Oh, hey...how've you been?

Oops! I didn't realize I've been missing from the blogiverse for the last 3.5 months. Has it really been that long? Anywho, I've been busy enjoying my new apartment, spending time with friends (eating lots of good food) and knitting. I also survived another holiday in retail and celebrated another birthday, not in that order though.

At the end of October I got all moved into my new apartment. It's been pretty great so far. I love having my own washer and dryer (no more bucket and plunger washing). I have a huge bathroom and kitchen. And for a studio, I have a lot more space than I realized. Yes I did have to downsize my bed and get rid of some things, but I still feel like I have a lot of space.


I'm still getting rid of things I don't use or need. It's such a slow going process. (Actually I'm really just a procrastinator and keep finding other things I'd rather be doing.) I think living in a studio is going to make it easier to live a minimalist lifestyle...if I could just get rid of all the extra stuff.

Early November I woke up one morning, watched a couple of YouTube videos and then proceeded into the bathroom and cut off over 12 inches of my hair. I then proceeded to laugh at how ridiculous it was that I thought I could give myself such a major haircut. It took me about 3 weeks to head on over to Great Clips to have my hair evened out. I don't mind my hair shorter, but I really wish it were long again. I like being able to put it up in a bun. It is much nicer that I'm not shedding as much, though that could be more because of the change of environment.


With my rent being lower, I've been able to put more money towards eating out with friends. I've enjoyed a lot of good food the last couple of months and I don't see that stopping anytime soon. There are still a lot of places on my list to go and a few places that I need to go to again. Mac n' cheese topped with rib jam and bourbon butter cornbread? I need to have that again and again.


I'm still over here being a crafty mother shut your mouth. I haven't listed anything on etsy in awhile, but I'm still going pretty strong in the consignment shops. I did my first big craft show and while it wasn't as successful as I hoped it would be, it was a good experience. After the holidays I decided I wanted to learn to knit. This was the third time learning to knit and this time it finally stuck. Thank you YouTube videos.

Now of course I have an addiction to expensive yarn to add to my addiction to fabric. But it's another skill that I think will be good for the business. While crocheting is much faster, knitting has so many beautiful stitches and patterns. I've already got a couple of ideas for patterns I want to create.


Other than that, not much else has been going on over here. Life seems pretty tame. I'm looking forward to the spring so I can start walking on the trail that's less than a block from my apartment and hopefully I'll have a new bike by then too.

Eventually I will get around to finishing up the blog makeover I started randomly one day.  For now what's here will just have to do.

reading - Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty This post brought to you in part by:

*does a jig* I'm finally moving!

*pardon the mess, I'm changing things around and stopped in the middle*


Yay! I finally signed the lease to my new apartment. I'm so excited. If you've been following along for a while now, you know that where I currently live is not the greatest. Murdered neighbors, strange critters and more. I'm ready to be out of here and away from all the madness. I'm looking forward to some changes.

While I'm downgrading to a studio...a small studio. I'm absolutely fine with it because it is much nicer than where I'm at now. The rent is almost $200 cheaper. I will have my own washer and dryer IN my apartment. The kitchen is nicer and the bathroom is much bigger. It's pretty much a dream.

I've already planned out how I will arrange the main room as you can see in the photo above. Almost all my furniture is from college and while I could probably make it work, I'm ready to start over. I've already loaded up my IKEA cart with all the things I need. I just need a ride down there to pick everything up.





stenklover duvet cover and love pillow cases - because it's a small space, I want to brighten it up a bit. my bed will sort of be a focal point so why not a beautiful bright red duvet cover and some fun pillows and pillow cases



kallax shelves - with limited space all my storage will pretty much be in one spot. fabric, craft, paper work and other things. I originally wanted to use this as a room divider, but it supposed to be secure to the wall. I would want it to tip over on me in my sleep.


ullgump rug - I loath apartment carpet. I don't know why they all have that same tan carpet. It's awful. I want to cover as much of it as I can. Even though this will clash a little at least it's covering up most of it.




