Welcome to my Office

I also like to call this room my bedroom. 

Where all the magic happens. The academic magic, that is. 

I am super duper stressed out about this next week. 

I am working on this big paper that I have been researching all semester long (about Marco Palmezzano's Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist). It's amazing how attached you get to art after you've invested so much time researching it and dissecting it's context. Especially Christian works like this one. Oh, I could go on for days talking about this piece. And, I have. In this paper.

[um, that belly button book isn't mine. i swear]

I think Dave's going to kick me out of our room pretty soon if living conditions remain this way.. 

There are books everywhere!

I don't even have sheets on the bed! Who have I become??

btw, partially open drawers are a huge pet peeve of mine. 

I am actually quite embarrassed to show this pic.

I am presenting my research tomorrow. 

Cross your fingers for me! These Art Historians can be pretty awful at times. 

Easter!

Today has been long. 

And I mean, really really long. 

So, I'm not going to spend too much time typing about how crazy the candy made Owyn, 

I'm only going to say that I learned a very valuable lesson today...

never give this todd candy again!

And Ill leave you with that and some pictures, enjoy. 

If you were wondering, yes those are Virgin and Child stickers. And yes, those are twin chicks (or would have been.. sorry). 

Hope you have a fabulous Easter weekend!

It's a Damn Good Day to be Alive

" Let all that has breath praise the Lord"

Psalm 150:6

It's Good Friday, and it's a damn good day to be alive!

I hope you all have a beautiful Easter weekend. 

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In other news...

My wedding dress and graduation gown are hanging next to each other in my dress closet (yes, I have a separate closet for dresses).  It's a good sight to see.

And those two are dominating that closet!

Think About It

At this point of my life, I've learned a very valuable lesson when it comes to shopping. 

Think about it

Ill tell you why I strongly believe this.. 

a. you won't spend money and regret it

b. you can save for it

c. you can usually find it (or something like it) elsewhere 

I consider myself to be a professional shopper. I find something that I want, or "absolutely need", and keep my eyes out. I always always find what I want somewhere else for way cheaper. Remember when I wanted Melissa shoes really bad but they weren't selling them in department locally yet and then I found them in a thrift store? On my birthday!!! Or the wicker rocking chair for Owyn's room that I dreamed up and then found a thrift store?

Another example, I have been wanting these shoes (or some like it) for a while. They even made it on my birthday list. Last week I found a similar pair at one of my fav thrift shops and passed them up. But, today I went back and they were still there! How could these gems be passed by for a week?? 

It was a sign.. 

WANTED!

WANTED!!!

Desperate mother graduating

seeks child-care giver 

to watch over one adorable 

todd while she sleeps and 

watches ridiculous movies for 

a week straight after completing 

 her last assignments.

Qualifications: 

- Must like exceptionally 

awesome children 

- Must be able to work quietly

 and keep the todd quiet

- Must be okay with changing

very very stinky diapers.

Reward/compensation:

Tasty Indeedy

I picked up this little dinner idea from my pops. 

It's the easiest ethnic dinner one could ever dream of. 

Not to mention the most delicious. 

 {I desperately need a lesson on how to photograph food. my pics never look good}

We pick these Tasty Bite Bombay potatoes ups at Fresh & Easy or Sunflower Market, 

heat up for 90 seconds (yes 90 seconds!) and throw on some grilled chicken. 

My dad adds jasmine rice, but out breasts were so large (that's a first), rice would be too filling.

I also sprinkled some goat cheese and cherry tomatoes on top,

just because I have them laying around and need to use them up.

{Dave in his food coma after Owyn started piling all of his "friends" on him}

This is one of Dave's favorite meals. He wants it every week!

Eye Patches and Applesauce Crushers

 Today I took Owyn to the doctor. He's been sick for about 2 weeks now. 

He has a gross cough and a runny nose. It's more like a leaking faucet that never stops. I have to change his shirt about 5x a day because it ends up soaked. Gross. I had a customer yesterday whose kids were sick with strep and he said it was going around. So as a woman, naturally I thought my kid had strep and it was working it's way to his organs by now and they were all going to start shutting down on him.

Turns out he's fine. Just a cold. Phew. 

Owyn got a sticker and he must think Im pretty special because he let me have it. 

For an eye patch as a matter-of-fact. Even betta!

Speaking of that kid, did I tell you how I impulsively buzzed his hair off?

Yeah, well, I did. I had no idea what I was doing without Dad and it didn't go so well. Owyn was so sad I bussed his identity away. All his confidence sprinkled all over the guest bathroom floor. There it went.. 

He caught a glimpse of himself walking past a mirror, stopped, looked and I could almost see the tears forming in those big green eyes. He touched his head and didn't even recognize himself. 

I felt pretty crappy. 

But, good news is, he has found a new identity. 

Bad news is, it's called the bad boy identity. 

  

 Have you ever seen these applesauce crushers?

They are the best invention in the world! 

 Aside from my Shark Stream Vac, of course.

Where would we be if it weren't for WWII?

Us women would still be on our hands and knees scrumming

our floors. And worst, having to sweep themm before!

{that's sarcasm, just in-case you don't speak the language}

It must be Sunday..

because our frigidator is full.

