Curtis Collectables

Grr...

2011-02-18T18:46:00.000-08:00

So, I haven't been keeping up with writing down my thoughts and I really should learn that this is actually good for me. It's good to be able to look back at posts and see all that I have to be grateful for. This will be our fourth week at the new school and so far we're not meshing well with it.

It's so hard because not only are we older but we have so much more life experience than most of the other people in our classes. Then these people answer questions so confidently, even if they're not even close to right. Why are they so confident? It makes no sense. It costs SO much money to go to this college and it seems like no one appreciates it. No one appreciates that it cost me four years of my life!

Tim is working on my website and I'm excited. I hope it works out.

Excited!

2011-01-31T19:49:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that we start class tomorrow. It's going to be a crazy semester to because we'll be waking up around 5 on Tuesdays and Thursdays for class and the rest of the week Tim wants to wake up around 7. I hope that we really do, because it'll give us so much more time to do productive stuff. I hope we can read more and listen to more This American Life. I really want to enjoy these next two years and we're setting the tone for it tomorrow. So nerve racking.

Oh and it's my 26th b-day. It's weird because Kevin Smith was talking about how he doesn't feel like he's getting older but rather that he judges his age based around his daughter's age. He postulated that he wouldn't have any real grasp on his age without his daughter. Maybe that's why I don't feel old or that I'm afraid to be little closer to 30. I can't wait to be 30 and done with school, hopefully working and finding out whether or not I was meant to be a teacher.

This day has been wonderful! Tim got me a mandoline slicer and some Burt's Bee's face stuff. I'm so happy. And I got a pound of See's candy, 3 metal colanders, a food mover, and some money! I'm so damn lucky. I'm so excited for tomorrow. Ok, gotta go watch TMZ.

Good month.

2011-01-27T19:29:00.001-08:00

Today I realized that we had already had a pretty accomplishment filled January and it's not even over yet. We got blinds up in almost every window. I think my goal for February will be to get some curtains up. I know I'm capable of doing it, I'm just nervous. I'm still slightly afraid of my sewing machine. Haha.

We also got two doors replaced and participated in the replacement, if only slightly. I finally renewed my license, a mere week before it expired. We found out that we'll be able to afford going to La Verne and managed to already fill out the financial aid stuff for next year. We also signed up for classes and on the first we'll be starting at a real college.

It's been a good month! Not a lot of fighting amongst Tim and I. I hope this will continue because I love him so much and it's the silliest of things that we bicker about. I've also been trying to spend more time in my craft room as well. I get out so much when I'm in there. It's like free therapy. It's not like there is anything particularly wrong with me, it's just sometimes I need to be alone with my creative thoughts. Sometimes I need to create, even if no one will ever benefit from my creations.

I'm so disappointed in my lack of selling ability. I really need to pour my heart into my craft but it's so much easier to be lazy! I need to build a better light box and practice taking better pictures. I really love creating and it would be awesome to at least make enough money to sustain my habit.

Nervous but excited.

2011-01-20T20:36:00.000-08:00

We had that meeting at it was more of a meet and greet. It's awesome that this guy seemed like he was on top of what was going on and if he didn't, he was willing to make a quick call. I'm so excited to start at La Verne but I am truly nervous. I'm wondering how much more rigorous it's going to be compared to community college. I know we can do it but still, it's scary.

After coming home we had to do some things to finish up the back door. Had to buy paint and primer and this and that. Then we took back the blinds that my mom bought for us and exchanged them for verticals because we have to cut them to fit around our swamp cooler. We had to come home and primer all of the trim for around the doors and then we'll paint in the morning. The contractor will be over here at 8:30 which may actually be good because hopefully he'll be out of here semi-early.

I made some awesome chili tonight and I think I'm gonna have some ice cream for dessert. The only bad thing about today was that I didn't get to go to the gym because we got home too late. Grr. Well, there's always tomorrow.

Awaiting wonderfullness...

2011-01-19T19:21:00.000-08:00

Today was filled with load noises thanks to the contractor that installed our brand new back door. I'm so excited. Now I don't have to put Miya through the window anymore. It looks so nice too. The only bad thing is that the man manipulated the kitchen so much that we skipped lunch and were starving for dinner. We got Round Table pizza because we had a 50 percent off coupon. It was delicious and I believe that I will have a root beer float in a bit.

Tomorrow we are going to meet with our academic advisor at La Verne. We have to be there at 11 so we'll be waking up pretty early. I think I'll have an english muffin and some coffee so I'll be in a good mood. I get so dang cranky when I don't have food in my belly.

I'm awaiting my root beer float and therefore at a loss of what else to write.

Whew!

2011-01-18T20:07:00.000-08:00

Finally some good news when it comes to going to La Verne! I'm so relieved. It's finally looking good that we will be able to afford to go to this amazing school. I want to go there so bad. I've kinda been waiting since high school to go to a "real" college. Community college actually did teach me a lot and I feel like it expanded my mind as well, but I really need a change.

I can't wait to be in class with other people who w

ant to be there. I can't wait! It's going to be tough though, which is exciting. This new phase of our life comes right after my birthday too. That's really awesome because then 26 will be memorable for me.

I also really want to get my Etsy shop up again. I need to build a new light box and I think I will tackle that next week. So much coming up and I'm stoked.

“The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.” Flora Whittemore

2010-08-04T16:00:00.000-07:00

I had a great dinner with Virginia and Maggi at the Olive Garden. It was Virginia's birthday yesterday and she's officially 25. I love hanging out with these three. It's so familiar and yet new at the same time. We don't meet up nearly as often we should but it's so amazing every time.

We had unlimited soup and salad with breadsticks. The food was awesome and the conversation was even better. We talked a lot about Maggi and Natalie. It's weird because our lives have taken such different paths. Maggi's about to become a mom and I'm not even out of community college. Haha.

I just can't wait to be done with school so I can start my real life. I want to be a teacher! Gosh darnit! I want to have our own place. It'll all happen soon and I can't wait.

“Never do wrong when people are looking.” Mark Twain

2010-06-20T00:26:00.000-07:00

Today was the third day of the quilt run and I've helped all three days. It's been so much fun and slightly annoying. Some of the women are coming into the shop and getting their passport stamped and just leaving the shop. They don't even look around at the shop! There is so much fabric in the shop that I think they may have more cotton fabrics than the local Michael's shop.

At least look at the shop. It makes us sad when you don't even take a look around. I'm not saying you should buy something at all 38 shops but man, look around. Other than that, it's been fun and full of great food. Sandwiches, including the infamous peanut butter, butter, and grape jelly. Mmmhm. And chinese food today. Got home around 9:30 or so and hung out watching the family play video games.

Then inspiration hit and Aaron and I made a microwave mug cake! It was awesome. So tasty. Great day but I'm tired now and I really need some sleep. Gotta be at the shop at 8. :)

“A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others.”

2010-05-03T21:59:00.000-07:00

No answer from the extended family yet but you never know....

I actually have to build a family tree and genogram for one of my finals. It's a family communication class which has honestly been just like all other online classes, crap. I hate online classes. They are not conducive to learning. I want to learn and discuss and be able to know why you never give me full credit for any assignment. I answer all of your questions and add the vocab words from the text. What more do you want lady?

And I'm frustrated with this class also because the teacher frequently phrases questions as if everyone in the class has children or plans to have them. Times are changing and lots of younger couples are deciding to be childless. I know that most of the reasons are financial and I think this is a good thing. We won't have another generation of children who's parent's didn't save for their college and are now lost as to what to do with their life. I honestly thought growing up that my parents would be able to send me to a four year college.

It wasn't until a few days before I left for boot camp that my dad tried to convince me to stay by saying that he would do anything he had to in order to come up with the money for college so I didn't join the Army. He knew I wasn't cut out for the Army; I'm far too logical. But it was too late.

And it's not as if I regret my decision to join the Army either because I feel like a more well rounded individual for going through what I did. I know more what I'm capable of both physically and mentally because I was pushed so far. It was a tough experience but hey at least I have the money for college now.

I'm going to be a teacher. It's what I want more than anything. I want to enrich people's lives and make a difference. I know I can do it!

“The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works, is the family.” Lee Iacocca

2010-04-23T23:22:00.001-07:00

Family has never really extended past my parents and my half brother for me and to be completely honest we weren't that close knit at all. Right now I'm struggling to get along with my mother because as much as I don't want to admit it, I think we're a lot alike. My aunt has been sending me e-mails telling me what my mom was like when she was younger and it's given me a lot of insight.

It seems as if she gave up on herself and her life more than once. She gave up on her dreams when she got pregnant with my brother because she thought that her husband was going to be able to be her everything. I don't know anything about that relationship and I've never even met my brother's dad, I don't believe, but it has to be hard for her. Then they divorced and she met my dad. One of the greatest men in the entire world and one of the best role models that a girl could ask for.

Ok writing this while I'm menstruating is not going to work because I can't stop crying. I really want to get these emotions out and try to better understand them but since emotions aren't logical I just can't seem to deal with them.

