The Return of Book Club Mondays (on a Wednesday) – "Gone Girl"

Let’s just say that I haven’t had the time to read a book per week in a few months. It is a bit of a high expectation, given how much everyone has going on these days! But I’m going to do my best to get back on some kind of book review schedule – whether it’ll be every week or not I can’t promise, but I’ll try. 

Also, this post is my 80^th post on An Epic Liz! It seems like kind of a silly milestone, but it isn’t to me!

Gone Girl was a book I’d heard about or read about on a book list somewhere, and I downloaded it a couple of months ago with every intention of reading it right away, but yeah, life. Written by Gillian Flynn, who has written two other novels (Dark Places and Sharp Objects, for reference) that I haven’t read, I looked at the positive reviews and decided to give it a shot. 

Here is the jacket description, thanks to gillian-flynn.com:

Marriage can be a real killer. One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn, takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. As The Washington Post proclaimed, her work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit with deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn.

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick Dunne’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick Dunne isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but hearing from Amy through flashbacks in her diary reveal the perky perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister Margo at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was left in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

Employing her trademark razor-sharp writing and assured psychological insight, Gillian Flynn delivers a fast-paced, devilishly dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest writers around.

The first thing that I noticed was the voice of the novel wasn’t like most others. The story progressed by journal entries, basically, entries by both husband and wife. The husband being Nick Dunne, the husband of Amy, the woman who had gone missing. The entries switched off between Nick and Amy’s view points. Though it seems like a weird way to read a book, it really isn’t – not weird like Chuck Palahniuk’s Pygmy was, for sure. Each entry chronicled a different day, both prior to Amy’s disappearance and after. It was separated into three different sections to dictate the place in the story, as well, which made it easier.

Both had had bad luck and wound up back in Nick’s hometown in North Carthage, Missouri, which, for New York born and raised Amy, was difficult. The beginning of the book went through how they found themselves in their current situations, and the remainder was the story progressing from both viewpoints, both Nick and Amy, as Amy disappeared and the reader was left wondering what happened to her. As the story progressed, so did Nick's character. From doting, loving husband who thought he had gotten so lucky to a man who nobody believed. Both characters took a sinister approach at times, and the story blew itself open once the truth about the relationship between Nick and Amy came out. The plot progressed effortlessly, and I wanted to know what was going to happen so badly I just kept reading! Before I knew it, hours had gone by!

Unlike most books I read, I did not read much about this book before getting into it. In a world where everything has been reviewed a thousand times on the Internet, it was a bit refreshing to not have any idea what was coming next. One thing I will say, however, is this book absolutely kept me at the edge of my seat, and I finished it in just over one day! I don’t want to give too much away, but there were definitely some sucker punches thrown in for the reader who thought they knew exactly what was going on. 

This being my first read by Gillian Flynn, I will say that it was absolutely fantastic. I could not put it down, even if I wanted to. I had to keep reading, keep figuring out exactly what was going on. One hundred percent one of the most enthralling books I have read in a long while. In that, I will definitely be looking into her other works to see how they compare to Gone Girl. 

Read any good books lately? Don't hesitate to offer suggestions! Also, thank you for reading. I say it all the time, but it is definitely 100% appreciated.

Currently...

Sitting in bed with a sleeping cat, ready to go to bed myself, and decided to write a little note to just say that I am still alive. See, I've spent the last few months learning how to live again. As dramatic as that sounds, its' true.

It ended with a text message that read 'you are dead to me'. I knew it was over from there. Packed up, moved out, and I was left with the haunted house. Not haunted, literally, but haunted by the love that once lived between these walls. Haunted by what used to be and what isn't anymore. Instead of staying friends, I decided that for me, for my own sanity, it was better to cut all ties. I didn't want to play games, and I didn't want him to, either.

