So I kind of suck at this whole not buying nail polish thing...

I got three new colors yesterday...

China Glaze Secret Peri-Wink-Le
Essie Pretty Edgy
Color Club Mrs. Robinson

I'm wearing the China Glaze one right now...it's sooooo cute. And I tested out the Sally Hansen Quick Dry stuff in Mocachino. It really is quick dry and it doesn't freaking bubble like a lot of other polishes.

Swatches

For my own personal obsessive interest, here are swatches of the nail polishes to acquire:

(pictures all pilfered from Scrangie who is amazing)

* China Glaze Bogie
* China Glaze Emerald Fitzgerald
* China Glaze Emerald Sparkle
* China Glaze Four Leaf Clover
* China Glaze Foxy
* China Glaze Japanese Koi
* China Glaze Kiwi Cool-ada
* China Glaze Limonyte
* China Glaze Millenium
* China Glaze OMG
* China Glaze Peachy Keen
* China Glaze Swing Baby
* China Glaze Tempest
* China Glaze Turned Up Turquoise
* Color Club Revvvolution
* Essie Haute As Hello
* Essie Matte About You
* Essie Viva La Vespa
* Eyeko Cosmic Polish
* Illamasqua Baptiste
* ManGlaze Matte Is Murder
* ManGlaze Matte-Astrophe
* Nfu Oh 044
* Nfu Oh 051
* Nfu Oh 052
* Nfu Oh 060
* Nubar Peacock Feathers
* OPI Designer Series Desire
* OPI Gargantuan Green Grape Matte
* OPI Red My Fortune Cookie
* Orly Cotton Candy
* Orly Cut The Cake
* Orly Hot House Flower
* Orly It's Not Rocket Science
* Orly Matte Vinyl
* Orly Pixy Stix
* Orly Royal Navy
* Sally Hansen Going Green
* Sally Hansen Hidden Treasure
* Zoya Ivanka
* Zoya Jolie
* Zoya Kelly
* Zoya Marilyn

Very Delayed Update

I'm happy to say that I've been very busy with my new job that I kind of forgot about my blog for a little bit. So here's what's been happening:

-My job is so much fun, and I like all the people I work with.
-Kirsta and Ben got engaged! It happened like two or three weeks ago, and I still have yet to call her.
-Cori Jo is leaving for Micronesia :( but we have a phone date today before she heads off.
-Leslie got in a car accident, but she's alright. Her car, however, was totalled, and currently she is stuck in Pasadena at her mom's house with no transportation.
-Caleb is coming down in three days! It's been two months and I'm so excited to see him!
-I went shooting yesterday and shot the biggest gun I've ever even seen. There is a sizeable bruise forming on my shoulder.
-The to-wear nailpolish list has shrunk pretty dramatically, but I still have quite a few on there:

Sinful Colors Serena & Chole
Wild & Crazy Heavenly Handsom
Wild & Crazy Lazy Day
Sinful Colors Forget Now
Sinful Colors Secret Admirer
Wet n Wild Nocturnal
Sinful Colors Midnight Blue
Sinful Colors Mint Apple
Wild & Crazy Chapona
OPI Green-wich Village
Sally Hansen Laser
OPI Fireflies
Milani HD
Milani Photo Flash
Confetti Smitten
China Glaze Re-fresh Mint
Sally Hansen Mochachino

-I found a new church to go to that I actually enjoy attending.
-My birthday is coming up in a week! But that also means that Caleb has to leave, so it's kind of bittersweet.

-Mx

:D

I HAVE A JOB!

The Joy of Giving

So I went to church this morning for the first time in awhile. I gotta say, I don't enjoy it as much as I used to. The sermon this morning was more like a donation pep-talk than anything else. It's like I get the whole "Joy of Giving" thing, but I seriously hear about every time I go to church. And I'll hear it multiple times in a sermon. I didn't like the the Catholic church because I don't believe you have to be baptized to find God and that seems to be a central theme. It just felt really exclusive, like I was trying to get in to a club that didn't really want me there. Now the Lutheran church wants me to constantly be opening my checkbook otherwise I'm not a good Christian. I just don't think that money is the end-all be-all of the Christian faith. I think it might be time to start looking for another church.

