Shertown Studios

i've moved!

2011-11-01T07:39:00.000-07:00

It's official, I have made the move over to my new blog, Spangled Paraphernalia. There a still a few tweaks I'd like to make to the design and not all of the pages are where I want them, but I think it looks great and I'm really proud of it. Go check it out!!

xoxo, Chelle

happy halloween!

2011-10-31T07:22:00.000-07:00

The Mad Hatter and Hipster Panda wish you all a very safe and happy Halloween! May your costumes be clever and your bags filled with candy corn.

just a friendly reminder

2011-10-30T15:39:00.000-07:00

Just a friendly reminder that I will be continuing content on my sparkly new blog, Spangled Paraphernalia, starting November 1st...if you would like to keep up with my future ravings and rantings, please add the url to your reader/bookmarks/friends/post-it. Don't delete this one, though...any future business or art info will be posted here.

Thanks again to everyone who reads and supports, you guys rock!

outfit: texas rangers fan girl

2011-10-27T07:11:00.000-07:00

My love for the Texas Rangers has been well-documented. If you are not interested in my fan girl blitherings, please read this post about pumpkins. Everyone loves pumpkins.

For the remaining two of you...HOW COOL IS IT THAT THE RANGERS MADE IT TO THE WORLD SERIES TWO YEARS IN A ROW!? They played their first couple of games while Corban and I were in Hawaii, which stressed me out to no end. But, now that we're back, we can seriously get our cheer on.

This is what I wore to cheer on our guys earlier this week. No, I did not have a spasm in the last photo. I was doing the antlers. :)

The jade bracelet is a souvenir I brought back from Hawaii...normally I'm not big on trinkets, but the Big Island boasted some truly talented craftsmen and artists. Some of the jewelry was simply stunning (and pricey!) I even got a charm to start that new charm bracelet I was talking about!

Can you guys believe that November is almost here!? Does anyone else talk about what they're going to dress as all year, but leave all practical Halloween costume planning to the last minute? It's kind of a tradition for me. A very stressful tradition. :)

book review: wuthering heights

2011-10-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have those literature moments when you are so intent on what you are reading, so engrossed in a story that the words seem to physically rush up at you from the page, but still you can't seem to absorb them fast enough for total satisfaction?

Anyone? Bueller?

Well, I do. Not always, but from time to time I get so excited about a book that it's almost better than Christmas. It often happens when I read Victorian literature: Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte...you know, the books that were basically Jersey Shore for 19th century England. Apparently I like smut from all centuries. I am an equal opportunity smut consumer. Most recently, Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights got me so wrapped up that I finished it in just a few days (lightening speeds for this slow-poke of a reader.)

What else would Wuthering Heights be about but love? Love that seemingly spans distance, time, and even death. Or, so it seems. Even while the characters are declaring their passionate, enduring love, Bronte seems to be questioning the purity of such attachments. Heathcliff and Catherine (they loooooove each other) claim to have a connection rooted at their very souls, yet, they never seem to be able to understand each other's motives and are constantly causing each other heartache. Their notion of an unshakeable, inherent, cosmic love is truly beautiful until one realizes that it completely fails as a practical concept. Despite their passionate soliloquizing, the characters ultimately have nothing in common other than an irrational attachment to each other. They don't even really seem to like each other all that much. Through the confusion of Heathcliff and Catherine's misplaced passion, Bronte completely rejects the possibility that such an intrinsic love could exist, let alone ultimately redeem fatally flawed characters.

And, yet...

I love the ambiguity that Bronte brings to the story through Heathcliff's tortured love. He is himself a despicable character incapable of redemption except for the fact that his love for Catherine, misplaced though it may be, is so enduring and his longing for her so pitiable that it is impossible not to think of him as some sort of tortured monster. After all, was it Grendel's fault that he was born a carnivore? Or what about the Big Bad Wolf and his cup of sugar? It makes me wonder if the simple human ability to love could itself be a redeeming force.

Happily, Bronte never tells (what would be the fun in that?), so we are left to our own conclusions. Suffice it to say that the story is a complete tragedy that ends in marriage, which I suppose in a Shakespearian sense actually makes it a comedy. Worth a read if you like that sort of smutty thing. :)

three year anniversary!

2011-10-24T13:45:00.000-07:00

Anniversaries and birthdays are a huge deal to me and Corban...this year, we went on a vacation with his family to Hawaii! It was the most spectacular vacation ever. We just got back yesterday and I am working like mad to catch up before my week begins.

We had our traditional little gift-giving ceremony a few days before our actual vacation so that we could enjoy it before we left. Corban surprised me with the camera bag from Jo Totes that I have been drooling over for weeks. :)

And, I got him a replacement for his aging laptop.

We've developed a lot of private traditions and ceremonies over the past seven years, and our gift-giving is definitely one of my favorites. I'm a huge sucker for grand displays of affection. ♥

I'm in the process of getting all my Hawaii photos together and will try to post some before the end of the week...as you can imagine, I took just a few more than was absolutely necessary. Everything was just so beautiful! Stay tuned. :)

new blog coming soon!

2011-10-24T08:24:00.000-07:00

Hello, lovelies! As some of you may know, this blog started out as a way for me to show off paintings and communicate information for my little business, Shertown Studios. Well, the winds of change have blown and my focus has shifted from art to academics. As I have long since focused the content of this blog on my personal affairs rather than professional pursuits, I feel that it is time for me to move to another location.

So, I am proud to introduce to you my new blog, Spangled Paraphernalia! Pleasepleaseprettyplease add the new url to your reader or follow on Google Friend Connect. I will continue regular posts on this site until the end of October, after which, Shertown Studios will become a strictly business-oriented blog...which means that I have no idea what I'm doing with it for the time being, but I will certainly keep you informed! And don't worry, I'll give you a few reminders before the end of the month. ;)

Thank you so much in advance for putting up with my flightiness! My silly little blog has been a great project for me and I am so grateful for all the people who have supported me and read my musing and ratings. You guys are the best!

new furry friend

2011-10-21T10:45:00.000-07:00

Hanging out on The Lion and Crown patio during a recent rainy weekend, we got to spend time with a sweet little furry friend.

This little guy just melted my ice-cold cat lady heart. Best afternoon ever. ♥

fall love: spooky diy mobile

2011-10-20T10:41:00.000-07:00

I needed a study break the other day, so I decided to sit down and make a fun Halloween decoration.

Construction paper + tape + thread + stick = bat mobile! Super simple. I hung it by our front door so the bats swoop around whenever the door opens. Spoooooooky! :)

long-legged fly

2011-10-19T09:24:00.000-07:00

...
That the topless towers be burnt
And men recall that face,
Move most gently if move you must
In this lonely place.
She thinks, part woman, three parts a child,
That nobody looks; her feet
Practise a tinker shuffle
Picked up on a street.
Like a long-legged fly upon the stream
Her mind moves upon silence.
...
- William Butler Yeats

a trip to the pumpkin patch

2011-10-18T10:58:00.000-07:00

This year begins a new tradition for me and Corban: an annual trip to a pumpkin patch! This weekend, we went to the Arapaho United Methodist Church and picked out three beautiful pumpkins...two big ones, named Larry and Bartholomew, and a little one, named Baby. We're going to carve them later this month.

I absolutely love pumpkins, I couldn't help taking about a thousand photos (sorry I posted so many!) I've always thought they were so arresting...the colors, shapes, and textures are just astoundingly interesting and pleasant (plus, they are super tasty...just this morning I had pumpkins pancakes, and they were delish!)

Even though it's still 85 degrees outside, I really feel like it's autumn now that my house is filled with pumpkins. I can't wait to carve these bad boys! :)

three years of love

2011-10-17T12:56:00.000-07:00

Exactly three years ago, I was doing this:

When I look back at that day, we seem so young. I can see why people thought we were crazy. But, I knew then and I know now that it was the best decision we ever made. ♥ ♥ ♥

outfit: rainy daze

2011-10-14T06:58:00.000-07:00

Corban and I recently spent a wonderfully lazy Sunday afternoon visiting with friends and sipping mimosas on a patio while listening to the rain. Perfection. It was a wonderful excuse to use the cute cartoony umbrella that my mother-in-law gave me for Christmas last year. :)

The tinkle of my charm bracelet matched the sweet patter of the rain. I haven't worn this bracelet in ages, but I thought it was time to break it out of the jewelry box. My father started it for me my freshman year of high school and added charms as he found them. There are charms for so many different lovely memories: chorus, piano, swim team, handbell choir, Oklahoma!, best friends, ski trips, and on and on. Looking at it makes me so happy. Maybe soon I will start a new bracelet for my adult adventures. :)

Here's to rainy days and happy memories!

sunsets with my love

2011-10-13T07:18:00.000-07:00

Some days it is absolutely necessary to rush to the park right after work to see the sun set.

Sunsets are best when shared. :)

talking in bed

2011-10-12T07:21:00.000-07:00

photo by Lauren Pinson Photography

Talking in bed ought to be easiest,
Lying together there goes back so far,
An emblem of two people being honest.
Yet more and more time passes silently.
Outside, the wind's incomplete unrest
Builds and disperses clouds in the sky,
And dark towns heap up on the horizon.
None of this cares for us. Nothing shows why
At this unique distance from isolation
It becomes still more difficult to find
Words at once true and kind,
Or not untrue and not unkind.
- Philip Larkin

fall love: diy fabric wreath

2011-10-11T07:31:00.000-07:00

One of my goals this year has been to decorate for holidays. I always wanted to in the past, but never seemed to get around to it. No longer! This fall, I started with a diy wreath that I spied on A Beautiful Mess last year.

