wrapping heaven

So, I wrapped up most of our gifts today.

I decided to go with a cute and crafty look.

I got the gift tags from here. I think they are soooo cheesy and cute!

They are a free download among many in blogland, so many cute ones to choose from!

I decided next year I would design my own and make them downloads too.

The ice cream snowman people are my favorite of these, they really do "melt my heart".

I left my cardstock and fancy paper in Rexburg, so I stuck each tag with cut up photo adhesive on the back to scrapbook paper, so it took forever.

I think my obsession with wrapping paper, gift tags, string, paper, graphics, patterns, font, words, and handwriting gives me reassurance that I am going into the right profession/major.

I've always been crazy about this kind of stuff. The funny thing is I use to see advertisements for the Art Institute of Dallas for Graphic Design and I would always say, "Ew who would want to be a graphic designer?!" after watching it. I thought graphic designers made anime and video game characters or something weird like that. Little did I know that graphic designers have made the majority of everything around us without us even realizing it. Like signs on the freeway, medicine bottles, and everything that has a logo on it. And little did I know that the little cards and graphics on the computer that I loved to make would be what a graphic designer does. And little did I know that I would end up wanting to be a graphic designer, something I once thought was the worst job in the world! Life is so funny like that.

B and I were at Ikea on Saturday and I bought two huge packs of wrapping paper. I was like a kid in a candy store. I couldn't help myself, I'm obsessed with this kind of thing.  And I just wanted to buy more! All the colors and bold graphic prints had me smitten.

I didn't even open those wrapping paper packs because I still have a ton left over of the one I used.

Oh well, now I just have more for later.

We went to church with B's family on Sunday because his youngest brother and sister sang for the Christmas program. Then his family had us over for a Birthday dinner for me. It was nice. B's little sister is so cute. I love how excited she gets about things. She was so excited to give me the Birthday gifts. She made us matching sister bracelets with our initials, which are both M.P.

& her mom did this thing where she got a personal video from Santa Claus. It was so cute how excited she got, it really made her feel special. I'm still debating whether or not I want to celebrate Santa with my kids or not. I was so upset with my mom for lying to me, I don't think I've ever been that mad at her before, and I don't know if I want my kids to have to go through that. I use to do tricks to try and test if Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy were real. My parents were obviously really smart because they would always figure my tricks out. Like I would hide things in really obscure places and leave a note to see if it would still be there in the morning and it was always gone. And I would constantly ask to know the truth and they would always lie to me. So, when I finally found out I felt really betrayed. It's crazy how such small insignificant things seem like such a big deal when you are a child.

Anyways, it's nice to finally have some gifts under the tree.

I better finish cleaning and getting things ready for my mom to come.

xo. m

Shih Tzus and Robots

So, on my Birthday B woke up at six and made me Crepes before he had to go to work. I asked for Crepes because we've been married over a year and B had still never made any French Food.

Then I opened some lovely gifts from B and my mom.

I must say, I really like having a mom that works at Nordstroms and that has the same taste as me.

I think B was more excited about the French I Know How to Cook cookbook that he gave me than me, and I was really really excited!

I think my favorite things I got were the "Fluffy" covered card my mom gave me and the Robot card B made me. I mean I love a good Shih Tzu joke and B & I have this thing with Robot love.

After B got home from work we went to his work's Christmas party.
This years was better than last years party; better food, and they had this crazy magician who juggled machetes and squeezed his whole body into this huge balloon. I wish I would have had my camera.
There were also two caricaturists.
Here's our caricatures from last year's party.
B looks like his younger brother and I just look weird.

This year we look like Donny and Marie Osmond.

I decided I should become a caricaturist in my free time.

Then we came home and got in a huge fight, which makes me laugh now because I always get so emotional on my Birthday for no reason at all. I can be such a girl sometimes. Luckily I have a very low key husband to rub off on me. So, B sang and played me Happy Birthday on his Keyboard to cheer me up, I blew out my 22 candles, and then we ate a delicious Crave cupcake. 

So, it wasn't Hawaii, but still a nice Birthday.
B and I finally finished all our Christmas shopping last night, which is definitely a relief.
I can't believe it's Christmas and that my mom comes next week.
And then the week after that we move!!!
So very very much to do!
xo. m

twenty two

Today I turn twenty two.
I feel so young and old at the same time.
I keep forgetting I'm in my early twenties, I keep thinking I'm almost 30 for some reason.
Birthdays aren't really fun anymore after you turn 16, I would say.
I like celebrating other peoples Birthdays more than my own now.
Although, last year was pretty amazing because B and I were spoiled and on our Honeymoon in Hawaii.

We spent the morning laying by the beach sipping fruity virgin drinks out of pineapples.

We spent the afternoon exploring.

And we ate my Birthday dinner at the fancy and delicious Roy's.

Last year was definitely one of my favorite Birthdays.
Birthdays and holidays in general, are so much better when you have a husb I must say.
xo. m

Thrift and Sparkle

So, B and I went to the thrift store looking for some craft supplies/cheap Christmas ornaments.
While walking around we stumbled upon this and fell in love.
I love this type of "mod" furniture and never can seem find it when I'm thrifting.
We had to wait a day to buy it, so we were relieved when no one bought it when B came back the next morning.
It came with a mirror too.
It needs a little work but I love it!
It's from 1968, I love having things that are way older than me.

