It's A Party in Your Mouth

A magazine ad for Pop Rocks- I never though lights glaring off a disco ball would help an illustration of mine... but they totally did. When my mom looked at it she commented, "I think he's going to choke with all that going on in his mouth."

A Happy Belated Birthday To Me

This is the second to last batch of pictures I'm posting before we get to the fun stuff: the wedding! Of course, I still have to upload and edit those pictures, but I'm hoping to get around to that tomorrow. These are some of the highlights from my birthday celebration with the fam, including my birthday loot (not pictured are me going to see Crowded House last Sunday at the House of Blues in Chicago :) ).

My mom always makes the best cakes- this one was frilly (get it? tu-tu, two-two?) and the inside was pink and strawberry flavored. I just finished the last piece last night.

The side read "HIP HIP HEERAY!"

Mom telling Dad that he is going to ruin the blender if he fills it full with ice and frozen strawberries and then expects it to blend.

Twenty-two candles... on a cake... on a Lazy Susan... we're lucky we didn't burn the house down.

A jewelry box from the 1920's from my parents. Look at the tiny deer!

All sorts of goodies from the aunts (and Chuck). An old letter A for my name wall, an Avon bottle in the shape of a cupcake, a few different editions of Alice in Wonderland, and the thing I'm most excited to complete and put up in my room: a Home Sweet Home embroidery kit from the '70s. (It's under the sewing magazine with the kitties.)

Momma Deer

Dad has been playing with his new toys, a couple motion-sensing infrared cameras that are manufactured for hunters so they can see if they have friends hanging out in their territory. The other week he set them up facing our apple trees/the neighbor's rose bushes, and we finally got photos of the deer that munches on both! (As well as this other deer that looks kind of funny. I think it might have eaten a rotten apple or two...)

(For those of you who can't tell, that's my mother out there pretending to be a deer at 4:17 in the morning.)

Quotes

In the back of each of my sketchbooks I always save a page or two for the silly things the people in my life say. I was doodling out a poster that I'd just dreamed about, "Giving Brings Us Together" (for a poster designing contest held by Winona State during their welcoming events... other contestants were painting around print outs of Helly Kitty with white out... there were also two little boys (Aidan and Cameron) who were flirting with me/buying me a salad after I realized what I was eating was a fish that still had bones and eyeballs/bringing me a Barbie things to play with!) ...Anyway, I was doodling and glanced to the back of my sketchbook and cracked up remembering how bizarre we can be at times, so I thought I'd start a collection of them here.

(Haha, it kind of looks like I'm naked in this picture... I promise I'm clothed!)

"I've ridden that horse and it left a bad taste in my mouth." -Chelsey

Liz: Elvis apparently pooped while on stage.
Chelsey: Is that why he wiggled so much?

(while discussing web hosts)
"I leech off CJ's ridiculous package." - Liz

(after sighting some ladder golf balls stuck high on a tree branch)
"Check out the balls on that tree!" -Mom

"Is this pie chart a circle?" - Marisa

Marisa: Maybe we won't get Alzheimer's when we're old because we do crossword puzzles...
Me: (doing a puzzle) What? A precipitate whose second letter is A??
Marisa: ...rain.

Rummaging 6/17, Part 2

These are the last two things I shoved in the car last Thursday when my mother and I were out rummaging. Look!

This little bookcase was exactly what I kind of knew I needed but wasn't ready to admit it yet. (Aka: I have way too many books and no place to put them and every other bookshelf I've seen is giant and modern.) It was also from the Klusendorf "farm" (I'm sure I mutilated their name) and even though it's missing its back piece, I adore it. It's got just the right amount of wear and tear to it, and it came from a woman who knew me when I was four.

I've seen quite a few drawers like this in my rounds, but this one had everything- pretty good condition, the original handle, and no mysterious larvae hanging around. I've been looking for one to hang on my wall and stash all my teeny-tink knick-knacks in and this shall work peeeerfectly. I cleaned off the grey paint on the side and who knew? It's actually light blue. (ps- Cleaning finds may or may not be my favorite part of the entire shebang.)

It's Happening Again

I pride myself in being a long time Threadless fan (I placed my first order six years ago). It's the same feeling you get when your awesome cool neato band that only you listen to is suddenly blasting on the radio--kind of proud, kind of "But I did it first!"

As it is (and especially nowadays since the prices have gone up), I only order when they have their $10 sales. I typically allow myself a max of three tees... there were a few too many dorky kitty shirts out there this time around so my limit got a little stretched. Heh. (Don't worry, only to four!)

Millipedes Are Like 10 Times Better Than Centipedes by Sam Zivot

the classic Three Keyboard Cat Moon (which I have been coveting forever because I am a dork) by Oxen

Space and Time by Justin White

and last but definitely not least, Meowy Wowy by tenso GRAPHICS
This is probably my favorite from the bunch because it reminds me of an old T-shirt of my mother's I wear a lot, which features three cats rocking out with the words "Sex, Mice, and Rock n' Roll" underneath.

The sale is only on until the 14th! Go!

Norman and Eileen

Just a couple shots of the kids. Norman can seem so stoic (when he's not off hiding) and Eileen really really loves towels. Mom is going to love that I posted piles of our dirty laundry online.

Cake of Awesomeness

Last night I accidentally deleted all the pictures off my camera. I was quite bummed, as all the photos of the gorgeous cake my mother slaved over had been on there, as well as the pictures from when Benjamin was up in August. Luckily, my father had taken some pics and though they aren't as spiffy as mine were and I look mildly ridiculous in each one, they are proof that the cake existed! It reminded me of Van Gogh. The frosting was lemon. I ate the last piece today, and it was glorious.

A Very Belated Fourth of July

Sparklers!

More sparklers!

Dad, enjoying a patriotic cigar with Chuck.

I was attempting to kiss my mother.
She wasn't having it.

How My Heart Behaves

Whatever happens happens for a reason.
(motherly advice)
credit