tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60704303883052836512024-03-12T18:10:17.936-07:00The Quiet Life of VioletMy name is Violet and this is my journey. Join me as I struggle with cancer, live with love in my heart and create pretty little things that make my soul sing!
I'd love to say that my life is quiet, but sometimes it's anything but.Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-76086107715599460052009-06-16T02:35:00.001-07:002009-06-16T02:38:44.098-07:00I've moved!<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SjdnhQdKo-I/AAAAAAAAA5M/fNjqLBr65Iw/s1600-h/IMG_7710.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 231px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347856903576396770" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SjdnhQdKo-I/AAAAAAAAA5M/fNjqLBr65Iw/s400/IMG_7710.jpg" /></a><br />After many a-nights toying with and cursing at Blogger, I've decided to move my Quiet Life on over to Typepad!<br /><p><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#663366;"><strong><a href="http://quietviolet.typepad.com/the-quiet-life-of-violet/">The Quiet Life of Violet</a></strong></span><br /><p><br />Please join me!<br /></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-16854861867625542182009-06-12T12:23:00.000-07:002009-06-12T16:29:06.838-07:00A List and Some NewsThings to do:<br /><ul><li>Swing by Target and pick up the goods on my list (CHECK)</li><li>Pick up envelopes for and address all (and there's a lot) of my Graduation announcements and Moving announcements. (A.A. in Fine Arts for the win!) (CHECK)</li><li>Take pictures of my first batch of soap! It smells divine. Seriously.</li><li>Get ready for and go to (be on time!) my friend Meagan's wedding tonight!</li><li>Call Lori (CHECK)</li></ul><p align="left">I just love list making. I think I may be addicted. </p><p align="left"></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346524689438522946" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SjKr4MDWvkI/AAAAAAAAA48/Gd30W6KqYZs/s400/IMG_6055.jpg" /><br /><p align="left">Oh, and I'm moving... to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Typepad</span>! The link will be up in few days! So excited!</p><br /><div></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-60278941122204185052009-06-10T13:44:00.001-07:002009-06-10T14:02:10.148-07:00A Quick Hello!<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SjAcEeUXtoI/AAAAAAAAA40/xj8dCcbcG7I/s1600-h/chippy+and+me.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345803620872337026" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SjAcEeUXtoI/AAAAAAAAA40/xj8dCcbcG7I/s400/chippy+and+me.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">[Me and my Mommy at my brother's post-graduation lunch.]</span> </div><br />My little brother graduated last Saturday. I can't believe he's so old... this is the little boy who used to spit on me and run away, who used to kick the air like he was Power Ranger (Red Ranger!), who used to love Barney (hey, Barney <strong>is</strong> cool). And this brother of mine is going to be a legal adult next week. Holy crap.<br /><br />I'm on my way out the door to pick up my graduation announcements (community college for the win!) and our moving announcements, meet my sissy for lunch, pick up envelopes for said announcements, have my hair done by Miss <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Nic</span> and get ready for my first ever <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bachelorette</span> party. Yea. I'm a wee bit busy.. and I need a nap! Sleep must wait, though.<br /><br />Oh! I get to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">un-mold</span> my soap today.. pictures to follow. :D<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><3 VioletViolethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-69398499632418054982009-06-08T00:03:00.001-07:002009-06-08T00:04:37.771-07:00For Some Reason....... Blogger has decided to break all of my picture links? Hmmm.. I'm gunna write those bad boys a letter.Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-20291252385401872432009-06-06T23:49:00.000-07:002009-06-07T08:43:33.688-07:00Sunday<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sive818zufI/AAAAAAAAA2s/GgJ0zDS9G1c/s1600-h/kisses.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 267px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344610519660870130" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sive818zufI/AAAAAAAAA2s/GgJ0zDS9G1c/s400/kisses.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><span><div align="left"><br />Little kisses.<br /><br />Today Dustin, Nic and I are going to the flea market! After that, I'm going to <a href="http://www.thenovastudio.com/">The Nova </a>and I'm going to make my first batch of soap. Eeeep!<br /><br />Have a happy Sunday.</span></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-87011026292281243162009-06-02T00:04:00.000-07:002009-06-02T03:08:20.728-07:00Sortin' is My Middle Name.<div><br /><div>I'm sitting here at the dinner table, going through a truck load of pictures. Should I make a sandwich? Mmmm... sandwich. :} Oh gosh! A Quizno's commercial just came on -- that must be a message from the sandwich Gods!