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.
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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:



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Newness

(Source)

New job!

The Littlest Birds: organic baby boutique in W. Asheville. (More deets found here.)

New apartment!

A 2 bed/1bath w/a huge kitchen and lots of light! (Pictures soon to come.)

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esty is always cute

Getting lost on Etsy is one of my favorite ways to lose time.

LittleBirdDesigns:

Polka Dots Big Person's Tote

Auntie Cookie Tissue Hugger

Animal Parade Crayon Roll

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i want to be an herbalist

(Source.)

I want to feel the cool velvety earth in my hands. I want to pluck flowers and brew them. I want to help people feel better and live better. I want to be an herbalist.

Asheville has (at least) four schools that teach herbalism/medicinal herbal healing:
-Appalachia School Of Holistic Herbalism
-Blue Ridge School of Herbal Healing
-Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine
-Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts

I want to learn their ways.

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Bookworm

(Source.)

I've been on a book-reading rampage lately and it's been lovely. More than lovely, actually - spectacular. Here's what been keeping me away from the blogging world:

Recently finished:
-Eat Pray Love (Elizabeth Gilbert) This was excellent! Very female-oriented. I connected so well with the author.
-The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Mary Ann Schaffer) I adore this book. I loved the characters. I wanted to be their friends.
-Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini) It was so serious but so good. Definitely a tearjerker.
-Water for Elephants (Sarah Gruen) This was also excellent, loved the ending. And I loved the characters and story.
-Me Talk Pretty One Day (David Sedaris) His short stories always give you a laugh. A native of North Carolina. I found out he had visited Asheville just a couple of days before I finished the bk.
-Witch of Portobello (Paulo Coelho) He writes beautifully. And all of the stories I've read by are very spritual and female-based.
-By the River Pierdo I Sat Down and Wept (Paulo Coehlo) This is a short one. Female-based and very spiritual.

Currently reading:
-Delicate Edible Birds (Lauren Groff) This is great so far. Her short stories are serious and deep and her characters go through a lot.
-Haunted (Chuck Palanuik) I haven't gotten very far in this at all so I can't say how I like it yet.
-Why Him? Why Her? (Helen Fisher) I am just skipping through this book because of curiousity about myself and my beau. It's an interesting take so far. You start out with a survey to find what type you are. The beau and I are both "Negotiators/Explorers."
-The Angel's Game (Carlos Ruiz Zafon) I love this one so far. It's very sexy and sultry. I think it's going to be a seductive thriller.

Books waiting to be read shortly:
-A Thousand Splendid Suns (Khaled Hosseini) I am highly anticpating this one. The Kite Runner was so good, and Lulu has told me she likes this one even more than the first.
-Hitler's Niece (Ron Hansen) The beau has encouraged me to read this one. It's a take of the Nazi regime through his neice, whom Hitler, according to this book, was in love with.
-Shopaholic Takes Manhattan (Sofie Kinsella) This should be a short and sweet read. I read Confessions of a Shopaholic, which was silly but not too badly written and so, so much better than the movie version.

Hopefully, I've enlightened you on a some books and inspired you to open a few of these and, as Ariel says, explore a whole new world!

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What's up

(Source.)

It's been nearly a month since I've last written and while I could say that lots has happened or that nothing at all has happened, saying either would be a lie. But here is what is up, actually:

-The Great City Search: The beau and I have been looking at cities around the eastern part of the country, considering where we'd like to move next. Our requirements: have a college w/an environmental studies program, have a French teaching position, be awesome like Asheville or close to it, and not be too, too far away from our families. The candidates? Charleston, SC, Pittsburgh, PA, Nashville, TN, Athens, GA, Washington, DC and Raleigh, NC.

-A second job: At a bed and breakfast! I love it. It's a good pay. It's a good workout. The owners and other housekeepers are awesome. They have a doggy. And I actually work! (Way different from my bookstore job.) Plus, there are tips! ;)

-TGR: I'm getting more involved in The Global Report again. Formally the Asheville Global Report, TGR is now has at least three formats. These are online, a wkly. video broadcast, and a wkly. podcast. This time around I'm helping with the podcast. Having my voice recorded and hearing it podcasted is weird beyond all imagination.

-Reading lots of books: So many. I'll write a post soon about all the books I've been reading lately.

-Spending mucho time w/friends, in prepartion for my eventual departing of Asheville: to outdoor theatres, house parties, movie marathons, dance parties, local restos, the great outdoors, bbqs, dinner gatherings, and general goodtimes.

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Some pics for soothing the eyes

Since I have not posted on my sweet lovely blog in what seems ages, I will dedicate this post to your viewing pleasure:

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A little bit about the beau

Meet The Beau:
The basics:
~Age: 26
~Eyes: Big, big blue eyes. Blue mostly, but sometimes changes to a blue-green mix.
~Hair: Dark brown. It changes length all the time. But he looks yummy when it's a bit longer and shaggy (and with a beard, please!).
~Height: A little taller than me, which isn't saying much b/c I'm basically a munchkin.
~Weight: Scrawny-arse, but w/the beginnings of a beer belly (but don't tell him I told you that).
~Occupation: Currently works 1 day/wk. as a server. He's student teaching (becoming a French teacher in May!) so he has no time to work, really.
~Hobbies: Pool, games, darts, being a beer connoisseur, reading The Wheel of Time, and cooking.

The beau, if you don't know already, is French. He moved to the U.S. with his family when he was 11. He's the brother of Miss Lulu. He graduated from ETSU in 2006 with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and French. He's now attending UNCA, just 2 months shy of getting his teaching license in French. He's extremely friendly and full of energy. He's a huge lover of games (and dogs, too) - any and everything...board games, video games, bar games, sports, etc. He has an eclectic collection music, but his current musical obsession is Europe (mostly for their phenomenal The Final Countdown). He loves having people over and impressing them with his awesome cooking skills and beer knowledge.