I made it almost entirely out of supplies I already had lying around, which kind of made me feel like the Craft Queen. And, I must say...it feels good to be Queen. :) Find the tutorial here if you want to make your own! It's a super fun project while re-watching your favorite tv show (aka: Freaks and Geeks.)

How about you guys? What are some of your favorite crafts this season?

date night - pizza by marco

2011-10-10T06:48:00.000-07:00

I feel that I am not presumptuous when I say that Corban and I are quite the pizza connoisseurs. There is nothing that we love more than a really good slice of pizza. I had been wanting to try Pizza by Marco for months, and when I finally got the chance, I was not disappointed. The super thin, crispy crust and a amazingly flavorful sauce made me a believer within seconds. I highly recommend if you're in the Dallas area!

dreaming of pumpkins...

2011-10-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin carving is an autumnal activity that I have been looking forward to for months. I think I'm even pretty close to settling on a design.

source

source

source

I'm definitely in love with the classic "Jack" face, a la Return to Oz and The Nightmare Before Christmas. You know...keepin' it classy in the Casa de Johnson. I can't wait to drag Corban to a pumpkin patch this weekend! I haven't carved a pumpkin since I was a very small child, and I'm holding on to that child-like wonder. :)

I'm also relying pretty heavily on googled info to get me through the process. Is anyone else carving pumpkins this year? Any tricks of the trade from my more seasoned pumpkin carvers out there?

book review: in the land of invented languages

2011-10-06T06:57:00.000-07:00

I'm determined to write book reviews more often. Now that I am back in school and tutoring students in writing, it certainly couldn't hurt for me to get as much practice as I can with writing. Plus, it's a good excuse to put much more time than I should into pleasure reading. :)

Spending time at work and school around people who share my interests and obsessions has given me so much confidence and really awakened my curiosity, which is probably why, when I happened to see a display of In the Lange of Invented Languages by the linguist Arika Okrent at Half-Priced Books, I just had to indulge. The book centers around Okrent's studies of the history and current life of artificial language invention. If you are the kind of person who would find this subject fascinating, read on! If you are not (weirdo), please read this post about my backpack.

In the few short ~~days~~ weeks that it took me to read this book, I went from barely having heard of Esperanto to putting its study on my list of goals for 2012. If it's possible, I have actually fallen deeper into nerdom now that I am aware of the fact that Middle Earth was "made rather to provide a world for the languages than the reverse"(from The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien). Huge volumes of text and hours of story-telling are a reasonable price to pay, in my eyes, to provide a platform on which to present an invented language. I also sympathize with the grown adults that Okrent describes fretting over their Klingon proficiency exams. That's totally normal, right?

More importantly and (somewhat) more seriously, Okrent asks her audience to simply marvel at the ability of languages to give form to the imperfect jumble of human thought. Though human beings often bemoan their plight of having to take pains to properly communication abstract concepts and emotions, the flexibility of the spoken word really does allow for a huge range of self-expression. Since our thoughts can not be perfect, it stands to reason that language would be the same. It's really no wonder that attempts to clean up the mess and make a universal human communication system have generally been less than successful.

As well as being just plain entertaining, In the Land of Invented Languages was a great encouragement to me to continue to be curious and pursue my linguistic studies. I would recommend this book for anyone with an interest in languages, natural or artificial (though, I will warn you that real comprehension does require a bit of linguistic base knowledge.) Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it and am grateful for the shot in the arm of enthusiasm that I needed to propel me into my studies with renewed vigor.

outfit: menswear

2011-10-05T07:17:00.000-07:00

The other day I definitely put on my husband's shirt instead of doing laundry. Yes, I am just that lazy. It ended up working out, though...I'm pretty sure no one noticed. That could have been because they were distracted by my new bangs, though.

Either way, I deem the experiment a great success! I hear menswear is coming back, anyway. I will feel no hesitation when cross dressing from now on!

grandma's 96th

2011-10-04T06:55:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I had the amazing privilege of celebrating my Great Grandmother's 96th birthday with a few family members. I was so happy to spend the time with my family, some of whom I haven't seen for five or more years.

I will say, as I've said many times before, that she is such a special woman and I feel so amazingly lucky I have her in my life. It's always so amazing to visit her house and all the happy memories it holds. I can't wait to go back for Thanksgiving. Happy birthday, Grandma, I love you! ♥ ♥ ♥

ode to a backpack

2011-10-03T15:06:00.000-07:00

I have recently been forced to the realization that the backpack which I have used and loved since the eighth grade has died what was probably a slow and painful death. Through middle school, high school, and college, it has served me well; now it is time to bid farewell.

Had you for twelve years
Don't want to say goodbye, but
Your lining is dead

date night - meso maya

2011-10-03T06:50:00.000-07:00

Today's Date Night is really a lunch date with my best friend, Ashley! We tried out the new Meso Maya on Preston and Forest.

We both had the tacos (chicken for me, shrimp for her), which were amaaaaaazing! Ashley tried the skinny margarita, which I thought was fantastic, and I had the white sangria. I'm definitely bringing Corban back here asap. Since our beloved Masaryk closed about a year and a half ago, we haven't had any good mod Mexican. I'm so excited that we have such a fabulous replacement!

All my Dallas peeps, please go to this restaurant so that it does not meet the same sad fate as Masaryk! We need this place to stay around. And, take caution when you try the salsa...it's hothothot!

sunset walks

2011-09-29T07:15:00.000-07:00

A post about sunset walks from Olivia over at Everyday Musings gave me a moment of thought. She always posts the most lovely photos from her travels, and it's obvious from her writing and images that she really makes an effort to see the beauty in the world (and take walks at sunset every day!)

What an inspiring idea.

It's like having a date every day with the world you live in. Or maybe a bit more like prayer. "Hey, Earth, it's me, Chelle. Just wanted to say hi and thanks for being so totally awesome!"

It's the way I want to be. I'm glad to have such heartfelt daily reminders.

outfit - comfy tee

2011-09-27T06:51:00.000-07:00

Comfy v-neck American Apparel tees have been my total go-to item the past month. With grad school, work, teacher classes, and general life activities (not to mention all the walking and book shlepping that go along), I've got to stay as comfortable as possible while still maintaining a level of confidence. That means flattering clothes that are also super duper comfy. Basically, the Shangri-La of women's fashion.

I paired a simple grey tee with pearls, skinny jeans, and highhigh heels to make me feel sexy in the day time, then switched it up with denim shorts, Converse, and the German hat for fun at Oktoberfest in the evening. Such a versatile item! Love me a grey v-neck tee.

date night - the ginger man

2011-09-26T07:13:00.000-07:00

Now that we've truly entered what I like to call "porch weather," Corban and I have started venturing to try outdoor eats and drinks for date night. Recently we revisited The Ginger Man in Uptown, a pub located in a rickety old house with an amazing backyard porch filled with twinkle lights. I'm a huge sucker for twinkle lights. The pub is known for it's large selection of beers and ciders. I, true to form, ordered wine. :)

This is really one of my favorite porches of all time. Seating is mostly long tables and benches, so people have to sit pretty close together and, dare it say it, actually interact! For a person battling social anxiety, this may not seem ideal. However, it worked out as we were able to snag a private table and do some very interesting people-watching at a respectable distance from the crowds. :)

oktoberfest 2011

2011-09-23T07:02:00.000-07:00

Last weekend our favorite park was transformed from this-

into this-

Pretty crazy, huh? I still can't believe how many people can be packed into one space. We always end up running into some of the most random people in the world. Last year it was our favorite barista. This year? Our hairdresser! It seems that nearly everyone in the DFW metroplex makes it out for this event.

Oh, and remember the chicken hat of which I spoke? Here's my proof:

Yes, what you are seeing is a grown man of 26 years wearing a felt chicken on his head. Maybe that's the point of Oktoberfest - a place to be as silly as possible, just for one night. Silly we were, my friends, silly indeed.

Once Oktoberfest has come and gone, we really know that summer is over. Now I am dreaming of Autumn-themed DIYs, apple cider, and fall leaves. If only the weather would cooperate! Hopefully the 95 degree afternoons will subside in a couple weeks, and we can really start enjoying my favorite season. Happy Friday, all, have safe and happy weekends!

outfit: tents + jeans

2011-09-20T22:00:00.000-07:00

Holy moly, it's finally jean weather again! Time to put away my pasty white girl legs and enjoy being covered up.

I haven't worn these jeans for quite a while, and it seems that they're a little big on me since I lost a little weight. Oops. I still love the super long length and the little flair at the bottom, so I'm wearin' 'em anyway! I am over the moon that flairs are coming back, they have always been my favorite style.

Jean weather came just in time for last weekend's Oktoberfest! I can't believe it's come and gone already. These photos were taken a week before the festival while the tents were still being constructed. Stay tuned for photos of the revelry! *spoiler alert: a chicken hat was involved, and by "chicken hat" I mean a hat that was shaped like a chicken.*

cutest treasury evar...

