Etsy Lovelies

As many of you may know by now - from all my different posts about Etsy - that I absolutely adore Etsy. You never know what you're going to find. Its just full of crazy, talented people with a vast array of skills.

And on Friday I found a shop to add to my favorites: Tribal Style.

These Organic Earrings are all handmade for regular pierced ears.
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TribalStyle is a place where cultural tribal adornment meets modern day life. I have taken earrings that were originally made for gauged ears, split them and inserted a sterling silver post. Making them available for people who have always admired this tribal style, but could not make the commitment of stretching their ears.

The materials used are all natural and eco-friendly.
The earrings are made from wood, coconut, and salvaged bone and horn. The bone and horn used to hand-carve these tribal earrings are from a domesticated water buffalo used for cultivation and food. To minimize waste, they are respectfully used for this form of art and income.

How COOL is that???

Personally, I love them. And if there's any doubt in your mind about the awesomeness, just wait 'til you see some my favorites!!!

Originally when I saw all of these I was going to purchase the first pair pictured.
I'm kind of allergic to metal and can really only wear earrings with gold hooks / studs (I do wear other earrings, and surgical steel isn't too bad but I can't wear other metals frequently) so I'm excited to try a wood alternative.

But sadly, someone snatched that pair up before I could click 'buy' and so I settled for my second favorite, that, while slightly more expensive, I am just as excited about!

They should be coming in sometime this week. Full review coming soon!

(though the review may be a bit delayed depending on just how close they arrive to when I'm departing for camp)

New Blogger Dashboard?

So, I've noticed (well it is rather hard to miss) that Blogger has almost completely changed the look of the dashboard.


At first it was frustrating for me. And I didn't really like it. Kind of hard to navigate first time around.


But I've blogged a few times now using the new set - up, and I have to say; I think I like it. 


The color scheme is more simple, elegant. 
And if you think about it, everything is actually easier to find; it just takes some time to adjust after being used to something completely different that was around for so long.


So what do you guys think? Bring back the old Blogger, or in with the new?

Jungle Cat

At the end of last month the garden was really starting to bloom and I decided to head out and take some pictures.

I was rather frustrated by the end of my photo - session, we only have a 7mp point-and-shoot camera and it tends to irk me when I can't take the pictures I want...oh how I long for a nice Nikon.

But despite my camera - woes here are the pictures I managed to take:

{ these flowers are a relative of the carnation - their actual name totally escapes me }

{ snow on the mountain }

 These are some of my favorite flowers ever, snow on the mountain. They're an absolutely gorgeous ground cover! They also happen to smell really good!

{ rock wall }

 I think I might've posted about this before, but last year a team of kids came up from a close-by Bible camp to do service projects and help in the community. Three wonderful girls helped my family build this rock wall so that we could level our yard. It turned out rather well I think.

{ snow on the mountain - on the rocks }

{ snow on the mountain }

{ snow on the mountain }

{snow on the mountain - on the rocks }

{ lupin }

 It was really hard for me to get a good picture of our purple lupin. The woes of a point and shoot camera; auto focus. bleck.

Most of our lupin actually didn't make it this spring, we've had a really bad aphid problem.
And I mean bad.
Some of the aphids were actually bigger than the ladybugs!

{ paws }

 Ah Paws. The jungle cat.
Well really she just thinks she's a jungle cat, our garden is her jungle.

{ that flower whose name I can't remember }

{ paws - that sneaky jungle cat }

{ paws }

{ watch out - she just might be hunting you }

Who's EXCITED???

MEEEE!!!!!!!

Wow! So, this summer (though barely a month into it) has been a whirlwind of activity! (which I must say I enjoy!)

Last week was spent at my church's fireworks booth to raise money for youth activities such as...*insert drumroll* CAMP!!!!!!!

Yes, its that time of year again.

That most epic five days of the year spent not only with Jesus, but also with my best friend Lauren.

Usually, I am the only teen who comes to Sr. High Camp from my church/area.

Buuuuut this summer I am happy to say that I'm SUPER excited for what promises to be the MOST EPIC and AWESOME five days of camp EVER because *third drumroll* three more of my friends are coming!!!

Aside from Lauren and I (you might remember Lauren from my last post) who have been going to camp together for three years now (I met her at camp a couple years ago now and we've been best friends ever since) my best friend where I live (who also happens to be of the male - persuasion) Josh, will also be coming.

Annnddd also in attendance with me is my best bud Amanda who I've known for several years now and since she's staying up here with her grandparents this summer she's able to come with me to camp!

