Epiphany.

Not, I haven't reached a divine state of knowledge; today is Epiphany also known as Kings's Day, Twelfth Day/Night, Little Christmas, etc. Read my initial post HERE. We're celebrating by enjoying Friday and the prospect of a weekend ahead of us. We'll celebrate Christmas with my family tomorrow with tamales {not a tradition with my people but rather something that Mike and I have initiated as our own [CHECK! to one of my 101/1,001 goals!]}.
Today marks the official end of the Christmas season. Did you hold the spirit in your heart the past 12 days? Did I? I think so. I've talked about it a bit here an there since I came up with this thought back on December 24th so I will spare you the expounding I could inflict on you but I will say that there are some exciting seasons {not just weather related ones!} coming up for me and the mister {& the hound}. There's also the hubbub of life and work and family. One of my unofficial hopes {not written on The List} for us during the times ahead is that we, as I've said a bunch before here on SJS, are able to bring some slowness to our days and enjoy our times together as well as the time we take for ourselves.
Wish us luck!
I hope that you, too, find peace in your days even if it's the five minutes you let yourself have in the shower. Or the 15.
xoxo, natty ♥

Thoughts swirling around in my head/12th Day of Christmas.

Today I'm wrapping up my "12 Days of Christmas" campaign, my little effort to put some focus on things that I enjoy during a time of year which can be ever so fraught with stress and busyness. Counting December 25th this is the 12th Day. You can read the initial post HERE. On the sixth of January we can celebrate the end of this season {some count the day after Christmas as the first but others don't...either way, January 6th is the deadline} and I can say that I have enjoyed the reflection and fun. I often feel as though I'm surrounded by chaos even though I know that my life is peaches when it comes to the grand scheme of things and I'll be striving to appreciate the small/big joys throughout the rest of this year.


Anyway, on to the title of today's post. This is something that makes me feel EXCITED. In an effort to procrastinate, I've been mulling over some ideas and I feel as though they've been flying around in my mind; they're all centered on things that I can sew! One of the many goals I have for myself {#57 to be precise} between now and September 2014 is this:


Begin to sew and create something that I can wear, something that I can use around the house and something that I can give to someone else; 0/3.


I was talking about this and how I'd like a real sewing machine for my birthday {wink, wink} while visiting Arizona and my dear Mother in law mentioned that she hasn't used hers in quite a while and would I like to borrow it until I am a proud owner of my own? By gum, of course I did! Of course I DO!!
The night before we left she pulled out this beauty from the closet and we wiped off the dust and investigated.

I thought "It's SOOOOOOO cute!" which is no surprise to me. You see, this is no ordinary sewing machine. This is a wonderful, self contained and flowered sewing machine that's over 30 years old. Bright & shiny colors with a vintage kick to it? Sign me up! 
A part slides out to reveal the cord neatly curled up and the instruction booklet. I took a video for your benefit. My hand at the end is supposed to be a manual "ta da" for you.


This is the result.

I had fun looking through the directions and pretending that I was putting in thread and getting the bobbin ready. My MIL told me that she was super excited for this big purchase when she initially bought it. She is such a conscientious person and I'm really grateful for that because everything is meticulously cared for and in place. But mostly because she's generous enough to let me haul it to California for experimental sewing; thank you sew {I'm really satisfied with myself for having fit this in} much!!

This flower motif is on the actual machine too!

Then I stayed up late looking up somewhat simple sewing projects online and getting excited about what I could do. I think I have most of them saved on Pinterest so I don't have to worry about losing these cute ideas.
Then I had to wake up at 5:30 AM and get in a car for hours on end.
Then we got back home and here I am now.
Believe you me, there are many, many, many things laying around for me to do but getting started with sewing is a task that I can see getting swept aside for months and years so I'm going to make this happen. And I'm really pumped about it!
Plus, the machine has flowers on it...those yellow and orange ones that can make any day a bit brighter!


I really do need to get a few things taken care of before I can seriously have fun, though - putting away our apartment {we have NOT finished moving in yet thankyouverymuch} and getting through the mountain of grading that taunts me every.single.day. 


