It's February! What a Month it is!

February is a crazy month for me. It begins with Bastien's and mine 6th year anniversary on the 5th, then it jumps to crazy old valentines (validation) day, then skips on to one of my best bud's 25th bday on the 18th and then completes the month with my 25th bday on the 26th! Aye!

Right now in my life, I'm still considering lots of things because at the approach of my quarter-life crisis I know I still have plenty of time to contemplate. Here are some of the contemplations/plans:

-I'm still working at my most favorite place of employment ever, The Littlest Birds. I'm only working half-time right now because that's all the time they can give me...but...soon come I will be getting many more hours. Come August/September of this year I will be working nearly full-time when one of the owners moves. Her and her lovely spouse will be moving to go to grad school and I will get to take over her time. I am so excited and so privileged to get this opportunity to run a small, locally-owned business. I am also way impatient and would love for this to happen NOW! But patience is a virtue, I hear.

-I've been yearning to take some more classes. I am so in love with this Earth we live on and I want to do as much as I can for it. Despite this passion, I need to be more knowledgeable. I need to know some basic science, some basic scientific facts. I have never been a science kind of girl, but I really want to take some herbalism classes at the Appalachian School of Herbalism (so I can grow my own awesome garden and create my own beauty and cleaning products) and I want to take lots of environmental science, botany and ecology classes so I can be a better educated environmentalist. I'm starting to look at ways of doing that in Western NC.

-I want a car! Ack, I have a very deep love/hate relationship with the Asheville Transit System, the sweet thing. But I want a car. And even better, I'm thinking about getting a diesel car so I can use biodiesel to run it. That's right, ya'll - I want a vegetable car! ;) I'm thinking about getting a late 90's VW diesel car. It's pretty much my choice of a Mercedes or a Volkswagen, only. Not many other cars have diesel engines.

-Omg, beer! The beau, er, fiancé, and I have been brewing beer (well, mostly the beau). And we love it! And he loves it! I really do believe he has found his passion and his life path. Whew! So our plan, now? Create a microbrewery/restaurant. I won't give any more details on that plan right now. It's so juicy and delectable, but it still needs to do a bit of fermenting (ba-da-ching!) before more details are released. Let's just say I love to write business plans and I've already got a good start on this one.

-Oh man, I just have too many ideas and plans and desires, it's almost too much! Oh, and I have, like, no money. No money to save, no money to invest. Nada. Anyways, I would also like to have my own business where I sell handmade, handcrafted, preferably local, goods for the home. And of course I have a business plan written already. ;)

-I would also like to be an environmental constultant. Hence, the desire and need to take some environmental science classes. I figure I could hire myself out to plenty of people who need some practical and easy advice on taking steps to helping the Earth.

-Oh yes, I'm a bridesmaid. I'm one for the wonderful, soon-to-be-my-sister-in-law-in-just-over-a-year Lucie.

-And then I have a wedding of my own to plan. (Wow, did I really just say that? Good god.) But it will be lighter on the wedding planning and much heavier on the party/reception and the traveling/honeymoon planning. I've already got some ideas floating around in that lil' head of mine...like May 1st, courthouse wedding, big-arse party in a park/backyard/natural, outdoor setting with lots of friends and fam, family celebration in France and Corsica traveling afterward.

A lot, a lot. A lot that I like.
<3

Engaged!

Yes, yes - it's true! Me and Bastien are engaged! It happened late Friday night on our way back to our apartment. Friday Asheville had a really good snowstorm and the after effects were beautiful. So after being in our apartment all day going a little stir crazy we decided to go on a lovely night snow walk. It happened then. And it was lovely.

Lovely.

Would you like to see the ring? Here it is:

And here is the link to the awesome handmade artist who made it. You should buy some stuff from him. I know I will buy Bastien's ring from him. And the ring was just the perfect fit for me.

And so now I'm engaged! Would you like to see the man I'm marrying? Here he is:



<3 <3 <3

Mr. First Snow

(From @h0zae)

It's the first snow of the season. And it could very possibly stick any moment now. The first snow is always the best.

And with hot chocolate, please.
<3

Neko Case

When I started my time at college, back in 2003, I was introduced to a whole plethora of amazing music I had never heard before. And I am so thankful for this intro. If I was still listening to only top 40 still...gah, I would be a boring person.