And last but not least, definitely the one person coming along who I've known the longest is my friend Sierra who I've known since...wow...haha first grade I think. She was  something of a last minute addition to our group but I've been trying to get her to go for a couple years now and was super excited when she was able to come this year!

So that'll be us, this random bunch of kids who...well all basically know each other through me! haha In all there will be five of us; Lauren, Josh, Amanda, Sierra and of course, me!

I don't know about you guys, but I'm thinkin some super awesome stuff is gonna be happenin' at camp this year! And I'm not just talkin' about the tubing, games, mini golf, epic air - hockey games and meeting new people!

Camp doesn't start til the 18th, so when I get back I'm sure I'll be posting epic jokes, stories and maybe a picture or two!

But, until I return from this years epicness, here's a few pics from last year! (literally a few...I would prefer not to go posting peoples faces on the 'net without their permission lol)

{lights for the altar / stage}

{normally I'm not too bad at air - hockey...but I only managed to win once last year...by one point...}

{Lauren and I taking pictures of...erm...each other taking pictures haha}

{waiting for pick - up, last day of camp...silver mark for having cleaned the cabin and okay to leave}

{my photography brilliance haha just kidding, Lauren's finger naturally glows ;-) }

{still waiting for pick - up, my bracelet abundance, here's what each of them are:
Orange: team color for camp 2010 we were ARMENIA! (each color coincides with a country)
Pink: its this star gel bracelet I've had since I was like...4...
Yellow: bracelet I wove out of twine made from recycled milk jugs haha
Black: just a black stretchy piece of...black...stretchy...stuff...
b.a.s.i.c. : my bracelet from The Voice of the Martyrs it stands for brothers and sisters in chains as a prayer reminder for the persecuted church
Pink and Blue: little bracelet I wove out of cotton crochet string
my watch: haha pretty self explanatory lol I made the band and stitched '1 Corinthians 10:31' onto it as a reminder "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
Green: first year I went to camp instead of the paper bands we got pieces of fabric. first year the team was simply "light green"
and so ends the LONGEST CAPTION EVER}

A Novel

Hey everybody!

One of my best friends in the whole entire world is writing a book.

And its really good!

As she's writing it goes up on the blog that we created for the novel.

Harvest

If you're an avid reader, a writer or even just someone looking for an interesting read, you should definitely go check it out.

(please note it is a work in progress and there may be typos, spelling errors etc.)

As of right now, the design I did (almost a year ago now) is a tad messy.

But I just finished a the re-vamp!

I'm waiting to get the okay from her to put it up but....I would love to see what everyone thinks of it!


Just click here to go to my test blog, take a look around, try the links, and comment to tell me whatcha think!


And the new design is up and running on Harvest!!!

I knew I could count on you guys! :-D

blessings~

Newness!

Hey everybody!

Its today! (though isn't it always? lol)

The special significance of today is that Concrete & Grace has changed!

Before, it was weareconcreteandgrace.blogspot.com (I still maintain the url) and now, its thesiriana.blogspot.com.

So I'd greatly appreciate it if everyone would go and pick up the new blog button from my sidebar, take a gander around the new design and tell me what you think!

blessings~

Heads Up!

Hey everyone! Thanks to all who weighed in on Question for My Peeps!!!

I have come to a decision...*insert dramatic drumroll*

I am changing the URL to my blog!

As of tomorrow it shall be thesiriana.blogspot.com!

And to make things even better...a completely all new design.

Who else is super excited???

Definitely me!!

So make sure to check back tomorrow (I'm sure I'll post again) to pick up my new blog button, and check out the design!

blessings~

Question for my Peeps

Okay, random question for my bloggie readers out there.

My URL is way long, and kind of complicated.

I mean really, weareconcreteandgrace.blogspot.com??? Kind of difficult, no?

I've been thinking of changing it to sirianablogs.blogspot.com but I kind of want to save that for if / when I start doing blog design as a way to make money.

So I was thinking maybe
the-siriana.blogspot.com
or even
thesiriana.blogspot.com

But it kind of depends on what you guys think...would you all make sure to pick up a fresh blog button that has the new address?

Has anyone tried buying a url with blogger? So that it can be your-ulr.com as opposed to your-url.blogspot.com?

Also, what do you guys think of this design? I'm sure I've asked before but I'm thinking something a bit lighter and brighter is good for summer.

