something about mary

It’s All About Who You Know

2011-09-27T18:18:00.000-07:00

He will eat your resume.
Monster art by whimsicalFantasy

I learned it the hard way. I wasted time on countless job search sites, just looking for my “big break.” Hoping one of those dream jobs would pick me. What I didn’t know was, those jobs already had candidates, ones who had connections within the company. They were always one step ahead of me. CareerBuilder and Monster are just backup, and they help the company more than they will help you. You have a better chance of getting weeded out than getting your resume in front of the right person.

Every job I ever had, I got because I knew someone.

In college I started babysitting two wonderful little girls, all because my roommate had a hot date one night and referred me to stay with them instead. I got my first restaurant job at Newks Café because my sorority sister worked there. I snagged one of two open graphic design positions at The Crimson White my senior year at Alabama – it didn’t hurt that the creative manager was in my design class and saw my work every week in critiques.

After graduation I moved to Cincinnati and forgot this. It took me nine months to get a job in my industry, partly because I was wasting time with online job tools. But everything else I was doing still proved this fact. I started working as a hostess at Bravo, because I walked in and got an application directly from the manager. I was also doing freelance work for my husband’s company. I used this small amount of graphic design work to show and improve my skills, which is how I got my current position at Frontgate – through my husband’s boss’ nephew, who worked there at the time. You see, it doesn’t hurt to know someone!

If this makes you feel discouraged in your job search, don’t be.

This time last year, I would get really down when I read articles like this, because I didn’t think I knew anyone in Cincinnati. Later I found out I could change that if I put myself out there. I had to get out of the house. I had to meet people.

Everyone you know is a possible connection.

You just have to make it known that you are searching for a job. Soon enough you will find that people want to help you. A family member might know the hiring manager at just the type of company you want to work for. A friend may offer to submit your resume to their boss. My banker even tried to get me a job at his wife’s company! The more people you meet and the more relationships you develop, the better chance you have at getting a great job.

You never know what can happen if you make the effort.

Trust me, it’s a lot more efficient than spending hours sending resumes and cover letters into the void that is CareerBuilder. That Monster will gobble them right up.

Taking advantage of your network is just the first step to getting noticed by a company. Next is the impression you make in the interview and of course your skills and talents. Connections can only take you so far. After that you have to show up and do your best.

Have you searched for hours on job sites before finally giving up? Have you gotten a job through one of these sites? Tell me an example of a great job you got through someone in your network. I’d love to hear your thoughts :)

How to Prepare for Sorority Recruitment

2011-08-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

Some of my Pi Phi sisters :)

So you've graduated high school and you are getting ready to go to college. You start to consider what organizations to get involved in, and you have decided that you want to go Greek. Here are some tips for how to prepare for sorority recruitment, from finding recs to figuring out which sorority to choose at the end of recruitment...

Resume and picture
Recommendations
clothing and shoes for the week of recruitment

How to Make a Smoothie from Strawberry Daiquiri Mix

2011-07-18T13:00:00.000-07:00

Strawberry-Banana Smoothie

Want a fun and fruity drink for the spring and summer weather? Have some frozen strawberry daiquiri mix that you aren't using? Make a smoothie out of it! I wanted a smoothie and didn't have any strawberries, so I opted for this tasty smoothie instead!

1 frozen strawberry daiquiri mix
2 ripe bananas
3/4 cup milk
about 5 ice cubes
a blender

Book Review: Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert

2011-07-07T21:08:00.001-07:00

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

I’ve been working non-stop this year and until now had only managed to read bits of different books on plane rides and in the little spare time I had. My current job doesn’t require too much thought, which allows me to listen to music, podcasts, radio shows, and the like. My solution to not reading books is to listen to them. My first audiobook choice for this year is Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.

I usually read the book before seeing the film and with all the hype surrounding this one I figured it was worth a try. The book is separated into 3 sections – Italy, India, and Indonesia, each corresponding with the author’s pursuit of pleasure, faith, and the combination of the two. I’m telling you, if I were the type to stop a book in the middle I would have stopped at India! That is my least favorite part of the book as it drags on a bit with her struggles in learning how to clear her mind for meditation. I can pray to God without worrying over whether I am in the right state of meditation, so I found this a bore!

I had a lot of trouble connecting with the author/character in the book. First of all, she is in her thirties so she is in a different stage of life than I in my early twenties. She decides one day that she doesn’t want to be married anymore, so she leaves her husband. I married young, and I would still never consider leaving my husband for the pursuit of my inner self. If I need that I can take a vacation. The only thing I’m missing by being married is not partying as much, and frankly, we do that anyway! We are having fun being young with no kids, but when we are ready we will have them. And I look forward to it! So I definitely could not understand her mindset in any regard.

That being said, I learned a lot from this book, and I respect Liz for sharing about her depression after her divorce and her time of healing. I do recommend that you listen to the audiobook as opposed to reading it, as you cannot hear the richness of the Italian language in your mind, nor can you imagine the accents of all the wonderful people that she meets. I found it calming to listen to this on my car ride to and from work, instead of being all hyped up by my favorite hip hop music ☺ Listening to books is better than not reading at all, so pick up an audiobook at your local library for your next long car ride!

P.S.
If you end up reading Eat, Pray, Love or you already have, check out this site for behind the scenes info about her friends from around the world! I was very sad to find out that Richard from Texas has passes away. ☹ I was very fond of him and he kept India interesting.

http://www.elizabethgilbert.com/eatpraylove.htm

See more progress on: read at least 25 books in 2011

My First Cincinnati Craft Fair!

2011-07-06T19:53:00.000-07:00

This week I received the confirmation e-mail from New Hope Community Church that I have officially registered for a booth at their annual Craft and Vendor Fair on October 1. I am super excited since this is the first craft fair I will be attending in Cincinnati. It’s a great weekend in the fall – this defined as, right before the holidays and Alabama is not playing at home J. I set this date aside far in advance and the fees are reasonable for my first show. I will be a lot more prepared than I was for my last one in Tuscaloosa. Luckily I was a student so that was free, because I did not know what I was doing! Now I have a plan, and I am going to spend the next couple of months finalizing my booth set-up and making new items. I have a lot of great ideas and I can’t wait to get started!

Mark your calendars and come see me at the mar’contraire booth!

For more information about the New Hope Community Church Craft & Vendor Fair, check out their website.

http://newhopecraftfair.weebly.com/

How to Make Your Own Stanley Cup

2011-05-27T14:00:00.000-07:00

Will and Joe holding a finished Stanley Cup!

