Thursday, December 31, 2015

New Year

Well, as I mentioned in the fall, the back half of 2015 has been a bit rough for me. Christmas, as is typical for me, only made it worse. But now it's New Year's Eve! My and Husband's 4 year anniversary is tomorrow! And un-typical for most people, NYE is usually a pretty fun time for me. Maybe it's because I keep my expectations low (the opposite of my Christmas problem) but as long as I make to midnight with tasty snacks and alcohol, I'm happy!

In any case, I've been feeling the itch to post and thought I should definitely do an end-of-year post. But my anxiety is the kind that tells me "it's been too long since you've posted! You'll never be able to catch up! Just quit!" Fuck that, brain. I'll take a short cut: 30 before 30 check in! Bonus: Resolutions!



1. Get married. As I've mentioned before, this is done! Although I still haven't had a wedding, it is now planned for next April, so I still hit it before the 30 mark. We have reserved a venue and a photographer and everything! 


2. Have a kid. We want to wait til after the wedding, mostly because I already have a dress that I definitely wouldn't fit into preggo, but also because I plan on switching jobs/moving after the spring semester and it'd be nice to be settled a little before bringing a little one around. Nevertheless, I'm confident we'll hit this goal.


3. Sell my crafts. I'm still calling this one DONE, but just moments ago I got an idea to start an Etsy side-business with a friend of mine... so we'll see!


4. Learn to sew. So I was supposed to work on this during the break and completely spaced since, you know, anxiety and depression. We'll get there! I plan on making my own Rey cosplay for SDCC this summer, so I'll probably learn then. 



I'd actually prefer her costume from the end of the film,
but I can't find a good picture of it.
(source)
5. Learn more about my car. DONE (for the current car)

6. Own a newer car. Another reason we're waiting a little bit on kids. I definitely want something safer/more reliable before I start carting around an infant in it. My next car will be my kids' car so I'm planning according. Hopefully I can do this sometime in 2016. WE HAVE A PLAN I SWEAR!

7. Stop renting. I mean, we're not I technically renting even now, but we also don't own the place. This is another one I'd like to check off before having kids (though not necessarily before getting pregnant) so we're looking at 2016 sometime for home-ownership also. It'll all depend on how the job situation plays out. Once I get my CCCs in January, I anticipate (and really hope) that a lot of this will get a little easier to pull together. 

8. Get a pet (or pets). We now have a Moose and an Echo! DONE!

9. Blog. CHECK! DONE! I know I'm not super consistent, but I always come back eventually!

10. Keep a journal regularly. Much like the blog, I'm not super consistent, but I am doing it!

11.Write every day. DONE. I definitely didn't have it in me to do NaNoWriMo this year, but maybe 2016? Even numbered years always seem to go a little better for me...

12. Finish a book. NaNoWriMo! Next year, SIGH.

13. Read the Bible. Kinda forgot... hello resolution 2016! Lots of lists out there for getting it done in year!

14. Create art. I'm considering some of my homemade decor, craft projects, and writing all to be art. I declare this DONE! Though I'd still like to do one of those painting classes eventually. 

15. Start a bonsai. I started a vegetable garden this year, that counts, right? SIGH, I'll do it. 

16. Get close to someone. I'm calling this impossible as either my personality or my environment won't allow it. 

17. Let go. Another one that is really an ongoing, life-long thing, but I'm making progress! I'm probably/hopefully going to start seeing a therapist for my anxiety. However, I'm calling this done, since the original thing I wanted to let go of, I have!

18. Take a course in ASL. I actually have been studying up on this both at work and through youtube videos. DONE-ZO! (Although I'll continue to learn.)

19. Travel. We've been all over the U.S., though not yet Hawaii. This is a life-long thing, and I'm calling it done since I'm pretty satisfied with the amount I will have done by 30.

20. Attend Comic Con/BlizzCon/cons in general. We've attended MTACGMX, and Blizzcon. We went back to Blizzcon this year and our honeymoon will be SDCC! I'm so excited! I'm calling this DONE!


We're gonna do it! We already have the money saved!
(source)
21. Start taking violin/voice lessons. I forgot how many of these require an actual monetary investment. I definitely still want to do it, but damn violins are expensive!

