Fresh Start

I won't comment on how often I make this statement with a blog. So, in lieu of past regrets, let us BEGIN.

begin: to do the first part of an action. go into the first part of a process. to come into existence. to have a starting point. to set about the activity of. to bring into being.

This is my word for 2012. A la Ali Edwards' annual One Little Word.

I am starting the year beginning many new things: a Read-the-Bible-In-One-Year plan; a house that is in utter disary, needing much love and attention; a body that also needs love and attention with new foods and exercise; existence without a full-time job; and lastly ... a new baby.

A new life. "To come into existence." If that does not describe begin, I don't know what does. We are expecting our first child this summer. A miracle of preciousness. There are so many things I could say about this, but I am not quite ready to delve into those emotions in this forum. For now, I want to keep the first post of 2012 focused on what I hope for the coming 365 days.

So often I begin a project only to stop half way.

Hello, my name is The Queen of Unfinished Projects, it's lovely to meet you. 

Rather than beat myself up about this fact, focusing only on the tasks left to do, I am choosing to embrace what I am good at: starting something new. Begin. Perhaps if I find the positivity in this character attribute, I can carry the task to completion, rather than feeling overwhelmed and frustrated with myself for not finishing whatever it is that I am working on.

What will your word for 2012 be?

Here We Go!

Who knows what that was from? ;)

via IGN
Yes, yes, thank you Mario.

Here we go (again). A new take on the ol' blogeroo. Perhaps a regular posting schedule can come about.

There are several things I'd like to accomplish, and keeping track of them here seems like a viable option.

For example:

-Working on my photography, using methods learned from Karen Russell's Snapshots of a Good Life class
-Learning Photoshop
-Finishing projects I've started and not finished
-Bringing pins from Pinterst into reality
-Beginning (and concurrent thoughts on) a Bible Study
-Book discussions (with book goal list to cross off)

Just to name a few. I'm sure I can come up with more along the way.

A gigantor giveaway!

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme

TodaysMama and GameStop are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What is your holiday wish for your family?
patience, safety, contentment
2. What is your Christmas morning tradition?
stockings are opened first, followed by the Santa presents (gifts between family and friends have already been exchanged and opened the night before)
3. If you could ask Santa for one, completely decadent wish for yourself, what would it be? 
an iPhone or an xbox kinect
4. How do you make the holidays special without spending any money?
I don't think I've ever been able to accomplish not spending ANY money...
5. What games did you play with your family growing up?
my dad would always get us a puzzle and a board game every Christmas, and over the holiday break, my mom and I would work on the puzzle.
6. What holiday tradition have you carried on from your own childhood?
Christmas Eve present opening, Santa presents on Christmas morning, church Christmas Eve, several others as well
7. Where would you go for a Christmas-away-from-home trip?
Somewhere in a forest or the mountains, with lots of pure snow, quiet and natural surroundings. As long as my family was all there too!
8. Check out GameStop (link to: http://bit.ly/gamestop10) and tell us, what are the three top items on your GameStop Wish List this year? 
 xbox 360 w/ kinect, Call of Duty Black Ops, Rock Band 3 (and components)


Fingers crossed for a win!

Open Letter #1

Dear Attendee of UW Men's Hockey Game Who Happened to Sit in the Same Row As Me,
This must have been the first hockey game you've ever attended, because you obviously are unaware of common game etiquette. So common that it's posted on signs as you walk into the arena. One of the most important rules being, wait until a break in the play to find your seat. Perhaps if you had ever attended a professional game, you would have known this, since the ushers actually stop you from entering the seating area until play has stopped.
Because, really, when there is a power play on our half of the rink in favor of my (our) team, they are in the process of attempting to score, and you walk in front of me, it does not make me happy. So unhappy even, I am ashamed to admit that I spoke unkindly at you. Not towards you, but at you. I'm sure you heard me as you squeezed by, because when you left again 2 minutes later (!) you gave me a look of confused hatred.
I might have gotten over this blunder, had you not committed it again, later on in the game.
Next time, you need to be a little more considerate of the other spectators. Consider this your warning. If it happens again, you just might find yourself on the other side of the railing.
Sincerely,
A Disgruntled Season Ticket Holder
P.S. I'm only kidding about the railing part. But seriously. Don't do it again.

