Vanessa Explains It All

The Key(s) to Happiness

    The month of January I was incredibly down and out. Therefore I created these two pages/things to help get it out. And making them really helped. It also turns out that these are two of my favorite pages, one is sans any journaling and the other without a photograph. Oh well. sometimes getting things down on paper is all I need. This is vastly supported by the amount of notes I take about any and everything. (click on pictures to make them larger)

    My mom says this is her favorite picture of me, possibly ever. And I know Mandi favors it quite a bit (she took it, so she should! haha). My mom and I had a 15 minute conversation/lecture about this picture and why she loved it so much. I was inspired by that lecture to use a larger size picture than I normally do. Really, for me, all the page needed was that one word "solace" because I understood what the rest meant to me. My mom said I just look so peaceful in the picture and at the time I was making this I really needed to feel that. I felt much better getting it down, journaling or not.

 

    This one, a misting idea, the January Jenni Bowlin kit, and some things I wanted to remind myself of, The Key(s) to Happiness:

• smile
• don't think
• surround yourself with friends
• give good hugs
• take risks
• play it cool
• don't judge
• love yourself
• call your mom

    Simple things like that remind me how precious life is and how lucky I am. I have this one hanging on my wall. The simplicity of it just really humbles me and reminds me what is really important especially when I am feeling down. I am not perfect, I am human. Things get me down but that's ok!

    As I mentioned before, these were from January. I am a bit behind in posting, but these were really important to me. January was a month of picking myself up after a heartbreak. Of course I miss him more than he knows or I will express but it's the little things that have made me smile and got me through to the new month (February). And now it's almost March!! All is well my loves.

Call your mom. (Hi Momma!)

Things I Have Learned This Evening

Hi babies. Can I call you babies? Well, maybe some people won't like that. So, for you, I'll say "Hi friends!" I know it's been a while and honestly it's because I think I am much more interesting in person than I am online. But I have compiled a list of my thoughts from this evening to entertain those of you who think I am interesting online (if you are reading this then I probably want to meet you in person anyway!).

Things I have Learned From This Evening:

• My apartment is very organized. Several people have said so. In fact, my brother once said "The most organized part of your apartment is your fridge, sis." This was later confirmed by someone very close to my fridge and I.
• I talk with my hands much more when my nails are freshly painted (really dark purple at the moment).
• I think I am charming. I asked a few friends today if a gal could be charming and I got mixed reviews. So in my effort to forever better myself I tried to be extra charming today.
• The paint-by-number I was so excited to score yesterday looks totally ridiculous on my wall. I took down my vegetable picture (which warrants its' own blog post one day) to hang it. Now I fear I will have nightmares tonight because I took that beloved picture down (hey John).
• I am horrible at Truth or Dare cos I just fail it all. 
• People like to tell me their deep dark secrets. And I am beyond okay with that and totally flattered that they choose me to tell them to, I am a good friend. The best.
• I love saltines.
• I have about 6 scrap pages hanging on my wall that I haven't shared yet, though I love them all.
• I need/want to gain 5-10 lbs. I miss having an ass, though maybe this is just the size and shape I am. Are ladies ever pleased with themselves??
• I love my new boots.
• Some times the perfect song comes on your iTunes shuffle right when you need it.
• I still really love zombies. For no reason at all other than I think they are awesome. This fact totally shocked and confused my best friend.
• I am not quite sure why scrapbooking layouts always have titles. I might step outside of that box. I am a huge fan of writing on the back of pages.
• I like to think I have pretty good posture (thanks Nana). I'm constantly working on that. Maybe that's why people think I am tall. I am 5' 4" and that's average.

Whoops, no pictures on this one. I tried to find an incredible zombie picture for you but none of them were that great. Maybe next time?

What's an interesting tidbit you have learned about yourself lately?

ps..I feel that this post is just asking for some mean comments, I don't know why. But not sure how I feel about potential meanness, so let us avoid that, shall we?

