I've moved!

After many a-nights toying with and cursing at Blogger, I've decided to move my Quiet Life on over to Typepad!

The Quiet Life of Violet

Please join me!

A List and Some News

Things to do:

• Swing by Target and pick up the goods on my list (CHECK)
• 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)
• Take pictures of my first batch of soap! It smells divine. Seriously.
• Get ready for and go to (be on time!) my friend Meagan's wedding tonight!
• Call Lori (CHECK)

I just love list making. I think I may be addicted.

Oh, and I'm moving... to Typepad! The link will be up in few days! So excited!

A Quick Hello!

[Me and my Mommy at my brother's post-graduation lunch.]

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 is cool). And this brother of mine is going to be a legal adult next week. Holy crap.

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 Nic and get ready for my first ever Bachelorette party. Yea. I'm a wee bit busy.. and I need a nap! Sleep must wait, though.

Oh! I get to un-mold my soap today.. pictures to follow. :D




<3 Violet

For Some Reason....

... Blogger has decided to break all of my picture links? Hmmm.. I'm gunna write those bad boys a letter.

Sunday

Little kisses.

Today Dustin, Nic and I are going to the flea market! After that, I'm going to The Nova and I'm going to make my first batch of soap. Eeeep!

Have a happy Sunday.

Sortin' is My Middle Name.

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!

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.

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 PSP and fiddle around with the sound quality upload settings on my Zune, 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.

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 (the boys 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.

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! :}

We plan on being moved in by the end of the weekend. SO good!

Update: That sandwich was gooood. ;}

Sneaky Peak!

Whew.

Two days, six 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?

[Adding colorant to the raw soap]

[Lemongrass Loofah bars -- freshly cut]

[Lori's swirled soap in the mold]

And now, I sleep.

I 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?

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 this bad boy with a little help from Dustin's muscles. I love his muscles. *swoon*

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!

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.

During the week, I've been doing odd jobs for Lori at The Nova, 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 Soap Boot Camp and I'm super stoked.


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. :}

Life is good.

Fonzie loves you. Be happy.

Many A Concerts!

Two concerts since last Saturday! Nic, Bubby (Dustin) and I took BART out to the city on Saturday to see a lovely band called Margot and the Nuclear So & Sos. 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. ;}

[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.]

[Four of the So & Sos eight members]

[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.]

Tuesday, Dustin and I drove out to the Fillmore to see one of our favorite bands, The Kills.

[The view from the Treasure Island tunnel]

[The Bay Bridge]

[The Golden Gate Bridge in the distance.]

[The city at Twilight]

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.

Oh, and...

I've got bangs!

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 Ringo.

Tee Hee!

Oh, and...

We're seeing Margot & the Nuclear So & Sos tonight!

Eeeeeeepp!

A New Begining.

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!

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

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!

Will you cross your fingers for me?

Soap Crafting Boot Camp!

EEEEEPPPPP!!

I'm taking the two day Soap Making Boot Camp at the end of the month!

Signed up and everything!

Be prepared world, be prepared. You all are going to get soapy!

*squeals like a school girl*

Oh, 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!

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?

Hope you all have a nice Tuesday!

xoxo
Violet

What I've Been Doing

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.

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.

[Some over-exposed (my fault) bars of soaps. Freaking amazing, right?]

Whew! I put 48 (non-consecutive) hours into this project and now that it's done, I'm bored. Who'd have thought?

[I couldn't resist taking a picture in the full length mirrors at the Nova!]

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!

[Widgey (back) and Fonzie]

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.

Hope that everyone had a nice mother's day. :}

Love and wrinkled, snorting puppies,

Miss Vi.

These Boys...

... are cute.

Bubby and I are heading out to Santa Cruz in the morning for a day and night in our favorite little hideaway. I plan on doing a little shopping, a little reading and a whole lot of laying around! Eeeep! I can't wait.

I'm off to work on the color match soap samples for Lori. Wish me luck!

Xo, Q.V.

A Santa Cruz Sunday

Bubby and I went to Santa Cruz this past Sunday.

We:

- had bean soup

- visited Paper Visions

- picked up few glass bird beads at Bead It

- had dinner at I Love Sushi

- sat on the beach and loved at each other (plus taffy)

- had a people and seagull watching session

- walked around the boardwalk

<3

Life is really, really good.

Eeeep! Busy Bee is Me!

Just dropping in to say that I'm still here!

I've been really busy helping Lori (of Nova Studio fame), by taking color sample pictures of a billion little soaps for the Color With Confidence presentation that she'll be giving at this year's Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild conference in Palm Springs. Yep. Said that all in one breath!

I'll be back. With pictures!

-Violet

Children.

I recently stumbled upon a link while getting my daily fix of E. Falc. It lead me to a site made by a couple who are looking to adopt another child and it really touched my heart.




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."


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.

Please take a look at their site and please pass the word around about this lovely little family!

Speaking of children...

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.

And, speaking of music... Nic and I are going to see Death Cab for Cutie tonight! Eeeep!

Hope you all had a great weekend. Goodies and pictures from mine to follow!

Polar Bear Swims.

Today, I:

* Woke up 15 minutes before my alarm went off all refreshed and ready for the day.

* 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. ;]

* 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?

* 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? ;]

* 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!

* 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!

* Had a nice long chat with Lori, from The Nova Studio, 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!

* Edited a few pictures.

* Went back to Old Navy to pick up the bathing suit pieces that Nic wanted... it was the the Bathing Suit Fairy, I swear!

* 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.

* Came home to see my gorgeous Husband rocking out and playing his PSP simultaneously. He just oddles my noodle. Plain and simple.

* Made almost-vegan Veggie Crumble 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).

* 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!

* Spent the last few hours loafing on the internet. I have no shame.

In a few minutes, I will:

* Brush my fangs and wash my face.

* Snuggle into bed.

* Read a little bit of Neil Gaiman's, American Gods.

* Give my handsome Husband a kiss good night.

* Sleep.

Goodnight, Moon.

Please Remember.

"Cracks make for character, and authentic character makes for soul."

- Rachel Ashwell.

Love yourself.

Faults, lumps, wiggles, pimples, wrinkles, tears and all.