my drive in today, more than half the cars I spotted had some sort of license plate frame. That's a LOT of traffic stops. I wish ADOT luck in enforcing this new law.

Urban Dictionary Fun

(Quinton sitting in for Val - as she's busy with fabric samples, sissors, and hot glue.)

The other night, Val and I were enjoying some cocktails while both the boys had a sleepover at friends. We started looking at Urban Dictionary and found some that hit a little close to home. Here are some of the ones that made us laugh.


P.S. Don't go to the website with your kids looking over your shoulder, it's definately rated R+.


Salsa F***ed - This phenomenon occurs when dining at a Mexican restaurant with a large group and the salsa is not distributed evenly throughout the table. The areas of the table that do not have ample amounts of salsa are "salsa f****d."

Clapathy - When an audience grows weary of clapping, either at a ceremony or musical performance.

Crop dusting - farting while walking.

Stoptional - When the braking of a car is left to one's choice due to an unnecessary stop sign.

Lego hair - a particularly shitty male haircut in which the sides cover the ears and the hair appears to be "snap on".

Manicorn - a mythical male creature who is successful (read: pursuing his passion and can pay his electric bills/rent), funny, chivalrous, masculine (read: not chauvinistic), adventurous, artistic (read: not suicidal).

Tag hag - A person who is obsessed with name brand clothing.

Gaybie - the child of a gay couple. plain and simple.

Hurrication - Evacuation from a major hurricane turned into a short holiday.

Song Binging - The act of repeatedly and obsessively listening to a particular song or artist over a relatively short period of time. Periods of song binging are followed by extended periods of skipping the certain track or artist, leaving them unplayed.

Interneuter - Loosing your connection to the internet.

Mis-wave - To return a wave to someone you think is waving at you, but is actually waving to the person behind you. Usually results in embarrassment and introversion.

gr7 - A little less than gr8 (great) but still better than just good said grr-sev-en.

Chairdrobe - The art of piling clothes on a chair to be used in place of a closet or dresser. If a chair is not available one can always defer to a floordrobe. floordrobe is now part of our family jargon.

Flatuglance - The look that someone gives another person when they pass gas in public.

Shuffle shame - "Shuffle shame" is when your mp3 music player is playing on speakers in shuffle mode, and somebody enters the room at the exact moment the worst song of your collection is being played.

Critical ass - adj. The stage in fat accumulation when fabric can no longer contain the enormity of one's buttocks.

Mouse potato - Someone who spends all their time on the computer surfing the net or playing games. Similar to couch potato.

Fool For The City

I found this meme on Christopher's Facebook page. And since I currently don't have the time or inspiration for an original idea, I'm doing it too. Again, there will be no tagging. Anyone who wishes to participate (Craig, I know you will) is welcome.

1.Put your music player on shuffle.

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.

3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!

--If someone says, "Is this okay?" you say...

"Rotation" by Herb Alpert

--What would best describe your personality?

"Just to Satisfy You" by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson (that is surprisingly accurate!)

--What do you like in a guy/girl?"

"It's In The Way That You Use It" by Eric Clapton

--How do you feel today?

"Skyliner" by The Manhattan Transfer

--What is your life's purpose?"

"Say You Will" by Foreigner

--What is your motto?

"Who Wears These Shoes?" by Elton John

--What do your friends think of you?

"Sing A Study in Brown" by The Manhattan Transfer

--What do you think about very often?

"Run Like Hell" by Pink Floyd (makes sense if I'm on the treadmill at the gym)

--What is 2+2?

"Self Control" by Laura Branigan

--What do you think of your best friend(s)?

"What a Difference You've Made in My Life" by Ronnie Milsap

--What do you think of the person you like?

"Red Skies" by The Fixx

--What is your life story?

"Blister in the Sun" by The Violent Femmes

--What do you want to be when you grow up?

"Hollywood Nights" by Bob Seger (Well, I wouldn't mind living in LA. They've got great some great modern architecture.)

--What do you think when you see the person you like?

"Let Me Love You Tonight" by Pure Prairie League (Q will be pleased)

--What do your parents think of you?

"Up Around The Bend" by Creedence Clearwater Revival

--What will you dance to at your wedding?

"Suite Madame Blue" by STYX

--What will they play at your funeral?

"Come In From The Rain" by Captain and Tennille

--What is your hobby/interest?