While strolling through the Trader Joe aisles this morning Owyn decided  that 

a. he didn't want to sit in the big boy spot and be buckled, he much rather preferred the basket. 

b. he didn't want to share the basket with the food so began throwing it all out. 

It was kinda funny watching him chuck things over and behind his head at first . He even made a funny little Owyn sound each time. The more items he threw, the faster and further they went.

While bending down to pick up his  flip flops I heard a bunch of little rolling balls, looked over and saw all of my baby heirlooms rolling all over the produce section. That was about the time it wasn't so funny anymore and so we left.

That kid can really get my blood boiling. 

But he's still the cutest kid on earth. Well boy, at least. My niece is the cutest girl.

They share the #1 spot for cutest kid. 

I. E. S. and a Wedding!

My cousin Zack got married today.

I have a love/hate relationship with weddings. I enjoy them but they make me cry. 

This is a serious problem because it triggers my IES.

What is IES you ask? Irritable Emotion Syndrome.

Similar to IBS. I am usually emotionally constipated. I feel very uncomfortable and bloated with emotion that just doesn't want to come out (or maybe I just don't want it to). So naturally, when it hits, it hits hard. Like a hurricane. Once I let go, it all comes pouring out. You see how a sweet romantic wedding could cause a big problem? Hey- what's wrong with the white girl? 

Most people in my family suffer from this disease. I think it's genetic.

Anyway, back to that mushy stuff.. take a look at how handsome my cousin is in uniform. I am so proud.

Warning: my picture quality is poor. 

My Dad is Famous

Okay, okay, he may not totally be famous, but he is a tad if you live in the San Diego area. 

He was asked to be on the Del Mar Home Show commercial. 

Pretty rad. 

He's the first guy (the blondy) representin' his SD company.

Go dad! 

If you live in the SD area and want an awesome driveway here is his link:

Pavers 4 Less

Hello, Monday.

I am hoping this week goes well. 

I am also hoping these fried corn dogs and oysters don't go straight to my love handles.

One can only hope.

A Few Weekend Scenes

This weekend my mom has been in town and it's been wonderful. 

She got to come to the Spring opening reception at MCA and see my work. 

We got to party with Cheech Marin and Alice Cooper. No big deal. (pics to come soon)

If you're anything like me you probably don't recognize Cheech without Chong. 

{me, mom and great grandma jewel}

We also got to do lunch with some family, have hours of girl talk and baked a delicious dessert.

Hopefully someday soon Ill have my mom, sister and brother living close to me again. 

I miss them all dearly. 

{Dad can stay in Point Loma, because I love having a free 

ocean front vacay 6 hrs away whenever I please}

Today, Daily Struggles, Big News and a Dinner for Two

Today rocks. 

I skipped class to spend time with Owyn. 

I feel like we have been growing apart. Or more like he's growing and I am missing it. I only get Mondays off and every other Saturday and when I am home I am either doing school work or stressing out about not doing my school work. It really blows. I struggle with it everyday but when you get as close as I am, all I can think about is finishing so I have unlimited (kinda of) time with Owyn. Sometimes I don't think he even realizes that I spent 9 months devoting my body to carrying/providing/growing him, gave birth to him and fed him with my own body.

We cuddled, sang, danced, talked, learned and played in the rain. 

We also stopped by MCA (where I intern) and got fingerprinted. 

Oh, yeah, about that... 

I haven't told you guys yet. You know how I said that I'll have a lot more time with Owyn once I am done with school in May? Well.. I got a new job! Yes, that's right. I am so excited. I found out the day after my birthday. I have applied to work for AMY ( Arizona Museum for Youth) 3 times! THREE! And I finally got an interview, and apparently, they loved me. I am the new Gallery Educator. 

This job is the exact job I wanted for after I graduate and I'll tell you why, 

1. It's part time

2. It's a couple blocks away from my house

3. I'll be able to use my experience and education 

4. It's a terrific museum/curator to work for 

5.  I get to work with children

6. I will get paid a whole lot more than I do now. 

Even if I work 10 hours a week, Ill be bringing in about the same amount I am now working 3 jobs (granted one of my jobs doesn't pay).

So yeah, we went and I got fingerprinted and then went to drop off my pre-employment paper work to the HR department and when I went to pull Owyn out of the car he looked like this: 

Wow, way to make an impression.

"Hi, I'm Chelsea, I'm going to be working with the children in the museum. Oh, this is my son, don't mind his tattoo's, I let him play with a pen while we were driving in the car."

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Tonight I grilled on my own for the first time. I wasn't sure I even knew how to turn on the grill, 

but it turns out that I do! 

 We had grilled chicken breast and spinach tortellini with pesto and baby heirloom tomatoes. Yummm.

 

Always Check the Weather

Wow, has mother nature stopped taking her meds lately? Can you say bipolar. 

I never know what to expect from her and I'm not liking it.

Maybe she's going through menopause. 

One day it's cool and the BAM, it's hot. Like in the 90's hot. 

I was so excited to take Owyn swimming on Monday. We put on our suites, dragged his new pool outside underneath the sunshine and realized it was chilly. What the heck! We filled it up anyway in hopes that it would warm up but it never did.