1.30.2010

Better things, like winter flings and longing after spring has sprung...

I am watching Project Runway Season 5 with Mom.  Netflix is good for watching old TV shows.  Or old seasons of shows.

Today we went shopping.  I got 4 pairs of tights, all in prints.  I like tights.  I also got some earrings and shirts and a skinny red belt.  Then we went to see When in Rome, which was alright.  By "we" I mean Mom, Sophie, Manda, Madeline and I.

I bought Andrew's Valentine's prize today.  It will be shipped in a few days, so that's nice.  I'm also making him a mix CD like I did last year, with a cool jewel case and everything.  I'm working on the design for it still, and honestly I haven't even finished the track list.  So, I'm a little bit stressed about getting that done, but I think it'll be alright.

I got my CPR and First Aid certification this week!  I took the initial class online last week, and then on Friday I had to go in for a skill session.  Basically, I had to show on the manikins that I knew how to do CPR correctly and stuff.  So, I was a little bit nervous about it.  I didn't want to forget anything, and even though CPR is a lot simpler now than it used to be it's still kind of intimidating to have to do everything exactly right.  But I went and the Red Cross lady was really nice.  So I did CPR on an adult manikin, a child manikin, and a baby manikin, and then went over some First Aid things like how to take care of various injuries and illnesses and then I got some cards to prove that I can save people.

I'm sleepy.  I have worship team in the morning.  Waking up early isn't too fun.

This week I was a nanny for three days.  Only one of the days was with all four kids.  Monday I start officially, so once that happens then I'll talk more about how it goes.  So far it's been good though.

I am yawning a lot now so I'm not going to write any more.

Mara Tenille

1.24.2010

May I have this dance? I saw you sitting lonely and hoped you would say yes...

Now I'll talk about life.

I basically have a job now.  Well, I almost do.  I am going to be a nanny for four kids, Monday through Thursday, in Des Moines starting next Monday, assuming everything goes will this week with interviews and stuff.  I will have 2 of the kids Tuesday afternoon and all day Wednesday, and then all four on Thursday.  Thursday we will go over the contract and then Monday, February 1st will be my official start date!  Yay!  I am SO excited.  I'm already loading up on craft ideas.  I'll be taking care of two little girls and two baby boys.  The girls are 3 and 3.5, and the boys are 16 months and 11 months.  I am really excited about all of it.  Thank you to everyone who prayed for me and for the decision.  As cliche as it is, and as much as I hate cliches, it wouldn't have happened without you.

Tonight is Pastor Gabe's welcome home party.  That should be lots of fun.  It was nice to see Gabe in church this morning.  He even did the call to worship, which was cool.

I am sleepy but I am not going to take a nap.  I will just drink a Diet Dew.

I have an obsessive-compulsive nail picking habit.  Seriously, I think I really have OCD about picking at my nails.  For real.  Mom even agrees with me.

I am diggin' on this new blog template.  Good job, whoever designed this.

HUNGERRRRR.

Oh, hey!  We're getting a Wii.  I'm pretty excited for that, because Wiis are cool, and it's a gaming system that I will actually use.  So yeah!  We're looking at slightly used ones on Craigslist.

MY BOYFRIEND COMES HOME TONIGHT!!!  I mean, he's only been gone since Friday.  It's not like I really would have seen him much in that time anyway.  But that doesn't change the fact that I'm superduper excited for him to be home.  I miss him lots when he isn't here.

Anyone want to buy a car?  It's cute and nice!  And it's a convertible!  $3200.  Here is the listing Dad put on Craigslist.  Buy it.

I'm getting bored.  Bye.

Mara

Now the truth of it is, is I want to be like you...


So, now is a good day to talk about my award that Manda gave me...haha.  Yeah, it's been forever now, but I really didn't forget about it.  I'm just a slacker is all.  Anyway, it's this little dude writing.  He means that I am one of Manda's 5 favorite blogs, I think.  Here are the rules:
•Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.

•Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.

•Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.

•Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we’ll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!

•Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.
I am going to break some rules, actually, because I'm a rebel and I'm like that.  I'm not going to display the award anywhere except in this post, and I'm not going to link to the original post that explains the award except in the above quote.  Hopefully no one gets all up in a tizzy over that.

So, now I guess I am supposed to choose my 5 people to give this award back to.  Welllll here goes!

  • First, this award goes back to Manda at Musings by Manda!  She's my super cool aunt.  She writes about lots of stuff, like home schooling and cute decorations and random hilarious stuff that my cousins do, and right now she is taking a photo every day and posting it.
  • Also receiving the award is Art at Kind of a Big Deal.  He's one of my awesome internet friends.  He writes about his life, including weight loss goals and such.  At the beginning of the year he started writing daily about his reasons to smile, which is AWESOME.  We smile about a lot of the same things, I learned.
  • Kepa at The Fat Lazy Guy's Log gets the award, too.  He's another internet friend, and he's from New Zealand.  He taught me that I can say "he's a kiwi" or "he's kiwi" and both are right.  He has a cool accent, he sings pretty, he has worked super hard and lost a ton of weight, and I owe him a video of me doing an Aussie accent.
  • Kim at Snakes and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails is an awesome blogger and mom to three of my favorite little boys in the entire world.  She takes cute photos and videos of her boys and tells funny stories about them.  She also writes for the local paper from time to time.  If you ever get a chance to read one of her articles, do it.
  • Last, but not least, my emo child friend, Emily over at Glimpse!  She writes about her life and her struggles, and she has the second best playlist ever.  She's one of the most real people I know, and she's totally fun and hilarious.  And she's also not really emo.
Now I've fulfilled my Superior Scribbler Award obligations.  Yay!  I'll do my regular talking about my life in another post later on.

LOVE,
Mara

PS:  No one is under any obligation to post their award and talk about it.

1.21.2010

We fall down, we get up, we try to hold our head up when life pulls us apart...

Today is Thursday.  This week is going by really fast for some reason.

I am taking an online CPR course.  I should finish it today or tomorrow, and then I'll take my online First Aid course, and then I have to go to the Ames Red Cross for a skill session to show them that I actually learned how to do CPR and I'm not just wacky and going to kill anyone.

Today I was looking at prom dresses, because it's getting to be time to find one.  I looked at some Jovani gowns even though they are almost all way too expensive, because Jovani dresses are the prettiest.  So, of course, I'm browsing along, and I find one that I adore.  It's the long version of a short dress that I found last year, and it even comes in the purple/yellow color scheme that is freaking adorable.  So I'm all like, "Oh em jee, this dress is PURRRRFECT!" and then I look at the price.  Almost $400.  To those of you who spend tons of money on stuff like that, maybe that's not that big of a deal.  But you have to understand, my dress last year was free.  All the other prom dresses I've ever had to wear were either free, borrowed, or purchased at a thrift store.  $400 is a week's paycheck.  Right now, I'm not getting a paycheck.  So yeah.  $400.  BUT I LOVE IT!  Andrew made the point that if I get a job soon I could set aside $50 a week until I am able to pay for it, and that seems much less ridiculous.  But I have to be able to get it on time, of course.  So I don't know.  There are other, much cheaper dresses out there, and it might just be that I find another one that I really like.  But this one is just so cute.

I am drinking a Mountain Dew Throwback.  I haven't had one of these since Art brought me one last spring when he came for my graduation party.  It's tasty, and it brings back good memories.  I miss Art.  Art, you should come back and hang out sometime.  And bring the M's, and we can make Hans and Lara and Sarah come too, and we'll have a big party.

The book I am reading for that review thing is over halfway done.  Yay!  I'm finally starting to buckle down and get it read.  The book is "Fearless" by Max Lucado, in case you didn't know.  So far I recommend it.  It's good, good stuff, and it's short, and it's not boring or hard to understand.  But I'm not going to talk about it anymore because I have to actually write a review on it later, and then you will hear all about it.