<br /><p></div><div><p></div><div>Today was a lazy day. I slept 'till noon, farted around on Facebook, met up with an electrician at our house (Oh. I need to tell you about that one), went to the movies with Nic and her friend Ashley (Drag Me To Hell was laaaaaame), had a mahi-mahi taco at Rubios, hung out with Bubby (Dustin) and Nic and went to B&N (Barnes & Noble) 'till closing. Good day, good day. </div><div><p></div><div>So, about the electrician... the house that we're renting is an old house, built in the 1940s. (A little background: Dustin, the love of my life, is a tech-nerd. Anything with wires or cords or HDMI cables beats his little drum. He likes to play Xbox and <a href="http://www.us.playstation.com/PSP">PSP</a> and fiddle around with the sound quality upload settings on my <a href="http://www.zune.net/en-US/">Zune</a>, too. Cute little boy he is.) Dustin somehow figured out that the wiring in the house wasn't grounded... which basically means that if anything that is plugged into the wall gets a power surge, it'll get fried. So let's say that I'm cooking on the stove, which is gas powered with an electric starter, and the power surges... I'll might get my face blown off. That would probably be bad, especially since I really like my little face. </div><div><p></div><div>Anyways, Dustin has been stressing for the past five days. Serious stressing out. Stressing so much that it was stressing me out, too. He was thinking that the owner of the house, who lives in L.A., wouldn't pony up and fix the problem, even though it was a fire hazard. Dustin wouldn't allow his family (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quietviolet/sets/72157604087667387/">the boys </a>and I) to live in place where wouldn't be able to live safely and we would have to start looking for a new place to rent.</div><div><p><br /></div><div>Well... we found out today that they're going to fix it! Eeep! We get to keep the house and I get to keep my face! :}</div><div><p>We plan on being moved in by the end of the weekend. SO good! </div><div><p> </div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342667292566170146" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SiT3mI6BKiI/AAAAAAAAAuE/xecFDBDKtko/s400/kiss.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342667287462458498" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SiT3l15MtII/AAAAAAAAAt8/SEEtmfKqs5Y/s400/smile.jpg" /></div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342667283084119810" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SiT3lllUjwI/AAAAAAAAAt0/Rn5UyN4uLzA/s400/laugh.jpg" /><br /><br /><div>Update: That sandwich was gooood. ;}</div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-8631333758743668422009-06-01T01:49:00.000-07:002009-06-01T02:19:50.927-07:00Sneaky Peak!<div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Whew. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><p></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Two days, six</span> hours of soaping each, plus an hours drive each way. I'm beat. But I couldn't leave you without a sneak peak, now could I?</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><p></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><p></span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SiOWsxCcVCI/AAAAAAAAAts/n9aHlk8Q5Dw/s1600-h/soap+micas.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342279278813533218" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SiOWsxCcVCI/AAAAAAAAAts/n9aHlk8Q5Dw/s400/soap+micas.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>[Adding colorant to the raw soap]</em> </span></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SiOWsktx3jI/AAAAAAAAAtk/q8hnhi_tQQw/s1600-h/lemon+grass+bars.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342279275505638962" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SiOWsktx3jI/AAAAAAAAAtk/q8hnhi_tQQw/s400/lemon+grass+bars.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>[Lemongrass Loofah bars -- freshly cut]</em><br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SiOWsRDGTuI/AAAAAAAAAtc/DrBYwlYOHGo/s1600-h/swirled+in+mold.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342279270226349794" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SiOWsRDGTuI/AAAAAAAAAtc/DrBYwlYOHGo/s400/swirled+in+mold.jpg" /></span></a><em><span style="font-family:georgia;"> [</span></em><a href="http://twitter.com/thenovastudio"><em><span style="font-family:georgia;">Lori's</span></em></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em> swirled soap in the mold]</em><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;"><p></span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;"><p></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">And now, I sleep.<br /><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SiOWsGJqO6I/AAAAAAAAAtU/zBhGJ_UZWTo/s1600-h/Sleep.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342279267301079970" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SiOWsGJqO6I/AAAAAAAAAtU/zBhGJ_UZWTo/s400/Sleep.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><div> </div></div><br /></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-42479957354275294812009-05-27T00:49:00.001-07:002009-05-27T01:25:55.088-07:00I Guess They Were on Sale?My chin has decided to host a few pimples. No, you don't get to see! I think my skin freaks out a little every time the seasons change. Do any of you have the same problem?<br /><br />Dustin and I (as well as Nic & Dustin's Dad, with guest appearance by Dustin's Mom, both my parents, my little brother and Nic's Mom and Step Dad) spent all weekend at the new place, fixing things and installing things and building little hunks of IKEA made love. I built <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80116997">this</a> bad boy with a little help from Dustin's muscles. I love his muscles. *swoon*<br /><br />In order for us to move in completely, we need to reinforce the back fence so the boys (Widget and Fonzie, both dogs) don't ravage the planks trying to get to the obnoxious dog that the people behind us own. This is gunna be a doozie, folks!<br /><br />We've been going through the boxes of stuff that were sitting in storage and I'm finding that it's really easy to get rid of things, especially now that I've kind of found my style and I know what I love and what I'm attracted to. Garage sale, here we come.<br /><br />During the week, I've been doing odd jobs for Lori at <a href="http://www.thenovastudio.com/">The Nova</a>, and I'm really excited for the future classes that I'm going to take. This weekend I'll be learning all about how to make soap from scratch (oil/fats and lye) at the two day <a href="http://www.thenovastudio.com/descriptionsoapbootcamp.htm">Soap Boot Camp</a> and I'm super stoked.