In the corner over the bed I want to add a bunch of 5 x 7 framed prints. I've been keeping a board on pinterest of all the ones that I like. I'm not sure how many or how they'll be arranged just yet, but it's already my favorite part of the room.


I've never really been big on candles, but I can't resist these...plus with a smaller apartment the whole place will smell lovely.
I was hoping to find a mint colored shower curtain and I did find a couple, but they were all like $50. That's not in my budget so I opted for navy and white stripes. Hopefully I can find some mint or coral towels instead. I'll be putting a small dresser in the bathroom for all my socks and underclothes as well as my PJ's. I shower at night and those are the things I have to put on so why not have them ready when I get out of the shower.

In the kitchen I want to paint something on the back wall in mint, light coral and gold. I thought I wanted to do stripes, but I've changed my mine and I'm thinking of squares and half square triangles in shades of mint and coral with gold accents. I also thought about getting a tennis ball and dipping it in paint and throwing it at the wall. I've already picked up some some dark coral dish towels.

I'm still looking for more storage and decorating ideas. I really wish I could just sneeze and all my things were already moved over to the new place. I don't mind having to find a place for everything, it's the moving it all that is going to be a challenge.

With my birthday next Sunday I'm trying to keep my money separate. Apartment money for apartment type things and birthday money for birthday type things...though I suppose there could be a little overlap. So much excitement for it all.

reading - Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld This post brought to you in part by:

35 - a birthday wish list

It's October! Filipino American Heritage Month! AND my birthday and it's cold. I thought about coming up with 35 things I wanted for my birthday this year, but the more years there are, the harder it gets to come up with things I want for my birthday. I mean...I could probably come up with 35 things, but curating that list would take a long time and some things I just don't want to share with the public, mmmkay. Also, there are a lot of things that I want that aren't really birthday types things, like a huge roll of batting and sewing supplies and furniture and shower curtains. So here is a list of 15 things I wouldn't mind getting in my mail box this year...




naked 3 via urban decay, I don't really wear make up, but this palette is beautiful and I want it anyway. it might even make me don a little more of the war paint.


iPad mini via apple - I like to say this would be for business purposes, but it's for entertainment reasons. Netflix from bed being the main reason.


chunky black infinity scarf via No. 63 - it's starting to get chilly out, which means time for toasty neck things. I make toasty neck things, but I like to support others who make nice things too and this is pretty awesome.


trip to Hello Kitty Con - oh how I love Hello Kitty, this would be the perfect gift as it's just two days after my birthday. I really hope I'm the winner of the contest I entered to go


Hello Kitty Vans - my old HK Vans are starting to get holes, it's time to replace them and well come on...Hello Kitty!!! I might be obsessed. As a matter of fact, I am. I bought a gift card the other day with only a dollar on it because it was super cute.


Mr. Tree Stump pincushion via Hi Tree - because everyone needs an awesome pincushion, though I might just let him sit around looking cute

snow white print via unknown - I came across this via a blog I follow. I'd love a small print of this for my wall with a few of others by the same artist. I'd like to start a collection of awesome 5 x 7 prints.

shoreline via state bicycle co. - I don't have a car and I don't want a car just yet, but this bike would be great transportation during the warm months.


skull cameo via Hungry Designs - a beautiful piece, I'd find reasons to wear it everyday. It was on my birthday wish list last year. This year, it's going to be mine.

hawthorne threads gift certificates - so much fabric that I need to have and so much more that will be coming out in the future. I want it all. ALL!!!


Canon EOS Rebel SL1 DSLR via Canon - my little Canon baby is 11 years old now. I think it's time to retire her.


custom lady bird slippers via Molipop - for shuffling around my apartment, they look comfy enough to wear around everywhere though. The custom pair I'd like would be grey corduroy on the outside though.


antique engagement ring - I'm not big on jewelry, but this ring is beautiful. If I ever get married it could be my engagement, wedding and anniversary ring. It's all I would need.


trip to Disneyland - it's the happiest place on earth. it'd be the second happiest place if I were at Hello Kitty Con. I could use some sun and happiness and laughs and good food. A churro and some lobster nachos please.



