New Years Mash Up

I'm off to my very pregnant best friend's house to have a very low-key New Years celebration. Can't wait. I'm looking forward to next year. I think I'm starting to get my groove back and the future looks promising. I'll leave you with DJ Earworm's always fabulous end of the year Pop Music Mash Up. Enjoy, be safe, and here's to living 2011 fabulously.

(Ed. Note-View at You Tube/DJ Earworm/2011 Mash up)

Sharesies-2011 Calendars

There are some great free calendars floating around the web. This one from The Blog Guidebook is gorgeous.

If you want something less decorative you can find lots of other options at  Frugal Upstate where they have put together a list of 31 different free online 2011 calendars. There's got to be something there for everyone. I like this one.

Tomorrow is the last day of my Everyday in December Challenge. It's been great. I'm not an everyday of anything type of gal and it made me dig deep some days and get in there even when I didn't want to. Thank you to anyone who has been paying attention. I love you all. Hope your New Year is Fabulous!!!

Positive New Years Resolutions

I saw a great post today on Design For Mankind. Instead of thinking of all the things you're not doing well enough, make a list of things you've done well and want to keep doing.

Here are mine.
1. Keep blogging at least every week.
2. Continue to perform and write comedy. It's coming back, Baby!.
3. You have a great family and wonderful friends. Cherish this.
4. Continue using your creativity and finding ways to get paid for it. That really is the best way to live.

I'll think of more but I'm trying to get this done before midnight. Ha.

ps
I'm crocheting a ruffle scarf. Almost done. I'll take a picture of me wearing it when it's finished.

Whoopsedoodle

I missed a post! I actually fell asleep on the couch last night and woke up just after midnight. Light weight! Anyway, I knew what I wanted to put up so I'll do this now and something later for today. I wanted to share something with you that is so cool I saw it at Dude Craft which is a really great blog if you haven't seen it. He always manages to find the most creative and interesting things. He wrote about a person who had put up compliments for random people to take.

It created such a buzz that the person who told him about this created a pdf so anyone can print these out and put them up. It's pouring down rain again here but I'll bet they'll let you put them up at Starbucks or at work. Pretty great, huh? When I went back over there for the links I saw he had posted another flyer idea someone else had done. What do you think? Great way to start the New Year, huh?

I'm almost done with the Every Day in December Challenge I created for myself. It hasn't been completely perfect, but I've done it. And I've gained 6 new followers. Thank you!!! And it's been fun. I'll definitely be posting more often than I was before. Thank you to all the bloggers who inspired this. You have a beautiful soul. :)

Say Cheese!

One of my New Years Blogolutions is to take better pictures. Granted right now I'm using a point and shoot. When I got it six months ago I thought I had really made it. My very own DIGITAL camera. Whoo! Then I saw the difference between how my pictures look compared to people with Nikon something or others. I've already found some good information online and thought I'd share what I've found.

Centsational Girl always has great photos as well as terrific tutorials. I learned a lot from here and this about Picasa which I also use.



here's a tutorial on getting your equipment together
 http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2010/07/how-to_build_an_amateur_photog.html
this looks good too
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2010/07/cheap_and_simple_tools_for_bet.html

Do you have any ideas or information? Feel free to share.

ps
After I posted this, Kate at Centsational Girl posted this in depth information on taking better pictures. Thank you! Perfect timing.

The Day After Christmas...

Ruled! I had such a great night. I had the feature spot at my local comedy club in the main room. When I got there they asked me to do 10 minutes in the smaller room, too. It was packed to the gills on a Sunday. I didn't know why but then found out Tom Green was the the headliner.

He wasn't there yet so they asked me to do 10 minutes before my main room gig. The audience was amazing and I got to sneak in a new bit. Then I did a longer set in the other room. I did a few more new jokes which all worked. It's hard to explain what a good feeling that is. Especially when you/ve been out of the game as long as I have (four years) Then closed the show in the small room and met Tom Green who I must say was freaking hilarious. I'd never seen him before but I was impressed.

I asked my friend who works at the club to quickly snap a few pictures so forgive the blurriness. Sorry I didn't get any of Tom Green.