But why I started to write this post is because I wrote to my cousin, Rachel. It's weird but I've heard her name mentioned once before in a hushed voice when my mom told me that I couldn't tell anyone that I knew that my Uncle Ernie had a child that no one else in the family knew about. Well, now that child is all grown up and she's on Facebook. I wrote to her and know I just have to wait to see what happens.

This whole "family" thing is really new to me. It's weird but I want it SO bad. I also feel really weak admitting that too. I don't know why but I do. I wish we could've had a closer knit family my whole life but I'm hoping that I can make up for lost time. I hope I have the courage to push through all of these emotions that I don't understand.

A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself. Jim Morrison

2010-04-16T22:19:00.000-07:00

Free Write.....

Bloated. That's how I feel as of this very moment. Stressed. I hate stress. I affects me way to much. I hate hearing people yell at each other. It sounds so hippie but seriously why can't everybody just get along? I just wish that every one could try, even for just one day, to be nicer to each other. Respect each other. Treat each other like human beings. Ones that deserve to be on the planet. Ugh. I guess I'm fed up. I don't really know of what but I'm fed up.

I just want to get passed being 25 and having no purpose. I want to have a career again. I want to feel like a contributing member of society. I know that I have to get through these classes in order to get my degree but I just want them to be over. I want Tim and I to start our real lives. I want to see who we become.

We deserve so much. We deserve to be happy. We deserve to have what we want from life. We deserve it because we've both worked our butt's off and it's yet to pay off. I just want to get passed this feeling. I also need to work on being more comfortable with being Dana. I obviously can't change who I am. I've been this way for far too long to try and change now. I need to accept it.

I'm Dana Curtis. I'm socially ackward. I hate being hugged by everyone except Tim. Even the thought that hug may happen soon makes me nervous and I want to curl up in a little ball and cry. I'm oftentimes rude. It's as if I have no filter. I don't understand emotions. They're not logical so I can't understand them. Babies aren't automatically adorable to me. I really do wish that there could be peace on Earth and that the rich should share their wealth. That's right, I think a form of communism/socialism sounds great. I think I would even enjoy working and living on a farm/commune where you produce your own food and everyone is part of the common good. I love food. Everything except deviled eggs and tuna. I don't want kids because I would be a horrible mother. I value intelligence so much that it makes me judge mental. I need to work on that. Ok that's enough. :)

That was fun.

“The human body is the best picture of the human soul.” Ludwig Wittgenstein

2010-02-12T21:19:00.000-08:00

Ok I'll say it, I'm not totally comfortable with my body. I went from 185-195 and now I'm 130-140. It's a huge difference. I went from a size 15 to a size 5. It's nuts. My mother-in-law looked at me yesterday and said, "man you're so skinny." I know she means it in a loving way but I don't want to be thought of as "skinny."

Curvy and healthy looking yes, but not skinny. When I go into stores I still reach for the XL when I fit in s-m's. It's so frustrating. I shouldn't be complaining about being thinner because overall I feel a lot better about myself but I don't know this Dana.

This Dana needs...something. I don't know what it is yet. Hopefully I find it.

It's not easy being a mother. If it were easy, fathers would do it. ~From the television show The Golden Girls

2010-02-09T21:24:00.001-08:00

So I guess I'm at the age when people are going to start asking more often about when I'm going to have kids. I don't want any kids. It's not that I don't like kids but I'm not meant to be a mom. I don't think I have it in me. I have no maternal instincts and generally I think I lack the emotion needed to be a mom.

It takes so much to be a mom, at least a good one. I don't want to be totally responsible for how another human being turns out. That's too much. I'm so lucky that Tim agrees with me. I just hope his mind doesn't change because I really don't think mine is ever going to.

Some people just aren't up to the task. Those who can't do, teach. That's who I am. I'm a teacher. I love teaching. I'm not specifically great at anything. Never have been. Always the bridesmaid, 2nd runner up, or just someone that's easy to overlook because they're mediocre at a lot of things. It's not to say that I'm not happy with it.

I'm happy with who I am. I satisfied with my mind, my body, my everything. And that feels good.

Face what you think you believe and you will be surprised. ~William Hale White

2010-02-05T19:01:00.000-08:00

So I'm 25. It's official. It's almost been a week and I do feel different but that's probably due to the purple hair. I've been wanting to dye my hair purple for years and I decided that I should just go for it. I go to school and have no need to have normal colored hair. It's washing out every time that I shower but it's still fun.

Not so fun is the back and forth e-mailing snarkiness between my mother and I. But I'm done. Done caring because it hurts too much to care.

My mother-in-law got another tattoo, this one is on her back. It got me to thinking about if I was to get a tattoo what I would get. And nothing is the answer. There is nothing at this moment that I want on my body forever.

So, 25 has already had it's ups and down but I'm looking forward to it.

A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge. Thomas Carlyle

2010-01-25T23:49:00.000-08:00

No courage yet but it's actually sprinkled with a bit of laziness. We woke up today and Tim got right on the phone with VA and they said that they had in fact received his application for benefits but the sad news is that he's at the back of the line now. That means 12 weeks of waiting to finally get paid for the last semester. I am so grateful that Tim is such a great money saver because I don't know what we would be living of off.

Then I called and made an appointment for new glasses!!! I'm so excited. The appointment is tomorrow an I can't wait. Tim also made an appointment which is good because they're having a really good special on glasses where we're getting 2 pairs for only $100. That's what I wanted for my birthday, new glasses, and now I get two pairs it's awesome.

Writing the word awesome reminds me of this weekend when my sister Hannah said that the word "awesome" sounds lame coming from anyone but me. :) Now that's awesome.

This week we also have to go to the college and get the ISBN's for our new books for the semester. Last's semester's book were quite interesting and way better than the first semester so hopefully it'll continue in that fashion and our new books will be the best yet.

Semi-busy week coming up I guess. Hopefully laziness will not prevail tomorrow and I will take pictures of my hair bows.

I almost forgot about this weekend's other great memory! My mom got a new tattoo.

She loves it and I think it's awesome. LOL.

“The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure.” Sven Goran Eriksson

2010-01-24T11:31:00.000-08:00

There is so much we have to do tomorrow. Most of it involves little to no actual leg work but it's still going to be time consuming. I've been really in the mood to sew lately and I've made a couple purses that I think are adorable but I'm having really big confidence issues.

Not really with me but more with the crafts I make. I am so down on myself because it seems like none of my stuff on Etsy sells. It just expi

res and then I feel so let down. I love ALL of hte stuff I make. I put a lot of time and effort into making things and for no one to buy them is disappointing. It's even more disappointing to have over 200 views on some items and still no sales.

Last night I was making some new hair bows at Tim's parent's house and Makayla (5) and Mackenzie (4) wanted to "help". I decided that since the ribbon was free, the thread was free, and with me watching it's not like they were going to hurt themselves, I would let them help. They had a blast. I let them cut the ribbon at the right lengths and even let them sew the thing themselves. They were so proud.

Then my sister's friend comes in and is looking at some of the one's that I have finished. She loved them. I gave her the one she really took an interest in because let's face it, I'm not going to sell it. And then she tells me that she buys off Etsy! Come on! I really want to sell my hair bows on Etsy but I'm just so scared of getting let down again. Maybe I'll work up enough courage to put a few up when we get back to the house but I don't want to make any promises to myself. Here's to hoping I find the courage.

NOAM CHOMSKY: It is the responsibility of intellectuals to speak the truth and expose lies.

2010-01-21T12:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday started off like any other day but it sure did not end that way! So Tim has been waiting for his payment from the VA since before October of last year and there was still no news. We were trying to give them the benefit of the doubt because there are thousands of veterans who are going through the same thing that we are but we decided to give them a call just to see.

When Tim finally got through after being told about 10 times that the line was busy and being hung up on and then waiting almost 30 minutes for a person to finally pick up and the women on the other end takes Tim's heart and just crushes it. The VA hasn't received anything from Victor Valley College that says you're enrolled or any information at all for that matter!

What! How is that possible! You see we went to the Vice President of the school because we had many problems with this in the past and we thought it was fixed. Tim had the blinds of the help window shut in his face and was told 3 seperate times that the paperwork had been submitted. All lies. All of it.

So we decided to take a drive over to VVC and

we walk straight into the President's office and we talk to his secretary, Victoria. She was very helpful and called the women, the lying women, who deserves to have her job stripped from her and she tells Victoria that she has Tim's file and she still needs to do some work on it before she can fax it to VA!

WHAT!?!?!? Are you kidding me woman? You told the Vice President himself that you had sent the information already and even gave a copy of what you claimed to have sent! That's just bologna. So Victoria stresses that the VA needs her to fax this information ASAP and that we need three specific things to be included in the fax. She proceeds to tell Victoria that she wants to digitally send it instead of fax it even though we just got off the phone with the VA representative who specifically stated that we should

fax it so she would be able to make Tim's case a priority. Once Victoria tells this lying women that we are going to talk to the President all of a sudden she will have the paperwork done and sent within ten minutes.

Grr. Just grr. We did speak with the President who honestly seemed more like he had heard these types of stories about his employees than actually showing concern for the disabled veteran's whose only source of income is being stripped away by one women whom he employs.

