Weekend round up - zoo excursion.

Hi all. Yesterday the fam and I decided to take advantage of the unusually warm weather - 50 degrees in January! - and headed to the Brookfield zoo. In January and February four days out of the week are free to visitors (saturdays included), which ended up being an extra bonus. Below are some of the photos I snapped on our zoo excursion.

If you live in the Chicagoland area I highly recommend visiting the Brookfield zoo.

Later today I plan on hitting up some of my favorite thrift and antique stores with my momma. I plan on starting a new thrifting segment which I am pretty excited about in the upcoming week.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend :)

New layout!

Hi all! I just posted the new layout. What do you all think - any suggestions? I think I will be making new layouts fairly often - it is just too much fun. Who knows, I may even start designing them for others...

ch ch changes

As of two days ago I decided to become vegetarian. I can't justify eating often sick and tortured animals any longer (eep sorry end rant - I just have to keep telling myself this to keep motivated). I have grown up on meat my whole life so giving it up is going to be quite difficult. I am taking it one day at a time but I think it is best for my health and the lives of the animals I will not be consuming. Wish me luck!

Are any of you vegetarian? How did you make the transition? Any tips?

Latest update - I am going to Japan! I went a few years ago with my dad and brother but it was only for three short days and spent the majority of our trip in Beijing, China. My friend Mike is currently teaching over there so I am going to visit him for a little over a week while his school is on spring break. I am beyond ecstatic! He lives in Minato-ku, Tokyo - so we will be spending the majority of my 10 day trip in Tokyo - I hope to hit up Shibuya and Harajuku again among other places :) . We also are hoping to make it out of Tokyo and head to either Kyoto which I heard is beautiful or to Hiroshima. I will definitely keep this blog updated once I am there. I can't wait for sushi every day and karaoke!!!

Here are some photos from my last trip there:

Also - I am OBSESSED with Blythe dolls.

Image from BlytheLife.
So naturally I have to scoop up one or two while I am there. I have been doing my homework and tracking down the best toy shops that carry Neo Blythe. There is obviously Junie moon which I will have to go and see - great excuse to get to Shibuya again!

Images from 8Tokyo.
They also carry her at the Kiddyland stores which are so much fun. They carry quite a variety at various Mandrake stores as well. EEEP! I cannot wait for this trip. I have been saving up and it is going to be a blast.

My latest thrifting obsession is to look for the rare 1972 Kenner Blythe dolls. I know she is out there in some dusty box. I need to start going to estate sales and what not and rescue her.

Images from The Rogue Dolls.
One more crazy Blythe thing - Blythecon 2012, yeah, I think I need to go!

Anyone else obsessed with them?

Looking to 2012

Happy new year everyone! Initially I had hoped to be blogging again once finals ended but the last few weeks have been such a whirlwind. After a few minor and major mental breakdowns (soberly-crying at a bar the night of my last final for example :-/) I survived my last semester of college. In the end I ended up graduating cum laude - phew.

Graduation day seemed like an outer body experience. It was 9 in the morning and I was still recovering mentally and emotionally from the week before (I don't handle stress and lack of sleep well). Next thing I know I am crossing the stage and being congratulated by the president, Dr.Bowman. Two weeks later - I think reality is finally sinking in. I'm excited and terrified to finally be free from it all. Without a job and school I literally am free to start fresh, which I think is a perfect way to start off the new year (alright, not completely jobless - still working freelance thankfully).

Anywho, Christmas and New Years Eve was fun and spent with loved ones. I am so thankful for my wonderful family and friends. I won't bore you with the details but it has been so nice to have down time.

2012 is going to be a great year. I plan on:
- Finding a job(s)
- Launch my website
- Taking blogging seriously and spiffy up this site in the process
- Learn to cook
- Take risks
- Road-trip with the boyfriend
- New tattoo
- Attack my closet
- Move
- Quit apologizing for everything

Black Friday.

I hope everyone survived black friday and scooped up some good deals. Here are some good tunes to listen to while you catch last minute deals shopping online ;)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you are surrounded by loved ones enjoying the holiday. I have so much to be thankful for this year.

1. As always, I am so thankful for my crazy family, I have no clue what I would do without them. We are so dysfunctional but we make it work, and we always have something to laugh about afterwards. I love you guys so much!

2. To my friends ^ in the photos above, the last four years at school have been incredible. I am so thankful for all the memories I have to look back on. And I can't wait to see where we all end up in the near future. <3 

3. Brian, yep, you get your own little section. I love you. The last two years have been incredible, I am so thankful to have you in my life. You have pried me out of my shell and have helped me look at the world in a new way. Thank you.

4. My college education, I am so blessed to have been given the opportunity to refine my design skills the last four years. My classes have pushed me outside my comfort zone, helping me become a more confident and independent woman. I have grown so much.

5. My job, home, food, clothing, etc. 

I am so fortunate for everything in my life. I have to cut this post short in order to get the table and food ready...I just wanted to share. What are all of you thankful for?

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Allison