hello, i'm shanny and i'm a purse addict

I just bid on this:

I've got two Hobo clutches that I love, but I borrowed Jill's (her Lauren is a bronze color) for Vegas last time and was in love with the Lauren clutch. It is a perfect traveling companion really. It's got a side for work and a side for personal (I'm always the one who gets handed the work receipts when we are in Vegas).

I hope I win it...please, send your good eBay mojo my way!!!

cuz i like bein' like jen!

Your Personality Profile

You are dependable, popular, and observant. Deep and thoughtful, you are prone to moodiness. In fact, your emotions tend to influence everything you do. You are unique, creative, and expressive. You don't mind waving your freak flag every once and a while. And lucky for you, most people find your weird ways charming!

The World's Shortest Personality Test

the bird is the word

PICTURE TIME!!!

This is what used to be the side door into the garage (which is now a functioning cave)

The threshold into our home had been worn and rough. Now freshly painted.

The front of our home. The flowers planted a couple of weeks ago in the boxes have really taken off! The trim of the window (behind them) was painted just this morning. The eaves painted on Friday...

A trio of grasses.

This getting the house ready to list has been fun at times. Kev is still not 100% excited about the idea, but is starting to come around a bit more every day. I think as I continue to do more things around the house, to the house, he will really see what I'm so excited about. The unknown is scary and the whole selling of one house while trying to find and buy our next freaks him out. Normally it would freak me out as well but for some reason having Alia work for us has calmed my nerves. She's been doing this job for 10 years (this July) and LOVES it. I trust her and know she'll make everything happen.

I get to go squish on my favorite baby today. Henry is nearing 5 months old. I can hardly believe it! They do grow up really fast, even when they aren't your own.

happiness is

The sound of painters getting ready to paint your eaves.

A fat cat sitting on his pillow giving himself a bath.

Your faithful diggity dog at your feet, not barking at the painters.

The washing machine making the noises it makes as it cleans towels from all the guests you've had lately.

The feeling in your arms after a really amazing (read: tough) yoga practice the night before.

A completed ad sitting on the ottoman by your feet.

Knowing that in a couple of hours you will be heading to eat with good friends.

Having your husband tell you he's getting a little more comfortable with the idea of selling your house and buying a new home (getting there, but not quite there yet).

The twitching of your dogs toes as she dreams those dreams dogs do.

Birds singing outside (all except that blasted crow).

Having the windows open, letting the breeze flow through your house.

Being able to lean your head back and type while not looking at the keys (Mom would be proud).

Having good friends who will let you stash your stuff in their garage with NO for sure time of when you'll be getting it out of there.

A vacuum that makes you WANT to clean...speaking of which...

woke up dreaming

I've not dreamt and woken exhausted in quite some time. Last night broke that draught. I had a dream that I was back in college. It was the first day and I had looked at my schedule prior to leaving my dorm room. I left it there, sure I would remember all of my five (!) classes I was to go to. Between classes I realize this is not going to happen and I'm an idiot for not bringing my schedule. I have ten minutes between classes that are across campus from one another. To top it off I am wearing black patent high heels. I'm swearing to those around me that they are really comfortable as I am screaming through campus trying to make it to some Female African Art class.

I think I need a nap.

Thankfully there is nothing pressing to do at the office and so I am working most of the day from home (I went in to capture images of the clogs I had to list at our site today before coming home). The painters should be here soon to paint the eaves. I might bust out the sander and finish the door I started a couple of years ago. Yes, the front door. It's red, but splotchy. Sabo, the painter, offered to do it for me, but I told him I had started it so I had to finish it. I think it made him shake his head a little (we were on the phone so this is just a guess).

maybe baby

I'm kind of thinking that Dad likes Josie and she feels the same way. She's a funny one with him. In the beginning she was a bit unsure of him, keeping her head down but her eyes on him. And then he chucked her cheeks. Anytime he'd sit down, she'd be near.

I also had to laugh because I would catch Mom scritching on Josie's head as well. While talking to her in a sweet voice. Now my mom has not been a real dog person ever. They had guard dogs on the farm, but family pets...not so much. I grew up with cats, of which they still have one. I think, however, Josie is so much like a cat at times that she is growing on my mom.

It was a wonderful visit with them. We got a few things done around the house to get it ready to list. We're not super close to listing, as in next week, but we are getting things taken care of little by little. We've already gotten a pile started at our friends house in their garage. I've got a meeting with a guy in a few minutes to talk about painting our eaves. My boss set it up, it's a friend of his. I am sure we will get quite a deal...

what started out

Dyson DC17 how I love and hate thee...

James Dyson dropped the ball on part of his design. Or perhaps one of the junior designers who probably took on the accessory designs did. I am sure James is just too busy to come up with effective parts. I mean hell, he designed the thing that "doesn't lose suction" why would he feel the need to make all its parts just as fantastic.

