More than you ever wanted to know about me

This picture has nothing to do with the post, but I hadn't shared it yet, so why not? Hehe. Everyone knows you can't write a post without any pictures! Moving on.

I have seen the blog awards and surveys go around but haven't gotten to answering any of them previously (thanks to everyone who has tagged me!). But when Susie of Even Sweeter Dreams nominated me (thank you!) and wrote up some fun questions, I just couldn't resist. =) By the way, if you don't follow her blog already, visit and you'll quickly find that the Liebster description fits her perfectly! Subsequently, I was also tagged in another questionnaire by the awesome and talented Michelle of Creature Type, so I decided to combine the two... and write a super epic long post for any of you who have way too much free time. =D Thanks, ladies!

Liebster Award and Questions From Susie
The Liebster Blog Award is given from blogger to blogger – meant for bloggers who have less than 200 followers. The Meaning; Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome.

1. Your first pet was?
Hrm, now first pet was a bit of a story. It would definitely be one of the Indy's, a pet name my family used twice that clearly wasn't meant to be. On my eighth birthday, I was lucky enough to visit relatives in the Philippines with my grandparents. The day I left, my family went out and chose a dog. We named him Indie. He ended up not being a good fit for my family... so they sadly brought him back the morning right before I flew home. So I really never met my first family pet.

2. What's your favourite outfit?
My tastes change frequently and it completely depends on my mood, so it's hard to say. But it just might be my red Jessica Louise dress!

3. What does your perfect day look like?
My perfect day would start with waking up around 10am and having a leisurely brunch (preferably something sweet and something savory). Then I'd head to a warm beach and somehow get a chance to hug a shark without being bitten. After that, it would definitely be time for ice cream, dinner with friends, and then heading home to make art all evening while watching TV shows and filling up on pasta and cupcakes.

4. What is your favourite season?
Summer! That's an easy one. I'm starting to gain an appreciation for autumn, but I'm always happiest in the summer. Cute clothes, beaches, ice cream, and most importantly... (mostly) no rain! Sold!

5. What were you like as a kid?
I was actually a pretty good kid (Mom, you can comment if you disagree). I'm the oldest child of three - as a baby, my parents brought me to restaurants and all sorts of places and I never screamed. They quickly learned that not all babies were like that when my brother, Corbin, was born.

6. What is your favourite song to sing along to?
There are so many! Really almost anything that's playing in the car. Lately, that's been "One More Night" by Maroon 5.

7. Where in the world would you like to go on holiday?
Everywhere!! If I had to pick somewhere... it would most likely be in Europe. I haven't seen England, France, or Spain yet... there are so many places, I really can't choose.

8. What's your worst habit?
Oh gosh, I'm sure I have a ton. Possibly the fact that I really, really hate doing laundry. In college I'd get compliments near laundry day because I wore all my comfy clothes already and had to move on to fancier stuff. I have also been known to purchase new clothes instead of doing laundry. True story.

9. What's your favourite TV show?
Another tough call! I have lots of favorites. I suppose the ones I love most are the ones I rewatch most often... so Friends, Scrubs, and Arrested Development. For ongoing shows, I'm digging White Collar and How I Met Your Mother right now.

10. Do you prefer rain in summer or sun in winter?
SUN IN THE WINTER. No contest. That may be because I live in Seattle where it rains 9-10 months out of the year, so we're in no short supply of it. Including in the summer.

11. When are you happiest?
I'm happiest when I feel like I've accomplished something real and substantial. Or when I've just finished reorganizing my craft room - it's seriously an addiction. I reorganize it all of the time. Otherwise all sorts of little things make me happy - seeing friends and family, travelling, making art...

Questions from Michelle
1. Do you believe in guilty pleasures? Why/why not?
Well, we all have things we like that make us feel a little guilty or embarassed. Most of the time, it's silly, because you should do whatever you want regardless of what others think. But sometimes that's easier said than done.

2. What is your favorite/most-loved souvenir?
Oh, that's not easy. I have a whole room I'm decorating with a travel theme, full of postcards and pretty artwork from far away. The one that instantly brings a story to mind whenever I see it is my graffiti Colosseum piece. I watched this super cool graffiti street artist make the piece right on the spot in the streets of Rome... it was so incredible. I had to wait a while to get mine because people kept snatching up her pieces immediately!

 3. What's the worst job you've ever had to work?
Well, I really haven't had too many different jobs, but I did do temp work at an amusement park kitchen one summer. Having been in the kitchen, all I can say is I would not eat the food there...

4. Even if you don't generally like pop music, what's your favorite pop song?
It changes by the day (see a consistent theme to my responses?)... right now I'm digging "Wide Awake" by Katy Perry.