I think that my first project will be kitchen/dish towels. Then maybe some produce/grocery stuff-sacks since as of last Sunday stores in San Jose are no longer allowed to provide plastic bags and have to charge ten cents for every paper bag. Read about it HERE, it's kind of great.


Are you crafty? Do you have any easy sewing ideas? Do you rely on patterns or do you just eye it? Let me know if you have tips!
xoxo, natty ♥

The 10th day of Christmas.

Today I talk not about work which is where I'm at {hopefully} {I'm writing this a couple of days before work starts again because I anticipate a lot of business and tiredness what with a 12 hour drive ahead of us along with getting ready for work the next day...I digress} but I'm writing about "fun outings" and "local color".

I'm a big fan of things that are unique to their geographical locale and that are not a big "traditional" attraction. Some examples:

• The Mystery Spot in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
• The Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, CA.
• Do you notice the prevalence of the word "mystery"?
• Happy Hollow Zoo in San Jose, CA.
• San Jose Municipal Stadium Home of the San Jose Giants; in San Jose, CA {where I worked in high school}.

I'm sure know that there are many, many more in our great country {& world} but these are places I know. Anyway, this past week in Arizona I added a new one to the list. It even uses the seemingly prerequisite word "mystery" in the title.

The Mystery Castle.

Emmy Award?

The back story is a Seattle man  in the 1930s {more or less} who was diagnosed with The Consumption/Tuberculosis and a six month life expectancy. He fled, abandoning his wife and young daughter, to Arizona to live out his days. He was actually cured, lived another 15 years and spent that time building an elaborate "sand castle" for his daughter whom he never saw again. This man was dedicated to using found materials and reusing things that others might discard so picture a stone and mortar structure with lots of interesting and non-traditional building materials {hubcaps and a Saguaro cactus, for example}. It certainly doesn't look like a Disney castle.

The daughter, upon her father's death, received notice that she was the proud new recipient and owner of several hundred acres in the Arizona desert which included this building.

She came and lived the rest of her life in what came to be known as the Mystery Castle until she died in 2010.
At some point Life magazine did an expose on this little gem and people started coming for tours which the proprietress welcomed and these tours continue to this day though her bedroom is off limits because her geriatric cat still resides there.

The actual structure is pretty great; it incorporates the land, for sure, being made mostly of stones and mortar but including old bricks and found/salvaged glass.
The interior reflects the eclectic decorating/collecting style of the builder and his daughter. It reminded me of a grandmother's house; there was so.much.stuff.

Apart from some neat-o relics {an old oven built into the stone wall, a tamale cart from Nogales circa 1930s as seen above} there were TONS of tchotchkes {knick knacks}...TONS of them. Many focused on cats

and clever phrases.

I loved it.

I enjoyed the rock-pet collection.

We had a fun time taking the short tour and meandering around while enjoying the view of the Phoenix Valley. I can't imagine having lived there like the "princess" did for so long!! I love visiting places like this one where history, even if it's not perfect {stuffed cats everywhere}, is preserved and embraced. I think that maintaining where we come from, we being society in general, is exceptionally important when we live in such a transitory time {constantly changing technology, news, diet fads, etc.} because it helps...it helps me at least...to keep track of the "big picture" - the newest things aren't the most important. Certain things always remain the same. Traditional ways of doing things {building homes, for example} aren't always the best.

Plus I love collecting trivia.

What sort of unique local attractions do you love?
xoxo, natty ♥

The Ninth Day of Christmas...

Takes us on the road...again. I'm writing this the day before we leave, actually, and scheduling this to post sometime when we're driving through Palm Springs. I'll periodically post some of those map images throughout the day via the mo-bile blog-urrrrr not just because I know you out there in reader land enjoy them so dang much but because I like maps and a dynamic one that tells me where I'm at {because I don't always know} is uh-may-zine.
What's your favorite road trip destination? Technique? This is actually the longest drive I've done the most, there was this one time down the Eastern Seaboard {Ellie & Emily, this one's for you!} and my modus operandi is...sleep. I don't mean to abandon my husband behind the wheel but I'm like an infant and being in the car is a soporific for me.
Anyway, wish us luck and look out for updates on this post!


xoxo, natty ♥

We made it; yea!!!

101 in 1001: January 2012 {a.k.a. The Eighth Day of Christmas}.

