if it piques your inquiring mind

2012-02-06T16:57:00.000-08:00

"Eleanor Harding in the street without notice, but you could hardly pass an evening with her and not lose your heart." Anthony Trollope, The Warden

apron

2012-02-05T13:06:00.000-08:00

so, little known fact. i can sew. My grandmother gave me a sewing machine when i was in third grade and i have been sewing ever since.

today, i had 15 spare minutes and decided to make an apron for john's niece emma. for chritmas she got a few (three) play kitchens, so naturally she needs an apron. the one i made is pictured below and it is reversable. cute right?

i wish i had time to sew more often. but for now, every so often is just fine

ready for summer

2012-02-03T11:55:00.000-08:00

ready for summer by mld303 featuring a red belt

J Crew long sleeve dress
$88 - jcrew.com

Tory burch shoes
$95 - shopbop.com

Button jewelry
$250 - maxandchloe.com

J Crew red belt
$23 - jcrew.com

Anthony Trollop

2012-01-29T20:35:00.000-08:00

"'Mr Bold,' said she, 'you may be sure of one thing; I shall always judge my father to be right, and those who oppose him I shall judge to be wrong. If those who do not know him oppose him, I shall have charity enough to believe that they are wrong, through error of judgment; but should I see him attacked by those who ought to know him, and to love him, and revere him, of such I shall be constrained to form a different opinion.' And then curtseying low she sailed on, leaving her lover in anything but a happy state of mind." The Warden by Anthony Trollop

closet

2012-01-15T13:21:00.000-08:00

cleaning out my closet. ebay, here i come!

what i hope to achieve

oliver twist

2012-01-11T11:05:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I started reading Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. It is wonderful. He may be my new second favorite author

crochet projects

2012-01-10T19:58:00.001-08:00

over break i decided to make a few of the christmas presents i wanted to give my friends. below are a few pics of the stuff i made. i think they are cook and my friends who received them loved them.

Hot pink and white blanket for yulia. depending on what side you look it goes white to pink or pink to white

clemson pillow i made for my friend holli
blanket for jennifer. it is aqua and red, her favorite colors. stripes start small and get big.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T20:08:00.000-08:00

my sweet naomi girl

john boy opening is luggage from my parents

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

this week

2011-12-06T10:46:00.000-08:00

this week is finals. it is not a good situation. as of today i have:
- 5 papers due by monday the 12th
-two inclass finals
-double ear infection
-kittens have to be neutored on thursday and its stressing me out
-apartment is a DISASTER
-and i need to lose 20lbs.

damn it

monday outfit w/ focuse on j crew hacking blazer

2011-11-13T07:54:00.001-08:00

monday outfit w/ focuse on j crew hacking blazer by mld303 featuring bell bottom jeans

Bow blouse
$168 - anthropologie.com

Stripe cardigan
$88 - anthropologie.com

J Crew fitted blazer
$250 - jcrew.com

7 For All Mankind bell bottom jeans
$200 - stylebop.com

Tory Burch leather ballet flat
$195 - net-a-porter.com

Miu Miu leather handbag
£795 - flannelsfashion.com

MICHAEL Michael Kors michael kors handbag
$298 - neimanmarcus.com

j crew

2011-11-13T07:40:00.001-08:00

j crew by mld303 featuring a tahitian pearl necklace

J Crew knit sweater
$90 - net-a-porter.com

J Crew long pencil skirt
$118 - jcrew.com

J Crew suede wedge
$228 - jcrew.com

J Crew tahitian pearl necklace
$98 - jcrew.com

J Crew j crew jewelry
$98 - jcrew.com

Hair accessory
$7.99 - modcloth.com

Makeup Set
$14 - beautifulmakeupsearch.com

Down Alternative Bed Pillows in Bed Pillows | Crate&Barrel
$25 - crateandbarrel.com

Truman Frame 4" x 6"
addisoncollection.net

If Disney princesses were real

2011-10-25T21:07:00.000-07:00

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/if-disney-princesses-were-real-2595417/#photoViewer=9

kitten kitties

2011-10-13T13:15:00.000-07:00

just a few new pictures of my little kittens, sissy and winston. they are 3.5 months old and i am so happy i adopted these little guys. they do have twin brother and sister, all gray, who are still looking for a home. preferably together. trust me, you will be happier taking them together.

wreaths

2011-10-09T16:49:00.000-07:00

so, for one reason or another, i am really into making wreaths right now. i don't really want to keep all of them, just make them. that being said, i am trying to sell some that i have made. a few are pictured below, $20 per wreath. if you have special requests, i am more than happy to take them and make wreath just for you.

assorment of white buttons. various shapes and sizes

more of a christmas wreath. again, various sizes and colors of green buttons with a big cute (in my opinion) bow

i call this the bald head island wreath, because i got the shells and wreath twigs from bald head island. great for a beach or river house

close up. i made the felt circles

i think this one is anthropologie looking. i made different size felt circles in red, green and white.

my obssession with felt circles contines. I choose ECU as the first school because that is where my bf went to undergrad. I am working on a USC one now, and then going for VT and VCU, and UVA. got a school in mind? let me know and i can make it.

email me at Bk2swimn@yhoo.com for questions or requests

J Crew Fall Fashion

2011-10-07T19:51:00.000-07:00

this is a video i found on the nbc website. it is an interview about j crew's fall line. below are sets of items the interviewer is wearing for the two different outfits.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/shows/newyorklive/J__Crew_Fall_Fashion_New_York-131330149.html

wedding weekend

2011-10-01T21:02:00.000-07:00

it has been a month since i have posted. oops. everyweekend i have had something to do or tons of school work. thus, things have fallen to the wayside. This past weekend, John and I went to Seweene, TN for his friends Emily and Cole's wedding.

The pair had their wedding at the University because that is where they "remet" and fell in love. Both Emily and Cole went to boarding school, along with John, howetver, they both went their seperate ways, hung out with different groups, and dated other people. once they were freshmen at Seweene, the two rekindled a friendship and fell in love. This was the first time i had met either of them, but they are very sweet amazing people and i wish them all the

Robertson giving some love to John

Emily and Cole's beautiful wedding cake. i know one layer was carrot cake. the icing was the best part
where the happy couple was married.beautiful view

one of the table settings at the reception. i thought it was beautiful and very anthropologie

my handsom boy dressed for the rehersal

me and jhg at the rehersal. it was in a barn.

john's best buddy charlton and his lovely gf, Louisa

1 year anniversary

2011-09-10T21:11:00.000-07:00

A little fun in Greenville, NC at the ECU game

john and i celebrated our 1 year this weekend. fantastic. :)

i gave my boy tickets to the ECU v VT game, seats= 40 yard line. he loved it. and john gave me the most beautiful necklace. i love it, but i love him so much more. i can't believe it has already been a year. most of the time i feel like we have only been dating a few months. i am so happy and look forward to many more years with this man.

my new necklace from john. the middle stone is prasolite with diamonds surround it. he's so amazing

j crew red

2011-08-29T19:34:00.001-07:00

j crew red by mld303 featuring a zip hoodie

J Crew t shirt
$98 - net-a-porter.com

J Crew zip hoodie
$60 - jcrew.com

J Crew double breasted trench coat
$350 - jcrew.com

J Crew wool blazer
$188 - jcrew.com

J Crew high heel shoes
$200 - net-a-porter.com

Necklace
$25 - jrdunn.com

Chloé Chloé Edt 50ml./ 1.7oz.
€69 - pret-a-beaute.com

Paris Eiffel Tower Vinyl Wall Art Mural - WallQuotes.com
$35 - wallquotes.com

new lamp

2011-08-23T14:15:00.001-07:00

while browsing through blogs the other day, i found Harrisonhouse and the girl had a picture of a new dresser she had purchased, and atop it the cutest little lamp. I messaged her asking who it was by,unfortunatly, she did not know. HOWEVER, she did say it is from Homegoods and after class today i stopped by and found my own cute little lamp. Its a Lenox Butler lamp. about 15 inches high and a beautiful white color with a round brass base. complete with lampshade.....seriously, those can be expensive.

i like the $30 price tag almost as much as i like the lamp.
have you been to homegoods? what is your favorite find

winston and sissy

2011-08-22T10:18:00.000-07:00

as promised, here are pictures of john and my new kittens. the black one is winston and the other is sissy. we love them dearly and are so happy to have them as part of our little family

kitties

2011-08-19T12:33:00.001-07:00

john and i are about to leave to go pick up our new kittens. i am so excited. they are a mere 8 weeks old. :)

new bedroom

2011-08-18T15:53:00.000-07:00

recently, i have been trying to redecorate (actually decorate)the bedroom. when i moved into my apartment a little over a year ago, i used left over bedding and nic-nacs from college to decorate and fill my apartment. Don't get me wrong, its nice bedding and whatnot, but my style has evolved and changed since I was 18 years old....plus i've been saving and working consistantly which was something i was unable to do in undergrad.

I wandered into pottery barn last week and on impulse purchased this new quilt.

Our hand-screened Josie Quilt captures the intricacy and beauty of traditional Indian kalamkari textiles. Made from soft cotton, its wide, hand-pieced border frames the oversized paisleys of the central design. Hand-guided stitching outlines its motifs and anchors the 270-gram cotton batting.

after putting the quilt on my bed, I was only midly enthused by the new addition to my bedroom. It was a strange feeling since i loved the quilt so much in the store. I have decided that it is the color of the bedroom i dislike. oh well, i'll deal with it. john hung my college diploma and awards on the wall and i added the wave above the bed to help tie in colors. I also picked up a bench i am going to paint an antique blue color to soften the room.

wish me luck on my project. and i'll post pictures of the final product.

back to school outfit

2011-08-17T20:27:00.001-07:00

back to school outfit by mld303 featuring a pocket jacket

Soft Joie a line top
$108 - revolveclothing.com

J Crew pocket jacket
$188 - jcrew.com

Seven For All Mankind distressing jeans
$178 - shopbop.com

Tory Burch leather shoes
$235 - saksfifthavenue.com

Marc Jacobs shoulder handbag
$898 - forzieri.com

nanette lepore sherlock jacket

2011-07-23T22:00:00.000-07:00

i am on a quest to find this jacket. if you find it, please let me know. thanks

really cool way to do your nails

2011-07-22T17:52:00.000-07:00

How fun! 1. Put on nail polish and let dry.
2. Dip fingernail in alcohol-basically any will do, vodka is suggested.
3. Press a strip of newspaper big enough to cover the whole nail on to your alcohol soaked nail.
4. Pull off slowly and be really impressed with yourself.
5. Paint top coat if desired.

pink

2011-07-13T12:58:00.000-07:00

Dear colour pink,

I am writing you a letter to apologize and say I am sorry it just isn't going to work out. I have tried really hard in the last few months to want to wear pink,to find clothes in pink or some house hold object I can at the very least obtain in pink. But I have come to realize,as i suspected, I am just not a pink person anymore. Growing up i loved pink. I had many pink clothes, skirts, dresses, tops, I was always the pink power ranger during recess and my room was even pink during my elementary school years.. Alas, it is no more a colour I want or use to define my personality through clothes or objects. And for that, I am sorry. Maybe one day we will meet again and I can once again incorporate shades of pink into my life. Until then, I'll have to settle for liking pinks in sunsets and sunrises and be content and happy with the many shades and hues of blues that now make up my closet and aspects in my life.

