Big, Big Plans

I'm getting out of the house.  I know it might not seem like a big deal - but really it's a huge thing for me.  I'm an introvert, a wallflower, an observer - I get most of my energy from being in 888 square feet most every day.  The summers are a real challenge since my natural inclination lures me to comfortable spaces, my house, the bookstore, the local coffee shop, etc.  The movie theater use to be on this list of comfy spaces that felt a little like home - but that hasn't been true for a long time.  So - it's a big deal, for me.

I'm going to see this movie today after three months.  I have no idea what I've been waiting for...

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...and after I'm done with all that alleged greatness (and hotness I might add) I'm off to get a Salvadoran classic for lunch and then join my many (fictional boyfriends) at the showing of this movie...

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Better get a move on...I have every intention of smuggling petit vanilla scones and breezing in with coffee.  We'll see.  I hope everyone has a lovely Monday.

2011 Year in Review: 11 Favorite Blogposts

I am so inspired by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer.  I think she's an overall wonderful person and am amazed at her self-taught creativity.  So in her honor - I am "lifting" an idea from her blog.  These are my 11 favorite posts from 2011!

These posts are in chronological year...

March 27, 2011: Finding Your Way

In this post, I discuss how Karen Grunberg's Finding Your Way class impacted the way I scrapbook.  I absolutely loved this class.  I'm not sure if this favorite has more to do with the class or the post.  Who knows?

March 29, 2011: I Need a Little Magic

This post reflects a very low time for me emotionally.  I love the quote and the reawakening that followed.

June 28, 2011: It's Been a Long Time, I Shouldn't Have Left You...

This post marked the beginning of my summer reading pledge.  I read a lot of great books over the next six to seven weeks - it definitely reflects a move in the right direction in terms of getting back to the basics of what I love.

June 29, 2011: A Metaphorical Smack to the Head

While my Dad was here visiting and helping me put back the broken egg shells I called my life - he turned me on to one of my favorite shows hands down - NCIS.  This post has been one of my most popular - clearly a mistake.  I love it - love my Dad - love the show.

July 28, 2011: Process of a Page - CHA Madness Day #4

This post definitely was a low point in terms of my photo abilities.  I believe my battery was out on my digital camera.  However, it marks my first process of a page post.  It's something I want to commit to doing more often in 2012.  I'm very proud of the outcome and content - despite the lousy pictures.

August 4, 2011: Do You Believe in Magic

I think I've done a pretty decent job of keeping my private life separate from this blog.  However, when it comes to anxiety and depression I think it's important to be honest about the journey.  I hope I've been honest with my struggles while maintaining my privacy and self-respect.

August 18, 2011: Simple Gifts - Process of a Project

Another stepped out project post.  I love the bird.  I love the finished project.  And...I absolutely love the person that received this little gift of mine.

August 20, 2011: ISFP

I loved this post inspired by one of my favorite podcasts.  I was completely surprised by my results in some areas.  I also gave an update on my reading pledge and posted this quote - which I think is worthy of acknowledging here yet again...

"Live each day as it's your last,' that was the conventional advice, but really, who had the energy for that?  What if it rained or you felt a bit glandy? It just wasn't practical.  Better by far to simply try and be good and courageous and bold and to make a difference.  Not change the world exactly, but the bit around you.  Go out there with your passion and your electric typewriter and work hard at...something.  Change lives through art maybe.  Cherish your friends, stay true to your principles, live passionately and fully and well.  Experience new things.  Love and be loved, if you ever get the chance."

Nicholls, David.  (2009).  One Day.  New York, NY: Vintage Books.

September 17, 2011: Quote Love, Confessions, and High Anxiety

This post is about quotes, books, and my continuing struggles with maintaining my health.  It also marks my love affair with Kate Atkinson - which was cemented when I finished the book above.

October 4, 2011: Movie Mania

I loved this movie - loved the post.  I love Joseph Gordon-Levitt.  I also like my attempts to be funny.

November 12, 2011: Continuum: Am I Spelling that Right?