For everyone that thinks that it's easy to break up with someone you lived with, let me just tell you that it isn't. It sucks. Coming home to what looks like a ransacked living room, that only looks that way because the couch, TV stand, and TV are gone, and all that's left is a pile of cable boxes and the line in the carpet where his couch used to be. I rented a Rug Doctor like an adult - got rid of all the stains, as good as a chalk outline so far as I was concerned. The outline of the death of our relationship.

Before thinking that I'm wallowing in some sort of self-pity over here, let me just say that no, that isn't the case. In the two or so months since this has happened, I've gotten promoted at work, got a new car, and have a moderately successful handmade business. All in two months. I don't have time to wallow - hell, I barely have time to work some days! I'll leave you guys with a few pictures from life these days - and promise that I'm working hard, as my show schedule slows down, to get back to writing. It's not something I like not doing. It feels like something is missing, to me, and I'm more than ready to get back to the way life should be.

An amazing sunrise on my way to work!

A recent show's booth setup.

The crazy waves here in the MKE due to
Superstorm Sandy.

Cupcakes I made as a Halloween surprise for the shop -
I made a little mess with the frosting, as usual.

My Day of the Dead makeup from hosting trivia
on Halloween night!

Me hanging with my favorite little dude.

Book Club...Tuesday? Life After Death by Damien Echols

If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you will know that I have been a longtime supporter of the West Memphis Three. When I heard that Damien Echols was releasing a book, I was immediately interested, and picked it up as soon as I could. I finished it this morning, and walked away from it with the following thoughts. The book itself is called Life After Death, and it was released on September 18th.

The writing was phenomenal. Damien, who after seventeen years behind bars was released last August, has a definite way with words - especially for someone so soft spoken. It was wonderful to read about his childhood, though the story itself was a sad one. Most of the book was the story of his life leading up to his arrest - it was not a 'woe is me' pity party like some might expect it to be. In fact, I enjoyed not reading the ins and outs of the case all over again. It was refreshing to hear - or read - Damien be so blatantly honest about his life leading up to his arrest. This was not my first time reading Damien's words - his first book, Almost Home, was something I remember finding on eBay or a site of the like, and something I read cover to cover in one sitting.

If you are expecting a salacious memoir about seventeen years in prison, look elsewhere. The book is more a sequel to Almost Home than anything - the story of a man somewhat broken by prison life, but not broken to the point that he gave up.

For years, I have constantly felt a connection to not only Damien, but the West Memphis Three situation as a whole. As I wrote in this post a couple of days after their release, it is a situation that still brings me to tears to this day.

To see Damien out in the world and being as successful as he is is wonderful. I feel incredibly proud to be a supporter of the West Memphis Three, and could not be happier that he can enjoy the things he outlines so well in the book - winter, life with his wife, Lorri, and chasing the dream of exoneration. It is wonderful to see that he never let the years behind bars kill him inside, though they tried.

While he was in prison, I always wanted to write Damien - tell him how connected I felt, but it's not something I can do anymore, for obvious reasons - and just this once, I'll keep my words to myself, since freedom is a greater gift than any letter could ever be.

(Still) not dead, but an update...

Have you ever noticed how fast life moves? Before your eyes, in the blink of an eyelid, everything changes. Sometimes for the better, sometimes worse. Feelings change and so do people, as quickly as the seasons.

You can't place blame in a breakup, because really, sometimes two people just grow apart instead of together, which is the case in the situation I find myself in as of Monday. You wake up one day and your feelings are different, through no fault of your own. It sucks, and it can hurt, especially since you're tearing down a house two people built together essentially - but at some point, you have to live for yourself and not someone else - especially when it isn't working.

Amongst all that, I've accepted a new job where I work, running the office. Still working part time as a trivia host at night and running a business on the weekends and whenever possible with my knitting and other crafts.

Suffice to say, I'm exhausted! Although, the best advice I can give right now is pretty simple...

Look good and feeling good will come right along.

Introducing Blackheart Knits & Crafts!

It’s always awkward to start out a blog post when you haven’t done one in awhile.. you aren’t sure how to be! Like when you’re in the midst of a breakup and you tiptoe around each other in the house like everything’s made of glass.. like that. In any case, I’ve been busy. Busy doing what, you ask?

