Jan 19: Taking Care of Business

Kate Bosworth and JewelMint by bunni711 featuring clutch handbags

This is my entry for the Kate Bosworth/JewelMint contest on Polyvore.  The top five sets get a year's subscription to JewelMint.  I would love to win!

So, I'm close to finishing Wicked today, but may not be able to finish until tomorrow.  I'm ready to move on!  I just haven't been reading that much lately.  Now I'm going to be pretty busy with homework, too.  The upside is that it's only this week that is going to be ridonkulously busy, and the rest of the semester should be relatively relaxed as far as work goes.  I mean the frequency, not necessarily the difficulty.

I got my grade for the letter of intro and got a 90.  The teacher left comments, but I'm not sure why she took off so much.  I'm debating e-mailing her about it.  I think if I do the workshopping, it will help my grade.  James and I are also thinking of dropping the class (before the Ws of course!), but I think we should probably just take it.  It will save me in loans and I think I can do better with workshopping and with the help of the books - we didn't have them for the first assignment, after all.

I spent most of my day working on the networking homework.  The labs turned out to be pretty easy and maybe a little fun.  Or, at least not boring.  The quiz wasn't hard either, so I'm only worried about how much homework I have to get done before Sunday.  I have to do 4 chapters worth of labs and quizzes (ch 1 got knocked out today), plus a summary paper on one of many videos about Windows Server 2008.

Jamie and I got some sandwiches in town today because his mom was making Kielbasi, which neither of us are particularly fond of.  We also got some chocolate and I ate too much glorious, glorious chocolate.  Mmmm...  See, this is why I'm having trouble!

We watched some Warehouse 13, which is becoming a favorite show, and we watched the new 30 Rock and The Office.  I have yet to start the new Face Off season, and by now there is another episode online.  Eep!  Ah well, life is swell.  : )  (Curse my quickly changing moods!  And sometimes bless them, I spose...  They do make life interesting, at the very least.)

I haven't crocheted in what feels like forever.  I'm going to have to find some time soon to finish up old projects and get back into my hobby.  Unfortunately, it's going to be work, work, work for me for the next few days.  I also have to work through ch. 1 of Javascript and make a graphic on Microsoft Expressions.  Those shouldn't be hard, but I hardly have time it seems.  I shall get it done, though, as always.

Love,
Christen

Jan 17 & 18: Losing Track of Time

Birdies in a Tree by bunni711 on polyvore.com

I made this one a few days ago.  I'm pretty excited because it got a like on Polyvore.  Pretty much I've been entering all the contests I can on Polyvore lately.  There are quite a few going on right now.  I've already entered 4 and there is one more going on that I have yet to make a set for.

Sorry about not posting yesterday, it got away from me!  Not much went on; we went to my house to pick up my prescription and my wallet.  We visited and loved on Teddy bear.  James and I played some cards and we watched our Tuesday shows:  New Girl and Raising Hope.  I wasn't in that great of a mood most of the day, but I think it's mostly anxiety for the new semester and stuff.  We had one of Jamie's favorites for dinner:  chili cheese dogs.  They were pretty delicious.

So, today I haven't really been feeling that great.  I was having trouble breathing earlier for some reason; I think it may have been a stuffy nose and congestion.  I feel fine now though.  I spent a lot of time on Polyvore today making sets for their contests.  I've been making almost exclusively fashion sets lately.  Well, I will get creative again with them soon.  I noticed today how much time I spend on there.  The time completely passes me by.  I was on for a little bit (less than an hour) and noticed it was 9:30.  Then, I looked again and it was suddenly 10:30!  I had no idea I had been on that long!

I watched this week's episode of The Bachelor.  It was pretty interesting, but some of the stuff really does seem planned.  One girl goes home and another girl shows up out of the blue?  I don't know...  Jamie and I started season 2 of Warehouse 13.  I really like that show.  They always have cool artifacts popping up and such.