Tomorrow is a big day.  I am nervous for tomorrow.  Tomorrow I have an interview with one of the families that I may potentially be a nanny for.  AHHHHHHHHH.  I am nervous.  I am excited.  I hope it goes well and they like me.  Even if I the job doesn't work out.  But oh my land, I am getting so nervous.

I suppose I should give you a couple details about the nanny job.  There are two families, and they would share me.  There are four kids total, and they're all under the age of 4, with two of them being around 1.  When I have said that to people they have looked at me like I'm crazy, but that doesn't really intimidate me that much really.  I think I could handle it.  So, I am meeting one of the two families tomorrow afternoon.  If you are reading this, I would ask that you pray for the interview to go well, for me not to sound like a bumbling idiot, and that God would make it clear if I am supposed to take this job or not.

In other news, my TV shows are beginning to start up again!  YAY!  I don't really watch that many TV shows, but right now for some reason I am really into a couple shows.  I am going to watch the new episode of House right now actually, and then in a week or so the new The Office episodes are supposed to be up, I think.  WOO HOO!

Sincerely,
Mara Tenille
The Butterfly Child

1.13.2010

Is this where I'm supposed to be, or is this another distraction...

The following is stolen from my CGR blog.  Some of it may be information you already know.  Mostly it is just random stuff.  I just posted it a minute ago so I thought I'd just cut and paste.

Dang, yo. I'm making rice pudding in the crock pot. It be smellin' so good. Pretend I said that in a Family Force 5 voice.

Today I looked at health insurance plans. It was interesting.

I need to do some yoga or pilates or something at some point today.

I think that at some point I am going to post a picture of myself in here, because it's been a while. I just need to get around to taking one.

Yesterday I had Chinese for lunch. Me and da buhfrend went out to eat. I also almost went to a basketball game, but then I didn't. I did watch American Idol on TV, and The Bachelor on Hulu. The Bachelor is an insane show. I also almost went to the hospital to visit Andrew's sister (boyfriend flavored Andrew, not CGR Andrew), but I didn't because she just wanted to sleep today. Andrew's sister has bone cancer and is on her second to last round of chemotherapy. Today she's coming home, and then she has another round in a few weeks if her blood counts are up to it, and then she will leave for Houston for a few weeks for radiation on her lungs. You guys don't know that story I suppose, but that's where it's at right now. Soooo yes. No hospital visit this time around, which was really fine with me, because I HATE going to the hospital. I get kind of panic-attacky. It's pretty pathetic.

Anyway, that was a little bit random.

Dead guy:

I need to go to the post office and to the bank today.

That rice pudding is killing me. I want some right now. Only an hour left. *sigh*

Now back to normal blogging!

So, it's been a while since I last blogged.  I am still on the hunt for a job, although I guess I'm not really hunting very much.  I have profiles on some nanny finding websites, but if that is what I want to do I should really get on the ball about finding a family.  Mom thinks I need to focus my applications on office-type jobs where I'll get paid well.  The problem is that I don't have a degree and I'm not going to school to learn any kind of marketable skills.  Stupid college.

It seems like all the nanny jobs are in Iowa City.

The rice pudding was a failure, I think.  It's all messed up.

Well, I am finding more nanny jobs now that I know more of what to look for.  So that is good.  I think I'm going to start asking families questions and feeling out what a job like that might look like.  I'm excited for that, I think.

Anyway, that's the end.

Mara

1.05.2010

The ground seems like the only open arms for me...