<br /><br /><br />I'm finally starting to do and learn about the things that I've always dreamed of and it really is a fantastic feeling. It feels like my life is finally starting... like I've been standing in this doorway for so long and now I've just taken my first few steps into the room. :}<br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Life is good. </div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340415421387324802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Shz3h_DPPYI/AAAAAAAAAtE/3RCkXpBW8CE/s400/fonzie.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">Fonzie loves you. Be happy.</p><p align="center"> </p><p> </p>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-27568857196834815922009-05-22T00:30:00.001-07:002009-05-23T02:28:38.143-07:00Many A Concerts!<div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">Two concerts since last Saturday! Nic, Bubby (Dustin) and I took <a href="http://www.bart.gov/">BART</a> out to the city on Saturday to see a lovely band called <a href="http://www.margotandthenuclearsoandsos.com/">Margot and the Nuclear So & Sos</a>. That poor lead singer - his voice was raw beyond belief. I wanted to hold his hand and make him a hot cup of tea with honey and pat his throat. But I'm afraid that Dustin would have probably frowned upon me doing that. ;}<br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/ShZVHSzUQCI/AAAAAAAAArs/cwVDOAGMFz8/s1600-h/so+and+so+set.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338547992088821794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/ShZVHSzUQCI/AAAAAAAAArs/cwVDOAGMFz8/s400/so+and+so+set.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">[They had made this very neat "drum coat rack" type of thing, with a suitcase, wooden block and a giant plastic water jug. They all had little microphones hooked up to them, so the sounds were crazy clear.]</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/ShZVHFl5_rI/AAAAAAAAArk/JnK4VHpl8jc/s1600-h/margot.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338547988542914226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/ShZVHFl5_rI/AAAAAAAAArk/JnK4VHpl8jc/s400/margot.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> [Four of the So & Sos eight members]</span></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338547984584707842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/ShZVG22MjwI/AAAAAAAAArc/waPwjVgQzLE/s400/me+and+mama+on+bart.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">[Nic and I, on BART, after scrambling to catch the last train back home. Did you know that, if an escalator stops working, Dustin can run me and then my wheelchair down 2 and half flights of stairs in under two minutes? Me neither.]</span><br /><br />Tuesday, Dustin and I drove out to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fillmore">Fillmore </a>to see one of our favorite bands, <a href="http://www.thekills.tv/?switchBGto=6">The Kills</a>.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338937620173432882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/She3eohoKDI/AAAAAAAAAsM/PczKnTxWYag/s400/tunnel+bridge.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">[The view from the Treasure Island tunnel]</span><br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338937613931177010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/She3eRRW5DI/AAAAAAAAAsE/8cQQfW2sv7g/s400/tall+bridge.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">[The Bay Bridge]</span></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338937615546515826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/She3eXSfAXI/AAAAAAAAAr8/mh2QNYeOMtY/s400/gg+mist.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">[The Golden Gate Bridge in the distance.]</span><br /><br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338937610195446274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/She3eDWsKgI/AAAAAAAAAr0/eBDGFgV9KOg/s400/city+silo.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">[The city at Twilight]</span><br /></p><p align="left">I wasn't able to get ANY (damn it!) pictures because for some reason, the Fillmore has this rule about no cameras. Let me tell you, Alison Mosshart is fricken' amazing. VV (her stage name) has this whole Druggie-Chic & I don't give a crap if you like it vibe. She (who is one half of the band, along with Jamie Hince) was spot on with the album, if not better. I want to pick her up, poke her sunken cheeks a little and put then put her in my pocket. I promise I'll feed and water you, Miss Mosshart! I got a tee shirt (that I happen to be wearing at the moment) and a pack of pins. Eeepp! I love goodies.</p><p align="center"><br /> </p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Oh, and...</span></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338940115055935970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 369px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/She5v2r-AeI/AAAAAAAAAsc/dvwtUpksCJo/s400/bangs+flashsized.jpg" border="0" /></span></p><p align="left">I've got bangs! </p><p align="left">I really, *really* love them (even thought my 20 year-old Brother-in-Law, who happened to be the first person to see them, told me that I looked like a man). I look at my self sometimes in the mirror, thinking about his comment and call myself <a href="http://www.famous-couple.com/pics/ringo_starr.jpg">Ringo</a>. </p><p align="left">Tee Hee!</p><p align="center"> </p>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-14062745165731406862009-05-16T12:26:00.001-07:002009-05-16T12:35:07.377-07:00Oh, and...<div align="center">We're seeing Margot & the Nuclear So & Sos tonight!<p> Eeeeeeepp!<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sBGfUA9c9j8&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sBGfUA9c9j8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-26862187130293866102009-05-16T12:15:00.000-07:002009-05-16T12:26:03.759-07:00A New Begining.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sg8RqWrVG1I/AAAAAAAAAqs/T9EoJFBWl_o/s1600-h/Living+room.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336503502796823378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sg8RqWrVG1I/AAAAAAAAAqs/T9EoJFBWl_o/s400/Living+room.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sg8RqSEZ0BI/AAAAAAAAAqk/QXkFMUKQ_yk/s1600-h/Kitchen.