22. Diet and exercise. As I may have mentioned a few times before, Husband and I keep pretty low carb, plus I've done P90X3 once already, and I'm doing it again in the new year! Though I'm focusing on yoga and pilates X only because I feel like those will help with my stress and well as my fitness level. I definitely want to keep this up for... well, ever, but I'm calling it DONE!

23. Become a cook. Also DONE! I'm always going to be learning new recipes, but I know my way around the kitchen and am comfortable just throwing things together and making it a meal.

24. Work as an SLP. DONE! I've submitted my final forms to ASHA so I should have my CCCs come in any day now!

25. Pay down student loans. Yeah, this was naive. They won't be gone by 30, but I consistently pay (well over) the minimum, so they should be significantly reduced. And we'll see. Maybe we'll come across some random inheritance and I can just pay it off.

26. Build up savings. We've done really well with this! We have a ton saved (though a significant chunk will go toward paying taxes since mine are not auto-withdrawn) and no debt except student loans. Of course we'll be adding more debt in the form of a house and cars... but such is life. 

27. Tattoos! I'm planning to get another for my birthday and many more after that, but I have 6 now so I'm counting this done.

28. Gaming. I am playing more video games these days (Hello Xenogears, my old friend!), but I've really discovered a passion for table top gaming. We even have a weekly group! Plus a D&D campaign, and no more shelf space! So I'm calling this DONE.


Our holiday haul!
29. Learn how to style myself. DONE! I took an online course about this while unemployed last year and even started a blog feature around it.

30. Cut my hair. Again, happening after the wedding. It'll either be pixie or, more likely, an undercut!

Many of these won't be done until that 30th birthday (like paying down as much of my loans as I can) but I've only got 9 left! Hooray me! And some of them are resolutions for the new year, like no more renting, buying a new(er) car, writing a book, working out, and reading the Bible. So this time next year, I should be able to check off at least half of those remaining. Huzzah!

You might have notice that even though many were done last time, I've continued with the activity so make sure you still read the little update paragraph for new info. What will you be working on this coming year?

Monday, December 28, 2015

Fall Fun

Here are some random pics I took months ago to commemorate how pretty my yard looked in the fall!

So pretty if not for all that pink!
Then the year kept getting continually worse and I never posted! So here they are for you to enjoy now!

Although, to be fair, it's actually warmer than this now so it's still fall...

Friday, November 13, 2015

Menstrual Cup!

Have I mentioned I made the switch to THE CUP before? Because I totes did and it's TOTES AMAZING.

source
My model
I use a Diva Cup specifically but there are tons of versions (Dutchess Cup, Moon Cup, Lily Cup, etc.) including disposable ones. They're comfortable, easy to use, environmentally friendly, cheap, and just all around the best. I highly recommend them. PLUS! They're feminist! 

Here's the article all about it!
Feel free to ask me questions about it, I don't believe in period shaming (it's the worst) and I'm glad to evangilize about products and causes I believe in. One thing I'll go ahead and volunteer in that I personally prefer the tulip fold. I think it works waaaaaaay better. 

source
Also know as the "push down" or "triangle" fold.
Fun fact, I thought of this today because I found myself unexpectedly period-y (a week early, hooray!) so I had to rely on emergency tampons instead of the cup. IT SUCKED. Don't get me wrong, I used tampons for years before I bought the cup and liked them fine. But the cup is so much easier and more comfortable that it was really upsetting to have to switch back. 

So, questions? Comments? Freak-outs because you falsely believe periods are a taboo topic? Let me hear it!



Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Candy

We took a random, spur-of-the-moment shopping trip to get Halloween supplies.

Not for us, no, for Halloween!
The most important of which is obviously candy!

Saturday, October 24, 2015

30 Before 30 - Check in #2

Here's my original list, and my last check in! As I creep every closer to birthday #28, let's see how things are coming along!