Random Bits, Odds, and Various Ends

Antiquing with my mom was much more fun than going it alone - especially since she knew what things were that I had no idea of, as well as if something was a good deal (yay basket!). I came home with 2 wire gym/locker baskets, a large, heavy pair of Milliner/Sewing (?) scissors - that may still cut, a gold bracelet for my Halloween costume, and a large wicker laundry basket to be used as quilt storage. I'll get some pictures on here once everything is cleaned up.
While I was out the other day, I found a few pieces for Pete's Halloween costume at JT Puffins, Halloween Express and TJ Maxx. It's coming along, slowly but surely. As for my costume, we're waiting on a sewing machine part to come in for a particular edging stitch. My mom is so nice to get this sewing foot just for me. :)  {Thanks mom!}
Last night Pete insisted on buying a RiffTrax and watching the corresponding movie: Twilight. Which, yes I own. If you are not familiar with it, RiffTrax is a recording of a couple people making fun of a movie - that you play right along side of the movie, so you hear both the movie and the poking fun. They started with Mystery Science Theater 3000 (also known as MST3K). I have to say, this kind of humor is more Pete's style, but over the years it has grown on me. The first half was much funnier than the later half, so it was a tad disappointing the hilarity level didn't keep up throughout the full length, but, overall, not a bad $3.99 spent.
Today: Listening to various Phantom of the Opera tracks, reading The Essential Garden Design Workbook, 2nd ed. (for some reason, as I have no yard in which to plant a garden), cleaning up antique treasures, watching a few eBay bids, house cleaning (as always) and possibly a walk in the fall weather.

Hello October

One of my favorite people to watch and blogs to read, Ali Edwards, is teaching a class on Big Picture Scrapbooking (another great resource). Of course I couldn't pass up this opportunity to take a class of hers! Today is the start of class, Yesterday & Today; "to help you meaningfully document and celebrate life by looking to the past before approaching the stories of today." I cannot wait!

Today: Switching the thermostat to heat, wearing a cozy sweater, antiquing with my mom, and Lifegroup later tonight.

Bring on the cocoa and warm cider!

Photoshop

Awhile back, I got a good deal on Photoshop Elements 7 from Costco, as well as a good deal on an intro to pSE7 book from Barnes & Noble. The thing is, I was so excited to get it, having waited for so long, that I promptly did nothing with it. Which totally doesn't make much sense. So, one of my goals is to begin reading the book and following along in PSE so I can become acquainted with the program and actually start to use it. Preferably by the end of the 2009.
But first, I must find the disc and re-install it, as my computer crashed a month ago and I lost some applications. That's what I get for not having a virus-protector installed. {sigh}

Cleaning

I've been wanting to get our living space to such a place that all it needs is a little bit of work every day to keep it tidy and clean. This desire has been ongoing since... like forever. I came across a website that seems to lead one to this goal. I have tried off an on, but never stuck with it. FLYlady.net is indeed a good starting point. I'm curious if any of my blog readers have any ideas or suggestions about cleaning and keeping a tidy house. (There are only 2 of you aren't there?) ;)

Mondays

For some reason, if I am going to start something new or start something again, it always seems I wait for a Monday. Even though Sunday is technically the first day of the week. Same thing with 1sts of months - start something on the first of the following month. It may be procrastination, but also I like things to be neat, (although you may not think that if you were to look at our apartment right now) and having a beginning on the start of the week just seems orderly.
Fields of Gold by Allard One Photo: Fields of Gold by Allard One

Halloween Costume Beginnings

One might think that contemplating Halloween in July is a tad crazy. But I would disagree. That is, if you plan to put some thought into it. :) Which I do, thank you very much. By starting now, I give myself time to shop for sales and use coupons for the various components of what I want to do. Some things are "in season" during other times of the year than October.

That being said, I have indeed made my costume decision. I am going to go as Annia Aurelia Galeria Lucilla, daughter of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelias; also known as Lucilla, from the movie, Gladiator. Because this is a little more complex and involved than your average wrap-a-sheet-around-yourself-with-a-safety-pin toga, I will more than likely wear it for more than just one Halloween.

At this stage in the game, I've only started my research of the costume, but have made some significant strides. I will post my progress here, along with the final version, once completed.

Here are some internet-provided images, as well as another Lucilla costume research site, which was the most helpful online source. It was a good jumping off point to the rest of my research.

This other costume research site is here, with some screenshots/screencaps as well as promotional photos.

Lucilla4

Photo: oncourse.iu.edu

Portr-lucilla3 Photo: romancoins.info

Halfbodyshot
Photo: dianethegeek.com

I began with general artwork/statues from the Roman era - evidence of the drape-y outfits.

Followed by internet searches for proper terminology of the dress pieces.

Which in turn led to the library searches. Extensive amounts of books about Rome, only one so far has yielded any assistance, Ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine Costume & Decoration, Second Edition, by Mary G. Houston, published in 1931. It has illustrations as well as descriptions of what the various pieces of dress were. An excellent resource, highly recommended if you want to recreate an outfit from any of those time periods.

Next time I'll go over more images and some of my specific research findings.