I could use a hero right now, you could use someone to save.

I went to Whim So Doodle Monday to teach my canvas class to teachers and staff. It was a farewell to our beloved Jen. We will miss her so much. She is such a source of inspiration and creativity and her talent knows no bounds. Below are some pictures from the class. You will notice the canvases all are different utilizing different papers and composition. My class was a non-traditional class. Very laid back and open for interpretation. My canvas was a source of inspiration and each person did their own thing. I, along with a few others, used Basic Grey's, Wisteria line. It's such a beautiful line with deep purples, blues, and white. I derived inspiration from my other canvas where I used Basic Grey's Ambrosia line. The composition is similar and I used the same painting techniques. It's at WSD now. I will post pictures soon!

Jen and I!

Jill's *almost* finished canvas. It turned out beautiful!

Stacey and her very creative canvas.

Get a group of women together to "scrapbook" and this is what we really do.

Jen and Kayla

Sisters

There was nothing in sight but memories left abandoned.

It's endless, really. 

To Do List:

- Learn how to use my Garmin

- Decide how I'm going to refinish Gram's dressers

- Buy everything to refinish dressers

- Refinish dressers

- Fill out paperwork (almost 10 pages) for appointment

- Schedule dentist appointment

- Purchase fabrics from J's

- Work on Smash's wedding album (haven't been able to in awhile...)

- Organize room

- Continue looking for places to live in PA and NJ

- Send Immunization records to Rutgers

- Start looking for a job for the fall

- Finish packing (ugh)

Let's paint the town, we'll shut it down...

Tomorrow and Wednesday I'll be in St. Augustine with my good friend, Christina. She is the one good thing that came out of my short-lived job at Crafts and Stuff in Orlando (it went out of business). We became close after the store closed. It's funny how some things work out. We are so alike- it's staggering. Sometimes she thinks we share a brain. We have 4-hour lunches and "cupcake runs" and movie/dinner nights. It's a shame I'm in Brandon now, 100 miles away. Otherwise, we would see each other more often.

I love my time with her and I love St. Augustine (so much, that I considered attending Flagler College for my undergrad). I love small towns, but St. Augustine was a little too small for any kind of permanent residence. Alas, I still love visiting. There are some great antique stores and boutiques in St. Augustine...and I love any excuse to dine out. 

Carlisle was right.

I arrived home tonight after the MTV awards aired. I promptly checked my e-mails this evening expecting that one of my Twi-hard friends would send me a link to the New Moon trailer. I knew the trailer would be shown for the first time tonight, but missed it. My friend did not disappoint- Smash sent me the link. OME! Over the past several months, I've convinced myself that I wasn't nearly as excited about the release of New Moon, not nearly as excited as I was for Twilight. This is because 1.) Twilight is by far my favorite book, 2.) Edward is missing from over half of New Moon (the reason for my reading the series in the first place), and 3.) the movie Twilight did NOT impress me, so my expectations for New Moon have been seriously lowered. Let me tell you, after watching the trailer for New Moon, my thoughts have taken a complete 360. Really. That feeling I got when watching Edward in Twilight has returned (even despite the utter cheesiness of some of the scenes, special effects, and music in the first movie). The butterflies and breathlessness...back! I'm not sure how this is possible, but Edward seems even more beautiful and irresistible than before. And if that weren't enough, now we have Jacob as eye candy. His bod is smokin' hot in New Moon. Loved that scene with Jasper- very intense, and the expression on Edward's face. The pain. It's palatable. I loved seeing Laurent again. His character is fantastic, and he did so well with him in Twilight. I'm still weary about the transformation scenes. I wasn't impressed with what I saw in the trailer, but I'm also at a loss as to how they could make it any better? After browsing through still shots of Stewart and Pattinson during the filming of their scene in Italy (when Edward is about to expose himself to the sunlight) and watching the trailer, I can already recognize that their is more passion between the two of them. This is something that was lacking in Twilight, and I only hope that this isn't a fluke, and they are more passionate in New Moon. They have to be!

I don't want to jump to too many premature conclusions, but I think I love this new director. I only hope (and pray) that the movie lives up to this less than 2 minute movie trailer. Can't wait to see the next new trailer, but until then, enjoy. 

http://www.myspace.com/trailerpark

I think I need a new town, to leave this all behind...

Since I will be back to living on my own in August, I've been thinking a lot about how I plan to decorate my new place (which I haven't found yet). I've already decided on color schemes. 

Kitchen: Black and white with red as an accent

Bedroom: Black and creme and burgundy as an accent

2nd bedroom (if at all possible/feasible): red, black, and white

Living room: Chocolate brown (and taupe) with aqua and white as my accents

I just purchased my coffee table at Pottery Barn. It's beautiful. I do not yet have a picture- it's not available online and it won't be assembled until I'm in my new place. It's basically a bench, kind of like this one: 

But instead, it's much wider and is dark espresso with only four legs. It's lovely. Now, I need a couch and end tables and a bed and, and, and....

I'll leave when the wind blows.

I arrived home around 12:30 am, too early for me, but late for Ashley. As soon as I walked through the front door I saw mom go and wake dad up. Then, I was met with pink balloons everywhere and pink streamers draped across our family room, just like it was for my 13th birthday party. Mom and dad came out in Rutgers t-shirts (courtesy of Ashley). They looked so proud. On the bar was a box of my absolute favorite cupcakes (and favorite dessert) from a local place up the street. They make a special icing called, Whippy Dip. To. Die. For. I sat down and opened gifts next. Yes, by then, it was almost 1 am. Mom gave me some wonderful things for my future apartment and some things for my kitchen (although I do not foresee spending much time in my kitchen). Dad and mom also got me the Mack Daddy of GPS devices available. Dad picked me out a Garmin with voice activated navigation. This was really important to dad, as now, I won't have to take my hands off the steering wheel to enter in a location. With Bluetooth technology, I can just say the location and wa-lah! Very exciting. On my "To Do" list: read the manual (not a fun part) before I move to Philly. 

Counting on the night for a beautiful day.

Today, I turned 23. What will my 23rd year bring? For one, it brings the start of graduate school, at a new school, and living in a different state. For the first time, I'll live more than two hours from my family.  My new journey beginning this fall will force me to grow up very quickly and gain the ability to live a life separate and independent from my parents. 

My day started with lunch with an old friend from high school. It has been a few years since I saw Laura last and it was great seeing her. I also got to meet her daughter, Madison. She was so cute, and at the age where everything is still new and exciting.  

I had to work on my birthday. Boo. But after, met my sister at Acopolis, a very yummy greek restaurant in Tampa. For my birthday, she and John got me an old, white metal dental cabinet from an antique store in Mount Dora. I pointed it out back in March and made it no secret that I wanted it. She, of course, told me when John went back, it was gone. She's so sneaky. He bought it that day, and I was thrilled when I opened a manila envelope with a picture of the cabinet on it. It's from the 50's and I plan to use it to store my scrapbooking supplies. Perfect! She also gave me some art from this artist.  Love her work, and I plan to buy more and have a wall with several of her pieces. Her artwork is even more vibrant and colorful in person. I was so pleased. Acropolis turned into a night club around 10:30. Very cool with a live DJ. I thought it was great, Ash, on the other hand, wanted to leave. She's an oldie. Some wonderful treats for dessert and for the eyes too. (;

Next post, for the rest of my evening.