"Big City Nights" by The Scorpions

--What is your biggest secret?

"Centerfield" by John Fogerty (My biggest secret involves baseball? Don't tell Q!)

--What do you think of your friends?

"No Woman No Cry" by Bob Marley & The Wailers (well, I do prefer the company of men)

--What's the worst thing that could happen?

"High Cotton" by Alabama

--How will you die?

"Jamming" by Bob Marley & The Wailers (I guess I'll go out having fun!)

--What is the one thing you regret?

"Mr. Blackwell" by KISS (what did I ever do to that guy?)

--What makes you laugh?

"You're The Love" by Seals & Crofts

--What makes you cry?
"Love Song" by The Oakridge Boys

--Will you ever get married?

"Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You" by The Bee Gees (Apparently, my iPod thinks I'm going to end up a serial marrier.)

--What scares you the most?

"'round Midnight" by Thelonious Monk

--Does anyone like you?

"Here With Me" by REO Speedwagon

--If you could go back in time, what would you change?

"Reminiscing" by The Little River Band (This seems redundant)

--What hurts right now?

"We're All Alone" by Rita Coolidge

--What will you post this as?

"Fool For The City" by Foghat

Friday Fill-Ins #101

1. Snow __almost never falls in the Phoenix area__.

2. I'm looking forward to __the semester being OVER__.

3. __Salsa__ is the best __condiment__ ever!

4. One of my favorite old tv shows is __Knots Landing__.

5. I'm done with __the accessory research portion of my decorative arts project__.

6. The most enjoyable thing around the holidays is __having Q at home nearly everyday__.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to __watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation with Lucas_. Tomorrow my plans include __going to the gym and working on end-of-the semester projects__. Sunday, I want to __finish those projects__!

Tagged!

I was tagged by Sean at The Fortress of Solitude to complete this meme.

Go to you flickr account (or equivalent). Select and post the 6th image on the 6th page.

Here's mine:

This picture is part of a mosaic wall outside a souvenir shop at Disney's California Adventure. I was fascinated by this wall because it includes Harlequin teacups among it's shards. One such cup is pictured in the top center. I have another photo from this wall used as my profile avatar.

I'm not tagging anyone for this meme because all my readers either don't have blogs of their own or have already been tagged.

Extreme Makeover: Lucas Edition

Before:
and now:

Lost in LA

We had a great time this weekend at Knott's Berry Farm. More on that later. This post is dedicated to my wish for the admonishment of the programmers and/or code writers at Google Maps.

Before we left Arizona, Q printed out driving directions that took us from our house to the Knotts Berry Farm Resort Hotel. At least they were supposed to.

Let me preface this rant with another rant. Maybe I'm just spoiled by the Phoenix-area's properly marked and well-lit freeway system. But the freeways in SoCal are VERY poorly lit. The fact that it was pouring rain didn't help matters, either. Perhaps the highway department could divert a few dollars from the Call Box budget (does anyone really use those things?) to fund some much needed freeway lighting.

Anyway, I was driving while Q navigated (our car isn't new enough to have one of those newfangled in-dash GPS models). He read the directions by the light of his cell phone.

Q instructed me to exit the freeway at Carmenita Road, which I did. He also had me make a few other turns onto side streets that--according to the Google directions--should have led us to the hotel. Instead, we were driving in circles around a big-box shopping district.

We were clearly lost. Not only that, but we were in the wrong city (Cerritos) AND the wrong county (Los Angeles).

I pulled into a Mens Warehouse parking lot as Q called the hotel. After being kept on hold for eons, I got impatient and resumed driving. Q eventually got ahold of a live human, who told him we should "go back to Beach Boulevard". That's a fine suggestion, considering that WE WERE NEVER THERE!

Q decided to refer to a faintly printed map that came out with the instructions. Problem was, without the aid of the sun, we had both lost all sense of direction. Our Cloud Car doesn't have a digital compass either. Apparently dem things are fer da fancy people! :-P

I drove until we found a street that was on the map: Orangethorpe. I think I made a few other random turns before we began to see signs for Orange County, Buena Park, Knotts Berry Farm, and the hotel.

We eventually made it to the hotel safely, and everything was good in the world. Although, I can't help but wonder if Google's faltering stock value has less to do with the economy and more to do with the crappy driving directions they dispense.

