Oh, hi

I guess I decided to just take a break after falling off the nanoblomo wagon.

Here's some prettiness. Wintry favorites from flickr.

1. Untitled, 2. snowcatcher {49/52}, 3. Attendi il freddo, nelle ossa, 4. 20101208-R0010843-1, 5. Untitled, 6. Origami Bokeh, 7. Intrepid explorers, 8. Untitled, 9. Framed with reflection

Fin

I forgot to write a post last night. I went to the movies with my mom and two of her friends to see the Harry Potter movie, and then we went out to eat. I didn't get home until a little after 11, and then my boyfriend got home from work soon after that, so posting something on my blog was the last thing on my mind. I'm surprised I lasted as long as I did, although my posts weren't very high-quality.

Harry Potter was awesome, as usual. Even though I knew it was going to be a cliffhanger, since the last book was broken up into two separate movies, I didn't want it to end. And I don't want to wait for part two to come out!

I'm so excited to be off work this week. Tomorrow we are going to have Thanksgiving dinner with my boyfriend's extended family out of town, and then Monday I am going to visit my sister and spend the night with her. Thursday we are going out for Thanksgiving dinner, because my mother has decided she doesn't want to cook this year. This is totally fine with me; I haven't been a huge Thanksgiving fan since we moved away from family. To me, Thanksgiving is a big family holiday, and going to all the trouble for just a few people seems more depressing than festive. Going out to eat lets us still spend time together without the depressing quality, I think. Afterward, we're coming back to our house for dessert and hanging out, to let my nephew and niece run around in the big backyard.

Hopefully Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I will be able to relax and do absolutely nothing. Then it's back to work for a few weeks before Christmas break.

Nothing

I've got nothing.

This week needs to be over.

I am so freaking thankful I decided to try a job in the school system; I need this week off coming up.

A peek

into my Stuff to Make folder.

When I find stuff online that I'd like to make, I file it away. Usually never to be seen again. Maybe someone will read this and actually have the motivation to complete a project.

I adore the colors in this necklace. One day I will make it.

I really want to make a few of these birds for the Christmas tree this year. And if they're fairly easy to make, maybe for gift toppers.

I was going to attempt this scarf last year but couldn't find the right yarn.

So gorgeous, but I don't think I have the patience to attempt this.

And finally, I want to make this for a Christmas gift for a friend this year.

Happy crafting!

Happy Birthday, Miss E!

From then:

to now:

Happy birthday to my favorite (only) niece.

last weekend, I...

treated myself to Moe's. Yum.

met a friend for a day full of shopping, a movie, eating, and lots of talking.

(the movie was SO good, and the food was excellent--even better the next day)

started Christmas shopping, just a tiny bit.

figured out what to get my boyfriend for Christmas.

(phew! Why are boys so hard to shop for?)

enjoyed a night with the boyfriend's family when they all came over for steak, potatoes, and corn on the cob.

spent time relaxing on the couch with just the boy and the pup.

(why is she so much calmer when he's home?)

had weird/scary dreams three nights in a row.

(hoping for some peaceful sleep tonight)

Such a good weekend. And now only 4 more working days until a week off for Thanksgiving break! Gah, why did I ever think I didn't want to work in a school system?!

Today I am thankful for...

a boyfriend who puts up with me, even when I wake up in a bad mood for no particular reason.

my boyfriend's awesome, easy to get along with family.

steak.

a puppy who will keep my feet warm.

having five more days of work before a week off for Thanksgiving.

a warm bed and a boyfriend to cuddle with tonight.

flickr favorites

1. curtain road, 2. Let's go to Kyoto, 3. Untitled, 4. Untitled, 5. Ruins, 6. Una noche en La Tierra..., 7. Alice in Wonderland: White Rabbit - No Time to Say Hello, Goodbye..., 8. Lindau on the lake, 9. Camp

Some more recent flickr favorites. I think I'm in a dark mood...

Fashion Friday: Pretend Wedding

wedding by breannm on Polyvore.com

Placeholder

I am having a ton of issues with my internet right now. I just figure out how to post by email from my phone, so I'll do that the rest of the month if I need to. Now I have to hurry and post this before I lose my connection again.

Help

I am thinking about asking for a new point-and-shoot camera for Christmas. My boyfriend has given me a budget of about $250.

In the past, I've had Kodak cameras and loved them. My pictures always turned out nicely with them. However, with three consecutive Kodak cameras I had the same problem after owning them for about a year: the camera wouldn't recognize new batteries. I would put brand new batteries in the camera, and the camera would turn on only for a second and the dead battery icon would show up. Before this problem, batteries didn't last long at all. I was buying new batteries a lot. I did finally get rechargeable batteries but they still didn't last too long.