I am sorry, pink. many people still love and adore you as a colour.

Sincerely,
mld

turtle

2011-07-09T20:04:00.000-07:00

today, i found out i'm a turtle. alyssa, lauren and i were joking around when i started to pretend that a comment made by alyssa had hurt my feelings.

"i'm sensative, alyssa. now my feelings are hurt" accompanied by a sadface

"pshhhhh you are not sysative. you are probably the least sensative person in the store" lauren countered.

alyssa chimmed in and came to merritt's defense,

"merritt is more of a turtle. she's got that big ol' heavy shell that protects her from the world while she watches and interacts."

**** sidenote, alyssa is british and said all this with her fantastic british accent****

i think alyssa is correct, i am a turtle of sorts. i am very liberal in my social attitudes and the way i view the government. i do believe in a strong federal government, universal health care, an end to no child left behind, etc. i won't get into all my beliefs. anyways, i agree with alyssa, because i don't let what people say get to me. i greatly dislike stupid, lazy and inspid people, or those who are ignorant frustrate me to no end. however, it is hard to shock, offend, or hurt me... and if you do manage to hurt me, i have a quick mouth and chances are there will be a verbal duel. either way, i take what alyssa said to be a compliment. plus, turtles can be cute.

have a great day, and a plesant tommorrow

fourth of july

2011-07-08T13:16:00.000-07:00

i am aware at how late i am in posting these pictures from fourth of july, but better late than never. right?

Winnie girl hanging out on Dagum's deck

Emma meeting a new playmate...perhaps?
Mrs. Garner and Emma. They love America

ya know

2011-07-06T11:38:00.000-07:00

Here is the deal, I hate when people are explaining a particular subject or telling a story and they constantly keeping saying “ya know?” no, I don’t know. If you have to ask the person you speaking with “ya know”, then no, we don’t know. There is a particular girl in my law classes; I’ll call this girl “Nancy,” whom I loath to hear speak simply because of her overuse of “ya know.” A few weeks ago, and this is a regular occurrence, Nancy will raise her hand to either ask a question or answer a question and will go off onto this rapid illogical speech pattern and at the end of each sentence ask the professor “ya know?” In this particular instance, I think she is asking because deep down Nancy knows she is not being clear. Either she has not collected or thoughts or is just thinking out loud, but Nancy stop it. Just think it through. It’s ok to email the professor or write down your question and read it out loud. For the rest of the class’s sake, please.

As a person speaking, if you suddenly feel the urge to ask “ya know?” stop yourself and think am I asking this to make sure they are listening or am I not explaining myself well. If it is the latter, it’s ok to pause for a minute and collect your thoughts. Communication is not an easy task, people work on communicating their entire lives. Oh, and more than anything, you sound stupid and uneducated when one keeps repeating “ya know?” ya know what I mean?

The War on Girls

2011-06-29T20:06:00.000-07:00

By JONATHAN V. LAST

Mara Hvistendahl is worried about girls. Not in any political, moral or cultural sense but as an existential matter. She is right to be. In China, India and numerous other countries (both developing and developed), there are many more men than women, the result of systematic campaigns against baby girls. In "Unnatural Selection," Ms. Hvistendahl reports on this gender imbalance: what it is, how it came to be and what it means for the future.

In nature, 105 boys are born for every 100 girls. This ratio is biologically ironclad. Between 104 and 106 is the normal range, and that's as far as the natural window goes. Any other number is the result of unnatural events.

Yet today in India there are 112 boys born for every 100 girls. In China, the number is 121—though plenty of Chinese towns are over the 150 mark. China's and India's populations are mammoth enough that their outlying sex ratios have skewed the global average to a biologically impossible 107. But the imbalance is not only in Asia. Azerbaijan stands at 115, Georgia at 118 and Armenia at 120.

What is causing the skewed ratio: abortion. If the male number in the sex ratio is above 106, it means that couples are having abortions when they find out the mother is carrying a girl. By Ms. Hvistendahl's counting, there have been so many sex-selective abortions in the past three decades that 163 million girls, who by biological averages should have been born, are missing from the world. Moral horror aside, this is likely to be of very large consequence.

Ma Liuming/Sotheby's
'No. 23' (2005-06), a painting by Ma Liuming.
.
In the mid-1970s, amniocentesis, which reveals the sex of a baby in utero, became available in developing countries. Originally meant to test for fetal abnormalities, by the 1980s it was known as the "sex test" in India and other places where parents put a premium on sons. When amnio was replaced by the cheaper and less invasive ultrasound, it meant that most couples who wanted a baby boy could know ahead of time if they were going to have one and, if they were not, do something about it. "Better 500 rupees now than 5,000 later," reads one ad put out by an Indian clinic, a reference to the price of a sex test versus the cost of a dowry.

But oddly enough, Ms. Hvistendahl notes, it is usually a country's rich, not its poor, who lead the way in choosing against girls. "Sex selection typically starts with the urban, well-educated stratum of society," she writes. "Elites are the first to gain access to a new technology, whether MRI scanners, smart phones—or ultrasound machines." The behavior of elites then filters down until it becomes part of the broader culture. Even more unexpectedly, the decision to abort baby girls is usually made by women—either by the mother or, sometimes, the mother-in-law.

If you peer hard enough at the data, you can actually see parents demanding boys. Take South Korea. In 1989, the sex ratio for first births there was 104 boys for every 100 girls—perfectly normal. But couples who had a girl became increasingly desperate to acquire a boy. For second births, the male number climbed to 113; for third, to 185. Among fourth-born children, it was a mind-boggling 209. Even more alarming is that people maintain their cultural assumptions even in the diaspora; research shows a similar birth-preference pattern among couples of Chinese, Indian and Korean descent right here in America.

Unnatural Selection: Choosing Boys Over Girls and the Consequences of a World Full of Men

By Mara Hvistendahl
PublicAffairs, 314 pages, $26.99
.
Ms. Hvistendahl argues that such imbalances are portents of Very Bad Things to come. "Historically, societies in which men substantially outnumber women are not nice places to live," she writes. "Often they are unstable. Sometimes they are violent." As examples she notes that high sex ratios were at play as far back as the fourth century B.C. in Athens—a particularly bloody time in Greek history—and during China's Taiping Rebellion in the mid-19th century. (Both eras featured widespread female infanticide.) She also notes that the dearth of women along the frontier in the American West probably had a lot to do with its being wild. In 1870, for instance, the sex ratio west of the Mississippi was 125 to 100. In California it was 166 to 100. In Nevada it was 320. In western Kansas, it was 768.

There is indeed compelling evidence of a link between sex ratios and violence. High sex ratios mean that a society is going to have "surplus men"—that is, men with no hope of marrying because there are not enough women. Such men accumulate in the lower classes, where risks of violence are already elevated. And unmarried men with limited incomes tend to make trouble. In Chinese provinces where the sex ratio has spiked, a crime wave has followed. Today in India, the best predictor of violence and crime for any given area is not income but sex ratio.

A high level of male births has other, far-reaching, effects. It becomes harder to secure a bride, and men can find themselves buying or bidding for them. This, Ms. Hvistendahl notes, contributes to China's astronomical household savings rate; parents know they must save up in order to secure brides for their sons. (An ironic reflection of the Indian ad campaigns suggesting parents save money by aborting girls.) This savings rate, in turn, drives the Chinese demand for U.S. Treasury bills.

And to beat the "marriage squeeze" caused by skewed sex ratios, men in wealthier imbalanced countries poach women from poorer ones. Ms. Hvistendahl reports from Vietnam, where the mail-order-bride business is booming thanks to the demand for women in China. Prostitution booms, too—and not the sex-positive kind that Western feminists are so fond of.

Related Video

For years couples have turned to sperm donors, egg donors or surrogate mothers to help them become parents. Now the process is being taken to a level that is stretching legal and ethical boundaries. WSJ's Linda Blake reports from India.
..
The economist Gary Becker has noted that when women become scarce, their value increases, and he sees this as a positive development. But as Ms. Hvistendahl demonstrates, "this assessment is true only in the crudest sense." A 17-year-old girl in a developing country is in no position to capture her own value. Instead, a young woman may well become chattel, providing income either for their families or for pimps. As Columbia economics professor Lena Edlund observes: "The greatest danger associated with prenatal sex determination is the propagation of a female underclass," that a small but still significant group of the world's women will end up being stolen or sold from their homes and forced into prostitution or marriage.

All of this may sound dry, but Ms. Hvistendahl is a first-rate reporter and has filled "Unnatural Selection" with gripping details. She has interviewed demographers and doctors from Paris to Mumbai. She spends a devastating chapter talking with Paul Ehrlich, the man who mainstreamed overpopulation hysteria in 1968 with "The Population Bomb"—and who still seems to think that getting rid of girls is a capital idea (in part because it will keep families from having more and more children until they get a boy). In another chapter she speaks with Geert Jan Olsder, an obscure Dutch mathematician who, by an accident of history, contributed to the formation of China's "One Child" policy when he met a Chinese scientist in 1975. Later she visits the Nanjing headquarters of the "Patriot Club," an organization of Chinese surplus men who plot war games and play at mock combat.

Ms. Hvistendahl also dredges up plenty of unpleasant documents from Western actors like the Ford Foundation, the United Nations and Planned Parenthood, showing how they pushed sex-selective abortion as a means of controlling population growth. In 1976, for instance, the medical director of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Malcom Potts, wrote that, when it came to developing nations, abortion was even better than birth control: "Early abortion is safe, effective, cheap and potentially the easiest method to administer."

Related Video

Jonathan Last describes the rising international trend of aborting females.
..
The following year another Planned Parenthood official celebrated China's coercive methods of family planning, noting that "persuasion and motivation [are] very effective in a society in which social sanctions can be applied against those who fail to cooperate in the construction of the socialist state." As early as 1969, the Population Council's Sheldon Segal was publicly proclaiming the benefits of sex-selective abortion as a means of combating the "population bomb" in the East. Overall Ms. Hvistendahl paints a detailed picture of Western Malthusians pushing a set of terrible policy prescriptions in an effort to road-test solutions to a problem that never actually manifested itself.