Plus, I don't really like the be super social and that's like enough to send you to the seventh circle of hell. But I don't think anyone wants to be super social either, they just feel like they have to be because that's "what Christians do." What does that even mean?

-Mx

Some updates

because I am scatterbrained and forget sometimes:

1. Mom situation dissipated. I'm not asking any questions.
2. I've had a few offers for interviews, but I'm most interested in the ceramic studio one. Everything else just sounds so boring and soul-sucking...who wouldn't want a chance to create something every day? PLUS, I would technically be using my degree still. That's not something everyone can say ;)
3. I just finished reading Captivating by Stasi Eldredge and I'm a little over halfway through Wild at Heart by John Eldredge, and they're really both fantastic. They're written for women and men respectively, but it's highly suggested that you read both. They talk about how you were made in a specific way as a man or a woman in the image of God. During high school I always scoffed at the story of Adam and Eve as a completely sexist foundation of Christianity. Captivating took another look at it, pointing out that Eve was not merely made from Adam, but she was the crowning achievement of creation. Everything gets better and better until it reaches her, where it ends. Adam was not complete without her, even when it was just him and God, something was missing. The main part of the story, though, that is always cited is The Fall. Eve was tempted and fucked everything up in about 10 seconds. Well, it's right there in the Bible and it says that Adam was standing right there next to her and didn't do a damn thing. So it was really both of their faults. There's a ton more that both of the books go in to that's not all Bible-based. Most of the books focus on how there are different types of broken people that have strayed away from God and are trying to fill the void in different ways. I swear to you that these books will change your life, or at the very least keep you occupied for a couple of hours. But read them and find out for yourself.



4. I really hate the idea that some people are going to read #3 and think that I'm some doe-eyed, backwoods country bumpkin that just don't know any better and ain't all that enlightened like all them city folk.

-Mx

VERY hopeful!

This could be my JOB very soon! I'm prayin' so hard for this one...

I drew myself

Somehow it seems that I can only do these things super late at night.

Derby Girl

Tomorrow I'm inquiring about how to be a roller derby girl. Might as well do something with my time!

I'll never understand why I'm still treated like a preteen

How this morning's conversation (right after I woke up) could have gone:
Mom: *knocks on door*
Me: Come in.
"How was Chrissy's?"
"It was good."
"What movie did you guys see?"
"Inception, it was pretty good."
"How's her mom doing?"
"She seemed to be doing fine."
"That's good."

How this morning's conversation (right after I woke up) actually went:
Mom: *walks in without knocking* "What time did you get home last night."
Me: "Like around 3."
"You shouldn't be staying out that late."
"Okay well we were just at Chrissy's..."
"There are weirdos out on the roads that late."
"Um there was no one on the road."
"It's hot in here."
"...okay?"

So now I have a curfew again. And I'm a month out from being 22. Get me the hell out of here.

In other really good news, I lost three job opportunities because I was on a bullshit vacation. COOL.

Observations from today

1. Leggings are not pants, especially if they're sheer. No one wants to see that.

2. I hate children. Mostly because they are just tiny people, and I don't like people either.

3. To elaborate on #2, people are either oblivious or rude. It's likely both.

4. I cannot wait to move out of my house.

Double post: Because I like to talk about weddings

Last night I happened upon My Hands Made It via Ruffled (which I also found, through a "vintage wedding" search. Both blogs have a lot of pretty pictures and sound advice about planning a wedding and not being overly stressed. Caleb and I had been talking about how long I wanted to be engaged (he asked! I didn't even bring it up this time!) and then I got to minorly obsessing about weddings after we got off the phone. Not that I haven't always obsessed about them. I remember Cori Jo and I sat at the front desk of Stuen and planned our fictional dream weddings on The Knot for like 4 or 5 hours, maybe more. Then I got my roommates last year to get accounts so I could talk dresses and engagement rings with them. Endless fun! I even from time to time buy wedding magazines just so I can get ideas. So needless to say, I'd be pretty well prepared for a wedding, being that I've basically been planning for like 5 years. The only problem is that now I have too many ideas. I know I want some part of the wedding to be in or around a barn (check out THIS barn!), and something vintage themed (I'm really liking the whole Americana style), but as far as everything else, I suppose it'll fall into place. I should probably get engaged first, lol.