This posts reminds me of how much I love my new placement in my job.  It also reminds me of how I will move to mixed-media this year.  It's a must.

I hope you've enjoyed my favorite posts of the year.  For the sources on each image, please click on the link to the original post.  Also - I really recommend taking the time to read Julie's post - it's amazing.  I hope to have a few more Year in Review Posts this week.  I know I should have done it last week - but that's just not how life works sometimes.  Here's hoping you are still having a wonderful day!  I have at least one more post planned today - so see you on the flip side very, very soon!  Until then...

Movie Mania

As part of my recovery process - I've tried to reacquaint myself with my previous loves - tried to identify the gaping holes in my life.  One of those black holes (as I like to call them) was my love for movies.  When I lived on the west coast, I would stand in line for hours to see movies on opening night.  I would get free passes on the street for movies that weren't even in theaters yet.  I loved movies.  I saw Armageddon for free at the actual screening facility in the Academy of Arts and Sciences.  There were Oscar statuettes everywhere.  Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay introduced the movie.  Ben and Gwyneth were there.  There was free food.  I was in movie love heaven...and then I moved.

Immediately something began to shift in my movie loving life.  I began to complain about the small theaters and became a movie snob.  I only go to specific theaters in my city.  I spend a lot of time thinking this screen is too small when I'm sitting in the theater.  I miss the screens in Westwood.  However, there comes a time when you must remember.  I love movies and they make me happy.  So I've been integrating them back into my life.

This weekend I went and saw this fantastic movie with two friends...

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It's amazing.  Outstanding.  It's both funny and heart breaking all at the same time.  I love Joseph Gordon-Levitt - love that he's morphing into an outstanding actor.  I love his energy - his smile.  I love his dimples.  He might be my newest celebrity crush.  Seth Rogen is his usual hysterical self.  I'm not going to go into a whole review here.  I'll just say this - get to the theater and see this.  It's worth the two hours.  It's worth the 8-15 bucks.  It's just worth it.  It's the reason I love movies.  And one more thing - JGL deserves an Oscar nomination.  So that's it for today - a little about recovery - a little bit about movies.  I'm hoping to have an outstanding day today.  I'm not gonna lie - Monday kicked me in the junk while yelling it takes no prisoners.  Monday better watch out in two weeks.  I'm coming for it!  Time to go to the mattresses, stop licking my wounds and take control of Tuesday.  Hope you have a wonderful day.  Until then...




Updated Wednesday, October 5, 2011: Just a quick update - Tuesday almost made me lose the will to live.  So today I say suck it and make the best out of this "outstanding" week.  Yes Sheldon, that would be sarcasm. Have a great Wednesday!

Quote Love, Confessions, and High Anxiety!

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Kathleen Kelly: [writing to "NY152"] "Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around? I don't really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So good night, dear void." 


I'm a quotes girl - no question about it.  I love them to little itty bitty pieces.  There are so many quotes in this movie that are just outstanding - mostly from Tom Hanks in my opinion.  However, when I heard this quote in You've Got Mail from Kathleen Kelly - I thought that's me.  I lead a small life.  My belief on it's wellness and value depends on a number of different variables.  I often wonder if I've been brave or just gone through the motions.  And I do wonder if it should be the other way around at times.  Should I be living the life I read about in books or see on television or even dream up in my head?  Like her, I don't really want an answer.  It's just something to consider.


So where did all this cosmic questioning come from?  Well...I've started a new book - one of my Borders Closing Sale buys.  It's a second book in a series and I'm loving it already. 

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I'm only on page 14 - but there's a reference to a small life and it made me think of You've Got Mail and Kathleen Kelly and my own small, meager life.  And maybe that's the truth of it - maybe most people's lives are small yet meaningful with value and goodness sprinkled in amongst the reality and muck.  Maybe that's the truth of it - maybe that's the truth for me.  So - I'm loving this book so far and felt the need to say it - right the heck now.  


In other news...despite being less than happy about the new fad of classics with supernatural elements, I loved this book.