Launching a legitimate handmade business!

Something that I touch on here and there in my posts is how I enjoy knitting and doing crafts, just enjoy creating in general. For years, I’ve been knitting for charity and for friends, and even selling a piece here and there. I created an Etsy shop a few years ago, but haven’t ever made a sale since Etsy is so oversaturated at this point it isn’t even funny. That wasn’t doing how I thought it would, so I opted for the next best thing – doing craft shows! 

Several years ago, I came up with the moniker Blackheart Knits & Crafts as kind of a whim. It’s something that I thought of that never really went away and it has definitely stuck!

The last month has been nothing but stress, hemorrhaging money, and attempting to create the greatest booth I possibly could. I bought plain kraft paper bags and hand-stamped each letter on them, bought and painted fixtures, bought tablecloths, created business cards – the whole shebang. It all came full circle for me when I applied for a Wisconsin seller’s permit! We are officially ready to roll!

Of course, my first show (which was this past Sunday) didn’t go how I would have planned. Organizers poorly promoted the show, which led to maybe 25 people in the door all day, and it was not the handmade show it was purported to be. There were maybe three handmade crafts booths, otherwise the entire show was saturated with home businesses like Pure Romance, Pampered Chef, and the like. Through no fault of my own, my first show really was not a success.

Since there are two sides to every coin, I decided to take my motivation and direct it forward, instead of stewing and being upset about a show that didn’t go how it should have. So, since Sunday, I have been a busy bee! I have booked about ten more shows from now until Thanksgiving weekend, and if anything, I’m just hungry to be successful and continue to grow the little handmade business that homes itself in my second bedroom when it isn’t packed up and ready to go.

I will continue to maintain an Etsy shop, which you can find here, and if you’re in the Midwest area and want to check out one of my local shows, or even if you just want to ‘Like’ what I’m doing, Blackheart Knits & Crafts is now on Facebook. Even if you aren’t in the area, I always take custom orders and you know.. Christmas is just a stone’s throw away!

Seriously, though – thank you guys for your patience and I will be happy to continue sharing news and goings-on in my little life with a bit more frequency from now going forward.

Minneapolis Mania!

Let me start this post off by stating: PICTURE HEAVY. Not really pictures of me, just pictures of random awesome stuff we came in contact with in the midst of our trip. Like sharks. Two weeks ago, we decided to go to Minneapolis!

Until two Fridays ago, Mike had been at annual Army training for about two weeks. He had the idea midway through training that he wanted to go out of town. I was a bit taken aback, mostly because I figured that being gone for two weeks would mean he would want to be home! Of course, that was not to be! After a little bit of bickering back and forth on where to go (since, let’s be honest, that’s what happened), we decided on Minneapolis. I hadn’t been since I was a kid, and Mike hadn’t been for a few years, either. So off we were!

As soon as he got home on Friday night, we took off. We didn’t stop until we hit Wisconsin Dells, and that was only for a quick bathroom break and a trip to Taco Bell – I discovered that Sinclair gas stations exist, though! I had never seen one, and the giant dinosaur coming out of the top of the building reminded me of the dinosaur that was always stolen from a gas station in Green Bay growing up around homecoming.

We had a lot of fun on the drive there, even though we got pulled over (whoops)! The passenger side headlight of the car was out, which we didn’t know, and the officer questioned Mike on his car’s modifications, but Mike only walked away with a $10 ticket for not having his insurance card on him! That led to a mission to Wal-Mart for the correct bulb, and a bit of a hit to our planned arrival time.

Thanks to Hotwire, we got a great price on a halfway decent room, and finally got to fall asleep at around 2:30 AM. Saturday morning, though, it was up and at ‘em to the Mall of America!

If I can only give one tip and one tip only to those going to the MOA, I would suggest this: go as soon as the place opens. 9:30 AM. Parking is amazing, there aren’t a lot of people getting in your way, and if need be, you can have an in-and-out shopping experience. We wandered around and giggled to ourselves at the gaggles of teenage girls lining up to see Cody Simpson (I have no idea who he even is, but apparently he’s a big deal to those in the 10-16 age bracket) on the way to the aquarium!