5. What hobby/subject has made you the most fan-girly or obsessive? Was it a phase?
Hrm, my hobbies and obsessions also change constantly. I don't really do the whole fangirl thing and could care less what conventional celebrities do with their lives. But I do have role models - people who have started their own businesses from the ground and gotten to the point where they are actually self-employed, living comfortably, and doing what they love. It may look like easy living for some of them now (though I doubt it really is), but I know they worked so hard to get there, and I admire them for that. I know I didn't really answer the question, sorry! Sooo... my latest obsession is cacti. Better?

6. What's your favorite kind of cuisine?
Depends on the day... haha. I do consistently love Italian and Chinese, though. Really, anything with noodles. I will never, ever be sick of noodles. Maybe for a day or two, but I always return to them!

Oh hey... I found an actually relevant picture! Noodles from one of my favorite restaurants!

7. Which is your favorite Harry Potter book? Movie?
The last one for sure (book - I didn't watch the movies). I'm always very cautious and skeptical when reading the last book of any good series. It takes an incredible amount of talent and skill to wrap up a good, complex series effectively. J.K. Rowling definitely did a skilled job of it, and the last book upped her talent level in my mind immensely.

8. If you could have any hair color - naturally and maintenance free - what would it be?
Well... I pretty much do get whatever hair color I want all of the time. I wish it was natural and maintenance free... but most importantly, damage free! I did love the rainbow hair I got last time I was in the salon. I guess I'd have mood hair color, if that's possible. Ya know, like mood rings? Color that changed with my whims!

9. What is your favorite drink? Not necessarily boozy!
Good thing, because I rarely drink alcohol. My most consistent favorite is orange juice. Iced vanilla chai when I need caffeine... or hot chocolate with whipped cream when it's cold out.

10. What musical(s) do you know all the lyrics to?
I do know quite a bit of Phantom of the Opera and some of Les Miserables and Aida. Such good musicals.

11. What's the last movie you saw in a theater?
Wow, I don't even remember. Iron Man 2, maybe? Yeah, I don't go to movies very often.

*********************************************************************

Thanks to Susie and Michelle for the nomination and tag! I had way too much fun with this! Oh, and a little update. I have lots of posts planned that I haven't gotten to... including the final update on the Help a Heart + pictures from the Heart Walk, a little feature of my favorite cupcake shop, awesome mail I've gotten recently, and much more! I kinda epic failed on delivering a lot of the October stuff I had planned (making of last year's Halloween costume, the pumpkin I carved two Halloweens ago, etc.) and now I feel stupid posting Halloween stuff after Halloween. Eh well. Life goes on! Maybe next year I'll be better. =)

Happy Halloween!

To all the east coasters / anyone affected by Hurricane Sandy... I hope you're okay! Stay safe, please!

Here on the west coast, we have a much more normal Halloween this year. Got a few trick or treaters so far tonight, which just reminds me that I am one of the most awkward people on the planet. I actually opened the door to the first group of trick or treaters, but I was too nervous to speak... except to mumble "take a few." They were all very polite and thanked me... hah. I'm such a spaz sometimes.

Anyway, I wanted to share some of the beautiful Halloween decorations I've seen businesses put up this month!

I loved the cute pumpkins and lights put up by the little coffee stand near my work!

Remember Impress? They added these cute Halloween cutouts to their window display!

And... my favorite cupcake shop went all out! I'll be doing a more extensive post about it soon.

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Yarn Bombed... and New Hair!

Maybe I am just living under a rock, but the first I heard of yarn bombing was when Elycia wrote about it in June. I don't knit so I wasn't quite as cool as Elycia, who actually made her own pretty, colorful contribution... but I did come across a little yarn bombed haven on the way home from the salon the other day!

If I hadn't read about it previously, I would have been incredibly confused when I drove by the busy street, with cute little trees all cozied and brightened up along either side (though it would have been a pleasant surprise regardless). Armed with my (limited) knowledge of yarn bombing, I was very excited to see it near my neighborhood! So, naturally, I dragged Jacob back that weekend to check it out and take pictures with me. Meanwhile, all of the cars on the very busy street probably thought it was strange to see this girl with bright hair posing with a bunch of trees. Eh well. =)

Oh, and I did mention I was coming back from the salon... which means new hair, of course! We (all hair color decisions are a collaborative effort between me and Antonio, the best hair stylist ever) did end up adding a little purple later and touching up some spots that didn't work quite right, but this is pretty close to what my hair looks like at the moment. My new hair goes so well with my new Starry Eyed bow and favorite Tieks too.

Thought I'd go with a literal interpretation of the term "tree-hugger."

Jacob popped in to take a picture with the tree he matched best.

It looks like whoever got to the trees (I'm assuming this is the same crowd) added wings to the horse statues in front of the park nearby as well! Pegasus x 2!!