There is so much to recommend in "Unnatural Selection" that it's sad to report that Ms. Hvistendahl often displays an unbecoming political provincialism. She begins the book with an approving quote about gender equality from Mao Zedong and carries right along from there. Her desire to fault the West is so ingrained that she criticizes the British Empire's efforts to stamp out the practice of killing newborn girls in India because "they did so paternalistically, as tyrannical fathers." She says that the reason surplus men in the American West didn't take Native American women as brides was that "their particular Anglo-Saxon breed of racism precluded intermixing." (Through most of human history distinct racial and ethnic groups have only reluctantly intermarried; that she attributes this reluctance to a specific breed of "racism" says less about the American past than about her own biases.) When she writes that a certain idea dates "all the way back to the West's predominant creation myth," she means the Bible.

Ms. Hvistendahl is particularly worried that the "right wing" or the "Christian right"—as she labels those whose politics differ from her own—will use sex-selective abortion as part of a wider war on abortion itself. She believes that something must be done about the purposeful aborting of female babies or it could lead to "feminists' worst nightmare: a ban on all abortions."

It is telling that Ms. Hvistendahl identifies a ban on abortion—and not the killing of tens of millions of unborn girls—as the "worst nightmare" of feminism. Even though 163 million girls have been denied life solely because of their gender, she can't help seeing the problem through the lens of an American political issue. Yet, while she is not willing to say that something has gone terribly wrong with the pro-abortion movement, she does recognize that two ideas are coming into conflict: "After decades of fighting for a woman's right to choose the outcome of her own pregnancy, it is difficult to turn around and point out that women are abusing that right."

Late in "Unnatural Selection," Ms. Hvistendahl makes some suggestions as to how such "abuse" might be curbed without infringing on a woman's right to have an abortion. In attempting to serve these two diametrically opposed ideas, she proposes banning the common practice of revealing the sex of a baby to parents during ultrasound testing. And not just ban it, but have rigorous government enforcement, which would include nationwide sting operations designed to send doctors and ultrasound techs and nurses who reveal the sex of babies to jail. Beyond the police surveillance of obstetrics facilities, doctors would be required to "investigate women carrying female fetuses more thoroughly" when they request abortions, in order to ensure that their motives are not illegal.

Such a regime borders on the absurd. It is neither feasible nor tolerable—nor efficacious: Sex determination has been against the law in both China and India for years, to no effect. I suspect that Ms. Hvistendahl's counter-argument would be that China and India do not enforce their laws rigorously enough.

Despite the author's intentions, "Unnatural Selection" might be one of the most consequential books ever written in the campaign against abortion. It is aimed, like a heat-seeking missile, against the entire intellectual framework of "choice." For if "choice" is the moral imperative guiding abortion, then there is no way to take a stand against "gendercide." Aborting a baby because she is a girl is no different from aborting a baby because she has Down syndrome or because the mother's "mental health" requires it. Choice is choice. One Indian abortionist tells Ms. Hvistendahl: "I have patients who come and say 'I want to abort because if this baby is born it will be a Gemini, but I want a Libra.' "

This is where choice leads. This is where choice has already led. Ms. Hvistendahl may wish the matter otherwise, but there are only two alternatives: Restrict abortion or accept the slaughter of millions of baby girls and the calamities that are likely to come with it.
—Mr. Last is a senior writer at the Weekly Standard.

John Howard Garner, today you are 26

2011-06-26T09:53:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN!!!

today is my wonderful boyfriend's birthday. he is 26 years old. i threw him a surprise party, and with the exception of his best friend charlton and his girlfriend, louisa, not being able to come, it was spectacular and perfect. I made a huge cookie cake and it was delicious. i am so lucky to have john in my life. i love him very much and am so happy that he loved his surprise party.

real life fairytail

2011-06-03T19:58:00.000-07:00

reading nook

2011-06-02T18:33:00.000-07:00

isn't this the cozyest reading nook? i think its perfect for reading or studying massive amount. I bet this little nook is unquestionably delightful on rainy days with a book and cup of tea for company. I need this little space, please

27. A picture and story of a new friend

2011-06-01T18:18:00.001-07:00

This is my friend Jennifer. I think she is sexy, adorable, smart, a fashionista, entertaining, smashing, sweet, and a wonderful person to talk to on any topic. Jennifer and I met in law school during our property class, my favorite, and her least favorite. Our professor split the class up into several groups containing 5 students. Jennifer and I were in the same group. We started chatting a little, then soon found out we had many of the same views and stupid, ignorant people annoy us. Sadly, Jennifer transferred to a different section and I am now transferring schools, so we don’t get to see each other every day like we used to. HOWEVER, Jennifer and I go out to dinner for sushi or Mexican every other week or so and catch up, debate, gossip, drink sake-tinis, and not be around insipid students. I really enjoy talking to Jennifer because she has an inquiring mind. When I tell her future plans, my take on books, politics, movies, people, actions, whatever it is she questions when there is something she doesn’t understand, wants to know more about, disagrees, debates me, and vice versa. The is an enjoyable intellectual prodding that occurs between us. Even when one of us is at a loss for words when we are telling a story or trying to explain a particular subject, the other gets it. More than that, we can say anything with fear or judgment from the other.

18. Your 10 favorite articles of clothing or accessories

2011-05-26T16:36:00.001-07:00

this post was, sadly, really hard for me. i love clothes and as john says, "have a small store for a closet." i know most of my favorites are navy, but i enjoy and wear a great deal of greens, bright blues, black, red, white, and lately i have been wearing bright pinks.

favs for blog by mld303 featuring ballet flat shoes

Nanette Lepore cap sleeve dress
96 GBP - my-wardrobe.com

Evening party dress
$148 - anthropologie.com

J Crew boat neck top
jcrew.com

Nanette Lepore empire waist top
my-wardrobe.com

Tory Burch ballet flat shoes
$195 - shopbop.com

Tory Burch silver ballerina flat
$195 - shirise.com

Coach sterling silver jewelry
$78 - coach.com

David yurman jewelry
$590 - neimanmarcus.com

john gave me this ring for xmas and i love it so much. i wear it everyday. i love john more than anything, so wearing the ring is like having a little part of him with me when one of us has to be away. (cheesy, i know. but i do love him)

17. A picture of your night

2011-05-25T20:56:00.001-07:00

John and i went to a wedding in va beach. it was a ton of fun, open bar, and lots of dancing to a "cover band." i say that because the band did cover songs, but not limited to one singer or band. actually, they sang beyonce's All the Single Ladies and i along with several other people thought they had switched to a dj. they were that amazing. the picture above was taken at the rehearsal dinner. the groom picked a reggie theme. but for one reason or another they were passing out Maudie graw masks. john somehow found a dinosaur mask. idk how he does these things

this is a picture of john at the actual wedding. his drink was a bit on the tart side. i think he looks so cute in the picture. AND his tie is my school and undergrad colors. Freeman and Longwood

5 ways you like to spend your free time

2011-05-20T15:32:00.000-07:00

Since i was a small child, my free time has spent much in the same way. yea, not too many variations. i have so many interests that are all over the place, my father began calling me the female thomas jefferson. that was 18 years ago. he still calls me that from time to time.

anyways....

1. reading
2. hanging out with john
3. arts and crafts projects (painting, wood burning, sewing, drawing, refurninish furnature, crochet, etc)
4. swimming and running
5. fashion stuff

10. an event you would take back

2011-05-14T14:49:00.001-07:00

An event I could take back. This is very hard for me to say, because I believe that events that happen in your life shape who you are and who you become. Anytime there is something I regret, it makes a permanent impression on me and does affect my actions. I think before I leap, I guess one could say. And the few things I do wish I could take back are certainly private and things I won’t post on the internet. No offense

facts about your sibling(s)

2011-05-13T10:20:00.000-07:00

I will argue, both my sister and I are complex people. Because of that I’ll list 10 basic facts about my sister, Caroline
1. We are two years, 10 months, and 3 days apart in age
2. She is starting pharmacy school in August
3. Growing up, Caroline was more of a tomboy, but now she is really girly
4. Her favorite colors are pink and green and she likes turtles
5. Favorite book is The Great Gatsby
6. She loves to steal/borrow my clothes after pretending she doesn’t like them
7. Her middle name is Robeson
8. She prefers funny movies and shows such as 30 Rock
9. Caroline always has the cleanest car. No joke, it always looks and smells brand new on the inside
10. She’s bubbly and outgoing

8. Something about yourself you have changed in the last month

2011-05-12T15:54:00.000-07:00

In the last month, I have changed my hair. I never dye my hair, but I do have it cut. Two weeks ago I had about 4 inches chopped off and now my hair sits just a little below my shoulders….sorta. Normally, once my hair gets to a certain length it starts to dive me crazy and I have to have it cut off. This time, I had my hair cut only because I was in Richmond and didn’t know the next time I would be home. I miss my long hair. It was not yet to the point of bothering me yet, however, I am glad I cut it because regular trimmings keep hair healthy. I know my hair will grow back out so I am not too bummed out. I also got a new dress and skirt. :)

7. Pet peeves

2011-05-11T17:12:00.000-07:00

Pet peeves
Oh, gosh. I have quite a few pet peeves. Most of the things that bother or irk me revolve around people who are closed minded, lazy, greedy, take advantage of others, not good friends, liars, narcissistic, when people say they will do something and then don’t, when people are rude or self-absorbed, that sort of stuff.

I have other pet peeves, but they tend to also be my preference. I don’t like it when things are messy, dishes in the sink, trash not taken out, clutter, too many possessions. Etc. whenever I feel like I am accumulating too many “things” I clean out my apartment or closet. Whatever it is I feel is becoming stifling. It tends to be my closet or desk.

And the biggest pet peeves: stupid people and bad drivers

Not too bad, eh?