So much fun. I had no idea there even was such a thing in the mall, but I was proven wrong. Was it huge? No. was it a halfway decent price for the ability to see a bunch of awesome animals and go through the crazy tunnel tanks? Yes.

After the aquarium, we just wandered around the mall and got all touristy. We were there for around two or three hours, and probably went into four stores. One of which was a new-ish store I discovered called Typo, where I finally found Washi tape! It is just a small store filled with stationery and other items like that – think a bit of an Urban Outfitters vibe about it – and the cashier was awesome and gave me a huge discount for a reason I still don’t know! And I got this awesome metal water bottle for $5 with my purchase. Can’t go wrong. After that was the obligatory trip to Lush, and that was about it!

Out of the three sushi places in the mall, we decided on a small one on the second floor called Tiger Sushi. It was so great! One place advertised ‘American Sushi’, which doesn’t even sound good for a second, and the other seemed a bit too upper crust for what we wanted to pay for a lunch. If you’re at the Mall of America and want sushi, I would definitely, hands down, tell you to check out Tiger Sushi.

Making record time and getting out of the mall at around 12:00, we decided to check out the Como Zoo and Observatory – a free attraction in Minneapolis. Parking was atrocious so we decided to take the shuttle, which was no problem at all. Donated a few dollars at the door and walked around with the families, but were feeling a little disappointed (mostly at how everyone else was acting), so went to the Observatory instead. So many fewer people and such awesome stuff to see! Mike was a little disappointed because their Japanese Garden was closed for renovations, but I told him we’ll have to go back again and see it when it’s finished.

I was getting a bit tired of being around crowds at that point, so we just opted to drive around and find places (mostly yarn stores and auto shops), and then wound up back at the hotel for a few hours before setting out for dinner.

We decided on Psycho Suzi’s Motor Lounge, a restaurant that we found through random searches on our phones. Our food was great and came out quick – it was sad to leave half of it there but we got so full so fast! Only thing I would say I would change would be the waitstaff – our waiter was kind of a jerk.

Sunday was nothing more than a ride home, taking the long way to go to Herrschner’s craft factory in Steven’s Point, and in order for Mike to get his quick driving bug out of the way via the Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive. We got home at around 6:00 PM, both exhausted, but glad to have had the weekend we did, because it was absolutely great.

It reminded me that it can’t be all work and no play – there has to be a break in the monotony sometime. It was so nice to get out of town for just a couple of days.

Love Litas!

In my trip through the blogosphere, I have learned many things. Mostly, that there are way too many ‘fashion bloggers’. No offense, just not my bag. But through these fashion bloggers, I discovered Jeffrey Campbell, and, in turn, the Lita boot. Through that and a quick perusal of solestruck.com, I discovered them – the Cat Tapestry Lita. I knew that I absolutely, without a doubt, needed to have them, no matter what. And just a couple of weeks ago, I finally got them!

Reno helped unpack them.

The gorgeous box!

I love absolutely everything about them. From the packaging all the way to the fit and comfort of a shoe that looks absolutely ridiculous, I adore them more than I can explain. 

 

That.... and they go hilariously well with my Cat Lady vest.

7 Questions with Gentri Lee Link-Up! (#16)

This makes me feel like a little bit of a moron, but today, I discovered Gentri Lee's blog! I noticed that one of the blogs I follow, Adventures in Mediocrity, was doing a Seven Questions link-up, so I followed the link and found it myself! Since today was the first day of the linkup, I decided to do my own Seven Questions from Gentri Lee!

1. It's the first day of August - are you savoring the summer or ready to jump into fall?

Jumping in with both feet. I'm not partial to any particular season, but would say that fall is one of my favorites. It's when I start to see more knitting business, and I wind up in full-on craft mode to prepare for Christmas! Heck, I'm already there!

