I really needed this reminder today.

I'm having a hard time.  I was up until 2:00 last night worrying about something.

Worry.  It's something I'm good at.  Yet such an unproductive thing to do.

It doesn't stop me from doing it.

Sigh.

Project 52

I am not good at taking pictures at regular intervals.  I thought I would be able to do this but obviously I am having trouble.

I'm going to forge on ahead though and not stress over the weeks I missed.  What  I am beginning to realize is that this blog is my project 52.   I tend to write something at least once a week so even if I don't take a picture that week at least I have some kind of documentation.

Two weekends ago we went out for our anniversary.  We used a gift card my sees-ter gave my for my birthday and we had a wonderful time.


Feb. 12

The next day we went for a bike ride and the sky was amazing.

Feb 13

A week ago DeAnn and I got to see Crystal Bowersox in concert.  So cool.  Joe took this picture of me before I left and I didn't hate(like I do with most of the recent pics of me).  I just wish the lighting was better.

Feb 16

Last week I got to make another Chinese Province necklace for a blogger who received her referral.  I love making these.  (Last name has been blurred out).  

Strange coincidence that their baby is from the same province as the last necklace I made.   Made it easy to make another though.   :)

Feb. 19

Feb. 23

On Wednesday we went on another bike ride.  I love riding my bike.  I can't wait for it to be light out when I get home so we can ride during the week.  

There is a new trail I want to try out this weekend but the weather is supposed to be uncooperative.  

We may venture out anyway.  We're not ones to let a little rain stop us.

Not a soul in sight on our favorite bike trail on a cloudy Wednesday afternoon

That's all I got for the month of February.  

I will try to be more on top of the picture taking in March but I can't promise anything.

Oh, and today would have been our 52nd LID-versary.  Not that it matters.     :(

For Rhonda

After reading my last post Rhonda steered me towards this one. It is hilarious.

Warning

***********Some of these are not PG rated*********

But so funny.

And the Statue goes to.........

This year Joe and I did something we have always wanted to do.  We saw every single movie nominated for an.........well.......award.  I don't want to use the actual term because I don't want people to G**gle it and end up here.

Anyway, we watched every movie that was up for best picture.  All 10 of them.  (Did they always have 10 films up for best picture?  Because that was a lot of movies).  It took us like 4 weeks to get around to watching the ones we hadn't seen in the theaters already.

I should say the majority of these we did not go to the theater to see.  I'm going to let you draw your own conclusions there, since not all of them are out on video yet.  ;)

I'm posting these in no particular order.

I'm also not writing the names because I don't want people looking for movie reviews to end up here.


This was one of the few movies we saw in the theater.  I loved it, but I'll be honest it wasn't my favorite in the series.  I thought  they did a great job with some of the "villians" (hello, Big Baby.  Nightmares much?) but the last part of the movie dragged on and on and I found myself wishing it would just hurry up and get to the end. Of course it paid off with all of the sentimentality at the end(I was bawling) but I just wish they would have been quicker in getting there.  The original TS will always be my favorite.

I wasn't really looking forward to this movie but it's probably because I didn't know a lot about it(who did?).  I actually ended up really liking it, but it was pretty gritty and very dark at the end. It also wasn't a feel good movie and the ending wasn't all warm and fuzzy but it was a good movie and I can see why  the actress is nominated.

This is another movie I really wasn't sure I wanted to see.  It looked too Matrix-ish to me and too science fictiony.  I'm not sure either of those are words.  Anyway, I was worried I wouldn't understand what was going on and would leave the theater thinking "Huh?" But I figured even if I decided that I hated it, at least I got to oogle Leonardo De Caprio for two some odd hours.  Can't complain about that. I did end up being somewhat confused towards the end but Joe did some explaining and I got it after that.  The ending had me literally holding my breath to see what happened and overall I enjoyed it a lot.  I saw it twice and liked it even better the second time.

I had wanted to see this one ever since it came out but Joe didn't.  We only just watched it last weekend. 

The story was fascinating to me.  It was so interesting to see how something that sucks up so much of my time began.  LOL.   Joe liked it too, even  he was so opposed to seeing it.  I surfed FB a little bit while we were watching towards the end, which was kind of funny.  I don't feel the need to see it again though.  

I can't say enough good things about this movie.  I love, love, loved it.  It was so good!  I heart Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush is such a good actor and the movie was so, so good. You should go see it! We are going to watch it again this weekend.  I loved it.  I hope it wins.  

Did I mention I loved it?  Because I did.   (:

I didn't want to see this movie either(are you sensing a theme here? I'm not usually a movie person because I have a short attention span), but only because I saw the special they did on 20/20(or dateline or one of those shows) several years ago and I knew pretty much exactly what had happened.  I really enjoyed it though.  It hooked me in and kept me interested, even though I knew the outcome.  The end had me wanting to know more about the actual guy it was about, but I realize if the story had proceeded past the point where he cut his arm off they would have had  to change the title.