6. How you do your hair/makeup

2011-05-10T09:41:00.000-07:00

I am not very fussy when it comes to make up. i rarely deviate from my normal makeup routine and if i do it is to put on a different eye shadow color or the other blush (i only have two).
when i started wearing makeup, my mother took me to the clinic counter and had them teach me to put on makeup in a fresh, clean way. I never wear heavy makeup or foundation. it just isn't good for the skin. My mother told me it is important to always buy nice makeup, not something cheap or drugstorey because "you will have your skin and face your entire life. You don't want to get acne or bad skin because you purchased cheap makeup." and i have adhered to that rule.
When it comes to the makeup i wear:
* chanel eclat lumiere highlighter face pen to cover under the eye circles and any "problem" areas...i.e. a zit.
*chapstick-no one likes crusty dry lips
* clinique city base oil-free powerder 04 bare beige with SPF15
*clinique high impact curling mascara (black)
*chanel les tissages blush duo tweed effect OR clinique soft pressed powder in 04 pink blush
* and then sometimes some eyeshadow from the various mac colors i have--just depends on my mood and where i am going

Hair
hmmm. i have really really really thick hair. every hair stylest i have had, friends who touch it, family, boyfriends, always comment on how thick my hair is. it is also very healthy. but here's the deal. i do nothing to it. no joke. i wash it and thats it. i don't blow dry it, straighten, put hair spray or anything else in it. i have long layers cut into it at an asysmetrical angle, and i love it. i brush my hair after a shower, before bed, or when i wake up in the morning, otherwise i just let it be and i think it is healthier because of that.

occasional i'll curl my hair, wear it up, or something like that. but not often. i prefer to let it do whatever it is its going to do. sorry mass consumerism, i haven't and won't fall to purchasing abnormal amounts of beauty products or hair stuff that i don't need and will probably just make my skin and hair worse. cheers

4. Favorite place(s) you’ve been to and where you’d like to travel next

2011-05-09T22:12:00.000-07:00

4. Favorite place(s) you’ve been to and where you’d like to travel next
Since I am pressed for time, I will list my favorite places I have been, but they will not have explanations to why they are my favorite places. I love Europe and it is one of, if not my favorite places to visit. There is such history, rich culture, so many things to see and experience, new food and people… it just goes on and on.

Some of my favorite places I have been include, but are not limited to (and in no particular order):
- Rennes, France
- Paimpont and the Broceliande Forrest both in France
- Huelgoat, France
- St. Malo
- Mont St. Michel, France
- Caen, France
- Winchester, England
- Glastonbury, England
- Tintagel, England
- Tintern, Wales
- Chepstow
- Caerleon
- Oxford
- London, England

Where I’d like to visit
- Greece
- Italy
- Ireland
- Scotland
- Morocco
- Iceland
- New Zeland
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Egypt
- Everywhere
- Canada

John and I have been talking about going to this town in main which inspired many of norman rockwell’s paintings. So, I believe that will be our next stop. Then we have said for our honey moon we will go to Scotland. Yay.

Winchester Castle

Tintern Abby

A castle in Enland, but i forget where

Me and my best friend Hilary walking back from the beach in Tintagel

me just chilling in the thousands of year old ruins of Tintagel castle

sorry about the clarity of the picture. i took it from inside a car. but its of London.

Me in the devils grotto in Huelgoat, France

Mont St. Micheal. I could have spent a month here alone.

The Chartres Cathedral in France

dress

2011-05-09T19:37:00.000-07:00

okay, so i am so bad. i know i have two other posts to do, but i have a final on wed i am studying like mad for, thus there is no time right now. i'll post them adventually. in the mean time, i just got this dress. it is from j crew and simply AMAZING! i love it and cannot wait to wear it.

J Crew silk cotton baby faille beche dress.

Midnight cotton and silk-blend faille sleeveless dress. J.Crew dress has a V-neck, a fitted bodice, a bow detail at back of waist, a softly ruched full skirt, a mesh underskirt, black grosgrain panels throughout, a concealed zip fastening at side and is fully lined. 65% cotton, 35% silk; lining

3. A picture(s) of you when you were little

2011-05-07T19:55:00.001-07:00

Just chatting it up with my baby sister

Me at 3 years old. yes, i was the real super girl

Supergirl is an excellent big sister. I even read Cinderella to baby Caroline

Caroline around age 3 and myself. Someone gave us that little toy dog i am holding. it had a remote control and walked. creeeeepy.

2. A quote

2011-05-06T18:54:00.000-07:00

"there is dignity in silence"

I love this quote because there is so much truth to it. I believe that silence may come off in several ways, but the two most often felt is dignity or frostly malicious. When one is outspoken, loud, and shares all their private most intimate thoughts, there is nothing left for just that person. They are seeking attention from anyone and everyone. Personally, I find people who jump around, are hyperactive, speak too much into their private life, and have no boundaries are fools and carry themselves as such. I have often had co-workers, classmates, and friends (not close ones), tell me they know nothing of my private life or positions on certain issues. I easily will tell others I am liberal, but do not go much past that. I like political, philosophical, and moral debates and discussions, but I debate them from a 3rd stance and try to remain from inserting my feelings and keep the discussion to the facts and beliefs based on past happenings and potential future ones.

Hayden, one of my references for law school, wrote in his recommendation letter “…descriptive words I would choose to describe Ms. Droste include honest, trustworthy, highly intelligent, genuine, gregarious, devoted, curious, industrious, reliable, responsible, passionate, grounded, objective, poised, selfless, and kind…” Personally, this is one of the greatest and most touch compliment I have ever received. I especially like the poised part ;)

There you have it. my quote.

Kate Middleton: poised, dignified, demur, elegant

1. A picture of yourself with fifteen facts

2011-05-05T21:22:00.000-07:00

1. I love Europe, traveling, art, history, reading and my boyfriend john

2.I’m currently in law school, but thinking of getting my PhD instead of a law degree

3.I can’t spell, at all. I learned sight reading at the private school I attended as a child. Because of the way I learned to read, I never learned to sound out words or the sounds letters make. I simply look at a word and say how I think it is pronounced.

4.I consume copious amounts of tea daily. Twinnings tea is my favorite brand here in the states. I have been a big fan of tea since a small child. My mother has often said that at the tender age of 3 I would ask for iced non-sweet tea.

5.I have Meniere’s disease (aka endolymphatic hydrops)
Attacks or episodes of Meniere's disease often start without warning. They may occur daily, or as rarely as once a year. The severity of each episode can vary.
Severevertigo or dizziness is the symptom that causes the most problems. People who have vertigo feel as though they are spinning or moving, or that the world is spinning around them.
•Severe nausea, vomiting, and sweating often occur.
•Symptoms get worse with sudden movement.
•Often, the person will need to lie down.
•The dizziness and feeling of being off-balance will last from minutes to hours.
Hearing loss may occur. Usually the hearing loss is only in one ear, but it may affect both ears. (I have hearing loss in both ears)
•A person's hearing tends to recover between attacks but gets worse over time
•Low frequency noises are lost first
•Roaring or ringing in the ear (tinnitus), as well as a sense of pressure in the ear are common
It is not terrible, just sometimes the pain of the inner ear hurts so bad and there is no real relief

6.I was a competitive swimmer for 15 years. i miss it terribly.

7.If I have to go several days without reading a book, I get sad.

8.I own 22 blazers. They are either from j crew or anthropologie.

9.Apparently, John and I dress in the classic preppy, British style--- I say this because several students at law school asked if we were the English exchange students.

10.I want a house that looks like a classic Welsh or English house, but decorate the inside with an old world European feel.

11.Smoking grosses me out

12.I don’t eat pig products, except for bacon.

13.I really like tomato and cheese sandwiches.

14.I’ve been to Las Vegas and hated it. It was too hot there. I am more of a fall weather type of person

15.I’ve worked for j crew for almost 6 years. A customer once asked me where madras came from. I didn’t know the answer, so I told her traveling gypcies were often very poor and would repair their clothes with scraps of fabric that they found or held on to. This created the patchwork like pattern. But j crew’s madras is dyed with tea in India. She believed me. Oops.

30 day challenge thingy

2011-05-04T05:18:00.000-07:00

I've seen various 30 day challenges, so i cruised around different blogs i read and follow until i found one i feel that i can try and stick to...hopefully. finals are currently ruling my life, so i have little time for anything besides studying statutes and federal laws, but i want to make a commitment to honestly keep up with this. so starting tomorrow, we shall see how i do.

1. A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.
2. A quote.
3. A picture of you when you were little.
4. Favorite place(s) you’ve been to and where you’d like to travel next
5. An adventure/challenge you had while traveling or living abroad
6. How you do your makeup/hair.
7. Pet peeves
8. Something about yourself you have changed in the last month
9. Facts about your sibiling(s)
10. An event you could take back
11. Someone you could never imagine your life without
12. What are your family’s nationalities? Do you fit the mold?
13. A picture of your most treasured item.
14. A favorite foreign movie
15. 5 ways you like to spend your free time
16. A picture of something that means a lot to you
17. A picture of your night
18. Your 10 favorite articles of clothing or accessories
19. A picture of you in another country
20. What do you bring with you when you travel?
21. Favorite travel quote
22. Someone who influenced you to travel abroad
23. 10 of your favorite books
24. A favorite food from another country/culture
25. A habit you can’t stop
26. Where and how you met your best friend(s)?
27. A picture and story of a new friend
28. Talk about your current boyfriend/girlfriend
29. Something that’s currently in the news, and your opinion on it.
30. A picture that can always make you smile.

put color in your closet

2011-04-27T18:30:00.000-07:00

http://color-collective.blogspot.com/

it was the night before easter...

2011-04-23T19:57:00.000-07:00

it is the night before easter and i am here in richmond, while my wonderful boyfriend, John, is back in charlotte. I came home for easter, but John has a final on monday, thus he had to stay behind and study. i miss him so much. i've gotten some txts from him saying he misses me too and can't wait for wed.

John on a train in Moracco

while i miss john very much, it is also nice to be home. i haven't been home for 1.5 to 2 months. i almost was unable to come home for the easter service, which would have been weird since i havne't missed one in 25 years. plus, i am really excited about wearing my new bird dress from anthropologie.

Anthropologie Sing Sweetly Party Dress

Tiny songbirds tweet their tunes from the branches that scatter across soft cotton, adorably pleated at the bodice and finished with a dashing citron sash. By Porridge.

woodburning

2011-04-20T19:36:00.000-07:00

for my birthday, back in january, my boyfriend john gave me a woodburning tool with several changable tips. I have really gotten into woodburning, but it is hard, and slightly dangerous. I have successfully completed two woodburnings. the first is a small piece for John of the ECU pirate. I drew it on the block, then burned it, then painted, then stained. i think it turned out well.

1st picture: the pirate after i burned it into the unfinished wood. 2nd picture: after painted and stained the pirate

After I completed the pirate i decided to tackle something more complex and detailed...the longwood seal. I love longwood and couldn't imagine having gone to a different school. part of me misses the good ol' longwood days and my best friends and i still reflect on our time at LU. But, i digress. I used the same procedure for creating the Longwood woodburing.

1st picture: i drew the longwood seal

2nd picture: after burning

3rd picture: after staining.

my best friend hilary

2011-04-14T22:01:00.000-07:00

i hardly ever get to talk to my two best friends anymore. tonight, though, hilary and i got to chat for a full two hours and it was spactacular. no matter how much time passes between are talks, it seems and feels as though it has only been a few minutes. i can't wait for a reunion with hilary and emilie when we can all sit, talk, laugh, and just be together, in person. all at once. just like the good ol' days.

above: me and hilary on a bus in France

Hilary and myself at Mont St. Micheal in france

Hilary, Merritt, and Emilie hanging out at longwood, doing who knows what.