View from the hill at the park... you can see the little yarn-bombed trees in the background. I am in love with my ruffly blue shirt from Vivo... it reminds me of a layer cake.

Tank Top - Vivo

Jeans & Purse - Guess

Electric Snake Flats - Tieks

Heart Hair Bow - Starry Eyed

Jewelry - Kelsea Echo

Don't forget... all of the jewelry pictured is available in my shop for 25% off and 100% of revenue goes to the American Heart Association until October 19! Also, Starry Eyed is having a 15% off sale with the coupon code "HELLOFALL" until October 15 - their bows are super cute and affordable.

I love anything that makes the world a more colorful place. Thanks, super cool anonymous yarn-bombers!!

San Diego Zoo, Part 3 - Less Fuzzy Mammals

First, I shared the bird and reptiles I photographed at the San Diego Zoo. Then the super fuzzy animals. This time around, the animals are less fuzzy... but just as awesome!

Who doesn't love a good zebra butts photo?

This guy looks like what I'd imagine would happen if an antelope and zebra had a baby. What crazy patterning! Poor guy probably had a hard time fitting into either group growing up.

And a few more butt shots.

Mmm... grass!

Heehee. Look at that little dude! Looks like nap time.

I caught a little action series of this dude laying down. Gosh that looks like a painful way to go about it.

That is the exact pose I would select if I was lying on a beach checking out the ocean view. Think that's what this cutie was going for?

Those horns!!! I wouldn't get into a fight when these goats.

I'm thinking the tagline here should be "tiny but ferocious." At least that's what the expression says to me.

I must be a in a snarky mood, since you got my snarky commentary instead of any actual animal facts. That and I don't know any of their names because I'm terrible at that sort of thing. Anyone who wants to help me out with that, be my guest! Two more parts to post, still!

Paper Stores, Part 3 - Impress

In case part one and part two didn't make you jealous enough, Jacob and I visited a third paper store in the University Village during that fun expedition! Unlike Papyrus and Paper Source, this shop is not a giant chain. There are just three stores - all within the Greater Seattle Area. You probably know by now how much I love small businesses, so that made this one that much cooler. =) The store's name is Impress, and their specialty is rubber stamps, but they did carry all sorts of pretty paper and other craft items.

Super cute store fronts are always a big bonus for me. I love their faux giant stamp display! And just in case you didn't know they were a stamp store before...

But they do have paper! Pretty ones too.

I am also a bit of a sucker for glitter. I've found that Stickles glitter glue comes in handy for paper journaling and paper crafts. Plus, look at all of the pretty colors!

Also a little obsessed with washi tape. Who isn't these days?

One more peek at the stamp wall and a cute scalloped table display. So many cool stamps! Oh, and those are pretty chevron and other patterned wax paper bags below the stamps.

How adorable is Impress? Also, I didn't forget my promise to show you guys what I got from the three paper stores. I had a shocking amount of self control when it came to these purchases! But part of it could be because I was really excited about what I got Susie for our exchange - I'll wait until she gets her package before I post what I got for her here on the blog. Don't want to spoil the surprise!

I picked up a pretty 6x6" scrapbook paper back and a roll of hot air balloon paper from Paper Source. Then some super cute paper carnival ticket cutouts and a baby blue Stickles glitter glue from Impress. Nothing from Papaya this time around. Can't wait to use these! I've been really obsessed with hot air balloons lately... so many possibilities! =)

What's your favorite paper store?!

San Diego Zoo, Part 2 - Fuzzy Animals

In unfortunate news, the wireless internet on my laptop randomly stopped working... so I'm crossing my fingers that it'll be fixable when I take it in today. Oh, and the battery dies almost immediately when the laptop is unplugged. Sooo that + the fact that it's about 4 years old & I use it at least a few hours every day might mean it's time for a new laptop. =( Anyway...

Seemed like about time for another San Diego Zoo post! If you missed the first one, it was birds and reptiles. Today, I decided to share some of the fuzzy/furry animals we saw!

One of the best animals in existence, in my humble opinion. Definitely drawn comics/stories featuring them before and a friend once gave me a stuffed blue llama. Best present ever! They just crack me up.

I hear koala's are actually not particularly nice, but they do look pretty darn cuddly!

I forget what these were called (let me know if you know!) but they are cute!

EDIT// Apparently these fuzzy darlings are called Takins - thanks, Carrie!

And... a few of the smaller fuzzy ones.

Monkeys are fuzzy too.

Check out this guy. He even had a bio - supposedly he's quite the "player." Bet the zookeepers had a fun time writing that one up!

Can't forget the pandas! San Diego Zoo has a whole section for them. Lucky for us, our panda friend was hungry and violently chowing down. It was fun to watch. I would not want to be that piece of bamboo.

More pictures to come! Seriously, this zoo was really, really big. Have you been there?