Anyway, after the third Kodak camera, I decided to try a new brand. I got a Canon Powershot because my roommate had a Canon and she loved hers, and it had lasted forever. I like that instead of AA batteries it comes with its own rechargeable battery, and the battery life is great. However, I hate the pictures it takes. I can take about 50 pictures and end up with 10 or so I like.

I do realize it's the operator that mostly controls the picture quality, and I'm no professional. But I never had that problem with the Kodaks.

My boyfriend has some sort of Nikon point-and-shoot with a touchscreen, and I don't like it. I am not sure what I don't like about it, though, so it may be something I could just get used to.

Any advice?

Ode to Peri

My dog is insane. She's a Jack Russell. I'm not sure what possessed my boyfriend to choose this breed when he decided to get me a puppy for my birthday, but he did.
I imagine it's hard to take pictures of puppies, anyway, but the ridiculous hyperactivity of this dang dog makes it almost impossible. This is what happens:
Sigh.

Blogs You Should Be Reading

Here are some blogs that I love that are way more interesting than mine:

Inside a Black Apple

Not Martha

Her Painted Word

Teesha Moore

Julia

Bethany

Elise

Kara

6YearMed

That should keep you busy for a while.

last weekend, I...

rented and watched Babies, Sunshine Cleaning, The Proposal, Date Night, and Zombieland.

(Yes, my boyfriend was working all weekend, why do you ask?)

rented and did not watch The Informant.

(It bored me, sorry Matt Damon.)

missed my boyfriend a whole lot.

(A full week of 12-hour shifts, plus working all weekend? No wonder we're getting along so well; we aren't seeing each other!)

was a homebody.

thoroughly enjoyed that extra hour, thankyouverymuch DST.

ended with a horrible toothache which made it really hard to sleep last night.

(Come on December 1, I need my dental insurance to kick in, like, a year ago. Not looking forward to wisdom tooth surgery, but I am looking forward to no more pain.)

Photobooth Sunday

Just spending a little quality time with Miss Peri.

flickr favorites

A few of my recent favorites from flickr. One of my favorite things to do is explore flickr and find new favorite pictures. It seems like each time I do it, I end up "favoriting" a ton of pictures with something in common. Same color, same feeling, etc. I've been liking fall pictures lately, obviously.

Fashion Friday: Fall Weekend

Fall Weekend by breannm featuring mid heel boots

I thought on Fridays I would show a preview of just how fashionable I would be if money (and size) were no object. This is what I would wear on a weekend just hanging out.

Handwritten

Just so you know

Here are 50 random things about me:

1. My favorite color is green.

2. I am currently in my longest ever relationship.

3. I am 29 years old.

4. I love to read, and have since I was very young.

5. I was the narrator in the school play when I was in kindergarten.

6. I like to cook, but I don't think I'm very good at it.

7. My in-a-year-or-so dream car is a Chevy Equinox.

8. I recently got a Blackberry and I'm in love with it.

9. I've had cats for pets since I can remember, although my cat moved back to my mom's house with me a few years ago and is still there.

10. I now have a dog, a birthday gift from my boyfriend.

11. I have two undergraduate degrees and one master's degree.

12. I was an only child until I was six and a half years old.

13. My favorite ice cream flavor is mint chocolate chip.

14. When I was 14, I went to England with my grandmother and cousin.

15. When I was 13, I had my first kiss.

16. I didn't have another kiss until four years later, with the same boy.

17. I don't mind doing laundry, but I hate folding and putting clothes away.

18. I don't like loading or unloading the dishwasher.

19. I love jewelry but rarely wear it.

20. I love the owl trend.

21. I've seen John Mayer in concert three times.

22. My favorite movie is Wimbledon.

23. I love C.O. Bigelow lip balm from Bath and Body Works.

24. I don't like my food to touch on my plate.

25. My mom bought me sectioned trays for my birthday a few years ago.

26. I eat one thing from my plate completely before beginning to eat the next thing.

27. I always had a pretty clear idea of the guy I would end up with.

28. The guy I ended up with is pretty far from that idea.

29. I'm glad I gave him a chance.

30. I'm very close with my middle sister.

31. We went to college (her)/grad school (me) at the same school at the same time.

32. I'm not sure I would have survived there without her.

33. We graduated on the same weekend in May of this year.

34. I miss her a lot, and don't get to see her nearly enough.

35. I'm not as close with my youngest sister.

36. We became closer when she had my nephew.

37. My mom is one of my best friends.

38. I will always worry about her.

39. My childhood friend passed away suddenly last September.

40. I miss her every day.

41. I used to think I wanted 5 kids.

42. Now I'll be happy with 2.

43. I have a fear that I won't be able to get pregnant.

44. I still don't feel grown up.

45. I wonder if I ever will.

46. My tongue was pierced for 4 years.

47. I'm terribly afraid of heights.

48. But i love roller coasters.

49. It irritates me when people ask if I'm tall enough to ride roller coasters.

50. I'm 4'9".

November is for

improving my body image.

drinking more water.

settling into a routine--at home and at work.

letting go of expectations.

learning to love where my life is now instead of constantly looking for what's next.

wearing scarves.

learning embroidery.

celebrating a first birthday.

finding the perfect Christmas gifts.

enjoying a week of vacation.

beginning a new Thanksgiving tradition.

enjoying caramel apple cider.

blogging every day.