60th anniversary

2011-04-10T16:15:00.000-07:00

my grandaddy and grandmother celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. they still act like newly weds. I have the best grandparents.

“There is no feeling more comforting and consoling than knowing you are right next to the one you love.”

the drums

2011-04-09T08:38:00.000-07:00

i am not sure why, maybe because it is so upbeat, but this is my favorite song to hear from the playlist at the store where i work. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWxJgMBsiWc

writing and rain

2011-04-06T13:13:00.000-07:00

"Rain was her favorite kind of weather. It reminded her of rainy days back when she was nine. she'd sneak over to her neighbor's parked sailboat, climb under the tarp, and sunngle into one of the cabins, listening to the sound of the rain hitting the canvas and writing entries in her Hello Kitty diary. She felt like she could do her best thinking on rainy days."

girlie doctor

2011-04-04T18:52:00.000-07:00

Something always interesting happens when I visit the girlie doctor. So far, it has never been anything bad (knock on wood), but at the same time the gyno is not exactly a place where one wants interesting things to happen. That being said, I am not going to share anything uber personal….i am going to disclose a thought I randomly had while waiting for the doctor to come in. “would a gynecologist doctor ever look at a woman’s most personal area and say ‘oh, looks like someone has been having sex. There are some signs of action here.’ Can a doctor even say that to a person? I bet he thinks it though.”

Anne and Evan

2011-04-01T19:23:00.000-07:00

my friend Anne Douglas Shaw is now engaged to Evan White. I could not be happier for the two of them, nor can I think of two other people who are more perfect for each other. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same. ~Emily Bronë

its bacon

2011-03-16T09:07:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, my sister and i drove up to Washington, dc. to spend some time with my mother while she received her award. It was so wonderful to get out of Charlotte for a few days. I loath Charlotte traffic and no matter what time it is, it is always rush hour traffic. It is strange to say dc traffic was less stressful than Charlotte traffic.

(so long Charlotte! see you in a few days)

anyway, what i really wanted to write about was the ridiculously large consumption of bacon that my sister and i had while in dc. almost every meal we had came with bacon. no joke. the second day we were in dc my sister pointed out that we had had bacon in with almost every meal. this weekend trip to dc taught me something, the hamburger and hot dog should not be considered American food (the are actually German), but bacon.

this post isn't very interesting. sorry.

Making a table runner from placemats

2011-03-09T21:52:00.000-08:00

My New Table Runner

Sometimes I sew. Not very often because i have to be in the mood to, a crafty mood, or i sew when it is absolutly necessary. a few days ago i ordered a top from anthropologie.com, but was sad when it came and was too large. When I went to the store i just returned it, i didn't see anything there i particularly needed or wanted. I had the return money and for whatever reason it was burning a hole in my pocket. I walked down to pottery barn figuring i could get a new pillow case that i have been in desperate need of. I found a pillow case, which i love, and i also found some pretty placemats on sale for $4.99. Generally, i am not too into placemats because i have a small round table, but i was really starting to feel that burning hole in my pocket....

I purchased 3 of the placemats featured in the picture below and decided to make a table runner out of them. It actually wasn't that hard. I used a seam ripper to pull apart the stiching, connected all 3 together with straight pins, turned it inside out, then sewed the bad boy up on my sewing maching. Finally, I turned it right ways, stiched up the small hole, ironed, and ta-da! a table runner that i made for $15. I am actually quiet proud of myself. I looked on potterybarn.com to see how much table runners go for anywhere between $39 and $110.

Pictured below is my completed table runner. it is 14 x 60inches. i wish the picture turned out better. these pictures do not capture the rich colors of the greens and yellows that are in the fabric. it has a great old world feel to it, which i love. This project in total only took about an hour or two. the most tedious and time consuming part what removing the stiching then pinning everything. after those steps are done, it is a breeze to finish. (i want to add the table runner is the straight and even all the way down . i took this picture at a weird angle to get the whole runner in the picture, so it looks like it is different sizing in different parts. but it isn't).

Below is an attempt i made to take a picture of the cornor of the fabric so one can see how pretty it is. I have a really old camera and it did a crummy job of capturing the vivid beautiful colors. You can always go to pottery barn and take a look in person ;)

a little information on the placemats i used to make this:

* it is a block print placemat

* 14 x 20 inches (before i sewed them together)

Design and quality features:

An age old textile printing technique. Artisans cut patterns onto wooden blocks, then individually stamp the fabric using the blocks and dyes that reflect our seasonal palette. The pressure that is hand applied to the blocks results in a slightly different color application to each piece of fabric. the inherent variation in this process enhances the individual beauty.

my mom wins an award. be jealous

2011-03-04T18:44:00.000-08:00

Richmond VA Nurse Awarded Scholarship

Linda Droste awarded Nurse In Washington Internship Scholarship by Certification Organization

Milwaukee, WI February 3, 2011 The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB®), a non-profit organization that promotes the highest standard of consumer care and safety through specialty certification of Registered Nurses, is pleased to announce the winner of its second annual Scholarship to the Nurse in Washington Internship (NIWI). The winner is Linda R. Droste, RN, MSN, CWOCN, CBIS, of Richmond, VA.

Ms. Droste, who has been a wound, ostomy and continence nurse since 2000 and who is also a Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS), is employed at the Spinal Cord Injury and Polytrauma Units of Hunter Holmes McGuire Veteran’s Administration Medical Center in Richmond.

Ms. Droste’s current focus is treatment of chronic pressure ulcers using platelet derived growth factors to stimulate ulcer healing, Potential Hydrogen Ion concentration as a predictor for wound healing, teaching brain injured patients to independently care for their ostomy and use of assistive device for patients with limited hand function for intermittent catherization.

In addition to her nursing duties, Ms. Droste serves as a parish nurse for Epiphany Lutheran Church, and has volunteered as an American Red Cross Nurse. She is a member of the Nursing Organization of the Veteran's Association; Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society, and the Walden International Nursing Honor Society. Ms. Droste received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Virginia State University, where she graduated Cum Laude, and received her Masters of Science in Nursing degree from Walden University.

Ms. Droste and her husband, Ben, have two children: Merritt, in law school and Caroline, who will begin pharmacy school in the fall.

According to Diana Gallagher, RN MS CWOCN CFCN, president of the WOCNCB, “Linda’s application stood out because of her work as a Veteran’s Association employee, volunteer involvement at the VA and WOCN Society, and because of her proven communication abilities as a writer and presenter. We look forward to Linda applying knowledge she gains at NIWI to positively influence the delivery and reimbursement of healthcare for the specialties of wound, ostomy, continence care and foot care.”

The WOCNCB sponsors the scholarship to NIWI in order to empower the scholarship winner to participate in important dialogs about patient care and healthcare reform with at the local, state and national levels. The scholarship includes internship registration and travel and lodging expenses to the internship, which is held in Washington, D.C. The 2011 program takes place March 13 through 15, 2011.

About WOCNCB

The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board is a professional, non-profit, 501 (c) (6) organization dedicated to providing consumer safety and protection by offering credentialing in the areas of wound, ostomy, continence and foot care nursing to registered nurses who meet WOCNCB’s stringent qualifications and pass its certification examination. WOCNCB certified nurses provide quality care to patients in a variety of settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home healthcare. WOCNCB has certified more than 6,100 registered nurses worldwide. WOCNCB’s wound, ostomy and continence certifications are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, a program of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE), and the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification, formerly the accreditation committee of the American Board of Specialty Nursing (ABNS).

Marsha S. Berenson, M.Ed.
Marketing Manager, WOCNCB

cup of tea

2011-03-02T12:34:00.000-08:00

past week: oh boy was i in trouble with my doctor. Not trouble in a bad way, but in a waaaaay toooooo much caffeine way. I have been having trouble sleeping,, so i went to the doctor to see if there were any issues with me i should be worried about or if it was just one of those sleepless months type of deal. I should have realized before i went in for my appointment that my sleep problems would be related to caffeine, but i was hoping it was stress from law school or something else.

where it all started: when i was a senior in college at longwood university, i was very busy. no joke. i was taking 18 credits, studying for the lsat (the law school entrance exam), i was in 5 honors societies and functioning as an office member in 3 of them, completing the last of my requirements for the longwood honors program, and acting as an international buddy. needless to say, i felt as if there were just not enough hours in a day. just a few months prior, i had spent part of my summer in England and picked up a few habits while there. I have always been a huge tea drinker since i was a small child, i don't like coffee (The benefits for tea are endless and i love all the different flavors). while in England, i enjoyed several cups of tea a day and loved that most places served cream n' tea---that is a pot of tea and two scones which i slathered in clotted cream and jelly--all for around 3 pounds.
When i returned home i continued to drink tea and found i had more energy due to the naturally occurring caffeine from tea than diet coke. by the middle of the semester i was chain drinking tea! i couldn't sleep at night, but i was getting all my work done and maintaing stellar grades : ). While home for a vacation, my mother took me to the doctor for my lack of sleep and he questioned me on my diet.... all was fine and dandy until i told him i drank around 10 cups of tea a day and 2 or 3 diet cokes. i know, soooo soooo bad. boy was i in trouble. my mother just about fell out of the chair and said she would have been less surprised if the doctor had told her i was pregnant. The doctor told me i had to cut back to two cups a tea a day and 1 diet coke. I did this, sadly, and was able to sleep at night.
now: It has been two years since by 10 cups of tea a day incident...sorta. I am in law school and i have the weirdest schedule ever. I am drinking tea all day again, i would not say 10 cups, more like 5, but i know it is more than i should be drinking. Tea has many benefits for the body, such as: speeds up the metabolism, keeps off water weight, vitamins and such for the body, immune system additives....and so forth. I think this time around it will be harder to cut back since i have much more studying and reading than i ever did in college. oh well, i am sure there are worse addictions than tea. Tea is something i love and i think there is no bad time for a cup of tea. including right now.

cheers!

milly

2011-02-22T18:02:00.000-08:00

http://www.shopbop.com/anna-sailboat-shift-dress-milly/vp/v=1/845524441890187.htm?folderID=2534374302090413&fm=whatsnew-shopbysize-viewall

OMG I WANT THIS

The Illusionist

2011-02-14T20:26:00.000-08:00

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi996383001/

this is such a great movie. there is barely any speaking and one has to really pay attention. the relationships develop through actions and facial expressions. i don't want to say too much because i feel commentary may give away the movie. there is wonderful music that plays throughout the whole movie. this is not one of those high dollar cinema blockbuster things. scences take place in france, london, and glasgow.

just go see it.

synopsis:
the illusionist is a story about two paths that cross. an outdated aging magician, forced to wander from country to country, city to city and station to station in search of a stage to perform his act meets a young girl at the start of her life's journey. alice is a teenage girl with all her capacity for childish wonder still intact. she plays at being a woman without realizing the day to stop pretending is fast approaching. she doesn't know yet that she loves The Illusionist like she would a father. he already knows that he loves her as he would a daughter. their destinies will collide, but nothing-- not even magic or the power of illusion can stop the voyage of discovery.

history:
in the late 1950's a script for The Illusionist was originially written by French comedy genius and cinema legend Jacques Tati as a love letter from a father to his daughter; however the script was never produced and remained virtually unknown for over half a century. The Illusionist was written by the world famous Jacques Tati between 1956 and 1959. "the story was all about the irrevocable passing of time and i understood completely why he had never made it. it was far too close to himself, it dealt in things he knew all too well, and he preferred to hide behind the mask of his seminal character Monsieur Hulot. you could tell from the start iw as not just another Hulot misadventure, all the heart-on-sleeve observations made that crystal clear. had he made the movie--and i'm certain he had every camera angle already worked out--it would have taken his career in a totally different direction. he is actionally on record saying The Illusionist was far too serious a subject for his persona and he chose to make the classic Play Time instead."

Animation techniques-2d versus 3-d
Chomey has always favored the look and feel of hand-drawn cell animation rather than computer generated 3d for this type of story-telling. Chomet remarks, "1960s vintage disney is my absolute favorite animation period. the aristocates and especially 101 dalmatians sum up the energy and artistic roughness you just don't get from CGI 3D computerized animation. my insistence on hand-drawn 2d graphics comes from the fact that technique gives a more ethereal charm to the art, ensuring the story is always a pleasure to behold, even during moments of inaction. the strength of 2d in my opinion is it vibrates and it's not perfect, just like reality in fact. imperfections are important when you are dealing with a story about human characters. it adds to the realism, makes it even more potent. and 2d is created by humans CGI is good for robots and toys; less for humans. i want to see the work of an artist on the screen; not a machine whose visuals are too neat, shiny, and clean. i prefer me and my special pencil--not me with a laptop! something indefinable is lost designing with a computer. when i draw, aesthetically pleasing things comes to life with a magical quality and visual power"

Wedding Royale: why is Kate Middleton called Common?

2011-02-09T13:25:00.000-08:00

i am sorry, but i think Kate Middleton is poised, well spoke, beautiful, has great taste in clothing and fashion, demur, and beautifully behaved. I think people need to back off with the common/commoner nonsense. I understand it is tradition for the British, but to say the least, the two never would have been able to marry years ago. So thank goodness for small progress. Don't let jealousy overrun happiness for others good fortune.

http://news.yahoo.com/video/world-15749633/wedding-royale-why-is-kate-middleton-called-common-24129166

R.I.P. Jessica

2011-02-03T16:19:00.000-08:00

Jessica "Jesse" Allen

September 20,1989 - January 27 ,2011

Funeral Blues by W.H. Auden

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone, Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone, Silence the pianos and with muffled drum Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead Scribbling on the sky the message He is Dead. Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves, Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, My East and West, My working week and my Sunday rest, My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song; I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one, Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun, Pour away the ocean and sweep up the woods; For nothing now can ever come to any good.

my sister caroline and Jessica "Jesse" playing around one summer night. Jessica passed too soon. Summers will never be the same, light will never fade. Hug those you love, kiss them more, and tell them often you love them.

explosion in my closet

2011-02-03T08:50:00.000-08:00

<--- these are pictures of my closet. I have a huge walk in closet that I am very thankful for, but it is also very very full. i have two bars on either side which have massive amounts of clothes and then a bar in the back, but i refuse to keep clothes on that bar.

When I say i have a lot of clothes, i mean an exhorbant amount. i have 22 blazers, 70 dress plus some back at my house in richmond (but i think i only have 5 back home), 20 skirts, and who knows how many tops and sweaters. I have worked for J crew for 6 years and was a personal shopper for them for a few years as well. I stepped down when I started law school, however, I still work from time to time.

I love clothes and many pieces I own I have had since highschool....i am 25! anyways. it is time i clean out my closet. my mother says if a rat were to crawl into my closet it would sufficate. i disagree, but i do have many things i no longer wear or need. I listed some things below that i am selling. i have many more on ebay so check them out! I am more than willing to negotiate prices. everything comes from a smoke free, pet free home. Most of my clothes are j crew and anthropologie. sizes 0-4 just depending.

FOR SALE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL OR MESSAGE ME FOR PRICES. I AM FLEXABLE

J Crew Farrow Ribbon front top. champaigne color. size 0 with black tull detailing for the bow and trim. arm pit to arm pit measures 18 inches. retails for $88 style number 17142
asking $20

J Crew Yoga shorts with fold over waist band. these have stretch in them and run a little small in my opinion. 92% cotton 8% spandex style number 10805. size small but fits like an x-small. heather graphite. never worn retails $39.50
asking $10

Anthropologie Baraschi Baraschi Stillwater blouse navy blue cotton top. size 0. side zip and has a detachable sash. detailing around the neck (v-neck). bust is 14inches and the length is 22 inches. retails for $68
asking $15

J Crew black and White Jubilee Cardigan

I wore this cardigan once for an event and it has not been worn since. it is a great classic piece and one doesn't have to worry about it going in and out of style. Size x-small a wool and cotton blend. the decoration on the front is chiffon ruffle. arm pit to arm pit is 16 inches. retailed for $98.
asking $30

Tacky sweater party

2011-02-01T11:43:00.001-08:00

This post is about a month late, but oh well. At the end of my first semester in law school, a mutual friend of mine and john's threw a tacky sweater party to celebrate the end of the semester, the happiness of no more finals, and start of winter break. John and I both knew that we would go to the party, I knew that everyone would get their tacky sweaters from goodwill or ebay. I wanted something different, something unlike anyone else's sweaters.

I can be very artistic and crafty when I want to be (seriously. I did a painting that is on display at the F.W. Sullivan's Fan Bar and Grill located on the cornor of main street and Stafford street in Richmond, Va). I decided to forgo the sweaters since it was the middle of winter and i am chronically cold and go for sweatshirts instead. i took a trip to wally world and purchased a brown hoodie for John and a red crew neck sweatshirt for myself for a mere $5 each. then after a quick trip to Micheal's for some felt and craft glue, i spent that Saturday getting crafty.
For John's hoodie i painted a Rudolf face with an obnoxious red glitter nose and ears. I made some glitter snowflakes and john wanted jungle bells running down the sleeves, i sewed those on as well. To make the hoodie unique, I made a pair of antlers out of felt and pipe cleaners then attached them to the hood, thus when the hood was up it looked like john had antlers. I thought I did a pretty good job. People at the party kept asking where he got his hoodie from or if they could buy it. John was proud and I was happy. the party was fun too.

My hoodie was simple, but i still really liked it. I made a large Christmas tree out of green glitter paper then covered it with ornaments i made, puff paint ornaments, and buttons. I added a few jingle bells on a few branches and made a large gold star for the top. The last thing i did on both sweatshirts was to add "Merry" with puff paint on the back of my sweatshirt and "Christmas" to the back of john's. how couply cute, eh?

i may go into a tacky sweater making business. I like them anyways.

2011-01-28T12:54:00.000-08:00

2011-01-18T11:19:00.000-08:00

never sneeze during a nosebleed. it gets nasty and messy

Fashion Rules for preppies. With some comments by me

2011-01-08T21:14:00.000-08:00

Fashion Rules

We know that many of you understand the principles of preppy style. But just to be sure, let's review them again.

We wear sportswear. This makes it easier to go from sporting events to social events (not that there is much difference) without changing.

We generally underdress. We prefer it to overdressing.

Your underwear must not show. Wear a nude-colored strapless bra. Pull up your pants. Wear a belt. Do something. Use a tie!

We do not display our wit through t-shirt slogans. Every single one of us-no matter the age or gender or sexual preference-owns a blue blazer. ( in reference to this, I am a strong believer in the navy blazer. I actually have two, a Spring and Summer one that is a lighter weight, has a slight sheen to it, and a really pretty light pink and white strip lining. J Crew of course. I also have the blazer shown to the left. It too is from J Crew. It retails for $188 and called the schoolboy blazer. What makes the school boyblazer so great, and why I have 3, yes 3, is that it is a boy's blazer cute narrow and slimfit for a woman. As the jcrew website describes it, and very accuratly I must say, "the schoolboy blazer, updated with a slightly shruncken, superchic fit and authentic haberdasher-inspired design details like a lapel buttonhole, a ticket pocket and crested gold buttons for a touch of legacy luxe. wool. lapel collar. long sleeves (just roll them up when its hot or cool out) sleeve vents with buttons. welt pockets with flaps, chest welt pockets. back vent. fully lined. hits at hip.) Go buy yourself one. and if you are a student or teacher, show your id for a 15% discount on full price items!

We take care of our clothes, but we're not obsessive. A tiny hole in a sweater, a teensy stain on the kneww of our trousers, doesn't throw us. We do, however, wear a lot of white in the summer, and it must be spotless. Don't knock seersucker till you've tried it (only between Memorial day and labor day).

Clothes can cost any amount, but they must fit. Many a preppy has an item from a vintage shop or a lost-and-found fin at the club that was tailored and looks incredibly chic. Do not fret if cashmere is too pricey, (I get my cashmere tees and cardigans from j crew. They are around $30 at the J crew factory store in Lynchburg, Va). Preppies love cotton and merino-wool sweaters. (so true! My boyfriend who is very preppy, like myself :) he wears merino v-necks over button downs several times a week and loves them. Granted John went to Episcopal High School, a boarding school in NOVA, and has maintained that preppy dress since highschool. But I've been wearing kakhis, polos, blazers, stripes,and sperry boat shoes since highschool.

Bags and shoes need not match. Jewlery should not match, though metals should.

Nose rings are never preppy.

Neither are belly-button rings.

nor are tongue studes.
and that goes for ankle bracelets.

Tattoos: men who have been in a war have them, and that's one thing. Anyone else looks like she is trying hard to be cool. Since the body ages, if you must tattoo, find a spot that won't stretch too much. (This I agree and disagree with. I do think that getting a tattoo is abig decision and needs to be somewhere that when you get older or for job purposes can be covered up. I also stongly agree with the idea of getting a tattoo on a place that won't have too much stretch as one ages. I worked with a guy whose brother had a tattoo of a rose on his forearm. "Meh," right? wrong. He gained weight and after a while that rose looked like a cabbage. Im just saying. Just makes sure if you get a tatt it can be covered up.)

