Oliver James Holst

Sweet.

Sum Stuff

It is raining hard right now. We had to close the windows. I can't allow myself to turn on the AC before Memorial Day so we sweat in the humid STL weather for one more week. Or is it two?

In an effort to make me forget my eyelids are sweating I drift through the interwebs. I found the best shoes ever (they are vegan so they might think they are too good for me). There is also grapefruit scented combination shampoo and bodywash. I can smell refreshing and be even lazier in my shower? We were meant for each other.

I want these:


I want to try this:


And the Boz is coming to town...how rad is that?

Va-Ca-Tion!

In less than 3 days we will be in Portland!

The first real vacation (by "real" I mean more than a weekend and something I have to use actual "vacation" days for) in over four years!

My brain is exploding I'm so over worked yet excited.

Gone for a whole effin week kids!

More on this to come.

Doodles and Cable

Yes. Cable.

It was a long and horrible ordeal. But after much phone arguing and hours (by this I mean days) wasted waiting around Charter finally came through with their "allowing us to pay them for cable that is actually installed correctly".

We've never had cable so it's a bit overwhelming - and we only have expanded basic. I'm not kidding when I say there is a whole show about making insane cakes. It's ahhhhmazing!


These where doodled during our first day with our new friend cable.

Bunstachio

This is Bunstachio:

It's not a good photo - I am bad at taking anything but blurry photos.

Some of you have seen him before in either drawn or plush form. I've been doodle-ing with him for three-ish years.

Hopefully you will see more of him soon.

Hopefully you will like it.

Lovelies

I've been wandering around Etsy a lot lately and I ran across this lovely ring:


I don't wear rings but if I did...


It's made by The Ardent Sparrow and she has many pieces that are quite fetching. There is only one ring like this left. I first ran across her sight just a couple days ago when they were first listed and they've almost all been snatched up already.

I really like the simplicity of this necklace (and also the Peter Pan-ish-ness of it):


It's by the same artist.

I thought I might as well pass along these lovelies since I let the jewelry I have gather dust and tangle into knots.

Rad Kites

My friend Boz (or Chewblocka as she is known to all on the Roller Derby circuit) sent me a link to these:


They are kites!

And they are RAD.

And they are also out of stock but if you want to pre-order them you go here.

Perfect for that special geeky someone.

So...stuff.

I am way, way behind (behind in a way that probably seems more like you don't think of me as a friend anymore 'cause I'm so behind on getting back to you) on emailling.

There are many BIG things happening to people that I love (love, but apparently can't make myself take the time to respond to your emails).

Anywho.

Congrats on new houses and babies and engagements and new career paths. I am truly happy and excited (and let's be honest - a tad jealous) for you all.

I have been spending my time eating popsicles and watching Jeopardy.


Well, I did that a couple times. I've actually been spending all of my leisure time (of which I have more than you - so there) flying kites. It's become a passion of ours.



Wait - there was no wind and the kite never actually "flew". I must say that my legs are a very ladylike color. Obviously I haven't been working in the fields.

So then there was the Olympics which we spent like this.


We have had two (yes two) excursions to the Zoo.



We saw a Cards game at the new stadium for the first time.



We helped get a President elected. That was pretty cool.


No more pictures - it's too complicated.

Family came in town. Friends came in town. Lots of hanging out and eating and drinking.

My life sounds very fun when I leave out all the work parts.

In real news we have been officially debt free since 10/21/08. That was our BIG goal of '08 - so awesomeness.

I'm supposed to blog once a week (at least) starting this week. Let's see how that goes. Don't hold your breath on the emails - just know I'm happy for yous-kids.

Cute-Clutter Friends

I know I need to focus on getting rid of useless clutter. But sometime useless things can make you smile. Here are two of my current favorites in the useless category:

I got the lil white girl at Rotofugi a year ago in Chicago. The smiley rainbow Buddy Chub is from Star Clipper which is right across the street. Buddy Chub is part of a new blind box collection by Friends With You.

They make such sweet friends.

Bonus: Buddy Chub has bells inside him! He rocks back and forth making lil twinkle sounds. It makes the lil white girl smile.

For Fun

This lil pack of UK cigs was left at work. It is awesome.

Front:


Back:

Did I mention: smoking = death.

Good and Bad

I was supposed to see my two good friends who where in town for a weekend wedding. For some reason we could never connect with each other.

This was the (very) Bad of this post's title.

It was INSANELY crazy and busy and weird in the Loop (and at work) today. It was due to a number of reason. BUT at the very end of the day, as we where finally leaving work, my friend got a guy playing his guitar on the street to lone him the guitar and we all sang Violent Femmes with a crowd of onlookers. It was amazing and a sweet end to a bad day.

Then I got home and checked my email and was greeted by this:


- it's my sweet lil nephew Jack lookin' cuter than a baby should!

Now that it's all over I am only sad about the fact that I never got to see/hang out with my girl and her man. It still makes me sad.