Oh, and I want this lady to make my dress. She has some drop dead gorgeous vintage designs.

Another Vacation? Um, okay...

Got home from San Diego on Monday night, fully intact, although I initially got on the wrong train. All in all, I like the train. But am I willing to do another trip? I mean, round trip, Napa was something like 20 hours of driving, a week later, 9 hours on the train, and now hours upon hours in the car. I'm kind of traveled out. My mom told me that we're going to San Francisco this Thursday and not coming back for a week. I'm considering telling her that she can't complain about me not having a job (and zero dollars) if she's telling me I have to go on trips with her that I can't afford. I think the best part is that she's going to a conference, so my sister and I kind of have to just hang out because neither of us has any money. Plus, my mom tends to get overwrought about going on trips.

AND I'M GOING TO MISS YOGA FOR ANOTHER WEEK :(

Besides all that, San Diego was a TON of fun. I hadn't seen Caiti since like graduation and I finally got to meet her long-term boyfriend. And I visited my aunt and cousins. My aunt got me two really cute photo books for graduation with a whole bunch of pictures from the times that she came up to visit me.

Nothing on the job horizon. Still futilely searching.

-Mx

Going back to school?

I've been told by a lot of people over the years that I would make a good nurse. Now, I've never been able to figure out why in the world they'd say that, but I'm thinking that I may try to get my LPN in order in improve my job pool. For some reason it sounds really appealing to go back to school and study a bunch of science and math. I must be desperate. The only problem is that if I'm registered in California, I have to re-register for Washington. Dumb. So I'm looking at going to Clover Park Technical College because they offer Mental Health programs, which sounds super interesting. And I can take some of my classes online. Moorpark doesn't really offer much in the way of getting your LPN, just refresher courses and stuff to get your RN. PLU has a 5 day course on becoming a Parish Nurse, which is kinda cool. I've never heard of something like that. In any case, I'd have to either find a job to pay for tuition or ask for money, which I hate doing. At least if I find a job I can take night classes at Moorpark to get my prerequisites out of the way, but once I have to do clinicals and stuff I won't have any income at all. I need to think this through.

Conundrum

I need a job. Well, I really need two jobs, but one is really all I can hope for right now, if that. Pretty soon, I'm not going to be able to pay for anything. This includes my student loans and my credit card debt. If I can't pay for those, it is going to destroy my credit. If I have bad credit I can't buy a house or a car in the future. More pressing is the fact that I don't even have a lot of options for jobs. When I went to college I was told that any degree I got would GUARANTEE me a job when I got out. Well, four years later I have a BFA and am overqualified for jobs I could easily get, and underqualified for the jobs I was promised. Now they require a Master's degree. I almost feel worse off for having gone to college. Especially out of state. Not that I'm not grateful for the experiences and all the people I met, but I seriously have zero luck on the job front. I had better chances in Washington, but no money to stay. There aren't any jobs in California, but I can live here for free. What am I supposed to do? I'm seriously considering just moving up to Washington to find work. I don't know if anything will come of it, but I'm feeling really compelled to go.

I've been hoarding...

So here's a list of the nailpolishes I have to wear before I buy any new ones:

Sinful Colors Serena & Chole
Wild & Crazy Heavenly Handsom
Wild & Crazy Lazy Day
Sinful Colors Forget Now
Sinful Colors Secret Admirer
Wet n Wild Nocturnal
Sinful Colors Midnight Blue
Sally Hansen Glossy
Sally Hansen Ocean View
Sinful Colors Mint Apple
Sally Hansen Rockstar Pink
LA Girl Groupie
Wild & Crazy Chapona
OPI Green-wich Village
Essie Show Me The Ring
Essie Jelly Apple
Sally Hansen Laser
OPI Birthday Babe
OPI Fireflies
OPI Russian Navy
Milani HD
Milani Photo Flash
Confetti Smitten
China Glaze Re-fresh Mint
Color Club Rebel Debutante
Essie Bright Tights
Essie Turquoise & Caicos
Orly Gumdrop
Sally Hansen Mochachino