The particular model we got (thanks Mom and Dad) has a smaller brush with rotating head (it's called the "mini turbine" and no, I am not making that up) to pick up all the animal fur on sofas and such. The concept is great and it really does a good job, however in those first moments of trying to figure out how the hell the thing attaches to the vacuum, we all almost blew a gasket.

There is a button that you would think clicks into something so it doesn't fall off the tube. You would be wrong in that assessment. I've been informed by no fewer than three employees of the Dyson help line (two via email, one phone) that that button is for an adaptor for another machine, so people can use the mini turbine on their model of Dyson...

So, you have to wedge this thing on the tube and if you vacuum too quickly, it might fall off. So, stop trying to vacuum at warp speed. Mom and Dad were all kinds of annoyed. I was getting there too. The thing was whipped out of each others hands as we all fought to make it work. Finally they left and I lived with the machine. I told myself if that is the way it was designed then maybe I should give it another go and see if I can make it work, without my parents around. I mean I love them (they are actually heading back my way as I type) and I adore the things they do for me, but every once in a while I have to step back and let them do their thing.

Mom said to take it back. It wasn't working like it should. It was inconvenient and hard to manage. At that time, I agreed. I even told the woman on the phone that James had totally missed the mark on the design of that attachment.

Dad agreed with Mom, I think. I was even on board. But then I started thinking about it. I love that little attachments abilities. I love knowing that the fur that is on my sofas will not be as difficult for me to remove (oh the things I would do to get rid of the fur...short of shaving the animals mind you). So this morning, I pulled the machine out of my sewing room. I closed the door to the bedroom because even I know it's rude to vacuum someone into wakefulness at 8:30. I stole away to the cave and I vacuumed. I moved the coffee table. I picked up the dog bed. And then, I attached the mini turbine and decided to just be with it and allow it to do its job.

Even though I still think there should be some way to affix it to the tube so you don't have to worry about it falling off, I found myself enjoying it. It's funny to me how a vacuum can really make you see your home in a different light.

but dove told me

Do you think my boss would buy this? I mean, Dove told me...

It's been fun getting my head back in the game of work. I got to create an ad for a group ad (I just did our spot) that is due tomorrow. I am going to be getting an order together for rain boots for the kiddies for fall. I have another ad due next week.

I thanked my boss for letting me have time off while family was here. He told me to take Monday and Tuesday this next week off to enjoy my parents visit. I can't tell you how much I love working for him. Words fail me over and over to describe it.

I will tell you he is kindness personified.

But even so, I don't think he'd buy this. :) Even if Dove did tell me I was allowed.

whirlwind

I love that word. Whirlwind. It conjures up thoughts of twirling in the yard on a warm summer night. Skirt flowing outward. It makes me think of being absolutely and completely exhausted from running and doing and going and being. It reminds me I need to slow down and enjoy.

This trip with my sister has been a whirlwind. We've done so many things, yet gotten to just sit and visit and catch up as well. I would say some of my favorite parts were the sitting and knitting/crocheting, playing Mah Jong, and going yarn shopping.

The flowers in the box will make me think of her as she stood there watching me plant, suggesting how to make the flower boxes look like they are secure to the house instead of ready to fall off with the heaviest of rains. The clacking of the Mah Jong tiles will make me think of her finally winning a hand last night and rejoicing. The yarns I purchased while she was with me ooohing and ahhhing will make me smile, remembering.

It's been a great visit.

look mom, something got done!

You can't really see, but there are two colors of pansies planted (purple and red) along the potato vine in each box. My sister and I got this done this morning, after making the boxes not look as though they are falling off the house. I realize as I write this they do kind of still look like that in the photo, but not in real life. The plants are perky now after a full day of sunshine.

The three pots to the left of the bushes got planted on Saturday by my dear Mom. She enjoys getting her hands dirty every once in a while.

Today was spent planting flowers and knitting things. A perfect day one might say. After a full day of making beautiful things out of yarn we headed over to my friends house for Mah Jong Monday. I was told to bring my set. I love my set! It plays well and is comfortable to use. I even one a hand!

Tomorrow Adrianne and I plan on going to my favorite yarn store, walking up and down Hawthorne, and out do dinner with some of our friends (Kev opens tomorrow so he'll be joining us for dinner...yea!).

Well, off to surf the web a bit before turning in. Just wanted to share with Mom that we did in fact do what we said we'd do! :)

goodbye

written yesterday...


How do you say goodbye to a feline? Do they really understand? We have to say our last goodbyes to Vladimir tonight. It brings me much sadness. He was the first cat I’ve met that reminded me soooo much of my beloved Bob. He went missing a little while ago, Vlad did, and we feared the worst. Luckily he was not lost forever. However, it is a bittersweet ending because cancer has taken over his once robust body.

It’s hitting me slowly that tonight is my final farewell. Tears well up in my eyes and I’m sure if I had to speak my voice would waver. I am still at work so I try to pull myself together, in case customers come in during these last 45 minutes.

I will thank Vlad for being my special little (ahem) guy whom let me snuggle, kiss, and love all over him whenever I felt the urge. I will tell him it was an honor just knowing him and being chosen (he would sit on me every so often). I will tell him I will remember him always. But will be sad that all I get to hold anymore are simple memories, and not him.