Dr. Feelgood Dunks - I've wanted these for YEARS! They're probably impossible to find in my size at this point, but they're still so fucking awesome.

Other things I wouldn't mind having that I just thought of: Olive Branch Body Wash, KitchenAid Stand Mixer in Contour Silver, leather satchel, and some new wood plugs. I'm tired of wearing the same plugs to work.

 

What kinds of things are or were on your birthday wish list? Also, I can't believe I'll be 35. It's just weird.

reading - Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld This post brought to you in part by:

autumn equinox 14.0 - a wish list

One of my favorite seasons is finally here and it's not because of pumpkin everything. It's because I love the cooler in between weather and my birthday is in the fall. It's time for hot tea and cocoa and cardigans and jeans. Yay for fall!

Anywho...let's get on with these wishes and intentions:

loft style 1 bedroom apartment at Englewood Lofts for less than $400/month furniture from IKEA - klippan couch, rast drawers, lack desk and tv stand, kallax storage reach 100 sales on etsy by the end of October watch loads of money flow into my bank account from sales meet ellen degeneres sell all the quilts and zipper wallets that I make catch up of my reading black iPad mini with logitech keyboard red FIAT 500 peace & happiness a fun and exciting birthday celebration time well spent with friends have all my bills paid on time donate time or anything I can to help others state bicycle co. - shoreline bicycle hot cocoa and taco dates
I completed half a task on my summer wish list. I spent a lot of time looking at my list and not getting much of it accomplished. I did try though. I did apply for a new job and a new apartment. I did some reading and ate some food, but I didn't complete anything enough that I could cross those items off my list. The fall will be busy. A holiday craft fair, my birthday and moving. Woo! I still hope to get some things crossed off my list though.

What are your wishes for fall?
Leave a short list of your wishes in a comment down below.

reading - Two Serpents Rise by Max Gladstone This post brought to you in part by:

Ssssshhh! I'm hunting apawments...

The apartment hunt continues. My lease ends in a little over two weeks and I've yet to find an apartment. At one point I did have a place and I was getting read to drop off a deposit and then a friend of mine said let's be roommates. Those plans have changed yet again and I'm back to hunting for a place by myself.

I've tried to get in touch with the place I was going to put a deposit on but for an office that is only open 4 days a week 4 hours a day (16 hours) no one is ever there when they are supposed to be. And when someone finally called me back, they had no idea what I was talking about, said they'd get back to me and haven't.

I've moved on from that place. Unfortunately most places are booked up and don't have anything available until late October. I'm pretty sure I can go month to month where I'm at now (not that I want to, it'll probably cost me a bit more per month). But if I have to I will.

One of the places not available until next month looks promising. It's new construction (not finished yet). I could be the first person to live in that apartment, use the shower and poop in the toilet. It's a block from the bus stop and it's close to downtown in a decent area. I sent in an application today and hopefully I hear back quickly.

In the mean time I've been procrastinating on packing...avoiding packing...doing a little packing and dreaming of all the things I'd like for my next apartment. I'd really like to start new, sell most of what I have in this apartment. Most of the furniture I have is from when I was in college (shelves and what not) and I don't even own a couch. Can you believe that?
I usually prefer neutral solids for furniture (dark grey, black, brown), but I'm drawn to how bright this couch/cover is and am thinking this would be kind of cool to have. The nice thing is it's just a cover and can be switched out for something plain.


I also like this cover too. This one is probably a better choice to start with. I could add some fun brightly colored pillows.

The quilter in me wants this rug for my sewing space. But it's more than I want to spend on a rug.