First of all, Happy New Year Everyone!! 

May the next 366 days bring you more ups than downs, more good times than bad, delicious meals, time spent outside, good company and plentiful sleep!

At the start of every month I'd like to write about my "101 in 1,001"; what I've completed in the past month and what I look forward to in the next.

Click HERE to read what this is all about and click HERE to keep track of more up-to-date progress via the Google document.

January 2012: 0/101 goals complete; 0/101 goals in progress.

Would like to begin:

• Number 12 : Ski at least twice every winter/spring season; 0/6.
• Number 25 : Get all of my documents and accounts switched over to my new name.
• Number 29 : Complete our taxes before March 1^st; 0/3.
• Number 30 : Back up our computers.
• Number 57 : Begin to sew and create something that I can wear, something I can use around the house and something that I can give to someone else; 0/3.

Would like to complete:

• Number 1* : Enjoy local nature {hiking, biking, etc.} {local = within a two hour car ride} once a month; 0/33
• Number 16 * : Talk to my parents once a week; 0/132.
• Number 18 * : Identify 132 things that make me happy {one a week}; 0/132.
• Number 32 * : Come up with a new way to be green every month; 0/33.
• Number 35 : Sign up for a produce delivery service.
• Number 39 * : Walk Guinness in the evenings at least once a week; 0/132.
• Number 41 : Take an exercise class or play a sport at least once a week for a month, one that isn’t running related.
• Number 49 * : Bake cookies or breads once a month; 0/33.
• Number 50 * : Cook something new every month; 0/33.
• Number 72 * : Go to the movies once a month; 0/33.
• Number 89 : Continue to uphold and develop our own traditions {birthdays, New Year, Thanksgiving, Halloween, anniversary, etc.}.
• Number 90 * : Blog once a day until June 2012.
• Number 92 : Finish writing thank you notes.
• Number 99 * : Read through the “50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind” once a month; 0/33.

* denotes a weekly/monthly occurrence.


Again, Happy 2012!


xoxo, natty ♥

On the Seventh Day of Christmas...101 in 1,001.

My Oh My. When the New Year rolls around every December-January, as it tends to do, I celebrate and let it pass by and then feel a nostalgic twinge; “I could have been more contemplative of the year that just ended”…”I could have come up with mindful goals for the commencing year”…things like that.

Now it’s December 31^st and I haven’t done much concentrated thinking but something has been lurking in the back of my mind. My friend Rebecca has been planning to do a “101 in 1,001”. She got this idea from a friend of hers and I’m sure that gal got the idea from a friend as well. There’s a website, HERE, that explains the whole thing so someone actually “invented” this goal making/setting scheme.

I’m usually wary of resolutions because I’m the type of person who likes to make general goals {“be nicer”} instead of actual measurable ones {“pay for the person behind me in line at Starbucks”} and that makes it easy to not follow through so this year I’d like to be more mindful. I’d like to follow through more. I’d like to be a better person. Haha, get it? Anyway, to help me in this endeavor I’m going to do my own “101 in 1,001”. 

I’m actually making my list today but I’ve been tossing around ideas in my head the past few weeks. I’ll begin with parameters taken from the website mentioned above as well as my own rules then launch into my 101.

1} 101 in 1,001 is the chosen number because 1,001 days equals a bit under three years {2.75 to be exact} which allows for several weather seasons in which to accomplish the various tasks. and accommodates for weather changes and money saving and things like that. Aaaaaand101 just looks good next to/out of 1,001.

2} These must be measurable and quantifiable goals. See above: “be nicer” vs “pay for the person behind me in line at Starbucks once a year”.

3} My goals must require a bit of effort and cannot just be things that I do every year anyway {no “be a teacher” or “have a dog”}.

4} I’ll maintain a Google document for my own personal accountability and for y'all to be able to look at the whole dig-dang-thing.

5} The list will be divided into categories so as to break things up a bit…”Healthy”, “Literate”, “Family”, “Love”, “Homey”, “Thoughtful”, “Adventurous”, “Kind”, “Happy”…etc.

6} At the start of every month I’ll do a summary. What I accomplished the past month, What I’ve begun, What I have in progress, What I’d like to begin and/or accomplish in the next month.

