Tiny containers: this is an attempt to be more organized as we unpack. My goal is to be settled and ready for a housewarming party when my bff visits at the end of September.
Husband surprises: doing a huge ton of chores around the house; we have both been avoiding chores as of late but this has definitely helped jumpstart our quest for a cozy home.
Career Comfort. Feeling like I am finding my stride at work. You know when you start a new job how it takes like 3 months to get settled in? Well, I finally hit that and it feels pretty good.
Writing it down. Using a sketch book to sketch/write/list ideas. Trying to plot out my next moves and figure out where exactly rottencupcakes is going. I’ve been drafting a lot of plans and ideas and posing a lot of questions to myself about the blog and it’s direction. I’ll probably be putting a reader survey up and would love to get some feedback from you! What do you want? Who are you? Is it horrible for me to admit that I have no idea what I am doing? And that’s kind of scary?
Leetle bits: The used bookstore having awesome things for super cheap. Green grapes. The Japanese market. The bowls I found at the Japanese Market (ktys & minkeys!). Surprise presents from my seester (tiny buddha, kitty card, cupcake picture holder, chicago transit map mug=SWOON. Seriously, Emily, I think this is one of the best presents I have ever received!). Finally buying a Trikky (a Kid Robotvinyl diy toy)—but leaving it white. Stripes. Lipstick. My wonderful friend continuing to explore her photography.
Every box I unpack makes the apartment a teeny bit more like home (yes, I am still unpacking).
This article from Design Observer about Publishing in the Age of the Internet. It talks about the super-abundance of visual information we are digesting with the help of the internet and how it effects print.
The new StopMotion Recorder I downloaded to my iPhone. It is super awesome, easy to use and I am having lots of fun with it!
Meet Dolores. My new(ish) bicycle: an Electra Ladies Amsterdam Classic 3i. I’ve been riding her for a couple months but I finally found a few minutes to snap some pictures of her. Sadly, she’s got some scratches already but purely cosmetic stuff. 3 gears. Skirt guard. Encased chain. Comfy seat. Cup holder!
My new panniers for Dolores! I was using an orange crate strapped to the back but oh! the panniers make a world of difference for weight distribution. I can carry about the same amount of stuff but I can actually use my kickstand for it’s intended purposes—even when the panniers are full!
Funky colored manicures. Turquoise and minty green. While dressing in a slightly more subdued fashion at work, having a little flash of the unusual makes me happy!
Discovering after many years that I am relatively athletic. Bootcamp is helping me to see that and it’s a strange sight to me but a pleasing one nonetheless.
Skype dates (and video chats) with family and friends. I spent 30ish minutes talking to my parents and sister last Sunday over Skype and it was really nice. I am expecting this to become a much more frequent occurrence.
The finished give-away notebook and a few extra surprises tucked in
Making progress on the apartment little by little. Once we get some pictures on the walls, despite the cardboard boxes that are in various parts of the place, it will feel a lot more like home.
I’m drawing again! Trying to keep my fingers itchy for it.
Date nights with my dear husband; he works so much at his new(ish) job and I appreciate the time we get to spend conscious together more.
Impromptu dance parties in my mother’s kitchen—my visit back to Chicago was awesome to say the least.
Leetle bits: The dollar section at Target yielded a turquoise buddha to me; hand-drawn birthday cards; photos from our Chicago trip; doodled sketchbooks and quite possibly the cutest packaged of items I’ve sent off in awhile that I totally want to post loads of pictures of but am waiting for the recipient to receive it; packaging in general—super cuteness. Sunshine bicycle rides. <3
What’s giving you little heart flutters this weekend?
Dennis’s visit was super nice—even though my husband had lots of work to do while he was here. We ate lots of delicious food and discovered an awesome Japanese market less than two miles from the apartment full of ultra-adorableness (including 1ups!)
My first actual leather purse. So pretty! And pink!
Riding my bicycle in a skirt. It’s such a simple thing but it makes me happy every time!
A used bookstore—I found some Tom Robbins books that I am excited to re-read.
The giveaway is still open til midnight California time! You can still enter!
Introducing Whiskey Friday to my new company. A tradition passed on from The Onion…may it live on in my heart and my glass. Just a little sip to celebrate the end of a successful week. Comrades, raise your glasses!
Dennis arrives tomorrow! He is one of the three roommates Scott and I had when I first moved into their mega-apartment in Buena Park, Chicago. He is one of our closest friends, pretty much family. I am ecstatic for this visit. He doesn’t leave til next Wednesday! Yay Dennis!
Some good bicycle rides. I will readily admit that bicycle commuting in Southern California leaves things to be desired (such as the fellowship of other bicycle commuters) but I have had a couple really fantastic spirit-lifting rides lately. Keep it up and make me love you, Orange County. It’s not your fault that you’re not Chicago.
Cats in baskets.
Baking in my apartment for the very first time. It’s been far too long, my sweets.
Alex Noriega’s Stuff No One Told Me (#10 above). Awesome and true. All of them. Seriously. My brother sent me the one above because he said it reminded him of me. Awww…thanks, Dan! <3
Dolores! My new bicycle—she’s a beautiful and classy lady. I’ll be introducing her properly soon. Just you wait.
The notebooks I’ve added to my etsy shop. I came into 40 little cardboard notepad/sticky note combis and I’m illustrating them one by one and putting them up for sale. I’ll be giving away a custom one next week! I’ll post the giveaway information on Monday!
Speaking of custom & the shop, the pre-season, pre-sale kicked off on Tuesday! One down, nine to go! Here’s hopin’!
OCFamily.com (the magazine where I work!) calling me out and giving me some support in their awesome Storytime video segment. Kristin wears a different hat for each storytime and has been wearing rottencupcakes all week! Thanks to OC Family & Kristin! If you’ve got some kidlets, they might enjoy Storytime too!
Ampersands!! All the time, I love them. The tiny start to my collection, above.
Texting with my sister late at night. It’s much later for her but she always seems to be awake and it makes me a little less homesick. Thank you, Emmie.
Yarn binges. I may have been online shopping two nights ago. I thought about buying a purse that I’ve been eyeing for 2.5 years because it was finally 50% off; but it’s quite large and I recently came to the revelation that I should carry smaller purses. So instead of a purse, I bought a bunch of yarn :X OOPS. Oh but goodness gracious, it’s some beautiful yarn.
Some fancypants felt that I acquired that’s just itching (except not actually itchy—it’s super soft) to be turned into something darling.
Illustrating! So much illustrating! So many animals, so little time! Hopefully, I will be able to offer some prints in the shop soon (as I find my printer’s power brick!). Anyone got anything they might want to see?
The upcoming pre-sale! There will be 10 listings; each one for it’s very own custom hat on June 15th in my etsy store. You will be able to pick type of yarn, the color and the style of hat for $35 for delivery in September. A savings of $15 off the upcoming Fall 2010 pricing.
My desk area at home, slowly coming together. I still don’t have an actual desk yet and am still working from a folding table but I have a bookshelf! Excitement!
Spending the whole long weekend for Memorial day with my dear husband and watching quite a bit of Band of Brothers in memory of those who have served. It’s our Memorial Day tradition.
Some totally drool-inducing yarn that is a total dream to work with. Once I get through this hat, I will be able to estimate how much yarn it requires and be able to offer some totally delectable hats this fall.