2011-09-19T10:31:00.000-07:00

I don't always get a chance to inform you guys of the sweet treasuries that my work is included in (I don't know how to put this, but I'm kind of a big deal (sarcasm)), but this one is just too darling not to share. The title: A corpse is meat gone bad. Well and what's cheese? Corpse of milk. How does one not love that!?

Go check it out here if you're in to etsy. If you're not, well, then we really need to have a talk.

new feature - date night

2011-09-18T22:11:00.000-07:00

To say that I am not the best or most confident chef is putting it mildly. I don't enjoy cooking, and although I have gotten better at it, my skills are beginner level at best. That being said, the mister and I try to eat at home as much as possible to save dollars (and pounds!) Sometimes though, we really just have to treat ourselves, especially for our weekly date nights. :)

I've been wanting to develop some more features for the blog and since we like food so much, restaurant posts seemed like a perfect fit. So, without further ado, I present to you the first ever Shertown Studios food feature, Date Night!

The hubs and I chose Chuy's for a recent Friday date night. It's the only Tex-Mex chain that I actually like (maybe because it's mostly a Texas thing.)

The food was super yummy...they are having some chili bonanza thing, so mister was able to get something deathly spicy, which suited him just fine. I order the equally deadly Mexican martini, which suited me just fine. :) Tex-Mex + margaritas + hubbs = perfect date night.

new painting: speechless

2011-09-16T08:28:00.000-07:00

I'm such a blog slacker. I finished this painting a week ago, but am just now getting around to posting about it. Bad Blogger Behavior.

It's listed here in the shop.

If you can't tell, this one was based on me and the hubbs. :)

new painting!

2011-09-09T11:04:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been so long since I finished a new painting! I actually finished this one a month or two ago, but I wasn't able to get any good photos of it until Vera came into my life.

Remember this sketch? I liked it so much I ~~put a ring on it~~ made a painting out of it (listed here in the shop). It's hard to tell exact how I feel about cicadas. The shrill chirping brings back such happy, carefree childhood memories...but they also represent the awful, oppressive heat of summer. Sometimes I just have to remind myself that they are just chirping because they love me. :)

I've been feeling pretty uninspired lately (maybe because I have so much on my plate), but I really miss painting regularly and want to try to get back into it. I'm hoping that I'll get a good routine down once I get used to my new tutoring job, and I'll be able to devote more time and energy to painting.

I'm so happy to have a nice, relaxing weekend ahead of me. Happy Friday, lovelies!

the green monster

2011-09-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

The time time has come to admit to myself and the the world that I have become one of those people...The kind of people who do yoga and drink green mystery smoothies.

I got inspired to start eating just a little healthier and planning my meals just a little better when I read Amy's post on planning healthy eating. I eat a lot of fruit and smoothies, so I decided to try out a couple of the recipes she included for "Green Monster" smoothies.

Now, I have always looked sideways at overly "healthy" people. You know, the people who buy large gallons of protein powder and vitamin supplements...who are ridiculously skinny and do liquid cleanse diets twice a year just to "flush out the toxins"...who run ten miles with a smile on their face, only lightly perspiring on their pastel Lululemon sports bras. Those people.

However, I am learning that not boasting the above mentioned qualities does not preclude one from having a healthy lifestyle. Perhaps, dare I say it, one might actually have the right to bodily health without owning a single item of clothing purchased at Lululemon. Just because I sweat buckets when I work out and will never feel comfortable in the crane pose, it does not mean that putting a handful of spinach and a scoop of protein powder in my smoothies is a wasted effort. Sure, I like sci-fi and photography; I'd rather sleep in than get up to go to yoga. But, these personal preferences have nothing to do with my physical health.

It seems that only certain "types" of people are expected to go to great trouble for their bodily well-being. If a person isn't sporty or naturally inclined to participate in more physical activities, it becomes acceptable, sometimes even encouraged for them to forgo any sort of exertion in the name of health. Many of my friends are of this type. Eyes roll when I order a salad or decline beers and cigarettes. Would the same actions illicit the same reaction if I were more into sports than sci-fi? If I preferred kale to Kit-Kats?

(Which leads me to another thought - are these attitudes reactions to stereotypes or simply effects of the Great American Instant Gratification Syndrome? If people expect to get what the want when they want it, do they expect others to have the same priorities? Is it somehow un-American to exercise impulse control?)

Acting contrary to people's expectations isn't easy. Peer pressure exists at any age, and being different isn't always flattering. Changing habits and lifestyles may be hard without having a huge support system, but it's important to me, and I feel that I have a right to feel good about myself.

All this, just to show you guys a picture of my gross-looking (but delicious) morning beverage. :)

outfit: day at the park

2011-09-07T07:46:00.000-07:00

Some days are just for t-shirts and jeans, you know? Corban and I used our Labor Day afternoon to take Vera for a walk in the park and check out the tent being constructed for the upcoming Oktoberfest.

It was such a lovely day to walk around the park. We always enjoy seeing the construction before a big event...spaces feel so different when they are packed with people, and it seems almost magical thinking that the quiet little park we are standing in will soon be something else entirely - transformed into a huge festival ground filled with people, food, dancing, and music.

I like the idea that a place (or thing) can hold such endless possibilities. :)

new camera!

2011-09-05T19:57:00.000-07:00

After using my trusty little Sony Cybershot for four years, I finally decided that it was time to upgrade to a DSLR. I've been talking about it all year, but this weekend I finally broke down and bought myself a proper camera.

Meet Vera, my brand new Nikon D3100! I've already taken her on a few photography outings, and I think I'm in love. ♥

Expect lots of picture-laden posts later this week!

life lessons: social media sobriety

2011-08-31T07:34:00.000-07:00

I think that many of us have experienced "internet guilt" at some point in our lives. You know, that hour you wasted stalking people on facebook when you should have been working? Those tipsy tweets you sent out while carousing with friends? The past few months, I have realized that I take time away from legitimate pursuits in order to assuage my self-inflicted boredom with social media. I even started tweeting/facebooking at stop lights, for christsake! That can't be healthy behavior.

When Corban and I visited friends in California a few weeks ago, I made the conscious decision to turn off the iPhone and completely disengage from social media. It. Felt. Awesome.

(I was so in the moment that I even considered putting away the camera, but I just couldn't bring myself not to document all those fabulous moments.)

Since being back, I have only used facebook, twitter, and google plus to communicate with people directly, which has drastically reduced the amount of time I spend waiting to be entertained. This month I've started working towards a teacher certification and a masters degree; I feel that I am so much more focused on these endeavors than I ever could have been if I were popping over to twitter every five minutes.

Is it the American instant gratification mentality that causes us to become so addicted to social media? I must admit that in the past three weeks of being internet "sober," I have experienced withdraws. When I am stumped on a problem or unengaged for a moment, I immediately feel "bored" and I have to resist the urge to check out what's happening on facebook. Upon hearing that the new Rachel Zoe season is starting soon (I DIE!), I had to keep my self from tweeting about it.

Am I so afraid of having a silent moment by myself that I immediately assume that I am bored and in need of entertainment? Or, do I feel that the world will forget about me if I don't constantly remind it of my existence?

Probably a bit of both.

My goal for myself is to really focus on all the things I want to accomplish this year and not let my instant gratification sensibilities scare me away from hard work. I want to relish this time in my life, truly enjoy learning new things, and feel proud of myself for working hard to have all the things I want in life.

How about you guys? Do you feel that constant connection to social media loosens our connection to real life?

x♥o♥x♥o

a year of 25

2011-08-29T06:50:00.000-07:00

In an attempt to be one of those "organized" students this semester, I started cleaning up my desktop (the digital one, the physical top of my desk is still a mess) and I found a list that I haphazardly typed up a few months ago of things I wanted to do before I turned 26.

I know, everyone does these. Try not to judge.

Blogger cliche aside, it does help me feel accomplished when I have set, written goals that I can cross off a list. If it works for household chores and and grocery shopping, why not for life? And, why not use this blog to hold myself accountable?

So, here is my list!

1. become a yogi

2. buy at least 1 item of clothing every month (preferably made in the US)

3. take at least two plane trips

4. quit smoking

5. send Christmas cards

6. decorate bedroom

7. go the the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens

8. make a bundt cake

9. get teacher certification

10. make plans for 2012 international vacation

11. read 12 books

12. toast the new year
13. start graduate school

I'm also going put this list on a page below my header. Watch me cross these babies off!

books + budweiser

2011-08-26T14:33:00.000-07:00

There is truly nothing better than sitting on a porch in the scalding heat, drinking beers and champaign while discussing the intricacies of being alive with intelligent, country-hipster friends.

It is my genuine belief that champaign tastes better when sipped from a jelly jar.

dallas skies

2011-08-25T07:51:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, driving back from dinner at Tillman's, Corban and I witnessed the most glorious Dallas sunset.

I hope that I will never grow out of being amazed at the simple beauties of life.

And, I will always maintain that my city has the prettiest skyline. ♥

silly in cali

2011-08-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

Tired of hearing about California yet? Well, this is the last post, I promise!

With so many funny, silly people all hanging out together at once, there were many funny, silly moments. I'm a pretty introverted person, so for me to have such a great time with such a large group of people is really something. Add to that the fact that there are so many pictures to prove it, I just couldn't keep myself from sharing with everyone!