2. You need a quick and healthy meal, what do you make?

Ice cream! No, just kidding. Salad. I have ready to eat salad in the fridge ready for dressing most any time. I always feel great after I eat a huge salad for a meal!

3. You're at the mall, how do you shop?

Quick and dirty. I am not one to loaf around and go from store to store - I like to just go, get what I need, and leave. I really, really dislike the mall in general.

4. Would you rather buy a new house, or renovate an old one?

It's split, for me. I would probably lean more toward renovating an old one, though. There is something so wonderful about old architecture - and it's true, they really don't build them like they used to.

5. Long hair or short hair?

I am always much more comfortable with long hair. Not sure what it is, but I never feel quite right without it! Short hair suits others, but definitely not me.

6. Who is your oldest (not by age) friend?

Likely, Laura. I have talked about her a little bit here and there, but we have been BFF's for as far back as I can remember. She also recently started a blog! You can check that out here!

7. What is your favorite blog - currently?

So many favorites! But I will definitely say that Adventures in Mediocrity is one of my favorites, if only because it introduced me to this linkup!

Check back next Monday for another set of questions!

Changing perception day by day..

Once in a great while, you have a conversation that makes you think. It can be with someone you already know or a complete stranger, but it happens, and you can’t get it out of your head for anything. And you don’t want to.

Since I got my first tattoo at age eighteen, I have been viewed differently. Of course, one in three people in the United States have at least one tattoo these days, but there has always been a stereotype leading back to a negative connotation – bikers, drug addicts, and all around bad people. I am, of course, none of those things, and I know it. As I added onto the collection of color on my skin, I noticed more and more that I was being looked at in public, and these days it is not uncommon for a random person to make a comment to me, or reach out to touch my skin. For the most part, I don’t mind it. More times than not, they are respectful interactions.

I was probably 19 or 20 when this photo was taken. 

I am not writing this as some sort of sermon about how all people with tattoos aren’t bad people. Individuals who fit into the negative connotation still exist, and they are everywhere. What I am out to say, though, is that I am proud of myself. Proud of what I have been able to do with the life I’ve been given. I have a great full-time job, a home, and a relationship with someone who cares about me. I make enough money to live, and then some. I am supported by friends and family, and they are more protective of me than anything else.

Going with the negative connotation by the general public, though, I still notice things. I am stared at constantly at stores and restaurants, especially when I am with family. I have been followed around at stores in the past since I apparently look like someone that would steal (to the point that I had to get money out to prove I could pay for the things I was carrying). In order to interview for my current job, I wore long sleeves, wore my hair down, and removed the facial piercings that I could, just to not be judged.

And you know what? I got that job. And the one after it. These days, I hide nothing. I am accepted. I work each and every day just like everyone else, tattooed or not. What the general population still sees, though, is my tattoos, not me. And you know what? That’s fine with me.

Being heavily tattooed is wonderful in some aspects and a burden in others. Wonderful in that I have set out, from basically day one, to change people’s minds about heavily tattooed individuals. I do what I can to volunteer with free time to improve the lives of others. I field questions whenever I get them – my favorite is the “didn’t that hurt?” in response to my septum piercing – and just all around attempt to help improve people’s view of someone ‘like me’.

What this all comes down to is the conversation that I had yesterday. I was at a local Michael’s store, buying a bottle of Mod Podge to continue a project I’m working on. I was just about to the checkout, when there was a woman standing there asking the cashier a question. Instead of just walking away, though, she took one look at me and took me aside. “You are one of the most beautiful people I have ever seen.”

Standing there in my thrifted Rod Stewart t-shirt from 2007 and my bright purple corduroy shorts, I didn’t exactly believe her. She looked at my tattoos, made a comment about the Vincent Price portrait on my thigh, and asked to give me a hug. I didn’t exactly know how to take this sudden flow of positivity, but I just went with it. I hugged her and we launched into a conversation about who I am, what I do, and how much I appreciated her amazing comments. So often, someone makes a single comment and doesn’t say anything else.