Sweater-thrifted

Tunic-thrifted

Leggings-thrifted

Boots-thrifted

Neclace, Earrings-gift

Brooch-vintage

Belt-? had for 15 years or so

Christmas Day Is Here

I spent Christmas Day with the family. Thank goodness I like my family. My sister is a terrific housekeeper and decorater. She really did it up this year.

We had a brunch of delicious homemade baked goods made by her and her husband and son. Yum!!!

I made dinner. Shepherd's Pie with ground turkey since I don't eat red meat. Here it is in pieces. This is one of my favorite meals. Maybe this will be a new tradition.

I got these beautiful towels and more nice things.

Oops. I got busted with my glasses on.  

Banana Republic blouse-thrifted

Old Navy sweater-thrifted

Belt-thrifted

Necklace-vintage

Rhinestone Brooch-vintage

Jeans-Macy's

Glasses-Lenscrafters (I tore my contact lens)

Christmas Eve Party

I am in love with making bows. These are from magazine pages. Not exactly Christmasy but they would be good for birthdays. Great way to recycle, huh?

I went to a Christmas Eve party tonight. We were supposed to bring a $5 gift. I made a matching bow with the wrapping paper.

Tada! It was chocolates in case you're wondering. To celebrate the holidays I dressed like a candy cane.

Bow-mazing

I found this bow tutorial and felt all happy inside. I like having nice full bows but I hate buying packages full of them every year. This tutorial shows you how to make your own bows. So cool! I will be making these out of everything.
Find out how to make them here at A Spectacular Mess

Although I saw it first on Tales From An OC Cottage . Love these musical versions and great photos

I might have to have a bow making party tomorrow. Woohoo!

More Holiday Inspiration

Why? Why no wardrobe posts for 3 days? Is it because I am overwhelmed with the Spirit of Christmas? No. It's because it's been raining  for 6 days straight and I did all my Christmas shopping today, tore a contact lens and I looked craptastic. So...you can look at this instead. It's for your own good, trust me. I did promise to post every day this month, though, and I am, so there's that. (pat on back)

Anyway you need to see this. This magazine is fantastic. I had a subscription to Domino and they stopped publishing in the middle of my subscription. I was really sad that I hadn't caught on to it sooner. Well, if you liked that I think you'll like this magazine too. It's called Rue. I saw these photos a few days ago and I can't get them out of my mind. They are so pretty. Mix up a chocolate martini or get a piece of cake and check it out.

Totally yum, right? Outfit posts tomorrow I think. Nighty night.

More Gifting Treats

I'm just now getting into the holiday spirit. Here are some more great gift wrapping ideas and downloads. I love a pretty package.

I found this at the gifted blog which is all about gift ideas. She has a free download for a gift box and tags that are really cute plus lots more fabulous ideas.

You can find fun sparkly ideas at Grey Likes Weddings with a free tag download here

I love these pictures!!!

And for pretty gift wrapping, it doesn't get much better than this at Style Me Pretty crafted by Summer from Grey Likes Weddings

They look good enough to eat!!

Enjoy. Happy Holidays. Good night.

A Regift For You

Today I want to share some wonderful free gift tag downloads I found while searching around. I'm not the best gift wrapper in the world so I like to rely on tricks like cute gift tags to make the packages seem like they look better than they do. Anything to distract the eye from how badly I manhandled the tape. Some very talented graphic artists are offering free downloads of their wonderful handywork. Here are a few of my faves.

These tags from lovelydesign are adorable

I also love these from Orange You Lucky

Found these on Design Sponge by Julia Rothman

These are great too. Very 50s looking.

Created for World Label by the Shy Socialites

That should keep us busy for awhile right? Meanwhile I still have ALL my shopping still to do. What? Maybe I'll just get everybody gift tags for Christmas. heh heh.





Better Late Than Never

I wasn't able to get a post up yesterday but I did take a picture. I tried to get photos earlier during the few hours I actually wore something I wouldn't mind being seen in, but the battery was too low to cooperate. I know how it feels. I stayed up late enough for it to recharge and tried again.
Good news. Only a couple more posts and I will have officially created a habit. They say it takes 21 days.