So the Vice President calls the lying woman and makes s

ure that the paperwork is being sent. We of course don't believe a word that she says because she has already told us three times that it was sent. He walks us over to the building that she is in and we receive the copy of the fax that she sent and this time we also get the cover sheet. We realize that one of the three things that needed to be on the fax is not there and that's when the Vice President pawns us off to the financial aid director.

The man was very nice and cordial but boy did he hate when we called his employee a liar. That's what she is. A lying liar that lies. So we'll see if the paperwork goes through this time. And of course the VA is closed on Thursday and Friday so they can process more claims so we have to wait until Monday until we can call and check.

Overall, VVC sucks and if on Monday that paperwork didn't go through there will be letters written or something. Grr. Oh and it snowed! It snowed in the High Desert. So weird.

If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking. George S. Patton

2010-01-19T15:54:00.000-08:00

Grr! So it's the 19th of January and I'm just now deciding that my blog needs to be updated! I 'm mad at myself because I have the worst memory and therefore I don't remember all of the great things that are happening all around me! I need to be more grateful for all of the things that I have.

I have a WONDERFUL husband! I love him so much. He's an amazing man. Our anniversary is coming up on February 25th and we'll have been married for 6 years. It's crazy to think about it because it went by so fast.

That's because over 4 years of my life were consumed completely by the Army and now I don't really even want to remember those years at all. They were not happy years filled with great memories. That's not to say that great things didn't happen during those years but it's really not something that I'm proud of. I'm not proud that I sacrificed my personal beliefs and squelched so much of what I thought I stood for but it's over. It's done. I can't take it back and I think I need to just own it.

Anywho, I think I'll try and write more often because I think

it'll be therapeutic. I really love writing. I always have. I'm also going to try and keep up on my website. It's hard because I feel like I'm the only one who cares about it but as long as I care about it I guess that's all that matters.

“You must believe in free will; there is no choice” Isaac Bashevis Singer

2009-11-04T22:11:00.000-08:00

So, I tried Grape Nuts hot today and I love it! So tasty. And the past couple of days I've had homemade minestrone soup and Costco muffins. Food has been treating me well. Even though I'm still fighting my cold my appetite has been ok which is awesome.

Tomorrow is a math test. Ahh! I hate tests. They

make me so nervous. But this weekend I might be able to go to a Mary Kay makeover thingy because I won a $15 gift certificate and a free make over. I hope that I can get someone to go with me though because I think it'll be awkward without. Maybe Hannah will want to go. That sounds like a good plan.

And Aaron texted me and said that he got me a gift. I'm a lucky gal.

If you want to be happy, be. ~Leo Tolstoy

2009-10-06T22:24:00.000-07:00

I can't believe tomorrow is already Wednesday. The week is flying by. There is an High Desert Etsy team meeting this Saturday and I don't know if I should go. I went to one in August and it was really fun but I didn't really get much accomplished by going there. And then the one in September was supposed to happen and I decided I wouldn't go. Then I find out that no one even showed up! I couldn't believe it. So this week they sent out an e-mail saying that this meeting would be more structured. The agenda will include member requirements and upcoming craft shows and events. That sounds like more of my style but I'm worried that I could spend the time at home sewing or go over to my in-laws and have great family time. Ahh, I don't know what to do.

I hate decisions like this because I know that no matter what I do everything will be find but for some reason I'm stressing out over it. I need to stop doing that because I don't want to take out my stress for something so stupid on someone I love. It's not worth it.

P.S. - (This is for you Hannah) This past weekend Hannah and I went into Circle K to get some coffee because I needed my caffeine fix and the total came to $6.66. It's weird. :)

We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing. -Anon

2009-10-01T22:09:00.000-07:00

Today we had a psychic come to our English class! I was so excited. When Mrs. BeDell told us that he was coming she asked who believed in magic/psychics/ESP? No one except me believes. I'm telling you just watch Derren Brown and you will become a believer. He's amazing. He doesn't do all the gasping in for air to get his "power" sort of thing. He's just magic. Plain and simple.

I was slightly disappointed today however. The psychic turned out to be Mr. BeDell! Her husband. I was expecting someone who actually believed in it and he shows up and does a few things but mostly tells us that it's not real! Boo. I wanted someone to blow my mind.

Math almost blew my mind today but so far I'm still trucking along there. We had our first quiz in government and I was of course the first one finished. I just get so nervous on test day. It's not like go too fast because I often do well on tests but I know that if I sit there with the test in front of me then I will change answers and add stuff onto the essay question that have nothing to do with the actual question.

So when I get up there the teacher just stares at me. I continue to try and hand my quiz to him and he is still just staring. I just tell him I read fast. He laughs and takes my essay answer and flips the paper over and tells me to write more. I wrote on the back of the paper! That's a lot. I only left off two bullet points from my outline when I had the book in front of me! I couldn't have wrote any more.

So hopefully, I still get a good grade. I guess I'll find out on Monday. I'm excited to see.

Be polite to all, but intimate with few. -Thomas Jefferson

2009-09-28T22:53:00.001-07:00

I'm such a lucky girl. I have great family and this weekend I met so many new people at the local quilt shop hop. I feel energized. Today at the gym, I had a really good workout and I even listed a new item on Etsy today. It's really cute.

A lot of my items have expired on Etsy because they didn't sell which is a little bit of a let down. But it's ok because it just means that there is more r

oom in my shop for new stuff. I have made quite a bit of stuff but I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep it and try to open a booth at the local Farmer's Market.

It sounded like such a good idea but now I think I may put them on Etsy. Tomorrow is school almost all day. Then we'll study and hopefully I'll make it to the gym because when I don't go I have nowhere to put all the energy that I expend at the gym. Overall, I am just so happy that I have an amazing husband and a great life.

Loser or Laser?

2009-09-15T23:41:00.000-07:00

TO EVERY MAN, WOMAN & CHILD WE WANT AN END TO THE GLAMORIZATION OF NEGATIVITY IN THE MEDIA / WE WANT AN END TO STATUS SYMBOLS DICTATING OUT WORTH AS INDIVIDUALS / WE WANT A MEANINGFUL AND UNIVERSAL EDUCATION SYSTEM / WE WANT SUBSTANCE IN THE PLACE OF POPULARITY / WE WILL NOT COMPROMISE WHO WE ARE TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE CROWD / WE WANT THE INVISIBLE WALLS THAT SEPARATE BY WEALTH, RACE & CLASS TO BE TORN DOWN / WE WANT TO THINK OUR OWN THOUGHTS / WE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT / WE WANT CLARITY & TRUTH FROM OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS OR THEY SHOULD MOVE ASIDE / WE WANT LOVE NO LIES / WE WANT AN END TO ALL WARS FOREIGN & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE / WE WANT AN END TO THE PROCESSED CULTURE OF EXPLOITATION, OVER-CONSUMPTION & WASTE / WE WANT KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING & PEACE / WE WILL NOT LOSE BECAUSE WE ARE NOT LOSERS, WE ARE LASERS! / LASERS ARE THE OPPOSITE OF LOSERS / LASERS ARE SHINING BEAMS OF LIGHT THAT BURN THROUGH THE DARKNESS OF IGNORANCE / LASERS SHED LIGHT ON INJUSTICE AND INEQUALITY / LOSERS STAND BY AND LET THINGS HAPPEN. LASERS ACT AND SHAPE THEIR OWN DESTINIES / LASERS FIND MEANING AND DIRECTION IN THE MYSTERIES ALL AROUND THEM / LASERS STAND FOR LOVE AND COMPASSION / LASERS STAND FOR PEACE / LASERS STAND FOR PROGRESSION / LASERS ARE REVOLUTIONARY / LASERS ARE THE FUTURE

Love Always Shines Every time Remember 2 Smile - LF

I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious. ~Albert Einstein

2009-09-14T23:04:00.001-07:00

Man, PMS sucks! On Thursday and Friday last week I couldn't run on the treadmill. Every time I got on and took a few strides my boobs would hurt. And I mean really hurt. I didn't really get why I felt like my boobs were replaced with a bags of rocks but I knew I shouldn't run. So I got on the eliptical machine and went about my day. Then I had a wicked mood swings and wasn't exactly nice to my hubby. Being a girl sucks!

PMS is over now though. Whoo hoo. I was back on the treadmill today and I had a really great workout with Hannah. We're doing these ab workouts that are really fun and I hope we see results. Tomorrow we have to turn in our essays on healthcare. I didn't really change much of mine since Thursday but I had to do the Works Cited page which I hate. Then we have a review for the math test on Thursday. It's only chapter 1 and 2 so I'm not worried.

Oh and if anyone wants to write an article for my website you should email me at info@craftersattack.com . I really think outside input from the crafting community is needed so the site can be diverse. So if you haven't checked out my site you should. I would love more input from the community.

Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences. No one can eliminate prejudices - just recognize them. - Edward R. Murrow

2009-09-11T16:42:00.000-07:00

Ahh! I did it again. I neglected my blog for a whole week. I need to realize that this blog can actually be useful for me. I can vent on here or tell everyone about the great days that I have. Instead I keep it all in. Grr. Bad Dana!