2010.

She introduced me to her daughter, who, just by looking at her, reminded me a lot of myself in high school. Dark hair, a Joan Jett t-shirt, studded belt. A person I have been. In some aspects, likely outcast for not being the status quo, but also due to the help of her supportive mother, taking life by the horns and doing what she wants to do anyway – looks included. It was refreshing.

I was, and am, lucky to have the parents that I do. I have been fully supported in most every viable decision that I have made to get myself where I am today. The girl’s mother reminded me a lot of my own, and it made me happy to know that someday, maybe at my age, the girl would have the same attitude that I do about life and the world around her.

They told me they are working to put together a project centering on changing people’s minds about the tattooed community, and I was all in. I gave her my information, and we parted ways. She told me that she would call or e-mail me to keep in touch, and I hope she does.

Sometimes, conversations strike you at exactly the right time, and the words are exactly both what you need to hear, and what you need to say.

I wish life could always be that pure.

Guest Post: Shannon from Living With the Seat Up!

I have a great treat for you guys today - I decided to take part in 20 Something Bloggers' Blog Swap event, and have a guest post from Shannon over at Living With the Seat Up for you! Go check out her blog for my post, as well as all her others!

I would imagine not everyone was lucky enough to get to go to Disney World as a child.  I was very lucky as a child to get to go every couple years.  It became a place for all of our extended family to meet from their various locations they were living.  Thankfully, my grandfather felt this was important for bonding as a family unit, and I felt it was important for having fun.  Of course as a child you don’t think about the actual family bonding time you are spending, rather you just think about the fun times with your family.

As I said, I was very fortunate to get to go often enough, Disney World became almost like a second home.  One of the most fun memories I have is when my mother and aunt allowed my cousin and I to go to the Magic Kingdom theme park alone at 10 years old.  They loaded us onto the monorail and off we went with our hopper passes to the park full of thousands of people.  Let’s not be naive, I’m certain there were a few child abductors walking around there someplace.  It’s a good thing we were smart enough to stay away from them.

Our entire day there was spent riding all of 3 rides; Splash Mountain, Space Mountain and Thunder Run.  We ran between these 3 rides and a few times asked the ride attendants to just let us stay on for “one more round”.  We weren’t always lucky enough to be allowed this privilege, but once or twice they let us.  Of course, we pigged out on junk food and soft drinks, using our strong and robust child digestive systems to consume it all without being sick.

Looking back on it I see how crazy that is.  10 year olds these days (and probably back then too) are definitely not mature or responsible enough to be visiting large theme parks alone, without adult supervision.  But we made it out alive, and had a lot of fun.

A day alone without adult supervision, that’s my best childhood summer vacation!

And the winners are...

Last night, I couldn't hold back any longer and picked the winners of the scarf giveaway! Everyone has been informed already, but I would just like to take a second to give a huge congratulations to Alexandria M., Talon M., and Tam S.!

Thanks so much to everyone for entering the giveaway - I hope to do more in the future!

Win a Ruffle Scarf from An Epic Liz!

I have seen so many people putting together great giveaways in the last few months I've been seriously blogging, and I was just waiting for the right time to put together one of my own - so here we go!

There are six scarves pictured here, but I have far more colors in my stock and can knit another one quick!

Recently, I've been making a whole bunch of ruffle scarves for a bazaar coming up in September, and I have a great deal of extras - as well as extra yarn to make more. So I would love to give three away!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Your part in this is simple! Here are your steps:

• Answer the question on the giveaway - and I promise it's an easy one! What's your favorite color?
• "Like" An Epic Liz on Facebook!
• Follow @littlecreep on Twitter
• Tweet about the giveaway!

The giveaway begins today, and will continue until July 21! Winners will be announced on Monday, July 23. Open to those in the US and Canada. There will be three winners, and if you win you will get the color of your choice based on the answer to the giveaway question. If you are one of the winners, you will be notified via e-mail within 48 hours!

The Blogger 411 - hosted by From Mrs. to Mama!