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336503501559812114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sg8RqSEZ0BI/AAAAAAAAAqk/QXkFMUKQ_yk/s400/Kitchen.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sg8RqUC9Y4I/AAAAAAAAAqc/d6sMK9yET-8/s1600-h/fireplace.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336503502090625922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sg8RqUC9Y4I/AAAAAAAAAqc/d6sMK9yET-8/s400/fireplace.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sg8RqKHmOhI/AAAAAAAAAqU/aVeh8oh8tK8/s1600-h/bub+door.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336503499425724946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sg8RqKHmOhI/AAAAAAAAAqU/aVeh8oh8tK8/s400/bub+door.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>We're moving out! After being (so graciously) cared for at my Mother In Laws since my surgery in August, we are finally ready and able to move back out. We will be alone. ALONE! Eeeppp! </div><div><p></div><div>Dustin and his Dad are at our little cottage as I type, where they're doing manly things and dog proofing the yard. /man flex</div><div><p></div><div>Things are really looking up... and it scares me. Please, pretty please, allow me to have good things and not worry about them being taken away! Please keep me healthy and let me enjoy the many wonderful opportunities, people and future dreams that you've put in front of me!</div><div><p></div><div>Will you cross your fingers for me? </div><div><p></div></div></div></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-74191658843146327552009-05-13T01:25:00.000-07:002009-05-13T11:23:41.326-07:00Soap Crafting Boot Camp!<div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SgsP8Q_38fI/AAAAAAAAAp0/SPO7i1a2g_A/s1600-h/IMG_5323.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335375711579927026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SgsP8Q_38fI/AAAAAAAAAp0/SPO7i1a2g_A/s400/IMG_5323.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />EEEEEPPPPP!!<br /><br />I'm taking the two day <a href="http://www.thenovastudio.com/descriptionsoapbootcamp.htm">Soap Making Boot Camp </a>at the end of the month!<br /><br />Signed up and everything!<br /><br />Be prepared world, be prepared. You all are going to get soapy!<br /><br />*squeals like a school girl* </div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-69252162445727993012009-05-11T23:26:00.000-07:002009-05-11T23:40:50.456-07:00Oh, and...... I've discovered Thai food! Holy crap-a-monga. Why didn't anyone tell me that it was so good? I've had Pad Thai, Yellow Curry and Pad See Ew. I crave it! I can't wait until I go back to Point Richmond this Wednesday to help with the City Stroll (a sort of open house thing for the business in the city's downtown)... you better believe that I'm going to get myself some Thai!<br /><br />Speaking of food (which, in my mind, led me to food preparation tools), I've just realized that I have a knife in my banner. I mean, I knew it was there -- I put it there, but I didn't realize how knifey it looks. Maybe it's time for a new banner?<br /><br />Hope you all have a nice Tuesday!<br /><br />xoxo<br />VioletViolethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-54930058320327332012009-05-11T14:24:00.001-07:002009-05-11T19:57:42.289-07:00What I've Been Doing<div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SgiXwuGaLyI/AAAAAAAAApE/buq5X9WwFBs/s1600-h/Picture1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334680621884780322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 326px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SgiXwuGaLyI/AAAAAAAAApE/buq5X9WwFBs/s400/Picture1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>This is what I've been doing for the past two weeks! I took individual photos of EACH of these little soap samples, formatted each one, color checked, added what the soap was colored with, how much colorant was used and where to find said colorant. PLUS, groupings of type of colorant (Dyes, Pigments, Micas and natural herbs and spices) and groupings by actual color.<br /></div><br /><div>It was hard fricken' work, too! I'm not used to having to be so color specific when it comes to photography. I usually take a picture and then tweak the colors so that they're a little different than they are in real life. These photo samples had to be the SAME color that they appeared to be in real life! I also helped Lori make a kick butt Power Point presentation for the Soap Conference she's teaching at this week and wrote out a list of each color, what type of colorant was used and what color category it belongs in. </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334762025391850546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SgjhzBy5hDI/AAAAAAAAApc/-212GmcCoDo/s400/soap+stack.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000066;">[Some over-exposed (my fault) bars of soaps. Freaking amazing, right?]</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Whew! I put 48 (non-consecutive) hours into this project and now that it's done, I'm bored. Who'd have thought? <p><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334749046385471170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SgjV_jOo7sI/AAAAAAAAApM/BIcLE5e8sUA/s400/mirror+shot.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000066;">[I couldn't resist taking a picture in the full length mirrors at </span><a href="http://www.thenovastudio.com/"><span style="color:#000066;">the Nova</span></a><span style="color:#000066;">!]</span></span></div><div><br /></div><p align="center">Let's see, I'm really hoping that I can take the Soap Making Bootcamp that's happening at the end of the month. I've ALWAYS wanted to this kind of thing... make lip balm and salves and soap and lotion. This is one of my biggest dream. I feel like fate's gears are starting to turn and it's going to happen. How exciting is it to be at the beginning of such an awesome path? Eeep!<p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334762020790617890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sgjhywp4RyI/AAAAAAAAApU/d0KbGIAj8tg/s400/sniff.