Photo of the Day: 25 June 2011

First picture taken with my actual camera.
Isn't he precious?
Engagement parties are so much fun.

Photo of the Day: 24 June 2011

Crocheting on a long trip helps the time pass.
How much I've gotten done in just a few days.

Photo of the Day: 23 June 2011

Sisters til the very end.
Becca, my grandmother, and her sister, Jeanie.

Photo of the Day: 22 June 2011

Mom fretting over her computer after a long drive to Alabama
AND packing that same night.  

Photo of the Day: 21 June 2011

Decisions, decisions.  Which crochet project do I want to start first?
I'm going with the easier one first and saving the hat for my next project.

A Hope and a Promise

Hi guys.  I know it's been a while since I last posted a picture or a blog, but things around here have gotten a little bit crazy.  I thought I would take this time to upload my "photos of the day."  I promise I am going to have actual blog posts soon.  Hopefully I will find some time tomorrow because I have some projects that I definitely want to blog about, though some aren't exactly finished.  While I can't promise a blog tomorrow, as soon as I have some substantial free time I will.  However, it looks like my summer is about to start heating so I hope this break won't be an example of how my future is going to be with this blog.  Let's just keep our fingers crossed.

Photo of the Day: 20 June 2011

I got to see my horsey Leo today.
Something I haven't done in years.

Photo of the Day: 19 June 2011

My parents and I ombrè dyed my brother's comforter for his dorm.
It actually turned out really amazing.
Don't worry, I will be blogging about it tomorrow. 

Photo of the Day: 18 June 2011

I've finally made the promised CD of photos from the joint family lake vacations.
P.S. yes this is the cover of the CD.

Photo of the Day: 17 June 2011

There's nothing like coming home to your puppy and making him catch his treats.
P.S. Puppy Jack was not completely cooperative with this mini-photoshoot.

Photo of the Day: 16 June 2011

The bike right outside of Knit1 Oxford, it's covered in colorful yarn in case you can't tell.

Old Lady Habits

One of my favorite past times is to knit.  I find it very relaxing and soothing, so much so I usually just turn on a movie on my computer and knit and knit.  I have attempted following patterns but sometimes it takes the relaxation out of knitting and instead injects stress because you have to get pretty much every correct or the whole pattern is thrown off.  So for the most part, I have just stuck to the regular knit stitch and purl stitch.
    Recently I came across the most gorgeous crocheted vests.

Are these not just beautiful?  They have made me decide that I want to learn how to crochet too.  Plus I figured that once I learn how to crochet maybe there is a possibility that I could learn how to crochet lace.  Now that would be really pretty but for now I'm sticking with just learning the basics and getting familiar with everything.  You will never guess who is teaching me.  Youtube.  The lady's channel name is Bethintx1 (Beth in Texas, in case you were like me and trying to mash it all together).  She's pretty good.  I thought I'd share one of the first videos that really shows you how to crochet so that if you wanted to check out what crocheting is and see if you might possibly want to try it.



I even have some wonderful news for everyone who lives in Oxford.  We have our own yarn store.  While you can go to Walmart or any craft store nearest you to find the materials you need, speciality yarn stores are the mecca stores that will have everything you need to start knitting, crocheting, and anything else that has to do with yarn.  The quality of yarn and needles purchased in a speciality store verses at Walmart or general craft store is extremely noticeable. Also they have a wonderfully helpful staff that is knowledgable about pretty much all things yarn.  Plus their selection is endless.  In Oxford, the yarn store is called  Knit1 Oxford and is right off the square.  The address for Knit1 Oxford is 103 North 13th Street, Oxford, MS.  They even have their own website which you can check out by clicking here.  Before I found this store, I had to drive all the way back home to Southaven to Hank of Yarn.  Hank of Yarn is located by the Southaven Malco movie theater.  Their address is 7075 Malco Blvd, #110, Southhaven, MS and they have their own website as well.  
    On both websites you can even find free patterns for knitting and probably crocheting.  All you have to do is go to their products page and then start clicking on the links to their products.  Those websites usually have free patterns ranging in difficulty from beginner to expert.  I have my eye on a few patterns, especially this really lovely cardigan I just know I will be able to make one day and a man's sweater vest that is supposed to be beginner level.
    I have been made fun of many times for having this "old lady habit" but in all honesty it feels good to make things with your hands.  I cannot believe we have gotten so far away from it.  I even want to learn to cross stitch so I can make my children quilts to pass down to their children and so on.  In fact, the quilt that is on my bed right now is hand made and passed down from my great-aunt.  It makes it that much more special.  Where has all the traditions gone and why do we think it's so much better to just buy things that are already made than to take a little more time and make them ourself?