(Source.)

One artist I was introduced to was Neko Case. Although I never followed her during my college years, I have recently began listening to her new album, Middle Cyclone. And so far, I'm hooked. It's mellow with good lyrics, and I always love adding another favorite female to my daily listening.

"Maybe Sparrow" [not from her new album]:


<3

Ready to shop?

I received some awesome gifts for my birthday this year. Among them, 2 $50 gift certificates. One, to True Blue, the nicest art shop, ever. And the second to the Earth Guild, the raddest craft shop, this side of the Mississippi. My mom has got to be the best mom out there.

(Source.)

Now that I have "$100" burning in my pocket, I have to spend it, right?! Probably...it's not like, they are going to gain interest or anything. But I do need to be careful, art & craft supplies are usually pricey so I need to reassess my stash before I head out. Some things I'm thinking about "yoinking":

-Pretty yarn
-Some pastels (I love how they feel to work with.)
-Soy wax (for candle making)

Who knows...I'll probably get there and end up buying half the store at each place. Eep!
<3

gas crisis

So kids, if you have been alive at all in the past week, you will know that the southern United States is going through a gas crisis currently. First, gas prices spiked when Hurricanes Ike and Gustav were making their ways through the eastern U.S. Gas prices got as high as $4.99. This happened in Asheville, Knoxville and probably in some other places as well.

And now, more recently, prices went down a bit (cue the chorus of "whews" and "thank gods"), but instead of relief the southeast has been faced with another complication - gas shortages. The southeast is going through massive gas shortages, which has led to many, many people going crazy for gas. There are now long lines of cars pouring out from any gas station that has just received gas. The lines pour out into roads and go on for blocks sometimes. I've seen nearly 30 cars (those are just the ones I could count!) lined up.

With this ridiculousness going on and with Wall Street going through a deep downfall (recession), it makes one think that things are happening. There is a tension in the American air. America seems to be falling. America seems to be no longer king, the leader. Will there be revolution? Probably not. Not now, at least. Let's see what else will happen in the next few months, years. I feel like we are coming upon a climax. We will just have to see what happens...
<3

home, sweet home

I will be moving out of my quaint little apartment this week. And, no, I haven't found a sufficient replacement yet. That is why, after being offered many, many times, I have accepted the invitation to live at my friend's house. I have been against this idea for some time now, but after looking sadly at my bank account and realizing that I'm going to need to save as much money as humanly possible in the upcoming months, I have given in to the hard cold fact that I need to stay somewhere where I won't have to spend too much money.

(One day I will be back in this sweet, sweet neighborhood.)

There are many reasons I have been hesitant. I love this friend. She is a best friend. But should you live with your best friend? I learned the hard that living with your good friends isn't always the best or smartest idea for your friendship. My friend also lives with her mother and relations between the two of them aren't always the smoothest. Her mother has always been super nice to me, but I'm just hoping that I won't get entangled in their mess. The house also isn't in central downtown, which is where I was hoping to stay. I love the area, full of hub-bub and life. Always something happening and easy access to public transportation and in good walking distance of almost everything awesome. The house isn't too far away though, about a 10 min. drive but I don't have a car and the roads are not built to be walked on in my friend's neighborhood. I'm a little afraid of becoming a "prisoner" (yes, that sounds a bit over dramatic) there and becoming claustrophobic in this home. One other thing is that I've been very independent for a long time. I've basically lived on my own since starting college 5 years ago and I don't like depending on people for certain things all of the time. I am going to be depending on my friend for rides - and probably other things, too, that I can't think of right now. These are just some of my worries, but I'm hoping they will remain unrealized worries.

I am fortunate to have this option. I am fortunate to have friends and family offer me this kind of support. Incredibly fortunate. They are good people and I hope to not take advantage of them.

The plan, I think, is to pay my friend's mom about $100/month. $100, that's it. I'll be paying for electricity, water, internet and cable (even though I will refrain from TV as much as possible) with that $100. So cheap. So nice. I plan on buying my own food, but I have a feeling that they'll offer to buy me food and supplies quite often. The one expense I will have that will be a lot more than before is gas. Since I'll be depending on my friend for rides I will definitely have to pay for gas. But this is still less money than I'd be spending otherwise. I will also be deferring my loan payments until further notice because I am unemployed and will not be able to spend $200/month repaying my loan.