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Feeling Crafty

I've been feeling super crafty lately. I think it mostly has to do with not having a job and therefore having copious amounts of time laying around to play with.


This crafty feeling has permeated my life to the extent that just the other day I made a list (big surprise!) of all the things I want to make and eventually sale on Etsy (and any other place I can find). Here's a sampling of the list (I won't torture you with the whole list - it was over 2 pages long!):

-Bar Soaps (for hands, body, face, hair, etc.)
-Candles (Soy and Beeswax)
-Cleaners (for laundry, dishes, all-purpose, etc.)
-Bags (grocery, tote, purses, laundry, etc.)
-Slips (for ipods, laptops, various portable electronics, etc.)
-Hair Accessories (clips, barrettes, headbands/wraps, etc.)
-Jewelry (necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets, brooches, etc.)
-Clothing (dresses, skirts, blouses, coats, undies, bathing suits, etc.)

Enough, maybe? Hardly. :)

(In addition to using my time for crafty things, I've also spent many hours writing for my blogs and trying to connect socially - via the internets. If you haven't noticed I've a had a plethora of posts on my other two blogs: Lu-n-Am & Je Suis Un Rainbow.)

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I <3 Harry Potter

Who doesn't? Not many, I'd say. Right now I'm doing some computer errands and listening to Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows on CD. I'm way super-excited about the next Harry Potter movie coming out in July, Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince. This is probably my second favorite book, the Deathly Hallows being my favorite. But this movie should be soooo goooood. With LOTS of interesting twists and turns that I refuse to spoil for anyone who hasn't read the book.

(So I basically teared up watching this. Ridiculous, I know, but I am a convert for sure.)

One part of the excitement comes from my friends' excitement. We are going to have a Harry Potter movie-watching marathon the weekend before the next movie comes out. Gah, can you imagine 8 hours of Harry Potter?! Yes, yes, yes! ;)

So basically, I'm saying if you haven't read/watched/listened to the Harry Potter series then get off your lazy butt & get started because they are amazing. Waaaaay better than the Twilight series [oh yeah, I said it ;)].

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for the love the old

I love, love, love vintage items. Well, sometimes they are so good they are bad, but I love it when they're so good that they are cute. Some of my dream thrift items include antique phones, record players and records, typewriters, and kitchenware. At the blog Thriftaholic I found a whole bunch of really awesome thrifted items that I want to decorate my entire dream home with.

Like this phone...
Or this cake carrier...

Or this casserole dish...
To look at more drool-worth thrift items visit their blog.

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love is a many

I've been reading William S. Burroughs lately & thinking about using "his" cut-up method.



Snowflakes are falling.
But they will not stick.
People are a talking.
But they will not win.

As the days escape me
and my life falters,
I wonder what
could have been.

Living stagnant
is technically
living is it, not?

"love is a many"-therollergirl

getting on the wagon

So I've been busy trying to get my butt in gear to get another job. I've put posts on Craigslist, the Mountain Xpress, and Digital Point offering my writing services. I've applied to many jobs. And I've been tweaking my resume and cover letters.

Right now, I'm at the "in-laws" relaxing and it feels so good, but it doesn't mean that I should be lax about searching for something better in the job arena.

I met up with a friend on Friday and she's always great for inspiration and for giving me ideas for pursuing my goals and interests. A couple of suggestions were: to create a business card and hand it out at networking gatherings, to attend Green Drinks and to look at magazines and papers' ads & call up companies I'm interested in to see if they could possibly be hiring.

(Sounds yummy, fun and useful, no?)

So that's what I've been doing during these relaxing hours. I've also been trying to get the bf in gear to do the same thing. He's currently student teaching, but he could really use some better organization skills and should really reconnect with important and relevant connections. So I've been doodling a business card for him, and I also set up a gmail account for him.

Steps in the right direction? I think so.

Any more ideas? I'd love to hear them!
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the happy, happy, happy, happy things

Maybe it's just me, or maybe it's the combination of vodka and ibuoprofen (this comes from a combo of the holiday spirit and being on my period), but I am especially happy right now and in this happy moment I would like to go over the things that are making me so happy right now.



1. Being with the people I love. This has been quite a roller coaster year for me. From the split with my ex, to the moving in with my best friend and her mom, to the reconciliation with my ex and moving back in, it's been one hell of a ride. Therefore, this is a great time to just relax and think about the good things in life with the people I love.

Really, in a nutshell, this is it. When it all boils down...in essence...yes, this is it. So be happy. As the Dalai Lama says - our purpose in life is to be happy (yes, I've been in a Dalai Lama phase lately, which I don't want to get out of). So be happy. Happy.

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adora-ble

In helping out the beau (yes, he's the beau, again) look for French teaching resources, I discovered an awesome site for teachers called TeacherTube. While browsing this informative site I stumbled upon a young writer. This girl is Adora-ble.

Named Adora, she has already written many books, stories and poems just at the age of nine. She also teaches writing workshops and holds video conferences. Reading her blog is fantastic. She sounds much older than she is. And she is a delight to read. I found myself with my mouth open, with laughter at the edge of my mouth, disbelieving she could be so young and write with such personality.

I know this is pretty random. But it is such an inspiration to read about Adora and to read the writings of Adora. To be so young and so accomplished is great. Humbling. Inspiring. I think I'm going to write now and get some other things done. I am nearly three times her age and I haven't written a single book. I've got some catching up to do. ;)
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