I'd get a couple of these for all my crafting supplies and photo albums. They make good room dividers too. I've always had my computer and sewing space in the living room. It'd be nice to have the space divided into a work space and a place to just sit an relax.


A rolling side table that I could use as a place to eat too. I like dual furniture. I'd probably use it as a foot rest as well and hide books and crochet projects inside.

Or I could actually get a kitchen table to eat at. There's a lot I want, but there are some things that will need to be taken care of first. Most important will be setting up my work space since I have Yelp's Bazaar in December and other holiday crafting.


The layout at the beginning and this layout above are the layouts available for the apartment I just applied for. The loft is nice...but I often get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and that's a LOOOONNNNG walk to the bathroom. I'd probably still take it though because it'd be nice to have all that space. And the laundry is in the bedroom. You wouldn't have to drag it all over the place to get it done, you just bring the bathroom and kitchen stuff upstairs and then you can throw it over into the living room when it's done. Ha!

Wish me luck. Pray for me. Or send positive vibes that I get that apartment and can get in ASAP.

reading - Two Serpents Rise by Max Gladstone This post brought to you in part by:

chickens, new opportunities and be cool - a list

Yeah, so I meant to get this blog post up last week. The tab has been open for about that long and then I just got distracted and busy with other things. That's life you could say.


Winner, winner chicken dinner. I won tickets to the State Fair again this year. Woo! I had no plans on going to the fair, but said if I won tickets I'd go. I'm saving up for this apartment so that money really needs to go towards my apartment, but I treated myself to some food.

Side note: On the way to the fair a young boy tried to hand me his phone and mimed for me to put my phone number in it so he could call me. Um...no. At some point I guess that worked for him. Not this time though.


I was obsessed with the chickens at the fair. If you follow me on IG (@chickenb00) you'll find a video of one of the roosters crowing. I waited for about 5 minutes to get that video. I loved all the chickens so much I actually went to the poultry barn twice. There are so many different kinds of chickens. If I had a small plot of land I'd totally have some chickens. FREE EGGS!


I submitted my application to the apartment complex I want to live in. The leasing agent told me they had an apartment available for less than what I'm currently paying. The apartment is in a safe, quiet neighborhood AND the apartment has a washer and dryer in the apartment. My current creepy apartment (above) has one sometimes working washer and dryer in the creepy, smelly basement.

The leasing agent told me that if I could come up with the deposit this month (August) that they would wave rent for August. I'm still working on coming up with the deposit. It's coming along, but I still need some help. I didn't want to go this route, but I set up a go fund me campaign. I'm still determined to earn most if not all the money I need for rent and the deposit.


I've been doing a lot of etsy listing and promoting on facebook, instagram and twitter to earn the money for my apartment. On top of that I made it into Yelp's Holiday Bazaar and been invited to have my items in another handmade consignment shop. So on top of packing and selling stuff I'm also creating more stuff for the holidays. I really need to learn to create all year long. One day I'll learn. I've got some other projects I need to work on as well.


Another note from a neighbor. I will miss these when I'm gone. I've never seen this neighbor either in the 5 years I've lived here. Crazy.


GenCon was last week. It's one of my favorite conventions to visit town even though I'm not a gamer. I worked again this year, this time in a back office stuffing envelopes all night long. I enjoyed it and it was some extra money for my apartment. I got to see a few interesting costumes, though not many since I was in a back office and I learned a few things. I'm looking forward to working again next year.


Tried out a tutorial I found for a wallet with a side zip so you can open it wider and it turned out nicely. I had to edit the instructions to work for how I wanted it to look. I may add these to my shop. What do you think?

Not much else happening. Just working, selling, packing, saving, selling and all that jazz. I look forward to when I can write up a post about moving and share pictures of the new apartment and it's wondering washer and dryer. If you want to help me get there sooner go ahead and donate or buy something from me. I will love you long time.


reading - Two Serpents Rise by Max Gladstone This post brought to you in part by: