work+school+baby= my crazy life

Recently I have become a Starbucks employee! Oh excuse me, a partner. ;)

Most of you probably know that this was definitely my night home. After Madelyn would go to bed, Chad and I would go over there and do homework, play Magic (can you say, nerd?!), read, and make new friends. This job is totally what I was hoping for and all of my co-workers are rad. And now I have money to spend on clothes for Maddy and myself!

Speaking of Maddy... she turned 6 months last week!


I can't believe it. It's so crazy how time has passed and that her first birthday is not that far away. Yep, already thinking of what we're going to do as well. She's the most adventurous, talkative, and sweet little girl and totally captures everyone's heart wherever we take her. I am so proud to be her Mommy!

And speaking of being a MOMMY- my life is just out of control right now. Although I love being busy, I am d-e-a-d tired! I've never been so tired in my life! I wouldn't change any of it though. My classes are taking up a lot of my free time, especially since it is getting towards the end of the semester. I have two research papers that are both 6 pages due at the end of this month- EEP! I've made some REALLY cool stuff in my graphic design class and I am really proud of myself. My portfolio is going to be extremely varied, which is what I was hoping to achieve. Here's some examples of my work:





So if you or anyone else you know would like a logo, layout, anything made I'd be more than happy to do it for FREE! Have a great week, everyone!

Adventures [in the front yard]

I'd like to pay homage to something that people tend to forget about these days: your front yard.


Pic of Maddy and Chad outside this weekend (yes, that is DROOL PEOPLE! She is teething! EEP!)

Since I walk around the neighborhoods in our area (almost 3 times a day), this is something that really shocks me: people are not taking advantage of the wonderful weather and changing greenery! I know that people can "get busy" but really make a point to getting outside once in the morning and at night, even five minutes can make a difference in your day. (Because trust me, I have very little time to be able to save my sanity and boy do I need a break!)

Some other things to share with you this week:

What's on my play list?
Where the Wild Things Are is coming out soon so I am re-listening to my old Arcade Fire CD, Funeral. If you haven't checked them out, please do!


Blog Goodie-bag Giveaway:
My sister's friend Talia is giving away goodies, including stuff from Alyssa's store Pinned Up on Etsy!


Cutest baby and kids clothing:
I randomly found this website a few weeks back and I am just dyyyyyyyying to buy everything on here! Maybe someone will buy Maddy something for Christmas off of here? ::AHEM::

I am seriously already getting anxious to put up a Christmas tree! Maybe it's because it will be Maddy's first? Oh crap, imagine all of the vacuuming I will be doing because of the pine needles. :X

HAVE A GREAT WEEK EVERYONE! <3

omg, is it really 74 degrees outside?!

Today marks the beginning of fall and the end of summer... because it's not 100 degrees out anymore! (I am totally crossing my fingers on this one.) I don't know how people get through the summers here; this is my first one in a few years being back in Bakersfield. I think my mood is going to instantly get better due to the colder weather- for some reason I thrive in it! So in light of change, I am also going to change how I update my blog. I'm just going to post and comment on things I've enjoyed lately. Photos, videos, websites, articles, etc. I think this is more entertaining for me anyway! :]

Here's what I have been drooling over lately (two of my fav boots died last year, RIP.)

I've also been addicted to this website called eclectic cow. I am finding that all of the euro art/design websites are so much more informative and interesting than any blogs I've read... and this one in particular. I am finding tons of new music, design ideas, inspiration, you name it! Thought I would pass this gem along to all of you. I'm going to be posting my fav find of the week on here. And this week's is Gianluca Fallone!




And last night I discovered that my scarf that I have been working on for Chad is missing. Not sure where it went to but I am hoping today that I will find it so I can work on my knitting skills. My goal is to have a scarf finished for each family member for Christmas. This may be a bit ambitious but I think I might be able to do it when I have free time... and not doing homework. Go me!

I've also been wanting to perfect my photography skills. I've been totally slacking the last few years and I want to learn more about photoshop. Here's on of my favorite pictures I took this week of Maddy and Chad!

The "do it all" complex.

I totally have it... and it's TOTALLY KILLING ME. I guess you could say it's bittersweet in the sense that I am not letting a newborn baby get in the way of my goals I set for myself but I am so FREAKIN' exhausted (not only physically but mentally). Lots of emphasis on how I feel because I have never worked so hard in my life.

I really do hope that this will all pay off: the intense planning, taking the extra classes, going the extra mile. Lately I feel like I should be doing more but I've had a few good friends tell me that I'd probably die trying (and maybe they're right). But sometimes even when you are doing your all- you feel like something is missing. I really do feel like something is missing and I don't know what that is. Maybe I am missing the alone time with Chad? Alone time with myself? I have found myself not knowing what to do when I have free time so I spend it furiously cleaning or starting on my next homework assignment for one of my classes.

Not having money is also wearing me out. It's not that I need money but sometimes a little therapeutic shopping really does help a girl mellow out. I know that sounds really bad but it's the only time I do something for myself and hey- I could always use another pair of shoes! It's not possible for me to have a job at the moment so I guess I need to find a way to quench my thirst...

Have you ever felt like this or been in a similar dilemma? Although I am in a little bit of a bummer mood... here's some accomplishments of the week:

Finished my logo for graphic design!!
Completed my 4-page paper for psych on pain tolerance.
Read 3 chapters
Cleaned out our closet/dressers
Bleached the entire bathroom (holy crap that was toxic!)

Stop texting on your phone while I am talking!

Does anyone else agree with me that there should be a required class for every college student concerning modern day etiquette?

With all of these technological advancements, everyone's lives getting busier, and being strapped for time- I believe all courtesy has gone completely out of the window. After working in retail for two years (yes, that's ALL I needed before I told myself, "Never again!") I've had it UP. TO. HERE. And "HERE" is pretty big. Not only have I been called a bitch in public while working at Target because I WOULDN'T CHANGE THE PRICE but I have also had to put up with my almost-60-year-old-father texting during dinner at a restaurant whilst trying to have a normal conversation. How rude can people be? Maybe I need to grow a pair and tell people when their actions are out of hand but I also don't want to be the person to tell someone to, well, basically GROW UP and then have it blow up in my face.

I don't know if anyone saw this recent episode of Oprah about this issue, but it really made me pleased to hear that someone wrote a book on this issue. Dr. P.M. Formi of John Hopkins University wrote Choosing Civility on these very issues (now I wish I would have thought of this brilliant idea before because I probably could have made a ton of money). And now I want to buy EVERYONE a copy for Christmas. Maybe that should be my ultimate comeback to the people that I can't confront about their extreme rudeness.

My hopes in posting this is to share with you all the importance of being a courteous and good person to others and ultimately yourself. Although I myself am not perfect I do believe that being rude to people, even if you are "unaware" of it is something that needs to be corrected and most can finally kick their bad, RUDE habits.