Black Friday....

this picture makes me feel clausterphobic...

yes... I was one of those crazy people who woke up this morning around 3 am to go shopping! (it's tradition) My mom, my sister, her best friend Lindsey and her sister Kristen and myself all piled in the white Sedan this morning and headed to our first destination (Kohls... one of my least favorite stores ever.. with the exception of their Simply Vera line). I always get such a kick out of watching other crazy women standing in line outside with their "game-faces" on just waiting for the doors to open... I prefer to wait in the car until the mad stampede has disappeared into the store before I head in.

These people are CRAZY!
... Despite the lack of sleep and the fact that no coffee shops opened until about 6 am... I was surprised that everyone in our car seemed to be pretty cheery. However, after traveling from Kohls (where there was an abundance of elbowing and shoving and standing in line... jeepers people can't we shop and BE POLITE?!?)... to Herbergers (where I made my first purchase of the day... just a strand of faux-monet pearls and a pair of earings) ... and then back to Kohls (where I was sent in to retrieve my mom and to serve as a "runner" while everyone else waited in the car)... I could sense some bickering coming on...

*definition of "runner" = the person who runs from the check-out to various locations in the store getting things the person who is actually checking out forgot to grab...

-LUCKILY- at this point it was about 5:45.... so we headed to the nearest Starbucks (where I'm pretty sure all of us ordered "venti" somethings)... following this pit-stop we proceeded on to Target (where I was really GLAD to replace my Izaac Mizrahi laptop bag that broke for a new Black leather Converse tote) and to the Burnsville Center, where we ventured into Macy's, Express and the Gap... and then visited my uncle who was working at my aunt's new boutique!

I'm pretty proud of myself... I tried to limit myself today and I'm glad that I only ended up buying 3 things...

When we got home this morning my dad looked pretty surprised at how much stuff there was to carry in... (..not mine, let's keep in mind!)... the bulk of what was squished into my mom's trunk mainly consisted of the HUGE featherbeds that my sister and Lindsey bought, my mom's new boots and the comforters that she bought for the beds up at our cabin... I'M JEALOUS because after all the shopping everyone got to go home to take naps except for me... I had to jump in the car and drive up to Roseville where I am now standing at the front desk of a very vacant hotel listening to Chrismas music and watching the maintenance crew decorate the lobby : )

Painting

Painting that I'm working on currentlyHere is a Close-up

My Favorite Things...

the following is list of all the things about winter that make me smile...

1. Chistmas Lights!! (for sure at the top of my list)

2. Home-made Hot Chocolate with too many marshmallows! or whip cream! and sprinkles!

3. Having an excuse to stay inside (wearing my knit slippers) and sitting by the fireplace!

(I've never had a fireplace before... it makes doing homework seem not so terrible)

4. Christmas music! (I made a mix yesterday)
5. EGGNOG! YUMM!

6. The Holidazzle and the Macy's 9th Floor Display!

7. Ice-skating! (I want to go to centennial park this winter and skate on the pond)

8. Furry Hoods, Mittens, Warm Scarves!, and Knit Hats!

9. Going to see the Winter Carnival Ice Sculptures! and going snowboarding!

10. Making Christmas Cookies!!!!! and Making Paper Snowflakes!

11. Putting up Christmas Decorations! (look out roomies... its about to look like christmas!)

12. Wrapping Presents!!!! ( I really enjoy wrapping presents! I like adding/curling ribbons!)

13. Going sledding and making snowmen/igloos!

"giroflée"

I spent the night in the sculpture studio tonight working on this project for Monday
Here are some photos
(I think I'm happy with the shadows so far...
but I'm planning on coming in and adding more tomorrow)

.. more of a close up
materials: strainer, deconstructed vegetable steamer,
organza/mesh faric, shards of glass, nuts, paraffin wax, lace,
kitsch candle stick holders, and kitsch crystal dishes

le soleil brille sur tout....

.... the sun shines on everything

remembrance of things present

I love this painting from the Greg Lindquist exhibition.Some art students from Bethel got to help paint it!
(Kristen, Kyle, Beth, and Caylon)
to see how this piece was created and to find our more about artist Greg Lindquist... check out his blog at
http://www.greglindquist.blogspot.com/

i love the designs of Monique Lhuillier

I would love to work for this company someday...