Any big hockey fan has watched the Stanley Cup playoffs on TV and has seen many fans with their own homemade Stanley Cup. Many of them are styrofoam covered with foil. My husband and I came up with a better way to make the Cup and I decided to share how we did it.

4 plastic planters from Walmart or some other gardening center
1 silver metallic spray paint
1 hot glue gun with glue
aluminum foil (optional)

Read more: How to Make Your Own Stanley Cup | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5129441_make-own-stanley-cup.html#ixzz1KZTPE87H

Check out my husband's blog, The Hockey Rocking Chair for articles and reviews of upcoming games.

Simple Ways To Save Money

2011-05-19T09:22:00.000-07:00

Cherry Blossom Personalized Piggy Bank by TemperTantrum

My new obsession right now is saving money and staying out of debt. Last year before we got married, my aunt let me borrow her CDs from Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. I accepted them, but didn't think they would do me much good. I thought it would be boring and wouldn't relate to me at all, so I forgot about them.

While working at Frontgate this year, I needed some interesting audio to keep me entertained while I did the tedious task of renaming photos and uploading them to the website. My iTunes playlists just weren't cutting it anymore and I was getting quite tired of Pottercast! I found the Dave Ramsey CDs and decided to give it a shot. I put them on my iPod, and would you believe it, I was totally entertained and inspired to pay off my credit card for good, then help my husband pay off his student loans ASAP!

When I finished the CDs I looked online and found that he has a radio show and Podcast. This is a great way to get your feet wet before ordering the books and audio. Please visit the website here, I want everyone to be inspired to get out of debt and stay out of debt! You will feel so much happier and secure in your life, and will be able to live like no one else in the future! His motto to "Live like no one else, so you can live like no one else!" is so awesome. I definitely recommend everyone listen to him!

Around the same time that I discovered Dave, a friend told me about Mint.com. It gave me a tangible way to track my spending and create a realistic budget. You can track all of your accounts in one place, including checking, savings, credit cards, loans, investments, and property. I go to the website everyday to make sure my accounts are in order. It gives you a realistic view of how much you are worth and how serious your debt is. It made me even more motivated to save and get out of debt, and through Mint I have already paid off 2 debts that I owed!

Piggy bank- Crazy Blue by MexicoLindoyquerido

I also made some valuable discoveries about my spending. Mint pointed out a few of my previous costly mistakes. Here are a few ways of saving money, so that you can avoid making the same mistakes I did.

1. Don't use ATMs that are not your bank's.
People don't usually realize how much money you can waste on ATM fees. In the month of March alone, I spent $13.50 on ATM fees! That may not be a lot of money to some people, but wouldn't you rather eat with that money? Or buy a shirt? Carry a little cash at all times and you will avoid the emergency trip to the foreign ATM.

2. Keep the minimum balance in your savings account.
I know life happens and sometimes you need to take money out of savings. Avoid doing so at all costs, especially if it means going below the minimum. That's what happened to me. I needed the money for a deposit on our new condo. Once I took it out and my account went below the minimum, my bank started charging me account maintenance fees and withdrawal fees. In the month of April I lost $32.00 in bank fees. That money could have stayed in savings and generated interest, but I lost it instead.

3. Pay off your credit card balance every month.
Dave Ramsey would have you not use a card at all once it is paid off, but if you must have one, pay it off every month. This way you will avoid extra interest on your purchases. If it is not possible to pay off the whole balance, use a service like Chase Blueprint that keeps you from paying interest on certain purchases like food and gas. This will help you pay off your card a lot faster, and ensure you only pay interest on the bigger purchases that are worth it.

4. Create a set budget for each month
Planning ahead each month really helps you save money, because you know exactly where your money is going. Mint showed that I was spending way too much money in the Restaurant and Fast Food categories. Having a budget that is less than your monthly income will help you stay on track and you can use the left over money to pay off debt, save, or invest. Go to Mint.com today to add your accounts and create a budget that you can stick to!

Once you follow these simple steps, you are a little closer to saving more money and keeping out of debt. If you have debt, make sure you have an emergency fund first, then throw any extra money at it until it goes away. You will be so proud of yourself and then that extra money can go to a better use!

My Sweet Home Alabama Needs Your Help

2011-04-28T21:48:00.000-07:00

Tuscaloosa Tornado Damage by Megan Forehand

I usually want to focus on the positive things in life, but there are times when you can't ignore the bad things when they are standing on your doorstep.

I am in shock of what has happened to my city, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I feel like it is my hometown and I have very many friends and loved ones who were affected. What would have happened if I still lived there? Where would I have been during the storm? I am usually the person who isn't afraid of storms, so would my ignorance have gotten me killed? It's scary to think about. There are other people who are probably just like me and they didn't even know it was coming.

I am so happy that my family is safe and I am very thankful that I have not lost any friends in Tuscaloosa that I know of. We had a big scare, because we thought we had lost a dear friend, who lived right in the path of the storm. Thankfully he is ok. Others were not so lucky. It hit very close to home and it makes me value life so much more. I pray that God will be with everyone in the South who has suffered a loss from this terrible storm.

Please keep these people in your thoughts and prayers. There are many ways to help out even if you do not live in this area of the country. Please donate blood at your local blood bank. You can also send clothing, especially for kids and men, shoes, food, and other necessities. If you live in the Alabama area, like Give Back Alabama on facebook for ways to help out. One great way to donate money is to purchase a tshirt at one of these links:

stand a*wear

YouthMerch
screen name: tuscaloosa
password: alabama

Riverwood Presbyterian Church

I <3 Alabama. Roll Tide, we will get through this.

It's My Birthday and I'll Do What I Want To!

2011-04-26T09:19:00.000-07:00

It has been about a month since I have updated, shame on me! I really want to keep the blog updated at least once a week, because I have a lot to share in my life. First of all...

TODAY is my Birthday!! Very exciting 23 :) We celebrated this Easter weekend with a giant strawberry shortcake and too many candles for me to blow out at once! One highlight is the adorable puppy that Will got for me! We named him Cody and he is so sweet! I don't have the good pictures on my computer yet, but you can be sure that I will post them soon!

