new additions to the family

Ah! I have so much to update on here!
I thought I'd start with my favorite new thrift store/antique finds from this past month or so.
As you know, I love things.

I found a bike hook, to hang above my closet door. I'm thinking of painting it blue.

A ship! To sail across my globe, atop my desk. I want my desk area to look like a study, with lots of interesting things. If you go on the Indiana Jones ride and walk through the line, sometimes you pass by this little study full of old books and cool stuff. I love it!! One day I'll have a study/art room like that. (ps. that is Buddy Holly in the background..without his glasses)

A birdcage and a tiny wooden typewriter. Not sure what to do with the bird cage yet; and the typewriter is pointless, but adorable. (ps. kitty wine bottles in the background. "we are wine bottttless!")

This wooden "et cetera" cutout, that's now hanging on the inside of my bedroom door. I think it's really cool, but I'm not sure why...

I just got this globe lamp! It's a globe and a lamp! What more can I say..


I hung Ivan's portrait which sort of compliments the red bits in the chair. I'm thinking of hanging this bad kitty/puppy painting somewhere it my room. I found it in my parents' yard sale stuff.
Found this amazing typewriter for $10! It's amazing because it's old, but in mint condition. The ink ribbon is NOT dried out, which is rare for a thrift store typewriter (and I have inspected many of them). It's not electric and it comes with a light carrying case that snaps right on top of it. So it's perfect for quick typing, which is usually all I need anyway for cards n such. And it's baby blue! I'm in ruv.
My mom was getting rid of this vintage cake cover (what do you call those?), but I wanted to keep it, so I needed to find a purpose for it...
...thus, my new jewelry box! I used teacups and saucers to hold bracelets and earrings. (ps. yeah, that is me in the background)
It's a little cluttered, but it works. And it's fun.



The chapstick of the week is actually a lip butter from the Body Shop. It's honestly really strange! Kind of like putting thick lotion on your lips. Hmmm...I have to admit, being the chapstick freak I am, I kind of enjoy a good slather.

I almost forgot to introduce you to my new friend, Minnie! I found her at a thrift store for $11! I didn't know what a nice camera she was when I bought her, but now I know. I was sooo excited when I bought batteries and found that the light meter works! Now I know which shutter speed to use without having to guess.


I recently went to Mexico with my family and Marcio and took a TON of pictures, so those will be my next post! There's just so many of them, I'm not sure what to do. Anyone have any ideas of an efficient way to post them on here? Maybe some sort of slideshow or flikr or something?
Until then...

love is an open soar

some more photos


trippy triple exposure







Here's some more summer music for you...

I recently discovered this compilation when my coworker, Mayra, brought it into work. It's a compilation of 60s & 70s love songs by DJ Nobody and it's fantastic! If you're into the Pretty Things' psychedlic stuff, Pink Floyd, Margo Guryan, or just cool 60s music, then you will love it. I found a link where you can download it, so I highly recommend that you do so! Click here and enter the password: mixtapebreaks.blogspot
It's broken down into 3 "movements" and the third is my favorite.

I'm definitely due for another chapstick of the week! This week is Paul Frank for Lip Smackers! I received these cuties as a gift from Hanie. One is carrot cake flavor (a little unusual) and the other is a yummy strawberry banana. My favorite part it the keychain that fits on top of the chapstick cap! It's the closest thing to those clip-on lipsmackers keychains that I can't seem to find anymore..

Card Me

Thank god for cards! They're a great excuse to just make something, plus you get to give someone something handmade and special.

Here is the one I made Marcio for his birthday.
I used a page from my set of old encyclopedias and my grandpa's wooden stamps with acrylics.
Those encyclopedias have the BEST pictures and they're perfect for ideas when I need to whip up something quickly. Marcio and I were just talking about fencing the other day. I don't remember why...


Tied it up to hold the gift card inside

Here's the card Justine made for him. So cute! I love the thread.
Mother's Day card & envelope:
Made from recycled objects: brown paper bag, fabric & ribbon scraps, notebook paper, and the base of the card was saved from some sticker packaging.
I sewed "mom" into the ribbon, but I kind of think it looks like "nom." haha. One of these days I should learn how to embroider.
I love mixing thread, paper, and fabric. Love different textures.

This week's chapstick is the Orca Team chapstick! Orca Team is an awesome minimalist surf pop band from Portland. We played with them when they were touring through Riverside and they sold these at their merch table!! How awesome is that?! I'm not sure what kind of chapstick it really is, but I like it.
Listen to them: http://www.myspace.com/orcateamband

Awesome Wall

There's this really nice wall downtown that I've been eye-ing for a long time. It's gated off in this abandoned car repair place (I think that's what it was).

A couple weeks ago, I finally got the chance to do something with it! I made Marcio hop the fence with me and we did a little photoshoot.









I Love this wall!

Why can't people paint more buildings like this?
Part of the garage:


Marcio--what a dog. hahaha no, he's quite the opposite actually..

And...
I know I skipped last week, but I've decided that I can only do these on the weeks where I actually post something! (Ps. lip balms/glosses are included, even though it's called "chapstick" of the week!)

This week is the Body Shop's nutmeg and vanilla lip balm.
I received this in a gift set for Christmas. I have to stash chapsticks around the house, so they're always available, and I made the mistake of putting this one in the bathroom for my "after-shower before bed lip stuff." I didn't like it at first because it was kind of sticky.

I gave it a second chance though and realized that it's very much a daytime kind of lip balm. Or a nice touch for something simple and natural-looking for going out at night. It isn't tinted, but has a tiny hint of glitterness, which makes your lips look nice and dewy. It also stays on for a good time without having to reapply, which I really like. I would like to try this in a different flavor sometime.

Thanks to Marcio for the photos!

Chapstick of the Week!

So all of my friends know that I have a pretty bad chapstick addiction and will never be seen without chapstick nearby.
Somehow over the last couple months, I've accumulated a lot of different kinds and some people suggested that I do a "Chapstick of the Week" feature. So here it is!
I'm pretty excited about it and I hope I can keep it up each week!


I thought I would start with the obvious this week...Burt's Bees. Who doesn't love Burt's Bees?! It makes your lips feel amazing and tingly. I think I could happily use only this chapstick for the rest of my life!