I have been avoiding this blog. Not on purpose, I just haven't been using it.

I'm also worried about the name that i used to love...JankyCantankerous. I think Al might have ruined it for me....

This One's a rant.

I think it's possibly about time for a rant. I'm due up. So here it is- and it comprises several things..

What's with people saying they love to shop? Do you realize how unbelievably shallow that sounds? Well, it does. I keep seeing people that write "Hobbies: SHOPPING!" or "I love to shop" ... why don't you just write "I'm so materialistic that I can't do anything meaningful." Seriously. Now here's where I chime in that, so you don't get me wrong, I like clothes just as much as the next girl; yes I do like getting new pretty things, and no, I don't buy my clothes at, ahem, walmart. But last time I checked hobbies included: skiing, sewing, exercising, building model cars, building real cars, woodworking, surfing, sports, and well, a whole slew of other activities.

Now reader you begin to think "what a prude." I know, I know, and maybe I deserve that. (Especially regarding my comment on a popular craft blog that said - stop posting about alcohol and post about CRAFTS). But I see numerous blogs about people lusting after clothes or jewelery or this or that. Does it really matter? I just wonder, isn't there something more productive we could do with our time; go outside, make something, spend time with friends or family, help someone even. I might not be making my point very clearly and now that I think about it goes for a whole lot more than just shopping... what's with people wasting their time? I'm starting to hate the internet and tv. Does anyone else feel like their soul is being sucked? (Before you start saying, "Well, Dana, why are you even on the internet now typing this post?" I will say that I have some free time at work and school while I have to sit at a desk with a computer, manning the front office. And it's been slow)
Anyways, back to what I was getting at: I used to spend a lot of time perusing craft websites (I won't name names, but you know who you are) and sewing blogs, but even now I realize how frivilous that is. I thought to myself one day "why am I looking at all the stuff I can make, when I could be making it right now?" So that's what I've decided to do. I've decided that everyday I will work on something- that's my hobby. Maybe that's not better than shopping, but I think it might be. I'm not doing this so I can have new, better, and shinier stuff. I'm doing it so that I can feel like 'oh wow I created that and I can see the fruits of my labor'.

That wasn't as eloquent as I would have liked.

On to my second point.
There is a certain "independent" website for people to buy and sell (won't name names) that through all their legal mumbo jumbo I'm starting to wonder what happened to independent? With so many restricitons and qualifications on EVERYTHING, I begin to wonder....isn't that what being independent is about? About not having to go through every legal precaution and just do something cool. Ok, ok that sentence didn't make sense. But come one. I know that they probably don't want to get sued and everything but it just seems like maybe they've...soldout. Sorry to have to use that word, but I think it just about sums up what I'm feeling. They commercialized! Hah. I was looking at an artists website and she said "and no, I don't use (insert name here) because I don't support something that makes you give them a credit card." TRUE THAT.

On that note- the sun is out and I hope it will be a good day.

Tuesday

A quick little post....

We went to Hanauma Bay on Saturday with Becky and Tyler. So fun. I was two feet away from a sea turtle. It was awesome. Better than the last time I went. Buuuutttt I didn't bring my camera so, sorry I don't have pictures.

Imma post the shoes I just painted really soon. I think they're done. Chris keeps encouraging me to do something else with them... splatter paint perhaps?

Chris took his GRE today too! He got an 1130! prelimanary score. He was happy, then not as happy. Sounds good to me! Shoot. Haha.
Welp! i gotta jet.

New Camera

Here's a few pictures I've shot so far for my picturing people photo assignment. Chris looks so good- he's a good model.

Ya got an extra hunerd bucks?