My mother-in-law got me the Vera Bradley Laptop Portfolio, which I desperately needed since my current laptop bag had straps that were hanging by a thread. This bag is really great because it has a zipper pocket for your cords and anything you need to store. There is a pocket on the other side perfect for papers and books. The inside includes a sizer block to hold smaller laptops, like my 13 inch Macbook, in place. It holds laptops up to 17 inches, so if I get a larger computer in the future I don't have to buy a new bag, I'll just take the sizer out.

Vera Bradley Laptop Portfolio (Make Me Blush)

I am also very excited because I got Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 on Blu-ray! I am a Potter fanatic, which you will find out soon enough when the summer and last movie release come around!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1

You may remember from my previous Chicago post that one of my favorite paintings there is Nighthawks by Edward Hopper. My mom gave me a print that I will be getting framed for our new place!

Nighthawks, Edward Hopper

I've had a wonderful birthday weekend so far, and I am hoping for an equally wonderful day :)

I wanted to tell more about my Frontgate experience, but I didn't have a chance because they kept me very busy and tired! They launched two new websites over the past 2 months, Grandin Road and Frontgate. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to help with the graphics side of the two sites. It was very tedious work but they paid me well and I met a lot of great people. My last day was Friday and I am taking a much needed "break" to work on my crafts business and freelancing. I am considering starting my own design company, so I am hoping to be available when they need temps again for the Halloween and Christmas seasons.

I have a lot more to share, but I don't want to overwhelm you with it all! I will be volunteering at the Crafty Supermarket in Cincinnati the first weekend of May, so I will tell you more about that opportunity in the next post. Of course, I will also be sharing photos of Joe and Ashley's wedding and the DIY ideas that she had!

The Top 5 Bridal Shower Favors

2011-03-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful shower a few weeks ago celebrating my future sister-in-law's wedding! It was at the Barton Hills Country Club in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Though it was snowy and rainy out, the purple, blue, and white flowers gave us some springy cheer! We had fun games like the "Guess the Spices" and the person at each table whose birthday is closest to wedding date, April 9, won a prize! I was in charge of finding party favors for the event. We wanted to have something that girls of all ages could use, so I didn't want to choose wine stoppers or anything like that. I found these cute little heart soaps in a black and white damask box, which were perfect to put at each place setting!

Damask Heart Shaped Soap Favor

We had a short amount of time and didn't really have the budget to buy handmade, but I started thinking about what handmade items would be great for bridal shower favors! Here is my list of the top five bridal shower favors:

1. BATH ACCESSORIES

Soaps were the perfect pick for the party that I hosted because of the different age groups that were invited. You can find a variety of cute soaps for your occasion - heart-shaped in a classy gift box like the one I chose, or pretty bars like this one with personalized labels, or the whimsical little cupcake soaps that are featured in my Treasury at the end of this post.

Rosemary Mint Bridal Shower Favors

2. CANDIES & OTHER GOODIES

Candy is also another great option, because who doesn't love sweet goodies?! There are so many to choose from on Etsy, whether you are looking for chocolate bars with custom labels or small candies in a little decorative gift bags.

Candy Wraps for Bridal Showers

3. WINE ACCESSORIES

If your party guests are older and more sophisticated, you can always choose to give them wine accessories that they will use again and again! There are some fabulous wine stopper designs on Etsy. Wine charms like the beaded heart charm featured below are also fun.

Cranberry Wine Charms

4. SCENTS

Favors like candles and potpourri are great, since your party guests can use these in their home and always be reminded of the fun time they had at your shower! Try to find something personalized for the event like this candle in a travel tin.

Engagement Party Travel Candles

5. BEAUTY

What woman doesn't love some new lip gloss or a pocket mirror to keep in her purse? Or what about this chic mini Paris dish? I use mine to hold earrings when I take them off at the end of the day. Have something that makes them feel girly and you can't go wrong. After all, this is a Bridal shower you are hosting!

Paris Themed Party Favors

I hope this post provided some inspiration as you plan a shower for your friend or as you gather ideas for the distant future! Check out my Treasury below for favor ideas that coordinate with the featured items.

Was your favor idea a hit at your last party?? If so, please share, I love to hear new ideas!

Ashley and Joe are getting married next Saturday, April 9!! Stay tuned for some awesome Wedding DIY projects that Ashley has been working on all year! She is so talented! Hint: Quilts and Mason Jars!

Another Treasury Feature and Sale!

2011-03-26T01:03:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't written in a while! I just moved from Cincinnati to Dayton last week, so I have been in the middle of preparing for the move for the past month. I have a lot of great content to share with you over the next couple of weeks, but first I wanted to mention the successes I've had with mar'contraire this month. March Madness is in full swing, and while Michigan was still in the NCAA Tournament, my Michigan College Letter Ornament was featured in a Treasury!

College Letter Ornament - MICHIGAN

Thanks to Lisa at pobox607 for featuring my design!

I also had my first sale in a couple months - I will be sending my Upcycled Jewelry Box off to California! I will miss this unique creation, but I am glad that it will finally have a good home. I have more jewelry boxes that I want to upcycle and this one was a test run. I think if I can sell a hand-painted jewelry box with a design this funky, I won't have any problem selling them with more practical designs.

Upcycled Jewelry Box

I am very excited about the turns that this shop is taking! I am craving some time to create more art and focus more on improving my shop, so hopefully I will have a chance once the new condo is a bit more organized. I love having a full-time job for now, but it really drains my creative energy by the end of the day. More on the freelance gig that I have been doing at Frontgate soon!

mar'contraire Margarita Painting Featured in Treasury!

2011-03-06T07:38:00.000-08:00

This is my third Treasury Feature on Etsy since I started mar'contraire! This particular item has been featured the most, so it is very popular :)

Magenta and Lime Polka Dots Margarita Painting

I'm honored to be featured alongside so many fabulous items! Here is the Treasury that my shop is being featured in:

Thank you, ColorConquest for featuring mar'contraire in your Treasury!!

Top 5 Paintings to See at The Art Institute of Chicago

2011-02-23T17:45:00.000-08:00

Downtown Chicago

Walking to Navy Pier

I just took a weekend trip to Chicago with my husband Will and we had an awesome time! With our circle of friends and family, I'm pretty sure that we were the only ones who had not been yet - of course, when you live about 4 hours away, it's about time! Our friend Mike was very generous to let us stay in his fully-furnished condo downtown next to the Sears Tower. We had a phenomenal view from the 26th floor! We spent the weekend exploring the city, walking around downtown and discovering the Millenium Park with "The Bean" sculpture/modern art/ mirror phenomenon... whatever it was, it was cool. We also had a chance to go to Navy Pier and eat at Harry Carey's sports bar and hang out at the Houndstooth Saloon, a bar for University of Alabama alumni!