7} I’ll post all 101 in this initial post but only the aforementioned categories {#6} in subsequent monthly updates.

8} Start Date: January 1, 2012 

    End Date: September 28, 2014 {2012 is a leap year so there’s an extra day} 

    Goals Completed: 0/101 

    Goals in Progress: 0/101 

    Last Updated: December 31, 2011

    Crossed out marks a completed item.
    Italics marks a partially completed or in-progress item.

Ready, Set, Here We Go!!!!

Adventurous

1.    Enjoy local nature {hiking, biking, etc.} {local = within a two hour car ride} once a month; 0/33

2.    Go backpacking.

3.    Climb a mountain.

4.    Visit six states I’ve never been to {an airport layover doesn’t count}; 0/6.

5.    Buy a lottery ticket.

6.    Travel somewhere by train.

7.    Go fishing.

8.    Go on a road trip

9.    Bowl over 50.

10. Go to an Olympic event.

11. Travel to Europe or South America.

12. Ski at least twice every winter/spring season; 0/6.

13. Go camping at least twice each summer season; 0/6.

Family

14. Go on a vacation with each extended family; 0/2.

15. Take my mom and dad out on a date, separately; 0/2.

16. Talk to my parents once a week; 0/132.

Happy

17. Visit Death Valley.

18. Identify 132 things that make me happy {one a week}; 0/132.

19. Throw someone a surprise party!

20. Purchase a classic children’s Holiday book each Christmas; 0/2.

21. Purchase five of my favorite books from growing up; 0/5.

22. Go to Hawaii.

23. Wear a dress every day for a month.

24. Attend The Nutcracker each Christmas season; 0/2.

Smart

25. Get all of my documents and accounts switched over to my new name.

26. Apply to a graduate program.

27. Go one month without buying anything for myself that isn’t food related.

28. Donate to my Alma Maters once a year; 0/3 & 0/3.

29. Complete our taxes before March 1^st; 0/3.

30. Back up our computers.

31. Begin saving towards a home.

Healthy {Mental and Physical Health}

32. Come up with a new way to be green every month; 0/33.

33. Be active 6 days a week for a month.

34. Take my vitamins everyday for a month.

35. Sign up for a produce delivery service.

36. Get a massage.

37. Make our own dinner every night for a month.

38. Qualify for the Boston Marathon.

39. Walk Guinness in the evenings at least once a week; 0/132.

40. Begin going to yoga and do so at least once a month for six months.

41. Take an exercise class or play a sport at least once a week for a month, one that isn’t running related.

42. Eat out no more than once a month for six months; 0/6.

Hungry

43. Host a dinner party.

44. Celebrate Oktoberfest.

45. Cook risotto.

46. Make crème Brule.

47. Cook a turkey, on Thanksgiving or not, preferably fried.

48. Make something from something I’ve grown.

49. Bake cookies or breads once a month; 0/33.

50. Cook something new every month; 0/33.

Homey

51. Begin collecting a Willow Tree Nativity scene…initial purchase can be the main three but collect a new piece each year.

52. Frame and put up our college diplomas; 0/2.

Crafty

53. Finish my long-ago-began t-shirt quilt.

54. Organize my race #s like Rebecca did.

55. Make a wreath.

56. Plant bulbs.

57. Begin to sew and create something that I can wear, something I can use around the house and something that I can give to someone else; 0/3.