So, behold! Me and my friends at our silliest.

As you can see, there was lots of flannel and wine. A perfect combination while camping on the beach, don't you think?

Thanks for listening, my lovelies! It makes me feel so wonderful to know that there are even a few people who read my little blog and know about what is happening in my little corner of the world. Long-distance hugs to you all!! :)

california scenes

2011-08-24T09:49:00.000-07:00

Coming from such a hot state, I was amazed at the vegetation in California. There are actual flowers blooming in August! Amazing!

Plus, the whole "large body of water" thing is pretty awesome, too. :)

california in film

2011-08-24T07:50:00.000-07:00

Guess who loves her antiquated film camera because she never got over the 90's?

THIS GAL.

I just melt when I hear the CLICK-WHIRRRR as the film advances. :)

Anyway, this is the long-awaited vacation re-cap post (one of three)! California was fantastic. The weekend went something like this:

Mr + Mrs Johnson freak out about how amazing the Pacific Ocean is. They decide to stay forever.
Mr + Mrs Johnson sit in traffic for hours and hours. They don't care because they are in California.
Mr + Mrs Johnson meet three lovely British girls. They become best friends forever.
Mr + Mrs Johnson drink boxed wine and beer. They start a fire and sleep on the beach.

Wash, rinse, and repeat.

There were actual palm trees. PALM TREES, people! (can you tell I live in totally land-locked Dallas, TX?)

In short, we spent an amazing five days running around with and sleeping in the same two-bedroom apartment as four British girls and four American guys. We plan to return as soon as possible.

Soon to come, a couple extremely image-heavy post with all the digital photos of the trip I took with my point-and-shoot and gleaned from Facebook. I know you are super excited. ;)

nom town: tillman's roadhouse

2011-08-23T07:27:00.000-07:00

Special occasions (i.e. birthday, anniversaries, graduations, etc) mean fancy dinners for me and Mr. Johnson. We like to sit around eating fabulous dinners and pretending we are foodies. We are so very bourgeois.

Since Corban turned 26 this month, I was more than happy to take my man to dinner at Tillman's Roadhouse in Oak Cliff. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

amuse = spicy popcorn
cocktail = Blood Orange Margarita
appetizer = Heirloom Tomato Salad (hers) + Fried Pickles (his)
entre = Pan Seared Salmon (hers) + Ribs (his)

Ashley and I went to Tillman's for our birthdays in January, and I've been dying to take my mister ever since. I absolutely love this restaurant. The decor is, in Corban's eloquent words, "middle-brow chic," which I absolutely love. The food is high-brow Southern. Everything was positively delicious, but my favorites were the margarita and the tomato salad.

Not only were the food and atmosphere amazing, but cocktails, appetizers, and entres for two people came up to less than $100. Uhm, yes please. Happy birthday to us all.

outfit: lace+ flowers

2011-08-22T07:48:00.000-07:00

date: August 20, 2011 / occasion: tax free weekend shopping
details: shirt-Strut / shorts-Old Navy / shoes-Steve Madden

Double portrait! My photographer and me. ♥

There's something so magical about back-to-school shopping that I always want to join in, even if it's just a little bit. Corban and I spent the afternoon on Saturday people-watching in the Galleria and buying a few little odds and ends. I was this close to buying a Lisa Frank-inspired leopard-print Jansport backpack. Because every little girl needs a new backpack on her first day of school. :)

PS - Do not worry, lovelies, I haven't forgotten the vacation post I promised! I'm still gathering and editing the many, many photographs that were taken by the many, many photographers over the weekend. :)

back from vacation

2011-08-17T10:20:00.000-07:00

What's up, internet!? The break was absolutely amazing, just what I needed to prepare for the busy times to come. I'm re-energized and totally ready to tackle all my new projects.

I'm still working on getting my photos together, but I promise a vacation recap post asap. <3

a little mini vacay

2011-08-11T17:43:00.000-07:00

It seems that is has become incumbent upon me to tell you all that I am taking a little mini vacation from the ol' blog. I've got lots of exciting things coming up at the end of the month, so I feel that a teeny tiny break is in order before the beautiful storm begins.

Do not fear, I will be back next week! In the meantime, be comforted knowing that Mr. Cicada loves you. ♥

favorite things: matthew and the atlas / i followed fires

2011-08-09T13:05:00.000-07:00

Despite being a total choir nerd in high school, I've only recently really gotten "into" music. I always just tended to listen to whatever was pop-y and easy. That was before I heard Vampire Weekend in my hairdresser's studio.

Since then, I've been collecting music at an almost maniacal rate. One of my very favorite recently-discovered bands is Matthew and the Atlas. I'm having a really hard time not listening to I Followed Fires on repeat all day, every day.

It's so nom-y. There's just something about banjos that stops my heart.

outfit: yellow + gold

2011-08-08T10:41:00.000-07:00

Date: August 5, 2011 / Occasion: errand running + sitting at home with mister
Details: dress-Strut / Shoes-Steve Madden / necklace-loan from Dad / sunglasses-Urban Outfitters

The cartouche necklace is from my dad's collection; it's supposed to be a good luck charm. I'm actually oddly superstitious about good luck charms, arbitrary items with personal significance. When I was in middle school, I bought a sand-filled fabric frog (you know, the one's you get at Earth Bound right next to the hermit crabs) which I has been my good luck charm ever since. When I started driving, I put him in my car so he could protect me.

Ok, I know a bean-bag frog can't actually protect me from automobile accidents, but it feels nice to put significance in things. As though believing in it is the true protection.

The necklace is pretty at any rate. :)

favorite things: summer fruit

2011-08-04T06:54:00.000-07:00

There's about two weeks every summer when the peaches have magic in them.

life lessons: learning a craft

2011-08-03T10:10:00.000-07:00

It takes time (sometimes many years) to develop a vision and learn your "craft". Wherever you are, don't rush the learning process. The more time you spend developing your skills and style, the better. Be encouraged and keep learning! - Elsie Larson

My first inclination is often to become frustrated when things don't happen fast enough. I always seem to feel like I'm in an "in-between" stage...stuck between places where I want to be, never quite there. But, that's life! I want to always be learning and growing, which means that I probably won't ever really feel like I have everything figured out. And, that's ok!

Thanks for the advice, Elsie! Exactly the encouragement I needed to take that next step forward. ♥

new hair (kind of)

2011-08-03T07:45:00.000-07:00

Check it out, bangs! No more hippy hair! This is a big deallllll!

Can you tell that I am ever so slightly vain about my hair?

I was in serious danger of chopping it all off. Every few months I get an irresistible itch to cut off all my hair (or at least dye it purple or something), all the while knowing in the back of my mind that I've been growing my hair out for years and I would be really pissed at myself for ruing all that hard work. It's kind of the devil on one should and angel on the other thing. Mister convinced me to just do a bang trim. He always knows what's best. :)

Does anyone else get that hair-changing itch?

favorite things: i was wrong / dance

2011-08-02T13:06:00.000-07:00

I must admit that I was a little resentful when Sleeperstar's I Was Wrong blew up after being on the Vampire Diaries. That was genuinely my favorite song on Just Another Ghost, and now all the teeny bopper posers are freaking out about it.

Geez, Chelle, bitter much?

That being said, I love love love this video.

I don't know who these people are or what their deal is, but this dance moves me. It really expresses the yearning and passion that resonates in me when I listen to the song.

It's really nice to know that I can still be stopped in my tracks. <3<3<3

recent life in instagram

2011-08-01T16:27:00.000-07:00

Life has been busy lately, so all you get today are instagram photos. :)

1. new OPI nail polish (50% off!!)
2. fancy cocktails at Whiskey Cake (highly recommended)
3. Yogurtland date with mister
4. my favorite beer
5. new brushes (sorely needed)
6. new Steve Madden sandals (50% off!!)
7. first Polk-A-Dot Bakery experience (yummy raspberry/cream cheese pastry)

bookstore photo shoot

2011-07-28T12:53:00.000-07:00

The other day I was in need of cheering-up, so I had the husband meet me after work at used bookstore for a silly photo shoot. There's nothing like a little silliness to bright up one's day.

We definitely got a lot of nasty looks from the blue-haired woman in the sci-fi section next to us. She was taking her shopping very seriously.

But, don't worry - we put all the books back in alphabetical order.

all the ways that we're adorable

2011-07-27T06:31:00.000-07:00

There are so many ways that I love Sarah from Yes and Yes. This post adds another to the list.

Why can't we just admit that we like things about our physical appearance? Why can't we say positive things about ourselves without being considered totally narcissistic!? To quote, "I think it's high time we discussed the ways in which we're adorable"!

Here I go...

♥ I have long, naturally red hair, which is totally awesome and makes me feel unique.
♥ I have graceful-looking "piano" hands.
♥ I have very pretty straight teeth (even dentists have been known to say so!)
♥ I have ankles and wrists that are just the right amount of skinny and I love them.
♥ I have a nose with a ridge on the top which some have said is too big, but I like it because I think it's Grecian and distinctive.

Man, I'm getting so girl power all up in here!

How about you? What are five things that you think make you adorable? If you post a list on your blog, please leave a comment here with a link, I'd love to see your lists!