I am thankful that I got the time I did get with him, but feel it was too little. I will thank his human family for allowing me to care for him and his little “brother” while they were away on trips. For in those times, I got to be a little closer to Vladimir. He would meet me at the door and look up at me with his green eyes. Ready for a kiss and some food.

Life is so short for our animal friends. We only get what seems like a minute with them to learn all they were set out to teach us. Vlad taught me that snuggling is good, a purr can go a long way, and to not lose hope (I knew he wasn’t gone for good when he’d gone missing in November).


(I've now said my farewells, cried tears into his long beautiful fur, and thanked him for letting me love him...he will be missed by all who ever met him)

there are times

On Tuesday this week my coworker and I were talking about when I could cover for her (she's working Saturday for me so I can hang with the 'rents). She asked if I could possibly work this Thursday (today) but she also said she knew it was last minute, but she was just tired. She works two jobs, and doesn't normally have one full day off from both at the same time.

I had originally told her that I needed to get ready for the family who are coming to visit. I started thinking about this yesterday and realized that I was being selfish. I can clean in the evenings. I'm not exhausted like she is. I don't have to work two jobs. I get days off where I can do nothing at all if I like.

I called Chas yesterday to tell him I'd be working the floor today at our new store. Of course he answered the phone "Aren't you supposed to be off today?!" And when I told him of my plan he said no problem.

When I called my coworker yesterday to tell her she was absolutely surprised. She was so happy. I could feel the weight lift off her shoulders.

hard

It is a beautiful day outside. I am inside, sadly. I've created another ad for yet another publication and I have at least two more to do...soon.

I missed Mah Jong Monday at my friends house last night. Ah well. Our set arrived yesterday so we'll soon be able to host our own Mah Jong nights. It's much fun.

It's hard to concentrate with the sun in the sky. I hear the approach of my coworker...I must get back to work.

no dolls hurt, all releases signed

eleven to seven

The eight hours I work. The only thing I'm not a huge fan of regarding my job. It seems as though time starts to stand still around two. And I still have five hours to go after that. I don't have internet connection there (yet) so I can't really work on the site (which I did for many hours last night only to realize I didn't have prices of a few of the things I am adding...). But even if there was internet there, I wouldn't work on the site. I have a hard time breaking from whatever creative thing I am doing to interact with customers. I find it difficult to stop what I am doing, focus on something else, then going back to the computer. It's how I would work on the site before (when I was working full time on the floor). I didn't like it then and I don't like it now.

Since I worked late last night at home I decided to take next Saturday off (well, happy coincident there really). Mom and Dad are coming through town and then my sister, Adrianne will also be coming. I'm pretty excited about family coming to visit. I can hardly wait!!!

Okay, must figure out what else I can do around here to burn some time before heading in...

and the winner is:

I had such a good time working on this ad. Like I said over there, I normally come up with one real solid (make it to print) idea, but this time I had two. So I asked those around me here in person as well as those of you who read my words to take a look and give me feedback. I appreciate it quite a bit. It helps me grow as a designer.

I told Kev tonight that there was something more to this months ad. Not that I don't love designing each and every single ad for Clogs-N-More, but there ws something. It could have been the photo shoot with the ugly dolls, the size being bigger, or the inclusion of another business, I suppose.

Speaking of the photo shoot, Oh My Word. What a riot. All I needed was some electronica and perhaps a little dry ice...well, you'll see what I mean (I got the dolls to sign releases, so I can share here).

Off to create. Thanks again.

not let down

So we met with Alia today. She wass everything Jill and Mark told us she would be. There wasn't even a ton of stuff she added to the list. Just things like increasing the wattage of our bulbs once we start showing, remove the microwave from the kitchen, hiding the coffee maker and toaster, etc. The one thing that was "major" was we have to paint the laundry space after we clean it up. Jill and I were thinking of doing something like that anyway so...

I can hardly wait to tell Jill and Mark how much we love Alia!

So in the next few months we will be listing the house and finding our new home. It all seems a bit unreal for me.

anticipation

There is a quote about anticipation, but it escapes me right now. I think it's from the Simpsons, the quote I am thinking...possibly from the episode where Marge almost has an affair with Jacques, whom she met bowling. It's a long story really.

Anyway, I am excited about tomorrow and meeting Alia. Kev got the lawn mowed tonight after work and I started trimming the hedges. We've got quite a bit to do to clean up outside, but it's going to start raining again and I figure it's better to work on projects as weather allows. Don't ask me about the eaves.

We'll get up early-ish tomorrow and do a thorough cleaning (which I did just a couple of days ago, but I'm anxious and worried what she'll say about the house). Meet with her at 1:00. Then go hang with Chuck before basketball tomorrow night.

Did I mention that Alia sent us a card saying she is excited about meeting us face to face?! I thought it was the sweetest thing.

So go check out the clog blog and give me your vote...(shameless, ain't i?)