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000066;">[Widgey (back) and Fonzie]</span> </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:100%;">The boys have taken to sniffing the Spring breeze. All the time. And I love it. The last few days have been warm (about 75*?) and breezy and lovely. I picked up a small basket of cherries from a home grown stand today. Super good! I can't wait until the yellow-ish (champagne something) ones are ready... two weeks and they'll be in my belly. </span></p><p align="left">Hope that everyone had a nice mother's day. :}</p><p align="left">Love and wrinkled, snorting puppies,</p><p align="left">Miss Vi.</p><p align="left"> </p><p align="center"> </p>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-32725408235794022962009-05-02T22:24:00.000-07:002009-05-02T22:32:52.987-07:00These Boys...<div align="center">... are cute.</div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331464653948412354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sf0q2v8lYcI/AAAAAAAAAo4/Zb5jghuV1GU/s400/bub+and+widge+foursquare+copy+copy.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><p> </p><p>Bubby and I are heading out to Santa Cruz in the morning for a day and night in our favorite little <a href="http://www.innsbythesea.com/babbling-brook/">hideaway</a>. I plan on doing a little shopping, a little reading and a whole lot of laying around! Eeeep! I can't wait. </p><p>I'm off to work on the color match soap samples for <a href="http://www.thenovastudio.com/">Lori</a>. Wish me luck!</p><p>Xo, Q.V.</p><p> </p>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-31471111409858919252009-05-02T00:01:00.001-07:002009-05-02T00:28:51.016-07:00A Santa Cruz Sunday<div align="center">Bubby and I went to Santa Cruz this past Sunday.</div><div align="center"><p></div><div align="center">We:</div><div align="center"> - had bean soup</div><div align="center">- visited Paper Visions</div><div align="center">- picked up few glass bird beads at <a href="http://www.beaditinc.com/">Bead It</a></div><div align="center">- had dinner at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/i-love-sushi-santa-cruz">I Love Sushi</a></div><div align="center">- sat on the beach and loved at each other (plus taffy)</div><div align="center">- had a people and seagull watching session</div><div align="center">- walked around the boardwalk</div><div align="center"><p></div><div align="center"><3</div><div align="center"><p></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SfvyTNYYL_I/AAAAAAAAAl4/XnvwDeN45I0/s1600-h/bub+drive.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331120995746459634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SfvyTNYYL_I/AAAAAAAAAl4/XnvwDeN45I0/s400/bub+drive.jpg" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331120991538339026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SfvyS9tFXNI/AAAAAAAAAlw/2L-a5_UBJXw/s400/me+glasses.jpg" border="0" /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sfvxp6oJcKI/AAAAAAAAAlo/2x2Q9xUZHhU/s1600-h/paper+vision.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331120286337691810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sfvxp6oJcKI/AAAAAAAAAlo/2x2Q9xUZHhU/s400/paper+vision.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SfvxpwOGreI/AAAAAAAAAlg/kzSUC7KWmuU/s1600-h/monsters.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331120283544104418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SfvxpwOGreI/AAAAAAAAAlg/kzSUC7KWmuU/s400/monsters.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sfvxpqi_MYI/AAAAAAAAAlY/Vuv0rpFIXnQ/s1600-h/monster+slippers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331120282021081474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sfvxpqi_MYI/AAAAAAAAAlY/Vuv0rpFIXnQ/s400/monster+slippers.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SfvxpWeTtyI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/3B4l5wl0JCg/s1600-h/us+reflection.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331120276632745762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SfvxpWeTtyI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/3B4l5wl0JCg/s400/us+reflection.jpg" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331120275079651794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SfvxpQsBYdI/AAAAAAAAAlI/42YaiyoLAXQ/s400/beads.jpg" border="0" /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sfvw-vktT1I/AAAAAAAAAlA/JsWpYXPtyNg/s1600-h/bub+and+me+beach.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331119544636100434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sfvw-vktT1I/AAAAAAAAAlA/JsWpYXPtyNg/s400/bub+and+me+beach.jpg" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331120995214878290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SfvyTLZo5lI/AAAAAAAAAmA/EKE2fLVFFSs/s400/flags.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331119537210050834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sfvw-T6MyRI/AAAAAAAAAk4/bqAimxdyAow/s400/gulls+and+sand.jpg" border="0" /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sfvw-SfVARI/AAAAAAAAAkw/kmpqaNszlVY/s1600-h/taffy+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331119536828907794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sfvw-SfVARI/AAAAAAAAAkw/kmpqaNszlVY/s400/taffy+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sfvw-LU2zTI/AAAAAAAAAko/UrS4Xeq_CCk/s1600-h/shoes+on+beach+.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331119534905937202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sfvw-LU2zTI/AAAAAAAAAko/UrS4Xeq_CCk/s400/shoes+on+beach+.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SfvwI5joJjI/AAAAAAAAAkg/ChXUUMM1eWc/s1600-h/tsunami+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331118619602986546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SfvwI5joJjI/AAAAAAAAAkg/ChXUUMM1eWc/s400/tsunami+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331118614780640706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SfvwInl4_cI/AAAAAAAAAkY/2NRNbnD6f6E/s400/swings.jpg" border="0" /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SfvwItKRggI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/RBCnH24XgAs/s1600-h/sky+buckets.