(This list was inspired by this post from one of my favorite blogs.)

last weekend, I...

spent time at a craft show with my boyfriend's mom, aunts, and cousin.

spent maybe too much money at said craft show.

felt like drawing--so I did! And I liked it!

didn't feel like going anywhere Saturday night--so I didn't! And I liked it!

watched a lot of Dexter on DVD--I'm on season 4!

went out to eat with my boyfriend at one of my favorite restaurants.

did laundry, washed dishes, and other boring stuff.

made progress on training the pup to stop jumping already GOOD GRIEF!

Not an extremely event-filled weekend, but a much-needed relaxing weekend.

Oh, see that awesome typewriter badge to the right, and the banner at the top of this post? Yeah... I'm not usually good at the whole following-through thing (as evidenced by previous posts referring to art journal workshops which I never finished); however, I am determiend to stick with this. A post a day for the month of November.

I have started a list of possible topics in case I get stuck, so there might be some lame list-type posts around here this month. We'll see.

last weekend, I...

spent time with my boyfriend, who was off all weekend.

cut and punched 900+ circles for garland.

hung finished garland from deer antlers to annoy my boyfriend:

learned that Peri is so much sweeter when we are home with her all day.

got tipsy after one glass of apple raspberry wine.

watched a lot of Bones on dvd.

took my mom to a play.

worked so I can be off this Friday.

watched leaves fall from the trees every time the wind blew.

ate grilled steak and grilled pork chops.

sat on the porch with my boy and my dog.

It was a good weekend.

I'm a little behind on my journal pages, but I'm also behind on taking pictures of the pages I've finished. I'll get on that soon.

i heart fall: day 2

Day 2! Here is the prompt:

Journal Prompt: Today I want you to come up with 3-5 simple, accomplishable goals for your journal. These goals are a great way to keep you motivated throughout this little adventure.

I kept my goals very simple, figuring that if I start simple, I'll be more likely to accomplish them. No sense making huge goals just to have them sit there unaccomplished.

Here is my page.

And a little bit of awesome news. Today I went to meet with someone at a nearby (okay, an hour and a half away) school district about an opening there. And I was offered the job! I'm so excited. This is the setting I never knew I wanted to be in. Seriously, all through school I swore I would never be in a school system. I always just knew I'd be in a medical setting. But here I am, about to start something new.

I'm excited and really feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. My current job is just not for me. I gave it a chance for three months, and it hasn't gotten any better. It makes me sad to go into work every day, and the unhappiness comes home with me. My boyfriend and I have been arguing more than normal, and I know it is because of how unhappy I am in my job, which is making me unhappy in everything else.

I don't expect this new job to be perfect or fix everything, but I really think it's going to make a difference. I'm so excited for this opportunity!

...And so nervous about giving my notice at my current job. Eek.

i heart fall: day 1

Finally, the i heart fall journaling class started today. I have been so excited to start this, since I made my journal a couple of weeks ago.

Here is the prompt for day 1, in Janel's words:

Day One Journal Prompt: I always like to start my new journals with two things; a Welcome page/Intro page and then a goal page (which we will do tomorrow). I love a fresh start. Today I want you to create a Welcome page for your journal. Welcoming the new season, welcoming your readers, welcoming the idea of journaling :)

And here is my page for day 1:

I printed out a welcome sign I found online onto vellum, which I then glued to a piece of scrapbook paper. I cut out the letters for fall, and punched some circles out of pretty paper I bought just for this project. I also glued on another picture I found online, of a welcome mat. I wrote today's date in one of the punched circles.

flickr favorites

Some of my recent flickr favorites

1. Zuri and Freddie, 2. - [explore #41], 3. dear deer, 4. shy mushroom, 5. Untitled, 6. the little things, 7. DSCF1049, 8. Everybody needs to dream..., 9. Magic garden ( explore ) :), 10. Untitled, 11. Bench on the bridge, 12. Untitled, 13. Feel the Sunshine - [Explored#124], 14. one-hundred-and-eighty-eight., 15. N&T (explore), 16. Girl & Owl story (wip)