Of course, seeing as how I have time now, and the creative juices are flowing, its extremely possible that I might just be coming up with something completely different for C&G.

So lots of questions, comment with feedback if it made any sense please! :)

Whoo Yah SUMMAH

Hey bloggies...yes! Its me, the prodigal bloggeress...

hmmnn...trying to decide about that "term" I just penned...wait...typed?

Yeah...

Anyways...SUMMER VACATION! whoo!

Of course, there is still, in my case, math to work on this summer. But for all intents and purposes, its SUMMAH. oh yah.

Back a couple weeks ago, at the end of may, we went kayaking.

You see, my family, we have a guided kayak tour business on the river that runs through our county. My dad built our kayaks by hand, if anyone happens to wonder.

Because of some serious snow pack and run off this year our river is higher than its been in nearly 20 years.

In fact, some of the highest recorded flooding was when I was only 2 years old...and its supposed to rise even higher this time.

One of the parks up here is flooded.

And I don't mean, just barely encroaching on the boundaries of the park, I mean full on inlet flooding.















And just to put what it looks like now (since I don't have pictures) into perspective, that bridge, is now underwater.











Pretty crazy huh?? But it was kind of fun...interesting fact, where I laid on my picnic blanket at 4th of July last year...well I would pretty much be drowning haha

Well...I'm off dear bloggie friends...hope you enjoyed the pics and the short story!

toodles~

As of Late

Hey everybody!

How're all of you? I know I haven't been posting...well very much ever I guess.

But I'm blogging again! haha

Its the last couple weeks of school for me.

Well, being homeschooled it never really ends (I'm doing math over the summer to get ready for starting Running Start college in the fall...).

I'm working really hard to finish up my web design course by the 9th.

Rather difficult seeing as I'm two weeks behind from the combination of being sick, having computer troubles, and having trouble downloading software the course required I have so...its been hard but I'm in the home stretch now!

A couple of rather exciting things since I last posted though.

As some of you may remember from my last post, I decided for various stress, time and monitary issues that I wasn't going to be entering in National Fine Arts this year.

Well, within days of that decision I actually received an answer to prayer.

Some lovely family friends had heard about my struggle with money for Nationals, and gifted me $120 to cover registration.

But, they didn't know that I had stepped down from doing that.

I was so extremely touched and thankful for their generosity, but I couldn't keep the gift.

I went to return it, but they insisted I keep it, "for whatever comes up".

I made the decision to set it aside for Fine Arts Festival next year, so I already have a head start!

Basically its just school, school, school for me the next few days!

Hope you're all wonderful :-) whether you're on summer vacation, or eagerly awaiting the days of summer like me.

Blessings!

My Infamosity

Some of you that know me or follow me on Facebook or Twitter might remember my bemoaning the fact that I had to build a 6 page website about myself for my Web Design course.

One page had to be: What do you believe you will be doing 10, 15 and 20 years from now. Write a paragraph about each of these years including

• education and/or job
• single / married / divorced
• family & kids
• car (type) and why you chose it

Well...here is what I wrote.

In 10 years I see myself having graduated with honors from clown college and pursuing my dream of being in the circus. Single, no family except the circus. As for car, a clown car of course. My friends and I like to carpool.

In 15 years I see myself having purchased the circus I started off in to take it to greater destinations and being the ring-master. Put the clown car in the garage in favor of a personal jet and still be single.

In 20 years I see myself having lost the circus in a divorce settlement and beginning my illustrious career as a sign waver directing potential customers to new housing developments for sale, Jiffy Lube's and car washes. Car: I got the clown car back out of the garage, it doesn't get half bad gas mileage.

Now, obviously I wasn't serious ;-) I'm just that girl who barely knows what she's doing next week, or next month...let alone 10 years from now.

Thought you guys might enjoy that! haha

I know I did!

No Nationals for Me

Things and things and things today I guess...

Making decisions.

Choices.

Things that are going to effect the rest of this year...the rest of this summer...more? I don't know yet.

I guess this is me letting everyone know, I am not going to be doing national fine arts.

Though I qualified (see earlier post) I have made the decision that I am not going to go through with my original plan to participate in the national festival.

You see, national fine arts festival is in Phoenix, AR.

Since I barely made it to districts (thank you Jesus!) actually going to nationals was rather out of the question...well, really outside of being realistic.

Don't get me wrong, I was totally open to something (God-thing) happening so that I could go, but thats just not how things went down.