58. Can/Jar my salsa.

59. Plant and nurture a garden, even if it’s a balcony one.

60. Make our own Advent Calendar that can be used from year to year.

61. Acquire a “big-girl” camera and use it instead of my phone at family/friend events.

Kind

62. Compliment someone once a day for a month.

63. Leave a nice and anonymous note for someone once a season; 0/11.

64. Pay the bill for someone behind me in the drive-through line.

65. Visit with an older/home-bound/sick person once every six months; 0/6.

Social

66. Participate in a cookie exchange.

67. Learn how to play Bunco and have a Bunco night at our place.

68. Have an Academy Awards party.

69. Have an obscure holiday party {Bastille Day, etc.}.

70. Join a book club.

71. See my friends who live in other states once a year; 0/3.

Out & About

72. Go to the movies once a month; 0/33.

73. Visit the San Diego Zoo.

74. Visit a historical site.

75. Attend a professional sporting event.

76. Attend a concert.

77. Go out dancing.

78. Visit a museum once a season; 0/11.

79. Visit a national park every year; 0/3.

80. Take pictures in a photo booth.

81. Go apple picking in the fall.

Literate

82. Watch a movie series.

83. Watch a movie after reading the book it goes along with.

84. Watch “Gone With the Wind”.

85. Read twelve Classics; 0/12.

Love

86. Celebrate our 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd anniversaries.

87. Exchange the traditional anniversary gifts on our anniversaries.

88. Make our Wedding Album {with or without outside assistance}.

89. Continue to uphold and develop our own traditions {birthdays, New Year, Thanksgiving, Halloween, anniversary, etc.}.

Thoughtful

90. Blog once a day until June 2012.

91. Order race pictures of Mike & me.

92. Finish writing thank you notes.

93. Get our wedding quilt sent in and made.

94. Make an actual photo album for each year…print out the photos and put them into an album; 0/3.

95. Volunteer at an animal shelter/pound/Humane Society at least once.

96. Send a care package to a family member or friend who lives in another state.

97. Send out birthday cards to my friends/family before the actual birthday.

98. Send out all Christmas cards before December 20^th 2012 & December 20 2013; 0/2.

99. Read through the “50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind” once a month; 0/33.

100. Begin a new 101 in 1,001 for 2015!

101. Donate $1 for every task not completed by September 28^th 2014; recipient to be determined.

Tomorrow I'll begin with my first monthly update.

I didn't think I'd feel this way but after having read through my list I am just SO excited about this! I'm enlisting the help of friends and family to keep me accountable. Are you a resolution maker? Have you ever done a "101 in 1,001"? Again, I'm really looking forward to this and thank you in advance for reading through my journey!

xoxo, natty ♥

The Sixth Day of Christmas.

This is the day where I talk about being able to do things with family & friends. Yesterday we made pizza and bowled. Every time I get out and about and actually do things, I feel so silly because this question pops into my mind: why don't I/we do this sort of stuff all the time?!?! I let the ins and outs of my work week really get me down, I think that's why I'm not traipsing around town every other night. I've expounded upon this before, Reader, so I'll spare you the verbosity this post around, but maybe something I strive towards in the New Year will be a weekly or at least monthly social outing? 
Geez, having just read what I just wrote, I sound pathetic. Oh well, I ams what I ams but I'd like to branch out a bit.

Anyway, I forgot to take pictures of our finished products but I can tell you that the Brie and artichoke hearts pizza was the Best Thing Ever last night. Don't worry, though, we're definitely not gourmands, we got the inspiration from a Christmas Gift Pizza Cookbook.
Then we bowled. I got a 25. Yes, I'm that bad.

Mike made sure that we got matching shoes.

xoxo, natty ♥

On the 5th Day of Christmas...

My True Love gave to me...

Seventy duh-gree wea-thurr!
xoxo, natty ♥

4th Day of Christmas.

I'm forgoing the Wordless Wednesdayness of today in lieu of my current blog campaign. Click HERE to know what's up. Also, beware, here is "really long post in the span of only a few days # I've lost count".

Today, on my quest of thanks and appreciating time spent with loved ones, I enumerate the benefits of museums. I LOVE museums; I think I might be able to find something I like in any museum I visit. I really appreciate learning new and interesting things in an engaging manner. I was obsessed with "olden" things when I was young {I wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder} and seeing the actual evidence that there was a past really played/plays into this fascination. I also really appreciate knowing that if I can't remember everything that I read/learned/saw in any given visit, the museum will always be there for me to go back to. 

Although I love me some beautiful artwork, I often have more fun at museums of a different variety, generally those which have a theme. Yesterday we went to the Musical Instrument Museum. I'm tone deaf. I love listening to music but have no talent in that field but this place has gotten rave reviews; I kept my mind open and was by no means disappointed. I think this may actually be one of my favorite museums ever.

I'll give a brief explanation of what it's all about and then launch into the pictures though I'll even put those into categories of a) cool things b) costumes/masks c) geographical-ness d) famous musicians and e) us playing with instruments.