Of course, seeing famous paintings at The Art Institute was definitely a highlight of the trip! Here are the top 5 paintings to see at The Art Institute of Chicago:

American Gothic, Grant Wood

American Gothic, Grant Wood: This was the first famous painting that we found completely by accident. I think Will really likes this one and he is most familiar with it. This is when we realized that we should be searching for the famous paintings instead of wandering aimlessly. The museum has a handy visitors guide that tells you where they are located.

Nighthawks, Edward Hopper

Nighthawks, Edward Hopper: Nighthawks is one of my favorite paintings to study in Art History class. I would love to have a print of it in my house one day, because I find it so interesting. In the museum it is one room over from American Gothic on the second floor so you can easily see them both in a short time.

Bedroom in Arles, Vincent Van Gogh

Bedroom in Arles, Vincent Van Gogh: Van Gogh was a lot more difficult to find, because this painting is in the old wing of the museum. If you ask for directions from a staff member it will make more sense. It is so exciting to see an actual Van Gogh painting and I remember seeing pictures of this for many years in school books.

Time Transfixed, René Magritte

Time Transfixed, René Magritte: I really enjoy Surrealism because it transports you to a different dimension and makes you think outside the box. This painting is so strange and intriguing and people love it.

The Old Guitarist, Pablo Picasso

The Old Guitarist, Pablo Picasso: Last, but not least, there is a Picasso in The Art Institute! Once again, it was amazing to see an original painting by one of the Masters. We made sure to see this one before we left to take our hungry souls to Harry Carey's!

It was really awesome to see these original paintings in person. I have been studying them my whole life, and even Will was familiar with many of them, and he is not usually an art person :) Next time you have a chance to visit Chicago, stop by The Art Institute and see these famous paintings!

How to Make Money From Your Overflowing Closet

2011-02-16T09:57:00.000-08:00

Too many clothes dragging you down?

Do you have an overflowing closet, but still can never find anything to wear? Here are some profitable ways to get rid of the clothes that you no longer wear and trade them in for money or even new clothes!!

Things You'll Need:

A messy closet
Boxes for sorting
An eBay account
Consignment shop
Thrift Store

To Achieve Your Dreams, Remember Your ABC's

2011-02-14T09:34:00.000-08:00

"Dreams Come True" Greeting Cards by spirithelpers

- Avoid negative sources, people, places, things, and habits.

- Believe in yourself.

- Consider things from every angle.

- Don’t give up and don’t give in.

- Enjoy life today; yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never come.

- Family and friends are hidden treasures. Seek them and enjoy their riches.

- Give more than you planned to give.

- Hang on to your dreams.

- Ignore those who try to discourage you.

- Just do it!

- Keep on trying. No matter how hard it seems, it will get easier.

- Love yourself first and most.

- Make it happen.

- Never lie, cheat or steal. Always strike a fair deal.

- Open your eyes, and see things as they really are.

- Practice makes perfect.

- Quitters never win, and winners never quit.

- Read, study and learn about everything important in your life.

- Stop procrastinating.

- Take control of your own destiny.

- Understand yourself in order to better understand others.

- Visualize it.

- Want it more than anything.

- Xccelerate your efforts.

- You are unique of all of God’s creations. Nothing can replace you.

- Zero in on your target and go for it!

By WANDA CARTER

This was printed in a newspaper article that I found a few years ago. I saved it because I find it very inspiring. I've been working on achieving a lot of my dreams lately, and when I get discouraged I look at this list. It always gives me a boost of confidence that I can do it, as long as I work hard and don't give up. When I continue to have that enthusiasm for my dream, I know it is what I am meant to do.

If you need inspiration in your life, copy this list and print it out. Keep it on the fridge, the mirror, or anywhere you will see it every day and be encouraged to go for it!

Is there something that you want to do in your life that you haven't been able to go after but plan to soon? If so, tell me! I love to hear the goals of others and I get excited to hear that you are taking steps to achieve them!

Place #1: Fountain Square Outdoor Ice Rink

2011-01-10T15:57:00.001-08:00

I am so excited that this was the first new place of the year, because I thought it was only a Christmas thing. To find out that it is open until February makes me happy. Will gave me ice skates for Christmas so of course I was eager to try them out! We’ve been to Fountain Square before and that’s how we knew about the ice rink. It turned out to be cheap fun too… I only paid $2 for the both of us! It was freezing outside, but we had a great time! I got a ton of great pictures, and it was just really nice to go out and do something new.

See more progress on: Visit 15 new places in Cincinnati in 2011

Book 22 - The Vampire Diaries, The Return: Nightfall by L.J. Smith

2010-12-13T14:11:00.001-08:00

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Maybe I have been spoiled by the series on The CW, but I think that L.J. Smith tried a little too hard on this one. I read the first books that she wrote in the 80’s that the CW series is based on. I know that she decided to write The Return series in the 2000’s after the vampire craze was started up again with Twilight. The first 4 books were still far more supernatural than the TV series and the plot is almost completely different. They were enjoyable, except everyone’s roles have been switched around, or they simply don’t exist on the TV show. The 3 most important characters remained the same: Elena, Stefan, and Damon. Maybe I’m biased because I saw the show first. Though, It’s just better quality.

I think I’ve made it clear that I prefer the TV version, but let me tell you why The Return: Nightfall bothered me so much. I did enjoy it and I will read the rest of the series out of curiosity. I just think that it’s obvious she was trying to come up with a new story. In this book, the vampires aren’t the problem anymore. Damon is still the bad one, except this time his nature is being used against him. He becomes possessed by malach (invisible bugs with teeth) who are controlled by immature, Asian fox-spirits called kitsune. Sound a bit ridiculous? I thought so. It’s not just vampires wanting Elena anymore. But what else can the plot be about? Elena is back from the dead, what more can go wrong? Trust me, it’s just some round-a-bout way to get Elena to fall in love with Damon instead of Stefan. And it will be at least 6 books by the time it happens!

Stay tuned for more, though it may take a couple months for me to get around to the next in The Return series.

