I got hooked on Twilight

picture from here

About two weeks ago one of my friends followed through on a promise and loaned me her Twilight books. I took the first one on our trip to Sequioa National Park, planning to read it on the drive.

I started the book, and wasn't in love. Well, the story hooked me about a hundred pages in, and in the next nine days I read all four books, plus the novella about Bree Tanner, plus the unpublished Midnight Sun. Yeah. I got addicted.

I didn't want to get obsessed with these books. I've heard so many people criticize them, but I liked them. Yes, they're not classic lit material, but they're for young adults! I thought the characters were great and I really wanted to know what would happen to them next.

If you started the series but haven't read them all, I would recommend finishing the series. Twilight's the weakest book, in my opinion. The last one, Breaking Dawn, was really good.

Since I sprinted through the books in order to learn what happened next, I'm re-reading the books to really read them this time. I so don't have the time for this, but I enjoy it so much!

Camping Weekend!

We spent the weekend in gorgeous Sequoia National Park. It's a really nice park: not too crowded, plenty of hiking options, and not too far from LA! I would highly recommend it to others.

The best part of the trip: hiking on relatively empty trails with pretty things to see

The worst part: no showers. At least we had running water and nice bathrooms though!

Blog I Love

http://newdressaday.wordpress.com/

This woman alters one garage sale-type item a day and the end product always looks amazing! Reading this blog I can get inspired for clothes and it doesn't make me want to shop!

Shirt Designs!

As mentioned in the last post, I've been helping my husband with http://www.southbayopencarry.org/. Since I'm the more capable one with graphic design, I have been tasked with shirt designs. I would love your input on the shirts! These are some options, so tell me which you like best.

Possible Shirt Fronts:

1. To be on a pocket/in the pocket area:

2. To be centered on the shirt:

Possible Shirt Backs:

3. This would cost more since it's color:

4. But we could just have it in b&w:5. This is the simple one I started with:


6. I call this one guns

New Cause- South Bay Open Carry

So a lot has happened in the last couple of weeks! Namely, my husband has founded a movement. Or rather, he's founded a local branch of a statewide movement: Open Carry. Right now the CA legislature is attempting to ban the open carry of unloaded handguns in the state. Since in many areas of California it is practically impossible for everyday citizens to get a concealed weapons permit, open carry is the only way most people can protect themselves and their loved ones in public. (If you are not aware of the connection between carrying a gun and being able to protect oneself, read this article here).

Anyway, I've been busy supporting him in this. Checkout the website: http://www.southbayopencarry.org/

A social experiment in my very own home

Hello people,

Exciting things have been happening in my house! Well, exciting for me. You see, I'm a planning person. I'm also a productive person. I dislike when plans get changed for the worse, and I dislike wasting time. This can lead to minor hissy fits or breakdowns on my part when an evening is, in my opinion, wasted. Plans are changed and at the end of the night, not enough has been accomplished to satisfy me.

After one such evening last week, we had a change in my household. We decided we both were not respecting the wishes and time of the other person enough. We both felt that we were trying to do things to make the other person happy, yet neither of us was happy. My hubby and I decided to change the way we viewed each other's time. We decided to be more independent in our activities, and with respect to time, interact more like roommates.

For example, we would not guilt the other person for not doing what we thought they should be doing. Or I would not expect him to come to the gym with me. If I wanted to I could invite him, and I would be okay with whatever answer he gave. I was not expected to make him lunch, and he was not expected to make me dinner. In short, we would each do what we wanted, and we could invite the other person to join in if we so desired.

It sounds weird, but it's worked. In fact the only problems have been when one of us did not follow the rules of the week. Overall, my husband has not dropped the ball and become completely irresponsible about household tasks, like I feared :-) He still pitches in to walk the dog, fold laundry, do dishes, etc. I enjoy feeling like I can truly do whatever I want. Then, if something doesn't get done, the only one to blame is myself.

Marriage can be difficult, as proven by the high divorce rate and today's separation of the Gores. It's important to work on respecting each other and maintaining some independence. This week's experiment has been good for us in these respects.

I love the magic eraser

So once upon a time I had a dirty bathroom tub and a dirty linoleum kitchen floor. Well, they weren't dirty, but they sure looked it. I cleaned them with every cleaner imaginable. I tried bleaching the tub. Nothing would get rid of the stains and marks! Nothing, that is, until the magic eraser:

Image from here.

Disclaimer: I actually used the target brand magic eraser, not the name brand. Still, this thing is amazing! I know I'm like five years behind on discovering this thing, but I must share the good news for those of you who are also behind the times :-)