This is so sad because I have NEVER worn any of these and they're all so cool. I have to go through and clean out my collection of all the dupes and formulas/colors that I hate. Plus there's just some really boring ones. I have a ton of pinks and reds that are really similar...and neutrals...gross. The sickest color I have is Mary Kay's Mocha Freeze. It's an awful brown shimmer, second only to Mary Kay's Reboot Rose which is a watery mess of old lady taupe-ish mauve. At least the formula on Mocha Freeze is tolerable. I really want to do neon rainbow nails, but I don't really have an occasion, plus, it's always a bitch to try and clean my nails up and look professional for interviews and such. Maybe I'll try it on my toesies this weekend. I'm just dying to try out Bright Tights.

Today marks 6 months of Caleb and I dating. I know to most it's not a big milestone, but, hell, we're talking about getting married, the more months we have the less crazy we look.

-Mx

**UPDATE**
An executive decision was made in favor of rainbow toes.


left to right: Sinful Colors Pink, China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy, Essie Bright Tights, Sally Hansen Lite, Morbid Neon Green, Color Club Rebel Debutante, Sally Hansen The Real Teal, Sally Hansen Blue Me Away, Sally Hansen Pacific Blue, Wild & Crazy Chunky Chow.

That's two down!

The picture is funnier if you read the first paragraph.

It's so hot. I put ice cubes in my cats' water dish because I felt bad for them, but now they're just freaked out by them, lol.

I'm going to try to update this thing more often, it gives me something to do with myself while I'm looking for employment. I HATE being unemployed. Seriously, I'd much rather work 12 hour days than sit around the house doing nothing but surfing the internet searching and searching for jobs that aren't there. Or, you know, lurking on Facebook. It's sad and stupid. Currently, I'm unsuccessfully trying to write a cover letter for a library job that sounds kinda cool. $20/hour for reshelving books? I'm in.

I bought my Amtrak tickets for Saturday, which will give me another opportunity to get out of the house for a bit. Christ knows I need it (already, too, even after being gone for the better part of last week).

In spite of all of it though, I can't help being happy, even in this huge rut. It's unbelievably cliche, but I really don't know what I would do with myself if I didn't have Caleb to love and lean on. We'll have been dating for only 6 months tomorrow, but he's incredible. As he said earlier "we make a better team than salt and pepper." Cheesy, yes, but just my style.

If you head on over to the nailpolish blog that I have with Kirsta and Cori Jo, you can see the stupid amount of polish that I have amassed over the years. 90-somethingerother bottles. Hi, I have an addiction. Suck it.

-Mx

Choo Choo Train

There may be a train trip in my very near future (as in this weekend). I've been invited to San Diego by one of my old friends from high school and my aunt, so that qualifies as more than enough reason for me to go. Being that I've never taken a trip on a train this is going to be quite the adventure. Plus, I'll see if I really want to make that 30 hour train trip to Washington in August or just fly like normal. In any case, I'm excited.

Caleb came to visit me over the Fourth of July and got to meet my friends from home. They all really liked him and he got along well with everyone. SUCH a relief. Not that I thought he wouldn't but it's nice to have tangible verification. We basically just drove around town and just relaxed. OH! And he surprised me with a ring! Not the kind you're thinking, but it still has diamonds and it's gorgeously sparkly. Also, the day he got here we went engagement ring browsing and found this Tacori ring that I'm just obsessed with:



I told him he had to be more creative though instead of getting me something that I've already seen, even though I think this one is to die for.

Napa was as spectacular as I had hoped, but I'm kinda glad to just relax at home now. Three days of non-stop action kind of wore me out, which is to say that I had an AWESOME time with my girls.

Still on the job search, which isn't really looking that good. I'd rather not think about it :/

Aaaand my credit card is back in the Tupperware of water in the freezer because I have a spending problem.