I then found a bag of ornaments for two dollars and a bag of yarn for a dollar. Just what I was looking for.

I'm going to use the yarn to wrap gifts, but I first hot glued some to a couple of ornaments. I burned three of my fingers in the process, but I guess it was worth it.

I rubbed craft glue over the rest of the ornaments (I didn't use the ones that didn't have tops). Then I sprinkled a ton of glitter all over them. I think they look so much better!

I made our star out of cardboard/aluminum foil/glitter.

Here are the only two ornaments we had at first. My cousin Christi made the heart thing a couple years ago and B's grandma gave us the cute stockings last year. I love ornaments! I can't wait to be able to afford some nice ones. I guess making them is fun too!

And here's our tree.

I think it turned out pretty cute since we only had two ornaments to start with and everything else was either borrowed, sitting around the house, or quickly handmade. Oh the joys of being resourceful when you don't have money. It actually is kind of fun.
Now I just need to finish buying Christmas presents and wrap them up and slip them under the tree. We are definitely cutting it close this year with Christmas shopping.
xo. m

Gingersnaps have my heart

B returned home in one piece from snowshoeing.
I'm glad he didn't need his trail-mix to last him 3 days like he said it might.
He said it was way harder than normal hiking and that I wouldn't have made it, which I already knew and is why I didn't go.
We went to his parents ward Christmas party Saturday night for a bit because B's mom was in charge. It was nice.
Things are definitely feeling Christmasy.
We made a huge batch of gingersnaps with B's family last night.
Gingersnaps are one of my favorites! Although, I prefer the hard, thin, super spicy, crunchy, store bought kind. Those kind are the only kind of cookie where store bought is better than homemade.
Which reminds me I should get some.
I'm excited for my mom to come so we can bake a bunch of goodies together.
Although, she is going to freeze because it is still really cold up here in Canada.
Our apartment dropped down to 18/64 degrees today.
I piled on some clothes and turned on the oven to make it warmer, which helped a bit.

Some good news is that I went to the doctor this morning and she told me the results from the CT scan showed no problems. Which means that I probably just have TMJ and have to keep a watch on my jaw and treat it like a sprained knee if it flares up again. She also gave me a physical. I weigh 10 pounds less than I thought I did. That's always a good feeling. I was like 15 the last time I weighed this much. Taking meat out of your diet is definitely an easy way to lose a few pounds without even trying.
& she said I was perfectly healthy on my physical too. Which is not necessarily comforting because she said I was perfectly healthy last year and the Wellness doctor said quite the opposite.
So, who knows how healthy I really am, but I have been feeling unusually good and happy the last few days, minus my usual stomach aches and sleeplessness, but I've been dealing with both of those for so long I hardly even notice anymore.
I'm so excited for Christmas, but I think I'm even more excited to move and start school again.
I miss it so so so much! & America too!
Only 3 more weeks!
Oh and I almost forgot, I got the cutest little ornament from church yesterday.

I think they are great idea for a simple gift.
Especially if you love feathers like me.
xo. m

Who Snowshoes?

My abdominals hurt.
I did ab exercises with B for like 10 minutes yesterday and now I am in pain.
If you saw what I did when I attempted those ab exercises you would have laughed, because that's pretty much all I did, laugh at how weak I am.
Maybe that's why my abs hurt, from laughing so hard. hmmm.
I speed walked on the treadmill for like 10 minutes too and I was huffing and puffing.
I can't even touch my toes anymore and just 5 years ago I was doing jump splits and high kicks to my face.
& just months ago I was running everyday.
What has happened to me?
I've never been this out of shape.
Good thing it's almost my Birthday and the new year.
I always whip out a huge new goal list around my birthday/the new year.
Running a half marathon is definitely on the list for this coming year.
If I have a goal in mind I will actually accomplish things.
& I really need an excuse to get my body in shape again because I am still young and shouldn't be this out of shape.
In other news, B is snowshoeing right now.
This random lady looks like she is having the time of her life snowshoeing!

Seriously who goes snowshoeing?
Canadians!
Actually, B said he has never done it before, he's just going with a bunch of people from work because the company is paying for it.
You definitely will never find me snowshoeing up a mountain in -30 weather. 

So, we finally put up a tree.
We borrowed it from B's family's ward (they had an extra one).
& we borrowed the cool old school lights from B's family.
We don't really have any decorations for it because we don't have room to buy some with all the moving we do. Maybe I'll make some.

We did however buy this reindeer that I fell in love with at the grocery store.
It looks so majestic.
B broke its antler off not longer after this picture was taken.
Boys always break things!
I'm going to cry if I have all sons. That sounds like just my luck, I probably will have all sons.
If they all danced like B did when he was a little boy then that would be ok I guess.
B had some moves when he was little, in fact his moves really haven't changed. lol
Well, I need to finish the last little bit of my religion class for the semester. I can't believe it's already over, and that my birthday is next week, and then my mom comes right after that, and then it's Christmas, and then we move back to Idaho and start school again.
I'm so excited, there's so much to look forward to!
Hopefully B comes home soon in one piece.
xo. m

random rantings

So, it is freezing here.
I mean I am freeeeezing!
I feel like I am catching a cold because I am so cold.
I've been drinking large amounts of herbal tea.