Men may wear sneakers with linen or cotton trousers to casual summer parties. Women over the age of 15 may wear a simple black dress. Women over the age of 21 must have several in rotation. High heel rule-- you must be able to run on them--on cobblestones, on a dock, in case of a spontaneous foot race.

Preppies are considerate about dressing our age. It is for you, not for us. You may wear a Harvard sweatshirt if: you attended Harvard, your spouse attentded Harvard, or your children attended Harvard. Otherwise, you are inviting an uncomfortable question. (Disagree and agree. My family has several family members on my mother's side who went to harvard years ago. Therefore, my sister and I both have Harvard Shirts. I have also been there. so : p ).

Taken from Vanity Fair

ski-ing, New Years

2011-01-06T15:34:00.001-08:00

New Years,

I have never been ski-ing before, nor did i ever think i would, but for new years, John took me ski-ing. My first trip down the mountain did not go so well. I fell, a lot and at one point hit my head incrediably hard and ended up with a mild concussion, but that did not stop me. John, his best friend Charlton and his girlfriend Louisa kept telling me to pizza pie..... i did not understand this "pizza pie" concept until the second trip down the moutain. When i finally figured out what the hell it was they were talking about, I got the hang of skiing really quickly and now i love it. I love ski-ing. John and I were talking about going back one more time before it gets too late and there is no more snow, real or fake.

Charlton and John's friend owns a cabin near sugar moutain, literally 10 minutes away, and we stayed there for about a week. I have never had such a wonderful new years before. Every day was different, but still interesting and fun. One day we all got back to our childhood roots and built a snowman we named Crampus. Why name him Crampus? Its a throw back to the evil devil looking creature that used to travel with Santa Clause on Christmas eve. Way back when, Santa was actually depicted as an elf and Crampus was a horned devil like creature complete with hoofs and a pointed tail who rode around in Santa's sack. When children were bad Santa did not leave coal, instead Crampus would carry them away in his sack and do Lord only knows what. Fun right?

Crampus/Krampus: The word Krampus originates from the old high German work for claw (Krampen). in the Alpine regions, the Krampus is represented by an incubus demon accompanying Saint Nicholas. Krampus acts as anti- saint nicholas, who, instead of giving gifts to good children, gives warnings and punishments to the bad children. traditionally, you men dress up as the Krampus in the first two weeks of December, particularly in the evening of December 5th and roam the streets frightening children and woman with rusty chains and bells. in some rural areas the tradition also includes birching by the Krampus, especially of young females.

tears

2010-12-23T20:21:00.000-08:00

i have 100 million tears to shed tonight.

xmas time

2010-12-13T16:37:00.001-08:00

John got me this for christmas. i love it and cannot believe he got it for me still. i think it is just so beautiful. i am so lucky to have John.

i heart tory burch

2010-11-21T13:15:00.001-08:00

eee-gadad i want these please. size 5.5.

located at shopbop.com

friends

2010-11-19T05:59:00.000-08:00

i think, and the older i get an more experience in life i have, it has been confirmed, that boys make better friends than girls. personally, i feel i am good friend and i have a handful of girls who are my really good friends. but as a general rule, boys are better life long companions.

friends

2010-11-03T20:40:00.000-07:00

"In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different" - Coco Chanel

i think that this quote is very accurate of myself. I am definatly different. i have my own opinions, i am open to what others think, believe and feel, i think respect is lacking in the world, and people lie to easily.

Lately, my big issue is with people who take advantage of others or pretend to be a friend until the person needs them or just wants to talk and said "friend" goes M.I.A. i think its important to remember you can't get wrapped up in your own life and forget about others. I see evidence of it all the time, on facebook of all places (shocker i know). if you have time to update your status 15 times a day, comment or post on 20 friend's walls, and do all the shit you say you are doing in your status, then pick up the phone and text/call that friend who has moved away, the friend you rarely talk to anymore, send an email, write a letter, something. Don't let people slip out of your life. someday you may realize how important that person is/was to you, and by then it may be to late to reconnect. don't let a person who went away to school, moved, got a more demanding job, or whatever it is float out of your life.

now to completely go the opposite way, you may not want people in your life who cast you aside as such. the person who stops calling or emailing because you went to college or moved away. how true of a friend are they? the people who really are your friends and care about you will keep in touch and be there. I am lucky enough to have some great friends and support team, and i don't just mean my family. Holli, Hilary, Melanie, Liz, Jake, Hayden, Paul M., Paul D.,Ty,Mitch, Christiana,and Jenny have all been there for me. Even when i relocated 322 miles from home, they still keep in touch. some i talk to more reguarly than others, but all return my calls, texts, or emails, and iniate them on their own, while respecting that i do have tons of studying so if i don't respond right away, they know i am not ignoring, but i will return the means of communication.

it's ok to be jealous of my friends, if i were you, i would be. : )

basically i am saying, talk to the ones you love, hug them often, tell them reguarly you love them and how important they are, never let them slip away. keep them tethered and close like a ball on a string.

flowers

2010-10-27T06:53:00.000-07:00

john went away for the weekend to spend time and catch up with his friends from boarding school. i missed him while he was gone. i got a lot of stuff done though.

when john got back on sunday he brought me really pretty roses.

i don't have a vase, so this thermose is my make shift vase. i guess it is time to get one

they danced by the light of the moon

2010-09-29T11:36:00.000-07:00

Where horses neighed
and children played
we danced by the light of the moon

i danced, i played, i grew
i loved deeply, thus i bleed uncontrollably,
this is to have given your heart to love
but i still,
danced by the light of the moon

the day came in which i lay,
where the horses now graze, no longer can i hear the neighs
i watched as children used laughter to console
comfort came
when they danced by the light of the moon

and now, i sit with stars
and hang from the moon
as i watch,
while they dance by the light of the moon

Caroline's bday

2010-09-19T11:49:00.000-07:00

happy birthday little sister

pencils

2010-09-17T07:14:00.000-07:00

A pencil maker told the pencil 5 important lessons just before putting it in the box:

1.everything you do will always leave a mark
2. you can always correct the mistakes you make
3. what is important is what is inside of you
4. in life, you will undergo painful sharpenings, which will only make you better
5. to be the best pencil, you must allow yourself to be held and guided by the hand that holds you

a few new john irving quotes i've discovered

2010-09-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

~"in this dirty minded world, you are either someone's wife or someone's whore"

~"...my life is a reading list"

~"it is your responsibility to find fault with me, it is mine to hear you out. but don't expect me to change" (a prayer for owen meany)

~"it's natural to want someone you love to do what you want, or what you think would be good for them, but you have to let everything happen to them. you can't interfere with people you love any more than you're supposed to initerfere with people you don't even know. and that's hard,..., because you often feel like interfering-you want to be the one who makes the plans"

~"if you don't feel that you are possibly on the edge of humiliating yourself, of losing control of the whole thing, then probably what you are doing isn't very vital"

2010-09-11T13:22:00.000-07:00

to love deeply is to hurt deeply. to bleed uncontrolably, is to have given your heart in love

hayden and jake were on the news

2010-09-09T20:24:00.000-07:00

hayden and jake were on the news. so proud of those tew. they are always getting into something. i love that they have opinions, emotions and are willing to talk about their opinions and how they feel on topics. even more so stand up for what they believe in.

http://www.wtvr.com/videobeta/d8892ffa-97c2-49e5-b088-5ft72ad4523dc?news/Reaction-to-the-ABC_Privatization-Plan

little update

2010-09-07T21:33:00.000-07:00

so far school is great. there is only one class i really just can't stand, and one class where i am lost...well, i understand what is going on, i just get confused.

erroneous cases i have learned about

1. dumbass sues pepsi because he sees a plane in a pepsi commercial. he wants to purchase the plane with his pepsi points. he sends the points to pepsi who in turn write him a letter saying only items available in the magazine can be purchased with pepsi points. the plane is not in the magazine. further more, the plane is a joke in the commercial and not part of the pepsi points game. said dumbass sues pepsi saying he wants his plane as promised. trial court judges says "no, it was never part of the game" smarty then appeals the case only to have the appeals court say "no, what didn't you understand about no from the trial court." getting all those pepsi points costs the plaintiff $700,000

2. a fan catches the 73rd homerun ball hit by barry bonds. a crowd knocks him over and he drops the ball. defendant picks the ball up and says it is his based on discovery by aquisition. first dude wants the ball back and is angry. so he sues. yes, he sues to get the ball back. the judge decides that both men are equal and fair owners of the ball. so he says the ball has to be cut in half. not really. but the baseball is to be sold and the money split 50/50. four years later the ball is sold for $450,000. while i do think its silly to go to court over a baseball, can't complain about that money

music

2010-08-25T16:27:00.000-07:00

i am not sure how to classify the music i am listening to tonight while doing homework, but i would say maybe alone or hurt, but its ok cause im gonna come back full force..maybe, maybe not. but i watched CBS The Good Wife (love) and some of the songs I have been listening to are from that show.

youtube.com/watch?v=00wdvSvpm_M&NR=1

and Alpha Rev "phoenix burn"

materialism in property

2010-08-23T15:44:00.000-07:00

"at extreme, anyone who lives only for material objects is considered not to be a well-devloped person, but rather to be lacking some important attribute of humanity." Property and Personhood [FNa1] Margaret Jane Radin [FND1] Standford Law Review May, 1982 Source: Westlaw

kitchen table

2010-08-13T09:28:00.000-07:00

<-- the table here is the same table below. i purchased the table off craig's list for a mere $30, and my wonderfully kind friend even went and picked it up for me from hanover, then dropped it off at my house. The table itself is sold wood, and extremely heavy. the top, however, has a lamanet layering, and i hated that.

Basically, I stripped the table and then painted the bottom black, but the top, due to the lamanet, could not be taken off. So, I purchased a piece of burch wood and after several failed debacles involving liquid nails, liquid cement and several very heavy stones, just nailed the damn thing to the existing top. I then cut down the top into a circle, sanded, sanded, sanded, mixed two stains, and stained the table top. ta da! a table for my new apartment.

i really do like my table, not just because i literally put my blood, sweat and tears into. Now, i will spend countless hours studying law at this here little table

some songs i have been enjouing recently

2010-08-10T16:47:00.000-07:00

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMQ2Xu3Q00g = gloriana "even if i wanted to"

www.youtube.come/watch/v=NJ8LNFkMMJY = ravonettes "Bang!"

found this on the internet. i picked my favs. what men should know

2010-08-04T14:22:00.000-07:00

Things that make us go "awww"
no 908: despite what we say, you holding a baby with complete confidence is an absolute aphrodisiac. Put the baby down and come touch me

Subtle can be very sexy
we'll take nice forearms over a six pack anyday

don't try to figure us out. we don't know what will make us happy either. it is something we have been trying to figure out since the dawn of time. (except me. i know that traveling, walks, and quiet time with my significate other is what makes me happy. and lots and lots of books)

you don't really know what women are thinking. really you don't

if you stop with the compliments, the so might out efforts to look as hot as we did when we started dating. why should we spend time and money that we don't have in excess when our target audence doesn't notice?--- that being said, i say don't over do it. it will become meaningless. only say it if you mean it. a guy i know and like will sparacticly tell me and it makes me so happy when he does. plus i believe him.

don't be too obvious. that low cut top-- we wouldn't wear if we didn't want you to look. just be discrete about it

being endering never got anyone into bed.

words and actions are powerful. full stop.

we want you text or email us random things that pop into your mind. it means u thought to contact us.