However, there was the option to register the entries I got invited to nationals for and hopefully finding someone from another church who was already going to take my entries down for me. You see entries that need displays (for example, like my t-shirt design) are required to be checked in at the beginning of the festival, and then checked out afterwards.

At first after receiving Superior with Invitation to Nationals I wasn't going to do that at all. But my mom encouraged me to go for it.

After having been home for almost a month after district fine arts now, I have been working to try and earn money to pay for nationals when I read up on everything again and realized that registration was actually more than I thought it was going to be.

I knew registration was $80...however, I thought that covered the first entry, so if I were to just enter my t-shirt design it would only be $80. Not too bad.
However, I discovered that that doesn't include the first entry, after that each entry is an additional $20.

Ouch.

I thought, "well I'll get through it somehow...maybe I just won't enter my photography that I haven't heard back about yet."

But then I continued thinking about everything it would entail just to enter my t-shirt design.

Not only is there registration, there is proper mounting/display for it and of course my time to set it all up.
Then there's figuring out a way so that whoever I get it to can either fit it in a suitcase easily (its rather large) or that it'll have its own bag. In all likeliness, it would have to have its own bag.

Which would mean, extra luggage that I would have to pay for.

Oh and then theres the little detail of getting the display to whoever would take it for me.

Shipping costs.

Did I mention I still hadn't (haven't) heard anything about contact information for people already going? Yeah, thats definitely no small detail for this plan.

And of course there's the fact that when I do things, I like to do them right and would be fretting about how my display was being cared for, set up...all that stuff.

And so everything kept stacking up.
Time...money...lack of cooperation from people...

It just wasn't worth it.

In the end, I'd be putting out at least $200 in time and money (mostly money...) with the final registration date barely a month away.

I couldn't handle the stress.

Trying to make sure I finish all my school on time, having to worry about doing math over the summer.

With worrying about nationals on top of that, it just wasn't worth it.

I would pour so much into it, but for what?

I mean really?

Another certificate on the wall?

Bragging rights?

*shrugs*

Just didn't seem at all worth it.


But you know what?

Next year, I am planning ahead.

As in, as soon as I know what the theme for the 2011-2010 year is going to be, I'm going to be writing my spoken word, sketching that t-shirt design, rhyming that poem into being and snapping those pictures.

Oh yeah, and earning the money.


Thank you everyone for your support, I love you all for it.
To the friends and family who offered to help me pay for stuff.
To the wonderful people who opened their home.
To everyone who gave me a job.
To all the people who were sad I was backing out but respected my choice.
For everyone who had a smile and a word of encouragement along the way.

Thank you so much and God bless!

(lets kick some butt next year, eh? ;)

Fine Arts Trip Recap Day 3 FESTIVAL

So, I have failed my dear bloggies.

I started recapping the Fine Arts Trip almost two weeks ago (or is it more?) when the trip itself was already almost a month ago (wow...).

So here's the final day of the Fine Arts trip...the festival itself!

Saturday : FINE ARTS FESTIVAL

wake up same time (super early in other words)
shower
get dressed
practice spoken word in my head
do hair and makeup(sounding familiar, no?)
stand in front of large mirror and quietly practice spoken word
actually have time to eat something before leaving
relieved to realize its Saturday and therefore traffic won't be as bad...
get on the road
drive
point out my lack of navigation skills
drive
drive
drive
consider sleeping this time since hopefully we won't get lost...
not much traffic
feeling sleepy
decide to practice, practice, practice my spoken word
drive
practice more
drive
make it to the church with time to spare
stand in line to get my schedule
schedule acquired
find single, unoccupied table
see white binder on table, ignore it
look through info
find out my spoken word presentation is at 9:53am
practice spoken word in my head
try to figure out how the book works (the one filled with who's doing what, at what time, and where)
sit in the foyer reading the info book
go and set up my t-shirt design
go find a place for my photography entry
find out that the poetry entries are shown somewhere in the foyer
try to figure out where the poetry entries are
find out that the book chapter entries are shown somewhere in the foyer
try to figure out where
randomly take a glance at the white binder
read that the white binder says 'BOOK CHAPTER ENTRIES'
feel really stupid
discover I'm the only one who entered book chapter
find where the poetry entries are
avoid reading poetry entries while random guy has the binder
wait 'til random guy leaves
read other poetry entries
randomly run into one person I kind of know from camp
talk for a while
run into another person I actually know from camp
have nice chat
find out what she's performing in
decide to attend some of her performances after mine
go and watch the only band that signed up under 'christian band'
clap (great job NOVA)
decide to find the room where my spoken word presentation is
almost get lost trying to find the room (in my defence, the church was massive)
point out my lack of navigation skills

make it to room right after the door closes (they close the door and don't open it 'til after each presentation is over, no distractions that way)

listen to the guy before me perform (through door)
wondering why he entered spoken word (he was rapping)
thinking "wow that guy was good...but why didn't he enter in the rap category?!"
go into the room
wait for judges to finish scoring rapping-guy

find it very comforting (<--haha sarcasm there)that the judges are talking about how "well at least I think I know what spoken word is now..."