This week there was no school on Monday because of Labor Day which sucked because we missed a government class. That class is still really g

reat and although it might be things I should know already, I'm learning a lot. We also had English this week and we had to write a 3-4 page paper about the proposed health care plan. When we got to class we had to do peer editing and afterwards the teacher asked the class who's papers were really good. Of course everyone pointed us out and the teacher said she wasn't surprised. It's so weird because we've only been in the class for a few weeks but everyone in that class thinks we're genius'! One guy even came from across the room because he wanted Tim to read his paper. It's awesome to see Tim being nerdy. Haha. But after the teacher asked who's paper was "the best" she asked me to read

mine in front of the class.

For me, I've never really feared crowds. I was a drama geek all of my life and frankly I think I like the attention. But I don't read aloud very well. If I have it memorized then I'm good but when I'm reading a paper that I wrote at 11 the night before I tend to trip on my words. Plus, I really don't like criticism except from people I deem respected. That sounds so mean but I know I don't mean it that way. I just mean that I don't

want someone to tell me that my paper is weak when they didn't even write one. Haha. So yeah, I had to trip over my words in front of the class and then the teacher compares my essay to Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech. What? It took me a hour to write. Don't compare it to what could be argued as one of the most powerful speeches in history. I'll never be able to live up to that. But I guess she meant it as a compliment.

I'm just happy it's the weekend! I have some math and I have to clean up my essay before Tuesday but overall I think I'm pretty free this weekend. Maybe I'll actually have the time to do some crafting?

If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all. -Noam Chomsky

2009-09-03T22:16:00.001-07:00

Oh blog how I've neglected you. You've been nothing but good to me and yet I do this to you. You don't deserve it and I won't make any excuses because I'm sure you've heard them all. I will try and be better to you. I promise oh dear blog, I promise.

So, the new schedule this semester has us going to class 4 days a week which may sound like a bad deal but it's actually really awesome. On Monday and Wednesday's we have only one class and it starts at 9:30 and is done by about 11 which means we still have the entire day open to do homework for the Monday class or for our other classes. Plus the class is interesting because the teacher cares and the students in the class seem to want to learn. Ignorant, many of them are, but they sure do love asking questions.

Then on Tuesdays and Thursdays we don't even have to be at our first class until 11. We get to sleep in and then go to our English class and debate with others about controversial topics. BTW, I did pick my topic. Marijuana. It should be legal for anyone over the age of 21 in the US. Three other people picked my topic which I guess is telling of what students think are important issues to them. Tim is doing that gays should legally have the right to be married in all 50 states. We love that class.

We actually talk and participate in all of the discussions and get all riled up. It's awesome. A few of us that seem to have similar opinions on controversial issues have teamed up and I think the teacher fears us a little now. Haha. Then of course there is math. Our math teacher (who looks and acts a lot like Andy Rooney) is just as amazing as he was last semester. Not a lot has happened in that class because it's just the beginning.

Then there is our Film as an Art Form class. It's our online class and thus far I think the teacher may be able to make learning about movies suck. We'll make the best out of it but we're not expecting much. Our first "paper" has a minimum of 500 words and that's to get a D. It's on a music video. They're not exactly known for being long so writing 500 words is a little ridiculous. But whatevs. I'm so over it.

I got an Etsy sale this week! I love going to the Post Office when it's for Etsy. I'll be making more stuff and putting it up soon hopefully. And the site is going well also. I've been able to write articles pretty much everyday. I think I might need a staff writer. One that is willing to work for free of course. So there you go blog. Are you happy? I wrote a lot!

"The roots of true achievement lie in the will to become the best that you can become." -Harold Taylor

2009-08-27T16:14:00.000-07:00

School is awesome. This semester is going to be fun for once. I mean we still have math which is never actually fun but our Political Science teacher is a lot of fun and so is our English teacher. Our poly sci teacher used to teach high school and now teaches at the college. He even has some students in the class that took him in high school. He's very comfortable in front of a group of people and knows how to keep the conversation moving so you never get bored. Then in our english class I have to pick a controversial topic for our 8 page essay that is due at the end of the 16 week class. I don't know what to pick. It has to be something I'm really interested in because I'm going to be researching it for 16 weeks. I think I might just learn a lot this semester. Tim's excited too which is so awesome. I love that I married a geek with nerd tendencies. I'm the polar opposite....nerd to the core with geek tendencies.

And on top off an awesome start to school it was my mom's birthday yesterday and it's my brother Aaron's birthday today. Tim took him out go kart racing and to see Inglorious Basterds, which looks like such a great movie. And tomorrow is the drawi

ng to see who the winner of the giveaway on Crafters Attack tomorrow. I can't wait.

I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it. -Jonathan Winters

2009-08-23T22:38:00.000-07:00

The website is up and doing awesome. I'm really happy with it. Tomorrow the next semester starts for me and Tim which is really good because we want to get back to school. Our schedule looks like it's going to work really well. I just hope that all my teachers are awesome. Tomorrow there is only one class though. Starting out slow.

Things are amazingly good here. Tim's grandpa visited this weekend and I went to my mom's b-day dinner. All in all, my life is awesome. I'm down to 138 pounds and a size 7. I feel healthier and now that school is starting so does our eating more healthy plans. It's going to be a great semester. I can feel it.

Announcement!

2009-08-12T21:43:00.000-07:00

My new website launched last night. Overall, I'm getting good feedback. Of course I could always use more. :) Here's the link. Check it out.

www.craftersattack.com

Minds are like parachutes – they only function when open. -Thomas Dewar

2009-08-08T20:27:00.000-07:00

My first High Desert Etsy team meeting went amazing. I met some wonderful woman and a few husbands and children. I'm not going to lie and say that I remember all of your names but I love you all, already.

We met at a cute coffee shop called Bodacious Bundts. The woman that worked there was super nice and I had the best wildberry frozen lemonade ever!

To be honest the meeting inspired me. I want to do so much more and I think I'm going to. Next week will be all about sewing and creating. Expect a lot from me. I'll deliver.

BTW, we also passed by the International Banana Museum. Maggi didn't believe that it existed but boy did I prove her wrong. We must visit when it's open. Maybe we'll go bananas!

"Reality is for people who lack imagination."

2009-08-06T18:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday started out amazing with a McCafe. I love them. Best thing ever. They put me in a great mood. Tim and I hung out and watched tv and he made me a new banner. You like? He also updated the banner for my store too. He's awesome as usual.

I didn't even want to see my sewing machine today. The bobbin refuses to wind pass 20% full and it's starting to anger me. I'm taking it to my mom's Friday to see if she can figure out what's wrong. I want to sew so badly. I want to make a dress. Lets hope that goes well.

I also weighed myself on Wii Fit today and I'm down to 141.5. Whoo hoo! I have a huge bruise on my ankle bone so I didn't go to the gym tonight. Instead I stayed at home and had some of Tim's home brewed beer. So tasty.
I also posted something new on Etsy. I have lots more stuff. It's just taking pictures that's the hard part.

Today we hung out and did some errands around town. Tomorrow is the big day to see if we can get the machine to work. Wish me luck.

“In a mad world, only the mad are sane.” - Akira Kurosawa

2009-08-02T10:13:00.000-07:00

Big Bear was so much fun. We went with Maggi, one of the few friends I have left, Steve, her husband, and Maggi's mom, Diane. I can't believe that my wonderful husband went out with me with people he's never really met. The drive was easy and we parked right by the ski lift. We went up and then explored the terrain.

After the exploring, we hiked back down the mountain and went to "The Village", where there is a lot of shopping. Cute stores and nice atmosphere. We had lunch at the pub and Tim had a nice beer and chicken strips. I had a cheeseburger that hit the spot so well after the hike. We shopped around after and just enjoyed being together. Amazing.

I can't believe that I got so lucky to find the best man in the world on my first try. He blows my mind and then goes to Target and buys me a lap pad for my lap top so my legs won't get hot. I never expected it but when I got it, I knew that Tim was....there are no words.

Fashions fade, style is eternal. -Yves Saint Laurent

2009-07-26T10:57:00.000-07:00

OMG, I love VivaLaModa. It comes out twice a month and is an online magazine so it's super easy to flip through while browsing through the Etsy forums. They support indie designers and all things Etsy. In this issue it also had an awesome article about how to get pin-up hair! It has everything! Everyone should check it out. I'm inspired now! And I want wedges!

To find out a girl's faults, praise her to her girlfriends. ~Benjamin Franklin

2009-07-26T10:18:00.000-07:00

I made a stuffed bunny and a stuffed dinosaur yesterday and I'm so proud! I love them. My sewing machine is working out well. Thank you so much Tomi. I couldn't be doing this without that sewing machine.

I'm entering a contest to have the opportunity to have a half page in the magazine Viva La Moda for the September issue! I'm so excited. I want this so bad. SO bad. I would just poop.

I'm gonna post some pics of the stuff I've been making lately later and maybe even some pics of my sewing room now that it's all done.

The next post will be my tribute to Viva La Moda. I hope you all enjoy it.