 I really wanted to see this movie.  I got pulled into all of the hype and we went and saw it in the theater the first weekend that it opened and we never do that.  I love Natalie Portman and I usually enjoy movies about ballet but I was disappointed.  Parts of it were just plain weird.  I realize that's what they were going for, but I didn't get a lot out of it and at the end I was like "That's it??"  Not a fan.

I can't give a review of this movie because I didn't watch it.  I am not a fan of Westerns.  At. All.  Not even the cast could get me excited about this one.  I surfed the internet and then made dinner the whole time it was on and really on saw a couple of scenes.  The little girl did an excellent job though.  Very good actress.  Joe is making me watch it again this weekend because he says if I pay attention I will probably like it.  Whatever.  I'm willing to give it another try.

I was skeptical about this movie because hello, it's about boxing and those aren't exactly chick flicks. 

 I love Mark Wahlberg though so I gave it a shot. I enjoyed it.  I got a little bored towards the end, but the last fight had me on the edge of my seat, even though I knew he won.  

He was a very likable character and I was really rooting for him.  

Christian Bale was great too.

And of course it had a happy ending.  Don't most sports movies?

We only just finished this one tonight.  I had very high hopes for it, since I love all three of the main actors.  Overall I wasn't thrilled.  I was disappointed that Julianne Moore's character  cheated on her partner.  I didn't like the direction they went with that.   

And I hated how they made the sperm donor/bio dad into such 

an unlikeable character at the end.  

It was O.K.

Joe liked it more than I did.  

 I though both Julianne Moore and Annette Bening were excellent though.

So that's it.  My take on the 10 movies up for an award.  Did you see any one these?  Which ones were your favs?

Photo necklaces

Today I have been making photo tile necklaces for my Etsy shop.  They are so much fun to make.

These make perfect gifts.

Mother's Day is right around the corner.!     :)



This one is for a special friend going through a very hard time.

You choose the color paper on the back, as well as the word you would like written

I also have some with Chinese characters on the back side.

I just gave away my sister's Mother's Day gift.   :)

Chinese characters for Mother printed on back.  You choose the color paper as well.

Any chinese words can be written.  Love, Family, etc.

These have a 9 inch silk ribbon necklaces

They come in an organza bag all ready for gift giving.  

And at only $12.00, they are affordable too!

Here is the link to my site:

Wishing Star Designs

I would love to make one for you!

Esty

I have a couple of new things up on Etsy.  I am so happy with how well I have been doing.  I only have 6 or so sales from Etsy itself, but have gotten quite a few private orders for bracelets and note cards.  I just finished up these picture frames tonight.  I think they turned out cute.  I have already sold two.  Woo hoo!

Here are a few other things I have available

Faith, Hope, Love Chinese character magnets

Set of four "Laugh Often" note cards

Personalized name banners in any color combination/theme you choose

I'm having so much fun making these things and I am thrilled that people are wanting to buy them!

An Evening with Crystal Bowersox

***First off, I want to apologize to everyone that ordered stuff from me last week and haven't  received it yet.  Everything is ready to go out and I will be at the post office first thing Saturday morning.  I would do it tomorrow but my car has been on the fritz and I don't have access to it during the day(thus the delay in shipping the items out thus far).  Thank you for being patient and I'm so sorry!**********

Now on to the awesomeness.  My co-worker DeAnn was able to get us tickets to a private concert with Crystal  Bowsersox (from American Idol Season 9) at a casino she frequents in San Diego.  And when they said private, they meant private! It was a very small conference room and we got to sit in the second row.

The concert was so good.  Her voice is amazing.  She played most of the songs on her C.D. and a few covers as well.  They were all so great!

It was one of the best concerts I have ever been to.

DeAnn has most of the pictures on her camera but here's a couple.  This is how close we were.  So cool.

I just can't say enough good things about her.  Love her!

I tried to upload a little video of her singing her title track "Farmer's Daughter" but it wouldn't load so here is her video for it.  You'll just have to take my word for it that is is ten times better in person.  :)

After the concert we gambled for a little while.   

I put 20 bucks in the penny slots and walked out with this:  

 

I don't make a very good gambler because I don't like to spend too much and the minute I win something(no matter how small the amount) I instantly cash out and stop playing.  Makes for a short night.  :)

But I walked out of there $27.00 richer.  Hey, I'll take it!

Thanks so much DeAnn for asking me to go with you.  It was an awesome night.

Random

None of the following topics have anything whatsoever to do with each other.  

Sunday we went on a bike ride and the sky was   a.  maz.  ing.  So beautiful.

On the bike ride home we saw these signs. They are going to have a CNY parade!  A block from my house!! I am giddy with excitement!  Especially since I have been feeling really bummed that I don't get to go to the CNY's parade this weekend  in San Francisco with a bunch of my blogger friends.  So bummed.  I'll be at this parade instead.

We have a Chinese School within walking distance to our apartment.  Which would be so totally awesome if we were going have a kid from China.