Holiday Road

We're heading out to California for a weekend of Knott's Berry Farm entertainment. This trip is my reward for enduring such a grueling semester (I'm beginning to admit that I bit off more than I can chew with my courseload). Also, we got a great deal on an a package that includes hotel, parking, and 2 days of park passes for all four of us. We'll load up the Golden Cloud, and hit the road right when the last of us gets home from school.

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The boys are really looking forward to this trip. Especially Lucas, who is finally tall enough to ride all but two of the largest rollercoasters. I have a feeling he and I will be reenacting scenes from our favorite movie, National Lampoon's Vacation. As long as I don't come home and find that Q traded in the car in for a metallic pea-colored station wagon with wood paneling, I'll be happy.

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So to my friends and readers, Happy Thanksgiving. I hope your day is filled with friends, food, family, fun, fluff, folly, and all those other F-words that make life interesting.

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And to my family, I hope you're not too disappointed that you won't be enjoying Quinton's cooking this holiday. But I am taking the chef with ME.

Bedroom Remodel

Here is my latest drawing--a bedroom remodel. I wanted to take a picture before the teacher redlines it to within an inch of its life. Every item in this drawing was taken from my favorite housewares and home furnishings source--the Crate & Barrel catalog.

Thank you, Becky!

I was pleased to start my day as the recipient of a blog award--my very first--from Becky of Random Musings of a Deco Lady.

I would like to share this award with the following beautiful, inspiring and creative women:

Pat of Pat and Waldo

Menchie of TimeOuts

KJ of OPTIONS Associates: For a Better World

Please check my blogroll for many others who educate, inspire, and make people laugh. Men are great blog writers, too.

Rules: 1. Give it to one or 100 or any number in between ~ it's up to you. Make sure you link to their site in your post.

2. Remember the Purpose of the Award: To send love and acknowledgment to women who brighten your day, teach you new things and live their lives fully with generosity and joy.

Sunday Dishes: Custom Fiesta Ornaments

As I mentioned two weeks ago, I have plans for my blank ornaments. The first batch is pictured below. Click on the pics to view them larger.

Friday Fill-Ins #99

1. The last band I saw live was ___Pete and the Shortcomings (local classic rock tribute band)___.

2. What I look forward to most on Thanksgiving is ___creating a Fall tablescape with my Fiesta dishes___.

3. My Christmas/holiday shopping is ___best done online___.

4. Thoughts of ___post-semester down time___ fill my head.

5. I wish I could wear ___low-rise jeans single digit-sized jeans and pants___.

6. Bagpipes ___are fine in small doses___.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to __maybe taking the family out to dinner__, tomorrow my plans include __homework, teaching myself to use Google Sketch-Up, running errands, and other boring stuff__. And Sunday, I want to __finish up anything that didn't get done on Saturday __!

Stuff I've Been Too Busy to Blog About

School, homework, errands, and family activities have put this blog on the back burner. Below is a brief synopsis of our lives during the past few weeks.
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--Kyle got his braces removed. Per his request, no photos will be posted. My son is in the midst of a feud with the mamarazzi. It's bitter, too.
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--I've lost nearly 10 pounds since we joined the gym in August. Q hasn't lost any weight (he doesn't really need to), but he his stamina is greatly increased. He also has greater muscle tone in his arms and legs. Pretty soon, he'll have a V-shaped torso! :-)
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--On Tuesday Lucas got a haircut. A REAL haircut. Not a courtesy cut where the child gets a quarter-inch bang trim just to placate his parents. Pics will be posted when I feel like it.

--I've been shopping for a new wardrobe for school. In my impending line of work, a professional appearance is highly recommended...even for students. Consistant attendance, quality work, and the ability to meet deadlines are important. But a stylish, put-together wardrobe will speak volumes whenever the instructors are approached by employers seeking students for internship and employment opportunities.

--About two weeks ago, I injured my right wrist when I fell while roller skating. About a week later, Q rolled his left ankle while playing baseball with Lucas. We were debating as to who was going to drive the Mustang this past week. My right hand is the one I use for shifting, and Q uses his left foot for pushing the clutch. Since my pain was less than Q's I lost won.

--Last Friday was very eventful. Q and I went to the Joel McHale show at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix. It was damn funny stuff--I think. I was quite plastered. Q and I had dinner at Los Dos Molinos, where I had the strongest margarita ever. The service was slow, but we didn't care. Q was buzzing, but I was feeling NO PAIN.