See more progress on: read 25 books in 2010

Book 21 - The Handmade Marketplace: How to Sell Your Crafts Locally, Globally, and On-Line by Kari Chapin

2010-12-07T19:54:00.001-08:00

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I had already written my entry and review of this book a few days ago, but my internet decided to quit on me and I lost the text :( Anyway, here is my second attempt:

The Handmade Marketplace is a must for anyone wanting to start a business selling arts and crafts. It is full of inspiring quotes, and plenty of tips and advice to get you started. I read many things I already had a vague idea about and learned more new things that will help me succeed in my business. Once I get the chance to focus more on this endeavor, I know exactly what to do to make sure that my store is legitimate and legal. I’ve gained new ideas for promoting my crafts and I’m excited about the opportunity to do wholesale with local stores. I just have to wait for the right time to get started :)

See more progress on: read 25 books in 2010

Book 20 - The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold

2010-11-09T17:27:00.001-08:00

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I’ve always wanted to write a little review of every book that I read, as a way to keep track of good books and to encourage others to enjoy reading as much as I do. I took a break from reading for pleasure while I was in college, because of all the books that I had to read for class. I decided that I was tired of reading things that I was told to read, and I set a goal to read 50 books in a year – not for school. It was a lofty goal, and I barely made it halfway. If I would have recorded school books I still wouldn’t have reached it! It was unrealistic. This year my goal is to read 25 books in 2010. This one is number 20! It’s a much more realistic goal, and if I read more, great!

The Lovely Bones is a book that I’ve wanted to read since the movie came out. I’ve never seen the movie, because I usually like the read the book first if I can help it. I will be seeing it soon :) I was also interested in the book because it was recommended to me by a friend who doesn’t even like to read much. If she liked it, it must be good right?!

If you don’t already know, it’s about a 14-year-old girl who has been murdered. She narrates the story from a place somewhere between heaven and earth. She watches her family and her killer struggle to go on with their lives after her death. She wants to help her family find her body and to help them recover from her loss. However, she also doesn’t want them to forget her and she doesn’t know how to move on either. She longs to live the life that was taken from her, and sees her sister grow up to do things that she never would. She watches over her family, even as they are torn apart. It is a very touching story and I was very satisfied with the ending, though it’s not what you expect at all! I would definitely recommend it :) Now I have to go rent the movie!

See more progress on: read 25 books in 2010

Ideas

2010-10-21T21:52:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't updated in a couple of weeks, I just haven't had much to write about... or so I thought! I've had a lot of great ideas come into my head and not a lot of time or money to make something of them. It's not necessarily that I don't have the money. It's that I already own the supplies, yet they are in Alabama. I don't want to go out and buy something I already have!

I've been wanting to experiment with some jewelry designs, but every bit of beads, clasps, chains, vintage finds or whatever I would want to make the jewelry with is not here. However, Will and I went to the guitar store in Sharonville today to restring his guitar and I told them to save the strings. So... when I eventually get my jewelry supplies back, expect to see some guitar string jewelry!! If it's successful enough I'll consider raiding the store once a month and demanding the strings that are just going in the TRASH! All that potential going to the landfill! This is why I started upcycling and recycling. There's just no reason for these things to go to waste and hurt our environment when they could be used again for wonderful crafty things!

Lately I've been trying to improve my Etsy shop... among other things. I really should not be focusing on this right now, but I can't stop! I just feel like it's what I should be doing now. I've been reading and posting in the forums and got some really helpful tips. I'd never fully taken advantage of the Alchemy feature, but after reading a forum post about an artist who has been really successful in alchemy, I had to give it a try. The post is called 1000 sales and how Alchemy helped me get there, check it out. I found a request for a business card and placed my bid. Within a day I had a sale and a fun new project to make! Now I know it must be beginner's luck, but this is definitely an untapped market. I spend most of my time trying to sell graphic designs and hand-painted gifts as customizable wares, while there are people making requests on Alchemy who are unaware of what I have to offer. They don't want to look around. They want you to come to them and tell them what you can do! It also narrows down their options a bit if they only look at their bids. If you're an artist, I suggest you try it! You never know what crazy requests you'll find there!

I've also been taking advantage of the Cincinnati Library. It's so wonderful. And I really love books. You can learn so much and you don't even have to be in school. Right now I'm working through a book on how to use Adobe Flash. I also found two great books that you should definitely check out if you are trying to break into the business of selling your crafts. The first is The Handmade Marketplace, by Kari Chapman. I really like the design and layout of this book and she gives some awesome advice and quotes from fellow artists and bloggers. The second one is The Complete Idiot's Guide to Selling Your Crafts. I haven't started this one yet, but I think it gives a lot of detailed examples for keeping up with inventory and starting up your business. I think that no matter what stage you are in, there is room for improvement. These books will undoubtedly tell you something you didn't know or haven't been doing and should.

I almost forgot to mention... I'm starting to add graphic designs to my Etsy shop. I've thought about making a separate shop for it, but that's just not something I want to do right now. For now I have two listings in my Graphics section. I'm using the Save the Date from our wedding as the example for my Save the Date Custom Printable! And my Alchemy sale inspired me to add a Custom Business Card. Those are the first, but I plan to make many more. So far I want to offer the marketing services for Etsy sellers: Banners, Avatars, Online Ads, Business Cards, Thank yous, etc. Then to continue my vision for the Save the Date, I want to offer custom and pre-made Invitations, Save the Dates, Thank you cards, etc, etc. I have so many ideas ahhh! Right now I'm thinking Halloween party invites, but it may be too late for me to start. But of course custom Christmas cards and party invites might be good :)

Book 19 - Regretsy: Where DIY Meets WTF, April Winchell

2010-10-08T00:40:00.000-07:00

Regretsy: Where DIY Meets WTF

I found this book while searching for craft books in the Cincinnati Library catalog. I put it on hold and within a week it was in my hands. I thought it would be a really funny book. Little did I know that I would discover this whole subculture of handmade that makes fun of and often appreciates bad art! It is hilarious, the things that she finds! I am a new fan and will now be following the Regretsy blog: www.regretsy.com. The book is divided into the typical craft categories from home decor to jewelry. Then there is the beyond weird category that makes you wonder, “What were they thinking? This person is crazy!” I love it. Even though, the artists featured in the book and blog are being featured for having bad art, they tend to have more sales once featured.