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331118616275419650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SfvwItKRggI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/RBCnH24XgAs/s400/sky+buckets.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">Life is really, really good.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-71273805596603637752009-05-01T14:52:00.000-07:002009-05-01T15:13:09.201-07:00Eeeep! Busy Bee is Me!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SftvSOk94OI/AAAAAAAAAkI/iclaJ1DMHIs/s1600-h/blue+pop+me.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330976942864589026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SftvSOk94OI/AAAAAAAAAkI/iclaJ1DMHIs/s400/blue+pop+me.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Just dropping in to say that I'm still here!<br /><br />I've been really busy helping Lori (of <a href="http://www.thenovastudio.com/">Nova Studio</a> fame), by taking color sample pictures of a billion little soaps for the <a href="http://www.soapguild.org/industry/conference2009-topics.php#Color">Color With Confidence</a> presentation that she'll be giving at this year's Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild conference in Palm Springs. Yep. Said that all in one breath!<br /><br />I'll be back. With pictures!<br /><br />-VioletViolethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-80573198456303604942009-04-27T14:34:00.001-07:002009-04-27T15:30:32.109-07:00Children.I recently stumbled upon a link while getting my daily fix of <a href="http://embers.typepad.com/">E. Falc</a>. It lead me to a site made by a couple who are <a href="http://www.meganandshane.com/index.html">looking to adopt </a>another child and it really touched my heart.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329498228562069154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SfYuZuiEBqI/AAAAAAAAAkA/l_tp8sGLi-E/s400/_MG_6371_RAW_small%5B1%5D+copy.jpg" border="0" /><br />Megan, the woman who, along with her husband Shane and son Carter, is hoping to adopt, has a heart condition that "could cause pregnancy to be dangerous for her."<br /><br /><br />I don't think that I've shared it on here, but there is a decent chance that I won't be able to have babies. Some of the chemo drugs that I was given may have made me infertile. Scrambled up my eggs. I'm keeping hope in my heart and I haven't give up the thought that there are still a few perfect little eggs in me.<br /><br />Please take a look at their <a href="http://www.meganandshane.com/our_story.html">site</a> and please pass the word around about this lovely little family!<br /><br /><p>Speaking of children...</p><p>Everyone needs to drop what they're doing and check out the videos on YouTube about the PS22 Chorus in New York. Holy crap. These fifth graders are singing Cold Play, Regina Spektor and Bjork songs! I wish all music programs could be like this.<br /><br /></p><p align="center"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/u_tcE4rWovI&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/u_tcE4rWovI&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p><p align="left"> </p><p align="left">And, speaking of music... Nic and I are going to see <a href="http://www.sacramentoconventioncenter.com/community/news.cfm?hl_id=397">Death Cab for Cutie </a>tonight! Eeeep!</p><p align="left">Hope you all had a great weekend. Goodies and pictures from mine to follow!</p>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-65631055978902299302009-04-22T22:38:00.000-07:002009-04-23T00:32:55.424-07:00Polar Bear Swims.<div><strong>Today, I:</strong></div><div><strong></strong><br /> </div><div>* Woke up 15 minutes before my alarm went off all refreshed and ready for the day. <p></p></div><div>* Went for a 9 a.m. Polar Bear Swim with Nic. We skimmed all of the bloaty bugs off the top and then took forty-five minutes to actually get all the way in the water. She did a crazy total of 46 (was it?) laps and I did a whopping 6. I'm pulling the "I-have-one-leg-and-am-incredibly-out-of-shape-plus-asthma" card. I'm a big girl, I can do what I want. ;] <p></p></div><div>* Got some college schedule stuff worked out. I'm hoping to take Sign Language and Literature and Composition this Summer. I want to (among other things) be an author... did you know that? <p></p></div><div>* Went to Old Navy in search of a two-piece bathing suit so I don't feel frumpy in my old lady stule one-piece. I found one! A white top (Nic said that I looked "Yachty") and a plaid-ish frilly bottom. And no, you cannot see. Give me a few more weeks worth of polar bear swims, okay? ;] <p></p></div><div>* Went "flashlight shopping" during said bathing suit trip. The power went out and they decided to keep the store open... but it was dark inside! It was really, really fun! <p></p></div><div>* Got a free Apple-Chai Infusion from Starbucks! The power was also out at this little House of Beverage, which meant that they couldn't take credit cards... I ended up with a free drink! <p></p></div><div>* Had a nice long chat with Lori, from <a href="http://www.thenovastudio.com/index.htm">The Nova Studio</a>, about some volunteer work that I'll be doing. I'm SO excited! I can't even begin to tell you how thrilled I am. Eeep!