Throughout my perusal of various blogs on various subjects, I always see blog hops, but haven't ever participated in one myself! I kept seeing the button for one in particular this week, and decided to check it out and do one! The one I chose was the Blogger 411, hosted by From Mrs. to Mama. If you'd like to participate, check it out on her blog - I am very excited that I decided this was my first link-up!

1. How long have you been blogging? And what got you started on blogging? How has your blog changed?

 I started not so seriously around two years ago – I think my blog was made in March of 2010. I would post once in a great while, but nothing to write home about, certainly. It started as a way for me to just get things off my chest to virtually zero followers, but I found myself inspired by the other blogs I saw and spent time reading, and decided to get more serious about it earlier this year. I think it definitely changed from a place to be broody and ridiculous into a place where I could teach others to do fun DIY projects and let people into the pieces of my life I decide. It's valuable, at least to me. 

2. Did you go to college? If so where, and what did you study?

I went to Milwaukee Area Technical College from 2007 until around 2009. It just wasn’t right for me – I initially began my quest for an associate’s degree in Funeral Service, but later changed it to an Associate of Arts. It’s still waiting for me, but I’ll know when the right time is, or if the right time even comes.

3. Where have you traveled?

As an adult, not too many places. Columbus, Ohio for a tattoo convention in 2009, and Fort Wayne, Indiana for the same purpose in 2010.

4. If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would buy?

I would more than likely buy a house, if possible, or just use the money to pay off old debt and things like my car.

5. What are your 3 biggest pet peeves?

Negativity. I dislike people who can’t find any positive in life, who have to spend all of their energy putting others down or whining about how hard life is.

People who make weird noises with their hands in my ear. Long story, but one of the supervisors at work rubs his thumb and forefinger together in my ear, and it drives me crazy. I even started throwing elbows when I hear it!

Those who touch me when asking about my tattoos. Now, I’m pretty tolerant, and by all means have no problem answering questions about my tattoos or the meanings behind them. What I don’t like, however, is people that arbitrarily think that it’s okay to touch me because of that. I once had a random woman at a gas station touch the tattoo behind my ear to tell me that she liked it. It was a bit strange.

6. What is your favorite movie?

Of all time? I would say more than likely Cry-Baby. I am also a huge fan of all of Vincent Price’s films, so would say The Abominable Dr. Phibes, as well.

7. What is your drink of choice; wine, beer, or liquor. Or Water, Soda, Tea?

Of the two alcoholic varieties, I’d say beer and whiskey (Pabst and Jack Daniels, if it matters), and of the non-alcoholic I would venture to say Diet Pepsi or the delicious Chai Tea I get from my Keurig.

8. What is something you enjoy to do when you have me time?

Work on my blog or any number of craft projects I have sitting half-finished throughout the house. Either that, or I’m in the bath tub enjoying some relaxation courtesy of Lush bath bombs!

9. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, which store would it be?

Probably – and this is equal parts embarrassing and representative of my crafty personality – Jo-Anns. Or Target. You can never have too many craft projects or household goodies! They don’t call Target the $100 store for nothing.

10. Share with us an embarrassing moment of your past? Or present.

I would say that probably one of my most embarrassing moments would be… when I was about eight years old and stood up in my now aunt and uncle’s wedding as their flower girl. I may have even been younger than eight – in any case – I was responsible for throwing the flower petals down the aisle as they walked up, and the bottom of my basket was lined in Easter grass. You can bet dollars to doughnuts that I threw that Easter grass on the ground because I wasn’t paying attention, and that everybody saw it. That, and it was forever immortalized in VHS format by the wedding videographer.

11. What day would you love to relive again?

Any day that I spent shortly after I learned to drive. I would drive anywhere and everywhere, mostly aimlessly, listening to music loud, enjoying life. I am still a huge purveyor of driving around for no real purpose.

12. If your life was turned into a movie... what actor would play you?

I haven’t put much thought into a question like this! Hmm. I honestly couldn’t tell you. Christina Ricci, maybe? I have no idea.