-Mx

Nine hours of total, non-stop AWESOME

I just made the RADDEST mix for my girl's road trip to Napa on Monday. It spans from the 70s to now and it's seriously the most epic mix I've ever undertaken. In case you can't tell, I'm a little proud of myself.

Job search is going slowly, no real developments there.

In other, more pressing news, Caleb will be here in less than 12 hours (!), which is exciting, except for the fact that my mom is giving me hell about it for no reason. Always raining on my parade. Dumb. Anyhow, I need to get to bed so I can drive to the airport in the morning.

If I could talk to Obama...

Okay, here's the thing. Instead of trying to find out who to blame while the oil keeps gushing in to the Gulf, why don't we just go ahead and clean it up and THEN figure out who pays compensation? I don't care whose ass you have to kick, I care that there has been virtually nothing done in over a month and a half because you're trying so hard to make yourself look good. I'm tired of the "well it's not my mess" mentality. It IS your mess because it's here in America and it's affecting American jobs, wildlife, and ecology. I was taught growing up that it didn't matter whose mess it was, there was still a mess and it needed cleaning up. It's deplorable that you're using this time as an excuse to pass a new tax bill for "clean energy." Well use some of that energy you've got and clean up the Gulf.

My total obession

Yeah, my cookies didn't turn out anything like the ones in that last picture.

Anyhoo. A list of nail polish to purchase:

Sally Hansen Hidden Treasure
Sally Hansen Celeb City
Sally Hansen Lite
Zoya Jolie
Zoya Marilyn
Orly Hot House Flower
Orly Cut the Cake
OPI Red My Fortune cookie
Essie Red Nouveau
Essie Mint Candy Apple
ManGlaze Matte-Astrophe
China Glaze Bogie
China Glaze Swing Baby
China Glaze Re-Fresh Mint
China Glaze Peachy Keen
China Glaze Lemon Fizz
China Glaze Emerald Sparkle
China Glaze Japanese Koi


-Mx

Baking Time

Not as cute as these, but I'm going to try for some heart-shaped, rose-flavored pink sugar cookies that would make Cori Jo proud. I'm kind of excited. Hopefully my parents get used to my silly baking hours. But hey my car battery is dead, I have to keep myself entertained somehow :p


-Mx

Still nothing...

The job front looks a little grim currently. All the opportunities I thought I had are falling through, as I kind of expected, but I'm trying to stay hopeful. I still haven't heard back from Anthropologie or THQ since I applied last week. Anthro even gave me an interview on the spot, but I was definitely wearing a tank top and sandals and was NOT prepared for it. I think I screwed that one up. THQ required you send in your resume with a cover letter, but they do not post this on their website where you apply.

Oh well. I'm thinking I'll apply at Coffee Bean again so I can get free caffeine, lol. I actually really liked that job for how much I complained about it.

In other news, I haven't really done anything since I got home. Except maybe cleaned a little and realized the amazing amount of absolute CRAP I own. I hung out with my friends some too, which is always entertaining and awesome. I never realize how much I miss them until I get back.

-Mx

Registry

In light of receiving Tim and Allison's wedding invitation, I decided it was a good time to start making a list of registry things since I'm always hearing how hard it is to decide on things. Plus, I like to be specific about certain things. And just generally prepared...

Really it's just a future reference point for me and kind of a throwaway post for everyone else, but if I'm missing something crucial, tell me.

So here goes:

Kitchen
-KitchenAid Artisan Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer in Ice
-Bunn GRX Home Brewer coffee maker in white
-flour and sugar canisters
-Pyrex casseroles, 8x8, 9x11
-metal bread pans
-cookie sheets
-muffin pans
-mixing bowls
-measuring spoons
-measuring cups
-recipe organizer
-dinner setting for 12
-flatware
-cooking dishes
-Tupperware
-coffee mugs
-glass tumblers
-teakettle
-kitchen mat
-cutting boards
-knife set
-spice rack
-salt and pepper shakers
-ice cream scoop
-tongs
-kitchen timer
-oven mitts
-cheese grater
-garlic press
-peeler
-food processor
-Crockpot Model #3735-WN and #50301-W
-coffee grinder
-toaster
-toaster oven
-microwave
-waffle maker
-serving spoons
-ladle
-placemats
-napkin holder
-steak knives
-blender
-hand mixer
-saucepans
-frying pans