Things I Have Learned In My 24th Year

Another list! Oct. 17th was my birthday, so before that I tried to sit down and think about what I have learned in the last year. I am not gonna lie, this last year was not my favorite. And that is putting it nicely. So this is kinda serious but here ya go:

• I am really horrible at "playing it cool." Like THE WORST.
• I have a great deal of patience. And it has grown this past year due to several things that were/are going on in my life.
• Being patient has brought me better things than I could have imagined.
• Sometimes things that are for the best are the hardest things to do.
• "If it wasn't this, it'd be something else."
• Chances are worth taking.
• Friends and family are more important than anything.
• You should never be afraid to ask.
• I can be single just fine.
• I am a little crazy.
• I need to bee more selfless and nicer. You never know who you could meet.
• What's worth the prize is worth the fight.
• That lame quote "If you love something, Set it free... If it comes back, it's yours, If it doesn't, it never was yours." is actually very wise and not just a load of bull.
• You can make true and amazing friends from the internet.

So these aren't revelations I had this year, most of them I knew. But the knowledge of these things really came in handy. I must have been in a floppy mood when wrote this list therefore I am going to write another list of funny things I have learned this past year.

What are some words of wisdom that really came in handy for you this year?

Things Not Many People Know About Me

Hi friends! I guess I have more to post about than I thought, so these next few posts are just going to be some random lists. Lists is how I like things.

This one is a list of things not many people know about me. I think it's kinda boring and I am really writing it for myself. But you guys seem to like my lists so I will share:

• I wave to farm animals when I am driving. Especially if the windows are down, then I might even holler hello.
• I touch the tip of my nose a lot when I am drinking (adult beverages).
• I think most Ravens fans are jerks and they would be my home team.
• I have exclusive dance moves for the car.
• I still have Hanson on my playlist and iTunes and I LIKE it so I'm not taking it off.
• I own a copy of Darrin's Dance Grooves (as seen on TV), that my friend gave me after they learned all the moves. Here's a sample just for you:

• • 
     
• I have an irrational fear of grocery stores.
• When someone comes near me in a grocery store I pull my cart to the side and pretend to be comparatively shopping, even if it is an item I'm not interested in, until they go away.
• I love the color green, but I don't like green candy unless it is apple.
• I leave post-it notes in stores with sweet sentiments for someone to find.
• I hate peeing.
• I loathe Regina Spektor. A friend texted me recently and said she had an extra ticket to see her, would I like to go. I immediately questioned our friendship.
• I usually name my possessions that cost over $200.
• I would rather break a bone than have anything happen to my teeth. My parents paid a lot of money for every kind of orthodontic contraption invented to be installed into my mouth.
• I hate feet.
• I do at least one sudoku puzzle every day.
• I am scared of certain chairs. I know them when I see them.
• I prefer an odd number of anything.
• I used to be a cheerleader. Apparently that is surprising to people. But I would coach right now if given the opportunity
• I get in the shower on one side and I get out on the other.

Well that's it. Sorry no dirty little secrets or anything. I don't really have any of those. 

What is something about you that not many people know?

A List of Lists

I told you, these days I am not very exciting. So I thought I would post about my list of lists. I've already shared with you that I keep a list of potential and future tweets on my phone. You know, in case I'm not feeling too creative or I feel I have tweeted too much in one day. Well, I have about 25 other lists in my hand note application on my iPhone. Here are a few of them, with explanations.

• End of Summer Playlist - for songs I wanted to make into a CD. I should rename that for the fall. Really.
• Gifts to give - handy for the holidays, most of my friends and family have their name in there followed by something I thought would be a good gift for them. I keep this list all year.
• A Birthday wish list - duh, things I want for my birthday which usually recycles into a holiday wish list.
• Dog names - My dad is eventually getting a dog and I am the master pet namer and super prepared.
• CDs - a lengthy compilation of CDs I want to buy.
• Books - that I want to read.
• Scrap pages - ideas for pages.
• Things to say - like british sayings or funny things old or southern people say (shout out to my southern friends!). Ex- "ginger peachy" as in "OH! I am just ginger peachy today. I have already started saying "Hug ma neck" that one always gets a smile.
• Places to go in Baltimore - that's pretty self explanatory .
• Blog Topics - I should look at this one more often!

And cos I can't go without pictures, this made me laugh today:

 

And please help me end this debate:

Do you call it a mix CD or a mixed CD?

A list!