Ok, I've got to go ahead and post this before I get embarrassed and delete the whole thing!!

i love today because it feels like autumn

2011-07-26T15:26:00.000-07:00

I woke up early enough this morning to check on some blogs before work and discovered that Rachel of Soft Spoken is having a crazy-huge sale (you should go check it out). So, I bought two knitted hats in anticipation of colder weather...

Then I stepped outside and it was a delightful 88 degrees instead of the usual 108. On the drive to work it was completely overcast. With the A/C blasting in my car, I could almost believe that there was a crisp bite to the air and beautiful fall leaves on the ground.

Summer may be my boo, but Autumn is my fantasy girl.

outfit: mamacita dress

2011-07-25T07:29:00.000-07:00

I'm not usually a fan of maxi dresses, but this super cute and comfy dress from Strut is definitely an exception. I had to go to work right after shooting this photos, so I had to change, which made me sad. I always feel pretty and feminine in that dress.

Date: July 24, 2011 / Occasion: brunch with hubs
Details: dress-Strut / shoes-Guess / necklaces-loan from dad, gift from hubs, Frocks / earrings-Express / sunnies-Target

The shortest necklace is another metal-detecting find from my dad made of yellow and rose gold. I heart rose gold. I've actually started a lending library system with his collection of found jewelry...I can take it home, but I have to bring it back if I want more! The late fines are going to be epic.

Today I re-start my work out routine! Looking forward to my yoga class in an hour, but not the total-body soreness that will come after.

sister birthday

2011-07-24T07:35:00.000-07:00

This weekend, my beautiful and amazingly talented little sister turned 20...the teenage years are over! To celebrate, we spent the day hanging out, eating lunch (and maybe just a little bit of ice-cream), and getting her a fabulous new haircut.

Isn't she beautiful? Oh, and we also discovered that we have almost the exact same sunglasses!

Happy birthday, my dear sister! I love you so much and I'm so glad I was able to celebrate your special day with you!

what's in my bag?

2011-07-23T19:20:00.000-07:00

My first adult cosmetics experience happened about nine months ago when my BFF took me for a makeover at MAC.

Yes, I am 25 years old. I realize that I'm a bit late (like, 12 years) to the party. It's just not something I ever really learned how to do. I was skeptical at first, but was definitely more accepting when I suddenly had eyebrows for the first time ever (they are blond, blond, blond...basically the same color as my skin.) Lately I've even started getting a little creative (and even occasionally jiggy) with it.

I still keep my look pretty basic for day-to-day, but I'm really enjoying some fun pink and purple eyeshadows for this summer.

Maybe this fall I'll crazy-go-nuts and try green. So scandalous. :)

outfit: mixed patterns

2011-07-21T12:08:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it, but today I realized that I'm sick and tired of wearing shorts. So, I reached for a dress for the first time in ages.

Date: July 21, 2011 / Occasion: work/professional meeting
Details: dress, earrings-Express / cardigan-Frocks / shoes-Steve Madden / sunglasses-Urban Outfitters / watch-Michael Kors / leather bracelet-Flourish / thread bracelet-handmade/gift

My sweet and long-suffering husband has agreed to start taking some of these photos for me (let's be real, the whole Photo Booth thing was getting pretty depressing), which means that I now get to go outside and act the fool in front of my neighbors! In the excruciating heat! Exciting!

I'm also playing around with Photoshop actions for the first time ever, so please bear with me if my photos are a little wonky for a spell.

psa: my cat is adorable

2011-07-21T06:33:00.000-07:00

I would like to take a moment to discuss how amazingly cute my cat is.

End of PSA. Thanks for listening.

max's first birthday

2011-07-20T08:52:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, Corban and I went to the birthday party for a one-year-old. It was Where the Wild Things Are themed and therefore incredibly cute. Also, there were babies, which do tend to be quite adorable themselves.

I was so overwhelmed with the cuteness of it all that after about an hour I thought I would explode if I did not hold a baby. My ovaries just couldn't take it any more. I think I may have given my poor husband a heart attack.

In that last picture, you will see the epitome of laziness. The gift we bought didn't fit into any of the pretty gift bags I had laying around. So, what did I do? I painted a paper bag from the liquor store and called it a day. That's right, I gave their child a booze bag. I am a class act.

love is a sandwich

2011-07-19T08:15:00.000-07:00

The hubs and I must give off a pretty strong "love" vibe. The Jersey Mike's crew labeled our sammies in the sweetest of fashions.

This actually happens a lot.

teaching english to tolucans

2011-07-18T06:19:00.000-07:00

Remember how I was volunteering at the UNT LTC Summer Institute? Well, I have pictures, including a few from when we got to hang out with a special guest lecturer, Sita from India!

This was a really great experience for me, I am so fired up to start grad school next month (of course, I'm sure that I will change my tune the second I get my first homework assignment.)

P.S. This is my 200th post! Is that a thing? I feel like it's a thing.

outfit: lace and denim

2011-07-17T19:22:00.000-07:00

It's been 100+ degrees out every day for the past two weeks. What does that mean for me? Skanky see-through lace top and tiny cotton shorts.

Date: July 16, 2011 / Occasion: one-year-old's birthday party
Details: shirt, beaded bracelet, sunglasses-Strut / shorts-Old Navy / shoes-Guess / leather bracelet-Flourish / necklace-gift from hubby / purse-Coach

Maybe not totally appropriate for a one-year-old's birthday party, but my people are Germanic...I was made for colder climates.

Now that I see the photos, I hate those sunglasses. Which may be why I bought about a thousand new pairs at Urban Outfitters this afternoon. Yep, I am a consumer.

i just might explode sponsor giveaway

2011-07-16T09:14:00.000-07:00

This month, I am a participating in the I Just Might Explode sponsor giveaway. You should definitely go enter.

'merica day 2011

2011-07-13T13:12:00.000-07:00

My love of all things beach/pool/summer related is no secret. It therefore stands to reason that I freak out like a small child whenever the 4th of July comes around.

We did a little bit of everything this year: lakehouse, pool, cookouts, beers, games...

If you don't believe me, I have the tan lines to prove it. :) 'MERICA!

"we are mexicans!! we are humans!!"

2011-07-12T15:27:00.000-07:00

The past couple of weeks I have been volunteering at the UNT LTC Summer Institute, an emersion-and-project-based intensive English-learning program for adult students from Toluca, Mexico.

It. Has. Been. Awesome.

The students and teachers are all amazing, and I'm learning so much. On Friday, my Performing Arts class performed a flash mob that they conceptualized called "We are Mexicans!! We are Humans!!"

"We are Mexicans!! We are Humans!!" from Shertown Studios on Vimeo.

They really had a good time with it and so easily addressed such a politically/personally-charged issue (although, let's be honest, there aren't exactly a wealth of hyper-conservatives prowling around UNT.) Seriously, these students are great. They have been cracking me up every day. I will be so sad when they go home on Saturday.

video: cups (lulu and the lampshade) cover

2011-07-08T08:52:00.000-07:00

Have you seen this? I spent all day yesterday making my own.

And, when I say "all day", I mean all day.

Cups (Lulu and the Lampshades) Cover from Shertown Studios on Vimeo.

Should I be embarrassed about this? Someone please tell me if I should. I can't always tell.

las vegas 2011: the pool

2011-07-07T06:01:00.000-07:00

We go to the Mirage pool a lot while we're in Vegas. There's really not much more to say.

We even splurged and got a cabana one afternoon...although it just ended up being an expensive place to put our stuff. The pool/Dolphin Bar is pretty much my favorite part of going to Vegas. Yes, I can go to my pick of pools in Dallas. There's just something about that pool, the weather...the $20 margaritas. Mmmm...

And that concludes our look at Las Vegas 2011! I hope you had fun. :)

outfit: braids and feathers (with guest appearance from harley)

2011-07-06T06:14:00.000-07:00

I know that I am much too easily excited, but the fact that my hair is now long enough to put in one long side braid really thrills me. I've definitely got this whole "enjoy the little things" notion down.

Date: June 29, 2011 / Occasion: work
Details: shirt/skirt-Banana Republic / watch-Michael Kors / earrings-gift from husband (etsy)

Of course, Harley completely upstaged me in the last photo. You can definitely tell that she really wanted to be grabbed and shoved in front of a flashing computer screen. She's a modeling natural.

las vegas 2011: the strip

2011-07-05T10:50:00.000-07:00

Most of the Las Vegas strip walking/adventure-having was done by the guys. I'm an old fart now. I can't be expected to be having all this "fun" past 10pm. They even pulled an all-nighter at one point.

Bromance All Nighter

They kept going even after the sun came up (second to last photo) and the cleaning crews came out to the casinos (last photo.) Bunch of crazies. Despite my decided status as the resident "lame old person", I did have some good times that were not food, pool, or gambling-related. Proof:

Cirque du Soliel Ka

Friend Duck

Date Night(s)

Lonestar Park Horse Racing, A Little Taste Of Home

I've saved my favorite part (The Pool) for last. Then I'll be done. I know you can't wait.

las vegas 2011: the food

2011-07-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

Frozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity 3

Enchiladas and Brisket at Dos Caminos

32oz Beverages at the Mirage

I love food. Like, I really really love food. Eating is one of my greatest joys in life. I wouldn't say I'm a "foodie" per se, more like a "food snob." I know very little about the production of fine food and wine, but I will criticize a bad plate of food until judgement day.