But I do remember that CT is devoid of any acceptable bathroom facilities. Whoever space planned this facility really ought to be smacked! The ladies' room had only FIVE stalls to serve the entire 2,600 seat venue! FIVE!!!! Needless to say, there was a very long line. Even so, I let a pregnant lady cut in front in me because she was in a lot of pain. A fetus sitting on your bladder will do that.

Around 10:30 as we were leaving the theatre, my cell phone rang. It was Kyle yelling for us to get home NOW. "ALL THE SMOKE ALARMS ARE GOING OFF!" After he convinced me that there was no smoke or fire, I had Kyle go ask our next door neighbor for help.

"Alan" unplugged four of the seven alarms in the house and everything was good. I was so grateful for his help, and was relieved to hear that he and his family were still awake when Kyle rang their doorbell. The next morning, Q went to the store and bought a big multi-pack of 9-volt batteries.

Friday Fill-Ins #98

1. Please feel free to ___Come out of lurkdom and leave a comment___.

2. When I ___pull a towel out of the dryer___ I can't help sniffing it occasionally.

3. My favorite thing to cook is ___microwave popcorn (not much cooking on this end...that's Q's specialty)___.

4. ___Q's pizza___ is something I can't get enough of.

5. That's the thing I love most about ___Wednesday nights___.

6. ___A really cute, figure-flattering top at Banana Republic___ always makes me think to myself, "what the heck?"

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to __going to the Joel McHale show with Q__. Tomorrow my plans include __going my neice's birthday party__. Sunday, I want to __finish up anything I didn't get done on Friday or Saturday __!

Well Paid!

As I was driving home today, I spotted a black, late model Corvette zipping down the freeway. Not an unusual sight, per se, but it was the personalized license plate that caught my eye. It read JANITOR.

A janitor. Driving a Corvette. I wish I had taken a picture, but trying to fish the cell phone out of my purse at 70 miles per hour is not the safest driving maneuver. Besides, the Vette was merging onto another freeway.

I had no idea that cleaning schools, offices, and stores was such a lucrative profession. Perhaps I'm wasting my time with design school. It appears that janitors really do clean up!

The Spa

In my drawing class, we have been working on 2-point perspective for the last few weeks. Our project drawing is a residential spa. I spent all afternoon inking my drawing and wanted to get a picture before the instructor takes his red pen to it. My finished product is below. Click on the pic to see it bigger.

Sunday Dishes: Fiesta Ornaments

Last year, I started adding ornaments to my Fiesta collection. I had pick up a few pieces here and there from friends and fellow collectors at the Collectible Medium Green message board and from eBay (they're very hard to find locally). But my interest in ornaments reached a fever pitch last summer at the HLCCA conference when I acquired six of them.

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In all, my ornament collection has reached 32 pieces and it's still growing. The picture above only shows a few of my favorite decaled pieces, but I also have a dozen or so blank ornaments. I have big plans for those (hint: they won't stay blank for long!)

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During the off-season, I keep the ornaments on display in a presentation bowl. The one pictured here is a recent acquisition. Macy's has decided to quit carrying the Evergreen color so I got this one off the clearance table for less than half price.

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Within the next few weeks, the ornaments will be promoted to tree status. At which time, the presentation bowl will be filled with leftover decorations from yesterday's wreath building event.

Wreath Decorating

UPDATE: All photos in this post can now be enlarged by clicking on them. That wasn't the case until Q dickered with the code. Ultimately, I had to re-upload them. Apparently, moving pictures around renders them unclickable.

I have been very busy with school as of late. And not just busy, but CRAZY busy. Aside from my space planning and sketching projects, I had to write a paper on textile imports from southeast Asia to Europe in the 17th century. That sucker ended up being 12 pages long--single spaced, which wouldn't have been so bad if I'd had at least some prior knowledge on the subject. In this case, major research needed to be done.

Anyway, as if I didn't spend enough time at school, I spent today--a weekend day--at the college. The American Society of Interior Designers sponsored a wreath making event for student members. The wreaths will be sold and all proceeds will go to the Boys & Girls Club.

