So as everyone knows, I love going garage saling. I love it, because you never know what you'll find. Last weekend, when when I was supposed to be getting ready for Kelly's wedding, I was out checking out garage sales. I came across a WHOLE set of dishes, from the 70's. I didn't take a picture of them, but they're very floral-y, with lots of green, yellows, and oranges. But my best finds this weekend came from a sad story. My dad and I were driving around and came across an estate sale where a beautiful family was selling their father's belongings. They told us he had a fall, and went to the hospital, and a week later he passed away because of heart troubles. Everything in the house, the daughter-in-law told us, was for sale. And he had some beautiful pieces!!! Poor thing. I would've traded all those items to meet this interesting man. There was love, and care in that house. You could tell that each item was picked with a keen eye. This man...was a collector. May you rest in peace, always.

Thrift Store Finds

Today, I went to the thrift store and found the following awsome finds:

This is going to be towards my 1940's look, which I love so very much. It has lace across the top. I had to put some pants on underneath, because currently it's see-through. It's by Kristy Michaels. When I realized that, I had to have it. Haha. :)

This in Anne Klein. It's more for fall, but I love the beautiful colors.

This dress is by BB Dakota. When I looked it up, I realized that this designer is also sold on Modcloth.com, so I knew I had to get it.

This didn't have a tag in it, but it's absolutely beautiful. I'm not sure if I'll be putting a shirt under it or not. I took this picture with my bra underneath, and it looks very nice that way...

This is by Calvin Klein. I love it!



I payed just over 16.00, total. Pretty good, huh? Sorry the background, and the way you can see me taking a photo. I need to invest in a tripod! :)

SMASH!

So, for father's day, Kelly and Alex came over, and they brought me a Smashbook! Yaaaaaaaaaaaay!

For those of you who don't know what that it is, here goes:

K&Company came up with a book to put all of the things that inspire you in a book, no matter what it is, or where you are. It even comes with a pen with glue on the other end, so you can write things down, on-the-go, and put them in your book!

And there are several themes to fit your personal style!!

So if you're feeling uninspired, go get this right now :)

Oogie

So those of you who follow this blog, know that I put on it, all the books I've read and finished. But this one deserved it's own post. It's called "Oogy: the dog only a family could love," by Larry Levin. It's the story of a dog that was used as bait in an unknown dog fighting ring, dropped off at a local animal hospital, by a police officer, then saved by his family. The thing is he came in with such horrible wounds to his face, he had to have his face reconstructed, and now only has one ear. A sad story, that turned into a heart-warming one, because after being adopted, he became the best dog ever.

I really recommend this book. And if you want more info, Oogy's on facebook! Here's the link to this good book, and adorable pup.

I've only just begun

Well, I tried to upload my 10 photos to shutterstock today, only to find out that I can't upload under 4mp. That sucks. Oh well. I have a lot to learn. Ha ha!

If I could have uploaded them, these would be the ones I would've submitted

Long Time Gone

It's been a long time. I think I'm going through a quarter life crisis. I know it sounds funny, and I didn't actually believe the term until I heard John Mayer's "Why Georgia" lyrics. "Must be a quarter life crisis." No, but really! I started looking into it, and it turns out that there is actually a such thing. How does this apply to me, you ask? Well, for those of you who know me, I'm a nurse assistant. I love to scrapbook, and hobby in photography, and I love, love, LOVE poetry, but I don't think I do well enough to call myself a poet. A writer, maybe, but poets are far more amazing at writing than I am.

Anyway, I'm not sure when I realized that I didn't want to be a nurse anymore, but it has something to do with my current job at an unspecified rehab center. The thing is, I just don't FEEL it anymore. I still love taking care of patients, but sometimes the place is so damn understaffed that I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off. That's definitely not HAPPY me. So, I've been doing some soul-searching. I attended a "Discover the Possibilities" class at Moraine Valley Community College, which let me take a career quiz. There are two parts. The first part is a quiz, with results. So far it hasn't been very helpful, because there are far too many career options. I still have yet to take the second part, which will help me look into several career options.

For the time being, I'm considering the following:
*something in the writing business (editor? Journalist? Writer?)
*something in health care (xray tech? medical assistant? EMT?)

No matter which way I turn, one career keeps trying to rear it's head: photography. I used to love taking photos for poets at Neo Soul. It was just for something to do. But one of them asked me how much I could do a shoot for? Since it's a hobby, I don't have a price. Then Joe Brundidge, another poet friend keeps telling me that I'd make an amazing photographer. While photography doesn't pay the bills, I wonder if I should do it as a side job and learn as much as humanly possible about it, and then possibly go into photography as a full time career, AFTER I know tons about it. I even looked it up on youtube, and stumbled upon this photographer named Lara Blair. She takes photos of dogs. She did two videos on youtube, and in one of them she says to read your camera manual from cover to cover. So that's just what I'll do. And practice, practice, practice. As for the career thing, I'm still undecided, but I've filed my FAFSA, and I have until Fall 2011 to figure out just what the hell it is that I'm doing.

Here's to lots of soul searching research...

Books I've Read, will get back to, want to read

Read:
Elizabeth Berg-Durable Goods, We Are All Welcome Here, The Year of Pleasures
Steve Dublanica-Waiter Rant
Sophie Kinsella-Remember Me?
Jimmy Fallon-Thank You Notes
Getting Over Jack Wagner
How to be Happy, Dammit! Kathryn Stockett-The Help

Will get back to:
John Dies At the End
World War Z

Want to read: