My So-Called Chaos: August 2011

8.31.2011

Dia De Los Muertos Ideas

For Halloween this year I decided to be a sugar skull girl.

I am so in love with them, and have been for a while.

It will be so fun! So here are my ideas I'm collecting.

And some other things I love related.

Source: google.com via Angela on Pinterest

LOVE this tattoo. It's amazing.

Makeup Ideas:

Source: weheartit.com via Angela on Pinterest

This is my favorite face design so far. Especially since it's teal.

Source: bing.com via Angela on Pinterest

Source: connect.in.com via Angela on Pinterest

Source: favim.com via Angela on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Angela on Pinterest

Source: serpenthes.tumblr.com via Angela on Pinterest

Source: weheartit.com via Angela on Pinterest

Source: squidoo.com via Angela on Pinterest

Source: weheartit.com via Angela on Pinterest

Dress Ideas:

Source: plussizecostumesupercenter.com via Angela on Pinterest

Jewelry:

Source: etsy.com via Angela on Pinterest

Hair Accessories:

Source: etsy.com via Angela on Pinterest

Dia De Los Muertos Art I Love

Source: etsy.com via Angela on Pinterest

Source: weheartit.com via Angela on Pinterest

Source: artattacksonline.com via Angela on Pinterest

Source: mexicansugarskull.com via Angela on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Angela on Pinterest

1. Do you prefer to text or call?
Text. By all means I'd much rather you text me than have to sit on the phone and not do anything but talk. At least with texting I can work on other stuff in between responses.

2. What is the last text message on your phone and who is it from?
"Mornin!" It's from the guy I've been dating. He texted me to say good morning. :)

3. What are your favorite phone apps?
Words with Friends, My Camera, Foursquare, Waterlogged, Shazam, X96, Angry Birds, StumbleUpon, IMDB, and the iPod part. :P

4. At what age do you think kids are ready for a cell phone?
Whenever they're going out on their own and you have to get in contact with them.

5. Share a current pic taken with your phone.
Here's the last few:

Jon bought these flowers for Meggy for after her play.

What a great boyfriend! They're so cute!

Little K eating her pancakes at the Farmers Market.

It was such a nice Sunday! :)

My coworkers welcome mat.

8.30.2011

Haters Are Just Confused Admirers

First thing, I changed my bloggy background. The cucpakes have served me well for over a year and a half but I felt the need to simplify. Plus, this one is Teal-and anyone who knows me knows that this is my latest color obsession. What do you guys think? I might do away with the cupcake buttons soon too... We'll see.

Pretty soon I'm going to have some giveaways-which I'm excited for! Here's what's coming:

250 Flyers from Uprinting.com - End of this week.
Autographed Copy of The Magic Warble by Victoria Simcox - September
My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software - September
Eaten by Zombies - Deckbuilding card game - October
500 Followers Massive Giveaway - As soon as I hit 500 followers!

It's all exciting! If you'd like to offer something for my 500 follower giveaway-I'll give you free publicity in exchange for a prize. Just let me know-anything is welcome! :)

Also, I'm excited for Mamarazzi's latest swap and to get to know Paige better. Her favorite color is red, I'm sooo excited to go shopping for her! :)

As for life outside of the bloggy world, it's going well. :) There was more drama on FB last night (sometimes I wonder why I deal with it at all.) where an ex-friend who I'd deleted a while back said something hateful about me on a mutual friend's status. Go figure, it's the wife of the previous jerk who did it. I should have blocked her months ago-but at least now the deed is done and I don't have to see her vomit.

Her petty words really don't bother me because my life is beautiful. I wouldn't trade what I have for the misery she's created for herself for anything in the world, especially since digs like that come from a deep self loathing and misery that causes people to lash out. No need to listen to the ramblings of an insecure person, because I have so many friends who love me for me and fill myself with love and light. It makes it very easy to cut out the needless garbage that goes around trying to tear people down in order to make themselves feel better.

Speaking of life being good, I am very content right now. I got my apartment really clean this weekend which is a huge relief, work is moving along alright, I started carpooling with my coworker to save money and wear and tear on my car, helped some friends move into better situations, got to go to the farmers market and spend time with some besties, I have date number 3 tonight with a guy who seems genuinely nice and forthright, and all of my friends continue to amaze and enlighten me on a continual basis. What more could a girl ask for?

How's life for you right now?

I truly hope it's beautiful and full of goodness.

But if it's not, I'm here to lend a listening ear or word of advice.

Seriously, I want to know. Talk to me. :)

8.29.2011

Look at Me, I'm Made of Wonderful

This week's song:

Wonderful

by Rob Thomas

***

What's your song this week?

Link Up!

8.25.2011

Favorite Colors Swap!

Oh man, Mamarazzi is at it again.

I'm SOOOO excited!

Sign-ups are limited.
She will only consider a few new people.
Get in on this goodness now!

A Return to Dating

The course of a year can be both a very long and very short time.

When you first start off looking down the barrel of an entire year, dedicating yourself to that vast amount of time-it can seem like the finish line is nearly impossible to reach. Yet once you're there and looking back on it, it's but the blink of an eye.

I took a year off of dating. An entire year where I swore I wasn't going to date, I wasn't going to have sex, and instead take the time to focus on me. The year started as an escape; it started as running away from the frustration and heartache that had been imposed on me from previous attempts at love. Even though I knew I was hiding from the emotions and the self-inflicted pain of investing my heart where it didn't belong-I just kept telling myself I was doing this to heal and just be me.

Without even knowing it, this year transformed into exactly what I was trying to convince myself of.