I find it very inspiring. I don’t think that I make anything weird or bizarre enough to be featured on Regretsy. However, the book had me thinking about being in the middle, not too extraordinary and not too terrible either. I would consider my shop to be in the middle as of now. In order to get out of the middle and be noticed, I need to do something out of the ordinary that not just anyone will do. It’s a good challenge that I’d love to take on. I need to take all the ideas that float into my head each day and put them to use. Some of these ideas could be the key. I am certain this is what I am supposed to do with my life. I feel that this is my calling. I just have to put myself out there and perform.

See more progress on: read 25 books in 2010

Tshirt design for MDA Walk

2010-09-30T00:35:00.000-07:00

I'm working on designing a tshirt for my brother's team that will be participating in the MDA Muscle Walk in Birmingham, Alabama. This is what I have so far:

I really like the colors, but I'm not sure if I can use more than one color of ink...

I really want to be more involved with this, but since I don't live in Alabama anymore I'm glad to be able to help with the shirt. I did find out that there is a walk scheduled in Cincinnati for March 2011! I'm thinking about volunteering :)

For more information about the MDA Muscle Walk and to find one in your area, click here.

Giving up for now

2010-09-29T23:20:00.000-07:00

I've had many changes in my life and there are a lot of things that I want to do. I have to set priorities for myself and decide what is most important to accomplish. It would be really cool to have a t-shirt printed by Threadless, but for now I want to focus on improving my shop and finding a full time job. I can be designing things that I want to design for freelance projects or making art for my shop, rather than wasting my time on Threadless. I'm keeping this is my give-up list in case I want to complete this goal at a later time. It will help me focus on the more important goals when this one is not visible to me anymore.

See more progress on: Get a t-shirt printed on Threadless

Job Searching...

2010-09-29T17:50:00.001-07:00

So I’ve been looking for jobs for a few months now. I’ve had a few interviews for jobs that weren’t any good. But now I’ve started to interview for some good design jobs! I’m waiting to hear back from Quality Gold and I just had a phone interview with Global Novations. They said I should be able to schedule a live interview for next week! I’m hoping that I’ll be able to get a full time job by the end of the month, so I’ve made this my personal challenge this month.

While I would love to be able to sell my crafts full time, it will have to stay a hobby for the time being. I’m also working actively to find venues to show my art and get more exposure for my shop. I’ve decided to focus on small things each day, and eventually I hope to make a living off of it part time! I feel like this is the time in my life to start on my dreams, so I’m going with both the crafts and looking to be a graphic designer full time :)

See more progress on: find a job in graphic design or advertising

Book 18 - I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar, Sharon Eliza Nichols

2010-09-26T17:59:00.001-07:00

I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar

I heard about this book in the local newspaper in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The author of is a law student at the University of Alabama who started a facebook group with the same title as the book. It now has over 350,000 members, who have submitted photos of hilarious grammatical errors and misspellings. I’ll add another book to my reading list this year to make up for the fact that this one is mostly photos. I highly recommend you read this book! You will not believe how many screw ups people make on their business signs!

See more progress on: read 25 books in 2010

Printable Graphics

2010-09-25T10:55:00.000-07:00

I'm contemplating adding printables to my Etsy shop. I have a lot of cute ideas for save the dates and party invitations that each customer can customize with their own names and pictures. I think it's a good idea, but there are probably a lot of others who do the same thing. Would you buy printable invitations if they were for a good price? You could get them to print yourself, or to take to the nearest Kinkos or UPS Store to print. I'll probably do a test with the save the date I already have and see what happens :)

I'm starting to work on a custom order that I have for a cute baby boy and girl line drawing. It's different from what I normally do, but it will be fun!

I've done a lot of painting this week for some new items. I just have to get some ribbons at the store to finish them :) Right now, I work at the kitchen table in our small apartment. It works well for now, but I'd love to have my own studio space someday!

New supplies!

2010-09-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

So, I know I said I would have to use up my art supplies before I bought more, but I left most things in Alabama so I get to start fresh! It was the perfect excuse to find the thrift store today and take a look around! It took a while but I finally came upon the Goodwill store in Loveland, Ohio. I love looking for wooden things to upcycle them and make new again. I found a great paddle that will be perfect for a sorority gift! Now, I just need to find someone who wants a custom painted paddle. I don't have any previous examples, so I may go ahead and paint it Pi Phi colors if I can't find anyone that wants it. I'm pretty sure I can find paddles in Hobby Lobby, but the whole idea that I've rescued it from the thrift store makes this one better! I also found some wooden letters to use for college letter wall decorations! I have already made a Bama one, but I got another "A" for that and I found an "M" for Michigan! I need to go on ebay and buy that Michigan ribbon that I saw and my college line will have a great start!

Aside from the art supplies, I found these three things for our apartment!

The wire sconce was $5 and the mirrors were $2 each, $9 not bad for decorating one wall! Looking at this, would you know it came from a thrift store? I didn't think so.

I'm really excited to get started on my new projects! I'll update more soon :)

Artist Feature: Samantha Rayburn Pottery

2010-09-03T19:23:00.000-07:00

I want to start using this blog a lot more. First to let people know what is going on with my art and second to talk about my friends' art or things that I have discovered. It would be great if someone would feature my work on their blog, but for now I'll just keep creating and I'll help other people get the word out about their work.

I have given my shop a new face, and I am gradually spreading this new design to Twitter, Facebook, and when I can figure out how - Blogger. I've already made the background, I just have to put it in. Hopefully we'll see that in a few days.

I have seen a lot of art lately that friends and family have made that I love, but for now I'll have to pick just one :)

My cousin Samantha makes beautiful pottery that she sells on Facebook and at her local Mariott in Columbia, Missouri. She is a stay-at-home mom with a lot of talent for pottery making. These are some of my favorites that she has posted so far:

I like this next one for me since it's my new initial :)

For more information about Samantha Rayburn Pottery, visit the Facebook page here.

My First Threadless Submission!

2010-07-14T11:26:00.000-07:00

Please vote for my Threadless design above to help get it printed. It has been a goal of mine for a while to design a t-shirt for threadless, and now I need all the votes and high scores I can get!