Knit1 Oxford... the view from my car.

Photo of the Day: 15 June 2011

Fried tortellini Amber and I made for dinner.

It would have been better if we would have boiled it first.

Semi-Annual Sale Going On Now!

Like most girls, I am a huge fan of Victoria's Secret.  I enjoy their lingerie, their Pink collection, and their clothes.  This makes it none too surprising that I am always ecstatic when I receive an email that has the same title as my post.  While I find myself jealous of their models' bodies, I love the swim suits that are featured and recently, as in today, Victoria's Secret marked 200+ swim suits on sale.  So if you have been eyeing a certain website for a lovely bikini now is the right time to buy.  Wow, I sound as if I am trying to sell you a bathing suit.  I promise I'm not.  I just wanted to make sure everyone was aware of the super deals that are taking place online and in the stores.

I was talking with some of my girl friends at the pool yesterday about how much I love one pieces, but hate even the idea of a super pale stomach.  For me, I do not tan as much as I like to think I do in one sitting ergo it probably would not matter, but just the idea of having a paler body part makes me cringe.  Which brought us to the monokini.  For those of you wondering what that is, a monokini is a one piece with major cut-outs that makes it basically a connecting one piece.
   Victoria's Secret takes the idea that one pieces do not have to be modest and with this monokini I would honestly have to say two pieces show less skin.

I'll let you make your own judgement on this swimsuit, but I know I would never be able to wear it.  At least, you would not want me to wear it in public at anytime.  But there are other cute monokinis out there.  Free People has one that is considered more of a one piece.  Personally I find it simply adorable.

This makes me want to learn how to crochet just so I can make something like it.  What do you think?  Are monokinis the next tankini?  Or should we stop creating words for the different ways we try to make regular swim suits show more skin?  I would love to hear your opinion.

You can find the Victoria's Secret swim sale going on now at this location, but I'm not certain how much longer the sale shall continue.  
Victoria's Secret's "Very Sexy: Leopard-print Wrap Monokini" can be bought here.
Free People's "Lisa Maree Crochet One Piece" is located here.
I cannot guarantee that any of these items will still be on sale when you click on the links nor am I paid to write about them.  Have a wonderful night! 

Photo of the Day: 14 June 2011

First actual meal cooked for myself by myself this summer... which I shall be eating on for days and days and days.

Photo of the Day: 13 June 2011

The wonderful goodie box from Allison that I just got out of my P.O. Box finally.

Photo of the Day: 12 June 2011

First non-university sanctioned trip to Rowan Oak with the beautiful Amber Goodwin.

Photo of the Day: 11 June 2011

Because using an actual closet is silly.

The Internet

I can't believe how much I have missed the internet these past two days.  I moved into my new place in Oxford, for the summer, and the cable/internet had not been installed yet.  I moved on Saturday and we just got internet.  There are many things I can do to satisfy my internet cravings, for the most part, on my iPhone.  But there is just something about being on your computer and on the world wide web that is so addicting I have missed it these past two days.  And I have missed being able to post for y'all.  I didn't want you to think I just disappeared on you.  I'm back and I have the two photos of the day for Saturday and Sunday.  I know you just can't wait to see them.

Photo of the Day: 10 June 2011

My grandmother, the birthday girl, at her celebratory dinner. 

Covers of All That Rap Music

I adore acoustic versions of famous hip hop/rap songs that are currently popular.  One of them was even recently featured on the movie No Strings Attached.  It was the song
"99 Problems" originally by Jay-Z but covered by Hugo.  He might have even changed up some of the words, but I'm not sure because I don't listen to Jay-Z that often.
     Today I ran across another wonderful cover band named Karmin who cover a ton of pop-r&b songs from artists that vary anywhere from Adele to Katy Perry to Lil' Wayne.

     One of my personal favorites of their songs is "Look at Me Now" by Chris Brown and "Super Bass" originally by Nicki Minaj.  I just love how talented the girl is, she can rap as fast (if not faster) than the original artists--which is tricky I've tried--but she is also a really good singer.  She can belt out Adele's songs almost as well as Adele can herself.  Karmin has their own Youtube channel of all their songs.  It's really fun just to listen to them all.  But here is a video of my two favorites.






I hope you enjoy listening to Karmin as much as I have. They are a great new sound to all the songs we're hearing lately. And you can even get some of their songs for free from their YouTube channel.