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Illinois has a soft place in my heart and I'm pretty sure there are people out there that would say this book was sacrilege, however, I found it to be quite entertaining and a great read.  Far better than the previous book I read with a supernatural bent, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.  Highly acclaimed, highly recommended by friends and my favorite book club and... highly disliked by yours truly.  The truth is - I don't like reading classics.  It's plain and simple - adding zombies to the mix doesn't change my feelings in the slightest.


Moving on - I don't think I've kept my struggles the last several months a secret on this blog.  And here I am again.  It's hard to remind yourself there will be good days and bad days.  Days you can't wait to leave your house and do something fun and be with loads of people - and days you want to crawl into the fetal position in a dark, warm, safe place in your house.  And that's absolutely okay.  Sometimes I'm going to disappoint people. Sometimes I'm going to disappoint myself.  However, some days I will soar.  That's what matters in the end.  So...make the decision, suffer the consequences, but don't waste time worrying.  The people that love you understand the struggle and the people that don't will forgive you eventually.  


My mom always says, "don't let people rent space in your head for free."  It's such a hard concept to understand or even embody when you feel like you're letting people down - but taking care of yourself is the priority.  Knowing your limits is essential.  I believe I've hit mine today - and solitary journeys are all I can handle.  It is okay.  Life isn't perfect.  No one said it would be.  Just keep swimming.  There's always another opportunity tomorrow - at least I hope there is.  And the honest to God truth is...my life is better than it's been in a decade and that's what matters - even if it is really small.  I hope everyone has a wonderful Saturday.  I think I'll be taking a solitary journey and using everything in my arsenal to deal with my high anxiety.  It is okay - just keep swimming.  Until then...


Update: I've completely given up on finishing 26 layouts.  It's just a very hard time of the year to have the energy to do a layout every evening.  However - I have regained my enthusiasm for telling my story which was which was always the main point - so score one for me.  

What the Frick is All This Crying About?

In the past 10 days I've watched the two biggest movies of the summer - in my humble opinion - and I've cried in both.  And I'm not sure when I became that person - the one that needs to bring flippin' kleenex to the movies.  I think we can all admit that tears are are a necessary evil when it comes to the end of the era known as Harry Potter.  And with a cat named Tonks - I didn't really stand a chance...But Transformers?  I cried 3 times.  Three effing times - It's unbelievable.  Let me be clear - I have no problem with both men and women who aren't afraid to show their emotions - but I'm the Chandler girl - the one that's usually dead inside.  However, these two gems opened the flood gates and I couldn't have loved them more - even with one supreme shocker.  

By all means - get yourself to the movies and see both of these films as quickly as possible.  Don't worry about the 2nd movie in the Transformers trilogy - it can be completely ignored if you feel like it.  I own it - I'm almost sad to admit.  The third one blows the second movie out of the water.  So there you go - an emotional blogger and two solid movies.  Get yourself there if at all possible.  Hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday.  Until then...

One Singular Sensation!

Just finished this one book!

Moved on to this one book.

Fell in love with this one artist - Leigh Standley of Curly Girl Designs.

Saw this one movie and loved it!

Found this one Hero Arts stamp set.  I had never seen it with the birthday sentiment.  I had only seen it with the Valentine's day sentiment.

Found this one espresso stamp by Impression Obsession.

Need to learn the brush stroke technique for this one Penny Black stamp.

Looking forward to checking out this one book.

Loving this one town.

Loving this one day.  This one time.  This one life.  I hope everyone has a nice Monday.  Until then...

O. M. G.

Movie Madness

I just finished this movie - maybe thirty minutes ago and was frankly amazed at how much I liked it.  It's not a happy movie (to say the least) and there's a twist at the end that seems to have given some critics and audience members whiplash.  I don't remember this movie coming out.  I don't remember seeing a trailer until it was being released on DVD.  I immediately knew I wanted to see it - Rob Patt with a natural complexion was enough to get me on board.  I didn't imagine it would be this sad or controversial.  

After watching the movie, one of the first things I did was look for movie reviews and audience comments.  I couldn't find many, but I did learn a few things.  