That being said, the restaurants that we ate at in Vegas were just wonderful: Shibuya (not pictured), Dos Caminos, Bouchon (not pictured), and Serendipity 3. I would highly recommend any of these places if you're ever in Las Vegas and willing to drop some serious cash.

Our next vacation is going to be spent in San Diego and Los Angeles. Any must-try food suggestions?

las vegas 2011: the trip

2011-06-30T07:14:00.000-07:00

Yes, our Vegas trip was eons ago, but I still think that the internet needs to see these pictures. I'm going to split these posts up into The Trip, The Pool, The Strip, and The Food, not necessarily in that order. There are just that many photos. Don't want to crash your computer or anything. ;)

The Trip

(notice my artwork to the left of the photo)

And that, my friends, is how we got to Vegas. Pretty much the same way everybody else does it. Coming up, more pictures of my vacation! So daring! So new! Nothing that the internet has not seen ten thousand times before!!!

outfit: typewriter shirt

2011-06-29T13:07:00.000-07:00

After taking these photos, it suddenly hit me how young I dress sometimes. I'm pretty sure that I have not progressed in maturity since high school. No wonder I get carded so often.

I basically wear this shirt to work every other day. Way, way too often. It's ok if I pair it with a flouncy floral skirt, right?

Right?

On a less depressing note, who's ready for the 4th of July!?!? This is one of my favorite holidays (not there are many holidays that aren't my favorite.) It's really wrapped up in wonderful memories for me. This year I'm making red, white, and blue jello shots.

Time to make some more memories. :)

new painting: you're just what i needed

2011-06-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

It has been a seriously long time since I actually posted a new painting. I've worked on a few things here and there, but mostly as gifts (I've got something special in the works for a birthday coming up soon...who will be the lucky boy or girl!?), pieces for my home, or simply false starts.

Man, false starts are the worst.

This one was inspired by my and Corban's song, "You're Just What I Needed" by the The Cars (yes, we have a song because we are cheesy that way.) It came on the radio while I was driving to work and I was like, SHAZAM! Painting!

I lovelovelove how it turned out! Just perfect (and now that I look at it, definitely inspired by Red Velvet's Elsie.) It's posted here in the etsy shop.

I am still slowly but surely making progress on Operation Make Our Bedroom Look Amazing (and, yes, the clown painting has been hung.) Hopefully I'll pictures later this summer!

a walk in the park

2011-06-21T07:45:00.000-07:00

Some of my favorite memories have happened during completely unexpected circumstances. Almost getting caught in the sprinklers during a routine walk in the park and then hunting for rainbows definitely ranks up there.

las vegas 2011 preview

2011-06-20T09:03:00.000-07:00

It's been an entire 11 days since I last posted. How can this be!? How could I deprive the whole wide world of pictures of my cats? And minute details about my day!?

After all, the life of a semi-housewife (I cringe at the term, but let's be real here, that's what I am) is a thrilling and ever-changing saga of excitement and adventure.

Sarcasm aside, the hubs and I did just get back from a Las Vegas vacation. That makes us kind of hardcore, right?

Kenji took most of the photos (his camera is better than mine...you can't argue with science) so all I have right now are my Instagram photos. Just to give a little taste.

An amazing vacation, but happy to be home. Stay tuned for more!

the kitty saga

2011-06-09T11:53:00.000-07:00

Remember when Harley was first supposed to have her stitches out? Yeah, that didn't exactly happen the way we planned...

May 14: Surgery
It is determined that Harley has a stomach blockage and has surgery for removal.

May 16: Home From Vet
We are happy to have our no longer sick, but sore kitty home.

Welcome Home, Harley! from Shertown Studios on Vimeo.

May 20: Bandages Come Off...
So much more comfortable without bandages!

...And Then Back On
But, Harley is a dumb-ass and started chewing on her stitches, one of which broke off.

Kitty Shirt from Shertown Studios on Vimeo.

May 25: To Vet For Suture Removal...But Then More Stitches Are Put In...Thus More Bandages
Due to stitch chewing, Harley has a gaping hole in her tummy that must be re-stitched.

Kitty in Bandages from Shertown Studios on Vimeo.

May 31: To Vet For Bandage Removal...But Bandages Must Remain
Yep, still not healed. We proceed to re-bandage her at home approximately five times in the next 4 days. We are total pros at this point.

June 7th: Stitches Come Out
Harley is (finally) given a clean bill of health! Incision is healed up nicely!

Nine trips to the vet, four trips to the pharmacy for bandages, three rounds of antibiotics, and three-and-a-half weeks later the ordeal is finally over. She's so much more comfortable now and is getting back to her usual bitchy self. Our sincere thanks to everyone who has asked about our little fur ball and wished her well. We are extremely relieved that she is better.

on beauty

2011-06-08T07:57:00.000-07:00

I swear, Sarah on Yes and Yes is a total genius. I feel like we would be best friends if we met (Sarah, if for some wild reason you a reading this, please don't think I'm a creepy, shack in the woods stalker. I just love your style of writing and have that weird instinctive feeling that we'd hit it off. Also, we both love linguistics!) Her post today on the various merits and demerits of conventional physical beauty really gave me a moment of pause.

I could go on about how "society" imposes all these impossible standards of beauty on women, but the truth is that these standards have always been around, just in different forms. A large part of the characterization of the players in Jane Eyre (a novel published in 1847!) has to do with their physical attributes and the lack or presence of the day's standard of beauty.

So, you see, this is not a new thing.

My amazement comes from the fact that we as women impose these impossible standards on ourselves. Of this, I am certainly not the least guilty. I spent the past two summers completely miserable and self-concious because I felt, not only that I was too fat to walk around in a swim suit, but that my face wasn't pretty enough to make up for it.

How neurotic is that!?

My problem has always been comparing myself to those around me. Her face is prettier than mine. Her boobs are bigger. She's thinner. I know that the ideal of the Victoria Secret model is unattainable. That standard of beauty really does not exist in nature. However, I figure that if I can be friends with someone prettier than me, that I should be able to be that pretty. Because, she's real! There's nothing airbrushed about someone sitting right next to me!

It's hard to accept that there are things about ourselves that we can't change. The picture above is me as I naturally am: no makeup, no hair dye, no photoshopping. There have been times that this has bummed me out. However, I have found that the more I value myself as an intellectual being, the more that I respect my own feelings and personality, the less I worry about my physical attributes. Sure, I can't change my nose...but I also can't change my crazy witch laugh (inherited from my mother), something that I wouldn't give up for the world. Because it's me, it's something that makes me unique.

Besides, I would much rather be known for positive personality traits than physical beauty. As much as we try to fight it off, we will all age and beauty will fade or change into something different. My youth will only last for a little while longer, but I will always be me and I'd really like to learn to love myself now. ♥

memorial day 2011

2011-06-06T10:31:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know it was a week ago. I was waiting on pictures from Kenji's awesome water-proof camera, however he is a boy and boys take forever to give people their pictures. Because they are doody-heads.

Picture mongering aside, everyone had the best freaking time hanging by the pool all day and eating an unreasonable amount of burgers, hot links, ribs, potato salad, stuffed peppers, queso, and guacamole.

As you can tell, we are all about moderation.

Corban and I got really sunburned, being confused on the distinction between sunblock and tanning lotion.

And, that's how we learned out lesson.

life lessons: vulnerability

2011-06-06T08:52:00.000-07:00

from this amazing blog

Something that I have been realizing lately is that I do have problems being vulnerable to people. Even to my closest friends and family, even to my husband! I instinctively push away, make a joke, smooth a subject over when I feel uncomfortably open to people. It's like I'm a lobster protecting my soft underbelly with a hard outer shell. Even my cats can lay there with their soft little bellies exposed! Why is it so hard for me to look someone in the eye and tell them that I love them!?

I'm sure this is a common issue, but for me it's one that I didn't even know I had until recently. It's just been lurking on my shoulder, dropping little negative suggestions from time to time.

"Don't talk about your issues, you will look less in control."

"Don't tell people how much they mean to you, they'll just think you're a sap."

"Don't go for that opportunity, you'll just look stupid."

It seems that avoiding being vulnerable is all about appearances. And I thought I didn't care about what other people think. Huh.

It's not super obvious (at least to me), but vulnerability isn't a weakness, it's necessary in order for relationships to thrive and risks to be taken. Strength, then, isn't a measure of how "perfect" or "together" a person is, but how confident they are in risking their image or emotions for what they think is right or beneficial.

Now that I've realized these things, what do I do about it? I've found that eye contact is a huge part of emotional communication. I have a really hard time making eye contact with people, it makes me super uncomfortable. If I make eye contact with someone, it forces me to take what they are saying seriously (even if what they are saying is emotionally uncomfortable) but the real kicker is that it makes me take what I am saying seriously. I often forget that my friends and family want to hear what I have to say and that they will take me seriously as long as they know that I take myself seriously.

So, I guess it's all about respect. It's hard to look someone in the eye if you don't respect them or what they are saying. It's hard to look someone in the eye if you know you're bullshitting them. What I've got to realize is that people will respect me even if I let myself be vulnerable to them. That my vulnerability will not necessarily be judged as a weakness. And, who cares what anyone else thinks anyway?