Every artist was first an amateur. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

2009-07-24T00:32:00.000-07:00

Days really can be amazing. And today was my day. Everything just went perfectly. Not a whole lot even happened but everything was in my favor which is always nice.

BTW I've gotten a lot of comments asking how old I am. I'm 24. Personally, I think this might be the year where I've grown the most as a person. I guess 24 is a crucial year for me.

I think tomorrow will be filled with sewing. I've been inspired because the last 3 things I've made have been great. Yay! It's all coming together.

Giveaway Time!

2009-07-18T14:20:00.000-07:00

Time for another giveaway. The first person to purchase any item from My Etsy Store will receive 4 handmade coasters. Just make sure to enter "Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner" in the message to seller section. Good luck.

“If it's not fun, you're not doing it right”

2009-07-16T21:32:00.000-07:00

Today was the day that Tim and I had planned for just the two of us to enjoy each other's company. We went down the hill to Ontario Mills Mall and looked around. Tim picked up some Criterion collection dvd's at Barnes and Noble. They were 50 percent off.

Then I got to eat at my favorite lunch place. Panera Bread. There's not one where I live so the closest one is about 30-40 minutes away and worth ever minute. I love that place.

We came home and I sewed a little while Tim napped. I put up a new apron on Etsy too. We watched the first season of Jon and Kate which is weird now that they're getting divorced. Overall, today was amazing. Tim is an amazing guy. And I'm a lucky girl.

Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.

2009-07-14T00:26:00.001-07:00

10 things about me...

1. I've been married for over 5 years to the man of my dreams.

2. I was in the Army for 4 years.

3. I drive a Scion XB.

4. I got my dog's name from the creator of Nintendo.

5. I'm easy to please.

6. I love white sunglasses.

7. I like going to the gym (most of the time).

8. I hate being hot. And I live in the desert.

9. I'm scared of bunnies and whales.

10. I love creating things because I feel like I'm in control.

Honesty is the first chapter of the book of wisdom. -Thomas Jefferson

2009-07-10T22:41:00.001-07:00

I won another giveaway! I love giveaways. They

make me smile no matter how my day is going! So thanks to TheBakerDaughter. Check out her blog because she is still having giveaways!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

2009-07-09T23:27:00.000-07:00

I was featured! Green Earth Journey interviewed me for their blog.

They are an eco-friendly blog that try and promote all things eco-friendly. Read my interview and tell me what you think. I'm so happy.

Thanks again Green Earth Journey.

Posted By:

My inspiration is ART. . . Because without ART we would just be stuck with reality. - Daniel Robert Lynch

2009-07-09T22:49:00.000-07:00

So I can sew! I made two creatures! I love them! I need names for them. I'm so happy that I'm using my new machine. I'm going to open up the craft book my mom gave me this weekend. I'll be listing all my new stuff on Etsy soon. I'm just so bad at taking pictures so I'm trying to convince Tim to take them for me. :)

The one on the left was my first and the one on the right was my second. What should I name them?

Every moment is an experience...

2009-07-09T12:37:00.001-07:00

My husband is amazing. Yesterday a homeless man asked my husband for money.

Tim asked them man what he was going to buy. And the man said food.

So Tim told the man he would go inside of Target and buy him food. We went in and bought a loaf of bread, package of turkey, and some water.

The man was so grateful. My husband is a great guy. I'm so lucky.

Just had to share.

Veronica Mars I'm watching you.....

2009-07-07T01:08:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've blogged because we've just been hanging out and having fun at home. Hannah cut my bangs and I love them! She also gave me a few blonde streaks and it's awesome.

Tomorrow I'm going to Joann's for a fabric shopping trip. I'm going to use my sewing machine and make felt characters. Some cute ones and maybe a few zombie ones.

Things are slow but we're already signing up for more classes. Picking them is proving difficult also. I hate schedules at our school! And the line is going to be long.

Veronica Mars is this weeks rewatch show. I love it. Gonna get back to it now.

2009-07-03T18:44:00.000-07:00

So, last night I was brave. I'm never brave when it comes to pain but I did it! I decided that the shocking cell phone that we got from Woot for .01 was going to be fun. I saw my 5 year old niece Makayla try it twice so I wasn't really scared. (You can see more of Makayla on at my store because she's one of my models)

Here I am being brave. I'm wearing the shirt I won from the give-away.com. (The shirt says Lucky Mom. Great quality shirt but I'm only a mother of a bully.)

Off to Walmart....

2009-07-03T16:03:00.000-07:00

Today we're at Tim's parents house. Went to the quilt shop for class and chatted with the ladies. Fun as always.

I took a video last night that I will post tonight of me touching a shocking cell phone. Fun Fun Fun.

BTW, I put ads on the bottom of my blog now. Click if you like.

I'm a winner!

2009-07-01T16:16:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I won. I can't wait to wear my Tough Chick pendant. Thanks Cappy Sue Creations. Everyone should check out her Etsy. She a lot of great things and they're very reasonably priced.

All right, look, there's only one "Return," okay, and it ain't "of the King," it's "of the Jedi."

2009-06-30T22:39:00.000-07:00

Today started out with coffee. I wasn't super tired I just love the stuff. Tim and I left Miya at the house and went to the the Post Office and Target to get tissue paper to send this hat once the payment goes through on paypal. While we were out we went to Staples and I got a pink sewing chair! I love it so much. I had Arby's for lunch. Mmhmm. I watched Tim beat Dead Space and went to Michael's. I bought a lot of stuff and used a coupon. Later that night Tim gave me a present of a sewing kit with all the things you need to get started and a nice pair of fabric scissors. I am so lucky. He's an amazing guy.

What are you doing on fireworks day?

2009-06-29T21:27:00.000-07:00

We left Tim's parents house this morning. Tim had a lot of stuff he wanted to get done for me on the computer so we left kinda early. He made me an awesome header for my blog, bought me my domain name, got started on the site, bought me business cards, created buttons for my blog, and created a little follow me on Twitter thingy too! He's amazing.

Oh yeah, I didn't blog about the adventures of buying a bra! It wasn't bad at all this time and I ended up with 5 new bras and two pairs of cute panties. I was so happy. The ladies at Cacique are so helpful unless you're my sister, Hannah. When she went in there they were borderline rude to her during her fitting. It was weird. Lots of shopping happened that day. I vow to take my camera with me more places.

Hannah dyed my hair and I love it! We are gonna do blonde streaks next weekend. She's getting so good at it that she hardly even makes a mess anymore. I'm so glad that I don't have to pay someone to do it. I'm so lucky

London Calling, No?

2009-06-28T01:54:00.001-07:00

Bra shopping tomorrow! I'm so excited! I hope it goes well. It's gonna be an adventure nonetheless. (=======> I like )

It's pretty late here. Technically it's Sunday. Saturday was great. The boys woke up and went to the swap meet and I stayed home with Miya. We came over to Tim's parents house (like we do every weekend) and waited for his/my parents to get home.

Ok, it's awkward for me to know how to talk about Tim's parents. Barbara is an amazing woman. Just tonight she was counseling someone and I swear I could just imagine her with a notepad and the girl laying on a couch. She's awesome. And Tony, he's a man's man. I love watching tv with him more than anyone else in the whole world. It's our weird connection. They are my parents. But in my blog it's easier to call they "Tim's parents".

I have actual parents also. Diane is my mom. I know I could count on her for anything and I know that she would do anything to make sure I was happy and healthy but I think she is the reason I'm not very good with my emotions. My dad is the smartest guy I know. I want to be a math teacher because of him. I have an analytical brain like him. They raised me into the woman I am today and I am so grateful. I just wish we had a stronger family bond.

Anywho, Tim's parents got home and I got some awesome sunglasses. They are white with green sides and bulldogs on them! I love them! I'll take pictures of them tomorrow.

Tomorrow I dye my hair. Yay! Finally. I'm posting the before picture. I'll have an after soon.

I can't get "coming around the mountain" out of my mind. It's like one of those phrases like "drop it like its hot" that I really wish I'd never heard

2009-06-27T00:26:00.000-07:00

New sewing machine table. Etsy room done. Need to shop. Great food today. Good workout. Tim got some games. Aaron is having fun here. I don't think I get to spend time with Hannah this weekend. I need new pics of me Hannah. The newest ones I have are the ones of us on your b-day! I'm like 2 sizes smaller now. Haha. Good day.

Boys going to the swap meet tomorrow. Miya is the best dog ever. I wanna look cute tomorrow.

If it weren't for Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of television, we'd still be eating frozen radio dinners.

2009-06-25T21:05:00.000-07:00

The farmer's market was kinda dull and really hot. I wore a cute blue and black striped sweater dress with black footless tights pulled down to my ankles with little maybe 1/2 inch black pointy toe heels. I loved it. Hannah said it was loud but she liked it. Neither Tim nor Aaron made fun of it and Aaron even helped me pick out what shoes to wear. My family is awesome.

We went to Walmart to pick up some random crap. Then we came home and Tim and Aaron played some Gears of War. I made lunch for them which was turkey with lettuce and sliced cheddar with string cheese. I had a roast beef and cheddar with Arby's sauce, broccoli with ranch, tomatoes and a nectarine. Way better than fast food.