  1. Get married. As I've mentioned before, this is done! Although I still haven't had a wedding, it is now planned for next April, so I still hit it before the 30 mark. We have reserved a venue and a photographer and everything!
  2. Have a kid. We want to wait til after the wedding, mostly because I already have a dress that I definitely wouldn't fit into preggo, but also because I plan on switching jobs/moving after the spring semester and it'd be nice to be settled a little before bringing a little one around. Nevertheless, I'm confident we'll hit this goal.
  3. Sell my crafts. Didn't I mention the last time about how I sold a cake? I'm calling this one DONE, although I will always continue to craft (and therefore hopefully continue to sell to some small degree).
  4. Learn to sew. I've repaired some things myself, but this is going on the list for winter break. Gonna watch some youtube lessons.
  5. Learn more about my car. I actually feel pretty good about this and am calling it DONE... for my current vehicle. I've gotten several diagnoses correct in the past and know how to check all the fluid levels (and replenish them), etc. Plus, Husband is a good back-up in this area. 
  6. Own a newer car. Another reason we're waiting a little bit on kids. I definitely want something safer/more reliable before I start carting around an infant in it. My next car will be my kids' car so I'm planning according. Hopefully I can do this sometime in 2016. WE HAVE A PLAN I SWEAR!
  7. Stop renting. I mean, we're not I technically renting even now, but we also don't own the place. This is another one I'd like to check off before having kids (though not necessarily before getting pregnant) so we're looking at 2016 sometime for home-ownership also. It'll all depend on how the job situation plays out. Once I get my CCCs in January, I anticipate (and really hope) that a lot of this will get a little easier to pull together. 
  8. Get a pet (or pets). We now have a Moose and an Echo! DONE!
    Look how good they are!
  9. Blog. CHECK! DONE! I know I'm not super consistent, but I always come back eventually!
  10. Keep a journal regularly. Much like the blog, I'm not super consistent, but I am doing it!
  11. Write every day. I'm hoping to do NaNoWriMo this year, but given my recent mental health problems, that might be putting too much stress on myself. Still, I definitely write some every day, so although the goal is sort of a life-long ongoing thing, I'm checking it off as DONE.
  12. Finish a book. NaNoWriMo! It doesn't have to be good, it just has to be done! I might postpone until next year, but if we're buying a house/car or having a kid, I doubt things will be less hectic so I'm going to take a stab at it this time and see what happens.
  13. Read the Bible. Kinda forgot... hello resolution 2016! Lots of lists out there for getting it done in year!
  14. Create art. Definitely still leaning toward painting, but I might need to call this one off. I have so much going on, and honestly, if I never do it, I think I'd be fine with that. Of course, I could also do one of those paint and wine nights!
  15. Start a bonsai. I started a vegetable garden this year, that counts, right? SIGH, I'll do it. 
  16. Get close to someone. Making some progress. The first step, and one I've really been making an effort on lately, is to be a better friend myself. Reach out to the people that matter to me. We're getting there!
  17. Let go. Another one that is really an ongoing, life-long thing, but I'm making progress! I'm probably/hopefully going to start seeing a therapist because while I'm made a lot of progress with my anger, I've recently realized that my anxiety just seems to be getting worse. And that's probably not something I can fix on my own, and something I need to address (yet again!) before I have any rugrats.
  18. Get my Associate’s Degree in ASL.  Take a course in ASL. I said before that an actual degree is probably out of reach by 30 with everything else I've got going on, but I'd still like to learn a little. 
  19. Travel. We're planning on Hawaii in the next couple of years, and I'm getting my passport this winter (since I weirdly have to take a passport photo as part of my professional license application). And we've been back to SoCal a few times!
  20. Attend Comic Con/BlizzCon/cons in general. We've attended MTAC, GMX, and Blizzcon. We're going back to Blizzcon this year (though I'll mostly just be hanging at the pool) and our honeymoon will be SDCC! I'm so excited! I'm calling this DONE!
  21. Start taking violin/voice lessons. I forgot how many of these require an actual monetary investment. I definitely still want to do it, but damn violins are expensive!
  22. Diet and exercise. As I may have mentioned a few times before, Husband and I keep pretty low carb, plus I've done P90X3 once already, and I've started back up recently! Though I'm focusing on yoga and pilates X only because I feel like those will help with my stress and well as my fitness level. I definitely want to keep this up for... well, ever, but I'm calling it DONE!
  23. Become a cook. Also DONE! I'm always going to be learning new recipes, but I know my way around the kitchen and am comfortable just throwing things together and making it a meal.
  24. Work as an SLP. DONE! Double done come January and I'm doing it with full CCCs instead of a CF.
  25. Pay off  more down student loans. Yeah, this was naive. They won't be gone by 30, but I consistently pay (well over) the minimum, so they should be significantly reduced. And we'll see. Maybe we'll come across some random inheritance and I can just pay it off.
  26. Take Dave Ramsey’s financial peace course. Turns out Dave is kind of a douche. This has been adjusted to "build up savings" and we're making pretty good progress there!
  27. Tattoos! I'm waiting til after the wedding, but it is SO ON. 
  28. Gaming. I am playing more video games these days, but I've really discovered a passion for table top gaming. We even have a weekly group! So I'm calling this DONE.
  29. Learn how to style myself. DONE! I took an online course about this while unemployed last year and even started a blog feature around it.
  30. Cut my hair. Again, so happening after the wedding. It'll either be pixie or, more likely, an undercut!
    source
    Something like this.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

