Things That Fascinate Me...

I've always been a fairly crafty type.  But let's just stop and define crafty for a moment.


There's this type of crafty:

Which I am not.


And there's the type of crafty that I fancy myself to be.  The type of crafty that sees old objects in the thrift stores and can re-purpose them to be something that is no less than awesome.  So what have I been into lately?   Maps and Globes, my friend.  Maps...and...Globes.


I've always had a strong sense of wanderlust and therefore, have always loved things related thereto.  So over the past few months I've been starting to gather things like Vintage postcards, old maps, and of course, Globes!   My first find was a sweet 5 dollar globe (thank you goodwill) on a wooden stand which will look so nice between my two old rattan barrel chairs that I purchased earlier this year (thank you craigslist).     And then today, I went to the Habitat for Humanity Thrift store and when I walked in- there it was gleaming in the florescent light.  Another globe for a whopping $6.50.  I've been on the lookout for another globe lately because of a project that I've been wanting to do.   So, my bloggy friends- feast your eyes on this-

Not my actual globe.  Mine's still drying and I'm too impatient to wait and take the picture before I post.

It's a chalkboard globe!   I took home my $6.50 globe, purchased my 4 dollar spray can of chrome Krylon along with my 5 dollar spray can of chalkboard paint, and Ta-daaah I am now the proud owner of the coolest thing I've made this year.

Things I have made recently

Every so often, I get a very very strong conviction.  Something deep inside tugs at my heart strings and I know right then and there that I will not be content until...I...bake...something.

So whenever this feeling comes along (oft'times at 9 or 10 o'clock at night) I go to my favorite website www.foodgawker.com and I look up a recipe for whatever strikes my fancy.

Cookies?  Why not!  Double layer cakes?  Child's play!   Muffins?  You betcha!

But my latest endeavors have usually been cupcakes. So for tonight's post, I have decided to just post pictures of what I've been trying out lately, and hopefully inspiring you to bake something as well. 

Chocolate Sea Salt and Caramel Cupcakes

Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Snickerdoodle Cupcakes

Wherever you are...There you are.

I opened up the old blog just for the heck of it.  Knowing where you're coming from is half the battle of preparing for your future, but I just wondered...what about knowing where you are now and in the past recent months?

Where I am right now isn't where I was 6 months ago.  But it's also not where I'm going to be 6 months from now.  It's just here.  In the middle.    It's always so weird to be living right in the middle of your life.  I remember having that thought in Peru.   When you're at that point where you're somewhat comfortable with your surroundings, but at the same time, you're very aware that your surroundings aren't completely comfortable yet.

I'm definitely in a transition period right now.   Still transitioning to the states (though not nearly as much as before) getting ready to transition into marriage, into a completely new life.   And I'm just fine with that transition.  Just interested to know where and how exactly I'm transitioning.


There's at least one time every couple of weeks that I just stop and think..."What am I doing here?  I mean...I know I'm here, and I know I've got this life here, but really...what am I doing?'

Should I be doing more? Should I be doing less? Should I be doing different? Should I do the same?  It's sort of a feeling of walking through a corn maze...or any maze for that matter.  You can get in there, and you know your basic goal is to get to the end.  You have all the supposed tools you need (i.e. your feet to walk) and all you have to do is find your way out.  So you start, and you know as long as you keep walking, you're not really messing up the process.   But the more turns you take, the more lost you get, the more time you spend in the maze, you begin to realize..you know what? There's not really a logical way that I can find my way out.  There's no knowledge or strength that I can rely on to get me out of here faster.  All I can do is not make the same wrong turns twice.

But for all intents and purposes, you're walking blindly.  All you can do is keeping walking and hope the victory of finding the end comes sooner rather than later.

So...Here I am.

Time is flying...can it go a little faster?

So here it is, the middle of February and the world is still turning.  I'm not going to lie, I just want to be done with this year, onto the next and stop living so darn far away from Jamesson!

I believe it was the late John Lennon who said "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." Well John....I can't argue with that, but it doesn't mean I like it. 

Jamesson and I will be beginning the long process of getting him here to the states, and hopefully getting married by Spring of next year.  I know that this year apart will be necessary for preparations and to save up for beginning the next chapter in our lives, but still.  I'm good about not making rash decisions and thinking things through.  Once I make a decision, however, I'm not good at being patient for things to fall into place.  I figure if I spent so much time at the outset to think things through, I shouldn't have to wait.  Come on!  Let's pick up the pace, life!

Well, in any case, we still have a long road ahead of us before we can actually get married, and I guess I'll just be patient until that day gets here.