<br /></div><div>* Edited a few pictures. <p></p></div><div>* Went back to Old Navy to pick up the bathing suit pieces that Nic wanted... it was the the Bathing Suit Fairy, I swear! <p></p></div><div>* Headed back over to Miss Nic's house for a supposed evening swim, but discovered that the water was fricken' freezing. We vetoed and decided to eat corn and talk while the sun set. Hahaha... that's kind of romantic sounding! I love that lady SO much. <p></p></div><div>* Came home to see my gorgeous Husband rocking out and playing his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Portable">PSP</a> simultaneously. He just oddles my noodle. Plain and simple. <p></p></div><div>* Made almost-vegan <a href="http://www.seeveggiesdifferently.com/product_detail.aspx?id=324&healthy=42">Veggie Crumble </a>burritos for dinner with kale, chard, soy cheese, organic tomatoes, bell peppers, a spice mix made from organic cumin (this is THE "taco" spice), ground hot pepper and a little sea salt, all wrapped in fluffy white tortillas (keepin' it real). <p></p></div><div>* Took the movie, Bratz, that nic and I rented, back to Hollywood Video. We actually know one of the guys who was in the movie and we both screamed like school girls when he had his little speaking part. Too good. We're proud of you, Mr. Rad! </div><div><p></div><div>* Spent the last few hours loafing on the internet. I have no shame. </div><p><p></p><div><p></div><div><strong>In a few minutes, I will:</strong> </div><div> </div><div><p></div><div>* Brush my fangs and wash my face.<br /><p></div><div>* Snuggle into bed. </div><div><p></div><div>* Read a little bit of Neil Gaiman's, <em>American Gods</em>. <p></p></div><div>* Give my handsome Husband a kiss good night. <p></p></div><div>* <span style="font-size:100%;">Sleep</span>. </div><div align="center"><br />Goodnight, Moon.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327781596456984562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 316px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SfAVIlmun_I/AAAAAAAAAj4/8pUkO55t-EU/s400/glowring2.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-55253666116524083352009-04-20T22:53:00.000-07:002009-04-21T13:24:27.255-07:00Please Remember.<div align="center">"Cracks make for character, and authentic character makes for soul."</div><div align="center">- Rachel Ashwell. </div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>Love yourself.</strong></span></div><br /><div align="center">Faults, lumps, wiggles, pimples, wrinkles, tears and all. </div><div align="center"><p></p></div><div align="center"><p></p></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"> </div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-40350987342446521402009-04-19T23:54:00.000-07:002009-04-20T00:01:22.469-07:00Hot and GrumpyToday was hot. I was hot. I got sweaty and cried and made Dustin take my pants and shirt off (which, of course, he didn't mind doing at all) and had him turn a big fan on me. Yuck.<br /><br />I also ate really poorly, which only further made me cranky and gave me funky heart palpitations. It was really neat, actually, because I only reaffirmed to myself that eating healthy and getting lots of water is a good thing for my body.<br /><br />Tomorrow is a new day!Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-32985982161668902892009-04-17T13:36:00.000-07:002009-04-17T14:55:46.646-07:00When You Give a Man a Camera...<div align="center">... he'll take pictures of his face. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SejowLEgHCI/AAAAAAAAAjg/RVHvetfKm6c/s1600-h/bubby.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325762473668647970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SejowLEgHCI/AAAAAAAAAjg/RVHvetfKm6c/s400/bubby.jpg" border="0" /></a>Oh how I love that face. I loved even more that he told me he was impressed with how well I took pictures of my own face, with my arms being short and all. *rolls eyes* Men, right? </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SejowLrq6DI/AAAAAAAAAjY/_aA_AeuawZo/s1600-h/bub.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325762473832933426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SejowLrq6DI/AAAAAAAAAjY/_aA_AeuawZo/s400/bub.jpg" border="0" /></a> I did have fun editing this picture of him. His face is so much more exciting than mine! Big brows, piercing eyes!<br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sejov0cBNXI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/mXeJRgV09j8/s1600-h/scar+drawing+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325762467593270642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Sejov0cBNXI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/mXeJRgV09j8/s400/scar+drawing+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I have been thinking of getting tattoos on/around the scars on my stomach (shown) and my back. I took my top off (score for him) and let him draw on me with a pen. The one on back (where my lung was taken out) didn't turn out very well, but this one on my stomach captured my heart a little. I think it would also look cute with a little girl, dress blowing in the wind, balloon in hand? Maybe I'll request that during our next drawing session.<br /><br /><br />Last summer, when I started creating this blog, I had switched my diet to a mostly vegan one. After I my sickness and surgery in August, I returned to the world of carnivorism, mainly because my stomach was so messed up and meat, for some reason was easier on me to digest. Backwards, I know.<br /><br />Recently I have decided to go most back to being mostly Vegan. I'm not doing any meat (with the exception of an occasional piece of salmon), I don't eat any milk or milk products and very little eggs (only when they're in baked goods, which I don't eat to much of as it is). I will use organic honey, which is a vegan no-no, for facial masks (makes my skin SO soft!), but I don't really dig the taste. <br /><br />I will be posting recipes, pictures and other food goodies as I venture deeper into this awesome lifestyle!<br /><br />Dustin and I are looking for a small house to rent in Downtown Antioch. I'm so excited! We're ready to be on our own again -- have our own space, kitchen, ect. It's been a little hard trying to find a place that will let us bring our dogs, but as any of you that actually have dogs know, they're part of the family. If you don't want them, you don't want us!<br /><br />Hope you all had a very nice Friday.<br /><br />-xo-<br />Violet<br /><br /><br /></div></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-30716192483040623102009-04-16T23:19:00.000-07:002009-04-17T01:52:23.518-07:00Easter and the Eggs.