think "great...."
get nervous
practice spoken word in my head
get really nervous
practice even more in my head
pray I don't miss part of it
my time to perform comes
judges still writing forms on last guy
getting more nervous
practicing more
judges finally finish
still nervous I stand up to go to the front of the room
announcer announces who I am...
prepare myself and step to the front of the room
start speaking
realize that I'm talking a bit too fast
keep going

wish that they were using a timer that I could SEE because I broke my presentation into 45sec. intervals (there's a 3min limit)

keep going
finish presentation
people clap
guy that went before me looking not particularly happy (just had to include that...even if it wasn't a competition ;)
know I talked too fast but ah well
totally stoked I didn't forget anything
receive a compliment from some judges
they ask if I composed that entirely myself
I reply yes (of course)
receive compliment from announcer
watch the only other two entries
leave
go back to foyer
mum gets coco I get a ginormous chocolate muffin (there was a starbucks IN the church. yes.)
I head off to find my friend's presentation
clap because she did really good (songwriting...)
head to the foyer
chat with other girl I know from camp
decide to go catch last of the human video performances
LOVE LOVE LOVE the human video performances after I realize what they are
(click here for a good example of a human video...some people think they're skits when in fact they aren't because there is no talking, its set to song)
wish I had thought to get the camera out for the human video performances
realize I should get it out and try to get the last one

while waiting I take a picture of one of the epic chandeliers in the senior youth room (the church was so huge, they had a whole building for kids, a room for teens, and an even bigger (like almost large church on its own) size room for the senior high teens)


last few performances
lunch!
head over to the caf to pick up my sack lunch
first one! whoo
enjoy my sandwhich...
mum gets her lunch
foyer once again becomes rather loud, and filled with people!
enjoy lunch
talk about everything happening
decide to watch the drama performances after lunch
watching the drama performances
fantastic jobs to EVERYONE who participated!
loved, loved, loved the skits!
things start wrapping up as there is little time before the celebration service!
sit in the foyer for a while
decide to get our seats for the celebration service
service starts
congrats to everyone who received Superior with invite to Nationals!!!
they announce spoken word results
rapping-guy received merit award (highest scoring) and superior with invite to nationals
performances like choir, band, songwriting, etc.
they announce POETRY WINNER

GUESS WHO WON MERIT AWARD AND INVITE TO NATIONALS?????

MEEEEE!!!! xD

heart stops beating

random people clap for me (I'm assuming to be polite or people who actually recognized my name because they read my poem)

super giddy
can't wait to find out about t-shirt design
more performances
more clapping
they announce T-SHIRT DESIGN WINNER

GUESS WHO GOT SUPERIOR WITH INVITE TO NATIONALS??????

ME! xD

Funny story though, for some reason my name was registered as Sirina insead of Siriana so I was being announced as Serina basically and so when my name was called for my t-shirt design (which I worked so hard on! and ended up loving it!) and my mom yells out "SIRIANA!!!!"
So it was kind of awkward but funny and okay at the same time.
I was so happy!!!!!

Anyway, so afterwards there were a bit more performances like the drama winners, and it ended *sigh*.

headed back out to the foyer
got on facebook and posted to tell everyone!!!
went and picked up all my score sheets
met the super-nice lady (good job Mrs. Huff!!!!) who directs Fine Arts
had my name on all my certificates corrected (thank you!!!)
was super excited
decided to go to the movies again
went and saw Hanna (dunno if most of you would like it...I did, though there was a couple scenes it could've done without other than that it was an action/violent girl who kicks butt kind of movie lol)

and continued to be super stoked all weekend!!!

And then there was day 4...which wasn't terribly interesting considering it was merely driving back home!

And that friends, family and bloggie readers, is the conclusion to my Fine Arts trip.