New Garden

When the cold snap happened near the beginning of the month, all of our stuff started blooming again. We have TONS of tomatoes and habaneros now. Plus this!

Roses!
Our third rose plant finally bloomed! It's pretty and orange-y! Definitely my favorite.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

C(reamer)3PO

Did you know this is a thing?

Apparently it is!
I need to find the others, although this is my favorite flavor!
I want to find the others

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Tea

I got a new tea cup! I mean, I did it a while ago, but remember? How I've been ill and not posting? So yeah...

Isn't it pretty?
Just in time for cozy autumn tea adventures!

Monday, October 19, 2015

Here We Are Again

With me apologizing for abandoning you and also suffering from seasonal anxiety/depression! Remember when I talked about this before? I swear I did last year but I can't find it either! The point is, changing light in Fall and Spring can exacerbate/trigger mental health issues. And I'm susceptible! I've been struggling to keep my head above water and just could not handle blogging in addition. The silly/annoying part is that things in my life have actually been going really well.

Didn't stop me from waking up to a panic attack this morning.

source
Thank Fall, you dick.
I spent 2 years of my life with a man who constantly told me that nothing about me was good enough and that I was a loser who would never get anywhere, followed by 2 years in grad school under constant pressure to meet deadlines and improve. I think it's safe to say those experiences scarred me.

Right?!
Now I'm at a point in my life where I'm pretty much exactly where I want to be. I've got a good job, in another couple of months I'll have my CCCs, a few months after that I'll have a wedding (for which we officially have a wedding party, venue, photographer, and dress!), my husband is amazing and we're easily financial stable enough that the near future holds the possibility for home ownership and children. I want for nothing.

source
And yet...
I still spend most of my time anxious that I should be doing something else, or that what I am doing, I should be doing better. I read an article today about "impostor syndrome," or the difficulty many people (particularly 20 somethings) have with feeling as though they are perpetuating a fraud by achieving success. I'd guess that's part of my problem. Am I really here? Am I really done? I mean, I know there are still more things I want out of life, but at this point there are no barriers to me achieving them beyond the passage of time.

source
It's really crippling to constantly be asking this question and not know the answer.
So I'm making an effort to be at peace with the part of my life I'm currently experiencing. I know, isn't it ridiculous I should need to make peace with having a successful career, loving husband, and the world's cutest pets?


Nevertheless, here I am. Daily yoga to relax and focus on myself, plus the exercise in general will do me good, in addition to meditation, lots of hot tea, and cuddles with my family. Take with a variety of television comedies/Marvel films for best results!

source
Seriously, who can be sad when looking at that guy?

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Kona Coffee

Today, this is making me smile BIG TIME.

"Hawaiian" is code for Kona.
I've really become a bit of a coffee fanatic. I still doctor it before drinking, but I love it so much! And this one in particular makes me think about the islands which adds extra Smile-points!

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Vino

Today, my Smile is owed to this giant glass of wine.

It's motha-fucking huge.
It's not like a had a bad day - quite a good one in fact! But it was very, VERY long day. So wine helps.

