Books and Stuff

Wow... this is the longest amount of time I've gone without updating this little blog since I started it! Anyway, at the end of December I was feeling like I was coming down with a cold. 2 weeks and 2 doctors appointments later, I'm told I have a sinus infection. So not a fun way to start of 2012! Luckily, I've been planning out goals. I've also been reading some of the new books I got for the holidays.

Oh, and to keep this from becoming a blog where I only discuss books, I've started a tumblr account & a blog over there called Monique's Bookshelf. So if you want to know what I thought about a book I've read, or what's on my list, then check that out!

Last week I did try to lay low, I ended up getting up on Thursday and Friday super early to help the family I babysit for get the kids ready for school. I also ended up meeting my friends Carolyn and Steph for coffee. We then ended up at Target since Steph needed to look for a coffee press or something, which turned into just wandering through the store since we didn't really have anywhere to be. I found adorable clearance shoes for $6! I bought them, and although I probably should be trying to save every penny possible, I'm glad I did! I wore them on Saturday with a skirt and tights, and then today with jeans!

On Saturday, my friends Ruth and Mike were having a house warming/blessing/grad/birthday party. It was funny when my mom asked what the occasion was for this party, and I replied "What isn't the occasion?" I got to see a bunch of my friends and have quality time with them, and we ate our fill of delicious food!

Hopefully I will be back with actually decent posts once my sinuses are less congested and I can actually think straight!

eleven

Note: This is a super long post. Feel free to just skim & check out the pictures.

Since my pre-teen years, my favorite number has been 11. Which I guess is partially why I was so looking forward to 2011. And now, with the year coming to a close, I thought I'd take the time to reminisce about the year we are about to leave behind. As much as I sometimes get into a funk about the whole economy/job situation, 2011 has been an okay year.

[caption id="attachment_296" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Being interviewed during Iron Chef."][/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My mentoring program had two awesome fundraisers, one duct taping a security guard to a wall (voluntarily) and an Iron Chef competition. They were both fun, and my team won the Iron Chef. Seriously, great great events. I went bobsledding and it was one of the coolest experiences I've ever had in my life. It was awesome.

[caption id="attachment_297" align="alignleft" width="224" caption="Bobsledding!!"][/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In March, I turned 23. It was one of the best birthdays I've ever had. I got a cake made for me at the dining hall, thanks to my mother. Eileen sent me flowers with the most beautiful note, I was in tears. A few of my residents from the building I lived in gave me flowers too. I found out our building won an energy conservation challenge. I really could not have asked for that day to have gone any better.

[caption id="attachment_298" align="alignleft" width="224" caption="Flowers from Eileen!"][/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I competed in my school's Elevator Pitch competition in the non-profit/social advocate category, pitching a mentoring program of course, and won 2nd place! I helped Kayla with her One Day Without Shoes events, and we walked in the rain down Church Street in Burlington. It was a cold but fun day, and got a lot of local press!

[caption id="attachment_303" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Leaving campus at 5AM (and running on little sleep) for a weekend in Maine!"][/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I spent a weekend traveling with DREAM, my mentoring program to Maine where I was able to spend quality time with my mentee, as well as the other kids and mentors. I was impressed with the ability of the mentors, staff, and kids to handle whatever was thrown at us that weekend, including our bus breaking down and a late late night getting home.

[caption id="attachment_300" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="YAY Graduation!"][/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was able to go home right before graduation and finals to spend time with my friend Ruth for her Easter birthday. I graduated college in May. It was a beautiful ceremony (albeit in a stuffy building). I got to spend time during Senior Week with friends, attending a Red Sox baseball game, taking a cruise around Lake Champlain. I attended a dinner for the Senior Class and the Trustees of the school, where our Senior Class Gift committee announced that we had over 50% participation, beating prior years and our goal. I got to see the girl I mentored for the past two years "graduate" 8th grade. It meant so much for me to be able to be there for her. When she saw me there, she was so excited, and you could tell it meant a lot to her too.

I ran/walked 3.1 miles as part of a relay team in the Vermont City Marathon, on behalf of Outright Vermont, a great organization that works with LGBTQA youth in Vermont. I had a wonderful graduation party with many family and friends there to spend time with me.