Organizing My Room at HOME

2009-10-06T14:19:00.000-07:00

I went to my parents house 2 weeks ago and did some major cleaning out…
THREE huge black garbage bags are going to Goodwill!!
I also recycled a huge bag of paper.
I am so proud of myself.
The organizing I did:
-I put my Disney VHS tapes, Barbie dolls and clothes, and some other random games in a big plastic box. My mother doesn’t want me to get rid of them, so hopefully I have a little girl one day and the VHS player still works :)
-I have a Ukranian doll that my aunt and uncle gave me, which I put in her own separate plastic box along with her beautiful clothes. That is one unique gift that I will not part with.
-I went through all the boxes under my bed, recycled papers, got rid of junk, and found a few fun things that I had forgotten about.
-I made categories for my craft things and put them in boxes by category: Painting, Drawing, Beads/Jewelry Making, and Fabric/Ribbons.
-I took apart an old art project that I was not too fond of. At least, I didn’t like the whole thing. I plan to fix up parts of it and make it new. It was fairly large, so doing this cleared out my floor a little bit.
-I had a huge stack of newspaper and magazine articles to go through, so I took those back with me in my car to go through while I am in Tuscaloosa. Also, this was to get it out of my room, so I don’t have to deal with it next time I go home.
That’s all I can remember right now, but I think I did pretty well! :)

See more progress on: clean my room

Sooo.. this goal needs a name change

2009-10-06T13:49:00.001-07:00

it SHOULD be called “Have a t-shirt design accepted for submission to Threadless.”

I submitted my first design today, but it was declined. I was sad :(
But the most frustrating thing – the decline reason was a a total form letter so I have no idea what was wrong with it. Did I use too many colors? Was it not the right format? I have NO CLUE.

Is there anybody with experience with this that can help me out?

See more progress on: submit a t-shirt design to Threadless

How to do something new every month

2009-09-20T18:28:00.000-07:00

"Having this as a goal made me more aware of the fact that I was already trying new things all the time and how much fun I was having!"

How I did it: I kept my eyes open for opportunities, which often came about through my fiance, who likes to take me to new places and show me new things! After a few months I realized it was something I did not have to push myself to do, since trying new things is something that I strive to do in my everyday life anyway. Once I realized that, I decided that I could check this goal off my list!

Lessons & tips: Even the simplest thing can be something new! Go to a free exercise class or play, or take a trip to the next town and see what you can find. Look in your local newspaper for things to do around town. As long as you keep looking there will be opportunities for you. To get inspired, take a look at my past entries to see some of the things that I did!

Resources: My friends and fiance

Local newspapers - Tuscaloosa News and Crimson White

University of Alabama

It took me 6 months.

It made me happy!

See more progress on: Do something new every month

Girl's don't get it. Boys do.

2009-08-12T22:36:00.000-07:00

I across a great ad in SHAPE magazine tonight. The headline caught my eye, then the picture and of course the great design. I read on an discovered that it was for Charley's Fund, a charity specifically created for research on cures for Duchenne Muscular Dystophy. Charley is pictured above and he was diagnosed with this disease in 2004. My brother was diagnosed with this disease as well and I am excited to find a philanthropy specifically for research of this kind of MD. Immediately I was filled with ideas of how to spread the word about this wonderful charity. First I wanted to publish it in my blog to share the word and my feelings about it. I am also going to purchase a tank top or sweatshirt to support this cause. They also have jewelry, hats, tshirts and purses. They are very cute designs and a worthy fashion statement.

Smile Clutch $165

Tank Top $25

Sterling Silver Believe Bracelet $135 Youth $150 Adult

I want to share this with everyone I know and hopefully find my own way to sell things to support it as well. I am planning to get my sorority involved by shopping on the site and more. Everyone who knows my brother, or any other boy with DMD would be thrilled to find a cure! There are now three promising therapies that possibly cure it, so they need all the money they can get to make a cure a reality. I would love to see my brother healed and able to walk again and live a full life.

If you are reading this, please take the time to visit charleysfund.org to learn more and shop or give a donation. Your contribution would be appreciated by many friends and family of those with Duchenne MD. Plus, the merchandise is so cute and worth every penny because of the cause!

How to produce my own radio spot for class

2009-07-20T15:08:00.000-07:00

"It was a lot more fun than I thought it would be and I'm glad I learned a new skill."

How I did it: I already had the script written for a previous assignment, so all I needed were music, sound effects, and voice. I opened GarageBand on my computer and used it for the first time. Since I have experience with Photoshop, the concept of layers was not new to me. I went to soundsnap.com and downloaded 5 free sound effects. Used some appropriate music from my Apple Loops folder. Then I convinced my fiance to be the announcer. I was worried it would be cheesy but I think it turned out great!

Lessons & tips: Making your own radio spot may sound daunting, but if you write your script and you know what sound effects you want to use its not that hard from there. Find a mac computer that has GarageBand and mix your audio in that. If possible use a Macbook, because the microphone is already built in.

Resources:

GarageBand

http://www.soundsnap.com - for sound effects

Hey Whipple, Squeeze This. A Guide to Creating Great Advertising by Luke Sullivan

It took me 2 weeks.

It made me laugh

See more progress on: produce my own radio spot for class

Vote For My "Coach Poppy" Design on Brickfish!

2009-07-16T15:52:00.000-07:00

Here's a design for a wallpaper design contest for the new line of Coach purses and shoes:

Are You a Poppy Girl™?

Sponsored by Visit Coach

If you like it, please vote for me and help me win a trip to NYC!

I'm Engaged!!

2009-03-31T00:02:00.000-07:00

My boyfriend, Will asked me to marry him this past Friday! I've been so busy since then that I haven't had time to write. I'm so excited!!! This means that I'll be planning a wedding for the next year. We think it will be on June 5, 2010. So here's the story:

Will works in Cincinnati right now and after work on Thursday he immediately started driving down to Alabama. Well, he told me that he was driving home to Michigan and then driving another hour past his parents house to where his sister lives to hang out with her for the night. So I had no idea that he was even coming to visit! I talked to him a couple of times that night and he was always in the car. I thought he was driving home after a long night out with his sister and I didn't hear from him again until 3am. "Mare' I'm sooo tired! I'm going to bed now." He was not in bed in Michigan however, but he was about to go to sleep at his friend's house where he used to live when he was in Alabama.

Little did I know, he woke up in the morning, drove out to rural Alabama to my parents' house, gets lost on the way, and when he finally gets there has a two hour conversation with my dad. Ultimately my dad gives him his permission and tells him welcome to the family! He was soo nervous!