Hi friends! Tonight you get a wine induced post. I’m sorry I haven't been around lately. Truth is I haven’t had much to say. My boss closed my café, so I have been on unemployment since late August while my best friend/business partner and I try to buy the building from him or start our own café elsewhere. A lot of waiting around. And then I have a new guy situation...which I can and will talk much more about later. I know you have missed my tweet lists so here is a random list for you:

 

• I started reading the Harry Potter books, I have read 3 random ones before. But I am determined to read ALL OF THEM by the end of the month. Plus my very best friend has never even seen the movies AND my guy hasn’t either. He will be easier to convert than my best will be. 

•  Golly I miss my best friend. I used to see her every day at work. Good thing I am spending Monday-Tuesday (maybe Wednesday) with her cos her husband is out of town!

• I’m currently watching Elizabethtown. It’s a really horrible knock off of Garden State. But I love Kirsten Dunst and the music is really good. You can’t go wrong with Ryan Adams (musician) and Orlando Bloom (except in those awful pirate movies). But look how gorgeous he looks here:  

  

•      

• That’s right. I am NOT A FAN of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. I’m sure that just lost me all my reader friends.

• I was really sick for 2 weeks, totally lost my voice. I could only whisper and even that was a challenge. But I am much better now

So no job and no voice have resulted in me not doing too much lately. Hence no blogging.  BACK TO THE LIST!

• I know that in the song “Summertime Clothes” by Animal Collective they say “when the sun goes down we’ll go out again” 16 times.

• I seriously need to learn how to use photoshop. Any good tutorials? (aside from my love Mandi, who is a great teacher I am just a bad student) 

• I visited Katie and her husband Steven in August (right after the café closed) and I totally adore them! They are such sweethearts and really helped distract me after all the cafe drama. I cant wait to see them again.

• I am desperate to go on some kind of overnight adventure. But not having a job means I’m pretty broke. I SAID IT! I had to cancel my Chicago trip with lovers I adore cos of stupid money. 

• MY BIRTHDAY IS OCTOBER 17^th. Just saying. I used to loathe my birthday but now I really look forward to starting anew each year. 

• My Dad might  (and by might I mean is eventually) get a puppy! Or a dog, I’m trying to convince him to adopt something small.  He had a HUGE fluffy thing that I was not a big fan of…sorry Dad.

• Skinny Love by Bon Iver is one of my favorite songs in the entire world. Just tugs at those heart strings, ya know: 

  

• Ingrid Michaelson did a lovely version of the song: 

  

• I think people use the word sweet too much.   

•  I miss my brother. I haven’t seen him in over a year. Damn Airforce. He is 2.5 years younger than me. I cant wait til he comes home in December! He has no idea the fun we will have.

• I’m really excited about these design teams! Cos that means I will scrap more. Which I should be doing anyway. New boy has been a HUGE inspiration though!  

• I decided I am only going to use one space after a sentence. My college professor would appreciate it. 

  
Have you ever waited for something for so long when it is finally happening you can't believe it? I know how you feel! 

 

 

 

 

Eight Things

Borrowed from my lovely friend Shaina's blog. Thanks!

Just a little blog fluff for ya.

8 things im looking forward to:

1. Not missing and not waiting
2. My brother coming home in December!
   
3. Visiting Katie and her husband Steven this weekend
4. Going to see Time Traveler's Wife with my best
5. MewithoutYou show end of next week (awesome video)
6. CHICAGO with some scrappy loves
7. Imogen Heap's new album to come out
8. Glee season to start next month      

  
8 things I did yesterday: (I wrote this Monday)

1. Worked a bridal shower
2. Walked to and from work
3. Forgot to call my aunt back 
4. Listened to Elbow's album The Seldom Seen Kid (awesome!)
5. Made a sandwich
6. Had a few good talks
7. Said goodbye
   
8. Went to bed early

8 things I wish I could do:

1. REALLY learn how to use my camera
2. Know my future
3. Pay off college loans, that would be amazing!
4. Write a to-do list and finish it all
5. Scrapbook for a design team, challenge blog, or company
6. Eat bananas, well I kinda wish I could
7. Drive stick, ok, ok, I admit I need to learn how
8. Send birthday cards in a timely fashion
   

8 TV shows I watch:

1. So You Think You Can Dance
2. Friends
3. Arrested Development
4. Glee
5. The Office
   
6. Six Feet Under
7. True Blood?
8. Always Sunny..."What is that? a page from a coloring book!?"
   

8 things I collect:

1. Beaded necklaces
2. Old cameras
3. Paper 
4. Buttons 
5. Music
6. Hour glasses (well i have the intention to) 
7. Apothecary jars 
8. Old cameras.  I'm going back to get this one today cos look how sad I am without it:  

What are 8 things you are excited about? 

