Project Time!

School's finally out! Well, it's been out for about three weeks now. It's so weird, I could not wait to finally have time to relax and be free of stinkin' school projects. But after Liz and I got back from Cali a week ago, I didn't know what to do with all my free-time-- when I got off work that is. I felt guilty just sitting around and actually relaxing. I thought, "What the? Why do I feel guilty? It's okay to just be lazy for a bit after such a rough semester." Nonetheless, I continued to feel this void. Maybe a part of it was also the fact that I hadn't had time to think about much but homework during the semester, and then when it was all over, everything hit me-- sad things like, "wow, I haven't been on a date since February?" and "Gee I could really use my wonderful, sweet mom right now-- one of our fun shopping/lunch dates maybe." So basically I began to feel pretty depressed and lonely with all this free time. However, since my sister Liz, and Brother-in-law, Navin, are moving in about a week, I decided to do some projects . First, I made them a house-warming gift.

(They loved it-- they said it went really well with their style. YAY!)

Then I decided to make some fun things for the apartment since it will soon be vacant. Last weekend I went to some antique stores on Main St. and found two way cute frames for a good price. I spray-painted them black and then decided to make my own paintings to put inside of them. I painted a chandelier and I'm almost finished with the Eiffel Tower-- all the straight lines are kinda difficult. But they were fun to make and I can't wait to hang them in the apartment.

Before:

(Both frames had ballerinas. I think I'll save the cute prints and use them in my future daughter's room-- if I have one.)

After:

Almost finished:

Okay, I finished it a couple hours after I posted. Here's the finished product:

Then, I made this headband for my sister. I have a vintage green one just like this one, that I made for myself awhile ago. And Elizabeth was always saying she wanted one, so I decided to make this one for her while I was in my fun project mode. I think it will look way cute in her new dark hair.

The projects really cheered me up.

Also, here are some pictures from our Cali trip. We had so much fun. It was great to relax and be away for a little bit, without any worries. We watched lots of movies, chilled at the beach and pool, and had fun lunches at Jonny Rockets in Laguna Beach. Their moca fudge shakes are to die for! Seriously, so refreshing!

What have I been up to?

SCHOOL! That's what I've been up to. Oh my goodness, this semester was nuts. I had SEVEN CLASSES! They seriously took up ALL my time. Early childhood education requires many, many big, time-consuming projects.

First of all, I finished my internship at Longfellow Elementary Pre-K classroom. Fun class. (don't worry, the girl to my left-- your right-- really does love me, she just looks mad in the picture, for some reason.)

Then,

I had a million final projects to do, including this one. It was actually a fun one to make. It's a puzzle I made of one of my students at my internship. She just loved to do puzzles, so I made one of her for a presentation I had in one of my classes. I plan to give it to her. How fun will that be for her when she gets older?

I just used a wooden Tigger puzzle and gluded her pictures on blue paper and then on the pieces. I think this would be fun to make for my future kids. My teacher said she thought it was so cute and that she wanted to make one for her two-year-old daughter because she loves puzzles and pictures of herself.

Here's the cute shirt I got at Tillys with the giftcard my mentor teacher gave me! Last Thursday I took my one final and now I'm FINISHED with this semester! So, I decided to do manicures and pedicures for my sister and I this weekend. We got a fun turquoise blue for our toes for Cali on TUESDAY! Then Liz said, "Let's do french tips!" I think they turned out fun! They match my bedroom wall.

Today I was feeling a little down because it's Mother's Day, so I decided to make myself a necklace. I just used the random charms and beads I had. I started making jewelry awhile ago, but haven't had time to make anything for awhile because of school. Here it is. I like how it turned out. Here's a close-up of all the doo-dads I put on the necklace.

Elizabeth and I decided that we needed a nice little getaway after our crazy semesters so we are going to Cali this Tuesday, and I can't wait! We are leaving right after work and staying till Sunday. We're going to stay at our Grandparent's condo in Dana Point. I can't wait to get out of this crazy heat and just relax on the beach. Then, we'll have two weeks before SUMMER SCHOOL starts. FOUR classes for me and three for Liz. Ugh! But anyway, this vacation is going to be AWESOME!

That's Liz and me on the beach in '07