DIY Friendship Bracelets

Today I ran across a fun DIY that only took me a few hours to do, not that it was particularly hard-- it was just a little time consuming.  Honestly WTF's blog detailed a fun friendship bracelet that I just had to try.  I am pretty much obsessed with layering bracelets and completely love friendship bracelets in general.  I am always looking for a new, but easy, way to show how much I enjoy someone's company.  While you can always go to Honestly WTF's blog for the instructions. I wanted to put my own personal spin on the pictures.

My choice of colors.

Knot them all together and then put them in an order.  The instructions on her blog said to either tape the threads a hard surface or safety pin them to a pillow.  I just had a bobby pin on hand so I attached it to the back of my pillow.

Take the thread on the right outside and make a 4 with the next thread and pull it tight.  (The other blog has an illustration if you need help visualizing.) Do this 2 times on each thread.  On the left side, you make a backwards 4 but make sure that the outside thread is on the top.  I had a little trouble in the beginning because I put the outside thread on the bottom.

Continue the doubled "4" knots until you are satisfied with the length.

The other blog said to get 24 inches  of each thread.  I, however, found that the threads were not going to be long enough to continue with the pointed pattern so I just braided mine the rest of the way down.  I did a fishtail braid so that the different colors would be all mixed together.  

I am tackling creating a ring out of the pattern currently and I think I might have it figured out.  At least I hope I do.  I will keep you updated with the results.  I do hope you have enjoyed this tutorial as brief as it maybe.

Photo of the Day: 9 June 2011

Yes, this is what I've been doing all day--making a friendship bracelet and watching The Mentalist.

Photo of the Day: 8 June 2011

Shoe shopping with Becca.

The Inspiring Acts of Others

I ran across an article the other day about a man who took a picture a day for eighteen years--until the day he died.  I think his final plan was to gather all of his pictures together in the end as a compilation of his life.  He took every picture with his Polaroid camera.  After he died, his friends put all of his pictures on the internet for everyone to see.  These images tell a story of his life.  Here are a few photos from the beginning of his first year.

    I have been contemplating the idea of a "photo a day" project for quite some time now.  This article and website just pushed me to finally decide that I am going to follow in this man's footsteps and document my life.  And you're going be here to witness it all.  Every day from now on I plan to take at least one picture a day and have it up on my blog.  I am still going to continue to post other things as well.  But this project is such an interesting one.  Now I am not going to limit myself to just one camera, although I think that is a wonderful idea.  I am going to use my Nikon D7000 and the camera on my phone at different times.  So I hope you enjoy each and every day.  

   You can find the article here. The website with his complete photo a day can be found here.  I do hope you all enjoy the article and the man's pictures as much as I have. As well as enjoy my photo a day project. 

Practical Artwork At Its Most Original

So though I don't have much to blog about today, I ran across this adorable wedding invitation that is an inspiration for all the long-distance relationships out there.

This is one of the most original wedding invitations that I have ever seen, it's an art piece in and of itself.  As I am hoping to blog on a regular basis, I was extremely excited when I spotted this lovely specimen that I could share with everyone.  Tune in tomorrow to find a very interesting post!  I think you'll rather enjoy it.

The Start of Something New

I have been inspired by all the bloggers in the world and have decided to finally become one of the voices out there.  Today's blog post isn't really going to consist of much except an introduction of myself.  So I guess here it goes.
     I'm 21 years old and am currently on summer break from Ole Miss.  I only have one semester left to go before I'm actually out in the real world and with an English major and a history minor I'm terrified about what's next.  I know a major in English opens many doors, but I would rather not teach.  Not that I haven't thought about it but I'd much rather do just about anything else.  Hopefully I can.  I start a new internship tomorrow and this might be something I can do for a while.  Which brings me to this blog.  I was hoping I would be able to find something else, besides school and work, to keep me busy while also allowing me to feel productive.  And I promise not every blog will be as talkative as this one.  I'm hoping that this blog might help me further pursue my ideas such as Do-It-Yourself projects and healthy recipes.  I can't wait to experience the wonderful things that I know I can find on the internet, plus eventually using all those websites I favorited on StumbleUpon. But in the end I hope you will enjoy this journey as much as I know I'm going to.
     I thought I'd leave you with some recent pictures that sum up my summer so far.

In the middle of a long day of taking "action shots" of everyone on the lake.  I'm definitely not used to being on the other end of the camera.

 

The whole family (minus my older sister) at Smith Lake last week.  Will, my younger brother; me; Susan, my mother; and Andy, my dad.

Ryan, the boyfriend, and I at Virginia Beach when I visited him last weekend.