My Etsy room is almost finished. I think I get my sewing table tomorrow and then I'll take pictures! I'm so excited! :)

Aaron made the most delicious cupcakes ever! He called me his PIC. Partner in Crime. It's awesome to have a brother who doesn't hate you.

Dinner was amazing. Parmesan chicken nuggets, shells and cheese, and steamed vegetables. I made some pasta and turkey with the left over vegetables with olive oil and onions and parmesan cheese.

Life is great as usual.

My new favorite giveaway

2009-06-25T01:31:00.000-07:00

I'm addicted to them. These earring in particular are amazing.

I absolutely adore them. The color combination is awesome and I love how girly they are.

There are a lot of requirements for this giveaway and I think I like that about it. I don't really like the ones that you enter just by leaving a comment. I never remember those giveaways.

I'm gonna remember this one. Everyone should enter because it's more fun with competition.

http://stepmomextraordinaire.blogspot.com/2009/06/pink-giveaway-item-2.html

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

2009-06-24T11:58:00.000-07:00

We have a winner! It came so quickly! Congrats to Evelyn Mayfield!

I love her already! She is 69 and has lived in 4 different states. One of them is Cali! She makes awesome stuff and sells it really inexpensively. I can't wait to send her the package! I'm going to the Post Office right after I write this blog!

We have a winner! It came so quickly! Congrats to Evelyn Mayfield!

Her stuff is awesome. Check out her shop.

Off to the Post Office! Giveaways are awesome.

My First Giveaway....

2009-06-23T16:51:00.000-07:00

So here goes nothing. I feel so lucky because I have won two giveaways in the past couple weeks and now I'm trying to give back.

This is my first giveaway ever and I'm planning on doing more if I can get some people interested. I have tons of stuff laying in my craft room and I would love to send it to someone awesome.

Here are the pics I took. It was SO bright outside but I tried my best. :)

The giveaway includes:

*homemade jean purse

*homemade jean coin purse

*homemade coasters

*granny square

*crochet covered headband

*yellow crochet flower

*purple crochet cap

*grey crochet cap

*green potholder

*and other knick-knack type items

So here's how to enter. Be the first person to buy something from my shop and leave a message for the seller that says "winner winner chicken dinner". That's it. That's all it takes. Buy anything at all and you get this awesome giveaway. Check out my shop.

www.curtiscollectables.etsy.com

2009-06-23T01:20:00.000-07:00

It's shaping up to be a great weekend and it's only Monday. Big 5 for shoes for my mom, then dollar store, then Baja Taco for the first time! I'm so excited I could poop. :)

I ate broccoli with ranch and my brother made fun of me. He was like "Can you believe she eats that for a snack?" to Tim. Weird. Haha. I thought it was normal. I guess it's not that normal.

We watched Jon and Kate's new episode finally! My mom was trying to ruin it for me because she got to see it first. "Don't blink" were her final words to me as I was watching it. It was pretty wow. It's a real life soap opera played out on tv for everyone to enjoy. I'm on Jon's side btw.

I took a really great shower. Finished the box for the giveaway I'm gonna do on my blog. I hope I can get more than one person to enter. I will be....it won't be good. Haha.

Watching Gears of War late at night with the summer breeze on my cheeks is amazing. I love my life. I am so lucky. I think I might be a math teacher. But I don't know if I have what it takes. It sure would make my dad proud. Something to think about?

Giveaway tomorrow. Tim and Aaron are going to see a movie. I'll be home watching Gilmore Girls on DVD with Miya. Should be fun. Hannah should write on her blog more. :)

Round Table Pizza guy.....

2009-06-22T10:41:00.000-07:00

He swings his sign so perfectly. He wears a sexy green hat. He stares at you when you drive by. Is he not aware that I have pink pepper spray? :)

Weekend...

2009-06-22T10:23:00.000-07:00

Drive to family's house. Drop off stuff. Go to quilt shop. Eat pizza and fruit salad. Make coasters. Quilt till' almost wilted. Come home. Watch Turner and Hooch. Sleep. Wake up with Miya. Father's day. Parent's house. Filet Mignon. Potatoe. Salad. In-laws house. Deciding on hair dye. Extreme Medium Red Brown. Hannah dyes her hair. First fight with heavy bag. Dinner time. Steak. Potatoes. Salad. Hot Fudge Sundaes. Bedtime. Wake up with Miya. Find out I won a giveaway! Dye my hair?

I'm nice...

2009-06-20T01:42:00.000-07:00

I was driving into where we live and as I turned up to the stop sign I saw a car with it's light on and I decided to go up to the house and tell whoever was inside that their lights were on. I parked and walked up the driveway and rang the doorbell. A woman answered the door and barely opened it and I asked her if the car outside of her house belonged to her. She said yes so I told her that the lights were on. She opened the door wider and told a guy that his lights were on. All of a sudden she was smiling and laughing. The guy ran outside and thanked me a million times. She was yelling thank you while I was walking away too. They were so grateful. It made me feel good that I decided to tell them because I know I have left my lights on and I would have liked someone to tell me. So yay. Go me. I did my good deed for the day. :)

Sneak Attack Love....

2009-06-19T20:54:00.001-07:00

I recently found the etc. part of the Etsy forums and now I'm obsessed. I really like the sneak attack in particular. It's nice to have a place to go chat with other crazy/silly people like me. There are some awesome people on there. They have a blog now too.

Welcome to the Team S.N.E.A.K. blog!

Tell your boyfriend that if he's got beef.....

2009-06-18T09:38:00.000-07:00

Soak City was so much fun! They have quite a few slides and we went on all of them. It's totally worth the money and the drive. Maybe this summer we'll go to the AV Community Pool too. Who knows?

It's 9:45 in the morning and I'm staring into my beautiful bulldog puppies eyes as she tries to go back to sleep. Aaron is sleeping on the couch so we can't go out to the living room and watch tv. I don't think she minds as long as she gets to lay extremely close to Tim. It's so unfair but she likes him more. She likes all men over women. It's so weird to have a sexist dog.

I got blisters on the bottoms of my feet from Soak City though! It hurts so bad. I have one that is open and the other hasn't popped yet. Hannah is trying to convince me to pop it but I don't think you're supposed to do that. I just want them to go away because I can't go to the gym like this. I can barely walk. Grr! We should've worn sandals the whole time. Now we know for next time.

It's also One Tree Hill time again. We're up to episode 9 of Season 6. I just love that show. I'm so glad that I got Hannah hooked. We still have big plans for the rest of the summer. We're going to the Holocaust Museum and the beach. Plus, Hannah and I are going to try and find some really good thrift stores down the hill. That should be fun. Life is fun.

The new me...

2009-06-16T15:55:00.000-07:00

Ok well, I'm so new at this blog thing but this next post is gonna be kinda personal. I know that no one reads this but if you do happen to read it, just know that it's just something that I had to write down so I could remember how I'm feeling. So here goes.

When Tim and I got back from the Army, Hannah and I went to Anchor Blue to get me some cute pants. The ones I ended up getting were a size 15. I'm not embarrassed at all but we went in there again today and now I'm a size 9. I have to say I'm happier at a size 9. It sounds weird but I feel healthier and I just generally like the way I look more at this weight. I'm kinda proud of myself. It sounds so weird to say. Last night I did the Wii Fit body test and I was 147 pounds! I was so excited. I guess the gym is working for me. I'm just glad that I'm not wasting my time going there.

Anywho off to something not quite so personal. Today Tim, Aaron, Hannah, and I all went to the mall. The boys went and saw the "The Hangover" and we walked the mall. It was fun. We got Starbuck's and saw like 10 of Hannah's friends. I saw some guy that sat two rows in front of me in Anthro in Gottschalks. He was carrying a bright red bra. It was awesome.

Tomorrow is Soak City! I can't wait. It's going to be so much fun. I haven't been to a water park with Tim ever. Life is good. Summer is great. And I'm so glad that I married the right man.

New Giveaway

2009-06-14T10:27:00.000-07:00

I featured a blog that is doing an awesome giveaway. You should check it out. There is a button on the right side of the page. Click away. And good luck!

http://lillyshaystyle.blogspot.com/2009/06/blog-giveaway.html?showComment=1245000086372#c2774245598710109746

First Etsy Treasury

2009-06-14T09:59:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning to an e-mail from someone I met in the Etsy forums, her name is Theresa, last night (her name is Theresa and she's awesome!) saying that she put me in her treasury. First I had to message her back and ask what a treasury was but after that I was so happy. I'm so glad that someone thought enough of something I made to put it in a treasury. They put my green crochet coin purse because the treasury is all green and summery. Everyone should check it out.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=57461

Saturday

2009-06-13T13:06:00.000-07:00

Saturday started off with a bang! We (Tim, my husband, Aaron, my brother, and Barbara my mother in law) went to multiple garage sales to find treasures! We didn't find a whole but the stuff we found was amazing. We found two Disney collector cups that I love. Tim got this awesome chair that I cannot do justice with words. And he got a Jagermeister Flex Fit hat for only $5.00! We all left very happy!