Bar
-red wine glasses
-white wine glasses
-martini glasses
-highball glasses
-wine opener
-vacuum seal corks
-cocktail shaker
-champagne flutes

Bedroom
-flat sheet set
-fitted sheet set
-pillowcases
-pillow shams
-bed skirt
-comforter set
-duvet covers
-tabletop lamps
-nightstand
-mattress pad
-pillows

Living Room
-couch
-coffee table
-rug
-standing lamp
-TV

Bathroom
-toothbrush holder
-bath mat
-hand towels
-washcloths
-bath towels
-shower curtain
-scale
-soap dispenser

Decor
-vases
-frames
-wall mirrors
-throw blankets
-throw pillows
-coasters

Essentials
-handheld vacuum
-vacuum
-hamper
-laundry basket
-iron
-ironing board



If I think of anything else, I'll post it, but for now that's all I can come up with. With help from The Knot of course. I'm not a freak.

-Mx

Some more rules

Rule #22: Don't go thinking you're exempt. We are all in this together and you have to pull your weight.

Rule #21: Things never happen the way you think they will. Eventually you will look like a hypocrite because you opened your big mouth. It happens to everyone.

Rule #20: You don't need it. Just put it down and walk away. You have too much stuff as it is.

Rule #19: If you have something important to say that you truly believe, just say it. Don't let anyone tell you what you're feeling is stupid.

Rule #18: Shut up and listen. Not all the time to everyone, just to the people that matter. Alternatively, sometimes it's just fun to eavesdrop.

Rule #17: Rules are really more like guidelines. Some are there for a reason, but others are up to interpretation.

Rule #16: Grow a pair. If it needs to be done, get it done. Not later, not tomorrow, now.

Rule #15: Don't pass blame. If you did it, just own it. Everyone probably knows anyways.

Rule #14: Do your research before you commit to an idea. There are so many uninformed protesters/vigilantes/debators/fanatics/what-have-you it's getting ridiculous. Look at both sides of an issue and decide for yourself.



-Mx

Rules To Live By

Rule #13: In the famous words of a friend of mine "Don't get all butthurt." It's never worth it to get super offended about everything all the time. Political correctedness is a load of crap, and everyone knows it.

Rule #12: Laugh at yourself. Life is a weird, convoluted concept, and if you look at it the right way, it's frankly hilarious.

Rule #11: Mediocrity is a cop-out. We weren't all programmed for excellence, but the least you can do it strive to be your personal best.

Rule #10: Buy a plant. They're like the canary of our personal lives, but slightly less morbid.

Rule #9: Give gifts. Again, doesn't matter what it is, it could even be intangible, like a smile. Give in and of yourself and you will recieve everything you need in return.

Rule #8: Create something every day. Doesn't matter what it is, fingerpainting, brownies, the next Lady Gaga outfit, do something. You'll go to bed feeling like you did something with yourself.

Rule #7: Get it out. A good cry is incomparable to any other stress reliever. When tears are not an option, friends and wine are.

Rule #6: Kill them with kindness. Never give anyone any reason to hate you. If they do, they'll feel like the jackass and you have good karma.

Rule #5: What you want to say now, is probably not what you really mean. When you're angry, sending that nasty email or text is not exactly the most mature thing, nor is it how you want to deal with the situation. Sleep on it, maybe for a few days, until you can talk like a normal person.

Rule #4: Confidence and happiness go a long way. There are too many self-deprecating, sorry-ass people in the world. Don't be THAT person.

Rule #3: Things are only as awkward as you make them. So quit your bitching.

Rule #2: Make time for friends and family. The ones that matter will always be there to back you up and set you straight regardless.

Rule #1: It's not worth getting upset over. Nothing really ever matters as much as you think it does, because there is so much more going on outside of your tiny sphere of life. So whatever it is, get over yourself and move on.


-Mx