Monday, August 31, 2015

Puppy Love

First of all, SORRY AGAIN! My new job just put us through more training about another thing we're supposed to be doing and we have to clear the backlog of the first 3 weeks when we hadn't yet had the training so I'm kind of spacing on other stuff while I take care of that. This means that for right now (which is hopefully just this next week) I'll be doing Daily-Smile posts only. So at least I'm not abandoning you entirely! ANYWAY...

Moose and Echo are best buds now!

Look at all the love and kisses!
She occupies enough of his attention that I can actually get a decent picture of all of us! Yippee!

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Oreos

We got Oreo Thins and they are amazing!

So. FUCKING. Good.
Seriously, the crispy crunch to... creamy cream? ratio is perfect. Go get some!

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

National Dog Day 2

It's National Dog Day again! I wrote about it last year in more detail, remember? #Adoptdontshop. 

I tried to get a cute picture of Moose in honor, but...

This one came out okay.
But then he got distracted...
The kitty is still too new to him; he's fascinated.
Plus, his sister is kind of nuts.
Life with multiple pets, weeeeeee!

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Like Cats And Dogs

Moose and Echo are getting along!

Can you see all the love? (Echo is what we named the cat, fyi.)
I mean, they didn't hate each other or anything, but they were very wary. Now they smell each other, lick each other, and sometimes even play a little. No real cuddling yet, but I can dream! It only took them a weekend to get along this well.

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Wonders

We have so many games and now we've added another one of my favorites!

It's so good, if a bit confusing.
So come play games with me!

Saturday, August 22, 2015

We Do Geek

Takei Tweeted this a few days ago. Or Instagrammed it or something. People responded with where you could buy it on Etsy, which I will not share because I want to have the only one! 

Mwahahaha!
Haven't decided on where to put it yet, but I'm so excited! Probably, someday, it'll go in a nursery ;)

Friday, August 21, 2015

Kitty!

We got a kitty!

This kitty!
We haven't picked a name yet because I was kind of hoping to find something Supernatural based like Moose, but her shelter given name of Moon Pie is pretty well suited to her already...

After all, don't you just want to eat her up?!
We decided we'll live with her a few days and see if something comes to mind that suits her well, as we did with the dog. 

She likes to lick my face just like Moose.
She's super lovey and sweet. She tried to chew on my nose and it was the best thing ever! She just climbs into my lap and snuggles and licks and purrs. It's the best!

Look at all the cuddles!
She and the dog aren't too sure about each other yet which is why they are not in shared space for the time being.
Look at those beautiful eyes!
But they smelled around each other and seemed curious and calm, if suspicious. We're so excited and charmed! She came to use through Memphis Pets Alive! We love them, they are amazing, and our new "family photo" should be up on their website or Facebook page sometime soon, so look out for that!

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Sake

We got some sake about a year ago from a dear friend of ours at our engagement party/marriage reception. We didn't drink it for a while, but when we did, IT WAS THE BEST SHIT EVER. Then we moved and found this amazing little liquor store at the end of our street, and guess what? THEY FUCKING CARRY IT.

This is the brand, it's super tasty, have some!
So we got 2 more bottles. It's the bomb.

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Gardening Part 2

I told you I'd take a picture of the veggies! They don't look so great here, but they've been producing well regardless. Their current state is also possibly due to the fact that until recently, they were a bit... overrun with grass and weeds. If you look to the right in the photo, you can see the grass we killed in the other 2 rows that we don't use.

Over there ---->
But I finally just sat down and pulled up all the non-vegetables in the first row as well. It's what Husband and I did for our anniversary! Wahoo!

I was legitimately pretty glad to get it done and proud of us for doing it.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Mangoes

Randomly, we have several mangoes. See? Like this one:

Pictured: a mango.
I love these stupid things, they are so good! But we had too many. So Husband took some and made mango ice cream and it is THEBOMB.COM. It tastes kind of like someone just froze a hunk of mango. That's how true the flavor is. Holy crap I love him. Have I mentioned that?

Monday, August 17, 2015

Love Letter

How else does one return from a stupid long hiatus but by starting up a new feature! This one is called - you guessed it - Love Letters!