Does anyone else struggle with opening up to people, even friends and family? What have you done to handle these insecurities?

ode to my great grandma

2011-06-01T16:08:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, my dad and I drove up to see my great grandma (she lives almost two hours away.) I was so excited to visit with her and take some lovely photos of her garden, her house, and of course the woman herself (although that one was a bit of a battle, she hates having her pictures taken.)

But, she's so nice that she let me. :)

I can easily say that my great grandmother is the coolest person I have ever met in my entire life. She's turning 96 this year, and she still lives alone, drives, sews, cooks, and tends flower and vegetable gardens. Up until a recent hand injury, she even made booties for premature babies and lab robes for a senior citizen center. She never wastes anything and could probably find a use for anything. I guess growing up in the depression does that to you.

All her awesome accomplishments and abilities aside, she is the sweetest, most caring, even tempered woman you could know. When I was young, I would spend weeks at her house during the summer, learning to garden, sew, and perform little household tasks. She would read to me and patiently teach me to use a sewing machine. I loved those times and still look on them as some of the happiest of my life.

I have so many happy memories of sitting in that carport making/eating home made ice-cream, celebrating holidays (especially the 4th of July) with my family, and shelling beans.

The tree pictured above is her persimmon tree (of the persimmon cookie fame.) It has just started budding, and I plan to go back for another photograph in the early fall when it is fully laden with fruit.

I'm very lucky to still have my great grandmother at the age of 25. Even though I have often neglected all those important-but-distant people in my life, I am recently trying to reconnect and make up for lost time. I have been reminded recently by Corban's accident and other tragic events that there really is no certainty that people will be around as long as we think they will, and it's better not to regret lost opportunities. I'm fortunate enough to have some truly amazing family and friends...I hope I always remember not to take them for granted.

taste addison 2011

2011-05-29T21:10:00.000-07:00

You remember back in the day when I promised a post dedicated to Taste Addison 2011? Yeah, I was totally not lying about that. Not at all.

In short: it was all that knew it would be! We got to talk to some vendor's, listen to music, people watch, and eat/drink to our heart's content. Oh, and there were definitely corn dogs. My lord, the corn dogs.

(get your minds out of the gutter, people! it's a corn dog, it can't help being falic!)

I can not express how excited I was about getting to eat a corn dog. You know, there isn't a single eating establishment in Dallas that will actually sell you a corn dog*. It's a freaking travesty. We basically ended up paying $10 each for those corn dogs (admission fee + cost of food.) Worth every single penny.

After Corban started limping like a poor sad puppy (he's still recovering from the accident), we retired to Astoria to drink beers and hang out with the owners, Nick and Tedi. Knowing them makes us infinitely cooler than we ever could be otherwise.

I'm so glad that summer has started up and we get to do these things more often for a little while (at least until the heat becomes completely unbearable.) Next up: Memorial Day celebrations!

*this is not an actual fact, that i know of. it seems unlike. although, I have eaten a restaurant s'more, complete with open flame this year. there may be hope yet.

book review: extremely loud and incredibly close

2011-05-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

I recently started contributing to the Plano Public Library System blog, Plano Reads, and my first book review just went up! Go see what I think about Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer (spoiler alert, I enjoyed it!)

Because you totally care. Obviously.

p.s. - I really didn't like his first book, Everything Is Illuminated. Like, at all. Definitely do not recommend. I do want to see the movie, though.

p.p.s. - I'm currently re-reading Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. Because I'm a total sap that way.

outfit: new favorite shirt

2011-05-24T11:35:00.000-07:00

Oh em jee, you guys, I am in love with this shirt. Like, no lie, I want to marry it.

Date: May 22, 2011 / Occasion: Taste Addison
Details: shirt-Strut / shorts-Old Navy / sandals-Steve Madden via DSW / silver hoop earrings-Tiffany's / silver ring-custom

Strut is quickly becoming my new favorite place for summer pieces. I've been taking advantage of their 40% off sale the first Thursday of every month. For May, I got this shirt (which is seriously comfy, breezy, and so pretty...I constantly get complements!) and a strapless brown senorita maxi. My summer look this year is definitely leaning toward the hippy/bohemian, and that is completely ok with me!

I'm noticing how many "favorite" pieces of jewelry I have. This silver heart ring is particularly special to me. It was a gift from my father circa 2000. He had it custom made at a local jeweler, just for me! It's got lots of lovely little imperfections, and I completely adore it.

Today I am taking a "me" day to rest, recover from last night's revelries, and get a few domestic things taken care of (ugh, grocery shopping.) I'm so excited for my mister to come home tonight so we can eat homemade pizza and catch up after our busy weekend. Also, I get to take Harley in to have her stitches removed tomorrow! Lot's to look forward to. :)

DIY: welcome banner

2011-05-22T17:08:00.000-07:00

Instead of finishing up my chores today (I hate grocery shopping), I decided to whip up a cute little welcome banner diy that I found on A Beautiful Mess (Elsie is so freaking creative and adorable, I ♥ her blog!)

(please excuse my sucky iPhone photos)

I couldn't ever decide what to put on this wall space in our entryway, so it has been awkwardly uncovered since we moved in (hello, a year and a half!) This banner is super perfect, and I made it with old birthday/holiday/greeting cards, twine, and tape that I had laying around the office!

I also made lentil burgers recently (can I call that a DIY? cooking is kind of a project for me) and they are delicious!

I could almost be a vegetarian if I didn't like fish so freaking much. Perhaps pescatarianism is the way for me? Alas, I have a sneaking suspicion that I am way to lazy for such a commitment.

Now for a glass of wine, snuggles with kitties, and reality television! Hoorah for Sundays!

outfit: little black dress

2011-05-22T07:02:00.000-07:00

Wow, I haven't done an outfit post in a while! Probably because I've been dressing like a total lazy bag-lady lately (alliteration!)

Anyway, I realized last week that I didn't have a summer-appropriate LBD, so I bought this one at Target for $20! I love me a good deal. :)

Date: May 13, 2011
Details: dress-Target / necklace-gift from Corban 2006 / watch-Michael Kors / bracelet-Express / sunglasses-Prototype Vintage in Austin

Yes, I used my husband as a prop in these photos (mostly because he was in the room at the time.) This little gold locket is my #1 favorite piece of jewelry. Corban gave it to me as a gift for our first dating anniversary. It was the sweetest little surprise ever, and my favorite reminder of our (very long) courtship.

I want to thank everyone again for being so supportive of my family the past couple weeks. We're all healing up nicely, physically and emotionally, and it just wouldn't be possible without everyone's support. I am so lucky to have so many amazing people who care about me and my family!

Coming soon: Taste of Addison festival review post!

when you open your eyes

2011-05-20T17:04:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I took a run around the park instead of going to the gym, and I saw some of the most amazing things!

(take a close look at the next to last photo...there was a sweet little bird's nest on top of a cushion stuck in the tree!)

I drug Corban off the couch to take a look at these beautiful flowers bursting out of their pods, and he really said it the best. "It's amazing what you can see when you open your eyes."

It really is amazing. :)

bandages off = a whole new set of problems

2011-05-20T16:30:00.000-07:00

I took Harley in to the vet today to get her bandages off. She's healing up great, so Dr. Block sent her home with a clean bill of health and a plan to remove the sutures on Wednesday.

Of course, it couldn't just be that easy.

Pretty much the second Harley came home, she started trying to pull her sutures out with her teeth. I called Dr. Block and he suggested that I make a little kitty shirt for her using the sleeve of a cotton t-shirt.

I love me a good DIY opportunity. :)

Needless to say, Harley Quinn is not happy about this new development, but I find it pretty damn hilarious.

Kitty Shirt from Shertown Studios on Vimeo.

the worst week ever vol. 2: the accident

2011-05-19T10:16:00.000-07:00

Very early Sunday morning, around 12:15am, Corban and our good friend Stephen were involved in a car accident. Stephen was driving his beautiful, bright orange Nissan 350 Z (RIP) to get some delicious late night tacos when the backend got out from under him and the car spun around, hitting a tree on the passenger side where my husband was sitting.

Stephen was able to walk away from the car and call me. I immediately ran over from the apartment to this scene.

I have never in my entire life been so terrified or distraught. Looking back, I'm sure I looked just like a hysterical woman from a dramatic Oscar-winning film. Corban had lost consciousness for a few minutes and was pinned in the car. The next heart-wrenching forty-five minutes were spent watching a team of large men in neon jump suits literally cut him out of the car.

I had never fully understood the phrase "jaws of life" until that moment.

Though reports kept coming back to me that he was talking and moving, the medical team decided to care-flight him to a hospital twenty miles away. I miraculously drove to the hospital without being involved in an accident myself around 1:30am and was finally allowed to see him around 2:00am. We then waited until about 4:00am to hear that all of his x-rays and CAT scans had come back...and everything was ok. No broken bones, no concussion. He should have broken his ankles at least, but instead just had bruises, swelling, and a few minor cuts. It was amazing. He was even able to walk (with considerable assistance) out of the hospital.

We all went out and got burgers (the whole taco thing being a total bust) and returned home around 6am.

Longest day of my life.

The past fews days we have been shown overwhelming support from family, friends, and co-workers; we have received everything from well-wishing texts to fulling prepared meals delivered to our door. Today is Corban's first day back at work, having spent the past several days propped up on the couch icing his ankles, and being waited on hand and foot. Between him and the bandaged kitty, it's like a freaking trauma ward in here.