LA-based designer Monique Lhuillier and husband, Tom Bugbee, founded this bridal company in 1996. The bridal line has been extremely well received and can be viewed at department stores and specialty boutiques throughout the US, Canada, Mexico and Japan. Her trademark style is feminine glamour.

The contemporary Edina boutique is one of Monique Lhuillier's two U.S. stores devoted to showcasing her full ready-to-wear line, as well as the gorgeous upscale bridal collection that launched her career as a designer.

for more info check out:

http://www.moniquelhuillier.com

I am a front desk agent. I do all things...

... I am a front desk agent (at a hotel that I will leave anonymous)
... I have advanced degrees in accounting, public relations, marketing, business, computer science, and civil engineering. Of course, I have the reservation that you booked three years ago. Even though you don't have the confirmation number and you think that it was made under a name that starts with "X".
... It is not a problem for me to give you seven connecting, nonsmoking poolside suites with two king beds in each... four rollaways (not a problem... or a fire safety hazard), and yes I can install a wet bar. I know it is my fault that we do not have a helicopter landing pad.
... I am a front desk agent. I am expected to speak all languages. It is obvious to me that when you booked your reservation for Friday that you really meant Saturday. My company has entrusted me with all financial information and decisions, and yes, I can tell you why your bill from March 2002, contained a 75 cent phone charge because obviously you never pay for phone charges.
... I understand that (company I will leave nameless) is a vast empire and will make or break our hotel. Yes, I am lying to you when I say we have no rooms available. It is not a problem for me to quickly construct several more guest rooms. This time I will not forget the helicopter landing pad.
... I am a front desk agent. I am quite capable of checking three people in, two people out, taking five reservations, answering fifteen incoming calls, and plunging the toilet in 421... all at the same time
... I always know where to find the best vegetarian, kosher, mongolian, barbeque restaurants. I know exactly what to see and do in this city in fifteen minutes without spending a dime. I take personal responsibilty for the lack of airline food, traffic jams, rental car's flat tires, and the national economy. I realize that you meant to book your reseration here. Dont worry, people often confuse us with the Galaxy Delight Motel of Antarctica. Of course I can "fit you in" and yes, you may have the special ten dollar rate because you are affiliated with the Hoboken Bagel Clubs.
... I am expected to smile, empathize, sympathize, console, upsell, downsell, (and know when to do which), perform, sing, dance, and fix the printer.
...I am a front desk agent. I do all things...

Bom Dia and Bolthouse

This is my plug for Bolthouse Farms... I am addicted, they are SO good! Especially the "Green Goodness" juice and the "Bom Dia Açai Berry w/ Pomegranate". Similar to that of Naked Juices but I would say even better! I think they're amazing because they have so many healthy things in them that normally I would never ever eat. For example... the Green Goodness has wheat grass, spirulina, spinach and blue-green algae (SICK) with apples, kiwis, mangos, bananas (YUMM!), pineapples and dragon fruit making it a good source of iron and Vitamin B6, naturally rich in Vitamin A, C, and B12... they're kind of expensive but if you think about it.. it's a lot cheaper to buy the juice than it is to buy all of the ingredients seperately.

To find out more check out these sites:
http://www.bolthouse.com
http://www.bomdia.com

November?

First of all... I am in such a good mood! Who would've thought that it'd still be 70 degrees in November in Minnesota! To celebrate it being so warm out I went on one of the longest runs of my life yesterday (from bethel... around lake Johanna over to Northwestern... back to Bethel... around the campus... and then around Lake Valentine)
view of Lake Valentine at sunset

Needless to say, my legs hurt today but it was worth it... I'm sure we will have snow here soon and then I will be stuck running inside again until next April

Swing...

I tried something new this week and LOVED it! ... my lovely room mate, Kylie, and I went to a swing dance class and worked on learning the version of swing known as the lindy hop.
If your not sure what that is, you should watch the video below...

... although I'm sure those dancers might be a little bit better than us. We had so much fun that I think we're going to try to start going to the class every week. I strongly recommend that if you ever have the opportunity to learn how to swing dance... that you do it!