Ah, not much else to talk about.  I've been reading more and am getting towards the end of Wicked.  I'm also losing the lead I had on my book reading.  : (  I'll hopefully catch up, though.  Two of my books came in, finally.  Actually, one of them got here on the 12th, but it was being held at the UPS place because Jamie has all of his packages held there.  But I got my online access code and we got our book for networking, so we can do that homework we had missed.  I'm not quite in school mode yet.  It's very strange taking all online courses, but I kind of like it.  It makes me want to get an at-home job.  I'm not sure if I'm ready for freelance web design, though.  It would be fun, but I think I would have trouble networking to get clients and such.  Also, I really want to have a steady income; that's very important to me.

Welp, I'll leave you there.  I've had a strange day.  I have been very tired and, for some reason, very sensitive to sounds.  Well, I'm feeling alright now, so hopefully there won't be any more silliness tomorrow.  I will have to start on that networking homework.  Oh, and it seems like Javascript is going to be more like Visual Basic, eep!  I think it'll be alright though; I really hope so!  I'm not much for programming languages...  I liked html, though, so hopefully making websites will distract me from the fact that I'm programming.

Love,
Christen

Jan 15: Make a Wish

Make a Wish by bunni711 on polyvore.com

I made the artwork above today.  I'm pretty happy with it and decided to post it before some of the stuff I made before.  I am so ridiculously tired!  It's been one of those days.  : P

So, the cell company never called me back.  I'm going to have to call them yet again.  I am beyond over this whole deal.  Ugh!

I'm back at Jamie's.  We watched the Golden Globes and Ricky Gervais was awkward.  I think he's funny, but I think he rubs people the wrong way sometimes.  It was pretty boring, though.

I haven't read much today because I've just been out of it and I've been hanging out with James.  I made a couple of things on Polyvore - actually both were elephant themed.  I made another one, but didn't publish it yet.  I'm not sure if I'm happy with it.

My refund finally came through for that book.  Now I can order another one, but I'm not sure where to order it from.  Some of the sites that have the book for cheap have pretty bad online reviews, and the more reputable ones are more expensive.  Plus, I left my wallet in my mom's purse the other day and realized it after she had already left for work today.  Silly me...

Well, I think that's about it.  I'm not looking forward to calling the cell place again.  I'm pretty put off by the whole deal.  Anywho, at least I don't have any homework due in the immediate future and I can (try to) relax a little.

Love,
Christen

Jan 14: Contest Submission

American Idol Audition by bunni711 featuring via spiga coats

So, I submitted the artwork above for a competition on Polyvore today.  The contest is for the best outfit to wear to an American Idol audition.  I really like it, so we'll have to see how it does!

I have been very fuzzy and tired today.  I spent a lot of time worrying about getting my homework done but not really wanting to do it/ feeling like doing it.  Well, I actually just finished it, so I'm feeling really good now that it's out of the way.  I really have to work on this homework anxiety thing.

Other than all that, I did make a few more pieces of Polyvore art today.  You shall see more in upcoming days.  I may end up with a backlog of these if I keep making so many of them. I made a cute cupcake themed one, and one about what a puppy dreams of.  They are both really cute.  I also got a like on my Birdies in a Tree artwork, but I don't think that one's up on the blog yet.  Well, you'll just have to wait for it, then!

I didn't do much else besides play around on Polyvore and read today.  My nephew is over for the weekend again.  Teddy has taken to jumping up and down all the time now.  We have to grab him really quick before he goes for it (with little or no notice), and it doesn't always work out.  Confound that dog!  But dang, that dog is so adorable!  You can't help but love him.  <3

Well, I think that's it.  I didn't have time to watch the first episode of Face Off season two, although I may stay up.  I probably shouldn't since I've been so tired all day, but we'll see.  I had to watch a video for my homework assignment (the one I just finished), and it was a bit confusing and also narrated by a British man, which didn't help.  I think I wrote a good paper on it, though.  We'll see how nitpicky my teachers turn out to be.  Anywho, gotta go call James back before bed.

Love,
Christen

Jan 13: Friday the Thirteenth!

