Wedding Card by Me!

I created this card with my brand-new Cricut Expressions for an upcoming wedding we’re attending. I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out, so I thought I would share it with the world.

Enjoy!

Outside of Card

Inside of Card

Apply: Check. Nervous: Check.

Well, I’ve done it. I’ve finished my application for a position on our city’s Arts and Cultural Commission. I’m told I will hear sometime in January, so I’m going to try to put it out of my mind and focus on the tasks at hand: Christmas dinner with the hubby (not that that’s ever a big ordeal), finishing some old class projects that should have been done a long time ago, getting a good chunk of my master’s project completed, continually editing how-to articles for my freelance work, and the third (and final!) wedding of our “wedding season” in January. Those are my plans for my “winter break” from work.

Oh, yeah, and having a day job. Yeah. That comes into play once-in-a-while.

So, I’ll let you know as soon as I hear something from the city council. Wow. That makes it sound so serious. Here come the butterflies again. But I think it’s time to start getting involved again. I’ve lived too long in this state without getting attached, being a commitment-phobe. It’s time to take the plunge.

16 down, 14 to go

The PCOS caused me to gain around 20 lbs. (or so–it might have been more) last year. Despite exercising regularly, I couldn’t lose it.

I decided to go on the Weight Watchers program about two months ago. I had heard amazing things about it, and some of my family members have used the program with great success. I didn’t sign up for the meetings because I don’t have the time, and, frankly, they’re really expensive. So, I used the online functions to track my eating habits.

I started cutting back and stayed at or under my allotted points, and low and behold, I lost 2 pounds the first week. And then another two the next week. And then 3 more. And then another, and another, and another. And, two months later, I’ve lost 16 pounds.

16 pounds!

I feel amazing. My old clothes don’t fit anymore, and even my “skinny clothes” (pre-PCOS clothes) are starting to get baggy. My goal is still another 14 pounds away, and, if I’m feeling ambitious, I may even go for another 10 after that, but I would be pleased as can be if I can get back to 145 lbs. That will put my squarely in the healthy weight range for my height (120-150 lbs. for 5′5″). I may be shorter, but I am bustier, so getting back to 135 lbs. (what I was when I graduated from high school) would probably be a bit on the unrealistic side. And staying realistic is what has helped me to get to this point.

This also means I’m more than halfway to my goal.

Another (happy) dilemma–I need to find a dress for an upcoming wedding! This is where I’m going to debut my new body. Well, it’s a work in progress, but that’s OK–aren’t we all?

And with my heart palpitations, losing weight was recommended. I know it’s been easier on my heart, and the rest of my body. My cardiologist was/is so proud of me when I saw her back in October. And I’m proud of me, too.

Commission Me In

I’m considering trying for a position on our new (to us) city’s Arts and Cultural Commission. A coworker (and fast-becoming friend), who is a city councilwoman for said town, said I should, as I have “extensive” experience in the arts, and I have a vested interest in this town, as I’m living here and plan on living here for at least a few years. I put quotation marks around the word extensive in the previous sentence because I have a hard time believing that a 24-year-old can have extensive experience in anything.

Truth be told, I was played the saxophone for something like 12 years (and would love to pick it up again), I was in theater in high school and continue to take an interest in theater (or theatre, which is the one I prefer but CMS does not), I have created art (in h.s. and college–I like to “play in clay”), I have helped publish three literary arts magazines, and I support the arts in any way I can. And, oh, yeah, I am an editor for a nonprofit book publisher. (Funny how I still forget that last one until the end, eh? I’m still getting used to the idea…and the reality.)

Does that qualify as extensive? I dunno.

I’m torn, as I still would like to move home eventually (ah, home–the blasted cold state of Minnesota), but this city has a certain charm to it that I cannot deny. It’s sassy and fun and up-and-coming.

I’m also starting to love Detroit…a lot. I’ve been to the Detroit Opera House, the Fisher Building, Belle Isle, the Guardian Building, Atlas Global Bistro, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Union Street Saloon, the Compuware World Headquarters, Zaccaro’s Market, the DIA, Slow’s Bar BQ, the MOCAD, and many others (during a fabulous personal tour arranged by Preservation Wayne [another group I'm considering getting involved with, if they'll have me]), and I have loved every single one.

Now, I don’t want to sound overly involved because I honestly haven’t been for the past three years–since we moved to MI. I’ve felt disconnected and aloof, but getting to know the lovely friend that I have has made me reconsider this cold shoulder I’m giving the world right now.

I guess I would feel guilty ditching Detroit and the surrounding area before seriously giving it a try, especially with the current economic climate. Everyone seems to be running away with their tail (and money) firmly planted between their legs. There is so much to see and so much to do, and there is a great deal of life in this ol’ city. We left Atlanta before getting to know it, and I’ll be honest–there is no love loss there. I never felt at home there. Not at all, actually. This lil’ city, though, has taken me in, and I feel like I should give something back.

And if I can do that by sitting on a board with a bunch of other like-minded individuals and bring some more art to this community, I think that might be time well-spent. And it’s a two-year appointment, so I have to be willing to hang around for a while. That sort of commitment freaks me out. I’ve been such a commitment-phobe for the past three years. Maybe it’s time to get back to my roots–being an over-achieving looney who doesn’t know when to say “no.” I am happiest when I’m so busy I can’t think straight.

Regeneration

My cousin, Jennifer, posts when she catches some awesome finds when out thrifting. I love seeing the cool stuff she finds, and I thought I would post some myself because I went to Regeneration, a thrift/resale store that is within walking distance to my house (I walked there today! It was only about 20 degrees outside, but there was no wind, so it was perfect! Man, do I love winter.). These are the fun things I got today:

Nikita top

J. Crew sweater

Ann Taylor slacks

Regina purse

And the coup de grâce…

Rocket Dog shoes

Rocket Dog shoes II

Rocket Dog shoes III

And all of this for only $62.00. The J. Crew sweater alone would’ve been $90.00. And I’m supporting an awesome local shop.

There are so many thrift/resale shops in the area. In downtown Ferndale there’s one called Mother Fletchers, and I guess it’s really popular. The owner works hard to get vintage clothing into the store, though it’s also a little on the pricier side as a result. I’ll be checking that one out sometime this week.

In Royal Oak, there are so many that I haven’t been able to track them all down. I’ll find the time in the future to look for them, but for right now, I’m starting to love this new city of ours more and more.