Well, I am currently unemployed.  Stupid economy.  I had a lot of fun working at Info2go though, and I am still praying that the company takes off and that they are able to do big things with it.  All the same, I need a job now, so if anyone knows of places that are hiring, let me know.  I don't want to work at a restaurant again, just for the record.  Panera was dandy and all, but yeah.  No more food.  I don't really want to work lots of evenings and weekends, obviously, but I don't really know what I'm going to have to give up in order to find a job.  Staples has some openings.  Kohl's usually does.  Last time I applied at Learning Post they called me back, albeit a couple months later.  I don't know.  I don't know what to do.  So I guess I'll just make it up as I go along.

Tonight Andrew and I are going out to Buffalo Wild Wings.  We'll probably watch the Orange Bowl.  Then I think we were going to Kohl's to exchange a tie that he got for Christmas. 

I have won two Ebay auctions for my doll.  The pinafore dress and some accessories to replace the ones I already have that are a little worn.  I am very excited.

I have been on CGR a bit the last couple days.  It's kind of fun to be "back" or whatever. *laugh*

Well, I am going to get caught up on LOST now.  Goodbye, little blog.

Belle

1.01.2010

When I'm with you my heart is home...

Well, it's been a while since I blogged, and lots of things have happened, so just be warned that this might end up being long.

First of all, Christmas happened.  It was a nice Christmas.  I sang "Born to Die" by Bebo Norman for the Christmas Eve service at church.  If you don't have Bebo's Christmas CD, I highly recommend it.  In fact, here is my list of favorite Christmas CDs.

1. Family Force 5's Christmas Pageant by Family Force 5
2. Christmas from the Realms of Glory by Bebo Norman
3. Christmas Offerings by Third Day
4. Happy Christmas Volume 4 from Tooth and Nail Records
5. Elf: Music from the Major Motion Picture by various artists

I think that is really all the Christmas music I listened to.  Everyone should own those CDs.  The Muppets Christmas CD is one that we also listen to, but since the Muppets are a bit before my time and since I just kind of find that CD a little bit obnoxious, it didn't make the list.  Sorry, Muppet fans.  I admire your fanaticism.

I got some cool Christmas presents, too.  I might get some of them mixed up with my birthday presents, because they are pretty close together, but I'll do my best to remember.  I know that I got a cool shirt and some gloves from Em Harmsen, which was cool.  Patrick got me Switchfoot's new CD, Hello Hurricane, which I highly recommend.  Andrew got me my dragonfly ring from JesseDanger on Etsy, which I was SO EXCITED about.  I adore that ring.  Seriously, it's sososososo pretty.  I got a couple shirts and a Bebo Norman CD from my family, and also the book Captivating and another book that Mom picked up at Urban Outfitters called Urban Paper.  It is really awesome.  Basically, the whole book is pages and pages of paper toys that you can cut out and glue together to make funny little things.  I am taking pictures of all the paper toys I make and I'm going to post them on Facebook eventually, and when I do that I'll also try to remember to post some here.  It is very much a new hobby of mine.  Me and the X-Acto knife have spent a lot of time together since getting this book.  Other things I got included my rockin' awesome steampunk jacket that I wanted and some knitting stuff from my grandparents, and some really cool earrings made from old clock hands from Manda and Chad and Madeline and Eli, and lots of other things.

Then, my birthday happened!  I turned 19 on the 30th, which somehow was weirder than 18.  18 was fun because it is kind of that first year that you are a grown-up.  You can smoke and stuff, too, which I haven't tried.  Not that I want to try smoking, but me and some friends were going to get some cigars to try just because we can.  And I think it would be hilarious if I smoked a cigar.  But anyway, as I was saying, 18 is kind of a monumental birthday.  However, you're still kind of a teenager at 18, and 19 you aren't really as much.  Yes, you're nineteen, but maybe it's just that it's that much closer to 20, when you aren't a teenager at all.  19 just seems a lot different.  But I'm still kind of a little kid so it's alright.  I'm not worried.