 

Smiles!

To make up for yesterday's post here's what I am thinking right now:

• I LOVE my mid-twenties. Ok sure, I have only really been in them for almost a year, but man.  Good times! So many adventures already! 
• Life is really crazy sometimes, but somehow I always manage to find a level head and do what I need to do 
• I am horrible at doing things for myself, but if it is for someone else YOU BETCHA I'm on top of it.  (except Patty's coffee...I promise I will send it by Friday!) 
• I made this for a sweet bartender/friends birthday:  

 

• I LOVE having visitors at my apartment 
• I LOVE where I live, this city is so enchanting and only getting better. I am so proud and excited to be a part of it 
• I never thought I would be as independent as I am.  I used to make someone go with me everywhere.
• One day I will completely get over my fear of grocery stores. 
• I had a good while of this happening this past weekend and I LOVED it: 

  

• Sit still! R-E-L-A-X 
• I need to go to a Revs (baseball) game asap 
• MANDI comes to visit this weekend (I think). I predict mid-day drinking/scrapping/photos. and scrapping with her kit/papers....cant wait!!! 
•   just made this (similar to the last card) for a best friend who has helped me lately more than I have words to thank him for: 

 

Here's a question I am almost embarrassed to ask:

Do you wear socks with your converse/chucks (shoes) in the summer? 

Random List

.i just made my first fried egg...and i over cooked it

.i am obsessed with reading wedding blogs

.i love Sudoku tens

.i have a thing for guys with big noses...an unintentional recent discovery

.i want to make my own shower curtain

.i love Joe and his manly drinks

.i am looking into getting a Masters degree 

.i finally changed banks (yay!)

.i love drinking while duckpin bowling

.my eyes have been feeling weird lately

.i have every intention to clean for two hours today

.i realy really want some sushi

.i cant wait to get my hair cut tomorrow

.i hated saying goodbye to this sweetie who is moving to Reno today (im weepy typing this)

now on to that cleaning i was talking about.....

what are some of your randoms?

Welcome 2009

Happy New Year!!! I have a really good feeling about this one.  2008, not so great except for a handful of highlights but 2009 has my name written all over it. And what a great start I had with this lovely family of mine:

I'm a list maker and certainly made a list of resolutions because having just one seems unrealistic to me, though having as many as I have might be unrealistic too but I like to cover all the bases.

I thought it could be my 2009 Resolution List/25 Thing to do Before I Turn 25 (oct) but its more than 25 and I am still adding.  I have bolded the things that i really want to accomplish:

.learn how to use photoshop

.learn how to use my camera

.start making money from an artistic endeavor

.read more for pleasure and to enhance my vocabulary

.consolidate my school loans

.take a noncredit class

.sit in on some of my photography friend/professors classes

.make one new martini a month with Joe

.host a party at my apartment

.take a week off of work

.have a regular game night in York wuth my best friends

.visit one out of town friend a month (or have them visit me)

.keep my apartment clean, clean one hour a week

.create 2-5 things a week

.get on a scrapbooking design team

.send more handmade cards

.cut up, organize, and get rid of all of my old magazines

.go to 50 yardsales (i went to 39 last summer)

.visit my brother...wherever the Airforce puts him

.do more special things for Joe

.call my friends more often

.start saving for a house/ learn how to buy a house/ buy a house

.help my mom clean her house

.detail/clean my car really well

.open another savings account

.post my layouts and things i make faster

.pay off half of my credit card debt

.blog more!

.scrap with a local friend

So far that is all I have and maybe all I will leave it at. I probably should put "get a real job" on there but honestly I am not really worried about it and would really like to go back to school (if it were free!)  I tend to make monthly and weekly lists a lot so I will just count on those to fill in whats missing.  now I am off to write my grocery list...I wont bother posting that.  Let's just say I DO NOT need bacon cos I ate way too much of it over the holidays...you have no idea.

what is your number one resolution?