Navy and White Striped GAP T-Shirt-thrifted

White T-Shirt-Nine & Co

Gray Hoodie Sweater-thrifted

Jeans-Macy's

2 Necklaces-Marshalls I think, thrifted

I performed last night. It could have gone better but, hey, 10 people in the audience? And me exhausted? Oh well. The rain is beginning to lighten up after 3 days straight. Love the rain. Thank you for the rain. I wore this so the sun wouldn't feel forgotten. Love the sun.

Blogolutions

Blog Resolutions. I'm starting early now that I'm going to have some time. (although unfortunately I did NOT finish grading today. Holy Cow! Tomorrow for sure. :p)

I am resolving to:
1) Create a nice inside space for photos for the few times a year it is pouring down rain in Southern California like it has all day today.

2) Figure out why my pictures are blurry (and why it's only when they are pictures of me. Am I blurry?)

3) Learn Photoshop. I have it just need to learn how to use it.

4) Continue to blog regularly-even if I never get past 14 Followers. You never know when you'll accidentally put up something useful

5) Figure out how to do casual without wearing jeans every day.

6) And of course, be a better friend to fellow bloggers by letting them know how much I appreciate them.

I went to campus today for several more hours of trying to finish up this crazy quarter-it's not just me in the weeds btw (if you ever waited tables you know what "in the weeds" means) Only one half-decent picture without my awesome in-house photographer.

Shirt-made by me

Sweater-thrifted

Scarf-NY street vendor?

Juicy Couture Jeans-thrifted

Hat-gift from meeting

Winding Down

This morning I got up at 4:30 AM (3 hours sleep) took my daughter to the airport. She's visiting family out of state for the holidays. Then rushed to get dressed and down to campus for my last two classes. Afterwards they had the big Faculty and Staff Christmas Party. I wanted to look festive but all I could handle was to throw on this sparkly vintage sweater over some regular clothes.

I actually got a few compliments. Needed it. Here's a close up of the sweater.

This is another little vintage bauble I picked up sometime in the 80's at a yard sale. I put it on a chain and now it's one of my favorite necklaces. Also reminds me of a Christmas ornament.

And I got this at the party!!! I don't know what's in it yet. It's too pretty to unwrap. I want to look at it for awhile. What did you do today?

Sweater-vintage, flea market

Pink Shirt-Nine & Co

Purple Tank-Mervyns

Jeans-thrifted

Shoes-gift

Necklace-yard sale

Scarf-hand made by me

PS After tomorrow I will be through grading and officially en vacance. I have a lot of crafts and Christmas projects to do and some ideas to share so that will be coming up. As you can see I'm not feeling very funny today. Combination of exhaustion and sadness that my baby is away. <: (

The Countdown

Only 2 more days before I stop complaining about grading and being tired. I graded for 8 hours straight today and there's still more to do. I'm getting up at 4:30 in the morning to take my daughter to the airport for her Christmas vacation and then going right to work for two classes (finals), a company Christmas party and then more delicious grading. The last thing I wanted to do today was take pictures but I made a commitment so my child and I decided to kick it Paparazzi Style to save you and me from showing such a raggedy face. :)

and of course...Superstar!!!!

(her idea)

Burgandy tank-Mervyns

Gray Top-Old Navy

Sweater-well-loved hand-me-down from best friend

Kahki Pants-thrifted

Nine West Boots-gift

Necklaces-thrifted, FIDM Scholarship Store

Flash Drive-Staples

Halfway There

I am about halfway through my Everyday in December Challenge. I'm very proud actually because I'm not that great at being consistent. I tend to like variety and do a lot of different things at once and start over alot so I'm hoping this could become a habit.

I used to live near CBGB's in New York in the early 90's but got this t-shirt at a thrift store in LA. I spent the day inside grading (surprised?) Now off to teach ye olde night class.

See you tomorrow. :)

T-shirt-thrifted

Jeans-thrifted

Sweater-thrifted

Shoes-Marshalls

Purse-Marshalls