Right now I'm trying really hard to earn the $120 I need for registration (thats due in a few weeks) for National Fine Arts.
Of course I won't be going, I barely made the gas money I needed to get to districts so unless there's some awesome God-thing miracle, I'm not going to have the money to go to Phoenix, Arizona.
BUT! If I can find someone from another church that is already going with their group to take it down for me, that'll work because someone just has to check in and out my entries...so hoping that works out!

Prayers for the whole thing would be greatly appreciated, and if you guys would share my etsy shoppe with everyone you know (and maybe some people you don't!) I would love that!

thanks everyone, blessings!!!

Fine Arts Trip Recap Day 2

Friday : College Visit

wake up super early
shower
get dressed
do hair and makeup
hopefully try not to forget anything
kind of sort of make some food before hitting the road
leaving
driving
traffic
make mom a bagel for breakfast (yes...while in the car...it was interesting...)
traffic
driving
traffic
sitting in traffic for way too long
realize I forgot to put the camera in my purse
driving
traffic
driving
take wrong turn
I once again point out my lack of navigation skills
driving
make it to college just in time

chapel - the college gets some EPIC point for definitely comfortable chairs in the chapel, no pews here people, oh yah

campus tour - it was all around small, green and had THE most lovely trees EVER (I adore trees ^_^) loved it! and the student store? ah I just love books and pajamas! lol

dorm tour - only part of the college I didn't like...it was like a MAZE...and I don't think I could survive communal bathrooms for two years *shudder* (freshmen and sophomore's have to live in-dorm...juniors and seniors can live off campus)

lunch break!
get lost looking for caf
realize that its the building labeled DINING HALL on the map
feel rather incompetent

eat lunch - great food! we're talkin' they had a salad bar, a sandwich bar, a taco bar, a pizza bar, a juice tea and soda bar, a dessert bar, a fruit bar, they even had a place where you could wait in line and have a guy make some asian stir fry right there!

visited a ministry internship class was really interesting, enjoyed it...MORE comfy chairs

decide to go to the pentecostal spirituality class while mom goes to the parent Q & A

really interesting class...good thing it was otherwise I would have fallen asleep (remember the lack of sleep the night before?) MORE comfy chairs

stay in the same room waiting to meet mom for financial aid meeting

turns out mum actually fell (snoring) asleep in parent Q & A...and isn't feeling well

too tired to stay for rest of visit
leave college
drive
realize that I didn't print directions FROM the college BACK to the place we were staying
once again point out my lack of navigation skills
drive
decide to go to the mall
drive
take wrong turns looking for the mall
finally find the mall...it got easier once we realized it had its own road and highway off ramp...seriously...
end up deciding to go to the movies
see Soul Surfer (BTW IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!)
movie ends
its getting dark
try to find our way back to where we were staying
drive
get lost
drive
wrong turn
drive
drive
traffic
drive
wrong turn
drive
I once again point out my lack of navigation skills
get back tot the house we're staying at
ssslllleeeepppppp

Fine Arts Trip Recap Day 1

So, I'm sure at least some of you are wondering what all went down during the epic district Fine Arts Journey (for more about FA click here!) a few weeks ago (wow...has it really only been a few weeks??) and I realized I needed to post...so here we are!

Basically the trip was lots of driving...and traffic...and tiredness.
So during the whole thing I was really tired, but pretty stoked at the same time (quite the combination, eh?) and in all truthfulness, didn't really have enough rest to process everything as it happened.
So if you asked me what I thought of things and if I was excited during the trip my answer would have been along the lines of "shhhh. I'm sleeping..." whereas after I had some good sleep and time to process everything that happened (twas a seriously fast paced trip) my answer its "IT WAS TOTALLY AWESOME!".

When I say the trip was fast paced, I mean there wasn't much time when we weren't doing something!

Here's how everything went down trip, day 1...

Thursday:

get up
get dressed
eat
load car
leave
lunch
spend 2 - 3 hours looking for things I need (art board for my t-shirt design, prints of my photography etc. etc.)
back on the road
drive
see this oddity driving on the highway...

drive
drive
stop for gas
drive
drive
drive through a snow storm?!





drive
drive through a rain storm...





still driving, sun comes out...beautiful despite the highway!






and it gets even prettier as we go!!!








drive
get lost looking for the house we're staying at
I again point out my lack of navigation skills
drive
find the house we're staying at
meet the lovely people we were staying with for the weekend
share a meal
unpack
get ready for bed
try to sleep
try to sleep
try to sleep
roughly 2am realize haven't slept and sometime thereafter finally, actually fall asleep