13. What are the jobs you had in high school/college/the early years?

My first job ever was at McDonald’s on Oneida Street in Green Bay. I started working there at fifteen because I couldn’t get a job at the mall until I was sixteen. From there, I worked at a small bead store in Green Bay’s Broadway district, at a call center, an animal shelter, a Blockbuster Video, and countless office jobs.

14. Show us a picture from high school or college.

In high school, I was obviously the super-broody, living in my parents' basement having a rough time kind of kid.

15. If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?

Australia or anywhere in Europe. Australia because I’d love to hold a koala and I’ve heard that you can do that there, and Europe because I have always been a fan of, and have wanted to visit places like France, Germany, and England.

16. Show us the most current picture of you or you, or your family, or anything of meaning to you.

A silly picture of my cat, Reno, wrapped in a scarf like the cat in the ad.

17. Where do you see your life 5 years from now?

To be honest, I couldn’t tell you. I don’t know if I’ll still be in my job or somehow working for myself (!!!). I couldn’t say if I’ll be married or not, or what I’ll be into. Above all, I just want to be the happiest I can possibly be.

OK, I'll admit it....

I'm pretty excited No Doubt are putting out new music.

Sure, they've been a bit touch and go for the last few years, but everybody grows up - even members of our former favorite bands. Yesterday, the video for their new song "Settle Down" hit the internet, and I took the time to check it out today - let me say, I was pretty alright with it.

Do you remember how awesome they were in the 90's? When Tragic Kingdom and Return Of Saturn came out? It was all kinds of girl power awesomeness, all the time (no offense to the Spice Girls). Of course, Tragic Kingdom was a strange recounting of Gwen and Tony's breakup, and Return Of Saturn seemed like around an hours' worth of pining love letter to Gavin Rossdale, but it was just awesome. To be a girl and be growing up when those albums were popular was a gift in itself. In the music industry, completely domineered by males, No Doubt was just... the greatest thing since sliced bread! As a girl, it felt like Gwen knew what I was going through in the trials and tribulations of my teenage life, and I remember there even being a few photos of Gwen and the boys plastered all over the walls of my bedroom. No, seriously - my walls were absolutely covered with photos and posters from magazines like Circus, Spin, and anything else I could really get my hands on.

I wouldn't consider myself a super fan, by any means, but man - don't you remember how awesome you felt as a girl listening to "Just A Girl", or any of the other anthems that came out during their heyday? Rock Steady was a little too weird for me, and "Settle Down" gives me a bit of that overtly reggae vibe, but I'm going in with an open mind.

When bands come back out after a long absence, it's a crapshoot. Gwen Stefani did great starting both a clothing line and a solo career (both successfully), and I'm sure the guys did their thing in their personal lives, as well as producing and working on music on their own. For most bands, taking that kind of time off is a death sentence - for No Doubt, I doubt they'll be completely done until they've really done all that they want to do.

If you're ready to check out the newest incarnation of No Doubt, you can check out the video for "Settle Down" here.

Weekend Recap!

You know, I haven't ever done one of these before, but I thought hey - it could be fun! So here goes.

I took the day off of work early on Friday, and decided to take a friend up on a tattoo deal at his shop for Friday the 13th, and grabbed some new ink!

The piece is based on a quote from Timothy Leary: "What you have to beware of is transcendent reality, the looking in and looking out". I thought the quote was interesting, and the piece turned out absolutely awesome. Done by Kyle Cook at Horseshoe Tattoo here in Milwaukee.

Then, I almost died in a hail storm since I was driving home. I didn't mind the rain, the hail just made it scary and I had to pull off into a random residential neighborhood and wait it out. 

Friday night, I reorganized the living room. The book shelves were getting incredibly full of collections and you could barely see the books on them! We decided to get some wall cubes and shelves in order to keep that stuff and the books separate. I think it turned out great!

The rest of my weekend was pretty simple: errands and knitting scarves! I can't wait to share what I worked on!

What did you do with your weekends?