Savannah/Tybee Island Trip - Day 1

Mom and I arrived in Savannah this afternoon at about 2:30pm.  We found out we could not, in fact, check in to our hotel until after 4pm, so we went to visit Tybee Island.

The beach was packed, and we weren't really dressed for it, so we went shopping at some of the kitschy places further inland.  I ended up buying a fair trade coin purse made from coconuts in Bali.  It was only $4, and the cuteness is amazing.

A highly rated place was called "The Crab Shack".  It's a tourist trap, they have alligators (very small ones), an exotic bird building, and their main reason for existing: a restaurant.

Well... after being seated, we made the horrible assumption that someone would be by in a timely manner for our drink orders.  5 minutes passed, 10 minutes passed.  I tried to flag down a waitress to no avail.  A group of 4 sat down behind us and were immediately served... so finally, we left.  Informed the servers and they just looked at us, mouths gaping open, saying nothing.  It was very bizarre.  I think that may have just been how they looked.  A permanent "duuuuuuuuuuuuh" face.

The next place we found - called Bubba's something or other - wasn't quite as bad.  We did eventually get food.  However, the running away from us whenever we tried to get assistance was still prevalent.

Oh well, it will not affect the rest of my vacation!  Tomorrow Mama and I are going shopping in Savannah, followed by Kayaking in the afternoon. Super super excited.  I've never been Kayaking.  Looking for good photo ops.  Tomorrow's review will include pictures :-)

More walking sticks

Added 4 more of my uncles walking sticks to Etsy (click the photo to go to the listing page):

Record Bowl Awesomeness Tutorial

A while ago I learned how to make record bowls from a tutorial online.  A few weeks ago I decided to take it to a new level using paint, and eventually, modpodge'd some magazine clippings.

Heres how I did it, in full Technicolor details

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Phase I - Painting

It may seem counterintuitive, but you want to paint the bowls BEFORE you melt them.  Painting after is a huge pain, and actually, your oven will help the paint become a bit more durable.  I used spray paint for all painting involved.

Create a good work environment (or an average one, as pictured)

I suggest you put a basecoat of white or black before you start (depending on the effect your going for - which will be described later.

For this record I did my next coat in red, while the white coat was still damp:

Using the paintbrush and the end of the paintbrush, make a few designs.

If you're happy with it, go ahead and take a break, allow a few hours for your record to dry.  If you'd like to continue, thats ok too.  I added a coat of faux hammered metallic spraypaint to mine, and continued with some designs:

Allow ample time for your record to dry.  Preferrably indoors where it's not too cold or too damp (otherwise you'll be waiting a week for it to be dry enough to melt)  These took about two days to fully dry.  

When dry enough I painted the back of each a solid color.  For these records this will be the inside.  You can add layers as you did on the otherside if you choose.  I mostly went with solid because I didn't feel like waiting on the dry time for anything more complicated

Phase 2 - Melting

You need some sort of small bowl that is oven proof so you can see the record droop.  Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.

Time will vary depending on the thickness of the record.  If you're going to do this, insure you can see into your oven (you'll have to clean the window, I know, it sucks), and watch for the "droop"

Now, the process of taking it out (it shouldn't be too hot to touch) must be quick.  I used a casserole dish sprayed with nonstick spray to mold my records from:

 

You'll have a few seconds to pull on the sides and mold it a bit more to your liking, but it will set pretty quickly.  The good thing is you can remelt if absolutely necessary, but in my experience it gets more and more difficult to mold after every remelt.

So now you have a nice bowl:

Yay!  You could stop here if you like, but why?  We have more awesomeness to perform

Phase III - Mod Podge!

First, find an image you like from a magazine.  You can use other media, but I've found the texture and retention of ink that magazines have works best.  First coat the entire bowl in mod podge.  It will take a while to dry the first time, but it makes for a more smooth look overall when you decide to add your clipping.

I chose this little guy for this bowl:

My bowl was dry, so I added a little more mod podge for him to stick to, stuck him down, and painted over him with the same stuff.

I added one to the other bowl as well, but as you can see towards the center, it had a bit of an accident:

To wrap up I suggest a few more coats of Mod Podge.  I'm considering varnishing them with polyurethane to finish them off, and plug the hole.

Here are my fabulous glamor pics:

Etsy Store

I started an etsy store for the various crafts my family members create.  Mostly my Mom, uncle Pete, and me.  The first item I put up is one of my uncle Pete's walking sticks (defense from the Notorious Honey Badger)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/69415379/walking-stick

I'll be adding my record bowls later, along with a tutorial here :-)

Woot!

I decided to take control of my life...