<div align="center">Our Easter was nice and quiet. I had a cold (dang you, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">sporadic</span> spring rain), so I laid low for most of the weekend. We had to make a trip out to my Grandma's house for an Easter Brunch, but other than that, I was a Couch Bunny.<br /><p></p></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325552466798456626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SegpwKg6LzI/AAAAAAAAAiI/_gjSPvr2jA8/s400/IMG_4496.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">The night before Easter, I doodled on some eggs and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">dipped</span> 'em in the stinky cups of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Paas</span> dye.</div><div align="center"><p></p></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325552466036132130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SegpwHrKCSI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/r_X3pYop1Cw/s400/crayons.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">The massive tub of crayons that my Mother In Law has collected. Pick a color, it's in there.</div><div align="center"><p></p></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325552468423674882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SegpwQkZDAI/AAAAAAAAAiY/Hm3Pm60dD8I/s400/IMG_4542.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">My "little" brother Joey (Joe, to his friends) and his kick ass shades. This kid looks good in any pair of sunglasses ever. It's amazing. </div><div align="center"><p></p></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325552468839795298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SegpwSHmimI/AAAAAAAAAig/T49mFu9AvAk/s400/IMG_4552.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">One of the pretty <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Dunch</span> (Dinner-Lunch. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Hahaha</span>) tables at Grandma's. She has a wonderful little (huge, actually) house in a town called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Hollister</span>. It's in the South Bay, by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Gilroy</span> (garlic!) and about an hour from Santa Cruz.</div><div align="center"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Ahh</span>! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Hollister</span> is in a pretty rural area and when were about to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">leave</span>, I looked over and saw this thing on Dustin's shirt. I did a double take <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">and it</span> was this black, hairy spider with cobalt blue back legs. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Ugggh</span>! I have the shivers just typing this. He tried to flick it off and it jumped off of his shirt and landed on his pants. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Eeep</span>! My Daddy was a hero and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">flicked</span> that creepy, furry beast to the ground. Now, I'm not normally a killer, but that thing had girth. I wanted nothing more than to roll it over with left wheel, but Dustin wouldn't let me. He's such a nice one.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><p></p></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325552476167363058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SegpwtaoWfI/AAAAAAAAAio/0om2NWiIZlA/s400/peeto.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">My Daddy, or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Peeto</span>, as we call him. Don't know where it came from, but it sure has stuck!</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SegyaiDK9DI/AAAAAAAAAi4/GjVc58TQ4Iw/s1600-h/IMG_4571.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325561990763705394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SegyaiDK9DI/AAAAAAAAAi4/GjVc58TQ4Iw/s400/IMG_4571.jpg" border="0" /></a> My adorable little cousin Timothy. He ate the hell out of that strawberry cupcake, too.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SegyamDbQzI/AAAAAAAAAiw/VGCJo3gL19E/s1600-h/timmy+bike.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325561991838516018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SegyamDbQzI/AAAAAAAAAiw/VGCJo3gL19E/s400/timmy+bike.jpg" border="0" /></a> Ah! Adorable!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325563909062286818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Seg0KMRMXeI/AAAAAAAAAjA/kArFjWmL1q4/s400/IMG_4603.jpg" border="0" /><br />This is my cousin's little girl, Amalia. CUTE. This little girl loved her bubbles. She spilled them all over the concrete and just had to smooch her hands in the mess. I stuck my little fingers out and joined her. Bliss!<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325563908832874210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/Seg0KLafzuI/AAAAAAAAAjI/3oYWMZwiC4o/s400/yellow+field.jpg" border="0" /><br />Mustard tinted fields filled our ride home with color.<br /><br />Oh Spring, I love you!<br /><div></div><br /></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-54990419495402967232009-04-12T01:31:00.000-07:002009-04-12T01:34:33.131-07:00Happy Sunday.<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SeGnKn5V0aI/AAAAAAAAAhI/LRcsnngcAVI/s1600-h/eggs+flowers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323720035478655394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q1LoiDL95UI/SeGnKn5V0aI/AAAAAAAAAhI/LRcsnngcAVI/s400/eggs+flowers.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">To all of those that celebrate Easter, may you have an awesome one. </div><br />To all of those that don't -- have a nice Sunday!<br /><br /><br />Pictures, handmade stamps and ceramic goodness to come!<br /><br /><3<br /></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070430388305283651.post-11173205667235745252009-04-02T01:50:00.000-07:002009-04-02T01:53:06.415-07:00Did I Mention......that Blogger is weird and makes the spacing in my posts look funky? YUCK.Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06890007157898445735noreply@blogger.com0