He drove back to Tuscaloosa to find me. My roommate had set it up with him so that I would be spending the day with her and he would know exactly where to find me. She took me to get my nails done, saying that she had a big date and wanted me to go with her. Then we went shopping at Plato's Closet to look for an outfit for her big date. While we are there, Will comes in to surprise me but he can't find us because we are in the dressing rooms. I happened to come out of the room once to see him walk by quickly with a grin on his face. It was surreal to me because I had no idea he was in town and since I never see him, I am always taunted by guys who look like him for a split second but aren't him. I was a little weirded out then brushed it off. But a minute later there was knocking on my door and when I opened it there he was looking adorable with that big grin!

He told me that I had to hurry because we had dinner reservations in an hour at Cypress Inn and they had made special arrangements just for him because he had driven so far. This restaurant in right by the river and he had asked me to be his girlfriend on the pier by the river almost 2 years before. We hurried to my apartment where I took the fastest shower of my life, threw on a dress and jewelry, touched up my makeup and was ready to go. When we got to Cypress Inn, we walked down to the river and the pier was flooded because it had rained the night before. Will got all upset and I was like "We don't have to go on the pier, its ok." He was thinking, "We have to go on the pier!" But we sat on a rock ledge by the river and looked at a scrapbook that I had made for him about our relationship. At the end I had written a note that said, "These are some of the best times of my life and the best is yet to come!" He asked me if I believed that and I said yes. Then he said, "Well, I do too and I have something for you!" He made me stand up and he got down on one knee and said, "Mary, will you marry me?" I was so happy and I cried so I could hardly see anything! I knew it was coming when he said he believed that too, but it all happened so fast that I could hardly believe it was happening. I was almost in denial that I had been lied to all week and I couldn't comprehend that he had talked to my dad. But it all made sense after that. It finally made sense why he was able to get special arrangements at the restaurant and why he didn't surprise me until late afternoon instead of showing up first thing in the morning.

I'm so excited for so many reasons. I get to go dress shopping. I get to have fun planning a wedding. I'm going to be a part of a new family and have sisters and an older brother, neither of which I had before. But most importantly, I get to spend my life with my best friend and my love. The weekend was so special and I am happy to say that I am marrying the man that I always dreamed of.

Mulling Over Ideas for T-shirts

2009-03-25T22:37:00.001-07:00

I have had an idea in my head for a Threadless design for several months now. I have Adobe CS2 on my computer and it is so slow and it takes forever to do anything! So I usually get frustrated and move on to something else. My idea is for a GREEN theme design, inspired by some sketches that I did for a drawing class last spring. I hope that by putting this on my life list, I can get this project done faster!

See more progress on: submit a t-shirt design to Threadless

first post

2009-03-25T22:07:00.000-07:00

Hello! I decided to create a separate blog for all of my artistic endeavors since I felt it was all becoming jumbled with the rest of my thoughts and personal life on my xanga site. Actually I needed a fresh start from it all so I completely moved from xanga to blogger. You can read about my personal life in Something About Mary, and all things about my artistic life here. It was only appropriate to name this blog after my Etsy shop, mar' contraire. This shop is where I expect most of my for-fun projects to end up and this blog with help me to promote it. I will also add a few things here and there about my graphic design work and links to different artsy things.

I like to do campaigns for Brickfish and crowdspring, and it is one of my goals to make a tshirt design for Threadless so I will periodically post links to get people to vote for me for those different things!

"The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work." Emile Zola

How to take a Ferguson Discovery class

2009-03-25T21:11:00.000-07:00

"It was a great crash course on wedding planning and I learned some valuable information that I will be sure to use in planning my wedding or helping with others!"

How I did it: I finally decided that since I had been seeing fliers around campus advertising these classes, that I should just sign up for one. So I went to the Ferguson Center website, looked at the class offerings and picked one that looked interesting. It was only $5 so it was definitely affordable! I filled out the registration form online and all I had to do was show up at the time and place and pay when I walked in the door! It took two hours of my time, but I enjoyed myself and learned a lot. I'll be taking Yoga Basics next!

Lessons & tips: I have been wanting to take one of these classes since I was a freshman. I am a junior now. Take opportunities when you see them and don't wait as long as I did to take the steps to do it. Even if you have to go to a class or workshop by yourself, it is worth it!

Resources: Look on your local college or university student union website. They may have a hobby series like dance lessons, yoga, etc that you can take, even if you are not a student. If you go to the University of Alabama, go to ferguson.ua.edu and click on the Discovery Classes link. If you want ideas for a 2 hour crash course series, take a look at this website because they have some great offerings.

It took me 2 days.

It made me happy!

See more progress on: take a Ferguson Discovery class

Life's an adventure...

2009-03-24T11:25:00.000-07:00

I decided this last night. I think I want my blog to be called this so that I can write about my adventures from day to day. I don't always write about what I am doing since I also want to post projects that I am working on, so I'll just keep the title as is for now.

Sometimes I get bored with what I am doing and I have to remind myself that life is interesting every step of the way. I am truly blessed with all of the opportunities and talents that I have been given and I need to remember that and stop focusing on the next big thing. I have great things happening to me here and now. Even if they are not great occurrences, at least it may be something that will make me laugh or teach me a life lesson.

"Life is either a great adventure or nothing" -Helen Keller

"We should come home from adventures, and perils, and discoveries every day with new experience and character" -Henry David Thoreau

The first adventure that I want to record happened yesterday morning. It really started the night before, when I was driving back to school from home. It was dark and I was on a windy, hilly backroad. As a car was about to pass me from the opposite direction, I had a sudden feeling that something had run or flown across the road and sure enough, I felt a thump on the front of my car. I'm always terrified to think that I have killed an innocent creature and I hoped desperately that it was not a cat, because I love cats and it reminded me of my kitten, Sarah who my grandmother has been so gracious to take in since I can no longer keep her at my apartment. I also hoped that I had not killed a sweet little bird and that it would not be stuck on the front of my car. When I got back to my apartment I took all of my stuff inside and didn't think any more about it.

When I woke the yesterday morning, I noticed that I had a picture message on my phone from my roommate - a picture of my car with something stuck on the grill. I walk outside and sure enough, from the second floor of my building I can see a wing sticking out. Poor bird, I feel so mean! I cannot believe I did not see this when I got out of the car! Since there were no gloves in my apartment, I had to wrap my hands in plastic grocery bags to get this bird off my car. Of course, it is stuck! It had dented a plastic piece on the front of my car and was stuck. 45 minutes later, with the help of a friend, we had taken the plastic piece off and disposed of the dead bird.

Sounds disgusting, but after the fact it was hilarious!

Welcome to my life's adventures!