Frame Bookshelves by bunni711 featuring black pearl jewelry

Well, I stayed up pretty late last night making that french travel journal (see previous day's post), and I was still full of ideas and inspiration when I went to bed.  I made five more pieces of art on Polyvore today, which sounds nuts even to me.  I don't know why, but I find it a lot of fun and I'm getting a lot of ideas.  I think they all look really cool, and since I made so many today, there will be new ones coming out on the blog each day for a while!

I also found out that there are competitions on the site, so I think I'm going to submit something for it.  The theme is what you would wear to an American Idol audition.  I don't watch the show, but I used to watch the tryouts a few years ago.  They can be pretty funny. I think I should try to get to bed at a better time tonight, though, and it's already getting late.  I'll tackle that tomorrow, I guess.

So, apparently our other book for the networking class won't be here in time to do our homework this week.  I'm going to have to write to my teacher again about it.  We're going to be a bit behind and I'm just hoping that she will understand and let us take the quizzes late, too.

The cell company never called me back, so I'm going to have to call them, AGAIN.  It's getting so ridiculously old.

I'm about halfway through Wicked.  I like it so far.  I think it's really cool that the author included political turmoil in his land of Oz.  He shows the story in a different light, but I think it will end up in the same vein as the original story.

Teddy is feeling much better and is now jumping on and off the furniture whenever we turn our backs.  It's so frustrating because as soon as he feels better, he starts again.  I just really don't want him to hurt himself again.  We are working on ideas for stairs and I already have a plan on how to teach him to use them.  It involves looots of treats.  You know, that gives me an idea for another Polyvore artwork, hehe.

Other than that, I finished the first season of that Face Off show.  I wish there had been more than four episodes online, but I enjoyed what there was.  I'm probably going to watch the first episode of the new season tomorrow.  And, I should probably get that networking homework (what little I can do!) out of the way.

Well, I'm super tired.  I'm gonna read and then hit the sack.  Hope you have a wonderful day!

Love,
Christen

Jan 12: That Kinda Day

Paris Travel Notebook by bunni711 featuring a cashmere beanie


Well, today hasn't been that great.  I woke up tired and foggy, read some, and mostly loafed around all morning.  I am liking Wicked better, though.  It seems most of the racy stuff was in the first part of the book.  I think it was just a shock, seeing as I have been reading mostly Jane Austen books recently.  Anyway, it's getting pretty interesting, so I don't think there will be a problem finishing it.

After my mom got home from work, my sister Shaina came over with some presents - groceries and a new vacuum cleaner for us since our last one went kaput a while ago.  Then we went and picked up a few things at the store and stopped by the bank - nothing special.

After we got home, I settled down to write that letter of introduction for my technical writing class.  It was frustrating.  A lot of people in the class did the "workshopping" on the discussion boards, but I didn't have time to.  We don't have the text books yet, either, so I didn't have a lot to go on.  I also worry a lot about the stuff I write.  The teacher seems like she is married to grammar rules, so I'm a little worried that she will find faults where I didn't think there were any.  I think I generally don't like to take writing classes.  Oh well, I'll manage.

I'm not really in the best mood.  It's been a stressful day for various reasons and I just want to keep this post short.  Nothing interesting is going on, really.  Teddy is better, but still hurting, I think.  I touched his back earlier and he yelped a little.  It's hard to see your baby in pain.  We are doing our best to take care of him, though, and making sure he gets his medicine and takes it easy.  He jumped down off of the couch a couple of times, which means he's feeling a bit better; it's so hard to watch him all the time when he's so sneaky.  I hope the stairs thing works out.

I'm going to try out that Face-Off show on SyFy.  I guess only episodes 4 and on are available online - oh well.  It looks really interesting.

I stayed up pretty late because I couldn't sleep.  But I did make a pretty Paris-themed travel journal on Polyvore.  It helps me feel less stressed.  I think I'm just not ready for the semester yet.

Love,
Christen

Jan 11: Presents!