Well...I'm not great at posting blogs, so I'll just do a regular one for right now- no pictures (ha).
This weekend Chris and I went to Costco to get one of those famous blue foam boards. I've been bugging him for a good two weeks about getting a surf board and I thought this would be the best option. He maybe thinks that I'll give up quick, and I'm pretending that doesn't describe me at all. On our way up there while we're driving past sunset beach-which, btw, they had the Xcel surf competition stuff up- a cop stops us and walks up to Chris' window and just goes "Ya got an extra hunderd bucks?" My mind was blown- there I was thinking this cop was asking for a bribe. I know Hawaii is a crazy place-but that's just too much! Then he goes- "where's you cell phone?" which confused us both EVEN MORE. Completely lost, the cop tells us that talking on your cell phone is illegal. Yeah, yeah we know but so what? Oh...well..turns out that itching your ear can be mistaken as talking on your cellphone to a cop standing on the side of the road. Note to self- don't itch ear while driving.

Also- Chris saw Dog the Bounty Hunter at the Haunted Lagoon this last Friday Night. Seriously. Dressed in full regalia with his full posse. And yes, Christ made eye contact.

Fishy Business!

Chris went out with the dudes in out ward and caught a bunch of fish. I had apprehensions that it would be terrible.
It wasn't. It was just a little salty.

Summer Baseball

More Art Stuff

plane sculpture





Slum mold project

Edibles

via foodlol






Carrot Cake from spicytamales





via Extremepita

Attire

Bridesmaids
I think a simple a-line would be good . It's flattering on both Natalie and Kelsey (I'm pretty sure). Something like this with a border print from Charlotte Russe.

Similar to 2655 from Simplicity, although I'm sure I own a pattern like this somewhere.


Shirts? I have no clue. Tuxedo t-shirts?

Christopher
I'm going to go ahead and admit right now that I know absolutely nothing about men's suits. You don't button the bottom button- that's the extent of my knowledge.
He says he wants a new black suit. I guess something like this...looks nice to me! Ha.

via AH Fashion


Yes, please...

Plumeria/Frangipani

I like this boutonnière. Why is boutonnière such a hard word to spell?...Except maybe a plumeria, but...not HUGE like this one. Ugh.




Bouquet


I like the variety of this one, but just not that tail. That thing is a monstrosity.

San Diego Temple

Veils.

Can I just say, thank you Carrie Underwood for being a babe. Seriously. She is beautiful. And I love her hair.

via Carrie Underwood photos.

I love birdcage veils. I don't know if it will go with my dress though.

via artikal.com and Veil Tales.

Love love love this flower from Martha Stewart Weddings.

Maybe it can attach to something like this?





via Etsy

Decorations and other wedding ideas.

There's just a little over two months until the wedding. I just
looked at my google calendar and, guess what! I had on there for March 2nd to "send announcements". That's pretty funny considering I don't have them done. At all. I wanted to have them done by mid February. We can see how well that's going. Sometimes I feel whelmed about the whole thing. And then other times I couldn't care less- just let it happen.

I've been looking at decoration ideas. I really like the look of this fruit centerpiece.I think we'll fill glass vases with Lemons, Limes, golden apples, green grapes...etc. Green and Yellow Fruit of course.




I like the look of the metal too, but is that a mushroom??





I found this crazy site called Balloon Celebrations which is exactly what it sounds like. I'm loving the dinosaur. I don't think Christopher would be very happy about it though.






As far as decorations go, I'm not really sure what to do. It's a large open space. I like how this looks. I don't know how I feel about the term "flower Balls". We're going to have to set most of the thins up either really early in the morning or right before so I'm afraid if we used real flowers that they would wilt. Something simple on the asile chairs might be nice, like a bow or whatever people do. I think that something like this would look good around the perimeter so it doesn't feel so IMPENDING and OPEN.






It will (hopefully) look like a combination of these. It's located at
the end of the Mission Bay, Mission Point area.








We're not doing chair covers and we probably won't do an aisle runner. Those little tree's are a little weird but the location looks similar.



Flower petals? I don't know. I have extremely mixed feelings...but I do like the 'arch' in the back.