2010-07-26T21:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-greece/videos#zeus-and-the-great-flood

does this not sound remarkably like the God became displeased with the humans and how evil they were, so he destroyed everyone save Noah, his family and two of every animal.
and people do not believe in paganism. hello, paganism was first and christianity grew from there, meaning christians were at one point the minority religion

18th century ship found at Ground Zero

2010-07-26T11:27:00.000-07:00

200-year-old ship found at Ground Zero
Saturday, July 17, 2010

A 32-foot piece of the vessel was found in soil 20 feet below street level as bulldozers excavated a garage for the future World Trade Center in New York. Historians say the ship, believed to date to the 1700s, was obsolete by the time it was used around 1810 to extend the shores of lower Manhattan. Archaeologist Molly McDonald, who first spotted two pieces of curved timber – part of the frame of the ship – peeking out of the mud on Tuesday, said: "A ship is the summit of what you might find under the World Trade Center. It’s exciting." By yesterday, she and three colleagues had dug up the hull from the pit where a section of the new trade centre is being built. Dwarfed by surrounding skyscrapers, people sank in the mud as they walked and grasped pieces of the historic wood for support – touching the centuries-old ship that might once have sailed the Caribbean. McDonald and fellow archaeologist Michael Pappalardo work for a New York environmental consulting firm hired to document artefacts discovered at the site. The vessel’s age will be estimated after the two pieces that first popped up are tested in a laboratory through dendrochronology – the science of using tree rings to determine dates and chronological order. A 100lb iron anchor was found a few yards from the hull, possibly from the old vessel. The ship probably got there because of the effort to extend lower Manhattan into the Hudson River in the 1700s and 1800s using landfill. It usually involved logs joined together but a derelict ship was occasionally used. The ship discovered this week was weighted down and sunk to the bottom of the river, as support for new city piers, in a part of Manhattan tied to global commerce and trade. A similar find emerged a short distance away in 1982, when archaeologists found an 18th century cargo ship on Water Street. The remains of the latest discovery will be removed, but the timber is so delicate it is unclear how much of it will remain intact. The surrounding water acted as a preserver for the wood for centuries, but the remains began to deteriorate immediately on contact with oxygen. Yesterday, archaeologists were quickly sketching, measuring and photographing the ship’s remains to help them analyse the find later. A memorial to victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks, a multibillion dollar transit hub and a second office tower are under construction.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Saturday, July 17, 2010Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.com/business/200-year-old-ship-found-at-ground-zero-125332.html#ixzz0uomgo38u

mexican hat dance

2010-07-23T12:09:00.001-07:00

There are many theories out there about how to "cure" depression. exercise, perscriptions, close circle of friends and or family etc. i don't believe some things can be over come, except with time. For about the last month, i have been really....well, i'll just come right out and say it, heartbroken. I don't really believe there is anything that can be done to fix heartbreak. I view it like a vase that has been smashed. While you can glue the pieces back together so it appears to the naked eye to be good as new, add a little water to the vase and that water is going to drip/leak out of the vase.
I don't know which is worse, the fact that this guy either has no idea that he hurt me or that he knows and just doesn't care. Part of me thinks he does not know because he has done nothing to alievate the pain. My common sense tells me that he does know he hurt me and that is why he no longer comes in to visit when I am at work, he walks right past my office and straight out the door. Last night I went out to Sullivan's and he was there. I know he saw me because he walked past me four times, looked right at me several times, and never once said "hello". I finally got up and went to talk to him. I guess yet again I had to act like an adult or that his actions did not bother me even though they do. i really am sad about the whole situation. Everytime I see him with his Jersey Shore ho girl my stomach drops and I want to cry. I talked to a couple of my friends who know them both and even they say she looks like a slut. One of my really sweet friends told me they were both at the pool party and Jersey Shore was running around with barley any clothing. Apparently, people were talking about how slutty she looked. This friend that told me this story I really do trust completely. While I do find some comfort in that, I am still upset. I suppose it is a good thing I am moving in a week, then I won't have to watch him do a mexican hat dance on my heart anymore.

In other news, I am also sad that my friend Andrew moved to Calli. I am so happy for him because he got a job in a field he really loves and has an interest in, but I wish he was still here. selfish on my part i know. but i truly am happy for him

Protruding Spines on Mannequins...nasty

2010-07-21T20:10:00.001-07:00

My dear friend Melanie found this and i thought I'd share. Here is the link to the person's blog, http://nogoodforme.filmstills.org/blog/archives/2010/07/20/wtfomg_protrudi.html, but i also copied her writing and listed it below as well.

As a recovered anorexic (and a feminist, and a HUMAN BEING), I was incredibly outraged to discover that Club Monaco have gone out of their way to conceptualize and manufacture mannequins that are visibly dying of starvation. "No!" said one Club Monaco marketing executive to his or her colleague, "It's just not enough to display our clothing on mannequins that wear a size zero. Size zero mannequins imply that our mannequins may just be naturally lithe. Not good enough. I think we need to communicate to our clientele that our clothes look best on ANOREXICS." "Brilliant," said the other Club Monaco marketing executive, "Anorexic mannequins. Perfect.."This is one of the most disgusting things that the fashion industry has done to perpetuate and validate the anorexic body yet! I absolutely cannot comprehend why these people would consciously decide to sculpt emaciated spinal cords into their mannequins. How could people do that? Don't they realize that they're being evil? I remember what my life was like when my spinal cord looked like a Club Monaco mannequin spinal cord. It was a LIVING HELL. I was miserable, and I was dying. I was suffering from a legitimate psychiatric illness that I desperately wanted to escape from, but- for a long time- couldn't, because anorexia is a manifestation of powerlessness. I don't want to oversimplify the situation- eating disorders are complex, and arguments like "Girls are going to walk into Club Monaco and see these mannequins and then starve themselves!" are uneducated and unrealistic. Walter Benjamin once said that "fashion defends the right to be a corpse"; that quote has always resounded with me, because it certainly defended mine. I can only speak from personal experience, and these mannequins remind me of a period of time in my life when I was searching for the strength to get myself out of the black hole that was my eating disorder, and the fashion industry made it a lot harder for me to do so.When I was sick, I would walk into a high-end clothing store, and employees would fawn over my ability to "Wear anything!" Or, I'd flip through an issue of Vogue, and take comfort in the fact that models' arms looked just like mine did. The fashion industry validated my right to an anorexic body, and, as an anorexic, I took comfort in that. Two years ago, these mannequins would have been another roadblock inhibiting my recovery; another foil, reminding me that anorexia is actually totally cool and awesome and sexy and acceptable. I would not wish anorexia upon my worst enemy. It's pretty fucking tragic that Club Monaco, apparently, would wish it upon their clientele.

(my thoughts)Personally, I am simply appalled that Club Monaco would do such a thing as to create anorexic manikins. I work in a retail store, and there are 4 clients who come in and shop regularly. The thing about these four clients is that they are ridiculously skinny, disgustingly so. Their jaws protrude, skin hangs from their faces, and their legs are roughly the size of my arms. When the store where I work began carrying a size 24 in pants the 4 women were ecstatic. I was disgusted. How can they possibly think they look good? I have asked several male friends, including my now ex-boyfriend, if women who are this thin are attractive. Every male i asked said "no it is not. They look gross, sickly, and there is nothing to hold on to."

when a woman lacks fat, they begin to look much older than they really are. It is hard to say who is to blame for developing the idea that a wafe like appearance is attractive. do high end designers embrace it because they really do think the clothes hang better on thin women? or is the public eating up the thin look because they think it is beautiful? do designers create emaciated looks because it is accepted and imitated by the public? or does the public imitate the look because designers say to?

no pads, no helmets, no balls

2010-07-16T22:15:00.000-07:00

A little known fact....

The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874
The first helmet was used in 1974.
That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.

ok, well the helmet was actually used in the 1940s, but ladies...you get it.

below is a pic of Dick Plasman of the Chicago Bears. the last man to play without a helmet, which was in 1940 when the Chicago Bears played the Washington Redskins

It's a Heart Ach

2010-07-15T14:40:00.000-07:00

The sound of two other people making love is the loneliest sound in the world.

I think one of the hardest things is to hear someone that you care for and were intimate with talk on the phone about going to pick up his new squeeze from wherever it maybe. I feel so hurt, that my back tingles and burns, my stomach is up in my throat; I want to cry and throw up all at once. I really do hate that guys think mostly of themselves and how a situation will affect them and only them. Never once does the though cross their minds, “oh wow, this might really hurt somebody.” I really do despise knowing that every time I even hear his voice I want to burst into tears. This is a major reason I have not been to my favorite bar in a while. The pain is too hard to feel or deal with, let alone the sight of him flirthing with his Jersey Shore ho. I am moving in two weeks. Five hours away. Maybe this will help. I hate that I’ve been hurt, especially when people warned me that I would get hurt.

but i also feel like this: sooooo

piece of cake

2010-07-12T21:28:00.000-07:00

Tonight, my dad and i were sitting on the couch watching Law and Order. Nothing particularly special was going on, but my dad turns to me and says:

"did you know there is a food that prevents sex?"
"really?"
"yes, its called wedding cake."

nicely played dad

law school.

2010-07-03T14:21:00.001-07:00

As my friends know, at the end of this month I will be moving to Charlotte, NC for law school. Lucky me, I have an apartment that needs to be furnished, but on a budget. This is my materialistic post of...you can buy me this table from Pottery Barn in expresso if you want.

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/metropolitan-round-coffee-table/?pkey=cnew-sale-furniture

it is so pretty.

2010-06-25T11:06:00.001-07:00

enmity--hatred, ill will, or hostility towards another.

temerity--the audacity or inappropriate boldness to say or do something.

Wendy Wyne

2010-06-22T19:23:00.001-07:00

http://www.richmondbizsense.com/2010/06/21/monday-qa-the-cupcake-strategy/

check out my friend wendy! i am so proud of her!!! yay wendy

2010-06-12T20:56:00.001-07:00

in the words of Curly Day "Today has not been a good day"