Then we went to Walmart. It's always an adventure at Walmart. Target is so much better! Now I'm off to eat a homemade Angus Cheeseburger! I'm so lucky.

Summer....

2009-06-12T20:00:00.001-07:00

I took my last final today in Anthro Lab. It was a group final so it wasn't really very hard. I hope all my grades turn out well. As long as I passed them all I'll be more than happy. It's just so nice to not be in the Army anymore and be home with my family and friends enjoying life.

It's been almost a year since we got out and I couldn't be happier about it. I'm so glad it's over. Now I'm at my families house for the weekend enjoying life. We were playing a game called 1 versus 100 on the xbox 360 where you can actually win prizes. It was fun.

Now we're sitting and watching two guys wrestle on tv! Haha. Life is god.

Only two classes left...

2009-06-08T20:47:00.000-07:00

School is ending. In Anthropology all I have to do is go in and turn in the take-home final. Then in math I have to take the final. Then in English all I have to do is turn in the short-story I wrote. Finally, on Friday I have to take the Anthropology lab. The lab final should be kinda/sorta fun at least for a final. We're identify bones as either male or female and determining race and height.

Once school is over for the semester it's Summer Time. Soak City, Disneyland, and the Holocaust Museum are two things on our list of things to do. Any suggestions? I can't wait! We deserve the fun.

Another Giveaway...

2009-06-06T13:12:00.000-07:00

Today is the day of giveaways for me. I love it. I entered my sister Hannah in the birthday photo contest. We went to Disneyland and she wore a banner the whole day. It was so fun.

Here is another one.

Go here....

http://www.the-giveaway.com/2009/06/birthday-bash-early-bird-giveaway.html

There stuff is so cute! I hope I win.

New button.....

2009-06-06T09:54:00.000-07:00

Click on the button on the right side of my page to enter into the Birthday Photo contest. I haven't picked a picture yet but I'm going to enter. I hope I win!

Check it out...

http://www.the-giveaway.com/2009/06/favorite-birthday-moment-photo-contest.html

Contest

2009-06-05T14:26:00.000-07:00

I entered all of these contests and I think you all should too. There are some really amazing products in these shops. Check them out. Especially you Maggi.

dirtygirlsoaps says:

New Giveaways on my Blog, Be Sure to Enter each one (and there’s more than one way to enter)
http://indiestyleblog.com/?p=215
http://indiestyleblog.com/?p=207
http://indiestyleblog.com/?p=223
http://indiestyleblog.com/?p=219

Almost over...

2009-06-04T21:46:00.000-07:00

School is almost over. I have only 2 classes left with the English teacher that should go teach middle school. I'll be glad when it's over. Over the weekend we don't have too much to do so that's good. Our final for math is on Wednesday. I hope I do well. I've been doing ok on the other tests so I hope this won't bring down my grade too much.

I wrote a short story for English. I still have to include 6 sources into it so that it'll meet her requirements. I only have 3 sources as of right now so that's what I'll be doing tomorrow at the library.

I've been going to the gym at a pretty good pace. I could probably go more often but I just hate being gone for that long. It's a 20 minute drive there at least. Then I have to do my workout and drive the 20 minutes back. It takes forever. It does seem to be working a little though. I've dropped some weight and I'm feeling physically better too.

I hope we go over to Tim's parent's house this weekend. It gets our minds off of the upcoming week which is nice. With finals coming up we need the distraction. I think we'll do well. I know we deserve to. It's almost over and it seems like it just began.

Monday....

2009-06-01T18:11:00.000-07:00

I can't wait until next semester when we will be choosing Tuesday/Thursday classes instead of Monday/Wednesday. It will work out so much better. We've been going over to Tim's parent's house on the weekend and staying the night on Sunday and having to wake up early enough to drive home and drop Miya off before going to class. It's not a good schedule. Everything is good but it's just not a good schedule for us. It'll be a lot better next semester.

We're almost done with our dreaded English class. I actually got a 90 on our last paper. I can't believe it but it's true. This weekend I'll be writing a short mystery type story for our last assignment. Hopefully it won't take me 7 hours like the last one did.

Hannah and I went out to the toy hauler and brought our laptops to do homework. We chatted and discussed our assignments with each other. I know a lot about the Florida Panther if anyone is curious. Haha. Then about 7 hours later we were finally done. It was so much fun. We watched "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" and had chicken nuggets for lunch. I hope that I get a good grade on that paper too. It was the hardest paper we've written all semester. Damn synthesis. But Hannah made it all worth it.

Also this weekend Hannah and Maggi had their usual "Does Twilight suck and why?" discussion. It left a bad taste in my mouth this time though because I think that Maggi's feelings may have been hurt. I really hope not though. Hannah loves to debate/argue with people about Twilight. She's always screaming at Tim about something. It's just how she do.

Weekend was great as usual. School still sucks a little. Life is normal but life is good.

Birthday...

2009-05-28T12:10:00.000-07:00

Today is my mom's 46th birthday and her 25th wedding anniversary. I can't believe that they've been married longer than I've been alive. So weird. We got her something from edible arrangements and we're going over there after the kids get out of school. We also got a cute card with a bulldog on it. I can't wait to give it to her. Plus, we're going to take pictures this weekend. I hope all of the guys in the family will go along with the picture taking with minimal complaining. I think it won't be a problem. She deserves it and I know that she'll be happy if we can pull it off.

I'm wearing a white skirt that hasn't fit in quite some time. I'm glad that it fits now but this weekend I had to go buy new shorts because none of mine fit anymore. Grr. But I did get to got to the outlets which was fun. I need to go to the gym today and I think I'm feeling well enough to go. Ziacam is working wonders for me this week.

The weekend is coming up quickly and I'm already looking forward to it again.

Weekends...

2009-05-25T15:53:00.001-07:00

This weekend was long in the best ways. We went to estate sales, went to the 7 year anniversary of the quilt shop, went to the outlet mall, had great meals and brownies with ice cream and hot fudge! My family is awesome. Hannah and I are getting a lot closer which is nice because I've never had a sister.

She makes me feel young. We like the same music, mostly. We love to go shopping together and eating bean and cheese burritos. Today I tried on one of her shirts from Forever 21. It's a medium and it fit!!! I couldn't believe it. Then I actually wore it to Walmart. We were supposed to get our haircut today but it was closed because it's Memorial Day. My mom was super pissed.

I'm getting a little sick but Tim is getting me some medicine so hopefully it'll pass quickly. I hate being sick. I'm just glad that it happened on the last day of the weekend. Tonight is cheeseburgers and fries (Homemade by my wonderful mom)

She's pretty awesome too. She puts up with a lot from all of us. I know it must be hard and I'm only here on the weekends. It's her birthday and her 25 year wedding anniversary on Thursday. I think we're coming over here and giving her an edible arrangements bouquet. Then hopefully we can take some pictures this weekend of the whole family. I know that is what she really wants. It's probably not going to happen but I'm trying to not be negative.

OMG, Jon and Kate comes on in 2 hours. I've been looking forward to this episode for a long time. I hope it doesn't disappoint me. I hope I can get the whole family to watch it too. Then we could watch the train wreck all together. It would be awesome.

I still have to do school stuff but it can wait until tomorrow. I'm feeling the best breeze right now and I just want to enjoy it. Weekends are amazing...

New Essay

2009-05-21T11:02:00.000-07:00

The awesome weekend is already starting. I have quite a bit of homework but I'm not going to let that keep me down. I have re-write the essay that my English teacher thinks I plagerized! Who cares. I'll just change it completely and take whatever the grade she wants to give me. We don't have much time left in the semester so it doesn't matter too much.

For our last essay we can actually write a short story. We have to use 6 different sources. They can be sources to develop characters, story, setting, plot...whatever you like. I think I'm going to set mine in the 1972 during the Vietnam War. Private Case joins the Army to go to war. Once at war he realizes the atrocities that the U.S. is committing and is overcome with anger. I haven't wrote the story but in the end Pvt Case throws a grenade into the tent of a high ranking general because he doesn't know what else to do. General Wright tells his troops the day before to kill a group of women and children and that pushes Pvt Case over the edge. How does that sound so far? I hope I can do a good job on it. That'll make up for the crappy essay I'm going to re-write for her!

I think we are going to be taking the beer out of the Mr. Beer keg today and bottle it. I hope we remember to do it but we probably won't. Haha. Today is a nice day and I can't wait for the weekend to start. We're going to estate sales this weekend! It's going to be so much fun. Man, I'm hungry....

Cutest Dog Contest....

2009-05-18T21:47:00.001-07:00

My baby bulldog Miya is in a contest and I want her to win so bad!

http://petsjubilee-furbabies.blogspot.com/2009/05/contestant-30.html

Check it out and vote!!!

Grr...