If the concept seems straight-forward, it is! Basically, I pick a person from my life (or perhaps my ultimate fantasy life) and write them a love letter about how much I love their lovely loving selves. It's gonna be fun! For my first installment, I choose.....

You! Pikachu!

No, I pick Husband. But he is equal in cuteness to an electric yellow Pokemon! Plus, yesterday was our one year marriage anniversary.

Dear Husband,

I'm a little loopy right now, so I apologize if this comes out silly more than affectionate, but I love you so much more than I ever thought I could love. I've never known someone so generous and kind and simultaneously ridiculous and fun. You make me smile without trying, so often I'm getting wrinkles in my 20s and I don't even care.

I spent a lot of my life feeling like I was waiting on the next step, stuck on pause until the next big event finally came to pass. After I met you, every day was the next big thing. The exciting, fulfilling event I was waiting for became simply spending my days with you.

I also spent a lot of my life grossed out by and unhappy with my body. I like to think I'm a strong enough person that I would have gotten there eventually, but you are assuredly a big part of the reason that I'm so in love with myself these days. I mean, I'm pretty fucking amazing. And now I know that because you made me believe it.

You've irreversibly changed my life to be better, happier, fuller, and more wonderful. I don't know that I can ever fully express how much you've done for me and how grateful I am. I'll just have to tell you as often as I can.


I love you.

CCW

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Moon Girl

Hooray for Marvel branching out and increasing the diversity of their comics!

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur
I'm pretty excited about this comic and the several others that Marvel has been working on that showcase women and racial minorities. Read all about here! (It's the same article I posted to the facebook page a few days ago. Enjoy!)


Saturday, August 15, 2015

Shark

This is my anniversary gift! 

It's a Shark vacuum!
A year ago tomorrow, Husband and I had our courthouse marriage. So this week, to commemorate the event, Husband got me a new vacuum! I know it seems odd, but we've actually been wanting a new one for a while and he gets and good deal through his work, so yea vacuum! Yea marriage! Yea discounts!

Friday, August 14, 2015

Gardening

A post populated with a proper plethora of plant photos.

This is actually my super lazy way of sticking to my commitment to post without having to put much work into it because I'm so out of the habit I kind of forgot until just now. But look at me still posting! Do I love you guys or what? Don't answer that...

First up, we have some lilies!

A daylily from my mother in law, and one of the few to only
pictured that I actually planted!

Naked ladies, how scandalous!
Followed by a random assortment of other flowering things in no particular order.

Hastas! These were much cooler/prettier in person,
Prince feathers. I hate them!
Vincas, These and the prince feathers are all along the drive and
in sidewalk cracks in addition to the flower beds. But I actually like these.
Now... ROSES!
The pink rose "bush" is ridiculously,
weirdly tall. But pretty!
The white one is more normal.
We also have a third rose plant, but it never bloomed to my knowledge. Now for all of the things that, if I knew what they were, I've since forgotten. Feel free to let me know if you do in the comments! I'm pretty curious, just not curious enough to research it so late at night, alone, in the dark. Research is scary!

Some tiny purple flowers that I loved and have since been
overtaken by the evil prince feathers!
These giant red monstrosities were pretty from a distance,
but kind of scary up close.
I know what this is, dammit. I KNOW.
But I cannot tell you because my brain won't work with me.
And finally, my favorites!

This hydrangea bloomed into everything I could have ever dreamed!
Fabulous blues and purples and greens.
Loved it more than I thought I could love any inanimate thing

PEONIES! So pretty. I was ecstatic to find we had these in our beds.
It's possibly inspired me to use them in my wedding bouquet.
Moose likes the garden too, especially when it helps him hide from the evil vacuum!

Look at that face! Oh my god, don't you just want to eat him?!
This doesn't include the vegetable garden because I wanted only pretty things, so I'll do that another time. And let me reiterate that while I love my yard and plant life, I can take almost no credit for it. Husband and I planted a few things (mostly the aforementioned vegetables) and we water and weed a little, but mostly everything popped up on it's on and has thrived that way. It's a pretty sweet arrangement. Enjoy the outdoors while the weather still allows it!