It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

Theodore Roosevelt

Breakfast with Beaner

I got to spend some time with my friend Ryan from high school. He was in Chicago to catch a flight to Alaska where he was panning to work on a commercial fishing boat for the next 9 months. However, little did he know that the city he was going to was being evacuated because of a nearby volcano eruption…..
Poor Beaner, things never go smoothly for him , He facebooked me and told me he was in Portland, Oregon with on of his best friends, Caycee, so he’s happy.
While he was here we went to the Army/ Navy Surplus store ( I think I enjoyed it more than he did) and then Ann Sather for a sweet little breakfast.
It was really good to see the guy that had me in laughing fits all throughout highschool.

The curious case of the missing slipper...

Alright...It's day 4 or 5 of the on-going dilemma of having one sad, lonely monkey slipper... My feet are cold, and socks just AREN'T cutting it...

Yes, I really am blogging about this. It's VERY important and everybody needs to know.

I am having an intervention with myself.

I am a pack-rat. I have too many hobbies and all the stuff that comes with each one.

My closet is itty bitty and I need to minimize or I just might be crushed by an avalanche and die.

I love cleaning and organizing but not when it makes me realize that I will probably have to say goodbye to a whole bunch of my stuff...

Which means sorting it all.... Which means more mess.... Which also means having to clean up more mess and finding a place for all of the newly sorted stuff.... And so on...

But- today I have no excuse. I am (supposed to be) finished with school and I'm off this week. I have spare time... WHAT?! A Choice of what to do with my time?! GET. OUT!

I said "supposed to be" because I didn't pass one of my classes this past quarter. It was supposed to be my last quarter and I was supposed to be graduating in March of 09' :(

I failed due to much procrastination, a crashed USB and one of the least compassionate, merciless teachers I've ever had.

But, don't feel bad for me ( and if you didn't in the first place, good!)- I failed, it sucks, but It just makes me realize more and more, how small and imperfect I am, which ultimately points me straight up to God so I see how Big and Perfect He is... As long as I don't fail at being his daughter, I'm cool.... And I can't fail, because I'm covered by Jesus! :)

I praise the Lord for my beautiful salvation...

All of that pressure of being perfect is off of my shoulders. I don't have to be everything, do everything or have everything anymore... Christ wants me, He is the lover of my soul... Who the crap cares if the world doesn't want me?

Christ is alive and I love him and Praise Him.

Now its time to stand up, brush the dirt off my knees, and run into the welcoming,loving arms of the Father:)

I failed and will fail again... But Christ loves me (and YOU) No. Matter. What! ROCK ON to THAT.

So, with good music and the bright sun shining through my windows, I'm off to find my missing slipper and I encourage you to give your cares and "failures" to God because He cares for us!

Luke 8:24-25

"The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided,

and all was calm.
"Where is your faith?"

He asked his disciples.
In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the wind and water, and they obey him."

Moo!

I was looking through pictures on my computer and found these from when I went home in the fall.

I was visiting my dad at work ( he runs an eco-energy combustion business where animal waste is burned to create energy & provide a cleaner environment with less run-off, glamorous, I know) and I took a stroll around to the baby cow barn.

I've been an animal lover since birth so these guys really pulled at my heart strings.
Too bad they grow up to be so smelly!

I named the dark brown cow Hershey and wanted to take her home. ( I love the picture where she's licking her nose- it's so gross but so funny.)

I think it's sad that they're taken away from their mommas so young. And I don't like that they have to get their ears tagged. I don't care who says it doesn't hurt them. I am not convinced!

GenArt Shop Chicago

Here are some pictures from the GenArt Shop Chicago event at Union Station in downtown Chicago. Anastasia had a booth and we interns came along to help out.
Claire and I were passing out business cards and got a little bored- Soooooo. We choreographed a pass-out-the-cards dance. The photographer at the event caught us in the act. It was a hit!!! :)
Below is Anastasia with one of her designs (I love that dress!) <------This picture doesn't do it justice!

Well, hello scanner.

I was in an unusual funk today and was feeling a little nostalgic so I dug up all the pictures I could find from my youth and scanned away.

I took a little trip back to my childhood and my innocence, I remember how I looked up to my dad and clung to his hip everywhere he went.

Ever since I started to walk with Christ, I've been trying to see God as the Father He is. A compassionate, loving, caring, gentle but stern protective father.

Growing up, I was taught that God was this big,scary, unreachable, untouchable guy sitting up on a thundery cloud, throwing lighting bolts and condemning us to a life where we'd rot in our stinky sin. No way Jose!!! Who wants a God who never forgives and who we can't relate to? That's not who He is.

There is no sin too big or disgusting for Him to forgive. Everyone on this earth needs to know that. He Cares for us. He Loves us(unconditionally).Like a Daddy should. We just have to except that love.

Now that I know the Truth, I've been trying to restore the relationship that I didn't have with him growing up. I went through a lot of heartache to get here (and there's bound to be more in the future) but I'm just glad I know (a tiny fraction of) who He is now.

I know He won't look away or forsake me and I long to make Him more proud than my dad was when I'd bring him home a big fat A+ to hang on the refrigerator. (although that didn't happen very often, unfortunately)

Internship!

Anastasia and her interns at GEN Art/Shop Chicago

one-of-a-kind headbands- so much fun to make!

change purses

Reversible wrap skirt, the faced hem was a pain in the butt, but it turned out beautifully!

I been working with a local Chicago designer named Anastasia Chatzka (http://www.anastasiachatzka.com/) these past few months for my internship. I've been having a lot of fun working with her and helping out with her company. Her designs are very colorful (they make me think of cupcakes and candy!) and mostly inspired by vintage silhouettes.

I love her studio, it's in an old vintage building and has beautiful windows in the front and awesome skylights on the ceiling and I love, love, love the natural light that pours in when we work during the day( it does get pretty cold when the sun goes down though!). It has old hardwood floors and a red/orange door. She has lots of cool vintage furniture and lots of books, fabrics and inspiration photos all over(she's very organized for an artist though). I love being surrounded by all the clothes and fabrics, colors and inspiration. It really creates a positive work environment.

Here are some photos of some of the things I created while working with her.

I've completed my internship for school but I still plan on sticking around and helping her out.

She's planning on opening her first boutique this summer!!! Best of luck Anastasia!!!