It's amazing the perspective that one can get from this kind of thing. Of course I know that I love my husband and tell him so many times a day; but, it's still so easy to take things for granted and forget how very very lucky I am. Driving to the hospital, the only thing I could think was "please just let him be ok, please let me keep my husband, please let me touch him and talk to him again." I wasn't thinking about money or inconveniences; I just wanted to kiss him and know that everything would be ok. All of a sudden all those little stressful, nit-picky things went away, and I just felt grateful to have someone to love who loves me. It would be my worse tragedy to lose that.

In the end, my little family (husband, kitties, and friends) is ok, and that makes me the luckiest girl in the world.

PS - See Tuesday's post for a little video of my husband and kitty being all pathetic and wounded. They are super adorable.

the worst week ever vol. 1: sad kitty

2011-05-17T20:47:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday morning we woke up to my poor baby kitty, Harley Quinn, vomiting. I didn't think much of it because, hey, she's a cat and occasionally eats some non-food item (the vet called it a "dietary discretion") that causes her gastric distress. Unfortunately, this behavior continued, not only throughout the day, but the night and next day as well. Things started getting scary when it became obvious that she couldn't even keep water down and had not used the litter box in several hours.

Corban decided to take her to an emergency vet on Wednesday night. We ended up waiting there until past midnight, just to learn that her blood work came back clean and nothing showed up on the x-rays. They advised us to take her to a "real" vet if her symptoms continued, which, of course, they did.

This is how we found the coolest vet in the Dallas area. Dr. Block at Cottonwood Animal Clinic is the sweetest, most invested doctor I have ever met. He seems genuinely concerned for Harley's well-being. He did some doctor things that I will not go into here, ended up cutting open her stomach and found that her gall bladder was super inflamed. She later passed a bunch of bile, immediately after which she started feeling better.

We know that she felt better because she went from being sweet and compliant to trying to tear Dr. Block's face off. I picked her up yesterday and was so gratified and touched to find that she recognized my voice and face. When the vet tried to handle her, she was hissing and growling, but as soon as I started talking to her she meowed pitifully and snuggled close to my chest. She's home recovering now, no vomiting and with a renewed appetite. She is napping in my lap as I type.

Her shaved tummy and bandages look so silly, and are really freaking out her sister Ivy (a day later and she's still growling at poor Harley.) Still, she's got her spunk back and will get her bandages off on Friday, then her stitches next Wednesday, if all goes well.

Dr. Block was almost as happy as me to hear today that Harley is eating and seems to be better. We're still watching her, but I feel that after the crap storm that was last week, things are genuinely looking up. I'm just so grateful to have found such a great doctor and so so happy to have my baby back home and getting healthy.

I took a little video to show off my battered, but happy family (more about Corban in my next post.) I love these beings. ♥

Welcome Home, Harley! from Shertown Studios on Vimeo.

the worst week ever: prologue

2011-05-17T14:39:00.000-07:00

Hello, blog-o-sphere! You know that saying "when it rains it pours"? If that's so, then last week was a freaking deluge at the Johnson household. The two biggest hits were my cat having to have emergency surgery and my husband being involved in a major car accident.

Scary, horrible, and traumatizing.

The amazing thing is, as many blows as we have taken, everything has ended in the best possible way. Everyone in my family (two legs and four) are healthy and happy, and that's all I could ever ask for. I am definitely a super duper lucky gal.

I'm going to dedicate a post to each of these two incidents. We have had so many wonderful family and friends wishing us well and giving us various kinds of support, I couldn't even begin to thank everybody. I've tried to give everyone the full stories, but in case I missed anyone or left anything out, everything will be here. :)

I'd like to give one more thank you to everyone who reads my little blog. It's such an emotional release to be able to put my life out there and know that someone, somewhere will read it. You guys rock!

mustachio bashio 2011 vol. 2: drinko de mayo

2011-05-11T09:15:00.000-07:00

Soul-crushing heat aside, I really do love the summer time. I'm still waiting for the weather to warm up enough for pool time, but it will come soon enough.

Most of all, I love kicking off the season with my crazy, wonderful friends. And their mustaches.

Mustachio Bashio/Drinko de Mayo is the best. There's always delicious food and drink, including brisket tacos, Corban's famous guacamole, margaritas, jello shots, and of course a keg. I even did my first keg stand this year! Normally this is not something to brag about, but I kind of missed out on all that high school/college craziness, so that's one more life experience that I can cross off the list.

A wonderful first taste of the summer, I can't wait for more!

mustachio bashio 2011 vol. 1: cake flag diy

2011-05-10T16:09:00.000-07:00

Every year Kenji and Jimmy host a mustache-themed Cinco de Mayo party. The men grow out silly facial hair and the women are made to wear those creepy synthetic stick-on mustaches.

Yes, we are adults.

Also, at the risk of sounding like a total elitist, I would like to add that we were doing this way before mustaches were cool. Just sayin'.

This weekend also happens to coincide with one of the hosts birthdays, so I thought I would make cupcakes for the occasion. Mustache cupcakes. Obviously.

I made cake flags in the shape of cute little mustaches. Bonus, these could also be used as fun party favors or a mustache alternative to those opposed to spirit gum! Here's how:

1. Create your mustache template or download mine here and print (I printed 12 mustaches per sheet, enough for 6 total mustaches)

2. Color and cut out your mustaches (I used good old fashioned Crayola crayons)

3. Use craft glue to glue two mustaches together, back to back, with a toothpick in between

4. Pretend to have a mustache

Simple, yes? I was able to do most of this work while watching Community. Win, win, win.

Next up, Mustachio Bashio 2011 Vol. 2: Drinko de Mayo!

wide angle lens

2011-05-10T15:48:00.000-07:00

I'm getting a little more adventurous with my photography lately. I even added a (gasp) wide angle lens to the mix! The lens actually belongs to Corban, but I am, ahem, borrowing it for the time being.

Thanks, babe. :)

We took the following photos when we went to Austin over a month ago. Least dedicated photographer of all time. Sigh.

Hopefully my photog skillz will continue to improve. Until then...

lazy summer afternoon

2011-05-09T07:42:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been a (comparatively) long time since I posted! Five whole days, what is this world coming to?

To make up, here are some pictures from this weekend!

Sangria/Margaritas with Ash at Gloria's, delicious brunch at Whiskey Cake with Corban (crusted trout with shoestring squash and tomato sauce = heaven), napping under a tree at the park, and lazing around at Astoria. It's a hard life, but I'm willing to sacrifice.

Coming soon, photos from this weekend's Cinco de Mayo/Mustachio Bashio party and recordings from last month's choral concert!

who has two thumbs and just got into grad school?

2011-05-04T12:40:00.000-07:00

THIS GIRL

That's right, I got the letter yesterday! I was so excited that I made a little squeaking sound and skipped all the way home. Then I went out and bought flowers for myself. :)

Next step is registration and begging for money. Huzzah!

life lessons: slowing down

2011-05-02T16:48:00.000-07:00

I love all the little unexpected lessons in life. We go about our days, doing what we do, and then BAM! Lesson.

I had just started a new yoga class when a lesson hit me like whoa. This class was slower than I was used to, which was good because it gave me time to really feel what my body was doing and learn the poses more thoroughly (don't be fooled, though- I was definitely breaking a serious sweat.) About ten minutes before the end of the class we started cooling down, and the instructor told us to lie down and completely relax our muscles. And then...nothing. We just kept lying there. Doing nothing. Breathing. Probably no more than a minute into this disturbing repose, I started thinking.

It feels like we've been doing this for a really long time. How long are we going to lie here? Did she leave the room? What's going on?

After a while I finally was able to strong-arm myself into relaxation. After we all sat up and namaste'ed I looked at the clock. It had only been five minutes.

This made me wonder. Why is it so hard for me to just lie still for five minutes? What about my life is so urgent that I can't relax and release tension for a measly five minutes?

Danielle over at Sometimes Sweet recently expressed a similar sentiment when she wrote about the value of "unplugging" from social media. I feel that we as Americans have become so used to constant over-stimulation that we have difficulty slowing down and enjoying simple things. It's like food: if all you eat is chemically processed, MSG-laden "food products", then it is unlikely that you will be able to appreciate real, natural, healthy foods. Similarly, if all we experience is television, twitter, flashing lights, garbled noises, and instant gratification, how can we expect to recognize the small moments of natural awe?

So, for the past few weeks I have really concentrated on slowing down and experiencing my life instead of just trying to get through it. I have tried to actually enjoy moments of nothing instead of becoming bored and apathetic. I've been able to focus more on specific tasks, like reading and doing housework, and have been in a much more consistently positive mood (no more road rage! amazing!)

This has made a significant positive difference in my day-to-day happiness. It is a beautiful thing.

Sorry this post was so long, I've just wanted to get this off my chest. Being generally happy is still kind of a new thing for me, so I'm pretty much bursting at the seams with the novelty of it all. Has anyone else experienced this sort of realization? How do you slow down and enjoy the little moments in life?

sweet surprises

2011-04-29T13:31:00.000-07:00

I know that I am an incredibly lucky gal because I have a husband who brings home daisies and sorbet, lights candles, and rubs my shoulders when I've had a bad day.

Being married totally rules.