When choosing ribbons, ornaments, picks, and other items for my wreath, I knew I wanted to do one in all pink. But when I saw wreath dressings that Hobby Lobby had to offer, I fell in love with everything purple. My finished product is shown below. Unfortunately, the cell phone camera photo doesn't do my work justice.


Here's another picture of the wreath:


Ah, but I still got to do make a pink wreath! Out of the 30 spaces available, only 18 people RSVP'd. And of those, only 12 or so showed up. Since all 30 wreaths needed to be decorated, everyone had to got to make two or three each.

ASID had provided a bunch of decorations for us to use as well. And since I had only brought enough supplies for one wreath, I had to dig through their offerings to complete my second one. I hit the jackpot when I found a dozen of these pink and ivory silk roses that were ornamented with holly leaves and sprigs of gold glitter. After I made sure nobody else was going to use the roses, I took them all. Again, the wreath looks much nicer in person.

All the wreaths came out beautifully. One lady did one in all blue and white. I thought that looked stunning. Another lady created one with ribbons and ornaments in various shades of green. That one will look nice for St. Patrick's Day.

The drafting tables were covered in brown paper, but we still made the biggest mess. The classroom we used for the event is the same one I go to for my drawing class on Monday and Wednesday mornings. I have a feeling I'll be walking around with glitter on my ass for awhile.

October Wordle

Friday Fill-Ins #96

1. My favorite food seasoning is ___Cinnamon___.

2. ___The sound of Jango not crying at 4:30 in the morning___ is music to my ears.

3. Lucky is ___a great brand of jeans___.

4. ____Children's' interests____ is something I take very seriously.

5. Many people ___vehemently disagree with my radical opinions___.

6. ___Green spray-in hair dye for Kyle's costume___ was the last thing I bought at the store.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to ___passing out glow sticks to the trick or treaters___. Tomorrow my plans include ___going to the gym, going to Michael's or Hobby Lobby, maybe go looking for deals on boys jeans, and GETTING KYLE A HAIRCUT!!!!!___. And Sunday, I want to ___finish a space planning project and sketch some tables___!

State Fair Pics

Last weekend, we went to the Arizona State Fair. I am only now getting around to posting pictures because it's been a very busy week. Also, I'm trying to get used to a new camera.

This beef jerky won first place in the Jerky and Dried Beef division. Well, they must have not dried enough because it's covered in mold! Ironically, the second place entry looked perfectly edible.

This entire meal is made out of rocks. Click on the picture to see the detail.

Nutrition at its finest!

Lucas' favorite car at the demolition derby was the Ghostbusters station wagon.

Fire! The fuel line must have ruptured on one of the cars because after they were pried apart, there was a huge puddle of gas on the ground.

Times Have Changed

Last night, I got one of these headaches that causes my vision to become very spotty and distorted. In fact, I was in a chat room with Papa, Craig, and a bunch of other dish collectors when it hit. I could barely read my screen and had to log off early.

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I used to get these all the time when I was a teenager. The pain was so bad that I would end up vomiting. My parents were always having to leave work to pick me up at school.

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Even though these headaches have never gone away completely, their frequency has has been greatly reduced. Now, I only get them once every few years or so.
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My last such episode occurred more than four years ago. I was driving the car when my vision started going blurry. I managed to pull into a McDonald's parking lot, and call Q to come pick me up.

Last night's headache occurred in the safety of home. I just took some Tylenol PM and went to bed.

While I laid there, I began thinking about the headaches I used to get as a teenager. My mom took me to the doctor and I was given medication, which I kept with me at all times.

That's right! I walked around high school with a bottle of prescription pain meds in my purse.

That move wouldn't fly today. I must have been really good about being discreet because I didn't get in trouble for it.

In fact, we got away with a lot of crap when we were kids...much of which would be grounds for expulsion today:

--In the late 80s, Corona Beer t-shirts were all the rage. Everybody had one, and we wore them to school.

--Whenever birthdays were celebrated, we were allowed to bring in homemade cupcakes to share with the class. Now, all treats have to be store-bought.

--Q grew up in rural Montana. He talks about how kids would drive to school in trucks equipped with gun racks. Some even wore utility knives on their belts.

--We called it like we saw it. Winter Break was known as Christmas Vacation.

--Instead of "fall festival", we got to have real, honest-to-goodness Halloween parties. We even got to wear our costumes to school.

--Nobody was ever censured for eating a peanut butter sandwich in the cafeteria.