My plan is to stay at my friend's house for the rest of year, save up a ton of moolah and move into my own place in January of 09. And by my own place, I mean my own place. I want to have an apartment of my own - or if not on my own then with either (not both) of a couple of friends of mine from college.

Once I'm in my own place I hope to be able to be paying my loans again (although I hope I can do that sooner), be making payments on my own car, applying to Goddard so that I can start there in the Fall of 09, and be making things everyday. I also hope to have an awesome job (Lark Books or ChiLiving would do me just fine) and to be having fun everyday with my friends, family, and, eventually with the ex.

a whole new start

So here's another update on my life:

Not only am I currently searching for a new apt., possible new housemates, a car and acceptance into a master's program in Vermont, but now I get to add another item to the list. I was very recently "let go" from my place of employment. While this may seem bad and it may seem like just another thing to worry and stress about, I am actually very ok about this new development. I feel a little bit free. Free from the stress of the job. Freedom to chose another place, a better place, maybe a place that I will love to go to; that I will love to do. Some place that I will get excited about every day. So here's what I'm doing right now, at this very moment:

(Courtesy of flickr.)

1. Job hunting: craigslist, ashevillejobs.com, yahoojobs, monsterjobs, grist job list, etc.
2. Apt. hunting: craigslist, alpha real estate, arc agency, friend's recommendations, etc.
3. Car hunting: craigslist, iwanna, local used car dealerships, etc.
4. Loan researching: my credit union, other resources...
5. Goddard College researching: creating my proposal, figuring out expenses, etc.
6. Fafsa/financial aid hunting: i hate this stuff, filling out form after form...
7. Resisting the urge to go crazy while living with the ex. Yes, we're still living together. It may be a stupid thing, but it's just how things are right now. He's ok when he's not acting like an idiot.

a blow

i have been having a hard week this week. and an especially difficult last few days. i will be trying to do some posts on here. but in light of the most recent events, i don't know how regularly i will be able to do this. i am no longer involved with that certain frenchman. he has decided to take a different route recently, and, well, i am very sad about this. we are still talking and i am still talking to his family. this frenchman has intertwined me in his life and in his family lives so deeply that i know that i will always be a part of his and their lives. this is one small comfort in the sea of depression i have been in lately. anyways, this is just a notice that if i'm lacking on posts, then this is surely the reason why.

(One last look at our lovely home, which I will miss.)

florida-mania

I just want to go back and address why I neglected my blog for over a month. One of the main reasons I hadn't been posting was because for about 10 days I was on vacation in Florida. And although I had been promised internet access on a semi-regular basis, what I was given was nothing near access. Of the 10 days I was away, I think I was able to actually sit down and do work on the internet twice. Yes, twice. I know, unbelievable. I don't know how I survived. ;)

(Me & Steph waiting around for the Tampa Rays vs. Boston Red Sox game.)

Anyways, this is just one of the reasons why I have been greatly lacking on posts. And as I write this, I also realize that this summer is/has been very Florida-liscious. A couple of weeks ago I was there in no-internet heaven/hell and I will soon be there next weekend for another week of Florida hottness (but this time with almost 100percent internet assuredness). I don't know what it is about this summer, but, dam, Florida, you have my heart strings a' tuggin!

(Rockin' Rollercoaster at Hollywood Studios. It was rockin.)

Oh, yes, another reason there has been no new postings recently is that I've become incredibly behind on work. You know, real work. So I've been trying to catch up with that as well as catch up on blog postings that are taking entirely way too much of my time to research and write. But, you know, I'm not complaining or anything.

santogold

Wow, I really can't believe I've neglected my blog for so long. For over a month! What a shame...but let's forget my past mistakes and think about the present. I've been listening to this RIDICULOUS singer. Her name is Santogold. And she's freaking crazy. She reminds me a bit of M.I.A. with her songs being a mix of singing and rapping with the music being a mix of every noise and sound available all bundled up. I had first heard of her in BUST, I believe. But I didn't pay any attention to her until I heard her on Pandora, under my M.I.A. station. She's fricking awesome if you like the alternative rapping/club musack.