Somewhere in the last few months my closest friends started "calling me out" on the fact that I had been telling myself lies and hiding from the world. Though I met each situation with some amount of denial-their words begin to sink in. It then took an apology for feeling bitter and some tears, but the weight of all those previous misgivings started to fall away. I was released.

Suddenly I returned home with the desire to put myself out there again. I was craving the human interaction I had denied myself for the last 365 days and I was going after it with zeal; no matter how scary or daunting the task may be.

However this time, it will be entirely different. No more disrespecting myself, no more selling myself short or settling for less than I deserve. This time I'm in it for something real and meaningful, and I will get what I set out for because I'm dedicated and because I love myself.

I love myself. It has taken me a year to finally realize that no matter what I look like, which job I go to every day, what clothes I wear, who I'm friends with, where I live-or how many pounds I lose; I love myself enough to stop settling and start striving for more. Loving myself means I am going to find someone who truly loves me too, just as much or more!

This is all made possible because, the course of a year can be both a very long and very short time.

8.24.2011

Wishes and Pins

Source: etsy.com via Angela on Pinterest

I need this pin!

Source: bookshelfporn.com via Angela on Pinterest

So so true. Story of my life.

Source: kickstarter.com via Angela on Pinterest

This is a game one of my very best friends created.

Seriously, get yourself a copy it's SO fun.

I think I'll be doing a cool giveaway of it soon!

Source: stumbleupon.com via Angela on Pinteres

Hehehehehe!

Source: None via Angela on Pinterest

Right???

Source: None via Angela on Pinteres

Can I have one of these soon?

Source: generalvalentine.com via Angela on Pinterest

WANT. So cute!

Source: laurenzietsman.wordpress.com via Angela on Pinterest

This is such a great idea!

Source: ohmyhandmade.com via Angela on Pinterest

This makes me think of lovely Camille.
Now I want to find an old thrift store suitcase.

Source: juliecollins.tumblr.com via Angela on Pinterest

Some of us could really use this warning!

Source: svpply.com via Angela on Pinterest

I want these so I can be like "Yeah, I'm that badass."

What are you pinning or wishing for this week?

8.23.2011

Honestly, I Went on a Date.

Yes, I did have a date last night,

and yes, it was the first date I've had in over a year.

You'd be surprised how many people seemed more excited than I was.

Was I that pathetic?

Wait, don't answer that.

Moving on...

So I met this guy online and we've been texting non stop for over a week.

Then we met for coffee and chatted there until they closed.

Then we moved over to a bar down the street and chatted over beer.

I've adopted this "no bullshit" policy.

No pretending. No showing only the good stuff.

Basically "This is me-deal with it."

He seemed to respond well to that.

He was attractive, intelligent, and funny.

He was very respectful and responsible.

He also thought I was very cute.

Now everyone wants to know how it went but they seem unsatisfied with my answer.

It wasn't instantly electric-but it's not that I didn't like him.

It was just beautifully easy and comfortable.
Maybe that's part of me being an adult.

This calm is new for me.

I'm used to feeling something, anything, intensely.

I'm thinking this new feeling is a good thing.

Seeing as those intense feelings have gotten me into trouble before.
Shouldn't this be easy and free instead of complicated?

He's someone I could grow to care for quite a bit.

You know, love comes softly and all of that.
I really enjoyed my time with him.
I still get all grinny when he texts me.

We'll see where it goes.

As for now, we have another date for dinner Wednesday. :)

8.22.2011

I Hope That You See Right Through My Walls...

Thos week's song:

Arms

by Christina Perri

I never thought that you would be the one to hold my heart

But you came around and you knocked me off the ground from the start

You put your arms around me

and I believe that it's easier for you to let me go

You put your arms around me and I'm home

How many times will you let me change my mind and turn around?

I can't decide if I'll let you save my life or if I'll drown

I hope that you see right through my walls

I hope that you catch me 'cuz I'm already falling

I'll never let our love get so close

You put your arms around me and I'm home

The world is coming down on me and I can't find a reason to be loved

I never want to leave you but I can't make you bleed if I'm alone

You put your arms around me

and I believe that it's easier for you to let me go

I hope that you see right through my walls

I hope that you catch me 'cuz I'm already falling

I'll never let our love get so close

You put your arms around me and I'm home.

I tried my best to never let you in to see the truth

and I never opened up I've never truly loved

til you put your arms around me

and I believe that it's easier for you to let me go

I hope that you see right through my walls

I hope that you catch me, cuz I'm already falling

I'll never let our love get so close

You put your arms around me and I'm home.

You put your arms around me and I'm home.

***

I have my date tonight. It's my first date in over a year, and the first date I've been excited for in over 2 years. I'm soooo nervous, for so many reasons. We've been texting for over a week, pretty much non-stop and are starting to really enjoy getting to know each other. He seems intelligent, down to earth, responsible, kind-hearted, and an overall good guy. But what if we meet and don't end up hitting it off? If that's the case-I'm going to actually miss all of this texting. It's been something so fun that I have looked forward to each day.

I do have to admit, I'm more excited than nervous-though these knots in my stomach might convince one otherwise...

I love this song though. I feel it will be applicable, at least for the first part of any relationship I end up in. She's got a beautiful voice, and I connect with the song on so many levels. These walls aren't going to hold me back though. I'm ready to be out there finding something new and throwing myself back into love. This time with a new level of self respect, and a new understanding of what is healthy and what is not.

Wish me luck!

What song are you connecting with this week?

Don't forget to link up!