--We didn't need a food handler's license to hold a bake sale.

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--Pet birds, fish, snakes, frogs, and hamsters were commonly brought in for show-and-tell.

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--We played tag or tackle football on the playground

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--We also jumped off the swings. (Lucas tells me this is a HUGE no-no)

Seventeen Year Itch?

Happy Anniversary, Quinton.

Friday Fill-Ins #95

1. Right now, I'm feeling ___relaxed, but awake (it's 4 AM and I couldn't sleep) ____.

2. ___Done with school___ is where I want to be.

3. How does one ____have a child and then dump them off at a day care for 8+ hours at a time____? (childrens' interests are an issue I'm very militant about.)

4. ____QUINTON___ keeps me on track.

5. Please don't ____leave open cereal boxes out on the kitchen counter____.

6. ____Jango snuggling up to me, gazing up with her big blue eyes, and purring loudly____ fills me with joy.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to __going to the gym...and working on a paper on Indian and Islamic design___. Tomorrow my plans include ___going to the gym...working on that paper...taking the family to the state fair___. And Sunday, I want to ___celebrate our anniversary...finish the paper...and take the kids shopping for Halloween stuff___!

Going Down...

Gas prices finally dropped under $3 at our neighborhood station. Of course, this happened just a few hours after I filled up at $3.05 per gallon.

Friday Fill-Ins #94

1. Follow the ___path less traveled___.

2. ___A map and a list of antique stores in the area___ is something I always take with me on vacation.

3. To achieve your goals, you must ___be patient and be prepared to make sacrifices____.

4. ___I got carded the other night___ is something I'd like you to know about me.

5. I have a ___desire to put up the Christmas tree NOW so I can properly display my Fiesta ornaments___.

6. ___A plastic storage bin with a 10 year old child in it___ floats. (But it also tips over very easily).

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to ___finishing a very difficult space planning project, going to the gym and enjoying a few cocktails___. Tomorrow my plans include ___going to the gym and going shopping for some new fall clothes___ and Sunday, I want to __sleep late, finish the laundry, complete a few sketches, and watch Desperate Housewives___!

Try your own Fill-Ins here.

Birthday Dinner

This evening, we took Q out for a belated birthday dinner. He had a business dinner to attend on Monday and I had to take Lucas to drum lessons on Tuesday. So we celebrated tonight.

We went to PF Chang's for dinner. The weather was perfect--we drove to the restaurant with the top down. The boys were very well behaved. There was not one fight the entire time.

The orange peel chicken and mu shu pork were very tasty. We even saved room for a dessert. The four of us split The Great Wall of Chocolate Cake. Any calories I burnt off earlier at the gym were gained back tenfold.

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But it was totally worth it. It was a such an enjoyable evening. A nice, relaxing meal, and enjoyable conversation with my family.

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Oh, but that's not the best part.

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Tonight--for the first time in quite a few years...

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I GOT CARDED!!!!!!

The Big 3-9

Happy Birthday, Quinton!

"You're BOTH Wrong!"

Today, the boys got into a fight because Kyle had eaten almost all the toaster strudel. Lucas had only gotten to eat two pastries out of the two boxes I had bought. There come six in a box. Kyle had eaten the other ten.

Lucas got mad and started yelling and name calling. Kyle shook his head, shrugged shoulders with an air of misguided teenage superiority, and whined, "what did I do?"

That's when the fists began flying.

I snapped that they were both wrong.

Kyle was wrong for his lack of consideration by being a strudel hoarder.

Lucas was wrong for assuming that I had bought the last two boxes of toaster strudel on the planet.

I have mediated this argument before. The food in question usually varies from Pop Tarts to cereal to popsicles. But the end result is always the same: I buy more.

When will they ever learn?!??!?!??

Friday Fill-Ins #93

1. One of the best concerts/plays/movies I ever saw that I really didn't think I'd like was ___Grease 2. I didn't care for the original so I though I'd hate the sequel. It turned out to be one of my favorite movies___.

2. ___Cookie Dough Dessert Sundae___ is a recipe I recently made (or meal I recently ordered) that was delicious!

3. It's time for ___a new administration. Let's get this election over with already___!

4. ___A frozen Coke Thirstbuster from Circle K___ is quite refreshing.