[caption id="attachment_305" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="My mom and I at Ruth's wedding."][/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was glad to be able to be the maid of honor not just once, but twice this year. In June, I was in my friend Ruth's outdoor Maine wedding. And in July, I was in Eileen's wedding. They were both beautiful days with memories I will cherish for a long long time.

[caption id="attachment_307" align="alignleft" width="214" caption="Eileen and I."][/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I adopted Charlie, and got to go visit my friend Natasha when I did. I had a wonderful visit and Charlie was amazing on the 5+ hour car ride to Maine... he barely meowed at all!

[caption id="attachment_299" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Charlie!"][/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I got to go to a concert with a friend, and a concert with my family. My mom and I did laughter yoga, and my dad got my copy of "Design Sponge" signed while he was on a business trip. I started Cool & Pretty Things & this blog.

[caption id="attachment_301" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Cool & pretty things!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_306" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Tattoo!"][/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I got my first tattoo! It's the tree of life, with hearts for leaves... and the red and turquoise hearts are for my grandparents. My mom and sister got the same design, and the same day we went, my two cousins went and got red cars (for Richard "Red" Carr).

All the while, I met new friends, became closer with some, reconnected with some old ones, and have so many friends now that I consider family. I couldn't be more grateful to have them in my life. For Mike and Ruth's family to become my "Aunts" and Moms... same with Natasha's family. The kids that Ruth and I both babysit, we call "our" kids we love them so much.... it's really made this year so much better.

This year was not without some trials and tribulations. I had some major airport problems getting home from an out of state interview. I got waitlisted or denied from all 6 grad schools I applied to. I found out that my grandfather had passed away the day before my graduation (and since I went straight to the out of state interview, it was a few days before I was told of the news). I've spent a good 3-4 months of this year unemployed, and have been dealing with a lot of migraines lately. We found out that our roof of our house was underbuilt and had a huge deal with getting the entire roof replaced.

[caption id="attachment_302" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Roof Construction"][/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I'm ending the year with a sinus infection. But, what can you do!

There are definitely way more positive things that have happened this year than the negatives. And really, most of those bad things that happened aren't the worst thing in the world. I'm grateful to have a roof over my head, food to eat, clothing and shoes. And books, computers, and to be alive.

If you made it through that then I am SO thrilled! And you should let me know so I can send you some baked goods or something. Like really. Also, I will never ever write another post that long.

Credit to the picture of Charlie goes to Natasha, picture of Eileen and I, is Eileen's.

What I Wore: On Christmas Eve

shirt: I'm actually not sure where I got it! | skirt: Maurices | tights: Target ($5) | necklace: Maid of Honor gift from Ruth | watch: American Eagle Outfitters | bracelet: MoH gift from Eileen | shoes (not shown): Movember TOMS

Went to see family and go to church, and needed to look like I actually put some thought into my outfit. This is what I ended up with.

Rablings of my Busy Brain

I've slowly been trucking through my to do list that I made back on Monday or Tuesday of this week. I've been filling out a million and one applications and sending my resume and cover letters out. Here's to hoping that I get somewhere with one of them. And I finally finished the picture collage that I did for The Pinterest Challenge.

I also wrote out all of my student loan checks for December. And yes, I was able to afford December's student loan payments and still have a tiny bit of money left over. It was mostly thanks to my cousin Kyler asking me to fill in for him on a weekend gig. And my favorite little family from down the street who asked me to babysit like 4 times in the past few weeks or so. I was excited to have more money than I had orginally thought I was going to have, plus get to do these things anyway.

I also made a new item for my shop. I had sort of come up with the idea but finally brought it to fruition today... and I'm very pleased with the outcome. Hopefully I will have a few new items up shortly! I joined an etsy "team"... the Etsy Maine Team! Hopefully this will help me get my stuff out there more. I've also been brainstorming local shops that I could sell my stuff.

My mind has also been following with an idea for a business and what to get for my Lovely Package exchange partner. I'm emailing back and forth with my exchange partner and my mind is excitedly figuring out what to get her and how to package it! Can't wait to show you more soon!

twelve by 2012 check in!

With about 7 weeks left until 2012, I figured a goal check in post might be in order. I made my list about 3 weeks ago, so let's see how things look!

In progress goals will be in blue, finished or unobtainable goals will be in green.

1. Read 2 books. - I'm currently reading The Power of Half by Hannah and Kevin Salwen. I need to finish this book so that I can move on to my next one.


