Diary of an exhausted girl

Well, we officially passed the one month mark since we've been living in Texas. It's been interesting, it's been fun, but it's been absolutely exhausting. My room is STILL covered in boxes and random STUFF, as is the media room, and the garage (oh yes, I'm parking my punk rocker ugly van in front of my nice, respectable little cottage home. My neighbors must be thrilled. To date, my dogs have escaped TWICE (but, the first time, I was saved by my very own KISA (knight in shining armor), a very sweet man who drove past me, then circled back and helped me catch my dogs, then helped me walk them back. That's right, officially the first (okay 3rd... My sister's boyfriend, Mark, and his daughter, Courtney were like the day before) Texan I met was extremely nice. And that's been the case all along. Granted, the drivers are all insane, but whenever you cross the pass of someone in person, there's something nice said, or a big smile exchanged with everyone. Everyone just kind of excepts people to be nice around here. I keep noticing that people look at me weird when I say excuse me in stores. It's like you can actually hear them saying "oh honey, I KNOW you didn't mean to step in front of me"... but then, that could be because pretty much immediately afterwards, they say something along those lines. But hey, if that's the kind of "you're a freak!!" behavior I get, then I'll take it!

Church has also been interesting. The ward here is a lot smaller than my old ward, and much more spread out. And a lot of people don't know each other, where my old ward, everyone knew everyone. So it's a little less intimate, but not any less comfortable and homey. I had two weeks of taking two steps before someone grabbed me to say hi and introduce themselves. And it usually goes along the lines of "I saw you last week, but you disappeared before I could come over and talk to you." Yeah, that's because someone else found me. You would be shocked how many hugs I get a week from people I don't recognize or know their names. I also get tackled constantly about my shoes. Apparently stilettos aren't a big thing in the ward. Most women I see are wearing flats. So me with my designer heels collection seem to be grabbing some attention.

I even joined the choir. It feels great. I never realized how withdrawn I had become with my music. But I guess I was just needed here, since I walked into the choir the first week, and had the entire choir (about ten people) pretty much at once jump at me and asked what I sang. When I said I could sing either, but preferred alto, they pretty much begged me to do soprano. I found out why very soon after... There is only one soprano, and she can't read music or carry a tune unless someone is singing next to her. So now, after dragging my mom in as well, we have a few sopranos. Whew.

But then, they're going to lose one as well, seeing as LAST week on my WAY to choir practice, I was snagged by a member of the bishopric and asked to be the ward music chair... which in this ward means planning all the music for Sundays, scheduling ward members to perform, planning and putting on all the special music numbers (Christmas, Easter, etc), plus leading during sacrament meeting and... yupp, directing the choir. This girl is going to get very busy. That on TOP of making a conscious effort to get involved with the Young Single Adults, for the first time... ever.  And yet, I STILL can't transfer to the ward, as, once again, I have a full time calling in my home ward. Bahahaha. I'm really not meant for a single's ward, am I? But, I am going to do my very best to attend institute and YSA activities, which I have NEVER done before. Adventure!!!

Let's see... what else? I'm looking for a job. I'm unpacking, cleaning (constantly), attempting to not kill the men in this house (for MAKING me constantly clean), doing homework, cleaning again (and again, trying not to turn to homicide when my lazy brothers tell me I'm lazy and spoiled after I finish cleaning up after them. AGAIN.), cooking, organizing, running errands, attempting to explore the area (not easy, since I'm still kinda AHHHHHH about the crazies on the freeways), preparing for Christmas and my momma's birthday, trying to settle on a design for my room, finding the time to DO that design, be crafty, excersize, swim (yay! we have a swimming pool!) and stay warm (one day: 75 degrees, the next day: 45 degrees.), stay healthy, this is the SECOND time I've been sick since we've been here. Both times it's been bad enough that I am forced to stay in bed. Sucks.  Yes), and.... I think that's it.

Alrighty, I rambled enough.

Love, your exhausted (and currently cranky) friend.

XOXO, Emiebee

Sad, exhausted, and cranky... in a very happy way.

Today was utterly draining. It was officially my last day at my church, since we're moving the DAY AFTER TOMORROW.

And it's about bloody time. ^.^.

