How to...

How to be productive on a Saturday

1. Take Shower
2. Put on bathingsuit and pair of jeans
3. Lock yourself in your room with window open and sun shinning
4. Do Work

I have no idea why this works, but it does.

THE PLAN

I finally have it! I finally have answer to the what am I doing with my life question that every post undergraduate student asks after a year in the real world! I'm going to graduate school!!! I'm going to get my MFA ... does this surprise anyone? No. Did I have a unique epiphany? Not even close. But am I happy anyway? Definitely.
What finally helped me to make this decision, you ask? My boss at work. She told me that since I'm working at an art academy I can take free classes and have access to models and studios. Plus, my boss (the director of the fine arts department) agreed to be my mentor and help me create a portfolio worthy of graduate school and public gallery submission! Woohoo! I've kinda become a post baccalaureate.
My first class will be this summer. I'm taking online papermaking to help my printmaking skills. I'm also meeting with my boss every week to discuss my progress and to keep me motivated. I'm so excited.
This does mean that I'll be living at home for the next year however. I'll need to save up as much money as I can for graduate school. The goal is $20,000. I think I can do it.
I like having a purpose in life....and a lot of work to do.

New Year's Resolutions (Update)

Going into month five of 2006, I thought it might be time to gauge how my new year's resolutions are working out:

1. CLEAN MYSELF UP: I've taken up yoga and been trying to go three to four time a week. I've gotten myself myself down to 160-165lbs (I was 165-170lbs in January). The ultimate goal is 150lbs. I tried going vegetarian for a few weeks in April, but ended up getting really sick. I'm an omnivore, plain and simple. As for the acne, i'm cleaning it up pretty well. I still have hormonal breakouts (it's part of being a girl), but otherwise my face is doing much better. I've also hired a fashion consultant to help me with my wardrobe (mainly for work), so i'm looking forward to be all over pretty!

2. GET A REAL JOB: Twelve hour days serving coffee and taking part in an internship are long gone. I've been working for a non-profit art gallery since January. It's nice working 9 to 5, but i'm not really happy with the job. I end up sitting around most days and i'm not making enough to move out yet. So I'm actively searching for something better. I have a few leads, but nothing has panned out yet. I'll keep everyone updated.

3. TRAVEL: I spent a week cruising around mexico. It was fun, but it was way too touristy for my tastes. I'm going to vegas next weekend to play poker and hopefully i'll be visiting the BMC in september. I don't know if i'll leave the country again this year, but i'm going to continue to try.

4. GOING SOLO: I've had a few lack-luster flings. I guess you would call them that. It was mainly flirting with boys who were either defective in some way or I got bored with or both. Mr. Right is nowhere in sight ... and strangley I haven't worried about it a lot.

5. ART ON A NEW LEVEL: My printing press and studio are now fully set up. I'm ready to make art. I'm hoping to get a nice portfolio together and start applying for art school in the fall. Wish me luck!

Yoga for Masochists

I've once again I've taken up bikram yoga. For those not in the know, bikram is 90 minutes of streching hell in a one-hundred degree room. You sweat by the bucket full and when you're done you've soaked right through the clothes you're wearing. Why do I do it, you may ask? Mainly flexabiliy. I want to be able to put my legs behind my head again (I'm so dirty!). Partly because I enjoy rigurous exercise and getting sweaty.
Lets hope I can keep it up this time ... and attain fabulous abs in the process. Wish me luck.

Top 11 things I learned this weekend ...

1. mentos + warm soda (2 liter bottle) = 10 foot explosion.
2. I am an alpha female who needs to stop dating beta males.
3. Clark = evil, but fun to kiss.
4. Playing sorry until 4am is great, but way too wholesome.
5. Bathingsuit shopping makes me cry.
6. Wearing 4 inch heels makes me happy ... and really really tall.
7. The canon rebel xt is the best camera ever.
8. www.youtube.com
9. Strawberries & Cream Tequila ... need i say more?
10. I'm still a bad driver.
11. When the wind blows just right the Milbrea train station smells like chocolate chip cookies!!!

St. Patrick's day pics

Image 1: AWWW, Ash and I are so cute when we're drunk
Image 2: Everybody Chug!!!
Image 3: Mark is easily amused by hats

Everywhere as of Late

I've reached the point (nearly one year after graduating from college) where I don't know what to do with my life. Some people are running off to graduate schools or even foreign countries. Others have found jobs that make them happy (or at least a lot of money).
Yet here I am, living at home, with a job that is really, REALLY boring (at least it's better than starbucks). I sit at a desk all day reading and checking student IDs, occasionally hosting receptions, talking to the odd tourist, and making tags for the artwork. On top of it all, I'm making no money ... Well, at least not enough to live on my own. However, I am making more than I did last year ( I just did my taxes and I can't believe how little I made).
So I've started experimenting with ideas and trying to come up with what I should do next. Here's what I have come up with:

1. Buddhism: This isn't so much of a goal or plan, as it is a philosophy that I trying to learn in order to make myself happier with my current situation. Since I've had a lot of time to read at work, I picked up a book on Buddhism at my local Borders on a whim. Curiously enough, the first chapter hit a little too close to home and explained why I'm unhappy. Pretty much I've been living in a fantasy world, when really I should be living in the real world. Apparently, if I can manage to do that then life won't be a constant series of disappointments (because nothing can live up to the fantasies I have). So I'm working on balancing my life and finding the middle way and enlightenment blah blah blah. You get the picture.
2. Culinary Academy: I've always liked to cook and I'm always cooking dinner for my family. Lately I've made some really good pasta sauces and tea cakes. Even if I didn't become a world renowned chef, I'd definitely be eating better. All my friends and family in SF think it's a great idea (they just want me to cook for them), but I'm not sure I want to spend $48,000 (that I don't have) yet. I visited the school in San Francisco and I'm giving myself a few months before I make any major decision.
3. Business School: "What?" you say. Isn't that the farthest thing from your BA in fine arts?!? Not really. I'd love to own my art gallery, but I don't know the first thing about running a business. I know a ton about art, but nothing about running a gallery. So I've ordered some gmat books and if I can manage to score 700+ then I'll go to graduate school by 2007. If not, then I'll come up with another plan. I'll probably take the gmat some time this summer and I'll keep you all updated ...

So these are my ideas so far. I'm not in a huge rush to make any change. I just don't want to be living at home and super depressed at age 30. If anyone else has any good ideas (key word: GOOD) about what I should do with my life let me know!!!