In the immortal words of Bridget Jones:

And so I made a major decision. I had to make sure that next year... I wouldn't end up shit-faced and listening to sad FM... easy-listening for the over-thirties. I decided to take control of my life... and start a diary... to tell the truth about Bridget Jones... the whole truth.

While I'm not over thirty, it is indeed drawing near.  In a couple months I will turn 28, and officially, will be in my "late twenties".  If you asked me 10 years ago, I would have said that by now I'd have my life together.  Probably be married with a couple of kids, and an amazing career doing... something (even then I wasn't sure of what).  Also, I would (obviously) be very thin and beautiful and incredibly happy all the time.

Well, none of that was in the cards.  I have a job I like, but it's not a career, and I don't feel that I am of the right type of intelligence to really learn, much less love, programming.  I am starting college this fall at Kennesaw State University, so thats a start.

I, unfortunately, can't handle Smokey as a pet.  He is a sweet dog, but his energy is just too much, and I'm not home enough for him to get the exercise and playtime he needs.  If I could afford another dog to entertain him, it would be a completely different situation - however, I can't right now - mentally or financially.
Luckily, the friend I adopted from's Dad would like to have him as a pet, so it's all working out fantastically.

My finances are a complete mess.  Number one issue is that I have to get my car maintained soon so I get the best gas mileage possible... especially with gas here in Georgia hitting over $3.25 a gallon.  My gasoline costs often fly past $200 a month... and I only have a commute of 12 miles, 24 miles a day total.  I also go out to lunch w/the rest of my team way to often.  I think getting these two things fixed will put me miles ahead financially within two months.
The plus side: I've started working with my mom on weekends to make some extra $$.

Now the big one.  Weight.  I got on the scale today... I have officially crawled back up to 190lbs.  Christ on crutches... something's gotta give.  I have an appointment with a nearby gym tomorrow.  I won a free startup cost, and it's only $10 a month.  I'm sure it's not a very advanced gym, but I don't require much - just decent weight equipment and a good elliptical.  While I keep telling myself I could run outside like a normal creature of earth, I have become aware of the fact I live in Georgia... and while the weather now is absolutely gorgeous - it will creep up to 90F before ya know it... at which point it will be unbearable to do any kind of outside exercise.

So my plan, to stay on track with this whole exercise thing, is to post here my weekly updates.  Here are my current, terrifying, facts:

Weight: 190 lbs
Bust: 42" (38dd)
Waist: 38" (size 14)
Hips: 42"

My goals:
Weight: 135 lbs
Bust: 38" (or 36dd)
Waist: 26" (or size 6)
Hips: 38"

I know that I have a lot of friends who would like to tell me that my goals are ridiculous, and believe I would look anorexic at the size specified.  The fact is I'm over weight - as are most of the people I know.  We've all fooled ourselves into believing that a larger size is acceptable, when in reality the "healthy" waist size for a woman is no larger than 30".  A healthy weight for a woman my height is no more than 150lbs.  And, while it's nice to use it as an excuse, I'm not that big boned.  These are doable goals, and I intend on meeting them.

Lookout world!

A taste of whats to come

My current project is perfecting my record bowl and spray paint skills.  When these powers combine, EPIC AWESOME CRAFTINESS IS CREATED.

I finally got one completed that I'm satisfied with.  Pics below.  Tutorial to come later this week!

"Forgiveness, even if you don't love me anymore"

All of the greatest religious leaders, across cultures, have preached the practice of forgiveness and tolerance in some form or fashion.  In my personal life lately I've felt a lot of anger growing inside.  Contrary to popular belief, I'm a very tolerant person.  More so in my relationships.  I've been told (in both a good and bad ways) that I put up with more than most women.  In this recent situation, it brought on my own undoing.  Left me feeling shattered and empty, and as time has gone by, angry.  Not even the asshole who sold me my car left me feeling this taken advantage of.


He is supposed to get his stuff from my apartment tomorrow.  I had written a very strongly worded letter telling him exactly how I feel and what I think, however, I think I will remove it from the box... because I don't have the energy for this anymore.


I am no longer that same angsty girl from 5 to 10 years ago.  Holding grudges and being angry depletes my energy.  Just getting myself wrapped up in news about North Africa drains me.  There is such a lack of tolerance in this world, because all of the space for tolerance is filled with hatred.


..and I REFUSE to contribute to that hatred and lack of understanding.


So, ex boyfriends of my life.  I forgive you.  All of you.  We may never be friends, we may never see each other, but if we do... well, I think Ms. Palmer Mrs. Gaiman sums it up nicely.

We'll raise high the white flags and bow heads and shake hands

Declaring the land we're on un-American 

We'll call it even.