But really, today I said goodbye to my kids... all of them. From all SEVEN years I've been teaching. I'm not much of a cryer (unless I'm alone, then the lamest of rom-coms can make me tear), but the whole day I was fighting to not cry. So naturally, I just kept reminding myself that my makeup looked amazing, and that church was not the place to audition to be a member of KISS. :]

But, it was definitely a sweet day. The kids all had their primary program today (and did AMAZING) and then I went and sat in primary, instead of going to my class. The woman who leads the music is a friend of mine, so she made a point in both junior and senior primaries of having the kids sing my favorite song. Awwh. And it amazed me how many of the older kids knew me. I mean, I've always been with the younger kids. On the LOW end of the younger kids. I don't remember the last time I've gotten so many hugs from 12 and under year olds.

I was kind of surprised, really. Lately, every time we talk to anybody outside our immediate family, it's felt like we were visitors outstaying our welcome... "Oh, we've loved having you, we'll miss you leave.... but no really... when are you leaving???"

And while there was a little of that, it really struck me how lucky my family and I are. People I don't even know know me and my situation. It's very humbling... and somehow frightening. I'm used to my little bubble.

Oh well...

Tomorrow's another busy day. And tonight, I'm utterly exhausted.

Ooooh, but exciting news!! I got a commission job lined up! So I'm not doing as many as I'm used to, but my old Halloween tradition is not dead! Heck, maybe this year I'll dress mySELF up!! What's the most morbid thing I could be that I could still look fabulous as? That I could dream up in just a few days??

Ahhh, I love halloween!!!!
 More later...

XOXO, E

It is so far past official...

I hate moving.

HATE.

H.A.T.E.

It sucks. Epically.

We have officially been packing for TWO MONTHS. Isn't that disgusting? Who knew one family could have this much JUNK to pack??? But, I'm very happy that we're FINALLY getting close. We're now aiming to be leaving this coming Tuesday, which means we'll probably be in our new house by Friday. It's apparently still going to be crazy, pull-your-hair-out busy since my momma decided she wants us to jump into our new church, so she signed us up for everything under the sun, including several halloween activities. Most of them happening on Saturday. As in, a week from today. As in ONE day after we get there. Plus a halloween party. Plus I've been told we're going to celebrate my birthday (again) once we get down there (which, FYI, will be the fourth time I've celebrated my birthday this year. My family always jokes that my sister always tries to make her birthday into a week long event. I think I got her beat with my month-long party bahaha. :])

ANYWAY. Since I'm supposed to be doing my homework right now (I still have last week's in addition to this week's. Yupp. Moving. Rocks my socks. In a way that creates the SLIGHTEST glimmers of homicidal tendencies. Just saying.), so in an effort to keep this short, I'm just going to share a few photos that have been particularly fun (or stressful. I can't decide) to me this week.

And for more photos, don't forget to follow me on We Heart It, which I'm apparently completely addicted too :]  http://weheartit.com/Emiebee

 I ended up not feeling like baking for my ACTUAL birthday, so we did cheesecake instead. All these boys here were pretty happy to just eat it straight, but I took each plate and decorated them in different ways. All the creative fun without actually having to bake. BUT.... really, it would have been better if we had something other than paper plates. Bahaha.

 Here's our newest "little" addition to our house. And sadly, it's almost full already. We're getting a SECOND one of Monday. See? We have a ton of CRAP. And out front yard is looking rather white trash about now.

 This is one of my puppies, Einstein. He's the only one of our four dogs that doesn't run away the second he gets outside, so we let him out while we were packing up the truck. He thought it was the coolest thing ever. He's been figuring out different ways to get into the truck, too, between finding the lines on the ramp that don't have the no-slip spikes on them to using the piled up boxes as stairs. He's a smart little bugger.

 And THIS is Cooper. It was waaay too cute that when we were packing stuff in the living room, and randomly had this wardrobe box on the ground, she kept sneaking in there and laying down. She loved it.

 Or maybe she just wanted to make sure we didn't leave her behind.

 I'm in the process (or was, two months ago :]) of making an entire line of these creepy, grungy little monster necklaces. I'm having wayyy too much fun with the morbidness of it all ^.^

 I love halloween. Always have. And since I'm probably not doing my commission cosmetics this year like I usually do, I fully intend to bake and make some silly ghoul treats this week. Fortunately, I'm finding SO many that are VERY inspirational. I have WAAAAY too many ideas.