5. If I never hear the word ___"adrenal tumor"___ again, it'll be too soon.

6. To one side of the curving road was a ___mountain___, and on the other was ___another mountain___.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to ___watching Poltergeist with Q and the boys (I ordered the DVD on Amazon Marketplace for a buck)__. Tomorrow my plans include __going to the gym, finishing up some sketches for Monday's Rendering class__ and Sunday, I want to __go somewhere. Maybe Hobby Lobby, IKEA, or the antique mall__!

Giant Pumpkins

Since it's getting close to Halloween, I was flipping through my collection of Guinness World Record Books, I came accross some HUGE pumpkins, here's proof of the gradual growth of them...
GWR issue:
2005- 1337 LBS.
2006- 1446 LBS.
2007- 1469 LBS.
2008- 1502 LBS.
2009- 1689 LBS.
-Post By Lucas.

*Every year, the issue of the NEXT year comes out (E.G. 2005 comes out in 2004, 2006 comes out in 2005 ETC.

'Desperate Housewives' Funny

I borrowed this from Mark's blog. Mrs. McClusky is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters.

Edie's creepy psycho husband had better pay heed.

Kitchy Kitchens

Since Christopher assured me that I won't get in trouble and Mark really wanted to see the Con-Tact paper kitchen, I scanned a few pictures from one of the decorating books I bought at Goodwill yesterday.
The walls, cabinet and drawer fronts, and even the canisters are all covered in Con-Tact paper.

This dishwasher is covered in the same wallpaper as the rest of the kitchen.

I LOVE this banquette-style breakfast nook. This space is begging to be outfitted with some Shamrock Fiesta.
I wouldn't change a thing about this kitchen...except for maybe the appliances.

From Complete Home Decorating

GOOB

Earlier this week, Q informed me that he needed new shoes for work and the gym. So I took a break from school projects and we went to Shoe Pavillion. The boys came along on the possibility that the outing would include a restaurant lunch. And it did.

As we pulled into the parking lot, a guy was putting a "Shoe Pavillion/Store Closing/30-50% off Everything" sign out near the road.

On one hand, I'm sorry to see the store close. This location had been open less than a year. But on the other hand, NEW SHOES FOR EVERYONE!!!!!

Except for me. This store was devoid of anything in a ladies' size 9M. I did find one pair of Birkenstocks, but they were light blue (a color I don't wear often) and the bottoms of the straps cut into the tops of my feet. Even at $14, I had to pass.

Goodwill Goodies

Every other Saturday, Goodwill offers 50% off everything in their central Arizona stores. Today, we visited three stores in Phoenix.

I came home with four decorating books from the '70s and '80s. Many of the rooms are hideously dated, some are boring, but a lot of them are pretty cool. Such as one where Con-Tact paper is used to cover almost every surface in a kitchen. I'd like to post pictures, but I don't want to violate any copyright laws.

My real prize for the day was this Coventry Castilian tid bit tray. It will look great with my Ironstone collection. Problem is, my Ironstone/Granada shelves are pretty full, but for $3, I'll find room.

Good News/Not-So-Good News

Earlier this week, Q took Kyle to the orthodontist for his montly check-up. Apparently, he has done so well with his braces, that they are being removed next month--almost one year ahead of schedule!!!!!!!!!

And now, the bad news. Today, I got a letter from the boys school. They did student vision screenings last month, and according to their findings, Lucas has some degree of vision difficulty and may need glasses.

I know there are worse things in life than wearing glasses, but not when you're 10 years old. Personally, I think he's more upset at the possibility of missing school to go to the eye doctor.

Friday Fill-Ins #92

1. October __Is one of the best times of the year to be an Arizona resident__.

2. __This mess with the economy__ scare me!

3. Leaves are falling all around, it's ___clogging our pool filter___.

4. My favorite horror movie is ___Poltergeist___ because ___the house was cool...even if it was haunted___.

5. ___Vacations at California theme parks___ = good memories.

6. It was a dark and stormy night __and hyper Lucas was running around the back yard because he enjoys that kind of weather__.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to __having lunch with Q, getting my hair done, and taking everyone out for ice cream (I have coupons!)__. Tomorrow my plans include __going to the gym, cleaning the upstairs bathroom, and taking Lucas to half-off day at Goodwill__. And Sunday, I want to __study for a Space Planning test, finish the laundry, watch Desperate Housewives__!