2009-05-18T21:37:00.000-07:00

I don't want to write down all of the details right now but lets just say VVC is the worst! One of my teachers accused my of plagerizing! That's ridiculous! I actually wrote this paper and thought I had developed a good thesis considering what we were writing about, and now I have to go to her office tomorrow to have her explain how she could possibly think I'm a cheater. Grr. I'm not a cheater. It's not me. She's mad because in my paper I mention that Christians follow a moral code and that sometimes if they follow it blindly they may be limiting themselves from evolving into the person they could/should have been. I forgot that she was a Christian and apparently can't put her personal feelings aside while she grades my paper. I hope the meeting goes well tomorrow but I have a feeling that the teacher in questions may leave in tears. I'm not holding back any punches. I served in the Army for four years so I would have the money to go to school and now this "teacher", if you can even call her that, says that I'm a cheater! She doesn't even teach us anything! She just gives out handouts every class and then reads them ALOUD to the class. I know how to read! Ok now I'm rambling. Done with that.

I went to the gym today too. It was really hot in there. I ran the mile in my normal slow time of 9:30. My dad says he used to run the mile in 6 minutes. I'm having trouble believing that! I don't think I will ever be able to run that fast! My little legs can't move that quickly!

Tim is playing Call of Duty 4 with his brother and is actually getting back in the swing of the game pretty quickly. He's liking it but not as much as Gears of War. I'm just glad that he gets to play with his brother.

The only thing getting me through this week is that we're going to Tim's parent's house this weekend! It's my mom's b-day on Thursday. Exactly one week away from Tim's. Weird. Haha. I can't wait for the weekend!

Nice...

2009-05-18T00:01:00.000-07:00

So this weekend has been great. Tim's b-day turned out really well. I don't think either of us would have changed a thing. He's so awesome. We hung out at his parent's house from Thursday and we're staying the night tonight, Sunday, and leaving here early enough to drop Miya off and go to school. We have an in class essay tomorrow about the Margaret Hossack case and whether or not she killed her husband. Pretty easy essay because it's all about the case.

Dinner was so good. My mother-in-law made steak, garlic bread, french fries, and salad for dinner! It was so good. And for lunch we had homemade cheeseburgers. She's an amazing lady. She really is. It's not just that she's a good cook but she's a really good mom too. She's very understanding and in touch with all of her children. It's pretty amazing to watch her interact with them. It's weird for me to be around such a large family because for most of my life it was just me, my mom, and my dad and my dad worked a lot. Haha. We had a small family. I think I prefer a large family. It's a lot of fun. All of the work is worth it!

Overall, I added some items to my Etsy. Everyone should check them out. www.curtiscollectables.etsy.com My mom helped me made the cute jean purse with the pink lining! She's awesome! Great weekend. Great life. One grateful Dana.

I'm kinda bad at this....

2009-05-16T08:11:00.001-07:00

I'm not so good at the whole remembering to blog thing. Haha. I remember to do it during the day but then I think I should wait until the end of the night to bog so I can include everything that I did that day. Sounds like a great plan, except that I have the memory of a goldfish and can't remember anything! Haha.

Anywho, Tim's birthday was on Thursday. We went to Disneyland he got a $69 gift card because we're pass holders. We went on the best rides but it was so hot that we went home early. It was still a lot of fun. Then we came back to Tim's parents house. It may be loud here but it sure is fun. We just hung out and had fun and last night I even made a purse. It's made out of old pants and I love it. My mom said that maybe today she'll show me how to make a different kind that has lining and all that good stuff. I can't wait.

Tim's thinking about buying a Kindle for his birthday. I hope I can convince him that it would be a good thing. They sound so awesome and he deserves it. Ok I'm making a new bag now. Pics to follow.

Burned Finger...

2009-05-10T00:48:00.000-07:00

This morning as I was getting ready to go to my mom's house and have homemade belgian waffles (more talk about that later) I burned my finger on my curling iron. And yes, ladies and gentlemen, it gets worse. I actually gripped the entire curling rod. I only burnt my ring and pointer a little. I thought I was grabbing the right end but I grabbed the rod and it actually took me a second to even realize what was happening. So needless to say I cried and finished getting ready like a champ!

When we got there, I gave my mom the scarf I made for her. I really liked the color of the yarn. It was like 3 or 4 colors but all very muted. Beautiful! :) My mom made belgian waffles with her hotel like belgian waffle maker. It's the kind where you put the batter in, close the lid, and the flip the handle. Ta-Da! Then we put strawberries and whipped cream on them! Plus, we had bananas and mango too! It was awesome. Plus, Miya got to meet my parents dog, Bell. Bell doesn't really like Miya and Miya doesn't understand why Bell doesn't love her. It was funny. It was a nice time overall.

Then Tim and I went to Ontario Mills. We had no idea that Virgin Mega Store is closed! It was traumatic! That's the only real store that Tim liked in the Mills! Now we'll never go! Haha. It was fun. Oh, and Tim and I had Burger King for the first time since we got out of the Army and I think it still sucks. Tim says it sucked too! We're so over Burger King.

Today was a lot of fun even though it started out with a nasty little burn!

Today...

2009-05-06T22:24:00.001-07:00

Today was a school day which is never all that fun. In Anthropology we mostly talked about why dinosaurs aren't around anymore which was pretty interesting. We've had way better lectures though. Not his best work. Then we studied for like 30 minutes for a math test. We probably should've gone into the test more prepared but hey at least I had an answer written down for each problem. Then of course, came the dreaded English class.

I hate that class on so many levels. The teacher, the other students, and even the books/other material they force us to read and make us think that the are somehow classics! Ugh! I hate fiction books! Why would something that is fake when there are so many non-fiction books that I could actually learn something from. I could still write a paper on a non-fiction book just like the stupid fiction ones we're forced to read but then I would at least be learning a little something.

Speaking of reading, everyone should check out anything written by Howard Zinn. Especially "The People's History of the United States." I've only read about the first 20 or so pages and I've learned more then I did in four years of high school and I took US History twice!!!!

My husband's b-day is coming up in 8 days. We're gonna go to Disneyland and I hope that everything will go perfectly. I think the weather should be nice at least. Plus, I think he gets a $60 gift card for it being his b-day and him being a passholder! Man, he's awesome! Haha.

That's all for now. Off to crochet.

family...

2009-05-03T20:30:00.000-07:00

Man, it's kinda getting late but it's been a great day today! Tim and I spent the night over at his parents house on Saturday and stayed up late. I was crocheting and he was playing video games with his dad. Fun times. Then we went to bed super late and woke up kinda early cause of Miya. Miya gets what Miya wants. Haha. Then Hannah and I went out to pick up a few things and we found a GREAT thrift store. It's on Palmdale road and it's ginormous! (Ahh, I love Doug Benson) Super fun times were had. Pics were taken of many a creepy outfit. A fully beaded gown on my 16 year old sister, Hannah, is awesome.

BTW, Hannah is so awesome. I love that she can talk to me about the stupid little things. It makes our inside jokes so much fun. We have too many to count. Haha. Anywho, she posed for a bunch of pics with my scarves and hats on for Etsy.

I'm currently being a little bit lazy and not putting the pics up. They are so radical! I love taking pics outside. The lighting is perfect and it was so much fun. Once I get them up I just know that my Etsy store will take off. I'm also working on these creepy little monster guys, that I crochet. They are turning out cute but they're not done yet.

I love my family. They are so supportive. They always love what I do and even if my stuff doesn't come out perfect they always have nothing but nice things to say. They're great. All off them. I'm such a lucky gal! Check out my Etsy soon. But not too soon. (I'm so lazy :) )

Life...

2009-05-01T13:25:00.000-07:00

Life as usual is coming at me so fast that it's hard to know if I'll ever catch up, physically or emotionally. I had a midterm in my anthropology lab class that I stressed myself out way too much about. Tim is getting a job instead of going to school. I feel so alone in class without my Tim there to protect me. I didn't have to talk to anyone because I had him but now I'm a lonely loser. Haha. I did however lose some weight and now according to Wii Fit I'm "normal" BMI. I don't really care about the numbers but it's nice to have people say that I look nice and stuff like that. What person doesn't want to be told that they look nice?

I also had a momentary lapse in judgement in thinking I should close down my Etsy shop because I was acting on the emotions of the past day or two. I think I'm gonna try and keep it up. I really need to re-take my pictures this weekend. I hope that I get around to it.

Overall, crazy couple of days but I made it through and it's all gonna be fine. The important things (Tim, Miya, family, and friends) are still here for me and will continue to be here for me. I just have to stay positive in this negative world I live in. :)

So....

2009-04-28T18:26:00.000-07:00

I just created this blog mostly because Maggi makes it look so darn interesting. I just hope that I can keep it up. Right now I'm watching Gilmore Girls and trying to make a scarf. This weekend we're gonna have a photo shoot to shoot all of the new stuff I've made for Etsy. Plus, my mom gave me some dresses that are SO cute to sell! I can't wait. My store is going to be so full. I just need to stencil some shirts. Ahh. I need a card table to stencil on. I think I might have to go to garage sales this weekend too. Busy busy. Haha.

I just love my life. My husband is so awesome and I have the cutest puppy ever! Plus, I have a new hobby of creating things to sell. It's a new adventure and I'm loving it. I'm so glad that the last 4 or 5 years are behind me and no one ever has to mention them ever again. I'm free! Free as the wind blows! :)