MOOP.

So...I sort of spent $101.01 for a Moop Market Bag in Provencial Blue with the adjustable strap. I had been desiring a Moop bag pretty much ever since I discovered Moop on Etsy.

On an average day, this bag would be way out of my budget. I believe I caved in though partly because I was quite stressed out today. I tend to make crazy purchases in this state of mind. Bad, I know.

I can't wait to receive this piece of shoulder-wear in the mail. I have been daydreaming of me and the Moop bag strolling around Ballard on the nice summer non-school days that are bound to arrive. Yay!

Is that you Mr. Sun? I didn't recognize you.

Need I say more? :) (Try to focus on the first 3 days.)

Seattlites are pretty much going to be found passed out along the sidewalks. We're not used to this sort of thing. Yes...we're wimps, I know.

Off I go! Weee...

On My Mind: Lykke and India.

In approximately 3.5 hours, I will be listening to Lykke's tunes at the Triple Door. Lykke Li (pronounced 'lick-a lee') is an indie singer songwriter from Sweden and the beats to her music is just so pleasant. I'm going with a couple of pals and I am quite excited about it. I actually haven't listened to her whole CD, so I am just looking forward to sitting there and absorbing.

On a totally different note, I really want to go to India this summer. I mean...I really really REALLY want to go. I found this program in which I would travel to India and remain for five weeks. The first week would consist of sightseeing and Hindi classes and such. The rest of the time would be spent volunteering at an orphange. I have been getting the itch to travel lately because I often reminisce about my time spent volunteering in Tanzania. I reminisce about those times a lot.

However, convincing Mother Romano is such an obstacle. I don't give up so easily though. She knows what's coming. After all, I did convince her to allow me to go to Africa. Ha.

I must go now and write up a paper that is due tomorrow. A paper that was assigned to me 2 weeks ago! Why must I consistently do this to myself?

The New Mexico.

Last weekend was spent in New Mexico due to my cousin's wedding. Yay New Mexico. I had never been before. It was pretty great but sadly much too short as I was there from Friday night to Sunday morning. Short, right? I had way too much fun spending some quality time with the cousins. As always. I was expecting sizzling 80 degree weather, but the cold winds disguised the sun's heat. As a result, I was quite surprised to find myself a little burned. So sad.

A few pictures:

Jewelry vendors in Santa Fe. My will power was truly tested. Truly.


I was so drawn to these friendly wooden sculptures. I am not sure what it is, but I really loved them.

A vase that I adored. Painted with a brush of horse hair.

The beautiful Newly Weds! My cousin is on the right and his facial expression pretty much sums up his crazy personality.

Their first dance. One of the best weddings that I have ever been to.

I have more pictures to share. Maybe I will organize them on a photo site and share them at a later date. I shall let you know.

Hope your weekend was just as marvelous.

The "Islandy" Feel.

I frantically created a custom piece last night.

It was for my best pal's roomie who had a 2 year anniversary coming up on Monday (!). She wanted an art piece done of her and her main squeeze. I was much obliged to be a part of it all. We had been playing email tag for the last week and I finally got all the information I needed last night.

You should have seen me in the late hours of the night. I am still fighting a cold, so I was not in the best of conditions. Hunched over and trying to get my X-Acto knife to cooperate as I was creating the stencil. I was most nervous about the background. She wanted an "islandy feel" so I thought ocean and sunset possibly? The whole time I found myself repeatedly saying: "Oh God. I hope she likes it."

With lots of headaches and the disregard of the statistics assignment and backaches and fumage intake (don't worry, this was to the minimum), I made this:


Of course it is an abstract ocean and sunset, but I still hope I got the message across to some degree. There's only so much you can do with spray paint and I didn't want any distractions in the way of the happy twosome's image. It was tons of fun playing with all the sunset/ocean colors of spray paint I had. Which, apparently, is quite a few.

I sent it off today, so the piece should be in her hands by this Saturday or Monday at the very latest. Phew.

[EDIT]: She received it today, 5/12th, and LOVED it! Yay. Mission accomplished.

Deal...or No Deal.

People are so wonderful. Seriously. In the past few days I have been mentioned in two blogs: Painted Fish Studio and The Charm School Dropout. The best part is, I definitely admire both artists. I am an avid reader of their blogs as well. So much talent. I don't even think I have done anything noteworthy lately, but I am very much appreciative for having been noticed. It's nice to have people on your side. Great talented people, especially. The best kind, in my opinion.

One more thing before I leave.


Last night's episode of the game show Deal or No Deal (And no, this is not a guilty pleasure of mine. Ha.) was shot in the Philippines. I am not sure if this was mentioned before, but I have traveled over to the Philippines six times. Mostly because it is the place in which my mother's side of the family resides. I absolutely love it there. It always pains me to leave. I am usually the one hysterically sobbing on the plane. My poor mother.

So you can imagine my excitement when I saw Deal or No Deal's host, Howie Mandel, surrounded by a Filipino audience. Lots of dancing was involved because Filipinos just love to celebrate any small accomplishment, like getting that much closer to the million dollars. How did this Filipino dance gene manage to skip me? Dancing is definitely not one of my talents. Oh no. I can't even think about it, it's much too shameful.

Anyway, I felt some Filipino pride last night as I hopped between the channels of Deal or No Deal and...Dancing with the Stars. *cough*

Glint of Optimism.

Ah. I am feeling quite ill at the moment, which is really too bad. It started Friday night with a sore throat. I knew it was trouble the moment I felt that sore throat coming along.

I don't know how I did it, but I somehow managed to create a piece of wall art yesterday. Glint of Optimism is its name.


Sometimes I feel like my heart is making the art without my knowing. In any case, it made me feel much better.

I think that it would be best for me to go now before I pass out. Ha.