I wish I had a cute tea cup and saucer like this to drink out of.
I can never find a cute and cheap one at the thriftstore.
It's cold outside and inside.
Our condo is all solar powered, and somehow the heater isn't connected or something and it's not working.
It's 20 degrees Celsius in our condo. That's 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
It feels even colder than that though, because our balcony door's lock is broken, so it won't seal and I can feel the cold air blowing in.
It's just going to get worse.
It's supposed to be -40 Celsius in the next week or so.
-40 Celsius is -40 Fahrenheit. Weird how that's the temperature that they meet at. I wish I would have paid attention in school when we were learning about conversions. I guess I just didn't pay attention because I never thought I would live outside of America and I especially didn't think I would marry a Canadian!
Even though I've spent the last 4 winters in Idaho or Canada and I've had to walk home late at night with painful windy ice hitting my face or walk through waist deep snow, I will not get use to snow, ice, or the cold.
Yes, my body has acclimated, but I never will like this kind of weather.
I am the kind of girl who loves the warmth of the coast or the heat of the south.
I don't understand how people can actually take vacations skiing.
Why would any one want to go on vacation to the snow rather than the beach?
Branden's family are snow people. I feel like an outsider around them.
They don't understand why I wouldn't want to live in wonderful Canada and why I don't want to go skiing.
B and his parents were dieing at our reception back in August of last year in Texas when it was in the 80s.
We Texans thought the 80s in August were perfect.
B seemed to change his mind about warm weather when we went to Hawaii, so there is hope for him!
Anyways, B and I spent the past weekend bundled up inside.
We've watched all the episodes of Gossip Girl and The Big Bang Theory and we needed a new show to download.
So, we spent the weekend going to necessary church activities (it was Stake Conference Weekend) or avoiding the blizzard outside (yes, it was an actual blizzard) staying in and watching all the episodes of

glee so far.
The singing and dancing are fun to watch (although I wish there wasn't so much auto-tune usage).
The show reminds me of choir and dance recitals I did when I was younger.
But the main reason I like the show is Jane Lynch's character Sue. She cracks me up! I love her. I've noticed I seem to like the villain of shows best lately. I hope that doesn't mean I'm a bad person.
I also love Mrs. Pillsbury's outfits. I've noticed I tend to watch shows either for their comedic relief or because I like the wardrobe of one or multiple characters.

She dresses very feminine. She wears lots of pencil skirts and cardigans, both of which are my favorite things to wear. She also wears things covered in bows. Here's a little holiday outfit I made up inspired by her.

holiday by mikaelapronk featuring Marc by Marc Jacobs

I love making up outfits. I wish I could be a personal stylist.
I'm so sick of being jobless and out of school.
I'm so happy I'll be back in school in less than a month.
It's so crazy that some people I went to High School with are already graduating this semester.
I definitely have a while left to go.I've decided to take my journalism classes, art classes, and sewing classes as seriously as possible because I really need to be serious about this stuff if I want to do it for a living.
I hate being unemployed and I also hate being employed because I hate working for people.
I feel that I was born to be an entrepreneur and be self employed.
Maybe it has something to do with being an only child and wanting to be in charge of things. 
I've always felt this way, I had all these little businesses when I was little and I would read a kids book about how to be an entrepreneur.
I really want to have several businesses of my own right now, but I am a perfectionist and just feel that I need to take a few more classes to improve my skills before I start on an actual business venture.
So, hopefully sometime next year I can actually start to sew and sell clothes/things, do some kind of graphic design on the side, write for some publications, and improve this blog.
My main problem is that I am so indecisive and I like so many things that I can't decide what to be a master in. Our art teachers tell us to be a jack of all trades but to also be a master in something. I really need to figure out what I want to be a master in. I generally just say graphic design, maybe I'll just stick to that since it does encompass so many things.
I think my problem is that B is going to be an engineer and even thinking about going to M.I.T., this definitely makes me feel inferior. I am so competitive I feel that I have to be the best at everything and when I'm not, it really frustrates me.
I'm sure I'll figure out my purpose in life, but I just hate not knowing. I know I'm supposed to be a mom, but I know I'd go crazy if I didn't do something else too. So, hopefully I can figure things out while I still have some time.
I know that it's possible to be or do anything you want, I just have a problem with knowing what I want. I wish we were forced to pick our careers when we were young like in other parts of the world, I'd already be a master at something by now.

Oh and I got a Twitter account.
I said I would never get one because Email, Texting, Facebook and Blogging are overwhelming enough, but I really need to be better about networking both for journalism and art. Both thrive off networking.
Well, most things do, life really is about who you know, not what you know.
So, if you have one follow me or tell me yours.
B will be home in a bit and we will finally put up a tree!
I'm so excited!
♥ m.