For my birthday I got rockin' presents.  Mom and the fam' got me more shirts and some cute shoes and jewelry and another Bebo Norman CD and some salt and pepper shakers that look like little Russian nesting dolls to match my measuring cups and other things.  I am trying to remember them all and I feel bad that I can't.  Haha.  Emily Rollman framed an edited photo of her and I dancing with some little girls at my graduation party and got me some uber cute earrings.  Andy shot two deer the day before my birthday, and he said he'd make me some deer jerky out of one of them, so that's my birthday present from him.

One particular present is my favorite, but it requires some background.  When I was little, I alwaysalwaysalways reallyreallyreally loved American Girl dolls.  I would pour over the catalogues for hours and hours and Sophie and I would fight over who wanted what.  Sophie always liked Molly.  I always liked Samantha.  Samantha was the prettiest, she looked the most like me, she had the most beautiful dresses and the cutest accessories and I was always kind of fascinated with the Victorian time period.  But I never any American Girl doll of my own.  We had some generic off-brand versions that were nice, but of course it wasn't the same.  I also had the little miniature version of Samantha, but she eventually got worn and thrown out. Unfortunately and much to my dismay, in May of 2009 they retired the Samantha Parkington doll and her entire collection.


I've occasionally mentioned that I always wanted that doll, but I never really thought anyone paid much attention.  Well, Andrew did, apparently, and the night before my birthday I opened up a box with an absolutely beautiful original 1986 Samantha doll.  I would post a picture, except that Mom has the camera with her at Impact.  But seriously, she's gorgeous, and she's in really good condition considering how old she is and the fact that she's used.  Since I got her I've become obsessed with finding clothes and accessories for her on Ebay.  I'm currently bidding on two dresses for her.  The Pinafore Dress and the Cranberry Party Dress.  I am also going to try and buy a new set of her original accessories, because she's missing her brooch and her hat is a little bit bent and dusty, but for now I am just excited to dress her up and play with her.  See?  I'm not that old.  I still play with dolls.

Okay.  Moving on from the holidays.

Mom is off on a youth retreat, along with Andrew and mostly all of my friends.  Josh is here because obviously Andrew and Peter are gone tonight and Mikayla was having a slumber party with some other little girls, so I took pity on him and brought him here to hang out with us.  So, we're all watching Transformers.

Earlier today I was at Rietgraf's watching LOST Season 2 with Andrew, because we're trying to finish it by Monday so that we can start Season 3, because it's taking us too long to get through the seasons.  I've already seen Season 2, but it's been a while, so the refresher is nice.  Andrew hasn't ever watched the show, so he's the one that really needs to catch up, but he's gone this weekend obviously, so I borrowed the DVDs so I could try to finish the season this weekend.  15 episodes to go, I think.

We decided that this week Andrew and I are going to Buffalo Wild Wings.  Delicious.

I dyed my hair the other day.  It's a nice reddish auburn color.

I miss Andrew already and I was only with him a few hours ago.  Stupid retreats.  It's stuff like this that makes me wish we'd graduated the same year.  I hate doing things without him, and I hate the idea that he does things without me.  Not in a creepy I-want-to-know-what-you're-doing-at-all-times way, and not in a I-can't-live-for-one-moment-without-you-by-my-side way.  I just want to experience everything with him.  I want to share the good things in life with him.  I want him to enjoy the retreat, and I want him to learn and to be a leader for the younger students and I want him to have a lot of fun and to experience awesome stuff, but I want to be there for all of it.  As much as I know that we can't always do things together, I don't want to miss out on any of life with him.  I'm freaking in love, gosh darnit!

Well, now that I got that out there, I am going to break out the X-Acto knife so I can finish the toy I'm in the middle of while I watch LOST.  Actually, first I'm going to wait until I need to take Josh home, and then I'm going to do that.  I hate starting things when I can't finish them or when I know I'm going to get interrupted.  Stopping what I'm doing isn't fun at all.

I hope your holidays were lovely and that you grew closer to Christ this Christmas and New Year, and I pray that 2010 begins an entire decade of new life to you and your family and your friends.

Sincerely,
Belle