Accessory Tree by bunni711 featuring citrine stud earrings

This is what I spent a good portion of the day making!  It's the second day in a row where I got on Polyvore and went nuts for a couple (a few?) hours.  It was a lot of fun though and I'm very happy with my little tree up there.  It's also given me a few more ideas for other art to make.  You shall have to wait and see...

So, in other news, last night I finished Persuasion and started this book:

Wicked : The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire







I am really very on the fence about it.  It has come off overly sexual so far, which is very strange.  I'll read some more before I decide if I will finish it or not.  I hate not finishing books - I try to avoid it (sometimes at all costs; I mean, c'mon, I muddled through Moby Dick for crying out loud!).

I had to call the cell company AGAIN today because I realized that I no longer have the minutes I had before this whole debacle started!  I have the new ones, but now the old ones are gone.  I was told that they will call me in 24-48 hours.  Hopefully it will be fixed finally!

I headed back home today and found out that Teddy got hurt again on Sunday.  : (  My poor baby!  This is the third or fourth time that he has hurt his back/legs from jumping on and off the furniture.  He's on pain meds and muscle relaxers, but he is trembling sometimes and not able to step over very short things (I mean, even shorter than usual, seeing as he is a dachshund).  He is also making a terrible little whiny noise that breaks my heart.  We have to watch him so that he doesn't jump on/off the furniture and we're going to train him to use stairs now.  I feel so bad for ever letting him jump up and down in the first place.  : (  He is doing alright, though, and I don't think he is suffering.  We're all taking really good care of him.

In happier news, Jamie's surprise came today!  I ordered him a late Christmas present back in December, and snuck around a little in order to keep it a secret from him.  The reason it was so late was that the seller on ebay was away until a few days ago, so it actually got here in good time.

I had arranged a little scavenger hunt for him that would give him clues to what the present was, but he wasn't feeling well today and, to be honest, I kind of chickened out about it.  It started seeming really silly once I knew the package was coming today.  Well, he read through it afterward and the clues weren't written that well, but he enjoyed going through them at least!

But yes, what is this mystery Christmas present?  James is a big fan of hockey, and especially the Penguins.  He was also in need of a new wallet.  So, this is what I got him!

He had no idea I got him anything, so it was a really fun surprise.  I think I did a good job.  I had felt so bad because I had no money to get him anything for Christmas, but I got some Christmas money and was able to get him something I think he really likes.  Good day.

Love,

Christen

Jan 10: Having Fun with Fashion

Colorful Accessories with Neutral Clothes by bunni711 featuring antique jewelry

This is a fun little fashion board I did on a new site I found called Polyvore.  I think I spent way too much time on it, but at least it was fun and relaxing!

I've had an interesting day today.  *sigh*  I found out that one of my books was cancelled because the site was out of stock.  I can't imagine why they wouldn't tell me that BEFORE I ordered it and paid for it.  I'm worried that I won't get the refund back, order a new book, and get it shipped out before my homework is due for that class on the 15th.  I e-mailed my prof about it, though, so hopefully it will work out and she'll let me turn it in late.

I woke up in a bad mood today.  I'm having a lot of trouble getting my sleep schedule right and I'm just tired all the time.  Ugh.  Other than that, I called my cell company again and was able to get my minutes.  I awkwardly mentioned the "compensation" I was promised but the lady (a dif one from yesterday) said she didn't know anything about it and couldn't do anything.  At least I tried, though.

I'm almost done with Persuasion - last chapter.  I'm going to read Wicked next.  I know it's been very popular in recent years, especially the play (or musical?), so I am excited to check it out.  I think after that I will read 1Q84 - hopefully it will still be at my library!

I spent ridiculous amounts of time today on Etsy, pinning stuff onto my Pinterest boards.  It was a lot of fun, though.  I hardly ever let myself actually relax, so I think all the weird messing around online was actually good for me.  Nothing much else happened except that Jamie's parents brought back pizza, which was a really nice surprise for a weekday.  Now I should really get on that homework calendar, but I think I'll go finish my book first : )

Love,
Christen