2. Give Mia, Lila, and Jordan their belated birthday presents, and buy Dan his. - I bought Dan his birthday present. I need to either wrap or get bags for these presents and bring them over to the kids I babysit. So this goal is one that is almost near completion.


3. Post on my blog 3 times a week. -I feel like I'm doing well at posting multiple times a week.


4. Open my etsy shop. - Check it out! YAY One goal completed.


5. Get a job. - Multiple interviews. I'm trucking along with this one. But this one needs to be completed (as apposed to reading books) so I can pay off my loans.


6. Visit Eileen and Kyle before they head to Alaska. - So I set myself up for failure with this one. I don't have the money to take a trip, so unfortunately this goal is not going to happen.


7. Start a little freelance business. - I have business cards designed, though I need to print them. I have a friend with a business who needs a website, so I guess I can consider myself having my first client? I have started planning out what my portfolio will include. But need to make more headway with executing and finishing it.


8. Spend quality time with my friends here. -I've definitely been successful here. I've done dinners and gone to concerts with my friends here. I'm gonna call this goal good.


9. Finish my room design/clean/reorganization/set up. - Really haven't done any work here either. Maybe I will post pictures of what it currently looks like and what I need to do with it!


10. Figure out budget and start saving! -I haven't really worked on this goal yet. I should probably wait until I have a job.


11. Make 5 things (either food or crafts) I've pinned on Pinterest. - Doing well with this goal. I've made 2/5 things.


12. Visit Burlington! -I haven't even figured out when I might want to go. But if I want to go before they leave for Thanksgiving break, I should go soon. Or wait until after they get back from break.

Okay. 6 in progress. 2 finished. 1 unobtainable. Should get crackin on those other 3 that I haven't really worked on yet!

What the People Really Need is People

The other day a certain big company's career website's application took about 4 times the "45 minutes" the website claim's the application takes. It was mostly because the page was ridiculously slow to load. So it was frustrating, but I know that I just have to keep at it, because something will come along! Though I do wish that job searching was different.



This one part really struck with me. "What the people need is people." I just wish I could print out my resume on my nice resume paper and hand it to someone. I hate that I have to spend hours filling out an online application that I'm not even sure if anyone is going to see. I just wish they could tell me that they even got my resume. I just think that Human Resources should have a lot more of the Human that is in the name. But what can I do. Hopefully the job search will be better. I know that I will find something eventually. I just hope that it's soon so I won't have to stress about my finances as much!

But I was very excited {earlier} that same day (like before the whole job application thing). My mom and I ran some errands and went to a few stores. And since I look a lot younger than my age, I don't ever get asked to open store cards. And although I'm sure some people hate getting asked to open a store credit card, I wish they'd ask me. Because at least it means that they think I look closer to my age than most people think. Like when I was at the mall and got asked if I was looking for a dress for homecoming. Like my last homecoming was in 2007! No, I'm not looking for a homecoming dress! So for you to ask me to open a store card, I will for sure thank you, and tell you that I'm flattered before I say no! But I got asked twice!! the other day. I was thrilled.

Pinterest Challenge Part 1

It's Pinterest Challenge Day!

According to Pinterest, it's a virtual pinboard that lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.

And Katie from Bower Power and Sherry from Young House Love have held 2 Pinterest Challenges so far, and today is reveal day for the second challenge.

I also had in my twelve by 2012 list that I want to create 5 things that I've pinned, so this just helps me cross that off!



This is just a part of my "For The Home" board. I figured that the photo collage on the right part of the screen would be a perfect little undertaking for this challenge.

I had photos and little double sided photo splits to attach the photos to the foam board... which I was able to pick up at Target for $2.49. You cannot beat creating a nice collage and super easy project for less than $3!

I had so many photos around that I created this 20 X 30 board collage out of pictures of the kids in my extended family, my cousin A, and B, D, M, and R, who are all kids of my cousins. I love how it came out! I just cut all the 4 by 6 pictures to 4 inch squares and attached it to the board. Although my little picture split things didn't work out as well as I had hoped, so there will be a part 2 to this project where I will actually tape it down with double sided tape, and then cover with modge podge, like Cali over at Bits of Everything did.

So, part number 1. Part number 2 to come. But all in all, it was a quick project, I was able to do laundry, feed the pets, do the project, eat dinner and still be finished before The X Factor came on TV! Though I will put in a little bit more time to finish the project later.