To anybody who keeps up with Lost...

OMG!

Work + Life = Hard

When the sun shines on my windowsill it makes me happy and hopeful.

Work has been annoying, hard, long, frustrating, and never-ending by turns.

It's hard for me to then go home and get laundry, cleaning, dishes, cooking, done and then try to focus on what I actually want to do with my life (sewing, drawing, writing). Instead I sit down and watch the season finale of America's Next Top Model (Anya totally should have won).

I need to restructure my life so that what I spend the majority of my time doing is what I want to do and what makes me happy. I have only myself to blame for not getting things done outside of work. It's just too easy to excuse "couch-tv-time" when this month has flown by with barely a day off.

Make Believe. Not War.

I haven't been this excited by a movie trailer in a long, long time.


If you haven't seen the trailer yet - DO.

He finally has one.

Jameson's family got him a late birthday gift (thanks to some amazing searching by the Yi).

It is the perfect gift. Yi got him the new Smash Bros. game - Brawl. I could not even begin to tally the hours they both spent playing Melee - now they have a new one to dominate each other at.

Too bad we only have one controller, we'll have to save up for a second one. But it's still an amazing gift!

Jack Valentine Holst

He is beautiful:



His daddy took this picture right after he was born.

8 pounds .04 ounces of sweetness.

psst

Jack Valentine Holst (first grandbaby in Jameson's family) was born today!!!

I get to meet him tomorrow!!!

If you don't know - I effin' LOVE babies.

Budget v Shoes

Jameson and I started a hard core budget 2 months ago. Here is our Budget Box:

Notice the futuristic cardboard of the used envelope box! Our budget does not allow us to even buy it a cool organizer. But it does have a sweet drawing on it.

It's a good, good thing but it makes buying things that aren't accounted for really hard. Even things you need, like shoes. Both of my current chucks ripped up the sides weeks ago (back when there was snow and then more snow). But I haven't been able to buy shoes to replace them until today. Working extra shifts just to get some canvas shoes sure does make you excited to finally purchase them! Too bad they won't get here until next week, free shipping is never fast.

These lovelies are to replace my broken black chucks (I've just been wearing black socks to hide the fact that you can see my feet when I wear them). I've never seen yellow chucks before:

Hopefully they don't get dirty too quick. I haven't decided on lace color yet. Any suggestions? My black ones had green laces. I never use the white ones they come with. Too skinny, too short, overall cheap - in my opinion.

And on to my dream shoes:

I have been trying to find shoes like this for years, YEARS! The $10 green ones kinda like this, that I got in Chicago, where the closest I have come. Those fell apart in about 3 weeks. Here's hoping that these lil ladies last longer and don't give me as many blisters.

Ahh shoes, my feet are excited just thinking of them. Three cheers for All Stars!

In between.

A brief, photo by photo, reacap of the time I spent away from my blog.

First off:


Mushrooms Bandits. These little fellows, along with some other handmade stuffed friends, were sold by me at Loop In Motion 2007. It was not as money-full as the previous "Motion" but these guys still make me smile.

Almost everyday I have to go to work - even if only for an hour. So a lot of the time in between was spent working my job. The best part is I also have to bring work home with me:


The Dreaded Schedule.

In December I left childhood behind forever when I turned 30:


This is the birthday cupcake I dropped and then caught before it hit the ground. My hand was covered in yummy, yummy cupcake. This was peanut butter and jelly. My Jameson bought it for me. Being 30 makes me think I am allowed no more excuses for not having my life together. I don't feel older, I just feel less able to comfort myself with the idea that I'm only in my twenties. I no longer am.

Also, there was Christmas:


I would like to introduce William Randolph Pine. He looks all fancy here but he only cost $10 (maybe less) and looked like the sad tree from the Charlie Brown special. He cleans up quite nicely once you add decorations and gifts. The best part, we set him up in our room. I love falling asleep to the Christmas tree lights.

Snow! It snowed again and again and again this year. Just when we thought it was spring - snow, four more times.


This is the view out our kitchen window. Ahh, the alley with the two dumpsters. It's beautiful.

So my last post before my hiatus was the ultrasound of James' sister's baby.


Jack Valentine Holst is now officially 3 days past due.

I missed a day.

This is awesome and out of nowhere (except my love of Little Lulu).



I'm attempting to blog everyday.

I promise the post about the Mushroom Bandit is coming. It's going to be part of a longer, photo filled, catch up post. Our new iMac makes it all so much easier.

However, yesterday was spent with our good friend Drew of AshleyG and Drew. He made our iMac all fancy and taught us all sorts of awesome things it can do. They are moving away soon and we needed to use his brain before he takes it to Portland.

Then Ashley joined us (along with our famous roommate - brag brag - JJ Loy who has an article in the current issue of Make Magazine) and we all ate cheap and yummy food while watching "Must See TV".

The long catch-up post will happen. Soon.