*The movie was released on limited screens and didn't get much support in terms of marketing.  

*I'm definitely not highbrow when it comes to movies - because I thought it was really good, even touching at times.

*I'm evidently a 33-year-old girl in a teenage body because some critics described the movie as an indie romance only teens could enjoy.

*This kind of a surprise ending is not well perceived.  I don't want to give anything away.   I will say one thing - I was completely shocked by the ending. 

*I will never understand critics or commentators.  Period.  For example, "There Will be Blood" was critically acclaimed and frankly I wish I could get back the minutes/hours of my life I spent watching it.  While this little film, was not viewed positively.

*Rob Pattinson has some acting chops - which is hard to see when all he is doing is pining for the human girl with no personality.  Don't get me wrong - I love Twilight.  It's just that Bella drives me nuts.

So - that's it, my two cents for today.  I wish I could recommend this movie - but I'm reticent because of the reactions to the ending.  I enjoyed it - for whatever that's worth.  If you're in the dumps - I'd pass.  It's really the kind of movie that could push you over the edge.  I plan to spend the rest of the day doing more happy things, like replenishing my mom's cards supplies and maybe doing a scrapbook page or two.  I hope this Wednesday finds you well.  Until then...

The Last Few Days

Good morning.  Still no crafty goodness to report.  I'm planning on working on something today - not sure how it's going to work but I'm hopeful.  More on that later - I hope.  So instead of perseverating on my lack of creative productivity, I thought I'd give a recap of what's being going on at Chez Lou in the last few days.

I've been watching this (not a picture of my house but wouldn't it be cool if it was?).

I rented this.  BTW: I had no expectations for this movie.  No, I had incredibly low expectations for this movie.  My take on it - too many people, too many story lines, no story or character development except Ashton and Jennifer Garner's characters.  It becomes a little hard to care when you don't know anything about anyone.  My personal faves were Julia Roberts and Bradley Cooper.  I heard they are thinking of doing something similar with New Year's Eve.  I hope they don't put so many characters in it.  Otherwise, honestly, it just blows.

I also rented this.  Gotta love Josh Duhamel (how the heck do you say his last name?).  Kristen Bell was also good.  Again, I had low expectations and was pleasantly surprised.

Did a lot of this (sleeping if you can't guess).

Still reading this.  It's actually really good but easy to put down.  Not sure how those things go together.  Need to step it up if I'm going to be a reading machine and beat my number from last summer.

Addicted to this song and I'm not sure how or why.



Also addicted to this song - and I totally know why.  I love Idina and I love Lady Gaga.



And finally, I've spent a lot of time with this girl.  She's been sweet and on her game.  Here's hoping that lasts. :)

We're happy as clams around here.  Hope to get crafting today.  Hope everyone has a nice Sunday and Father's Day!  Until then...

Day Five - It's All About Sam

So I've had big plans for my upcoming posts - but they were blown out of the water today by my new guy - Sam Worthington.  I don't think he's a household name yet - though he should be.  In the last year, he's been in Terminator Salvation, Avatar, and Clash of Titans - which I saw today.  I was introduced to the Aussie actor when I saw Avatar and have been a little smitten since.  It's a little embarrassing to do a post like this - but it's true.  I think he's quite yummy.  I had a hard time choosing Sam pictures to put on the blog - so there's quite a few.  BTW: before you go bashing my new love - I know he isn't someone I'd necessarily take a second look at on the street but that would be my loss.  Love him.

Today: I did a little shopping.  I got a hero arts stamp which I've been wanting for a while.  You can check it out here.  I also ordered an album and extra pages from 7 gypsies for my upcoming circle journal.  Yes, I got in!  I'm so excited.  I bought a tray I had seen in a magazine I'll be talking about in the next few days.  The tray is the perfect size for ATC's.  Can't wait to make it into a decorative element in my home.  Also went to see Clash and had some yummy cinnabon bites.  Good day all around.  I hope everyone had a nice, relaxing Saturday.  And just for good measure, I'm leaving you with another amazing pic of my boy.  Until then...