 Anyone remember that old cartoon Ahhh Real Monsters? Or Monsters, Inc? I want to do as many different and interesting designs as possible!! Send me ideas if you have 'em!

 My mantra for the up-coming months.

 AND... how I'm surviving now :]

XOXO, E

Oh, Sadness becomes me. :D

Bonsoir mes amies!!

I am VERY sad today. In a very happy kind of way.

As many of you already know, I am in the process of moving from Nampa, Idaho to San Antonio, Texas.

And I have about another week before I am actually moving.

But yesterday, what did I discover?

WHO is in San Antonio? THIS weekend?? The weekend of my BIRTHDAY?? The person whom to meet would make the MOST AMAZING BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER??

Oh yeah. This guy.

Tim Gunn.

And guess what?

I'm missing it by a WEEEEEEEEEEEEEK.

If you didn't hear, he did a free fashion show for Lucky Brand today (utilizing REAL women as the models. How cool is that?) and was giving away his autographed book (which is awesome, if you haven't, you need to read it. It's one of my read-again-agains. I honestly read it like a self-help book whenever I need a confidence/nicety boost.) for those that spent $100 or more at Lucky Brand. I'm not gonna lie. I would consider doing some very silly things for that book. I'm too broke to buy it. Fortunately, nobody can seem to find it in my library... Because it's always at my house :]

For those of you who know me personally, you know that I'm not exactly the type who withers when meeting a celebrity. Or talking about a celebrity. There's actually not a list of many that I really want to meet. (okay, there's THREE I would love to meet). But Tim Gunn is one of my favorite TV personalities ever. Not only is he so big in fashion, but he's blunt and honest, holds respect and manners very highly, is shows great confidence in who he is, and gave at least this girl the self esteem to feel beautiful again. I can only hope that someday I'll have the fabulous privilege of meeting this interesting man.

I can't even explain how disappointed I am. If any of you have the VERY lucky opportunity to meet him this weekend, PLEASE tell him how a very nice little girl who respects him very much was very sad to miss the chance to meet him!!

Seriously, how cool a birthday present would it have been to meet someone I've wanted to meet for so long??

Siiiiiiiigh.

Anywho. Tomorrow, my last birthday in Idaho. And I'm going to spend a great deal of the day packing. And the other part doing homework. Whooo. Do I know how to party :D

XOXO, E

Today, I feel proud to be a woman.

It's pretty safe to say that I'm a feminist. I've never made any secret of that. However, I think that often when I tell people I'm a feminist, it's taken incorrectly. Especially by my friends that know me well. I've never been the type to turn away help or to blow myself up to be more than I am. But I believe that women have the right to feel beautiful and powerful and... hello, FEMININE!! And I strongly believe that there is NO reason that that any woman can't be all of those things.


I've spent a lot of time with other women in attempts of boosting spirits and increasing confidence. It's one of my favorite things. Today, I was able to see the fruit of my labors in one particular situation. A woman I met on an online forum a few months ago, whom I've been talking to regularly, had a problem that she chose to talk to me, a complete stranger about. She had been a victim of abusive relationships, both emotionally and physically, and had sadly lost the courage to feel beautiful.


Because, we all know, it definitely does take courage.


Today, for the first time in several years, she stood up for herself, pulled herself out of a bad relationship, and as she said, felt powerful and stunning for the first time in a VERY long time after it was over. She is now working to turn her life around. I feel very blessed to have a small part of this.


So because I'm feeling amazingly touched today, I'm filling a request that I've had asked many times.


Usually, the women I work with, I give a mantra to remember. I have several I use for myself, to boost my own confidence, and others have mentioned them working for them as well. I've been asked many times to make them as icons or a wallpapers to be used as a reminder.


I finally got around to it.

Please don't hold it against me that these aren't great. I'll probably remake them sooner or later. Moving is just kicking my butt. :]


I hope these can help whoever needs a feminine - boost. Please share these as often as you like. It would seriously make me feel fantastic to see these floating around the internet.

XOXO, Emiebee