This two story museum is a listening experience. It's touted as the most interesting museum you'll ever hear...or something like that. The very first thing you visit is a little gallery that has a short introductory video of the museum, a room full of guitars {which is wise since almost everyone knows what these are} and a room full of interesting instruments {large to tiny, varying mediums, musical oddities}.

Then we went upstairs which is divided by regions of the world. I think that every country is represented which is mind boggling because our world is dang big! The organization goes by continent and super large countries are divided by regions or styles of music. We started with Africa and moved onto the Middle East. Maybe because it was the first place we visited but I think those two were my favorite regions. And the United States. The Africa/Middle East was great because they had fabulous drum rhythms and costumes. The US was great because it covered Native American cultures {which I find exceptionally interesting} as well as some of the music that is most familiar to me as a child of this country {blue grass, traditional marching, Hip Hop, Country Western...}.

We ate a yummy lunch. Some museums have the best cafes and this was no exception. The emphasis was on local stuff and just plain old good stuff.
Post lunch we explored the rest of the downstairs which included two pretty cool areas; the notable musician section and the experiential room.

The notable musician room included little exhibits on exactly that, famous and influential music makers. John Lennon was prominent as were John Denver, Eric Clapton, Elvis Prestley, The Jonas Brothers and the Black Eyed Peas, though I overheard some grumbling among fellow patrons regarding the last two choices.
We capped off our visit by getting to play some instruments. We stuck to hitting things with sticks the various drum options. This room was loud and cacophonous considering that the many children present yesterday seemed to really enjoy getting their hands on things they'd been looking at all afternoon.

What makes this museum exceptional is that except for the very first two galleries {the guitars and unique instruments} everything has an audio component. Like I said, it's the most interesting museum you'll ever hear. Guests have this little box they carry around with them that's connected to earphones. Every exhibit has a TV playing one to six vignettes that relate to the country, style of music or musician it's describing; there's a very short written explanation of each scene that's shown {each is no longer than two minutes}; they're matched up by a letter that pops up when each new one begins. The little box that patrons carry uses some crazy magic to figure out which TV you're in front of and just picks up what's being broadcast. I had never heard the majority of what was played for me yesterday, obviously, but I loved matching audio to the visual. 

It was so poignant to hear familiar sounds; various songs and sounds {as well as scent but I haven't been the the Museum of Olfactory Oddities yet...maybe I don't want to?} can instantly transport me to what was happening when I first heard those tunes. I'm the type of music lover that will play something over and over again if I love it so various songs remind me really strongly of certain summers, school years, trips, etc. I think that this component of the museum and the fact that the sounds are piped directly into your own ears so as to have an extra visceral effect is what makes this museum so appealing. 

What songs or sounds are meaningful to you? Does music make a soundtrack to your life the way it has and continues to for me? Are you tone deaf like I am and just enjoy listening? Also, are you painfully unhip when it comes to music choices? I most definitely am and did not feel one bit intimidated yesterday which could also be another benefit of this place; all visitors are able to enjoy and relate.

Anyway, It was a fabulous visit that spanned about six hours. Thanks so much to my in-laws for taking us!


Aaaaaaaand some visuals:
a) Cool Things:
I think that this is a Thai instrument. Forgive me now for I may attribute the wrong countries but I'll try and get things as correct as possible and mean no offense to anyone out there.

This is Indian though I forget exactly what it's for.

A really big whistle!

 

All the languages spoken in Africa; pretty crazy!

I enjoyed these little lizards.

A pink saxophone!

Yuck! Cool!

Something Really Big.

This is a pretty case...

that holds this.

Something Really Small.

Beautiful Succulents in the cafe garden.

        

I thought that this tiny electric piano was the funniest thing in the whole place; it's just so plain and simple...and meant for a child!

b) Costumes & Masks:
This guy greets you at the top of the stairs.

This guy is African.

I can't remember where this guy is from.

This is the costume of the Scissor Dance in Peru which is uh-may-zine. I watched the video twice.

Lamely, I also can't remember where he is from.

These guys are Indian.

    

Pretty!

c) My People!

d) I ♥ Toby Keith.

d) Gong!

xoxo, natty ♥