Pizza-Time

Soooo, I finally made my first through and through home-made pizza! And I even remembered to take pictures of it before I completely devoured it. ;)

(Yay!)

I even made the crust! I was sooo proud of myself. After seeing this post, I was inspired to make my own. So, the next time went I to the grocery store, I got all the necessary supplies & came home to get started beating some dough up.

(My wee lil' piece of love.)

We also had a fabulous night of games last weekend (I had forgotten to write about this memorable experience). We had the "Pentagonal Tournament of Games." We played mancala, pente, boggle, 301 (darts game), & DDR (dance, dance revolution on xbox 360).

(Clockwise: DDR mat, boggle, mancala & pente. Missing: 301 .)

It was really fun, despite me losing miserably as usual. (Except for me kicking major butt at boggle.) :)

(Getting torn up in mancala by the bf [i.e. the supreme ruler of strategy games].)

Oh, & one last little thing: I'm super-proud of my little garden right now! I've joined forces w/my upstairs neighbor and we've been keeping up with our little garden of tomatoes, spearmint, lemon balm, oregano, basil, & moss roses. So, soooo happy! (Despite having to deal with spider mites and nitrogen-deficient tomato plants.) I've actually got a green thumb!

(Herbs!)

(Tomatoes!)

(Zee jardin [garden]!)

lu n' am blog!

yes, i'm going for pure vanity and publicity on my part, but i just wanted to let everyone know about my newest joint blog! my oh-so-lovely future sister-in-law & i have created the lu-n-am blog, which is about "affordable. sustainable. creative. living." although we're still tweaking it occasionally...trying to figure how to make it the most super awesome joint blog out there...we definitely want people to check it out and let us know what you think about it! :)

i've been mentioned!

lordy, lordy. maybe this isn't a big deal, but something rather exciting has just happened.

i've been linked/mentioned (is there a proper blogger term that i'm ignorant of?) by a blogger who i actually don't know!..someone that i've been reading and, who i guess, happens to read to my blog every once in a while. i am very delighted to become aware of this. :)

a blogger survey, hmpf

nothing else to talk about, is what i'd say, but really, i just don't feel like doing work. i'd rather contemplate the finer things in life:

Three ways you are stereotypically a girl:
1. I am becoming increasingly more domestic each day and tending to enjoy most parts of it.
2. I think about what I'd do with my child [ex. plant flowers, watch clouds, draw animals & bake cakes], if I were to have a child, on a rather regular basis. And it's not scaring me as much as it used to.
3. I love frills, lace & all those other ultra-feminine textures and fabrics [secretly].

Three ways you are stereotypically a boy:
1. I greatly dislike authority figures.
2. I make amazing & disgusting "hawking" noises when coughing up my blue-ribbon loogies. Ew.
3. I love to watch James Bond movies.

Three of your everyday essentials:
1. Water bottle.
2. Cup of coffee.
3. Pen + notepad.
-------------------------------------------------------------

1) What was I doing 10 years ago?
I was being awkward; making up dances to N'SYNC, Spice Girls, & Britney Spears with my next door neighbor. I was in finishing up my 7th grade-year; standing in the lunch line at school & flushing when I saw my crush. I was drawing up a portfolio of brightly-colored fashion designs, writing & drawing my own Archie/mythology-themed comic books, & starting on many unfinished short stories.

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today?
Catching up on work; setting up an "inspiration-sheet"; gathering things to bring in to work to make it more aesthetically pleasing; make my mom a CD of pictures; take pictures of "good" -minded businesses.

3) Snacks I enjoy:
Bagels; yogurt pretzels; jellybellies; sour gummies; blueberry muffins; almond croissants; kettle chips; fries!

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
Quit my day job and work to save the planet; have my own hand-made whatever store and non-profit organization that is geared to environmental & social justice education & advocacy; pay off my debts & my family's debts; buy a solar powered car; visit every country of the world; give to organizations that i believe in & support; do as much as I can do to help the world & its people & animals. ;)

5)Places I have lived before:
(my current & first real place) Asheville, NC;
(my college place) Swannanoa, NC;
(my parent's place) Candler, NC